Tell it to the Marines

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Chapter 51

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The gangplank creaks ominously beneath his feet and Law makes a mental note to invest in a new one sometime soon. His arms are weighed down by bags, plastic carriers filled with a selection of medical supplies that'd been worth his time and money.

The vast majority of the crew are still ashore, enjoying the island and its complete lack of marine presence.

That's a fine point about the Grand Line, Law has found. There's a marine presence, but it's significantly less than any island he's spent time on while in North Blue.

Stalking into the sub, Law drops the bags in the hallway; whoever's been lumped with storage duty will put the away when they return.

There's still a skeleton crew running the Tang at the moment, he's not alone on the ship and so it is with a sure confidence that Law strides deeper into the depth of his vessel, making his way to his quarters. He's got more information on the Joker ready to be scrawled down into the many, many notebooks he has on such a thing. There's no point in keeping them under lock and key; Doflamingo no doubt knows he's gunning for him, the only thing the former Tenryūbito doesn't know is Law's plan and when he'll strike. Given that Law doesn't know these things himself, that's not a surprise. And if the marines catch him, well maybe that information will be enough to warrant them taking the feather-coated asshole down.

It's a slim chance, but Law's hopeful all the same.

Sighing, the pirate runs a hand through his wild hair, making his way to the wash-room to retrieve his hat. Hopefully Penguin will have gotten the bolognese sauce out of the white material; the perpetrator of the food fight had been assigned to clean everyone's clothes as punishment.

That or Law'd remove his hands.

Can't throw food around without any fingers, after all.

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Hat once again clean and returned to its rightful place atop his head, Law cocks Kikoku against his shoulder, pushing open the door to his cabin and slipping inside. His sword is instantly free of its sheath, the blade pointed right towards the intruder as a Room swirls to life in his hand.

"Oh, put that down, we both know you don't want to fight here of all places."

It's a woman. Sitting in the dark, in his room, on her own.

Frowning, Law flicks on the lights, sword still angled towards the figure that's instantly bathed in light.

She's short, shorter than Ris, with tidy light brown hair and brilliant blue eyes. She's also rather curvaceous, Law notes. More importantly though, she's snuck on board without anyone noticing; Law hadn't even noticed any signs of her presence until she'd allowed him to. And considering his Observational Haki awakened two months ago, it means she's trained herself to hide from such a thing… one of Ris' friends?

"You know, Sabo flagged you up as a potential threat."

Well shit. That bastard did what.

The woman crosses her legs, disproportionally long for her height, clad in high black stockings with a slight flash of skin showing before they're hidden beneath that short skirt.

"Did he now?" It's been two years since he met the smooth blond bastard, but Law could have gone a lifetime without hearing his name again.

He does not want to be involved with the Revolutionaries.

It seems, however, that the Revolutionaries want to be involved with him. Fucking idiots.

"Yep. Given that we found out you've spent time with Donquixote Doflamingo of all people, I can understand why Sabo was worried," the woman threads her fingers together, smiling coyly, huge eyes making the expression seem a lot cuter than what it would otherwise be.

"…What do you plan on doing with that information," Law asks lowly, knuckles whitening around the hilt of Kikoku, the sword lowered but not yet stored.

"It depends. Either you're a spy for him, or you abandoned ship. Given what our little group is all about," the woman shrugs, still smiling with her hands folded neatly in her lap, "you can see why we're a bit… concerned."

"I'm going to take that bastard down, if it's the last thing I do." No use beating around the bush, that's the truth of it; he's going to rip apart everything Doflamingo has worked for, and he's going to do it with a smile on his face.

The woman startles a little at the sheer force of his words before that small smile morphs into something a bit more genuine.

"You remind me of Sabo like that."

That's not a compliment, not in the slightest.

"Name's Koala, I'm a fishman karate assistant instructor, along with an officer of the you know what." Koala the Revolutionary winks at him, looking pleased as punch and Law wants her off of his sub right now. The question is, can he get rid of her without a ruckus, without drawing the dismal number of marines on the island to their location?

"Why are you here."

It's not a question, more of a demand, and it makes Koala the Revolutionary's back straightens, her posture stiffening in response.

"We're invested in freeing countries, as you well know, and Dressrosa happens to be on our list, though we don't have the resources to tackle it anytime soon. Boss-man thought opening a channel of communication between us would be a wise idea."

