Hallo and welcome back!
Oh boy, I almost forgot to upload this ^^' Sorry for the delay!
This time it's a little different, why you ask? Because Tori isn't there in person. This chapter is a bit heavier than the others, set at marine HQ and there is some background character death, it's not pretty but I don't think its too graphic.
It wasn't unusual for the Government to ask for a meeting about the infamous Strawhats. In fact, it was almost happening regularly and their sudden disappearance had the higher-ups in just as much uproar as it had three years ago. But this time... this time it was different, very different. They hadn't just disappeared, they had backtracked to the East Blue. What in the world could have brought this infamous, admittedly powerful crew back to East Blue? It definitely couldn't be a coincidence. They had to be planning something! Why turn around this close to their captain's expressed goal? Had they found a key of some sort? Was Raftel in the end maybe not at all part of the grand line?
It was amusing almost, to see Fleet Admiral Sakazuki burning through his cigars like that while Officials presented him with one outlandish theory after the other and she could barely contain a chuckle when Smoker-san got up from his seat to hand the boiling man his Jacket with the strapped in Cigars.
"We need more resources, it's not only about Strawhat, I'm afraid," an agent spoke up, papers clutched in his hand fearing the temperamental outbreak soon to come. "My agents have spotted a pattern, which is of the utmost concern. From the self-proclaimed Strawhat fleet to known allies like Trafalgar Law or Dracule Mihawk, they've all been observed carrying the same mark from time to time. A small grey handprint on either cheek. The captain himself is the only one we have confirmed to not carry it."
Tashigi swallowed drily as the heat in the big headquarters building rose again, for the probably 100th time the last hour. It was fascinating how much power this devil fruit had even with that little control to get the man into that position he was in. Horrifying if she was honest with herself. Everyone knew he had a hair-trigger temper when it came to that crew and the scorched ceiling and tabletop were evidence enough.
She bumped her leg into Smoker's next to her when he subconsciously wiped at his cheek. They'd have to be more careful in the future. Even more careful because by now they knew without a doubt that one didn't just leave the Thousand Sunny without these dirty handprints on their cheeks nowadays. It just wasn't done.
"They could be planning another coup," one official suggested, "they still have momentum after the fail-"
She jumped from her chair just as the table started to liquify. Fucking idiot! Had they not learned? Her gaze met Smoker's. That assumed coup couldn't come soon enough. Justice had been a mere concept for years, but damn if Sakazuki was any better than some backstabbing, filthy pirate like Blackbeard. With a gulp, she forced down the bile that rose with the smell of burnt flesh and smoke and her back straightened when the fleet admiral's eyes zeroed in on her.
"You, see to it that his family gets his remains, add some sappy words to it, too," he commanded with a nod towards the ashes.
"With all due respect, consoling widows is not my captain's duty," Smoker spoke up, leaving out the obvious murder accusation.
"Well, what is her fucking duty then? Surely not capturing the Strawhats because that would make her a fucking failure! Should have fucking hanged her instead!" Sakazuki roared and she did her absolute best to neither flinch back nor show any anger towards him because Smoker sure wouldn't be able to stop him then.
A heavy sigh and the scraping of a chair disrupted the tension as vice-admiral Tsuru stood. "Now now, you know that if it wasn't for this weak woman marine, you wouldn't even have had Roronoa at the gallows, it's not her fault you ordered her to stay away. I'd very much like for this to be the last time I have to witness you losing control like that, Sakazuki." She declared and turned to leave, leaving the rest of the room in even more uncomfortable silence with the clear threat in her voice. Even Sakazuki nervously lit one of Smoker's cigars.
"Or what? Will you come after me with your boytoys? How about you come up with a fucking explanation, Tsuru?" He lashed out like a cornered beast.
She admired Tsuru with all her heart, but this? She really wished she would do exactly that. Come after him with all tools available. Sakazuki was intolerable. For everyone with some sense of justice, Sakazuki was simply intolerable.
"Don't test my patience, boy. This unhealthy obsession with the Strawhat boy needs to stop. The worst crime he has committed was to spite you, I agree that his ability to make allies is worrisome but your personal vendetta against him gives him a lot more exposure than necessary. They sell merchandise, he has a fanclub that turned pirate and none of this would have happened if we didn't make him this greater than god figure. Name one incident he went against the government unprovoked? The two big incidents that gave him a following? He tried to save his brother and he saved his first mate. There are worse pirates we should focus on, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki."
A torrent of lava hit the door the very moment the vice-admiral had closed it behind herself.
They left the stifling conference room with the order to pursue the Strawhats in the Eastblue and a feeling of relief that no one else had come to harm in this meeting. Both knew that it was only Tsuru's intervention that had reined that renowned temper in. He hadn't always been like that, she knew, they all did. He had been a stoic man and still was just as long as it didn't concern the one pirate who had ridiculed him twice. Vice admiral Tsuru was completely right, he was obsessed.
"Smoker, Tashigi, a word," Tsuru called from behind and she almost tripped over her coat if it wasn't for Smoker's firm grip around her upper arm. They followed the elder obediently even Smoker didn't question her request and she wasn't entirely sure if he carried the same heavy weight of dread in the pit of his stomach or if he just respected her too much to be annoyed by her.
The door fell closed behind them and Tashigi had never seen a more spotless office in her entire career. Her marvel only interrupted by a sudden tingle on her face and a feeling of refreshment and cleanliness. A precaution on Tsuru's part maybe?
"I know you've taken a liking to the boy and his crew as much as you know that I don't condone the practice of hunting down babies for their parents' crimes. Why did they not get rid of the child?" Tsuru's eyes were hard, set on Smoker and his audible swallow just proved that there was no way to hide a dirty lie from the woman before them.
"Speak up, boy, this room was cleansed from all surveillance," she assured and Tashigi had to admit a certain level of entertainment in Smoker's unease.
"The child has green hair, we all figured it would be too dangerous to give it away with how present they all were in the media at the point."
Tsuru nodded along, not at all surprised by the hair colour and hence revealed parentage. There was a reason the woman's wisdom was feared even among the ranks and the jokes about an epic trivia battle between her and Nico Robin didn't stem from nowhere.
"I can imagine how hard that was for her, having been on the run as a child herself. Do tell them to clean its hands until it can choose its own path. There is no justice in judging a child by their parents' crimes, in hunting the innocent and defenceless and I would hate if I wasn't given a choice in the matter."
There really was no hiding anything from her. Was this how the Strawhats felt constantly being around Robin? But obviously it would be better if she didn't know but there were worse marines to find out. Those with a lot messier sense of justice for example. They nodded their understanding, turned to the door when Tsuru chimed up again. "And Captain, you'd do well to wash your face more properly next time."
God damn those pirates!
Hope you enjoyed this despite Tori not being here and Akainu being a cunt. Don't worry, next time we'll see Tori in her natural habitat again, a bit happy family, until then please take care