so sorry for the long break guys I was busy with stuff so yeah, here's the new chapter enjoy:)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The Straw Hats stood in stunned silence at Boa Hancock's proclamation, the Pirate Empress still smiling politely at them.
Sanji roared as his hands reached out to grab his Rear Admiral, not believing for a minute that such an otherworldly beauty could ever be engaged to a person like him. He needed answers to how Luffy had even achieved such an impossible feat, perhaps even learning from him to get an otherworldly beauty of his own.
His hands never reached Luffy however, as Hancock immediately stepped in front of her fiance with her leg raised, planting her foot firmly at Sanji's throat.
Her previous calm demeanour was replaced with rage, her brows furrowed and eyes ablaze as she glared at the cook who had dared try to 'hurt' her Luffy.
"Watch where you place your hands," Hancock warned. "I may show deference for you as Luffy's friends but don't think for a second I will tolerate you hurting him."
Sanji gulped at the threat, the crew could almost see the image of a vicious snake baring its fangs behind Hancock.
"Hancock, you don't need to worry about them, I trust them with my life!" Luffy grinned proudly.
Hancock immediately dropped her leg and began fidgeting nervously, twirling her fingers, "I… I understand Luffy… I was just… worried about you…"
The Pirate Empress blushed fiercely at her own words as she cupped her own cheeks in embarrassment.
"Seriously, Luffy, is she really your… fiancee?" Nami asked.
"Ummmm, yeah, something like that," Luffy scratched his head.
"You're way too casual about it!" Usopp shouted at him.
"Didn't you say she was only a great friend?" Zoro pointed out.
Luffy tilted his head, "eh? But she's a great friend too! She helped me with so many things!"
Hancock blushed a little more, "Ummm… Darling sometimes forgets the word for referring to a person who is engaged…"
"So Mr. Rear Admiral is an engaged man…" Robin mused.
"Shishishi, it's not that big of a deal guys."
"YES IT IS!" His crew shouted at him with shark like teeth.
"How are you engaged to the woman men would kill to just take a glimpse of?!" Sanji cried, cursing the world's unfairness.
"Why... Because he is my fated man of course," Hancock gushed, holding on to Luffy's hand bashfully. "I even received esteemed grandfather Garp's blessing."
'Then why was he running away from you?' All the Straw Hats thought collectively.
Hancock wrapped her arm around Luffy's, leaning close to him with a shy smile, "I missed you darling."
"Shishishi, I missed you and everyone else too!" Luffy grinned at her, unfazed by her constant fawning.
Sanji collapsed into a corner of the ship, crying while drawing circles on the deck with his finger.
"LUFFY SAMA!" A cacophony of shrieks sounded from the Kuja's ship, anchoring right beside Merry.
Sanji recovered immediately, pirouetting around the deck.
"Ahhh! The famous all female pirate crew! The Kuja pirates! They're all beauties! Surely there must be someone for me!" Sanji leapt onto the Kuja ship, hearts spiralling out of him.
"What an idiot," Zoro sighed, embarrassed for his crew mate's behaviour.
"What is this vulgar man doing?!"
"How dare he!"
"Luffy sama is the only man allowed here!"
"Get him out!"
The Kujas immediately pounced on the Marine cook, beating him up before tossing him back onto Merry all battered and bruised. The rest of the Straw Hats looked at his twitching body with pity.
"Hey! He's still my friend! Go easy on him!" Luffy pouted.
"YES LUFFY SAMA!" The pirates answered in unison.
"Why is even the crew so compliant to you?" Usopp asked with a raised eyebrow, trying his best not to stare at the scantily clad pirates.
Hancock leaned her head on Luffy's shoulder, a smile full of pride on her face, "Of course they will obey him, Luffy is the future Emperor of Amazon Lily after all."
"If I remember correctly, isn't Amazon Lily a pirate country?" Robin asked.
Zoro scratched his head, "how can a Marine become an Emperor of a pirate country?"
"That is simple," Hancock smiled, as though she was explaining a simple question to a group of children. "Because love conquers all."
