Me: Let's do an experiment. I want you guys to see how long it takes me to write a chapter. I'm starting this at 4:10 PM, EST, on Sunday, May 12, 2013.

Disclaimer: -rolls eyes- Can you get any more specific?

Me: Shush up and do what I pay you for.

Disclaimer: You don't pay me anything! I'm just a random voice you use to bicker and banter with.

Me: -glare-

Disclaimer: -sigh- Shiningheart of ThunderClan doesn't own One Piece.

Chapter 10: Unnamed Because Shiny Couldn't Think of Anything

"Have I ever mentioned that I hate shopping? No? Because I hate shopping." The grumble came, not from Penguin or Shachi, but the benefactor herself. The two Heart Pirates on either side of her grunted in agreement before all three sighed and slumped on the bench they were sitting on. They, plus Cyrus and Sam, were all in a clothing store. Fifth one that day, as a matter of fact. All three had bags around them, though Nadeen had lighter bags per Law's orders. "If she's carrying more than five pounds when you get back, all four of you are on laundry duty for the next month." Laundry duty was apparently something to be feared. The only bags she had to carry had a pack of socks and some female toiletries.

Cyrus stopped in front of them with a pout. He had his own bags hanging from his arms, but they didn't seem to impede his whirlwind shopping spree. "It's not that bad! You three are just being sourpusses." Nadeen stuck her tongue out at him childishly, prompting chuckles from the three men around her. "Anyway, Sammy found a dress that I think is absolutely adorable. You simply must try it on, Nadeen-chan!"

Nadeen puffed an exasperated sigh and fixed a scolding glare at the make-up wearing man. "Just because Dock offered to pay for my clothes doesn't mean we can take advantage of it! What would I need a dress for anyway? That fancy restaurant that I'll never be invited to? HA!" They entered a glaring contest, Cyrus with his hands on his hips and Nadeen with her arms crossed. "No, Cyrus. Get what you've picked out already and we'll go back to the hotel Mitch put us up at."

Cyrus scowled in defeat and waved his hand, presumably calling the young pirate to the group. He turned back to the female with a pout. "You mean the hotel Mitch put you up at. The only reason he's being so nice is because of you. Honestly, I thought Captain-chan was going to rip him a new one when he jostled your ribs by pulling you against him." Despite herself, Nadeen felt a sadistic smirk tug at her lips. She hadn't yet seen Law fight. If Mitch kept baiting him, though, she had a feeling she'd see it before the month was up.

Penguin rolled his eyes and stood, stretching his arms above his head until his shoulders cracked. "Trust me. If Captain and Mitchell do end up fighting, Mitchell will have more to worry about than getting an extra hole added to his body." Sam took that moment to appear from the mountains of clothes. He looked to be having a bit of trouble, since the pile of clothes in his arms was bigger than he was. "Need help there, squirt?"

Sam squeaked an affirmative, and the senior Heart Pirates took some clothes into their arms. When he could see again, the teen sighed in relief before smiling at Nadeen. "Do you want to look through these before we pay for them? Just to make sure you're comfortable with what you wear!"

Nadeen smiled while she stood and ruffled his hair affectionately. At 22 years old, she never had much of a chance of exploring her maternal instincts. Perhaps that explained why being around the boy sent them roaring. "Hon, if I wasn't comfortable wearing something, I wouldn't wear it. I'd change it into something else."

His eyes widened in surprise as they all walked towards the register. "You can do that?" She barely got out a hum of assent before he cried, "That's awesome! Can you teach me? How do you do it? When did you learn? Can you change anything into an entirely different thing, like pants into a shirt?"

Her giggle shut him up, a blush quickly lighting up his features. "In order of questions: If you want me to, rather easily, during my childhood, and I'd need more tools than scissors and a needle, but it's possible. Dye to change colors, fabric to add layers, bobby pins to keep fabric in place..." Nadeen took note of the surprise on the faces of the three older men. "I'll tell you the same thing I told Law. I was raised in servitude, taught by an entire household of maids and butlers to do multiple things to make my life easier. I can sew, cook, clean, and con a poker man out of his money faster than you can say 'cheater'."

They all gave her curious looks at that, but Shachi was the one to voice their thoughts. "Why would servants teach a little girl how to con a man out of his money?" She swore they all shuddered a little when her smile expanded to show the edges of her teeth. "On second thought, I don't think I want to know..."

Too bad, they were going to learn anyway. "It was actually Nana, the matriarch of the family, that taught me. She was the mistress of the house. I couldn't tell whether she saw me more as a junior servant or a granddaughter. I never got to ask her before she died." Her eyes misted over in remembrance. The others kept quiet, though Nadeen wasn't sure if it was out of respect or they wanted to hear more.

