"…Pardon?" Perplexed, Kuzan stares at Ann attempting to process the news, attempting to try to rationalise the answer she gave.
"You heard me." Mortified, Ann groans plopping her head down upon his shoulder.
"…How?" Fascinated, Kuzan couldn't help but be with his arm draped over the girl's shoulder bringing her closer curiosity clear in his tone towards her.
"The ship I was on with him swerved he slammed into me…I was traumatised." Tense, Ann places her hands over her face frowning at the murky memory feeling her throat tense tighten up at the memory feeling as if vomit was burning her throat as if the chunks of vomit were clawing up her tense throat trying to have her spew from such a horrible memory.
"I could imagine." Kuzan smirks slightly.
"What made it worst was my old man telling me the first guy I kissed I had to marry." Mortified, Ann adds anguished at the taunting teasing of her father and his crew as the naïve girl had a practical breakdown from it all crying her eyes out alongside Buggy as the two for once in their lives held one another not fighting but rather crying at the situation they found themselves stuck in.
"And you fell for that?" Kuzan chuckles slightly.
"I was a kid okay?!" Defensive, Ann argues at the horrifying memory.
"Kuzan smirks shaking his head sipping his wine.
"It's not funny!" Fuming, Ann angrily scowls at Kuzan, her flustered features practically burning.
"Come on you got to admit it was funny…" Kuzan argues amused at her rather cute reaction.
"Sure looking back on it but think back to kid me thinking I had to marry that clown I was mortified." Ann argues head in hands if it weren't for Rayleigh's guilt who knows how long that joke would have played out…
"Would you like a redo then?" Teasingly, Kuzan gently pries Ann's hands off her furrowed features.
"Redo?" Astonished, Ann quirks her head to the side oblivious to Kuzan's small smirk and glint gleaming in his hue.
"With your first kiss." Kuzan leans into his inner palm smirking softly down at the befuddled Ann.
"…What are you talking about? My first kiss happened that's why it's called a first kiss now a question for you…" Ann argues as Kuzan couldn't help but sweat drop at her frankness and obliviousness.
"You're killing me here Ann." Kuzan groans combing his hair back befuddling Ann.
"Eh?" Ann quirks her head.
"Never mind." Kuzan shakes his head at Ann.
"I know, how about this what was your first impression of me?" Merrily, Ann changes topic.
"A bit self-absorbed you know?" Kuzan smirks slightly at Ann.
"Come on tell me." Ann prompts playfully.
"Terrifying…" Kuzan smiles softly at the memory of it all, he had seen her a fair few times having even done a fair few missions with her in the past however he would never forget the first day he properly saw her…
Firmly focused on the papers below, the younger Ann makes her way through the hallway hearing the sharp sound of ringing metal clashing against one another sparks spewing out from said blades bashing into each other, some being dropped to the ground due to the heavy vibrations of said blades but before the poor marine could pick it up they had been berated by the teacher in charge of the marines training. Some marines hold their hands shaking quivering quaking from the aftereffects of the earthquake as their throats teasingly touch the blade they are met with as Ann continues on through the training grounds…
"Isn't that…Vice admiral Portgas!?"
Ann still continues on her way while walking by the firing bay oblivious to the gawking gaping marine men attempting to put together their guns with a certain tall, towering marine firmly focused on assembling the gun before him, his hues briefly looking up through the brim of his marine hat, spotting said woman on her way working while walking.
"They weren't kidding about her being beautiful!" Lovestruck, the marine men coo gushing giddily hearts in their hues as the tall towering figure of the younger Kuzan simply scowls at the people by his side being so loud looking towards the pink haired girl, a part of him had to be admit she was beautiful but now was not the time to gape at her like that, she was their superior, sure she was young but she had earnt it right to be a vice admiral, she wouldn't have become one if she hadn't…
"They say her beauty is on par with the empress of the sea Boa Hancock!" Haughty, one of the men poke their tongues similar to a dog almost as he gapes at the oblivious to the girl firmly focused on the paperwork in her hand as many bow their heads to her some marines going about their day, some sweeping, some moping, some cleaning she still doesn't bat an eye to them.
