Luffy was making one more stroll before going back onto the Sunny when he heard a faint mewing sound coming from an alley. Curious, he went into the alley and found a small black kitten lying near a trash can.

"Hey, kitty, you okay?" he asked reaching for it. He then remembered his grandfather's warning as the kitten hissed, swiping its tiny claw at his hand. "You're hurt, aren't you? Maybe hungry? It's ok, I'll take you to Chopper. He's an awesome doctor!" He quickly grabbed the kitten around its middle, making it hard for it to swipe at him again, then carried it to his ship's sick bay.

The rubber captain looked at his doctor with a worried face. "Chopper, I found him in an alley. He looks hurt, probably sick or hungry. Please help him?"

The kitten hissed at Luffy, then looked at Chopper.
The little doctor nodded, then looked at Luffy. "'I'm a girl, idiot!'" he translated, then gently laid her on a towel and examined her. "Her name is Inky, and she had gone off on her own the other day. She's grateful for you helping her," he continued as he treated her. He picked her up and spoke to her soothingly as he gently bathed her to drown out the fleas that were feeding off her. He dried her off with a towel, then laid her down before giving her a shot. "This is a vitamin shot, to help her get stronger." He explained to his captain, who winced at the shot being given.

Inky went over to Luffy and a clean towel, then curled up by his hand, placing a paw on it.
"'Please don't leave,'" Chopper translated as Inky soon fell asleep.
Luffy smiled at the tiny kitten. "I'm not going anywhere, my tiny nakama." He looked up at Chopper, who was washing his hooves. "Chopper, will you take my watch tonight so I can stay with her?"
"Sure," replied the little doctor. "Just let me know if anything changes with her."

Luffy smiled warmly as he watched Inky sleep. He's always loved animals, having grown up near the woods and farmlands of the Goa Kingdom. He found himself dozing off on a cot next to where Inky slept, not taking his hand away. As his mind drifted off to sleep, he imagined Inky playing happily on the Sunny. He could just see her batting at Usopp's slingshot, sitting on Robin's shoulder as she read, curled up next to Zoro as he napped on the lawn, and even perched on his shoulder as he sat on the figurehead watching the world go by.

He woke up the next morning to the sounds of soft giggling. He started to raise his head, only to have several hands hold him still. "Don't move, Captain san." Robin whispered. She took a mirror and showed him the reflection. Inky had knocked off his straw hat and is now sleeping on top of his head.

Inky then woke up with a cute yawn, then leaped down to Luffy's hands. He smiled at his nakama. "Guys, this is our new nakama, Inky! Inky, this is the rest of my nakama!" he said happily. He remembered how his brothers Ace and Sabo would tease him about keep bugs as pets. He'd correct them by saying they were not pets they were nakama.

Over the next several weeks, Inky made herself at home with the Strawhats. She'd meow as Brook played his fiddle, singing along. She'd explore the library as Robin read her books. She'd also bat at Zoro's earrings as he napped on the lawn. But her favorite place was sitting on Luffy's shoulder as he sat on the figurehead, watching the world go by as the Sunny sailed off to new adventures.

THE END