Chapter 28: Help me Law!
Rinka woke up with a small moan and realized she was still in the infirmary.
An hour later a knock came to the room and the place started swarming with pirates. When word had gotten out that their little de-age crew member had broken her little hand, almost everyone had come to visit her. First Zane, Jerry and Bepo and Lucas came in, and Penguin, and Shachi right behind them.
"Hey, what's up?"
"How are you feeling?"
"How is the hand doing?"
They all asked with worry in their voices.
She shrugged. "Not much just waiting until I can leave the infirmary room."
"Rinka, here your breakfast." Jerry said while handing her a tray of food."
"You idiots, why did you agree to fight against a little girl?! Now look at her." Jerry scolded Penguin and Shachi like they were little children.
They both said nothing and Bepo and Lucas and everyone else in the room were backing Jerry up by nodding seriously.
"It's not their fault , I wasn't looking where I was going." She defended.
"Just be more careful next time." Zane scolded her lightly.
"Alright give the girl some space." Law ordered while writing stuff on his clipboard.
"Yes captain!" They responded.
When Rinka picked up her fork and tried to take a piece of her egg but had problems eating with her non-dominant hand. "Would you like some help?" Law offered.
She shook her head. "Nope, I'm just fine."
She decided to ditch the fork and just eat with her good hand instead. All the pirates in the room started chuckling on just how much of a mess the girl made.
"Can I leave now? I want to take a bath ." Rinka said .
Law thought about it for a minute. "Sure, but you can't get your cast wet."
He then picked up the girl and started heading off to his room.
"Is it me, or Law is kinda like her father?" Lucas stated.
"Yeah." They all said in unison.
"I think it's kinda cute." Bepo commented.
"Shut up Bepo!"Both Penguin and Shachi shouted in perfect unison which made the polar bear bow his head in depression. "I'm sorry."
-x-
Later that day, Rinka decided to go get her pipe and do some training to pass the time. Just after Rinka picked up the pipe from the training room she could feel someone was lifting her by the long piece of metal. "Where do you think you are going with this?"Law asked with a raised eyebrow.
"What do you think, training of course." She responded nonchalantly, like if one of her hands wasn't broken. "Sorry, but until you're completely healed, no more training."Law stated.
She started pouting. "Awww, but I only broke one of my hands. I still have another one."
"Like I said, no more training until you're healed."Law stated.
"Okay, then can you read me one of your medical books?'' She mumbled with a still pouting face.
After Law sat down on his chair, Rinka then climbed onto his lap and then crawled under his hoodie. "What do you think you are doing in there?" Law asked with a raised eyebrow.
"It's a lot warmer in here." She said as she nuzzled closer onto Law's bare chest.
*SOOOOOO TINY and CUTE!* Law thought to himself with a tint of pin on his face.
When Rinka went onto the deck, she saw Bepo taking a little nap. Rinka couldn't help herself, he is like a big soft teddy bear that was made for cuddling. So she crawled onto the top of Bepo's stomach and drifted into a deep slumber.
After 30 minutes had passed, Bepo noticed that everyone was staring at him with big goofy smiles on their faces.
"Why are all you guys staring at me like that?"He asked, clueless about the adorable sleeping girl who looked like a toddler when compared to his size.
"Look at the person who is using you as a pillow." Penguin answered while pointing at the sleeping child who was curled up like a little kitten.
Bepo looked up and gasped in surprise when he saw Rinka sleeping peacefully as if she was a kitten cuddling with her mother.
Bepo almost faint at the level of cuteness.
"Pss, Zane did you bring your camera?"Shachi asked as he nudged him by the shoulder.
"Yeah, here."He said while handing Shachi the camera.
"What's going on here?" A deep and familiar voice asked.
"Taking pictures of the cutest sight in the entire world." Penguin answered.
Law's jaw opened in shock, it really was the cutest sight ever. "Save some of those pictures for me." He whispers into Shachi's ear and makes the mechanic nod.
-x-
"Are you checking or betting?" Penguin asked.
"I bet 100 beri." Shachi said.
"I raised you 200 beri."Lucas countered.
"Okay, show your cards in 3, 2, 1." Zane said.
"I only had 1 pair." Penguin exclaimed.
"3 of a kind."Shachi stated with a smirk.
Lucas holds up his hand. "Oh yeah, full house baby!"
Damn it, I really thought I was going to win!" Zane said in a furious tone.
As the men were playing poker in the galley, Rinka walked toward them. "What are you guys playing?"
"Poker."Shachi answered.
"Can I play?" She asked.
"Do you know the rules?"Penguin asked with a raised eyebrow.
She nodded her head 'yes'. "Yep, Phyllis taught me the basics of it."
Penguin picked up the girl and seated her into a chair.
-30 minutes later-
"NO way!" Shachi and everyone else shouted when they saw Rinka's cards.
