"Reo!" She calls out the second she's back out on deck. Several soldiers look at her with confusion, others with fear. She wonders briefly at how she might look at the moment, but it didn't matter. A navigator's job was to get the ship where the captain wanted to go, so why were they on this little detour? "Reo!" She calls out again. It didn't make sense. Erik had explained that they had an eternal log pose pointed to the next island, they shouldn't even be heading to this one unless Reo was trying to avoid something or do something. "Reo!" She calls out for a third time.

"Elyanna right?" She turns to find a man matching Hatori's description walking down the steps from the helm, a look of annoyance on his face. He may have matched Hatori's description, but his arms were like pillars. This man could definitely put up a good fight. "What is it?"

She crosses her arms, determined not to let him intimidate her and asks, "why are we in a spring climate when we should be nearing a winter one? Where are we going?"

A flash of panic crosses his features before he stands in front of her and says, "I don't think that's any business of yours, but if you must know I am simply following the log pose." As if to prove his point Reo holds up his wrist showing her the bracelet.

"Weren't you ordered to follow the eternal log pose?"

"I don't know who you think you are to be asking me about these things but-"

"I don't know who you think you are to be disobeying an order from your captain." She snaps back and holds out her arm. "Let me see the eternal log pose."

"And why would I do that?"

His voice breaks and she realizes he's the one intimidated. Good. "Let me see it."

"No." He backs up as if to walk away but she reaches out and grabs his wrist, and instantly regrets it. She had forgotten her gloves in the training room and was greeted with an image of Reo in his uniform talking to someone on a very small den den mushi, in what looks like the bottom of the ship.

"Yes, yes the storm will make it easy to change direction. No. If anyone ask I'll simply say I misplaced the log pose or never received it. Yes, it'll be easy. The vice admiral won't have any idea until we actually reach the island. Besides, he's distracted by the new stow away on board. "Yes, a woman Elyanna as far as we're to believe. Pretty, but I don't trust her. Yes, yes-"

"Elyanna!" Dragon's voice breaks through the haze and she's suddenly pulled back into reality. She was still on Dragon's ship, the warm spring sun warming the deck, with half of Dragon's crew surrounding her. Reo was staring at her as though she had gone crazy and she realizes she was still grasping his arm. She lets go quickly and turns around to see Hatori and Dragon the latter looking at her in understanding.

Without a word Elyanna clutches her arm and moves to stand beside Hatori, who hands her the gloves, as Dragon steps in her place. "I however, would also like to know why we're not on the right course."

Reo rubs the back of his head. "Look, I'm sorry alright. I lost the Damn eternal log pose you gave me and figured the next best course of action would be to follow the log pose I still had."

Elyanna recalls the conversation she had just seen and doubts that, but doesn't say anything. "Why the hell didn't you tell me that before setting course on your own?"

"I thought I would be able to find the eternal pose before we ended up here."

It was a halfhearted attempt at a lie and Elyanna knew Dragon didn't believe him, but to her surprise Dragon only sighs and shakes his head. "Fine, we'll stop by this island long enough for me to get another log pose to Viridia and then we'll be on our way. Understood?" He says loud enough for everyone surrounding them to hear.

There was a unanimous chorus of yes commander before everyone wandered off. Elyanna opens her mouth to protest but Erik's voice asks, "so who's turn is it?"

She whirls to find Erik and Soren standing behind them, looking almost bored. "Soren's," Dragon answers without turning around.

Elyanna follows his gaze to see Reo talking to the boy Mika, before disappearing inside. "So, do I have to ask or are you going to tell me?" She says, sliding the gloves back onto her hands.

"No." Dragon turns to look at her and the look made her pause. It was dark, angry, but a calculating one as well. This was the face of the vice admiral, the one who had the absolute loyalty of the three men beside her. "First I want to know what you saw."

She opens her mouth to tell them, but stops. She had a theory, but even if she told them and they tried confronting Reo about it they had absolutely no proof. She could tell them her suspicions, but that might put Reo on guard. No. She would have to either catch him in the act, or make him admit it. "I saw him talking to someone on a small den den mushi, but I have no idea when it was or who he was talking to."

A half-truth and one she knows Dragon sees through, but he seems to accept it. "Very well, when we get to the island I'm assigning you all roles." Elyanna finds herself straightening up and he continues, "Hatori you're with me, we need to stop by whatever base is there and grab a eternal pose."

Hatori groans at that, "why am I stuck on bodyguard duty?"

"Train Elyanna well enough and you might be relieved of that duty." Dragon retorts, sending a spark of pride to course through her. Would he really trust her to have his back? "Until then yes you're my back up."

"And you act as though you're assigned every time." Erik chimes in. "I'm on duty just as much as you."

"I assume I'm to follow Reo and watch his movements?" Soren interrupts, his hand tapping impatiently at his side.

"Yes, you are."

Soren only nods, shoving his hands into his pockets. Elyanna wonders if that's just a nervous tick of his. Clearly this hadn't been the first time this group has had to spy on someone. "Erik, you are to accompany Elyanna and get her a new wardrobe."

She blinks at that, and actually looks down at the clothes she was currently wearing. "What's wrong with what I have on now?"

They all laugh, though she didn't understand it.

