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"Sadi-chan, what are you laughing at?" Domino asked, puzzled by the smile spreading across Sadi's face. Shouldn't she be feeling distressed right now, not amused?
"Don't worry, Domino. I have a solution to your problem," Sadi said, patting her own chest with a big smile.
"You have a solution?" Domino tilted her head, even more confused than before. Then a thought struck her. "Wait, could it be that you and Ikki have some kind of deal? You, you wouldn't already be his woman, would you?" she asked, utterly startled.
Under normal circumstances, it would be next to impossible to get Ikki's help without a famous sword to offer him. If there was one exception to that rule, it was probably women. If a beautiful woman became his woman, his favoritism toward her would make it understandable that he'd comply with some of her requests. It was no wonder Domino had jumped to that conclusion.
"If only that were true," Sadi said, shaking her head with genuine regret.
"So you're not his woman?" Domino asked.
Sadi shook her head again.
"Good, that's good." Domino pressed a hand to her heart and let out a breath of relief.
Sadi was her closest, most trusted friend, and Domino naturally wanted nothing more than to see her happy, to see her find a man who could give her real happiness and eventually walk down the aisle with her.
In Domino's mind, the ideal husband for Sadi needed real strength, a handsome face, and a strong sense of responsibility. Strength enough to keep her safe from harm. A face that matched exactly what Sadi liked. Responsibility went without saying, since not many women wanted a man who couldn't be counted on.
And above all, most important of all, he had to be devoted to her alone. Sadi deserved nothing less. Only a man capable enough to genuinely earn his place at her side would be worthy of her, in Domino's eyes, and these were the very same standards Domino held for her own future husband.
Ikki's strength was beyond question. That he'd risen to prominence on these dangerous seas in such a short time was proof enough of that on its own, and the fact that powers as significant as the Marines and the Four Emperors were all angling to gain influence through him only underscored just how formidable he really was.
He was handsome too, undeniably so. Even Domino, who held men to very high standards when it came to looks, had to admit that much.
As for responsibility, Ikki treated his partners well, so surely he'd treat any woman well too. By every measure Domino could think of, he seemed close to perfect.
Except for that one condition he couldn't satisfy. Ikki was far too fond of women to ever be faithful to just one.
Setting everything else aside, there were rumors that Gion, of the Marines, was having an affair with him. And they weren't really rumors anymore, not by this point. It was practically beyond dispute. Even Gion herself no longer bothered denying her feelings for him, and Ikki had never once shown any sign of turning her away.
On top of that, he showed obvious closeness with several of the women in his own crew. Domino didn't believe for a second that nothing was going on between him and at least some of them. Even if not every one of his partners had actually been with him, there had to be exceptions.
Ginrummy, from the Beasts Pirates, was a good example. For Ikki to take in someone virtually unknown within that crew, he had to want something from her in return, and Domino suspected the only thing Ginrummy really had to offer was herself.
Just as Domino's thoughts were spinning through all of this, Sadi's grumbling pulled her back to the present.
"It's not good at all," Sadi said, pouting.
"Huh? What's not good about it?" Domino asked, curious.
"That I'm not his woman. Just like you said before, it's supposedly such a good thing," Sadi said.
"Isn't it, though?" Domino asked, more baffled than ever.
"What's good about it? I wanted to be his woman!" Sadi crossed her hands over her chest, her cheeks flushing, wearing an expression of pure, dreamy longing, much to Domino's astonishment.
"A man like Ikki is so outstanding. It would be my greatest honor to become his. I want so badly to hold him in my arms and feel his heartbeat against mine. At night, I want to curl up beside him while we sleep. I want a child with him more than anything, one that's truly ours, that we could raise together."
"When I was still on his ship, I looked for every chance I could to make that happen. Unfortunately, there were too many obstacles in the way. Even after trying everything I could think of, I still haven't managed to have his child. Do you have any idea how disappointed that leaves me? And you're telling me it's a good thing?"
Sadi's voice grew more mournful with every word.
"No, no, that's not what I meant. I don't want you unhappy. Trust me, Sadi-chan." Domino shook her head and set her hands on Sadi's shoulders. "I know Ikki's a good man. But maybe that's exactly the problem, he's too good, and it's drawn too many women to him. Even here in Impel Down, you must have heard the rumors about him and Gion. You can't force your way into his world and claim his heart all for yourself."
Domino paused. "Wait, why are you looking at me like that?" A flicker of confusion crossed her own face as she noticed the strange look on Sadi's.
"But Domino, I never wanted to keep his love all to myself," Sadi said.
"You haven't?" Domino asked, surprised.
"Of course not. I came into his life later than most of the others. I'm already lucky the ones who got there first don't shut me out. How could I possibly expect to have his heart all to myself? If I actually thought that way, his other partners probably would have pushed me out by now, and maybe even Ikki wouldn't like me much either, since he doesn't want discord among the people around him. Besides, the more beautiful women who fall for him, the more it proves my own judgment was right, doesn't it?"
Sadi clasped her hands together, practically glowing.
"Huh?" A large question mark hung in Domino's mind at that. Was this really the same Sadi she knew?
Once, back when the two of them were talking in their room, Sadi had said clearly that she wanted a man who was both outstanding and devoted, and that if she couldn't find one who was both, she'd rather stay single her whole life. But now that Ikki's unfaithfulness was plainly out in the open, why did Sadi still want to be his?
As if sensing Domino's confusion, Sadi answered it with a smile of her own.
"I did tell you that before, that I wanted someone outstanding and loyal, and that I'd rather be alone forever than settle for less. That's exactly how I felt back then. But after meeting Ikki, my thinking changed."
Sadi drifted back into that blissful expression, clasping her hands to her chest and gazing up at the ceiling. "Ikki taught me that as long as a man is good enough, it doesn't matter whether he's devoted to just one woman or not. Besides, he saved my life. Given that, it's only right that I repay him with my body."