I'm finally back! After all those weeks of hell known as examinations! But I'm having my major examinations in less than two months again so I'll try my best to upload more chapters as I can. Well, after rewriting most of the already written ones, that is.
Chapter 7
The magenta eyes of the samurai were looking over the layout of Grove 16. A different docking spot from their last one near Grove 1. Chie felt the familiar wet and squishy feeling on the grass under her straw sandals. Unlike most samurai in her country, she preferred the flat sandals made from straw over the noisy wood made geta. It proved to be much more easier to move by reflex than the wooden ones too.
Just as she took a step forward, a bubble made from the resin on the ground floated up from her feet. It surprised her a little so she backed away from the bubble. The samurai didn't have a pleasant recollection about the bubbles created on this island. Just a few days ago, she was kidnapped and almost sold as a slave, though she ended up with the one who supposedly bought her so it didn't matter much, but at least she didn't end up with a mark burned on her body or a collar to boot. And the main reason or she would call it culprit why she ended up caught by those bastards from the human shop is this very same mangrove resin made bubble!
"Chie? Why are you glaring at the bubble for? Did it trip you or something?" Penguin joked with the samurai but the silence he got from her made him and those around them sweat drop. "...Really?"
"...Is there a problem with that?" Chie smiled sweetly at them which took them off guard, but even they could see the menacing aura around her while she did. "Is tripping over by a bubble and getting kidnapped because of that then almost got sold as a slave funny?" Penguin and the other crew mates' skin who heard her confession behind the truth of how she ended up in a human shop paled more and more with each word she muttered, dripping with venom. "Ahh, but then again, it was your captain that bought me anyway so it doesn't matter anymore. But being the reason why I ended up in chains and all, isn't it in my right to curse a bubble? Can't a samurai hold a grudge against a bubble?!" Before she knew it, she was already yelling.
The crewmates of the Heart pirates were speechless at the outburst of the dark haired samurai, even Axel who'd take the chance to mock her stayed tight-lipped. There was nothing they could say to the samurai.
Trafalgar who came just in time to hear her part of her outburst in the question he didn't get to ask her yet. As much as he thought of it as amusing, he'd rather have his samurai calm down before it becomes a bloodbath here. "Chie-ya, yelling at my crew won't do you any good. You're free to have a grudge with that... bubble, but don't misdirect your frustrations towards my crew." It might be out of character for him to be the one to reprimand his nakama for yelling, but it had to be done before the girl decided to reach for her katana. A part of him did enjoy the information about her ticket to the human shop, though.
Fortunately, the samurai complied. The others who watched her sighed in relief too. Law gave them their orders to resupply the ship-, submarine's food stocks and fresh water, and more medical supplies, seeing as they used quite the amount the other day. Those who were ordered to stay onboard in case of emergencies groaned and whined that it was the same as last time, but their complaints fell on deaf ears as their captain already set off with his usual men he brought to scout an island. Chie followed in suit.
Since they docked their sub at a rural part of the island, they were free from the watch of townspeople. But it was a matter of time before they reach the eyes of public, hopefully, the marines are gone. Seeing as the execution of the infamous pirate of the Whitebeard crew was starting in a few hours. That's what Law was looking forward to watch. What's better than watch at a public spot where citizens are given the chance to see it live? By now, his crew seemed to catch on to his intentions already and just followed him, save for the newly 'recruited' samurai.
Chie might not know the reason why they are at a rural area like the this and why were there lots of people crowded at this particular spot, nor did she realize the purpose of the world broadcasting contraptions and large screens, but one thing for sure is that she wasn't planning on sticking around here.
Though the area was crowded, the people around them made space for their group when they realized their crew's identity. Most of them were whispering about their reappearance after the incident from two days ago. Chie was glad that she put on her mask before they left the sub. But she'd figured that she have to take it off if she's going to shop for 'normal' clothes. Before that though, she'd need to get permission from her 'captain' to leave the group for that purpose.
By calling out to him, Chie caught the attention of the Heart captain who was anticipating for the start of the 'show', though it wasn't going to start for hours from now. "I need to... run an errand?" Chie cursed herself for not thinking much before asking for her short term freedom.
