# EXCHANGE

It was hours after everyone finally settled.

As they were planning to part ways, it seems like the two Captains were conversed deeply, concerning a certain samurai. And their conversation was pretty much getting heated up.

As curious as M/n may be of what they were talking about, he would hate to be nosy.

"I wonder what they're talking about." Shanks was the first to voice out everyone's thoughts. M/n looked around, anticipating their reply. But to their surprise, they got none.

"It's not something we should pry on." Rayleigh spoke up, approaching them as he came from the other way. He then stood behind the three apprentices, placing a hand on top of the brunette's head, a subconscious action.

"Alright." Shanks easily gave up at the presence of the Vice Captain.

"How's your wounds, M/n?" Rayleigh turned to the brunette who was quiet and lost in thought as always.

The said boy raised his boy before dawning his words once more.

"I wouldn't call them wounds. It's barely noticeable and can be considered as such." M/n started, glancing at his right arm, seeing the thin line that ran from his forearm. "But it did leave a mark."

Rayleigh glanced at it before shaking his head, taking his arm before carefully examining it.

"It left a mark." The older man repeated. "That's not good. At this young age, you shouldn't already be earning yourself marks."

"Well, I'm a pirate." M/n reminded.

"Apprentice." Rayleigh corrected. "And you got hurt because you failed to defend yourself. You'll have to learn a lot more."

The brunette doesn't get why Rayleigh was so concerned with his well being, but he can somehow understand. After all, he does also consider the man as the closest father figure he can have. And he appreciates how much he cares.

"Alright." He nodded, avoiding throwing needless complaints knowing fully-well that it was for his own good.

"Ease up, Rayleigh-san!" There comes Shanks' reply, slinging an arm around M/n's shoulder, as usual. "M/n's a big boy now, and isn't a scar a sign of his manliness?" He grinned.

M/n could feel a lot more lighter upon having the other two apprentices with him. They always made the atmosphere more bearable for his nerves.

"A scar is a sign of your carelessness." Rayleigh scolded.

"But M/n's gotten strong! He was just unprepared at that time, right?" Shanks peered at M/n's face, closely examining his expression to earn his reply.

"Ah, right. . ." M/n nodded firmly.

"It's because he didn't have a weapon!" Buggy interjected, joining in on defending their friend's honor. "If he had one, I'm sure he would have kicked Teach's ass!"

"Yeah!" Shanks agreed. "And not to mention, I saw Teach has a red mark on his cheek a while ago. It was your doing- right, M/n?" He grinned, amusement clear in his orbs. M/n stared back, looking thoughtful as he recalled the events before slowly nodding.

"Mhm."

Rayleigh looked at them three, unsure if he should be glad that M/n found himself some loyal friends or if he should lecture them about how they were imposing a foolish idea.

Sighing, he decided to choose the prior.

But before their conversation could length in further, the two Captains finally returned with the samurai, expressing different moods.

"Roger, you seem happy?" Rayleigh commented as soon as he noticed them approaching. "The ship is all ready to sail."

Roger nodded before pulling Oden with them.

"Oden will be joining us from now on! Just until we reach the last of the Poneglyphs." He announced. Whitebeard only grunted, a little grumpy from the back. He still seems displeased with the new arrangement.

"Is that so?"

"Welcome aboard, Oden-san." Rayleigh politely told the samurai, still unsure of their Captain's decision but he trusted him enough.

M/n looked at the other crew, observing the looks on their faces, trying to see just what kind of stir did they manage to make. And as expected, the other crew was annoyed with how they stole their samurai.

While he was looking over, he could feel Whitebeard's heavy gaze on him.

Such powerful gaze and presence was enough to make him jump slightly. Such unbelievable effect. Only Whitebeard could pull that off.

"In exchange, we'll have that apprentice of yours." Whitebeard suddenly spoke up, eyes still on the brunette's head, burning holes. "That brunette."

"M/n?" Roger furrowed his brows by Whitebeard's request, he could tell that the man had interest in the boy's unfamiliar aura, he had this air around him that made him unusual although as plain-looking as he may be. That was the reason why Roger had chosen to have M/n on his ship as well.

After assessing the situation, Rayleigh protectively stood in front of M/n. Shielding him from Whitebeard's gaze.

"There's no way we can agree to that, Whitebeard." The Vice Captain spoke up. "He is an apprentice of ours."

"And Oden was a crewmember and my brother." Whitebeard replied.

M/n felt sweat forming by his temples. Although he finds the other crew cool and interesting, nothing could beat his love for his current crew. Everyone on board was like his family, and nothing can replace that.

He hasn't even spoken to Crocus and Rayleigh about his concern yet.

"As Oden was a brother to you, M/n is like a son to me." The Vice Captain revealed. After looking after M/n for so long since he first stepped foot on the ship, he had taken him under his wing.

"A son?" Whitebeard repeated. He wasn't surprised.

"Shirohige, we can't allow that!" Shanks spoke up, full of conviction. "I won't let you take M/n away!" He clutched the boy tightly, basically strangling him.

Poor boy looked like a fish gasping for air.

"Yeah! He's our precious friend!" It was a surprise that Buggy even earned the guts to speak up. M/n could see his legs shaking like noodles while he puts on a tough face.

Whitebeard looked at them all. They really did value the boy.

"Don't take this boy away from his family, Whitebeard." Oden approached them with a grin growing on his face, he then placed a hand on his shoulder.

M/n felt his nerves starting to get to him. Since when did he get himself to be the center of attention?

Whitebeard only clicked his tongue and looked away.

And everyone understood what he meant as the mood shifted lighter once more. M/n was happy to be able to stay with his crew much longer.

"Well, that's settled!"