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Hancock huffed out an impatient breath—they’d been waiting for quite some time and the Marine officials were yet to show up. The Warlords in almost full attendance was rare enough, one would’ve thought they’d be shown some courtesy. Perhaps she should’ve known better.
Finally, the door opened, admitting Vice Admiral Tsuru in her full glory. “Apologies, it wasn’t my intention to keep you all waiting.”
Hancock inclined her head, at least she had the decency to apologize, unlike many others who thought themselves above pirates. She steeled herself for the usual, a long-winded ramble on issues that were of no interest to anyone, ending in an attempt to persuade her or one of the others to take on some task the government had deemed too risky for its own.
Already, she could see Doflamingo opening his mouth. He loved nothing more than stretching the meetings by flirting with Tsuru. Whether that was from a genuine desire to bed her or his innate ability to irritate everyone around him, she didn’t know or care.
However, before he could voice any of his uncouth compliments, Mihawk cleared his throat. “I positively adore your outfit today, Vice Admiral.”
Hancock narrowed her eyes at him. What was he doing ? Tsuru seemed to be just as puzzled.
She turned to look at Mihawk suspiciously before stating, “Thank you. It means a lot coming from you.”
“I can’t help but agree,” Crocodile said. “Always among the best dressed in the room.”
“I wouldn’t count myself an expert on the topic,” Jinbe joined in, “but if you were amenable, perhaps you could give me some advice over dinner.”
Doflamingo had straightened from his usual slouch and was eyeing everyone in the room with a dark expression. He never liked not being the cleverest, the center of attention.
Had they planned this in advance or was it improvisation to mess with Doflamingo? Regardless, Hancock approved of the idea.
“Vice Admiral,” she started, using her best sultry voice few ever got to hear, “I wouldn’t normally ask but since we’re on the topic. Would you mind helping me with my dress after the meeting? The buttons can be unbelievably finicky.”
Now Tsuru's full attention was on Hancock, those sharp eyes boring into hers. Had she gone too far ? Surely nobody could be angry at her—she was so beautiful, she could get away with anything.
“As you wish,” Tsuru said before turning to her papers and officially starting the meeting.
Hancock felt her cheeks flush. She hadn't expected Tsuru to actually say yes but now that she had, obviously it was just to get back at Doflamingo for his constant harassment.
So why was her heart beating so distractingly fast? She averted her eyes from Tsuru, only to meet Mihawk's knowing stare. She scowled at him and received a smug smirk in turn. Unbelievable.
The meeting went past in a blur, even Doflamingo's interruptions were less frequent than usual. He ended up volunteering for something or other, keen on winning Tsuru's affections, Hancock noted, amused.
But it was her that Tsuru joined when the others started wandering out.
“You're staying here tonight?” she asked.
“Yes,” Hancock replied.
Her ship was nearby but still a safe distance away. She didn't trust the government, and neither did her crew. If they didn't hear from her at certain intervals they'd know something was wrong.
Moreover, Ran had joined her, planning to keep guard throughout the night. She could've easily helped Hancock with her dress—she hadn't lied about its complexity—but at this point, Hancock wasn't going to reject Tsuru's help.
“If you'd like to dine together, I can arrange for something to be brought to your rooms,” Tsuru offered as they started down the corridor.
“That's generous, thank you.” She was hungry, not that she had much faith in the culinary skills of the Marines.
However, perhaps Tsuru's rank would afford her some special consideration, not just the slop they served to the lower ranks.
On the way, Tsuru flagged down some poor officer and gave them instructions to deliver a meal to Hancock's quarters, making sure to request wine as well.
Soon they reached the room assigned to Hancock. Ran was standing guard outside and raised an eyebrow at her guest but said nothing out loud. She'd always been diplomatic.
“You may go have dinner downstairs,” Hancock told Ran. “If there's one Marine I trust, it's her.”
“You want me to take my time?” she asked with a meaningful smile.
“It's not like that!” Although maybe it was . “But there's no need to rush.”
Ran let out a chuckle. “Good luck then.”
Tsuru had observed the exchange patiently and now stepped into the room after Hancock.
She shrugged off her heavy coat, draping it over the back of a chair. “Let's see about the dress then.”
Hancock could feel a blush creeping on her cheeks and quickly turned away. She pulled her hair aside so Tsuru could access the back of her dress more easily.
“I used to have a similar dress,” she said as her nimble fingers started working on the buttons, sending shivers down Hancock's spine. “When I was younger, of course.”
“I'm sure it'd still look good on you,” Hancock said.