"They say she's the youngest Vice Admiral ever!"
"As expected of the granddaughter of the marine hero Garp!"
"I heard she just came back from dealing with Kaido!"
"You're kidding?!"
"I wish I heard she even went head to head against him!"
"No way! If she did she would be dead!"
"But she did they say her willpower was so great that it made Kaido respect her and he backed off!"
The younger Kuzan perks up at the mention of the pirate as soon as blonde boy joins the pink haired girl's side, his hues narrowing noting the small shy smile crossing her lips from the sheer sight of the beaming blonde, the two conversing chirpily with one another, one of the rare few to actually snap her out of her work mode.
"Hey who's the blonde?" Brow furrowed, one of the men scowl at the tall, towering slouched state of the blonde.
"Just some officer, apparently the two are close…" One of the marines exclaims.
"You don't think…?" Tense one of the marines cry.
"That twink? Please…" Scoffing, the marine men chuckle coyly as the blonde suddenly trips forward surprising the marines watching the woman not even batting an eye to the clutz catch the taller figure by her side, picking him up by the collar steading him a the two return to their work.
"Oh yeah I heard she and vice admiral Sakazuki had a whole argument it lead to a fight!" Another voice throws in catching Kuzan's attention.
"Really?"
"Yeah, some reported Sakazuki coming into the medical bay with his hand all blue and purple it looked like his whole arm had been dislocated!" One of the marines gossip.
"…You're kidding!" The marines gawk gape as just then…
"Rosi…" Ann turns to the blonde by her side.
"Hm?" Humming, he turns to her.
"To your right." Ann advises.
"Oh okay." Obediently, he complies as just then the crisp crunch of shards shattering surprising the others around.
"S-Sorry!" A girl's voice calls out as the two don't eve bat an eye to the soil spoiling the floor below, the flower going limp with shards of the pot discarded all over.
"She predicted that!?" The marines gawk gape at her ability.
"They say her observation haki is inhuman!" Another voice adds as Kuzan notes their instructor approaching as they continue on with their assignment.
Casually, Kuzan leans against the wall, his arm leant against the pillar pinning the blushing marine girl against the pillar, steam spewing out of her ears, her flustered facial features heated, swooning from the man above as he smirks down at the girl he easily pulled until taking note of the pink haired girl exiting out of her office however as she does so…
"PORTGAS!" Grinning, Garp rushes forward reeling his fist back as Kuzan recognises said strike but to everyone's surprise…
"Hello to you too gramps." Easily, Ann catches said fist with her arm cloaked blackish silver, armament, Kuzan recognises from afar as the bright burst of gale brushes through flapping the cape of sorts the two wear that were their vice admiral jackets.
"Heard you gave Sakazuki a right beating." Beaming, Garp crosses his arms over his chest coyly.
"He and I had some…disagreements!" Anxiously, Ann scratches the back of her neck.
"Hah that's all? Just a disagreement?" Garp smirks smugly at the awkward Ann.
"It wasn't that bad." Ann argues anxiously.
"The brat's arm was broken!" Garp points out.
"…Ah. Might as used a bit too much pressure." Ann considers calmly.
"Just a bit?" Garp raises a brow by it.
"Gawhahahah! How about we sit down and have some green tea I even brought some rice crackers!" Cheerily, he offers said snack.
"…I have work." Ann brushes past Garp.
"You can work while eating." Garp insists.
"…I have reports to do." Dutifully, Ann repeats returning to the work below.
"Oi brat you should be happy to spend time with me!" Mad, Garp roars at Ann returning her focus to her workload.
"Before or after I have to listen to endless lectures about the good old days or the fleet admiral demanding for me to convince you to take a promotion?" Pointedly, Ann deadpans.
"Nothing wrong with the good old days…O-Oi Ann!" Garp calls out to the unapologetic pink haired girl going on ahead, looking over at the stack of reports in her hands, a handful she looks over firmly focused on the task at hand, the two by her side standing by as she goes to complete her report….
"Oi Portgas." Ann furrows her brow by the smug voice turning towards the man with blonde slicked back hair and shades.
"Hm?" Humming, she turns to him.
