A/N: To the wonderful readers, I really apologize for the super late update. I was busy in school the past several weeks and finally, I graduated and finished my degree. I also got hired on a job three days ago. But hopefully, now things were settled, I will be back how I usually update this before.

Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece

Previously:

Under the confusing state of forgotten memories, Ren was 'kidnapped' by Eustass Kidd. Meanwhile, Paul, a marine officer and also Ren's suitor was plotting on 'rescuing' her.

..

They were curious.

Mar, Jet and Rod found their snooping selves leaning at the doorframe of a certain redhead's quarter. Just a while ago, the ship had sailed onto their next destination. Moreover, the three were intrigue at the woman Kidd had brought inside his room.

They felt something strange about the girl. It felt like she wasn't just a mere stranger. Maybe, that was why the captain took her.

Jet was awkwardly pressing his ears at the surface of the door. Mar was positioned closely similar as their shipwright. He wasn't keen of eavesdropping but his instinct had pushed him to do the disapproving act. While Rod was standing few inches away from the two idiots inwardly telling himself that he was there to make sure that his companions won't do something stupid though he was aware they were already doing so.

"Say guys, don't you think this had already happened before?" Jet suddenly muttered. Them, snooping on Kidd's room like this felt a like déjà vu. He had noted.

"Shh!" Mar silenced him subtly whispering, "stop talking, Captain might hear us."

Rod just sighed at the pathetic display. If their roles were something lame as eavesdropper, he'd rather not appear in the scene.

Behind the closed door, they could pick up Kidd raising his voice. So hers. Were they fighting?

Their banters continued. Jet and Mar's inquisitive ears became more attentive. They were trying to picture out the scenario happening inside the captain's quarters. In other cases, they would conclude that Kidd might harm the woman but something was telling them that he would never do so.

Why was that?

Because even a well-known psychopath Eustass Kidd would never ever hurt a crewmember, a nakama.

"Eh?" Mar reclined his head as he asked his co-meddlers. "Did you guys just say something?"

Their confused thoughts were cut off when the redhead's voice had gone into a higher decibel angrily bellowing. "Shut up!" Followed by a loud thud, 'fist slammed on the wall' noise.

The strange female's determined tone countered after his. But it seemed that she wasn't able to finish her sentence when silence across the room ensued.

Minute had passed. Still no sound was heard.

Jet being more eager to eavesdrop, he leaned further at the door. Mar copied again. Nothing was audible. Rod subconsciously mimicked the two, ironically. They pushed and pushed further on until the treacherous wood of a door couldn't hold their weight any longer and burst open.

It was never what they had expected to witness. Though the idea of the red haired making out with other women wasn't really that sporadic, but this time it felt different seeing the captain pressing his lips to the girl's. Plus being caught blatantly sneaking on his privacy was another story.

Rod swore to heavens he'd never snoop again. And he would definitely blame Jet and Mar if the captain decided to skew them to death. 'Never hurt a crew member' appears to be just a fantasy. Well, that goes only for someone like them who casually poke on others' private matters particularly a person as Eustass Kidd.

..

Killer, who was peacefully sipping at his drink nearly choke at the abrupt appearance of his three petrified crew mates. They were panting heavily. Beads of cold sweat dripping on their foreheads. He was in the galley with Wire wondering what had gone into Kidd to order the crew to set sail. Noting that he was going to ask the red head later, Killer busied himself by chatting with their cook about their next course of destination only to be disturbed by the frantic Rod, Mar and Jet.

"What happened to the three of you?" Wire who was settled on the stool asked looking at their direction. "You look like shits."

The massacre soldier raised an eyebrow under his mask inquiring too.

"The cap..tain." Mar and Jet simultaneously stuttered. Killer and Wire was silently waiting for what they were going to say.

It felt weird seeing him pinning the black haired woman to the wall while seemingly k*ssing her. The trio similarly thought.

"Master would kill us." Rod deadpanned hopelessly.

"What do you mean?" This time Killer was becoming more puzzled. "What happened to Kidd?" But before anyone of them could answer his question, the subject of their conversation suddenly emerged.

