Hello everybody! I'm sorry for the looong wait, I'm sure i worried you, but I have the first instalment of a ginourmous 3 part chapter for you! Onepiece's 4 week break had me down in the dumps for a while, so it took a while to write. Thank you Vampire Revan, Moonlight Calls, Aurora Nightz, xXFireFistAceXx, Strawberry Captain, Muttlover, Cookie Krisp, Jackie-O'-Lantern, DragonDancer93, Jen567, and Hetti for the awesome reviews! and a special thank-you for Vampire Revan for using the words "dum-dum". That's adorable. And it's now Shinju's favorite insult; she uses it all the time on aaron and Kenta.

I'd like to quickly fix a misconception from the previous chapter: Lord Torgrun, was, in fact, not an actual king. He's based off noblemen in the dark-ages, who had full authority of all the serfs on their lands. And becuase Torgrun's a big poo-face, he abused his power and acted like a king. Oda makes a point of making most noblemen in his story bad people, so I decided to build off that. Okay, enough of my chatting, enjoy the chapter (and please review!)

OnePiece is the creation of Eiichiro Oda

The Forest of Illusions Part I

When Shinju awoke, the faint blue-grey light of approaching dawn was starting to filter through the small round windows of the infirmary. She couldn't tell how many minutes passed as she lay, warm under a blanket on a hard little bed, and listened to the soft hum that came from the walls, and the distant sounds of the crew moving around in other parts of the submarine. She felt quiet and peaceful, and let her mind rest, thinking of nothing in particular. Eventually, though, she rose and stretched. She'd always been an early riser; it was good to get a head start on the day, and she didn't want let herself get lazy.

Sneaking out of the infirmary that morning was no trouble—Law, she was told, was at the castle, supervising the plunder of its considerable wealth, and the crew remaining really couldn't do anything to stop her aside from give her a few stern warnings. She waved them off with a smile. She felt fine; there was no reason to lie around all day. It's not like she was the fragile type: she'd always hated it when people treated her that way. She'd been through bad things before, and had always taken care of herself.

Standing in front of her bathroom mirror, Shinju noticed as she ran a brush through her hair that she felt cheerful this morning…more so than usual. And was it her imagination, or did she look prettier too? Her pearly-white hair shone, her rose-petal lips were softly curved into a beautiful smile, her skin was smooth and radiant, and her body felt fit and lithe and so…alive. Taking a deep, happy breath, she realized that there were also butterflies in her stomach.

Feeling her injured fingers twinge painfully, she looked at the bandages covering them, and felt a shiver run down her spine as she remembered being in the infirmary last night…how he had gently washed and cared for her hands, how he leaned closer to her as she sat on the bed, his warm breath on her face, and the way she'd felt her pulse quicken…Perhaps this unusual sense of excitement and beauty she was feeling today had something to do with…

Stopping herself mid-thought, she narrowed her eyes suspiciously at her reflection and rearranged her features into a small scowl, admonishing herself sternly.

Stop being ridiculous Shinju. You're only happy because…It's just because your plan is going so well. Nothing more.

She knew that wasn't quite true, but it's what she told herself all the same. Thinking about the alternative possibilities was more than a little uncomfortable.

The plan she was referring to was the one she'd realized in the dream she'd had on her first night here: the White Tiger, who had been her companion on many adventures in the land of sleep and daydream when she was younger, had appeared to her. In his eyes she had seen the knowledge of how to overcome her situation, how to rise above it and, eventually, regain her freedom. She knew that he spoke directly from her Heart, and she trusted that completely.

On the other hand, having a good idea and actually carrying it out are two very different things. Following the path she had chosen often meant doing things that took a lot of responsibility, such as controlling her temper, accepting things that couldn't be changed and just being mature in general. It was a good thing that the trials she had endured those six years alone on her home island had beaten so much patience into her, or she might not be able to manage. But she would manage. She would not fail, and giving up was never something she considered.

