Katakuri Charlotte was a patient, calculating man. But his fight with the pirate captain, and to believe the newspapers, newly titled Emperor of the New World, Straw Hat Luffy had stirred something within him. After spending so much time fighting for his family; a family that praised only the facade he maintained rather than his true self, he felt invigorated at the thought of carving his own path. He would face Luffy again in due time, and would not be the same conflicted person he had become in the later stages of their fight. He was resolved to discover new meaning for himself.

It wasn't hard for him to arrange travel for himself off of Whole Cake Island. Big Mom had taken her flagship to Wano in search of the Straw Hats that had humiliated her by toppling her plans for the Germa along with the wedding. The bulk of the remaining force was dealing with the aftermath of Jimbei's former crew covering the Straw Hats' escape from Big Moms territory.

Even so, Katakuri was grateful that Brulee was more than happy to help him with anything he needed. Which, in this case, meant smuggling supplies onto a small ship through the mirror world to avoid notice. Brulee's actions following Luffy's escape cemented in his mind that she may be the only member of his family that loved him for who he was.

"Do you need anything else for your trip, Katakuri-oniisama?" Asked Brulee

The question brought the magenta haired titan back from his thoughts, and he directed his attention back to his sister.

"This should be plenty." He replied in his usual calm tone

There was a hesitant look in Brulee's eyes. He suspected she was trying to think of some additional way to help. She had, of course, wanted to accompany him, but he had told her that this was something he had to do alone. He wanted her to understand that she had already done so much. The old Katakuri would have just given a detached nod of acknowledgement. But he was different now. He decided that it would be good to act like it.

"Thank you, Brulee. For everything." He said, and pulled his sister into a close embrace

The hug didn't last long before he pulled back. A dazed Brulee stammered out a 'you're welcome'. He was glad that she didn't faint, at least. He had seen some of his younger sisters do that just from eye contact while trying to gain favor from their 'favorite older brother', and he was not sure his social skills were up to handling that kind of scenario.

And so he bid farewell to Brulee and set sail. It was a new experience, being on his own. Even though nobody was around, he still remained standing or seated when there was nothing to do. It was easier to follow old habits, than to abandon them completely. The one concession he did make for himself, was that when he took his Merienda, he did so with nothing but the clear blue sky above him. It was nice to not worry about building a house to hide his allotted time for laying down and enjoying food.

One night, well after his departure from Big Mom's territory, he found himself sailing through foggy waters. He could make out the round glowing shape of a full moon at its apex overhead. He continued to sail forward, but as he did, a pair of columns rising up from the ocean depths lay ahead. They seemed to glow brighter as the ship sailed closer. It was only when his ship sailed between the columns that Katakuri stood close enough to them to discern that the glow of the columns originated from the strange runes carved into their surface.

When nothing seemed to happen from sailing so close to the columns, Katakuri turned his attention forward once more and learned that something had happened. A sea of lights glowed through the fog ahead. He was sure the sea charts did not indicate an island in this area, but the proof was right in front of him. The fog seemed to lift as he sailed on. The island, if one could call this massive land mass an island, was full of bright lights and impossibly high buildings. Even the most industrialized island of the Grand Line held no comparison to this. At least, none that he had ever seen.

Finding a quiet port, he anchored the ship and disembarked onto the stone pier. With his spear in one hand and a bag of his supplies slung over the opposite shoulder, he made his way ashore.

Strange as it was, the buildings and technology of this island seemed to only become more impressive as he made his way deeper into the city. On this island, everything down to the clothes people wore was so different. He heard some passersby mutter something about 'cosplay' while giving him odd looks; whatever that was.

Having lived among his family for so long, it felt strange to tower over everyone he encountered. With so much of the city being heavily urban, he decided to walk through a small parkette when he came across it. A cobblestone path lined with trees and bushes stretched ahead in a straight line. There were benches and the occasional stone table with a checkered pattern decorating the surface scattered throughout. As he looked up to the lamps pouring down light from overhead, he saw something beyond them. There was a young girl leaping from one rooftop to the next. While her outfit may have seemed outlandish to the people of this city, it was more normal by his standards. Added to this was the fact that she carried an enormous hammer slung across her back.

By sheer chance, she looked his way. Even so far away, something in his observation haki could feel their eyes meeting as an unfamiliar sort of connection brushed against his perception. This feeling made him stop for a moment. The unfortunate thing was that she seemed to have the same reaction, causing her to land awkwardly on the next building, trip over the edge, and fall into the alleyway. His feet were already carrying him in pursuit before he realized what he was doing.