Boss-ma- is she talking about mother-fucking Dragon the Revolutionary?! Shit. Law does not want to be known to such a dangerous figure. Even if he's got a great amount of respect for what the man's trying to do. Maybe if Dragon's been born a few decades earlier, maybe Law's family would still be alive and there would be no Amber Lead Syndrome.

"Do I even get a say in this?"

"Mmmm, not really," Koala purrs, smile on her lips as she pulls a small Den Den from beneath the hem of her skirt, placing it neatly upon his bedside table, "though I would suggest cooperating with us."

"I'm rather poor at the 'cooperation' thing. Perhaps you could show me?" Law's eyes flick over to his bed, just once, but it's enough of a hint for Koala the Revolutionary to get, because her eyebrows shoot up as her eyes roam his figure. Law forcibly stalls his instinctive urge to preen beneath her gaze.

"I like my men fair," Koala grumbles at last, the silence that'd stretched before it more than significant.

"And I like my partners less classically beautiful," Law parries, because she might have shared her preference but she didn't say no. "I'm willing to make an exception this time. Are you Revolutionaries just as flexible?"

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"Anybody up for some drinks?!" At the sound of Sanji's voice, Riskua peels one eyelid back, gloriously warm sunshine pressing up against every inch of exposed skin.

"And then what happened?"

Cocking her head slightly to glance at her fellow sunbather from the corner of her eyes, Riskua rolls onto her stomach, exposing her back that really needs a bit more sun to even out the darker tan she's got on the front.

"Then Yasopp fires it straight into the mast. I swear, a single bullet and it took the whole thing down. It was no big impressive fight, but we didn't need that on our travels."

"I can't believe you got to sail with my dad," Usopp whispers in response, a wide grin on his face. No doubt imaging heroic tales he'll either be part of, or come up with to one day tell the man himself.

"Mmmm, well I was mostly spending time with Papa then, but I heard so many stories about you; no doubt Yasopp told Luffy all about you too."

"Sure did, Luffy knew the magnificent Usopp-sama on sight!"

The plastic of the sunbed is near cutting into her stomach and Riskua scowls, readjusting her weight until she's more comfortable.

Both Zoro and Luffy had awakened at the sound of Sanji's call, blinking blearily before the words really register.

"You bet we are, Sanji!"

"I'd like a drink if you've got one spare please, Sanji."

"Of course, Ri-flower!"

There's a slight breeze as Sani spins into position besides her, elegantly placing the requested drink down upon the little plastic table beside her sunbed and Riskua offers him a bright smile.

"Thank you."

"It's no problem, Ri-flower!"

Luffy's stretchy hand snaps up to retrieve a drink of his own from the tray, Sanji hastily dropping off the remaining two for Zoro and Usopp and taking only the minimal amount of care to ensure they don't spill. Then he's off, no doubt to go and find Vivi and Nami, with barely a look towards her. Though, given by the furious rush of blood to his cheeks, it's not because he didn't notice her current state of undress.

Oh well, he'll just have to get used to it; sooner or later they'll stumble across some woman fighting in her birthday suit and if that happens Sanji'll probably pass out right now. Hey, it is the Grand Line, stranger things have happened.

The slurping of a straw against empty glass announces Luffy is very much finished with his drink, the wet smack of lips a moment later the encore agreement.

"Come on, Zoro! Let's go train!" The swordsman hums in agreement, sucking up the last of his own drink (really, these two have absolutely no appreciation for Sanji's tasty produce, that's for sure) before rising to his feet to follow after their lunatic of a captain. Riskua still watches him go with a proud little smile, though in all honesty she has absolutely no idea why she's so pleased.

"You should probably be training too," Riskua muses, glancing over at Usopp.

The long-nosed male has adopted her posture too, stretched out on the fold-up sunbed next to her own, arms folded and cushioning his head. The tip of his long nose is a little red, burnt from overexposure with the sun and Riskua makes a note to purchase some suncream at some point in the future. Or a sun-umbrella.

Luffy had ruined the single one they had onboard with an improvised jousting match. Not that Riskua regretted that in the slightest. She just hopes Nami doesn't go looking for the wooden railing that is supposed to be in the second cupboard to hang clothes on, because the ginger girl sure as hell won't find it there.

"Then train me."

Riskua complies, jabbing Usopp in the side, in different locations as he squirms. She waits each time for him to settle before jabbing him again. Hey, he'll get the hang of Haki soon enough; they're both feeling too lazy right now for full-out training, so this'll do.

Plus, watching Usopp wiggle around is fun.

