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the-real-treasure · 10 months ago

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Treasure Treasure!

An anime Sanji x Reader

Master List Here

Chapter One: A Game in the Courtyard

Summary: You and your Sanji abandon the nation that raised you after it tries to do away with it's only saving grace. They may never realise how long you'll hold that grudge for them.

SPOILERS FOR ASPECTS THE WHOLE CAKE ARC OF THE ANIME/MANGA AND SANJI'S BACKSTORY Trigger Warnings: Threats and descriptions of violence, mentions of major character death, yelling, Reader's Devil Fruit power is overwhelming and overstimulating Word Count: 4645

(Author's Notes: This is more of a prologue than a chapter 1, sorry it's not exactly what anyone was probably expecting. I'm still doing planning for the main body of this fic and I just wanted to get something in here properly.)

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You had never wanted to fight a man as hard as you wanted to fight King-sama, even if the fear normally kept you frozen. You could see him on the walkways on the walls above you all as you stood resolute on the large, diamond shaped tile emblazoned with a bright yellow '3', watching as the Vinsmoke children fought before they would race across the castle, again, you thought about how you'd do it.

Maybe a big hammer. You pondered, letting your eyes fall closed as the wind ruffled your long hair. Or maybe if I wished hard enough the entire palace would explode! They opened again, as you heard laughter beside you.

Rage rattled through you as you watch the smallest boy get beaten and beaten and beaten, red, blue and green brothers throwing everything they have at destroying him.

(Pleasepleaseplease)

Your siblings hover at your sides, Denki cackling to your left, Hikaru beside him and Doku beside him watching as listlessly as the pink haired sister just ahead of you. Kuranku leaned in from your right.

(IwantIwantIwant)

"Maybe they'll finally kill him and we'll be rid of the two of you."

(Getmeoutgetmeoutgetmeout)

You scowled, teeth gritting together.

You scratch your hand. The brands seared onto your skin, a '66' for Germa and a scored out '3' for Sanji-kun, itched.

The boys were only a year or so older than you, but Creata-sensei always reminded you that although they were also children, they were above you in everyway possible. Even though you knew Sanji-kun wasn't as strong as his brothers and sister, they were all still stronger than all of you put together. You felt vindicated as the boy pulled his bruised and battered body upright while the other three boys take off, Reiju following behind them.

"Just because he's less developed than the others, does not mean he is some weakling to push around no matter what Queen-sama said, Y/n-Tomo." Creata-sensei was hovering at your side, filling a long needle with a clear fluid that you just knew was going to burn. "They are going to be the strongest in the world when Vinsmoke-heika and I are done with them, and you are going to be his closest confidant. But not his partner and never his equal."

As you watch the boy disappear from your view, you pout at the remembered words. Creata-sensei doesn't know anything about Sanji-kun, or Sora-sama. Compared to the rest of his brothers, Sanji-kun is sweet and good. And you know he gets that from his mother, just like his sister secretly did. Your brothers were no better than his, too be fair.

Doku was probably the best of them. Your oldest brother was born on an island in the North Blue, just like all the rest of you, and taken by Germa when he was two years old. His ginger hair was streaked with pink to match him to Reiju, just as your hair was streaked with matching bright true blonde like Sanji-kun's. They were redyed every few weeks to ensure the colour remains vibrant, the persona of Germa 66's royalty not allowed to falter for a moment, not even for so much as faded hair dye. Doku was three years older than you and your other brothers, a year younger than his Reiju-sama. Hikaru, Denki and Kuranku were the bain of your existence, the trio obsessed with their Vinsmokes, just like you and Doku, but where you two were deeply lucky having Sanji-kun and Reiju-sama, the other three Vinsmoke brothers were terrible terrible creatures that made your life a living hell.

If you weren't in Creata-sensei's lab, being subjected to his mad experiments revolving around some line factor that he and King-sama were obsessed with, you were tailing your Sanji as his brothers and yours make him miserable.

You miss Sora-sama. You miss her happy smile, and the kindness she gave your Sanji-kun.

"Oooooi. Hikaru-Tomo!" Ichiji-sama's voice echoes through the courtyard, making your dark-haired and dark-skinned brother turn to him, face bored.

"You won again, Ichiji-sama?" The red-haired boy grinned smugly at his second, the large 1 plastered on his shirt matching the scored out version on Hikaru's.

"Obviously!" Niji-sama, Yonji-sama and Reiju-sama follow into the courtyard, coming to collect their own seconds. You sign softly as you peer around for Sanji, though you know he won't be here for a while. You ignore the sniggering around you.

"Don't worry, Y/n-chaaaaaaan." Niji-sama's voice is grating as his mocks his younger brother's way of calling you. Yonji-sama chitters a laugh with his brother before continuing

"Yeah, Tomo-baka! You won't be left here all night again. Probably."

They leave you in solitude in the courtyard, the echo of their laughter still bouncing off the walls around you. Doku is the last one to return to the castle, lingering at the archway looking back at you.

"I'll bring out dinner."

"No thanks." His eyebrows furrow at your answer. "Not unless Sanji-kun made it. I promised." He scoffs an eye-roll and turns away, leaving you to the silence of the fading light.

