Ghosts

Luffy took the little girl back out side and laid her down. He called back over his shoulder. "Franky... I need your help..." Franky had been under deck and didn't understand the affliction in his voice, but when he came top side, Franky knew right away. He asked, "What is it, Luffy?"

The captain's head was lowered as he asked solemnly. "Can you make a really pretty sailor's coffin?" Franky glanced at the little unmoving, body. "Sure. I can have it done mid night." replied Franky. Luffy gave a stiffened nod. Franky then walked away to begin his task.

Luffy looked back at the little girl, then did a double take. There, standing over the body, was a pale translucent Mia. The girl floated over to an awe struck Luffy, smiling. "Thank you for saving my big sister, Mr. Hat." She said. Luffy only hung his head. "But I couldn't save you..." He replied, The girl shook her head. "Don't say that! You did save me, you brought my body with you." She paused. "Mr, Hat, do you see that necklace around my neck? I want my big sister to have it." She smiled at Luffy again and asked. "Please take care of my sister for me." She paused then stated. "You weren't the one who shot me, Mr Hat. So don't fret about it, okay? I'll be with with my mommy and daddy." She bent down and gave Luffy a hug. "You may be a pirate, your a good guy. Big sis will see that too." The girl waved good bye and faded away. Luffy gently took the necklace off the child.

It didn't seem look like that special. But it must have been the girl's treasure. It was a silver chain, was a tiny silver heart-shaped locket. He opened it up and saw on one side was a photo of the two girls. There were on the dock, and Mia was sitting on the older girl's left shoulder. They were both pretty beat up, but didn't seem to care.

Luffy saw that the other side was blank. He closed the locket and put it in his pocket. He went back to the cabin and saw that the girl was out of his shirt and wearing one of Robin's. Luffy's red vest was folded by the girl's side. He quickly put it on and then sat down to watch over her.

Sometime during the night, she had woken up and began to panic. Luffy's face came into view as he put a hand down on her forehead. "Easy, you'll reopen your wounds and then Chopper 'll get real mad." He warned. The girl recognized that his voice was the same one, that had helped her. "Whose Chopper?" She croaked. Luffy grinned. "You sound like a frog and Chopper the Ship's doctor. Welcome aboard the 'Merry Go." Luffy explained.

Luffy lowered his head and put his hand in his pocket. "Sorry. I couldn't save her. If I was only faster..." He took out the locket and held it out to her. The girl turned on her side to look at Luffy. She laid a hand on his knee as she whispered. "Thank you for trying and for saving me." She looked at the locket and asked, "Can you help me put it one?" Luffy was so startled, that he looked up. He saw that her face was round and her smile kind, but her eyes were an ocean blue the were sad. With a nod Luffy helped her out.

Luffy thought as he helped her with the necklace, about the promise he made to the little girl. Luffy was the captain of the Straw Hat pirates and would be King of the Pirates. But how could he do both with him sailing the seas? Suddenly a great Idea came to him.

"Wanna join my grew?" He asked her. She truned to look at Luffy and asked, "Your Pirates?" "Yep! I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!" He answered. She smiled. "I'm going to be the greatest female pirate in the whole world! My father told me all about 'One Piece' when I was little. When I said I wanted to become a pirate, he said I would have to bring the captain of the crew I joined to him for permission. He wanted to meet and size up the captain of what ever crew I joined." She explained. Luffy looked confused but gave a nod. Se laughed. "Yes I"ll join your crew, you just have to meet my father."

Luffy's smile turned into a huge grin that seemed to split his face in half. "Alright! Another member!" he cheered. The girl gave a nod. "I'm Yuki." She introduced her self. Luffy added. "I'm Monkey D. Luffy!" Yuki's eyes nearly popped out of her head. She exclaimed. "You mean your 'Straw Hat' Luffy?" "Yep." was all he said.

Yuki commented. "Well this'll be a lot easier than I thought." She looked at the guy next to her. He was tall and was muscular to boot. He had on his trade mark straw hat with a red strip on it. He wore a pair of flip flops and a torn up pair of jean shorts, his shirt was a red vest. His hair was black and he had a scar under his left eye, while his eye were also a very dark brown or maybe even black. After a few moments she added. "Luffy my fathers a Pirate too, and he told me about you. He lives in your home town."

Luffy's eyes sparkled with interest. "Really?! Thats so cool! Whose your dad? I might have met him!" He asked. She thought to her self. You have no idea... She simply said, "I'm not allowed to say, cause he's afraid bad people would use me against him. You know like a hostage." Luffy puffed up his chest. "That wont happen! Your part of my Nakama now and I'll fight for you."

Yuki's face turned red. She started to stumble over her words. "It's okay, I-it's not like I'm going to be kid napped, Ha ha ha..." The Franky comes in and says. "Luffy, I'm finished..." All of the joy that was in Luffy's big smile, suddenly vanished. "Alright, wake the rest of the crew, we'll do this tonight. She deserves a quick one..."

***

Franky gave a nod and did so. Luffy asked, "Yuki, an you stand?" Right then she knew what was happening. Yuki had completely forgot, She scolding herself mentally for it. She replied. "With a little help, yeah." Luffy gave a nod and got up first. Yuki sat up and and held out a hand. Luffy grasped it and pulled her up. She stumbled, but Luffy caught her.

She blushed fervently, she never really was held by a guy before, so it was kind of new to her. She quickly pushed the thought about how gently Luffy held, away. Now was not the time for such ideas.

Luffy Helped Yuki out onto the deck. There out by the bow, was a white hand carved sailor's coffin. Yuki already began to cry silent tears, slowly she walked towards her little sister's body. She stood by it staring down at the child. She bent down and removed the Luffy's hat from the child's face and sat it upon his head. Yuki proceeded to pick up her sister as she limped to the coffin and laid her in it.

There was a long silence, then Yuki began to tell their story. "I-." Her voice began to crack. Luffy then took off his hat and put it on Yuki's head. She let her tears flow and continued. "I remember when I found Mia on my door step. She was so tiny. when Dad came to check on me, at first he thought she was mine. I had told him that I had found her and then he said for me to take care of her, since he was always off sailing.

'So thats what I did. I made sure Mia would be the happiest little girl in the world. I remember when she was 3 and dad came to visit. When he walked through that door, she thought he was a bandit and threw stuff at him. He had pouted most of the day, but then I had told her he was my dad and you scolded him for not knocking! A 3 year old scolding a pirate!" Yuki stopped and then she added in a partial sob, "I'm sorry Mia! I should have done something more than gust get beaten up!"

Luffy put a hand on her shoulder and said. "Mia, I may not have known you, but when I saw you, I didn't see a little girl. I saw a brave little pirate. I hope you like it up there, and I hope you like the bout Franky made you, so you can still sail the seas."

Luffy and Yuki stood by as the rest of the crew gave little things to Mia. Soon everyone had given their girts and then Zolo put the lid on the boat. Nami lit a small lantern, then Chopper and Franky slowly let her down into the waves. "Nami." Luffy said. "Yeah what is it?" He asked. He replied. "I have our next stop. We're heading for East Blue." Luffy then told her the details on their next voyage.

A/n I know this was sad (T_T) but don't flame me! (XO) It's gets better! I promise! (X)