Bite Back

Part 2: Homecoming

Wyleen hummed as she washed the dishes in her kitchen. She was in a good mood. Her husband was coming home after a few months at sea, and she had made his favorite doughnuts. The iced tea was steeping in the fridge, and she had prepared a fresh salad to accompany dinner. She was excited to share some, hopefully, good news with Katakuri upon his arrival. Not only was Mama considering making her an officer of The Big Mom Pirates, but she had also found out she was pregnant with their first child. She swore the doctor to secrecy until she could tell Katakuri herself, not knowing if Katakuri would want anyone within or outside of his family to know she was expecting.

Though it had been a few years since they married, Wyleen was pleased that emotions were still high in their household, acting as if they were still newlyweds. Although now that the fanfare of the Tea Party had worn off, there was much serious business to attend to. Not just for Katakuri, but for herself as well. Even though Wheat Island had several bakeries and pastry shops, a few of those being in the heart of Flower Town, Wyleen had opened her very own little doughnut shop within walking distance of their home. She was getting better at making other pastries, but doughnuts were her specialty, given her husband’s liking for them.

Until she found out she was expecting, Wyleen had been training every day, leaning out from her first arrival to Totto Land, not having anything to do but read and sit around the majority of the day. Her muscles were more defined, and her Armament Haki was improving as well. Her Observation Haki, however, was still a bit hit-and-miss; not able to sense much of anything since she stopped the bullet on her wedding day. She could sense when her pastries were about to burn, but chalked that up to her keen sense of smell and not Observation Haki.

Looking at the door expectantly, she could hear Katakuri’s jingling attire before she heard the guards acknowledge him, letting him inside the home they shared. “Katakuri?” Wyleen called out as she dried her hands, rushing to the front room.

Katakuri knelt to the floor to be eye level with her as she embraced him tightly, “Yes, it’s me. You don’t have to sound so surprised every time I come home, kitten.” He took in her scent, breathing deeply. The smell of vanilla and lavender with a hint of citrus hit his nose, tickling his brain with familiarity and easing him with its comfort.

“Oh, humor me, won’t you? You know I worry.” Wyleen gave him a stern look.

“I know,” he chuckled, patting her head as he stood up.

“Why don’t you go freshen up before dinner? I have some news to share with you once you’re settled.” She smiled brightly at him.

Katakuri c****d an eyebrow at her, “News, huh? Is it good, or will I find it troubling?”

Wyleen’s smile faded slightly. “Good news, I hope.” There wasn’t a possibility he had already seen what she would be telling him, right? “I visited Mama while you were away.”

“I see,” he said after a pause.

She looked back up at her husband, “Quit analyzing me and freshen up, won’t you?” Wyleen crossed her arms.

He tisked, “So impatient, aren’t you?” Katakuri shook his head, his smile still hidden under his scarf.

“Call it what you like.” Wyleen waved him off: “Dinner will be ready shortly.”

“You’re making dinner yourself; what’s the occasion?”

“That’s enough,” she chuckled, “go on.” After Katakuri disappeared to clean up, Wyleen looked down at her belly with a smile, rubbing it slightly. Though she was hardly showing any signs of expecting, she was hoping her husband would take the news kindly.

***

Descending from the stairs, Katakuri was met with dimmed lighting, a table setting with candles, and an extravagant meal he hadn’t known he longed for while at sea. “You’ve really pulled all the stops, haven’t you, dear?”

“Can’t I remind you why you come home?” Wyleen giggled as she served him, starting to feel nervous about telling him the news.

Katakuri put a hand on Wyleen’s as she served him. “Why don’t you sit down? Or are you insistent on keeping me in the dark all evening?” He gave her a slight smile, his teeth glinting in the candlelight.

Wyleen let out a breath before taking her seat next to Katakuri. “I’ve actually got a few bits of news to share with you. I think you’ll be quite proud.”

“Oh?” He glanced at her, taking a bite of food to his lips.

“As you know, I talked with Mama.” She paused. “She’s considering making me an officer- can you believe it?”

Katakuri snorted slightly, “I can believe it, yes. You’ve been working hard the past few years; it was bound to happen. As my wife, I should expect nothing less.”

She pursed her lips; Katakuri’s reaction was not nearly what she expected. Though he was right- it was bound to happen- he was making sure of it in order to keep her safe. To make sure she wasn’t completely helpless without him around. “Alright then,” Wyleen sighed, tucking into her meal as well.

“Was that all? I thought you said you had a few things to share with me?” Katakuri was looking intensely down at her. All the suspense building up; surely Wyleen wasn’t done sharing yet.

“Well, no, I did have something else I wanted to tell you,” she muttered, pushing the food around on her plate.

He took a hooked finger under Wyleen’s chin. “Speak up, you know I don’t care for the muttering. Out with it.”

She swallowed hard. “I, um,” she stammered; Katakuri’s piercing gaze was intimidating. As Wyleen began to open her mouth to finally blurt it out, his eyes lit up in the familiar way they did when he saw something.

Katakuri’s eyes widened slightly; he was quiet, rigid. “No,” his voice was a whisper.