All the Straw Hats sweatdropped at her answer as the Pirate Empress tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear proudly.
"Ahhh~~ Hebihime sama is so beautiful!" The Kuja pirates screamed.
"My dear Pirate Empress, marry me instead! I will gladly give my life for you!" Sanji cried, kneeling down on a knee in front of Hancock.
"Enough already! You're embarrassing!" Nami yelled, kicking him away.
"Ahhh~~ Nami swaan is jealous~~" Sanji sang as he flew, crashing into the wall.
"I am not!" Nami shook a fist at him.
"Give it a rest you ero-cook," Zoro frowned at Sanji. "I can't believe you would stoop so low as to try to steal another man's wife from him."
Sanji groaned as he pushed himself up, rubbing the back of his head where he had hit the wall. He pointed a finger at their Rear Admiral indignantly, "This is Luffy we're talking about! How can someone like him get someone like her?! He's completely hopeless in-"
His words were silenced as Hancock moved forward to kick her leg beside his head, her leg smashing cleanly through the wall. Under normal circumstances, Sanji would've taken the time to admire the Pirate Empress's flawless thigh, but after witnessing the anger that was rolling off her, the chef was reminded that the person in front of him stood on the same level as Dracule Mihawk, an individual that could crush him easily underneath her foot.
Hancock retracted her leg as she leaned down to glare at the chef, eyes burning with unrestrained rage.
She gritted her teeth, "I will say this only once more, watch your words Marine."
Sanji gulped and nodded in affirmation.
The Warlord spun on a heel, flicking her hair behind her shoulder as she stomped away from Sanji.
As Sanji let out the breath he had been holding, the door to the kitchen creaked open slowly, Tonjit and Shelly peeking their heads out through the crack.
"Ummm… is everything alright out there?" Tonjit asked hesitatingly.
Nami turned towards the door, "Oh, right, almost forgot about you… You can come out now, it's safe."
"Oh, thank you so much…" Tonjit breathed a sigh of relief as he stepped out of the kitchen with Shelly, the hooorse barely squeezing out from the door. The moment the nomad laid his eyes on Hancock, he was immediately on a knee in front of her, his eyes already in the shape of hearts.
"Oh my! What a beauty! Would you marry me?"
A tick mark formed on Hancock's head as she glared at the nomad in front of her. Sure, all the attention she had been receiving from everyone for her beauty was flattering in the past, she had even basked in the compliments without remorse. But now she only craved for a single man's attention and the constant tide of men who sought to weasel their way to her side were exceedingly annoying to her now.
Before she could decide whether to petrify him, Luffy stepped beside her with a knowing grin.
"Hey stilts guy! You want to reunite with your family right?"
Tonjit managed to shake himself out of his infatuation with those words, switching his sights to the Marine Rear Admiral, "why yes, if it were possible for me… Unfortunately I would still have to wait for the next low tide to try and catch up to them... Even that would take a few years."
"Shishishi! No need to worry!" Luffy laughed, ignoring Hancock who had already latched herself onto his arm with a bashful look. "I can help you with that!"
"Help me? If you refer to using your ship to transport me, I already told you about how this whole ring of islands is actually a single island. You would not be able to navigate to the other landmasses."
"Well, truthfully, I won't be the one doing the work but someone else would be!"
Nami immediately shook her head, "Luffy, I'm sorry, even I can't do that without the necessary charts of this location…"
"Oh don't worry Nami! I was not referring to you," Luffy consoled with an apologetic smile.
Everyone's gaze then rested on the Pirate Empress who was busying herself with entwining her fingers with her fiance's, not giving a single care to everything else around her.
"Perhaps it's me you're talking about?" A lazy sounding voice materialised behind the crew.
All of them turned to see a tall man with curly hair and a sleep mask wrapped around his forehead standing behind them casually.
"Woah! When did this guy appear?!" Usopp yelled out in alarm.
"Is he a long huuuman?" Chopper exclaimed at the incredibly tall man.
"Maaah… I've been here the whole time… And I'm a normal person…" The man scratched his head.
