Of Mikans

Snip… snip.

I pulled away the dead twigs of the mikan tree. With everything that had happened lately, I hadn't been tending to my mikans the way I knew I should, but fortunately they were okay, for the most part.

Snip… snip.

He was lying down on the deck behind me. I hadn't turned to look at him, but I had heard him come, and I could feel his presence.

Snip… snip.

Even though he was only lying there, my heart was racing happily, knowing he was there. Perhaps he was watching me as I worked, choosing not to interfere. Or maybe he was up to something.

Snip… snip.

The more I thought about it, the more I figured he must be up to something. Luffy doesn't just lie in one place and do absolutely nothing. So what was it? Waiting to surprise me when I least expected it? To try and steal my mikans while I was being so near, though clearly he wouldn't get away with it.

Snip… snip.

I threw the branches into the basket at my feet, the clippers followed shortly after. I wiped the sweat from my forehead away, taking a step back to admire my work –

Which was when I tripped and fell over Luffy –I hadn't known how close he had been to me.

"Shishishi," He laughed, turning his head to look at me.

"Idiot," I muttered, starting to push myself up. But he stretched his hand to keep me down. "What are you doing?"

"Just relax," He told me, closing his eyes as the sun came out from behind a cloud. I lifted my hand to shield my eyes as it shined brightly down onto the deck. "This is nice, right?"

I turned my head to look at him.

"Mm." I basked in the warm light and smiled. "This is nice."