"When you're at sea

You fight against pirates!"

You inhaled deeply, then released the breath. Your hands lowered to feel the reassuring cold of the guns in their hoisters.

«Nervous, new girl?»

The tall silhouette of Bubblegum towered behind you, an excited smile on his face. The two of you were enough to fill the space on the lookout post of the main mast.

«Not your "new girl", but okay.»

You eyed the messy, black waters ahead through your owl mask. The storm hammered the Victoria Punk, but the heavy ship stood stoic, facing the Beast Pirates' vessels across the sea. And it did not stand alone.

«The Strawhats! And that's the Heart Pirate's submarine right there!» Bubblegum bounced, pointing at the other ships in the night.

«With the samurai boats we passed earlier, it's nothing short of a fleet.»

He laughed.

«I guess this is what you wanted, girl.»

Of course it felt infinitely better attacking with the aid of so many allies. You wished it was enough to ensure your victory, but the target was an Emperor of the Sea, and you were attacking him directly in his headquarter.

It didn't work out for Whitebeard when he targeted Marineford, and he was the most feared pirate alive.

You swallowed and shook your head, attempting to shake off your dreads with it. No point in giving in to fear now.

«...and I hate to add despair onto despair, but today's feast is celebrating the alliance of the Beast Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates!» one of the enemies yelled from the bow of their ship.

Your jaw unlocked from the rest of your face and dropped to the ground.

«WHAT?? BIG MOM??»

Even Kid winced at the news.

He was standing on the prow of the Victoria Punk, fiery hair and fur swinging in the wind.

«Well, fuck me.» Bubblegum murmured.

«We are screwed.»

«Oh, come on!» he cleared his voice, eyeing you down «Look at how many we are! We can take them.»

But his tone still held several notes of uncertainty.

«Big Mom and Kaido? Those two hate each other. What the hell.» you scoffed «Well, no going back now. I guess these suicide attacks are how the Worst Generation pirates made a name for themselves.»

And I somehow ended up in their madness.

But there was something else creeping up from your stomach to your chest among all that dread. And it was not lunch.

Excitement.

Aokiji kicked you out of the way when you wanted to measure up your skills against the best snipers in the world. No one would stop you now.

This kind of mission meant you had to disregard every safety, every thought about the future and the very idea there would be an "after" the battle. There was only the present. Each moment was going to be a test of your strengths, and you would see how far you could go.

«Bring it on.» you whispered, fingers hovering on the guns.

«Oh, there he goes!» Bubblegum chimed.

You looked at the bow of the ship, where Kid took off and cut through the air to land directly on one of the Beast Pirates' ships. Beside him, Monkey D. Luffy and Trafalgar Law did the same.

He didn't seem phased by the Big Mom news for long.

Nor did the other captains.

«The small fry here isn't going to be a problem.»

As to mark your words, the targeted Beast Pirates' ship exploded.

Shortly after, a new Wano vessel approached and attacked the enemies too.

«That's the yakuza boss!» you said, peering through the rain «He's on our side?»

His name was... Napping Kyosomething?

«Do you know him?» Bubblegum asked.

«I've met him in Wano, he was acting as the Shogun's lackey.» you blinked «Well, he did behave weirdly, I guess he was waiting for his chance. Good for us.»

You watched as the samurai not only declared himself an ally, but also brought ahead more samurai ships with hundreds of warriors adding to your cause.

This is a revolution.

You grinned, rain trickling down your face.

«Hell yeah.»

Despite the shock caused by the strength of the three captains and Kyoshiro's betrayal, the fleeting Beast Pirate ships soon started blasting their long-distance cannons against the alliance.

On the Thousand Sunny, Usopp jumped ahead and took aim with his Kuro Kabuto.

«Leave it to me!»

He used a few seeds to hit the bombs and make them explode mid-air, but there was no time to intercept all of them.

«Uh-oh, guys! Get that! GET THA--»

Something hit the remaining bomb, exploding it above the water before the Sunny.

Usopp gaped.

