It's been a few days since you've been stuck here, doing and rebuilding the galleon you broke due to Hattori dropping multiple deuces on you. Since deuce means two and he dropped more than two, what do you call it than? Would it instead be trois?

You don't really know.

But the people of Water 7 are pretty funny, outside the ones you already know and aren't really from here.

Tilestone, the large bearded foreman, seems really eager for a strength competition with you when he noticed how easily you can carry multiple logs on your shoulder when transporting it for the galleon. He's pretty loud too, which you can understand somewhat since you're not exactly quiet yourself, but his voice seems to boom each time he speaks. He also looks angry all the time, but you think that's just his face. You know plenty of others that look like they're scowling or calm all the time—they should get that checked out you think sometimes but one can't change their face.

Lulu, with glasses on his face and a problem with his hair, you would want to help out. His hair keeps sticking out no matter how many times he fixes it. You think you cutting it would help but he seemed nervous when you offered with Karasu out and near his head that his hair just does that. When you pointed out with brows furrowed that he looks like a unicorn right now with Paulie snorting in the background at that, Lulu merely fixed it only for the spike to end up to the back of his head. You burst out laughing as you pointed that it looks like a mullet now with Lulu merely saying blankly with crossed arms that he wears his bad hair with pride and so you just left him alone after that.

Of course you had Paulie soon yelling at you again about your clothes, your blouse now cleaned, and decided to mess with him by throwing it at him leaving you in your tank top only for him to get more red and smoke come out his ears as he waved his arms and stomped his feet at you. Only for his face to somehow look funnier when you put a hand casually on his shoulder or around him!

He's too funny!

He's a pretty nice guy too, despite his noisy complaints that you just brushed off and decided to tease him instead. After your first day and moving onto the next, he got concerned about which motel you're staying at since some aren't worth the money and can be in pretty bad parts of Water 7. Only to grow even more concerned when you said you slept at your boat.

"What are you? You can't sleep on that boat like that. I don't know how you sleep on it out in sea but a real bed is better," Paulie explained between his cigar, his brows furrowed as he stared down at you. "You have to be in top form if you're going to be helping us around here."

You didn't want to risk the slightest chance of your boat getting destroyed by the CP9 people here, but you explained you heard of the demolition workers here. Paulie shaking his head at you and explaining that you shouldn't sleep out like that, as well as saying your boat won't satisfy them in parts anyways. Kaku adding with a smile that no one would mess with you here either way, you reading through his words that you're already stuck here and their mission is more important than capturing you at the moment.

After only another three days of you sleeping at your boat, Paulie and Kaku pointing out to you which motels are better constantly with Lucci as well during a break while you were alone and walking, the raven head nodding at the one near Blueno's Bar with clear meaning in his eyes—did you finally decide that staying at a motel would be fine. You also had a weird wake up call once on your boat, weird tools around you as you scratched your head in confusion.

You ended up with the one near Blueno's Bar. You know they can't do anything to you, but they may be concerned about your whereabouts or what you may say when it comes to their mission. You still don't really care though. They're just doing information retrieval it seems, so no harm done. You don't think they know that though, which eh. You don't care.

It was quite funny when Paulie was getting so concerned about you sleeping in your boat though, you just jokingly said if he's so concerned that you could just stay with him. He burnt right through his cigar until there was nothing but ash as he stuttered that you shouldn't say things like that to men you barely know, you too busy laughing at his red face to take note of how Lucci's eyes immediately cut to you when you said those words. Kaku huffing through his nose near the raven head man and muttering lowly that inviting (Y/N) to their apartment would be a better idea if we really think she's going to do something. Lucci's eyes on you before moving towards Kaku, and using Hattori to tell him hush before moving back to their work.

The lunch breaks they've taken at Blueno's Bar was interesting, all the different people at once with the loud Tilestone eager for another drink by slamming his mug down and yelling another as the other foremen tried to quiet him down. Lulu elegantly drinking his beer silently only to cause some mayhem by somehow making hair...get out from people's nose?! That was weird when you first saw it, wondering how that worked, with Paulie explaining by you on the table they were sitting on that Lulu's spike on his hair has mysterious powers.

Iceburg and Kalifa would join at times too, him taking an 'extended lunch' he says as Kaku would shake his head good naturedly at the mayor's antics and Paulie freaking out from one of Kalifa's outfits of the day.

Honestly, you think the most surprising thing though is what Lucci drank while on break at the bar.

