WARNINGS: Cross-Dressing, YOAI (boyXboy) Shanks X Luffy, and wide age differences between people in a relationship.

Don't like, don't read. You've been warned.

'…' what they are thinking

"…" what they are saying

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece, or the name Doctor Dracula.

Being a Girl

Chapter 5: Running Into Trouble

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"Oh my savior!" The girl who had been setting off bombs only a moment ago leaped at Shanks and threw her arms around his neck.

"I-It's not what you think, Rully! I don't even know her!" Shanks franticly, though carefully, tired to get the girl off. He hoped Rully didn't think he was with someone else.

"Shishishi, it's like she's glued to you, Shanks." Luffy was completely unaware of the older man's nervousness.

Shanks sighed, 'I wonder if Rully is even capable of negative thoughts.' He was happy, though, that Luffy didn't think he was cheating. 'I'm acting like we're married or something.' Shanks put his head in his hand, managing to do this even with the other girl clinging to him. 'But since we kissed we're more than friends.' Shanks grinned, remembering the moment. After chuckling with the utmost happiness he noticed that the other two were staring at him.

Luffy and the other girl looked at Shanks as he went through a series of different emotions, completely in his own world.

"Er…" Shanks tried to say something, but couldn't find the words.

"I-" The girl hanging off Shanks' neck started to say, but was interrupted by evil laughter.

"Mwahahaha!" A figure appeared out of nowhere and stood a few feet away from the group. From the moonlight Shanks and Luffy saw that he was a boney, tall guy. He was wearing a black, skintight, jumpsuit with green lines running down the sides. His choice of clothing exaggerated his crooked, way-to skinny physique. He had a black, curly mustache, pointy nose, and a hair style that went up in circles above his hair.

While the girl tightened her grip around Shanks, Luffy pointed and laughed. "Old man, your hair looks like a spring."

The old man's jaw dropped, "My hair is not a spring, and I'm only 49! Do you know who you're talking to, brat? I'm… well, I'll let Tanya do the introducing." He looked at the girl who seemed to be clutching onto Shanks for dear life.

Shanks' eyes widened slightly as he recognized her name.

"H-He's D-Doctor Dracula!" She exclaimed with her head squeezing in to Shanks' shoulder, as if trying to hide from the sinister man.

"Damn right! And do you know what I am a doctor of?" He asked no one in particular, "I am a doctor of bombs!" Suddenly an explosion went off to the left of the group. As all eyes turned toward the noise Doctor Dracula ran up and grabbed Luffy in a headlock. "Don't move" The doctor took out a gun with his free hand and pointed it at Luffy's head, "Or she gets it!"

No one moved. 'Damn it,' thought Shanks, 'With this girl around my neck I won't be able to get to Rully before he pulls the trigger.'

"Why don't you just shoot?" Luffy grinned, and Shanks could have sworn he'd seen that smile on someone else a long time ago.

Suddenly the girl released her hold on Shanks' neck, "Don't! Please don't Doctor Dracula! She doesn't know what she's saying. I did what you told me; I set off the bombs! So please, don't kill anyone."

Luffy titled his head slightly in the headlock, "So you had her bombing the place. Why?"

"YOU HAVE A GUN TO YOUR HEAD! DON'T ACT SO CALM!" All three yelled.

Luffy expected to be hit over the head, but instead Doctor Dracula began to talk, "Why, you ask? Because I love seeing bombs explode! I like seeing people set of bombs. Especially scared little girls." He looked at Shanks, "Now, if you'd lay down your sword, I might spare this girl."

Shanks looked at the sheathed sword hanging loosely from the belt on his hip. 'Best to do what he says.' He removed the sword from it's cover and laid it carefully on the ground in front of him. 'If anything happens, it will only take me a second to pick it up and cut Dracula in half.'

"Now back away slowly, and Tanya come here." The doctor smirked as they did what he said.

"And now," he pulled a bomb out and threw it between him and Shanks, "To make my escape!" The area was covered in smoke as Dracula grabbed Tanya's arm and prepared to run off with the two girls in his grip.

'Shit!' Shanks ran for where he laid his sword down. He quickly picked it up and made a swift upwards motion with the weapon. It made the air rise, taking the smoke with it, and clearing the area enough to see.

At exactly at the same spot where Doctor Dracula had thrown the smoke bomb, he now laid flat on his back, jaw dropped, few teeth knocked out, and an indent in his cheek. Tanya had fallen to her knees a foot away, hands covering her opened mouth, while Luffy was standing over the man with a clenched fist.

Shanks walked over to the group and lightly poked Dracula with the edge of his sword. The man didn't move. Seeing that the danger was gone Shanks sheathed his sword, "I'm guessing you punched him, Rully?"

"Yeah," The boy grinned, "He's not so tough."

Shanks laughed, "Nice job; he's out cold." He placed his hand affectionately on the boy's head.

"Thanks," Luffy replied.

'That must have been some punch.' Shanks glanced at the still-shocked girl on her knees, "Are you ok?"

Tanya nodded.

Sighing, he looked at Luffy. He slowly moved his hand down so that he was cupping the other's cheek. "Sorry I wasn't more help."

"It's ok, I'm strong." Luffy smiled, closing his eyes and tilting his head happily into the hand.

Shanks leaned down and Luffy stood on his toes, their lips only a fraction apart.

"Hey! Don't go making out when someone else is present!" Tanya burst in.

Shanks and Luffy looked at each other. 'Just a little bit more closer…' But there was no hope as the girl stepped in between the two. "Do you know who I am?"

Shanks looked at her, eyebrow twitching. "Tanya Vendrown. Your name and picture was on posters the town's people were handing out. Apparently your parents are very worried, and you've been missing for a few days."

"Yes! That crazy Doctor Dracula kidnapped me, and had me setting off bombs every night for the last three days! I haven't slept at all. You would think people would hear, but this park is so big that the noise doesn't reach to the houses."

"What about the people in the park?" Shanks asked.

"Most people aren't in the park late at night because it's rumored to have holes that drop down to the pits of hell!"

"It's not that far down." Luffy said.

Tanya gave him a weird look, "Well," she turned to Shanks flipping her hair, "Since you recognized me by my obvious good looks, I'll tell you that I'm 17, single and looking. Oh and, my parents are rich." She winked at him.

Luffy frowned. Shanks cocked an eyebrow, 'How old does she think I am?'

"Well anyway," Tanya ignored their reactions, "If you'd be a gentleman, which I'm sure you are, you'd escort me to my house? Oh! But I'm afraid I've been worn out and can't walk. So if you'd carry me?"

"Hm," Shanks thought, "Well, we can't leave you here. How about a piggy-back ride?" He grinned, bending down and motioning the girl to hop on. "Is it ok with you, Rully?" He looked up from his squatting position.

"Only if I get a turn too!" Luffy said.

Tanya, despite making a sour expression, carefully climbed on to Shanks' back. The man quickly stood up and hooked his arm around the girl's leg so she wouldn't fall off.

The girl smirked from against Shanks' back, wrapping her arms slowly around his neck. "Your name is Rully, right?" She looked at Luffy, resting the side of her head on the back of Shanks' neck.

"Yeah," Luffy huffed a bit.

"That was a pretty amazing punch you delivered to Doctor Dracula back there."

"Thanks?" Luffy didn't get why she was being so nice while making moves on his Shanks.

There was silence for a minute before Shanks spoke, "Er… Tanya, Rully, you don't by any chance know which way we're suppose to be going?"

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