Loudly, the sharp sound of thunder echoes erupts from the high heavens above as pitch black clouds loom over the thrashing marine ships. Screaming, marine men arm themselves attempting to fight back against the pirates, the sharp sound of metal-on-metal ringing throughout the ship, some screams, some canon fires too boot. Ann could smell the sickly stench of copper and gunpowder. But still she fought on blade clashing against another, the heavy ring of metal, the thump of metal vibrations coursing through her hand bringing back fond memories, even if these pirates paled in comparison to the ones she fought as a child…

Still she had to play her part, the vice admiral who although skilled could not fully show her full set of skills who knew what trouble it would cause if they knew she held the spirit of a king or if they discovered she were simply toying with them…Ann had to admit it was harder pulling the act off at first but she got used to it, it was only in times like this when she knew with one move she could end this whole conflict that she struggled the most, the temptation of the easy way out practically taunting her almost as she fought against the pirates attempting to raid said ship…

Ann could feel the piercing pellets of rain ring roar down drenching her hair as she continued the fight ahead as she grit her teeth together tense, trying to deal with the chaos ensuing on the battle field, watching body after body fall as she couldn't help but glance over at the man she was back to back with, although towering over her he too had his ice blade in hand. She could see him struggling too, the solution of freezing them all was right there but even he couldn't do it not with so many marines on the field that would be caught in the crossfire…

"There's no end to them!" Aokiji calls out from amongst the rain, rain sliding down the side of his face some even hardening into ice as they slide down, melding into his skin.

"No shit…!" Ann snaps spinning, the two without a word changing targets, Ann deflecting the blow sent Aokiji's way and Aokiji blocking the blow sent her way as she kicks another of the pirates back brow furrowed.

"Any ideas?" Aokiji couldn't help but ask Ann as she and Aokiji both kick a pirate into the side of the ship swiftly stabbing them.

"Freeze the enemy ship?" Ann grunts withdrawing her blade from the corpse.

"And what of the marines on there?" Aokiji takes her hand spinning her almost tugging her away from the sword slash he swiftly blocks with his own ice blade.

"Fair point what do you suggest then?" Ann grunts spotting a pirate rushing towards Aokiji as she slams her hand over his shoulder spinning over his shoulder to kick the man back. Her hand meets his again, the two back-to-back once more.

"…We don't have much choice but to hold on till then." Aokiji decides dipping Ann astonishing her until taking note of the slide slash in the air as she smoothly takes out her flint.

"You're an idiot." Not even looking at him, Ann fires her pistol at the man, scarlet spewing into the open air.

"And you're gorgeous." He tells her still dipping her as he pushes back the pirates with his blade.

"What?" Astonished, Ann does a double take at the compliment blushing brightly.

"Oh, sorry I thought we were stating facts." Aokiji pulls Ann up.

"You— "Ann begins but spots the woman raising her blade. She swiftly fires again as Aokiji strikes the man about to strike her from behind.

"Called you gorgeous? Yes." Aokiji confirms calmly, the pair seemingly spinning swapping sides still back-to-back.

"No—that's not what I—god, this would be so much easier if we didn't have this many marines in the way." Ann couldn't help but complain.

"Agreed. In more pressing matters, do you have a preference towards dinner tonight?" Aokiji asks as Ann ducks down for Aokiji to strike at her foes while she fires at his with her pistole between his legs.

"I don't— "Ann begins baffled but…

"I'll pick, then." Aokiji helps her up.

"Are you actually trying to flirt with me when we're fighting right now?!" Ann couldn't help but stare stunned at him.

"Well, we're not fighting with each other…" Cooly, Aokiji takes note of as he slashes some pirates down.

"That's not the- "Agitated, Ann begins before her eyes expand when next she knew he had switched sides with her once more but this time she heard the sound of gunfire alongside the sharp splash of water…

"Ku...Aokiji…" Ann's voice trembles staring stunned at the space he once stood on now gone.

