Quietly, the young girl sits on the floor below, on all fours as she looks between paper after paper litters scattered all over the place, hearing the crisp crackle of the fierce fleeting flames of the fireplace mantle. The girl's blurry brown graze down at the papers panic pumping through her trying to read paper after paper trying to find something anything why…? Why couldn't she find anything!? Angrily, the girl glares glowers down at the papers plastered below brow furrowed fury freely flowing through her boiling, bubbling, blood. Why…? Why wasn't there anything! There had to be something…anything!

"Still up reading I see…" Surprised, the girl jolts up at the voice, hearing the soft sound of footsteps as she turns her head, feeling the brief brush of hair hitting her cheek. She wears a perky pink braid by her side, a ruby red ribbon tying the braid below her side, turning to look up at the man in red.

"…Papa…" Pathetically, the girl calls out, her tone trembling, her hues of brown watering weakly, looking up at the man before her beaming brightly down at her despite the tears freely falling from the sobbing wreck of the crying child, how could he smile like that? How could he just stand there like that? How could he act like nothing was wrong…everything was wrong! Everything was falling apart, everything was ending and the girl wasn't ready for it, she didn't want to lose him, she couldn't, not after everything…she couldn't, she wouldn't, she…she didn't want to lose her father…she was already losing her nakama she couldn't lose him…

"…You're not going to find what you're looking forward in it." Smiling, the raven-haired male tells the sniffling sobbing wreck of the crying child pain plastered upon her furrowed features.

"You don't know that…!" Tense, she snaps sharply surprising the man at her raising her voice, a sharp sob breaking through her lips, seething shaking, her fingertips curling into her inner palm, feeling the sharp sting of curt crescents digging deep into her inner palm.

"Doctor Kureha has already given the diagnosis." Smiling, he softly sets him down by his daughter's side unfazed by her sharp shout noting the trembling tremor in her tone. He gently takes hold of her, picking her up, placing her in his lap smiling down at the distraught crying child.

"B-But…it's…it's not fair!" Fiercely, she sobs sharply sniffling whimpering weakly, holding her head in her hands, trying to stop the tears threatening to fall, wiping away some with the back of her hand, it wasn't fair, none of it was fair…why him!? Why!? After everything he's done for the world…why!?

"Sometimes life can be that way." Gently, he smiles softly down at the girl below wrapping his arms around her, holding her, hugging her.

"But why? Why you!? You don't deserve this you don't…" Distraught, the girl wails, the child cries clinging to her father's dark blue shirt, sash strapped around his waist while she cries clinging to his side siffling sobbing, the tears freely flowing falling.

"Sometimes life dealt us a hand like this the best we can do is make do with the hand dealt with us." Peaceful, he smiles sadly down at the whimpering wailing child, wrapping his arms around her further hugging her, holding her, letting her let it all out…

"But…You're going to die! I don't want you to! You can't…I won't let you!" Angrily, the girl screams shouts slamming her furious fist down on his chest crying pained, she wouldn't…she couldn't lose him, she wouldn't, she refused too.

"There's nothing that can be done sweetie." Softly, he tells her how it is pained to hear the crack of her voice as she nuzzles into his side sniffling sobbing.

"But it's not fair it's not!" The young girl argues anguished.

"Maybe not but you know…laughter is the key to happiness." Smiling, he looks down at the girl furrowing her brow befuddled.

"…Eh?" Sniffling, she looks up at her father furrowing her brow, she knew he would blurt our random stuff but this…?

"When you're happy you laugh so it follows that you'll become happy if you laugh." Smiling, Roger tells the confused child.

"Papa what are you…?" Lost, the young girl wipes the tear trail to the side sniffling slightly, quirking her head to the side looking up at him in his lap lost.

"Ann…for what it's worth I'm sorry…" Softly, he tightens his grip around her holding hugging her.

"What are you apologising for?" Frowning, she looks up at him baffled, curiosity, confusion clear on her furrowed features towards her father.

