"Have you heard the news, Yuna-sama?" Juno mentioned as she folded the towels that would hang within the home's bathroom. Her blue hair bobbed as she stooped and straightened from the laundry basket. "You've been invited to a tea party at the castle."
Yuna's hand ceased, the hairbrush she'd been using to smooth down her light-green locks held against her head. Then, she let it slide through and slowly took up the task again. Sitting before the vanity's mirror, her reflection blinked back in surprise. A tea party?
"Really?" Juno's bouncing nod confirmed that she had, indeed, heard correctly. How unexpected. "When is this?"
"A few days from now. I heard one of the gardeners talking about it."
Seeing as she was out of the loop of most things-Katakuri didn't see fit to regale such information to her-she wasn't sure if this was something that required her knowledge and some degree of participation. The only tea parties she'd attended growing up were those that her mother hosted when she'd been young.
Not to mention, what comprised Big Mom's tea parties was an absolute mystery. Surely they were different from what Yuna knew of her mother's delicate gatherings of women in the castle gardens. Were Big Mom's as extravagant as her wedding had been? She seemed the type to go all out. What was the etiquette? Were there specific rules that came with her position? So many questions...
"Is there...any particular occasion to celebrate?"
Juno thought for a moment, then shrugged. "No, nothing noteworthy."
Hmm. Even more suspicious.
"How often do they hold them?"
"Tea parties are announced whenever Big Mom is in the mood for one, so quite frequently. If it were for something specific, we would know." The maid continued, smiling at the lady of the house as she continued folding the pile of linens and towels in her basket. "How exciting, isn't it? The wives of Big Mom's children don't typically attend such things. You must be very special, or caught her eye in some way."
"I see..." That honestly didn't make her feel any better. Being under the direct attention of her now mother-in-law was something she hoped to avoid at all costs. Big Mom's mood swings were legendary, nearly on par with her insatiable hunger and petulant, child-like tantrums.
Why was she invited to such a thing that someone in her position typically would be excluded from? Such an unsettling thought.
Having finished getting ready to leave the house, Yuna set the hairbrush onto the vanity and stood, towering above Juno. She double checked her dress covered all portions of her skin as Juno turned to give the Minister's wife a quick bow.
"Enjoy your day, Yuna-sama. And, if you wouldn't mind, stopping by the bakery for me...?" Head still bowed, eyes glancing up, her smile turned shy.
"Of course. I'll return with your treats." She promised, flashing an amused grin in her direction. While still somewhat embarrassed to speak with her on a personal level, their familiarity with one another had still improved by leagues since Yuna's arrival. Their shared loved of delicious desserts did wonders for their budding friendship.
Leaving with a small wave goodbye, the lady of the house headed towards the front foyer. The few staff she passed by she bid a good morning, glad to see genuine smiles reflecting back at her. It seemed like there was always something for them to be doing. There was rarely a moment of rest among them. However, Yuna liked to think that a lighter mood had settled among them all.
This house felt so much more like a home with people she felt both care for and cared by. There was still a long way to go to reach the sort of friendships from back in Seiiki, but it was a definite good start.
Yuna stepped up to reach for the front door's handle when a noise from behind caught her attention. She looked up at the sound of a familiar pair of boots and the metallic ching of the spurs attached to them, not having expected to hear them at home. And so early, too. Her mood lifted as he stepped into the room.
The tall, red-headed man appeared from the hallway, eyes zeroing in on her just as she did with him. Eyes so intense and widened slightly from surprise. Apparently neither of them had expected to see the other that morning.
"Yuna." He greeted with a deep voice and a small nod. The barest minimum of a greeting if there ever was one. But it was something.
"Katakuri, good morning. Are you leaving for town?"
There was a moment's pause, as if he were pondering what answer to give her. He finally settled on what she took as the truth. "I am."
"I was just about to head there myself." She offered with a small smile. "Shall we go together?"
"Do as you like." His tone left little doubt that he wasn't particularly keen on such an idea, but for whatever reason, he wasn't immediately shooting down her request. Her smile widened.
Determined not to be brought down by his reluctant acceptance, Yuna opened the door and stepped outside, waiting patiently as he followed a moment later. They fell into step beside each other, starting down the path towards town. She'd walked this same path alone so many times. It felt lovely to have some company this time around.
Katakuri's longer legs would have otherwise given him an advantage in speed, but just as she observed on their wedding day, he seemed to match his pace with her own, so as not to get ahead of her. Despite not wanting to walk with her, he certainly made concessions not to be rude about it. In small ways. It was something, and Yuna recognized and appreciated them for all they were worth.
The former Princess dared a glance up at him, but his expression was concealed as always behind that fluffy scarf. Stony and distant, as if she weren't beside him at all. His eyes straight ahead, narrowed as he watched the path before them. Or, perhaps, from fatigue. It was hard to tell.
"I imagine you have quite a busy day ahead of you."
"Indeed." He said, and when she went to ask what he may be up to while out and about, his eyes flashed red. "Save your breath. My responsibilities are of no concern to you."
"Hmm...so you've said." She hummed, knowing that today wouldn't be the day when he began allowing her to take a peek into the governing mechanics of Komugi Island. She took a figurative step back, regrouping her thoughts and allowing a small quiet to settle between them.
Her curiosity eventually got the better of her, and she cleared her throat. "Do you ever rest, Katakuri? I hardly ever see you home. Or do you-"
"Yes, I do." He said as he activated his haki again, but his eyes stayed trained directly in front of him. Why so stingy with the eye contact, she wondered? "I relax in private, where I will not be disturbed."
"That is relieving to hear." And truly it was. Part of her worried that he worked himself to death, but it was nice to get the confirmation that Katakuri also took time to recoup his strength. Granted, she would have preferred if he did so at home. Why have a home if you never returned to it? "You are always so busy, I worry you don't get enough rest. Especially since you supposedly never sleep on your back. Such an uncomfortable principle you've set yourself to..."
