Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece

PRESENT - III

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Aren't you going to kiss me?

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Chief.

Now that felt nice to hear.

Especially since it was true.

He stared at her, smiling blindingly at him and he –out of instinct- returned it. His smile just as wide and just as glad to see her standing there as she was him. Her hands were gripping his hat so tightly that her knuckles had gone completely white. Just having her conscious made her look a lot better. Made her seem more real and Sabo reached out to move her hair out of her eyes. He had just fought with the Navy and a Marine Admiral, and he was tired and worn out. But, he had to do this. Had to take care of her and offer some kind of reassurance that this really was him standing by her side.

"As of a few months ago," he whispered. He had a lot to say, but this was the only thing on his mind right now. "I was named Chief. So, you'll have to think of a new nickname."

"Boss, then? But that's what I call Dragon-san," there were tears streaming down her face, but he ignored them. She looked so happy right now. As if his mere presence was enough to erase all of her worries. She took his hat and placed it over her head, hiding her eyes from him.

Sabo immediately reached out and placed his hand over the top, the hat landing on his hand – a blockade that kept her face out in the open. Her tight hold was the only reason his hat hadn't fallen to the ground. Sabo bent down to bump his forehead against hers in an intimate gesture that had her eyes widening. Her face flushed in a way that made his want to do the same, but he successfully fought that blush down.

"Hey, Kuni," he breathed out, resisting the urge to wrap his arms around her. "I'm so glad that you're okay."

She immediately moved her head back, shoving the hat in his hands and letting his hand fall back to his side. She didn't apologize for worrying him, she said something that felt far nicer to hear. "Thanks for coming for me, Chief."

He grinned.

"You're okay," he said again. Almost as if he were saying it just to reassure himself that this was real. She was there, standing in front of him.

"I am," she mumbled, looking worriedly up at him and his constant repetition of a phrase that was already confirmed by her presence. "Are you?"

"You're… alright," he said instead of answering. He felt like a broken record, but in his voice the relief rang clearer and clearer. He was so damn relieved right now, to the point that it felt as if he were liberated from something. Like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, allowing him to breathe once more. "Kuni," he called, wrapping his arms around her in a bone crushing embrace. Her entire form was rigid, tense. Even as he tightened his hold on her. "I'm so sorry, Kuni," he whispered against her temple.

"Why?" She asked.

He didn't know. He just wanted to – needed to say it. It was important, so it needed to be said. He knew that now. There were just some things that had to be said while there was still time to say them. Because he couldn't convey everything with his actions. Actions were used to prove words, not sit in place of them. He squeezed her tighter against his frame, crushing her soft body to his. The brief thought of if she were hungry passed through his mind, but he could ask her that later. Right now, he was just glad that she was here. In the safe circle of his arms. Having her in his embrace was Heaven in its own right.

"You know that my failure to escape wasn't your fault, right?" Kuni said, her face now dry from any tears. She had accidentally wiped it on his clothes when he hugged her. When she tried to move away, Sabo only tightened his hold to the point of it being painful. "That was my mistake, Chief."

He knew that.

Of course, he knew that.

But then he remembered when she had called him on the DenDen Mushi, he had forgotten about her. She had called him about to ask for help or about to report in, whatever it was, she had still phoned in. Something she said she wouldn't do. He wasn't at fault for forgetting her, but the fact that he did and ended up leaving her here for the past two years was unforgiveable and that was why he continued to hug her. He didn't want to let go. He had so much to say, to tell. So much that he didn't know where to begin.

"Chief," Kuni called, he could feel her lips moving. His clothes the only barrier between her lips and taut skin. "You're acting strange. Don't you have work to do on this island? You'll trouble everyone if you don't get moving. I'm okay here. I can find the other agents. I'm not in any position to say this, but please count on me!"

He frowned.

This was supposed to be a heartfelt reunion, yet she was telling him to go and work. He still had a lot of time. There was no need for him to do something as tedious as working right now. He deserved a bit of reward. He had just saved her, after all. Not to mention the fact that he had just finished fighting with a Navy Admiral. That was a big deal. No. A huge deal. Did she have someone more important to see or was she really just that bored by his presence? Without thinking, he separated just enough so that he could see her face. Unwrapping one arm from her waist, he coated his fingers in Haki and used them to flick her forehead.

Kuni winced, her face contorting in pain.

"Is it just me or did your flicks get harder?" She asked, rubbing at the red spot. "No, that wasn't just me. That definitely hurt more than it used to."

"I've gotten stronger," he said, proudly.

Kuni frowned, plentifully.

She moved away from him, shoving at his chest until he unwrapped his other arm from her. Once he had released her, Kuni immediately took three steps back. So, even after all this time she still avoided touching him, huh? The thought had Sabo frowning a bit. Before, she avoided contact because she had feelings for him. Something he didn't quite understand then. But now, why did she do that? Did she still have those feelings or was it just that uncomfortable? Being held by him, that is.

"What point is that strength if you use it to flick me?" Kuni muttered, followed by a whirl of insults that had Sabo grinning as he replaced his hat on his head.

His eyes noticed that Kuni was missing her beanie. The ragged thing stuffed inside his pocket. He'd give it back to her once he had it mended. She really did wear it everywhere, so now she looked incomplete without it. He was always happy to see her wearing it, not that he'd ever admit that though. She still thought it was a gift from Koala. Perhaps he'd tell her once he had it fixed. What kind of expression would she have, he wondered.

