#i had that picture of Kuma inside of my head for months now

[mothfulhansel]

some magma doodles from earlier

[ramp-it-up]

To Renounce and to Claim

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Enhanced! Reader

Summary: A world where you and Bucky can be happy is seemingly only what dreams are made of. Until you complete your mission.

Word Count: 3K

Warnings: 18+ Only, Minors DNI. S MUT! Read at your own risk. Curate your own experience. Pining, low self esteem, two idiots in love, Bucky in Wakanda, the White Wolf, skinny dipping, eye fucking, sex in public, sex in a river, loss of "virginity", size kink, pleasurable pain with sex, raw sex, oral sex, pulling out, cum play. Feelings of loss, (the death of T'Challa is implied) implied loss of child, feelings of revenge. Google translate Hausa and Russian.

Not Beta’d. All errors my own.

A/N: This is the second in the Bucky Barnes and the Summer Soldier series. White Wolf Bucky, liberties taken with the MCU cannon and timeline. The following terms are from google translate in Hausa: Masoyi- my love; ina son ku- I love you; ina son ku kuma- I love you too. Kulkoka- Doll in Russian. Other terms defined in text.

As always, reblog if you like it!

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I Do NOT Consent to my work being reposted, translated or presented on any other blog or site other than by myself.

Wakanda, 2017

The first time you saw Bucky Barnes, you wanted to destroy him.

You, and everyone you knew, thought that he’d assassinated your king, T’Chaka.

The pictures of the masked metal-armed man which was circulated among the Dora were mesmerizing to you. The blue eyes above the black mask seemed to stare into your soul. They were menacing, determined, yet with a hint of something else that had you transfixed.

You kept your eyes on the images long past the ending of the briefing and you were still seated with the holo-pad when everyone else stood to go.

When Okoye called for you, the other Doras quirked their mouths, the loudest their merriment would go in the mixed company of civilians, royalty, and military.

Zola confronted you about it months later, when Barnes was granted asylum in Wakanda.

“I want to talk to you about your feelings for the Winter Soldier.”

You stared at your former Captain, incredulous.

Bast, this woman did not forget a thing.

“I know not of which you speak, Mistress. I was studying his photos to see if I could spot a weakness, so as to kill him easily. Now that he has the king’s protection, I will follow orders.”

You kept your posture rigid and eyes straight ahead as she regarded you. Your training was over, but she knew you better than your mother in the river valley; you’d certainly been with her longer.

“That is the correct answer, child.”

You did not dare mention that you had not been a child for years. You kept your disrespect in your head. Not that it mattered.

“I know what you are thinking. That you are a full grown woman, a warrior. But if you do not want to put all of that in jeopardy, you will be careful. Do not let him into your head.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

You should have listened better, for after he arrived, the Winter Soldier was not only in your head; he was in your heart. The chaos a smile from James Barnes could create inside you would cause your father to send you to the Jabari if you were still his ward.

You chilled Bucky to the bone from the first moment he laid eyes on you; you were so regal and so strong. You were different than any other human he’d ever met.

The second he introduced himself and your beautiful lips tilted into a frown and said, “What by Bast, is a Bucky?” you were firmly entrenched in his soul.

Neither of you felt you could be honest, you because of duty and he because he felt like an incomplete shadow of a man. Bucky had a lot of work to do. And he set about the work of healing, mentally and physically with a singular focus. Becoming worthy of you was one of his primary goals and you didn’t realize it.

The day Wakanda celebrated James Barnes and gave him a new name was the beginning of the end.

For the better part of the previous year, James Barnes had been just a man. A man that you squared off with when he first arrived, a man that you watched with pity as he broke down, then listened to with sympathy, talked to with candor, trained with intensity, and eventually broke bread with trust.

Now that man was your abokin kirki, your good friend. And also the White Wolf, practically a member of the royal family.

And, like the stealthiest of adversaries, the romantic feelings caught up to you quickly and without warning. You were astonished at how you felt when you saw the way that he looked at Nareema during the Royal celebration for him. You were devastated that he could look at another in that way and more than that, disappointed in yourself.

The fact that you’d fallen for your friend was something that you vowed never to admit or act upon. Sacrifice was your duty. Your feelings didn’t matter even if they were requited. Barnes was healing, and thus did not have time to focus on frivolous emotion.

Your job, as commanded by T'Challa, was to assist him through this period, and bid him goodbye when the time came.

What you purposefully ignored was how he had acted toward you. James sought you out, how he waited for you to come back from missions and training exercises, always with your favorite dishes prepared. Cooking was a hobby that he had undertaken to help calm his mind. And he was quite good at it.

You also disregarded the way Bucky looked at you, the way his eyes changed when you were in full combat gear, and the way his bow deepened as you walked by.

Or rather, you only thought about it when you were alone in your bed at night.

You should never have taken him to your favorite spot along the river the day after the celebration and allowed him to skinny dip with you. You told yourself it was just a private celebration between comrades; it was common among friends of the River Tribe, males and females naked before one another with no illicit thought. But this was different.

The way that you and James stared at each other from opposite banks as you lay in the sun after frolicking like children was dangerous. Your eyes avoided his, but you drank the rest of him in, from the new arm, to the scars on his chest, to the water drops dripping down his skin onto the river bank. His large cock was at rest, but it was long and thick, and you could imagine what it would be like if it were awakened.

You stared innocently at his manhood while something inside you alighted.

James’ eyes were upon you, from your captivating eyes, to those alluring lips, to the water running in rivulets between your beautiful breasts. He’d always admired your body, remembering every curve and toned muscle late at night and early in the morning when he was alone. The lust inside of him wanted you, but so did the love.

His eyes sought out yours, and when you finally returned his gaze, he guessed that perhaps you shared his feelings. Sensing his awareness, you again looked at his body, studying him as if he were predator, or prey.

Your boldness was alluring, and the fact that you were sitting, legs akimbo, so that he could clearly see the folds made Bucky feel the need to go into the river again to hide his arousal.

You joined him without thinking, your heart trying to break free from your ribs. You were afraid. For the first time, you felt truly afraid as your instinct drew you closer to him.

James’ hair was in his eyes, similar to the first time you saw him in those pictures all those months ago. And yet it was different this time. This time you knew that he would be your undoing.

You reached up to smooth his hair back, and he grabbed your wrist, pulling you close to him, your nipples conducting electricity with his wet skin and his cock pounding on your belly.

“Bari in tafi James. Let me go.”

“Da gaske kike so na? Do you really want me to?”

James pulled your hand to his mouth, his lips grazing your palm and up your arm. Your other hand flew up to strike him and he caught it with his vibranium one and twisted it behind you.

You were shocked, but not at him; you were surprised at your reaction. You could have easily gotten out of his hold, you were a skilled fighter.

But you didn’t want to.

“Do you mean to take me like some common karuwa?”

James spoke as his satin lips tasted your skin.

“Stop fighting the inevitable. You know that I hold you in the highest regard. You are not a whore, you are masoyi.”

James’ mouth had reached your shoulder and as he spoke you turned your head toward him as you whispered, terrified.

“You do not mean th-”

Bucky cut you off with his mouth upon yours. You whimpered in his grip and yielded when his tongue insisted entry to meet yours.

You stood in the river, James Barnes’ fingers massaging your scalp, drowning in his kiss. You moved closer to him, throwing your arms up to caress the muscles in his back, your fingers following the traces of water down his torso.

When the kiss was over, your head was spinning.

“What is it you want, soyayya ta? If I have offended you, I will leave Wakanda and never return. I-”

This time you cut him off with a kiss of your own, jumping up and wrapping your legs around his waist, grinding against his cock which was trapped between your core and his belly. James’ hands cupped your ass and as he did so, he groaned. He’d wanted to touch you this way as soon as he saw you, but he’d never dared. He respected you too much.

