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“Makino, come on. They’re going to be here any moment,” Shakky called from downstairs.
“I'm coming!” Makino replied. She hurried down the stairs, dressed in a yellow floral dress. Shakky turned and smiled at her.
“Look at you, you’re so pretty,” Shakky said.
“Thank you, Mama,” Makino replied.
“Come on, let's go,” Shakky said, taking her hand as they headed to the docks.
“Look, Mama, I see the ship!” Makino shouted, jumping up and down.
“Daddy!” Makino ran to her father as Rayleigh picked her up and spun her around.
“Look at you, you look so pretty,” Rayleigh said.
“Thank you.” Then Makino saw Roger. “Uncle Roger!” she yelled. Rayleigh set her down, and she ran to Roger.
“Makino!” Roger greeted her with a big smile, picking her up.
“Did you miss me?” Makino asked.
“Of course I did.”
“What did you see?” she asked eagerly.
“How about we unpack first and then tell you back at the bar,” Roger suggested.
“Okay,” she agreed. Roger set her down, and she boarded the ship to greet her other uncles.
She soon found Shanks and Buggy. “Buggy! Shanks!” she called out.
“Makino!” Shanks responded. Makino ran to them and gave them a big hug.
“How have you been?” Buggy asked.
“Better now that you’re here,” she said.
“Kids, come eat!” Shakky called.
The three of them ran off to the bar, taking their seats.
“Here you go,” Shakky said, setting plates in front of them.
“So, did you get anything cool?” Makino asked.
“We did, actually. It's for you,” Shanks said, pulling out a small box. Makino's eyes widened as she took it.
The box was gold with red rubies shaped like flowers. “Go on, open it,” Shanks urged.
Makino opened it and found a book. “It's about flowers,” Shanks explained, sitting next to her. There were more books and some red rubies. Then she saw a dagger. “Wow,” she exclaimed.
“Do you like it?” Shanks asked.
“I love it,” she yelled. She placed it next to her and pulled out a necklace. “I got it in Wano. It made me think of you,” Shanks said, blushing.
“Thank you, I love it,” Makino said, hugging him. Shanks put it around her neck. “Open it,” he said. Inside was a photo of the crew. “So you’ll always have us with you, no matter how far apart we are.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Makino whispered.
Just then, Buggy yelled, “Shanks got a girlfriend! Shanks and Makino sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!”
Shanks tackled him. Rayleigh pulled them apart. “Makino isn’t kissing anybody, especially Shanks,” he said sternly, making everyone laugh.
“There are worse people she could kiss, like that clown over there!” Shanks retorted, pointing at Buggy, making everyone laugh even harder, especially Makino.
Five years later.
Makino stared at the newspaper headline: “Gol D. Roger Executed.” The paper slipped from her hands. “No!” she cried. Shakky rushed in and saw the paper.
“Mama, please tell me this is some sick joke,” Makino sobbed.
“It’s real,” Shakky said, hugging her as she cried for her uncle.
A few weeks later, while cleaning, Makino heard the bar door open. She turned and saw Shanks and Rayleigh. “Dad! Shanks!” she cried, running to hug them. “You had Mama sick. She thought they got you too,” Makino said.
“We're okay,” Rayleigh assured her, heading upstairs to Shakky, leaving Makino and Shanks alone.
Makino hugged Shanks tightly. “I love you,” she said.
“I love you too, but why are you telling me this now?” he asked.
“I just needed to, in case I never get the chance again,” she said. Shanks kissed her gently.
“Is the rest of the crew okay?” Makino asked.
“As far as I know, yes,” Shanks replied.
The four of them sat down to eat.
“What are you going to do now, Dad?” Makino asked.
“I’m retiring,” Rayleigh said.
“And you, Shanks?”
“I’m going to create my own crew,” he said.
They continued eating until Shanks spoke again. “Makino, I want you to join my crew, if you want to.”
“I... don't know. I need to help with the bar,” she said.
“Go,” Rayleigh told her.
“What?” she asked.
“Go with him. Explore the world,” Rayleigh said with a smile.
“Mama-”
“Go, have fun,” Shakky interrupted.
“So, Makino, want to be part of my crew?” Shanks asked again.
“Yes, but first, what are we going to be called?” Makino asked.
“The Red-Haired Pirates,” Shanks replied with a big smile. Makino smiled back.
Ten years later.
Shanks and his crew were somewhere in the Grand Line. “Shanks!” a voice called out. The crew readied their weapons until Shanks saw who it was.
“Put them down, it's just Mihawk,” Shanks said. “Hello, Makino,” Mihawk greeted.
“Hi,” she replied cheerily.
“I have a bounty poster of a boy you mentioned long ago,” Mihawk said, handing it to Shanks.
“It’s Luffy!” Makino exclaimed. Shanks beamed. “My boy made it,” he said proudly.
“We’d better watch our backs,” Roux joked.
“Bring out the good rum!” Shanks shouted.
“Have a drink with us?” Makino asked.
“A drink can't hurt,” Mihawk agreed.