The Marine

From a distance, the father and son looked at each other eye to eye.

But the illusion was broken as the large dark-haired man neared the others at the end of the hall.

He had grown taller but was still a foot and a half shorter than his old man.

Bill hadn’t seen his father in almost half a year and thought he looked no different than before; he was even wearing the same dark green and brown suit under the Justice coat draped over his shoulders.

Seeing Aramaki, and hearing Sentomaru groan in displeasure, the trio walked towards each other.

With long strides Aramaki covered more ground than the other two, and once they were in arms reach, grabbed Bill into a bearhug.

After several seconds, Aramaki let go and said: “It’s good to see you, son. Real good.”

Bill hadn’t fought against the hug, and after his dad let go said confused: “It’s good to see you too, dad. But shouldn’t you be back in Vallipo?”

Answering with a wide smile, Aramaki put a large hand on Bill’s shoulder and said: “I just had the urge to see you, let’s go and talk a bit.”

Shaking his head, Bill spoke somewhat naively when he replied: “Well… where are you going to be? I’ve just got back from a long voyage and need to give Captain Sentomaru my briefing.”

With his hand still on Bill’s shoulder, Aramaki looking towards Sentomaru smiled said: “Ah, don’t worry about that son, the briefing can wait until you turn your reports in.” then as his smile turned slightly more threatening continued: “Isn’t that right Sentomaru?”

As Bill watched the two men, he felt there was a problem.

He wanted to speak up since Sentomaru was his superior officer, and one who had always treated him well enough. The issue was, when it came to his parents, he naturally could not treat them as he would just some other people. In spite of himself he would become more deferential when speaking to them.

So, watching the two back and forth Bill stood by and pretended to not see anything until with another groan Sentomaru relented: “Fine, fine.”

Then as if struck by an idea then said more forcible: “But listen, Greeny, MY LIEUTENANT will be in my office before the end of the day with his report in hand or I’ll hold you accountable!”

This was the first time Bill had ever seen anyone speak cross against his father, and thinking of Rear Admiral Lacriox, Bill readied himself to stop a fight under Marineford.

He knew Captain Sentomaru was strong, but in his eyes, his father would waste larger man.

Thankfully, as he slightly bent his legs to hold them back, Aramaki let out a ‘Rawawa’ laugh and said: “There you have it!”

Pulling Bill around, Aramaki didn’t spare Sentomaru another glance, instead spoke to his son: “I told you there wouldn’t be a problem!”

Then with his attitude doing a complete reverse said: “Now, let’s go speak in your quarters.”

Nodding his head, Bill led the way but was rebuffed by platitudes when he tried to talk. Eventually he decided that whatever his father was there for, he would know soon enough, and so just stopped trying.

Picking up the pace a bit, it wasn’t long before they made their way to Bill’s bunk.

Walking into the room that he hadn’t seen in roughly three months, Bill was surprised to see everything exactly how he had left it, but there was no feeling of ‘home’.

After he had taken a few steps in the room, Bill was alerted when his father spider-webbed the walls and ceiling with his vines.

Turning fast, Bill was alert but not threatened, and so said: “You could warn me before you do that!”

Not answering right away, Aramaki stood still for several seconds until the vines shot back into his body.

Once this was done, he looked at Bill and said amusingly: “Didn’t get scared, did you?”

Seeing Bill shake his head no and unconsciously rolling his eyes, Aramaki said a bit more seriously: “I was just checking for any monitoring devices.”

Walking himself in the room, Bill instantly took note of the small line of vines that covered the entrance to the door, looking back at his father, Aramaki said evenly: “Those are to alert us if anyone gets too close.”

Bill: “Why do you expect us to be spied on, what’s going on?”

The bunk room looked like any regular dorm; a simple bed, an armchair, a few shelves, and a desk took up nearly all the space inside.

Before he answered, Aramaki sat in the air chair and looked at his son.

“Because this is Marineford. There are at least as many rivalries here as there are between the Pirates.”

