One piece: The Fist of Justice

Markus, Gion, and Brago were walking together towards the main plaza of Marineford. Brago had two large knots on his head and Markus was laughing at him.

" You had the lead, and she still caught you! Yahahahahaha!"

" That woman is a menace!" Brago exclaimed.

" What was that?!" Gion asked. She leaned over Markus' large shoulder and raised her fist at Brago,

" Nothing?" Brago muttered.

" Yahahahaha! Man Brago, you look sad man. That's unfortunate." Markus joked.

" Shut up! Let's just get to the plaza already." Brago complained. He grumbled under his breath, just low enough for Markus to make out a curse word.

Markus patted Brago on his back and laughed again.

.....

Eventually, the three of them made it to the plaza.

As they walked into the giant square, they were greeted by a hundred or so of the other troops that had been sent out over the course of the month. A good sign. That meant almost, if not everyone, had passed.

" Wow, look at all these people. Seems like yesterday we were saying goodbye to one another. And now we're back." Markus stated.

" I know. It's crazy. Feels like just yesterday we were two kids running around this island like two reckless kids." Brago said to the man.

" Yeah. And now you are two reckless adults. Nothing's changed except you're taller." Gion exclaimed.

" Hey, what would you know, huh?" Markus asked the woman.

" I might not have grown up with you two, but I know you well enough by now to get a good image of what kind of chaos you two created, Markus."

" Look at this girl. She thinks she knows us, Brago." Markus said to the man. He then looked back to Gion and grinned. " But are you sure about that?" Markus raised his hands up and approached Gion with a creepy smile on his face.

However, before he could act on his impulses, a sudden loud thumping drew his and the attention of every single other recruit standing in the large plaza.

Standing high above plaza on a platform just below Marineford HQ, was the man who stood at the top of the Marines, Fleet Admiral Kong.

" You all, who stand here today, have proven yourselves exemplary. You brave men and women have overcome every challenge put in your way from the time you began training to now. Congratulations. I want to personally congratulate each and every one of you and finally welcome you to the World's military might, the Marines! However, this does not mean you get to complacent. From now on, you must work even harder than before. Not only to get promoted, but to protect the peace of the world!"

" HAAAAAAA!"

" Now then, tonight feel free to celebrate. But starting tomorrow, you'll all report to your official units and disembark to your stations, wherever that may be in the world. Dismissed!"

" HAAAAAAAA!"

Markus, Brago, and Gion were now all official Marines of the world government. A feeling of great pride swelled within all of them. Markus thrusted his heavy arms up and over the shoulders of the two standing beside him and grinned.

" Yahahahahaha!" Markus laughed loudly, as he always did. Only this time Brago and Gion joined him.

The former recruits now Marines all started to disburse into Marineford. This would be the last time those here would have a chance to relax and spend time with their families for a while. Especially those who ended up getting sent away.

As Markus and the others were walking a rather large and rather loud figure stalked them, causing both Markus and Brago to stop.

" Hey, Brago.... Do you feel that?"

" Yeah. That cynical, dark presence, and that maniacal evil. I feel them both."

Two strong arms came down on both the shoulders of Markus and Brago, causing the two men to shiver.

" What are you two talking about? Aren't you glad to see us? And after we came all the way to see you."

" That's right. We dropped what we were doing and came all the way back to Marineford just to make sure the two of you were okay. But it looks like that was unnecessary. Actually, it seems you two are so full of energy, despite your current injuries. That's good, isn't it Garp-San?"

" Yeah... I think you two must want to fight. Don't you boys?"

It was Garp and Bogard. The two men came back to Marineford to welcome the two young men officially into the marines. But now it seemed they had other ideas.

Thankfully, Markus still had one friend on his side.

" Knock it off, you two. We're supposed to be congratulating them not hazing them." Tsuru told the two men.

Garp laughed and squeezed Markus and Brago into a deep bear hug. " BWahahahaha! Tsuru-Chan, this is how we show our love!" Garp told the woman.

" What kind of twisted love is this?!" Markus asked the man.

" The special kind!" Garp exclaimed. He slammed his fist down on Markus' head and the man grabbed it in pain.

" Ah, Damnit! I'm still hurt you know!"

" Hey, it's your own fault for being weak!" Garp joked.

Though it was meant to be a good-natured rib, actually bothered Markus just a bit. Though, with so many people watching him, Markus felt he couldn't let such a thing bother him, so he bit his tongue and kept quiet while Garp continued laughing.

" Garp!" Tsuru shouted. Feeling that the man had gone overboard just a little too much.

" What?" Garp asked the woman. " Oh, don't be such a baby. Hey come on, we're gonna celebrate." Garp told the man. " Lunch is on me, today. So, let's go get you boys something good to fill your stomachs. It'll help you with those injuries too." Garp stated.

