It seemed as if the whole city was in attendance. Everyone was clothed in tuxedos, gowns, and vibrant colors. The Galley La ceilings were decorated in elegant silk streamers of white and gold. Giant chandeliers were hung from the ceiling and glimmered from every angle. Each round table a dark shade of navy blue, with a gold centre piece of a ship. Even the cutlery was gold with marble accents. A live band played a set of classic swing hits.
Kate was in awe at the site…Iceberg sure knew how to throw a party. She giggled to herself and shook her head.
Nope, it was probably Kalifa.
The raven haired beauty wandered through the crowd, awkwardly glancing at the name tags on each table. Her red, low cut gown with a high leg slit and her curled hair caused people to gawk as she walked by, making her feel even more awkward. Paulie was in charge of signing in guests and directing them to their tables, but was occupied chasing around women who were "immorally" dressed. She covered her cleavage with her scarf as he ran by her.
"Kate! Stay right there and don't you DARE remove that scarf!"
She giggled and nodded in affirmation. At least she'd be able to ask him where to go.
Standing in a hallway, Kaku looked at himself in the mirror and adjusted his bow tie. A tuxedo was definitely different from his usual shipwright attire. He made sure his hair looked presentable as he had always worn a hat a majority of the time.
He looked around the room for Paulie, and laughed as he saw the rope master angrily chasing what seemed to be every female guest.
The long nosed man made his way towards his boss, and noticed a woman in a red dress standing between him and where Paulie was.
"Pardon me miss".
Kate turned and blushed as her eyes met Kaku's.
Kaku blushed in return. He tried to slow his heart rate down as the sound of blood rushing grew louder and louder.
"Kate! Wow, don't you look dazzling."
She couldn't help but smile.
"You clean up pretty well yourself."
They both smiled at the ground shyly.
Kaku was first to break the silence.
"So, I guess you're waiting for Paulie?" He turned to see his senior continue to chase women around.
"Yeah, dinner starts in 2 minutes and I have no idea where I'm sitting."
Kaku looked around for a seating chart but to no avail.
"How are your feet feeling?"
Kate glanced curiously at his question.
"If you'd like, I'll stand on the side with you until Iceberg's opening remarks are finished then we can ask Kalifa where your seat is."
She smiled. "That's very kind of you. Thank you."
Kaku held his arm out for Kate to hold.
"M'lady".
Kate blushed.
Ah he's such a nerd
She held onto his arm, taken aback by how muscular he was. She squeezed his bicep slightly.
Crap...I hope he didn't feel that..
As Kate looked away from Kaku, he stared at her- the sound of blood rushing from the mad pumping of his heart now roaring.
What is happening to me?
They made their way through the crowd, Kaku greeting each familiar face with his usual cheerful hello, which was often returned then followed by whispers as guests looked at Kate latched onto Kaku's arm.
Kate contemplated letting go, but Kaku gently placed a hand on hers to reassure her. It was only a split second, but Kate felt better instantly. Besides- who wouldn't want to be seen with a Foreman of the Galley La company? The gang of 5 were pretty much the biggest celebrities in the city.
A loud screeching of the mic made the guests turn towards the stage.
Kalifa scanned the area in a panic. She wore a green dress with a very low cut neck line which went below her breasts. It was mermaid style with a long tail.
"Kate! If you're here please make your way to the main hall. Kate, please make your way to the main hall." Kalifa dropped the mic and a loud thud shook the room as she ran back into the hallway.
Kaku turned to Kate.
"I'm not sure what that was about, but I'd bet my bottom dollar it's you she was calling."
She nodded and let go of Kaku's arm as they ran to the main hall.
Kalifa beamed as she saw Kate and Kaku.
"Kate! I'm so happy you made it. Mr. Iceberg refused to go inside until you were here. You will be joining him at the head table."
"What?!" Kate took a step back. "Oh no I couldn't possibly..."
Kaku looked at Kalifa, his face silently asking for an explanation.
Iceberg came from behind Kalifa.
"Kate, thank you for coming. I know it's rather abrupt, but I would love for you to join me at our table this evening."
Kate blushed.
