One Piece – Halfway Broken

Warning! Chapters 98 & 99 were published back-to-back. Make sure you don't miss chapter 98!

Lemon Warning! This chapter contains a lemon, which is specifically marked with starting and ending points for those that wish to skip such things.

Chapter 99: Relationships

Luffy had known immediately what he was going to do with their day off. Sure, some part of him demanded he train, but there was a time for that and a time to relax. The entire crew regularly trained in their own ways while traveling between islands, so when Luffy announced an actual rest day, they were expected to take that as a cue to knock it off and relax. Even Zoro and Kuina, arguably the most training-driven pair on ship, generally took at least a part of such days as a chance to have a date. Mostly, admittedly, as Kuina was firm in insisting on that fact and Zoro has zero ability to resist her demands.

With that guideline in mind, Luffy had aimed to get another date with Yamato in. One which, he suspected, would help her feel like ‘progress’ was being made on her actual desires. It was with such in mind that he had whisked her off to visit the Wind’s Home and the Crystal City. She had been to the city once before, so sightseeing the city itself wasn’t the main goal. Instead, he had something special in mind. In fact, he’d volunteered them to take the morning shift keeping an eye on the ship, so that Nami and Robin could hit the city first and arrange a few things for the date. Thankfully, the pair didn’t take that as a snub on them at all, fully onboard with the idea of bringing Yamato into the relationship as they were. Doubly so since they were being included, if not quite in the way one would normally do with a date.

They seemed, to be honest, more amused that he was so insistent on doing things ‘properly’ with Yamato instead of just pulling her into their bed, as well as intrigued by what he had planned. Nami had gotten similar treatment from him, when they were first dating, so she was hardly protesting. Likewise, they’d both conspired to take Robin on a few outings that were date-adjacent as well, with that being about all Robin had been ready for at the time. Though Luffy got the feeling she was settling into the idea she had actual feelings involved now. He would likely make it a point soon to take Robin out for a few dates as well. Though he was still waffling on if those should be one on one or with Nami along. They’d ‘seduced’ Robin as a pair, after all.

As for today, Robin and Nami were being included in the way they were in order to gauge…certain things…about Yamato. While she’d shown some signs of being attracted to Nami and Robin, it was also pretty clearly hyper-focused primarily on Luffy. So today was going to be a bit of a test on how she would handle those ‘certain things.’ To that end, what Luffy had sent the other two ahead to arrange were supplies and a ‘room with a view.’ Specifically, a room in a residence on one of the smaller outlying islands that hovered around Wind’s Home.

Those smaller islands, usually no bigger than a few hundred meters of island cloud and many of them artificial, were part of the reason that the distinction between ‘The Crystal City’ and ‘Wind’s Home’ remained. The City had grown to include almost the entirety of the ice mountain of the island. There were parts on one side of said mountain that were still independentish communities, but they were smaller in population. Mostly a series of vertical farms that help feed the city. Yet, beyond those ‘rural’ zones were several dozen artificial islands. In a city filled with artisans who knew how to work with Island Cloud, it wasn’t too surprising that quite a few inspired artisans had deliberately expanded any natural points where Island Cloud formed into residences for private villas or retreats. Such being specifically sought out for the view of Crystal City itself. From such mini-islands, kept up by carefully managed Island Cloud, the view of the city was utterly breathtaking.

Unsurprisingly, most of those little mini-islands either belonged to the wealthy, or else were the equivalent of resorts.

Thankfully, they just so happened to be on exceptionally good terms with the single wealthiest family in the city. Lady Isabule had been more than happy to arrange a ‘room with a view’ at The Crystal Suns own retreat. Which, not-at-all-incidentally, inhabited the single largest of the man-made outlying islands. So it was that, after treating her to a nice lunch and an afternoon at the markets, Luffy ushered Yamato off to said island just as the sun was setting. The pair were quickly met at the doors of the retreat by a servant, who guided them to the room that Robin and Nami had secured and prepared in advance. Mustering his confidence and hoping this played out well, Luffy swept them both into the room before he could second-guess the idea.

