Hoshiko Mochizuki frowned as she followed her superior officer to the sick bay. She had her long honey colored hair in a tight bun. The young woman chewed the inside of her cheek to keep from snapping at her CO. The marine corpsman entered the sick bay and fought the urge to scowl at the Captain. She schooled her features to stay neutral and stood tall, hands clasped behind her back, head held high.

"Just what the hell was that, Corpsman Mochizuki?" the Captain yelled at her, eyes blazing with anger. The man paced in front of Hoshiko, anger radiating off of him. "You were ordered to stand down and get back to the ship. And yet what did you do?" He stopped pacing to look her in the eyes.

Hoshiko swallowed and maintained eye contact. "I saved a marine's life, sir. He would have died if we left him there." She tightened her grip on her hands to keep from doing something she'd regret. Her dark brown eyes flashed indignantly.

The Marine Captain's eyes darkened and he loomed over Hoshiko. Hoshiki fought the urge to shrink in on herself and stared at the Captain, never losing eye contact. "Marines die. It's part of the job. Your job is to save who you are ordered to. If you are ordered to leave, you leave whoever and get back to the ship. A medic is more important than losing a soldier. You are harder to replace."

Hoshiko could taste blood on her mouth from how hard she bit her cheek. She swallowed and her gaze hardened. "Respectfully, Sir. The pirates were defeated and on the run. I had time and the ability to save that man, so I did. I will never turn my back on someone who needs help if I can help them." She jutted her chin out, standing firm in her beliefs. "I will take whatever punishment you deem worthy. I do not regret what I did."

"You're confined to the sick bay under further orders," the Captain snapped, giving Hoshiko a withering glare. "The next island we stop at, you are prohibited from leaving the ship. That is all." He turned to leave the sick bay. "Next time you don't follow orders will be the last time you ever set foot on a Navy ship." With that, he left the sick bay with Hoshiko glared daggers through his skull.

"Oof, yeah, he's not happy," Minho shrugged, slipping into the sick bay. The other medic glanced at Hoshiko and snickered. "So, Iko, I'll help you hide the body," he joked, handing her a clipboard. "Lieutenant Yu will survive thanks to your quick thinking."

"His wife and kids will be happy," Hoshiko sighed in relief, looking over the file. "When we get to the next island, can you do me a favor and see if they have any books I haven't read? I've reread everything on this ship twice over."

Minho smirked and gave Hoshiko a two finger salute. "Your wish is my command, Iko." He laughed and took inventory. "We'll need more 2-0 silk and we'll need to restock on the blood inventory." He had a sadistic smile. "Better warn the crew for another blood drive!" he giggled in a sing-song voice.

"You love antagonizing the crew," Hoshiko rolled her eyes playfully. "One of these days they will rebel against you and throw you overboard." She put the clipboard down and sat on her chair at her desk to write up her mission report. "I'll sit back and laugh."

Minho pouted at Hoshiko. "You are so mean!" he cried. "What happened to the ride or die best friends?" He gave Hoshiko huge puppy eyes, pleading with her. The other doctor even clasped his hands together. "Do you not love me anymore?" he mourned, putting a hand on his chest and falling backward. "OH! My best friend no longer loves me! The horrors!"

Hoshiko couldn't help the laugh that escaped her lips. Minho always seemed to know what to do to cheer her up. "Shut your yapping and do the laundry. We have a lot of bloodied sheets that need to be cleaned. I want those sheets as white as snow by the end of the night," she ordered her assistant.

Minho's smile immediately fell to a disgusted frown. "You love torturing me," he complained, getting up off the floor to gather the dirty sheets, pillow cases, and towels. "Oh, and I have some of the surgical tools being sterilized." He flashed an accomplished smile. "Aren't you proud of me?"

"Very," Hoshiko drawled. "Get to work!" she ordered and began writing up her report, making sure to include the Lieutenant she had saved. She put her Captain's incompetence in graphic detail. The only mercy she gave him was the fact she wrote things cordially and did not name call. She was above that. (No, she wasn't. But she didn't feel like being fired.)

Sailing with Captain Hornbull was testing to say the least. He wasn't the worst marine to work with, but he definitely was not the easiest. Hoshiko was only sailing with him as a punishment because she managed to tick off her father, a high ranking medical officer who worked with Admiral Akainu. Hoshiko's determination to save everyone had gotten her in trouble with him so he sent her out to sea with Captain Hornbull. She had been sailing with him for a couple months now, and she had done little to get in his good graces. He had no respect for human life while she had so much respect for human life she'd give her own life for a stranger.

Thank the sea for Minho. Oh, sweet precious Minho. Minho had been Hoshiko's first friend on Hornbull's ship. A friend that Hoshiko would never trade for anything. Minho had her back more times that she could count and she had his. He was loyal, funny, and enthusiastic. He reminded her of an eager puppy. Hoshiko owed Minho her job with the amount of time he had held her back from doing something stupid.

Hoshiko spent most of her time in the sick bay reading books and treating injured or sick marines. Even though she was a doctor and always determined to save someone's life, Hoshiko never cared what people thought of her. She was going to do what was right, no matter the consequence. That got her in more trouble than not, yet Hoshiko wouldn't have it any other way. So, Hornbull's punishment of not going on the next island would go out the window. Hoshiko was getting on that island, with or without permission. Seas knows Minho would forget something on the list because he was distracted by a leaf.

"Oh, Hornbull, didn't anyone warn you once I have a plan I am not one to be deterred?" Hoshiko giggled nefariously to herself, making wild gestures with her hands, throwing her head back in laughter. 

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I hope you all enjoyed this first chapter! Ash, I hope you like this story. I am having too much fun writing this! Comments and votes are appreciated. I love hearing from all of you!

Have a wonderful day!

~Kat