One Piece: Shanks' Little Jasmine

Chapter 40 Shanks is Jealous

Just as Shanks said, he would return once he finished dealing with matters on the Grand Line. However, the speed was excessively fast. Considering the sailing time, it could be said that Shanks resolved the matter and rushed back in less than a day after disembarking.

When Moko saw Shanks, looking travel-worn, standing at the door, she raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly.

"Welcome home, Shanks."

The panic in Shanks' eyes dissipated, replaced by a look of reassurance and doting affection. Shanks reached out and hugged Moko tightly, as if holding a treasure he had lost and found again. Just over a month apart had driven him almost crazy. He admitted he was afraid. His only weakness was his beloved, his one and only little Moko, whom he had never backed down from even risking his life at sea.

Moko hugged Shanks and coaxed him softly, patting his back gently. When Shanks's straight forehead and handsome nose touched Moko, they were still cool and tingling, the sensation instantly spreading to every part of her body. They looked at each other, his deep, dark eyes seemed to be filled with ink, drawing people in.

"Shanks, you're running way too fast."

Uta's sullen voice came from the end of the road. A moment later, Uta was seen standing at the gate with her cheeks puffed out and her hands on her hips, looking as sullen as a little pufferfish, so cute it was bubbly.

"Sister, Shanks jumped ashore before the ship had even come to a complete stop, without taking me with him. That's so unfair! I really missed you too."

"Hahaha, first come, first served! Moko-chan's hug is mine, hehe~"

Shanks wrapped his arm around Moko's waist and made a face at Uta, just like Luffy when he's being cheeky. Moko chuckled and pinched Shanks' cheek, then opened her arms to Uta. Uta's eyes lit up, and she rushed into Moko's arms in a few quick steps. Moko smoothed Uta's messy hair and smiled gently.

"Go take a nice bath and rest for a while first. After you've rested, Uta-chan can go play in the forest with Ace and the others, okay?"

"Um!"

As the two were talking, Uta's eyes darted around, and she seemed to be thinking of some mischievous idea. Under Shanks's questioning gaze, she pulled Moko away from Shanks's embrace and headed upstairs. When they reached the top of the stairs, she didn't forget to turn back and make a face at Shanks, exactly the same one Shanks had just made.

Moko's eyes crinkled with amusement, her gaze full of doting affection. Seeing Moko being snatched away, Shanks raised an eyebrow slightly, sighed helplessly, and pleaded, "What do I do if my daughter steals my wife? I'm in a real hurry _(:3」∠)_."

In the bathroom, Moko tested the water temperature and, finding it to be about right, took a small bottle of pale green medicine from a nearby cabinet and poured it into the bathtub. A faint herbal scent immediately filled the bathroom, and Uta felt that much of her fatigue from the past few days had disappeared.

"Sister, this smells so good! What is it? What is it?!"

"It's a potion that can relieve fatigue. The herbs have all ripened recently, so Uta-chan can take some with her to the ship." Moko ruffled Uta's hair and then loosened it.

"Uh-huh."

"The clothes are in the closet. Uta-chan, take a good bath and get some sleep. I'll make you some delicious cream pancakes tonight," Moko said softly, pinching Uta's cheek.

"My older sister is the best!"

Uta hugged Moko affectionately and kissed Moko's face. She learned to kiss Moko's cheek from her own child. Moko always liked to kiss the forehead or pinch the cheek when coaxing children. Unconsciously, Uta also began to learn to express her love for Moko with kisses. But only Moko could kiss him. Even Shanks only hugged him.

After settling Uta in, Moko returned to her room. The sound of running water came from the bathroom, and Shanks' black cloak was hanging on a clothes hook next to the door.

Moko calmly sat back down at her desk and continued working on the remaining half of the documents. If all goes well, she will have to set off for the Grand Line in the second half of the year. Now she needs to complete all the preparations so that the pressure on the Grand Line will be much less.

"Click".

