Desires

Hours after the funeral service, there was a party to celebrate the lives of those who died. The party was smaller than the last one, but the people still made it their mission to enjoy every second of it. There was drinking, laughing, party games, people sharing stories. While this was going on, Frantz was by himself talking on a Transponder Snail. 

"That's everything that happened, Boss." 

He spoke to the snail. 

"I see, Emilio did all that..." 

Dragon's voice came from the snail. Frantz could sense a bit of sadness in his voice. 

"He said he was one of the founding members of the Revolutionary Army...." 

"He said that? I see, so he still thought that way....Yes, Emilio was one of the founding members. He was the one who pushed me....He was a friend." 

Frantz became silent. 

"I think he thought of you a lot. At one point he couldn't stop mentioning your name...It was as if he was fighting against you." 

Dragon became silent. After a few seconds of awkwardness, Frantz spoke again. 

"Oh, one of his clones told me to pass on a message." 

"What did he say?" 

"He said that you were right." 

".....I see." 

Dragon became silent for a bit before speaking again. 

"So you became the new Mayor?" 

"Yeah. Jessie was the rightful heir, but he said he preferred the position of Sheriff. I agree it fits him better." 

"I told you to convince the island to turn on the World Government and you went and became the leader of the island." 

Frantz could picture Dragon smiling for some reason. 

"Good work, Frantz." 

Frantz's eyes lit up. 

"Thanks, Boss!" 

"With you leading the island with your comrades, our goals look more tangible. Really, good work." 

Frantz started grinning. 

"Oh, Boss. Do you want to talk to Luffy?" 

"No." 

"Really? I asked him if he wanted to talk to you..." 

"He gave the same answer, right?" 

"Yes." 

"That's how it is. There will come a time when the two of us will talk, until then just leave it be." 

"Yes, Boss." 

Elsewhere, Caria was with Hancock. They were watching Luffy and Jessie having an eating contest. 

"So you guys are leaving today?" 

Hancock nodded. 

"Luffy needs to return to his crew. We are already behind schedule, so we might arrive a bit late." 

"I see." 

"Do you want to come?" 

Hancock looked at Caria. 

"I would gladly welcome you in the Kuja Pirates. I intend to use the World Government to find a way to treat you. If you come you might not have to wait on Luffy." 

Caria shook her head with a smile. 

"This place is my home. I will live here, and I will die here." 

"...I preferred if you didn't die at all though." 

Hancock twirled her drink in her glass. Caria looked at the glass with a raised eyebrow. 

"Don't worry." 

Hancock showed her the glass before taking a drink. 

"It's juice." 

Caria breathed a sigh of relief. She then showed Hancock a mischievous grin. 

"So that means if you kissed Luffy you can't blame it on the alcohol." 

"Cough! Cough!" 

Hancock started choking on her drink. 

"W-Why would I do such a thing?!" 

"Why not?" 

"I mean...We aren't at that stage yet." 

"Girl, hasn't that man seen you naked? You're way past that stage." 

"M-My heart is not ready." 

Caria let out an exaggerated sigh. 

"Girl, I have a year or two left. At the rate you're going, forget seeing your wedding, I might die before you two confess your love for each other. I don't have all the time in the world, so pick up the pace." 

Hancock looked at Caria with wide eyes. 

"Are you really using your condition against me like this?" 

"If it gets you to make a move then why not?" 

Caria stopped to think. 

"Wait here." 

She got up from her seat. 

"Caria?" 

Hancock watched as Caria walked over to Luffy and Jessie's table. 

"What is she...?" 

Caria whispered in Luffy's ear. He looked at her and then looked in the direction of Hancock's table. Hancock flinched when Luffy looked towards her. Luffy looked back at Caria and said something. Hancock could see a huge smile appear on Caria's face. She whispered in Luffy's ears again. Luffy looked at Hancock again and nodded. He spoke to Jessie before getting up. Caria handed him a napkin which he used to wipe his hands and mouth. 

"Huh?" 