Law paused for awhile before recalling the samurai mention about buying some new clothes. True, her kimono did look worn out. The broadcast isn't about to start any sooner, anyway. He also figured that he'd check some medical books that he's lacking too. He turned around to the other men first which Chie was perplexed about and heard him granting them some free time. Chie saw Shachi and Penguin yelled joyfully before running off to who knows where while the rest except for Bepo scattered too. Thinking it as his way of giving consent to her request, she started to walk away too, only to be stopped by a tug on her kimono.
"Where are you going, Miss Chie?" Seeing as their other crewmates also took their leave already, he reverted to his formal way of addressing her. However, not all of them were gone, the Heart crew's first mate is still behind the fuzzy hat captain. But contrary to Chie's surprised reaction to Law revealing the fact that she's a girl, the polar bear remained calm. "Bepo already knows. He said that you smelled nice."
The polar bear looked away with a embarrassed blush, then he faced down. The gloomy aura appearing around him. "I'm sorry." Chie sweat dropped at the sensitivity of the bear.
"So, where were you going?" Law persisted his question to the samurai. Seeing as he did give her permission to roam around, she'd decided what's the harm in telling him.
"Maybe a clothing store or something? I still got some money left from my traveling so I figured I'd get some normal clothes." Then she bowed at them as a habit to part ways with the two pirates. But the sharp voice of her captain stopped her.
"Your katanas." He points at Bepo who was holding his nodachi for him. It took awhile for Chie to be able to read his message. Her hands held her pair of katanas close to herself.
"Why?" She inquired carefully. She realized that Law trusts Bepo vastly, seeing that he's willing to let the bear hold onto his weapon for him. But she still doesn't get why he wants her to do the same. Law might trust him, and it's not like she doesn't trust the bear too, the first mate of the Heart pirates is too pure to hate after all. However, Chie is not someone to entrust her weapons to just anyone just become she deemed them not dangerous.
Law caught her thoughts. "I wouldn't want to have a runaway samurai just after joining the crew." He remarked sarcastically. Chie wasn't about to lose to him in terms of sarcasm though.
"Sure, sure, and let an unarmed samurai that almost got sold as a slave to roam off, wavering an invincible flag that says 'Catch me!', very smart." The dark haired girl got a glare as a response. But it soon got replaced with another one of his irritating smirk.
"Fine, you're free to go then. But be reminded constantly that I'll hunt you personally if there's any attempts of running away." Chie felt a shiver ran down her spine as Law spoke darkly with a grin on his face but instantly complied and sprint off to town. The smirk never left the pirate's face as he watched her disappearing figure.
※※※
Chie just entered the nearest clothing store that she found when she reached town. And surely, without her mask on, she didn't drew much attention. Though, she still felt the eyes of the townspeople, or maybe they were for someone else behind her, she didn't care. As long as she doesn't trip over a damn bubble and got shipped off to the human shop again.
Chie looked over to the salesgirl that welcomed her. The other party notion for her to step in to the women's section. It seems that professionals like them are able to differentiate between their customers genders without difficulties.
"What about the both gentlemen behind?" The salesgirl questioned the samurai. The samurai though was dumbfounded by her inquiry. *Gentlemen?* Chie turned behind her to confirm who was she talking about. Her eyes widened at the sight of her captain and the polar bear crewmate standing behind her.
"W-What are you both doing here?" Law smirked, which Chie now decided was getting annoying. So all the weird attention she encountered earlier were for the two behind her. To be exact, the polar bear in an orange jumpsuit and holding a nodachi within his embrace.
"We followed you." The first mate replied instead of his captain.
"I can see that!" The polar bear got depressed at her outburst and muttered a 'sorry'. The samurai just shrugged off the distraction and faced Law. "Why-"
"It'd prove a problem if you were to have another 'accident' and end up with chains again. Plus, the plan of escaping from me is still not discarded, right." Law's intense gaze was directed at her. It was never a question for him when he nailed her course of action and thoughts. The dark haired samurai gulped. This sadistic jerk seems to always figure her out in a short time.
"Miss, this way if you would." Another one of the store's salesgirl ignored the heated exchange of the samurai and pirate captain and 'lead' her to selection corner. The other one who welcomed her was doing her job by leading Law and Bepo to the parlor for waiting customers. The samurai could only glare daggers at him as their distance increased.
