Summary: Everyone dresses up and the final guests arrive. The wedding finally marches forward. Tomo switches perches every five scenes. Or something. Somehow.

We're coming close to the end of this story, folks. Sorry for the absurd wait on this thing.

I hope you've been enjoying this ride. I've been enjoying it too.

The theme that marks this chapter is the piano version of We Are by Animenz Piano Sheets for One Piece. Enjoy. :)

"Mugu…"

"Princess, I understand this is uncomfortable for you, but please stand still. There's pins and it'd be troubling if one poked you now."

I took a breath and did my best to stop fidgeting. It was hard considering all the ribbons and lace, but this was Izō-san we were talking about, and I didn't want to interrupt his work. He had a sequin in his mouth as he took a bit of the dress hem in his hands, looking it over before pinning it with a small pin from the pincushion sitting on his wrist. If not for him already proving his expertise in the work of fashion in these past few weeks, I would've been more concerned about said sequin in his mouth considering he was wearing lipstick. Still, the bun atop his head didn't even have a hair out of place — a visual testament to his apparent concentration.

"Izō-san, is this really…" I resisted the urge to raise my arm to gesture, instead pressing my fingers together to not jostle the dress. "Is this really okay? This seems complicated and expensive…"

And I thought Hikari-san was bad… Hisako adjusted her glasses while looking through my eyes, and she whistled. I think I see more frills on this than those old Disney Princess dresses! And I'm including the cosplay ones kids wore for Halloween!

…This is just confirming the "Princess" moniker I'm carrying now, isn't it?

Yeeeeeep! Hisako just had to pop the last "p" for emphasis. Argh.

"Nonsense, Princess." Izō-san unknowingly agreed, clicking his tongue around the single pin stuck in-between his lips as his hands started making some kind of stitch I couldn't see in the dress. "You are the main bridesmaid of Spoons and Souchou's wedding and the Princess of this ship. Expensive is more than worth you."

"M-Muguuuu." Why did these pirates love me? I didn't do anything worth this much spoiling. Even then, I took a breath and held back the urge to fidget again. The lace veil decoration sitting in my hair couldn't be disturbed. "Th-Then, Izō-san?"

"Hm?"

"How much did all this cost?"

There was a distinct blowing sound, muffled by a pin, and then something was gently poking the outside bit of my thigh. "Hold still, sweetie. And don't ask."

"…Why?"

"Because you shouldn't have to worry about it."

"When you say that, I'm more tempted to worry about it!"

"And, little Princess," Izō-san shifted patiently, and the poking went away just like that. "I said you don't have to worry about it. Now please raise your arms in a T-shape for me, okay?"

A worried breath left my lips, but I did as he asked. The commotion going on outside didn't help much.

"HEY, LIPSTICK, IS THE PRINCESS READY YET?! THE NINJA ARE—" There was a distinct hiccup, and I held back the urge to wince. Not the time to move, not the time to move. Leith-nee was still roaring, why, it was her wedding! "THE NINJA ARE READY!"

The hem of my dress wrinkled, and I didn't have to look down to know the grip was from the aptly named "Lipstick," who was most certainly pissed. "GIVE ME A MINUTE, SPOONS, FOR GODS' SAKE!" Izō-san yelled over his pincushion, his hands not even stalling in their adjustments as he took out a few pins. "DON'T RUSH ART!"

"THE NINJA ARE RUSHING ME, LIPSTICK!"

Izō-san puffed an equally miffed, "THEN YOU DEAL WITH IT! YOU KIDNAPPED THEIR PRINCESS FIRST, SPOONS!"

Ooooh, that's a burn. The truth, but, Hisako's glasses shined over, still a burn.

Almost as if it was expected, silence followed. Izō-san huffed again, taking out more pins from the dress before gently airing the skirt portion without jostling me. "The things that woman asks for… I could've sworn she's more a foul brute than any proper lady…"

"Um," I squeaked, feeling bad, "I'm sorry about that?"