You remember staring wide eyed and incredulously as Lucci drank a mug of beer that Blueno gave him next to you once at the bar countertop. Lucci noticing your gaze and a brow raising slightly, Hattori than speaking that if you wanted to try as dark eyes glinted. You mildly scowling at him from below your hat and turning away with a huff, merely saying that he just doesn't seem the type to drink beer. Lucci's eyes focusing on you, mug near his mouth as he seemed to analyze the side of your face that was away from him before putting it down. Hattori doing a Coo before saying he has other tastes but this will do for now.

His tone turned odd when he said other tastes, it sounded weird really since he was doing his high voice through Hattori. But, for a moment, his normal voice almost came through.

Of course, the other surprising events was what you observed from Kaku as he worked with you. How the young man felt as he spoke excitedly to you about all the tools and the ships he's built as you would stare with a small smile on your face only to grow when you felt his excitement increase.

You like this Kaku.

You wanted to be close to this Kaku more then the other one. You wanted to observe those smiles, grins, and laughs he would do. And each time he did so, you wondered in the back of your mind if he was just a very good actor or...this truly was what you saw all those years ago.

The true Kaku.

You were aware of masks. Very aware.

Too aware really.

You wore one during CP9, and perhaps you're still wearing one now. You've had a mask so long you don't know which one is really you.

It's a sad feeling.

Not knowing who you are.

The day you decided enough was enough, Kalifa's stare seeming to penetrate along with Blueno's questioning stare along with Kaku's odd smiles and Hattori seeming to fly overhead near you, you managed to corner Lucci who was on break with Kaku from fixing ships.

"Hey, Lucci, wanna have that lunch you promised me?" You asked, wanting to talk to him alone like you asked several days prior when you arrived. "And let's try somewhere else besides at the bar instead."

The top hatted man gave a small nod in reply without the need of Hattori as Kaku rose his gaze from his water bottle with an excited grin.

"Oh, I want to join!" You glanced at him, your face shadowed by your cap as you gave the young man a specific pointed look.

"Ah. I just remembered that my break is over. Perhaps another time?" Kaku backed off, waving it off with a smile as you gave a small smile and a nod.

The both of you began to walk side by side, you leading silently. Immediately when you saw the next alley as they walked, you quickly pulled him in to the darkest part, and stared at his eyes.

"What are you doing here?"

"Wouldn't you want to know, pirate scum."

You said nothing at his statement, and only glanced at the Hattori that was now on your shoulder. You sighed, and muttered out that you're stuck here because of him. Hattori only replying with a proud 'Coo!' and flutter of the wings, and you gritted with your teeth and whispered harshly "You're so annoying." When Hattori pecked your cheek, a tick mark appeared on your head as you whispered obscenities to it which Hattori only replied with coos. During all this, Lucci did nothing but look down at you with his eyes at the interaction of his 'best friend' and ex-partner. When Hattori finally relented and rubbed his pigeon head against your cheek, you let out a smile at the familiar feather like touch and gently petted the bird with the apathetic master.

"I know what kind of job you guys are doing," you began as you continued to pet Hattori who was responding well with your touches, Lucci narrowed his eyes,"So many agents in one place means that this mission is quite important for the World Government. This isn't a simple assassination. Ya'll need something." You turned your gaze from the pigeon to Lucci, your brows furrowed.

"I don't know what exactly you guys need in terms of information, but I know it must be pretty important to send all of you guys. And specifically all of you and where you guys are. It would've ended bad if Fukuro or Kumadori were sent here." Honestly, you couldn't imagine it. It would've ended in chaos and fire if the loud zipper mouth and slow talking haiku poet joined too. "All centered around the Galley La too...Iceburg really placed himself as someone real important and having good information if you guys need it that bad." You concluded, your hand finally leaving Hattori's head who chirped slightly in protest. You sighed slightly, going back to pet his chest as the pigeon chirped happily with closed eyes.

Lucci only smirked as he looked down at you.

"It seems being a pirate didn't make you lose your intelligence like I thought." He snidely commented.

You continued with a straight face, something that slightly annoyed the best CP9 agent. Those insults used to work before you recalled. You dropped your hand only for Hattori to quickly grab it with his beak to have you keep going as you let the bird be as your finger was trapped.

"I don't like what you guys are trying to pull. Forcing me to stay here in hopes of capturing me when your mission is finished isn't going to work." You observed with narrowed eyes. "Although...you guys don't really seem to be trying that. You should know, Lucci-Neko, that we're not tied in strength anymore."

But Lucci said something that caught you off guard.

"You could've left. I overheard Paulie talking to Iceburg that you had enough money to pay them back, but instead, you chose to stay. You also chose to entertain us and keep silent. Why?"

You stopped petting Hattori and looked up at him, and then smiled.