"Of course! I wouldn't miss it." She looked up at him nervously. "Are you sure you want me at your table? I mean I'm not really-"
Iceberg grabbed her hand.
"Please. You look so wonderful, and it'd be a waste for the whole city not to see."
Kalifa flipped her hair jealously.
Pfftt I'm way prettier than that short cake.
Unsure of how to react- Kate froze until her mind was taken elsewhere...
Where's Kaku?
Kaku leaned against a wall gripping at his chest. Now what was he feeling?
There's no way I could compete with Iceberg...
Pictures of Kate flashed through his head as her laugh echoed in background. Being her guide—he was with her most of the day for the past few months. He couldn't help but smile when he thought about her.
Though the media was heavily saturated in it—romance was foreign to Kaku. He had never witnessed any true relationship aside from random hook ups Lucci and Kalifa would have, and he had never experienced romance first hand. His life was dedicated to CP9 and training. The past 3 years in Water 7 were the closest thing he's ever had to a "normal" life.
A normal life…
He pictured working at Galley La until he was old, building his own ship to go fishing in time by time, buying a house, having a family….
An image of Kate holding a long nosed baby popped up.
He blushed at the thought and shook his head. Kaku opened his eyes in realization.
Is this what love is?
Kalifa walked onto the stage as guests clapped and cheered.
"Thank you everyone for joining us on this momentous day. Today is the 5th anniversary of the Galley La Company!"
The crowd continued to cheer.
"Now, before dinner starts please welcome our man of the night- Mayor Iceberg!"
The crowd cheered and gasped as they saw Kate walk in holding onto Iceberg's arm.
The crowd whispered to each other as they cheered.
Who's that?
I think that's Iceberg's girlfriend?
She's beautiful!
Man is our boss really hitting that?!
She's way too young for him
Wow! They make quite the pair.
Kate smiled nervously at all the people. As they walked, she couldn't help but search for a certain long nosed man in the crowd.
Kaku watched hidden in the back. He wiped his hand on his pants….he didn't notice watching Iceberg and Kate enter together made him clench his fists to the point that he drew blood.
Iceberg waved his hand to silence the guests.
"Thank you Kalifa and once again thank you all for coming. I'd like to keep this short so please- enjoy yourselves tonight as without all of you, Galley La would not be where it is today."
The guests began to cheer again.
"I would like to raise a toast- may Galley La's success grow for generations to come, and may Galley La always have the privilege of having you all be a part of it."
Cheers!
Laughter and the sounds of glasses clinking filled the air.
Iceberg whispered into Kate's ear.
"Thank you for doing this."
Kate smiled up at him and squeezed his arm reassuringly. He was still shaking. Little did anyone know he was actually terrified of public speaking. Kalifa insisted he leave his lizard due to health reasons/food, and usually when he was nervous he'd pet the lizard's head. At least he had Kate for reassurance.
The mayor turned to his assistant.
"Kalifa"
She nodded and started to explain the dinner procedures.
The head table was rectangular in shape, and placed in front of the guests, a similar set up to that of a wedding.
Iceberg was centre, with Kalifa to his right and Kate to his left.
The foremen of the Galley La company were also seated at the head table.
Kate seemed to glow as she saw Kaku approach and take the seat beside her.
"Kaku!"
He looked at her almost indifferently and greeted her with a nod.
Kate looked down, trying to process what had just happened.
Did I do something wrong?
The long nosed shipwright clenched his fists under the table.
I'm so sorry Kate. It's better this way...
Dinner was a lavish assortment of seafood and rare meats. Kate filled her plate with shrimp, greens, and a slice of some sort of roasted meat. She ate slowly, as she felt self conscious having all the eyes on her with every move.
I'm glad the shrimp was peeled…..
The crab was tempting, but there was no way she was going to eat crab in front of the whole city.
Iceberg put his arm over the back of Kate's chair.
"Kate, are you doing alright?"
She swallowed her fork full of greens.
"Yes, everything is delicious. Thank you again for inviting me."
He smiled and retrieved his arm to grab his napkin. The mayor wiped his mouth and stood up while taking a deep breath.
Kalifa stood up as well.
"If we spend 1.24 minutes per table, you should be able to greet every guest before 3:00AM."
