Nom Nom Nom

  "Hey, chew slowly. I'm not going to take it away from you," Luffy said, exasperated. He rubbed his temple as he watched the three young Gon Sisters tear through the food he had carefully packed in his iory.

  That stash was supposed to st him during his interaining sessions, but here they were, dev it like they hadn't seen food in days.

  His iory was a handy tool, preserving food in its inal state no matter how long it was stored. A meal packed a year ago would taste as fresh as if it had just been prepared. It was a lifesaver for someone like him who was always on the move, but right now, it seemed like the Gon Sisters were determio empty it iting.

  From the er of his eye, Luffy noticed Boa Hancoeaking g him, her expression a mix of suspi and unease. Her guard never dropped, and Luffy couldn't bme her.

  After all, she and her sisters had endured hell as sves uhe Celestial Dragons. Trust didn't e easily, and the fact that a young boy had suddenly appeared, food and kindness, only made her more cautious.

  Luffy sighed, leaning ba his hands. " you stop staring at me like I'm some kind of enemy? I've told you a huimes, I'm not here to hurt you. I'm actually trying to help."

  Boa Hancock's sharp eyes met his.

  "I don't believe you," She said ftly, her tone colder than ice.

  Luffy groahrowing his head back. "Why does nobody ever trust me the first time?"

  He muttered under his breath. With a resigned sigh, he started drawing zy circles in the dirt, the picture of frustration.

  No matter what he said, Hancock's suspi didn't waver. The weight of her stare bore into him, a stant reminder of the trauma she carried. Yet, despite her cold demeanor, Luffy wasn't deterred. He khat trust wasn't something you could demand; it was earned. And he repared to do just that, no matter how long it took.

  [Hancock's POV]

  "Umm..."

  I steal a g the strange boy sitting a few feet away from us, my curiosity piqued despite myself. He's roughly my age, maybe a little older, and I 't help but wonder what he's thinking. He's been quiet for a while now.

  When my gaze nds on him, I catch him drawing zy circles in the dirt with a pouty, almost ically wronged expression.

  'What a weird guy!'

  I think to myself, trying not to ugh at how ridiculous he looks. For a brief moment, his silly antics chip away at the walls I've built around myself. But just as quickly, I shake my head, scolding myself internally.

  'No,' I remind myself. 'rust anyone so easily, especially not a man.'

  The memory of the Celestial Dragons' cruelty fshes in my mind, and I steel my resolve.

  'All mehe same—deceitful, selfish, and cruel.'

  But even as I repeat these thoughts like a mantra, a tiny, irritating voice whispers from the depths of my heart.

  'What if… what if he's really trying to help us?'

  I push the thought aside, but it refuses to go away. My mind swirls with uainty.

  'What should I do?'

  I don't know the answer.

  "Big Sister, what do we do now?"

  The soft voiy you sister, Sandersonia, pulls me from my thoughts. I turn to see both her and Marigold looking at me with anxious, expet eyes, waiting fuidance.

  "Big Sis, what if he's really…?" Marigold hesitates, her voice barely above a whisper as she leans closer.

  Her words make me freeze.

  'Believe a man?'

  My gut rea is anger, and I gre at her. But when I meet their hopeful eyes—eyes filled with trust in me—I feel my resolve waver.

  I sigh, rubbing my temples in frustration.

  'I 't let my personal fears dictate their future. They're depending on me.'

  Taking a deep breath, I gather my ce and step toward the boy, my heart pounding with his decision could shape our future. I 't afford to make a mistake.

  "Boy, I have a question for you." My voice is steady, but inside, I'm anything but calm.

  The boy immediately perks up, standing and turning toward me with a wide, hopeful grin. His eyes shih kindness and an almost i excitement, which, strangely, makes my nerves worse. I quickly yself, f my usual cold demeanor bato pce.

  "What is it?" He asks, his voice full of enthusiasm.

  I narrow my eyes, still suspicious. 'How odd… he hasn't even told us his .'

  e to think of it, his behavior has been strange from the start. Most men—even in these ragged clothes—would have been swayed by my natural beauty. Yet this boy doesn't seem affected at all.

  'What's wrong with him? Or rather, what's wrong with me that it bothers me so much?'

