Descent

by JustAProblem

Scars are a sign of pride and strength. A sign of survival. Naturally, this only applies to the physical scars and not the mental scars. No, mental scars are almost universally agreed to be negative and for good reason. Physical scars merely change how your body looks. Mental scars change how a person thinks. Rosan just wants to enjoy life. He didn't ask for all this.

49. Chapter 49: A Lot More Slice of Life

Descent

Chapter 49: A Lot More Slice of Life

Rosan hummed a tune to himself, as he knocked gently on the door where his Aunt and Uncle were currently holing themselves in.

The three truly had been on a depressive streak because Raisa hadn't even noticed they were still in her home. The woman's observation was nothing to scoff at either.

"Y-Yes?" a quiet voice asked, pushing open the door an inch and yelping as Rosan pulled it all the way.

Dalia stumbled from the unexpected move and the short girl crashed into the midsection of the offender, wondering who's muscular body this was because while strong, Raisa was not built like this.

She hesitantly glanced up, only to freeze completely, at seeing just who was on the other side.

"Hey, you alright?" Rosan asked curiously, steadying her somewhat and pushing her upright.

Dalia said nothing, taking in Rosan's features with wide eyes.

Rosan watched carefully as another figure hesitantly stepped into view. His broad uncle paused in disbelief, red rimmed eyes gazing at Rosan. The purple began glowing in confusion and Oren's mouth opened in shock.

"Hey," Rosan said slowly, watching the two continue to stare at him.

His attention was grabbed once more by the sound of sniffing and Rosan heard Dalia let out a tiny whimper, before the woman cracked.

Rosan's aunt broke out into a sharp wail and tackled her nephew, squeezing him with her little body like he would disappear if she let go.

The pirate sighed and effortlessly held his aunt up, rubbing her back as she sobbed horribly against his chest.

Rosan grunted as he was suddenly hoisted into the air from the side by his uncle, tears falling from his eyes.

"Rosan!" they both cried in unison, crushing him between them.

He sighed as they sobbed against him.

"I'm here. I'm here," Rosan explained softly, hugging them close.

Dalia sniffed and gazed up at him, blue eyes glistening with tears.

"We thought... I can't believe that you're still here," she whimpered.

So they saw that... Rosan wasn't too surprised but Raisa had said she was the only one who had entered a coma.

"I'm sorry about that, didn't expect to almost die. I wouldn't have shown you the footage otherwise," he murmured.

Oren shuddered. "No... no it's fine. We learned so much about you from what you showed."

Dalia whimpered. "We're so glad you're okay! We're so happy, Rosan!"

Rosan stared at them, expression mostly shrouded.

They all really did like him a lot. Rosan never thought about his blood relatives. There was never a reason. He didn't even know who his real mother and father were so thinking of other things like cousins, aunts and uncles, was really far out.

It was pretty adorable.

The redhead let them cry because they were incredibly pent up with tears.

He had been absentmindedly rubbing Dalia's back, simply conversing with Ram and Mod the entire time as his aunt and uncle practically cuddled him.

Finally, he grew tired and slowly began pushing himself up, grunting as the grips on his person tightened.

"P-Please don't go yet!" Dalia said desperately.

"Yeah! We just got you! We know you have to get back to your crew but... but could you stay a little longer?" Oren asked measuredly.

The redhead scratched the back of his head and turned towards his desperate aunt and uncle.

"I'm staying here for two years. We can get to know each other in the meantime," Rosan informed them.

The two paused at that, gazing at their nephew with wide eyes.

"REALLY?!" Dalia gaped with starry eyes, shooting up and leaping back onto him.

Rosan nodded. "Raisa is going to be my teacher… I'm not strong enough for the New World so my crew and I are going to build our strength."

The duo nodded and cheered, dragging the redhead into a group hug.

Rosan let out a sigh of exasperation.

His family was just as hug happy as him. How great.

He just peacefully returned the hug and allowed them to snuggle him.

"We aren't very strong but we'll help you as much as we can," Oren grinned, pleased that he'd be able to see his nephew.

"Even the weakest person can teach someone something new," Rosan said fondly, smiling at a memory.

"I can't wait to get to know more about you! What's your favorite color?" Dalia asked eagerly.

"Red," Rosan replied easily.

"That's such a good color! Mine is blue!" Dalia gushed, squeezing her fellow redhead.

"Black for me," Oren smiled.

"I'm a fan of black too," Rosan added, gesturing to his black and red shirt.

"What about blue?!" Dalia asked excitedly, blue eyes sparkling in curiosity.

"It's okay. Not the biggest fan but my student loves it," Rosan mused.

Dalia's eyes widened. "Just "okay"? What do you mean okay?!"

Rosan scratched his head. "Blue's not really my color. Never really wore anything blue!"

His aunt let out a gasp of horror, big eyes gazing up at him in betrayal.

"That just won't do, nephew! Oh I know! We can go clothes shopping! We'll need to update your wardrobe with some blue! Maybe some purple too since that's Raisa's favorite color!"

"I already wear purple and please, I seriously seriously don't need more clothes," Rosan stressed.

Dalia bulldozed over everything he said with a beaming and cute grin.

It was pretty cute. Rosan knew she was used to getting her way.

"She's the youngest out of the three of us. It wasn't as apparent when we were younger, but she's really spoiled," Oren said apologetically.

Rosan let out a sigh of misery. "You really would love Angel…" he muttered.

He should let them meet. They'd probably get along great.

---

"Rosan, I'm planning on making breakfast. What do you prefer?" Raisa asked, knocking gently on the door.

There was no answer and Raisa felt a surge of small panic at that, opening the door to her son's room.

"Rosan are you okay—" Raisa cut herself off and nearly melted at the sight before her.

Rosan was sleeping peacefully with a tiny child resting atop him. The silver haired girl snored happily atop the unconscious redhead, neck burrowed into his neck as her son quietly rested.

Raisa put a hand over her heart and cooed, slowly approaching the duo of Ram and Rosan.

They looked dreadfully cute.

As Raisa stood over the sleeping duo, she let out a tiny yelp as a hand lashed out and grabbed her.

Rosan's eyes blearily looked at her, mostly unfocused and Raisa watched as her son let out a small grumble, letting her go. He shut his eyes once more and released her, sighing as Ram adjusted herself slightly.

Raisa considered waking him up... but Rosan deserved to rest a bit more. Dalia and Oren had practically hogged him all day, trying to know anything and everything about the youngest Iris.

Rosan was someone that probably would not sleep until he got everything done... much like Raisa would.

"Does he trust me? Is that why he went back to sleep?" Raisa thought, smiling giddily at that.

He had looked at her and probably realized she was not a threat to him. To think he'd be willing to sleep in her presence...

Raisa looked around and gained a thoughtful expression.

Well, she was still a little tired herself... the doll that Rosan gave her of himself helped her sleep far easier.

Surely her actual son would achieve the same results?

---

Rosan was very very used to random presences of his family joining him in bed. He was used to it because Maro especially, loved doing such a thing.

So he rarely woke up when they scooted in bed next to him, merely adjusting himself so that they could cuddle him how they wished.

It was the curse of being the oldest. He would either wake up next to Angel, Maro, Demon or Luffy.

Today it must have been Angel. He just saw a brief red hair, before falling back asleep.

To no one's surprise, Angel slid into the bed next to him and his sleep induced nature just offered up his left arm, allowing the middle triplet to burrow deeper into him.

He heard a sigh of content and just drifted back into sleep, making sure Ram was still comfortable.

By the time he awoke, Rosan was practically completely smothered and he just huffed in some confusion.

While he was used to being smothered by either Angel or Maro... or Luffy, this person didn't have either of his most clingy family members build... they were as blessed as Maro but Maro wasn't this tall and her hair hadn't reached the length needed to swamp him.

It was more in line with Robin but Robin was not this clingy when she slept. It was normally Rosan that crushed her against him, while she adjusted to it.

Robin also didn't have red hair.

Ram yawned cutely, waking up at the exact same time as him. Her tired eyes blinked blearily.

"Mornin, Father," she mumbled, head falling back against him.

"Good morning, Rosan."

"Mornin, Ram. Mornin Mod-chan," Rosan grunted.

He craned his head to the left, due to the breath brushing against him and regarded who had decided to hog him today.

The redhead blinked at seeing a bronze face sleeping peacefully, looking almost just like Angel's but with a few standout differences.

One was that this face was very slightly older, the hair was almost completely smooth... and Angel wasn't as "blessed" as this woman.

"Raisa?" Rosan blinked in confusion.

His birth mother let out a tiny noise at that, looking completely peaceful as she burrowed into him and Rosan blinked harder.

"What the hell is this?" Mod asked stonily, fury rising swiftly as she took in the scenery.

"Down woman," Rosan said calmly, scratching his head.

Ram snickered, sitting up and peering down at her grandma with curious eyes.

Raisa yawned, opening her eyes slightly and being met with two sets of the strangest eyes she had still seen to date.

Both were clearly entertained by this, from Ram's impish glee, to Rosan's laidback amusement.

"Have a good night's rest?" Rosan asked curiously, watching the slight embarrassment making its way to her face.

Raisa nodded mutely, face dusting red at the set of stares.

"It was... the best sleep I've had in 24 years," she admitted quietly.

Rosan's eyes softened at that and he sighed.

"Don't you dare," Mod hissed.

The redhead's mouth shut and he frowned slightly.

"But Robin likes her Mod-chan. Besides, she's making an honest effort with training us and some good sleep isn't bad."

"Grandma isn't all that bad, Auntie," Ram interjected, allowing Rosan to modify her outfit into her customary double breasted cloak.

Mod scowled and said nothing.

Raisa looked doubtful. "I'm... sorry if I intruded. I must have overstepped my boundaries," she mumbled, brushing herself off.

She got up stiffly and bowed. "I was trying to figure out what you preferred for breakfast when I saw you and Ram sleeping peacefully... when I approached, you grabbed me but then let me go."

Rosan tilted his head. "That means you don't trigger my danger senses. I'm a fairly light sleeper."

Raisa smiled tentatively at that. "I don't trigger it? I'm glad... but I should still go," she said eventually.

The woman turned and began heading out.

Rosan sighed. "You're making breakfast right? Let me help. I eat a lot."

Raisa lit up at that and nodded vigorously. "I'd love that! Dalia will most likely help as well. Does Ram have any preference?"

"Metals or meat," Ram said bluntly, leaping off the bed without further prompting.

"She'll eat anything," Rosan interjected with a roll of his eyes.

Ram rounded on him with a glare. "Shut up Father!"

Raisa watched the two argue with a small smile. They were so precious to her already.

"If you're ever having difficulty sleeping... you can come here by the way. A good night's sleep is necessary," Rosan said, walking by her and opening the door.

...Or he attempted to before being strong-armed into a tight hug.

"Thank you," Raisa whispered, heart swelling at his words.

Rosan let out a tense sigh. "Think nothing of it."

"Mod-chan, seriously."

"Seriously?! What do you mean, seriously?!"

"We are completely benefiting from her right now. I don't feel right being a dick to her."

"I understand that, but must you actively try and get closer to her?"

Rosan took a deep breath. Mod was being incredibly difficult as of late. They needed to talk soon about this.

"Mod-chan, I understand your grievances, I really do. But if someone who I have no problems with is making the effort to connect with me... I won't just completely push them away. I'm trying to keep her at arms length because of you, but you're not even attempting to let her redeem herself. Aren't you being unfair?"

Mod opened her mouth and shut it with a frown.

Rosan sighed, smiling idly at the Raisa looking expectantly at him.

"Do you know why I'm so willing to forgive her, Mod-chan?"

"...Why?" Mod asked tentatively.

"Because I know that she's the only reason that I have you. I don't care if my life would have been better. Without you, my life would be worse. I have all of you now. How could I hate Raisa for giving me the opportunity to meet you?"

Mod was speechless at that.

Rosan didn't scorn Raisa... because of her?

The woman's cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

"Since when have you been so mature and wise?"

"I've been taught by the wisest and most mature lady for 20 years. I picked up a thing or two."

Her cheeks darkened at that and she ducked her head. "Okay... you're right. I'm not being fair at all. I'll... try to be better."

"Just a bit of patience, Mod-chan. She's punished herself for 25 years. She's been miserable for 42. Let's give her two years of peace."

Mod touched her heart at that. The genuine kindness that Rosan was now exhibiting... it was like night and day.

She knew her little boy, the one who's heart was just so big, was always still there.

"Okay. Alright, Rosan."

He smiled.

Ram snorted. "I'm pretty sure the person Father has most whipped on the planet, isn't Auntie Hancock or Grandma... it's you Auntie."

Mod's smile vanished and a tick appeared on her head.

"Watch your mouth young lady."

Ram jumped at that, fear on her face as she immediately jumped into the confused Raisa's arms.

Raisa cooed at the tiny child, holding and, unintentionally, shielding her from Mod.

Rosan rolled his eyes in amusement.

---

Rosan grunted, thudding against the floor unceremoniously. He groaned tiredly, watching as his wounds instantly shut.

Ever since his stone had reignited, Rosan's body had evolved to adjust to... almost dying. The stone had far more endurance now, healing him much swifter than normal and taking far longer to get exhausted... in theory. No one wanted him to test it.

"Stop fighting so recklessly," Raisa said, harsh expression falling in place of concern. She immediately closed the distance and propped the redhead up, placing his head on her lap.

She tentatively grabbed a bottle of water and gave it to Rosan.

Rosan greedily drank it and sighed at the cool beverage.

"You fight with no regard for your wellbeing. Relying on your healing factor is good, but it would be even healthier if you could not sustain damage at any point in time," she instructed worriedly, raking a hand through his hair.

"Mod-chan says the same thing," he grunted.

"And you still do it..." Raisa sighed tiredly. "In that case, you must utilize more forms of defense. Your armament is good but your observation is severely lacking."

Rosan pursed his lips at that. "I do need more defensive options to supplement my extreme offense. Maybe something that reacts independently from me..." he mused.

He also needed to get his Armament even better. It could be the perfect shield he needed...

"Raisa how is your Observation so good?" Rosan asked with a frown.

"Meditation. Lots of meditation," Raisa replied automatically. "It was very difficult for me to use my Observation when I was younger. My mind was too active. I was too emotional. I needed to find a way to control myself."

Her son hummed at that.

"I need to regulate my emotions too. They're completely out of control," he informed her.

Raisa nodded to herself. "That... is expected. The Iris are all born more emotional. It is tied to our eyes as well..." she explained.

The woman pointed to her head. "We aren't too sure about the cause, but every Iris is born with complex neural activity. Our brains are wired... differently to say the least. It doesn't change too much in our lives, but our emotions are enhanced more than the normal human as a byproduct. The downside is that, by gaining an advantage in the mind, we lose some advantage in the body. The Iris were rather weak at first."

Mod listened with pursed lips.

Raisa continued as she noticed Rosan's attention.

"We benefit from those changes rather greatly. Our minds are powerful after all. I have an excellent memory for example. I can recall things from even my childhood and envision it in my mind almost perfectly," she explained to him.

"So that's why my imagination is so good," Rosan mused. He also had fairly good memory even before eating the Mod Mod no mi.

Raisa nodded. "The Iris are powerful in the mind. It is one of our greatest strengths. Empress Allium granted future Iris the body of the amazons to complement their powerful mind," she explained softly.

Rosan nodded along with what she was saying. "A good balance. The body of the primitive Kujas combined with the intelligence of the Iris. It was almost a perfect combination of genes."

Raisa smiled at him. "Yes exactly... but those come with downsides as well. You see the Kuja are also... somewhat emotional but in a different way."

"Love sickness," Rosan said immediately.

She blinked, swelling up at that and nodding proudly.

"Yes, lovesickness. Empress Allium's love sickness, caused a mutation inside of her descendants. More emotion, more... brain stuff that I simply did not care to research," Raisa explained with pinched brows.

"You'd have to ask Oren. He's the one who knows most about it. But regardless, the added strength to our lineage, came packaged with even more emotion. I've heard accounts of some of our lineage killing themselves due to slight emotional distress," she explained.

Rosan understood that. With how out of control his emotions were... if he had truly been by himself when all of it happened, it would have been bad for him.

Raisa sighed and gestured to herself. "I was born with the best of what the Kuja and Iris had to offer. I am the pinnacle of our lineage and more. A freak mutation was what occurred with me... And you inherited it all. Not only that..."

Rosan blew a breath out. "I probably inherited whatever Cutter has too," he finished.

Raisa immediately shuddered at that, eyes narrowing into pinpricks.

"So Cutter truly is free…?" she asked quietly.

Rosan sighed and nodded. "Blackbeard freed him from Impel Down... that's not good. Blackbeard is... a pirate that's going to cause a lot of trouble in the future."

Raisa had a look of distraught on her face, shuddering horribly at that information.

She resisted the urge to curl into herself, as she heard his laughter ringing in the back of her mind. The psychotic laughter of a man that she thought she knew—

"Hey," Rosan soothed, pulling the woman into a hug.

Raisa grasped him immediately, unmindful of his sweaty body. She felt her terror nearly consume her and shook harshly against her son.

"I-I saw you two conversing at Impel Down," she mentioned quietly.

Rosan inclined. "We did. Hard not to notice such a presence."

Raisa let loose a shaky breath. "Thank you, Rosan. Thank you for not giving that man the time of day. It's entirely my fault, but you truly have no idea how much such a thing matters to me," she whimpered, holding him tightly.

The redhead glanced down at his birth mother and ran a hand against her back.

"He was my best friend you know... or well, my only friend," Raisa whispered, sinking into him.

"I felt so normal around him. He didn't treat me like a Princess. In our time together, I found out how to be someone besides Princess Raisa, the prodigy who will ascend to the throne and succeed her parents. I thought we built a genuine bond with each other..."

Raisa shut her eyes. "But I was wrong. I was so wrong. He attacked so suddenly. He killed my mother and father with no hesitation. He betrayed me so quickly... I never knew he was so strong. We fought all day... all night and I lost," she said quietly.

Mod's eyes softened at that.

"He took the Devil Fruit I was intending to give my firstborn and consumed it. Then, he made sure the firstborn I gave birth to, would belong to him and left afterwards. I learned recently that he was captured by Garp the Hero and thrown into Impel Down for the last 25 years..."

Rosan listened with a frown.

"When I realized I was pregnant... I had a mental breakdown. I thought... he was going to come back for me. I thought he would have come back and taken you... It was such a stressful time for me and I know that it's not excuse for me at all but I couldn't think straight at all."

He hummed at that. "It's okay I get it… I made a dumb decision as well under stress. Both of our situations were extreme."

Raisa shook and held him tightly. He was too good to her. She didn't... she didn't deserve his kindness.

"I don't think Cutter will come back here. I can tell at a glance."

"I know he won't come back. Cutter doesn't care about me anymore… it's you he wants," Raisa mumbled.

If Cutter got his hands on Rosan… if he touched her son, then what would happen?

Raisa wouldn't let Cutter lay a hand on him. She couldn't. H-He nearly did it already and she hadn't even been close enough to stop it.

She would go herself. Even if it meant fighting the entirety of this Blackbeard's crew... Raisa wouldn't let Cutter get his hands on Rosan.

"She really does love me huh?" Rosan thought, feeling her terror clear as day.

"She's super whipped. You could probably make her do anything, Father."

"…" Mod said nothing.

The redhead sighed. "Alright, come on. I wanna introduce you to some people. We'll discuss the Observation thing on our next session."

Raisa perked up at that and gazed at her son in curiosity.

They had just finished their training for the day and she had run him through the ringer. Raisa truly was a monster alright.

Despite her intense desire not to, Rosan told her not to hold back anything and she didn't want to let her son down, so they had been training almost nonstop in his fascinating Pocket Dimension.

Here, the mother and son could let loose and train completely without being bothered.

It was incredible. Raisa had been rather rusty herself so she was getting back into the swing of things as well.

"You need to bathe first," Raisa said sternly, gazing at her sweat riddled son.

The redhead snorted. "You don't have to tell me. I'm not leaving without taking a bath regardless. You kicked my ass so I need to soak."

Raisa bit her lip. "Was I too harsh? I could always tone down if you need me to?"

The pirate stared his mother down with a deadpan expression.

"Raisa, I'll be more pissed if you hold anything back. You're my teacher. I want to learn everything I can from you and I can't do that if you're holding out on me," he said firmly.

Her eyes widened in horror and she nodded strongly.

"I understand! I would feel bad if I hurt you... but I'd feel even worse sending you out into sea again with more training to be done," she agreed.

Rosan smiled at that. "I can take it, trust me. I know you saw... bad things happen to me but just think that you being harsh, will prevent those from happening again."

"Right. You're completely right," Raisa nodded with a fierce expression. "I'll be the harshest to you, so that everyone else pales in comparison!"

Rosan pat her and began walking off. "That's the spirit!"

With that, he headed straight to the bathhouse, modifying his outfit as he entered the room.

The redhead sighed as he snapped a finger, eyes glowing slightly. At the same time, water began filling the bath.

He hummed a tune to himself as he did so, a breeze flowing through the room that grabbed all his essentials.

"Need to get a new bottle of shampoo," he muttered, shaking his empty bottle with a scowl.

Damnit Robin. At least let him know when the shampoo was done!

He opened the cabinet full of his shampoo and dragged one out, dumping the previous one in the trash while he was at it and making his way back to the tub.

By now, steam had swiftly permeated the entire room and Rosan sighed as he sunk into the water, making sure not to go too low so as to avoid activating his weakness.

He leaned back, grabbing a bucket to soak his hair in, only to stop as he felt a presence enter the room.

The redhead ran a hand against his soaked face in order to peer to the left, freezing abruptly at seeing goddamn Raisa enter the bathroom.

"W-What the hell?!" Mod's face turned scarlet as she stared at the woman and gaped.

Ram whistled. "Jeez! Some people just have it all."

"Raisa, what the hell are you doing?" Rosan grunted in surprise, seeing his birth mother enter without a care in the world…

Without clothes on. His mother simply had a towel to her name right now.

"I'd like to soak as well. It was quite the workout for me too," Raisa said bluntly, placing her towel to the side and folding it gently.

"Here?!" Rosan raised a brow in confusion. "I have like 4 different baths in this castle. Why are you here?"

"It's a good bonding experience for us. You are my son after all... and I didn't know how to work your baths," Raisa frowned, not seeing issue with what she was doing at all.

Rosan heard Mod let out a strangled noise and sighed.

"Raisa… seriously, warn a person when you're gonna do this," he sighed, leaning back and closing his eyes. "You're lucky we're related by blood."

"It's not as if I would do such a thing with anyone. Hardly a soul has ever seen me naked," Raisa muttered, entering the bath and sighing in relief at the abnormally high temperatures.

"This bath feels incredible… does it naturally reach such temperatures?" she asked curiously.

Rosan nodded, slightly surprised by how much she liked it. Robin for natural reasons, couldn't stand when he ran the bath this hot and would absolutely rip into him if he did such a thing with her in it.

He didn't realize someone else would enjoy these.

"I normally have to manually heat it up myself," Raisa said, blowing out a puff of flames to show how she did so.

"It's very nice. I began to enjoy it after unlocking my dragon form," Rosan explained easily.

Raisa perked up, seeing this as an opportunity to learn more about her son.

"So… you modified yourself to become a dragon?" Raisa asked curiously.

Rosan nodded.

"It was my goal for a long time. I managed to achieve it when I was 9 and I've been using it ever since," he informed her.

"I guess the Iris truly are obsessed with reptiles… I chose my Devil Fruit when I was a baby. My parents put me in a room of them and I chose this one. They then waited for me to be of age, before allowing me to consume it," she told him.

"Go figure. You flew me to Baterilla right?" Rosan mused.

Raisa nodded. "I did. I flew you over and stood above the island until a person without a malicious aura picked you up."

Rosan hummed. "So if the person who took me was malicious?"

"I'd have killed them and taken you back. It was... a test for myself and the person. Portgas D. Rouge passed with flying colors."

Rosan had a thoughtful expression. "You know... all things considered, you made some fairly decent decisions in your stupid ass plan."

Raisa flinched at that, ducking her head. "It was such an idiotic decision made by me. The Iris pride themselves on their intelligence and I did the complete opposite."

Rosan snorted, grabbing his shampoo and dumping some in her hair.

The woman yelped at that, before relaxing at the incredible sensation of someone scrubbing her hair.

"We've gone through this already. Stop dwelling on that when talking to me. I already told you I prefered your decision over you keeping me so there's nothing to feel terrible about," he murmured.

His birth mother gazed at her reflection in the water. "What did I do to deserve your kindness?"

"Take accountability for your actions. You're trying really hard to make amends with me and I appreciate that," he smiled softly, washing her hair clean.

Raisa gazed in wonder at her fellow redhead, idly grasping her hair.

That felt good...

She stood up. "Let me wash your back."

Rosan rolled his eyes. "You know Mod-chan can see you naked too right? Ram says nice body by the way," he replied.

Raisa blinked slowly, before her cheeks turned red in mortification. That red spread to the entirety of her face and the woman let out a strangled noise.

"W-W-What?! Why didn't you mention anything?!" she hissed, sinking so deeply into the water that Rosan had to reach and pull her up before she began drowning.

