The boisterous bellow of the party echoes as the glistening gleaming gems of light shimmer shine before the stoic sullen stone faced woman that is Ann, simply sitting there perched upon the railing of the ship staring out at the rest of the happy faces cheerfully conversing with the inhabitants of the island. The brisk breeze brushes through the long tattered locks of Ann garbed in black, who doesn't even bat an eye to it, doesn't even acknowledge it, doesn't even feel it as she simply stares out at the people below, fiddling with the ruby red bead below in her hand eyeing those acting as if nothing had changed, acting as if nothing big was about to come, acting as if…
"…I heard you went to see Hawk Eyes…" Bored brown glance over at the redhead shyly approaching her.
"The pieces have been set…all we can do now is wait." Aloofly, Ann asserts as she fiddles with the ruby red bead in her palm.
"Waiting is the hardest part…especially with being left with your thoughts." Shanks smiles joining her side leaning over the railing of the ship.
"…" Silently, she stares out at the starry sky above as her ears ring.
"Chief! Come down and join us!" A young woman calls out to the redhead smiling softly down at the old woman.
"Ann you should join us too!" Another man calls out to the woman garbed in black, not even batting an eye to the faces below fiddling with the bead of ruby red in her hand.
"Yeah! We have a whole banquet and everything!" The old woman tells the two however…
"…" Silently, Ann continues staring out at who knows what, her ears ringing the silence sense of numbness gnawing away at her oblivious to Shank's furrowed frown from her face, noting the paleness of her skin, the slight indents of her bones poking out and the bags hanging heavily in her sickly state.
"We're not really in the mood right now maybe next time." Politely, Shanks smiles down at the two.
"Okay." They smile sadly at the two taking back to the party.
"…Go." Ann grunts surprising Shanks to hear her gravelled hoarse voice.
"Hm?" Humming, he turns to her.
"Join them, you clearly want to go." She tosses the bead up and down in the air.
"…I have a better idea." Shanks smiles befuddling Ann arching a brow but before she could even ask or refuse, she was dragged into a room, setting some tiles down onto the board below.
"…This is stupid." Scowling, Ann huffs while the low lit of the candlelight glows.
"I think it's nice brings back memories!" Shanks smiles down at the board below between both the still slumped silent Ann garbed in pitch black.
"…" Ann continues setting tile down as Shanks does the same, a still silence between both of them.
"How is Luffy?" Shanks asks breaking the still silence between both of them.
"Training." Ann asserts.
"I asked how he is not what he's doing." Shanks smiles.
"…he'll get past it." Ann shrugs setting a tile down.
"…and you?" Shanks pries.
"…Fine." Formally, Ann answers setting another tile down.
"You're being unusually careless today." Shanks slams said tile down.
"I'm tired." Tense, Ann grumbles glaring up at Shanks.
"I thought you were fine." Shanks smirks slightly.
"Shut up." Ann slams said title tense down on the board.
"Just saying you're not going to beat me like this." Teasingly, Shanks points out.
"You're the one who dragged me into this you're the one who wants to win." Ann accuses annoyed.
"…and what do you want?" Shanks asks.
"…Stop." Ann stops her movement, glaring up at Shanks however…
"Ace's dead." Shanks states the fact firmly.
"I SAID STOP! YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW THAT!? WHO'S BODY DO YOU THINK I CARRIED TO THE SHIP!? THAT I BURIED SIX FEET UNDER!?" Angrily, Ann roars standing seething shaking, pieces scattering all over the place.
"…" Shanks silently watches the angry Ann anguished pained to see her in such a state.
"HE WAITED FOR ME! HE EXPECTED ME TO SAVE HIM! HE WAS COUNTING ON ME AND I FAILED! I LET HIM DOWN! I DIDN'T EVEN GET TO SEE HIM BEFORE HE DIED! HE DIED THINKING I ABANDONED HIM AS DAD DID! AS MOM DID! AS THE WHOLE WORLD DID!" Angrily, Ann yells screams shouting snarling at the stoic stone faced Shanks staring sadly at the wreck that was Ann.
"No." Softly, Shanks shakes his head.
