Oh, what's this? A suprise 2nd update for Christmas? Yeah man! The storyline might pick up a bit more soon. I might add in some fluffy moments but I'm not sure if they're moving too fast. Tell me what you think, I don't mind.

—•—

Shanks greeted you with his famous blinding goofy smile. You smiled back and locked the door behind you. "Hello, Santa Claus."

"Hello, [name]-san. Care to join me for this fine night ahead of us?" You laughed and walked to the side door of his sleek maroon Ferrari 458 but Shanks had beaten you to it and had opened it for you.

Surprised, you got in and waited for him to join you. "Very gentleman-like, Shanks-san. What brought this on?" He chuckled and reversed out of your driveway, heading to the street lights.

"A lady needs a man who can look after her, right? So, it's only fair if I fill that role for tonight." You looked at him suspiciously as you took a turn onto a busier road.

"You're making it sound like we'll be out all night," you spoke casually, actually interrogating the man. He kept a calm face and responded just as nonchalantly as you.

"We could be staying out later than I had earlier proposed. It's more a gathering than a simple coffee break..." He trailed off, giving you a brief glance. "Oh, look. A purple car. You don't see those often, haha." You gave the man an annoyed glare before sighing and sinking into your seat.

"Whatever. Should've known you'd bend the rules. I've just gotta' be back by nine at the latest." The red-hair grinned and nodded along.

"Thanks for understanding, [name]-san~."

"Tricky old bastards be lying to me." You mumbled.

The place you pulled up to was called PARTY BAR. You were currently in East Blue, the place on the other side of the city, a forty-minute drive from your place.

The area was packed, cars lined the streets and even a bus or two was parked outside. However, Shanks had driven right past all these areas and to the back of the bar, parking in the VIP section. "You're a VIP?"

The psychologist just laughed and had opened the door for me again. "Yup. Now, let's go party!"

"Just a gathering, my ass."

You joined him in walking inside the place. There wasn't lights flashing everywhere and music pounding in your ears as you'd think, it was rather calm. Not calm as in the area was full of chatter and people sitting civilised, there was plenty of shouting and dancing people, it was just a more old-fashioned way of partying. Strange.

Shanks had grabbed your hand now and was pulling you to the bar stools, waving to people here and there. He ordered some sake and a coffee for you. "Hey, Makino! How ya' been?"

First name basis?

"Ah, Shanks-san! It's good to see you again. The usual?"

Oh, it's only one-sided.

"Yeah and a coffee for the lady here."

"Okay. It'll be ready in a moment."

You stared at the man, completely annoyed. "What? Do I have three heads or something?"

"Is this really your way of coffee? How many girls have suffered from your antiques?" The man pouted and paid Makino for the drink.

"No. I do take people out for coffee. I just knew you weren't going to come if I told you it was a party, Miss Antisocial." You deadpanned at the man and sipped at your coffee.

"I'm not antisocial, I just prefer keeping to myself."

"Cough—never shows up for lunch in the staffroom—cough. Ahem, seems I have a cold." You nudged his shoulder and paid your full attention to the coffee in your hands, deciding to ignore the man for now. "Aw, don't be like that! I was just teasing." With no answer from you, he swung his arm over your shoulder. "Anyway, this really is a gathering. Come, meet my friends." He dragged you away from the bar, not forgetting his sake, and lead you to a seating area which had a reasonable range of space around it.

"Ah, Brat. It's very nice of you to join us. Who's this little lady?"

My god! Is that Whitebeard?! The top, top, top educator in the world!

You paled at the large size of the man. He was huge. He took up two couches and had a barrel as a drinking cup. His banana shaped white beard gave him away. Standing behind him, leaning against the wall was another infamous educator and his personal secretary, Marco the Phoenix. Why he was called phoenix was still a mystery to you but he was someone you looked up to. "Holy god, what did I do for this to happen?" You muttered.

"Gurararararara! It's a nice to meet you too." The giant man boomed.

"Ah, s-sorry. I'm [name] [l. name]. Please take care of me." You sheepishly stuttered, bowing by the waist. You were a smidgen intimidated by the man for his size, status and popularity by the public. It was common knowledge who Whitebeard was; one, a teacher but also a politician and seismologist. It was a strange combination, however, he was outstanding in all areas. Even going as far as being the most powerful man in the world. How he achieved that title was beyond you but you always kept a close eye on the news for him.

Shanks's only arm started tapping your shoulder as he discussed recent events with Whitebeard as an equal. It was also common knowledge that Shanks was in a same position as the larger man. They were both in separate areas of study and had a different range of teaching between them but even so, they also shared the title as Yonko, an emperor. A rumour you had heard had said that in the past when Shanks and Whitebeard and many other people weren't teaching, they were labelled as mercenaries. Their skill in that area has supposedly carried into education as the reason the name Yonko has remained.

Ignoring the much older men, for now, you looked around the area for any recognisable faces. Sipping your coffee, you were only minimally surprised to see Thatch, a part-timer at your school. He worked full time at another school but showed up every couple of months or so. You didn't really know the man, only in passing, but there were a few times when a passing became a twenty-minute chat.

Feeling the arm around your shoulder start to loosen, the red-haired man had seated himself on a couch across from the other Yonko, he looked at you expectantly and you gave him the 'wait-a-minute' sign before heading to the bar. If you were going to be expected to attend a party, you may as well join in. "Ah, Makino-san, was it? Can I please have a vodka bottle and... is that caramel slice?"

"Yup. Would you like some?" She asked. With a small twinkle in your eye, you asked for a plate of them. "Sure." Leaving your cup on the counter, you headed back to the seating area with your newly acquired food and drink at your side. A faint tinge of red on your cheeks as you set the food on the table.

"Um, if anyone wants some, they can have some." Plopping onto your seat beside Shanks, you took a gulp of your bottle. "Yes?" You questioned as he stared at you in obvious surprise before laughing.

"Man, and I thought you were a softie. You're sure you can drink all of that?" He chuckled.

"What? Do you want some or something?" He laughed again and shook his head.

"Nah, I'll have some later."

"You're a rather heavy drinker, [l. name]-san. Not many women can hold their load against a vodka bottle." Whitebeard spoke, joining the conversation while finishing a caramel slice.

"Thank you...? I've always had a resistance to alcohol, but I don't drink it often either way."

"Hm, you should join us more. Have a drinking contest sometime?"' Shanks pondered. You waved him off.

"I'm good, rather not get drunk to the point of not remembering what I did that night." Shanks pouted and pointed to the people behind, dancing like they're the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

"That's half the fun, though." Whitebeard watched on in interest, gauging your reactions. The man swears he's heard you somewhere before but he couldn't place it at the moment. Maybe the alcohol was finally setting in?

As you all conversed, somewhere halfway through Marco had joined along with a couple of Shanks long-time friends, such as Benn and Lucky Roo. Thatch and Izo, Whitebeard's own sons had somehow squeezed in as well. Being forced to move over a bit since the extra people were fitting onto the couches, you bumped into someone. Turning around to see who it was, you almost choked on your drink.

It was Ace.

—•—

[to everyone] Q: Do you celebrate Christmas?

[personal] A: Hell yeah! I'm an Aussie though, so no snow where I am.