A/N:

cough* *cough*.. Okay, so how do I put into this? Well apparently I've been irresponsible and haven't update this for far too long. I'm ashamed. Really. So when I got back to this few months ago I got all this mixed up feelings like 'goshhhh this needs to be rewritten, this gotta loophole and this...? Dude what's going on with you?' To pretend that I didn't cringe after reading them is a lie. A sin, to be honest and my heart can't continue writing the next chapter unless I do something about the previous chapters so there you go. Rewritten, redo, whatever we call it.

So I'm so sorry about this but the boat is continuing sailing so chill back and have a sip of pina colada! (At your own cost)

1. Meeting the Hearts

I dare you not...

"How long was I given to do this?"

"4 months. We will contact you as usual after the date. Keep your eyes on the newspaper," the man snorted. His eyes lingered around the curve of the female in front of him. She does not have a perfect glass hour shape, but it is acceptable. She is 18 years old after all.

His eyes trailed upward to her neck, where the gentle breeze of the night blew her red hair softly.

Damn... Just looking at her could arouse him. If only he's stronger, nothing could hold him back from having his way. He might enjoy the 'meal' along with the crewmates too. He bet they'll be eager to taste her too.

"I can't promise anything. He is not like any other victims that I had handled. And the rumours about him doesn't help much in describing him other than ferocious, vicious and cold-hearted bastard."

And depending on my luck I might die in his hand tonight, thanks to you guys, thought the girl silently as she looked passed her shoulder to face her 'friends'.

Her gaze changed to the sea afar. There's a submarine in yellow docked near the port. The sound of laughs and shouts and the moving silhouette dancing and jumping around showed that the crew on the submarine were having a party. Her gaze darkened as the chilling wind roughly blew, messing her hair as she just gently held them in between her fingers and tucked them behind her ears.

The weather didn't bother her at all. She was known as a cold girl for a reason. Well, apart from being no problem withstanding coldness, she was typically a cold-hearted person too. She acted based on her desire. She didn't do teamwork with her team. She moved alone and if they got in her way that will be on them.

She wasn't the best making relationship with her colleagues.

But not to their knowledge, she was actually covering up her true self. It was a mask put on to protect herself. Because she is alone in her crew, she trusted nobody than herself so she'll do anything for her own safety.

She doesn't want to be used and abused by those crazy and perverted crew.

Yes, she is part of that crew.

Which she hated so much.

"You guys can leave now. I will do the rest", the female said after sliding a small strand of her red hair behind her ear.

"And what's your plan to approach them?" asked another guy. He has been constantly yawning, too eager to get back to their rented inn to sleep.

"I figure it out soon", she snorted.

"Actually, we have a good idea on how you can approach them."

She did not realize as one of them approached her from behind. By the time she sensed something was wrong, it was too late as they had stabbed her with a needle and injected a fluid that caused her body to go limp and sleepy.

Paralyzer.

She felt weak and fell on her knees, breathing heavily.

"Wh..hat's the meaning of this?" she asked, gritting her teeth trying to act like nothing, which failed miserably.

"Don't blame us, it was the captain's order," he replied.

"You can't get to him just like that. He will ignore you. So captain wanted us to do this", said another guy while he took out a short blade. The other two followed his action.

"Don't worry. We won't do much. We will just give you some cuts and bruises, and as for you, start acting like you are dying, so he can take you to their ship. Then the rest, you do what you need to do."

Their sickening smile caused her eyes to widen.

Was this a payback to herself?

Cursing her captain silently, she felt as one of them pulled her hair and held her up in front of the other two.

She closed her eyes, as she started to feel the pain of getting slashed, cut, punched and kicked. Blood trickled down her wounds, while she bites her lips to withstand the pain.

If only she can use her devil fruit power, she'll be freezing their ass to the ground.

- - -

Cold... It was so cold on her back.

Too cold. What could that be? And why though?

Not that she minds it, but at this moment, she really appreciated if she could get some warmth.

Groaning, she slowly opened her eyes. The smell of steels and sanitized room invaded her nostrils. She could also smell a faint scent of medicine and herbs lingered around the room, and her nose scrunched instinctively.

There's something about the room that smell soothing but also at the same time disgusting.

She couldn't tell which and what and why.

She brought her small palm to her head, gently massaged it but she stopped half way when she felt a slight pang upon the movement of her right hand. She gazed up, and found out that her right arm was fully wrapped up to her elbow, and then there is a wire connected to an IV drip and her wrist of the same arm. She blinked few times as her eyes started to notice more parts of her body were wrapped and bandaged, like her left palm, knees and thigh. She didn't know that her injuries were that bad.