"For not being around as the other fathers you've probably seen with your mother." Honestly, Roger admits as the girl grimaces from his words.

"Papa…" Pained, Ann whispers weakly recalling the children of her hometown, some pushing her, taunting her for being fatherless, pushing her to the ground laughing as she would fight back, slamming her fist back into the kids leading to more argument and her mother having to deal with the angry parents…

"So let's make this year count yeah? I know I'm being pretty selfish bringing you along with me you'll probably see me in not the best lights but…" Roger gently places his hand on her head.

"Papa I agreed to it I wanted to come!" Cross, she reminds him.

"I know you did but even then…let's make sure we spend what time I have left on this plane together. When times are tough we'll laugh come on let's try it now!" Smiling, he beams brightly down at his little girl.

"MMmm…hah?" Struggling, the girl tries to do so however…

"That's terrible!" Roger cackles leaning back.

"You can't force a laugh papa!" Annoyed, Ann huffs puffing her cheeks out cross.

"Hahaha! Come from the gut!" Hollering, Roger roars bellowing from his gut.

"Mmm hahahahaha!" Struggling, Ann attempts to do the same smiling a giddy grin similar to her father's own.

"Nice one! Hahaha! No matter how much the world wants you beaten just keep on smiling, keep on laughing don't let those guys know you're sad just keep on smiling!" Smiling, he slaps his knee as he tells her so.

"Yeah…Hahahah!" Smiling, she continues laughing as both father and daughter continue laughing, trying to enjoy what little time they had left…

Ann furrows her brow by the strange sense of warmth she is greeted by. She couldn't help but lean into the warm feeling a strange sense of comfort, of protectiveness of security almost as she leans into said source of warmth feeling her head rest on something strangely soft but muscular. She feels her cheek nuzzle into the strange comforting warmth, feeling some stubble of sorts softly brush against her head as she leans into it. She feels her arms and legs tangle with something else as she seemingly curls into its side, her nose twitching at the eerily familiar yet comforting scent from the figure. Honestly, she could sleep like this for a long while, a part of Ann just wanted to lay in surprising her.

"Mmm…what time is it?" Mumbling, Ann groans, forcing her hues to open, blinking a fair few times feeling the duvet drape over her frowning form, using the back of her hand trying to wipe the sleepy dust out of her hues. But before she could try to leave said bed to prepare for the morning to come…

"Too early." Surprised, she jolts up at the voice, her hues widening when feeling muscular leans arms wrap around her bringing her back into the strangely comforting pair of arms as her hues soon widen when…

"…THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IN MY BED?" Alarmed, Ann roars raising her voice fiercely furiously baffle by the sheer sight of the man moaning, grabbing the side of his head rubbing at his head.

"The old hag said I should provide my body warmth to you." Lazily, he stands up slightly eyeing the ruby red flustered face of the girl gawking at his lack of lenses, it was rare to see him so dishevelled, so him without his lenses without his hat, she couldn't help but feel the heat cross her crimson cheeks.

"You are literally ice." Irritated, Ann deadpans scowling at the mumbling man wrapping his arms around her once more bringing her close to his chest.

"You weren't complaining." Coyly, he smirks down at her heated cheeks.

"…Bastard!" Angrily, Ann lightly hits his chest gritting grinding her teeth together tense, her burning crimson cheeks searing from his soft smirk almost amused at Ann's light hitting.

"Good morning love birds." The crisp click of heels echo as Kureha enters the room smirking smugly at the two, Kuzan's back shielding Ann's front form.

"Lovebirds hell no there is no love and there is no birds!" Angrily, Ann roars raising her voice to the wicked witch laughing at the agitated Ann lunging forward, leaning over Kuzan's back to glare at the giggling witch still feeling his arm lazily draped over her waist.

"…So loud…" Sighing, he reaches out to her gently placing her back down on the bed.

"O-Oi let go ass!" Angrily, Ann light hits his back, her hues widening when seeing him plop down on her chest.

"Just sleep." Softly, he nuzzles into her side as Ann seethes shakes, her heated cheeks burning as she glares down at the unapologetic ass.

