Kaku woke up abruptly. He panicked and looked to his side, breathing in a sigh of relief.
She was still there.
For a moment he was almost certain the earlier happenings were nothing but a dream.
Kate stretched and looked at Kaku shyly, pulling the blanket up to cover herself.
"So...are you going to tell me what's going on?" She moved her gaze downwards, afraid of what his next words might be. She was half awake when she first saw him, but she was positive he was crying.
Kaku winced at her question. They had just shared the most amazing moment of his life so far, and yet it didn't change the reality of things. The mission was still his priority. He had to choose between losing Kate to Iceberg or losing Kate to Lucci...
How could he convince her?
He quickly kissed her before jumping out of bed. "You rest your pretty little head. I'll go make some breakfast!" He fixed his side of the bed before running down the stairs.
Kaku pondered as he waited for the stove to heat. He looked around the house, taking it all in.
Only three more months here...
A messily stacked pile of wood in the living room caught Kaku's attention. "Now that's an eye sore." He made his way over, stacking the wood into a pyramid shape. Kaku played with the extra piece of wood in his hand before placing it on the window sill. "I'll find a place for you later, pal." He continued to plan in his head how he'd convince Kate.
-.-.-.-.-.
Cutter had made sure to pass by Kate's house every few hours as he had promised.
His shift was over, and it was now morning.
I'm sure she's fine...
Cutter rolled his eyes at himself. He had been worried about Kate since he left. He decided that one more check before going home would at least give him peace of mind.
The General was halfway down the hill before he stopped in his tracks.
"No..."
His blood ran cold when his eyes fell upon the piece of wood on the window sill.
How long had it been there? Was Kate safe?!
He thought about planning a careful approach into the house, but his emotions took over as he began to run full speed.
I'm going to kill every single bastard in there!
He kicked open the door, shattering it into pieces as a fire burned in his eyes. "KATE-" He froze immediately, stunned by what he saw. "K...Kaku?!"
Kaku turned around slowly, turning a dark red when he realized he was stark naked. He had been so entranced by his own thoughts that he hadn't even noticed Cutter right away. "Oh geeze!" He grabbed the pan off the stove to cover his privates, dropping eggs and sausages onto the floor.
Kate came running down the stairs, wearing a lavender bath robe. "What the hell is going on?!" She looked at the door and then at Cutter. "Cutter?! What?! Did you do that?!" She carefully walked down the last step, avoiding the pieces of broken wood and metal.
Cutter shakily pointed towards the window sill. "Uh...there was a piece of wood on the sill...I thought..." he looked down, overcome by shock, relief and embarrassment all at once.
Kate briefly looked at Kaku who remained still, covering his genitals with the frying pan. "I'm sorry, Kaku. We didn't get a chance to talk. Cutter told me to put a piece of wood in the sill if I were in trouble." She scratched her head. "I guess you put one there coincidentally, eh?"
Cutter cleared his throat. "Well, I'm glad everything is fine. I'll send someone to fix the door right away." He turned to walk out, but was stopped by Kate calling his name.
Kate cringed from how awkward the whole situation was, unsure of what to do. "Um..you sure you don't want to stay for breakfast? We're having..." she looked at the floor. "Sausages?"
Cutter blushed, remembering what he saw when he had first barged in. "NOPE. Goodbye now." He left immediately.
Kaku quickly peeked out the door, making sure the coast was clear before running upstairs. "Just grabbin' some clothes, honey! I figured I've blinded enough people in one day!" He laughed nervously as he ran up the stairs, still holding the frying pan.
The raven haired woman sighed as she rubbed her head. "Not how I thought I'd start my day."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Kalifa adjusted her pine green dress shirt and short black skirt as she walked around the Galley La building with Iceberg.
I'd better get started.
She turned to her employer. "Iceberg, have you given any thought about what to do with Kate if she returns? Would you still have her work here?" She adjusted her glasses, knowing she couldn't jump into the question.
Iceberg stroked his chin as he thought. "Hm...well.. it'd be up to her." He had been worried about her since they left, but he hadn't thought about what to do upon her return.
Part of Iceberg's success came from his ability to keep a steady mind instead of worrying about things that were out of his control.
Kalifa sighed. "I do hope they return. Poor Kate must be so traumatized..." She pulled her hair behind her ear. "While I'm sure you hadn't intended for it to happen; I had told you that allowing Nash to stay was in poor taste. I hope Kate will be able to forgive you." She hid her smirk behind her hand as she adjusted her glasses. "You did put her in an uncomfortable situation. One could say that's sexual harassment." She adjusted her glasses once again.
A cord struck in Iceberg, having realized the fact that essentially- it was his fault. He knew of Nash's infamy, yet he overlooked it... and put his employees at risk in order to maintain a friendship.
Iceberg squatted on the ground holding his head. "You're right. It is my fault." An insurmountable amount of guilt began to take over him, as thoughts of what could have happened to Kate filled his mind.
