It didn't take her long to find the boys; although, Sabo took off as soon as they noticed her presence. Ace and Luffy were glaring at each other, but Luffy's eyes lacked any real heat and Ace wasn't giving him a death glare. It was a step in the right direction.
"I've got good news, boys!" Naia plopped herself down before them. "The resident pirate crew of Fuusha Village is hosting a party and they would like to see us there."
"A pirate crew?"
"Shanks is back!?" Luffy was vibrating with excitement as he grinned brightly at Ace. "You get to meet Shanks! He's the best pirate there is! Well besides, Giant Ossan."
"Who's 'Giant Ossan'?" Ace furrowed his brows.
"You'll meet him eventually but he's a great pirate who has sailed these seas for many years." Naia smiled at the boy. "Shanks insists on having a party with everyone there so I expect you to be present Ace. Your blond friend can join as well."
"Tch, why the hell would I bring him here?" Ace growled. Naia sighed and Luffy's smile dimmed just a bit.
"I was simply offering." Naia brushed her pants off as she stood up. "Should we help them with the food?"
"MEAT! We should get them MEAT!" Luffy bounced.
"Ace, you're welcome to head back to the cabin to clean up. We'll join you soon." Naia held out the blindfold to Luffy who grumbled as he put it on.
"What are you doing?"
"This?" Naia asked, pointing to the now blindfolded Luffy. Ace nodded. "I am training him to be able to sense the world around him."
"You can't do that without your eyes?"
"You don't always need your eyes to see. Fighting in a cave, in the dark, or with an opponent who can blind you with sand or gun powder can leave you vulnerable. I am teaching him how to not be vulnerable." Ace gained a contemplative look but the fire in his eyes told Naia he still wanted to argue the point. "Would you like to learn?"
"As if I could stand any more lessons from the likes of you! You're nothing but a filthy marine!" The boy glared at her before storming away. Naia felt her heart break a little at the sheer anger Ace directed toward her.
"Naia?" Luffy tugged at her pant leg. "You're not a filthy marine. You're the mist that caresses a sailor's face when they sail. The mist who creates beautiful rainbows when mixed with the sun."
"Thank you, Luffy." Naia brushed a hand through the boy's hair, letting a slight stream of mist float around his head. Luffy giggled as rainbows danced around him. "Let's go get that meat. I'll go drag him back when we're done."
They fluttered around the jungle in search of a beast that would help feed a party without too much shock value. They settled on a large boar who happened to cross their paths. Naia let Luffy take the reins and was pleased to see a slight glint on his skin. The last couple of months of training have done the boy good and his armament haki was slowly returning. His observation haki was flourishing and would no doubt return to a similar state it was after his first battle with Katakuri Charlotte. Maybe she should send a letter to him. As far as she was aware, he had been present at the last battle. 'That reminds me.' Naia came to a stop before her young charge.
"Naia, I think we are ready. Let's go back. I want to get those letters written too. I put it off because Ace was arriving but I think now is as good as time as ever. "
"Alright but Luffy, I need to discuss something with you." Luffy stared at her for a moment. His expression was closed off and cold as his eyes searched her. "Garp has brought something to my attention that could benefit us."
"What is it?" Luffy asked, his voice serious and so unlike the bright, cheerful youth he was.
"Akainu is showing special interest in me." Naia explained, "Enough so that Garp felt the need to tell him a lie about my whereabouts. If I respond to this it can-"
"No!" Luffy spat. "You are going nowhere near that man!"
"Luffy, this could give us intel we could only dream about!" Naia argued. "I could kill him in his sleep or something like that when it's done!"
"No, I'm not risking you in such a way. Who knows what he would do to you!" Luffy rebutted, his eyes shadowing with anger and a touch of fear. "We do this the way we planned."
"Alright, we will stick to the plan but if something comes up. I will adjust." Luffy held her gaze before conceding to her compromise. They grabbed their haul and continued back toward the village in silence. Naia could feel small waves of haki coming off Luffy as he stewed from their conversation. She sighed as she left to gather the supplies for the letters.
"What do you want to say?"
"It has to be something only they would know. Something that no one else could possibly know." Luffy tapped his chin as he thought about it. "You. We'll use you! Here's what they should say."
The sun was dipping into the ocean as they watched the birds fly off. In the end, Luffy had decided to send short notes to his crew to make sure they all came back and to let them know he would be waiting for them. The tension that had surrounded them was slowly dwindling and Luffy was becoming more excited as the time for the party grew near.
