Sorry this chapter took SO LONG TO WRITE! Seriously I don't know what happened. I haven't been working but this chapter would be somewhat written and then I'd go back and change it over and over. I don't think I have EVER had so much trouble writing out a chapter. I wanted to focus on Lucci's fascination and Kuzan's side of things.
It is a little longer than usual, I apologize for that. I hope you all still enjoyed it. Again this chapter has been my bane. Luckily the next chapter shouldn't take so long and I won't struggle with it so badly.
PS: Due to responses I got about my question whether or not I should split the story again, I figured out what I'm going to do. I am going to split it but not right now. I will also give you guys a much longer heads up when I do as well. I noticed that seemed to be the biggest complaint, many of you missed the updates because you didn't know. I'm terribly sorry for that. It won't happen again, I promise!
It didn't take long for Kuzan to find Vergo. The man was hovering over the harbor under one of the tin roofs a bit of a distance away. It was a part of a series of small structures made to block off the wind and the rain from three sides but opened towards the ocean. It was meant to shelter those waiting for their loved ones during storms. With its height, it was a good place to hide in the dark from prying eyes.
Before the admiral reached the bench, he could already see Vergo had acknowledged him with a short nod. "Figured I'd find you here", the commanding officer stated with a heavy sigh before sliding onto the wooden furniture behind the two.
"Sorry", the vice-admiral quirked a brow in question.
"Ah..., it's nothing. I just came to talk. I was curious to find out what happened to vice-admiral Garp's granddaughter", the much taller marine explained in a relaxed fashion. Kuzan had stretched out his legs before folding his arms behind his head.
"Hmm...", Vergo hummed before looking over his shoulder at his commanding officer. "Did Miss Katelyn tell you anything?"
"Not much", Aokiji slightly groaned as the man lightly scratched the back of his head. "She said you'd know more than she did", the admiral dryly admitted.
The vice-admiral nodded. "Then she's referring to the incident in which I found her in or I should say... The predicament another tried to trap her in."
There was a brief pause of silence between the men. The ambient sound of the rain on the tin roof added weight to the moment. The commanding officer wanted to know exactly what happened and gave his subordinate ample time to collect his thoughts. Aokiji's temper was slowly rising into the dark parts of his mind. He unquestionably didn't care for what was being implied. If someone had put their hands on her, the admiral was going to pull a Sakazuki.
"The black haired man from the World Government had her body caged with his own while Miss Laurel had been sleeping. She was completely unaware of him or his intentions. While he dipped down to force a kiss on her lips, I interrupted. Now I'm out here to ensure he stays on that ship", Vergo continued with a darker inflection.
Not many scenarios would earn Kuzan's ire so quickly; this was one of them. His blood pressure suddenly jumped and burned his ears. His eyes now veiled by a blackened shadow; Vergo felt a physical chill travel down the back of his neck. The officer had to rub the crawling sensation away with a rough hand. The marine was even surprised to see his own breath. It was a grim warning that he wasn't going to take lightly.
Kuzan stood to his full height and moved at the speed of light. Vergo had never seen someone maneuver with such ferocity. He secretly began to wonder if his fearless leader had more invested in the young woman than he was letting on. After all, the man had moved the brunette in with him which was highly unorthodox to begin with. The vice-admiral sat on his thoughts as he watched his commanding officer leap into action over the criminal offense.
The admiral made it to the ship in just a single leap, effortlessly. The raven-haired officer was beyond just merely angered, he was on fire. Katie had enough on her plate as it was and despite trying to shake the image of her crying, he couldn't help but focus on her darkened visions. She was sobbing on the inside while desperately trying to be modest about her own needs. Proper rest would do her some good and let her body heal the way it should. Aokiji was no help and had added to the string of events that seemed to have surrounded her. The man scolded himself quietly for acting so selfishly.
The marine's landing on the deck had shaken the entire ship. This caused many deckhands, the captain, and the two men he was looking for, to come running out. Kuzan stood again with his hands in his pockets. The air around him had become so cold, it turned the raindrops into tiny pearls of ice. The beads of his man-made hail cracked and shattered against the soaked wood but it was very clear to anyone who challenged him, they would be out of their league.
Lucci had still donned his black suit and white tie, minus his hat. His arm had been taken out of his sling but the man could feel the effects of a bummed shoulder. He'd have to pay that damn Garp back! The agent didn't like the taste of defeat before his fight even had gotten started. The idea burned him to the core and now, before him, was another obstacle. Rob sneered. This wasn't his day, he vehemently thought. This was a challenge he knew he couldn't accept and it ate at the assassin's pride.
