Good at Tracking

Cara reached into Ace's pockets and took out the money he had on him. Giving it a quick count she found it wasn't much, but it would buy her some new clothes. She just hoped no one recognized her with her two white strands of hair that stood out against the rest of her blonde hair. Maybe a hat would help? But what were the chances of it getting knocked off? A scarf maybe?

She huffed and headed for the door. Thunder rumbled overhead as she stepped out on the deck. Rain pelted her body. Lightning flashed in her eyes. Glancing up she found the dark clouds were starting to get lighter. The storm would soon pass.

Making her way to the side of the ship she wondered if she should raise the anchor so the ship would drift away from the island. Cara quickly pushed the idea away. That could be dangerous. Even though she didn't like Ace, she didn't want him to get hurt or die if he fell into the sea or caught by an enemy. It wasn't his fault that idiot Whitebeard sent him after her.

Cara climbed upon the railing and dove into the waves. Staying underwater, she swam towards the beach. She wrung off as much water as she could from her clothes before heading into the forest. The leaves caught the rain, letting few drops fall on her as she made her way through the thick foliage.

Scanning the woods, she wondered which would be the best path to take. Anyone could follow footprints, especially since it had been raining. Her eyes lifted to the trees. She smiled. But no one could track her if she weren't leaving footprints.

Stepping to a tree, she jumped up and grabbed the lowest branch then pulled herself up. Carefully, she picked her way through the branches, occasionally having to get down from a tree to walk to the next one. During those times she made sure to step on rocks, fallen branches, or trees. When she did have to step on the ground she made sure to mess the track up.

Finally, buildings came into her view.

Cara paused on a branch. Using the leaves she kept herself hidden as she scooped out the town. It was fair sized. Most people were inside though a few lingered around here and there in the rain. She spotted shops of all kinds. Her eyes stopped on a clothes store. Getting out of her wet clothes would be a good start. Then she could figure out how to get another ship. With one last look around, she jumped down from the tree and made her way to the store.

Entering into the building, she gave the area a quick scan of the people by acting as if she were looking for the women section. Not many were in the shop. Spotting the right section she headed for it, carefully keeping an eye on the few people that were in the store. No one appeared to notice her. Or cared that she was there. Perhaps her assumption was correct. Maybe no one else knew about her and the pirates plot to kidnap her.

"Mommy, when is Daddy coming home?" a small girl asked. She was standing with a woman Cara assumed was her mother.

"Should be any time now," the woman said. With some clothes laid over her arm, she guided the girl to the dressing rooms. "He and his crew were scheduled to be back today."

Cara tensed. Was the woman talking about the pirates? Grabbing a skirt she followed the two. This was one conversation she couldn't miss. Lucky for her only curtains were used for the dressing rooms.

"Can Daddy take me on his ship?"

"Perhaps. If you're a good girl."

"I'm a good girl!"

Cara waited and listened but the two never gave a clue who they were talking about. It was probably best to find another ship and get out of here. If they were talking about the pirates then the sub could be discovered at any moment.

Switching back to her wet clothes, Cara hastily grabbed a few more items and rushed to pay for them. Back outside she found the rain had stopped. The sun was peeking through the clouds. Ducking down an alley way, she checked for people then quickly changed her clothes, stuffing her hair under a bucket hat. Shoving her wet clothes in the bag she bought, she headed back into the town where the people were starting to leave their homes for the outdoors.

No one appeared to notice she wasn't a locale. She took the opportunity to walked around and listen to what people were saying in hopes of finding the docks. After half an hour she heard a small group of men talking about going fishing as they headed for the edge of town.

With a tug on her hat to keep her eyes covered, Cara shoved her hands into her pockets and started following the men. The men led her down a well worn path. Flowers and rocks decorated the sides. A few minutes more the path curved and opened up to the docks.

Cara stayed back as she watched the men head for a ship. Her eyes floated from them to the line of ships anchored to the docks. Most were small, suitable for fishing. That meant she had plenty to choose from. She wouldn't have to worry about trying to manage a large ship on her own.

Suddenly the coolness of cuff snapped around her wrist.

"Hey!" She turned to find Ace, an angry Ace. "What the heck?! How did you...?! You shouldn't have been awake for another six hours! At least!"

"You drugged me?!" Ace's brow twitched.

Cara pressed her lips together. Why didn't the sleeping tonic work on him?

Ace jerked her into the trees.