This time, it was Yuna who kept her eyes forward or wandering to the leaves on the trees that surrounded the path, feeling his stare from beside and above her, bearing down with some mix of curiosity and perhaps suspicion. The moment the words left her mouth, she almost regretted them. Almost. But they were true, in her eyes. And she didn't want to be afraid of speaking her mind to him. Trust was important in any marriage, after all, in addition to the ability to speak one's mind without fear.
"..." For a moment, he didn't respond, but she bided her time, hoping that he would at least reciprocate the conversation in some way. Eventually, her patience was rewarded by his simple, "Your worry is unnecessary."
"Perhaps, but I'll worry all the same." She chided, her smile growing by an inch. "Isn't that what wives do, after all?"
He only grunted. Several seconds passed, the sound of his spurs measuring each of their steps together. He said nothing further, but Yuna wasn't going to let the conversation die just yet.
Her head tilted in thought, eyes gazing around the path they walked to get to the edge of Hakuriki Town. "I've been all around the island. Even the smaller villages further inland, and the wheat fields, and...oh, probably everywhere one could think to go. It's beautiful. Very different from my home country, but not in a bad way at all. And everyone I meet is pleasant and kind."
"Mmm."
She looked up at him from the corner of her eye. "I was afraid they would be hesitant to accept me here, but it seems I had nothing to worry about."
"I see."
It was akin to pulling teeth with him, every response a hard-fought prize. It only made his words that much more meaningful. Unlocking the mysteries of the peculiar man that was her husband was a welcome challenge, one her boredom and curiosity latched onto and marveled at.
"They speak very highly of you, you know." She decided to say, hoping that perhaps a compliment would open him to some sort of longer reply. "One might think that it's because you are the son of their ruler, but I don't think that is the reason. I always had the feeling you were a good leader, what with the way you dedicate yourself so fully to your duties. Perhaps that's why people are so happy here. They have an honorable man as their Minister."
"..."
Well, there went that idea. Yuna made sure her growing disappointment didn't show on her face. He could nearly be replaced by a wooden plank and she'd still get the same feedback in return. This was not going the way she'd hoped. Her eyes closed a moment, collecting herself and hastily coming up with something else to say. But her mind was drawing a blank, and so she let out a sigh.
"I'm sorry, I know I must be rambling, but you and I have never properly been acquainted. It's been two months since our marriage, and this is quite possibly the longest meaningful conversation we've shared. I'll take any small moment I can get to talk with you. They happen so infrequently."
This time when he looked her way, she met his gaze head on. A confusion had settled in what little portion of his expression she could see. "Why?"
"I...don't understand what you're asking." She said, frowning in equal measure.
"Why do you seek out my company?"
Yuna's head shook, processing his ridiculous question a moment before replying. "You are my husband. Is that so unusual?"
"We are bound together only by political necessity. I am no more than a stranger to you."
"All the more reason to get to know you, then."
Katakuri stopped in place, surprising her enough to halt just a few steps ahead of him. She turned, wondering what had caused him to cease moving.
His eyes closed, composing himself. "Our union does not require familiarity with one another. Among political marriages, it's common for the couple to go about their lives with little interaction other than for when the occasion requires political cooperation."
He wasn't wrong, per se. It was one of the things she'd come to expect might happen when she realized that a political marriage was a viable option for protecting the country. Some of their neighboring islands were run by political marriages, and in her research, she'd come to realize that many-an unfortunate vast majority-never bothered to truly make an effort in loving one another.
Yuna was nothing if not stubborn and headstrong, however, so she'd always believed that her own determination to avoid such an outcome would see her through. But to hear him vocalize it...Her hands began wringing the edges of her dress sleeves. Blasted nerves.
"I suppose that's true, but-"
"Clearly I should have said this on our wedding night, to save you all this trouble. So let me be candid now, Yuna." Katakuri's deep voice interrupted her, crossing his arms and putting up a physical barrier between them. "I did not desire a wife. I have even less of a need for one. You being here is no fault of your own-I do not fault you for wishing to help your country-but that does not change the fact that I see no point in being anything more than what we are now. Mama does not rule by birthright as your kingdom does, so there is even less incentive to form a bond."
Yuna's mouth opened-
"You will be expected to accompany me when summoned by Mama, but that is the extent of your responsibility to me or to this country. However you live besides that is for you to choose. There are many others in this country that you can socialize with. No place has been barred to you for that reason." His eyes held her gaze intensely, willing her to heed his words. "You are free to do whatever would please you most, to form as many bonds as you may need to remain happy here."
This was...not what she'd expected of him. At the very least, in a bitter way, she appreciated his honesty. Now, there was no need to pick through a web of lies to find out the heart of the problem between them. Take out all the guesswork and lay it all on the table.
Yuna blinked a few times, composing her expression as best she could. "And if I were to say that having something more with you is what would make me happiest?"
His eye twitched, but barely. Enough to notice.
"Happiness is not something I can provide to you."
What cold words, and even colder actions as he began to walk again, having said what he wanted to say. She wondered if he expected her to allow him to leave without following, giving him the peace and solitude he no doubt wanted.
Yuna's mind was still reeling. Why did he believe they could never grow closer or, rather, that there wasn't a point? Did this marriage really mean so little to him? Clearly, their union benefited herself more than it did him, but was she really so terrible as a wife? Her stare was hard at his back, watching him descend the path further. However, after a few blinks and several seconds to fully understand what he'd just told her, she hastened her steps to keep pace beside him again.
"What a bold thing to say, without ever having tried." She said, head held high and refusing to acknowledge his fatalistic view on their partnership. If she allowed him to think like that, they would never make headway. Yuna could see the middle ground between them, but clearly he didn't believe such middle ground existed at all. "Even with your future sight, you can't possibly be so certain of that."
He offered no response as they came to the edge of the town. The trees gave way to the colorful buildings of Hakuriki, and their steps dulled as the ground changed into the stones of the streets.
His silence made her glance his way. "Katakuri-"
"I must attend to my duties." He said, eyes closing as he began walking with longer strides, taking him ahead of a pace that Yuna could comfortably keep up with. "Enjoy whatever you occupy yourself with, Yuna."