Yamato paused as she took in the unexpected view within. Even Luffy, with a much better idea of what to expect, was more than a little bit surprised to see three mostly-naked women lounging in front of a massive window. One positioned to show off the splendor of the Crystal City as night slowly fell and lights of all sorts lit to create a show to nearly rival the stars. The large pair of easels, canvases and associated supplies were expected, of course. Yamato had relaxed and opened up so amazingly well as they painted Sunset Over Little East Blue together that he’d decided to continue the theme.

Nami and Robin, dressed in jewels and lingerie that left absolutely nothing to the imagination, were equally expected. The plan, after all, had been to have them acting as ‘models’ for their painting session this time, allowing them to both participate in the relaxed banter as Yamato’s walls came down as she painted. That it would also, hopefully, serve to gauge Yamato’s ‘interest’ in Robin and Nami, and hopefully introduce the start of a sexual charge between them that would be acted on later, was also part of their vague outline of a plan.

Lady Nora Isabule deciding to join the other two, wearing just as little and lounging on a carefully positioned divan with them, had not been part of the plan. Then again, given what she’d pulled the first time they met, perhaps Luffy should have considered it a possibility…

“Ah, Lady Nora, an unexpected surprise. You’re looking quite ravishing today, I must say. I take it you decided to join in on being one of our models?”

The woman had an utterly impish smile on her face as she replied.

“Of course! Why, when offered the chance to be painted in such a delightful way with my home as a backdrop, I could hardly miss the chance!”

Luffy saw, in a joint twinkling present in both Robin and Nami’s eyes, that they had probably added that little invitation. Well, whatever they were up to, so long as they didn’t try to pull Nora into bed with them too, Luffy could work with it.

“Ah, well I hope I and my companion don’t disappoint. We are hardly professionals, after all.”

The effective ruler of Wind’s Home grinned and pointed to…the pair of paintings that Luffy and Yamato had done of Sunset Over Little East Blue. He had to admit, he was proud of how well he’d done with his, and Yamato’s was honestly even better. He still wouldn’t call them professional, but they truly had come out much better than he’d expected.

“Those beg to differ. Oh, perhaps not the highest tier of professional. But, coming from someone who knows their artisans, I can see that both of you have talent. Particularly whichever of you did the one on the right.”

That one was Yamato’s, and the so-far-silent Oni-girl actually blushed at that comment.

“Ah, it was you then, my dear! You’ve got quite a promising talent! I shall entrust myself to your brush strokes, alongside your companions. I do hope you’ll leave me with a copy, at the least~.”

Luffy sighed as Yamato outright stuttered a bit, the normally bold girl not quite seeming to know how to handle Lady Nora’s compliments and interest. Hopefully, this wouldn’t cause Yamato to clam up. The point had been to get her to relax and interact with Robin and Nami in a…suggestive setting, after all. He really hoped the girls knew what they were doing.

… … …

*Lemon Ahoy!*

Luffy understood the plan now.

In truth, he’d understood the plan barely halfway through the joint ‘modeling session’ that he’d organized. While Lady Isabule had remained somewhat tame and a perfect model, Robin and Nami had instead gotten progressively more provocative as the session went on. All three had insisted on ‘test sketches,’ during which Nora remained perfectly still, if erotically posed. Meanwhile, Nami and Robin had instead escalated from tame poses to outright lewd ones, rarely holding one long enough to sketch it properly.

Which hadn’t kept Yamato’s eyes from sticking to them when they did things like Robin covering a nude Nami in her Devil Fruit hands. A single hand for each breast and another for Nami’s pussy, the later of which occasional did things that made the redhead moan. Combined with Yamato’s own…physical reactions…her inability to look away when they pulled increasingly lewd stunts like that told them quite a bit of what they’d wanted to know. If she’d only been into the scene for the art, she’d have focused on the far more tame poses of Lady Nora. Instead, with the way she’d been continuously distracted by their antics, it was safe to say Yamato was at least interested in what the pair had to offer.

