It did take a bit longer than I expected. But it is done. Here is the fifth chapter. I hope you enjoy it and for the ending. You can hate me if you want. I had a hard time writing it. A little voice wanted to tell me to change it. But since this somehow belongs with the next chapter and the idea for the next commander, I didn't want to change it. So yeah...^^' I'll start writing the next chapter to make up for the ending.

Freerunner4427 : Mostly I do that. But with characters like Haruta sometimes I asked to hear what the readers want and perhaps to get a new different idea ;)

CelinaB: Thanks for your comment. Most of you want Haruta as a girl. Then I hope you like a female Haruta being a bit of a tomboy ;)

Shahana-G: I feel like I did an unintended number with the remarks about the war... I'm sorry:x

To be true I was a bit worried if the flashback story wasn't a bit fast for their relationship. But it does seem to work out.^^

Patient;) More details in later chapters. The next two (this one and the one after) are other from pov of other commanders. That is as much as say at the moment. But there will be another chapter with a flashback to this point.

~Chapter 5 – Pranksters, Shopping trips and Accidents~

Haruta grinned. Together with Thatch and Luffy the 12th division commander had hidden. A new prank was incoming.

„So I'll say we take the first division for a prank. With Marco away, we have the best timing." Thatch grinned. The cook seemed to have a few ideas in mind, but before Haruta could agree, Luffy spoke. „No, no. I don't want Pineapple to be cranky when he gets back. I also promised him. No pranks against the first and second division. I won't break my promise."

The 12th division commander lifted an eyebrow to Luffy's words. The last time the three of them played pranks together. The boy had helped them play a prank on every division. Even Marco's and the Phoenix was a bastard back then. He made them clean the whole ship and scolded them afterwards. Well, only Thatch and Haruta. Luffy was back on his ship when the first division commander found out. So the straw hatted-boy never got a punishment.

„Oh come on, Luffy. If someone is able to get away with pranking the division of our mother-hen it is you. So don't be fun killer." Thatch pressured Luffy a bit. Haruta could see that the boy seemed to think about it. But his promise seemed to mean more to him as the opportunity to rill up Marco. „No, I promised. No help for pranks against the first and second division." Luffy folded his arms and tried to look serious, which he failed a bit. But Thatch's statement about Luffy being able to get away with playing a prank against Marco got her thinking. Yeah, sure the blonde seemed to like the boy. But the Phoenix also cared for his brothers and sisters and this care didn't save them from getting punished for their pranks.

Haruta knew that Marco held his family dear to him and would kill anyone who hurt them. She saw it during Marine Ford. While she had a few close calls, the one who did come to close to hurt her, where being attacked by her brothers. Especially Marco, before he was on brat duty.

Thatch groaned and interrupted her thoughts. Haruta turned to look at him. „I know I said I approve. But if you become such a fun killer… I don't." Then suddenly the cook's face turned from being disappointed into a grin, which promised a fun prank. But Haruta didn't know if it was a good one. It didn't sound like a good one. „Come on, Haruta. We teach Luffy the wonders of …"

„Thatch! Don't think about pranking someone. You still have work to do and I'll make sure you do it." Izo appeared next to them. The cross-dresser looked annoyed. His make-up was a bit ruined. But it still looked good.

Haruta bit her lips. If Izo was annoyed enough to stop Thatch, before he started a prank, then it was better to be quiet. Also, she knew that the cook took Luffy under Izo's watch. So it should be better to not say anything at all. The cross-dresser could be worse than a mother, whose baby was stolen, when he was angry. The slightly ruined make-up was a good hint at how angry Izo was.

„But Izo, I can do this work later. Now is such a good timing for a prank", Thatch whined. Izo didn't show any mercy to the cook at least. „Haruta? Do you mind keeping Luffy out of trouble until this one has finished his work? I am not able to watch both. We already docked so perhaps you can take him shopping so he has a few other clothes on our ship."

The only female commander was a bit baffled but nodded. It was better than getting into trouble. Even if she hated shopping for clothes. When she didn't wear her normal clothes, she raided the closets of her brothers and wore their clothes. They may be a bit too big, but better than letting Izo dress her in more feminine clothes, which were useless for fighting.

Luffy giggled as Izo pulled Thatch with him. „Ne, Haru." Haruta lifted an eyebrow. She didn't like her name to be shortened. But Luffy didn't seem to remember the last two letters of her name. He called her like that since Ace introduced everyone to his brother.