She stopped again, this time allowing him to leave her behind as he walked further ahead into town. His height meant he didn't blend into any crowd. She watched as he finally swung a left down a further street, leaving her sight. Yuna sighed to herself, fingers twisting between each other.
Such a distant man. So resolute in his beliefs.
She should have expected this. Should have figured that he wouldn't have viewed their marriage with as much optimism as she did. In fact, Yuna realized she hadn't thought about what it was Katakuri would want all this time. Sure, she'd told herself she wouldn't allow things to be terrible for the both of them...but what did Katakuri constitute as terrible? Was the very reality of being married a curse to bear for the rest of his life?
But there were moments, glimpses, when she saw the kindness in his actions. Tiny, inconsequential things when they happened, but there nonetheless. If he truly didn't care, would he bother with such things? Yuna was sure there was more to her husband than he let on, but it would be difficult prying out the truth without being blockaded by his stubbornness and reluctance to let her closer.
Standing there in the middle of the street would get her no nearer to an answer, so she lifted her head and smoothed out her skirt. It wouldn't do to look so miserable out in public, where the people could see.
"Please take care of yourself, Katakuri." She muttered, turning towards the bakery to get the treats for Juno and herself.
Following the smell of delicious food, Yuna poked her head around the corner to the comically large kitchen of her home, trying in vain to hold back the low rumble of her stomach. A wave of heat washed over her face, unwelcome in the summer's already stifling temperature, but the aroma of food convinced her to stay in the swelter regardless.
She swallowed, watching as the chefs scurried around the many stoves, ovens, and fryers that made up the room. Scattered bits of talking could be heard over the sound of cooking, letting the others know the status of the treats they prepared. In between these fragments of conversation, Yuna heard...humming? A working tune they bounced between themselves, perhaps to keep a set pace or perhaps just to pass the time along a bit faster. She couldn't recognize the song, if it was one.
Despite a majority of the cooking staff being of average human height, they scaled specialty-made ladders with ease to reach the appliances and countertops they were needing to work with. The size difference didn't seem to be any sort of problem at all.
It reminded her a bit of an acrobatic display, the constant moving and shuffling around each other, and the frenzied pace at which they cooked. The treats in question were an assortment of donuts that had to be twice or thrice the size of most of the chefs, expertly tossed into the vats of oil at the back wall, or frosted and carefully decorated with colorful icings and sprinkles on the finishing counters.
They looked heavenly. Hunger getting the best of her, the gigantic woman stepped fully into the kitchen and drew the attention of a few nearby chefs.
"Yuna-sama!" One of them shouted, alerting the rest of those in the room to her appearance. He bowed quickly at the waist, still holding the jar of icing while another spread it upon one of the perfectly fried donuts. "We were not expecting you!"
"May I come in?" She asked, feeling as if she were intruding. Maybe coming here wasn't such a good idea after all. They did appear busy-
"May you? This is your home! You are welcome anywhere you wish to be, Madame." Another spoke. The two chefs approached her while the rest continued working on the many donuts currently being cooked. They couldn't spare even a moment to be distracted by her presence, not willing to ruin any of the food.
"But...what might you be doing in the kitchen? Were you looking for a snack perhaps?"
"Yes, actually. I am rather hungry." She admitted, giving a small smile. "I was reading an interesting book in the study, but the smell of your pastries was too wonderful to resist. I just had to come see what you were making."
"These are donuts for Katakuri-sama's merienda, made from the finest ingredients sourced from the islands of Totto Land." The older one explained with a proud smile, gesturing to the diligent chefs behind him. "He is very particular on what is served to him."
"So many different kinds..." She muttered, examining the large stack of already-completed donuts in the large wooden cart on the other side of the room. Chocolate-frosted, glazed, maple, and even some she'd never seen before. "They all look divine."
At her words, they gave an deep bow, before straightening. "You are too kind."
Yuna managed to resist licking her lips with anticipation. "May I have one?"
The two chefs who had stopped to speak with her froze and shared an uncomfortable expression. The former princess glanced around, not expecting such a reaction, before they shook their heads in tandem.
"Yuna-sama...I'm afraid we cannot allow that."
"Why not?" They were just donuts, weren't they?
"Katakuri-sama expects a certain number of donuts for his mealtime, and we will just manage to make enough in time for his merienda." The older chef reached into his white coat and produced a small watch. Whatever time it showed made him gulp and stuff the item back into his jacket. "If...it is acceptable, we can prepare you something once his snack is fully prepared and sent away? It is reprehensible to make you wait while you are hungry, but...it truthfully is not a good time to have come seeking food."
The two chefs standing before her wrung their hands nervously, unable to quite look her in the eyes. A quick glance behind them found the rest of the staff to appear just as on edge. They still worked in their typical fury, but the humming had stopped and they all had a ear towards their conversation. What was this? Had they expected her to scream or throw a fit? Did she give that impression? Oh dear...Confused by their behavior, she placed her hands together and smiled.
"I am in no rush, please take care of your pressing matters first." Her words caused their shoulders to slump with relief, and pleased smiles once again lit upon their expressions. Then, a thought came to mind, and she tapped her cheek. "In fact...perhaps I can try my hand at making something? I promise not to get in the way of your work."
They all startled in place, looking her way as if she'd grown a second head. Was the suggestion really that appalling? It seemed everyone was in such a tizzy when Yuna brought up the idea that she do something herself. "We can make you anything you may wish to eat-"
"Oh, I have no doubt that you can." She said before they could object. "But the smell of the donuts has reminded me of a treat from back in my home country. You are all very busy with Katakuri's request, and I...wish to make it myself. If you'll let me, of course."
Only the sound of pastry creation filled the silence between her and the two chefs facing her from below. Finally, one of them gave a low chuckle.
"I see..." The chef stood before her seemed the first to recover, and looked behind him for something. After a moment, he barked several orders to the other chefs, who immediately vacated one section of the countertop for her to presumably use. "If Yuna-sama insists upon it, then we will be delighted to allow you to cook for yourself. Just tell us whatever ingredients are required and we will fetch them for you."
"Thank you."
