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"Where are you? Shanks? Where are our brothers?" Buggy asked his voice harsh in demand.

"East Blue, a little island where Goa Kingdom is located."

The line went dead soon after, the echoed command of 'Turn this ship around.' Still ringing in his ear.

"Captain?" His first mate asked, stepping into the communication room.

"What am I going to do Benn? He's my little brother, I can't- I can't leave him. I promised."

"…We were planning on making a home base in the East Blue anyways, anyway don't we have to look for the other one too?" The darker haired man pointed out, calm and logically.

Shanks paused in his panicked chatter, looking at his best friend and first mate with shinning eyes.

"What would I do without you?"

"Probably die or something."

"Who the hell leave a-a how old is he?" the red head exploded as half of his crew made it way up a cliff where a house stood- the house been a good mile or so from the rest of the village.

"The bar tender said he's almost seven." Benn replied calmly

"Yes. Who the hell, leaves a seven-year-old to walk back and forth from the village to here! By himself!" he ranted to this crew completely ignoring that before Roger he had been wondering around without a home to go back to at all.

Before he could start on his rant again Yassop shouted, "Captain we're here!"

They knocked. Then they knocked again. Then Lucky Roo tried the door handle.

"Who the hell leaves the door unlocked." Shanks scowled only to pause when he stepped fully into the hall way. The house was two stores, with the front hallway being a landing before the stairs as well as the kitchen and living area. All of which were covered in dust and cobwebs.

"Are we sure this is where Luffy is?"

"The blue house on the hill. That's what she told us."

Giving his grew a suspicious look he grabbed his sword from his belt and crept his way through the house. Lucky Roo, Yassop, and two others continued their search on the bottom floor while Benn and the red head made their way upstairs.

The house was rather large, having four bedrooms on the second floor and two bathrooms. Down the hall was the last bedroom and the bedroom where a small child lay asleep on his bed. This room was the only room in the house untouched by dust, cobwebs, and vermin. Yet the room was still just as sad as the rest of the house. Other than the blankets, covered in smiling fish, the walls were a rather dull yellow. On one side of the room was a shelf that contained a few scarce toys. There was nothing else in the room.

Slowly Shanks shut the door, it was still the early hours of the morning the child could sleep longer. Looking around the house in despair, eyes trailing along as he watched a rat scurry by.

"Well, Roger always said I was a good cabin boy." He muttered, ushering his first mate downstairs to his other men.

"Get to work."

Luffy woke up like he had since he left his mother. Alone. It was a strange feeling for him, still so use to wake up cradled in his mama's arms and surrounded by friendly fishes and sea kings. And like each morning since leaving the comfort of the sea, he woke all at once and with a gasp. Blearily his eyes looked around the room, taking in the bare walls and floor. The bookcase filled with three toys, and the small dresser where all five of his shirts and pants were stored. He still did not like this room. Sniffling, he felt his eyes begin to tear up, ready to have himself a good cry.

He was alone still, after all.

With his eyes tightly squeezed shut he cried and cried. He cried so hard he couldn't breathe through his nose, and because he couldn't breathe through his nose he didn't notice the smell of cooking food that consumed the house.

Downstairs a crew of ten pirate sat around the now cleaned kitchen. Lucky Roo, the ships cook, sat at the stove with a large pot over a fire, a large piece of meat on hand for him to munch on. Laughing the crew relaxed back into the seats they had carried into the room from around the house.

Suddenly the man with short curly blondish hair paused in his teasing. "Shh, you hear that?"

"What's that sound?"

"It- it sounds like crying?" Yasopp mused, before the crew froze. Shanks stood up so fast his chair fell over, making a loud clatter.

The red head stormed upstairs, down the hall and straight into the last bedroom. The door banged violently against the wall, startling the crying boy. Two pair of reddish eyes peered up tearfully from their place under the blankets before a hopeful, surprised smile stretched across the boy's face.

"Aniki?"

"Hey, hey ototo." He cooed, sliding to sit on the bed and pet the boy's rather soft and fluffy hair. "What's wrong?"

"Thought you 'eren't eal." His voice was muffled as he pushed himself closer toward the older man. "Thought was 'lone 'gain."

Shanks heart broke and his eyes hardened. "I won't let you be alone again. Now come on Lucky Roo has made you a big breakfast."

Luffy's eyes shinned, "Food!"

It was as he watched the youngest member of his family eat that Shanks finally couldn't help himself but ask.

"Why was the door unlocked?"

"No Key! And no one comes here so I le't it cause then, then I woodn't be stuck out." Luffy nodded his head wisely not noticing his big brother's sound of destress.

"Luffy why are you here alone?"

Luffy slowly put his fork down, looking at his food rather seriously for such a young child.

"Mama is sick. Papa, papa doesn't care though and wan's to find Mama. Grandpa put me here and then wen' away. So Luffy is alone. But- but it's okay cause I got to the water and talks to mama."

Lucky Roo scowled and almost as one the crew stepped closer to the young boy.

"Well that's okay, but the Red Hair Pirates and Buggy Pirates are going to be close by. You won't be alone anymore."