This time when you separated, you gave him direction.

“The rocks over there on the river bank.”

You pointed behind him to where he lay moments before.

“There. Take me James, over there.”

James turned around in the water, careful not to let the weakness he felt for you, nor the river current cause him to lose his footing. When he made it to the riverbank he deposited you gently on the sun-warmed rocks.

You leaned up on your elbows as James remained half in the water looking up into your eyes.

“Do you really want me James?”

He nodded.

“I do. More than just about anything.”

He picked up your hand and kissed your palm again.

“I have dreamed of this for so long. Tell me that you want me to, masoyi.”

You nodded.

“I want you, James. Ina son ku.”

Bucky beamed.

“Ina son ku kuma.”

And just like that, you were promised to each other, on the banks of your river beneath the Wakandan sun.

You kissed again, the act feeling like a sacrament, heating both of you beyond inhibition. His mouth, his hands, even his eyes on you were alerting all of your senses, because he was everywhere, and all at once. Your hands moved to keep up with him, your ardor overtaking you while you experienced his. Everywhere he touched, bit, suckled and stroked built the fires within you.

Bucky’s hand found your clit and teased it briefly before plunging a thick finger tip inside you. You bit your lip as you wantonly moved your hips.

“I’ve been waiting to do this for a long time, James. Need you.”

“You’ve no idea how much I want to be with you, too, kulkoka, but I don’t want to hurt you…”

James’ flesh hand was moving, stroking your walls as if he owned you, but your face heated at the knowledge of what he meant.

One night around the fire, he let you get drunk on some Border Tribe wine and you’d told him that you’d never been with a man. Not that you were a virgin, whatever that meant, but that sex with a man was something you hadn’t done.

Now you boldly stared at him in his mountain-ice blue eyes.

“I am a warrior James. I can handle it.”

James smirked and tilted his head as his fingers sank into your silken folds, readying you for his intrusion.

“Is that so?”

“Y-yes. I want you inside me…”

Your head lolled back on your shoulders, your shut eyelids glowing red with the sun.

“Mmmmmm, I want that too, Doll.. but I need to see you cum. Right now.”

James climbed down your body, pulling your thighs to the end of the rocks as he went. Your ass ended up in his hands and you leaned up on your elbows to watch him work. You spread your legs for him as his head dipped to your cunt.

James obtained eye contact as he delicately licked your slit from top to bottom and then stopped, watching as your eye opened, blazing as you silently demanded more by pushing his head down harder.

“Eat your meal, Sargent.”

“Yes, Lieutenant.”

You never let him forget that you outranked him, but he saucily winked as he went down and let his smile curl into your wetness.

As Bucky held you in two hands like a bowl and ate you like a man starved, you pulled his hair, which only spurred him on more. He would lick and then look at your pussy, pause, look you in the eyes, and then suck your clit until you were seeing stars. He continued until he could feel you clenching on his tongue. He suckled you and you trembled at how his lips looked wrapped around you. You squirmed until he had to hold you down so you couldn’t run from your orgasm.

“Give it to me. Now.”

Although you outranked him, your body obeyed his command.

You gasped as your mouth opened into a silent “O”, but you eventually didn’t care as you let out a wail with your climax.

Bucku suckled you through it, drawing out more pleasure and grinning when your pulses subsided.

When you were cognizant again, you reached for his member.

James Barnes was a model of a man, long and girthy, you could barely close your fist around him. His large glistening head projected out of the foreskin of his warm, thick and tan shaft. He felt so good in your grip, the veins that weaved around him making you crave that texture inside you. You had the curious urge to take his large balls into your mouth as your hand caressed him.

The effect of your action upon him was lost on you until you heard a groan, and you tore your eyes away from his glorious manhood to look up.

He was beautiful, looking at you with hooded eyes, hands on your thighs as he let you explore him, but obviously holding back. You could see his muscles tense as if ready to spring. With that knowledge, you leaned back as he gathered your thighs into his large hands. You knew that your arousal was leaking onto the rocks and that was confirmed at the way James looked between your legs and licked his lips.

“Take me James, I’m yours.”

“Be certain of what you’re saying, Doll.”

James lifted your leg to his shoulder and kissed from your ankle to your knee, causing you to shiver, then repeated the action with your other one. He then placed his hands on your waist as he moved close, the tip of his cock slotting into our wet, pulsing hole.

You whined as James stayed still, questioning you with his eyes.

“Please. James, I need you.”

Bucky swallowed and nodded, looking almost afraid.

“I got you, masoyi.”

Slowly, James moved forward, pushing inside you until you began to whimper. He stopped, not wanting to hurt you.

You never expected this sensation, the burning, the stretch, but you knew you were not ready for it to end.

You nodded up at him.

“More.”

You remembered your regulation exercises and used them to relax. James’s cock felt so damn good, but it was a lot to take. He was ruining you from any other feeling and could tell when he looked into your lust blown eyes. His gaze roamed your entire body to take in this moment forever and to keep himself calm. He wanted to take you roughly and immediately, but he loved you too much to ever hurt you.

You moaned as the pleasure from him filling you began to overtake the pain. When he was finally seated as full as he could, passion overtook you and you began to move.

James grabbed you harder to still your hips, trying to hold back.

“I want you to fuck me James!”

With that Bucky growled and climbed up on the rock, knees giving leverage to his hips, which snapped into yours once and stopped when you yelped.

“Easy Doll, don’t want to… damn…you feel so fucking good… so right… hmmm.”

James’ mouth explored your neck and torso, finally worshiping your nipples. You wrapped your legs around his hips, hands in his hair and whispering into his ear.

“Bast! I will not break, White Wolf. Claim me. Make me yours!”

Bucky leaned up and wrapped his hand around your throat as he began to honor your request. He was now pounding into you so hard that your body, and you swore the rock beneath you, rippled.

You moaned loudly as pain turned into pleasure and your body started to tremble. Bucky’s display of power over you had your eyes rolling back into your head.

“Thaats it. So fucking beautiful. I’m.. not gonna… fuck I’m gonna…I need you to…”

Bucky’s other hand found your clit and you let out a string of river tribe curses as you exploded around his cock.

“Holy…”

Bucky pumped about three more times and he exploded as well, pulling out in time to leave a string of pearls from your clit to your collarbone as he released all over you. You trembled as his hot spend seemed to sizzle on your sun warmed body. You watched him attempt to empty everything for you and then reached for him, instinctively sitting up to suck the rest out of him. Bucky looked down on you and shuddered, palming your head as you cleaned him off.

He reached down to play in the cum that decorated your body as you lay back on the warm rock. Then, he picked you up and took you back into the river, tenderly cleaning you off while covering you with kisses.

“I am going to meet with T’Challa. I need you to be my wife and have my babies as soon as possible.”

____

You woke up with a start and tears in your eyes, the noise outside coming through the fog in your head as Amsterdam’s red light district.

You felt a deep loss. For your King, your people, your home.. your husband.

Your child.

You slowly sat up from your sleeping bag, and shuffled to the bathroom to clean your face.

As you looked into the mirror, you vowed that you would be back with your husband…as soon as you killed the power broker.

Please reblog to spread the joy!

[bumblesimagines]

Green Thumb

Part 17

Request: Yes or No

For anyone curious and if I did my math correctly y/ns dad had him when he was 35. This one feels short and I hate ittt but I tried making it feel longer. The chunks are just thicc

~

"So, why are we going to Belgium?" Natasha asked, setting the course. You looked at her, taking a seat beside her.

"Cause.. I have family there.. She might be family, I don't now." You answered, feeling the jet move forward before it took off into the sky.

"Family? Like, blood related? Who?" Natasha asked, glancing at you. You licked your lips, staring forward.

"My aunt." Natasha's brows raised, looking over at you. You sighed, nodding.

"What if she turns me away?" You asked softly.