This was news to Bill, who had more or less gotten along with everyone he’d ever met.

Sure, he knew that powerful people had big egos, since in most cases it was the ego itself that drove someone to be powerful.

What was shocking was that he had never known his father to exaggerate. Bill found it hard to swallow that rivalries were that deep in this institution.

Bill: “I’ve come in to contact with many Marines and I haven’t seen anything nearly that bad…”

To this, Aramaki huffed and said: “Son, you’ve only been in contact with the lower ranking men and those I have arranged for you to be around.”

Stopping to think for a second, he then motioned with his hands and continued: “By and large the lower ranking members are good people. They signed up for all the right reasons.

The higher-ranking officers are much more of a mixed bag. On the surface they can say the right things, but out there-” Aramaki pointed at the door “- the ocean wide and operational funds are limited.”

 Did his father know about the bounty situation? Bill didn’t know and ended up not asking.

Since Bill just nodded that he understood, Aramaki then changed topics.

“Now then, I heard about the accident and that’s why I’m here.

I’m not going to sugarcoat it with you, son. I arranged for Captain Hina to be on any missions you may have due to her substantial capabilities. The danger you experienced should never have happened.

The fact that Headquarters even lost contact with her ship should have been impossible.”

Then leaning forward in the armchair, with his elbows on his thighs, Aramaki said evenly: “These issues are not something I can ignore. Now tell me exactly what happened.”

Bill had been standing this entire time, but now decided he needed to sit.

As he went through the motions, he had one overriding question.

“Dad, I know a little about your history… but how do you have enough influence to do these things?”

This was it, because while Bill knew his father was strong. He also knew his father wasn’t the strongest. Point in case, he was ‘one of’ the youngest Vice Admirals in history and ‘one of’ the strongest swordsmen in the Marines.

That would afford the man some clout, but enough to manipulate postings or take Bill away from his direct superior?

‘Impossible.’ Was what Bill thought.

Shaking his head, Aramaki didn’t seem to put much thought in Bill’s question and restated: “First tell me exactly what happened.”

So, with a sigh, Bill recounted the journey to his father. Everything he could remember, which turned out to be practically everything.

After talking for about two or three hours, the story came to an end.

Being told about the laborious work Aramaki showed little expression but had looked very proud when Bill spoke about complete mastery of the Moon Step, his face had changed when Bill spoke about the flying pirate – whispering ‘Lion’.

What affected him the most was near the end of the report, he looked flatly stunned when he heard about Bill’s complete mastery of Life Return.

When he was done talking, Aramaki stood up and said: “Son, stand up and take your shirt off.”

After hearing his story, Bill didn’t think it was an odd request and so did what he was told.

His bare upper body wasn’t a portrait of sculpted muscle, Bill had the body of a fit person but not much else.

Giving his son a once over, Aramaki began to run his hands across his shoulders and after a second said: “This is going to hurt a little, ok?

I just want you to show me how it looks when you heal yourself, ok?”

To his double questioned concern, Bill somewhat laughed and said it was fine. Then Aramaki’s finger grew a razor-edged leaf.

He held Bill’s right hand in his own left hand, then slid the razor down a few centimeters from the elbow.

Seeing not a drop of blood spilled, Aramaki looked at his son and repeated “Good” a few times before saying more seriously: “And when you eat, you can control how you use the nutrients?”

Nodding yes, Bill then explained he could already do that back in Vallipo, only now the effect was both greater and easier.

Standing back, Aramaki told Bill he could get his shirt back on. As Bill did so, he pulled a vial from his coat pocket.

Aramaki: “Drink this.”

Tossing the small bottle over, Bill caught it and the room seemed to disappear.

Solely focused on the object in his hand, he was transfixed. He was urged to consume, but his instincts rebelled from the thought of doing so.

After some time, he finally broke his sight away and with great effort dropped the vial to the ground.

Looking up too his father in horror, he was only met with a look of confusion as Aramaki extended a vine and scooped the thing up from the ground.

