Here you have chapter two! ^^

Extra credit goes to Akalilly for the awesome names for Law's unknown crewmembers.

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One Piece belongs to the brilliant Mr. Eiichiro Oda.


Chapter 2 (Rewritten)

It's very quiet down in the depths. Silent and peaceful. Ayame had always found it very soothing to dive so deep that the rest of the world seemed to fade, taking her past with it. But then she would remember that fateful day when the life as she'd known it changed, forever.

(XX)

Reaching the surface after about half an hours swimming Ayame dragged herself out of the water, inhaling the cold night air. Standing up she removed the sword from her back, a triumphant grin on her face. Pulling it out of its bag she looked it over, concluding that it hadn't taken any damage from her swimming stunt. Looking around to make sure no one had seen her she headed into the forest towards her home. It had taken her a long time to build it but she was very proud of the small hut where she lived.

The hut was actually right in front of the entrance to a cave in the mountain behind it. The cave had many different passages and it was easy to get lost if you didn't know your way around. Fortunately for Ayame, she did. Deep in the mountain, in one of the most elaborate passages, she hid the treasure she had been collecting for the last two and a half years.

Entering the hut she grabbed a towel and a torch on her way to the back, opening a hidden door, the large sword in hand. After about three minutes she reached the cave, and she sat down to look over the sword more thoroughly. She set the torch in a holder to her right, the huge pile of treasures shimmering in the light. She paid them no mind, to her they were blood money.

Removing the blade from it's sheath Ayame admired the beautiful craftsmanship of it. It was truly a magnificent sword and were it not that she needed the money she would have been tempted to keep it for herself. Sadly enough she wouldn't be able to use it properly, it was too long for her. She put it away when the thought of the tall man she'd stolen it from popped into her head.

Frowning she laid the sword among the rest of the treasures and went back outside. Running a hand trough her still wet hair she decided to visit the small lake further into the forest. It was made from the fresh-water stream that came from the mountain. She needed to get the salt from her clothes and body before her skin started to dry up for real. Grabbing a fresh pair of clothes she left the small hut, the sun rising in the distance casting colorful shadows over the normally dark trees.

(XX)

Law was not having a good day. Due to the broken window he had risen with the sun and waking up to birds chirping in high notes was not his idea of a good wake up call. And the fact that his sword was stolen in the middle of the night by a woman no less did not held the situation. He felt a bit empty without his Nodachi. At least he still had his hat.

But the thief left a clue, there could not be many people out there with necklaces made out of sea stone. He was sure that if he asked around a little he would eventually find it's owner. An evil smile spread across his face at the thought. His crew, who he was currently eating breakfast with, kept their distance at the sight of it, knowing exactly what it meant. You don't steal from the captain of the Heart Pirates unscathed.

After breakfast they set out for info, their first stop being a bar named the Belching Scallywag. An odd name but it held no useful information whatsoever. Law sighed as they exited the bar and continued down the road, necklace in his right pocket. It was an odd piece indeed, especially the gem stone. He hadn't seen anything quite like it in his lifetime, and he had seen a lot of strange things.

Their next stop was the Laughing Clam Bar. This place looked slightly more inviting, and from the looks of it was quite popular considering the fact that people were already streaming in at this time of the day.

The pirates entered and Law sat down at the bar, his signature calm smile spreading across his lips. Soon a tall woman came up on the other side of the bar. She looked about middle aged and had a badge on her shirt that said 'Sandra' in large friendly letters.

" Can I help you, love? " She appeared to be the waitress.

" You might. Do you know whose necklace this is? A woman dropped it on the street the other day and I feel I should return it. " The woman's eyes grew big as she saw the beautiful piece of jewelry, a smile lighting up her entire face."

" How sweet of you. The girl's name is Ayame, but she doesn't come here very often. Usually it's in association with her work. I can give it to her when I see her. " She moved to grab the necklace but Law snatched it away, that eerie smile ever present.

" No thank you, I would rather return it myself. Do you know where I might find her? " He saw a fraction of panic flicker in her eyes, but it was gone as soon as it came. Putting a finger to her chin she thought for a moment before looking him and his crew over, seeming to size them up in her head.

" Ah, she spends a lot of time at the harbor, but she lives in the woods. At the bottom of the mountain in a small hut, quite a bit from town. But I would be careful if I was you, she doesn't like unexpected visitors. Now if you'll excuse me I have customers to attend to." With a smile she left them to their business. A few seconds later they were walking towards the mountain, the crew grumbling quiet complaints. Don't get me wrong, they were pissed at the little girl that dared to steal their captains sword and all that, but walking a long time in the blaring sun was not very glamorous. But, that captain's orders were the captain's orders.

Soon they had searched the larger part around the mountain, and Law was seriously beginning to doubt the sincerity of the old woman's facts. But just as he was about to turn around and head back Demitri, who had been a bit ahead of the rest of them scouting, came running back.

" Captain! I saw a hut up ahead." Law's smile had returned and he patted Demitri on the shoulder.

" Lead the way."

Behind a few bushes and a large rock they saw the hut the woman had been talking about. It was indeed very small, but at the moment it seemed empty of life. Law furrowed his eyebrows in thought.