"Nothing," Soren offers, seeing the look on her face. "Nothing is wrong, but you must realize Anna that the boss is nearly a foot taller and the clothes you have on are, well they definitely don't fit."

"You look like a child playing dress up." Hatori adds.

She huffs and turns to Dragon, "come on Dragon you know I don't care about that stuff. Hell, you walked in on me wearing nothing and you were more fazed than I was." She watches Dragon's face go utterly scarlet and hears the chocked laughs behind her. Though she didn't understand why, surely Dragon had told them? Or had he kept quiet for her sake?

"Anna-" she turns to see Erik glancing at Dragon with sympathy and looks at her. "Surely you want something to call your own?"

"It wouldn't be my own." She argues, "I would still be using your money. Hell, I'm already using Dragon's room, eating food Soren gives me, and am taking up Hatori's time by training."

Oh.

This is what had been nagging at her all morning.

"You don't want to be a burden." Erik murmurs and proceeds to glare at Dragon.

"I don't need you useless to me tomorrow."

That argument hadn't even crossed her mind, but that wasn't what this was about and she didn't want another apology. "Dragon and I already talked." She tells Erik before he can open his mouth. "We're fine. No, this is me wanting to do something useful and shopping for proper clothes feels like a waste of time."

"It's not a waste of time!" Dragon snaps, "and you're not a burden." His tone calms quickly. "Elyanna, it's thanks to you that I only have one man in the infirmary instead of a dozen."

"And that the ship isn't in pieces." Hatori murmurs.

Dragon points to him, but doesn't take his eyes off of her, "that too. Listen, I gave you my room because no one wants to sleep in small quarters with a ton of men-" he holds up his hand before she can interrupt. "Myself included, but I did it during basic training and years after. We're all used to it, you are not and we don't know what other powers you have. I would rather you figure that out and practice in the privacy of a room rather than in front of a ton of people who you are uncomfortable around to begin with."

"And for the record I offered to teach you how to fight because I watched you knock the boss on his ass." Hatori grins at her, "do you know what an accomplishment that is? Even if he had been prepared for it your technique was spot on. I wanted-want to see what you can do if properly trained or-" He shrugs. "If your memories return and we find out that you can kick all of our asses."

"I'm almost afraid that's exactly what's going to happen." Soren says, "and I fed you because you were hungry and didn't know it, so until you figure out how to be human I'm going to keep doing it."

"Just let us help you, you stubborn not human woman."

She still didn't like it, a part of her knew she never would, but they would be relentless. And a new set of clothes wouldn't be the end of the world. "Okay," she finally sighs.

"Good-" Erik turns to face Dragon, "but why do I have to go with her?"

"If I have to suffer so do you."

He flips her off, but Dragon only says, " I don't want her getting lost, nor do I want someone from the navy possibly recognizing her and recapturing her."

"And I so need you for your great fashion sense." She drawls, now annoyed at both of them.

Erik blinks and subconsciously looks down at his uniform. Hatori laughs heartily and leans down to whisper something in Soren's ear, who only blushes faintly and actually kicks him. Honestly, did they think they were being subtle?

"Now of everyone is clear on their jobs I want everyone to get ready we'll be docking in-"

Dragon looks at Elyanna, who lifts a shoulder halfheartedly. "An hour, give or take?"

"An hour then." Dragon looks them each in the eye before turning and walking up the steps to the helm.

The island, Ferapont, she finds out after finding a map, was a rather small island. It had two ports on either side, both with small villages and marketplaces, but the map couldn't prepare her for the terrain. She had 'borrowed' Erik's spyglass again and was currently sitting in on of the crow's nest gazing through it at the upcoming island in front of her. She can see one of the villages just past the coastline, but the giant oak forest sweeping up the hillside was unexpected and seemed to cover the entirely of the island. She didn't understand how, but the island seemed familiar?

"Anna!" Soren's voice calls for her down on deck. She pops her head over the side and sees him looking up at her. "Boss wants you to come down we're about ready to dock."

"Coming!" She calls down, glancing once more at the approaching island before slipping the spyglass into her coat, and sliding down the mast.

"Do you know how to use a ladder?" Soren asks incredulously, as she lands nimbly beside him.

"Too slow," she waves a hand and looks around. "Where's Erik? Actually, for that matter shouldn't you being finding Reo?"

It's his turn to give her a look. "I know how to do my job Anna, he's currently down below."

"Really, because last I recall, I told all of you that he had a tiny transponder snail that he was using."

A pause then, "fuck."

Without another word Soren runs off, leaving her with a grin on her face. "What did you do?" Erik asks, amusement in his voice, as he comes up behind her.

"Just reminded him of a small detail about his job."

He only shakes his head, "you ready to go?"

"Oh you sound happy." She notes, as they finally make it to the docks. And he didn't, his face was pale and he truly looked like he was going to be sick. She wanted to ask, but knew he wouldn't tell her, so she says, "I'll try not to bore you on this little excursion."

"Oh come on, I know you don't want to do this anymore than I do."

"I-"

but her voice is drowned out by Dragon's shout of "I want us out of here in three hours!"

Elyanna only gives Erik a small smile and says simply, "Captain's orders," before making her way to the gangway.

