Chapter 372 - 211

Chapter 211: Red and White Hair Tips Under the Moonlight!In the dead of night, the sound of a door closing almost in a rush echoed through the silent corridor.Luffy stumbled out of that bedroom, where the temperature was far too high, as if he were "fleeing."He pulled the door shut behind him and leaned his back against the cold, ornate door panel, exhaling a breath with lingering fear, his chest still heaving slightly."Crazy... truly crazy..."He raised his hand to wipe his forehead; his palm was soaked with sweat.The straw hat had tilted to one side at some point, and a few strands of black hair were stuck to his temple, giving him a rare, disheveled appearance.He had never imagined that the Empress, who was usually so arrogant and conceited, would possess such... astonishing energy when her emotions completely overflowed.It was no longer a craving that could be soothed by a kiss or an embrace, but a gentle yet violent storm that threatened to sweep up every inch of his consciousness.Her long, powerful arms, her waist as supple as a snake, and especially those shapely long legs that had once easily shattered giant boulders...All of them had become suffocating weapons, carrying a burning obsession, as if they truly intended to drain him completely dry.To be fair, Hancock, who trained diligently year-round, had astonishing stamina, and the experience brought about by that body, filled with both strength and beauty... was truly dizzying.She was always surrounded by a faint, sweet, and non-cloying fragrance, and her skin was as smooth and soft as the finest silk, feeling as though it would melt him when they embraced.Luffy liked her; he liked all of her passion and authenticity.…But no matter how much he liked her, he couldn't handle such demands, as if there were no tomorrow!Luffy shook his head, as if wanting to shake out those beautiful yet leg-weakening images from his mind.In the end, he could only let out a long sigh as if resigned to his fate; the sigh was mixed with satisfaction, exhaustion, and a hint of instinctive, fresh awe for the creature known as woman.Now, only one crystal-clear thought remained in his mind, more attractive than any treasure:Return to his room, sleep, and let no one disturb him.Perhaps only a deep, dreamless sleep could help him recover the astonishing energy of the future Pirate King, which had been ruthlessly consumed by "love."Luffy walked with light steps toward his room, wanting nothing more than to dive into his soft bed and cast the "sweet torture" brought by Hancockcompletely to the back of his mind.However, just as he rounded the final corner and caught sight of his bedroom door, his steps came to an abrupt halt.Moonlight, like water, flowed quietly across the smooth corridor floor.Right in front of his door, a slender, graceful figure was pacing back and forth.She was slightly turned toward his direction, seemingly having raised her hand several times to knock, but hesitatingly curled her fingers back just as they were about to touch the door panel, as if that door possessed the weight of a thousand catties.The Moonlight outlined her almost perfect silhouette:Her willow-leaf-like thin eyebrows were slightly furrowed, her eyes as clear as lake water were filled with hesitation and anticipation, and her long lashes cast a small, trembling shadow beneath her eyes.Beneath a high, delicate jade nose, those cherry lips, as pink and tender as newly bloomed petals, were being unconsciously bitten, betraying her inner anxiety.Her skin, fine as suet jade, seemed to glow softly under the Moonlight, and her unique red and white hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall, the tips swaying gently with her restless pacing.She wore a simple dress, yet her posture was graceful and charming; merely standing there, she formed a scene that made one's heart flutter.Luffy blinked, almost thinking he was hallucinating."U...Uta?"He called out subconsciously, his voice exceptionally clear in the silent corridor.He never expected to see her in the middle of the night, right in front of his bedroom door.The beautiful figure at the door shuddered at the sound and quickly turned around.When she saw it was Luffy, the hesitation in those clear eyes instantly lit up, transforming into brilliant starlight and a hint of embarrassment at being caught."Luffy!!"She called out, her voice filled with surprise, grievance, and relief.The next instant, like a bird that had finally found its nest, she rushed toward him as if flying.Her skirt hem lifted in a subtle arc, and her red and white hair scattered behind her.Luffy instinctively opened his arms, and immediately, he was hit with quite a bit of force, filling his embrace.Uta had practically crashed into his arms, her arms tightly, so tightly, wrapping around his waist, as if she were using all the strength in her body.Luffy was also slightly stunned by this sudden impact and embrace, but then he chuckled and, without hesitation, closed his arms, locking her petite yet warm body firmly in his embrace.The scene froze at this moment.In the Moonlight-drenched corridor, beside