"Aokiji!" Ann screams scared anxious almost as she lunged towards the railing, nails digging deep into the railing eyeing the ripples of the water below, dread hitting her hard.

"So much for a vice admiral! Hah! The calm belt's sea kings will be thanking us for such a meal!" The shooter cackles crazed just as the air turns icy confusing the pirates.

"Bastard…" Bloodlust oozes out of the shaking shuddering shoulders of the angry Ann.

"Hm?" The pirates perplexed exclaims oblivious to the sharp sound of wood breaking within the grip of Ann, her hands having shredded the top of the railing to pieces.

"You've really crossed the line now you bastard!" Angrily, Ann snarls as the soldiers squeak scared.

"V-Vice admiral Ann is mad!" A marine whimpers weakly.

"It's so rare to see her this livid!" Another shakes scared.

"S-Scary!" Many marines begin sobbing startled scared.

The marines themselves couldn't help but shake shudder scared at their leader, sure they had seen the vice admiral angry now and again but this…this was pure unadulterated rage.

"Ann…" Bell's brow furrows at the sight of the angry Ann as the confused pirates included feel a wave of dread hit them all as Ann icily turned, her eye twitching tense, a pulse escaping out of her scowling sherry swiftly knocking out each and every prate and marine alike as even some sea kings surface knocked out. Ann wordlessly dives down into the icy chill of the water below…

Ann furrows her brow by the sharp slap of icy water swiftly slapping her in the face. Ann however brushes the sharp sting of it, ignoring the faint foam on top of the washing waves trying to bring her down into the dark depths below. Still, she continues diving down piercing through the waving waves of the surface spotting some fishes wandering by oblivious to the chaos above. She looks around the dark depths of the sea. Where was he? Fear flowed through the anxious Ann panic pumping coursing through her veins fearful frightened for his life almost as she searched desperately for his fleeting figure. Had he been eaten already? Ann couldn't help her chest tensing tightening at the thought, the flicking furious flame bursting to life at the thought, no, she couldn't think like that she wouldn't she had to find him, she had to…she had to at the least figure out why he would do something so stupid so foolish so ridiculous…! What in the world had made him think to do something so stupid!? So reckless!? So, rash so…Ann tried to ignore her boiling bubbling blood. She couldn't freak out she had to focus, she had to make sure he was alright, she had to…!

Then again how could she have been so stupid…?! Why hadn't she sensed that bullet she was better than that than most, she had training far beyond the world and yet she…Ann stops stilling suddenly feeling the faint presence of someone staring watching her. Her brow furrows from the faint figment hidden within the dark depths of the sea spotting said slithering shadow making her scowl sharply at the sight of the creature clearly eyeing her and the body below as if she'd let that happen…

Her stern sherry narrow noting the shadow figure's eyes opening gleaming gold, the two share similar to a challenge almost as if the two were waiting for the pistol to fire. The pair dart down to the descending drowning figure of Aokiji as Ann swiftly shots down, the creature easily following after her as Ann internally cursed at the advantage the creature possessed, none of her weapons would be good unless…Ann's eyes expand at the idea, she was alone, she should be fine.

Ann stretches her hand out towards the creature, a glistening glow emanating out of her hitting the creature pushing it back as it coughed crimson, soon enough going limp descending down into the dark depths of the unknown, would it be feasted on? Ann did not care as she returned her focus back to the drowning vice admiral.

Ann furrows her brow by the body she spotted swiftly swimming down, grabbing hold of the taller male by the collar, bringing him into her arms holding him grunting grimacing growling at his height as she tries to swim upwards.

"Damn it icehole why do you have to be so damn tall!? Internally, Ann couldn't help but curse cross as she made her way up to the surface. Ann surfaces, holding Aokiji in her arms as she swims spotting the geyser soon shooting upwards.

