Naia's eyes fluttered open as the chill of a breeze brushed against her naked skin. Her eyes drifted toward the sleeping form beside her, trailing across his naked body. Her skin still tingled from their activities earlier in the day. The sun had begun to set, and Naia was getting worried about how long they had been on the island. Hopefully, the boys were alright. Naia carefully unwrapped Shanks' arms from around her and wrapped her body in his black cloak. She stood at the edge of the cliff, letting the mist from the ocean caress her face while she watched the sun continue to set. Naia wanted nothing more than to immerse herself in the waters below and lose all sense of self by becoming one with it. Naia clenched the cloak in her hands as a tingle spread across her back in remembrance of what kept her chained away, why she had to stay away.
"It's a beautiful sunset," Shanks hummed in her ear as he wrapped his arms around her. His chest pressed against her back, making her forget her troubled thoughts. "Not as beautiful as you are, my nymph."
"Nymph?" Naia closed her eyes when his lips grazed against her neck.
"It fits you. You always seem so full of life and free-spirited. Like the nymphs told in those old legends." The man chuckled and trailed his hands up her arms, making the cloak flutter down to her feet when he pushed it down. He peppered her shoulders and neck with light kisses. His tongue coming out to taste her skin every once in a while, lapping at the bruise marks left. Naia let herself get lost in the sensations, allowing her head to fall back onto his shoulder. A shiver ghosted over her skin when his fingertips traced a shape along the center of her upper back.
"Naia, what is this?"
"What's what?" Naia hummed.
"This mark on your back." Shanks traced the lines with a firmer touch.
"It's nothing, a folly from my youth." Naia squirmed in an attempt to get out of the man's arms.
"A folly-? It looks like a branding." Shanks tightened his grip on her waist, keeping her in place.
"A branding? Don't be stupid. The only branding used in today's age is that of the Celestial Dragons, and I know for a fact it looks nothing like that."
"Then pray tell what is it?"
"A mark."
"You're lying." Naia raised an eyebrow. "Your voice goes up an octave when you do."
"You can tell that already?"
"I've spent over a year with you, Naia. Of course, I can! Now stop changing the subject. Why are you branded?"
"I've had it since I was young. It is simply a mark, that's it!"
"You don't have to do every thing alone!" Shanks spun her around, gripping her face between his hands. "Let me help. Even if it's only to lend an ear."
"Why do you insist it's something when it's not?"
"Because I need to know whose ass I have to beat to free you," Shanks said hotly. Naia felt the telling sting in her eyes before turning away.
"Please let me enjoy this freedom that I have now," Naia begged, tears trailing down her cheek. "I want nothing more than to be rid of it, but it's not that easy. I want to enjoy the time I have now. With you. With Luffy and Ace and Sabo. I want to enjoy what it's like to have my own life."
"You are branded. How?"
"I was taken when I was very young and had foolishly got too close to a visiting ship. It isn't the first time my island had attracted slavers. I mean, we could breathe underwater. We might as well be mermaids," Naia scoffed.
"How is it you're here?"
"Garp managed to convince my… detainers… I would heal best away from the stress of what my job is."
"You don't make any money from the merchants, do you?"
"A little to survive, but the import business they are in takes a majority."
"Can you tell me what the writing means?" Shanks buried his nose into her hair, the wild curls tickling his nose as he drew her into his chest. Naia sighed, and she let his heartbeat soothe her.
"If I do, will you leave it alone for the time being?"
"Only for the time being."
"I can't remember what the outer symbols mean. It's been a long time since I've thought about it, but the middle sigil. I can never forget that," Naia murmured into his chest. She couldn't bring herself to look at him. His hand rubbed her back in an attempt to comfort her, but his lingering on the mark did the opposite. "'I am bound to obey my masters and their demands. My body is not mine.'"
"That doesn't sound like a normal slave brand," Shanks observed, his voice tight with anger.
"It's not. Collars are not necessary for this branding keeps me in line. I can be ordered, punished, and used through it all by the holders of the keys."
"The keys?"
"There are 5 keys that hold this mark in place. Only when they are destroyed can I be freed."
"Where are they?" Naia flinched at his anger.
"When the original family separated, they were thought to be lost. It wasn't until I ran across him that I knew one had been found and not to mention know how to be used." Naia shrugged, pulling away to see his face. His eyes were glinting coldly as his rage peaked through. The air felt heavy as his control on his haki weakened. "Please, Shanks. I ask that you keep out of this. Not-"
"Keep out? Keep out!?" Shanks roared, "You are a slave, Naia, and you want me to let you remain that way? You expect me to-"
"I expect you to respect my wishes! I have no idea where the rest are or even what they look like!" Naia argued. "For all I know, they ended up at the bottom of the ocean or buried in some treasure chest waiting to be found. It's a wild goose chase, and you know it!"