the tightly closed door, a man and a woman were tightly embracing.Their bodies pressed together seamlessly, and Utaburied her cheek into his chest, greedily breathing in the scent on his body, a mix of sunlight, sea breeze, and a hint of... faint, lingering fragrance.But this did not weaken the strength of her embrace; instead, it made her press closer, as if she wanted to cover everything with her own scent.That broad, solid chest, carrying a familiar warmth and reassuring strength, was the harbor she most longed for in her wandering world.After a while, Luffy loosened his grip slightly, looked down at the head buried in his chest, deliberately put on a straight face, and asked in a playful tone:"Uta, not sleeping in the middle of the night, coming to knock on my door—what is this for?"Uta, in his arms, heard this and lifted her face; her delicate little mouth was already pouting, her cheeks flushed with a light red, and her eyes held a coquettish dissatisfaction:"Luffy!! You're doing this on purpose!! You clearly know what I want to say!!"Her tone was full of accusation, but the hands wrapped around his waist showed no intention of letting go, and she couldn't even bear to give him a painless punch like she did when they were kids."Alright, alright."The smile in Luffy's eyes could no longer be hidden, and his heart felt completely soft.He tightened his arms around Uta again, almost lifting her slightly off the ground, causing her to let out a short, startled gasp.Of course, he knew what Uta meant.From the memories of music and adventure intertwined in their childhood, to the long separation without word, and then to her following him almost every step of the way in these three months since their reunion, as well as the unhidden reliance and affection in her eyes...Every move she made, every time she hesitated to speak, every gaze she cast upon him—Luffy saw it all.The layer of window paper between them had long since been as thin as a cicada's wing.Luffy even had a certainty:As long as he wanted to, he could do anything to her right now.He believed that the girl in his arms would absolutely not resist in the slightest; she would only blush, yet still wholeheartedly accept everything about him.It only required either one of them to take that step forward and gently poke through it, and all the accumulated emotions would, like water breaking through a dam, naturally push them toward an even deeper bond.Uta, tightly embraced by him, seemed to feel the vibration of his chest and that emotion he understood so well, and her previous little dissatisfaction instantly vanished into thin air.She squinted her eyes comfortably, like a cat that had finally been soothed by its owner, letting out a soft, satisfied sigh, and even unconsciously rubbed her cheek against his lapel.This peace and intimacy lasted for a long time. In the corridor, there was only the sound of their intertwined breathing.Suddenly, Uta opened her eyes.She pulled back slightly, but remained in the crook of his arm, lifted her face, and looked straight into the depths of Luffy's eyes.The Moonlight fell into her eyes; those eyes that were always filled with songs and laughter were now brimming with unhidden, lava-like, blazing emotions, pure and scorching."Luffy," she began, her voice soft, carrying the unique bashfulness of a young girl, yet it was also incomparably clear and firm,"I really love you so much."This sentence, she had practiced countless times, in deserted corners, on beaches accompanied only by the sound of waves.Now that she had finally said it, there was a sense of lightness, as if a weight had been lifted.Luffy gazed at himself reflected in her eyes, his smile gentle and firm.He raised his hand and gently stroked her smooth red and white hair, his movements filled with endless doting."I do too."There were no superfluous, flowery words; the simple three words carried the weight of a thousand pounds.He clearly saw Uta's pupils dilate slightly at these words, and then bloom with a light more dazzling than the stars.Luffy released one hand and instead took hold of her slender wrist.His palm was warm and dry, carrying an undeniable force, yet it was also incomparably cherished."Let's go,"He turned to the side and pushed open the slightly ajar bedroom door with his other hand; the warm light from inside spilled out, blending with the Moonlight in the corridor,"Let's go inside and talk."Uta's wrist was held by him, and the temperature of his skin was transmitted to her fingertips.She looked at that open door, which belonged to him, and then lifted her eyes to look at his smiling profile.She did not refuse.Or rather, from the moment she mustered the courage to stand before his door, she had never considered the word "refuse" in her heart.She nodded gently, blushing, and let him lead her, stepping into that warm halo of light.The corridor returned to silence, with only that slowly closing door gently shutting the room full of romance and unfinished conversation inside.Inside the room,Luffy released the hand holding Uta's wrist, his fingertips brushing against her slightly cool skin as