«What? Who?»

His eyes were drawn to the massive ship near them, up to the lookout post. There, hanging half-way out the taffrail, there was the familiar silhouette of a woman with a bird mask.

You grinned at him and showed him two fingers as a salute.

«Yo.»

«Ahh! The girl from the capital!»

«What?»

Sanji leaped beside Usopp, who frantically pointed at the Victoria Punk's mast.

«That's the woman that recognized me in Wano! The one I told you about! I thought Tra-guy took care of her.»

Sanji peered across the storm.

«Of course. Not even Trafalgar could harm a beauty like that.» he stated before inhaling from his cigarette.

«I sincerely doubt that.» Usopp wiped away the rain from his eyes «So she's with the Kid Pirates now? What the hell is going on?»

You snickered at the obvious confusion on God Usopp's face, gun rolling in your grip.

«Don't let Captain Kid catch you protecting other crews.» Bubblegum said.

«Or?»

Before he could reply, you shot down two more bombs heading your way.

«Ah!» he smiled «I could get used to having a sniper on the ship.»

«We're all gonna die today, my bubble-friend, no point in getting used to anything.»

«Love your optimism.»

«Hehe. Oh, eyes up.»

A cloud of ink had been forming in the sky, right above your heads. A Devil Fruit user with a child hostage was flying away on a bird and spraying it in its wake. You pondered for a second about shooting him down, but such fall would have killed the child. Plus you did not like that cloud.

You stuck your head and half of your body from the lookout post and scanned the deck.

«Killer!»

His masked face turned up and he offered a curt nod before having most of the crew take cover.

«No good, huh?» Bubblegum asked, looking at the sky.

«We gotta get down fast.»

«No need.»

The pirate loosened a rope from the mast then offered his hand. You raised an eyebrow.

«What?»

«Oh, come ooon, don't be a frigid marine!»

You were about to retort when a sharp blade of ink shot right past your arm. Others plunged into the mast.

«Shit.»

You grabbed onto Bubblegum's impossibly tall body. He wrapped his free arm around you and jumped over the taffrail. As soon as you dropped below, his long legs hooked around the mast and he sheltered the both of you under the post.

A rain of blades hammered over the ship.

«That's... handy.» you murmured, pressed between the mast and the pirate's body. When you craned your neck to look at him, you were surprised to see a strained expression on his face.

«Am I this heavy?»

«What? Uh, no.» he swallowed «Is he looking?»

«Who?»

«The captain! Is he looking at us?»

You frowned and turned to the deck, eyes searching for Kid.

«No.»

Bubblegum released a sigh.

«Thank god. He'll skin me alive if he sees us like this.»

You could not help but chuckle.

Apparently, the shocks of the night had just started. One of the Beast Pirates' ships was sunk by none other than Jinbe, the First Son of the Sea and former Warlord, who then announced his allegiance to Monkey D. Luffy.

«He's joining the Strawhats?!» Kid uttered.

You peeked at him from the lookout post, down to the bow of the Victoria Punk. Despite the initial grimace on his face, it seemed like a smirk made its way onto his lips as soon as he turned his back to the Strawhats. The sight drew a subtle smile from you too.

«Who the hell are those guys on Trafalgar's ship?» Bubblegum grumbled, eyes glued to the binoculars.

You switched your focus to the deck of the submarine.

A group of samurai was yelling for Strawhat's attention.

«Sir Luffy! Listen! I want to make sure what we're doing once on the island!»

A mink hopped on board from the Strawhats' ship, and Law was standing with them too.

You stepped away from the taffrail.

«Hey, Bubble-guy. Keep an eye on the lookout for me for a few minutes, will ya?»

«It's Bubblegum. Wait, where are you going?»

«I'll be back soon.» you said before sliding down the mast.

As soon as you touched the deck, you headed to the edge of the Punk and stretched the muscles of your legs.

Two pirates noticed you.

«Oi, girl. What're you doing?» Disc J asked.

