Okay, this one is actually late for a reason :P Cut the story short, I was on holiday in Venice and I couldn't bring my computer with me. xD
Hope you like this~ I've reacted to some problems that one of my reviewers pointed out; I hope this clears some issues up (to do with Garp, etc...)


'What happened to him?'

'His grandfather.' Was Makino's only reply as she stood up and walked briskly out of the room.

Both pirates stared at each other in confusion and disbelief, neither really understanding what she had meant. But suddenly Shanks remembered the terrified look on the boy's face when Shanks had mentioned taking him back to his grandfather's house. 'He seemed so scared… But surely, someone's grandfather wouldn't do such a thing… would they?'

It was at the time where Shanks was thinking this when Makino came back into the living room, a little suitcase in hand with a red X drawn on it with a thick pen. She knelt down and set the box down on the coffee table and clicked it open; a sad sigh was let out as she rummaged through plasters of all shapes and sizes and creams and scissors, reading the labels on several packets before she finally came across the one she was looking for.

She opened the lid and squirted a small amount of the creamy mixture into her palm. Then, still on her knees, she turned to Luffy. 'He hates this cream,' she said almost amicably to the pirates, 'He hates anything cold.'

And sure enough, as Makino started rubbing the first bruise, Luffy awoke, hot and bothered about what was going on. The pirates contented themselves by watching the scene quietly, each to their own private thoughts as Luffy whined tiredly, although he did not have the strength to push her away. Instead, Makino diverted his attention by scolding him.

'Luffy, what have I told you about getting into trouble with your grandfather? You know it's always like this…'

'But Makino, I couldn't help it this time! You know I got lost in that storm. It wasn't my fault!' the boy pouted indignantly.

'Oh? Then whose fault was it? The storm's?' She asked teasingly.

'Yes.' Luffy replied confidently, making the barmaid laugh a little as she carried on with her work.

Luffy allowed himself to be dabbed and prodded and have cream rubbed into his skin, but only because it was Makino. He would never let anyone else do it, because he knew better than to make Makino angry. Because when Makino got angry, she pleaded, and sometimes she would even cry. He hated to see her like that, whether it was because work was too difficult, or when her own grandfather had died - something Luffy had not understood at first - and therefore knew it was probably better not to cross her.

When she was done, she bent over Luffy, who flinched at the contact, and planted a soft kiss on his forehead. She left the room, a sad smile on her features with small box in hand to put it back. But when she came back, her expression had changed. It seemed determined, perhaps even brave, and she walked straight up to Shanks despite the fear visible in her and asked him directly, 'Why was Luffy wet when he came here?'

'Ah…' Shanks started, not having expected a direct question from the fearful young girl, especially not so soon, 'Well…' and he began to explain all that had happened, Luffy following them through the night and falling in the sea, how he had helped the boy to safety and brought him to Makino's house, under Luffy's request. 'Just who is his grandfather? Did he really beat this kid up?' he looked down at the resting boy who had fallen back asleep as soon as Makino had finished tending to him, tired from all the commotion and all worn out.

'I'm sure you've heard of him,' Makino turned her gaze on Luffy, 'Monkey D. Garp.'

Yasopp bristled, 'What's he doing on this island? I've not heard any rumours of him retiring!'

'He's not retired…' the young girl started, 'He's just spending a bit of time off to look after Luffy. His parents aren't here anymore, you see… he still goes off sometimes, marine jobs, I don't know any of the details.' She clutched her hands together and looked down, not entirely sure how to continue with her explanation.

The tense silence was broken by a chuckle coming from Shanks, which soon developed in to a full burst of laughter. Yasopp and Makino stared at him, surprised, 'I don't see what's very funny about all this…' Yasopp started, 'We might have a Vice Admiral after us!'

'I knew there was something about him,' Shanks said, ignoring Yasopp's fears and putting them to side, 'Something I couldn't quite put my finger on… but I never expected him to be related to Garp! So Luffy's full name would be Monkey Luffy?'

'Monkey D. Luffy.' Makino corrected, 'He shares the same middle name as Garp.'

The pirates studied Makino and the boy fondly, 'The Will of D…' Shanks murmured.