" Yeah alright. Hey come on, Gion, aunty Tsuru. Let's all go together. Who knows when we're gonna have another chance like this."

Gion, who had been quiet the whole time, suddenly felt a heavy weight on her shoulders. Compared to some of the men and women standing in front of her, she felt like a flea.

" I don't want to impede." Gion stated.

" Nonsense, girl. You didn't hear it from me, but you're gonna be on my ship anyway. So, let's enjoy this time of peace before we really get to work." Tsuru told the young woman.

" Y- Yes Ma'am!"

" Good. Now, let's get going, before everyone else decides to do the same thing and we end up with nowhere to go." Tsuru stated, she walked past Garp and the others and started snapping her fingers. " Move it boys!"

......

Michikatsu Grill.

Garp, Tsuru, and Bogard brought the young Marines to a small grill shop in the city.

" Hello!" The attendant shouted to the group

" Hello!" They all shouted in return. It was respect to show some curtesy to the owner, it was the least they could do.

Garp picked the table at the back of the small shop, where he felt most comfortable.

" Why'd you have to pick the table at the back? I hate not being able to see the front door." Markus complained to the man.

" Oh, shut up, you're getting a free meal." Garp told the man.

" From you? Nothing's free." Markus told the man. Markus grabbed two seats and pulled them. " Here you go aunty Tsuru, one for you, and one for Gion." Markus told the women.

" Thank you, Markus." Gion said to the man.

" Why thank you, Markus. Such a good young man. Unlike you Garp." Tsuru spoke.

Garp looked at Markus and when he saw the smug look on the man's face, he was ready to punch him again. But he didn't, knowing that Tsuru would really chew him out.

But in the face of not saying anything, Garp muttered something to Markus. " I'll get you when she's not lookin."

" Yahahaha!" Markus laughed. " Alright, I'm starving." muttered as he sat down with the others.

" When aren't you starving?" Brago asked.

" What kind of question is that? I'm always hungry."

" I know that. That's why I said what I.... You know what never mind. You know for someone so strong; you really are dumb sometimes, you know that?" Brago said to the man.

" Huh?! What you wanna fight?" Markus asked.

" With those injuries you couldn't beat a feather bag." Brago joked.

" Hey, I wouldn't be saying that if I looked like you do. I might not have won, but I didn't lose either." Markus told the man.

" Hey, Markus." Garp muttered.

Markus looked over to the man and could tell from the look on his face he was about to say something serious. He always scowled when he did.

" Yes?"

" You did lose that fight, Markus. It almost got you killed." Garp told the man.

" I..... I know, pops." Markus muttered. Of all the things in the world Markus hated, losing was one of them.

" It was reckless what you did."

" I know." Feeling that he was being scolded, Markus hung his head in shame.

" But damn, did you do good." Markus looked up from the table and saw Garp smiling. " Not every day does someone walk out of a fight with the Beast Pirates. You brought in multiple renown pirates and you saved lives and got good soldier's home. That might not mean much to the higher ups, but to me that's more important than anything else." Garp told the boy.

Markus smiled a little and looked away from the man, hiding his embarrassment from the others as best he could. But it didn't work, the others could see how red his ears had become from a mile away.

" Thanks, pops."

" Markus~" The way his name left Gion's lips like a song made Markus turn even brighter.

" Please, don't." Markus begged the woman.

" But you look so cute, when you're embarrassed." She said to the man. Her teasing tone made it even harder for the man to keep a straight face.

" Shut your mouth." Markus' voice cracked a little. And in his embarrassment, he hid his face on the table, while everyone else laughed at him. " I hate you all so much!!! Ow, it still hurts to yell." Markus exclaimed. He grabbed his chest in pain.

" Are you okay?" Gion asked the man.

" Yeah... Just.... Need a moment." Markus told the woman. He slowly took a few easy breaths, needing time to catch his breath before returning to the table proper. " Thanks, Gion. I'm fine now."

" Alright, folks. Here we go!"

" Alright, food! Ow!" Markus went to raise his arms again, but when he did, he ended up overdoing it and hurting his chest again.

..........

A little while later.

After having eaten his fill, Markus slipped away from the group to get some air.

The night moon shined brightly on Marineford, the wind was wistful, and Markus was feeling somber. He was sitting atop of the roof of the small shop, alone, quietly.

" Hey, Markus. What are you doing out here?" Gion asked.

Markus looked down upon hearing the woman speak. " Oh, Gion, I didn't see you down there."

" I noticed." Gion huffed. She seemed more than slightly annoyed.

" Why did you come out?"

" Because you were missing for some time, and because Brago was getting lectured by Bogard-San." Gion told the man.

