A promise
Katakuri was sitting on the deck of the Thousand Sunny.
Now that she's left the Big Mom Pirates and betrayed her mama, she doesn't know what to do.
She doesn't regret going with Luffy and she really likes him, but... She doesn't know how she must feel. She was always obedient and always followed her mother's orders no matter how cruel and inhuman they were.
Now that she's free... She doesn't know what she's looking for. What does she want.
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-Luffy...- Katakuri crawled on the ground trying to reach Luffy.
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She was watching the sea. Since she was little, she always liked the sea. She could spend hours sitting looking at the landscape with a bag full of donuts.
After Brulee's incident, this hobby was lost as she didn't have time for it.
Now that she's free... She feels good to enjoy moments like these.
Without a scarf to cover her mouth.
No responsibilities to carry.
Now that she doesn't have any of that... She feel something is missing.
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Katakuri grabbed Luffy just in time to pull him out of the attack range of the two Yonkos, but that caused her to take some collateral damage from being close to their attacks.
-Gah!- Katakuri hugs Luffy and covers him from the attacks with her body.- Luffy... Wake up...-
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Katakuri was so distracted looking at the sea that she didn't notice Luffy sat next to her.
-Are you looking at the sea?- Luffy asked after a few seconds of silence, startling Katakuri.
-Eh... Yeah...- Katakuri scratched her cheek and looked away a bit.- I always liked watching the sea... It's been a long time since I had time for my hobbies. Being the perfect sister doesn't give me time for things like this.-
-...... I also like to watch the sea.- Luffy said looking at the landscape with a smile.- It is beautiful and full of mystery.-
-Yes... The sea is beautiful...- Katakuri also smiled.
Luffy turned his face and looked at Katakuri. He slowly brought a hand to her cheek and she turned her face quickly to him. Luffy put it on her cheek. Before Luffy could say anything, Katakuri already started to blush. Luffy knows that is Katakuri's Haki that let her know what he was going to say, but he will say it anyway.
-Katakuri... You are beautiful. Even more beautiful than the sea.-
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Katakuri rolled a bit away to get away from the two Yonkos and grabbed Mogura with her free hand. She left Luffy leaning against a stone wall and wiped the blood from Luffy's forehead with her hand that lost a glove, revealing the new tattoo she had after joining the Straw Hats.
It was a small pink tattoo of the Straw Hat symbol.
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-What do you want to do, Mochi?-
-...... I don't know. My life has always revolved around family.- Katakuri had a somewhat lost look.- I gave up everything for them. Now that I'm away from them... I don't know what I want to do...-
Luffy looked at her silently and got up.
He climbed onto Katakuri's bent knees and looked straight into her eyes.
-Luffy?-
-If you don't have a goal. Then I'll give you one.- Luffy took Katakuri's cheeks between his hands.- Now you're one of the Straw Hats. I want to find One Piece and be the King of the Pirates.- Luffy smiled.- And I need you by my side as my queen. Mochi... Be my queen!-
-Luffy...- Katakuri could hear it.
She could hear that sincerity in his voice and that look of determination.
He was serious.
-Luffy... I promise I'll help you get to the throne... You'll be the new king and I... I'll be your queen.- Katakuri smiled slightly as she said the last thing.- I'll never... Never abandon you... Luffy.- Katakuri took Luffy's hand and planted a kiss on it.- I await the day when you ascend to the throne... My king.-
Luffy's smile was so bright that it lit up all the darkness surrounding Katakuri.
He's so radiant and beautiful... Shed give anything for him if it's just for that smile.
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-Mamamama! Katakuri... If you manage to convince the boy to be part of my family... Maybe I would reconsider my decision to kill you and allow you to get married! After all... You're still useful to me! Despite your ugly appearance!- Big Mom still held the idea of having Luffy's lineage within her dysfunctional family.
-No, mama.- Katakuri gripped her trident tightly as she clenched her jaw.- I won't let you put your dirty hands on him!-
-...... What did you say? I think I heard wrong... Repeat what you said, Katakuri...- Big Mom's smile disappeared.
-I won't hang him to you.- Katakuri replied.- You were always like this. It doesn't matter what happens. You use blood as chains. Fear as a weapon. Your ambitions as our goal... No matter how we try, we always end up doing what you want... But that's over.- Katakuri looked Big Mom in the eye, with a fierceness never seen before.- I'm free now and I won't abandon this freedom. I love Luffy from the moment he freed me from you and from what tied me up for decades. I made him a promise and I plan to keep it... Luffy will be the Pirate King and neither you nor anyone else will take it from him.-
-Katakuri... I see you've already made up your mind.- Big Mom's expression turned to one full of anger.
-If you're going to be a hindrance to Luffy's dream... I'll fight to the death against you.- Katakuri smiled.- I'm not afraid of dying.-
-To think that you'd be better off brainwashing your children into obeying you... I see that she's not as loyal to you as I thought, Linlin.- Kaido laughs.
-...... If you want to die so much...- Linlin raised Prometheus.- Then die!!!! Heavenly Feuer!-
-Mochi Tsuki!-
The clash between the mother and daughter attacks is intense, but even if Katakuri used her full strength, she was no match for Big Mom's inhuman power.
That's not to mention Kaido, who really wants to kill Luffy for various reasons.
She can't back down... She has to hold on.
Until Luffy wakes up.