As promised, the chefs were quick to retrieve the ingredients she remembered her mother using for these particular treats. Yuna couldn't help but glance around at all the other chefs as they finished up the donuts for Katakuri's merienda. They were so diligent and quick, a stark contrast to her own fumbling and second-guessing of the recipe. She wasn't even through mixing her ingredients together by the time they'd completed Katakuri's donuts.
They were loaded onto a cart and taken away in a rush by three chefs, no doubt off to find her husband and present them to him. She'd come to learn that Katakuri would take his merienda wherever he so happened to be, and that if he was in need of somewhere to eat them in peace, he would simply create a shrine-like hut from his mochi nearby. His devil fruit ability was as versatile as it was ill-fitting. Such a soft power for someone so cold and hard.
Once the immediate task at hand was complete, the chefs settled into a much slower, calmer pace from before. As they cleaned up the kitchen from the donut-making, they more often came to check on how she was doing. Many asked if she had all the ingredients she needed, and if she required any equipment or assistance.
She also didn't miss the strange looks they kept giving her dough. Sidelong glances and the barest uptick of their brow didn't go without notice. But Yuna was set on doing it herself, thinking back to the times she'd spent tagging along with her mother. It wasn't like she had it memorized the recipe or anything, but she'd do the best she could from her memory.
Yuna wracked her brain for the correct amounts and steps to the recipe, finally accepting a baking sheet from one of the chefs beside her, and sticking it in the oven to bake. The temperature, too, was a complete guess. All her time watching her mother cook, and she'd never bothered to pay much attention to the position the oven's dial had been. The only thing going for it was her hope and determination to reproduce the delicious pastry her mother used to make for her. Surely that alone would see her through?
Yuna stared down at the baking sheet, frowning in thought at the dozen or so blackened mounds of dough, wrinkling her nose at their sour burnt stench. Several of the chefs surrounded her, eyeing the end result of all of her hard work with a mixture of expressions. They ranged from incredulous to timid, perhaps afraid that she would lash out due to this obvious failure. As if they had in some way caused it.
"Um...Yuna-sama." One of them finally ventured to ask, scratching at the side of his head in hesitation. "What were you attempting to make, by chance?"
"They're supposed to be beignets. It's a special dessert in my country." Her fingers reached out to touch one of the smoldering pastries, her disappointment grew further as it crumbled into charred pieces with ease. Nothing was salvageable. With a hum, she brushed her fingers together to get rid of the remains.
"Well...for a first try, it's not terribly awful, right?"
A glance around at the chefs made it clear that, in terms of messing it up, she probably couldn't have done worse. Granted, they were trained, experienced chefs. But the forced positivity in their thin smiles were hard to miss.
One of them cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Beignets are...typically fried, Madame. Not baked."
"Ah...yes. You are right." Yuna gave a dejected sigh. Of course they were. No wonder they smelled so similar to Katakuri's donuts. Why hadn't she thought of that? She must have been remembering another recipe her mother made from years ago that required the use of an oven by mistake. "I'm sorry to have wasted your ingredients like this..."
One of the chefs held up his hands defensively. "Do not worry, we have plenty more in our pantry. A-And even we make mistakes from time to time!"
"I suppose that's reassuring." Actually, it wasn't. But she appreciated their attempt at trying to lighten her sprits all the same.
"Do not fret, you can always try again. We can assist this time, if you'd like?" Another chef offered up.
One of them glanced between her and the failed beignets. "Have you never cooked before?"
"No. Cooking was never one of my lessons as a Princess. I've only ever watched my Mother cook, when I was a child. It was one of her favorite things to do. But that was years ago, and clearly it is harder than I always thought it looked." She gave the burnt beignets one last sad look, before taking the now-cooled baking sheet and walking over to the trash can in the corner. As she dumped them into the bin, one of the chefs cleared his throat behind her.
"If beignets are what you are craving, Madame, we will make them for you."
"Perhaps it would be best that way."
"...Though, if you would like to learn how, we are more than willing to teach you the basics of cooking."
Yuna glanced back at the team of chefs, all clearly eager at the prospect of showing her what they knew. "You would?"
Their smiles grew wider, matching her own enthusiasm. "Of course! It would be an honor to show you what we know."
Yuna munched happily on her perfectly fried beignets on her way into town. They were nearly as good as her mother's had been, but of course, nostalgia biased her to believe nothing could beat the ones from her childhood. Those memories were shaded in rose tint, the phantom taste enough to make her mouth water.
Her afternoon with the chefs had been enlightening, and the best fun she'd had in awhile. She was by far still no expert cook, but the few basic lessons she'd received meant being and working in the kitchen didn't feel quite as intimidating. The breakneck pace from when they'd been preparing Katakuri's donuts was nowhere to be seen, and instead they all took turns giving pointers and assisting in making her pastries right alongside Yuna.
Learning their names and a bit more about them was also a welcome benefit, And the promise of more lessons if she so desired them even better. She could see it already, the makings of friendship with most of her home's staff. It made her smile.
The small basket of beignets hanging from her arm, Yuna reached and passed the edge of the town, steps growing louder as the path turned into the colored stone that comprised the streets. She began to notice small decorations hanging around the buildings where none had been previously. Multi-colored ribbons hung from lamp-posts and from the tops of buildings, flitting and flowing about as the wind blew. Above the buildings, dozens of Big Mom's jolly roger topped the buildings. Music of some kind could be heard in the town square ahead.
Continuing on, various temporary stalls were set up along the pathways, selling all manor of trinket and treat. Small, handmade toys and dolls, even blankets and rugs up on display for purchase. The longer she walked, the more there was to see. Her eyes weren't sure where to settle. What was going on here?
"Yuna-sama!" A voice shouted out, and the former Princess turned to see an orange-haired, olive-skinned woman hanging out the front of her stall, waving with an excited smile. She wore an apron and held a large metal spoon in her hand. Fitting, seeing as she ran a food stall from the looks of it. "Good afternoon! Please, come try my dumplings!"
Now that her presence in town had been announced, several other people also gave her happy greetings and small waves. Coming closer to the stall that had coaxed her, she lowered herself to her knees in order to see the woman manning it.
