""Of Red Hair and Lockets"

Chapter 1: Two Flashbacks and a Kidnapping?!?

"Shanks…why do you have to leave? Why can't you just stay here…with me?" The girl looked down and blushed. The red-haired charmer lifted up her chin.

"Lass…You know I would stay if I could, you know that. It's just…" He looked out to the sea. "The ocean, love. It calls to me. I can hear its sweet voice whispering to me." She sighed softly, more to herself.

"I understand, but tell me again why I can't come with you?" He chuckled heartily.

"You sound just like Luffy, darling. You know very well why. All those pirates would try to snatch you right up." He smiled and kissed her softly while holding her in a tight embrace. "If you love me as much as I think you do, lass…then please forget me. Please Rachel…" He looked into her eyes.

Her eyes were full of tears. "If I have to forget you, then please…please Shanks, don't forget about me." She took a locket off of her neck and put it around his. Inside was a picture of the two of them.

"I could never forget you even if I tried AND had amnesia, love." He smiled.

That was three years ago. Rachel had thought about Shanks everyday since then. She thought she'd see him again someday. She felt as though she knew it, like they were fated for each other. Unfortunately, she was the only one who thought this. Every time she tried to tell someone of her thoughts and dreams, they laughed at her and said she was crazy. She had many suitors vying for her attention, but she wasn't interested. She even told Luffy before he set sail that she would wait a lifetime to be with Shanks.

Luffy and Rachel were very close. This is because Rachel used to baby-sit for Luffy. Luffy was also the reason she met Shanks. Let's just say a certain Straw Hat Rubber Man was breaking bottles all over the floor and a certain Red-Headed Pirate and shy timid brunette decided to pick up the same shard of glass at the same time.

Presently, it was very dark out at night. Rachel was walking by the docks like she did every night so she could reminisce in peace. She remembered the time Shanks tried to teach her how to use a sword.

"Lass, isn't your father a sword smith?" Shanks chuckled as he watched her fumble with the heavy blade.

"Yes! But that doesn't mean that I know how to use this stupid knife!" She sighed in frustration.

Shanks shook his head while he continued to chuckle. "Rachel, darling….it's a sword, not a knife."

"Whatever."

Shanks laughed a little softer now. "Want me to show you?"

Rachel sighed and rolled her eyes. "If you must."

"I take that as a yes." Shanks took the sword from her hands and stood behind her. He then gently wrapped his arms around her, putting the sword into her hands, placing his over hers.

"I don't see why I have to learn this."

"Oh hush, Miss Crabby. Why are you in such a bad mood?"

"That's easy. I didn't get my daily Good Morning kiss." Rachel pouted playfully and turned around in Shanks's arms.

"Oh. I see." Shanks grinned and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "Good morning, love. Even though it's about 2:00."

Rachel beamed. "Doesn't matter to me. Okay, I'm ready to learn something I never have to use." She giggled softly.

Shanks rolled his eyes and spun her around again, her back facing his chest. "Alright, lass. The first thing to do is to hold the sword." He placed the sword in her hands the proper way, gently placing his own over hers…again.

"The next thing is to have this mindset. Let the sword do the work for you." He started to parry and thrust the sword all the while smiling and laughing with Rachel.

"Now you've got it darling. Now I'm going to let go alright?"

"Okay. I'm ready."

Shanks let go of the sword. As soon as he did, the sword dropped to the ground because of its weight. All Shanks could do was laugh at the bewildered look on Rachel's face.

"I guess we should lift weights before we even touch the sword, pet." He laughed more and attacked her with a shower of light kisses.

Rachel smiled warmly as she remembered that day. Little did she know, her future captors were standing very near.

Two pirates were watching the girl smile and daydream as the quietly stalked their prey. Without warning, they grabbed the girl and put a rag to her nose. In mere seconds she was out cold.

"The cap'n will definitely like this little surprise we got for him." They both cackled evilly as they took helpless Rachel to their "cap'n".