Kalifa placed a hand on his shoulder. "Iceberg, if she does return to work at Galley La...would she be safe living alone? That's my biggest concern. Even though Nash is gone, he may hire some thugs to deal with her..." She watched his face for any clues as to what he was thinking.
The mayor stood up slowly. "It's my fault she was in danger. It's my responsibility to ensure she's unharmed while on Water 7." He brushed the dirt off of his knees. "Hm...well...Kalifa- have the staff prepare a room for Kate. The one with a balcony." He gave her a nod before proceeding back to the office.
I won't fail you again.
Kalifa smiled as she jotted down notes in her small black notebook. "Well, that was easier than expected..."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Lucci, Hattori, Blueno and Jabra moon walked over the city on an island not too far from Water 7. Lucci had gathered intel that Nash had been staying close to Water 7 in hopes that he'd be able to extract his revenge on Kate.
They waited on a rooftop over looking a street of small bars.
Jabra scratched his ear with his foot. "This is boring! Just let me jump in there!" He sniffed the air. "I'm sure that stench I'm picking up is the asshole we're looking for!" He growled. Even though his interactions with Kate were short, he felt compelled to avenge her. After all, she had called him a "good man".
Lucci held up a finger to silence Jabra. "He's coming. We'll follow him until he's in a less public area. Then, we will have our fun." He smirked, the thoughts of what he was going to do to Nash filled his mind.
Nash came stumbling out of the bar with 2 other men, also dressed in suits. They laughed as they drunkenly walked down the street.
The CP9 members followed silently, keeping a close eye on their target.
Nash stopped a few minutes later, taking a look at his surroundings. "Fuck. I need to take a piss." He pointed at an alley. "You guys head over to the next bar, I'll meet you there." He waved at his friends as they walked away. Nash then quickly made his way into the alley, undoing his belt as he walked.
As he finished, Nash couldn't help but feel that he was being watched...
I guess I drank too much. Why am I so paranoid?
He turned around cockily, but his face was quickly painted with horror as his gaze fell upon a giant leopard, wolf and bull.
Nash was gone before he could even scream.
The only evidence left was a single drop of blood.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Kaku had decided it'd be best to tell Kate about the situation outside of their home. He didn't want any area of the house to bring back bad memories.
He had packed some sandwiches, drinks, and their red blanket into a small wooden crate. He hoped that a calm setting of a picnic would help relax the news he had to deliver.
Kate and Kaku made their way up "their" hill, carefully placing the red blanket on the grass.
Kate sighed happily, taking a look at the picturesque view before her. Monogatari's weather was constantly changing, and they were lucky to have a warm sunny day today. The sun was beginning to set over the small town, as purple and orange filled the sky behind it.
Kate wore a rose pink short sleeved dress, while Kaku wore jeans and a khaki colored button up shirt.
They sat side by side on the blanket, an awkward silence between them as they both knew the conversation ahead wouldn't be pleasant.
Kaku started by clearing his throat. "Kate, I need to talk to you about a few things..." he turned to face her. "But I've got good news for ya too! Nash isn't something you've gotta worry about anymore. He's...missing." He knew that the others had probably disposed of him by now. Kaku decided to change the subject before Kate could ask more questions. "I don't know how you're gonna take this news, I know I certainly see it as somewhat of a bad thing but...we'll be going back to Water 7 in 3 months." He watched her intently, partially hoping she would be as sad as he was. He never wanted their stay on Monogatari to end.
Kate paused before looking down at the grass.
3 months...
She tried to look for the positives of the situation, despite how she was truly feeling. "As long as I'm with you. That's all that matters to me." She smiled at him softly, trying to hide her disappointment. When they had first arrived on Monogatari- all she wanted was to return to Water 7. She had felt guilty for dragging Kaku with her, and having him leave his life behind...
But now that they were together- she couldn't think of anything she wanted more than to continue living the life she and Kaku had been living for the past year. It was everything she could have ever wanted.
Kaku felt his heart drop. "Kate...you know I want that as much as you do...but..." he rubbed the back of his head, trying to make sure he worded everything carefully.
How am I gonna tell her?
Kate's expression changed, unsure of what Kaku was saying. "What...what do you mean?" She felt a panic come over her.
Is he breaking up with me?!
The carpenter placed a hand on top of Kate's. "Iceberg isn't doing so well. He...felt real guilty about what happened to ya, blaming himself for it all. He's not quite himself anymore..." He quickly started to think of what else he needed to add to the story.
Kate pulled her hands to her face, covering her mouth. "But it wasn't his fault!" She felt guilty for not thinking about how Iceberg must have been feeling this whole time. "Is he okay?! Is he locked up somewhere?!" Her panic grew as she imagined Iceberg trapped in a padded room.