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Night had fallen and faint starlight was your only reprieve from the crawling dark that hung in the air. Your stomach rumbled, the late hour eating away at your appetite. You could see the guards rotating out and more of the lights in the castle snuffing out the later the hour got. Your eyes were going together and you were swaying on your spot. Yonji-sama's jest wasn't accurate, you had never been left outside all night. Even on his worst days in comparison to his siblings, Sanji had never been this late to finish his training exercises.

The sound of footsteps approaching jolted you back to consciousness. It was even darker now, the moon higher in the sky and your eyes fell on King-sama as he moved towards you, Doku at his side. You blink at the pair, and your eyes flicker above them to the castle and they widen. A matching pair of images hang either side of the large doors, Sanji's smiling face staring back at you.

"Y/n-Tomo." Your eyes don't waver from the beaming pictures, even as the torso of King-sama fills your vision. "Come along. You will return to Sanji's room."

"What happened?" Your voice was a whisper, and Doku shot a glare at you for not addressing him correctly. "Where is he?!"

"He has died in a very sad accident." Your eyes shot up to his face as he turned away, "You will return to his room and wait there. We will find you a new position when the funeral proceedings are over."

Your eyes fill with tears as you whirl on your older brother who was already looking down at you.

"What does he mean? WHERE IS SANJI?!" Your face whips to the side. Moments later the sound of the slap actually registered in your ears. You lift your hand to your stinging cheek and look up at your brother.

"Don't be so stupid as to talk about the Vinsmokes so disrespectfully. Follow King-sama, you dull fool." Your tears burn as they trail down your cheeks and he points to King-sama's retreating figure. "Move."

The three of you march through the empty halls of the castle, footsteps muffled by the immaculate carpet. Your face was streaked with drying tear tracks and you kept your head down as you approached the Vinsmoke's bedrooms. Each door, numbered and coloured appropriately, had a bed nook carved next to it into the wall. That was where the Tomos slept, your brothers all asleep in their own, only yours and Doku's empty.

King-sama opened the black door marked with the yellow '3' and pushed you in, sending you stumbling into the barren room, devoid of all the life Sanji crammed into it. You look back at them as the door closes behind you, Doku's blank face finding yours as you're sealed into the room with nothing but rats and silence for company.

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It had been two days. You knew that by the number of plates on the floor in front of you and the colour of the sky outside the window. The cuts of jerky and plain bread were brought in in the regular breakfast, lunch and dinner hours, leaving six plates to be picked at by Sanji's beloved rats. Several of them peruse them now, and you think they must be disappointed by the drop in standard compared to his cooking. There's plenty for them to scrounge in here from you at least. You won't be touching the food.

You had lain down in front of the bed when King-sama had herded you in, and you hadn't moved since, choosing instead to stare unwavering at the light outside the window. You ignore the opening of the door each time a guard walked in, depositing the plate in front of you before walking out again. In the otherwise still room, a rat scampers up to you, a small chunk of jerky grasped in their little claws as they offer it to you. As you stare in to the little eyes trying to be kind to you, your mind flashes back to Sora-sama's room.

The rain had been torrential on your walk over, and poor Sanji-sama had slipped in a puddle and fallen. You had only been given to the boy a few days ago, and with the order to follow him always, of course you would accompany him on his trip to see his mother, even in the relentless downpour.

Now you stood a few steps behind him, light shirt and training bottoms marked with his yellow '3' ringing with rainwater and dripping on to the pristine floor, your long hair drenched and water dribbling down your face and into your eyes. You don't dare move to wipe it as Époni serves the queen a beautifully made bento box, the one Sanji had prepared ruined on the trip over.

"Your majesty, this is from Sanji-sama." The queen smiled down at her son, his soaked hood still up and covering his eyes as he fiddled with his hands.

"Did you make this for me?"

"Mm. Mm-hmm." Your eyes flicked from him to her in confusion, and you accidentally caught her eye as she watched her nervous son. Her head snapped to the maid instantly.

"Époni!" She immediately began to sweat.

"Y-yes, your majesty?"

"Don't be presumptuous! Bring what Sanji really made for me."

"Well, yes. But it was damaged on his way here so I threw it in the bin..."

"...still good."

"Hm?" You flinch as both mother and son turn to look at you and you stutter a response, standing up straight and accidentally flicking water across the floor.

"I-it'll still be good. Sanji-sama is very good at food!" She smiled down at you.

"Oh? How do you know?"

"H-he made me fish the first night I was assigned to follow him because we Tomos have to wait for your majesty's to finish eating before we do! And he, uh-" Your eyes shift to his, the blue-grey full of happy sparkles at your words, "-uh Sanji-sama is very kind to me and wanted to make sure I was fed, Queen Sora-sama! Your majesty!"

In your panic to finish talking and to get the attention off of you, you drop into a bow on the floor, though you underestimate your strength and send a crack gaping across the tile, which startles a yell out of the prince.

"Époni, bring me Sanji's food."

"Yes ma'am!" When the maid skitters off to retrieve the demolished bento, Sora-sama calls you closer.