"Well.. You're probably her only remaining family. I wouldn't want to turn away a family member." Natasha licked her lips, looking forward at the passing clouds.

"What do I even say? Hey, I'm (Y/N) and I have superpowers?"

"Well, you can introduce yourself and ask about her brother." Natasha gave a small smile. You nodded.

"How's Clint?" Natasha asked, rested her head on her fist. Her hair was long and her natural red locks were returning. It made her hair look a little weird but she was going through a lot of things.

"Who fucking knows." You frowned, arms crossing. Clint had fucked off to god knows where, leaving you to deal with your grief alone. Natashas' brows furrowed.

"Clint has decided not to return home in what feels like weeks. Maybe even months, I haven't been paying attention." You shrugged lightly. Natasha frowned, leaning back in the seat. Definitely didn't sound like Clint but grief could make people do crazy things.

"I've been trying to keep up with the house but I'm just one guy handling everything Clint decided to build and add on." You licked your lips, shaking your head and letting out a heavy sigh.

"I'm sorry." Natasha said softly, giving your arm a squeeze. "I'll talk to him if you want."

"Let him do whatever the hell he wants to do. He's a grown man." You replied, feeling bitter and resentful. Natasha silently nodded. The rest of the ride was silent until the jet reached Belgium.

"We're here." You stepped out of the jet, feeling a small breeze go by. You felt your stomach doing flips, heartbeat quickening. You took in a deep breath, glancing at Natasha. She placed a gentle hand on your back, offering a small smile.

"Are you sure you don't want me to get in touch with Clint?" She asked, head tilting. You shook your head.

"It could make things more complicated." You said, looking around. The house across the street matched with the address Tony had given you. It was more on the outskirts of town, surrounded by trees. You could hear some horses behind the house. You took in a deep breath, trying to ease your nerves as you walked towards the house, crossing the road. Natasha followed, studying the area.

"Seems like gardening might run in the family." Natasha said, motioning to the flower garden.

"Yeah.." You chuckled softly. You stepped onto the porch, noticing some plotted flowers on the windowsill. You raised your hand, pressing the doorbell. You waited a few minutes about to press it again before the door opened. A scowl appeared on Florines' face. She was shorter than you had imagined. Her hair was a bit messy and tied back into a low ponytail.

"Wat wil je?" She asked, gaze flickering over to Natasha. You swallowed, fiddling with your fingers.

"Are you Florine De Meyers?" You asked, watching her narrow her eyes.

"Who's asking?"

"(Y/N).. I think I might be the son of your brother." You said quietly. Florine stared at you, lips parting. Her features softened for a second before the frown returned. She opened the door wider, letting you and Natasha inside. The inside of the house smelled like black tea, earthy and floral. It felt straight out of a country movie.

"I've got some tea and speculoos." Florine called as she entered the kitchen. You looked at the pictures she had up. Most were pictures of horses or her at events with friends. You didn't see any pictures that seemed family related. You took a seat on the floral patterned couch, gazing dropping onto the unbothered elderly sheepdog. It made no attempt to move and simply rolled onto its side to face away from you.

"That's Gerdie. Old girl used to be a good guard dog but now she's more of a house cat." Florine said, sitting down and placing a tray on the coffee table. Natasha reached forward, taking one of the biscuits. Florine reached under the table, looking through the books she had before pulling out what looked like a photo book.

"The reason I didn't slam the door in your face is because Michael had told me he was gonna have a kid named (Y/N)." Florine said, hand wiping away the dust in the book. She scooted forward, placing the book on the table.

"Michael?" You repeated, looking at her. She nodded, opening the book. She flipped to the second page, pointing to a picture of a young boy by a fireplace opening presents.

"Michael, my half brother and your father." Your brows raised, leaning in to take a better look. The photo was old but you could see his face clearly. Natasha leaned in as well, smiling gently.

"You have his smile." She pointed out.

"Michael and his father moved here from America when he was about five. He met my mother and they got married. They had me when Michael was nine. He was a good brother. He held no resentment towards me or my mom. Michael was as stubborn as a mule and he could never keep his mouth shut. He'd let you know if he didn't agree with you." Florine chuckled, shaking her head. You watched the nostalgic look pass over her eyes.

"What happened to him?" You asked softly. Florine let out a heavy sigh, leaning back in her chair. She reached down, giving Gerdie some pats on the head.

"He disappeared for some time." She answered, gaze becoming distant.

"He wrote letters occasionally. Said he was working for a government in another country.. He might've been some sort of spy, my memory's a little fuzzy on the subject. He spent a long time working but.. He came back eventually. He never talked about it but he was good ole Michael." Florine leaned forward again, flipping to another page of a more grown up Michael. You did notice some similar features between him and you.

"By then, our father had passed from cancer and my mother needed all the help she could get. Michael built this house with some friends of his and gave it to my mother. Oh, my mother was so happy. She got the farm she had always wanted and got to garden whenever she could." Florine pointed to a a couple in the photobook.

"This is your grandmother, Sylvie. You would've loved her. She made the best cakes in town. This is your grandfather, Jonathan. He was always up to no good. He loved pulled helping the kids in town with pranks." Florine spoke of them fondly. Her childhood seemed to have been good with Jonathon and Sylvie.

"You have powers, right?" Florine asked, looking at you. You nodded, reaching out to the plant on the coffee table and watching it grow taller.

"She passed on her powers to you." Florine leaned back, clearing her throat. You glanced at Natasha, noticing her eating another biscuit.

"She? Who's she?" You asked, looking back at Florine.

"Your witch of a mother." She answered bitterly. You raised your brows at the hate and disgust in her tone.

"I shouldn't speak ill of her. Even if she deserves it." Florine muttered, standing up with a heavy sigh.

"C'mon." She motioned for you to follow. You turned towards Natasha. Natasha picked up another biscuit, making eye contact with you. You raised your brows.

"What? These are delicious!" Natasha huffed. You chuckled, standing up and following her out the backdoor. You noticed the stables with the horses walking around their fenced area. Florine had a vegetable garden and a greenhouse out back as well.

"Those pretty babies are Ernie, Kuma, and Goldie." Florine said, motioning to the horses. They approached the fence when she walked over to them. You smiled softly as she petted them, cooing in Dutch.

"They won't bite. Well, Ernie might but he's just a playful old man." Florine chuckled, turning back in the original direction. You followed her down a dirt path and into a wooded area. You blinked, seeing what looked like a moss covered statue of a woman. Her eyes were closed though her head was pointed downwards, looking at anyone who walked down the path.

"She was a charming little witch, I'll give her that." Florine crossed her arms, staring up at the statue. You tilted your head, licking your lips.

"Did he make this for her?" You asked, turning to look at her. Florine shook her head, looking down at the ground.

"Gaia, or better known as Mother Nature, is your mother. She took a human form in an attempt to convince humans to cherish what she had given them. When that proved useless, she spread plagues as punishment. What Gaia truly wanted.. Was a child. Animals, humans, and all those things were creations.. Projects she could ignore if she got bored. She met your father and he fell for her." Florine told you, another breeze blowing by. You reached your hand forward, gently touching a flower that rested by the statue. It felt full of life.

"Your mother fell pregnant with you and Michael was thrilled. Gaia had started realizing that human life wasn't for her. She was slowly becoming human herself. She disappeared with Michael and returned without him or you. She explained she couldn't stay and left her human body here."

"She abandonded me for no reason?" You stared up at the statue, features hardening.

"In some sense, she didn't. She's all around us so.. Your mother never truly left you." Florine said, turning to look at you. You scoffed.

"I have a mother. Her name is Laura Barton and she's not here anymore because of Thanos." You looked at Florine, blinking away tears.

"I don't blame you for being angry. I never found out where she took you or if you were even alive. If you want to keep in touch, I don't mind. Lord knows I could use the company." Florine looked forward again. You let out a soft sigh, shoulders slumping.

