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Sakazuki isn't the type to prolong decisions. What goes in the category of right and wrong is as clear as day to him. It goes quick, this and that, the Marine and those pirates. He never doubted himself for every order that had left his mouth. His heart was honed, he's polished it for years with blood.
Just for today, where the sky is awfully beautiful, Sakazuki finds it hard to expose himself.
The door closed as his room is dimmed with closed curtains. Unlit cigar hanging on his teeth, hands clasped between his thighs, eyes staring emptily at the uncertain future. While his jaw looks relaxed, the veins emerging down to his neck explain otherwise. The clock is ticking and it doesn't help him.
Time is moving. Keep moving forward and Sakazuki couldn't possibly let himself get behind. Everything will come on time, slowly, creeping like a frost burn; it will get into him in the worst way Sakazuki can imagine. He's an old friend of the inevitable.
He actually hates this. The way that not everyone can't be on the same page with him. Of how much people hate to be on the same ship with him. Sakazuki can understand but people won't be so kind to understand him. Or maybe it's him who won't listen.
Sakazuki got up from the chair and then walked slowly towards the door. Each heavy step made a sound on the wooden floor of the ship. Steady as his heart beating. His fists smoked and his eyes felt hot. There's Sengoku outside waiting for him when the door's open.
They both shared a look before looking far into the horizon.
Sengoku attempted to speak first. "This will be your hardest decision, Sakazuki."
"I won't back down," Sakazuki replied, clear and not heavy on the throat. The fresh air has cleared the fog in his mind a little bit. "I'm gonna win. You're not going to stop me, Sengoku."
"I'm not." Sengoku rests his hand on his back. "I'll be seeing for myself how are you going to rise to the top. I want to see this until the very end."
"Then I'll show you. I'll be the new Fleet Admiral and ring the bell of our glory."
"Are you going to make a name for yourself?" There Sengoku said it. Words are going around the headquarters, spreading like wildfire of nasty gossip. He glanced at Sakazuki whose face hardened and teeth almost splitting apart his cigar.
"I don't need it," Sakazuki spat. He removed the cigar from his mouth, not feeling the mood for one eventually. But that was one hell of a good question. It's meaningless. "I'll just continue what I've been doing."
Sengoku looked away when Sakazuki burns the cigar in his hand into ashes. Somewhat he had figured out what the answer would be and Sakazuki delivered. That wasn't important at all. If Sengoku had to choose one person that will bleed for justice, even among others who can be said to have better morality, Sakazuki is the one. No one fight like Sakazuki does.
Sengoku only could close his eyes when the wind passed by. It's quite strong today, they're blowing past their face, serving their ears with the song of the ocean. A prelude of something major ahead of them. A new curtain that waits to be spread open into the new era.
This ought to happen anyway. Sengoku knows better the fact there has to be a battle to decide on the winner is something that should be looked up upon. It's proof that there are people who care a lot about the Marine. The organization.
For their belief.
Both Sakazuki and Kuzan are men with pride. They may not show it but they're fighting their own battle respectfully.
"I see." A late response from Sengoku. "Fame will follow eventually."
"Fame is yours when you're acknowledged."
"You already have it."
"I might be. I made a name for myself but that's not the case anymore."
Sengoku watched over Sakazuki carefully. Nothing has changed since the day Sengoku keep his eyes on him. Just a little perhaps. His goal is now something even greater.
"You did everything for the Marine, Sakazuki. What is it now on your list? World domination?"
"Close but not quite."
If it were that simple, Sakazuki thought to himself and his mind wander to the early days, I won't have to fight my friend this way.
"Do tell me Sakazuki. This great plan of yours." Sengoku was ready to hear it. He's even holding back from snacking for the sake of this. As he said earlier, he wanted to see for himself this historical moment.
"Then do tell me Sengoku, why do we have to work like slaves under the World Government?"
Sengoku's eyes flew open. "Sakazuki!" he yelled, "Don't tell me you're-"
"They won't look down on us anymore." Perhaps this is the right time to finally told someone his goal. "That's why I have to be the Fleet Admiral."
"That won't end well, Sakazuki," Sengoku warned. Clear enough that he doesn't have to go into full details on why. Sengoku can see how Sakazuki isn't worried about that.
"No one can guarantee we will end well if we keep staying like this."
"I suppose that's true."
Sakazuki lifts his gaze upon the line between the sea and the sky. They're blue and the color of life. Blue for the world he's defending. Blue like the Marine.
The color of his friend, Kuzan.
Sakazuki's angry.
And he is red.