Chapter 2
When Castiel woke to this unfamiliar world, he was confused. He didn't understand what was happening, what was real, or if everything was just a dream. Something his mind had made up. He didn't know any of these people around him, and suddenly, he was a new Marine recruit.
He had his memories of both lives. And it was impossible to determine which of these memories was real. So, he gave up on it pretty quickly and accepted both memories, even though one set of them told him he shouldn't even exist and nothing before his eyes was real.
To say that he was on the brink of an existential breakdown would be an understatement. He was too much of a coward to shoot himself in the head, wondering if he would wake in another fictional world. Though even now, that curiosity hasn't disappeared.
Luckily, or not, there was something that kept him from doing so. A person who needed him and whom he couldn't abandon. Every time a dark thought entered his mind, a memory of a certain girl's weak smile pulled him back.
"You need to eat," Castiel said to his little sister while she lay on the hospital bed, and he peeled an apple for her. "The food here isn't that bad."
"It's like eating cardboard," the girl sulked. "Even the fruit is tasteless."
"Then you definitely wouldn't like the food we Marines eat," Castiel cut the apple into slices. "You know you can't have much salt in your food. Just bear it a bit longer, won't you do it for me?"
"Fine, just a bit longer until I get better."
"Thank you, Cass." Castiel patted his little sister's head before he noticed the doctor who wanted to interrupt.
Telling her that he would come back soon, he went out of the room. Thankfully, it was a private room with a good amount of sunlight and in a quiet part of the hospital. It cost him a lot of money, money he didn't have, but it was worth it if it was for his sister.
"Mister Castiel, you shouldn't have left your room," the doctor berated Castiel first, before shutting up as Castiel glared at him. "Don't give me that attitude, sir. You have lost way too much blood; you need nothing but rest to regain your bodily fluids, and overtaxing yourself will lead to more complications."
"How is she doing?" Castiel only cared about one thing in this world.
"Her condition is stable, but it isn't improving." That was probably the best he would get, as it wasn't easy to heal someone from a terminal illness. "I wanted to discuss it anyway. There is a new drug in circulation that could help her. But…"
"How much is it?" Castiel already knew what it was about.
"Expensive, but it's in limited quantity; one needs to reserve it beforehand."
"Do it."
"Sir, I don't want to be rude, but it's far too expensive…"
"Will it help her?"
"Yes, but…"
"Then reserve it." Castiel didn't hesitate if it was for her. "You know I am good with money. I will pay you back. I always have."
"Sir, of course, I trust you. But shouldn't you discuss it with her first?"
"My answer won't change, and don't tell her anything about how expensive it is, or I won't forgive you. All you need to know is that I will get the money."
The doctor could only nod as Castiel looked at him with his hard stare. One way or another, he would get the money if it meant saving her. Nothing in this world might be real, not even himself. But she, his little sister, was real to him, the only real thing.
If he had the power, he would burn everything in this world for her. But he didn't. So, he had to work for her. Deal with being a Marine for her. But sadly, he knew that his salary wouldn't be enough to cover the medical expenses.
He knew that he didn't have the talent or connections to rise to higher ranks. The prospects for the immediate future were lacking, to say the least. Yet, he still needed the money now. There was only one thing he could do.
He would have to die for her. The money from the compensation for his death would be far more than enough for his sister to get the best treatment, and there would even be some left for her to start a new life.
That was the reason he didn't leave the Marines when he started to get involved in its darkest side. Even though he hated everything that the World Government was about. The only chance for Cass to live was for him to die as a Marine. So, he made up his mind about it.
"What was that about?" Cass asked once Castiel returned to her side. "And did I hear the doctor say that you needed to rest? Huh? What do you have to say for yourself, mister?"
"Don't act naughty." Castiel karate-chopped Cass's head as she started to get angry with him. "I got injured, but nothing serious. You know how doctors like to exaggerate things. If I listened to them, I would spend the rest of my life in a hospital, bound to the bed."
"Big brother!" She didn't look like she believed Castiel.
"It's nothing serious. You probably have already heard that pirates tried to invade, so I chased them out and got punched a couple of times by them; that's all. I promise."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Really, really?"
"I will hit you again."
"Sorry." Cass quickly covered her head as Castiel threatened her.
"Anyway, there is good news. There is a new drug that should help you a lot, so you will leave this place in no time. Isn't that great?"