The girl had a royal flush which was the rarest poker hand that anyone can get.
"She's still better than us, even as a little kid!" Lucas exclaimed with his jaw dislocated.
Everyone who was currently in the galley stood there in complete shock, an 8 year old little girl had beat 4 grown men in a game of poker.
Then Jerry started laughing. "All of you guys just got beat by a little girl. Tha-t is hilarious!" He said in between laughs.
"Shut up, you tried to beat her then!" Lucas shouted with a red embarrassed face.
Jerry then holds out his hands in a defensive stance. "Heck no, I'm not losing my money today."
Even as a little kid, she beat them in a landslide.
She began to laugh. " Dahahaha….You guys react the exact same way when Phyllis loses a game of poker to me."
In the beginning she started off with 400 beri , now she had 10,000 beri in her pocket.
Her smiling face then turned into a frown. " I really miss her."
Zane then padded her back in a comforting way. " I'm sure she really misses you too."
Then out of nowhere she suddenly had another narcolepsy attack and landed on Zane's shoulder.
"It's getting late, I should probably take her to bed." Law said while getting up from his chair.
Later that night Rinka had another bad nightmare and she needed someone to make her a warm glass of milk since her hand was still broken.
Law woke up from the light knocking from his bedroom door. He opened it and saw his de-age crew member once again in the middle of the night. "I'll get the milk ready." He said while picking up the girl and headed to the kitchen. She didn't say anything instead she just burrowed her face in Law's shirt.
After she drinks the warm milk, Law then offers again if she wants to sleep with him. She shook her head. " I'm fine."
One week later, Rinka was sitting down while watching Penguin and Shachi spar with envy written all over her face. Rinka was so bored, she wanted to join the fun but she couldn't because her hand was still in a cast. All she did on the sub was read and watch the sea, she wasn't even allowed to train with only her legs. Law said no type of training until the cast is off but still she wanted to explore, she wanted to fight, she wanted to do something interesting .
Just then the sub's siren went off and a loud voice was heard from the speaker. It was Jasper from the control room. "We'll be reaching the island soon! Everyone get on your posts!"
Everyone rushed to their places and prepared for emerging and docking.
And early lunch made of the last of the perishable supplies was just ready when they got to the island, and it was decided that they'd eat before docking.
Considering the general excitement (originating mainly from Rinka), that didn't take long.
"Penguin and Shachi I need you 2 to keep an eye on Rinka, I have an important business meeting."Law ordered. At first Law was hesitant to let her out of his sight but she has been cooped up in the sub for almost 2 weeks now. He was pretty sure Rinka would enjoy seeing the town and finally getting out of the sub.
"Yes captain!"They saluted.
The sub docked behind some rocks so they wouldn't be spotted by marines, since this island had a marine base.
They walked around at the many shops, boutiques and food stands.
"So, where to first?" Shachi asked.
"The bookstore?"Rinka cheered.
"That's fine with us, let's go." Penguin declared, looping his arms onto her's.
The smell paper, ink and leather binding finished the job, as it set her into a good mood. Looking around she had to grin at the very tall shelves of books that made the store a veritable maze.
"Oh, what adorable little girl. Is she yours?"
Both mechanics looked toward the direction where the soft voice came from.
She was in her early twenties, with an oval-shaped face, blonde hair cascading beautifully on her shoulders, a waist they could wrap their hands around, and she was smiling at them, her light blue eyes twinkling with amusement and interest.
They both stutter. "Uh..mmm, yeah."
"Excuse me , , can you show me where the plant section and mystery novels are?" The little girl asked.
She nodded, "Yeah, the plant section is on right and the mystery novel is on the left."
Rinka bow. "Thank you for your help."
The Shopkeeper only squeals on just how cute and polite the little girl is. "Oh my gosh, she is just the perfect kid. I'll be blessed to have a child like that one day."
When Rinka found the plant section, she tried to reach for one certain book but she couldn't because of her current height. Then she felt someone picking her up by her arms, when she looked down she realized it was Penguin who was giving her a lift.
"Need some help?"Penguin asked with a smile.
"Aww, you're such a good dad." The blond woman said,
Penguin blushed at the shopkeeper's innocent comment. "It's not like that, I am more like an older brother to her then a dad."
The woman smiled at the 2 men. " Either way you guys are good big brothers then. "
2 hours later at the bookstore, Shachi was carrying a big bag full of mystery novels and books about plants.
The 3 of them spent the day going to different types of shops and sitting in the middle of the town while eating some shaved ice. The warm summer climate of the island they were currently docked at really made it just a perfect day.
But the best part for the 2 mechanics was that their little de-age crewmate really attracted a lot of pretty girls for them.
"Can we get some lunch?" She asked.
"Sounds good to me. What will you like?" Penguin stated with a grin.
"A place with a good variety of pasta."She responded.
