They Caught Him

It was already night when the reinforcements from the Marine were called in to take in the Hook Pirates. The bounty for their captain, Hookhand Larry was even a whopping 12,000,000 Berries. The reward was then used to repair the damages and to host a party.

Akatora sat on a piece of log as the whole Chocolate Village celebrated not only his return, but also their village being saved. A giant bonfire was placed right in the middle of the village as pots of soup were placed around it. Giant skewers of meat were being grilled by the men while the women prepared the rest as the children danced and played.

"Shishishi!"

The yellow haired boy had also joined the celebration as he played around with the children younger than him. He was fourteen after all, only two years away from being able to join the Marines just like Sengoku and Akatora.

"Hey! I got more! Eat up!"

Cocoa sat beside Akatora while feeding him her cooking. She had been one of the ladies that were assigned to cook, but she had asked to be the only one who would cook for Akatora as she wanted to have his attention. Though he would have probably only eaten hers even if she didn't ask.

"Delicious!"

A staggering height of plates were beside the rather tall Akatora while the blushing Cocoa only stood by his side. Her own bowl of stew was left untouched while Akatora had just finished his sixth bowl. He was about to stand up to look for a drink when he felt a cold bottle on his hand.

"I got you fufufu."

Akatora gave Cocoa a smile while chugging the bottle of wine in one go, not feeling it was anything too strong as old man Garp had already made him quite tolerant to strong alcohol. There was the drinking sessions with Dragon too.

'I wonder how he's doing now?'

Akatora had remembered the look he had when he left two years ago. His best friend had turned his back on the Marines, fled from his station and went astray. He only hoped that he could find it in his heart to forgive himself, because he wasn't the one who was wrong.

'I'm sure Rufia will help him out.'

He didn't tell the others but he was aware of the reason Dragon left. If only he was there as well, to help his friend when he needed help the most. He was sure old man Garp would have wanted to help as well, as he was the one most aware of his son's despair.

"How's the Marine life treating you, son?"

Village chief Toblerone had seated himself beside Akatora when he saw that he had finished eating. The festive mood had gotten to the old man as even he had drunk a glass or two. Well, maybe more but no one's gonna tell old Cadbury about that.

"Sure has been a long and wild life, chief. Sure was better than just being a stray who didn't have anything to eat around here. Whahahahaha!"

Akatora drank a mouthful of wine while thinking about his old days here. Though he only recalled the few weeks he had been here as there were no memories from before that. A stray child with no one to call family, no home. If chief here hadn't helped him out by providing him food everyday, he'd be long turned to dust.

"Ah, the old boy would have been calling me 'sir' every time I called him. I still don't know what could change a shy boy to a very outgoing man that you are today. But what I miss the most was having visitors that didn't want to pillage our village every chance they could."

*sigh*

The old chief looked at the bonfire with tears on his eyes as he remembered the good ol' days. When the sea wasn't as dangerous as it was now. When their village were more than just a small community that needed protection from every pirate out there.

"They caught him... The Pirate King Gol D. Rogers."

"I thought it was Gold Rogers?"

"Gold? Because he's a pirate? Whahahaha!"

Akatora laughed at the old chief who was scratching the back of his neck as he hadn't heard of the Pirate King's name that way. Now that he thought about it, most people wouldn't care about the 'D' in his name. Even old man Garp and Dragon never bothered with that 'D', they even wished to not have it.

"That old coot's going to be executed the day after tomorrow. I'm leaving to get there as fast as I can tomorrow morning. I got to see exactly what the man who changed the seas looks like."

Akatora had remembered the look on those old men's faces when they returned empty handed from their fight against Gol D. Rogers. Both the old men's bodies were covered in bandages while aunt Tsuru took care of them. Sengoku's eyes never had more spirit than when he spoke of their battle.

"That monster never even lost his stance once! I swear that man's sword is made of seastone with how much it hurts to get hit even once!"

"That boy is just lucky that I missed! If he stood still just a little bit then that little shit would be under my boot right now!"

"Pfft, yeah sure. Is that what you were thinking when you got beaten up in less than a minute?"

"Less than a minute? Are you blind you old coot? I lasted a whole hour fighting his whole crew! That stupid Rayleigh was messing with me every chance he got!"

Akatora remembered how the two men started bleeding again when they tried to fight each other. Making aunt Tsuru use her devil fruit to make their bodies immobile. Though it didn't quench the fire that built up in their eyes.

"I'd have thought you would have seen the Pirate King before?"

"Those missions were only for those who were at the very least, Vice Admirals. I only got promoted a few weeks ago."

"So who got him?"

"It was old man Garp! I heard the old man took him in without a fight!"

"That Garp sure is a monster to be able to take out the Pirate King himself. I've heard tales of how that pirate could even destroy an island with just a swing of his sword!"

"Those tales were true chief! I know a few men who could do that as well. There's even a man who can smash an island apart with one swing of his fist!"

"Oh my! Where in the world can we be safe these days? I'm getting too old for this!"

*snort*

The chief took another sip at his bottle when he suddenly heard a snort from behind him. He stiffly turned around only to see an old woman fuming at him as her frown shook him to his core.

"Darling! Look at the time! It's late! Akatora here even made me sip a bottle for old time's sake! Isn't that right Aka-kun?"

"..."

"Come one Akatora! Help and old man out!"

"..."

"He did now did he? Why don't we talk about it back home?"

"Ow, ow, ow! I got it! Let go! Goodbye Aka-kun! Good night everyone!"

Old chief gave his farewells as he was dragged by the ear by old Cadbury who proceeded to go home. The night was also getting too late for Akatora's taste so he went home as well, carrying the sleeping Rosinante with him while Cocoa followed.