One Piece: Shanks' Little Jasmine

Chapter 105 I'm Back

"Shanks, don't cry, I'm here."

"..."

Shanks stiffened slightly, but quickly recovered. He thought Moko would ask other questions. Moko was so perceptive, she should have already discovered that he was hiding something from her. But Moko still didn't ask him anything and coaxed him like a child. Did she trust him unconditionally?

His little Jasmine trusts him so much, what should he do? Should he tell Captain Moko about the plan...? Forget it, now is not the time to tell Moko-chan. Let's wait and wait. When the time is right, he will tell Moko-chan everything. Let's wait and wait. Shanks leaned against Moko's chest and shook his head, his muffled voice following.

"Moko-chan, I'm sorry."

Why should I say sorry?

"I clearly said I would protect you, but..."

Shanks hesitated, like a child who had made a mistake and dared not look Moko in the eye. A gentle smile spread across Moko's eyes as she leaned down and hugged Shanks, who was wrapped around her waist. Her soft voice rippled in Shanks' ear like waves.

"Didn't Shanks find me safely? Shanks protected me very well. Shanks did a great job. Shanks is amazing. My Shanks is the best."

Hearing Moko's tone of praise, as if she were a child, Shanks' smile grew increasingly strained and helpless, his eyes filled with heartache. His little Moko had always been considerate of others' feelings, always sacrificing herself for others, even her birthday wishes were for others. From childhood to adulthood, it had always been like this. Shanks wished his little Moko could be a little more selfish, could plan more for herself, even if it meant using him, using him as a pawn. As long as Moko could be happy, he would give anything.

But his little Jasmine wouldn't do such a thing. His little Jasmine is the most gentle and kind. In times of danger, she always rushes to the front to protect her family. How could she treat her family as pawns? All the world sees is him protecting the weak Jasmine. But is that really the case?

Actually, he was the one who was always being protected. Moko was like the sun, pulling him back into the light when he accidentally stepped into the abyss of darkness, selflessly giving him warmth. He coveted this warmth and selfishly wanted to possess Moko, wanting her to be his sun alone. For this, he was willing to use any means necessary, even treating the world as a pawn in a gamble. But in the end, he never asked the sun if she was willing to stay.

Perhaps the captain was right. If he had been more forceful and let Moko disembark earlier, she could have become an ordinary person, living a happy life like everyone else, and could have lived a peaceful and happy life without suffering these hardships that were not hers to endure. But because of his selfishness, Moko was forced to make a choice. She could have chosen happiness but instead chose to stay and face suffering. She chose to share that heavy responsibility with him, the captain, and everyone on the ship. As a result, his sun experienced a long, eternal night.

Perhaps it was because Shanks's sense of self-reproach was too obvious, Moko smiled and curved her eyebrows, gently brushing her fingertips across the corner of Shanks's eye, bringing a touch of softness. Moko gazed into Shanks's deep eyes, and her words echoed in her heart like a gentle breeze.

"Shanks, from the moment I opened my eyes, I knew that I was a child of the sea. No matter where I go, I will eventually return to the sea. I have always thought I am very lucky because you are the one who found me. Because of Shanks, I have had a father since I was a child, and everyone is by my side. I have been very happy. And most importantly, you have always been by my side."

Moko cupped Shanks' face in her hands and placed a light, fleeting kiss on his forehead, like a goddess standing before a myriad of lights, kissing only her mortal world. Their eyes met at that moment, and Moko's gaze, like warm sunlight, plucked the strings of Shanks' heart, stirring up waves of tingling pleasure.

"Because I knew Shanks would find me, I was able to survive. My parents left Ace behind, and then Luffy and Sabo came along. With those three kids by my side, the wait for Shanks wasn't too difficult. And later, you kept your promise and really found me, just like you promised me. If I got lost, you would definitely find me. So, Shanks, I am truly happy now. Whether in the past, present, or future, I have never regretted my decision. Only when Shanks is by my side am I truly happy. Shanks, you are my heart. I cannot live without my heart. Do you understand?"

The light emanating from Moko's eyes was soft, like ripples spreading across a calm lake illuminated by the setting sun. The promises hidden between their gazes were countless. There were so many promises between them, promises that had bound their fates together from the very beginning. Just as Shanks had thought at the beginning, Moko was the treasure he had found, which would belong to him forever, and he would not allow anyone else to take it away.

His heart pounded deafeningly, a warm, ticklish sensation spread through his limbs, and Shanks' eyes were filled with love and tenderness. He took Moko's left hand and kissed her ring finger with utmost solemnity, as if he were swearing his loyalty and faith to his god.