Robin gasped as she collapsed on the deck, her entire calm demeanor giving way as sweat trickled down her forehead. She clenched her fists as her mind calculated the possibility of escape, eyes darting towards Luffy as she had no doubts that the Rear Admiral had sold her out like everyone else that she had depended on in the past.
The rest of the Straw Hats noticed their archaeologist's sudden change and immediately distanced themselves from the tall man with their weapons drawn, eyes locked on to his every movement.
"What's wrong Robin? Who is he?" Nami asked, stepping beside her female friend with her staff pointed at the man.
The man spread his arms in a placating gesture, "woah woah, chill out guys, I'm no enemy, I did not come here to fight."
Right after those words, he proceeded to lie down on the deck on his side with an arm propping his head up lazily, unperturbed by the weapons that still remained pointed at him.
"Aokiji… One of the three Admirals of the Marines… The highest ranked fighters…" Robin gasped.
"Admiral?!" The rest of the crew gasped collectively. Standing in front of them was someone holding the rank that Luffy had sought for, someone who stands at the top of the Marines as the strongest.
"Maaa… You sure have grown into a fine woman, Nico Robin," Aokiji smiled lazily.
Sanji stood protectively in front of their archaeologist, "what do you intend to do with Robin?!"
"She's under our protection as a wrongfully accused, you can't arrest her," Zoro announced, stepping beside Sanji.
Aokiji sighed, "I already told you guys to chill didn't I? I'm not here to fight or arrest her."
"Robin, you sure he's an Admiral? There's no possible way someone like him can become an Admiral!" Usopp protested.
The moment the words left his mouth, every Straw Hat turned towards Luffy who was busy picking his nose with a finger with Hancock still latched on to his arm.
'Yep, it's possible…' All the Straw Hats mutually agreed.
"What are you doing here?!" Robin yelled at him, her body still trembling.
Aokiji raised an eyebrow, "what? Is there anything wrong with me checking up on my protege?"
Robin snapped her eyes towards Luffy, who only gave a reassuring smile in return. The Rear Admiral stepped towards the Admiral, still ignoring the Pirate Empress that remain latched onto him.
"Teacher, would you help him then?"
Aokiji glanced at his student before giving a yawn, rolling to lie on his back, "Too lazy… I want to lay down for a bit longer. The weather's nice and all..."
"Why this despicable man…" Hancock fumed, clearly upset.
"It's fine, Hancock, he's right after all," Luffy calmed her down as he detached himself from her.
While Hancock was busy gushing about how he called her name again, Luffy proceeded to lay down beside the Admiral as the rest watched on, confused by his actions.
"Yep! It's definitely a nice weather to lay down!" Luffy laughed beside his mentor.
Aokiji closed his eyes with a smile, "told you."
The deck grew silent as everyone stared incredulously at both teacher and student napping on the deck without a care in the world.
As if on cue, both Marines suddenly leapt up on their feet at the same time, stretching themselves contentedly.
"Well, break time's over, I guess I could help you out," Aokiji grinned at Tonjit.
Everyone collapsed on the deck in disbelief.
The Admiral picked up his cloak that he had left on the floor, throwing it over his shoulders, "pack up your things, I'll help you reunite with your family."
Luffy jumped in front of his crew who were still recovering from their Rear Admiral's antics, "hey come on guys! Let's go watch how strong my teacher is!"
"Are there any normal people in the Marines?" Sanji groaned.
"Seeing how Luffy is… I'm not very optimistic about that…" Zoro sighed.
Luffy stepped in front of Robin with his hand extended, intending to pull her up on her feet. The archaeologist stared at him with a frown.
"I had thought you had been playing me all this while… Lowering my guard so you can hand me over to him..."
"Shishishi! I told you before, I will protect you, Robin!"
"You are foolish…" she sighed while grasping his outstretched hand.
Luffy pulled the archaeologist up with a grin, turning back to rejoin the rest that were following Aokiji disembarking the ship.
Robin stayed at where she was a while longer, looking towards the ark. She shook her head after a few moments before following her protector off the ship.