"Tomo-chan, you think Sanji's good at making food." You lift your head and stand awkwardly, scooting past Sanji who was still staring at you with bright excited eyes.

"Yes, Queen Sora-sama. He's the best! I'll eat anything he makes me!"

"Then would you try his bento with me?" You peer back at the prince who is suddenly looking aghast at the thought of you both trying the ruined bento. Your brows furrowed and you steeled yourself.

"YES I WILL."

You stood next to her bed as Époni placed the bento in front of Sora-sama.

"Wow, nice! Omelette rolls, fish and a banana?" Sanji clutched the sides of his hood and tugged it further over his head.

"I'm so sorry! I messed it up! I tripped over and dropped it on the way here. It's been crushed and got wet in the rain."

"It was the rain's fault, Sanji-sama! If that puddle wasn't there you never would have slipped! You worked really hard on it." You assured him as you looked over the demolished bento, missing the smile Sora sent you at your kindness for her son, or the way Sanji's eyes sparked at your words.

"Let's try it, huh Tomo-chan?"

"Yeah!" With a start you looked back at the prince, "Thank you for the meal!" You both scooped some up on a fork and chewed thoughtfully. Swallowing the food, you looked up at her as she looked down at you and you both turned as one to Sanji-sama.

"It's good!"

"DELICIOUS!" Sora-sama giggled at your enthusiasm as you bounced over to Sanji-sama, clapping excitedly beside him as he beamed and Époni flew back in shock.

"Really?!"

"Yes!" He cheered and hopped up onto the bed with her, tucking in close to her chest as she cooed at him.

"Sanji, will you cook for me again?" He beamed up at her.

"Uh-huh!" She smiled down at him, holding him close and rocking gently, the walk and upset leaving him so exhausted he began to snooze against her chest. As she rocked him, she pushed down his hood and stroked his hair and looked over at you.

"What's your name?" You blinked in confusion as Époni cleared away the bento.

"Tomo-"

"No. Not that title, just your name. What do your parents call you?" You stare up at her, but quickly drop your eyes back to the floor.

"I don't know. Creata-sensei calls me Y/n."

When you look back up at her, Sora is smiling down at you, though there’s sadness in it and she reaches a hand out for you. “You can read wishes right Y/n-chan?”

Your voice caught in your throat. You didn't know she knew you, you were only there because Sanji was. “Y-yes.” Her eyes closed in satisfaction as she squeezed you hand. It was warm and love pulsed through your Devil Fruit powers as her truest desire sang through you.

(Save him.)

“Then I need you to make me a promise.”

(Keep him safe.)

“A very very important one.”

(Please.)

“I need you to stay with Sanji.”

(Pleasepleaseplease)

“Don’t let him be alone. Stay with him and protect him.”

(PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE)

“Look after him for me. Can you try that for me?”

Your eyes filled with tears and clogged your throat and nose. Her fear and worry for her children burns through you as you look up at her. You couldn’t breathe.

“I’ll try! I promise I’ll try Sora-sama!!”

That shocked a laugh from her but tears filled her water line and she squeezes your hand tightly in hers. She ignores the pierce of your sharp clawed nails in her skin when you squeeze back.

“Thank you.”

(Thankyouthankyouthankyou)

You don't lift your head when the door opens again, though dinner had already been delivered. The darkness of the sky was pinpricked by silver stars, and the entire kingdom that had been silent since the announcement of Sanji's death, was rallying to attack another island so the din of movement and preparation had returned. It was suffocating, like someone had hidden the sun then plonked the entire moon on your chest and told you, live with it we have work to do.

Someone kicked your foot.

From the corner of your eye, you spot a head of orange hair.

"Get up Tomo-baka." Doku stares down at you, face blank but eyes shining with something unfamiliar. You turn your eyes forward again, going back to staring at the sky. "I said-" He grabs a hold of your arm and yanks you upright with little effort, "-GET UP TOMO-BAKA."

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" You rip your arm free of him and stumble back staring confused as Doku pushes you back towards the door. You drop your head to look at the floor. "Just leave me alone, Doku. King-sama says I'll be leaving soon, if I'm bothering you so much." The ginger boy scoffs at you.

"No matter, Tomo-baka. Reiju-sama told me to come grab you, so I've come. To grab you." With a yelp from you Doku, who has several inches on your six-year-old frame, heaves you up under your armpits and shucks you over his shoulder. You screech and smack and claw at his back as he carries you through the castle corridors, the rest of your brothers watching from their nooks in confusion.

The guards didn't turn their heads as he carries you down the stairs into the dungeons, ignoring your wailing and shrieks, the already dim castle halls going darker as you descended. Tall thin windows allow streams of silver light to fall into the hallway and you continued your fruitless escape attempts against your older brother's grip. As the stairway begins to level out, your voice quietens as others echo from the darkness, ones that makes you freeze completely.

"You never learn..." Reiju-sama's voice rings out from beside the cell, wrapping a bandage around a small figure's arm. As Doku walks up behind her, you see the figure pull their arm from her grasp, bandages winding around them left loose and falling free of her grip. They're behind the bars of the cell, head obscured by a large metal helmet that completely covers their entire face except for the eyes. From the mask you can hear their stuttering breaths.

