Fae POV

“Katakuri! How much longer do I have to do this?!” I shouted at him while holding two large spheres of water up in the air. “My arms literally feel like they are turning into jelly!” I whined with sweat dripping off my chin.

“If you have enough energy to whine then you have enough energy to keep going.” He scolded me as his crimson eyes glared fiercely down at me and Azure who was comfortably resting around my forearm agreed with Katakuri. I groaned in agony, “traitor, your suppose to be on my side.” I whispered to Azure but he ignored my whimpering words as I continued holding the water up at the ends of my palms.

“Come on Fae! You can do this! Just a little longer and you’ll pass the five minute mark!” He encouraged me to keep going but all I could think about at that moment was how I got stuck with Katakuri being my trainer.

~Flashback~

“You want to what?” I had to ask him again because I wasn’t sure if I heard him right the first time.

We were sitting at a small table together in his room, eating breakfast but he didn’t so much as glance up at me as he spread jam on his toast. “I want to train you.” He told me the exact same words calmly as he took a big bite out of his toast.

I’m not a big fan of this meal but I didn’t want to complain about not liking jam because it's something he really enjoys. I sighed heavily as I thought about Katakuri’s words. “No offence Katakuri but what can you teach me that I haven’t already learned from Leon or Sanosuke?” I asked, picking at the jam, jell-o like food on my plate.

He glanced up at me and gave me one of his rare smiles that made my heart stutter in my chest, “I get to teach you something that they never taught you or get the pleasure to. . control.” He said softly finishing the last bit of food on his plate.

“Control,” I mumbled that word to myself as I took a small bite out of my toast and I did my best to avoid the jam. He nodded his head, “I’m going to teach you how to portion out your energy in small stands of waves because your releasing all your energy at once when your using your devil fruit and it’s not healthy for you and it’s definitely not healthy for my mind or heart seeing you in such a comatose state.”

I felt my heart sank into my stomach when I saw pain flash across his face. “I’m sorry.” I whispered to him, feeling partly guilty because I know it frustrates him when he can’t help me when he desperately wants to.

He grabbed my hand in his and placed my fingers to his lips. “Theirs no need to apologize but please,” he kissed the side of my wrist. “Rely on me a little more until you can control your devil fruit powers and I’ll do my best to teach you everything I know but until then, please rely on me.” His eyes pleaded with me and I couldn’t help but nod my head, complying to what he was asking of me.

He smiled softly, “good and I know your not going to learn everything in one day but once we start your training I’m not going to allow you to slack off until I’m satisfied with your progress.” His eyes harden as he wrinkled his eyebrows together to let me know he was serious and I couldn’t help but laugh at his crucialness.

“Okay, I’m looking forward to it.” I smiled brightly not really taking his words seriously.

~Flashback ended~

I thought he was just kidding but he’s so strict, more strict then Leon and Sanosuke put together but I’ll have to admit when I started this training a few days ago I could only hold this amount of water up for ten seconds.

“Alright, you can take a break now.” His words were music to my ears and I instantly dropped the water, groaning with relief.

“How much longer do I have to do this?” I asked huffing and puffing for cool air.

“Until it becomes effortlessly for you to lift larges amount of water and once it becomes easy for you to bend the water to your will for a long period of time then, we'll move on to your healing.” He told me seriously, offering me water to drink.

I sucked down the water until my thirst was satisfied and once I caught my breath, I didn’t wait for Katakuri to tell me to continue. I know this is something I need to learn because Katakuri is right, passing out from exhaustion isn’t something I want to continue doing because if something was to happen then the only thing I’ll become is a liability and I don’t want to put the people I care about in danger.

I took a deep breath of fresh air as I lifted the water off the ground and I couldn’t see Katakuri’s face quite well but I knew he was smiling behind his scarf. “Your doing great, Fae.” He continued to motivate me and after a few minutes I was standing as still as a statue until I felt this odd sensation I was being watched.

I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand while my whole body tensed up in fear. I felt like this person wanted to eat me and Azure tightened himself around my arm sensing, that something was scaring me. I opened my mouth to say something to Katakuri but no words came out as my legs trembled in terror.

My heart hammered slowly in my ears as this horrible icy feeling ran all the way up my spine. I wanted to run to Katakuri but I felt like this presence would get me before I could make it to him and my mind was spinning as my body was screaming at me to attack or to run. I blasted the water behind me without a second thought, destroying all the trees and I spun around fast, expecting a fight but all I saw was a perfect circle of all the trees I destroyed. My eyes raced around the forest but the presences I felt was gone. “Fae. .” I knelt down taking deep strides of breaths and all I wanted to do was cry.

Was I just imagining all that? “Fae. .” No, someone was watching me in a way. . I don’t know, like he was hungry and it just made my skin crawl. “Fae!” I snapped out of my daze when Katakuri placed his hands on my cheeks and yelled my name in my face, “Are you alright? I’ve called out your name several times and you didn’t answer me.”

I blinked for a moment before I managed to pull myself together, “I-um. . I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you calling me. I-I just thought. .”

“Thought what?” Katakuri asked me with concern written all over his face as he glanced around the forest.

