Waves sloshed lightly against the bow of the ship as it glided through the open water. Aboard were a number of men easily going about their tasks. Every man occupied, some more so than others. One such man who was doing a tad bit less than the others was currently leaning up against the railing. He was talking to a crew member or, well, a pint sized individual.

Standing in all of their 6 year old glory was a child. A young girl, more specifically, who was watching the crew member speak with rapt attention. Yasopp, the crewmate leaning on the railing, was busy entertaining the child with a story about his own son back home in Syrup Village. Unlike his crewmates, the girl actually seemed to like hearing stories about Usopp. Actually, she seemed to favor stories of his son over his obnoxious fairy tale-esque stories.

The ship broke through a particularly rough set of waves, rocking the vessel. The crew members fared well but the child stumbled and her head of red hair nearly collided with the railing. It was only through quick reflexes and parental instinct that Yasopp was able to cradle her head in his palm fast enough to keep it from coming well acquainted with the railing. Large hand wrapped around her small arm, he steadied her and released her head from his hold.

Though the seas here in the blues weren't as unruly as those in the Grand Line, they could still be unpredictable. This was especially true in the East Blue. The waters here were the calmest of all the oceans, but even so the ocean was a powerful force to reckon with even if it appeared to be tame in the East.

This was the girl's first time in the East Blue. Yasopp wasn't entirely sure where she was from and the captain wasn't inclined to say. All that any of the crew knows is she boarded the ship with Shanks in Logue Town with a quick, "She's sailing with us for a bit. Don't ask."

Now, it didn't take a genius to see the relation between the girl and the captain. The shock of flame red hair was a dead give away. She had the same sharp nose even on her round little face and her skin had easily taken to the sun, becoming a deep tan that matched the captain's. The main difference was in their eyes. While Shanks had hard, steel colored eyes, she had deep, forest green.

"Are you okay, Storm?"

"Hm." All Yasopp got was a quiet hum and nod from the girl to answer his question. Brushing his fingers through her shoulder length hair to straighten it from where he grabbed her head, he glanced around at the rest of the crew. No one else seemed to be paying attention to them. Typical. Now, Yasopp loved his crew, loved being a pirate, and loved being on this ship with Shanks, but as a parent he wanted to revolt in the straight up disinterest these men showed in the well being of a child. He understood that pirates had more important things to worry about than children but honestly, this was ridiculous.

It was as if the child on board didn't exist half of the time. After the first day, most of the men had seemingly given up on trying to talk with her when they were met with nothing but silence. Yasopp had overheard some of the men talking about how creepy they thought the little girl was. Her silence and disinterest in the crew made it hard for the men to get along with her. She was the complete opposite of Luffy.

Speaking of Luffy, that's where the crew was heading now. They were on their way to Fuschia Village to see their favorite Anchor. Shanks even seemed livelier than he had in days the closer they got to Fuschia. Yasopp tried not to think of the implications behind that too much as he offered the small girl a smile and then his hand. With a tilt of her head, the girl slowly made to grab his hand in her own small one. Once he had her hand in his, he began his trek to get the girl some food and entertain her with a story like the ones he used to tell his son back home.

-Break-

"I can't believe you almost got us caught! We've only been on shore for five minutes and we are already running from the marines!"

"But Nami, it's not my fault!"

The conversation among the Straw Hats continued as they settled themselves around one of the biggest tables in the bar, dragging a few chairs from nearby tables to give sitting room for all the members. All the members from Luffy through Brook were crowded around the chosen, circular table, chatting and waiting for Nami to dish out everyone's share of spending money for the island.

In the chaos of the pub, a waitress made her way over, ducking under stray arms and avoiding messes on the floor. She stopped beside their table, eyes roaming the pirates as she pulled out her small note pad and pen from her apron pocket to take their orders. Robin glanced up at the young woman as her crew continued with their discussions and gave her a slight smirk as the waitress seemed to be growing impatient with her friends.