Kaku shook his head. "No. He's constantly asking about you. I don't think he'll be okay until he knows you're safe. That being said...his doctors suggested you live with him for a bit once we return. They feel it may help rid him of his guilt, and bring him back to the man he is." He clenched his jaw, knowing the next part of what he had to say wouldn't be easy...
The raven haired girl moved her hands so they now covered her face. "Iceberg..." she bit her lip. He had been nothing but kind to her since her first day at Galley La, and the fact that he was suffering now because of her was tearing her apart.
The sound of the mayor's name on Kate's lips made Kaku sick. He respected Iceberg, and so did the entire city and many people along the Grand Line...and that's why it made him sick. He knew Kate would be better off with Iceberg than with a murderous liar like him. Iceberg could provide her with all the comforts of life she needed. How was he supposed to compete with a man as reputable as the Mayor of Water 7? "When we go back...I understand if you want to be with Iceberg and not me." Kaku didn't understand why he said it. The very reason why their stay on Monogatari was extended was for him to ensure Kate would choose him over Iceberg when the time came. Perhaps part of him wanted to hear Kate say that she wanted to be with him and not anyone else...just the way he felt for her.
Kate slapped him hard enough to make his ears ring. "What the fuck?! So, you have your way with me and now you want me to just go be with someone else?!" Kate knew he probably had a logical reason, but the aching of her heart made it hard to think straight.
Kaku stared sadly at Kate. He wanted nothing but the best for her. "Kate...Iceberg really cares about you. He always has." He began to feel a sense of loneliness come over him. He would never be able to tell Kate the truth about Iceberg, the mission, or himself...
Kate held a hand out. "Are you trying to say you don't?! I've told you this before; Iceberg doesn't see me like that! Trust me!" She shook her head as she huffed, trying to keep her breathing steady and her eyes from watering.
The carpenter leaned his head back. "You don't know that, Kate! Can you imagine what it'd do to him if he saw us as a pair?! He's been worried sick about you, and to see a chump like me waltzing in with his girl would drive any fella crazy!" He closed his eyes, fighting the urge to break something. He had been growing tired of his situation even before Kate, but now the reality of him and her never being together was driving him mad.
Please, Kate...tell me you choose me.
Kate went quiet, bringing her knees up to her chest as she held them and thought.
Several minutes of silence passed between them before Kate spoke again.
"Kaku, I have a plan." She took a deep breath before continuing. "You and I were separated by a storm on an island not too far from here called Rhysard. We've been separated until recently and you found me and told me it's safe to come back. This way no one will suspect we've been together this whole time.." she smiled sadly that the year had passed by so quickly, and played with her 'wedding ring'. "I want Iceberg to get better. I know that he doesn't see me the way you think he does...so I'll do it. I'll move in with him." She turned to face Kaku. "But as soon as he's better- I want to live with you again. I want to be with you, Kaku." She smiled at him sadly, praying he'd say yes.
Golly, I love this woman.
For once; he was grateful for the orders Lucci had given him. He was to ensure Kate would choose him over Iceberg somehow, and this meant being with her. As guilty as he felt- he also couldn't deny the fact that he was happy. He held Kate's cheek in one hand. "I hope you're right, Princess." He swallowed, knowing what the truth was. The next 3 months was all they had left. Their life together would end as soon as they returned to Water 7. By the time Iceberg was "better", Kaku would be gone. There was no going back to this way of life.
The shipwright shot up, having realized something. "Kate...I never asked you- why did you decide to work on Water 7?" He tilted his head. While he was mostly curious as to what her answer would be- he also hoped it would help distract from the heavy conversation they were having.
Kate laughed as she scratched her nose. "Oh wow, you're right...well..it's dumb, really." She sighed. "I wanted to work on Water 7, because...I'm scared of water. I can't swim to save my life. I thought it'd help me get over my fear." She turned slowly, nervous about seeing Kaku's reaction.
Kaku stared at her dumbfoundedly before breaking out into laughter, holding his belly as he laid on his back. "No fooling?! Kate! Why didn't you tell me sooner?! It's too cold to go swimming now, but I can teach you!" He laughed a while longer before sitting back up. Kaku moved behind Kate, his legs outside of her as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "Till then- I'll keep you safe. I promise to help you so you won't be scared of water anymore." He kissed her on the cheek as he squeezed her.
Kate held his hands. "I still can't believe we only have 3 months left..." She leaned her head back into him, closing her eyes as she listened to his heartbeat between her ears. "Until then, I want to enjoy every moment with you. That way while we're apart- I'll always have our memories to look back on, until the time comes when we can make new ones." She turned her head to kiss him.
Kaku kissed her back, fighting the tears forming in his eyes. "Don't worry, kitten. I'll find whatever way there is to be with you once we get back." They watched the sunset, neither one of them wanting to waste another moment dreading the inevitable future ahead of them.
I'll do whatever I can
To be with you
Forever.