Or they could just not give a damn. Either way, she was going on. "I told Law that I left my home island to find my parents. That's true, but it's not the whole story. I could have lived the rest of my life happily on that little spit of land without ever knowing. It was Nana's last request, though. She told me, on her deathbed, that she wanted me to find my place in the world. I figure the first step to doing that is to find out who I am. Hence, the searching for my genetic donors."

She glanced over at all them. Shachi and Penguin had both cracked a smile at her light-hearted tone, but that was all. Cyrus had wet eyes, like he was trying not to cry. Nadeen gave it less than a minute until the waterworks came unless she changed the subject. Sam was staring at the ground with blank, expressionless eyes. There were memories in there, dark ones that shouldn't belong to one so young.

'Oh shit... Distraction, distraction, distraction!' The red-haired woman looked around the marketplace they found themselves in. The mist had lightened as the sun rose, but it was still noticeably there. The town had first given the impression of a sleepy little place where not a lot happened. That couldn't have been farther from the truth. Vendors shouted, shoppers browsed, children laughed, and a band of musicians were playing on a corner. 'Oh, there's a good one.'

She gave a loud, single clap. All four of the men startled and stared at her suddenly smiling face. "Ooh, I love this song!" She threw her two bags on top of Cyrus's pile and pranced forward. "When cold wind's a-calling, and the sky is clear and bright! Misty mountains sing and beckon, lead me out into the light!" she sang along, twirling around in circles.

Her ribs gave a painful twinge, but Nadeen ignored it. If she could bring her new friends comfort from their thoughts about her past, a little pain wouldn't stop her. They all followed after her, laughing at her childish glee. "I will ride, I will fly! Chase the wind and touch the sky. I will fly, chase the wind and touch the skyyyy!"

Nadeen thought, in a way, it described a pirate's journey. Out in the wilderness with only their wits and nakama to rely on, and quests for adventure. "Where dark woods hide secrets, and mountains are fierce and bold! Deep waters hold reflections, of times lost long ago!"

A small crowd formed around them, clapping along with the beat. Some children ran into the center and danced with her, giggling breathlessly. Nadeen picked one of them up and spun with her. "I will hear their every story, take hold of my own dream! Be as strong as the seas are stormy, and proud as an eagle's scream! I will ride, I will fly! Chase the wind and touch the sky! I will fly! Chase the wind and touch the sky!"

-Law's POV-

He watched, hidden in the shadows of an alley, as Nadeen danced and sung. He hadn't heard the song before, but he wasn't exactly up to date on the most recent music. Wasn't really able to, what with being at the bottom of the sea. If Law was being honest, Nadeen didn't have the greatest of voices. Her voice cracked at the highest notes and seemed strained at the lower ones, but it certainly wasn't the worst he'd ever heard.

And besides that, she wasn't really trying. He could see it in the way she smiled and danced like a loon. He hadn't been able to hear her quiet words to the others, but they all held expressions like someone had just stabbed their grandma. Nadeen had probably said something that upset them, and was now trying to cheer them up. Law would never tell anyone, even under threat of death, but he appreciated the gesture. None of them were prone to angst, even Sam, and it was damn depressing to see all of them down.

Nadeen finished the song with a grand sweep of her arms and lowered into a deep bow. The people around them cheered and applauded before dispersing. Law waited until she was back with his crew members before turning away. She'd be safe with them. That's when she suddenly let out a distressed cry, and he spun back around to find her clinging to her side, in particular where he knew one of the breaks was. Penguin had dropped all the bags he'd been carrying immediately and caught her when her her knees gave out.

The yelling started even as Law started fast-walking over. "What the hell?! Why didn't you say anything if it hurt that much, you idiot?!" Penguin yelled. He carefully lowered the both of them to the ground and pulled the red-haired woman into his lap, letting her rest without getting dirty.

Law almost chuckled when she gave the penguin-capped man dirty look. A completely unnecessary dirty look, considering the question was a valid one, but the expression was enough to draw amusement from the pirate captain. "It didn't hurt until I was stupid enough to bow at the end! Honestly, you'd think I'd learn from the last time I had broken ribs. Excess activity only aggravates the injuries further."

Shachi spoke next, and his tone was rather exasperated. Like Penguin, he had dropped his bags when Nadeen fell, leaving his hands free to throw themselves in the air. "Then why go prancing around like a drunk bastard when common sense says to stay freaking still?!"

The Dark Doctor was almost directly behind her now when she blurted out, "I piss off the Surgeon of fucking Death in every other conversation we have. What part of that suggests I have any common sense?" None of them said anything, looking over her and directly at their captain. "... He's standing right behind me, isn't he?"