"Oh, come on!" Ann glares glowers up at the creature above, no this was one different…perhaps this was the creature from before hunting partner? Perplexed, Ann couldn't help but eye the sea king soon spotting the difference in pattern to the one below than again she wasn't able to see much due to the darkness of the sea below. Was Ann thinking too much? Ann couldn't help but wonder when the shadow soon towered over them.

"You really wanna do this?" Tiredly, Ann looks up at the sea beast feeling the washing waves attempting to drift her and Aokiji away, attempting to push pull them both practically trying to tear them apart as Ann's grip tightened tensed on Aokiji, frowning up at the sea beast above practically foaming at the mouth for the potential food below practically delivered on a silver platter for the beast.

"ARGHHH!" The beast roars showing its razor-sharp fangs towards the unamused Ann.

"Get lost." Ann orders as with one singular look, the sea king flees, sweat sliding down its tense temple terrified for its life as Ann swims back to the boat, dead set on getting help for Aokiji.

"Urgh…A-Ann?" Bell couldn't help but stir slurring surprised to see Ann as she leaps back on board soaked slapping the equally as drenched Aokiji to the floor, prying his shirt aside as she begins her chest compressions, oblivious to the tied-up pirate groaning still not there.

"Aokiji come on breath dammit!" Ann snaps sharply scowling.

"…" The uneasy silence she was met with scared Ann frightened her to her very core, horrified her even as the sickly sinking feelin of dread hit her hard.

"...Aokiji t-this isn't funny!" Fuming, Ann angrily curses cross, her voice stammering slightly slamming surprising a fair few marines watching on, stunned to hear such raw emotion come from their vice admiral. They watch her entwined fingertips be placed on his chest, praying begging beseeching for it all to work as she soon enough lowered her head, her lips meeting his own, trying to breathe life back into him, trying to get air into him, blinking back the tears threatening to fall time and time again.

"Breath you piece of shit you still owe me that dinner remember icehole!?" Incensed, Ann slams her hands down on his chest firmly focusing on the number on the beat on the rhyme playing in her mind internally thanking crocus for the lessons back then. She firmly focused on the tasks at hand until…he spewed water. A wave of relief hits Ann hard as Ann gently sets him to the side patting his back, rubbing his back attempting to help him as he spewed blue out before heaving weakly.

"Idiot how could you possible forget you were an anchor!?" Angrily, Ann yells snapping at Aokiji still spewing blue before being pinched on the cheek by Ann, tugging at his cheek snapping at him as the rare few who had slowly started to rise worriedly watch on, too terrified to interfere with the bickering of both vice admirals.

Ann silently sits at her desk, dutifully going over some reports from the recent attack as the marine ship was taking them back to headquarters. Ann silently leans back in her seat silently staring at the man on her sofa, she couldn't help but eye the mess of a man before leaning forward placing her elbows upon her desk, her hands together contemplating something of some sort…the scenario still playing through her mind…

"You're an idiot." Not even looking at him, Ann fires her pistol at the man, scarlet spewing into the open air.

"And you're gorgeous." He tells her still dipping her as he pushes back the pirates with his blade.

"What?" Astonished, Ann does a double take at the compliment blushing brightly.

"Oh, sorry I thought we were stating facts." Aokiji pulls Ann up.

"You—" Ann begins but spots the woman raising her blade. She swiftly fires again as Aokiji strikes the man about to strike her from behind.

"Called you gorgeous? Yes." Aokiji confirms calmly, the pair seemingly spinning swapping sides still back-to-back.

"No—that's not what I—god, this would be so much easier if we didn't have this many marines in the way." Ann couldn't help but complain.

"Agreed. In more pressing matters, do you have a preference towards dinner tonight?" Aokiji asks as Ann ducks down for Aokiji to strike at her foes while she fires at his with her pistole between his legs.

"I don't—"Ann begins baffled but…

"I'll pick, then." Aokiji helps her up.

