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katsumatsu4 · 3 months

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Smoke and mirrors

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[And then, the faintest thought. He looks like me.

In the aftermatch of Niji and Yonji's capture Reiju reevaluates her relationship with her brothers. Takes place during Germa cover story]

Inspired by @sangerie theories/analyses about ichiji and all the sus things he does during wci, they're awesome :*

(hope this is better present than handsome judge pictures xd)

Stone wall wasn't the most comfortable place to sit, but moving away meant getting her eyes off the horizon. So Reiju stayed.

It’s funny how little it takes to lose sight of another person in the heat of battle. She could swear Yonji was just behind her, covering their retreat with his long-reach attacks. When clouds of smoke billowing from one of the ruined buildings surrounded them, she didn’t look back to see if he was still there. When she saw Ichiji on the other ship, she didn’t check if Niji managed to get on board.

If she was to be honest with herself, she wasn’t thinking about her other brothers in any way, too occupied worrying about whether Sanji and his crew escaped safely or not.

It was only when the fleet reunited that Reiju realized Ichiji assumed their younger brothers went with her. Father was furious, but it was hard to tell if his anger was directed more at two children who returned or the ones that didn’t.

It wasn’t important now. Now, Reiju was sitting in a crenel, cold stone sapping away her body heat. Ichiji on top of a crumbling merlon a few steps away. Father somewhere in the back, out of her field of vision. Silence weighted down on them but no one said a world ever since their lookout started, as if talking would force them to admit-

"They are not coming back."

Trust Ichiji to disregard any emotional tension. Reiju closed her eyes and leaned back, quietly grateful someone else voiced the thoughts plaguing her mind.

"All ships returned or were reported as destroyed," Ichiji continued. "Even if they were not captured, there is very little chance they can come back on their own."

Father grunted something under his breath. He barked at the two soldiers nearby to stand watch before addressing his children.

"Don't tell anyone Niji and Yonji are not back yet, we will deal with that later. Clean yourself before coming to the dining hall, it's unbecoming of royalty to look this disheveled. Don't bring even more shame to our name."

Reiju half-opened her eyes to watch him leave. The nerve of this man. Nothing we could do would give Germa more shame than it already proudly displays.

She threw the sea one last look and get up herself. She was about to reach the stairs when sudden voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Reiju?"

She looked over her shoulder at Ichiji, still sitting on the wall, his back turned away from her. "Yes?"

"Do you think they are dead?" come a monotone question. Reiju's mood soured even more. He could as well be talking about disappointing weather.

"I don't think so. They-" are probably being experimented on. Big Mom wants to know how to make something like us too much to kill them. That was what she intended to say. But then she looked at Ichiji again, his silhouette cutting out a dark shape against an orange sky. Lone shadow, soon to disappear when the sun finally sets down. And she hesitated. "They are strong."

Reiju waited for any indication he even heard her, but silence was the only response she got.

The situation at the table seemed almost surreal. They were being served at usual hour, in their usual places, with dishes planned for tonight on their plates. None of it masked the smell of smoke in the air or that the meal was clearly not as extravagant as it was supposed to be, even though cooks surely did what they could with inadequate supplies.

Behind her chair father, high above them, was unenthusiastically chewing on his food. Ichiji looked almost unbothered but she could see his head shifting every few minutes, eyes constantly drawn towards empty seats. Almost like a black hole, sucking in any attempts to create normal meal atmosphere.

She was getting tired of pretending.

"Father. What are we going to do about Niji and Yonji?"

The sudden quiet fell on them like a thick, heavy curtain.

"Father?"

"Nothing. At least for now."

Reiju gripped her utensils harder, slightly bending the spoon.

"May I ask why?"

"We just came back, the Charlotte family would expect us. We would gain nothing by charging in and we don't have enough soldiers to send them away from the kingdom. It's best to wait until their guard is down, then I will send the retrieval party."

Of course, what did she expect.

"If our numbers are an issue, maybe Ichiji and I could be of use? Smaller but stronger team could infiltrate and find our brothers with little problem. The two of us have enough manpower to save them and avoid any confrontation with pirates altogether."

"You clearly do not see the full picture, Reiju," Ichiji said in father's place. "We can not leave now either. We will be needed here to fill in for Niji and Yonji's responsibilities."

Father nodded at that, apparently intending to say the same thing.

