Fiadh wasn't entirely certain what she had expected. She wasn't so frivolous to expect a complete change in her dynamic with Katakuri, but she also didn't expect no change at all. The next morning Katakuri didn't even so much as greet her when she passed him. Maybe it made it easier for the giant man to comprehend showing his face willingly for the first time in decades. For her Fia was annoyed, but tolerant. She didn't want for him to suddenly act ass over heels for her, but there was no change at all that she noticed in how he interacted.

The woman couldn't help but bitterly think of his bold statement of courting her properly, and even asking permission to do so. Childishly she found herself making faces at him but never vocalized her discontent. Part of her wondered if that night of boldness had even happened at all or if she had some realistic hallucination.

Meanwhile the awkward, intimidating looking man simply wasn't entirely certain how to follow through on his bold statement. He felt comfortable where they had been before but this uncharted territory was daunting to him. Of course he's had his share of romantic flings, but they had always been women pursuing him. Not him trying to pursue them in any way. They were also less than a day from their next destination.

Fiadh had continued her routine care for her patient who was finally looking significantly better, and even had begun walking around. He still rarely spoke to her except to request specific foods, cheeky brat… But Fia always enjoyed the warm feeling at a successful case. She had lost many patients over the years, but regardless of success they all lived on with her. It was almost time to find a new island home for her large patient, she could tell he was outstaying his welcome with some of the crew who were thoroughly uncomfortable with him being aboard. He was a massive hybrid animal of unknown origins, so Fia wasn't surprised. Regardless of their discomfort she would still take him with her above deck to sunbathe and get fresh air whenever she could.

Fiadh had also been answering or making constant calls on various den den mushi's. Quite a few to her shitty kid too, they'd been fighting the past few days over her suggestion on which crew he should ally with. Apparently the monkey boy hadn't impressed Law overwhelmingly, though he did confirm her suspicion that the boy was definitely alive. Fia had known of Law's trip to Marineford, but didn't know he had picked up Strawhat from the battlefield. The news clearly purposefully skimmed over that, and she knew better than to unnecessarily fret over the boy, he'd just ignore her calls completely if she did that.

It would be interesting to see how these two very different crews and captains mix. In all honesty it was mostly Fiadh sticking her nose into Law's life and hoping this could help him grow and heal. But she'd never tell that to the dark and brooding child.

She had also confirmed their arrival to Oka, and had to prepare her very… interesting attire that was required in the semi-intricate court system on the island. The ambassador she had been coordinating with was very helpful in informing her ahead of time what to expect. Though it would be quite the formal affair, she felt a surprising amount of hospitality. She'd never directly gone to do business with Oka's ruling family so it was somewhat uncharted territory.

Fia couldn't help but groan at the thought of trying to explain the clothes Katakuri would have to wear. It wasn't exactly the man's typical "lack-of-shirt" style and he'd definitely get fed up with it quickly. Fiadh couldn't help but mentally note how much she'd subconsciously been appreciating the larger man's sculptured torso being on display until she had to think of tailoring an acceptable outfit for him. A true shame for women everywhere.

"Hey poison breath, let's go back below deck." Fia says to the black hound sprawled out with its tail lazily thumping on the deck. His nub like horns caught the sunlight and Fiadh's eye as she notices they've noticeably grown in length since his improved diet and lack of poison trying to kill him.

The only response she got was a grumpy huff, before he picked up his large head waiting for her to lead the way.

"You know it really wouldn't kill you to open up a bit more. You're as boring as Darra to talk to." Fia says huffily. Meanwhile the crew looks at her like she has a third eye growing out of the back of her head. Fiadhs certain they think she's a batshit crazy lady talking to the beast following at her heels.

"Maybe if you got rid of that disgusting nickname I'd contemplate that." The hound shockingly grumbled back a response. His deep voice still shocked Fiadh every time but she grins a wide toothy smile down at him in victory.

"Well maybee~ if my stubborn ass patient told me his name when I asked I wouldn't have to use nicknames!" Fiadh responds in a snarky tone.

"Don't have one." He says gruffly and in a sour tone.

Fiadh pauses for only a moment before saying, "That won't do at all! Well what about Asra?"

"Does it have a meaning..?"