He really should have been irritated with her blatant disregard for her own health. At the very least, annoyed. Instead, he chuckled in amusement at the dry tone she used. "Your powers of observation are astounding." he drawled sarcastically, smirking when she looked upside down at him. The look on her face was half-nervous, half amused. Both were understandable. "Did you feel a crack when you bowed?" He kneeled next to her and Penguin so that neither had to crane their heads to see him, reaching out to gently remove her hand from her side.

Nadeen winced as he did so, before nodding stiffly. Her voice was rough with pain when he laid a finger on the area. "Yeah. Bigger than the other ones. Either the crack got bigger, or it actually broke. In which case, I finally get to honor my word about you operating without anesthetics!" The forced cheer made him roll his eyes, and Law drew a squeak from her when he flicked her nose. She covered the offended appendage with a small glare on her face. "The hell was that for?!" she growled. Accompanied with the wetness in her eyes and the redness on her cheeks, it wasn't really intimidating.

Law gave her a blank look. "You're a pirate. You don't have to honor your word about anything." His tone matched his expression, not giving anything away. Nadeen blew him a raspberry, finally taking her hand away from her nose. It had gone red, both from his flick and her holding it. A smirk tugged at his mouth and he started humming Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer as he checked over her other injuries.

When he was satisfied, he took a look at her face. The look she wore was even dirtier than the one she gave Penguin. "You are so lucky I can't hit you, Captain." she griped with a pout.

He smirked at her. "I'm fairly certain you're not the only one who wants to hit me on occasion." His gaze went to Penguin and then Shachi. They nodded, not even trying to deny it. There'd be no use, really. The trio of pirates made it a habit to annoy the piss out of each other in the way only best friends could. Law motioned for Shachi to pick his bags back up. "Were you heading back to the hotel or the sub to put away your new clothes?"

Nadeen blew her breath out with a puff before answering. "We were going to the hotel, but now I think it'd be best to go to the sub. You should probably take another look at the rest of my ribs to see if they're healing or if you should tie me to a bed to restrain me." The others around them shifted in a way that made Law grin wolfishly. Nadeen saw the look and realized exactly what she said. "Not. A. Word." she said warningly.

And like the bastard he was, Law didn't listen. "This is, what, the third, fourth time you've hinted something like that in my presence? Keep that up and I'm going to start suspecting you're coming on to me."

She scowled at him, but then it morphed into the type of grin Law himself gave when he knew he had an enemy beaten. "And encroach on Cyrus's territory? Yeah, hell no. Bitches be crazy when possessive." Law's eye twitched as everyone, even the aforementioned crossdresser, snickered at his expense.

But Law was never one to accept defeat so easily. He forced a chuckle, the strain on it clear even to his ears. "Mister Cyrus wouldn't mind. He just wants to see me happy, doesn't he?" The agreement was slow in coming, and Law gave his navigator an annoyed look. "Doesn't he?" Cyrus managed to contain his amusement enough to nod multiple times. "There, you see?"

Nadeen snorted in amusement, mouth twitching into a smile. "I'll keep that in mind. Now, who's carrying me and who's getting the bags?" She looked back and forth between Law and Penguin, who both had deadpanned as soon as she asked. "What, you never know if any more movement could just make it worse, right?"

Law rubbed the bridge of his nose in irritation before looking at Penguin. "Unfortunately, she's right. I want to limit her movement until I can look at the damage. Since you already have her, I'll take the bags. Mister Dock should have the sub moored at his shipyard by now, so we'll go there." All of them, even Nadeen, gave an 'Aye, Captain'. Penguin got his hands under Nadeen's knees while her arms went around his neck, and he carefully stood up to minimize the jolting. Law picked up the bags with her clothes while the others started walking. He had to jog lightly to get to the front, standing at Nadeen's head. "You might even get to see Mister Mitchell!"

To his surprise, her expression morphed into a scowl. "Oh, goodie. I get to put up with a love-struck idiot and pretend to appreciate it."

The pirate captain gave a mocking surprised look and faked a soothing tone. "Trouble in paradise already? That didn't take long. What did he do to earn your ire already?" He didn't quite manage to hide the amused tone because Nadeen flashed him an annoyed look. Seeing he was caught, Law dropped the act and snickered. "Just trying to help, is all. No need for the poisonous looks!"

Nadeen huffed and took her arms from around Penguin's neck to cross them over her chest. "'Trying to help' my ass. You know as well as I do that he's interested in only one thing, and I can't exactly do that one thing in my current state." Sam seemed to be the only one who didn't get it, as all of the other men chuckled. "Oh shush up, the lot of ya!"

-Chapter End-

Pages: 5 on Google Docs

Words: 2876

Me: Chapter finished at 11:40 PM, EST, on Monday, May 20, 2013. So, this seemed more like a filler than anything. Nothing important happened except that we got a closer look at Sam, and a bit more background on Nadeen's Nana. Next chapter, though, things pick up. Thanks for reading, now review!