However, all her brilliant wisdom and (in her opinion) exceptional patience was producing results far faster than she could have hoped it would, and she was starting to have feelings that she hadn't bargained on. No matter how hard she tried to tell herself otherwise, she knew in her Heart that it was an undeniable and distressing fact; the memory of what had happened in the infirmary last night was making her irrepressibly giddy, stupidly happy, and, to be frank, pleasantly tingly in places that had never been tingly before.

She felt a blush cover her cheeks that had nothing to do with the facial cleanser she was using. God damn it all. One thing remained an Incontrovertible Truth Above All Others: she must not, could not become romantically involved with Trafalgar Law.

It was simply…unthinkable. He was arrogant, selfish, unfeeling…everything she didn't like in a guy! He was holding her captive. Being…involved with her captor would make her hardly better than a prostitute, a-a pet. She may wear a collar on her neck, but she would never willingly give him more of herself—her pride could not allow it.

She could just imagine it: the smug, superior look that would appear on Law's face if she allowed herself to be seduced by him, the smirks and mutterings of his crew when her back was turned; perhaps they'd wonder what she was like in bed or joke about the odds of their captain sharing her.

Now brushing her teeth, her scowl deepened as these images formed in her mind. It didn't matter if his kiss felt…good, her body didn't call the shots here, she did. Anyway, she liked nice guys, and by no stretch of the imagination or bending of the truth could Law be called nice. Nice looking, but not nice.

A nagging little voice in the back of her mind informed her that the emotions she had felt in his Heart when he had kissed her had not been arrogant or smug, but gentle and almost afraid, and she might be judging him and his crew too harshly. The crew could be nothing but happy for them if they were together, Law could treat her with genuine fondness.

She squashed the thought. Fondness or no fondness, she was a prisoner, and he was her jailor. Until or unless he gave her her rightful freedom, she couldn't even consider him to be a friend. And a woman should always trust a man as her friend before making him her lover.

Feeling much better after organizing her chaotic thoughts and feelings into a nice, solid resolution, she placed the last pin in her hair and straightened her shoulders, ready to face the day.

.

.

Meandering through the rain-washed streets, Shinju made her way towards the castle, Bepo following her like a very fuzzy shadow. Apparently Law had decreed that she be under the supervision of at least one crew member at all times, and Bepo was now officially her own personal guard-bear.

She was surprised to see the change that had come over the town. The sun had broken through the clouds and shone off the dark wet stones, and she saw that, in the light, the buildings were not nearly as ugly as they had seemed. Every here and there was a splash of color: a tree growing in a backyard, a window box full of flowers that she hadn't noticed in the rain. The people, too, were different; news of the cruel Lord Torgrün's demise had spread, and neighbors greeted each other happily as children played in the street, shrieking with delight at the sight of the "pretty pirate girl" and her "pet" bear.

The place was called Kithtor, and Torgrün had had, as a nobleman, complete authority over the 'peasants' who lived there. They had to pay him taxes, including the best portions of the meager crops they raised on farms hidden in the surrounding cliffs, and meat from the animals they hunted. Even though the pirates were taking all the treasure, they were happy just to be able to eat their own food. Due to the town's isolated nature, it would be some time before the king of this country heard of the death of the nobleman, and, hopefully, if another man was sent in replacement, he wouldn't be as bad as the last.

The dungeons of Grimtor Castle had contained a number of miserable men who had attempted to rebel against their lord, or had displeased him in some other way. They had been released and reunited with their families. Shinju had to bite her lip and look away, fighting the burning feeling in her eyes, as wives joyfully embraced their husbands and laughing fathers swept their children into their arms. If only she could find her own father…

.

The large double doors of the castle stood open, hanging slightly off their hinges after the attack, and it was cool and drafty in the entrance hall. After yesterday's events, Shinju felt a bit creeped-out here, but she pushed the emotion aside. There was no sign of Torgrün's thoroughly-defeated thugs; she had no idea what had happened to the armored men. Various Heart Pirates were milling about, grinning to each other and joking in high-spirits as they carried large boxes and sacks of valuables, divesting the castle of everything sellable that their ship could hold. Nodding and smiling at those who looked at her, she wondering why they seemed so intrigued and curious. Then she remembered; they must have heard of that strange power she'd used on Torgrün. She'd have to ask Law about that, the crew had not given her any straight answers, though she could tell they knew something she didn't.