Moving much might not be a good idea. So she will wait for her saviour to come and do the explanations.

"Ah...so that's what happened," she sighed once she remembered everything. After being slashed and beaten by the crew mates, they threw her near to the yellow submarine. Lucky for her 10 minutes afterwards, someone from the submarine noticed her bloody figure and started to scream to the others to get her to their captain.

So she most likely in the submarine now. At least she managed to get in.

Yawning, she felt herself getting sleepy back. So she got herself comfortable on the bed, and drifted back to the dreaming land.

- - -

Another hour probably had passed, as she opened her eyes and blinked for few times to wipe off the bleary mode. She was getting bored. Is no one gonna check on her?

Please be someone, at least let me get up and leave the bed.

Mentally sighed, she turned slightly to the left, her free side where no wires and IV drips connected to the wrist. Huffing her hair fringes to be out of her eyes she pondered over her plan.

Which, she got none.

What should I do? I haven't come up with any plan yet to approach them. They might drop me atsomewhereonce I look like I'm fine. Maybe I should -

Suddenly, the door to the infirmary room opened.

She lifted up her head slightly, watching a tall, tanned guy with a mushroom hat batted eyes with her, before walking in after closing the metal door lightly. He walked to a nearby metal table, which connected to the metal wall as he took a file and read whatever he had on it.

Probably the medical report of her condition.

And he was fully aware of the girl's lingering gaze on him, that silently asking for an explanation.

"You didn't have any vital injuries that could lead to death. You have cuts and bruises everywhere, and you need to be bandaged until they heal properly. Other than that, you seem fine," he carelessly threw the file onto the table.

Turning and facing her, "any question?" he asked.

"No, thank you for saving me. I owe you," she replied.

He narrowed his eyes watching the still laying on-her-side female that somehow couldn't figure out on how to lay down properly on her back.

"What happened?"

"I was running away from a group of pirates. Got caught and beaten to pulp by them," she answered.

He simply nodded.

"You are Trafalgar Law, right? I'm Mirra. Nice to meet you," she introduced herself.

Hmm... I wonder about that," he mumbled to himself.

But Mirra heard it.

"I know you. They called you the Surgeon of Death. The devil, vicious and cold-hearted pirate. You are quite popular, both due to your power and your cocky attitude," Mirra smiled innocently at him.

Law looked at her, not sure whether he should take that as a compliment or an insult. But he narrowed his gaze to her because he didn't like her tone.

Mirra knew she wasn't supposed to push his button to much. She gotta act nice if she wants to come out alive.

"How long do I need to be here? I don't like the smell of medicines here. Can I go out for fresh air?" So she then asked politely.

Law weighed the pros and cons for letting her roam free on the sub, before he relent and walked to her.

"You can walk around the sub. Currently we are on the sea. There's no island nearby to drop you so you'll have to deal be with us for a while. If you need help, you can ask from any of my crew," Law took off the connected IV drip from her wrist and walked back to the door to leave.

Since she got the permission to walk around, Mirra excitedly put her legs onto the cold floor and started to stand. But she found herself stumbling and losing balance.

"Woah... How long has I've been sleeping," she looked at his back, waiting for an answer.

"Three days," Law lazily said as he left the room.

- - -

"Damn, I have been sleeping for three days just from these injuries? How pathetic," Mirra said to herself while slowly walking around the sub. She leaned against the metallic wall as a support, but her movements were still sloppy and slow, mainly due to the injuries on her knees. She groaned as she remembered a certain raven-haired male just left her struggling to walk from the infirmary room, without even bothered to help her.

Isn't he's a true gentleman?She sarcastically scoffed.

And in the midst of trotting like a toddler, her stomach started to growl in different tunes, making any whales that she stumbled upon will probably mistaking her stomach as one of their species. Even worst, she had no idea where's the mess hall was. Her stomach has been demanding for food but without anyone's help she don't think she will make it.

But like a light that suddenly shone at the end of a tunnel, she heard voices coming to her way, making her to thank God above for sending her life-savers. Happiness washed over her face when two guys, a red headed male with a green hat and shades and another male with a hat written Penguin on it appeared.

The both of them slow jogged to her the moment they saw her.

"Hey, you finally awake! I'm Shachi and this is Penguin. We are the crew of the Heart Pirates," greeted the red-haired guy, while the guy called Penguin smiled gently.