Sekirei number 84, Yashima, was falling. She had been traveling around the city by rooftop, as she had seen many of her fellow Sekirei doing after being released into the city in search of their destined Ashikabi. It must have been fate, as she looked into the park and saw him. He had already been looking at her. Even though he was too far away to know for sure, she could feel the connection of their eyes meeting. That instant ignited a fire in her chest. Blood rushed to her face and her eyelids fluttered closed. She could feel herself falling in love. She was falling faster and faster, and realized too late that part of that feeling was actually caused by her having fallen off the building towards the street below.

She landed with a crash, a broken down sofa covered in bags of garbage helping to break her fall. She heard footsteps approach where she had fallen.

"An angel falling to Earth right in front of you. Now there's something you don't see everyday." Came the voice

Yashima looked up, certain she would find her Ashikabi standing over her. Ready to wing her and carry her to the higher skies above. She was mistaken. The man standing over her had short brown hair and wore a green hoodie. His mouth was twisted into a smirk, and there was something about his eyes. Something about his gaze reminded her of the way the guard dogs at MBI would fight over a fresh steak. This was not her Ashikabi. The man reached out towards her, but her reflexive backing away only made his smirk morph into a grin.

"My mother warned me about girls like you. I was hoping she would be right." He purred out, his caramel voice turning to poison in her ears

He lunged forward, and she hit a wall trying to back away further. He grabbed a wrist with his reaching hand. The strap keeping her hammer attached must have broken in the fall, because the giant weapon did not prevent his human strength from hauling her to her feet.

"I'm gonna make you mine, little Angel." He said, starting to lean forward

She was paralyzed by fear, but at those words a feeling jolted through her. That face flashed across her mind, and the smallest spark of rebellion lit the fearful darkness. She screamed and brought her free hand around in a slap that whipped the man's head around. It was not full strength, but it was enough to make him lose his grip on her. She fell to the ground, scrambling to get out from between him and the wall. When he turned his gaze back around to her, there was murder in his eyes.

"I guess I'm gonna have to teach you a lesson in respect. You brought this on yourself, bitch." He snarled

She backpedalled away from him, not even rising to her feet. She couldn't think. She had to get away from him. This was her state of mind when she backed up into a pair of solid legs. Her entire body turned to stone, terrified that this person behind her was an ally of her attacker.

"I heard you scream." A stoic voice above her said

That voice; there was something about it. She couldn't put her finger on it. It was somehow both completely alien, yet at the same time so achingly familiar. She couldn't bring herself to hope, to even look up at him. But she could feel his presence reversing the petrification of her heart. A trickle of warmth once again began to flow within her heart.

"Look at the tough guy. Who do you think you are, can't you read the room?" He drawled, pulling a knife out of a back pocket and flipping the blade out with a sharp click. "Go back to Comiket, and take that toy spear with you."

Yashima felt a bag set down against her back, and the sound of boots on stone marked the man stepping past her, putting himself between her and her attacker.

"What do you think you are, some kind of hero?" The thug taunted, even as he stepped back in spite of himself

The newcomer said nothing. He didn't change his pace. Just one step after another. As that trickle of warmth spread inside her, her mind began to clear. She looked the newcomer over. She could only see his back, but the black boots, pants and vest were clear. He had a thick scarf coiled around his neck, obscuring even the nape of his neck. Her heart skipped a beat, and the warmth of her fall returned. The magenta hair she had seen on the man she had been reacting to.

"Die, you bastard!" The thug seemed to have had enough of backing away, and opted to charge instead.

The man didn't flinch. He only hefted his spear with one hand, and ran the thug through with it. His eyes went wide, believing until the end that it couldn't have been a real spear. The man withdrew his spear, and the thug crumpled. He slumped against the wall, blood pouring out of his abdomen. The man turned without a second thought. He collected her hammer with ease and set it down in front of her. She had found herself on her knees, her heart beating like a drum and face and chest deeply flushed.

"Are you injured?" He had knelt before her. She lifted her gaze to meet his eyes, and promptly lost herself in them. His eyes were a magenta even more vibrant than his hair. It took a long moment for her to think to answer.

"No, I'm okay." She said, unable to look away from him

He held out a hand, which she took, and he helped her to her feet. Standing face to face with him, it was clear how tall he was. Her head only rose to mid chest level on him. He seemed to go still as she slipped her hands into his. She was no longer thinking; simply following her instincts. She wanted nothing more than to bond herself to the man before her. To emerge for her destined Ashikabi. She stepped up onto the head of her hammer, putting herself almost at eye level with him. Her fingers trailed slowly up his arms. His hands shot up and grabbed her wrists just as her hands came to rest on his scarf where it obscured his face.