«They're discussing plans over there. At least someone on this ship should know what's happening.» you said, crouching down to flex your thighs.

Reck snorted.

«We don't do plans. Especially not with enemy crews!»

You leaped on the taffrail and smiled at him.

«Good thing I can do whatever I want then!»

The storm whipped over you, soaking your figure to the bone. God, how you wished to have your special boots with you!

«But--»

«Now!» you yelled over the rain and his voice «I've never really done this outside training before, so be ready to dive for me.»

«Wait, WHAT?»

«See ya.»

You jumped over to the black sea.

The momentum of your body cutting through the wind sparked a rush of adrenalin down your veins. Your heart was pounding like crazy, but you forced yourself to take a deep breath, recalling Tokikake's words from the training session.

"Now hit the air as hard as you can. A tinge of Armament can help"

You directed all your energy to the sole of your foot.

Come on Y/n, either you do it or your next stop will be the sea.

You brought your heel down as fast as you could and released a burst of Armament. For an instant, it looked like your foot was just going to plunge in the nothingness beneath. But then the Armament hit the wind, and your body shot up.

«FUCK YEAH! GEPPO!» you shouted, only for yourself and the storm to hear.

The second step hit again, and then over and over, inebriating you with new-found power.

It was a short distance to the Polar Tang, thankfully, but towards the end you could already feel the fatigue of such technique, the muscles in your legs starting to stiffen.

Still, you landed on the submarine's taffrail with the most epic pose you could muster, crouching like a ninja with your hair darting in the wind.

«Hey guys.»

Between the mask and the long bow on your back, you were sure you looked cool as hell.

«Who the hell is this weird chick?» one of the Heart Pirates asked after the closest people turned to you.

Your lips immediately curled into a pout.

Well, screw you then.

A mix of samurai, minks and pirates was gathering on the deck.

The words of his crewmate caught Trafalgar's attention and he glanced toward you as you jumped down the taffrail.

«Y/n-ya. I thought Eustass wouldn't be interested in the plan.»

«He's not,» you shrugged, walking over «I am.»

Law nodded and took a seat on a barrel at the top of the group.

«Why, I know you.» a samurai commented as you passed by «O-Kotori-san, was it not?»

It was Kyoshiro. He was missing the huge pompadour now, but his fox-like features were unmistakable.

«I thought you were part of Diez Drake's entourage.»

«Huh, yeah, that was more like... a temporary gig.» you looked up at him «I thought you were the Shogun's lapdog.»

He smiled, slit eyes almost disappearing.

«Yes. That too was more like a "temporary gig".» he motioned to the bow on your back «I knew it was in good hands.»

Before you could reply, he turned his back to join the briefing in a flowing of kimono and cape. You hurried in the circle too.

Trafalgar was already talking.

«...No matter what kind of plan you put together, I can think of approximately two idiots that will charge straight in regardless.»

You sighed gravely.

«Agreed.»

Law explained how they were going to use Kid and Strawhat's frontal attack as a diversion to navigate around Onigashima and organize a charge from multiple fronts. You tried to adsorb as many details as possible, then headed back to the taffrail.

«Y/n-ya.» Law called while the rest of the group dispersed to prepare for their own duties «Charging upfront is not a good strategy for a sharpshooter. You may be best-suited to sneak in from behind with the samurai group.»

You offered him a smile.

«Thanks. But as you said, there's a certain idiot that could use all the cover he can get.»

You felt a tug on your bracelet and purple rays enveloped your arm, pulling it towards the sea.

«Here he is now. I'll see you at the party, Trafalgar.» you grinned before a powerful burst of magnetism swept you away from the submarine «It's gonna be wiiild!»

Even though darting through the storm with no control was kind of scary, you found yourself secretly happy you did not have to geppo back to the Victoria Punk. You landed on the dinosaur figurehead, right beside Kid, and you would have slid on the wet surface had his hand not grabbed your arm.

«What the hell were you doing on Trafalgar's ship?!» he barked.