Of course, Nami and Robin had eventually ‘settled down’ in order to allow a proper portrait to be done. They’d allowed Lady Isabule to admonish them and pose them, having been the ‘good model’ the whole time. That the Lady chose to ultimately pose the three of them together, with her leaning back on Robin’s chest and Nami laying in her lap, probably meant their antics had gotten to her local ruler, as well. It had also been a rather inspiring image, and their practice with sketching the same bodies for an hour and a half before they even started painting showed in the end results. The pair of paintings were, if anything, even better than the first set Yamato and Luffy had done together on Little East Blue. A delighted Lady Nora Isabule had happily paid quite a sum to a blushing Yamato for hers, in fact. Something which seemed to have Yamato floating on cloud nine afterward, as it validated the skill she’d sought to cultivate.

So much so that she was slightly belated in realizing that they’d all entered the bath together afterward.

By the time she did finally cotton on to that reality, she was blindsided enough that she’d just stopped to stare at Luffy. Particularly his erection. He’d been painfully hard through ninety-five percent of the ‘art session,’ and seeing them all strip off for the bath had brought his bits springing back up to attention with alacrity. To be fair, he didn’t mind, and was giving Yamato a solid once over in return. She’d never exactly been body-shy, so he’d seen a fair bit of her before, but getting a full-frontal nudity view let him pick up a few additional details.

Such as the fact that she didn’t seem to have a single whisker of hair anywhere below the neck.

A side effect of her Devil Fruit, he suspected, given that he couldn’t quite mesh that level of meticulous grooming with her basic tomboy personality. Nami shaved entirely, and Robin generally shaped her public hair into a neat landing strip, but Luffy knew it took effort to maintain both, and he couldn’t quite see Yamato having bothered. Well, unless she somehow knew Luffy preferred the look, he supposed. He still suspected her Devil Fruit, though. It certainly had applied other effects to her body, after all. From the interesting combination of extra perk and extra jiggle she had in certain areas, to uniformly smooth skin he suspected didn’t need any help at all to stay that way.

Eventually, it was Robin and Nami who broke their moment of mutual eye-fucking.

They did so by executing the second part of their original plan, each of them capturing one of Yamato’s arms and leading her to the bath. They’d already washed up while Yamato was still distracted and floating on the high of her art having gone over so well. Which meant now it was time to soak in the hot water that had been prepared for them, and his first two lovers pulled their ‘victim’ down into the water between them. Yamato blinked, looked confused for a moment, then actually blushed as both other women captured one of her arms between their breasts, leaning into her from either side. Chuckling, Luffy joined them…on the opposite side of the large onsen like crystal basin.

As much as part of him was seriously tempted to just bend Yamato over and claim her now, and he knew she certainly wouldn’t protest, that wasn’t the plan for tonight. Not only was it only their second real ‘date,’ but the primary purpose for the entire evening was to both feel Yamato out on certain things…and to make it clear that what she was getting into was a package deal. Nami was the one really pushing for that, wanting to get her hands on Yamato, but Robin certainly wasn’t against the idea. Something proven by the appreciative look in her eyes as she fell into Yamato’s body and the pleased smirk on her face at Yamato’s reaction.

Just because he wasn’t going to bend Yamato over and claim her, didn’t mean they weren’t planning something fun. Something proven when, after letting everyone get settled, Nami began to let her hands roam. At first, she just played with Yamato’s abs, lightly visible in pure spite of her Devil Fruit. The action caused the larger woman to squirm a bit…and then her eyes went wide and she swallowed hard as she realized that Robin had been up to something too.

Not with Yamato, not yet, but with Luffy.