Izō-san blinked before raising his head to look at me, the frustration evaporating from his eyes. "What are you apologizing for, little Princess? You didn't do anything wrong. In fact, you've been very good following my instructions." A warm smile came over his face. "So many could learn from you."

"O-Oh," but that wasn't what I meant, and the protest was close to surfacing on my tongue. "But, Izō-san, that was out of sympathy—"

"Besides," Izō-san lowered his head again to glance over his work on the lace before slowly standing up, putting his hands on my shoulders to turn me around, "you finally look your part, little Princess. Very cute."

All I could think of in that moment was, That is not me.

Izō-san was positively beaming over my head. "What do you think of my latest work for you, Princess?"

The many bows hit my vision first once my reflection cleared up in the mirror opposite of me, and I could feel my face start to flood with heat. From the pink of the dress to the blue ribbons accentuating the sides of the puffed skirt, I could've been a Sylveon, but at the same time, not. Maybe "cupcake" would be a better descriptor word. The white sleeves were puffy and reminding me of Mama's usual style, but with the matching lacy white collar and petticoat, I could've been a noble girl. Even then, the blue ribbons crossing my chest seemed to accentuate the "present" aspect, and I had to tilt my head only once for the veil headdress to brush my cheek. It wasn't even a full veil than a hair decoration that accentuated my hair like a crown with the blue ribbon, and with my usual white hair ribbon on my right side, it just completed the image of a girl I didn't feel like I really was.

Even then, I raised my hands to my chest. The girl in the mirror did too. I tried to smile a bit, and the girl in the mirror did too.

The girl in the mirror was far more radiant than I thought I ever could be.

Is this… really me?

Hisako smiled. Yes. Yes it is, honey, she murmured lovingly. Yes it is. You need to give yourself more credit. And thank Izō-san, okay? He made you beautiful.

The beginnings of what felt like tears started to bubble in my eyes, and I took a breath. The girl in the mirror really was me. "Th-This is amazing, Izō-san. More than I-I think I deserve…"

Oh, Tomoko-chan. You modest charge of mine, you. You deserve so much more.

"Oh, Princess, that's not true." The hands on my shoulders squeezed, and Izō-san's smile turned soft above my head. At least, from what I could see reflected in the mirror. "You made our Souchou smile so much, you made Spoons of all people calm down, and you helped our Captain laugh. You more than deserve this." He poked my cheek teasingly and I held down a sniffle. I couldn't help it. Even then, his eyes softened and he poked my cheek again. "There there, sweetie, don't cry yet. Keep the happy tears back. I still have to hand you over to the bride to check on any makeup. A Princess has to look her part." Izō-san squeezed my shoulders once before turning his head to the door behind him. "Cover your ears now for me, please?"

I blinked the tears back, raised my hands, and covered my ears.

"SPOONS! THE PRINCESS IS DONE! GET OVER HERE!"

"FINALLY, LIPSTICK! TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH!"

Even through my makeshift ear covers, it was hard to miss the telltale slam of the door hitting the wall as it opened.

Oh boy, Hisako summed up for me. We're doomed.

I couldn't agree more once the bride herself made herself apparent in the mirror. Frilly shorts and all. That was the wedding gown?

"Chikadeeeeeee! Oh my fucking god, you look so prettyyyyyyyy!"

"LANGUAGE, SPOONS!"

Yep. I was doomed.

Hisako crossed her legs in her newest armchair, considering. Probably are doomed, yep. With a pause, she then added, Should I dress up too?

I-I dunno if that's the right question, Hisako!

My Nobody shrugged. It did not stop her from twirling around a la Magical Girl style to don a sleeveless purple dress. Oh well. At least someone was having fun.

I had to sit still once Leith-nee brought out a makeup brush.

It wasn't everyday Judai found himself stifling laughter, but then again, it wasn't everyday he found his missions hijacked to attend a wedding of all things. That would be interesting when he and Minato got around to giving the mission report back in Konoha. Still.

Whenever he got home, he would definitely hug Hikari and claim, "Never again. I'm going back to retirement." Right now?