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It's an hour later when Nami approaches them, sunglasses perched high atop her head, holding back the short strands of her bright ginger hair.

"Nami? How can we help?"

"How can the great Usopp-sama help you today?" Usopp chirps, batting her next jam away without even looking. They both freeze, turning to look at one another and Riskua goes in for another quick jab, twisting away at the last second to go for his other side. But he blocks that too. Her mouth drops open as Usopp's breaks into a grin.

"-two even doing?" Nami hisses, frustration painted across her features but Riskua is honestly far to focused on her current company. Because, because-

"I think Usopp's awakened Observational Haki." Which is utter bullshit. All she's been doing is poking him in the side again and again and again. Had Usopp awakened his Haki before and just not been able to access it, had forgotten about it? She's heard about all that happened on his island, and there was that fight at the restaurant, but-

"And the Great Usopp-sama beats all you pretenders!" Usopp screams, leaping to his feet and pointing down at Zoro and Luffy, both of whom have stopped to stare up at him in blatant confusion. It's almost terrifying how easily their faces fall into such an expression.

"I who has awakened his Observationa- AAHHH!" Usopp goes tumbling down onto the lower deck, Nami lowering her leg from where she'd kicked him over the side.

"It doesn't mean anything if you don't train it though, Usopp," Riskua calls down, muffling her chuckles with the back of her hand pressing into her mouth.

Gracefully, Nami flops down onto Usopp's recently vacated sun-lounger, throwing her arms up and behind her head with a proud little smile on her lips.

"Oh, I think you've got the right idea, this sure beats standing by the railings."

"It does," Riskua agrees, stretching her legs out, wiggling her toes and idly pondering if she'll need to shave her legs tonight. Her hair is slow growing and she'll get away with another day, but if tomorrow proves to be busy and she doesn't get the time… No, probably best to shave tonight. A rapidly approaching aura (a physically large one at that) has Riskua sitting up straight in her chair, sucking her lip in.

"Hey, look! It's a dolphin!"

"Oh, it's so cu…" Luffy trails off as everyone on board realises the dolphin isn't the small little being they'd all assumed it was. "It's a giant dolphin! Run away!"

"All hands on deck!" Riskua bellows, leaping over the side of the railings before making her way to the mast. She's quick to scale the side, releasing the sail on the left before heading to the right. Below her, she can see the others scurrying around, readying the ship, Nami taking point at the helm and Luffy cheerfully hollers orders to the rest of the crew, all the while tugging viciously on one of the ropes she's thrown down.

"That's it! That's our second island on the Grand Line!"

Sliding into the crow's nest, Riskua peers out across the stretch of blue ocean, inspecting the landmass they're rapidly approaching. Something's nagging at the back of her brain, and while Riskua can remember enough to know this place is the one with the extinct animals on it, there's something else that's not clicking.

Nevermind, if the Strawhats from before, weaker than the ones she now calls her crewmates and friends, managed this island then surely they'll be fine too.

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Sitting on the railings, peering over the edge of the Merry, Riskua wonders what exactly it is about this island that means the creatures upon it have never truly evolved from what they once were.

Even if so very few had visited its shores, that wouldn't stop natural selection, would it? The evolution of species that comes about as those with the traits to survive pass their genetics on, while those who aren't as well equip find themselves dying early, if not as a result of a larger predator than just general stupidity; why has it stopped here?

Survival of the fittest indeed.

However, while every other place in the world seems to have continued evolving, this seems to have just… stopped.

Is it something to do with this world having more than one moon? That's probably the cause of the Grand Line weirdness when it comes to weather anyway. Though why she keeps trying to apply the rules of her old world to this one when they're so painfully different, Riskua doesn't know. Who's to say physics works the same over here anyway?

"Sanji! I need a lunchbox! A pirate lunchbox!"

Cocking her head to a side, Riskua watches her little brother as he all but trembles in excitement, nostalgia punching hard into her stomach.

Years ago, it was her that Luffy turned to when he wanted a lunchbox making for his adventure. Now he's found someone much better at it, it's given her less responsibilities in that respect, but that doesn't mean she's entirely happy with it.

Luffy (while not wholly grown yet) is unquestionably growing up, he wouldn't have needed to keep relying on her anyway.

It's still… discomforting a realisation.

"I smell adventure!"

"W-wait just a second! Where do you think you're going?!"

"Nami," Riskua's voice cracks through the air like a whip, the ginger haired girl's mouth snapping shut as both she and Luffy turn to look at her in evident surprise. "Luffy is the captain of this ship, and if he wants to go off and explore the island, ultimately, it is his decision."