The oni-girl’s eyes locked with fascination on Luffy’s cock, visible through the nearly crystal-clear waters of the bath. He’d spread his legs just a bit, knowing what was planned, and Robin had taken full advantage by growing a pair of arms from below the raised circle of island cloud they were all resting on beneath the water. Honestly, just sitting on the stuff nude was a little erotic, the way it cupped you. Thankfully, it was still solid enough for Robin to form body parts from, and the hands at the end of those arms were working on Luffy’s manhood. One, covered in water-resistant lube that had been provided by another set of hands, was slowly stroking his erection. The other was playing gently with his heavy balls, causing Luffy to groan as she did things to them he hadn’t even been aware he liked. Usually, when they took things this slow, it was him lavishing attention on either her or Nami, not the other way around.

Yamato’s eyes were locked on the sight, her distraction complete…right up until Nami’s hand dipped south between her legs and traced a nail gently across her clit. Yamato moaned at the unexpected assault, but wasn’t given time to react before Robin struck in turn. The older woman was taller than Nami by several inches, but still well short of Yamato’s towering size. A combination which just so happened to leave her head at just the right height to lean in and capture one of Yamato’s nipples between her lips. The action drew a second, longer and louder moan from their ‘victim,’ even as another set of Robin’s extra hands delivered the bottle of water-resistant lube to Nami.

There was a moment, while Nami withdrew her teasing hand from Yamato’s intimate bits to lube up, where the white-haired beauty could easily have protested. Instead, seemingly by instinct and abusing her own Devil Fruit powers to the limited degree she could while partially submerged, she freed one arm from between her and Robin…and wrapped it around Robin to grasp one of the older woman’s own breasts for a squeeze.

Surprised by their ‘victim’ striking back as she was, Robin moaned around the nipple she was working on…before escalating herself. Despite a lot of recent gains, being half-submerged in water still weakened Robin’s powers a bit. That wasn’t enough to keep her from forming another hand from the edge of the bath under Yamato’s other arm, though, and this one had a mouth in the center of its palm. A mouth that she guided to latch onto Yamato’s other nipple, sucking and nibbling on it in the same fashion she already was on the other.

Whether Yamato would have tried to escalate again herself or not was never to be known, as Nami had been given enough time to lube up and her hand returned to Yamato’s apex. This time, questing fingers weren’t content to merely tease, and quickly plunged into the larger girl’s sex. Yamato’s breath hitched, her body trying to grind back into that hand despite the awkward angle. Yet, despite her far greater strength, it was clear the other two women had won control of the situation, the oni-girl moaning and mewling as they worked her body over. Her eyes drifted between Luffy’s cock and her ‘assailants’ actions, even as Luffy himself groan, Robin having move away from his balls and formed a mouth on that hand to begin swirling a tongue around his cockhead.

As the two girls worked together to work both of them over, slowly raising the tempo, Luffy and Yamato could only lean back and enjoy.

Of course, that only left Nami and Robin free reign to escalate, which they did after a few more minutes of steadily increasing the pace. Luffy himself hadn’t known exactly what they planned, beyond the initial details, so he was just as surprised as Yamato when Nami broke away and made her way over to him. He unconsciously let out a noise of annoyance as Robin’s hands vanished…but quickly pieced together what was going on as they reappeared between Yamato’s legs. Three fingers from one of those hands plunged home to replaced Nami’s, while the mouth and tongue of the second positioned itself to tease the larger woman’s clit. Given she hadn’t just made more, he suspected Robin was hitting the limit of what she could do half submerged in water…but had known that such would be the case in advance.

It certainly explained why Nami was pulling him away from his position directly across from Yamato. She moved them to a corner of the bath where the oni-girl would have a good view as she pushed herself up onto the rim, then spread her pussy invitingly with two fingers. Either Nami was wet enough to overcome the water in the tub, or she’d managed to sneak some lube with her other hand while she was working on Yamato, for she was very clearly and visibly ready. Not about to turn down her obvious intent, Luffy reached under her with strong hands, grabbing and squeezing her ass, even as he lined up his cock to take his lover’s invitation. Nami groaned at his touch, and he smirked as she practically melted under kneading fingers. Moments later, as his cock found purchase and slipped into her sex, that groan turned into a moan.

