Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
A/N: I would like to thank everyone who added this story to their favorites and follows as well as everyone who reviewed the last chapter.
Why the hell do I feel like crap?
Naruto groaned and shut her eyes as the morning sunrays blazed before her eyes. Her head ached and throbbed, almost like it wanted to rip itself into half. What the hell happened for me to feel like this? Nothing really came to mind. Only the glimpse of a yellowish-brown drink appeared before her eyes but it wasn't enough for her to figure out the clues.
I can figure out what happened later, first I need to get some water. Her throat burned and itched with thirst. She licked her lips. Her lips were rough, highlighting the importance of water. But I really don't wanna get out of bed. Her pillow might be hard but it was so warm. So beautifully warm and that warmth eased the aches in her body.
"If you're going to drink excessively then you need to learn the consequence, Naruto!" Kurama growled. Her head screamed again as the loud voice boomed inside of her head. Naruto scowled and hugged her pillow even tighter, burrowing her head against it. "I let you off the first time but I'm not going to waste all of my energy trying to burn the alcohol out of your system!"
"I thought we were friends, Kurama!" Naruto moaned. She didn't need to meditate to know the fox was now rolling his eyes at her. Traitor! I just wanna drink like the others! She pouted and then grimaced as another stabbing pain echoed inside her head. I'm definitely going to make sure to drink moderately. This stabbing sensation was definitely not worth the drinking.
She sighed and rubbed her head against her pillow. At least my pillow is warm and…wait why the hell is my pillow hard? Dread crawled inside of her stomach. She didn't do anything stupid, did she? It wasn't like she was drunk enough for her to go back home with some stranger, right? Goosebumps rose up from her skin and Naruto opened her eyes.
What the hell happened last night?
What should have been a rather lumpy pillow, turned out to be her sleeping captain. Ace slept right beside her, sprawled with his legs stretched out like a starfish. We didn't do anything stupid, did we? She glanced down and let out a sigh of relief. Clothes were definitely intact and her captain was definitely wearing his pants.
"Finally awake, Naruto?" Ace groaned, pushing himself up. Naruto kept quiet and slowly nodded, lips parting slightly as sleepy grey eyes met her own. His hair is really messy in the morning. Those wavy black locks appeared curlier in the morning sun rays, almost reminding her of the swirl on her Hiai-ate and jacket.
She cleared her throat. "Cap, why are we sleeping on the same bed?"
I didn't do anything weird, did I? With a reluctant hesitance, she unraveled her arms from her captain's hard chest and scooted away from the male. Ace hummed and rubbed his chin. His grey eyes gleamed with unspoken mischief and the dread inside of her stomach grew as moisture began to coat her hands. What the hell did I do? She was an idiot and maybe a clingy idiot but she couldn't have done anything stupid.
"I was going to sleep on the floor," Ace explained. The blankets fell to the ground as her captain kicked his legs out, legs sprawled across the bed. His knees brushed against the naked skin of her thigh and it was not long before goosebumps formed around her thigh. I really think that devil fruit of his makes him hotter than Kurama. "But you kept hugging me, telling me not to leave you alone and then told me that you missed my freckles."
"Shit," Naruto moaned. She tugged on her hair and gazed down at the wooden floor. Would it be possible for the floors to swallow her up? Why the fuck did I say all those things to him? She crawled closer to the front of the bed and yanked the fallen blankets from the ground. Throwing the blanket over her head, she brought her knees closer to her chest.
I told him that I missed his freckes…what's next? That I find his grey eyes pretty! Heat flooded into her cheeks and another groan escaped her lips. She burrowed even deeper into the bed. This was probably one of the most embarrassing experience in her life. Dear God, did Kurama really have to be an ass and decided to teach her a lesson? She would rather prefer a long, boring lecture than this.
"Did I say anything else?" She threw the covers off of the bed and turned her whole body around to face Ace. Grey eyes gleamed with amusement and moved from her hair down to her cheeks. It isn't funny! I practically told you what part of your pretty face that I like! She puffed her cheeks and held back a growl as Ace offered her a smile.
