Last time:

"Yes, we'll join others, very one way or another. After this week, there won't be way back for me. Nami could you among other things steel keys to the seastone cuffs? It could be useful in the future." Luffy said to the rest.

"Hai, captain." Was the only reply needed to be said.

Luffy's POV (6 days before start of the mission)

The searing pain in my chest was getting worse and worse. It felt like my insides were on fire. "As we negotiated, I'll leave them alone and you, if you survive, will join the marines. Do you understand?" He glared at me spitefully as he waited for me to answer.

"Exactly as we bargained." I replied with weak cough, but narrowed eyes at him with pure hate. I'll survive this and made him regret this. No one touches my brothers and lives to tell about it.

I woke up with start, breathing hard, my hand it made it on the x-shaped scar. "Just a memory. It was just a moment. I'm safe now." I was calming myself, while thinking about that day.

Commodore Daigin's POV

New recruits arrived at Marineford yesterday and now I was picked to train them and to find out if they're marine material. They already have training, seeing they are from family of marines, but just because of that, don't mean they can be marines as well. And I have only week to decide if I send them home or some other marine base to complete their training. Oh, joy. There were about 30 recruits standing in line. Most of them were nervously shaking while the others looked downright cocky. Just what did I do to deserve this?

"Brats, you're here because you chose to defend justice. To fight criminals." I was making a speech, like every time newbies came here. There may be better speakers than me, but I had to say something, it's kind of rule. When I completed speech and was about to see their skills I was interrupted.

"Good morning commodore Daigin. In charge of newbies I see." Said young voice. It was unexpected to see her, of all people here. She normally doesn't concern herself with rookies. When asked why she replies 'They don't have will.' Whatever she means by that.

The brats were obviously curious about her. It's not every day you get to see 16-year old brat dressed in Vice-admiral's attire. "Vice-admiral Luffy." I greeted her by nodding my head at her and confirmed her rank to the younglings by saying thins. After that I could hear the popping eyes of the recruits and the sounds of jaws hitting the floor, together with 'No way, she can't be Vice-admiral. She's way too young!' It was funny seeing their incredulous reaction to her. I see why Garp-san likes to drop this bomb on unsuspecting victims. "What brings you here? Are you going to look at the brats training?" I asked with raised eyebrow.

"Well, there's nothing for me to do and I'm way too bored, so I thought there might someone interesting enough for me to spend morning training him/her or them. I hope you won't mind if I find someone just like that and steal him from you." She asked with wide grin and I found myself returning it. She just has her ways around people.

"I won't mind, you know I am not normally the one doing training like this. So I would be delighted if you would take few for yourself. There's way too much brats for me to like." I answered her non question, only for her to tease me. "Don't say you're getting too old. You're still young, but if you really feel that way you could always ask Senny for more paperwork." Did I say I hate that brat? Ignoring another round of jaws hitting floor, when she called Fleet Admiral 'Senny'.

"That's not what I mean and you know it, so please don't tease me about it, Luffy-san." She just chuckled and patted my arm. Finally paying attention to the recruits, but not before:

"Are you kiddin' me?! We joined to marines to fight pirates and not the play with dolls. Who do you take us for? What's even kid like that doin' here?!" asked one recruit in his 20-ties and I could only face-palmed, he just had to say it. But he is still lucky, be it another else, he could get serious punishment for disrespecting officer. Or that Garp-san or Aokiji aren't in earshot they might take it personally and beating this one to bloody pulp.

"What's your name, recruit?" Luffy-san asked with sweet smile and I started sweating, this can't end well. "Arittaka, doll. Want to know anything else, maybe my-" "Three steps forward, soldier." Luffy-san didn't let him finish. That guy, Arittaka, must have wanted to humor her, because he did as she asked even if he had arrogant smirk on his face.

"Can I do anything else for you, doll?" He continued, but she ignored him. Luffy-san just went to stand before him. She went once around him in circle looking him up and down. "Doll, this is Marineford, not place to hook up, so don't look at me like you want to eat me." Does he want for her to punch him? This guy obviously doesn't have survival instinct. Right, I forgot, Luffy-san is completely oblivious to flirting and everything related. Did I say he's lucky?

"If you're so confident that I'm just a simple doll and don't belong in here like a fighter then come at me and try to beat me." She said to him with feral grin, but nonetheless this action surprised me. I thought she would punch him till he went flying across whole Marineford not that she would play with him. "But before that answer me one question, why do you want to be marine?" And suddenly her cheerful behavior was replaced by serious one. I heard that she has one more mode than 'happy-go-lucky' and 'wrath-of-Luffy' as they called them. This was very rare side of Luffy-san not many has seen.

