Rakuyo wandered over the deck. They had docked at a near island to stock up, as now they had two black holes on the Moby Dick to feed. The seventh division commander sighed.
Ace was only back for half a day and the second division commander had already shocked Fossa somehow together with Thatch. That much Rakuyo had heard. He was also shocked to see the 15th division commander without a cigar in his mouth. That only happened twice and that was during Marineford when they all thought they had lost Ace and Oyaji shortly later. So for him to run around with a cigar must have a similar shock for the black-haired swordsman. He wouldn't ask him now since shock must be new.
Rakuyo wondered a bit what could it be. He couldn't ask Thatch as long as the cook was busy with Izo. That was a information he got from a crew member and it could mean everything from simple things like Izo doing Thatch's hair to them doing it. So no way, he would look for these two.
So Ace was the only left to ask.
But the second division commander had taken off with his little brother and Haruta to explore the island. So the only thing Rakuyo could do was wait until the brothers and his sister are back.
During his walk around the deck, he found Marco. The first division commander leaned against the rail and looked at the sea. The Phoenix seemed to be deep in his thoughts. He didn't even blink or react in any way, as Rakyuo stepped closer to the zoan devil fruit user. The Phoenix also didn't seem to notice the few nurses on the deck, either.
They were mumbling among them. But that was normal for them.
So Rakuyo turned his attention back to his older ship brother.
„So what troubles you, Marco?"
This got the attention of the first division commander. He flinched lightly and turned his head to look at him. Rakuyo now noticed how the lips of the Phoenix were slightly swollen.
„Nothing. Just thinking, yoi", Marco said. „About what had stung your lips or why are they swollen?", Rakuyo guessed. A tiny hint of pink seemed to dance on the Phoenix's cheek. But he wasn't sure as it disappeared as quick as it appeared.
„Commander Marco, if you want, I can apply a creme to your lips to reduce the swelling", a nurse said with a slightly pitched voice.
It made Rakyuo cringed.
She had to be on of the newer ones. Otherwise, she wouldn't ask or act this way.
„Not needed, yoi", Marco said. His tone surprised the seventh division commander a bit. It sounded rude, but he could understand.
Especially after he saw how the nurse and the ones behind here seemed to undress Marco with their eyes. Didn't the older ones teach them how to behave? Or were they just being too ignorant to listen to some advice?
„But commander Marco...", a nurse started to protest as something, well someone, flew by them directly in Marco's arms.
„Shishishi." This was Luffy chuckling. The boy had his straw hat on his back and on his head was Ace's orange cowboy hat. His arms were around Marco as he turned his head to look at a corner.
„Ace and Haru lost", Luffy cheered as both commanders came around the corner. „You cheated, Luffy", Ace protested.
„Did not. You didn't say anything about using Gear 2", Luffy grinned at his brother, before he turned his head to Marco. „You have to come with us. We found an All-you-can-eat-restaurant. Haru and Ace are paying."
„We didn't agree to that."
„Can we join you, too?"
Rakuyo blinked. How did he get into going to the restaurant with Ace, Haruta, Luffy, Marco and some of the nurses who were still making gooey eyes at the first division commander. It was seriously a bit creepy to see their nurses, even the newer ones act like that. They had even fought a little silent battle unnoticed by the others who would get a chance to sit next to Marco.
