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.

Being a Girl

Chapter 7: Revealing the Truth

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"This ship is pretty big." Tanya walked across the deck.

"There must be lots of treasure." Nami smiled evilly, her eyes turning into belli symbols.

Shanks looked at Luffy, thinking she would be the most ecstatic about being on a ship. Instead the other seemed to be in a sort of daze.

Luffy looked left and right. He had never thought he would be back on this ship so soon. Especially in these circumstances.

"Rully?" Shanks' concerned voice snapped Luffy from one of his rarely-occurring thoughtful moments.

"Shanks." Luffy grinned. "This is such a cool ship!" He bounced around, back to his old self. You could never keep the boy quite and thinking for long.

"Are you intruders?" A voice shouted from above.

"Nah, Jack, it's me." Shanks called back.

"Captain!" said Jack as he climbed quickly down from the mast. His boots made a light thump as he landed on the deck. "We had all thought you wouldn't come back until morning, because you would be doing oo-la-la!"

Shanks sweatdropped, Tanya giggled, Nami smirked, and Luffy was absolutely clueless.

"WELCOME BACK CAPTAIN!" A hoard of noisy men burst through the nearest door. "Looks like you didn't get any, huh? Though I guess that's ok since it didn't seem to be what you were looking for!" The men were obviously drunk; it took them a full minute to register that three pretty girls were in their company.

"OOOhhhHHH." They said in their drunken bliss. "Captain really knows how to get the girls!"

Shanks covered his face with his hand, 'Why must the ones who talk about this sort of thing anyways be so loud?' Shanks pushed the noisy group, which was really only the seven younger boys, back into the cabin. "Just… go to sleep."

The more mature drunks treated the ladies kindly. Among them, Luffy recognized immediately, were Ben, Yasopp, and Lucky.

'Ben would probably be the most helpful.' Luffy thought. Luckily for him, the two girls and Shanks were distracted by the crew members, and Ben had wandered away from the group to lean over the railing. Luffy walked over to him, firmly deciding that he was definitely going to ask. "Ben."

The man turned around to face the boy, surprised that he new his name.

"Do you recognize me?" asked Luffy.

The man tried to remember if he ever even met anyone as pretty as the person standing in front of him. "Sorry, no."

"I'm Luffy."

Ben almost swallowed the cigarette that was hanging from his mouth. 'It doesn't seem like she (he?) is lying' "Y-You're kidding, right?"

"Nope."

"You look like a girl."

"Nami," He pointed to the orange-haired girl in the crowed, "Had me dress up as a girl. I don't remember why but… I ran into Shanks and…" Luffy wondered if he should finish. He had been having the same thoughts for a while now. The boy may seem none-to-bright on the outside, but he knew the moment he kissed Shanks, that he liked him more than a friend. And now Luffy worried that Shanks wouldn't return his feelings if he told him who he really was. "I-I like Shanks. Do you think he likes me?" He asked in a serious, yet cute, voice.

Ben stared, trying to absorb all the information. This beautiful girl was actually a boy, Luffy, and he liked Shanks!? 'Where'd all this come from?' Ben, being one of the most calm and clever people on the ship, collected his cool. "Well, I have an idea which might help you find out…" Ben wrapped his arm around Luffy's waist and pulled the boy more toward himself. Their chests pressed together. With his other hand he caught Luffy's chin and tilted it up so that they were looking eye to eye. Ben was the first mate, so he knew his captain all to well. If it was any normal girl, Shanks would grow imaginary cat and tail ears, then proceed to hiss and scratch at him; lightening the situation with a little bit of humor.

That is not what happened. Only a second after Ben had grabbed Luffy was he roughly shoved away by Shanks. "What are you doing?" The red-haired man didn't give him time to answer; he grabbed Luffy's hand and stomped away.

The first mate was surprised by his captain's actions, but knew he'd be forgiven… probably.

"Ah!" Luffy looked at the man who was leading him away by the hand, "Shanks, Ben still needs to answer my question!"

