Chapter 17

The ship slowly approached the Red Force.

-What's your order Shanks? – Benn seemed incredibly calm when compared to Joshua's rushed manner, running from one place to another, in panic.

-Hold your ground but be prepared for anything. – Shanks ordered, before looking at Alexis. – You know anything about these pirates?

-Their captain is Eustass Kid. He's a reckless captain but a strong one. – She relaxed her poise, resting her weight on one leg. – If I'm not mistaken he is a devil fruit user.

-What fruit?

-Don't know the name. All I know is that it is related to magnetism. Basically any ideas of using steel weapons just went down the drain. – He was somewhat amused by the sudden challenge Kid would put them up for.

-But what about you and your ability? – Shanks was somewhat worried about her well-being.

-I'll think of something.

With that Shanks ordered his crew to either have a strong grip over their weapons or not to use them at all. He would rather prevent a confrontation but if Kid had the stubborn idea to attack them, the red haired captain wouldn't falter.

Once the opposing ship was floating next to the Red Force, Shanks rushed back to stand next to Alexis that now had her hair completely white. He was worried about her but trusted that she had some kind of plan to deal with her abilities.

-Eustass Kid? – Shanks called out and, as to answer his call, a man approached the railing, resting a foot on it and grinning confidently at the Red Hair Pirates. He was wearing a long furry coat, no shirt what so ever, pants with a giraffe-like pattern that was held by a blue sash and a small knife and a flintlock that was kept on it. On his head there was a pair of goggles that was his trademark… along with the epic looking red hair.

-That's my name Yonkou. – His grin grew wider. – I'm glad you recognize me.

Shanks couldn't help but smirk at the boy's boldness.

-What are your intentions? – Shanks questioned once again, a smirk never leaving his tempting lips.

-I'm actually in a mood for a fight and you look like you can give a decent one.

-A decent one? – He raised his eyebrow in amusement and received yet another devious smirk from Kid.

-Are you up for it, Yonkou?

-A five minute fight to see what you're worth and then I'll decide what to do next.

-Your best close combat fighter. – His smirk grew wider when Alexis took a step forward. – Against me.

-You sure Alexis? – Shanks was worried at the sudden burst of courage she went under.

-I could use a little warm up. – She chuckled as she cracked her neck. – Besides, I need to train my abilities more. There are more things I want to discover about it. – Shanks nodded in agreement before she rushed to the railing of the Red Force, standing on it, gloriously. – I'll take you on Eustass-dear.

Eustass let out a loud laugh before activating his devil fruit power. This attracted any kind of metal that was near him, Alexis included. She couldn't help a laughter to escape her lips, both by the expected attracting of herself towards Kid and because of him surprised expression. When she was close enough she deactivated her steel ability, landing on the enemy ship and lunged towards Kid, activating her skill once again to summon a blade and was lunged at his chest.

She felt him restrain his devil fruit ability, not feeling the intense magnetism. That made the weapons and metallic items that were attracted to Kid to fall over her. A wide, somewhat sadistic smile appeared on her face as she summoned blades on her back, protecting her from the falling items before rushing towards Kid with her sword in hand, nearly stabbing him if it wasn't for him pulling out him own knife and blocking the attack. She felt him activating his devil fruit power once again so she deactivated her own skill, not getting attracted by the magnetism.

Eustass gave her a grin as he attracted any kind of blade towards him once again.

-Repel. – He ordered and it was enough to make the metallic objects rush towards Alexis as full strength. She quickly jumped back, avoiding the attack before jumping back to the Red Force. – Running away? – He mocked, smirking at her.

-Not even close. – She smirked and raised her hand in the hair. From the tips of her fingers, metallic shard emerged and she quickly commanded them toward Kid.

He tried to punch the shards away but it was no use, they just infiltrated in his body. A tingling sense passed by his whole body and he shivered.

-What's that? – Shanks asked somewhat confused.

-A thing I wanted to try out. – She chuckled and twirled her index finger in the air, making Kid twist lightly in pain. The shards that infiltrated his body formed small blades that were slowly cutting his insides at her command. – I accidently did it once and wanted to try it out. Sorry Benn! – She shouted at the elder man, smiling at him.

-I offered myself. Don't worry. – He smirked at her and continued to watch the fight.

She played with Kid for a couple seconds longer before commanding the shards to leave his body and return to her. The small steel parcels left his body through his skin and entered Alexis' body through the tips of her fingers.

Kid fell to his knees as the pain subsided and sighed in relief before letting out a loud sadistic laughter. Alexis smiled at the pirate's amusement and sat on the Red Force's rail.

-Time up. – Alexis said as she reached the end of the five minute countdown. She looked over her shoulder towards her beloved captain. – What's your verdict captain?

