Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

So I am trying my hand at Dragon Ball one shots because I have been reading a lot of them and I'm becoming inspired to write my own. I have also fallen for the precious cinnamon roll that could kick your ass in a heartbeat named Whis, so I want to write scenarios involving him. A lot. I'm only focusing on certain characters, so if you have a request after you read and like what you read, please let me know and I'll try not to disappoint. I will have names picked out for the characters unless I become super lazy, in which case the character will be Y/N. If you request anything, no lemons please. Not because I'm against them, but because I can't write them. I tried once. ONCE. It is now currently shredded and waiting to be recycled in the deepest parts of hell. Can't think of anything else right now so enjoy.

Edit: This was originally going to be just Dragon Ball one-shots, but not having written in years, and finally coming back to my stories...hopefully...I was wanting to do other stories other than Dragon ball. I changed this up to a one shot collection. There will be a variety and who knows how long this will last again. I take super long hiatuses, especially when life gets in the way.

First chapter: Whis X Reader: Will You Cook for Me? Status: Complete

Second Chapter: WhisxReaderxBeerus: Not Alone (Friendship shipping) Status: Complete. 

Third Chapter: Tallest Red x Reader: Sickness is not a Weakness Status: Complete

Fourth Chapter: Akainu X Reader: 48 Hours Status: Complete

Chapter Text

You and Bulma have been friends for years, meeting at one of the local martial arts tournaments. You two instantly clicked and you both have been inseparable since then. Bulma was a little older than you, but that just meant you had an older sister. You were unable to make it to her 38th birthday party, and therefore decided to have a small luncheon to celebrate to make up for it. You originally planned to just have Bulma, Vegeta, and Trunks over, but realized that if you had them, you had to invite everyone. It ended up being those three, yourself, Goku, Chi-Chi, Goten, Gohan, Videl, Piccolo, Krillin, 18, Marron, Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu, Buu, and Mr. Satan. You had originally planned on cooking, but once the number of people increased, you had it catered by the restaurant you work for. You finished placing out the last few trays of food when everyone began to arrive. You greeted everyone as they walked in and told them to help themselves to the buffet.

When you spotted Bulma, you walked over to her to greet her. "Happy belated birthday Bulma," you said hugging her. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to be there for the actual party."

She hugged you back and smiled. "That's alright Emiko. I knew you had work and that bastard boss of yours wouldn't let you off for anything."

You nodded in agreement. "So how was your actual birthday party?" you asked as you both headed towards the buffet to get food. "I still can't believe you rented an entire ship for your party."

She gave you an exasperated look. "I wouldn't even know where to start."

"How about answering whether or not Vegeta actually showed up," you smirked.

"About half way through," she sighed.

"Well, just be glad he came."

"Yeah. I guess you're right. Goku showed up later than him though."

You looked over in surprise. "What? Really? I would have thought Chi-Chi would have dragged him to that party."

"I would have if that man wasn't off training." You and Bulma turned around and saw Chi-Chi making her way over to you two and sit down next to Bulma. "Honestly. The moment I think he might actually stay around and help out, he goes off who knows where for who knows how long," she stated, her eyes glaring slightly at Goku.

"But it really can't be helped though can it?" you asked. "It is who he and Vegeta are after all. It's a part of them."

Bulma looked over at Vegeta who was sitting next to Goku, scarfing down food. "I guess you're right there Emi. As long as he comes home once in a while, I guess I should be happy. Although Vegeta has gotten better at being around. Speaking of men," she started, her gaze leaving Vegeta and turning back to you, "how did your date go with...What was his name again?" 

You folded your arms on the table and placed your head on your arms. "Awful," you answered, your voice voicing your disappointment. "His name was Ryoji and when I told him I was a chef, his face lit up like a Christmas tree. However," you lifted your head up off your arms, your eyes burning with anger, "when I told him I was into martial arts and participated in tournaments, his entire demeanor changed. He went from 'Oh boy I hit the jack pot' to 'You must be crazy if you think I'm going to date a woman martial artist'. It was like he couldn't believe I could go toe to toe with a man or that I even have the nerve to think I could." You slammed your fist down on the table. "Why am I always stuck with the men who have ego issues or even inferiority complexes?" You crossed your arms in annoyance. "Is it so hard to find someone like Vegeta or Goku?" Bulma and Chi-Chi peered at you as if you had gone insane. "Don't look at me like that," you retorted. "You know exactly what I mean. But we're honestly not here to talk about my pathetic love life. What else happened at your birthday party?"

"Aside from the usual, the Earth was threatened once again."

Your attention was now completely on Bulma. "Come again?" you questioned.

"You heard me right. My birthday party was ruined because two of Vegeta's friends showed up and the one threatened to blow up the planet." With everything else to focus on in her statement, you chose to focus on the one non-important thing.

"Vegeta has friends?" You must have asked that a little louder than intended because you felt a certain someone's glare on the back of your head. You turned around to see Vegeta glaring daggers at you and you just smirked and waved before turning back around. Bulma had her hand covering her mouth stifling a laugh. "But who were they? As far as I'm aware, everyone Vegeta can call a friend is here."

"That would be us," a voice announced from behind you. Surprised, you pushed back on your chair and it tipped over. Your head hit the ground and looking up, you saw two figures hovering over you. One was a purple, fur-less, humanoid walking cat, wearing clothes similar to the Ancient Egyptians. The other was more human looking, but with blue skin, white hair in a gravity defying up do, and was wearing some red dress thing and what you guessed was pants underneath. He held a staff in his left hand. Taking a closer look at the blue man, you had actually thought he was cute looking from the angle you were positioned in. You used to have a crush on Goku and he used to have a tail. So thinking that a man with blue skin was cute looking wasn't really something you thought twice about. You should have been shocked at their appearance, but after everything you've seen, you honestly couldn't be surprised anymore. You continued to stare at them from the ground before Bulma coughed and brought you out of your daze. You stood up and dusted yourself off. From your new position, you were able to get a better look at the newcomers. 

"Still cute," you thought, your gaze lingering on the man in a red dress. "Uh...hi," you spoke up. "You must be the people Bulma was talking about. My name's Emiko, but everyone calls me Emi."

"My what an adorable name," the blue man complimented. You blushed. "My name is..."

"Lord Beerus. Whis. What brings you here?" You and everyone turned to see Goku and Vegeta heading your way. 

"So his name's Beerus," you thought gazing at the one who was introducing himself. "And that must be Whis."  Your gaze switched to the purple cat. 

"Bulma did invite us for lunch, but when we arrived, no one was there. And it seems we weren't informed of the change in plans," Beerus (Whis) stated. "While it wasn't much, we did have to put forth some effort to locate you."

"You weren't trying to get out of feeding us were you?" Whis (Beerus) demanded.

Bulma waved her hands back and forth. "O-O-Of course not. I forgot that was today and Emi here," she explained gesturing to you, "wanted to throw me a party herself since she couldn't make it to the uh other one. But please help yourselves. There's plenty to go around." The two new guests turned towards the buffet. Everyone around you was tense and you couldn't figure out why.

"We would love too. Thank you Bulma," Beerus (Whis) replied.  Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief and you still couldn't figure out what the issue was. You turned to Goku.

"Hey Goku? Why was everyone so tense just now?"

"Well Lord Beerus is the god of Destruction after all. I wouldn't have been surprised if he destroyed Earth because Bulma didn't tell him about the change in plans."

"GOD OF DESTRUCTION!?" you shouted. "No one told me he was a god and one that could and would destroy the Earth!" you exclaimed pointing in the direction of Beerus and Whis. 

Goku rubbed the back of his neck. "Hehe. I thought you knew," he chuckled out nervously.

"No I didn't know. And what if I did something to piss him off huh? What then?" You continued to rant, pointing in the direction of the two deities. While you were yelling at Goku, you failed to notice the attention you were drawing. When you finally ran out of steam, you crossed your arms and pouted. Goku just stood there looking at you with an apologetic look. Bulma came over to you when she realized you were finished throwing your little tantrum.

"I'm really sorry I didn't tell you about them Emi. I didn't think they would show up. But when food is involved, Beerus isn't far behind. Speaking of food, you didn't make this all yourself did you because it's delicious."

You shook your head. "No I didn't, but I did get the restaurant to cater the event."

"Awww. I bet the food would have been better if you made it all yourself. You make the best food in the world Emi-chan," Goku interjected. You blushed and looked down, but instantly picked your head back up with you saw blue pants enter your vision and saw that it was Whis (Beerus).

"Did he just say you make the best food in the world?" He grabbed your arm and pulled you closer. "I will be the judge of that, so go make me something. I want to try the so called best food in the world."

You sweat dropped a little at his demand. "Well to be honest, Goku does exaggerate. I know I'm a chef and my food is decent, but I wouldn't say it's the best in the world though." His grip tightened on your arm and you winced.

"Are you refusing to prepare me something to eat?" His eyes narrowed and he brought you closer to his face. It was then that Whis put his hand on his partner's shoulder and smiled at you. You couldn't help the blush that dusted your cheeks.

"Would you please make us something to eat? If Goku says your cooking is some of the best, well I would love to try some, too."

Your eyes went wide and you stuttered out, "O-O-Of course. Right-right away Mr. god of Destruction, sir. Did-didn't mean anything by it." Everyone froze when they felt a cold aura saturate into the air. Whis put his hand to his mouth to stifle what you thought was laughter. Vegeta nervously approached you and spoke to the one holding your arm.

"Please Lord Beerus. I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it." Vegeta kept trying to placate the one holding you. It wasn't until the other deity took his staff and knocked the cat god atop his head.

"Really now my Lord. I'm sure it was a mix-up. No one actually pointed out who was who after all." He turned back to you. "I'm afraid the proper introductions were never made. I'm actually Whis, Lord Beerus' attendant. And this here is Lord Beerus," he corrected you, smiling warmly. You continued to stare at the two before you and your eyes widened. You somehow managed to yank your wrist out of the tight grip it was in and you immediately got on the ground and kneeled before Beerus.

"I am so sorry. I had just assumed. I did not mean to insult you in anyway. Please allow me to fix this and personally make you and your attendant dinner." Everyone was stunned. You practically prostrated yourself in front of Beerus. Everyone waited with bated breath.

Beerus continued to stare down at your form before speaking. "I'll allow it. It seems one of you humans knows how to show me the respect I deserve."

You gulped nervously before looking up. Underneath the dissipating anger, you saw what you thought was approval written on Beerus' face. A hand suddenly appeared in front of your face and saw that it belonged to Whis. You grabbed his hand and noticed how yours fit perfectly in his. His touch was warm and that damn smile had yet to leave his face. He pulled you up from the ground a little too hard because you found yourself staring at his chest. He still held your one hand in his and your other was laying flat against his shoulder. Your face turned beet red and you pulled yourself away and turned away from him. You couldn't bare to look at him and your gaze met the ground. You began to walk away before you were stopped.

"But just remember this human: If the food is not as good as this one says it is," he remarked pointing to Goku, "I'll erase you."

You turned back around and bowed before heading to the kitchen.

With Beerus and Whis

Beerus turned to Whis. "What was that just now?"

"What was what my Lord?"

"You know exactly what I'm referring too. That small spectacle you just put on with that girl."

"I have no idea what you mean my Lord." His sight lingered on your retreating back until it disappeared into your house.

"Whatever you say Whis. Just keep in mind that her kind don't live forever. I would hate for you to get distracted or to attached and then unable to do your job all because a human was no longer in existence."

Whis turned his head to Beerus. "You wouldn't have to worry about that my Lord." He started to walk away. 

"And where do you think you're going?" Beerus inquired. 

"A walk Lord Beerus. Do not worry. I will be back in time for the food so don't get any ideas." 

Beerus watched as Whis walked away from the party and headed to what he assumed was the entrance to the kitchen. "If you say so Whis," he sighed.

 With You

You entered the kitchen and started searching your cabinets and fridge to see what you had available. Granted, with you being a chef, you usually kept a fully stocked kitchen, but you weren't sure exactly what to make them. You eventually decided to fine dine them. Sure it would take awhile, but years of experience prepared you for this. You pulled out everything you would need to make Mozzarella Wrapped Prosciutto, Lobster Mac'n'cheese, Gorgonzola and Truffle Crusted NY Strip, Deep Fried Tofu coated with Miso, an assortment of sushi and sashimi, Steak Tartar, and Creme Brulee, Flourless Chocolate Espresso Cake, and Tiramisu for dessert. While organizing all the ingredients and finding the best way to prepare and cook, you didn't hear the door open. Needless to say, you jumped five feet in the air when you felt a hand on your shoulder. You turned around and saw Whis standing behind you, smiling again. It took absolutely nothing for your face to turn red, remembering what had happened mere moments ago. You hoped that Whis didn't notice, but he did. 

"You're face is all red Emi-chan. It's actually adorable." 

You blushed even harder when he not only called you Emi-chan, but adorable, as well. Your heart fluttered and you stammered out, "I-Is there so-something I can he-help you with Whis?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I just wanted to watch Emi-chan cook." 

