You slowly opened your eyes to find a wooden ceiling. Hm?? Where am I?? You got up and saw that your tail was all bandaged up and you were in a big tub of water.
"You're awake"
You turned around to find Smoker working on the documents, not looking at you.
"Smoker, where am I, and how long was I out??" you asked. You have a feeling that you slept for a few days.
"You're on the navy ship and you've been out for 2 days" he answered.
Your eyes widened at this information. 2 days?? That's less than you expected. Hang on. What happened while you were unconscious??
"If you're asking what happened after you passed out, to keep it short, the Straw hats defeated Crocodile and the Alabasta kingdom is currently mending the damage"
"Heh, you know me well, Smoker" you giggled and rested your back on the edge of the tub. "Who would have thought that the rookie pirates defeated one of the Shichibukai? Pretty unbelievable"
You turned your head to him. "Say, because the pirates defeated Crocodile and saved the kingdom, did the government cover this incident up under wraps??"
"Yeah, I got a call from the higher-ups not long after, saying that I was credited for subduing Crocodile"
You frowned. "And did you accept it??"
He scoffed. "Of course not. They can go eat shit for all I care"
Your expression was relaxed. "Well that's good to know"
Then there was silence. You don't want to disturb Smoker with any more questions now that you have asked a lot. Smoker sighed and put down the documents.
"What is it?? I know you wanted to ask something" he grunted.
You rubbed the back of your neck. "I do, but I don't want to bother you with many questions. Plus I might be disturbing your work"
"It's better than leaving the questions unanswered" he bluntly replied.
You wanted to retort but quieted down and sighed. "This is not related to the incident but more on a personal side. Do you know anyone that wears a weird-looking white suit and a huge glass sphere on their head??"
He quirked a brow. "That's what the Celestial Dragons wear. Why?? Do you know any Celestial Dragons by chance??"
At the mere mention of the name, Celestial Dragons, my body trembled with a look of shock at it. What is this feeling?? Why do I feel this way??
"(First Name), are you okay?? Your body is trembling" Smoker asked.
Was he concerned about you?? Now that was new but now's not the time to think about that. "I don't know. It's just . . ." you trailed off. You don't know how to put it in words.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to"
"No, no. It's okay. It's just that I'm trying to find the right words to explain. You see, the reason I asked you that is related to my missing memories"
"Memories??" he emphasized.
"Yeah, I lost my memories 10 years ago. I don't remember anything about myself, my origins, and my parents if I have any. That's the main reason why I set out to sea. To relieve them. These past 10 years, I keep getting muscle memories but not my actual memories. Recently, I got a flashback which is how I saw . . .that"
"If that's your main reason, then why didn't you ask the Marines for information??" he questioned.
"If that were the case, then I wouldn't be living as a pirate right now. And don't think I haven't tried that. I found no records of my origins, completely erased or recorded. It's like I'm not from this world . . ."
You rested your head on your hand and snorted. "Sorry, I must be rambling a lot. Forget what I said to you earlier and don't bother with someone like me"
You lay back in the tub and went to sleep to heal your injuries. Meanwhile, Smoker was thinking about what you had said to him earlier. Memories . . .to think that you would have to go through with that. Even suffering from nightmares every night. Was that why you were always so sleepy?? He wanted to ask more but you might not be comfortable with it so he refrained from questioning her further. Celestial Dragons . . . what's her relationship with them??
______________________________________________________________
The next day, your injuries surprisingly recovered, shocking the ship's doctor but it didn't surprise you as this happens all the time that you stopped questioning it. You were laughing your ass off because of Luffy's bounty increase and Zoro's new bounty while reading the newspaper as Smoker keeps telling you to shut up. Your weapons and your bag were luckily retrieved or else you wouldn't know how to keep your real face a secret or be weaponless.
Over these past few days, you've been chilling on the marine ship as the subordinates were wondering what is a woman like you doing on a marine ship and why Captain Smoker took you with him to Marineford plus a stranger at that.
You were watching Tashigi training by herself while leaning at the door frame of the training room. It is most likely that the incident at Alabasta motivated her to get stronger since she wasn't able to do anything.
You know that one day you will be enemies of different sides but as a swordswoman, you couldn't help but want to help her with the way of the sword so you decided to reveal yourself.
"Need some help with the training?? The promise to have a spar with you as swordswomen still stands" You strolled into the training room.
Tashigi was startled by your presence and was shocked that you were here on a marine ship. "(First Name)?? What are you doing on a marine ship?? Did Smoker-san capture you??" she questioned warily.
Your head tilted in confusion. Smoker didn't tell her about your secret?? Although it's nice and all that he kept under wraps, you would be meeting each other very often and there may be a time when she starts to get suspicious.
"Didn't Smoker tell you?? Or are you just too busy to even notice?? I've been here the whole time since we left Alabasta and no, Smoker didn't capture me. I was just going the same way with you" you replied.
She raised a brow. He didn't capture you?? And what did you mean, going the same way as us??
