A Taste of Forever (Katakuri x Reader)

Chapter 38 - Pirate Life

"Take care," Brûlée murmured as she pulled you into a hug, a small frown bending her lips as she saw the bandages wrapped around your head. It had only been a couple of days since your disagreement with Big Mom. At least in this regard you had walked out of the encounter somewhat lucky. Nothing had been broken, and the only things you had were a concussion and a laceration across the back of your head.

"You too," you whispered into her dress, your voice muffled by the fabric, but judging by her tightening the hug, she had understood you regardless.

Leaving the Château with your family behind was harder than you had thought it would be, but at least every single one of your favourite Charlottes had come to bid you goodbye.

Oven had mustered his best non-teasing grin while Daifuku still looked the same, but he had given you a gentle pat on the shoulder and you reckoned that was as best as it would get with him. Smoothie had refrained from ruffling your hair just this once, and you were more than surprised when Perospero even pulled you into a hug. In turn, you gave him a tube of glue as a reminder of you. If he ever missed you, he could just glue himself on a chair.

Unlike everyone else, he didn't find your comment amusing. To add insult to injury, Oven had even snatched the tube out of your hand before the eldest could. Ofcourse, the orangette also jumped at the opportunity of informing his olderbrother of gladly taking your place as the pain of his existence along the way.

Siblings. A true joy in life. Especially when one has 84 of them.

Notbeing in the mood to be on the receiving end of some teasing, Perospero had already clocked out of the conversation and turned around to mentally indulge in fantasies of sticking you onto trees, walls, and everything he could think of by means of his devil fruit, but you managed to pull him back into a hug just before he could start walking off. Aftersome initial annoyed grumbling from his side, he eventually even resorted to wrapping his longand slender arms around your form, regardless of your teasing.

Meanwhile, Anana, Dolce and Dragée clung to your legs and begged you to stay. You had tried to shake them off gently, but upon realising that you couldn't get rid of them that easily, you promised to return with handpicked souvenirs, to which they at least looked a little less sad.

All the while Brûlée's eyes had turned into fountains and by the time you finally moved on to bid her goodbye, her dress was already drenched in tears, but you didn't mind.

Peeling yourself off the tall purplette, you offered one last smile and wave into the round before you turned around and walked up the ramp to Katakuri's ship, joining him on deck where he stood with his hip leaned against the railing and your bags on deck.

"Ready?" the Sweet Commander asked once you stood by his side, a sad smile curling your lips as you looked at your favourite Charlottes on the pier for the last time in the foreseeable future.

"Ready."

"Enemy ship hard portside!" you shouted, one hand wrapped around your monocular while the other held on to the rim of the crow's nest.

Instantly, everyone on deck turned towards the direction you had just called out. Some pirates ceased whatever they were doing and ran towards the railing to get a better look at the ship, while others finished their tasks more eagerly to be ready for a potential battle.

"Do you recognise the jolly roger?" A voice from the deck bellowed, making you press the cold metal of the monocular back on your eye to take another look.