"YES HE DIED THINKING I ABANDONED HIM I LET HIM DOWN! HE HATED ME BECAUSE I BETRAYED HIM." Ann combs her fingertips furiously through her hair tugging at stray strands making her wince alarming Shanks.
"You did the best you could." Shanks softly takes her hands off her trying to stop herself from harming herself.
"That wasn't my best! That was…look right now I'm doing everything to make sure what we want occurs to make sure his dream becomes a reality so why do you keep testing me about it?!" Incensed, she pushes Shanks back brow furrowed.
"Because you're doing it in a way that is reminiscent of someone my sister told me a long time ago she never wanted to be again, someone she were ashamed of, someone who killed without reason, who betrayed without concern, who did what they want when they want uncaring towards the people they would throw into the fire…my sister told me if you ever became that person again to stop her." Shanks sternly reminds her, her hues widening when hearing his words. A still silence falling between both of them.
"…And what if that person is what needed the dawn to come?" Coldly, Ann whispers weakly.
"Ann…" Shanks hues soften sadly at her.
"It doesn't matter either way the world hates me, no matter how kind I am no matter how much I tried to plead my case the world will never change the world will forever want my head my dream…can never be made a reality because…no one can ever love the child of the pirate king…" Anguished, Ann turns away.
"That's not true." Shanks intercepts.
"Yes it is! I'm a murderer, I'm a failure, I'm…I…it should have been me!" Ann admits anguished.
"Ann…" Shocked, Shank's hues widen when hearing her words.
"It should have been me if I died no one would…!" Ann begins but…
"I would care!" Shanks swiftly shuts her down.
"Shanks…" Ann tearfully turns to him.
"I would care as would the rest of the red haired pirates and crew, we'd come chasing after you if it were you and for your information, I happen to love my sister and hearing her say how she should die hurts me…a lot!" Shanks confesses taking Ann aback.
"…Shanks…please I have to do this. I have to become someone you'll hate who'll everyone will hate I have to go back to being that person for my father's dream to at least come true." Ann turns her head away ashamed.
"…Nothing I say will change your mind will it?" Shanks sighs sadly at her.
"…I have to do this." Ann asserts.
"…You D's are so stubborn…then let me pick up the pieces." Softly, Shanks steps forward.
"…Eh?" Ann turns to Shanks.
"You may not want to cry in front of others but you can cry in front of me can't you?" Shanks smiles sadly at Ann.
"…Shanks…." Ann's hues soften sadly at him.
"You've always been strong, always been the one to bring Buggy and I together if we were to argue always been the one in our corner, always looked out for us as I have wanted to do the same for you…why do you think I wanted you to join my crew? I want you to be free Ann and if becoming the person, you do despise is what will help you then let me share this burden with you. If you are to go too far I will always be the one to pull you back up for air, no matter what. So please let out the sadness, guilt, fear and anger that's building up inside of you. You and I both know you cannot continue on this path to achieve his dream so please share your pain with me…I'll take it all…" Shanks whispers as Ann falls flat to her knees, Shanks kneels down catching her, hearing her blood curdling screams as many of the senior officers briefly pause in their celebration, the rest of the pirates with their respective crew continuing cheering oblivious to the pained expression on each of the officers faces when hearing her blood curdling cry no words needing to be shed as they all share a look, raising their glasses…
"…What did he do this time?" Tiredly, Anna asks exhaustion etched into single said, preparing herself for what would come, Garp had told her bits but he wasn't exactly forthcoming on details no doubt another attempt at probing her to come here.
"He's been heading down into the town and beating people half to death!" Dadan glares glowers at the pink haired woman simply sighing at the familiar melody of it all…
"That so…" Softly, she whispers looking towards the tall towering trees of the forest frowning, her hues narrowing a part of her pondering if he was about, hunting around with that pipe of his however she doesn't spot said boy.
"That so?! Do you know the trouble that brat could bring to us?" Angrily, Dadan glares at the pink haired blonde not even batting an eye to the fuming orange haired woman glaring glowering attempting to yell at the rather bored blonde.