"Reiju, I..." Doku drops you to the ground and you stare wide-eyed as the figure turns, blonde hair obscuring one eye even under the helmet. "...I want to be a cook!"

You rush to the bars as tears begin to fall from his eyes, quiet sobs echoing against the barren walls and metal helmet hiding his face from you.

"Sanji-sama! Sanji!" Your eyes fill with tears as well as you grab on to his hands through the bars. "King-sama said you were dead! He said there was an accident-" Reiju's furious voice cuts you off and you flinch away from her, but not enough to break your grip on your Sanji.

"What did I say? Don't tell me that!" His head drops and his tears soak your joined hands as he pulls them closer to his chest. Your chest throbbed as his wish burned through you.

(Pleasepleaseplease)

"If I can... run away..."

(IwantIwantIwant)

"...here in the East Blue... I'll never..." his hiccupping breaths catch in his throat

(Getmeoutgetmeoutgetmeout)

"...have to see...Dad's face again, right?"

Reiju's eyes fill with tears as well and she grabs a hold of the bars, screaming in both your faces.

"STEP BACK!" You drop Sanji's hands just long enough for her to pry the bars apart, leaving enough room for Sanji to squeeze through. "You only have one chance! Don't ruin it!"

You grab Sanji's hands again and haul him through the gap, and you all take off running up the stairs.

"Y/n-chan, you don't need to come, you can stay here with you-"

"No!" You cut Sanji off before he can even get the full sentence out. I made a promise. "I've already left you alone for too long! I'm not leaving you again, Sanji-sama! Not now, not ever again!! I'm coming with you, and I'll stay with you for as long as you'll let me!" The shrunken pupils in the centre of his eyes wobble as tears fill them again.

"O-Okay Y/n-chan.." The entire castle shakes as a barrage of cannon fire rains down on the Germa Kingdom.

"It's just begun! The key to your iron mask is in Father-sama's room! Go get it!"

"What?"

"You can't send him ther-"

"Then go with him Tomo-baka if you're so worried!" Doku snaps, cutting you off, "We'll go see what it's like outside, now shoo!"

"Got it."

"O-okay!"

"When you get into his room, look for a skull symbol on the wall! You'll find a secret door there!"

As you both run into King-sama's room, you spot the huge skull emblem on the wall, though it is too high for either of you to reach. With Sanji's help you drag one of the chairs up to the wall and help him up on to it. Pulling open the wall, you can see the four sets of keys hanging, and you think they still might be too high, but Sanji just manages to grab a pair with a whisper of "I got it!" Your attention is pulled away by thudding footsteps behind you, and you spin to find King-sama standing and watching.

"What are you doing over there?" You grit your teeth, sharp canines digging into your lips and raise your hands, claw nails curved dangerously. "Sanji... why are you here?!" With a scream, Sanji slips and you scramble to catch him before he falls to the ground, making him land heavily on top of you as he panics and apologises. You help each other up and Sanji faces his father.

"We're gonna get out of this kingdom! Don't get in our way!" You throw a hand out in front of Sanji, shuffling slightly to create a barrier between him and his father. He sneers down at the pair of you.

"You got quite a sharp tongue while you were imprisoned. And Tomo, I told you to stay put!" Your body instinctivly freezes at the command but you don't drop your arm, the images of escape floating at the edge of your mind along with giant fish and crystal blue waters. "There is no easy sea where a normal kid like you can survive on your own! You'll die!" You both glare up at the man as he stares you down, your clawed hands quivering in rage as Sanji pulls free a small sword from his belt.

"SO WHAT?! You can't stop me!" Sanji screamed at his father, eyes full of rage as he aimed the tip of the blade at his father.

"WE'RE LEAVING! And you're never gonna hurt Sanji-sama ever again! Or I'll kill you!" You joined in, eyes wild with anger as you spat the words at the man who had terrorised the pair of you for so long.

"That's a relief." His words confused both of you, his imposing figure towering above you both as he continued. "I guess I'm human after all. Even though you're useless, I couldn't kill my own son. Too bad your Tomo is so loyal to you, they would have been useful to Creata-san's continued experiments. Oh well. You'll both leave voluntarily?" Sanji's blade began to shake as small sobs forced his frame to wobble. "I'm not gonna stop you. You can take the key to the iron mask." Tears dribbled down the sides of said mask, saturating his sleeves and the carpet at his feet. "But can I ask just one last favour as your father, Sanji? Don't ever admit that I'm your father..." Your hands slowly drift back down to your sides as you stare up at the King in bewilderment, Sanji still sobbing beside you. "...in front of other people! It's a shame that I don't want anyone to know! You realize that, don't you?" As Sanji's blade drops in defeat and his sobbing begins again in earnest, a snarl escapes your lips before you can stop it and you step forward, again blocking Sanji from his father.

