They then shared jokes and stories with another, both of them smiling and laughing loudly.

"Ara," Shanks bright face looked at you with interest, "you know how to sing Bink's Sake?"

You nodded, your face feeling warm as you had to divert your eyes away from the man. For some reason becoming suddenly shy.

"I learned it from my mom...when she was alive, she always sang it or hummed it to me." You looked at him, giving him a small sad smile as your half lidded eyes were lost in the past. "It helped me overcome many things, that song. I mostly sung it when I was having a hard time..." Your eyes lowered, but then you blinked. Forcing a smile on your face as you looked back up at Shanks who was silent.

"Ah! I sing it when I'm bored too though! I tried to teach Smoker when we were little...he for some reason just liked me singing it. Smobaka." You chirped as you put a hand on your cap, hoping that Shanks didn't see how dark your eyes were when memories you would rather keep hidden came up in your mind. The red hair looked at you in silence, and nervous sweat was starting to form on your temple.

Did he look through you?

Impossible.

Shanks then smiled softly towards you, eyes soft.

"Ah, we should sing it together sometime! You and the crew while we drink! It'll be fun!" He closed his eyes as his brilliant grin formed around his face, and then he patted your shoulder. Then squeezed it.

You blinked.

Shanks was still laughing, but his hold was still on your shoulder. It was...comforting.

Was he reassuring you?

You looked at the man in mild confusion, a bewildered half smile on your slowly turning red face.

He saw through you after all.

What an odd man.

Dangerous, a voice within you spoke, one you were trying to hide, he's a dangerous man. Looking through your mask is dangerous.

You internally shook your head, while on the outside you were listening to one of Shanks stories about his adventures.

He's not. He...makes me feel warm. You answered back, and you can feel the sneer that the voice had as it answered you back.

You're not allowed to feel 'warm.' He's not like you. You're dark. You're cold. You can only be with people like you.

No!

Your eyes flashed, but thankfully Shanks didn't notice as he was too engrossed with his story.

No, you answered back, I can be like the way I was before, before CP9. I just need to try. I want to be as bright and warm to others as he is to me. I don't wanna be like how I was in CP9 anymore.

The voice hmphed, annoyed at your naiveness.

Fool, that darkness is already a part of you now.

You felt your stomach drop as the voice said that, and called to it in anger, despite the coldness you were feeling at the moment. It didn't answer back. And that made you feel even more uneasy.

...no matter. You will continue to listen to Shanks story that he was saying so passionately, pretend everything is okay.

Like always.

At the end of Shanks story, you were smiling again while laughing. The Yonko candidate laughing along with you, his smile bringing you back to ease. That everything was alright.

And it was.

And you loved it. You loved this. You haven't laughed this much in years, not since you and—you suddenly stopped. Shanks stopping with you with a raised and concerned eyebrow. You shook your head at him and gave him a small smile, ignoring the pang of your heart when you knew it was fake. Nonetheless, Shanks didn't ask, but, he did ask this:

"Have you remembered your dream yet?"

It was such an odd question, but you knew what he meant. You remembered your other dream, but now. The dream you have now, is something that you will accomplish. Something you can and will always be proud of. A dream that is even higher up in the stars then the previous one. And so with a close eyed smile and a jump from your seat on the rock you proclaimed:

"I'm going to be the strongest woman in the world!"

Shanks smiled at you as he looked at you with your close-eyed smile, so very different from the moment he first saw you. A distant, angry, and lonely girl who was left by the marines because of you following your own morals. So different from the girl that asked him why he saved an enemy and cried because of his answer that must've shocked you but relieved you so. He then laughed, wanting to tease you.

"Daha! You sure you'll be able to do it? You got quite a competition for that."

You gave a glare at him with no heat.

"Oh yeah? Well, I'm going to prove it to you! Big Momma will not know what will hit her once I do it! Not only that, " You put your hands on your hips, your gaze turning serious as you looked at those warm autumn brown eyes who stared at you in attentiveness.

"I'm going to prove it to the whole world and the heavens above!"

And you sounded so confident and determined he had nothing else to say but laugh. With you soon joining his.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Lucci's POV

"Wahahaha! This is amazing! That bitch is dead!" Spandam rejoiced, slapping his lap as he sat in front of his desk while Lucci stood in front of it with arms behind his back and top hat on his head.

"Wahaha! That's what she gets! That stupid Silver Blood, I wonder if the blood around her is silver?" Spandam continued, taking great joy of the whole situation.

Lucci's lips twitched downwards but said nothing. Hattori also not reacting to the Director's yells and exclaims, only blinking his beady eyes as the purple haired man went on.

The fool, Lucci thought in disgust, he really believes his own words.

Before Spandam went further, Lucci finally decided to interrupt him and correct him.

"Silver Blood (Y/N) is not dead. She's alive."

Spandam widened his eyes and began to shriek.

"WHHHHHHHHAAAAAAT?! HOW?! THATS IMPOSSIBLE! HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT LUCCI?!"

Lucci's brow twitched at how loud his 'leader' was being, causing even Hattori to ruffle his feathers atop the Zoan user's shoulders in annoyance.

