One Piece: Gambling To The Top

Hancock was standing, looking at the sea. Josh had gone with Akainu for almost about 2 hours, and he hadn't come back. She was quite worried about her husband — they never had an official wedding though.

Anyway. Hancock had a feeling that Josh is about to lose his Warlord statues. She believed that every marine with a high rank can feel the battle vibes… no, even the low ones can. 

Earlier, a great compressed air blade arc had passed by Water 7, which seemed to impress even Mihawk, and there had been a great explosion that pushed great waves to them. 

No doubt about it, Josh had been fighting, and the two other admirals had gone. 

'Should I go to help Joshy… Yes, I should… but he doesn't like me interfering.' Hancock held her hair. 'But if Anyone hurts my Joshy… I'll swear…' few marines next to her started losing consciousness. 

While the most charming woman had a very angry expression on her face, there was one young marine that didn't seem to fear her. He approached her, and he looked into her eyes. 

Hancock lowered her eyes, lifted her head, and crossed her arms. She felt the urge to stomp on him and end his life. 

"Come on, pretty. You can't be this angry." 

Hancock lifted her leg, and she was about to kick him. 

But in instant, the face of that marine changed. Hancock's heart started beating faster, and she could swear that her eyes were about to change into heart shapes. 

Josh was in front of her. 

"Joshy!" Hancock opened her arms. 

Josh smiled wryly as she wrapped his arm around her waist. She hugged him. 

"Yes, Let's leave." He said. 

At that moment, the warlords turned their heads. 

Doflamingo and Akainu had gone, but Josh is back. 

"Why did you not show up casually." 

*Sigh* 

Josh sighed at Hancock's question. "If I did, I would have fought my way to you." 

While the marines turned their heads, Hancock asked. 

"Why?" 

"Because I killed Akainu and Doflamingo…" Josh turned his head and stared at every face near to him. 

He smirked. "I have to pack my things up and leave." 

Hancock's jaw almost dropped as her eyelids shook. Josh killed an Admiral, and a Warlord… she couldn't feel more proud or shocked. The others around them didn't seem that they are going to feel proud. 

"So, are we going to fight our way out?" Hancock turned her head and stared at everyone. 

"Not near that," Josh said as he turned his head. 

The others were shocked, and the first one who seemed to be awake from the daze was Sengoku. 

"The Gambler. What did you just do!" Sengoku body started growing into a giant Buddha. 

Red lightning started to surround Hancock who was about to attack, but Josh held her hand. 

"We just spared, and he handed his spirit to the god," Josh said. "I'm talking about Akainu. Amita—" Josh half-closed one eye. "Amima… Amibaba… Alibaba... no... what the fuck that word that Buddhas uses… whatever." 

"You think you are going to get away with this. You are no longer a Warlord." Sengoku started walking toward Josh. Sengoku was the fleet admiral, a very strong individual.

Josh opened his arm, and he said. "It was fun while it lasted." 

The giant golden Sengoku jumped and flew toward Josh. A shockwave surrounding his palm, Sengoku slammed toward Josh. Smiling at the giant hand heading toward him, Josh jumped high in the sky, dodging in the last moment.

"I'll leave this for you. Adios." 

Josh's hand turned into a demon's. Light danced there, and Josh's armament Haki started pressing it. He then shot a beam, and Sengoku extended his palm to stop it. 

*Boom* 

A huge explosion spread, and many marines started flying in every direction. The fleet admiral spat blood, and he lifted his head. The Haki supported explosion surely surpassed his defences. On the other hand, It seems that Garp used his power to stop the explosion with a punch. But, many marines got injured. Even the giants flew. 

Sengoku lifted his head, angry. It's time for a huge battle. 

Wait a second. 

Josh isn't there. Where is he? 

"Garp!" Sengoku called. 

"I can't feel him anywhere," Garp answered, half closing his eyes. 

At that moment, a light beam appeared. Everyone turned their head to see Kizaru holding Aokiji's arm. 

"He is here, isn't he?" Kizaru asked as he turned his head. 

The fleet admiral noticed that the admirals had few injuries. Kizaru seems to have lost a part of his leg, as Josh had bitten him earlier. 

"About Akainu!" Sengoku ignored the angry Kizaru's expression. 

Aokiji lowered his head and Kizaru shook his head. 

"He's dead…" the Fleet Admiral clenched his fist, shaking. 

"He shall pay for this," Aokiji said. 

-x-X-x-

"Wait… how are we here???" Hancock couldn't believe her eyes. Did they just teleport to Water 7? 

"I'll explain later." Josh yawned as he put his hands in his pockets and walked toward his house. The people were respectful as usual, as it seems that they aren't aware that they aren't in the presence of a non-warlord. 

'At least, it served me well… Now, I think about Saint Carlos. How will he pay my money? If he doesn't, his penis will get smaller, and smaller…' Josh put his hand on his mouth and almost threw up. 'Why did I think of an ugly bastard.' 

Worried, Hancock put her hand on Josh's back and screamed. "Are you hurt!" 

"I'm fine." Josh turned his head and stared at her face. Hancock didn't seem to believe him as his face was pale. 

"Let me get you some drink once you are inside," Hancock said as she walked to his house and opened the door. 

"Hey, In the worse case, I can regenerate. Did you forget?" 

"No…" Hancock said, obviously lying. 

Josh walked inside. The girls were there, as it seems that they had been done from shopping. Sensing their presence, Josh's crew came down the stare. 

"Good morning." Mikita stretched her arms up and smiled at Josh.

"You seems to be in a good mood." 

"The act last night had been fun." 

"Oh… I forgot." Josh touched his cheek and smiled a bit. 

"Daddy… I thought you are in a war. How did you come early." Floating, Marianne came down. 

Josh reached the couch. Robin came and crossed her arms, and Kalifa went to prepare tea. Josh stopped Kalifa and said. "No need." 

"Why?" Robin tilted her eyebrow. 

Everyone observed how Josh stopped to think for a brief. Josh was thinking about how to start explaining. Remembering his battle, the events, Josh felt lazy to tell as it consumes everyone's time. 

"Remember the time I lost my casino." 

"Yes…" Robin, Mikita, Marianne, Melissa, said in one voice. 

"It's happening again." Josh put a leg above another. "Pack our things. We are looking for a less crowded area." 

The girls seemed to be shocked, but not very much. Mikita just laughed and packed her stuff. Same for the other girls. 

Josh stared at the roof. 

Now, he had killed an Admiral. He had let many criminals escape Impel Down, but he stopped the war. 

'Had I known that I would still fight Akainu, I wouldn't let Ace free. At least, I would have used Whitebeard to deliver a blow to the Navy…' Josh sighed. 

"What's up honey?" Hancock asked. 

"I need to plan our way now…" Josh massaged his temple. Since things are rough now, Josh needed to think of what to do. He needed to make a decision and see where things are going to lead.. He now is in a critical stage of his career as someone who aims to live a rich happy life where no one can threaten him.