The Marionette

Chapter 21: Island of Endless Fireworks

"You what!" Ikkaku screeched, her eyes nearly bulging out as she sat across from you on your bed. It was pretty late at night when you finally decided to bring up the days events with her, knowing that if you didn't say something it would bother you all night.

"Quiet down!" You hissed at her before getting up to crack your bedroom door open and checked to make sure she didn't wake anyone up. Your eyes scanned the dark halls, the only sounds that you could hear was the pipes rattling along with a few snores from the men's room. After deeming it safe, you shut the door and locked it with a huff while walking back to sit on your bed.

"Penguins not the sharpest when it comes to hints, so you have to be straight forward with him," Ikakku said while hitting one hand with a fist, "but also be gentle too," she added.

You pursed your lips as you sat back down in front of her, your fingers drumming against your thigh in thought. "I've never had to deal with something like this before," you spoke after a few seconds of silence, "how would you frame it?" You asked with a tilt of your head.

Ikkaku gave you a worried look, "you mean to tell me you've never had to reject someone before? Or ever been rejected?"

"Let's just say Doflamingo's family is comprised of... unique individuals," you chose your words wisely with an awkward laugh, "so that sort of thing didn't really occur." You cringed at the thought of someone like Trebol for instance showing romantic interest, not only from the age gap, but also from how physically repulsive he was.

Ikkaku let out a small "hmpf" while running a hand through her brown hair, her face contorting in thought as she sat crisscross in front of you. "Penguin's only ever come on to me once, and that was a long time ago back when Captain Law was first putting his crew together," she spoke as her eye brow twitched from what you presumed was irritation. "Just tell him you're not interested! Keep it short and simple since that's how his brain functions already!" Ikkaku said with a grin and a thumbs up.

You couldn't help but let out a small laugh at her joke, her brown eyes widening as she leaned forward almost in disbelief. "What?" You asked after calming your laughter, Ikkaku looking back at you with child like wonder.

"I think that's the first time I got you to laugh!" She joyously answered while pumping her fists in the air in celebration.

"Okay, I think it's time for bed," you replied while trying your best to refrain from smiling, your voice sounding flat as you backed up and got underneath your covers.

Ikkaku's grin widened as she got up and practically floated to her bed in glee, "see you in the morning!" She giggled while reaching over and turning off her lamp on her end.

You did the same and turned off your lamp, the entire room now being shrouded in darkness.

🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊

The sound of stomping footsteps outside of your bedroom door caused you to shoot up in bed, voices calling out to one another as you to turned to check on Ikkaku.

She stood in the middle of the room, struggling to put one leg in her white jumpsuit while stumbling around on one leg. "The island!" She gasped while finally getting her other leg in and frantically pulled it over her hips, "it sounds like gunshots are outside! We don't know what's going on!" She worriedly said while shoving her arms into her uniform, you quickly hopping out of bed and hastily grabbing your own uniform from the closest.

"Has anyone gone out to investigate?" You asked as your hanger swung wildly from in the closet, your hands trembling from excitement as you pulled your jumpsuit on and buttoned the turtleneck.