It had taken extensive bartering at first, but the moment Jinbei said that she had donated blood to Luffy and him after Marineford, Hancock had fallen apart at Luffy's surprised loud 'thanks' to Katya and proclaimed that he was indebted to her and Law. Katya spoke to the young pirate about Shanks and the two exchanged stories over food well into the evening.
The two had become fast friends for the few days that Luffy had been recovering and he asked Hancock if she could grant Katya's request to train on the island too. Hancock had instantly said yes to make Luffy happy and Katya wouldn't let her take it back even after Elder Nyon objected slightly as she wasn't from the island.
Katya had moved to the same accommodation as Ran, Sweet Pea and Margaret. The three had gotten along very well from the beginning. Ran had begun showing Katya how to fight with the weapons that Katya had chosen; a small set of throwing knives.
The idea had come to her when she had thrown the sword at Kid in anger on Sabaody. With her Devil Fruit, she could use her 'Calm' ability to mask the sound of the knives whistling through the air. It would give her an advantage in combat that actually used her powers.
She worked with several of the Kuja Tribe on strengthening the endurance of her Calm Calm Fruit abilities. By four months in to her stay, she was able to dome a larger area to make it soundproof and could hold it for much longer. She refused to practice her 'Deafen' ability as if it went wrong, it could seriously damage someone's ears. She wouldn't do that to anyone except an enemy.
The women of the island, after learning of her singing ability, were all big fans of Katya's music now. She had sung them every song in her repertoire and even begun to write some new ones.
But through it all, she missed the Heart Pirates. Katya kept Bepo's Vivre Card close to her at all times. She liked the women she had met, but she didn't trust that no-one would try to destroy it knowing it led to a male, even if it was a male bear. She also never took off her stethoscope necklace, even in the baths or at night.
Don't forget about me, Law, Ikkaku, Shachi, Penguin, Bepo. She held the necklace tight as she slept. I'll see you soon.
"The saga of 'Try to sense when I will strike'." Sweet Pea and Katya faced each other with large wooden sticks. The two women had been talking the previous night and Sweet Pea had spoken of Haki. Katya had asked about it and Sweet Pea told her about the three types. It seemed nearly all of the Kuja could use some form of Haki. Ran had good armament Haki and had tried to incorporate it into their knife and combat training that morning. She'd had little luck. Now, Sweet Pea was teaching her how to tap into her observation Haki. Margaret had deduced that Katya had some form of unskilled observation Haki as the freckled woman had spoken of how she had felt that something was coming towards her on several occasions, including at Marineford.
"Remember, Katya, observation Haki is about feeling when your opponent is about to strike, as well as feeling their will from far away."
Katya nodded and raised her stick, careful to not get it tangled in her cape. Her own clothing had not lasted long in training, so Margaret had sewed her some more outfits, much more typical of Amazon Lily. Katya liked them. They were totally impractical for sword fighting due to the exposed skin, but they allowed for fast movement. Plus, it was a chance to show off her curves, as well as the slightly more defined muscles she was developing.
"Ow!" Katya winced as the stick collided with her shoulder. She hadn't sensed it.
"Again." Ran said, and this time Katya felt the swing coming. She wasn't fast enough to dodge and ended up with a strike to her ribs, but she had felt it this time. She grinned from the floor. Six months to go.
"I cannot teach you anything more." Ran smiled proudly as Katya stood over Margaret in triumph in the Kuja arena. The Heart Pirate had just beaten the young woman in a match using lots of what she had learned. Her observation Haki was getting better every day, and Katya was utilising it well in battle. Her armament had still not appeared, but Katya was confident that her skills in the throwing knives was good enough, combined with her Devil Fruit, to hold her own in a battle.
She hadn't seen the Heart Pirates in the best part of eleven months. Her hair had grown longer and now reached her mid back. Her skin had tanned well from the beautiful weather the island had and, despite a few new scars from training, she was feeling the best she had ever felt.
Katya helped Margaret to her feet and the two smiled at each other warmly. They may have been opponents, but they were also now great friends.
"Ran-sama, I can't thank you enough." Katya bowed deeply before embracing the woman.
"It has been my pleasure." The black haired Kuja Pirate responded. The stadium cheered as Margaret and Katya had left the arena, giving each other a hi-five as they did. Katya looked around at the island and felt sad that she would be leaving it soon. It had become home to her, and she would miss the friends she had made there. But she had given her word. One year or the mastery of the knife combat: whichever came first.
"Katya-san," a voice said bravely from behind her. Katya's cheery laughs faded as she spun around to face Elder Nyon. "There is news of your Captain."
Katya's face lost all of its colour immediately. "Is he okay?"
"Don't panic, he's nyot dead." The old woman said, and handed her a newspaper. Katya unfolded it and stared at the front page. Her hands began to grip the paper tightly.
"The saga of 'what does it say'?" Sweet Pea said next to her as Katya grit her teeth.
"Trafalgar Law of the North Blue, bounty of 440 million Beri, had become a Warlord!" Margaret read over Katya's shoulder.
"I figured you would want to nyknow the nyews." Elder Nyon said. Katya took a deep breath and shoved the paper to the ground.
"When is the next boat off the island?"