Alright, Valentine's day is coming up, and since it's a very understated holiday, I've decided to do the Crew of the Axe Valentine's special! This special will be in a few parts and go from sunrise to sunset on Valentine's day and for the sake of making things easier, everyone will know what Valentine's day is, so sit back and enjoy the Crew of the Axe Valentine's special!
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SunriseDevon sighed and spooned some oatmeal into his mouth as the sun came up and slowly illuminated the inside corridors of the Tomahawk with a reddish glow. The others would be up soon, but he was trying to get in a quiet breakfast before a certain annoying swordsman or loud fox girl disrupted him.
"Oh Deeeemon!" Came a singsong shout from the inner parts of the ship.
Devon sighed as he dropped his spoon and pushed his bowl towards the center of the table. "So much for that plan…"
DJ grinned broadly as he sped into the galley with a flash and a small wind. "Hello there my friend! How are you this absolutely wonderfully fabulous day?" He chuckled in a sickeningly sweet voice.
"What's got you in such a good mood?" He glanced slightly at the musician before taking another spoonful, hoping to at least finish his bowl. "You get laid or something?" He raised an eyebrow and his eye twitched as he got a disturbing image, dropping his spoon with a loud clang. "On second though, I don't want to know…"
"Of course not silly!" DJ grinned, still using the same annoyingly happy tone and bouncing slightly on his heels. He sped back into his room and game back a second later with a calendar in his hand, today's date circled many times and with hearts doodled on it. "Today's Valentine's Day! My all-time favorite holiday!"
"Hm…" Devon stuck the spoon back into his mouth while glancing at the calendar. "So it is…"
DJ looked awestruck at his nakama. "What do you mean 'so it is'!? I'll bet you have something big planned for Kirsty-san, right?"
"Nope…"
The love-musician's jaw nearly dropped as he stared wide-eyed at his friend, his good mood broken. "You're kidding right? I've been looking forward to this day for months! I mean I've been planning my surprise for Dusty-chan for a long time!"
"Good for you," The demon swordsman finished off his bowl and walked over to the sink to clean it. "But personally I hate Valentine's Day and I ain't doing anything, besides, what makes you think I like Kirsty anyway?"
"Everyone in the Grand Line knows you like Kirsty! There's people in the farthest corners of the world that know it! Hermits know it for god sakes! There's probably monks out there saying: 'Do you know Devon loves Kirsty?' 'Why yes, yes I do, everyone knows that.' So why can't you admit tha-!?" He was cut off when the hilt of Water Moon hit the top of his head.
"Calm down spazzy, you'll wake everyone up." Devon sighed, walking to the door and out onto the deck muttering: "Valentine's is a stupid holiday anyway…"
DJ rubbed his new bump as he looked to the cabins, realizing that he had indeed woken someone up. Austin walked out into the galley, rubbing his eyes and giving a small yawn as he watched DJ on the ground with his souvenir. "I see you already pissed someone off this morning, where is he?" The cabin boy wrote down on a piece of paper since DJ was not yet fluent in the sign language he used.
"He went out to the decks, stupid valentine hater…" DJ stood up slowly, scratching his head.
"Valentine's Day has always been a hard time for him…" Austin wrote beneath his previous message. He sighed and looked out the galley window, watching Devon look silently out onto the sea while leaning against the railing.
"Dang, wish we could do something to help him, Valentine's Day is supposed to be a happy time, a time of love, no one should hate love." DJ joined Austin at the window.
Austin nodded slowly as he heard other people rustling about as more of their nakama awoke. First out was Axe, who looked like he was still half-asleep. "Meat…." He muttered, digging into the refrigerator with his eyes closed.
"Figures, he could find the fridge even with his eyes closed." Austin and DJ sweatdropped. "Yeah, he may be asleep, but his stomach isn't."
Pingu was next out, joining Axe at the fridge and pulling out a large fish, shoving it into his mouth in white bite and pulling out a skeleton. 'Surely the pimp of Penguins will have some Valentine's cheer.' DJ smirked as he kneeled down towards his penguin friend. "Hey buddy, happy Valentine's Day!"
Pingu honked something unintelligible and gave DJ a wet flipped to the face, causing DJ to slide to the floor, more than of disheartenment than from force. "Valentine's Day is so unappreciated…" he whimpered.
"Meat…" Axe muttered, finally pulling a giant rack of meat out of the fridge and nibbling on it.
"Happy Valentine's Day cap'n." DJ gave a small smirk, hoping that the treasure hunter would at least have a little cheer.
"Val- what?" Axe nibbled on his meat dazedly and sat at the table next to Austin.
"Of course…" DJ hung his head as he stood up. The three males heard another door open, Kirsty and Niri walked out of the bathroom, towels in their hair and steam escaping from the door. 'Of course!' The musician grinned, 'I've been looking in the wrong place, surely the superior female mind will show some signs of celebrating this holiday of love!' He sped over to the two. "Happy Valentine's Day Kirsty-san, Niri-chan!" He grinned, giving both a big hug, a look of love on his face.