"And.. And dad? What happened to him?" You asked hesitantly, almost afraid of finding out he had done the same as Gaia. Florine stayed silent for a moment.

"He.. They never told me how it happened but.. He was murdered." Florine revealed, staring at the ground with a small frown. You stared at him, brows furrowing.

"What? By- By who?"

"You might've heard of him. People around town were talking about him a two or three years back. The infamous Winter Soldier."

~

Tags: @geek-and-proud @wolfelocksley @babyvisionisamenace

[whirlybirdwhat]

Happy

Prompt answer for anon who requested

“may I ask for a Gin/Sanji that's happy? I loved how super sad it was in the au but I would really like Gin meeting the crew/Luffy without it being so horribly sad. (also sanji going "hey so this is my bf" amuses me)” 

SO ENJOY THE SANGIN I wrote this in a possessed haze last night.

Also @junemel this has elements from that one conversation that we had about gin meeting Duval its not close to it but I was this close to putting gin smacking the ever living shit out of Duval in it - this close

Anyway, enjoy! Sorry it took so long anon! Its a lil angsty but its very happy after that lol

Also on Ao3!

-

Six months after Gin’s life was changed by a hot meal and cigarette smoke on the Baratie of all places, he’s out on the Grand Line, chasing his dream – to escape from the life Krieg built, and create one better, one that is a true pirate’s life.

And six months after Gin last saw him, he sees Sanji’s grey blue eyes again… in the most hideous wanted poster he’s ever seen.

He promptly spits out his coffee when his first mate gives the paper with it to him at breakfast.

“What the fuck-“

Kinzo has the patience of a saint as he speaks while washing the coffee from his face (how the hell is the man not screaming from the hot liquid?)

“Straw Hat Luffy and crew razed Ennies Lobby to the ground eight days ago while seizing Devil Child Nico Robin from custody. All crew members received bounties and escaped Vice Admiral Garp on their way out of Water Seven, and are currently at large. Isn’t…” And here, a small smile breaks out on Kinzo’s face. “Sanji on that crew? It appears he has a bounty higher than yours’s now captain. 77,000,000 Belli?”

“That’s not Sanji.”

It can’t be.

The wanted poster is hand drawn, but the artist must be blind because there is no way Sanji’s nose looks like that, or his lips, and his eyes are sea blue not whatever that is.

The only thing they got right even slightly is his eyebrow, but even that could take some criticism.

“You sure captain?” Hashi asks from his corner of the galley. “Seems like he fits the description – blue eyes, blond hair, smoker, weird eye brow.”

“That’s NOT Sanji! It’s – its- “ Gin can’t even finish his sentence. It’s only been six months, surely Sanji hasn’t changed that much? Getting stronger he can picture (The paper is vague, doesn’t tell a lot, damn marine supporters, but isn’t Ennies Lobby the supposed home of CP9?) but this? No.

“It’s a stranger? Doesn’t have heaven made food?”

“Smile sent from heaven?”

“Eyes like the sea?”

“Super soft hands?”

“The kindest voice on earth?”

“SHUT UP! How do you even know all that?” His face is red. Man Demon Gin has never been so humiliated.

“You talk about him a lot when you’re… inebriated.” Kinzo states, taking a sip of his own coffee (is it boiling? Its boiling. Does his first mate have secret devil fruit powers or does he have no pain receptors?) to avoid continuing.

“CAPTAIN HAS A CRUSH!~” He is going to toss Hashi overboard, devil fruit or not.

“OOOOOH!”

“LIKE IT WAS A SECRET!”

“EVERYONE SHUT UP!” Gin slaps a hand to his head. “Breakfast is over, I do not have a crush, and that is not what Sanji looks like – and do you really want to insult a man who is worth twice all of your bounties and just smacked CP9 into the ground?”

Finally, his crew shuts up.

“Like I thought. Get to your stations – weather looks dark outside, might be a storm.”

And the Silver Horn Pirates rush to do as their captain orders – but not without a few passing remarks.

“Captain and Sanji Kissing in a tree – K – I – S – S –“

Splash.

“SHUT UP!”

-

Another two months go by, full of teasing and laughter from his crew about Sanji, but it’s been quiet for the most part. The Straw hats haven’t made any big news officially, but there are rumors that Moira’s been kicked out of his position, and there’s only one crew crazy enough to do that unintentionally, so Gin’s sure that their doing all right.

Then the newspaper flops in his lap. It’s Kinzo again, and Sanji half expects it to be another Sanji poster – he likes to give him them, as if whoever on that poster can take the place of Sanji, but something in his face tells Gin otherwise.

He sets his cup down, and opens the paper.

STRAW-HAT LUFFY ATTACKS CELESTIAL DRAGON – CREW DISAPPEARS AFTER RESPONSE FROM WARLORD KUMA

Oh no – Sanji. Luffy. The rest of them – oh no.

There’s an odd note in his voice as he looks up at Kinzo. “Tell the crew to prepare to set sail. We head for Sabaody in three hours.”

Kinzo only nods – they’re five islands away, possible more because this is the Grand Line of all places, but half the crew is from Don Krieg’s armada.

They were at the Baratie when Luffy saved them, when Sanji gave them food. They know what’s at stake – they have to help the Straw Hats.

And so they will.

-

Three weeks later, Fire Fist Ace and Whitebeard are dead, and Straw Hat has reappeared at Marineford to ring in a new era.

Gin has tears in his eyes when he learns that Straw Hat is okay, because if he knows anyone, he knows that Straw Hat will never leave his nakama behind, and Sanji is nakama.

Sanji is alive.

(And the other straw hats, but forgive Gin for being biases, alright?)

Now he just has to find him.

-

On Sabaody, he does not meet Sanji – instead, he finds the face on the wanted poster, protecting Sanji’s ship.

“Duval?” Gin asks dubiously, as the man before him grins and attempts to wink, showing off his new face with the old wanted poster as comparison.

“In the handsome flesh! Are you friends of the Straw hats?”

“Yeah… One moment please?”

“Certainly!”

Gin turns to his crew with the most shit-eating grin.

“I told you it wasn’t Sanji.”

He turns back to Duval, not without catching a glimpse of resignation from his crew. He was right.

“So Duval –“

“Yes?”

“You know when the Straw Hats are going to meet back up?” Gin wasn’t stupid. He’s seen the face of a king, and Sanji was on that King’s crew. There was no way they would be down for long.

Duval looks sad, or at least as sad as he can get with that face. “No, we do not… We don’t even know if they are coming back all.”

Again, Gin’s not stupid. Or maybe he is, he just has unwavering faith in a captain that isn’t his and a cook he’d only met once.

“But we will protect their beloved ship! Whatever it takes!”  There’s a fire in Duval’s eyes, one Gin’s sure is matched on his own face.

“Of course – but do you have any idea where they are now?”

“Well…”

-

Duval doesn’t have an answer, but he does have a rumor, and that rumor is that the Straw Hats were scattered to the winds with a swipe of a paw, more literal than the papers stated.

Gin figured it would go like this. The Straw Hats went at their own pace (their own world-toppling, war declaring, impossible pace that no one else could keep up with-) and it was unlikely that they would be seen before they wanted to be seen.

Likely in an international incident.

That doesn’t mean Gin won’t stop searching and training for the day he meets Sanji again.

He doesn’t know what the other is doing, but it has something to do with Straw Hat’s message – and Gin doesn’t think Sanji would take the death of his captain’s brother lying down.

Sanji’s getting stronger out there somewhere on the grand line, and like hell if Gin is falling behind.

-

It takes two and a half years to find him, but at least by then he can show his crew an actual picture of Sanji’s face – if in that stupid caricature he gets around girls.

