For Jui-Imouto-Chan, thanks so much for all of your support! :)

Luffy loved the ocean. He didn't know how Kuri knew that though. Kuri was just so smart!

Ignoring the restricting bandages on his small body, Luffy bounded away from Kuri, sending sand in all directions as he enjoyed the warmth of the sun. He'd been suspicious of the large man at first but after the incident with the jewelry box, he wasn't afraid of him anymore. No one that protective could be too bad of a person.

Luffy, ignoring Katakuri's grumbled warning to stay out of the water, ran at the receding wave, chasing it out as far as he could before spinning and running back to avoid the water's return. Technically, he wasn't in the water...just playing with it, enjoying the salty droplets that sprayed up at him when he got too close.

Out of the corner of his eye, Luffy saw something small moving away from him and automatically dropped down into a crouch, giving the thing his full attention. The small, reddish crab picked its way carefully along the sand, not noticing the fluffy predator nearby. Luffy leapt upon the crustacean, catching its shell in his paws and flipping it over onto its back. He sat back for a moment and stared as the crab's legs waved wildly in the air, carefully reaching over with one paw and poking at it to keep it that way when it attempted to flip itself over.

"I shall name him Crabby and he shall be mine." Luffy decided, before picking the creature up and trotting proudly back toward where Kuri sat.

It was then that he heard it, the sound of children running at him, squealing excitedly.

Luffy froze, his mind going into overdrive as darkness replaced the sunny beach, replaying the time he'd spent trapped in that tiny box. He dropped Crabby in his terror and sprinted back to Kuri, fur standing on end as he scrambled up and into the safety of the man's fluffy scarf.

"King?" he heard Kuri ask and burrowed deeper into the fabric, trying to stop his limbs from shaking. "Wha-oh...I see. I'm sorry, King, this part of the beach is usually quite tame."

Luffy felt Kuri stand and the rocking motion of the man walking and the hand that gently stroked his fur helped drive the panic back further. A few minutes later, the sound of the children faded and was replaced with the soothing sound of waves crashing against stone. Curious, Luffy stuck his head out and marvelled at the sight. Wanting a better view, he scrambled up to perch himself on top of Kuri's head.

Katakuri had moved them to the top of a cliff overlooking the clear horizon as the sun began to set. Luffy watched in awe as streaks of crimson and gold painted the sky, reflected perfectly in the ocean below.

This was why he loved the ocean. There were no constraints and he could see forever.

Out of the corner of his eye, Luffy saw Kuri's hand approaching, likely to remove him from his perch, so he batted it away when it got too close and watched in satisfaction as it retreated and Kuri chuckled beneath him.

Luffy had never sat on top of anyone's head before, not while they were standing at least, and he realized in that moment just how tall Kuri was. He decided he liked it. From now on, it would be his special seat, no one else could have it.

Surely Kuri wouldn't mind...would he?