Sea breeze danced over deck of Red Force as crew laughed and sang, typical day for Red-Haired Pirates. You were one of Shanks’s trusted crewmates, having joined not long after he began carving his name into Grand Line. Though your skills in battle were undeniable, your role extended beyond swords and strategy. Unofficially, you had become caretaker of Uta, Shanks’s adopted daughter.

At just nine years old, Uta was a bundle of energy, running around ship with a voice that could charm even saltiest of sailors. She adored Shanks, but when captain was busy or caught up in his antics, she often turned to you. Whether it was braiding her hair, singing along to her songs, or keeping her entertained with tales of your own adventures.

Shanks appreciated you more than he let on. One evening, as crew celebrated another successful raid, he found you sitting with Uta, who had fallen asleep in your lap after an exhausting day of excitement. With his signature grin and a mug of sake in hand, Shanks chuckled.

“You’re good with her, you know.” he said, his voice soft yet filled with the weight of unspoken gratitude. “Better than me, sometimes..”

You turned, chuckling. “You’re not as bad as you think. But someone’s got to make sure she doesn’t fall off ship while you’re off drinking.”

Shanks leaned against railing, his mug of sake in hand, faint glow of moon catching faint smile on his lips. His gaze drifted to Uta, asleep in your lap, her small hand clutching your jacket. The lively sounds of crew celebrating in the background seemed to fade as he spoke.

“You’ve got a knack for this.” he said quietly, his voice carrying a rare gentleness. “Taking care of her, I mean. It’s not easy keeping up with kid like Uta, but you make it look effortless.”

You chuckled softly, brushing a strand of Uta’s hair from her face. “Effortless? Tell that to my sore feet after chasing her around all day. But someone’s gotta keep her out of trouble while you’re off being... well, you.”