A/N: Adjusted the previous chapter, gave it a little more meat on its bones, enjoy


Luffy hadn't let go of Uta.

If it was anyone other than her stubborn rubber-brained idiot, Nami would've been worried. But due to his physiology, carrying around the idol against his chest hadn't really gotten in the way of the idiotic captain.

Besides, no one had the heart to tell him to stop.

They could all imagine how hurt he had been after what happened to Ace—even if no one had ever attempted to bring up what happened with him—they'd all seen how he'd changed ever so slightly after the death of his brother. It wasn't much, but for someone like Luffy—who could bounce back from anything without even blinking—change no matter how little spoke volumes.

And now, after history got so close to repeating itself, no one could blame the captain for refusing to let go of his…

Huh…guess we never established what they were to each other…

Nami shot another glance at her captain, his arms wound around himself and Uta, basically tying them together as the idol slept nuzzled against him. They probably should wake her up soon, or have Chopper hook an IV into her, but that could probably wait until Luffy had calmed down a little more.

She idly wondered if he'd been like this when she'd gotten sick near Drum Island; before they got their cute doctor on deck.

Her thoughts were cast aside as a News Coo landed onboard the Sunny, squawking to greet her once more.

"I swear if there's another price hike…" she grumbled, walking up to the seagull, tossing a few berries that the bird expertly caught with its beak, stowing the payment in a pocket under one of its wings before tossing that day's newspaper out to the navigator. It gave a quick salute before flying off.

Nami sighed and looked down at the paper in her hands. She started laughing uncontrollably when her eyes landed on the first page.

"...ok, this is worth the cost."


Makino stared down at the newspaper in her hands, the smile on her face making her cheeks ache.

'Strawhat Emperor Elopes With Worldwide Idol' was written in bold letters on the front page, with a picture of Luffy and Uta kissing on full display, taken from the broadcast of the Den-Denmushi, underneath the eye-catching title. She couldn't help but giggle again at the sight of Shanks looking so baffled next to the childhood friends.

"Little rapscallion got himself a girlfriend, huh?" Dadan grumbled, looking fondly at her own paper. "You think that little monkey can handle that?"

Makino laughed gently, resting her paper down and resuming cleaning the glasses of her bar. "I'm sure he's taking all of this in stride. I'm more worried about Shanks freaking out."

Dadan waved her off. "If Redhair thinks he can take a person Luffy cares for from his arms, he's got another thing coming." she smiled sadly, lighting another smoke. "That rubber-brain is too stubborn to let anyone do that to him again."

"Right, you didn't meet Shanks did you?" Makino asked, smiling down at the newspaper on her bar.

"He's probably not even thinking about that, I bet."


"Captain. You need to relax." Hongo nearly begged, looking back at the red-haired man trying to find solace at the bottom of a barrel of ale. "Morgan doesn't know what he's talking about."

"That's not the problem!" Shanks argued, slamming his mug down. "It'd be fine if they were . The problem is that Luffy doesn't know how to handle a woman!"

Yasopp chuckled quietly from the corner. "Like you do?"

"Shut up, no-nose"

"Hey!"

Shanks grinned slightly, relaxing after the exchange with his sniper. "Look, I trust Luffy to keep her safe, even with the world possibly against her. But I wouldn't trust him to navigate a romance even if he wasn't so…"

"Luffy?" Roo offered with a shit-eating grin. "You know that's what made her have a little crush on him all that time ago."

"It wasn't a crush!" Shanks argued, but no one listened.

"Stop messing around and admit why you're really acting this way." Benn nearly ordered. "You're just freaking out 'cause you're scared of being a grandpa."

That got Shanks' spirits down immediately and he glared back into his empty mug of ale.

"I'm not old !" he insisted, even as the rest of the crew burst into laughter.


She didn't remember how she'd ended up there.

There was a gap in her memories. She knew she was forgetting something, but she didn't care.

Uta snuggled against the familiar warmth a little tighter, basking in the feeling of nostalgia it elicited. Combined with the salty scent of the seas tickling her nose, she was sure she was dreaming again.

It made her want to sob and shed happy tears. Why had she ever given up sleeping? Dreaming was just so nice . None of the worries of the world, no pesky reality to remind her of how lonely she'd been after her father had…

Memories came back, and she tightened her hold onto the warmth, begging to not wake back up. To remain in the beautiful calmness of the dream.

She sobbed, not wanting to leave her purgatory after what she'd done to…

"Luffy…"

Something rubbed against the side of her face, and she snapped awake, her view blocked by a familiar straw hat. "L-Luffy?"