"ACE! Welcome home!" Luffy frantically waved his arm at the distant figure. Naia gave a half-smile but let the boy go into the cabin without stopping him. "It's party time!" Makino's bar was already lit up and vibrating with life by the time the small group had arrived.
"NAIA! You made it!" Yasopp shouted, spilling his drink as he raised his glass in greeting. "Anchor, you here too!"
"Yasopp!" Luffy bounced forward crashing into the man as his rubbery arms wrapped around him. "You guys were gone for so long!"
"No more than usual, Anchor," Yasopp laughed. "Who's this behind you?"
"This is my brother, Ace!" Naia gently pushed Ace forward. The boy scowled back at her before glaring at the crowd in front of him.
"Everyone, this is Ace. Ace this is the crew of the Red Hair Pirates," Naia introduced.
"Tch, what a stupid name," Ace scoffed causing Naia to sigh silently.
"Dahahaha, it's not the name that makes the crew but the captain." Shanks grinned as he stepped out from the crowd.
"Then the captain must be an idiot to have his crew named after a hair color." Naia stifled a giggle behind her hand.
"Shishishishi, he got you there Shanks!" Luffy grinned. The crew roared with laughter and Ace was too confused to add anything.
"Why are you laughing?" Ace demanded. "He's your captain shouldn't you defend his honor?"
"You should've seen it when a mountain bandit came to visit. He all but called Shanks a maid," Luffy explained as he crawled up Naia's side.
"That really was something, Captain," Lucky Roux roared. "He made a fool of you!"
"And here I thought the East Blue was supposed to be nice," Shanks pouted as he took his usual seat at the bar.
"It's only as nice as you make it," Naia winked.
"I can think of a few ways to make it even better." Shanks gave her a mischievous grin and Naia could feel her cheeks heat up when he dragged his eyes over her body.
The night continued forward and Naia let herself get swept away in the festivities the Red Hair crew was known for. She didn't even care when Makino glared at her as Shanks wrapped his arms around her. The music danced in the air as did Luffy's laugh as he danced with various crew members, looking so much like the kid he appeared to be and not like the seasoned pirate captain he was. Naia swayed in her seat as she watched the dancers mill about until a slower song lulled the crowd down. Benn bowed slightly to Makino who blushed before nodding and letting herself get pulled onto the dance floor.
"May I have this dance?" Naia turned to face a bowing Shanks.
"Of course." Naia smiled and slipped her hand into his offered one. His hand rested firmly on her waist while Naia gripped her skirt up as they danced. Naia couldn't stop smiling as they gracefully swayed around the makeshift dance floor.
"No alcohol tonight?" Naia smirked.
"I will have you know I am still going strong!" Shanks defended, a pout settling on his face. "I miss it so much!"
"It's not like there was any actual bet, Red! You never had to do anything."
"I will not lose!- Wait… what?"
"There was no bet," Naia laughed. "I was merely jesting."
"Well, now we know I'm not an alcoholic," Shanks hummed. "You're pretty good at this?"
"Merchants do host parties for clients. Some of which were very… What would be the word for it."
"Royal? Not many people learn how to waltz because of some parties."
"Regal is more of what I was looking for," Naia chuckled. "The nobles have a way of forcing people's hands. What's more surprising is you know how to. I can't imagine many pirates needing to know how to waltz."
"Are you saying you expected me not to know how to dance?" Shanks looked offended at the notion. "I'll have you know I know how to dance in several different ways."
"I'll believe it when I see it." Naia rolled her eyes at him as he spun her around into a dip.
"Then I'll just have to show you." Naia chuckled as they twirled around before ending in a deep dip as the music ended. Their eyes met and the world seemed to slow around them.
"Naia?" Luffy tugged at her skirt as Shanks slowly brought them to standing. "Can I have the next dance and will you sing?"
"Sing? Luffy, you know I don't sing." Naia furrowed her brow at the boy.
"Please, it's been so long," Luffy pleaded. Naia shook her head as the boy continued to give her puppy dog eyes.
"What do you want to hear?"
"I'll tell the musicians!" Luffy raced off, excitement vibrating off his body.
"Don't laugh!" Naia glared at the pirate captain who was shaking in exertion.
"I can't help it! He's got you wrapped around his little finger."
"Just wait until he turns those eyes onto you." Naia poked the man in his chest. Shanks grabbed her finger holding it up by his face, pulling her closer to him. The soft beats of a piano filtered through the air and Naia couldn't help but smile sadly as the familiar melody reached her ears.