"Yup, 'one that travels at night' seems fitting for your coat of fur and piercing eyes." Fia says with a large grin.

The large hound goes completely silent and seems to contemplate the name. After reaching the room he stays in he simply nods his head to Fia as if confirming the name was acceptable. Fiadh stayed silent since it seemed the hound needed to sort through his thoughts first.

"Glad you like it! I'll be back with lunch in a bit Asra. Get some rest till then." Fiadh leaves after patting his head. He'd come to fully accept her casual, friendly contact after his surgery.

Heading straight for the kitchen Fia collects her patients lunch and her own before turning to head out. None of the chefs greet her in the afternoon as they are always busy rushing to finish the crew's lunch and prepare Katakuri's merienda. As Fiadh heads back she sees the familiar disheveled, maroon hair walking towards her.

"Good evening Katakuri." Fiadh says calmly with a smile on her face that didn't completely reach her eyes like normal.

"Ah, hello." He says with bleary eyes. Despite it being well past noon he had clearly just woken up, and looked very confused.

"I'll stop by later this evening to discuss Oka's nobles briefly with you and drop off the clothes you'll be required to wear." Fiadh says while continuing her walk back to her patient, "See you then."

The dismissal was clear so Katakuri simply nods his head. He was becoming painfully aware of how inexperienced he truly was in the field of romance... Maybe he should call one of his married siblings for advice. Even then he didn't feel comfortable opening up to any of them about his personal life.

Katakuri turned and watched the woman walk away and wondered if she would accept another spar with him. Maybe if he let her knock his head into the deck boards a few times he'd have a spark of a clue on what to do now. Fighting was something he could do, all this politics, and emotions stuff? Absolutely not.

Sighing the man couldn't help but wonder what the hell he was even doing. He was still staring at the hallway Fiadh had long since disappeared from, firmly stuck in his own head. Damnit, if only he'd listened to his siblings when they'd talked to him about their spouses over the years.

Elsewhere, Fiadh was sitting by Asra eating peacefully and reading a book that she'd procured on Oka's court system. There were 5 ruling families that ran the country through generational inheritance with the assistance of a democratic system below them that aided in politics and country affairs.

The ruling families were more of figureheads now that mostly just broke tied votes, rarely vetoing anything ever, and helped keep the peace within the country itself. Whereas the challenge for Fiadh would come from the actual members of the court who held the true power of the vote.

It was expected for anyone visiting the court with an appeal to wear their traditional garbs, a very strange looking head garb, and to be completely barefoot with nothing in your hands, or pockets. The bottom half of the clothing looked like a hakama to Fiadh, yet the top part was what distinguished men from women. The country was quite sexist in the fact few women held any power and did not have equal footing as men in the country itself. Though Fiadh wouldn't respect that aspect of their "culture" in the least, but she would respect what she knew was necessary.

The females wore a skin tight long sleeve shirt with a wrap overtop that went over one shoulder, whichever way you wore it also signified if you were married or not as well. Fiadh felt a growing headache as she realized just how convoluted this mess would be. Luckily all Katakuri had to wear was a pre-prepared button down shirt that was long sleeve and the color on the cuffs was all that signified the man's marital status.

Fia already had her official request for business prepared to give to the courts. This way she could minimize her interaction with them and lower the chance of fucking something up accidentally. However, it didn't completely free her from the confine that is the worst part of her job… Politics and socializing. She'd already been hinted to that they planned on holding a ball if the business deal is a success. Meaning she'd have to also figure out what the hell she was supposed to wear for that when she arrived at Oka.

They would arrive at first light tomorrow, meaning there was less than 16 hours for Fiadh to get Katakuri and herself straightened out. The clothes she had been sent were an atrocious color for her and Katakuri's hair. However, clashing colors were the least of her worries as she tried to understand how the hell she was supposed to fix the clothing in the proper manner. Females had so many fucking steps for absolutely no reason and it was why Fia despised misogynistic societies.

The sound of sharp knocks on the door shocked her, no one ever travelled to the part of the ship she kept Asra at. It's why she did most of her work here. Speaking of the hound, he passed out after eating, completely unaware of Fiadh's struggles.

"Yes?"

"It's me." came Katakuri's deep voice.

Fiadh got up grabbing her notebook and book so as to not disturb her patient. She quietly opened the door and stepped out into the hallway.