"Like you would possibly understand, Lucci-neko." His mouth twitched slightly and he asked what wouldn't he understand. You smiled more softly at him, something that caught him off guard, and then you said:

"I just wanted to spend some time with my comrade. That's all."

Lucci scoffed.

"I've changed my mind. You're still naive. And I would never become such a thing with pirates."

"Too late." You replied with a mild grin. But it quickly disappeared.

"Because of this, however, you're the only one I will allow from CP9 to capture me. Do you understand? I won't let anyone else but you capture me, if you manage to catch me and defeat me of course." You ended confidently.

Lucci only smirked.

"I did not forget. I got your message of that other Cipher Pol weakling you sent in a barrel soon after you left," Lucci commented, his top hat shadowing his eyes as he stared down at you. "The others are aware that you're mine." The assassin said possessively, something you didn't quite catch.

You nodded at him approvingly, and then looked him up and down his frame. Analyzing in your head.

"We're not tied anymore but...You've gotten stronger since the last time I saw you." You commented with a smirk.

Lucci only replied with an "Of course." You then said that the most who has changed was Kaku however, last time you saw him he was still a teen.

"He's really changed. Having all the muscles in the right places, I was surprised when I saw him."

Lucci didn't seem to like how the conversation was going however, as his face darkened.

"You shouldn't be so impressed." Lucci growled out. You blinked and looked up at him, tilting your head as you tried to figure out Lucci's thoughts. He was always sort of hard to understand sometimes.

It was then your Haki sensed incoming people.

"Shit!" You cursed out loud and at Lucci's raise of the eyebrows you quickly explained to him people were coming. You then quickly pushed him against the wall, causing Hattori to ruffle his feathers in surprise before moving to fly overhead.

Lucci lowly growled and asked what you were doing when you suddenly asked how popular he was with the women. Lucci paused.

"What?"

You asked again.

"How popular are you here with woman? Answer quickly."

"...I'm sure even you can gather that the city highly respects the shipwrights of the Galley La." Lucci answered carefully, seeming to try to scrutinize your words. How does he not get it?! "I don't see your questions important enough to why you have me against the wall like this, scum."

"How often are you seen with women? Surely you must've slept with a few here." You said unabashedly. No hint of care in your voice.

At his growled out answer that weakness isn't something he chases after, you leaned up against him and took your cap off, obscuring their faces as you got close to his ear. "They are close Lucci. Pretend. No kissing on the lips." Your breath fanned his ear as you held him with your hands on his broad chest. Lucci smirked, and put his hands on your hips and drew you closer, making you mutter a curse.

Not again!

When the people were turning towards the alley, all they saw was a woman pushing Lucci against the wall, seeming to kiss him. Which of course they weren't, until you suddenly made a surprise noise from your mouth when you felt a familiar bite on your ear. "Oi." You practically felt his smirk as he replied by your ear, seeming to purr. Making you flush slightly and your spine tingle despite yourself.

"You said nothing about biting." He breathed as you felt his lips on your ear again, feeling his tongue licking it as he bit it harshly. You tightened your hold on his white tank top, to possibly make him stop.

AND THOSE PEOPLE WERE STILL THERE!

Your cheeks were aflame as your eyes were narrowed. What kind of people watch two people kiss in a dark alleyway?! What kind of fetish is that?! They were supposed to leave!

"They aren't going away." You harshly whispered to his ear.

"Let them enjoy the show then." He replied with an ever growing smirk. "It's not as if you aren't used to this."

Your eyes narrowed as your face flushed from a mix of anger and embarrassment.

"I would rather not have perverts watching us, even if we are pretending." You growled in his ear. He moved his head back slightly to face you, his face only a few centimeters away from your own. A smirk on his face. "W-why are you making that face, bastard?"

"Oh? Then perhaps we can show them how far we'll go." When the top assassin began to lean in to your lips, you immediately moved your head away. Causing Lucci to only get your ear again, making him growl and bite you harder, which made you release a grunt of pain and surprise. His breath on your ear once more as you tightened your hand on his tank top, his top hat brushing your head. "You know better than to run, scum."

When the people seemed to get the hint, you immediately backed away and started rubbing your ear with pained noises and curses.

"Ow! Ow! Ow! Jeez! Freakin-cat in heat. Doesn't know how to control himself."

You then went all fours in despair, depressing cloud forming over you as you thought in your mind that you have crazy men kissing you everywhere. During this, Lucci had an amused smirk on his face, until he decided it was time to point out an observation.

"You smell of other men." At your rose eyebrow when you looked up at him from the ground after putting your cap back on he clarified you smelled like different scented men. Two, he recognizes as Kaku and Paulie. There are more that he smells however. You immediately jumped up from the ground and asked with impressed eyes "Woah, your nose got stronger too huh?" Lucci didn't share your enthusiasm as he looked at you with dark eyes and wanting you to answer the question.

