The episode when the Strawhat pirates got separated left me crying ocean. It really hurts so much to see Luffy crying and helples. I think that's one of the most heartbreaking moments in One Piece. I just want to hug that boy!

Beta'd by MerryAnchor16

diclaimer: One Piece is not mine!

Chapter 8

Borsalino

"Silvers Rayleigh."

"Admiral Kizaru."

"When they told me you were here I almost didn't believe it."

"Why?"

"Well you've been out of it for some time. I was almost certain you were dead."

"You underestimate me, Kizaru-kun," Silvers smirked at the Admiral before him. Kizaru stood tall and proud, hands in the pockets of his yellow striped suit trousers and the Marine coat that hung off his shoulders flapped lazily out behind him. He wore a relaxed grin, the creases of his face wrinkling slightly and his eyes were hidden by amber tinted sunglasses.

"Maybe I did, Rayleigh."

Silvers pulled his sword from its sheath, "So what now. Are you here to give me justice?"

"It wasn't my original intention, no. I'm surprised to meet you here. I came to settle this little mess some rookie Captains have made. But now that you mention it, your punishment is long overdue."

"Come, come now," Silvers frowned, "Surely you could forgive an old man for the mistakes in his past?"

Kizaru simply smiled, "There is no forgiveness for a man from Gol D. Roger's crew."

Rayleigh chuckled and held the hilt of his sword a little tighter, "I knew you would say that."

"And I knew you'd never beg for mercy. You're not that kind of man. But, before I arrest you, I'd very much like you to tell me where the girl is, Rayleigh."

"Huh?" Silver's heart jumped a little, "What girl?"

"The girl, Rayleigh. The one from the Pirate King's legendary crew. The girl. You know who I mean. You know very well who I mean," Kizaru said.

"I don't know who you're talking about," Silvers growled.

"Oh, I think you do. She's been running from us for quite some time now and always just managed to give us the slip. 'Fire Fist' Ace used to help her. He made false trails that we followed every time. Looking back, I'm ashamed of how easily we were tricked. We were such fools, it's actually quite amusing," The Admiral chuckled and then cleared his throat, "But we know she's here for certain this time- there is no escape... for either of you."

Rayleigh swung his blade and Kizaru merely sidestepped, the weapon missing completely. There was a flash of light and a golden sword materialized in the Admiral's hand where it glowed brightly. Kizaru was still grinning, enthralled by another round of fight, "Give it up, Rayleigh, you're far too old and tired for all this now."

He lunged and Silvers just about parried it. There was an angered look on his face, and he held the handle of his sword a little tighter than was necessary.

"All this for one girl?" Kizaru mused, "Surely she's not worth it."

Rayleigh began swinging with anger, each attack becoming more and more ferocious, "She's nakama!" He stated.

Kizaru chuckled, "To a non-existent pirate crew and a dead Captain?" He said incredulously, stepping out of the way of the attacks. Silvers pulled back, sword and body poised and ready.

"Nakama is forever, not just for as long as the Captain says so."

"Hnn, so I've heard..."

The swords clashed again, the sound of metal on metal ringing in the air as the two men blocked, parried and attacked in a savage dance. Silvers managed to dodge the swings each time easily, the blade mere millimeters from his eyes.

"Heh, you're getting slow, old man," Kizaru smiled.

"Rayleigh!"

Silvers dropped and rolled away from the Admiral, the tip of the light sword just missing his head. He hopped nimbly to his feet and turned to face the slight ridge that rose up to a slope behind him and there, a tad bedraggled and bleeding, was Stellar.

Kizaru lowered the sword slightly, "Ah, here she is."

Silvers grunted in reply. He couldn't believe it. The foolish girl was running head on towards them, feet almost slipping up on the slope and her long snow-white hair slapping across her face, "Rayleigh!" She yelled in worry.

"Stay back!" Silvers barked, throwing up a hand with his fingers splayed out. Stellar stopped running with a puzzled look that melted swiftly away when she saw the Admiral.

"Kizaru..." She said.

"Stellar Stefwill, it's an honour to meet you at last," Kizaru replied, lips still curled in a soft grin.

"Rayleigh, where is Luffy?" Stellar asked, eyes not leaving the Devil Fruit user before her.

"He's gone," Silvers said bluntly.

"Gone? How-?"

"Kuma."

"Ah."

"Sorry to interrupt you both," Kizaru cut in as he raised his sword of light once more, "But I'm sure this conversation can continue on the boat taking you to Impel Down."

Stellar twisted her fingers into a tight fist, wisps of purple coiling around it, but Silvers stepped in between them.

"Stellar, go," He said.

"What?"

"Run. Get to the docks, take a boat and leave here."

Stellar frowned, "No. I'm not leaving you!"

"Dammit Stellar! Do as I say! Now g-"

Kizaru took this opportunity to kick Rayleigh at a speed of light. It was too late for Rayleigh to defend himself and was thrown haphazardly away from his nakama. Stellar's eyes widened in utter shock as she watched her friend thrown in the air to an unbelievable distance most likely far from this island. His kick was so strong that the earth beneath her shook and crumbled.

The Admiral smiled at Stellar, "I didn't hurt him. Besides, an old man like him is not easy to take down. Now you, Stellar Stefwill, you are the real prize. My name would go down in books if I brought you in."