Kinzo smiles at it, hands deep in boiling water as he washes the plates after dinner, and asks genteelly “That your man Captain?”

Gin blushes very, very hard before changing the topic entirely. “Yeah – but I’m wondering about the Only Alive bit – what do you think it means?”

“No clue – but its no surprise the bounty went up – Sabaody’s a wreck from what I here, and Fish Man Island’s got a new protectorate.”

“Rumors say Straw Hat ticked off Big Mom.”

“Only one Island in in the New World and this is what they do? Damn.”

“We better catch up then, aye Kinzo?” Gin grins.

“Aye Captain.”

“MEN! SET SAIL FOR THE NEW WORLD!”

“AYE!”

-

Vinsmoke Sanji, the papers say, and Gin thinks back to the flowing restaurant in the East Blue and crosses it out. In its place is Black Leg, stark and true, and it’s a much better fit.

Black Leg Sanji’s Captain better get him back or Gin’s going to have to fight an Emperor and he and his crew are all going to die because Sanji went to go get married.

-

A week later, and Luffy had apparently plotted to assassinate Big Mom and ended up defeated two of her Sweet Commanders.

Sanji has a new bounty, and Gin doesn’t know why he even bothered to worry.

When he pictured meeting Sanji again, he imagined it in battle, showing off his new skills and he and Sanji fighting back to back.

He did not picture it in the back alley of some bar in the New World, where he was taking a break from the commotion inside.

Apparently, someone had died in the middle of eating and then rose again. Gin doesn’t want to know, so he goes out to smoke a bit.

“Damnit” he mutters, realizing he doesn’t have his lighter on him.

“Need a light?”

“Yea actually, Tha-” Gin stops dead, and stares at the face in front of him that’s gently smiling beneath a mop of blond hair.

The eyebrows are as distinct as ever, if on a different side, and the blue of his eyes stands out even now. (Privately, Gin thinks they might be the color of the All Blue that mythic ocean that Sanji plans to find – he has no doubt he will.) There’s a goatee beneath his lips, quirked up in a smile while biting on an unlit cigarette. The suit and tie is a fashion statement few wear so well on the Grand Line and that just means the person standing in front of him is none other than –

“Sanji,” Gin breathes and feels his heart swell.

“Hey Gin – long time no see.” A hand reaches out to light the cigarette between Gin’s teeth and then his own, and Sanji is almost as tall as him now, and smiling, and strong and –

-

A giant dork.

They found a cafe two streets over from the bar where they are now currently sitting, eating something other than greasy bar food and probably poisoned drinks.

According to Sanji, it was his Captain who had collapsed in his food and caused the commotion.

“He’s fine,” Sanji tells Gin carelessly, a smile on his face still – he hasn’t stopped smiling since he met Gin again, something Gin is not so secretly proud of – “Shitty rubber captain just does that sometimes. You get used to it. Chopper’s trying to work something out though –“

“Chopper? Isn’t he your pet?”

Sanji laughs, bright and bold, and he’s so much more than he ever was on the Baratie. “I forgot! You haven’t seen us since the Baratie have you? We have a lot more people on our crew –“

“Are they anything like their wanted posters? I’ve been trying to find you by them and it hasn’t been working out so well…”

Heck. He just admitted he had been trying to find Sanji. Way to go you dumb shit.

But Sanji just dusts the ashes off his cigarette and nods to him. “I knew you’d find us. You promised, didn’t you?”

I’ll grow stronger, without Don Krieg, and meet you all on the Grand Line!

He had, hadn’t he? And the Straw Hats put a lot of faith in promises.

“I guess I did – I definitely grew stronger too. And I have my own crew – though they aren’t as weird as yours.”

“Gin. We have a walking, talking, shitting skeleton pop star on our crew and our doctor is a reindeer. Nothing’s weirder than our crew.”

“You have a what for your doctor?” Oh god, he’s missed so much. He hates the newspaper.

-

Eventually, Sanji convinces Gin to introduce him to his crew after learning that Gin became his own pirate captain.

“No one can order you around, now, right?” There’s an innuendo in there somewhere, but frankly, Gin’s too nervous to care.

His crew always takes great joy in embarrassing him, and introducing him to Sanji, where most of the teasing stems from, is going to be hell.

Whatever. He’ll have proved them wrong at least. – and the rest of the crew who had only gotten glimpses of Sanji at the Baratie when he was smacking down the rest of the crew, will get the chance to meet him.

He entertains the thought of reaching for Sanji’s hand, but settles for brushing his knuckles and shoulders with him instead.

At the Baratie, he hadn’t known this man long – not long enough – and now, he’s endlessly curious to know more.

(What’s his favorite food? His favorite color? Memory? Place? What does he think of me? He thinks, casting glances at the man beside him as they talk about anything and everything down the streets, fitting like two puzzle pieces with frayed ends – perfectly matching but too old to quite click perfectly immediately.

He wonders, too, what Sanji will think of the crew.)

Eventually, they reach the Silver Serpent (sue him – he like’s the silver motif, its better than the demon one at any rate. (There are too many demons on this wretched sea anyway.)), its masts. Reaching high into the sky with the skull waving in the breeze. Sanji smiles at the engravings on the side (waves with metal inlays – Gin wanted this ship to carry them for years, and its grand enough to do so.)

“Nice ship,” He compliments and Gin grins in return.

“Wait till you see the crew.” He cups his mouth and prepares to shout. “MEN! THERE’S SOMEONE YOU NEED TO MEET!”

Heads pop up all over the ship, peering at Gin before wild expressions cross their faces.

“Holy Shit-“

“Is that who I think it is?”

“Captains brought a guy home!”

“Is that him?”

“Black-leg?”

“Kinzo – Kinzo wake up you need to see this” Hashi nudges the first mate awake before pointing at the plank that Sanji and Gin are climbing up. “It’s him.”

Sanji looks positively bewildered, more so when Gin offers a meager explanation. “I, uh, may have talked about you. A lot, actually. Maybe?”

Sanji snickers, and goes to introduce himself to the crew, leaving Gin to contemplate his life decisions.

“Hello everyone, the name’s Sanji – though I hear you already know that?”

“Damn right we do – Captain won’t shut up about you.” Kinzo answers for the entirety of the crew. “I’m Kinzo, the Silver Horn Pirate’s first mate.”

“Nice to meet you then.”

“And I’m Hashi! Cook aboard this ship! Tell me your secrets!”

“Wha-“

“Hashi, stop, damn it you can get cooking lessons later.”

“Actually,” Sanji interjects, before Gin can direct his crew to bring out food and such, “You can have them now. Luffy will want to meet all of you, and that means a party.”

In true pirate fashion, the deck explodes with joy.

“PARTY! AYE!”

“On the Sunny of course – I’ve been wanting to show you it.” And doesn’t that send butterflies down Gin’s spine. “Follow me!”

And the crew charges after the man who saved Gin’s life, leaving him to catch up.

-

Gin’s seen the Sunny before, not that Sanji knows, but seeing her with her crew aboard is something entirely different. The Soul King’s providing music, and there is a reindeer with chopsticks up his nose while a cyborg with two extra arms cheers him on. The owner of those arms is chuckling as she watches Sanji and a green haired swordsman – still wrapped in as many bandages as he had been at the Baratie – fight with fire and steel.

That’s nothing on the captain of the crew, whose downing ten-times his body weight in meat alone who. Laughs hysterically with the story telling sniper as the navigator punches Zoro and Sanji on the head to get them to stop.

The effect is instantaneous as Zoro. Immediately grumbles about witches and Sanji becomes pliant to her demands.

Thousand Sunny is so much more livelier now, with her crew filling up the empty space on deck and lanterns strung about the rigging. There’s platters of food and music and life and joy, things Gin had experienced before but never quite to this magnitude.

And according to Usopp, this is a small-scale party.