The waves crashed against the shoreline as Aokiji made his way towards the edge. The Straw Hats and Tonjit were gathered behind him, having been instructed to stay a distance away. Further off, Hancock stood alongside the Kuja pirates who had followed them along.
The Straw Hats had helped Tonjit pack all of his things to load up on a cart before securing it to Shelly, the hooorse gleefully pulled it along with her owner walking beside her towards the shore.
The Admiral squatted just in front of the water, submerging his wrist into the sea.
"I thought he was going to pull the cart along or something…" Usopp whispered.
"What's he going to do? Control the tide?" Chopper whispered back in anticipation.
As everyone waited patiently for Aokiji, a giant Sea King appeared from beneath the waves in an explosion of spray, rearing its head and baring its sharp teeth at the Admiral.
"Oh no! That's the Sea King that lurks around here!" Tonjit yelled in alarm.
"Damn it! It's attacking the Admiral!" Zoro gritted his teeth as he unsheathed his sword.
"He's in danger!" Sanji prepared himself to rush forward.
Both men were suddenly pulled back from their charge, turning around to see Luffy grinning uncontrollably at them.
"Ice Age"
A loud crack was heard as the entire surface of the ocean was frozen over as far as the eye could see. The unfortunate Sea King had also been frozen completely in the midst of its attack, its mouth wide open and its head halfway extended.
The Straw Hats stood with their mouths agape at the display of power, clearly Aokiji's abilities were currently leagues above their own.
The Admiral stood on his feet before returning to the group with a casual stride, "fuuu… The ice should hold for about a week, so take your time. Wear some thicker clothes too since it'll be a little cold."
Tonjit could not believe his eyes,"is this a dream? Can we finally reunite with our family?"
The nomad turned and waved his arms, "thank you so much! I'll never forget you Marines for saving me!"
The Straw Hats finally recovered enough from their shock to wave back at Tonjit.
Aokiji only gave a casual backward wave.
"Be careful now! Don't climb on anymore stilts!" Luffy laughed while waving at the departing figures.
Just as the Admiral reached Luffy's side, the sounds of collective booing resounded from among the Kujas.
"Boo! That was not impressive at all!"
"Of course these men would have such unrefined methods!"
"Luffy sama could do it much better!"
"Getting so full of himself after that, disgusting!"
"Luffy sama is much better than you!"
"Boooooo!"
Both the Straw Hats and Aokiji sweatdropped at the Kuja's booing.
Deciding to ignore the Kujas, Aokiji laid his eyes on Robin who stood just behind Luffy, "Nico Robin… I have to ask, are you just taking advantage or are you genuine?"
Robin frowned at the question, truthfully she had initially joined the crew in order to be shielded for awhile before making a run for it again. She had even planned to hold someone hostage or even assassinate Luffy should she need to in the future, but after everything she had experienced alongside the crew, the laughter and tears they had shared, she doubt she would ever put any of her plans in motion.
But at the back of her mind, she had always known that to be granted amnesty is but an impossible wish, something only that foolish Rear Admiral thought was possible.
Luffy raised his arm in between the two, stopping Robin from answering the question.
"Teacher, she's my charge now, do not interfere."
Aokiji turned his sights to his student, "I remember Luffy… That I had said that I would kill her if I found her."
"That is if you managed to find her first, not after me."
Aokiji frowned, straightening himself, "and what if I said that I changed my mind?"
There was a burst of static as Luffy disappeared from where he was, delivering a lightning kick towards the side of the Admiral's head.
Water vapour mingled with ozone as Aokiji encased his arm in ice to intercept Luffy's kick, stopping the youth's blow casually.
"Hmmm… Not too bad, but you don't seem to have full control…" Aokiji mused, looking at Luffy's leg that had streaks of lightning discharging haphazardly from it.
Luffy disengaged from the Admiral, somersaulting in the air to land in front of Robin. His crew were about to join in as well but was stopped with a raised hand from their Rear Admiral.
"Maaa… You have a good crew, but you seem to be spoiling them a bit too much don't you think?" Aokiji smirked, forming an ice blade between his hands.