"She is literally apart of me. She's been stunned since the moment you walked in," Rosan said in amusement, noting that both his mothers had combusted in unison.

"Oh… I forgot about that..."

"I hate you. So... so much..."

"Now I know where Father got his body from."

Raisa once again tried to drown herself and Rosan sighed.

His family was full of idiots.

---

"Hey Aiko."

Aiko jumped high into the air at that, whirling around to glare at Rosan for being an annoying fucking pest...

Before the words died on her lips.

"That technique is so fascinating," Raisa muttered, dusting herself off as Rosan held her up.

"I'm sooo dizzy," Dalia slurred, grasping Rosan with both hands to prevent from falling over.

Oren held his head, blinking the stars away at seeing sunlight once more. His nephew idly held him up with one hand, seemingly expecting the two of them to be impaired by that.

"What a jarring technique. How the hell are you two acting so normal?" he groaned.

"Dunno. Even when I first started doing this, it never bothered me much," Rosan replied easily.

Raisa nodded in agreement. "It is a fine technique. Slightly jarring but otherwise, I'm perfectly fine."

"Weee," Dalia cheered dizzily, climbing her tall as hell nephew and holding onto him.

Rosan didn't even flinch at her antics. "How's it going?" he asked Aiko.

Aiko's eyes were wide as she looked at Rosan's company.

From the hunking and handsome black haired man, to the short and gorgeous curly haired woman... and finally the tall and downright stunning redhead who was just Rosan in female form.

"This seriously isn't fair," Aiko thought in disbelief, looking at the four hotties with wide eyes.

Rosan approached his surrogate older sister and dragged her into a tight hug.

"What's up?" he murmured, watching as she snapped out of her daze.

Aiko felt her fondness swell, clutching the redhead and returning the hug easily.

"I'm good. Less worried now that you're accounted for," she muttered, sinking into him.

"Where's Akemi?" he asked curiously.

"With her therapist. She made more appointments due to recent events," Aiko explained with a frown.

Rosan flinched. "Shit... I'm sorry. I didn't wanna send her back to therapy."

"Back?" Raisa thought in concern.

"Don't blame yourself, Rosan. How's Ace?" Aiko asked.

"Still unconscious. I really don't know when he's going to wake up," the redhead sighed, brow furrowing.

"It better be soon. I didn't watch you almost die just for him to stay in a coma," Aiko scowled fiercely, hiding her worry behind the anger.

Rosan sighed. "Ace is a coward like me... he doesn't want to face you guys after what happened. He'll wake up though."

Aiko saw the slight stress on his face and hugged the redhead tightly, placing her hands on his cheeks. "Make sure you take care of yourself."

The redhead smiled down at her. "Since when are you showing your concern so freely?"

"Since you almost died without me being able to even say goodbye."

Rosan winced back. "Sorry."

"Don't be. I just miss Akemi a bit," she sighed.

"I know," he soothed, running a hand through her hair.

"Who is this, Rosan?"

Aiko perked up at that question and gazed into a set of beautiful glowing eyes, shining blue with curiosity.

The woman was perched on Rosan's back, staring down at the leader of Fregate.

"Seriously, how are they all so hot?" Aiko thought in disbelief, gazing at the woman that looked related to Rosan... but not as much as the tall woman in the back.

"This is Aiko. She's the leader of Fregate Island and one of my closest friends. Aiko, this is Dalia. She's my auntie."

"Nice to meetcha!" Dalia grinned, landing on the floor and walking up to Aiko.

The woman lost her balance and stumbled forward, falling right into Aiko.

"Woops! Sorry!" Dalia said sheepishly, looking up at the slightly taller woman. "I've got a bit of a weak body so when weird things happen to me, they stay for a little longer."

"Oh don't worry about it," Aiko said automatically, flashing her a small smile. "It's nothing at all."

A small breeze brushed against the leaders cheek and she looked up, meeting the knowing smirk of Rosan.

"Did he push her into me?!" Aiko thought in disbelief.

"You know, Aunt Dalia... it strikes me as weird that you're single. We're family after all so that means you have my good looks."

Rosan was... the ultimate wingman. Aiko seriously needed to reward her little brother one of these days. He was just too awesome.

"Oren banned me from dating after I killed my last boyfriend for cheating on me!" Dalia chirped.

"It's for her own good. Dalia can't spot a good man from a mile away so they end up taking advantage of her," Oren sighed.

Raisa scoffed. "Gullible girl. I've already warned you that such a thing is expected, Dalia."

Dalia spluttered at her older siblings. "Now's not the time to talk about my love life! We're meeting a new person dammit!"

Aiko raised a brow. "You're telling me someone cheated on you? What, are they blind?" she asked in confusion.

Dalia nodded eagerly. "And stupid too!"

The woman peered at Aiko with a curious gaze. "You're single too? Really? How is a big leader like you single?" she asked.

"Me," Rosan interjected easily. "People get really insecure when they see the two of us."

Aiko nodded with a helpless shrug. "Something about a hot redhead being able to teleport in my home whenever he wants, doesn't sit right with them."

Dalia giggled at that. "You're funny! I like you! Aiko was it? Let's be friends!" she said bluntly, grinning ear to ear.

"She's as blunt as Rosan too," Aiko thought, noting that the woman was still leaning on her.

"Sure, I think we'll get along great!"

Rosan snorted at that. "This is my uncle, Oren."

Oren held out a hand and Aiko strained her neck to look at the broad and tall man, catching his hand with her positively tiny one in comparison.

"Pleasure to meet you, Aiko. I'm Iris D. Oren," Oren said, deep voice coursing through her bones.

"Likewise," Aiko greeted, smiling at the relaxed man who was built like a tank.

"How long have you and Rosan known each other for?" Oren asked curiously.

Aiko scratched her head at that question, pondering it for a while. "Almost 16 years now? I've known him since he was a little squirt of a 9 year old. I still remember being a head taller than him..." she muttered.

Oren snorted. "Sudden growth spurt, right? Happens to all of us except for Dalia."

"H-HEY!" Dalia shouted, glaring at Oren.

"Sudden is one way of putting it. One second he was at my nose, the next I was breaking my neck to look up at him," Aiko sighed despondently.

Rosan ruffled her gray hair with an insufferable smirk and Aiko nearly batted it away on instinct... before remembering what he had done.

"You've known him for that long?" Raisa decided to ask, eyes slightly wide. "You are the leader of Fregate, yes? What is your relationship with Rosan exactly?"

"She's my sugar mama," Rosan said with a thumbs up.

Aiko immediately began spluttering at that, heinous glare making its way to her face. "Don't say it like that!"

"Why? You've been giving me money for 15 years. You're also 11 years older than me. I think you meet all the qualifications."

Her eye twitched at the amused look in his eyes.

"Sugar... mama?" Raisa tilted her head in confusion. "Dalia, what is a sugar mama?"

"I don't like that you automatically expect me to know the answer to that," Dalia deadpanned.

"..." Raisa stared at her.

Dalia stared back. "...A sugar mama is an older lady who gives a younger man money... usually for... favors."

Raisa blinked, before turning a terrifying glare towards Aiko.

"Woah woah!" Rosan interjected immediately, stepping in front of the raging Raisa. "Down woman. I was kidding. Aiko's my older sister."

The aura of death that washed over Aiko vanished and the woman sighed in some relief.

"I'm guessing this is your birth mother?" she asked, peeking over Rosan's shoulder at the tall woman.

"Yeah. Iris D. Raisa," Rosan greeted, placing both hands on Raisa's shoulder. "Calm down. Aiko and I joke around all the time."

The redhead's eyes suddenly shifted red. "Not that you would know," Mod grumbled.

Raisa flinched back harshly at the feminine voice.

"My... apologies," she mumbled.

Mod twitched slightly. "No... that comment was unnecessary," she said stiffly, giving control back to Rosan.

Aiko whistled. Mod seriously did hate this woman.

Rosan pinched his nose as he regained control once more. "Aiko, my Raid Suit was destroyed. I wanna new one... though I probably won't use it that much anyways so maybe I don't."

Aiko shook her head strongly. "No. I don't care. We're repairing it. Now is not the time for you to start neglecting yourself," she hissed, dragging him out of the room.

"I wanna get strong enough so that I don't have to rely on it. Then it'll become overkill," Rosan said, allowing her to push him out of the room.

"Whatever you say, silver tongue! Let's go!" she barked.

"Yes sir. Just let me change my appearance a bit."

"SIR?!"

Dalia giggled. "I really like her!" she exclaimed.

"She seems like a good balance to Rosan's insanity. I'm glad he had such a logical voice for all these years."

"More than one by the looks of it," Raisa commented, watching as Rosan laughed while being pushed out.

---

"You know, all things considered, I expected you to be more terrified of Raisa," Dalia commented.

Aiko raised a brow and gazed at the woman in question.

It wasn't hard to see why Raisa would be intimidating. She was a tall woman who cut an imposing figure, wrapped in a tight dress that allowed for ease of movement. Her eyes were sharp and with how they were narrowed, it always seemed like she was dissecting you with a gaze.

Aiko would compare it to a top predator mulling over whether you were worthy of being eaten or not.

But regardless of those details...

"No offense at all to her, but Rosan is way more terrifying. I've seen what that guy could do since he was a kid so it's not even close," she chuckled.

Dalia put a finger to her lip at that. "Really?"

"You've known him for a long time... what was he like?" Raisa jumped in curiously.

Aiko leaned back into her seat and let out an exhale.

"A demon that's what. You guys are meeting one of the nicest versions of Rosan we've ever had," she said bluntly.

"Demon?" Oren mused.

She nodded without hesitation. "When he was Reaper, Rosan was probably the worst version of himself yet. If it wasn't his murderous tendencies, it was the complete lack of emotions," Aiko murmured, thinking back to that version and letting out a sigh of relief at seeing how much he had improved.

Raisa froze. "No... emotions?"

Both Oren and Dalia froze as well, staring at Aiko with wide eyes.

Aiko went stiff at that, peering at the three with searching eyes.

"That's not my place to tell at all. Rosan's not very forthcoming with information and I respect his privacy. Ask him when you think he trusts you enough... maybe he'll tell you. I still feel like he doesn't tell me things."

The three nodded slowly at that.

An Iris without their emotions... such a thing sounded unheard of. They were so saturated in their feelings, that losing them would be no different than dying.

Though, with how Aiko spoke of him, perhaps Rosan had been "dead" for a while.

"What are you talking about, Aiko? I tell you just about everything. If I don't, Maro definitely will because I tell her just about everything too."

Aiko rolled her eyes at his voice and turned towards him, mouth opening and abruptly shutting at seeing Akemi hanging defeatedly off his shoulder.

"Don't ask. I forgot just how spoiled Rosan is," Akemi grumbled.

Rosan smiled winningly. "You were at your therapist for long enough. I understand why you need it but I don't like being the reason."

"Well maybe you shouldn't make my heart burst out my chest!" she cried out.

"I'll try not to do it again," he said.

"Sound more genuine!" she complained.

The dainty woman pat herself down as Rosan placed her on the floor, glaring up at the tall redhead with puffed up cheeks.

Rosan smiled and pat her neat gray her, running a hand through the long locks and fixing the few mussed up pieces.

"You three want to know why I had no emotions?" he asked, turning towards them with a tilted head. His brows were furrowed but there was a peaceful air to the redhead.

"Only if you're comfortable telling us," Raisa said immediately, not wanting to pressure him for anything.

Rosan smiled softly. "I've made my peace with it. Making my peace, is actually helping me become a better person so I don't mind telling you."

Made his... peace with it.

Something truly terrible had happened to the youngest Iris.

"When I was 12, my girlfriend at the time, Meiko, was fatally injured. She died in my hands," Rosan said truthfully, idly messing with the ring on his finger.

Raisa felt her heart drop at that.

Rosan sighed. "We were soulmates. Unreal compatibility. I could read her mind, she could read mine. We just had it naturally," he smiled faintly.

"But she's gone now. I had already been dealing with a lot of mental stress and that one was the last straw. In order to protect myself, I sealed my emotions away and lost them for 12 years."

There was a tense silence at that and Akemi pulled Rosan into a tight embrace.

"I'm so proud of you, Rosan," she murmured.

"Thank you," he said earnestly.

The redhead let out a grunt of surprise, as he was pulled into a strong hug.

Raisa shivered harshly against him, tears brimming in her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Rosan. What a truly awful thing you were forced to experience."

Mod bit her tongue at that.

Rosan smiled. "That's okay. It took me a while but I'm better now."

Dalia sobbed loudly and Oren wiped his eyes, before the two joined the squeeze session.

Rosan smiled and pat them all. "Hey, I know you guys are seeping in regret and I know you guys wish you could protect me back then but what's done is done."

"I should have protected you," Raisa whispered in despair. "When you were weak and defenseless, I should have been the one guarding you. I have no equal in the South Blue... I could have kept you safe."

He stared down at her with a tilted head. "Like I said. What's done is done. Don't stress about it."

"No!" Raisa shouted, staring up at him with teary and horrified eyes. "You don't understand, Rosan. I feel so terrible because it truly is my fault!"

Rosan raised a brow and said nothing.

"I didn't have to be completely uninvolved... with me, none of these terrible things would ever have happened to you. You wouldn't have been enslaved... you wouldn't have had to kill so many people and... you wouldn't have had to become such a notorious bounty hunter," she whispered.

"Ah, I forgot the world knows I'm Reaper now."

"All these things... Rosan, I'm sorry for failing you. You keep downplaying my actions but Mod is completely right. I don't deserve to be forgiven so easily," Raisa whimpered.

"..." Rosan tilted his head then pat her on the head.

"Raisa, you and I aren't so different at all. Even right now, you're punishing yourself in a way that's eerily similar to me."

Mod's gaze wavered at that and she shut her eyes.

"Look. No one is as self critical of their self, as I am. My family has been trying to help me view myself better for years. I take everything and I blow it out of proportion. Something I had to learn over the years, is that I can't do everything," he murmured.

Raisa wavered at the wistful smile on his face.

"I grew up thinking I had to be perfect... and I bet as Queen, you grew up thinking you had to be perfect too."

Dalia and Oren sniffed at the sight of Raisa nodding with wide eyes.

Rosan sighed and slapped both of Raisa's cheeks with his palms, something he used to do to himself all the time as a child.

Raisa yelped at that and gazed at her son with glistening eyes.

"We're not perfect, Raisa. I abandoned a newborn too. We make stressful decisions in the heat of the moment and you and I? We're really emotional people and being self critical makes it even worse..."

"That's why you have to rely on people," Raisa whispered, clutching him tightly.

Rosan grinned. "The same person I made the choice to abandon... grew up and forgave me without ever needing to."

"A-And you grew up and forgave me too," she whimpered.

The redhead pat his fellow redhead gently. "I don't beat on dead horses. You want to get better? I won't stop you from getting better. How you choose to get better is up to you."

Raisa's lips wobbled and she tackled her son to the floor.

"T-That's why I'm relying on you! My son has become so wise and caring!" she sobbed happily.

Rosan laughed and rubbed her back. "Yeah yeah. We need to go soon anyways. I want you to meet more people," he said.

She nodded and sniffed repeatedly.

"Aiko, Akemi... I'll visit again soon," he mentioned standing up and beckoning his relatives over.

"Sure thing," Aiko nodded. "I'd like to get to know your family better too."

Dalia grinned and waved eagerly. "It was nice to meetcha, Aiko! You too Akemi! I wanna speak to the both of you more!"

Aiko smirked. "Sure? How about over dinner? I'll treat you to whatever you want."

"Sure! I love seafood and I eat a lot," Dalia grinned innocently.

"It's a date." The leader of Fregate nodded.

Oren raised a brow and shot a look towards Rosan.

"Are you trying to set them up?" He whispered to his nephew.

"I'm just planting the seeds. Dalia seems pretty open and Aiko needs to hurry up and settle down," he smirked.

Oren pursed his lips and nodded. "Alright. I'll trust your judgement then."

Rosan nodded with a smile, adjusting Raisa slightly as she continued squeezing him.

Akemi waved eagerly, stars in her eyes as she looked repeatedly between Aiko and Dalia.

"I'm sorry for not being here earlier! I'm glad to have met you guys! You have to visit again!"

Dalia beamed. "We so will! You two are awesome already!"

"See ya," Rosan waved, vanishing with a small smile.

"So?" Akemi pressed immediately.

Aiko huffed. "So what?"

"So what's with you and Dalia-san?!" she asked excitedly.

The leader of Fregate rolled her eyes. "Rosan thought it'd be a good idea to subtly hook me up with his aunt. He must have seen me checking her out and decided it was a good idea to push her into me."

"And?" Akemi pressed.

"...And I think she's really cute," Aiko mumbled.

Akemi squealed. "You see how possessive Rosan is, right? If you do something wrong to that girl, you might disappear."

"She already mentioned killing her last boyfriend and her teeth are naturally sharp as hell, so I'm pretty sure she's got a Devil Fruit..."

Her little sister beamed. "But you won't hurt her! Rosan's trusting you obviously!"

"Yeah yeah. I have no intention of messing whatever happens up," she sighed.

"Good! This is probably the closest to dating a version of Rosan anyways! Raisa-san looks untouchable!" Akemi grinned.

Aiko felt a vein of annoyance form. "What is with you thinking I'm obsessed with Rosan's appearance?!"

Akemi giggled and began removing her suit. "So you just happen to like redheads?"

"Get out. We haven't physically fought in years but I'm more than willing to bring it back."

Her little sister laughed loudly. "You wouldn't fight me! I'd cry to Rosan and then he'd fight you in my stead!"

Aiko balked at the shameless Akemi.

"Terrible. I knew that damn demon influenced you too much."

"Are we talking about Rosan or the actual Demon?"

"Please shut the hell up."

---

Raisa stared at the trio of Rosan, Angel and Demon with an unreadable expression.

"Oh my Kami," Dalia gasped, putting a hand over her mouth as she gazed at them.

"The resemblance is uncanny," Oren chuckled in disbelief, eyes wide as he stared at the triplets.

They were all similar heights, though Rosan was noticeably taller than the other two, with similar features and a few differences that made them different from each other.

While the purple haired man, who they knew was Demon, looked exactly like Rosan, his features were softer and his color pallet was inverted, donning purple hair and red eyes.

Whereas Rosan had a cocky and wild air to him, smiling or smirking confidently, Demon looked gentle in comparison. There was a kind smile on his face, though it vanished slightly as he gazed upon the three of them.

On the contrary, the redheaded girl, who they knew was Angel, looked every bit as fierce as Rosan had whenever he was in action. She was scowling slightly at them, glare turning truly heinous as she made eye contact with Raisa, before shifting into slight confusion at the sight of Oren and Dalia.

Dalia was about to leap forward, but Oren tugged her back.

"Let them handle this first," he whispered to her.

"But I wanna glomp my nephews and nieces!" she hissed in return.

"The girl might kill you."

"She's adorable! That's a risk I'm willing to take!"

The two stopped arguing, as a beautiful blue haired woman approached them.

"Nice to meet you two. I'm Queen Maro of Celadon," Maro greeted with a polite smile.

Dalia's eyes lit up and she vigorously shook Maro's hand.

"It's nice to meet you! You're married to Angel right?!" she asked excitedly.

Maro grinned and nodded eagerly. "We've been married almost 6 years now! We love each other very much," she said demurely.

Dalia squealed happily. "That's so cute! We're Rosan's aunt and uncle. I hope we can get along!"

"A queen... he sure does have his connections," Oren laughed.

"Well, he's the reason I am a queen!"

Their eyes widened.

"What?" Oren muttered.

"We need to hear the story behind that!" Dalia gaped.

"Sure! Let's go this way and let these four deal with their thing," Maro smiled, dragging the two out of the room.

Raisa took a deep breath, as she watched Queen Maro guide her siblings away.

Some moral support would have been nice. She felt like she were being left in a lion den right now.

But perhaps doing this alone, was what she needed. Raisa needed to be brave and handle her mistakes by herself.

The woman slapped both her cheeks and a look of determination made its way to her face.

Demon's eyes softened at the very Rosan-esque move.

Angel was not so easily swayed.

Rosan was content to stay silent. Much like with Robin back at Water 7, Angel and Demon were free to make their own decisions based on what Raisa said without his influence.

It was up to the queen of Wisteria to win them over.

"It is... a pleasure to meet you two, Angel... and Demon," she greeted slowly, not wanting to mess this up in anyway.

The girl's glare deepened. "So you're Raisa?" Angel mused.

She hugged the amused Rosan tightly, dragging him away and out of sight from the Queen.

Raisa's hand faltered at seeing Rosan dragged away from her but she noted Angel's glare and settled for a stiff nod.

Angel was holding Rosan rather protectively... as if protecting the oldest triplet from her.

"I-I'm sorry," Raisa said abruptly, bowing lowly to them.

"You're sorry?" Angel asked frostily, eyes narrowed. She bared her teeth warningly but Raisa didn't see it.

"I made a mistake. I should have never abandoned Rosan... and I should have never been out of his life for so long. Nothing I say or do will ever truly make up for what I did... but I'm still going to try," Raisa said firmly.

"Sometimes trying isn't enough," Angel interjected coldly.

"You're right... but I'll continue to try regardless. Even if my efforts go unappreciated until the end of time, I will still continue to try because Rosan helped me when he was the last person on the planet who needed to do so," Raisa said passionately, holding a hand over her heart.

The resolve in her eyes were clear as day. Raisa truly did plan on fighting even if her efforts may have never been acknowledged.

Demon sighed and walked up to the bowing queen. "It's nice… to meet you, Raisa," he said gently, holding out a hand for her to shake.

"To be honest, I don't really like you very much. You abandoned an infant in a forest. Even after one day, that could have proven to be a fatal mistake..."

Raisa wilted at that, head ducking at his disapproving frown.

"But... if Master is able to forgive you for such a thing, I suppose I can only be slightly upset on his behalf. He's going to be staying with you for two years which means we'll be seeing and hearing about you quite a bit. I'm not one to hold animosity towards someone for such a long time…" he sighed, pulling her up.

She gazed into his compassionate eyes and wavered slightly.

"Besides, Postpartum Depression is a very real and very dangerous thing. To have to deal with the amount of things you likely did... on top of the fact you were raped, I'd be heartless to not understand why you made the decision you did... I just wish you handed him over directly to Rouge."

Raisa looked stunned at that, gazing at Demon with wide eyes. Tears sprung in her eyes and she nodded strongly.

"I was being very stupid," she whimpered, wiping her eyes as she gazed at the kind Demon. "I wanted him to remain unaware of his heritage so he could be free of such a life."

"I understand... you believed that if someone saw you, they'd eventually be able to make connections that you were the queen of Wisteria," Demon muttered.

She nodded and Demon sighed.

"You were under extreme duress. One that you probably had to mask, seeing as you are a queen. It was practically impossible for you to make a sound decision. In fact, I believe you probably wouldn't have been able to raise Master correctly in the first place, so giving him up for adoption was the only logical decision. As a doctor, I know you must have been going through something excruciating and I'd be cruel to fault you."

Raisa sniffed at that, tears falling as she gazed at Demon. He was smiling sympathetically at her and at the sight of her tears, the doctor gently wiped them away.

"You're making the effort and I'm much nicer than Master is. It'd be a bad look if he forgave you and I couldn't attempt to."

"Hey," Rosan said flatly.

Angel looked at her little brother incredulously, then gazed at Raisa… then gazed at Rosan.

Rosan caught her gaze and smiled slightly.

"Do whatever you want. You're your own person now," he mouthed.

She gazed down at her body. The one given to her by Master and gazed at her older brother with a small smile.

Finally, the middle triplet took a deep breath and nodded to herself.

Angel turned to Raisa in one smooth motion and slapped her right across the cheek with thunderous force.

SMACK.

"I expected that," Raisa sighed, head turning at the action as a bruise formed on her cheek.

While not as strong as Mod, she had left her guard down in complete acceptance for what was about to occur.

"I don't like you. At all," Angel said flatly.

Raisa nodded, not too surprised by that.

"I hold Master in the highest regards. He's my big brother after all... and you abandoned him. Good reason this, stress that. I'm not logical like Demon is, so even after hearing all that I still don't really like you at all..."

Angel sighed. "But I can relate to people and I really hate that sometimes."

"I want to call you a complete dumbass and take a stance about being better than you. But... I've also made stupid decisions under distress and I lost way more from that decision than yours," she said, eyes shutting as she remembered the day everything went wrong.

Raisa saw the way her eyes shut and tentatively placed a hand on Angel's shoulder.

Angel jolted and stared at it, before stepping away from Raisa with a wary look in her eyes.

"You'll have to do a lot to earn my forgiveness… but I'm willing to let bygones be bygones. You should thank my amazing brothers for that... and you should thank my wife for accepting me despite all my faults. I'll return the good fortune."

Raisa nodded eagerly. "I'll do anything to make it up to my children and that involves you two as well. Whatever you need from me, I'll do my best," she assured.

"C-Children?!" Angel gaped, eyes going wide.

"Wow, not only do you have kids… you have triplets!" Dalia squealed happily, clapping as the earlier group of three watched the exchange.

"I guess it's to make up for the fact we don't have kids," Oren mused.

