Hey guys. How're you doing? Wish you're better than me :)) I'm so sorry for the pretty late update but I swear it couldn't be done sooner than this.
Namur : *stare*...
Me : Urgh! What is it kiddo?
Namur : They asked for me. Will I show up in this fanfiction? *Puppy eyes*
Me : Sure you'll *smirk devilishly*After all you'll be our first honored fishman in this story.
Chapter Twenty-One:
Meals and Memories:
"YOU…" The 1st division commander heavily spat with his index and a venomous dark glare aimed at May who swallowed pointing at herself with an overly innocent quizzical expression. Haruta took advantage of his brother's lack of attention on him and speedily slipped behind the female, though his deed didn't go unnoticed by the blonde "The kitchen yoi! Right this instant," he commanded moving his outstretched arm until his finger was directed toward the door he came from clean.
The brunette looked at him baffled wondering if he was letting her off the hook so easily then her brows furrowed knitting a deep frown "NO!" She screamed heatedly refusing to budge.
The teen glanced at her back with hopeful watery eyes then hesitantly clutched the hem of her shirt, assuming she opted to stay and help him "May won't abandon m-" just as he started muttering with his famous childish pleading tone the female spoke aloud addressing Marco,
"I still didn't finish mopping," she shouted causing the charismatic image of her forming in Haruta's head to shatter then he dropped his hands and head as sharp depression hit him if the dark bluish aura surrounding him was any indication. The pirates sweat dropped.
Marco winced from frustration "You don't have to yoi," he hissed through gritted teeth if the damned water that now soaked him from head to toes wasn't of the sea he would have set their asses on fire.
The brunette hurriedly took a couple of steps toward him "What about the parts I already cleaned, huh?" She inquired standing right in front of him "Are you trying to rob me off MY money?" She huffed folding her arms across her chest while mirroring the blonde's glares. May worked hard under the scorching sun and wouldn't absolutely allow her great efforts to get simply wasted…even though her supposed done hard work only consisted of swabbing less than the quarter of her assigned section.
Well, they said that what you allow is what will continue and she can't have that.
He growled thinking of using his Haki if she didn't move "I'll fucking give you the full payment yoi," and yes, he would give up his money for the sake of his sanity "Now would you please get the hell out of my sight?"
Her lips prolonged into one of her most happy closed-eyes smiles "With pleasure," May softly uttered but instead of instantly submitting to his commands, she stepped closer than ethical evading his personal zone at ease. Marco took aback but refused to step back, the female wrinkled her nose whispering for only him to hear "I suggest you take a bath as quick as possible," he could feel his eyebrow uncontrollably twitching from annoyance which was most likely the cause of her awfully satisfied smirk then she finally retreated heading to the kitchen.
Thatch creeps stealthily going after the brown-haired female, he thought he could use this golden chance to approach her and have a heart-to-heart conversation with her in hopes of clearing the misunderstanding between them. The brunet was pretty close from the door and certainly close to making a fresh new start with the woman if just it wasn't for his blonde brother who frantically called out to him "THATCH!"
The chef stiffened solidifying into his spot "Aye?" He uttered wide-eyed from surprise given that he didn't do anything call for anger…up till now.
"Clean the mess yoi," the blonde calmly but firmly breathed his command rubbing the bridge of his nose.
The chef felt his tight jaws slackened and eyes widened even more if possible "Why would I?" He shouted with his hands balled into rigid fists at his sides.
Marco darted toward him with a raised eyebrow "You didn't get your punishment for your last pranks, now did you?" Well, there is that but in all honestly the 1st division's commander would be a fool to leave May and Thatch at the same spot, they will end up blowing the kitchen or creating some disaster.
Thatch pouted expressing his deject childishly "C'mon Marco," he whined dragging out the end of each word in a pleading fashion then he crossed his arms higher than necessary when the blonde completely ignored his antics.
With no forward delay Marco stomped his way toward the source of all of this mess and once he reached an arm length from Haruta, he hastily pulled the teen into a sided hug dragging his petite form with him below the deck and giving him no time to use his tricky puppy eyes "Let's go to your favorite place brat."
Haruta stopped thrashing at once, he swallowed peering at his blonde brother then asked hesitatingly "W-Where!?"
Marco glanced down smirking chillingly at the pale horror-struck teen "I bet you've missed the training quarter yoi," he said tightening his grip on Haru who started clawing at the blonde's arm seeking release.
