CHAPTER 1: The New World.
A man sat at a bar, the smell of alcohol and sweat clinging to the air around him as he raised a glass to his lips. It had been 6 months, just 6 months in the New World and he was already at home.
He didn't enjoy the fighting, not like others did, the constant rivalries that ended so many lives. But he didn't mind them all the same, he liked how dangerous the New World was, how many opportunities lie in front of him, some leading to power and wealth, others to an early grave. It was all up to the choices he made.
He stared into his drink, his dark eyes glaring back at him within the amber liquid. He'd gotten older, his goatee needed trimming, his face had gotten broader in two years, stronger. He smirked to himself as he recalled Straw-Hat's picture in the newspaper, Kid's latest bounty, they'd all gotten stronger.
The new era was coming, he could feel it. His impatience had been getting the best of him lately, the pressure of the last two years finally catching up to him. He'd be ready, he had to be.
Drawn from his thoughts, he felt eyes watching him. He glanced to his left and his gaze was met with a pair of golden eyes, staring directly at him. Bold, considering his well known title of Shichibukai.
"It is you, Trafalgar Law." The owner of the eyes said in a silky voice.
At the mention of his name, Law found himself observing the rest of her. She was young, probably a little younger than himself, though there was nothing naïve about the way she held herself. Flaming red hair, the colour of blood cascaded down her bare shoulders, framing the high cheek bones and delicate jaw-line of her pretty face. He would have thought her beautiful and left it at that. But there was something in her eyes, it made him feel uncomfortable in his own skin, like she could see something inside him that amused her.
"Can I help you?" he asked, relieved when his voice came out steadier than he felt.
The red woman smiled, the action both provocative and lovely, but it made his blood cool slightly, as it did before a battle when he faced down an enemy.
"I don't know, can you?" She chided suggestively, but changed her tone as if she sensed his unease. "Not at all, I was just having a drink when I realised one of the worst generation was sitting beside me. What brings you to this shit ho-" She broke off after receiving a dirty look from the bar tender, "Beg my pardon, this classy abode?" She corrected herself sarcastically.
Law felt himself relax a little, she was just a woman, he didn't know what had come over him.
"I believe that's my business." He replied, expecting her to take the hint that he wanted to be left alone and resisted the urge to sigh when she didn't.
"That's true, you know you're much taller in person, probably why I didn't recognise you right away." She said and Law pretended to pay attention if only to secretly enjoy the way her sunset-red dress slit cleanly up the side of her thigh. With his thoughts being so crowded lately, it had been a while since he'd last taken a woman, and although he wasn't in the mood now, he still appreciated the sight of her.
He was still only half listening when something she said caught his attention.
"You're a pirate?" He asked dis-disbelievingly, there was a flash of something like offence in her face but it was quickly gone.
"Of course, I wouldn't be in the New World other wise." She said with a confidence that confused him, she knew who he was and yet here she was, sitting next to the 'Surgeon Of Death' with no fear in her eyes.
Before he could think too much on it they were interrupted by a gruff voice.
"How about I buy you a drink?" said the mountain of a man that now stood behind the woman, it didn't take a genius to realise he was speaking to her.
She looked at him, her expression uninterested and a little annoyed. "Sorry darl, but I have one already," she said with a dismissive gesture of her hand.
The mountain didn't move away, instead it inched closer, one meaty hand falling to rest on her arm. Her eyes darkened as he spoke, "Do you know who I am? I'm Barty Verrin, I've snapped twigs twice the size of you. So tell me…" Verrin said, voice low, his leathery face close to her ear. "Will you let me buy you a drink?"
All the while she didn't move, not until he'd finished. Law felt his hand drift towards his sword. He had no reason to help, he didn't know or care for the girl, but something about Verrin made his teeth set on edge.
Just as he was about to intervene when she did something that surprised him. She smiled. Once again the uncomfortable feeling returned to Law's stomach.
"Do you know who I am?" She asked, her gold eyes rising to stare boldly at Verrin's large face.
Undeterred, Verrin kept his grasp on her. "Who?" He asked mockingly.
Her eyes danced, "Poppy Rei, and unless you're blind, you will see I already have a drink."
Suddenly Verrin gasped sharply, his hands releasing their hold as he stepped back in shock. Law watched curiously as the giant of a man stumbled around foolishly, his hands stretched out in front of him almost as if…
Law looked to the girl, Poppy Rei she'd said her name was. She was smiling grimly, her gold eyes a flame. She Laughed softly and was on her feet in one swift moment, sending Law one last surly smile over her shoulder as she disappeared out of the tavern. In her wake, the distressed Verrin still complained, his sudden blindness sending him crashing into wall as he tried ineffectively to keep his balance.
Law left soon after, catching no sight of her as he walked back to his ship. All the while the strange feeling lingered in his chest long after the lights of the Heart Pirate's submarine came into view.