"Triplets… I have triplets?" Raisa whispered to herself.

She did didn't she? They all looked just like her too! Rosan, Angel and Demon... her three children.

Triplets! Her!

Her eyes shone and the queen summarily yanked the three into a tight hug.

"I have triplets!" she beamed.

The triplets let out different noises, from Rosan's accepting sigh, Demon's confused amusement and Angel's strangled yelp.

"W-What the hell are you talking about?!" Angel gaped.

"Her ignorance reminds me of you and Master," Demon laughed.

"You get used to it," Rosan chuckled, squeezing the three of them.

"I'll earn all of your respect. I promise," Raisa said, determination in her eyes as she gazed at them all. "I have many ways to help you all. You must all come visit Wisteria. I will gladly show you all around."

"I'd like to see it," Demon said, ignoring Angel's glare.

"I think it'll be fun! We're both queens so we can set things up between our islands," Maro smiled gleefully, steadfastly ignoring Angel's heinous growl.

"You're squeezing too hard!" Angel complained, struggling fruitlessly.

"So that's why Master loves hugs," Demon laughed, returning it.

Maro smiled gleefully, hugging the ecstatic Dalia.

---

"So you are Rosan's student?" Raisa asked curiously, chopping a carrot swiftly.

Maro watched her with an impressed eye, nodding at the question.

"He's been my teacher for 12 years now! He taught me everything I know!" Maro beamed.

Raisa hummed pleasantly at that, dumping the carrots in a bowl. "You don't... have a problem with me?" she asked tentatively.

"Of course I do!" Maro laughed. "I used to think you were a bitch!"

Raisa's mouth opened in shock at that, not expecting her fellow queen to say that word so freely.

"I don't think a single soul in our family doesn't have a problem with you, besides Master of course. I just don't feel the need to act out on those issues," Maro shrugged.

The blue haired goblin gazed at Raisa with a kind smile.

"You don't need to be punished by me. You've gotten punished enough... besides, you're the reason I have Master. Without you abandoning him, he probably never finds me and I die instead," she said bluntly.

Raisa blinked in horror at that. "I... see. So he saved your life?"

Maro nodded eagerly. "I was homeless before I met him. No parents to be seen. I didn't even have a name!"

That made Raisa truly jolt. "Homeless? No name? Truly?!" she asked in disbelief.

She gazed at the woman carefully. "Does that mean... Rosan named you?"

"Mhm. Master literally gave me everything. My name, my Devil Fruit, my role in this world... my life as queen."

Maro smiled and gazed at Angel, prompting the redhead to look up.

Raisa watched her daughter's cheeks burn red and felt her heart swell.

"I feel terrible for leaving him behind... but I realize now that he has met so much people, that it was actually better for me to do so," she whispered.

"Call me selfish but I agree. At least this way, Master gets the best of both worlds. Us and you!" Maro beamed.

Raisa never saw it like that... but Maro was completely right.

The woman placed her knife down and pulled Maro into a tight hug.

"You're a wonderful person, Maro," Raisa murmured.

Maro lit up at that, cheeks a bright red.

"You're not a bitch, Raisa!" Maro replied easily, returning the hug.

"If you ever have any advice, from one queen to another, I'd be glad to help you," Raisa replied kindly.

The Dokkaebi's eyes lit up. "Actually, since you'll be training Master for two years, I'd like to join too! You can teach me queen stuff at the same time!"

Raisa hummed and nodded. "Very well. I have no problem training you either. You mentioned a Devil Fruit?"

Maro grinned. "I ate a Mythical Zoan! I'm a Dokkaebi!"

"Rosan sure does seem to find quite the Devil Fruits," Raisa murmured, finishing up the meal.

"Yeah he does!" Maro cackled.

"Enough buttering up my wife!" Angel barked, marching up to the two conversing with a slight glare. "The food is ready right? Get it on the table!"

Maro saluted and began placing the assortment of dishes on the table.

Angel huffed and only began helping because she didn't want Maro moving back and forth too much.

Raisa made alot of food. It honestly looked delicious... not that Angel would ever say it aloud.

"I'm not sure what you all prefer, so I just made an assortment of different dishes," Raisa said, fidgeting slightly as she took a seat next to Rosan.

Her oldest son smiled slightly and held out a hand, before the ring on his finger transformed into Ram.

"Ram!" Angel squealed, rubbing her cheeks against the girl.

Ram hissed but accepted it all the same. "Stop that! I'm happy to see you guys but don't go doing these things! It's childish!"

Maro coughed at that and got a heinous glare from her best friend.

"I'm sorry, Ram! I can't help it... your cheeks are so squishy," Angel sighed. She idly pinched the girls cheek and Ram growled warningly.

"Father! Stop her before I cause a scene!"

Rosan sighed. He had been quietly conversing with Demon while they caused their chaos but it was expected for him to eventually get dragged into it.

He grabbed Ram and sat the short girl next to him, making his seat larger because Ram would throw a fit if everyone saw her sitting on his knees.

Ram accepted the fork and idly bit it, chewing the metal like it were candy and glaring as Rosan snatched it out of her hand.

The redhead's eyes flashed and he repaired the fork, handing it back to Ram with an amused smile.

"I'll give you some actual steel later. Don't eat Raisa's forks," he grunted.

"But Grandma doesn't have a problem with it!" Ram scowled at him.

Raisa nodded in agreement. "I don't. I was concerned at first, but seeing as Ram doesn't get affected by it, it's fine by me," she smiled.

"Stop spoiling her," Rosan and Mod said flatly, voice mixing with each other.

Ram grinned and shot Raisa a thumbs up, causing the woman to smile.

"This... is surprisingly delicious," Demon said, taking a bite out of his food. His eyes were wide as he dug into his meal.

"Seriously! It's delicious!" Maro exclaimed.

Raisa's cheeks dusted and she glanced at the table. "I um... I used to be rather terrible at cooking."

"Really?" Demon asked, eyes twinkling as he shot a look towards the utterly unamused Rosan.

Raisa nodded, missing the look. "My parents refused to let me cook. Unbefitting for a queen. They... forced Dalia to cook instead. They used to say if she can't even fight, she may as well learn how to do something," she said quietly.

Demon's smile vanished at that, a small frown on his face.

Dalia in question, was at Fregate with Aiko, Akemi and Oren so it was just Raisa and her children (yes, her children!).

"Your parents suck?" Maro asked.

"They were awful. They mistreated Oren and Dalia very much," she muttered.

"Not you?" Angel pressed with a frown.

Raisa shook her head. "My parents loved me. I was everything they wanted in a child and more. I was the light of the Iris family, the greatest prospect since they first combined their lineage with the Kuja."

There was a tinge of bitterness in her voice at that and the queen shook her head.

"My parents tainted my relationship with my siblings but that is for another time. You wanted to know why I know how to cook yes?"

They nodded, noting that Raisa would have preferred to not speak about this.

"I learned somewhat how to cook during my travels through the sea. I wasn't the best but it was adequate enough... but sometime after Wisteria was... attacked, I had to fully teach myself how to cook properly. Every other meal I had created for me, was laced in some type of poison by wouldbe assassins. While I'm mostly immune to poison, it does sour the taste of the meal... and I did not want Rosan, who I was still pregnant with at the time, to have anything wrong happen to him," Rasia explained patiently.

There was a tense silence at that.

"You were dealing with assassins while pregnant?" Demon asked slowly.

Raisa nodded, an exhausted look taking over. "A single man managed to destroy countless parts of my island and got away. Not only that, the previous rulers were killed in the action. I had just become Queen when this happened to me. The people were not used to me at all. I was 18, I had just become Queen and the first thing my subjects learned about me, was that I wasn't strong enough to protect them from one man."

"Holy shit," Maro thought in horror. Losing the trust of her subjects so early into her reign... all while pregnant.

Raisa sighed. "I'm not here to garner pity with any of you. I've already made my mistakes and I'm ready to make amends for them," she said firmly.

Demon frowned sadly. "The more you tell us, the more I empathize with you. You were truly in a horrific situation."

"I would honestly feel like an asshole if I still hated you," Maro muttered, a sad expression overtaking her. "I dealt with assassins too when I first took the throne. I couldn't imagine dealing with them while pregnant."

"...It was difficult. Not a day went by where I wasn't stressed," Raisa agreed, cutting a piece of steak and delicately eating it.

"Pregnancy is a terrible thing when you have to deal with it alone," Rosan murmured, eyes glossing over with memories. "That's why I don't fault you. I was a firsthand witness to a pregnant person. Being pregnant and in charge?"

Raisa wavered at that. "Thank you for being more understanding than me, Rosan," she whispered.

Angel stared at the woman who looked exactly like her and frowned, before digging into the plate.

"I want you to teach me how to cook. It's a decent meal and since Maro loves it so much, I'll make it accessible for her," Angel said bluntly.

Raisa blinked at that, before a smile threatened to overtake her features.

"I'd love to teach you. It could be a good bonding experience," Raisa said softly.

Angel's eye twitched. "S-Shut up! I just wanna learn how to cook! Don't make it weird!"

Demon chuckled. "There Angel goes again."

Rosan rolled his eyes in amusement. "She should be more honest with herself."

"Auntie Angel is like that! She refuses to because it's embarrassing!" Ram cackled, wildly eating a steak.

"Guys. Please... I'm going to have to deal with her eruption later because of things you said," Maro said miserably.

Angel twitched harshly. "I'll kill all of you," she said calmly, purple sparks running through her body.

Rosan blinked and smoothly moved Ram in front of him, much to the rings horror.

"Have fun," he said easily, chewing his chicken easily.

"G-GET ME OFF YOUR LAP!" Ram roared.

"You need to be more honest with yourself too," Rosan chuckled, patting her head.

"I'LL KILL YOU FATHER!"

Raisa watched the chaos going on and... the queen felt a laugh leave her body.

"He...hehehe," Raisa giggled, feeling her body lighten as she laughed for the first time in who knows how long.

The Queen's eyes were shut in joy, so she missed the sight of everyone gazing at her.

"You have a cute laugh," Rosan snorted.

Raisa heard that, and a blush of mortification appeared on her face at the eyes on her person.

"I-It's been a while since I've laughed... you guys have just, made my life a lot brighter," she mumbled in embarrassment.

Angel had to do everything in her power to not coo at that. She was already reluctantly sympathizing with the queen... but she needed to make her work for it.

Mod watched it all, completely silent. Her brows were furrowed and she bit her lip before sighing to herself.

---

Raisa's eyes snapped open as the body she was squeezing, shifted enough to jostle her.

"Did Rosan's body get... softer?" Raisa thought, horror beginning to fill her as she felt the very feminine body.

"You're squeezing me too hard," Mod said quietly, red eyes glowing in the night.

Raisa realized where her hands were resting and felt a blush of mortification forming. She hastily yanked her arm from across what used to be Rosan's chest and gazed at the unimpressed Mod with a look of horror.

"I-I'm so sorry. I had no idea you were going to take over."

Mod rolled her eyes, a slight red on her cheek. "It's fine."

Raisa didn't really hear her clearly. "If I had known, I wouldn't have place my hand over Rosan's chest!"

"It's. Fine!" Mod said forcefully, adjusting the sleeveless gray tee slightly. Her face was burning now and she huffed.

"Why are... you awake?" Raisa asked carefully. She was gazing warily at the Devil Fruit, eyes slightly drawn to the sight of the woman adjusting the oversized tee.

"I wanted to talk to you. One on one," Mod said firmly.

The Queen looked slightly nervous at that.

One on one...? Without Rosan to mediate?

That... wasn't very good for her.

"She's terrified of me," Mod thought, shutting her eyes and letting out a heavy sigh.

Raisa truly believed, that Mod was going to destroy the slight happiness she found.

She wasn't used to someone being terrified of her... it reminded her of how terrified she had been of Rosan.

...

"For as long as I could, I've hated you. I didn't think there was anything you could say to make me ever feel anything but hatred for you," Mod whispered, staring at Raisa with a frown.

Raisa ducked her head in guilt at that.

"I hate that my family is accepting you so easily. They are so kind and loving and I don't think you deserve that," Mod said coldly.

"..." Raisa nervously wrung her hands at that. She was looking everywhere but at Mod.

Mod sighed, frosty expression melting somewhat.

"I don't think you fully understand how much I love Rosan," Mod said quietly, standing up and grasping the woman's arms tightly.

"You don't know the full extent of what we've gone through... so I'm going to show you. I'm going to show you why I'm willing to die for him," she muttered.

Raisa shuddered at that. "You'll show me?" she asked carefully.

"Yes. Come. I'm going to show you. I'm not mad at you any longer... but I want you to understand what we've gone through. If my family will forgive you, then I will too. But if you truly want to earn my forgiveness, you will watch it," Mod said firmly.

The queen let out a rattled breath, gazing down at the woman with a disturbed gaze... before it transformed into one of determination.

"I'll do anything to earn your forgiveness, Mod. Please allow me," Raisa said passionately.

Mod merely looked grim. "Very well then. You may sleep here from now on while we do this. Feel free to back out at anytime."

Raisa took a deep breath and adjusted her robe. "Okay. I'm ready."

"That's what you think," Mod muttered, grabbing her and activating the link.

---

Raisa had never been in Rosan's mindscape before. She knew it existed because her son had mentioned it... but she wasn't willing to step into Mod's domain ever really.

Mod was in a robe, that she tightened idly. The woman gazed at the sleeping Rosan and sighed with a fond smile. He was by himself for once, Ram sleeping in another room to get used to it.

...Mod wasn't as mature as Ram unfortunately. She still preferred to sleep with either her or Rosan.

The Devil Fruit crouched slightly and kissed Rosan on his forehead, running a hand through his hair before pushing herself up.

Raisa wanted to do the same but she imagined Mod wouldn't be very happy about that, so the woman just followed after her son's Devil Fruit.

As Mod exited the homey building, she was greeted to the sight of a steady downpour brushing against her skin.

"Beautiful," Raisa whispered, gazing at the forest with wide eyes.

"It didn't used to look like this," Mod said softly. "It used to be a frozen wasteland. Cold and lifeless."

Raisa shuddered at the tone of the woman.

"We can go back inside. I just wanted to show you the scenery," Mod muttered, turning on a heel.

"...Right," Raisa replied softly, trailing after the woman.

They went below, heading to the basement of the home and Raisa watched Mod open a door, guiding her into a large room.

There was a bed there, facing a giant screen that looked as if it could be turned on.

Mod waved her hand and the bed abruptly changed into a row of seats. She immediately took a seat in the front row and Raisa followed suit, warily sitting next to the purple haired woman.

The Devil Fruit let out a rattled breath. She didn't want to watch this at all, but Raisa should truly understand what Rosan had gone through. Words weren't enough this time. Not for Mod. She was a woman of action... something she got from her son.

"I'm beginning now. We can't watch it all immediately so I will bring you in here at my own discretion," Mod informed her.

Raisa nodded. "What about Rosan?" she asked carefully.

"I won't hide anything from Rosan. I will tell him of course... but he doesn't have to be here. This is between you and I," Mod said firmly.

"I see... alright then. I understand," Raisa replied eventually.

"Good."

With that, Mod waved her hand and began the first memories... the one detailing the very beginning of Rosan's childhood with Rouge.

---

Mod let out a yelp as Raisa grasped her tightly. She struggled in the woman's hold but stopped at hearing the strangled sob.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," Raisa said repeatedly, tears spilling down her eyes as Rosan's wails pierced the screen.

Her little baby boy. The shining beacon of a child... and he was forced to watch his mother die.

"I'm sorry!" Raisa wailed. "If I knew she was suffering through pregnancy, I would have flown over. I could have made the delivery smooth! She didn't have to wait 20 months... Oh Kami, 20 months? 9 months was hell for me, I can't even imagine what she was going through!"

Mod saw Raisa sobbing with an unreadable expression, the raw emotion pouring over her easily.

"I'm so sorry to you Mod... You weren't ready for such a tall task but you did it anyways. You were practically shoved into the role of Rosan's mother when you weren't ready for such a thing!" Raisa exclaimed, fat tears spilling onto the woman below her.

"...!" Mod's eyes widened at that.

No one had... ever quite mentioned that Mod was woefully unprepared to be Rosan's mother. It wasn't something Mod herself thought too much about.

Her son needed someone and she was there for him, guiding her woefully unprepared emotions to a place that could help nurture Rosan.

Raisa shut her eyes in agony, even as Rosan's cries died off and the redhead fell asleep.

"This... is just the beginning?" she asked quietly.

"...That's right," Mod sighed, wiping her own tears.

Raisa bit her lip. "Should you really be watching this again? This must be torture for you... You've already been through so much."

"And you care?" The purple haired woman asked in annoyance.

"Of course I care. I don't hate you, Mod... I think you're well within your right to hold so much animosity towards me," Raisa said truthfully, shutting her eyes.

"You more than anyone, are well within their right to despise me. I have committed the worst crime to your son... that's why I want to earn your forgiveness. I'll do anything to make you think even a little better of me."

Mod grit her teeth at the earnest tone and then sighed in defeat.

"For your own sake, there's no need to watch anymore," she said blandly.

The Devil Fruit didn't even know what she was hoping to accomplish by showing Raisa these memories.

Mod stood and dusted herself off.

"Get ready. I'm going to kick you out now," she said bluntly, only to pause at feeling a hand gripping her arm.

"Mod... if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm all ears," Raisa said softly, gazing directly into the woman's eyes.

"...Raisa, I'm trying so hard to treat you fairly," Mod replied, looking at the hand holding her arm.

"But it's not possible," the queen finished for her. "I understand, Mod."

Raisa took a deep breath and tentatively pulled the woman into a tight hug.

"I know you hate my guts, but please feel free to use me as you see fit if you need anything. It's the least I could do for the person who stepped up and took my place."

Mod said nothing for a long while.

"You're crushing me with your breast," she finally said, annoyance rolling off of her.

Raisa leapt back at that.

"Sorry! I'm not... good at this stuff," she murmured in embarrassment.

Mod sighed and pinched her nose. "Just... go to sleep."

---

"You're touchy today," Rosan mentioned idly. He had just taken a seat and Raisa had taken it upon herself to begin squeezing the life out of him.

Raisa said nothing, burrowing deeper into him.

The redhead tilted his head at his fellow redhead's antics.

Why was she so moody?

"You saw my memories?" he asked randomly.

The silence told him what he needed to know.

"No wonder you don't wanna train today," he frowned. "Mod-chan."

"I don't know why I did it. I only showed her up to the memory of Rouge's passing."

He sighed tiredly.

"Mod-chan... weaponizing my memories is not cool at all. You know how damaging they can be."

Mod looked away in guilt at that. "I know... I just wanted to get a win over her. It wasn't even worth it because she didn't have the reaction I expected her."

Rosan huffed. "I understand... but I'm still going to punish you."

"W-What?!" Mod spluttered. "You do not get to punish me! I'm your mother!"

"Raisa, I'm punishing you and Mod for viewing my memories without my permission," Rosan said bluntly, patting her on the head.

Raisa blinked in disbelief, mouth dropping as his words registered. "Punish us? You are not allowed to punish us! We're your mothers!" she retorted angrily.

"Huh, funny. Mod-chan said the same thing," Rosan smiled, ignoring her too.

Raisa spluttered in disbelief at being completely disregarded by him.

"You can't muster up the resolve to hit me today... so we won't train today. I've got things I wanna do anyways. In the meantime, you and Mod-chan will be spending more time together soon."

Mod blinked in horror. "What? Rosan surely you aren't serious?"

"I am," Rosan smiled.

"I'm being punished by my own son...?" Raisa mumbled, contemplating disengaging from her rude child and deciding against it.

"Get used to it," Rosan grunted, scratching his head as he ran a hand through her hair. "I'm sorry for Mod-chan. You shouldn't have seen my memories. At least you saw the tamest one," he sighed.

Of the three major events that broke him, Rouge's death was the least traumatizing to witness... which said something.

Raisa shuddered, somehow managing to burrow even deeper into him.

"You considered that... tame?" she whispered, sorrow lacing her tone.

"For your sake, you don't want to see the bad ones," Rosan soothed, pushing himself up.

"I've got some visits to make. In the meantime..."

The redhead's eyes began glowing brightly and he grunted, sclera turning back momentarily.

He began forming a figure with his prowess and the redhead huffed, sweat pouring off his features.

Ice and Modification... it allowed Rosan to do some wonderful things.

Not done yet, Rosan's nails turned into claws and he dug into his skin, getting a startled yell out of Raisa as a pool of blood began pouring on the statue.

Rosan's eyes glowed and he touched the ice, modifying it in the process and transforming it into a perfect copy of himself.

At the same time, the blood began spreading over it and Raisa watched with a stunned gaze as the former ice sculpture, surged to life.

"Modification: Copy and Paste," Rosan intoned, watching in delight as the perfect copy of him began twitching slightly.

"Well, it worked," Rosan and the clone said at the exact same time.

"W-What...?" Raisa mumbled in confusion, watching as Rosan shook his own hand.

"Tada!" Both her sons said in unison, expressions completely matching. "I figured the technique out!"

Raisa felt herself getting a little dizzy at seeing two Rosans, who said the exact same things.

"Okay, controlling two bodies is getting taxing," they said at the same time, eyes glowing once more.

The Rosan on the right went dormant, as the original one placed a palm against it.

"Modification: Transfer Files."

Mod yelped in shock as she felt a tug on her body and the woman let out a squeal, that emitted from the dormant Rosan's mouth.

Her eyes snapped open and she took in a deep breath, hands roaming over her own body in disbelief.

"What...?!" Mod said in confusion, realizing she was in Rosan's body.

"You alright?" A familiar voice asked... right next to her.

Mod looked up shakily at that, meeting the familiar gaze of... of Rosan.

Rosan smiled. "I finally figured it out... after seeing that my body had been split in two for 12 years. If Modification can split my soul without me knowing, I'm pretty sure I could just split myself."

Mod felt tears forming in her eyes as Rosan beckoned her and the Devil Fruit hesitantly modified the body granted to her.

Rosan watched with a wide grin, as slowly but surely the clone of himself turned into a perfect copy of Mod-chan.

Almost as soon as she finished, Mod let out shaky breath as she was abruptly pulled into a tight hug.

"It's been way too long. Of all the promises I made to myself... I can't believe getting you your own body took the longest," he sighed, squeezing her gently.

Mod sniffed at that, before the woman broke out into a loud sob.

"Rosan!" she wailed, hugging him tightly. "You... the first thing you do after giving me my body... is hugging me? You're so sweet!" she sobbed.

"Kahaha!" Rosan laughed, holding the woman. "You really thought I'd forget that? C'mon Mod. You know I owed you of all people a hug."

Mod whimpered.

What an incredibly kind person Rosan was. To think this goal was so important for him... when Mod hadn't even thought about it too much herself.

She held her precious son like her life depended on it, letting out another cry as Ram cheered happily and hugged her in real life.

"You did it Father! Now I can bother Auntie in real life too!"

"And you can't run away from me anymore!" Mod laughed prettily.

Ram stopped laughing at that, going pale in horror as she backed away from Mod.

Rosan chuckled. "This is a weird technique. I basically make a copy of myself and then allocate a percentage of my power to paste abilities in it," he explained to her.

Mod's eyes widened and she experimentally tapped into her abilities.

"So how much power do I have? I assume you take from yourself to add it to me?" she asked worriedly.

"That's right. Since we aren't really fighting or anything, I gave you 30%. Enough for you to defend yourself and use all our abilities," Rosan explained.

"So you're only at 70% strength?" Mod asked in fascination.

The redhead nodded with a small smile. "I can allocate as much power as needed. I can even make you have the majority of the power if you want."

Mod mulled that over. "This technique feels very impractical. Splitting your power against significantly stronger foes would make us lose even faster."

Rosan cackled. "This isn't a technique for combat, Mod-chan. This is a technique for you," he murmured, tucking her into his frame easily.

Mod felt her tears renew at that and she clutched the redhead. "You're so lovely, Rosan. It's no wonder I'm so helplessly whipped."

"It's cause I'm awesome," he beamed. "Now, you get to spend some time with Raisa. You're still under punishment."

Mod blinked, horror on her features as Rosan hoisted her up and planted her right next to Raisa.

"Try not to kill each other when I'm gone. I'll be really sad," Rosan smiled. "Ram, you coming with me or staying here?"

"I'll stay! I'll make sure Auntie doesn't kill anyone!" Ram grinned, jumping into the yelping Mod's arms.

"Don't use Save Point Mod-chan... I'll be able to tell," Rosan waved. He approached them and planted a kiss on Ram and Mod's foreheads... before turning to Raisa and doing the same.

Raisa's mouth instantly shut at that and her cheeks turned rosy.

"I'll do my best to make sure we get along!" she said fiercely, grabbing Rosan and returning the kiss on his forehead.

"Whipped," Mod and Ram thought in unison.

Rosan simply smiled and waved, vanishing from his spot.

"...Is there anything you guys would like to do?" Raisa asked awkwardly.

Mod shut her eyes and sighed. "I'm so happy that Rosan gave me a body... that I don't feel the need to antagonize you or myself. I want to thank him somehow... so could you teach me how to cook?" she asked.