※※※
Law sat on the couch lazily as usual. Since the Whitebeard pirate's execution is not starting any sooner, he decided to kill some time. He could've used the free time he had to check on some other book stores for medical books, but he figured watching the dark haired samurai struggle for some 'normal' clothes can be another type of entertainment to him. Besides, he already has tons lot more back at his private chamber. He had Bepo following along in case he lost sight of the samurai, his first mate's sense of smell would come in handy.
Plus, he wanted to confirm Chie's decision on joining his crew. Something tells him that the samurai girl can be more cunning and calculating than she looks. Though, in terms of guiltiness, he's a few more steps above her.
Bepo's ears and nose twitch a little as he sniffed at nothing in particular. "Ah, Chie's anxiety level is rising." Law raised an eyebrow at his crewmate's statement. There are times when Law just doesn't understands how the animal instincts of Bepo's work that he's able to perceive the mental state of a person. Nonetheless, he smirked at the mention of his samurai. It was not sooner after that that he heard a short yell of the young samurai.
"Will Chie be alright, Captain?" The polar bear looked worried from the scream of his new crewmate. It sounded like she was suffering after all.
"She's fine, Bepo." The Heart captain assured the polar bear. Law knew exactly what was going on back there, and he decided to enjoy it.
※※※
Chie screamed. She screamed. It was the first time in a long time since she last screamed like that. She was so damn sure that sadistic bastard outside heard it too. However, her current situation was much more grave than the thought of the smirking captain of hers.
She had experience of having people help dressing her in clothes and stuff, but they were incomparable to what she's facing now. The salesgirls here are just intense! The moment they brought her in a fitting room, the poor samurai was stripped of all her clothing, her tattered kimono tossed aside. Unbeknownst to her, they let down her usual ponytail too. Luckily, her pair of katanas were with Bepo. He took it from her before she was 'lead' away. But that doesn't change her current situation!
"Miss, since you have fair skin, I'm sure this will fit you perfectly!" One of salesgirl presented her a baby blue strapless blouse.
"No, wait! This one here will suit your hair better!" Another one shoved a piece of laced shirts in front of Chie.
At first there were only two salesgirls that tended to her, but probably because of the early hour, she's the only customer here that almost all the workers of the store took their turns choosing a set of outfit for the dark haired girl. Chie wondered if this is the same experience of playing dress up with dolls? She never did have a normal childhood as a Wano citizen, but she would often observe the girls her age playing with dolls when she was much younger. The scene of the young children playing dress up with their dolls popped up in her head. Only difference now is that; she's the doll here! *What's the point in asking for my opinion if you're just gonna (shove) put it on me?!* Alas, Chie was ignorant about the fashion of the world outside her country so she's unsure of her outfit they 'dressed' her into.
When told the salesgirls that she's not sure of how to judge her outfit, they nodded at her understandingly. Chie didn't know how to read their response as but her thoughts got interrupted when they shove her out of the fitting room while still wearing one of their selected outfits. The samurai was baffled when she was faced with her sadistic captain.
They were staring at each other in awkward silence. His grey piercing eyes though, were studying her features. Without her usual kimono on, her naturally curves was exposed with the appeal of the bright red spaghetti strapped blouse topped with a grey hoodie jacket. Her baggy kimono pants were replaced with a pair of denim shorts. Lastly, to complete the coordination, the salesgirls switched her straw sandals with a pair of combat boots. The new look on the samurai was so different from her traditional look with her kimono on. Even the person herself was feeling on the edge just by wearing different type of clothing.
Chie was starting to feel self-conscious as she felt Law eyeing her. She soon felt a rush of blood to her cheeks and curled herself up to cover most of her exposed parts. But even as she did that, the Heart captain didn't say anything which just made her all the more self-conscious.
"You look so cute, Chie!" Bepo was the first to make a comment. Then he turned to his captain. "Right, Captain?"
As if snapped out of a trance, the Heart captain smirked at the curled form of his samurai. He caught the stiff flinch of the samurai when the bear asked of his opinion. "Yeah, you look like a different person, Miss Chie." He saw the tip of her ears completely dyed in the color of red, a color that oddly suited the dark haired girl.
"...!" Chie was still twitchy about her appearance, plus the 'praises' she got from the two pirates just added fuel to her fire. Nevertheless, she ignored them and stood back up. She went to the salesgirl who dressed her up. "Um, I would like to change to a different one please. Preferably, one that's cozy and easier to move around in." It's not like her current outfit is suited for battle after all.
