Chapter 5

The race was going pretty well for the green eyed young woman. The weather conditions were nearly perfect, windy weather, the sun was shining and they even had relatively clear waters. Hisana wasn't in the top field but that was okay, this were strong and experienced racers that leading the field with even faster boats. She had seen how they all had used their good starting positions to their full advantage, so Hisana was content to race as fast as she could and do her best because as much as she would love to win she knew when she was outclassed.

At least that was what she thought until she reached the third to last turn point. This point required a very tricky maneuver that, if you couldn't control it, could sink your boat. With swift hands Hisana maneuvered her Fin dinghy securely around the check before aligning it back to the wind direction and the finish. The green eyed girl had already relaxed again after the tricky maneuver when she sailed around a group of cliffs and only missed the collision side of the three top racers by a hair breath. Seriously there was only a meter or two of water between her boat and the tilted over one of the man that she had been sure would win. While passing them she could hear them shout at each other furiously, though she resisted the urge to turn her head around.

Wow she had no idea that even half of those swear words existed!

The consequences of this collision didn't really occur to her while she moved her Finn harder to the wind to not be dragged to either the cliffs on one side or the crashed Finn Dinghys on the other one but the moment she was back on open water she realized that she had just taken over the leading group. Grinning like a maniac the black haired teenager sailed last four miles undisputed by anyone out of the main field and then arrived at the finish with quite a bit space between her and the second and third place.

Her arrival was celebrated by her team medics and the manager through dancing and squealing at the boardwalk, they were just as surprised and elated as she was about her win. The second and the fourth place also went to her team and all three of the racers were grinning at each other like loons. For a team of newcomers to win the Kyuka island race was like hitting the jackpot. It meant a lot more sponsoring, more money and more races. Everything Hisana had always wanted!

The day went from good to awesome when Hisana spotted Shanks and his crew under the spectators. After a quick goodbye to her team that would sort out the winnings she made her way to the red haired pirate that was lounging with his first mate on the stone steps to the mountain church. While she drew nearer her distracted mind let her miss how some of the other male spectators checked her out, she normally was quite aware of the attention her looks gathered but her excitement let her ignore them.

Hisana was unaware but a certain red haired captain certainly wasn't. Ben had to bite his cheek so that he wouldn't start laughing in front of his already incensed captain, the red head was nearly pouting.

Hisana then came to a stop in front of Shanks and asked grinning, "And?"

"You have certainly improved; they had some surveillance and visual Den Den Mushis to show the race. That was a clever trick how you avoided the collision!" Shanks answered her readily while he gave her a warm smile.

"Thanks, but in this particular case I have to thank my dad, he showed me these maneuvers to escape the Sea Kings back at home." then her eyes fell onto a suspicious package on Shanks side, "Oh is this, what I think it is?"

"And that's my cue, Yamamoto-san, captain, have fun!" Ben said with a lazy hand wave.

"Oh, you are not going to celebrate with us?" Hisana asked slightly disappointed, she had wanted to get to know Shanks First Mate.

"Ah no, I'm sure the captain wouldn't appreciate that."

He smirked slightly in Shanks direction and with silent laughter and a grin to a confused looking Hisana he turned around and left the two alone. Shanks didn't know it yet but his kicked puppy reaction to Hisana's invitation to celebrate with her was going to be used as teasing material for years!

XXXXXXX

The two celebrated Hisana's win again in solitude. This time it was at the abandoned mountain church over the village, again with takeout, expensive chocolate and this time sake for both of them. Just as two years ago Hisana fell asleep against Shanks shoulder and was then carried back by the red headed captain to sleep the rest of the night in Shanks room. Well, the captain's cabin on the Arrow, Shank's second ship in two years. It had been a trade ship of a wealthy merchant until recently when they had hijacked it in the port of Alabasta after the first ship Shanks had commandeered became too small for his crew. Now it had been repainted, armed and adjourned with Shanks Jolly Roger.

The minute Hisana woke up she knew that she wasn't alone, the furnace of a body behind her kept her warm and toasty in the fresh morning air. A quick glance behind her confirmed her suspicion about the person. It was Shanks that held her in his arms. Still sleepy and very comfortable Hisana cuddled back into the older man. This was the best birthday present ever, even if it came four weeks to late. She hadn't realized it fully because she had been so busy the last two years but she had missed him and his cheerful disposition more than she could have imagined. He had been so different from all her peers back at home, had shared her love for the sea and on purpose or not, he had only increased her wanderlust.

Unlike two years ago she was now aware of the way he unconsciously always seemed to touch her. At first she had been a bit unsure about that, she hadn't a lot experience with men and like any other girl she had always been warned about the so called 'bad touch'. When she had finally admitted to herself that she enjoyed the contact between them quite a bit, Hisana had relaxed. So what if Shanks wanted something more from her, it wasn't as if she was unreceptive to such advances. After all she had to control herself to not break out in delighted shivers every time he spoke to her. His voice was even deeper then she remembered and god wasn't it a treat to just listen to him when he spoke slowly and intently? Though she also liked his loud guwaffs and nearly cackling giggles.

While she mused about the hunk of a pirate beside her, said hunk slowly awoke, his sleepy brown eyes suddenly widening and taking in their position. Hisana who didn't want to move, just tightened her grip on his arm as he tried to unwind his hands from around her.

"Don't!" she grumbled warningly while she nestled closer to him, "It's too early, go back to sleep!"

She would take advantage of this comfortable pillow slash furnace as long as possible even if Shanks didn't seem to want to act on the tension between them.

Unbeknownst to Hisana, Shanks was thinking along the same lines, but unlike her he was feeling guilty. Hadn't he promised Ben that he would not take advantage of her? But as he thought further of this compromising situation, wasn't it her that took advantage of him as human pillow? Slightly mollified he dragged her further into his body and breathed in the smell of her hair, she smelled like sea water and sun lotion, which was strangely enough a very appealing smell to him. While he mused further over that young woman in his arms, he felt how one of her legs weaseled itself between his and he was suddenly glad that the typical morning wood had decided to stay away, this could have been potentially very embarrassing for him.

They dozed for another hour until the sun slowly came in through his porthole and noises on deck were heard, it seemed as if a part of the crew was already awake.

Grumbling Shanks hid his head in Hisana's neck, it seemed as if their time together would be cut short again. She had told him that her team would leave the port with a ship that would departure at noon while his crew would stay for another day to stock up. She had also given him a new address for his letters, the Finn company's headquarters would forward letters to her whenever she was near.

The two finally came to the conclusion that they couldn't stay inside Shanks cabin anymore and got up, both enjoyed the comfortable silence while they got some fruit from the kitchens and then left the ship together. Some would think that sleeping in the same bed would have made the situation extremely awkward and uncomfortable but exactly the opposite happened. It felt right, like it was meant to be. That thought swirled around both their minds while Shanks brought her back to her hotel.

Standing in front of the building they both didn't seem to know what to say until Hisana finally broke the silence.

"I hate the fact that I don't know when I will see you again." Hisana admitted with a defeated sigh.

Shanks had to clear his voice at this, "I know, me too, but let's just treasure these moments and I will write you as much as possible and hey maybe next time we will have more time to spend together."

The last part was said with a soft smile, Hisana couldn't even answer with her throat suddenly swollen shut, she just nodded and then enjoyed the hug that Shanks gave her. God she was falling in love with a pirate she had only met twice and wasn't sure if she would ever see again! She was so god damn stupid! With a last glance back she saw his red hair vanish in the morning rush.
Eyes suspiciously wet she couldn't stop herself from hoping that she would see him again, and that hopefully soon!