"Shishishi! 'Skua's right! Wanna come along?"

Nami's jaw works up and down a few times, all of the fight draining out of her stance and Riskua rises to her feet with a long sigh.

"No thank you, Luffy. I'll stay on the ship this time, unless something goes wrong that is. As far as I can tell, there aren't any towns or cities here. Only a handful of people."

Two auras were particularly strong, bright blazing things.

Riskua only half-hearted listens as Vivi signs up to join Luffy's little venture into the wilderness, mind already turning over all that she could get done while they're not out at sea.

Maybe now she'll be able to focus on doing some more Haki research?

"Oi! Zoro! The stores are running low, so if you see something that looks edible, fetch it back for us!"

"Sure. Seeing as you'll never be able to get something big enough to feed Luffy yourself."

There's a still moment as Sanji registers the words, the second before a kettle boils over.

Riskua tries not to groan.

"Wait right there! Did you just imply that I can't hunt down a bigger game than you?"

"There was nothing implied about it," Zoro mutters, one hand stuffed into his pocket and a challenging little smile on his face. "I can see why you'd want to remain on the ship, instead of living with that shame."

"You shitty-swordsman! That's it! I accept your challenge!"

Foot on the railing, Sanji glares down at Zoro, cigarette rolling back and forth between his teeth, hands stashed deep into the pockets of his suave suit pants.

"Red."

Dear god, is Zoro actually capable of remembering anyone's names but Luffy's? Then again, it's a blessing she hasn't got tagged with something as awful as 'witch' like Nami has.

"Yes, Zoro?"

"You'll judge."

"Don't worry, Ri-flower! I shall return victorious!"

Sanji's off, leaping over the side of the Merry to land upon the thick grass that covers the earth. He points one challenging finger towards Zoro, announcing that their contest will be decided by whoever brings back the most mass of meat and the two stalk off in different directions.

Riskua watches them going, her head already throbbing. Well at least she'll be able to crack on with her own research until they return.

"A-at least Riskua decided to stay," Usopp finally murmurs, legs wobbly before he decides to sit himself down, "dependable, already been to the Grand Line, capable fighter Riskua."

He nods firmly and the redhead smiles slightly, having not expected that kind of endorsement from Usopp.

She's aware they've not spent too much time together, the other pirate a bit too engrossed in his weapon/ship modifications and worrying about… well, everything, while she'd been training with Zoro and Sanji and Luffy, most of the time. Hell, most of her socialising with Nami was down when they were in the girl's cabin. But really, she's spent so much time with boys while growing up, she's just not as practiced while talking to other girls. She'll get over it though. Just, not today.

"Well, if you need me, I'll be writing up some of my notes in the kitchen," 'where the snacks are', Riskua finishes silently, smirking as she gets to her feet, waving goodbye to both Usopp and Nami as she heads to the hatch.

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'Given Concealment Haki allows a user to hide from the senses, along with Observation to an extent, then would it be possible to alter one's own Haki to a greater extent?'

Looking down at her finished sentence, Riskua taps the top of her pen against the table, other hand sneaking out to grasp hold of the salted potato chips Sanji had finished this morning, hiding them in the false cupboard back Riskua and Usopp had recently installed. Luffy seemed to have sense there was food in the 'empty' cupboard because she'd counted him opening that door no less than six times, staring so hard at the false back she'd been sure he would notice. But he never did.

Just like when they were kids.

'Experiment to conduct; is it possible to change the wavelength of one's Haki? To project different intentions, or even disguise one's Haki to appear as another's? Is it possible to change Haki output until one's aura can be perceived in a different manner?' It's certainly worth looking into.

In the future, when they cross more Haki users, would it be possible to pose as, say Luffy and lead pursuing Marines on a false trail? If she can project intentions with her Haki too, then long distance messages without the use of Den Den's will be possible. There has to be some way of adjusting output, just like she can adjust her voice or the pressure she exerts from her muscles.

A scream that chills her bones races through the ship and Riskua's already out the kitchen door by the time the next words register in her ears.

"Riskua! We need you!"

The redhead drops her pen on instinct, bursting through the hatch with both daggers in hand, just in time to see a giant behead a dinosaur and proclaim himself Elbaf's strongest warrior.

Riskua stills, stance still wide and ready for a fight and in that time, both Usopp and Nami attach themselves to her legs, clinging tightly with tears streaming from their eyes.