Her old friend flinched slightly and turned to face her with a wide smile that made her think that she'd really died and gone to heaven. "But I… what happened?"

His carefree expression shifted as a small animal rushed forward, pushing the rubber arm wound tightly around her body to try and get some vitals. Luffy pouted a little before he released his hold and made it easier for the little doctor. "I won. Don't you remember?"

"She was awake for too long, short term memory loss is normal, captain." a little… raccoon? Said, getting a stethoscope out and pushing it against her chest. "Breathe in."

She was too confused to actually follow the instructions.

"Mystery power, got it." Luffy hummed with a sage nod.

That only made Uta's confusion worse and she attempted to get her bearings by looking around as the small doctor poked and prodded her. She was…straddling Luffy's lap? and…underwater?

She blinked at the giant glass wall that separated the ocean and them, wait is that an aquarium?

"Eat up." came another voice, the blonde cook she'd seen in Luffy's group bringing her a bowl of soup. "No wake-shrooms this time, hope you didn't like their taste."

Uta blinked down at the bowl, shakily grabbing it. "...but, my debut—aren't we in the music world?"

"Not quite." the blonde answered, shot Luffy a nasty look before twirling away, screaming something about swans.

Luffy shook his head. "Nah, I busted us out."

She turned and gazed into his dark eyes. "...how?"

He shrugged.

That caused something to snap, and she started cracking up, laughing almost manically. "This isn't real! It can't be!" Luffy didn't react to it, while the doctor spewed out something about medicine she couldn't comprehend. "I almost stabbed you! No way you'd forgive that!"

"Eh?" That got Luffy's attention and his head tilted to the side, finger pointing at a scar she didn't remember him having back at Foosha. "So what? I've stabbed myself before."

Her worries were silenced for a second. That was just so…

Luffy.

She crumbled against him, sobbing and holding onto his cardigan as relief flooded her. "You…"

She gulped, and let the truth out. "I missed you so much…"

Luffy's signature laugh graced her ears and he wrapped his arms back around her. All was right in the world again.

"And they called me a crybaby," he mused, his hand reaching up and petting the back of her head.

"Idiot," she huffed with no bite into it, glad to feel him against her again. The warmth, the mirth Luffy was showering her with, they soothed her very soul. "Where are we…?"

"The Thousand Sunny." the racoon answered, raising a hoof up- wait, then… Reindeer? "Luffy kinda kidnapped you…sorry!"

Uta couldn't help but laugh. "Shanks' gonna kill you."

Luffy pouted and rolled his tongue out. "Liar, we know he wouldn't."

It had been 12 years. But he was still the same impulsive kid she'd known when they were little. "Thousand Sunny… Is this your pirate ship?"

"Uh-huh!" Luffy said with an excited nod "I can't wait to show you around, but…" he stopped hugging her for a second, and Uta immediately missed the feeling of his hands on her and pointed at the bowl of soup she'd put down. "Eat first."

She looked between him and the bowl, her stomach growling to punctuate that he was the sensible one for once. She blushed, and Luffy laughed at her giddily, "Sanji's cooking is the best! You really should try it!" he insisted and stretched out his arm, pulling a spoonful of soup against her mouth.

She blushed harder, before blowing on the warm broth, letting him feed her slowly.

Neither noticed that Chopper had left them alone too.


"Luffy's sick!" The smallest member of the crew screamed as he rushed out of the kitchen, causing a small sense of shock to ripple out amongst the crew on the deck of Sunny. "He's giving food to Uta!"

What little panic his shouts had caused evaporated, Zoro and Franky laughing boisterously while Robin giggled behind her book.

Nami huffed from her spot sunbathing next to Robin. "Chopper, he's just…"

She sat up with panic in her eyes. "Wait…do you think anyone…"

Rest of the crew looked at her with tilts of their heads, Robin blooming arms on the sides of Chopper's head to cover his ears. "...pretty sure he learned those things back in Amazon Lily, Navigator-san."

Sanji fell on his knees, punching the ground while chanting that he should've been the one.

Nami looked at her 'big sister,' trying to believe the older woman was right about her assumption. "And… if he hasn't?"

"Not it!" Usopp yelled out, followed by the rest of the crew.

Nami's face paled as she went through her options. She couldn't trust anyone on deck other than… she turned and wordlessly pleaded with Robin who just had her cryptic smile on her face.

" He knows ." Robin insisted.

Nami decided to not push how the older woman could be so certain about that, and hoped she wouldn't have to deal with seeing something none of the crew thought possible when it came to their captain.

She would most definitely scream if Luffy asked her why his nether bits reacted to Uta.

Chopper looked at the rest of the crew confused.