"Speak for yourself!" The teen screeched horrendously resuming his fruitless struggle.
The pirates below deck were all baffled as they watched May marches past them with a happy expression and a sweet smile since it was the complete opposite of her dreadful mood awhile ago, not like they dislike seeing her contented and all but it was terribly unnerving.
She has done something –bad- and they all made a mental note to avoid Marco at all costs today.
Reaching her destination, May stood by the door of the kitchen ogling the busy spacious room with amazement. The chefs were lined in four columns and each row stood in front of one of the three long counters paralleled with each other, two attached to the walls and the third cut in the middle providing two platforms. It was fascinating how each one of the white-clothed men was totally engrossed in his own distinct task that they didn't feel May's presence at all, even after she approached them.
The clangs of clashing utensil, the sounds of boiling sauces and the sporadic yells of chefs in need of aid created an earsplitting cacophony that had an energetic vibe nonetheless. May heavily breathed in filling her lungs with a mixture of the different smells of cooking to the brim then she hummed in content mentally noting that next time she would change her regular food so she could taste some dishes she saw.
Forgotten all about her damned tasks, she looked intensely at a huge dish full of food set right in front of her.
The platter contained one large red crayfish with perfectly cooked oyster and peeled prawns adorning its sides, in addition to a bowl filled sauce, rounded slices of lemon and green herbs to decorated it…all in all, the meal was breathtaking and mouthwatering. Her gray eyes narrowed in predatory fashion and her stomach loudly growled reminding her that she didn't eat for a day and a half, her hand sneakily hurled toward the dish 'No one can finish that alone,' her brain stated –totally ignorant of the existing of a black hole called Luffy on the other half of this world- and pushed her to carry on her act 'C'mon, just a small bite! No one will notice anyway,' and here it comes the infamous lie that her hungry body easily fall for.
May bit her lower lips when her fingers inched extremely close from the pinkish big prawn, it was within her reach…
*SMACK*
"Ouch!" The brown-haired female shrieked instantly withdrawing her now, red throbbing hand. She looked at her side glaring at the culprit but was faced with his muscled chest instead of his head and that's one of the main reasons why she adores spending her time with Haruta, the teen never gives her the feeling of vulnerability or that she was petite in front of him since he was shorter. May looked up to be greeted by two set of bemused brown eyes and the frowning face of a middle-aged chef, the scar that ran down his cheek and halted right above his lower jaw added intimidation to his figure. The brunette found it hilarious that he has a long braid styled beard while his head was shiny bald, but she knew better than voicing her amusement 'Fake ignorance!' Her brain mightily ordered. The bastard always provides her with the worst ideas to accomplish and somehow convince her that they have bright sides but when it comes to consequences, he shrinks cowering in the cavern of her head and refuses to aid "What?" She yelled at the man in front of her, glaring back at him.
Hearing her defiant tone and seeing her stoic figure, the man's wrath increased and without breaking eye contact he strongly slammed a hand on the stool causing the different sounds in the kitchen to drawn into utter silence "No one touches the captain's food lass," his words were more like a growl spoken by his deep voice.
At that split-second and upon hearing the too familiar tone, loads of emotions surged through May. She felt like abruptly been sucked right into the core of her past's cyclone, once again dressed in her suffocating green uniform while standing stiffly shoulder-to-shoulder with other soldiers, the heavy scent of sweat and filth tickles her nose but she refuses to let her impassive mask fell. Here gray eyes were fixed on the dark horizon but her ears trails the plopping sound of her superior's boots partially blocking his loud scolding speech, back then she was just a mere newbie and akin to her comrades May internally prayed her monitor move past her rigid form otherwise she would be forced to hear his earsplitting voice spitting his venomous humiliating words disturbingly inches away from her face, she would be forced to look beyond him prohibited from defiantly holding his gaze and she would definitely be forced to bark her agreement at whatever he says regardless of her opinion, which she loathes the most.
In her current situation, May was similar to the ill-fated pitiable soldier that his supervisor choose to sully and she felt an automatic tug to avert her eyes, to submit and tamely comply.
And in that instant, May regarded herself less than human and more like a trained dog.