"I usually hang around Kaku, who puts his arms around my shoulder sometimes when we're having fun." Lucci's eyes turned to a glare as you continued. "And sometimes I like to jump Paulie to surprise him from time to time. Mostly cause it's hilarious." You smiled, but then quickly lost it as you gazed up at Lucci. "If you're smelling more then two people then...sorry. But I'm not telling."

Lucci didn't really appreciate your answer.

"Say who." He practically demanded.

You rose an eyebrow at him.

You weren't idiotic enough to say any names. You couldn't say Mihawk's name, for he was a Warlord and isn't supposed to be hinted that he's possibly allies with Shanks. And Shanks...well...

You blushed at the thought of his lips on your forehead once more, and then quickly remembering Mihawk's charming kiss to your hand. Which made you darker in red then before. Lucci took this the wrong way.

A hissing snarl.

"Did you manage to find a lover?" He asked with slitted eyes. "Those rumors. Do they have an ounce of truth?"

"No!" You yelled with a blush on your face before looking confused. "Rumors...?"

Still oblivious, Lucci thought as he relaxed his tight jaw, eyes back to his normal dark orbs that were dilated as he said quietly it's unimportant. Only more foolish.

"It's just that...," You began softly, whispering,"I visited the person who saved me that day before I came here." You answered truthfully.

Lucci said nothing as he looked at your soft smile and eyes with adoration, he only growled in agitation.

Hattori pecked you on your face after flying back to you with a coo.

"Idiot~ Idiot~!"

"Hey! I just gave you pets!"

"Coo~! (Y/N)!"

"Don't say my name so cutely after just pecking me, stupid bird."

Lucci watched impassively, before staring out at the entrance of the alley to watch for any passerby's with crossed arms.

"Hattori only speaks the truth, scum. Despite your intelligence, he has twice the wit compared to you."

Your mouth dropped, before scowling with multiple ticks on your face. Growing more once you spotted the side of his lips moved slightly up.

"WHAT THE HECK DID YOU JUST SAY?!"

"Your memory is worse as well," Lucci stated blandly, making you fist a hand against his tank top in anger while saying he must really want to get his ass beat by you before his lips flattened and moved his tanned hand over yours that held him. You taking note of his serious gaze as you blinked. "Remember this. Come to Blueno's at one in the morning tonight. The others, they wish to have a talk as well. It's time we have to head back to the Dock. We can continue this later."

You frowned.

"I'm guessing they're concerned or something..."

Lucci seemed to do his version of a shrug by glancing away before staring at the left side of your face. You noticed you still held his tank top tightly and his hand was still on yours and your faces are pretty close again too.

"Their feelings don't matter but I can see why they may have certain ideas." Lucci's eyes than met your (e/c) ones, staring. You felt slightly the sense of a quiet campfire with a distant Coo. The hand atop yours twitched only for Hattori to peck your face again and breaking your eye contact, turning towards the pigeon who merely gave an innocent Coo as you let go of Lucci to wave a finger at the bird and in turn, Lucci's hand dropped to his side. Putting the hand in his pocket. "Come. That's our cue to go. Don't forget the time."

You huffed, turning your head towards him with strands of hair everywhere below your cap due to Hattori's sadism like his master.

"I won't!"

Besides, you still have other stuff to tell him.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

You stood in front of the bar, the moon high above with clouds covering it as you stared with lips quirked up to the side and your face slightly shadowed from your cap—your scar on the left side of your face screaming danger.

Soon after the both of you came back, work went on as normal. Kaku teaching you the basic things to do and you helping move stuff around quickly in a faster pace due to your strength. Paulie shouting at you when you decided to sneak up on him again and he makes the funny face as he did it with Tilestone commenting(yelling) in the background you're going to kill the man along with the other foremen. Lulu agreeing as he puts down the spike of his hair on the left side of his head only for it to appear on the right side. Lucci just working away as Hattori spoke through him that Paulie needs a lesson either way and their daily fight broke out before ending in a draw due to Iceburg coming out and saying it's been really quiet the last few days from the Franky Family but you were too busy listening to the grinning Kaku as he explained to hear that.

After work, you walked around a bit through the streets of Water 7 before heading to your motel room and freshening up a bit before resting your eyes till it was time.

You sensed everyone else was in there.

A lamb that looks from side to side. A foul ball. A shadowed ship in a bottle half finished. Quiet.

They feel pretty nervous. Besides Lucci. Unsurprisingly. The man doesn't seem to care at all about the risks you bring. Or maybe he still knows you...