"Are you actually trying to flirt with me when we're fighting right now?!" Ann couldn't help but stare stunned at him.

"Well, we're not fighting with each other…" Cooly, Aokiji takes note of as he slashes some pirates down.

"That's not the-"Agitated, Ann begins before her eyes expand when next she knew he had switched sides with her once more but this time she heard the sound of gunfire alongside the sharp splash of water…

"Ku...Aokiji…" Ann's voice trembles staring stunned at the space he once stood on now gone.

Present day Ann slams her eyes shut at the memory; how many times had she gone over the scenario? She had lost count all she knew was that she was at fault for that scenario…she had let him get shot that bullet was meant for her, she knew it just as he knew it. The whole crew no doubt knew it as well. She was better than that, she had been trained in her observation since day one and yet she couldn't detect some bullet…she let her guard down, had enjoyed the playful banter and flirting between the two as much as it pained her to admit what it did to her, it had made her smile made her loosen up, made her lose sight of the task at hand. She has gotten distracted.

Then again, the pirates weren't exactly outstanding they were your basic pirate a cracker had more girt than that lot did they were as basic as the rope they were tied up with. She was no doubt getting bored having to hold them off having to hold back, having to balance both weights while trying to act as normal…and it was that light banter that little jib jab the barbs she and Aokiji often had with one another that nearly cost him his life…what was wrong with her? Then again why had that shell been sent her way…she had seen the analysis she knew sea stone when she saw it surely it would have been wise to hit him with it…he was the devil fruit suer after all…had they ran out of regular ammo and defaulted to their most rarest of ammunition…the battle had gone on for a quite a bit…well not as long as battles she had as a child but long enough for her to grow bored at the least…

But still…to aim it at her…to use that shell of all shells…did they…plan that on purpose? Did they know he would take the hit…he would…Ann shakes her head at the thought, her paranoia was gnawing away at her, at the end of the day those that had decided to attack them by surprise were nothing more than low level pirates…but still for them to aim at her to get to him…was news travelling outside about their connection…? Connection? What was she talking about? There was no way the two were…

Ann couldn't help her shaky sigh sliding her hand over her tense temple, who was she kidding…not even she could deny some semblance of fondness for him…he was…different to her last lovers or well play toys but how…how had he done it? How had he wormed his way through? None of her past dalliances had managed to lower her guard to the point of lowering her observation…none had and yet…when he had fallen…Ann couldn't help the familiar feeling of heaviness of fear, of anger, of rage…she was scared…Ann slides her hand over her mouth, brow furrowed from the thought she hadn't felt such fear for anyone not like that…not even when her past play things had been hurt, typically she'd leave them to it, it was none of her business what they did or who they angered and yet…

Ann eyes the man resting on her the sofa snoring away as if nothing had happened at all in a world of his own. To be that lax…Ann could never understand how he could have such observation and yet be so lazy. She couldn't help but stare at him brow furrowed frustration freely flowing through her…what had happened to her? What was becoming of her to succumb herself to this…new state of being…? Ann had too many tasks to do, responsibility, promises she had yet to fulfil, she should be focusing on those then whatever this was...although she did have questions, questions she needed answers to and fast. But for now…she would let him rest he had been through enough as a devil fruit user, she could wait…even if she had the urge to shake him and demand answers. She couldn't come across like that she wouldn't, she couldn't…not now…not when she was so close to accomplishing her goal at the marines…

Quietly, Ann looks down at the paper in her hand, eyeing the report of the swirly devil fruit before her before folding it, silently sliding it back into her breast pocket as they headed back to marine headquarters.

Ann sits at her desk, dutifully doing her work when she hears the soft sound of footsteps. She perks up at the sound of footsteps only to furrow her brow by the distinct pattern as the door slides open…

"Hey Ann let's go get a bite to eat." Garp enters her office loudly munching on some cookies in a plastic bag making Ann's eye twitch tense towards the crisp crunching sound of cookies.

