The maneuver was a little pointless for her, but Naia doubted that Shanks could hold his breath for long enough. She vaguely heard Shanks try to question her, but they were pulled under the water. Shanks' arms tightened around her waist, keeping them from being forced apart. Water swirled around them, and lights glimmered, keeping them from seeing where they were heading. It was like they were in a jet stream. Her panic increased the longer they were under, and she could feel Shanks' grip becoming laxer by the minute.
Naia wrapped her arms around him tightly, pulling down on the man to bring her face to face with him as she sucked in the air bubbles brushing past them before pressing their lips together. She continued to feed him air as the sea pulled them to wherever it wanted them to go. His eyes slowly slid open as the pirate captain regained consciousness, but Naia didn't stop her actions. She had no idea how long they were going to be traveling for. Naia yelped as his teeth pressed down into her bottom lip as they were thrust upward.
"Waahhhhh!" Naia screamed as they were thrown into the air.
"Shit!" Shanks grunted as they landed on top of each other. "Where the hell are we?"
"By the gods, how far did we go?" Naia helped the pirate captain stand as she let her eyes wander around the beach they had landed on. It looked uninhabited, and the jungle behind them was lush with life. "This looks familiar."
"Familiar?" Shanks glanced at her sharply.
"Yeah, but not at the same time," Naia tried to explain, "Like it's the same island but not the right time."
"Like you've been here in the past?" Naia's eyes widened.
"More like haven't been here yet," Naia whispered as she walked toward where the ocean met the shoreline. The water never shifted from its steady pace. "We're in the Calm Belt."
"Calm belt!?" Shanks exclaimed, "But we were in the East Blue! How the hell did we get all the way out here?"
"The hell if I know," Naia huffed, "I wonder if it's here yet."
Naia turned toward the jungle and started to make her way through.
"Where are you going?" Shanks ran after her.
"Well, no ship is going to pass by here, and I find myself rather thirsty." Naia knocked on a tree, grinning at the hollow sound that echoed back. The moon shone brightly above them, giving them just enough light to maneuver easily through the jungle. Naia groaned as her skirt got caught on yet another bush.
"This was so not the proper gear," Naia moaned, pulling at the branch.
"Dahahahaha, long skirts and a jungle don't mix very well," Shanks snickered, bringing his sword down to free Naia from the tree. Naia rolled her eyes at his laughs, snatching his sword from his hand to cut a large slit in the middle of the fabric. She tore across it, leaving the skirt to reach mid-thigh rather than down to her ankles. Naia tore one more strip, using it to pull her hair up into a high ponytail. Her curls coiled around her neck and down her back while a few shorter ones framed around her face.
"There! That should make things easier," Naia said, holding Shanks' sword back out to him.
Shanks ranked his eyes down her body taking in the tan legs that were now exposed. They seemed to bulge with each step as the muscles strained up the hill. Her sandals were gone, and Shanks was certain her feet had to be sore by this point given the number of bushes and trees that had thorns, but the woman gave no inkling at being in pain. In fact, she seemed even more comfortable now that she had fewer clothing items on. Naia knocked on a few more trees giving either a smile or a huff in annoyance when it didn't provide the echo she wanted.
"Naia, what are you doing?" Shanks asked. They had been doing this for a little too long, in his opinion.
"Looking for the stash," Naia answered, "A group of pirates used to use this island as a hiding place for anything. The hollowed-out trees let you know you are on the right path."
"How do you know this?" Shanks raised an eyebrow at her.
"Sailed with a few merchants they traded with," Naia replied, a large grin settling on her face. If only he knew. She took three significant steps before jumping up and down, feeling the ground bend and creak like wood. "Ah-ha!" Naia hauled the trap door open, revealing a crawl space like a cellar that looked to be packed with provisions, alcohol, and even some treasure.
"Well, I'll be!" Shanks exclaimed. They grinned at each other before they went to town raiding the cellar. They grabbed food, booze, and a few things to help start a fire.
The sound of the fire crackling and loud laughter filled the air as the couple settled down on a cliff near the ocean. The bonfire roared taller as the two clinked bottles of booze with each other. They knocked into each other as both told fantastical stories of things they had seen and done while out at sea. Both had never felt so relaxed before. Shanks had taken off his sword and hung his black coat with his hat on top of it, leaving them up against a tree a little ways from them. The ocean was almost silent besides the sound of small waves. The trees swayed gently as a breeze occasionally went through them.
"Shut up! You honestly expect me to believe that there is an island up in the sky!?" Naia asked incredulously.
