Katakuri was beyond being just in dismay.

He felt his whole world plummet watching his long awaited soulmate fall down with Mama's castle.

It was slightly relieving to catching him zooming off with the rest of his crew, but not by much.

As he disappeared from his sight, nothing has ever hurt him as that did, it wasn't just pain, it was torture.

Luffy was now separated from him, among wolves and trash alike.

Katakuri definitely knew better that any soulmate of his wouldn't die- especially in a place like this, but he also knew better to think that he might still be loitering around.

He could have been anywhere, the island was absolutely huge- but he also flat out denied the insinuation that he has escaped him yet, no way in any world be it heaven or hell- would he lose the raven in one instant.

Hearing his mother force herself up from wherever she landed in the sticky mess, she shrieked in rage, "when I get my hands on that Mugiwara-!" She didn't even finish her threat, but it still made Katakuri physically flinch all the same.

Unfortunately, someone caught his visible stress before it was painted over with indifference.

"Katakuri? Are you alright?" Glancing down at his older brother, the redhead didn't know whether to shake him off or just risk lying.

Perosperos was always crafty, looking out for anything that he could use to his advantage, which of course made him naturally suspicious.

But then his thoughts trailed back to Luffy, and suddenly Katakuri forgot all about his brother and mother alike.

His precious soulmate was out there hanging about with trash, the thought enraged him for little reason other than his own ego.

They may have had some capabilities, that he could begrudgingly admit in the face of such damage to their forces, but there was not a member of that crew worthy of such glowing talent that was Luffy.

No, only he was worth such an extraordinary boy, he denied anyone else any right to his tiny miracle worker, the boy was only meant for him- that was the law of this world.

Katakuri was going to drag that man back, kicking and screaming need be, even if he had to pick off every last one of them to do it, that incredible, perfect boy was his alone.

All the while, Perospero glared hard into his younger brother's questionable behavior.

Katakuri was the most loyal in the family, the older couldn't ever question that, but there was no doubt- Katakuri held back against the Strawhat captain.

If he truly went all out, there was no way any of them could have made it out alive, the explosion wouldn't have changed a thing, but Perospero noticed it, and the intruders got away practically scot-free.

But why did his brother hesitate?

Then, there was that telltale sign, the oldest son nearly blinked in denial, it definitely couldn't have been right, his eyes must have been playing tricks on him.

But he still saw it, the undeniable, clouded, possessiveness in his brother's usually focused gaze, and it all made too much sense.

An expression he's seen too often on his younger siblings on their wedding days.

"Katakuri.." finally snapping out of whatever plane of existence the mochi man sent himself to, the younger felt his skin crawl in dread seeing a knowing gleam in the older's eyes.

"Strawhat... he wouldn't be your soulmate, could he?"

And in that goddamn moment everything had to be just quiet enough for everyone else to hear him, Katakuri couldn't feel any more horrified.

There was a wind of silence before his siblings blew up, all of them shouting in denial or laughing at the sheer insinuation of something so ridiculous.

Katakuri scowled at all of them getting riled up about something that wasn't their goddamn business.

How dare they laugh? How dare they mock him? Even with this much loss brought to them by the boy's hand.

He couldn't even look up to see whatever expression his mother had, and he couldn't lie in her presence either.

"Yes"

Lying wouldn't save anyone now, not to mention never in his life could he ever reject such a unique specimen, never could he deny that creature as his, he was his and will always be his.

The silence enveloping such a scene of chaos was nothing short of nerve wracking, no doubt everyone was looking to Mama for his soulmate's fate.

If it was any other situation, no doubt his opportunist of a mother would drag him in with open arms, soulmates were such a rare occurrence in the New World after all- not that they were common anywhere, but for two kindred, individual souls to find each other on such bloody, vast oceans, where one's life was constantly up for chance and set adrift on the unorthodox movements of the waves.

It would have to be a once in a lifetime miracle.

Katakuri knew that soulmates were highly sought after in the family, not only would the couple have a surefire happily ever after, but soulmates were specifically known to strengthen the other, their companionship pushed their partners to astounding heights.

Something everyone knew that Mama loved and sought out for.

Any soulmates found were always married into the family straight away, no questions asked, the profit always being too high to deny.

Of course she wouldn't pass up the opportunity to make her already undefeated son damn near invincible, if it was any other situation.

But it wasn't such a situation.

Katakuri was well aware of the amount of severe damage his soulmate has caused, he was well aware of all the humiliation, and the possibilities that were taken away thanks to him, he knew the amounts of blood and bodies that were paid for such destruction-

His inner conflict was severed at the sound of a foreboding hum.

Finally glancing up to see his mother's expression, Katakuri felt Mogura slightly slip further down inside his torso- due to him losing his hold for a moment seeing a wily grin on her face.

Smiling evilly, Katakuri struggled to keep calm and remained still, ready to face whatever the matriarch had in store.

Please! Let her still have enough reason in her to consider the winnings!

"Katakuri's soulmate.. then perhaps there's still something to be gained from this mess.." the monstrous man stiffened, seeing a few moments of time blaze before him.

Not wanting to waste anymore precious time, Katakuri grabbed Brulee by her collar and ran as fast as he could towards the closest goddamn mirror he could think of, not even hearing her hysterical protests.

Katakuri already saw what the emperor was going to say, and honestly he couldn't be anymore joyous, thankful even, he was so grateful that woman would never pass up the chance to gain more power.

Although, he made it a point to ignore the thought that she was just itching to use Luffy for everything he was worth, the only reason she would ever let him live.

He was well aware she thought she was the one in control, but he didn't give a damn.

She didn't need to know that he would've kept him alive no matter what, she didn't need to know that Luffy would no doubt gain so much more than she ever could in their relationship.

Finally reaching a mirror- huge, glistening and most importantly intact, impatiently pushing Brulee to open a pathway to the Mirroworld, he actively counted down the seconds his one and only soulmate could be already sailing away.