One strike, and Sakazuki was down.
Faces across the Marine line tightened. No one could gauge how deep Rakuya's strength ran.
With that lesson in front of them, the remaining Headquarters elites froze where they stood.
"Rakuya." Steel Bone Kong's eyes went dark. "Hand over the other four. The Devil Fruits are yours."
"Cash and carry."
"Fine."
Kong flicked his wrist. An invisible gale wrapped the two iron chests and hurled them toward Rakuya.
"Straightforward."
As the chests arced in, Rakuya tossed the remaining four back toward the flagship. His right hand drew a circle in the air.
"Universal Pull."
With a hiss, both iron chests snapped to a halt in front of him.
[Ding. Mysterious energy detected. Collect]
"Collect."
[Ding… collecting]
[Ding. Twenty Zoan-class Devil Fruits. Points: 16,000]
[Ding. Five Paramecia-class Devil Fruits. Points: 4,500]
[Total: 20,500 points]
His balance ticked up to 51,400. Rakuya glanced once, mildly surprised. Five figures' worth of points in a single day was a rush even for him.
He let the thrill settle and looked back at Kong.
Zephyr, Sengoku, Borsalino, and Saint Charlos landed safely on the deck.
"Rakuya, return Momousagi."
Vice Admiral Tsuru stepped forward, face like carved stone.
"Oh?" Rakuya lifted his head. The woman's features were all hard lines and colder eyes.
"Return her," Tsuru said. "Now."
"I never took her," Rakuya said, smiling. "What is there to return?"
"Lies. You abducted Momousagi. You call that not taking her?" Tsuru's words were blades.
"Who said I abducted her? She's right here." Rakuya opened a palm toward the woman at his side. "Whether she returns to Marine Headquarters or sails with me and stains her hands as a pirate, she decides."
He left it there.
Truth was, his heart beat a touch fast. He had risked everything dragging Momousagi through the Holy Land, using Celestial Dragons as kindling to rewrite her faith. If she went soft now and walked back to Tsuru, all of that would be smoke.
"Momousagi," Tsuru called from the prow, voice flat and commanding. "Come back."
"I…"
Momousagi took a timid half step, eyes on her elder sister, unable to choose.
Back at Headquarters she had clung to Justice. In the end it proved a punchline. The protected Celestial Dragons were rotten to the core. Such garbage did not deserve her blade.
"Come back."
Tsuru's tone sharpened into an order. The entire line held its breath. Even Kong kept silent. Of all of them, Tsuru knew Momousagi best.
Seeing the girl hesitate, Tsuru felt a cold weight drop in her gut. "What is it? Did Rakuya threaten you?"
"No." Momousagi shook her head quickly.
"Then why won't you return? Did he…?" A flash of killing light cut across Tsuru's gaze as a darker thought struck.
"No," Momousagi said again, cheeks flushing.
"Then what? A few days with this pirate and you are done with the Corps? You want to fly a skull flag?"
Silence spread like oil.
Only the two women's voices moved the air, the rest waiting for the verdict.
"Momousagi… please come back! Dearest Momousagi!" Tea Dolphin blurted, panic fraying his tone.
"Shut up."
Momousagi cut him a look, then, almost imperceptibly, turned back to Rakuya.
He stood behind her, smiling. "It's your call. What Justice means to you is yours alone to decide."
"…Mm."
She bit her lip. Decision trembled in her eyes.
"Momousagi! You truly will not return? What nonsense has this brat filled your head with?" Even Tsuru's legendary calm was cracking.
"Shave."
"Moonwalk."
She burst forward, fist cloaked in Armament, and drove straight for Rakuya's chest.
"Brat, what did you do to her?"
The blow howled past the salt spray, stopping less than a meter from Rakuya's heart.
"Tsuru!"
Kong's face changed. He launched after her in a blur.
"No, Sister!"
Momousagi's body moved before her mind. She sprang in front of Rakuya, trying to take Tsuru's fist herself.
"Momousagi."
For a heartbeat Rakuya was stunned, warmth rising in his chest. He swept an arm around her waist and flashed back with her in tow.
Boom.
Tsuru's iron punch caved the sea, a geyser leaping skyward.
"Tch."
She missed. Kicking off empty air, she cut across the sky in a string of Moonwalk steps, chasing again, legs scissoring, footwork ghost-quick.
"Why block for him, Momousagi? Will you flee your whole life with a pirate? Will you turn your back on Headquarters? On your Justice?" Words tumbled hotter, harsher. The measured vice admiral sounded like an angry aunt in a street market.
Karp, Kong, and the rest had never seen Tsuru like this.
"Sister…"
"You still call me that? Last chance." Tsuru's eyes pinned her. "Are you coming back, or not?"
Tears pooled. Momousagi's shoulders trembled. Her heart was chaos.
"Leave it to me."
Rakuya felt the quiver in her body and could not stand it. He spoke softly.
"Perv…"
Held in his arms, she felt the steady strength under his coat. The familiar silhouette shattered what composure she had left. Her eyes went wet and she began to cry, small and helpless.
She had called him that a hundred times. This time there was no sting in it at all.
Rakuya drew her in tighter and moved with a blur, his speed no slower than any practitioner of the Six Styles.
"Let go of her, brat!" Tsuru's temper finally boiled over. If she had to drag Momousagi back by force, she would.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru, she has already chosen. Are you blind?"
"Chosen? When?" Tsuru's laugh was cold as sleet. She bore down, pressure knifing ahead of her.
"When you threw that punch at me," Rakuya said, voice cool. "At that moment she chose to defect."
"Bastard!" Tsuru spat, furious enough to swear.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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