"Pirates?" I stared at Luffy in disbelief. He couldn't possibly be a pirate, he seemed too innocent. I frowned at the thought of him stealing and killing people, it didn't make sense. Maybe they were just playing? I guess if that's so, playing with them wouldn't be so bad, but what if he's telling the truth? Because of the dillema I was in, I didn't notice Luffy coming closer until his arms wrapped around me like snakes and lifted me up in the air. My breathing hitched and I started screaming in fear that he might let me fall, but also because this couldn't be creepier. He walked toward his crew mates.

"Guys, guess what?!" All three turned in our direction and I begged them with my eyes to do something. They didn't... "We've got a new crew member!" He lifted me higher as if I was some kind of display and at that moment I really wanted to kick him.

"Put me down!" I demanded in a stern voice. "Luffy!" I dropped the formalities, he wasn't being polite at all. Instead, he laughed and let me fall on my butt. When I landed, my head started spinning and I felt sick to the point where tears glistened in my eyes. I groaned, rubbing my sore butt and glared at my self-proclaimed captain. "I am not leaving my home."

"Going Merry is your home now." I didn't know what Going Merry was, probably some kind of boat, but I wasn't going to let them take me anywhere other than my own house.

"Please leave. You don't even have to pay me or repair anything, just leave!" I dusted off my pants not wanting to look at Luffy's face. I heard a sigh on my left and footsteps going out of my shop.

"Alright, come on guys." Said Luffy. His face seemed plain when he was serious, I wanted him to smile. They all followed him through the half repaired doorway and I bit my lip to not let out a sound. My heart was beating faster than normal, I just wanted to go home and worry about everything tomorrow.

I closed the candy shop pretime and walked home. When I was in front of my apartment, I searched my pockets a few times, afraid I might've dropped my keys when I fell, but they were there and I entered my home. My puppy, Sugar, greeted me happily and after I fed her, we cuddled and watched some TV. I couldn't keep my eyes opened for long and soon fell into a dreamless sleep.

I was woken up by the ringing of my dendenmushi. Sugar started barking at it, but stopped when I picked up. It was my mother. Without saying hello she started yelling.

"What in the world happened to your shop?!" I wanted to answer, but she interrupted me. "Do you expect me to pay for that?! I've invested enough into your silly dream already!" I sighed and asked her what she was doing there. "Your father and I got into an argument and I couldn't just stay there so I came to see my daughter. Has it been like this for a long time?" She asked meaning my destroyed shop entrance. I shook my head even though she couldn't see me.

"No, mom. It just happened today. Some pirates barched in and destroyed the place." I said bored.

"Oh, dear lord!" She exclaimed. "Hold on, honey. I must call the marines." My eyes widened.

"Wait, mom!" She ended the phone call before I could stop her. Shit! What should I do now? It's true Luffy smashed my door, but he doesn't deserve to go to prison for that. I don't even know if they're real pirates, I facepalmed. There's no way I could warn them if I can't find them. Okay, brain, think!

I took my purse and put a leash around Sugar's neck. After locking the door, I let her smell the shirt I was previously wearing when I was with Luffy. "Can you smell him, girl?" The puppy sneezed and began running down the stairs.

She turned left into another alley and I followed her all the way to a big noisy restaurant where we stopped. I was a little intimidated to enter, because I didn't know how'd Luffy react, but I gathered my courage and kicked the door open. There, right at the middle table, sat Luffy with his crew, stuffing his mouth with various kind of food. He didn't pay attention to anything else, so I had to go closer. Before I could do that, Sugar bolted in their direction and bit the pork chop in a green-haired man's hands.

I ran after her and tried to separate the puppy from the food, but she wouldn't let go. "C'mon, Sugar! You just ate." I begged her while avoiding the tall man's glare. He let go of the steak, causing me and my dog to fall on the floor for the second time that day. I wasn't clumsy, I swear.

"Huh, Candy!" Luffy's eyes sparkled like he was expecting me to show up. "I knew you'd come." I let Sugar eat her steak and gazed at Luffy, who was happier than ever.

"That's not why I'm here actually..." I didn't know how to tell them. This was partly my fault and the guilt was eating me alive.

"Zoro! How dare you let go of such a beautiful lady?!" A blonde lean man yelled at the muscular one with green hair. It looked like they were about to fight, but the blonde turned to me and held my hand in such a gentle manner, I completely forgot about the pain in my behind. What a gentleman. "What would your lovely name be, Mademoiselle?"

"That's Candy, she's our new candy maker!"Luffy answered before me, so I just stayed quiet.

"I need to tell you something, Luffy..." He kept chewing. "I-Iaccidentallytoldmymomboutyouandshecalledthemarines!" I rattled quickly hoping they wouldn't understand me. The boy just shrugged and laughed with some of his crew members. Nami and Usopp were not among them. They looked at me terrified and started rushing the others to their ship. In between all the confusion Luffy somehow managed to get a hold of my upper arm and pull me with them. "Wait, my puppy!" He streched his arm and took Sugar too. I didn't bother to resist him this time.

We were running to the port where I saw a small ship that resembled a ram. Usopp and Nami were ahead of us with the others, already beginning to leave and I wondered how we could catch them when suddenly Luffy put Sugar in my arms and stretched his free hand toward the ship. He grabbed the railing and made us fly to the deck. He also didn't mind my screaming unlike my puppy who growled at me.

We landed on the deck with a loud thud, me on top of Luffy and Sugar between us. As soon as my dog realized she was safe, she bolted away from us, leaving nothing but clothes separating our bodies.

"Yahahaha!" Luffy laughed. "That was fun!" I laughed with him and put my head on his chest, feeling tired as the adrenaline rush ended. Luffy was so warm. Maybe I could convince him to stay a while. Someone picked me up and I frowned from the loss of heat. It was Sanji.

"Luffy, you can't throw a lady just like that!" He looked back to me if I was okay.

"It's fine. Candy liked it, right?" I was speechless that he actually thought that, but not wanting that adorable smile to dissapear, I agreed.

"Umm, could you take us back now?" I picked up Sugar to seem even more weak and pathetic. "I'd go with you, but I'm not exactly what you would call an adventurous person." All were quiet, staring at Luffy, who just began laughing.