Bonfires on Sky Islands, parties at the Ryugu Palace, dancing with former zombies on a floating island ship in the middle of the Floridian triangle-

This crew has been everywhere.

(And, Gin knows, they are going to the end – to Raftel – and if he knows anything, they will find a way to go beyond that as well.)

“So,” Sanji startles him, now broken away from the mosshead, “What do you think?” And there’s something in his eyes that says I want you to like them but also They are mine and I won’t care if don’t. Gin understands the feeling.

“They’re wild.” Gin grins – he’s been doing that a lot today, hasn’t he? More than usual? “I like them.”

“Good!” They are close enough that Gin can smell the alcohol on Sanji’s breath, and he can see the droplets that have spattered on his impeccable suit and tie – loose now, that the party is in full swing, but still giving him an air of I know what the fuck I’m doing.

Sanji’s just like that, he guesses.

Suddenly, Sanji blinks around, noticing the crew and how Luffy has been distracted from the food by now by the swordsman’s cheering of ‘Sogeking’s theme’.

“Come on,” He says, hauling Gin to his feet, “I want to show you something.”

Gin thinks about making a dick joke, but decides to follow Sanji instead.

-

They go to the back of the Sunny, where the party’s music is only a mute faded sound, and the water lapping on the edge of the boat in their harmony.  The sun has just set, so there’s still pink in the sky, but the moon is already casting light upon the quiet waves of this tropical port town cove.

It’s nice as they lean arms crossed over the railing.

(It’s a good place for a confession.)

Sanji offers Gin a smoke and when he declines, shrugs and lights one for himself.

“Your crew tells me you were talking about me?”

Sanji’s trying to be suave again. Its working. Gin is so screwed.

“Maybe. What about it?” He deflects.

Sanji flicks some ashes out to the water. “Just wanted to know if it was true. If you really thought I was all that.”

“Why?” Sanji’s quiet after this.

Gin doesn’t speak up to offer an explanation, to say yes I do think you’re the most amazing cook I ever met, and that time where we held hands on the Baratie was the best in my life, and every other island we go to I hear about how kind you were, and who couldn’t think you were all that?

Because Gin doesn’t really speak in waxing poetry unless he’s had a few to many drinks, and he’s only had two tonight, shoved into his hands by the man next to him himself.

He does, however, hope Sanji understands all that.

By the look that he’s giving Gin, he does. And finally, he speaks. “Cause it depends if I want to do this or not.”

As he says that enunciated this, he reaches over and grabs Gin’s hand where its gripping the railing.

-

Here’s the thing. Sanji and Gin knew each other for five days before Don Krieg was defeated. In that time, Sanji cooked Gin the best meal he had ever had in his life, and shared a room with him as Giin washed dishes to work off the debt.

(Someone had to, as the new chore boy kept dropping them instead of washing them.)

On the last day, Gin had left and brought his former captain on to the Baratie, feeling so sick about what he was doing, and then left the Baratie freed and ready to create his own crew.

Before that, Gin and Sanji talked, and held hands, and it felt like a cheesy teen romance but somehow Gin had found his other half, in a way.

It’s a small history, and history that has not gone away despite the many ports they’ve visited.

Gin’s thankful for that, because it means he can smile as he grabs Sanji’s hands back, and say “Yeah. I meant it.”

And Sanji’s smile as he leans in for a kiss means everything to him.

He tastes like smoke and alcohol and the aftermath of a Straw Hat party, and something explodes in Gin’s chests.

Hell, he’s happy.

-

Of course, that isn’t the end of it. After a couple more heated kisses and quiet moments, Sanji jumps up and drags Gin back to the party.

“HEY!” He shouts, loud and clear from the upper deck. “HEY EVERYONE! LOOK!”

Everyone looks.

“THIS IS MY BOYFRIEND NOW!” And he holds Gin’s hand up in the air, because maybe they snuck into the kitchen before coming out here and stole drinks from Zoro’s stash, because he doesn’t think Sanji would want to raise Gin’s hand like it was a wrestling champion winner.

There’s a moment of silence after the announcement, before the deck explodes into motion and raucous cheering.

“ABOUT TIME SHITTY COOK!”

“FINALLY!”

“HELL YEAH CAPTAIN!”

“WOOHOO! YAY! SANJI!” Gin doesn’t care though, not now, and not next morning when he has the worst headache of his life and the most handsome man in the world at his side.

Sanji smiles at him, and he smiles back.

Happy, with the man he searched for at last.

[aggressivehasana]

Starry Night

Fandom: Aggretsuko/Aggressive Retsuko

Characters: Haida, Retsuko, Fenneko, Ookami, Tsunoda, Ton, Resasuke

Relationship: Haida/Ookami

Summary: AU where Retsuko didn’t break up with Resasuke and Haida is dealing with that.

Warnings: None

- - -

CHAPTER 07

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Words: 2,232

Betaed by: @pomp-adourable

A/N: –

Thankfully, the rest of his time in the Laundry went smoothly. The hare girl had her earphones back on when he returned, and before she could try to talk to him again, he pulled out his phone and started messaging Fenneko. He purposely went through the pictures they had together during the moments of silence, to seem like he was talking to his girlfriend or a crush or something. It worked like a charm. The girl never tried to engage in another conversation with him, and as soon as she was done doing her laundry, she picked up her basket full of clean clothes and left the room, slamming the door shut on her way out. He didn’t turn to look her way, but he smiled victoriously.

After he was done doing laundry himself, he returned to the apartment, and dedicated the rest of his time to preparing the miso soup. Then, with only a half an hour left before 6 pm, he moved back to the bedroom and turned on the T.V. to watch something on Netflix while folding Ookami’s and his own clothes.

***

As soon as he heard the main door open, he reached out for the remote control to mute the T.V. before leaning on his side to look through the bedroom door and down the hallway, at the maned wolf entering his apartment. He smiled warmly, watching him remove his shoes and rest his briefcase on the table next to the door, before loosening his tie and finally noticing the hyena’s face on the other side of the dwelling.

“Oh! Haida-Senpai, you’re still here!” Far from sounding upset or anything, the young wolf seemed delighted, and Haida giggled shyly while scooting to the edge of the bed to stand up.

“It didn’t feel right to just leave,” he answered, walking slowly to the bedroom door, as opposed to Ookami who practically jogged to meet him.

“That’s fine! I was actually hoping you’d still be around.” The two males stopped before each other and exchanged looks. “How are you feeling?” the wolf inquired, swinging his tail contently from side to side.

Haida stopped smiling. He knew what Ookami meant by that, but he couldn’t help it.

“G-Guilty?” he answered, forcing another smile before dropping heavily and loudly to his knees, pressing his palms and nose against the floor. “Ookami, I’m so sorry for all the trouble I caused last night!” he shouted. “I don’t remember much of what happened, but I believe I created a huge mess!”

“Oh, whoa, are you alright?” Ookami flinched a bit at the sound of Haida’s knees hitting the floor, and he knelt down right away, placing a hand on the hyena’s shoulder. “Senpai, it’s ok! I und-“

“I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to repay you!” Haida lamented, and Ookami grabbed his ears to pull his face up.

“Senpai! It’s fine!” he repeated in a slightly rougher tone but with a gentle gaze. “I didn’t mind taking care of you at all, you seemed to be in really bad shape. The vomit thing was… inconvenient, but…” He paused for a moment, lowering his eyes to the floor while folding his ears backwards a little bit. “I was mostly worried about you.”

Haida stared back at him, his dark lower eyelids twitching a bit in concern, and after a breath, the soft, warm smile returned to his lips.

“Thank you, Ookami,” he said gently, and the maned wolf glanced back at him, making sure he wasn’t going to drop his head back down to the floor before releasing his ears. “I still don’t know how I’ll ever repay you…” the hyena continued, pushing himself up and letting himself fall backwards to sit on the floor. “For now, I want you to know that I did laundry, just like you asked. And I also prepared more miso soup, since I did have some of yours… You hungry?”