The embarrassment inside of her faded when the male dropped his hand on top of her head. He ruffled her hair and then smoothed it down before his hand caressed her cheek. Is this his way of comforting me? Of reassuring me of my embarrassment? She leaned her head closer to his warm, burning hand and sniffed the smoky scent lingering around his hand.
"You also told that playboy chef that you thought he was great and that he was really kind, before going back to how much you miss Masky and me," Ace admitted. His tone was soft and his grey eyes gleamed with slight amusement. Why did I think it was a good idea to get drunk? She let out another groan and then blinked when her captain's hands rubbed her back. "You did that for about two hours."
Naruto groaned and wrapped her arms around her captain, burrowing her face against the hard surface of his chest. Two hours? Two whole hours of me acting like a babbling fool! Blood rushed towards her cheeks and she tightened her hold against her captain. How could her captain be able to look her in the eyes without laughing at her stupidity.
"I didn't talk about my past too, did I?" She pressed her chin against her captain's chest and gazed up at his grey eyes. Her lips wobbled. I don't want him and the others to treat me like a monster if they ever found out about Kurama. She sucked in a deep breath and then blinked again when Ace tucked a strand of her hair behind her ears.
He offered her a warm smile. "No, you only talked about how much you missed Masky and me as well as how great that playboy chef and his Dad is."
"Oh thank god," Naruto closed her eyes and sniffed the ashy scent of her captain's chest. She quirked her lips into a smile and loosened her hold around her captain. I'm so grateful that nothing else spilled out of my big mouth. Licking her dried lips, Naruto pushed herself off of Ace but only to squeak when the younger boy pulled her in for a hug.
This feels really nice. The warmth of his chest soothed her throbbing head and Naruto inhaled his scent. You know I haven't been hugged like this since I broke things off with Shikamaru. Her arms wrapped around her captain, pulling him into a tighter hug. Ace's heartbeat drummed against her ear, steady and calm as an ox, while his scent continued to make its mark on her twitching nose. This feels comfortable. She fluttered her eyelashes and let out a quiet yawn.
"I really missed you, Fishcake," Ace muttered against her hair. Naruto gulped. Why? We have only known each other for a month. Her heart pounded against her chest while her palms sweated even more. This wasn't a big deal. It was natural for him to miss her because she also missed him and Masky. "It hasn't been the same without you."
Why do you miss me? Sakura-chan didn't give me this reaction when I came back after 2 years of training. Her throat clogged up with an unfamiliar emotion and her eyes almost burned with tears. She cleared her throat and took deep breaths. This was no big deal. They were friends and friends could miss each other. Friends could say those things.
She also missed Sasuke when he abandoned the village and a day did not go by when she walked through the streets of Konoha and not imagine Neji walking beside Tenten. This is a normal behavior. But why did her heart throbbed from the sincerity coming out of his voice? Maybe it was because he had been so kind to her.
"I missed you too, Cap."
"Thanks for taking care of Fishcake!"
A breeze tickled against Naruto's neck as Ace handed the box of food to Patty and Sanji. The midday sunrays tickled down on them, bringing out an almost angelic glow to the cargo of food alongside Sanji. From right behind them, children giggled as they dashed around the piere while sailors lowered their cargo onto the ground. The ground seemed to tremble every time it happened.
Sanji offered them a charming grin and pushed his cigarette to the side of his mouth, before prying the box of food from her hands. The food jumped a little bit and the male wandered inside the boat. He kicked the door opened, juggling the box close to his body. Naruto frowned. Maybe I should have gone inside if he has to do that. She shook her head. No, Sanji was pretty strong for a civilian.
"It was our pleasure to take care of the beautiful Maelstorm," Sanji called out. Naruto's lips twitched, almost curled up into a small smile, before reverting back into a goofy smile. Give him a few more years and he probably might be able to get a lot of girls. A chuckle escaped her lips and a scowl played on her lips when Masked Deuce swirled his head at her.
He leaned closer to her and whispered. "You actually enjoy his cheesy compliments?"