"I missed you, Kuni," he said, honestly. He was smiling from ear to ear and no matter how much he tried, he couldn't stop. "I really wanted to see you again."

Her cheeks flushed.

"Jeez, Chief," she had that scolding tone he hadn't heard in years. It felt good to hear it. Devil Fruits were such terrifying things. They could show just how many things a person could live without as long as they had no memory of it. "Don't just say things like that. It'll get my hopes u—"

"Isn't that fine?" He interrupted, avoiding her eyes. He could feel his cheeks burning with the familiar heat of an embarrassed blush, but he tried to play it off as best he could. "Because I—"

He lost his voice when he brought his gaze back to her. Kuni's eyes were wide, mouth hanging slightly open and her entire face a deep red. An expression he unintentionally mimicked as he covered his face with his hand and turned away. His heart pounding wildly in its cage. What the hell was she doing getting that embarrassed when he hadn't even said a damn thing yet? Was she trying to give him a heart attack? What kind of cheap shot was that? He didn't even get a chance to prepare himself for that kind of expression.

"Because," he swallowed the lump in his throat. But the words he had wanted to say came out wrong. "You're back to your usual self, so it's fine to believe in whatever you want. At least, for today."

"…You're right."

Sabo secretly took a peek at her face. She was beaming again, her usually numb eyes filled with warmth. She looked so pleased right now. So glad that she was back inside her skin. Though he supposed that that was only natural. He watched her stare at her fingers, flexing them in joy. He couldn't bring himself to speak up and interrupt her moment of happiness. But to his surprise, she did that herself. Her eyes hardening and returning to that neutral state again as she looked carefully up at him.

"Chief," she called. Her voice was firm. "What are your orders?"

He examined her as she waited for him to speak. Had she gotten shorter? No. He'd grown taller. The difference two years could bring was amazing. He took off his black jacket, throwing it around her shoulders over her tattered clothes. She let him do so without complaint or protest. Merely accepted his kindness. Then again, she had never actually turned him away. What a fool he'd been. Young, childish, stupid. She never turned him away, she had no reason to do so. He wanted to ask if she was alright again, but she'd probably tell him to stop fussing over her.

"Chief?" She called again and he could tell that the birdcage around the island had caught her attention because she was no longer looking at him.

"Kuni," his voice had her head whipping back to him.

He could hear the screams of civilians, pirates and marines in the background and his fingers were itching with the urge to help and bring the Donquixote Family and its power abusing members down. He needed to save everyone, he needed to get to Luffy. But first things first, he needed to finally get this stupid thing off of his to do list. Check it and be done with it. The fact that he, the Revolutionary Army's second had been skirting around this problem for years wasn't manly at all.

Anything could happen and he didn't want to regret not having been able to say these words. He felt it now. What Kuni must've felt back when she told him her feelings. She could've died, she probably wanted to get it off her chest. Get it out in the open in case something ever did happen. It was a shame that drastic measures always had to occur before people got serious. Perhaps that was human nature. No. He was just being dramatic. It was because of his doubts that he didn't say anything. But right now, at this moment, things were different.

The resolve and confidence he usually had sprang to life and he did things as he had always done. By recklessly jumping right into the middle. Because once you miss the opportunity to say something, the words become increasingly toxic. The best thing to do is to just say everything. Let it all out. Spit it on the ground if that's what it took. Admit.

Pent up feelings weren't healthy. They never were. If he kept them in any longer, if he wallowed in their horrible aftertaste for another moment – then he'd break. Something inside him would snap, he could feel it. What that was, he had no clue. But, that wasn't important right now.

He could order her around and fuss over the details later.

This was an opportunity. How many had died in regret because they weren't given a second chance? Didn't live to see a next time? Had no time-outs?

It was now or never.

Time to man up.

"I like you," he said, firmly. He had honestly expected his voice to falter, his throat to clam up and shut the words in like it had done so many times in the past. But it didn't. In fact, he said it so resolutely that a smile lit up his face. Bright and blinding, breaking free after years of holding back. It felt good to say, felt good to get off his chest and he found that he couldn't wipe the grin off his lips.

Kuni's eyes widened. "What?"

She could have had a cuter reaction, he could admit that. He liked her, after all and unlike before, he knew everything there was to know about her. But he couldn't help but think that that was the same reaction he had when she said these very same words all those years ago. The memory of that day was still so clear to him. The mind tended to replay what the heart couldn't delete.

"Need me to repeat it?"

Kuni opened her mouth to speak, but he interrupted her.

"I really like you, Kuni."

A/N: The lateness of this is ridiculous because I was focused on other fics which I've stated in my Livejournal. I'm focused on writing two other new fics at the moment. I'm slowly losing my interest in the One Piece fandom, but don't worry cause this is almost finished. Just two more chapters that will be updated on time. You'll be able to find a new updating schedule on my Livejournal by tomorrow.

SHAMELESS PLUG-IN TIME:

I released a new fic for Katekyo Hitman Reborn, a FONXOC. Idk why in the world I'm taking on so many projects at once, but I really wanted to write for Fon. Please check it out if you're interested! I'll be releasing a GilgameshXOC soon as well. Check my LIVEJOURNAL for more info and previews. The URL is on my profile.

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