⚜️ Keywords ⚜️

Y/n -> your name
E/c -> eyes colour

🔱

You decided to go back to his room where he was certainly waiting for you, when you perceived a pleasant smell of bubble bath.
Soon after he came out of the bathroom and you were forced to turn around so as not to see him with only a towel tied around his waist.

《Oh, you're already here. I also needed to freshen up...I didn't do it this morning, before going out.》

Even though he couldn't see your face, he could imagine how red you had turned and giggled silently.
He came over and just touched your shoulder, but that made you jump.

《W-why are you still here? And put on some panties, please!》

As if you had never spoken, he wrapped your arms behind you and around your neck.
《Try to relax, Y/n. I don't want you to feel embarrassed because of me.》

You didn't know how, but his voice sounded the same as ever, so deep and serious.
Finally you turned to him. Beneath his skin, still wet and warm after the bath, you could see the delicate tones of his muscle, particularly on his chest and neck.

His gaze shifted elsewhere at that moment, while his face looked more rosy than usual.

《You do it on purpose, right?》  He looked straight into your beautiful eyes.

You smiled at him slyly.
《I've always loved teasing you, but I have to give up for the moment.》

《Just do it.》

《Yes, as if it was that simple.》  You sighed deeply and your attention went right to his chin, less pronounced but still attractive.

His half-open mouth slowly approached yours. You couldn't leave, as his arm held you behind your back.

《Can I kiss you now?》  He said he in his low voice.

That request surprised you. You put your hands on his face to place his lips on yours, while Katakuri made sure not to hurt you with his surprising fangs.

The kiss was long. Feeling the shape of his shoulders as you hugged him was something wonderful. Your tongues crossed and fought for supremacy; you were about to win when his hand grabbed your leg next to his hip. Without breaking the contact, you let him hear some of your moans and closed your eyes, because of embarrassment and to get carried away by that pleasure.

《Will you let me hold you this time,  Y/n?》

His voice in your ear gave you a shiver that prevented you from answering. The crimson boy took it as a yes and lifted you up to take you back to his bed.

《K-Katakuri...wait...》

《Don't you want?》  Your lips were captured by him again.

You couldn't think straight anymore.

- - -

《Woah!》

A scream made you both jump. You turned to see Brûlée open-mouthed.

《D-does it seem the time to do certain things during the day?! Close the door at least!》  Her scolding became more acute when she noticed his brother on top of you covered only by a white towel.

Katakuri looked at you for a moment, before breaking away from you.
《I get dressed. See you later.》

You got out of bed too and joined Brûlée who hadn't taken any step inside the room.

《Have you discovered something?》  You asked her as you tidied your shirt inside your jeans and your hair, slightly messy.

You left the room, but she didn't say anything to you, at least not in the corridor...she took you to a living room and you sat on two armchairs, in front of a fireplace. It was crazy that you had never entered it before.

《You asked me not to let any servants out of the palace...do you fear that someone might be involved with what happened to onii-chan?》  She asked you, crossing her fingers over the legs.

《I'm not sure, but there's something about their behavior that doesn't convince me...especially Sophie's.》

《Who is this Sophie?》  She asked suddenly.

《At first she was just my maid, but I thought too much that we could be friends...I don't know what to think anymore.》  You held your head with a hand.

《Oh, I see. None of them told me about her, or call her name...so, haven't you seen her since this morning?》

You shook her head, but you told her what you saw and your suspicions.

《I believe you Y/n, but do you really think she's the culprit?》  The woman waited for your answer.

《...I don't know. Not yet.》  You got up from your chair and motioned for her to do the same.
《We have to go to the kitchens to find out.》

- - -

Once you entered there, you found the other cooks at work in the middle of the stove, but someone was missing...
The head pastry chef was absent, but after a while you saw him come out of a door at the back of the kitchen. When he saw you, his face went white.
You wasted no time and reached him by overtaking all the others.

《Sorry for the intrusion chef, but I need to ask you a favor...can you tell me where is Sophie?》

The cook pretended nothing happened.
《I'm afraid I don't know her, miss–》

《She's the girl you spoke to this morning and right here...do you remember now?》  But the man continued to swallow and sweat nervously.

Brûlée stepped next to you and that terrified the man further.
《So do you want to answer or do we have to get you to talk in another way...?》

《Y-yes, my lady...! S-she went to the servants' rooms, at the back of the palace...she had to do something, but I don't know anything else!》

Brûlée snorted and walked quickly out of the kitchen with you. You didn't think she could be so bossy...you went where the cook had indicated you.