Not long after, Shanks emerged from the bathroom, shirtless, wiping his wet hair with a towel. Water droplets slid down his forehead to his chin and dripped onto his strong, muscular waist. Unfortunately, Moko was focused on her work and didn't turn around to look at this handsome man emerging from the bath.

A sly glint flashed in Shanks' eyes as he walked behind Moko and bent down, until his hot breath brushed against her earlobe, a ticklish sensation spreading through her heart. Moko turned her head and bumped into those dark, deep eyes. Compared to his youthful innocence years ago, Shanks was now mature and sexy, his angular face bearing a carefree and unrestrained smile, his well-defined abs with smooth lines, every muscle exuding power, making him inexplicably alluring.

"Shanks, you'll catch a cold if you don't dry your hair."

Moko reached out and took the towel from Shanks' neck to dry his hair. Shanks supported himself on the table with one hand, letting Moko dry his hair. Once his hair was dry, Moko got up and put the towel back in the bathroom without any other expression. Shanks stroked his chin, wondering if he wasn't seductive enough.

Moko entered the bathroom, pursed her lips, touched her burning earlobe, and took a while to calm her racing heart. Who did this man learn from? He wasn't like this before. Could he really be self-taught? Moko walked out of the bathroom in a daze. When she came out, Shanks was sitting on the edge of the bed looking at the documents he was working on on the table.

"Is Moko-chan planning to go to the Grand Line?"

As Moko approached, Shanks scooped her up with his long arm and pulled her into his embrace. Moko found a comfortable spot to sit and nodded.

"Yes, I'm planning to go... Shanks, I'm planning to stay on Garp's ship for the time being."

Upon hearing Moko's decision, Shanks paused slightly, then put down the document and leaned closer. His warm breath brushed against her brow, creating a faint itch, like a feather gently tickling her heart.

Shanks could probably understand Moko's thoughts. If Moko went with him, she probably wouldn't come back for several years, and she would inevitably be on the wanted list, which would be too dangerous for Ace, who was still a minor. Hiding her identity and joining the Navy would reduce a lot of searches, and she could come back to see the three children. Moreover, if Moko boarded the ship, he would definitely not let her leave his side.

Even so, Shanks was still a little jealous. He had always wanted to bring Moko to his ship, but now the Navy had interfered and kidnapped her halfway. Tsk, what if he wanted to fight? Or should he go to Marine Headquarters to kidnap her? (Beckman: Do you want to listen to what you're saying, you idiot captain -(゜-゜))

"I'm suddenly a little jealous of that brat Ace."

Shanks buried his head in Moko's neck, his breath falling on her ear, his deep voice like a long hook dipped in poppy seeds, bewitching Moko's heart.

"Strictly speaking, Shanks is also Ace's older brother. Is Shanks jealous of his younger brother?"

Shanks turned his head and saw the gentle cunning in Moko's eyes. His smile turned into a hint of helplessness. He pulled Moko down onto the bed, his right hand pinching the soft back of her neck, his voice laced with a lazy laugh.

"Yes, it will only feel better if Moko-chan kisses me."

The two were in an extremely ambiguous position. When Moko saw the seductive and cunning look in Shanks' eyes, she pinched Shanks' face in embarrassment and anger. Where did this man learn his flirting skills from? He was never so glib when he was a child. He must have gone astray.

"It's time to go to sleep."

Seeing Moko blush and blush as he wished, Shanks laughed out loud in high spirits. Moko, who was pressed close to Shanks, clearly felt the vibration from Shanks' chest, her heart beat faster, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

Moko nestled slightly into Shanks' arms, her hands grasping his large hands and stroking his delicate palm lines. A gentle healing power flowed into her body, easing Shanks' fatigue. Shanks leaned in and kissed Moko's lips, a fleeting, tender kiss.

"Go to sleep."

Before Moko could even react to the sudden kiss, Shanks had already started to lull her to sleep. Moko had originally wanted Shanks to rest for a while, but in her drowsy state, Shanks ended up lulling her to sleep instead. Looking at the sleeping Moko, Shanks' eyes were full of affection. He pulled Moko closer to his chest and then drifted off to sleep with her.

