Long Term Hearts

by Trafalgar's Pet

Law's childhood friend has gone through thick and thin with him, now after many years of separation, they've found each other in the one place where Straw Hat Luffy slugs a Dragon. Now that the Straw Hats have been split up by the Warlord Bartholomew Kuma, Yukimi ends up in the care of the one and only Surgeon of Death.

10. Preparation and Trouble in the Bubbles

~I know y'all've been so patient with me and my slow but steady posting, not to mention how long it's been since Yukimi and Law been apart. Well, thank you for waiting out on this. Can y'all believe it though? It's been about a year and a half since I posted chapter 5! May 3rd, 2019, to be exact. That's how long its been since Law and Yukimi were at the same place at the same time. Yup! Now go read, enjoy, and of course review!

Also, don't forget guys, stay safe, wear a mask to keep yourself and others safe. The pandemic AIN'T over yet, don't let up on safety procedures. Please.

Long Term Hearts

Chapter 10: Preparation and Trouble in the Bubbles

**********^.^**********

The moon was bright that night over the vast ocean, reflecting off the waves like glitter on a flag, flapping gently in the breeze. The stars glistened and danced among the vast black ocean above and below surrounding the colorful ship under the moon's sleepy gaze. The Thousand Sunny swayed side to side as she sailed with the wind in her large sails, gently rocking her loving crew to sleep in their cabins.

Inside the girls' quarters, there were three occupied beds. The bed in the far right slept the ship's navigator, Nami. The bed to the immediate left laid the crew's archeologist, Nico Robin. Both were very much sound asleep in their own little dreams of success. But, the crewmember on the far left bed was not having a peaceful slumber with her own little dream of success. No, the crew's resident ninja was very restless under her covers.

Dew Yukimi's brows furrowed as she twisted and turned in her unrestful state. Her ears were folded back as her two tails twitched every now and then under her blanket. Yukimi curled into herself as a sweat bead rolled over her forehead before making contact with her pillow and being absorbed into it.

*^.^*

Yukimi hung upside down from a tree branch. Her black hoodie slid down slightly from gravity, revealing her slender stomach peeking out as her hood hung behind her head. She tilted her head in curiosity and wonder at the old nine tailed kitsune before her. She had never met a kitsune who was old enough to have nine tails before.

He wore torn up clothing and old sandals. His face was wrinkled like an old candy wrapper in the garbage. His body looked frail and ready to collapse yet the elder did not. The kitsune's gray hair wasn't kept very well but wasn't balding quite yet. Both of his ears were lowered as if permanently subdued. One was even missing a chunk of cartilage while the other looked like it was burnt very badly many times over. The gray fur on his nine tails should have been bushy, shining with the promised power of nine centuries of life. Yet they were scruffy and dulled in luster as they draped heavily on the ground. Even his eyes looked dead. They weren't lit up with centuries of vast knowledge. Instead of being bright amber, they had become a dark orange color.

"Who are you?" Yukimi asked as she let her arms dangle freely. "And why, may I ask, do you look absolutely dead? Er-! Sorry! Sorry! That was really inconsiderate of me!" From her sudden scramble at waving her hands in front of her face while apologizing, her knees lost their grip on the bark, resulting in the young kitsune's plummet to the grass below.

The old kitsune simply shrugged at her apologies. He bent down and offered a helping hand to the albino kitsune. "It is alright kid. You look like you just popped out of your mother's womb!" The gray kitsune barked out a crackling laugh at Yukimi's startled look as he helped her up.

Yukimi rubbed the back of her head from her fall. "But are you okay? You don't look like you've eaten anything in ages!" Yukimi frowned, becoming concerned for the old kitsune's state.

"Nah, I don't feel hungry at all! I honestly can't recall the last time I felt hunger!" The old kitsune cackled from his own humor before hacking. It caused his frame to quiver like a dead leaf barely hanging onto a branch in a gentle spring breeze.

Yukimi's ears folded back as she quickly helped him sit down against the tree next to them. "Are you sure you're okay? Not to sound like a broken transponder snail here, but you look like you need help." After being waved off by the gray kitsune again, she decided to sit down next to him. "But I am really sorry for being rude. I wasn't thinking."

The old kitsune had thankfully stopped coughing, but when he looked at her, his dark orange eyes appeared to have gone even darker. He dropped his head as a depressed sigh escaped his dry cracked lips.

Yukimi sat up straight at his response. "U-uh uh! T-tell me where you've gone on your journey!" The younger kitsune quickly became frazzled by the depressing and very strange situation she seemed to have found herself in. "I-I want to learn more about the world! I've only just left Kitsun after all! Please, teach me!"

The old gray kitsune tilted his head in thought for a few minutes before looking straight up at the tree above them. "There's an island near the Red Line just before the New World where giant mangrove trees grow. Those mangroves are called Hustle Muscle trees."

Yukimi tilted her head in wonder as the old kitsune continued.

"This island...well it's actually not an island at all. It's an enormous archipelago. Its name is Sabaody Archipelago."

A chilly breeze blew through the area around them, causing the old kitsune to shiver violently. Yukimi quickly took off her hoodie and draped it over his shaking body. The much younger kitsune's eyes widened at the sight of the old kitsune. Even though the black hoodie helped him stop shivering, it now looked as if the grim reaper was nearby. She swallowed thickly as goosebumps appeared over her now exposed arms. Thankfully her matching T-shirt kept her relatively warm from the cool air that evening. "Sabaody huh? What did it look like?"

"Well, the trees' roots are so big, people have built towns on each grove. The trees themselves are striped and have numbers on them to make navigating the archipelago very easy. There're even sturdy bridges connecting the groves together. But there is more to this place than meets the eye..." The gray kitsune paused as a dark desperate look flashed across his features before nearly jerking his face into Yukimi's. "BUBBLES! Bubbles come out of the grass under your foot, making it sticky from the bubble's suds and float away into the sky! The sky! Free as a bird out of his dark cage!"

Yukimi fell on her back from the seemingly crazy old kitsune as he leaned away from her. "B...bubbles? That sounds amazing!"

"Aye..." the old kitsune agreed. "But once the bubble floats above the treetops..." A knife was slowly drawn out of his pants pocket, causing Yukimi to become wary. A twisted and saddened grin appeared on the old kitsune's face as he made a slicing motion with it near his throat, "Pop..."

Yukimi slowly sat up as the elder kitsune handed her black hoodie back. "Oh but...aren't you cold?" She gestured to the sun disappearing over the horizon. "It's gonna get colder." Yukimi tried offering her hoodie back but it was declined.

"I won't need it where I'm going. Keep it. It is chilly out, isn't it?" The old kitsune suggested as another but much colder breeze rustled the leaves above them. He stood up as he stared at the knife in his hand. "You haven't been to this island before, have you?"

"Er...no I haven't," Yukimi shook her head as she put on her hoodie again. "But how can you te-"

"There's a nice town due south of here where you can find a good inn," he interrupted, pointing in the direction where the younger kitsune needed to go. All the while his gaze never left that knife.

Yukimi stood up as a yawn managed to escape her. "Thank you, kind sir," she smiled brightly at him, causing the old gray kitsune to look back at her and return a genuine smile.

"And thank you, kid. For making my evening pleasant."

Yukimi perked up. "Oh how stupid of me! The name's Dew Yukimi, it's a pleasure to meet you!"

"Dew Yukimi..." the old kitsune tested her name out. His smile grew just a tad bigger. "Such a beautiful name for a lovely young girl." He turned away from her as he glanced at the full moon rising from the horizon. "I must be off now. Farewell, Dew Yukimi."

Yukimi waved goodbye as the old kitsune walked away into the night, still gazing at his knife. Just before she lost sight of him, a harsh wind came barreling through making her stumble from the sudden force. But what shocked her was the sight of the old kitsune's raggedy shirt fluttering in the wind, revealing a claw like footprint in the center of his back. "A-a Celestial Dragon's brand!" Yukimi gasped. Now immensely concerned for the old kitsune's health, she dashed after him.

Yukimi tripped on a root sticking out of the ground, landing on sticky grass. The kitsune grimaced from the gross texture on her hands. Standing back up she wiped her hands on her pants as she looked for the old nine tailed kitsune. But he had vanished into thin air. As she looked around for him, the scenery around her changed from a forest at dusk, to a bubbly field made from the Hustle Muscle mangrove trees in the daytime.

Hearing someone speaking near her, Yukimi turned around yet didn't see anyone. The background around her quickly became a blur as more voices came out, but they were all muffled. Normally at this point, Yukimi's ears would've folded back from feeling a little annoyed, but for some odd reason, her furry ears couldn't move like they should have. She reached up to feel them but when the kitsune touched them, they weren't fox ears anymore. They were a pair of human ears! But there was also something fuzzy just above the ears. Yukimi was about to take whatever was on her head off so she could look at it when something startling occurred to her. Her tails! Were they still there? Yukimi looked behind herself to check if her tails were there but they weren't! It was at this point she noticed she no longer wore her regular clothes and shoes. Not to mention Yukimi had suddenly become much too tall for any average kitsune. But heeled boots? Spotted denim? A black and yellow hoodie with a smiling virus?! Utterly perplexed Yukimi looked at her hands hoping to find them normal, but to her astonishment, they weren't small or pale. The hands she was staring at were large and tan, they were tattooed with a virus on the back and one even had DEATH spelled out on her knuckles!

More muffled voices came from behind her. Yukimi looked over her shoulder to find two blurred men in white boiler suits and a large blurred man in an orange boiler suit. Trying to focus on their faces, Yukimi quickly realized the man in the orange boiler suit was actually a white bear, a polar bear at that! Yet she still could not quite make out his face.

One of the men in the white boiler suits picked something up from the ground, asking a question she could not understand. The other two gathered around him and began speculating about what it was.

Forgetting she was no longer in her kitsune body but some human's, Yukimi walked over to the group and took the odd object from the man who found it. Giving it a once over, the kitsune turned human recognized it was an ocarina. More specifically, her ocarina!

The polar bear asked her something she could not hear. Tired of not being able to hear anyone clearly, Yukimi opened her mouth to ask him to speak up more clearly. But what came out of her throat was not her voice. Whoever's voice that came out of her throat was, it was deep and for some reason, it sounded almost angry? Yukimi wished she understood what she or he? said. It sounded so soothing, even if it sounded like they were tense. She wondered why the nice sounding voice sounded remotely upset.

Still wondering what the deep voice could be upset over, Yukimi didn't notice the scenery around her had once again changed. Yukimi looked up noticing she was still in the same environment as before but was looking out at the Grand Line. The kitsune blinked from the change then looked down at herself to find she had changed back into her regular outfit, including her fox ears and tails. Yukimi grinned happily to have her fluffy appendages back when she overheard her captain and friends nearby. Yukimi looked back up to see her fellow Straw Hats all rushing onto the Thousand Sunny. They were setting sail to the New World...without her?! The kitsune panicked, sprinting after them. But by the time she reached where the ship was anchored, they were too far away. Well, maybe to some, but not to those who have chakra control! Yukimi leaped onto the ocean's surface and began rushing as fast as she could to catch up with her friends. The kitsune's body froze midstep. Confused, Yukimi tried moving her body but her limbs refused all attempts. Even her tails weren't inching!

