"You know my dad!?" Hopeful, Usopp beams brightly at the hope.
"Course she does she's…" Smiling, Luffy begins but…
"Portgas D. Ann the left hand of the yonko red haired Shanks." Immediately, Ann's heart drops at the voice just as Nami's furrows her brow by the eerily familiar name…
"Oh you got to be shitting me." Miserably, Ann mutters miserably, hues narrowing at the man stepping away from the stone snapping Nami out of her thoughts.
"Who is that tall guy?" Luffy asks as he is still coiled around her.
"An eyesore." Irritated, Ann mutters standing up with Luffy still around her.
"Eh? Oi Ann you know him?" Luffy quirks his head to the side at her.
"Sadly you could say our paths have crossed." Annoyed, Ann grumbles glaring at the ass just as she hears the soft sound of someone falling, her hues turning to widen when seeing the familiar figure now shaking on her behind.
"Robin's really scared of him who is he?" Nami couldn't help but ponder taking note of the petrified Robin.
"…Robin?" Alarmed, Ann jolts up at the name, her hues widening when noting the terrified woman before her having falling on her behind trembling from the sheer sight of him.
"A marine. Marine headquarters Admiral Aokiji…" Anxiously, Robin answers.
"A-Admiral!? H-He's gotta be pretty strong to be admiral!" Sanji realizes.
"Or an obedient lapdog." Ann offers.
"Call me what you want I really don't care." Lazily, Aokiji scratches the side of his head.
"Within the marines only three men have attained the rank of admiral, Akainu, Aokiji and Kizaru the only man they answer to is the head of the marines Fleet Admiral Sengoku they are the most powerful combat force of the world government and he's one of them." Terrified, Robin continue her explanation.
"He's also a headache why don't you just do us all a favour and take a dip in the sea? No one would miss you." Ann asks of the man now wearing a white buttoned-up vest with standing collar over a long-sleeved navy-blue shirt, with matching white trousers and black dress shoes. This is all rarely accompanied by a matching white suit jacket. He also wears a yellow tie divided geometrically by black lines and a sleep mask on his forehead.
"I'd rather not right now." Aokiji answers as he scratches the back of his neck.
"Tch…a shame." Snippily, she sneers scowling at the ass.
"W-What does he want with us!? Why isn't he out catching some multi-billion bounty pirate instead!?" Usopp queries lost.
"I am actually." Aokiji answers as he steps forward.
"Y-You are!?" Alarmed, Usopp takes a shaky step back as Zoro's hand darts to his blades.
"Portgas D. Ann…I heard you were sailing across the grand line tell me why are you so far from your crew?" Casually, Aokiji demands from the furrowed frown of the woman.
"Why do you care?" Curtly, she snaps scowling at the ass.
"I'm simply curious." Cooly, he shrugs.
"And I'm simply curious to see you drop dead, seems we're both not getting our ways today." Tiredly, Ann huffs turning to look away.
"Wait Portgas…that name it's familiar…" Nami furrows her brow by the name.
"Ah this is my sister." Smiling, Luffy tells Nami.
"S-Sister!?" The crew reel back by the news.
"Luffy why didn't you tell me you were related to such a beauty?!" Lovestruck, Sanji smiles as Ann arches a brow baffled by the weird blonde.
"Yeah she's my sister or well maybe aunt works better." Smiling, Luffy answers.
"Hi." Ann greets the crew casually.
"Luffy why didn't you tell us you were related to a yonko!?" Nami yells at Luffy.
"…Is your crew always this loud?" Ann asks Luffy.
"Yep haha!" Luffy beams brightly as Ann simply sighs.
"Hey just chill out guys honestly I think you were the ones not listening I'm only here for her don't get so worked up besides you're…those guys right?" Aokiji raises his hands up attempting to calm the crew down before gesturing to the scowling Ann as he looks towards the rather done looking blonde for confirmation.
"Those what?" Luffy exclaims.
"Right?" Chopper adds.
"I forgot. Never mind." Aokiji dismisses scratching the side of his head.
"You're just bullshitting us!" Both Usopp and the scowling Sanji shout.
"You haven't changed a bit as carefree as always…Oi admiral mind not asking around about me by the way it's pretty annoying!" Agitated, Ann huffs exhaustion etched into said single sigh.
"If you answer my questions then I wouldn't have to search for you." Aokiji answers.
"If you just leave me alone I wouldn't have to deal with you." Fairly, Ann dishes back.
"What's with this guy? Oi Robin! Are you sure this is the guy? He can't be a marine admiral!" Usopp turns to Robin for confirmation.
