Okay, so, I am sooooo sorry for not updating. I've been busy with schoolwork and preparing for the upcoming holidays. This is a much shorter chapter, but I figured it was better than nothing. I'm making the next chapter really really long, so be prepared for that. This chapter does provide a bit of insight into what might be coming up in Adira's journey, so it is an important flashback chapter. Big thank you to the people who have favorited and followed my story! I appreciate you taking the time to do that. :) Big thanks to ukitakeitalialover041757 and ZabuzasGirl for reviewing! Really, I would not be writing if it weren't for amazing people like you. :D

Warnings: None, except fluff. So. Much. Fluff.

Copyright: I do not own One Piece. That right belongs to Oda. I only own Aurelia, Adira, Khalil, and any other OC's I make up.

Chapter Four: The Celestial Sea

Aurelia's laughter filled the hidden cave as Shanks leaned in, his voice a gentle whisper against her ear. Her golden eyes sparkled with curiosity and fascination as he regaled her with tales of his time spent alongside the formidable figure known as Gol D. Rogers, or, as the world at large referred to him, "The King of the Pirates." Aurelia's grin widened with each word as Shanks leaned back and, with an animated flourish, bellowed out, "That's when I saw it – he sliced the wretched man open!"

Shanks reached for a thick piece of driftwood from the pile he and Aurelia had assembled to use for firewood. He gracefully ascended a boulder at the cave's rear, positioning himself at the peak. "And with a great slash," he narrated, his movements mirroring the dramatic scene he described, "Gol D. Rogers defeated the man who tried to rob us of our treasure!" He jumped from the boulder, making a slashing motion.

Aurelia couldn't contain her excitement. She rose to her feet, her body swaying with enthusiasm as she clapped her hands together in approval. "That was marvelous! Truly wonderful!"

Shanks responded with a mock bow, his trademark straw hat tumbling from his head in the process. His action drew a joyful laugh from Aurelia. "You're truly an amazing storyteller, Shanks!"

With a graceful sweep, Shanks retrieved his hat, brushed away the lingering sand, and then shot a charming wink in Aurelia's direction. "Thanks, love. I do try."

Aurelia's affectionate gesture was met with a gentle smile from Shanks as she kissed him on the nose. Her golden eyes flickered toward his injured leg, a visible reminder of the day he had drifted to her secluded island, his limb marred by the sharp rocks along the beach. Her hand reached out to graze the wound. "How is your cut doing? It doesn't look to be healing."

The injury bore a bright red hue, and some of the skin appeared reluctant to mend, revealing a concerning yellowish tint beneath.

Shanks, ever resilient and untroubled, simply brushed off her concern. He cradled her face in his large, calloused hands and placed a loving kiss on her forehead. "It's nothing to concern yourself with, my treasure. I'm alright."

Aurelia leaned into the warmth of his touch, nuzzling her face into the palm of his hand, her smile filled with tenderness. "I know, but it's been two weeks. Surely, it should have started to heal by now."

Her worry and care for him were evident, and it touched Shanks deeply. He had faced countless challenges on the high seas, but this island and its inhabitant had brought a different kind of solace into his life. Shanks chuckled as he waved her off. "I'll be fine, Aurelia. Stop your fussing." Shanks sat down on a pile of large cushions that Aurelia had snuck out from the mansion and he opened his arms up wide. "Come here, love. Let me hold you." Aurelia blushed and dove into his arms eagerly, her actions eliciting hearty laughs from the young man. "Impatient, aren't you?" He teased her as he wrapped his arms around her body. Shanks rested his chin on the top of her head as they listened to the crack and pop of the fire.

"I'm always impatient to be held by you, Shanks." Aurelia mumbled. The flames from the fire caused the shadows of the cave to flicker and dance all along the walls. It illuminated the small collection of goods that Aurelia had snuck out from the mansion to take to the cave, in order to make it more comfy. There were the large cushions that they were laying on that was used as a makeshift bed. There was a divider that allowed for there to be privacy to change if need be. She had also brought down a trunk of old clothes from the attic to allow them to change, as well as several thick blankets and pillows.

As for food, Shanks taught Aurelia how to fish and dive for oysters. At first, she was frightened (as she barely knew how to swim. Aurelia was taught that proper young women do not frolic in the sea), but when Aurelia saw Shanks outstretched his hand to her and the look of trust in his deep black eyes, she found it really hard to refuse him. He taught her to swim that day, and to check which oysters would be good to eat versus the ones that were spoiled.