"Hahahaha! Did you think you could keep hiding from me? Nothing escapes my webs, little kitsune." Doflamingo appeared above her, standing on his strings attached to the clouds. He grinned evilly down at her. The Warlord raised his hand, somehow making Yukimi's body rise off the ocean's surface closer to him.

"D-Doflamingo! How...! Where did you come from?!" Yukimi stammered from shock at the sight of him. Was he at Sabaody and she didn't know about it?

"Oh little Yukimi, I'm everywhere! Surely you knew?" The man chuckled darkly at her attempts to break away from his strings. "You know, if it weren't for you and that brat Law, my little brother would be alive."

Yukimi paused in her struggle, looking wide eyed at him. But then she snarled at the Warlord, "No he wouldn't Doflamingo! You still would've killed Cora since he was a marine! Even if Law and I weren't even in the picture to begin with..."

"That's right!" Doflamingo's grin widened at her stressed expression. "If you two had never crossed my path, Corazón wouldn't have died!"

Yukimi's ears drooped as his words stung her, but she quickly shook her head. "No! You would have killed him whether or not we were there! Don't you dare shove Survivor's Guilt on me you sick son of a bitch! Fuck you!" Yukimi winced as the blonde tightened his strings on her.

"Better watch it, Yukimi. Remember, there aren't any marines here to save you! Not that they would now. After all, you're a wanted pirate now! And as a Warlord of the Sea, I'm only doing my duty in catching you," Doflamingo laughed as he reached for her.

Yukimi's breath hitched as his very large hand inched closer to her face. She squinted her eyes shut as she knew there was no escape, no way out this time.

*^.^*

Yukimi suddenly fell out of her bed, effectively waking her up. Gasping for air, the she looked around frightened. Yukimi swallowed dryly as she realized she had been dreaming and was back in the girls' shared quarters. Yukimi sighed heavily before trying to get up. The kitsune groaned annoyed after figuring out she was definitely too tangled up in her covers to get up easily. Sighing again Yukimi poofed into her fox body, climbed out of the mess, and poofed back again. After draping her cover and comforter back over her bed, Yukimi turned toward her two still sleeping friends. 'At least I didn't wake them up. But now I just can't go back to sleep. I'm too wide awake...'

Nibbling on her lower lip, Yukimi leaned over to her headboard and picked up the two small bags that were hanging there. Still in her T-shirt pajama top and pants, Yukimi walked over to their closets where her clothes were. Quietly she opened her section, plucked a random hoodie out, and closed the door. Yukimi rubbed her eyes to get the sleep out as she opened the door to the outside before quietly closing it behind her.

Yukimi shivered from the cool breeze outside. Grumbling to herself, the kitsune quickly pulled on the hoodie she grabbed to keep warm. She paused noticing it was her yellow hoodie she'd bought back at Water 7. Shaking her head from a brief memory of Enies Lobby, Yukimi made her way up to Nami's tangerine trees where there was a table and chair next to them. Yukimi tossed her two bags onto the table before noticing someone else was up there.

"Oh hey Yukimi. Why are you up?" Zoro asked as the kitsune stopped next to the chair. "It's only been a few hours since my shift started. Everyone else should be asleep by now."

Yukimi shrugged as she sat in the chair. "I couldn't sleep, so I came up to see if you'd like to go to bed," she fibbed. "I can take your place if you'd like."

"Nah it's fine. I don't mind being up. But uh...you don't look so good Yukimi," Zoro said as he walked over to her and placed the back of his hand on her forehead. "Geez, you're clammy! Are you sure you're okay?" He leaned closer to her face making the kitsune lean away. "Maybe we should have Chopper take a look at yo-"

Yukimi jumped up almost head butting the swordsman with an awkward laugh. "No, I'm fine! I'm fiiiine! Really!" She grinned a little too big as she pulled and wrinkled the rim of her zipped up hoodie.

Zoro raised a brow at her odd behavior as she walked away from him and the table to lean against the rail, staring in the direction the Thousand Sunny was heading. The kitsune's legs were stiffly crossed at the ankles while her arms folded over her chest. Fingers dug into her pale flesh, surely leaving crescent marks from her nails. Yukimi's breathing came out as short shallow breaths. Not long enough inhales to smell the calming ocean scent nor long enough exhales to relax stiff shoulders. Even her fox ears were on high alert and strained forward. Not to mention how her two bushy tails were beginning to snake their way between her legs, quivering against them. Back up to the kitsune's features, Yukimi's eyes seemed to narrow in thought as she nibbled her lower lip, making the swordsman think she was going to make it bleed. To summarize what he could tell, Yukimi was nervous, incredibly tense, possibly even scared. Which was something Roronoa Zoro was not used to seeing from the usually mischievous fox. Zoro rested his arm over his three swords held up by his haramaki. "Is there a reason why you couldn't sleep?"

Yukimi glanced at the man who was on his way to becoming the best swordsman in the world. She thought briefly of telling him about what was setting her on edge. That her phobia was beginning to act up as they drew closer to the bubbly archipelago that has a dark side. But instead of getting into that, Yukimi shook her head and shrugged. "Just a restless dream. Nothing more, nothing less."

Zoro sighed, not able to get anything out of her. "Fine, do what you want. But I'm still on guard duty."

"Fine, fine," the kitsune said, raising her hands up in surrender. "I'll just work on reorganizing my weapons." Yukimi walked back to the table next to Zoro and promptly dumped out all her things, causing an obnoxious clatter of metal from her many shuriken and kunai, among other things of course.

Zoro rolled his eyes from the noise she made and walked away to keep watch. Though he pretty much stayed there to keep the ninja company. She may not have said anything about her 'restless dream', but he knows her well enough now that it might've had something to do with that Aniphobia of hers. After the first time she revealed that weakness to them all the way back in East Blue in Logue Town where Gol D. Roger, the King of the Pirates was born and executed in, the kitsune had gotten better at ignoring certain gestures and phrases from other people. Especially after this one time she was caught unaware in some bar where a drunken idiot who had absolutely no class and thought she would make a good pet for his boss who was some criminal head honcho on the island. To say the least, Yukimi was so disgusted by the drunken guy that she thoroughly pummeled him to the ground. After that fiasco happened, the next day the whole criminal gang attacked the Straw Hats and Yukimi got to beat the same guy and his low life boss into the next century. Zoro smirked to himself at the memory of Yukimi stomping on the boss's face until he was a bloody mess after throwing him around in the ringer.

Back at the table, Yukimi pushed her two bags to the side away from her weapons to make room. She glanced at them remembering how she bought the two from a shop back in Logue Town just before Reverse Mountain. The shop lady was very nice and helped her pick them out. Yukimi had wanted a bag to permanently keep her first aid supplies in while another bag would only be for her weapons for combat. The old lady knew exactly what to get her. A white bag with a red cross on the front to indicate first aid, and a black bag for her weaponry. At some point while traveling with their friend Vivi in Alabasta, the princess helped her sew the Straw Hats' jolly roger on the front of it. 'She even helped me create a jolly roger of my own on the back,' Yukimi smirked as she held up the black bag. Thanks to the full moon shining above the Thousand Sunny, she could make out the fox skull with ears in front of two crossed kunai and two black tipped white tails on either side of the skull. She hoped to add a third tail in two years in the blank spot directly above her skull.

Putting the bag back on the table with its white counterpart, Yukimi sighed at her things. The table was covered in many shuriken, kunai, paper bombs, flash grenades, and her steel wire. Not to mention her scroll she's been using lately to collect attacks. Yukimi frowned at the scroll before she began to pace next to the table in worrisome thoughts.

Zoro looked back over to Yukimi as her pacing caught his attention. "Now what are you doing? Your pacing is getting on my nerves."

Yukimi gave him a sidelong glare but then she made a wicked grin at him. "Hey Zoro," the kitsune started as she took off her hoodie and traded it with her scroll from the table, "attack me!"

"What? Why?" Zoro asked confused.

"Oh c'mon Zoro..." After a few seconds of pause, she shrugged, still sporting her wicked though now tense grin. "Okay, I admit, I'm uneasy. Now attack me! Give me any and everything you've got!" Yukimi almost shouted before leaping to the grassy deck below. As the ninja landed, she whipped open her scroll, revealing four seals with different runes within the circular markings. But there was a fifth blank circle at the end, and she aimed it at the swordsman still above her. "C'mon, put me at ease here Zoro. Give me something else to use to defend with."

At the sight of Yukimi's summoning scroll and the different runes from the different attacks she had collected over the course of their journey, Zoro realized what the kitsune wanted him to do. Smirking, the swordsman drew out Sandai Kitetsu, Shusui, and finally, his faithful Wado Ichimonji. He knew exactly what kind of attack she needed for her collection. "You sure you want to do this? Last time you collected an attack, you almost got fried by that so called god," Zoro said, holding up Ichimonji near his teeth.

Yukimi chuckled at the memory back when they were on Skypiea. She had purposely called the god out at one point with the intent to steal some of his electricity from him. The kitsune managed to seal the attack, almost getting overwhelmed and barbecued in the process. "Heh yeah, but it paid off in the end."

Zoro hmphed before biting down on his katana. "Alright then, you asked for it! How does a Tatsumaki sound?"

Yukimi tightened her grip on the outstretched scroll as she widened her stance. "Bring it."

Zoro jumped down to the same deck as her so she'll get the full brunt of the attack. He angled his blades in a way that wouldn't accidentally send the ninja flying into the ocean just before he spun around, sending a tornado like attack her way. "Tatsumaki!"

Yukimi stood her ground as the slashing tornado charged at her full force. Channeling her chakra into the empty runic circle, causing it to glow a bright soft blue, Zoro's attack rammed into it dead center. Yukimi gritted her teeth as she felt her clothes, hair, ears, and tails whip back behind her as the force of the attack began to push her back. The size of the attack soon began to decrease as the scroll sucked it all inside the runic circle. As it did so, the rune for Tatsumaki within the circle slowly came to be.

At last, when the attack was completely sealed inside the scroll, Yukimi let a breath out as she stepped back. But the ninja hadn't realized how far back she was pushed when her bare heel came into contact with the staircase behind her. Yukimi wobbled off balanced before falling back onto her rear, effectively taking a seat.

"Looks like it worked," Zoro commented as he walked over to her.

Yukimi grinned cheekily as she held up the scroll, showing him the finished seal as it stopped glowing. "Yup, all done!" Yukimi panted. "And thanks for letting me collect one of your attacks, Zoro. It may just save my life in the future."

"Oh don't be dramatic," the swordsman muttered as he sat down next to her. "Hey," Zoro started making the ninja look his way. "Are you worried about Sabaody? Is there something there we should know about?"

The first thing that popped into Yukimi's mind was to wake up Sanji and get him to get Zoro off her back because 'he was annoying her'. But she did not do that, even if that would have been funny to watch. Yukimi looked back at her scroll in her lap as she rolled it up.