"Oi, oi don't judge a book by its cover." Aokiji exclaims to them.
"Yeah and surprisingly the lazy ass is." Ann adds annoyed.
"My motto as a marine is Lazy Justice." Aokiji informs them.
"YEAH WE CAN TELL!" Usopp and Sanji yell.
"Lazy Justice? What happened to burning justice?" Ann perks up befuddled.
"It changed…people change well anyway excuse me standing for so long tired me out. I'm gonna lay down." Aokiji goes to lie down on his side.
"YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED AT ALL ICEHOLE!" Incensed, Ann roars raising her voice to him however…
"Ara ara…you're as loud as ever. Anyway to make a long story short I'm not here to arrest you so just relax." Lazily, he waves the lot off as he goes to lie on his side, using his jacket as a pillow.
"You just said you were after me." Mad, Ann's eye twitches tense.
"I have a life outside you Portgas." Aloofly, he turns his back to her.
"This guy…!" Angrily, Ann growls glaring down at him temped to cut his head off however…
"I came to confirm that Nico Robin had left Arabasta following the incident there as we suspected she's been with you." Aokiji informs them.
"This guy really doesn't wanna do anything…" Sanji exclaims.
"He never does…" Ann huffs turning on her heel to leave.
"I wouldn't say that." Aokiji looks up at her.
"Don't give me that look icehole!" Blushing, Ann yells at the ass who simply closes his eyes not batting an eye to the angry Ann.
"He's got a high ranking sense of audacity if nothing else…" Usopp remarks baffled by the dynamic between both Yonko crew mate and admiral, they were supposed to be enemies and yet here there were with one whose supposed to be running is yelling and the admiral who is supposed to be arresting her is relaxing.
"I think I'll submit a report to headquarters later now that you have another wanted criminal on your crew your total bounty will go up 100,000,000 plus…60,000,000 plus…79,000,000 equals…screw it it's some big number." Aokiji dismisses.
"Do the damn math moron!" Mad, Ann angrily screeches at him however…
"Gomo gomo…" Ann and Aokiji both perk up at the voice.
"Stop Luffy!" Usopp and Sanji hold their captain back.
"Let go you guys what're you doing!?" Luffy yells as he is held back by both of them.
"Why are you trying to start a fight!? He's the strongest Marine in the world!" Usopp reminds his captain.
"Are you guys just gonna let him take Robin!? You jerks!" Luffy yells.
"…Still as loud as always." Ann smiles softly, a faint fondness in her tone while watching Luffy be held back oblivious to the admiral below simply silently staring at her soft shy smile, a smile he hadn't seen in a long time as a part of him couldn't help but feel a sharp twinge at such a smile…
"Come on I told you I'm not going to do anything…" Aokiji sighs sweat dropping, raising his hand trying to calm the cross captain.
"I'm gonna kick your ass!" Angrily, Luffy yells.
"Stop it Luffy!" Sanji calls out.
"Hold on dammit!" Usopp adds as just then…
"…Luffy. That's enough." Calmly, Ann adds.
"Mmm…" Luffy's hues narrow at Ann.
"…" Silently, she stares back.
"Okay…" Luffy sighs giving in letting go…
"HE JUST LISTENED!? His crew gawk gape at how obedient their captain is with the woman.
"That's the most obedient I've ever seen him…" Zoro says shocked.
"Teach me your ways!" Namie begs befuddling Ann.
"…Eh?" Astonished, Ann turns to Nami perplexed as the soft sound of footsteps approach.
"Y-You're a marine? If only we'd known sooner…" The group of strangers come out of the bushes.
"Who are these people!?" Namie ponders eyeing the ragged forms of the people.
"Oi are you okay?" Sanji eyes the ragged looking children.
"You mean this island isn't deserted?" Usopp says shocked.
"No. My guess is…they're castaways who washed ashore from a shipwreck. A passenger ship was reported missing in this area about a month ago." Aloofly, Aokiji assumes as the straw hats begin looking the people over or well to be precise Chopper…
"Um…Ann…" Nami makes her way over to the woman quietly watching on as the Straw Hats tend to the people.
"Hm?" Humming, she turns to the orange haired girl.
"Would it be alright if I ask you something?" Nami asks the woman.
"Sure shoot." Simply, she shrugs.
"…Did you happen to know someone could Bell-mère?" Nami asks astonishing Ann as she turns to Nami.
"Bell? Yeah I did why do you ask?" Ann asks Nami her hues widening when hearing her answer.
"No…no reason." Nami looks away.
"Hm? How is she may I ask?" Ann asks as Nami grimaces by the question.
