A/N: Hi! So I noticed some minor grammar and spelling mistakes OUTSIDE of Luffy's letter (in which I leave them in intentionally) and so I wondered if you guys would be as kind as to tell me if you spot any? It doesn't matter if it's in this chapter or any previous ones! I will try to correct them ASAP for a better reading experience.

Tenth Letter - Luffy

He really, truly, should not at all have been surprised at his latest investment not only daring to attack one of the Marine's most powerful strongholds outside of Mariejois itself, but daring to burn the World Government's flag whilst he was at it.

The news of the Strawhat Pirates declaring war on the world for the sake of Nice Robin had graced the front page within three days of the happenings at Enies Lobby. As it was, the swordsman had come to Water 7 as he had stated in his last letter.

If the boy came, he would come.

If not, then it wasn't his concern.

Skillfully, the hawkeyed male ignored the unusual coiling like a parasite in his chest.

At the very least, he would meet up with one of his former Nakama, his musician Kingsley "The Twister" Anansi and their husband Packo, who together owned a restaurant that the locals apparently referred to as being… 'Cozy', with its white-picket fence, the inviting blue walls and the beatific nautical theme the place exuded. He could not say he was inclined to use such words or descriptors himself, of course. Nevertheless, the Gull's Beak Inn was his current goal, and to reach his destination he found himself braving the destruction wrought by Agua Laguna not even a week prior.

Repairs were already underway, it seemed. His boat had been placed and summarily forgotten about somewhere close to the 4th dock, or what had been left of it.

The train would return before nightfall if it was not delayed, he had been informed when he first set foot on the island by a merry Galley-La worker that had not even recognized his face until he turned to walk and the pathetic sod's eye fell on Yoru, displayed proudly on his back.

"H-H-H-HOLY SHIT YOU GUYS! IT'S THE SHICHIBUKAI! W-What was his name again?"

"Dracule 'Hawk-Eyes' Mihawk, you absolute fucking mussel-faced moron! The Greatest Swordsman in the World!"

"SHIT! Alert the goddamn boss!"

Cetan caws imperiously from where the bird is perched on Yoru's wide, bejeweled guard, fluttering black wings in the meagre morning sunlight.

Not a single hair in even his eyebrows twitched out of place at the panic left in his wake. It would have been unbecoming of him to show any amusement at their terror, and even more so it would possible cost him his hard-earned reputation as being cold and ruthless.

He found it was harder not to chuckle at their antics than he would have liked.

Anansi was already waiting for him at the front door to the Gull's Beak Inn, hands clasped together as they observed their former captain approach with all the patience of one who hasn't seen the other in several years. Their establishment had seen little to no damage, as they were located in one of the higher districts, safe from the waves.

"Dracule~! I was so delighted to hear from you after all this time~! Have you been eating? Drinking? Water, mind you dear, surely you haven't been gorging yourself on expensive wines again? You are looking fetching as you always have~!"

The wide, green-and-white checkered skirt danced around the Okama's ankles, just short enough to showcase their pointy yellow heels to match the sunflower-pattered blouse they wore. Pink curly hair is drawn back into a messy bun that appears more as if an explosion of colored powder is continuously going off behind their ears pierced with large hoops.

Behind them, a man dressed in a more subdued green suit stands, wearing pink shoes and a similarly colored tie along with it. Black hair is slicked back against his skull and his sleeves are bunched at the elbows, suspicious red stains dotting the fabric. The pair reeks strongly of spicy tomato sauce.

The Greatest Swordsman still wasn't entirely sure how the flamboyant okama had ever even ended up on his crew. The violinist had just shown up one day and made themselves at home on the Rosetta, sticking with the crew until they disbanded.

He nods solemnly at the pair and Anansi's hands flutter anxiously. The musician thought every little thing in life was exciting. It used to grate on the swordsman's nerves, but after getting to know a certain member of the Monkey family in a red vest, the person before him appeared tame.

"Ah! Come in dear, come in, we got a letter for you just before Agua Laguna! It's busy, busy, busy with all the mess down by the docks, but we kept a room free just for you~!"