"He wants to watch me cook? But why?" you pondered. As much as the company would have been appreciated, you needed to concentrate if you wanted the food to be perfect. You told him so. "I'm really sorry Whis, but I need to concentrate while making you your food. Normally I wouldn't mind, but some of the recipes have a lot going on and I can't be distracted if I want to make them perfect." You saw his smile falter a little and you felt bad. You placed your hand on his shoulder and smiled, closing your eyes. "But look, you can watch me make the dessert okay? I promise. How does that sound?" You opened your eyes when you felt his hands grab yours. He was deep in thought, staring at your hand in his, before he smiled again and looked you in the eye. 

"That sounds wonderful," he answered. His grip on your hand tightened slightly before he reluctantly let go. He turned around to walk out the door, but stopped and spoke in a sing-song voice, "~I'll hold you to that."

You grinned at his child-like behavior and gave him a thumbs up. "Oh. Can you have Bulma come in in about an hour so she can bring out the first round of food?" Whis nodded and left. You were then left to your own devices and began cooking. After about an hour, you had the sushi, sashimi, Steak Tartar, and Mozzarella Wrapped Prosciutto made. You just finished drizzling the Balsamic Vinaigrette when Bulma walked in. 

"Perfect timing Bulma. Can you take these dishes out to Whis and Beerus for me? I need to keep an eye on the steaks, tofu, and mac'n'cheese."

"You sure are going all out here Emiko. I'm impressed," she acknowledged. "These are some of your best dishes, too."

"Well, everything does have to be perfect, lest I get erased from existence," you joked.

Unbeknownst to you, you didn't see Bulma's shit eating grin. "I don't think you have to worry about that. Something tells me a certain angel would keep that from happening."

You froze. "I-I have no idea what you're talking about. Stop saying stupid things."

"Oh c'mon Emiko. Everyone saw the little moment you two had." You blushed. "And myself and Chi-Chi along with Beerus saw him enter and leave the kitchen. He was in here for quite a bit." She wiggled her eyebrows. 

"Knock it off Bulma," you exclaimed and threw a rag at her face. Luckily, she wasn't holding any of the food yet. "He just wanted to watch me cook is all. I told him he can watch me prepare dessert. Just leave it at that."

Bulma place the rag on the counter. "You know you like him Emi. Just admit it."

"I think he's cute is all," you remarked. 

"Oh really? And is that why you've been blushing the entire time he's been here?" Bulma had a way of making her point by embarrassing you. "I know what that means for you and it means you like him. From what I've seen, he might feel the same. My suggestion? Take the chance and talk to him. He may be a deity, but he's down right better than the men you've been seeing." She picked up the trays of food. "Think on it Emi. I'll let you know how they feel about your cooking." She walked out. 

You put your elbows on the counter and placed your forehead on the palms of your hands. "Why does she always have to be right?" you wondered. But hearing the timer go off for the mac'n'cheese, you had no further time to think on it, lest you wanted to ruin the rest of the food. You got back to work. 

With Everyone Else

Bulma walked out with the trays of food and placed them in front of Beerus and Whis. "Here you two are. Enjoy." The two just stared at what was placed in front of them, not knowing what any of it was.

"I've never seen any type of food like this before," Beerus spoke up and poked at the Steak Tartar with a claw. 

"Or this," Whis added, pointing to the Mozzarella Wrapped Prosciutto. "The various sushi and sashimi looks familiar, but what exactly has she made?"

"She should have brought the food out and explained what it was," Beerus retorted. 

Bulma crossed her arms in annoyance. "She would have, but she had to finish the rest of the food, unless you want her to ruin the second course. The one you're looking at Whis is.."

"That the cheese thing she always makes?" Goku asked. "If it is, that's one of her best dishes. There's just something about how well the meat and cheese go so well together that makes it super delicious." He started drooling. "Can I have one?"

"Absolutely not!" Beerus yelled, before grabbing one of the snacks off Whis' plate and shoving it in his mouth. He started chewing before he suddenly stopped. His eyes widened and his body swung from side to side. "THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST DISHES I HAVE EVER TASTED!" he exclaimed

Seeing his Lord's reaction, Whis took a sample of the same thing and placed it in his mouth. His eyes too widened before closing in delight and everyone could practically see his body vibrating. His one hand went to his cheek, and while chewing, they could hear him say, "Amazing. Simply amazing." It wasn't long before the dish was devoured and the rest soon followed. Needless to say, their reactions were the same for the rest of the dishes. 

"For once I am speechless," Whis started. "Never have I tasted food so delicious. I'll have to be sure to give my compliments to the chef," he joked. 

"And I must agree with you there Whis. What were these dishes called?" Beerus inquired. 

"Aside from the sushi and sashimi you had, the other two were Mozzarella Wrapped Prosciutto and Steak Tartare. And I'm not surprised you enjoyed them. Emiko has years of experience and she's worked with some of the greatest chefs around to perfect her technique. She focuses mainly on American and Italian fine dining. She has a thing for different cultural foods." Bulma glanced at the kitchen. "She wanted to open up her own restaurant, but she gave that up long ago. Those two dishes are what we put into the category of signature dishes. She doesn't make them often, so when she does, it's a real treat."

"Well she certainly has impressed me," Whis complimented. "I can't wait to try the other ones." Beerus nodded his head in agreement. 

"I'll go check on them and have her bring them out." Bulma left and made her way back to the kitchen. 

Whis and Beerus 

Whis stared out in the distance deep in thought. Beerus glanced over at his attendant and let out a long breath. "I know what you're thinking Whis."

"And what would that be my Lord?"

"Do I really need to explain this?" Beerus demanded. "It can't happen Whis. You know that."

"I honestly have no idea what you're on about." Whis rested his elbow on the table and placed his chin in his hand. 

"You've been my attendant for thousands of years now. I know when you have an idea in your head. You want to take her back with us," Beerus started, voicing Whis' thoughts. "Look. If you do take her back with us, just think about what that not only entails for her, but you, as well. If something should happen to her, what would that mean for you? I can't have an attendant who won't be able to function because his pet-"

Whis slammed his fist down on the table. "That's enough my Lord. She wouldn't be my pet and my work wouldn't suffer. I-" he stopped. 

"So that's it. I see how it is."

"How what is Lord Beerus?"

"Playing dumb is unbecoming of you Whis. You're already taken with her. Do you honestly think that's a good idea?" Whis remained silent. "I won't stop you from bringing her back with us, if that is what you really want. Just bear in mind how it would affect you if something happened to her or her if something happened to you."

"My work-"

Beerus interrupted him. "Is not what I'm referring to Whis. What would that do to you personally. Would you able to handle it if she were to leave or die?" Whis stayed silent. "Just think about it." He looked over to the two women approaching the table. "Food's here."

 With You

You just finished plating the steak and adding a side of red wine reduction sauce for dipping when you heard Bulma walk in. You looked over in her direction. "What's the verdict?"

She grinned. "A huge success. You should have seen their faces when they bit into the food. I think you scored major points with those two Emiko."

You let out a huge breathe of relief. "Then it seems I'm saved. No sense in keeping them waiting any longer. The main course is done, so let's deliver the goods." You picked up a plate of steak and bowl of Lobster Mac'n'cheese and Deep Fried Tofu coated with Miso.

You began to walk out when Bulma spoke up. "Did you think on what I said?" 

You bit your bottom lip before responding. "I did and even if you're right, I can't do anything about it now." You frowned. "I just want to get through today without having something else to worry over okay?" You walked away. 

Bulma watched your retreating form leave the kitchen before talking to herself. "You shouldn't have to worry about that. You deserve some happiness Emi-chan." She picked up the remaining plates of food and followed you out. 

You walked out the kitchen door to see Beerus and Whis talking at the table, but couldn't make out what was being said. Everyone else was hovering around the table waiting to see their reactions to the food. You and Bulma placed the food down in front of them and waited. 

With Everyone

Once the food was placed down, everyone looked at Beerus and expectantly. They just stared at the food, not knowing what exactly they were eating. They looked up at you wanting an explanation. You sighed. 

"It's steak, mac'n'cheese, and tofu. But if you want specifics I made Lobster Mac'n'cheese, Gorgonzola and Truffle Crusted NY Strip, Deep Fried Tofu coated with Miso." They both glanced at the food again. "Oh my...Will you just try it already? If not, I'll give the food to Goku and Vegeta." 

Goku turned his head at the promise of food. Before he could even open his mouth, both Beerus and Whis must have sensed what was coming because they took the forks and knives and cut into the steak. They each put a piece of steak in their mouths at the same time and the moment they started chewing, they dropped their forks. Whis' eyes became huge and he finished chewing the steak. Once he downed the piece he had, he had a look of pure ecstasy on his face and stars surrounded him. He only spoke one word: Heavenly. Beerus was pretty much the same way. It seemed he was savoring the flavor because he chewed slowly. He closed his eyes in pure delight and he too only said one word: Exquisite. From there, it went the same way with the rest of the food. They must have been trying to savor each of the foods because they ate much slower than they normally did. Everyone watched on in amazement. It seemed you impressed the two deities and everyone looked back at you, however, you disappeared back into the kitchen without anyone seeing.

"That was the best meal I think we've ever had my Lord. The food was well-prepared, savory, and ohhhh." Whis moved side to side. "I'm on cloud nine just thinking about it."

Beerus had nothing to say that would allow him to disagree with Whis. "That meal was fit for a king or rather a god in my case," he smirked. "Well it seems you get to live after all mortal. I must also give you my...Where'd she go?" Beerus moved his head around trying to find you. Everyone too looked around to see where you went. They were surprised to see that you didn't stay to see what they thought. 

"She must have went back inside Lord Beerus." 

"The nerve," Beerus spoke, agitated. "What makes her think she can walk away? Maybe I should destroy her after all."

"Now now my Lord. I'm sure it's nothing. Why don't I take these plates in and see what's happened. She might have went in to prepare dessert."

"Dessert?!" Beerus shouted. "You mean there's more?"

"Of course there is. Now just be patient and I'll be back." Whis gathered up the plates, but was stopped before he could walk away.

"Whis," Beerus whispered. "Remember what I said." Whis' expression fell and he nodded. Beerus watched him walk away and sighed. "I hope you know what you're doing Whis."

With You and Whis

You watched as Beerus and Whis took their first bites of the steak and reveled in their reactions. You knew how the rest would play out and decided to leave and go clean up the kitchen. You also needed to get away from Whis. What Bulma mentioned started to get to you and you couldn't handle it. You started to clean the mess you made and load the dishwasher. You didn't hear anyone come in. You were washing a knife, when you felt someone put their hand on your shoulder. Your hand slipped holding the knife and you sliced your finger. You hissed and grabbed the nearest dish towel and wrapped it around your bleeding finger. You turned around to yell at the idiot, but froze when you saw it was Whis. You two stared at each other before Whis looked down and saw the blood soaking through the towel. 

He gasped. "Emi-chan. Your finger." 

You came back down to earth and glanced at the towel. "Shit," you mumbled and headed to the first aid kit you kept in the kitchen. You saw that Whis followed your movements and that he was concerned. His brow was furrowed in concentration. 

"Did I do that Emi-chan?" he asked, worry etched in his voice. 

"It's fine Whis. You just surprised me when I was cleaning a knife and my hand slipped. It was an accident." You went to open the kit, but stopped when Whis spoke. 

"I'm sorry Emi." His voice sounded slightly broken. It was almost like he thought you would be mad at him. 

"Look Whis. It really was an accident. Don't worry. I'll be fine once I cover it up," you told him. You glanced over in his direction. It didn't look like your words had any effect on him, but you couldn't worry about that now. You grabbed the necessary items and went back to the kitchen sink. You kept pressure on your finger and ran it underneath cold water in hopes to stop the bleeding. The bleeding would start up again when you removed it. Whis continued to follow your movements and the more he saw, the more sullen he became. 

"Dammit," you grumbled. "I might actually have to go to the hospital and get stitches for this." You were about to call for Bulma, when Whis grabbed your hand. He was looking at you with such concern that your heart skipped several beats. "He can't be that upset that he caused this that he's beating himself up over it, can he?" you thought. You continued to stare at Whis and was shocked when he grabbed your bleeding finger gently. 

"You won't need to go to the hospital. I can heal it here." He hovered his one hand over the cut and a light purple aura emanated from it. You watched as your finger slowly healed itself back together until there was nothing left but a small scar.* You bent your finger back and forth to make sure it was working properly. You gazed up at Whis, who seemed to look relieved. 

"That was amazing Whis. I had no idea you could heal," you stated impressed. 

"Well, it's not a talent I need to use often, so it's not widely known. But it was my fault in the first place and I wanted to make it right." He smiled and you noticed a slight blush on his cheeks. 

"Well..uh...thank you." You both continued to stare at one another. You noticed is gaze turn away from you and the blush was still on cheeks. "He's even cuter when he blushes. Dammit Bulma. Why do you have to be right?" you thought. You thought more on what she said and decided to take a risk. You began to lean towards Whis. However, you froze when he turned his gaze back towards you. You straightened back up and quickly turned your head sideways. You prayed he didn't notice what you were about to do. 

"Now that your finger is healed up, shouldn't you be working on those desserts? After all, you wouldn't want to keep Lord Beerus waiting." 

You started to sweat at the mention of the god and rapidly began working on the desserts. Whis was entertained by how fast you moved at the mention of his Lord and couldn't help but laugh. You knew right then that you could listen to his laugh for hours. It was light and it took your breath away. When he was finished, he started up a conversation with you. 