"Me and you how about it?" Smirking, he lowers his shades to wink while Kuzan watches on furrowing his brow at him.
"…How about what?" Ann quirks her head to the side.
"Me take you out." Cancer points to himself smirking smugly.
"…Take me out?" Ann's hues narrow confusion clear on her furrowed features turning towards the blonde by her side sighing at his oblivious friend as Kuzan couldn't help but smirk slightly at the rather cute, confused expression of the genuinely lost girl.
"Yep, you're pretty cute not to men-" Smoothly, he smooths his hair back but soon stops faltering from the fierce fist to his face, the crisp crunch of bones echoing as scarlet splatter out of the battered broken face of Cancer. Kuzan heard the sharp scream of the mortified marine girl he was hitting on, fleeing from the sight making him furrow his brow by the girl while Ann simply blinks.
"Not another one…" Rosi sighs at the broken battered mess of the vice admiral as the two share a look and awkwardly leave the hallway as Kuzan couldn't help the small smirk to cross his lips at the fierce fighter that was admiral Ann, making a note to keep a close eye on the rather interesting girl…
"Eh?" Present Ann blurts out befuddled brow furrowed, that wasn't how she remembered it. She remembered just being in an office for a meeting all the vice admirals were there when she kept hearing yawning much to her frustration. She spots the sleeping figure she had swiftly kicked awake as the meeting then ended with her waiting to go back to her office to work sadly that didn't happen so easily…
"Portgas right?" Lazily, the tall, towering figure with the trench coat of blue calls out to the girl. Taken aback, Ann reels back by the familiar frustrating face that had the nerve to be sleeping during said meeting approaching her.
"Yes…?" Her hues narrow at the man before her noting his black oval lenses as he stares down at her.
"Do I have pneumonia?" Smirking, he ask Ann astonishing her.
"No?" Ann answers quirking her head to the side, she hadn't been coughing nor did she have a temperature why would he ask something like that?
"Because you're giving me chills." Coyly, he smirks down at the befuddled blondish pink haired girl.
"If you had pneumonia you would be coughing up blood." Bluntly, Ann deadpans.
"…You're cute." After a brief moment of silence, he responds with.
"And you're weird." Ann furrows her brow turning to leave baffled by the overall conversation, if she would call that one.
"Good weird?" Smirking, he asks.
"I don't even want to know what good weird is. Still if you have it cover your mouth and nose with a handkerchief or tissue when you cough or sneeze then throw away used tissues immediately – germs can live for several hours after they leave your nose or mouth also wash your hands regularly to avoid transferring germs to other people or objects." Truthfully, Ann explains to the baffled young Kuzan, a part of him bemused by her explanation.
"Maybe you could take care of me…" Mischievously, he leans down smirking down at the girl brow furrowing from his words.
"…I don't need to kill you, it would cause more trouble than its worth." Bluntly, Ann argues her murdering a fellow officer didn't seem to be helpful despite how annoying he was as a person she doubted the consequences would be worth it.
"…That's not what I mean." Sighing, Kuzan tells her however…
"The what do you mean?" Mystified, Ann queries lost.
"You could take care of me." Dubiously, he hints smirking smugly down at her.
"But the marines have a medical bay." Brow furrowed, Ann argues, they had all the equipment she would need.
"…So?" Kuzan shrugs.
"So go to them." Ann deadpans.
"It's cute that you care." Coyly, he leans over her side smirking.
"Eh? I don't care though I mean I care about those that you could affect; pneumonia can be viral after all." Ann advises him.
"Uh…" Kuzan trails off sweat dropping.
"It's actually rather selfish and irresponsible for you to come into work when you knew of your condition." Curtly, Ann berates the man lecturing the tall, towering figure flabbergasting many watching while Garp cackles from inside, munching his rice cracker as Sengoku facepalms at the two.
"And another one bites the dust." Garp bellows boisterously beaming brightly slapping his leg laughing his ass off as Ann leaves heading back to her office…
"You believe in love at first sight?" Casually, Kuzan asks.
"Love at first sight?" Ann arches a brow by it.
"You heard me." Kuzan smirks.