"Uh… sure…" Kirsty blinked a bit, not sure of what was going on but sounding like she wanted to humor her friend. "…You too…"
A loud bang came from Niri as DJ has to crane his neck in a flash to dodge the hole in the whole just inches away from his head. "Valentine's Day isn't my thing…" She growled, holding her smoking pistol.
DJ's arms and head hung low as he felt hopelessness wash over him. 'I could almost expect it from the demon, but not you guys too!' He sobbed inwardly.
"Ugggg…" A low moan came from the cabins as Azu staggered out his room. "What a hangover, I'll never drink again…" He took a long swig from his clay jug full of saki.
"Happy Valentine's Day Azu…" DJ said halfheartedly, running out of hope for the holiday of love.
"Sweet! It's Valentine's Day already? I love Valentine's Day!" Azu smirked.
"Really!?" DJ turned to the drunkard, eyes shining with hope.
"Yosh! Who's up for a holiday grope?" He grinned lecherously to Niri and Kirsty.
DJ sighed, hanging his arms again. 'Not exactly the holiday cheer I was looking for, that's not what Valentine's Day's about' DJ thought, walking towards the inner cabins, ignoring the sounds of Azu's mauling, courtesy of the two girls.
He opened a door, finding Chizuru in her room, nose buried in books and maps like usual. "Happy Valentine's Day Chizzy-chan…" He sighed, walking into the room.
"Valentine's Day? The holiday made up to celebrate love and friendship, right?" The navigator turned the page of her book.
"Yup, at least you know what it means, a lot of our other nakama don't know what today is…" He chuckled weakly.
"It's understandable why they feel that way, Valentine's Day is a ridiculous holiday after all…"
'Ridiculous!?' DJ stared wide-eyes at Chizuru, seemingly shocked by what she said. "Why do you say that?" he blinked.
"It's nothing but a foolish show of emotions through monetary means which could be expressed in much better ways at much better times." She sighed, turning the page again. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm very busy today, I'll talk to you later." She quickly guided him out of the room and shut the door.
The heartbroken musician meandered down the halls again, listening at the girls' cabin to hear a loud snoring sound. "Dusty-chan isn't even awake yet, I wonder how she feels about Valentine's Day…" He went to knock on the door, but stopped himself. "Nah, you know what they say MacLeod, let sleeping foxes lie…"
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Later that morning, DJ and Austin sat outside, sighing at the lack of cheer they had seen from their fellow nakama. Everyone else was inside the galley and cabins, continuing on like today was just a normal day. "Breaks my heart Austin… No one recognizes Valentine's Day…" He put his hands to his chin, running them up his face slowly and through his hair in frustration.
The mute boy nodded slowly and watched the ocean, both sighing softly and looking down, jumping a little when they saw a large shadow rise out of the waters followed by a loud splash. "AH SHIT! Sea King!" DJ put his hand on his weapon, relieved to see it was only Herman, the merman chef of their crew. "Don't do that big guy, scared the crap out of us." The musician took a relaxed breath while Austin nodded silently.
"Sorry guys." The merman chuckled and set down his net full of fish. "I was just out fishing, didn't expect people to be hanging around the side of the ship like that, something wrong?" His eyestalks blinked as he watched the two downtrodden males.
"No one in our nakama knows about or celebrates Valentine's Day, the greatest holiday ever!" DJ waved his arms, followed by a confirming nod by Austin. "How can a crew so full of friendship not acknowledge the holiday made for love and friendship!?"
"Well guys, I admit it's a bit weird, but not everyone celebrates the same things, I mean some holidays just aren't for certain people…" The merman began dragging his net into the galley to cook his catch.
DJ bit his thumb in thought. "I refuse to accept that! Love and friendship are universal, and I won't stop until everyone on this ship is full of love by day's end!" He struck a dramatic pose. "Despite what people celebrate, nothing bad can come from setting aside a day to love a little more and recognize friends." He looked to Austin, who nodded. "Austin, we're going to melt the cold hearts of our nakama one at a time, and I need your help, because I don't look good in a diaper." They both shuddered. "So beware Axe-Heads, prepare to fear my lovely wrath!" The musician and cabin boy smirked. "Let Operation Cupid begin!"
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DJP: Well there ya go, Austin and DJ are determined to show their nakama the true loveliness of Valentine's Day! Will Operation Cupid succeed, or will it be shot through the heart?
Next time on Operation Cupid:
DJ: Let Operation Cupid begin!
Austin: -thinks- you already said that…
Axe: … do I even want to know what's going on here?
Operation Cupid Begins! Niri and Axe
Niri: What the hell!?
DJ: Even the best sharpshooter in the world can't escape cupid's arrow! Heehee…