Reiju ignored how tight her chest felt hearing this. She was almost surprised he spoke up at all instead of waiting and observing like usual. Still, she turned towards father. Ichiji wasn't the one she needed to convince.

"Wouldn't it be better for our image if we rescued them quickly? It would send a message, that anyone who plays havoc with us will get swift comeuppance."

Father, as impenetrable to criticism as always, disregarded her comment with a wave.

"We are not ready, I'm not going to waste resources on this. Besides, it could do us more good if enemy sees how invulnerable to pain and fear they are even when solely on their mercy."

Like you were during the wedding? Reijuthought, but kept to herself.

Logically, it made sense. Those were the words of a king and a scientist, clearly knowing the extent of damage his soldiers, his creations, could take before they would need to be scrapped. The bile come higher up her throat.

"I-" she started.

"It is a good intimidation tactic," Ichiji interrupted her. "If they are truly after our research then they will try to keep Yonji and Niji alive long enough to gain as much as possible from the experience. It should give us enough time to rebuild and regroup. There is no need to rush."

"Exactly," father said. "Ichiji, I trust you to take care of setting the course and dealing with any complications for today. Make sure to quell whispers among the staff, I don't need mass panic on my hands right now. I'm retiring for the evening; that was a long day."

Ichiji gave him a curt nod.

"As you wish, father."

He stood up and turned to her.

"After I relay the orders, I am going to call it a day too. I advise you do the same. Get some rest."

Soon both him and father left the room, leaving Reiju alone.

She looked down at her clenched fists, frustrated scream climbing up. But like always, she swallowed it down before it could reach her mouth.

Maybe I'll feel better after an hour-long shower. Or two.

Hot water didn't bring Reiju a peace of mind she was looking for. She emerged from the bathroom with a head only slightly less heavy than before.

Out of habit, Reiju reached for the curtains to close them shut and block the lights from Niji's rooms. He was always the last one to fall asleep and his castle had annoying habit of flanking hers.

She stopped halfway.

It wasn't that she missed them, exactly. How could you miss someone whose main enjoyment in life were violence and cruelty? How could you miss someone who only knew how to laugh at people's pain?

("They are getting so huge mom! Does that mean I won't be their big sister anymore?" Reiju said, Niji still refusing to let go of her finger, mumbling something in his sleep.

Mother smiled and caressed her head.

"Of course not sweetheart. You will always be their big sister, even if they grow taller."

"Taller than me?" Reiju asked.

"Taller than me!" mother laughed.

"Taller than dad?"

"Taller than all the doors!"

"Taller than the roof!" Reiju played along.

"They will be so big we will have to build a castle for each!

"And I'll still be the biggest sister!" she said with pride, her chest puffed.

"The biggest and the best sister in the entire world!" Mother touched their foreheads together. "Oh darling, they'll be so lucky to have you.")

One hand clutched on the fabric, Reiju felt the bitter laugh building up. Sometimes she wanted to curse mother, for placing this burden on her. For giving all her hopes and desperation to her eldest child, not thinking how much pain it's going to bring her.

But you can't curse the dead, can you? Not truly. Because every word she threw mother's way just seemed to fall back on Reiju anyway.

You failed them. They were yours to protect but the only thing you could think to do for them was dying with them. And you failed to do even that.

I tried! I tried to convince father! I tried to save them! If only Ichiji helped me-

How hypocritical. You were perfectly fine with letting them die earlier. You didn't even try to help, to warn them. How is that any different? Because you can't join them?

And that was it, wasn't it.

The tight feeling in her chest, threatening to choke her. Guilt.

Because she didn't die. Because they won't either, at least for now. No, instead they will be cut open and spread on the table like frogs, kept just alive enough for Big Mom and her children to learn how they work.

And then they'll die.

And she still won't.

And what then? She could vividly imagine father's disappointed face, looking down at what remained of his two perfect soldiers. Maybe he sighs and tells the staff to clean the mess. Maybe he scolds Ichiji for failing his mission. Maybe he even sheds a few tears at seeing his dream destroyed like that. Or maybe some spark appears in his eyes, he points at the blood and gore on the floor, says Take what's still usable and shuts himself in the labs. Maybe months later she sees next batch of soldiers with a familial jawline or flashing a self-assuring smirk that will make her heart clench.

Maybe Ichiji would care. Maybe he wouldn't. It's not like it changed anything.

