Ben, Kaya, Vivi ,Marianne Conis, Raki , Maya, Honey, Nojiko, Saphir , Mikita, Zala, Alvida, Robin, Kalifa Hina, Tashigi ,Emeraude and Rubis headed back to Miss Love Duck. They all had energy drinks, so their health was physically fine.
They headed to Dining table aboard the Miss Love Duck. The atmosphere was calmer. The soft hum of the ship and the occasional creak of the wood beneath their feet. Plates of food and cups of tea and coffee were spread across the table as the group slowly unwound from the intensity of the fight.
Ben sat down. His arms over two girls. Rubis and Emeraude leaned onto his shoulder. Their heads on him. He thought it always ended like this.
"Why do you both get him?" Saphir asked pouting. She wanted to be there.
Rubis smiled. "It is our turn sis," Rubis teased back.
"Rubis," Emeraude remarked.
The crew giggled. "They don't see Ben often," Mikita said.
"You can sit on my lover's lap," Alvida teased.
"He won't be able to concentrate then," Zala said.
Tashigi cleared her throat.
Ben smiled. He had two beautiful girls in his arms. He looked to see Vivi sitting nearby. Mikita had her leg propped up.
Alvida leaned back in her chair, arms resting behind her head. "My love that was the power of a fake dying Yonko," she said.
"Yes, he was dying," Kaya remarked. She thought back to him bleeding and coughing blood.
"In the last few minutes, he did not attack us back," Raki said.
"Was it the poison?" Marianne asked as she ate a cracker.
"No I don't think so," Ben responded.
"He was dying from something else," Emeraude confirmed.
"Whitebeard, while being the strongest man, is old and sick," Ben said.
"But he can still destroy the world with his power," Hina said.
"His power send Alvida flying across the area?" Zala teased. She rubbed the side of her chest where the shockwave had hit her earlier. However it did not hurt from drinking the health drinks.
"Well I still got up and smashed his face with Seraphina," Alvida shot back with a grin.
Ben thought that was an interesting dynamic. He knew Alvida was considered as the vice-captain and she was in his eyes. He thought he never made that official.
Maya sat close to Ben, next to Emeraude. She had a soft smile on her face. "I thought that shockwave was going to kill me for a second," Maya said quietly.
Ben smiled. "I know you are strong and I won't let him hurt you," Ben said.
Maya smiled at him. "I know," Maya said.
"But you were fiercely slashing him like that," Mikita commented.
"A fine sword user," Raki added.
Tashigi thought she was a good sword user. She was strong. In a few years she might be one of the best. She held her sword.
Conis sighed. "That shockwave hit hard. I thought my chest was going to cave in," she remarked.
"Your devil fruit gives you more durability," Nojiko said.
"That is because of Ben," Conis said, looking at Ben. Ben smiled back.
"Same here," Vivi agreed. She leaned back in her chair. "I was sure I was going to get hurt," Vivi added.
"After you transformed I thought he was going to get hurt for sure," Saphir said.
"What was that attack?" Kalifa asked.
"Which one?" Vivi asked.
"The one where it looked like it did nothing. It did something," Kalifa said, touching her glasses. Ben thought that as well. It definitely did something.
"I don't know," Vivi responded.
"Well we can figure it out," Ben said.
Rubis leaned further towards Ben. "I can see why you want this sis," Rubis teased. Saphir pouted. "We both got hit by him," Rubis added.
Saphir nodded. "It felt like my chest was going to explode at one point," she said.
"We survived because of the energy drinks," Emeraude remarked.
"And my love," Alvida remarked. The girls all smiled. Hina thought she was right, Ben`s beast form had abilities dangerous for women.
"Still… next time, I'd like to avoid getting my chest caved in, thanks," Raki said. She gave Ben a sidelong look. "But I suspect we have more like this here," Raki added.
"We do. The others might be stronger," Robin said. "We have Aokiji as well," she added from the far side of the table. Her tone was calm, but there was an edge to it. "We're bound to face more threats like this," she added.
"That's why we need to recover properly," Kaya cut in, her arms folded across her chest.
"We could hold a party," Nojiko said with a sly smile.
Vivi perked up. "A party?" she asked.
"That's actually not a bad idea," Ben said. "We've been through hell with that battle. We deserve to let off some steam," he added. Ben thought the girls went through hell. There was Aokiji and Shanks to fight. He thought one was bad enough. He sighed. He will have to do it for them.
Alvida looked at her love.
"A party sounds good," Mikita said.
"Yeah it sounds good," Conis agreed. She thought it sounded sound.
"Well, it's decided then," Ben said, sitting up straighter. "Tomorrow, we rest and we party," he stated. Ben's face was still serious.
"We can use the clothes we got here," Nojiko teased.
"The school girl? Robin asked. She winked at Ben.
"School girl?" Tashigi asked. Robin smiled at her.
"And music," Saphir added with a grin.
"And dancing," Marainne added.
Ben chuckled. "Alright, alright. Let's focus on resting tonight. Tomorrow, we'll party. We deserve it," Ben said. However his facial expression did not match it to some extent.
Alvida knew he was hiding something. "My love you have your Captain's duty to perform," Alvida remarked.
Tashigi went red.
"Yes it is Nojiko`s turn," Kalifa said, touching her glasses.
"It is my turn," Nojiko said as she jumped up.
"Pervert," Kaya said softly.
"That was unusually quiet," Zala remarked.
"She must be tired," Nojiko said as she got Ben up.
"Let's go Mister," Nojiko added.
"She has energy," Mikita said. Robin giggled.