"Shut it pervert!" Ann berates the grumbling male below hugging her heated state.

"I wasn't the one clinging." Cheekily, he remarks astonishing Ann.

"And I wasn't the one who just thought to get into someone's bed the hell is wrong with you?" Alarmed, Ann demands done.

"No one ever complained to me before." Bemused, Kuzan smirks slightly.

"Oh you just had to make that comment." Cross, Ann scowls down at him.

"Jealous?" Kuzan smirks up at her.

"Not really no just tired of how men think its attractive that they've slept and played around just shows how childish they really are." Aloofly, Ann crosses her arms over her chest turning her back to him.

"How so? I have more experienced than you." Kuzan argues as he tugs her back towards her making her scowl.

"Maybe with one night stands but I take commitment is something foreign to you." Arrogantly, Ann smirks smugly pushing him back easily removing herself from him.

"Not if its with the right person." Kuzan disputes.

"Yeah you keep looking for that so called perfect person." Dismissively, Ann waves Kuzan off.

"I wouldn't call her perfect to be exact no one is." Kuzan eyes the back of Ann.

"Let me guess doesn't have the right bazooka's that you want." Crudely, Ann sneers scowling standing up slightly holing her head ruffling it up.

"You think that's the problem?" Kuzan arches a brow.

"Pleased I've seen you hit on girls you're disgusting." Ann scoffs bowing her head leaning over the side of the bed.

"And your peeping?" Kuzan winks at her smirking.

"Please if I could avoid your obnoxious flirting I would." Ann dismisses waving him off.

"Then why don't you?" Kuzan approaches her from behind wrapping his arms around Ann.

"Because I swear to whatever is out there whenever I turn the corner you're there with those girls making my eardrums bleed if you're going to do that, do it privately at a bar or something." Scowling, Ann accuses agitated.

"And why would I do that?" Kuzan quirks his head to the side smirking down at the grumbling girl.

"Do you want Sengoku on your ass even more than he is now?" Scowling, she turns her head to face the man his arms around her, his head nuzzled into the crook of her head before frowning from her words.

"…So annoying." Aloofly, he huffs plopping himself back down on the bed as Ann gets out of bed brow furrowed.

"So are you icehole!" Incensed, she snaps sharply scowling storming past the bemused Kureha smirking shaking her head amused at the antics of the two, noting the huffing Kuzan almost annoyed disappointed even.

"You sure know how to pick 'em." Smirking, Kureha remarks downing her bottle bemused by Kuzan's sharp scowl.

"Hmph." Huffing, Kuzan turns his back to the wicked witch cackling at the man that almost seemingly pouts as he returns to the dark depths of his dreams…

"Smokey you're alive!" Amazed, Ann beams brightly at the sight of the man with a crutch cross, glaring glowering up at Ann.

"Piss off!" Smoker scowls glaring up at the amused Ann.

"Aw missed you too Smokey." Smirking, Ann winks at the scowling Smoker.

"It's Smoker!" Smoker shouts scowling at the amused Ann.

"Smokey." Ann answers.

"Smoker!" Smoker shouts.

"Smokey!" Ann repeats.

"Smoker!" Smoker corrects cross.

"How's the leg?" Ann quirks her head to the side smirking.

"How do you think?" Tense, Smoker scowls at Ann.

"Getting better?" Ann asks hopeful.

"You making fun of me!?" Mad, Smoker scowls at Ann.

"Nah course not you do that enough to yourself as it is." Amused, Ann smirks smugly at Smoker.

"You think you're funny?" Fuming, Smoker snarls at the unfazed Ann.

"Pretty much yeah." Unapologetically, Ann confirms casually.

"Tch bastard…" Smoker scowls glaring to the side seething.

"Oi, oi I see you two are awake now just keep resting got that?" Kureha orders.

"She can't keep us here forever." Frowning, Smoker scowls.

"You really don't want to underestimate that witch Smoker she ain't human." Honestly, Ann tries to warn him however…

"I heard that!" Said witch whacks Ann on her head.

