After Law had recounted his chance encounter at Saboady, Dessa drifted in and out of consciousness. Filmy glimpses of Law littered her thoughts but her mind was pulled into a deeper state of darkness. A vision began to take shape.
She became engulfed in the dark energy she possessed. There was no light, no air, her body hung suspended by the bubbling matter. A voice, far off in the distance, called out to her by name. Revitalized, she clawed her way through the rippling energy. She ripped apart layer after layer before light appeared in tiny streams. Relief and then dampness.
Thoroughly soaked and shivering she found herself on her back. The dark energy no longer surrounded her but hovered directly ahead. Dread seized her heart as it began to resemble a human form. The darkness thengave way to solid flesh. A man appeared before her and despite the stern expression he wore, there was a rugged beauty about him that left her stunned. His eyes were steely and bore straight through her however she felt oddly at ease with him; almost as if she had known him all her life. He wore his hair long and his chest was marred with raised scars. He wore a simple white kimono and a handsomely exquisite blade hung at his hip. Dessa could sense a familiar malevolent energy emanating from it.
"You fool." His voice cut straight through her, yet it was not the same voice that called out to her. "You have wasted time running from your power instead of embracing it." She trembled uncontrollably, and he clicked his tongue in disapproval before extending his roughened hand. "Come, there is much to learn, and your time here is coming to an end." Her hand found his without hesitation.
A baby could be heard wailing in the distance and all at once the sound became sharp and clear in her ears. Her conscious snapped back and she regarded the scene before her incredulously. "The land I was born in had no name, no lord." The man she had conjured earlier appeared at her side and looked on indifferently. It was early dawn and they stood in a lush open field, nearby a young peasant woman was having what sounded like a painful birth. The baby kept wailing and wailing but the mother did not console it with her breast seeing as her womb had bled out all her strength. "It was a lawless time." His simple answer struck her heart painfully.
Still, the sun rose, higher and higher. "All beginnings are endings. Here," He turned out his hand to her and she grasped it tightly.
"I was taken in by a traveling farmhand and his wife. They loved me as their own and I lived to serve them." It was now night and the small family of three slept soundly on hay bundles. "I was not a boy, not yet a man when the village we were passing through was attacked." Smoke began to filter into the room and the horses outside began to whinny restlessly. "They burned everything and spared no one except for me. The general said I looked promising and trained me to be ferocious samurai." Dessa looked on as the general of the army ordered his men to take him. The young man fought them relentlessly until a well-placed blow knocked him out cold. The samurai bounded him and tossed him on the back of their horse before speeding off into the night. The village was reduced to smoldering ashes, bodies were piled up near the entrance as a warning to those that defied the brigands demands. The carnage transported her back to the night Doflamingo usurped Riku Doldo and immediately tears streamed down her face, "Why? Why are showing me this?" He sighed and only offered his hand. She wiped her tears before taking it once more.
"My savagery as a samurai became well-known throughout the neighboring lands. I served under an ambitious lord who set his sights on seizing arable land from his rival. He was planning an all out invasion and a fortnight before his defeat, he called me to his quarters."
Dessa now beheld a tense scene, the samurai's lord was dressed in exquisite silk robes in-laid with golden fibers. Before the lord, the samurai knelt with a solemn expression- his face waning and waxing from the light emanating from various candles. He was a few years older now, his face and body hardened by battle. In between them was what looked like an ancient map and it gleamed under the candlelight mysteriously. Why did it look familiar to her?
"My lord sent me to retrieve a legendary relic that would ensure not only his victory over his rival, but all future skirmishes he would find himself in. The thought did occur to me, 'Was my lord punishing me for some reason? What other reason would he have in sending me to find some fabled artifact? In less than a fortnight no less.' But, I was a lowly samurai and questioning your lord was a capital offense." The young samurai before the lord bowed deeply and accepted the ancient map before the scene dissipated into smoke.
"My quest took me to a cave in the nearby mountains. By the time I arrived, seven days had passed."
Dessa could see the opening of the cave as the samurai approached warily. Suddenly, an arrow was let loose and burrowed into the ground inches away from his feet. He unsheathed his sword as his assailant called out to him from an unknown location. "You die where you stand samurai scum!" Two arrows were let loose and he sliced them both with ease. Arrow after arrow was let loose, he deflected and sliced each one as he gradually inched closer to the opening. "How formidable!" The voice rang out once more before the rocks above began to groan before toppling over, the samurai jumped back as the opening became blocked by a loosened boulder.
