Written for 30_onepiece challenge. I selected Shanks as my claim! Yay!

The one-shots will mostly feature Shanks' experiences in those unseen years with the Roger Pirates and also the Red Hair Pirates, so expect to see regular appearances of Roger, Rayleigh, Buggy, Benn, Yasopp, etc.

This particular entry is set soon after the death of the Pirate King Gol D. Roger.

Enjoy, and do leave a review.

The Morning Sun Will Rise

#8 Binks' Sake

The pub in Loguetown was filled to the brim with customers that night. It was to be expected, as many people, pirates in particular, had flocked to the usually sleepy town to witness the biggest event of the century – the public execution of Gold Roger, the Pirate King. Everyone was making a fair bit of noise, so no one paid much attention to the figure slumped at the bar, a bottle of liquor in his hand.

"Going to deliver Binks' Sake… Following the sea breeze… Riding on the waves…" The young man sang drunkenly, and took another gulp from the bottle. Yet the usually upbeat song was utterly devoid of its customary cheer.

He demanded for another bottle, and then continued singing in that same depressing fashion between swigs.

"…Waving our goodbyes, we'll never meet again!" Shanks' voice cracked but he covered it with another vicious drink from the bottle.

"…Doesn't matter who you are, Someday you'll just be bones. Never-Ending, Ever-wandering, Our funny Traveling tale!" He snorted. "Never-ending, my foot."

"Stupid marines." He muttered wrathfully. The red-head cast an angry look around the room at the carefree crowd. "Stupid pirates." Disregarding that he was one himself. He took another gulp. "…Stupid captain." His fingers clenched painfully around the bottle. "Stupid captain, idiot captain, shitty captain… Just go to hell…" Then again, he was probably already there.

With that morbid thought, he drained the last bit of liquor from the bottle and slammed it down on the table.

"Barkeep! Another bottle!"

As the alcohol was dutifully placed in front of him, Shanks felt his anger seep away, leaving only numbing grief. With a groan, he buried his head in his arms, trying to keep the traitorous tears at bay. Sitting up again, he tipped back the new bottle, relishing the burn that went down his throat. The drop of moisture that rolled down his cheek was caused by the sting, he told himself fiercely.

"Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho… Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho…"

"…Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho! Going to deliver Bink's Sake! …"

Shanks had a wide grin on his face as he watched his crew make merry. The booze had been flowing without stop all night, and he had forgotten how many times they had repeated that song. He sensed someone coming to sit next to him.

"But if you just hold on, the morning sun will rise," His first mate quoted from the song. Benn was looking at him with an understanding smile. The older man had seen Shanks in some of his worst moments, and had watched as he struggled to climb out the depression caused by his captain's death.

Shanks raised his drink in toast and their tankards clinked together. He took a swig and grinned. "Yo-hohoho."

Hope that you enjoyed this first entry! Please review!