Author's Note: Man, I'm terribly sorry I haven't been keeping up with this story or any of my others for awhile. I've been having a serious case of Artist's Block. I haven't been able to paint, draw or write and it fucking sucks. I tried writing more chapters but it's pretty short, I think. :/

If there's anything you don't like about the chapter or the previous chapters, PLEASE let me know. If you think Aya was/is a bit of a Mary-sue, don't just tell me she is EXPLAIN to me why you think that so I know what to edit and/or fix. I can't express that enough, it bugs me to know end to hear someone say that she's a Mary-sue and then NOT say why. :(

Sorry if I came off a bit harsh there. It's just a pet peeve I have about anything, not just about my characters. Like when someone says, "You're doing it wrong." and then not explain how or why they think that makes me frustrated. lol.


Chapter Four: All You Do Is Hide

"Damn it." Aya muttered as she tried to catch her breath. Her hands were still shaking as she held onto her sketchbook tightly. Her back was leaning against a wall of a building in the shopping district. She was angry at herself; this wasn't the first time she'd been a coward. She closed her eyes and tried to regain her composure before she got out of the alley she was in.

"I need a drink." She said to herself as she began to put her façade back on. She was now calm and collected as she casually walked out of the alley. She decided she wasn't going to dwell on what she had witnessed or her decision; at least not right now.

I wonder if any of the other supernovas had an encounter with the Admiral too… Aya wondered as she made her way to another grove that most of the bars were located at.

-x-

"Another, please." Aya said to the bartender. She was on her fifth Long Island Iced Tea; one of her few favorite Highballs. She was seated at the corner of the bar's counter, the closest seat to the door. She didn't really pay attention to the people in the bar, nor did she really care who was here.

"What's a fine lady like you doing here all alone?" Someone said as she heard them sit down in the chair next to her.

"I assume you think you have a chance?" Aya responded as she watched the bartender make her drink; not even paying heed to who she was talking to.

"Well…"

Aya looked at the man out of the corner of her eyes once she was handed her drink. Her hand tensed around her drinks tall glass, just a little. She had recognized the guy next to her. If he was here that meant the rest of his crew was here. She was not expecting to see them again so soon.

"Actually, it was a bet." The man scratched the back of his head as gave her a cheesy grin while his eyes were hidden by his hat.

"How cute." Aya took a sip of her drink. "What's at stake?" She didn't think it would hurt to humor him for a little while.

"1,000 Berri."

"Quite the wager." Aya turned to give him a small smile before she took another sip. While she turned to face him, she searched around the bar for his crew members. She noticed them at a table near the back left corner of the bar, a good distance away. "Aya."

"What?" The man before her looked a little confused. He was wearing a white boiler suit with what she assumed was there Jolly Roger right above his heart, brown boots and black hat with a yellow brim, a red pompon on top and the word 'PENGUIN' on the front. He didn't look that bad, she noted.

"My name." She replied as she leaned her left elbow onto the counter.

"Penguin." He stated with a smile as he held out his right hand to her. What an odd name he has... Aya thought as she clasped her hand around his and they shook their hands together.

"What do you have to do in order to win the bet, Penguin?" She asked slightly amused.

"Get a kiss." He replied, looking a little nervous. Aya mused over hearing this while finishing off her drink.

"Not bad." She said as she placed her right hand on his knee and leaned over. She smirked a little when she felt him tense up. She moved her arm that was on the counter to his right shoulder and softly gave him a kiss on the lips. A small laugh escaped her lips as she pulled back and returned to her position before kissing him.

Penguin sat there still in shock at what just happened. He couldn't believe he just got a kiss. Most women would never do that once they heard it was for a bet.

"Just a glass a whiskey, please." Aya told the bartender as he came around to get her empty glass.

