Sorry! I had to work so when I finally got home I worked on this. It's 4 in the morning and I'm tired but good news... I finished! Woot!
Have a great day and see you again tonight! :3
Smoker had slipped by everyone. His glaring expression had seamen taking a step back and not wishing to engage with the irritated marine officer. His grey eyes focused, the captain rushed back to the hospital using his ability. It was taxing with his wounded shoulder but he managed.
Upon his return, the White Hunter quickly joined the others in the room. A sleeping Katelyn was under a certain admiral's coat; Tashigi stood at attention upon his entrance but quickly found him scowling. Aokiji had been napping on the floor, using a hospital pillow. He was on his side at the petty officer's feet. The other two were nowhere to be found, much to his relief.
"We have a problem", Smoker gruffly spoke loudly.
"Is it lunch time already", the admiral moved into a sitting position while pulling up his sleeping mask.
"No. I need you to get Kane's medical records as soon as possible. Someone just…", the hardened marine officer fell back in an empty chair before slowly taking off his jacket. He revealed the damage he had taken. His arm was red, soaked in streaks of his own life fluid.
Aokiji nearly leapt to his feet as to get a better look. The towering man bent at the hip. "A rifle? Where's the shooter", he dryly questioned.
"Dead. Committed suicide after he missed his mark. It happened right after I stepped out of records department. I got a hint from one of the employees to check the medical records. Kane's history has been blacked out. Government officials visited yesterday to collect them."
Tashigi could see Smoker breathing heavy as sweat rolled down his brow. The wound was finally taking over. His lips were already pale but now a blue hue had surfaced. Without being told too, the young woman lunged out of the room while Aokiji listened to what the captain needed to say. The man had taken a bullet; his friend deserved his undivided attention!
Smoker swallowed. His throat felt sticky from his body trying to go into shock. Resilient, the Hunter remained calm and continued to sit upright in his seat. This wasn't the first time he had been at odds with his own body. He was sure it wasn't going to be his last, either.
"I need you to get those records from nine years ago. If you can… Get Katelyn's as well. There really has to be something there or those assholes wouldn't go so far to cover it up", he exclaimed between clenched teeth.
The admiral had heard enough. Kuzan nodded before turning towards the sleeping beauty. His tall figure leaned over as thick fingers grasped the white fabric. "Katie… I need to go. Smoker is going to stay here with you but I have to ask something very important."
Brilliant blue hues slowly opened and blinked. It had seemed to have been forever since the stabbing that she could sleep so deeply. The female wasn't easy to stir. The young woman turned on her back to gaze upward after some effort. A faint smile touched pink inviting lips. If the captain hadn't been in the room, the curly haired officer would be claiming them.
"What do you need", she breathed quietly.
"I want permission from you to gain your medical records from the time you were in the marines. Someone is trying to cover whatever happened up", Aokiji responded. His tone rather straight forward without a hint of sentiment.
"Hmm… Sure. Make sure Grandpa Garp is with you though. He has a say too", she warned. Her groggy voice merely above a whisper as delicate fingers rubbed her eyes.
The warning was such a strange request. "What do you mean", he asked.
"Only I can ask for them…", the brunette mumbled while meekly reaching for the admiral's hand. "Grandpa can say I want to see them without me being there. He was my legal guardian at the time", the young woman yawned with a small hand coming to cover it.
The admiral fought hard not to smile as blue orbs fluttered shut. Katie had fallen back to sleep. Gingerly the admiral took his coat back but not without subdued whimpers of protests. The marine didn't want to show it but inside his heart warmed. He couldn't understand it himself. To make someone fuss like as she did, brightened the moment for the man.
Once the sensation passed, the admiral slipped his coat over his shoulders without slipping his arms through the outerwear. In silence, the gentleman walked out. His eyes didn't bother to look over to Smoker. He already knew the condition he was in. The feeling of lingering weighed on his mind. Kuzan realized it as soon as his hands reached for the article of clothing she was using as a blanket. He didn't want to leave. Was this a result from kissing her earlier? If it was, then the marine would have to think about not being around her as much.
While Aokiji went to the medical records department located on the fourth floor of the hospital, Smoker finally received his medical treatment. It was a serious but not a devastating injury. Despite protests from Katie's doctor, the man who treated the captain, the White Hunter stayed in the room with the young woman.