There were too many people for her liking, but despite insisting she was fine, she stuck close to Erik. The village was cute, a bit old fashioned, but it seemed to cater to every generation. Tea shops, bookstores, booths selling their goods, and clothing stores all lined upwards towards the forest. She assumes most of the homes are along the coast. After passing a bar, and promising herself not to indulge in that particular one, Erik stops suddenly. She turns to ask but when she sees his face she pauses. The utter rage behind it startles her and when she turns to follow his gaze she realizes, with horror, she recognizes the auburn haired man he's staring at. It had been an unpleasant memory to watch, but she knew at some point the two men had fought.

"Erik-"

He grabs her wrist. "With me, now!"

And he drags her into a nearby alley and weaves through a seemingly complicated set of buildings. It hits her then, why Erik didn't want to be here, why this place sort of looked familiar to her. It wasn't that he didn't want to go with her this place was just, "this is your hometown." She states, causing him to stop dead in his tracks. He releases her hand and his arms fall loosely to his sides as though he had given up on a fight.

"One of," he admits after a long silence. "Before Garp captured me I had been here." He laughs bitterly, "given the look on your face when you saw Asuma, I assume you recognized him?"

"I did." She answers calmly. He wasn't mad at her she had to remind herself, just at this whole stupid situation he was now in. "I saw you and him arguing," she clarifies, " and then you both were about to fight before I was kicked back into reality." He sighs deeply and leans against the wall opposite her. "Did you want to go back to the ship?" She asks. Screw orders, if this village would make Erik look defeated like this.

He looks up and gives her a mocking grin. "Nice try, but I'm still going to follow my orders until the end." He stands upright and stretches. "There are however a couple of places I would rather avoid completely."

"Understood." She wants to ask, but doesn't want to pry. Their pasts were their own it isn't their fault that with a touch she's able to invade that. She holds out her hand, an offering, and he takes it. "Anywhere in particular we should avoid on the chance that someone will recognize you?"

"No one around here but Asuma would recognize me anymore." He says, leading her down another alleyway. "There are a couple of shopkeepers who might, but the chance of that is rather low."

"Alright so we go to a clothing store and go right back to the ship."

"Sounds like a plan to me." He squeezes her hand in silent thanks as they make their way back into the streets.

Thanks for what she didn't know.

They make their way down a rather quiet street and come upon a small brick shop with what looked like dolls playing dress up in the display window. "I assume this is the place?" She asks, questioning why one of the dolls had half her body showing, it would just leave the flesh exposed in a fight.

"Yes, it's small but seeing as both of us would rather avoid a crowd I figure this would be the next best thing."

"You assumed right." She laughs, and leads him up to the door. "Ready to start this nightmare?"

"Depends on how much of a pain you're going to be."

"I haven't decided yet." She grins as they make their way inside."

She must have been in the changing room a good half an hour, but she had a decent pile of shirts towering in the corner.

"Find anything good yet?" Erik calls to her from the other side of the door. Surprisingly he didn't sound even slightly annoyed.

"Not really." She sighs in defeat, "I'm seriously debating asking you to go grab some men's clothes for me to try." She picks up a dark blue blouse that she had thought looked okay, but no matter what size she tried her chest would more or less be out. No. She didn't care much for modesty, but to fight in that would be more of a burden for her than a distraction for her opponents.

"Do you want me too?"

"I just need regular t-shirts." She moans, picking up a ridiculous orange top that would leave the entirely of her back exposed.

"Do you want me to go grab you some more shirts to try or do you want to start on pants?"

She curses profusely, forgetting she hadn't even started on that. "Pants I guess," a thought occurs to her. "No shorts though."

He doesn't question it and simply walks away. She sighs again and puts her original shirt back on before leaving the dressing room.

Curiosity seemed to have gotten the better of him as he asks later, "can I ask why no shorts?"

"Can I ask about Asuma?" She retorts, with more venom than intended. She was back in the fitting room with a new pile and had just gotten into her third pair of jeans, thankfully these seem to fit right.

A chuckle then, "fair enough. You haven't tried to pry into my personal matters why should I pry into yours."

"It's not even a personal thing. I just don't want a lot of people to see it." She sighs looking at her covered leg. "I have a Damn tattoo. I'm not ashamed of it but-"

"It would definitely make people question what you are?"

"Absolutely." She admits "remind me to show it to you three later."

"Just three of us?" He notes, "who don't you want to-oh! Right Dragon has seen everything. That doesn't bother you?"

"Why would it?" She asks, finding a pair in the same size and trying it on. "Erik the only reason I'm even doing this is because Dragon more or less ordered it." To her annoyance the pair didn't fit.

She must've let out some sort of sound as Erik asks cautiously, "how's it going?"

"I don't understand how two pairs can be the same size and one pair fits but the other doesn't." She hears him start laughing and asks, "what's so funny?"

"You're not the first woman I've heard complain about clothing. It's usually because of the brand." He explains, "each one has their own variation of size."

Sure enough she checks both pairs and they have a different brand names. "This is infuriating," she growls and tosses the pair that fit over the door. " Please just grab like six pairs of pants or jeans of that brand and size."

"This is actual torture for you isn't it?"