"Thank god you're here," Nami whimpers, pressing her cheek into the rough material of her denim shorts.

"Never leave us again," Usopp hisses, his nose poking into her hip and Riskua relaxes her shoulders.

That giant is grinning far too friendly to mean them any harm.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Brogy. I am Dracule Riskua, and these are my friends, Usopp and Nami."

"D-don't introduce us!" Usopp croaks, clinging tighter to her leg, as if that'll stop her from continuing to be polite.

It is a close call, but Riskua manages to stop herself from sniping a 'didn't your Dad ever teach you manners?'. A very close call.

Not that her own Papa had been the one to teach her the 'please and thank-you's' himself. Hell, it's only because of her little 'reborn upset' that she hasn't ended up a red-haired Luffy.

There's enough Luffy in the world already, so it's a very good thing they've managed to avoid that.

"Well, I have some meat. Let me welcome you as my guests!" Brogy calls, his voice thunderously loud, hand clamped down on the skull of his kill.

Riskua stares at those sightless eyes, the mouth still open from where it'd tried to take a chomp of the giant.

"While I appreciate the offer greatly, I'm afraid I, personally, will have to decline. I'm the judge of a contest, you see."

At that, understanding alights in Borgy's eyes, nodding his huge head as he sheaths his axe.

She can feel Nami and Usopp relax against her leg. Which really, they shouldn't be doing.

"But Nami and Usopp here would be delighted to join you."

"What?!"

"Riskua!"

Smiling, the redhead holsters her daggers, grabbing hold of the shoulders of both her crewmates and throwing them up to the giant. It'll be good for them to get some experience; she recognises the giant now.

Dory and Brogy; Shanks'd told her the tale of the two and their quarrel, though even he wasn't too sure what it was about either.

Regardless, they'd been big name pirates and given how they'd constantly been fighting one another since their disappearance, she's sure the cowardly duo will be safe with Brogy.

It'll be a good learning experience for them, Riskua decides, sitting herself down on the ship, legs crossed and eyes sliding close.

Which gives her time to focus on experimenting with her Haki, sans any distractions.

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"Ri-flower!"

Peeking out from beneath her lashes, Riskua relaxes the tension in her muscles, twisting around to face the ever so warm aura she'd been sensing.

Sanji. His kindness really shines through whenever she's sensing him with Haki, focusing in on him feels like being cocooned in a tender hug, embodying the warmth of the kitchen he so often inhabits.

"Sanji. You're the first one back."

"I am?"

"Yeah, Usopp and Nami went off to go and greet a local. Though if what I'm sensing is correct, they're heading back now."

The blond grins, standing proudly atop his kill, lips lifted up in an affectionate smile.

"You know, I found this real strange house out there," Sanji admits, climbing up onto the side of the Merry, rubbing sheepishly at the back of his head and tousling his sunny hair.

"Oh?"

"Yeah, with a Den Den Mushi in it. And on the other end of it, was that Mr Zero guy. I also found this."

Riskua catches the object Sanji throws her way, twisting it over in her palm to inspect the engraving upon it.

"Drum Island?"

"That's an Eternal Pose, right?"

Riskua hums in agreement, shaking the little device but the needle still points in the same direction. An Eternal Pose indeed.

"Well done, Sanji. Drum Island isn't too far from Alabasta if I recall correctly, we might even be able to get straight there after Drum. The island's also known for it's doctors, so maybe we'll be able to pick one up."

Sanji grins, looking mightily pleased with himself.

"I'm going to go get the knives to carve this up, would you like me to grab you a snack while I am in the kitchen, Ri-flower?"

"Yes please, Sanji."

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The rest of the group return ten minutes later, Nami missing her shirt, Luffy's hanging from his hands in tatters, and Zoro missing a whole lot of blood.

Riskua hustles him on board first, worriedly inspecting the wounds on his legs as Usopp runs off to find the first aid box.

She doesn't miss the dirty looks she gets from the two she'd thrown at Brogy.

"What the hell happened?" she grunts, peeling back the legs of Zoro's trousers that're sticky with blood. Riskua's well past the point of cringing at the sight of blood (growing up with Ace, Sabo and Luffy would do that to a girl) but that doesn't mean she'd sign up to play nurse unless she had no other choice.

For a moment, Riskua finds herself wishing longingly for Law's company, the only doctor she really knows. Wonderful Law who'd be able to fix this in no time flat. But he's probably off on some other part of the Grand Line causing all kinds of trouble and she can't begrudge him for doing that.

