Shanks

"Boss? Captain? SHANKS!" Shanks jerked awake at the sound of Ben shouting in his face.

"Wha…" Shanks groaned and sat up, feeling sand falling from his shoulders. "Ben?" His head was throbbing; how much had he drank last night?

The normally calm first mate looked almost furious. "Osa's gone. We need to go."

Shanks barely heard him, the words sinking slowly through his muddled head. When he finally understood, he scrambled to his feet, looking around wildly. "Has anyone seen him?"

"No." Ben clipped the word out. His cigarette was unlit for once. A bad sign. "He was gone before anyone woke."

Shanks glanced at the spot next to him where Osa had been the night before. It wasn't just empty, but disturbed. As if he had left as quietly and quickly as possible. With a groan, Shanks grabbed his hat and moved to where the rest of the crew stood.

"Captain, we have most of the supplies aboard already. We're just waiting for Roux to get the last crate aboard and we can go." Hongo was agitated, glancing at the forest every few seconds.

Shanks held up a hand. "I agree. We'll leave, but Osa won't expose us. I know he won't." He could tell the crew was skeptical, but ignored that. "I'll go tear down the traps we built. Everyone get aboard."

Only stopping to grab his sword, Shanks headed for the forest with long strides. He knew Osa wouldn't rat them out, but why didn't he wait for someone to escort him through the forest? Shanks grabbed his head as it throbbed. It had been a while since his hangover had been this bad.

Under the trees, his headache receded and he quickened his pace. But the moment he reached the first trap, he stumbled to a stop. It was already dismantled, and he could hardly tell it had been there. Frowning, he made his way to the second one…with the same result. He didn't bother with the third; he knew it would be down too.

He reached the edge of the forest before he started to remember bits and pieces from last night. Leaning against a tree briefly, a hand on his head, Shanks felt like there was something important, something stupid he had done…

Finally, it struck him. He had asked Osa to join them! Is that why he had left without saying anything? Shanks felt there was something else too, but just thinking about it made his head hurt more.

He waved his hand at Ben as the first mate approached him near the ship. "The traps are dealt with, don't worry."

"We found this on the ship…" Ben rarely sounded uncertain, but said nothing more as he handed Shanks a folded up piece of paper.

Frowning, Shanks wasn't sure what to make of it as he opened it to reveal a paw print.

"It's from Osa. That's his print." Hongo said as he walked up. "It was stuck to your door."

"Set sail for the East Blue." Shanks said immediately. "Hongo, take charge for a while. Ben, come with me."

The two men nodded and split; Hongo began calling out orders and Ben stayed at Shanks' heels, his rifle raised as they entered the hall.

Shanks was careful as he approached his cabin door. The hallway had no changes, the other two doors were untouched. His door was cracked open though. Motioning to Ben, Shanks slowly unsheathed his sword, glad he had grabbed it from Yassop before checking the traps, and nudged his door open with the tip.

Empty. He couldn't sense anything in his cabin, so he relaxed and stepped inside. "Odd…"

"What's that?" Ben nudged him and nodded at something sitting on the bed.

Shanks reached down and picked up the book slowly. "This wasn't out before." Flipping through, he frowned. "Hey, there was something in here. It's missing."

Ben raised an eyebrow.

"Just a picture, that's all." The picture of Osa from the paper. He snapped the book shut with a sigh. "There's nothing to worry about. I think the mark was just his way of saying thanks."

That didn't feel right, but Shanks couldn't imagine why else Osa would've left it. And why would Osa have taken the picture? Or even known where to look? Had he smelled it? Shanks had noticed that Osa's senses were much keener than a non-zoans, but that didn't explain how he knew about the picture.

His head ached again but he tried to ignore it.

"Are you sure the Navy isn't going to bust out from the forest or come around the bay as we leave?" Ben's voice bordered sarcastic, but Shanks knew he was being serious.

Shanks glanced around the room before shaking his head. "Yes, but I wish Osa would've waited."

"He probably felt embarrassed after last night." Ben shrugged and pulled out a lighter.

"Embarrassed? What for?" Shanks cut Ben a look as they left his cabin. Had something happened?

Ben grabbed Shanks by the shoulder, forcing him to a stop. "How much do you remember about last night?"

Shanks leaned against the wall as the ship tilted. "Not much. Why?"

Ben gave a dry chuckle. "You fell asleep on him. I thought he was going to maul you for a few minutes, but then he just stayed there the rest of the night. I'm not sure if he slept though."

Shanks' face gradually began to burn. "I…what? I fell asleep on him? Why didn't he wake me? Or you?" He had guessed Ben would be aware of what happened, but not how much.

Ben shrugged, lighting his cigarette. "I knew you were fine with him." At Shanks' confused look, he sighed. "You weren't worried, so why should I be? You clearly trusted him." Ben let out some smoke. "But I was surprised you asked him to join the crew."

Damn, so he had remembered that correctly. "I…I'm not sure why I did though," Shanks muttered quietly, confused.

Ben watched him curiously, but shrugged and headed through the door.

Shanks stared after him for a few minutes, thinking. He had apparently asked Osa to join, but Osa…did he ever give a response? Shanks didn't remember any, but maybe that's when he fell asleep. Shaking his head slowly, he glanced back at his room, then headed back outside.

Osa

"You will be dispatched to a contingent of Navy headed for the East Blue in three days." Osa hung his head in shame as the bases captain reprimanded him. "Your superiors will be notified that you have been found, but unless they give us different orders for you, you will join a Navy ship for the meantime."