"Oh, these look wonderful." Yuna complimented, the aroma hitting her nose in full once she was ducked under the stall's awning. Hot and steamy, she couldn't help but lick her lips at the circular treats, despite having a basket full of her own pastries dangling from her arm. "I'd love to try one. How much are they, Miss...?"
"Libni, and this one's on the house!" The orange-haired woman said with glee, prepping a small plate for her to put the treat onto. Anticipating Yuna's frown, she sent her a smirk and a wink. "It is an honor to have the Minister's wife try my food. No amount of arguing the price is going to change my mind."
"If you insist..." She mumbled, wishing that the people would allow her to pay for her own things more often. Then, a thought struck her, and she held up the basket of her own treats. "Please take one of these as payment, Libni. Or...an exchange, if you prefer."
"Fine, fine...if it'll make you feel better about it." Libni said, eagerly reaching for the beignet Yuna offered.
A train of loud children bustled past, holding up small kites and trying their best to get them to soar above their heads. She only caught a glance before they were out of sight again, the only sign they were still nearby their loud volume of giggles and shouts.
"I'm assuming there's some sort of festival everyone is celebrating?"
"Yes! You did not know?" After watching Yuna shake her head, mouth full of delicious dumpling, her expression took on a more understanding look. "Ah, I suppose you have not lived here long enough to experience it, after all. Today is Queen's Day, when we celebrate our annexation."
"Interesting." Yuna took another bite, impressed by the taste. The inside was filled with meat, each bite savory and fluffy thanks to the outer pastry.
"This year is the 31st anniversary of Komugi Island being established as official territory within Totto Land. We're all so thankful to live in such a paradise." She continued, munching happily on the beignet and eyeing it curiously. "Everyone looks forward to the holiday, and even Katakuri-sama usually stops by Hakuriki Town to see what we're up to."
Yuna looked back out to the throngs of people milling about the plaza. The atmosphere nearly reminded her of their artistry festivals back in Seiiki. She briefly pondered whether her home country would establish such a holiday, but quickly shot it down. There was too much ill-will and pride in the way of that legislation. Even her father would be opposed to it if she proposed the idea in a letter. Perhaps with time...
Still, clearly Komugi saw annexation as something to celebrate. Each face lit up with a smile, talking and laughing mixing together into a cacophony of background noise only surpassed by the music playing to the crowd. Spirits high, energy even higher. Delicious food and great company. It was lovely to see all the goodwill between everyone.
Her curious eye sought out her husband, but he was nowhere to be found yet.
"Say, these are pretty good." Libni remarked, pointing down at the last bit of the pastry she hadn't yet eaten. "What did you say they were called?"
"Beignets."
"I hope the bakery in town sells them, because I'll be craving these tomorrow." And with a grin, she popped the last bite into her mouth. "Delicious!"
Yuna pushed the basket closer to the stall owner. "I have plenty more if you'd like another."
"Oh, no! Save some for others to have." Her hands defensively waved in front of her, gently pushing away the basket in rejection. "I've eaten more than enough today already, to be honest."
Yuna sat back on her heels, knees aching and begging for her to stand again. Her head turned towards the plaza, seeing what else there was to see, and Libni seemed to notice. She gave a wide smile.
"Go enjoy the festival, Yuna-sama. Be sure to mention my stall if you think someone's in need of the best dumplings they'll ever taste!" The orange-haired woman threw in a wink for good measure, and Yuna chuckled as she began to stand.
"I definitely will."
The giant woman rose to her full height, towering over the crowd of people. The dumpling seller popped out again from the stall to look up at her.
"If you see Masha at the wind chime stall, tell her I sent you! She'll give you a discount!"
"Thank you again, Libni." Yuna bid with a wave, taking her basket of beignets with her.
Yuna wandered around the plaza for several hours, passing out her beignets to those who asked and those she thought might enjoy them. There weren't many to begin with, but it was something at the very least. And maybe the occasion had something to do with it, but citizens seemed much more friendly and willing to address her on a familiar level than before. A nearby sake stall pointed towards liquid courage fueling such behavior, though regardless of cause, it was definitely appreciated. She felt like just another person among them, rather than someone so important.
The basket finally empty, she'd offered it to a man struggling to carry all of his purchased treats. Hands now free, she linked them behind her back and continued enjoying the atmosphere, looking around at the many stalls, shops, and entertainers that walked the plaza to brings smiles to faces all around.
Katakuri had arrived not long after her, clearly visible over the heads of the citizens. Though the way she kept getting distracted by people vying for her attention, she was never able to meet up with him. On top of that, he appeared to be intentionally keeping his distance after their tense conversation the day before. It was still fresh in her mind, no doubt his as well. There was so much she wanted to ask and tell him, and clearly he was hellbent on making sure they didn't continue talking about it.
As frustrating as it was, giving space might be the best next step. There was a fine line between proving to Katakuri that she meant her every word-how she wasn't going to just give up getting to know him-and simply pissing him off. So after half an hour of struggling to reach him in the crowd, Yuna turned away from the direction she'd thought him to have gone and focused instead on the festival.
It was because of this that she heard the incredibly out of place sound of someone groaning in pain. Hushed words, spoken no doubt as comfort, followed after. Drawn to the noise, and seeing a small gathering of people nearby one of the shops, Yuna went to investigate.
One of the onlookers, a teenaged fishman with puffer-fish qualities to his body, turned at her approach and their face lit up with relief. "Dad, look! Yuna-sama is here. She can help heal your leg. You're going to be alright."
"Is someone injured?" She asked, and the people surrounding the person in question parted to allow her to see.
An older fishman was sat upon the steps of a shop, his gray-toned leg extended and bleeding severely. Yuna gasped at the wound. It wasn't minor. The tiger shark's expression was twisted with pain, jaw clenched to hold back the numerous profanities ready to burst forth. His webbed hands cradled the underside of his leg, both supporting it and needing something to hold onto to ground himself.
"What on earth happened?" She questioned with concern, stepping forward to take a closer look.
"Slipped and fell on a broken bottle...damned thing." He gritted, shaking his head with shame. "Should've seen it, but one too many drinks myself did me no favors."
