Author's Note: If this fanfic were an anime, this would be considered a filler episode. A very cheesey filler episode.

Disclaimer: Eichiiro Oda owns One Piece and his fans own the occasionally cheesey fanfics that are written.

Ch. 31: "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

A couple of nights later, Aki found herself unable to sleep. She knew that the island where her aunt lived was the next island coming up, and she knew that she and Showtarou were going to have to say good-bye to everyone. The situation was saddening, and, Aki constantly wished that her mother was still alive, but, the Capricorns lived on the same island as them so she wouldn't have to be a filthy, muderous pirate, even if the Capricorns WEREN'T filthy or murderous.

With a sigh, Aki got up and decided to see if the other Capricorns were asleep. All of the rooms seemed dark and closed, but, Aki noticed that the kitchen was lit up and open. Expecting Sebastian to be inside the kitchen, Aki went inside the kitchen, where Matsu was reading.

"Couldn't sleep?" Matsu asked Aki.

"No, I couldn't," Aki said as she sat down next to Matsu.

"Anything on your mind? I'm sure your mother's death recently has caused many sleepless nights," Matsu asked Aki.

"Well, as you know already, Showtarou is bringing me to my aunt so I can follow through with the arranged marriage she set, which my mother was against. I most likely have to leave the crew permanetly because of it, but, then again, I don't want to leave," Aki explained.

"I see... I know how hard it is to lose your mother," Matsu commented.

"You lost your mother too? What happened?" Aki asked Matsu.

"Remember two years ago when the Straw Hat Pirates declared war on the World Government? Well, around the same time, a huge, yearly storm called the 'Aqua Laguna' hit my hometown of Water Seven," Matsu explained.

"What's the Aqua Laguna?" Aki asked, tilting her head a bit.

"It's a big storm with very high tides, high winds, and heavy rain that hits Water Seven every year. My mother got swept away by the huge waves while trying to protect the family yacht," Matsu explained.

"That must really suck," Aki commented.

"It did. Shortly after that, I was hired for a secretary job in Baleeira Porto – which is in the East Blue – and I moved there, leaving behind friends and family," Matsu sadly explained. Aki sighed.

"I don't want to leave any of you behind all because of so-called 'family tradition'. I made a promise with somebody on this crew that we were going to stay together forever," Aki explained.

"Ooh! Is it a boy?" Matsu asked Aki, who blushed.

"Yes. He's kind, loving, handsome, AND his relationship with his brothers is very cute," Aki explained with a giggle. Matsu smiled.

"I think you described either Heathcliffe or his brothers. Don't get me wrong, they are pretty handsome and... How do I put this? Ah-hah! I'd say they're pretty fashionable," Matsu explained. "As for me, there's somebody i've known since childhood that is perfect for me."

"What's he like?" Aki asked Matsu.

"Hmm... He's very polite and well-bred, he comes from a wealthy family, we've been friends since birth, and –" Matsu explained before somebody else joined them.

"Am I disturbing your slumber party?"

Matsu and Aki looked up, and they noticed that Kartik had entered the room.

"We couldn't sleep," Aki explained.

"Me neither. How about we all have a cup of tea and then we can get some sleep? Don't want to be tired for when we see the next island tomorrow," Kartik suggested. A few minutes after having her cup of tea, Aki headed back to her room. But, Aki found herself going to the room of Heathcliffe and his brothers.

"Sarutobi-kun made a promise to me that we would stay together. I hope he really meant it," Aki thought to herself as she silently crept into the bedroom. Soren was laying flat on his back, Holden was on his side, hugging (and drooling on) his pillow, and Heathcliffe was in the middle bed, sleeping peacefully. All Heathcliffe wore was a pair of tight, black sweatpants, making Aki blush slightly at his lanky figure. Aki walked over to Heathcliffe and stroked his hair, waking him up.

"Oh! Aki, what are you doing here?" Heathcliffe whispered to Aki.

"I couldn't sleep, Sarutobi-kun," Aki anwsered. Heathcliffe smiled.

"I'll stay with you until you fall asleep," Heathcliffe re-assured Aki as he got up from his bed and began to walk with Aki to her room.

"So, what's up?" Heathcliffe asked Aki.

"It's just the whole thing with my arranged marriage and how I don't want to leave you guys," Aki explained as they arrived at her room. Aki lied down on her bed.

"That really does suck. I REALLY don't want you to leave. It would be heartbreaking to see you go," Heathcliffe explained as he tucked Aki in.

"It really does. I wish you could come with me, Sarutobi-kun," Aki explained.

"Me too. I'd even bring Holden and Soren – no, the entire crew – along with us so our adventures never end," Heathcliffe explained.

"You know what, Sarutobi-kun? Bring the crew with me to my aunt's, and we'll see what happens from there," Aki explained.

"I will, Aki. I will do it for you," Heathcliffe anwsered before he and Aki hugged. Within a few minutes, Heathcliffe found himself falling asleep, listening to Aki's heartbeat and her breathing.

"Bro, get up!"

"Yeah, bro! Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey."

Heathcliffe awoke, with Holden and Soren already dressed and standing above him.

"Where were you last night, bro?" Holden asked Heathcliffe as he got up.

"Oh, Aki was having trouble falling asleep, so I decided to stay with her until she fell asleep. But, somehow I fell asleep while waiting for Aki to fall asleep," Heathcliffe explained as he stretched out his arms. "I'm suprised that she isn't up yet."

"Well, you're going to have to shower and dress fast if you want breakfast. Sebastian made donuts for us," Soren explained.

"Donuts? Hell yeah!" Heathcliffe said before he ran out of the room. Holden and Soren sweatdropped as Aki got up.

"Good morning, Aki!" Holden greeted in a cheesy way. Soren elbowed him. "Sebastian made donuts for everyone, so, you should hurry up with your hair and clothes if you want one!"

"Ah! Morning, Holden, Soren! Was that Heathcliffe just now?" Aki asked Holden and Soren.

"Yeah," Soren and Holden anwsered as Aki walked over to her closet to get ready for the day. In the kitchen/dining area, everyone was taking notice of a shirtless Heathcliffe eating lots of donuts.

"You are worse than Kazuma," Hana commented as she shook her head.

Ending Note: Told you this was like a filler episode.

Review if you don't want a filler chapter.