"Pass." Ann calmly goes back to her work, looking over some papers.

"Some tea then." Garp takes a seat either way making Ann rub her tense temple tiredly.

"Go get your own tea." Ann orders spinning on her chair turning her back to the old man.

"Is that the tone to take to your grandfather!?" Garp demands pouting almost as Ann couldn't help but roll her eyes making quite the face frowning fatigued from it all annoyed.

"What do you want old man?" Annoyed, Ann spins turning back to face Garp just done drained.

"Heard Aokiji nearly drowned." Garp comments chewing chomping down on another cookie silently offering her one but…

"He seems to be doing fine." Ann continues rubbing her tense tired temple trying to ignore him declining the cookie offered.

"I heard you've been avoiding him." Garp eyes the tired looking Ann.

"No idea what you mean." Ann mutters all she did was go back to work, which was what she had to do, she needed to do it. She knew he would be fine; Buggy was fine when he got out of the sea, it wasn't a long recovery rate or well time…besides someone had to report to Sengoku and with Aokiji's drained state she had to receive quite the earful from him.

"Ann…it isn't your fault he got-"Garp begins but…

"He chose to get hurt." Ann curtly coldly cuts Garp off setting slamming said papers down on the table.

"Ann…" Garp begins brow furrowed noting the heavy expression of Ann.

"I could have stopped him I should have stopped it I should have predicted it…" Ann rubs at her fatigued features frowning from it all, she was trained young, she was a master of observation and yet that bullet…that singular bullet got the best of her…how…? How could a singular bullet do that? she had been trained in deflecting bullets when she was just a kid…she had fought the whitebeard pirates fought toe to toe with them and yet here she nearly fell from some stupid bullet…bitterly, Ann couldn't help but seethe scowl, blood boiling bubbling burning by the thought. How…how did…?

"We all make mistakes." Garp gently reminds Ann as Ann couldn't help but frown. Mistake…? She couldn't afford to make such a mistake…! She was lucky Sengoku didn't question all of the marines and pirates being knocked out…she was lucky she managed to convince him. She simply knocked them all out though fighting, if he had known or had the inkling of her having used conqueror's haki…

Ann couldn't help her uneasiness…she couldn't afford to make mistakes, she couldn't afford to let their sacrifices that got her this position be futile…she couldn't afford for her father's dream to die so soon…she still had work to be done, she still had things to do, she couldn't afford to be discovered and yet this mistake…

"Not novice mistakes like that." Tense, Ann argues, she was better than that she had to be. To let her guard down like that…to feel so at ease like that with someone like him…her father would be rolling in his grave, she was a warrior, a pirate the child of the prate king to fall for a marine soldier, a vice admiral…Ann couldn't help but shudder at the thought, falling? No what was she thinking, she wasn't falling for anyone she wasn't weak, she wasn't powerful, she wasn't…she couldn't…she never fell for her play toys it was fun that was all it was. She never felt such a way towards her toys or playthings or really anyone this was different this was…

"Ann…" Garp calls out to her seemingly snapping her out of her thoughts.

"I hate this." Ann whispers weakly bowing her head, the weight of holding back or having to weigh it all out to remain in character to pretend to be weak…to pretend she couldn't easily end them all if she wanted…Ann couldn't help but grimace, had attempting to hold back all these years do something to her, curb her prior power…seal it fully…had it weakened her somewhat? The challenge of juggling her power to make others not question where she learned such strength…to make her seem admiral level…it was hard it was frustrating it was horrible in the scenario where she knew her younger self would have dealt with it all with ease, no one would have gotten hurt if she hadn't gotten distracted if she could go all out…if she could just… no one would have gotten hurt, he wouldn't have gotten hurt.

"This novice mistake will at least get people to not see you as a threat…" Garp offers optimistically but it does not amuse Ann.