"Hey!" Cara protested. She was about to say more but stopped at the intrusion of Ace's hands diving into her pockets. She attempted to wiggle away from him, but he jerked her back with the chain. "Stop that! Get your hands out of my-Eek!"

Ace's hand dove down the front of her shirt. Pulling back he held the vile in his fingers. "So you did drug me."

Heat burned Cara's face. "You disgusting pig!" She pulled back her free fist to swing at him. "How dare you do that?!"

Ace lifted a hand, catching her fist.

Cara growled. Stupid strength! You're never here when I need you! Coating her fist in haki, she kicked at Ace's leg, but he easily dodged it. "I demand you let me go! How did you find me anyway?! Even if you managed to overcome the tonic you shouldn't have been able to find me!"

"I'm good at tracking." Ace crushed the vile with his hand.

"Hey! That was mine! You had no right to destroy it!" Cara started kicking at him again.

Ace blocked her kicks with his arm and his own legs. He then grabbed her wrist. With a yank he spun her around and pinned her arm to her back. "This is the last, and only, time I'm going to say this so listen close. I am going to be taking you home. This trip can be a pleasant one or a harsh one. It's all up to you."

"I chose harsh." Cara tried to free herself from him, but his strength was greater than her own.

"Suit yourself." Ace spun her around again. He grabbed the other end of the chain and clamped it to his wrist.

"What do you think you're doing?" Cara placed her free hand on her hip.

"You made your choice. Now you have to live with it." Ace turned and headed back towards his ship.

Cara planted her feet into the ground, but with one jerk from Ace, she was forced to follow. Still she did what she could to keep from going back to the ship. She tried to dig her heels into the dirt, grabbed trees when they came into reach, and even dropped to the ground. Nothing stopped Ace's determined trek back to the ship.

Back on the ship Cara was forced to follow Ace around as he readied the ship and set sail. She spent the next several hours glaring at him, which he ignored most of the time. Finally it came time for bed. She held up her chained wrist. "Release me. I'm going to get ready for bed."

"No." Ace didn't open his eyes.

"What do you mean 'no'?!" Cara jumped to her feet. Her arm sticking out a bit since his hands were behind his head as he lounged on the deck. "What? Do you expect me to go into the bathroom with you?!"

Ace opened one eye and looked at her. "Yes."

Cara opened her mouth but no words came. Did she hear that right? "You expect to... You're really going to..."

Ace stood, a smirk on his lips. "You made the choice. So you can't blame me."

"That's just so... so wrong! I'm a girl!" Cara waved her hands in the air.

Ace didn't answer. He only walked passed her, forcing her along.

Cara stepped in front of him. She reached for his pockets. "Give me the key."

Ace grabbed her wrists. Pinning them in one hand, he pulled out the key from his pocket.

"Give it!" Cara knitted her brow. Surely he seen reason. They couldn't use the bathroom at the same time, especially the blinked then promptly shoved the key down the front of his pants.

Cara gasped. She instinctually went for it, but pulled up short.

"Well, you can have it. If you will take it," Ace said.

Cara stared at the front of Ace's shorts. Heat smothered her face. Though the thought grossed her out, she had every right to get the key. He had, after all, reached down the front of her shirt for the vile.

She couldn't do it.

"That's what I thought." Ace walked for the door.

Cara followed along in silence.

Together they used the bathroom, the other turning away when they had to use to toilet. Despite the humiliation with having pee with a stranger attached to your wrist, Cara couldn't bring herself to say anything. She remained silent as they made their way to the bedroom. A bedroom they'd have to share.

"You're by the wall," Ace said.

Care climbed into bed. If she couldn't get away from Ace at least she could ignore him. But as the night went on it became obvious that ignoring the devil fruit using pirate wasn't going to be easy.

Ace rolled over in his sleep. His arm draped over her body.

"Get your arm off me!" Cara screamed in his ear, but the pirate remained asleep. She growled. Her gaze dropped to his shorts. Her hand reached for it, but stopped short.

Getting the key should be easy enough. Ace was asleep, heavily asleep. All she had to do was reach down and grab the key. Her fingers touched his belt. A groan came from Ace, causing her to jump. She looked up at him. The young man was sill fast asleep. Her eyes fell back to his waist.

Cara licked her lips. Just a few seconds. That's all she needed to be freed from him.

Minutes ticked by.

She couldn't bring herself to reach down his shorts.

With a defeated sigh, Cara laid back down and tried to sleep. It was going to be a very long and painful journey home.