WARNING: OC. DON'T LIKE, DON'T READ. It's as simple as hitting the backspace button.

Enjoy :3 IMPORTANT: READ MY COMMENTS AT THE BOTTOM! Espically for this chapter XD


"Right." Ben coughed.

"You really need to stop smoking, Ben." Shanks' trivial anger turned into concerning guilt. Trying to ignore the stomach turning feeling, he took a swig of beer.

"Give me a break Shanks, I don't tell you how to run the ship now do I?" Ben smiled at him, leaning on his right arm on the bar's countertop.

"…Yes, yes you do." Shanks said gruffly. "Ben," he sighed. "That smoking is going to be the end of you I swear if you don't stop."

"I can run just as far and as fast as you can. I'm fine." Ben argued.

"Yeah, but you're panting and wheezing after it." Shanks started to get into the topic of 'quitting'.

"So are you."

"Not even in comparison."

"I'm older than you."

"By a year."

"You really wanna fight about this Shanks?"

"Not particularly. You're the logical one, Ben." Shanks said grimly. "You've been smoking since you were thirteen; it's only been seven years and you already have the cough."

"… you really do think I should quit." Ben sighed under his breath.

"At least cut back. Down to a pack a month for starters." Shanks drew out on a breath.

"Two." Ben negotiated.

"One." Shanks said stiffly. "Ten packs a month is ridiculous. Half of our inventory is smokes. And share with the crew. They'll love you more." He laughed.

"Bullshit." Ben laughed.

"Bullshit what?" Suzuna smiled, setting a glass of water in front of Ben.

"Same old same old." Ben took sips.

"I'm rationing his smokes." Shanks smiled happily.

"Really, he's that bad?" Suzuna asked.

"Ten a month." Ben laughed, getting it out in the open.

"Cigarettes?" she was rather confused.

"Packs." Shanks shook his head.

"Shit, Ben." Suzuna even sounded shocked.

"I'm cuttin' back." Ben sighed. Shanks wasn't alone anymore; Suzuna was going to bitch at him too now.

"Good." She smiled.

"So." Shanks started off. "When are you gonna be on break?"

Ben started laughing again.

"I'LL CUT YOU TO NONE." Shanks growled, blushing. And suddenly, by some miracle, Ben stopped laughing.

"I hate you." Ben glared.

"I'm captain. You don't have to like me." Shanks smiled.

"Why, what's up Shanks?" Suzuna laughed, leaning on the wall behind her.

"Just figured we could go talk. You know, since your other cook isn't here and when she does show up, you'll be busy with all the dishes after words." Shanks shrugged, the beer bottle in one hand.

"… yeah, why not." She smiled. "Jingle!" she shouted.

"YEAH?" Jouichirou shouted back, rather busy with the pirates.

"Think you could handle the shop for a bit?" she asked

"How long?" he questioned, thinking he didn't hear a time.

"How long you think, Shanks?" Suzuna smiled over to him.

"Ten, twenty minutes?" he looked questionable.

"Half an hour!" she laughed.

"HEY." Shanks shrieked, his hair poofing a little.

"Yeah, sure. Hey, see if you can get Aki while you're out!"

"Alright." She smiled. "Come on, Shanks. Let's get going." She lifted up a small section at the end of the bar, walking to the other side and setting it down.

"HALF AN HOUR?" he murmured, walking over to the door; holding it open for her.

"Hey Shanks, look, you can walk. Imagine that!" Ben sniggered taking Shanks' beer, receiving a disrespectful tongue out of Shanks' mouth.

"Shh!" she giggled, running out the door to the right.

"WAIT, the beach!" Shanks let go of the door. "It's the other way!" he followed her pointing behind him towards the ocean.

"But the cove's this way. You'll like it, I promise." Suzuna smiled.

"People say I'll like a lot of things." Shanks shook his head quickly in the opposite direction every syllable. "Normally, I don't. Smoking; for one. Hate it."

"The cove is an extension of the sea." Suzuna laughed. "It's nice and peaceful, a lot like the beach."

"Oh. Well then. That changes my opinion greatly." He laughed sarcastically.

Suzuna slowed up and walked next to Shanks. "What was on your mind?" she asked coyly.

"Who was your captain?" Shanks laughed, shyly lacing their hands together.

Suzuna laughed again, gripping his hand. "I'll tell you when we get to the cove. There are ears all around town. People gossip you know."

"Yeah." Shanks laughed too. "So what's it like here?"


ATTENTION! I won't be posting this story for awhile now. No, it's not because I'm going to be busy, it's because I'm setting a goal :3

What I'm aiming for is to get up to 55 pages before I post again; it's gonna be a long chapter. Right now I'm at 35. If I have a week and a half where I don't write none to much at all, I'll post what I have so far. After all, I do get writers block, and I do get inspired, so we'll see how it all goes. If not, I'll just set myself a smaller goal next time. I'll have learned it was more than I could chew.

But wish me luck! Your support is very much loved! -- On that note; Comment!