[45] A Delayed Punishment (1)
Chapter 45: A Delayed Punishment (1)
—
Bellamy Pirates’ ship was nearly circular in shape, and it had metal strapping on multiple parts. It wasn’t a practical design, less so when it was a medium-sized ship.
It seemed Bellamy poured most of his initial ‘earned’ money into the ship. The result was this, a pathetic attempt at appearing intimidating.
“I guess they’re better off dead if their ship looks like this.”
Hashirama scoffed as he kicked the ground. His body rode on the force from the kick and moved smoothly through the air; he landed on the ship’s deck right after.
There was a net stair, but that was for normal people. Hashirama didn’t need to take that.
Neither did Mikita behind him. She lowered her weight and jumped in the air, gently rising up and landing beside Hashirama when she increased her weight again.
“…Hey,”
Hashirama sighed and turned to look at Mikita.
He didn’t look amused as he looked deep into her green eyes. Hashirama’s own eyes were a deeper shade of green; which made Mikita flinch.
“Can’t you read the room? Stop following me."
Mikita cleared her throat and made a flabbergasted expression.
“Following you? Nah, it’s a coincidence. I just h-happened to want to come here too. I have to loot the home of my former abductors, or else I won’t be able to sleep at night.”
Mikita lied almost confidentially, even as Hashirama stared dryly. He was here to do the same thing. To scavenge this ownerless ship for all it’s worth.
A flash of consideration went by his face before he sighed.
“Alright. Make yourself at home. Just remember everything belongs to me, don’t try to steal my stuff again.”
Mikita winced at the words but nodded. Hashirama didn’t heed her any longer and turned around to roam around the ship. Something that Mikita imitated, consciously staying not so far from him.
….
It’s been ten minutes, and…
“Oh, hey, these nail polishes are great! Ah, the kit too.”
Hashirama has had enough.
Mikita was in front of a dressing table, trying out the girly stuff and exclaiming to herself.
Hashirama was looking through a drawer, scavenging a few pieces of jewelry on his hands, when he grumbled and looked at Mikita.
“How about you stop being such a pain in the ass? Just because I didn’t say anything until now doesn’t mean you can push me any further.”
Mikita put down the kits and stuttered out, “I-I’m just looking for an opportunity to say sorry.”
Hashirama frowned at that, as she gulped and continued.
“I am sorry about the incident three years ago, too. I really am. Let me add a thank you, too. For saving me.”
Hashirama stared at her for a minute, before smirking with a scoff.
“Good for you. Must feel better to have gotten those two out of your chest. Apology accepted since I did the same for Robin. However, I can’t accept the ‘thanks’ since Robin has paid me with something else.”
“Huh?”
Mikita blinked in confusion.
Hashirama took a few steps forward, towering over her 5’10” form.
“A ‘thank you’ doesn’t feed anyone, you know? What, you thought I came to save you without any price? Nico Robin has chosen to pay a price, and only after that did I come here. Robin’s going to travel with me, while you go and do whatever pleases your greedy ass.”
“…Hey, I just apologized.”
Mikita’s attitude went meek as she said.
Hashirama had laid out quite a few lines for her to bite onto, but she didn’t take any chances. Rather, she pointed out how she apologized. That was a good response in his book.
However, he wasn’t in the best mood, so he pushed a bit more.
“You apologized. I accepted your apology. What’s the matter? Just because I accepted it, doesn’t mean I can’t point that incident at you ever again.”
Hashirama told her while looking down at her.
“You betrayed me.”
“….”
Mikita moved stiffly in her spot as her eyes lowered.
“Now, you have the boldness of acting aloof around me. Do you know what that makes me feel?”
“I-I am sorry.”
Mikita forced her eyes to look up at him.
“I can… pay you back.”
“What?”
“I can pay you back. Over time. It's true that I spent all those berries by now, but I can earn them back.”
Mikita said with her eyes a little wet, which created a pitiful glow.
Hashirama still gave her a dry look though.