Before the two could resume their fight, a swift kick came from behind the Admiral, shattering the Admiral's upper body into a million pieces of ice.
The Admiral reformed himself a short distance away, smiling mockingly at himself, "Ara ara… I had almost forgotten your fiancee was here too… How careless of me…"
Hancock stood protectively in front of Luffy, a leg poised in the air to strike at the Admiral.
"Chill out guys… I was just kidding… No need to get serious about-"
"SILENCE!" Hancock screamed, stabbing her foot towards Aokiji's abdomen.
The Admiral was sent skidding back a few meters, surprised by the unexpected attack.
She tossed her head back to face the sky as she thrusted a finger at Aokiji, "I've had it with you playing with my darling's feelings! As his future wife, I have to make sure that my darling is never looked down upon as the one who would stand above all in the Marines! Especially not from disgusting men like you!"
"Ara ara… Miss Hancock, I was-"
"My name is not for the likes of you to speak!" Hancock yelled, leaping up to roundhouse kick the Admiral across the head.
Aokiji threw his arm up in defence, intercepting her kick like how he had with Luffy's. A loud bang resounded from the impact as Aokiji used the momentum to distance himself again.
"Ouch ouch… That hurt... Luffy, help your teacher out will you?"
The Admiral looked imploringly towards where Luffy was, only to see his student cross his arms and stick his tongue out at him before turning away.
"Reap what I sow huh…" Aokiji sighed as he ducked under another kick from the enraged Pirate Empress.
The Admiral got serious as Hancock kicked towards his head with her Armament haki at full strength, raising his frozen arms to intercept her kick. Hancock found her leg grabbed on to by Aokiji, ice slowly forming around her shin.
"ONLY LUFFY CAN TOUCH ME!" Hancock shrieked, spinning up to kick her other leg at Aokiji, clocking him across the temple.
"Haaa… Luffy, your fiancee is terrifying…" Aokiji sighed, rubbing his head to ease the pain.
The ice around Hancock's leg turned to stone before she stomped her foot down, causing the pieces to break apart and fall onto the ground, revealing her unmarked leg.
"Filthy… To be touched by another man... I need to cleanse myself thoroughly later…" Hancock remarked while glaring at Aokiji.
"Maaa… How about we stop this miss? I don't want to fight..." Aokiji tried, though he remained cautious of her.
"Not until I have taught you a proper lesson! Perfume Femur!"
Hancock got on her hands and delivered a series of spinning kicks at the Admiral. Not fancying turning into stone himself, he reformed the parts of his body that were about to be hit, letting the shattered ice drop on the floor to avoid her kicks.
Pushing herself back on her feet, Hancock blew out a giant heart shaped balloon from her lips, pulling the side back to aim at Aokiji.
"Slave Arrow!"
"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"
The Admiral threw up his arms as a giant bird made of ice engulfed him, blocking all of the arrows that rained down on him.
The ice bird soon turned into stone as the arrows embedded themselves on it, petrifying it in place. However, none of the arrows could penetrate it to reach the Admiral that hid underneath.
Hancock delivered a swift kick through the petrified bird, shattering it into millions of pieces while aiming straight for Aokiji's chest.
Aokiji had his arms crossed in front of him as he took the kick head on, his frozen arms already beginning to turn into stone. Crashing through the other side of the bird, Aokiji flipped himself into the air to land a distance away from Hancock, reforming his petrified hands from the shattered ice.
Without giving him time to rest, Hancock was already lunging towards him, another kick aimed for his side.
"Ice Block: Wall!"
Aokiji flicked his hand upwards, instantly freezing the air into a solid cuboid and trapping the Warlord's leg within. Taking advantage of the short time she was immobile, Aokiji thrusted his palm at her.
"Ice Ball!"
A stream of ice shot towards Hancock and instantly froze her into a solid ball of clear ice, her eyes still glaring at Aokiji even while frozen.
"Luffy… Control your fiancee would you?" Aokiji whined as he took a leap back, knowing his ice would not hold her.