Arittaka's POV

When I deliberately insulted her she just looked at me as if I was dumb and challenged me to fight. Seriously? She looks fragile. Especially with that coat that makes her look even smaller than she is and I don't really think she could stand a punch without flying at least five feet. She looks like little child mainly with the wide grin she was sporting. And if she fights won't her hair get in the way of fight? Considering, her hair is reaching to the half of her back. But when she asks: "Why do you want to be marine?" With this she started to resemble the official she is a little.

"I want to be marine to help people in need. To be on the side of justice and fight against the unfairness." I respond truthfully and can feel her inquiring gaze. But it feels way different than before, it's like she's judging of how true I was. I felt like she looked at my very own soul. When I had enough staring I attacked her.

It was punch aimed at her stomach I don't put all the strength into it, but it's still enough to knock out average man. If she's really a Vice-admiral she shouldn't have a problem with it. To my shock she merely caught my fist with 'tssk' and pulls me to her making me lose my balance. Before I can hit her with my body she sidestepped. I quickly regain my balance and kick at her with right leg, but she dodges. That goes on about four minutes. Me attacking (with all my strength, mind you), her dodging out of the way, before something changes. This time when I tried for right hook she caught it and twisted my arm behind my back and then proceed to kick my legs, until I was lying on the ground like sack of potatoes with her sitting on my back, holding my wrists together.

"Do you have enough or are you up for another round?" She asks with amused voice and I'll be damned if there wasn't grin/smirk on her face. "I think you're obviously a winner, so what about letting him breathe for a sec, hmm, Luffy-san? " For Vice-admiral Daigin to went to my rescue I must have look quite pathetic.

I felt the weight go of my back and didn't hold back the sigh of relief that went instantly out of my throat. I stood up and brushed off the dust and sweat while regaining my breathing. I took glance at the female Vice-admiral who looked exactly the same way before we started fighting. Even her freaking hair looked the same! Can you even call it a fight? Said a little voice in my head, but because of my pride, I promptly ignored it. Still, I had training. It was required. In the end, my father is in the command of G-8 base.

"I'm sorry for disrespecting you. It was shameful of me to act that way." I apologized with all honesty I could muster while bowing. When she didn't answer me I sneaked a glance at her. She was just blankly staring at me, but then she abruptly moved towards me and I looked at the ground once again. Then at the same time my gaze registered her feet in sandals 'since when are marines wearing sandals' before me I noted the hand that was lightly patting my shoulder. "Don't worry about it. It happens to me all the time. But next time don't underestimate someone just because it's she, kid or little. It could get you killed, you know." She said to me with friendly voice and I rose from the bow while nodding my head at what she said.

"What about we start again? I'm Vice-admiral Luffy. Please call me Luffy." She declared smiling, whilst shaking my hand. "My name's Arittaka, the new recruit. Nice to meet you, Luffy-san." I said and returned the smile.

The introduction left many spectators bewildered at how easygoing we were towards each other. The bystander marines that knew her well enough were shaking with laughter some even wiping their imaginary tears. "That's our Luffy-san. Always so unpredictable. And now she's making friend with newbies. The world must be ending." Exclaimed one of the marines I didn't recognize which led to another wave of laughter.

GROOOWWWLL. Huh? Do they have here a wolf or something, I thought baffled. "Oh, man. The battle left me so hungry! I could eat a giant sea king! Daigin! I'm going to eat something and then I'll be back for the troublemaker." She instantly left not even listening to the Daigin's reply. I just numbly stared, my brain not really registering what just happened. "Does she even realize that she eats giant sea kings on daily basis?" Muttered another marine with look of utter resignation. This had his companion slap him on back with snicker. "Of course she doesn't. It's Luffy-san!"

"Oi, Daigin. It seems you won't get rid of him so quickly. We all know just how long she can take." Daigin moaned. "Don't remind me, I'll be lucky if she returns in another 3 hours." 3 hours? Didn't she just go to eat? "Wait, what do you mean by 'She'll be back'?" I asked with feeling of dread.

"Isn't it obvious? Our adorable Vice-admiral chose to train you. It's fairly surprising. You're first recruit she agreed to train, even if it's just for week, before deciding where you're going to end up."

I think this is the longest chapter I wrote so far! I even gave you a little sneak-peak about what happened! Can you guess to who she was talking too? I think it's pretty easy to figure it out, but that's just me… Whatever. Before I forget: I'm so sorry about OC, but I needed someone and this was the best choice. If you wonder about his origin, than know I made Vice-admiral Jonathan a father. If you wonder who he is look at wiki or to those who remember, he was commander at the base Strawhats landed after flying of the Skypea in anime.

Till the next time