"What's up?" She asks with a small head tilt.

"Uh, didn't have anything going on so thought we could discuss Oka now." Katakuri said, his visible ears going slightly pink as he thought about how adorable Fiadh was when she tilted her head while looking up at him. He also took note of the casual clothes she was wearing. Despite clearly dressing for comfort he couldn't help but appreciate how the plain grey long sleeve shirt clung to her shape and the casual black sweatpants hung off her hips and pooled at her sandal clad feet clearly a few sizes too large.

"Sure, where you wanna chat? Asra is resting right now so can't stay here." Fiadh says, keeping a low volume.

"My room? Um, my merienda will be soon and I wanted you to join me for it." Katakuri's ears were not flaming red as he realised he'd been staring at a strip of flesh visible above the woman's pants. He's so distracted he doesn't even question the new name Fia uses for her patient.

"Sure! I just ate lunch, but I could totally use some tea and sweets." Fiadh says excitedly, she silently hoped to get to see the man's face and watch it as he enjoyed his favorite foods.

Katakuri just nods and turns to lead the way, he silently drags a hand down his face and feels a pleasant tingle down his spine as his mark heats up a degree by the second. They reach his room and he has to choke down the desire to itch where the mark is located. He silently wonders if Fiadh has the same feeling, as he holds the door open for her he sees the shorter woman grin up at him but as she walks in she itches where her mark is located. Katakuri feels a smirk reach his face as he realizes it's likely a shared feeling.

"Feel free to sit wherever." Katakuri says.

"Okay~! UGH!" Fiadh finishes as she flops onto the couch face first.

Katakuri stares wide eyed at the strange woman as she releases another groan.

"Is… something wrong?" Katakuri asks, wondering if he's accidentally opening a mini pandora's box.

"Oka, is what's wrong." Fia huffs out words muffled by the couch cushion, "They have the most ridiculously strict customs and traditions, and are soo beyond misogynistic."

"Ah… Can I help?"

"Yes, wear what I tell you to tomorrow, and don't laugh at what I'm forced to wear."

Katakuri just nods his head as though he understands as he's been conditioned to do by his sisters. When he looks over Fiadh is holding up her journal for their trip still face down. He walks over and flips to where the woman has bookmarked and begins reading up her abridged version of the rules he'd have to follow. His eyebrows knit and he's certain there's even more of a scowl then his normal resting face.

Though he can tell he'd have no real issues except the necessity of a shirt, however, Fiadh would have a significantly harder time. While men seemed to be able to speak freely within reason women weren't even allowed to speak up unless spoken to first in court. Then seeing the intricate rules on clothing he felt pressure build at his temples. Hopefully Fiadh could make sense of the nonsense because he definitely couldn't.

"Um…" Katakuri dragged a hand through his hair realizing why Fiadh was face down on his couch still.

A knock at the door saved Katakuri from further straining his eyes rereading the same page of convoluted sentences.

"Come in."

The chefs rushed in setting up a folding table with a buffet worth of sweets and massive tea pots of tea. Katakuri dismissed them with a wave of his hand and quickly realized how he screwed himself over. Even if Fiadh hadn't reacted to his face there was no way she would be able to overlook his horrendous table manners and disgusting way of eating. However, judging from Fiadh still laying defeated on his couch… He doubted she'd be getting up anytime soon.

Fia found herself accidentally slipping into unconsciousness as she became overly relaxed on the comfortable couch. The couch smelt like sea salt and syrup likely from sweets Katakuri dropped on it. She was also far more tired than she had thought. Recently dreams had plagued her every night, both good and bad. All spurred by the troublesome man in the very room she was dozing off in.

Katakuri couldn't wait any longer so he pulled his scarf off and wasting no time he shoved a tray of donuts into his mouth. His jaw unhinging and stretching as always, and he crammed the food scarfing it down at a terrifying rate. One might even wonder if he even tasted the food. The man always did though, he savored every sweet despite the manner he ate them.

His eyes widen as he realizes that the sweets tasted better than normal. Almost on par with the ones Fiadh made him previously. Eyebrows knitting in confusion and he glances over to Fia who is softly snoring. The only conclusion he could make was that it was caused by her presence. Maybe her being around for his meriendas wouldn't be such a terrible idea… Although he's saying this while she is clear napping away on his couch leaving him with little concern on her seeing him currently.

