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The newly minted Admiral Ryokugyu settles at the room’s low wooden table and leans towards the man sitting across from him, “I was surprised to get your invite, Admiral Fujitora. I did not think we had so much in common to warrant personal meetings.”
“Issho, please. We are now admirals together, I think that is enough of a reason to seek to know you better.” Issho leans back tilting his face towards his companion. “I find tea soothing and a great companion to conversation. This is the best teahouse on the island, what would you like to order?” Issho smiles.
“Well then, you should call me Aramaki. And I don’t drink– or eat– I haven’t since I ate my fruit.” Aramaki raises an eyebrow as he sees Issho blush.
“My apologies, I did not intend to be rude. We can talk somewhere else. Presuming you are still willing?” Issho makes to stand until Aramaki reaches across and puts a hand on his arm.
“No need, I didn’t find it insulting and I do not mind sitting here. My vines can absorb liquids, I can get a very distant sense of flavor that way. I do not mind absorbing some tea.” Aramaki lets go of Issho’s arm leaning back.
Issho settles back in his chair. “I understand. In that case you should try one of their strong teas. I recommend their pu’erh.”
Aramaki spends the meeting watching expressions carefully. The smiles and gentle disagreement when Aramaki outline’s his justice. But at no point does Issho get aggressive or disapproving. As they stand to part ways Aramaki lets impulse guide him, shoving a hastily formed white camelia into Issho’s hands. As soon as he sees the confusion on Issho’s face Aramaki freezes going bright red. “Ah, as a thank you. For the tea. And, ah, since we’re both Admirals maybe we should familiarize ourselves with each other's fighting style? We might fight side by side one day.” Aramaki retreats a couple steps, thankful Issho cannot see his blush.
And Issho, and Issho fuckin beams. His smile is so bright Aramaki wants to steal Kizaru’s sunglasses. “That sounds like a good plan.” Issho replies, “We could meet at the training grounds Friday afternoon? They are typically rather empty at that time.”
Aramaki sprawls across the purple couch in Issho's office. Aramaki has been keeping up with his paperwork in an attempt to get Fleet Admiral Sakazuki's approval. However the paperwork never seems to end and Aramaki is tired of sitting boxed in at his desk when he could be out ridding the world of pirates.
"Is every admiral's office decorated in the same color as their moniker or is it just because we're new?"
Issho turns his face towards Aramaki. "I've been in Admiral Kizaru's office before, but I cannot tell you the color. I was unaware my office was primarily purple."
Aramaki flushed. "Right, I'm going to shut up now, but it's not really primarily purple just the accents."
"I'm hardly offended by references to vision. It's refreshing, most treat my blindness like something that should not be talked about."
"That's stupid. It's not like it was some tragedy of your life, you chose it."
Issho hums in agreement.
Aramaki stands up, "I'm going to see what there is for me to do. Maybe there will be a pirate crew that needs chasing." On the way out of the room Aramaki stops by Issho's desk and sets a handful of apple blossoms on the corner. "Do you want me to chase down your secretary? They are supposed to be helping you with your reports."
"It is alright, I'm sure they will return soon." Issho reaches out towards the blossoms and Aramaki backs out of the room, shutting the door behind himself.
Aramaki is sitting in his office after returning from a successful patrol when he hears a knock on his door. A moment later Issho steps into the room.
"I heard you did something unnecessary again." The older man greets him.
Aramaki scoffs. "I took out three pirate crews, I hardly call that unnecessary."
Issho hums, sitting down in the armchair Aramaki always keeps clutter free for him. "You did return several days later than you were supposed to."
Aramaki frowns, "Are you just here to reprimand me?" The logia winces as he hears his voice waver.
Issho stands, using his cane to maneuver his way through the mess strewn across Aramaki's office over to the desk. "Apologies, that was not my intention. I came to let you know I'm being sent to Dressrosa. Apparently Vice Admiral Smoker had a run in with some allies of Doflamingo. Something is suspicious."
Aramaki groans. "Damn, I wish I had a mission like that." Aramaki passes Issho a Nasturtium, "here."
Issho takes the flower, twisting it in his hand. "You give me flowers quite frequently."
Aramaki shrugs, having long since stopped blushing over this habit. "Every flower has a meaning. Nasturtium means victory in battle."
Aramaki sets a bowl on the table in front of Issho and crosses over to sprawl in the chair across from him. Aramaki waits as Issho eats, looking over the other admiral for any noticeable changes since leaving for Dressrosa.
"And here you were getting on me for doing unnecessary things and upsetting the Fleet Admiral." Aramaki leans back in his seat, "Sakazuki-san wants me to find you and kick you out."
Issho pauses, "Do you want to fight me?"
Aramaki laughs. "Of course not. Though I am curious as to why you're here."
"The warlords are no longer needed. I want to destroy the warlord system."
"Rahahaha. You're a madman! Foreals." Aramaki laughed again. "You pissed Sakazuki off real bad if he's arguing about taking immunity away from pirates."
Issho shrugs.
Aramaki stands up, biting his tongue so he doesn't ask why Issho won't bother to apologize if only just to return to Marineford. He already knows the answer. "I stole your office couch, it's cushier than mine. And it's not like you're using it anyway." The words come out like an accusation. "I'm sticking around til the end of the Levely. Good luck on getting them to abolish the warlords." Aramaki pauses while walking past Issho and tucks a blue salvia and a white clover into Issho's Justice coat. He leaves the courtyard before Issho can ask what they mean.