Sakura Blooms (Yamato x Male Reader)

Chapter 6 - Gone

Yamato's age: 24

Y/N's age: 26

"Why?" Y/N's expression turned stone-cold. "Why do you have to stay here, Yamato? Under the rule of your father?"

"I can't abandon my country!" Yamato hissed. "Oden would never flee if Wano was in danger. A coward would. But you said so yourself, Oden is no coward."

Y/N narrowed his eyes at what Yamato implied behind those words. She'd called him a coward. "We're not goddamn fleeing Yamato! We're leaving so you'll be safe. You're not safe in Wano! Kaido can do whatever the hell he wants to do with you here! If you leave, he can't hurt you. I don't want him to hurt you, Yamato." His face softened at the last sentence. "I'm asking you to leave to protect you."

"I appreciate it, Y/N. But I'm staying." Yamato said firmly. "I have to wait for someone. You know, Ace's brother?"

"For him?" Y/N shook his head and smiled. "Alright, I guess. But Yamato... I suggested that we run away not because I'm in fear of Kaido. Please, Yamato, don't believe that."

"I don't." she smiled hesitantly up at him too. "I know why you want me to leave. If I was in your position, I'd do the same, honestly."

"I love you, Yamato." Y/N whispered, and turned and walked off. He had work to do. If he wanted Yamato unhurt, then provoking Kaido would be the last thing he'd ever do.

-

Timeskip 2 years forward.

Yamato's age: 26

Y/N's age: 28

-

"Yamato." Y/N's voice was filled with panic. She sat up in her bed so fast the world started spinning. He turned his head quickly to look over at her. "Look at Ace's vivre card."

He held up the burning piece of paper, which was still smoldering as he held it up. "When this happens... it means Ace is dying, right?"

A wave of horror washed over Yamato, followed by a strange ripple of calmness. "Ace is a goddamn pirate, Y/N. He ought to get in situations like that once in a while.."

Y/N nodded slowly, and put the vivre card down on the bed. It was almost completely gone. He and Yamato stared at it in silence, as if sheer will would get Ace out of the situation. And just like that, the vivre card shimmered slightly, and restored its form. Yamato and Y/N looked up at each other simultaneously.

"See? He's completely fine, you dumbass." Yamato said, watching Y/N with a wide grin of relief as the corners of his own mouth tugged upwards. They sat there for a few moments, smiling at each other. When Ace's vivre card burned up completely and disappeared, neither of them noticed until Y/N had to leave.

-

"What the fuck." Y/N's eyes rounded as he flipped over the blanket, looking for the card. "Yamato.."

"No." she breathed.

"Damn it." Y/N snarled, walking over to the door. He reached the door, crossed his arms and turned to Yamato. "I thought it would be him. He was such a good person, too. I thought we could find him again, one day..."

Yamato said nothing, staring blankly at Y/N. Y/N slowly walked back to her. "I'm really sorry for how I treated him when we first met." Y/N said quietly. "I never even apologised to him."

Y/N watched Yamato as she stared at him mournfully. She did nothing when he reached forward and kissed her. "I'm sorry." he whispered again, and walked back to the door and left.

-

Yamato pressed herself against Y/N, shivering slightly. She'd heard from an officer how Ace died, and the proclamation he'd made before he died.

"Are you cold?" Y/N turned to her. They were sitting in the half-dead courtyard that Yamato and Y/N used to go to so often. Yamato shook her head.

"I can't believe Ace is Gold Roger's son." she whispered.

"I can, kind of. I felt like I'd met him before. The way he talked to me, it felt really familiar. I guess it's because I knew his father." Y/N laughed awkwardly.

Yamato often forgot that Y/N had once been part of Gold Roger's crew. "Ace really is just like Roger, then..? It would have been great if he found the One Piece too."

-

"Why are we doing this now?"

"Because I need a distraction." Y/N grinned, watching as Yamato tried unsuccessfully to squirm her way out of his grasp.

"Even though your dad gave me the all-clear, it always makes me scared doing this with you." Y/N frowned down at Yamato.

"Don't be." she grinned slightly, trying to get Y/N to loosen his grip on her wrists. Unsuccessful again.

Y/N lowered his face so his breath mingled with Yamato's. "You know, I'm terrified. Of Kaido. And what he might do to you. And–"

"Can we not talk about this now?" Yamato moaned slightly.

-

Yamato felt Y/N's lips brush her neck, and opened her eyes slightly. Light flooded the room from the window, giving Y/N's hair a golden tint.

"Hm?" Yamato muttered, as Y/N kissed her lightly.

"Good morning, Yamato." he murmured. Yamato smiled and looked over at Y/N. Even half asleep, he looked beautiful as ever. Yamato felt sudden love for him rush through her body, as she lay there watching him. Y/N gave her a lazy grin. "What is it?"

"I love you." Yamato suddenly realised, after all these years, that this was the first time she'd said it out loud. She'd never said that simple sentence to him, even though she'd conveyed it through actions and veiled words. "I love you." she whispered again, and Y/N reached over an arm and pulled her closer. Yamato pressed herself against Y/N, relishing the feeling of him. Just him, and nothing else. At this moment, nothing else in the world mattered to her. Y/N belonged to her. And she belonged to him. Just like that. Yamato hoped nothing would ever get in between them, ever again.