"Yukimi."

The kitsune still didn't utter a reply as she looked up at the night sky, staring at the moon and millions of stars far, far above them. Noticing a shooting star flash over them, Yukimi's eyes widened. She quickly made a wish that everyone on board would make it out of Sabaody Archipelago in one piece.

"Hey Yukimi. Are you listening to me?" Zoro asked, placing his hand on her shoulder, not sure if he should feel annoyed or concerned over her silence.

Yukimi sighed heavily as she felt more weight than the first mate's hand on her. She took a hold of his hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulders so he was holding her. "I guess I'm worried about the fact while we're at Sabaody, we'll be super close to Marine Headquarters where the Admirals will be," the kitsune lied. Of course, she was going to feel cautious being that close to the HQ, but not at all worried. Not like how she, Hatchi, and Camie will be feeling while at the archipelago.

Zoro's brows raised as Yukimi leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder seeking comfort. A light blush dusted his cheeks as he held the kitsune close. "...Don't worry about it. You know how strong we all are together. Nothing bad will happen."

Yukimi only hummed in response as a sleep spell crept over her. She turned toward Zoro getting more comfortable as her eyelids closed, falling asleep on him.

Zoro sighed, accepting the fact he wasn't going to be able to get up for a while now that Yukimi had fallen asleep.

*^.^*

The next morning, Yukimi woke up finding herself in her bed with her yellow hoodie hung up on the corner of her headboard. She looked over to the other two beds in the room to find they were empty. Yawning, Yukimi got out of bed still feeling incredibly tired. "Ugh not enough sleep," she grumbled. But the kitsune knew she needed to get up at least for a few minutes to retrieve her belongings from the table on the top deck.

Yukimi put on her hoodie before padding barefooted again to the door. The kitsune squinted her eyes as she opened the door to the midmorning sun. "Ugh fuck you sun," she grumbled again irritably, putting up her hood to block out the evil sun. Now if she could avoid her obnoxiously loud captain until she got back to bed, it would be a successful mission. Looking around the open grass deck not seeing anyone, Yukimi concluded that everyone was eating breakfast. 'Perfect, I'll just skip food for now and go back to sleep. Maybe if I'm lucky enough, when I wake up, we'll be on Fishman Island,' the kitsune thought wistfully. Yukimi quickly walked to the back of the ship where her things were supposed to still be on the table from the night before. As she made it back, the kitsune noticed that Robin was also up there.

"Oh good morning, Yukimi. Did you sleep well?" Robin asked as she watered her flowers.

The kitsune let a wiry yet tired grin out at the calmest crewmember aboard the Thousand Sunny. "No, not really. In fact, I'm planning on going right back to sleep in a minute. Given Luffy doesn't cause trouble."

"You're not going to have breakfast?" Robin asked as she walked over to the table near the kitsune and set her watering pail down. "I have already eaten and the others should almost be done by now."

Given how tired she was, it took Yukimi a minute to realize that all her things, including her summoning scroll, were all neatly organized inside her bags on the table. "Wha...? I didn't do that..." Yukimi muttered.

The archeologist chuckled at the kitsune's still half asleep state. "You can thank Zoro for that. After he put you back to bed earlier this morning, he came up here and organized your things for you. I wonder, why is that?"

Yukimi turned her head toward the intelligent woman where a sliver of her red eye was visible. Her ears lowered the slightest as she remembered how concerned he was for her the night before. The kitsune sighed before glancing up at the clouds above them. "Yeah...I was having some issues last night and I came up here to get my mind off it by reorganizing my shit. Ended up having Zoro let me collect one of his moves to put me at ease. I guess I fell asleep before I got the chance to actually do this." Yukimi looked back at Robin while tilting her head toward her things.

"Ah," Robin nodded in understanding. "So that's why I heard a bit of commotion last night."

It took a full minute for the tired kitsune to wake up all the way to fully comprehend what her friend was suggesting. The albino turned red as she quickly turned away from the smirking woman while tugging the rim of her hood further down to cover her eyes. "Fucking hell, Robin! We didn't do anything! Agh! Fuck! Now I'm awake! Fucking hell...!" Yukimi cursed grouchily. She rounded on the human with a pointed finger. "You know that ain't what happened last night! Quit making accusations!"

Robin only chuckled at the resident ninja's reaction, finding it amusing. "I'm only pulling your leg Yukimi," she said as she snapped Yukimi's bags closed before handing them to her.

Yukimi half heartedly glared at Robin as she practically snatched the black and white bags from her. "Thanks," Yukimi muttered yet again. "By the way, if you see Sanji, tell him I'll have breakfast after I wake up again. I'm gonna go catch a few more Z's." Without another word, Yukimi went back to bed, dropping her things off on the coffee table in their room. Still in her yellow hoodie, Yukimi crashed back in bed, snuggling into her pillow. The kitsune reached up and pulled her hood over her face until it was dark enough to make it easier to fall back to dreamland.

An hour later the Thousand Sunny could see Sabaody Archipelago in the distance. The fast approaching destination quickly began an uproar among the Straw Hats. Luffy laughed in glee as the others were in awe at the sight of the giant striped mangroves and large bubbles floating around everywhere as far as the eye can see.

"This is it, Sabaody Archipelago!" Pappagu announced.

"This place is amazing! Hey, where's Yukimi? She needs to see this!" Luffy started looking around for his friend.

"She's still asleep," Robin easily stated.

"Got it!" Luffy started running toward the girls' quarters to wake the kitsune up. "Yukimi! You gotta wake up! Let's all go to Sabaody together!"

"Hey, you idiot! Let Yukimi have her rest!" Sanji shouted after his loud rubber captain.

Completely ignoring the cook, Luffy barged into the girls' quarters and went over to Yukimi's bedside. "Hey wake up Yukimi! We're here! We're at Sabaody now! It looks so cool! There are bubbles everywhere and the trees are huge!" Luffy described being very excited and very eager. "Let's go!"

Yukimi's eyes twitched then squinted shut tightly as her ears folded back as Luffy kept shaking her. She made a small whimpering sound too low for the straw hat wearing boy to hear over his loud voice.

Back outside Sanji had started marching toward the girls' door left ajar by Luffy. The cook stopped in his tracks at the sound of Yukimi screaming, startling everyone outside.

"No! No! Don't take me!"

Sanji bolted to the door, slammed it open, and managed to duck in time as a tagged kunai sailed over his head. The blonde looked over his shoulder to see the kunai was lodged in the rail directly behind him where it started to sizzle. Sanji's eyes widened as the small flame ate away the tag attached to the weapon. Over the course of many months of fighting alongside the ninja, Sanji knew full well how bad it would be to let the tag go off on the ship. He quickly snatched the tagged kunai and tossed it toward Zoro. "Heads up moss head! Paper bomb!"

Zoro immediately spotted the nearly burnt out explosive tag and quickly slashed it to pieces before it could ignite.

"Hey what happened?! W-what's going on up there?!" Usopp demanded startled by what had almost happened as everyone rushed to the girls' quarters.

Sanji looked back inside the doorway to see what had happened. He noticed Luffy was sprawled on the floor knocked out with a big lump on his head. Sanji walked over to Yukimi who was now quite awake as she panted in bed. "Yukimi my beautiful Snowflake are you alright?!" Sanji asked, completely ignoring his out cold captain on the floor.

Yukimi rubbed her forehead as sweat rolled down her temple. "...I'm fine, Sanji..."

"Yukimi do you need anything?"

The kitsune glanced up to the open doorway to see her friends there, checking to make sure she wasn't hurt. She gave Chopper a soft smile to put him at ease. Even though he could probably put two and two together about her odd behavior if Zoro had mentioned anything to them from last night. The swordsman, or the archeologist who stood next to Nami. "G-guys, I'm fine alright? I'm not hurt or anything."

"But Yukimi, you screamed; 'Don't take me,'" Sanji said, still next to her.

Fox ears lowered at what he said. Yukimi seemed to deflate in front of everyone. "Fine. I had a nightmare. Okay? I just had a freaky nightmare," Yukimi finally admitted. "It doesn't mean anything alright?"

"Well, if you say so," Franky said before walking back out.

Nami and Robin then ushered everyone out, including throwing the barely awake Luffy out. Nami walked back to Yukimi's bedside and sat at her feet as Robin closed the door. "Yukimi, you can talk to us. A little girl time is what you need, right?" Nami suggested.

Yukimi sighed heavily. "No... This time I just want to be alone with my thoughts. Is that alright?"

"Of course it is, Yukimi. Why don't you go take a nice long and relaxing bath? It'll help calm your nerves down," Robin wisely suggested.

The kitsune nodded. That sounded really nice after all the nightmares she's had recently. A nice hot bath would definitely help. Yukimi got out of bed and walked out of the room without grabbing a change of clothes. She could always change into her fur after bathing and go back to the girls' quarters like that.

Yukimi ignored her friends as they once again gawked at the archipelago's natural wonders as she walked toward the back of the ship where the bathhouse was. But the kitsune did catch a glance from Camie and Hatchi. Sighing to herself, Yukimi changed course and walked over to the fishman and mermaid. "Hey, uhm...I'm sorry for the commotion I started earlier."

"Its okay Yukimi, we're just glad you're alright!" Camie smiled.

Yukimi on the contrary wasn't. She crossed her arms as her tails swished about still on edge. "I may not have been on the archipelago before, but I know what goes on here in plain sight. And you guys know about it too, don't you?"

The smiles on their relieved faces disappeared at what the kitsune said. "Of course we know. We just have to be extra careful, right Camie?" Hatchi said looking cautious.

"Yeah, I know," Camie replied back looking down.

Yukimi glanced to her friends listening to Pappagu talking about the bubbles. "I really don't want to ruin their fun here," she said turning back to the fishman and mermaid. "But I'm not gonna let myself be seen either. I'm thinking about using a disguise while we're here. What about you?"

"Yeah we were gonna do the same," Hatchi answered.

Yukimi nodded, "Alright then. I'm gonna go rest up in the bathhouse before we make landfall." The kitsune left the two quickly so she could get as much time to relax as she could.

*^.^*

While everyone was disembarking, Yukimi stayed behind so she could carefully choose her disguise. Seeing as she had been sighing constantly all morning, the kitsune decided to stop moping around for the sake of her friends. Of course, said friends will soon quickly notice her absence so she got to work. "I can always go about the shinobi way and disappear by camouflage so..." Yukimi hummed to herself in thought while she was wearing a pair of black cargo pants and her usual black tank top and brown combat boots. She needed something to hide her mostly white tails. Yukimi had already decided that she was going to wear her white hoodie with the hood up. But unlike all the times she wore it up, her ears were going to have to stay inside. Which will, unfortunately, hinder her sharp hearing, but the kitsune knew she had back up ears with Chopper around her. "Ah! But..." Yukimi gagged at the mere thought of her new idea. "I want to fucking die in a ditch!" Five minutes later, Yukimi was catching up with the group, albeit while stumbling every now and then.

Zoro was the first one to notice her jogging up to the group. "Ah, there you...are? What the hell are you wearing?!"

