A/N: Welcome to another one of my One Piece stories! I'm going to do my best to keep the chapters short (in an attempt to update more often) I hope you enjoy this one and please leave reviews :)

This story will take place along the same time line as my others (not counting 'A Gathering Storm Pt 1' and 'New Dawn'), in the One Piece World it is at the beginning of the 3 year time skip.

One Piece belongs to Eiichiro Oda, Any OC's you see along the way belong to me :)

She sat there in the emptiness of her room, pure white from the floor to the highest point of the ceiling. The only world she had ever known, sterile and lifeless. Her petite form resting on the oversized bed, legs drawn up beside her as her hands fidgeted with the golden chain that hung like a delicate leash from her neck.

Outside her room she could smell the smoke, she could hear the screams of the people below in the courtyard. This world that she was brought to when she was bought, the only place she had ever known from the farthest reaches of her memory… was dying. All the while she simply sat here, waiting for the death that stalked through this mansion to eventually find her.

Peridot eyes looked towards her only source of freedom, a massive window just beside the bed and on the other side of the glass below where she could currently see was a garden that she dreamed about. She wanted to feel what a flower felt like, to lay in the grass and smell the flowers scents while the warmth of the sun caressed her. The only one she knew was a flower called 'lavender' that would be used as a garnish when she was brought food… still, it was a lovely scent… and soon she will never experience it again…

Outside her door she heard the guttural noises of the men that stood watch on the other side her door. Metal groaning as it broke away and fell to the ground with a heavy thud told her the locks were being removed… Soon… soon it will be over. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, she would greet this fate with dignity.

A soft sliding noise told her that the large wooden door was opening, as it did the noises grew louder and the screams much more distinct. The stench of smoke and blood invaded her nose as it slipped into her room on an unknown draft… so this is what death smelled like… She opened her eyes and turned to face the man now standing in her doorway, a man like she had never seen before. Impossibly tall to her standards with a wide chest and broad shoulders, the large golden hook caught her attention for a moment but it was his eyes that held her. Cold and piercing, even if his eyes were not on her at this moment… it gave her chills. "Are you going to kill me now?" Her voice was steady and soft as she asked him, she would not let fear be the last thing she felt.

Topaz eyes scanned the room, he was mildly disappointed in this turn of events. Considering the weight of the door, how many locks were on it and the guards outside he was certain this would be the treasure room… how unsatisfactory. A gentle voice got his attention and his eyes focused on the bed and then the girl sitting on it. Her pale form and light colored hair nearly blended into the fabric she was sitting on, he eyed her for a moment and the sheer dress she wore that allowed him to see every curve of her body… She seemed more like a prized doll than a human being. "Perhaps…" He replied to her in a deep voice, calm and relaxed considering what atrocities he had been doing up until this point.

She smiled gently to him, she liked his honesty at the very least. "Thank you." Her voice was genuinely thankful, if her life had to be taken then she would accept it being done by his hand. There was, after all, worse ways to die… and even worse ways to live.

His eyes widened slightly, that was not the response he had been expecting to hear. He'd never been thanked for killing someone before… how curious. He stepped further into the room, shutting the door behind him to drown out the noise of murder and pillaging, his dress shoes clicking against the tile floor as he walked. Still watching her she moved to the edge of the bed, a faint jingling sound coming from her as she stood and only then noticing the thin chain she wore that attached her to the bed… perhaps he did find the treasure room after all. "You're a slave." He said simply as he touched the bit of chain looped around her neck, delicate and expensive… he could sell it for a nice price.

"Yes." She looked up to him as he towered over her, she barely came up to his chest… even when he stood in the doorway she did not think he was this imposing. Being so close to him now she could smell the scent of blood heavily on him and the smoke from his cigar as he exhaled, scents that were so alien to her but this man… the way he looked at her. There was no lust in his eyes like other men, there was no disgust in them like the women who brought her food… there was nothing in his eyes but silence.

His hand moved from the chain to her neck, admiring how his fingers could wrap around her throat so easily. "A shame." He said as he stroked the soft skin with his thumb, he did not particularly care for slaves as they were weak fools and generally useless. This girl really seemed no different except her living conditions were considerably better than any other slave he had encountered before, what made her so special?

Her smile never faded as she took the hand that was holding her neck, he was not applying force and allowed her to move it freely. So this… is what it felt like to touch someone... this warmth, it was… nice. She could not stop the tear that fell from her eye, she did not know if it was from happiness or sadness that summoned it but she did not wipe it away. "I'm ready."

He did not understand this girl, he way she touched him and cupped her cheek with his hand… he did not understand but still he allowed her to do has she pleased, an act of generosity on his part. He positioned the tip of his hook against her spine at the base of her neck, he'd severe her spinal cord… it would be a clean death, her courage deserved that at the very least.

