A/N: Another chapter, remember to review! New chapter next week!

"You're being released," Katakuri said, staring down at her. He quickly slid into one of the oversized chairs that littered every building in Totto Land but it did nothing to change the fact that he towered over her. After spending two days of her time in Big Mom's infirmary and wishing she was on the Sunny, it seemed that he was finally showing up to release her from the proverbial prison that she was in. Her eyes slid to look back out the window as she ignored him.

She wasn't sure what to say to him – ' Thanks for not murdering everyone I've ever truly cared about during our arranged wedding' sounded far too sarcastic, even if it was true – so she figured that just not speaking would be the best. It wouldn't last long, she wasn't raised to be an impolite child who pouted when things didn't turn out the way she wanted them – like her siblings were and he didn't have to spare her friends, yet he did which meant that he wasn't a complete bastard.

At least, that was if he truly did spare her crew.

She heard him move, the rustling of his clothing drawing her eyes. He pulled out a small package, dropping it on her bedside table.

"These are the clothing you will wear," he said before standing swiftly and leaving.

While Sanju was happy at the idea of being able to change out of the infirmary given clothing, she knew very well what those who lived in Big Mom's territory wore and she wanted nothing to do with short thigh high dresses that looked like they were made of cotton candy and frills.

Moving to sit on the edge of the bed, she stared at the box wondering if when she opened it, it would explode. She hoped, even if she knew else, that one of her siblings or even her father had a hand in picking out her outfit; at least then, she could be assured that the outfit would be fashionable but still suitable for any fighting situation she might find herself in.

Sighing, Sanju removed the top and pulled out the soft folded fabric.

"Fuck," She muttered to the white and pink a-lined dress, as if it was it's fault that it was a dress and not a pair of pants. She hated dresses, chalk it up to growing up around the protectiveness that was the Baratie chefs and further inundated into her by her time at the Okama island, but there wasn't a second outfit she could go around in. Her fingers curled into tulle of the skirt, wrinkling the fabric beneath. It was pretty, there was no doubt, but it wasn't her.

"You're going to have to change at some point."

Turning in her bed, she dropped the dress on her lap and glared at her sister, who had brought her younger brother with her. A smile was painted across her face as she moved to sit in the chair that Katakuri had been sitting in just a few minutes before. Yonji stayed standing behind her, a smirk on his face.

"What do you want?" she snarled, eyes narrowing to glare at them. "Here to taunt me more?"

"I was checking on you, Yonji just wanted to show up," Reiju answered smiling. Her eyes drifted to look at the pink and white dress, the simple white and silver beads threaded into the lace of the top shining under the lights of the infirmary. "Your husband has good tastes."

"Stop calling him that!"

Reiju laughed lightly before shaking her head, "That's what he legally is. The documents came in yesterday, you're officially a Charlotte bride."

She flinched at the revelation, she had been hoping that with everything going on, they wouldn't have time to send the marriage registration until much later. Her hands tightened against the dress in her lap, inane hope that it could be able to protect her from what was going on in her life.

"You should go change into that; maybe if you play nice, your Charlotte husband will let you wear pants at some point," Yonji taunted, his smirk widening, "Plus you'll finally look like a proper princess."

Her hands scrunched the dress up, fingers daring to rip the lace and the tulle and the silk beneath all the fancy useless parts, but unable to before she threw it towards Yonji's face, it making contact with his stupid smirk. He growled in response, launching himself forward, only stopping at Reiju's glare. Sanju stuck her tongue out in childish response as Yonji closed his hands into fists, glaring at her.

"Look, Sanju, I get it. You want to be with your crew, but you're a princess and you owe it to your kingdom to do what's best for the people," Reiju licked her lips, holding out a hand for the dress. Yonji handed it over, roughly, before turning and stomping out of the room, muttering angrily. Her sister stood and walked towards, her, depositing the dress on the bed before she started to smooth out the tulle and the wrinkles, smiling softly at it.

"I owe Father and the Germa kingdom nothing," she said after a moment. Her eyes drifted from her sister to the wall, "The only person I owe anything to is Zeff, the man who saved me despite not knowing anything about me. The man who raised me despite me not being his child. The man who -"

"Yes, the pirate who took you in despite not having to, I've heard all about him. He taught you to fight, gave you a reason to live," Reiju looked up at her, eyes bright and a forced looking smile on her face, "He loved you like a real father and yet, despite knowing the danger to his life if you keep mentioning him, you do it anyway. Nice way to spit in the face of his kindness."