Dessa looked to her companion in distress to which he regarded with 'tch'. "I stayed around the vicinity. I knew either the attacker would return, the boulder would loosen, or there would be another path in."
"Five days before I was to return to battle, I found the attacker sneaking inside crevice and followed. The inside had been hollowed out and it looked to be a living space of sorts. I waited in the shadows until-"
She sucked in a breath of horror at the scene. A young woman had her back turned to the samurai as she attended to a bubbling pot over a small fire. Unaware, the samurai inched his way closer from the perimeter. Abruptly, she dove for her bow and quickly nocked an arrow. "Show yourself!" The samurai, stunned at the identity of their attacker, stepped out into the open.
"I do not wish to harm you." His laconic voice rang out. She gave a sharp bark of laughter, "Really? That only makes one of us it seems." She let an arrow loose to which he side-stepped.
Her companion clicked his tongue, "She was so-"He shook his head with a knowing smirk. "She was its' keeper. Like you, I was a foolish human with inane sentimentalities. I would not harm women, my compatriots could, often with pleasure. But I couldn't and so I overtook her, bound her, and began my search."
"You'll never find it." The young woman sang out mockingly. His back stiffened, and he continued turning the place out. "All of you samurai are the same; stupid. Stupidly following your stupid lords' orders. Stupidly fighting each other. Stupidly dying for nothing!" He drew himself up and faced her, "I will gag you woman." He threatened in a low voice. She laughed boldly, and his face reddened considerably. "You are not like the others it seems. Many samurai like you have been sent on this fools' errand but none have succeeded." He gave no heed to her words and continued his search.
"You fool." Dessa felt like the woman was talking to her now. "Leave this place, leave your stupid lord. He would be none the wiser about you or your whereabouts. Live your life freely, peacefully." He turned to face her, now thoroughly exasperated, "And you little mouse? Why do you dwell in this hole? Why are you bound to this item?" Her lips pressed into a hard line. He sighed and sat down heavily. His body ached for rest and he reluctantly answered. He laced his hands behind his head and settled into the damp earth.
"What! You're going to sleep?" The young woman exclaimed trying to squirm as far away from him as she possibly could, "You have tired me out little mouse. Do not try anything or I will hang you by the ankles."
Dessa peered at her companion to which he looked away. "She was quite stubborn. She held out on me for an entire day. I was at my wits end with the minx. In that short period of time I learned how her village was attacked by a brigand. They viciously slayed all in their path without mercy. She was instructed by their dying chief to protect their secret treasure in the mountains." He clicked his tongue in disapproval. "I found it at last when she asked to bathe."
It was night now and Dessa watched in apprehension as the young samurai carried the woman over his shoulder, she hollered curses at him all the way down. "In truth," Her companion began but trailed off now engrossed in the scene before him. The young samurai deposited the woman at a small creek bank, despite his roughened hands, his fingers deftly undid her bindings with ease. The young woman scrutinized him as she rubbed her sore wrists, she was unsure what to make of him. Nonetheless, She drew herself up, wincing slightly at the pain in her stiffened joints. "You have gone quiet little mouse. Do you sense a cat nearby?" Amusement briefly flashed across his face and the young woman looked away abashed.
"In truth, I was taken by her. I admired her tenacity. And," He hesitated once more, "I thought her very beautiful. Her words left an impression upon me. A peaceful life? Was that possible for me?" His voice trailed off again as he regarded the scene once more.
The young woman grasped the collar of her kimono tightly before giving him a brief glance. She then gave a deep sigh to which he arched a brow in response. "Close your eyes and do not open them until I say so." He shook his head at her capriciousness and turned around completely. She undid her obi and let her robes slink down her shoulders. Her skin was radiant under the moonlight, Dessa stole a glance at her companion- his eyes were fixed solely upon the young woman. He was entranced, lost in the memory of her. She waded into the creek and knelt down into the silt relishing the coolness of the water.
Her smooth back glistened and then began to emit a soft glow. Fanciful lettering appeared scrawled across her back and took a familiar shaped. The young woman voice rang out, "You many open them." He turned around and beheld the sight in astonishment. "The other part to the map." He practically whispered to himself and committed the image to memory. "So, this is how you are bound, how cruel to put such a heavy burden upon a girl." She scoffed and splashed some water his way, "It is my duty, you more than anyone should understand." Her skin shone exquisitely in the moonlight and a dull ache formed in the pit of his stomach. "Indeed," He held out her robes to which swiftly secured around her exposed torso. "Foolish samurai, you know not what awaits you. Your lord simply uses you for his selfish gains." Her biting tone returned in full force. She began to shiver from overexposure of the chilly the night air, he shrugged off his heavy quilted kimono to drape over her. Despite the added layer her body continued to shudder, "Leave me. I've honored my oath, let me finally mourn my people." Her voice broke off as she fell to her knees. Hot tears streamed down her face as her body became wracked in sobs, the young samurai knelt down and embraced her boldly.