The pair disappears and she leans against the door. "Let's just say I understand now why Dragon gave everyone three hours. It feels like we're going to be stuck here that long." She hears him laugh again before walking away.

After what feels like hours Elyanna had a decent pile of everything she would need.

"Happy?" Erik grins as they exit the shop and Elyanna takes a moment to enjoy the sunlight in her new outfit and a pair of sunglasses that had caught her eyes.

"To be out of there yes, and don't pretend you're not." She grins, as she watches him light up a cigarette.

"Oh very, "he amends. "That was an actual nightmare."

"How much time to we have left to get back to the ship?"

"About an hour."

"I assume you want to get back to the ship as soon as possible?"

"I do." Erik takes a long drag and gestures for her to follow him. Without another word she picks up two of her bags and follows him down the street.

Elyanna had no idea how far they walked in silence, but she can nearly taste the tension in the air. She opens her mouth to say something- anything, when Erik sighs deeply and crushes the butt of his cigarette under his boot.

"Asuma was my second."

She hadn't expected that. Hell she hadn't expected Erik to tell her anything, but she stays quiet allowing herself to pause for only a moment.

"My parents dropped me off in the middle of a forest when I was eight and left me to die. A group of bandits decided I was worth their time and took me in. At fourteen I ended up on a ship, a new island, and took over the gang there." The two of them finally make it out of the shadows and onto the main road. Elyanna had to admit, as a spring breeze whips through her hair, she could get used to the nice weather. Erik pauses in his story to light up again.

She takes the moment to ask, "why are you telling me this? You don't owe me an explanation for anything."

"No. I don't, but I feel I need to give you something."

She wants to argue that he doesn't, but she would be lying if she said she wasn't curious.

"Everything was going well," he continues as they make their way into the shadows again. "Our gang was known throughout the islands around here, but I think being only days from Marine headquarters was one of our downfalls."

He goes quiet for so long Elyanna asks carefully, "what happened?"

He takes a long drag, "Asuma was more power hungry than I thought. It's a long story Anna, but a shorter version is- Asuma gave my girl Kaguya to the navy, told me it was a kidnapping, so of course I went after her." He sighs deeply and looks up at the sky. "I was a fool for thinking I could save her on my own. I caught up to the ship she was on, it was Garp's ship."

At her confused look he laughed, "Dragons old man."

She gapes at him, "there's no way you could've won."

He only laughs harder. "Yes Anna I'm well aware of that now, but-" He calms himself down. "It was that fight that Garp gave me a choice. I could spend my days in impel down, the underwater prison, or I could join the navy."

"Why did he give you a choice?"

Erik only shrugs, "who knows maybe he saw something in me, or he was just feeling lazy and didn't want to go to the prison. It's hard to tell with Garp as he tends to do as he pleases."

"So a total opposite of his son?"

That earns another laugh. "You're not wrong."

"You took the job offer I take it?" She jokes

"I did. Garp even relocated Kaguya, and I proceeded to Marinefold for training." The flashback she had seen of him and Asuma had to have been years later though, but before she can ask- "I trained for two years and ended up meeting Asuma here by chance." He says, answering her unasked question. "By then I had learned from Kaguya that Asuma had given her over to the marines. Understandably I was upset and pissed when I saw him again."

"You confronted him and he laughed and said you didn't deserve to be leader." She murmurs, the scene replaying in her head.

He nods in confirmation and grins, "Ah! So you can hear what people say in the memories you see?"

She blinks, and tries to recall every memory she has seen. "I've never said I couldn't."

"You've never implied you could." She replies to that by throwing one of her bags at him. He only laughs and picks up the dropped bag. "I won that fight, but he managed to get away before we could arrest him."

"You want to go after him now?"

He pauses, as though contemplating it, but shakes his head. "Boss's orders are to leave port in less than an hour."

"You want to let a criminal run free? I thought you Marines were all about capturing-" He wasn't looking at her and she trails off. "You don't want the others finding out."

He finally looks at her, clenches his hands into fists, and sighs deeply. "Dragon knows a bit, but not enough to know who Asuma is."

"Really?"

"Anna-"

"okay." Elyanna holds her hands up in defense. "I'll drop it, let's go back to-"

"help."

She stops and raises a brow at Erik. After a moment he does the same and asks, "what?"

She ignores him and glances around. Just where had that come from?

"Anna?" Erik asks worriedly.

She steps back out onto the street and only sees what looks like a worn down tavern. There was a large sign hanging next to a fairly large bouncer, who looked asleep, that read 'No Marines allowed.' Elyanna wasn't sure the words were supposed to look the color of blood, but it wouldn't be surprising.

Erik had followed her but she holds her arm out to stop him from coming out of the alley. "I think I need a drink." She replies before he can ask. "If I'm not out in ten minutes come get me would you?" Without waiting for a reply, and knowing he would know exactly where she was going, Elyanna walks up to the wooden doors. A hand blocks her and she turns to see the bouncer looking at her with only one lazy eye open. "You have any reason to stop me?" She asks with far more bravado then she feels. The man is huge, built like a mountain with shaggy blonde hair falling past his dark eyes. He was wearing a white shirt ripped to the point of wearing it at all seemed pointless. She would never understand fashion.

"You a marine?" He asks, voice rough.