A quick glance toward Robin and Yamato showed the former had shifted position to watch, using her fingers on herself even as another arm provided a third mouth to work over the nipple she’d abandoned. Yamato’s own gaze was riveted on where his and Nami’s bodies met, despite her own near-constant moans by this point. Mentally nodding at a plan well executed, Luffy stopped bothering to think at all as he first hilted himself fully, then began to thrust…

*End of Lemon*

… … …

Vivi braced herself, quietly muttering a mantra she hadn’t used since she was a child to psyche herself up. She could practically feel the amusement radiating from Robin and Nami, making her very much want to strangle both of them, even if she was simultaneously extremely grateful for their support. She was pretty sure she would never have been able to work up the courage to even consider what she was planning, if they hadn’t realized she was interested and outright encouraged her to pursue being added to their relationship. Sure, she was well aware that half or more of their reason was because they thought she was an adorable sub who they would get the play with as well, but that was okay.

After all, that was awesome because it just meant two sexy Mistresses along with a Master, that just meant they were fully onboard with her joining!

What their support didn’t do was remove the anxiety she knew was illogical. She was already virtually one hundred percent certain that Luffy was only waiting for her to admit her interest, and from some of the stories Nami had shared, Vivi’s own fantasies were super unlikely to scare him off. Yet, she’d never done this before! She was only a few months past seventeen! And she’d spent two years undercover playing that Vamp personality! She hadn’t exactly had a lot of dating prospects before then, either, what with her being a royal. Not to mention a royal with…certain inclinations. Ones that meant finding someone trustworthy to not take more than she offered, when the temptation to do so would be strong. No matter what her naughty dreams were like, she’d never let someone else take control over Alabasta’s future!

Wait. Darn it Vivi, you’re getting worked up about nonsense again! Calming breaths. In for a ten count, out for five. She could do this! She…totally couldn’t do this, could she? She should just...

Vivi yelped as a hand slapped her ass, causing her to lurch forward by reflex, right through the door that had sprouted hands and opened itself. Too stunned by the surprise to do more than catch herself, she looked up as the door closed behind her, nearly smacking her in the ass again, the blushed scarlet as she spotted Captain Luffy clearly trying not to laugh at her entrance. Thankfully, he managed it, and flowed to his feet to meet her without speaking. Grabbing her by the arm, he pulled her to the bed (his bed!) of the Captain’s Cabin and gently pushed her to a seat, before taking the only chair in the room out from under its secured position beneath a desk. He turned it to face her, smiling gently, and reached out to tap her on the forehead.

“Okay, Vivi. You’ve come this far, and I know why, so I’m not going to be quite so cruel as to make you do all the talking. Even if it might be good for you.”

Vivi’s heart hammered a hopeful staccato at Luffy’s words and smile, and she swallowed on a failed attempt to speak. It felt lodged in her throat, wanting to come out but not quite able to for its way past irrational fears.

“You’re interested in joining the relationship I have with Nami, Robin, and Yamato.”

Luffy’s voice wasn’t at all judgmental, and it was as much statement as question, yet Vivi frantically nodded even as her blush refused to fade. She could do that much, at least!

“To be clear, you know that you’d be joining all of us. Even if Yamato insists on calling it a harem, and that’s not technically inaccurate, Nami and Robin are very much involved with each other as well as me. Yamato is still new to the relationship, but seems to be headed firmly in that direction as well. At the very least, I know Robin and Nami are ready to work through the entire Kama Sutra with you. Especially the positions that involve tying you up.”

Vivi’s blush went positively nuclear at that, and she couldn’t control her other physical reactions. The most obvious of which was her nipples hardening to diamond points under the ‘dancer’ clothing that those very same women had talked her into wearing for this. Considering a bra was most certainly not something you wore with this outfit, she knew that her reaction was painfully obvious, which only increased her embarrassment. Luffy couldn’t resist a chuckle, but thankfully didn’t directly comment on it.

