Disclaimer: I do not own One-Piece or the original One-piece characters
Dedication: This story is for Meg Lynch, the inspiration for my main character
Pairings: Sanji/ OC
Summary: When a shooting star brings sarcastic and independent Kree to the Straw Hat crew, things begin to change on the Going Merry. With only the tattoo on her shoulder being the clue as to where she has come from, her tight lips and guarded secrets bring no help. Questions are raised in the crew. Who is Kree? What is she? Where did she come from? What does she want? When the secrets unfold, a myth becomes truth and a whole new problem and a new adventure comes to life.
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Chapter 11: Papa
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It had been a week and a half since the crew came to Kurogari Manor. Nothing of the first day had been repeated or even mentioned once the sun rose on the next day. It was if it had never happened. Nothing had been seen of the Lord Kurogari, but Sanji had seen enough pictures in Kree's room to know what the man looked like.
Currently, Sanji was watching Kree shoot off arrows to blow off the stem from this morning's tea time with her mother. This was a usual occurance after the first day, her mother would summon her at ten, by eleven, the girl was on the shooting ranges and not even Sanji could calm her. Today was a particularly harsh practice as she shot arrows off, five a second without control. She had no need to replenish arrows, so she could go on for as long as her body allowed.
Sanji just sat and watched until she was ready to tell him what her mother had said. Sanji, being a gentleman, instead of treating her mother badly the way the others in their crew did and the way he desperately wanted to, just avoided her. She deserved nothing less from the crew who had adopted Kree as their own. She had no special title on the ship, no real need for one. To hurt one of their own in such a way was a grave offence, but Kree had forbidden them doing anything to her mother, knowing things the crew did not.
Lost in his thoughts, Sanji never noticed that Kree had stopped her assault of what used to be a target, and was just staring at the ground with tears filling her eyes. Her entire body was shaking with the stress of the last week and a half and was at her utter breaking point. When he finally noticed the silence of the range, he walked over and curled his arms around her shoulders in a comforting embrace. Her mother had yet to find out about their relationship, and kept pushing controlling men and their sons in her, hoping Kree would finally comply to marry one of them.
To Sanji's relief, she relaxed into his arms, allowing Eta-Naru to retreat into Kagirinai.
"You are crying, love," he whispered, kissing each tear as it fell down her cheek.
"I just don't understand how any woman can be so cruel to her children, or so unfeeling." She rasped. "How she can see the kind of men and revel in the idea of her daughter being turned into a whore meant only to pleasure her husband. How can she want that? Does she truly dislike me that much?"
"I do not know what kind of relationship you had with your mother when you were younger, but I will not let her marry you off. You are a Strawhat Pirate, Kree Hotaru, when you have done as you promised, you will return with us. You decided that, not us."
"I just can't stand it, the way they look at me and that she knows it and allows it. I fear if you weren't here, one of them might have tried something." She said turning to bury her face in his shoulder. "I love you, and I can't say anything."
"Hey now, no need to get upset," Sanji smiled at her pulling her into his lap as he sat down on the bench. "The people that need to know, do, and when this is over, your mother won't matter anymore."
Kree smiled as they kissed deeply. If not for the need for air, they would never have parted, but Kree felt her heart lighten. However, one glimpse at the garden had her in a foul mood once more, for her mother was walking out of the Manor to greet three soldiers who were coming to eat with them that night. Sanji had heard about these men and understood Kree's intese hatred for them, three powerful men in the army, and just as crul as the others.
After the suitors and her mother returned to the house, Kree let off five more arrows on the poor target she previously decimated.
It wasn't long before a man walked into the training yard. He was in his mid-fifties with dark hair and friendly storm gray eyes. His eyes presented the world with a calm storm while Kree's presented a raging hurricane. Sanji saw him out of the corner of his eyes as he lit his cigarette. He had a very good idea who the man was, looking so much like his son.
"Lord Kurogari," Sanji greeted taking a drag of his cigarette. Seconds later an arrow hit the wall between the men and twin smirks grew on their lips as they exchanged knowing looks.
"Oi, Kree-chan, you missed!" "Little to the left sweetie."
"Sorry," she grumbled and approached them. She gave her father a quick kiss on the cheek in greeting and shot Sanji a light smile, unable to do more and returned to her training.
"You didn't flinch," Lord Kurogari said pulling a smoke from his own pocket.
"Need a light?" Sanji offered, handing his lighter to the man.
"Thank you, her mother thinks it's a nasty habit, but Kree never seemed to mind."
"That explains it," Sanji said.
"Really, what do you mean?"
"She likes to curl up after I've smoked," he replied. "The smell must be a comfort, a reminder of you."
"I often like to look out of the window in my study. I have a wonderful view of the training grounds and the woods beyond it."
