Ello! Sorry again for the lack of proof reading, just super tired from work but as promised here's the chapter. Remember Monday and Tuesday there will be no update but Wednesday is my last day. There will be an update on that day. (Just might be super late.)
So notes! Yes there are notes for this chapter. Blood types: X is equivalent to A; F is to B; S is to O; and XF is to AB. I also added RH factor. I tried to keep this as cannon as possible. I did fudge on the RH factor. It doesn't say in their bios what factor they are so I played around! XD Don't hang me, please.
In the end, Katie was left feeling like a new born calf. Her legs were trembling and weak. They couldn't support her own weight. The brunette wasn't even sure how Kuzan got up, let alone walk away. The man was quaking as bad as she. The marine disappeared behind his door but not before saying "good night." The female returned the gesture but to her dismay it came out a bit higher pitched than she planned. With ivory cheeks turning a strawberry hue, the young woman buried her face into her hands as the officer broke out into a fit of laughter.
After a while, Garp's granddaughter found her legs. She was able to stand to her full length which was lacking vertically. The young woman groaned. "Why couldn't my dad share any of his height? Just a few centimeters. Greedy bastard", the petite female groused as she opened the door.
Once inside the ticking of the clock was the only thing echoing in the home. Katie slipped off her sandals before padding her way into the kitchen area. She grabbed an empty cup from the cupboard before filling it with water. The young woman raised the edge of the glass to her lips when she realized something in the dim light of her home. The brunette had no sense of smell and the clock shouldn't have been as loud as it was. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up.
Before Garp's granddaughter could set down her water, she felt the hot projection of a blade rip through the sinew. Her cartilage torn apart by the force until oceanic blue visions gazed downward to see the tip of her chef's knife protruding just an inch above her navel. The brunette didn't even have time to scream before her hands had to wrap around the metal. The cup the twenty-three year old held shattered over the counter top with water spilling everywhere. Blue orbs seen the action but couldn't hear it. A mental note she tucked away for later.
The blade didn't even hurt, Katie thought before realizing her fingers were going to be sliced up if she didn't get a better grip. Feeling the sensation of breath on the nape of her neck, the female whipped her head back, forcing her assailant's nose to break. Whether it worked or not, she wasn't sure but the young woman could feel the pressure on the knife release.
The brunette tried to run away but slipped instead. The amount of blood she had already lost had pooled on the smooth wooden floor. Katie tried to stand but found herself unable too. Every time the female attempted to put a foot down, she'd hit the ground. Still she felt no pain. Her body was running on adrenaline. She needed to get away; needed to find help.
A scream worked its way from her lungs when the person got back on top of her. Katie agonizingly experienced her body being dragged backwards by the knife itself. That hurt! The heat inside her organs as they were shredded by the blade, was too much. Another screech filled the area but unknowingly no one heard her. The brunette was still thankful that it wasn't her lungs that had been stabbed but she knew if she let go it would be or worse, her throat.
The female struggled while unable to use her hands. Finally working herself on her side she was able to sweep the attacker's legs and give a hard kick using her armament haki. The stove behind the enemy was their only cushion. It folded like an accordion before being blasted through the plaster walls behind them.
To the twenty-three year old's surprise she still couldn't see the person or smell them. Not even her surroundings. The annoying sound of the ticking clock had disappeared but another problem had arose; Katie's vision was starting to blur. If she didn't get help soon, things were going to get worse, quickly.
Another attempt at standing finally became fruitful. Katie's gut burned, her chest hurt, her hands shook uncontrollably. Rattled wouldn't even be a word to describe how the young woman felt. Teeth clenched, the brunette had a plan. Survive. If she couldn't see, hear, or smell her enemy, she knew someone that could.
"Sorry", the female muttered as she stood before the right side of her wall near the entry. Katie wrapped her arm in armament haki before cocking back her fist and landing a straight punch. The wood, plaster, and brick cracked. Another hit broke her hand but she didn't feel it. She couldn't even hear the bone break. The wall opened to a medium sized hole.
Aokiji stood on the other side wide eyed. The man was speechless and confused until copper orbs soaked in the image of Katie. She was standing, shaking with rivers of crimson fluid running down her right leg and pooling under her feet. Her hair a mess, her face damp with sweat and possible tears. The brunette was unusually pale with dull dark eyes.
The admiral immediately jumped into action. His ice covered what was left of the wall and shattered upon his impact. Before her bruised knees could hit the ground, the protective marine was under her small frame. The curly haired man hoisted her in a bridal position. "I c..c..can't s..s..smell th..th..th..them", the woman in his arms stuttered.
Instantly both complexes were frozen over. His heart was racing. The admiral noticed something odd. He couldn't hear her or the cracking of his own ice. The man hadn't even heard the fight that apparently had taken place. As soon as his devil fruit ability was used, the aroma of her blood filled his nostrils. He could finally hear the drips of life hit the ground below them. The brunette was going to bleed out if he didn't get her treatment very soon.