"Okay, what about there?" Shachi pointed to a building just barely visible at the end of the block. There was a sign on the road in front of it advertising seafood pasta.
"Yeah, I loved seafood pasta, it's my favorite!" She cheered happily.
A chill passed through the both of them and they stopped, exchanging a look. It was the familiar feeling of being watched, maybe even hunted. They quickened their pace, wedging the little girl between them protectively but staying quiet about it.
There was no need to worry her for something their group could take care of.
-x-
"Hey boss, I found our targets."A man with a cloak stated through a den den mushi.
"You found the Heart Pirates "A deep rough voice responded.
"Yeah, there are 3 of them sitting on a bench, but one of them doesn't look like anything from their bounty poster. "The man who is stalking the 3 pirates exclaimed.
The den den mushi imitated what the boss did by raising an eyebrow."what do you mean, that's an order."
"Well, 'Scarlet Knight Rinka's bounty poster has a picture of a young extremely sexy woman on it. But I only see a kid who can't be older than 5 or 6 years old, but has the resemblance as her but just younger."
"Maybe it's her little sister or kid, either way if she is hanging around with the Heart Pirates then she must know where their ship is docked... When you have the chance , kidnap her and bring her to our secret hideout." The boss stated with a wicked smirk.
-x-
The spot they chose in the restaurant was a closed-in booth at the very back. Penguin sat himself next to the little girl, keeping her in between him and the wall, and Shachi sat across from them to look out for anyone suspicious.
"I need to use the bathroom." Rinka said.
Just after she said that, a familiar blond woman was sitting at the next table.
"One second." Shachi said while getting up from his seat.
"Hey Ella, can you do me a favor?" Shachi asked.
Ella nodded, "Sure what is it?"
"Rinka needs to use the bathroom, and I want you to help her just in case since her hand is broken."
While Ella was waiting for Rinka to finish washing her hands, she felt something hard hit across her head. The last thing she saw before she passed out was 2 men wearing all black carrying the little girl on their shoulders.
"Boss we got her." The kidnapper reported through a den den mushi.
"Rink-a," Ella muttered before passing out.
"Ahhhhhhhhh!"A woman shouted in terror.
"What happened ?" One of the staff asked while rushing to the women's bathroom.
His face whiten when he saw the unconscious blond woman . "Someone get a doctor!"
The 2 Heart Pirates jumped out of their seat and headed to where all of the yelling was coming from.
Shock and worry flooded through them when they saw Ella on the floor with blood coming from her head and no sign of Rinka.
"They got her!" Shachi stated, his tone growing serious. "We need to tell Captain!"
Slamming the money down for the bill, they rushed out onto the street and looked around frantically. There were no signs of her, and they were unfortunate enough to choose a restaurant just off an intersection.
"Wait what about Ella?"Shachi asked.
"I left a note."Penguin responded.
"Captain, Rinka has been kidnapped!"Penguin said through a transponder snail.
"WHAT! You're supposed to watch her, how can you lose a little kid so easily?!"Law shouted in anger.
"They kidnapped her while she was using the bathroom."Shachi answered but still felt guilty.
Law sighs. "I'll get the rest of the crew, but for now come back to the sub!"
They both gritted their teeth. "Yes Captain!"
"Damn it!" Law cursed while slamming down his transponder snail.
"Law, what is wrong." Logan asked, noticing how his mood changed so suddenly.
"Rinka, has been kidnapped!"
-x-
"Where am I…"Rinka muttered, her consciousness slowly returning to her. She opened her eyes a crack, only to find darkness in front of her. Something from above dripped onto her shoulder, when she flinched at the cold liquid, she noticed her ankles and wrists were restrained to a chair. Slowly regaining cognitive ability, she put together the pieces of information she knew. Wherever she was, it was probably underground.
She was restrained, most likely to a chair from the feel of the wood on her back. She couldn't hear anyone else underground.
A door on top of some stairs to her right burst open, then the lights were finally turned on.
It took awhile but her eyes finally adjusted to the light.
"She is awake."A man's voice said, stalking closer to her.
Rinka's chin was jerked upwards and to the left, caught in the firm grip of one of the men.
He towered over the chair Rinka was tied to. "Are you really' Scarlet Knight Rinka?"The man asked.
"What do you mean? My name is only Rinka?" She responded with a tilted head.
He then showed the little girl her bounty poster. "Are you a member of the Heart Pirates or not?"
Rinka's eyes widened in shock, It looked exactly like her but a whole lot older.
"Yeah, that's what they told me anyway ."
The tall man just shrugged. "That's good enough for me. You see, we are a big organization of bounty hunters and your captain has a pretty high bounty on his head. And if you just tell us where his ship is docked then we wouldn't have to hurt anyone. You don't have to know where it is, do yeah?...Well are you going to talk?"
