"This is as far as we go," one of the islanders warned, nodding toward the bank. "You can go by boat for another kilometer and then you must go on foot."
"So we'll just know it when we see it, right?" Usopp asked, balancing his oar in his lap.
The islander nodded, "Remember, you promised to-"
"To bring back your 'Same Akuma'," Zoro interrupted. "Yeah, we remember."
"And, uh, how will we know it?" Usopp asked, scratching his cheek.
"You'll know it when you see it," the islander replied with a smile. "Good luck."
"Thanks for bringing us this far," Luffy said.
"We will take care of your friends," the islander promised kindly, "And if you die-"
"Shhhhh! Don't even say it!" Usopp moaned fretfully.
"It's hot," Law complained. "Keep paddling. At least when we're moving there's a breeze…"
"That's easy for you to say," Usopp grumbled, turning around to look at Law. "You aren't doing any of the work…"
Law made a face, "Of course not. I'm saving my energy for the compound."
"Thank you," Luffy repeated, waving farewell as Zoro continued to paddle.
"It'd be pretty if we weren't about to walk into a D Foundation lair," Usopp murmured, resuming paddling.
"It's still pretty," Law said softly, his long, thin fingers sliding through the water.
"Why on Earth did they pick a place like this anyway?" Usopp wondered.
"It's isolated," Zoro explained, "And, honestly, they aren't a huge, powerful nation. They're easier to push around without anyone noticing."
"So, uh," Usopp began unsurely, "How far is a kilometer?"
Zoro laughed, "No fucking idea."
"Isn't a 'kilometer' just, like, French for mile?" Luffy suggested. "That seems right."
"That's not right," Law refuted, shaking his head. "No."
"Nami would know," Usopp realized with a grimace.
"So would Robin," Zoro added.
"And Franky," Luffy sighed.
"Ya'll are so dumb," Law groaned, crossing his arms over his knees.
"What's a kilometer then if you're so smart?!" Zoro demanded.
"It's, like," Law responded slowly, "A mile and half or something…"
"That's not right," Luffy replied.
"And how would you know?" Law hissed.
Luffy raised his arm and pointed, "Cause we're already to the end and it was only like half a mile…"
"Should we hide the boat?" Usopp asked, hopping into the shallow water. "Under foliage or something, ya know?"
"Don't bother," Law murmured, standing. "In, get what we need, kill everyone else, and leave."
"Uhhhhhhhhh…" Usopp drawled, looking toward Luffy. "I don't know if I'm entirely comfortable with that scenario."
"The D Foundation is willing and able to kill you and everyone you've ever loved," Law shot back. "We don't leave any survivors. We end this. Not only for us, but for the islanders as well."
"He's got a point," Zoro agreed, nodding his head. He hoisted Luffy straight from the boat to the dry bank. "I'm tired of looking behind us."
"This isn't the last of them," Luffy murmured, pulling Zoro up beside him. "It feels like we'll never be done."
"No one wants to do a job they're not being paid for," Law reasoned, squeezing excess water from his shirt. "And boss-man is dead. He won't be signing any more paychecks. They will give up if we make it too difficult for them. They're doing this for money, their hearts aren't in it…"
"And what about Germa?" Zoro questioned.
"What about them?" Law asked, his thick lashes fluttering over his yellow eyes.
"We burned down their house," Zoro pointed out, beginning to walk. "Without them in it."
"One thing at a time," Usopp exclaimed, shaking his head. He drained the water from his boots. "Or we'll never accomplish anything."
"Shhhh…" Luffy breathed out, throwing out his arm across Zoro's chest in a halting gesture.
"What is it?" Usopp whispered in panic.
"Shhhhhh!" Law hissed irritably, pressing his finger against his lips.
"Oh, God," Usopp murmured, covering his mouth with his sore, calloused hands. "I don't hear anything…" his voice was muffled, "Is it zombies?"
"It's not, it's…" Luffy hesitated, looking toward Law, "Something smells good."
Law nodded in agreement, though he still wore an expression of confusion, "Delicious."
