Krysta stayed within her quarters the rest of the day, which suited Law just fine. After they departed Amazon Lily he was able to take time to re-order his thoughts and establish some self-control. When he had kissed her his intention had been to diffuse the ensuing headache the Pirate Empress was becoming as well as to invoke a change in expression from Krysta. Her melancholy had begun to grate on his nerves. Law preferred her stubborn, biting façade.

What Law did not expect was the need that flooded him afterward. He already admitted she was attractive and he enjoyed teasing her but, he had not had any real desire for her until that moment. When she got in his face he was hard pressed not to drag her into his quarters or follow her into her own.

Law was certain she wouldn't even entertain the idea if her claims to love were true. He was mildly curious which of her crew had won her affection. If he had to bet, his money would be on Pirate Hunter Zoro. She had been crying out for him after all.

Law concluded it had just been too long since he'd indulged a woman. Once they reached a more reasonable island he'd sate his basic needs and his original curiosity for Krysta would resume its place ahead of his desires.

The next time he saw Krysta was at breakfast the next morning. Law decided then that he had been extremely generous in his understanding of her emotional and physical state over the course of the past two weeks. It was time to find out if she was truly worth his time.

"Since you reiterated just how dangerous you are Krysta-ya, you will be giving a full demonstration of your Devil Fruit this morning," Laws voice was indifferent, but he couldn't help but smirk when he noticed her hesitate in her movements briefly at the reminder of their encounter the day before.

"Fine," Krysta's response was equally indifferent.

X*X*X*X

Out on the deck Krysta glanced around briefly before taking up a position just outside the shadow cast by the unfurled sail. Heart Pirates that weren't currently busy with other duties gathered around to watch.

"I'll need someone to help me," Krysta's eyes swept over those present.

"I'm the only one you'll be using your abilities on today Krysta-ya." Law stood opposite her closer to the railing.

Krysta raised a brow at him.

"Alright, I ate the Shade-Shade Fruit, I can manipulate shadows." Krysta tapped her chin, deciding what she would show him first. "Will you draw your sword please." She pointed at Laws nodachi.

Law brought the blade before him and unsheathed it in one fluid motion. He watched in fascination as Krysta's shadow stretched forward until it touched the shadow his nodachi cast. Krysta brought her hands together in front of her, mimicking the way he held his own weapon. As she pulled her hands apart a pitch-black replica of his Kikoku appeared.

"I can make replicas of any object if I come into contact with their shadows." Krysta lunged toward Law, a ring resounding across deck as their blades met. "As well as utilize them in battle."

"My shadows can be solid," Krysta kept her blade pressed to Laws a moment before his sword passed through hers and he stumbled forward a pace, his balance thrown off, "Or permeable."

Law glared at the smirk on Krysta's face as she retreated a few steps, the shadow nodachi shifting into random shapes before she dropped it back into her shadow.

"I can move objects with their shadows and under the right circumstances, people."

Krysta's shadow shot forward and Law felt his body go rigid, he couldn't move. Krysta's shadow was now connected to his own. Horror flooded him as she moved across from him, his body moving to match hers as she sheathed his nodachi before reaching up and plucking the hat from his head, sweeping it before him in a low bow. There were a couple of snickers that came from the onlookers. Law was not amused, and the momentary fear was replaced with rage.

Krysta felt the shift in his demeanor and flicked her wrist, the shadow at his feet instead winding up along his body. Law felt the break in pressure as his body was once again his, but now he was restrained by the shadow coiled around him. He looked up, intent on telling Krysta that he'd seen enough only to find she'd disappeared.

Law flinched as her arms came around him from behind, one over his shoulder, the other across his torso. Her chin came to rest on the opposite shoulder. Knowing she was shorter than him Law glanced down to see that she had boosted herself up with her shadow.

"I can move through shadows," she said softly, "and I've got one more trick. You might want to hold your breath."

Law was going to demand why when his vision went black, his stomach rolling at the sudden weightlessness he felt. It was fleeting and when his vision returned he was standing in the shade next to the hatch, facing the spot he had just been standing in. Krysta was hunched over beside him, hands on her knees as she caught her breath.

"I'm still working on that one," she huffed, "First time I did it, it knocked me on my a—"

Krysta was cut short as Law slammed her against the wall beside the hatch, his hand tight around her throat.

"What the hell was that," he seethed, his eyes were dark, clouded by hatred. Krysta knew in the back of her mind that the hatred wasn't for her, though she wasn't sure how she knew. She had triggered something with her shadow possession.

"Exactly what you wanted," choked Krysta, "now back off!" She grabbed his wrist and hoisted both her feet off the ground to kick him square in the chest. Suddenly supporting Krysta's weight with one arm threw him off balance enough for her kick to send him stumbling back several feet.

Krysta hoisted herself off the deck where she landed, coughing now that she could breath. Law had a hand against his chest, surprise clear on his features, but he recovered quickly, and anger was starting to mar his features once more.

"The shadow possession only worked because you weren't expecting it," Krysta supplied hastily, "If you'll chill for two seconds I can teach you how to break it."

Law paused at her words, taking a deep breath to calm himself he nodded for her to continue. Krysta nearly sighed in relief, for a moment she thought he was going to kill her.

"First thing you need to understand is that human shadows differ from the shadows of inanimate objects. It's not just your body blocking the light, its more like a projection of your personality, your strength of will. I can gauge a person's strength by studying their shadows. Your shadow is much stronger than mine. You could easily overpower it." Krysta paused waiting for some reaction from Law, but he had schooled his features into an unreadable mask of neutrality. "Are you willing to try?"

Law realized that her explanation was an attempt to appease him, knowing that he valued information. She was genuinely afraid of what he might do, and he felt a pang of guilt for directing his fury on her, she was only doing as she was told. The similarity her possession had to Jokers own power had caught him by surprise. Law hated surprises.

Law nodded once more, and Krysta moved back into direct sunlight. Law followed.

"You felt it when I took over," Krysta asked. Law nodded, "All you have to do is focus on breaking through that feeling."

Krysta brought her arm up in front of her.

"Ready?"

"Proceed," Law watched as her shadow stretched forward again until it touched his. Tension flooded him as he lost control once again. He focused on pushing the heaviness away and felt it give slightly before it pushed back. Krysta raised her other hand, her brows furrowed in concentration. Law gave another hard push and his body was free. There was an audible snap as Krysta's power recoiled, sending her sprawling to the deck. Law could see her whole body shaking as she pushed herself into a sitting position.

"Fuck that was fast," she rasped, "I wasn't even holding back." Krysta swallowed back the bile that had risen in her throat; her entire body felt like it was being assaulted by pins and needles. She heard a few murmured words pass among the heart pirates watching as Laws boots appeared in front of her. Looking up she found his hand being offered to her. Brushing it aside she forced her limbs to bring her to her feet. She stumbled once, and Laws hand went to steady her, but she once again avoided his grasp. Law frowned at her stubbornness.

"I already told you I don't use my power on people unless I have no other option. You have nothing to fear from me," Krysta strode purposefully back into the sub, leaving Law and his men in awe behind her.

X*X*X*X*X

It's been more than a week.

My apologies.

I was much busier than anticipated, hopefully I'll get a good routine down that gives me time to type.

Till Next Time.