Booted feet thudded against the pavement. I need to tell the others. We have to find him. So many thoughts screaming in his mind for attention, but his body set on one thing: Getting to the ship and alerting the other crewmates.

Where could Zoro go, if not the ship? Law left nothing, nothing but the strawhat that Zoro clung to with tight, angry hands. Why Luffy? Had they been in a fight before he'd arrived? Of all times to have taken him; this was the worst. Luffy was in too bad of a condition.

And how long does he plan on taking him away? If it were just a fight he wanted (although Zoro couldn't find reason why) then they would finish more quickly then some slumber party.

But what if he wasn't and Luffy was in a dangerous situation? That is what made Zoro's steps on par to running. That Law guy has a bad reputation. They call him the Death Surgeon, right? He's probably conducting really mad experiments on him.

Zoro stopped completely, clutching his brow. That's a stupid idea. So why did it make his heart race?

When Zoro regained his pace, he was at the anchors. Some time had passed in the findings of it, which was all the more reason to make this quick. He could already hear voices, sounded like Ussop, inside as he stepped onboard.

And then he paused.

At first, he wasn't quite sure why he had. Perhaps it has instinctual - but there was nothing out of the ordinary at the anchors. Only then did he realise.

Amongst the few ships (and few wooden boats) tied to land was the Heart Pirates ship, flag lifting gently in the wind. He easily recognized it as the patterns used on Law's clothing.

Zoro slowly withdrew his foot from the Thousand Sunny.

Luffy opened his eyes to Law standing before him, his arms folded across his chest. Irritation hit him quickly, making his tail swish behind him angrily, when he realised he was back in the damn cuffs again. He tried to sigh, but all that escaped was a raspy breath that merged into a hiccup.

"What happened?" Luffy whispered, the only thing he was capable of. His eyelids still felt heavy as though he'd only slept an hour or so.

"You don't remember?"

Luffy didn't answer then because he did remember. It flooded back to him at once, washing away the drooziness of his sleep. The dog, the battle, the fire and the water.

Law uncrossed his arms and Luffy caught sight of another leg of meat. His mouth instantly watered and a desperate noise escaped his throat.

Law sighed and said; "You looked tired so..."

Luffy was, again, surprised when he was uncuffed and dropped to Law's feet, his wrist held firmly in Law's hand. The bracelet was replaced there, much to his frustration and, only then did Law fully drop him to his knees.

Luffy felt worn, and it wasn't the effect of the seastone anymore - he could tell. His legs either were to used to work with no energy or just refused to work altogether. His hands clenched Law's trench coat, using it as leverage to pull himself higher.

Law seemed annoyed at Luffy's impatience. Instead of handing Luffy his meal, he simply dropped it, watching as Luffy tried to catch it with slowed reflexes and weak arms.

Luffy was starving and his stomach clenched in excitement for something to eat. He bit into it quickly, hardly tasting it. It hurt when he swallowed, although he wasn't sure whether it was because his throat was sore or just because he hadn't chewed it completely before swallowing.

And then he paused.

Confused eyes looked up to Law. "I thought you only give me this when I need energy."

Law raised an eyebrow.

"We already tested my devil fruit." Luffy said.

"Well, maybe we need to test another."

"But I haven't-"

Luffy's heart skipped one too many beats. Only then did his brain start to register the foul taste of the meat.

"Oh." he said, almost sadly. He felt ashamed, that he had fallen for such a cheap trick unthinkingly. He remembered when Law had first fed him; Luffy was the one who had brought up that he had put something in it. And now here he was; falling for his own idea.

He sat on the floor at Law's feet, staring at the meat leg. He had already bitten it, nothing was going to change that. It may taste bad, but it was food. He was hungry, starving.

Hesitantly, Luffy raised it back to his lips, teeth tearing from the bone. He chewed slowly, trying to ignore the need to gag like he had when he first started eating. He swallowed, the bitterness burning his throat. He needed to swallow though, to eat.