She scoffs internally, but swallows her pride and pushes her bottom lip out in what she hopes looks like a pout. "Are you saying I look like one of those bad guys?" Her voice sounds so childish she almost cringes, but it was too late to change now. "I heard there were some men in there looking for a good time."

"There's a man out here looking for the same." He grins, opening both eyes and giving her a not so subtle once over.

Ice crawls up her spine. She knew she should've tried taking him on first, but she swallows her nerves and smiles warmly. "Meet me after your shift?" For emphasis she rubs her hand along his bare chest and tilts her head towards the alley opposite of where Erik was probably fuming. The bouncer grins and moves his arm out of her way. She smiles again, immediately deciding to never do that again, and walks in.

The inside was about what she expected, given the outside, small and a bit run down, but there was enough room for eight round tables and the bar all of which were full. Silence fell when she walked in and all eyes fell to her but one, and it was the only figure that caught her attention. They were sitting at the bar and wearing a cloak, their back was to her, but shoulders so tense it was amazing they hadn't shrunk into themselves. Ignoring the stares and quiet murmurings Elyanna walks up to the bar and sits down next to the cloaked figure. With barely a glance she grasps the situation and nearly growls in disgust.

"What can I get you?" The bartender asks walking up to her from behind the bar. He was an older man, about a head taller than herself, with black hair creased with gray strands and brown eyes. His face was kind, but given the patrons of his tavern she wasn't going to assume kindness was something to expect from him.

His voice had hitched slightly as he asked her, and when she looks at him his eyes keep darting from her to the man on the other side of the cloaked woman. She smirks, his concern for her was almost sweet and says, "just give me a bottle of your strongest." This would be annoying, and it wasn't as though alcohol affected her.

Well, at least not much.

The bartender only gapes at her, but after raising a brow he only disappears. It was quiet for a good minute as the bartender grabs her bottle, and only until he places it in front of her did someone finally speak. "What are you doing here woman?"

"That's obvious isn't it?" She wasn't sure who had spoken, but lifts the bottle for context. "I'm here for a drink," with that she lifts the bottle to her mouth and downs a good portion of the bottle. "It's a public tavern ain't it?"

"You a traveler? Most local folk know to stay clear from here."

It was the same voice and as a response she takes another swig before placing the bottle back on the counter and wiping the dregs off her chin. "What, they afraid of you slave traders?" She gestures to the cloaked figure. "I'm sure this woman will fetch a nice price." Said woman flinched as though Elyanna had slapped her. There was the sound of scraping chairs as at least six of the men stood up holding various weapons. The man on the other side of the captured woman stands up and moves to stand behind her stool. "I'm sorry was that supposed to be a secret?" She laughs, "though I doubt that's much of a secret to everyone in here."

The man behind her let's out what could've been a laugh. "You've got guts woman I'll give you that. Tell you what, as long as you promise to keep your Damn mouth shut, I'll let you leave here right now."

She finally turns to look at him and has to blink. There was no way this small, rat faced, man was this gang's leader. He was of a smaller build than she was, though slightly taller. She swallows her laugh and waves her hand, "what so you can send two of your goons after me to join this poor woman as product?" She scowls and turns back to her drink. "No thank you. I'll be leaving when I'm done with my drink." She swallows another mouthful of the burning liquid. "Oh! I'll be taking her too."

"Like hell you will." The man growls and makes the mistake of grabbing her shoulder. In one swift move Elyanna grips the lip of her bottle and swings, breaking it over his face. The man crumples to the ground and within seconds she had several pistols cocked in her direction.

"Damn," she sighs dropping the remainder of the bottle on the floor, "that was good too." The woman let's out a noise. Elyanna turns to face her and sees that she is gesturing at the unconscious man. Why she couldn't speak Elyanna didn't know, but understood what she wanted. Ignoring the still cocked pistols aimed at her Elyanna kneels down to rummage through his jacket. "You going to shoot me, or are you all just chicken shit?" She asks, standing back up with a set of keys swinging around her finger. The woman gasps and Elyanna honestly couldn't blame her.

Why was she acting so arrogant? Hell she should be scared, terrified even, but she felt...nothing. Gods, she keeps this up she's going to get both of them killed.

"If you're going to pull a pistol on someone-" she continues, her voice no longer her own. "At least have the guts to use it." To her own surprise she turns her back on the men and faces the woman. "Show me your hands." She complies and sure enough they were handcuffed. It takes a couple of tries but Elyanna finally finds the right key and the cuffs fall with a clang to the floor. Elyanna smiles warmly, before shoving the woman behind her fully intending to protect her.

"Neither of you are going anywhere." The man in front of her sneers, gesturing to his friends gathered in a circle around her. They had the two of them completely trapped.

"Unless you want a fight you can't win I suggest you shoot." They all laugh as Elyanna gets into a fighting stance.

"I'm sorry."

It was the voice from earlier, and again she heard it in her head. Before she can react Elyanna feels a pair of arms wrap around her middle. One moment she locks eyes with the man threatening her and the next she's staring down a dirt path surrounded by oak trees.

She has time to blink, before an unpleasant feeling churns in her stomach and she hurls its contents on the path. "What the hell was that?" She snaps, hurling up more of her stomach.