"So tell me about yourself Emi-chan." And you did. You told him how your mother was of Japanese descent and your dad was Italian. Your mom was a waitress and your dad a chef, which you explained is where you got your passion for cooking. They met while your dad was in Japan studying under a master chef and when he fell in love with your mother, he stayed in Japan and they got married. When you were old enough, your dad started to teach you how to cook. It was then that you decided you wanted to follow in his footsteps. Whis listened intently to everything you had to say. He was genuinely interested in you after all and the more he listened, the more taken he became with you. The passion you had when you spoke about your family and the work you do, was what tied you all together for him. Your face lit up and there was a spark in your eyes that would not go out. If Whis thought you were adorable before, you became absolutely beautiful in this moment. Your eyes shone brightly when you spoke about the hijinks you and your father got into in the kitchen and how you glowed with pride when you talked about everything your mother did for your small family and how the three of you were going to open a family owned restaurant. When he asked why you didn't, you explained that your parents were killed in a car crash and that it didn't seem right for you to open one without them. No matter what you talked about, there was something that shone through you and he was mesmerized. "I know what you're saying Lord Beerus, but it can't be helped. There is a true angel in front of me and I rather have her for as long as she'll have me rather than not at all."  He continued to stare off into space before he was brought out of his thoughts by a hand waving in front of his face. 

"Huh?" He blinked and gawked at you. 

"I was asking if everything was alright. I lost you there for a bit. Is everything okay?" You were concerned. About halfway through, he stopped responding and you noticed he zoned out. You've been trying to get his attention for the last ten minutes. 

"Oh of course everything's fine. I was just thinking about how delicious this dessert's going to be. After all, your last two courses were simply amazing." He laughed and waved off your concern. 

You looked at him funny. "If you say so Whis. Anyway, the dessert is done. You can grab yours and I'll grab Lord Beerus'." You walked out of the kitchen holding a sample of Creme Brulee, Flourless Chocolate Espresso Cake, and Tiramisu. Whis watched you leave. His face fell. "That was your chance to ask her," he berated himself. "If you don't do it now, you'll never ask her to come with you. Are you really willing to give her up? Are you really willing to only be around her when you come down with Beerus when you want her to cook? Is that what you really want?" Whis shook his head of the intrusive thoughts and followed you out, holding his own dessert.

With Everyone

He walked out to see that Beerus had already devoured his dessert. He glanced over and saw you adorning a smile that went from ear to ear. His heart skipped a beat. He noticed you glanced over in his direction and, if at all possible, watched your smile grow even larger.  This time his heart stopped. "Is that because she just looked in my direction? Could she possibly...?" Whis gulped. "It's now or never."  Whis placed his dessert on the table, but didn't go to eat it. He stood there clenching and unclenching his fists trying to make a decision. Finally he turned towards you. 

"Emiko." His voice was low, but you and everyone else heard him and turned. 

"Hmm?"

He faced you. "I want you to cook for me."

You became confused. "But I already cooked for you and you have dessert there. Is there something else you want?" He nodded. "Tell me what it is and I'll make it for you."

He paused before simply stating, "You."

Now you were even more confused. "What do you mean you or uh rather me?"

"You. I want you to cook for me. Every day. I..." "Why is this so hard to ask?"  He started to become flustered.

"I can't exactly cook for you everyday Whis. I have other things to do, but I could try if you visit when I'm around and it's something small." You went from confused to annoyed. Who did he think he was wanting you to cook everyday for him?  

Whis was a step away from pulling out his hair. He was getting more frustrated with himself by the minute. "I can't always come down, but you can always come to me." That wasn't how he wanted to ask that. By this point, everyone stopped what they were doing to watch the interaction between you and Whis. 

You were not only annoyed, but frustrated as well by now. "If you can't come to me, then how do you expect me to get to you?" Your voice started to raise higher and higher. "You have a lot of nerve asking this of me. I-" You were silenced. 

"No!" he shouted. "I mean...what I mean is I want you to come back with me. I like you." At his declaration, no one made a sound. There was complete silence. 

"Wha-What did you say?" you stuttered out. 

"I like you and I want you to come back with me. Come live with myself and Lord Beerus." 

"You aren't serious right Whis?" you asked a little frightened that he was asking this of you on top of announcing that he was practically falling for you. You two had just met after all. 

He grabbed both of your hands and focused solely on you, a pleading look on his face. "Will you come back with me Emiko? Please?" You looked around for an escape route or for someone to rescue you. You tried to remove your hands from his, but his grip tightened. He continued. "Please Emiko. There's something about you. I can see it and its drawn me to you. When you and I were in the kitchen, you spoke with such passion about your family and your love of cooking. I want to be around that, to be around you, every day. I want to see you smile and keep you smiling. Please Emiko, think about it." Whis was practically begging at this point. 

You had no idea what to do. "I-I-I..." was all you were able to get out before wrenching your hands our of Whis' grasp and ran back towards your house. Whis watched you go, feeling a pain in his chest he never felt before. It took him a few minutes to realize what it was and he let his hand hover over where his heart was. "So this is what the humans call heartbreak or rather rejection. Maybe Lord Beerus was right. Maybe this was a mistake." He closed his eyes and his head fell. He wanted to be alone. He turned, walked away, and sat a remote table away from everyone. Everyone was so focused on Whis, that no one noticed Bulma slip away.

With You

You ran as fast as you could. You needed to think and catch your breath. You ran until you came to a clearing on the other side of your house. Your house was surrounded by trees and there was this one spot where trees created a circle and in the center, there were rocks and logs that could be used as seats. You used to camp back here when you were a kid with your parents. It was one of the few places that was quiet enough to think. You slowed down upon your approach and caught your breath. You sat down on one of the logs and folded your arms over knees. Before you knew it, you began to cry. You sobbed for what felt like hours when finally you felt a hand on your shoulder. You looked up and through your tears, you could make out Bulma's blurry frame. You wiped your eyes on your sleeve and watched as she sat down next to you. 

"Hey," you whispered.

"Hey," she responded back. "That was some pretty heavy stuff back there. You okay?"

"I don't know Bulma," you whispered. "How should I feel?"

She put her arm around your shoulders. "I don't know Emi. I really don't. What do you feel right now?"

"I couldn't even begin to describe it. I'm just so confused about this whole thing. Why? Why would he ask me that and in front of everyone?"

"I think it was obvious why he asked. You did hear him say he liked you." 

You glanced up at Bulma and she was staring ahead into the distance. "But how can he? We just met. Why would he do that?"

"For some, they know right away. Whis made it fairly simple that he was "taken by you". My guess is he saw something that no other guy has seen yet and found it to be something wonderful. My guess is...he saw you, Emiko."

You stood up harshly. "But what does that mean Bulma? He barely knows me and yet he knows me? Do you honestly expect me to believe that or even begin to work it out? I barely know him and yet he expects me to leave my home, to leave you and everyone else behind to go live with two total strangers? It makes no sense."

"To be perfectly honest, when it comes to Beerus and Whis, nothing makes sense," she smirked. 

"This is no time for jokes, Bulma," you retorted. You started pacing back and forth. "I have a literal angel who is waiting back at the party for an answer from me. And if what you say is true, if I give the wrong answer, who knows what could happen. I mean this is ridiculous. I don't even know if I like him or if what he even says is true. It just may be infatuation and a month from now, if I go with him, he could dump me back on Earth when he's finished. What would that do to me?"

"If there's one thing I've learned about Whis, it's that he means what he says. He's never once sugarcoated the truth, even with Beerus. If he says he likes you, then I'm inclined to believe it."

"Well, that's all well and good, but what about me? He may want me to go live with him, but I know not a single thing about him. I don't know if I like him. I don't know if I can leave you and everyone. I don't know if I could stand living there. I-I just don't know." You knelt on the ground. "Tell me what to do Bulma. Please. I'm so confused right now." Tears began to form and trickle down your face. Bulma got up from her spot on the log and knelt on the ground in front of you. She grabbed a hold of your chin and brought your face up to look at her. 

"Oh Emi. This is your decision and yours alone. But no matter what I will support you in whatever you choose. You've always been strong and able to make the best choices for yourself. I think this one is the most difficult for you because you're scared. And that's okay. And Emi, I know you like him." You were about to interrupt her before she put her hand up signaling for you to remain quiet. "I know you like him and I know this because since the first moment Whis stepped down here today, you've done nothing but smile. You may not have noticed it, but I have and so has Whis. I haven't seen you smile this much around a guy before or since your parents died. I didn't notice at first, but when Whis helped you up off the ground after the incident with Beerus, I could tell. You've never blushed or were as flustered as you were today around him with any other person you've dated. I knew that you were taken with Whis, even if you didn't realize it. You may not know what it is about him, but I know there's something there that draws you to him. And I think that's why you're so scared. You're unsure about how you feel because you're not sure how you should feel. But I still stand by what I said in the kitchen: Take the chance, even if it means going to live with him. The only reason I suggest that is because he isn't down here often enough. At least if you go with him, the both of you can decide on what this really is. Even if you don't know, I know he likes you and you do like him. Think back on today and listen to what your heart tells you and not what's going on inside your head. I'm sure you'll make the right decision." She let go of your chin, got up, and walked away. 

You stared at her retreating form, thinking about everything she told you. "Is Bulma right about me? Could it really be as simple as me being too scared? Am I really overthinking this so much that I'm the one blind? Is what she saying true? Did she really notice my feelings for Whis before I even had the chance to acknowledge them? Do I...No wait. Bulma said to trust my heart and ignore my thoughts and I trust Bulma." You crossed your legs and sat in a meditation pose. You silenced all thoughts in your mind until all you heard was your heartbeat. You then thought about today and how you felt around Whis. He did make you smile and even laugh. You even made him laugh and at the thought of him laughing your heart skipped a beat. When you focused your thoughts on how he smiled at you, you pictured his face and saw it light up when he saw you looking back at him. Your heart stilled. Thinking back to the incident in the kitchen, he was so concerned about your well-being over a simple cut and he beat himself over the fact that it was him who caused it. And the moment he healed you? He was so relieved you couldn't help but notice how the warmth of his hands enveloped your own when he held them. Your heart started beating rapidly and your eyes shot open. You knew what you had to do. You got up and ran. You ran past Bulma and shot her a quick smile before continuing. You hoped you weren't too late.

With Whis

He watched you go as you ran away from him. There was a painful feeling in his chest he never felt before. When he realized what it was, he closed his eyes and his head fell. He wanted to be alone. He turned, walked away, and sat a remote table away from everyone. He placed his elbows on the table and leaned his forehead on his palms. "I can't believe I did that. What is wrong with me? I didn't think that through at all and I now may have lost the chance spend time with Emiko at all. I should have known this was going to happen. I more or less asked her to leave her friends and life behind. Of course she'd run away. How could I ask that of her? Lord Beerus was right. I was only thinking of myself and not her. How can I fix this." He was so lost in his thoughts, that he did not see Beerus approach him until he cleared his throat. Whis looked up. 

"Lord Beerus."

"I see you decided to ask her," he simply stated. Whis nodded his head. "And are you surprised by the results?" Whis just remained silent. "I told you this would happen and I only did that because I see how you are now. You felt one way, but she didn't. I knew it was mistake. I-" He was cut off. 

"Please Lord Beerus. Not now," Whis whispered. 

Beerus was about to make a comment, when he noticed the slight tremble in his attendant's mouth. He just sighed. "Fine. I think it's time we went home anyway Whis." Whis simply nodded again and got up with Lord Beerus. They both made their way to open field and Whis was about to transport them both home, when he saw something from the corner of his eye. Lowering his staff, he fully turned to see you running towards him. His heart skipped a beat and his eyes widened. He heard you shout to wait and he did. 

With You and Whis

"Whis wait!" you shouted out. You saw him turn towards you and step away from Lord Beerus. 

He turned towards you and saw you running towards him. "Emi-chan? Are you-"

He never got to finish because you silenced him. When you were near enough you grabbed him by the front of his outfit and pulled him into a kiss. His eyes widened and made no move to return it. How could he? He was stunned and his brain was not telling him what to do. You pulled away and focused your gaze on him, trying to find some reaction. When you received nothing from him, you began to back away, before being pulled back by Whis. This time, he crashed his lips onto yours and you immediately responded. You wrapped your arms around his neck and his went around your lower back. He pulled you as close as he could to deepen the kiss and licked your bottom lip for entrance. You granted it to him and both your tongues fought for dominance. When you both needed air, you broke the kiss and you placed your forehead against his. 

"My answer is yes Whis. I'll go back with you. I'm not sure exactly what this is or where it's going to go, but if going with you means we can work it out together, then my answer is yes. Just promise I can come back to Earth every so often to visit everyone here."

"Anything for you." He picked you up and spun you around in his excitement. When he placed you back on the ground, he leaned in for another kiss. "I'll come back tomorrow for you. Pack what you need to bring and I'll have a room set up for you."

You nodded and let go. Whis moved back to his position next to Beerus and they disappeared. You were left standing with the rest of your guests. Bulma came up to you and wrapped you in a hug. "I'm very happy for you Emi. I knew you could do it." 

