27 Mark vs Sengoku

Who's who ran towards the cafeteria as if his life depended on it, but midway he noticed another person was following behind him.

It was Tsuru who looked absolutely okay except for some dust on her clothes, she had sneaked away from the battlefield when she had the chance.

Tsuru was a smart woman, she wasn't going to fight Mark if it was possible.

"What happened? Does lord Mark need something? Maybe I can be of help."

Tsuru asked while running towards the cafeteria with Who's who.

Who's who speechlessly looked at this old woman, he could tell that she was searching for excuses to not fight Mark.

"Old woman, don't try to avoid the fight, it's your granddaughter who made the biggest mess."

Turning towards Tsuru, Who's who adviced.

"Saint Mark is doing this because you two begged him to save them, you should fight him seriously."

Tsuru blushed after this comment, she had thick skin but even she felt shame when Who's who exposed her completely.

"I am just an old woman, I have already lost to lord Mark after his last attack."

"He will have a much better experience fighting Sengoku than someone like me."

Tsuru didn't see any other way out, so she threw Sengoku under the bus to save herself.

Who's who shook his head, this old woman was avoiding the fight with all her might.

Tsuru also knew it was obvious that she was running away, but she looked the other way and pretended to not understand anything, 

She really didn't have confidence in fighting Mark, so she kept running with Who's who, they took a sharp turn and reached the cafeteria.

Who's who then stopped and took out a basket, he started collecting all the steaks he could find, he ate some random food for a bit and then collected steaks again.

Tsuru looked at this and began helping Who's who, she acted as if she was working hard for Saint Mark.

"Did Saint Mark ask you to collect steaks? Let me help you."

Who's who dully looked at her shameless face.

"Lord Mark didn't tell me to do this, but steak is his favourite food, I am taking it with me because he might be hungry after his fight."

Tsuru realised this was indeed something Mark will need after his battle, so she became energetic all of a sudden.

"I see, if it's for lord Mark I'll help you collect steaks to the best of my abilities!"

Twitching her lips she smiled at Who's who

"What do you say, Saint Mark's food should not be delayed, we will collect everything much faster if I help."

Who's who looked at her helplessly, he was amazed how she twisted her desire to run away into her helping Mark.

"Fine, whatever old woman, you can stay and help, but if lord Mark gets angry it's none of my business."

Tsuru nodded, she knew she was playing with fire when she ran away, but this was much better than her hurting Mark.

If she ran away she will be punished, but if she hurt a celestial dragon, she will be killed.

For someone like Tsuru who considered herself smart, it wasn't hard go guess which was the better outcome.

She will take punishment over death anyday.

'I don't need to face him anyway, Sengoku is fighting Saint Mark, Mark will be tired after his fight and won't have any interest in fighting me again.'

Tsuru thought internally, this way she could save her granddaughter Kujaku and avoid her possible death at the same time.

Only Sengoku will in danger after fighting Mark, but he was after all the Marine Marshall.

He was in a much better position than her, even if he hurts Mark, he will not be killed right away.

'Sorry Sengoku, I'll make it up to you later.'

Tsuru thought apologetically while she helped Who's who collect every steak available in the cafeteria.

Who's who didn't mind and looked at Tsuru carelessly.

"You search for some vegetables too, Lord Mark needs to eat his greens."

Tsuru looked surprised at Who's who, this man really cared for Mark didn't he.

"Vegetables? I am on it."

Who's who cracked a smile and collected more food he thought Mark might enjoy.

After about half an hour they were done gathering food, now they were running back to the battlefield.

"We are here."

Tsuru muttered after they reached the battlefield.

After checking the condition of the battlefield they were shocked.

Mark and Sengoku were still fighting even after half and hour, but that wasn't the shocking part.

The shocking part was that this was less a fight and more Mark giving Sengoku the beatdown of a lifetime.

Sengoku refused to fight back against Mark, he was not willing to take the risks either it seems.

He kept defending himself but he never attacked, even once.

Who's who shook his head after seeing this.

"You both are such cowards, neither of you are fighting lord Mark seriously."

"This is why he wanted to hide his identity as a celestial dragon, cowards like you will never face lord Mark after knowing his status."

"You are such disappointments, both of you."

Tsuru was silent when she heard this, yet she didn't argue against Who's who.

Although she didn't like being called a coward, after a lifetime of serving the navy, maybe her courage has indeed run out.

"Coward..? Maybe you are right, maybe we are cowardly after all."

Tsuru sighed, Who's who wasn't interested in her monologue though, he laughed and happily ran towards Mark.

Meanwhile Tsuru remained standing on her spot, deep in thought.

'I have spent my life serving the celestial dragons, I no longer have the courage to fight against one..'

'I wonder.. When did we all become so weak, all three of us, when we were young we wanted to change the Marines but were powerless to do anything.'

'Now that we are old, nothing has changed, instead we have given up and do absolutely nothing!'

Tsuru held her forehead with sadness.

'Garp runs away from reality and refuses to face the celestial dragons, but he still fights for them anyway! The Marine hero, his existence alone maintains their rule of terror.'

'I am spending my remaining life as an old woman who trains girls with potential, I too have given up on changing this system.'

'Sengoku is a glorified running dog for the five elders, but he is the only one amongst us who does something, his SWORD initiative is his way of fighting back, even if just a little.'

Tsuru realised that Who's was right, somewhere along the line they had been tamed, they no longer had the will to change the world..