Aramaki: “Why did you drop it? I gave the Elixir for you to drink.”

Though his father spoke, Bill couldn’t help but to draw his eyes back to the bottle. He didn’t know what kind of Elixir this was, but he both craved and detested it.

With despise written on his face, Bill looked at his father and said gravely: “Wh..what is that?”

Aramaki: “What?”

Pointing his finger to the vial Bill growled: “Th…that! Can’t you see the life… the death?

How did you even get such a thing?”

In this moment, Bill couldn’t put his thoughts into words.

At a glance, Bill could see this Elixir was a mixture of decay but also of rebirth. It was oxymoronic, and Bill knew it shouldn’t be here.

Throughout his life Bill had always been sure in his actions, even after all the confusion of his reincarnation he hadn’t doubted who he was.

The world could change, but in his mind, Bill thought he never would.

And so now, seeing the elixir, the mixed messages of wanting to go over and destroy the thing – but also of wanting to go over and consume it – tore his Will in two directions.

Calming himself down as much as possible, Bill stopped for several minutes until he organized his feelings.

As he did so, his body turned black, and he saw the object in his fathers’ hands clearly.

“Father, this thing has its own Will.

It’s not fully formed, but it’s real.

It may save… but it will destroy… This Will Corrupt…”

At this point, Aramaki was thoroughly baffled, but looked at his son clad in black said carefully: “This is an Elixir of Life. This vial is much more valuable than a Devil Fruit and is the sole reason for the amount of backing we have in the World Government.”

One had to know that in many cases insulting a person Devil Fruit was akin to insulting their existence, but in spite of this, Aramaki still said ‘we’.

Aramaki continued: “This is also what restored mom fr- “You let mom drink this?!”

Cutting Aramaki off sharply, this was the first time in his life that he had done so.

Getting defensive, even though he didn’t know why, Aramaki said sharply: “Yes, and now we have her back, what’s wrong with that?”

Hearing this, Bill’s body slowly turned back normal with only his eyes remaining black.

‘What was wrong with that?’ Bill thought to himself.

‘How about the fact that you sacrificed the spirit of others to save---

‘Sacrificed…’

He didn’t know how he stumbled on that word, but it made sense. So, looking at his father Bill asked: “How did you make that Elixir?”

With this question put to him, Aramaki absorbed the vial into his body and said disappointingly: “Don’t worry about it, this was a mistake.”

Before Bill could ask again the tall man cleared his throat and continued.

“I’m actually mainly here to tell you that you won’t be leaving on any other missions until you graduate from one of the professions here.

It’s my opinion that instead of going to sea you need an education. It’s mom’s opinion that you’re an adult and can choose for yourself.

So, she and I came to a compromise. Once you’re done here you won’t be under my rules an...”

*knock*

*knock*

*knock*

Coming to a sudden halt, Aramaki shifted his attention to the door and Bill moved to open it before the man could go off on whoever the person was behind it.

Opening the door, Bill saw a regular Marine standing at salute.

“What’s the matter?” he said in an even tone, by now his eyes had faded to their regular color.

“I have an urgent message for Commodore Ox! Sir!”

Turning his head back, Bill found Aramaki walking behind him, as he neared, he placed a hand on Bill’s shoulder to move him out of the way.

“Report, Ensign.”

The man seemed stumped by this and looking towards Bill, and back to Aramaki said lowly: “uh, Sir! I have two messages; one message is classified!”

Bill didn’t see his face, but figured his father scowled as he told the man to get on with the message or get out of there.

Considering for a moment, the Ensign continued lowly: “Sir, the Kid Pirates were seen in the vicinity of Vallipo Archipelago and attacked several merchant ships along with four Marine vessels.

You are being ordered immediately to return to the South Blue.”

Letting out a groan, Aramaki told the man to give him the next message, and it seemed this was stranger than the first due to the man starting to sweat.

“Uh… well… Sir, the next message was from Dina Ox.

She said to inform you that she’s pregnant.”