《Hey Brûlée, you're going too fast–"Boom!" 》  Something hit and dropped you to the floor.

Your eyes noticed something that looked like a suitcase and then a person...you recognized the girl.

《S-Sophie...I've been looking for you everywhere!》  The girl hastily got up and retrieved the suitcase, which had opened, letting out part of her clothing.

《Please, tell me you're not doing what I'm thinking...why are you running away?》

Sophie didn't turn to look at you, but you knew she was crying because of her sobs.
《F-forgive me miss Charlotte! I...I never would...I didn't want to hurt Katakuri-sama!》

She showed you the vial she had in her pocket.
《...that's why you were in the kitchen...you poisoned the dough they would use to make the donuts and that's why Katakuri got sick...you knew he was going to turn into a kid, right?》

You gripped the girl's shoulders tightly and she screamed in pain.
《Answer me! Why did you do that?!》

《T-they forced me to do it...! I didn't want them to hurt you!》

You and Brûlée looked at each other as if dazed, without saying anything.

《And if I say something, something bad will happen to me! Please, I don't want any of this!》

In the end, Sophie was just another victim of all this still incomprehensible mechanism and decided not to be too hard with her.
《Nothing will happen to you...now, please, tell me who is behind all this.》

《...》

《...Borsalino.》

- - -

Brûlée was very incredulous from that revelation, while you stood still thinking who the hell this Borsalino was.

《He's a Navy admiral, known as Kizaru...are you really sure about that, girl?》

Sophie nodded and lowered her head. Of course, the issue wasn't closed yet and Brûlée's expression didn't convince you.

《I thought there was a truce with the Navy...why did they do this?》  You thought aloud.

《I don't know, but what I don't understand is what you got to do with it. Mama must be warned...I'll go for the moment, please take care of onii-chan and the rest.》  Her tone sounded a lot more serious than usual and she disappeared using one of her handheld mirrors.

《Anyway, I can't ignore what you did and I don't even know if you're a marine...for the moment, you'll be under arrest and won't be able to leave the island.》

Without resisting, some sentries of the castle took Sophie away and the last thing you saw was her sad, weeping face.
In your hand you carried the vial that she had shown you and decided to have it analyzed by an expert.

You went back to your husband, to inform him of the situation, but he was no longer in his room.
You went to check in the next rooms, including yours, but no trace of him.

《Where the hell did he go now?!》

You found him in a courtyard of the palace shortly after. Fortunately, there was no one around.

《Hey, I was looking for you! I need to talk to you about some things...》  The young Katakuri turned to you. He wore a black vest similar to the one he usually wore, but much simpler and the same could be said for the pants and shoes, without those noisy spurs.

《I know you told me to stay in the room, but I couldn't take it anymore. I needed to take a few steps to reflect.》

His motivation was more than natural. You took another meter towards him, who stared deeply at you as he waited for your answer.

《We found it was some sort of potion that made you in this way...the pain you felt after eating a donut comes from this.》

As he listened to you, his expression frowned; in his head, he was thinking there was a traitor in his home and family, but when he heard the admiral's name it was downright unexpected.

《Brûlée is on Whole Cake Island talking to your mother. It'll be shocking news for her too...》  You would simply assume, since you didn't know much about the topic.

Katakuri crossed his arms.
《I doubt she'll disagree with me...if the Navy is going to attack us, I'll be happy to welcome it, especially after what they did to me.》

Instead, you leaned forward towards him with your hands crossed behind your back.
《Well, remember you aren't alone and I'm also here to help you.》

You concluded with a broad smile that Katakuri couldn't refuse.
《Mpf, that's why I'm going to knock them out.》  He added immediately after  《But that doesn't mean you'll be there too. I don't want to put you in danger for that.》

You sulked your face.
《Well, this isn't the right time to say it. Didn't I say I have a responsibility to you? Well, as your wife, I'll support you in anything and to do so I have to be next to you.》

Katakuri's ego couldn't take it anymore.
《Mpf, didn't I tell you not to treat me like a kid?》

《That's right. I've never done that, because I'm not your babysitter. As I said before, I'm your wife.》  You said this by resting your chin on his still contracted muscles.

Katakuri sighed slowly as he analyzed every part of your face as if it was the first time.
At that moment, a hand rested on the back of your neck preventing you from backing away; stuck in front of him, you had to wait for him to let you go, but the only thing he did was reduce the distance between your faces.

《You're a nuisance, even now that you should be older than me.》  That offended you.

