[Fish-man Island café]
Ramos and Sharley stood over Camie's sleeping body. They abruptly stopped their session to deal with the girl who caught them in the act.
"So what do we do about this?" Ramos pondered.
"Huff–" Sharley smoked her cig, "I will deal with her, you need to leave before someone else catches us," Sharley ordered.
"So no goodbye kiss or–"
He was caught off guard by Sharley pulling him by his collar, lifting him to her height, to commence a steaming kiss.
"Mmtwah–now go tiny human." She whispered in his ear, cupping a feel of his rear.
"Hey!"
"What's the matter? You had your fair share of moulding my ass." She purred.
Ramos gritted his teeth, a blush across his face, "J-just don't do that again. "
"We'll see~"
"Goodbye!" He swam off.
Sharley watched him leave like a shy mermaid, "Interesting human." She mused, turning back to Cami, she smoothed the girl's bangs, "Forgive Camie, you shouldn't have seen me in such a state." She moaned softly, replaying the roughhousing in her mind." Ramos...please survive her tyranny. " She prayed for him.
[Ryugu kingdom ]
Back at the palace, the rest of the Marines were preparing for their voyage, thanking the royal family for their hospitality.
Aramaki left the minute he could stand, not interested in apologising or thanking the fish-man for healing even if he harmed their people, he decided to leave before anyone could scold him.
"Coward." Sonya clicked her tongue, sitting by the steps, she's awaiting Ramos.
"Where do you think he went?" Doll leaned against a pillar.
"The last time we spoke, he talked about meeting a Madame Sharley for something. " Gion added, tapping her sheathed blade in annoyance.
"You think Hina and Tashigi are doing well?" Sonya spoke.
"Probably, they're a good team when Ramos isn't off being a fool." Gion chuckled.
"There was a time he tried to race Admiral Kizaru with just Geppo. " Sonya snorted.
"Are you serious?" Gion chuckled.
"Would I lie about that idiot?"
"No..."
"Exactly." Sonya smiled, "He lost the race in a second, Kizaru made him his moving target for his free time."
Hehe–
The girls burst out laughing at Sonya's conclusion, the image of Ramos racing Kizaru was pure comedy since the fool would attempt such an impossible feat.
Footsteps approached them, seamen making way for someone. Ramos stood before them, unusually calm and skin glowing.
"Ladies." He greeted nonchalantly, walking off to Shirahoshi's room," I'll be back in a minute. " He trailed off, disappearing into the long halls.
"Why did he seem calm?" Gion nudged them.
"His never this calm, even when sick, the idiot is always moving like a drunk," Doll stated, glaring at nothing in particular.
[Shirahoshi's room]
"Y-Your leaving? B-but our date..." Shirahoshi said, lip trembling in preparation for her upcoming wail.
Ramos, seeing this, placed his hand on her tail, his form not even making up 1/3 of her tail's length.'Damn, she's freaking huge–Sharley was a challenge but Shirahoshi...that's like facing prime Garp.' Ramos thought to himself.
Shirahoshi eased at his touch, her emotions steadying as she felt his own heart, strong and calm. "What is this?" She questioned the new feeling, aware it's not her emotions but his somehow comforting her own.
Ramos noticed her shock, "Sorry about that, it's a new trick I picked up. I guess my empathy evolved my haki. Ramos recalls Garp's lessons on Haki, which is a spiritual manifestation of one's will, in particular Observation Haki is more keen to users with emotional awareness, improving their senses to superhuman levels, and for advanced forms, the user can connect with another's emotions to predict their intentions or disrupt their thinking, a truly valuable ability. * My touch to it, don't crucify me in the comments.
Ramos jumped on her lap, the princess, jolted a bit, blush fully bloomed.
"Ramos..."
"Shirahoshi. I'm sorry to postpone our date but I need to handle a certain matter so no one can harm my dear Princess ~"
"Eeep!" Shirahoshi shrieked, throwing her hands up, burying her face into her enormous pillow.
Ramos moved out of the way of her sudden movement, haki fully restored from battle and another form of training. "You nearly killed me Shira-Chan." Ramos whistled.
"STOP IT!" She screamed into the pillow, tail flapping violently.
Megalo growled at Ramos for bullying his best friend.
Ramos just grinned, "Relax, buddy, you and I have a common interest. " He nodded to the whining princess, still being dramatic.
"As much as I'd love to stay, my superior expects us by tomorrow. Till next time Shira-chan." Ramos concluded.
The minute he left her room, she turned to the door," Such an evil man, messing with the fragile heart of a lady." The princess pouted.
The Marine ship finally took off, protected by a new coating of the travel bubble, and they made their way back to Marineford.
"Don't forget what we agreed on Aramaki. " Doll pointed at him.
The green-haired Vice-Admiral glanced at her," I already agreed to this sham, stop pestering me." He sulked, retreating to his quarters.
Gion shook her head, "At least his complying."
"For now." Sonya reminded them," As soon as he gets stronger, he might end us for good."
"He'll have to try his hardest then," Gion added.
Ramos sat on the deck, meditating as he felt the emotions of his fellow crew, channeling the emotions, he focused on staying calm.
"Focus."
[End of chapter]