"Shinju!" Aaron strolled over and set the box he was carrying in the pile next to the door. "You're up early. How are you feeling?"

"Fine, thank you." She smiled warmly. Aaron had been the nicest to her since her arrival amongst the Heart Pirates. "Are you guys finding anything…interesting?" she could see what looked like solid gold candle holders poking out of one of the boxes.

He grinned wickedly. "Oh, lots of interesting things. The fat old fart was filthy rich."

Her answering smile was a bit wry. "That's nice." She did not approve of piracy, but she had to admit that the corrupt nobleman had been as bad as the worst kind of pirate. If only the villagers weren't so poor…

"Ah, I just remembered. Captain wanted you to know that there's a library here you might be interested in. He's already there, looking for info on the next island. It's over that way" he jerked a thumb towards a door, "you'll have to poke around and find it; I gotta get back to work."

"That's great! Thanks! C'mon, Bepo." She hurried off in the direction he had indicated, Bepo shuffling along after her.

A whole library! And she could read as much as she wanted! She hadn't had anything to read except newspapers since her capture. She loved books; a good book was a whole world you could escape into whenever you needed a break from this one.

Suddenly she stopped in her tracks, a growing sense of excited apprehension filling her. Law was there…she didn't want to see him again so soon. Maybe she should wait until he left…She shook her head crossly, scowling at her cowardice.

What's wrong with me? Thinking of running away just at the idea of being in the same room with him!

"Is something bothering you, Shinju?" Bepo stopped walking and looked at her closely.

"Huh? Oh. No, it's nothing."

"You're blushing."

She sighed and started walking again. Of all the times for him to be observant. "Just drop it Bepo, okay?"

"Okay"

She really didn't want him sticking his nose into this. What if he said something about it to Law? The bear could be surprisingly intuitive at times.

I have to get a hold of myself. If even Bepo notices that I'm acting strangely, someone else might notice, and know what it means. Not that it means anything. I mean, they might think it means something. And it doesn't!

She shook her head again to clear it. She didn't normally prattle this much, or this nervously. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

.

They wandered around a bit through the narrow, dark corridors, before finally coming to a creaky door that opened to a large, high-ceilinged room filled with bookshelves. Tall windows on either side let in dusty shafts of sunlight.

Peering cautiously inside, Shinju saw no one. Walking softly through the quiet isles, she looked at the cobwebs stretched like thin veils over the books and hanging from the unlit chandelier. Little puffs of dust rose from the carpet at every footstep, and the air smelled like old, dry paper; the scent tickled her nose. She wasn't really surprised that Lord Torgrün had not been an avid reader. Smiling slightly to herself, Shinju pretended she was exploring an ancient, mysterious treasure vault. Books seemed more precious to her than gold and jewels. Still, it was something else in this room that was causing her to proceed so stealthily.

Following her example, Bepo trod silently, wondering why she was creeping along like a lemming who thought an owl was nearby. Should he be alert for enemies, as she appeared to be? But he could smell his captain in this room, so surely they were safe. Maybe he should mention that to her, since she seemed scared. On the other hand, she might scold him if he made noise…

Shinju heard the rustle of someone turning the page of a book, and looked around a shelf to see (with a strange little thrill that she didn't understand) Law standing near the wall, a large tome open in his hands and his brow furrowed slightly as he read. This was a side of him she'd never seen before; even though, as a doctor, he must have experience with studying out of books, she just never imagined him as the bookish type.

I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised, she thought as she watched him. I know he's cool-headed and responsible—he likes to take care of his men. Looking up information on the voyage ahead is something he'd feel obligated to do.

If it weren't for the tattoos on his arms and the sword propped against the wall next to him, he might look like an ordinary college student, rather than an infamous pirate captain…

Fighting the cowardly impulse to turn around and sneak away in the opposite direction, she hesitated a moment, then quickly turned to a shelf and began examining the books, needing something to do to make her look less awkward and not wanting to be caught looking at him. Forgetting her misgivings for a moment, she sighed happily as she ran her hands over the cloth-bound volumes, wondering where she should start. Choosing a book at random, she flipped it open and turned through the pages, already immersed.