《W-what do you mean? I've never been–》  As always, your sentence didn't end and your lips tightened to his and broke away immediately after leaving you in silence.

《S-sure you're weird...what do you have today?》  You looked away, but without having your lips and cheeks red again first.

《You had to keep quiet and this is the only way I know that works.》  He smiled at your reaction and held you close to him for a while longer.

《...you're lucky that I don't mind, Bakatakuri.》

- - -

There wasn't much to expect from the Navy, which did nothing but impose its authority over the seas by placing bounties on the pirates' heads. The Charlotte family had planned to establish "good" relationships with the Navy, to avoid unfavorable situations and exploit its goodwill in exchange for privileges. Fortunately, Big Mom took the news with a laugh. The truth was that she had never needed them.

Brûlée warned both of you to leave immediately to reach Whole Cake Island and when arrived the welcome was really unexpected.
Katakuri did everything to avoid being seen, waiting for a remedy to get him back as before, but it was difficult not to catch the attention, especially that of his twins.

Oven and Daifuku kept their eyes open. Seeing their older brother so young and much shorter made them laugh out loud.

《Hey Kata, how is the air over there?! Hahahaha!》  Daifuku was the first to tease him, who didn't react except staring with small pupils.

《Oh come on, don't tell me you're old inside so as not to laugh at it...》

You read clearly that Katakuri wanted to throw him away to the edge of Tottoland after that, but he continued on his way with you beside.

This time, Oven turned to you.
《This situation must be tough also for you...》

《Not really. Anyway, it's always Katakuri, so stop being idiots.》  Daifuku heard your answer and chuckled behind his brother.

《Well, it was meant for you too...》  Oven snorted looking at him out of the corner of his eye.

《But isn't it fun all the same? Especially with Y/n-chan!》  Oven didn't answer, hiding from his brother's mocking smile.

You didn't care that they were his twins, you couldn't stand them being made fun of.
On the other hand, Katakuri hated when they were so familiar with you, even if it was just Daifuku and Oven.

Beyond Sweet City, there was a building unknown to you that was being treated as a laboratory. There, they would analyze the contents of the vial in order to obtain another of the same type, but with the opposite effect.

Katakuri's mood darkened when he learned that it would take a couple of days. You reached for him to adjust the scarf, which was slowly uncovering his face.

《Tsk, it can't get worse than that.》  He complained as he let you do.

《Hey, what's this attitude? Where is the diligent Katakuri I know?》  You finished the last round with the scarf and patted it gently.

Katakuri couldn't hold back a chuckle. He didn't like being seen by his family like that, but your presence helped him forget others.

《Yes, you're right.》

Even though you were done with the scarf, you hadn't strayed from him.
《Even if I should be the only one who can see your face. I love it, even when you're pissed.》

《.....really?》  He rolled his eyes slightly to pretend nothing happened.

《Damn, this goes beyond any cuteness!》

Katakuri covered himself by raising the scarf more with two fingers, but he noticed your excessive smile.
《Why do you keep staring at me like that? Are you thinking of something strange?》

《Huh? Oh no, it's alright! I wasn't thinking of anything in particular...》  You immediately returned to yourself. Of course, telling him what you were thinking about would be an insane act.

Still there, Katakuri took the opportunity to gently lower his face to your right ear.
《Then try to think about what I could do to you next...》

He left you behind, with a tremendous shiver that went all over your back. After walking a few meters further, he turned around waiting for your petrified figure.

《I have to be careful with everything I do...I have the impression that even the air I breathe betrays me!》

- - -

On Whole Cake Island, things weren't quite the same as on Komugi, as Linlin was the head of the island, while the rest of the family had a fully subordinate role.
The next few days were a nuisance, at least that was how Katakuri saw it. The younger brothers and sisters were curious about his youthful appearance.

When she found out what had happened to her older brother, Pudding ran over to you.
《Y/n! I can't believe what happened to nii-san, but whatever...he's cool like always!》

The glint in her eyes was immense and the tone of her voice stunned you for a moment.
《Ough...well, I suppose so.》

At that point, Pudding grabbed your shirt sleeve.
《Eeeeeh, is this the only thing you can say?! He's still your husband, damn!》

《Y-yes I know! Leave me now you're tearing it up!》  You shook your arm to free yourself from the clutches of your sister-in-law.

《Sorry, sorry...anyway, you can't say he's that much of a kid...he's just a shorter man than before! Wouldn't you like him to be more like you?》

Pudding's speech seemed completely useless to you.
《No. Otherwise, what's the point of all this? I fell in love with him because he's so different from me in everything and I would never want him to be like me, not even in size.》
Pudding remained silent after you estranged your thoughts so easily.

