"Buhahaha hahahaha!" Garp, Helmeppo, Grount, and Captain Koby were all laughing. You were out to dinner with them. You'd told them what you'd said to the new Warlord and why he'd gotten so scared. You'd found it funny too but it had been a week and the novelty had worn off, at least for you.

"I get it you guys but come on...it's not that funny."

"It's pretty damn funny." Grount wheezed, "considering the only ghostly person we have on board is you."

"GROUNT!" Captain Koby yelled.

"It's alright, my nickname has been Ghoul Doctor for a while now I might as well own it." You shrugged.

Garp was watching you with everyone. You'd really come out of yourself and allowed people to see the true you. He felt like crying, like he was watching his own grandchildren.

"So Koby, you exited about your banquet?" Grount nudged.

"Oh well...I don't really see the need for such a big to-do. I'd rather it be a big party spread over several ships. We wouldn't need to use to use the citizen's tax money that way. But Sengoku-San said its about publicity. And he wants me to bring a date." You felt glances land on you, you drank from your cup to avoid saying anything.

"Oh yeah? You have anyone in mind?" Helmeppo asked but his star was still on you.

"Unfortunately Koby doesn't get to choose his date." Garp growled. You looked up then. Koby's eyes were on his plate and a frown on his face. "There's a young aristocratic girl who has taking a liking to Koby and has asked to be his companion."

"Why can't Koby just say no?" Helmeppo yelled.

"Cause her Dad endorses the Navy with billions of Belis a year, and the higher ups don't want to lose his support. So they're strong arming Koby to do this."

Your heart felt heavy as if it weighed over 1,000 pounds. You understood the political side of it, but you were irritated.

"It's just one dance Vice Admiral Garp." Koby tried to make it sound better, but it didn't make the bad feeling go away.

"Keep telling yourself that kiddo." The happy mood was now gone. Everyone feeling somber about what the higher ups were making him do. "By the way Ghouley you're to report to Rear Admiral Hina tomorrow at 1pm. Don't be late." He went back to eating and You nodded not even bothering as to why she wanted to see you. You'd never met the woman, you just knew she was beautiful and had a powerful and useful devil fruit.

~That night~

You were sparring with Captain Koby both of you exchanging blows and you getting in a few good hits but ultimately it was Captain Koby who claimed victory.

"I think that's enough for tonight Captain. I have to meet with Rear Admiral Hina tomorrow."

"Ah Y/N-San wait!" You turned to see him walking over to his bag and pull out a little velvet bag. "Here this is for you." You took it.

"What's this for?"

"Uh well it's actually a late birthday gift...I didn't know it was your birthday back then and I hadn't prepared anything. But on the island we made a stop at before coming back, I found this neat little trinket shop. And I saw this and it reminded me of you." Curiosity got the better of you and you opened the bag.

You gasped when you saw what was inside. It was a bracelet. It had a leather base, with a mix of silver chains, marlble, turquoise, and opal beads. In the center was a engraved plate with a compass and the words "enjoy the journey" also carved. It was the most beautiful thing anyone had ever given you.

"Captain this is...I can't accept it." He walked over and took the trinket only to place it on your wrist. He kept your hand in his.

"I got this cause I figured out that you love the ocean and this seemed to be the one to match you perfectly. A girl of mystery and charm. With many different elements to you that I find..." he didn't finish. He looked at you. And you looked back at him.

But you then looked around you and braces yourself for something.

"Y/N-San?" He drew your attention back but you couldn't reciprocate what he was feeling in the moment. At any second you figured you'd be interrupted, or a pirate attack would happen. Plus the fact that he had to take a prissy, spoiled brat to the ball ticked you off. You withdrew yourself from his grasp, then bowed.

"Thank you Captain, it is beautiful I will treasure it." You started up the stairs.

"Y/N-San!"

"Captain Koby!" You heard a yell and turned to see Vice Admiral Smoker. "Come with me." You saluted him. "At ease you're excused." You nodded and walked away. The whole time you clutched onto your new bracelet.

Well isn't that pretty? But do you really deserve such a beautiful gift? I mean you're a murderer, a thief, a liar and a betrayer.

Your own doubts started to menifest. When you got to your room, you took off the bracelet and placed it in a drawer.

"I don't deserve anything he gives me. Not even him." You went to sleep full of doubt and self-loathing.

~Hina's Office~

"So you're the Ghoul Doctor?" She seemed disappointed. You were wearing your normal get-up. You had your hat, boots, black pants and long sleeve v-neck shirt with the marine logo on the front. As an added bonus you had your sash with your pins that showed your position and rank.

"Yes Ma'am."

"Hmm. I expected someone with sunken eyes and super skinny. And pale. You've got a nice tan, and you've got decent curves. You're just gloomy." Wow. What real original thoughts this broad has. You kept your mouth shut. Waiting for instructions. "Well let's get going." You followed her out, the men you passed having hearts in their eyes for their superior.

As she descended the plank two men showed up in front of her with gifts. She ignored them and continued to walk to town.

"Well where do you wish to go?"

"Ma'am?"

"Shopping where do you want to go shopping?"

"I don't want to go shopping." You simply said.

