Of Vivi and Kohza

Hotspring Island

At Alubarna King Cobra had received the report of the creation of a passage between Yuba and a little hotspring island managed by Goro, Toto's brother. The connexion between the oasis and the hotspring would be very profitable for Yuba, those last months the town had gone back to being a junction between towns on that side of Alabasta and the passage to the resort meant that people would come to Yuba even more. All in all if it worked, Yuba and the hotspring island would both benefit from this connexion.

Cobra had received another report from Toto saying that the passage had been finished and an invitation to visit the newly opened hotsprings.

The King was busy at Alubarna in those time of reconstruction so he decided to sent his daughter, the princess Vivi in his place, he knew she would love going. Igaram, Pell and Chaka would accompany her too, though they had protested that at least one of them should stay in at the Palace with the King but Cobra had insisted they think of it as vacation, even Terracota, Igaram's wife would go.

Vivi's father was right she was overjoyed at the prospect to go. She had exchanged several letters with Kohza in the last couple of months but they were both busy rebuilding their owns towns, so they hadn't been able to see each other again. However Kohza had been in charge of inspecting the Ukkari hotsprings with his father and Carue who had been sent over as messenger of the King. In his last letter Leader wrote that he helped secure the passageway between Yuba and Ukkari, and that the hotsprings were really something so she should come see it. Vivi was happy to finaly have the chance to do so.

Several days later Vivi and the others reached Yuba, they had come with the spot-billed duck squad through at a leisured pace.

"Oh, they did good work." Said Chaka observing the gate of the underground tunnel leading to Ukkari.

"Indeed." Pell smiled.

"Is ev… Ma, ma, ma ! Is everyone ready ?" Asked Igaram looking around, his wife at his side.

"Quack ! Quack !"

Vivi turned toward the sound to see Carue rushing to their group.

"Carue !" She waved smiling at her loyal compagnon.

While she was catching up with Carue, through it was a rather one-sided conversation, they went in the tunnel. She saw another known face there, Hasami the crab was operating the bus in the passage underground.

Finaly they arrived to the Ukkari hotsprings after one hour on the bus and they checked in with Gedatsu, the clerk of the hotsprings.

That's when Vivi saw Uncle Toto with another man she didn't know but probably was Goro, his brother.

"Toto-ojisan !" She called as both men turned to see her.

"Vivi-chan !" He smiled kindly when he recognized her.

"Are you well Toto-ojisan ?" Vivi went to meet him.

"Yes, yes. And you Vivi-chan, aren't you tired from the journey ?"

"Not at all. I feel like trying the hotspring right now !" She smiled at the older man.

"Princess, I would like to present my brother Goro."

"Nice to meet you." She turned to the other man.

"It is our honor to have you here Princess." Goro shook the hand she offered.

"This place is very nice." Said Chaka behind them.

"Indeed… Ma, ma, ma… You did a remarquable job."

"I can't wait to try the hotsprings." Smiled Pell.

"Then go right ahead, follow me, I'll show you the way."

Vivi glanced around as the others talked more but she couldn't see trace of Kohza anywhere. Toto seemed to take notice of her searching gaze because he smiled at her and said :

"Kohza should be here soon, I wonder where this boy run off to ? Ah, when you talk of the devil."

Vivi's heart skipped a beat hearing that and followed his gaze over her shoulder to the back of their group where the young man had appeared.

"Kohza !" She exclaimed happily, announcing his presence.

He smiled to the group as all the heads turned his way.

"I see everyone arrived."

"We where just about to go soak in the hotspring." Said his father.

"Then I guess I'll…"

"Of course you'll come with us, right Kohza ?"

Chaka brought his arm around the younger man shoulders who felt as if there was a hidden motive behind the question but knew better than to decline. He nodded before stealing a glance toward Vivi who was still watching him. Their gazes met and Kohza suddenly felt like not caring about anything else and just going somewhere with Vivi, alone.

"Us too Princess, let's go take advantage of the onsen." Said Terracota jovially dragging the girl behind her to the woman springs entrance, forcing her to detach her eyes from Kohza's.

"Eh ? Ah… Wait, Terracota-san !" The group of men heard her say as the two women disappeared.

"Well, we should go too." Igaram said spurring the group into motion.

A while later Kohza was soaking in one of the spring, talking with the others, mostly of the hotspring island, and of the advance in Alabasta reconstruction. However, while the others had a good time and stayed longer, Kohza left the earliest. He got something to drink while he waited outside and not long afterward Vivi emerged too. When she saw him she smiled and came to stand at his side, he gave her a drink too.

"Thank you. Are you the only one out ?" She glanced up at him.

"Old men like to soak longer so we won't be bothered for a while yet." He replied with a slight smirk.

Vivi laughed before slipping her hand in his.

"I missed you." She confessed quietly.

"Want to go take a walk ?" He smiled at her.

She nodded, a smile of her own on her face and they began to walk away hand in hand, talking about what they did while apart. And after two month they finaly felt whole.

If some don't know or remember the Ukkari hotsprings come from Gadatsu's life in the blue sea, vol. 21 to 29, the cover pages for chapter 337 to 345. Hope you liked it.