Disclaimer – One Piece is written by Eiichiro Oda and published by Shueisha.

Hancock returned to her bedroom at Kuja Castle. Salome coiled on the bed, and the Snake Princess sat down on her pet and sighed. After allowing Salvia to escape, her chest grew heavy, but Luffy would be her comfort. She ordered the guards to summon him when heels clacked through the hallway outside the room, and the doors burst open.

"I cannyot accept this!" Elder Nyon stormed inside with Sandersonia and Marigold in her wake. "You chose Luffy over your people? You are out of your—"

"Enough," said Marigold. "She is the Snake Princess. She can do as she—"

"Perhaps you nyon should stop defending your sister and think about the future of our home. The people are asking why Salvia was able to walk all over the Snake Princess and get away without punishment. The World Government will wonder why she hasn't dealt with Salvia and will strip her of her title of Pirate Warlord. All this, just to be with Luffy?"

"No matter what I do," said Hancock, "everyone will forgive me, because…yes, I'm beautiful."

Despite this truth, did she deserve to be forgiven?

Elder Nyon continued her rant, and Hancock sighed. Did she make the right choice? Right then and there, she could have arrested Salvia. But now, if Salvia's dream succeeded, she would add strong men to her crew who would be at her beck and call. She had even managed to control Luffy.

Hancock chewed her lip. She was selfish in choosing Luffy's affections over her people, but this was her chance to be with him. She had suffered through life and had a brand to show for it, and she had fought for Amazon Lily as Snake Princess. Now she wanted something for herself, and there was nothing she desired more than to be with Luffy.

She closed her eyes. Was it foolish to hope the World Government would pardon her? Regardless, she had made her choice.

"B-bring Luffy," she stammered, interrupting the argument between her sisters and Elder Nyon.

"Yes, nothing matters to you but him," said Elder Nyon. "I am leaving. Do nyot blame me when you come to regret your decision."

Those words struck Hancock's heart, and she squeezed her eyes shut.

An eternity after Elder Nyon had left, sandals clacked outside the room, and racing through the entrance was Luffy.

"HANCOCK," he said. "THERE YOU ARE!"

He had slimmed down to his lean and muscular frame. Before Hancock could react, he jumped and wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace.

"Shihishishi, I'm glad you're okay."

"L-Luffy," said Hancock, heart hammering. "You've said my name correctly for the 11th time."

"You don't look so good." He placed his hand on her forehead, and it steamed. "Ow!"

"I-I'm okay," she lied.

"That's great, I was so worried!"

He hugged her again. As she grew even hotter, he released her, and his eyes met hers.

"I've got something to tell you," he said.

Hancock grabbed her chest. "Is this what they call…a proposal?"

"I want to stay with you."

All three women jumped. "It is a proposal!"

"But right now, I can't," said Luffy.

"What?" said Hancock. "W-why?"

"I made a promise to Shanks. To Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Franky, and Brook. To Rayleigh and Jinbe. To Ace and Sabo. I'm going to be King of the Pirates. I won't let my friends down again."

Hancock and her sisters gasped.

"Even though you l-love me," said Hancock, "you won't stay?"

He grabbed his chest. "After I do this, I promise I'll be back."

"You'll be away from the person you love."

Sweat glistened on Luffy's face.

"Luffy," she said, "please stay."

"I want to focus on you." He closed his fists. "I really do, but I can't until I've taken care of my promises."

Tears stung her eyes. How? He was affected by the Cupid Cupid Fruit to love her more than anything, yet he was willing to set that desire aside for his friends. It was like how he had saved Marguerite, Sweet Pea, and Aphelandra when he had first arrived on Amazon Lily, and again when he had hidden Sandersonia's slave brand from the people, even though they had been enemies at the time. He was selfless, the opposite of Hancock.

She balled her hands into fists as tears rolled down her cheeks. This was why she loved him. Her beauty did not deter him from speaking his mind, and his selflessness set him apart from other men, yet because of her, he suffered in choosing between his desire to be with her and the promises he made to his friends.

"Luffy," she said. "Salvia's Cupid Cupid Fruit forced you to love me more than anything."

"Saliva's cu-cu-what?"

"I allowed it to happen," she continued, "but I will fix my mistake so you can focus on becoming King of the Pirates, and not on me." To her sisters, she said, "Prepare the ship. We can't allow Salvia to leave the Calm Belt."

Sandersonia frowned. "Are you sure? Is this not what you—"

"I want Luffy to love me," she said, wiping her tears, "but not like this. I will stop Salvia and return him his freedom."

Heels clacked the floor as Hancock and the Kuja Pirates strode outside Kuja Castle toward the Perfume Yuda. This could be their last chance to stop Salvia. If she escaped again, who knew what trouble she would cause? Then there was the chains, locks, and heart. If three locks were set, Luffy's love would become permanent.

His feelings for her were a dream come true, but he had promises and goals to accomplish, and she wanted to support him.

He skirted in front of her. "I'm coming, too! I need to get back to training, but it sounds like there's going to be a fight."

Hancock started to refuse, but his concern was more than the Cupid Cupid Fruit's influence. This was how he treated his friends. If he wanted to help, who was she to stop him?

"Luffy," she said, "we could use your strength, but promise me you will leave Salvia to me. Her actions have endangered Amazon Lily. She is my responsibility."

"Shishishishi," he laughed. "Fine by me."

Together they boarded the Perfume Yuda, and the crew prepared the ship and set sail.

As the Yuda drew the ship onto the ocean, Luffy perched on one of their heads and gobbled up a plate of fish, chicken, and beef. Meat was the crew's only means to keep him from clinging onto Hancock. As warm as his hugs were, her heart could only take so much, and she needed to focus on the task at hand.

Sandersonia stepped beside her. "Do you think we can catch up to Salvia?"

"The threat of the Sea Kings will slow her down," said Hancock.

On cue, water splashed as Sea Kings emerged and towered over the Perfume Yuda. They glanced at the Yuda, whose fangs dripped poison that plopped onto the water and hissed into steam, and the Sea Kings kept their distance.

"Salvia does not have the Yuda's protection," said Hancock. "Even with her ship's Seastone coating, she would need to sail with caution, and it will allow us to close the distance."

"Enemy ship is in sight," said a Kuja Pirate from the crow's nest. "I think they've spotted us."

The Stolen Heart appeared in the distance, and Hancock steeled herself for a final confrontation with Salvia.