Hello all!

Thanks for the reviews:

10th Squad 3rd Seat - Hmm…I wonder what he's planning.

Shiningheart of ThunderClan - Yup, and that's exactly why I wrote that scene.

aqua-empress - I love reactions to that eyeball scene, lol.

And thank you to favouriters and followers! Hmmm…this time I will make and send through the internet a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup. You know…these "thank you" spots make me hungry. O_o

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The Grand Line Arc

Masks and Contradictions

Rayne didn't know what to do. After she made breakfast for the crew, she washed the dishes and frowned in thought. Obviously they couldn't make a move toward that child slave-ring during the daytime so they had to wait for nightfall. But what could she do to pass the time. Serenity was being entertained by Bepo who was happy to do it. It was cute how close the two became.

She hated being bored. She needed something to keep herself busy. But what?

"Rayne?" The bear's voice drew her from her thoughts.

"Yes, Bepo?"

"Captain ordered me to go into town, can you watch Serenity?"

"Sure thing, sweety." She smiled at the bear.

The little girl ran over to her. The cook stood from her seat and picked the child up, carrying her to her room. They sat on the bed, Serenity's back to her chest.

"Would you like me to comb your hair, Ren?"

The girl nodded happily so Rayne busied herself with her task. She brushed the girl's short, soft grey hair until it was smooth. After that, she decided to braid a piece on the side. It was difficult with how short the hair was, but the girl said nothing, only smiled in a child-like innocent way. The brunette didn't know when, or why, but she started to sing as she worked.

"I was so happy when you smiled, your smile breaks through the clouds of grey, far from the sunny days that lie in sleep. Waiting with patience for the spring, where the flowers will bloom renewed again, knowing there's more beyond the pain of today. Although the scars from yesterday remain, you can go on living as much as your heart believes. You can't be born again, although you can change: let's stay together, always."

"Your voice is pretty."

"Why thank you, sweety."

When Rayne was done with the braid, she pulled the girl in her arms and hugged her tightly. They both giggled as the older female buried her face in the soft locks.

"You're so cute, I love you!"

~x~x~x~

Law was frozen as he stood outside of Rayne's door. He had been on his way to the messdeck when her soft voice caught his attention. She was singing. He didn't know what to do. He waited as she finished the song then heard her laughing and talking with Serenity. He wanted to hear her sing more. If he waited long enough, would she? He doubted she would sing on his command. How would she react if she knew he had been listening. He smirked at the thought. Something else to tease her with later…

The captain was about to continue on his way when he heard his name coming from the other side of the door. He stepped closer to it and listened.

~x~x~x~

"Are you alright being on this ship?"

Serenity nodded. "The captain is a little scary."

Rayne couldn't help but laugh at that. "He does look scary but he's nice enough, I suppose."

"Really?" The girl sounded doubtful.

The older woman turned the girl to face her. "Yes, really. He didn't have to do anything about what's going on on this island. But he chose to help out."

"I thought it was because you wanted to help me."

"I would have helped either way, to be honest. Having the captain agree just makes things easier."

"Do you like him?"

Her innocent question made the cook blush. "He's my captain, I gotta like him."

"Why is your face red? Are you sick?"

"Ren-"

Before Rayne could say anything else, the door to her room opened and Law leaned lazily against the metal frame. He had a smirk on his face and the brunette knew the man had heard their conversation. But how much had he heard exactly?

"Did someone say sick? As the doctor on this ship, I can't have any of my crew coming down with something."

The cook glared at him but Serenity spoke up before she could say anything. "Rayne's face is red! She might have a fever."

"That's not good at all." The Dark Doctor walked over to the two girls. "Serenity-ya, stay here for a bit while I give Rayne-ya a check-up in the infirmary."

"I'm not-"

"Aye, aye, captain!" The little girl nodded seriously.

The Surgeon of Death's smirk only widened as he picked up a blushing Rayne and carried her from the room. She struggled in his arms but he only chuckled in response. He ignored her protests until they reached the infirmary.

"Damn it, Law! Put me down!"

"That sounded like an order."

The young woman stiffened in his arms. He placed her down on the metal slab and when she tried to sit up he held her down with a hand around her neck. Her dark eyes were wide with fear and he noticed that she started fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. She had even began nibbling on her bottom lip which made him want to do the same. It only took a few more seconds before she gazed off to the side, her nerves making her unable to keep eye contact. His expression gave nothing away as he leaned down over her and whispered into her ear.

"It would seem that remembering to watch your words is becoming difficult for you. Perhaps you need some assistance."

"I'm sorry." The words were shaky but they gave him pause.