"Well I'm not going to lie and say that it isn't nice to be complimented for my looks," Naruto curled her lips into a tiny smile and darted her eyes to Ace before reverting her gaze back at her slacked-jaw friend. "Besides even if he compliments every girl he sees, it is kinda nice to know that there is someone out there that finds me pretty."
Masked Deuce nodded and thinned his lips before darting his eyes at Ace. The black-haired teen jumped up from the boat, feet nearly sliding off the dock. Cap needs to remember that he has to be careful because of his Devil Fruit. She grabbed his hand and pulled him up, only to crash down to the ground. Her back groaned and her eyes twitched just a tiny bit from the impact.
Ace gazed down at her with a sheepish smile. "Sorry, Fishcake?"
"You have to be more careful now that you are Devil Fruit User," she grumbled as Ace scrambled off of her. He offered a hand to her and Naruto grabbed it. Pulling herself back onto her feet, she directed her gaze at her captain's hand. It was rough and filled with a lot of calluses. Huh, so he must have used a weapon before. She rubbed the calluses and then blinked when her captain shuddered before yanking his hand away from her.
She knitted her eyebrows together. Did her captain dislike it when she touched him? If that was the case then why would he allow her to hug him in the morning? Maybe I should just try and hug him again another time to see if he doesn't like touch. Naruto hummed. Yeah, this would be the best way for her to test him.
"Naruto-chan, I'm really sad to depart from you in such a horrible manner," Sanji declared. Naruto blinked and jerked her head as the blond-haired male walked closer to the gap between his boat and the pier. From right behind him, Patty rolled his eyes and balled his hands into a fist. Right, Patty really hates Sanji's behavior. She chuckled and shook her head. "But one day we shall meet again and I'll prepare you the best ramen in the world."
She giggled. "I know you will, Sanji but are you sure that you don't want to join us?"
"I can't just leave the Old Geezer," Sanji replied, shaking his head. Naruto inspected the smiling boy and let out another sigh. He's too young to leave anyway, it might be a year or two before he is ready to leave the nest. She smiled and flickered her eyes to Ace and Masked Deuce. Both males offered warm, welcoming smiles to the blond-haired chef before directing their gaze at her.
She shook her head and took a seat on the pier. Water kissed the soles of her sandal and Naruto gazed at the blond-haired male with a tiny smile on her lips. I'm certain that one day that the old man would finally convince you to leave and follow your dream. She chuckled and rested her head on the palm of her hand, smiling slightly at the male.
"Okay but I'm going to keep in contact with you, Sanji-senpai," Naruto declared. A low-belly laugh escaped her lips as her blond-haired friend flushed a deep shade of red that almost resembled the box of tomatoes in his hands. He really did help a lot because god know I had no idea that there was proper way to cut. Her smile widened and her cheeks screamed with joy. "When you do decide to leave Baratie and you want to join us then just send me a message and I'll pick you up."
A cigarette crashed down into the sea as Sanji opened his mouth. Patty blinked and swirled his head at Ace. What? You think because Ace is the captain that I can't recommend people? She grinned and clasped her hands together, palms sweating with anticipation. What was the male going to say? Was he going to reject her offer? She cleared her throat.
"That would be a dream," Sanji chuckled and offered her a charming smile before letting out another dreamy sigh. "Me and Naruto-chan going on the adventure in the sea."
Patty's eyebrows twitched and the male whacked the back of Sanji's head. A yelp sliced through the air as the blond-haired male cursed under his breath before rubbing the back of his head. I'm going to miss this. Her throat clogged up and her eyes almost began to burn but the whiskered teen only blinked back those tears that threatened to come out.
"Hey Sanji, if you're still really interested with going on a date with me then try your luck again after two years." Silence hovered between them and the chatter in the pier died down as several heads whipped towards them. Naruto leaned back and pushed herself back onto her feet. Dusting off the dirt and dust from her orange shorts, the blonde offered the male a smile. "Who knows I might actually go on a date with you if I'm still single."