Raisa's eyes lit up at the request and she completely missed the way Ram was subtly trying to tell her no.

"I'd love to!" Raisa exclaimed eagerly, standing up immediately. "Come! You can tell me all of Rosan's favorite meals and we'll get started on them immediately!"

"U-Um! I'm gonna go find Aunt Dalia!" Ram said suddenly, dashing off before they could say anything.

Mod had a look of determination on her face.

Surely with her own body, learning how to cook was possible now?

---

"What's the occasion?" Aiko asked, filing her nails idly.

Rosan hummed, idly sprouting a tail and tipping her over.

The leader of Fregate let out a startled shout at that, hissing and flailing as she fell to the ground.

"Huh... Demon normally catches you. Where is he?" Rosan asked curiously, ignoring the snarling like it didn't even exist.

"He's on a date with Mikita," Angel informed him, giggling slightly.

"He's finally breaking out of his shell!" Maro exclaimed happily, helping Aiko up.

As soon as she was put on her two feet, she lunged at Rosan with blood in her eyes.

Rosan raised a brow. "You want a hug?" he asked ignorantly, pulling the rabid woman into one.

"I'll kill you in your sleep," she hissed violently.

"We'll be sleeping in the same place? I guess that means you finally scored with Dalia," Rosan mused.

He barely flinched at seeing teeth fail to even put a dent to his skin.

"Anyways. I called you all here because I've got a gift to give you."

Aiko stopped gnawing unsuccessfully at that and gazed up in confusion at that.

"A gift?!" Maro asked in excitement, moving her long hair behind her head to regard the redhead fully.

Master always had the coolest gifts! Last time Maro got a gift, it was a ship!

Rosan waved his hand and before Maro and Aiko's eyes, Bartholomew Kuma appeared before them.

The two felt their mouths open at that, eyes going wide.

Were these what they thought they were?! They forgot he managed to get some!

"Here. They're called the Pacifista. We encountered them at the war and honestly, they're stronger than any soldier you currently have," he said truthfully, gauging the staunch and huge robots.

"Seriously?" Maro thought in disbelief. Master had dealt with them so easily, she hadn't been shown their true strength!

"They're good weapons… but I dunno if they're reproducible without the right materials. Seems like Vegapunk was the one who created them," Rosan explained, patting one of the Kuma's easily.

Angel's eyes glowed at that and she eagerly began circling the idle Pacifista, tapping them experimentally.

"How'd you get it on your side?" Aiko asked warily, watching as the Robots stood prone in their spots.

"It's a machine with no will. Controlling it was almost too easy. I've been tampering with them a bit to make sure they don't go off the rails," Rosan replied confidently.

"Have them. I stole four so you guys can have three of them. I wanna mess around with one a bit. I have an idea for it that could be cool."

The Pacifista were very strong. They practically took no damage and could annihilate waves of pirates easily. The average pirate group would be demolished by them...

Which meant Fregate and Celadon having some would make them practically impossible to invade.

Well, Celadon already was but Fregate could use a bit of help too.

Maro nodded eagerly. "That's so awesome Master! Look how happy Angel looks!"

"You're the best brother ever!" Angel gushed, beaming up at him with an excited glimmer.

"I think Demon's better than me… but I agree out of principle," Rosan grinned.

"I'm taking one to experiment on! Ugh, I wish Franky were here so we could talk about it! I'll figure out how to reverse engineer this thing! Oh a make sure you change the appearance of them! Kuma is a scary guy!"

Maro and Aiko nodded in agreement.

"Make mine an ogre!" Maro grinned.

"Just make mine not a Warlord," Aiko sighed.

Rosan chuckled and tapped Maro's not reducing the size but transforming it completely into an ogre like she wanted.

As for Aiko, he just reduced the size of it, making it taller than her by a slight amount. Then he changed the appearance to that of a handsome, unassuming man.

"I was always bothered by the fact that you walk around so unguarded... your own personal bodyguard should be good," Rosan mused.

Aiko looked at her bodyguard in question and nodded in approval.

"Well, I suppose a bodyguard stronger than basically all of the pirates of the directional seas, would be pretty useful. Thanks, Rosan," she grunted.

He pat her head with a small smile. "Of course. I need you all to be safe of course."

"Now if you'll excuse me, I still got more visits to make," he sighed despondently.

"Kay!" Angel beamed, waving him off.

The redhead waved and right before he vanished, he said, "Oh right. I've got Mod-chan her own body now. I'll have to show you guys later."

There was a tense silence as he disappeared from his spot.

"WHAT?!" They all shouted in disbelief.

"Why didn't he start off with that?!" Maro shouted angrily.

"Master Mod is free?! Why didn't he tell us?!" Angel practically screeched.

Aiko rolled her eyes. "Come on bodyguard. Let's let them rant."

---

"Izumi."

Izumi froze at that deep and calm voice, a shudder ripping its way through her body as she hastily whirled around to regard Rosan.

"R-Rosan!" she stammered, saluting shakily at the expressionless redhead.

Everyone on the ship tensed up at that, gazing at the redhead with black streaks going through his hair.

News of what happened to Rosan, spread like a wildfire. It was all the world was talking about, so naturally CP9 was aware that the tyrant ruling over them was a man who had joined a war between the World Government and Whitebeard... coming out alive in the process.

With an extraordinarily higher bounty.

And once more he wasn't with Nico Robin.

Izumi heard Kalifa let out a rattled breath, only for it to die immediately as Rosan's eyes shifted over to her.

The blonde nearly bit her tongue at the stare and Rosan tilted his head.

"U-Um... we raided three Marine Bases for everything they had. We're almost completely stocked on supplies... and we've been hunting bounties and turning them in. There's been a surge of pirates so we've gotten a comfortable amount of money."

"..." Rosan stared at her and hummed.

"I have no interest in any of you anymore," he said bluntly, turning on a dime.

Izumi froze at that. "...What?" she asked quietly, confusion roiling off of her.

"This deal between us... it's tiring. I'll be going off the grid for a long time so do whatever you want," Rosan informed them.

"...You're freeing us?" Kaku asked incredulously.

"Sure. There's no benefit to our partnership. I don't need you all anymore," Rosan said coolly, putting his foot on the railing in preparation to fly off.

"Feel free to do whatever you want. For your sakes, let this be the last time we ever meet."

Every single CP9 agent let out a deep breath of relief at that, thanking whatever miracle managed to come their way.

"But... why?" Izumi asked in horror.

The CP9 agents froze at that, turning incredulous stares towards the woman.

After all, they just needed to shut up and Rosan would fly off. Talking back to him was not the way to freedom.

"Why? Why don't I desire a partnership anymore?" Rosan asked, turning around to regard her.

The redhead hummed at that and approached the girl, before gripping her by the chin.

Izumi was forced to hold his gaze and shuddered at the slight glow in them.

"You and I have history, Izumi. We've taken everything from each other," Rosan muttered.

"But I'm over that. The past can't chain me down anymore... so I want to actually sever whatever this is," he said peacefully, raking a hand through his hair.

"This dance between us? It's over for good. Whatever resentment I have for you is gone... so just live your life in peace. I won't torment you anymore," he said softly, releasing his grip on her.

Izumi was stunned. "But you don't understand... it's not..."

"Easy? I know. But you'll have to do it if you want to find your own peace," he said firmly.

The redhead gazed at them all. "CP9... I really want you guys dead but you get to survive this time. If we ever encounter each other again though... then you were just born under the wrong star. "

With that, Rosan vanished.

Izumi watched him go with wide eyes, a twitch surging through her body that turned progressively violent.

Why didn't he understand? She couldn't just... there was no moving on from him! He couldn't say all this fairy tale bullshit and expect people to just agree with him!

Izumi began digging her nails into her palm, drawing blood, as she just stared at the spot Rosan was just at. She began trembling, pupils dilating.

She couldn't... live without him. Izumi would see him again. She would see him again.

Footsteps snapped her out of her daze and Izumi saw Rob Lucci standing next to her.

"You do not wish for it to end here, do you?" he asked knowingly, nails sharpening as he stared in cold fury at the spot.

"Good. Neither do I. The Straw Hats made a mockery of us... I refuse to acknowledge them. We will gain our revenge."

Izumi trembled and nodded tightly.

The other three agents looked at the two strongest in clear trepidation, all thinking the same thing.

"Should they really anger the Devil who had set them free?"

---

"If it isn't my favorite pet Crocodile."

Crocodile tensed up at that and a snarl formed on his face.

Everyone else varied just as negatively, though Crocodile was the only one who was angry.

The others just felt terror.

How boring.

"Red Devil," Crocodile sneered, watching the redhead sitting on his ship rail with an amused smile.

"Morning Star now. I got an upgrade... I still miss Angel of Death though," Rosan sighed.

Alvida felt a shudder of terror rip through her at that reminder. She gazed nervously at the lax redhead, taking note of the black streaks running through his red hair.

"Angel of Death..." Crocodile muttered darkly, remembering well what the supposed Angel of Death had done to him...

"Tell me something, redhead. Why?"

Rosan raised a brow. "What the fuck is with you people asking me why? I'm not a philosopher. Why what?" he asked curiously.

"Don't joke with me," Crocodile snarled, sand seeping off his body. "You know what I'm talking about!"

The redhead snorted and it broke out into a malicious laugh. "Yeah you're right. I do. You wanna know just why I didn't end your miserable existence back at Alabasta?"

Shrieks rang out as two black wings burst from Rosan's back, streaks of white seeping into his hair and replacing the black.

"You want to know why Reaper of all people was traveling around with someone as silly as Straw Hat?" Rosan asked curiously.

"I've been wondering that since we met at the first time!" Alvida blurted, before her eyes widened in terror and she stepped back.

Rosan turned towards her and tilted his head.

"Oh you mean your secret base," he mused.

The redhead shrugged. "Kahaha! Luffy is my spoiled little brother. A lot of people look down on him so I have to be there as insurance to make sure they don't take advantage of my cute little brother."

...He missed Luffy. Rosan sighed miserably.

Crocodile clenched his fist tightly. "That's why you let him beat me."

Rosan smiled. "You wanna know the funny thing about your defeat. It's your realization that you lost to Luffy. People hate losing to me but they can accept the reasoning behind me winning... but losing to Luffy? That's gotta sting."

A vein appeared on Crocodile's head at that but Rosan continued unabashed.

"Do you want to know why you're so hung up on me being Reaper? Do you want to know why you hate me so much?" Rosan asked rhetorically, a knowing smile on his face.

"It's because I wasn't the one who defeated you, Luffy did."

Crocodile grit his teeth at the sardonic grin on Rosan's face.

"Despite the fact that I'm way stronger than you thought. Knowing that I'm Reaper... it hurts all the more that you lost to a no name pirate. Luffy wasn't established like I was. You would have accepted the loss to me with the knowledge you have now but now you're sitting here realizing, I let my baby brother beat the shit outta you."

Rosan flew out of the way of the wave of sand trying to crush him, eyes lit up in amusement.

"Knowing that you lost to the one you didn't even deem worthy... ouch," he said finally, soaring through the air to avoid the crescent blades of sand.

Rosan chuckled at the furious look on Crocodile's face. "I'm not here to fight you know," he mentioned idly, floating away from the bullets of sand.

Didn't seem like Crocodile was intent on listening...

Well then.

Rosan sighed, floating idly as a serpentine dragon began forming around him. It curled around his body, head draping off his shoulder, with freezing air permeating through the two.

"Let's relax Crocodile. You're in the middle of the ocean with quite the large crew. It'd be a shame to become a pillar of ice for the rest of your days."

To stress his point, Rosan's dragon roared challengingly, a beam of ice forming in its maw.

"Shut your mouth," Crocodile snarled, sand seeping off his body. "You talk too big. I don't give a damn if you're Reaper, talking that recklessly is a death sentence."

"Yeah?" Rosan asked curiously, rolling his eyes.

The ice dragon opened its mouth and fired without hesitation. A thin beam of ice nearly collided with the ship, only to be met with a wall of sand.

Crocodile's look of hatred never vanished and Rosan sighed.

"Okay. Block this. Good luck protecting your ship."

The dragon roared once more, looping around his arm and stopping at his outstretched hand.

In unison, the duo began charging their attack and Crocodile hissed at seeing both fire and ice being formed by Rosan and the dragon respectively.

Panic ensued on the ship as everyone saw the attack, terror seeping off the bodies.

"W-We came to the war like you demanded though! You're still gonna kill us?!" someone shouted in horror.

Rosan tilted his head. "My reason for coming here wasn't to kill you, no. But, your boss has an ego too big for his own good. I wanna see if his skills match it."

Crocodile grit his teeth at the attack forming from Rosan, knowing he probably couldn't defend from the no doubt massive attack.

"Then why are you here? Bragging about getting a hole punched through your chest while I sustained nothing lasting?" Crocodile sneered.

Rosan twitched slightly. "Wanna see if you'll come back from getting a hole punched in your chest?" he asked warningly.

Crocodile sneered, no fear at all on his face despite the disadvantage he was at.

But... there was no point in throwing his life away here and now.

"What do you want redhead?" he asked eventually, banishing his sand.

Rosan's attack died down and the redhead hummed, landing back on the railing.

"I'm going off the grid," Rosan said bluntly. "You're free for now. Whatever happens when I come back... I don't know. But don't think about me."

Crocodile raised a brow. "Off the grid? What do you mean by that."

"Exactly what I said. I'm disappearing for a while. You won't see me for a long time," Rosan said bluntly, running a hand through his hair.

The former warlord scowled at that. "Running away?" he asked darkly.

"Shut your mouth. I'm not the one who camped out in a country for over a decade, only for all my plans of glory to get flushed down the drain by a rubber boy who doesn't think."

Crocodile lunged, hook meeting Rosan's claw and the two glared at each other darkly.

The crowd took in another breath of terror at that. Rosan and Crocodile did terrible things to their blood pressure and calling it stressful was putting it nicely.

Eventually, they sighed in relief as the two disengaged.

"So you're disappearing for a while," Crocodile grunted in disinterest. "What do you want from me?"

"Nothing," Rosan replied bluntly. "Like I said, you won't hear from me. Do whatever you want to do. This should be a great time for you to train up to kill me."

"Hmph. Whatever. Get out of my sight if that's all. Next time I see you, you'll die."

Rosan snorted, leering at Crocodile with a knowing gaze.

"If I were a human, I'd almost miss the fact that you seem almost relieved at seeing me? Why's that?" Rosan taunted.

A vein of annoyance formed and Crocodile grit his cigar, eyes murderous.

"Watch your mouth, redhead."

"Oh! I get it!" Rosan cackled. "You weren't a fan of me the last time we spoke? What was it you said? You wouldn't resist killing me if I were stuck like that?"

The redhead smirked. "My pet crocodile has grown attached. How sweet. You did good at the war, at this rate you might even reach your prime."

A wave of sand crashed into the spot he was just at and Rosan let out a mocking laugh, floating once more.

"See ya Crocodile. Next time we meet, try not to be too behind, yeah?" he sneered.

With that, the redhead vanished.

Crocodile snarled to himself, watching the spot the redhead was at with a dark glare.

"I'm going to kill him," he swore. "No one is killing that redhead but me."

If he had any doubts earlier, Crocodile had none anymore.

He was headed to the New World. The Grand Line could not offer him anything else.

And then, he would encounter that damned redhead and he'd kill him once and for all.

---

Rosan twitched slightly, expression turning wary as he flew silently through the air.

The silence was so loud without anyone to speak to. He actually felt himself going a little mad.

It wasn't often that he was separated from Mod-chan... and it sucked. He was heavily attached to Robin but his attachment to Mod-chan, was on another level.

They truly were conjoined to the hip basically. Without her... Rosan felt his anxiety spiking.

But he could handle it. Rosan was getting better with being alone. He needed to be. It was such a crippling fear of his, that he needed to deal with it before making it back to his crew.

So the redhead flew in his solitude, practicing with his Observation and finding that it really was easier by himself.

The best way to improve his observation, was likely to practice it alone and then apply that to after he combined with Mod-chan again.

At least there was a benefit to this. He could actually train his worst Haki now.

It still sucked since it didn't negate the getting overwhelmed thing, but Rosan was just going to have to overpower it like Sabo had managed to do.

...

"Oh it seems like I'm here," Rosan said aloud.

Naturally, he did not get a response and the redhead sucked his teeth in aggravation.

No Mod, no Ram... and Robin didn't want to see him for a while.

Just great. There was easing into things and there was the stupid shit Rosan decided to do.

He soared downwards and landed on the floor with a soft exhale.

Not wasting anytime, he marched towards the designated location with a small yawn, watching as people fell on the ground at his presence.

Rosan stopped walking, as he saw a flag flying at the very top of the village's tallest building.

"Ah, Garp was here," he murmured, not even needing to reach out with his Observation to verify that the Marine wasn't on the island.

Good, Rosan wasn't really intending on fighting Garp right now. He wanted nothing to do with him but he was also at 70% power right now as his maximum.

Well, whatever. Garp was dead to him. No point thinking about him.

Rosan approached the nice looking restaurant and kicked the door open without any hesitation, idly repairing it as he walked through.

"Sup," he greeted, watching as all the people in there jumped high.

Makino's look of fright vanished in favor of pure elation and the woman resisted the urge to scream in joy. Tears sprung up in her eyes and she put a hand over her mouth.

Rosan caught her gaze and smiled slightly, before his attention was drawn to the gun being aimed at his head.

"This spots reserved," a voice said gruffly.

Rosan turned towards the black haired man, gauging the unassuming figure in curiosity.

"Pirates?" he asked curiously. "You reserve restaurants now? How fancy."

"Funny guy," the pirate said, unamused as he pressed the gun against Rosan's temple. "Turn back and get the fuck out before I blow your brains out."

Rosan ignored him. "These dudes bothering you?" he asked curiously, turning towards Makino.

His eyes narrowed slightly at the proximity to her and Rosan noted that her normally neat clothes, were slightly ruffled.

Makino nodded shortly, discomfort clear on her features.

"Right. Well, I can't have you guys harassing my friend now can I? Especially when she's been in so much distress?" he asked.

The pirate's eye twitched and he opened his mouth. "Didn't you fucking hear me?! Get the hell outta here before we teach you a lesson, pretty bo— HGRHK!"

Rosan's arm lashed out and gripped the pirate by his neck. The redhead rolled his eyes and squeezed tightly, hoisting him off the floor with far too much ease.

"Learn when to shut up, minion. I wasn't talking to you."

"W-Wait! I'm s-sorry!" the pirate struggled harshly, terror in his eyes.

"They're always sorry the moment the consequences of their actions show up," Rosan sighed.

"Drain," he said boredly.

Everyone watched in terror, as the body began withering in his grasp. The man tried clawing helplessly but Rosan was unyielding, eyes half lidded as they roved over the petrified pirates there.

"W-Wait a damn second," someone muttered in horror, realization making its way onto their face. "THAT'S THE MORNING STAR!"

The screech made every single pirate in the bar go pale.

"Y-You're kidding me... the Morning Star?! What's he doing in the East Blue?!"

Rosan dropped the body and hummed. "Here to visit a friend, before I realized some funny little upstarts were bothering her."

A dangerous aura washed over the entire bar and Makino shuddered at that, eyes wide as a bead of sweat formed.

"Get on your little ship and get the fuck off the island. You have 5 minutes."

Rosan didn't even glance at the pirates rushing out of the door, simply watching as Makino's expression contorted, lips wobbling as a sob escaped her.

"Gotta hand it to them, they sure did start calling me Morning Star pretty quick... guess it's better than Red Devil," he sighed.

They sure did put a lot of thought into this one at least. It kinda fit as well... despite the fact that they were now calling Rosan, Satan himself.

Makino's expression cracked as soon as she heard his voice and the woman let out a sharp wail, rushing him and crashing against the redhead.

"Rosan!" she wailed, tears spilling against him as he caught her. "I saw the news! I thought... I thought you died but then the news said you were brought back to life and I'm so confused! I just knew that you weren't okay and I was so worried!"

"I know," he soothed knowingly, running a hand through her hair. "Things have been hectic. Figuring stuff out but I'm here now."

Makino clutched him, sobbing against his frame. "A-Are you and Luffy alright?"

The redhead sighed. "We're fine. The two of us haven't seen each other in a while though. We're training separately for a while."

She shuddered. "And Ace...? There was news saying he's dead but... I don't know what's going on anymore."

"Ace... is alive. But he's in a coma," Rosan sighed, running a hand through his hair.

Makino trembled at the wariness in his voice. She wasn't used to Rosan sounding anything besides composed.

Rosan glanced down at the short woman and reached in his pocket, pulling out a cube that was a dark green in nature.

The bartender sniffed, gazing at the cube in confusion.

"Here, it's a way to communicate with everyone," he murmured. "I'll explain it to you but we'll go to Dadan first."

Makino nodded in concern. "She... she beat up Garp. She thought he left you for dead. It's been hard for you until that newspaper showed up..."

Rosan sighed and summarily hoisted Makino up, getting a startled shriek out of her.

"We'll go see her now then. Come on," he grunted, wings sprouting out of his back as he left the restaurant.

"Wait, Rosan! I need to close the restaurant!" Makino exclaimed, realizing the futility of struggling in his hold.

Rosan was really quite strong. Makino knew this very well.

"Oh right," Rosan said, snapping his fingers and watching as every light shut off.

"W-What?! You can do that?!" Makino asked in shock, mouth opening at the effortless way.

"Of course. I'm the one who created this for you after all. I'll give you a remote that can do the same."

"Y-You're totally missing the point! Why are you just now giving me one?!"

Rosan hummed and his brows furrowed. "You're also getting bothered a lot..." he murmured, ignoring her.

Makino watched the redhead concentrate, before an abnormally large wolf formed.

It was jet black, eyes pulsing red and Rosan watched as the wolf, that was reaching his chest growled politely, nuzzling its maw against the petrified Makino.

"Here you go. This is your guard dog. It's equipped with ice, fire and lightning to protect you from anyone who tries to grope you inappropriately. Not a single East Blue pirate will be able to fight it."

Makino listened to his explanation with wide eyes, turning towards the wolf in awe and watching as it barked in affirmative. The giant dog marched off deeper into her restaurant and the bartender watched it go.

"You've... been holding back so much information," she said flatly.

"Tell me about it. I was doing such a good job," he drawled, making his way out.

There was a crowd of citizens watching with wide eyes and Rosan blinked, realizing that he was carrying Makino bridal style.

"We're not getting married," he said bluntly.

"THAT'S THE LAST THING WE WERE THINKING!" they roared.

Makino burned red and shut her eyes in embarrassment.

"Rosan is that you?!" A voice shouted.

"What are you doing back in Foosha?!"

"Were you the ones that scared those pirates away?!"

"Yes. Visiting. Yes," Rosan answered, tilting his head. "They took 6 minutes to get back on the ship. Pity. I calculated it too. They definitely could have made it in 5," he muttered.

"...Well, not like I was going to let them survive anyways."

Makino let out a scream of surprise, as Rosan's wings flexed and he took off into the sky.

She applied a death grip to his neck that the redhead didn't even notice.

"Those pirates groped you, right?" he asked darkly, gazing at the sailing ship with a lethal gaze.

"A-A bit," Makino admitted warily.

Rosan grunted. "Close your eyes. There's been too big a surge of pirates since the war."

She blinked, before a look of realization hit her and she shut her eyes...

...Only to open them because the curiosity was killing her. What was Rosan going to do? Makino could admit, she had gravely underestimated just how much strength he had.

After all, the redhead didn't really make it a point to be violent around her—

Rosan's arm was held above his head and Makino watched in awe and terror, as true to his namesake, the redhead began forming a giant orb eerily reminiscent to a star.

The molten red orb gleamed ominously and Rosan casually lobbed it towards the pirates.

"Nova Bomb."

Makino watched in horror and fascination, as it soared through the air at breakneck speeds, colliding with the ship in a glorious explosion.

"O-Oh..." she stammered.

A-At least this wasn't like when she first met Rosan and he brutalized the pirates...

"Alright, let's go," Rosan said gruffly.

"Y-Yeah," Makino agreed, clutching him tighter as the explosion settled down.

He was... still as scary as ever.

---

Rosan was so used to being forced into a hug lately, that he didn't even flinch as Dadan strong armed him into a fierce embrace.

He did grunt though as about 20 bandits tackled them to the ground.

The redhead struggled somewhat, huffing in amusement at the cacophony of his name.

"Since when do all of you like me? I thought it was just Dadan," Rosan pointed out, completely trapped beneath them.

They didn't answer, all just crying in relief and the redhead sweatdropped.

He just let them be, glaring at the giggling Makino who had stepped away from the crowd.

"We read the news... Are you okay?" Dadan asked, not even pretending to not care.

Rosan let the woman hold him with a small smile. "I'm fine now. Went through some trials, currently going through some more... but I'm alive and well."

Dadan sighed in relief at that. "I always knew you were reckless but this is too much for me."

The redhead nodded in agreement. "Everyone agrees with you. I'm... going to try to get better."

"You better brat!" Dadan shouted, before her demeanor softened and she hugged him. "Thank you. I don't know the details... but I know you're the one who saved Ace's life."