" Search the hut, I'm going to take a look around." With that he left Bepo in charge and followed the set of foot prints leading away from the small home. He could now hear the murmurs of a stream a bit ahead, and along with it a woman's voice. She appeared to be singing and upon coming closer he caught on the melody of Bink's Sake. A smile spreading across his lips he moved a few branches aside to come upon a strange sight. The small lake was accompanied by a minimal waterfall, and in the middle of the small oasis was his thief wearing a bikini and goggles resting on her forehead. She turned slightly away, not having noticed him, and pulled the goggles over her eyes.

Before she disappeared beneath the surface Law caught a glimpse of a scar running down her back. He couldn't see it in detail but it looked like it went almost all the way down her spine. He was no longer smiling as she completely disappeared from sight, but his eyes grew wide when she did not come up for air as he expected her to. Taking out his pocket watch he looked at it, to the water, and back to the watch again. Something was very wrong here. She had now been under for a complete time of ten minutes, soon it would be eleven. He could not say he liked the girl, but she was his only chance if he wanted to see his sword again. Should he go after her? He then shook his head slightly, what was he thinking? He couldn't even swim! All he could do now was wait. He did not have to wait long.

About two minutes later a wet mop of blond hair broke the surface of the small lake. Her hair looked odd when wet, like sand beneath the water. Standing up slowly from his seat on the ground Law studied the girl as she studied a small object in her hand. But she stopped herself as her head snapped up sharply, like she'd heard a noise. Law angled his ear in the same direction, now he could hear a few of his crew. They were bickering loudly about something. 'Not a good time!' Looking back at the girl he was surprised to find her completely gone except for a black piece of fabric disappearing behind a tree.

(XX)

Ayame stood stock still as she listened carefully to the not so distant voices. She put her black shorts on she hid her dirty clothes beneath a few roots and looked slowly around the tree trunk. A few meters away stood two men, idly chatting or were they perhaps bickering? No matter what they were talking about, the big problem was that she recognized them. The white overalls, the strange marks on the back. They had been with the man she stole from last night. How did they find her? How long had they been here? Had they seen her? Did they find her hut? A million questions raced through her head, her heart beat quickening. She pulled out the gun she always had with her. She also had a knife at her ankle but there would be no use for that now. Just as she was about sneak away she head them call something.

" Oi! Captain! " 'Captain? Who-?' the thought dropped from her mind and died as realization came to her. 'Pirates!' She immediately left as fast as she could without being noticed, heading straight for her hut. Why didn't she think of it before? She started running. What if they found her treasure? All that she had worked for would be lost. Getting close to the hut she saw the polar bear walk out the door, but it was with empty paws. Letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding she agilely sneaked closer, finally jumping in through a window, landing silently on the small carpet below it.

She looked around and, after concluding there was no more of the invading pirates she headed for the back door. But she stopped dead in her tracks when she heard foot steps enter the hut. Staring at her hand that had almost reached the handle she stood very still as the steps came closer. Now the only thing separating her from the pirate was a thin wooden door. She knew that if she moved on step he would hear her. However, her plan was shattered as the door opened and a dark chuckle that sent ice cold shivers down her spine reached her ears.

" So we meet at last, miss Ayame."

Eyes still set on the handle she tensed visibly, that chuckle still ringing in her ears. She finally turned around, dark violet meeting storm gray in a powerful stare. She stood her ground as he walked a few steps closer but stopped when a gun was pointed at his face. He raised an eyebrow, calm smile in place.

" Now,now miss Ayame, let's not do anything drastic here. You will only get yourself hurt. " She wouldn't move the gun even an inch.

" What do you want? " He chuckled again.

" I thought it would be obvious. I want what is mine. Give it to me and we will leave you alone, completely unscathed. However, if you don't I can not promise you will walk out alive, or with all your limbs still accounted for." Her eyes widened a bit. She removed the safety, her finger on the trigger slowly pressing down as she spoke calmly.

" Fuck you." The sound of the gun being fired was earsplitting at this close range, but the sound of it hitting flesh never reached her ears. Instead Ayame found herself being knocked roughly to the ground, a strong hand wrapping around her throat, the other pulling the gun out of her hands. It all happened within the split of a second and Ayame had the wind knocked out of her completely, and the hand pressing on her throat against the floor was not helping. How had he moved so quickly? The bullet had missed him completely and now he was hovering menacingly over her form, his slender but surprisingly strong fingers wrapped securely around her throat keeping her pinned and literally breathless. She scratched at his arm but soon they too were restrained.

" Now, will you give in? Or die a useless death? " Black spots were beginning to cloud her vision and she blinked in an effort to keep them at bay, failing miserably. She finally nodded stiffly and took a deep breath of air as the pressure on her throat lessened. She coughed roughly, her mouth dry. Soon her hands and neck were released so she could sit up properly. The man still sat squatted beside her, seemingly observing her, before standing up. Rubbing her sore and very tender throat Ayame stood up beside him, instantly backing up a step. Nodding towards the back door she walked towards it, grabbing her torch on the way. Opening it they began the walk to the treasures within the mountain.