Luffy hunched over and vomited onto the floor. Nothing came out except what he had tried to swallow and bile. At least there was no blood. Yet.

Luffy gasped air into his lungs. Swallowing might have been a bad idea. He leant back, sitting cross legged and waited.

Law was still standing above him, probably waiting too. Waiting for signs that it was working - or signs of death. Luffy wasn't sure which and he was pretty sure he probably didn't care particularly.

Luffy could feel changes, minor compared to what he had expected. His stomach clenched painfully and he felt growingly tired - as though the third fruit was slowly draining him mentally and physically.

After a moment of sitting, his fingernails scratching painfully into his knees, Law leant down to his height.

"Do you feel any different?"

"Fuck... you..." Luffy struggled out between clenched jaws.

Law's eyes averted, as though he was thinking, and then he straightened up again. He walked toward a corner of the wide room and leant his slender figure against the wall. His arms folded again.

Luffy was panting, his body hurt but, to his relief, he still hadn't bled anywhere. Maybe his body had... Adapted or something.

Luffy gritted his teeth. It really hurt nevertheless, and his eyes began to water. His nails dug deep into the skin of his knees, and he quickly clenched them into fists instead.

His head, he stomach, his chest. He knew if he unclenched his jaw, he wouldn't be able to hold back the cries that would escape.

His head jittered to Law's direction.

"Why do you do this?" he growled, "What the hell did I do to you?"

Law's stare was heavily calculating. "You didn't do anything."

Luffy grunted, a hand clutching his stomach. This was the pain he remembered.

"D-do you hate me or something?"

Law seemed taken aback by the question, eyes widening a fraction. "Of course I don't hate you."

Luffy looked elsewhere, not wanting to meet his eyes. He knew that doing so would show just how much pain he was in, and his vulnerability.

Compared to the first time, the pain was much less. However, that didn't stop it from hurting like crazy and forcing puny noises out of Luffy that he hadn't wanted someone like Law to witness.

Law must have noticed the difference too because, after a while, when Luffy stopped wincing altogether, he said; "That wasn't as bad as I expected."

Luffy was tired. He could hardly move and, if he had, it would have been a huge task to do so. He tried to stand, or create some distance, when Law got up and approached him but simply collapsed back onto the floor.

Law stood over him once more, looking down at him. "It might have been easier for you because it was the fruit of Regeneration. Might have fixed you as you were breaking."

Luffy didn't answer.

Law sighed. "But I guess we won't know if it really worked unless we test it, hmm?" He grabbed Luffy's elbow, tugging him aggressively to his feet.

Luffy wobbled, having to cling to Law's torso for support. It took a moment for him to truly register what Law had said.

"I wonder how many dogs we can set on you and how many times you'll heal?" Law whispered, pulling Luffy towards the door.

Luffy's heals pressed into the ground to stop, but tripped and wobbled after him. He couldn't fight, he could hardly move.

As Law opened the door and stepped aside, pulling Luffy towards it, Luffy pressed his forearms against Law's chest, head lowered.

"No." he mumbled.

It was hardly audible but Law clearly understood him, just choosing to disregard it and push him off and through the doorway.

Luffy's body was shaking - either from the pain he had just experienced, or simply panic. If he was sent against someone now...

I'm going to die.

Luffy stopped in the corridor, turning to push back inside the dark room. He never thought he'd willingly enter the room but, in his situation, he would beg to. He made fists that began hammering weakly onto Law.

"Please," he rasped.

Law caught his fists mid-hit with one hand, showing the clear difference in strength the two currently shared. He smirked.

"You'll regenerate. It probably won't even hurt."

Luffy spoke between deep breaths, "And what if-... I d-...don't?"

Law lowered Luffy's fists. "You will."

Zoro wondered their ship aimlessly. No one was onboard and he wasn't really sure exactly what he was looking for.

Zoro opened a door, investigating further. There was a short corridor with doors dotted randomly on either sides. He wondered down, the floor boards creaking below him as he walked. Although the ship was stationary, waves still washed against the sides, causing the ship to shake gently. Pleasantly, actually.

