In honor of the birthday of my OC, Aisuru, today, May 16th. This is Shanks's side of when Aisuru was born and as she grew up and if he took her with him after Hope's death.

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Shanks's POV

"Sh-Shanks! It hurts!" Hope cried. I held her hand. As soft and delicate as it may seem, it was almost like childbirth gave every woman bone-crushing strength.

"It's okay, Hope! Just one more push!" The doctor called.

"On the count of three... one... two... three!" I counted off. Hope let out a shriek of pain, hot tears streaming down her face.

Finally, the strong scream of a baby filled the air and Hope panted roughly. She laid limp in the bed and in my arms.

"Well, doctor? A boy or a girl?" I asked. I thought back to the words that Captain Roger taught me. Kyousa, which means strength, for a boy. Aisuru, which means loving, for a girl.

"It's a girl!" The doctor said. He brought her over to Hope.

"I can't.... move my... arms..." She panted weakly. The doctor brought the little baby over to me. I carefully wrapped my shaking arms around the crying baby girl. As soon as she came in contact with my chest, my baby girl calmed. A few sniffles escaped her, but then her cried stopped all together and a soft sigh escaped her as she rested against me.

I laughed as tears escaped my eyes. Little tufts of red hair covered her head. A smiled claimed her little lips and her eyes softly opened. My smile grew as I saw they were the same gold of her mother's eyes. The most precious and most valuable treasure in the world was in my arms.

"Aisuru. My little love. My little treasure. My baby girl." I said, tears streaming down my cheeks as a coo escaped my baby girl and she smiled at me.

"Aisuru LeRoux.... I love that name..." Hope breathes, finally starting to get her strength back. I smiled at the baby in my arms.

One year later

"Come on, Baby Girl. You can do it." I said, setting Aisuru on her little feet and backing up a few feet.

"Alright, princess... Come to Daddy!" I said. Aisuru let out a laugh and plopped back on to her bum. I pouted at her as she laughed hysterically.

"No, baby, you're supposed to walk to me!" I said with a pout. I heard Hope giggle.

"You know she's not waking yet on her own." Hope giggled. I sighed softly.

"I know. I just don't want to miss that. I know I'm going to miss so much of her life because of my life as a pirate..." I sighed.

"Then take her to sea with you." Hope said. I jumped to my feet.

"And expose her to the dangers of the sea while she's still so small?! No! Not yet. What if we got raided? They'd take my baby girl away from me!" I said. Hope sighed and looked at me over her shoulder from preparing dinner.

"This island is just as a high risk for pirate raids. We have rich people with low security. Honestly, Shanks, I'd prefer it if she went with you." Hope said. I frowned at the woman.

"What about you?" I asked. She shook her head.

"My father may have refused me for having your baby, but if I ever left this island with out his permission the marines would chase me to no ends until they dragged me back. They'd probably hurt her, too." Hope sighed. I hugged her waist and kissed her cheek.

"Dada!" My eyes widened and Hope and I looked down at the baby at our feet. She reached up after crawling to my feet.

"Dada!" She squealed. I felt tears rise to my eyes and I scooped her up. She squealed in joy.

"My little baby!" I said.

"Dada!" She laughed.

Four years later

I stood shocked at what I saw. Another man was bent over Hope. Kissing her with the same passion that I once kissed her with.

Sure, I knew that love was dying between me and Hope. But that didn't make this hurt any less.

"Hope?!" I asked. The two parted and I saw him. A marine.

"Shanks! I didn't think you'd be home for another month." Hope said. I grit my teeth, repressing my hurt.

"Aisuru's fifth birthday is tomorrow. Did you really think I'd miss that?" I asked. She looked away.

"This isn't-" She started.

"Don't lie to me, Hope. I had a feeling that you'd been cheating on me since Aisuru was three." I said. Hope sighed. I turned and left the house.

Hope followed me.

"Shanks, wait." She called. I stopped.

"What, Hope?" I asked.

"I want you to take Aisuru. Take her to sea and far away from this island." She said. I turned on her.

"Now your letting him drive your own child from her home?!" I asked.

"I'm dying, Shanks." Hope said. I froze. I stared at her in shock.

"I had a feeling after I gave birth to Aisuru. Why I was so weak after. That man you saw me with? His name is Blaze Hono. He's the man my father has betrothed me to. I only agreed because I knew I'd die by the time Aisuru was seven." She said. I closed my eyes.

"Hope..." I started.

"He's terrible to her. And he pins me down and forces me to watch. Take her, Shanks. Take your daughter far away from here where she'll be safe." She said. She grabbed my hands and looked in to my eyes.

"Shanks, you and I both know that there is no spark between us anymore anyways. I don't love you any more, Shanks. So just take Aisuru and let me die. Find a woman that will love you both." She said. I fought back my tears and turned away from the woman I once loved.

"Fine." I said.

"Daddy! Daddy!" I heard. I knelt down and opened my arms so my baby girl could run on to them. I smiled as I felt her hug me.

"Daddy! Ki and I just had the best adventure in the woods!" She said. I smiled and kissed her head.

"Is Ki your friend?" I asked. She nodded. I smiled sadly at her.

"Well, Aisuru, princess. You're going to have to say goodbye." I said. She stared up at me in confusion.

"Daddy is going to take you to sea." I said. She smiled.

"You're going to take me away from the mean man that Mommy spends time with now?" She asked. I nodded.

"You can stay with Daddy and Mister Yasopp, and Benn." I said. She smiled.

"I'll go tell Ki!" She said and ran off after I set her down.