He made a mental note to check with the chefs just to make sure they hadn't done anything different from normal as he could just be jumping to conclusions. Wandering over to Fiadh he sits on the coffee table in front of the couch with a large platter in each hand. One holds large finger donuts, some filled, others plain. The other holds large macaroons, a rainbow of color.

Fia's head had rolled to one side giving him a good look at half her face. Though that was mostly obscured by her hair. Reaching out he subconsciously moves strands away from her face.

"Hm…"

Katakuri jerks away as Fia's face scrunches at the light contact her shifting hair caused and her face ends up back in the cushion. The large man held his breath in fear that she would wake up and sat back onto the table. After a minute had passed he continued to eat the donuts and macaroons while staring at the shifting colors in Fiadh's hair. Her fiery hair was as interesting to watch as an active flame, she had such a wide array of colors he couldn't comprehend just calling it red. There was blonde, brown, orange, and even a hint of burnt burnt burgundy.

Her slow breathes filled him with a sense of calm he found fascinating. He could honestly say he'd never felt so at peace while around another human being. Regardless of familial status, ever human set him on edge. Yet Fiadh completely went under that radar he'd meticulously built through decades of practice. He couldn't even pick the woman up while using his kenbunshoku haki that was strong enough to even let him see into the future.

Katakuri couldn't help his travelling eyes that took note of the tight jeans she was wearing that clung to her legs, defined muscles that showed Fiadh's strength. The plain grey sweater she wore hung off one shoulder and she seemed to swim in it in comparison to the pants. It looked soft and he almost reached out to feel the material. She had thrown her flip flops off her feet when she flopped onto the couch. After his eyes swept over the woman again he couldn't deny the physical attraction he had to her on top of his general respect for the strong willed, crazy woman. A dull heat filled his lower abdomen and he tore his eyes from her to take deep slow breaths. The last thing he needed was to embarrass himself even more getting a stiffy staring at his fated person's sleeping figure.

Under his breath, quieter than a whisper he says, "You could become my seastone so fucking easily…"

Despite the fact that revelation should have terrified him as it did when they first met, he still felt completely at peace if not for his sweat caused by his physical reaction. Regardless of the fact Fiadh made it clear he shouldn't get his hopes up he felt it was well within his rights as her soulmate to covet this feeling. Even if they never could be more… He'd be okay with just having her presence like this.

Katakuri then noticed he'd finished half his merienda snacks, even using his devil fruit ability to ferry more of the desserts to himself.

He left a plate to the side of him on the short table with an assortment of the remaining sweets as well as one of the tea pots he had yet to touch. Though he didn't think much of it while doing it now he stopped to stare at the collection he had accumulated. It wasn't like him to so naturally share his sweets, or act at all in the manner he had been. While looking down at Fiadh he couldn't bring himself to really care.

"Puru puru puru"

The loud ringing of a den den mushi made Katakuri jump and set his heart racing.

"Ugh… Don't wanna." Came a grumble from Fiadh before she arose from the dead like a zombie to answer the incoming call.

Katakuri stared with wide eyes as the half asleep Fiadh yanked the receiver off the small snail that had been tucked away.

"Hello." Came a snappy, pissed response from the woman.

Fia looked up and grinned at Katakuri though even mouthing thank you to him as she noticed the plate set to the side for her. Though she didn't bat an eye at it she appreciated being able to see the man's full face again. She found it extremely attractive, especially cute in the moment since she could see some sort of sweet stuck on his cheek by one of his sharp teeth that stuck out.

The large man felt very naked without his scarf at that moment. He reaches up to shield his face a bit but nods to Fia. Moving away from the table he walks to where he had left his scarf on the merienda table that had been set up.

A familiar voice came from the snail, "Ah~, you always answer pissed when I call."

"Hm, then stop calling." Fia feels her mood dampen as she sees Katakuri place the scarf securely around his face again.

"Well this time it's for business, so I'm so sorry~ for the inconvenience." Came the annoyingly sarcastic drawl from the other side.

Fiadh's face twisted in annoyance at the thought of more work though it also held concern.

"What do you need and how classified?"