Sure enough, parts of the ice soon turned into stone before shattering into pieces, freeing the still enraged Pirate Empress.
"Hancock, I think that's enough," Luffy relented with a grin.
Hancock turned towards her fiance while poking her fingers together sheepishly, "Ummm… Are you sure? If you'd like I could beat him up some more…"
The Rear Admiral walked up to her and patted her head softly, "It's alright Hancock, knowing that you'll do it for me is already enough, thank you."
Hancock blushed fiercely as she nodded her head, enjoying the feeling of Luffy stroking her hair.
"It's like he domesticated her or something…" Zoro grimaced.
"How?! Why must it be you?! The world is unfair!" Sanji cried while pounding the ground with a fist.
"Luffy is so awesome!" Chopper exclaimed with sparkles in his eyes.
"I don't think it's something you should be praising him for…" Nami pointed out.
"It still feels unreal…" Usopp muttered, mostly to himself.
Robin still had her eyes locked on Aokiji who was busy brushing the dust off his shoulders.
"Ahhh… As I said before, I'm just here to check on Luffy, quite a lot of us were shocked when we heard you were at death's door."
Nami raised an eyebrow, "an Admiral coming all the way out here just for that? Don't you have other duties?"
Aokiji shrugged, "Mmmm… They probably can deal with it without me, I'm too lazy."
"THAT'S TOO IRRESPONSIBLE!" The Straw Hats shouted at him.
"Well, since I'm already here, I might as well help you guys out a little. I guess a few days should be enough to get your new powers sorted out for you, Luffy."
"Oh! Training just like before?" Luffy clapped his hands in excitement. "What about the rest of my crew?"
Hancock stepped up, not wanting to be outdone, "in that case, darling, allow my people and I to aid your friends in their haki training."
"I'll count on you guys then! Thanks a bunch girls!"
"Leave it to us Luffy sama!" The Kuja pirates shouted in unison.
"Oh! Training with such beauties! God must be helping me!" Sanji danced around.
Luffy gave the Kujas a wry smile, "don't be too hard on him."
"Wait, haki training? Don't tell me they're going to do whatever Garp did to you to us?" Nami shivered, remembering Luffy's description of Garp's hellish training.
"What do you mean?" Hancock tilted her head in confusion, unaware of what kind of training Luffy had experienced under Garp. "I'll only be having all of you spar with us in various ways to train you, I don't think it's that much different from how esteemed grandfather taught darling?"
Zoro frowned, "Huh? No putting your life in danger or fighting on while at the brink of death?"
Hancock narrowed her eyes, "while no doubt being on the brink of death might help you unlock it faster, it is by no means the only way to awaken haki… What has that damnable old geezer done to my darling?"
Realising they might very well be stepping on a landmine, Usopp quickly shook his hands, "oh! I mean, Luffy had always told us how he had fought and won a lot of strong enemies to get stronger, so we thought we might need to go through the same thing! There's no way we can match up with him!"
"Ahhh~~ That's why my darling is so wonderful~~" Hancock gushed, wrapping her arms around Luffy adoringly.
The Straw Hats wiped off the sweat that had rolled down their foreheads collectively.
Three days passed as the Straw Hats received their individual guidance.
Aokiji had taken Luffy to a different part of the island, warning everyone not to stray close to them for fear of being caught up in their training. The two thus disappeared for all three days though the occasional strikes of lightning from the sky indicated the two were still going at it constantly.
Sanji and Hancock were trading kicks with each other, the cook hopelessly outmatched in every way. Luffy had pointed out that since both of them primarily used their legs in combat, Hancock would be a good teacher for Sanji. Needless to say, Sanji had been ecstatic with the chance of being close to the most beautiful woman in the world and perverse thoughts had flooded his mind ever since.
He had even worried over the fact that he might hurt her during their training together and decided to not use his full strength due to his vow of not hurting women.
Hancock had no such reservations though, seeing Luffy's suggestion as a trial for marriage, she had taken upon herself to beat down Sanji mercilessly in order to improve the cook. The lovestruck cook had no way to defend himself the moment he laid his eyes on Hancock, his mind filled only with thoughts of the breathtakingly beautiful woman standing in front of him.