Later that night, I met the girl called Ki.

"You better not let my little sister get hurt!" She said and scowled at me. I smiled and rubbed her head.

"No worries, kid. Nothing is going to hurt my little girl as long as I stand. I hope to see you on the seas one day." I said. She grinned.

"Just watch, in gonna be the best female swordsman pirate you've ever met!" She said.

"I hold you to that." I said. I picked up Aisuru.

"Bye, Ki! We'll meet again on the sea as pirates!" She called.

We never returned to that Island again.

Two years later.

"Hahaha! Hey, Luffy. I want you to meet someone." I said. I nodded to Benn and he went to get Aisuru.

"Huh? Did you get a new crew member?" Luffy asked. I smiled.

"Nah, she's been with us for a while, I just always told her to stay on the ship so she'd be safe, but I think she's fine here." I said.

"She? You have a female crewmate, Captain Shanks?" Makino asked. I smiled and she blushed softly. I had to admit that I was attracted to her. She was beautiful and sweet.

"Hi!" I heard Aisuru's little voice say as she stared up at Luffy on the stool. He stared down at her.

"Hi." He said. I picked her up and set her on my lap. She giggled and stole my hat off of my head, putting it on her own before turning back to Luffy.

"I'm Aisuru!" She said.

"I'm Luffy." Luffy said.

"Oh my. She's precious! Where is her mother?" Makino asked. Aisuru looked away.

"Touchy subject." I said.

"Oh. I'm sorry. Hello, Aisuru. My name is Makino." She said. Aisuru hid in my hat.

"You're pretty... will you marry my daddy?" She asked. I blushed.

"Ah, Aisuru, why don't you and Luffy go play outside?" I asked as I took my hat back. She smiled.

"Okay!" She said. She and Luffy ran outside to play.

"Where did you find her, Shanks?" Makino asked.

"She's mine." I said. Makino stared at me with wide eyes.

"She's... yours?" She asked. I nodded her.

"Things between me and her mother died when she was five. Her mother actually died of an illness a few months ago. She's been with me since she was five years old." I said.

"She's such a sweet little girl." Makino said.

"I'm glad you think so, Makino, because I have a favor to ask." I said. She looked at me.

"It's starting to get really dangerous on the seas, and we'll be returning to the Grandline soon. I don't feel comfortable with her being this small with so many people looking for all the ways to hurt me. As much as I want to keep her with me... I feel she'd be safer here with you." I said. Makino's jaw dropped.

"Shanks, are you-?!" She stopped when I grabbed her hand.

"Please, Makino... take care of my daughter." I begged softly. Makino's hand rested on mine. I looked up and was met with her smile.

"As if she were my own." Makino said. I felt peace in my heart as she said this.

The next day

"Daddy! Luffy is in trouble!" Aisuru yelled. We all ran out to find Luffy. He had fought with the bandits that spilled sake on me in the bar the other day. The lead bandit took to the sea with Luffy and threw the new devil fruit used in the sea.

A sea king ate the bandit and Ben went for Luffy.

"Shit, Luffy!" I tossed off my cloak and hat. I grabbed Luffy out of the Sea King's mouth in time, but I felt my left arm being ripped from my body by its jaws.

"DADDY!" I heard Aisuru scream. I held Luffy close, relieved that I had saved him, but he cried.

"Shanks... YOUR ARM!" He sobbed. I smiled at him.

"Hey, Luffy. Aisuru is going to stay here with Makino and you from now on... take care of her for me, okay?" I asked. He nodded.

The day after that.

"Why can't I go with you?" Aisuru cried. I rubbed her head.

"The Grandline is too dangerous. I want you to grow up here nice and strong, then I want you to find me in the Grandline. You'll be a good girl for Makino. Won't you?" I asked. She wiped her eyes and nodded.

"I love you, Daddy." She said.

"I love you, too, Baby Girl. We'll meet again on the seas." I said. After that, I left.

Ten years later

"What's going on out here? What's all the commotion?" I asked.

"A girl. In a giant bubble. We have her on deck now. She's unconscious with minor injuries." Rockstar said.

"She's a pretty little girl, boss." He said. I walked over to where Benn was crouched down. My eyes widened when I saw the girl in his lap.

"Take her to the infirmary so she can heal. Let me know when she wakes."
I said.

"You got it, boss." Benn said and picked the girl up in his arms, carrying her to the infirmary, Yasopp by his side.

"Ya know, Boss, that girl bares a striking resemblance to you. Are you related to her, by chance?" Rockstar asked me. I nodded.

"Really? Who is she?" He asked.

"My daughter." I said, producing the wanted poster that Mihawk had brought to me, months back along with Luffy's. Rockstar's eyes widened.

"I didn't know you had a daughter, Boss. I didn't think you were married." He said.

"I'm not. Her mother and I had a fling. Her mom handed her over to me when she was five because her mother was dying. I left her in Foosha village when she was seven." I said.

"Oh. Is Makino her mom?" He asked.

"I wish."

"No. Though Makino did take care of her for a while. Aisuru was born in the West Blue, like me." I said.

"DAD?!" I heard. I turned and saw the girl with messy red hair. I turned to her.

"Sorry, boss. As soon as she saw us, she bolted, looking for you." Yasopp said. I ignored him and stared at my daughter.

"You're all grown up." I said. I opened my arm. She ran in to my chest, hugging me. I returned the hug as best I could with one arm.

"Daddy..." she breathed against my chest.

"Happy birthday, baby girl." I whispered to her.

[the end]

[happy birthday, Aisuru]