"…She…died protecting my sister and me…" Nami bows her head.
"…I see." Ann bows her head hues darkening when hearing her words.
"…That's all you have to say?" Seething, she scowls at Ann.
"What do you want me to say? I take you've heard enough sorries for a lifetime…" Aloofly, Ann dismisses.
"…Did you know?" Nami queries.
"Hm?" Humming, she turns to Nami.
"About Arlong Park?" Poisonously, Nami pries poison oozing out of her tired tone.
"If I had what would that have changed?" Calmly, she asks Nami.
"…What?" Nami says shocked making Ann sigh.
"Look Nami, the past is in the past looking back on what ifs and all that crap leads ot nothing but trouble best thing you can do is just keep moving forward." Formally, she tells Nami, Nami's hues narrowing swiftly storming off fuming oblivious to a pair of sleep eyes meeting a pair of sherry red…
"How's it going Chopper?" Curious, Luffy asks as Chopper looks them over while Nami pets one of the kids heads. Her hues gravitating towards Ann now and again as she spots said stare oly to see the girl dart her eyes back down to the ground befuddling Ann as she simply stands watching on from afar.
"Some of them are hurt but nothing serious. I've got some medicine that should fix them right up. The more pressing matter is that none of them have eaten in six days. Their bodies are weak." Chopper reports.
"Sanji-kun and Usopp went to get some food…" Nami exclaims as the group try to help while they can…
"You're keeping a distance…" Robin remarks as the two watch the crew try to help the people out.
"It's best this way." Ann asserts aloofly.
"…Tell me something." Robin eyes the woman by his side.
"Hm?" Humming, she side eyes the girl by her side.
"Why did you leave?" Robin queries.
"Robin…" Ann sighs softly, she was probably too young to remember Akainu or maybe she did…she didn't know…
"Why?" Sternly, Robin demands.
"…You've been to Jaya right?" Ann assumes making Robin flinch from her words.
"H-How did…?" Robin does a double take turning to her.
"The answer should be there." Ann asserts as Robin's hues widen when hearing her words.
"…Don't tell me you're…" Robin reels back by her words, her hues dilating but before more could be said, Ann simply places her fingertips to her lip swiftly shushing Robin staring stunned at the revelation of sorts…
"Oi! Sorry we took so long! We couldn't find any meat." Sanji and Usopp return with tons of food bags of food as soon enough the grill it for the crew members and children handing them some coconuts to drink from.
"Ann swan would you like some food?" Lovestruck, the spinning Sanji goes over to Ann.
"Ah no thanks. Promised I'd meet up with Whitebeard if I don't eat it all he makes quite the fuss." Politely, she declines.
"W-Whitebeard!?" Nami says shocked.
"Yeah he gets a bit fussy…he's getting up there in the years so it's how it is." Ann shrugs.
"You going to see Ace then?" Luffy asks.
"Eh…we'll…we'll see." Smiling strained, Ann rubs the back of her neck not aware of a certain pair of sleepy eyes on her.
"Such beauty she really is a goddess!" Gushing, Sanji smiles scarlet spewing out of his nose alarming Ann.
"…Is he okay?" Alarmed, Ann eyes the twitching blonde body below.
"Yeah Sanji's special." Luffy laughs.
"Ann swan! Ann swan! Marry me!" Merrily, he continues cooing confusing Ann.
"Real special from the looks of it…" Ann sweat drops.
"Now let's eat!" Luffy hollers holding up two spiked kebabs.
"You sure were hungry…there's no need to wolf it down! There's plenty of food left." Sanju smiles at the people.
"That's right there's plenty!" Luffy shoves his face full of kababs.
"Hey how come you're eating some!? This island may be deserted but you still could've found food on your own you're lucky we were here to do it for you." Usopp scolds Luffy then turns to the crowd.
"It's a miracle you survived being shipwrecked on the grand line." Nami agrees as she helps a young girl feed from a coconut.
"We were the only ones to make it to this island." One of the ship wreckers tells them.
"What happed?" Nami pries.
"We were on our way home from a gourmet tour of Puchi the City Of Exquisite Food…when our ship hit a giant frog doing the front crawl and was smashed to bits." He explains to them.
"A frog doing the front crawl?!" Nami says shocked.
"Frogs are supposed to do the breaststroke." Sanji adds.
"That's cool I wanna see him!" Luffy beams brightly.
"Are you sure?" Usopp frowns.
"I'm sure of it!" Luffy promises.
"Sounds like Yokozuna…" Ann hums.
"That was Yokozuna." Aokiji confirms.