She'd always thought Tsuru was a handsome woman. Perhaps not particularly feminine but that seemed to be out of preference. Still, she couldn't imagine her looking bad in anything—you could make the simplest garment look impressive if you carried it with enough confidence.
Tsuru let out a low chuckle. “There's no need to stroke my ego, I know you youngsters were just humoring yourselves.”
“It's true we were doing it to ridicule Doflamingo,” Hancock admitted, doing her best to focus on anything except the fingers traveling down her back. “But that doesn't make it any less true.”
“Well, I'm flattered. It's nice not to be overlooked entirely just because of my age.”
“Age should be respected and admired.”
Not everyone got to enjoy the luxury of old age, she knew that better than anyone. Only a fool dismissed a woman just because she was no longer youthful—and more often than not, that fool was a man.
Women were better than men, and there was nobody more beautiful than a woman with wisdom and experience. Hancock's own power depended on people's shallowness but she didn't fall into the same trap herself. She valued things other than skin-deep beauty.
“You're more suited to leadership than the other Warlords, I'd say,” Tsuru commented as she reached the last button, dangerously low on Hancock's back. “There you go.”
“Thank you.”
Hancock didn't make a habit out of covering herself when around her crew, they were always admiring but respectful, and she didn't see a point in being modest here either.
As a Marine, Tsuru had surely already seen everything. And Hancock had to admit she wanted to see if she'd look as she let the top of her dress slide down around her hips.
She had no reason to believe Tsuru was interested in women but no reason to think the opposite either. Except for the fact she had a child, of course. However, that really meant nothing in the end.
“I'll switch to something more comfortable before our food arrives,” Hancock said, taking her sweet time browsing through her choices with only a bra covering her breasts.
Tsuru was too tactful to be obvious about it but Hancock could feel her gaze lingering before she moved to sit at the table. There was a knock on the door and Hancock slipped quickly behind a wooden screen, still half-dressed. She wasn’t about to grant anyone else the privilege of seeing more of her than what the cut of her dress allowed.
She only emerged when the door clicked shut again, leaving them alone. Tsuru had set the table with the woman who'd brought the food and there was nothing left for Hancock to do but sit down opposite Tsuru.
She was about to serve herself a plate when Tsuru got up, “Allow me.”
Hancock frowned. She was used to being waited on, had come to expect it, but it didn’t sit right with her here. She truly respected Tsuru the way she never could’ve felt toward a man, it almost felt like she should’ve been the one doing the serving.
The food was not luxurious—a simple vegetarian pasta dish with fresh salad and honey cake for dessert. It was tasty though, not the overcooked and under-seasoned mush she’d had a couple of times before she’d wisened up and stopped eating the food offered by the Navy.
They ate in companionable silence until the main course was gone. Tsuru poured them both more wine—adequate but nothing close to what they made on Amazon Lily—and leaned back on her chair, almost looking like she was about to tip it back like a teenage boy.
“I’ve always wondered,” Hancock said, cutting into her cake, “why’d you choose only women for your crew?”
It was pure curiosity, she was the same after all, and one thing that had always made her feel more inclined to trust this woman despite her job description.
Tsuru took a moment to think about her answer, swirling the wine around in her glass. “It’s not easy for women out there in the world, and Marines are no better. As a young woman, I had to endure a lot. I’m hoping to give women opportunities I didn’t have. Only bitter people want the next generation to suffer like them.”
Hancock nodded. She didn’t need to be told how men treated women, the things they did when the opportunity arose. She’d always felt that uplifting women was her duty even if it would never be enough to balance the scales in a world still mostly ruled by men.
“I’ve known amazing men, still do,” Tsuru continued. “But there hasn’t been a single case of sexual harassment on my ship. I’ve never had to demote an officer for starting a bar fight or teach them basic life skills their parents failed to instill in them.”
Such cases were quite rare on Amazon Lily as well. Not all women were saints, even Hancock had her vices, but in general, her people knew how to honor other people’s boundaries, and how to work together. Many of those who had left to explore the world had returned, disillusioned and traumatized.
“You’d enjoy Amazon Lily,” Hancock said, savoring the sweetness of her dessert. “It’s peaceful, no men are allowed there.”
“I have wondered about it,” Tsuru admitted. “But I have a feeling uninvited guests aren’t welcomed, no matter what gender.”
“It’s true that we’re wary of strangers but we have our reasons.” She suspected Tsuru had too, whatever she’d had to “endure”, Hancock wasn’t stupid enough to ask further questions about it.
“It is for the best. Too much trust can ruin a good thing.”
“Your husband—” Hancock started, leaving the word to hang in the air.