"Why are you calling me, Sengoku?" Garp grumbled, munching on some rice crackers.

"Cause you won't answer Akainu's calls." his ex-boss answered with a chuckle. While Grap hadn't enjoyed what happened to the Navy after Sengoku had stepped down, he was glad to hear the man happy again for once. "He's worried about your grandson."

"Luffy's still a snot nose. Don't care what Morgan says about him being the 'fifth emperor' or some shit." Garp growled, munching angrily.

"Oh. Are you not caught up?" Sengoku asked, almost laughing at his face. "How did you miss what happened yesterday? Today's paper?"

Garp grumbled, and looked at one of his subordinates accusingly. "Just tell me what happened."

"Your grandson hooked up with a musician that almost killed three fourths of the planet."

Garp froze. Then busted out laughing. "God, I missed your jokes Sengoku, you should've stepped down years ago!"

"I'm serious, Garp." the ex-admiral hummed, a smile still in his voice. "Akainu is just scared we're about to have another 'Ace situation.'"

"Did you ever give Luffy the talk?"

Garp chewed another cracker while he thought.

"I knew I forgot somethin'…"

Sengoku burst out laughing.


"Is big sis alright?"

Sandersonia's question hung in the air like a cloud, neither elder Nyon nor Marigold knowing how to answer. They were still trying to get their minds off the eldtritch screech Hancock had let out when she saw the image of Luffy and Uta kissing.

No one had dared to enter the royal chambers since their queen had got her hands on that damned newspaper.

"I'm sure… She's fine." Marigold offered, clearly not even believing her own words. "Right, Nyon?"

"I do not want to think about what is going through her love-sickness riddled brain right nyo," their Elder answered, looking down to her feet. "This is probably the single most dangerous thing that could've happened to her, and I'm scared for her wellbeing. We should check up on her nyo week."

That's when Boa kicked the doors of her chambers open, panting heavily with a crazed look in her eyes.

"I need to find my darling…" she huffed, her blue eyes twitching as she looked out to something no one else could see. "We should elope in public! Show how it's done to that harlot who thinks she can steal my precious from me!"

"Big sis- please," Marigold begged, raising her hands in calming motions. "You should sit down and reconsider, I'm sure you're more precious to Luffy than his childhood friend."

Sandersonia joined the efforts. "Yes, big sis, he gave you his first time didn't he? You can just wait a little longer before he comes back…"

Boa's eyes snapped between the two amazon's before snapping back to the empty spot again. "No no… I should be a good wife and rush back to his side! Yesss… prepare the Perfume Yuda!"

"B-but, who'll protect Amazon Lily in nyo absence?" Elder Nyon fumbled, trying to get some sense into the queen of the amazons. "You better reconsider, hime-sama!"

"I can take care of that."

All eyes, except Hancock's, landed on Rayleigh who seemed to have popped into existence inside the palace, his clothes still wet. "Glad I was swimming over to make sure Hancock hadn't thrown a tantrum and sunk the island."

Hancock didn't register his presence still, waving him off and walking down to the docks, her sisters rushing after her.

Rayleigh laughed, shaking his head. "That Monkey's in trouble now."


"And this! Is the best spot on the ship!" Luffy announced, hopping up to the giant lion-esque figurehead on the front of the ship. Uta laughed at his antics, getting dragged atop the figurehead a second later by a rubberized arm.

She giggled, sitting next to him, feeling the salty winds of the ocean on her skin, for a second, the two sat there, gentle sounds of laughter between them filling the silence.

Then Uta broke it with her words. "...funny. You'd never join me in watching the horizon when we were little."

Luffy shrugged. "I saw that horizon a lot already." His face split in a grin, gesturing out to the open sea. "This one is new every time!"

Uta grinned at his words, but her smile fell soon after. "I…tried to kill a lot of people, Luffy…Are you sure you still want me in your crew?"

Luffy's head tilted to the side, looking genuinely confused. "But you didn't kill anyone?"

"And what about the inhabitants of Elegia?"

The question hung between them. Uta figured he'd have no comeback to that. "I blamed Shanks for their deaths for so long… and then went ahead and tried doing the same."

"Oh right. Thats what that place was called."

Luffy had managed to knock her thoughts off pattern immediately again, and Uta glared at him with her visible eye. "Were you stuck on that?"

"Mhm." Luffy nodded sagely, then his feeling changed, growing quiet as he faced the sea again. "Did you write that song?"

"You're gonna have to be more specific." Uta huffed, gazing out to the horizon just as he had. "I've written a lot of songs."

"The one that killed them." Luffy cut through as if he was talking about the weather. "Did you write that one?"