Iceberg sighed
"Do I have to?!"
Kalifa shot him a glare.
"I'm sorry Iceberg, but this is something I can't get you out of."
The secretary pushed Iceberg towards his first table. He looked back, but before he could say anything to Kate, Kalifa pushed him one more time.
Kate turned to talk to Kaku, but he along with the other shipwrights had also left.
Iceberg spent most of the time interacting with guests, while the others placed at the head table were scattered around the venue attending to their assigned duties.
Kate sat alone at the head table. She tried to look busy by cutting up her dessert into tiny pieces. There was no way she would walk around from table to table with Iceberg, and Kalifa insisted she stay put and not help.
Maybe I could sneak out…this is so embarrassing…good thing I left some spare clothes in the main office just in case.
The young woman looked around for an exit as the band started to play the first slow song of the evening.
Kaku looked at Kate sitting at the head table. She looked so uncomfortable, and so...alone.
Oh darn it.
He made his way to Kate, and she greeted him with a surprised look.
"Oh...Hi Kaku."
He grabbed her by the hand and led her around the table.
"May I please have this dance?"
Kate shyly moved her hair away from her face, and took his hand.
As they got onto the dance floor he held her right hand and placed his other hand on her waist. She stretched up her arm to reach his shoulder as they gently swayed to the music.
"Um..I thought you were mad at me." She stared at the floor to avoid eye contact.
He shook his head gently.
"I'm not mad at all...it's just..."
He pulled her in closer by her waist. Kate blushed at how close they now were.
"I think Iceberg may have feelings for you, and I think that's real snazzy and all...it's just..."
Kate laughed. "No way! He has the pick of the whole city...he'd be an idiot to like me. He's just being pol-"
Kaku leaned his head against Kate's.
"Deny it all you want...but what I'm saying is that he may not be the only one."
Kate looked up at Kaku, her heart was beating harder than usual. He couldn't be referring to himself, could he?!
She thought back to last night's events. She wasn't imagining it. They had almost kissed.
Though he didn't say a word, he gazed at her intensely as Kate tried her best not to blink.
Kate…if I had a pretty penny every time that sparkle in your eyes made my heart race—I'd be one rich man.
Lucci watched the two dance from afar, trying his best to fight a sneer. Kalifa appeared and gave the pigeon man a nod.
"I've noticed it too over the past few weeks. I'll look after it."
If I don't tell her now, I might be too late..
"Kate."
Kalifa called out from behind them
"Kaku, go help Paulie."
Kaku paused and looked at Kate sadly for a split second before making his way to where Paulie was.
Kalifa grabbed Kate by the arm.
"Let's go touch up our makeup".
-
Kate stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She was wearing way more make up than usual and wasn't sure what to touch up..
I think I look fine?
The secretary eyed Kate from her peripherals.
"So, what's going on between you and long nose?"
Kate shot up instantly.
"Who Kaku? Nothing, why do you ask?"
Kalifa smirked and leaned on the bathroom counter towards Kate, her breasts nearly popping out from her dress.
"I saw the two of you dancing. People with 'nothing' going on don't dance that close."
The raven haired girl blushed at the realization.
"He just felt bad I was alone at the head table most of the night I guess..."
Kalifa laughed.
"How sweet."
She took Kate's face in her hand.
"I like you Kate, so let me give you some advice- don't get too close to Kaku. You may be disappointed later on."
Despite her stern appearance—Kalifa truly did care about Kate. They had spent a lot of time together, and she appreciated her work ethic. Kaku was a younger brother to her, and despite wanting him to be happy—she knew the reality of their job. She couldn't bear to see them both hurt. Their mission would be over in 2 years, and there was no way to leave the World Government unless it was in a casket.
Kate stared at her in disbelief. Before she could say anything the blonde-haired beauty's
radio beeped.
"Kalifa! One of the guests is trying to steal all the centre pieces !"
'Dammit! Ill be right there!"
She shot Kate a glance before running out of the washroom.
What the hell did she mean?!
Kate replayed her dance with Kaku in her head.
"He might not be the only one"
Maybe Kalifa was right...