She didn’t know how else to bring the subject up. There were rumors, of course, but Tsuru was quite skilled at keeping her private life a mystery. Everyone knew she had a grandchild though, so the logical conclusion was that she’d had a partner in the past, if not now.
“Husband? No such thing.” Tsuru looked amused. “There was someone, well, more than one but I must admit the identity of Kujaku’s grandfather is a mystery even to me.”
“Vice Admiral—”
“Just call me Tsuru.”
“You’re a wild one, Tsuru,” Hancock said, the informal name feeling strange in her mouth.
Tsuru snorted. “In my youth, perhaps. Nowadays I’m married to this job. I’ll die before I retire, I imagine.”
“You ought to relax, everybody needs a vacation.” Not that Hancock frequently took a break from her duties but she made sure to indulge in luxuries when she could, at least.
“Now where would I go? All my friends and my family already work with me.”
“Then maybe you should come visit Amazon Lily,” Hancock suggested.
It was unusual but not unheard of, inviting an outsider for a visit. All such requests had to go through her and nobody would’ve dared even propose bringing a man on the island.
Tsuru raised an eyebrow. “You’re serious?”
“There is a festival coming up, the whole island is attending. It’s worth experiencing even if I say so myself.”
“But why ask… me?”
Hancock pursed her lips. “Who should I ask?”
“There are plenty of young female Marines who’d gladly join you.”
“And what would I want with any of them? Amazon Lily is full of enticing women if all I want is a night of fun.”
“If you truly want me to come,” Tsuru said finally, “I’d be honored.”
Boa had offered to transport Tsuru on her ship but predictably, the suggestion had been denied by her superiors without further discussion. The trust towards the Warlords stretched only so far—Tsuru was lucky to get them to agree on the trip at all. Not that they could’ve truly stopped her, she was old enough to have learned how to grovel sufficiently in front of the higher-ups and then do as she wished once their eyes were turned.
Regardless, in the end her request was granted as long as she agreed to regular check-ins and vowed to bring her crew along. Tsuru even managed to spin the outing as work-related, meaning no vacation time would be subtracted, although that would’ve been a small sacrifice.
As her ship slid to a stop near Amazon Lily, Boa was already waiting with multiple other women in tow. Tsuru had contacted her in advance, letting her know of their arrival and acquiring permission to bring her whole crew along.
“As long as they don’t step foot on the island,” Boa had said. “They’re welcome to stay nearby with the ship.”
A good example of something the Navy didn’t need to know, that Tsuru would be attending the festivities with barely any backup. She was confident enough in her own strength and Boa’s goodwill to not raise a fuss over the order. Unfortunately, Kujaku was another matter.
She was stubborn and proud as well as overly protective over Tsuru despite her needing no such protection. She’d demanded to be allowed to join Tsuru as her bodyguard—a demand Tsuru had diplomatically translated into a polite request before conveying it to Boa.
She’d taken some time before she’d agreed, saying, “I’ll allow it out of respect for you. Not because she insists.”
That had gotten a laugh out of Tsuru, it seemed Kujaku’s reputation preceded her. And even now, as they stepped ashore, Kujaku kept shooting suspicious glances Boa’s way. Glances that were met with equally apprehensive ones from Boa’s sisters.
Let none of them create a scene, Tsuru prayed vaguely before shifting her full attention to the handsome woman before her.
“I hope your journey was pleasant,” she said, linking her arm with Tsuru’s without further greetings.
“As pleasant as can be expected,” Tsuru replied as she let herself be led into the forest, the canopy of trees offering some shade but doing little to ease the sweltering heat of the island.
“I’ve had separate quarters prepared for you and your escort,” Boa said. “But you’re of course welcome to share with me if you prefer.”
Tsuru could appreciate her boldness but she’d have to wait and see where the evening led. Right now, she was doing her best to spot every little detail and preserve it in her memory in case she never got to visit the island again.
She had more sense than to request permission to take any pictures. Even if she’d wanted them only for her own use, the risk of them going missing was too great. Moreover, it would’ve sounded suspicious—like she’d come here with the intention of spying.
They advanced at a leisurely pace and it took a while before they reached the village itself. Tsuru took in the pristine, opulent buildings, multiple overlooking them high on the mountainside. Everything was tidy and orderly, quite unlike many of the cities the World Government claimed to protect.
The tallest building—the palace, she assumed—was both beautiful and respectable but not sinister like she’d grown used to expect from the Navy. There was no need to instill fear into people here, everyone was already fully aware of their leader’s strength.
“Our bathing facilities are first class,” Boa said as she steered them toward the palace. “If you’d like to freshen up for the evening.”
“That does sound wonderful,” Tsuru admitted.