Yukimi flushed completely in humiliation while everyone stared at the long white skirt she was wearing. "Sh-shut the fuck up alright!" the kitsune hissed with major venom. She hated every damn second she was stuck in that sinful skirt! Yukimi knew right off the bat she was going to have trouble with it if a fight broke out. Thankfully she had foreseen this and had grabbed a rubber band from Usopp's things.

"But why? I thought you hated dresses and skirts Yukimi," the sniper said, staring at the skirt in confusion.

"Just don't ask any shitty questions, got that?! I have a very well damn good reason for this. So the sooner you lose those questions, the sooner we can get a move on. Got that?!" Yukimi shouted beyond being pissed off, making Usopp cower.

"Isn't that one of your old skirts, Nami?" Robin asked the navigator next to her.

"Yup, but it's fine. I was going to get rid of it eventually anyway," Nami shrugged.

"Heeeey!"

Everyone looked up to see Luffy on a bubble meters up in the sky. "Woah! Luffy?! Why did you go all the way up there?!" Usopp shouted up to the excited rubber boy.

"There's an amusement park over there!" Luffy called back down, pointing to his right. "Let's go! I wanna ride the ferris wheel!"

"My gosh, really?!" Chopper asked getting more excited.

"Yeah, that's Sabaody Park. Oh wow, I'm so jealous! See, I've always dreamed of riding a ferris wheel," Camie said wistfully as she smiled up at Luffy's happy energy.

"You have? So why don't you just ride it?" Chopper asked innocently.

"Not a chance! Don't you even think about it!" Pappagu pointed out to the mermaid, making her frown sadly.

"Yeah, I know. Don't remind me," Camie sighed not looking at him.

Back up to the ever adventurous Monkey captain, he just kept jumping higher and higher on the bubbles enough to see over the tops of the massive mangrove trees. Luffy grinned happily as he looked around, "So high!" Just then the bubbles around Straw Hat started popping, making him nervous. "Why are they popping?!" Then he felt the bubble he was standing on tremble before it too burst right out from under his sandals! He let out a yelp before he plummeted to the ground below.

"Luffy-chin! Oh no!" Camie cried out after watching the pirate crash. "This is awful!"

"Calm down," Sanji said totally at ease. "He's okay. Trust me, he's the last guy you gotta worry about."

Camie looked back at where Luffy landed to see him pull his head out of the ground like an ostrich. "Man, that took it out of me!" Luffy laughed to himself.

"See?"

"So Hatchi, what's our objective on this island anyway? Didn't you say something before about getting the ship coated?" Nami asked as the mermaid sighed in relief.

"We'll meet up with one of the island's coating specialists and have 'em slap a coat of resin on your ship. That's all it takes!" the octo-fishman explained.

"Huh?" Franky wasn't quite sure to believe it all as the crew's shipwright.

"After that, your ship will be fully equipped for underwater travel."

"Seriously?" Franky asked.

"Yup! The process works wonders and it's the only way I know of that humans can reach Fishman Island. But you don't want an amateur to do it. If it's not done right, the water pressure will crush the ship and everyone on it," Hatchi finished his explanation. "I've got one specialist I fully trust though, so you'll be in good hands!" the octo-fishman grinned confidently.

"Thank you for your help. You really are a good man... Wait, you're an octopus! Yohohohohoho!" Brook laughed at his own joke.

"But first..." Hatchi's smile vanished as he held up three hands with his index finger up. "In exchange for my help, promise me one thing."

"Sure, what is it?" Luffy asked.

"Once we cross the bridge into town, there's a chance we might run into the World Nobles."

"Okay...who?" Chopper asked.

"Yeah who are they?" Luffy asked ignorantly.

"The World Nobles, they're from the Holy Land of Mariejoa," Robin supplied the information, though solemnly.

"Oh, so what's the big deal?" Luffy asked still grinning away.

Hatchi had an uncomfortable look before he started. "Listen, this is difficult to ask... But no matter what happens in the town, you must promise that you'll do nothing to defy the World Nobles."

This brought a collected "huh?" from the pirate crew. Yukimi tugged her hood further over her ears as her tails stilled against her legs under the skirt.

"...No matter what happens?" Nami asked quietly feeling uneasy.

"Just ignore it?" Sanji asked taking his cigarette out.

"Exactly. Even if they kill someone in front of you. Just look the other way! Just try to pretend like nothing happened. I'll say it one more time..." Hatchi said grimly. "No matter what, you act like you didn't see a thing!"

After a while, the group headed out to the nearest town, with the exception of Zoro, Sanji, Franky, and Usopp. The Straw Hats, although were now a little cautious due to what Hatchi had warned them about, were still excited to be there. Hatchi walked next to Luffy with Camie on his back, attempting to get through Luffy's head on how powerful the World Nobles were. "The World Nobles I mentioned are also known as the Celestial Dragons. They think they're so much better than everyone else, they wear masks to avoid breathing the same air as us," the octo-fishman described raising two of his hands up to his head to resemble something like a round helmet. "Now remember what I said, no matter what they do, just stay out of their way. I need you to promise me that!"

"Uh huh," Luffy responded, not paying attention as he watched bubbles float around in the sky near them.

"Beside from that, there are a couple of other things you should know about. Remember, this is the place everyone gathers before heading to the New World. In other words, there are a lot of big name pirate crews around."

Furry ears twitched underneath Yukimi's white hood, getting interested in what Hatchi was mentioning. 'Big name pirate crews huh? I wonder if the Heart Pirates are here.'

"Which means marines and bounty hunters are out to catch them. Also, the law won't protect pirates from being bought and sold here. Kidnappings happen all the time. So try not to stand out. If people realize how much you're worth, the whole island will be after you and we'll never get the ship coated. And fair warning, the marines here aren't pushovers. We're right by Navy Headquarters so you never know what powerhouses might show up. The bounty hunters here are pretty ferocious too. They're a lot tougher than what you're used to. Oh, and one more thing-"

"Oh come on, we're gonna be just fine!" Luffy said totally relaxed before he noticed there were bandages on the octo-fishman's forehead, covering his red sun tattoo. "Oh hold on, when did you get that wound on your head?" he asked pointing to his forehead.

"Huh? Oh that, don't worry about it okay? By the way, Camie's not a mermaid, and I'm not a fishman. Not while we're here anyway," Hatchi said a little bit on edge. "Just pretend we're humans like you."

"What? Why would we do that?" Luffy asked crossing his arms behind his head.

"It'll just be easier that way."

Yukimi glanced at Camie and Hatchi's new clothes they had changed into before they all headed out. Camie's tail was under her long pink skirt and Hatchi's big coat was covering his lower four arms. "That includes me guys," Yukimi said, her hood covered her eye in its shadow, bringing everyone's attention back on her. "While we're here, I'm not a kitsune. I'm a human."

"But why?" Luffy asked now confused.

Robin glanced at the three nonhumans walking in front of her in thought. "When traveling, it's best to honor the local culture Luffy," she smiled pleasantly. "Let's just do what they ask of us."

After that gloomy discussion, the group was quiet in their own thoughts as they entered the town. Though that wasn't for long for Luffy as he spotted what looked like bicycles with large bubbles. Yukimi on the other hand didn't pay any attention to Luffy's tendencies with new things. The kitsune instead kept an eye out for danger. While they were on Sabaody, Yukimi was going to take it upon herself to be on the lookout for anything and everything. Yukimi just wished she could relax and enjoy the fun and interesting things there like her friends could. It almost made the kitsune wish she was ignorant of the much darker side to Sabaody Archipelago's history. Yukimi glanced over to Luffy inside one of the bubble bikes, noticing how he and Chopper were pouting over why Hatchi wouldn't let them buy a bubble bike. Yukimi smirked in amusement.

"Doing alright Yukimi?" Nami asked walking over to her.

"Yeah, I'm doing alright. I kinda wish you guys would stop asking me that!" Yukimi chuckled a bit, scratching her neck awkwardly.

"Sorry Yukimi, we're just trying to be good friends and look out for you. But does being here put you on edge? Is it something to do with your phobia?" Nami asked, resting her hand on the much shorter crewmate's shoulder.

If Yukimi's ears were out, they would've folded back in annoyance from the height difference between them. If it weren't for Chopper, the kitsune would've been the shortest member of the Straw Hat crew. "If I say yes, will you leave it be?"

Nami frowned but nodded. She didn't want to anger the already on edge kitsune.

"Then yes. And I'm fine, don't worry 'bout me," the kitsune stated.

"Two rentals please," Hatchi asked holding up two fingers to the local merchant.

"I take it you're a local then. Such a shame, such a shame," the salesman said graciously admitting defeat.

After acquiring two more bubble bikes for the rest, the group went on their way further into town. Nami was loving every minute of it as Chopper happily rode in the basket attached to the navigator's bike. "Wow! This is fantastic!"

"Feels great, doesn't it?" Camie placed her hand against her hair to keep it from getting in her face as Hatchi pedaled the floating bubble bike.

"There are all different kinds too," Robin observed glancing around at all the different sized bubble bikes in the area, not to mention the one big long bike they shared.

"Suddenly I have the urge to sing! Yohohoho~."

"You can't stop me, I'm gonna buy one of these," Luffy grinned.

"Listen Straw Hat, think back to when you rode that bubble up into the sky right after we got here. Do you remember what happened to it?" Hatchi quizzed the rubber boy.

"Uhh yeah, I hopped on a bubble, flew past the tops of the trees and I tried to jump around the other ones to go even higher," Luffy began to recall. "But out of nowhere the bubbles around me started to pop, and the one I was riding on popped too. And then, I fell down."

"That happened because you left the Sabaody Archipelago's unique atmosphere. This area has a distinct climate especially suited to the Hustle Muscle mangroves. Once you leave that climate, the resin in the bubble starts to change. After that, they pop!" Hatchi explained.

"Really, that means someone would be able to ride these bubbles if they stayed in this area, correct?" Robin asked intrigued.

"Yeah, see you get it! You see, people who come by here for the first time are always eager to buy a bubble bike. Since they only work here, it's a rip off! Just renting one is all you need," Hatchi explained.

"I don't care, I wanna buy one!" Luffy announced, completely ignoring what Hatchi just said. "All I heard was 'blah blah blah bubble bike'."

"How many ways do we have to spell it out for you? Once you leave this island, the bubbles aren't strong enough. They just pop," Nami tiredly explained to her ignorant captain. "It's quite the mystery, isn't it?"

"Woah! What the hell?! They're mystery bubbles?! Why didn't you say so before?" Luffy gawked at his navigator.

"We did! Why don't you ever listen?!" Nami yelled back.

Yukimi shook her head from her seat next to Robin. "Shoulda just started with that for him."

"Oh! You can use bubble bikes on Fishman Island too if you like. The ocean floor has the same kind of bubbles. You'll love it!" Camie said smiling.

"Ohh I can't wait to get to Fishman Island! It's gonna be awesome!" Luffy grinned in excitement.

"You and me both!" Yukimi muttered underneath her breath.