"Shinju. I was wondering when you'd show up."

Her head snapped up, and she saw a smile slowly stretch his lips, his storm-grey eyes glinting with mischief as they met her own wide-eyed, wary gaze. It suddenly struck her as ridiculous that she could ever have though he could look ordinary.

When she didn't say anything, he continued, "Are you not feeling well, after…"

—she felt her stomach clench with sudden embarrassment. Was she that obvious?—

"…after what happened with Torgrün?"

Oh. "No, I'm…I'm fine." Well, what had happened with Torgrün wasn't bothering her, anyway. She'd barely thought of it all day. Someone else had been on her mind…She quickly turned her eyes back to the book in her hands, having only glanced at him for one second, and cursed the blush that threatened to appear on her face. She hid herself behind the thick book, pretending to be nonchalant as her mind raced.

Say something! No, don't say anything! And for heavens sake stop being so nervous!

He tried again. "Do you like books, Shinju?"

"M-hmm."

Normally she would have given a more expressive answer, flavored with one of her pert little quips or half-serious humor. He was probably noticing her unusual reticence, and her mind scrambled through a thousand things to say, but couldn't pick a single one. She frowned and pursed her lips angrily. If only he would just go away!

"You can bring some with you. As many as you like."

Her frown cleared instantly into a smile as she looked up at him, not hesitantly this time. "Are you serious? That's—!" suddenly she frowned again, biting her lip. She wasn't a pirate. She wasn't a thief. And she wanted to save the last of her gold for a real emergency. "…but…they're not mine. I—I can't just—take them."

Law rolled his eyes and made an impatient 'tch' sound, like a disdainful cat. As stubborn as ever; she was always like this at the mere mention of piratical activities.

"Shinju—look around." He waved a hand to indicate the dilapidated room. "How long do you think it's been since anyone's even set foot in here? And I doubt that the villagers can read. At least if you took a few, someone would be enjoying them."

Hmm. He did have a point. "Well…" She chewed her bottom lip, staring at the floor and placing one curled finger against her mouth as she often did when she was struggling over a dilemma. Finally she looked up, a bright smile stealing across her face. "Well, in that case, I guess I'll have to take you up on that offer. C'mon, Bepo, let's pick some good ones!"

He leaned leisurely against the wall and his eyes followed her as she flitted from shelf to shelf, pulling down books and chatting animatedly to Bepo about her favorite subjects. The small smile never left his lips.

.

After what seemed like no time at all, she was carrying a heavy stack of books that almost entirely obstructed her vision. Shoving them into Bepo's arms, she said "Here, take these to my room on the sub."

"Hey, who said you could order me arou—"

"Take them!"

"Yes ma'am."

"What an excellent bear you are!" she said winsomely, patting his paw. "Hurry along now."

"…Yes ma'am…"

Her previous anxiety was forgotten with the prospect of owning her very own books; the hours dwindled by as she ignored Law entirely and continued browsing through the shelves. Bepo didn't return, probably fearing that she would make him carry more of the heavy volumes.

She had just put away a book when a bright blue one on a higher shelf caught her eye. Try as she might, she couldn't reach it; her fingers only barely scraped the bottom. Wishing she was a little taller, she was just considering looking for a stool or chair when she almost squeaked like a mouse with surprise. Law had approached on noiseless feet and stood directly behind her. She could feel the warmth of his nearness, and his hand brushed hers as he pulled out the book she'd been reaching for and handed it to her, smiling. She was suddenly aware of her pulse throbbing wildly through her veins.

So quietly that she almost couldn't hear herself, she muttered her thanks and quickly buried her nose in the book, hoping he'd take the hint and give her some space. She looked up, frowning slightly, when she felt his amusement.

"What exactly is so funny?" she asked, annoyed.

A lopsided grin touched his face, and his eyes crinkled at the edges. "Your book is upside-down."

She looked down. It was. Drawing a deep breath and feeling her face redden, she suddenly wished that chucking the book at him wouldn't be quite so immature. She froze when he placed a hand under her chin, his thumb brushing gently across her lower lip. His gaze burned into her as his eyes silently laughed at her sudden breathlessness, and he clearly enjoyed the feeling of her skin against his fingertips.