"You can fix it up easily with your healing, right Yuna-sama?" The younger boy asked, but the injured man shot him a glare.
"Hush, boy."
Yuna gave a nod as response, reaching out to his leg with her fingers. "Hold still, and I'll heal your wound."
One of his hands lifted to ward hers away. "Let this old fish suffer the consequences of his drunkenness. No need to fret over something like this. It'll heal with time. I've had worse before."
The boy beside her gave a pout. "But dad-"
"No. I won't impede on the Madame's day any further than I already have. I'm sorry to have caused all this distress." His head ducked in shame, shaking with dismay.
"Sir." Yuna garnered his attention, noticing a bit of sweat running down his temple. His hands shook as they held onto his injured leg. "I appreciate you thinking of me, but I don't wish to see you in pain. Please let me heal you. It will only take a moment."
Their eyes locked, neither willing to give up. Internally, Yuna was steeling herself in preparation for his acceptance, carefully breathing in and out of her nose. Something in his eyes made it clear he wouldn't be giving in. It was a look so familiar to her. Daigon and many of his seamen all held looks like that when she'd come around to heal the barracks.
Typical men and their pride. So, she gave him a little smirk and chuckled.
"I'm used to dealing with stubborn old men in pain, Sir. I'll request your cooperation as Katakuri-sama's wife if I have to, but I hope you won't make me resort to that."
There. That tiny break in his eyes, opening up to the idea. Yuna's smile widened as he finally gave a reluctant nod, hand extending to place itself on his knee. Then, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, the tips of her fingers began to glow.
She could hear muttering around her, no doubt the citizens seeing her ability for the first time with their own eyes. Rumors that she could heal had been going around the island, but for many, this was the first confirmation that it was true.
With a steel will, Yuna kept the body shakes in check as her devil fruit ran its course. Searing pain followed after as the last little bit of the wound faded from his scaled skin. Face schooled, deep and slow breaths to keep her composure, she finally opened her eyes as her fingers faded from the dull white light.
All her work to keep people from worrying, and still the fishman was looking at her with concern, eyeing her face with a careful gaze. How perceptive. "Are you alr-"
"Please be more careful of your surroundings in the future, ok? I don't wish to see any of you injure yourselves. Please enjoy the rest of the festival." She said with a plastered smile, covering his question so it wouldn't draw more attention from the crowd to her. Thankfully, the boy's father stepped up to examine the man's leg in sheer wonder, talking and asking numerous questions, distracting enough that Yuna could remove herself from the conversation entirely.
Standing was difficult to do without clueing people into her pain. But she'd practiced hiding her expressions enough in her years helping the liberated slaves that her gentle smile never slipped. Not even a furrow of a brow to indicate that something was wrong, and she greeted the others around her with the same smile and enthusiasm as before. And hopefully with all the movement of the people as they passed, they wouldn't see the way her hands shook in a clenched fist around her dress sleeves.
Yuna began to wonder if she hadn't overdone things the further she walked. The wounds she healed were typically of the minor variety. She'd made it down the street to the bakery before the fatigue and dizziness made her head spin. The chore of walking was proving to be too much, every step a lance shooting up her side. Yuna swallowed back the whimper, sidestepping to lean against the closest building and take a breath.
It was getting worse the longer she remained. The best case scenario would be to head home and rest. But home was such a long walk away, and she didn't want to disappoint the people who all enjoyed her company on such a festive day-
"Yuna-sama?"
She turned her head with a tiny, involuntary gasp to look down at the baker, apron and hat in place and carrying a tray of his latest batch of pastries to hand out. His eyes swept over her form, brow furrowed in thought. Her mind scrambled to find some way to explain why she was leaning against the wall, out of breath and slightly shaking.
"You're looking a little pale. Would you like to sit down inside?" He asked, and she breathed a relieving sigh. At least he hadn't asked any harder questions.
"Yes, I think I should. I'm feeling a little faint. Maybe the noise and the heat are getting to me..."
"Come in, then." He gestured with his head to the entrance of the bakery, tray still in hand. "There's a small break room at the back you can get some peace and quiet in. I'll make sure no one disturbs you there."
"Thank you." Her teeth clenched in her jaw as she walked behind him inside the building, hoping that no one noticed the increasing difficulty in each of her movements.
The moment the door closed behind her in the bakery's break room, Yuna let out the stuttered breath she'd been holding deep in her chest since healing the fishman. The former Princess rushed to sit upon the small sofa set against the wall. It wasn't quite big enough to fit comfortably, but anything would do for now. Anything to get her off her leg. Satisfied that no one would disturb her, believing the baker's promise of preventing anyone from entering, Yuna lifted the hem of her dress to see the cause of her pain.
The bandages that wrapped her legs tightly in their cloth were stained a deep, ugly red. There was so much, it threatened to seep through the cloth entirely. The underside of her dress skirt was already lightly smudged with blood, but she would worry about that later. So long as any onlooker couldn't see it, it would be fine.
A quick glance around the room showed nothing that she could use as extra wrapping. The only things she could see were the sofas, small fridge and kitchenette set, and her own pathetic reflection in the mirror set against the opposite side of the wall. Yuna averted her gaze back down to the wound, wiping away the involuntary tears that built and fell from the corners of her eyes.
A painful shudder wracked through her body, and her trembling hands reached down to attempt tightening the bandages around the injury. Biting her lip against the pain, she wasn't quite successful in holding back the whimper tugging on one of the edges caused. It had been some time since she'd healed an injury this severe, and the fresh ones were always the worst to take on.
With a mantra of strengthening and resolving statements to herself in her head, she breathed in and out in measured breaths, mindful of the noise in case someone just outside the door happened to hear her. In addition, she was already beginning to formulate a plan on how to get home without anyone-
A gasp made her startle in place, letting go of her skirt and looking around for whoever had made the noise. Her initial sweep of the room showed nothing, until her gaze fell onto the mirror and it no longer showed her own reflection. She froze.