"Yokozuna?" Nami furrows her brow by both Aokiji and Ann, giving each other the stink eye or well Ann is, Aokiji simply stares ahead unfazed by the annoyed Ann.
"And then we finally reached this deserted island in one moth we had nearly starved to death. We were overjoyed when someone finally came to the island but then we saw he was riding a bicycle on the water." The man adds to the story.
"Bicycle huh?" Ann eyes Kuzan giving him quite the stink eye.
"Oi isn't a bicycle a little far fetched?" Usopp scoffs.
"Ah that was me." Kuzan admits.
"And the next thig we saw was a pirate ship." The guy adds.
"That was us." Nami exclaims.
"Then that makes you…them right? Those, what'cha call'em…?" Aokiji asks out loud as he points turning to look up at Ann as he points to the straw hats.
"Why are you looking at me?" Mad, Ann glares down at the ass.
"Just say it dammit!" Both Usopp and Sanji snap.
"And don't point that's just rude!" Ann adds agitated hands on her hips.
"Oh right I forgot! Oi you! Don't screw with us!" Luffy returns to his fury.
"Look Luffy you've gotta stop!" Sanji tries to hold him back.
"Calm down!" Usopp too once again.
"Urgh Luff…" Ann sighs softly facepalming at the hothead.
"Come on, didn't you hear me? I kept telling you I was trying to find her." Aokiji turns to point at Ann.
"I told you to stop pointing!" Ann snaps at the ass.
"I'm trying to make my point." Pointedly, Aokiji deadpans.
"And I'm trying to tell you to stop stalking me! Tch icehole!" Incensed, she snaps at Aokiji.
"You're bothering Ann leave her alone!" Angrily, Luffy adds glaring at Kuzan.
"Why are you so upset?" Kuzan furrows his brow at Luffy.
"Cause Ann's my big sister people who hurt her pay!" Luffy declares.
"It's like Luffy's picking a fight…!" Nami huffs.
"Luffy I can defend myself." Ann sighs.
"But…" Luffy stops briefly by her singular sigh.
"It's fine don't waste your energy on scum like him." Ann goes over setting the boy down from Sanji and Usopp with ease.
"I can hear you." Aokiji calls out.
"No shit really?!" Sarcastically, Ann sneers scowling at the ass she gives the dirty look to.
"Well fine I'll leave but first you guys gather your stuff and get ready to leave fortunately there's an inhabited island not far from here you can ask them to help you out." Aokiji points to the stranded people.
"Oi! Don't listen to what he says! He's a Marine!" Luffy calls out.
"…Luffy." Ann sighs.
"Is there something wrong with that?" The guy asks Luffy.
"Oh right usually the marines are the good guys and we're the bad guys!" Luffy remembers.
"What's so funny!?" Usopp hits his head.
"Is he gonna help them?" Luffy points to Aokiji.
"That's what it sounds like but does he have a ship?" Usopp frowns.
"He doesn't need one." Ann sighs softly.
"Eh?" Luffy blurts out.
"She's right don't worry about it." Aokiji adds.
"You don't sound very convincing." Usopp crosses his arms over his chest.
"He's right. He has the power to help them." Robin adds.
"I best make my move." Ann adjusts the strap of her bag over her shoulders.
"You're leaving already?" Disappointed, Luffy whines.
"I promised I'd have a drink with whitebeard. I should probably thank you guys for dealing with this troublesome moron" Ann smirks softly at Luffy ruffling his hair as he turns to the crew.
"Oi Ann I ain't troublesome!" Luffy whines.
"Who's the kid who kept drowning in water? Who's the kid who kept whining when his fists weren't the power of pistols!" Playfully, she shoves his head down into bowing before his crew.
"Ann!" Luffy whines while she simply smirks.
"I know he's a pain in the ass so thanks for looking out for my idiot kid brother oh and you have my sympathies." Smirking, she too bows her head to them.
"Sympathy?" The crew chorus confused but before more could be said and done.
"Yosha it's done." Usopp smiles finishing the tie.
"We've packed them plenty of food and water it should be enough to last them for a while." Sanji looks over at the supplies on the sled they packed.
"Sometimes it feels good to work…" Aokiji admits, coat slung over his shoulder.
"Never thought I'd hear the day you would say that." Tiredly, Ann sneers.
"Like I said people change." Aokiji shrugs.
"…I'm sure." Snippily, she sneers scowling at Aokiji.
"Yeah it sure does." Oblivious to the tight tension between both adults, Luffy smiles.
"Oh please don't act all high and mighty with me you're still the same government lapdog as you were before!" Fed up, Ann snaps scowling at Aokiji.