His eyes burned into her. His body as tense as a drawn wire. For a moment she worried he would stop her. That he wouldn't want her. But the moment passed; his hands loosening to allow her hands the freedom to continue. Her fingers hooked around the fabric of the scarf, pulling it down. Long sharp teeth extended beyond his lips even while his mouth was closed. A long line of stitched scars ran from the corners of his mouth to the outside of his cheekbones. Yashima took all this in, those magenta eyes fixed on her. She moved her hands to rest gently on his cheeks. Her thumbs caressed his scars as she leaned in and pressed her lips to his.

The feeling of reaction earlier seemed to overtake her as bright blue wings exploded out of her back. No amount of advice or explanation could have prepared her for this reality of being winged by her true Ashikabi.

Katakuri took a moment to process everything that was happening. He didn't know what to make of any of this. The wings of light that burst from her back were the least of his concern at the moment. He wasn't entirely sure why he had let her see his face so easily. Frankly, he wasn't sure why he had let her get so close in the first place. And then for her to look at his mouth that his own family made him ashamed of, to not even flinch, and to kiss him. A memory clicked into place, and part of the reports of the Straw Hats' escape made sense. It was that very moment when the wedding went wrong. He was aware of how Pudding had intended to carry out the assassination. But he had been close enough to hear the Germa boy's words, though they had seemed inconsequential at the time. He had told her that her eyes were so very beautiful, and in that moment she dropped the gun she held.

It made sense now, that for Pudding her eyes were like his mouth. Something to be ashamed of, to be hidden, even from the family. Especially from the family, because to be so close to perfection but have one singular flaw was unacceptable in the eyes of their mother. But then, when someone looks at that flaw and tells you earnestly that you are beautiful. All of you is beautiful. He could see how easy it would be to fall for someone like that, on the spot.

The kiss ended, but she still clung to him as though he might disappear if she let go. She looked at him through clear eyes, her face and chest still flushed.

"My Ashikabi-sama… Sekirei #84, Yashima, is yours. Now and forever..." she trailed off

He felt a threat in his divine precepts. A knife was flying towards the back of his head. The scum he had impaled with his spear was not quite dead yet, it would seem. He didn't need to dodge, nor did he break eye contact with the girl clinging to him for so much as an instant. His free hand snatched the knife out of the air before swiftly returning it blade-first to its owner's throat. Yashima remained in the grips of her turbulent emotions, blissfully unaware.

"I want to thank you for doing such a service." Came a voice from above

Katakuri's head snapped up and his eyes fixed on a cloaked figure resting on the catwalks overhead. He realized now how being emotional, and all the confusion he had been processing had affected his field of observation. It didn't help that this man seemed skilled at concealing his presence. The man jumped down, and Katakuri saw that he wore a black face mask, black trenchcoat with gloves and boots, and had spiky silver hair. Katakuri put a protective arm around Yashima and tightened the grip on his spear. The man raised his hands in a peaceful gesture.

"I have no desire to fight you, or to pose any threat to that little bird in your arms." He said

Katakuri's eyes narrowed. "Little bird?" He inquired

"It's a long story. As thanks for protecting this girl when I could not, I'd like to offer you a safe haven where she can rest and recover, and you can get some information on the game that you were entered into the moment you gave that girl her wings." He said

Katakuri looked to Yashima, who's eyes had drifted shut and breathing had evened out. He returned his gaze to the silver haired man, and gave a decisive nod. The crinkle in the man's eyes gave away the smirk hidden beneath his mask. With a snap of his fingers, the thugs body burst into white hot flames. They seemed to burn unnaturally fast until there was nothing left but ashes. Nobody would miss Junichi Tanigawa.

"Do you have a name, fire starter?" Asked Katakuri, as he hefted the bundled package of his bag, his spear and Yashima's hammer on one arm, and Yashima's unconscious body on the other.

"I am Sekirei #06, Homura. Also known as the guardian of unwinged Sekirei." He replied

Katakuri nodded his acknowledgement, and gave his own name in return.

"Pleased to meet you. Now, Maison Izumo is this way. It's a bit of a long walk, though." Said Homura

Katakuri pulled his scarf back into place.

"Move as quickly as you like. I will keep up." He replied

If Homura had doubts about this claim, he gave no indication.

"I get the feeling you're not going to make the game master's life easy. I expect we'll be great friends." He said, before leaping to a nearby rooftop

'Friends… that sounds like it might be nice' thought Katakuri, before ensuring that Yashima was secure, and following Homura's trail

}={}={}={}={}={}={