Her reflection in the glass had red, puffed eyes and wet streak on its cheek.

How proud mother would be of you right now. Crying not because your brothers will die, but because you're left behind to deal with it.

Reiju reached for the handle and opened the window, letting cold night wind dry her tears and blow the thoughts away.

She looked down at the dark weaves below and suddenly felt unbearably tired.

Her hands, propelled at the windowsill, etched closer to the edge. Her body tilted over the threshold, mesmerized by the dance happening before her. Howling air and roaring sea filled her ears, two elements fighting for her attention. She closed her eyes and imagined how unnoticeable a single splash would be.

It could be over so easy...

(Blond hair kind smile gentle hands smelling like antiseptic and cigarettes I love you I love you I love you-)

I should go to sleep.

The moon disappeared behind the castle tower.

Reiju was staring at the darkness behind the window when the footsteps came. Slowly, not to appear startled, she turned her head.

Ichiji was standing in the doorway. Reiju wrinkled her nose. Didn’t even knock, of course.

“Good, you are not asleep. Get ready, we are leaving soon. Be in the strategy room in full gear, fifteen minutes should suffice. We have a job to do.” And before she could respond, he turned around and closed the door behind him.

Reiju rolled her eyes but started preparing. What did father came up with now? New mission so short after the humiliation at the hand of Big Mom Pirates? At this hour no less. The old fool probably wanted to cast an illusion that they weren’t affected by their loses. Or tried to catch any clients before their attempted alliance with pirates puts them on blacklists of most kingdoms associated with World Government.

Well, too little too late; judging by how excitingly Morgan had been taking photos of father's crying face, the news were bound to spread soon. This will only make them seem more desperate and all the more pathetic. Not that she had any energy or will to care about how others perceived this rotten mess of a kingdom.

Yonji probably would care, if only to please father-

She closed her eyes and banished him from her mind before the image of her youngest brother, talking excitedly about new experiment he was a witness of, could turn into a bloody figure pinning her under accusing stare.

Maybe at least this farce will get my thoughts off them.

Reiju run fingers through her hair and looked in the mirror. Standing in the cold did wonders for the puffed skin around her eyes, you could barely tell she was crying before. Her tears had evaporated, leaving behind only slightly sticky trails. She opened the faucet, quickly washed away remaining evidence and reached for the towel.

Dried up, she glanced at the mirror again. Vinsmoke Reiju, the first child of the royal family, the crown princess of the Germa kingdom, stared back at her. The oldest sister retreated behind the steel of her eyes, where she belonged.

She checked the clock. There was still a little time left.

The emptiness of corridors was more unnerving than she expected. Night was the time of rest but there should still be more soldiers around. She could hear the murmur of boilers from lower levels and the staff tiptoeing on carpets, off to finish their chores. Still, it was all too quiet.

Reiju shook her head and pushed the doors of the strategy room. She was met with another surprise, when the only figure greeting her was Ichiji again. Where was father?

Instead of explanation he just gave her a nod and gestured to follow.

She did. As she was supposed to. Reiju wished she could see Ichiji’s face but she settled on gluing her eyes to his back; something fishy was going on.

“What’s the mission?” she said, trying to sound as bored as possible. “You didn’t give me any details.”

“Our main objective is retrieving Yonji and Niji from the pirates.” -Reiju almost missed a step- “Our side objective is to destroy any of their assets if possible, as long as it does not interfere with the main goal.”

Reiju dismissed the terrified servant who almost bumped into them while rounding the corner and used resulting pause to collect herself.

“I see. It is an unusual hour for a takeoff though. Did father tell you this in person? I was under the impression he was against quick action. As were you,” she prodded.

Ichiji stayed silent for a few heartbeats.

“Father focuses his attention on more pressing issues. Our infrastructure, especially research areas, had taken a lot of damage. We also lost a lot of clones, which can not be replenished without functioning laboratories, so that obviously takes priority. However, I established that our defenses are in such state of disarray that some major changes need to be done imminently. Otherwise we will be left unprotected against even minor threats, which is unacceptable. As such, since I have been given certain freedom to handle other subjects, I deemed it necessary to move the rescue mission forward in time. We should be back by tomorrow noon if no complications arise.”

Reiju nodded, not missing that he didn’t actually confirmed what father knows.

Ichiji turned his head slightly, no doubt watching for her reaction now.