"In that case, you should meet the mermaid princess! So graceful, so beautiful. Sometimes, it's all you could do to not stare at her!" Pappagu said.

"Pfft! Oh no! Rest in peace, Sanji!" Yukimi finally ended up cracking and laughed. Everyone began to feel a margin of relief at the glimpse of their usually mischievous ninja.

Hatchi slowed the larger bubble bike down as Luffy, Chopper and Brook scrambled over to a souvenir stand where there were fresh baked goods.

Nami and Robin walked over to Yukimi as the kitsune hopped off the bubble bike to stretch her legs. "Good to see you laughing again Yukimi!" Nami smiled.

Yukimi grinned awkwardly as she straightened up. "Damn, I'm still moping aren't I?"

"It didn't sound like you were a minute ago," Robin offered.

"Hey there's a mall up ahead, wanna come join us Yukimi? I'll even buy you something," Nami grinned trying to tempt the kitsune.

But Yukimi shook her head, "Heh wow. You buy something for me? 'Preciate it, but no thanks. You know I'm not the 'shop 'till you drop' kind. I only kinda do that with certain types of weaponry and hoodies."

"Oh well, I tried," the navigator shrugged. "We'll see you later then." Nami and Robin climbed on the bubble bike with the basket and rode off toward the shopping mall.

"You guys bought a lot of stuff," Camie said, noticing the boys' happy expressions as they walked back to the group.

Yukimi hopped back on Hatchi's bubble bike as he directed them to get their stuff bubble packed. "Oh that's cool, they're like balloons," Yukimi said as Luffy got his stuff put inside a bubble tied to a string.

"Awesome! They're so light! Carrying around stuff in this place is super easy!" Luffy said in awe.

"Hey, where are Nami and Robin?" Chopper asked looking for the two.

"Oh they went shopping," Yukimi supplied as Camie nodded.

"Yeah, they said they'll leave the coating of the ship to us," Camie added.

"Oh yeah? Right, then they can leave it to us!" Luffy confirmed.

"So where are we headed next Hatchi?" Chopper asked.

"We're going to Grove 31. Even by bike, it's a long trip. So we should probably get moving," the octo-fishman answered.

"Then let's race!" Luffy challenged Hatchi as he and Chopper got back on his bubble bike.

"A race?"

"Yeah! It'll be fun, and faster!" Luffy then sped past the bigger bubble bike, leaving them in the dust. "See ya!"

"Oh no, you won't!" Hatchi sped off fast after the Straw Hat, grinning.

And away they go!

Hatchi quickly gained ground and sped past Luffy.

At this, the rubber boy's grin widened at them as he too put down more speed into his bubble bike. Going behind Hatchi, this confused the octo-fishman briefly before Luffy came up on his right, almost speeding past him. "I'm right here!"

"Oh yeah?!" Hatchi pumped his legs harder for more speed, trying to get ahead.

Luffy stuck his torso out of his bubble as he started cheering, "Yeeaaah! I'm winning! I'm winning! I'm winning!"

"Don't get so cocky! We still got a long way to go!"

"Yeah! Keep it up Hatchin!" cheered Camie.

"What the heck is wrong with you guys?! What if we crash?!" Chopper shouted fearfully.

Yukimi cracked up laughing at the insanity of her captain's antics as Brook screamed behind her. His limbs were flailing about like some kind of fish out of the water. But then Yukimi stopped laughing abruptly. She faced forward as her ears twitched within her hood. "Huh?"

"Hey, what's all that yelling about?" Luffy wondered as they pedaled closer to the next town's outskirts.

Yukimi grew tense as the two bubble bikes slowed to a stop just outside a crowd surrounding a large pirate.

"Who's that?" Luffy asked.

"Help me, please! Anyone! I'm begging here!" the man yelled desperately as he turned around, revealing a large metallic collar.

Yukimi gasped as her hands covered her mouth. 'Th-that man's a...!'

"I'd stay out of this," Hatchi advised as Luffy looked over to him. "He was probably just some pirate caught by kidnappers and sold into slavery. His owner must've brought him to this island and he made a run for it. But he must know what happens to slaves who try to get away!"

Fox ears twitched at the sound of a pinging going off. "Oh no..." Yukimi whimpered behind her hands as the crowd scrambled to get away from the pirate who literally just became a ticking time bomb.

"What's that sound...? Why is he ticking?" Chopper asked growing pale beneath his brown fur.

"Please help me! This collar...! If only I can get this thing off my neck!" the pirate yelled in a panic, trying his damndest to take off the ticking collar. "Stop it! Please! Stop ticking! Dammit! Dammiiiiiit! Get off meeeeeee!" He screamed as the ticking went faster and faster until the whole collar exploded, igniting the man's head briefly.

The crowd screamed at what happened as Luffy and the others stared on in shock.

As the smoke started to dissipate, the man could be seen still standing, but only just. He was badly burned and bleeding all over. "...Help...me..." he wheezed weakly.

"Every slave has one of those metal collars put around their neck. If they tried to take it off or run from their master, it'll explode," Hatchi grimly stated as he looked away.

"I just wanted to go home... I don't want to be a pirate in the New World anymore..." the pirate whispered hoarsely before he collapsed.

The crowd cried out from what just occurred. "L-look! It's a slave that tried to escape!" someone cried out in terror.

"Everyone stay back! Ignore him!" another person shouted.

The pirates stared in shock and horror, completely speechless at what they just witnessed when they heard someone throwing up behind them. Yukimi was a few yards back from them on her hands and knees, throwing up.

"Yukimi!" Chopper ran over to the coughing kitsune, already knowing what was wrong with her.

"Sh-shit..." Yukimi groaned as her body shook from vomiting. She looked up at Chopper as he took out a tissue from his backpack and handed it to her.

"It's going to be alright Yukimi," the little reindeer reassured her as she took the tissue and wiped her mouth.

As Hatchi held Camie close to comfort her, he turned to Luffy. "Listen Straw Hat, you need to get off that bike," he said making the boy take his attention off of his ninja.

"What for?"

"Hurry up and do it!"

Luffy frowned, not liking where this was going, "Fine, but just this once."

Just then the townspeople gasped and quickly began to get on their hands, and knees in fear as a weird looking dog came walking by.

"That's no dragon," Luffy pouted.

"Bow down!" Hatchi forced the rubber boy down by pushing his head down.

"Aw, but why?" Luffy complained.

"No matter what happens don't look them in the eye! The same goes for you guys," Hatchi instructed looking back at Chopper, Brook, and Yukimi.

Yukimi breathed heavily as the two next to her got on their hands and knees, hooves in the reindeer's case.

The dog stopped next to the pirate and pissed on him. "Oh Saruu, don't be vulgar."

Luffy looked up from under the brim of his hat. "Those are dragons?"

"Yeah," Hatchi whispered back.

Yukimi looked up as four new people walked into the area. There was someone dressed up in a knight's armor with a long spear walking behind a young woman and an older man in odd suits with a bubble like helmet. The older man carried a large chain connected to a collar on a much larger man behind him. It was Saint Shalria and Saint Roswald.

"Oh look, father, another one of our slaves has broken down," the woman smirked.

"Did you give it it's daily sedates like you were supposed to?" Saint Roswald asked.

"Of course I did, but it seems it didn't have any effect on this poor fool," Saint Shalria said, walking over to the unconscious pirate. "I don't even want it anymore. I want you to buy me a new one!"

"Honestly you're terrible at taking care of them. You're decimating my precious captain collection, one pirate at a time," the older man said annoyed.

"It was useless to begin with," Saint Shalria disagreed before kicking the helpless pirate. "Family, children, stop crying! You're nothing but a lowly human slave!"

"He can't even move!" Luffy growled under his breath in anger.

Chopper glanced to his side to check on Yukimi, only to find her trembling. She was beginning to hyperventilate through her gritting teeth.

The Celestial Dragon woman took out a gun and pointed it at the pirate. "You make me want to vomit!" Then she opened fire on the man.

Hatchi managed to grab Luffy just in time before he had the chance to cause real trouble. "Stand down! Control yourself!"

The Celestial Dragons, their guard, and slave turned away from the fallen pirate. "I think I want a giant for my next slave," Saint Shalria said.

"Perhaps something smaller, like a human child," Saint Roswald offered.

"Ugh! I detest them so!" Saint Shalria disagreed vehemently.

Luffy tried to get out of Hatchi's grip but the octo-fishman held firm. "Whatever you're thinking, don't think about it!"

"The marines!" Brook pointed out as a group of Navy men came to arrest the heavily wounded and unconscious pirate.

"We need to get the hell away from here, and fast!" Hatchi started pulling Luffy back when there was a commotion behind them.

Chopper gasped as Yukimi finally collapsed from hyperventilating and poofed back into her fox body unconscious. "Luffy! Yukimi fainted!"

"Oh no!" Camie cried out.

"Was it from what happened?!" Brook became very confused.

Hatchi released Luffy, allowing the rubber captain to scramble over to the downed fox. "Oh no, Yukimi!"

Hatchi quickly picked up the white two tailed fox before any bystander could see her. "We have to leave, now!"

*^.^*

The group of seven were back outside the town, sitting on a large mangrove root, contemplating what just happened. Hatchi handed Yukimi over to Chopper to look after her. The reindeer doctor carefully placed her down next to him as he pulled out his stethoscope to listen to her heartbeat.

"Would you care for some tea? It'll help calm your nerves," Brook offered Camie, but the mermaid declined.

"Do you think he'll be alright?" Luffy asked referring back to the pirate they saw earlier.

"Maybe so but, if he does survive, he'll be sent to prison for piracy," Hatchi answered.

"I don't understand, an old man and a woman are no match against a pirate like that! What's going on here?" Chopper demanded over his shoulder.

"If anyone hurts a Celestial Dragon, Navy Headquarters sends an admiral and a fleet of battleships to handle the situation," Pappagu informed, making everyone gasp in alarm, spit taking in Brook's case.

"An admiral?! You mean Aokiji?!" Luffy asked still in complete shock.

"It could be him or Akainu or Kizaru, no telling which one of them would show up. Remember we're right by HQ," Pappagu explained.

"What makes the Celestial Dragons so special?" Chopper frowned.

Yukimi stirred next to the reindeer doctor with a groan, "Those Dragons are the fucked up descendants of the creators of the World Government eight centuries ago. That's why they're so high and mighty with power. And believe me, they are high on power from the day they're born."

"Yukimi!"

Luffy stretched his arm over to Yukimi, grabbed her, and brought her back to him so he could hug the fox. "Yukimi! You're okay!"

The fox pushed back on her captain's chest so she could breathe. "Hello to you too Luffy," Yukimi half grinned. She looked back at everyone as her ears folded back. "Sorry I added more trouble earlier."

"It couldn't be helped Yukimi. We're just glad you're okay. But, are you sure you're okay?" Chopper asked still very much concerned for the fox.

"I'm still a little confused here," Brook admitted. "Was what happened earlier the reason you fainted? Was it that traumatizing?"

"Oh right, you just joined," Yukimi remembered as Luffy snuggled with her, enjoying the softness in her fur. "Well you see, I have Aniphobia. So being here is hard for me."