After that fateful night when the Count had unceremoniously cast Aurelia out, he had left their home the following morning without uttering a word of farewell, except for a note in which he stated his intent to "go on a long holiday, away from his fretful wife." In the wake of his departure, the mansion seemed quieter, less oppressive, and devoid of the tension that had marred their time together.

Aurelia, determined to learn more about her husband's whereabouts, discreetly inquired among the mansion's servants. Most remained tight-lipped, wary of betraying their master's confidence. However, she managed to glean a fragment of information from one of the serving girls, who leaned in and whispered a guarded secret: Count Stratford, it seemed, was residing with some old friends on the far side of the North Blue. The details were murky, and Aurelia couldn't ascertain whether it was a king or another noble who hosted him, but she was profoundly thankful for her dreadful husband's extended absence.

Aurelia's gentle inquiry hung in the air, a soft and vulnerable whisper in the midst of their shared tranquility. "How long until you need to go back out?" She gazed up at Shanks, her eyes reflecting both curiosity and a tinge of sadness.

Shanks stiffened at the question, his gaze momentarily distant. "I... I don't know. Soon, I suppose." His voice carried an undercurrent of reluctance, hinting at the obligations he faced beyond the island's shores.

Aurelia, feeling the weight of his imminent departure, looked up at him with a pair of big, forlorn golden eyes. "I don't want you to go, Shanks..."

Shanks, captivated by the earnestness in her gaze, nuzzled his nose against hers, a tender gesture that spoke of his deep affection. "Then why don't you come with me?"

Aurelia pulled back in shock, her eyes widening. "What?"

Shanks grinned mischievously, his blue eyes gleaming with a hint of adventure. "I mean it, Aurelia. You don't have to stay here. Come with me."

Aurelia, still taken aback by the proposition, sought clarification. "And do what?"

Shanks's grin widened, and he met her gaze with an unwavering determination. "Well, have you ever thought of becoming a pirate?"

Aurelia's initial shock at the idea of becoming a pirate was evident in her bewildered expression. Her eyes widened in surprise, and Shanks couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction.

"Me? A pi-a pirate?! Me?" Aurelia's mouth was agape at the mere question. She had never thought of herself to be strong, much less disobedient. To become a pirate was something that had never once crossed her mind.

"Yes, you," he affirmed, his tone gentle and resolute. "I could teach you everything you need to know. You and I could sail the world together – even the Grand Line. You're made to be so much more than a baby machine for a horrid man. A woman as amazing, kind, and intelligent as you should not live such a horrible life. So, what do you say, my treasure? Will you sail the seas with me? Will you become a pirate?"

Aurelia's shocked expression gave way to elation, her eyes sparkling with newfound hope. "Yes! Yes! I would love to! Anything to get me away from here!" Overcome with excitement, she tackled Shanks, crashing her lips to his, their passion igniting with a fiery intensity.

Shanks grinned against her lips, his hands cupping her head as he peppered her face with affectionate kisses. "I'll teach you everything I know! Mark my words, by the time I'm through with you, you'll be known far and wide as the most fearsome pirate! No one will utter your name without terror running through their bones!" Shanks tucked a loose piece of lavender hair behind Aurelia's ear. "I can't wait to show you all the wonders of the world. The islands out there, the people we'll meet, and the Celestial Sea! We'll see it all, my treasure."

Aurelia pulled back, her smile still radiant but tinged with curiosity. "The Celestial Sea? What is that?"

Shanks, with his head cocked to the side, allowed a few strands of his vibrant red hair to fall across his face. He appeared mildly surprised by her question. "What? You've never heard of the Celestial Sea?"

Aurelia shook her head, her golden eyes reflecting her innocence as she admitted, "I'm afraid not, my love. I grew up rather sheltered." With her hands intertwined with Shanks', she asked with genuine curiosity, "Will you tell me about it?"

Shanks chuckled, his eyes gleaming with affection as he spotted a thin stick near the cave's entrance. "Wait here," he instructed, getting up and retrieving the stick. He walked over to the firepit and beckoned for Aurelia to join him. She knelt beside him, her eyes fixed on the sand as Shanks began to trace patterns with the stick's tip. "So, here is the ocean. There are four, yes?"

Aurelia nodded with a confident smile. "Of course, everyone knows that! The North Blue, The South Blue, The East Blue, and the West Blue."