Rosan said nothing at that and sighed. "Yeah... the reason everyone thought I died, was because I took an attack that was going to kill Ace."

Dadan froze at that and shut her eyes. "That's... what I suspected. Ace has always been too reckless... he refused to run away didn't he?"

"Got it in one," Rosan confirmed. "He attempted to fight an Admiral... it didn't go well. His injuries were already pretty serious so he never would have lived."

Everyone listened to the redhead with a frown.

"How is he?" Dadan asked. "Ace is reckless... but he would never forgive himself if his recklessness caused one of you to get hurt."

Rosan sighed. "You really are a good mother, Dadan. You're right again. Ace is in a coma."

There was a tense silence at that. Makino put both hands over her mouth and tears formed in her eyes at the information.

The redhead sighed. "It'll be okay guys. He'll wake up. I know he will," he assured, smiling at them.

They looked at the redhead's foreign smile in shock. It was surreal to see Rosan as anything but cruel and emotionless.

It was... nice to see such a kind smile on his face. Or to see how his eyes glowed strangely.

Makino imagined if she had been acquainted with this version of Rosan for the 10 years he had been here... well, perhaps she shouldn't continue that train of thought.

"Alright, Makino I'm going to teach you how to use that Cube, c'mere," Rosan murmured. "If you or Dadan ever wanna talk to me, just click my name right here..."

Makino listened with rapt attention, eyes wide at the advanced intricacies of Rosan's device.

"Oh! So if I wanted to talk to Maro here... I'd just click her name!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah exactly," Rosan nodded.

What an incredible device! This was the most fascinating thing she had ever seen!

Makino scrolled through it with an excited glimmer, taking note of all the different names and beaming when she recognized them.

Some of these names were Rosan's crewmates! Zoro, Nami, Sanji... wow!

"Who is Raisa?" Makino asked in confusion.

Rosan rolled his eyes. "My birth mother... once she saw I had these Cubes, she demanded I make her one."

He was getting significantly faster at making them. He had finished just about all of them for his crew too. Next time he saw them, he'd give them all one.

...On that note, he should get ready to go back to Wisteria. He just needed to visit one more person but that wouldn't take too long.

"Try giving Akemi a call when you get the chance. She misses you," Rosan said, standing up.

"You're leaving?" Makino asked with a frown.

He nodded. "Call me whenever. I would have brought Luffy but... we're training separately," he sighed morosely.

The bartender nodded and pulled him into a crushing hug.

"Thank you, Rosan," she murmured.

"No problem," he replied easily, dragging Dadan into the hug. "Take care of yourselves. Don't be afraid to use that dog I gave you. I know you're a pussy so he can just freeze anyone annoying insteading of mauling them to death."

Makino flushed. "T-Thank you for your consideration. I'll take good care of him."

Rosan smiled and crushed Dadan next. "I'll visit when I can. I'll be busy with training but you deserve a few visits."

Dadan immediately burst into tears. "Go back to being a heartless bastard, brat! Be careful out there!"

He laughed slightly and pat the taller woman. "I will. I'll be much more careful, alright?" he murmured gently.

Rosan flashed them another smile, before he waved and vanished.

---

"So wanna explain to me why Bartholomew Kuma is guarding our ship?"

Shakky perked up at the familiar voice and felt a wide smile form on her face as a familiar redhead entered her bar.

"I'm not sure. He's been defending it for a while now. Anyone who tries to attack it, has to deal with him and the "Rosy Life Riders" so there's nothing for you to worry about," she answered easily, wiping her hands as she turned to fully regard the redhead.

He hummed at that and nodded. "Okay. I guess there's no need for me to take it then," he muttered.

Rosan had still left a few guards there in case things went south but...

...Hm. Why was Kuma guarding their ship? If Rosan remembered correctly, Kuma had gotten his will completely overhauled. He was no longer "alive" anymore so for him to guard the ship... meant that it was programmed into him.

Weird. Only one person could program Kuma to do that...

Seems like he had more things to ask of Grandpa Vegapunk. What a shame... Rosan had been reluctantly finding more and more reasons to not immediately attack him.

Bummer. Oh well.

"Heard you wanted to see me," Rosan greeted, frowning slightly as he took a seat in front of her.

Shakky leaned over the counter and pulled the redhead into a hug. "Of course I'd want to see you. I'm a little upset you took so long to visit," she chastised, friendly smile still on her face.

The redhead sighed and yanked the lady over the counter, much to her slight surprise.

"Showing off your strength? I'm old enough to be your mother you know?" she mused, not seeming to mind the action and just getting in a more comfortable position for the hug.

"Aren't we related by blood?" Rosan asked in amusement.

"You'd be surprised," she smiled, equally amused.

The redhead sighed. "You know all things considered, you're very chill. Considering I haven't seen Robin in so long, it's very welcomed."

"It's pretty easy to see how stressed you are. What's the matter?" she asked coolly.

"Improving is hard. I'm trying not to be so codependent on everything and I might have started off too extreme," he explained.

Shakky mulled that over. "Part of your training I imagine?"

Rosan nodded. "I'm not only lacking in the power department. Mentally, I'm stunted as well."

Shakky had a thoughtful expression.

He sighed and looked at her. "I've been settling in mostly and I delayed meeting you so I'm sorry. It hasn't really registered to me that I have blood family... I'll do better."

"I'm not mad at you. I'm glad you're alive. Seeing you take a fist through the chest didn't feel good to watch at all."

That was a simple way of putting it. Rosan's death had been broadcasted... followed by that subsequent transformation... the permanent stains of black in his hair weren't for show, Shakky could tell.

"I haven't known you for long and you're already stressing me out. Rooting for someone so reckless probably isn't good for my blood." Shakky smiled and pulled out a cigarette, preparing to light it, only for Rosan to pluck it right out of her hand.

Rosan snorted in amusement and reduced it to cinders. "Things happened but I'm alive now... and stop smoking. It's not good for you."

His aunt's smile never vanished. "It's been years since someone has reprimanded me like that. Not even Rayleigh does it you know?" she told him.

Rosan rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, Aunt. I'm burning every cigarette you pull out."

Shakky looked pleased despite his words. "I've been meaning to curb it anyways... I guess you're good motivation for that. You're training for two years, right? What are you doing?"

"Staying with Raisa. That's where Kuma sent me," Rosan replied easily.

The bartender looked surprised at that.

"With Raisa? Why not take me with you? It's been so long since I've seen them," Shakky mused.

Rosan hummed. "You wanna come with? Sure but is it fine if you leave?"

The bartender smiled. "Sure it is. If Rayleigh is helping the new generation, I could too. We're family after all so I'll get you nice and strong with Raisa," she replied, pulling herself.

He grunted at that. "You're strong?" he asked curiously.

Shakky looked coy in that moment. "You know, when I mentioned being a Kuja I never did tell you I used to be an Empress, did I?"

The redhead blinked in surprise. "You were? Huh. That means you're pretty strong right?" he asked curiously.

"Something like that. Let's go. I imagine Dalia and Oren are finally there too?" she asked, preparing to shut the shop down for a while.

"Yeah they are. They're making up with Raisa and it's going well."

Raisa was already a monster... Shakky was probably a monster in her own right. The both of them training him would bear fruit.

"Alright, good. Let's be off then. Help me close the shop for the time being. I think I'm going to stay at Wisteria for a while."

"Sure sure. Calm like Robin and uses me shamelessly like Robin too..." Rosan sighed in exasperation.

Rayleigh was gone for the time being as well… she should spend some time with her family.

She just needed to leave the vivre card here. She didnt think she'd be staying the full two years... but Shakky would be there for a long time.

---

Raisa was hopelessly lost and in a situation she had no idea how to navigate through.

Why?

Well it was because Mod was currently in the throes of a mental breakdown.

She didn't know what she had done. Raisa had just been teaching Mod the ropes of cooking and the two... even seemed to be enjoying it.

Despite having absolutely no talent for it, Mod tackled cooking with a determination that Raisa had to admire.

"No one thinks I'll ever actually learn how to cook. Now is the perfect time to prove them wrong," Mod had informed her, glaring at the mess of a pot.

Raisa respected her desire to prove them wrong so the woman had taught her with a gusto.

It almost seemed like Mod was appreciating her earnest efforts...

But Raisa must have truly disgusted the woman to the core.

Mod had been stirring a pot gently, wanting to help make a cake and Raisa had been tentatively guiding her on how to to do so.

The Queen of Wisteria realized that Mod's hatred almost completely flew out the window when it came to Rosan.

She truly did adore him.

"Rosan loves cake. Anything sweet really," Mod rambled, focused intently on the batter.

"Does he?" Raisa asked, holding her arm and making her slow down slightly.

Mod shot her a grateful look. "Yes! Robin used to make him red velvet cake all the time. He loves candy too. Gummy ones are his favorite."

"!" Raisa's eyes widened. "I love gummy candy too!"

"You two truly have too many similarities," Mod said, placing the plate down to turn towards her.

Raisa nodded enthusiastically, finding talking to Mod quite the pleasant experience. There was a smile on her face and her eyes glowed brightly.

Mod stared at Raisa with a curious expression.

"She really does like a lot like you, Rosan."

Mod expected a response and didn't get anything back.

"R-Rosan?"

That's when her anxiety began to set in.

While Rosan had been cut off from Mod on two different occasions, those same two times, Mod had been completely incapacitated. She was not used whatsoever to being separated from him...

Rosan wasn't the only one with separation issues.

"Mod?" Raisa called in concern as Mod completely froze staring at her face. "Are you alright?"

Mod did not hear her. She had a nervous expression on her face.

The woman reached for their connection and began breathing harshly at feeling nothing.

W-Where was Rosan?

Mod collapsed onto her knees and did a sharp inhale, sweat dripping off her features as she realized Rosan was not here.

Was he... was he gone...? Did he... did Rosan leave her?!

Raisa watched with a panicked expression as Mod began tearing up on the floor. The woman forgot everything and hastily approached the collapsed woman.

"Mod?! Was it something I said? I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you!" Raisa exclaimed worriedly.

What would Rosan do if he found Mod on the floor crying because of her? Would he hate her too?

Raisa bit her lip and crouched down, hoisting the shorter woman up after an epic war of whether touching her was a good idea.

To Raisa's disbelief, Mod clutched her tightly and continued shaking.

"Where is Ram when you need her? I believe she's clothes shopping with Dalia... so they won't be here until the end of the day," Raisa thought in horror.

What was Rosan doing? When was he going to return?!

"It's okay, Mod," Raisa said softly, watching as tears fell from the woman. Mod shook and trembled in her grasp, a tiny whimper leaving her and the queen of Wisteria frowned in sorrow at the sensations she felt.

Anxiety, terror... sadness. Raisa didn't know what she did but she had to make it up to her somehow...

Raisa tentatively held Mod for who knows how long, completely silent as the woman just shuddered against her. She paid no mind to the tears spilling on her apron and just let Mod grieve against her.

She felt an abnormal swell of relief, as two figures suddenly appeared in her room hours later.

"Hm?" Rosan hummed in confusion, tilting his head.

Shakky raised a slight brow, smile on her face widening as she made eye contact with the relieved Raisa.

"Oh thank goodness," Raisa murmured. "Rosan, there's something wrong with—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Mod launched herself off and lunged at Rosan, a sharp wail leaving her body as she tackled the man to the ground.

"Woah!" Rosan exclaimed, catching her and watching as she wrapped him up tightly.

Mod cried, tears spilling on his body. The woman had no intention of releasing him and just continued to sob.

His expression softened and he grabbed Mod, hoisting her up and transforming her dress into something more form fitting.

Mod hiccuped and squeezed him, burrowing her face into his neck.

"Where's Ram?" Rosan asked calmly, letting Mod cling to him as he held her up.

"She's shopping with Dalia..." Raisa mumbled warily.

Her son hummed and nodded. "I'm gonna go tend to Mod-chan. Thank you for watching over her for me. Whatever you're thinking, it's not your fault."

Rosan walked over to Raisa, idly adjusting Mod, and pulled her into a hug.

Raisa seized up at that and shakily returned it, before Rosan pulled off and walked towards his room.

"I'll be in my room if you need me," he waved.

"C'mon Mod-chan. I'm here, don't worry."

Raisa watched the two walk away with a soft expression, before turning towards the other woman there.

"Aunt Shakuyaku. It's been quite a long time since we've seen each other," she greeted, only to gasp as the former empress pulled her into a tight hug.

"I'm sorry. For so long, you probably had no one to check up on you," Shakky murmured, relaxed smile gone as she saw the woman.

To think it had been around 27 years since she last saw the woman... and the entire time, Raisa had likely been suffering all alone.

Raisa shook at that and shut her eyes.

Shakky had been like a mother to the Raisa who had been severely lacking a proper adult figure in her life. They had a good relationship with each other and Raisa had even be taught by her.

The prodigy had only grown stronger under Shakky's tutelage...

"It's okay," Raisa whispered softly, squeezing her. "I likely would have pushed you away regardless. It's only until after meeting Rosan, was I able to better myself."

"But I still should have tried. I really didn't know you went through such a thing..." Shakky said.

Raisa took a deep breath. "Thank you, Aunt Shakuyaku. I do appreciate that... you were always the mother I wish I had," she sighed.

Shakky smiled, wiping a slight tear. "Didn't I tell you? Just Shakky is fine, Raisa. You were always too proper."

"I will try my best... now how long do you plan on staying? I was not aware you and Rosan were acquainted," Raisa observed.

"I could say the same with you and him as well. When we met not long ago, he mentioned not knowing you... and now you seem hopelessly whipped," Shakky pointed out.

Raisa nodded without hesitation. "That's because I am. I will do anything for Rosan."

The former empress nearly laughed at the seriousness of Raisa.

"Rayleigh is off training Straw Hat, so I decided to try my hand at it too. I'll stay here for a while, at least until Rayleigh returns to Sabaody," Shakky explained easily.

Raisa nodded with a pleased smile. "You are always welcome on Wisteria. I'm happy you're here."

"I'm happy to see you doing better. Now where are Oren and Dalia? I'd like to see them too."

---

"You alright?" Rosan murmured, lying on the bed in his room.

Mod sniffed and nodded against him. "I-I'm sorry. I don't know what got over me... It's just I realized at once that you weren't with me and I don't know what came over me but it all crashed into me at once and I began panicking..."

Rosan sighed and tucked her into his frame. "It was an oversight by me. You aren't used to being separated from me at all because you've been unconscious both times."

While Rosan had been suffering not having anyone with him during his travel, Mod was probably suffering far more and he hadn't realized.

She was just as dependent on him as he was on her after all.

"I'm here, Mod-chan, don't worry. You know you'll always have me," Rosan murmured.

"I know... I know," Mod said shakily. "But is there really a point in us being able to have separate bodies, if this is my state after such little time has passed?"

Mod made fun of Rosan for being so clingy but here she was, a complete mess after not having him.

Even now, she couldn't find it in herself to let him go. She was hopelessly attached to Rosan.

"I-I just wanted to bake you a cake. I can't even do that!" Mod cried, tears spilling on him.

"Oh Mod-chan," Rosan sighed. "We just have to get better than. We'll get used... to being separated."

She clutched him fearfully. "But..."

Rosan sat upright, grasping her cheeks and slapping them. Mod yelped at the action and gazed at Rosan with wide eyes, getting the redhead to roll his eyes.

"Have more confidence in yourself, Mod-chan. Do you know who you are?" Rosan asked, a fire in his eyes as he propped her up.

"Who I am...?" Mod trailed off, not knowing where he was going with this.

"You're Modification, Devil Fruit to Portgas D. Rosan. You're the one who didn't have a gender but got one all because I thought you were a girl without any hesitation. You're my partner of 20 years... the one who trained me into the formidable person I am today. You're the one who managed to keep me under control for all those years. Notice something?" Rosan asked.

Mod shook her head, flushing happily at his words.

"Everything I said has something to do with me," Rosan said bluntly, running a hand through her hair. "You and I are locked to the hip. Of course being apart from me seems impossible... but us being best friends probably never occured to you either did it? Or you walking around with your own body, right?"

Mod nodded slowly, realization on her face at the confident smile on Rosan's.

"We'll get through this. It'll be hard of course... but you've been my mother well into my adulthood. It's time for you to have a little bit of you time."

A lump formed in her throat at that and Mod shut her eyes, sinking into Rosan.

"Everyday, I find myself forever thankful that you are in my life," she whimpered, hugging him tightly. "You are the greatest thing to ever happen to me, Rosan."

"Course I am. Imagine how boring you would have been without me," Rosan smiled, planting a kiss on her forehead. "Now c'mon let's get some rest. I'm not going anywhere for today at least."

Mod sniffed and nodded. "I can't believe we can sleep together in reality now. Thank you so much."

Rosan chuckled. "Of course. Now you can be like everyone else and cuddle me as you wish. I wish Robin were here to see this... maybe I'll surprise her anyways."

She nodded affectionately, eyes shutting as a rare tiredness overcame her.

Mod wasn't used to getting naturally tired... the thought of closing her eyes felt so good right now.

"Let's ambush her tomorrow," she yawned.

"You read my mind. She'll maybe get mad but I'll deal with it," Rosan smiled, shutting his eyes.

"Robin would never get mad at me. Don't worry," Mod giggled.

"Now that I think about it, I don't actually think you two ever get mad at each other," Rosan mused.

"We're too busy being mad at you. You're insufferable."

He let out a barking laugh. "That's true! It's up to me to make the two most important woman in my life not boring."

"That's not something to laugh about, Rosan."

"Yes mother. Now go to sleep."

"Mhm..."

---

Mod woke up for a split second through the night, as Ram entered the room and lazily took her spot atop Rosan. She pretended to stay asleep as the ring looked back and forth between her and Rosan, a smile making its way to her face.

"I had... fun with Aunt Dalia today. Shopping isn't that bad but it's so tiring," she murmured to them.

The Devil Fruits heart melted completely, as Ram planted a kiss on both their cheeks before abruptly falling asleep.

Mod hid her grin and just buried herself deeper into the duo, getting ready to join them in sleep but stopping as the door tentatively opened once more.

She watched Raisa hesitantly enter the room. The woman had taken Rosan's offer very greedily, opting to sleep in his room every chance she got.

Today was clearly no exception but Mod guessed she was contemplating if it was worth potentially incurring her wrath.

...

Mod sighed and lifted her head up, making eye contact with the woman's glowing gaze.

Raisa stiffened, only to watch in confusion as Mod beckoned her over.

The queen thought it was a trap... but Mod merely rested her head back against Rosan, seeming to only be interested in doing that.

"Well, if she doesn't have a problem with it..."

Raisa took a deep breath and approached the bed, idly sliding in and letting out a sigh of bliss as Rosan immediately offered his arm for her, still unconscious.

"He must truly be used to being crowded. He doesn't even hesitate," Raisa mused, watching him curl the arm around her easily.

That just seemed to be her son. He gave so much for his family... and never asked for anything in return. It was no wonder everyone loved him so much.

It was no wonder Mod couldn't even stand to look at her. Raisa almost cost everyone such a shining beacon...

"Raisa."

Raisa froze at the whisper and glanced cautiously at Mod.

"Yes, Mod?" she replied just as quietly.

The Devil Fruit was staring directly at her, red eyes glowing in the night and clashing with Raisa's, similarly glowing, purples.

"...I wanted to thank you... for holding me when I was having that breakdown," she mumbled, ducking her head. "If it weren't for you, I'd probably have reacted far worse so... thank you and sorry for inconveniencing you."

Raisa blinked in disbelief. "Oh no, think nothing of it. I couldn't have possibly let you suffer by yourself if I could do something about it. I'm just glad it was because you missed Rosan and not because you truly hated me."

Mod blinked. Raisa had thought that?

"No... it wasn't because of you. I actually enjoyed our conversation. I know we cut the activity short, but I'd like to continue cooking with you again."

Raisa lit up at that, a grin making its way to her face. "Truly?!" she asked, getting louder than expected.

"Shut up," Rosan and Ram grunted, eyes still shut as they slept away.

Raisa's cheeks colored and she kissed both their cheeks apologetically.

"You'd like to continue?" she asked, quieter this time.

Mod nodded with an amused smile. "Yes. It was enjoyable. I actually felt like I was making progress."

Raisa's cheeks glowed at that and she nodded vigorously. "We can continue then of course. I'd be glad to take you on as my student as well."

The queen watched the woman smile tentatively at that and felt her heart swell in delight.

Was she perhaps... winning Mod over?

Raisa smiled giddily at that and placed her head down, preparing for sleep.

"Goodnight, Mod," she whispered.

"Goodnight, Raisa," Mod replied back.

---

Robin idly wrapped her hair with a towel and tightened another one around her body, sighing as she exited the bathroom attached to her room.

Training had been as grueling as ever. Sabo was ruthless in a manner that reminded her of Rosan... which made sense considering they used to train with the redhead all the time.

"I'm doing it again," Robin sighed, shaking her head slightly.

Lately, she had been tracing everything back to Rosan. She couldn't help it... she missed him.

Telling him that they should see each other less, right after she was forced to watch him nearly die, wasn't the smartest decision. Robin wanted to call him after day 1 but had been holding out strong.

Though, it did sting that he didn't contact her at all... was it hypocritical of her? Absolutely. But, she was allowed to be a slight hypocrite when it came to her boyfriend.

Besides, it wasn't like she was going to get angry with him for listening to her. It just hurt because in the first place, she didn't want to set up that boundary.

Robin sighed. To be codependent... perhaps it was fine if they were? They hadn't seen each other in years. That had given them all the dependence they needed.

She honestly felt like she was going mad these days. It wasn't easy at all but... her stubborn pride (that she definitely inherited from Rosan) decided she needed to be punished for making this decision.

"Best to get changed," she murmured, entering her room and removing the towel to find new clothes...

Robin froze as she felt a presence in the room, whirling towards it with wide eyes. She was wondering who could possibly have been in her room at this time of day, only to relax slightly at seeing a familiar head of red hair atop the body of the person sitting on her bed.

"Hey Robin," Rosan greeted easily, smiling at seeing her.

She had to stamp down her happiness at seeing him, crossing her arms and fixing him with a heavy glare.

"Rosan! You can't just barge into peoples room! I'm naked!" she explained.

Rosan raised a brow and shrugged. "So what? This is just a welcomed view for me," he said shamelessly.

"Shameless pervert," she thought with a roll of her eyes, smiling slightly before wiping it away.

"Why didn't you say anything until I noticed you?" she asked.

"You looked deep in thought. You gotta let thinkers think. Else they activate their nerd powers and I have to hear it from them," Rosan replied, standing up and approaching her.

Robin huffed. "Not even a full minute and you've successfully irritated me. You have a gift."

"I know." He smiled and pulled her into a hug.

"I'm still naked you know."

"I know."

Robin sighed, before returning the hopeless redhead's hug. "I've missed you," she admitted, feeling a little thrown by the sheer amount of relief she felt currently.

Rosan sighed too. "You have no idea how much I wanna squeeze your cheek for saying we should see each other less... but I understand. You're right."

"I was hoping you came here to tell me you disagreed with my idea and you're going to forcefully visit me every time now," Robin said forlornly.

"I considered it... but recent events showed me you're right," he murmured, opening her closet and pulling out a set of clothes for her.

Robin smiled thankfully and began the process of dressing up. "Recent events? What happened?" she asked curiously, smiling eagerly at seeing Ram materialize.

"Mother! I missed you!" Ram beamed, launching herself into Robin's arms.

"Ram!" Robin laughed, squeezing the little girl with a pleased smile. "Is this a new outfit? Look how cute you are!"

Ram huffed, glancing at her simple shirt and skirt combo. "I hate it... but Aunt Dalia bought it for me so I have to wear it."

"Have to?" Robin thought in confusion.

Was Ram totally whipped by Dalia? How was this possible?

Ram grumbled. "I see that look in your eyes... don't ask. I have no idea how she does it."

Robin just laughed lightly and held her, turning towards the amused Rosan.

"So what are these recent events you were speaking of. For them to make you realize you agree with being separated from me... they must be quite impactful."

The redhead hummed and nodded, eyes flashing slightly as he suddenly split in two...

Wait, what?

Robin watched with wide eyes, as Rosan formed a copy of himself... that began transforming after he uttered the words, "Transfer Files."

To Robin's complete and utter disbelief, the copy of Rosan, turned into... a perfect copy of Mod-chan?!

"Hah," Mod breathed, blinking rapidly. "I'm still not used to that," she muttered.

"Mod-chan?!" Robin exclaimed. "You managed to make her a body?!"

The purple haired woman grinned brightly, grabbing Robin and squeezing her tightly.

"I know we weren't supposed to visit you, but I was just so excited to see you in the real world!" Mod beamed, tears forming in her eyes at seeing her two little babies in the flesh at the same time.

Robin and Rosan held a special place in her heart. They were her first two children, both playing a major part in breaking her out of her shell.

To finally be able to hold them both...

"I'm so happy I could cry!" Mod sobbed, holding them both.

Robin's eyes softened, fog forming in them as she smiled brilliantly. With no hesitation, she squeezed the woman with all her might.

"Don't apologize! I'd be furious if I figured out that you had a body so late!"