"Dadan Ace wouldn't fight without cause did you ask why he did?" Drained, Ann asks Dadan, hands on her hips, brow furrowed at the woman.
"You'd think he'd tell me?" Mad, Dadan raises her voice to the bored blonde.
"…I'll talk to him." Tiredly, Ann sighs softly, exhaling exhaustion etched into that single sigh as she goes over to find the boy behind all the trouble.
Silently, Ann hears the sharp screech of the seagull setting off to who knows where with the trees ruffling ringing even as she makes her way through the jungle easily dealing with the beasts about to place not even batting an eye to the bear she slaps to the sight as she finds the boy sat on the cliff of greenery, looking out at who knows what with the waves washing over one and another as she approaches the boy, his back to her.
"Like the ship?" Smirking, she asks noting the boy looking out at the port below.
"…Hmph." Huffing, he turns his head puffing his cheeks.
"Sabo told me how you like coming here to see if our ship's here." Smiling, Ann crosses her arms over her chest.
"T-That's a lie!" Angrily, he accuses agitated, red faced steam spewing out of his ears.
"Geez you could at least be honest about missing me." Pouting, Annie huffs.
"Who'd miss a psycho like you?" Grumpily, Ace glares to the side scowling.
"Well this psycho would have liked her little brother to welcome her with open arms as normal though from what I'm seeing and from what I heard I doubt the little brother would want his big sister to see his face all mucked up…" Sighing, she lightly knocks his head, a little bump beginning but the boy doesn't even bat a eye to said love tap faltering from her words as he tries to hide his head.
"I…" Ace begins but soon falters furrowing his brow going quiet from her truthful words.
"Ace…" Ann's facial features soften sadly at the back of the battered, bruised, beaten boy, a nose plug of tissue shoved in his nose, his wave black locks dangling down.
"Hm?" His freckled features turn towards the pink haired blonde with a similar set of freckles.
"That's quite the nasty face…" Gently, Ann smiles softly reaching out to take the boy by his chin eyeing his bruises.
"Tch!" Grumbling, the glaring boy tuts clicking his tongue tense before moving his head away.
"Heard you beat up some guys half to death." Dubiously, Ann smirks slightly at the sad state of her baby brother grumbling glaring to the side scowling.
"What? And here I thought they were dead…" Disappointed, Ace grumbles glaring to the side.
"A real shame still you say that so casually…and here I thought you were a good fighter, seems to me those guys gave you quite the number." Amused, Ann leans over pinching his cheek making Ace glare at the bemused woman.
"I let them!" Whining, he huffs slapping her hand away as she simply smiles.
"I'm sure you did." Smirking, she shakes her head at him.
"They were talking about him…" Ace grumbles glaring at who knows what.
"So I heard, Makino mentioned you going down to the bar and asking about him." Ann recalls her brief visit to the bar.
"…" Silently, Ace bows his head.
"I'm disappointed." Ann admits as she leans back against the grassy terrain below feeling the teasing traces of stray strands of greenery brush against her wrist while she plucks some strands of grass gingerly.
"…Huh?" Astonished, Ace blurts out.
"You going to take the word from some strangers over the person who worked with him?" Ann ask as she leans over, looking down at the stray strands of greenery she fiddles with.
"You…you worked for him?" Ace perks up at her words brow furrowed, why hadn't she told him!?
"I was an apprentice…Ace…dad was dying anyway…" Aloofly, Ann shrugs.
"…What?" Ace blurts out shocked.
"He was dying Ace. " Ann states the fact firmly to her baby brother.
"So what? I should just forgive him for being a murder for being…" Brow furrowed, Ace angrily sneers scowling making Ann furrow her brow holding her breath before she said anything unwise, he was a child, she had to remember, he wasn't given the chance she was to know him as she had…
"You're not letting me finish." Frowning, she tells him making him flinch briefly by the sheer severity of her words.
"Then say what you want to say and go." Grumpily, Ace crosses his arms over his chest cross.
"…Alright then, I was like you before all that." Truthfully, Ann admits to her baby brother.
"You were?" Astonished, Ace looks up at her.