-This calls for a celebration! – He announced, opening his arm, welcoming the Kid Pirates to his ship.

-You and your love for alcohol amaze me sometimes. – Alexis commented, placing a hand on her forehead. She looked over to Kid's ship and saw the men cheering and rushing to the Red Force, except for a masked man that stayed behind, worried about his captain. She recognized him as being Killer. Alexis jumped to the ship and walked up to Eustass and the masked man, crouching down before the captain. – You okay?

-Nice tricks you got there. – Kid said, a smirk gracing his lips constantly. – A devil fruit?

-Nah! – She answered before looking up at Killer and smiling at him. – Your captain will be alright. I made sure not to do him any permanent or deadly damage within him.

-Thanks I guess… - He answered before helping Kid up but he shoved him away, getting up on his own.

-What's up with your captain? – Kid asked, looking at the cheerful Shanks that was chatting with the Kid Pirates.

-He's always like this. – She answered, chuckling lightly. – A person eventually gets used to this. C'mon, he wants a celebration and if you don't come now he'll drag you. – She turned her back to the two pirates and returned to the Red Force, rushing towards the mess deck.

Eustass Kid smirked amused and jumped to the Red Hair Pirates' ship.

-Are you sure about this? – Killer asked, following his captain.

-She's interesting. – Kid answered, a smirk never leaving his face. – I want to find out more about her.

With that the mess deck quickly filled up with the two pirate crews, loud cheers filling the room. Alexis and Joshua took the responsibility in serving the pirates large mugs of ale until a certain point where they were too annoyed by the constant nagging about Alexis' body and Joshua's blushed face whenever they would mention the matter. Shanks would speak up, defending Alexis' honor but it only got him to be mocked as well by the pirates.

Joshua sat down next to Yasopp who was cheerfully bragging about his son, Usopp, while Alexis sat on the table, next to Shanks. She was chatting with her captain and Benn Beckman when Eustass Kid got into his line of sight.

-Yes, Eustass-dear? – She questioned with a smile on her face.

-How did you do it? – He asked.

-Do what?

-Being able to summon blades and shit. – He stated. The use of his curse word made Alexis laugh loudly.

-I have no idea, in all honesty. – She answered, raising more questions in Kid's mind. – It just happened, I guess.

-I want you in my crew. – He quickly announced, crossing his arms over his chest.

Alexis was speechless for a couple of seconds but, just before she was about to speak, Joshua appeared out of nowhere and answered for her.

-She's part of this crew. She will never leave us behind. – "Besides my captain is screwing her" he thought to himself but didn't find the guts to give voice to those words.

-Shut up kid. I was talking to her. – Kid said somewhat coldly at the boy, irritating him. The kid was about to raise his fist at the cocky captain but Alexis took hold of his fist before looking at Kid.

-Eustass-dear as much as a tempting offer that sounds I'll have to decline. – She smiled at him sweetly. – I've grown so attached to these men I wouldn't be able to leave them behind. Despite declining his offer, Kid couldn't help but smirk in pride at the woman's loyalty. She got off the table and took hold of his chin with her thumb and index finger. – Besides, why would you want me in your crew? For my abilities or something more personal?

He smirked deviously at her ability to read his reasons to wanting her in his crew. He was a man if simple pleasure indeed: a good drink, a bloody fight and a woman to lay at night was enough to make him happy.

-Am I that easy to read? – He teased and placed a hand on her back. Looking to the side, he saw Shanks eyeing him in a threatening manner and that was enough to make him step away.

-A bit, Eustass-dear. A bit. – She sat back down and placed a hand on Shanks' shoulder, reassuring him she knew what she was doing. His tense poise relaxed at her touch and he returned to the happy chat with Benn. She looked back up at the confident pirate. – Or maybe I can read people easily. You choose.

-Fair enough. – He said before walking away when Killer called for his captain. Killer shared some words with his captain before he returned to the place Shanks was sitting. – We'll have to leave now, Yonkou. – He declared, making Shanks get up from his seat with a sad expression. – I want to go to the Grand Line as quickly as I can.

-Why? – Shanks was intrigued by his determination.

-I'm going to become the pirate King. – A smile finally took over his expression.

His will reminded Shanks of Luffy.

Kid was a dreamer.

-Very well. – Shanks smiled at the young captain. – I can't stop you and your dream, only support you.

-Thanks Yonkou.

-Shanks.

-Until we meet again Shanks. – Kid said, looking at the red haired captain and then at Alexis.

With those final words The Kid Pirates left the Red Force and continued his journey towards the Grand Line.