It was settled. She would ask Kaku upfront what Kalifa meant and most importantly what he meant.
She marched out of the washroom crashing into the chest of a tall broad man.
She looked up and saw his dark lips and blue hair.
"Iceberg?! I'm so sorry!"
Iceberg beamed when he saw Kate, his lizard now in his pocket.
"I've been looking for you. Let's go!"
He grabbed her hand and dragged her as they ran down the hallway, away from the main party area.
What is going on?!
-
Iceberg ran his hands along the wall of what seemed to be a dead end.
"There!"
He pushed down and the wall turned into a rotating door.
It opened up into a room Kate had never seen before. It was full of small boats, rafts, and a water tunnel that seemed to go downwards...
"Um, Iceberg...is everything alright?"
He smiled back at her.
"Yes everything is fine. Hedgehog (his lizard) and I were tired of all the small talk and wanted to make a quick get away. I looked for you at the table but you weren't there. Luckily I ran into you on our way here."
He pet the lizard on the head with his index finger.
"Oh I see...where are we going?"
Iceberg dragged one of the small boats and slowly pushed one half of it into the water.
He reached his hand out to Kate.
"You get in first."
She stepped into the boat, and Iceberg placed her so her feet were facing the front of the boat.
He sat behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist causing Kate to blush.
"Iceber- AHHHHH!"
He pushed off and the boat started falling down the water tunnel.
Kate closed her eyes, screaming the whole way. She didn't notice but she was digging her nails into Iceberg's arm out of fear.
I'M GOING TO DIE HERE AND NO ONE WILL EVER FIND MY BODY!
After what seemed to be hours, Iceberg rubbed the outside of her arm.
"You're okay, you can open your eyes now."
She opened her eyes to the site of the calm ocean. She turned and the city of Water 7 looked so much smaller in the distance. The full moon reflecting off the water made it even more beautiful.
They stared at Water 7 together in silence.
She understood why Iceberg did what he did. Who could blame him? Being pulled from every direction was no way to spend a Saturday night.
Kate was first to speak.
"It's a shame such a beautiful city has to go through so much damage every year...Aqua Laguna is only a few months away, right?"
Iceberg nodded almost solemnly.
"We do what we can to survive, but I'm afraid it's only a matter of time before we have to relocate elsewhere."
The thought of it hurt him and it was apparent to Kate and she watched his body tense at the thought.
Kate looked at the tracks of the Puffing Tom.
"Well, maybe you can make it...float?"
He shot her a quizzical look.
Kate blushed, feeling a bit foolish. She knew nothing about architecture.
"I'm sorry, I know, it was a dumb sug—"
He turned Kate to face him.
"No, not at all."
He pointed at the tracks.
"Back when Tom first mentioned creating the water train, everyone thought he was out of his mind…including myself."
He smiled proudly as he thought about all that went into it..
"Now it's an integral part of our city. You may be onto something…thank you for the suggestion."
He started to do calculations in his head.
"Now, if it were floating we'd probably be moving quite a bit…..If I somehow succeed I promise to call it the 'Kaleidoscopic Kate!'".
Kate burst out in laughter. "No way! If you do succeed, don't ruin all your hard work naming it something silly like that!"
Their laughter was interrupted by grumbling.
Kate looked at Iceberg with concern. "Iceberg! Have you not eaten yet?!"
He scratched his head. "Kalifa had me running around all night…I guess it slipped my mind."
Kate panicked and looked around the boat for food.
Iceberg began to laugh once again. "Don't worry, Hedgehog and I were prepared!" He pulled a bag from his side that had several rice balls, crab legs, and cake.
She looked at the crab legs hungrily. "You put crab legs in your bag?!"
The blue haired bachelor nodded as he grabbed a crab leg. "Of course! There was no way I was going to try to neatly eat crab in front of the entire city!".
She laughed as he handed her a crab leg. "I'm sure you would have been fine. I bet you grew up in a nice household with fancy crab forks and everything."
A humble smile came upon his face.
"Quite the opposite actually."
Kate looked at him confused, as Tyrannosaurus and her shared the crab leg.
Iceberg grabbed the oar and started to paddle back towards the city, but on the opposite side of where the Galley La headquarters were.
