RT_Strawhat_Ninja: LUFFY AND AISURU'S TURN!

Aisuru's POV

"It's okay, baby girl... I love you..."

"DADDY!" I shot up and hit my head on the ceiling above the shelf I always slept on top of when sleeping in my fox form. I fell from the shelf and returned to my human form as I hit the floor.

"Oww..." I whimpered silently to avoid waking the other three women in the room.

"Aisuru?" Robin yawned.

"Go back to sleep, Robin. I'm fine. Just need to pee." I played it off and hopped up and left the room. I stood outside the door debating on what I should do. A bath sounded really nice right now, but I also really wanted a hug from my boyfriend.

Quickly returning to my fox form, I silently padded to the boy's dorm. I popped up to Luffy's bunk and nuzzled his cheek so he'd wake.

"Ai-chan?" He yawned softly. I nipped at his hand and started to lead him to the door. I padded out of the room and waited as he groggily followed me out in to the deck. I returned to my human form.

"Ai-chan? What are you doing up this early?" He yawned. I sniffled and fought away my tears, but some escaped and that was enough to wake Luffy up completely.

"Ai-chan?!" He asked. I stood up and jumped in to his arms and started to cry. He wrapped his arms around me and held me tight. I sniffled and hiccuped as I started to calm down.

"I-I had a nightmare... D-Daddy... he died... and I..." I hiccuped. Luffy rubbed my back.

"Shhhh, it's okay, Ai-chan. Shanks is okay. It was just a dream." He soothed me. I buried my face in his neck. I sighed as I inhaled his soothing sent of rubber and meat. I know a lot of people would think that is a gross combination, but I loved the smell. It was Luffy's sent.

Luffy scooped me up and carried me to the captain's quarters that he only used for cuddle purposes. It seemed that it was time for cuddles.

We cuddled in the bed in the room. I held tight to him. He set his hat on top of my head. I peaked up at him after he did. He grinned at me.

"We'll see Shanks again before you know it, Ai-chan. I promise. Now go back to sleep. I'll keep the nightmares away." He whispered in my ear. I cuddled in to his chest, ignoring the feeling of his scar on my cheek and falling back to sleep while listening to the strong heartbeat of my boyfriend.

"I love you." I heard him whisper before I fell back in to dreamland.

Luffy's turn

Luffy's POV

"ACE!" I gasped and sat up in my bunk. My heart racing about a million times a second, feeling like it was going to burst at any second.

Realizing where I was, I felt tears rise to my eyes and spill down my cheeks. It was going to be one of those nights where I didn't sleep well with memories of Marineford haunting me. Silently getting out of my bunk and carefully leaving the boy's dorm. I turned for the captain's quarters. I could sleep on there and have all the nightmares the night would throw at me with out waking my friends and making them worry about me.

I rounded the corner and saw a figure leaning against the wall by the door. Her shoulder length red hair falling over her face. I froze in my tracks. Was she asleep? Why was she here?

She pushed off the wall and walked up to me, looking up at me with sad eyes. I felt bad and looked away. Her hand cupped my cheek and made me look at her.

"I know. I know it hurts. I know you keep having this nightmare. I know it's hard for you. But Luffy? You don't need to hide it from me. I know you don't want anyone to worry about you. You don't have to keep all your pain to yourself. I know it's hard for yo to recover from this, but don't think you have to do it alone. We're all here for you, Luffy." She said. She stepped closer and pulled my head down and pressed her forehead to mine, closing her eyes and resting her other hand on my chest.

"I'm here for you. It's okay to cry. It's okay to hurt. But I'm right here for you and I'm never going to leave. I promise." She said. I wrapped my arms around her and buried my face in her shoulder. I hiccuped out a few sobs. She rubbed my back and played with my hair.

Aisuru tugged me in to the room and cuddled with me on the bed. She gently stroked away my tears. She'd press kissed to my cheeks, nose, chin, forehead and lips softly to comfort me.

"Go to sleep. I'll keep your nightmares away, too." She whispered to me. I pulled her closer to me and cuddled in to her, taking in her soft sent of Cinnamon and vanilla.

"Ai-chan?" I asked softly. She hummed to let me know she was listening.

"Kiss me." I whispered. She followed my request and pressed a warm kiss to my lips. I leaned in to her kiss, feeling my fears and sadness melt away. All of the insecurities I had of myself melted away. We pulled away from hair.

"Hold me." I said. Her arms held me tighter. She pushed my head in to her neck protectively. I nuzzled the burn mark on her collarbone and neck. I pecked a soft kiss to it.

"Tell me." I whispered. I felt her smile in to my hair. She knew what I meant when I said that.

"I love you, Luffy. I always will." She whispered to me and pressed a kiss to my ear. I rubbed her back, trying to touch as much of her as she'd let me, reminding myself that she's here with me.

"Go to sleep." She whispered to me.

"Sing?" I asked. She giggled, but complied and sang a soft lullaby her mother would always sing to her. I closed my eyes and softly fell asleep in her arms.

[The End]