"There you are, Captain! We thought you were going to miss breakfast." Yasopp came to a halt in front of them. "What happened to you two?"
Naia blushed when she remembered what her outfit currently consisted of.
"An adventure that I will cherish for a lifetime, of course!" Shanks joyously shouted, letting his cloak fall around her shoulders with a wink. "I'll expect that back by tonight."
"Naia! Naia, where are you?" The high-pitched voices of her boys echoed through the jungle behind them. Naia didn't even have time to think before three small blurs crashed into her, sending her back into the rushing waters. One of the blurs immediately went limp, and Naia sprang up, pulling the little body with her.
"Shishishishi, you disappeared for a while." Luffy's signature laugh was music to her ears.
"How long were we gone for?" Naia furrowed her brows. "It was evening when we left."
"Shishishi, not very long. Only a night's worth," Luffy giggled, "We figured you were with Shanks, so we stayed with Makino."
"That was very smart of you boys," Naia praised, beaming at their blushing faces. "I'm proud of you!"
"No love for me, boys?" Shanks pouted, "Didn't you miss me?"
"Why would we miss you?" Ace snorted.
"You don't feed us," Sabo pointed out.
"Shishishi, I missed you, Shanks." Luffy grinned.
"He's mine!" Shanks made to steal the little boy from Naia's arm, but she shielded him with her body, pulling him closer.
"He's mine!" Naia stuck her tongue out at him as the boys laughed around them.
"And you're mine," Shanks whispered into her ear, putting a soft kiss on her cheek. Naia flushed at the feeling of his lips again.
"You're singing again. Both of you are," Luffy chuckled. "Must've been quite the adventure."
"Lu! You're too young to even think about that kind of stuff," Naia exclaimed, scandalized.
"We were doing a lot of singing." Shanks winked.
"Red! Don't encourage him! He's only 7!" Naia slapped his shoulder as she glared up at him.
"Dahahaha, he'll learn when he's older."
"What does Luffy know?" Sabo asked.
"Yeah, I wanna know too!" Ace shouted. Naia glared at the laughing pirate captain.
"Shanks will explain it to you," Naia said slyly, "I need to go change, but I'm sure with his extensive knowledge, he can explain it far better than I can."
"Wh-wait! Naia! I can't do that!" Shanks stuttered. Yasopp chucked from behind his hand as Luffy tugged at the pirate captain's leg. "They're too young to know about that!"
"Should've thought of that before you said something." Naia winked as she walked away from the pirates, the three boys gazing curiously up at the man as they waited for an explanation. Luffy's laugh could be heard all the way to the cabin as Shanks stuttered out a rather vague explanation. A warm feeling spread through her chest as the group continued to laugh behind her.
"Shanks! That doesn't make any sense at all! You can't eat women!" Luffy pouted. "Naia! He's telling lies."
"You really thought we would believe that?" Ace scoffed, "Sabo had a better way of explaining it than you!"
"You could've just said you slept together." Sabo nodded. "Luffy would've taken it at face value."
"How-?" Shanks gaped down at the boys.
"We're almost teenagers!" Ace exclaimed.
"And Grey Terminal does nothing to hide such activities," Sabo pointed out.
"But if you already knew, why did you ask the captain?" Yasopp stopped himself before falling into a full belly laugh. "They got you good, Captain!"
"I've been played!" Shanks exclaimed, "By a bunch of kids!"
"Shishishi, it's what you get for taking Naia away!" Luffy stuck his tongue out at the captain.
Time seemed to blur together as the pirate crew integrated into life on the island. It didn't even occur to Naia that they were staying longer than they originally had. They would still go on their smaller voyages, but none had given a clue to when they might return to the Grand Line, and the journeys were far and few in between.
The boys' training had taken leaps and bounds as physical activity took precedent over book studies. Ace and Sabo were already so strong before she started to teach them, and now they could take on most adults without really trying. Naia kept their schooling up, but it wasn't long before she started to run out of things to teach them, preferring to keep to the lessons' practical side. It held their attention and made sure they were ready for anything. It also kept her on her toes.