"Judai-jichan, stop smirking. It's creepy."

Kakashi glowering at him was the frosting on top of the cake. Or was that how the saying went?

Oh, whatever. Seeing his kids trying to fiddle with ties was hilarious.

"I can't help it, Kakashi," Judai said as evenly as he could around his snickering, "b-but do you need help with that?"

Kakashi rolled his eyes, adjusting his mask before shaking his head, pulling at his suit collar with a pointer finger. "Don't treat me like a kid. I'm fine." The lopsided knot keeping his suit collar in place though…

Pffft.

"But you are a kid, Kakashi," Judai replied gently, walking over to grab the troublesome tie in question to fix it. If Hikari was here, he knew that she would be throwing a fit over it. So, in his wife's place, he'd have to be the responsible adult. "And as one of the Jounin overlooking this mission, even if I'm retired and temporarily back in business, you're in my care too. It's okay to admit to mistakes and ask for help."

Kakashi scoffed under his breath, but didn't pull away as Judai fiddled with the crooked knot. "I'm already in your care, Judai-jichan."

Judai grinned once the tie was finally in place. "Is that a complaint?"

Kakashi turned his head away at the words, but his ears turned a slight shade of pink. "…No."

Judai kept up the smile as he took his hands back. "Glad to hear it." With a turn of his head, he glanced around. Kei seemed fine, considering she was immensely concentrated on fiddling with the collar of her suit, while Obito — well, Obito was getting handled by his sensei. Minato could handle that, since there was a rivalry between Obito and Kakashi that Judai was not sure about touching. Still. The three kids were handling the suits just fine, so what was left…?

The question popped up in his mind, so Judai decided to ask, raising his voice all the while. "How are you doing, Jack?"

"It's 'Jackie' now, Judai!" was the more feminine call behind the nearest dressing room curtain. "Feeling a bit different now with the wedding!" There was shuffling, and then a follow-up of, "I have to take pictures, darn it! Work with me, dress, work with me!"

Uh. This was new. Kinda. "Whoops," was the only thing he could find himself saying. Judai rubbed the back of his head just as Kakashi huffed through his nose disapprovingly. He couldn't jostle the suit, but the regret was still obvious from how his face felt like it was starting to burn. "Sorry, Jackie!"

There was a little shifting this time, and the curtain was pushed back to reveal the former Marine in a long and shoulderless black dress, the color scheme easily complementing the dark magenta lipstick and curled lashes. Judai couldn't help but wonder why she chose black, but at this point, it was fancy enough for a wedding. Meanwhile Jackie smiled while crossing her arms, shrugging. "At least you didn't mean it." She sighed, looking very tempted to pinch the bridge of her nose before turning her head away. "Some shitty coworkers of mine have made that mistake before and they haven't heard the end of it."

Double whoops. Judai rubbed the back of his head. "I'm sorry." He meant it.

Jackie shrugged, turning back to him with a glint in her eye. "Hey, no big. Thanks for correcting yourself, though."

"Least I can do." The years of handling the cafe with Hikari gave him that much experience, which was more than could be said for his time as a ninja, but that was spilled milk. No use thinking on it all now. "Ready for the wedding?"

"Am I ever!" Jackie was smiling this time, and Judai couldn't help but share her enthusiasm with how much her eyes were sparkling. "Two of the biggest pirates in the name of all the New World will be getting married today! And with Tomo-chan as their bridesmaid," she proceeded to pull out a large DSLR camera from behind her back, brandishing it with happy flourish, "it will make for amazing pictures! We just can't miss it!"

Where did she get the space to hold that camera? Judai couldn't help but absently wonder.

"It'll be worth it considering we all had to get dressed up," Kakashi grumbled. "The mission report will be difficult."

"Kakashi," Minato admonished from over Obito's head, not even pausing in adjusting his own necktie. "That's rude."

Kakashi snorted, said a dutiful but still dry, "Yes, Sensei," and went quiet after that.