"I'm sorry!" The woman cries, her hood falling back and finally revealing her face. Elyanna was caught off guard. It was no wonder the slavers wanted her, she was gorgeous. Golden curls cascaded halfway down her back, full sensual lips, a beautiful round face, and eyes the color of sapphires. She had been so busy staring she missed whatever it was the woman had said. She shakes her head, "I'm sorry what?"

"I-"

gods even her voice is beautiful.

"Was saying I forgot what it's like to teleport for the first time. I'm so sorry."

Elyanna makes to speak, but ends up dry heaving.

"My name is Mila." She continues.

"How are we here, what did you do?" Elyanna asks as quickly as possible before she gets sick again.

"I ate the Tele-Tele fruit." She explains, "I'm able to teleport up to 10 miles, but I have to have been to wherever I'm teleporting."

Elyanna's stomach finally seems to have settled and a realization hits her, "we have to go back."

"What?! No." She exclaims, backing up into a tree, as if trying to get away. "They were ready to kill you!"

"If they wanted to kill us they should've done it the minute they pulled out their pistols."

"Why were you provoking them?"

Elyanna honestly had no idea, but said, "I wanted to see if they would do it." She shrugs, "but as expected they didn't want to harm the 'product.'"

"And you want to go back?"

"Listen, I know you're scared, but I have a friend waiting for me outside the tavern." Elyanna says and slowly walks over to where Mila is standing with her hands clenched close to her chest. "He's a marine that's why he couldn't come in with me. Please, Mila was it? I need to get back to him before he causes more problems for us." She's close enough to touch her. "You got us out of there now let me promise to protect you." She holds her hands out palms up. "My friends and I will get you home, and if they say no-"she smirks, "let's go together. My name is Elyanna Swann, and it's very nice to escape with you Mila."

Mila is quiet for a long moment but finally lays her hands in Elyanna's and smiles.

Like the first time Elyanna wasn't expecting it, and just like the first time, when they got to their destination Elyanna hurled.

Never again.

She was never doing that again.

When she finds the strength to stand up straight her blood turns to ice. She was staring at the appalled face of a familiar bouncer. Mila had teleported them right back in front of the tavern and she had just hurled all over his shoes. Elyanna wasn't sure whether to be proud or embarrassed.

Without a word Elyanna grabs Mila's wrist and they turn to run. It doesn't take long for the tavern's door to open and several angry slavers run after them. Elyanna can't help the grin that appears on her face, she was actually having fun. No. She didn't want this woman in danger, but she would get Mila safely to Dragon's ship no matter what.

They pass the alleyway and she catches Erik's eye. She can't tell whether he looks annoyed or elated. Was he just as bored as she was? She opens her mouth to tell him they were heading back to the ship, but he lifts a finger to his mouth and shakes his head. Understanding that he already knew she only nods and runs past. Her unfamiliarity of the town however turns into her downfall as they turn a corner and hit a dead end. She curses and realizes it's too late to go back as footsteps approach from behind them. Elyanna shoves Mila behind her protectively and faces the men staring at her. She glances around, looking for some sort of opening, but finding none. She does however see Erik on a nearby rooftop. Wondering how the hell he had gotten up there so quickly and knowing he would back her up if needed she contemplates her options.

She's about to ask Mila if she could get them to the docks, but a familiar voice drawls, "where do you think you're going with my merchandise?"

She actually let's out a low growl as Asuma makes his way to the front. Of course Erik's old partner was the ringleader of this. "Where do you think asshole? As far away from you as possible."

Screw it. She has been itching for a fight since the tavern.

"Can you get yourself to the docks?" She asks Mila quietly.

Mila looks at her with panic. "Yes, but I can take you too."

Elyanna shakes her head and gestures to the rooftops. "Do you remember when I said I had a friend waiting for me?" Mila follows her gaze and must have caught Erik's eye from her gasp. "I don't want him to see me disappear and not know where I went." She continues and a little louder adds, "I want you to get to the docks and look for a ship with a dragon's figurehead. When you find it, ask for Monkey D. Dragon-" the name had the desired effect. Several of the slavers visibly flinch, Asuma included. Good, at least now she knew Dragon's name carried some weight. "If Dragon isn't there ask for Soren or Hatori."

"And if none of them are there?" Mila asks, her voice shaky.

"Just tell whoever you see that Anna needs backup." She prayed that the first person Mila met wouldn't be Reo.

"But-"

"I'll meet you back by the ship Mila I promise."

Mila takes another glance at the now wary slavers and squeezes Elyanna's arm once in assurance, before disappearing. Elyanna just turns and grins wickedly at them, "well-" she asks. "What are you going to do?"

"You really have no idea who I am do you?" Asuma asks, crossing his arms.

"The thing about that is I just don't care." She gets into a fighting stance. "Selling people is wrong, it's as simple as that."

"And what are you planning to do against all of us?" For emphasis, he snaps his fingers and all of them pull out some sort of weapon. Yet none of them seemed to have a pistol, curious.

"Not much." She admits scanning the various weapons, her eyes focus on a black haired man with his two front teeth missing, carrying a rather large hand axe, and moves up to glance up at Erik whose expression she couldn't read. Gods she was in for a lecture when they got back. "All I need to do is get past all of you."