"Weapons are not toys. You have all selected which one you would like to master and now we begin with this." Naia handed a bamboo staff to Sabo, a wooden sword to Ace and a pair of weighted gloves to Luffy.
"We've been using metal pipes! Why do we have to use this junk?" Ace whined.
"Because Ace, I could tip you over with a gentle push. The weight of pipes versus an actual weapon are very different. For instance, Sabo come here." Sabo stood in front of her. Naia focused her breathing and summoned her own staff. Mist curled around her hand as black steel glinted in the sun. Ace and Sabo's jaws dropped at the display of power. Luffy giggled when she presented a beautiful black trident to Sabo. "Hold this."
"Okay." Sabo eagerly took the trident in his hands. He stumbled as the weight pulled him forward before settling in a stabilizing position.
"Very good. You're balancing your weight nicely; however, if I do this." Naia gently nudged Sabo with her finger, causing him to lose his balance and tip over. "You're done for. Wooden practice weapons will give your body the time to adjust to not only the weight but the length of the weapon. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am!" Ace and Sabo saluted. Luffy echoed soon after.
"Then let us begin." Naia ran them through drill after drill. Ace and Sabo already had exemplary control over their body and Luffy showed the determination he was known for. The sun bore down on them as the boys laid gasping for air.
"I didn't think I would ever see them this still." Naia smiled as Shanks made his way over to them. "Weapon training?"
"They wanted to learn." Naia shrugged. "Although, I must admit I have no formal training in either a sword or in fist fighting."
"You wouldn't know it by watching. You seemed to have the basics down." Shanks wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close.
"Your compliments will do you no good," Naia chuckled.
"And yet, here we are." Shanks' lips grazed her cheek, drawing a blush on Naia's cheeks. "What do you say to a little friendly fight?"
"You want to spar with me?"
"I have seen you in a fight. It could be fun!" Shanks grinned at her.
"No."
"No?"
"Do you need to hear it in another language? Non."
"Why not?" Shanks whined.
"What makes you think I'm up to par with a pirate captain?"
"What's stopping you?" Shanks pulled her closer as he nuzzled into her neck. Naia flushed when his lips gently brushed against her pulse point. The memories of their night of passion flashed to the front of her mind. "I have it on good authority that you can handle a captain such as myself."
"Is that so?" Naia purred. "And whose authority do I have to question?"
"Why, I believe that would be mine." Shanks spun her away from him. "Is that a challenge?"
"I said question, not challenge," Naia pouted.
"Come on! It'll be fun!" Shanks brandished the wooden sword Ace had dropped in the sand. Naia sighed as she picked up the wooden staff.
"You'll not be allowed into the cabin if you kick my ass, Red!"
"You're going to hold that over my head?" Shanks gaped.
"Seems fair to me." Naia smirked. She twirled the bamboo staff as Shanks readied himself in front of her. This was going to be a tricky fight. She refused to go easy on him but going all out would show a skill set highly unusual of a merchant traveler. "You can always back down."
"Like hell!" Naia giggled as he lunged at her. She dodged most of his attacks and kept on the defensive. Shanks ' eyes glimmered with frustration as she eluded him once more. Dancing would be a better description of what they were doing rather than fighting. Their motions were too fluid for the rough trance of a fight. Naia grinned in triumph when she brought the captain to his knees, but his smirk had her halting her victory. She grunted as something landed on the back of her knee, forcing her down. Naia blinked as the tip of the bamboo sword came into focus.
"Got ya," Shanks chuckled. Naia pouted as a plan formed in her mind.
"A little rough there, Red." Naia winced, rubbing her head. "Couldn't have been a little nicer?"
"I'm sorry, are you alright?" Shanks reached out to check her head, worry sparking in his eyes. Naia grinned as she gripped his wrist, pulling him down. They tumbled through the sand. Each trying to end up on top but neither willing to give up. Laughter floated through the air as they rolled. She sat on his chest with an air of confidence and victory.
"You're far too trusting, Captain. It will leave you open to such ruses," Naia said breathlessly.
"Hmmm, you called me captain," Shanks hummed, dragging his hands up her thighs. "I do love it when you call me that, my nymph."