A swift kick across the head soon had him crumpled on the floor, unconscious and bleeding from the nose. That repeated for the entirety of the first day until Hancock had enough, demanding the cook to pull himself together for Luffy's sake. Sanji had only responded that he would rather die than kick a woman.
They thus compromised with Sanji doing his best to defend himself against her kicks, and even then Hancock showed him no mercy, beating him down every chance she had.
Zoro on the other hand had to defend himself against hails of haki infused arrows from the Kujas. The swordsman had initially tried to cut down the arrows as he would cannonballs but found his swords unable to cut through them at all, leaving him no choice but to dodge them as best as he could.
The initial idea was to get him to be able to infuse his swords with Armament haki to overpower the Kuja's own haki to be able to cut through the arrows, but it seemed the training improved his power of Observation haki instead. Soon he was able to dodge most arrows with relative ease until Marigold suggested him to refrain from dodging completely.
The swordsmen was thus filled with numerous arrow wounds as he tried his best to 'feel' the energy that was said to lay dormant within him as he tried to direct them to his swords.
Nami, Usopp and Chopper had an easier time with Sandersonia teaching them the easier method of learning Observation haki. She had all three of them blindfolded while wielding a wooden stick, commanding them to do their best to avoid the stick as she struck at each of them at random intervals.
Even so, Sandersonia did not hold back with her blows since a half hearted attack would breed half hearted results, resulting in all three groaning over welts and bruises at the end of each day.
Robin had vetoed herself out from the training, opting to stay on board their ship instead. Seeing as how she was not actually a Marine, no one voiced any complaints.
Aokiji stood impassively in front of a heavily panting Luffy. The Rear Admiral was bent over with his hands on his knees, taking huge lungfuls of air.
"Luffy, again," Aokiji commanded.
Luffy took a deep breath, straightening himself to glare at his mentor standing in front of him. The Admiral had a lazy stance with his hands in his pockets, though his eyes remained clear as he stared at Luffy.
Luffy raised his right fist, concentrating for a moment before his arm transformed into pure electricity. With a yell, he punched his hand forward, throwing the blast of lightning streaking towards the Admiral.
Aokiji watched as the thunderbolt rushed towards him, his demeanor unchanged. Just as the bolt was about to reach him, it dissipated suddenly, vanishing into thin air without a trace.
Luffy gasped as he clutched at his head, collapsing to the ground on his knees.
Aokiji sighed, deciding it was enough for now. The Admiral stepped towards his kneeling student, sitting down beside him.
"Deep, slow breaths," Aokiji cautioned the hyperventilating boy.
Luffy gulped down the saliva in his throat as he forced his shaking hands to still, taking a single deep breath to calm his nerves before collapsing on his haunches beside the Admiral.
The two sat silently beside each other as they watched the clouds drift by, the occasional bird call breaking the silence.
"I've done all I can Luffy, it's really just you… You need to get over it."
Luffy sighed, "I know…"
"Just remember who you are and who you are not, weapons do not personify their wielders."
Luffy looked down at his hands, "I understand… But it's… I just can't…"
Aokiji glanced at his student, so young and yet already a Rear Admiral with so many responsibilities. At the rate that Luffy was going, he had no doubt that Luffy would soon be getting another promotion should he be involved in something big again. Knowing him, Luffy would definitely find trouble somehow or another.
The Admiral stood up, discarding all heavy thoughts from his mind, it was not in his nature to keep thinking about all the troubling things.
"Maaa... I'm sure you'll deal with it somehow, knowing you. I guess it's time for me to get back too before they start to complain."
Luffy grinned at his mentor, full well knowing Marineford was already in an uproar the moment Aokiji disappeared.
"I'll be heading out first, say goodbye to your crew and your little fiancee for me." Aokiji waved, getting on his bicycle that he had left leaning against a tree.
"And remember what I told you about Sakazuki," Aokiji warned before paddling away, disappearing into the horizon.