"Oi Portgas…" Zoro calls out but…
"I guess they're getting along now…still what's with the other two? There seems to be some sort of tension between them…what do you think Robin?" Nami asks Robin. There was something up between them, Nami could see it as clear as day but what?
"…" Robin silently stares at the two.
"Robin?" Nami calls out again as Robin sees the clear pain in Aokiji's eyes at Ann who seems oblivious to it, seeing nothing but red perhaps…
"So now what? Are you gonna swim and pull these guys and their stuff all the way there?" Luffy asks Aokiji.
"Don't be stupid. Everyone stand back." Aokiji makes his way over to the water.
"H-Hey!" Agitated, Ann glares at the ass tossing his jacket over to her as she clutches it ignoring the brief blush crossing her cheeks towards the ass crouching down before the water where he warns them. He dips his hand into the water. A still silence hanging heavily in the air as Ann's eyes expand at the brief faint flicker of ruby red, her hand darting to her sword just as something bursts from the water.
"Kuzan!" Alarmed, Ann cries out about to strike the beast down oblivious to the look of surprise from the genuine level of concern clear in her tone towards him but…
"W-What's that? It's a monster! It must be the boss of these waters!" Usopp freaks out.
"What? Oi get away! Look out! Gomo gomo no…!" Luffy warns while he remained crouched down unfazed as he reels his fist back just as Zoro is about to draw his blade but…
"Ice age…" Coldly, Kuzan announces as just like that the beast is frozen through alongside the sea.
"The devil's fruit!" Zoro says shocked.
"The sea's…frozen!" Luffy says shocked.
"That idiot does he want hypothermia!?" Scowling, Ann mutters mad under her breath brow furrowed.
"This is the power of a marine headquarters Admiral." Robin says shakily as Aokiji comes back up, ice coating his form, some whisps exhaling from his lips as he pries his ice coated hand from the sea.
"Still showing off I see…" Snippily, she throws his coat back over.
"Still doing my job you mean." He catches the coat noting her furrowed frown.
"Oh please you were showing off do you want hypothermia you know your limits so what are you trying to prove blue pheasant?!" Agitated, Ann glares at Kuzan.
"…You sound almost concerned for me. Scared I'll freeze to death?" Kuzan hums, pleased almost as she glares.
"Oh get over yourself!" Snippily, she sneers.
"…it should last for a week just walk that way you should reach the island in four days it's a bit cold so bundle up." Aokiji advises the shipwrecked people before glancing over at Ann.
"…Why are you looking at me when you say that?" Tense, she glares glowers at Aokiji.
"Cause you've always been sensitive to the cold…" Kuzan deadpans making Ann blush brightly.
"Why do you even remember that? That's creepy! Tch…!" Ann crosses his agitated arms over her chest unable to look him in the eye as she glares to the side.
"Is this…a dream? The sea's hardened! We can cross it! we can get off this island Mr marine thank you! This is a miracle an undeniable miracle!" The shipwrecked people point out cheering as Aokiji walks away stopping briefly by the cheering crowd to scratch the back of his head before waving his back still turned to them.
"Well we'll be going." The shipwrecked crew tell Luffy and co.
"Yeah I bet you're happy." Luffy smiles.
"Take care." Nami adds.
"I suppose there are different kinds of pirates how can we ever thank you? You treated our injuries and even shared your food and water with us." The people thank them.
"Don't sweat it." Luffy smiles.
"Our chance meeting was fated by a previous life." Usopp adds.
"Make sure your kids don't catch cold." Chipper throws in.
"At least the refrigerator will help the food keep longer." Sanji advises.
"Thank you so much!" The man waves them off.
"Bye bye! We are forever in your debt Straw Hat Pirates!" The people then leave.
"See ya! Take care! That felt good…gah! It's so cold it feels like winter here!" Luffy moves about the ice as Ann simply smiles at the sight of the two soon holding their arms chilly.
"Look I can skate!" Smiling, Chopper does just that.
"Whoa that's cool Chopper!" Luffy compliments Chopper.
"That's what you get for being born on a winter Island." Usopp reasons.
"How'd you like that?" Chopper asks the two.
"It was great!" Luffy praises.
"You guys try it too!" Chopper tells them.
Ann smiles softly watching from afar amused almost as she chuckles oblivious to the admiral silently staring watching from afar as well while in the far off back sat down cross legged on the floor watching it all play out…
"I'm freezing! What is it?" Luffy takes note of Kuzan's stare.