Either way, you kicked the door open nearly off its hinges but not quite and three pairs of eyes met yours as one stayed close in the right corner of the bar as you smirked and walked in, you don't really care.

"Yo!" You greeted casually with hands in your pockets, Karasu glinting in excitement as Kuroi ten'nosabaki merely gleamed in the low light of the bar with only three candles on as you walked past the table Kalifa was sitting by with her CP9 outfit along with Kaku stared at you in mild interest behind his shadowed cap and towards the bar countertop Blueno was behind. "You guys really must like outfit changes if you guys changed to the old uniform and everything just to meet me. Sounds like way too much work. And dramatic."

You think you know too many people who are dramatic. They can get pretty ridiculous.

You could see how tense they were, specifically Kalifa and Blueno since it seems Kaku was more wary. Lucci's eyes still closed as he leaned against the corner with Hattori silent as well, signature top hat on his head with his own CP9 uniform on.

Eh. Whatever.

You leaned against the middle of the bar counter, holding up a finger to Blueno who stared at it in question and caution. Your lips quirked up.

"One Gold Shooter Brandy please. On the rocks." When Blueno's eyes widened in front of you, your brows furrowed. Dark eyes zeroing in on your form a few feet away. "What? There's no way you don't have it. What kinda fake bar you got here, Blueno?"

It only took for you to give the bull haired man a pointed look did he do it, the tension not falling as liquid gold was poured into a shot glass before it was sat in front of you.

"Ah, thanks!" You said, Blueno's eyes widening once more along with Kalifa's with Kaku's lips twitching before you grabbed the glass, took a seat on the bar stool and suddenly slid the brandy to the side as you turned in your seat to face the room. Lucci appeared quickly, catching the shot glass in one hand, giving you a look. "Now look. You guys need to relax, I'm frankly not interested at all on what you guys are doing here or the why's. So I'm not really interested in exposing anything either. I'm just here for the heck of it and until I finish up that mess with the galleon."

"You can't expect us to believe that," Kalifa stated, fixing her glasses slightly as she sat with one leg over the other on her chair. Your eyes turning towards her. "Why would you possibly stay silent? You have nothing to lose."

"I got nothing to gain either," You pointed out, crossing your arms and leaning against the counter with your back. "You're just gonna have to take my word for it. You guys don't really have a choice."

"No," Blueno said passively a little to the side of you, you realizing he left from behind the bar counter and was to the right of you now in the corner of the counter. Lucci now to your left as he stared down at the brandy on the rocks. "We don't. Even if you weren't first with us, anyone would know of your reputation you gained quickly after you left. We're no match for you."

You shrugged.

"There ya have it. Are we done than?"

"No," Kalifa said, tone clipped. "It's due to you being trained in skills such as ours and others you've gained that's concerning. Who's to say you even truly know what we are doing and you won't stop us than?"

You sighed loudly, not bothering to hide it.

They're being ridiculous. You were about to tell them so before someone else did it for you.

"You have to give (Y/N)-san more credit than that, Kalifa." Kaku said in slight reprimand as he frowned towards her behind his shadowed cap. "You just said she's been trained like we have. You know that (Y/N)-san might already have an idea of what we're trying to accomplish."

Kalifa shifted her legs, moving a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I know that. That only increases my worry."

"I don't get it." You frowned, arms still crossed to your chest. "Yeah, what Kaku said. I'm not blind. You guys need something from Iceburg." Everyone tensed or eyes widened outside of Kaku and Lucci, Kaku only raising a brow and Lucci still standing as he swirled the shot glass as Hattori stared over at you with beady eyes. "Like I said. Not interested. Don't really want to know or care to know. This is just an information retrieval anyways right? It's not like you can kill Iceburg, he's way too important. And you don't need to get rid of anyone else either."

Kalifa and Blueno shared a glance and seemed to assent to you as Kaku couldn't help but observe to himself that this was the (Y/N) that they all have seen during your time as an assassin with them—distant with personable talk rare. But when you did seem to open up, you would close back up again just as quickly. Seeming to want to ignore whatever you did or said was nothing. It was odd, Kaku noted.

It kind of reminded him of how he is.

"There's something else though," you began again, Kalifa and Blueno turning towards you in attention as Kaku blinked and focused on you. You jabbing a thumb towards Lucci's direction. "This guy didn't have time to tell ya any of this? He should've said the rundown of what we talked earlier when me and him went out."

Out? Kalifa and Blueno thought, in complete bewilderment as they glanced towards the quiet Lucci's back and your confused expression. Them? They didn't do anything weird did they?

The both of you together in Enies Lobby was always an odd sight.

