Afterward, Nojiko pretended nothing had happened, hugging her quilt and clothes as she walked—very calmly—out of Nami's room and back to her own. The door shut. She did not come out again.
On the veranda, Robin kept silent, the very picture of an obedient by-stander.
Nami pressed a hand to her forehead; for a moment she had no idea what to say. Her own sister had not only listened to her and Tatsuki going at it through the door, she had run into the room after they'd left and… on Nami's bed, no less—which already bore unmistakable traces of her and Tatsuki. Now an extra, very obvious trace had been added.
"Haaah…" Deep breath—stay calm. Nojiko had reached that age, after all.
Tatsuki tactfully rescued the atmosphere. "Should I step outside?"
"Please. I need to change the sheets," Nami said, grateful for the excuse.
…
Tatsuki strolled into the orange grove, plucked a ripe tangerine, peeled it and split it in half, then held one half over his shoulder.
"Try it—Nami says their grove's famous for sweetness."
Robin blinked, accepted the fruit, and bit into a segment. Sweet juice burst across her tongue, the tartness pleasantly mild.
"It really is sweet. I should take a few back for the others," Tatsuki mused, eating his share. "So—how do you feel about your new situation?"
Robin said nothing. Her life was literally in his hands.
"Relax, I'm easy to deal with," he sighed. "Different question: do you have any wishes?"
"…To stay alive."
"That's covered—you can live till you're sick of it. Anything else?"
She fell silent, then voiced the goal that had driven her since childhood. "To uncover the world's true history."
Tatsuki nodded. "Simple enough. Once we finish business here you'll have all the time you need." To him that promise was trivial; to Robin it was everything.
She forced herself to be practical. "What do you want me to do as your subordinate? My only useful skill is reading Poneglyphs."
Tatsuki appraised her leisurely. "Nothing strenuous—just stay beautifully dressed so I feel good when I look at you."
"—Eh?"
Had she mis-heard? A decorative flower? Her figure hardly matched Nojiko's voluptuousness. She had no idea he saw the potential rather than the present.
The brief talk didn't erase all her unease, yet she sensed that communicating with him wasn't difficult.
…
Inside, Nami had finished stripping the bed. She cleared her throat at Nojiko's door. "Nojiko, give me the quilt—I need to wash it."
A crack opened; the quilt peeked out. Nami's eyes sharpened; she shoved the door wide.
"Nami!" Nojiko squeaked, then dropped her gaze, cheeks blazing.
"We need a serious talk." Nami locked on like a hunter. "Tell me—who were you fantasizing about?"
The older girl shrank under the interrogation. Nami sighed. Realistically, Nojiko had spent her life in this tiny village; she'd never met another man like Tatsuki—handsome, powerful, the savior of Cocoyasi. For a pure village girl, falling for him was almost inevitable.
Still, a plan formed. Nami's voice grew firmer. "Was it my man? Answer."
"…Yes."
"You peeked?"
"…Mm."
"You find him that attractive?"
"I—I lost control for a moment…"
"You saw how big he is, right?"
"…Yes."
"I must punish you, Nojiko!"
"I'll accept any punishment—it's my fault, Nami."
"Tonight you're helping me beat him!"
"Uh—what?"
…
Before dusk Tatsuki used wish-craft to raise a modern house beside the old cottage: appliances, electricity (easy with Nami's lightning), everything. Nami, Nojiko and Robin all moved in; the old shack remained as a keepsake.
Originally he meant to spend a quiet single night with Nami. It became a night with two women. Come morning he departed under Robin's odd, half-awed gaze.
Nami had underestimated his stamina, imagining she and Nojiko could defeat him together. He'd merely been gentle before; this time he let them feel the gulf. One night, two obedient girls. Lesson learnt.
Security? Tatsuki worried about none. The killer of Crocodile had slipped off the Grand Line; tracking the perpetrator across worlds was impossible. Besides, Nami now wielded Lv 4 lightning and Nojiko—freshly converted by his technique—was a Salvation Angel with Haki, Rokushiki and senzu-level regeneration. If danger came he could cross worlds in an instant.
The only potential target was Vivi, but the World Government wouldn't start a war over a dead pirate when their ultimate weapon wasn't ready.
…
Vivi: "Esdeath, Tatsuki, Nami, Kisara—thank you so much!"
Esdeath: "No thanks needed. If strong foes remain, call me."
Nami: "I didn't actually do anything."
Tatsuki: "Same here."
Kisara: "I never even drew my Zanpakuto."
Tendo and Saeko compared notes: both had acquired A-rank blades—Shinso and Senbonzakura. Tatsuki reminded them his own Zanpakuto, Dominator, was S-rank.
Vivi: "I got an A-rank ability—Wood Release."
Perfect for reclaiming desert, Tatsuki remarked; she vowed to master it for Alabasta.
…
Saturday, 8:30 am
Tatsuki and Yukino waited outside the school gates with the cat Haru perched on Yukino's lap.
"Yukino~, Tatsu-kun~." Haruno Yukinoshita, radiant as always, arrived and looped her arm through his. "Let's go."
…
They travelled from Minato, Tokyo to Chiba Prefecture—home of the Yukinoshita clan—and stood before the stately gate of the main estate.
Yukino seemed tense. Haruno squeezed her sister's cheek. "Stick to the plan, Yuki. Breathe."
Inside the reception room their mother awaited: Yukinoshita Miyuki (Mrs. Yukinoshita), graceful in a silk kimono, youthfulness undimmed. She gestured. "Please, sit."
Tatsuki took the center seat, Yukino on his right, Haruno on his left—a seating that made Mrs. Yukinoshita's brow twitch.
He introduced himself plainly: "I'm Tatsuki. Student-Council president at Sogo High, Yukino's classmate—and Haruno's friend."
The Council-president title earned him one more measured glance.
Mrs. Yukinoshita inclined her head. "I am their mother, Yukinoshita Miyuki. If you don't mind, get to the point."
Tatsuki never minced words. "I'm here to ask for Yukino's hand in marriage."
"Marriage?" For the first time her serene mask rippled. She'd anticipated a mere request to date her daughter—well within her control. But a straightforward proposal?
Completely off guard.
...
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