Last time on Saving Crescent Village: The sea-king got more than what he bargained for when it got it's butt kicked by both Riley and his uncle. Luffy and his crew made another appearance, just when his nephew needs his advice. Franky and Brook didn't shut up so as a result he woke up Sanji and Kyoko's daughter, Kagome who seems very insightful like her mother. Now everyone on the ship except Violet know of Riley's true feelings for her. On to the next chapter!
Disclaimer: I do NOT own One Piece or its content, they come from the works of Oda-sensei. I do own my OCs. Allan Maxwell belongs to Death's General. Genji Mori belongs to his brother, king okami.
Riley leaned on the sturdy wooden railing of the ship one early morning. Before his friends had even started to wake up yet. Through the thickset smog, the island that hid his little childhood village from the World Government was barely visible just hours away from the gang's ship. But he was thinking about something else. "Maybe, I should just tell Violet. Because after this adventure and curing my village, who knows when will I see her or the guys again?" he asked himself. He looked down at his hands at the crystal pendant he was holding. Yesterday after talking with uncle Luffy, when he was alone in his room, he had used his devil fruit powers to make the pendant which he was going to give to Violet when they got to the island. He had made it look extra beautiful like the way he saw Violet, hoping that Violet would cherish it. After all, to him, Violet was beautiful like a crystal gleaming in the sun.
A few hours passed by and Riley had spent the whole time examining Violet's present from him, making sure it was just perfect before he would give it to her. He wanted the moment to be special. "Riley?" a familiar voice asked.
Riley flinched nervously when he heard Violet's voice. He hid the pendant behind his back as he faced her. "Vi, you're up early" he remarked.
"Yeah, so are you. Riley, what's that behind your back?" Violet asked, completely confused. She had dressed in a dark blue tube-top, strapless dress and sandals. She knew that Riley was up to something
"N-nothing" Riley stammered. Even though he hated lying, it came naturally to him, being the son of a pirate. But, for him, lying to the girl he liked was a completely different thing.
"Riley" Violet said sternly, crossing her arms. She knew that Riley was lying to her because the stammering and the blush forming on his face had given him away. She uncrossed her arms and stood on her tiptoes, staring intensely in his amber eyes.
This only made Riley's blush deepen to a darker red; she was close enough for Riley to kiss her. It would be so easy for him to just lean in and do so. But of course, Riley would never do anything to Violet against her will. "It's...it's a surprise for when we arrive!" he remarked.
"Actually, there was a reason I wanted to talk to you, Riley" Violet confessed, absent-mindedly playing with the creases in Riley's shirt. She then shrunk down back to her normal height.
The way her small hands played with his shirt made Riley's blush darken. "Why, is there something wrong?" Riley asked. Usually, he was comfortable around Violet but ever since he realised his feelings for her, their conversations were now just a little bit awkward. But some of the comfort was still there.
"No, I-I have a confession, actually" Violet replied.
"If it's about the time you were sick, don't worry about it. Allan diagnosed your disease and cured you right away, right? We're just glad you're back to your old self again" Riley remarked.
"That's not what I was talking about, Riley" Violet sighed.
"T-then what is it?" Riley stammered.
"Well, um, you remember the day we met, I told you how this ship is precious to me, like how money and treasure is important to your aunt and you remember how well you listened to me?" she asked. Riley nodded. "Look, I never told you that I have big trust issues. But something about you assured me that I can trust you, more than any one I've ever met. There have been quite a few times when I wanted to tell myself that you were a bad friend but that's not true; you're a great friend. You look out for everyone and you always think of others before yourself. I just want you to know that I'll never forget any of it and I appreciate everything that you've done for my sake" Violet explained as she hugged Riley.
Riley could feel his already pounding heart working overtime. Well, what was he supposed to do about it? He was being hugged by the girl he loved more than anything in the entire world. He then did what any decent guy would do; hug Violet back. A small smile formed on his mouth. She's so warm. And soft. I can't find any way to describe it. He thought as he held her. He then remembered the pendant in his closed fist. I think I better tell her and give her the pendant. He told himself.
Violet pulled back to look at Riley. "Now it's your turn" she remarked.
"What?" he asked.
"I just opened my heart to you, now you have to do the same" Violet told him.
"Ok. Um, there was something I was going to tell you" Riley admitted.
"I knew it!" Violet remarked smugly.
"Anyway, um, I've been rethinking a lot about our, you know, situation. And I don't think we or the guys should disband after curing my village. I think we should all stay together and travel the world as a crew. Like my uncle does and like my dad did. I just don't want to split up with you guys knowing I'd never see you all again. You're my nakama, like family to me" Riley confessed.
Internally, Violet frowned. She was hoping to get a confession out of him, even though she couldn't confess to Riley just yet. But she didn't let Riley see the secret frown. She just smiled at him. It was the closest she was going to get to a confession. One day she would say it and maybe get one in return. "That's sweet, Riley" she remarked. She then looked over to see the Island was veering closer. "Oh, we're nearly here, just a few miles away from saving your family" she stated.
Riley noticed this too. "Oh, before I forget, I have something for you, Violet" he remembered. He opened his fist to show Violet the crystal pendant.
"Riley? Did you make that?" Violet asked.
"Yeah. I made it after Uncle Luffy came by yesterday. I got the idea because of that day I was mucking around with my devil powers at dinner and making you and Allan laugh. I thought you'd like it" Riley replied.
"Like it? Riley, I love it! It's beautiful!" Violet cried as she hugged Riley again.
This time Riley didn't hesitate to hug her back. "You're welcome, Vi" he muttered. He hadn't even noticed that Liam and Allan were up too.
Allan smiled when he looked up at the couple from his medical textbook. "Those two are always so close" he chuckled.
"They're just friends, Allan" Liam remarked.
"Are you sure? They only act like that when they're alone" Allan pointed out.
"If Riley does anything to hurt Violet, I'll kick his ass" Liam warned.
"Riley would never do that to Violet, he loves her after all" Allan replied, remembering their conversation with the Straw Hats yesterday.
"Allan. Do you miss Misty Rove?" Liam asked out of the blue.
"Yes, I had started to consider it my home, those people needed me" Allan answered.
"Would you go back if you had the chance?" Liam asked.
"Yes, but then I would never had known any of you" Allan remarked with a smile. "Anyway, what was your dream, Liam?" he asked.
"My dream was to surpass Sanji-sensei and prove myself in the world" Liam remarked.
"And you will live to fulfil your dream. I will fulfil mine to make sure you live to do so and surpass Trafalgar Law and Tony Tony Chopper as a doctor" Allan promised.
"Riley's fulfilled his" Liam remarked.
"What was his dream?" Allan asked.
"To find the Sakura Cure and to find out who his father was. Violet's was to become a great navigator and surpass Nami" Liam replied.
"I'm glad I could help" Allan remarked. He stood up and wandered over to the younger two, followed by Liam. "So, what's the plan, Violet?" he asked Violet.
"Well, we arrive, go to Crescent Village, administer the cure to everyone and maybe go off on our own adventures or whatever else that comes to mind" Violet replied.
Allan ruffled her hair. "Good plan" he remarked.
"Group hug!" Riley declared as he pulled his three Nakama into a hug. They all hugged him back.
So that's it for now. Riley almost confessed to Violet but to no prevail, he loses his confidence. Allan briefly worried about Misty Rove Island's people but soon remembered that he adores his younger Nakama more than anything. They started to arrive at the Island just miles away from Crescent Village. Next time the swordsman responsible for killing Violet's parents makes an appearance. Then Allan starts to try and cure Riley's village. Don't forget to review.