"Yeah, I'd get into fight after fight when people would talk bad about our old man…" Ann confesses, grimacing briefly by it, she wasn't proud looking back on it but she supposed she was like her father more than she realized…
"You'd defend him?!" Angrily, Ace glares at the bored blondish pink haired girl simply staring ahead as she fiddles with the stray strands of green below in her hands.
"He was my dad, I wanted to know more about him, sure he'd visit now and again but…it was never enough. So…when the old man was diagnosed with that illness he begged our mother for me to join the crew…" Calmly, Ann explains to her brother brow furrowed from the memory of it all.
"He…he did?" Ace says surprised.
"Yep wanted to get to know me better with what little time he had left." Lazily, Ann mutters blowing the stray strands of green into the open air into the brisk breeze heading to the sea…
"And…you were okay with that?" Tentatively, Ace eyes his sister.
"I wanted to know him better besides an adventure out on the ocean who can say no to that?" Teasingly, she winks at her baby brother.
"Was he…what they said he was?" Anxiously, Ace looks down at his fidgeting fingertips furrowing his brow by the thought.
"He was many things Ace…just as you will be when you grow up, you'll have to figure that out for yourself." Sighing, Ann furrows her brow she couldn't say he wasn't a murderer nor that he was perfect, no one was…
"Sis…" Softly, Ace begins looking out at the sea.
"Hm?" Humming, Ann turns to look down at the boy below.
"Was it…good that we were born?" Ace asks as he leans his head into her side, her happy to return said side hug of sorts however her features furrow from the question.
"I was happy you were born Ace you being born made mom very happy…" Honestly, Ann answers as her warm browns meet her baby brother's own, no words needing to be said as they sit side by side, watching the waves wash over one another, enjoying the salty air around the open air as they sit together….
"Then why were you born?" The boy quirks his side, Ann flinching from the crisp crunch of bone baffling alarming her, her hues widening when seeing said scarlet substance splatter sputter out of the boy, a huge heavy chest of magma forming frothing out of him horrifying Ann staggering back by the room of pitch black, she soon finds herself in.
"Huh?" Alarmed, Ann stares stunned at the young child, coughing crimson.
"Why did you get to survive while I died?" The young boy whimpers weakly making Ann grimace.
"I…Ace I…" Ann's tone trembles trying to get some semblance of an answer out chocking on the tears threatening to fall.
"Why didn't you show when I needed you most?" Ace asks as Ann slams her hands over her ringing ears.
"I tried! I tried…!" Anguished, Ann falls to her knees.
"And look what happened you tried to be a marine." Her hues widen when she finds a familiar coat of red before her heart dropping at the familiar voice of the man glaring down at her.
"I…I tried…" She whimpers weakly however…
"And look what happened when you tried to be a parent." A young girl stands before Ann, her hues widening when seeing the glaring girl of icy blue towards her.
"…I…I tried…" Meekly, Ann whispers weakly reaching out only to flinch from the brief glimpse of a young blonde boy, top hat on, glasses cracked breaking her heart.
"I tried!" She sharply sobs, covering her face.
"You tried and all you ever did was make things worse…it was foolish of me to rely on someone as useless as you." Her father looms over her, Roger's grey glaring down into her teary brown.
"I'm sorry! I tried!" She reached ot grabbing him by the trouser leg however he kicks her off making her wince.
"You tried to save my son…but you failed." Her heart soon drops at the ice-cold voice of Rouge.
"Mom I…!" She turns her hues meeting a similar shade to hers holding nothing but hatred making her heart drop to see such hues of cold glaring glowering down at her.
"I tried I kept my mouth shut like you both said like…!" Ann lunges forward grabbing hold of the woman's dress however…
"I died for nothing." She soon drops down a sharp scream escaping Ann's lips to see scarlet dripping down her hands her hibiscus flower falling.
"Mom I'm sorry!" Sobbing, she cries bowing before the woman icily glaring glowering down at Ann clinging to her leg.
"I have no daughter." Softly, she whispers, Ann's hues widening when hearing her words, a muffled whimper escaping her lips when she clings to the leg that jerks off her.
