the ice snaps underneath his heels, spreading over the waves and laying a path out for him. kuzan adjusts his beanie, tsking when he pulls on his locks.
'should stop doing that.'
kuzan settles onto the sandy shore, laying his bag on the sand, rubbing his hands on the thick coat. despite the -hot climate-, his skin cold as his fruit collided with the climate.
'a small nap wouldn't hurt,' he sighs, eyes slipping shut as the sun scorched down on him, 'i'll go down to the port.. when i wake up..
'is that..?, ' he hums, hand shielding his eyes from the sun, squinting at the flying figure.
the figure tumbles through the sand, limbs flying in every direction. It lands directly at his feet.
aokoji peers down, fanning the dust away from his face.
he knocks heads with the figure as it jumps up from the sand. he rubs his head on instinct, his fingers prodding at the small indention that was slowly forming over.
'what are you doing here!,' luffy shifts into a fighting position, small puffs of steam rolling off him.
'so you're here too, this'll be interesting,' kuzan yawns, arms stretched above his head.
kuzan grunts when the runt bumps into him, peering down to catch a glimpse of straw. his power rises to the surface but the brat is sprinting passed him and through the field before he can create anything.
relief and disappointment clash inside his heart as he turns his gaze from the rushing blur to the chest beside him.
and just when he had managed to get his hands on an item that was sure to aid his frie- strawhat in his rambunctious endeavors. he sighs and closes his eyes, one more nap couldn't hurt. and the runt was sure to circle back at some point, the island may have been vast but it was small in attractions.
'why did you help me,' a simple question that threw the former admiral for a loop. why, he asks himself, appendages tangling into his locks, wincing when he releases his poor hair from his anxious habit.
luffy tilts his head and observes the man, tension in the air from the burning question he let out.
'come on now, dont ask me that, its obvious isn't it? Its because we're- never mind.'
the boy huffs but runs off, the answer quenching his curiosity for the time being.
boy, he really needs to get himself together.
he glances at the admiral, a knowing smile on both their lips.
kuzan does not know when he started thinking of that foolish boy from east blue his friend, but he knows it was slowly and suddenly all at once.
and as he once again sets out to sea, a trail of ice his only guide, he knows he cannot wait for their next encounter.