"...But this could see this as a way to get to me." Ann argues leaning back in her seat not liking this one bit…she wasn't one to show her cards, not now, not yet.

"Ann…" Garp calls out noting her grim grave expression.

"I don't get him…I really don't." Ann whispers weakly brushing her perky pink locks back brow furrowed fatigued from it all, why…why had he done it? Why had he switched places with her? Why had he taken the hit? The frustration freely flew through Ann, what in the world made him think she was worth that bullet? What made him a devil fruit user think she was worth falling in the sea for?

"Maybe talking to him will get you to understand…" Gently, Garp tells Ann as he leaves her to it, a still silence between the two as Garp goes back to his cookies and Ann to her paperwork, having much to think about…

Quietly, Ann approaches the door, her fingertips cooly coiled around the neck of the bottle of sherry red, a firm frown upon her facial features from the bustling of emotions within her as she approaches the apartment. She could feel a fair few eyes on her as she approached…

"Hey, it's vice admiral Ann…"

"About time she visited him…how rude can she be? He took a bullet for her…he deserves so much better…"

"What does he even see in such a slut…?"

"Slut?"

"Come on you've seen her around the warlord Mihawk haven't you? She sleeps around with tons of people…"

"Poor admiral Aokiji…"

Ann couldn't help her eye twitching tense too tired to even argue, the girl wasn't exactly wrong she was far from a virgin but he was far from a virgin himself or so she thought from the rumours she had heard. She could feel the fain flush of her ears ring, her brow furrowed from it all what was with her? She never did any of this sorta crap, normally she'd have fun and that was it and yet…why was she hesitating here? Why was she visiting him here? Of course, she knew why…she wanted answered, she couldn't get him she had questions, and he had the answers she needed. So, she approached the door, gently taking out the key.

"…Hey." Ann enters the apartment, eyeing Aokiji slouched over on the sofa, his torso bandaged as Ann shyly looks away attempting not to stare at his muscular torso.

"My eyes are up here." Aokiji smirks slightly amused almost at Ann's attempt at not staring.

"Shove off." Ann grumbles offering him the bottle.

"Thanks." He takes the bottle.

"How you feeling?" Ann takes a seat on the sofa eyeing him.

"Been better." He takes a gulp from the bottle before handing it over to her.

"…" A still silence erupts between the two but it's not uncomfortable it's surprisingly comfortable as Ann quietly leans into his side he raises his arm, bringing her into his side, no words needing to be shed between both of them, silently sharing the bottle when…

"…Why…?" Ann couldn't help but ask eyeing the bottle in her hand.

"Hm?" Aokiji hums his arms around her nuzzled into the side of her neck, lightly pecking her neck making her release a small hum of approval almost at it. Aokiji couldn't help but eye her hand gently in his as he rubs patterns into her hand, curling into her as she curls into his side seemingly solace within one another's company.

"Why did you take that bullet for me?" Anguished, Ann couldn't help but ask eyeing the hand around her own, rubbing patterns taking note of how much bigger his hand is compared to hers, a small smile of endearment upon her lips at the sight.

"What do you mean?" Aokiji furrows his brow at her.

"What do I mean? That bullet had sea stone I could have taken it not you." Ann reminds Aokiji furrowing his brow at her watching her fiddle with his hands. She just didn't get it…if he knew who she really was…

"Roger was the king of scum…" Aokiji's words echo in Ann's head.

"…" Aokiji couldn't help but go quiet at her words noting her hand tightening around his hand.

