Chapter 7

Hisana thought she had only whispered his name, but somehow he must have heard it because he turned around and she could see his eyes widening. The concern and elation in his unbelievable deep brown eyes and the sudden eye contact with him made Hisana's knees weak and she stumbled a little bit and had to grab her head to stop the vertigo. Before she could look up again, Shanks was by her side and grabbed her arms to support her. With a quick yell behind him he gave the helm to Ben while he lifted Hisana into his arms to carry her back to his cabin. The black haired woman protested weakly but that was completely ignored, instead Shanks just tightened the grip a bit and stared down unreadable at her.

His gaze kept traveling over her body until he finally said worriedly, "You shouldn't be outside, the Doc said that you had a nasty heat stroke. So stay inside and drink a lot!"

Hisana could only stare up at Shanks in confusion and wonder, slowly she realized that this wasn't a sun induced hallucination, that Shanks really WAS here carrying her into his room and settling her down gently on his bed.

She had found him.

The first tears came nearly unnoticeable and only after they had begun to trickle down in a steady stream Hisana realized that she was crying. Then a sob escaped her throat and another. Shanks sat beside her, hands hovering awkwardly and clearly unsure what to do. In the end it was Hisana who initiated the hug, she weaved her hands around his neck and burrowed her head in his neck.

"Hisana… hey it's okay you are safe now." Shanks said while he softly stroked through her hair and closed his eyes to better feel the way her body pressed to his.

Now that she was finally awake it hit him like a ton of bricks. If that newbie hadn't been so vigilant and had missed her, Hisana could have easily died in the next few hours. A heat stroke was not something that should be taken lightly! Shanks couldn't help himself, with that realization in the back if his mind he started to mindlessly pepper her face and head with kisses, his lips became wet from the only slowly drying tears and murmured a steady stream of reassuring words and how thankful he was that he had found her just in time.

Hisana enjoyed how Shanks cradled her face between his hands and softly petted her, after a while he stood up and brought a water carafe and a glass over to her. While Hisana drank his eyes never left her features. She was aware that she had to look awful, blotched eyes, runny nose and by the way her cheeks, nose and forehead felt she had the mother of all sunburns, her skin was so going to peal in a few days! Even while she thought all that her mind could only truly concentrate on one thing, she had finally found him again!

When her thirst was finally drenched for the moment she set her glass down and asked in a small voice, "Lay down with me… please!"

The last part was said so desperately that Shanks would have complied with anything she had wanted. Moving her further inside on the bed he took extra care not to jostle her head. After that he removed his boots and locked the door. Climbing after her he moved until she was only a few inches away from her and once he had settled Hisana turned onto her side and laid her sunburned cheek on his right pectoral, her right hand and foot were lazy thrown over his body.

Shanks eyes went big when he felt her moving half on top of him, his hands automatically hugged her closer and then he couldn't help himself and moved her lax body slightly up and in the middle of his body until her head was hidden in his neck and her feet slumped on each side of his body. The black haired woman didn't seem to mind and was sighing contently, her sighing turning into purring as Shanks hands wandered up and down her back to relax her sore muscles.

Hisana was in heaven, it was strange she hadn't seen Shanks for three years and they still had this instant connection back, no awkwardness, no embarrassing moments, just contentment and the desire for more contact. Absolute no comparison to the dating she had done!

While the two reclined like that on the bed Hisana told him what had led to her being in this rescue boat and even later on she told him of the three years that they hadn't seen each other. Of the adventures, her failures and wins and even about her loneliness, it was a relief to finally talk about it and with somebody who understood her fascination with the sea and not the race on itself.
She felt Shank under her stiffen as she told him vaguely of her dating attempts and how they all seemed to lack. Only after she admitted the last part Shanks relaxed once more and his reaction gave her hope, hope that now maybe the two of them could have a chance, no matter how short lived. They spend nearly two hours like this until Hisana was too exhausted to stay awake any longer and fell asleep.

Shanks used the time she spent sleeping to take over the helm again and update his first mate about Hisana's condition.