Like him, Kaku remained dressed in his prior clothing. He still wore his black athletic jacket and cap but his arm continued to rest in its white canvas sling. "What do you want", the strawberry-blonde barked. His eyes narrowed on the admiral towering before him.
"Oh? You don't know? I bet he could fill you in", the officer pointed Lucci out slowly. The offender scoffed in the marine's direction as a response.
The fair-haired gentleman turned his head slightly away from his colleague. The moment Rob reacted, Kaku knew something happened with the woman in question. It was the only reason the fleet-admiral's lapdog would appear before them. The agent didn't approve of the other's sudden fascination with the brunette, either. It wasn't something he couldn't understand though; in fact, he had a bit of interest but nothing the man would act on. She was definitely fascinating and he hoped the best for her but the assassin knew when Lucci had his sights set on someone, it would take a miracle for him lose interest.
The raven-haired gentleman leaped forward like an arrow. To the agent's surprise, his strike didn't work. Instead, Kuzan had parried by sidestepping and caught Lucci's stomach with a fist. The government official was sent back flying through the upper deck's cabins. It happened so quickly Kaku didn't even see the admiral move. The crashing boards had made such a thunderous noise, the nearby marines had poured in onto the connecting docks. Bewildered, they stayed their hand.
"Listen... I'm going to say this once. Don't approach vice-admiral Garp's granddaughter again." The marine steeled himself with a gaze that would freeze over the hearts of many men while he relaxed his arms and tucked his hands back into his pockets. The tone he used was rather straight forward. Though he hated the truth that he was part of her chain of problems; Katie had too much on her plate and didn't need to be harassed. She was starting to break apart on the inside. Added stress only hurt her further. Anyone would have cracked a hundred times over by now but she was strong. Unfortunately, that was her downside as well.
Deep down, the bantam brunette probably understood the situation between her and that government puppet far better than she wanted. Add that to two assassination attempts, a beating during an interrogation, humiliated physically during such a time, and lastly confronted by her old enemy. After all this time, they specifically targeted her because of him. He would never wish all that on anyone and yet there was so much he had to take responsibility for. The marine didn't even know where to begin.
The admiral turned on his heels and walked off the swaying ship using the connected walk way. The armed marines at the bottom parted ways so their commander could clearly step away unhindered. The storm had intensified and it wasn't just the weather. His heart felt like it was going to pop. The officer's chest ached along with the tingling in his limbs from the adrenaline. Kuzan had to take a moment and breathe. He needed to shake off the hostility before confronting anyone else. Feeling the cool air on the back of his neck certainly did the trick.
Slow steps had taken the marine back to the area where he had left his recruit and Kaite to be but not surprised to see neither of them there. Instead, Kuzan discovered a note pinned to a random rusted nail in the wall. It was apparently her inspection results flipped over. He didn't even know where or how she got a pen but it explained she had taken Grount back to their home. The officer couldn't help but give a slight smile. He had a strong idea of what was waiting for him and after so long being alone, this was almost a miracle.
Without interruption due to the high sea winds and the cold front moving in, the admiral made it home. Upon entering, Kuzan was greeted with a sight he half expected. Not one but three recruits chowing down at the circular kitchen table. "You three better not be eating everything", he dryly spoke as to act as if he were slightly annoyed. His only response received was three hands waving at him in acknowledgment. Not even a single head popped up. This forced the man to cross his arms and arch a brow before letting his arms drop again in exhaustion. He was too mentally tired to argue at this point.
Furthermore, the man took notice to the rest of the residence and what surprised him was the added sight of two old men having a laugh with sake in their hand. Garp and Sengoku were chatting it up with color already touching their cheeks while they had relaxed on his couch. Most likely they had been drinking before visiting. The situation told him more than he liked but relieved to see them in such a jolly mood.
The admiral released a sigh and did his best to hide the smirk that had slowly etched its way into his expression. While distracted by the joy of laughter and his hungry men, the raven-haired officer didn't even feel Katie's presence but felt the warmth of a dry towel that had been heated placed over his arm. Smiling blue visions gazed up into his copper orbs. That beautiful expression of hers did more than that towel could ever do. The chill of the rain outside didn't really bother him much but her appearance of pure delight drew him in and warmed him to his core. The marine was usually a private person but in that moment, the officer didn't really care. It felt like this was his entire family; like a reunion of sorts. On a bad stormy night, everyone had gathered like he would read about in those cheap novels.