Gray eyes narrowed as the realization hit her hard, she restrained herself from biting her lower lip but her hand tightened around her other until she could feel her nails grazing her skin. It was the first time in her life that she disgustingly pitied herself to such a high degree then what followed her shame was the pure rage, not at the world or the chef but at her "I'm so fucking hungry," she shouted heatedly leaning so she could effectively meet the bald chef's angry stares "Besides…" she uttered snatching a prawn from Whitebeard's platter and to the watchers horror, audibly devouring it without chewing. After the thing, with little struggle, safely descended her throat the brunette added "Give the old man more sake and he won't complain…if he noticed that is."
May wasn't in the military anymore.
She wouldn't be punished with running under the scorching sun without water until her feet, throat and lungs burns, or performing hundreds of pushups till her muscles hurt. Thus there was no need to swallow her words, waggle her head up and down idly and endure public shaming.
*SMACK*…This time the bald chef mercilessly hit her with the side of his rough flat hand right at the peak of her head, it was…painful that May literally heard her teeth agonizingly clinging inside of her mouth "Ouch! Shit," she exclaimed placing both of her hands over her throbbing head which miraculously didn't split in two…yet, seeing as the man in front of her angrily huffed.
"I take it you're the rumored girl, lass," he said at least crossing his arms which earned him several sighs of relief from the others before they returned to accomplish their tasks.
The brunette gently rubbed the now sore swelling area, she barely could open one orb due to the dizziness and the uncontrolled tears that pooled in the corner of her eyes "It depends on what you've heard," she managed to retort with less venom than intended.
'I could live with pushups,' May thought dryly, she groaned when her stomach choose that certain moment to whine in form of a howl 'pathetic,' but despite her disheartening mental comment, she noticed that the feature of the bald chef softened.
He sighed, his rage instantly vanishing since he thought she lied to him about her famine like the majority of his brothers constantly does "Nothing good to mention," he breathed honestly causing the woman to straighten.
She smirked, pretty proud of her bad reputation "That would be me then, Onion head."
Upon hearing the –unintentional- insult, the group of cooks immediately stiffened and a shade curtained the eyes of the bald chef…No one ever dared to insult him head on, even before he joined the Whitebeards given that people were smarter than offending a former renowned pirate of Zeff's crew.
"First, its Yuudai-sama to you lass," he growled stepping closer to the brunette and so she stepped back, holding both hands and smiling awkwardly "Second, Pops' food is specially made by our commander Thatch," it isn't possible for the brunet to make food for the whole crew but he always do the great part of the job despite the presence of other chefs and that besides preparing whitebeard's dishes all alone which was a lot, thus seeing the food of his idol chef –after Zeff- treated so poorly was enraging…The last she could've done is chomping the damned prawn and enjoy its taste "Finally," he said and in spite of her vain attempt to stop him, he speedily gripped her ear pinching it. If anything the motion was habitual, a requirement to teach his pupil the hard way nothing else "You won't have one bite of chow until you finish your work."
"Ow," May whimpered "Let's solve this civilly Yuudai," the honorific refused to leave her throat so she swallowed it before it chokes the life out of her…Oh, bloody pride.
"Too late," the bloody chef start dragging her by the ear, the act was truly painful however there was something nostalgically familiar about it. When May wasn't by any mean a masochist, she let the pain guide her through the old dusty memories of when her mother did the same to her –gently of course- if she didn't behave.
Memories she thought were burned down with her home, and so she cursed the damned Whitebeard Pirates to the seven layers of hell because they make her happy, embarrassed, guilty and mad –in Marco's case- they make her feel every emotion she deliberately left behind and believed was ashes by then. But never had she felt lonely, sad or hurt in their presence…Hurt in the metaphorical sense, as if in hurting her heart since her body has already tasted the consequence of accompanying them be it accidental or intentional, like now.
Yuudai huffed pulling the female into one of the kitchen's corners were several bags of vegetables waiting to be peeled set and once there he let her go "Now, off to your work lass," he crossed his overly muscular arms in front of him scowling at her and refusing to move before she starts her work.
May clasped a hand over her red numb ear "For heaven's sake! Can't you act on the smoothness of your head?" She yelled, all the same reaching for a kitchen knife. Truth be told, his menacing dark aura did little pushing her to comply instead it was her rumbling stomach that did the whole job. She took the only seat in the middle of the dim corner and absentmindedly grabbed one vegetable "Oh look!" May enthusiastically exclaimed, eyes twinkling with mirth and mischief as she held a salad onion higher in front of her "It resembles you," then she chuckled, her statement was full of self-amusement than mockery.