"You're despicable! A pathetical useless nothing of a person! You don't deserve Sanji-sama, just like you didn't deserve Queen Sora-sama! You're evil! I'll never let you anywhere near Sanji again, not so long as I live! And when we're grown and strong, you'll realise how badly you messed up! I HOPE YOU DIE AND THIS KINGDOM EXPLODES!" Your face is red and your chest heaving from your yells, and you miss the wide bewildered eyes of the two Vinsmoke children and your brother staring at you as you refuse to drop your eyes from Vinsmoke Judge. You reach back an open hand, and Sanji takes it immediately. You keep eye contact with the King until you pass by his the edge of his long coat, tugging a still weeping Sanji along behind you as he unlocks and drops the iron mask to the ground.

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Sanji is still shaking with sobs as Reiju points to the large cruise ship with the wine bottle figurehead.

"Get onboard that ship!" You, your brother and the two Vinsmoke children are all crouched behind a large rock formation on the beach as the Germa Kingdom soldiers raided the island you had landed on. Sanji's blonde hair was tousled and messy as he crouched beside you, tears still running down his face. "Sanji! You're a boy! Stop crying already!" Your eyes snap to her and a snarl leaves your grit teeth. She glares back as Sanji rubs at his eyes to try and stop the tears and she grabs a hold of his shoulders. "Listen! Don't ever come back here!"

"Uh-huh!" Doku watches you as your eyes glance up to him, his face carefully blank.

"You've already managed to make an enemy out of King-sama, so don't think you'd be welcome back. Just assume from now on we'll be out to kill you if we ever spot you again."

"Thanks ani-san. I won't miss you."

"I won't miss you either, Tomo-baka."

"Ew, stop calling me that." Doku sniggers at you, but his face falls flat again.

"Maybe you shouldn't be called Tomo at all anymore. You're not exactly loyal to Vinsmoke anymore." Your eyes drift back to Sanji, Reiju ignoring your muttered conversations as tears filled her eyes.

"The sea is broad! You'll...You'll definitely meet kind people someday!!" With that she pushed him up the beach and he stumbled into a run. You abandon Doku to follow him immediately, giving a gentle nod to her as you pass. "Run! Don't look back! RUN SANJI!"

You both dash along the beach to the cruise ship, the name 'Orbit' resplendent across the side as a wave of desire rushes over you, the wood creaking under it's own weight as whisper rattle from it depths.

(adventure)

You scramble up the gangplank with a large group of other crewmembers, met with confused stares and mutters as the adults around you rush to their stations for a speedy departure from the ravaging of the island.

"OI!" A voice hollers from behind you, the captain making his way down the stairs of the aft castle towards you both. "Who're you?!" You can barely hear as Sanji begs to be allowed passage aboard, offering help in anyway possible, and the wood under your feet pulses and throbs with a desperate wish that may never be fulfilled. "-as your name?" Everything sounds like it's underwater as the wishes, dreams and desires of the boat you stand on and the people around you wash over you like a tsunami of want, something you had never experienced before. Did no one but Sanji and Sora-sama want anything in Germa? What is all this? "-SAID, WHAT'S YOUR NAME?"

The screaming of the captain in your face brings you back to present, and you blink as spittle rains over your face. The title of Tomo nearly leaves your mouth, but you don't know this man, or if he knows Germa, and Doku was right, you weren't accompanying a Vinsmoke, you were going with Sanji, you were escaping with him, with your friend, your best friend. Your Sanji...

"Nakayoshi." Your voice was certain, more than your brain was anyway, "Nakayoshi Y/n."

Next Chapter: (Nothing yet)

49 notes · View notes

katsumatsu4 · 1 year ago

Text

Smoke and mirrors

Also on Ao3

[And then, the faintest thought. He looks like me.

In the aftermatch of Niji and Yonji's capture Reiju reevaluates her relationship with her brothers. Takes place during Germa cover story]

Inspired by @sangerie theories/analyses about ichiji and all the sus things he does during wci, they're awesome :*

(hope this is better present than handsome judge pictures xd)

Stone wall wasn't the most comfortable place to sit, but moving away meant getting her eyes off the horizon. So Reiju stayed.

It’s funny how little it takes to lose sight of another person in the heat of battle. She could swear Yonji was just behind her, covering their retreat with his long-reach attacks. When clouds of smoke billowing from one of the ruined buildings surrounded them, she didn’t look back to see if he was still there. When she saw Ichiji on the other ship, she didn’t check if Niji managed to get on board.

If she was to be honest with herself, she wasn’t thinking about her other brothers in any way, too occupied worrying about whether Sanji and his crew escaped safely or not.

It was only when the fleet reunited that Reiju realized Ichiji assumed their younger brothers went with her. Father was furious, but it was hard to tell if his anger was directed more at two children who returned or the ones that didn’t.

It wasn’t important now. Now, Reiju was sitting in a crenel, cold stone sapping away her body heat. Ichiji on top of a crumbling merlon a few steps away. Father somewhere in the back, out of her field of vision. Silence weighted down on them but no one said a world ever since their lookout started, as if talking would force them to admit-

"They are not coming back."

Trust Ichiji to disregard any emotional tension. Reiju closed her eyes and leaned back, quietly grateful someone else voiced the thoughts plaguing her mind.

"All ships returned or were reported as destroyed," Ichiji continued. "Even if they were not captured, there is very little chance they can come back on their own."

Father grunted something under his breath. He barked at the two soldiers nearby to stand watch before addressing his children.