"Did you just…"

"Yes, I did." Aya said as she silently thanked the bartender when he handed her a glass of whiskey. "It was just a harmless kiss, so I thought why not? And judging by one of your crewmates over there," She motioned with the glass in her hand to the area where his crew sat, "I'll assume he wasn't expecting it either." She stated before she downed the whole glass of whiskey as if it was water. She didn't really care to look at the slightly shocked expression still on his face.

"Now as fun as this chat has been, Penguin, I must be going." Aya said as she stood up and took out the appropriate amount of Berri for the bartender. She quickly paid the bartender and headed for the door.

Before she exited the bar, she held up one arm and gave the Heart Pirate's captain a two fingered type of goodbye signal. The moment Penguin came up to her, she could feel his eyes on her; his calm, analyzing eyes. She had a feeling that they'd be meeting again soon as she started to head to the grove with Shakky's bar; she still wanted Rayleigh to speak with her old man.

She didn't get that far from the bar when she felt their presence behind her. She turned around and her face met that of a Jolly Roger on a yellow fabric and a tanned neck. She glared slightly in annoyance at how close he was to her and how she didn't even feel his presence that close to her.

"Is there something you need, Mister Trafalgar?" She asked as she looked up to meet his eyes. She wasn't going to take a step back because that would be a sign saying she was uncomfortable and intimidated by him. She was not going to give him that satisfaction after hearing Shakky's analysis of the man before her. She saw the glint of amusement in his eyes as his lips curved into his trademark smile. Aya was getting the feeling that this was a man she shouldn't cross paths with. She noticed behind Law was Penguin, the polar bear she remembered hearing its name was Bepo and a man with brown hair that reaches his shoulders, wearing the same suit as Penguin and a blue hat with a red brim. His eyes were hiding behind dark sunglasses.

"Where's your crew, Miss Aya?" Law asked, completely ignoring Aya's question. His ever present smile was playing on his lips; his eyes never leaving hers.

"I don't have one and I don't plan on ever being in one." Aya replied quickly. She could see where this was going. Someone already tried doing this to her once and her answer had been the same. She just hoped the man before her was more reasonable than the previous man.

"And why is that?" He questioned. He wasn't going to let her go that easily. He wanted her abilities; to study it, see it in action, and to have it used for him.

"I'm not inclined to tell you." She said just before she jumped backwards and giving him that two fingered wave of goodbye before she dashed into a large crowd passing by. She wasn't going to risk staying near that Supernova. If what Shakky said was right, he was someone Aya didn't want to be around.

She already knew he just wanted to use her for her abilities.

Just like him.

Just like the Marines.

She already had a plan forming in her head as she weaved through the crowd and slipped into an alley. She was going to do what she does best; hide from them all.

-x-

"I'll assume you ran into him." Shakky said as she already started fixing Aya a glass of whiskey.

Aya closed the Bar's door and sat down at the counter in front of Shakky. She set her sketchbook and money sack on the stool to her right.

"Your intuition is very accurate, Shakky. Mind if I stay her for a bit?" Aya accepted the glass Shakky handed to her. "I'll do whatever you need me to. Just need a place to stay until Ray-san is done coating the Strawhats ship." Aya continued when Shakky was quiet.

"Well, not like I can deny your request when you say it like that, now can I?" Shakky replied as she lit up a cigarette. Aya gave her a small smile of thanks as she downed the glass of whiskey. Aya silently cursed her father for introducing alcohol to her at such a young age; she seemed to be drinking it far too much lately. Aya slowly looked around the bar and noticed something was different as she gave the empty glass back to Shakky.

"Where'd the mermaid and fishman go?" Aya asked. They couldn't have really gone off anywhere, could they? The fishman was injured the last time she saw him. And the mermaid didn't look very bright.

"In the back resting. Interested in their kind?"

"Yes, I would love to draw them." Aya said as she picked up her sketchbook. Shakky laughed.

"How about you tell me a little about your abilities first, Hun? Then you can draw them to your heart's content." Shakky suggested as she smiled down at Aya.