Tapping the end of the pen against the pad resting in her hand, the waitress cleared her throat. The effect was immediate with nine pairs of eyes turning to look at her.

"Are you ready to order?" She asked in a tired voice, eyes dancing across the members faces.

Sanji was up in an instant and in the blink of an eye he was before the young woman presenting her with a rose and showering her with declarations of love. The waitress seemed none too impressed with her expression changing from surprise to boredom in a span of seconds. From across the table Brook's laugh rang out but before he could speak Nami had already smashed her fist into the side of his head. Giving Sanji a glare that sent him back to his seat she turned to the young woman.

"Sorry about that, these idiots have no idea how to talk to a lady."

Smirking, the waitress gestured to the people in pub and asked, "Have you seen the men in here? I think I can handle them."

As if to prove her point a man sitting across the bar smacked the backside of one of the other waitresses as the woman walked by with a set of drinks. The waitress before them rolled her eyes at the scene and roar of obnoxious laughter that followed. Bringing her gaze back to Nami she righted her pen and gave a small smile.

"So, are you ready to order?"

-Break-

"Hey Boss, isn't that the one rookie from the wanted poster? The one with the big bounty?" A rat looking man with scraggly, straw colored hair wondered out loud among a large group of drinking men. The man called "boss" shifted his steel colored eyes in the direction of the man who spoke. Looking startled at the other's attention the rat looking man gestured in the direction he was looking for his boss to follow his path of sight. Steel colored eyes sharpened as he took in the laughing young man with a straw hat placed upon his head.

-Break-

"Order up!"

The waitress slapped the small piece of paper with the large order down on the counter in front of the chef before turning to lean back against the same counter and contemplate her recent encounter. She didn't dare turn to look at the band of pirates and tip them off to the fact that she was a little too interested in their group. Or more specifically more interested in a single member of their group. Monkey D. Luffy.

Even though she was facing away from them she could still see him in her mind perfectly. Messy black hair with his stupid scar beneath his eye and that god damn hat that sat on his head. He was all limbs, longs arms and legs with no meat on his bones and the inability to keep out of trouble. She felt a smile cross her lips just from his mental image.

She emerged from her thoughts with the sharp sting of a spatula hitting her in the back of the neck. Wincing, she ignored the cooks glare and grabbed the food that had been sitting there ready to be served. Grabbing as many plates as she could handle in one go, she moved through the crowded space to the small pirate crew. Stepping up to the space the crew occupied, she shifted the dishes in her possession so that they would be easier to place down the rapidly cooling food in front of the correct pirate.

"Um, I think you're missing a few of our orders." Usopp stated the obvious as the young woman finished placing the food on the table. Hiding the exasperated roll of her eyes, she turned to give the teen a forced smile.

"I was only able to carry some of the meals. I'm heading back to get them now so it'll only be a few more minutes, okay?" With that the waitress spun on her heel and stalked back off to the intolerable chef of the bar to grab the remaining meals for the crew. The Straw Hats could only watch as she pushed her way through the crowded bar.

"Was it something I said?" Usopp asked, turning to look at Nami.

"You idiot," Nami said while rolling her eyes, "she has to deal with all these morons all day and then we come in with a huge order and we expect her to handle the whole thing herself and in one go. No wonder she seems annoyed."

While Nami was speaking, Zoro turned to watch the waitress maneuver her way back to them. As she was walking between two tables, a drunkard sitting at one managed to push a glass off the said table. He narrowed his eyes when she somehow, with her full hands, was able to move the dishes around so she was still holding them in her arms and catching the glass in her hand. All within the span of a few seconds. She gently sat the glass back on the table and rearranged the dishes she was carrying before continuing on her way back over to their table.

