Stepping onto the Polar Tang's deck, Katya beamed at the familiar feeling of her crew mates. Her observation Haki was allowing her to sense things throughout the submarine, including all the crew before her. Ikkaku reaches her first and hugged her tightly. Shachi and Penguin swiftly joined and soon there was a gigantic group hug going with the eighteen or so pirates present.

"It's so good to see you, Katya-chan!" Bepo said happily. "Did you see any female bears on the island of women?"

"I'm afraid not, Bepo. If I had, I'd have put in a good word for you."

"The island! Please tell us what it was like, Katya-chan!" Half of the men on the crew began begging her, but Katya focused on Bepo, who looked nervous.

"How was he when he left?" She asked quietly.

"Determined, as always. But like he had the attitude that he wouldn't see us again."

Katya had worried as much. Law's obsession with revenge against Doflamingo didn't seem to be something that had subsided.

"He left a letter for you." Ikkaku said suddenly, pulling a note out of her boiler suit pocket. Katya opened it and read it carefully.

Katya,

If you're reading this, you've made it back to the submarine. I hope your training proved fruitful. I understand that you will be upset that I am not with the rest of the crew. I have discovered how to bring down Joker using his underworld connection of one Caesar Clown. I don't know if you know this yet, but there is an underworld reward for your capture. I know that you will want to come after me, but you are safest with the crew.

If I come back from this, I want to see how you improved your powers. I am still holding you to that promise.

Law

P.S. Write some new songs with the crew, please. I am sick of hearing Yellow Submarine sung over and over.

Katya sighed. "That idiot."

"What did it say? We've been debating for weeks."

"What were the bets?" Katya arched an eyebrow at them.

"W-What bets?" Shachi said innocently, although he really was an awful liar.

"Just lay it on me."

"I said it would be asking about female bears!"

"NO-ONE THINKS THAT BUT YOU!" Shachi and Penguin yelled at Bepo.

"I said it would be a racy love letter." Ikkaku smirked mischievously.

"It's just him being an asshole, really." Katya passed the letter to Ikkaku to read as there was an explosion from the island they were leaving in the distance.

"What was that?" Connor cried out.

"Probably Shanks-san trying to protect my non-existent virginity and honour."

"You really know too many scary people." Ikkaku muttered as she continued to read. "If Captain's given these as orders, he'll be livid if you go after him."

"Tell someone who cares." Katya said stubbornly.

"It's really like a romantic novel, racing to be together as you hate being apart!"

"Ikkaku, you've been very lonely the past year, haven't you?"

Katya could not sleep for worry. Law was alone pursuing a fellow Shichibukai. Furthermore, she had been informed by the crew of Law's new technique 'Mes' and how he had delivered 100 hearts of fellow pirates to the Marines in order to become a warlord. She wasn't exactly impressed by the brutality of it. Yet her whole being begged to be near Law again. It was like some crazed innate desire to protect him and be near him.

Bepo had, with some reluctance, given her a piece of Law's Vivre Card. Katya lay in her bunk as the crew slept, watching the small paper move, as if terrified it would burn up and disappear.

Being alone on an island with only women for a year had done nothing for Katya's mentality either. It was like the more she didn't see Law, the more her body wanted him. Foolish woman, she chastised. You're not making that mistake again. Besides, it would now be sleeping with your Captain! That probably broke a bunch of unwritten rules. But the thought of him kissing her like he used to, biting her neck and the feel of his hips against hers...

Nope, nope, she needed to remove that mental image. She couldn't just lust after her Captain. Especially as he'd left. Again. Maybe Law would always choose his agenda over her. Maybe he wouldn't. But there was part of her that didn't care.

She had an idea for a song with those thoughts, and went to find a quiet place on the sub to record. Katya had left her recording equipment on the ship and retrieved it from storage easily. Realising she could use anywhere if she used her fruit to soundproof, she wandered around. Eventually, she found herself at Law's cabin. He was the only one besides Bepo that had a private cabin.

She slipped inside and whispered "Silent". The hum of the submarine faded from the room and it was utterly quiet. She looked around. Law was fairly tidy, she noted. His desk was cluttered with papers, but the rest of the room was spotless. She went towards Law's bed. It had not been touched in a while, that much was obvious. She sat down and put her hands down on the duvet cover. The whole room smelled like Law and it comforted her somewhat. Like he would be back soon.

Katya set up her recording equipment quickly, determined not to let the song idea fade. She tapped the microphone to test it before grabbing a blank tone dial from her bag. It would do until she could get to a proper studio.

"I just made an appointment for a special rendez-vous..." she began to sing, crafting the lyrics and tune. This would be one of her new favourites.

The early morning rays of sun were beginning to creep through the portholes of Law's bedroom as Katya sang through the final draft of the song.

"Doctor I want you, ooh, my Doctor wanna do, I can't get over you.
Dr. do anything that ya wanna do..." she finished finally, clicking the Tone Dial to stop recording. It was complete.

Katya yawned slightly and laid back. As she did, something caught her eye. By Law's bedside was a small framed photograph. It was the one she had taken of the crew on Amazon Lily before she left. Everyone was smiling and laughing in the picture. Katya herself had her arms around Law's midriff with a joyous expression. The brunette felt a lump in her throat as she looked at it.

Law had so much to live for now. His crew adored him, and she wasn't going to let him sacrifice himself for the memory of someone who clearly wanted him to live. She pulled out the Vivre Card from her pocket. She would find Law and help him take down Joker. She wouldn't watch that paper burn up.