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Kuzan felt a small hand slide up his arm. He had to stop himself from freezing it and Katie in the process. It was simply too soon for her to approach him. There were times when he needed to be treated like a mad animal and not be touched. His hammering heart and heavy breathing were all signs of the marine practically seething. The idea that someone had gotten to dangerously close was agonizing. He failed, the man admitted to himself and it enraged the officer. In his mind, evidence pointed in her direction as the target for whatever the reason. This meant it wasn't safe for her. The marine could think of two very good plausible explanations to as the reasoning but it was still uncertain.
The officer's thoughts brought him to another place in his mind. Who has she met, who could have known Katie resided here, what was their motive, when did they start following her, and why? If they had begun watching since her arrival then even fleet-admiral Sengoku didn't realize it. If they had started after her check in, that would narrow down the list but then they'd have to be a devil fruit user since he personally knew the staff. Plus, in this weather, they wouldn't have gotten far. Unless the worst possibility, they weren't a devil fruit user and they were just that skilled…
"Kuzan… Kuzan… Kuzan-sensei… Headquarters calling, admiral Aokiji", Katie continued in concern. His sharp dilated pupils moved down at the sight of a woman hugging his arm to her chest. He could feel her warmth and it brought him back to his senses. The tall officer sighed and lowered himself.
"So… I use your epithet and the word headquarters and that's how I get your attention?" The female sighed. "You must be pretty bothered", she blatantly stated while eyeing the open door. "Well… I'm dead", the young woman openly admitted. "Both those old geezers are going to strangle me", she let out a sigh and took a step back. "And… You did warn me to not let my guard down. Didn't think I'd have to use any haki while I was here but that doesn't seem to be the case. I just hope they didn't screw with the food. I can't smell anything at the moment so there's that too."
Katie's rather calm demeanor seemed almost unfazed by the serious implications that just had occurred. The admiral gazed over to her while in a crouched position. "You're taking this rather lightly", he identified while watching her close the door.
"Yeah? Well nothing I can do about it can I?" The brunette waved it off before rubbing her arms to warm herself from the frosty air. "You're a devil fruit user, aren't you", the long-haired female asked as she made her way to the stove.
"I ate the hie hie no mi fruit", he admitted. His eyes followed the petite female while his ears listened for anything out of the ordinary.
"So, you're a walking ice dispenser", the vice-admiral's granddaughter asked with no shame and a simple smirk on her lips.
Kuzan casted a rather disgruntled gaze in her direction. "Oye", he huffed. "I'm not in the mood", the man warned with a shadowy tone. Copper orbs followed her precariously.
"I'd say I'm sorry but then I'd be lying. Look", she paused to look at him with metal tongs in one of her hands. "I get that you're irritable. I understand it's your pride that was wounded and it's pretty exasperating. Grandpa always told me that a man's pride is more delicate than a woman's; he's just better at hiding it than she is. You're not alone. I'm really angry too, you know? But literally there is nothing I can do about it nor can you. You know this…"
Katie began speaking with her hands in her normal animated state. She was angry. Probably more so than Kuzan. After all it was her home. Her sanctity had been violated and if they touched the food, the young woman was going to go off like a cannon ball. The brunette used her cookery to settle her nerves. It was everything she could do to keep from punching holes in the walls.
Unlike others who would have sat around scared out of their minds and worried over the fact that it could happen again, the woman welcomed it. There was a face she was going to Garp slap so hard… The granddaughter drew in a deep breath before continuing her conversation with the admiral. She fought the ill feeling that erupted in her stomach. The thought that she wished to do someone harm didn't sit well with her.
"So, either you can sit over there and stew while trying to see if you hear anything out of the ordinary... or you can go fetch me a moist warm towel. I need to see if they tampered with the food."
The tall officer blinked. He sighed feeling a bit at ease. Best sound advice he'd heard in a long time. She was right. There was absolutely nothing he could do at this point but just be more careful in the future. Standing to his full height, Aokiji left to gather a white hand towel from the bathroom. The sight of clams drinking in all the sake was almost disturbing but it was one of his most favorite meals. Starting the warm water, the man turned on his heels to investigate the room across the bathroom. It was an opportunity for him to go about the house while she preoccupied herself.
With a flick of a switch, the overhead light beamed on. The bedroom was large. It contained a bed that would fit his long legs just like his own. Envisioning a vertically challenged person such as the brunette sleeping in it, forced a snort of laughter. The piece of furniture was lacking sheets but he could see a bright and colorful quilt that had been slept in or on. The way the material was bunched in a heap didn't leave any details. It appeared that Katie's story stuck, though the man didn't have any doubts.
Kuzan pushed further and walked in only to pause at the end of the bed. His eyes narrowed at the uneven part of the carpet. It had revealed foot prints that had lead behind the door.
The prints were small. Just like that of a woman's but they were too big to be Katie's. Gave him a general idea about the size of the person. It was better than having nothing, Aokiji considered before returning to the faucet in the bathroom. The water had become hot and the man slipped the wash cloth under the stream before turning it off and wringing it out.