The salesgirl nodded and changed her out of her current get up into a short sleeved collar shirt and a pair of black shorts. For Chie who only wore kimonos her whole life, it was much more better than her previous get ups but it still exposed a lot of skin she's not used to leaving out in open.
"Do you have anything longer for covering up my..." the samurai gestured at her expose thighs while attempting to pull lower her black shorts.
The salesgirl looked troubled at her request. Probably because they didn't have what Chie requested for or that longer pants might demolish the style of her outfit, latter seems more possible though. Then as if she thought of something else, the salesgirl went in their storage room in search for something and came back a moment later with a few packs with black clothes inside each pack. She passed it to the samurai girl and assured her that those will be better than longer pants. Though skeptical, Chie accepted her suggestion. But before changing back to her original clothes, she headed towards a pile of clothing that were being sold cheaper than their usual price. From there, she found and took out a long sleeved baggy grey sweater and a pastel colored short sleeved collar shirt. Going to the other side, she grabbed a pair of long jeans and another cotton fabric shorts. She passed them over to the salesgirl and went to change out of her current garb too. She didn't mind which outfit she chose, what matters most is that it's not too showy and provided her some convenience to move for battle. Plus, somehow she decided that it's not time to surprise the crew with her gender yet.
"I'll take these and this set please," Chie passed the collar shirt set she wore earlier along with the rest she chose from the different pile of clothes. She decided to not get the set she showed her captain and animal crewmate. She didn't even bother looking at Law and Bepo who she's not sure if they're even still here.
The samurai payed with her money from the previous bounty she caught. She's not really a bounty hunter, it's just that she'd take up the job sometimes for quick cash. Evidently, it proved to be more higher paying than the other odd jobs she accepted like being a bodyguard and stuff. It was in cases like those that her mistaken as a male came in handy.
The samurai was about to take the bag of her purchases when a hand, scratch that, a 'paw' reached out for it. Chie's magenta eyes stared at the polar bear who held her bag of clothes. But before she could mutter a single word, Law's sharp voiced interrupted her.
"Let's go." Though, perplexed with the flow, she still followed them and decided to let the polar bear hold on to her bags, not noticing another bag mixed up with hers. Once out of the clothing store, he asked without turning to her. "Is there anything else you needed?"
This, Chie is hesitant to tell him. Sure there is still something left on her list that she needed, but how can she just mention something like that to him? Sensing her pause, Law turned back at her. "Well?" He was puzzled by her fumbling of words. Where did the blunt samurai of his went to?
"I-It's nothing you need to know about! I can just get it on my own!" Law frowned at her assertion, obviously something he didn't enjoy.
"I will decide whether it's something I need to know about. So tell me." The Heart captain used a demanding tone that he usually used when he was hinting that he's running out of patience. The samurai wasn't threatened by his demanding tone though. She was much more distracted by her thoughts.
"I'll be fine on my own!" Chie sprinted off without waiting for his response. Well, the fact that she left her katanas and clothes with Bepo meant that she won't be gone for long. But it wouldn't hurt to find out what she needed that can't tell him. And it was exactly for times like this Bepo's sense of smell is useful.
There's no way she can run away from him. Both figuratively and literally too.
※※※
After a short sprint away from the pirates, Chie finally realized that she left her weapons in the hands of her polar bear crewmate. Personally, she doesn't think badly of the first mate, but she does have doubts since he's the first mate to Trafalgar Law, the Surgeon of Death! Still, it's no use dreading over her forgetfulness now. It's not like she's defenseless without her weapons and she didn't find the thought of going back to them to retrieve her weapons appealing. Plus, there's no way she could bring those two to where she's planning to stop by!
It took some lengthy time, but she finally found the store she was looking for. As expected, it was located deep within the district of women clothing store.
A lingerie store.
If she was going to wear clothes like those, she can't continue wearing her usual bandage wraps after all. With a destination like this, how could she bring men along with her to shop them? Especially the sadistic captain of hers. Law looked like the kind to be experience with women which she's not surprised at, that's why she's sure he won't be shaken or back down if he knew she needed to shop for lingeries. Rather, he definitely jump at the chance to tease her about it. The embarrassing memory of the incident that morning popped up in her mind. A slight blush crept up her cheeks. The samurai decided that it's enough sexual harassment from the sadistic captain. Though, his actions succeeded at getting Chie to gain more self aware as a girl.
