-1"Going out again?"
Kida jumped as she turned, her shirt halfway on, as she faced her best friend. "Yeah, Shanks wanted to give me a tour of his ship. Why do you ask?" She knew very well why Nova was asking. Kida hadn't exactly been spending a lot of time at home, in fact, she was normally only there to get changed, get a shower in, and sleep.
"You know why I'm asking, Kida." Her friend stood straight from leaning on the doorway and stepped over to the small white-haired girl. Kida was about to protest when she saw the worry in her friend's eyes. She stopped immediately. "I'm worried about you, kid. You know what pirates are like, you know what they want."
"Do I, Nov? Please, elaborate what all pirates want." She muttered, turning around and slipping her shirt the rest of the way on, pulling her hair out from underneath the fabric.
"Gold and a free piece of tail."
Kida spun around, her arms crossed over her chest. "Look, Nova, I appreciate your concern, but Shanks isn't like that. And you would know that if you would take up my offer to come out with us some night." She shook her head. "I'm not an idiot. And I'm not a free bang whenever some yahoo that calls himself a pirate comes to call. I'm an adult, and if I want to go out and have a million kids to a million different guys, then I will." She paused, looking down at the hardwood floor, her back still to Nova. "Me mum died when I was still a baby, Nova…" She spun around with hate in her eyes. "But I don't need another one."
Nova stood for a moment, staring into the eyes of her best friend for as long as she could remember. Without a word, she turned out of the room and silently closed the door behind her.
-----
Shanks lied on his back, staring up at the different-colored sky. The dark reds, purples, and yellows that seemed to combine the setting sun and the rippling ocean beneath it. Without warning, his mind floated back to Kida. She was such a strange girl, such a beautiful girl. A rare find for these parts, he assumed. A little voice added, 'a rare girl to any parts.' He had to agree.
And it wasn't just her body that he found so intriguing (although he had to admit, it was a nice addition.) Her personality was boundless. She was sweet, but a little spicy. But there was something that just drew him to her. Shanks couldn't put his finger on it, but she made him feel like a teenager again. He had been with younger women before, even some that were 19 years old, and none did that to him. Another mystery surrounding the small girl that had put a spell on his mind.
He snapped back to reality when he heard someone coming up behind him. Looking up, he saw two thin legs, a high cut shirt which he knew hid two nicely rounded breasts, and a smiling face. "Well 'ello there." He smirked, grabbing the belt of her pants and pulling her down on top of him.
Kida laughed as she adjusted her body over his and laid a few kisses on his smirking lips. He smiled and accidentally found his eyes drifting down her shirt, which had puffed up a little bit. Shanks didn't see much, as Kida never wore shirts that would show very much if she bent over. She climbed off him and stood, patting his chest. "Come on, you, I was promised a tour of someone's pirate ship." Shanks smiled and obliged.
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She leaned over the railing of the ship, staring out into the dark blue water, an arm wrapped loosely around her small waist. Kida smiled as she leaned against the lean but muscular body of the captain, watching the moon dance on the night ocean as ripples ran through it. "You're really lucky, Shanks…to have a ship like this."
He rested his chin on top of her head, massaging his fingers into her hip. "Why do you say that, love?"
"You never have to stay in one place. It's a freedom." She explained, closing her eyes as the heat from his body heated her cold skin, her shivers slowly stopping. The sound of his voice was so soothing, all of his strength to be used for her protection.
They weren't sure how long they had stood there, taking in the smell of each other and the sea. Kida took a long yawn as she felt her body starting to go limp. The captain took notice and kissed her forehead. "Come on, love. Time to get some sleep." He gently guided her from the deck into the men's quarters. Passing by his sleeping mates, he opened a door for her. The captain's quarters.
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Kida laid back on the mattress of his bed, his white shirt going down a little ways past her bottom as she lay half curled on her side. The sheet was spread lazily around her as she watched him getting ready. He had changed his pants into a looser, more comfortable pair. Pulling his shirt off, he exposed his muscular back before turning towards her, showing his scars. For a moment, he grew concerned that she might feel awkward with seeing his lack-of an arm, but he saw her sleepy smile and crawled in with her.
She rested her head on his shoulder, her hand running over the lumps and smoothness of his chest and stomach. One of her favorite things about a pirate was his scars, although she didn't know why, and lucky for her, Shanks was full of them. No wonder he was so well-known. Looking up into his dark brown eyes, she gently touched her lips to his, smiling as the small kiss ended and her head found it's pillow on his shoulder again. He breathed deeply, trying to slow his heart as he looked down at the drowsy woman. She looked gorgeous in that shirt of his, and the look of innocence that crossed her face as sleep started to take over her mind. It wasn't long until she was gone, and his heart slowed as he grew more and more tired. Reaching over to the table beside his bed, he grabbed the burning wick of the candle as the flame quickly died.
He listened to her breathing as long as he could, until a blanket of darkness covered his mind. They stayed curled up in each other's arms for the rest of the night, and the better part of the next morning.