"Hey, hey," Obito finally got to his feet via jumping up from his chair, glancing around frantically. "Where's Tomo-chan?"

Kei, with her slicked back hair and all, which Judai still found miraculous considering Miyako had problems with the thing that Kei called proper hair care, led the way to the only door leading out of the dressing room. She put a hand to the doorknob before swiveling her head to give everyone in the group a wry smile. "She's coming over here in about a second. I think Leith-san is about done with her."

Obito blinked. "Wait, wha—"

That was fast. Keep forgetting how good sensors are. A reminder to thank Miyako when we get home for having Kei-kun to begin with.

And before Judai and the others could react, Kei twisted the doorknob and swung the door open.

"May I present to you," the apparently happy Izō announced from the hallway, pushing a familiar pianist forward, "Your princess and our esteemed guest of the Whitebeard Pirates, shinobi-taichi!"

"Take in our Chickadee, sluggers!" Leith was in the most unorthodox wedding dress of some kind, considering her shorts were barely accentuated by a long blue waist veil and a matching blue sleeveless top, but she was pushing Tomoko too, grinning like it was her birthday. "Bask in her cuteness!"

"Bwuh." Obito said faintly.

Jackie then reacted, gasping dramatically before there was a mechanical whirr and a camera flash. Tomoko blinked and flushed a darker red with the motion, her hands clasping each other a lot tighter. "Tomo-chan, you're so cuteeeeee!"

Judai sucked in a breath as his heart swelled to twice its size. "Hi, hime," was all he could coo in that moment.

Tomoko was still blushing while raising a hand to nervously wave. "H-Hi, Papa, Team Minato." To Jackie, she said, a bit quieter, "J-Jackie-nee, please turn down the camera flash?"

"Whoops!"

Yep. His daughter was cute and no one would be able to convince him otherwise. With the small ribbon veil in her hair and the many ribbons on her pink and blue dress, it was as if she had walked out of Nagareboshi Cafe's own dressing room, wearing one of Hikari's personal creations from how the pastel colors all matched one another. The small white rose-shaped purse hanging from her shoulder and the pink flats added to the "Princess" look and at this point, Judai was thoroughly convinced of how these pirates (and the one Marine present) all fell in love with his daughter. The amount of respect in the stitches and clothing design said it all.

Who put on the makeup, though? Judai never recalled his hime wearing that light pink eyeshadow of all things. But it fit.

Ah well. She was still cute. Maybe even more than usual thanks to the dress-up.

Shit. More things to thank Leith for after he throttled her. Maybe.

Judai glanced over his shoulder for a second before mentally double-taking at the visible pink showing on both Obito and Kakashi's surprised faces. The thought of the boys seeing his princess in a different light was… well, polarizing to think about, especially since Obito was staring more than he probably should've been.

Hm.

Kei, on the other hand, thank god, was smiling, letting go of the door to offer a hand to his daughter in the meantime. "You look good, Tomo," she praised, "just like how our princess should be."

"K-Kei-chan…!" Tomoko's ears were turning red too, how cute. "Don't say that… I-It's just embarrassing…"

"Heh," Kei was still grinning, offering a hand to her in the meantime. If Judai didn't know any better, she could've passed off as a rugged prince about to escort a royal. Then again, with the "Princess" title his daughter was given… "C'mon, Princess Tomo, say something to everyone else now, won't ya?"

Yep. Kei was getting in on the joke too. At this point, Judai didn't know who would collapse first — his daughter, the male ninja her age, or Jackie who was still taking pictures.

Tomoko's mouth took on a shy "o" before thinning out to a small line and she nodded. "O-Okay." She nimbly jumped over the small bump on the floor from the doorway before placing her hand in Kei's open one. The gesture merely resulted in Kei's smile widening as she guided Tomoko to the others. Judai couldn't help but smile in her direction as a form of encouragement while the other ninja finally started to catch on.

"You look very pretty, Tomoko-chan," Minato started first. Polite guy, the ass. Without looking, Minato then nudged his first student. "Don't you think so, Kakashi?"