"Let me tell you about that one pirate that I snapped his neck," the phrase was meant to be threatening but he was genuinely surprised when the brunette didn't even flinch, instead lifted one brow while her hands dexterously and rapidly worked on peeling the vegetables.
"Just one?" She asked scoffing and throwing the perfectly peeled onion into an empty basket.
To Yuudai, her inquiry was offending more than comparing him to an onion and so he starts recounting his adventures to her.
Thatch whistled tuning a harmonic melody while comfortably mopping the floor, the sun didn't bother him much and his haircut was curtaining his figure from its angry rays anyway. Contrary to May, he wasn't scrubbing the wood until its shiny clean and just simply drying it from the pooling water. He noticed that the brunette was working flawlessly without tricks which he found pleasant seeing as it gave him a vague sense of reassurance that she wasn't simply forced into this but deliberately given it her all without been asked to.
Laughter echoed behind him but he ignored them in favor of finishing his task as quick as possible but then he heard what his brothers were discussion due to their tendency of speaking aloud "I bet five thousand Beri that she won't make it out of there before engaging in a fight," the pirate eagerly shouted at his three companions. The burnet completely stopped his motion with a frown outlining his expression…a bet? Without him knowing? That was unheard of. The man flashed the gang a troubled smile "I think she might force a mute to snap with that mouth of hers."
Now his attention picked.
Thatch stood using the rod of his mop as a support and listened earnestly to his brothers whom speech perfectly portrays a certain –cute- female.
"Get a grip dude!" One of the three uttered rolling his eyes clearly annoyed his brother spent the day stalking the new girl and talking about nothing other than her "Though it's true Yuudai takes no shit," the trice the words left his mouth the gang heard the thumping sound of clashing wood followed by a thunderous shriek, they all turned toward the source of the sounds just to be greeted by the shell-shocked figure of their 4th division commander.
He was ogling them intently with round shaped eyes, both hands clasped over his cheeks and a wide opened mouth "B-Bro?" One of them said concernedly and like breaking the solidifying spell that was cast on the chef, he shrieked once again but this time dashing so fast that he turned to nothing but blur to the eyes while heading toward the kitchen and stirring clouds of dust behind him.
How could he forget all about his vice Yuudai?
besides the bald man's talent in cooking, he was placed in his position to balance thing in the kitchen, to fill a gap the commander Thatch has and which was his extreme kindness, hell the brunet would have feed whoever feigned famine without care to the rules and that could cause a serious shortage in provisions with over thousand pirates aboard the Moby. Thus, Yuudai take it upon himself to help set boundaries in that regard, however, the man was the exact opposite of Thatch and the latter feared for his beloved May.
When Yuudai won't cause her any severe injuries, his treatment is rough and harsh and that is to be expected from someone who has to deal with the foolishness and the antics of over thousand brothers.
Thatch kicked the wooden door open and stood next to its frame, breathing heavily as sweat tumbled down his faced.
He sensed that room was submerging into a heavy intense atmosphere and the stiff men cast him their hopeful eyes silently asking for help.
A stern expression took over the chef's feature, a rare sight but not here since he has to set equilibrium from his end as well.
Just as he stepped inside heading to the corner May should be occupying, the cooks visibly shivered when unrestrained laughs filled the kitchen.
"One of the bloodthirsty from our squad killed him, he was the first bully that I didn't harm," a feminine voice that the brunet grew familiar with, loudly declared. Thatch tilted his head in confusion, given that his brothers looked troubled but the female sounded happy and so he moved sluggishly approaching the two.
"You couldn't," Yuudai corrected in a rare mocking tone, a snort escaping his lips. At some point, his and May's quarrel turned to some kind of contest in which they recount their adventures and mock each other, then they somehow included their misadventures.
"Umm…" She uttered softly searching for the suitable description for the former captain of her squad as she recalls his awful treatment "He was like my father," by then Thatch was right in front of the two who set opposite to each other with half empty plates before the brunette, a sign that she finished her work. They didn't sense him yet seeing as they were engulfed in their conversation and so the commander opened his mouth to speak and express his consolation over the person May regarded as a father.