"Mom please don't leave me not again! Not…!" Ann reaches for her however …
"You tried to keep yourself and Ace save but you failed. You didn't even try to get what I left I had such high hopes for you and Ace." Roger stands before her, glaring glowering down at her.
"Dad please…I…" Trembling, Ann attempts to explain but…
"Stop making excuses!" Roger roars raising his hand to her, her hues dilating dread hitting her hard feeling the sharp slap of her soar stinging skin, cradling her cheek, she looks up, tasting iron as she eyes the people towering looming over her simply glaring glowering down at her in disgust as if she were nothing but a bug but gum on their shoe.
"You still failed them, you failed us, we gave our lives for you to live and this is how you thank us?" Roger towers over the sobbing wreck of a woman below.
"I'm sorry…I'm sorry…I'm so sorry!" Sobbing, Ann whimpers weakly, the tears freely flowing from her from the three people towering over her unable to look the woman with long locks in the eye, unable to look the man in red in the eye and most of all unable to look the freckled boy before her in the eye as she sobbed her heart out curling in on herself sobbing her heart out at her failures…
"Hey morning sleepy head!" Happily, Shanks smiles seeing said woman being tended to but Hongo, his smile soon faltering from the scarlet scratch marks marring her arms, legs, neck and throat. They would heal of course they always did…
"….Mmm.." Ann grunts grumbling glaring ahead, how many weeks had it been since the burial? Since she left Luffy to training? Ann had lost track…
"You want a bath?" Shanks smiles sickly sweetly at the just done Ann.
"You want a fist to the face?" Ann raises her fist.
"Still no on the baths." Shanks smiles still despite the threat.
"The main thing is that you got out of your room. Shanks didn't drag you this time." Honestly, Hongo points out optimistically.
"Yeah!" Shanks smiles.
"Only cause Shanks would bother me…also can't sleep in a blood soaked mattress." Bluntly, Ann deadpans.
"Blood soaked how much did you bleed?" Shanks frets.
"…Eh…" Ann shrugs squirming slightly from doing so from her aching joints and limbs.
"Hey we got some good news for you." Shanks smiles still.
"…What?" Ann's hues harden at the smiling Shanks.
"Hongo's made you something to help perk you up!" Shanks smiles.
"He got me some booze?" Ann perks up at the thought.
"Nope." Hongo huffs.
"Tadah!" Shanks reveals it.
"…The hell is this?" Ann blinks baffled by what was before her.
"It's meant to make you feel better!" Shanks smiles.
"This legal?" Ann eyes Hongo.
"It's just some herbs." Hongo huffs.
"My bed makes me feel better." Ann argues annoyed.
"It really doesn't." Hongo frowns.
"A bath would make you feel better!" The trio perk up at the voice.
"Don't push her Benn!" Shanks calls out to Benn.
"Don't parent me either of you!" Ann annoyed barks back at the two.
"Aw come on Ann! At least give this stuff a shot!" Shanks whines.
"I really don't think I'm that bad enough to have meds." Ann argues.
"You think?" Hongo scoffs.
"I'm not really there when I'm asleep Hongo." Ann scowls.
"Cleary from the screaming." Hongo huffs.
"…Screaming?" Alarmed, Ann furrows her brow.
"Hongo begs to differ and as the ships doctor…" Shanks smirks smugly.
"He knows more I hear you yadda yadda…" Ann rolls her hues.
"I can speak for myself." Hongo huffs.
"And?" Ann turns to Hongo.
"Just try it." Hongo sighs.
"…Urgh fine but if I end up naked and running around the place I will end you." Ann tiredly threatens.
"We hear you we're just doing this cause we care about you." Shanks smiles at Ann.
"If you'd care you'd get more booze…" Grumpily, Ann swiftly snatches said medicine before going back to her room, retreating for now…
"God dammit!" Angrily, Ann tosses a familiar sherry labelled bottle into the wall watching scarlet stain splatter against the wall with sharp shards of scarlet spewing out from the impact. Fortunately for the angry Ann the sound of music easily deafens the blow to most all but one…
"…Another failed attempt." Shanks sighs eyeing the dishevelled wreck of the angry Ann, hickies littered about her form but she looks none the pleased on the contrary looking cross glaring glowering at the shards scattered to the side.