Thank the Lord for Sanji's good luck in getting that log pose, otherwise she'd have serious problems on convincing the rest of the crew that Drum was a must stop before Alabasta. They need Tony Tony Chopper, that's never been more evident than right now, with her palms coated in Zoro's lifeblood.

At the very least none of them will be sick this time around; she'd made sure to slather Nami with bug-spray before they'd even arrived at the island, everyone barring Luffy too, just for good measure. Luffy, being rubber, would never have to worry about an insect bite; they just wouldn't have the strength to puncture his skin.

"Well?" Riskua snaps, accepting the needle and thread Usopp passes her once she's gotten the wounds clean with the nearest alcoholic substance.

"Got trapped. Could've kept fighting if I cut my feet off." Tha- That's-

"That's the dumbest logic I've ever heard! Who do you think you are, the bleeding Golden Lion or something?!"

Zoro blinks, brows scrunching up and he winces slightly when Riskua begins to sew the deep cuts shut. And, fucking hell, are they deep. She can't even begin to imagine mutilating herself in such a way, but if it was that or saving Luffy's life… Hell, if it were that or saving any of the Strawhat Pirates lives she'd probably do it.

Damn it, their crazy is rubbing off on her.

That's, that's not good at all. She's supposed to be the rational one, the sane man in this troupe of lunatics.

Bleeding hell.

"How are we even going to get off this island if the log pose takes a year to set."

"I have the answer to that, Nami-swan!"

Sanji appears beside her, looking for the Eternal Pose he'd thrown her and Riskua grunts, tying off the first set of stitches.

She snatches the bottle of remaining alcohol from Zoro's grasp before he can even think to down it, taking a small swig herself before she presses it into Sanji's hand. Undoubtedly not what he was hoping to get from her, but it'll have to do for now.

"No alcohol until you're somewhat healed. I'm not a professional and I'll not have you die of alcohol poisoning before we can get a doctor onboard. Nami, answer to your question is in my right-hand pocket. Luffy, we've got a new heading."

"A new heading?!"

Their short captain bounces over, pushing Nami out the way so he can rummage through her pocket without a hint of hesitation.

"Watch your hands, Shitty-Captain!" Sanji snarls, landing a solid kick to Luffy's face but not before the rubber teen has retrieved the pose.

"Nami, look! It's pointing that'a'way!" Luffy calls, jabbing a finger in the same direction the needle points.

As the rest of the crew celebrate the prospect of getting off the island, Riskua finishes up on her stitches, pulling another antibacterial wipe free of the first aid box once she's towelled her hands off on Zoro's ruined pants.

"You should take better care of yourself, Zoro," Riskua reproaches, lips pressing together in a frown as she inspects her work, "you'll never beat Mihawk if you don't."

"And Hawk Eyes wouldn't pull some stupid shit to save people important to him?"

Riskua grimaces, considering her uncle.

Irritatingly enough, Zoro's right.

Though he hardly seems like the type, Riskua remembers learning what her uncle had gotten up to when her mother died, all the people he'd tracked down for her, all those with debts to be paid.

If she or maybe even Shanks were in danger… She can't picture him standing by if she were seriously at risk of losing her life, and she knows there'd been one incident when Mihawk and Shanks'd worked together where her uncle could have left the other man for dead.

"You have a point."

"Of course I do."

"I just worry about you, all of you," Riskua admits, chewing hard on her lower lip, wrapping fresh bandages around Zoro's abused shins, "kind of my whole job, being the first mate an' all."

Zoro coughs, looking away with pink cheeks and Riskua is painfully reminded that, until he'd met Luffy, Zoro had pretty much been on his own. His gruff behaviour and burningly bright determination do a good job of hiding it, but he's still not quite used to having people to rely on. He'd had those other two bounty hunters with him at times, but Zoro'd obviously been the strongest of them and thus had been the one relied on, not the other way around.

"You'll get used to it," Riskua declares, patting him atop the head and that green hair is just as coarse as she'd expected.

"I- You- urgh! Damn it, Woman!"


So, as said previously, I'm not huge on Little Garden. Hence Riskua remaining on the ship. But with Bomb Guy and his partner dead, there was no bomb in the giant's drink, and thus, when the giants were capture by Mr 3, they quickly escaped and showed them why it was a very bad idea indeed to try and interrupt a sacred duel. Luffy and Usopp were impressed; end of story.

Enjoy!

Lots of love,

Tsume

xxx