All eyes directed towards him.

"Captain?!" He stood in front of them.

Immediately at his arrival, the first mate crossed his arms and asked. "Kidd, care to explain stuffs?" Killer wanted to know why he just randomly kidnapped someone. But well, the woman wasn't really random. She shot Kidd. But again, he could've finished her off instantly.

"I don't know.." Kidd's answer caught them off guard and he seemed to be talking to himself rather than his crew.

Killer was surprise at the helpless tone of the captain and he was sure something was wrong with Kidd. For all he know, he wasn't the type to be this clouded. He was the man who's always absolute on the things to say.

"Huh?" The first mate eyed him suspiciously at the same time a bit worried. "What happened?"

Instead of a quick verbal reply, Kidd confoundedly ran his fingers on his hair repeatedly and further blurted again, "I don't know.."

Rod inwardly felt relieved that he could still see the sun tomorrow. From the looks of it, the captain wasn't going to kill them for sneaking at his room and even blasting his door. Rod could see from the corner of his eyes that Mar and Jet were letting out a thankful sigh.

..

Ren was hugging her knees while her back leaning on the wall where she had been pinned by the redhead pirate. She wasn't sure how long she had stayed in that position since the guy had left the room. She was troubled, what in the world was happening?!

Why did he do that?

And why did she revel on it? She just let the pirate k*ss her for fate's sake!

She inhaled and exhaled deeply clearing her confused thoughts.

What should I do now?

Footsteps were heard approaching. She craned her neck to look at the damage doorway. A tall lanky man entered the room she was in. She eyed him until he opened his mouth to speak.

"Miss, are you okay?" He spoke politely. Despite his intimidating appearance, he was sure a gentle one. He walked and crouched down beside her. "I'm Wire, the cook of this crew. What's your name?"

"It's Ren." She answered a bit startled how she was at ease talking to a subordinate of the pirate who happened to kidnap her.

"Did something happen between you and the captain?" His voice was soft. "He came at the galley acting weird."

She immediately flushed at the thoughts of what had occurred to them earlier. "No..nothing." She stuttered.

Wire sensed that the woman must be scared at suddenly being brought in a pirate ship. "I don't know why he kidnapped you." He wasn't sure why Kidd abducted her, but he just felt the need to assure her that she won't be harmed.

"I understand that you might be anxious being captured by pirates but you see, captain may be hot-tempered and violent but if he's going to hurt you, he would've done it by now." Wire continued. And it was effective, her face lightened up calming herself.

After few seconds, the cook stood up and extended his hands to the girl. "Come on, let's go eat. I bet you're starving."

Ren felt unknowingly safe and she found herself obliging.

..

It was already dinner time. When the two of them entered the galley, they were welcomed by the sight of the crew looking at them. All eyes were set on her. But what made her nervous was the particular gaze of a certain pair of golden orbs. The red haired guy was settled on the stool at the table side, his right arm stretched on the kitchen stall behind him.

Ren immediately felt like bolting outside.

What's with these muddled emotions she was feeling around him?! She was growing tired of it.

"Ahem.." Wire cleared his throat gaining all the attention towards him. He placed his palm at her back giving her an assuring look. "I want you to meet the crew." He turned to the pirates. "Guys, her name is Ren." He said as if introducing a beloved guest instead of a kidnap victim.

Killer was still piqued what happened between her and Kidd. He remembered his captain's very word earlier when he was asking what've gotten into him—

"Be nice to her." The only sentence came out from Kidd's mouth few hours ago. He didn't provide any further explanations which made things more puzzlingly interesting.

After their short awkward introductions, Ren took her dinner with them. The crew was surprisingly friendly at her especially Wire and the masked guy Killer.

From the tableside across. Ren could feel that the redhead was observing her. What was this guy planning to her? And what's with her casually having meal with these pirates?

After several minutes, Kidd was the first one to left the galley. He didn't spare a word to anyone throughout out the dinner. He just casually strode towards the exit.

From the back of her mind, Ren carefully noted to confront him alone to sort out things.