"You sure are cute when you blush, love. I've found what I need, and I'm going back to the sub. Make sure you have someone with you when you leave."

She snapped out of her stunned silence when he released her. "I'm not your love, you asshole! And don't touch me!"

He only laughed softly as he left.

.

.

It was Aaron who accompanied her when she left the castle later that evening. As easygoing as ever, he seemed oblivious of her crankiness. The happiness she'd woken up to had evaporated completely; she was embarrassed and upset, and angry with herself for being embarrassed and upset. And she was annoyed with Law. Very annoyed with Law. The less she saw of him, the better.

"So what was it you wanted to do in town?"

"I need to pick up some clothes I bought yesterday. And maybe I could find someone to talk to…"

"You have plenty of people to talk to!"

"I mean normal people. And girls. I need to have the company of other females every once and a while. For my sanity's sake."

"I know what you mean," Aaron agreed, nodding wisely. "I could use a little female companionship, too."

She shot him a scathing look. "You'd like the companionship of a vagina." She said scornfully. "That's not what I'm talking about."

A look of indignant shock crossed his face, and he pretended to stumble, clutching his hat to his head. "Yowza! Tone it down a notch there, sister!"

"What, have a problem with me saying va—"

—"Shhh!" he pressed a finger to her lips, glancing around fearfully. The last thing he needed was his captain, or anyone for that matter, to walk in on him and Shinju discussing reproductive organs.

Turning onto the street that contained the shop she'd visited yesterday, Shinju picked up the parcels she'd rather rudely been forced to leave behind. The old woman who ran the shop had held onto them, and she said she was glad that she was able to return them to the girl. Shinju found this woman to be much more animated and cheerful than she had been; Torgrüns death had done nothing but good for her and the other townsfolk.

Aaron tapped his foot and sighed repeatedly when she was talking to the lady, until finally she said goodbye and they left the shop.

"Soo…captain seemed pretty cheerful after he left the library today. Why was that?"

"How should I know?" she snapped.

"Jeez, forget I asked. You're so grumpy. Guess it's just that time of m—"

Abruptly, her face was mere inches from his own, and he could have sworn he saw a demonic red glint in her eyes. An aura of darkness surrounded her.

"Make one crack about my menstrual cycle, and I'll make you wish you were dead."

He put his hands up in surrender, backing away slowly.

Men! They're all idiots!

.

Later at dinner, when Aaron took a seat next to his closest compatriot, Kenta, he muttered, "Watch out for Shinju today." He kept an eye on her as she sat down, rigid and frowning, with a plate of food, then jerked his head in her direction and mouthed "pms" to his friend. He instantly put an innocent smile on his face when Shinju glared at him. Kenta rolled his eyes.

She kept her eyes on her food, concentrating every particle of her mind on ignoring the man at the head of the table, but when he laid a book open in front of himself and leaned forward to address his crew with a conspiratorial smile on his face, she couldn't help but pay attention.

"Most of what I found was useless. All accept this account of one man who traveled to an island not far from this one:

To all who would travel unto the shrouded land of Rhith, veiled forever by eternal mist, even if ye count yourself among the greatest of men, dare ye not to set foot in the abominable place therein: the Forest of Illusions. Seek ye not the treasure there. Though the swains that abide there be uncouth, heed their warnings: all who seek the power of the stone shall be forever lost; their minds eaten by insanity, their bodies eaten by dust, their spirits wandering forevermore."

A small silence followed this ominous pronouncement, then Vash said, "So…there's treasure there, right?" to which Law and a number of others merely replied with reckless grins.

Shinju nearly banged her head on the table in disgust. They already had treasure, how much more did they want? If this traveler's word could be trusted, this 'Forest of Illusions' place sounded pretty dangerous. Come to think of it, that's probably the only reason they're so interested. She told herself glumly. And what did it mean by 'stone'? Was it a very valuable stone, a gem perhaps? But would that count as a whole treasure? What was its power? She found that she was curious in spite of herself, and even a little excited. How strong have I become, really?

