[Eww, can you stop that bullshit?]
The following day, I woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed. Even as I lay there on the bed, keeping my eyes shut for a bit longer, I noticed that no alarms were ringing or any hints of trouble around me.
Today marks the day my crew and I head back to the marine headquarters, and I can't help but feel the need to ensure that the Arabasta kingdom is truly safe once more. Even though I get that it's still up for argument, especially since Crocodile's whereabouts remain a mystery.
I bet I'm not the only one who feels this way. We've witnessed firsthand the terrifying strength of one of the Warlords of the Sea. Given how perfectly this island aligns with his devil fruit abilities, I doubt he'll just walk away from the chance to seize control of it again.
Before diving into that, I have to admit I'm curious about one of Crocodile's goals. Up until now, I've kept this to myself and never brought it up with anyone, especially my crew, because it's just so important to keep its existence under wraps. On the flip side, we're definitely not prepared to handle the risks that come with it.
"I definitely have to get the information from her," I murmured, my eyes gradually fluttering open. The first thing that came into view was Captain Hina's face, resting against my right side.
She lay there, fast asleep and fully at ease, her body exposed to the night without a single worry in her mind. It wasn't just her. I felt the same way, and it took me back to those unforgettable moments of wild passion we shared.
"I just can't keep going, Luffy... my stomach feels like it's about to burst..." As Captain Hina lay there, lost in a deep, delirious sleep, my fingers instinctively brushed against her face, tracing the contours softly.
As I felt the silky smoothness of her facial skin, my fingers continued to glide over it, almost as if I was trying to savor every moment of that gentle touch. Her nose was sharp, and with those furrowed eyebrows, I could tell she would give me an earful if she woke up.
When I gently traced her lips with my thumb and index finger, I couldn't help but notice how her lip's vibrant, healthy hue mirrored the captivating pink of her hair. As I tugged at her lower lip, her pearly white teeth came into view, and I felt an irresistible urge to reach back in and explore the inviting warmth of this beautiful woman's mouth.
At that moment, Captain Hina stirred awake, and her eyes quickly sharpened as they locked onto me. It didn't look like she had just woken up at all. It felt more like she was putting on an act, pretending to be asleep the whole time.
"Luffy, you absolute jerk! My whole body is aching," Captain Hina exclaimed, her face contorting in pain. She looked like she was trying to bite my fingers, so I took a step back and said, "Seriously, how many times have you gone at my pussy, damn it?"
"How is it that you can be this upset while lounging on the bed, but not when you're actually facing pirates?"
"Shut up, and keep your hands to yourself."
Watching her struggle to move her body filled me with sympathy, so I leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. My action felt like dousing a raging fire, and it appeared to do the trick because Captain Hina settled down, and our kiss transformed into something genuinely passionate.
As I finally released my grip on her, she met my eyes with that intricate look of hers, full of unspoken thoughts. But I decided to shift my focus away from her and instead turned my attention to putting on my clothes.
"Hey, where are you off to? You didn't forget that we're heading back today, did you?" Captain Hina asked, sitting on the bed, making sure to wrap herself snugly in a blanket.
"I need to handle a little something first, but I promise I'll be back to you soon."
"Be careful," was the final remark that echoed in my ears as I stepped out of the room.
After strolling through the palace for a few minutes, I found myself in a quiet corner that seemed to be overlooked by most visitors. As I took in the pleasantly warm air, I noticed there were still a few hours left before the sun reached its highest point in the sky. I had more than enough time to wrap up everything I wanted to accomplish.
Normally, after that tiring all-night sex, I'd find myself waking up late. It's safe to say that all the effort I put into training and fighting paid off, boosting both my stamina and overall physical condition.
Or is it simply a result of my routine from my time at the marine headquarters, where early mornings for training were the norm? The consequences of not following through were pretty harsh, especially when I think about my grandfather's fist. You could say he managed to leave a lasting impact on me, one that felt a lot like trauma.
"You had me worried for a second there," I said, feeling a wave of relief as I glanced over at the woman lounging on one of the nearby benches. "Are you the kind of person who enjoys their own company?"
