Inumaru: (Is in corner) I can't believe it's already the last chapter! All of you reviewers have been wonderful and so amazing!! I thank you all for being so supportive and helping with suggestions. I love your reviews and I hope you all read my new story I put up after this. Most of all, PLEASE REVIEW!! I'm trying to get more then 100 reviews and it looks like I might be able to do it. Especially after the MASSIVE butt load of reviews I got last chapter! Thanks you all again! And now, for the Disclaimer, LUFFY!
Luffy: Inumaru12 does not own One Piece.
Inumaru: But I do own a Wii! And I got One Piece: Unlimited Adventure, so forgive me if this update is later the usual.
Luffy: Yeah, yeah. Just write. No one wants to hear you ramble to people in your mind.
Inumaru: (Grumble) Stupid imagination….Well let's start! Enjoy and please review!
Whatever Makes You Happy
Shanks is Proud
It had been many years when Shanks had given his hat to the young Luffy and when he had started a new legend. When Shanks first heard from Mihawk he was so happy and at the same time scared because who knows what could happen to Luffy in the grand line. But he was comforted by the fact by knowing Luffy he would probably gain a great crew and be fine. He just couldn't help but worry just a bit, because after all Luffy and Ace were like sons to him.
He had never known how far Luffy would go though. He hoped that Luffy would continue to live out his dream of being pirate and give it the best he could. Shanks had given Luffy his hat as a memory of Luffy saying his dreams, of what he wanted to become. It seemed like all the years blurred together so they all met into this one point of his life…this very special day.
He was getting his hat back.
It made Shanks feel so old to see Luffy, who was grinning ear to ear. He hadn't seen this boy-no, man in so many years and now here he was, here to return his hat.
Luffy was the pirate king, along with his crew who had accomplished all their dreams as well. They had all become living legends. Shanks looked at them with a smile. They all stood around, with their Captain in the middle of them with a smile on their faces.
"So you did it Luffy." Shanks said, not adding the 'I knew you would.' Because he knew that Luffy and everyone else knew that he thought that way too.
"Yup, and I brought this back to you." Luffy said, his grin faltering a bit as he took the straw hat off his head and handed it to Shanks.
Both crews were silent as this went down, watching the exchange with fond memories and small smiles.
Shanks took the hat and put it on his head, trying to remember what it was like to have this hat on his head. It felt different then before. Like Luffy had torn it up a bit but to Shanks it seemed like even thought it was torn up quite a bit, it was cherished and protected too.
"You know anchor," He said, calling Luffy by his pet name. "I've just realized something. You can't have the Straw Hat pirates with out their Captain who doesn't have a straw hat." Shanks said, the brim of the hat hiding his eyes.
He took the hat off and then placed it on Luffy's head and put his forehead against Luffy's.
"You keep it." He said, tears prickling at his eyes, as tears fell down Luffy's cheeks.
Luffy nodded and smiled as he wiped his tears away with the palm of is hand.
Shanks smiled again and then threw his one arm around Luffy's sholder. "We'll what are we waiting for? The Navy? Let's party!" He shouted, causing both crews to cheer.
The party was in full blast with everyone having fun. Luffy was chatting with Shanks, Zoro was not too far away drinking rum and watching Luffy to make sure he didn't do anything stupid, Nami was playing cards with several pirates and winning huge money, Usopp was with his father and actually telling the truth (Well, most of the truth, about 89 of the truth) about their adventures, Chopper was talking with Shanks' doctor and showing him some of his medical supplies, Robin was reading her book and watching the festivities with a smile on her face, Franky was crying, saying it was beautiful that two pirates could come together like this and was pretty inconsolable, and Brooke was playing his violin.
Shanks and Luffy laughed at something Luffy said as suddenly a determined look came on Shanks face.
"So Luffy. Is there a pirate queen?" Shanks asked with a grin.
Luffy paused then grinned. "Yep." He said as he took a swig of his rum.
"Hmm…So is it that orange hair girl? You too seemed close." Shanks said.
Luffy nearly choked on his rum. "Me and Nami? No way, she's scary." Luffy said.
Shanks raised an eyebrow and was about to say something when suddenly there were loud noises and Nami was yelling at someone for daring that she was cheating and had a scary face on.
"Wow, I see what you mean. So how about that other girl? You score with an older woman?" He asked, grinning hugely.
Luffy shook his hand dismissively. "No, Me and Robin aren't like that." He said.
"Hmm…Then who's left? Wait, did you meet someone at an island and fall deeply in love but even though you wanted her to come with you she had to stay because she had a fiancée and a family she needed to care for because her evil step sister wanted to marry her fiancée and ship her kids off to the coal mines?" Shanks asked, his face in wonder.
Luffy stopped, blinked and looked at Shanks. "You've been watching those soap opera things again aren't you?" Luffy asked, with an eyebrow raised.
