This wasn't part of the formula.
They're meant to have a big celebration, with food and dancing. Not another warlord coming to kick their ass, while their main fighter is down.
Tani had Luffy in her arms, he was completely knocked out. Zoro stood valiantly before them, swords at the ready.
"This is cruel!" Lola growled. "For years, we've fought for our shadows back. Now another warlord is after our heads." she took on a battle ready stance.
"Stand back," Zoro barked at Lola. The swordsman focused on Kuma. "This is my crew to defend. If I can't win this fight, then it shows my limits as first-mate... And as a swordsman." Zoro challenged. Nami called out to him.
"We can help," she assured him, already spinning her clima-tact around like a baton. Zoro held a sword out, blocking her from moving.
"You're all injured, Luffy would kick my ass if any of you got more hurt than needed." he stated. Only to turn back with a smirk. "It's my job to keep the crew safe, so sit down and rest." he commanded.
"Listen to the marimo," Sanji sighed, smoke escaping his lips. "This is his fight... But I'm jumping in if you're dumbass can't take it," Sanji promised. Zoro huffed.
"Like you can do anything, curly cue," Zoro teased. Sanji gave a huffed laugh.
"Then don't get your ass kicked." Sanji shrugged.
Tani held Luffy closer, his head resting comfortably in the crook of her neck. She sat on the rocky ruins of the castle courtyard, staring at Kuma and his wide form.
The crew had no idea what this guy was capable of. He hadn't uttered a word since showing up, and his appearance didn't give anything away.
"It appears Monkey D. Luffy has collected a number of skilled crew mates. His reputation is well earned." Kuma speaks in a hushed tone. His gaze drifting over every member of the crew.
"Leave them out of this," Zoro snarled. His voice taking on a tinge of something dangerous.
"It's not only Luffy, who has a reputation." the warlord said cryptically. Zoro narrowed his gaze before performing the first attack.
Tani didn't even blink, before Kuma was behind Zoro. His palm open, moving to press against Zoro's back. The swordsman was quicker, dodging the blast.
Dust settled, leaving behind a paw shaped indent into a wall that would have been Zoro.
Kuma fires another paw print blast, this time Zoro just barely dodged out of the way. His breathing already heavy with exhaustion. Usopp clenched a fist.
"He's already too tired..." the sniper commented. Zoro regains his composure, launching another attack at Kuma. Who holds up his palm, which has a cat-like paw print on it. The attack Zoro had sent, simply bounced off the paw. Repelling away from the warlord.
"That's what he did to that pink ghost girl!" Nami realized.
"What?" Tani asked. Usopp seemed curious too.
"The ghost girl, she was trying to steal Sunny. When Kuma showed up, asking her where she wanted to go for a holiday. Then poof," Nami made the poof hand motion. "He smacked her and she vanished," she recounted.
"So he can repel things? Or make them disappear?" Usopp examined. Tani just squinted.
"What does repelling things. Have to do with paw prints?" she pondered. Honestly she couldn't see the correlation.
"Perhaps the paws aren't cat paws," Robin suggested. Franky just sat back and laughed.
"What a super! Strange power. Kinda cute," he snickered. Only for Kuma to turn around and send a blast of air at Franky. Hitting him square (paw?) in the chest. The cyborg fell down, letting out a groan.
"Guess he doesn't like being called cute." Tani shuddered. Pulling Luffy closer, the captain remained limp.
Kuma and Zoro continued to exchange blows... Well, Zoro attempted to hit Kuma, but the warlord would just repel the attacks back. Zoro was growing more fatigued with every strike. His slashes becoming sloppy and shaken. Sanji was bouncing on his best foot, worry clawing at his chest.
Kuma managed to repel one attack, too close to the swordsman. Zoro dropped like lead, his body heavy with exhaustion. Kuma stood over him with a paw cannon at the ready.
Time for Sanji to tap in.
The blonde raced as fast as he could to Zoro's aid. Kicking the warlord as hard as he could-
*crack*
Sanji winced, biting his tongue to hold back the yelp in his throat. He dropped to the ground, his leg flaring with pain. What the hell was Kuma made of? Steel?