"Oh, I see..."

"Aniphobia? That's harsh," Hatchi muttered frowning.

"And if anyone messes with my cool fox ninja, they're gonna pay!" If it weren't for the fact Luffy was currently playing with Yukimi's ears, he would've looked intimidating, not pouting.

Yukimi giggled from her ears being tickled by Luffy. She shook her head to be rid of his slightly bothersome fingers. "I'll count on it, Captain," Yukimi said, hopping off of him and poofed back to her human form. "Now, why don't we go find us that coating specialist!" The kitsune grinned changing the subject as she tucked her ears back inside her hood.

"Yeah!" Chopper and Luffy cheered.

*^.^*

Yukimi quickly bunched up her good for nothing skirt once again with the help of the rubberband she'd grabbed from the ship. "Man, they're everywhere!" the kitsune griped yet grinned at the same time. She snatched up her kunai from her thigh holster and took out another one from her black bag. "Come and get me if ya can~!" The ninja snickered as she leaped straight up out of the way of the three bounty hunters surrounding her, laughing at how they all collided together. She landed on their heads before launching at another man and slashed him up with her kunai knives. Although it was muffled through her hood, her ears twitched from picking up on a bounty hunter trying to sneak up on her. Yukimi pivoted on the spot and parried with her kunai. "Nuh-uh~. Nice try buster~."

The man slashed downward trying to use his size as an advantage. "Oh come on! How is such a small thing like you this much trouble?!"

Yukimi grinned at the bounty hunter. "Don't underestimate the small folk, ya big idiot!" At this clear insult, the man swung his sword in a sideways arc. Yukimi ducked, causing the man to lose his balance before she kicked his feet out from under him. The ninja laughed at how the man landed on his face, knocking himself out. It was then another bounty hunter grabbed Yukimi by the hood and yanked her back. Losing her balance, Yukimi stumbled and lost her cover for her ears.

"Well looky here, I thought you were White Fox Ninja!" The man grinned down at her pleased.

"You'll pay for that with your life!" Yukimi hissed before slipping out of her caught hoodie and lunged at the man. The kitsune quickly slashed his throat so his discovery would die along with him. She didn't give him a chance in hell.

"Hey Yukimi! Are you okay?" Luffy called over to her from a pile of unconscious bounty hunters. He had noticed her ears were exposed during her last bounty hunter.

"Yeah, I'm okay! I'm finished over here, are you?" Yukimi asked as she pulled her hoodie back on and hid her ears.

The boy laughed, "Yup! I have a full stomach! No way would I be beaten!"

Yukimi grinned at his confidence as everyone climbed back on their bubble bikes. "No, I doubt anyone could!"

"You guys really are amazing! You know that?" Hatchi happily complimented the Straw Hats.

"It's all thanks to your food! Those guys didn't know what hit 'em!" Luffy happily replied.

"But I'm so perplexed! What in the world is going on? We're being bombarded by bounty hunters left and right!" Brook said as he stayed on the lookout for more unwanted company.

"That's three times that we've been ambushed now!" Chopper complained from inside Luffy's bubble bike.

"And the taste testing-oh sorry! Souvenir shops, they've all disappeared!" Brook added.

"Yeah, it's kinda spooky seeing all of these empty buildings and no people walking around. It's a pretty sketchy place for a coating mechanic," Chopper said as he looked around. The poor reindeer felt uneasy being out in the open like this.

"Meh, there's nothing wrong with a few rundown and abandoned buildings. 'Cuz you could use them for anything." Yukimi looked up at Chopper in Luffy's bubble bike and gave him a creepy look. "Someone could even summon the devil to wreak havoc on unsuspecting little reindeer~."

Chopper screamed at the image of a scary demon chasing after him.

Yukimi chuckled as she reached up and patted the furry doctor, "I'm just kidding Chop'! 'Sides, some of these buildings could really be used as a shelter for the homeless." This seemed to calm him down a little.

"You gotta keep an eye out here. The archipelago is pretty big, so there are places where the government's arm doesn't reach. Even the marines won't go anywhere near this place. Here, take a look." Hatchi handed Brook a piece of paper.

"A map?"

"It covers the whole of the archipelago and groups it into clusters of ten. It's not set in stone, but this is pretty much how it is."

Yukimi glanced over the map seeing where they left the Thousand Sunny at in the forties' cluster back in Grove 41.

"I see the Naval Post is located on number 60. I take it that's also the main entrance?" Brook asked.

"Yeah, it's like the front door and the one place we should avoid," Hatchi answered.

"So where are we passing through now?" Chopper asked.

Yukimi glanced up at a mangrove tree they were passing by. "I'd say Grove 16," she pointed up. "So we're in the lawless area, Chopper."

"That's right, so it explains why there are so many bounty hunters around," Hatchi agreed.

"Why didn't you say anything back at the dock?! If I had known I would've let Zoro or Sanji come with us!" the little reindeer doctor started to panic.

"Don't worry, it's fine. Our destination in Grove 13 is just around the corner," Hatchi reassured Chopper.

"Oh my gosh, Chopperchin! You, Skeletonchin, and Yukimichin were really cool back there!" This resulted in Chopper's usual insulting yet embarrassed expressions at the compliment while Brook made a bone joke. Yukimi just grinned a little at the praise, not used to someone that wasn't in the crew praising her on how she fought.

Yukimi leaned back in her seat as she watched the bubbles slowly pass by above them. The kitsune smiled at the calming nature of the bubbles. "Hey Brook, play a tune with me, yeah?" she suggested, pulling out her ocarina from under her white hoodie's collar.

"Yay! Music!" Luffy cheered as the beautiful symphony of the ocarina and violin filled the air.

*^.^*

"Alright! We're here!"

"Ah finally, Grove 13!" Yukimi smiled.

"We made it in one piece," Chopper said relieved as they slowed down near a giant root. It had a long staircase attached to it with a little building on top.

"That's the shop up there on that big root. Let's hope they're still open. It's been ten years since the last time I was here," Hatchi said.

"Hey Camie, is this coating mechanic a friend of yours?" asked Luffy. "Is he a fishman too?"

"You know, that's a good question," Camie said turning around to the rubber boy. "Pappagu and I haven't met him. I heard he is the absolute best though."

"Ohhh, I thought you guys knew him. Well, guess we'll see," Luffy said.

After making their way up the long staircase Pappagu looked up at the building's sign above it. "Aaaahh! This place is called 'Shakki's Rip Off Bar'! Hatchi, I've got a sneaking suspicion they're planning on ripping us off!"

"This coating mechanic isn't going to beat us up, and take our money is he?" Chopper asked as he carried Camie on his shoulder in his heavy point.

"No, not at all! They're good people," the octo-fishman reassured him. "I've known them since I was a kid!"

"You didn't say this place was a bar," Luffy said running over toward the entrance from his bubble bike.

"Well, it looks like they're still in business," Hatchi said opening the door. "Rayleigh, Shakki...!"

Everyone paused at the open doorway at the sight of a woman holding up a beaten and bloody man by his collar while two others were unconscious on the floor. "Hey, come on in. What can I get for you?" She paused at the octo-fishman grinning at her happily. "Hold on, is that really you, Hatchan? I haven't seen you in ages!"

"I know, sorry it's been so long, Shakki," Hatchi said rubbing the back of his neck.

"Me too, it's been ten years hasn't it?" Shakki turned toward the others at the doorway. "Make yourselves comfortable. I won't be another minute, I'm just collecting some money these boys don't owe me."

"Sure thing, take your time," Hatchi said as he and Luffy went to sit at a table. Everyone else, save Yukimi, stared on in horror at the brutality the young looking woman dished out on the already very bloody men.

Yukimi grinned in amusement, "Heh, I like this lady."

After Shakki threw out the barely alive men, she sat down next to Hatchi on the couch. "So, what have you been up to?"

"Well, for starters, I've quit being a pirate," Hatchi admitted.

"Really? So you gave up the pirate life huh?"

"Yeah, a lot happened."

"Well, I'm proud of you. An honest life is the best life," Shakki said blowing a wisp of smoke from her cigarette. "Gotta say though, it's not too often you get to come across a mermaid above water like this. So Camie, are you Hatchan's girlfriend?"

"Ahhh! No! Sorry, but no! Hatchin is great and all. But I'm way too young to get married!" Camie blushed as she looked away in embarrassment.

"That's not what girlfriend means," Pappagu deadpanned.

"Camie works with me at my fried octopus fritter stand," Hatchi explained.

"Oh is that all? Hey, that reminds me, can I get you guys anything...?" Shakki looked over to the Straw Hats to see them already eating. Well, save for Chopper and Yukimi.

"Shakki, these boiled beans are delicious!" Brook complimented as he ate at the bar.

"They're raiding the fridge!" Pappagu exclaimed in shock.

"Luffy, Brook stop before she rips you off!" Chopper panicked as Shakki chuckled in amusement.

"It's okay, you go right ahead. Wait, I've got something you'll like too," Shakki said getting up to grab a treat for the reindeer.

Chopper looked up and lit up like a child on Christmas morning, "Cotton candy! Oh wow, thank you!"

"Well of course, now that'll be 100,000 beris," the bar owner said holding out her hand for the bills.

"...But I...don't have...that much..." Poor Tony Tony Chopper looked like he was about to cry.

"No honey, that was just a joke," she said patting his head. "I wouldn't charge friends of Hatchan and I sure wouldn't rip them off."

"Really?"

Yukimi snickered at Chopper's reaction from where she was sitting to Brook's left.

"How'd come you know that's Chopper's favorite food, lady?" Luffy asked with a mouth full of meat.

"It was easy, you're Monkey D. Luffy right?"

"Woah hey! You know who I am?" Luffy asked surprised.

"Of course, everyone's been talking about your crew. And I like to stay well informed."

"Wow, you hear that Luffy? You're famous!" Chopper said in awe.

"And you must be White Fox Ninja Yukimi, am I correct?" Shakki asked, leaning against the bar counter next to the kitsune.

Yukimi blinked before putting away her ocarina she was fiddling with. "U-uh yeah."

"I must say, this is a first for me," the lady said smiling.

"A first?"

"First time meeting a kitsune. But honey, you don't exactly look comfortable right now. Don't worry, you're perfectly safe here," Shakki reassured, reaching over to the kitsune's hood, gently tugging it down.

Yukimi's ears relaxed from straining for hours from laying flat against her head. The kitsune sighed at being able to relax for once. "Then you don't mind...?"

"Go right ahead!" Shakki chuckled.

Yukimi immediately hopped off her barstool and quickly unbuttoned her borrowed skirt from the back. Not a moment later, the forsaken skirt dropped to the floor as two bushy black tipped white tails wiggled about freely. "Oh, this is so much better!" Yukimi grinned happily.

"They say a kitsune's fur is the softest around," Shakki commented. "Do you mind?"

Yukimi shook her head, "Not at all." The kitsune held out one of her tails toward Shakki to touch.

Shakki stroked the shiny white fur slowly, smiling bigger. "It's true then, it's like velvet!" Yukimi grinned blushing a little as the bar owner walked back around behind the counter. "Now is there anything I can get for you?"