"Argh! Woman the hell!?" Haughty, she snaps sharply scowling at the elderly women.

"I'm a young spring flower." Firmly, she snaps sharply.

"Spring flower my ass…" Agitated, Ann grumbles glaring to the side.

"Oi, oi some of us are trying to sleep here!" Hollering, an agitated Kuzan arrives at the scene.

"You're not even the one injured!" Irritated, Ann glares glowers at Kuzan scratching the side of his head, holding a sleek silver tray.

"Hmph." Huffing, he glares to the side.

"You should thank him, he made you two food." Frowning, Kureha crosses her arms over her chest cross.

"Kuzan san…" Smoker furrows his brow by the tray being set before Smoker.

"…Why?" Ann blurts out quirking her head to the side seeing another plate of food from the slick silver tray placed by the table by her side.

"Oi don't ask why, just be happy he went out of his way to cook for you." Kureha scolds the astonished Ann as she is whacked once more by the witch.

"Just eat it." Kuzan scowls down at Smoker, tsking taking the food fuming from his helplessness alongside Ann's own as Kuzan not even batting an eye to her shoves said plate over to Ann grumbling as she takes a seat, beginning her meal…

"How are you feeling?" Surprised, she jolts up at the voice turning to Kuzan after finishing said meal.

"Like the world wants me dead, but I'm unwilling to die…" Drained, Ann grumbles leaning back against the stone wall.

"Sounds about right for you." Kuzan smirks slightly at her.

"Urgh I feel bad for the marines." Ann furrows her brow by the guilt gnawing away at her, holding herself.

"Don't be they're enjoying the food the townsfolk are giving them." Truthfully, Kuzan admits as he removes his coat.

"And they don't mind?" Astonished, Ann arches a brow.

"Nope." Kuzan answers as he drapes his coat over her taking her aback.

"Ah…sorry about you having to talk to the higher ups, were they okay?" Ann apologises anxious almost as she drapes herself over said jacket, no words needing to be shed as said shudder stops from the trench coat draped over her.

"…It's fine." Firmly, he assures as Ann curls closer in on the coat comforted by it strangely enough.

"Why don't I believe tha-Achoo!" Ann begins but soon stops herself, suddenly sneezing out of the blue.

"You're still cold." Kuzan furrows his brow reaching out to her using the back of his hand.

"And you're changing topic urgh stop mother-henning me. I'm too busy for your bullshit." Grumpily, Ann huffs leaning into the tender touch of his hand a faint icy sheet to the back of his hand.

"You look like you're on the verge of passing out." Kuzan helps steadies the girl with the high temperature.

"It's not your business either way." Lazily, she tries to wave him off but…

You're my responsibility therefore you are my business." Bluntly, he tells her how it is.

I said I'm fine." Frowning, she scowls.

Would you just trust me for once?" Kuzan furrows his brow at her.

…" Ann furrows her brow going silent oblivious to the smirking witch sat by Smoker's side, leant back against the chest, downing her bottled wine while watching the two have their moment.

"You do feel a bit warm…" He huffs hand to her temple.

"This coming from the iceman…" Ann scoffs rolling her hues.

"You need to rest." Kuzan asserts as he suddenly slings her over his shoulder startling her.

"O-Oi! Don't just- oi Kuzan bastard are you even listening to me!? Kuzan!" Angrily, Ann flails about the place perturbed, trying to escape his hold, his hand on her waist while bitterly she seethes swearing if that hand went any lower she would have his head as she tries to escape the man his arm casually draped over her own holding her like a sack as Kureha cackles at the sight of Kuzan leaving, taking Ann with her while Smoker scowls at the noisy pair.

"Those two can't even hide it can they?" Smoker scowls as he had been trying to sleep sadly the two talking taunted him almost as if refusing to let him sleep as he glares at the animated Ann hitting the back of the unapologetic Kuzan taking her to bed he assumed.