Against everything the officer wanted to do, he rushed her to the medical facility near the training grounds. It was closer than a hospital. She was already unconscious and unaware of what was going on but with the knife still inside the man had no choice. A large group of medical staff took her from his arms and laid her gingerly onto a gurney before her tiny form disappeared behind double doors.
For the first time in a very long time, Kuzan felt sick. Helplessness wasn't something he was familiar dealing with. The admiral dangerously growled before he turned to leave. A short, black haired nurse rushed out to wave him down. Through desperate gasps, the smaller female explained Katie was an extremely rare blood type and only a handful of marines could donate. He was on that list. Another jerk to his insides made him freeze up.
"She's XF-negative. Since less than one percent of marines carry the same factor, the blood is stored at the hospital. We need a transfusion now! I'm sorry sir but since you're S-negative, you're the only one who can…"
The topless man placed his large hands on her shoulders. "Take as much as you like", Aokiji assured before following.
For the rest of the night, his mind was hazy. His thoughts were scattered. He had just finished his shower and put on a pair of blue and black flannel pajama pants before all this erupted. The admiral was left topless and barefoot but he didn't seem to mind it as much.
The officer wanted desperately to get back to the scene but was told to stay put at the hospital after her transfer. An investigative team had already arrived and was scouring the area. Not good enough, in his mind but he wasn't going to disobey Sengoku either. If this was an assassination attempt on his granddaughter because of her status then it was safer with an admiral to be beside her. Their hands were tied.
Two hours had passed and Aokiji was still left in the waiting room. He wanted to see how Katie was doing, at least. His mind kept dipping into dark places as he was about to go mad from being stir crazy. He couldn't leave yet he couldn't be with her. What was the admiral supposed to do?
The normally sleepy man was pacing, wide awake with seething anger. The only news he had been given wasn't good. Katie's bleeding hadn't stopped and he had already given as much as he could. Honestly, Aokiji didn't know what was worse; giving all you can and it still not be enough or not give at all?
"~Oh… You look like hell~", Borsalino's voice sang in his usual demeaning tone.
The younger admiral looked over just in time to get a shirt thrown to the face. The fabric caught him by surprise. A hand swiped the white cloth and pulled it over his head. It turned out to be a t-shirt with the blue marine logo on the front. "You don't look much better", Kuzan snapped back.
Kizaru approached wearing a pair of black flannel pants with yellow squares on them. A yellow jersey tank top with a matching knitted skullcap. It was odd seeing the man without his glasses, the curly haired officer thought. Aokiji took note that his longtime colleague was also absent of his trademark smile.
"How is she", the younger man asked as he folded his arms and braced his shoulders against the wall.
"I don't know", Kizaru sighed before shoving his hands in his pockets. "They had me donate blood. I didn't get to see her", he kept the conversation short. There was a painful edge in his tone.
"I'm going to ask and you don't have to tell me but what is it about Katie that you don't like", Kuzan blatantly questioned. His copper orbs drifted to down the sterile white hallway towards the operating rooms.
"~Oh? There are things in a man's past that he shouldn't talk about but there are things he should but doesn't want too. I'm still deciding which one that is~", Borsalino responded before pulling out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and lighting one up. "For the record, I don't dislike her. She hasn't done anything to earn the marine's rancor." The tall admiral paused to take a long heated drag off the tobacco stick stuck between his lips. Aokiji waved off the puffs of smoke before standing up straight. "I-am-warning-you…", Kizaru continued. "Don't press Sakazuki about it."
Like a bad omen with devilish ears, a man who looked like the admiral Akainu quietly made his way passed the two officers. He was wearing a deep blue hoodie with marine's symbol on the back without the lettering but white loose shorts which reached passed his knees. From his muscular build to his unbelievable height, the youth resembled that of a much younger admiral. When the hood pulled back, it was as if the two higher officials were gazing at a mirror from their earlier days in the marines. The resemblance was uncanny.
Both were frozen with bewilderment. While the stranger had made his way to the nurse's station to ask something. His smile and mannerisms didn't match the person he appeared to be. In Aokiji's mind it was weird to watch Sakazuki's younger twin with such an expression. His tone was welcoming and polite. Something the older version never was.
"R", a female nurse squealed. He turned and raised his hand. "~Why are you here~", the bobble headed female with black hair asked with blushing cheeks and brilliant wide eyes.
"My baby sister was hurt. I just got back when the hospital rang me up on a den-den mushi. They informed me that she needs more donations so I came to both check on her and help out where I can", he sadly spoke. Despite the smile, both men recognized the bob of the Adam's apple. Like the admirals, R was swallowing his emotions. All three marines realized it was going to be a long night.