Shanks's eyes softened as he watched her list the oceans of the world. "Right," he affirmed, drawing the sky above his representation of the four oceans. Then, with a playful glint in his eye, he began to unveil the secret. "But what many people don't know is that there is a fifth ocean out in the world. Rogers told me this story as a child, and, well, I believe it to be true."

Aurelia's eyes widened with wonder, her curiosity piqued. "A fifth ocean?" The mere possibility of such a revelation fascinated her, and she leaned in closely, eager to hear more about this mysterious sea.

Shanks nodded as he illustrated the concept of the Celestial Sea, sketching a shooting star to emphasize his point. "It's an ocean made up by the stars that fall from the heavens—the Celestial Sea. It's a stretch of water that is only visible at night. When you gaze upon the waters, it's said to be so clear and still, you can see the sky perfectly reflected back on it." With a flick of his wrist, he cast the stick aside, extending his hand to Aurelia.

Aurelia, her curiosity piqued, took his hand willingly. Together, they left the cozy cave and stepped out into the embrace of the night sky. Shanks pointed towards the horizon, and his voice took on a wistful quality as he wrapped his arm around Aurelia. "What makes the Celestial Sea so unique, though, is that it's the most peaceful stretch of ocean there is. No creatures, big or small, live there. It's as if when the stars fell from the sky, the heavens regarded it as their place on Earth. It's there that the sky meets the sea, and it is there that you can find one of the most valuable treasures ever known to man."

Aurelia glanced up at Shanks, as she became captivated by his words. "And what treasure would that be?" she inquired, her eyes now fixed on the ocean's horizon.

Shanks gazed out into the distance, his expression calm and contemplative, the sea breeze ruffling his red hair. "A wish. Not just any wish... The Wish."

Aurelia couldn't help but giggle at his response, and Shanks responded by playfully pinching her sides. "A wish? 'The Wish'?" she teased. "Now I know you're joking."

Shanks defended his claim with a playful smile. "It's true! That's what I was told." The young couple stood there together, enchanted by the mystery and wonder of the Celestial Sea, sharing a moment of intimacy and excitement as they considered the existence of such a fantastical place.

Aurelia's grin widened, and she accepted the challenge with enthusiasm. "Alright, you get a wish. How?" She playfully placed her hands on her hips, her curiosity evident.

Shanks scratched the back of his head, his affectionate gaze never leaving her. "How? Well, you have to catch a star." He held her gaze, his voice soft and loving, as he explained further, "Either one that falls from the sky or one that is already in the ocean. If you're able to catch one, you're free to make a wish. Any wish."

Aurelia's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and she inquired, " 'If you're able to catch one'? Are stars notoriously hard to catch or something?"

Shanks nodded, drawing closer to Aurelia as he whispered, "Oh, yes." He took her hand gently and pointed to the night sky just as a star streaked by and disappeared. Aurelia's breath hitched at the sight. "Stars are fickle creatures," he continued. "They live as their own beings. They're not inanimate objects like so many people believe them to be. Once they fall into the Celestial Sea, they hide there. They don't like granting wishes to people, so they make it as hard as possible for it to happen. However, if you do catch one, you can have any wish you like. Any at all."

The magic and mystique of the Celestial Sea and its wish-granting stars had taken a hold of Aurelia's imagination, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and longing to one day make her own wish upon the elusive stars that resided in this extraordinary ocean.

Aurelia, her curiosity and affection for Shanks undeniably evident, stepped closer to him, her arms wrapping around his neck as she pressed her forehead to his. Her golden eyes bored deep into his black ones, radiating warmth and a profound bond between them. "And what about you, my brave pirate? What wish would you want?"

Shanks held her gaze, their eyes locked in a meaningful exchange. The tension between them was palpable as Shanks encircled her waist with his arms, the volume of his voice lowered to a whisper. "Can't you tell, my love? I'm pretty sure it's already been granted to me."

With that being said, Shanks leaned in, capturing her lips in a tender and passionate kiss. In that shared moment, with the starry night sky overhead and the gentle lull of the ocean nearby, Shanks and Aurelia had found that their hearts had already granted each other's deepest wishes.

Alright! There's that chapter. It might be a while until we get another flashback chapter, so enjoy this one. This one was very important, however, because I did put some foreshadowing in there when it comes to Adira's journey. Who knows? Maybe you guys can figure out what it will be. ;) Please, let me know what you think! I love reading your comments and opinions, as well as engaging with all of you readers out there.