One Piece: Marine Luffy, Garp regrets it

Luffy scowled, covering his ears as he raised his voice in frustration.

"Stop yelling! You three barged into my room without permission! How am I the one who did something wrong here?"

The two girls, chastised, softened their tones, exchanging quick glances before turning their gazes to Hancock.

Unfazed, Hancock's expression remained serene as she strode up to Luffy, her grip firm as she grabbed his arm and pulled him off the bed.

"Stop talking and get dressed. Koala needs a favor from you," she said, her voice calm but insistent.

"What?" Luffy asked, bewildered, but he began putting on his clothes without further question. He didn't quite understand the urgency but trusted Hancock enough to go along. Kalifa, standing nearby, flushed and looked away, clearly embarrassed, her cheeks tinged pink as she dared not look at him directly. Meanwhile, Koala's head was tilted down, though her wide eyes stole fleeting glances at him, darting away just as quickly whenever Luffy noticed.

Hancock waited silently for him to finish, giving a slight nod when he was finally clothed. Without another word, she pushed Koala forward, her eyes urging her to speak. Luffy blinked at the girl in front of him, sensing her hesitation, and shot Hancock a puzzled look. Hancock sighed, stroking Koala's head reassuringly, her tone soft and uncharacteristically gentle.

"It's okay, Koala. It's just your back. Let him take a look."

The gentleness in Hancock's voice surprised Luffy. He watched, wide-eyed, as she comforted Koala, feeling a surge of curiosity. When did these two grow close? He wondered, seeing Hancock's usually stern demeanor soften.

Hancock's encouragement seemed to settle Koala's nerves. Swallowing her embarrassment, she gathered her resolve, turning her back to Luffy as she began to unbutton her shirt. Luffy's eyebrows raised in surprise, but as his eyes fell upon the scar on her back, his expression softened. He understood instantly why Hancock had come to him so urgently.

A wave of guilt hit him.

Of course… How could I have forgotten? He thought, silently chiding himself. If Hancock hadn't noticed, I might've never remembered.

Luffy had helped treat the injuries of Hancock and her sisters, but he had overlooked Koala's scars. Now, with a newfound sense of responsibility, he turned to Hancock and Kalifa.

"Stand by the door and keep watch," he said, his tone calm but firm. "Make sure no one interrupts us."

Nodding, Hancock moved to the door, her gaze flickering with a rare look of understanding. Kalifa followed, though she stole a nervous glance over her shoulder as she took her place.

Luffy took a deep breath and began his work. Koala, bracing herself for what she assumed would be painful, closed her eyes. But as Luffy's hand moved over her scar, a mild tingling sensation spread through her back, soothing rather than hurting. She opened her eyes, blinking in surprise at the unexpected comfort. Her skin felt warm, a slight current coursing through her that made her body strangely sensitive, sending a shiver down her spine.

Luffy was meticulous, knowing how deep the scars ran. Koala bore not just the painful burn of the Celestial Dragon's mark but also the scar of the Sun Pirates' brand. The scars had been embedded for years, their dark memories just as heavy as the marks themselves. Luffy worked with steady focus, his brow furrowed as he tried to channel his energy carefully.

An hour passed, and although he had done his best, faint traces of the scars remained on Koala's back. Seeing the residual marks, Luffy felt a pang of disappointment, but then an idea sparked. He turned to Kalifa.

"Kalifa, come here," he called, motioning her over with a wave.

Kalifa approached hesitantly, her usual poise visibly shaken. She seemed calm on the surface, but her flushed earlobes and the way her fingers fidgeted with her clothes betrayed her nervousness. Luffy noticed her unease but didn't comment. They were already a couple, after all, and he figured this was a natural step forward. Taking a quiet breath, he reached for her hand, though his fingers slipped clumsily before she quickly grabbed his hand herself, her grip warm yet hesitant.

Luffy squeezed her hand gently, guiding it toward Koala's back.

"Focus on this, Kalifa. Think only of helping her," he murmured, his voice low near her ear. "Just concentrate, and use your power with everything you've got."

Kalifa's cheeks flushed a deeper red as Luffy's breath brushed her ear, almost making her knees weak. She inhaled, trying to clear her mind, and placed her palm on Koala's back, her fingers grazing the warm skin that had almost completely healed. Closing her eyes, Kalifa centered herself, letting go of her swirling emotions and focusing only on the task at hand.

For a moment, the room was still as Kalifa activated her Devil Fruit powers. Unlike the clumsy usage she'd shown in the past, this time her energy channeled smoothly, as if she were discovering a new facet of her ability. Her hand grew warm, and after a few seconds, she pulled it away.

Luffy leaned in to inspect Koala's back. To his astonishment, the skin was flawless—no traces of the scars remained. Koala's back was smooth and clear, like new skin, glowing with a fresh softness.

"It's done!" Luffy exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement. Unable to contain himself, he lightly touched Koala's back, marveling at the smoothness. Koala's body stiffened under his touch, her face turning a deep shade of red as a warmth spread from where his hand rested. For a moment, she was too stunned to move, her mind blank as her body remained rooted in place.

Luffy, oblivious to her reaction, was captivated by the transformation. He couldn't resist touching the now-smooth skin, his fingers brushing over it lightly, admiring how seamlessly Kalifa's ability had erased the scar. It was only when he felt Koala tremble that he realized her awkwardness.

Quickly pulling his hand away, Luffy scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

"Uh, sorry about that, Koala…" he muttered, offering an apologetic smile. Then, gathering himself, he called out to Hancock, who had been standing guard by the door with her arms crossed.

"Hancock! We're done here. You can come in now."

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