You pulled away from Bulma and looked at her smiling, tears shining in your eyes. "Thank you Bulma." 

The rest of the night was spent packing and cleaning up the house. You didn't have much you wanted to take, but the things you didn't want to take, but didn't have the heart to get rid of just yet, would be taken care of by Bulma. Regardless, it was nearly dawn, when everyone finished.  

The Next Day

You were standing with everyone at Bulma's house waiting for Whis to show up. You packed what belongings you needed and said your goodbyes this morning. Bulma promised she would take care of the rest of your stuff, creating a permanent guest room for you when you came to spend time and that she would make sure your house was sold. It wasn't long before Whis arrived alone and he beckoned you over to him. Turning around to your family, you said your final goodbyes to each other and walked towards Whis. You smiled at him and he couldn't help the grin that formed on his face. He waved his staff and your baggage was sucked into said staff. You wrapped your arms around his neck and held on tightly. In a similar manner, he snaked his free arm around your waist and held you just as tightly. Before you both disappeared, he glanced down at you with a shit-eating grin. 

"What?" you asked. 

"When we get back, will you cook for me?" He winked. 

You slapped the back of his head playfully and responded, "Of course." You smiled. Whis smiled back, brought his staff up, and you both disappeared in a blue light. 

Chapter Text

BOOM!!! Thunder roared across the heavens and lightening streaked across the sky. A figure could be seen huddled underneath their bed covers in as small a ball as humanly possible. If one were to look closer, they would see the figure shaking uncontrollably. If they were too also listen as hard as they could, they would hear the figure take shuddering breaths, trying to keep themselves from crying, but failing. If one were to remove the covers, they would find a female figure curled up in a ball, their eyes tightly shut with tears streaming down her face, and hands covering their ears in an attempt to drown out the deafening thunder crashes. She was wearing short green shorts that had Gir written across the back and a picture of Gir on the front bottom of the right pant leg with a black t-shirt that read, "Do you even pose?" (1). She had a mid-length dark purple hair. When her eyes are open, you can see a striking blue. If she were to stand up straight, she would be around 5'2"-5'3". 

With a dazzling streak of lightning that lit up the room, followed by a burst of thunder that shook the house, the figure flew from the comfort of their bed and ran into the closet. Once she made it to the closet and was inside, she slammed the doors shut and huddled in the farthest corner of the closet. Trying to keep her shaking under control, she began muttering to herself, "It'll pass. It'll pass and the storm will be over." When another burst of thunder sounded, she jumped and whimpered, "Daddy. Please come home." With that, she rested her head on her knees and hands covered her ears, making this a night of waiting in the closet until the storm finished. 

If you have not figured it out yet, this woman was you. Your name is Mai Sakamuro and you were alone on this stormy night. That would change, but you did not hear your bedroom door open or the sound of someone walking about or speaking. It was not until you saw the closet door open and glanced up that you knew someone was there. Raising your head in its entirety, you saw...

Earlier that day

You had an early morning start with Bulma at Capsule Corp. While it may have been the weekend, you were working with her around the clock to prepare for Capsule Corp's debut of their latest invention (2). As you were her PA and in charge of PR as well, it was your job to secure everything for the debut from the center to food to mailing out invites (3). With the expo about a week away, you were finalizing everything to make sure it would run smoothly. When you were both finished for the day, you decided to spend some time with her, Trunks, and Vegeta. It was a nice day to start off with, so you all decided to go to the beach. It was a private beach owned by the Briefs and no better part of the beach could be asked for. It was a bit of a drive, but the spot was worth it. With Bulma driving and Vegeta in the passenger seat, and with you and Trunks in the back, you all made your way down to the beach. When you arrived, you could hear the waves crashing along the rocks protruding out into the sea. The smell of the salt water permeated the air and was strong against your nose. When you made it onto the beach, the hot white sand squished between your toes and you could see the sun glistening off the clear blue water. Seagulls were squawking as they flew overhead. Everyone made their way closer to the water and picked a spot a short distance from the ocean water. Trunks headed to the water with a boogie board in hand, while you, Bulma, and Vegeta set up the umbrellas and beach towels. 

"Aunt Mai," Trunks called out, "Watch me."

"Go on Trunks," you yelled back waving, "I'll watch from here." Trunks turned around and ran into the water. You watched him ride wave after wave. "He certainly has a lot of stamina," you observed turning towards Bulma, who was laying on her towel next to you. 

"Well of course he does," Vegeta growled out before Bulma could speak. "He's half-Saiyan and I train him every day. I would expect him to be able to handle some waves."

You sweat-dropped. "That wasn't exactly what I meant Vegeta, but whatever you say," you responded. Turning back to Bulma, you began conversing with her again. "Remember how we would play in the water for hours on end?" you asked. 

Bulma turned her head to face you. "Yea. Although you preferred it more than I did. You could stay out there for hours. Your dad would have to drag you out kicking and screaming. You would always end up causing a scene and your dad would have to explain that he wasn't kidnapping you since so many people thought he was with how you acted,” Bulma answered. 

You laughed lightly. "Yea. I feel horrible for causing him so much trouble, but I didn't want to leave. I could never understand why people thought he was kidnapping me, though. I also remember not talking to him for the rest of the day once we got home. I think he was slightly hurt at that, too, but I was a kid who didn't want to leave the beach. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who acted out."

"No, but I think you were the only one to cause such a scene that the police responded." 

"All of which they did as a courtesy to the people who called them. Remember the time there was an actual cop car that followed us until we got back to your place?" you questioned. "That was just for pretense though because there was no way someone my dad used to work with would even remotely think he would kidnap his own daughter. I mean, we were with the Briefs for crying out loud. That should have counted for something, but I guess not even your family can convince others that a man dragging away a seven year old is not committing kidnapping. I was so glad when your dad bought this for our own use." You two continued to reminisce about your days on the beach until Vegeta interrupted you both. 

"If you two are going to sit there and do nothing but gossip the rest of the time here, I'm going to the water to train. There's no point in relaxing if I have you two talking up a storm in my ears." Vegeta briskly stood up and stalked towards the ocean without another word. 

Bulma sighed. "Honestly. He can be so rude sometimes. It's been awhile since we could relax like this together, but he decides to go off alone and train. All that attitude about us talking. What else would we do laying on the beach? The whole point is to relax and we can actually have a conversation without work interrupting us," Bulma scowled. 

"You mean without work interrupting me," you retorted. "Don't forget, I'm the one who handles the face of the company, while you and your dad work behind the scenes, which was one of the many reasons you hired me. You couldn't deal with the public aspect of it anymore without your work being interrupted and wanted to work on the inventions rather than the public." You turned to see where Vegeta went off too and saw him out in the ocean throwing ki blasts. "To be fair, however, we really weren't talking about much, let alone something he's interested in. Unless it involves Goku or training, Vegeta pretty much tunes everything else out."

"I guess you're right Mai." Just then, Trunks came running up to you and Bulma. 

"Did you see me Aunt Mai?" Trunks asked excitedly, his face lighting up. 

"Of course Trunks. Soon you won't be using that boogie board. I think you'll be surfing soon."

"You really think so?" (4) 

"Of course," you answered. "Just make sure your mom pays for the lessons." You turned to Bulma to see if she was paying attention, but she was on the phone. While waiting for her to finish, you turned back to Trunks. "You must be hungry after all that boarding," you stated. Trunks nodded and you reached into the cooler to grab him a sandwich. When you were about to hand it to him, Bulma hung up the phone and glanced at you. 

"I would hold off on giving Trunks a sandwich," Bulma groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Why?" you questioned hesitantly, noticing her growing frustration. 

"My dad just called and we apparently have two hungry visitors on the way," she explained. "They have requested your cooking."

"You can't be serious?" you asked frustrated, knowing exactly who she was talking about. "I fed them two days ago and gave them enough leftovers to take back with them. They can't have gone through that much food in 48 hours." Bulma gave you an 'are you serious look' because you should have known what those two were capable of eating. "I know I know. It is Beerus and Whis, but c'mon. The amount of food I gave them should have at least gotten them through the week."

"Regardless, they're on their way to my house right now and Beerus seemed pretty upset when he was talking to my dad. So, we need to pack up and head home and you need to decide what you're going to make them."

You snorted. "I'm not making them anything. We can either stop at the nearest restaurant and pick something up or we can order when we get back to your place. They'll have to deal with it because I am not making them anything this late in the day, especially after a trip to the beach and one that was interrupted to boot. I've established rules with them and they know I don't cook for unannounced visits like this."

Bulma looked like she wanted to say something, but thought better of it. You could get pretty testy when asked to do something you were not prepared to do (i.e. cook dinner for a god of destruction and his attendant) and she did not want to make you more frustrated than you were now. You weren't showing it, but you were steaming on the inside about this, especially after you told them you needed at least 24 hours to prepare in order to cook them food if you were not already making it for yourself. It took a lot to prepare dinner or lunch or even breakfast the way Beerus liked and you needed prep time in order to make sure it would be cooked perfectly. "Alright then. You decide on where to order from and what to order and I'll pay for it. Meanwhile, we should pack up and head back there ASAP. Trunks," Bulma called, "go get your father and tell him we're leaving. If he has a problem, tell him Lord Beerus and Whis are calling." Trunks nodded and went to fetch Vegeta. By the time they got back, you and Bulma had everything packed up. 

"Alright everyone," Bulma started, "let's not keep Lord Beerus and Whis waiting any longer." Each of you grabbed items and made your way back to the car. Piling in with Bulma driving again, everyone was in the same seats as when they were driving down, you all headed back to Bulma's place. 

"Can you step on it woman," Vegeta growled out. "We need to be there before Lord Beerus arrives. If he's there and the food is not ready, he'll destroy us."

Bulma's eyes narrowed. "I'm driving as fast as I can," she muttered. "I'm not about to get us killed because he decided to show up unannounced and ruin our day together."

"We'll be dead either way if we're late and he arrives before us," Vegeta grumbled. "And you," he started turning around to glare at you, "Do you have any idea what you'll be cooking him?"

"Oh I'm not cooking," you stated smartly. "I'm ordering online and having it delivered to the house. I'm not making anything this late and with little warning."

Vegeta's eyes widened. "You can't be serious. Do you have any idea what Beerus will do if you don't cook?" he demanded worriedly, eyes widening. 

"Yes I do and trust me Vegeta. Beerus won't do anything because he knows I won't cook without proper notice. I spoke to both him and Whis and established rules. So relax and know that everything is under control. Besides, Beerus won’t do anything to me if he still wants to be fed," you responded calmly, a smirk gracing your lips as you watched a small bead of sweat trickle down the side of Vegeta's face. You pulled out your phone and chose to order from Nicolisi Catering, which was the company used most often when Bulma threw her parties. Placing the order and having it delivered to Capsule Corp, you knew your job was done and decided to stare out the window and watch the scenery go by. You got lost in your thoughts and thought back to how and when you first met Bulma and therefore Beerus. 

HISTORY FLASHBACK

Your dad had been a security officer for the Briefs for the longest time. He had originally been a police officer, but that all changed a few years after you were born. It was just you and your dad for most of your life as your mom walked out on you two when you were young. When you asked your dad where your mom was and why she left when he responded with saying she left, your dad explained that it was because she could not deal with his profession any longer. The way he explained it to you was that your mom could not spend any more nights alone with a toddler wondering if he was going to come home or not. It eventually got too much and instead of asking him to resign, your mom packed up her things and left in the middle of the night. It was the night there was a terrible storm and you heard arguing voices downstairs and the noise woke you up. You did not see anything nor really understood what was being said, but you do remember hearing the front door slam shut and when you glanced out the window, you saw your mom put suitcases in her car and then drive away. That was the last image you had of your mom: Her slim figure was illuminated by the streaks of lighting across the sky and you watched on as the car pulled out of the driveway and sped off into the night and pouring rain, never to be seen again. From that day on, your dad quit being an officer and applied for security positions, in which he finally ended up securing a job with Capsule Corp. It was better this way as he could be at home at night with you and when you were not in school, you could go with him to work and spend time with Bulma and her family(after being found by her dad and offering to watch you) while he worked. 

You had only met Bulma because you wandered off and became lost. Dr. Briefs found you wandering alone and asked who you were and why you were there. You explained to him in the only way a five year old could, by saying that your daddy worked here and he couldn't get a babysitter. You got bored and wandered away from your daddy. Dr. Briefs grabbed your small hand and walked around until you found your dad in the guard's booth. Your dad, who had no idea you wandered off, was shocked to see you accompanied by his boss. Dr. Briefs spoke to your father about the situation and offered to have his wife look after you whenever you came with him to work. Your father insisted that that was not necessary as he was in the process of hiring a nanny, but Dr. Briefs kept insisting and your dad eventually caved in. So, from that day forward, Mrs. Briefs would watch you when needed and you eventually met Bulma. 

When you met, Bulma was in her teens while you were still in grade school (5). Bulma at first refused to spend time with you when her mom requested help or said to play with you. You were a strange child whose dad worked for them and in no way had any obligation to watch you. She couldn't understand why her mom was watching you in the first place. It wasn't as if you and your dad were close with the Briefs and they didn't watch anyone else's children, so why you? You had no explanation as you were only a child, but Bulma's father explained that it was the right thing to do. You were still too young to stay at home by yourself without a sitter and seeing as how your dad could not find a sitter who would watch you six days a week within a reasonable price range (6), there was no harm in letting you stay there when needed until his shift was over. It also made it easier since Bulma's mom didn't have to work and she enjoyed having another child around. She became a sort of pseudo-mom to you (7). 