Yellow eyes sharply take in the main room of the downstairs restaurant, knowing that rooms may be acquired for several guests upstairs. Nearly every table was occupied, and after a short, hushed silence in which it appears the wind had taken the very breath out of the room, stilled conversations start up again, if haltingly.

"You have my… gratitude."

They side-eye him with a knowing huff. "You did not even consider that Agua Laguna would mean that people needed temporary shelter, dear, I know you well enough."

He had not, but that was entirely beside the point.

"Who gave you a letter for me?"

This time, it is the up until then silent and ghostly Packo that speaks up, retrieving the offending item from behind the bar. "You are hardly going to believe it, but it was a talking reindeer with a giant hat and blue nose." He states without any vocal intonation.

Slowly, the swordsman blinks as he takes the delicate blue envelop from his old acquaintance's sauce-stained hands. The man immediately scurries off to prepare more food for his customers and Anansi moves to have him take a seat at the bar, placing a tinkling glass filled with deep red liquid in front of him the moment he sits.

"The first one's on the house, dear~. You can tell me what you've been up to after reading your correspondence, it is so rare to see you communicate outside the crew!"

It was a mistake on their part to still consider their former nakama a singular crew. Many had gone different paths, very few if none remaining pirates, some starting crews of their own, others attempting to begin their own business and settle down with a family. In Anansi's case, successfully.

Golden eyes blink at the violinist, who merely gives a pretty grin before sauntering off to help the next person in line. The wide brim of his hat is lowered so as to prevent others from interpreting his reactions to whichever nonsense Luffy had deemed worthy of putting to paper this time.

"From: Luffy (and the Strawhat Pirates)

To: D.M.

Hi! Sanji and Zoro wanted to write a little something too this time so they get the letter after me but they have to wait because I am captain and so I get dibs. Anansi told us they'd get this letter to you as soon as you got there so I gave it! Are they your musician? They're really cool! They said Nami had great fashion sense! I TOLD everyone that you'd come to Water 7 but they said you would have no time for us so I proved them wrong and so did you which is awesome because usually Nami is always right. We'll definitely be in Water 7 soon, so just wait a bit!

Luffy

PS. You're right about the name. It sounds cooler when it's just Luffy, it is Mysterious! Like you!

Mr. Dracule Mihawk,

If you are to have dinner with our crew sometimes, I will try and make it as enjoyable as possible. It is my duty as chef and my pleasure as nakama to Luffy – who I am pretty sure considers you part of this malfunctioning, ever-rowing family without question. If you have allergies or preferences, please do ensure I hear of them before the meal.

I do not doubt it will take place. My captain has set his sights on it and he is unlikely to let it go any time before it takes place. I have also taken the liberty of keeping this letter from the Marimo. He can make his threats and challenges in person, I am sure. I'd rather not he offend you too badly before we all even met officially.

Regards,

Sanji

I do not suppose you would be willing to extend more information about Thriller Bark? – Nami, Navigator."

It seemed that the other Strawhat members had decided to pitch in this time. A large part of him was vehemently against the notion of sharing his correspondence with the boy. It had been his. A smaller and - dare he even entertain the concept? - softer part of him that was entirely Luffy's fault was… pleased. The boy's nakama seemed to accept him without much trouble.

Not that he had a wish to be accepted in the first place.

"Amusing, is it dear?" Anansi asks with a warm smile after he looks up to take a sip of his chilled wine.

He feels his traitorous lips flutter upwards in response, and the musician clasps their hands together in genuine delight once more.

"Oh, you simply must tell me all about -"

The doors to the Gull's Beak Inn slam open with a force ill-fitting for the skinny, unremarkable man now standing behind it, entirely out of breath and gasping too wildly for any of his words to make sense.

Just as the swordsman is about to darken his scowl to wordlessly threaten the insect to shut up before a slash of Yoru makes him shut up and cease disturbing his morning, the idiot manages to choke out a comprehensible phrase:

"THE TRAIN… IS HERE! THE… PIRATES ARE BACK!"

The restaurant explodes into instant pandemonium. Anansi merely grins knowingly as, to his eternal distaste, his entire body seems to perk up at the news. The golden-eyed Shichibukai decides that the information is useful enough to leave the moron alive for now.

He had someone to meet.