After the Grand Line issue was resolved decisively, Shanks spent a leisurely month on the mountain with Moko. Shanks followed Moko almost everywhere she went. The four little ones were extremely dissatisfied with Shanks clinging to Moko every day, feeling that it was too much to monopolize their older sister.

The four little ones were annoyed but there was nothing they could do. Their strength simply didn't allow it. Even if they teamed up, they couldn't beat Shanks. Especially since Shanks would mock them every time they lost, which made them even angrier (′?皿?｀).

The villagers of Windmill Village had gotten used to the presence of Shanks and his crew. Although they were pirates, they didn't cause any trouble, and they would even pay for meals and drinks with Berries. As a result, the villagers' fear had lessened considerably.

"Luffy, you stole Shanks' cape again!"

"Hehehe, you can't catch me, you can't catch me."

Uta's angry voice came from the courtyard. Luffy was not afraid at all. Instead, he grabbed his cloak and started circling around Uta. Ace and Sabo calmly practiced their skills on the side. They were already used to the two of them fighting.

Moko and Shanks sat on a garden chair playing chess. There were few forms of entertainment in this world, so Moko brought out all sorts of chess and card games that she used to play on the ship. The three little ones preferred checkers and Gomoku, probably because they were simpler.

Shanks sat to the side, staring intently at Moko, his fingers twirling and playing with her hair, occasionally placing a chess piece down. He didn't care about winning or losing, nor did he care that Luffy was holding his cape. At this moment, nothing or no one attracted Shanks more than the pink-haired girl in front of him.

Moko stared at the chessboard, hesitated for a long time, and placed the white piece in the middle of the black pieces. After Moko finished her move, Shanks picked up the piece and leisurely placed it in another place. Although he could have won directly, Shanks deliberately prolonged the game, as if he was deliberately teasing Moko. Moko was not angry, but instead seriously thought about where she should place her next move.

Mihua and Tianguo slept among the flowers, letting the petals fall all over them. The peaceful and beautiful time filled Moko's heart. Her fragile heart finally began to heal itself after finding peace. Everything she had worried about was not as terrible as she had originally imagined.

It was time to deliver the wine again. Moko and Shanks strolled hand in hand down the mountain, with Mika slowly following behind, dragging the last batch of wine Moko had brewed. Unlike Mika, who liked to grow bigger, Sweet Fruit preferred to shrink to the size of a doll and was now happily basking in the sun on Mika's back, her little wings fluttering occasionally, looking incredibly cute.

When Shanks sets off for the Grand Line again, Moko also plans to go to Marine Headquarters with Garp. Moko had taught the Dadan family how to brew beer a long time ago. After Moko left, the Dadan family started to provide the beer for the tavern. The Dadan family was also able to do some side business to earn some Berries so that they wouldn't live too poorly.

"Boss, something bad has happened! Luffy has been captured by bandits!" From afar, they saw Luckyru running over and shouting loudly at the two of them.

Upon hearing that Luffy had been captured by bandits, Moko's aura instantly turned cold, as if she had become a completely different person. Shanks quickly took Moko's hand and whispered words of comfort.

"Moko-chan, don't worry, Luffy will be alright."

Hearing Shanks' worried voice, Moko forced herself to calm down. Seeing that Moko's emotions had stabilized, Shanks breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at Lackey with a cold voice.

"what's the situation?"

Lachiru was startled by Moko's sudden change, but quickly recovered and began to explain the situation, "It's the bandits who caused trouble last time. They probably saw Uta and Luffy and wanted revenge. Luffy was captured while protecting Uta."

"Are you injured? Where are you now?"

"Uta-chan only suffered minor injuries and is currently at the tavern. Luffy doesn't know yet, but we've already sent people to look for her..."

Before Lachiru could finish speaking, Moko had already rushed towards the tavern, with Shanks following closely behind, a ruthless glint in his eyes. The bandits from last time? Well done, daring to touch the people he was protecting. This time, he wouldn't hold back.