Sanji opened and closed his mouth. Naruto smiled and leaned forward, only to paused when the water struck against the wood. Right, I can't just ruffle his hair and go away. She chuckled and then blinked when Masked Deuce pulled her back. His blue eyes still held an air of disbelief before flickering to their captain. Ace just stood there with slacked jaw and eyes blown up so wide that the red lines of his eyes could be seen.
"Naruto-chan, if this is your idea of a joke then I don't like it!" The blond-haired chef grumbled, looking away from her. Ace and Masked Deuce bobbed their heads in agreement. Amusement bubbled in her stomach but she pushed it down. I'm actually being serious because I really do have the chance to be a teenager now. She smiled and leaned against her foot.
There was nothing stopping her from enjoying her life.
"I'm being serious, Sanji," Naruto smiled and licked her lips. "If I'm still single after two years and you're still interested in me then I'll give you a chance."
Her friend blinked and then gulped while Ace and Masked Deuce turned their heads around. I know Sanji is the type of boy that Jiraiya have warned me about, but he is a genuinely a nice guy. She bobbed her head. It was hard to find nice people these days, and it was even rarer when it was a nice, kind guy who could actually cook and wasn't afraid of doing things that were always considered feminine.
Besides, Sanji had a pretty face and she always did go weak on the knees when it came to pretty faces.
"I'll be thinking of you every day, my lovely Goddess!" Sanji declared, throwing his hands up in the air. The box of tomatoes crashed onto the boat and Patty threw her a dirty look. The older male curled his lips into a scowl as he picked up the box of tomatoes from the boat. It isn't my fault that Sanji has a flare of dramatics. She chuckled.
Her hair flew in the direction of the wind and Naruto gazed at the boyish smile playing on Sanji's lips. It will definitely be weird not seeing him smile like that or have him complied to every wish that I have. She took a deep breath and gazed at Ace. The male had a tiny frown, grey eyes flashing with uncertainty, and Naruto chuckled.
He is really easy to read.
Her silly captain had no reason to feel concerned because she still had no plans of leaving him anytime soon. I won't leave the crew unless Kakashi-sensei needs me to deal with some threats or I've to become Hoakge. She hummed and gazed at her frowning captain. Yup, her place was right here with him because he accepted her without a second thought.
"Naruto, do we really need to do this?"
Ace removed his hat from his head, sliding it behind his back. The soft sand seeped into his hands as bright blue eyes flickered from him to Masked Deuce. Does she really want us to fight in the middle of the beach? The lack of smile playing on her lips alongside those slender hands on her narrow waist told him that his friend was serious about this.
"Well I wanna see how much you guys improved," Naruto replied, stretching her arms. Her jacket ruffled against the wind, revealing more of the black shirt underneath her black and orange jacket. The sun glowed behind her hair, offering an angelic glow to her skin. "Because like I told you, the Grand Line is no joke."
Birds chirped and flew across the skies, soaring without a care in the world. Ace flickered his eyes to Naruto and then to the boats that were now fading into the distance. I understand her point. The villagers told him and Masked Deuce that very few people survived the journey to the Grand Line. They call it the Pirates' Graveyard. He licked his dried lips and fixed his gaze on Naruto.
How did his friend manage to survive the journey outside of Grand Line?
"Are we going to do an all-out brawl?" Ace asked. He folded his legs together and inhaled the salty breeze, shoulders dropping underneath his ears. Masked Deuce frowned and gulped, flickering his eyes to Naruto. The blonde inhaled and tilted her head to the side. "Or are you going to test us one by one?"
Naruto hummed. Her bright blue eyes focused on him, swirling and twirling thoughtfulness, and his throat suddenly itched with a strange feeling. It has been acting weird ever since she kept telling me that she misses me and my freckles. Blood rushed to his cheeks, boiling and festering with an unfamiliar emotion. Maybe my devil fruit makes me feel weird? He shook his head.
That would be impossible because Devil Fruits shouldn't work in that way.
"If we did an all-out brawl then I can't see you in your full capabilities," Naruto explained. He rubbed his neck as Masked Deuce thinned his lips. You really don't like the idea, do you Masky? His friend trembled and rubbed his arms. Sighing, Ace stroke his chin. Since Naruto's home is in the Grand Line, we can guess that she might be stronger than the both of us combined. "So I would need to test you one-by-one so I can see what needs improvement."
