Don't leave me!

A week quickly passed as Kenshin stayed locked up in his room, Aladdin would daily check up on his arm while Shirahoshi always visited him and would just lean at his shoulder keeping him company the whole time.

Whitebeard along with Rayleigh and Gaban already left Fishman Island 2 days ago, Izo who is Whitebeard's 16th division commander chose to stay and serve Hiyori.

Inside the room, Kenshin who's arms were already healed was currently doing some light exercise.

*Knock!* *Knock!*

"Come in!"

Kenshin who was still doing push-ups said thinking that Aladdin was here to check up on him again.

As the door opened Hiyori who had head lowered entered the room and slowly approached Kenshin standing next to him and said.

"I'm sorry,"

Kenshin stopped doing his push-ups and looked at Hiyori who was trying to fight back her tears, he shook his head and replied, "I thought that you followed Whitebeard and left the Island."

He then took a towel and wiped his sweat off as he continued, "I can take back Wano Country on my own, you can wait for Momonosuke and take back Wano together if I didn't succeed on my attack, I'm positive that Whitebeard won't let you go alone so he will surely help you so just train for now and build up your power."

Putting his shirt on Kenshin was about to leave but Hiyori grabbed his arm and hugged him from behind, he could feel his shirt getting wet from Hiyori's tears.

"Are you gonna leave me also?" Hiyori asked in a weak voice.

Kenshin took a deep breath as he continued on walking out but Hiyori didn't let go and continue on hugging him tightly.

"Please don't leave me, I know that what I did wasn't logical but something inside me always rejects the idea of asking someone who is a lot stronger than me for help and use them knowing that they will surely accept my plea for help, I don't want people who aren't related to Wano to die because of me asking for help," Hiyori explained as she clutched on Kenshin's shirt fearing that he will really leave her behind.

Kenshin bit his lips, he understood why Hiyori did not want Whitebeard's help but when he thinks about the citizens of Wano that are currently suffering Kenshin couldn't help but get angry at himself for being too weak and not being able to save them as soon as possible.

Kenshin sighed deeply he turned around and hugged Hiyori who was still sobbing and said, "I understand the reason behind your decision, let's not think about asking for someone's help anymore and try to build our fleet as soon as possible."

Hiyori nodded her head, she snuggled at Kenshin's embrace and said, "But aren't we also inviting people to fight for us? isn't it the same as asking them for help?"

Flicking her forehead, Kenshin rolled his eyes and said, "To be able to recruit someone that is willing to fight for you there are three main scenarios that I could think of."

"First, you defeat your enemy and make them submit to you which is the most direct approach."

"Second, you befriend someone and are willing to help you even with the possibility of death."

"And the third is "Give and Take" we help someone but in return they must also help us when that time comes that we need their assistance."

Kenshin also has a 4th way of recruiting people but it will be hard to find the kind of people who have a mutual interest in taking down an emperor.

Hiyori looked at Kenshin with her mouth wide open and gave him a thumbs-up, "I never thought my Ken-ken could be this smart."

Seeing her over-exaggerated reaction Kenshin grabbed her waist and pulled her close to him making her blush as they were now staring face to face.

"You dare belittle me?" Kenshin asked as his face got closer to her.

Seeing Kenshin was about to do something Hiyori closed her eyes in shyness.

Seeing her eyes closed Kenshin smirked and was about to kiss her lips when suddenly someone knocked on the door.

*Knock!* *Knock!*

"Mister Kenshin are you inside?"

Hiyori jumped hearing Shirahoshi's voice as he pushed Kenshin back while covering her face.

Kenshin shook his head and went to open the door, looking at Shirahoshi who was carrying a tray of food Kenshin smiled and said, "You brought me food again, thank you so much Shirahoshi."

Shirahoshi nodded her head and said with a smile on her face, "Un! Mister Kenshin should eat more so that you will become stronger, Boss Jinbe said that if you eat a lot of sea king meat then you will also have the strength that is equal to a sea king."

"Is that so? then I should eat more sea king meat then." Kenshin said as he accepted the tray of food and gestured to Shirahoshi to come in.

Entering Kenshin's room Shirahoshi was surprised to see Hiyori seated at his bed with her face completely red, she approached Hiyori and asked, "Big Sister Hiyori are you feeling unwell? you should ask Master Aladdin to check your health."

Hiyori smiled thankfully at Shirahoshi and replied, "I will surely visit him later, do you always bring food to Kenshin?"

Nodding her head, Shirahoshi pointed at Kenshin who was already eating and said, "Mister Kenshin won't eat when the maids brought him food the first day so I decided to be the one to bring him food but he still didn't eat when I brought him food so I kept on pestering him until he finally ate."

Hiyori smiled and looked at Kenshin who was busy devouring his food, she patted Shirahoshi's head and said, "Thank you for taking care of him, Shirahoshi."

"Mister Kenshin must get stronger fast so that he can finally fulfill his promise to bring me to the surface," Shirahoshi said longing while staring outside the window.

Hearing Shirahoshi's dream Hiyori glanced at Kenshin and smiled sweetly knowing about his promise to Shirahoshi even though he was still carrying a huge responsibility on his shoulder.