"And back to the safety of, who was it again?" She doesn't dignify that with a response and he laughs. "Vice-admiral Dragon right? Well whatever-" He shrugs, "you'll go for a nice price as well." To his group he says, "grab her and let's go."

The man with the axe comes at her first. She easily side steps him, narrowly dodging a slice from the blade, and jabs her elbow into his ribs, causing him to stumble and his axe to fall. He comes after her again, fist raised and she swings her leg, kicking him back towards the group. He lands disgracefully on the pavement and is knocked out. "I think you'll find-" she drawls, and grins at the look of disbelief on Asuma's face. "I can handle myself just fine." Someone calls her a bitch and she flips them off. Two of them come after her this time and she manages to dodge one, but the other lands a decent blow to her stomach with a club. Recovering rather quickly, and feeling a surge of something she can't place, Elyanna returns the blow with a punch. Her aim must have been more precise because the trader went down. The one that she had dodged wraps his arms around her middle, effectively trapping her arms. She hooks a leg around his own successfully, causing him to lose his balance. Both of them fall backwards and he grunts releasing his grip, as she falls on top of him. She kicks him off to the side for good measure as she gets up and looks at Asuma again. There were only six of his goons left and he looked pissed. She sends him a mocking smile and the remaining six charge at her. She backtracks and uses the wall behind her to jump, kicking the wall, and flipping over them. She lands gracefully and is amused at the couple of them who slam into the wall. One of them is faster than she expects and turns around with a knife in hand. Elyanna avoids the first slash, but another one of them appears to her left. She ducks, avoiding him and sweeping her leg to knock him on his ass, but her shoulder gets stabbed by the one still carrying the knife. White hot pain courses through her and she glares at him. He honestly looks more surprised at getting her than anything else. Tossing the knife she grips her hand down tightly to her now bleeding shoulder, and kicks him into one of his friends. Another one appears behind her and tackles her to the ground. Another beat of pain hits her as she falls on her bad shoulder and it takes all her willpower to stay conscious. A tether deep within her snaps and her body is suddenly enveloped in lightning. Terrified, she gets back up on her feet and attempts to be rid of the sparks now emitting from her in waves. Brushing her arm the sparks leap off her, electrocuting the other man going for her.

She catches Asuma's eye and he grins. "Now I get it. Someone get a pair of handcuffs on her."

She didn't like the sound of that, but before she can react they had her surrounded. She was prepared to fight, but her shoulder throbs again. She curses, just how deep was the cut? Had it been poisoned? If she got out of this alive Dragon or Erik were going to kill her. Her movements were getting sluggish and it took no time at all for them to grab her and stick a pair of handcuffs around her wrists. They were similar she realizes to the ones Mila had worn. Were these the reason Mila hadn't talked while in the tavern?

No. Mila should've easily been able to teleport herself out of that situation.

Devil fruits!

The handcuffs prevented users of devil fruits to use their powers. She can't help the laugh that bursts out of her.

Oh this was going to be fun!

From the nervous glances the men around her gave to one another she really had to put on a show. What had caused the lightning the first time? Cringing a bit at the memory she sighs deeply and braces herself, before turning her head and biting down hard on her injured shoulder. It hurt like hell, but she feels the same burst of power as before. Letting out a pained scream the lightning explodes out of her, destroying the handcuffs, and electrifying the men around her. After a moment she slowly and shakily gets back to her feet and Asuma is nowhere to be seen. A spark of power is still wrapped around her hand.

"Anna-?" Erik's voice startles her and she ends up shooting the spark at one of the already unconscious men.

She curses, that may have actually killed him. She turns to find Erik staring at her. "Asuma?"

"Ran off as soon as you displayed your little lightning show." He raises a brow. "You want to explain that to me?"

"I would if I could." She replies, picking up the ruined handcuffs and feeling a sudden burst of pain. "Can you explain these to me? Mila was wearing them back in the tavern."

"Is that the woman's name?" When he doesn't get an answer he sighs and takes the handcuffs from her. "Sea prism cuffs. They render the one cuffed unable to use their devil fruit."

Elyanna had guessed as much, but was glad for the confirmation.

"So-" He continues, glancing around at the unconscious men. "Your powers aren't from a devil fruit." He says this more as a statement and reaches into one of her shopping bags that he was still holding .

"I told you that."

"You did. Mila a slave?" He hands her a shirt, still not looking at her.

She looks down at herself and realizes her shirt is ripped down to the bare minimum. Cursing in annoyance and surprised by Erik's decency she rips off her ruined shirt and slowly throws the new one over. Gods, why did her body hurt so much? "They were going to sell her." She admits and stares at her bloodied hands. What the hell had she just been able to do?

"Are you okay?"

"I don't know." She admits, tearing her eyes away and up to his concerned face. "I don't-"

"Elyanna! Erik, there the two of you are!" Dragon's voice calls out. She peers behind Erik to see Dragon running towards them and sheathing two killer looking blades. He reaches them, assesses the situation and turns to Erik. "What the hell happened?"

Erik looks around like it was obvious and gestures to Elyanna, "Anna just took out at least nine slavers on her own."

"And where were you?"