Tomoko hung onto Kei's hand a bit tighter as Kakashi finally unfroze himself, clearing his throat before nodding. "Good work on the clothes design, Izō-san," he said at first. "And it suits you, Tomoko." He then nodded to himself, crossing his arms. "Hikari-bachan would kill to see this."

"Th-Thankie, but, but I dunno about Mama killing—"

Judai held back a snort.

"Y-Yeah, Tomo-chan, you look amazing!" This time, Judai had to stifle a laugh once Obito jumped up in the air, rustling his previously well-done tie, but at this point, he had every right to do it. "Definitely like a princess!"

"O-Obi, thank you, but not you too…!" Tomoko was looking more and more tempted to duck and hide into Kei's shadow, but the knowing smirk on Kei's face proved she wasn't going to have it. Kei merely had to nudge her once, causing Tomoko to jump, and then the conversation was followed up with a nervous, "C-Could we stop looking and just go to the ceremony!? Please?!"

Leith was the first one to burst out laughing. Judai couldn't help but follow in her example. While scooping up his daughter in a carry-hug because why not?

"P-Papaaaaaaaa!" Smaller hands were gripping his hair, tugging in protest. "Heeeeeeeey…"

Judai cooed softly, pressing his lips to his little girl's head. His daughter was so cute. "I love you too, sweetie."

She wouldn't be this light forever.

"So, Leith-nee?"

"Hm?" Leith was humming, holding back laughter at the bright pink coloring Tomo's round face while walking through the familiar wooden halls of the Whitebeard main ship. Judai merely propping up the little girl in his arms to carry just made her look all the more cute. "What is it, Princess?"

Tomoko looked like she was close to pouting if not for the contemplative look on her face, and her voice conveyed as much once she spoke. "We're not the only guests for your wedding, right? Since a full reception would require more than, um," she glances at her ninja friends flanking Judai's sides before looking up and adding a quieter, "my ninja family?"

It's only for a split-second, but Leith does not miss how the kids send each other smiles and smirks of sorts. They knew. Behehehe.

"Well~ Princess, that is a good question!" Leith's tempted to grab the veil off her head to twirl on her index finger, instead reaching over to pinch Tomoko's cheek. She squeals enough to make Leith laugh. So cute. "But yep! You guys aren't the only ones coming!"

"Wait," Jackie blinks, her eyes wide, "we're not?"

"What did you think, Davy?" Leith is tempted to laugh aloud, but the expression on Jackie's face is just so tempting it's hard to hold it in. "There's more to this than the Whitebeard Pirates! We have family coming in!"

"Why am I not surprised," Judai mumbles, his face caught between tired exasperation and fondness. Leith could already guess the fondness was towards the Princess still nestled in his arms and she grinned. "Who is it?"

"Two words!" Leith grinned while raising two fingers. "Straw Hat!"

Jackie paled in time with Kei, and Leith blinked. Jackie, Leith got, considering everything in her Marine work. Prooooooobably why Leith would never get around to telling Wendy about the Straw Hat visitors and leaving that to dear old Pops. But Kei? She was still a kid. Why was she paling when she had never met the guys before?

"No," Jackie said flatly, her face darker than anything Leith had seen in a while. Hah. The joke could last. "Please god, no."

The ship proceeded to shake. Leith didn't mind, merely grinning once everyone else jumped, and the air was punctuated with Obito's loud, "WHAT WAS THAT?!"

"Oooooh, lookie, they're here already!" Without skipping a beat, Leith proceeded to grab Tomo and just run, not even minding Tomo muffling her surprised shriek in her neck. "C'mon, ninja, prove you're faster than me!"

"TOMO-CHAN!" Obito shrieked. Sheesh, how loud was his vocal cords? He could rival a certain dork of a fiance right now…

"GODDAMMIT, LEITH—!" she could faintly hear Judai roar. The tapping of many sandals were fast to follow behind her lead, but Leith pushed on her muscles while concentrating her energy into the balls of her feet and holding up a little Princess still hiding her face in her neck.

