Hey,

I own nothing.

Vivi x Luffy. If you don't like the pairing, don't read it. Simple.

Might change rating to M as there may be a lemon in chapter three. Still not decided.

First publish fan-fiction. Please review.

Actually if you read the first bit and hate it, don't read the rest and write a hate review. It's just your faukt for reading it. And it's unproductive.

Despite all that, ENJOY!

I trod carefully along the corridor, taking care not to wake any of the Straw Hat crew, especially the one I was going to see. I turned into the third door on the left and confirmed it as the correct one when I heard the soft snoring of its occupant. The boy laid with his limbs splayed across the bed, taking up more space than I thought the be humanly possible. I patted down the blanket in search of a clear space in which to sit. But then again, I thought, Luffy has always been something more than just human.Leaning over, I brushed one of the dark strand off hair off of his face, resisting the urge to stroke the soft skin underneath. In his sleep, he always looked so young, and vulnerable. So different to his usual self. I smiled as I remembered what he had done for me at exactly 4.45 p.m. two days ago. Crocodile. A schibukai. Flying through the air. Defeated. It was all over. Arabasta was safe. I was safe. The Straw Hats were safe.

Luffy was safe.

Making it only a matter of time before he left again, and however much I wanted to, the love of my country, which for so long had been the only true love in my heart, would stop me from following. I stared at his features, trying my best to etch every little detail into my memory from when I would next need to call upon his strength, without him being there. How was it, that this boy before me, looking so peaceful in his sleep, could give me back my country whilst taking away my heart.

"I can hear you." Those were the word he said when I realised he was always going to be more than a Nakama to me. Catching me on Pell's back, saving my life again, he knew just what to say, what I needed to hear to convince me that the shred of hope I had been clinging on to still existed. So honest, always speaking with his heart, to the point where there was never even an argument between that and his mind. Oh, and he spoke from his stomach too and I giggled quietly as I savoured the times I had watched him eat in a way that seemed to defy nature. It wasn't the most pleasant memory of him, but it was certainly a trait unique only to him. He twitched at the sound and I instantly clamped my mouth shut, drawing my hand away from his face, careful not to disturb him further.

Had I been paying attention to any part of him other than his face, I would have seen the hand wrap around my wrist before I felt it, and wold have saved myself the embarrassment of emitting a small scream of surprise. "Vivi?" he moaned groggily. I didn't know what to say. He'd never woken up before. All the nights during our journey through Arabasta, the nights I had stayed awake to watch him sleep, he had never woken up. I didn't know what to do. Wasn't prepared. Wasn't ready. "Vivi, is that you?" I answered with a single nod. This was too much. It was supposed to be secret. He shouldn't have known I was here. But soon I wouldn't have to him from him anymore. Because he'd be gone. Fighting. Saving lives. Gaining Nakama. Chasing his dream. Without me. I collapsed on his chest and sobbed into his neck, entwining my arms around his body. After a hesitant moment he placed his arms around me, too. "Why are you crying Vivi? It's all over, Crocodile's gone." Exactly, everything is over. I still couldn't bring myself to say anything as his hand soothingly stroked my back. I squeezed him tighter, trying to merge him and I into one person, even if only for a few moment. He didn't flinch or back off. If he felt uncomfortable he didn't show it.

Was I supposed to do what I wanted to do, or what I knew was the right thing to do. The right thing was to get up. Walk away. Feign that the last few days had made me over tired and over emotional. But what about my heart, telling me to show Luffy how I felt, even if it only meant rejection.

I decided to follow the same internal voice as the person I was in love with.