Next lol. Funny cat is being funny. Cat decided that my blind strings were food, Blinds decided cat needed to be destroyed. Guess who won.

Chapter Four: A Second Slave? Or Losing The First One?

Avery followed Law where ever he went. Bepo was normally to Law's left carrying Law's Nodachi and Avery hung to Law's right keeping a wary on on Bepo. Bepo was a large polar bear that wore an orange jump suit with the Jolly Roger on the back and left breast pocket. She wasn't his biggest fan which, to her surprise, relieved Bepo and made most of the crew gawk at her. One crew member had asked her why, unlike every other female, she didn't jump the polar bear.

Bears in general made her wary. She did not fear them, no. But she was cautious of them. After the time her and one of her brothers had nearly been mauled she didn't like to go anywhere near any of the breed. She would tolerate Bepo and as long as she did as told Law didn't mind so they left it at that. "Captain." Bepo said and Avery inched away from him while Law just looked at his first mate. A flipping polar bear was the first mate!

"What is it Bepo?" Law inquired. His first made was cute in a way and that was as far as Avery would go. Cute as in if anyone said something he would apologize thinking he had done something wrong. Or if the female race was mentioned he would ask if they meant bears.

"Is it true that Jewelry Bonney has arrived?" That caught Avery's attention. She'd learned a lot since joining Law several days ago and this name sounded familiar.

"Check it out Bepo." Law ordered and took his Nodachi from the bear. Once Bepo was out of sight Law turned to Avery. "Miss Bonney is one of the eleven supernova's, like me, and has a bounty of 140 million."

They started to walk and Avery switched to Law's left now that Bepo was gone. "Would you like me to carry that for you?" Avery asked. He half expected him to say no so she was surprised when he held it out for her to take.

She hesitated a moment. "If you do not intend to do something, then do not offer Miss Avery." Avery took it in both hands as he was about to put it back to his side. He let go and was surprised to see the small girl carry it with ease. She swung it behind her neck and held it over both shoulders and let her hands rest on it. "Perhaps soon you'll be able to show me if I was right in picking you."

"My brother uses a Nodachi too." Avery's voice shook but she ignored it. "Most of my brothers use a weapon." There was something Law learned about her, she has a living family apparently. "I don't think they know that I was taken yet. But they will. When our mother tried to find me. Then they'll know because she won't let something like me not being home go." Avery threw her head back and laughed. "Oh what I would give to see her face when she finds out."

"And why is that, Miss Avery?" Avery jolted and looked at him. Just like he'd thought. She had forgotten that she was actually talking to someone.

"That's a story for a different time Mr. Law. What about you, though? Any family in the, uh, North Blue?"

"Just my grandmother." He looked forward and that ended the conversation. Or it was supposed to.

"She must be proud of how far you've come. To such a great doctor and all."

"Miss Avery, please drop this subject." His voice was deadly and Avery took his hint. Until this collar around her neck was removed she couldn't push him. And even then she would have to step carefully.

They walked in silence until they reached the slave district again. She followed Law into several of the shops and watched the men behind the counter carefully. It was in the fourth shop when she took note of something unusual. The man behind the counter had on a high collard shirt that bulked around something. Something that was round and quite likely metal with a ticking time bomb on it.

Law was checking out a specific person. He was a large male with much muscle but after further inspection he seemed to not be worth it. There was a low whisper then a soft thump behind him so Law turned around. In the middle of the room was a dead man. His torso was cut in half and in his hands was a slave collar that looked suspiciously the size of Laws neck.

Law looked to Avery who was talking with the man at the counter. She was too far away to have done that. Unless she had used his Nodachi. Law's eye twitched. She didn't. He would have to question her after they left he didn't want to say anything if the man at the counter had anything to do with this. "Miss Avery." Law called and Avery looked over at him. He then noticed the keys in Avery's hand and his blood boiled. Was she planing to make a run for it with his Nodachi? The keys to the slave collars were universal so she could with those keys in her hand.

"Yes, Mr. Law?" His eyes alone were enough to get her moving. She took one of the keys and pulled the man's shirt down in front of her and unlocked his slave collar. Then handed them over to the man. "Free the rest of the people, would you?" He looked at his hands in awe, it was the first time in two months he'd not had chains adorning them. He snapped into action as soon as she handed the keys over and he went about freeing the rest of the people in the shop. Law took his Nodachi back ass soon as they were outside of the shop.

Avery followed Law out side then the man and many other people raced out. "Miss!" He called and unlocked her collar. It fell to the ground with a clatter then he ran off. Law changed position quickly. His feet were spread apart and he held his right hand a little above his waist. Yet Aver didn't notice. She sighed heavily and picked the collar up and replaced it upon her neck. When she looked back at Law he held his Nodachi out for her to take.

Law was unsure about her motives now. He thought that they had only been to get free before but now she'd had two chances within one day yet took none of them. What game was she playing at? "Why?" He let slip from his lips without meaning to.

"I don't know." Avery said then looked up at the sky. "But now that I think about it, now that the collar is back on. There are many reasons to keep it. I'm safer, no trader would dare to try and take me now. Or I could say that I trust you at least a little bit so I don't want to let you down like this. I could even say that if I were to run, where would I run to? Would I ever be free of you if I did run? Though I know none of those are true I don't know the real reason." She shouldered his Nodachi once more and started walking again.

Neither said anything to the other and Law entered a restaurant Avery stopped outside. "What is it?" He questioned. It was obvious that he was not used to this plave. Sab- Sab, something or other. Or was it archi- arc er this island. No Mangrove.

"I'm not hungry. I'll wait here for you." She said and sat dawn with his Nodachi. He eyes her for a moment then decided that she'd had the chance to run but she didn't, why should he worry? She was asleep with his Nodachi in her arms when he exited the establishment. He hadn't been there to eat but to talk with someone. He let her stay out because he wasn't here to feed her anyway. Looking at her he noticed the real reason she did not enter. Above her was a sign that said 'No Pets, please. Stables for slaves out back.'