"Let them I doubt they can do much back at work." Kureha argues aloofly brushing it off, taking a sip from her bottle bemused by the two noting Kuzan's arm around her, hugging her almost as he took her away.

"Kuzan let go! Bastard I told you too…" Angrily, Ann curses cross, her feature heated as red as a apple as angrily she glares at the unapologetic tall towering giant, a part of her fearful of being dropped form the height he had set on her, to be to tall as to not worry about such a thing must be a blessing she assumed as next she knew…

"So loud." Kuzan huffs plopping her down on the bed taking her aback as she hears the groan of the bed pushing her forward briefly before allowing her to sink down as she glares glowers up at the tall towering figure above her.

"O-Oi what are you…?" Alarmed, Ann scowls as he soon plops himself down on the bed, draping the duvet over the two of them.

"Just sleep." Sighing, he brings her close to his chest, his arms around her his head nuzzled into her searing side.

"You'll get sick too moron." Mad, Ann scowls at the unapologetic idiot.

"You think I care?" Casually, he shrugs curling into her side.

"Kuzan!" Agitated, Ann lightly shoves said shoulder, turning to face him.

"Just shut up and rest." He bows his head, bringing her closer as she seemingly relaxes from his scent.

"Tch…bastard you're lucky I'm too cold to argue…" Annoyed, Ann grumbles leaning in, wrapping her arms around his neck, feeling her legs tangling with his own.

"Yeah, yeah…" Kuzan mutters draping his arm over the rather done tired looking Ann curling into his side as the two descend down into the dark depths of their sleep….

"Up you go!" Happily, the samurai smiles throwing the boy up into the open air as the giggling gleeful boy beams brightly. The father is a large and very muscular man of towering height. He has long, wild hair of black colour that was notably gathered into a large, flat, circular plane at the top, and also included a prominent widow's peak and triangular sideburns. He had relatively sharp, black eyes whose inner and outer corners were marked by black jags going down and up respectively, and above a pair of prominent, highly arched eyebrows.

He has red eyeliner around his eyes, making them look even sharper. He had a mid-sized, slightly hooked nose, a large, expressive mouth, and a broad chin. For clothes, he typically wore an orange kimono, leaving most of his legs exposed; the kimono had two yellow crescent moon designs on it. Oden also wore a large purple and white nio-dasuki tied around his shoulders that ran down his back. He would often alternate between this and a similar longer kimono, with his nio-dasuki worn as a belt and tied in the front. Oden also wears his swords, Enma and Ame no Habakiri, across his left waist tucked inside an obi belt.

"Stop that's too high Oden!" Rayleigh roars furrowing his brow at the happy father playing with his smiling son. Rayleigh has clean cut strawberry blond hair with a long stray strand to his side wearing a pair of oval lenses and he has a initial striped facial hair of black. He wears an ornately decorated collar long coat of navy blue with hints of purple pattern with a snow-white sash matching his trousers.

"Even from this high up in the sky you can't see the whole thing that's what the world is like Momonsuke, Hiyori take a good look at the things you can't see in the land of Wano." Oden tells his children placing his son on top of his plate flat like head while the other the girl is held in his other hand.

"It's so shiny just like treasure!" The boy beams brightly wearing a topknot with the top of his head shaven. While his unshaven hair was black like his father's. His typical garb was a pink kimono with peach designs on it along with a pair of geta.

"Treasure huh? It's funny you mention that that's my son. Broaden your knowledge Momonsuke I'll teach you all I know…what type of girl do you like?" Smirking, he sets his son down draping his arm over his son.

"Too young!" Raleigh roars as Roger laughs.

"I like Ann!" Happily, said boy points towards the girl goofing off with the boys on the barrels until…

"EH!?" Ann does a double take alongside the boys.

"Too young!" Roger joins in incensed.

"Yeah she may look pretty but Ann is where to scary to ever find anyone!" Buggy argues.

"This coming from the scaredy cat!" Cross, Ann glares at the young Buggy, Ann has her hair wavily loose, a small camellia flower in her hair, glaring glowering at Buggy.