There was a tense second of silence as Yuna and the violet-haired mirror woman locked eyes and stared at one another in shock. Even if the wound was now hidden, her skirt having dropped after her initial surprise, it would be too late to try denying the injury. She'd already seen it, seen the blood. Damn. How was she getting out of this now?
"Brulee-"
"What the hell happened?" Was her incredulous question. Then, deciding that talking with her was a waste of time, she shook her head. "I'll go get Big Bro Katakuri-"
"Wait! Please..." Yuna thrust a hand forward to stop her from leaving and dared a glance at the door to the break room, hoping no one had heard her outburst. The former Princess swallowed as Brulee stared back in confusion at her, a mix of distrust and mild concern in her expression. "Don't...don't get him involved."
"You're injured, idiot. You need medical attention." She said with incredulity, leaning halfway out of the mirror and gesturing to her skirt. "My brother can help you, or get you to someone who can help."
"He has better things to worry about than me overusing my devil fruit." She bit out, a flash of pain straining her voice. "It's my own fault I'm in this mess, I don't want to drag Katakuri into it when we barely speak to each other as it is."
"Devil fruit-?"
"Please, Brulee. Don't say anything to Katakuri." Yuna insisted, staring her down from the couch.
Clearly unhappy about it, the mirror woman gave an exaggerated sigh and crossed her arms. "Hmph! Fine. If you want to make things so difficult, then that's your prerogative. But your leg! It's bleeding badly, and you're cowering in the back of some bakery. How do you expect to get out of here without someone noticing anyway?"
Yuna squeezed her eyes shut, struggling to think of something, anything, that could help her. At least she secured Brulee's silence-tentative silence at best-but now she had another matter to contend with. Leaving the bakery without causing alarm as the violet-haired woman so bluntly explained.
Back in Seiiki, there were always a few guards at hand to ensure that she wouldn't overextend her ability. Or, if she did, they could get her somewhere secluded to assist with medical treatment. It had been years since she last found herself in a situation that she had trouble finding a solution for. Yuna prided herself on being more prepared than that, but unfortunately, her instinctual need to provide assistance was known to override the self-preservation ones. This was not something she had planned for, but her own overconfidence in thinking it was manageable had put her here. Damn her.
When she opened her eyes again, Brulee was still halfway leaning out of the mirror, frowning in displeasure at Yuna's inaction and lack of response. But she looked past that to see the red-shaded mirror dimension behind her. She'd only ever been in once, but it gave her an idea.
"Can you take me through the mirror world back home? I don't think I'll be able to make it if I try to walk back, and no one will see us there, right?"
Brulee gave a roll of her eyes. "I'm not a ferry service! I have other responsibilities besides keeping an eye on you all day."
"Brulee, please. I don't want to interrupt the festivities, and if I stay in here too long, people are going to start asking questions I don't want to answer right now." She grit her teeth as another spike of pain shot up her leg. "I know it doesn't mean much to you, but I ask you...no, beg you, as a sister-in-law. Please help me. You're the only one who can right now."
Yuna wasn't sure how much her words would actually sway Katakuri's sister. It was clear she held a strong dislike of her, as most of his siblings apparently did. To her relief, however, Brulee's narrowed eyes finally closed, and she pinched the bridge of her long nose with irk.
"Gah! Fine...Come on, hurry up then. You've lost enough blood already. I don't want to have to carry you when you pass out." Her hand extended out and Yuna eagerly took it, allowing the woman to pull her back through the mirror's surface and into the mirror dimension.
The strange sensation passed through her body again as she stepped into the red open space. The pain made her stumble, and Brulee reluctantly grabbed Yuna's arm to steady her. "Thank you-"
"I'm only doing this because you're Big Bro Katakuri's wife, and I respect him too much to ignore you." She snidely remarked, walking them towards the direction of the mirror in question. "I don't like pretty girls like you. Perfect little Princess and all...If you hadn't guilted me into this, I'd leave you to fend for yourself."
"It's alright if you dislike me. I appreciate it all the same." Yuna breathed out, grimacing in pain as she continued walking with her injury. Brulee's reasoning for helping was the least of her concerns at the moment. Another quiet 'hmph' from Brulee, before they both went quiet.
Unfortunately, they weren't able to make it far. Yuna could feel the bandages begin to slip and lose their hold around her leg, and she placed a hand on Brulee's arm to stop their walking. "Wait...I need to stop."
"Stop? This is ridiculous..." She muttered, but allowed Yuna to collapse onto the ground and grab the edge of her dress skirts. She bit back the yelp as she moved her leg a bit faster than was comfortable.
She hesitated. Her eyes glanced up to Brulee, who frowned down at her with crossed arms.
Her sister-in-law hadn't seen the worst of it yet, only the surface of the bandages and nothing more. But it was looking more and more likely that Yuna would have no choice but to reveal her secret. How else was she going to continue on? This was all going so wrong, but there was no helping it. Yuna couldn't continue like this without rewrapping her injury, and without bandages on hand...she'd need further help.
"I'm sorry you have to see me this way, Brulee. You can...look away if you want. I will understand." She prefaced, lifting her skirt to see the state of her leg.
The bandages were indeed soaked through around where the injury was present. The heavier cloth had shifted and sagged enough in several places to see the skin underneath. Gingerly, Yuna untied the top of the bandage higher up on her thigh and began revealing the extent of her skin.
Brulee gasped as the litany of ugly, jagged scars that marked her skin were put on full display. The smeared and dripping blood from the newly acquired wound was doing it no justice either, but it couldn't be helped. Yuna kept her eyes trained on the task at hand, too nervous to look her sister-in-law in the eye to see her reaction. No doubt disgust. Or horror. Or something of that nature.
"Oi, oi..." Brulee's voice had lost the bite of irritation, shifting to something quieter and gentler. "What happened to you?"
"I'll explain...if you get me some bandages to rewrap all this."
Brulee had returned quickly with the large first aid kit, kneeling beside her and opening the top to grab some cleaning solution for all the blood. She soaked a cloth with the alcohol, eyes riveted on Yuna's leg. And, for some reason, the bitterness and animosity Yuna had become used to being treated with was gone. Temporarily, no doubt, from the shock of seeing her condition. But momentarily absent all the same.