"Come, I'm won't leave you."
The scene before them dimmed and then dissipated. Dessa was at a loss, "Well, what happened?" The samurai regarded her levelly, "Much too sad, I'm afraid." He turned to face her now, "Heed well, all wielders are destined to possess the Shi-Shi. You and I were chosen. It is no curse, we are not omens. It is up to you," He rested a heavy hand on her shoulder, "If there is suffering; end it. If there is injustice done upon innocent people; end it. It is our burden to bear the consequences." Dessa sucked in her bottom lip, "But how? How can I make it right?" He offered a ghost of a smile, "You have all the power in the world."
She took a step back in disbelief and screwed her eyes shut from the tremendous pressure accruing within her head. Images of places and people she had never met flashed before her eyes, there was an island and a girl waiting for her- calling out to her. When she opened them again she found herself back in Chopper's office. Law was out cold in an adjacent chair; his arms were crossed over his chest as if trying to conserve heat. All her anxiety washed over her at the sight of him. Before, there was so much uncertainty- Would she ever see him again? Would they ever be free of Doflamingo? All of that worrying seemed pointless now. Her past self was right, she had wasted enough time.
Dessa drew herself up and despite all the care she took in trying to be as quiet as possible, Law woke with a start. They locked eyes and he scooted himself closer to the bed to check her temperature. "Go back to sleep," His drowsiness drew a small smile from her lips, she held on to his hand and tugged him closer. "Are you hungry? What's wrong-" Her lips found his swiftly and before he could process what was happening the delicious sensation was over. He gaped at her and she merely offered a sheepish look. The pit of his stomach lurched- 'more', something was telling him 'more'. He leaned forward and was delighted to find her lips waiting.
'More', he needed to feel more. Law's hands traveled up her arms and placed them upon her shoulders, holding her there as he deepened their kiss. Dessa's heart raced at his brazenness and obliged by parting her lips slightly.
A silly desire had formed in the time they had spent reunited; what would it be like to finally kiss him? She had loved him, arguably since they had met as children, but she often caught herself staring at his lips, wondering about their taste. The exchange with her past life left a lasting impression, much like when he had embraced his beloved so boldly- why couldn't she? If he happened to scold her afterwards then she could have blamed it on delirium caused by her ailment, but now, the fervor in which he kissed her was dizzying.
Law's heart raced as her lips parted, the temptation to take her within his arms was too great now, he was drunk- tipping the point of no return. He broke off the kiss realizing that now was not the time, not like this. However, the sight of her flushed cheeks and slick lips made it nearly impossible to pull away, "I'm sorry, I got carried away." She bit her lip and looked away now embarrassed at the gravity of her actions. Law cupped her chin and drew her close, "I love you Dessa. There wasn't a day that passed in which I didn't think of you. I," his voice faltered as her hand stroked his bristly cheek. He had never known such tenderness, he didn't want this moment to end. "I don't ever want to be apart from you again," She began as unbridled tears flowed down her face, "but, I must defeat him on my own. It was always supposed to be me." He shook his head unable to understand her stubbornness, "Whatever it is, we can meet him head on; together." She took a moment to collect herself, "I-"
"I can't lose you again Dessa. I won't. So please, don't leave," He was whispering now and it renewed her tears. "At first light, we'll meet with Mugiwara-ya and the others. We'll form a plan to end him, to make him pay for all that he has done. So please, stay, stay with me." He embraced her tightly feeling her body jerk slightly as she wept. They held each other like that for awhile before she whispered softly, "Lie with me, please." Another secret desire slipped from her lips and she waited with bated breath to see if he rejected her silly request. Wordlessly he rose and shrugged off his heavy coat to slide into the small space next to her.
She drew the covers over them and reveled at his closeness. He tentatively began to run his fingers through her hair admiring the silkiness. Was this what her past life felt when he finally embraced his beloved? Bliss? What was to come after? He did say it was much too sad. However, Law's ministrations put any fear far from her mind and she settled closer to his comforting frame, reluctant to have her conscious slip into slumber.