Though the bald chef beat him to "Means you couldn't kill him because of his status," he stated in a matter-of-fact tone like he has known the woman for years now and could easily guess what she implied then he rowdily burst out laughing when she nodded with a smile.
Thatch sweat dropped twice feeling the swarm of the white-clothed men behind him quiver and hearing them whimper like kicked puppets and he couldn't blame any of them for been scared, that's what you've got after listening to the so called 'adventures of Yuudai'.
The brunette shrugged "Pretty much. Besides, I would be the first suspect since I was his vice."
May was oblivious that her straightforward words were making Thatch want to eat his clothes from…despair? He actually turned to his brothers, fiercely biting on the yellow scarf he has around his neck with two rivulets of tears streaming down his cheeks while internally wondering how could May say things like that calmly, innocently and so damn naturally.
As if reading his mind, his brothers nodded with a bluish aura crowning their heads.
Though his depression turned to relief when he darted toward the two once again and saw the female chewing –with her mouth shut- Well, At least she's still in one piece right?
"Ahem ahem," He cleared his throat making his presence knowing and once the two sets of eyes flung toward him, he spoke "Enjoying yourselves huh?"
May huffed, swinging her head to the other side seemingly sulking. Thatch mumbled something under his breath but didn't push the matter since he actually was hoping to see her babyishly pout, thinking that that would be a sight to behold.
Her stormy eyes landed on Yuudai, the man who confidently recounted his past and boasted about his achievement, now is bowing his head. It wasn't from weakness or fear but from pure respect to his commander and that didn't belittle his swelling pride nor did it notch his honor, even though Thatch was younger than him.
The small action that ended in a wink wasn't obligatory, hell it has gone entirely unnoticed by the happy-go-lucky.
'That's what the world needed,' she let the random thought echoes inside of her mind.
They must understand that our value is beyond the number of years we lived. Our knowledge is beyond the number of scars we held. That fear will never impose respect just as slavery will never impose loyalty and that violent will never ever be a solution.
Every war is made to stop a war they said 'What a joke.' Not when even after the battles ends and the winners' vociferous celebrations block out the losers wails, we still have seeds of hate buried inside of our depth. Snarls, insults, and promises of bloody revenge bounce back and forth between teams.
"The men are gathered in the gallery," one of the staff informed pulling May out of her thought, the pirates are waiting for food to be served and so the chefs starts heading out to join their brothers while removing their white long hats and sighing out of their relief.
The brunette stood as well, wincing and dusting her pants from what little food fell on them "I ate," she softly told the 4th commander without meeting his gazes and fully aware she won't hear the end of it if she skipped a meal "and I want to rest," at times been alone is all she asks for and this moment is one of them.
Thatch nodded "Alright," he said quietly causing May to look at him with shocked expression while thinking 'So…he can be considerate.' And that was a split second before he added with his signature bright smile "You can use my lap."
Leave it to Thatch to understand what's between the lines.
Before May could even react, a flat hand hit the happy-go-lucky right into the peak of his head. She grimaced seeing the hurtful expression of the brunet and recalling that that was her in the same position an hour ago "You're not skipping your meal lad and it's your turn to help washing dishes afterward," Yuudai shouted, his voice rough and eyes red.
"C'mon~" The brunet whimpered and in a failed attempt used his puppy eyes on the bald chef who indifferently grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out of the kitchen.
Though before they left Yuudai sternly reminded the brown-haired woman "Don't forget to refill Pops' Jar of sake and put the crabs in the sink," this must be done after dinner since the majority of the pirates get wasted, flow to seven clouds and overlook their duties so she has to do it for them which was the result of telling Onion-head that she wasn't fond of drinking alcoholics.
May nodded.
"Be super careful love," Thatch said while been dragged and even after he was completely out of her sight he continued while raising the volume of his voice. The brunette rolled her eyes "The red devil's crabs bite SO DAMN HARD…Ouch," and that was followed by a loud 'shut up'.
May chuckled shaking her head and wondering if the future has stored for her some peaceful quiet days, though she highly doubts that.
Reaching the idle main deck, May stretched her arms soaking in the warm sun with a smile tracing her lips. The idea of taking a small nap popped into her head hence, taking advantage of been all alone, she walked searching for a place concealed from the prying eyes of the pirates and their loud silly quarrels.
However, her leisurely steps came to a soundless halt when she caught a glimpse of a silhouette standing across from the mizzenmast which was strange.