But, the three agents thought in a variation of forms but reach the same conclusion as your head turned towards Hattori who was now next to you perched on the bar counter as you asked Blueno to give you some beans and him doing so only for you to give a plate to a happy Hattori as you stared with quirked lips and poked fun at the pigeon it was still a lover of dried beans, they all know Lucci. He wouldn't endanger the mission, only when it comes to his bloodthirsty reasons and sticking with the World Government in the first place. To kill.

Even when it comes to you.

Maybe, they observe as they commented that it's best time for them to leave as you shrugged at them and said they could do what they want, especially when it comes to you.

"Leave the key, Blueno." You turned towards Lucci in attention, who brushed his arm against yours as he finally sat down. Him taking a sip of his brandy, and his eyes looking at his drink appreciatively. "I have to finish this drink. Can't have the scum destroy it."

He took a sip as you tsked at him.

"Oh please. I knew you would catch it, bastard."

"Brandy~Brandy~!" Hattori interrupted with a slight flap of his wings and pieces of bean around his beak. Clearly wanting a glass himself.

"You made Hattori into an alcoholic." You deadpanned.

"He merely has good taste," Lucci replied, uncaring with you huffing at him with Lucci merely sipping away, you seeming to get irritated at getting ignored before deciding that Hattori pecking you for a glass isn't what you want, you jumping over the counter and getting the bird a glass with Hattori cooing in delight as he grabbed it.

We're still here, the other agents thought with a mild sweatdrop before moving to leave. Kaku's lips slightly up at Blueno's comment when they left the two alone that he hopes he doesn't find it destroyed with Kalifa replying she thinks he hopes too much.

Kaku glanced back at the bar, eyes in thought along with his smile waning as Blueno and Kalifa quickly used Soryu to leave.

It's like you never left, Kaku observed when he thought back to your never ending arguments or tense sentences back to Lucci when they were all younger—him just a teenager and the two of you young adults. Everyone else already knowing to just let the two of you go at it or they'll get a glare from the cold Zoan. Kaku thought of the moments they trained together with swords, few compared to Lucci since you were equal in strength to the leopard Zoan back than—the times you would helpfully point out his mistakes without needing to. Adjusting his grip with your hands, voice quiet as you taught him what to do and even you saying thanks to him for the spar when he should've been the one thanking you.

You've always been strange, and not because of your blood relations to your father. It was more than that.

The assassin thought of him teaching you about building ships, you listening attentively with interest in your eyes and a small smile on your lips that somehow looking knowing. Before seeming to get his excitement and widening your grin as you side hugged him with him freezing for a moment each time you did it, before putting an arm around you as well with a smile.

A quickening of his chest occurred, making Kaku's eyes widened as he put a hand to his chest—not again.

"Ah..." Kaku said, a disbelieving chuckle being released. "This really isn't good..."

He can just ignore them, this isn't going to benefit him at all and they can go away again like before. Before...you came back.

Kaku put a hand to his head, eyes shadowed behind his cap and a disbelieving smile on his face.

Lucci won't like this. If the man even feels threatened by him. But the leopard Zoan has never been outright with you. Despite what Kaku has seen from the two of you back than, there's no indication that you were aware of anything—but that's just you.

"What am I doing...? I shouldn't be entertaining this. I'm on a mission." Kaku rationalized to himself, shaking himself out of his stupor. You don't seem to see him like that anyways. Unless he does something to see—

With that, Kaku's cheeks flushed along with some of his nose before using Soryu himself back to his apartment.

Not at all thinking of touching you a certain way with a hand to your waist and your hand in his other as he said he can teach you his style of swordsmanship.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"You're going to get drunk, Hattori."

"Coo...(Y/N)~!"

"Yeah. He's lost it. Eat some more beans, Hattori. Or else I'll force feed you white rice."

Hattori swiveled his tiny bird head to you, askance.

"Coo!"

You gave the pigeon a pointed look, silent. Hattori's feathers seeming to waver before you gave him more beans from the bag you found on the plate and moving towards it to eat. Lucci merely observing the two of you and your interaction as he swiveled his refilled shot glass next to the bottle of brandy he grabbed upon the counter, his top hat next to the bottle and suit jacket on the chair next to him. Your own hat by your side as well, a cup of (favorite juice/soda) by it on your other side.

Lucci has been mostly silent as he listened to you talk about this or that, outside of when he immediately said once they all left that you need to learn how to knock. And that your manners are still poor. You merely replying that he's still dramatic if he thinks you will just knock on a door to a bar and wait for someone to answer.

Besides. Kicking down doors open is the right way.

Better than blasting a hole in a wall.

