[One Piece] Red Suite: The Akainu Tale

Akainu is one of the characters in OP who has caught my attention, second only to Aokiji. When I was writing Aokiji's Story, I had the idea of writing Akainu's Story, too, but for various reasons, I never got around to it. Even now, as I write this title, I still feel a little apprehensive. Writing a character's story is a serious undertaking, and I'm not sure I have what it takes.

Unlike Aokiji, Akainu isn't someone I have any affection for, so his story may not be as comprehensive as Aokiji's. On the other hand, his personality in the original work is rather extreme, leaving less room for a fanfic writer to develop him. If the Aokiji I write is a combination of a Kantian rationalist and an Edmund Burke-style conservative, then Akainu is closer to a Jacobin and a Hegelian. People like that are often unpopular, but they can also be deeply thought-provoking. I hope to portray the full picture of how his family, marriage, emotions, and views on morality and justice took shape, though it will be very difficult.

One thing to note: the setting is still the one used in Aokiji's Story, so many details of the background won't be explained again. This probably won't be very long, and may even be more boring than Aokiji's Story... If you're prepared for that, please read on.

Theme: He outlived his allotted span. His death and funeral were locked away in his box.