Ok... A few things I seemingly need to address.
First of all I received a few private messages concerning about the status of the story. Which means they are wondering why such a seemingly light hearted story turned heavy. Well there are heavy points to it. I don't think I hid that fact. If I didn't make it clear, I'm sorry. The story is a romantic humor/drama adventure. Don't worry, Katie won't let things get too serious for too long. That's why she has brothers.
Another thing that was brought up was the size. Someone apparently complained that my chapters are too big. If this is a general consensus then I will cut them down. It just means more chapters. I'm thinking this is actually the case since the views were nearly cut in half by this last chapter. If I should redo it, let me know.
Lastly... Someone asked about the romance. Yes there will be some love'n going on! Just give some time for the two to grow. I have never liked instant love stories. I hope you all can understand where I'm coming from.
Again, please leave your comments in the review box. I do read them and if you want to remain anonymous, you can pm me (as long as it's about the story). I don't mind.
It had been a little less than an hour; word had already spread around saying a brunette female with such beauty was the cause of three admirals fighting over her. Luckily no one knew what she really looked like but the murmurs were annoying one Aokiji, who had been trying to sleep on the whole ordeal. He just needed to relax and lay his head down but nearly every time his eyes closed, a couple of guards or staff whispering to themselves about it. The damage had already been done and he couldn't rewind time. Though this morning he had wished he had. Katie wouldn't have been put in the center of everyone's attention and he'd be able to get some decent sleep.
The admiral's mind wondered as he laid on his floor with his arms folded behind his head and his coat draped over him like a blanket. The man had pulled down his green sleeping mask to deal with the light from the windows. He had managed to turn off all the lights, remain quiet behind a closed door, and listen to the ferocious wind beat the side of the large building. His windows were peppered with countless rain drops that had been hardened by the chill in the air.
The ambient sound was nice but it would only last so long until someone walked by whispering or even chatting aloud as if to challenge him. The admiral wasn't petty enough to bite. He just let them do and think as they pleased. Kuzan knew her enough to know that none of it was true. She wasn't trying to get anything out of anyone and they were arguing amongst themselves because of trifling issues. Mostly Sakazuki, if one was to point fingers.
The admiral just worried on how Katie was doing. The latter part of the discussion seemed to have triggered something and made her seriously turn pale. He didn't want to admit it but he felt sick for putting her in the situation in the first place. The man then corrected himself. The higher ups had a meeting the night before. Everything had already been set in motion. Aokiji realized he was feeling helpless, not sick. When was the last time he felt like this?
The officer didn't get to dwell on it for too long. Loud commotions echoed through the halls as he could hear fleet-admiral Sengoku yelling at the top of his lungs. The windows rattled to the point the raven haired man couldn't hear the rain any longer.
"Katie! Get back here", the commanding officer shouted. His voice was followed by, what sounded like, a loud explosion. Marines fearfully fled down the halls spouting how if they stuck around, they were going to die.
"No way old man", Katie retorted before another boom was heard.
Swiftly Kuzan rose to his feet. He worried they were under attack but it was a fleeting thought as he realized Sengoku and his granddaughter were having an argument. Once his large hand shoved over the shoji door he saw the little woman pause. She was sweating, panting for air, wide eyed, with a toothy smile. Over her shoulder was one petty officer Tashigi demanding to be put down but easily ignored.
Before the admiral's very eyes, he watched with amazement as his superior move with lightning speed and smash the floor where Katie was standing. With equal quickness, the granddaughter dodged it and used her free hand to push herself backward off the much bigger man's forearm. Much like a bunny hopping upward and pushing itself back with its extended limb. The brunette sailed through the air and landed with grace.
"Oh my", Aokiji stated in astonishment. Her movements made it clear, she was no push over.
"Time", the brunette yelled at the top of her lungs.
Kuzan observed as Sengoku froze in place. He stood nearly motionless and tossed away his serious appearance. Instead the older man blinked before tilting his head to the side slightly. The two men watched as the young lady half turned and pointed her thumb towards the shoji door behind her.
"Grandpa… Your lunch is in one refrigerator and Aokiji-sensei's in the one next to it. They're the bento boxes on the bottom", the female spoke in a thoughtful tone. "Kuzan-sensei…", she hummed. "Could you make sure grandpa eats. He gets really worked up and strained easily. When he's like this, he'll skip lunch and fill up on okaki later."
A thin brow arched. "Oh my…", the admiral teased. "Here I thought you were going to be sulking a bout. Also, drop the honorifics. It makes me sound like an old man…", he added.