"How did you get all those scars? Were you...tortured?" Came her inevitable question.
Yuna thought about lying, but figured it would be a waste of time. In the end, she supposed there was no harm in Brulee knowing the downsides to her devil fruit. But she preferred no one to know, no one to see. It was just easier that way, with less explaining and less assumption from all parties involved. She sighed as she tossed the ruined bandages to the side, laying her leg flat on the ground.
"No, it wasn't torture. It's my devil fruit." She admitted, gesturing to her injured leg as example. "I don't know its official name, but I can heal people of wounds by taking them on myself. For the most part, they are easy to manage. Small cuts and scrapes...but there was a man who'd injured his leg badly at the festival today. I couldn't just stand by seeing him in pain like that. That's what caused this whole incident..."
"But you were a princess, weren't you? Where did the rest of them come from?" She peered closer, face full of concern. "There are so many...these couldn't have all come from people in Totto Land?"
"My country takes in liberated slaves." She stated, accepting the roll of bandages from Brulee to begin redoing her wrapping. "Many of them arrive after having endured terrible treatment from whoever they'd 'belonged' to before. They carry many scars, and I can heal those too. Fresh or old, it doesn't matter. I can take away the pain."
Yuna's eyes trailed down the patchwork of marred skin, inspecting each jagged swatch of scar tissue that overlapped and disfigured her body. There were too many to remember where each had come from, though a few stood out prominently in her mind. The worst of those she'd healed weren't so easily forgotten.
She noticed Brulee's eyes glance up her arms and her neck, and she smiled sadly. "Yes, the rest of my body looks like this, too. Slave owners are indiscriminate with where they strike their slaves."
"But your face and hands..." Brulee muttered reluctantly, setting aside the rag she'd used to wipe down her wound. For being so verbally against helping her, she sure took great care in how she performed aid. "Why aren't they scarred too?"
Yuna's head shook. "My father said it would be hurtful to our people to see me with the marks of their suffering, that the guilt I imposed on them would do more harm than good, and that I couldn't be expected to take on everything myself. Anything I couldn't easily cover up...I was forbidden from healing."
"Hmm..." Brulee hummed to herself, sitting back and watching as Yuna began re-wrapping her leg from the top down with the fresh roll of bandages. She layered the edges together so no part of her skin was visible from underneath, concentrating to make it taut and tight.
A tense silence descended on the two women, Yuna thankful she had something to take her mind off the discomfort of laying her secret bare. Especially with someone who disliked her so much. Surely this would only make it harder to form those bonds with Katakuri's family. Why would they when she looked so terrible underneath the modest dresses?
When she reached where the wound began, her teeth grit with each pass of the bandage. They instantly stained red, but the flow of blood had slowed and was no longer at risk of over saturating the new ones. Her focus on the pain ironically made it easier to hold back the tears, somehow.
"You should tell Big Bro about the scars." Brulee suddenly told her, face the most open and non-hostile Yuna had ever seen it thus far. There was almost a...tenderness there that the green-haired woman hadn't expected.
"I can't." She rejected the idea immediately, head shaking emphatically.
"Why not?"
"I don't want to give him any more reason to avoid me."
Brulee's head tilted. "He's avoiding you?"
"We spoke yesterday about our relationship, or the lack thereof, and...he made it clear that he isn't interested in becoming something more. It's a political marriage, so maybe I should be alright accepting that, but...I don't think it's selfish to want to be able to love who I marry." She admitted, wondering to herself if telling her all of this was actually a good idea or not. Yuna was of the mind that marital problems be kept in the marriage, but the discouragement of his attitude towards thus far made her seek some way to vent. And out of all of the siblings she'd encountered-save for Smoothie, who she hadn't seen since she arrived in Totto Land for the wedding-Brulee seemed the most open to listen to what she had to say. At least...at the moment.
"I'll keep trying, for my own sanity. Things like that take time, anyway. He's already opposed to the idea now, with a wife who looks normal. He'll be even less inclined to get to know me if he knew what I'm hiding...underneath. If he can get to know me first...maybe he won't be as disgusted with the way I am." She ended meekly, cheeks heating as she thought of the way he'd look at her should he come to find out.
She was prepared for the eventuality, when he one day found out. She wasn't stupid. He would come to know one way or another. It was only a question of when and whether it was at her desire that the truth came out. Despite it all, it would hurt deep in her chest to see him look at her with horror.
Brulee's chuckle was both perplexing and unexpected. Yuna frowned, seeing the amusement play out in the violet-haired woman's face. Then, even more surprising, she reached out a hand to place encouragingly on her head, flashing her a genuine smile of care and leaning closer.
"Trust me, Big Bro is more understanding than you think he is. Out of everyone in Totto Land, he's the one you least need to worry about scorning you for what you look like." She pointed to her own face, indicating the diagonal scar running down alongside her nose. "He's never once thought any less of me for my scar."
"You're his sister." Yuna pointed out, finishing off the last of her bandage.
"And you're his wife." Was her retort. "Whether he likes it or not, you're a part of his life now. He knows that. So don't worry about what he might think."
She must be lying, Yuna first thought. Then, the more she thought about it, the more she believed Brulee could be trusted. Despite knowing what her body looked like underneath the dress and bandages, here she was, still talking to her and even going so far as to touch her. That alone did more for her confidence than any reassuring words could. Even her father'd had difficulty touching her skin in places that the dress did not cover.
Yuna looked into Brulee's face for any sign of deceit, but found none. The former Princess gave a small smile instead. "I'll think about it. I've kept the scars hidden for so long...it'll take time to get used to the thought of showing them to anyone."
The violet-haired woman gave a nod, before offering her hand for Yuna to take and help be pulled to her feet. She gladly accepted it, carefully raising back onto her feet. Her leg still throbbed and bled painfully, but with fresh bandages, it felt fortified and more manageable to walk with.
"You're not as bad as I first thought. Even if you do look pretty." Brulee muttered between them, guiding her towards the mirror to take her back home.
Yuna smiled to herself.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