"Don't tell anyone Niji and Yonji are not back yet, we will deal with that later. Clean yourself before coming to the dining hall, it's unbecoming of royalty to look this disheveled. Don't bring even more shame to our name."

Reiju half-opened her eyes to watch him leave. The nerve of this man. Nothing we could do would give Germa more shame than it already proudly displays.

She threw the sea one last look and get up herself. She was about to reach the stairs when sudden voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Reiju?"

She looked over her shoulder at Ichiji, still sitting on the wall, his back turned away from her. "Yes?"

"Do you think they are dead?" come a monotone question. Reiju's mood soured even more. He could as well be talking about disappointing weather.

"I don't think so. They-" are probably being experimented on. Big Mom wants to know how to make something like us too much to kill them. That was what she intended to say. But then she looked at Ichiji again, his silhouette cutting out a dark shape against an orange sky. Lone shadow, soon to disappear when the sun finally sets down. And she hesitated. "They are strong."

Reiju waited for any indication he even heard her, but silence was the only response she got.

The situation at the table seemed almost surreal. They were being served at usual hour, in their usual places, with dishes planned for tonight on their plates. None of it masked the smell of smoke in the air or that the meal was clearly not as extravagant as it was supposed to be, even though cooks surely did what they could with inadequate supplies.

Behind her chair father, high above them, was unenthusiastically chewing on his food. Ichiji looked almost unbothered but she could see his head shifting every few minutes, eyes constantly drawn towards empty seats. Almost like a black hole, sucking in any attempts to create normal meal atmosphere.

She was getting tired of pretending.

"Father. What are we going to do about Niji and Yonji?"

The sudden quiet fell on them like a thick, heavy curtain.

"Father?"

"Nothing. At least for now."

Reiju gripped her utensils harder, slightly bending the spoon.

"May I ask why?"

"We just came back, the Charlotte family would expect us. We would gain nothing by charging in and we don't have enough soldiers to send them away from the kingdom. It's best to wait until their guard is down, then I will send the retrieval party."

Of course, what did she expect.

"If our numbers are an issue, maybe Ichiji and I could be of use? Smaller but stronger team could infiltrate and find our brothers with little problem. The two of us have enough manpower to save them and avoid any confrontation with pirates altogether."

"You clearly do not see the full picture, Reiju," Ichiji said in father's place. "We can not leave now either. We will be needed here to fill in for Niji and Yonji's responsibilities."

Father nodded at that, apparently intending to say the same thing.

Reiju ignored how tight her chest felt hearing this. She was almost surprised he spoke up at all instead of waiting and observing like usual. Still, she turned towards father. Ichiji wasn't the one she needed to convince.

"Wouldn't it be better for our image if we rescued them quickly? It would send a message, that anyone who plays havoc with us will get swift comeuppance."

Father, as impenetrable to criticism as always, disregarded her comment with a wave.

"We are not ready, I'm not going to waste resources on this. Besides, it could do us more good if enemy sees how invulnerable to pain and fear they are even when solely on their mercy."

Like you were during the wedding? Reijuthought, but kept to herself.

Logically, it made sense. Those were the words of a king and a scientist, clearly knowing the extent of damage his soldiers, his creations, could take before they would need to be scrapped. The bile come higher up her throat.

"I-" she started.

"It is a good intimidation tactic," Ichiji interrupted her. "If they are truly after our research then they will try to keep Yonji and Niji alive long enough to gain as much as possible from the experience. It should give us enough time to rebuild and regroup. There is no need to rush."

"Exactly," father said. "Ichiji, I trust you to take care of setting the course and dealing with any complications for today. Make sure to quell whispers among the staff, I don't need mass panic on my hands right now. I'm retiring for the evening; that was a long day."

Ichiji gave him a curt nod.

"As you wish, father."

He stood up and turned to her.

"After I relay the orders, I am going to call it a day too. I advise you do the same. Get some rest."

Soon both him and father left the room, leaving Reiju alone.

She looked down at her clenched fists, frustrated scream climbing up. But like always, she swallowed it down before it could reach her mouth.

Maybe I'll feel better after an hour-long shower. Or two.

Hot water didn't bring Reiju a peace of mind she was looking for. She emerged from the bathroom with a head only slightly less heavy than before.

Out of habit, Reiju reached for the curtains to close them shut and block the lights from Niji's rooms. He was always the last one to fall asleep and his castle had annoying habit of flanking hers.

She stopped halfway.

It wasn't that she missed them, exactly. How could you miss someone whose main enjoyment in life were violence and cruelty? How could you miss someone who only knew how to laugh at people's pain?

("They are getting so huge mom! Does that mean I won't be their big sister anymore?" Reiju said, Niji still refusing to let go of her finger, mumbling something in his sleep.

Mother smiled and caressed her head.

"Of course not sweetheart. You will always be their big sister, even if they grow taller."

"Taller than me?" Reiju asked.

"Taller than me!" mother laughed.

"Taller than dad?"

"Taller than all the doors!"

"Taller than the roof!" Reiju played along.

"They will be so big we will have to build a castle for each!

"And I'll still be the biggest sister!" she said with pride, her chest puffed.

