Lo and behold, another one-shot collection! This set will only have 7 drabbles, though. Anyway, going on...

We have Marine fics, but stories focusing on these three veteran officers (Garp, Sengoku and Tsuru) are few and far between. I have attempted to explore the friendship between the trio in this set of drabbles. This was largely inspired by the picture of the three in their youth that was released with Film Z. If you haven't seen it, try searching for it. It's pretty cool (both picture and film).

So, without further ado, here's my latest story!

Warning: May contain some spoilers, but nothing major.

To Believe in What is Right

Summary: If men are corrupt, then what is Justice? Three young Marines contemplate the road that they chose to follow.

"Say, Tsuru-chan, what made you want to be a Marine?"

This question was proposed out of the blue by the young man stretched out lazily on the deck of the ship. His white uniform shirt was worn half unbuttoned, the blue neckerchief hanging untied. It even looked slightly rumpled, matching his unruly hair. The neat uniform worn by his friend stood in sharp contrast.

The young woman spared a moment to give his careless appearance an exasperated glance before she continued to clean her rifle. "Why did you become a Marine?" she said in lieu of answering.

"But I asked you first," Garp complained. When Tsuru didn't respond, he sighed. "Honestly? I wanted to see the world, but didn't want to be on the wrong side of the law. A selfish reason, isn't it?"

"If it leads you to good, it's sometimes acceptable to be selfish."

"Is that so…?" Garp looked thoughtful. "Anyway, Tsuru-chan, you haven't answered my question yet."

Tsuru was quiet for a moment. "My wish is to cleanse evil from this world. If Justice can lead me towards it, I will walk this path."

"I think, in our own way, we all believe in that," a new voice contributed.

Garp tilted his head to look at the newcomer. "So, how about you, Sengoku? Why are you a Marine?"

"To uphold Justice, of course," the dark-haired man answered simply as he joined them on the sunny deck.

Garp chuckled. "What a noble answer, as expected of you."

"Justice…" Tsuru looked pensive as she assembled her rifle back together. "Can we truly believe in it? If men are corrupt, then what is Justice?"

Sengoku's brows furrowed. "That is a dangerous thing to say, Tsuru."

"But have you never thought of the possibility? If one day we can no longer believe in Justice, what then?"

Those words shook something, deep down.

"I want to believe in Justice," Garp said suddenly, simply, breaking the silence.

"As do I." Sengoku echoed the sentiment firmly.

Tsuru looked at her friends, whose eyes shone with their conviction, and smiled, reassured. "Me too."

Years later, as two of the three handed in their resignation letters, each remembered that conversation from a lifetime ago.

What then?

They didn't know anymore.

Please leave a review to let me know what you think!