Osa stared at the floor.

"I am willing, however, to let you off a little easier." The captain said after a moment. "You were injured, protected yourself, and even…recovered…from a grievous wound without aid. Few men can do that."

Osa dared to life his head a tad.

"Considering the situation, you will be relieved of duties but confined to the base until you leave. You are only allowed to enter spaces for the general personnel, unless otherwise required." The captain tapped his desk absently. "If you enter any other space, or leave the base, you will be treated as a deserter or trespasser and locked in jail."

Osa bit back a sigh. This was nothing, he told himself. This is the price you're paying for leaving without permission, in the dead of night, and sneaking out through the window.

"Any questions?" The captain stopped tapping, and Osa forced his head up to meet the captain's gaze. When Osa shook his head, the captain waved his hand. "Then you're dismissed."

Osa waited until he was outside the room and the door shut before he breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'm surprised he let you off so easily." Osa stiffened, then groaned as Yurai appeared around the corner. How he'd missed his scent?

"What do you want?" Osa didn't bother being polite.

Yurai snorted. "I'm second in command here, or did you forget?"

Osa winced; he had forgotten. Yurai was made Commander shortly before Osa arrived. While technically Osa held a higher rank, he was temporarily considered a Seaman while he stayed here. And Yurai was determined to make sure Osa never forgot it.

"If it were up to me, I would have you locked up until you leave." Yurai stalked up to Osa, glaring.

Osa held back his snarl. "But it's not up to you. Now if you'll excuse me…" He moved to pass Yurai, but the other man suddenly gripped Osa's shoulder hard enough that he hissed. Yurai slammed him against the wall and Osa gasped.

Yurai kept Osa pinned as he spoke. "I don't know where you went, but I recognize that someone cared for you while you were missing. That wound isn't very fresh, and it's sewn up."

Osa grit his teeth against the pain; when had Yurai gotten this strong? "I met someone in the huts along the beach, they sewed it up, I left."

"Who was it? We should pay them for treating one of us." The scorn was almost visible, the sarcasm thick. Yurai's grip got harder and Osa couldn't resist letting out a whimper.

"Commander Yurai, let him go." Osa turned his head to see the captain coming from his office. "Or you'll earn a demerit."

A hard squeeze, then Yurai abruptly released Osa and retreated. "My apologies, sir, won't happen again." With an almost sarcastic looking salute, he turned heel and quickly strode off.

Sinking to the floor, Osa grimaced. He could feel the bruise already beginning to form and felt a small string of regret for not waiting until night to sneak back in. Maybe if he had, he could've passed it off as being lazy. Or at least avoided Yurai catching him.

"I understand you were cadets together. Is that true?" The captain offered his hand to Osa, who took it.

Standing a little unsteadily, Osa looked after where Yurai had disappeared. "Yes, sir. But a few years ago we had a…falling out, you could say, and I guess those feelings didn't leave."

"Hm." The captain eyed him carefully, then turned. "I suggest you get some sleep. And a shower. Then head for the infirmary. I heard you tell Yurai that someone treated you, but I want our own medics to look at that before you go."

Grunting in response, Osa quickly walked down the hall and for the bunk he had been given. A small room, not much different from what he would have on a ship, but enough for some privacy. He stopped briefly to collect fresh, plain clothes and his towel before heading to the showers.

His gait was awkward, but he ignored it. At Hongo's insistence, he had been walking on his own as much as possible and quickly adjusted. But the inch or so difference now was disorientating. He paid no attention to the stares from the people he passed and blocked out the whispered comments and questions as he walked down the halls.

While the shower helped him unwind, he stood motionless, watching the water drain away. He was alone, thankfully, despite these being communal, and was glad for that. Without warning, he punched the wall and crouched down, sobbing. His shoulder ached at the movement, but he barely felt it.

Why did he come back? Even if Shanks had been kidding, Osa felt the pirate would've gladly taken him in. Here, he was stared at, avoided, or today, abused. Being with Shanks' crew, he had felt...if not welcomed, then at least not lonely. And he was tired of that. So very tired of it.

He hated it here. He regretted ever had agreed to this stupid, undercover mission. At least he was leaving in a few days though. That thought helped slightly. Not a lot, but enough to take the edge off. He stayed crouched under the water for several more minutes, then slowly stood up.

He thought about that morning and felt another wave of guilt. He had left without warning, before anyone woke. Shanks had clutched him most of the night, and while Osa had been surprisingly comfortable, he wasn't sure if he could've said goodbye to Shanks' face.

The pirate had been kind to him, actively sought him out in the evenings, but never once pried into things that Osa made clear he wouldn't talk about. His enthusiasm had almost been infectious, and Osa missed him already.

He thought about the paw print he left stuck to Shanks' door. It hurt to leave that as the only sign of his leaving, but he couldn't bear to just do nothing. And stepping inside Shank's cabin had made the leaving even worse. That same scent, the golden-spice smell, had thoroughly saturated the air in there. He wasn't even sure why he did that. Or why he took the picture from that book.

He gave a wry snort. Maybe because he wanted Shanks to just forget about him? But he doubted Shanks would, especially now. Especially if they kept running into each other, or saw something in the papers.

Osa felt as if he was being punished for more than deserting the base, even temporarily. Leaving Shanks asleep on the beach without a word was a knife in his heart, and the Navy captain's reprimand just spread salt on the wound.

But what Yurai said years ago had stuck with him. I just hope that if you do encounter him, you make the right choice. And Osa had made his choice finally.

But if it was the right one, why did it hurt so much?