~Talia’s POV~

                Izo found a baby blue yukata with pretty bright yellow and pink blossom embellishments for me to wear to the festival. The fabric hugged my body perfectly and was surprisingly light, though it didn’t give me a very good range of mobility, which was probably for the best because it would be harder to fall down in. I made my way to the main deck where I was meeting the guys for our excursion. I rounded the corner of the library building and paused as I spotted Ace leaning over the hull of the ship near the loading plank still looking downcast.

                A somewhat mischievous thought crossed my mind and I decided to sneak up on him. It was time to test my ninja skills. I darted forward trying to be quick and silent, which was hard to do with clunky wooden sandals. Ace turned at the sound of my sandals and I attempted to jump out of his line of view only to go crashing to the deck with a surprised ‘oof’. The yukata was supposed to help me from falling down, though it only appeared to bring me down.

                “What are you doing, bookworm?” Ace chuckled as he rushed over to help me up.

                I allowed him to pick me up off the deck and set me on my feet before looking up at him. “I was trying to be sneaky.”

                Ace froze. He was staring at me with wide eyes. A faint pink blush spread across his cheeks and he quickly took a step away from me.

                “What’s wrong?” I panicked wondering if Izo had done something funny to my face when he did my hair and makeup. He had insisted, saying he never got to do it for anyone else. “It’s the hair right?” I sighed; I never wore my hair up. Wearing it up made me feel restrained. I reached up for the comb with the yellow blossoms.

                “No. You’re beautiful.” Ace blurted.

                I could feel my face reddening at this.

                “What are you so red in the face about, Ace?” Thatch chuckled as he, Marco and Izo approached from behind me.

                I turned quickly with a dazzling smile, “Marco!”

                Thatch and Marco stopped dead in their tracks and stared at me with the same dazed expression Ace had worn moments before.

                My smile fell, “Onee-san, I think something is wrong.” I whined.

                Izo smirked, “Nonesense, my little Talia.”

                “You’re sure my face doesn’t look funny?” I pouted.

                Thatch recovered first, “It suits you.” He smiled affectionately.

                Heat spread through me, my face burned at the compliment, even more so as Marco remained speechless. I’d read so many stories about strong female leads with the beauty to captivate men, I’d never dreamed it would one day happen to me.

                “Marco?” Izo inquired with a smirk as he lightly draped an arm around my shoulders spinning me about slightly as if showcasing me. “What do you think?”

                “Beautiful.” Marco smiled.

                “You really think so?” I giggled and attempted to run to his side only to once again get tripped up by the taut fabric around my legs and go tumbling toward the deck, again. “Eep!”

                Strong arms encircled me and I found Marco hoisting me back on my feet with a soft chuckle. He kept his arm around my waist to support me. Blissful tingling sensations spread through my pelvic region from every slight shift in movement from his fingers resting tantalizingly over my hip bone.

                “Now that’s the Talia we all know and love.” Thatch guffawed.

                “Hey.” I whined pitifully.

                Marco’s deft fingers pressed more firmly against me holding me closer, “Stay by my side.” He ordered softly.

                My heart skipped a beat in my chest at the demand and I nodded obediently.