You telling him to be careful because you know of embarrassing stories of him due to you once being partners with him and therefore with him a lot, a smirk on your lips as you said it. Only to fall as his eyes cut towards you and give a show of a small sniff, making you flush slightly in immediate knowledge of what he's referring to as he smirked at you and merely said he has stories of his own. It looks like they'll both be silent after all, but man you wished he forgot that!

Still, you thought with a mild frown at his fourth shot glass and Hattori nestled on your head asleep, didn't he say he was going to leave after the first one? It barely even seemed he was listening to me when he wasn't looking.

Lucci noticed your gaze, eyes glinting as you blinked when he brought the glass in front of you.

"Curious if it tastes the same?"

"G-get that o-out of my face!" You retorted, heat in your cheeks as Lucci smirked, taking back his drink and taking a sip with eyes on your flustered expression. "I never should've drunk that. Like I would drink that again w-with you."

"I'm guessing you've been avoiding it ever since," Lucci said, elbow to the counter with holding the glass in the air calmly as he watched your face and tilted his head to the side towards you, locks of his raven hair shifting to his shoulder more as he did so. "Good. Don't drink with anyone like that. Unless a repeat will occur and someone might take advantage..." His dark eyes seemed to flash at that, tanned fingers seeming to tighten around his shot glass before his eyes met your carefully blank ones. "You haven't drunk with someone else, have you?"

Yes.

"You think I will drink with somebody when I know how I get without someone I trust?" You instead said, you only willingly drinking with Ace since he takes good care of you when you get like that. Everything else was an accident. "Trust me when I say what I did the first time with you and everybody has been a lone incident. You think I'm an idiot?"

"Yes."

"...You said that too fast, Kitty." Lucci growled at you in warning at the nickname, only to pause when your curious eyes turned towards his hair. You touching a lock of it and comparing the length now to the one before. "It really has gotten longer...you used to look really emo when you only had your hair to your chin or your neck. I think the last time I saw it was when it was touching your shoulders." You looked at the end of the lock, seeing it goes to a little above his bicep.

Lucci watched you finger his hair, your eyes seeming lost in thought. Your lips barely up but up nonetheless.

Lucci turned away. Taking a sip of his shot as silence reigned for a few moments.

"...I saw the kid." Lucci didn't look your way, but he did keep the cup to his lips. You still played with his way too soft and silky wavy hair that had curls at the end that shows he cares a lot about his looks. How does he not have hat hair? "You probably heard when someone entered Guanhao. It was an accident after I got lost. He seemed..."

You paused, hair between your fingers as your mind showed flashes of blood, of natural and of death with the feeling of it splattering on your cheek. Bodies falling and you staring in disbelief at what a parent would do.

"...well, he was a baby so he wouldn't remember like us." Your lips were quirked up, not meeting your eyes before falling as you let go of the lock, leaning against your hand and staring at the counter. "He's pretty smart though. Careful. I just don't like what goes on down there. Training him for..."

"He would've perished than." Your shoulders tensed at Lucci's blasé tone, eyes shooting at him as he looked down at you. "By the forest. Or an animal. I don't recall you objecting to it at the time. And you wanted to take him in the first place."

"It was my mess."

"It was." You clenched your teeth and Lucci's lips lifted into his most annoying smirks—the sadistic one. "You think I would deny that? You didn't listen to my warning, too soft. You still are, scum." Lucci looked away, lips back into a straight line. "It will be your undoing one day. And the boy is alive and well, the World Government doesn't allow weakness so he will still be in the island."

You released a harsh scoff, turning your head away. Hattori peacefully asleep as you did so.

"I don't want to talk about the shitty World Government, pussycat. I hate it when you talk like that. They're the end all be all when we both know the reason why you stay with them."

Lucci stared at the back of your head, lips lifted a tad.

"I don't need to remind you."

"No, you don't." You than turned back towards him, smirking as Lucci's lips fell and eyes narrowed suspiciously at the look. Your elbow moving his arm slightly. "Not scared of the "fragile weak bodies" are you now though? Hope you haven't accidentally broken a baby or two."

"Don't comment about me. You were petrified." Your face twisted at the memory as Lucci's lips lifted, him grabbing your elbow. "And anything that age is frail, there is no lie to what I said back than."

But he didn't leave the baby either.

"The weak deserve an ill fate, right?"

"Always," Lucci replied coldly. His eyes than meeting yours, brow arched a tad, curious. "Do you agree?"

"...ehhhhh," you leaned back against the chair, legs pushing against the counter as the chair was balancing on two legs as you put your arms behind your head. "Not really. But you don't really care about my opinion either way, right? You haven't changed at all, kitty."