„What is it, Luffy?" „Let's prank Thatch before we go looking for clothes." Haruta looked down at the grinning boy. Pranking the king of pranks himself? That did sound good. She liked it. Thatch never got pranked before as far as Haruta knew. So by pranking him, they could conquer his title. Haruta, queen of pranks. Yep, sounded good.

„What do you have in mind, my favourite only-half-part-of-the-family-little-brother?" Luffy pouted shortly about this title, but it disappeared quickly when he started whispering his idea in Haruta's ear. The redhead stayed silent, even after Luffy was finished.

The idea itself sounded boring at first. But when she thought about it more, it became a good idea, no … it was a brilliant idea. They could really pull that off and no one except Thatch would be angry at them. And if Izo was helping them like Luffy planned it, then this was one of the easiest pranks Haruta ever did.

A few minutes later they stood in front of the cross-dressing division commander with three bags full of paperwork from different divisions. They had finished telling Izo the plan and waited for the reaction of the cross-dresser. „Let me get this clear. You want to prank Thatch by giving him paperwork from other divisions and I have to make sure he does it?" Both pranksters nodded. „Did you get some of mine, too?" „Of course. There are from all divisions except Thatch's own one." A slight devilish smile appeared on Izo's lips. „See it as done. I'll work on a few clothes during the time he works." And with that Izo took the bags of paperwork and went away.

Haruta and Luffy giggled. This was too easy, but it was efficient. Haruta could already imagine Thatch's whining when the paperwork got more and more instead of the opposite. She should have asked Izo to give some details later.

But now she had to do a job. Not a one she would be happy to do. But Izo would be mad if she didn't do it. Well, and the nurses wouldn't be happy. They would be angry when more of their brothers went to the sick bay because of angry and overprotective commanders.

„Haru, I'm hungry, Can we eat?" Luffy interrupted Haruta's thoughts. The commander looked at the boy. She had to stop herself from shaking her head. The boy really thought with his stomach. „It isn't lunchtime, yet. The cooks just started, I think. Perhaps we can go and look on the island." „Let's go, Haru!"

And then Luffy started to drag Haruta around. The female commander was a bit behind at first, but the distance was closed quickly. Some crew members looked after them with a strange look like they expected something. Haruta grinned and waved at them. A few younger, newer members were irritated and some of them even blushed. This could be very funny later. She got to tell Thatch about that have him play „big overprotected brother" to them when he wasn't angry anymore about the prank.

After an expensive lunch courtesy by Luffy, they were in a small shop for clothes. Haruta thought it would be better that way. In little shops, they had fewer choices, but the commander thaught better fewer choices and good quality. Also, the shopping trip would be shorter that way if they found something.

It was a bit more fun as normal. Luffy tried on everything. Even if it wouldn't fit him. But most of the time he still had a sash on. Haruta tilted her head. Luffy wearing a sash didn't look bad. But why didn't the boy alter with a belt?

But then Luffy came out of the cabin. „Ne, Haru, look. Now I look like Pineapple." The boy did wear similar clothes to Marco's and even wore a belt over the sash. He even made his hair looked like the first division commander. But his face didn't match the blonde.

„Do you really want to look like him?" „I like Pineapple's style. He made me wear a sash when he helped with training because sometimes my clothes didn't fit." Luffy got a slightly dreamy look in his eyes. „What are you thinking about, Luffy? You have a dreamy look. Did something good happen during the training?" Haruta grinned slightly. The boy blushed a bit and looked away. „It was a fun time."

Haruta was a bit surprised to see Luffy act like that. Then she remembered something. Luffy was near Amazon Lily. Perhaps he got a sweetheart there. „Aw, does little Luffy have a crush back on Amazon Lily, which isn't Boa Hancock?"

Luffy blinked confused at her before he started pouting, but his blush didn't disappear. „I'm not little." The pout deepened. „And I don't have a crush on Amazon Lily." Haruta laughed. „Sorry, Luffy. But your face and look hinted that you found some who got a special place in your heart. So I just assumed it was one of the Kuja Tribe and you didn't say anything because Boa Hancock has a crush on you." The pout on Luffy's face only disappeared slowly. „The Kuja Tribe are all my friends. But they are not as special as my Nakama, Ace, Sabo, you guys, Makino and the village, Dadan and the Bandits, or Ma..." Luffy put his hands to his lips to silence himself. He seemed to say something that he shouldn't tell.

