The morning of the wedding kicks off with Ramos meeting Pudding on Chocolate Island, the Charlotte daughter has taken a liking to him.
" Big brother! You have to try this." She shoves a piece of chocolate into his mouth.
" Mhmmhp." Ramos nods at the taste. " This one is good Pudding." He put up a thumbs-up.
Pudding couldn't help but giggle at his reaction, "If you love that one–try the dark chocolate. "
Ramos nearly choked on the chocolate. He has been eating sweets since his arrival. At this rate, he'll lose all his teeth by the time the honeymoon happens.
" Pudding dear...I think I'll eat the desserts later." He scratches the back of his head.
Pudding grins at his excuse," Oh–did you have something sweet earlier? Like a Smoothie ~"
"...I don't know what you're talking about?" Ramos stutters out, avoiding eye contact.
"Don't try to make me a fool big brother ~ I saw you and Smoothie smooching." She teases him.
Ramos clamps her mouth with his palm, looking around at any onlookers. He got closer to her ear." What do you want Pudding-chan? I'll give you anything..." He pleads, eyes begging for her not to reveal his
secret.
"Anything I want?" She sings.
"Anything. " He nods frantically.
[ Jelly garden]
"So–Smoothie, you seem happy today. " Citron gave her a knowing look.
Cinnamon side eyes her, "If that human is responsible for your glow then eww." She gags at the thought.
Amande puffs out a smoke, looking at her younger sisters, " You never blush Smoothie. It's obvious you and that Marine have the hots for each other. " The long-necked beauty comments.
" I-I...just stop..." She whispers, paying with the hem of her dress.
Memories of last night, playing in her mind, the argument, her first kiss, and almost going all the way with him.
'I've known him for 3 days but my heart can't stop pacing at the thought of him.' Smoothie rants in her mind.
Her sisters didn't relent on the teasing, pressuring her with personal questions about her and Ramos's intimacy.
'I hate this.' She sighs.
Back at Chocolate Island, Ramos promised Pudding to help her with baking her cake; she wants to make one for Smoothie, as her big sister never judged her for her insecurity or talked badly about her.
"This needs to be perfect Ramos." Pudding ordered.
Ramos is whipping batter with his ife, wrist at full rotation. Hands covered in flour, the Vice-Admiral devoted to the sous chef to Pudding's kitchen of sweets and blackmail.
"Pudding, can we take a break? I've been mixing for an hour already." Ramos complains.
Pudding glances at him, same terrifying, "You weren't complaining when you ha were swapping spit with Smoothie, under my mother's roof. " She countered.
Ramos has his mouth open at her response, he fails to remember that she's a part of a pirate family, not some ordinary young lady, the daughter of Big Mom.
He returns to mixing, throwing his complaints out the door.
Ramos made his way back to the castle after a long morning with Pudding, he needed to get fitted in his suit as the wedding is set for 1 o'clock sharp.
Ramos is passing by the kitchen to check if they have actual food other than sugar. He stops near the door as a cook is being harassed by 3 males, he recognises them from yesterday's party, Ichiji, Yonji, and Niji.
"Please...I'm sorry for mistaking your over." The cook pleads, body shaking in fear.
"Sorry?" Yonji mocks.
Niji presses her harshly against the door.
"NOOO–PLEASE DON'T KILL ME." She begs for her life.
Ichiji signals for his brothers to hold her, cracking his knuckles, " Don't worry. After a few hits, your memory is going to be so much better." He chuckles, moving closer to the cook.
Reiju, leaning on the back of them, looks away at her brother's cruelty, 'Monsters...' She says to herself.
Ichiji strikes, fist aimed at her face.
Crack.
Bone-cracking rang out as Ichiji's fist was caught in an open palm, looking up, fist kisses his face.
Bam!
The German soldier slammed into the end of the hallway.
"Ughhh..." He groaned.
"Ichi,–" Yonji's call is interrupted by a guy punch that left him breathless, crumbling to the ground he tries to steady his breathing.
Niji moves, aiming a roundhouse kick at the tall blonde. Ramos caught his leg, hurling him to Yonji.
" Ahhh!" Niji grunts, slamming into his brother.
The Vinsmoke brothers are slowly getting up from the assault, Ramos looking at the cook.
"Go."
The cook nods before running back to the kitchen.
The Vice-Admiral stared at the German maniacs, "Aren't you going to attack me?" He questions Reiju.
"I doubt I can take you on alone. " She admits.
Taiju clicks his tongue at her surrender, "You're lying."
"Oh–what makes you certain that I'm deceiving you?" Reiju chuckles.
Ramos smirks, "Women like you are not delicate, you hit harder than most men." He winks at her.
Reiju let out a snort, "Is that supposed to be a compliment?" She asks.
"Yes, now let's dance~"
Reiju moved before he could finish talking, leg nearing his head, Ramos blocks with his forearm.
"You're fast."
"Good reflexes. "
They engage in close combat, every strike evaded by the other. Reiju tried to numb his leg with a kick, but he hardened his leg.
Thud.
Reiju hissed at the force, launching another kick at him. She maintains the offensive edge. Ramos, using the 6 powecane to match her skills until her brother's joined. Yonji came from his right, Niji to his left, and Ichiji to his back.
Kick, punch, kick, stomp
The attacks rained on him, his hardened body getting the full onslaught, and he stayed strong despite the gang-up.
Crack.
Yonji kicks his ankle, and a sickening crunch rings.
Crack.
Niji slams his fist to Ramos's ribcage, blood spilling from the Vice-Admiral's mouth.
Ichiji buried his knee into his back.
"AAAAHHH!" He howls in pain.
Dropping to his knees.
Reiju cupped his face, planting her lips to his own. Her poison is sinking into her body, attacking his blood cells and destroying the nervous system.
Ramos's skin became pale, shaking uncontrollably as his body shut down, not enough to kill him, just the right amount to leave him paralysed for a long time.
"We need to put him back in his room so when the wedding time strikes, Big Mom can slaughter him." Ichiji grinned.
Yonji and Niji agreed, dragging his body back to his room. Reiju turns, walking away.
"I don't know why you act like you're not kike us Reiju," Ichiji questioned. "We don't function with emotions –you're a soldier, remember that." Ichiji spat out.
Reiju kept walking, not ready to face the truth.
While Ramos is being dragged off to his room, the wedding decorations are finished, appetisers placed and Big Mom at her table, placing a framed photo down, delicately, an older woman in nun attire–Mother Caramel.
Linlin looks at the photo, eyes soft, biting her lip as memories hit her.
"Ma–mother Caramel...my family is growing." She sniffles.
An hour before the wedding, could be the last hour of Ramos's life.
[End of chapter]