"It's true! The whole place is built on dense clouds. They even have a sea that's made out of clouds," Shanks insisted.
"How can you believe in that but not the Davy Jones story." Naia shook her head in disbelief.
"I've sailed practically everywhere in this ocean and have yet to see anything that would prove the ocean is sentient," Shanks scoffed.
"Us getting all the way out here isn't proof enough?"
"You think the ocean did that?"
"What's your idea then? We have to get back somehow!"
"It was a devil fruit! They wanted to bring me out to fight but overshot their aim."
"Right, overshot it so much we ended up in the calm belt?" Naia laughed at the idea.
"It could happen!" Shanks defended, causing Naia to laugh harder.
"In the East Blue? I doubt it!" They laughed together at the irony of the calmest blue causing such an attack on the pirate captain.
"You know I liked the blue, but your natural color suits you best." Shanks twirled a curl in his fingers and Naia flushed at his actions
The couple grew quiet, taking a moment to gaze up at the stars. They twinkled brightly even with the brightness of the moon. It was beautiful. Naia never wanted it to end. It was paradise being here with him and not having any other responsibilities. She leaned further into his shoulder, causing him to wrap said arm around her. It was warm, and he smelled like the sea- like home.
"Naia?" Shanks said, his voice somewhat serious, giving none of the humor it previously had. Naia could feel concern grow in her chest. "Thank you for what you did in the jet stream."
"What are you talking about?" Naia tilted her head in confusion.
"You were feeding me oxygen. I didn't heed your warning, and it could've cost both our lives." Shanks dipped his head. "So, thank you."
"Think nothing of it." Naia blushed, waving him off. "Luffy would've had my head if I let you die, and I'm sure your crew would've come for revenge as well."
"Why didn't it affect you?" Naia stilled.
"I'm an excellent swimmer?"
"That sounds more like a question than an answer." Naia didn't know how to respond. Should she tell him? They were going to meet out at sea as enemies regardless of how her heart felt. They needed the intel she could offer. Naia sighed before rolling her shoulders back to begin what hopefully wouldn't be a confusing explanation.
"When I was little, my grandmother used to tell me stories of how the people of our island came to be. The people of the sea were in danger of losing their people due to how small their population was, so the Sea God sent a small handful of men and women to land. This is where they met our ancestors. That small handful of sea people integrated themselves into the island. Eventually, their children started to show signs of an advanced race. To this day, my island's people can swim for however long they wish, no matter how deep or how far," Naia explained, her eyes gaining a distant look. "My grandmother believed this was a blessing from the god so that we may return to our home-the sea."
"Your island has the most unusual tales. You will have to show it to me one day."
"I wish I could, but it's been gone for many years." Naia paused as she got up and walked out to the edge of the cliff, shivering as the cool air brushed against her warm skin. The ocean waves below sang out a lullaby as the mist they produced caressed her skin.
"It's gone?" Shanks questioned, coming up to stand next to her.
"My island was very big on the mythology of the gods, and our elders foretold that Nereus would come to take us back."
"Nereus?"
"He is known as the Old Man of the Sea and father of the nereids. The sea god basically, but he was replaced when the head god, Zeus, came into power and replaced him with Posiden. It's a really long story."
"Nereids?"
"Um, sea nymphs or you can think of them kind of like mermaids?" Naia furrowed her brows. "They are the physical representation of what is bountiful and beautiful in the sea. From the mist that hits your face to the hidden treasures lying in the dark."
"Ahh," Shanks nodded, "Is that why you believe in the Davy Jones legend so much?"
"I believe in a lot of things because a lot of things can not be completely explained," Naia said, giving a small smile to the captain. "You've sailed the Grandline. The unexplained is expected when out at sea."
"I can't argue with you there, but it does seem a little out there even for an experienced sailor such as myself," Shanks boasted. Naia giggled as the man puffed out his chest a little.
"Well then, Mr. I know everything about the sea; why don't I blow your mind a little," Naia grinned up at the man.
"Lead the way, sea nymph," Shanks joked as he followed her down the cliff. Naia felt her breath catch at the snide comment but let it roll off her, hopefully giving nothing away. Thankfully, he didn't seem to notice her reaction as they made their way to a little sandy beach under the cliff where the water was shallow enough for them to stand easily. Holding onto both his hands, she led him out into the sea.
"Back into the water?" Shanks questioned.
"Better hope I'm not a siren, or else your life is forfeit," Naia giggled. The man let out a breathy laugh, but it was tight like he didn't know whether she was genuinely joking or not. He suspected something. "Keep your eyes open, okay?"
