Chapter 2: A Proposition

Six months had passed, and it seemed like only yesterday Luffy had started training his new fruit and his swordsmanship. Shanks looked back on the memory fondly.

(Flashback)

The group of Red Hair Pirates and Luffy found an open clearing in the middle of the Jungle. They all noted this was a good a place as any.

"Ready to start working on control your new power Anchor?" the Yonko asked in a teasing manner.

Instead of rising to the bait like Shanks was hoping, the boy replied with a smirk, "Yeah, the sooner I get this down…the sooner I can kick your tomato head ass."

After the insult was absorbed into everyone's mind, the pirate crew bust out into a fit of hysteric laughter. The only member still on their feet was Ben, but he had a hand on a nearby tree to balance himself. The kid got in a good shot, that was clear to everyone, even the one who was insulted.

With a tick mark above his eye, and repressing the urge to shout, he simply stated, "This is gonna be a lot of fun for me now. I was going to take it easy on you until that comment."

"So what are we going to do?" Luffy questioned with the most innocent look he could muster, which was pretty convincing.

"I'm going to try to touch your shoulder, if my hand goes through I'll hit you," Shanks explained calmly but in his head he was thinking 'This is going to hurt a lot…for both of us.'

"Alright, let's do this!" the boy shouted full of determination. Shanks slowly walked forward and placed his hand on his shoulder…only for it to pass through and get electrocuted. His hair was standing straight up and Luffy was unsuccessfully holding his laughter in.

Turning his head to the crew, while pointing at his role model, he shouted, "THE TOMATO BLEW UP!" What he wasn't expecting though was the rather harsh blow to his midsection that sent him flying into a tree.

"You should be paying attention and focusing ya little prick," Shanks scolded as soon as Luffy walked back to his original spot.

Rubbing his now sore stomach, Luffy gave a sheepish smile, "Yeah, you're right. I'll stop messing around now."

(End Flashback)

Coming out of his memory, Shanks looked over the clearing. Luffy was practicing his swordsman skills. Yassop had grabbed a pistol and some regular ammo, at Luffy's request to test his control over his fruit powers.

His training was interrupted as someone called for him, "Hey anchor, why don't you take a break?"

"QUIT CALLING MY THAT STUPID TOMATO HEAD!" Luffy yelled as he sheathed his sword and placed it on his back. He was still to small to wear the blade on his hip.

"Sure," Shanks said as he patted the ground next to him. "Come take a seat. I have a couple of things I wanna ask you."

"Oh?" Luffy said shocked and intrigued. He walked over and sat down next to the man. "So what did you wanna ask Shanks?"

"First, what would you say if I asked you too join my crew," the Yonko asked as he watched for Luffy's reaction. "Only until you turn seventeen I mean."

"Why?" Luffy questioned with a suspicious glare.

"Several reasons honestly," Shanks said with his gaze turned towards the sky. "The most important one for you though…it gives you a Yonko tie that you didn't have last time."

Luffy's eyes went wide. His idol certainly wasn't wrong, after all he did tell them everything about his past.

"Plus," the pirate captain started again. "If you aren't opposed to the idea. I'd like to adopt you, no one should have to live without a father figure."

That reason threw the boy for a loop. It was really surprising to hear, but in a good way. Soon enough though Luffy's expression changed into a small smile, "Even though with both know who my real father is, you would adopt me?"

"Yeah," Shanks said without a worry in the world over it. "He was never there for you before anyway, and I know you look up to me and my crew."

"Alright," Luffy said after letting out a long breath. "When do we set sail…Captain Dad?"

Shanks quickly turned his head in surprise. The man wasn't really expecting the boy to agree at all. His expression quickly changed though to a mile wide smile, "Tomorrow afternoon…son."

"Alright, guess I should go gather what little I have," Luffy said as he got to his feet and flashed away at lightning speed.

The red haired man just continued to sit there. Smile still on his face from happiness. "Looks like a have a new crew member and son," he whispered to himself. Not a trace of disappointment in his tone.

It was then that his crew approached him. Collectively, excluding Lucky Roo who was stuffing his face, the crew thought, 'Guessing Luffy agreed.'

"So captain," Yassop started. He wanted to verify his thought. "You look happy, so I'm guessing Luffy agreed to join the crew?"

"Not surprising," Benn stated as nonchalantly as possible, but the smile grin tugging on his lips gave away that he was excited. "He always did look up to us. More to the captain but he admires all of us."

Shanks just stared at his crew for a moment. "Yeah he agreed to join the crew, but that's not all."

"What else happened Captain?" Lucky Roo asked through a mouthful of food. Finally taking note of the conversation.

"Oh not much," the Yonko said. The ridiculous smile on his face saying otherwise. "Just our newest crew member also agreed to let me adopt him."

The crew was not expecting that. When the words completely registered everyone of their jaws hit the ground, even Benn's. It was like they were frozen, as if time stopped. It remained that way for five whole minutes.