“I assumed, given your earlier arguments, that you would be onboard with this plan. But if you continue to dispute my decisions I will have to leave you behind.”

“I’m not disputing you, I agree that getting them back early will work in our favor. I was simply curious; father did make his stance quite clear after all. I was surprised he changed his mind this quickly.”

“Father trusts my judgment,” he said with flat tone.

“Does he now,” she responded.

And then, the faintest thought. He looks like me.

It was silly. Of course there were some similarities. Despite all the experiments and modifications the same blood was still running through their vines.

So why did it fell important?

Apparently satisfied with what he saw, Ichiji faced away from her again. Reiju shook her head, focusing back on the situation.

Ichiji was far from stupid, he had to know Judge wouldn’t approve of what he’s doing, even if her brother claimed he was just making important impromptu decision for the good of the kingdom. None of them could disregard father's orders, and going against his wishes like that…

But he didn’t forbade them from going, did he? It was Ichiji who said they can't leave right now; father only agreed with him. Kinda. Just vague enough to give them some wiggle room.

He said he’s not going to send anyone, not that nobody could go. Reiju looked back at their conversation. Did Ichiji plan for this? Is that why he didn’t push father harder, like she tried?

Had he already make his decision back then and was just waiting for the only person capable of stopping him to fall asleep?

But why? Why would he pretend before her? Why had he tried to make it seem like father’s decision?

Had he thought she wouldn’t agree to go with him otherwise?

What is your game? she thought. What do you have to gain?

It couldn't actually be about their defenses. True, they suffered heavy losses but it wasn't something two more people, even as dangerous as Yonji and Niji, could change.

She briefly entertained the thought of Ichiji trying to spare their brothers unnecessary pain. Reiju had to drag their exhausted bodies away from battlefield too many times to seriously consider it. There were no limits Ichiji would not go right past just to finish the mission.

There was no doubt in her mind that if Ichiji was the one captured he wouldn't expect to be rescued. If he had no regard for his own pain it was unlikely he would have any to spare for the rest of them.

Not valuing our lives seems to be the only thing we all have in common, she thought bitterly. Another great victory for the Kingdom of Germa 66.

Hadn't Sanji's botched wedding prove it? She sill remembered that moment with crystal clarity. Moves restricted by hard candy, guns to her head and the calm that came with the realization that this was it. All the evil of their bloodline contained in one place, destined to end right there and then.

The grating laughs of her brothers, unable to care uncaring about their oncoming deaths only validating her resolve to do nothing-

“Stop crying father, it’s pathetic,” half-remembered words rang in her ears. At the moment she took them as nothing more but another proof of Ichiji’s heartlessness, one even father was not except from. But wasn’t she thinking something of a sort too, back then? Reiju send Ichiji another curious look.

The mere idea of being anything like her brothers normally would make her sick. But if that meant Ichiji could be anything like her… If he… Could they have similar motivations right now?

The new spark of hope was carefully grabbed and stuffed deeper into her heart. Just deep enough to be protected when reality came back to extinguish it.

When she broke out of her thoughts they already reached the docking area. Few soldiers came rushing to their side.

“Prepare the ship. The smallest and fastest the better. And hurry, I do not have time for incompetence,” Ichiji said.

The closest soldier saluted.

“Yes my lord! How many units to prepare for departure?”

Her brother’s frown deepened. He looked back at her. In his usually inexpressive face she read the question, or warning, clear as day: Last call to stay if I can’t count on you.

She nodded.

“Princess Reiju and I will be going alone. Am I clear?” Ichiji snared.

The soldier saluted again and rushed to fulfill new orders.

Their ship was ready in the matter of minutes (for some reason it felt like hours).

After making sure the course was locked onto Toto Island, she found Ichiji leaning against the railing at the front of the ship, eyes fixed on the horizon.

Reiju felt the need to say something. She learned to crush urges like that a long time ago. Especially with Ichiji, who always seemed a little too aware of what she chose to share and what she didn’t.

And yet.

“We will get them back in time. They're going to be fine.”

“Of course. They're strong,” he responded, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Like the option of anything else was so unprobable it wasn’t even worth mulling over.

Reiju felt the corners of her lips twitch upwards, as if pulled by invisible strings, before she schooled her expression out of habit.

And she dared hope the similar movement she glanced on Ichiji’s face was more than just the trick of light.

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