The weather was hot and humid, making her shirt stick to her skin uncomfortably. A bath should do wonders and help her relax. This was meant to be a vacation, after all, regardless of what she’d told the people back home.
They took a tour of their rooms and Tsuru could find nothing to fault. She was used to ascetic living and although she knew how to enjoy luxuries, she never expected or required them. Nevertheless, she appreciated the care that had been put into making them feel welcome.
The beds had been made with the plushest sheets, and soft, clean towels folded in the shape of swans set on top. There were snacks set out, just waiting to be sampled. Fresh fruit, local pastries, and small sweets wrapped in translucent paper. And not a speck of dust anywhere.
“I have some things to attend to,” Boa said, sounding genuinely regretful, her hand lingering on Tsuru’s arm. “But I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
“We’re looking forward to it,” Tsuru replied with a hint of a smile, ignoring the scoff from Kujaku’s direction.
Whatever Kujaku’s feelings were about Boa, and this trip in general, even she didn’t pass on the chance to visit the baths. She sank into the hot water with an exaggerated moan, closing her eyes.
Tsuru huffed out a laugh at the sight. “Not all bad, huh?”
The steam was making it hard to see things clearly and gave the room an otherworldly feel. Few places could or wanted to invest into luxuries like these but she reckoned the world could’ve been a much happier and more peaceful place if people prioritized comfort over war. Her employers certainly never would, in their head it was enough as long as the quarters of the Marines were adequate—and even that was a stretch at times.
“I don’t know what you’re expecting from this trip,” Kujaku mumbled, sounding like she might drift off right then and there. “But I’m not complaining about this part.”
Maybe I ought to finally retire, Tsuru thought to herself, especially if it means being able to enjoy baths like this every day. “Some things are worth doing just for the experience.”
“I bet. If it comes to it, they’ll expect you to provide inside information on this place.”
Tsuru frowned. She didn’t like to think about it but Kujaku was right. A day might come when the tentative truce between the government and the Warlords came to an end. Everyone would be expected to pick a side.
“I might tell them that I was blindfolded,” Tsuru mused, half joking.
Kujaku snorted. “For the whole visit?”
“People already think I’m eccentric. No reason to think that wouldn’t extend to the bedroom.”
Kujaku made a face. “I don’t want to know.”
“And don’t you go telling them anything either,” Tsuru said, her tone serious. “There’s little good that’d come out of it.”
“Sounds like treason.”
“A little treason never killed anyone,” Tsuru replied dismissively.
By the time they were ready to meet Boa again, they were both starving. Tsuru, of course, was more tactful about it, taking advantage of the treats littered around their room to sample some local flavors.
Kujaku’s stomach was growling audibly but instead of following Tsuru’s example, she complained out loud, “I want some real food! I should’ve packed my own bentô.”
Tsuru rolled her eyes—there was a reason Kujaku wasn’t a diplomat. Fortunately, there was a knock on the door right then.
“You’ve both already met my sister, Sandersonia,” Boa said as Tsuru opened the door. “I thought she might entertain Kujaku tonight.”
Sandersonia stared at them unblinking. “Good evening.”
Kujaku pursed her lips and Tsuru suspected she was about to point out she’d come here as a bodyguard and didn’t need a distraction, oblivious to the fact it’d be impolite to suggest Boa was planning on something devious.
“That sounds wonderful,” Tsuru interjected before her granddaughter could open her mouth.
They made their way down the stairs, Boa and Tsuru in the front, Kujaku and Sandersonia a few steps behind.
“You’re wearing it,” Tsuru commented quietly, eyes rowing over Boa’s body. “I wouldn’t have been offended if you’d picked something else for tonight.”
It was the dress she’d mentioned weeks ago during her dinner with Boa. Before that, she hadn’t thought about the dress in years but once she’d gone looking, it had still been in the back of her closet, a little dusty but otherwise in good condition.
She’d never had many occasions to wear the thing, besides it had never felt like her, anyway. So she’d had it washed and then wrapped it up to gift Boa along with some confectionaries from her hometown. She’d presented it to her host discreetly, not meaning to pressure her into anything.
“I did have something else in mind originally,” Boa admitted, smoothing a hand down her hip. “But I find I prefer this. It’s got a timeless look.”
Tsuru chuckled. “Well, it certainly isn’t trendy. Even back in the day, I cared little for such things.”
The dress that had never looked quite right on her fit Boa like it had been made for her. Despite their difference in height and other proportions, it didn’t look too small on the other woman. More revealing, perhaps, but even that seemed classy rather than tasteless. Although Tsuru suspected Boa had the confidence to look that way even in the nude.