A bright smile broke out of Naruto's lips, white teeth sparkling, and her blue eyes glowed with excitement. Ace gulped and slid back when his bubbly blond-haired crewmate leaned forward, hands clasped behind her back. She is really close. Her citrus scent tickled up his nose, almost tempting him to inhale even more of her scent.
Is she really doing this to make me agree to her wish? He bit back a whine as Masked Deuce offered him a tiny frown. Ace scowled. It wasn't his fault that a smile from the blond-haired friend made his knees trembled. Taking a deep breath, he cleared his itchy, burning throat and looked away from his grinning friend.
Even if they did accept the offer…was she going to be fair on them?
"Are you going to go full out?" Masked Deuce asked, clearing his throat. Naruto jumped back and clicked her heels together before turning her body towards the blue-haired teen. She has gotten even more slender. If that shirt used to clung to her waist, now it seemed to be loosely hanging on her body. We should get some more food on her. He took a deep breath and slid back.
The blonde folded her arms and cocked her head to the side. She is really thinking about it. The tapping against the sand alongside the constant movement of her hand. Laughter echoed in the background and blond-hair peaked out from one of the boulders. Is she following me? He knitted his eyebrows as the young woman darted her eyes from him to Naruto.
"Going full out won't help you or Ace in the long run," Naruto answered. Her voice remained calm as her blue eyes flickered to the boulder. Can she tell that someone is watching us? He furrowed his eyebrows together and the blonde cleared her throat. "I mean if I went full out with either of you then you will probably be knocked out for a full three weeks…or dead."
Masked Deuce frowned. "How can you be so sure?"
"Because I have been a trained kunoichi since I was 12," Naruto replied, darting her eyes to the boulder. A clear squeak echoed in the air and Ace kept his gaze on his smiling blond-haired crewmate. 7 years is a really long time. He cleared his throat. "Which means I have seven years worth of experience over you...and I've been in more dangerous situations then you."
Well no one can argue against that. Ace hummed and nodded, licking his chapped lips. Masked Deuce lowered his jaw, eyes widening just a little bit, and rubbed his knuckles. I wonder what kind of dangerous missions that Naruto had. The sparkling blue waters shined, almost looking like there were diamonds decorating the ocean. He took a deep breath and dug through the sand.
"If we aren't up to your standards then are we going to stay here for longer?" Ace asked. He glanced at the boulder and bit back a groan when blue eyes lit up with hope. Masky told me that this is going to bite me in the ass but I don't think he meant it in this way. Rubbing the sides of his head, he stretched his legs. "Well Fishcake?"
"I'll train you in the next island if you aren't up to my standard," Naruto replied. Her lips pressed into a thin line and locked her gaze on the boulder. She doesn't seem one bit impressed. His palms sweated and a sense of guilt began to crept up into his stomach. Why did he even feel this way? He hadn't done anything wrong. He couldn't even remember the girl's name. "If I train you guys then we will never get anywhere and I want to leave this island."
Masked Deuce stared at her. "Why does it feel like I'm going to be in a world of pain?"
"Because you know I love the both of you and don't want to see either of you dead," Naruto chirped, flashing them a smile. Ace blinked and steadied his trembling shoulders. She said for the both of us so it doesn't make me special. She would say that for everyone. Those words weren't enough to calm down his racing heart. "Besides, they say no pain, no gain and you are going to gain a lot from my special form of pain."
Something told him that he was going to wish that he didn't gain anything from her pain.
A/N: So Naruto learnt the consequence of drinking and tells Sanji to try again after two years. Ace and Masked Deuce are going to begin a world of pain under Naruto. Here are a couple of questions for you:
Q1: How do you feel about the pace of Naruto and Ace's relationship?
Q2: From a scale of 1-10, how much pain do you think Ace and Masked Deuce will be?
Q3: How do you think Ace will react once he finds out about the darker parts of Naruto's childhood?
Please do tell me of your thoughts on this chapter and the pace will pick up again after the next chapter.