Katie blinked innocently first before letting a devilish grin cross her expression. Her smile was so wide and mischievous, it forced her eyes closed and her cheeks to grow pink in color. "Eh! So, you're not an old man?! Wow! Could have fooled me", the long-haired brunette gave a thumbs-up accompanied by a wider grin.
The officer in blue felt a vein pop over his temple. His facial expression was serious with shadowy overtones. He clearly did not like what she had said.
"Oh… Scary", both Sengoku and Katie spoke simultaneously with their hand over their mouth as if they both were taken back by Aokiji's sudden dark demeanor.
The vertically challenged female was forced to put Tashigi down who huffed and began verbally yelling at the brunette. The vice-admiral's granddaughter turned to the other young woman in a dark burgundy t-shirt and white capri pants. "Go… You know where I'm living so meet me there. I'm going to have to take a little side detour out of a window"
The swordsman was shocked to find the other female wrapping her hand around her wrist and pushing the raven-haired marine to the left. Katie went right and straight down the corridor towards the window.
Kuzan's reaction was too fast. A sheet of ice covered the whole passageway, including the brunette's escape route or so he thought. Surprisingly, Katie used both her knees in busoshoku haki and her weight along with her momentum, to shatter his barrier. The admiral then remembered her statement about using haki in the bathroom that morning. He was certainly taken back and left standing in bewilderment.
Sengoku stood next to the marine with one Tashigi appearing both confused and upset. What she had seen certainly amazed her but not clear on what had just happened. This wasn't the marines the female was trained in. This was chaos and the two men weren't even fazed! One fleet-admiral bore a toothy grin from ear to ear while other officer stood blinking in perplexity.
"Sss… Sir", the petty officer spoke while saluting the fleet-admiral.
His eyes casted down in her direction. The man's smile never even faltered. Sengoku was proud. All those years of training and his granddaughter was able to slip by someone as sharp as Aokiji. "What is it", his voice asked in a clear tone.
"I want to apologize for her…", the woman bowed at the waist before the higher ranking official interrupted the female swordsman.
"Don't", he snipped without losing his warm expression. "She knows what she's doing. Sure, that kid of mine dragged me from my office and insulted an admiral in the process but Katie does things whole heartedly. She's earnest that way. That girl trusts you and that makes me feel a bit at ease. Don't ever feel that you must apologize for her actions. That brat would never ask you too and as her grandfather, I wouldn't either. Your duty is simply to show her around but I'll bet she saw you as a friend."
Tashigi blushed when she felt the warm pat on her head. "Just be prepared to train with Garp when that old man gets back. He won't let Katie rest which will ultimately pull you into it…", he warned ominously in a deep groan.
"Hai", she saluted before running after her charge but used the hallways and stairs instead.
"You two doted on her too much", Kuzan cut in with his gaze shifting to the fleet-admiral.
"Ah… I can't argue", the older man sighed before sliding open the break room's door.
"That took me by surprise. What other tricks does she have", the admiral asked while returning his sights back on the broken window. He watched as the other fellow marines were rushing to fix it. Cold wind and rain were barreling through, causing a chaotic scene.
"Oh… Many… Since she's grown fond of you, I'll tell you like I told the others. Don't take her lightly even in small bouts like moments before. With her handicap, Garp and I taught her to exploit any openings presented. I did say she was earnest and whole hearted. I meant that", Sengoku clarified before going into the break room. He headed straight for one of the refrigerators.
"What is this handicap", Kuzan asked bluntly before going to the other cooler and plucking his lunch. It was much too early but it seemed right to talk about this over food.
The fleet-admiral returned with a heavy sigh. His warm expression faded into a rather sterile serious one. It made the other officer wonder if he had asked the wrong question. "I guess you're going to find out sooner or later and I know if you ask Garp, he wouldn't disclose what happened. Katie would simply get sick again and not tell you either", he paused. "Kuzan… I'm only going to say this once. It is but isn't my place to tell you what happened nine years ago. If you can convince that brat of mine to reveal even a little… then I will surely fill in all the blanks over some sake", the higher officer stated before smiling broadly as he plucked his food from the fridge.
The marine wasn't completely satisfied with the answer but he could wholly understand. The curly haired man couldn't help to smile when Sengoku's facial expression returned. "You know… I was going to eat with you but I think I'm going to pass." Aokiji paused a moment to put his lunch on the table. "There's a young lady who needs a reminder in manners", the admiral hissed with a smirk on his lips.
"Hai hai", the fleet admiral waved off while he enjoyed every bite of the golden tuna rolls and other items Katie had prepared. It was a succulent array of food that catered to Sengoku's tastes. He was such a lucky grandpa, he thought despite being teased about retiring earlier. Now if he could only just convince her to not be so reckless, he'd be set.