Arranged Marriage

His Island

When you wake up, you're in bed again. As if it were all a dream. The ceiling's white like a cloud. You roll around onto your side, the walls are white too. The furniture all looks so simple and clean like a black and white illustration. Very different from the bedroom on Whole Cake Island, in all its vibrant shades of pinks and deep chocolates. You flip onto your stomach and throw a pillow over your head. Then you pull the comforter over your head. This feels familiar. You scream into the pillows, you're so frustrated. You've never been free, this shouldn't be surprising to you. But you had hope instilled by Cherri, that you could leave whenever you wanted to. That gave you the courage to explore whatever it was you thought could have been between you and Katakuri. Which was clearly a lie. And now you have nothing again. No way out.

You throw the pillow off your head and aggressively kick off the comforter. You realize you're still wearing your romper from earlier. There's two plates one the bedside table, one filled with donuts and the other with buttery brioche toast. Between the plates there's a delicate looking blue teacup cup on top of a matching saucer, and a blue teapot. There's comfortable looking pajamas on the chair next to it. It's all perfect and you hate it. He's been listening to your 'likes.' You hate that he's trying to act all considerate while he kidnaps you! You want to throw everything on the floor. But you don't want to waste food like that. You ignore the gifts and rush to the window and look out, you're pretty high up, and you have a great view of the ocean. That also feels familiar. Your fists clench. It's about midday, according to the sun's position in the sky. How long were you asleep? Minutes? Hours? A day?

Next to the window there are two large doors that open onto a veranda. You throw them both open and rush out to the railing. The railing goes up pretty high, so high, you can rest your chin on it. It must have been made for someone much taller than you. You guessed this was Katakuri's home. You don't know why, but you blushed. Being in his home felt intimate. You can tell alot about someone in their home. You wondered if he stuck you in your own room, or if he expected you to sleep with him.

You're not on Whole Cake Island anymore and you need to go back as soon as possible. You wonder how far away this island is from there. Brûlée won't help you get back. You can no longer count on her. She's not the friend you thought she was. You can still hear the way she laughed at your pain. But Cherri seemed so honest, she was a true friend, she had to be. Risking her life for you and for other girls in need. Do you even know what a true friend is? You've never had one. You just knew it had to work out because you had no other options.

You hear the 'clink' of boots behind you. How long had HE been there? Did it even matter? "Your island I presume?" you say with much vehemence. "Komungi Island," he says joining you at the rail. "Aren't you afraid I'll jump?" You threaten. "You won't," he tells you. Screw him. Now what happens? Everything that Cherri said came true. Now you would be 'taken.' Your stupid step-brother was actually right, and now, he's dead. You bet Katakuri did the job personally. "Is your brother, Oven, back?" You ask. He nods, "Yes." You grip the railing hard until the whites of your knuckles show, "what about the people who were on MY island? What happened to them?" He exhales slowly then answers, "They'd have been given a choice to accept Mama's terms and live in her territory." You clench your jaw, "Or die?" You say through your teeth. He nods silently next to you, "it's not your island anymore," he reminds you, "but this can be. You can go wherever you want here. Practice your Devil Fruit abilities, I'll help you." Like you'd accept his help anymore, that's presumptuous, "But let me guess, I can't go back to Whole Cake Island." Katakuri folds his hands and rests them on the rail, "not without me."

You look down on the town. There's a giant donut shaped building in the very center of the island, buildings made of bread loaves, benches made of donuts. It's adorable. And it smells amazing. But you can't truly enjoy it under these circumstances. "You were the one who killed my brother, weren't you?" You ask, finally meeting his gaze, not wanting to miss the look on his face or the twinkle in his mischievous eyes when he says so. "I did," he said, but he doesn't look quite as evil as you'd imagined he'd look, "you never wanted to see him again." You gasp, no! In saying that to him... you had your brother killed? Sure he was a horrible person, but you don't wish death on anyone. "If there's anyone else you want me to kill, I will, for you," he adds. You look at him in horror, "why would I ever want that? You must have misunderstood what I wanted."

He shrugs, "Perhaps, but I won't retract my previous statement." You narrow your eyes at him, "How did you kill him? And my parents? And the townspeople, what did they choose? If Oven is home... you must know the outcome, Sweet Commander Katakuri." You added a lot of bitterness behind saying his name, like you hated the way it felt on your tongue. He studied your face for a minute, "The people from your island locked you away in a tower and jeered at the sight of you because they thought you were a witch. Do you really think they'd willingly live here, happily, amongst our diverse peoples? It was a slaughter." You shake your head, "W-why couldn't you just relocate them?" He crosses his arms and leans back on the railing, "that's not how we operate. We're pirates. I told you not to mistake me for someone I'm not." Cherri was right again. 'None of them are kind men,' that's what she told you and she was right.

"I'll never ask you to kill someone, ever," you put your foot down. "You say that now," Katakuri smirks. "I change my mind," you say quickly, "I found someone you can kill for me. I'm looking right at him!" You know you're going to get a beating, at least that's what would have happened at home if you gave that sort of tongue to the king or queen. "You don't mean that," he says sadly, it looks like he's actually hurt from what you said. You wished you didn't feel bad for saying it, but you do. "Oh, NOW you can read minds?!" You throw back at him. You can't help it, you're so angry!

"There's no one you want me to kill, because you have nothing and no one to protect. Wait until you have children. Then we'll see if you'd kill to keep your family safe." He says. "I am NOT having children," you say sternly. "Maybe not. But I do. I have 84 brothers and sisters to protect. I'm telling you, you don't know what it's like to have to protect anything." You understand what he said, sort of. Because he's right, it's just you. 84? That's a lot. Even if you had kids you'd never have anywhere near that amount. "I hope you're not thinking I'll have 85 kids with you," you jeer. He brushes your hair off your shoulder and thumbs your neck, you let him, reminiscing in yesterday's mindset. "What are you fishing for me to say? That I bashed your brother's head in and enjoyed every second of it? Sure, I did. No one gets away with harming my family. I told you it would be different from now on. I meant it. No one touches you. No one insults you." Is it possible to be horrified and touched at the same time? Because that's how you feel.

"Tell me what you're thinking," he says. "I thought you could read minds," you can't help your crummy sarcastic humor from getting in the way. He kneels in front of you. If you weren't so stubborn you'd have fallen into his arms again, just to feel support and comfort from someone, even for a moment. You close your eyes and another hand is added to the other side of your face. You nuzzle your head into his big hand, unable to help yourself, his touch still feels so good. How can that possibly be? Katakuri still cared about you, in whatever way he knew how to care for someone. That part wasn't a lie. Even if your brother, the king and queen were not worth saving, your island had children that didn't deserve to die to a ruthless band of pirates over some treasure and weapons.