"A safe distance away."

Dragon glares at him.

"I asked him to stay out of the fight." Elyanna says, with more venom then necessary. "I wanted to see if I could do it." Dragon opens his mouth as if to argue, but she continues, "if I'm going to be a part of this group I need to be able to take care of myself."

"Well-" Dragon takes another glance around at the bodies. "I think you just proved that. What happened?"

Erik shakes his head. "I'm still waiting for an explanation too."

"Is Mila okay?" She asks Dragon, who shrugs.

"As far as I know."

"As far as you-!"

"When I left-" He clarifies quickly, "Soren had invited her to the galley for a snack and Hatori was more or less guarding the ship."

Elyanna lets out a sigh of relief at that. Mila was safe, now she just had to deal with the outcome. "I heard her cry for help," she says and turns to Erik sharply, "don't ask me how; I don't know! I found her in a tavern owned by slavers, or bandits I'm not sure which. She was handcuffed, I knocked the guy out who had the key, and we-" she pauses, unsure if Mila wanted her powers revealed, "escaped."

"You ran out of there as though it was about to blow up." Erik laughs and she recalls racing past him in a hurry.

"Nine," she feels the need to remind him, "and they were all blocking the exit. So yes the fact we got out of there at all was surprising."

Dragon looks around the alley again, "and you ended up here?"

"I took a wrong turn." She admits, her cheeks growing warm. "I was trying to go back to the ship. Mila managed to slip past them and I told her to go to the ship. I knew one of you would keep her safe. After that I beat these guys and then you showed up."

"What do you want to do?" Erik asks after a moment.

Dragon pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs deeply; "I ordered the two of you to go shopping for clothes."

"Which we did," she gestures to Erik who holds up the three bags as proof. "I just got a little sidetracked."

"A little-?"

"Do we want to take them as prisoners and drop them off at headquarters?" Erik interrupts, before they got off track again.

"No." Dragon looks around again. "I'll call headquarters and have then pick these guys up. We'll drop them off at the local station until then."

"This place doesn't have a base I take it?" Erik asks.

"No." Dragon sighs again, moving over to one of the bodies and throwing him effortlessly over a shoulder. Erik moves to do the same. "This, reminds me, I need to ask them to bring an eternal log pose."

"Wait, are we stuck here?" Erik asks, nearly dropping a body.

Elyanna hears the worry in his voice and she can tell Dragon does too. "Until Reo admits he's lying about the log pose yes." Dragon admits, casting Erik a look of concern. "I won't navigate this sea blind."

"We can't just force him to admit he's hiding something!?" Elyanna snaps and enjoys the look of surprise on both of their faces as she picks up two of the men.

Erik, to her surprise, turns to Dragon and murmurs; "I could always-"

"No!" Dragon cuts him off. "I promised you a long time ago that I wouldn't ask you to do that."

"But-"

"end of discussion."

With that Dragon turns to make his way out of the alley. Elyanna gives Erik a questioning look, but he only shakes his head and follows Dragon.

The three of them were walking back to the docks, after dropping the slavers off, in awkward silence. Or at least in Dragon and Erik's case. She groans inwardly at the memory. Erik hadn't wanted to be recognized so when they walked in to drop them off Erik had walked in, dropped the men he had been carrying onto the floor, and with no explanation, walked out. She had expected Dragon to ask, with the way he had glared after Erik, but he hadn't yet. Maybe Dragon really didn't care, but the tension in the air was suffocating. She opens her mouth to discuss the Damn weather if she had too when the ship comes into view.

A familiar blonde haired woman is facing them from the deck. Elyanna lifts up her hand to wave when Mila disappears, and arms are thrown around Elyanna's neck. "Thank the gods," Mila sobs into her shoulder. "I thought-"

"I told you I'd be fine." Elyanna smiles warmly, wrapping her arms around Mila. She glances up and laughs at the look of disbelief on Dragon's face.

"Thank you. Thank you Elyanna. I'm so glad you're okay and-" she cries again.

"Mila I'm fine. Why don't we go to my room and you can tell me what happened?" She finally frees herself from Mila's grip. Tears were still streaming down her face. Elyanna had the sudden urge to wipe away the tears, but resists and turns to face Dragon. "With permission of course."

Dragon is already walking back to the ship and only replies, "do as you will Elyanna, you will anyways."

She can't tell if that was a jab or not, but ignores it and turns to Mila who is fidgeting. "What's wrong?"

"I-" she pauses, not able to look Elyanna in the eyes. "I twisted my ankle on the way here. I can't really walk and the doctor recommends I stay off it."

That explained why she had teleported straight into Elyanna's arms. "You can always teleport back-" at that Mila plays with her hands, realizes she's fidgeting and stuffs them into her pockets. Elyanna understands a moment later. Mila didn't want to go back to the ship by herself, not after showing everybody her power. She sighs deeply and turns around, "hop on."

Mila blinks once in confusion. "I don't-"

"Mila I told you I wouldn't teleport again, but I can carry you to the ship on my back."

"I-thank you."

It takes a moment, but after a little adjusting Mila is securely on Elyanna's back. "Ready?"

Mila wraps her arms around her neck, "yeah."

And they follow Dragon and Erik down to the docks.