 In the end, Bulma accepted the fact that her mom was playing babysitter, but had no idea she would be getting an unofficial new member of her family. Years went by and you two ended up as sisters. Your dad eventually went back to work with the police force when you were old enough to watch yourself and it was what he wanted to do with his life. He spoke to you about it and not only did you both discuss what his schedule would be like with the hours he would be working, but also the risks, such as dying while on duty. Despite that, you knew how much this meant to your father and you supported him because he sacrificed so much for you over the years, that the least you could do would be to support him with his dream job. During the time of getting close to Bulma and your dad going back to work, your family continued to grow. Bulma introduced you to Goku and Yamcha; you were there for the tournaments and met Krillin and Master Roshi; became Trunks' godmother, etc (8). You were there for her 38th birthday party and met Lord Beerus and Whis. 

You missed the fight between Goku and Beerus because you actually decided to go out and get more pudding for the deity and his attendant, which both accepted enthusiastically. When asked why, you shrugged your shoulders and replied that it was the right thing to do, even though you missed the awesome fight. However, since you ended up somehow making Beerus happy by giving him pudding, he decided to make you his...food servant if you will. It would be the best way for you to put it. Instead of going to Bulma, he and Whis would come to you when they were hungry. Of course, this meant racking up major credit card debt, but Bulma was more than generous to reimburse you or make your check bigger to pay off whatever meal you bought or made for those two. They made a habit of popping up at least 2 or 3 times a month and it didn't matter where you were. They had nearly given your dad a heart attack when they appeared in your living room unannounced. That was a story worth explaining to your dad, but at the end, he just readily accepted it because after everything he's seen when it comes to being friends with the Briefs, there's not much else to do. 

Through it all, you developed some sort of relationship with Beerus and Whis. You weren't sure if you could call them friends since one could, if not both, end you in a heartbeat, but they were more than acquaintances. They knew all about you and you learned a little about them. You would make extra for dinner in case they popped up for food, in which case, they ate with you and your dad if he wasn't working a night shift, or you would give them their share when you saw them next. Whis was just so easy to talk to and Beerus...well Beerus was like the brother who never left you alone. You would call them friends or even a part of your family, but you would never tell them that in case you were misinterpreting everything and made a fool of yourself. Despite everything you told them, you would never tell them what frightened you the most: Thunderstorms. You could look Frieza straight in the eye and know he was about to end you, but when it came to thunderstorms, you ran and hid like a toddler. They would probably think you weak and foolish and therefore, would never let them know.  

BACK TO PRESENT

You must have dozed off because the next thing you knew, you were back at Bulma's place. You rubbed your eyes and stretched. Unbuckeling yourself, you got out of the car and immediately noticed the sky. It was turning dark and gray storm clouds were forming. 

You turned to Bulma. " Is it supposed to storm today? I thought the weather was supposed to be clear?" you asked, slight hesitation in your voice.

Grabbing beach bags from the trunk, she responded, "I guess it was wrong. Maybe it's a good a thing Beerus showed up. We would've gotten stuck in the rain if we didn't leave. I wouldn't worry too much about it. It's probably just passing rain. Now here. Take this in for me," she stated while shoving a bag of towels and a cooler at you. "Vegeta took most of the stuff, so this is the last of it. Just put the cooler in the kitchen and towels in the laundry room." 

You grabbed the items Bulma shoved your way and started walking towards the house. You paused, glancing at the sky again. It seemed to have gotten darker and an eerie silence befell the surrounding area. You gazed up at the sky again and a shiver ran down your spine. "This is going to be more than just passing rain,"  you thought and all you wanted to do was go home. You walked into the house and didn't look back. 

After placing everything where it needed to go, you went to the guest room you usually utilize when you spend time at the Briefs and showered. Beerus and Whis hadn't shown up yet and you wanted to be ready for when they did. You showered, got dressed, and went to go wait for the caterers. When they arrived, you stepped outside and noticed that the sky had turned completely dark. You froze for but a moment and almost scampered back inside, but you needed to help bring the food in. Grabbing food from the truck, you hurried back in and helped set up. Just as you finished, Beerus and Whis landed in the living room and you went to go greet them. 

 "Lord Beerus. Whis." you bowed. 

 "Mai-chan," Whis greeted. "Hope you are well."

 "Mai," Beerus nodded. "I hope the food is ready." Beerus walked off without so much as a how do you do. 

 "Nice to see you too," you mumbled.

 "Don't mind him Mai-chan. We just got back from Universe 6 and you know what kind of mood that puts him in." 

 You sighed. "Yea I do. Well come on then," you motioned for Whis to follow you. "Food's ready."

 "What did you make tonight? Myself and Lord Beerus have been looking forward to it since we left. Your cooking always puts us in a good mood."

 "Unfortunately Whis, I didn't have time to cook. I was able to get it catered."

"Oh," he exhaled. "Well some food is better than none. Lord Beerus' mood might not improve though."

"I'm sorry Whis. We were at the beach when you called Bulma’s father looking for her and I wouldn't have had time to make anything," you explained. 

Whis just nodded and followed you into the dining room where the food was being served. Beerus had already gotten himself a plate and was scarfing down the food. It seemed Whis was wrong. Beerus just seemed to have wanted food if him eating with gusto was anything to go by. You and Whis walked over to the food and you each grabbed yourself a plate. Whis was piling his plate high. It still amazed you how much they could eat and still be hungry only hours later. You sat down in between Bulma and Trunks, while Vegeta sat to Bulma's other side and Whis and Beerus across from everyone else. You couldn't help but take peeks at the darkening sky every so often, hoping no one else noticed. There was idle chit-chat going around, but you were growing worried and wanted to get home before the rain started pouring. When everyone finished eating you pulled Bulma aside and told her you were going home.

 "Are you sure Mai?” she asked.

"I'm sure Bulma. It looks like it could start down-pouring any minute now and I want to get home before it starts," you responded, hoping you kept the urgency out of your voice.

It doesn't seem like you did because Bulma looked at you suspiciously. "You know you can always stay here. You don't have to go home. Besides, you can't leave me here with Beerus, Whis, and Vegeta. Those three are a bad combination. Wouldn't you feel better being around-"

"Bulma," you started, "I'm just gonna head home. You'll be okay. I just want to get home before it starts storming. Okay? Just tell everyone I said goodbye."

"Fine," Bulma relented. "Just let me know you got home alright." 

"I will." You hugged each other and you slipped out the back door.

WITH BULMA AND OTHERS

Bulma watched you go and shook her head before heading back to the others. They asked where you went and she told them you went home sick. Beerus and Whis looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. They thought you looked fine, but if you said you were sick then you were sick. Vegeta and Bulma also shared a look before going back to eat. They knew what was coming and were hoping you could handle it on your own. 

When everyone was finished eating, Bulma had everyone go into the living room so the caterers could clean up. She went into the kitchen and grabbed some pudding cups for Beerus and Whis. She knew you always kept some on hand for emergencies and figured it would be an okay time to use them as dessert. Grabbing a few spoons, she made her way back to the living room and sat down next to Vegeta, passing the spoons and pudding cups to the two deities. They nodded their heads in thanks and ate in silence. Bulma glanced through the window and saw the sky was so dark, you would think someone was summoning Shenron. It was not until the first raindrop hit the window and the clash of thunder, that she slightly jumped up and reached for her phone. Noticing there were no missed calls, she dialed your number. It went right to voicemail. Leaving a message, she hung up and waited for you to respond. Soon, the heavens burst open and the rain was pounding on the house and winds rattled the windows. Becoming nervous, Bulma turned to Vegeta. 

"I'm getting worried Vegeta. It's pouring out and we haven't heard from her. Do you think she's okay?"

Vegeta did not respond. While he would never admit it, he was concerned about you. He gazed out the window and watched the rain pelt the window. He watched as lightning lit up the sky. He listened as thunder roared across the heavens. He turned his gaze away from the window and turned towards Bulma. "She'll be fine. You can't continuously worry about her like that. She has to get over this fear and she can't do that with you hovering all the time woman." 

"I can't believe you Vegeta," Bulma muttered underneath her breath. "You of all people should know how incapacitated she gets during storms like this. Do I need to remind you what happened last time?" 

"No you don't need to remind me," he growled out. "But you constantly worrying about her is not going to help her. You coddling her is not going to allow her to face her fears."

"Fine then Vegeta. The next time you see her, you can be the one to inform her that as of right now, she will be on her own," Bulma harshly stated, standing up abruptly. 

"That is not what I meant woman. Why do you twist everything I say?" he growled out. 

"That is exactly what you said. I'm not-" Before Bulma could finish, she was interrupted (9). 

"Excuse me," Whis butted in. "Would you happen to be referring to Mai by any chance?" Both Bulma and Vegeta turned Beerus and Whis, who were sitting on the couch quietly, staring at the two fighting in front of them. They forgot the two deities were still there. 

Bulma sighed. "We are Whis. I'm sorry. I got so caught up in my concern for Mai, I forgot you were there." 

"Would you care to explain what this was all about?" Beerus interjected. "It's rude for the host to completely ignore their guests." 

Bulma glared at the god before letting her shoulders sag and sat back down on the couch. "It's not really my place to say. It's a personal issue that Mai deals with and it would be best for her to tell you. I think Vegeta and I are the only ones who really know the whole truth of it, while the others only know the basics."

"Does it have anything to do with why she left earlier?" Whis inquired. 

"It does. But again, it's not my place to say," Bulma answered. 

Whis nodded his head. He would not say anything, but he noticed the glances you gave the outside every so often when you were eating and assumed it had to deal with the weather and now the storm taking place outside. He also noticed the unease your face displayed when you decided to glance outside. He was curious as to why the weather was your reason for leaving, but if Bulma said to ask you, then he would wait.

Beerus on the other hand had a different idea. “Oh what’s the big deal? Huh? It’s not like she’s afraid of a little thunder now.” When no one answered, Beerus knew he had his answer. “You can’t be serious? She’s frightened of some rain and thunder?”

Both Bulma and Vegeta glared daggers at the god. Whis just sighed at his charge’s rudeness. Though he was a little surprised himself that it was because of the weather itself you left early, despite his hunch. “My lord. I’m sure there’s more to it then just being frightened. Please refrain from anymore comments.” He stared at Bulma. “Am I right?” he questioned. 

Bulma bit her bottom lip wondering if she should tell them. You were pretty private about it. However, she also knew you were closer to the two deities then anyone else in the group other than her and Vegeta. If they did not know about your fear by now, you may not want them to know. “I’m sorry Whis,” Bulma sighed. “I can’t betray her like that. I know you and Beerus figured it out, which isn’t saying much because myself and Vegeta didn’t exactly keep it discrete, but I don’t think I should tell you the whole truth of it. Let her.”

”I understand.” Whis nodded in acknowledgement.  He wanted to say something else, but thought better of it. Instead he turned to Beerus. “Are you ready to go my Lord?” Beerus nodded. “I guess we will take our leave then. Thank you Bulma for the food.”

”Don’t thank me. You can thank Mai. She purchased the food. But in regards to Mai can you do me a favor?” Whis nodded. “Before you head home, can you stop by her house to see if she’s okay? She normally lets me know when she gets home, but I haven’t heard anything from her. I’m scared something happened.” 

”Of course we can Bulma,” Whis said. 

Bulma sighed in relief. "Thank you both. If there's any issues, please call me."

"Let's go Lord Beerus. We wouldn't want to leave Mai-chan alone now would we?"

"Yea yea," Beerus replied getting off the couch. He turned to Bulma. "You owe me for this. I expect a feast when I come down again." Bulma glared, but Beerus had already turned away. "Whenever you're ready Whis." 

Whis tapped his staff on the ground twice, and they both disappeared.

WITH YOU

When you left Bulma's house, you ran like hell for home. Your dad dropped you off this morning and therefore you did not have your car. Your eyes kept darting to the sky, wondering when it would burst and start pouring rain down on you. You gulped nervously, wanting to get home before all that. You didn't live far from Bulma, about a mile away, but it was still a good 30 minute walk to and from. You were coming up on the street prior to yours when you no longer had to wonder about when it would start raining. After you felt the first rain drop, it was if a plug had been pulled as you soon became drenched. Your clothes became saggy and soaked and your hair was sticking to your face. You ran even faster and made it home. Upon entering your home, you heard the first clap of thunder. Jumping a bit in the air, you quickly ran into your bedroom and took off your soaking wet clothes. Drying off, you let out a small yelp when you saw lightning illuminate your bedroom followed by another clap of thunder. Quickly drying your hair, you picked up your clothes and ran into the laundry room and threw your clothes into the washer. You were about to turn it on when there was a humongous boom of thunder that reverberated off the walls of the house and shook its foundation. You screamed and stood there frozen, heart racing, while your hand hovered over the start button for the washer. You were shaking. When it seemed calm and no follow-up to the previous bought of thunder, you got your heart rate under control and pushed the start button. Once you started the washer, you dashed out of the laundry room and right into your room. You jumped into bed and pulled the covers up over your head. As the storm raged on outside, you started shaking violently, unable to stand the horrendous sounds of thunder outside. You kept your eyes closed shut, trying to the block out the light shining through your bedroom window from the lightning and the shadows the light cast upon your wall. You began crying and whispering to yourself that the storm would pass soon, but it wouldn't be quick enough. When a particular deafening boom of thunder sounded, you threw your covers off and ran into your closet. There you huddled in the farthest corner of the closet to wait out the storm. So consumed in your whispering, you did not hear your bedroom door open and did not know someone entered until you saw your closet door open and saw Beerus and Whis staring down at you. 