"Fire bird star!" Usopp called out with an air of nervousness. Kuma deflected the attack like it was a pebble.
"This is no fun at all," the warlord sighed. He lifted his arms up above his head, a small paw shaped ball of air slowly started being tossed back and forth between his hands. The ball growing in size.
"What's he doing?" Sanji strained to say. Nami jumped to her feet and ran towards the chef, Chopper following her to collect Zoro.
Once the paw shaped ball grew to a certain size, Kuma started to shrink it back down. Robin let out a small gasp.
"He's compressing the air." she stated. "Kuma plans to cause a large scale explosion," she says with widened eyes. Tani feels her heart, jump into her throat.
Tani wasn't explosion proof. The wars from her home world were evidence enough of that.
This was actually going to kill her...
"I'll stop the attack," the warlord announced. "In exchange for the surrendering of Monkey D. Lu-"
"Yeah, no. Piss off with that." Tani cut him off. Kuma turned to look at her.
"I think we can all agree, that Luffy is far too important to all of us." she said. "Selling him out would be a shitty thing to do. So in the nicest way possible." she gives him a feral glare.
"Piss off,"
Kuma didn't turn away from her.
"Tanisha Lowe, with a bounty of 150,000,000 berri on her head. Holder of the second highest bounty on the straw hat crew." he recited. She tried to steady her heart beat, she couldn't look scared now. Not after that declaration.
"Don't even-" Zoro coughed, his eyes a dangerous shade of crimson. "Think about touching her." he snarled. Kuma looked at the swordsman blankly.
"Then perish," he said simply.
He dropped the ball, as if the world slowed down. Tani turned away from the bomb, her body curling in on Luffy. If she was gonna die, she wants to make sure that Luffy makes it out of this with the least damage as possible.
*Boom!*
...
"... Me inst-..."
"N-... Lea-e... Mos-..."
Tani's head pounded, ears ringing with white noise. Her vision was a blur of colours.
How was she? Still alive?
Tani groaned, lifting her head up to find Zoro smacking Sanji in the back of the head. Knocking the chef out with the hilt of his sword.
What the hell? Why would he do that?
Her head throbbed with every movement she made. She couldn't think straight, what was she doing? Where was she?
"Zoro? Wha' ha'ben?" she drawled out. Getting to her feet, wobbling her way towards the swordsman. He looked at her with concern laced eyes.
"Go back to sleep Tani," he ordered softly. "Everything will be just fine. I'm taking care of it," he assured.
Zoro was never this comforting... Something was wrong.
"Wha-?" Tani latched a hand into one of Zoro's hands. Her fingers clasping around his palm, he didn't hold her hand back. "Why you being so? Nice?" she asked. Her other hand grabbing her head.
"Tani," Zoro spoke in that soft voice again. Tani didn't like it, it was too kind. "Please go back to sleep." he whispered. Tani shook her head like a rebellious child. Zoro let out a sigh, whipping out the scabbard of Wado.
Tani was out like a light.
Zoro caught her before she smacked into the ground. Laying her beside Sanji, the love struck chef would take good care of her.
"Ready?" Kuma asked. Zoro nodded.
"Lead me somewhere secluded, I don't want to wake them." he requested. Kuma silently walked away, Zoro followed.
He turned back to look at his crew, hopefully this wasn't the last time.
A smile clawed it's way to his stone like features.
He couldn't die just yet, the crew still needed him... And he still needed them.
Zoro turned away one last time. Let's get this over with.
...
"Sanji! I'm hungry!" Luffy whined. Jumping up and down at the kitchen counter. Tani was sitting at the bar with a glass of water, Chopper having her under watch.
She'd managed to injure most of her body, one of her legs under wraps and both her wrists in braces. Her body was covered in bruises, so she was forced to take it easy. Much to her own displeasure.
At least she wasn't completely knocked out like Zoro.
