"I feel rediculous." Ki grumbled. Ki and Nami decided to get ready at Aisuru's place despite Aisuru not going to Homecoming.

"You look amazing!" Nami said. Ki grumbled as she fooled with her dress. Aisuru reached over and pulled her hands away.

"You look good, Ki. Really." Aisuru said. Ki looked at her self in the mirror.

"He's going to laugh at me." She said.

"No he won't. He might pop a boner, but he won't laugh." Nami said.

"Nami!" Ki snapped. She adjusted the belt line of her emerald green dress again.

"Ki, seriously, you look hot. Stop worrying." Nami said.

"Can I at least wear the black ankle boots I bought?" Ki asked.

"Granted." Nami said. Ki happily kicked off the pearl colored heels Nami had forced her in earlier and pulled on her black, combat-style ankle boots.

"Much better." She said. Nami smoothed the folds of her dress.

"Do I even need to say it, Nami?" Ki asked. Nami grinned and Ki rolled her eyes.

"You look like a goddess, as always." Ki said.

Nami merely grinned happily in response.

"Are you sure you don't wanna come, Aisuru? You don't need a date for homecoming." Nami said. Aisuru waved her off.

"I'm fine, Nami. I need to practice more on my violin anyways." She said. Nami sighed, finally coming to terms with the fact that Aisuru wasn't going to cave. The doorbell rang.

"That should be them." Nami said and stood up.

"Don't worry about your clothes! I'll wash them and give them back to you in Monday." Aisuru says. Nami giggled.

"You're so cute, Aisuru. But trust me, I'm not going home in a dress tomorrow morning." She hummed.

"She's planning on sleeping with Sanji tonight. But yeah, I'll have my clothes in my bag, too." Ki said. Ki ruffled Aisuru's hair.

"Thanks for the offer, though, kiddo." She said.

"I'm just as old as you, Ki, stop calling me kid." Aisuru giggled. They walked to the lounge where the guys stood waiting. Sanji waisted no time telling Nami how beautiful she was.

"Oh, Nami! You're as beautiful as a goddess! No! My mortal eyes are not worthy to behold your beauty!" He said, turning away dramatically. Nami giggled at his antics. She walked up to him.

"I give you permission to look, my little prince." She hummed flirtatiously. Sanji turned and smiled brightly at her.

Zoro stood gapping at Ki. His eyes were wide and his mouth hung open. A light blush dusted his cheeks.

"I know, I look rediculous." She said, turning away.

"No, Ki, you look... wow... I... I don't know how to say it." He said breathlessly. He walked over to her an cupped her cheeks in his hands, looking in to her eyes.

"You look absolutely beautiful." He said. He placed a soft kiss to her lips.

"Cute." Aisuru thought as she watched. She saw her friends off.

"Are you sure you're alright staying home, baby girl?" Shanks asked as she closed the door.

"I'm fine, daddy. Besides, you said that Makino was staying with me until you got back anyways." She said. Shanks sighed and kissed Aisuru's head. He stepped back noticed her scowling.

"What is it?" He asked.

"You're not going in that are you? I know it's for students, but you should still look nice, daddy." She said. Shanks looked at his clothes. Regular jeans and a white dress shirt.

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" He asked.

"Come on, Daddy. At least wear your dress pants and a tie." She sighed. Shanks chuckled and kissed her head.

"Yes, dear." He said and went to change his clothes. He walked back out struggling to adjust his tie. Aisuru giggled and helped him.

"There you go! Much better!" She said with a bright grin. Shanks chuckled. He was happy to see her getting some confidence back. The door bell rang.

"Makino is here!" Aisuru said with a smile. Shanks chuckled at her enthusiasm and went to let Makino. The woman's eyes widened.

"Wow, Shanks. I don't think I've ever seen you dress this nicely for a school event like this before." She said with a giggle. Shanks smiled.

"Aisuru insisted that I look nice." He said. She giggled.

"You sure you're going to be fine?" He asked. She smiled.

"I've already told you, it's no problem." She said. Shanks smiled.

"Thank you, love. She's just in the other room, practicing her violin." He said. She smiled.

"Aisuru! I'm heading out!" Shanks called.

"Be safe, Daddy!" She called back. He smiled and kissed Makino.

"Love you." He said.

"Love you." She said. He kissed her cheek. Makino walked to the room where she heard Aisuru call from. The red head was stairing at the violin infront of her.

"You play violin?" Makino asked. Aisuru looked back at her and sighed.

"I did." She said.

"Did?" Makino asked.

"My old violin is all beat up. I didn't tell Dad this, but one day, when I was practicing, Hono didn't like that I was playing and he... he hit me with my violin and it loosened the neck and did other damage to the interior. I could still play it, but everything would sound horrible." She said sadly.

"That's awful." Makino said. The woman brought the girl in to a hug. Slowly, Aisuru relaxed in to the hug.

"You... you won't tell Dad, will you?" She asked weakly. Makino rubbed the girl's back. Aisuru tensed slightly.

"No, sweetie. I won't tell him. It's not my job to." She said. She let out a breath of relief.

"Does your father know that Hono abused you?" Makino asked. Aisuru nodded.

"It's how Dad got full custody of me. He... he didn't tell you what happened?" She asked. Makino shook her head.

"I figured he wasn't ready to talk about it or maybe he felt it was more of your business." She said. Aisuru sighed.

"You're dad's girlfriend. You have a right to know why his little brat is suddenly here and not with her mother." She said softly. Makino blinked.

"You're no brat. You're very sweet, Aisuru." Makino said. Aisuru looked down.

"You really think so?" She asked. Makino nodded.

"Absolutely. You can trust me, Aisuru."
Makino said. Aisuru drew a deep breath and turned her back to the woman. She hesitated for a moment.

"You can show me the pictures if you'd rather." She said. Aisuru shook her head.

"Pictures don't show everything." She said. She raised her shirt just high enough for Makino to see the burn marks. When she heard the woman gasp, she knew she had seen the worst part. Aisuru released the material and let it fall back to cover her back.

"That's what I mean." She said. Makino pulled Aisuru back in to a firm hug. Aisuru noticed tears running down Makino's face.

"What kind of monster would to that to a little girl?" She asked, holding tight to Aisuru. Aisuru leaned against Makino.

"Don't leave Dad because of me. He's happy with you." She begged. Makino hugged her tightly.

"Never." She said.

"I'm glad you're here, Makino. I feel safe with you around." Aisuru buried her face in Makino's neck. Makino wiped her eyes and smiled at Aisuru.

"How about we watch a movie?" She asked.