"What sane guy would fall for a girl that tried to fight whitebeard's crew?" Confused, Buggy argues as his temple touches hers. His ruby red beanie brushing against 2her wavy blondish pink locks as the two growl glare at one another.

"What sane girl would fall for a guy that tried to hide from whitebeard's crew?" Cross, Ann argues as she slams her head into his, sparks spewing between both of them growling glaring as the crew laugh at the two.

"Come on guys!" Smiling, Shanks tries to stop said fight between both of them but…

"Alright quit it lovebirds!" Bemused, Rayleigh remarks.

"Lovebirds!? EWWWWW!" Repulsed, both boy and girl reel back baffled by the thought, sticking their tongues out.

"You'd think I'd fall for that psycho!" Panicked, Buggy points at Ann.

"You'd think I'd fall for that coward!" Cross, Ann angrily points back at Buggy.

"What did you call me!?" Mad, Buggy growls, his nose glowing glistening ruby red.

"You heard me! You wet your trousers when you heard Whitebeard was approaching!" Arrogantly, Ann smirks smugly reminding him making him scowl staggering back by her smug smirk.

"At least I wasn't some sadist slashing wildly at grown ass men! With that creepy smile to!" Terrified, Buggy screams screeches back by the murderous memory of it all, that creepy girl's smile as she stood over the bodies below…

"My smile isn't creepy!" Cross, Ann angrily glares glowers at Buggy brow furrowed fuming from it all aggravated.

"It's creepy!" Cross, Buggy repeats.

"Is not!" Ann slams her temple against Buggy's own.

"Is too!" Buggy slams his temple against Ann's own.

"Is not!" Agitated, Ann pushes him back.

"Is too!" Buggy pushes her back.

"You wanna die!" Angrily, Ann rolls her sleeve back, a black beady shining sheen of armament haki soon coating her arm alarming and terrifying Buggy but before the hit could actually be made…

"Ann!" Momosuke rushes over to the glaring girl.

"What?" Said girl glares at the boy pushing Buggy down to the ground.

"When I'm older marry me!" Momo beams brightly at her as said girl scowls at the question that he had been nagging her since he first came on board.

"EH!?" The crew roar taken aback at his words.

"Marry me!" Momo repeats.

"No way!" The girl growls hands on her hips wearing a lightly reddish cheery off shoulder ruffle shirt with perky pink petals and snow white dots wearing snow white trousers and brown boots.

"That's my son!" Smiling, Oden cheers proud of his son.

"TOO YOUNG!" Roger roars Rayleigh joining in the two furrowing their brow by the crew's antics.

"Become my midai and we'll rule Wano together!" Momosuke takes her hand going on his knee taking everyone aback.

"Hell no I'm going to be free as if I'd settle down!" Scowling, she takes her hand away from him hands on her hips as she stands on a railing, grinning giddily at the brisk breeze of sea air.

"That's my daughter for you!" Roger proudly proclaims at his little girl.

"Oh then how about becoming my concubine?" Momo rushes over to her side looking up at her from the railing.

"Concubine!? How do you even know those sorts of words!?" Mad, Ann turns to glare down at the boy below.

"Rule Wano with me!" Momo insists.

"No!" Ann barks back.

"Marry me!" Momo repeats resolved.

"No I'm not going to be some side piece for some kid!" Angrily, Ann crosses her arms over her chest.

"How does she know what a side piece is?" Worriedly, Toki whispers.

"She's been on board too long…." Rayleigh groans head in hands as Roger beams brightly giddily grinning from ear to ear pride pouring out of him from his little girl, watching the scene play out.

Quietly, Ann leans back in her bed once more thanks to the wicked witch's order demand practically dragging her back to bed as Ann reads the book below brow furrowed from the familiar texts, ignoring the shy shudder crawling coursing down her shaking spine. She should have been fine, she was under the cover, she feels her hue twitch at the slight strange sensation of…longing? No it couldn't be…she scowls, furrowing her brow by the icy chill at the strange sensation of loneliness? Maybe that was it…but why? Ann couldn't help but furrow her brow by it.

