...

The Red Force sailed through the surprisingly calm waters, barely swaying as the favourable wind helped it cover ground. The almost blue sky reminiscent of hometo the two captains on deck.

One, an oddly content look on his rubbery face, laid on his back on-top the figurehead. Every now and then opening his eyes to stare at the clear sky, a wistful smile growing on his face every so often.

The other stood a fair bit away, idly staring at the teen every now curiously though most of his focus was on the horizon.

Particularly the slowly nearing island.

"You look relaxed," Shanks remarked, his body leaning against the railing as his head turned towards the stern, though still set on the skies.

He held back the sigh that threatened to escape as his eyes landed on the, admittedly far away, News Coo employees following his ship.

It'd been like this for the past few days. No attempts at getting rid of them from his crew had any effect.

And after the first one had had the nerve to deliver that... Shanks shook his head, his mind forcibly locking away what he'd read and heard from that particular news delivery. Needless to say, no one else had bothered coming onboard his ship after the first one returned injured.

And no, he didn't, in fact, attack the bird.

That honour fell to the other captain on board.

"It's a boring day," Luffy answered, his eyes closed, his hat-less hair swaying the slightest at the breeze.

Shanks raised an eyebrow, his ire at the flying demons gone, as he turned back towards him.

"Here I half-expected you to be restless, running about demanding an adventure!" He chuckled, his head shaking the slightest.

Luffy lazily opened his eyes at the words, the smile slowly disappearing as he stared.

"It's not an adventure without my crew,"

"Oh?" Shanks smiled. "Are you not a pirate without them either?"

Luffy blinked at the question, a frown forming on his face.

"I-" Was as far as he got before the realisation dawned on him, his eyes sparkling the slightest as he brought himself up.

"My crews never far from me," Shanks added on, his gaze turning ahead. The island ever growing closer. "Even if we're seas apart,"

Luffy nodded, seriously, as he leapt to his feet, landing beside him.

"How long before we reach Dressrosa?" And find your hat. He questioned, the glint in his eyes slowly dimming out as he took in the others expression.

"...I am not entirely sure... I think about a day?"

"... I miss Nami..."

Shanks held in the urge to twitch, a strained smile appearing on his face-

"Never stealing her meat again..." The sullen boy promised, presumably meant to be silent, to himself.

Instead of reacting to that, Red-hair found himself staring back up in the direction of the impudent flying turd- News Service following his ship.

...

"You said it was a day away..." Luffy whined.

"It's been fifteen minutes Luffy."

"But-"

'BOOM!'

Both captains, instinctively, covered their ears as the sound of a cannon went off, Yassops excited cry following it.

"Ha! How'd ya like that one! Shit on my biscuit will you?" Yassop grinned as he turned towards him.

"Language..." Shanks groaned, his palm covering his face, before rapidly snatching away the pad of paper out of Luffy's hands. "You don't need to write that one down,"

...

Shanks sighed, his head laid on-top of his hands as he leant on the railings. Luffy beside him, copying his stance.

"Is this what you do while you wait?" Luffy questioned, his head snapping towards Shanks.

"... I usually have a drink with me,"

But alas, Benn refused to budge.

For whatever reason, his first mate was adamant about staying completely sober...

Shanks wasn't sure what the big deal was... It wasn't like they were going into a fight.

That was after he got Roger's legacy back.

Whoever created that wretched recording, he intended to find. Even if he had to pluck every damn trash-talking bird in the grand line to do it.

Luckily enough there was a group of News Coos still following them, not a step off their trajectory, their distance not budging the slightest.

...

It was funny, really.

The closer his ship seemed to get towards Dressrosa, the calmer the weather seemed to go. The faster the breeze that propelled them forward seemed to reach.

Yet, for some odd reason, even as the shores came into view, the island felt further away than ever.

The sound of water crashing against his ship filled the air, the sea growing shallower by the second and yet... For some reason, everything felt... Off.

It was too-

"I don't like this," Luffy's sudden voice brought him out of his musing. The words forming a frown out of the Yonko.

"Don't like what?" He questioned, warily.

"... I don't know, but I don't like it. Something feels wrong about it..." Luffy remarked grimly, his eyes once again set on the approaching horizon.

On that he could certainly agree. Even still, Shanks once again turned his gaze to the stern, his eyes landing on the group of News Coo's still keeping their consistent distance away from his ship.

...

It was funny really.

The kind of things one missed. Even when hidden in plain sight.

Shanks, warily, jumped off his ship, his crew on his heels. All of their expressions mirroring his. All but Lucky at any rate. The meat-devourer not remotely bothered as he swaggered further into the island.

Luffy landed with a thud, just behind him. His own wary expression fighting with his energetic side. His head snapping from left to right, as he grit his teeth.

"It's-

Truly, it was absolutely hilarious what one could miss, in calm weather.

"-too quiet..."

His crew stiffened at the words. Lucky himself freezing on the spot as he and the rest quickly withdrew their weapons.

"You're right..." Shanks remarked, a tad hint of horror filling him as promptly broke into a dash.

"Wait captain-" Benn remarked to death ears, his expression turning irritated as he promptly started following. The rest on their heels.

"It's too quiet!" Shanks yelled out to his crew.

Unnoticed, unfortunately for the pirates in question, the News Coos steadily closed the distance. Their gleaming small visual snails at the ready.

Though one could hardly blame them for that.

They'd entered through Dressrosa's front gates, yet not an observable sound of civilisation could be heard.

...