Hancock saw Luffy start approaching her table. As he came closer, she could she a look of determination on his face. 

"Just what did that girl tell him?" 

Hancock mumbled. 

"Hey, Hancock." 

"H-Hi, Luffy." 

Luffy took a seat across from Hancock. 

"Caria said you weren't feeling well." 

"She did?" 

Luffy nodded. 

"She said you were still shaken up by everything that happened. So I came over to keep you company." 

"Did Caria tell you to?" 

Luffy shook his head. 

"I wanted to come over. I was planning to spend some time with you later anyway." 

"I-I see." 

Hancock's heart was racing. 

"Thank you, Luffy." 

"What for?" 

"For spending time with me." 

"No problem. I like spending time with you. It makes me happy." 

"Me too....I feel the happiest when I'm with you." 

Hancock wore a shy smile. Luffy nodded. 

"Me too." 

Hancock looked past Luffy and saw Caria lifting a sign. The sign said, "Kiss him". Hancock's eyes peeled open. Caria pointed at the sign, ignoring those looking at her. 

(What?! Without any build-up or anything?!) 

Caria nodded with a huge smile on her face. 

"What's wrong, Hancock?" 

"N-Nothing!" 

Hancock looked away from Caria. Her heart felt like it could burst out of her chest and her face was burning hot. She looked at Luffy's face and started focusing on his lips. She clenched her fists. 

"L-Luffy." 

"Yeah?" 

"Could you..." 

"Huh? Could I what?" 

"Could you..." 

Luffy stood up and leaned over the table. 

"What did you say-" 

Hancock stood up and sealed his lips with her own. Luffy's eyes tore open. Caria pulled Jessie's guns from his hips and started firing them in the air. 

"Alright! Let's gooooo!" 

She fired the guns while dancing around. 

"What's going on?" 

"I don't know, but Lady Caria looks pretty happy." 

"Let's join in!" 

The people around her pulled their guns and started firing them in the air as well. Everyone started clapping and dancing as the music got louder. Meanwhile, Hancock and Luffy's lips were still looked together. Luffy looked at Hancock with his eyes widened. Her eyes were closed, and she had a nervous expression on her face. Her body was trembling along with her lips. Upon seeing her like this, Luffy's eyes softened. He lifted his hand and placed it on the side of her head. 

"?!" 

Hancock's body twitched. Luffy started petting her head with slow and gentle strokes. Hancock's body slowly relaxed. She held his head and went in for a deeper kiss. Luffy didn't fight her and allowed her tongue to entangle with his. Hancock slowly climbed onto the table. She wrapped her arms around his neck as she pressed her body against his. Luffy's eyes widened again. 

"Oh shit." 

Caria saw this and started running over to the table. Before she reached the table, Hancock pushed Luffy to the ground. She laid on top of him and kissed him aggressively. 

"Wait, Snake Princess!" 

"Calm down, Elder Sister!" 

Elder Nyon and her sister reached Hancock before Caria and pulled her off Luffy. Hancock started struggling to get out of their arms. 

"Hancock, calm down! You're moving too fast! You're in public too!" 

Caria tried talking to Hancock who had heart eyes and a dazed expression. Hancock looked past her and was staring at Luffy with desire. 

"It's no use. She trying to release all her pent-up desires at once." 

Elder Nyon looked at Luffy who seemed to be in a daze. 

"Run, Luffy!" 

"Huh? Run?" 

"Yes. If you don't Hancock will suck you dry!" 

"That sounds scary." 

"Oh, it is. Especially when it's by a woman who hasn't experienced love in 30 years. She will break you." 

Elder Nyon broke a twig in front of him. Luffy got up. 

"Alright. I'll meet you guys later." 

"Yeah, she should be alright in a few hours no matter how pent up she is." 

Luffy nodded before running off. While running he placed his hand on his lips. 

"I don't think she was doing anything bad though." 

He started grinning. 

"It was actually quite fun!" 

He started laughing as he ran through the town.