"Urgh…!" Ann grumbles leaning back against the framing board of the bed looking over at the empty tray of food by her side, surprised that he even made her food, oddly touched by her…

"…" Silently, Kuzan leans back against the sofa, a book draped over his head, snoring slightly to himself.

"URGGGGGHHH….!" Ann groans leaning her head back brow furrowed from the boredom taunting her almost.

"…Do you mind some us are trying to read?" Kuzan furrows his brow as he removes said book from his face.

"You mean trying to sleep…" Snippily, Ann scowls.

"Not my fault it makes a good sleeping mask." Kuzan shrugs.

"Yeah well some of us are bored…" Ann grumbles glaring to the side scowling.

"Then read a book." Bluntly, Kuzan deadpans.

"I already have." Annoyed, Ann argues agitated.

"You haven't read all the-" Kuzan begins but…

"Beth dies at the end." Ann curtly cuts him off, a still silence hanging heavily in the air around them all.

"…You enjoyed that didn't you?" Kuzan accuses annoyed.

"Yep. Now you're bored with me hah!" Ann smirks smugly pointing at him.

"That isn't something to be proud of." Kuzan deadpans.

"Please you're just jealous that I won." Ann scoffs shaking her head at him.

"Won in what regard?" Kuzan probes brow furrowed standing up from his slumped state over the sofa.

"In life." Ann answers.

"Clearly from what I'm seeing you have clearly won in the game of life." Dryly, Kuzan smirks slightly sitting himself down on the edge of the bed bemused.

"Look you're bored I'm bored let's play a game." Ann decides.

"…What kind of game?" Kuzan pries leaning in amused almost as he places his hand to the side of her head, looking down at her almost attempting to pin her down however…

"Whatever you're thinking no." Ann swiftly stops him.

"You didn't even hear it." Kuzan huffs pouting almost.

"Whatever it is get your head out of the gutter." Ann orders done.

"You're no fun." Kuzan plops himself down by her side.

"And you're a perv." Pointedly, she lightly hits his shoulder.

"Fine what's this game then?" Kuzan probes perplexed.

"20 questions." Ann answers.

"20 questions?" Kuzan furrows his brow.

"You have 10 questions to ask me and I have ten to ask you, we have to answer honestly. If you want to answer the question you give me you can do that but it comes to the cost of a question." Ann explains to Kuzan.

"Then who wins?" Kuzan furrows his brow befuddled.

"Obviously it's me." Ann smirks shrugging.

"How so?" Kuzan pries.

"Cause I suggested it." Ann answers.

"That doesn't…" Kuzan begins but…

"You wanna play or what?" Ann curtly cuts him off.

"…Fine." Kuzan sighs softly taking out something from the liquor cabinet.

"What' this?" Ann eyes the glasses he takes out.

"Thought it might lift the mood." Kuzan pours the drinks for him.

"I'm here for it what is it?" Ann eyes said scarlet substance below.

"Sherry wine." Kuzan answers as he takes a sip.

"Huh I've had red never sherry." Softly, Ann swirls said substance.

"You're missing out then." Kuzan takes a soft sip alongside Ann.

"Woah this is sweet…" Surprised, Ann's hues widen when tasting it.

"You like it?" Kuzan smirks slightly at Ann.

"Yeah it's really nice." Ann smiles shyly back.

"So who goes first?" Kuzan leans back against the bed frame.

"You can if you want?" Ann shrugs.

"Alright then what's more important platonic or romantic relationships?" Kuzan questions her.

"Platonic hands down." Easily, Ann answers.

"Really?" Kuzan raises a brow by it.

"Yeah with romantic there's always the risqué of the romantic relationship going wrong the awkwardness is much more worse than having a falling out with a friend." Firmly, Ann tells Kuzan.

"I can get behind that now you going to ask me?" Kuzan queries.

"Alright what are your favourite drinks?" Ann asks him.

"You're asking that boring of a question?" Kuzan chuckles, a small smirk crossing his lips.