"How do I put it…you're the spitting image of your grandpa, Monkey D. Luffy. Childlike and reckless…and yet hard to fully understand." Kuzan describes.
"G-Grandpa?" Luffy squeaks scared.
"Grandpa? Luffy's? Oi what's wrong Luffy? You're sweating bullets!" Usopp worries.
"Oh boy…" Ann couldn't help but understand Luffy's dread.
"Oh! I-I-It's nothing I mean it's…" Luffy begins but…
"Your grandpa helped me out a lot a long time ago. I came here to see Nico Robin and you with my own eyes to bump into Ann was something I was fortunate to encounter as well and so…are you ready to die?" Aokiji asks as Ann's hues narrow at the man behind her.
"Forever the disappointment I see." Snippily, she sneers scowling at the man coating himself in ice as the confused crew gasp alarmed at the fight to come…
"The government still doesn't consider you a threat…but based on your connections and your past encounters we know you can be a formidable crew. You may be few in number with the number of rogues gathered here…you will become trouble all too soon. Give the circumstances surrounding your initial bounty…your numerous daring exploits and the speed at which you are gaining strength. I've fought pirates and outlaws for many years but you scare the shit out of me." Frankly, Aokiji admits to them.
"H-hey why are you saying this!? You said you just came to see them!" Usopp freaks out.
"Among you crew the one I regard as the most dangerous…is you Nico Robin." Aokiji tells them.
"Hey you really are after Robin! I'll kick your ass!" Luffy yells.
"The size of her bounty does not simply reflect her strength it also represents the size of the threat she poses to the world government that is why a 79,000,000 bounty was placed on your head at the age of eight. Even as a child you managed to survive. You ruined the life of who could have been a admiral just to survive, bending their mind to betray the marines, you ruined their life and after that you betrayed, sidestepped and escaped and the found yourself a new partner to make use of. Time and time again you've rebounded and ow you've chose this crew as your next haven." Aokiji admits as he glances over at the glaring Ann, her hues narrowing at Kuzan.
"…Leave Robin out of this Kuzan if you have a problem with me say it to my face don't use Robin as some sort of shield for your own issues!" Incensed, Ann barks back at Aokiji.
"Ann…" Robin whispers weakly.
"Oi you jerk! Are you trying to say something? What do you have against Robin-chan?" Sanji demands.
"Stop it Sanji!" Usopp cries out.
"I don't have anything against her." Aokiji argues.
"It certainly sounds like you do." Displeased, Ann crosses her arms over her chest.
"The only reason I know her is because she escaped from me once thanks to her tricking someone close to me…she ruined both their life and career thanks to them they became an outlaw and was hunted down for treason against the marines but that was a long time ago you'll learn soon enough that protecting that woman leads to regret. And if you doubt me know that every organisation and every person that Nice Robin has joined until now has been brought to ruin, why is that Nico Robin?" Aokiji asks Robin standing up.
"That's enough Aokiji!" Ann scowls at him however…
"Stop it! The past has nothing to do with us!" Luffy yells.
"That's right if it did then we wouldn't have a former pirate hunter or an ex-thief woman on our crew!" Usopp throws in.
"Watch it bub!" Nami whacks his head.
"Today is more important than the past!" Sanji says.
"Robin is one of our Nakama! Don't talk bad about her!" Chopper roars.
"I see the poor fools don't suspect a thing is this the same act you pulled on her?" His hues narrow at Robin.
"Aokiji!" Angrily, Ann snaps at him warningly but…
"What do you want? If you want to arrest me the why not just do it!?" Robin raises her hands before summoning said limbs out on Aokiji.
"Robin don't!" Ann warns but…
"My my did I say too much? What a shame I must have overestimated how reasonable a woman you were." Aokiji remarks as just like that…
"Clutch!" Robin has the limbs snap Aokiji's back but…
"He disintegrated and died!" Chopper cries as his body turns to ice breaking before them all.
"Robin you have to go now!" Strictly, Ann orders Robin but…
"No it didn't work! O-Oi run for your lives!" Usopp cries as Aokiji reforms terrifying the crew.
"Well that was a downright mean thing to do." Crouched down, Aokiji soon stands plucking up some grass to blow at as Ann's hues narrow, she'll intervene if necessary but a part of her was curious…curious to see what Luffy's crew could do but also curious to see the lengths they would go. So she stills herself, hand on her blade…just in case…
"ICE SABRE." He forms said sabre of ice.
"I wasn't planning on killing you but…" Aokiji reels his blade back towards Robin but Zoro's blade clashes with Aokiji's own.
"Slice shoot!" Sanji kicks the blade away.