"It sounds like a wonderful view," Sanji agreed, finding his own view of the forest from Kree's window splendid.
"It is, especially being able to watch my daughter practice as I work. I regret that I haven't left the North Wing in the time she has spent at the Manor."
"She must understand the need, but a private dinner, just the two of you, might be a good idea."
"I will ask for her time tonight, one more night before we must speak of fighting."
"Is that what you have been working on? The war?"
"Yes, trying to read and verify the reports I continue to receive day after day."
"May I call you Sanji?" the man finally asked.
"Of course," Sanji agreed.
"Wonderful, may I be frank with you?"
"Please," Sanji replied.
"Do you love her?"
"I have never met a more wonderful person."
"Do you intend to follow her mother's wishes for her to stay?"
"She belongs on the Merry, where she is happy, with her family."
"You will take care of her." It wasn't a question from the man's lips.
"Always." Sanji promised.
"Good, you may be a human, but you didn't jump. I approve for no other reason."
"I don't understand."
"My daughter is versatile, her moods change faster than the wind. I have met no one else with the ability to stay strong for her when she is angry, or know what to do when her tears fall."
"I think it is merely that I cared enough to learn," Sanji said.
"Never have I seen her try so hard to fake a smile for anyone but myself."
Sanji couldn't understand what the man meant until he had left and Kree turned back to him. She looked as if she had calmed down, a small smile, her eyes no longer raging, but it was the small things he suddenly noticed. The drop in her shoulders, the rigidness of her body, how little of her smile actually reached her eyes. Sanji finished his cigarette and pulled her into his chest.
"Tell me what's wrong, love," he whispered kissing her hair. She just wrapped her arms around his waist and took a deep breath, relaxing under the smell of the smoke that clung to Sanji's jacket.
"I am afraid," she finally said after a period of silence. "Afraid I will get forced into something I don't want and be prevented from leaving this place as I so desperately want to."
Sanji stood there and listened to her fears, knowing what he had to do. There would be only one way to save her from her mother's ultimate plans. He just hoped she was ready.
::Eternity::
Kree was just lying on the bed when Sanji walked in. She wasn't sleeping or thinking, just staring at the dark gray ceiling above her.
"Kree?" Sanji called gently, trying to pull her from the place deep inside her, where she retreated when she was in the worst shape.
"Kree?" he tried again when she didn't stir, but got nothing back from the girl. She just continued to stare at the ceiling above her, too deep in thought to register his voice. Sanji turned to leave when he heard a small voice call out.
"Sanji," she called. Her voice was small and frightened. HE turned around to find her curled up and staring at him, only her eyes visible over her knees.
"Kree," he replied, walking forward slowly when she held out her hand.
"I'm not going to dinner," she told him. "Not very hungry."
"Would you like me to tell your mother?" Sanji wondered, not that he relished the idea of speaking with the harpy.
"No, Kale will tell her at the right time," she replied.
"You've sent your servant to deal with your harpy of a mother?" Sanji asked calmly, swallowing his pity and fear for the boy.
"Kale may be a servant, but he's the son of Reaper, but not a fighter himself. He's another child I grew up with and may be the only one who can deal with my mother." Kree replied. "He knows how to play games with words, and the court games we grew up with."
"Court Games?" Sanji wondered.
"This is technically a royal court. The reapers are the upper class minority and the reikon are the lower class majority, but we are stronger. The reapers have a court system of power plays inside the courts. There are the wealthy and the less wealthy."
"And the Games you have to play?"
'The delicate balance between snarky and polite," she replied. "I can hate someone, but I can't let them know when in their presence."
"Why not?" Sanji wondered.
"You wouldn't know being mortal, but it is about the balance. There is protocol and rules to follow. It's almost like a careful dance, on wrong move and everything falls apart.
"How did Kale learn the court games?" Sanji wondered.
"Women have to have an escort, when Damien was unavailable, I was brought by Kale. He learned the games with me and he easily blended." Kree replied as a knock sounded on the door.
"Come in," Kree called as she stood up, making her way to the book shelf. Sanji watched her features even out as if she had been lazily perusing her books seconds before.
"Milady, you have a summons," the servant that entered.
"You can tell mother…"
"Master Kurogari has requested the presence of his children and their friends for dinner in the North Wing Study this evening," the servant cut her off.
"Papa?" she inquired. The servant nodded and left the envelope on the side table before backing out, never once looking in Sanji's direction.
"That was Kale," Kree said when she opened the summons.
"He is handsome," Sanji said, feeling a little jealous Kale had held Kree to dance.
"His wife thinks so too," she chuckled looking more closely at the summons. "And it seems we have just enough time for a quick shower before dinner."