"I just…why can't I do it?!" Incensed, she seethes scowls shakes.
"…You mean distract yourself?" Shanks sighs at his friend's form of coping, unhealthy as it was, it was something she grew up to do, it was a bit of fun that's all they thought of it as, as a way to destress.
"…Waiting isn't easy besides I thought it'd be a good middle finger to the government if it all went wrong at the least." Slurring, Ann admits amused almost.
"You're drunk." Shanks sighs furrowing his brow at the mess that was Ann.
"Oh am I?" Ann snickers slurring slightly.
"Yeah because the Ann I know isn't that petty." Pointedly, Shanks settles the drunk on the bed.
"Than you clearly don't know her as well as you do…if they kill me if it goes wrong at least I could have the final laugh by birthing some kid, Makino could raise them, at least with my death the navy won't have the pride of eradicating the Roger line." Ann smirks smugly at the thought.
"…And what of the child?" Shanks furrows his brow at Ann.
"Eh?" Astonished, Ann perks up at the query.
"Being left alone. You wouldn't let them go through that would you?" Shanks couldn't help but ask as the two share a look.
"They'll have Makino. A proper mother…not a failure like me." Miserably, Ann whispers weakly.
"You're no failure. You're a great mother I mean think back to Uta you were great with her!" Shanks smiles.
"Then we ditched her as we do with all the kids." Ann looks away ashamed anguished.
"A pirates' life isn't mean for everyone." Shanks shrugs.
"…Maybe I don't want a pirate's life anymore…" Ann admits.
"Ann…" Shanks sighs softly.
"Maybe I want to settle down have two kids a boy and a girl…we'd take them out on picnics, they'd sleep on their father who would be sleeping too while I would doodle on their faces, we'd…we'd be happy without a care in a world of some threat looming over us…but that's just a dream…a impossible dream for someone like me, a pirate's life is the only life for me." Miserably, Ann sniffles softly, wiping a tear away as she think back to this imaginary family of hers.
"We both know as soon as that kid was in your arms you wouldn't let it go." Shanks sighs stating the fact firmly.
"…Shanks some people are meant to be mothers…some aren't." Anguished, Ann looks away.
"Well I think you're not just some." Smirking, Shanks ruffles her hair.
"…URGH I hate you, you know that." Ann pushes his hand away.
"Love you too Ann." Shanks smirks.
"URGGGH…I don't get it." Ann plops down on the pillow below.
"Get what?" Shanks crouches cleaning up the mess she caused.
"It was easier before…throwing myself at guys…having some fun but after…" Ann curls in on herself, her brow furrowed.
"Him?" Shanks smirks slightly at the glaring Ann.
"Piss off!" Ann gives him the middle finger.
"Did you think about him again?" Amused, Shanks smirks at the scowling Ann.
"I said shut up!" Ann snaps.
"You can't do it after him can you?" Shanks smirks.
"What's happened to me? I was fine having fun before but now I just…!" Angrily, Ann seethes scowls.
"You found out there's more to sex than just sex." Shanks smirks.
"Shut up." Ann scowls.
"Am I wrong?" Shanks argues as Ann turns to glare to the side, a bright blush crossing her cheeks, still remembering her shock when she woke up to him still being awake as she could try to leave only for him to pull her back time and time again, the two talking she never really woke up with someone by her side normally she'd wake up and they were gone. But he…he stayed, they talked they bonded, they did more than…she never had that before, never knew it could be like that.
"I won't let him win whatever he did to me I'll…I'll get this curse off me…!" Ann shakes her head dismissing it what was she doing, thinking like that!? He helped murder her brother! He helped kill her brother! He…shame freely flows through her horror too from it all.
"You think it's a curse?" Shanks smirks slightly.
"I don't know…" Ann grumbles glaring to the side scowling.
"…Ann." Shanks sighs.