Law leaned back in his chair, eyes closed, a casual smile on his face as he listened to his crew's excited chatter. Only one word of the traveler's account had really caught his attention: power. I'm going to need that—and plenty of it—on the road ahead. And if I can find something that'll give me a little head start…well, why not?

.

.

The next morning, as they prepared to depart, Shinju swallowed a bit of her pride for a good cause. She pleaded and cajoled, and Law watched, head tilted slightly and a small smile on his mouth and in his eyes, until finally—after she'd said please many times—he turned to one of his crew and ordered that a portion of treasure be left behind for the villagers. The man was surprised, to say the least, but hurried to do as his captain bid.

As the pirates set off, the townspeople crowded around outside the village gates to wave goodbye and shout their thanks.

"This is unnatural." Kenta grumbled as he and Shinju stood by the rail. Some of the other men were also wearing similar expressions of disquiet.

"Aw, come on," Shinju laughed, happily waving back to the crowd. "There's nothing wrong with being liked—it's a good thing!"

"It's unnatural." He repeated. They stood in silence for a while, watching the island fade into the distance behind them. Then he said, "He's changed, because of you. The Captain, I mean. Before, he'd never have given any treasure to those villagers. It's bad for his reputation."

She shrugged. "He shouldn't worry so much about what other people think. I though he didn't like following rules."

Kenta scowled. "It's not the same thing."

"It seems pretty similar to me." She cast him a sidelong glance. "Is it—you guys don't mind it, do you? The change?"

He thought for a moment, and then said, "No. He seems…less harsh, now. Not just how he deals with others, but how he thinks of himself."

She wasn't sure what to make of that, but at least it was encouraging.

.

Shinju had resolved to avoid Law for the time being, and figured that she could remain relatively comfortable if she put the thought of what had happened between them out of her mind. Law, however, had different ideas. He clearly was thinking about what had happened, and he let her know it in a thousand tiny ways. Whenever he wasn't busy, (and it was amazing how much time he seemed to have) he'd find her; whether she was painting in her room, sitting at her favorite observation window, catching some air on deck or reading at the dinner table. No doubt remembering how she had demanded that he not touch her, he'd always have some opportunity or excuse to do just that; his hand brushing lingeringly over her face or hair, or resting casually on her knee or shoulder. He was making sure she was aware that he hadn't forgotten their kiss, and that he wasn't going to let her forget it either.

His eyes were different now, when he watched her. Sometimes there was a gentleness in them that made her catch her breath, and still other times their grey depths held a smoldering want, and a slow smile would creep over his face. She would flush, and if she didn't find somewhere else to be quickly, on of his hands would reach out to touch her. She noticed that, perversely, the more uncomfortable he made her, the happier he seemed to be.

With rueful regret, Shinju remembered how, after his little outburst of emotion that time she'd been shot at Sem Perayaan, she'd taken so much enjoyment in irritating him. Her own outburst in the library had given him a similar glimpse of her emotions. She was sure when she saw his smug grin that he was getting even; now it was his turn to pester her, a thing he did with an enthusiasm that was very nearly sadistic. Swallowing her irritation, she stubbornly put all her effort into acting as though she didn't care; it was pretty much all she could do about it. Grinning, he took up the challenge with undisguised relish, and before she realized it, it had turned into a sort of game; he awarded himself points whenever he broke through her pretend indifference.

The mounting tension between Shinju and Law did not go unnoticed by the crew, of course, and they found it to be highly entertaining. They snickered and grinned as she passed, and none of her evil glares could completely quell their teasing. Shinju guessed that it wasn't every day they saw their captain engaged in such an interesting battle of wills, and wondered if they were taking bets. They probably were.

.

Becoming increasingly flustered with their unofficial game, Shinju spent more time than ever in the training room. He rarely had an opportunity to bother her there, but she discovered that she couldn't really relax anywhere—unless she wanted to spend all day hiding in her bathroom; there wasn't anywhere else that he wouldn't sneak up on her unexpectedly. She did have a less timid reason for training more often, however: she wanted to draw out the power she had used on Torgrün.