"Hmmm, does the anti-social food nerd actually have someone around? Ararara~! This is new!"

"Fuck off icy."

"I'll call back later, have funn~"

"Gacha"

"FUCKIN-" Fiadh cuts herself off and sighs in irritation, her hands rake down her face in exasperation.

"That seemed… Interesting." Katakuri felt a knot of jealousy grow tighter. He knows that's the same person who Fiadh had been talking to before.

"He never fucking calls, except when it's most inconvenient." Fiadh huffs again grabbing a sweet off the plate and shoving it into her face. A very unladylike display, but she couldn't give less shits at the moment.

Katakuri felt heat bloom in his chest at the site of the woman enjoying the desert in just a familiar manner. He had to cough to clear his throat before he could speak again.

"Um… Who..?" He couldn't form the complete question as he was thoroughly embarrassed at the growing jealousy he was feeling towards a completely unknown person.

"Hm?" Fiadh says looking up with half a macaroon sticking out of her mouth. "Oh, that was a friend of mine. He's a marine, well used to be… Saw on the news recently some shit went down last week. I'll have to catch up with him later."

The woman didn't seem overly stressed but in reality she had thoroughly panicked when she saw Kuzan had fought Sakazuki of all people. She knew for a fact he didn't get out of that fight in one piece. No one fought Sakazuki without proof of the fight. Her scar ached and felt like the entire length of it was burning as her thoughts wandered.

"Ah… Close friend then?" Katakuri felt even more curious, and surprisingly as he watched her talk about this person he felt less jealous. Fiadh wasn't hiding her true emotions, instead they were clearly on her face. She was concerned, and reminiscent.

"Yea, kinda." Fiadh says with a shrug. She really wasn't able to talk much about her marine contacts with a notorious pirate. "Anyway, did you read my notes for Oka."
Katakuri avoided eye contact, instead finding an interesting knot in the wood on the wall of his cabin.

"Hm, yeaa understandable… At least skim it?" Fia said with a raised eyebrow.

Katakuri nodded in response moving over to sit next to Fiadh on the couch made to accommodate giants such as himself. He then noticed that the large couch almost made Fia seem small, though he was aware of the woman being unnaturally tall for a normal person.

"Good! Then I'll just fill in the gaps." Fiadh then began prattling on about Oka and all of what she had been reading up on the past few hours. By the time she was finished it was nearly dinner time yet neither was hungry from the constant snacking of sweets and ever flowing pots of tea.

"Well that should be good enough. We'll probably be stuck in Oka a bit longer than Shiratamako Island. Afterwards, we'll have a couple day hop to our last island in the New World! Unless something changes with that other tentative one…"

Katakuri just silently nodded along to Fiadh's rambling that he found he had endless patience for.

"Would you like to spar sometime?" He accidentally blurted out what had been in the back of his mind all day completely derailing the woman. Fuck… He should have asked her for a date, not to fucking fight. The thought of sparing again was so much more comfortable for him though.

"Uh, yea sure? Guess I should… Gonna get fat eating all these sweets that you always have." Fia grins up at the man making his ears go red. She wished he hadn't put his scarf back on since it was thoroughly entertaining seeing his face flush completely. But Fia would of course go at the pace the man set for that.

They spent a bit longer chatting, aka Fiadh rambling more about Oka to Katakuri who nodded along. She then left to go get the clothes he'd need for their fast approaching arrival from her room. While there she eyed her own outfit with disdain but quickly went back to Katakuri.

"No, you need to put your arm through this hole!" Fiadh directed the larger man with flailing arms. It felt like wrangling a toddler the size of a mountain for her.

Katakuri's ears burnt in embarrassment as he continued to struggle with the large shirt Fiadh was trying to shove over his head. They had both agreed that he needed to test out putting on the clothing first. Katakuri had changed into the pants after shoving Fiadh out into the hallway and then let her fuss over the top. He had been against changing in front of Fiadh but when she hadn't batted an eye at it he became irritated. The thought of Fia not seeing him as a man annoyed him to an alarming degree.

Whereas Fiadh simply was in work mode, and desperately trying to reign in any other emotions. Unaware of each other's internal struggle the dense morons continued their fight with the silk garment. Eventually they figured it out and Fia rushed about Katakuri straightening out the cloth and fixing a sash around his waist. When she reached around him his entire body tensed, and even Fiadh felt her ears burn hot.

