One Piece: A Taste for Trouble! [HIATUS]

Chapter 11: A One Sided Choice

Heads up, the chapter after this is another time skip BUT idk what to do with it so... Ugh wish me luck ♥

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"Good. You're early," mused Sengoku when captain Rok came in through the door of the vacant Inn which had been cleared of civilians.

"Ah, good morning, Admiral Sengoku. You as well, Admiral Kuzan – congratulations on your promotion by the way!"

Kuzan nodded, returning an appreciative smile to the greying marine captain.

"I don't want to dawdle, for I have other matters to attend to which must be completed before the days end. Where is the girl?" Sengoku asked.

In response, Captain Rok moved to the side to reveal Utano who was closely guarded by Smoker who respectfully saluted the admirals.

Immediately, the older admirals black gaze went to the two swords hanging from the red sash wrapped around Utanos waist.

"Why have you not confiscated her weapons?" Demanded Kuzan who eyed the more ancient of the two katanas with a wary frown.

"Ah," chuckled Rok. "It was part of our agreement. She wouldn't come with us unless we let her keep her swords on her person."

Smoker knew that the admirals would not think highly of the captains typical way in dealing with safety precautions and dangerous prisoners. But then again, Utano would be stupid if she thought she could take on the four of them when her wrists were still locked up with sea stone shackles. Although Smoker hated the girl with a fiery passion, he had to admit that she wasn't that dumb.

There was smug smirk on Utanos face. "Would it put your mind at ease if I placed them on the ground?" For some odd reason, it sounded like a dare.

Sengoku wasn't amused with her, but - to Smoker and Kuzans amazement - he didn't do anything to apprehend her.

"Admiral Sengoku?" Questioned Kuzan.

The newbie admiral didn't know why Sengoku wasn't doing anything when he knew Utano was an exceptional swordsman. Even with her hands restrained and her Devil Fruit power rendered null, she could still easily put up a fight with her weapons. Kuzan had heard rumours that her blades were cursed.

"No. She won't try anything if we don't," he stated nonchalantly.

"Oh?" Grinned Utano. "How can you be so sure?"

"Because one, I know you wish for those cuffs to be taken off, two, you strictly follow an eye for an eye code, and three, I know you won't draw that katana on a whim."

"And I suppose you have some sort of ability to read minds?" Sarcasm wasn't hard to detect in her sentence but one could also tell she was considering that possibility.

Sengoku didn't reply straight away. He instead waited for silence to settle before he continued.

"We've been keeping a close eye on you. You claim not to be a pirate and whether or not that is true still remains to be seen. However, you are still a criminal and for the crimes you've committed, the punishment is death."

"So? What's your point? Surely you haven't requested my presence to ask me if I'd like to die?" Her lopsided grin never faltered.

Sengoku studied her closely, taking time with his words. "Kaine D. Utano. Daughter of The Singing Swordsman, Kaine D. Tiger, who was first mate to the Golden Glory Pirates."

Utano visibly flinched, her yellow eyes widening just a fraction and her mouth slightly agape. It looked as though she'd been slapped. Finally, Smoker was able to make sense of all this hassle over the young lady. He'd heard of The Singing Swordsman. A nekomata of the Old Generation who had, at the time, been regarded by some as the world's greatest swordsman. No wonder the government were being overly cautious with her. Not only was she the offspring of a pirate, but rather, the offspring of a pirate who had once posed a major threat; the said pirate had vanished off of the face of the earth. The vice captain found it hard to believe that this was his daughter who stood in the same room as him. He hadn't even considered such a person to have any children. Tiger was whispered to be ruthless, leaving no foe standing alive after him. But, like the rest of his crew and the Roger pirates, he'd disappeared after the execution of the pirate king.