Not Pirates, Treasure Hunters
Part 4 of 4 in a saga
A One Piece Fanfiction by Aoikami Sarah
Chapter Eleven - Dr. Sakura Hulgan
Taka stretched out on the deck of the Ferris with her back against the Galley wall. Iisopp opened the door with his foot and handed her something edible.
"What's this?" she asked, taking it.
"Granola bar," he answered. "So, Jojo. How's the log pose looking?"
"Pointy and spherical at the same time," he answered cheekily and picked up a portfolio sitting on the ground next to his deck chair. "I'm not using it."
Taka stopped contemplating the strange foodstuff and narrowed her eyes at him. "You can't navigate the Grand Line without it." She held up her wrist to show him the one she wore.
"I know, but I've got maps," he said, flourishing a large, hand-drawn map of Drum Island. With his left hand he held up a small bag with something lumpy inside of it. "And when I was in Rogue Town I picked up a couple eternal poses! I don't think Mr. Creepypants will have one of these," he explained and pulled out a pose marked 'Sakura.' "Or the notion to head there."
"Brilliant!" Iisopp cheered and tossed him a beer. He made a motion to do the same to Taka but she held her hand up.
"I don't drink, but thanks."
"Suit yourself," he said and sat down next to Jones. "Only one problem, Jojo. That pose says 'Sakura'."
Jones popped the top on his beer. "Yeah, the guy at the shop said that Drum changed its name like 15 years ago to Sakura."
"Ah!" Iisopp cried excitedly. "Right! Because of Dr. Hiruluck's Sakura snow! It's in the book!"
"Awesome!" Jones clinked his can against Iisopp's. "I hope you packed your woolies, Taka. Drum's a winter island."
She shrugged and settled in for a nap. "My home is an autumn island. I can handle a little cold."
.X.
In a large, stark room with a vaulted ceiling, the king of Sakura Island in his Bison form panted and charged once again at his opponent. The challenger was a bit taller than he, covered in brown fur and bearing a rack of large antlers that looked more like four giant hands. He wore a pair of blue shorts, but nothing else. As the Bison charged toward him, he lowered the rack and braced himself. Suddenly, with only feet to go, he leapt into the air. "Jumping point!" he cried and his body changed shape slightly, accentuating his legs for maximum distance. He cleared the charging Bison, flipped, landed on his feet and spun around quickly to face him again. The bison-king was ready and they locked hands, straining to push the other down.
"Gotcha," the much stronger king said with a grin.
"Not yet." He grinned back, "Horn point!" His massive horns grew to seven feet across and with a quick bow of his head he brought them down toward the king's head. Just before they would have cracked his skull, he stopped.
King Dalton looked up slowly at the horns and sighed. "Alright, alright. You win."
"Yeah!" his opponent cheered and shrank back down to his true form. The young man was tall, lanky and pale-skinned. He had light brown hair and sharp, blue eyes. He bowed to his king who laughed and clapped his arm as he too changed back.
"Good job, Sakura!" Dalton praised him. "That's the third time you've bested me today. I'm going to have to get serious with you next time."
Dr. Sakura Hulgan blushed and put his shirt, sweatpants and glasses back on. "Thank you, Your Highness. If you don't mind, I have an appointment in a half an hour."
"And a hard worker too!" King Dalton waved and Sakura bowed before he left the practice room.
.x.
After his appointments were over for the day, Sakura headed back to the chambers of the Surgeon General. Head Nurse Olga Hulgan was also just getting off shift. She emerged from her room having changed out of her uniform and seamlessly made the transition from caregiver to head-of-household. She stepped into her slippers, filled the kettle, put it on to boil and started making dinner without breaking stride.
"Good evening, Sakura!" she chimed.
The 23 year old accepted the mandatory kiss on the cheek before he sat down. "Hi, Mom. Where's the Doctor?" he asked. "I got something I wanna tell him," he said with a small smile, recalling his victory over Dalton earlier in the day.
Olga opened a tin of her favorite ginger biscuits. "Apparently he has some visitors. He's meeting with them in the North Parlor."
"I'm gonna go try and catch him!" Sakura said, jumping out of his chair and racing out the door.
"Sakura!" His mother began to scold him, but looked to the ginger biscuits and the water just starting to boil and decided she wouldn't mind some time to herself for once.