With the admiral gone, Smoker understood all too well Katie had become his responsibility. Though Tashigi was quite prepared to take on the heavy responsibility, the woman was not yet to the point to spot a sharp shooter while under fire. She still had a long way to go but the man had to admit, he'd feel better keeping the two women close to him anyway. If anything should break out the captain could immediately be there as a defense and with his petty officer at his side, he didn't have to entertain her friend.
An hour had passed. "Knock-knock", a young woman with long mocha colored haired popped her head in. Her voice was merely above a whisper as her green hues traveled through the room. She had been unsure if her new found friend had been sleeping or not. To her relief, the soon to be café owner wasn't.
Katie and the female swordsman waved with fingers pressing over their lips. "Maya", the smaller brunette called in a hushed tone with a beaming smile. The flower shop owner tipped toed as she entered the room and quietly closed the door.
Smoker pretended to be asleep. His head was leaned back onto a pillow, Katelyn and Tashigi had given him earlier. The marine's large arms crossed over muscular torso with strong hands tucked under them as he had stretched to full length in the large leather seat he was sitting in. The captain's chiseled smooth chest slowly swelled with gentle breaths of air.
The marine found this to be the best option. The two babbling idiots would ask him senseless questions if they thought he might need anything. Instead, this way he could listen in on their conversations without being a part of it. Not to mention, the two chickens spoke in muted tones allowing him to enjoy some silence. He was unsure what to think when the third entered but was relieved when she began whispering.
"How are you", the darker haired brunette asked with a worried gaze glancing over to the supposed sleeping Smoker.
"I'm good", Katie answered with a wider grin. "They are cutting back the morphine so I can actually function. God…", she nearly sang while retaining a quiet tone. "I'm so ready to get out of here. I have so much to work on. I have to hire a carpenter and once that's done, start looking for furniture, mixers, brewers, and whatever else I can think of."
"Oh yeah", the flower shop owner cooed. "I brought what you ordered. I know you originally wanted to give them as gifts to those that helped you out when you first came but then I thought about the promotion party coming up. Your grandpa Garp made mention that you were going and ordered something similar so I took the liberty of making them all the same incase everyone you knew was also going to attend."
Smoker wanted to see what they were up too. Scheming women were some of the most dangerous creatures in the world and that's including pirates. A grey hue opened to spot the newcomer. Her librarian looks were not lost on him, to say the least. Thinner frame, robust chest, those didn't really concern him. He wasn't as petty to gawk at those characteristics first. Not even her subtle angular features caught his attention but her warm smile did give him pause. It was honest and endearing. Not the sort of expression beautiful women generally had.
The marine watched the florist adjust her thin rimmed glasses before setting her large ivory bag on the bed. As the three chatted, he observed quietly. She had pulled out a clear container with a white rose boutonniere inside. The pin was bigger than a normal sized one but not by much. The five roses, pure as snow, were pressed together in a circle with a silver backside to slip onto the breast of a suit.
"Grandpa Sengoku is going to love it", Katie cooed. She handed it off to Tashigi who thumbed the hardened resin. It looked like glass but tougher. Florists and antique shop owners often used them to transport small delicate items around.
"I made one for everyone on the list. It was pretty simple for me to do since I was hired to do the floral arrangements by the recreational department. Blue and white are prominent ordered colors. I had a little hard time with the powder pink, the green, and the lavender but managed the best I could. I hope it'll be good enough", she sighed.
Katie flailed around excitedly. "Are you kidding?! You're a genius with this sort of stuff! I can just make coffee", she lowered her tone as if making a cup of delicious roasted goodness was mundane compared to her friend's talent.
Smoker arched a brow. He could have sworn the female in blue capris pants and a deep green t-shirt had a similar scar under the collar of her shirt. It kept peeking out at him as she moved around. The snowy-haired male stood to his full height before appearing behind her.
"Forgive me for butting in but I have a question", his dry voice surprised all three women. He found himself the center of their attention. "You were in a marine youth program, weren't you?"
Surprised, the captain watched the woman try and shrink. She nervously pulled her hair back repeatedly while tugging up the collar to her shirt. Smoker's large mitts moved on their own before he could even think. Soft leather clasped over the top of her hand.
"Please…", he groused. "I've been on a goose chase and everything seems to point to the youth programs roughly nine years ago. I want to help but either no one wants to talk or those bastards at the World Government cut me off before I can get anywhere."
The silence spoke more in volumes than he was ever prepared for. A strong thumb rubbed the back of her hand to help ease the tension. The captain was at a loss. He desperately wanted to know what the connection between Katie's attack and the youth programs, was.