“I certainly am!” Ookami responded with a smile, rising up and stretching his hand down for his superior to take. “Thank you, Senpai. Will you join me for dinner?”

“I was planning to,” Haida admitted, given that he bought two trays of sushi, two sodas, and two desserts. He reached out to hold onto Ookami’s hand and let himself be pulled up.

Not more than fifteen minutes later, they were sitting across from each other at the squared kitchen table, slurping at their noodles while eating sushi alongside. Luckily, the soup had still been somewhat warm, so it only took a few minutes to reheat it.

“Not bad,” Ookami said after swallowing his first mouthful of it. “It’s been a while since I’ve eaten instant miso soup.”

“Really?” Haida asked while chewing the sushi in his mouth. “Then, the soup you already had in your fridge…”

“I made it myself,” Ookami concluded, seeming proud. “I prefer to cook things myself with fresh ingredients. Was it good?”

“It was, yes!” Haida swallowed before replying. “It did help a lot, after… well, you know…” he chuckled, lowering his eyes and shrugging. “After waking up with such a terrible hangover.”

“I thought so,” Ookami nodded, and they both remained in silence for a beat. He stared at his superior, noticing him shift his eyes uneasily to the table, and fearing he would suddenly change the subject to break the silence, he hurried to ask: “What happened to you, Senpai?”

“Huh?” Haida asked looking up at him.

“Last night. What happened that drove you to drink all of Mr. Kuma’s booze?”

“Ah…” Haida tried to appear calm, but Ookami could see his pupils shrinking, making his olive eyes seem lighter in color. “That…” the hyena sunk his chopsticks into the broth, stirring the noodles in silence for what felt like an eternity. Was he going to answer? Was he thinking what to answer? Was he trying to find a way to avoid talking about it? But in the end, the older male just shook his head and shrugged. “It’s nothing.”

Ookami’s eye twitched. He wasn’t expecting Haida to be bluntly honest, but he was at least expecting him to try to give a poor explanation, or even make up an excuse to not give an answer. Not claim it to be nothing. He hated when people who were clearly affected by something said ‘it’s nothing’. Who did they think they were fooling? Who did he think he was fooling? Did he think he was an idiot?

“Nothing?” the younger repeated with a noticeable tone of incredulity that caught Haida’s attention. “You’re telling me you drowned yourself in alcohol to the point that you couldn’t even walk, for nothing?”

“Well…”

“I’m not stupid, ok?” Ookami continued. “I paid your tab, I brought you home, you puked on me,” he paused to let that sink for a bit.

“I’m s-“ Haida tried to interrupt, but Ookami persisted.

“Then I changed your clothes and put you to bed, shared my bed with you. And today I called Ton to make excuses for you, and did your work for you, to let you recover from your hangover. I think the least I deserve to know, is what did I have to go through all that for?”

By the time Ookami was finished talking, Haida looked as though he’d been watching a horror movie, his pale olive eyes open wide with his ears folded backwards. It made the young wolf sigh and lower his gaze to his plate.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized, sounding calmer.

“No! No, no, I’m the one who’s sorry.” Haida hurried to say, and the distress in his voice made the younger wolf feel worse. He shouldn’t have let himself get carried away like that; he didn’t know what was wrong in the hyena’s life. Maybe it was something terrible, something that’d make the mild inconveniences he had to go through seem like a game for children. But now the hyena was the one to sigh, and he raised his dark emerald eyes to him. “It’s just…”

Haida paused. He seemed to be willing to talk now, but God, where to start? After everything that he put Ookami through, his reason was going to sound dumb as hell. But it couldn’t be helped.

“You know… Retsuko.” He started off, scratching the back of his neck while lowering his gaze to the table. It wasn’t a question, he knew Ookami knew Retsuko; it was just a hint to the wolf that this whole mess started because of her.

“Retsuko-Senpai? Yes of course,” the maned wolf answered calmly.

“Did you know… that she’s dating a guy from Sales?”

“I heard something along the lines,” Ookami confirmed crossing his legs under the table and resting his cheek in his hand.  “Heard he’s not the brightest crayon in the box, too.”

“Yes, well…” Haida continued, letting himself flop backwards on the chair.  “Yesterday they turned 6 months together. And she seemed so happy about it.”

Ookami frowned. He believed he knew where that was going, but he wanted to be sure.

“And…why is that bad?” he asked cautiously. “He might not be brilliant, but if Senpai is happy…”

He paused, waiting for Haida’s reaction, but the hyena remained immobile with his back against the chair, his frozen hand still holding the chopsticks inside the bowl. The only thing he was moving were his eyelids, slowly blinking to try to hide the way his eyes seemed to reflect light a little more.

“So it was a heartbreak,” the wolf concluded softly.

He finally managed to get a reaction from Haida, who closed his eyes and frowned, letting out a soft growl.

“I’m sorry. It’s stupid, I know!” He finally let go off the chopsticks to rest his face in his hands over the table.

“It’s not stupid, Senpai,” the wolf hurried to say before the hyena could have a chance to scold himself any longer. “Heartbreaks can really fuck us up. I know that all too well…” he paused for a bit, dwelling into his own memories, but immediately shook his head. This was no time for that. Haida needed him. “But it’s not the end of the world! Six months isn’t really a long time! They could break up any min-“

“Don’t!” Haida interjected, rising from his hideout and clenching his fists as the strong desire to slam them on the table overwhelmed him, but he resisted. “Don’t say that. Fenneko said the same.” He sighed, slowly feeling his body relax again. He lowered his hands instead, resting them gently at the edge of the table. “I don’t… want them to break up. Retsuko’s happy… and she deserves to be happy more than anyone. I can’t put my happiness before hers, I don’t even know if she’d be happy with me.” He raised his hands again, sliding them over the fur on top of his head. “If she’s happy with him, then…”

He didn’t finish that last thought. A short silence invaded the kitchen, silence only broken by the ticking of the clock.

“You’re a good man, Haida-Senpai.” It was finally Ookami who spoke up. “That kindness will be rewarded. Maybe not with Retsuko-Senpai, but… you know, someone else.”

Haida shook his head, moving his hands to press the heels against his eyes.

“As if anyone would ever be interested in me…”

“Oh, you’d be surprised!” Ookami couldn’t help bursting out a little laugh; it managed to make the hyena finally remove his goddamned hands from his face. “Trust me, I know at least five people who have a crush on you.”

It delighted the maned wolf to see a bright blush appear on his superior’s face. He had to do make his best effort not to smile too wide.

“W-What…?” Haida asked, and Ookami raised his hands to start counting with his fingers.

“Let’s see… There’s that skunk girl, Hana, from the Marketing department; I’ve caught her several times staring dreamily at you from the distance. The sheep girl, Misumi, from Marketing as well; her and Hana were talking about how cute and sweet you are the other day. Nezumi, the hedgehog from Customer Service; she appreciated you letting her cut in front of you at the vending machine. And even Chick, the cute chicken from the pizzeria around the block; she’s asked me about you a couple of times.” He paused for a little bit, lowering his hands and taking a moment to contemplate Haida’s red and astonished face. “I… also happen know…” he proceeded carefully, “about some guys who have crushes on you too.”

“Ah, what?” Haida asked with an awkward laugh, suddenly seeming not only flustered, but nervous. “I-I mean, that’s flattering but… I’m not… I-I mean, I’ve never…”

“It’s fine, Senpai, just thought I’d add.” Ookami caught Haida’s drift and shrugged, lowering his eyes to his bowl of miso soup before sighing deeply and looking up at him again. “I guess what I’m trying to say with all this, is… you shouldn’t be sad because the sun has set in your life, Senpai. If it wasn’t for the night, we wouldn’t see the stars… And we live in quite a starry night.”