Kalifa stormed around the building.
"WHERE DID ICEBERG GO?! Now we're exactly 67 minutes behind schedule! He'd better be kidnapped, or dead, or else I'M GOING TO KILL HIM!"
The Dock 1 shipwrights came to Kalifa's aide.
Paulie spoke up.
"What's going on, Kalifa?!" He stared at her angrily "maybe you'd have a better understanding of things if you weren't running around the place naked!"
Kalifa slapped him in the face.
"That is sexual harassment! Also, ICEBERG IS MISSING!"
Kaku felt his heart drop.
So is Kate..
Annoyed, Kalifa adjusted her glasses.
"Everyone! Find Iceberg and bring him back here immediately!"
"RIGHT!"
Kaku wasn't sure how to feel. On one hand Kate would be safe if she were with Iceberg, but it would mean she'd be with Iceberg….alone….
Kaku's blood began to boil, but he took a deep breath…. controlling his naturally violent tendencies that had been ingrained into him from training.
Please be safe, Kate.
Iceberg looked around cautiously before breaking down the door of what seemed to be an abandoned house.
"Iceberg! Are you out of your mind?! What are you doing?"
He reached for a lantern on the side, illuminating the room.
Kate looked around, confused.
It seemed as if the place had been uninhabited for a long time. Everything was run down, and the furniture seemed to be of low quality.
"So….what is this place?"
Iceberg grabbed a picture of a shelf, wiping the dust off.
"This is the house I grew up in."
She looked at him at disbelief as he placed the picture back down. She examined it carefully, and quickly noticed the blue haired boy in front of the giant fish man, large smile woman, and teal haired boy was Iceberg.
"Is this your family?"
He smiled at the picture sadly.
"Was."
He took off his jacket and laid it on the floor in front of a bed, patting it for Kate to sit beside him.
"I fell off of a cruise ship as a child. I hit my head and all I could remember seeing before I fell was an Iceberg…which is how I got my name."
He rubbed the back of his head.
"Tom, the fish man you see in the picture found me on Scrap Heap Island, and him and Kokoro took me in. We found the other boy not too long after, and we became what you see in the picture. He taught us everything we know naval architecture."
Kate smiled at the picture.
They look so happy…
She paused. She had heard about what happened to Tom and what happened to the boy in the picture…
I need to change the subject…
Kaku's words during their dance played through her head.
"Iceberg….why did you invite me to sit at the table with you?"
He blushed.
"Well, when I fell off the cruise ship all I could remember from that moment was seeing an Iceberg…when I try to think of my family all I see is…well, you remind me of someone…"
He rubbed his neck shyly. There was no way he could tell her who she reminded him of without coming off as somewhat creepy.
"I feel at ease when I think of her, just like how I feel at ease when I'm with you."
Kate blushed and looked away.
Iceberg moved in closer to Kate.
His chin was on her neck as he whispered into her ear. Goosebumps ran all over Kate's body. "Kate, don't move…Hedgehog fell asleep."
She looked, and there was the tiny green lizard, asleep between Iceberg's and Kate's legs.
She bit her lip to hold in a laugh. Before she could whisper back to Iceberg she stopped herself—he had fallen asleep on her shoulder.
He must be exhausted from all that…
She took in the scenery around them as she brushed his hair out of his face. He grew up poorer than she did, and was able to become the man he was today. He was kind, strong, extremely intelligent, and a hero to the people of Water 7…yet here he was—asleep on her shoulder.
Kate leaned back onto the bed, careful not to wake the two
She leaned her head on his and fell asleep.
Kaku watched bitterly through the window.
I could kill him in his sleep right now….
He shook his head. What was going on with him?! He was never one for blood lust yet here he was, wanting to murder his boss out of pure jealousy.
The long nosed man couldn't take the scene any longer and averted his eyes elsewhere in the room. The lantern was beginning to burn out, and before the room went black he noticed the picture on the shelf containing a familiar teal haired looking boy with Tom, Iceberg, and Granny Kokoro.
Very interesting…..
He looked back at Kate before disappearing back into the night.
Maybe this wasn't a lost cause after all…