Ken Kutosaki walked past the main town of Domaisly going back to the harbor port.

He shivered as he grabbed the Marine jacket he had more tightly around him.

It had been a long time he had last came here, making him forget how chilly it was at night.

He walked towards the small bridge connecting to the landing bay ships.

He looked at the Marine ship standing right in front of him. He approached it and walked towards the latter.

When he got into the ship the guards next to it stiffened up and raised their right hands over their heads.

" Welcome back captain,"

Ken gave a lazy salute back and left towards the general's room.

As he walked towards it he could hear someone's voice mumble at the general's room.

"…. Yes im aware of that sir….. yes a research team has been sent…yes everthin-

(Door Cracks Open)

" Hold on sir someone's here," said Lieutenant Abeam looking at Ken.

He got on the phone snail again, " Yes… I'll talk to you later sir… bye,"

Lieutenant Abeam turned of the snail and looked at Ken in disregard,

"…..Ken ? Aren't you suppose to be with your family," Asked Abeam looking puzzled.

Ken looked at the Marine sign at the front of the room, " I… had a little-ah ' Family argument'.

Lieutenant Abeam shock his head with a frown, " Oy kid… Why did you do that… your family should be your closest thing to you,".

Ken looked at his superior officer, " Ah… lieutenant…. The marines are my closest things,".

Abeam's frown deepened, " Im telling you kid… your taking what you have for granted… you'll never now just how much you'll miss them until you lose them… I had to find that out myself the hard way,"

Ken gave a small-annoyed grunt, " I wish to change the subject…. Just now… did our general call..?"

Abeam gave one worried small look at Ken then gave up, " Yes that was him… he'll be with us in as little as 3 days…,"

Ken walked towards one of the seats in the office, " Is everything going to plan?"

As Ken sat down Abeam leaned back on his chair, "Yes… a research team has been sent to the deep ruins of the ancestral tree… if what our scientist said is true…. The sacred stone should be down there…."

Ken spoke as he looked up at the ceiling, " You do know the outcome of this will be right…. If we take the stone out, this place will lose their power source….".

" Meaning this place will lose its town basically," said Abeam nodding.

" Yes Ken… I now the risk… but it's an order from our superiors…. We can't do anything about it, but do as we are told," said Abeam clutching his hands together with a sigh.

" Its times like these that make you think what side your on:" said Abeam.

Ken looked shocked, " What do you mean,"

Abeam leaned his head back, " Im feeling that more and more marines are over misunderstanding…. Think about it Ken…. Why is it that Eneas Lobby was destroyed."

Ken looked down, he did not want to answer that.

Abeam waited for Ken's answer for a while then after a moment Abeam spoke again, " I'll tell you…. It wasn't pirates it was us,"

Ken looked up furious, " Wrong it was one man who was selfish that set the buster call,"

Abeam looked at Ken tiredly, " Your right it was one man….one man caused all that damage….. You don't think that another man could do the same thing,"

Ken gave an arrogant look, " I don't know… but still marines are good… we belive in all that is justice….,"

Abeam gave a small smile, " You'll never let your arrogance fool you…. Huh,"

Just when Ken was going to say something the snail phone rang.

" Ring Ring" Abeam looked at Ken for a moment then anwered the call and put it on speaker.
" Hello…. This is luitenant Abeam," " Abeam…. What are you doing at the generals room…"said a strong rough voice. Ken gave a sly smile… he knew who it was. " Oy…. How are you doing Captain Smoker," Ken said hoping he would recognize his Ken's voice.

"….. Abeam tell Captain Ken he can't addres me as ' oy' but 'sir'," said Smoker who was surely grining wherever he was.

Ken grinned, " Ah… sorry… I always lacked manners,"

Abeam smiled, " Sorry sir, I try my best to teach him some manners… but that's beside the point… why is it you called Smoker,"

" I was going to report a file to him… but… I guess hes not there….,"said Smoker who was in some place raining, because there was a bit of static.

" Yes hes gone for the moment, but he'll be back shortly…but you can go on and report the file to me now… and I'll leave it here later for him," said Abeam placing a folder down the table and opening it.

" Actually… I was thinking of reporting it to him in person," said Smoker.

Abeam looked surprised, " Oh… is it that important….were working on something right now I don't think it would be wise to-

" Hold on a second…. You know I don't like being told what to do." Said Smoker. Ken gave a small smile, he admired Smokers attidute… sort of like his own. Abeam sighed, " Alright… fine I won't tell you what to do…. But still you shou-

"Ken Tell me were you are," Smoker said ignoring Abeam.

" We are at Domaily Rode Island… sir," said Ken slowly with the last word.

" Domailsy… uh…. Not for from were we are…. If I go all out I should we should be there by tomorrow afternoon,"said Smoker breathin hard…. Probaly exhaling his ciggars.

Ken looked confused, " We…what do you mean by we ?"

" I mean myself and my protégé," said Smoker.

Ken got it now, " Ohh yeah… Sergeant Major Tashigi,"

" What… who said my name," said a different voice from the speaker.

" I did Major…," said Ken.

" Sorry… I heard my name and I thought you were adressing me," Tashigi apologizing.

" Its okay," said Ken.

Abeam placed the folder in his hands back to the drawer,

" Smoker… tell me… how does it feel to be awarded after what happened in Alabasta,"

"…. What are you a reporter now…As much as I like getting awarded and reconized it wasn't me who decerved all the credit… actually it was that straw-hat and his crew,"

" I hate him… him and his brother… that's why im trying to find them and bring them to the marines…," Said Smoker again making that exahaling noise.

Ken smiled at what Smoker said, " Smoker…about straw- hat… hes here… with his crew,"

"………………………"

" Their there… including Roronoa ?" Asked Tashigi surprised.

" Yeah all of them," said Ken.

"………………………."

" Smoker… im surprised your not saying anything," said Abeam raising his eyebrows.

" What do you want me to say…. Im speechless," said Smoker quiting the exhaling noise.

Ken tried to picture Smoker speechless, but he couldn't.

" So then… tomorrow afternoon we'll expect your arrival," said Ken folding his hands.

" Nope… change of plans tomorrow morning," said Smoker.

Ken sighed at Smoker's anticipation, " Do you honestly have nothing to do, but fight straw-hat ?"

" Tomorrow then," said Smoker ignoring Ken.

Then the call was ended, and Ken and Abeam looked at each other.

" That man…. If only he would do what he gets asked for he just might be an admiral," said Abeam dissapointedly.

" I admire him…. He does things on his own pace," said Ken smilling.

" Speaking of working on pace I have to go to back to work…. I was left in charge until our generals comes back," said Abeam.

Ken headed to the door, " I understand I'll go on and get some shut eye,"

" Wait Ken," said Abeam.

Ken stopped and turned to him, " Yeah"

"….. try not to do something stupid… I know you after all," said Abeam raisin his eyebrows.

Ken smiled, " No promises there,"

Ken then closed the door behind him leavin Abeam even more worried.

AUTHOR'S COMMENTS!

Here it is chaper 18 sorry there is no ZoRobin here, but please just be patient it will come very soon….

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