"…I mean I know people can be physically attractive to others but that's really it, it isn't until you know the person that you can decide if you could the rest of your life with them that is if you want that I know a fair few don't so…" Ann admits as she argues brow furrowed.
"Yeah I see that…" Kuzan exclaims.
"You do?" Ann arches a brow.
"Yeah I get that, getting along way too much with a person makes things boring you need someone although similar has to be different." Kuzan reasons.
"Say if you could have dinner with anyone living or dead who would you want," Ann asks him.
"You…" Kuzan answers.
"Huh?" Astonished, Ann blurts out.
"You heard me." Mischievously, Kuzan smirks unapologetically.
"You really like messing with me don't you? Anyone else you used that on?" Ann accuses annoyed.
"Didn't you hear me before?" Kuzan sighs at her.
"Course I did I didn't know you were being serious though." Tiredly, Ann argues.
"And if I am?" Kuzan challenges turning his head to her.
"Uh…." Ann draws out.
"Sorry I'm just teasing…you ever want kids?" Kuzan smirks slightly.
"And you say I'm being too personal." Ann scoffs.
"You can skip if you want." Kuzan assures Ann.
"Nah it's fine I do actually." Ann admits smiling shyly.
"…You do?" Kuzan raises a brow.
"Yeah what about you?" Ann asks him.
"…I would too." Kuzan responds.
"I think that's the tenth question." Ann hums brow furrowed.
"So who wins?" Kuzan asks amused.
"…I don't think there are any winners…say how about when this is over since I owe you one for taking care of me I treat you to a drink." Ann offers optimistically smiling softly.
"Isn't it normally the man asking the girl out?" Bemused, Kuzan smirks slightly wrapping his arms around the flustered mess of Ann
"…I'm just trying to pay you back." Ann argues as she leans into his side, too tired to argue anymore as soon Ann feels at ease from the soft scent from the lazybones.
"Who says I'm complaining?" Smirking, he brings her close to his chest.
"So?" Softly, she looks up at him, feeling his hand on her waist drawing patterns.
"I'll be looking forward to it." Smirking, he nuzzles into her side, smirking slightly as the two descend down into the dark depths of their respective dreams…
"The fish-man Island huh? I've been there with White-Kichi-chan!"
"Don't drop your guard! No matter how many times you go your chances of dying won't change!" Roger warns Oden as the ship swims through the deep ocean, a bubble coating glistening gleaming as her hues narrow noting the sea beasts going about the place her hues widening while narrowing at the sharp searing sensation in her tense temple, what was….what's…?
"Will be born…our ruler will be born…"
"My head…" Ann holds her side of the head.
"Ann…?" Roger furrows his brow at his daughter.
"What's with these voices?" Ann cries out holding her head.
"I don't know. Rayleigh do you hear that?" Roger furrows his brow turning to the blonde.
"What are you talking about? It's the silent deep sea." Smirking, Rayleigh furrows his brow at the two.
"No I can hear it too." Oden steps up.
"You too Oden? Who's talking this deep in the water!?" Roger roars taken aback at it.
"Urgh…" Ann holds her head pained.
"It'll be over soon sweetie." Softly, Roger squeezes her shoulders.
"Toki that's the Fish-Man Island!" Oden gasps at the bright bubble before them.
"How interesting…it seems like the whole island is in a bubble…That's…!" Toki gasps in awe at it.
"The fishmen tribe? They've surrounded us!" Oden gasps seeing said warriors greet them armed and ready.
"What do you want surface dwellers!? Depending on how you answer you might be exterminated!" The armoured giant merman roars raising his spear to the two. He has a red nose, small eyes, and long thick orange curly hair and beard. Both his chest and arms are covered with hair. He is bare-chested and has matching black tattoos on both arms, which looks like a spiral with wavy protrusion designs around it. He wears a gold crown that resembles a tulip with jewels embedded, a golden bracelet on each wrist, and carries a gold trident with an elaborate design.
"Whoa, wait wait. Look closer! It's me Roger! Great Knight Neptune!" Roger rushes in stepping in.