The crew had all woken up from the battle with Kuma, to find him and Sanji missing.
It was also a surprise to find Luffy so well rested and full of energy. He was dancing around, doing cartwheels and running laps of the camp.
About an hour after everyone had woken up, Sanji came running with a completely knocked out Zoro slumped over his shoulder. Covered in blood, clothes tattered.
The sight was enough to cause a panic. Someone as strong as Zoro? Being so bloody and beaten? It just wasn't something they could comprehend.
Zoro was resting easy, his breathing had evened out after Chopper gave him a blood transfusion. The colour returning to his tan skin.
Sanji wouldn't say a word about what happened.
It's been a day since then, now Tani is sitting at the bench, with her glass of water. Watching Luffy shove three cheese wheels into his mouth. She couldn't help but laugh.
"You can eat at the feast, now help me move this too the courtyard." Sanji demanded. Handing over a tray with aluminium foil covering the top. It smelled strongly of marinade. Probably some meat that'll be cooked during the celebration. "If you even think about lifting that cover, I'll be roasting your rubber ass over an open fire." Sanji threatened. Luffy gave a cheeky laugh, before running off with the tray.
Tani put her cup on the counter, and sighed.
"So I'm gonna go out on a limb here, and say that you know what happened to Zoro." Tani said. Sanji didn't turn away from the dishes he was washing. His back to her.
"He knocked me out, before I could see what he was doing." Tani continued. "I saw him do that to you too... So I wanna know what happened." she stated.
Sanji paused in his washing of the dishes, shoulders slumping. He turned on his good heel and faced the girl, already pulling a cigarette from his pocket.
Inhale, exhale. Smoke dancing from his lips.
"You can't tell Luffy." he said. Tani gave a nod.
"After the blast, Kuma knocked pretty much everyone out. He was planning on just taking Luffy, right then and there." Sanji recounted. "Zoro woke up first. I don't know what he said, but I woke up a moment later. Zoro was going to trade his own life for the ensured safety of everyone." Sanji puffed.
"So he knocked us out, so we wouldn't stop him?" Tani asked. Sanji bit down on his cigarette with an annoyed expression.
"Yeah..." he scowled. Tani could feel the tension in the air.
"How does that explain Luffy? And his burst of energy," Tani pondered. "Last time he was in a big battle, he was knocked out for at least three days." she said.
"I don't know, Luffy is Luffy. He makes no sense at all." Sanji huffed. Tani rested her head on her arms.
"I'm glad he's alright though." she grinned. Sanji felt his heart swell.
"It'll take more than some tacky, bat themed squash. To take Luffy out." Sanji chuckled... Speaking of taking out.
"When were you planning on telling Luffy, how you feel?" Sanji asked out of the blue. If Tani was sipping on her drink, she would have spat it out.
Oh right... She still had to do that.
"Uh... I'll get back to you on that," she said with a wonky expression. Sanji puffed a laugh.
"I don't mean any offense," Sanji started. "But for such a smart girl, you really are a total dunce." he teased.
"I'll add you to the list of people that have said that to me, in the last week." Tani said with an eye roll. She gently placed her head on the bench, groaning.
"It's not like I can just waltz up to him, declare my undying love, and be on my merry way." she complained. "Luffy's way too... Luffy." she said, like that would explain her situation.
"You won't know, unless you give it a try." Sanji shrugged. Tani whined.
"Aren't you the love expert? Mr love cook," she poked her tongue out. Sanji scoffed.
"I'm an expert on love, but this," he waved a hand around Tani. "This is something that even I, can't help you with." he spoke with mock sorrow.
"I want a refund, I'll accept payment in a fruit parfait." she huffed. Sanji have a laugh.
"At the feast. I'll make one, specially for you." he promised. Tani gave a grin.
"Good," she beamed.
"Oi! Tani," Luffy called from the front deck. "Come here!"
Sanji laughed, before ushering her out of his kitchen. The girl stared at the large pile of gold and treasure that Nami was hoarding like a dragon. Luffy was sitting beside it with his hands on what looked like a bracelet.