"That's why we're here though. To buy you a dress."

"A dress for what Ma'am?" She let out a sigh clearly getting frustrated with you.

"For Koby's banquet of course."

"Oh I'm not going." She stopped her cigarette falling from her mouth. She was rendered speechless.

"Hina is confused." Now she's referring to herself in third person. "Garp-Chan said you were going."

"Never RSVP'd. I'm sitting it out."

"But-but. Why?"

"It wasn't a requirement nor was I ordered to go."

"What did you think today was for?"

"I was told to report to you so I did. But if we are onto here to shop then I ask to be excused." You waited for confirmation that you could leave. After about two minutes you simply walked away, leaving a very confused Rear Admiral behind.

-Garp's POV-

Garp was trying to find a way for Koby to take that brat to the ball and take Ghouley instead. He got a fright though when Hina came bursting in.

"Garp-Chan! She isn't even going to the damn ball!!"

"Woah Hina could you-wait what?"

"The Ghoul Doctor. She informed me in town that she wasn't even going to attend the ball. Why didn't you tell me that? Hina wasted a whole hour for nothing!"

Garp was about to say something when a tentative voice broke through.

"Y/N-San isn't going...? Is-is that true? Vice Admiral I thought you said she was..." crap Koby had heard.

"Wait a minute let me check something." He found the guest list that was conveniently written in alphabetical order. He found where he thought your name should be only to find that it wasn't even there. He had assumed you would go, considering how close you and Koby had gotten.

"Hina what did she say?"

"She said it wasn't a requirement or an order that she go. She saw no point in it. We didn't even get to go into any of the dress shops, she walked off! Hina is angry at her."

Garp was panicking at this point. The ball was in two days there were plenty of people not going so to put you on wouldn't be an issue the biggest hurdle would be to convince you to go.

"I'll-I'll talk to her tonight." He simply stated Hina left in a huff and when he looked up Koby was nowhere to be seen.

-Reader's POV-

You spent the some time walking along the beach enjoying the breeze and you gin kids enjoying the waves. Their laughter and innocent play brought true joy to you. There was a time where you thought you might have that one day. But being a medic and being a marine you figured that now, it wasn't in your cards.

"Y/N-San?" His voice was behind you, you turned and kept your face neutral, your self-loathing still in full effect. He wasn't smiling, his shoulders were hunched and his hands were clenched in fists. He was sad, his frown only worsened when he looked at your hands.

"Captain Koby? Shouldn't you be prepping for the banquet and dance?"

He straightened and now you saw his frown directed at you. His shoulders straight, stance confident. Now he was mad. And he was mad at you.

"Yeah...I guess I should go and practice dancing with that girl so I don't step on her toes. Good day L/N-San."

He said my last name?

He'd never done that, not since You met him. You felt tears coming, but simply saluted and walked away, back to your infirmary. That's the only thing you were good at.

-1 day before the banquet-

You were currently bandaging Helmeppo, he had a broken hand and a sprained ankle. You'd made quick work with the ankle but the hand was taking some time. He was also in a bad mood, anytime you felt his eyes on you, you felt his irritation mount.

"Almost done, once the hard cast is on keep it dry in two weeks if it's healing how it should we'll do another hard cast with less layers. As for your ankle try not to walk on it too much."

"Mmm." That was the response you got. He limped out and that was it.

Helmeppo had been your last patient of the day. You didn't feel like going to dinner in the cafeteria so you signed a sheet saying you were headed ashore.

You'd ended up settling on a ramen stand. You were just about to take your first mouthful when someone big and imposing took a seat next to you.

"Seafood ramen please. And one pint." It was Vice Admiral Smoker. You'd heard about him and had seen and treated him during the aftermath of the Paramount war.

"Coming up." The Vice Admiral looked at you his scowl ever present on his handsome face.

"Hope you don't mind if I join you Dr. L/N." You weren't even going to question how he knew that.

"No sir." You went back to eating. You are in silence while feeling this man's eyes on your frame. It unnerved you how he didn't seem to blink. When his food came he finally settled his eyeballs on his food. You quickly finished paid and started to leave.

"Dr. L/N. Your presence is required at tomorrow's banquet. You will dress formal wear your sash and arrive on time. Do I make myself clear?"

He's ordering me to go? Oh...

Then you remembered, you'd told Rear Admiral Hina that it hadn't been a requirement or an order.

And this man made it both in less than 20 minutes.

"Dr. When I give an order I expect a response."

"Yessir I will be there."

"Good, you may want to go find a dress unless you already have one. You are excused."

Feeling irritated and just a little salty that you hadn't been able to get out of attending you didn't bother to salute him as you left. You then went to the main shopping area to see if there was any stores open. With your luck it was really doubtful.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"She's out of sight Garp." Smoker grunted and began to eat his ramen again.

"I don't know boy, I still don't think this was the best solution."

"You wanted her there and so did Koby. She's not on my ship therefore I couldn't care less if she's all that happy with me or not. I can't guarantee that she'll be cheerful but something tells me that's pretty normal for her."

Garp nodded his head and ordered his own ramen.

Sorry Ghouley I'll make it up to you! I promise!!