Zoro inhaled deeply, "I don't smell anything yet."
"Oh, I'm so hungry," Luffy exclaimed, rubbing his belly as he stepped forward.
"Wait!" Law growled, snatching Luffy's arm and pulling him back. "It could be a trap."
"It's definitely a trap!" Usopp shouted. "There's no 'maybe'! They aren't just having a barbecue for the hell of it…"
"So hungry…" Luffy groaned, drooling involuntarily.
"Where's the scent coming from?" Zoro asked, pulling his borrowed machete out from his pack.
"This way," Luffy murmured, nearly floating through the thick vegetation.
Luffy impatiently led the way as Zoro slashed a path through the forest, Law and Usopp walking closely behind.
"Oh, God," Usopp gagged, "What the ever-loving-heck is that smell?!"
"Food," Luffy moaned, wiping at the spit that dripped from his mouth. "So hungry."
"I can almost place it," Law murmured, licking his lips hungrily. He stumbled slightly over the large, thick mess of roots, "It's so familiar."
Zoro pulled his shirt over his nose and mouth, "It smells like fucking shit…"
"Yeah, what the hell, guys?!" Usopp exclaimed, "It smells like Satan's bootyhole."
"Yeah, don't ever use that word again," Zoro demanded, dropping his shirt to make a face.
"What? Bootyhole?" Usopp taunted.
"I'll kill you," Zoro warned quietly, knocking his elbow into Usopp's ribs roughly. He walked ahead of Usopp, leaving the other man to whine and cry. "Where are we going anyway? Wasn't the compound the other way?"
"Just a minute," Luffy replied dreamily. "First I gotta see…"
He disappeared from view with his next step. He let out a startled cry as he slid down a muddy bank, bouncing all the way to the watery bottom. He gasped as the murky water splashed over his face and he rolled over onto his hands and knees, choking. His hand sank into the surface beneath him and a bubble of red exploded from behind his palm.
"Luffy!" Zoro shouted, out of view but close behind.
"Fuck," Luffy murmured, staring into the dead face of the corpse he was kneeling on. There were dozens of decomposing bodies just floating in the dirty water. He finally realized he had fallen into a mass grave. "Wait a minute… Don't come here."
Too late for the warning, Zoro made a gagging noise, "Luffy... you okay?" Usopp vomited, turning away from the scene as he continued to spew into the grass. Zoro couldn't hold it back any longer. He squat down, leaning heavily against the nearest tree, and vomited too.
Law frowned, his eyes burning with anger, "Get out of there, Luffy."
"That's what I'm trying to do!" Luffy shouted, wrenching his hand free from the corpse's sunken chest cavity.
Law shook his head, wiping at his lips in disappointment, "Too rotten to eat."
"Oh, Jesus…" Usopp groaned, gagging loudly. "The smell… that was… what you were smelling?!"
"Shut up," Luffy groaned, scaling up the steep side of the ditch.
"Well, we found the missing islanders," Law sighed, rubbing his nails against his pants.
"This sucks!" Luffy yelled, shaking gore from his hands and legs. "Humans are stupid fragile."
"Come on," Law instructed calmly. "Let's just get this over with."
"Yeah," Luffy agreed quietly. He scraped mud and blood, and who knows what else, off his exposed skin.
"You okay?"
Luffy nodded at Zoro, "Yeah." He licked his lips, "If anything this just made what I have to do next easier."
"Good." Zoro said simply, slapping Luffy on the back.
They walked in relative silence back the way they'd come. Luffy paused at the river to rinse with water and then they were off again, heading toward the compound. It was tedious for Zoro to cut a path and Law was slow moving. Luffy hovered just ahead, anxious to move onward.
"We're close," Usopp called out, drinking from his canteen.
"Yeah," Zoro agreed, his machete falling to his side. "There's a path here."
"We still have time to turn around," Law pointed out dryly.
"You scared?" Usopp asked in surprise.
"No," Law admitted, "I just don't want to save Teach."