"I'm not sharing any of this with you guys," Nami told Lola, who was standing there with a soft smile on her face.
"Don't worry Namizo, we wouldn't dream of taking from our saviours." Lola assured. Nami's eyes widened.
"Namizo?" she questioned. Her cat like grin, growing wider. Lola questioned why she called Nami that.
Then the impossible happened.
"Actually, here." Nami said, handing over a small pile of treasure to the pirate captain. "As thanks, for saving my life twice." she grinned. Her pearly whites bare for the world.
Tani and Luffy looked at each other in disbelief. Who was this woman? And what had she done with their Nami!
"Oh! Hey Tani look at this," Luffy got up off the ground and ran over to her. Showing off the bracelet that he got to keep from Nami's hoard. "Looks cool, doesn't it," he beamed.
He put it on, and turns out it was an arm band, not a bracelet. He slid it up his arm and showed it off.
"Now you look even cooler than normal," Tani complimented. Luffy nodded in agreement.
"Do you want something from the pile? I'm sure Nami would be nice and let you have something." Luffy asked. "I saw bunch of really cool things in there, and you're really cool too, so you should have something to make you even cooler." he rambled.
"Even cooler than you?" she joked. Luffy shook his head.
"I don't know if you'll be cooler than me. I have a cool armband." he pointed to the band. If Tani had a dollar for everytime either of them said cool-
"But you'll be the prettiest, out of us two. Because your a girl," he justified. Tani decided not to look into the comment... You know... Like an idiot.
"I'm sure you can be pretty too." she giggled. Flicking his straw hat off his head. "I have a bunch of hair ties and bobby pins. We can do your hair up all pretty." she joked.
"That sounds fun, let's do it! Right now," Luffy said with excitement. Grabbing her hand and dragging her towards the girls cabin.
Nami laughed at Tani, as she was tossed into the room. Luffy slamming the door behind them.
...
"You need to hold still, otherwise it'll get all messed up." Tani scolded. Trying in vain to get Luffy, to stop poking at the bobby pins that she'd used to pull his fringe back.
"But I wanna poke it." he pouted. Tani snickered.
"God, you sound like me." she couldn't help but comment. Luffy perked up.
"That's good, because you're great." he grinned. Tani sighed.
"If I'm great, then you must be a god sent." Tani shot back. Tying up a tuft of hair.
"Can I do your hair too? I wanna do your hair." he asked. Bouncing on his legs, Tani pushed on his shoulder to stop him from moving.
"Maybe? My hair is pretty high maintenance. So you'd need to be really careful-"
"I can be careful! I promise." he swore. Tani playfully rolled her eyes.
"Only if you stop moving." she said.
Luffy had never been so still in his life. He had to concentrate really hard on not moving. Luckily for him, Tani didn't take too long to finish messing around with his hair.
"I didn't expect you to actually sit still..." Tani admitted. Dropping a hair brush into Luffy's open hand. She sat down in the chair and prayed to every god out there that Luffy wouldn't-
Luffy ran the brush through her hair, extremely fast. Tani was shocked that he hadn't ripped her whole scalp off.
"Luffy!" she gasped. "Gentle! Please... Don't want you tearing my head off." she joked. Luffy nodded, adapting to the situation. Even in a domestic situation, his mind was running things like he was in a battle.
After that small hiccup, he was surprisingly gentle with his brushes, with the occasional tug. He didn't know how hair ties worked, so Tani had her hair loosely clumped together in coloured ties. Luffy would pin back random parts of her hair, leaving it to stick up at odd angles.
She looked like a rats nest.
And she loved it.
It brought back memories of when she would do her mums hair, being a child with no idea how to work around her mother's fluffy hair. She would fill it with colourful hair clips, objects that would stick into the afro, and tie it off into puffs.
Her mum would wear it out for work, whenever Tani did it up. Even if it looked like a mess.
"All done!" Luffy grinned. Tani laughed happily.
"It looks great," she complimented. "I like what you did with this pin," she pointed at one that made her hair stick up, like it was electrocuted.