“You’re obviously okay with that, or you wouldn’t be here. I, myself, am not against it either. But several things need to be made clear between us first. One, you will need to actually say that you’re interested. At least this once. Two, I personally prefer to do ‘getting to know each other’ dates, before we jump into anything more. You’ve witnessed this with me taking Yamato out on dates and refusing to do more with her just yet. Technically, Robin and Nami have actually gone farther with her than I have.”

That statement caused Vivi’s brain to short circuit for a moment. They’d what? When? How? Thankfully, she was still able to listen, even if her brain was running loops fit to cause steam to run out of her ears.

“The last thing we need to settle on is what this is going to mean for your future. With the others, that’s not something we needed to talk about so frankly and directly, but you are the Princess of Alabasta. How will being a member of a harem affect that? If you go all the way with us, I’m not going to just let you go so that you can marry some foreign royal to satisfy politics.”

That was the first bit of stable ground that Vivi could firmly latch onto in this entire conversation, and she lunged for it, proverbially at least, with both hands and her teeth.

“I can answer that!”

She’d outright blurted that out, relieved to be able to get any words at all out, and blushed again at the rush of it. Still, she soldiered on. This was something she’d already considered, and it was more technical and political, rather than personal. Which made it a lot easier for her to address without her nerves betraying her.

“Harems aren’t uncommon for the Royal Family of Alabasta, or for Alabasta in general. Sure, most of the time, when those harems have touched on the Royal Family, whatever Royal was involved was the head of the harem. It hasn’t always worked out that way, though. There have been three separate occasions where princesses of the Nefertari dynasty have been members of another’s harem.”

Vivi calmed a bit, her blush fading to be partially under control as she outlined her own research into this exact topic.

“Admittedly, none of them were ever the direct line of succession like I am, but the most relevant was close enough to set a precedent. She married a hero of Alabasta, specifically the very first holder of Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Jackal. Which has been tightly controlled to pass down among the Royal Guard since then. Anu already had a lover when the first princess at the time fell in love with him, and he was widely acclaimed and respected enough that no one protested when they got together. He took her, his original lover, and a former subordinate of his into a small harem. The situation is a little different, since she had an older brother that survived to become king, but you are considerably more than Anu was too. In a lot of ways, me being included in your harem would be seen as tying ourselves to a strong foreign power, at a time when Alabasta needs allies. That you are well-regarded by our people due to helping the Kingdom so much only makes it easier.”

Vivi fidgeted. There was one little detail that could be an issue and she fought back a blush as she brought it up, as it brought back personal matters into the conversation.

“We would…um…we would have to marry, though? Andhaveatleastonechild?”

She rushed that last bit out, causing Luffy to blink as he processed it. Thankfully, he didn’t immediately look off put once he parsed it.

“The marrying bit would have to be something agreed upon by the others, but I honestly don’t think Nami, Robin, or Yamato would be bothered. I’m virtually certain Robin wouldn’t be comfortable getting married, ever. Yamato would likely be offended if I offered since she specifically made herself sworn to me, closer to a concubine and a confidant than a wife. Nami would be the only one you would have to convince, and I don’t think it would be too hard…”

Vivi sighed in relief. Nami and Robin had, as it happened, already heard that bit. Clear back during their quasi-date on Alabasta, in fact. When they’d confronted her about her feelings and Vivi had explained the complexities, Nami had admitted that she didn’t care one way or another. To her, it was just a title, and from the way she described it her own village was really the sort with only a ‘common law’ marriage structure, as Vivi would think of it. No formal weddings, just informal agreements to be together for love and life. Not at all uncommon on smaller island communities, so far as Vivi knew from her lessons and research. Full blown legal marriages tended to be reserved for rulers and the rich.