"Moko-chan, I can't live without you either, so don't leave me casually, otherwise I might really lose control and destroy this world, taking the world with me."

Her voice held no hint of joking, her eyes filled with unwavering stubbornness. Mo knew that Shanks could always do what he said. Foolish Shanks, how could she bear to leave him, how could she bear to let him die? Her Shanks had to live a long and happy life, no matter what price she had to pay.

Moko lowered her head and kissed Shanks' cool lips. Her hand, which was being held by Shanks, involuntarily intertwined with his. Their lips touched lightly and then parted. Moko gazed into Shanks' eyes, her voice calm and steady, her tone earnest and joyful.

"I'm back, Shanks."

Perhaps the ship had already left the waters around Onigashima, because the sky, which had been covered by dark clouds, gradually brightened, and the sunlight peeked out again, pouring through the glass onto Moko, a breathtakingly beautiful sight.

Shanks took a deep breath, his eyes filled with helplessness. He leaned on Moko's shoulder and affectionately nuzzled her neck. He had fallen for Moko-chan, but so what? She was his little Moko, his own sun, the only treasure he cherished in his life. Even if protecting her required him to give up everything, he would do it willingly.

"Welcome back, Moko-chan!"

The crew of the Redfords were all gathered on the deck. When Beckman came out, they swarmed around him, their eyes burning with gossip that made Beckman's eyes hurt.

"Beckman, what's going on, boss?"

Yasopp raised his head towards the cabin. He had noticed that his boss had been acting increasingly strangely lately, always doing inexplicable things, and occasionally sitting alone at the bow of the ship in the middle of the night, emanating a terrifying aura.

And then there's this battle with Kaido. According to the boss's usual personality, once a fight breaks out, it will definitely last for days and nights. As for Kaido going to see other people, the boss won't care. But this time when Kaido said he wouldn't fight, the boss clearly breathed a sigh of relief, as if the trouble was finally over. But even though the matter was clearly resolved, why does he still look so preoccupied?

"With Miss Moko here, you don't need to worry about anything. Pack your things and leave Wano Country as soon as possible."

Beckman took a cigarette from the pack, struck a match with great elegance, lit the cigarette in his mouth, took a deep drag, and exhaled the smoke as it drifted away with the gentle sea breeze.

"Sigh!" Everyone looked disappointed at not getting any gossip (‵3′).

"Alright, boss, you're all fine. Go back to your seats and hurry up and leave Wano Country so you can go home and have a drink!"

"Oh!" xN

After dispersing everyone back to their posts, Yasopp spoke in a low voice, "What's going on?"

Yasopp noticed Beckman's urgency to leave; was something about to happen?

"Doflamingo met with Kaido, and the forces over there have already intervened."

Beckman succinctly explained the information sent by Yubi. Yasopp frowned upon hearing Beckman's words. He hadn't expected the other side to have noticed so quickly, and their actions this time were so swift. It seemed they had been tracking them for a long time.

"What an annoying flea, but at least it's finally showing its legs."

As Yasopp spoke, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and a hint of murderous intent emanated from him. Beckman, however, paid no attention and leisurely walked to a chair on the deck, a cigarette dangling from his lips, and began to read the newspaper.

"The captain said they're still useful, so don't ruin them."

"Don't worry, Beckman, I will absolutely not disrupt the boss's plans, and of course, I won't let Miss Moko see me. I don't want to be thrown into the sea to fish by the boss."

When he said this, Yasopp smiled kindly, completely different from his fierce expression just now, but the murderous aura in his words was chilling.

On Onigashima, Kaido walked through a Japanese-style corridor until he reached the innermost room. His attendant immediately stepped forward and opened the paper door. Inside, a blond man wearing a pink coat sat casually on the sofa, the coat half-open, revealing his sexy and muscular chest. His right hand was restraining a maid wearing a grass-green embroidered kimono, and his eyes, hidden behind sunglasses, were full of wicked pleasure.

The man had almost perfectly sculpted features, an extremely refined and handsome appearance, and an innate sense of nobility. His nonchalant eyes revealed a hint of inscrutable interest.

Such a face, viewed up close, is hard not to be captivated by. However, the maid, restrained by the man, trembled with fear, seemingly in no mood to appreciate his beauty. The terror and pleading in her eyes only intensified the strange light in the man's eyes. Upon closer inspection, one could see that fine threads were tightly bound around the maid's limbs and neck. The maid knew very well that if she moved even slightly, these threads would strangle her.

"Doflamingo."

"Long time no see, Kaido, fizzfizzfizz."