"Alright." Naia slowly backed up into the sea, letting the water lazily lap at their bodies until the seafloor dropped off, and they both fell into the water. She smiled at him, trying to reassure him that nothing was wrong. He glanced around at their surroundings as the water began to hum. It seemed to vibrate with an energy that wasn't usual within such a calm sea. Naia gently guided him further and further down, occasionally giving him air when his face became red with the exertion of holding his breath. The moonlight slowly faded away, leaving them in an abyss of black. The water was cold as it wrapped around their body, but the current seemed to have stilled, and other than themselves, there was no further movement. Naia closed her eyes, concentrating on her connection with the ocean. She let it flow through her and into the water around her.
Light blossomed behind her eyes, and a current wrapped around their bodies, releasing her hair from its confinement. Naia slowly opened her eyes to watch as the pirate captain widened his eyes in disbelief. The ocean current that had settled around them seemed to glow with immense power. It seemed like thousands of gemstones swirled around them as the light glinted off of the bubbles forming, and, as the current picked up, it pushed the two closer together. Naia grinned at Shanks' expression. No doubt this wasn't what he was expecting. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the movement of a sea king, but it seemed content in keeping its distance.
Shanks' hands tightening around her wrists brought her attention back to the man, and she giggled when he jabbed at his chest. His features were aglow with the light of the ocean's depths as Naia brought their lips together. Shanks' hands drifted down toward her waist, where his arms tightened around her as he kept their lips connected. Naia melted into him as their lips molded together. Their tongues brushed against each other in an intimate dance as the current spun them around, lightly grazing their bodies. Consequently, the pirate captain's need for air won out, and Naia guided him through the water with an ease that only came with practice.
"Wow," Shanks gasped as they broke the surface.
"Wow is right," Naia breathed, her fingertips ghosting across her lips, still tingling from their impromptu kiss. Shanks embraced her tightly as they let waves lull around them, keeping the serene peace that seemed to settle between them. His lips brushed her cheek before settling on her lips once more. Their lips moved against one another with practiced ease, as if they had done this a hundred times before. Naia could feel her cheeks flush as she wrapped her arms around his neck, letting him take control of the kiss. The ocean sparkled around them as the lights from the depths followed them up, encasing their bodies in an ethereal glow.
"That was quite the show," Shanks said, panting softly.
"You're telling me," Naia stammered, her cheeks flushed a bright red.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that," Shanks whispered into her ear, his lips lightly grazing the sensitive skin. Naia shivered as the man continued to trail his lips lightly down her neck. "It's not like me to hold back, but with you, I felt the need to make it perfect."
"And perfect it was," Naia uttered as she gazed softly into his eyes.
"Does that make me Davy Jones? Since you are akin to the sea?" Shanks leered down at her.
"Believe me now?" Naia smirked at the man. The current and glow they were just immersed in was nowhere to be found.
"That was amazing! I've never seen anything like it!" Shanks exclaimed excitedly. "How did you do that?"
"I didn't do anything," Naia stressed, "I simply asked it to show you something to amaze you with."
"Well, consider me amazed." Shanks gazed at her wide-eyed with wonderment much as a child would. Naia laughed as she led him back to the shallows. The waves folded around them in what could've been a hug, but Naia knew it was laughing at the man and his disbelief.
"We should get you dried off." Naia pulled on the man's arm, trying to get him back onto the land above them, but Shanks stood still looking out into the never-ending waters.
"'The sea calls to those who have a lust for adventure,'" Shanks said.
"Sounds like a quote," Naia stated, "I've never heard it before, though."
"My captain said it to me and my fellow cabin boy once," Shanks said, a fond expression settling over his face.
"'The ocean was magical to her, its depths and mysteries were boundless, its call irresistible,'" Naia quoted.
"That sounds like an actual quote!" Naia laughed, nodding along as she told the man about an author she had come across in her travels with a ship of book traders. It was the most boring but interesting voyage of her life. She had plenty to read, but none of them seemed to value human contact. The fire had died down to cinders, and the bottles of booze they had taken were all empty. They laid in the grass pointing at random stars and constellations, making stories behind every one of them. Most referencing people they had known in their lives but neither comfortable with coming out right and saying it.
"We should find a way back," Naia whispered, unwilling to break the peaceful quietness that had fallen over the island.
"Probably, but I am too relaxed and tired to do anything about it now," Shanks said, covering his eyes with his arm. Naia couldn't help but agree. She slowly let her eyes slid shut, basking in the sound of her home and the warmth of the man next to her.
6