Night was just around the bend so the Red Hair Pirates returned to the mess deck to have dinner. Because of all the drinking, Alexis wasn't really that hungry so she decided to stay on the deck until night had fallen or until Shanks would join her under the moonlight before returning to the bedroom.

As she waited, she began to sing the song from Guilty Crown "Departures", as she looked at the sunset.

She didn't notice the presence of the young pirate by the deck's door.

-Are you okay? – Joshua asked, making Alexis jump on the rail, almost falling down to the salty ocean.

-Yeah. – She said as she gained her balance on the rail. – I'm not that hungry.

He walked over to her and leaned against the rail, casually looking at the sky.

-Why didn't you accept the offer? – He asked, surprising Alexis.

-Why would I? – She smiled at him kindly. - Besides, weren't you the one that didn't want me to leave?

-Don't know… - He mumbled, looking down at the floor. The sudden image he had received that same day of Alexis and Shanks in the bedroom crawled up to his mind, enraging him. He clenched his fists in anger. – Why him?

-Who?

-Why Shanks? – His voice was somewhat shaky. Even though Alexis didn't want to deal with this matter she knew it was bound to come up sooner or later.

-Why Shanks… - She repeated and let out a sigh. – Because he is the man that woke up buried feelings within me that I always pushed away ever since my previous boyfriend perished. He was the one that made me love another person once again. – She chuckled lightly at the cheesiness of her sentence. – I know it sounds like a cliché but they exist for a reason: clichés happen and at some point in our lives we cannot avoid them.

-God damn it! – Joshua punched the ship's rail in frustration, causing Alexis to jump lightly in surprise. – Why him!? He's a handicapped old man who cares about nothing else but to drink and eat and yet… he's better than me in every way. – He punched the rail once again. – Fuck this!

Alexis got down from the rail and stood before Joshua.

All of the sudden she slapped him across the face, the sound echoing throughout the promised night. He looked at her surprised, a hand resting on his already red cheek.

-He might be older than me and a lot older than you but that doesn't matter to me. – She gave him another slap on the other cheek, this one lighter. – I don't care if he doesn't have an arm. Heck! I wouldn't even mind if he was a paralytic. It's not because of that that I've fallen in love with him. – She took in a deep breath. – It's because of his ability to smile away the problems that I love him. It's because of his loyalty and protective way of being that I love him. It's because of his ability to forgive that made me love him more. – She placed a hand on his cheek, rubbing the red mark on his face. – Remember that he forgave you and welcomed you to his crew with arms wide open, even knowing that you were his enemy a few moments before that. – She let her arm fall to her side and sighed deeply. – Even if you have feelings for me, I cannot reciprocate them because I am truly in love with our captain.

-That doesn't mean I will lose you to him. – He said before leaning towards her and placing a rough and quick kiss on her lips, not giving her the moment to react what so ever. She was surprised he had found the courage to do that.

He suddenly rushed towards the mess deck but his shoulder hit someone. As he looked up he saw Shanks looking at him with a tender and knowing smile. Joshua quickly ran inside and left the two lovers outside.

-He confessed. – She smiled sadly at the ocean. – And I broke his heart.

-It was for the best. – Shanks approached her and hugged her, his hand caressing her back gently.

-I know but I still feel sorry for the young boy. – She looked up at her captain and lover, her eyes shining under the little sunlight that was left.

-We need to find someone for him quickly. – Shanks stated, earning a low chuckle from the woman he was holding in his arm.

-Yes we do.

-You look a lot more beautiful under the sunlight. – He spoke sweetly, brushing a lock of red hair behind her ear.

-I'm too pale it's weird.

-Nonsense. – He smiled at her and placed a tender kiss on her lips.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her.

She truly did love him and she wasn't afraid to admit it and shout it out.

He was hers.

He was her soul mate and she wouldn't regret any future decision.

She would stay in the world of One Piece.

A/N:

My god! Finally a chapter! :D

I know I was lazy throughout the day because I plublished this WAY to late! XD besides I was having a couple of writer's block and it is painful.

I feel sorry for Joshua but his determination keeps me cheering for him although I already know the outcome of this x_X I'll think of something!

Yes, Eustass Kid was here and he had a bit of fun *wink wink* naaah! I just really wanted to put him in this story (because I've been reading a lot of Eustass Kid fanfics and I am enjoying them... A LOT!)

The song mentioned was from the anime Guilty Crown, called "Departures" and based of the cover made by LeeandLie (check out her channel! she does brilliant covers: I feel like I'm constantly doing propaganda XD)

I do not own One Piece, Guilty Crown or LeeandLie

I only own Joshua and Alexis (the seppen bandits and the plushie pirates as well but they won't make an appearance that soon xD)