She took a step back and brought up her fist, the coils of power becoming thick tendrils that lashed at the air like whips.

"Ah yes, The Violet Demon. A very apt nickname don't you think, considering who you really are?"

Stellar stayed silent as she forced herself to calm down. 'Don't succumb to his words. Focus on what is important. Rayleigh will be okay. He is strong.'

"Oh, have I upset you? I didn't mean to," Kizaru raised his hand and Stellar raised her power laden arm at him in warning,

"I do not wish to fight."

Kizaru smirked, "Oh yes, that's right; a demon who yearns for peace and freedom. But is that possible, hmm?"

Stellar raised her arm over her head and swung it around at the Admiral, the purple tendrils joined, weaving and threading through one another to make one enormous solid coil, "Crystal! Whip!"

Kizaru met it head on with his blade, the annoying smile still gracing his face, "Very nice. But you'll have to be quicker than that."

She flicked her wrist and the whip crumbled into shards before regrouping as a sword, shooting back towards her outstretched hands where she caught it neatly. A small patch of crystals had solidified over the gash on her left shoulder, soothing and healing it out of instinct rather than command. Stellar dropped into a defensive stance, "Try me."

Kizaru raised his eyebrows slightly, "Tell me, how is Portgas D. Ace?" He asked.

Stellar was taken aback by both the bluntness and the sheer randomness of the question, "What are you talking about?"

"He hasn't written to you in quite some time now, has he? When was the last time he spoke to you, about a week now? Perhaps longer?"

She froze. It was true. Ace hadn't replied to her letter in over a week now... but how did he know about Ace? No one outside of her and a select few knew about her and the Whitebeard pirate. Unless...

"What have you done with him?" Stellar asked as calmly as possible. Inside, she was seething in fury.

"Me? I haven't touched him. In fact, it wasn't even the Marines who brought him in," Kizaru smiled, thoroughly enjoying this.

Stellar's grip tightened on the sword's handle, "Who then?"

"Blackbeard," He said, "And I must say, what a touching little letter it was you gave Ace. I thought you should know that he did do something stupid. You're right- he didn't listen to you."

"Where is he? What have you done with him?!" She shouted, voice wavering. The Admiral laughed.

"The same place you're going... Impel Down."

Stellar was sure that was when everything fell apart.

Something deep inside of her snapped and she lunged at Kizaru, meeting the thrust of his sword dead on. Purple danced like fire on her body as it erupted from her skin, her eyes were a hot white and all she could think about was this bastard who'd taken Ace away.

"You shouldn't let your feelings get to you, Stellar Stefwill," She heard Kizaru's voice say above the clanging of swords biting, "They leave your guard wide open."

There was a sharp pain in her side, and she gasped, her weight moving forward, and she couldn't support it up. She felt him pull away and she looked down to see the golden sword dragging out of her, blood seeping quickly out of the wound. Her knees gave out and she hit the ground in a crouch, coughing slightly and splodges of crimson spattered the grass beneath her. She was gasping for air that wouldn't come.

"Ace was weak, that's why he was caught. You are weak, Stellar, and that is why you are caught."

A black haze ebbed its way at the corners of her vision and she pressed a hand desperately at the wound in her side, "Heal..." She gasped, "Heal..." But the mixture of panic and shock had thrown her concentration out of the window and she was useless, unable to reach her power.

Another sharp pain exploded in her ribs as Kizaru kicked her harshly. She fell sideways, sliding along the ground and she curled in on herself, letting go of the sword in her other hand and it crumbled into nothingness.

"Don't worry," He said, "Maybe if you're lucky they'll put you and Portgas on the same floor. That's if they don't execute him first."

The darkness bloomed in big splodges across her sight and she spat out more of the coppery liquid in her mouth. She tried to call the power in her, but it wasn't responding, and she couldn't calm herself down enough to snatch at it. Kizaru kicked her again, shattering her last shred of concentration with a couple of ribs and she cried out in agony.

"Huh?" He grunted and looked up; his interest lost in the trembling girl at his feet as a blue haze crept over them. Stellar felt a rush of air and she closed her eyes against the sickening feeling. When she opened them again it was to see a different pair of feet before her and light blue jeans with a hole torn in the fabric and a nasty looking gash on the right shin. Suddenly two eyes appeared. Two extremely familiar eyes.

They were circles of pure smoke from a distance but now she actually looked at them they were not just that. There were hundreds of shades running through with thin slivers of silver streaking in at random points and both were framed by dark, almost black bags formed from bad sleep deprivation. She just about felt a gentle yet firm touch on her side but there was no pain. Everything felt numb.

Trafalgar Law's eyes flashed, and they narrowed, "Why am I helping you?" He asked.

Stellar didn't answer, the darkness finally consuming her as she fell into unconsciousness.

And her dreams were haunted by fire, Marines, Ace and two wicked grey eyes.

Aaaaand they met again! And so fast! Oh Law you just can't resist her.

Stellar's powers requires great focus, so if she panicked she can't control it properly. Quite a hassle, no? That's why she needs to be calm and keep her emotion on check!

Thank you for all the reviews! Another bright and hopeful day for me!~