Hey guys! I'm still alive, btw. Here's a lil' something to tide you over until the next chapter of Vacant Shores!

(And when I say little, I mean it.) And whoo! New writing style!

Nami was trying desperately not to cry.

(It was in vain, it always is.)

Luffy looked so much younger asleep, at peace with the world and the horrible things it has done to him. His head was in

her lap, gently lolling to the side

(she would have punched him any other time)

and his arms loosely around her

(she pulls them tighter)

with tears drying on his face

(she tried to kiss them all away)

and marker all over his hands.

(the same colour as the messy script scrawled on Luffy's calender. It spells out the three words she dreads.

Ace's

Death

Anniversairy.)

She had forgotten. But she sure as hell would ensure that her captain wouldn't feel the pain of knowing that little fact.

(she hoped so, anyway.)