The door was forced open by a gang of soldiers clamoring about with rattling armor and guns cocking as they were aimed at the pirate that had broken into the room. "I knew it! I knew it!" A wheezing voice shrieked obnoxiously from behind a wall of men. "I knew you pirates were after the Daival!"

"Eh?" The tall man turned to eye the noble hiding like a coward in the folds of his men, if it was not for the glittering ring he had on then it would be hard to spot the little man. He turned away from the girl slightly with a sigh that exhaled a large cloud of smoke, his hand moved to his mouth to take the cigar and tap away the ash before clenching it in his teeth once more. "I'm mildly surprised you are still alive."

The fat little noble hid behind his men, sweat lined his brow and he fretted over his damnable luck to be raided by pirates of this man's caliber just days before the Daival matured. "Shoot him!" He shrieked loudly, his only hint of courage came from the idea of safety being hidden behind larger men with guns. "Shoot him! Shoot him! Shoot him"

Yellow eyes narrowed as the guns took aim, they were really becoming rather annoying. He heard a gasp from behind him and felt her fingers wrap around his hand, he only had a moment to look down at her and see how desperately she clutched to his hand before the sound of gunshots rang out followed by a stinging sensation in his arm. He turned back to the guards, a hiss that formed into a growl. They must have bullets tipped with sea prism, how unexpectedly well prepared they were… regardless.

The soldiers dropped, their bodies falling heavily in a spray of blood. Leaving only the noble to stand dumbfounded in the middle of the pile. "Wha…. What… how.." He stuttered as he turned to see emotionless eyes staring down at him, a blade for an arm... no… not when he was so close… his mind silenced as his vision became blurred with red and body fell lifeless amongst the others.

"Apologies Sir Crocodile." The dark skinned man said has he used the noble's shirt to clean the blood from his blade before forming it into his own arm once more. "I thought they were going to intercept the men in route to the treasure room… are you injured?"

"Nothing serious." He eyed the spot where his coat had been torn from the bullet, strange though. He knew he felt the sting in his arm and his clothes had been torn from the shot… but there was no blood or pain… Little sobs caught his attention, his eyes traveled downward to the girl that still clutched his hand and they grew wide at the sight of her ivory skin soaked red and eyes held tightly shut. How did she get hit? He was certain she was completely behind him when he got shot…

"We should go." The other man looked towards his watch, they had already been at it for too long and the boss did say he wanted this to be quick.

"Gather the men." He didn't take his eyes off of her, she had contained her crying but he could tell it hurt as she used a free hand to hold her arm in an attempt to stop the blood. Still she clung to his hand though. "We sail as soon as I'm on board, stragglers will be left behind."

The other man nodded, eyeing the girl behind his Captain for a moment. The slight curiosity built up as to why a noble would come running to protect this room as opposed to his precious treasure but he left the thought alone and turned away to gather the men.

As his subordinate left he turned his full attention back to the girl and the wound on her arm. "Explain to me, how you're hurt and I am not." It had to have been something she had done, a devil fruit maybe? That would also explain why the noble valued her so much.

She wiped away her tears as she looked away from those chilling eyes of his, she did not know why she held onto him like that but what was done couldn't be undone… and now it seems this man would not be so willing to give her the death she desired. "I am… a Daival woman." She spoke with a sigh and winced as her arm began to throb, she had never experienced this type of pain before. So intense… She looked up to him and noted his blank stare. "You… do not know the term?" Could it be? He knew nothing of the Daival?

He arched a brow, he remembered the fat little man called her that… but what exactly is a 'Daival' and why did that noble feel it was worth dying over?

His silence was the only answer she needed as she smiled to herself… she could lie; she could tell him anything that would sound much more unappealing than the truth… but she found that she had no desire to lie to this man. "Daival… a people born to take the pain of others. When we touch someone we can take on any wound that cannot kill…" She felt herself getting light headed from the blood loss, her hand moved to grip her head. "and when bonded… we are meant to die for that person…" Her body swayed, eyelids felt heavy… perhaps if she closed them, for just a moment…

He held out his arm, allowing her body to fall into it. Considering her words as she hung in his arm, she was light and seemingly fragile compared to him… such an oddity, the words she said intrigued him though. He lifted her into his arms, cradling her body easily and ash blonde hair covered her face so he could not inspect her more. Granted, there would be time enough for that later. His lower body fell away into swirling sand, carrying him through the air much quicker, it was time they got away from this island before the navy showed up.

Her eyes opened and closed slowly, flashes of blood stained walls filled her vision before darkness consumed her but the scent still lingered. The stench of death mixed with sand, such an odd thing to smell right now… and the last thing she felt… was warmth. An encircling warmth combined with the steady beating of a heart that soothed her like a lullaby… and then… there was nothing.

To Be Continued…