In the evening Shanks woke Hisana for a quick check up by the ship doctor that he had acquired only a few months ago, before he led her down in the galley to eat a light dinner, the first substantial food after three days on sea.
There she was also introduced to his crew members old and new. Hisana couldn't help but smile, it was a rowdy and very lively bunch. She liked Shanks crew, especially after they started teasing him, Hisana couldn't hide the delighted giggles when the so feared pirate captain turned bead red while they informed her about his mishaps and the funny situations he had been caught up in during his time as their captain.

That night she once again slept in Shanks cabin, the doctor had offered her his cabin but she had politely declined, after all she enjoyed Shanks embrace and steady heart beat that warded off all of her nightmares.

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Hisana Interlude

The Red Hair pirates arrived at the Sabaody Archipelago only a week later.

In her time on Shanks ship Hisana got to know the crew better. Mainly Ben, Yasopp and Lucky Roo who were the most senior pirates on the ship but also the kind young doctor that had examined her when they found her unconscious and various members of the crew.

They enjoyed retelling their adventures but thankfully kept the more gory details of their fights away from her ears after they saw how Hisana had reacted to the first few stories. She didn't condemn them for their battle lust but it was clearly visible that it wasn't something she wanted to hear about in great detail.

Especially Ben had endeared himself to her, he was easily 10 years older than all the other members, and around 15 years older than her. The black haired pirate that favored a giant riffle was calm, collected and organized in contrast to Shanks who was a bit of an air head in comparison. He also had a wicked sense of humor, very dry and sarcastic. In Hisana's opinion perfect older brother material!

So even though a big part of her time onboard was spent with the crew, most of the time Hisana was with her red haired crush, be it on deck listening to him while he explained the differences of navigating a big ship to her or in the evenings while they ate with his crew, always right beside him.

Shanks kept watching her, he always seemed to know where she was, relaxing when Hisana was in his sight and tracking her with his warm chocolate brown eyes, the pirate captain was anticipating her needs like nobody, not even her parents had before and Hisana found that she very much enjoyed this quiet attention.
Additionally his crew seemed to constantly and mercilessly tease him about her, more or less subtle and Shanks didn't blink an eye anymore, just took the whole ribbing with a good natured grind and a wistful smile that made Hisana ache. Furthermore none of the other pirates even so much as flirted in her direction, which she had become quite accustomed too during her travels between the different islands, it was a refreshing change.

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Leaning against the balustrade of the upper deck and watching the crew at work docking at the Mangrove twenty four, Hisana couldn't hide the happy, if a little bit troubled smile that crept up her face. She was in the middle of contemplating if she should act on their mutual attraction or leave it be. And the longer she contemplated the more she was inclined to just throw caution in the wind and kiss Shanks, no matter how short their time together would be. In the last few days Shanks had explained to her that they were on the way to the New World.

While her eyes wandered over the many bubbles that bounced between the mangroves and encased parts of the docking area, Hisana's thoughts turned to the last part of the Grand Line. She had heard a lot horror stories about the most dangerous sea in the world. Hisana couldn't help herself but worry about the Red Hair pirates, a lot of strong pirate crews had found their demise in those waters and she prayed imploringly that this wouldn't happen to Shanks crew.

Sighing deeply she turned around and walked back to Shanks cabin, the crew would spent the next few days here while they waited for their ship to be coated with a giant bubble before they could continue their journey. And here was also where their paths would go separate ways. As much as Hisana would love to continue traveling with them, it was impossible. She had her responsibilities to her company, and even without those she wouldn't go with them.

Let's face it, Hisana wasn't a fighter and frankly after she had remembered her former life, she didn't have the drive to learn a combat style or a weapon. The memories of being forced into dangerous situations and having to find her way out of them in her previous life had been enough for her thank you very much!
As somebody travelling with the Red Haired pirates she would have a bounty faster than she could say Marine Headquarters, and not being a fighter wouldn't help her in that case! And to be honest, she enjoyed her relative anonymousness in this world, no overeager people trying to shake her hand or using her as a means to an end.

So no, travelling with them was definitely out of question!

Sighing depressed and a little bit heartbroken she packed her duffel bag and made her way back on deck.