Krysta stared at the fruit in her hand, deep in thought. She almost kissed Law last night, wanted him to kiss her. What was wrong with her? This wasn't supposed to happen, she can't be developing feelings for him. He was effectively her captor, just another pirate keeping her as a tool…except that he wasn't. The only time he claimed needing her just for her abilities was while berating her for jeopardizing her health. The rest of the time she was treated like a person…like a member of his crew. Never an object.

Is that why she was feeling so conflicted? Why she caught herself thinking about him so often as of late? She needed to stop. She was only going to hurt herself.

Law was a tease, an attractive tease, but still just a tease. There was no way he would be genuinely interested in her. She was a walking corpse; not worth the short time she would be around.

"-a-chan…Krysta-chan!"

Krysta snapped out of her thoughts, looking over at Seb, who was giving her a concerned look.

"Everything alright?" he asked, giving her a once over.

"I'm fine," Krysta waved off his concern, placing the fruit in her basket along with a few others. "I'm just spacing out, I think I stayed up too late last night."

"Come to think of it you never came back to the party," Seb paid the vendor and they moved on to the next to browse their stall, "Scare you off that bad hun?"

"No, of course not," Krysta tapped him playfully on the shoulder, "How could anyone be scared of you? Law sent me on an…errand."

"I see," Seb scratched the back of his neck nervously before he spoke again, "So are you and the Captain…"

Seb trailed off and Krysta felt heat in her cheeks at his insinuation.

"Absolutely not!" Krysta nearly shouted.

Seb chuckled at her reaction, "Sorry hun, everyone was wondering after Captain followed you out last night. Some of the others started making bets."

"Great," Krysta grumbled, glancing at Seb accusingly, "Are you just trying to make money off me?"

"Wouldn't dream of it." Seb raised his hands in surrender, "but you can head back and get some rest if you need to Krysta-chan."

Seb made to grab the basket in her hands but Krysta swung it out of reach.

"And get caught breaking Law's 'pairs' rule. No thank you," Krysta gave him the most dazzling smile she could muster, "besides, I'd rather be out here with you."

Seb chuckled and shook his head, "If you're sure, I just want to check a couple more places and we can head back, the others are probably already waiting at the inn."

X~X~X~X~X

They were docked at an island with a reputation as a popular tourist destination. The Inn they would be staying at that night was close to the docks but maintained the illusion of a high class establishment, complete with its own bar.

The heart pirates were scattered about the room, drinking, laughing and enjoying a night out. Krysta however, was having a hard time focusing on the jovial atmosphere of the crew around her. She had avoided Law since waking up this morning, plagued by her thoughts from the night before. Once her and Seb had arrived at the bar she followed him to a table rather than join Law at his. However, since they were staying at the Inn, many of the crew were looking for a companion to accompany them up to their room.

Law included.

The woman sat beside him was beautiful; pretty face, full figure, and the smile she was giving him was nothing less than alluring. She approached him early in the night and after being invited to sit she had inched closer to his side as time passed. She was trying to ignore it but her eyes kept drifting back to their table, and every time her gaze landed on the pair her chest tightened along with the hand clenching around her glass.

Tearing her gaze away once again she downed the liquor left in her glass and mustered up a smile to give Seb when she told him she was going up to the bar for another drink. She hated this feeling, it had been years since she felt such an ache. The last time it plagued her, Calum had kissed her goodbye before leaving to visit his fiancé.

Jealousy.

Krysta scoffed to herself, she had no right to be jealous, no claim to Law or say in how he spent his time. Even still the sting crept in every time she looked his way. Unable to help herself she looked back and felt her heart sink. Law and the woman were gone.

Officially done with the revelry around her Krysta abandoned the bar, trudging up the stairs to the rooms above. As she entered the room assigned to her another thought struck her. Where was Law's room? Was it close to hers? Giving her a room was a waste since she wouldn't be sleeping tonight because Law was…

The walls started closing in around her, the space suddenly too small, confining. She hurried over to the window, throwing it open to allow the cool night air to brush away the encroaching panic.

Her room overlooked a courtyard nestled beside the Inn, walkways wound through colorful beds of flowers and in the center sat a bubbling fountain. Without a second thought she hopped out of her third story window, using the shadows to descend to the garden. If she was spending the night awake, she'd rather do it out here.

X~X~X~X~X~X~X

Law sighed tiredly as he made his way to Krysta's room. His previous company, although objectively attractive, had not kept his attention for long. He had seen the way Krysta looked at them all night. Her façade slipping every now and then, allowing him to see the swirl of emotion behind eyes, even if he couldn't identify them. It had almost been enough to dismiss the woman before he remembered why he was entertaining her advances to begin with. He needed to quell his growing attraction to Krysta, so he invited her to his room.

The sex did little to distract him, and once their needs had been met, he sent her on her way. Now all he wanted to do was sleep. He had tried to sleep alone, but Krysta's absence was loud in the darkened room. So here he was, using the spare key he acquired for Krysta's room and quietly slipping inside. There was no sign of Krysta. Catching sight of the open window he strode over to it, releasing a small sigh of relief when he spotted Krysta in the courtyard below. She lay on the lip of a fountain, one hand dipped in its basin as she gazed at the stars above. She was enchanting, ethereal in the pale moonlight. He saw her chest rise as she heaved a sigh and sat up. Coming to her feet she began to stroll around the fountain.