"Sorry, was trying not to make you uncomfortable…" Fia mumbles.

"You're fine… It's.. nice." Katakuri mumbled back hiding as much of his face as he could in his scarf.

"Oh… Yea, I agree." Fia responds a bit louder.

Katakuri glances down and can't help but wrap his arms around the shorter woman. The temptation was too steep, and he got to feel just how soft her sweater really was. It felt like cotton and wool mixed into a ball of warmth. Fia's face completely flushed red yet she still kept her arms wrapped around his torso holding the sash. Though she only came up to the bottom of the man's rib cage in their current position it still felt like that cliche, metaphorical puzzle pieces clicking into place.

Against his control he felt a content grumble in his chest, the vibration made Fia jump and look up at the mortified man. The previously forgotten heat had returned seeking revenge, and Katakuri prayed to Branwen herself, Fiadh didn't notice.

"That was cute." Fia says with a completely straight face before breaking down laughing. She curled forward in her laughter letting her face completely rest against the man's torso.

Katakuri didn't think his body temperature could increase anymore than it had, but it did. He felt itchy from the discomfort his embarrassment caused but he just looked away from Fia without letting her go. A light push on his chest sent his arms flying away from her though. Fiadh finished tying the sash and simply grinned up at him with the most brilliant smile he'd ever seen, though he honestly felt that way every time she smiled like this at him.

"You really are a sweetie deep down, huh?"

"You're probably the only one in the world crazy enough to say that…" Katakuri grumbled at the woman. He was well aware in that moment the only person he would ever be this soft with would be her.

"Awee, that's okay. You're the only one I'm this nice to too." Fia grins back at him and Katakuri can't help feel bitterness in the fact that it was a lie.

"No, you are to your kid."

"That's different and you know it." Fiadh stares back at him in challenge before saying, "Katakuri whether you realize it or not I treat you differently. I can't seem to control it, and it's frustrating as hell at times, but I also don't want to fight it."

Oh… She felt the same.

"Ah… I...the same." Katakuri couldn't form the right words to explain that he agreed with her and it was the same for him. He wasn't unsure, he wasn't stuttering, the words just refused to come out.

"I know." Fia smiles her brilliantly bright grin back up at him.

Despite his awkwardness and the fact he couldn't communicate worth a damn… Fiadh didn't seem to mind. Regardless of his botched attempts at trying to convey his confusing ass emotions, Fia seemed to have endless patience for him. Yet again he felt appreciation towards Branwen for sending such a woman to him. Though he supposed that was more his Mama's doing in a literal sense.

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow morning at first light! Let's get this shit show over with." Fia lightly hits Katakuri's chest with the back of her hand as she moves away from him. She had completely dispelled the moment they had been having, but he was okay with that. Any longer and he probably would've let something stupid exit his mouth.

She had successfully tied the sash on him without his notice and he was not standing in the full traditional Oka garb. The top and bottom were primarily black with gold trim and accents. The gold showed an unmarried man's status, while black was used to show he was an outsider and not from Oka. The sash was an off-white, the color of the sash simply displayed their purpose as visiting diplomats. All made of silk from Oka.

"Goodnight, rest well." Katakuri reached out and ruffled Fiadh's hair and accidentally let his hand graze against the woman's left cheek as he lowered his hand. His magenta eyes bore into the woman's grey ones with an unknown intensity and fire.

Fiadh's scarred cheek felt ablaze, but in a completely different way from normal. Her eyes went wide as she nodded her head and left the room in a rush. She felt a heat in her abdomen she hadn't felt in many years. The goofy brute had unknowingly turned her on with the briefest of touches. It had really been the look in his eyes. The heat that she saw there that sparked her own.

"I'm fucked…"

Sorry for the delay, was straightening out the story a bit. Needed to solidify the last of the stops so they made sense. Also I'm an impatient mofo so be prepared for some NSFW shit. I will put PLENTY of warningsofc. I'm also not sorry at all for the cavities this story probably is giving people! (:

Also, please leave a comment so I know you crazies still read/like this POS fic that I love so much :') thanks
I crave attention as sustenance to continue. Love y'all, byeee!