Robin couldn't believe it. Not only were her two most important people back in her life, she could speak to the both of them at the same time... while awake! They no longer needed to sleep for her to see Mod-chan's face!

"This is incredible!" Robin grinned, running a hand through the both of their hairs.

Mod grinned. "Now instead of cutting the connection, Ram and I can leave the room whenever you two are about to—"

"Mod-chan!" Robin interrupted immediately, gazing at the woman with an incredulous gaze.

"Seriously," Rosan sighed, squeezing her cheek slightly.

Mod giggled slightly. It felt good to embarrass her children!

---

"So you've essentially, in computer terms at least, copied yourself and pasted it into the real world. Afterwards, you transferred some of your "data" into it, including Mod's consciousness, effectively giving her a body to operate on her own," Robin explained, cuddling him before he decided it was time to go.

"Mhm," Rosan smiled.

"It's not very useful in combat. Rosan admitted that it was solely a technique to get me into the real world," Mod admitted, smiling fondly at him.

"That's so sweet," Robin sighed.

"Isn't it? But, I've already thought of a useful application for it!"

Rosan perked up at the look of determination on Mod's face.

"What is it?" he asked. Personally, Rosan hadn't been thinking of a way to use it outside of allowing Mod to have total freedom. That was his primary goal for the technique and he achieved it, so there was only improving and making it better.

"We can use it to learn twice as fast!" Mod exclaimed. "The two of us can take the time to practice different things. While we have varying power, our minds are still brilliant! You'll learn one thing, I'll learn the other... so when we recombine, the information is shared between the both of us!"

The redhead's eyes widened slightly at that. "That's genius!"

Robin nodded in agreement, mouth opening at the possibilities. "Double the workload... double the experience. It's like..."

"Real life cheats," Rosan finished her train of thought, pulling Mod into a tight hug and laughing with her. "I've stagnated for 10 years. It's time for us to make up for lost time!"

Mod laughed in joy. "I can finally be useful to you! We'll discuss what we're learning for the day and make sure they don't overlap."

"With how efficient you two naturally are, you'll be able to maximize your training too," Robin muttered, eyes running with information at the incredible technique.

"And you think you aren't useful to me! There's no need for you to be insecure, Mod-chan."

Mod blushed at that and held her head.

"He's right you know, Mod-chan. You've gotta give yourself more credit."

The three perked up at that voice and Rosan felt a smile forming at seeing Sabo materialize in the room.

Robin rolled her eyes. "What is it with you brothers entering my room without knocking?" she asked, not truly upset.

Sabo held his hands up innocently. "Hey, I wanted to barge in immediately. I heard and felt Rosan the moment he showed up."

The Devil Child raised a brow curiously. "So why didn't you?"

"I heard "I'm naked" and immediately stopped focusing on you guys. I wasn't trying to hear my brother and sister having—"

"Sabo!" Rosan and Robin barked, cheeks dusting in disbelief.

Sabo let out a barking laugh, catching Ram and exchanging a hug with her. "It's a valid concern! I wouldn't want to see anything like that!"

Mod giggled, launching herself up and against Sabo with a bright grin. "I was concerned of the same thing!"

The blonde chuckled and squeezed her. "Now that you have your own body, you're safe."

"What is this?" Robin thought in disbelief.

"I have no idea," Rosan sighed.

"Look at you, Mod-chan! You have your own body now!" Sabo awed, holding her by the shoulders and inspecting the woman top to bottom.

Mod beamed, cheeks rosy. "Yes! I'm completely separate from Rosan right now! We don't even have a range limit!"

"That's incredible!" Sabo grinned.

Rosan rolled his eyes. "Where's Koala? I wouldn't have expected her to let you out of her sight."

"She doesn't. Sabo's teasing us but he and Koala are no better—"

"Robin!" Sabo interjected immediately, groaning at the smug smile that appeared on Rosan's face.

"She must be sleeping then," Rosan huffed in amusement, rolling his eyes.

"Shut up!" Sabo said firmly, glaring at his older brother.

Rosan chuckled. "Think twice before teasing me again. I wonder what face Koala would make if her boyfriend turned into her girlfriend!"

Sabo blinked, before a look of horror appeared on his face. "Don't you even think about it, Rosan! I'm serious!"

Robin laughed aloud. It was always good to have someone like Rosan, who would ensure anyone who dared to tease either of them paid the price.

---

"So you severed ties with Izumi?" Robin asked curiously, pursing her lips at that.

"I wasn't aware of that either..." Mod said, contemplation on her face.

Rosan nodded, leaning back. "Our relationship is too toxic. Not good for each other. The only way I could find it in myself to no longer be angry with her, was by fully letting her go."

"They are still alive?" Sabo raised a brow.

"Yeah. I didn't kill any of them. It would defeat the purpose... but if we ever meet again, they might not be so lucky," Rosan said truthfully, shutting his eyes and humming a tune.

Robin allowed the tune to wash over her, a small smile forming. "Your initiative to becoming a better person, is awe inspiring. I'm sure no one even told you to do that."

"It's something I decided on my own," Rosan laughed. "My family is incredible. I have to match them."

The redhead grunted and sat up. "Alright, I've visited you guys long enough. I'm gonna head back to Wisteria," he told them, pulling Robin into a kiss and standing up.

Robin sighed and pulled Mod and Ram into a hug. "Okay. Take care of yourself," she said, a hint of disappointment on her face.

Rosan instantly caught it and pulled her close. "Now that I've figured this technique out, how about we go out, just the two of us?" he asked curiously.

She perked up at that and mulled it over, serious expression failing to hide her smile. "It's a date."

Rosan grinned and chuckled, before stepping back and waving at the two.

"Oh! Let me use Save Point!" Mod demanded, eyes glowing as she grabbed both Rosan and Ram.

"Alright alright. Let's start discussing a plan on what we'll each practice."

"You'll have to do all physical activities still! Conditioning the body is only effective on you."

Robin watched the two discuss with a small smile.

"You wanna train more don't you?" Sabo asked knowingly.

"I just bathed too," she sighed forlornly, standing up.

"Koala won't be happy. She's bathing right now."

Sabo watched the impish smile on Robin's face and groaned in annoyance, vanishing before she could even say anything.

Let Koala deal with Robin when she was like this. Better for his girlfriend (he was pretty sure they were dating now? They never quite confirmed it) to be embarrassed.

---

"Dragon. I heard you wanted to speak," Rosan said, staring at the back of the world's most wanted man.

"Rosan," Dragon greeted, turning towards him with a severe expression. "I would have liked to speak to you sooner but you've not visited as often as I expected you to."

Rosan huffed at that. "Seriously? Why does everyone think I'm so obsessed with Robin?" he muttered.

"..." Dragon raised a single brow.

"...She's obsessed with me too," he grumbled.

Rosan shook his head. "What did you want to talk about?" he asked.

Dragon stared at him. "Nothing so serious. I just wished to clarify some things with you."

The redhead leaned against a wall and nodded. "Sure. It's the least I could do since you're helping train Robin."

"Just her presence alone is valuable enough where I don't feel the need to request anything. This is just the curiosity of a person who considers you his ally," Dragon said coolly.

Rosan tilted his head. "Alright. Ask away."

"First, your Devil Fruit," Dragon began, brows slightly furrowed.

"Modification," Rosan replied easily, summoning a cube above his palm easily. "I'm a computer man. I can modify whatever I touch. It's been a core ability in keeping my identity mostly hidden over the years," he replied.

Dragon nodded. "The Marines value it, I imagine."

"Quite a lot. Enough for them to prioritize capturing over killing me in an ideal situation. It's apparently a Devil Fruit that's been tampered with by Dr. Vegapunk," he replied calmly.

"Vegapunk? That would make sense... it must have been a personal project by him," Dragon mused.

Rosan pursed his lips. "You know him?"

"We're acquainted. Vegapunk is not a bad person... despite his allegiance with the World Government, you might find a conversation with him rewarding. I'm sure he has eyes on you currently and is eager to meet you," Dragon explained.

"I seem to be realizing that more and more... but if you say he isn't bad, I'll trust your judgement," Rosan grunted.

Dragon nodded. "You helped free Iva. Thank you for that."

"I'm sure he could have freed himself if he wanted. Iva is a competent and eccentric person," Rosan waved it off.

The leader of the revolutionaries stared at him.

"I heard you and Raisa have made amends," Dragon pointed out.

"You know Raisa too?" Rosan asked curiously.

"I do. I called her the night we first met. Of course, I protected your location since it appeared she abandoned you."

Rosan had a look of appreciation at that. "Thanks... but we've made up now. She's training me right now."

"Good. She sounded like she was going through quite a lot. I'm glad you and her managed to mend your nonexistent relationship."

Dragons voice was measured, but there was no doubt he was happy for Rosan's birth mother.

"If you try talking to her again, I'm sure she'll be more receptive. She's been very happy lately."

"I'll consider that," Dragon agreed.

Rosan shrugged. That was up to him. It was not his place to speak for the two.

"I can tell you still want to say something... what is it?" he asked curiously.

Dragon said nothing for a while. Then he gazed directly at Rosan.

"Thank you for taking care of Luffy and Sabo, Rosan... but if you don't care for yourself, all your efforts for them will be wasted. They rely on your safety as much as you rely on theirs... so ensure that you do not die again. I would hate to lose three of my sons."

Rosan's eyes widened at that and he stared at Dragon. His red eyes were shining in confusion and he almost looked like he didn't know what to say.

But, eventually he snorted.

"You've got a lot of gall to call yourself a father, Dragon. I'm more Luffy's dad than you are," he said, rolling his eyes.

"That is not something I will deny... but that does not change my feelings. Take care of yourself, Rosan... and be wary of your real father. I wasn't aware you were a Rocks."

Rosan huffed. "That name... Rocks. I wonder just how terrible my uncle was for it to carry so much weight. Regrettably, Whitebeard died before I could question him... and I imagine you don't know too much."

"You're right. Your best bet at information, would be either Kaido or Charlotte Linlin... though, there are likely scattered members of the Rocks pirates around the world, who are now interested in your name."

Rosan mulled that over. "Whatever. They'll seek me out. I'm far too desired for them to stay silent. I'll crush anyone who seeks me out and take the information I want."

Dragon nodded. "A reasonable decision. I wish you luck on your endeavors."

"Don't wish me luck. Wish Robin luck. This is for her," he sighed, raking a hand through his hair.

"Nico Robin appreciates you very much," Dragon noted, a small grin on his face. "She is always periodically glancing to her left. Whether it be after training, eating or speaking."

Rosan's eyes lit up. "Oh I'm going to tease her so much. Thanks so much, Dragon."

Before Dragon could even say anything, Rosan rocketed off to make good on his words.

The Revolutionary watched him go and shook his head, turning back around to gaze out into sea.

---

Rosan ducked under a wild torrent of flames, grunting as the ground underneath him erupted. The earthquake dislodged the ground and he grabbed a few stray pieces, charging them with electricity and launching them.

The sharp rocks flew through the air with brutal speeds, sparking brightly. They only grew more dangerous as a wave of blue ice covered the rocks.

A wall of earth blocked off the trajectory, to no avail. The rocks pierced through the wall with startling ease and Oren grunted, launching himself away with more power than speed.

The ground shook as he did so, the giant drake avoiding the deadly rocks.

He growled and opened his mouth, firing a torrent of flames that collided with a breath of chilly ice.

Dalia snarled in her full zoan, as her attack collided with Oren's. A wall of steam formed from the fire and ice, before Rosan burst through it, careening towards the Drake with narrowed eyes... Only for him to clash with a club instead.

Maro grinned violently, eyes pulsing as she launched the redhead backwards. She reared her club back and smashed it onto the ground, dislodging a flurry of stone that she proceeded to bathe in her blue flames.

Oren matched her grin and roared, launching the flaming stones toward the duo of Dalia and Rosan.

Rosan was nonplussed. He held out a hand and fired a wave of ice that Dalia immediately followed up on, summoning her own torrent of blue ice.

It froze over the rocks completely and Rosan dashed forward, tapping each frozen rock before they could fall to the ground.

"Goddamnit!" Maro barked, watching as they morphed into spears of ice.

"On it," Oren rumbled, lifting one of his legs once more and smashing it on the ground. A wall formed once more that blocked the spears of ice and Maro grinned, conjuring 3 fireballs that she launched at Dalia.

The wyrm yelped at the flames flying towards her, hastily firing a beam of ice that only managed to stifle one. Before the other two could crash into her, Rosan held a hand upwards and destroyed them with a large beam.

Rosan's eyes narrowed and he made eye contact with the giant Dalia, aiming his hand forward to fire another beam at their opponents.

Maro sneered and jumped in front of it, club taking a sheen as she bat the beam away. She once again charged Rosan.

Rosan transformed Ram into a simple katana, dashing forward and meeting her head on. Their weapons clashed and they began a dance.

"Her unlocking Armament was really inconvenient for me," he sighed, parrying a swipe and having it glide off. He attempted to slash at her midsection but she recovered quickly, slamming Daisy downwards to connect with his katana and making him stumble slightly from the loss of balance.

He palmed the floor as he committed to the fall and launched himself upwards, barely managing to avoid Maro's lunging grab. The giant Dokkaebi snarled and reached up to grab him, only to growl in annoyance as the airborne Rosan slammed a tail against her head.

It barely moved her, only serving to knock her head downwards, but Rosan used the momentum to launch himself at the Oren charging Dalia.

Oren grunted as a tail wrapped around his neck and yanked him back, giving Dalia enough time to finish charging her attack.

Rosan leapt into the air, hair turning a shade of white.

"All Hail," he muttered, summoning a hail storm.

At the same time, Dalia opened her mouth and let loose a torrent of ice that seemed to grow in size as it absorbed the hail around it.

"Oh shit," Maro hissed, vanishing and appearing next to Oren just in time for him to throw up a dome.

The giant wyrm continued firing the raw beam of ice, colliding with the entire battlefield.

"Alright, that's enough! Before you all destroy even more of the arena!" Raisa shouted through the window. She turned towards Angel and Mod immediately, making sure the duo didn't burn down the kitchen and sighed in relief at watching them carefully work at the food.

"Coooold," Maro shivered, transforming back to normal as the dome vanished. She rubbed her arms against each other, blowing out a cold breath as the icy battlefield dropped the temperature.

"Tell me about it," Oren huffed, wiping the ice off his hair. He blew out a puff of flames and Maro sighed, inching closer to him to absorb the heat.

Dalia gaped, tears forming in her eyes as she leapt atop Rosan with a loud cheer.

Rosan grunted in surprise at that, catching the much smaller woman as she wrapped every limb around him.

"I can't believe it! I actually won!" Dalia sobbed happily.

Maro twitched at that and resisted the urge to open her mouth and say she was very much still raring to go... because this seemed important to Dalia.

Rosan smiled and hugged her. "Not used to it?"

Dalia sniffed and shook her head. "I've never beat Oren or Raisa... I'm really weak!" she exclaimed.

He pat his fellow redhead. "Weak? That attack looked nothing weak," he praised, allowing her to snuggle him.

"That's because of you! You're such a good partner! I feel like I can do anything with you supporting me!" Dalia beamed.

"Course, I'm awesome after all," Rosan laughed.

Demon chuckled, conversing with the Mikita who had been watching the battle with wide eyes. "Is anyone hurt?" he asked.

"No! I wanna keep fighting!" Maro complained.

"I'm good," Oren agreed.

"Ditto," Rosan nodded.

"...Me too," Dalia said.

At once, Raisa and Rosan both turned towards her.

"Liar," they said in unison, glaring at her.

Dalia's face colored at that and she ducked her head against Rosan.

"It's just my middle a bit," she mumbled.

Demon sighed in disappointment, peeling his tiny aunt from Rosan's grasp. "Don't ever hide your injuries from me again, understood?" he said firmly.

Dalia nodded meekly at her stern nephew. "I'm sorry. I wanted to be tough like them."

"We won't think any less of you. We're your family, you know?" Demon assured.

Dalia sniffed at that, lips wobbling. "I-I'm sorry! I have a bad perception of how to appear in front of family."

Mod smiled delicately, balancing a large tray of lunch. "We aren't anything like your less than stellar parents. You're allowed to be vulnerable around us."

"Yeah! None of us are perfect! I'm a bitch but Maro still loves me!" Angel beamed, holding drinks for everyone.

"I love you for all your faults. Even though I think you're super perfect already, it makes our relationship way more fun with our different faults," Maro laughed, appearing next to Angel and taking the tray out of her hand.

Rosan snorted. "I'm far from perfect so don't force yourself to be perfect around me. I won't think any less of you, Aunt Dalia," he chuckled.

Dalia, Oren and Raisa gained a stunned look on their face as they gazed at the group of 5.

"You guys... you're so sweet!" Dalia sobbed, crushing Demon happily.

"So this is what a healthy family looks like," Oren laughed, scratching the back of his head.

"I'm jealous," Raisa admitted.

Rosan threw his head back and let out a barking laugh. "Healthy? It took a lot of time for us to get to this stage. I was terrible to them..."

"What?!" Maro and Angel barked in fury.

"Master, you were amazing to me!" Angel snarled. "I'm the one who was afraid of you for no reason!"

"I already told you that I'm happy you made me do that!" Maro barked, shaking her club in warning.

Rosan held his hands up and dragged them both into a hug, idly sipping from one of the cups as they melted against him.

"I know. I know," he murmured, rolling his eyes.

"What's the story behind that?" Oren asked curiously, taking one of the cups and sitting down.

"Lot of things," Rosan sighed, leaning forward and taking the tray out of Mod's hand.

"It's really such a long story," Mod agreed, conjuring a chair for both her and Rosan to sit on. She grabbed two plates and sat down, digging into her platter of sandwiches with a pleased hum.

Rosan sat next to her and combined the plate, before Ram formed and sat between the two, taking three sandwiches for herself and happily eating them.

"Greedy," Rosan and Mod muttered under their breath, successfully making a tick form on her head.

"I'm hungry! Leave me alone!" Ram barked.

Demon laughed softly. "You guys probably know by now, but Master was... a very angry child," he started, a small frown forming as Mikita grabbed a plate for the both of them.

"He's been through a lot. Just being angry is a small miracle," Angel defended, sitting with Maro.

Mod nodded with a sad smile. "He'd be worse really... but Rosan didn't want to disappoint me."

Raisa frowned in distraught at that, turning towards the Rosan tugging Ram's cheek with a small smile.

"Yeah, I was shitty," Rosan nodded. "My anger issues, combined with the fact that I created Angel and Demon, made them terrified of me. As their creator, they thought angering me would lead to their destruction... and I was quick to anger."

"Stupid of us, I know," Angel sighed. "We couldn't really rationalize it. Master created us so easily... Master Mod was the one who gave us emotions. We thought with how easy it was to create us, Master would just replace us at the earliest inconvenience."

"Oh damn," Oren frowned.

"I... wasn't aware of that," Mikita said softly.

Demon ran a hand through his air. "Things got better because Master would never do that to us, but Angel and I plunged ourselves back into that when Master lost his emotions."

Rosan scratched his hair. "It wasn't baseless. I screamed at you guys and never apologized for it until years later. What matters is now you guys know I won't do anything to you!"

"Yeah because you're our awesome big brother!" Angel cheered.

"You're damn right I am," Rosan grinned, taking a sandwich and consuming it.

"He's a much better big brother than me," Oren thought, watching how affectionately Angel and Demon stared at Rosan.

A big brother who protected his little siblings totally... Oren was practically green in envy at that.

"What about Maro?" Dalia asked curiously. "What did he do to you?"

Maro grinned. "Well you guys already know I used to be homeless without a name so Master made me his student!"

Everyone nodded at that, still stunned that the gorgeous woman speaking used to be living in such horrible conditions.

"For our very first mission, Master brought me to a criminal who was the scum of the world! This dude was real bad, someone you smile after killing because the world became a better place," Maro explained animatedly.

Dalia nodded, a wary expression on her face. First mission? With Reaper? How old had Maro been?

"Well, current me would have curb stomped him without hesitation but back then... I wasn't as impressive. I couldn't do it so Master did it for me," she scratched her head sheepishly.

"You're downplaying it," Rosan interjected. "What I did to you was completely uncalled for and downright evil."

Maro flinched at that and shook her head. "But it's fine, Master! Imagine if I didn't have a cutthroat side to me! I'd never be able to be queen!"

"What happened?" Raisa interrupted quietly, watching the frown on Rosan's face.

"I forced Maro to do that. I manipulated her into thinking that unless she could fight for me, she was worthless," he said bluntly.

The three blinked in horror at that, gasps leaving their mouths.

"She was only 11 years old when I told her that she is an extension of me... and when she failed to kill that man, I nearly discarded her use as my soldier," Rosan grunted, sighing at his thoughtless actions.

"11...? Seriously?" Oren muttered, a horrified expression on his face.

"W-Well when you put it like that... it was pretty bad, huh?" Maro mused, scratching her head sheepishly.

Rosan sighed. "I know you think otherwise, but I do showing you the violence of the world at such a young age."

"Bah! It's fine!" Maro waved him off, flexing her arm and getting a coo out of Angel in the process. "I didn't know the full details of what I was getting into... but I still had an idea! I asked for this Master and I seriously don't get why you're beating yourself up still even when I'm not."

She giggled as a tail mussed up her hair, watching as Rosan sighed in exasperation.

"This is why you're my prized student. A kindness, not even stifled by me," he hummed.

"My kindness will never vanish so long as I get to stare at you and Angel whenever I want!" Maro cackled.

"Pervert."

Maro spluttered at the voices.

"You guys have gone through so much," Dalia awed.

"Tell us about it! It's never boring with Master or Luffy!" Angel cackled.

"Could you... tell us some more stories?" Raisa asked tentatively, grabbing one of her sandwiches as she stared at them with a pleading gaze.

"Sure. We're taking a small break anyways. Shakky should be done with her business so I'll go get her soon," Rosan agreed easily enough.

"Oh! Tell them about the time we invaded Germa!" Maro laughed.

The pirate chuckled and nodded, leaning back as he prepared to tell the tale.

"Well, it all started when my spoiled brat of a student, decided she wanted to invade a place with actual stakes."

"Master! Do not call me a spoiled brat! Hey! Stop ignoring me damnit!"

---

"Hey."

Robin perked up at that, a smile making its way to her face at seeing Rosan there.

He was ringless, with a small smile on his face and a rare bag.

Robin was very sure she hadn't seen Rosan with a bag since they were kids.

"Rosan!" she smiled, standing up and pulling him close. "What's the occasion?"

He caught her easily, eyes shining in mirth. "I think it's weird how I've never taken you out on a proper date. I've decided today is the perfect day to rectify such a grave mistake," he said seriously.

Robin rolled her eyes. "How charming. I was beginning to think my boyfriend didn't appreciate me."

The redhead rolled his eyes in return. "I thought I showed you plenty times, how much I appreciated you... but I guess I have to remind you," he snorted.

He pulled out a bouquet of roses and Robin felt her heart swell at the assortment of colors.

Red, purple, white...

"We both love the color black so I would have added it... but giving my girlfriend black roses, doesn't really seem like a good omen," he sighed forlornly.

"I've never been given a bouquet of flowers before," Robin said, tentatively taking it and giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you. This is very sweet."

Robin was not the best with her words when it came to the more... emotional aspect of things. Part of her feared that she wasn't really equipped to handle someone like Rosan, evidenced by the way she slightly cringed back at her rather lackluster words...

But she was very silly. No one would probably be able to understand her intent like this redhead right here.

Rosan laughed slightly and tugged her forward, grabbing a stray pen on her desk and transforming it into a vase in the same action.

"Hey you don't gotta act any differently. Continue to be my studious little nerd. I won't get mad that you suck with your words," he assured.

Robin twitched and despite the fact that she was pleased he could read her so easily, he was still really annoying.

"Let me get changed annoying little boy," she demanded, smiling all the while.

"I'm only 4 years younger than you, you know," Rosan said flatly, rolling his eyes. "Also, wear something comfortable. I wanted our first date to be something simpler."

How thoughtful of him. Robin herself didn't mind if they never actually went on a date. Just his presence was enough to satisfy her and vice versa. They didn't need to go out to enjoy the other's company.

But it was appreciated all the same. Robin had never been on an actual date before. It would be a fun experience!

"You're growing your hair?" Rosan asked curiously, glancing at the black strands and idly grabbing them.

Robin batted his arm aside momentarily, to easily put her short dress on. "I've considered it. Do you think it's a bad idea?" she asked, turning towards him.

Rosan tilted his head.

Her hair was a tad different too. It was pulled back, revealing more of her forehead and ears and Rosan hummed at her signature red strand hanging to her chin.

"I like it. Whatever you do, I'll like," he said eventually, reaching out to grab at it again. "I can do this easier now too!"

He leaned in and planted a kiss on her exposed forehead, making Robin sigh in exasperation, trying not to show him her smile.

"Can you pass me my heels? They're over there."

Rosan saluted and went to grab them, before helping her put them on.

"Aren't you just a gentleman today!" Robin exclaimed with wide eyes, allowing the redhead to secure them both.

He huffed. "I can't harass you all the time now can I? I'm supposed to be a gentleman sometimes to you."