A Few Minutes Before

Whis and Beerus touched down outside of your house. The rain poured harshly against the shield Whis had made to protect them from the rain. He knocked a few times and when you did not answer, he turned the door knob. The door opened. In your haste to get home, it seems you forgot to lock the front door. He and Beerus entered the house and looked around. All the lights were off and it seems the storm knocked out the power. 

"Mai?!" Whis yelled, hoping you would answer. When there was no response, he yelled again. "Mai! It's me Whis and Lord Beerus is here, too. We came to check on you. Where are you?" When you failed to respond again, he began to move further into the house. Stepping fully into the living room, he glanced around hoping to catch a glimpse of your figure in the darkness. "Where could she be?" he asked. 

Beerus too looked around, but when he did not spot you he responded, "She's obviously not here. Let's go Whis. I'm tired and I want to get back home."

"I'm disappointed in you my Lord," Whis responded to Beerus' quick dismissal. "Bulma said she would be here and she was worried about Mai. After all she has done for us, don't you think we owe it to Mai to make sure she's okay? If Bulma said she would be here, then she's here. If what we surmised is true, she's probably hiding. After all, when one is scared, they will do anything to escape their fear. She must be hiding in the house somewhere." 

"Then where do you suppose we start then Whis?" Beerus questioned annoyed.

"It's not a big house. Why don't we try her bedroom first?" Whis suggested. "It seems the most logical place." 

Beerus shrugged his shoulders and walked towards your bedroom with Whis trailing behind him. When they approached your door, Beerus knocked, but a little to forcibly and the door was almost blown off its hinges. "Listen girl. I know you're in there. Just come out and show us you're okay so myself and Whis can go home. It's been a long day and I wanna nap." Beerus knocked again a little less harshly than before and started growling when there was no response. 

Whis was about to try when he heard faint whimpering coming from the other side. "Do you hear that Lord Beerus?"

"Hear what?"

"Shh. Listen." Whis and Beerus both put their ears to the door and listened. They hear faint whimpering on the other side, followed by a clash of thunder, a scream, and the slamming of some doors. "Well looks like I was right. She is in there. Why don't we go in and check on her?"

"Do whatever you want Whis, but make it quick," Beerus snapped. He would never admit it, but he was worried about you. You tangled yourself into their lives effortlessly and all it took was a trip to the store for some pudding. Sure they decided that you would be the one they would go to for food from now on, but you became a part of their lives in a way the others were not. A lot of it had to do with you not being scared of them. The others were frightened that if they upset him, he would destroy the Earth. You weren't, however, and that resonated with them. Beerus broke out of his pondering when he heard Whis open the door and walk in. Neither one could see you and Beerus turned his head and saw a closet built into the wall with some sliding doors. He tapped Whis on the shoulder. They both walked over and Whis slid open the door. They saw you huddled in the corner with your feet drawn to your chest, forehead resting on your knees, and hands entangled in your hair muttering to yourself. They stared until you looked up and everyone was looking at each other.  They noticed you had been crying. 

WITH EVERYONE

Whis knelt down. "What are you doing in here Mai?" 

You just stared not knowing how to answer. You were surprised to see anyone here at all. When you found your voice all you did was stutter. "Ummm...I....uhhh..." That was when another sound of thunder rang across the sky and you yelped, laying your forehead against you knees again so as to avoid the storm. Your head stayed down until you felt someone running their fingers through your hair. You glanced up and saw Whis sitting next to you, hunched over, the closet barely big enough for his tall frame. Beerus stood in the doorway of the closet. Whis wrapped an arm around you and pulled you to his side. 

"Bulma wanted us to check up on you. You were supposed to let her know you got home okay and you didn't. She asked us to make sure you were alright. It seems she had a reason for us doing so and this seems to be it. What's wrong Mai?"

You did not answer. You could not answer. You saw the storm raging outside behind Beerus and the flashes of lightning and thunder stilled you to the bone. You were frozen. You buried your face into Whis' side, trying to hide. 

Whis felt you shaking and stared down at your small figure. He pried you away from him and went to stand up, trying to bring you with him, but you would not budge. You held onto his dress with your hand and stared down. "Please don't go," you whispered. You became teary-eyed again. 

"I'm not going anywhere Mai, but you need to come out." You hesitated. 

"We don't have all night girl." Beerus growled. "If you wanna stay in there all night, that's fine, but Whis and I are going home. We set out and did what that woman wanted and you're here. Whis we're leaving." Beerus turned around and started walking away.

"My lord," Whis scolded. Whis was able to wrangle himself from your grasp and your hand fell away from his robe. " We are not leaving her here like this." He pointed back at you still huddled in the closet. "I insist we stay."

"I insist that we go. We were never told we had to stay and therefore, I wanna go home. I'll say it again Whis: We're leaving." Whis was about to argue, but he saw the look in his lord's eyes when he turned around. Whis knew what he was doing.

"Yes my lord," he sighed resignedly.

They both began to walk out of your room. You watched them start to leave and after only slight hesitation, you threw yourself out of the closet. "WAIT!" you screamed. They both turned around and you stood there with your one hand clutching your shirt and your other hand reaching out as if to make a grab for them. "I...please..." The words escaped you. You called out, but did not know what to say. At that moment, thunder ruptured the sky and you shrieked. You threw yourself forward into Beerus and clung to him. "Please don't go," you sobbed. "Please don't go. I don't want to be alone right now. Please stay." You started wailing and kept asking them to stay. Beerus stood ramrod straight. He thought you would throw yourself at Whis, not him. He eventually wrapped one arm around you and led you to your bed. He went to lay you down, but you would not let go, so he hesitantly laid down next to you. You curled up against his side and clung to him shaking. Whis sat on your other side and stroked your hair. 

"Mai-chan," he started. "What's wrong? If you're scared of the storm, just tell us. We're not leaving either way, but we don't know if you don't talk to us." You remained silent except for the the shaky breaths you were taken in order to calm your crying. "If you're scared to tell us, just know that we figured it out at Bulma's place and just so you know, we're still here." He grabbed your chin and made you look at him. "And we're not going anywhere." You flung yourself at Whis and wrapped your arms around him. He in turn wrapped his arms around you and held you. He turned his gaze to Beerus and nodded his head in acknowledgment of his silent plan. Beerus leaned back against your bed and waited. This was what Whis was good at, not him. He began to close his eyes and go into a light sleep.

You must have gotten some bravado back because you formed a complete sentence. "I'll tell you everything tomorrow. Just promise to stay tonight. I don't want to be alone." 

"You're never alone Mai-chan. Beerus and I will stay, but tomorrow, please talk to us. Bulma was worried when you left and frightened when she asked us to check in on you. She thought something happened when you didn't let her know you got home okay. I can see why she was now. Promise to talk to us?"

"I promise Whis."

"Good. Now in order to get some sleep, I think we have to do something about the storm out there." He waved his staff and soon the room's walls had a slight shimmer to them. The storm was completely silenced and no sound of thunder could be heard. You looked at Whis questioningly. "I soundproofed your room for the night. You should be able to sleep now."

"Thanks Whis," you said gratefully. You wiped away what was left of your tears. "I appreciate this. I'm sorry for causing so much trouble. I promise to explain in the morning." 

Whis nodded and stood up. "Now get some sleep. It seems like you'll have someone accompanying you tonight." You both glanced at Beerus who seemed to be completely sleeping. "I just hope he wakes up in the morning and doesn't take an actual sleep." He shook his head. "You get some sleep Mai-chan. The proofing will hold until tomorrow morning. Just remember one thing Mai. As long as Lord Beerus and I are around, you are never alone." 

You smiled widely at Whis and hugged him one more time before climbing into bed. You curled up next to Beerus and in his sleep, he turned on his side and pulled you close. "He's right Mai," Beerus whispered to you. "We're stuck with you and that means making sure you're still around. After all, who else will we go to for food?" You let out a small chuckle. "You'll never be alone. We'll make sure of that. 

You smiled and fell asleep fast. Whis watched you both for a few seconds, before quietly leaving the room and shutting the door. He went into the living room, contacted Bulma, and waited for morning. The storm raged on, but went unnoticed in the quiet of your room. 

Chapter Text

The Massive's main control room was buzzing with activity. Many Irkens were at the various stations spread out and Tallests Red and Purple were at the main helm, munching on snacks. It almost seemed as if the main helm was for show if it wasn't for the fact that you have seen Red and sometimes Purple take control on more than one occasion. Speaking of you, you too were at one of the various stations of the room reading over data that came across your screen. As the only human on board, it may have seemed weird at first being given this job, but it was better than the idea of being a pet to the two Tallests. Let's be fair though as that is what you were when you first arrived, thanks to Zim. However, weirdly enough, after helping Red out of a bind while Purple was munching on snacks, he started to pay more attention to you, allowing you to take on more jobs under strict supervision, before allowing you some more freedom. Seeing as you had a knack for numbers and analyzing data, he put you in charge of focusing on data for operational efficiency, resource allocation, fleet status, dashboards and reports, scenario analyst, etc. While it was a major role, it was still nothing compared to the the Tallests. It was a job you enjoyed doing and would normally comprehend.

However, today things were well....off. Over the last few weeks, you had been running ragged trying to fix up another incident caused by Zim and somehow taking out a portion of the Armada with Mars and from across the galaxy. As a human, you had so many questions about that and how your government was going to cover it up along with how it made it's way all the way over here, but that's for another time. You've been working long days and even through the nights and it all was starting to catch up to you. You wondered if anyone noticed and prayed that they didn't. You didn't want to be seen as week or as an inconvenience. Your head was throbbing as if someone was taking a jackhammer to your temple. The lights dancing across the consoles were brighter than normal and your vision blurred. Chills would come and go and your throat was raw. Your discomfort kept growing, but you couldn't stop. You didn't want to be appear incapable of doing your job and duties that came with it. You didn't want to mess up and ruin the trust the Tallests, especially Red, put in you. For some reason, you really wanted to prove yourself to him. Whether it was because you didn't want to come across as an inferior species, or something more, you weren't sure, but it didn't matter to you. All you wanted to do was show that you could handle anything they threw at you. You kept focusing on the numbers in front of you or trying to and muddle through. After all, what was being sick compared to running an entire armada? If Irkens didn't get sick, or not as sick as humans, then you would do your best to pull through. You'd tough it out for them.

At least that's what you had hoped. It wasn't going to end that way for you. While moving onto the next screen of numbers, your hands starting shaking and felt a spike in your fever. Your head felt like it was on fire, but the chills made you feel like you were in a winter wonderland without the fun. Your body was aching beyond belief and your vision was fading. You clenched your fists and jaws until it passed, trying not to let anything show. You weren't going to draw attention to yourself, but that's exactly what you did. In all your time at your station, you didn't notice you were only staring at the screen and not doing anything with the information shown. You had zoned out so much, that you didn't hear your name being called until a voice was right next to you. When the voice shouted, it wasn't your name.

"HUMAN!" You jolted out of your own thoughts and turned your head to look up and saw Tallest Red standing next to you. You must have turned a little too fast because you had a wave dizziness wash over you. It was quick, but it did cause you to wince. Hopefully, he didn't see it.

"Yes my Tallest?" you asked.

"I have been waiting on the results of that analyst report about supply allocation for a good few hours. It was supposed to be ready by now. Why hasn't it been submitted?" he questioned with a hint of annoyance. His eyes narrowed showing that he was not amused and that you were going to be on thin ice soon. He didn't take this lightly. He put his trust in you and one little mistake might cost it for you.

You took a shuddering breath. "I'm sorry my Tallest. I'll have it...ready...soon." Your voice trembled slightly and at this point you knew he noticed something was wrong. It seemed as if he didn't care, though. He grabbed a hold of the back of your chair and forcefully turned it all the way around so you were facing him. He leaned over you, but that still did not take away from his imposing presence.

"This is unacceptable. I don't have time to wait for this report. You're already behind and only falling behind more. Are you going to make me regret giving you this position? Are you actually that incompetent?" he asked in a low voice.

At this point, the whole of the control stopped what they were doing and were wondering what the outcome would be of this spectacle. Many, of course, were wondering if the human was going to fail and others were wondering if you were okay. You did grow on a few of them. Even Purple had stopped snacking to see how you would respond. Though his eyes narrowed in concern. He noticed you were working a lot slower than normal, but wasn't sure what was going on with you. Hopefully he would find out. You wanted to respond, you really did, but at that point your dizziness grew worse and nausea hit you hard. You gripped the arms of your chair waiting for it pass before you replied, your voice barely above a whisper.