"Knock knock, I'm coming in-oh my god." Nami walked in, staring at Tani's hair. Trying her best not to laugh, "Wow, Tani. Loving the new look," she sputtered.
"Thank you, Luffy did it for me." Tani said, Luffy stood there with triumph.
"Yeah! And it was really fun." he cheered. Nami thought the whole situation was too cute.
"How about I take a photo?" Nami suggested. Already moving in on Tani's camera. "Before we need to clean up." she smirked.
"Oh, yeah! Let's take a photo. So you can put it on the wall." Luffy jumped, pointing at Tani's small collection of photos.
She didn't have many with her in them.
"Uh... Sure, if you want to," Tani agreed. Luffy was already squishing himself into her personal space, cheeks pressed so hard that Tani couldn't see out off her eye.
"Say berri," Nami called.
"Berri," the pair grinned.
*click*
"That'll cost you both 10,000 berri, each," Nami winked. Tani rolled her eyes, Luffy was complaining about the high price. Nami ignored them, "Anyway. Luffy! Get out." she demanded.
"What? I was here first." he argued. Nami started to remove her cardigan.
"Because I'm getting changed." Nami spoke back. Slipping her top off. Man, she was ballsy.
"I don't care if you're naked. I've seen it before," Luffy countered. Nami wiggled her shorts off.
"You still owe me money for that," she commented. Luffy crossed his arms.
"Why? Because I saw you without clothes? That's dumb. It's just a body," he shrugged. Nami had a devious grin.
"What if it was Tani? Would it just be a body then?" the red head asked. Tani gawked.
"Nami!" she shrieked. "Don't ask such-"
"That's a dumb question. She's just Tani? Nude or not." Luffy said bluntly.
Tani wanted to die of embarrassment, right then and there.
"But, you think she's totally cute right?" Nami continued. Tani covered her ears and closed her eyes.
"Stop it Nami! You're-"
"Well duh? She's the cutest girl on the crew." he admitted.
Curse you, heightened hearing!
"That's not a hard contest." Tani justified. "Nami's the hottest, and Robin's the most beautiful," Tani stated. Luffy shrugged.
"It doesn't really matter, looks don't mean anything. If you're nakama, then you're nakama." Luffy stated. Nami let out a groan.
"God, you guys are so stupid sometimes." she said, muffled by the sound of her slipping a new shirt on. "Tani, can you grab my black skirt? It's hanging in the back of the wardrobe." Nami asked. Tani got up and searched for the missing garment.
"Now that Tani is gone..." Nami said with a devious grin. "You should totally admit, that you have a crush on her." Nami grinned.
"Why would I want to crush her? She would die. I don't wanna kill Tani," Luffy sounded distressed at the thought. Nami slapped herself in the head.
"No? You're such an idiot." she huffed with humour. "A romantic crush, you know? Wanting to hold her hand, or kiss her." Nami explained simply.
"I always wanna do that stuff, so I just do it. Why would I need to add crushing to it? That's a dumb name." Luffy said with confusion.
"Nami! I can't find the skirt. Are you sure it's in the racks?" Tani called from deep within the wardrobe.
"Maybe it's been folded and put away. You know how Robin gets," Nami called back. Turning her attention back to Luffy. "Now. I'm gonna say this once, and only once... Unless you pay me to say it again." Nami said. Luffy nodded.
"It's so obvious that you have the hots for Tani. The whole crew can see it." she said matter-of-factly. "We're all sick of seeing you two, pussy footing around each other. Just kiss and get together." Nami ended.
"I found it!" Tani called out. The sound of her rushing back, could be heard.
"Don't tell her, that we had this conversation." Nami winked. Luffy gave a nod.
Tani came running in, holding the mini skirt out to Nami. The red head grabbed the garment, slid it onto her waist. Turned to Luffy with 'the look', and walked out the room.
"What was that all about?" the girl asked. Luffy gave a shrug.
"Nami said I should kiss you, but told me not to tell you." he replied. Tani's eyes went buggy.
