Marine Academy
Part 1
Chapter 10
"Dear Sakazuki,
I think I'm seasick.
It sucks."
The blonde smiled discreetly as she put the thin letter in the envelope, waiting for that damned post-bird to come.
She was starting to miss Captain's efficient services on her home island.
Her heart warmed as she thought back to her parents. It had been almost three long years since she had been able to set foot on her island again, due to the lack of a vacation long enough to make the trip. The young woman forced herself to call them every weekend, partly to maintain a precious bond with them, and partly to not lose sight of her goal and all the sacrifices she made to get there.
Living with Emma every day and enjoying every possible moment with Sakazuki allowed her to put one foot in front of the other every morning and tell herself that it all had meaning.
But the mission was coming to an end. They had started their journey back a month ago. The battleships and medical ships had crossed the four seas during the entire last semester, leading a great expedition to eradicate the youngest pirates at the root. South Blue, East and West Blue had been pleasant (if not considering that damn seasickness), but it was now time to leave West Blue. She couldn't stand it anymore. This damn mission had at least confirmed her choice: she would be a doctor at the Marineford's great hospital and would only ask to be taken on board in the event of an extreme health emergency.
Emma had been a great support in this adventure, sharing her knowledge with her, helping her with basic surgeries and more advanced diagnostics.
Because she wasn't on a warship, the blonde had been authorized to send letters to her loved ones. She had first tried to send a very... spicy... letter to Sakazuki, but the rear admiral had quickly taught her that mail was systematically read before being sent. This scene had particularly made Emma laugh, who had learned every word of the letter and amused herself by reciting it to her at the worst possible times to embarrass the blonde.
Since escargophones were forbidden, she had only been able to send simple letters, without hoping for a response, because she wasn't allowed to give her precise location.
She then imagined the man reading these ridiculous letters in the evening when he returned from his training or from yet another mission at sea.
"Murph, look at this." Emma had moved the daily newspaper near the blonde to let her read the fourth page. The young woman inspected it without much conviction. Pirate stories bored her.
"No, look at the picture." The brunette advised her.
Murph concentrated for a moment and immediately understood where her friend was going with this. A banal article about the arrest of a pirate crew at the entrance to the Grand Line was illustrated with a photo that was difficult to understand. But the blonde finally recognized Sakazuki, in the background, using his devil fruit to sink the ship. Obviously, the article was complimentary towards the forces of the Navy.
"The Navy, strong with its new recruits... blah blah blah... the Navy Academy... blah blah... pirate crew... blah blah blah... neutralized and imprisoned... blah blah blah" The brunette summarized while biting into a croissant.
Murphy smiled again. There was no doubt that Sakazuki would one day be part of the upper echelons of this world.
[...]
"I now call you my brothers and sisters." The director said in front of his desk, hundreds of men and women listening attentively, at attention.
"I am proud to count you in our ranks. Be exemplary soldiers, serving our fellow citizens, in war as in peace.".
The third years of the four promotions were gathered in the main amphitheater, decorations now visibles on their white uniforms. On the platform, behind the director of the Academy, were the representatives of the four promotions: the health major, the technical major, the administrative major and the soldiers major.
Murphy, frozen and attentive like the rest of the graduates present, glanced at the man standing proudly behind the director. His title of major of the soldier promotion had hardly surprised her, he was brilliant, the perfect soldier.
The speech ended, putting an end to this period of the students' lives. Emma, Murphy and Sakazuki had done it. They had all graduated from the Academy.
The blonde slipped through the crowd, trying to reach Sakazuki who was receiving congratulations from the director and his teachers.
When he was finally free, she jumped into his arms discreetly. The man was not the type to like to make a spectacle of himself. She nevertheless kissed his cheek quickly.
"You looked beautiful on the stage," she said, as she rolled up her diplomas and congratulations to slip them into her bag.
Sakazuki kissed her discreetly on the top of her head, putting his arm around her hips. She played for a moment with the golden decorations that was now on their shoulders.
"When are you leaving?" he asked as they moved away from the crowd to breathe a little.
"With boat number seven I think, in a few hours." She answered while checking her information on the paper she had received.
Murphy didn't dare to ask him the question. Sakazuki, sensing her worry, kissed her this time on the cheek.
"I got the authorization, for two weeks only, I could only stay four days." The man whispered in her ear.
Murphy barely hide a cry of joy. She jumped in the man's arms.
"Saka! I'm so happy! I can't wait for you to meet my parents! This vacation is going to be so good!" The blonde couldn't believe her ears.
Once the primary training at the Academy was over, the students had a month of hard-earned vacation to return to their families before starting the second part of their training.
For once, the young woman had time to travel to her home island. Sakazuki hadn't mentioned any personal plans, in fact she didn't know anything about his family or his childhood. It was one of the subjects they didn't like to discuss. So she had offered him to come to her family's house. Knowing him, he would have spent this entire month training on some island.
The soldier had been vague about his answer and the young woman understood that he was eagerly awaited for the rest of his training.
Knowing that he could spend the next two weeks with her and her family delighted her to the highest degree.
She tightened her grip around his neck and planted her lips on his, deeply happy.
"Our arrival at Marineford will have to wait. I have two weeks to enjoy you and I'm not going to hold back." The blonde said as Sakazuki kissed back, far from the crowd.