Haruta tilted her head. Ma? As far as she knew through Ace neither the brothers don't know their mothers. Ace's was dead and Luffy's mother's status was unknown. So the two letters M and A must be the first two of a name. She didn't consider that it could be another mother figure. Since she knew Makino was some kind of sister/mother figure to Ace and Luffy and then there was Dadan, who was their foster-mother, but neither was called mother or mama. Also, he already said both names. So they could be crossed out. She didn't hear any stories about other people who started with Ma and were special to the boys and Haruta didn't believe that it changed since they meet up in Fishman Island after Luffy's training. Well, it wouldn't fit the timing. Since this Ma-person was possible the reason for his dreamy look.

„So you have a crush on this Ma-person?" Luffy's eyes wandered around the room. It was like the boy looked for a distraction. „Luffy? Who holds a special place in your heart other than your Nakama, Ace, Sabo, the people back on your home island, us and starts with Ma?" She knew it was a bit unfair that she was cornering him with direct questions, but come on.

Luffy was mostly Ace's and Sabo's little brother. But he was also somehow the little brother of all the Whitebeard pirates. So she was allowed to tease him and ask questions about his love life. She couldn't to that with Ace, who was younger than her, because the second division commander didn't have one and if he had one, he was very good at hiding it.

In her thoughts, she didn't notice that Luffy disappeared from the store. „Luffy?" She looked around. The clothes, they would take for the boy, were still there. „Did you see, where the boy went?" She asked the saleswoman. „Sorry, I started to fold the clothes you chose for him, so it would be quicker when you are finished…" Haruta couldn't blame her. „Thank you. Someone from our ship will pick them up later."

Then the female commander ran out the store and looked around. She couldn't see the famous straw hat boy. Haruta did have a bad feeling as she heard the rumble of a thunder. The few civilians on the street could only give her vague information. But all pointed in the same direction. Unfortunately, it wasn't their ship's direction.

Haruta started running. There were no enemies or bounty hunters on this island. But the mountains out of the village could get dangerous. Especially, when a storm was close. She hoped that Luffy didn't get to close otherwise he could get hurt, even with his devil fruit.

„Luffy? Where are you?" She shouted. The storm was starting. The wind howled and Haruta had to dodge a stick from a tree. Her sight was starting to become unclear through the rain. She had to concentrate to use Kenbunshoku Haki. It mostly just helped her with sticks and some smaller stones which were sent flying through the wind.

But Luffy's presence wasn't something she noticed. It worried her. After all, Izo trusted her to keep the boy out of trouble. But this would end in trouble.

„Luffy." Again she shouted for her youngest brother. Her clothes started to stick at her body because of the rain. She had to hurry and find Luffy.

Then she noticed his presence. A little to the left. „Luffy!" Just a few steps and she would be next to him. The straw hat flew from Luffy's hat into her arms and then water crashed against her. With one hand she pressed the hat to her chest, while she tried to swim to Luffy's presence which got away from her.

Then everything went black.

„Haruta. Haruta, wake up." That sounded like Thatch. He was going to scold her. Someone shook her slightly. „Marco, stop it. She got hit on the head." Ma…rco?

„Take her to the ship. I will look for Luffy, yoi." Marco's voice sounded worried and … afraid?

„Marco, stay calm."

Oyaji…

„Jozu, take Haruta back to the ship. Namur, you will go with Marco. Search the east side. Thatch, Izo, north side. Curiel, Rakuyo, West side. Vista, Blennheimer, south side. Take a den-den mushi with you. And stay in contact with us."

„If I could fly I would find him faster…" Why did her brother's voice sound like that? He didn't seem so broken during Marine Ford. Only when Oyaji was hurt. Otherwise, he didn't show any worries. So why now?

Was it because of Luffy?

Haruta wasn't sure. Perhaps there was a connection which she didn't see at the moment. Cross the perhaps. There was one. There was a deep connection between Marco and Luffy. Because it had to be Marco's name which Luffy didn't say out loud in the store.

With the little bit of strength her body provided her at the moment, she half-opened her eyes and lifted her hand. Her fingers closed around Marco's arm. Blurry she could see that he turned his head to her.

„I'm sorry for losing our little brother."