The others quieted down as she made it back and began to place food down in front of the remaining crewmates who hadn't received their food yet. At first Zoro thought it was his imagination when the waitress seemed to move closer to his captain but one look at Robin and it seemed that she noticed the same thing. The young woman was practically brushing against his captain's side from where she was standing and that was the closest he's seen her get to anyone within the bar since they've entered.

Nami glanced up at the waitress, oblivious to Zoro and Robin's thoughts, with a questioning look.

"What about the bill?" The waitress just smiled and shook her head.

"I'll foot the bill. Don't worry about it." Nami looked among the other members of her crew and Luffy turned to get a good look at the woman who was serving them.

"Ah, you don't need to do that…'' Nami trailed nervously, "We're pirates but we won't just push that onto you. That's almost as bad as a dine and dash and we aren't those type of pirates. Especially considering how that one eats."

Nami gestured in the direction of her captain who was currently stuffing his mouth with the newly arrived food. The waitress gave a small shake of the head and a slight smile, all the while her eyes trailed over the pirate captain.

"Just accept the offer. It's fine. Really." Leaving no room for argument, she turned on her heel once more and stalked off back to the kitchen. She could feel the gazes of the pirates on her. The hair on the back of her neck stood straight up and a chill settled in her lower back as a result. It was unnerving to say the least, being watched like this. It's been years since anyone has watched her with such intensity and she couldn't say she was a fan.

Glancing off to the side without turning her head she tried to catch a glance of the group, but she had no such luck seeing as another gang of people had entered the pub. Barely hiding her groan of annoyance, she moved to wait on the new individuals.

"Don't tell me you didn't notice?"

"Uh, notice what Zoro?"

Growling at the obliviousness of his crewmates, Zoro leveled them all with a glare. How could they not notice her interest in their captain? It wasn't the flirty behavior that some had when it came to their captain. No, instead it was something else, something deeper than that. It's like she knew him. Zoro had seen the recognition in her eyes, he had watched her body relax just the slightest bit upon being in close proximity to Luffy. It was confusing and frustrating, especially since it seems the rest of the crew didn't pick up on it.

"The way that waitress was acting! She was practically glued to Luffy!" Off to Zoro's side Robin hummed in agreement, nodding her head slowly. The others, on the other hand, looked completely lost.

"Eh? Really?" Luffy looked up from the food, cocking his head questioningly. The rest of the crew glanced at each other, all holding confusion upon their faces.

"Are you sure, bro? I mean, you could just be overreacting." Franky added his own thoughts into the mix. Zoro growled in annoyance, about to start arguing when Robin stepped in.

"Zoro-san is correct. There is something strange about her behavior towards Captain-san. She did not seem to be trying to pursue him in a romantic sense but there is no doubt that she recognizes our captain." Robin smoothly pointed out, backing up Zoro's earlier statement. The crew, minus Luffy who was shoveling food into his mouth, seemed to mull over her words.

"But Robin, couldn't it just be his wanted poster? I mean, his face is literally printed in the papers every week! Isn't it possible that she knows him through the news?" Reasoned Nami, glancing over at the waitress as she served other customers. Usopp nodded in agreement beside her, slapping Luffy's hand away from his plate.

"Perhaps, but it was deeper than that. It was more personal than someone simply recognizing a face from a piece of paper. She must have some history with Captain-san, or at least believe she does." Robin's statement was met with blank stares from most of the table's occupants with the exception of Zoro, who had a deep frown carved into his face. Noticing his crewmates lack of concern the swordsman let out an obnoxious snort.

"Well, whatever. If she's a threat, we'll handle her when the time comes. Let's just eat and get out of here." He barely had time to finish before Sanji aimed a kick at his face for deeming the woman a threat.

The crew barely had the time to get on with their meal before a commotion started up on the other side of the bar. At first they were able to ignore the sounds of growing discontent. That was until the sound of breaking glass and obnoxious laughter filled the air. Turning their heads to get a better view, the pirates could see the waitress that had been at their table minutes before standing before a group of rowdy looking men.