Zoro opened one of the doors, peeking inside. When he saw only a bed and dressing table, he closed it and moved to the next one. After pushing the next door, only a bathroom awaited him. Zoro sighed, letting it swing closed behind him.

Zoro was going to leave after checking the next door; certain he was most probably wasting his time checking this ship. He used his boot to edge it open, a large study-looking room inside. It was similar to the room Nami occupied when drawing her maps. After blinking at nothing in particular, Zoro stepped further inside.

A desk and a chair and lots and lots of books. Zoro slid one from the huge shelf, reading the cover.

Books on Medicine. Lots of them. Chopper would enjoy a visit to this library.

Sighing, Zoro replaced the book in the shelf. He pulled the desk chair out, casually sitting in it and resting his feet on the edge of the desk.

Where are you, Luffy?

The time wasted on this ship looking for Law and he wasn't even there. Where else would he be? Zoro groaned in frustration, raising from his chair quickly.

The speed made a small gust of wind and a few note-scribbled papers fell onto the floor boards. It was probably best to be inconspicuous, Zoro thought, so he shuffled them together to put back on the desk.

They were all scribbled on and unordered; some medical notes, some navigation destinations and weird drawings of what looked like devil fruits, but one sheet of book-torn paper caught his attention.

Bepo

I've gone to Joe's again.

Don't join me. You'll only get bored like last time.

Look after the ship. I'll be back by midnight, as always.

Zoro lifted the paper from the pile, squinting in thought. Joe's...?

The sound of footsteps made Zoro raise to his feet. When he turned, a lean man with gingery brown hair, wearing an unusual red and blue hat, stood in the doorway. His eyebrows were raised in surprised confusion.

"Who're-"

The sharp sound of Zoro's sword being unsheathed shattered the chances of any pleasant introductions. The spiked tip of the sword pointed at the man, the lighting making the silver glint dangerously.

The man slowly raised his hands in the air.

"Aha... haha..."

Luffy's mind raced as he was guided through the corridors by Law. If there was an ideal time to escape; it was now. He was almost certainly not going to survive in this condition.

And, if he had, what then? Go back to being chained up and wait for him to acquire more devil fruits? Luffy was not a pet.

...Well, he might have slightly looked like one, cat features and all, but he wasn't! So he's darn well not going to be treated like one.

Luffy looked over his shoulder, discreetly. The left pocket. Get the key from there and he'd have his ticket out. He looked higher, at the long sword, sheathed and resting on his back. Would Law actually use it or was it there for more of a warning? Law could hardly take Luffy completely seriously while he's in such a condition. Right?

Luffy stopped walking, or rather hobbling, and Law practically walked into him as he caused a blockage in the corridor.

"Mugiwara-ya."

Luffy turned to him, raising his head to meet his eyes.

"C-can we go back?"

Luffy ignored that rational voice in his head, the voice that told him that he wouldn't escape and it was impossible to over power Law. It took mighty effort to even speak the short sentence.

Surely, maybe, when the adrenaline kicked in he'd find strength or resolve. Probably.

Law sighed. "Mugiwar-"

Luffy rushed forward, pushing Law's chest and forcing him into one of the walls of the narrow corridor. He inwardly tried to convince himself that it was his sheer strength, rather than his body weight, that squeezed a winded sound from Law.

When Law just watched Luffy instead of retaliating in any way, Luffy's pride was hit hard. Luffy was so weak at that moment that he didn't need to physically stop him. They both knew this. Law probably found this amusing.

Luffy clenched his hands closed. He'll show him.

When Luffy looked up, Law was smirking. "What are you doing, Mugiwara-ya?"

Luffy grit his teeth. No. Maybe Law belittling him like this was a good thing. Law underestimating him would be Luffy's advantage.

Luffy eyed the left pocket. Then he averted his eyes elsewhere. How to go about this...?

The hands on Law's chest trailed down, as though they were going to fall back to Luffy's waists. Then he stopped them half way. His cat-like ears twitched in irritance.