Outside, the sun was setting, painting everything with warm hues, and the excitement in the air was tangible. So many people, all women, crowded the streets, clad in their favorite outfits.
Multiple stalls had been set out, offering different foods—both sweet and sour—and delicious scents were warring for their attention. There were other offerings too, jewelry and garlands made of fresh flowers, as well as games and toys for the children.
However, hungry as she was, Kujaku quickened her pace, striding ahead with little care for the etiquette, headed straight for the closest food stall. Poor Sandersonia was hard-pressed to keep up with her even with her much longer legs.
Luckily, Boa didn’t seem to care and Tsuru didn’t mind a moment of privacy either—she was too old for a chaperone, anyway.
“This is our chance to make an escape,” Boa whispered, leaning closer conspiratorially.
Tsuru couldn’t help but smile. “My thoughts exactly.”
They made certain that both Kujaku and Sandersonia were turned away, fully absorbed in the delicious offerings before them, and easily slipped into the thick crowd, people giving way and greeting their ruler. Still, nobody seemed surprised to see her mingling in the crowd.
Once they were confident they'd lost their entourage, they stopped to buy themselves some food and drinks as well. However, Tsuru got no chance to dig into her portion before Boa was guiding her away.
“There's a better place to enjoy our food,” she insisted, throwing a look over her shoulder.
Her sisters must've been as hesitant to leave her alone with Tsuru as Kujaku had been.
“It's traditional to spend tonight admiring the moon,” Boa explained as she drew Tsuru away from the clamor of the festival, toward a deserted path. “Most people tend to enjoy the festival grounds first though. We should have a few hours of privacy.”
There was little light to illuminate their steps but the path was well-trodden and easy to follow even when the ground steepened, leading up the mountainside. They climbed in silence till Boa indicated they'd reached their destination.
There were benches to sit on and you could see the whole village open up beneath you, lights twinkling in the darkness, and the sky above with its millions of stars, the full moon hanging over everything.
They sat side by side, enjoying their food—delicious even lukewarm. Boa’s thigh pressed into Tsuru's, radiating warmth that was in stark contrast to the cool bench under her.
“I've never brought anyone on the island before,” Boa said. “It's not the sort of thing you do.”
“People don't seem to mind.” Nobody had treated Tsuru strangely or said anything to her.
“They trust my judgment. But I don't wish to take advantage of that.”
“No harm will come to them because of me, you have my word.”
She turned to Tsuru, a rare smile on her face. “I didn't think so. But I hope you take no offense if I don't extend the same trust to your granddaughter.”
Tsuru snorted. “She has a mind of her own but she won't oppose me outright.”
At that, Boa sighed, relaxing. “I hope my sister might convince her to become more amenable. She may not look it but Sandersonia can be quite convincing.”
“I should’ve expected you to have a plan of some kind. I’m sure Kujaku will enjoy this visit if she allows herself a moment to stop worrying about me.”
Boa hummed, taking a sip of her drink. “It’s normal, worrying about the ones you care about. My sisters are no different. But of course, sometimes it feels like they’re underestimating you because of that.”
“Being underestimated isn’t always so bad,” Tsuru countered.
She’d come to know that, dealing mostly with men and lately, younger people. She was often deemed weak due to her gender or her age, which allowed her to finish missions in record time. Nowadays, her reputation occasionally made things harder but many pirates and Marines were too dense to believe what they hadn’t experienced first hand.
“True, I expect nothing from men,” Boa agreed, eyes fixed on the pale, luminous moon. “It makes things pathetically easy.”
There were a few exceptions, Tsuru thought. Men who viewed you as a person, regardless of your gender, age, or strength. Ones whose ego didn’t cloud their judgment and who were able to move past the prejudices of the society. But this was no time to bring that up, not when so many of them wouldn’t hesitate to take advantage of anyone they perceived weaker.
“I want to thank you for inviting me,” Tsuru said after a short silence.
Boa turned her dark eyes to Tsuru, a slight flush on her face. “Even if it was for selfish reasons?”
Tsuru shrugged. “Everyone’s allowed to be selfish every now and then.”
As if to demonstrate the strength of her belief, Tsuru lifted her hand, sliding it to the back of Boa’s neck, detecting a slight shiver under her flawless, tan skin. She gave the other woman every opportunity to pull back but instead, Boa allowed herself to be bent closer, a waft of her exquisite perfume hitting Tsuru as their lips touched in a soft kiss.
A small, breathless sound escaped Boa, and her lips—sticky with melted sugar from one of the snacks she’d consumed—parted slightly, inviting Tsuru deeper.