"Then I can live with Big Brother?" Cass looked hopefully at Castiel. "Can I join the Marines too? I want to be a hero just like you, Big Brother."
"You will be able to do as you want," Castiel smiled back at her. "You can even be a pirate if you want."
As many did, Cass also idolized the Marines. And he didn't want to break it to her. All he wanted for her was to be happy and live. That was all that mattered to him in this life, and it was his only goal.
…
Taking a smoke outside the hospital, Castiel waited for his discharge papers to be processed. He was exhausted from talking with Cass. No, he was exhausted from lying to her. But he would never be able to break her dreams.
He knew that he was leaving her behind. And how devastating it would be for her. But was he even her real brother to begin with? All he knew was that she was strong enough to handle everything. And she would live.
"Petty Officer Castiel, I am an Ensign…"
"Shut the fuck up," Castiel knew who this man was. "If the Vice Admiral wants something from me, she'd better ask it herself. This isn't Headquarters. I have my chain of command, and you aren't part of it. So, shut the fuck up and get out of my face."
There was no reason to be so abrasive with this man, but Castiel just didn't like any Marine. Especially those whom he didn't know. He could barely tolerate his colleagues, as he knew most of them personally, and most of them weren't bad people.
But when it came to other Marines, Castiel wasn't one to hide his disdain for them. So, he would rather not even talk to them, as he would only make enemies of them. So, when one of them came up to him, he had nothing to say to them.
Castiel also couldn't give a shit about what the dog of the World Government wanted with him. Even though he didn't know her, he knew she was a total bitch who would probably do anything her superiors ordered her to do.
Damn, there were still two years until Luffy set sail, and another two before he started doing something to change the world. Castiel wished he could burn it all down right now and not wait any longer. But he was just a normal person who needed money.
Even though Cass was doing fine right now, how long would it last? The illness only needed one bad episode to make his worst nightmares come true. He had to get that medicine to Cass, but he wouldn't be able to afford it with his salary.
He considered a life of crime, but he knew it didn't pay that well, and the risk was too much. If he got caught, who would take care of her? Nobody would give a shit about her. And he liked that she thought of him as a hero; he couldn't bring himself to break her illusion of the world.
...
"I have to refuse." Once Castiel returned to the base to continue his job as a Marine, he was stopped by Vice Admiral Doll, and she offered him a place on her ship.
"It is a good opportunity. There isn't a single Marine who would refuse it in this base, even in the whole West Blue. So, I am curious why you are acting so difficult."
Because she was a bitch. As pretty as she was, with her beautiful face adorned with big, round earrings and a sexy choker on her neck, all Castiel could see was a dog of the World Government. Then again, he was also a dog, so he couldn't say his true feelings to her.
"I know you are strong, stronger than anyone I've ever seen before." So, Castiel had to make up some bullshit so she could get the fuck out of his face. "What use would I be to you? I would be no help to you, but I am plenty useful in a place like this. The West Blue has many criminal organizations, and not so many Marines to take them on. I can't leave this place out of my own selfish desire to rise through the ranks or anything like that. My duty is to the weak, who can't defend themselves."
Truth be told, it was a tempting offer. But Castiel knew he wasn't that strong or talented. Even with her as his backing, he wouldn't rise far. And worse, with her, his chances of getting into fights and dying would plummet. There weren't many who would challenge her, and those who did she could take care of by herself.
So, he wouldn't get anything out of it. He would continue to bet on the West Blue and step on one of the criminal organizations' toes to get himself killed and get the compensation money, with which he could get the medicine for Cass.
"I see, I won't be able to change your mind then. Very well, I will drop the issue. But if you ever find yourself wanting to accept my offer, my ship will always welcome you."
She left him with those words. He wished she would dislike him from the way he spoke to her subordinate and leave him alone. But it seemed she didn't care about it too much. Well, at least she didn't try to force him. And he didn't think he would ever see her again.
For now, he was left to plan his next action. He would have to see the Commodore and somehow convince him to wage war against one of the criminal organizations that had taken root in West Blue. Blood had to be spilled, preferably his own.
And he didn't care about how many Marines would die in this kind of risky operation. After all, there was a reason why those criminals were left mostly alone. It was too risky. But they were Marines. And the only good Marine was a dead Marine.
A.N. As always, thanks for reading and supporting me, so I can continue writing without any concerns, and if you want more, up to seven more chapters, you can support me on pa treon. com \ ironwolf852.