“I don’t want you to pay me back, though. I just said it, I forgave you. Why else will you pay me back, after I already gave you my forgiveness? There is no need.”
“But I want to.”
“And I don’t.”
“Please.”
The ship wavered slightly, due to the waves, while the two of them stared at each other.
“I don’t need money.”
Hashirama said at last.
“Giving me money won’t take away the sense of betrayal I felt back then. Would it?”
“It would not.”
Mikita admitted loudly.
Mikita knew that since Robin managed to convince him, and since he said he forgave her, he must be aware of the fact that it was Robin who forced her to betray him.
So, some might argue she had the right to be mad at him instead. For telling her all this, while it wasn't her fault.
However, Mikita didn't fall into that 'some' category. Instead, she agreed with him. She too felt bad for leaving him back then, so she could only imagine what he must have felt as the negative party.
Sure, their relationship was a bit rough, but they had grown to be friends. They raided a casino together, and won! They defeated a fucking Warlord together, too.
They were so… close back then.
“But if money won't fix it, I can pay back with something else.”
Mikita said while looking up at his eyes. She was grateful that he didn't immediately interrupt her and allowed her to speak.
“Robin’s going to travel with you, you said. How about you take me too?"
"Must I take a thief as my crewmate?"
Hashirama smirked sarcastically and added one more line.
"Seriously?"
Mikita gulped and shook her head.
"You don't have to consider me a crewmate, but just an errand lady is fine. You don’t have one yet, right? I can clean the ship, I can serve tea, and I can even cook a little. For as many years as you sail, I can do all that and more. Will that be enough to pay you back?”
…Hashirama frowned. He was not a fool.
Wearing gold on her neck, wrist, and ears, it was clear that Mikita had lived lavishly for the past two years. Now she was ready to throw all that away and live as an errand lady?
Indeed, Hashirama wasn’t a fool. So while normal people would assume she was lying, he didn't. He could tell she wasn’t lying or trying to trick him.
That was a genuine offer.
Looking back, she hadn't burst his secret to Robin.
Mikita didn't tell her about how he had the Bomb-Bomb fruit on himself.
Mikita hadn't also told Robin about how he extracted the Bomb-Bomb Fruit. Wasn't that why Robin didn't know what he took from Bellamy's body?
Surely, she and Robin were close friends by now. Otherwise, Robin wouldn't have come crying to him for her. Yet, she hadn't burst his secret to Robin.
So, did she really betray him?
"Fool."
"Huh?"
"I am an idiot."
Hashirama said and grabbed Mikita by the waist, pulling her closer.
"And you are too."
He told her one last time before he gently sealed her lips.
After the kiss ended shortly, with Mikita still surprised, Hashirama dragged her to the nearby bed and pushed her back on it.
"Hey, do you remember?"
"A-ah…"
He asked her shocked self, as he held her hands against the bed and loomed over her.
"We had a promise. After Crocodile would be defeated. I was to 'punish' you for having tried to hurt Vivi."
"..."
"That punishment is due, and more, due to everything that happened in the past three years."
Hashirama leaned over to whisper to her ears.
"Welcome to the crew, my criminal dear."
Then, he bit on her nape to make a moan slip from her lips.
* * *
Mikita tried to kill Vivi. On that subject, the princess herself just recalled that.
Currently inside Mont Cricket's house, Vivi quickly walked over to the window to look at the Bellamy Pirate's ship.
For the last half an hour, she has been trying to remember where she had seen that blonde woman.
Now, she just called it.
"That's the woman…"
Vivi was greatly confused as she spoke.
"Who tried to kill me."
The assassin who was hired by Sir Crocodile.
Why was Hashirama here to save her?
From the side, Robin sighed with a sluggish facepalm. This was why she was confused when Hashirama brought Vivi to the ship.
**
**
**
If you wish to read [the next 20] chapters right away, visit my Patreøn.
Link: Patreøn.cøm/Master4thWall