'What?' Makino asked, not having completely understood what he had said.

But Shanks shook his head, 'No, it's nothing.' He mused, although a new kind of smile grew on his face, a secretive smile that showed private knowing.

'But this still doesn't solve the problem we have, cap'n! A Vice Admiral could attack us at any moment!' Yasopp sounded, tearing that smile from Shanks' face.

Shanks looked at his subordinate with a dull look on his face, 'But surely…' Shanks started thoughtfully, 'If he knew we were here, he would already have tried to kill us. Shouldn't he already be after us? But we've not seen him...' he trailed off.

'You can thank Luffy for that.' Makino said a little harshly.

'Luffy? He can change Garp's mind?' Yasopp gasped.

'No.' Makino sighed, a little ashamed of her sternness that had seeped into her voice before, 'After you two left it took a while for the villagers to come back - they were scared. And when they did finally come back, they brought Garp with them. But Luffy… he must have known Garp would want to go after you because he asked me and the mayor,' she faltered, looking away slightly, 'He asked us to lie to him. We told him you'd already left on your ship and that he would never catch up with you.'

'But that wouldn't normally stop someone like Garp…' Shanks stated, crossing his arms, 'In all the stories I've heard of him, he stops at nothing when he so much as hears the word "pirates"…'

'But the village,' Makino supplied, 'They didn't want him to go. They pleaded with him; they were frightened, I told you. They thought it would be best for him to stay in the village, in case you should come back. But that still didn't seem to stop him… so Luffy challenged him.' She cast a glance over to the boy, 'He insulted him and that sort of drew Garp's attention away from you. I think he knew what would happen… he was already going to be punished for not coming back the night before, but to insult and embarass him in front of the whole village…' she trailed off.

'I see.' Shanks said, lowering his hat slightly to cover his eyes, 'He's brave, I'll give him that. But also reckless.'

'Luffy was taken home by Garp,' Makino contunued, 'But he snuck out. He came over here, to my house. He thanked me for lying to Garp and told me everything that happened between you.' She bowed her head, 'But I scarcely believed him. I am forever in your debt for helping him not once, but twice. I thought it would be him again at the door earlier on, so when I saw you I panicked.' Her voice broke as she reached the end of her story and he shivered.

'Hey now… it's okay.' Yasopp grinned at her.

Makino looked up at them with tears in her eyes, 'I'm very sorry,' she said simply, 'I thought you would be… well like all the other pirates that I've heard about from Garp.'

Shanks lifted his head, revealing kindness in his eyes, 'There's no problem.' he said, and he put a hand on her shoulder. He looked deep into her eyes and saw that she no longer feared them, but he saw something else… something like awe maybe, and a slight hint of anger. 'Towards Garp?' he wondered.

Makino brought her arm up to her face and sniffed. Then, turning away again, she knelt on the floor besides Luffy, 'He needs to go home,' she said, 'If his grandfather suspects anything, he'll be punished again.'

'Alright.' Shanks agreed immediately, 'Where's his home?'

Makino blinked in surprise, 'I can't ask you to do anything more for us. And we can't risk you being seen, for Luffy's sake…'

'It's okay, we're used to being sneaky,' Yasopp cut in, 'It's our job!'

Shanks smiled at his subordinate's good humour, satisfied that he seemed to have stopped worrying about Garp being after them, 'I'm sure we can manage putting just one little boy back to bed.'

But Makino shook her head, 'No, I'd better do it. Even though Luffy's grandfather is known for being quite a heavy sleeper-'

'Then it's fine!' Yasopp interrupted.

'-I still think,' Makino continued, 'That it would be better if I did it.' She looked apologetic, 'I don't think Luffy should get caught with you. At least if I'm found with him, I can tell him that Luffy came to see me because he was…' she looked around as if clues for a believable excuse would be lying and waiting in the small room. Finally, she put an idea forth, 'Because he was feeling guilty and wanted my help to think of a way to apologise to him.' She said quickly and cast her eyes downwards.

Shanks' eyes narrowed, suspicious of her reaction to her own words, 'Would Garp accept that to be true?'

'Probably not…' she admitted, 'but it's the best we've got.'