Once he returned, the aroma of tempura hit his nostrils. His stomach roared. Katie paused and looked up to see a man seemingly defeated by his own hunger. "There's also coffee", she added before setting the table. Kuzan began to help as well. The brunette had snatched the warm towel and began softening her sense of smell with the steam it produced. After what seemed an eternity, she could smell the food. "Nope… All good", the little woman exhaled before nibbling on bits of tofu from her soup.
To the marine's surprise the spread was large and inviting. He couldn't remember the last time he had a home cooked meal. One that would satisfy his hunger. With ware made for men the size of Garp and Sengoku, his large mitts could easily hold the sticks and fill his plate. For breakfast it was miso, white rice, tamagoyaki, yakizakana, and tsukemono.
With every bite, Kuzan could feel his body nearly melt. He could truly understand her ire if the perpetrator had altered the meal but the admiral had his suspicions that they wouldn't. They were spying. If poison had been a factor, they wouldn't have stuck around. Another mouthful had him almost humming.
After breakfast and dishes, the two sat with their coffee at the table. "I need to prepare everything after this. The lobster and crab could go bad if anything happens to them", she added. "Oh… That reminds me… I caught a golden tuna. I made a variety of tuna rolls, sashimi, and sushi. I placed them in bento boxes for you and grandpa. I even made…", she paused to yawn. "Extra for grandpa Garp if he comes back today."
Kuzan watched Katie rub her eyes while explaining that she just used a fish that was the fourth most expensive fish in the sea. Furthermore she used it for bento boxes. That couldn't be right. "Prove it", the admiral called the young woman on it. "I know a few tuna species that appear to be the same on the outside but their meat is red and not golden on the inside."
The brunette raised a brow. "You don't have faith in my ability to know what I caught", she asked with a snarky tone.
The admiral watched the young woman take long strides to her cooler and pluck a plate that had been covered by special wax paper. It was usually used to keep things sticking to it and could withstand high heat and freezing temperatures. After plucking one of the extra sushi rolls, she placed it on a white small saucer.
The man didn't know what to say when the item was put under his very own nose. The meat glistened and shimmered. It was pure gold in color, adding to the value. It wasn't dark or light but pure. The sunshine yellow fish wrapped in nori with a sliver of avocado with a pearl white coat of vinegar rice. Nothing else added for the flavor, the meat would speak for itself.
"Oh my", he finally uttered. "For real", the man asked. "Do you know how much this is worth", Aokiji almost exclaimed in shock.
"Priceless", Katie dryly answered. "If it makes grandpa smile… It has no price", she added.
Excitedly Kuzan grabbed the roll between his fingers and popped it into his mouth. The taste was exquisite, the texture melted against his taste buds. For a moment, the man was in heaven. Then he nearly choked when he realized this was what she had planned for his lunch but where was the rest? That species of fish was monstrous in size.
"How much did you make and how much do you have left", consciously the admiral asked. He'd have to compensate the young woman for something like this.
For a second, the brunette hummed but then took a quiet sip of her coffee. "Like I said… Enough for lunch but I made them rather big. If you were planning on staying late or something, it would be enough for you to have enough dinner to tide you over. Then what I couldn't fit in the cooler, I put in the freezer."
Aokiji's mind nearly shut down. This had to be a dream, he thought. "When did you have time to do all this?"
Katie broke out into fits of laughter. "I had some good people teach me how to manage my time! Besides I only have two dreams in this life. My first is to open a coffee shop for everyone to come and have a moment to relax. The second… Well that's a secret, but both dreams need me to know how to do so much in so little time", oceanic blue hues smiled brightly in the officer's direction.
Kuzan choked on his coffee. The food and the view were too good. "Don't…", he murmured. "Not like that…", the marine added before rubbing his own eyes with his fingers. When she appeared clueless, Aokiji shuddered. "You really are too much…" A dreadful exhale worked its way from his lips before standing up.
"Listen… I really wasn't planning on this but I'm going to get ready for work. You're coming too. I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem for you to come and see old man Sengoku. I'm just not comfortable leaving you here and there's business I need to take care of", a no questions asked tone caused the little woman to shiver but nod.
"I have a problem though. The clams are in my bathtub and though it'll be about eight hours before they die, I need to take a shower. Not to mention all the unchecked food outside." Large eyes blinked with curiosity.
The marine pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine… Come over once you're done collecting everything you need. Bring the lunches with you too. I'll freeze the mountain you managed to build outside. Should last until we get back. Then will you have enough time to make dinner", he was genuinely curious about.
To his delight, she smiled. "Hai!" Copper orbs watched her bound off to her bedroom. Kuzan hated to admit it but the only reason for going in on a day like this was to show off. Though often he loved his naps and slack on his work, he was still a bit of his formal self. The high ranking official wanted to be cool and lord over the other two a bit. Eating golden tuna with the company of a gorgeous babe who…, just happened to be the granddaughter of both the fleet-admiral and a vice-admiral. He couldn't wait to watch Sakazuki eat his hat.