But when the captain wasn't in sight anymore, she instantly wish he never left the galley because the moment he stepped out, one of the three familiar guys who witnessed their 'certain activities' began to bombard her with an outrageous question.

"Why are you kissing the captain earlier?" Jet dropped the bomb without any thought. Killer and Wire never ever expected something like that had occured between Kidd and the black haired.

Ren choked on her food. Wire, who regained his composure after his momentary shock immediately provided a glass of water to prevent her from suffocating to death.

Mar and Rod simultaneously whacked the sharp-tongued shipwright while muttering how tactless he was.

She was embarrassed. But somehow...it seemed oddly nostalgic, talking to them like this. It was mysteriously a warm feeling.

..

An hour after dinner, Ren went to talk to the captain.

She wanted answers. Why did the pirate took her in his ship. What would he do to her? He wasn't showing any signs of harming her which she initially assumed he would the moment he captured her.

What was his purpose of abducting her?

That night, the guy named Killer told her the place the captain most likely to be seen.

She found the red haired on the deck. Ren moved to approach him.

She was already standing infront of him. His golden piercing eyes straightly looking at her questioning ones.

"What do you want from me?" The woman asked. And maybe she's just imagining things that she felt him tensed up for a second.

She waited for him to reply. The evening was calm and serene. The moon shone above with such entrancing glowing light. It surprised her that he stepped to close the gap between them.

He slowly lowered his head until his chin was placed on top of her head. Extending his both arms to trap her in a tight embrace that only in his wildest dreams he ever thought he would've done. "I don't know.." Kidd whispered in her ears as he began to nuzzle her hair.

Ren was overwhelmed.

"But it feels like we have met before." The pirate continued. He could catch her shifting to look at him which he only respond by tightening his hold refusing to let her see his weak side.

"Please don't tell me that I'm the only one who is feeling this damn sensations!" He pleaded but ironically demanding.

She just succumbed on his warmth without replying. Her both hands falling limply at her sides.

"It just felt like.." He paused. "I want you to stay by my side." Kidd finished wanting to gag at his choice of foolish words.

Silence dominated for few minutes. He knew she was shocked. Who else wouldn't be at hearing a sappy declaration from a stranger? Who also kidnapped and forcefully k*ssed her earlier. But even so, he wanted a response from her. Favorable or not would do. But again she's still yet to answer him.

"Hey, say something." Kidd spoke slightly getting annoyed at her silence and to himself.

She was still mute. He wasn't a patient man. He broke his embrace to her. This time his fingers gripping at her shoulders creating an ample distance between them.

"Damn girl! Say something!" He glared at her. A mininscule tint of reddish hue coloring the tip of his ears. Here he was sputtering crazy out of his character things only to receive a blank stare from the woman.

Ren tugged her lips into a smile. Call her crazy for thinking the guy was cute.

Despite everything unkind she knew about this man. Despite the knowledge that this guy was her marine friend Laura's despicable enemy, Ren couldn't bring herself to bear negative emotions to the red head pirate.

"What in the heck are you grinning at?" Kidd inquired knitting his invisible brows.

"It's strange.." She finally began to mutter, "that I don't hate you a little bit." Ren was certain, something's wrong with her.

Kidd was taken aback. It wasn't the answer he anticipated. But surely, it made his black hole of a heart nonsensically skip a damn beat knowing that she held no hatred towards a bastard like him.

"For now, I think I'll stay for a while.."

Maybe if she stay, she'd be able to grasp something very important and the answers to those vague images and constricting emotions that had been haunting her for the past several months.

-to be continued.

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A/N: Thanks for fav-ing and following the story.

To PuddyKatz: I'm still working on that part but for now, they're not aware of the lost memories.

To Ren-sensei Fan: It seems like years that I haven't done this (replying from reviews). Indeed, they are still confused. As for Paul, I have minor plans for him. And the major antagonists of the story will be revealed next chapter.

To camillevedelsby: I'm glad you like it. I was fangirling at the last chapter crazily. XD

To WolfChild23: I hate Paul too..haha

To Apple Of Eris: Thank you for the wonderful feedback.

To PippinSqueaks: I'm so happy that you like it!

-'Til then Ja neh.