One Piece One-Shots (Finished!)

(Aokiji) Back Again

This is one of TheDarkXander requests, I'm actually really looking forward to writing this one. I hope you like it!

Around 30 years in the past

"Where is it that you think you're going, Ao-san?" I asked my close friend, Aokiji, as he was about to board the Marine's ship. "I'm off to make my own journey, YN. I can't stay in this town forever." He said, a small smile on his face. "Hey... What are you going to do about me? I thought we were friends... Are you just going to pack up and leave me?" I asked, tears gathering in my eyes as I looked upon the tall man. "You have no reason to worry, YN. You know I'll be back someday, right?" He asked, still smiling, likely as an attempt to comfort me. "Ao-san... You don't know where the Marines will station you! I might never see you again." I said, allowing a few tears to fall. He gently leaned down and kissed the top of my head. "I'll be back someday, you have my word." He said, then giving me a tight hug. "Please come back soon." I said, returning his hug even tighter than the hug he gave me.

The present day

I had it all pretty well in my little town. I had a small coffee shop, many friends and a stable amount of money, but I never did forget Aokiji. Not a day went past that I didn't think of him, and every day I awaited his return, every day for thirty years, until one day I simply decided to stop.

I was waiting in my coffee shop, leaning on the counter, staring at the unsold pastries that I had cooked the day before. I sighed as I stared directly at my wasted hard work, but then the bell rang and I stood up. "Hi, welcome to The Café Rouge, how can I help you?" I asked, my gaze turning to the rather tall figure. "I heard this was the residence of YN LN, are you her?" He asked, his gaze locked on me. A wave of realization then hit me.

"Ao-san?" I asked, looking up at the tall man. He chuckled a little. "Sorry I didn't show up earlier, YN." He said, smiling wide at me. Tears formed in my eyes as I gently stepped towards him from behind the counter. He held his arms out and I grabbed on tight to him. "Ao-san..." I said, holding on tightly to him. I began to cry into his shirt, not letting go of him. "Hey hey... I apologized, didn't I?" He asked, trying to comfort me. "I missed you so much, Ao-san." I said, managing a smile up at him. "I missed you too." He said, holding on tight to me.

"What have you been doing all these years?" I asked him, still not letting go of him. "I had work, YN. You were right, about how I had to go all over." He said in an awkward manner. "I... I wish you didn't have to." I said, stuffing my face back into his chest. "Well I've got good news for you then." He said, beginning to play with my hair. "Huh?" I asked, looking up at him. "I quit the Marines." He said, smiling wide. A look of surprise came across my face. "And I was thinking, I'd just stay here with you. If, well, you don't mind." He said in an awkward manner again.

A light blush fell across my cheeks. "Wha- Stay with... Me? What do you mean-" I asked as he cut me off. "Ever since I had met you, YN, I had loved you. A love so deep, I never forgot you. You lingered in my mind every day... Every day up until now." He said, holding on tight to me. "It broke my heart to leave you. I still don't know why I did it." He said, even his voice somewhat shaky. "I want to spend my whole life with you, YN." He said, shaking his head.

I was speechless. After all these years it had felt like a dream that he'd return. I didn't expect it at all, but now it was like all my dreams had been fulfilled. "YN?" He asked me, his tone slightly sad. "No no, of course you can stay here! I love you too. Please don't ever leave again." I said, a smile coming across my face. "I promise you, I won't ever leave again." He said, leaning down and pulling me into a deep kiss.