"She what?!" Tani yelled. Luffy laughed.
"Your face is doing the funny thing again." he pointed out. "Is it because Nami said we should kiss?" he asked. Tani's face felt so hot, it should have melted off.
"Just ignore her. She's being a jerk," Tani assured. "Uhm... How about we head over to the feast now?" Tani suggested. Changing the subject.
Luffy was already running out the door.
Tani sighed with relief, catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her hair was still a total mess...
She left the room with it still up.
...
"Yohoho~ look at me!" Brook called out. A few people turned to find him leaning on the wall at an angle. "45° angle joke," he said with a burst of laughter.
Tani doesn't know why she's laughing, but she is and it feels great. This whole feast feels great. They've earned this.
Tani was on the dance floor with Nami and Usopp. A group of musicians from the Rolling pirates, were playing pirate shanties in the background. All of them were unfamiliar to Tani, then again. She hasn't really had a chance to hear any from this world. They don't have a musician on the crew.
Luffy was stuffing his face at the food table, because he's Luffy. Sanji was cooking himself a glass of wine, taking a small break from the kitchen. Robin was calmly sitting on the edges of the room, not really one for big parties. Lastly, there was Chopper and Franky, who were doing that chopstick dance together.
Brook continued to run around, telling joke after joke. Each one just as dumb as the last. They all earned some kind of chuckle from Tani.
As the energy of the feast started to slow down, Tani sat at the table with her specially made parfait. She watched the room, her sights set on Brook. He was at the piano, giving the keys a couple of taps.
This caught Luffy's attention. His future nakama, can play the piano?! Is he a musician? Luffy just had to know, right now.
Chopper sat down beside Tani, a small cake on his plate.
"How's your leg?" he asked. Tani lifted the wrapped limb, giving it a look.
"Feels fine, nothing's broken... I haven't broken a single bone. Like at all, during this adventure." Tani realised. That's crazy to her, being so squishy and weak. She should have snapped one of her limbs clean off at this rate.
"That's a good thing! I don't know how long it would take for you to heal a bone." Chopper stated. Tani thought back.
"I remember, this kid in 9th grade broke his arm once. It took him like? A couple months to heal back up." Tani recalled.
"That's so long! I'll have to add that to my Tani folder." he noted.
"You have a medical folder? Just for me?" Tani wondered. Granted, he'd probably need one for everyone. In case of allergies or blood types.
Chopper went to open his mouth, when the piano started playing a jolly tune. It sounded familiar? But not familiar in a nostalgia way.
"I know this tune." Robin said sweetly. Sitting down beside Chopper, a glass of something alcoholic in her hand. "I've heard it in my travels, Bink's sake." she title dropped.
"Oh, that was the song that Brook was singing. When we first spotted his ship." Tani commented. That's why it was so familiar.
"I've never heard of it before," Chopper said, shoving a spoonful of cake into his mouth.
"It's an old pirate song, I wouldn't say I'm surprised that Brook knows it." Robin said.
Tani listened to the song with a grin on her face. This was what she imagined when playing pirate, sea shanties to sing while sailing the seas. Stealing treasure, fighting other pirates.
Tani didn't really understand what the song meant, but she sure as hell was having a good time clapping along with it.
Robin and Chopper had left her, to go dance with each other (Chopper had asked politely, and Robin can't say no to such a cute face). So Tani was left to her own devices.
She got up from the table and headed for the exit, she wasn't done with the party. Heavens no, she still had some dancing to do. She just had something she wanted to do.
She walked through the now, clear night sky. No signs of fog at all. The stars had never looked so lovely. She couldn't stop to admire them for long, she didn't want to risk having someone hunt her down. That someone being Luffy, because it's "not a party without everyone there".
Tani paused in front of the giant corpse of Oars, her hands in her pockets. She felt around for a second, before pulling out a bell.
She felt sad, that Oars had to spend his life as a puppet. Even she had used that aspect to her advantage. Yet in the few hours he had un-lived... She couldn't help but call him a friend.