"I'll have it...ready in the next few minutes...Just need a little more..."Before you could finish, your vision blackened at the edges and you pitched forward. The cold metallic floor was rushing up to you, but before you could hit it, a pair of strong arms caught you.

Red was watching you as he was waiting for you to respond. In those couple of seconds, he saw your breathing become shallow. He noticed the small beads of sweat cascading down your forehead. For a small moment his face dropped and showed a hint of worry and concern before going back to his cold expression. When he saw you start to fall forward, he leapt into action and caught your body before hit it the ground. You landed in his arms and he let out an audible hiss. He didn't like how cold your body felt. It didn't feel natural. He knelt on the floor with your head resting in his lap.

"HUMAN!" Red screamed as he caught you. When you wouldn't respond, he shouted your name, "Y/N!" It came out swiftly, filled with alarm, his tone completely different from what it was just a few moments ago. He placed his hand on your forehead and let out an audible hiss when he felt it. You were burning up and your forehead was covered in a sheen of sweat. He knew this was not normal for a human, especially those shallow breaths you were taking. He saw your chest rise up and down in an unnatural rhythm. Your eyes briefly opened albeit not fully. They were glazed over as you stared up at Red. You were able to glimpse the concern written all over his face.

"'M sorry," you barely whispered. "'M fine now. Can finish...that...report," you murmured. It was weak and unconvincing. No one was going to let you go back to work like this.

Red stared down at you incredulously. "You're burning up," he stated matter-of-factly. "I don't know what's going on, but I'm going to find out." His words were sharp, but laced with unease. He didn't like you like this...not that he would say it out loud. He lifted you up gently, but swiftly, into his arms and turned to Purple. "I'm taking her to the infirmary. Get everyone here back on track and back to their work." He moved quickly to the door, his steps having a sense of urgency in them. You passed out again.

He glanced down at you on the way every now and then. He knew you weren't okay and severely sick, but was hoping that it might change along the way. It was a stupid thought. He noticed you had turned in his arms and angled your body inward. He ran warmer than you and with your body wracked with chills, you were trying to soak up any warmth you could. He quickened his pace, moving with purpose. After what felt like an eternity, he arrived at the infirmary. He entered abruptly, startling the Irken on medical duty. Before Red could say anything, the doctor saw you in his arms and quickly waved Red over to an empty medical bed. Gently laying you down, he stepped back and let the Irken do his work. The doctor pulled out a scanner and an array of instruments. Red just watched him like a hawk, with his arms folded over his chest. His gaze did not waver. After what felt like another eternity, the doctor backed away and turned towards him.

"She has a 106 degree fever. From what I know about humans in my research after she came aboard, this is dangerous. She requires rest of course, but also medication. I can't pinpoint exactly what she has and not sure if any of our medicine is compatible with her biology. I can try and bring her fever down naturally with some ice packs, but I think it might be best if we get her back to Earth. She may have been walking around like this for about a week, maybe longer. If she had come here sooner, I may have had better chance in helping her."

"No!" Red said a bit louder then intended. "We won't make it to Earth. We're too far away." Red began pacing. "There has to be something you can do!" he demanded. Red would never admit that he almost pleaded with the doctor.

"Well..."the doctor hesitated. He didn't want to say anything in case it failed. However, he stared up at his Tallest and saw him glowering down at him and knew he had to continue. "When she first arrived and I did some tests on her to get her vitals and make sure she wasn't carrying any disease that we haven't come across yet that could harm us, I started working on a project. With her blood that was drawn, some of our scientists and I started working on some medications that might be similar to those on Earth. Our medication may not have been compatible with her and if she needed any, we wouldn't be able to assist her. It took a lot of research and resources but figured it would be a necessity at some point. We have some of those medications prepared, but not knowing what she has or even if these medications would be the correct ones, I'm not sure if it's a good idea."

To say Red was shocked was an understatement. Dr. Vrixor was one of the best in Irken society, which is why he was chosen for the Massive, but he had gone beyond what was expected of him. No Irken would have put this much effort in for a lower species, but he did. It gave Red pause, but he would look into that later. For now he needed to focus on you. "Do it!" Red ordered. "Do what you must to get her well!" He turned away from the doctor and approached your bed. He saw you breath in and out unevenly and in a rare moment of letting his guard down, he gently swiped away some hair that was stuck to your sweaty forehead. He despised how hot your head was when his hand went across it. He peered down at you and began muttering to himself. "What were you thinking? You should have said something so much earlier. Why did you think you could avoid taking care of your health." He didn't expect an answer.

"Didn't want...to cause...trouble. Not weak," you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper. Your eyes half lidded and glazed over with fever. Wincing you continued slowly, "Prove...capable of job."

Red scowled down at you, his gaze hardened. "You have proven yourself more than capable at your job. Weak? You are not weak. You are human and there is a difference." His tone was rough, but not unkind. He took a step away from the bed and crossed his arms. "You can't just push through this. You're mistaken if you think you can."

"Thought...I...could. Wasn't bad...before," you murmured weakly.

"Of course it wouldn't have been before," Red exclaimed incredulously. "But it is now because you didn't rest...didn't tell anyone. You have a 106 degree fever. You could die!" Red lowered his arms to his side and stepped closer to your bed again. "It's not just about you anymore," Red voiced, his tone laced with something you could not pinpoint. "If you fall apart, if anything happens to you, you risk everything. We could lose everything. I could lose..."He trailed off, not knowing how to finish that sentence. Even in your delirious state, you knew he wanted to admit something, but wasn't ready too.

You met his gaze, feeling the sincerity behind his words despite the harshness he was trying to portray. You felt a warmth spread through you that was not due to the fever. You hadn't expected him to display this vulnerability or expect him care. You didn't expect either Red or Purple to care; not about something like this. You felt something prick at your arm. In your talk with Red, neither of you didn't hear or see the doctor come back. He had a needle in his hand that was injected into your arm.

"This should hopefully make you better. It's a more potent version of your Penicillin found on Earth. It has similar ingredients to Penicillin and should work with your biology. We did test it on some of your blood from previous draws that we saved and there was no adverse reaction. We will monitor you over the next 24 hours for any reaction." You nodded, not really hearing a word he was saying. You were starting to lose focus and the conversation with Red took most of what was left of your strength. Red eyed the doctor a subtlety acknowledged what he said. Before sleep overtook you, you felt someone readjusting your blankets and pulling them closer to your chin. It was a surprisingly gentler gesture from Red, one you were not expecting. His guard dropped one more time and you finally saw the full genuine anxiety, distress, and concern behind his eyes. It was comforting and unsettling at the same time.

"Next time, don't hide this from us," he ordered, though there was no real command behind it. "Let someone help you." There was a small pause. "Let me help you," he whispered.

You nodded weakly, finally feeling the final pull of exhaustion at your body begging you to sleep. You closed your eyes and waited for the medicine to do it's work. Hopefully you weren't too far beyond help. As you let oblivion take you, you heard Red speak one more time.

"Get some rest," his voice softer than you've ever heard it before. "I'll stay here for tonight and longer if I must. I won't leave until I know you're in the clear." As your eyes finally closed, you glimpsed Red pulling up a chair next to your bed and he too closed his eyes. You both rested well that night and more peacefully than before.

Chapter Text

Her morning wasn't supposed to start like this. Waking up to her body declaring war on her wasn't how she wanted to spend the day-though deep down, she'd known it was coming. Rika had gone to bed early the night before, hoping to bank some rest before the worst of it hit. Her period was due, and she'd done everything she could to prepare. But despite all her efforts, it still felt like her uterus was tearing itself apart. The moment she stirred, sharp jolts of pain shot through her body, forcing her to curl up beneath the covers with a whimper. This was the worst it had been in a long time. There was no way she could make it into work, so she reached over for the Den Den Mushi and called into her commanding officer's office.

As a Devil Fruit Counter-Operations and Anti-Pirate Strategy Specialist specializing in analyzing enemy Devil Fruit users and pirate crews, creating strategies to neutralize or contain them, and creating tactical profiles, it was easy to call out sick. She wasn't needed in the field and all of her work was kept at her desk in case anyone needed a document. She slowly reached onto her nightstand for the Den Den Mushi (DDM) and called into her commanding officer's office. It rang for a few moments before she heard the Cu-lick signifying someone picked up the other end.

"Captain Yoshida Takeba," a gruff voice answered.

"Sir," Rika started, her voice strained and layered with exhaustion. "This is Lt. Specialist Rika Oikawa calling in to state that I will not be reporting for duty today." She tried her best to keep her voice from wavering as another bout of pain coursed through stomach and lower back.

He paused for a beat, hearing how tight her voice sounded. He knew something was not right. "You normally don't call out Oikawa. Is this anything serious?"

Rika clenched her jaw and let out a slow breath, "Yes sir. I'm not operational today. There's significant amount of pain. It's hard to move." Another cramp made it's way through her lower abdomen. "I wouldn't be calling out otherwise."

There was a brief pause as Takeba listened to what she was and was not saying. He let out a low hum. "Understood. We do have another report on the Horizon Fang Pirates coming in today and you were studying them and any who had devil fruit powers. Are the files on at your desk?"

"Yes sir," she responded.

"Good. I'll grab them and pass the information off to Intelligence and have them look over your notes and the new reports." There was another pause. Then quieter, "Get some rest Lt. Your one of our best minds. We'll try to survive a day without you."

Rika let out a breathy chuckle, "I appreciate that, Sir."

"If this goes beyond today, let me know. You don't call out often and it's been awhile since you have. I'll make sure there's no issue giving you the time you need to recuperate."

"I will, Sir. Thank you." There was a click signifying that Takeba hung up. She placed the DDM back on her nightstand. She groaned and turned over in bed, curling into the tightest ball her body would allow. Every muscle was tense, and even the thought of moving left her more exhausted. However, she knew she needed to get up and take care of and pull herself together. Forcing herself upright and out of bed, she hunched over and shuffled to the bathroom, shivering with every step. She turned the faucet as high as she could tolerate and began filling the tub with steaming water. Once full, she slipped in, her skin flushing red from the heat but welcoming the instant warmth. A sigh escaped her lips as she sank deeper, hoping the bath would dull the pain enough to let her rest. She was so tired-drained by the cramps, blood loss, and sheer weight of her body working against her. Her eyes drifted shut as she tried to relax. When the water finally cooled, she eased herself out of the tub and wrapped a towel around her aching form. The heat had helped, but only slightly. The pain was still there, buried deep, clinging to her like claws in flesh-unrelenting and impossible to shake.

She drained the tub, dressed slowly, grabbed a hot water bottle, and shuffled into the kitchen. Every step was cautious-she moved like an elderly woman with a walker, afraid that any sudden motion would undo what little relief the bath had provided. She filled the electric kettle and set it to boil. While waiting, she forced herself to prepare something small to eat, then took a couple of painkillers. The sharp whistle of the kettle pierced the silence, and she quickly turned it off, letting the bubbling water settle before carefully filling the hot water bottle. Cradling it against her, she made her way back to the bedroom and sank under the weight of her many blankets. Curling up, she hugged the warmth to her aching stomach and closed her eyes, willing herself to rest. She didn't expect a miracle-just a moment of peace to feel human again.

She knew there was one more call she needed to make, but whatever strength she had left was gone. Completely spent, she sank deeper into the warmth of her bed and closed her eyes. She could only hope Sakazuki wouldn't be too upset that she hadn't let him know she wouldn't be in today or that she'd be missing their lunch date. But she was just so tired. Sleep claimed her before she could reach for the receiver. She never heard the DDM ring. Not the first time. Not the second. Not the third. And certainly not the other times after that.

With Sakazuki

It was around lunchtime, and Rika hadn’t shown up to their usual spot. Tucked away behind Marineford’s west wing, was a small private location—hidden from the noise of the main barracks and offices. It was a small stone courtyard, bordered by thick hedges and shaded by a tall Sakura tree that somehow still seemed to bloom, even in the harshest of winters. The benches were worn smooth from years of use, but beneath the Sakura tree itself, their one spot remained untouched by most. It was theirs. It was a rare pocket of peace in a place built for war. Sakazuki waited beneath that tree, the bark biting into his skin as he leaned back. Five minutes became ten. Ten became twenty. The food sat untouched beside him. His brow furrowed in discontent. There were no footsteps. No voice. No Rika. By the thirty-minute mark, Sakazuki stood, jaw clenched tight, and stormed back toward his office.

Once inside, he shut the door hard enough for the walls to rattle, yanked the DDM toward him, and pressed the receiver to his ear. No answer. He tried again. And again. Each attempt found him letting it ring longer and longer. On the fifth attempt, as the DDM chirped uselessly in his hand, he slammed it down onto his desk with a loud crack.

"Tch," he exhaled sharply through his nose-a sound more growl than breath. His eyes narrowed, focused on nothing in particular. "Why isn't she answering?" he bit out, words grinding through clenched teeth. "Three calls. Four. Five. No reply. No note. No excuse." His fist slammed down on his desk. The silence that followed only deepened his frustration. Her silence wasn't just irritating-it was concerning. She wasn't the type to flake, forget, or ignore protocol. She especially didn't do it with him. Whatever protocol meant in their case was fuzzy-she didn't report to him and he wasn't her CO, but the understanding between them was clear. She always let him know. He took out a cigar in hopes to calm his nerves. However, his mind spiraled. She was strong, smart, and resourceful, but not trained for combat. If something had gone wrong...no. He didn't want to think of that. Maybe she was just sick. It had to have been bad enough that she couldn't even send a message. That though struck harder than he expected. "Rika doesn’t miss contact. Rika doesn’t miss lunch. Unless something’s wrong."