The two males exchanged gazes, and at Haidas silence and stillness, the maned wolf smiled.

“We live in quite a starry night…” Haida repeated, fixing his eyes on the bowl of soup in front of him.

[yoshi4sushi]

(purupurupuru) (purupurupuru) (click!) (coo!) (coo!)

 HOWDY-HO, NAKAMAS! Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a good weekend. Before we start off, there’s terrifying news about the 5.2 quake magnitude in Osaka so due to that, all places are closed until further notice so if you’re heading there for visit, please keep yourself updated of travel safety news. W/o further notice, let’s get down to business. We have loads and loads of news to share with you so know the drill. First off, last week’s chapter calmed down a bit. Princess Mansherry was kind enough to heal Shirahoshi’s injuries so all is good. King Neptune thanked Myosgard for saving her life so he’s willing to make peace with this meet. Myosgard assured him that he will support him in any way he can and even allowed Leo and his crew that they’re given permission to beat up anyway celestial dragon with his permission. Well said chum! The paramedics arrived and took Saint Charlos to get his injury treated. His scum dad showed to see him hurt. He got a new slave, and sadly, it was Kuma. He get stabbed and beat up by the scumbag w/o begging for help. There’s an unexpected guest that snuck in Mariejois. It was Bonney in disguised as a royal member. What could she planning to do? Meanwhile in a secret underground tunnel, Sabo and the rest of the revolutionary commanders are lying in wait. Sabo is impatient and wants to rescue Kuma from the scumbag, but Karasu and Betty told him that it’s better to wait until the right time comes. It was revealed that Kuma was once a king of his own country before he gave into the control of the world gov’t. What a shocker! A king? At the end, the five elders were talking about the kingdoms and that Vivi’s family are the only ones that w/drew from being celestial dragons so fears that they could be a threat. They arrived at the empty throne only to see someone is sitting on it. The mysterious figure that had Luffy’s bounty poster. The elders kneel before this figure and called him or her, Im-san. Who is this high royal figure? Is this highest authority person above the elders? Guess we’ll know more next week. No chapter this week so be patient and wait. Next, this past weekend’s episode was SCARY! One after another keeps going after Ceasar and Bege, but Germa are doing their best to keep them away from so they can escape over the wall. Suddenly, Luffy and Sanji appeared and saved Reiju from Big Mom’s attack. As they try to escape, Big Mom provokes Luffy for being a coward of running from the fight so he couldn’t handle her taunting and attacked her in full power with gear 4th, but ran out of steam. At the end, the boys are down and in a tight situation. Next time, Luffy, Sanji, and Germa are down for the county until the castle starts tumbling down from an unknown explosion. What caused it? Guess we’ll see this week. Don’t miss it! Now on with the goods! Look who dropped by for a quick visit! Yup, it’s our fellow tower mascot, Tongari-san! What’s the buzz, my friend? Tongari-san says that lots of awesome stuff is gonna happen next month for the summer pirates festival! First off, they’ll have 3 fun games. Each play is 800 yen. If you succeed to win the games, you’ll be given an official Straw Hat water smartphone pouch that keeps your phone safe. For snack, they’ll be selling a bucket of cotton candy with many flavors such as blue raspberry, yellow lemon, pink peach, green apple, purple grape, white candy, and red strawberry. Loads of yummy flavors. It costs 600 yen. The tower will also be inviting the Straw Hats, Sabo, Law & Bepo, Ann, the clown duo, Buggy and Puggy for a photo greet. At night, they’ll pair Luffy with Sabo or Law as well. You have to be given a ticket if you want get your photo. It’s first come first serve so you have to be at the tower early if you wanna get your ticket before they run out. For July, they’ll have the Straw Hats, Sabo, and Law. Their schedule has been posted on the website. In August, they’ll have Ann, Buggy, and Puggy. Their schedule will be posted later on. Next, shopping goods! They’ll be selling official summer goods such as buttons, acrylic charms/figurines, a candy bag, a ticket holder, and a folder. So much awesome goods! The 3rd floor have also re-stocked more of the character goody bags that comes with a long towel, glow in the dark bracelet, and button set. You have to be inside the tower to purchase them. They have it at the Tongari Island Store. You can’t miss it. Next, prizes! Loads of prizes! The new Ichiban Kuji will be released on OP day which is on July 22nd. Prize A through E are figurines of Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Law, and Ace. Prize are mugs, prize G are picture boards of any characters, the special board prize are Luffy & the boys. Prize H are mini plates. They’ll have it available at Straw Hat Stores, Tokyo Tower, and hobby stores. Next, Gashapon machines will be stocking these figurines of Pudding, Nami, and Hancock in their bikinis. It will be released early August. Next, arcades will stock this new Flag & Diamond Ship of Reiju in her alluring black leather outfit. YOWZA! Get those coins ready to win this diva! Moving on, NEW, MUGI MUGI PLUSHIES! This time, they’ll have Sanji and Pudding in their wedding outfits, and the Germa siblings! They’ll be released in early Aug. I believe. Next, Straw Hat stores will be selling these authentic summer kimonos outfits and wooden sandals that are worn by Luffy, Nami, Zoro, Sanji, & Chopper in the colorspread for boys and girls. Each are sold separately. Next, guess whose b-day is approaching next month? I’ll give you a hint: she’s expensive, gorgeous, and feisty. You got it, it’s none other than cute cat burglar, Nami-swan! Her b-day is on July 3rd. To celebrate her b-day, Straw Hat Stores will be selling her birthday button and bromide frame pic. If you purchase over 1000 yen, you’ll get a free bromide card of her enjoying pampering from the cats. Next, awesome JUMP goods have been released such as this t-shirt of chibi Straw Hats in the front and back, and this colorful shirt of the Straw Hats & other characters in kid versions. Stores are also selling this small pin of Luffy that Bartolomeo was trying to sell to some local from the chapter stories. It’s so small as the size of a one yen coin. Very cute! Next, Straw Hat stores will be selling these fun summer straps of Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Nami playing with their water guns. They’re also selling this fan of the gang in their army outfits. Last week, the stores released this stylish hard notebook of Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Law. Good for writing notes. Next, stores are also selling this neat tote purse of Lucci as an addition of his birthday merch. Tokyo Tower will also have it as well. Moving on, Hong Kong will be having an OP Summer Park as well. Details will be revealed later but it will start next month until last day of Aug. Next, Shimamura Music Store will be selling Brook’s pricey shark guitar. Everything is exactly the same from the anime. You must live w/in the country to have it shipped. You can also purchase it and have it mailed to a friend or relative that lives in Japan. ROCK ON! Next, FC Tokyo Team will be having an OP event from the upcoming special episode of Skypiea. The team will face off against the Yokohama F Marines. They’ll release a special video message from Luffy at the soccer game. They’ll also have a quiz game for kids and student to enjoy. The game will be held at Ajinomoto stadium at Chofu, Tokyo area. You can check out their official page. It’s also in English and has info on access. Also, Chopper will joining the event & will have a meet and greet event. GAME ON! Ticket reservations will start this Friday. Look into their Japanese page for the info. Next, this Wednesday, Tondoco brand will be having an OP collaboration so they’ll release merch they’ll be selling at the store. You can follow their Twitter page. Next, last week, new LINE stickers have released of the Straw Hats and in-motion with cute phrases. It’s available in English as well so you can purchase it. Last, but not least, here’s the new cover of vol.11 of Whole Cake Island arc that has Brook rocking his soul!!! You can order the DVD on the Japanese site of Amazon. PHEW! I think that’s about everything. Tune in next week for more news and goods. Special thanks to Tongari-san. Come again, nakama. Kikko! Momon! Outstanding job! Let’s call it in.

 Guitar: http://store.shimamura.co.jp/shop/g/gmt0048322/