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Markus and Gion strode into the main hallways of Marineford. Though he was badly injured, Markus refused to let it show even for a moment that he was in pain.

Yes, each and every muscle in his body screamed in pain with every step he took.

" Hey, are you doing, okay?" Gion leaned over and asked the man.

" Yeah. Just fine." Markus told the woman. " Hey, has this building always been this large?" He couldn't help but feel that the large building had gotten larger since the last time he walked through these halls. Or maybe it was because he was hurting that it seemed so different.

' Eh, it doesn't matter.' That's what Markus thought as he continued passing by the offices of the ranked Marines.

In his office, Fleet Admiral Kong was going over some paperwork from a recent incident with the world government, and the stress was beginning to build within him.

" Aghhh... What a mess. Is anything ever going to be simple?" Kong muttered. He rubbed his temples in frustration and placed his head on the desk.

" Bwahahaha! Feeling crappy Kong? Should have let me handle it." Garp exclaimed. He laughed loudly as the fleet admiral groaned, munching on his favorite rice crackers without a care in the world.

" Garp-San, things wouldn't have gone well if you had went. You're not very liked in Mariejois."

" Shut it, Kuzan." Garp responded bitterly.

Sengoku nodded silently in agreement with Kuzan, knowing that the matter would be much worse.

" Get over it, Garp. What's done is done. No one was harmed in the accident, so it's all fine. Still the paperwork..."

Before Kong could finish his sentence, there was a quick knock on his door.

" Huh? What is it now?" Kong asked himself. He breathed a heavy breath of frustration and lifted his head up. " Come in." Kong shouted.

With the approval to enter, Markus opened the door and stepped inside.

The faces of the room quickly lifted, with some looking up in surprise and others in shock.

" Yo!" Markus threw two fingers up and waved at the other men in the room.

" Ara ara! Look whose finally up and about. Bout time sleepy head." Kuzan was the first to speak up. When Markus walked in his face lit up like a firework, light instantly springing to life on his tired and dead face.

" Bwahahaha! Looking good Brat!" Garp shouted. He jumped up and swallowed Markus up in his giant body.

" OWWW!" Markus hollered loudly as Garps heavy arms crushed his already sore torso.

Sensing that, Garp quickly dropped Markus, who nearly fell over from the pain.

" What kind of greeting is that? Are you trying to kill me old man?!"

" What? That was a love tap, you'll be fine." Garp said to the young man.

Markus' face twisted into nightmare and anguish. " Oh, that's it! You really are trying to kill me, aren't you?!"

There was a collective group of laughter coming from the others in the room, but not from Kong.

" Ah, Lieutenant Markus. I'm glad to see you're awake and well. But I'm sure you know, now is not the time for games." Kong spoke.

Markus looked towards the old man and sighed while rubbing his head. " Right, right. I was told you wanted my report as soon as I woke up, which is why I came here." Markus said to the man. " But I don't know if you're gonna like what I have to say, old man."

Kong and the others all grew collectively serious.

" Well, whatever it is, we'll figure it out. Now, what happened?"

" Well, everything started just as planned, but it didn't stay like that long. This is the story exactly. In order to stop the pirate alliance, I needed the aid of pirates, black Lion, and Goenma to combat the forces of Moong Light Zohakuten, Roaring Bankotsu, and Terris the island smasher. Quite frankly, without their help, there is no way the Marines would have been able to take them on and ensure the safety of the civilian population. After defeating the brothers Zohakuten and Bankotsu, Goenma joined me and together along with Black Lion, we battled Terris, and we were crushed. Thankfully, we managed to hang on until Vice Admiral Kuzan arrived, but it shames me to say that without their aid, I and many marines, and civilians would be dead. That is the absolute truth in the matter." Markus explained.

Kong and the others listened carefully, to Markus' retelling of the events, and though it was clear that some details were being left out, there was no need to push for them since the key details remained the same.