"Sometimes? Are you serious? Where did you read such twisted things," Robin asked. She crossed her arms and stared judgmentally at the redhead.

"Reading about dating? No thanks. I'm just winging it," Rosan laughed, grabbing her by the waist as his eyes began glowing.

Robin resisted the urge to pinch her nose. "Every day, you give me second thoughts on whether this was truly a good idea."

"There's no need to lie. We're both hopelessly in love. It's why I put myself through the pain of bringing you to a museum first."

Robin's eyes glowed in fascination. "A museum? Truly? Perhaps I was being to harsh on you."

Rosan sighed forlornly as they vanished. "Nerd."

---

Despite his initial complaint, Robin heard nothing negative again from the redhead again. Once their date officially began, Rosan had truly become the perfect gentleman.

They were in a museum belonging to Wisteria and Robin had practically dragged him across the entire place.

It was everything Robin could have asked for! She wanted to learn more about Rosan's lineage and the redhead had giftwrapped it to her!

"The museum mostly serves as a token of victory for the Iris," Rosan explained, opting to be the guide for her.

Robin hummed at that. "What's this?" she asked, beckoning towards the giant serpentine body that seemed to dominate a part of the museum.

"That's the body of a mutated snake that inhabited Wisteria," Rosan explained easily. "Back in the days, the people of this island didn't have nearly as much territory to cover. This giant snake terrorized them and was the main culprit. Then, king Iris D. Ran showed up one day with a strange woman by the name of Allium."

Robin listened with a fascinated gaze, surprised that Rosan knew about this.

"Allium was the Empress of an island in the Grand Line called Amazon Island and she was also a pirate captain. She encountered King Ran on a voyage but before she could sink his ship, something occured and allegedly, the two ended up stranded on an island. One thing led to another and Ran ended up helping their crew. Allium ended up contracting lovesickness for him and she sent the rest of her crew back, before following him to Wisteria."

Rosan smiled.

"As a declaration of her love, Allium and her snake both fought this giant serpent alone and slayed it."

"That sounds like something you would do... and Hancock too," Robin added with a smile.

Rosan snorted. "She cleaned up all the monsters on this island. By the end, the people practically worshipped her. Allium and Ran immediately married each other and so began, the combined lineage of the Iris and Kuja."

Robin gazed at Rosan with wide eyes. "You know far more than I imagined. History has never been something that's interested you."

"I learned it recently when I decided to be your guide," Rosan replied easily, eyes glinting proudly. "I had Raisa, Oren and that sweet old lady at the entrance teach me. Would be no good if you weren't learning anything."

"Why is he trying to make me fall even harder? Doesn't he already know I'm whipped?" Robin thought in disbelief, gazing at the redhead.

"Come on! We've got a bit more before I take you out to dinner," Rosan urged, tugging her along.

"...Right," Robin said, utterly dazed by his actions and just letting him drag her through the museum.

Two figures watched them go.

"Should we really be watching them?" Raisa asked Mod curiously.

"P-Probably not. But this is their first date! I just want to make sure Rosan doesn't mess it up!" Mod whispered back, fixing her shades.

Raisa stared at the couples back and tilted her head, a small smile forming on her face.

"I don't think he can. Look at how she looks at him," the queen pointed out, adjusting her sunhat idly. "Why, I imagine if this goes on, she may jump him in the museum."

"R-Raisa!" Mod nearly shouted, face turning an atomic shade of red.

"What?! I want more grandchildren and Ram wants more siblings!" Raisa hissed. "The faster she throws caution to the wind, the better!"

"This is where Rosan got his shamelessness from!" Mod realized in horror, holding her head.

While she wanted grandchildren too... this was bizarre!

"This is just a date, Raisa. Don't expect anything too crazy to happen!" Mod chastised.

"Hmph," Raisa crossed her arm and grumbled.

---

After exploring the entirety of the museum, Robin had been taken to an expensive restaurant for the two to enjoy dinner.

"Such a fancy restaurant," Robin smiled, delicately eating her plate.

"It's nice. Sanji is a better cook but it's nice to try different peoples cooking," Rosan smiled.

The two ate their meal in peace, a comfortable silence falling over the two that somewhat confused Robin.

She glanced up to see Rosan's intense gaze staring at her. There was a contemplation in his eyes and she blinked at the other unknown emotion in them.

"Rosan? Is something wrong?" Robin asked curiously.

The redhead tilted his head and hummed. "Nothing. Come on, I've already paid the bill."

Robin blinked and allowed Rosan to tug her away.

The night sky was out now, lights of Wisteria glowing in a way that enhanced the cities beauty. The island was gorgeous and Robin appreciate the little sights.

She and Rosan walked side by side and Robin thought about it, before reaching out to grab his hand.

Rosan stared at her hand and smiled, squeezing her hand as he directed her to a clearing deeper in the forests of Wisteria.

Robin looked at the area in appreciation and watched as Rosan sighed in approval.

He placed a soft sheet on the floor and promptly lied down.

Robin looked at the uncharacteristic move by Rosan and smiled, following suit and lying next to him.

"The night sky is beautiful," Robin noted.

"Is this the part where I say not as beautiful as you?" Rosan replied, chuckling slightly at the scalding glare she shot him.

"Do you remember when we were kids and the two of us would have our nightmares? We'd both be so afraid of sleeping, that we'd go out to the deck and just cuddle while staring at the night sky," Rosan said wistfully.

Robin's expression softened at that memory. "We would talk about anything and everything to take our minds off of it. Then we'd fall asleep in each others grasps and wake up in bed because Mod-chan took over and carried me."

Rosan laughed at that. "20 years. We've known each other for 20 years... there's no one alive besides Mod-chan who's known me longer."

"Rosan?" Robin mused, turning towards him with a curious expression. "Are you alright?"

He hummed thoughtfully and turned towards her. "Robin, can we talk? It's important."

...Can we talk?

Robin's expression immediately turned wary. "Are you breaking up with me?" she asked immediately, feeling a slight panic at that.

She never actually thought there would be a time where Rosan broke up with her, unless she did something ridiculously stupid like at Water 7. Judging by the sheer panic in his eyes when he had thought she was going to do such a thing, it hadn't occurred to her that he would feel the need to ever break up.

...But he did seem to accept it very quickly.

Oh dear.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Rosan raised a brow, placing a hand on her shoulders and shaking her slightly. "No, I'm not breaking up with you. I actually wanted to do the opposite."

"...The opposite?" Robin asked in confusion.

The woman froze in total disbelief, as Rosan reached behind him and pulled out a small box.

Was that what she thought it was?

"I've been thinking about it for a while... and even though we probably wouldn't have one until after our journey... I still want you to realize that I want to marry you," Rosan said softly, eyes glowing brightly.

...

Robin's mouth opened in shock at that, gazing at the ruby ring with wide eyes.

It was simple, exactly how Robin liked it, and carefully crafted, fashioned in black. The gem gleamed in the night and Robin felt a lump form in her throat at that.

"You want... to marry me?" she asked quietly.

Rosan nodded without hesitation. "Not immediately but when the two of us finish our journey... when you find the answers to the void century, when I become the strongest... we can find that place to settle down," Rosan smiled gently.

Robin said nothing for a while, before tentatively accepting the ring.

"Now I'll have to find you a ring in return," she said eventually, a genuine and watery smile on her face.

Rosan laughed, only to let out a gasp as he was tackled to the floor and hugged tightly.

"Quite the possessive technique by you to ensure I never look at someone else," Robin teased.

"One ring wasn't enough. Now you can show off two!" Rosan cackled.

The two snuggled happily before abruptly vanishing and Mod smiled to herself, touching her heart as tears began forming in her eyes.

"They're getting married?" she whispered.

She squealed in joy and squeezed Raisa, lifting the surprised queen up and spinning her in a hug.

Raisa yelped at that, eyes glowing in shock as Mod squeezed her.

"Can you believe it?! I'm so happy for them!" Mod squealed, eyes glowing in joy.

Raisa blushed and nodded in agreement. "I do hope this means we will get our grandchildren sooner rather than later."

Mod blushed in mortification. "Raisa!"

---

Raisa and Mod both held their heads, as Rosan and Robin stared the two down with their arms crossed.

"Did you seriously think I didn't notice you guys back at the museum or the restaurant?" Rosan mused with a raised brow.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about," Mod said, averting her gaze.

"Sorry," Raisa said at the same time.

...

The two stared at each other with wide eyes.

"Claim ignorance until given proof!" Mod hissed to her.

"He can detect lies just like me! What's the point?!" Raisa hissed back.

"Idiots," Rosan sighed, pinching his nose.

Robin giggled. "Did you two have fun spying on us?"

Mod opened her mouth, only to shut it as Rosan's eyes promised he was going to make her sensitive for a tickle session.

"I don't know what you mean! Raisa and I were on a date and we just happened to run into all the same spots!" Mod exclaimed with wide eyes.

Raisa's eyes widened and her face darkened.

"Really now?" Rosan asked.

"You two get along enough to date?" Robin joined, smiling slightly.

"..." Mod twitched. There was just something very embarrassing about being caught so easily. She had her pride to defend!

The woman squeaked as a tail snaked around her and dragged her towards the unimpressed Rosan.

"Last chance, Mod-chan," he warned.

"Okay! Okay!" Mod whined. "I was just worried! You two's first dates? How could I not be concerned!"

"Do you have that little faith in me?" Rosan scoffed, crossing his arms and glaring at her.

"N-No? I just..." Mod trailed off.

"Mod's not used to not knowing what you're doing. Spare her a bit. She's slowly getting better at being separated from you," Raisa said diplomatically.

Rosan's eyes narrowed and he turned towards Raisa with a thoughtful expression.

Then he dropped Mod-chan and nodded.

"You're right. She's getting much better but I should expect a little bit of withdrawal. Silly me," he agreed, saving her from being tickled.

Mod sighed in relief and shot Raisa a grateful look.

"We'll tell everyone but as you guys saw, I basically proposed to Robin," Rosan grinned eagerly.

Robin smiled at his excitement and leaned against him. "It was so surprising! I thought he was going to break up with me at first."

Rosan scratched the back of his head. "Didn't I already tell you? You're stuck with me. Now it's going to be until death do us part."

"Psycho," she smiled.

"I'm so excited!" Mod gushed.

"Try not to spill," Rosan interjected.

Robin nodded. "Rosan and I think it's best if we achieve our goals before we do anything. So telling them before we even meet up with the crew would be reckless."

"Yeah, we'll tell everyone after the two years are up..."

"We'll have to explain why I'm wearing two rings."

"During our date I saw that you liked one and bought it for you. Greedy little Robin didn't want to get rid of either so she took both."

"I'm going to kill you."

Mod and Raisa stared at the two with small smiles.

"Thank you for saving my bottom," Mod whispered.

"Of course. We both made the decision to spy anyways," Raisa murmured back.

The queen of Wisteria was about to say something else, up until she saw the fact that Rosan and Robin were actually fighting.

"Should we stop them?" Raisa asked in concern, watching the two roll across the ground.

"No. Let them tire themselves out. Actually, it's safer for us to evacuate the area... their fights never last long."

"What do you— O-Oh. Okay let's leave."

---

When was the last time he had felt cold?

He did not know. Cold was a foreign concept to him...

"Thank you for being my family. I'm so proud of you all."

But Ace was so cold.

"Mom sacrificed her life for you because she loved you."

Mom sacrificed her life for him... Rosan sacrificed his life for him...

Ace was so cold.

He blearily opened his eyes, no sound leaving him.

The whitebeard pirate, stared at the ceiling with a blank expression on his face.

Why... why was he alive? Why was Ace still breathing?

What was the point? He had killed Rosan. His older brother had gone through hell in order to save him and it was Ace who got him killed.

They won. They did it. Ace watched Rosan fight person after person... he watched his brother take worse and worse injuries.

And then when they were free, Ace's hubris got him killed.

How many times did people have to pay for his faults? Why was it always his fault?!

Ace let out a scream of agony, as he shot up. He howled and began destroying everything around him. He smashed a table in two, threw a vase against the wall and flipped the bed he was on, upheaving the entire thing completely.

He panted in rage, but rage wouldn't bring his brother back. Rage wouldn't change how much of an idiot he was.

"You need to know when to step down from a battle. Some things are more important then winning a fight."

That was what Rosan had said. All those years ago. To think that after all this time, those words would haunt him so...

"I don't resent you. I didn't want you to get in my way and you did just that. Because of you, I had to back down from a fight. I never back down from a fight," a younger Ace had snarked violently.

"Thinking like that is going to get you killed, you little idiot," a just as young Rosan said.

Ace let out another howl of agony, flames erupting as he threatened to burn down the entire room he was in.

Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. He was an idiot. Ace was such a fucking idiot.

Why didn't he back down? Why? Why did he let himself get so riled up over something so childish.

"Some things are more important than finishing a fight. Keeping the ones you love safe, should always be a higher priority."

Right... that was the difference between Rosan and Ace.

Rosan, cold and callous Rosan. The same Rosan who would slaughter an entire island without blinking an eye... The same Rosan who had no emotions for more than a decade... and he was more emotionally intelligent than Ace.

Rosan knew all along. He knew what was going to happen. Rosan knew all along that Ace's stubborn and reckless nature was going to get him killed so like a true older brother, he interfered and fixed Ace's mistake.

Why... why did he do that? Why didn't he just let Ace die like the fool he was.

Ace's anger vanished and he collapsed to his knees, tears falling in defeat. He slammed his head repeatedly onto the ground, tears falling into the small crater and vanishing as the flames burned them.

Rosan said all these terrible things about himself, but Rosan was the family's glue. Emotionless Rosan did everything in his power to make sure his family was happy and satisfied.

And worthless Ace did everything in his power to destroy everything they worked towards.

Ace's death wouldn't change anything in comparison to Rosan's. What would Maro do? Angel? Demon?

...Kami, what about Robin and Luffy?

Ace shut his eyes and let out a strangled sob.

"Ace? You're awake?"

...

Ace let out an raspy intake at that, freezing as he was abruptly dragged into a hug.

"You're awake," Rosan breathed in relief, squeezing his little brother with a soft expression. "Kami, even I was beginning to doubt."

The logia said nothing, eyes wide as he shakily touched his older brother.

"Rosan...?" Ace whispered in disbelief, tears surging.

"It's me. I'm alive," Rosan murmured, squeezing him gently.

Ace shuddered and burst into tears, a sob leaving him as he squeezed as tightly as possible.

"I'm sorry for being so stupid, Rosan! I'm sorry! I can't believe you're still here!" he sobbed, voice cracking as he latched onto his older brother with no reservations like he normally had.

Rosan sighed. "I won't say what you did was smart. I know you. You don't wanna hear any of that... but I'm so glad you're alive, Ace."

Ace's throat locked at the earnesty in his brothers voice and he wailed, letting everything loose.

Rosan was glad he was the only one here. In this moment, Ace didn't need his gentle family, who would all wonder in the back of their minds why he did such a thing... in that moment, he didn't need to see his little brothers in Sabo and Luffy, who he was supposed to be strong around...

Right now Ace needed his older brother, the one who he confided in when he had his moments of weakness.

So Rosan hugged his little brother tightly, letting him be vulnerable in his moment of need.

---

Ace bowed his head, not saying anything as Rosan wiped his face clean.

He'd normally be embarrassed, claiming he could do it on his own... but right now he welcomed his brother's presence.

"So you... were saved by that virus?" he asked warily.

Rosan nodded. "Pestilence saved me right when I was about to die. If not for them, I'd be a goner."

Ace withered at that, guilt wracking his features. "Rosan... I'm sorry. Even after you warned me, I still refused to back down from a fight and you took the fall for me."

All he could remember, was Rosan smiling in relief, a gaping hole in his midsection as he took an attack meant for Ace.

He tried to shut his eyes but that did nothing to banish the memories.

Rosan stared at him with a soft expression. "For idiots like us, Ace... it takes a real shocker to show us how dumb we are. You didn't deserve to die without realizing that and now you do."

Ace said nothing at that.

"What happened to pops?" he asked quietly.

Rosan's silence was loud.

"Whitebeard... died at Marineford. He was killed in a combined effort of Blackbeard and Cutter. Blackbeard... stole his Devil Fruit and consumed "

"..." Ace clenched his fists tightly at that.

"What about the rest of the crew...? Is Marco the captain now?" he asked warily.

Rosan stared at him with a small frown. "Marco did become the captain... but they waged a war against the Blackbeard Pirates and were annihilated. I don't know who survived or died... but the Whitebeard Pirates are no more. Teach took his place as an Emperor and Cutter is his right hand... wielding just as much power."

Ace's body went cold at that.

All of this... this huge spiral of events. All of it... began because of him? No more Whitebeard Pirates? The complete ascension of Teach as an Emperor?

"All of it is my fault," Ace whispered.

"..." Rosan said nothing.

"If I just listened to pops! He told me not to go after Teach! I couldn't even beat him and now..." Ace grit his teeth, gripping his hair in a tight hold.

"Ace..." Rosan said warily, glancing at his spiraling brother with a concerned gaze. "You made a mistake."

"A mistake?! You call all of this a mistake, Rosan?!" Ace shouted, eyes hysterical. "I single-handedly, ushered in a new era after getting my older brother killed! All those people who died in the war... all my friends... you. You all died because I can't listen!"

"Teach has two Devil Fruits... he's recruited your dad who shouldn't even be free... my crew's been destroyed," Ace whispered, the reality of the situation crashing into him fully.

"Your father changed the world with his death! When you become a man that important, then you can do whatever you want!"

Ace had downplayed his importance. He didn't realize his value in the world. Because of that, he recklessly charged ahead, not thinking about the consequences if things went bad.

He didn't think Whitebeard would mobilize his entire army for him. He didn't realize his capture would allow Teach to get so much power so quickly. He didn't realize his brothers would go to hell and back to keep him safe.

He didn't realize they'd be so willing to die for him.

"Rosan..." Ace said softly.

"..." Rosan said nothing for a while.

Then, the redhead sighed. "Ace... whatever you're thinking, you don't have to do this," he said quietly.

Ace shut his eyes. "I need to go."

"Go? Go where, Ace. It's been 6 months! You just woke up!" Rosan protested, surging up and glaring at his brother.

"I don't know where I'm going but... but I have to figure out things," Ace said eventually.

Rosan shook his head harshly. "What about our family, Ace?"

"I DON'T DESERVE TO SEE THEM!" Ace shouted in return, eyes wild. "ROSAN, I KILLED YOU!"

Rosan went silent at that, eyes going wide.

"I killed you! Everyone saw it! I don't deserve you guys! I know I'm to blame for everything. If you actually died... they'd hate me! I already hate myself!"

The redhead said nothing, heart crushing as tears fell from Ace's eyes.

"I can't... don't make me look them in the eyes," he pleaded quietly.

Rosan was completely silent, gazing at his brother with an unreadable expression.

"Okay," he conceded quietly. "Alright, Ace. I'll give you supplies and a ship. Go out there and find whatever answer you're looking for."

Ace ducked his head. "Thank you, Rosan... I don't deserve you."

"You do. You do deserve me, Ace... so if you die, I'll never forgive you."

Ace shook at that, before a hand gripped him and forced him to look up.

There was a raw desperation in Rosan's gaze, a tangible fear as the redhead dropped every barrier in his body.

"If you die Ace... if you leave me after I took a fucking hole in my chest for you, I'll never forgive you. So you need to live, Ace. I died for you, so your life is tied to me now. You aren't allowed to die until I say so, understood?"

Ace's throat locked up once more at that, seeing the way Rosan laid himself bare.

"Alright. I won't die... not until you say so," Ace said finally.

Rosan sagged and nodded. "Alright, let's go."

---

"Are you sure you don't want to see them?"

Ace shut his eyes at the question.

He wanted nothing more than to see his family. He loved them... and they were all he had left right now.

But Ace could not face them right now. Ace could not bare to look them all in the eyes.

He was a coward...

Rosan sighed and pulled his brother into a tight hug. "Alright. But... just remember that in this lonely world, you'll always have us."

Ace nodded tightly at that, tentatively returning the hug. He then turned towards the boat and stepped onto it, glancing back at his brother once.

Rosan smiled reassuringly. "Next time I see you, you better have found those answers, Ace. Don't think you can avoid me forever... I'll hunt you down and force you back into our family."

"...Right. Bye Rosan," Ace said quietly, igniting the ship in fire and shooting off.

Almost as soon as he vanished, Rosan's smile did too and the redhead teleported back to his castle to sit alone.

He had just given Ace everything he needed and his brother had requested to be left of near the New World... so that's what Rosan did.

Now Ace was gone. Where? Rosan didn't know...

...

Rosan grit his teeth and his eyes filled to the brim with rage.

The redhead let out a roar of frustration and smashed a fist clean through the table. He howled as he began indiscriminately destroying everything around him.

"Why?! Why can't it ever just be right?!" he hissed, completely trashing the room he was in.

Nothing he did was ever good enough. Even after saving everyone, people still suffered.

It was impossible! Why was it so impossible?!

What was he supposed to tell his family? Ace woke up and decided he was suicidal so now he didn't want to see any of them? How was he supposed to explain that to them?!

"GODDAMNIT!" Rosan roared, eyes pulsing madly.

No matter what he did, someone was bound to suffer. It just wasn't fair. Why couldn't things just be simple for Rosan just once?

"Oh that's it. Could you quit your self wallowing. You're making me sick."

Rosan paused at that.

"Pe-chan?" Rosan called out.

"Don't call me that," Pestilence bit out. The virus was scowling, only to jump as Rosan appeared directly in front of them.

"I didn't tell you to visit me— A-Ah!" Pestilence yelped as they were dragged into an abrupt and tight hug.

The virus struggled, doing everything in their power to not melt in his grasp.

"Sorry," Rosan murmured, eventually releasing them. "I just needed to hug someone."

"Make sure it's not me again," Pestilence retorted coldly, crossing their arms. The viruses unnerving red gaze peered a hole into him and sighed.

"Why do you torture yourself like this? Latching onto a suicidal boy who doesn't think? You've never been the smartest with who you attach yourself too but this is self destructive."

Rosan scowled and looked away.

Pestilence rolled their eyes. "Are you forgetting the circumstances that led to you almost perishing and losing Mod?"

"Be quiet Pe-chan," he said quietly.

The virus scoffed. "If not for your stupid little brother, you wouldn't have nearly lost your life, you're family wouldn't have potentially been permanently depressed and I'd still have Famine."

Rosan flinched back at that, expression turning hurt.

"First everyone refused to acknowledge me as Rosan, now you refuse to acknowledge me as Famine. That hurts, Pe-chan."

The redhead shook his head. "It was stupid of me to come here," he said bitterly.

He was already in a bad mood. Coming here was such a stupid idea.

Pestilence stared at the dejected redhead with a torn expression, before their face hardened.

"Yeah, it was," they said coldly. "Go to your little fiance and complain to her about it. I don't give a fuck."

Rosan's face went crestfallen at that.

Then, it morphed into steel, no emotions on his face at all.

"Right. Have a good day Pestilence. I'll leave you alone like you want," he said blandly, disappearing as soon as he came.

"..."

Pestilence let out a howl of rage and smashed everything around them, eyes blistering in fury.

---

"Rosan?" Sabo mused, watching his brother appear in the middle of their training session.

It had been a while since they last saw him and Sabo was surprised he was managing to keep himself away from Robin for so long.

"Hey Rosan!" Koala waved, only to frown in concern as Rosan ignored her.

That was odd. She had been preparing to fight him already. Her spars were almost always the best when it was against Rosan because she genuinely wanted to punch him in the face.

Sabo would have thought the redhead just couldn't handle being away from her anymore but the glum look on his face banished that idea immediately.

"Rosan, are you alright?" Robin asked. She grabbed a towel and wiped herself down, moving herself over to him in the same movement.

"..." Rosan said nothing, simply exhaling tiredly and collapsing against her.

"Why can't I ever do anything right?" he asked bitterly, slumping against the concerned Robin.

Robin raised a visible brow in concern. It had been a while since she heard Rosan say something so negatively about himself.

"What happened? What's causing you to say such things about yourself," Robin asked in concern.

"...Ace woke up," he said softly.

Sabo's eyes widened and he jolted violently. "He what?! Ace is awake?!" he shouted eagerly.

Robin noted Rosan's demeanor and frowned in worry.

While she was less than pleased at Ace's actions, she still loved the boy. If something happened to him, she'd be incredibly upset.

"What happened?" Robin asked gently, cupping his cheeks.

Rosan sighed. "He blamed himself naturally... and nothing I said got through to him."

Sabo stilled at that. Rosan's words had a lot of power to win them over. For it to not work on Ace was... less than ideal.

That meant something happened.

"He left. He was too ashamed and afraid to see you guys so he left... and I let him," Rosan sighed in depression.

"He left? Where did he go?" Robin asked, concern in her body.

She hugged the distraught redhead and ran a hand through his hair.

"The New World I imagine considering that's where he asked me to drop him off," Rosan mumbled.

Sabo's brows furrowed and he sighed. "Rosan, don't blame yourself for this," he said abruptly.

The redhead jolted, gazing at Sabo in surprise.

"You don't blame me?" he asked quietly.