"I can't help it alright!? I just…I have the guy right there ready for the whole thing but as soon as I even try to touch or say anything I just freeze up and think of him then I get all guilty and I just…" Ann combs her fingertips through her hair horrified guilt gnawing away at her how dare he had this influence over her!?
"Ann…" Shanks sighs softly at the guilty wreck of a woman.
"How the hell am I meant to give those fuckers the middle finger they deserve!?" Angrily, Ann seethes shakes scowls.
"…Perhaps forcing yourself to get pregnant isn't the way." Shanks sighs at Ann.
"Shanks if I die Roger's line dies the government will get what they want." Ann reminds Shanks.
"But why do they matter?" Shanks frowns at Ann.
"Why!? WHY!? They took everything from me Shanks, they took my father, they took my mother and now they've taken Ace how…how can I live out a legacy when I don't even know if I'll make it by tomorrow!?" Tense, Ann anxiously tugs at her long locks of pink.
"You'll have us to protect you." Sternly, Shanks reminds Ann.
"Shanks…" Ann begins but…
"What do you want Ann?" Shanks queries.
"…I don't want to feel like this anymore." Ann slurs slightly plopping her head on Shank's shoulder making him sigh sadly at the wreck of his sister, holding her, hugging her, helping her through this.
Quietly, Ann stands before the graves, the brisk breeze brushing through her hair, her fingertips gently brushing against her neck bare before the world while she stares up at the grave holding a familiar smiley and sad face had with a female beaded necklace and dagger, to the side stands a familiar coat and blade. Ann couldn't help but sigh softly setting down the bouquet of Hibiscus down upon the grave as she did since, she eyes the Hibiscus with some peace lilies with some pink and white carnations.
"That's a new look…" Her hues widen when perking up at the voice.
"Marco…" She turns to the bandaged boy.
"You look cute." He smiles softly at her.
"…I thought it was time for a change." Simply, she shrugs turning back to the flowers tending to the ones she brought last month. She silently furrows her brow when noting another bouquet by her own, a bouquet she did not recognise although she had seen it each and every month she brought her own…Marco's perhaps? Perplexed, she eyes the flowers consisting of carnations and a Lily of the Valley.
"For the new era perhaps?" Marco shoves his hands into his pockets.
"…Perhaps." Politely, she whispers tending to them.
"…You look thinner than last I saw you." Marco couldn't help but take note of.
"…Should have seen me a few months back looked more skeletal than human." Ann attempts to joke just then her hues narrow noting the familiar haki behind her.
"…Ann…stay back!" Alarmed, fierce flames of blue shoot out of Marco glaring glowering at Aokiji however he simply stands there, bouquet in hand.
"…It's fine." Frowning, Ann asserts eyeing the fool before her.
"But…" Marco frowns.
"Marco it's fine." Ann assures him.
"Alright if anything happens…" Marco begins but…
"I can take care of myself." Ann curtly cuts him off.
"I know I just…" Marco raises his hands up in the air.
"Marco." Ann gives him quite the look.
"Right." Marco backs off leaving the two to it.
"You have some nerve coming here." Ann sneers scowling crossing her arms over her chest.
"…It's been a while." Calmly, he approaches.
"…That's all you got to say? So where are the marines?" Ann demands just wanting to get this done with and get out of there ignoring the strange sensation in her chest.
"It's just me." Aokiji sighs.
"…So you've come to kill me." Her hardened hues narrow at Aokiji.
"No I haven't." Aokiji brushes past Ann.
"…Why are you here then?" Ann furrows her brow befuddled.
"…" Kuzan sets some flowers down, Ann's eyes expanding at the sheer sight of the familiar flowers of carnations and lily of the Vally.
"I'll make things right." Resolved, he promises to her.
"…What?" Astonished, Ann blinks befuddled.
"I'll make things right." Resolute, Aokiji repeats resolved.
"There is nothing you can make right about this!" Tiredly, Ann snaps scowling at Aokiji.
"Even so…I want to try." Truthfully, he admits.
"Try? How about you bring me Akainu and Kizaru's head on a silver platter?" Poisonously, she sneers scowling.
"…Will my head be included in it?" Aokiji asks astonishing Ann.