Tani placed the bell in his open palm, it was a bit of a climb, but she managed just fine. Once she got up there, she sat down. Not really wanting to move.
She didn't really consider this mourning, then again. She's never had to mourn a death before. That's what happens when you don't have many people in your life.
"Sometimes... I think about how lucky I am." Tani said to Oars. She curled herself into a ball, legs pressed to her chest. Head lifting to look up at the stars. "Sure, this world wants me dead. My bounty is enough to confirm that... Still can't believe it's so high." she puffed. Letting her gaze turn back to Oars.
"I'm glad I could make friends." she said softly. Letting the wind carry her voice. "I never want to leave." she admitted to herself. The sound of Bink's sake came to an end, a new song taking its place.
"I have these people, all of these wonderful people. I love them all, I can't imagine my life without them." she continued.
"I hope this isn't a dream," she sighed.
"This isn't a dream, you can't get hurt in dreams. That's what Makino said."
Tani jumped out of her skin, letting out a yelp. She turned to find Luffy standing right behind her.
"How long have you been here?!" she cried. Luffy plopped down beside her.
"I dunno, a bit? You kept saying weird things." he crossed his legs, bouncing his legs up and down.
"I always say weird stuff, when I'm talking to myself." she remarked. "It's too quiet when it's all in my brain." she shrugged.
"I do that too." Luffy said with a nudge to her side. The pair sat in silence after that. Not really knowing what to say. There was no tension... Until Tani started to over think.
Should she say her confession now? Would Luffy even understand? He was always so openly affectionate with everyone. Tani wouldn't really know if she was reading signals wrong or not.
"You're thinking again." Luffy said. Poking her in the head. Tani scrunched her brows. "Just say what you wanna say. Better out than in,"
Better out than in... Tani let out a sigh.
Here it goes.
"You're very blunt with how you say things." she started. "And, you never do things you don't wanna do." she added. "So, you would only ever say yes, or no. Never pretend." she can concluded to herself.
"Yeah. Why do things I don't wanna do? It would be dumb." Luffy agreed. Tani gave a nervous nod, sweat already starting to build up in her hands.
"S-so... What I'm trying to say..." she choked on her words. Her heart was beating so fast out of nerves. "I'm trying to say... Basically is?" why couldn't she say it.
"Are you ok? You look constipated." Luffy asked bluntly. Tani barked out a laugh.
"More like I have no idea how to say, what I wanna say." she replied with nervous humour.
"Well. Let me help you, because that's what I wanna do." Luffy offered. Tani couldn't help but smile, despite her gut screaming at her.
"It's ok... I just need you to promise me something. Even though, in my head. I know you won't be... Can you promise that you won't get upset?" she asked, her voice was weak with nerves.
"I promise." he grinned. Tani held up a pinky.
"Pinky promise?" she requested. Luffy held his pinky up, the pair curling them around each other.
Tani let out a deep breath.
"Look, I'm being pretty dramatic right now. But this is all really new stuff for me... Here it goes." Tani took a deep breath.
"I really like you, but in a more than friends kind of way." she blurted out. Instantly moving to grab her face in embarrassment. She refused to look Luffy in the eyes.
She did it? She confessed! Take that, everyone on the crew.
Luffy was completely silent. Tani didn't know if he was thinking about what she said, or if he didn't actually catch what she said. Maybe she should add-
"That's what a crush is!" Luffy blurted out, "Now, Nami makes sense." he said with a satisfied smile. Tani peeked from between her fingers.
"She told you?" Tani said with a squeak. Luffy shook his head. "Then? Why was she talking to you about crushes?"
"Dunno, Nami is weird about things." he shrugged. Tani decided to shift the subject a bit.
"Anyway... I just wanted to let you know. You don't need to say anything-"
"Oh, I like you too." Luffy admitted casually. Tani paused...
What?
"Wait... Really? You're not just messing with me." Tani asked. Luffy laughed.
"I'm not messing around, that's just mean." he assured. Tani let out a hysterical laugh.