"Then give me something so we can search for clues when we set sail!"
"Why? Why do you want to help me so badly?"
"I will always want to help those I care about." Shanks carded his hand through her hair. "So let me help!"
"I don't know what you want me to say!" Naia's eyes flashed as the waves crashed behind her. "I don't even know what I'm looking for. I don't know who has them, and I certainly don't know the ritual to break said keys!"
"Then we figure it out! Have some faith."
"And what if it's the Elders that have ended up with the keys somehow? Or maybe even the admirals! You would be willing to go up against the Word Government for some woman you had a fling with."
"A fling? This isn't a fling! I don't do anything half-ass!" Shanks gripped her shoulders, eyes boring into her very soul. "What is making you lash out like this? Are you scared?"
Naia clenched her jaw, but the look in his eyes said she didn't need to say anything. He pulled her into a tight hug. Naia melted into his chest as he rubbed her back.
"It's getting late. We'll probably be here until tomorrow, at the least. I'm going to get us some more supplies, alright? This conversation isn't over, though!" Naia nodded, but she didn't want to leave his warmth. Her nose nuzzled into his neck letting his scent of gunpowder and the sea flood into her senses. It was so familiar and so welcoming; Naia never wanted it to leave. She felt the small whine leave her throat before she heard it when he pulled away. Her cheeks flushed at his heated gaze.
"Don't start that, or we will never leave this island," Shanks growled. Naia pouted as the man went back to putting his clothes on. Who knew the pirate captain would be a killjoy? She dressed slowly, making sure to give him a show as she covered up with what little clothing was left. Naia left her shirt unbuttoned, preferring to tie it right under her bust. His eyes swept up and down her body, taking in every detail. Naia couldn't help but smirk as she reminded him of what he was going to do. She didn't watch him leave or let her eyes trail after him but calmly let herself down into the coast hidden underneath the cliff. The small sandy beach awaited her with its soothing coolness as night began to fall.
"I want to go home," Naia whispered mournfully. "I just want to be free again."
A water tendril swiped across her face removing any trace of the tears that were slowly beginning to fall down her cheeks. The water sparkled as the sun slowly began to set on the horizon, bathing it in reds, oranges, and yellows. Naia giggled as the tendrils trailed up her sides and stumbled a bit when it pushed her up and towards the body of water. Her feet making swift but deft movements to keep up with the receding water. The coils of water flowed around her like her hair in the sea breeze. Walls of water stood over her as she walked further out at sea with whispers of the creatures surrounding her. She took no notice, instead choosing to focus on the warmth of being home.
"Naia?" She looked over her shoulder to see the pirate captain leaning over the edge, giving her a concerned look. Naia smiled at him as the walls of water came crashing down.
"NAIA!" Whispers surrounded her, as did an urgency with the tide crashing around her—arms wrapped around her waist. Pulling and tugging, but she kept sinking. Her back burned as a reminder of who she belonged to. The arms tightened around her waist, pulling her impossibly close to the muscular chest of Shanks as he tried to stay with her. The current drew them out, fast and hard. Naia spun around to put her arms around the man's neck, but his loose grip made her realize just how long they had been underwater. His hands slipped from her waist, and Naia quickly brought Shanks' face up to her, her lips sealing against his.
She breathed into him, trying to fill his lungs, but something made her pause. If he had inhaled any seawater, then her giving him air would be pointless, but she couldn't not do anything. Closing her eyes, Naia focused on the water flowing through the captain's body and sucked hard when she pinpointed the water that had filled his lungs. She concentrated on the water flow as it went up and into her mouth, filling her own lungs with seawater which left an unsettling weight in her chest. Naia shuddered in relief when she felt him cough against her lips clearing the last bit of water from his system.
"Shit!" Naia breathed as she dragged the man through the shallows. The man was limp, but his rising and falling chest was a small comfort as Naia collapsed beside him. "You are atrocious when you want something!"
Naia made to slap at the water surrounding them only for it to clear and her hand to land right on the jagged edge of a rock. She cringed in pain as her skin sliced open.
"Shanks! Shanks! Are you alright?" Naia crawled over to the man, shaking him in an attempt to rouse the man. "C'mon, Captain! Wake up!"
"Naia?" the man groaned. A coughing fit bubbled from his chest and Naia wrapped an arm around his shoulders to help the man sit in an attempt to help him clear his lungs. "What happened?"
"I think we're back on Dawn Island," Naia said, her head swiveling to take in the familiar beach. "Talk about a wild ride."
"You can say that again."
"Captain! Captain!" Shouts came from further up the beach as they dragged themselves onto the drying sand. The sun hung high in the sky in complete contrast to what it was when they were in the Calm Belt.