Lucci stared, eyes flashing with different thoughts as he analyzed and read you.

"Despite your constant outbursts compared to before," you glanced at him, "you're still the same soft scum."

He's never gonna stop saying that, is he?

"Oh yeah?" You smirked, putting your hand out as a Lucci glanced at it. Putting Haki in it. "Look here, attack my—" Claws met your hand only to be bounced off as Lucci stared in interest and your smirk twitched in slight annoyance on your face, "You didn't hesitate at all, bastard. But pretty cool, huh?"

"Haki," Lucci realized, leaning over you and grabbing your wrist to inspect. "You're not bleeding. It's similar to Tekkai it seems when it comes to defense."

"But can be pretty good for attacks too," You said as Lucci observed your hand, the hue on it a bluish silver with the black before you retracted it back. Lucci glancing over at you in question, hold still on your wrist. "You guys should be taught it, but you're assassins so I get why you won't need it. Surprised you haven't tried it yet though."

"Why show it to me?" He asked, thumb on your pulse and face right over yours as you stared up at him. "With this knowledge of Haki, it'll be easier for me to inevitably kill you."

"And what if I can just kill you?"

"Then so be it. You're my comrade, so do what you best see fit."

"Are you...are you a naive idiot?"

You huffed at him, smiling up at him as his eyes narrowed.

"Forgot what I said back than? You're not forgetful. You know the answer, besides—" you grinned sharply and Lucci felt your pulse quicken just as his did as he stared at the look. "—not really fun chase if you don't even know how to do at least this. Not like I told you how I did it either. You can figure the rest by yourself I think, Lucci-Neko."

The Hunter thirsts.

You blinked as Lucci tugged at your wrist, your eyes widening and flushing when your face met his chest. You looking up in a scowl to tell him off only to freeze as Lucci stared down at you, dark eyes with a tint of blue gleaming with an equal dark smirk. Hattori blinking his eyes open in a sleepy Coo atop your head, shifting on your head.

"Willing just like that? If you wish to be chased," he went to your ear, breath on it as you tensed and flushed, "Than I'll oblige, scum. You should learn to ask for repayment when you give something. Like an exchange of blood. What...do you want?"

You felt a soft nip to your ear with a heated lap, your breath hitching. You stood hastily from your seat that fell back, face flushed as Lucci looked annoyed. Hattori flying with a coo back to Lucci's shoulders as you shakily and exaggeratedly pointed at him.

"P-p-perverted cat!" You held your ear, still feeling his touch. "I'm not like y-you! Good luck with learning Haki or whatever! I'm not telling you stuff again!"

You used Soryu, rubbing your ear as you used Geppo throughout Water 7 and back to your rented room. Your ear is going to be constantly attacked if you're alone with Lucci! At least with this Lucci and not his fake other one, but his other one is still a lot like him cause a cat can't change their stripes or something like that.

Bad idea!

He seemed okay and he suddenly acted like that again! What's his problem?!

Lucci meanwhile, stared with dark narrowed eyes at the chair you knocked over. Hattori giving a coo on his shoulder.

"Idiot~Idiot~!"

Oblivious imbecile, Lucci thought, finishing off his brandy glass before glancing at the bottle. His favorite brand ever since he obtained a taste for alcohol. Years ago. A true soft fool. He grabbed it, moving to leave himself as he used the keys.

Locking the bar up with a click.

.

.

.

Edited 05/21/21

Added more CP9 stuff! And extra details! Basically combined Kitty Surprise and Bite together and added additional stuff.

There's still more to come when it comes to the other two on here for Side Pairings~ ^//////^

Hope you guys enjoyed!

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**Kuroi ten'nosabaki🗡🎇 💀(Black Heaven's Judgement): your black sword with a sheen of silver buster sword that's carrie son your back. Think of it like Cloud's sword from Final Fantasy or Zabuza's sword from Naruto.

(Your sword is a mix of Cloud's and Zabuza's, there is no hole in your sword, but there IS a half moon cut in it. But the half moon cut near the top of the sword.)

**Karasu(Raven): your noticeably smaller and total black sword that is on your hip. You can imagine whatever sword you want, but perhaps the Chokuto sword will fit. Like Sasuke's sword from Naruto Shippuden.

**Tekkai: Iron Body. Defense technique taught by the marines where your body turns hard like iron.

**Soryu: Shave. Where you can move in an instant flash in a burst of high speed. Taught and learned normally by marines.

**Geppo: Moon Walk. A move where it appears you're jumping in midair, when it's just the strength of your legs moving quickly and touching the ground that keeps you upright. You often used this when you're on your small boat so you can go faster on sea. Taught and learned normally by marines.

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