"So you're not kidding? This is for real?" she asked again.
"Is your hearing broken?" Luffy asked with genuine concern. Tani shook her head, still laughing.
"That's... Not how I expected that conversation to go." she admitted. "I'd been so worried that you'll hate me, or something like that... You know? Because I plan for the worst." she laughs.
"That's dumb. Planing things is dumb." Luffy said. Tani rolled her eyes.
"You're dumb," she says, poking out her tongue. Luffy gave her a pout.
"Well... You're more dumb!" he shot back. Tani couldn't stop giggling.
She couldn't stop this feeling of euphoria.
Please don't be a dream.
"Hnnn... Right!" Luffy said.
"Wha-"
Luffy smacked his lips onto her cheek. The force almost knocking Tani over. It was there one second, gone in a flash.
He kissed her.
It was more like a peck, with the force of a sledgehammer. Tani didn't care at all! She was on cloud nine, with how happy she was.
She turned her head to find Luffy looking just as happy. He was always happy, but there was an air to the way he carried himself now. Like he'd just discovered something really cool.
Luffy, in his Luffy way. Jumped to his feet, grabbed Tani by the hand, and hoisted her to her feet.
"It's cold outside, and they're gonna eat all the meat." he stated. Tugging Tani along with him, she followed with no resistance.
"I hope they still have cake left," Tani wondered aloud.
"Well hurry up, slow poke." Luffy whined. Tani picked up the pace.
She couldn't be happier right now.
...
"Everyone! Gather round." Nami called out to the straw hats. She had a bag full of berri by her side. Everyone (excluding Luffy, Tani and Brook) knew what was about to happen.
"It's time to dish out the "Will Tani confess?" berri." Nami announced. Tani was not amused.
"You all made bets on this?!" she grumbled. Looking at everyone with betrayal in her eyes.
"Sorry, not sorry." Usopp shrugged.
"Alright you lot, let's take a look at the betting list... First we have Zoro, who bet that she wouldn't do it. Better luck next time." Nami sighed. Crossing his name off the list. The swordsman gave a shrug, not really caring about this situation.
"Next we have Usopp, who bet that it would take her until at least Sabaody to confess. Sorry man," she said with a pat to the snipers back. He sighed in defeat, Nami crossed his name off the list.
"Next we have Sanji, who made a bet on every island. So he gets some berri in return, but not a lot." Nami announced. Digging her hand into the bag and handing the chef a stack of neatly bound bills.
"We have Chopper, who didn't make a bet. Saying it was mean to do so... Buzz kill," Nami booed. Tani walked over to Chopper and gave him a hug.
"At least you're not an ass," Tani thanked the doctor. Chopper hugged her back. "Unlike the rest of you lot," Tani glared.
"Shush, I've got a betting game to run." Nami silenced. "Ahem... Now we have Robin, who was spot on with he bet. Even to the point of guessing what time it would happen." Nami said, clearly impressed with Robin's skills. She grabbed about half the bags betting money and handed it to the raven haired woman.
"Lucky last, we have Franky. Who bet on the same island as Robin, but didn't guess the time. So his cut is slightly smaller." she announced. Handing the cyborg his wad of cash.
"That's all folks," Nami grinned. Tying the bag back up and hoisting it over her shoulder.
"You're all the worst! Except you Chopper. Oh and Brook too," Tani snarled, softening at the end of the sentence. The skeleton gave a jolly laugh.
"Shall I play a love song?" Brook offered. Tani narrowed her eyes at him.
"Never mind... You're a jerk too." she mumbled. Brook laughed.
"You wound me so, it feels like my heart will break... Except I don't have a heart. Yohohoho~" Brook joked. Tani was annoyed that she let out a laugh.
"Hey? Where's Luffy?" Tani asked.
Multiple hands pointed towards the masthead.
"Thanks... Also you're all the worst!" Tani said again, before running off. A choir of laughs followed.
The night rolled on. Sunny set sail for the next island.
What adventures awaited them? Well, whatever it is. The crew would be ready.