“As for a child…I’m not opposed to it, but I’ll warn you right now that it likely wouldn’t come for a decade at least. I refuse not to be involved in any child of mine’s life, and I doubt whatever is brewing in the world will settle down before that.”

At that, Vivi only shrugged. She wasn’t interested in having a child just yet either. Particularly not when she knew she was one of Alabasta’s most powerful assets if a fight came for her kingdom. Besides, her father was only 48 and had access to good medical treatment. It would hopefully be decades before she was in a position to become Queen. Securing a child before then would really only be something done to firm up the line of inheritance. Heck, much as she didn’t think it would happen, her father was still well able to have children. He’d just never quite looked at any other woman that way since her mother’s death. Either way, the issue of a child to inherit didn’t really matter before Vivi was at least thirty, even thirty-five really. Even then, it would mostly be a bulwark against time and her natural biological clock.

“That’s perfectly fine. If I was envisioning settling down in the next decade, I never would have come with you and the crew on this adventure in the first place.”

Luffy nodded, a tiny bit of tension that had been developed over the talk of a possible future child flowing out of him. Smiling, he shifted the conversation.

“Well, since you’ve clearly done your research to make sure it would work out, there’s really only one thing left. You still need to say it, Princess. At least this once. Do you want to be my girlfriend? Even knowing it involves being in a harem, and likely being intimate with at least Nami and Robin as well as me?”

Vivi’s blush was back, but their previous conversation and how easily Luffy had agreed had reined in her anxiety. While it still wasn’t easy, this time, when she opened her mouth, she was able to get the worlds out.

“Yes! Yes, I want that. I want to join your harem!”

Luffy seemed taken aback at her outright using the word ‘harem,’ but that was alright. Nami and Robin had explained to her their unexpected discovery of his background being from a mostly monogamous island, with little contact outside itself. Her lips actually quirked into a mischievous grin as she decided that she was going to get him used to calling it a harem, the thought giving her a much firmer spark of confidence than before. She was certain that Yamato would be a firm ally in the goal, and the other two would likely find the idea amusing.

“Why do I think you just thought something troublesome? Well, whatever it was, I’m happy to have you, princess.”

With that, her Captain surprised her by leaning forward to close the distance between them, grabbing her chin, and angling her for a kiss. It was a light, mostly chaste thing, but it sent Vivi’s heart racing all the same. She melted into his embrace a moment later as he shifted from the chair to sit on the bed with her. Blushing again as she was, she couldn’t resist the allure of resting in his arms. That had been hard, and hugs were the proper medicine for this sort of emotional heavy lifting injury!

Well, cuddles too, and possibly steamy sex where he tied her up and had his way with her. But she’d settle for a hug for now…

... ... ... ... ... ... ...

A/N 1: Alright! Hopefully you all liked the relationship building and lemon! The major note here is actually about Vivi, though. I tweaked her age pretty close to the start of her addition to the story and mentioned as much at the time. Though the tweak was VERY minor. A few months, really. Essentially, I did that specifically so that she'd be 17 going into the Time Skip. Which, in turn, is because I refuse to write lemon content with any character under the age of 18 :-p. That means you shouldn't expect anything more than kissing, cuddling, or off-screen heavy petting with her for a few more updates/arcs. You'll just have to settle for the steady escalation with Yamato ;-).

A/N 2: You probably know this bit by now, but I need to say it anyway ;-)! Once per release, I point out that I have a Page with Early Access content. Chapters 100-103 of One Piece: Halfway Broken are already available there, adding roughly 15,000 words which will remain in Early Access until next month. Similarly, there are at least a few Early Access chapters there for ALL of my stories, though NONE of them are ever permanently paywalled. All fanfiction content I make ends up here (or on Fanfiction.net and Questionable Questing) eventually, as new content for each story is released. Typically, there are 75,000+ words of additional early access content for patrons at any one time, all for just a dollar a month! As well as chances to vote in polls that influence which stories are updated, pairings, and other such things.