Luffy watched the Admiral leave before glancing towards the sky, reaching his hands up towards it before clenching his fist.
"I have to get stronger!"
The Rear Admiral grinned as he watched a streak of lightning flashed among the clouds before turning rejoin his crew.
"Luffy… Are you sure you packed enough? Are you warm enough at night? Is that damnable chef cooking good enough for you?" Hancock fussed over her fiance as they prepared to set sail.
"Shishishi! Don't worry Hancock, I have a good crew! They know what to do!"
"Please don't scare me anymore, I don't know what I'll do if your Vivre Card ever shrinks that much again…" Hancock sobbed, clutching on to Luffy's cloak tightly.
"You worry too much Hancock, I'll be fine! Shishishi!"
"Hebihime sama! We're ready to sail!" A kuja pirate shouted from their ship.
"Luffy, we're just about ready to cast off too, Merry will be pulling the ark on the sea this time." Nami informed from the side, doing the final checks around the ship.
"I'll see you Luffy, please be safe!" Hancock cried as she joined her crew on their ship.
"See you soon Luffy sama!" The Kuja pirates waved as their ship sailed off.
Luffy waved back enthusiastically, watching them leave from Merry's deck. He turned to find his crew assembled before him, waiting for his orders.
"First off," Luffy lifted a finger in the air, "Continue with the training that the Kujas have given to all of you whenever you can."
Nami, Usopp and Chopper groaned audibly while Sanji and Zoro glanced at each other.
"Second, we'll be scrapping the ark at our next stop and upgrading Merry, any objections?"
Everyone shook their heads.
"Merry feels more like home after all." Nami grinned.
Usopp nodded his head, "Merry is the best! Sailing on the ark felt so out of place!"
Zoro patted a railing, "it's our first ship after all."
"The fridge has a lock too," Sanji smirked.
"I had the best memories on Merry!" Chopper exclaimed.
Robin only shrugged, though the crew knew during their three day training Robin had opted to stay on Merry instead of the ark which clearly showed which ship she preferred.
"That's settled then! Everyone get ready to set sail!"
"Aye, aye!"
Meanwhile on Enies Lobby
"Jabra! Anger so misplaced, reconsider so I say, release should be done! Yayoi!" Kumadori sang.
The lupine assassin dropped the chief of CP9 on to the floor, having been holding him up by the collar just moments ago. Along with Spandam, the other three CP9 agents were standing in the chief's office, Jabra having barged into the room to confront his superior.
Fukuro unzipped his mouth, "chapapa, it is no fault of his, Jabra. Or is your anger due to you being dumped yesterday?"
Jabra kicked the big man away, "I thought I told you not to tell anyone?!"
"Forgive them both my friend! Allow me to atone for their sins-"
"Shut up!" Jabra yelled, kicking Kumadori away after Fukuro.
The wolfman pointed an accusatory finger at Spandam, the latter having retreated as far as he could to the back of the room.
"Do you understand now?! We will have no part in this! I don't care what the others might think but I sure as hell ain't gonna do it!"
"You're going against my orders!" Spandam protested.
"Carried down from somewhere else! You knew that they were lying and you still went with it! I will not stand for it!" Jabra kicked over the couch that lay in the centre of the room in frustration.
Spandam gulped, "you can't do that! They'll come after you!"
Jabra spun to glare at the cowering Spandam, causing him to shrink back even more.
"I never said I was going to do anything, I just refuse this mission. Let those other guys do it, they don't know him like we do! We cannot accept this order! Not if it causes another Incident!"
"I had no choice!" Spandam shrieked.
Jabra growled, "I know you didn't… If you had, I would have already thrown you off this building long ago! You know full well what happened at Operation Red Line after all!"
The assassin turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, scowling all the way.
"Everything's coming back to bite me… I knew it… If only we took that Incident more seriously… Damn it, damn it, damn it…" Jabra thought as he marched his way down the corridor.
He had to prepare for the storm that was coming, and fast.
______________________________________________
And cut. so that is it for this chapter hope you guys enjoyed and see you in the next chapter.bye
chapter 30:Operation Red Line