Chapter Nineteen

The straw hat crew gasped at the sight of the enormous hot springs. They had had a few hours scrubbing off days of dirt from their skin and were guided to the hot springs for a hot soak. Nami spent her wash alone wondering were Mjolnir had gone. She had hoped to bathe with the assassin and figure out more about this mysterious lantern island, and to see if there were any mysterious treasures too. But she was missing.

Nami had a hunch that she was with that black haired girl called Yuki. A beautiful woman she was, Nami thought with a small smile.

Zoro rose a brow at the sight. The hot springs was situated at the edge of a high cliff that over looked the entire city lit up with lanterns, the huge house which bathroom they used to wash off behind them a few feet away. Big boulders and rocks made up a huge circle where steamy hot water lapped inside. The steam rose to a good height dictating just how blissful the water would be.

"Oh my god, this is amazing!" Nami gasped happily. It has been a long while since she had soaked in a hot spring, the heat of the water calling to her.

"Awesome!" Luffy and Usopp screamed jumping into the shallow pool like a cannonball and splashing water everywhere. It got on Sanji, Zoro and Nami, wetting their robes.

"Oi! You bastards!" Zoro raked, veins popping out on his forehead in exasperation.

" You idiots! Watch it." Nami shouted fuming.

Sanji stood smiling as Luffy dove into the water again devoid of the others complaint. Even if Luffy was more likely to be oblivious to his surroundings he was still cute to him.

" Come on you three. The water is amazing!" Luffy called splashing more water against the rocks and swimming to the far end of the rocky pool" Come on come on come on come on come on!"

Nami rolled her eyes a small smirk slipping out and she walked towards the pool.

"Oh my God, this is amazing!" Nami moaned when she had been situated into the steamy hot water. It enclosed around her skin, the warmth opening up her pores and automatically relaxing her tired and tense muscles of the last few days.

"Ahhhhhhhh" Usopp sighed in delight sinking into the comfortable waters until only his nose was out in the air.

"Well, we might as well get in Zoro." Sanji chuckled patting the swordmaster on his back and moving into the pool. He sighed in bliss, leaning his back against the warm rock. He hasn't remembered the last time he'd done it. There was a hot tub on the thousands sunny, but nothing was as comparable as a hot spring. His hands and legs which took most of his stress relaxed quickly in the water. He felt like jelly and he felt good.

Letting out a deep sign, Zoro also got into the water and leaned back against a warm rock, closing his eyes to relish in the relaxing effect of the water. These last few days had been hectic for him, getting wounded and almost losing his life. This pleasure was well earned. He couldn't remember the last time he'd relaxed like this in a while, it had been endless sailing for them. Nami was yet to find the Grand Line-almost to finding the Grand Line as per her words- and it didn't help that endless attacks disrupted their search everytime.

He needed to rest.

Sanji thought he could rest, the water did help to relieve many aches and soothe his body but the half naked Captain beside him wasn't helping. Luffy rested his head and arms on the edge of the hot spring, eyes closed. He was probably asleep, Sanji thought. It wasn't a surprise, Luffy could sleep about anywhere.

His light tan skin glistened smoothly with the waters, almost having a pinkish hue due to the hotness of the water. I was beautiful, beautiful and delicious. It took everything in him not to feel him up.

"By the way, where's Mjolnir." Luffy's eyes suddenly popped open as he shifted his head to stare up at Sanji with warm eyes." I thought she went in to the wash with us, she's missing out."

Sanji swallowed and looked away praying that they'd mistake the blush on his cheeks for the effect of the steam. He needed to pull himself together, looking at Luffy made his heart race. Unrequited love was not uncommon, but he never once thought in his life that it would occur to him. I was getting risky, he had to learn to control his emotions around Luffy or else he gets discovered.

Clearing his suddenly clogged throat, he shrugged." Dunno, probably still washing off. She's a clean freak you know."

"Yeah I figured." Usopp added emerging from under the water." Naga is always so clean and white...."

"Didn't we leave Naga on the ship?" Nami asked genuinely worried for the cute loyal tiger that she had gotten to know during her time on the ship together.

"It's fine, I heard Mjolnir asked to have her brought down." Luffy sighed poking at Sanji's flank with a pout." I know they promised us food,but I kind of want to eat your cooking."

Sanji tried to prevent from smiling like a lovesick idiot but his lips couldn't help but unnoticeably twitch at the sides. He jumped nonchalantly, looking away and closing his eyes." It's out of the question this time Luffy. We have to be respectful and eat their food."

"Boring, but if it's meat I'll eat." Luffy laughed out loud splashing in the water.

The sound of the door sliding open brought everyone's attention to the entrance of the hot spring. There Mjolnir stood in a white silk robe, hair wet and pale body a bit flushed. Mjolnir's eyes scanned the straw hat pirates, before bringing a smile to their face.

"Oh, Mjolnir!" Luffy called with a smile and a wave." You're late, get in the waters is good."

" Isn't it?" Mjolnir let out a soft giggle moving slowing and soundlessly towards the steps that let down into the hot springs. Everyone watched as Mjolnir dipped a toe into the water first, circling their feet and checking the temperature.

" What are you doing!"Zoro chuckled" the water is fine, get in before we get called for dinner."

Sparing him a glance, Mjolnir nodded and proceeded to take of their robe. Everyone's eyes bulged out at Mjolnir's gesture and mouth dropped in shock." Oi oi oi, Mjolnir what the hell are you doing!"

"Eh?" Usopp chocked on his spit as he rushed to avert his eyes.

"I could never look away from such sight but Mjolnir isn't this a little too much!" Sanji exclaimed

"Ahhhh, Mjolnir nooooo.." Nami screamed and started after Mjolnir as fast as she could in order to stop Mjolnir's movement. But she was too late. Looking at them with confused and weirded out eyes was a topless Mjolnir. But it wasn't what they were expecting.

Mjolnir's naked torso was completely flat.

Mjolnir....was a man.

Everyone froze to stare in amazement at the baffled assassin.

Zoro blinked,his mind still trying to comprehend the fact that Mjolnir wasn't the woman he had expected them to be. Nami's vision almost spinned. Sanji's eyes roamed their torso that he found extremely attractive.

"What! You're a man!" Luffy exclaimed with an excited laugh.

Usopp blinked."Eh....EHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

*******************************************

An extremely short chapter,yes but you'll be seeing more of me soon. Bye and love you all,

AUTHORSAN 🖤