She smiled broadly as adjusted the tuft of brown hair that fell from her forehead.
《I hope to have the same luck as you someday and love someone so much forever.》

You just admired the view of the island with her.

《We never know what awaits us, I speak from experience...however, who could ever turn down a beautiful girl like you?》

Pudding blushed modestly.
《S-stop it or I'll go crazy, kyaaaa!》  She touched her cheeks and shook the head playfully to stop listening to you, without ignoring your last words.

《And yeah, you're right about that Y/n, but I don't think it happened by chance and I think you understand what I mean.》

You understood perfectly. The choices that had brought you there had made you what you were and unexpectedly tied you to that place, which was now your new home.

Your peace was disturbed by the arrival of Perospero. With his odd attitude, he stopped beside you.
《I just heard experiments have been successful. Soon, Katakuri will be back in his original form, perororo.》

You looked up at his pale face.
《Good. Where did he go now?》

《Right there. Don't worry, he'll be back soon, perororo...》  He said it with a sly expression and with his usual tongue sticking out of his mouth.

《Yes, yes, thanks for that Pero-san, but now we have to go.》  With that, you and Pudding walked away, but you said hello for not being rude.

At the foot of Big Mom's building, the largest you had ever seen, the brunette girl remained standing while you sat down on a bench nearby.

《Uff, my brothers don't have a bit of tact!》  She crossed her arms, flapping her long black lashes nervously.

She didn't notice you were staring at her, particularly on her forehead where something seemed to be there.

《Is that a scar on your forehead? I've never seen it before.》

Pudding was shocked by that and quickly turned away from your sight.
《...it's just a small sign I've had since I was little. It's nothing to worry about.》

That obviously didn't convince you, but she probably didn't want to tell you about it and you didn't insist.
《Okay, there's nothing wrong with that. I also want to forget mine.》
You were referring to the scar on your belly, inflicted long ago by Doflamingo.

《I would like to do the same.》
Pudding sat down next to you adjusting her long colorful skirt on her knees.
There was something more than just a mark hiding behind her fringe, but she had never told you about it as she herself regarded it as something dangerous and disgusting.

《The truth is that I don't like who I am. I've never shown it, including you, because I don't want to cause problems for anyone. I know I'm a monster and that's okay with me–》

《If that's what you wanted to tell me, then you better shut up...I'm not here to judge you. If there's something that worries you, speak...am I not your friend?》

Pudding's face swelled as she tried to restrain herself but a tear suddenly fell from the eye.
《...you're right Y/n...I'm acting like a fool...but it's the first time someone has tried to comfort me...》

She wiped the tear away and cringed within her space. You started to be intrigued by the matter, but you waited for Pudding to take the first step.

《I-if I show it to you, promise me it will remain a secret...?》  Her expression, sweet and worried, awaited your response.

《Of course, Pudding.》  You smiled at her to make her relax. After that, she took a deep breath and uncovered the forehead.

Right there, another eye opened that looked at you like others two. It didn't impress you much, even if it was the first time for you to see such a thing.

《My father was a triclops, a race of people with a third eye. Even if I'm only half of it, I still inherited it...》

She didn't know what else to tell you about the discomfort she felt until you started talking.
《Wow, I never expected this! Well, you went out of your way to hide it from me in the end...》

《Children made fun of me for this and even my mother finds me repulsive...》

You didn't know why, but you expected that from a monstrous woman like her, with so many children but with so little heart...

《I don't agree. In my opinion, it's a gift you should cultivate and you shouldn't be ashamed of. Leave the past behind, Pudding.》

You stroked her shoulder, but she grabbed your hand to squeeze it between hers.
《T-thank you so much Y/n! I'll try to be more confident with myself...!》

《Always do it.》  You concluded; Pudding hugged you tightly and let out a loud cry, probably held back for a long time. Even if briefly, that gesture was also important to you, to fill the void you wore due to a lack of friendship. A true friendship.

- - -

Unfortunately, things don't last forever and as you broke away from each other you felt a violent shake.

《Ah! W-what's going on?! An earthquake?》  Pudding tried to steady herself on the armrest of the bench, when she lost the balance and fell to the ground.

You got up to try to bring her back up, albeit with difficulty.
《I-I don't know, it doesn't stop! Could it be something else...》

Another noise, similar to an explosion, shook the whole island. The greyness reached the sky above your heads, along with a dangerous threat from the ocean.