" I see. Well, that matches what Dalmatian and Momonga reported." Kong spoke. " There's no need to worry about it anymore. Congratulations on surviving such a threat and for once again shining the light of the Marines. People around the world have taken to calling you a hero." Kong told the man. " Looks like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

" Bwahahahaha! That's right! That's my boy!" Garp exclaimed.

" A hero?" Markus questioned.

" Yes. The incident was rather large and the number of powerful pirates involved was quite high as well. Many people have been praising your work for some time. And of course, because of your work, you've been put up for promotion." Kong explained.

" Wait, I'm being promoted?"

" Yes. What did you expect? You defeated a famous and feared pirate from the New World. Not just once. But twice. And with the traction you're gaining from the public, I couldn't just leave you at the rank of Lieutenant. So, after deliberation with Dalmatian and a few others, I've decided to go ahead and promote you straight to Captain. However, we've also decided to place you on temporary leave. At least until your injuries are fully healed."

" That's... Whew, that's amazing." Markus found himself slightly grinning. The idea of being promoted to the rank of captain so soon amazed him. " Well, how long until I'm able to return to duty?"

" Two months of paid leave. Once the story has had time digest and your injuries are fine then you'll return to full duty as I said. However, you will no longer be traveling with Vice Admiral Dalmatian."

" What? Then where will I go?" Markus asked the man.

" Well, we're not entirely sure yet. But we'll get your opinion on it, and after you return to duty we'll decide then."

" Okay then. Is there anything else you need of me sir?" Markus asked the man.

" You're dismissed to enjoy your leave, Captain. You as well, Lieutenant Gion."

" Yes sir!" Gion and Markus both saluted the older Marine Chief, before dismissing themselves from his presence.

" See, that wasn't so bad was it?" Markus asked Gion.

" No, not really. But I'm surprised he took that so easily. I didn't think he'd appreciate any of his Marines working with pirates."

" Maybe not. But what's more important, your pride? Or the people you saved?" Markus asked the woman. " I bet in his position he might have done the same." Markus stated.

" I see.." Gion muttered. " So, what are you going to do now? You know, now that you have two months of leave."

" Well, I think I'm going to see old man Zephyr. I don't believe the new class has come in yet, and it's only a short trip to the training Island." Markus told the woman.

" Why's that? I mean, why would you want to go there during a vacation?"

" Well, I hate to say it..." Markus' grin quickly faded away and a scowl dawned his face. " But I should be dead Gion. I didn't have the power to even fight with Zohakuten and bankotsu. If it weren't for goenma showing me a way to channel my haki, then I wouldn't have lived as long as I did. I have brief flashes to my fight with Terris, and I vaguely remember using these powers. But I can't recall them. I need to make my haki stronger than it is now. I need to learn how to properly control it. And Old man Zephyr is the best person to help me reach that level proper." Markus told the woman.

" What about Garp-San? Surely he would be the better teacher."

" Nah. My pops will gladly beat me up and work me. But he won't be willing to walk me through the proper steps himself. He says if I don't find it on my own, then I wouldn't truly learn anything. And I somewhat agree with him. so, I need to go find me a teacher than can teach me the skills to channeling my haki and who better to do that, than the man known as Black Arm Zephyr?!" Markus looked at Gion with a crazed look in his eyes, smiling from ear to ear.

" Well, I don't have that much longer to rest. Now that you're awake, I'm gonna need to get ready to head back out soon." Gion muttered.

Markus looked to Gion and smirked. " Hey, since we're both free for the rest of the day, how about we get lunch together? I'm starving and I haven't had a chance to hang out with you in awhile. I really missed you ya know?!"

Gion hesitated for a moment, before a smile found its way to her face. She looked up at Markus and nodded.

" Alright! Let's GO!!!!"

Markus snatched Gion off her feet, causing her to yelp from the shock and surprise of his sudden contact, and sped off with her in his arms like a mad man.

There was no end to the complaints that Kong received from the noise made that day.

..................

Alright guys! Next we go into a brief period of rest for the character. Gonna take this time to get some affairs in order.

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below! See ya!