He stood abruptly, grabbed his coat, and yanked open the office door with enough force to startle a passing ensign. "Cancel the rest of my damn schedule," his voice cold and clipped.

“Sir?” the ensign blinked.

“Now!" He didn’t wait for confirmation. He was already heading for the exit.

With Rika

She never remembered falling asleep. When she woke, it was with the hazy grogginess that follows too much time in the sun. The dull ache in her stomach had never truly gone, but now it came roaring back, sharper than before. Sleep had offered a brief reprieve, but now she was trapped in her own body, too weak to move, too sore to reach for painkillers or refill the hot water bottle. Curled into the tightest ball she could manage, she wrapped her arms around her abdomen, eyes squeezed shut against the pain. A soft whimper escaped her lips. Then came the tears. The tears slid silently down her cheeks as she waited for the pain to pass. She was alone in her suffering, folded in on herself, unaware of anything beyond the ache. Through her quiet whimpers, she didn’t hear the front door creak open—or the deep voice calling her name. She almost missed the sound of her bedroom door opening, but when she heard the creak, she glanced up and saw the tall, broad-shouldered figure of Sakazuki. Her eyes widened in surprise, but before she could speak, a sharp pain stole her breath. She winced, a tiny whimper escaping her lips, and curled tighter into herself, clutching her stomach with desperate force. Sakazuki's eyes narrowed the moment he took in the dark room and saw her curled form. In two long strides, he crossed the space and knelt beside her bed. His gaze swept over her face, taking in the lines of pain etched into it. With surprising gentleness, he brushed a few strands of hair from her eyes.

"“Hey,” he said, his voice lower and softer than usual—gravel turned velvet.

“Hey,” she echoed faintly. “What are you doing here?”

“You didn’t show up for lunch,” he answered, the words clipped but low—tight with a concern he didn’t know how to express. He studied her for a moment, jaw clenched tightly. "You should have said something. You should have called."

Rika gave a weak smile, but it faltered as another cramp twisted through her. “I'm sorry. I... meant to call, but I didn't want to bother you." Her voice cracked and let out a slight groan. "They're just cramps; just a bit worse than usual. I was also exhausted and fell asleep."

Sakazuki gave a small pause. Then, with more weight than the words should have carried said, "This isn't ‘just’ anything.” He shifted his gaze more around the room. He took in the half-empty painkiller bottle, the cold hot water bottle on the bed, the untouched mug of tea. Everything screamed of quiet, isolated suffering. His fists clenched. "You've been like this all day....alone?"

“It wouldn’t be the first time,” Rika murmured, forcing a dry laugh. “I deal with it for the first two days and then I’m usually fine. Besides, it doesn’t always get like this.”

Sakazuki didn’t find anything about it funny. His frown deepened. “Even if there was a first time, there should have been a last,” he growled. “Do you think I would leave you alone if I knew you were like this?”

“It’s fine... nnngh... Sakazuki.” Another sharp wave rolled through her stomach, cutting off her words. She clenched her jaw. It didn't help her case. “You don’t have to come running every time or even stay. It’s not your job.”

“I do have to stay.” His tone was clipped and heavy, unshakable. “You didn’t answer any of my calls. Not one. Then I show up, and you’re lying here—curled up, shaking, barely able to speak." He wasn’t yelling, but the intensity behind his voice made it feel louder than it was. The frustration in his tone wasn’t aimed at her. It was aimed at the fact that she had been going through this alone, again. Her stubbornness could rival his own sometimes.

“As I said, I fell asleep," she said weakly “It all just... blurred together.” She shut her eyes and inhaled through her teeth when another cramp punched through her gut. “You can’t fix this.”

“Maybe not.” He stood abruptly, flexing his fingers like he was trying to work something out of them. “But I’m not going to sit around and do nothing either.”

She blinked, confused. “Sakazuki?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he turned and walked into the bathroom. She heard the rush of running water and realized he was filling the tub.

When he returned, he didn’t say a word. Before she could fully protest, he slipped one arm beneath her knees, the other behind her back, and carefully lifted her off the bed.

“Wait—Sakazuki, I can—”

“Don’t,” he said simply.

Surprised at the motion, she quickly threw her hands around his neck. His hold was firm but gentle—more graceful than anyone would’ve expected from someone with a temper like his. He carried her into the bathroom and set her down on the closed toilet seat. The feel of warm steam hit her face as she watched Sakazuki lean over the tub, checking the temperature. Once satisfied, he shut the tap. When he turned back to her, Rika was looking away her eyes low and jaw tight.

“You’re embarrassed,” he said quietly.

She gave a faint nod. "You’ve got more important things to do than sit here and deal with this. You shouldn’t have to waste your time on this...with me. You should be out there—fighting pirates or literally anything else. All I’ve got a uterus that wants me dead. Not exactly the same league.”

He stared at her for a moment, then knelt down to her level again. “Pain is pain,” he said. “I don’t give a damn if it comes from a blade, a bullet, or your own body turning against you. You don’t get to downplay it.”

Her breath hitched. She didn’t respond—just looked at him with glassy eyes.

“Get in,” he said, motioning to the tub. “I’ll help you in if you want.”

She shook her head. "I got it. Thank you." Sakazuki gave a small nod and quietly left the bathroom, pulling the door closed behind him. She undressed and got into the tub. Rika undressed slowly and stepped into the tub. The water was hot—almost too hot—but not scalding. A sigh escaped her lips as she lowered herself fully into the bath, sinking down until only her head remained above the surface. The heat wrapped around her, easing some of the tension in her muscles. She could hear Sakazuki moving around just beyond the door. She closed her eyes and let herself relax, hoping that the pain would finally go away.

On the other side of the door, Sakazuki paused. Then, wordlessly, he moved through her room, taking everything in with a sharp, assessing eye. The air was heavy and stale, so he cracked open the windows to let in a breeze. He picked up the used mug from her nightstand and carried it to the kitchen. The discarded paper cups from her painkillers were tossed in the trash. Quietly, efficiently, he stripped the bed and replaced the sheets with fresh ones he found in her linen closet. Once the bedroom was in better shape, he returned to the kitchen and began rinsing the dishes she hadn’t had the strength to wash. It wasn’t part of his routine, but neither was seeing her like this. When everything was cleaned and put away, he walked back to the bedroom. He pick out some fresh clothes for her and approached the bathroom.

He knocked gently twice on the door. “Rika? How are you holding up?”

There was a pause. Then, muffled through the door he heard a soft voice, “Better… I think. My stomach still hurts, though.”

He entered the bathroom to see her still in the tub. “I brought you some clothes," he said placing them down on the closed toilet.

“Thanks.”

“Take your time.” He turned around and walked out of the bathroom in order to give her her privacy. He shut the door behind him and Rika was left alone in silence. She sat in the tub a little longer, though the water had long lost its heat. With a long sigh, she slowly stood and stepped out. She glanced over at the clothes Sakazuki brought her. They were a red pajama set with long microfiber pants and a short-sleeved shirt, both trimmed with soft grey cuffs. They were some of the softest pajamas she owned. She snorted, knowing exactly why he’d chosen that set. What made her a bit more flustered was the underwear. The thought of him digging through that drawer turned her cheeks a bit redder, but she couldn't help but smile. Being this gentle and thoughtful didn't come easy to a man like him, and she appreciated every moment of it. She quickly got dressed and made her way out of the bathroom.

When she emerged from the bathroom, she saw Sakazuki standing nearby, watching her silently. He noticed her damp hair and pale face, but at least she looked a bit more like herself, if only just. She was upright now, but still clutching her stomach. He had hoped the hot bath would ease most of the pain, but it didn’t seem to help much. That frustrated him — not to mention disappointed him. He wanted to do more, so much more, but this wasn’t something he could fight. It wasn’t a battle he could charge into or a war he could win with sheer force. He watched as she slowly climbed back into bed, curled up, and let out a quiet groan.

He knew what the answer would be, but decided to ask anyway. "How are you feeling?"

She looked over at him and a small smile graced her lips. "I feel a little more human now, not too mention more refreshed at least." She held out a hand, beckoning him over. He knelt so they were eye level, and she gently took his hand in hers.. "Thank you Saka. Even if it only helps a little, I appreciate everything you have done," she said, her eyes drifting around the room. It was tidier than before with the windows open to let in fresh air, and having the sheets changed— they weren’t the ones she’d originally been lying on originally. The care he’d taken didn’t go unnoticed.

“Is there anything else I can do?”

Rika shook her head. “Not really no. But...you just being here is nice.” Silence settled between them like a warm blanket. Rika closed her eyes, letting the stillness soothe her for a moment. When she opened them again, Sakazuki caught the lingering pain in her gaze. It twisted something deep inside him to see her like this — hurting and knowing he couldn’t just make it stop.

"Are you sure there is nothing else I can do?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration and a trace of desperation.

"I really wish there was,” Rika said softly, “but nothing seems to be helping much this time. Heat usually does most of the work, so you could reheat the hot water bottle for me. Maybe it'll help a little. That’s about all I can think of.”

He glanced over at the now cooled bottle on the side of her table. He picked it up and started toward the door, but then stopped mid-step. His brow furrowed, and he turned back to her. "You said it normally helps right?"

She nodded. "It does. I usually boil the water to get it really hot, which is when it works best. But this time it doesn't seem to be working well." She shifted again under the covers with a quiet sigh. "It doesn’t help that both my stomach and my back are flaring up today. Normally it’s just one or the other, but my lower back’s waging its own war, too. And with only one bottle, I can't exactly use it for both at the same time."

This gave Sakazuki pause. There was a calculating look in his eyes-the one used when he was forming battle strategies And right now, this was a problem that needed a strategy. "She needs more heat. If the bottle alone isn’t working, then it’s not enough. Water can only do so much. She also needs warmth on both her stomach and her back" His gaze dropped to the bottle in his hands, then to his own hands. That's when the idea struck. Without saying anything, he crossed the room in two long strides and set the bottle back on her bedside table. Rika stared at him in bewilderment as he knelt down beside her once more, eye-level and serious. "I have an idea that I want to try," he said.

She tilted her head slightly in confusion knitting her brows, but nodded. “Okay…”

Sakazuki stood, pulling off his cap with practiced ease. He set it down, then shrugged out of his Admiral’s coat, laying it neatly to the side. Next came the shirt — that bargain-bin Hawaiian thing he stubbornly refused to retire, despite her many protests. With it gone, his chest was bare, revealing the intricate tattoo over the left side: a swirl of detailed floral designs inked into his skin. On his right deltoid and wrapping slightly onto his bicep was a smaller, sharper image of a black sword, clean and severe. Rika watched silently, her expression unreadable, as he moved to the other side of the bed and lifted the blanket. Without a word, he climbed in behind her. The mattress dipped slightly under his weight. She felt the immediate contrast of his body radiating heat like a furnace, steady and grounding.

Rika blinked. “Uh. Sakazuki?” He didn’t answer. Instead, he slid one hand gently to the lower part of her stomach. She tensed instinctively as he pulled her back, just slightly, until her body rested more fully against his. Then, his other hand found the small of her back. “What are you doing?” she asked, her voice quiet but confused.

“You said heat helped.” Immediately, a low warmth began to radiate from his palms—measured and careful, but strong. The heat sank into her muscles like nothing else had. Almost immediately, she felt the heat seep deep into her muscles, melting the tightness that had bound her like wires. She felt the warmth blossom all over and penetrate even to the bones. Her breath hitched. Her body slowly started to uncoil, the pain melting under his touch. Her eyes fluttered closed, and a long, relieved sigh escaped her lips. Her entire frame sagged.

“Oh my god," she whispered. "That's....I....Sakazuki, that's perfect."

"I'm guessing that feels better?" he asked, his voice low, hands still steady and unmoving, holding the warmth just right.

“You have no idea, "she breathed. How are you able to do this?”

He let out a small, amused snort. "Really darling? You know what my devil fruit is. Heat is kind of my thing."

Rika let out a small laugh; the first one he heard from her all day. "I know. That's...that's not what I meant. I've only ever seen you turn into magma. I thought that was the only form your power took."

"It is," he said calmly, "but I can generate heat without transforming. I can control how hot my hands get to keep it consistent, making it just enough to help without burning you. My Devil Fruit burns hotter than boiling water, so I don’t need much to get the job done.”

A long silence passed, comfortable now. Then, eyes still closed, she mumbled, "Your new mission is to be my personal furnace for the next forty-eight hours.

A rare smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I’ve handled worse deployments.”

Rika laughed—weak, but real. With the pain melting away and her body finally starting to relax, sleep crept in at the edges of her mind. She shifted slightly, snuggling back against the warmth behind her. Sakazuki didn’t move. He was steady and silent, like a wall of heat shielding her from everything else. She let out one last sigh, this one full of contentment, and let sleep take her. For the first time that day, she felt safe and warm. And finally, at peace.