152 things conclude

Whitebeard stared as he sat on his throne, his family all standing all around looking at the Marines with hostile eyes.

"Sengoku, you must have a lot of guts, coming on MY ship and ordering me to forget the danger you put MY children in.," the massive man said, each word followed by a spike in his presence.

His hazel eyes stared at the marine fleet Admiral expressionlessly, though his Conqueror's Haki shuddered all around. With a small thump, the first man fell, and like a domino, anyone who was not a Division commander had sunk into the sweat nothingness of unconsciousness.

Sengoku looked back impassively, his glasses glinting as he met the huge man's heavy gaze.

"You have no choice Whitebeard. IF you choose to war, then the marines will gladly accompany you. All I want to do is prevent needless casualty, do not take that as a sign of weakness. If you decide to wave your flag that way, then you must be ready for the death of your 'children'." the sarcasm in the man's tone was evident.

"Gurararara! Sengoku, do not take that highhanded tone with me! We might not truly go to war, but if you cross me, then the New World will not be as receptive to you dogs of those bubble headed mongrels as it currently is." Whitebeard announced, his threat clear in the air as his rumbling laughter shook through Sengoku's bones.

Sengoku gnashed his teeth as he looked at languid figure, at this point he knew that he would have to bleed.

******

Shanks chuckled as he sat on top the deck of his ship. He was in a wonderful mood, just the scent of the grilling fat over the small barbecue grill atop their current ship. The storms of the New World seldom troubled the Red Hair pirates after all.

"Oi! Captain we're almost there!" one of Shank's older crewmates called out, a smoking cigarette in his mouth as he climbed down the crow's nest.

"How much longer Barnie?" Yasopp giggled, taking great pleasure in the older man's glare.

"oh Sod off, ya bastard!" Barnie replied before marching purposefully towards the smoking pit.

"Come on old man~" Yasopp glancing over at the other man with a hint of excitement. He had gotten his hands on a few clippings of old newspapers that briefly spoke of one Jagged Dagger's trips in the West Blue. He had gotten it into his head, without even meeting the man, that they would be good friends, on a drinking competition a few days prior he went as far as to compare it with Shank's relationship with Mihawk!

"We'll be there in a few hours fool." Barnie replied through the curtain of haze that surrounded his face before looking at Shanks seriously.

"I've thought about it Shanks, I'd like this to be the last." he requested before smiling sadly.

Instantly Shanks felt his good mood evaporate. This was Barnie, a man that had accompanied him from the very beginning of his journey.

Then and there, Shanks had known that the world no longer excited his old friend as it had. They had spoken then, a few months back, when Barnie had heard of Shank's idea to visit the blues.

He'd wanted to be dropped off at North blue. At Kuen to be precise. He had fallen in love see. Over letter the couple had said their vows when Barnie realized that had unknowingly fathered a child. A few months from now she was expecting, and he wanted to be there for her. After all, he could no longer truly keep up with the vigour of the much younger Shanks.

With a sigh, Shanks looked at him. "You sure old man?"

"As sure as you are about that cap.."

"Then so be it." And with that their brief conversation was done.

"Lucky. Stop overcooking the damn thing and throw us a banquet!" Yasopp called out, sensing the vaguely depressing mood that had arisen from the brief conversation.

"Peh! As if you would know anything about how cooking works!" the fat cook called back yanking back the tail of the fleeing Sea King.

A dull roar sounded out, as Lucky glanced apologetically at Shanks. "Cap'n you gotta shock it again."

Shanks sighed.

******

Sengoku sighed slightly as he rode his small ship away. The experience was nerve wracking. The negotiations had been finished, a handful of islands had been what was paid Foodvalten among them.

This was the plan that the Five Elder Stars had posited, sell an island that Whitebeard was struggling for and the issue would be closed. Whitebeard did not wish to go to war anymore than Sengoku did; authority and respect could go hang itself for all the old pirate cared. He would not indulge in an action that could risk the lives of his family, especially if the object of his actions was alive and well.

Thatch was fine, as Whitebeard heard from Marco. That was the main reason that the conversation went as smooth as it did. In fact, Borsolino was trashed worse than anyone on the other side was. Therefore, the situation could still be talked about.

"Are you sure giving Foodvalten over was such a good idea?" Tsuru asked. She was perfectly aware of the significance the island held to the old pirate emperor.

"It was the only thing that could be done. With this we shall no longer prevent Whitebeard's forces from taking the place, it shall put a major kink in our plans to deal with the old moustached fool but it shall be better than having to suffer the consequences of partaking in a war that we have no way of winning.

Moreover, with this, Z can retire peacefully; his presence is no longer a necessity in guarding the place. So we can at least look at this in some measure of a positive light.

The issue I am more worried about is the growth of the new generation. The way things are going not one of the three brats can possibly face off against the pirate menace, and this is just the start of the damn pirate age!

Kuzan held so much promise, but from Garp's reports, he has begun to underperform. Sakazuki is still overly conceited and competitive, and Borsolino is something of a marine Kuma!

Ugh, the way things are going I suppose I have no choice but to accept what those bastards at the Reverie say... We are going to have to give the Shichibukai more responsibilities... The Boa women is already handling the Calm belt, and Crocodile wants to be placed somewhere in paradise! Moria is good as he is, especially with his dumb ship plan, and none of the others are going to do us any favours..." Sengoku said as he bit his lower lip.

"What about Dressrosa? Doflamingo had it under his control back then, and with the way the hub functions, we are going to need someone to police the underworld from there... "Tsuru asked, equally worried, though her worry was more for her friend then for the status quo.

"The flamingo bastards replacement is going to have to do, though off the grapevine I'm hearing that the five Elder Stars are planning on making it a protectorate like Sabaody."Sengoku replied, knowing full well that that course of action would be much worse than letting loose a whole horde of the worst kind of Impel Down's inmates onto the island.