Uta shuddered, her breath stuck in her lungs. "...no"

"Did you look for it?"

"...no."

Luffy's head twisted a couple of times, his neck folding like a spring. She was going to have a tough time getting used to him being able to emote in such an extreme manner. "Are you an idiot?"

"Yes?" she offered, sniffling a bit. "I hated my father for trying to protect m-"

"Shanks' is an idiot too."

Her sorrow and guilt was forgotten for a second. " What? "

"You sang a mysterious song cause no one warned you not to." Luffy started, raising a finger. "Shanks managed to save you from the mystery beast it summoned. And then instead of telling you what had happened, he left you behind with an old man that also didn't warn you."

"That's—that's not fair!" Uta argued, glaring at the man. "He told me not to sing that so—"

Luffy clicked his tongue and his neck snapped back into its place, the rubber man staring back out to the sea. "And how is it fair to you to take all the blame?"

Uta… didn't want to argue against that. Perhaps selfishly. "...doesn't change what happened."

Luffy shrugged and laid back on the figurehead. "Don't care. Kicked its ass already. It can't hurt you again."

Uta grumbled and laid back on her own, looking up to the clear skies. "...thank you"

Luffy laughed gently.

"Um, Uta-san."

The two on the figurehead flinched, slowly turning to face the giant skeleton with the afro. "Uh… Brook, was it?"

The skeleton bowed deeply, "I was curious if you could… show me your panties?"

Uta paused, then looked at Luffy. "...wait, I don't have a change of clothes, do I?"

"Nami can handle that," Luffy offered with a shrug.

Uta heard someone scream 'stop making me clean up your messes' from somewhere down the deck.

"Ah, regardless," Brook continued, raising back to his full height to 'look' at Uta's eye. It was hard to tell considering the lack of…Well eyes. she hoped that wasn't offensive. "I was wondering if you would join me for a duet, I would love to make some music with such a great singer as yourself."

"I… don't think that's such a good idea, Brook-san," Uta mumbled, her hair drooping. "I don't want to do anything that could cause my devilfruit to do, well… anything."

"Aw." Luffy physically drooped, laying flat against the figurehead.

Brook flashed what could've been a smile, but she wasn't sure if it was just him having a skull for a face. "I believe we have a solution to that problem! Luffy, Franky has something he wants to show you."

The rubberman flung off before Uta could even comprehend what the skeleton had said.

"...about that other question."

"I'm not showing you my panties."

"Drat."


Uta still didn't understand how the Straw hat pirates were so welcoming to her. Even when she'd questioned them about it they had waved her questions off, and the closest true answer she got was the oldest woman in the crew giving her a sad smile. There was something more there, but she wasn't willing to push the issue.

Now, she was sitting against the mast, looking on as the tall skeleton played a simple tune on the piano they've set up. Honestly, just hearing it was making her want to sing once again, but she just couldn't.

Uta never wanted to risk causing another catastrophe like the day before.

"There you are!"

She almost jumped when Luffy appeared in her peripheral, looking a little more winded than usual, still smiling. "Oh, hey Luffy! Did you figure out what…Franky? Wanted?"

He grinned wider, and opened up his palm. She knew the pose by heart. He wanted her hand.

She couldn't help but smile, remembering all the times he'd placed a stag beetle in her hand when she'd given in and listened to his request. Rolling her eyes, she placed her hand in his.

Luffy rolled it over carefully, poking his tongue out before he carefully…

Slipped a ring on her finger.

Her face felt like it was about to catch fire, looking down on the ring the rubberman had placed on her finger with a soft gasp.

"I- Luffy?" she breathed, still in shock, looking between her hand and her smirking childhood friend. She was pretty sure her hair was wagging behind her. She was damn sure Brook had switched to playing something close to what she'd seen labeled as wedding chords.

"Its seastone!" Luffy finally explained, still holding onto her hand gently. "Your devilfruit powers are sealed 'till you take it off, neat right?"

Uta blinked, her heart hammering in her chest, before she burst out into a laugh, pulling him against her and kissing him on the lips again.

Luffy laughed, pulling back. "Now you can sing without worrying!"

"You…" Uta shook her head and hugged him tighter against her.

Brook laughed along, still playing a tune on the ivory keys. "Now, does that change your answer, Uta-san?"

Uta smiled and got to her feet, bouncing with excitement as Luffy took her seat, clapping for her already.

The first few keys of 'Bink's Sake' escaped from the piano.

And Uta sang to her heart's content, cheered on by her new crew.


A/N: and that wraps up the epilogue! I'm leaving the rest up to y'all's imagination, my friends. I'll be going back to Convergent Devil now :P