She shifted restlessly in search of a position that will provide her of a good sight of the man –she concluded from his big dimensions- then placed her hand over her head screening her face from the sun's light while narrowing her eyes, which proved to be effective.
Tanned skin, heavily armored, stripe-like patterns for a hairstyle and…a perpetual scowl.
May gasped "Oh fuck!" she spat bitterly "A commander," and not any commander, it's just happened to be the always frowning one. She grimaced recalling the multiple times she greeted him and he would silently and curtly nod with the grumpy glare stuck on his face which caused her to wonder if her presence bothers him but she shrugged it off, it wasn't her problem if it does.
Jozu never approached her or spoke to her for that matter but she feared he would use his part of the deal and starts ordering her around just because he disliked her face or whatever it is and she has no choice but to comply… Maybe later since now, she wants to take a nap and a nap she will surely get.
The brunette crouched then stealthy walked on the tip of her toes keen to use the longest way just to avoid the giant man and she had actually felt relieved when she marched behind the mizzenmast without been noticed, her steps growing wider with each passing second until…
"Hey!" a deep voice shouted.
May winced cursing under her breath, next she cleared her throat straightening and adjusting her pose. She lightly pushed her bangs as if they were hindering her vision and licked her dry lips then resumed her course like she heard nothing…Well, If she's going to ignore someone at least she would be doing it with grace.
She heard a faint growl but didn't stop.
"YOU!" Jozu tried again unintentionally louder this time, it irritated him that she had so easily deceived him into thinking she would answer his first call. It irritated him more than been avoided by her even though he felt her presence the moment she stepped on the main deck, he was basically waiting for her and decided to skip his meal so he could talk to her…and that's what he get.
May shoved her hands inside the sides of her pants and whistled indifferently, it was easy to imagine the empty platform full of pirates and many 'You-s' not just her.
A groan of defeat then…"Tomboy," he whispered.
The brunette froze in her spot then turned her head with a dizzying speed, a vein throbbing at her temple "What the fuck did you say?" she screamed.
Jozu sighed folding his muscled arms into his chest "So you are not deaf," he stated calmly.
May's jaw dropped that she suspected it hit the floor then snapping out of her shock she yelled more heatedly, disbelieve tainting her tone "I'd say you're just way too fucking dense."
He looked at her with his frowning –standard- facial expression that screamed 'try harder, I'm pissing the hell out of you just been me' then after awhile of glaring at each other he broke the silence "Follow me," he commanded walking away without waiting for her consent.
"Urgh," she screamed aloud stomping the wooden poor floor with her feet repeatedly and strongly, she was unaware that the gallery was right under her and that she had caused a couple of pirates to choke into their food or spit drinks on their friends…If she known, she would have marked the spot to do it more often. Once she felt worn out, May took deep breaths regulating her heartbeats then hoarsely yelled –or at least tried- "Wait for me!" She dashed trailing the third commander who marched at a snail's pace probably slowing for her sake…or so she hoped.
Their small silent trip ended into one of the storage rooms.
Jozu opened the room, entered then starts checking some boxes and scribing something into a document while May was left standing at the door's frame, confused and irritated.
He didn't speak until she made the first move and get into the room by her own accord "Sit," was all he said and the brunette mused if he thought she was distrusting him as she took the only available wooden chair there.
"What should I do?" She asked tilting her head.
"There are almost two thousand storage rooms in the Moby Dick and many of them are barely used, few are in form of secret rooms that the majority of the crew doesn't know exist," he said voice steady with his enormous back facing her as he continues his task.
"My! You can speak more than one sentence?" She exclaimed cutting in his boring story that begun lulling her to sleep "I thought you're programmed-…" whatever she was planning to say died within her throat when he sideway glanced at her with his intimidating scowl, she used her hand to veil her mouth then mumbled, "Sorry, please go on."
"Checking on supplies or cleaning one of them goes unsupervised and so some of my brothers, especially newbie, use the opportunity to take a break known that there is a very small chance to get caught."
Did he just tell her how to skip her duties without been caught?
May blanked, her eyes and mouth falling agape "Are you sure you should be telling me this?" She asked with awe, he didn't look like someone who would carelessly give away something like that…to be exact he didn't look like Izo at all.
"Even the most social person, at some point needs to be alone. Sort his thoughts and have a break from all the chaos of this world," he uttered.