"You could have pushed me out of the way…" Ann whispers weakly, a part of her unable not to think back…

Quietly, the young girl stands by her mother's side, holding her hand once again watching the man take off on his ship, her mother smiles at the sight but the young girl glares at the fleeting figure of the ship…

The sound of cheering echoes throughout the ship as the young perky pink pigtails watches on alone. The Roger pirates cheer clap celebrate, a smiling Shanks and Buggy either side of him dancing. She silently watches on, watching him praise them, pick them up, gush over them as a look of bitterness jealousy almost flashes over the glaring girl in the shadows silently watching on…

"Ann…" Roger's voice reaches Ann as she turns to face him, taking her to the side seemingly saying something to her as she couldn't help but bite her lip, the tears freely falling as she clings, apologising again and again…

"See...we were just too early. The one piece they call it…I wonder who will find it…" Rayleigh wonders out loud as the ship boa moves back and forth following the waves while Ann quietly listens in, sniffling the tears as the journey was reaching her end.

"That'd be my son of course!" Roger proclaims proudly oblivious to the pained expression of Ann anguished a hint of jealousy almost at her father's words while she silently listened in, silently shedding her tears at the reality of the situation as the roger pirates continues partying…

"…There wasn't enough time and the guy behind was going to stab you if you had." Aokiji cooly reminds gently rubbing patterns into her hand, seemingly snapping Ann out of such miserable memories, blinking back the tears threatening to fall tensing up almost at his words.

"So? I could have handled that." Ann however argues annoyed almost as she dismisses him, a faint flush to her crimson cheeks. She was strong, she could have handled it if there weren't so many witnesses…

"You could have, could you?" Aokiji cooly challenges fiddling with her hand as she had his.

"Aokiji you and I both know what sea stone does to devil fruit users." Ann turns to give him a stern scowl.

"You and I both know why I took it." Aokiji gently takes her hand pecking it, staring straight at her. Ann's eyes expand at the sight stunned scarlet settling into her crimson cheeks.

"I had it handled you think I haven't been shot at before? You know and I both know what falling into the sea could do to you!" Ann's grip tightens tenses around his hand however he remains unfazed noting her shaking hand over his as she looks away, trying to hide her blistering blush.

"…I trusted you. I knew you'd come save me." Calmly, he clasps his hand over hers, easily towering over her hand.

"And what if I hadn't come in time? What if that sea beast had come instead of me…what if…!?" Anxiously, Ann begins brow furrowed from the thought tense terrified almost astonished she was feeling this way.

"Ann. I had faith you would come save me even if I was stuck in the beast of a sea king, I know you wouldn't have left me behind." Aokiji states the fact firmly to the astonished Ann.

"That doesn't mean you can do dumb shit like this you bastard you scared me you asshole!" Agitated, Ann turns away, her back turned to him, huffing burrowing further into his chest.

"I'm sorry…" Gently, he holds hugs her, gently pecking her temple.

"I just don't get you though I mean why do that?" Annoyed, Ann couldn't help but question once more flabbergasted she wasn't worth it she was the villain's child if he knew who she really was if he knew…

"You know, taking a bullet for someone isn't as normal as you make it sound." Softly, he tells her.

"What do you mean?" Mystified, Ann blinks befuddled.

"I mean that you don't always have to stand up for people. I know that's a part of you, and I like that part of you a lot. It's something I genuinely admire about you. But I worry that no one will stand up for you in return when the time comes, because they take you for granted. And I hate that." Truthfully, he admits to her.

"Aokiji…" Ann softens slightly, staring solemnly down at her hand in his.

"The fact you find it so odd for someone to take a bullet for you worries me a lot…still I'm sorry I scared you…" Aokiji says softly hugging her nuzzling into her neck once more.

…I don't deserve you." Ann whispers weakly.

"Oi, oi I'm the only one who gets to decide if someone deserves me, and I can confidently say you are that someone who does." Sternly, he reminds her, his grip tightening around her.

"Aokiji…" Ann couldn't help her voice cracking breaking before Aokiji as he simply held her, no words needing to be shed between ether of them until he felt a soft peck to his cheek, Aokiji's eyes expanding at the peck.

"…Thank you." Ann whispers weakly softly leaning into his side as he continues holding her, the two in a world of their own….

*Got to ask what did you think of Ann and Aokiji in this chapter? Of Ann's thought process?*