𝐬𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐝𝐞 | 𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝑷𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆 ✔️

the

There's a feeling in her stomach, one that is oddly painful when she tells William to be quiet and he listens. The blonde liked talking to her, he seemed to also like her company in general and she can understand that. 

When she finishes her training and showers, she goes to bed and stares at the ceiling, the sound of the clock on her wall ticking as the minutes go by until minutes turn to an hour and she begrudgingly sits up. 

Usually around this time and the morning, William would demand she spend some time with him, and she would do just that. Why hadn't he come today? Was he not feeling well?

So she decides to go to the bar, not quite willing to check for herself yet. Alfred quirks an eyebrow at her, questioning why she was at the bar or even awake at this time of night. For a moment, she ignores him in favor of looking around and scanning her eyes over the many men and women in the bar. 

Her eyes skim over the infamous pirate crew and the first mate stares straight back into her eyes until she looks away to search the other side of the bar.

There's no sign of him.

Alfred seems to understand what she was trying to do and he gestures her forwards with a knowing smile. "The kids talking to his father and family."

"I see..." Come to think of it, who was Williams father? A merchant? A wandering traveler, or perhaps even a marine? When she asks Alfred the red haired pirates all quiet down and the elderly man simply blinks at her.

 After a few moments of staring, he tells her that his father is a great man who is well known. That seems to satisfy her curiosity, as she turns around and stalks back towards the entrance.

As she exits, Masayoshi stares at the dark path in front of her for a few moments, pondering. "I suppose this means I can finish all of my paperwork without disturbance."

Although, to be honest, she was looking forward to a small break from her office.

~

Again, when she sees the blonde a different feeling lingers in her stomach but she ignores it, choosing to instead walk with him silently as he rambles on and on about something random, like how many mosquito bites he had gotten or how he loves rabbits even if they aren't native to this island. 

She agrees that rabbits are useful, at least as experimentation subjects but they can easily use pirates for that as well. Father said it's a suitable punishment to those who break the law and she agrees the best she can. His opinion are her own, after all.

The captain is distracted when her observation haki flares and she instinctively rushes forwards. A pirate ship had docked, and she was not willing to allow another pirate crew onto the island and sacrifice her pride once more. 

William runs after her, stumbling a little but stopping when he watches her fists suddenly cover in a black colour and he recognizes it as armament haki. The unlucky pirate crew are taken out in a matter of minutes until only their captain stands. He's glaring at her, and she glares back with just as much -- if not, more hatred.

Williams smile slowly fades as the captain is beaten down by her, and he's reminded that not only is she his friend but also a marine captain, known for becoming the youngest captain in marine history.