"Don't hog all the good shots you shitty cook." Zoro huffs.
"You're one to talk you natural treasure!" Sanji barks back.
"Gomo gomo no pistol!" Luffy reels his fist to strike at Aokiji but…Aokiji grabs both Zoro's arm and Sanji's leg as Luffy strikes his torso only to gasp when he is met by ice. All three boys cry out from the ice encasing their arms and leg as they come crashing down cradling their iced limb.
"My hand's cold!" Luffy reels his fist back hissing harshly from the burning like some spewing from it.
"He froze them!" Chopper cries.
"He hit them all at once!" Nami says shocked.
"Oh no I have to treat them if they get frostbite their appendages will start to rot! What are you doing Usopp? Go and help them!" Chopper cries as Usopp falls flat to his back terrified, shaking.
"I want to! They need help! B-But I can't move! Did he freeze me too?" Usopp whimper weakly while Ann simply smiles.
"No! you're just too scared to move!" Chopper corrects.
"Luffy!" Usopp cries.
"Sanji! Zoro!" Chopper cries out oblivious to the soft sigh of Ann drawing out her flintlock.
"Robin run!" Nami cries out as Robin is frozen in fear, hearing the boys below cry out from their iced leg, hand and arm.
"You have some very loyal nakama Robin but you'll never change Nico Robin!" Aokiji smirks slightly as he lurches down hugging her almost as she shakes scared as the ice begins to encase her.
"No I'm not…." Robin begins but gasps as the ice encases her…
"Robin watch out! Get away from him!" Luffy yells.
"I…" Robin whimpers weakly oblivious to the singular shot of air as astonished her hues widen when watching Kuzan's eyes expand seemingly as shocked as he crumbles fragments of ice falling flat to the ground as Robin stumbles by some shards of ice encasing her but…
"…So annoying." The crisp crack of shards scattering startles the half ice Robin turning to see Ann angrily slam some shards to the floor with her harsh heel.
"A-Ann…" Robin whimpers weakly.
"…You should get to a shower, that much ice doesn't look good. And as for you…who the hell says I regret it? Whoever told you I regretted it were damn delusional! I'd do it again. Saving that girl was the best thing I ever did!" Angrily, Ann twirls the flintlock in her hand eyeing the slowly but surely reforming ice sculpture of Aokiji as astonished Robin gawks gapes at Ann.
"A-Ann…" Robin calls conflicted.
"I said go." Sternly, she orders Robin.
"But…" Robin begins but…
"Robin just go! You'll get hypothermia if you don't…besides I should have dealt with this cockroach a long time ago." Angrily, Ann's harsh hues narrow at the slowly but surely remerging form of Aokiji, her heel harshly slamming down on his shoulder, holding him down as to Robin's surprise the ice doesn't coat her foot as Aokiji slowly but surely reforms.
"W-Why…?" Robin whimper weakly staggering back but Usopp tugging her back stops Robin from falling.
"Robin! Go! Get Luffy and those infected with the ice to the ship thaw them out before it gets worse!" Sternly, she orders.
"What about you?" Robin asks anxiously.
"I'll finish what I should have ended long ago." She cocks her pistol aiming it at the temple of Aokiji his hardened hues glaring at her which she happily returns with a glare of her own.
"Don't bother. The world would be better off if you don't save her." Aokiji sneers snatching Ann's leg on his shoulder with his hand.
"Who the hell are you to decide that?" Tiredly, she cocks her flint at him.
"The world government did." He snaps as she uses his shoulder to throw herself back, drawing as much distance as necessary.
"I knew it you haven't changed at all you act as if you have but you're still the same scummy marine mongrel wagging his tail and jumping as high as the Gorosei want…I'd ask for any last words but I really don't want to hear what comes out of your filthy mouth." Mad, Ann snarls seethes, scowling, she draws out her blade.
"…You know what I'll say anyway." He took draws out his ice sabre.
"Do I now?" Ann smirks slightly.
"You do." Aokiji dictates.
"…I'm a pirate you're a marine that's just how things are." Ann smiles strained bowing her head, hiding her darkened features, both ready for the fight ahead.
"Ann stop!" Luffy cries out.
"Luffy…go with your nakama!" Ann orders but…
"No!" Luffy refuses.
"Luffy listen to…" Agitated, Ann begins but…
"I won't! He tried to take my nakama away! This is my business not yours. Don't kill him I'll fight him one-on-one!" Luffy declares.
"Luffy…!" Ann hisses harshly panicked perturbed.
"We're going to finish this fight ourselves!" Luffy declares.
