RT_Strawhat_Ninja: I'm sorry, I'm late! I was distracted by my pretty coworker, I'm sorry!

3rd person POV

"Oi, Aisuru. Is that you?" A voice asked. The red head's ears flicked and she turned her head, her shoulder length hair shifting as she moved. A bright grin over took the young woman's face as she spotted someone she hadn't seen in years.

"Zoro!" She cheered, running over to the green haired man and hugged him. He laughed as he returned the hug.

"Holy shit, I hardly recognized you! You're slightly taller, you hair is longer and your voice has changed." Zoro noted as they parted from the hug. Aisuru giggled and bounced back on to her feet.

"You haven't changed a bit, Zoro!" She said. Zoro frowned.

"Nah, I changed a little bit." He said. Aisuru giggled.

"Your arms are bigger." She said. Zoro rolled his eyes at her. She smiled.

"So how was school at Santoriyu?" She asked. Zoro sighed.

"Boring. I ended up graduating a month early because no one else was even trying. Well, there was one girl that tried, but I'm still stronger." He said. Aisuru smiled brightly at him.

"Glad to hear it!" She said. Zoro smirked down at her.

"How about you? Still working at the bar?" He asked. She nodded.

"Yup. Though ever since I graduated, on the nights I don't play at the bar, I play at the Baratie. I work three nights at the bar and two at the Baratie." She said. Zoro grinned.

"You're really moving up in the chain. I guess I'll have to come see one of your performances one night to see how better you've gotten." Zoro said. Aisuru blushed and grinned.

"N-nah! You don't have to! I'm really not that good!" She said. Zoro ruffled her hair and laughed.

"You're just like back then." He laughed. She grinned at him again.

"You know, you really act a lot like Luffy now. Is he back already?" Zoro asked. Aisuru sighed and looked down.

"No... He's still in South Blue... though, Sabo told me that Aoi's baby was a boy. They named him Rogue." She said. Zoro frowned at her.

"Are you okay?" He asked. She smiled.

"Yeah. I guess I just still really miss Luffy." She said. Zoro smiled at his friend.

"Hey, I'm sure he'll be back before you know it." He said. Aisuru smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, you're right." She said. The two began to walk through the park, talking and laughing about the two years that they were apart. Until...

"OI! MOSS HEAD!" A voice screamed out behind them. Zoro whipped around.

"Who the fuck just-" Zoro's threat was cut off when a woman with pixie-cut brownish blonde hair slammed in to his chest, wrapping her arms around his shoulders in a tight hug. Zoro grunted and caught the woman. She chuckled.

"Two years ago that would have knocked you flat on your ass. You really have gotten stronger." The woman said. Aisuru's eyes widened as did her grin as she pulled away.

"Ki!" Both Zoro and Aisuru said. Ki grinned, her blue eyes sparkling.

"Hey there, hot stuff. Miss me?" She asked. Zoro grinned back up at her.

"Does this answer your question?" He asked. He dipped her and kissed her sweetly. Aisuru giggled next to them.

"Even after two years, you two can't keep your hands off each other." A voice came.

"Geeze, do you seriously have to do that in public? Get a room. You really don't have a romantic bone in your body do you, moss head?" A second voice followed. Aisuru beamed.

"Sanji! Nami!" She ran over and hugged her friends. Sanji blinked in surprise.

"Aisuru-chan?! You've become even more beautiful that two years ago!" He exclaimed. Aisuru smiled brightly.

"Nami, your hair is so pretty when it's long! I love it!" Aisuru said, ignoring Sanji completely, crushing the blond. Nami blushed at Aisuru's compliments.

"You're just as sweet as always, Aisuru! Your hair is longer, too! Luffy isn't going to know what to do with himself when he finally gets back!" She said. Aisuru blushed.

"N-nah! You're just saying that!" She said.

"A-Aisuru-chan, why do you ignore me?" Sanji moped.

"Oi, love cook. She's Luffy's, remember idiot?" Zoro growled at Sanji.

"What was that you stupid Moss Head?" Sanji snapped at Zoro.

"What the hell did you just call me?" Zoro snapped and the two were in each other's faces. Aisuru giggled at them.

"I'm glad to see that you haven't changed at all, Sanji." Aisuru giggled. Nami huffed and popped her hip.

"Sanji, didn't you promise me a date when we re-united? Don't tell me you forgot?" She said with a pout. Sanji twirled over to Nami.

"Of course not, Nami, my love! I just must plan the perfect night for such a perfect woman!" Sanji said. Nami pretended to be upset, but Aisuru could clearly see her fighting back a smirk. She was enjoying the attention that Sanji was giving her.

"Well, guys.. Actually... on Friday night... I'm doing a special performance at the bar... It would really mean a lot to me if you all came..." Aisuru said shyly. Nami immediately hugged Aisuru.

"Awww! My cute little sister is taking the city by storm!" Nami said while hugging her tightly.

"You don't even need to worry, Aisuru." Ki said.

"I'm pretty sure that we all decided to go the second you said Friday night." Zoro said.

"We wouldn't miss it for the world." Sanji said with a bright smile.

"Hey, would anyone know if Usopp is back yet? I'm sure Kaya is dying to see him." Ki pointed out. Aisuru smiled.

"Oh, yeah, he got back days ago. He and Kaya have been going out on dates every night to make up for what they missed. They'll be there on Friday, too." She said.

"Then we're just waiting for Luffy now." Sanji said. Aisuru smiled.

"Yeah... I wonder if he's doing well..." Aisuru wondered, looking up at the sky and smiling softly.

Time Skip: Friday Morning.

Luffy's POV

I walked in to the park and immediately froze. After I had unpacked everything and played with Chopper and Rogue for a bit, I had decided to go back to the park where I first told Aisuru that I loved her. The park where I first saw the scars on her back.

There she was, over by the playground. Sitting on a blanket with a two year old boy running around her. I could guess that was her brother, Kai. Wow, Kai really looked a lot like Shanks.

I wanted to go over and talk to her, but...

She looked so beautiful...

Her red hair touched her shoulders. She seemed a little bit taller and it seemed like she had gained more muscle. She had a more confident air about her. She seemed more brave than when I left. Not as timid. But her smile?

It was the same sweet smile she had given me when I told her I loved her and I would always protect her. It was the same bright smile that she gave me when I gave her that necklace for our first Christmas together. It was the same bright smile that belonged to the girl I fell in love with.

I felt nervous suddenly for the first time in two years. What if she didn't love me any more? What if she's moved on? What if she found someone else? What if she didn't want to see me again? I felt my hands start to shake in fear. I wasn't ready to face her just yet.

"I'll wait for you." Her soft voice echoed in my head. I looked at her again, then dropped my eyes back to my right hand. On my ring finger, where the promise ring she gave me sat.

"Not yet. I need to do something special. Just for her." I muttered to myself, turning and leaving the park so she wouldn't see me. I thought hard. What could I do for Aisuru that was just as special as she was? I hummed, then an idea came to me.

Zoro. He was always coming up with special dates for him and Ki in school. He'd know what to do! I would ask Sanji, but I saw him out with Nami earlier. Last time I interrupted one of their dates, Nami punched me and Sanji kicked me in to a wall.

I really don't wanna go through that again. Nami could be really scary when she wanted to be.

Shuddering at the memory, I turned towards Zoro's place and hoped that he was there and not at Ki's. It would be hard to surprise Aisuru if she came home while I was still over there.