"C'mon, sweetheart, we could show you a good time!" Yelled one greasy man to the waitress, only for another to chime in with a lewd smirk.

"We'll be gentle, we promise!"

"Sure, about as gentle as you were with the glass you threw on the ground."

"Now, listen girlie, we're just having some fun with ya. Don't be such a stuck up little bitch about it. Loosen up." The first greasy man said, to the shouts of agreement from his buddies. Letting out an agitated sigh, the waitress blew some hair out of her face in a huff and turned away from the men. She didn't make it far for a hand shot out and grabbed her arm.

"I'm still talking to ya, babe." The man sneered, tightening his grip on her arm. The crew could visibly see her jaw stubbornly set and her shoulders square. Without turning around, she shoved her elbow back and rammed it straight into the nose of the man who had a hold on her. With a shout of pain, the man let go of her and cupped his bleeding nose in his hands. Not waiting for any further response, the waitress was already walking away with angry steps.

"Huh. I guess she can handle herself," Nami muttered, as she watched the waitress stomp away from the table.

-Break-

The Straw Hats were out of the pub for a total of two minutes when someone tried to start trouble with them.

"STRAW HAT! I challenge you to a fight!" Yelled a man that they were pretty sure was in the pub at the same time they were. Beside him stood a rat looking man who was gnawing on his nails as if he were nervous for the encounter.

Luffy just turned around to look at the man with a blank expression on his face. After several tense seconds, Luffy spoke. Much to the amusement of his crew.

"Nah. I'm good. I don't really feel like fighting right now."

"What?! You can't just refuse! Fight me, coward!" The man screamed in outrage. Sighing as if the man was stupid, which in Luffy's opinion, he might as well be, Luffy spoke again.

"I don't feel like it. Maybe later. See ya." Before turning away, beginning to walk in the other direction.

"Get back here, Straw Hat!" The man yelled with his and on the hilt of a sword that hung at his side. He never got the chance to swing though because at that very moment the doors to the pub swung open and hit the man with a surprising amount of force. The man hit the wall of the pub behind him with a loud crash, cracks forming from the force of being pushed into the side of the building. His eyes were rolled back and some blood was running down the side of his face. The rat looking man that had been with him merely squealed in horror at the sight before him.

"Oh, shit, sorry."

Stepping out of the doorway was the waitress from earlier. Despite her apology, she couldn't appear less sorry with the way she looked almost bored of the situation she caused. Deciding she wasted enough time on the distressed man and his boss, she transferred her glance to the crew of pirates. More importantly to Luffy.

"Luffy."

"Huh?" Turning back at his name, Luffy glanced at the waitress from earlier.

"Luffy. Look at me." Looking at her like she was crazy, he did what she asked. He studied her as hard as he was able to. Sweat beading on his brow as he tried to concentrate. Mid-way through his feeble attempts, he got distracted by her hair. It was a really dark red, kind of like Shanks or…

"Storm!" Luffy yelled, eyes lighting up. Laughing, the woman in front of them brushed some of her red hair out of her face.

"It took you long enough, idiot!"

"You cut your hair!" Luffy seemed to yell in defense. Rolling her green eyes, she puffed her cheeks out in annoyance at the captain.

"I can't be like you and have the same hairstyle forever!"

"But you do have the same hairstyle as me?"

"No, I don't! It's a little longer than yours and that isn't the point, Luffy!"

"Um, I hate to interrupt whatever this is but what exactly is going on?" Nami asked, stepping in between her captain and their former waitress. Off to the side, Robin and Zoro shared a look.

"Oh! Right!" Luffy said, smacking his fist into his palm as if he had reached a sudden realization. He gave his crew one of his signature smiles as he stretched an arm out to sneak around the woman's waist. He retracted his arm, pulling the woman close enough for her cheek to be squished against his, causing her to let out a small laugh.

"This is my little sister!"

…

..

.

"WHAT?!"