"Catch y'all up on deck~!" Leith chirped to the ninja while to Tomo, she added, "Take deep breaths, sweet cheeks! It'll only take a second~! You'll love the new faces!"

"I-I highly doubt thaaaaaaaat… You didn't have to steal meeeeeeeeee…" Tomoko mumbled in Leith's shoulder, her shoulders shaking in her white and pink dress. The veil on her hair seemed close to falling off if not for the one tiny hand hanging onto it with all the strength a little ten year old girl could have. "L-Leith-neeeeeeee! I-I'm gonna hurl!"

Whoops. Without skipping a beat, Leith detached one hand to reach into one of many pockets left in the shorts of her impromptu wedding gown, grabbing one ginger drop out of a lovely stash before offering it to Tomo mid-run. "Open your mouth and eat this, sweet cheeks," she said in a rush, kicking open the door in time with the wrapper undoing itself. With a small, almost inaudible swallow, Tomo did so and by then, the shivering stopped. Leith made sure to stop too once the sun shined in her face and she grinned.

The large skull and crossbones with a straw hat on the sails facing her from afar was hard to miss.

"Miss Leeeeeeeeeeeith! We came to your wedding!" Of course it was the blond lover boy who came out of the ship first. But, wait. Was he crying? In a white suit?

Oh, whatever. Leith grinned back at the lovesick cook, winking. "Sanji! Get your ass over here!"

Tomo inhaled sharply in her neck before looking out. "Sanji…san?"

Hearts flew off Black Leg Sanji almost immediately as he leapt once off the deck of the Thousand Sunny and Leith put the Princess down onto the deck as soon as he reached her. "Black Leg Sanji-san, back in service to you, my Lady!" He carefully reached over to take her hand and press a kiss to the back of it, causing Leith to laugh. Sanji was still trying to be chivalrous, hearts flying off of him and all. Did he even notice there was a kid in the vicinity? "If only Ace didn't take you, I'd have said something—"

Yeaaaah, nope. "Hm?" Leith pretended to rub the inside of her ear while obviously showing a shit-eating grin. A little extra Haki in her arm helped reinforce the message. "What was that?"

Sanji paled. "N-Nothing, Miss Leith, nothing at all!"

The sandals behind her finally caught up as Kei was the first one on the scene, blinking owlishly once she reached the Princess. Sure enough, Tomoko was still standing there near Leith's coattails, her hands close to her chest as she gaped. "S-Sanji-san?" she squeaked. "Sanji-san is a pirate like Nee?"

Just like that, time stopped as Leith held in a snicker.

"Tomo," Kei's voice cracked a little, "You know this guy?"

Okay, why was she looking weirded out? Even if Kei was a kid, she was still a bloodthirsty ninja in Leith's book. Why was this shocking?

"K-Kinda, I just thought he was a cook—!"

Sanji turned to stone as he slowly turned his head downwards to meet those large innocent blue eyes in eye contact. "Oh," he said, then slowly rubbed the back of his head, waving gently. "Well. I've been caught." The gentleman mask he was supposed to be was back on. "Hi, ojou-chan. Looks like I found you first?"

Huh. Leith never thought Sanji had it in him to be soft to kids, but then again, this was Tomo. Her being in the picture automatically meant the adults had to dial shitty behavior down. Jealousy and all. Innocence did that.

Tomo's eyes gleamed with something as she trotted over to tug curiously at one of Sanji's sleeves. "I-I didn't know you were a pirate, Sanji-san."

Sanji's gaze softened and he got to one knee, a small smile on his face. "There's a surprise for you, ojou-chan," he said, and Leith didn't even feel surprised at how he reached over to adjust the little veil sitting on Tomo's head. "I told you to look for a skull and crossbones with a straw hat when I left you. So." He finished fiddling with the hair decoration before quietly saying, "Are you okay with that?"

"S-Surprised," Tomo stammers, but this time she mustered the courage to reach over and pat his head. "But okay with it." She smiled. "It's Sanji-san."