"Don't judge my question now come on answer." Ann encourages lightly hitting his shoulder smirking.

"Sherry wine, dairy milk, and coffee." Kuzan lists from the top of his head.

"Let me guess Kuzan blend!" Bemused, Ann winks at Kuzan.

"And if it is?" Kuzan smirks back.

"I knew it!" Ann cheers.

"Alright my turn, if you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?" Kuzan queries.

"Oh easy my freckles." Firmly, Ann answers as she points to said freckles.

"Your freckles?" Frowning, Kuzan raises a brow by her answer turning to face her.

"Yeah I used to be called spotty during school some ids refused to touch me due to being infected." Ann recalls brow furrowed from the murky memory of it all leading to a fair few black eyes from the sneering kids.

"Kids can be cruel." Kuzan sighs.

"Yeah…" Ann trails off.

"If it's any consolation I like your freckles." Kuzan offers.

"You…you do?" Astonished, Ann does a double take.

"Those freckles make you seem like a galaxy of stars, just waiting to be explored and loved." Kuzan admits as Ann blinks befuddled blushing brightly.

"…" Ann stares shocked at Kuzan, a heavy hue of ruby red dusting his crimson cheeks.

"You okay?" Kuzan furrows his brow at her.

"I can't believe you just said that." Ann snickers softly.

"Are you blushing?" Bemused, Kuzan smirks slightly seeing said ruby red dusting her crimson cheeks.

"N-No." Ann squeaks out.

"Yeah you are." Kuzan's smirk only widens watching her.

"I can't believe you said something so embarrassing…" Ann places her hand over her face feeling her heated cheeks.

"I mean it." Kuzan asserts removing her hand, holding it.

"I'm sure that's what you tell to the other girls." Ann dismisses shaking her head.

"Not anymore." Kuzan admits.

"Not anymore?" Ann arches a brow befuddled.

"Aren't I the one to ask the question?" Kuzan furrows his brow.

"You win this round." Ann folds for now…

"What's the happiest childhood memory you remember?" Kuzan queries.

"Hm…I have a fair few but I guess…the picnics my mother and I would have." Ann leans back against the pillow below brow furrowed from the thought of those rare peaceful moments.

"…Picnics?" Puzzled, Kuzan quirks his head to the side.

"Yeah some days when the sun was shining, she'd set up a picnic basket and we'd just sit up on the highest hill and look out at the sea, those peaceful times they were nice you know? No fuss, none of that luxury restaurant crap I mean sure it's nice, a rarity but not too much you know?" Smiling, Ann closes her hues briefly by the memory of it all, her mother and her simply at side by side looking out at the sea hopeful to see a familiar ship approach.

"Guessing you'd like that for a first date then…" Teasingly, Kuzan remarks.

"Oi, oi someone's being cheeky." Cheekily, Ann lightly hits his shoulder smirking.

"And if I am?" Amused, Kuzan leans in.

"Alright, alright only cause I get to win this round. But yeah it would be my ideal date or just lazing about on the sofa and just relaxing too, depends on the weather. I personally prefer to lie in you know just relaxing…" Ann admits as she furrows her brow attempting to explain she never really thought about it before but here she stood she supposed.

"It's not a bad idea…" Kuzan compliments her.

"Thanks." Ann smiles shyly.

"Now for my question who was your first kiss?" Kuzan pries.

"Uhhh…can you change the question?" Ann asks, squirming slightly.

"Why?" Kuzan furrows his brow at Ann.

"It's a memory so deep into my subconscious no one should remember it." Ann dismisses.

"Oh come on it can't be that bad." Kuzan argues.

"…You have to promise not to tell anyone." Ann states seriously scowling at Kuzan.

"You have my word." Kuzan promises as anguished, Ann bows her head, readying herself for the answer to come, feeling her throat tense tighten up as she spews out the answer much to her body's shame and discomfort…

"…Buggy the clown."


*So what did you think of that revelation? Of Ann and Roger's dynamic heck hers and Kuzan's?*