For the next few weeks, as the Buggy pirates made their way towards the East Blue, the Red Hair pirates spent their days with one little boy.
"Luffy please do not climb the mast." Benn asked as he calmly walk by. Lucky Roo, Yasopp, Rockstar, and JJ crowded around the mast, screaming up at the little boy that was skillful making his way up. Rockstar and Lucky Roo had acquired a tarp and was moving to stay under the boy. While JJ was screaming about their captain's brother die-ing and how he didn't want to die via captain and please come down Luffy.
An unhappy whine was heard from above, as the little boy looked down at his family. "But- "
"Don't. Down now."
With a huff, Luffy let go, dropping to land on Lucky Roo's and Rockstar's tarp. Yasopp let out a truly impressive scream. Luffy giggled as he bounced up and down in the tarp.
The Red Hair Pirates sat at the Party Bar. Luffy, having decided his seat was uninteresting had moved to climb up Shanks frame, with one leg hanging off shanks shoulder and his upper body curled around his head. Uncontrollable giggling could be heard from the child. Shanks sat still, his eyes dancing with light as he chatted with Makino, his arm shooting out to stead the child whenever he began to slip. The crew lazily sat around, watching their captain absentmindedly, chatter making a hum.
The door slammed open.
A man with a long thin head swaggered in other men, covered in dirt close behind him. "Girl! Sake Now!"
Shanks peeled Luffy off of him, placing him in the stool next to him. Looking at the man that just walked in, an easy grin on his face.
"I'm sorry we just ran out." He demanded.
"The what are they drinking."
"I'm sorry my friend it looks like we took the last of it!"
The man narrowed his eyes, flaring his nostrils. "Do you know who I am? I have a 3 million bounty!"
Luffy giggled, knowing both his big brothers had way more than that. The man sneered, quickly grabbing the cup of sake closest to him and dumping it on the boy.
"Mind your better's boy, be glad I didn't kill you!"
Shanks stood up, his crew following his lead. "I'm sorry my dear," Shanks said nicely to Makino. "We seem to have to take out the trash." With confidence and no hesitation, a chilling smile on his face. His hand shot out, grabbing on the man's face before he began to drag him out of the bar. Shanks crew quickly moving to herd the other men out of the bar.
Luffy sat at his seat, stunned, and dripping wet.
"Come here, Lu. I'll get you cleaned up."
Lucky Roo, JJ, and Mry gladly cleaned up the deck that night, the mop water running red.
It was early morning, the sky just beginning to turn baby blue. The ocean's water lapping at the sand was starting to warm in the sun and in the sand where imprints of sandaled feet. Walking along the beach until he found what he was looking for was a red head. Shanks squatted down, pointing out the brightly colored sea life that lived in the tide pools. A young boy, ran forward, his eyes shining as he peered at what the red head was pointing at.
From farther up the beach Benn turned his back towards his captain, listening calmly to the happy chatter from the two. His face set in a serious mask as he watched the pirate crew coming and going with large crates of supplies.
"Is the ship almost done being restocked?"
"Aye, and Buggy has started to search East Blue's outer islands." Yasopp told him, his eyes softening as he gazed at his captain and Luffy and a small smile appeared on his lips, his mind on another dark-haired boy.
"Captain wants to search near Baterilla again. See if we can find anything we missed eleven years ago." The first mate said, lighting his cigarette absent mindedly, his gaze intensifying as one of the men caring a crate stumbled.
"But that's in the North Blue! We can't take Luffy there!" he argued back. "The Vinesmoke have been taking over that sea for years!"
"I know." The first mate said grimly. "Captain said we are leaving him behind."
"Now," Shanks mumbled, straightening up Luffy's shirt, "We will only be gone a couple of months, but Buggy will visit every other week. Okay?" he asked, waiting quietly until he got the nodded from the wilting young boy.
"Hey, now, I'll be back. Hopefully with Ace. Then both of you will come with me." He comforted. "I have a big job for you until I get back." He announced loudly, gaining his crew's attention. Carefully he pulled the famous straw-hat off his head. "Do you know whose hat this was?"
"Papa Roger?" Luffy asked, his eyes alight.
"Yes, and it's very important to me. Do you think you could watch over it for me till I get back?" he asked, placing the hat on the dark hair. Laughing when the boy nodded widely, making the the hat slip down and over his eyes.
"I'll be back for you. Just you wait."
"I'll wait Aniki."
Shanks turned around, his eyes burning slightly, "Alright men! Rise anchor."
Luffy waved them off long after the ship left port, long after the ship couldn't be spotted in the horizon. He sat there waving and watching, tears streaming down his chubby cheeks, until the moon began to rise and the sun set.
"Luffy, come in. They'll be back in no time." Makino said softly, placing her hands on the young boy's shoulders, turning him away from the oceans view.
In the next few days, Luffy went back to the beach, his gaze sweeping over the horizon obsessively. His voice echoing as he asked his mama.
"Is he okay? What about brother Buggy? Are they coming back soon?"
But sometimes she did not answer, her focus on her sailing sons' ships. Giving them safe passage, and trying to persuade others to do the same.
This continued for the first week. Until a marine ship was spotted.
"Bwhahaha! Where's my cute grandson?!"
Luffy hid.
It didn't work. Garp grabbed Luffy from his shirt, lifting him up so they would be eye to eye.
"It my cute grandson trying to play with grandpa? Bwahhahaha" Garp paused in his laughing "What this?" he asked inspecting the yellow hat on his grandson's head. "That looks like…" He paused, his face unreadable before me stormed his way into Makino's party bar, Luffy still in his grasps.
"Where did my cute grandson get this hat!?" He shouted.
Luffy wanted to be let go, he also wanted his brother back.
Luffy grabbed hold of another tree. "I don't want to go to a mountain!"