"And what question would that be?" Shanks turned to face Luffy when they reached the front of the ship. No one else was around.

"Uh.. Well…" The boy tired to figure out what to say.

Shanks loomed over Luffy. "What did you ask him?" He could only imagine what someone could ask that would have Ben doing… that.

"I…" Luffy decided to go with the truth, "asked him if you really liked me."

"Huh?" It took Shanks a moment to make the connection. 'So that's why Ben acted like that.' He let out a small, relieved chuckle. He'd have to apologize for pushing him later, but right now, someone else came first. "Rully," He put his hand on Luffy's shoulder. Their eyes locked together for a second before Shanks leaned down and gently pressed his lips to Luffy's forehead, where his hair had parted slightly.

Luffy blushed. It felt strange having Shanks' lips on his skin. It made him shiver as he tilted his head up and replaced his forehead with eager lips. He really liked kissing Shanks.

After a moment, the older man moved away slightly, but kept close enough so that Luffy could feel the other's breath on his lips when he spoke. "I'm sorry if I seemed jealous or angry." Shanks laughed a little, causing puffs of air to roll across Luffy's lips, and making the boy want to lean in and close his eyes.

Luffy giggled, Shanks had made everything better! At that moment, in the boy's eyes, he was the best thing in the world.

A few yards away and around the corner Ben, Yasopp, and Lucky watched the display of affection.

"Captain is head over heals in love!" Lucky cheered and took a bite from the rack of meat he was holding.

"And you say that's Luffy?" Yasopp raised an eyebrow.

Ben nodded, "It's probably best that you know, but don't tell anyone else."

"Does captain know?" asked Yasopp while Lucky chewed away at his food.

"I don't think so."

"How do you think he'd react?" They had never seen Shanks in a situation like this one.

"I'm not sure, but no one can stay calm if they find out a girl they like is actually a boy."

'He'll realize sooner or later…' They thought in unison.

-------30 minutes later-------

"I'm going home." Nami said while leaping over the railing and disappearing into the night.

"You should check your treasure." Luffy told the blinking crew members, who were wondering why the girl left so suddenly.

-------1 minute later--------

Luffy laughed, "Shishishi, Nami even stole from you!"

The men who were suppose to be guarding the treasure room sat depressed in the corner. "We got tricked by a teenage girl!" They moaned.

Shanks shook his head, "That's pretty pathetic."

"You let her get away too, captain!"

Everyone laughed, not noticing the shadowy figure that sneaking over with cat-like grace.

A rope quickly wrapped around Luffy before squeezing tight. The boy let out a squeak as his arms slapped to his sides and the rope dug into his skin. "Ow! That hurts, Tanya."

Tanya's shadowy face appeared behind Luffy as she held the rope. "I have to do this." With her free hand she revealed the kitchen knife that she had hidden behind her back.

Everyone's eyes widened. They would have thought she was joking if it wasn't for the serious look in her eyes.

"Let her go." Shanks said warningly, careful not to make any fast movements. That knife was too close to Luffy's neck.

"Aren't you mad or scared, Rully?" She stepped around the boy so that they were face to face. 'He's awfully calm for someone in this kind of position.'

"Is…" Luffy tilted his head, "This a new game?"

"NO!" They all shouted, and Shanks would have laughed if it weren't for the situation.

The seriousness in the air was back as Tanya raised the knife above her head, "Enough!"

Shanks and the quicker thinking pirates rushed forward, but were to late. Tanya quickly swung her arm down, aiming for the center of Luffy's body.

A loud ripping noise was heard, and the frantic pirates stopped a foot away to stare in shock at Luffy's chest. He was unharmed as Tanya backed away. The girl had sliced the rope and middle of his shirt in half, leaving a bear chest exposed. Everyone took a step back when they realized there were no girl parts underneath. Instead was a lanky form with tight abs and no bust.

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Author's Note: Yosh! I've decided, because of a nice reviewer, that this fic will be twenty chapters long. :D But I promise it won't seem like it drags on. You'll (hopefully) love every part.