"I don't mind but I don't have any ship to take you in with I'll have to kill you." Aokiji says as ice continues coating his frigid form.
"W-What are you guys doing here? What about Luffy and Aokiji?" Chopper gasps as he finds Sanji, Zoro and Nami before the Sunny.
"We can't explain right now we'll go back in a minute. But first you have to get this ice off." Zoro tells Chopper.
"But what about Luffy!?" Chopper concerned worries.
"Portgas is with him so he should be alright." Zoro answers as he clutches his iced arm.
"R-Right we have to douse everything that's frozen in water! But Robin's in the shower room…" Chopper worries.
"Is Robin okay?" Nami asks as Chopper goes to answer but the sharp splash startles them both seeing Sanji come out with Zoro.
"Will this do!?" Sanji asks as Zoro clutches his steaming iced shoulder with Sanji in the water too.
"After the heat thaws the ice start rubbing the affected areas and come up to the ship! Nami come help us with Robin!" Chopper tells them.
"Right!" Nami goes to do just that.
"What are you guys doing here!?" Usopp opens the door to see Sanji and Zoro soaked with a towel over their respective freeze burn.
"He said he was going to fight him one on one!" Sanji responds cigarette in his mouth.
"One on one? You left Luffy there alone?!" Usopp gawks.
"That was the captain's order." Sanji recites resolved.
"Oi can't you tell when an order is unreasonable!? Don't you guys care at all? Luffy's-" Usopp panics perturbed but…
"SHUT UP! They're having a one on one! Don't you understand that!?" Sanji snaps at Usopp.
"Stop it! This isn't the time! This is a test of our crew the result ma come from one of his whims…but you need to resolve yourselves to deal with it!" Zoro cuts in as Sanji slams Usopp into the wall while the crew shake terrified of what was to come…
"Luffy…" Ann worriedly watches her grip tightening on her sword seeing Luffy's struggling state ice coating all over the place as Aokiji stands unfazed to the crouched huffing heaving Luffy.
"You really are surprising." Aokiji gives him that but…
"Gomo gomo no storm!" Luffy lunges forward dodging the unfazed Aokiji's hand stretched out to freeze him. He looks down bored at the boy below crouching down to stop said strike to then strike up him upwards throwing Aokiji into the air as astonished, Ann watches the completely and utterly bored admiral be flung up into the air as Luffy twists his body rushing up into the sky scattering Aokiji but…
"Ice time…" Aokiji reforms hugging him, coating him in ice…completely destroying him…
"Luffy…" Ann sighs softly at the defeated rubber boy before her, Aokiji in front sat down cross-legged staring at the frozen frigid form of Luffy.
"Damn you set me up the moment I accepted to fight you one on one I settled on defeating you and you alone. Was that your plan? If I were to attack your crew now I'd be the bad guy…right captain? Or…did you really plan on beating me?" Aokiji couldn't help but wonder while smirking, scratching the side of his head until hearing the click of a flint pinned to the back of his head. Hardened hues of sherry stare into Aokiji's as he simply sighs standing up, the flint still pinned to his back as he dusts himself off.
"I'll go but I'll give you a piece of advice if you continue to associate with Nico Robin she will become more than you can handle. The violet nature of the star she was born under…will be more of a burden than you can bear that is what it means to allow that woman on your ship…Monkey D. Luffy!" Aokiji decides as he raises foot, furious almost as he readies to kick Luffy's frozen form if not for the bright blondish blur of pink before him. His hues meet scowling seething sherry red, a still silence falling between both of them before he kicks the ice by Ann's side, a shy shard scraping her cheek but she remains unfazed, glaring glowering at Aokiji who simply stares back.
"Just get out of our sight." Done, Ann orders just done with the fool ignoring her heavy heart.
"It would be simple to smash and kill you right now but I have a debt to honor. This makes us even for thwarting Crocodile and besides…eh never mind. Just something stupid Smoker told me. See ya!" Aokiji picks up his coat rubbing the back of his head and leaves, heading towards the jungle.
"…I'm sorry you had to deal with him because of me Luf…still you have a good nakama I can't wait to see what you get up to next with them." Ann turns back to the frozen form of Luffy, her hues narrowing noting the boat encased in ice.
"Luffy!" She hears Zoro and Sanji call out.
"Until then…" Ann smiles softly at the frozen boy before going on her way heading out to the frozen sea…
*So...what did you think of this chapter? Of Luffy and Ann? Of Ann and Kuzan's reunion? How do you think Kuzan and Ann feel about each other after this? Heck what do you think of Ann and Robin's reunion? Would love to know your thoughts down below!*