Pieces Of One

#08: Part of the Whole

A Day Later

Tent

"I won again, didn't I?", Fujitora proudly said. Kairi sweat dropped. 'You're too good for this, Admiral. I might lose all my savings if I would gamble with you. But, when are we going to catch those pirates. We should arrest them while they're not yet in their full strength", Kairi suggested. "Look, the dice haven't told us to do it yet", Fujitora rolled the dice. Kairi opened the cup and saw one dot. She nodded and stood up. 

"Admiral. I'll be doing some monitoring", Kairi bowed and walked away. 

"What a restless fellow", Fujitora commented. 

Street

"Come out now", Kairi sighed. 

Shizu peeked from the wall. "How did you know?", Shizu asked. "I can feel your presence", Kairi stopped walking. "How is that possibe?", Shizu said under his breath. "Walk with me", Kairi invited. 

Shizu gulped being overwhelmed with her presence. It wasn't just about that she's taller. There was something in her that he couldn't point out. "Vice Admiral, about what we did yesterday...do you think that was necessary?", Shizu cowered and looked down on the floor. "Are you questioning the decision of your superior?", Kairi asked. The soldier flinched and shook his head violently. "Your head will fall", Kairi commented with a straight face. 

"No. It's just that... if we did that, then won't we lose face to the people?", Shizu explained. "You have the same reasoning as the Fleet Admiral. Shizu, remember this. There's nothing wrong and nothing so embarrassing if we ask for forgiveness. The person who realizes his mistake is the wiser one", Kairi lectured. "But, you said we should follow our superior", Shizu reminded. 

Kairi had a weak smile. "Who is your superior? The Fleet Admiral? The World Government? You follow the once you look up to, don't you?", Kairi threw her spear to Shizu and helped an old woman carrying a sack of rice. "Madame, where will bring this?", Kairi asked. "Areh~ Thank you very much. You're quite strong, young lady", the old woman pointed the way to her house.

3 years ago

Rythmica

Village in West Blue- Dock

"Hey, soldier. Go and help that old woman", Kairi said with irritation as she saw an old man carrying huge boulder of rock.

"Yes, Ma'am", he gave a salute. The marine soldiers whispered to each other. "She sounded like a spoiled brat. Why are we under someone who is younger and also a woman?". Kairi smashed the wall with her spear. "Then, if you don't want to follow me, you can go and give your resignation", she said with an annoyed voice. 

"Kairi, don't be to rude to your underlings", Bloom sighed and flicked her forehead. Kairi face palmed to see how beautifully designed Bloom's ship. "We're not  cruise, you idiot", she commented. Bloom stretched her cheeks. "I'm not some depressed teenager like you", Bloom's eyes twitched looking at a ship painted with black. 

"Just so you know, we're here to catch some pirates and also to scare those bandits", Bloom winked at Kairi's soldiers. They had heart in their eyes. 

They saw explosion from the village. Bloom clapped and some soldiers came to carry her in a platform. Kairi sighed and looked at her soldiers. "We can't let her win", she glared at them. They gulped and nodded. 

Village- Market Place

The explosion happened because the bandits and Fire Tank Pirates are fighting over a salmon. 

"You are now surrounded by the marine. Why don't you be captured?", Bloom walked in the middle and winked at them. The bandits dropped all their weapons and clapped at Bloom. "An ability user", Beige, one of the supernova furrowed his brow. "It's time to roll, my men", Beige's body suddenly turned into a castle and mafia like pirates went out. 

Kairi swung her sword and deflected all the bullets headed towards Bloom. "Kyah! That's dangerous", Bloom pouted. "Why don't you go and wash your face?", Kairi sighed. "I don't have the thrill of taking down female officers", Beige turned to normal and sat on a pile of box. 

"I'll have your head", Kairi was about to take his head but Beige transformed into having machine all over his body. One gun was pointed on Kairi's head. One of Kairi's subordinate push the Commander and was shot on the arm. "Ahk", Kairi stood once more. Soon, all the guns were pointed on her. She smirked. "That's more like it", she swept their feet and slashed some of them. "Don't hurt my family", Beige stood and had a serious face. 

"Captain, more marine are coming this way", one of Beige's man informed. "I have no time to play with you", Beige sighed. They were able to escape. Kairi looked at Bloom who was fixing her make-up. ''They escaped!", she shouted. "I can see", Bloom nodded. Kairi marched towards her and shook her violently. "Aren't you going to do something?!", Kairi was angry. 

"I already did my task. I captured all the bandits. You said you wanted the pirate's head", Bloom smiled. Kairi pushed her away. "Men! Let's go", Kairi ordered. 

"Ono-san!", one of the marine soldier fell on the ground with blood spilled on the floor. "What happened to you?", Kairi asked. "He went upfront to protect you", the marine soldier clenched his fist. "Stop", Ono stood up. "Let's prepare to set sail", he started walking. "I don't need weaklings in my ship", Kairi crossed her arm. 

Dock

Kairi's Ship

Ono is being tended by the ship's doctor. Someone peeked in the window. 

Ono stood right away. "Commander Bloom", he gave a salute. 'Don't mind", Bloom smiled widely. "Thank you for taking care of that hot headed commander of yours. She's a high maintenance leader, right?", Bloom chuckled. 

"She's a great leader", Ono sweat dropped. "Drop the act. I've been with her for more than 10 years. I knew how stinking her attitude could be", Bloom sighed. "She's just young, I guess", Ono smiled. "I have a daughter with the same age as hers. She would often do the same", Ono informed. "Maybe. But you know, it's not that Kairi doesn't want you. It's not that she enjoys seeing you guys miserable", Bloom defended the lady. "You see, Kairi is such a shy girl. She doesn't really say what she wants to. Just this year, we were separated. The seven of us were placed under different ships. Because she doesn't like that fact, she resorted in making you feel that she doesn't want to be with others. What a rebellious child, right?", Bloom revealed. 

"I see. She must have liked your group that much", Ono nodded. 

"Yes, she's a hard headed one so if you would like to report her to the Vice Admiral, you may do so. I know the difficulty of putting up with her", Bloom sighed. "I won't", Ono have a smile on his face. "How could I possibly make a sad person be in more sadder?", Ono looked at Bloom and bowed. "Thank you for telling me. I'll find ways on how Commander would also like this ship so her sadness will be lessened being far from you", Ono said with a smile plastered on his face. How could he miss that Kairi is only just a youngster who would often have tantrums. 

The next day

"Good morning, Commander", Ono gave his salute as Kairi went out from her cabin. She just ignored him. The other marine were surprised with his action. No one ever dared do it. In the first day that they met Kairi, she said that they don't need to talk to her if it's not about mission matters. 

"What would you want to eat today, Commander?", Ono asked. 

Kairi's eyes twitched. "Get lost. I don't want to eat early in the morning", Kairi scolded. Ono still have a smiling face. 

"He went crazy", the marine soldiers whispered at each other. 

"Are you feeling ill in the morning? That's not good. If our commander is ill, then we will be in trouble", Ono changed his tone into a child-like one. 

"What are you doing?", Kairi sighed. 

Chapter end.