"Not out here, you pervert!" Naia slapped his hands away. "The boys are right over there."
"They're passed out." Shanks leaned up into her neck, brushing his lips on the sensitive skin. "You're just going to have to keep quiet."
"Shanks," Naia hissed. "Just because it happened once out in the open does not mean it will happen again."
"But it will happen again," Shanks growled. His hand threaded through her hair, pulling it back ever so slightly. Naia cupped his cheeks to draw him further toward her. The world around them fell away and Naia couldn't help but want more from the man in front of her. Their lips brushed against one another, both getting lost in the sensations of being so close. Their breaths mingled before a soft pressure was applied to her lips. Naia moaned softly as his tongue brushed against the seam of her lips.
"I want you to meet me on the ship tonight. No one but me, you and the stars." Shanks murmured against her lips. "I want all of you tonight."
"You had all of me to yourself for two days."
"Call me selfish. I want more." His hands tightened around her waist, keeping her close.
"Then I guess I am just as selfish," Naia breathed, capturing his lips once more. "I want more from you as well."
"Then take what you want." Shanks tilted his hips towards her, where a distinct hardness hit her leg. Naia let her hand wander, allowing for just the barest of touchest to graze over his hardening cock.
"Careful, Captain. You wouldn't want to bite off more than you can chew." Naia smirked, continuing to let her hand ghost over him. Giving only a taste of what was to come. Shanks moaned lowly and rolled his hips further into her hand.
"Naia," a young voice hollered. "Naia! Hungry!"
"Looks like you'll have to wait," Naia whispered, giving him one last squeeze before heading off towards the boys.
"Naia, you can't just leave me like this," Shanks whined.
"You should probably take care of that before the boys see you." Naia winked as she ran back towards where she left the trio.
"Naia! Come on that's not fair!"
"Shanks seems upset," Ace observed. "Did you two have a fight?"
"Nothing like that," Naia assured him. "He's just a little bothered by the heat."
"Sure the heat," Sabo chuckled. Naia could feel her cheeks heat up as Luffy joined him.
"The heat or a certain nymph?"
"You are too young to be thinking about such things!" Laughter echoed as they made their way back towards the village. Naia smiled softly when Makino greeted them. This was something she never had before, had never thought she wanted. She didn't want to lose it.
It didn't take long for the pirates to begin to grow restless, and begin to long for the thrill of the sea. Naia could see the conflict in Shanks eyes as he tried to appease the crew but was also unwilling to leave. So, she wasn't surprised when he made plans for a small voyage for a rumored treasure not far from Dawn Island. Naia couldn't help but smile. They would find something wondrous on that island.
"Are you sure you have to go?" Luffy whined, clinging to Shanks' leg.
"Take us with you!" Ace shouted, "We want to go on an adventure!"
"We could be useful!" Sabo looked hopefully up at Benn.
"I have little doubt about that, boys, but you are still too young!" Shanks strained.
"Boys! They said they would be back. Besides, pirate captains do not beg," Naia reprimanded.
"They take what they want!" They shouted. The Red Hair crew chuckled at their enthusiasm.
"You will make fine captains one day," Shanks laughed, ruffling Luffy's hair. "Men, get ready to set sail!"
The three boys watched in awe as the crew began to move boxes and ready the sails.
"I believe I have one more goodbye to make," Benn smirked, heading off in the direction of Makino's bar.
"I have one as well." Shanks stalked up toward her. A confident gate and a lustful smirk on his face as he walked. Naia met his gaze head-on, but a shiver of pleasure ran up her spine as his gaze darkened. "I hope the door will be open when I return."
"It will always be open to you, Captain," Naia hummed, wrapping her arms around his neck. His lips brushed against her cheek as he murmured expectations of what should happen when he comes back. Naia flushed at the images that flashed in her mind.
"We will be back before you know it."
"Bring some good stories for the boys. I believe they can only hear the Sea King one so many times." Naia winked as he backed away.
"I will keep that in mind." Naia waved as their ship began to pull out of port. The boys were enthusiastically shouting and waving at her feet. Makino came to stand next to her, a small knowing smile on her face. At least she wasn't alone in this.