"Roger? Oh I see so you guys are gonna do it!" Incensed, Neptune scowls glaring glowering down at Roger.
"This again…?" Ann sighs softly as the group go inside entering the fish island.
"We're not up to anything bad! Come on why are you scared of a prophecy? You're better than that!" Roger furrows his brow at the merman.
"The prophecy says someone will break the gate of the Fish-Man Island soon! And now you guys are here so most likely…" Neptune begins as the roger pirates exit out of the ship listening to Neptune when…
"Neptune-sama it's been broken! The sea kings chewed up the gate!" A scared soldier screams rushing in.
"What!? The gentle sea kings did such a thing!? It can't be true!" Tense, Neptune gawks gapes at the news.
It came true…Oden sweat drops.
"There is a hole in the outer bubble!" The scared soldier screams.
"Patch it up! Give it a quick fix!" Neptune roars.
"Trouble always seems to find us…" Ann sweat drops.
"We couldn't have prevented this." Neptune bows his head, facepalming.
See!? It wasn't us!" Roger roars at the merman.
The sea kings are going crazy because they're waiting for the mermaid princess to be born." Shyly, a young girl calls out as Ann turns towards the robed girl with the crystal ball.
"The mermaid princess!? That's another prophecy!" The soldiers soon rush over to the girl.
"Then the king will have a baby!?" Beaming another soldier smiles at the thought.
"We have to celebrate!" Cheerily, a smiling soldier insists.
"Wait, wait I'm not even married yet-jamon! I was only enthroned a few months ago-jamon!" Neptune roars raising his voice to his men, a heavy hue of ruby red dusting his crimson cheeks.
"But Neptune sama she even divined the day that the former king would die!" One of the soldiers argue.
"And that sexy I mean that hateful mermaid Otohime's political demonstration the other day was…!" The soldier smiles.
"Otohime!? I-It's not like it brought me any comfort! These days the whole country is swayed by that girl's prophecies…" The blushing merman bows his head flustered.
"We're not here for your personal issue Neptune." Rayleigh hollers as the group are taken to the stones.
"R-Right…" Neptune bows his head shyly sheepishly.
"How is it Oden?" Roger calls out to the man eyeing the crimson cube and the normal looking cube.
"Well…there are two, so I thought we could get a lot of information but one of them isn't so important. It's an apology letter from someone named Joyboy." Oden translates.
"I can't believe it! He really can read the script!" Surprised, Neptune gasps.
"Yeah by the way do you have a weapon to control the sea kings!?" Roger asks him.
"A weapon?" Neptune furrows his brow down at Roger.
"The sky island's stone says it's here. The ancient weapon that has a god's name…Poseidon." Roger reveals to Neptune.
"To tell you the truth…I had a slight chill when I heard Shyarly's prophecy earlier-jamon. Once every few centuries in this country a mermaid who can talk to the sea kings is born. Maybe that mermaid is…" Neptune confesses to Roger.
"So your daughter will become the weapon that will destroy the world someday!?" Surprised, Roger exclaims.
"It's just a prophecy-jamon! And even if it's called an ancient weapon, it doesn't have to be used as one!" Neptune dismisses.
"I never thought that Poseidon was a mermaid!" One of the roger pirates exclaims as the group return to the main hub of fishmen island.
"Hey Shyarly when will the mermaid princess be born?" Smiling, Rayleigh kneels down next to the little girl.
"10!" Smiling, she answers as the ball glows beaming brightly only to falter from the young Ann's anguished reaction.
"I guess it's 10 years from now…But Roger I can't believe you're interested in such a weapon I'm disappointed in you!" Neptune berates Roger.
"Neptune what we want is the vast amount of treasure that was left by the people who called it a weapon!" Rayleigh reassures Neptune.
"Are you relieved? We won't come to kidnap your hairy daughter who'll be born someday!" Smiling, Roger laughs.
"She won't be hairy!" Neptune roars mad.
"Ten…" Anguished, Ann looks sadly solemnly towards her father brightly beaming broadly despite the news given.
"You!" Shyarly points to Ann.
"Hm? Me?" Ann jolts up at the sudden spotlight hsinig down upon her.