Yukimi hopped back on her stool, very much happy. "Actually, er, I was having some stomach issues earlier today. Do you have anything to settle it?"

Shakki nodded before going over to the fridge where Luffy was. "Excuse me," she said, reaching in to grab a clear container in the back. "This is my homemade tea I drink when I'm not feeling the best. So this should work for you," Shakki said pouring the tea into a glass.

"Ah thank you," Yukimi said before taking a sip. She hummed pleased, feeling better already. And it tasted good with a hint of apple!

Shakki set the container to the side for Yukimi as she turned her attention to the skeleton still eating her boiled beans. "Although, I didn't know you had a skeleton in your crew. Or that skeletons were capable of moving and talking."

"Ah, please forgive my late introduction," Brook started as he placed his chopsticks down. "My name is Brook. Though plenty of people know me as the skeleton. Meeting you is a pleasure."

"The pleasure is all mine. Oh would you look at that, you've got a stray morsel of food there," Shakki said, plucking a bean from Brook's cheekbone, and popped it in her mouth with a wink.

"You are amazing..." Brook blushed beet red, even if he didn't have skin. "She's beyond lovely!" The skeleton laughed as he spun around on his stool before coming back to a stop facing her. "Tell me, what color are your panties?"

"Inappropriate!" Pappagu exclaimed.

"Let me see, I think today's were..." Shakki started.

"Aahhh! No, you can't tell him that!" Camie exclaimed.

Yukimi shook her head at Brooks' antics, 'Saw that coming a mile away.'

After a while things settled back down from Brooks' perverted questions and Luffy's ravenous appetite. "Ahh, that was good eaten!" Luffy said as he sat down on a barstool on the other side of Brook.

Yukimi glanced over to Shakki as she made a hot beverage for Luffy as she nursed her second glass of apple tea.

"Here, that should be warm enough," Shakki said, putting down a cup of hot cocoa for Luffy.

"Thank you."

"I read an article on you guys recently, it was about the Enies Lobby incident? I'm curious how much is true. Did you guys really pick a fight with the World Government?" Shakki asked, wanting to learn more about this major event.

"Ah, who cares? It's a long boring story," Luffy dismissed.

Shakki chuckled, "Not much for bragging huh? You must be a big shot."

Yukimi hummed as the bar owner tapped some ash off her shrinking cigarette. "I can sum it up for ya," the kitsune suggested.

"Oh, that would be great."

"So basically, CP9 took our friend Nico Robin, and we had to bust her out. Oh, and that buster call? It was apparently all a mistake on the guy who was leading those bastards. He accidentally set off the call. So to save face, I bet he blamed it on us," Yukimi summarized.

"Wow what a tale," Shakki grinned. She looked back over to Luffy. "One thing I was curious about. Are you related to the Naval Officer Monkey D. Garp?"

"I sure am," he answered after a sip of his hot chocolate. "Garp's my grandpa."

"That's what I thought. A long time ago, he used to chase me all over the sea," Shakki smirked a little thinking back.

"Why?"

"There was a time when Shakki was a notorious pirate herself," Hatchi explained.

"Woah really?"

"Yup, that's the truth. But I washed my hands of it forty years ago now," Shakki answered blowing out some smoke.

"Wait forty years? How old are you lady?" Luffy asked now curious of the woman in front of him.

"Luffy you never learn..." Yukimi mumbled under her breath, rolling her eyes.

"Old enough. But these days I get my kicks from cheering rookies like you guys."

"Which brings us as to why we're here," Hatchi started.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Don't waste your breath. I already know the whole story," Shakki said holding up her hand. "You and Camie trekked up on dry land and made the long uncomfortable journey to the shop in order to help Monkey, and his crew here get their ship coated. Does that about sum it up?"

"That was delicious!" Chopper said referring to his cotton candy as he sat on the barstool next to Luffy.

"Here, try this," Shakki gave Chopper a light green soda with a straw, making him grin happily. "So long story short, you have a coating job for Rayleigh, don't you?"

"Yeah, you got it," Hatchi nodded.

"Well I hate to tell you, but he's not here right now," Shakki gave them the bad news.

"Huh?" Luffy leaned forward in his seat. "Your mechanic's not here? But we're trying to get down to Fishman Island."

"I can guarantee you he's still on the archipelago at least. Your best bet would be to search for him in the bars or gambling houses," she suggested.

"Ah, it'd be easier to just wait 'til he gets back," Luffy said.

"Sure of course, you can wait. He'll be back eventually, but he's been gone half a year," Shakki said nonchalantly.

"HALF A YEAR?!" the Straw Hats exclaimed in shock.

"I'm sure he's shacked up with some girl he met at a bar. Can't say I'm really too worried for him. It's just natural behavior for an old ex pirate to disappear. They go exploring, and take their time coming back," Shakki said not at all concerned.

"The old dude was a pirate too?" Yukimi asked.

"That's right," the bar owner answered.

"Well, that's certainly a conundrum, but if he's not here then I suppose we have no choice but to find him ourselves," Brook said before facing Shakki. "And perhaps you could tell us what groves we should start searching first?"

"Let's see... If I had to guess, then I say you're most likely to find him somewhere in Grove 01 and Grove 29," she replied.

"Groves 01-29, now where have I heard that before?" Chopper wondered before he recalled the Sabaody Archipelago map Hatchi had shown them earlier. "Is that...the lawless area?!"

"He's quite notorious, he can't run the risk of running into the Navy. So that's your best bet. But if that place doesn't work out, try Sabaody Park, he likes it there."

"The amusement park?! Yeah! That's where we're looking first!" Luffy cheered as the others did too.

"Camie cut it out!" Pappagu shouted at the mermaid.

Yukimi grinned as the others chanted away excitedly. "Ah when was the last time I went to an amusement park?" she wondered to herself aloud.

"Anyway, make sure you're careful wherever you end up looking for him. According to my network of contacts, you've got some infamous company out there. With your arrival at the Sabaody Archipelago, there are now eleven people with bounties exceeding 100,000,000 beris on the groves," Shakki warned them.

Yukimi's jaw hung open, "Talk about...one big bounty put together!"

"There are eleven people...with bounties that high?" Chopper asked still in shock.

"That's right. Adding Roronoa and Monkey here, you've got eleven. So there are nine others. You had a choice to make to cross the Grand Line. There were seven sea routes that would lead you here. After you picked one, you followed your log pose the rest of the way, right?" Shakki asked, making sure Straw Hat was paying attention.

"Mhmm," he hummed in agreement.

"Well, naturally these other pirates picked one of these routes you chose not to. And trust me, they went through just as much trouble as you did to get here. It doesn't matter what route you take, you eventually hit the Red Line. And everyone ends up at this archipelago with the hopes of getting past the giant wall. It's a bit crazy that all the world's best rookies managed to show up here at the same time though." Shakki idly wondered if it was a sign of things to come, or perhaps fate just wanted these particular rookie pirates here at the same time.

Yukimi snapped her fingers, "Oh I remember now. I recently read the term in the papers. The rookies whose bounties are higher than 100,000,000 beris, are called Supernovas."

"And such a notorious lot at that," Shakki agreed. "At the top, you got Kid, yourself, Hawkins, Drake, and Law."

Fox ears perked up at the last name. 'Could this Law be my Doc?'

"I'm guessing you must've seen some of the names in the newspapers alongside your own," Shakki asked turning to the Straw Hat captain.

"I don't read newspapers," Luffy denied.

Shakki sighed in disappointment. "Information is a weapon. It'd be a smart move to at least learn the names of your rivals."

"I read the paper, but lately after Enies Lobby, I've been lax on it," Yukimi admitted. "So I know a few of the names you've said." 'But I need more confirmation before I get my hopes up. I need more than this guy's given name.'

"Okay let's see, so there was Kid, Hawkins, and uh...it was Drake right?" Chopper asked as he counted with his hooves.

"They're the ones with the highest bounties on their heads. Of the four names I've said, you've got the second highest," Shakki said holding up her cigarette between two fingers.

"SOMEONE HAS A HIGHER BOUNTY THAN LUFFY!? AND THEY'RE HERE!?" Chopper shouted in absolute shock.

"Ah, shit!" Yukimi grimaced from Chopper's sudden outburst, making her rub her ears. Chopper quickly apologized. Yukimi gave the little reindeer a small smile before looking back at Shakki. She had a bet on who took first place above Luffy.

"So first off the list is Capone 'Gang' Bege; he has a bounty of 138,000,000 beris on his head," Shakki started off. "Jewelry Bonney aka 'The Glutton'; her bounty, 140,000,000 beris. Basil Hawkins, 'The Magician'; he has a bounty of 249,000,000 beris. 'The Sea's Roar', Scratchmen Apoo; the bounty on his head is 198,000,000 beris. Eustass 'Captain' Kid; his bounty, 315,000,000 beris."

Yukimi rolled her eyes at the bastard's bounty, not at all surprised. 'Called it.'

"'Red Flag' X Drake; he's got a bounty of 222,000,000 beris. 'Mad Monk' Urouge; he has a bounty of 108,000,000 beris. 'The Massacre Soldier' Killer; his bounty is 162,000,000 beris. Trafalgar Law 'The Surgeon of Death'; his bounty is 200,000,000 beris," Shakki finished the list of the other Supernovas on the archipelago.

Yukimi picked the wrong moment to take a drink from her apple tea. At the mention of Law's family name and his epithet, the poor kitsune choked on her apple tea. She began to rapidly cough as Brook quickly patted her back to help.

"Hey Yukimi, isn't that the guy you always talked about?" Luffy asked as the kitsune regained her breath.

"Are you for real Shakki?! Trafalgar Law, from the North Blue?!" Yukimi gasped out.

"Why yes," the former pirate said with her brow raised at the kitsune's reaction and what her captain said. "Do you know him?"

"Know him...? I've known that twerp since before he had his Devil Fruit as a kid!" Yukimi grinned at the prospect of finally being able to see him again. "We lost track of each other years ago and I've been searching for him ever since! Oh, I wonder how he's been..." Yukimi hopped off her barstool. "I can't wait to see him again!"

"Well, well isn't this interesting," Shakki chuckled. "But before you go Yukimi, there's something else you all need to know." The bar owner lit a new cigarette for herself before she continued. "As you know countless other crews have entered the Grand Line, but only a handful made it this far. The Grand Line is basically an enormous tournament of survival. Regardless of which path they took to get here, the ones that made it are the cream of the crop. I'd even go so far as to say one of them might go on and become the leader of the next generation of pirates. So fair warning, this many rookies passing the Red Line at the same time, things are bound to become quite ugly in the New World. Also, in case you're wondering why Captain Kid's bounty is so much higher than yours, it's because he has no qualms with attacking innocent civilians. Not very charming, huh? I prefer you guys, you can count on my support. I'll be cheering you all the way."

Luffy grinned, "Thanks, but I gotta be honest with ya, I'm just trying to have fun! But, you do have me a little afraid for the coating mechanic pirate guy."