Before she could question you further, you changed the subject. "So . . .do you want me to help you or not??"
She blinked once. Then twice before she answered with another question. "Why would you help me?? Arent we enemies??"
You shrugged. "I thought so too but watching you train makes me want to give you a few pointers as a fellow swordswoman. Sorry if you take it the wrong way. I just couldn't help it" You smiled close-eyed, not noticing the red blush of the swordswoman.
"J-just this once b-but the next time I will arrest you!!" she stuttered while pointing her finger at you.
You chuckled. That's cute. "Sure~ but that won't happen because you can't arrest me" you chirped as you turned around and left the room. "I'll go to my room to get my swords"
Once you returned with your swords. You are wearing an outfit appropriate for training and combat.
You saw Tashigi staring at you and you smirked. "Like what you see??"
She snapped out of it and blushed like a tomato. "W-what makes you think that?!" she shouted in anger, trying to hide her blush but failing to do so.
Your grin got wider when her face got redder, wanting to tease the little sergeant major more. "Ora~ your red face doesn't match your words. Did you like this body of mine??"
She unsheathed her sword and swung her blade at you. "W-watch what you say!! It's nothing of the sort!!"
You unsheathed one of your swords and both blades clash. "Ora~ you shouldn't raise your sword so mindlessly like that, Tashi~"
The nickname set her off and now her face is crimson red and steam came out of her in embarrassment but her grip on her sword remained. "Don't think that will catch me off!!"
You grinned but this time you were serious. "Now that's the spirit!! Come at me!!"
The both of you have been clashing swords while you give out pointers to help her improve her swordsmanship for the whole day while taking a few breaks. You did fall asleep instantly from the last break as Tashigi had to wake you up when the break was over.
After separating ways to your sleeping quarters, you knocked on the door. You heard a grumble from the other side. "Who is it"
"It's me, Smoker"
"Come in"
You opened the door to reveal Smoker sitting on the couch, still working on the paperwork.
"You know you don't have to knock"
"It's simple courtesy. Also, you're still doing the paperwork?"
"I just got given extra work so I have to do this overnight. You just go to sleep"
You raised a brow. "On your bed?? Nah, just let me sleep on the couch. You sleep on the bed or I'll sleep on the floor"
"Then I'll drag you to the bed and I won't let you sleep on the couch either. Also didn't we discuss this already a few days ago?"
"Then I refuse to sleep unless you sleep with me on the bed" You then realized what you just said and slapped your hand over your mouth causing Smoker to widen his eyes.
"W-what?"
"Shit. Forget what I said earlier. It was just a slip-up and goodnight!!" you ran to the bed and closed your eyes as you turned to the other side of the bed. Sure, you wanted him to sleep next to you but knowing him, you have doubts and don't want to make him uncomfortable. You may be flirty sometimes but you know your boundaries.
Meanwhile, Smoker took the time to process what just happened and put his whole hand on his face which is crimson red.
"Fuck . . .why did you have to make this harder for me . . ." he muttered to make sure you didn't hear him.
He placed down the paperwork he was holding on his desk and walked over to the bed. He lay down and pull over the covers as he watched you sleeping peacefully on the other side. He watched as your hair spread out on a white pillow sheet, some touching his nose and gracing his lashes while also admiring the view up close.
His breath hitched when you turned around, now facing him with tired eyes. You couldn't sleep well because you felt Smoker staring at you and it was starting to get uncomfortable. You lifted your tired arm and brought Smoker closer to your body as you wrapped around him. Surprised, he tried to pry you off because of the space you're taking over but your hold tightened and whispered in his ear, "Please stay like this for a while. I'm tired and I . . .need someone to comfort me in case I have nightmares again. Sorry for imposing on you . . ." then you passed out.
He paused and looked at your now sleeping face as he adjusted his position to make himself comfortable. Now that he looked at your face closely, he could see some black eyebags underneath, showing the lack of sleep you had. Then again, it is nothing compared to the amount of paperwork he had to finish. He internally sighed and wrapped his gloved hand around your body.
He blinked back the exhaustion that threaten to close his eyes to stare at the figure at his side.
He sighed deeply as he already knew what he was feeling right and he was not stupid. He knew that ever since you both first met at Loguetown. You were just a traveler, oblivious about the customs and affairs of this cruel world, and those interactions he had made his frustrations and stress fade away. Now you're just another pirate, a Shichibukai at that but yet the impact you had on him is still the same as if the status between you both doesn't matter anymore.
He thought back to your answer when you saved him back at Alabasta.
'Didn't we promise each other that we would watch each other's backs a long time ago? Or did you forget? Either way, I saved you because I cared about you, you idiot' you grinned with your head resting on your hand.
No, he didn't forget. He just didn't think you would remember it even after becoming a pirate and he couldn't help but be deeply touched by it. He knows the both of you will be enemies one day so he decided to cherish these moments while they last.
If only he knew what the future holds . . .