Chapter - 2
"YOU!" Akainu hollered grabbing the man by the scruff of his collar. "You will find Strawhat Luffy and guide him here. If he wants the throne he will have to take it from me. Then you have my permission to die." Akainu noticed out of the corner of his eye Kizaru giggling behind his hand.
"What the hell's so f- huh?!" The Fleet Admiral noticing the elder urinating on himself wetting his clothes leaking onto the ground below. "You sick fuck!" Akainu tossed the man aside. "To think we followed the likes of someone pathetic like you, a rat who pisses himself when faced with death. That is why your friends are dead, you were all too scared to leave your high castle to face people like me. But when people like me smell fear from rats like you, we come looking for you. Don't make me come looking." With that the newly appointed chancellor and his right hand man exited the room.
Looking around the room at the carnage the elder man could only weep for his fallen friends. He couldn't deny what Akainu said was absolutely true. They were rats looking for the next sinking ship to jump to. His only hope was to find a peaceful life, he didn't deserve it but maybe if he could be a small part of getting the Strawhat kid on the throne, it could be the beginning of change in the world. Looking around one more time he took one last glance at his deceased friends before exiting into the hallway with a new resolve. Maybe he can make the world better. Maybe.
The two former admirals walked in silence towards the outer balconies that overlooked the massive heavenly city.
"That bastard.. my shoe is wet. I should've bashed his fucking skull in." Akainu said hitting his fist through a near wall not breaking stride.
"In fairness, letting him lead Strawhat right to us was the right move. The little brat will jump head first at the chance to avenge his brothers killer." Kizaru stated. He had a point, the last time he saw that kid he smirked knowing his weakness.
"The kid has an easy weakness. When I killed his brother his resolve completely shattered and he was nothing more than a nuisance." Akainu said matter of factly contemplating his next move against the captain of the straw hats.
Borsalino was also contemplating his next words carefully not sure if Sakazuki would turn on him if he said the wrong thing. He had no problem with a fight, it would be pointless and tiresome in his opinion however. Second in command always suited him best. If there was one thing Akainu didn't feel threatened by from Borsalino it was his ambition.
"I hate to admit it Fleet Admiral but I disagree with your premise." Borsalino argued.
Not willing to accept the unsatisfactory answer Akainu responded with a grunt. "Explain." He simply said.
The younger of the two former marine admirals looked deep in thought before giving his calculated answer." From the time I observed him in Sabaody it seems he has a very close connection to his crew. I can only imagine how strong it is now. If we attack them it could cause us trouble, if there's one thing that scares me about that boy it's unpredictability. That kid oozes it."
Akainu listened intently to Borsalino's explanation. He made a point he hadn't himself considered. What if the kid doesn't respond the way he did when Fire fist Ace was killed. "So you suggest I take him on as soon as possible without inflicting torture among his crew mates."
Akainu stated rubbing his beard while puffing his signature cigar awaiting an answer.
"Just a suggestion sir, he is technically a yonko now so he can't be taken lightly either way." Borsalino stated lighting a cigar of his own shuffling his hands to his pockets.
It was interesting the two former Navy Admirals who were very similar, yet greatly differentiated in their own philosophy. Even on a matter on such how to deal with the straw hat crew. Kizaru would like to take the straw hat captain Mano y mano. While Akainu would enjoy a duel equally, as slaughtering his allies for him to watch helplessly then go in for the kill while he was weak. It was that kind of brutal justice that turned former admiral Aokoji Kuzan into a Blackbeard subordinate. 'Fool' Akainu thought before returning to the conversation.
"Straw hat is still weak. We attack the heart only then will he turn into that helpless kid he was in Marineford." Akainu stated. It was was obviously his opinion but they way he said it, Borsalino accepted it as a fact.
" I'll handle the crew which will leave you will with your rematch with straw hat." Kizaru said opening the door to balcony to let his boss through.
"Excellent!" Akainu almost sounded giddy.
"What do we do now?" Kizaru asks rubbing his glasses with a cloth, holding them up to the sun then rubbing on them again. Clearly they were going to play the waiting game.
"We wait. That weakling will reach straw hat and will guide them here. I have a feeling it won't be a long wait either." A rare toothy grin reached the elder man's face. In the distance the two witnessed a couple dozen navy ships pulling through the fog towards the capital.
"Come straw hat, I'll be waiting." Akainu said to no one in particular before taking a seat. Folding his arms, crossing his right leg over the left, and bowing his head—he took spoke one last time.
"This time you won't get away I will kill you, even if I have to kill your crew first to get to you."
As Borsalino heard those words he couldn't help but feel a sinking feeling. It felt different from any one he's had before. Dread? No it was worse. A large breeze blew through causing Borsalino to shift uncomfortably. 'What the hell is this?'
Deep down the sharply dressed admiral had to admit it might not be the best plan to take on his crew in front of the kid but he wouldn't disagree with Akainu. He didn't not want those kind of problems.
Thinking no more it was time to prepare for battle. Glancing over he saw the admiral in his signature stance head bowed slightly making his expression unreadable. Borsalino folded his hands, crossing his legs looking out towards the open sea. It wouldn't be long now, soon it would all come to end.