" Ha! I can imagine it now. He's sitting there scowling thinking, why did I get stuck in this mess. I gurantee it." Markus stated.

.......

Meanwhile.

" You should have known better than to just blatantly reveal yourself. If your enemy isn't looking you take his back." Bogard told the man.

Meanwhile, Brago was just sitting in his chair scowling. ' How did I get stuck in this mess?' brago asked himself.

........

" Yahahahaha! Oh, it's perfect." Markus joked. He raised his hand and wiped away the tears in his eyes. The thought of his friend getting fussed out was always funny.

Gion smiled a little herself, also finding some humor in the other man's pain. She jumped atop the shop and sat next to Markus. " So, anyway, why are you out here by yourself and not with the others?"

" Ah, I just needed some air and sometime to think. That's all." Markus told the woman.

" I've never seen you.... Mellow. What is it? Are you still thinking about what happened?"

" No. I was never really hung up on that. I know I did the best I could. And I saved lives. So, that's good in my book, for now, anyway." Markus told the woman.

" Then what is it?"

" Ah, I'm just thinking about the future is all."

" What about it?"

" Everything changes after tonight. I've been looking forward to this day ever since I was child, but now that's it here, I am terrified. God, if pops heard me say that I might get slugged." Markus joked.

" You? Scared? I never thought I'd hear it."

Markus laughed a little at how condescending Gion sounded. Her teasing was always something Markus found joy in. Yeah, he enjoyed it.

" I've never been afraid of anyone, not really. But this... This is different. Tomorrow, we ship out to our bases, or join our ship commanders. Me and Brago? Well, we've been together our whole lives basically. I never thought about what would happen if we didn't get grouped together. But after Banaro, my eyes were opened. Roger was the king of the pirates, the greatest to ever live, and after his death many people thought that the spirits of the pirates would be broken.... But we were wrong." Markus told the woman.

" Those pirates fought with ferocity and vigor unlike anything I've ever seen. And Queen. His strength was unbelievable. The world is full of monsters like that, and now we're going off to fight them. I guess, I'm just worried that someday something's gonna happen and I won't be able to stop it. If I die before I achieve my dreams... I think I'll be fine. But you and Brago.... I love you guys. And I'm worried my strength as it is now, isn't enough.... Does that sound weird to you?"

Gion took a moment to take all that in. Not once, not a single time throughout the entirety of the time she's known this man, has she ever seen him as anything other than confident. A confident man with no kind of fears or worries. Seeing him admit otherwise, made her feel a little weird.

It was nice to see that somewhere under all that bravado was a man with a good heart and care for his friends. But it was also weird seeing the strong man she grew to call a friend being so vulnerable. Maybe what happened did change him in some way after all.

" I think that was beautiful, Markus. You know, it always does annoy me, just a little how loud and brash, and obnoxious, and stubborn, and bullheaded, and thick, and."

" Okay, okay, Ma'am! These jabs you're taking a little much don't you think?" Markus asked the woman. He laughed at her incessant ribs, he wasn't mad, but still.

Gion smiled and rolled her eyes. " What I'm saying is, you're a good man, with a beautiful heart. You always think of others, and put their well-being before your own, even rushing headfirst into a situation that may be too much for even you, just to help others. And I know you're going to be a wonderful Marine." She said.

Markus smiled softly and looked Gion in her eyes. " You know... I'm gonna protect you. No matter what, no matter who. I'm always gonna protect you. I don't care where you are in the world, if you need me, I swear I'll be there. I'll get stronger too. So, strong that no one will be able to beat me. I promise you that."

Gion flashed him a smile that could melt the ice off even the meanest of hearts. She then scooted closer to Markus and rested her head on his chest, because she couldn't reach his shoulders. " And I'll do the same, you big oaf. Anytime. No matter what. I'll have your back."

" Hm, Yeah. I'm a big oaf alright." Markus muttered.

Markus and Gion sat atop that shop for quite some time enjoying the peace and quiet that the night brought them, and when time came for them to finally leave, Markus noticed that Gion had fallen asleep on him.

" Gion? Hey, Gion..." Markus muttered. He looked down at the young woman and noticed that she wasn't moving. ' She's asleep. That's funny.' Markus smiled quietly. His hands shifted until he was certain he had a firm grip on her legs and her back, and then he jumped off the building with her in his arms.

Her sleeping face was like a porcelain doll, peaceful, beautiful, strong, smart, a little aggressive, and very stubborn.

" Yeah, I'm gonna protect you no matter what."

Alright, a little break from action and a little slice of life chapter. Tomorrow Markus and the others say goodbye once again as they begin their careers as Marines. I wonder where Markus is gonna end up. What do you guys think? Let me know what you think by leaving a comment.