Law felt sleep beckoning him so he created a room and brought Krysta inside. She was mid-stride and stumbled on the carpeted floor, disoriented by the sudden shift in scenery. Her searching gaze fell on Law and her eyes widened for a moment before settling into a glare.

"What the hell Law,"

"We're going to sleep," Law said simply.

Krysta blinked at him dumbfounded before anger washed over her in a wave.

"No, fuck no, if you want a cuddle buddy go snuggle up with the woman in your room," Krysta gestured at the door.

Law was mildly shocked at Krysta's reaction, "She left"

"Sucks for you then, I'm not sleeping in a room that reeks of sex."

"Then we'll sleep here," Law countered. Krysta crossed her arms defiantly.

"I don't want to smell you either."

"I've already showered," Law smirked, "If I didn't know any better I'd say you sound jealous Krysta-ya."

That doused Krysta's anger as effectively as a bucket of ice water.

"Don't be ridiculous," Krysta scoffed and looked away but she couldn't hide the pink that dusted her cheeks when he called her out.

"If you want my attention Krysta-ya, all you have to do is ask," Law teased

"I don't want a damn thing from you," Krysta spit, but the words weren't as harsh as she wanted them to be.

"Then what's the problem," Law maintained his knowing smirk.

Krysta glared at the floor. Hell would freeze over before she admitted she was jealous of the woman Law took to bed. That her heart had leapt when she saw him standing in her room. That she was angry for feeling that relief, knowing he slept with her only to keep her healthy, useful. That any relationship between them would be purely physical from Law's end.

No. Best to keep things the way they were.

Krysta's shoulders sagged in defeat.

"Nothing," she replied, grabbing her bag and stalking to the en-suite "I'll be ready for bed in a minute."

Law remained silent as she disappeared behind the door, stunned at her shift in demeanor. When she returned Law was waiting on the bed, covers drawn back. Krysta slid in beside him and tried to ignore the traitorous content that washed over her as he drew her to his chest, and fell asleep.

X~X~X~X~X

Krysta was dressing in the en-suite the next morning when she heard a knock on the door. Law answered and dread dropped into Krysta's stomach. If one of the guy's found Law in her room, she'd never hear the end of it, and there was no way they'd believe her if she tried explaining.

Rushing to salvage the situation, she paused with the door cracked, upon hearing a distinctly feminine voice. Peering through the opening she saw Law with the door ajar and the woman from last night out in the hallway.

"…must have mixed up the room numbers but I'm ready to go." She said cheerfully.

"Go?" Law questioned.

"With you of course," the woman giggled, "We had such a connection last night, I just know we are going to be wonderful together."

"I believe there has been a misunderstanding," Law's voice was calm, but Krysta could see his muscles tense in annoyance. That's when, despite everything she had told herself last night, she got a crazy, terrible idea.

Using the shadows to mask her approach she appeared beside Law, startling the woman. Gripping his arm to turn his attention to her Krysta popped up on her toes and kissed Law full on the mouth. She heard his sharp intake of breath and couldn't help smiling as she swiped her tongue over his lip, asking for entrance. She felt him smirk against her lips before giving her access to deepen the kiss, pulling her flush against him.

After a few moments Krysta pulled away, falling back to her feet but keeping herself pressed against Law.

"What's going on, dear," Krysta asked Law, looking to the woman as though she just noticed her there, "Can we help you?"

The woman just gapped at them for several seconds before finding her voice.

"Wh-whats going on," she exclaimed.

"Hm?" Krysta tilted her head in fake confusion, "Oh, you're that lovely lady from last night. Thank you for warming him up for me."

"W-warm up," she stuttered out in offense.

"Oh, honey," Krysta's voice was laced with false sympathy, "You didn't think you could satisfy him did you? He was just passing time until I was ready."

The woman just stared, her mouth working but no words coming out. She looked at Law with pleading eyes. He just smirked cruelly.

"You heard her."

Expression turning livid the woman turned on her heel and stalked away. As soon as she was far enough down the hall Krysta extracted herself from Law's embrace, quickly retreating into the room. Law shut the door and looked at Krysta with a raised brow. Krysta cleared her throat, cheeks burning.

"Now we're even," she tried to sound casual as she moved to finish repacking her bag, "Do you always pick up crazies?"

"That was a first actually," Law came up behind Krysta, resting his hands on her hips and leaning close to her ear, "but I'll have to find more if it prompts that reaction from you."

"It was a one time thing," Krysta said hastily, trying to ignore the weight of his hands and the heat radiating off his body so close to hers, "I was feeling generous, the next one will just have to face your wrath."

"So, it was for her sake," Law didn't sound convinced

Exactly, now hands off," Krysta zipped her back and swung it over her shoulder, finally regaining her composure. Law had to release her and step back to avoid getting hit allowing Krysta to skirt around him and make for the door. "Seb is expecting me, so I'll see you later Law."

"Krysta-ya wait," Law tried to stop her, but she was out the door before he could finish.

Law sighed. Krysta was giving him some serious whiplash.

X~X~X~X~X

20 Chapters!

This is the farthest I have ever gotten in a story.

Thank you for reading!