The captain lifted himself up off of his cook but his hand remained around her neck. She had started shaking and her eyes were getting watery with unshed tears. He was confused. He expected her to fight more. He frowned in disappointment and with a sigh, released her. She sat up slowly as he turned to leave the room.

"That was certainly anti-climactic." Law froze at the brunette's words and turned back around.

Rayne was wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her jacket. When she noticed he had stopped, she giggled and smiled at him. She turned and let her legs dangle over the edge of the slab.

"For someone who doesn't like lies, you sure do suck at detecting deception."

The Dark Doctor stared at her in disbelief for a few seconds before walking back over to her, anger simmering in his grey eyes. Before he could say or do anything the brunette held her hands out, touching his chest and keeping him at arm's length.

"You can be mad at me all you want. Punish me, hurt me if it makes you feel better. But I won't change. I've been the way I am for years, for so long that I can't just be someone else all of a sudden."

"You seem to switch who you are at your convenience all the time."

"Wearing the appropriate mask in any given situation is who I am."

"Do you even know who the real you is?"

The cook laughed. "Of course. Only an idiot would get caught up in an illusion."

Law knew she certainly was no idiot. She was surprisingly wise. But now that she was revealing these things to him, he wanted the truth. And he wanted it now.

"In the time since you've been a part of my crew, how many masks have you worn?"

"Other than getting that guy at the bar, this was the only time."

"You have to be lying."

"Why?"

"How can you be shy and awkward one moment then sadistic and callous the next?"

"I don't understand the question." She frowned.

"You're a walking contradiction. How is that possible?"

"Oh, that." Rayne sighed and finally let her hands fall to her lap. "That's just me. There are certain aspects of my personality that have been with me for the first half of my life. I can't seem to shake them even though they irritate me. That's why I'm shy and kind and all that crap. The more…harsher…side of me is what I chose to become to survive so I wouldn't be eaten alive by manipulators." She shrugged. "So that leaves me with what you see now. While it is my instinct to be kind, when I need to be cruel, I will be."

While having some answers had finally pleased a portion of his curiosity, Law now wondered how she became this way. He would get his answer to that question another day. He still had something that needed to be done.

"You still need to learn your place."

"You can try. But it won't work." She spoke in a bored tone, as if from experience.

"You've been through something like this before?" The captain frowned.

"Let's just say that you're not the first sadistic bastard that wanted me to be…yielding." The brunette let out a breathless laugh as she looked at her hands in her lap.

"They were lacking in technique then."

"Well, we'll see, won't we." She sighed.

The thought of someone else's hands on his cook only irritated Law more. She had talked about two other men from other worlds as her lovers. Were they the ones she was referring to? The Dark Doctor scowled. It didn't matter. Rayne was his now. And he would teach her not to give him orders. He would succeed where the others had failed.

But not yet. As much as the Surgeon of Death itched to have his hands on her, she needed to be in top physical shape for what was to come tonight. He needed her at her best for the mission. However, the second they were done and he had her all to himself…

"You may go."

Rayne looked up him, shock clear in her dark eyes. But she didn't question it. She simply hopped off of the metal slab and walked around him to reach the door. Before she left, she turned back to him.

"You may think this a lie, but you should know anyways." Law turned to the brunette and waited for her to continue. "Rayne is my nickname. You will never know my real name for I will never tell it to you. The only reason I'm telling you this now, though, is to make something very clear." There were no traces of the young teenager he had originally thought her to be. She looked her age in this moment and the look in her eyes made something stir in the pit of his stomach. "You can't catch the rain."

The doctor rolled his eyes. "If you hold your hand out while it's raining, the drops fall into your hand easily."

"But then it is no longer rain, but water. Rain can only be rain when it is falling."

And with that, the cook was gone.

Law watched the door for several minutes, turning their conversation around in his head. She had a strong will, of that he was certain. What would it take to break her of it? And did he even want to anymore? Her parting words were said in a quiet voice. In the span of seconds she had made him want to fuck her to wanting to console her. She was beginning to make his head spin but all that did was make him want to understand her more. She was still hiding things, even if did get only a glimpse of her true self. What was her past like that made her this way?

The best, and easiest, solution would be to torture the information from her.

A dark smirk stretched on his face. Having her at his mercy was something he very much looked forward to.

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The song Rayne sings as she tends to Serenity's hair is the English opening to the anime Fruits Basket. Which I don't own, obviously.

And so Rayne explains a little about herself to Law. But he is still unsatisfied…in more ways than one. ;)

Rayne can be quite unknowingly craft. It's funny how she doesn't know the effect her words have on Law sometimes.

Also, Rayne's past isn't very exciting or epic, so don't get your hopes up, lol.

Oh the things Law would love to do to Rayne…if only she knew. Don't worry Law, all in due time. :D