Kuzan straightened as the aroma of coffee hit his senses and slipped the white fabric of the towel around the back of the neck. The man had to admit, the heat felt good. He wasn't hungry but he could smell the miso followed by the clam tempera which ultimately gave him the hankering to try the food. Luckily for the admiral, it appeared Katie was in the middle of creating a large platter for the old men. He'd help himself to that once it was done whether or not they approved.
The two geezers waved Aokiji over with wide grins and pink dusting their cheeks. Their boisterous laughter filled the home while his three recruits continued to dig into their plates. He could spot a snowy-haired Zappa crying with every bite. What the officer discovered from Grount's verbal scolding and Bonham's cheery disposition while he supported his friend, Katie had turned down the fifteen year old.
The officer slipped off his shoes and left them next to the door before stepping further into the open area and made his way through the small kitchen. Katie smiled up at him once more and the man could have sworn his heart stopped briefly. The small smirk he was fighting not to show, grew slightly in size. "Pardon me", he warned nonchalantly while he placed a large hand on her back. The marine didn't want the little brunette to back into him, possibly spilling the hot oil she was using to fry tempura.
It was easy for him to use both hands but once Kuzan felt Katelyn lean back into his palm, he left it there. To the old men and his recruits, he was merely letting her know where he was as he reached around and up for a mug from the cupboard. To the little woman, it was a gesture of affection. One the brunette fully accepted. With fluid movements, he put the cup down and poured a cup of warm coffee.
"Don't drink too much. I have everyone's dessert coming after they finish. Besides the sake is warm", she pointed over to her two grandfathers with a flour-covered finger.
"That reminds me... How did this happen", he sighed under his breath.
"Eh... Well, two of your subordinates were worried that their friend might do something reckless and searched around to stop him. They saw the ice structure you made of the rubble and figured they'd check there. Grandpa Garp showed up wondering what was going on and then followed by grandpa Sengoku, who also saw the ice structure." Katie playfully whimpered when the admiral removed his hand and leaned back against the counter. His legs crossed at the ankles, while he slowly sipped his drink.
"That explains how everyone got together but why are they drinking so late in the morning", he bemoaned. "And at my place, no less?"
"Grandpa Sengoku got word that R is coming back so quickly and to top things off he managed to arrest the entire crew without any casualties. I guess the pirate ship was utterly destroyed and the ship he's on took some damage but everyone is alright. They're just proud of him. I mean... Grandpa Garp loves him and I know Sengoku does too. After all..., he is my brother."
Aokiji released another heavy sigh. "Damn him", he quietly cursed. He knew the two old geezers were proud but no one but him seemed to think about the time frame.
"Thinking how much he pushed his crew and himself?" Katie asked once she heard Kuzan curse under his breath. The only answer she received was a warm hand placed on top of her head. The young woman nodded. "Don't worry. R is just anxious to get back as quickly as possible. His promotion party is coming up and I'm sure he wants to spend time with the family before officially becoming a rear-admiral. Plus...", she paused a bit to concentrate on the clams she had dropped into the oil. "I'm sure he has everyone's safety in mind. He was a bit of a worry wort when we were kids. He'd pick fights with the locals whenever I'd get hurt or do things like clean the fish so I couldn't cut myself. When he was taken away to live with Bogard, he did change a bit but not much. In his letters, he'd ask me to do things for mom."
Katie paused once more and shivered. The admiral could feel her slightly tremble and saw the color rise to her ears. He had a suspicion he knew what it was about. This had been the first time she was relaxed enough to talk about her family in detail. Not once did she even mention R in her two-week stay before this mess had begun. He was honestly curious to know more but it came to an abrupt end.
"I'm sorry", the long-haired brunette stuttered. "Apparently I ramble a lot when I'm around you... It's embarrassing...", the young woman bemoaned.
Once she began whimpering in her own bashfulness, Kuzan couldn't help but grab her long ponytail and give a slight pull. His quiet chuckle followed by the same warm hand coming to rest on her cheek. "Honestly I don't mind. I hope you'll tell me more sometime", the taller marine admitted.
Katie nodded after revealing an expression he purely enjoyed. The man had to physically and mentally stop himself from claiming her dusty pink lips. The surprised flinch in his shoulders didn't go unnoticed. He caught the young woman turn her head to hide her bubbled chortles. It earned Kuzan to playfully hiss and pull at the tip of her ear before walking away. He really could get used to this, he thought.