Shanks pushed the door open and stepped inside, loosening his tie.

"I'm home." He called out.

"Shhh!" He heard. He looked inside the lounge. Makino held a finger up to her lips, motioning down to her lap. Shanks stepped over and saw Aisuru sound asleep, her head resting in Makino's lap. He smiled.

"She fell asleep about half way through Tarzan. I just didn't have the heart to wake her up." She whispered. Shanks let out a soft chuckle. He came around and slid his arms under Aisuru and lifted her gently. She let out a soft sigh and cuddled closer to his chest. Makino giggled softly.

Shanks carried Aisuru up to her room with Makino trailing behind. He laid her down in her bed and pulled the covers over her shoulders. She let out a soft hum in her sleep. Shanks kissed her forehead.

"Good night, baby girl." He said. He slipped silently out of the room to where Makino waited.

"How did things go?" He asked.

"She's such a sweet girl. It's beautiful when she smiles." Makino said. Shanks smiled. She sighed.

"Shanks.... she showed me the scars on her back." She said. Shanks froze.

"You saw the pictures?" He asked. She shook her head.

"She showed me her back. The scars... the burn marks..." Makino covered her mouth to surpress a cry. Shanks pulled her close.

"How could anyone do that to such a sweet little girl? It's no wonder she carries fear in her eyes. That poor girl." Makino cried softly. Shanks hushed her, stroking her hair.

"I know, Makino. I know. It made my physically sick when she showed me her back a week after I brought her home. That bastard... he hurt my daughter... my baby girl... when all she wanted to do was play her violin." Shanks said. Makino felt Shanks's tears fall in her hair.

"Don't cry anymore, Makino. I've got full custody of her and I'll be damned if anyone hurts her again." He said. Makino wiped her eyes and planted a kiss on Shanks's cheek.

"You're such a good man, Shanks." She said. Shanks smiled and kissed her softly.

"Come on. Let's get to bed. It's late." He said.

Time skip

"So how was homecoming?" Aisuru asked at lunch.

"Boring." Luffy said.

"That's because you stayed home all night Luffy." Usopp said.

"Well, what was I supposed to do? Sabo is out of town and Ace and Aoi were working." He said. Aisuru giggled.

"Okay, how about for you guys?" Aisuru asked.

"Guess who was crowned homecoming queen~" Nami sang while motioning to Ki. Ki let out a growl.

"Would you stop with that already?" She asked, leaning in to Zoro.

"And guess who was king?" Sanji asked, nudging Zoro. Zoro rolled his eyes and rested his cheek against Ki's head, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"It doesn't matter anyways. No matter who would have won, Ki will always be my Warrior Princess." Zoro said.

"Awww." Nami, Kaya and Aisuru cooed. Ki blushed and hid her face in Zoro's neck. Zoro chuckled and kissed her head.

"Nami, Sanji, how was your night?" Aisuru asked. Nami giggled and cuddled in to Sanji. Sanji turned his head and blushed, letting the whole group see the hickey on his neck. Ki grinned evilly.

"Daaaaamn, Nami! So you're a dominatrix, huh?" Ki teased. Nami's face flushed.

"No!" She said. Sanji pulled her closer.

"She's precious." He said and kissed her head.

"Awww." Kaya and Aisuru cooed.

"What about you, Usopp, Kaya?" Aisuru asked.

"We couldn't go. I was helping my dad." Usopp said.

"And I was studying everything I missed while I was sick." Kaya said.

"What did you do all night, Aisuru?" Nami asked.

"Oh, Dad's girlfriend came over and she and I watched Disney Movies all night." Aisuru said.

"Oh. What do you think of your dad's girlfriend? Is she nice?" Kaya asked. Aisuru smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, I like Makino a lot." She said.

"Wait... Makino?" Luffy asked. Aisuru nodded.

"Do you know her?" Aisuru asked. Luffy grinned and sat up from his reclining position.

"Yeah! When I was little, Makino would baby sit me, Ace and Sabo. She owns Party's Bar in downtown!" He said.

"Party's Bar?" Aisuru asked.

"Yeah, it's a neat little place. They let in teenagers, but they'll only serve them the non-alcoholic stuff." Zoro said. Ki rolled her eyes.

"Like you need any alcohol." She said and kissed his cheek.

"Normally, Makino works every day and most nights there. Unless she has a date with Shanks~" Luffy giggled. Aisuru nodded.

"Wait, Aisuru, Principal LeRoux is you're Dad?" Kaya asked. Aisuru nodded again with a bright smile.

Time skip

Aisuru stepped out of the public bus. She had told Shanks that she was going to go see Makino after school today instead of waiting for him to go home. She looked at the bar in front of her.

"Party's Bar. This is the place." She said and walked in to the building. It was empty.

"Welcome! I'll be with you in a moment!" A voice called. Aisuru walked up to the bar and sat down.

"Sorry about the wait, what can I- oh, Aisuru!" Makino said in surprise. Aisuru smiled brightly.

"Hi, Makino!" She said. Makino set down the box she was carrying.

"So how did you know I was here?" She asked.

"My friends, Luffy and Zoro told me." She said. Makino giggled.

"Ah, yes. I should have figured you'd make friends with Luffy and his crew. So what brings you here today?" She asked. Aisuru rested her elbows on the bar.

"Well, I wanted to get to know you better. Every time you've come over, we've talked about me. So I wanna talk about you!" She said with a bright grin. Makino returned the grin.

"Would you now? Alright, let me get you a cup of water and tell me what you want to know." Makino said and got her a cup of water.

"Tell me how you met my dad." Aisuru said. Makino smiled.

"That is quite the story."