The Unforeseen

Commaders

Chapter 64
I had never partied as hard as I did the past week. Of course, all the alcohol I drank had no affect on me, but I still enjoyed seeing the whole crew properly drunk an acting like true idiots would. There were a few rookies that volunteered to stay sober each night so they could be on watch (but mostly so they could go get more alcohol when we ran out. And we ran out. Fast.) while everyone else enjoyed themselves.
Ace and I were almost never apart, save for the brief instances where I was whisked away by mobs for a few hours. He would always wait where I'd left him, claiming he wasn't about to interfere. The other members, mostly those not on Ace's crew, noticed how close we were and took every chance they saw to mock Ace and poke fun. He only set two people on fire, which I thought was an impressive show of restraint. Obviously, the flames only ever harmed the clothes the men wore, and not their skin. Ace quite enjoyed seeing them scurry to their rooms, cursing him as they ran.
"You don't have to be so cruel." I scorned.
"They should know better." He gave me only a shrug before he changed the subject.
"I hear a few other commanders are coming to congratulate you." He started. "Are you ready for that?"
I crossed my arms and relaxed against the wall, enjoying the slight breeze of the afternoon. "Bring it on. I'm somehow dealing with you everyday, so bring the other fourteen commanders on."
A low chuckle. "The others are bit stranger than Marco and me. You might want to prepare yourself just in case."
As if to prove his point, a man in a feminine, pink kimono burst onto the deck. The bun in his geisha-styled hair shook, but the dozen pins and gel kept it in its place. "Where is she?" His dark eyes jumped around, finally pausing when he saw me. "Alissa!"
I bit back my surprise, and peeled myself from the wall. I took a few steps, my hand outstretched, but the man came to a halt in front of me and gave me a crisp bow. "I am Izo, commander of the 16th division. I look forward to working and fighting by your side." He didn't move from his bow, even after a small silence followed.
Confused, I glanced to Ace for help. He grinned, but mouthed, bow back. Unconvinced, I bent at the waist. "As do I."
The second I finished, he straightened and looked at Ace. "I trust you've been treated kindly?" While his gaze was still on Ace, eyes narrowing, his question was to me.
"Quite. Would you like to see my quarters?" I offered. Normally, I wouldn't even consider allowing someone new into my room, but there was just something about this pirate that allowed me to feel at ease.
"Oh, maybe another time, my sparrow," he apologized, "I am afraid my gifts to you are being unloaded there for the next hour or so."
"Gifts?" I repeated. Wait, how many did he bring for me if it takes an hour to bring them aboard?
He bit his lip, his voice laced with guilt. "It isn't as much as I would have liked to give you, but someone," he sent a stabbing glare to Whitebeard who smiled sheepishly while scratching the back of his head, "didn't inform us until the last possible minute." He returned his eyes to me, the dark color shining against the morning sun. "Please do not take offense; I will try to amend this at a later date."
I held up both hands before he bowed in apology. "Woah, woah. First, I didn't need anything. Joining this family and getting so many new brothers is all I could ask for. Second, the fact that you came all this way just to welcome me shows me who you are way more than any gift could. So, please, don't worry over it."
Izo knit his brows together, seemingly confused. But he didn't hold the expression for long before waving my words away. "I understand, my dear; you are just being modest and polite. But you must know that will get you no where with a bunch of pirates."
I turned to Ace once more for help, but he offered none as he looked on with pleasure. Defeated, I simply thanked Izo for his gifts and told him I would like him to be there when I opened them.
Others arrived later that day, but only one other commander arrived- Jozu. As with the others, I had only seen him on wanted posters. I wasn't prepared for the massive man, with broad shoulders and an upper body that seemed too big for him. The 3rd division commander... I snapped myself out of my trance, quickly covering my shock at his sheer height- the man was at least the twice of Ace.
"Captain," He greeted Whitebeard as he walked onto the deck. "It's been too long."
"Not long enough." Ace muttered.
"What was that?" He growled.
Ace stood from his seat, marching right up to him. "You heard me." They glared fiercely at each other, a look in their eyes I couldn't identify. Then, just as I thought it couldn't be more tense, Jozu picked up Ace with one arm and squeezed him tightly. The two were laughing as he let Ace down, their eyes now shining.
"Where is she?" Jozu asked. "I want to meet this girl!"
Ace chuckled and motioned for him to follow as he led the commander to me. "Alissa, this is Jozu, the third division commander. Jozu, this is her."
I offered a small smile. "It's a pleasure to-" my greeting was cut off as the giant picked me up for a tight hug, as he had done to Ace. I thought my ribs were about to break before he set me back down.
"Welcome to the crew!" He beamed. "I've been waiting to meet you."
"You already knew about me?" I asked, shooting a look at Ace.
"Of course! Everyone has heard, by now, that you have managed to tame Fire-Fist's flame. No one quite knows how- or why you would want to, even-, but it's still news that is bound to be relevant for at least another month." Jozu explained. I had figured people would be talking, of course, though I didn't know it had already started.
"How's he been doing?" Jozu asked me, giving a slight nod in Ace's direction.
"As normal as he can be." I answered, mostly serious.
Jozu chuckled at my response, then clapped me on the back- so hard I had to catch myself as I stumbled forward. "I like it." He turned around to face Ace. "I don't know how you managed it, but you sure found yourself a good one."
I felt the heat rising in my cheeks, but Ace only smiled and walked to me. He slipped his hand effortlessly into mine, our fingers instantly intertwining. "Yeah; she's something special."
A smile tugged at the corner of my lips.
The moment, however, was ruined as a group of guys swarmed the deck. It seemed Jozu was well liked by everyone, but they weren't there for him. It wasn't long before I was hoisted onto someone's shoulders and carried to the mess hall, where a cooking competition was taking place. They wanted me to judge, but I insisted on participating. I won the first round, but the other chefs demanded rematch after rematch.
I didn't get to see Ace again until the sun had set, not that I minded; I had the rest of my life with him, but who knows how long these members will stay before their commanders leave. I wanted to know as many of my brothers as I could, and if that meant making a dozen pies and a dozen steaks, then so be it.