But...he actually does not know whether this information is true. It's just a feeling he has. A feeling or intuition he's had ever since he saw her on the ground trying to stand up despite the poison in her body. Somehow, Lucci knew she would survive. Cause she was a stubborn but naive idiot.

How strange.

How strange that he knows this without any real evidence, but Lucci replied the best he could as his dark eyes under his hat looked into Spandam's who flinched.

She never flinched when I looked at her, Lucci observed offhandedly.

"Silver Blood and I were even in strength, I would be surprised if she didn't overcome such a thing as poison. She's much stronger then you think, Director. She will be back." Lucci coldly stated, as Spandam's eyes widened once more and started muttering to himself while the Zoan corrected himself in his mind.

She is even starting to get ahead of me in strength. Lucci thought, eyes narrowing at that fact.

Spandam then scoffed, suddenly smug.

"No matter~, she still failed the mission. Which means," Spandam smiled a wicked smile, "she will truly never be respected by any marine ever again! And must stay here for even longer!"

Lucci's eyes darkened, and was about to speak but he and Spandam were interrupted by the MushiMushi on the Director's desk. Spandam picked it up and answered professionally, only to have his dark smile back on his face.

"Ah~ Vice Admiral Garp~, I was just about to call you concerning the mission!" He sang, and Lucci's eyes narrowed into sudden slits with his fists clenching for a split second behind his back.

"Really?" The Vice Admiral spoke, suspicion in his voice, but continued, "Well then, tell me. Did (Y/N)...accomplish it?" The Vice Admiral said carefully on the other line, deep concern within his tone.

Spandam opened his mouth, only to realize the MushiMushi was taken away from him.

"Yes, Silver Blood (Y/N) completed the mission with no mishaps along the way." The Zoan answered in a monotone, with Hattori chirping and cooing on his shoulder in acknowledgement.

"Who are you?"

"I am agent Rob Lucci, her partner of the mission. I carefully watched her, and she did everything well." Lucci answered smoothly, voice low as he ignored the gape mouth of Spandam next to him.

"...Rob Lucci?" From how Garp said his name, Lucci has a feeling the marine doesn't like him much. "Yes...I've heard of you. You do every mission assigned to you perfectly. Too perfectly in my opinion." Lucci took his rude comment in stride, and listened to the old man.

"Alright. Thank you agent for telling me this... Is (Y/N) resting?" Lucci said yes to his question, Garp now saying a quick formal goodbye and hung up the MushiMushi while Lucci did the same, his eyes hidden behind his hat.

"What...WHAT DID YOU DO?! WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU CAN DO THAT IDIOTIC AGENT?!" Spandam went into a bewildered rage, spit flying everywhere from his mouth as Lucci's eyes still were hidden behind his top hat and began to walk towards the door.

"OI! Lucci! Where do you think you're—" Spandam immediately stopped once Lucci turned around, giving him the most bloodthirsty eyes and sadistic smile the cowardly man has ever seen.

"I'm sorry Director, but did you just call me an idiot? From what I observed," Lucci's eyes narrowed, his smile twitching up even more from sick pleasure, "Agent (Y/N) did her mission perfectly...isn't that correct?" Lucci flexed his hand, causing claws to come out which Spandam immediately caught with nervous sweat. At his shaky nod, Lucci turned back around and exited the room.

Only to spot the new agent, Kaku, outside the door with an expression filled with confusion.

"Why...did you do that?"

I don't know, is what Lucci wanted to say.

But he only walked away in silence, eyes hidden behind his hat as he only thought of (Y/N)'s face filled with happiness at the news of seeing her past friends again once she comes back.

That caused him to walk faster, Kaku watching silently with a ghost of a smile on his face as he also thought of (Y/N).

How strange, both CP9 agents thought.

.

.

.

Yo! *waves hand*

The fluff was getting too intense for me, so I had to sprinkle some darkness in here.

Don't you guys remember?

You have a mask.

I clearly stated this in Water 7, making it even more clear when you and Doflamingo talked in your crew's ship on the way to decline the position of Warlord.

You have a darkness within you that you've been trying to overcome and erase.

But you can't.

Also...Lucci may not always show it, or even say it but...he sees you highly and cares for you.

And does things you may never even know...

MUSHROOMGRENADE

(Bad Mingo~ *cackles*)

I have so many from the wonderful @ShiroYukiHime5 they're so good. I'll save the rest for next time!

IN OTHER NEWS!! HAPPY 3rd ANNIVERSARY FOR STRONG!! REMEMBER WHAT I SAID FOR THE 1st ANNIVERSARY GUYS!! THAT I LOVE ALL OF YOU AND APPRECIATE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WITH ME SINCE THE BEGINNING AND OF COURSE MY NEW READERS!!

Here's to many more years of adventuring with Silver Blood! Otherwise known as you~

And Happy Birthday to the Future Pirate King~

Votes~

Main Pairings
Shanks: 110
Mihawk:110
Crocodile:50
Doflamingo: 37
Smoker: 59
Lucci: 36

Side Pairings
Kaku: 6
Paulie: 6
Buggy: 9

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS VOTED AND COMMENTED!! I APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE THING FOR THE READERS WHO HAVE DONE SO!! XD

I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A NICE DAY/NIGHT!! XD