  I cough twice, trying to hide my flustered thoughts. "What's your name?" I ask, my tone sharp.

  The boy blinks in surprise, then frowns. "That's all? I thought you'd wao help you get back to your family,"

  He says, sounding a bit disappointed.

  "I said, tell me your name," I repeat, louder this time, crossing my arms.

  "Luffy. My name's Luffy," He says quickly, as if afraid I'll scold him again.

  Something about his straightforwardness makes me smile, though I quickly suppress it. "Fine, Luffy," I say, keeping my voice firm. "How exactly do you pn to help me and my sisters return home?"

  Luffy's face lights up. "Ah, finally! The right question," he says with a ugh.

  "I know someone from Amazon Lily—a strong woman who help. If I take you to her, she'll make sure you get bae safely."

  His fidence is almost ving, but I'm not about to drop my guard just yet. "And why should I believe you?" I ask, my tone icy. "What if you're just another human trafficker looking to sell us?"

  Luffy sighs deeply, scratg the back of his head. "If I was a trafficker, I'd be the dumbest one alive," he says.

  "I've already spent twenty minutes here, and I haven't done anything but give you food. Besides," He adds with a grin, "I'm way to for that kind of nonsense."

  He straightens up, looking more serious now. "Holy, I'm in a bit of a hurry. If my grandpa finds out I sneaked out, he's gonna lose it. His 'fist of love' isly gentle, you know. I'm pretty sure his punches are knog some of my brain cells loose every day."

  The ridiculous image makes me pause. 'Fist of love?'

  I 't help it—before I know it, a small chuckle escapes my lips.

  Luffy's face brightens at the sound, and for the first time, I feel a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, this boy isn't like the others.

  [POV ENDS]

  Luffy's face flushed slightly as Hancock's bright smile momentarily captivated him. Despite the dirt and tattered clothes she wore, her beauty was undeniable, radiating through every mark and stain.

  After all, the young woman standing before him would one day bee the most beautiful woman in the world.

  The Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock.

  'Her charm really is deadly, especially with her natural beauty,' Luffy thought, sighing bitterly. He quickly shook his head, trying to clear away the intrusive thoughts. Fixing his gaze on her, he spoke firmly.

  "So, whatever you decide, please make it quick."

  Hancooticed his flustered face, and a hint of pride flickered in her eyes. Her charm had finally gotten to him—or so she thought. But just as quickly, Luffy regained his posure, shaking his head as if snapping himself out of a trance.

  The sight of him rec so easily left her feeling annoyed.

  "Look," She said coldly, crossing her arms. "I don't trust you at all. But I won't let my sisters stay stuck here because of my stubbornness."

  Luffy nodded, a small smile pying on his lips. "That's enough for me. I don't need you to trust me."

  Without another word, he reached behind his back, pulling a sharp dagger from his iory and it to her. "Here. You know how to use this, right?"

  Hancock's eyes narrowed in offense as she snatched the dagger from him, twirling it effortlessly in her hand. She poi at him with a haughty snort.

  "Hmph! roud warriors of the Kuja. Of course, I know how to use it."

  "Good," Luffy said, his tone calm and serious. "Then if you ever think I've betrayed you, you use that dagger to kill me."

  Hancock's eyes widened in surprise, her grip tightening around the on. "What? Why would you—"

  Even Marigold and Sandersonia gasped, their shocked expressions mirr their sister's.

  Luffy igheir rea and stepped closer to Hancock, gently taking her hand in his.

  She recoiled, trying to pull away.

  "Unhand me!" She snapped, gring at him.

  "Rex," Luffy said, his tone soothing. "As I told you, I'm a Devil Fruit user. If I touch you, I get us out of here faster."

  Hancock hesitated, her suspi still evident, but Luffy turoward her sisters aended his free hand. "You two as well. e on."

  Marigold and Sandersonia exged nervous gnces before stepping forward and taking his hand.

  "Good. Now, don't panic. Hold on tight… and here we go!"

  With a fident smile, Luffy activated his power. In an instant, the four of them vanished from the spot, leaving the desote ruins behind as they teleported to safety.

  --- ? ? ? ---

  Thank you for being a part of this journey. May these stories briement and inspiration to your life, and I look forward ting you many more adventures!

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