"The biggest and the best sister in the entire world!" Mother touched their foreheads together. "Oh darling, they'll be so lucky to have you.")

One hand clutched on the fabric, Reiju felt the bitter laugh building up. Sometimes she wanted to curse mother, for placing this burden on her. For giving all her hopes and desperation to her eldest child, not thinking how much pain it's going to bring her.

But you can't curse the dead, can you? Not truly. Because every word she threw mother's way just seemed to fall back on Reiju anyway.

You failed them. They were yours to protect but the only thing you could think to do for them was dying with them. And you failed to do even that.

I tried! I tried to convince father! I tried to save them! If only Ichiji helped me-

How hypocritical. You were perfectly fine with letting them die earlier. You didn't even try to help, to warn them. How is that any different? Because you can't join them?

And that was it, wasn't it.

The tight feeling in her chest, threatening to choke her. Guilt.

Because she didn't die. Because they won't either, at least for now. No, instead they will be cut open and spread on the table like frogs, kept just alive enough for Big Mom and her children to learn how they work.

And then they'll die.

And she still won't.

And what then? She could vividly imagine father's disappointed face, looking down at what remained of his two perfect soldiers. Maybe he sighs and tells the staff to clean the mess. Maybe he scolds Ichiji for failing his mission. Maybe he even sheds a few tears at seeing his dream destroyed like that. Or maybe some spark appears in his eyes, he points at the blood and gore on the floor, says Take what's still usable and shuts himself in the labs. Maybe months later she sees next batch of soldiers with a familial jawline or flashing a self-assuring smirk that will make her heart clench.

Maybe Ichiji would care. Maybe he wouldn't. It's not like it changed anything.

Her reflection in the glass had red, puffed eyes and wet streak on its cheek.

How proud mother would be of you right now. Crying not because your brothers will die, but because you're left behind to deal with it.

Reiju reached for the handle and opened the window, letting cold night wind dry her tears and blow the thoughts away.

She looked down at the dark weaves below and suddenly felt unbearably tired.

Her hands, propelled at the windowsill, etched closer to the edge. Her body tilted over the threshold, mesmerized by the dance happening before her. Howling air and roaring sea filled her ears, two elements fighting for her attention. She closed her eyes and imagined how unnoticeable a single splash would be.

It could be over so easy...

(Blond hair kind smile gentle hands smelling like antiseptic and cigarettes I love you I love you I love you-)

I should go to sleep.

The moon disappeared behind the castle tower.

Reiju was staring at the darkness behind the window when the footsteps came. Slowly, not to appear startled, she turned her head.

Ichiji was standing in the doorway. Reiju wrinkled her nose. Didn’t even knock, of course.

“Good, you are not asleep. Get ready, we are leaving soon. Be in the strategy room in full gear, fifteen minutes should suffice. We have a job to do.” And before she could respond, he turned around and closed the door behind him.

Reiju rolled her eyes but started preparing. What did father came up with now? New mission so short after the humiliation at the hand of Big Mom Pirates? At this hour no less. The old fool probably wanted to cast an illusion that they weren’t affected by their loses. Or tried to catch any clients before their attempted alliance with pirates puts them on blacklists of most kingdoms associated with World Government.

Well, too little too late; judging by how excitingly Morgan had been taking photos of father's crying face, the news were bound to spread soon. This will only make them seem more desperate and all the more pathetic. Not that she had any energy or will to care about how others perceived this rotten mess of a kingdom.

Yonji probably would care, if only to please father-

She closed her eyes and banished him from her mind before the image of her youngest brother, talking excitedly about new experiment he was a witness of, could turn into a bloody figure pinning her under accusing stare.

Maybe at least this farce will get my thoughts off them.

Reiju run fingers through her hair and looked in the mirror. Standing in the cold did wonders for the puffed skin around her eyes, you could barely tell she was crying before. Her tears had evaporated, leaving behind only slightly sticky trails. She opened the faucet, quickly washed away remaining evidence and reached for the towel.

Dried up, she glanced at the mirror again. Vinsmoke Reiju, the first child of the royal family, the crown princess of the Germa kingdom, stared back at her. The oldest sister retreated behind the steel of her eyes, where she belonged.

She checked the clock. There was still a little time left.

The emptiness of corridors was more unnerving than she expected. Night was the time of rest but there should still be more soldiers around. She could hear the murmur of boilers from lower levels and the staff tiptoeing on carpets, off to finish their chores. Still, it was all too quiet.

Reiju shook her head and pushed the doors of the strategy room. She was met with another surprise, when the only figure greeting her was Ichiji again. Where was father?

Instead of explanation he just gave her a nod and gestured to follow.

She did. As she was supposed to. Reiju wished she could see Ichiji’s face but she settled on gluing her eyes to his back; something fishy was going on.

“What’s the mission?” she said, trying to sound as bored as possible. “You didn’t give me any details.”

“Our main objective is retrieving Yonji and Niji from the pirates.” -Reiju almost missed a step- “Our side objective is to destroy any of their assets if possible, as long as it does not interfere with the main goal.”

Reiju dismissed the terrified servant who almost bumped into them while rounding the corner and used resulting pause to collect herself.