The brunette tiredly placed her hands on her lap then mumbled "You guys are weird," regardless of the results, they were trying to help her.
The third division's commander sighed "You can say that again."
May stared at his huge back for seconds, amused at the natural way with which he made the spacious room looks smaller in his presence "You are so weird," she remorsefully admitted making him tear his attention from the boxes. She held her hands up in a surrendering gesture when he darted toward her with a raised eyebrow "I'm sorry but I really thought you hated me."
Jozu scoffed, a ghost of a smile passed through his feature "That's nothing in front of the troubles my facial expression caused me."
"That I can imagine," May joyfully laughed "Thanks," she gratefully breathed which was answered with a firm nod from the commander.
The room fell into a comfortable silence as Jozu resumed his duty and May kept watching him, she knew he wouldn't stop her if she excused herself but she felt strangely relaxed and peaceful been with him which was much better than the guilt and blame that always accompanies her isolation.
She kept watching him until her body went limp, her vision darkened and her breath evened.
Jozu almost instantly sighed putting the trivial papers from his hands, he pulled one of the coverlets from a cardboard box and dusted swiftly then placed it over the petit form of the slumbering female.
The commander grinned when a soft smile traced her lips as she lightly snuggled into the warm cover then he left the room hoping his brothers didn't ravage all the food and praying the female won't blame him when she woke up with a sore neck, he quite honestly can't deal with what Marco went through.
So how it was? Good or Bad? Feel free to review.
yaoi-freak2580: Thank you so much for your nice review, I'm so happy you find the story to your liking and that it makes you smile (I'll take that as a reward *so grateful to you*) :D Oh well...May's past...you're right, I can't answer your question cause I'll give some major spoilers. Wish you enjoyed this chapter and hope things are well for you too :)) Thanks, Thanks...
lizziecats: First, I'm feeling awful for the late updates and I'm so sorry for them but I'm your typical university poor student lol :)) my schedule is still tight but like I promised before I'll try hard to update next time sooner if it's possible and I will not abandon this fiction, you have my word :D Now about May, guess she is on the right path. right? Thank you so much for your long enjoyable reviews and constant support :*
sousie: Lol she really can't pay her debt, it will take her years and I would say May already aware of that but why she wouldn't gave up will be revealed next chapter ;)) Thanks for your review and hope you enjoyed this chapter :)
baronnis: Paying them back will take years :p but not the story so rest assured :)) There would be events that will change things...I know I'm been vague but spoilers are on the tip of my tongue :( Well, thank you for your nice review and wish this chapter is for your liking. See you soon :D
AndurilofTolkien: Ah Thank you, Thank you so much for your review and your constant support :D hope you enjoyed this chapter even though we didn't see much of Marco but next chapter I promise :))
Strangersaannn: Lol you can compare now, if you like this chapter as well then it's because of the waiting time :p (Wait O.O! This isn't funny I should be sorry for the late updates) Seriously, I'm so sorry (T.T)...OMG! I laughed so hard at the part where you mentioned Vista...Well, she'll eventually get closer from them and we'll see a jealous Marco, a jealous May and a jealous...(Wait O.O!) NO MORE SPOILERS FOR YOU :(( If it's possible I'll include all of the commanders :D Ah, Thank you so much and I surely love your reviews :))) -Stay Splendid My Special Friend-
Sapphire: Thank you sooo much, I'm so happy you like it and there will be more to Haruta and May's relationship. What can I say about Thatch, the troublemaker he is :)) Hope you enjoyed this chapter as well and Thank you once again for your lovely review.
Trich: Well, May have two options the first is to work under them and the second is to join them and her debts will be completely forgotten but what she doesn't like about this whole things is forcing her to join, she wanted to choose for herself. Now, if you means by been a pirates is been a pirate all by herself then that would be hard since she have no Idea how the world is divided or works and has no maps of treasures or whosever...but if you means she could join the Whiteabreds and gather treasures to pay her debts, then that would be akin to breaking a promise...if she joins then that would be final. Hopes this explain her choice :)) thank you so much for your review :D
I'm drained from any sort of energy :(( I'll take a nap...
Thank you guys for reviewing, favoring and following this story :)) it means a lot.
Ciao Next Chapter! Have a good day:) a nice week :)) and just a wonderful life in general XD