"You will marry and have two children." Shyarly looks into her crystal ball.
"…Eh?" Ann repeats taken aback.
"EH!? Shyarly what are you saying?! My pretty princess will marry no one!" Roger frets worriedly staring at the girl wearing a light-coloured hooded dress with a stripe down the side.
"Oi what about my Momosuke!?" Oden roars rolling his sleeve upwards.
"Not him! He isn't good enough!" Enraged, Roger roars.
"Oi Roger who are you to stay who my son isn't good for!?" Fuming, Oden growls.
"I am! My daughter deserves the best of the best a man that will have to surpass me!" Resolved, Roger dictates.
"Oi papa…!" Pleadingly, Ann tries to stop her father's fretful fury but….
"He will be older." Shyarly adds alarming Roger.
"…How old?" Roger growls.
"Uh…" Shyarly trails off uneasily.
"We talking two years older right?" Roger probes anxiously as Shyarly stares at the crystal ball.
"…More." Meekly, Shyarly answers.
"How much more!?" Mortified, Roger roars raising his voice terrified.
"Papa…" Ann furrows her brow concern clear in her tone towards her father.
"Roger calm down she isn't always going to be the princess of pirates you know?" Rayleigh smirks slightly at Roger.
"Nonsense my Annie is never going to marry no one will ever be good enough isn't that right sweetie?" Strictly, Roger roars picking up his little girl holding her up as she simply sighs at her father.
"Do I even have a say in this?" Tiredly, Ann sighs slumping slouching her shoulders exhaustion etched into her furrowed features as next she knew…
"Gather up all of the crew! Time to ship out Kink's Brew!"
"Urgh…" Ann groans holding her head grimacing at the searing sensation in her tense throbbing temple trying to get up only as she reaches out to do so notice the empty space. She furrows her brow by the strange sense of loneliness ignoring the crisp chill crawling down her shaking spine where was…
"Morning." Mumbling, Kuzan enters the room, a tray in hand.
"Wha…what happened?" Flustered, Ann demands alarmed as she stands up lightly.
"We played 20 questions and someone drank a bit much…." Mumbling, Kuzan gently lowers the tray placing the cup of water and pill over on the counter side.
"Just a bit? Ow, ow, ow…! So much for looking after your supposed sick patient." Pointedly, Ann grumbles holding her head.
"I tried to stop you you're lucky we were here." Kuzan hands the pill and glass over to her.
"Urgh…" Ann groans taking the pill.
"Good morning lovebirds had a good night?" Kureha smirks smugly at the two.
"Go to hell!" Angrily, Ann grumbles glaring at him.
"Not denying lovebirds this time around?" Amused, Kureha downs the bottle in her hand.
"That's because you know we're not old hag!" Ann glares at the smirking witch.
"I'm a young spring flower now get out you lot are fixed up and I'm taking all your loot from your ship!" Scowling, she kicks at the bedridden blonde her face falling flat to the ground, her leg twitching tiredly as Kuzan simply sighs.
"You're what!?" Smoker scowls storming in, smoke spewing out alarmed at her words.
"Oi old hag you owe me remember?" Agitated, Ann removes herself from the cracked crater.
"Hmmm…I don't recall owing you anything…" Smirking, Kureha looks to the side.
"Old hag…" Angry, Ann growls glaring at her.
"Tch you're lucky I'm in a good mood seeing you two bicker was more tha enough entertainment for payment." Playfully, Kureha places her hand to her hip.
"Eh?" Ann blurts out.
"Now get out!" Kureha roars as next she knew the three of them were booted from the castle.
"Well that was easier than I thought." Truthfully, Ann admits as internally, she thanks the old hag as the group head down returning to their merry marines, glad for them to be back as they head back on their ship, continuing their mission…
*So what did you think of Kuzan and Ann's respective meetings of each other? Also for those wondering I wanted to leave how Buggy and Ann kissed up to interpretation I felt like no scenario I could write would do the hilarity of said scene justice...seriously though I'd love to know how you think Kuzan sees Ann and Ann sees Kuzan like what sort of couple do you see them being what sort of stuff could you see them doing and such!*