“I. . It’s nothing,” I stained a smile at him to reassure him I was fine. “I guess I’m just a bit tired and I’m nervous and existed about this sleep over tonight.” I told him as I clung to him for protection.

He embraced me in his strong arms and I felt safe but I could tell he wasn’t buying my words. I buried my face into his thick scarf and he didn’t push me any further on the subject.

“Okay, then we’ll just stop for today but Fae, are you sure everything is fine?” He narrowed his eyes and wrinkled his eyebrows together.

I nodded my head, “yeah, I just felt like. .” I clunged to him even tighter just thinking about that overwhelming feeling of being watched. “I don’t know, I think I was just exhausted and my mind is playing tricks on me.” I told him honestly and I felt like I was trying to convince myself more then I was trying to convince him.

“Hey,” he lifted my chin so I could see his eyes. “No one can come and go into the seducing woods unless they are a Charlotte and even if someone’s out here, I promise I’ll keep you safe, okay?” His words were reassuring and I nodded my head feeling relief wash over me.

He pulled his scarf down a little to kiss my forehead, “let’s get you home and cleaned up.” He whispered, kissing me all over my face until I gave in and laughed as the tension slowly left my shoulders. I decided to push all my worries away and focus all my attention on the man that was holding me.

●●●

Oven POV

I stopped in my tracks when I spotted Fae standing in front of Pudding’s bedroom door. I was surprised to see her by herself. It’s not like Katakuri to leave her alone but the way she was fidgeting at the door, I’m just assuming he expected her to be in Pudding’s room by now.

She stretched her hand out to knock but stopped her fist inches from the door and I could see insecurity set in her eyes as she slowly dropped her hand to her side.

Self-consciousness does not suit her personality but to my surprise it was written all over her face. She stared at Pudding’s door like it lead to another dimension and I could only imagine what was going on in that beautiful mind of hers.

I decided to take a chance and called out her name as I took large strides towards her. The insecurity vanished from her eyes the moment she laid eyes on me and she gave me a fake smile but even though it was fake, she was still stunning.

“Hey you, long time no see.” She turned towards me and I couldn’t help but take a quick glance at what she was wearing. She had on a silky pink, button-up shirt and matching PJ shorts. I choked on the air I tried to suck in as my eyes wandered up to the two dark pink scrunchies in her long silver hair.

I never took myself as a guy who liked this style on a woman but on her, I love it.

She stared at me curiously when I didn’t answer her right away and I had to remind myself to breathe but I couldn’t help it, she was to beautiful. I reached out without thinking and gently lifted some strands of her hair, “you should wear your hair like this more often.” I whispered, running my fingers through her soft hair. She took a step back, pulling her hair out of my hand, “what are you doing here?” She asked, brushing her hands over where I touched her hair as if she was trying to wipe my touch away.

“I was just about to go to the kitchen to get something to snack on before bed, care to join me?”

“Actually, I should-"

“It’ll only take a moment.” I cut her off and her eyes strayed towards Pudding's room but I grabbed her by the hand before she had the chance to tell me no and I dragged her to the kitchen.

“Wait, Oven! I don’t think-"

“It’s just a quick snack. In and out, I promise.” I told her, still holding her small hand in mine as I pulled her closer to me and she finally let out a deep sigh, “okay, fine but only if it’s real quick.” She said seriously, pulling her hand out of mine.

I nodded my head, “so why isn't Azure with you.”

She rolled her eyes but I could see a small tug at the corner of her lips, “he’s a flirt, so I made him stay with Katakuri.” She said as we walked to the kitchen side by side but I could sense something was off with her today. “Is something wrong?” I asked and she opened and closed her mouth, she was hesitant to talk to me, “it’s. . it’s nothing.” She finally said, giving me a strained smile.

“You know you can talk to me, right?” I told her seriously and she glanced up at me with worry in her eyes.

“I know, it’s just I don’t want to worry anyone if it’s all in my head, you know.” She whispered, staring down at her feet and fidgeting with her fingers.

I stopped in my tracks and she gazed up into my face, “and if it’s not all in your head?” I raised an eyebrow at her before we continued on to the kitchen.

I saw fear flash across her face before she looked down at her feet again, “I feel like something bad is going to happen and as the days go by. . I can’t shake this feeling that someone is watching me and he is inching closer towards me everyday but no one stands out in particular to me but I feel like he's there.” She groaned, covering her face with her hands. “I don’t know, I feel like I’m going crazy.”

I stopped in front of the kitchen door, “you are a very beautiful woman. I’m pretty sure men are watching you everywhere you go.” I told her, trying to reassure her but to tell the truth, Leon is heading towards us like a raging storm. As crazy as it sounds, I think Fae can sense him coming.

“Yeah, maybe that’s all it is,” she whispered but I could tell she didn't believe in her own words.

“Hey, Katakuri will always keep you safe. I’ll keep you safe, along with everyone in this family, besides your one hell of a fighter yourself.” I said playfully and I felt my lips curl up when she gave me a real smile for the first time today. “Come on, I'll get you something sweet and we'll eat till your heart's content.” I told her, pushing the kitchen doors open.