«Calm down, you big brute!» you snapped, snatching your arm free «I just wanted to know the plan. At least ONE person on this ship should!»

Kid scoffed, turning back to the sea.

«We don't need their fucking plan! We charge in!»

«I know b--»

«Well, go wherever you want! I don't care!»

You rolled your eyes and jumped down to the deck, leaving him to cool off in the rain.

«Good call.» Killer commented, arms crossed over his chest.

«Thanks.» you sighed «Trafalgar is going to attack from behind while we provide distraction. Well, us and Strawhat, of course.»

He nodded, snickered, and that was it.

The Victoria Punk had launched to the chase of the Strawhats' ship, already disappeared in the mist. You knew the high ranks of the crew would be completely focused on the battle ahead, so you walked back to the lower deck.

Some of the girls were gathered below the crow's nest, checking their weapons and preparing for the fight.

Your eyes lingered over the small group, teeth nibbling at the inside of your cheek.

You had been a bitch to them, and had thoroughly avoided to run into the one that knocked on Kid's door after the night before. She was not there at the moment though, so... maybe this could be a chance to make good with at least a few of them?

You hesitated.

For some reason, you always had troubles around women. Or maybe that was not accurate – you probably had issues with most people. And why try to fix it now, just before plunging to almost certain death?

You grimaced.

Something in you longed for a change. Maybe. If you had to be honest with yourself, you always felt like the odd one out among other girls. The wrong one. Probably this was the reason why you always got so defensive with them.

Plus, these girls were pirates. They were likely going to antagonize you for the sole reason of having been a marine.

But what if they wouldn't?

You swallowed and decided to walk over.

«Hey.»

They turned to you.

It was Emma, you remember her name, the one with messy blue hair, and the tall one with a ponytail.

«Hey.» House greeted back.

An awkward silence settled, and you cleared your voice under their stare.

«Ah-hem. I just wanted to say that... I'm here to cover you tonight. I mean, that's what I do, so...» you touched the bow «If you're ever in danger, you can, like, shout for me. If you want. If I can hear you, I'll come help.»

They blinked.

«Why do you think we will need your hel--»

House elbowed Hop on the arm, then smiled at you.

«Thank you, Y/n. We will.»

«Hm. Cool.»

You stood there a few more seconds before shaking your head and heading to the mast.

Well, thankfully I'm going to face two Emperors soon. And it will be way less painful that whatever that was.

«Oi, Y/n.»

A shiver ran down your back at the voice. You slowly turned to see the captain himself marching toward you.

You thought the next real conversation you were going to have with him would be after the raid. If you both survived, that was.

The girls nearby fell silent.

You waited for him to stand in front of you. There was always a twist in your guts whenever his shadow fell over you.

«I... didn't mean to snap like that.» Kid grumbled, hand rising to scratch his neck.

His gaze slid to the girls staring bug-eyed at the scene and his lip twitched.

«Oh, piss off!»

They did not need repeating and quickly scattered away.

«What a charismatic captain.» you chuckled.

He glared down at you, but you smirked.

«I know you'd snap. It's fine, I'm fighting with the crew today, but I'm gonna do it however I want.»

He grunted an assent.

«There's something else.»

«Yeah?»

Kid's eyes rose back on yours, but he seemed displeased with what they were met with, because his flesh hand quickly came up to tear the mask away from your face.

«Hey!»

He ignored you and lifted your chin up.

«When the fight starts, I'm going for the Emperors. I won't be able to be near you.»

Your brows flicked.

«I know.»

«You have to survive, birdie.» his rough thumb rolled over your lip «You have to survive no matter what.»

You attempted a reply but the words failed you, the pounding of your heart crushing them in your chest.

«I don't care what you have to do for it. Crawl, hide if you must. I will find you.»

The breathing started to heave in your lungs. It felt like you were going to dissolve, under those amber eyes.

After a couple of attempts, you managed to swallow.

«Would you... crawl and hide?»

He scoffed.