That was Luffy returned with a small bag. He'd seen the shocked expression and the frozen crew. "What's up with them Shanks?" he knew the man had adopted him but having the mind of a twenty-two year old, it was still weird thinking he had an actual dad now.

"That just found out about what we talked about," the captain said nonchalantly as he got to his feet. "Well let's get you back to the ship to set up your room kiddo!"

Luffy had seen the light sparkle in his new fathers eyes. 'Guess he always has seen me as the son he never had.' the boy thought as he followed the man.

It wasn't until the new father-son duo left that everyone snapped out of their daze. "WHAT THE HELL!?" the crew yelled. More out of surprise than anything else. They were completely happy for the two of course, and knew they were going to have to celebrate for the rest of the day.

(Later - Party's Bar)

Two hours quickly come and go. The crew had rushed to the ship to help set up Luffy's room. It was a single with a small desk, a wardrobe that by the end of getting all his clothes in there it still had tons of space. The room also had a small bed bolted to the floor, with a chest at the foot of the bed.

The desk had a few books on it which confused Luffy at first. He was told by his new dad that he'd explain that later. In the chest was eight million beri, but he wasn't to worried about that at the moment. Overall he was awed at the room.

At present though all the pirates, including Luffy, were at the bar. They had to celebrate their new crew mate, and their captain's adopted son. Alcohol was flowing, food was flying. Stories traded, and the atmosphere was overall pleasant.

Yassop was telling story about Ussop. He was also being told stories about what his son would do in the future. It brought a tear to the mans eye that his son had followed in his foot steps, being drunk he forget that he already knew that though.

The party carried on late into the night. It was around one in the morning though that all the pirates stumbled back to the ship. They were all drunk and smiling, even Luffy was buzzed. Oh Shanks was going to hear about that tomorrow, hangover or not.

(Next day around 10a.m.)

The pirates had all woke up and went about getting their supplies, aside from Luffy and Shanks who were standing by the ship. They were both smiling while staring out at the sea when someone approached them. Everything was all good, until the person started scolding Shanks AND Luffy.

The father-son duo were clutching their heads due to the volume of the person's voice. Being yelled out by Makino wasn't the start to a good day, because she didn't yell unless she was really pissed off. That in itself was a rare feat, but after her yelling she had bent down and pulled Luffy into a hug.

"Be careful out there Luffy," she whispered tenderly into his ear. He caught the underlying tone of sorrow. He had a few ideas why that was though.

"Don't worry," the boy said as soothingly as possible. "Shanks and I will be back in ten years so I can set out on my own adventures."

Upon hearing this, both Makino and Shanks blushed. Though the the bar tenders was more notable than his new fathers. Both were sputtering denials about their feelings though.

That's when Luffy slipped Makino a piece of paper and whispered, "Here, use this to help train so when we return you can follow your heart."

She could hear the hint of sadness in his words, so she nodded he head in thanks. When she stood up she approached Shanks. Thanks to Luffy's words,and his tone relaying that he understood her, she did something no one had expected.

She had grabbed the Yonko's shirt and pulled him down. What happened next caused Shanks to go wide eyed, and the returning crew to cat-call. Because when she had pulled him down she placed a loving kiss on his lips.

When she finally pulled back, she was wearing a smile as wide as the seas. "You better come back soon." was all she said as she turned around and started walking away. She added a little extra sway in her hips as she left.

"Woo," Yassop hollered. "Maybe we should have asked her to join to huh captain?" he said in a teasing tone. Shanks just nodded dumbly.

Then the Yonko felt a tug on his sleeve, "So I guess I'll have a mom in ten years then right captain dad?" Luffy said with a mischievous grin. At that remark Shanks resembled a tomato completely.

After composing himself, he turned to his crew, "Time to set sail!"

Once everyone was on-board, the captain started shouting orders out to people. Except Benn, Yassop and Lucky who were all standing next to him and Luffy.

"Alright Luffy," Shanks said turning to the boy. "There's books about world history, navigation, devil fruits, and other books on your desk. You'll spend an hour reading each book, then two hours sparring with me in swordsmanship. After that it's up to you to train your haki or learn how to use a gun with Benn and Yassop's help."

Luffy just groaned in defeat. "Alright."

"Look on the bright side Luffy," Yassop stated with a grin. "At least you aren't a cabin boy tasked with cleaning."

"Good point," Luffy said as he turned and walked away. "I'll be in my room reading if you need me."

With a smile Shanks walked towards the front of the ship, 'Ten years and I'll see you again. Hopefully what Luffy handed you is helpful." the Yonko thought with a smile. 'This should be one hell of an adventure.'

A/N: Well this was somewhat of a challenging chapter for me. By that I mean I was struggling with the direction of it. The reason for that is, I have a minor case of OCD. Another way to look at it is, I'm somewhat a perfectionist when it comes to writing. Does that mean I won't make mistakes? Of course not, I'm still human.

Anyway, yeah Shanks will play a bigger role in the story, and Makino will get her time in the spotlight. I couldn't resist the Shanks and Makino scene either, so I hoped everyone enjoyed that! Until next time.