Chapter Thirteen

After turning the letter to ashes, Akainu turned and faced Sengoku. "What are we going to do about this?!" His words carried the weight of his anger, years of hatred towards every pirate he had chased down over the years.

This was a first for them, but it certainly wouldn't be a last with the way things were becoming. A pirate confirmed as dead coming back to life! Such a thing could only happen in fairy tales, right?

Sengoku, who was already planning to retire, was fed up. He had too much to deal with, what with the war, the escapees from Impel Down, the possibility that Straw-Hat was still alive, and more. Fire-Fist had escaped with his brother, the line of Gold Roger was still alive, and yet more was being added to his plate.

Resting his face in his hands, Sengoku said, "You deal with it. Tell both the other admirals about it, and Garp, too. He was close to her, ask him about what she might do or where she might go."

Akainu straightened up. The first thing he had to do was discuss this... problem with Aokiji and Kizaru. Sengoku was clever for catching the detail about Garp's close relation to Red-Snow, though. He was eager to get to work on the problem as soon as he could. If he managed to capture her before the public got wind of her existence, he would be able to imprison her in Impel Down. That way there wouldn't be a risk of her being brought back from the dead again. If not... well, he would have to make it as public an execution as possible.

"Fine." He was still angry. "I'm going to take care of it."

Sengoku waved him away, still working through everything in his mind. "Alright, good luck, Admiral. Just see that it gets done, alright? I don't want another thing to deal with this early in the morning."

Sabo picked up the Den Den Mushi and called the Revolutionary Army's H.Q. to report their success. Though Yuki's existence was discovered, they had won over the country's leaders and that meant more support for their cause. Yuki and Robin's first official mission had gone well, and that alone was cause enough for a celebration. Little did he know, a celebration was already being planned for a different cause.

"Hello? This is Sabo, calling from Alabasta. I've got good news to report!"

The voice on the other end crackled through. "Sabo? Great! Did negotiations go well with you?" The person sounded happy.

"Yes. We have their full support if we protect them in times of need," he replied.

"Good," the other person commented, "you'll need to come back quickly, then."

Sabo was curious. "Why? Is something wrong?"

"Dragon-sama and the other leaders have decided to host a party for all of the countries giving us their support. He said you and your companions are required to attend, and he wishes you to extend an invitation to the king and princess of Alabasta if negotiations went well, which they did."

"Oh." A long pause. "Are you sure my friends here are required to come?"

"Yes, sir. The party is in two weeks, on the second, and they need Red-Snow for something, not sure what. Koala also wants to see you. She wanted to ask you about something related to the party."

Sabo sighed. "Alright, will do. Thanks, I'll be back soon."

"Thank you, sir. We hope to see you soon." Click.

Sabo hung up his end of the line and strolled back over to Yuki and Robin. He wasn't sure how to ask them to come with him. He knew that formal parties weren't really Yuki's thing, and Robin only recently joined them. Then there was Koala.

Yuki stood up, stretching. "What's up?" she asked.

"Well, there's this thing going on in two weeks. A party."

Robin nodded, and Yuki picked up one of her boots, emptying it of sand.

"So?" she responded.

Sabo scratched his head. "It's a formal party. They said we're required to go. As in, we'll be in big trouble if we don't. You, too, Yuki. You've gotta dress up and be good mannered. Like a fine lady."

"Ew," Yuki muttered, her face showing her dislike. Dresses and her didn't go well.

"Yeah, I know. Sorry," he pressed. "At least Vivi will be invited. She and her father are invited because of recent negotiations. You can hang out with her and Robin without worrying about your identity."

"Won't there be a lot of important people there, though?" she asked, whining. "I don't want to go. Someone else there will recognize me! That's not what I joined up with you for, Sabo..."

Sabo hugged her. His sister stiffened for a moment before relaxing into it, not used to that kind of physical contact. She hadn't hugged someone in a long time, and she stood awkwardly through it.

When he released her, he continued, "I know we'll figure out a way to disguise you enough. Your eyes have already been taken care of, see?" He held up a mirror he had tucked in his bag.

Yuki stared at her face. It was hers, and yet... someone else's. Maybe it was because she still hadn't gotten used to her new eye color, or that it looked thinner than when she was alive. The hair of this girl was messy and slightly singed in places. It could do with a trim.

"I guess. I'm just worried," she replied, tearing herself away from the mirror.

"Don't be!" Sabo said cheerfully. "Remember, hair dye exists, right? Maybe a nice cool-toned brown would throw people off enough, and we could cut it short! How about it, huh? A bob wouldn't look too bad on you!"

Yuki punched him lightly, slightly annoyed with his teasing. "No way, my hair is staying this length! It's almost always been this long..."

"Then wear it down, or braided. You always have it pulled up into a ponytail, Ace, Luffy, and I are the only ones who've really seen you with it down. There's no way that Ace and Luffy would be there, anyway. If they were, I'd probably avoid going, too."

"Hmph. I bet," she replied harshly. "Do you know how long we kept looking for you? You were always there, in the corner of my eye. You were alive the whole time, too. That really hurt us, Sabo."

Sabo looked away, guilty. "We're more alike than we thought, though. You and I both hid after our supposed deaths in order to protect those we loved and cared about, right? I don't really see that as a bad thing."

Robin finally closed her book, breaking into the conversation. "We just have to go to this party, correct? How long do these parties usually last?"

Sabo replied quickly, grateful for a change of subject. "Generally about two to four hours, depending on the guest list. If a lot of people show up, it'll probably run more towards four hours because we would need to greet and speak with all of them."

"Thank you," she said cheerfully. "See, Yuki? It won't be that long. Four hours may seem like a lot right now, but if you're busy, it goes by very quickly. Besides, I know you'll have fun there. We could all do with a change of pace."

Yuki sighed, resigned. "I hope so."

Sabo lept on the chance. "Alright, we're all in agreement. We're going to the party, and I'm gonna make sure that we're all gonna have fun. They're gonna have plenty of food, meat and desserts from around the world! Robin, they should also have a few scholars attending."

Robin looked pleased. Yuki was excited at the thought of all that food waiting for her, even if she didn't like the venue. If she got to eat all that, it might be worth it to suffer through a few hours of dancing and socializing.