This is my Christmas present for my new friend, Clarobell. MERRITY CHRISTMASSES, YOU CRAZY PERSON, YOU!

Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece, or any of the characters in this fanfic. I do, however, own the storyline that I have written, so gosh darn it, don't steal it! And by the way, this story is yaoi, so if you don't like it, then don't read this and then review me saying that I ruined your day with the yaoi-ee-ness, because you knew it was coming!

Serendipity

No one knew how it'd happened, just that it did. Shanks was on his death-bed, and there was nothing anyone could do about it. Not even Luffy, who had loved him as if he was his own father. It'd been a dark day on the Merry Go whe they'd got the news. As sson as Nami read the headline on that newspaper, she knew that thier lives would never be the same again. She did all she could to keep the paper away from the crew, to sheild them from the chao that would indefinitly ensue if Luffy found out about his mentor. Everyone died a little when they found out, but none more than the captain of the Straw Hat crew.

"I need to go see him"

Luffy sighed, dropping the newspaper at his feet. Nami placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"But why, Luffy? You're already beat up enough about this as it is, do you really wanna make it worse by seeing him like that?"

The rubberboy shrugged his shoulders, making Nami's hand slip off. She didn't bother to put it back. She understood.

"I have to, Nami. I need to return his hat."

They'd been two days into their journey to Fuchsia villiage, where Shanks was, and Luffy was getting worse by the hour. He'd started out with a smile on, gratedul to have the chance to give Shanks his hat back. But after 48 hours of thinking, that smile had faded, Now he sat motionless on the railing, staring blankly ahead at the darkening sky.

"I'm coming, Shanks. Hold on."

He whispered, clutching the worn-out straw hat tightly in his rubbery hands.

"Do you think he's okay?"

Zoro asked, taking a swig of th beer in his hand. All of the crew was worried about their captain, but no one more so than the first mate. He'd sent hours trying to drown his worries in alcohol, but nothing helped. Nami shook her head.

"I just don't know, Zoro. Maybe you should go talk to him...?"

The green-haired man took one last drink of his beer and slammed the empty bottle onto the table.

"I think I will. Don't wait up."

He said, patting Nami on the shoulder. She smiled shyly and emptied her own beer.

"Do I ever?"

"Hey, Luff."

Zoro whispered, draping a blanket over the young captain's shoulders. It was getting colder by the second, and Luffy was starting to shiver. He grabbed the corners of the blanket and wrapped it tighter around himself, trying to regain his warmth. Zoro sat beside him on the railing, trying not to look as cold as he felt. He crossed his arms across his chest, clenching his teeth to sto them from chattering. But Luffy wasn't fooled. Before the swordsman knew what was happening, Luffy had thrown half of the blanket around him, wrapping his arm around Zoro's broad shoulders.

"Thanks, Zoro."

He said, leaning his head on the other man's shoulder.

"Do you think we'll be there soon?"

He asked, twisting one of the blanket's tassels around his finger. Zoro put his hand on Luffy's.

"I hope so. I hate seeing you like this."
The rubberboy looked up into his first mate's eyes.

"Why do you care so much about me, anyway?"

Zoro looked up at the sky, avoiding his captain's question. Luffy looked down and noticed that Zoro hadn't moved his hand from where it rested on top of his own. He grasped it, his fingers interlocking with Zoro's. He looked back up at the swordsman, and saw a small smile curling the corners of the other man's lips. It was clear now, the reason Zoro had always been so protective of the young boy. Luffy craned his neck upward, catching his first mate off-guard with a kiss.

"What're you-"

Zoro started to protest, but thought better of it. He kissed him back, his free hand finding it's way to the back of Luffy's neck, pushing him further into the embrace. After a few breathles moments, the two broke apart. Luffy rested his head on Zoro's shoulder once more, snuggling closer to him for warmth. The green-haired man held him tight, watching as tears formed in his catain's eyes.

"Luffy, what's wrong?"

The small teen sniffled and swept an arm across his face, wiing away his tears.

"I sure am gonna miss him, Zo."

Zoro squeezed the boy's hand comfortingly.

"Me too, Luffy. Me too."

The crew arrived at Fushsia Villiage the next morng in less-than-high spirits. Luffy went straight to the inn where Shanks was living out his last days, anxious to see his mentor before he went away to the big pirate ship in the sky.

"SHANKS!"

Luffy yelled, rushing over to hug the red-haired man.

"L-Luffy...you're here!"

The rubberboy hugged his elder tighter.

"Don't try and talk, Shanks. Save your energy for getting better!"

The older man sighed.

"I'm not going to get better, Luffy."
But the boy wouldn't take 'no' for an answer.

"But I brought your hat back! Now you have to get better!"

Shanks shook his head.

"No, you keep it. You'll need it for when you become king of the pirates."

For the next two weeks, Luffy went to visit Shanks every day, but it seemed as if the man was fading right before his eyes. On the morning of the first day of the third week, Luffy entered the room to see a very worried-looking nurse hovering over Shanks, an empty needle in her hand. Luffy knew what was happening right away.

"Shanks! You can't leave me! I won't let you!"

The red-haired man gave the boy a small smile.

"It's okay, Luffy. I'm going to a better place."
But some people don't listen to reason.

"But right here is a good place!"

Luffy yelled, grabbing Shanks' hand. Th pirate shut his eyes and whispered

"You go find One Piece, Luffy. I'm counting on you."

And then he was gone. His cold hand slid out of Luffy's grasp as he dropped to the floor, tears in his eyes. Zoro, who had secretly followed him to the inn every day for the last two weeks, sliiped quietly thourght the door and knelt beside the young boy. Lufy turned to the swordsman and burrowed his face into his chest, crying his rubbery little heart out.

"He left me, Zoro! I can't believe he left me!"
Zoro held him tight and whispered

"I won't leave you, Luffy. Ever."

WEll, there you have it, my first ever ZoLu fic! cheers for herself YAY ME! I think it was cute, but I won't know what you people thought until you tell me, so please review!