"…"
"Shanks?" Luffy asked in a persistent kind-of-tone that a mother uses on a child.
"I can't help it! You know I'm an addict for All My Pirates." Shanks said as Luffy just shook his head in wonder at how a feared and powerful man like Shanks could just stop everything he's doing and go watch his Soaps.
"So, is it that?" Shanks asked again.
"No Shanks, that isn't true." Luffy said.
"Fine, then who is it?" Shanks asked, exasperated.
Luffy leaned forward and cupped his hands together so no one else could hear and whispered the name in his ear.
"Zoro is my pirate queen." Luffy whispered and grinned.
Shanks blinked and looked at Luffy with wide eyes and then looked over at the swordsman who was having a drinking contest with some of his crewmates and then back at Luffy, who was grinning like a madman.
Shanks couldn't help it. He laughed. He laughed so hard he fell over and continued to laugh until no more sound could come out of his throat. Some pirates around Shanks gave the couple a look wondering what Luffy had said to the Captain to get him in such a state while some just laughed along, not that they knew the joke but just because the laughter was contagious.
"R-really?" Shanks asked, finally getting the air back in his lungs.
"Yep." Luffy said, nodding.
Shanks gave a small giggle. "Just imagining you two is too funny."
"Eh? Why's that?" Luffy asked, cocking his head.
"Because you two seem like opposites. It's just too cute." Shanks said as he took a swig of his rum.
"Oh, you mean like you and Ben?" Luffy asked, with a smirk on his face.
Shanks and several other people who happened to be listing spit out their drinks and turned towards their captain.
"Whaaaaaaat?!" They yelled. Shanks' face soon turned even more red then his hair.
Still blushing, he turned to Luffy who still had that smirk on his face.
"How did you know about that?" He asked.
"Oh well I saw you sneaking away to go somewhere once and I decided to follow you and saw you and Ben making out. Ben saw me but he just waved me away." Luffy said.
"He saw you?! Why didn't he tell me that you saw us kissing?" Shanks asked, his face screwed up in an angry pout.
"Probably because he knew you would act like this." Luffy said with a big grin. Then with his face becoming more serious he asked in a soft voice.
"So it doesn't bother you that I'm like this?" Asked Luffy.
Shanks sighed. "Luffy, you are like a son to me and I'm proud of you and the things you've done, and hell I would be a damned hypocrite if I didn't accept you for who you are. And damn, no one would dare call the Pirate King anything insulting." Shanks said, his eyes glowing with pride.
Luffy smiled a watery smile and suddenly there was a huge boom above them. The two of them looked up in time to see an explosion of color in the sky. There were shouts and cheers as Usopp set off more fireworks with his dad watching with pride.
"Wow!" Luffy said as he stared up at the shapes in the sky with glee.
"You know what would make this better?" Said Shanks.
"What?" asked Luffy, not looking away from the show.
"If you spent it with Zoro." Shanks said, with a gentle smile on his face.
Luffy looked at him and then smiled. "Thanks Shanks." He said before running off to find Zoro.
After Luffy was out of sight another figure rolled up to Shanks and put his arm around his waist.
"So how was your talk with Luffy?" Ben asked. Shanks hump-ffed.
"I should be mad at you." Shanks said, pouting.
Ben blinked and looked shocked. "Why?"
"Because, Luffy saw us making out and you never told me." Shanks whined.
Ben blinked then laughed at his captain's antics, making him whine some more.
But as Usopp started another round of fireworks Shanks seemed to forgive Ben for his past wrongdoings and grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently.
From where they stood they could see Luffy next to the green haired bushido holding his hand and smiling joyously.
Shanks was so proud of Luffy at that moment. He had found his crew, gotten the title he dreamed off, and found someone to love. It didn't matter if that someone he loved was of the same gender, all that mattered was what made them happy.
And that was all that mattered.
Owari
Inumaru: OMG! I can't believe I'm done!! I absolutely loved writing this story and I loved all the feedback I got from you guys. It made me want to write even more. And yes, I know I put Franky and Brooke in this chapter but I'm not making them their own chapters. 1) because I don't feel comfortable doing Franky yet, and 2) I haven't even got to the chapters with Brooke in it. XD
PLEASE REVIEW!! Reviews mean so much to me and it would be awesome if I could get as many reviews as I got last time. I GOT OVER 21!! I was shocked!! That's the most I've ever gotten on a chapter EVER!
BTW MY NEW STORY!! So yeah if you haven't heard already I'm going to be posting a new story RIGHT after I post this. It's the one I've been talking about for awhile. It's called Infractus Mens, Convulsus Monumentum. Which translates into Broken Mind, Shattered Memories. I should have it up right after this and I hope you guys review!! Until next time my dear readers and friends.
Ja Ne Minna-san.
Inumaru12