I felt anxious, thinking she might just brush me off since she seemed so engrossed in her book. But then, after turned a page, she surprised me by responding:
"This place is really nice. it's so calm and peaceful here, without any interruptions from other people wanting to chat with me."
Obviously, she wanted some space, but I wasn't about to grant her that wish. I was not that considerate person. "Honestly, I was pretty anxious that you might just take off."
"I'm not saying you're stupid, but it's pretty clear you were either careless or naive when you left me mostly alone in the hands of the palace doctor."
Even though her words came off as condescending, I let it slide since she was still engrossed in her book. However, I couldn't just stay quiet because her response didn't satisfy me.
"You had the opportunity right there, but you chose not to seize it. Yeah, Crocodile is definitely not the best boss out there. It's totally understandable that you'd hesitate to return and face him again. So my guess is, even if you feel the urge to escape, you have nowhere to go."
She remained quiet. If it weren't for the shift in her expression, I might have assumed she was so engrossed in her book that my words had completely slipped past her. So, I took her book to cut off her escape route.
It was obvious she wasn't a fan of it. She shot up from her seat right away, eager to find a way to snatch it back. When she finally looked me in the eyes, I leaned in and said, "So, I have a little proposition for you, Miss All Sunday. Or would you rather I call you Nico Robin?"
A smile gradually spread across my face as I finally caught sight of something new. She didn't display her usual calm and indifferent demeanor anymore but rather a shock that lasted a little longer.
"How..." It looked like she was about to ask me how I knew her real name, but then she hesitated. Instead, she shot me a direct question: "What do you really want?"
Before I replied, I handed back her book, but it seemed that it didn't matter to her anymore. This time, her attention was entirely on me.
Once I settled into my seat, I gestured for her to do the same. It dawned on her that she had to match my pace if she wanted to get the answer she was looking for.
"What's the best way to kick things off…" I intentionally made her wait, and as I noticed her growing impatience, I carried on, "As you know, I'm a genuine marine with the rank of captain. Sure, I'm still in training at the moment, but that's not really what matters right now. While I was at the headquarters, I came across some information about you—"
"Impossible, all this time I have never openly appeared in public."
"Sure, it would be tough for me to spot you just by looking at your wanted poster from when you were 8, but there's one thing that's impossible to conceal because you're always going to rely on it-"
"My devil fruit..." Nico Robin said, her voice laced with disbelief. She then turned her gaze away from me, her eyes fixating on the cover of her book, lost in thought.
This time, I found myself surprisingly calm when she interrupted me. I had skillfully guided her to the conclusion I was aiming for, and that made all the difference. I had no other option but to keep lying the whole way here.
I couldn't bring myself to tell her that I came from another world, could I?
It just so happened that I spotted Uta's figure. Seeing her in this remote place that people rarely pass through was indeed a helpful coincidence, but her shocked reaction when she saw me made me pause and reconsider the whole situation.
For now, I set it aside and decided to give her a call. She definitely made it clear that she wasn't really into it, but she still took a step closer despite that.
"What do you want?" Uta asked fiercely, her eyes narrowing. "Just so you know, I have no interest in getting involved with this troublesome woman."
Uta shot a quick look at Nico Robin, and I quickly reassured her that all I wanted was to keep an eye on her until we made it back home.
"Keep this in mind: she's likely to be a dependable ally down the road, so make sure you don't screw this up."
Even though I had whispered, it felt like Nico Robin picked up on my words as she suddenly threw out an unexpected challenge, "What's wrong?" What's with the sudden caution towards me?"
"I've always been wary of you from the beginning, but this time it feels different. I can't shake the feeling that you might just slip away, and after all the effort I've put in, losing you so soon would be tough."
"Eww, can you stop that bullshit? My whole body is shivering just hearing it," To my surprise, Uta responded, complete with a disgusted expression. In response, I simply pinched her cheek playfully.
As I watched them walk away, I couldn't help but let out a long, heavy sigh. It's been quite a while since I came across such an intriguing character, and to top it off, she's a key figure in this world. Meeting her so early on has me feeling genuinely excited.