… * … * …
Bepo didn't like this town, it was dirty and rough and full of pirates who were more dirtier still. Most of the towns in the New World had turned out to be like this, but for some reason this one seemed to be especially filthy.
Maybe it was because there were no bears.. No, Bepo thought solemnly, there were no bears in the last town either, or the one before that. Bepo decided to change his train of thought before he became to depressed.
They'd docked at the island only days ago, their Captain had been spending less and less time ashore at islands they passed, almost as if he was looking for something, not that he'd tell Bepo what it was.
Speaking of the Captain, he'd come back earlier, Bepo had sensed there was something troubling him but decided not to pry. Their captain was a secretive man, but Bepo trusted his leadership and never thought to question his judgment.
It was just that lately Law had been even more reserved than usual, spending hours in his study fussing over maps and disappearing into towns only to return later looking slightly disappointed. Bepo could also tell by the circles under his already dark eyes that he hadn't been sleeping.
Shrugging, Bepo turned to quiet Penguin and Shachi, who had celebrated themselves into a drunken stupor and were proceeding to cause a racket aboard the ship.
Glancing back towards his Captain's cabin, Bepo hoped Law might get at least a little rest tonight. Even being a bear, he knew the New World had no mercy for the fatigued.
… * … * …
Law ran his eyes over the map for what felt like the hundredth time that night. His eyes were growing heavy and he glanced at the bed, nestled in the east wing of his quarters. Sighing he looked away, it was no use, no matter how tired he was he couldn't sleep, his thoughts were to loud.
He had gone over it a million times, but something was missing. He couldn't leave any room for error, his mind drifted to that time… No, he wouldn't think of that.
He'd gotten stronger since then, he could feel it.
His gaze drifted towards the window, they would set sail in the morning, as soon as the pose was set and Bepo gave the OK.
He didn't like staying in one place too long, not here in the New World. Here the early bird got the worm, the second mouse got the cheese and you had to be both if you wanted to make it in these unforgiving waters.
Frowning slightly he thought of the red woman he met earlier, he wondered where she fit in the new age that was to come.
… * … * …
Rei wanted to laugh at herself, she would have if she hadn't been nearly out of breath, which was understandable considering she'd been running for an hour.
She chanced a look over her shoulder, gaging how far away her pursuers were.
Damn! She cursed in her mind, they were gaining on her.
She'd been stupid, she knew that, had known it was a bad idea from the moment that giant's hand touched her, to when she'd sent him spiralling around the room in a blind rage.
Rei never used her powers unless necessary, not if she could help it and definitely not on drunken idiots in bars.
But what was she supposed to do with that bastard Shichibukai sitting there looking at her like she was weak? Sure she'd recognised the infamous pirate and thought he was cute enough to flirt with. But not so much that she was ready to sit there and take the mockery that danced in his dark eyes. She'd wanted to prove to him she was undeserving of his condescension, and when she had seen him go for his sword out of the corner of her eye as Verrin's filthy breath brushed her cheek, Rei had snapped. Somehow his heroism annoyed her even more than his indifference, there was no way, no way in hell she'd let him save her because she didn't need saving, and she had proved that.
But at what cost! She cursed her short temper, always getting her into tight spots.
Speaking of spots, the one on her right side where she'd been hit was definitely going to bruise. They had cornered her in the street, apparently the guy she'd blinded before had a lot of friends who were pretty keen on exacting revenge on the woman who had disabled one of their best fighters. Normally she'd have taken them easily, but one of them surprised her, she'd barely had time to escape as the pole had collided with her body, the sea-stone tip sending a dull ache through her bones, sapping her energy. The effect was temporary but what precious seconds she lost provided the pirates with the time necessary to use their numbers against her. Which was why she now ran like a scared little rabbit... Absolutely humiliating.
Where on earth did he get something like that anyway? She thought as she ran, they had chased her to a wooded area where the ground was slick and Rei had trouble keeping her footing through the fatigue that was washing over her. The effects of the sea-stone weapon had long worn off but the physical exertion from running had left her drained. The moon was waxing and provided little light, she didn't see the consequences of the path she'd taken until it was to late.
"Great!" Rei spat. On one side of her, barreling with the speed of a storm was the mob of pirates, on the other was a cliff over looking a sharp plummet to the ocean below.
She was trapped, there was no fighting her way out of this one she admitted with sullen resignation, she didn't have the energy and there were too many of them.
It was drowning, or the mercy of pirates scorned.
Closing her eyes and cursing her luck one last time, Rei leapt into the ocean. She'd probably drown, but maybe the tide would wash her ashore somewhere before that happened. As dismal a hope as that seemed, it was still better than her other option.
As the water swallowed her, waves rising to meet her like jagged teeth, Rei had enough energy to curse one more thing. It was his fault she was in this predicament and so before her body went completely limp, she let the name hang on tongue like a bad taste.
Trafalgar Law.