She flinched at the words before shaking her head. "Get out," Sanju snapped, eyes flaring. "Get out, get out, get out!"

Her sister rolled her eyes, but did as she yelled, leaving her to sit on the bed with the pink and white dress. Her hands reached out to grab it, standing up and moving towards the bathroom. After a shower, she'd feel better, she'd feel less likely to go punch someone. She already felt bad about punching Pudding, something her sister took great joy into telling her all about.

Changing into the outfit, she tugged at the bottom, wishing it'd gain length or pants legs. The pink silk that laid beneath the pink colored tulle tickled her legs and Sanju couldn't recall the last time she ( willingly ) wore a dress. Even when they had been helping Vivi and she had picked out authentic outfits for everyone, she had given herself pants, unlike what she gave both Nami and Vivi. The band around the center of her waist felt tight on her and she wondered if that was just her anxiety or if he had bought her a size that didn't fit right. Staring at herself in the mirror, she sighed again, it was far too short – if Zeff saw her in this, she was sure that the old man would have a conniption, same for Patty and Carne.

That brought a small smile to her face, but the joy was quickly wiped away by the words her sister had spoken. As much as it hurt, Reiju was correct; if she truly wanted to protect Zeff and everyone, she'd forget that they'd ever existed and live the life she was being forced to.

Tears welled in her eyes slightly as she thought of the Baratie, the thought that she'd never be able to see them again. She had failed Zeff, she had failed her crew by being weak. Her father had been right, she was a failure.

No, she thought forcefully, she couldn't think like that. Lifting a hand, she wiped the tears away. She was stronger than this, she didn't break down and cry whenever she met with a roadblock – she kicked roadblocks and people who stood in her way.

Shaking her head, she cleared her mind. The time to be weak was in the past, she had to be strong in order to survive her time here. If she was too busy crying and whining about the life she was going to be forced to live, by time Luffy and the others came back to save her – because they would, she just had to believe that – they wouldn't want her.

The door to the infirmary opened once more and she sucked in her breath once more before leaving the bathroom, greeting the sight of Katakuri's giant form standing in the doorway. "Thank you for the outfit," she said after a second.

"It fits?"

"Yes," She gave him a forced smile. If Reiju could do it, then so could she. "Only problem is I don't have shoes." Sanju hadn't wanted to think about what happened to her normal shoes; they had been a gift from Zeff, something she cherished greatly. Even thinking that they could've destroyed them brought her pain.

Katakuri pulled out another package from somewhere on his body, placing it more gently then it looked like he could on the bed. She gave him another fake smile as she walked over and opened the box, holding back the swear words she had for him. Though they weren't heels, something she'd be forever thankful for, they were still far more complicated than what she was used to.

"Your sister picked them out," he said as she stared at them. Sanju gave him a smile again, because of course Reiju would give her shoes that her sister had to know she wouldn't know how to put on right away. Probably hoping that Sanju would allow Katakuri to see her fail at putting them on so he could laugh at her like they had.

Pushing her hair out of her face and ignoring the fact that he was watching her, seemingly judging her based on her actions, she sat on the bed and pulled the first shoe out of the box, sliding her foot in and working adeptly at the ridiculous lacing at the front. It took her a moment to get it secured and she felt sure enough that she hadn't messed it all up before she put her foot down and started on the second one.

Once she was sure that both of the sandals were tied properly, she stood up and looked back towards Katakuri. He was watching her and she wondered about him herself. She didn't know much about him beyond his name, his devil fruit and his bounty. Big Mom hadn't allowed them to spend as much time together and so Sanju had spent much of the two days before her wedding with Pudding; perhaps it was the reason she had been so easily convinced that Big Mom would betray her family.

Blue eyes stared at him before she cleared her throat. "So when do I get to leave?" She asked.

Her best bet was to play semi-reluctant wife until she could get more information and make a true plan. Hopefully she'd be able to play it correctly because she was sure that one wrong move would end the game she was playing.