Reason For Rejection

The next morning St. Mjosgard lead Queen Otohime to the inn where her guards were residing. As they arrived they saw Shunsui and the others waiting for them out front. As soon as Otohime saw Ori a trace of surprise could be seen in her eyes. She quickly spread her observation haki and felt the changes in not only Ori but Roman and the others too.

"Shunsui you and your men seemed to have benefitted your time here greatly."

Mjosgard didn't understand what she meant, but the Heavenly Demon's knew that she was able to sense their breakthroughs. Ori smiled and nodded as he replied.

"Our time was well truly well spent. How about you, how was the meetings at Mary Geoise?"

"It was good. I learnt and saw a lot!"

Even though there was no change in her tone Ori could feel there was a deeper meaning and understood that she may have some news regarding the Joyous Pirates. He was dying to know what she found out, but he knew now wasn't the time to ask.

Mjosgard turned to Queen Otohime and said lightly.

"Queen Otohime, you now know what you need to do. As soon as you manage to get the required number of signatures from your people, you'll have the full support of the World Government to live freely on land.

Otohime smiled brightly as she replied.

"Thank you Mjosgard for everything you've done, none of this would've been possible without your continuous support."

"You saved my life, doing this much is the least I can do!

Take care of yourself and good luck for the future. Don't hesitate to get in contact if there is ever anything I can do."

Otohime nodded and replied.

"I shall, thank you."

As she said that, Mjosgard turned and left with his personal guards.

Queen Otohime turned to Ori and the others and said lightly.

"You guys have only been here 48 hrs and you already managed to increase your strength by so much… What fortuitous encounter did you have?"

Ori smiled as he said.

"It's a long story, we'll explain to you on the way."

As he said that, the group made their way back to the front gate where they entered from. Luckily they were able to depart smoothly. When they reached the train station Shaya noticed Ori was distracted and sighed as she asked.

"Still thinking about Benjiro?"

Ori didn't reply, he just nodded his head. Shaya shook her head and said.

"There's nothing we can do now, we're free to make our own choices in life."

Ori nodded only half paying attention to her.

They boarded the train and sat down. Ori and the others began explaining to Otohime what happened over the last 48 hours. Hearing the navy had someone so talented and only at the rank of an ensign shocked her.

"He should've kept his musical prowess to himself not knowing the meaning behind his ability."

Ori nodded as he knew that was the only way a man like that could only be an Ensign which is the lowest ranking Officer in the navy. As they were talking Ori noticed a rugged looking marine with a cross shaped scar on his left cheek and a saber at his side who looked to be in his mid-20's walking passed. Behind him were a group of a dozen other relatively high ranking marines. The rank showing on the back of the rugged man's jacket was that of a Marine Commander, but that wasn't what caught his eye.

[That dense killing intent, who is he after?]

As proficient haki users, other than Silk whose observation haki was sub-par, all the others in Ori's party, Sabo included could feel the killing intent released by the Commander. He knew that with their disguises the man wasn't after them, but they were still curious as to who they were after.

Ori saw the man sit down on a seat a few rows ahead and sensed when he released his haki focusing it on a man dressed in a darkly coloured robe with a large cloth bag over his shoulder in the row just in front of him.

As soon as Ori realised who the man was focusing on he was more than a little shocked.

[What's Benjiro doing here, who's that woman beside him and why is one of his fellow marines tailing him as if they want to find somewhere to ambush him?]

Sat beside the robed Benjiro was a blonde haired blue eyed attractive woman who looked to be in her mid-20's. She looked to be pretty rattled but the thing that caught the eye of Ori and the others was the bruise on the side of her face. It looked as if she had taken a nasty hit to the face.

Everyone in Ori's party had noticed the odd situation. Otohime who had never met Benjiro recognised him by Ori's description.

There was an odd glint in her eyes as she seemed to have noticed something, but she didn't say anything.

After travelling for half an hour they reached the 1st stop where Benjiro immediately stood up and made his way to the exit, dragging the hand of the blonde haired beauty he was sat beside.

When Ori saw the rugged looking marine and his group follow him off the train he stood up and made his way to the exit to follow.

Roman and the others were about to follow him when he stopped them and said

"Don't follow me, take Aunty Otohime to the ship and I'll meet you there in a few days max."

They all understood what he intended on doing and although they didn't want to leave him to go on his own, but they knew that protecting Otohime was important and with his strength there was no way that those marines could stop him if he wanted to leave.

Just as he was about to leave he heard Otohime's voice.

"Before you go and save him you should know that his father's Admiral Sakazuki! If that man knew his son had joined you, between what happened to you two in East Blue and now having his son join your crew he'd stop at nothing to kill you!"

Hearing that Benjiro was Akainu's son startled Ori, which then turned into a laugh.

"Hahaha so that's why he didn't want to join us… He was trying to protect us from his father's wrath. That idiot!"

As he said that he walked off in the direction Benjiro left in.

Seeing him leave to save someone who would bring them more trouble in the future brought a proud smile to her face.

"Big sister, you and brother-in-law raised a good son!"