Damnit, this is impossible!

Distraction? Maybe if Luffy talked, Law would be less attentive to what his hands were up to.

Luffy stammered. His throat stung in protest as he spoke, still sore and worn.

"I'm so... not in shape right n-...now."

Luffy's right hand met the opening of the pocket, lingering there.

"And if we wait until- until tomorrow, I'll put on a really good sho-"

Luffy gasped when Law snatched his hand all to suddenly and aggressively. When their eyes met, Law's passive nature was completely vacant. He wasn't pleased.

"What are you doing?" Law asked.

Luffy's eyes were wide. One chance. He had one chance and he blew it. He'd never get out now.

No. Luffy's free hand swung at Law. Even if there was no strength, momentum was enough. Law caught it in his palms and, when he did, Luffy tried to headbutt his unguarded stomach.

At what point they had moved infront of a door, Luffy wasn't sure - probably to focused on getting the small key. But when the two collided, they burst into a whole new room, the door swinging on it's hinges behind them.

Luffy's head popped in the air like a frightened rabbit, senses slow but still alert. They were in what looked like a brewing room for alcohol; barrels scattered on separate corners of the room and a workbench holding random tools resting against a wall.

Luffy quickly straddled Law, fingers desperately tearing at the pocket. As soon as he gets the key, removes the seastone, he can fight!

Luffy grunted in an angry struggle as Law rolled them over and trapped his hands above his head.

"Should have stuck with handcuffs." Law said, breathlessly. Luffy kicked his stomach and Law groaned, releasing his grip.

Luffy staggered to his feet, heading to the workbench. A weapon, anything. When he arrived and lifted what looked like metal pliers, his legs suddenly gave way and he had to catch himself on the corner of the bench.

He didn't have time to react when Law was there, aware of what he was up to and grabbing the pliers away. Luffy didn't let up, clinging to them with all the strength he could muster. They had a short, one sided tug-of-war before Law snatched them away and hit them across Luffy's face.

Luffy's body lost hope all together from the impact, sprawling across the workbench. His ears rang and black dots invaded his vision. He could feel Law behind him, most likely in triumph.

Luffy whimpered in surprised pain when his hair was pulled at the roots, forcing his head up. Law was leaning over him, his mouth at his ear.

"Don't EVER do that again." he spat.

Anger twisted in Luffy's gut, words already forming on his lips before he could stop them.

"I'll never stop. I'm not yours, sick bastard!"

He could feel Law's heavy and angry breathing hitting one side of his face. He blinked to try and clear the black spots in his vision.

Luffy's body tensed when Law's hand reached under his vest, rough fingers against the skin of his back.

"Who was that person you mentioned," Law began, "that you said you were saving yourself for? Or maybe you didn't mention anyone. But I bet I could guess."

Luffy's arms reached to the other tools, a pencil, anything that he could just stab with. However, the hand on Luffy's back lowered, roughly pulling the tail to slide him closer and quickly locked his hands together, pinning them against the table.

"Is it someone on this island? Or maybe your crew?" Law whispered. "Is it your beautiful red-headed navigator? Or maybe you prefer them like Nico-ya?"

Luffy grunted as he struggled and squirmed under Law's weight. He could hear him laugh mockingly.

"Say, how would she feel if her lover was-" Law tugged harder on Luffy's hair, causing him to bare his teeth, "taken by another man?"

"Don't fucking touch me." Luffy spat, his tail whipping around Law's wrist angrily. Law smiled, loosening the painful grip and twirling the soft limb around an index finger. Only then did he release it and replace his hand onto Luffy's back.

Law ground harshly onto Luffy, his hip bones digging into the flesh of Luffy's behind. "You think I won't?"

Luffy squeezed his eyes closed, his heart racing. He knew he would. Just to prove his stupid point, and it wouldn't matter what Luffy said. Because Law had already decided.

A/N. Oops, cliffhanger. The next one will be up soon. Until then,

Feverish