«Of course not! But--»

«Then you can't ask me to.» your fingers rose to brush his arm «I'll fight as hard as I can. Believe me, I don't want to die. Not... not now.»

Kid stared at you. He frowned, then grimaced.

«I see.»

«You can kiss me though.»

A look of surprise traversed his expression, then that devious grin of his took over. The grin that made your inside crumble.

He harshly pulled you against him and you stood on the tip of your toes to meet his fiery lips.

It was wet and messy, and too quick for your liking.

«Oh, I'm gonna annihilate those fucking old hags.» Kid whispered inches from your mouth after detaching.

You smiled, breath still labored.

«I hope so.»

You stepped back, straightened the bow on your shoulder and moved away.

«Oi, birdie.»

Kid hadn't moved when you looked back.

«Shoot straight.»

You flashed him a cheeky grin.

«And a little gay.» you replied with a wink before climbing up the mast.

Kid remained to stare at the now empty spot for a few more seconds.

«Captain?» Gig asked, walking behind him and noticing him frozen.

«I need that fucking woman back.»

«Huh, what?»

«Nothing!» Kid barked, brusquely turning to the prow «Get ready for the fight!»

The Strawhats' ship was smaller and nimbler, yes, but the Victoria Punk was more powerful and required less effort to stay on course in the storm. It took up the Thousand Sunny in no time.

«MOVE IT, SMALL FRY!» Kid shouted in extasy as you passed them «WE'RE NOT LETTING ANYONE ELSE TAKE KAIDO'S HEAD! Ain't that right, Killer?»

«Fafafafa! Yeah.»

Seeing the tension in Killer's shoulder as another snicker escaped him, Heat and Wire led the crew in a collective laugh.

«FAFAFAFAFA!»

Kid grinned.

«I'LL CUT OFF HIS HEAD AND PLACE IT ON OUR PROW!»

«That's right!» someone else yelled «He's gonna pay for making our Killer all cheery!»

«Now we have to be one of those cheerful pirate crews!»

«Stop it!» Killer snapped, but his command fell on deaf ears.

«FAFAFAFA!»

On the lookout post, a smile crept on your lips.

«I saw thaaat~» Bubblegum teased, his head lowering beside yours «And I saw the thing with the captain too~»

«Shut up.» you grumbled, cheeks warming up «Look, Onigashima is in sight.»

You pointed to the dark silhouette of the island slowly taking shape across the mist. That got the pirate's attention, and he straighten himself up to look through the binoculars.

«Wow, is it like, skull-shaped or something?»

The Victoria Punk and the Thousand Sunny entered the front bay first.

Onigashima was... incredible. Seeing how majestic the bay appeared had your guts curled.

This is an Emperor's homebase, and we are going to invade it. There's no going back now.

You took a deep breath, then switched your Observation on and swept the coast.

«Guards. On both sides.»

«Where? I don't see anything with all this fog.»

You pulled an arrow from the quiver and nocked it in, preparing to take down the ones across the Strawhats first. By the time you drew the bow though, God Usopp had already hit them with some sort of soporific bullet.

You rolled your eyes and redirected your aim to the guards on the other side. There were only two, drinking and being relatively static.

«Okay girl, I still can't see anything, but if you say so.»

«Hold on, lemme try something.»

Bubblegum watched you draw a second arrow and nock in two at the same time.

«Woman...»

You rotated the bow horizontally and used your finger to have the arrows diverge at the right angle.

«Swishh.» you murmured, letting go.

Each arrow pierced each throat. The two Beast Pirates silently chocked to their death. Well, silently enough.

«So, did you get them?»

You shrugged.

«I very rarely miss.»

He raised an eyebrow.

«Are you always this cheeky?»

The men began the docking maneuver.

«It comes and goes.»

You let go of the bow and dropped on the taffrail of the lookout post, arms loosely hanging down «For example, I wanna throw up now.»

Bubblegum laughed.

«Better keep it in, princess. Time to dance!»

You watched Kid jumping from the prow to the solid ground of Onigashima.

«Time to dance.» you whispered.