"Nice to meet you, miss -"

"Mirra. And nice meeting you two as well," she shook Penguin's hand when he extended it to greet her, followed by Shachi's.

" I know this is quite sudden to ask, but I'm hungry. Do you mind give me some food and water?"

"Of course not. Captain did say just now that you might be hungry at this moment. So he asked us to get you and lead the way to the kitchen".

Huh, so he did care after all?

They reached the mess hall within 5 minutes of walking. At there, she saw the captain of the Heart Pirates eating rice balls. It was lunch hour after all, so the dining table was packed with every crewmate sitting, talking and eating.

Mirra took a seat next to Penguin since it was the only available space while Shachi disappeared to the kitchen to fetch her the food of the day. Once the food served, she salivated at it and immediately dig in, only to be disappointed with the not so flavoury taste of curry. She looked around and started to notice that the rest of the crew were eating but from their faces it was pretty obvious they didn't enjoy it.

"Sorry if the food does not up to your expectation. None of us here knows how to cook well, except for some people but they're not on cooking duty... They are busy with something else today," Penguin said.

He scooped some of his rice, but almost puke at the view of the so watery curry with what he believed to be overly dried rice.

In his honesty, he had no appetite to eat. But he was hungry, so...

Mirra shrugged at it. "It's okay... I understand... It's not that bad though, just need some guidance and teaching, I bet any of you can cook a decent meal," she said.

"Can you cook Mirra-chan?" Shachi asked.

"Yeah, I can. Do you want me to cook for you guys?" She asked, while chewing the rice.

"If you don't mind," Shachi and Penguin replied together.

"Well, I think I can do something to repay your kindness for saving me and treating me." Mirra gazed down at her rice. She looked back up again, eyes meeting with the silver hues belong to the captain of the ship.

"I have one condition tho'."

Law raised an eyebrow, knowing full well she was speaking to him at the moment. He had been listening to Shachi's, Penguin's and her conversation so he knew she knew he was watching her.

Mirra took a breath as she batted eyes with his.

"I would like to stay in this submarine and travel with you guys. I.. have no place to go actually. I just loved to be on the sea, seeking for adventures. If you don't mind letting me stay, I can cook, as long as some of you help me because there seems to be..." her eyes trailed to each of the crewmate's face, mentally calculating their number. "A lot of you guys so it's impossible to do it alone."

She nodded to herself.

Law judged her sceptically, trying to figure out any underlying purpose behind her request, before settling to ask, "can you fight?"

Humming at the response, "I don't think the blade and the daggers that I carry around with me are just some toys, right?"

Mirra knew he knew she could fight and protect herself, as she believed when he saw her for the first time she'd had a blade strapped to her waist, with few daggers hung around her hips. In this world of piracy where bad things could happen at any time and anywhere, seeing a woman yielding a blade is not something to take in lightly. As she either possessed the ability to run the tip through your heart or running a business of selling blade, and the latter is less likely possible to happen.

"May I remind you that you got beaten by those pirates you told earlier? How strong are you?" he shot back.

Law didn't like it when she – or anyone, typically – give him a smartass answer. It sounded like they belittled him and he didn't get those terrifying epithet just for nothing. In this ship he is the one in power and she is at her mercy. She ought to start behaving, for the better of her own self.

Damn, I didn't get beaten to pulp simply because I am weak. I bet you can get your ass kicked if you have been sedated by paralyzer or tranquilizer or whatever it was.

Mirra took a slow breath to compose herself. "I was careless. I was a bit drunk when they attacked me, and it was dark when it happened. I thought they were merely the people from the town," she explained.

"You sure it's not because you got sedated?" he spoke behind his mug, seeping his coffee.

"Maybe that too."

"You can stay if I found your cook worthy. And since you are not my crew, I have no obligation to protect you, neither does my crew members," he agreed to her offer.

Cheers and clapping hands could be heard at all sides as those eavesdroppers shouted in joy for finally able to have something edible down their stomach. Law hided his grunt behind his mug.

He was actually getting sick with whatever he was eating in the sub too. He always requested for rice balls because that was the only thing his crew managed to not ruin when making it. And even though he forced himself to keep eating he started to worry that lacking of proper nutrients could lead to many health problems, and also affect their energy sources. If Mirra can cook well, or at least tasty enough as what she claimed then having her aboard will be a great decision.

"It's a deal," Law was brought back to the reality when Mirra offered her hand. He took it and shook it with firm.

To be continued...

Thanx for reading

- redheaded997 -