The logia shook his head harshly. "Of course not! Come on, Rosan. We both know how Ace is. Once he's made up his mind, only you and Luffy can outstubborn him. It's hard dealing with my brothers," Sabo laughed.

Rosan shook and bowed his head.

"Rosan... Ace made his decision and we cannot fault you for that," Robin murmured gently. "All we can do is wait for him to come back. We know he'll come back. He's family after all."

Sabo grinned and nodded. "Yeah and I'm stronger than him now. If he doesn't come back, I'll force him back. We have to make sure our oldest brother is doing fine too and you deserve a little protection," he assured.

Rosan shuddered and nodded. "It's... good to be looked over by you guys every once in a while."

"Of course. We'll always be here for you," Robin smiled, kissing him on the cheek.

The redhead huffed, expression lightening. "I'm sorry for interrupting. I thought I'd at least tell you guys what happened... and I was feeling bad."

"If you ever feel bad, please don't hesitate to come. It's our job to take care of each other," Robin assured.

Sabo chuckled. "Yeah Rosan. You've done everything by yourself for decades... I won't let you do it all alone anymore."

Rosan's heart swelled at their words and he sighed in relief.

"Alright alright. My little brother wants to act so grown... so I'll entertain him," he conceded.

Koala laughed. "Sabo? Grown? Yeah right! For someone who thinks at the speed of lightning, he sure does stupid things all the time!"

Sabo turned towards her incredulously. "Stupid? Are you serious, Koala?"

"Yes I'm serious! You're as big of an idiot as your brothers!"

Rosan and Robin watched the younger couple argue, both donning impish smiles.

"Ah, young love," Rosan sighed wistfully.

"You speak as if we're much older than them," Robin smiled in amusement.

The redhead chuckled. "Feels like it sometime. I feel like I've lived a lifetime sometimes."

Robin sighed in agreement. "You and me both."

They enjoyed each other's peace, finding it far more entertaining to watch a couple argue.

"At least they don't fight each other," Robin noted.

"My love language is physical touch," Rosan countered.

Robin sighed in exhaustion. "Don't I know it. Now, get out of here while I break up this argument. Our training isn't done just yet."

"Good luck," Rosan saluted and kissed her exposed forehead, vanishing in the same movement.

Robin touched her forehead. "He sure loves this spot, I can't tell if it's genuine or teasing..."

Best to not dwell on it. Better for her mental health.

---

Hancock perked up as a warm presence flew through her open window. A grin split her face and the Empress let out an excited shout, leaping across the room and tackling Rosan to the floor.

"Cousin!" she squealed loudly, nuzzling him happily.

Rosan grinned fondly, expression idly turning towards a direction with a pondering expression.

"Hey, Hancock. Miss me?" he mused.

She nodded eagerly, smiling up at him with starry eyes.

Part of Rosan wished he and Hancock knew each other when they were younger. He and his cousin would have terrorized the seas and their families!

"Wanna come to Wisteria with me? I'm training with Raisa and Aunt Shakky. Maro, Angel and Demon are there too."

Hancock actually looked upset with him. "You've just now come to retrieve me?! How dare you do this to me, cousin!"

Rosan chuckled to himself and pat her head, watching how effortlessly she melted. "I know I know. I thought you were still training with Luffy."

Hancock puffed her cheeks out, a glare on her face. "Rayleigh forbid me. He claimed I was going too easy on him. I nearly killed him in his sleep."

Rosan sweatdropped at that. "Right... okay, you can come with. Get Sonia and Mari too. I need to whip my weaker little cousins into shape."

The Snake Empress nodded eagerly, shooting up and rocketing off.

He watched her go and sat atop her bed, leaning back and closing his eyes...

Rosan's eyes snapped open and he leaned upwards, turning to face an old lady.

"Elder Nyon?" he asked cautiously, noting the way she gazed at him.

There was a grave look on her face and the elder almost looked... wary of him.

Finally, the granny sighed.

"The Morning Star... Rocks D. Rosan. I almost can't believe I missed it."

Rosan tensed up.

What?

"What do you mean?" he asked curiously.

"I was apart of that crew you know," Nyon said suddenly.

Rosan froze. "Apart of that crew? You mean the Rocks Pirates?!" he nearly shouted in disbelief.

"Your old ass?!"

Nyon felt a tick form at that and bat her snake staff against his head. "HAVE SOME RESPECT!"

The woman huffed and shook her head. "To think you were the child of that small child Cutter. You act nothing like him... but you are as wild and unpredictable as Xebec."

Rosan raised a brow high. She really did know about that crew.

"The Rocks Pirates are a crew better left in the past. Brutes all aligning for a common goal... it was a disaster of a crew. No synergy, no functionality. Just big names all sailing under the flag of a psycho."

Rosan looked mildly interested at that. "So it really was a crew of big names. Three of the members of that crew became Yonko."

"That's correct. Edward Newgate... Charlotte Linlin, Kaido of the Beasts, Shiki... and we all sailed under the banner of Rocks D. Xebec," Nyon frowned, gazing at Rosan.

"Many people will be interested in you, Rosan. You wield a valuable Devil Fruit, you've revived from death and you have the blood of a very dangerous man running through your veins. Linlin especially, is someone you should be wary of," Nyon said.

Rosan hummed. "Big Mom? Alright. I'll be on the lookout then."

Nyon nodded. "I will be willing to tell you more... but not today. Perhaps at a later time, when you learn more about the world."

"Sure," Rosan agreed, turning slightly and allowing himself to get tackled back onto the bed by his three cousins.

"I'll take you up on that offer, Elder."

"Don't bother speaking to that hag, Cousin!" Hancock shouted, glaring at Nyon.

Nyon gained an annoyed look. "You cannot leave your island unattended too for long, Hancock! You're still an Empress with duties."

Hancock blew a raspberry at her, urging Rosan to vanish away.

Rosan rolled his eyes and waved. "Bye, Elder Nyon."

"...You may call me Elder Gloriosa, Rosan," she said curtly.

"Gloriosa," Rosan tested it. "Alright. I'll consider calling you that, granny."

He vanished before the staff could crash onto his head.

"Annoying brat," she grumbled.

---

Rosan let out a soft breath, breeze brushing against him as he hummed, floating in midair as the winds brushed against him.

He waved his hands about, almost like he were directing a symphony and at once, the wind around him picked up in speed and intensity, blowing so strongly that it drowned out the redhead's humming.

Finally the wind died down and Rosan landed softly on the floor, clothes falling back into place.

He didn't even open his eyes... but he did open his arm to catch the speeding missiles crashing against him.

"You two know I'm not going to disappear forever right? I'll come visit you two when you miss me."

"We miss you," Oren mumbled, squeezing his nephew tight.

"We miss you lots," Dalia whimpered, glancing up at him with tears in her eyes.

Rosan laughed and ran a hand against their black and red hair respectively.

"C'mon don't be so annoying. Aunt Dalia don't you have a date next week with Aiko? I'm bringing you, you know. Same as you Uncle Oren. I saw you talking to that doctor at Demon's hospital."

The two balked at his words. Their nephew was a tease on the best of days but damnit, he was so embarrassing.

"We're seriously gonna miss you, Rosan!" Dalia cried, squeezing him tightly.

"Thank you so much. Without you... I don't know if we'd ever feel like a family again," Oren mumbled, tearing up at their precious little nephew.

Rosan's gaze softened. He loved his aunt and uncle. They had been nothing but kind to him these two years and he could proudly claim them as his family.

"I love you guys. If you ever wanna talk, just give me a call. I even went out of my way to make you both your own cubes to call me separately... but I'm putting a limit on you Aunt Dalia."

Oren burst into laughter at the spluttering noise Dalia let out.

"W-What?! I won't call you that much!" she complained.

"You'd call me to talk about the breakfast you had," Rosan said flatly, pinching her cheeks and getting a whine out of her. "Call Aiko to talk about random bullshit. She'll gladly hear your random thoughts."

She wouldn't but she'd have to deal with it.

Dalia nodded eagerly. "Alright, I'll do that!"

Ram appeared with a eager shout, tackling Dalia and getting his aunt to burst into tears.

"Raaaam!" she wailed, hugging the growing little girl.

"Aunt Daliaaa!" Ram cheered, squishing her cheeks eagerly. "Don't worry. We still have tea time soon! I'll remind Father!"

"You better!" Dalia cheered, squishing their cheeks together.

Rosan would never explain how Dalia and Ram got along so well... but Dalia spoiled Ram endlessly. It was ridiculous truly but Rosan was glad they got along so well.

Mod smiled and exchanged hugs with the two. "It was truly wonderful meeting you two. I'm glad you're apart of our family."

Dalia burst into tears again at that. "We love you Mod-chan!" she blubbered, nuzzling the purple haired woman eagerly.

Oren chuckled and dragged his little sister away. "We're done holding you up. Visit us when you can but you've still got one more visit."

Rosan nodded affectionately, allowing them to kiss his cheek, and stepped back.

"Alright you two. I'll visit soon... but it's been long enough and it's about time I go back to being a pirate," he informed them, grinning ferally.

They saw the feral grin of their nephew, the way his sharp teeth gleamed and felt themselves choke up.

The pride of the Iris... that's what Rosan was.

"Be safe nephew!" Oren waved.

"Tell Robin I said we miss her! Don't forget we have to do that family dinner in two weeks!"

Rosan rolled his eyes and waved. "Yeah yeah yeah. More demanding members of my family."

Ridiculous.

---

"Do you have everything? Clothes? Underwear? Money?" Raisa asked worriedly, planting a flurry of affectionate kisses on both his cheeks.

Rosan hummed, eyes glowing in his relaxed amusement as he allowed her to pepper him.

"Yes, I have it all," he murmured, pulling the woman into a tight hug.

"Stop being such a worrywart. I'll be fine."

Raisa bit her lip at his relaxed confidence and sunk into his hold. "I know. I know… but I can't help but worry for you. You know how I get," she sighed, nuzzling him.

Rosan rolled his eyes. "Did you do a bad job teaching me?" he asked knowingly.

Raisa scowled. "Of course not! You are my prized student, Rosan. You've taken all my teachings and excelled in them! You've blown my expectations out of the water!"

"Then you have nothing to be worried about… Besides, you have a Save Point now so I'll visit you when I can. Not to mention, you can call me when you miss me... but I'm putting a limit on you," he assured.

Her eyes glowed in happiness at that and she leaned into his hold.

"How much is the limit?" she asked.

"3 times. Once in the morning, once during the day, once during the night. If I don't answer, I'm busy. You can call Demon or Angel too. I'll even introduce you to my crew soon."

Raisa nodded begrudgingly, finding some reason in his words.

The woman lit up once more and stared at Rosan with an innocent gaze.

"May you transform into Mod-chan please?" she asked demurely.

Rosan's eyes narrowed suspiciously but he did so with a wave of a hand and seamlessly transformed into the woman.

Mod hummed, raking a hand through her purple and black hair, expertly tying it into a ponytail in a smooth motion. She peered at Raisa and the two exchanged a tight hug.

"Yes, Raisa?" Mod asked curiously, fondness, that she never thought she'd feel for the woman, swelling.

Raisa smiled softly and leaned in, before planting a slow kiss directly on the woman's cheek.

"Please continue caring for Rosan. You've done a splendid job with him… and I hope one day I can be as good of a mother as you," Raisa whispered in her ear.

Mod's brain short circuited at that, before her face turned an interesting shade of red.

"O-Oh... thank you but over the years, you've proven that you're a fantastic mother too!" Mod stammered, eyes wide as she looked at Raisa's lips.

There was something distinctly… inappropriate about that kiss and as Mod stared at Raisa's smoky expression, she noticed that the woman's eyes were set into the slits of her zoan.

"Oh dear… did Raisa just stake her claim on me?" Mod thought in disbelief.

"If I'm fantastic... then you're perfect," Raisa purred, eyes glowing.

"Oh dear! She did!"

"U-Um…" Mod stuttered, before sighing in relief as Rosan took over.

"What do you think you're doing?" Rosan asked with a raised brow, taking note of the chaste kiss.

Raisa smiled, lips curling upwards as she fluttered her eyes innocently at her son. "It's only right that both your mothers get along, don't you think? Far better than hating each other."

"Get along?" Rosan sneered, eyes narrowed. "Don't go kissing Mod-chan so freely. She's mine. She isn't allowed to date anyone."

"A-ANYONE?!" Mod spluttered and scowled, before forming right next to Rosan this time.

The two glared at each other and Mod eventually said, "Raisa, I would be delighted to talk over dinner with you! We can cook and discuss whatever!"

Before Raisa could respond, Rosan reached out and gripped Mod's cheek with his hands, yanking it and getting the woman to yell in distress.

"R-Rosan! Unhand me you brute!" Mod yelped, glaring at the redhead with a furious expression.

"Don't test me," Rosan warned her, before reaching out with a hand and gripping Raisa's cheek as well. "You too. Don't try it."

Raisa whined and yelped. "You can't hog her, Rosan! Mod is a free woman and I want to know hermore!"

Rosan huffed. "Ask me again in 19 years and I'll consider it."

"You're a freak of nature!" Mod barked, struggling in his grasp and showing her fangs warningly.

The redhead sneered, before a chuckle eventually erupted from his mouth.

He pulled the two in a hug and squeezed them gently.

"I know... doesn't change what I said though," he soothed.

Raisa grumbled, before her expression finally cracked and she broke out into a cry.

"Thank you so much, Rosan! You've made me appreciate my life so much more and I'm so glad we met. You're the best thing to have ever happened to me!"

These two years... they had been the best two years Raisa had ever had. Her family grew so much and she loved them with everything in her heart.

Her little triplets, Angel, Demon and Rosan. The three siblings who were her lovely kids with lovely professions...

And they all loved her too! They acknowledged her as their mother and she was even going to meet the residents of Celadon without Rosan there to mediate!

It wasn't just Rosan who accepted her... everyone did and Raisa loved them so so much.

Rosan's eyes softened and he squeezed his birth mother. The same woman who had only known suffering.

Now that he knew her so well... Rosan was truly glad he could give her the peace she so desperately needed.

"Thanks for all your help, mom. I love you," he replied softly, squeezing her tight.

Raisa froze at that, expression scrunching up as she began sniffing repeatedly.

It was the first time Rosan called her mom. He would never do such a thing... unless he truly meant it.

That meant... did that mean Raisa had earned the privilege of being his mother?

"Yes you have," Mod said softly, smiling as she let the two have their moment.

Tears welled Raisa's eyes and the woman broke completely, wailing onto his chest with no reservations.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" she sobbed.

"Of course... but I like calling you Raisa so I might still do that. Flows off the tongue better," Rosan said thoughtfully.

She sniffed and nodded. "Call me mom once a day."

"Sure."

Perfect. Raisa could live with that.

"You need to visit as often as possible," she demanded.

"Yes, your majesty," he murmured, patting her hair.

Mod smiled and went back into Rosan, before the redhead stepped back.

He kissed Raisa on the head and waved, then vanished.

Raisa watched him go with a smile and sighed fondly.

Iris D. Rosan... her prized student and the pride of the Iris clan...

"I miss him," she said bluntly.

She should go visit Celadon and drop Dalia off at Fregate in the meantime... Oren would probably like to go with her to Celadon as well.

"Dalia, Oren. I'm planning on flying to the North Blue. Would you like to come?" she said aloud, typing into the cube with a look of concentration.

Rosan had laughed and called her old when she struggled to operate such a thing but they were so hard! Raisa was a dragon! She may have had the intelligence, but she was not a technologically driven woman!

...

She really missed him already. He tended to operate it for her...

Raisa sighed and smiled to herself.

Nothing to do but be productive.

---

Rosan sat cross legged in front of the grave, bowing his head slightly as he placed a black rose onto it.

"Hey mom," Rosan said softly, smiling at the grave with a fond expression.

"It's nice to see you again. Things have been amazing on my end... It's been a bumpy ride but at least now, I seem to be doing better."

The wind brushed gently against him and the redhead smiled.

"Thank you... for taking the time to speak to me back then," Rosan said suddenly. "I don't know if that was actually you or a figment of my imagination that I needed to vent too... but you helped me. My mothers truly know best."

Mod smiled gently at that, enveloping him in his aura.

"Please continue to watch over me. You saw me at my worst... now you can see me get better," he said quietly, bowing his head.

He remained there in front of her grave and remained completely silent, ignoring everything around him...

"R-Rosan?" a voice asked, distress in their voice.

...Up until that.

The redhead turned back, curious expression on his face.

The woman flinched back as he stood to his full height, terror on her face and tears streaming down her eyes as the redhead peered down at her.

Then, Rosan smiled.

"Shizuka," Rosan greeted calmly, charming smile on his face as he regarded the woman. "Is that your kid with you?"

The short woman was holding a crying baby and Rosan noted that there was soot on the both of them.

Ah, they must have encountered those pirates currently invading the island currently.

Huh? Oh yeah, sometime during his moment with Rouge, Baterilla had gotten invaded... but he didn't pay attention to it because well, Rosan was having a moment with his deceased mother.

"Please… please help us," Shizuka requested, tears forming in her eyes as she ignored his question.

Rosan raised a brow. "Hm? Help?" he asked, staring her down.

The baby continued to wail in her mother's grasp.

Shizuka trembled, a sob leaving her as she nearly collapsed. "P-Pirates… they're here and they killed my husband. Please. I know you're a terrible person… I know you're a demon, but please—"

Rosan cut her off by placing a single finger against the baby, making it erupt in delighted laughter.

The redhead's eyes glowed at that and Shizuka watched in shock, as her baby immediately stopped crying.

"My condolences about your husband…" he murmured, watching as footsteps approached behind the girl.

A gang of about 5 pirates showed up, all with matching grins on their faces.

"We found that girl!"

"Great, get her! She's a real beauty!"

Shizuka sucked in a breath of terror, clutching Rosan tightly and hiding behind him.

"Hiding behind another man, huh?" a pirate leered.

"We'll just killed him too!"

Rosan hummed slightly, running a hand through his hair. "I'm no hero, Shizuka. I have no obligation to help you," he said bluntly.

Shizuka felt her heart crash at that, tears falling as a heartbroken sob left her.

"But... you were my friend once upon a time," he said softly, placing a hand atop her head reassuringly. "Besides, rapists are disgusting. I'd probably have done them in regardless."

She gazed at the reassuring grin on the redhead's face and watched as he pat her little baby once more, before breaking out into a relieved sob.

''Thank you... thank you so much!" she wailed.

Rosan huffed and shook his head. "If you want the most amount of protection, I'd recommend standing by that grave."

Shizuka nodded in terror, shakily moving over to the grave he mentioned and watching as the redhead sighed to himself.

"Hey," Rosan greeted. "This isn't a good place to fight me right now. This is my mom's grave you see… and I wouldn't want anything to happen to it. Wanna move to a different area?"

The pirates looked at Rosan in confusion.

"Who does this guy think he is?"

"We don't give a fuck about your mom—"

Rosan didn't move an inch, as the person who mentioned his mom, suddenly seized up.

The random pirates eyes widened in confusion and he grasped his throat, as he suddenly lost the ability to breath.

It was as... as if an invisible hand was gripping his throat. He tried to reach up but found that it was impossible to move.

It was only then that the pirate realized he couldn't breathe because he was petrified and afraid.

Rosan stared at him with a dangerously calm smile, hands shoved in his pockets as his black coat hung loosely on his shoulders, billowing with the wind.

"Considering I have like 4 moms… you really should watch who you're saying that too," Rosan warned easily.

"And I didn't say you could speak to me so freely. Kneel humans."

That tiny pressure, amplified slightly, causing the small group of pirates to collapse.

Rosan chuckled in amusement as they fell unconscious abruptly. "Two years and everyone forgets how scary you are."

He turned towards the girl with a small smile.

"Shizuka, I'll do Baterilla one last favor and clean up these hotshot pirates. Whatever happens next, you'll have to figure it out yourself."

Rosan's eyes glowed and he removed a hand from his pocket, holding it above his head and having his palm face the sky. Like this, Shizuka could see the tattoo on his exposed arm.

The redhead tilted his head as he assessed the state of the island.

Shizuka watched in confusion as Rosan stood to his spot… Didn't he say... he was going to help? What was he doing...?

She was about to question him, before the redhead nodded to himself.

"Alright. I've separated the civilians and the pirates," he said boredly.

"EMP: Smite."

BOOM!

Shizuka's mouth snapped shut, as dozens of lightning bolts suddenly conjured from the sky and smashed down on random spots of Baterilla. She shook in disbelief as screams began ringing out. Her terror at the redhead's actions only grew, as he broke out into an amused laugh.

"Kahahaha! Picking out who was who was harder than that!" Rosan cackled, turning towards her and patting the giggling baby.

Shizuka didn't know how her little girl could still be laughing at this. Wasn't Rosan supposed to be a demon now...? Why did her baby find him so entertaining?

"There you go and before you ask, I didn't hit any citizens either," he assured, eyes glowing in mirth.

Her eyes widened in confusion. "Y-You didn't? But how is that possible? Those lightning strikes were all over the island!"

"The reason I took so long was because I was picking out who I needed to smite. Then, I had to gauge how much power needed to be used to not cause widespread mayhem from my lightning bolts. Enough to knock them unconscious, not kill and leave the island with just a few scorch marks."

With that information... Shizuka found that Rosan saying "took too long" was wholly inappropriate. It only took him a minute at most... to figure all that information out?! Such delicate info didn't happen in the span of a minute. That took hours! That was something that needed you to carefully navigate the entire island... not stand in one spot for a minute.

Who was... who was this monster?!

A heavy wind blew over the island and she let out a shout of surprise.

Before Shizuka knew it, pirate after pirate were dropped in front of them, all smoking and unconscious from the island wide attack that Rosan had just done.

Rosan turned towards her, all while the ground surged and wrapped around the crew, trapping them together. "Those pirates are the Vagabond crew. They should have a collective bounty of about 70 million. Do what you want with them," he hummed, utterly uninterested in the affairs that just took place.

"W-We called for help. The Marines should be on their way," Shizuka stammered.

He tilted his head at that, curiosity on his features.

"Bold enough to camp out here for 20 months but can't even set up a proper base. How ridiculous," Rosan snorted, running a hand through his hair.

"By the way, your husband is still alive for now. He's bleeding out though so you should patch up his injuries."

Shizuka's eyes widened in epic proportions. "He's... alive? But I saw him get cut down!"

"It wasn't fatal. I imagine the pirates wanted you more. Most of the people are just very injured. A few dead," Rosan said coolly.

The redhead scratched his head, ignoring the sob of relief that left her mouth.

"I've been here long enough… oh and here. Take this."

Shizuka jumped as he dropped a gun in her hand. It was sleek and silver, gleaming in the light with more danger than a gun normally had.

"No one in the South Blue should be able to survive getting shot by that... unless your Raisa I guess." Rosan muttered the last part under his breath, grabbing it and aiming in a direction.

Her jaw dropped as Rosan shot out a piercing beam of light from the gun. He aimed it idly at once of the unconscious pirates and fired again, searing a hole through his midsection.

Shizuka shook in terror at the casual display. He dropped the weapon back in her hand and seemed to note her fear.

"Don't worry, that one didn't have a bounty," he reassured.

H-He was missing the point. This man was definitely as ignorant as Rosan was...

Learning that this same terrifying man, was the little boy that she had a crush on, threw Shizuka for a loop. Rosan was a pirate, a literal Devil based on what the world said...

But that little 4 year old who she had known was never a demon. He was never someone who exhibited the behavior to deserve a bounty that high.

It was surreal. This was Rosan... but this was also not Rosan.

But this "evil" version of Rosan saved her. He saved her from a terrible future.

"W-Why? Why are you helping?" Shizuka asked quietly.

"You handle rejection gracefully and your daughter is adorable. I'm glad you managed to finally get over your obsession with me. You're beautiful enough to be in a happy relationship with someone who actually appreciates you," Rosan smiled in amusement, wings sprouting from his back as he took flight.

Shizuka watched the action with wide eyes, a warm feeling coursing through her at his words.

"It was nice seeing you again Shizuka… thanks for being my friend when we were younger," Rosan waved, before taking off.

"T-Thank you Rosan! I'll never forget this! I-I'm sorry for being afraid of you!" she shouted back.

"Don't mention it. I won't think about this so you shouldn't either," was all he said.

The redhead hummed as he took off, glancing down at the Marine ship approaching Baterilla with an amused smile.

Idly, he sped the ship up with a burst of wind, getting shouts of confusion from them as they glanced up and saw nothing.

Of course they couldn't see him. Rosan was high in the sky after all.

"Two years... I can't believe it's been that long," he mused, wings flapping as he began soaring at tremendous speeds through the air.

The redhead grinned eagerly.

"I missed em all. Hopefully I don't have to go pick the lost people up. That would make things inconvenient."

---

Hello! Hope you enjoyed the small cooldown chapter as we head into the New World! This was a nice and relaxing chapter after all the action but we're moving on ahead as schedules.

Crazy to think that we've reached the New World. I can't believe it but I won't get sentimental with you all!

If you wanna chat or ask questions that'll be answered in a timely fashion (maybe) feel free to join the discord! Code is discord. gg/BFFtXAXFU7

That's all! See ya next time in the return to Sabaody!