“I see. It is an unusual hour for a takeoff though. Did father tell you this in person? I was under the impression he was against quick action. As were you,” she prodded.

Ichiji stayed silent for a few heartbeats.

“Father focuses his attention on more pressing issues. Our infrastructure, especially research areas, had taken a lot of damage. We also lost a lot of clones, which can not be replenished without functioning laboratories, so that obviously takes priority. However, I established that our defenses are in such state of disarray that some major changes need to be done imminently. Otherwise we will be left unprotected against even minor threats, which is unacceptable. As such, since I have been given certain freedom to handle other subjects, I deemed it necessary to move the rescue mission forward in time. We should be back by tomorrow noon if no complications arise.”

Reiju nodded, not missing that he didn’t actually confirmed what father knows.

Ichiji turned his head slightly, no doubt watching for her reaction now.

“I assumed, given your earlier arguments, that you would be onboard with this plan. But if you continue to dispute my decisions I will have to leave you behind.”

“I’m not disputing you, I agree that getting them back early will work in our favor. I was simply curious; father did make his stance quite clear after all. I was surprised he changed his mind this quickly.”

“Father trusts my judgment,” he said with flat tone.

“Does he now,” she responded.

And then, the faintest thought. He looks like me.

It was silly. Of course there were some similarities. Despite all the experiments and modifications the same blood was still running through their vines.

So why did it fell important?

Apparently satisfied with what he saw, Ichiji faced away from her again. Reiju shook her head, focusing back on the situation.

Ichiji was far from stupid, he had to know Judge wouldn’t approve of what he’s doing, even if her brother claimed he was just making important impromptu decision for the good of the kingdom. None of them could disregard father's orders, and going against his wishes like that…

But he didn’t forbade them from going, did he? It was Ichiji who said they can't leave right now; father only agreed with him. Kinda. Just vague enough to give them some wiggle room.

He said he’s not going to send anyone, not that nobody could go. Reiju looked back at their conversation. Did Ichiji plan for this? Is that why he didn’t push father harder, like she tried?

Had he already make his decision back then and was just waiting for the only person capable of stopping him to fall asleep?

But why? Why would he pretend before her? Why had he tried to make it seem like father’s decision?

Had he thought she wouldn’t agree to go with him otherwise?

What is your game? she thought. What do you have to gain?

It couldn't actually be about their defenses. True, they suffered heavy losses but it wasn't something two more people, even as dangerous as Yonji and Niji, could change.

She briefly entertained the thought of Ichiji trying to spare their brothers unnecessary pain. Reiju had to drag their exhausted bodies away from battlefield too many times to seriously consider it. There were no limits Ichiji would not go right past just to finish the mission.

There was no doubt in her mind that if Ichiji was the one captured he wouldn't expect to be rescued. If he had no regard for his own pain it was unlikely he would have any to spare for the rest of them.

Not valuing our lives seems to be the only thing we all have in common, she thought bitterly. Another great victory for the Kingdom of Germa 66.

Hadn't Sanji's botched wedding prove it? She sill remembered that moment with crystal clarity. Moves restricted by hard candy, guns to her head and the calm that came with the realization that this was it. All the evil of their bloodline contained in one place, destined to end right there and then.

The grating laughs of her brothers, unable to care uncaring about their oncoming deaths only validating her resolve to do nothing-

“Stop crying father, it’s pathetic,” half-remembered words rang in her ears. At the moment she took them as nothing more but another proof of Ichiji’s heartlessness, one even father was not except from. But wasn’t she thinking something of a sort too, back then? Reiju send Ichiji another curious look.

The mere idea of being anything like her brothers normally would make her sick. But if that meant Ichiji could be anything like her… If he… Could they have similar motivations right now?

The new spark of hope was carefully grabbed and stuffed deeper into her heart. Just deep enough to be protected when reality came back to extinguish it.

When she broke out of her thoughts they already reached the docking area. Few soldiers came rushing to their side.

“Prepare the ship. The smallest and fastest the better. And hurry, I do not have time for incompetence,” Ichiji said.

The closest soldier saluted.

“Yes my lord! How many units to prepare for departure?”

Her brother’s frown deepened. He looked back at her. In his usually inexpressive face she read the question, or warning, clear as day: Last call to stay if I can’t count on you.

She nodded.

“Princess Reiju and I will be going alone. Am I clear?” Ichiji snared.

The soldier saluted again and rushed to fulfill new orders.

Their ship was ready in the matter of minutes (for some reason it felt like hours).

After making sure the course was locked onto Toto Island, she found Ichiji leaning against the railing at the front of the ship, eyes fixed on the horizon.

Reiju felt the need to say something. She learned to crush urges like that a long time ago. Especially with Ichiji, who always seemed a little too aware of what she chose to share and what she didn’t.

And yet.

“We will get them back in time. They're going to be fine.”

“Of course. They're strong,” he responded, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Like the option of anything else was so unprobable it wasn’t even worth mulling over.

Reiju felt the corners of her lips twitch upwards, as if pulled by invisible strings, before she schooled her expression out of habit.

And she dared hope the similar movement she glanced on Ichiji’s face was more than just the trick of light.