Shakki smirked at the rubber boy's misplaced concern. "Oh, you've got nothing to worry about. Trust me, Rayleigh's alright. He's a hundred times stronger than you."

"Did she say...?" Chopper started.

"A hundred times...?" Brook added.

"Stronger...?" Yukimi finished. This Rayleigh guy was starting to sound familiar. "Well then, if he's that strong then no problem. Right, Luffy?"

"Yeah! Now let's go to the amusement park!" Everyone started cheering again as they walked outside the bar. "Ready Chopper!?"

"Yeah!"

"You know, I'm sure the Navy is aware that all you up and coming heavy hitting pirates have made landfall here. I'd keep an eye out for anything suspicious if I were you," Shakki advised.

"Well, that's not good! So, you're saying they could strike at any time out of nowhere?!" Brook trembled, almost spilling his tea from where had he sat down on Hatchi's bubble bike.

"Yes, but you might be in luck. In addition to the usual trouble makers around these parts, with all the other pirates landing here at the same time, Navy Headquarters probably has its hands full right now. Unless something especially problematic happens, the Navy won't waste major military resources on checking it out. In other words, keep your heads down, and try not to cause any trouble, and you should be fine, okay?" Shakki smiled.

"Sure I understand, thanks a lot! You're a real big help! Maybe we'll see you again after we find the boat coating guy!" Luffy said before everyone went on their way.

Yukimi hummed in thought as everyone around her eagerly talked about Sabaody Park. As much as she wanted to go have a little bit of fun, she really wanted to look for Law now that she was absolutely sure he was on the same island as her. And as annoyed as she was, the kitsune had to keep that damn skirt on, even if it hindered her search a bit. Yukimi looked up when the others cheered loudly. "Oh wow, that's fancy looking!" Yukimi grinned at the sight before everyone. She hadn't realized how quickly they made it to the amusement park.

"We're here! Sabaody Park!" Luffy cheered.

Up ahead drawing closer was the gateway to the amusement park's entrance. It had flashing lights and bubbles everywhere. Behind that you could see a long twisting roller coaster, a pirate ship themed gondola ride, a free fall, an enormous ferries wheel and so much more inside!

"Aw man, this place looks so much fun!" Luffy grinned excitedly as everyone got off their bubble bikes.

"It sure does," Yukimi agreed as she walked over to the rubber boy. "Hey Luffy, I'm gonna take a pass on this. If you don't mind that is."

"Huh? But why? This place is amazing already and we haven't even stepped inside yet!" Luffy said as Camie and the others chanted again cheerfully.

"I finally have the chance to find my old friend, Luffy. I know you wouldn't want me to miss him," Yukimi said playing the 'old friend' card.

"Oh okay, I understand. Just be careful alright Yukimi?" Luffy said, glancing at her ears hidden inside her hood.

"You got it," Yukimi nodded grinning. She turned to the others and waved. "Have fun guys! Get sick on the rides for me!" Yukimi laughed before going off on her own. "Right, now to find Law...somewhere..." The kitsune's grin twitched slightly as she recalled the size of the lawless area. "Now let's see here..." Yukimi placed her right hand under her chin in thought while her left was stuffed inside her hoodie pocket as she walked. "Law wouldn't be in the amusement park anyway, and he wouldn't be interested in the touristy area either. And with a 200,000,000 beri bounty on his head, he wouldn't go anywhere near Groves 60-69 where the marines are. So that leaves the lawless area for Groves 01-29 and Groves 50-59 where people get their ships coated. So most likely, he'll be here." Yukimi thought out loud, thinking Law would most likely be in the lawless area. "But unfortunately...that's a lot of groves to comb through!" Yukimi groaned.

Yukimi shook her head, getting the idea of running up a mangrove tree for a better view out of her head. "No no no, that'll attract too much attention. Don't be stupid Yukimi!" The kitsune looked up when she realized she was walking over a bridge between two large mangrove trees. The one up ahead of her had 15 GR on it. "Damn, I walked a long way from the amusement park," she blinked in wonder. "Must've lost track of time."

Looking around for Law, yet not seeing a soul, Yukimi sighed through her nose. She felt like pulling out her ocarina so it could accompany her since there was nobody around her. The kitsune took out her white ocarina and lifted it up as a large bubble floated up from the ground just before her. Smiling at her slightly distorted reflection, Yukimi began playing her instrument as the bubble slowly floated up. The kitsune ended up playing her lake guardian's song. It had been a while since she had last played it, so Yukimi played and played, feeling light as that bubble now meters above her. She couldn't help it though! The excitement from Luffy and the others rubbed off on her when she left them behind. As the last of the notes faded, Yukimi felt her body relax. Letting her little white ocarina hang from her neck on its brass chain, Yukimi continued to look around for Law.

After a few more minutes of walking around not finding anyone, Yukimi noticed a small group walking toward her, though they were far away. Yukimi stopped in her tracks when she managed to spot a very tall man with an unmistakable spotted hat. "...Law. It's really him!" A large happy grin broke out on her face as she raised her hand so she could catch his attention. Yukimi opened her mouth to call him out when something moved behind her. Her ears twitched within her hood just before she leaped to the side in time to miss a large hand meant to grab her. Yukimi skidded a few feet away from a man dressed like an archer. "Who the hell are you?!"

The man chuckled as he straightened up, "Hello there, White Fox Ninja Yukimi. It doesn't matter who I am. All that matters is that I've got you right where I want you."

"So what, you're just another bounty hunter aren't you? Listen here ya bastard, I'm about to meet someone very important to me. So you better fuck off, or else!" Yukimi bared her fangs, definitely not in the mood to fight someone right now.

"Don't you mean, your seller?" The man known as Peterman grinned at her.

"S...seller...?" Yukimi blanched as a cold sweat broke out over her skin. She glanced at Law's group still too far to hear or see much. 'I-I could run to him! Run to him for back up!' Yukimi thought briefly before an arrow was shot her way. The kitsune just barely managed to lean to the side out of the way as it passed over her shoulder, ripping open that part of her white hoodie.

Peterman then rushed the kitsune, forcing her to stumble backward due to her skirt.

Yukimi fell flat on her back, again just missing the large man. Yukimi growled in frustration and fear as she scrambled to get her kunai from its holster on her thigh. "Fucking skirt, I'll burn you later!" Yukimi grabbed her weapon and stood up in time for the kidnapper to try grabbing her again. But instead of fleeing for the third time, she lashed out at the offending hand.

Peterman stepped back after getting a nasty slash on his wrist as blood dripped to the soapy ground at his feet.

For once not thinking straight, Yukimi lunged at the man instead of leaping back and going with her long range weaponry and tricks. "I'm not done yet!"

Peterman looked up to see his target lunging at him. He smirked, this time he sidestepped her. Before she could recover, he sucker punched the kitsune.

Yukimi gasped painfully before she fell to her hands and knees. Her hood came off revealing her furry ears to the world. She didn't feel the slip of her brass chain holding her ocarina fall to the ground.

While the kitsune was stunned, the kidnapper made quick work of her. He gagged and bound the kitsune before hoisting her over his shoulder. He chuckled as he walked back to his bubble bike where it was hidden behind a large root. Peterman grinned at the mermaid he literally bagged earlier at Sabaody Park still wiggling in her bag next to an empty one. Just before he stuffed Yukimi into the unoccupied sack, he noticed she was wearing something more than underwear under her skirt. Much to Yukimi's shock, he ripped the skirt off in one go to expose her black cargo pants and more importantly, her tails. "That skirt wasn't going to keep you hidden forever, White Fox Ninja," he chuckled as he shoved her into the sack.

Try as she might, Yukimi couldn't break free of the rope binding her. She tossed and turned trying desperately to escape, but only managed to tire herself out. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes as the bubble bike started up. 'No, no, no! This can't be happening! Law! Help!' Yukimi whimpered and whined as loud as she could for Law to hear her. But she dare not change forms now, otherwise, her arms would become dislocated due to having them bound behind her.

As Peterman rode off with his precious cargo, Law and his crew walked into the area. Law glanced up when he thought he heard something as the man in an archer getup rode past them. He paused in his step as he saw the two wiggling sacks. The pirate looked away, already knowing where those poor unfortunate souls were headed to.

"Hey what's this?" Shachi walked over to something reflecting off the ground before picking it up. "Is this some kind of a good luck charm or...?" He titled the little interesting thing around, looking at it from all angles.

"That's an ocarina," Bepo answered, walking over to the man. "There's some ocarina makers where I-"

"Seriously dude? You know what this is?" Penguin interrupted frowning, not believing the polar bear mink. "Is it some kind of flute?" The Heart pirate wondered as he leaned closer to it, looking at it with a critical eye.

Deciding to ignore his crew's usual bickering, Law took the instrument from Shachi to get a closer look at it out of boredom. It looked familiar... It was small, white, and connected to a brass chain. Gray eyes widened as a memory resurfaced of a certain albino kitsune playing music in front of a campfire next to him. Like that one evening after he discovered Spider Miles while collecting firewood. It was where he was wrapped up in two very soft bushy tails to help keep him warm from the cool night air. The ocarina looked just like Dew Yukimi's. Law turned the ocarina over to it's back, looking for... There, D.Y., Yukimi's initials. Law snapped his head up, searching for any telltale sign of familiar black and white fox ears and tails. But the Supernova couldn't see her anywhere nearby. Then a sudden horrible thought slammed to the forefront in his mind. 'That bounty hunter, he came from this direction!'

"Captain there's some blood over here!"

Law's attention was jerked back to his men as Shachi stood further away from where he was. The pirate was kneeling next to some patches of blood. Penguin walked over to him before picking up a weapon, "Hey! Is this what I think it is?!" Everyone gathered around him as he turned the bloody weapon around in his hands.

As the two men and mink started to wonder what had happened there, Law narrowed his eyes as he took the kunai from his first mate. Law shifted his nodachi to the crook of his elbow as he examined the bloody weapon. There was not a shred of doubt now. Yukimi was just here and was ambushed by that bounty hunter. 'And now she's heading straight into her worst nightmare,' Law thought frustrated that he was too late.

Penguin eyed how tense his captain had become. He and the others looked at each other in concern as Law's knuckles turned white from gripping the kunai too tightly. "Uhm...Captain? Is everything okay?"

Law looked away from the bloody kunai in his hand to his men, then back to the ocarina in his other hand.

"Do you know what happened here, Captain?" Shachi asked, feeling uneasy from how silent the Supernova had become. It was apparent that there had just been a fight in the area, but there seemed to be more to it than meets the eye from how the surgeon was acting.

"Do you know who the ocarina belongs to, Captain?" Bepo spoke up.

Grays stared at the white porcelain instrument in his grasp, careful not to break it from his tightening grip. He ran his thumb over the two letters before pocketing the ocarina with a deep frown, "Yeah." Law looked back at the kitsune's kunai before he turned his attention back to his men. "We're going to the Human Auction House."

*^.^*

~Oops! Sorry~ So close yet so far away~ Heh don't worry guys, those two love birds will reunite in the next chapter. It's gonna be fun~!