Sanji inhaled sharply before genuinely smiling back, a fond snort leaving his lips. Leith could already see the affection in his eye without even making out his entire face. Another person was now in Tomo's corner, and all she was doing was being honest. "Thank you, ojou-chan," he said softly, and his hand gently brushed some of her hair back. "You definitely look like a Princess now. You're here to celebrate Miss Leith's wedding?"

"Nee's wedding," Tomo corrected, a happy look in her eyes now. "And you're here to stay too?"

"Of course! There's no way I could miss Miss Leith's wedding!" Sanji stood back up to put a hand to his chest, huffing proudly. "As a man, I had to—"

"ACEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

It did not even take a second for Sanji to sweep up Tomo in his arms and run away from Ground Zero like his pants were on his fire, just as Leith pushed everyone else behind her for the eventual Straw Hat himself to come in. Hell, Leith could've sworn Sanji's boots were burning like his namesake of Black Leg. And sure enough, there was a large outstretched hand that apparently just attached itself to the nearest mast, and along with a distant shout of, "GUM GUM GRAB!", Leith already knew who it was coming in.

"GODDAMMIT, LUFFY!" Sanji yelled at the incoming captain, and the only response was a boisterous laugh once a red jacket came into the distant view.

The arm, as long as it was, quickly shortened back to human-length once two sandaled feet made contact with the ship's deck. A hand kept down that same hat, and once the straw hat stopped rustling in the wind, Leith raised a hand.

"HEY, LUFFY!"

"YO, LEITH! Where's Ace?!" Luffy smiled toothily before rounding on Sanji, barely missing Tomo while screaming, "And Sanji, do we have food?!"

"Ace is still inside being a coward!"

"You're here for a wedding, not for the food, you dingus!" Sanji roared from the sidelines, taking the chance to cover Tomo's ears once she winced. "Seriously, we have a little lady and her folks here, be a bit more nice about it!"

"Eh?" Luffy for once was speechless.

Tomo was blinking from her newest perch in Sanji's arms, her hands on the cook's shoulder. "Um."

Leith was tempted to laugh. Or throw her head back and chuckle. Either or. This was still new. After all, someone made the newest Yonko in the news stop. That said something.

Nearby, Jackie crossed her arms over her chest. "At least Sanji's respectful to Tomo, the jackass."

Once the other Straw Hats started yelling out their usual banter in the midst of lowering a plank to cross over to the Whitebeard ship (something like, "LUFFY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" to the point of Leith wanting to cover her ears), Dad was already on his way out to the deck as Luffy grinned at the frozen Tomo in Sanji's arms. He tipped his hat towards her.

"Hi there! I'm Monkey D. Luffy, the man who will be the Pirate King! Remember that!"

Tomo gaped. "P-P-Pirate King!?"

Leith did not miss how Kei turned to stone behind her. Huh.

"Pirate King!"

"P-P—" Tomo raised a shaky finger at Luffy. "Pirate King?"

"Pirate King!"

"That's a really big job, though!" Tomo continued in her high-pitched voice. "Won't you get into danger?"

"I'll get really strong and with my crew, we can do it!" Luffy beamed, slapping a hand to his chest just as Sanji put his palm to his head. "Right, Sanji?!"

"Seriously, Luffy, why start with that…?"

"Huh?"

"Gurarararara, little Princess, come here. Away from these youngsters." The towering figure behind Sanji dispersed every other voice and Leith grinned. Tomo squeaked yet again as someone else picked her up, and this time, Whitebeard's large grin was enough to shush her too. "Now then, since the guests are here…" he raised one fist in the air.

Leith grinned and did the same.

"LET US START THIS WEDDING!"

Author's Notes: This took way too long to write. And I can't help but miss Eli and Ali-nee. Internet's been weird since Tumblr had its NSFW ban. I hope this is good enough at least to catch both of your attention spans.

Eli, Ali-nee? I love you both a lot. Hope we talk again soon.