"Or do you not mind the true nature of men?"
The words Law muttered played over and over like a broken tape recorder. It tormented her mind just recalling his words. Chie quickly shook her head to clear of her thoughts and made haste in entering the store. Though the voice of her crew's first mate destroyed her momentum.
"Ah, I found her, Captain!" Chie whipped her head to the direction of the voice and wished for it to just be the delusions of her head. To her dismay, there stood the polar bear in an orange jumpsuit who's holding her katanas and earlier purchases, and the sadistic freak she was thinking about. A voice deep inside her head told her to just screw everything and get out of there immediately, but somehow her feet were glued to the floor.
The short walk for the two pirates to reach the samurai's current position was painfully slow on her part. On the other hand, Law's face was indifferent. Well, it would seem like that if you lack the skill to read people. Fortunate or not, Chie did have that certain to skill. Normally, even with that skill, she couldn't read the intentions of the unpredictable Heart captain, so what's with her able to read the smirk on Law's face now?!
Law's smirk widened when he stopped a fee steps before her with Bepo behind him. It then dawned on the samurai that this sadistic bastard knew about her all this time. Chie's paled skin instantly converted to a deep shade of red when he turned his head to the lingerie store she was about to enter.
"We'd better hurry, Miss Chie. Apparently, there's not much time before the broadcast starts." Law acts like he didn't know of his samurai's flustered state and probed her to continue with her shopping. Chie was steaming with both anger and embarrassment. Even though she doesn't understand what broadcast he was talking about, it was obvious that his sexual harassment assault on her has started.
Why did she even thought that she could run from him?
※※※
"Are you okay, Chie?" Bepo asked the barely walking samurai beside him. Even though she looked lifeless, her hold on the shopping bag in her embrace is strong.
Chie replied to his concern with a slight nod, but it was probably just a pretense. From the bear's perspective, she might be scarred for life. His captain didn't hold back at teasing her after all.
The moment they entered what most men considered as haven to men's desires, the samurai wouldn't stop fidgeting. Even some of the customers inside were shocked of their appearance but ignored as they considered the Heart captain too handsome to chase out of the store. To them, Bepo didn't even come close to what they call a pervert so he was also spared. He's a bear after all.
Chie tried to escape the sights of Law, but the sadistic captain resembles the role of a predator locking on to their prey. In his case, the prey is the poor samurai. He kept watching as Chie tried to browse through the available selections which just increased her tension. It was even worse when the salesgirl of the store came to recommend some choices for the samurai. Her every word of her three sizes when eye-measuring her reached the ears of the Heart captain. Chie had a short term of blushing disorder the whole time. Sure that as a doctor, Law would have found out of her three sizes sooner or later, but having him find out like that was more embarrassing! With the difference in privately and public, to be precise. She was practically dead when they finally left, a shopping bag in her hold which somehow ended up in Bepo's in a blink of an eye.
Bepo eyed the pirate captain with a somewhat satisfied aura around him, quite contrary to the lifeless samurai who's soul is visibly leaving her body. Maybe it would be best to leave the samurai alone for the sake of her mental health.
"Are you okay, Chie-chan?" Bepo couldn't help but ask.
Chie's soul which was leaving her body went back in instantly. "Nothing to worry about, Bepo."
"But-"
"Bepo is right. There's no need to hide anything if you're not feeling well. You can't hide from a doctor as well." Law just had to point out that he's a doctor which irked the samurai.
"Well, if you're a doctor then you should be able to tell that I'm perfectly fine. Even a kid playing a doctor game could." Chie didn't hold back on her sarcastic remarks. Probably still mad about earlier.
"Maybe that's because you have the same acting skills of a kid?" Law countered, not really showing any irate for Chie's sarcasm.
Bepo who stood between them could do nothing but watch at their bickering. Silently apologizing to Chie for creating another topic for his captain to tease her about again.
Chie glared at Law openly this time, anger apparent in her eyes.
"I really hate you!"
With that out of her mouth, Chie once again sprinted off. Even Bepo debated whether or not to follow her again if Law asked him to track the samurai down again.
Surprisingly though, it didn't came. Bepo looked over to the pirate captain.
"Let's go, Bepo. The broadcast is going to start."
"But, what about Chie?"
Law smirked at the direction where his samurai had ran off, then he looked at the shopping bags within Bepo's hold. "She'll be back, for sure."