"…Just get out of my sight." Ann turns to the side scowling.
"Why did you never tell me?" Aokiji asks Ann.
"Why? So you would take me in…the pirates king scum remember?" Snippily, she sneers.
"…You're not though." Aokiji asserts as she scoffs.
"And neither was Ace and look at him…that could very well have been me…that should have been me." Ann blames brow furrowed furious.
"…You're not your father's daughter." Aokiji promises.
"And what would you know?" Ann scoffs.
"I know you." Aokiji asserts.
"No you don't! You really don't. You know nothing about me! You know vice admiral Ann, you may even know a little bit of Portgas D. Ann but…Roger D Ann? You don't know anything about her…about me. The person you fell for never existed!" Anguished, Ann snaps sharply scowling soon faltering from the fact of the matter.
"…I believe I fell in love with Ann regardless of titles." Truthfully, Aokiji admits astonishing Ann her hues widening when hearing her words but she soon falters furrowing her brow.
"Love? Don't make me laugh. Look believe what you want but I'm telling you the person you fell for never existed." Ann brushes Aokiji off.
"Ann I didn't ki-" Kuzan begins but his hues widen when next he knew the sharp slap echoes throughout the air, his cheek burning brightly, his hues widening when looking down at the teary glaring girl.
"You're just as responsible as Akainu!" Angrily, Ann screams sharply at him.
"…How?" He questions.
"How!? You stopped Luffy you stopped Ace you were at Marineford!" Angrily, Ann screams at him.
"I had no choice it was my duty." Aokiji asserts.
"As was Ohara?" Ann sneers making his hues widen when hearing her words.
"…" Aokiji goes quiet from her words, guilt clear on his furrowed features.
"You did NOTHING. Not even question why Ace's execution was being broadcasted, you didn't even argue!" Angrily, Ann continues on seeing the guilt clear on his stone stoic facial features.
"I didn't know him." Aokiji frowns, trying to act cold baffling her.
"Did you try to? You knew he was my brother you knew!" Ann accuses agitated as he looks away anguished ashamed almost.
"…It's my job I can't show favouritism you know that." Aokiji robotically reminds her.
"You still did nothing! You didn't question it you didn't…you're as bad as Akainu for letting this happen! All those soldiers all those marines all those pirates are on your hands! If you'd just…this is what always frustrated me about you, you don't think, you don't question, you don't argue you simply do what is ordered and if you have an issue with it you're wishy wash you don't do anything about it not argue, not anything you just stand there and let it happen. You're as bad as Akainu for letting him do what he wants by just standing by and doing nothing. You can't make any choices for yourself, you have to be given an order I'd be surprised if you even have a spine." Seething, Ann angrily rants roars at Aokiji simply standing there taking it incensing Ann.
"…" Aokiji silently stares at the angry Ann further frustrating her.
"Emote! Say something! Do something! Defend yourself! Decide something for yourself for once in your life rather than have someone else tell you what to do what to feel! Think for yourself for once!" Angrily, Ann screams at him tearful however…
"…" He remains silent.
"Don't you have anything in you that has a dream of some sort? That desires something? Don't you have someone you want to protect to care for to…I don't know feel passionate about!?" Angrily, Ann rants unaware of Aokiji's anguished expression from her desperate attempt at pulling at strings for some sort of reaction and yet…
"…Nothing I say will ever make up for what I did." Aokiji admits astonishing Ann.
"Ya think!? You think an apology will just bring back my brother! You played a part in this too! Urgh…forget this, seeing you is just giving me a headache." Huffing, Ann grumbles holding her head huffing.
"…I will make things right." Resolved, he promises perplexing Ann.
"…Do what you want to make yourself feel better regardless my brother's blood is on your hands Aokiji." Assertively, Ann snaps scowling, holding back the tears threatening to fall as she leaves Aokiji oblivious to the tear freely falling from him, hiding it away with his hand…
*So guys timeskip is coming soon...what do you think of Ann and Kuzan now? Of their dynamic? Of their talk? Would love to know your thoughts on them now especially with the manga and anime as it stands now!*