Rinka started sweating and her face was facing the other direction. "I don't know, sorry."
Everyone in the small room started laughing. "Okay fine, I'm sure you just forgot. Don't worry I have ways for jogging your memory."
"Hey Gus, should we do the human punching bag." A man with sunglasses suggested.
"I told you I don't know! Now let me go, you jerk! My captain will kick your butt!" She shouted while moving around in her restraints.
The one she assumed was Gus took a fistful of her hair and pulled sharply backwards, wrenching her neck. "Ah!" She let slip a grunt of pain, only egging on the 3 other brutes. Gus smirked.
"Such a beautiful face...Don't worry I will try not to hit that money maker of yours."
Gus lips twitched upwards in a smug smile as Rinka narrowed her eyes.
The men stripped her all the way down to her underwear so Gus would have more bare skin to work on and then tie her by the feet.
She glared at all of the men in the room, her red eyes turned completely cold.
Gus hums to himself with interest. "It seems those nasty pirates whip you a lot."
Rinka gritted her teeth, knowing who and how she got those types of scars.
"My own mother gave me those scars. Phyllis and the Heart Pirates are my true family and family doesn't sell each other out." She retorted.
"Last chance, you're going to tell me where the Heart Pirates ship is...Even if I got to beat it out of you." Gus stated while holding up a fist.
"WILL NOT!" She shouted with gritted teeth.
Gus let go of her head and let her swing for a little bit then. "Bang!" His fist made contact to her stomach.
"Oh...That's pretty rough." One onlooker commented.
"I'm warning you little girl, if I don't kick your ass then Boss Ruth is going to kill you and all of us too." Gus warned while holding up another large fist.
She bite her lip so she can hold back from crying. But it was no use as the tears started pouring down. "Ahhhh...Let me go! You're hurting me! Somebody help!"
He then punched her again and again and again.
"Law, Bepo, Penguin, Shachi! Please anyone, I need help!"
"Bang!"
"Bart, Jerry, Logan, anyone!"
"Bang!"
"Thorn, help me!"
"Bang!"
"Phyllis, where are you!
"Bang!" Another hard punched.
"Aaron!"
Wait, what was she doing, why is she calling for help from her already dead brother but still she is so desperate she will take anyone.
"Lucas!"
"Bang!"
"Jerry!"
"Bang!'
"Zane!"
"Bang!"
"Uni!"
"Bang!"
"I'll ask you one more time. Where is your crew?" Gus leaned down farther, his faces only inches from her own.
"Never!" She yelled, snapping the man's already thin patience.
"There's no use in resisting! Can't you see that your so-called family will never find you? You won't be rescued, there's no one that's going to bust in the door and save you! SO TELL ME WHERE THEY ARE!"
"You're wrong..you're wrong." Rinka muttered, forcing her breathing back to normal.
Then "Bang!" Another punched but this time on her back.
Gus then bent Rinka's finger where she still had the cast on then "snap!"
"Ouch, my finger!" She cried out in pain.
"Tell us where they are!"Gus shouted while readying his fist again.
"The pain will stop if you only tell me what I want to know." Gus offered.
"Never! Law, I need help!"
"Bang!"
-x-
"Bepo, have you caught her scent?" The bear shook his head, dropping his head in depression.
"I'm sorry." He muttered.
Law frowned intensely at an alley wall. "We've searched the whole area she was last seen and there's not a single trace of her." He growled, grip tightening on his nodachi."
"We'll find her." Penguin said softly, before walking off to search a different area.
Penguin felt Law's stare drilling a hole in his back, but he didn't say anything about it.
They had searched a large area of the entire town, but still no sign of their missing crewmember. At one point , they had crossed paths with another search party. From the depressed expression and slumped shoulders, they came up empty handed as well.
Turning back to another alley , Bepo started sniffing the air with a lot more focus.
Law noticed immediately.
"You got something?" He asked, as his heart started beating faster.
"It's faint but I smell her!"He said. Along with Law, Penguin and Shachi exchanged glances and ran after the polar bear. Round the corner, the 3 stopped when they saw Bepo picking something up.
"What did you find?" Penguin asked.
"Rinka's other glove."
Everyone covered their mouth in shock , hoping that finding it doesn't mean the worst, but they had to keep their hopes up.
Giving up now would do them no good.
"Did you find her location?"Law asked. At this point, he couldn't take the pleading tone out of his voice but he couldn't give a crap. His innocent de-age nakama is missing, his pride didn't matter at his almost breaking point.
Bepo sniffed the ground a few more times. He lifted his head and started running into the street. "I found her, follow me!" Bepo exclaimed.
Law then pulls out his transponder snail to inform the rest of his crew at where they need to meet. "This is Law, we found her location. Everyone, meet me back at West Broad Street."
*Please...Be alive, we're on our way.* Law thought to himself, trying not to look weak in front of his crew .