Shanks nodded solemnly, 'Well, all we have to do is to hope for the best. Do you need our help bringing him over?'

'No, I'll be fine by my own.' She stood up and bent over Luffy as if to pick him up but shortly paused and turned back round to face her visitors, 'Are you planning on staying on this island any longer?'

'If you mean "When are you leaving?" then we're not sure.' Shanks folded his arms, 'We were, as you know, planning on leaving tonight,' his eyes fell on Luffy, 'Until this one thought he'd come and join us.' He paused, 'I told Luffy we wouldn't be able to leave until he was fully rested and better; he may have caught a cold from being in the sea at night.'

Makino nodded, 'In that case, you'll need a place to stay for the night. You can make yourselves comfortable here while I'm gone.'

'Are you sure about that?' Yasopp questioned, 'You'd be putting yourself at a great risk.'

'It's fine.' She said, and nodded once more as if to confirm it to herself.

'Then we thank you.' Shanks bowed his head slightly to acknowledge her generosity.

Makino nodded once more and then she turned to Luffy and pulled Shanks' coat off him. She went over to her coat stand and got down a coat for herself which she hastily put on, then, in a cupboard in the corner of the room, she took out a soft blanket which he wrapped round the boy, and gently lifted the boy up in her arms; he did not shift and seemed to be in a deep slumber. Yasopp and Shanks watched her silently, and seeing the worried look on the sniper's face, Makino smiled at him, 'He's light, I'll manage.' And she made her way over to the door which Shanks opened and shut behind her, only taking a moment to smile thankfully at her.

'Well, she's brave, that's one thing.' Yasopp said partly to himself as he sat down on the settee that Luffy had been curled up on.

'Yes,' Shanks agreed, 'Brave indeed.' He looked towards the floor and down at his feet, a frown clearly visible on his face.

Yasopp, seeing his captain's sudden change of mood, spoke up, 'Something the matter, cap'n?'

His captain looked at his shipmate carefully, as if assessing the situation, or perhaps wondering whether to tell his crewmate or not. Then, 'You could say that. I feel like we've forgotten something, or maybe we've just not done something important altogether.'

Yasopp's brows knitted, 'Something we've forgotten?' He thought for a while, studying the ceiling as his captain surveyed his shipmate, 'I can't of anything.' Yasopp sounded a little bluntly, pushing has gaze back to his captain, who nodded in return.

A silence passed where neither pirate said anything, neither knowing what to do or say, the unsteady and uneasy silence growing every second. Suddenly, Shanks spoke, 'What did you do with the boat?'

Yasopp seemed surprised by his captain's sudden question, 'The rowboat?' he inquired, 'Well… I put it on the shore, just as you said.'

'On shore?'

Yasopp looked at Shanks hesitantly, trying to figure out where all this was going, 'Yeah. On shore, right next to the dock.'

'Ah.'

'What is it?' Yasopp asked, a prick of fear starting to flow through him as he wondered what on earth could be the problem.

'I don't think you should have put it there…' Shanks stopped and put a hand over his mouth, wondering what to do next.

'Why not?' his friend pressed.

'What if someone finds it?'

Something clicked and Yasopp understood, 'Ah.'

'You understand now?' his captain looked at him.

'I do.'

'We should do something about that.'

'Yes, I think we should.' Yasopp nodded.

'I'll go.' Shanks started, and he was just about to open the door when he was interrupted.

'No, it's alright, I will. After all, it's my fault I didn't put it away properly. I should have hidden it somewhere.'

'No, Yasopp, I should have told you what to do. As captain, it is my responsibility. You stay here and…' he looked around the small room, seeking an activity that might calm and occupy his sniper, 'Put your feet up by the fire.'

Yasopp raised his brows slightly, not having expected such a laid back activity to be given to him, 'What if I accompany you?' He suggested.

'No.' Shanks said a little more sternly now, 'It's getting light. By the time I'm back it'll be time for the villagers to start waking up, we can't risk the two of us being seen. You stay here.' And he opened the door and rushed out into the cold air, only now realising how light it had suddenly become. 'How did daybreak come so quickly? Were we really explaining the situation to Makino for that long?'


Tell me what you think guys :)
It may have ended a little abruptly but I think it's alright... :3