they pulled away.He stretched his body significantly, his shoulder and back bones making a slight sound... the lingering "battle" with Hancock just a moment ago had indeed consumed a lot of his energy."Um, Luffy..."Uta's voice was very soft, as if she were afraid of disturbing this tranquility.The roots of her ears were thoroughly red, and she lowered her head, her gaze resting on her own joined toes, which were unconsciously rubbing against each other, revealing her current flustered state."Am I now... supposed to be your... woman?"Once the question was out, she almost wanted to hide herself. This definition made her heart beat like a drum, yet it also carried a hint of expectant sweetness.Luffy heard this and grinned, that smile as bright and direct as always, carrying that characteristic cheerfulness of his that could dispel any anxiety."That goes without saying!!"He said it as a matter of course, and before his voice had even faded, his arm had already wrapped around Uta's waist.Uta felt her body lighten, and before a gasp could escape her lips, she was already steadily lifted by him and immediately landed in a warm, solid embrace... He sat on the edge of the bed and placed her on his joined thighs."Ah!"This sudden intimacy made her panic; she instinctively stretched out her arms and tightly hooked them around Luffy's neck, her petite body leaning completely into his embrace due to the loss of balance.Through their clothes, she could clearly feel the heat and the steady, powerful heartbeat coming from his chest.With such warmth and softness in his arms, Luffy's heart couldn't help but stir.The body of the person in his arms was unbelievably soft, carrying a fresh and shy touch.He lowered his head, his nose lingering on the faint body scent wafting from her hair and neck,Unlike the rich and intense fragrance of Hancock, this was lighter and softer, as if it were the heart of a flower just blooming in the sunlight.He couldn't help it and gently kissed her burning cheek.That kiss was like a feather brushing past, but it made Uta's whole body tremble slightly.A deeper blush instantly spread across her pretty face, extending all the way down to the depths of her neck.Her breathing became uncontrollably rapid, her chest heaving slightly, and her long lashes fluttered like butterfly wings.A completely different feeling emerged in Luffy's heart.Hancock was like a rose in full, willful bloom—noble and charming, carrying a compelling allure and occasionally an imposing coldness; her passion was like fire, capable of sweeping someone away in an instant.And Uta, in his arms, was like a white lotus in the morning light—pure and gentle, vibrant with life; every shy reaction of hers revealed a vividness and sincerity that had yet to experience the ways of the world.When Luffy's palm began to mischievously rub gently against her waist, with a tendency to explore downward, Uta finally regained a shred of sanity from this dizzying intimacy.She hurriedly reached out with her slightly cool hand to press down on his mischievous large hand, their palms touching, their heat blending."Don't... don't kiss anymore," she panted lightly, her voice carrying a soft, tender tremor,"Let's, let's talk about things first..."She recalled some vague knowledge, as well as the ambiguous hints that Hancock occasionally mentioned, and mustered great courage to squeeze the shameful question out from between her lips:"I... I remember, to become your woman, should... should we do... that...?"The last two words were as low as a mosquito's hum, almost swallowed by her own breath.After asking, her entire face felt like it was on fire, and she wished she could bury her face completely into his shoulder.Luffy looked at her, seeing even her fair neck stained with a crimson flush, and couldn't help but find her cute.He was indeed feeling a wave of fatigue; the intimacy with Hancock had consumed his energy, and now, holding the soft and docile Uta, the feeling of relaxation was even greater.He let out a big yawn, and a bit of physiological moisture even seeped from the corners of his eyes.Subsequently, he fell onto the bed, still holding Uta's soft body!"Next time,"His voice was lazily hoarse, but the arm wrapped around her tightened, giving her a secure reliance, "I'm a bit tired today."As he spoke, he rested his chin gently on top of Uta's head, inhaled the fresh scent of her hair, and closed his eyelids.It was a posture of complete trust and relaxation, as if holding her meant holding onto a peace of mind that was incredibly reassuring.The body of Uta, which had been stiff in his arms, slowly softened.Although the initial tension and vague anticipation had not completely subsided, but being held so solidly by him and listening to his breathing gradually level out, a warmth of being accepted and belonging quietly spread over the shyness and fluster in the young girl's heart.She snuggled quietly and closed her eyes as well.On the low bedside cabinet, a faded, tattered straw hat and a pair of delicate metal ear protectors were quietly snuggled together, placed on the dark wood-grained cabinet surface.