"I just—can't—get it!" She gritted between punches. It was fairly late at night, and she was the only one in the training room, well, except for one intrusive observer. She'd been focusing with all her might on recalling the exact feeling she'd experienced when she'd first used 'haki', but the sandbag that was taking her aggression was remaining infuriatingly solid, instead of exploding, or flying across the room, or something.

Finally she flopped down to sit on the floor, exhausted. "I know I can use the power—I remember what it felt like—but I can't get it to come out again!"

Law, who'd been leaning against the wall as he watched her, sighed. "You won't bring it out in an ordinary training room. Your situation has to be desperate. Learning to control it will take time."

A crafty expression crossed her face. "So, I need to be in danger for it to work, huh…" She smiled as her imagination went into overdrive, picturing herself standing victorious over fearsome monsters. Perhaps she could find some way to save a few hapless pirates from certain doom…that would sure show them…

He narrowed his eyes, suddenly looking at her very closely. "No, I know what you're thinking, and you need to stop. Don't even think of coming up with some mad scheme to get into trouble behind my back."

Striding over to her, he tugged her to her feet.

"You get into enough trouble without trying." His hands moved to her hips, pulling her closer to him. She shivered, recognizing that look in his eyes. His grip was warm and firm on the bare skin just above the waistband of her sweatpants. She felt as if the blush that had started on her face was spreading over her whole body.

"I'm not going to let anything happen to you…" His soft voice now held a dark, alluring quality, and that familiar, languorous, half-mocking smile spread across his mouth; she thought of a cat that was just biting you in play, but at any moment might start biting for real.

"L—um, don't." remembering his distaste for being given orders, she added through gritted teeth, "please."

She tried uselessly to remove his grasp, but his hands wouldn't budge. He was too close; she could see the shadows under his eyes so clearly, his eyelashes, the skin of his lips stretching taught as his smile widened…The warmth of his body and the expectant tension mounting between them made her tremble. His eyes, also, held her and wouldn't let go.

"Shinju…why won't you say my name?"

She drew in a deep breath, trying to ignore his scent. "Mr. Trafalgar, I would prefer it if you wouldn't—"

"—that's not what I meant and you know it—"

Her face was taking on that obstinate look—the stubborn set of her mouth and angry flash of her eyes—that meant that argument would get him nowhere. With a resigned sigh, he let her go. He watched her cast him one swift glance before she hurried out of the room.

Why couldn't she just let herself be seduced, like most women would have? Trust her to be difficult on all accounts. The way he couldn't stop himself from watching her, the compulsion to organize his days so he would have time to be near her, was starting to make him feel like he had some sort of addiction; every encounter only left him wanting more. Whenever he had a spare moment, his feet would automatically take him to wherever she happened to be; when he couldn't be with her, his thought almost always were. He was almost too preoccupied to concentrate on his duties as captain. What would his men think if they knew just how thoroughly he was distracted by one silly little girl? He had to do something about it.

Her cold, fragile-seeming beauty, like the steel of a blade, the flicker of emotions she kept hidden from him behind her willful eyes, and her faint scent of jasmine and spice continued to haunt his dreams, always just beyond his reach. He was far too proud and self-assured to admit that he was captivated; the word "love" never entered his mind—he couldn't allow it to. It would make him too…vulnerable. He would just have to seduce her, that's all. Simple. She'd give in, in the end, and his problems would be solved. They'd both be happy.

She couldn't resist him forever.

.

Shinju's hands shook slightly as she let herself into her room, and the butterflies were back in her stomach. She could still feel his touch…

Closing the door forcefully and wishing that she could lock it, she leaned against it, trying to breathe slowly. That time had been even worse than the others. The powerful emotions that she'd felt in his Heart and saw in his gaze made her afraid. It felt as if, at the slightest push, he might lose his control over them, but she knew that it was something else that truly frightened her: the fact that, deep inside, she half wanted him to.

.

She awoke suddenly in the dead of night, sitting bolt-upright, a horrible thrill of fear coursing though her. At first she didn't understand what was making her feel this way; then the realization struck her: someone was holding her heart!

To Be continued!