"This Teach-guy," Usopp wondered aloud, "Is he that bad?"
"Yes," Luffy and Law replied in unison.
"Ah…"
"Zoro, Usopp," Law began to direct, "Cut the power to the facility."
"Okay."
"Luffy and I will go in first," Law continued. "You should give us some time before coming in after us…"
"Why?" Zoro demanded.
Law smiled, "Because I don't want to eat you by mistake."
"How long?" Usopp asked.
Law made a face before finally answering, "Give us two hours."
"Two fucking hours?!" Zoro snapped.
Law nodded, "Calm down. We'll be fine, even if we aren't."
"What does that mean?!" Zoro demanded.
Luffy was the one who answered, "Even if we're hurt or captured, it likely won't be permanent. Give us the two hours to clear as many people as possible."
"I don't like it," Zoro complained. "I'm supposed to stand out here with my thumb up my ass doing nothing?"
"The bad guys will come out running," Luffy reasoned. "I expect you to make sure they never bother the islanders again."
"Just don't kill any survivors from the village," Law emphasized. "Important."
"Duh," Zoro rumbled irritably. "And you two don't get captured. Important."
Luffy laughed easily. He screwed himself up, pressing up on the very tips of his toes. He grabbed Zoro's face and tilted it downward. Luffy repeated the word with a low murmur, "Duh…" And then he kissed Zoro.
"Two hours," Zoro said gruffly. His cheeks reddened, the blush creeping into his ears. "And then I'm coming in after you."
"Yeah, I know," Luffy whispered, his arm wrapping ever-so-softly around Zoro's neck. "That's why I can go, because I know you're coming right after me…" He knocked his forehead against Zoro's affectionately. "Zor-o, I…"
"I hate to interrupt," Law said, clearing his throat pointedly, "But we're losing light."
"You can see in the dark!" Zoro shouted back.
"Yeah, well, I can't," Usopp barked. "And neither can you. Save the mushy stuff for back on the beach!"
"Or, ya know, never," Law suggested, fighting a smile.
"See ya," Luffy said simply, gently knocking his fist against Zoro's chest.
"Two hours," Zoro called after Luffy, watching his and Law's backs as they walked away.
"So," Law murmured, once they were alone.
"So."
Law smirked, "He's cute."
"Well, yeah," Luffy snickered.
"No, I don't mean-" Law hesitated before starting over, "It's cute how he…" Law shook his head, "Never fucking mind."
Luffy laughed, "Aw, come on. Now I'm curious."
"Die curious," Law snapped, folding his arms over his chest.
"I missed you," Luffy cooed sweetly.
Law arched a dark brow, "Can't imagine why."
"We haven't really gotten a chance to talk," Luffy realized. "I have so much I want to tell you."
"Please don't."
Luffy laughed again, "You're so funny."
"I'm not funny," Law argued, shaking his head. "I'm mean. These aren't jokes. And, by the way, it's time to be quiet."
"Okay," Luffy whispered loudly. "I really did miss you though…"
"I…" Law looked at Luffy critically before finally conceding with a smile, "I missed you too."
"Think Teach will be happy to see us?" Luffy wondered, still whispering.
Law shook his head. He placed his finger against Luffy's lips before pinching them closed, "Hush hush."
They crouched in the bushes just beyond the security fence. They both surveyed the compound. Luffy's stomach rumbled loudly, breaking the silence. He smiled, "Sorry. I'm hungry."
"Good," Law replied. "It's easier to eat them anyway."
"I can't eat people!" Luffy protested, standing.
Law snatched Luffy back down into the cover of the bushes, "Are you crazy?! Be quiet! Stay hidden!"
"There they go," Luffy whispered, hitting Law to get his attention. He pointed toward the two dark figures running across the compound yard.
"Great," Law said. "As soon as the power goes down we go."
"But, uh, if the power's down won't it be hard to get Teach out?" Luffy wondered.
"That's why I brought you along," Law replied, fighting a smirk. "You're the muscle."
"Think Teach'll be happy to see us?" Luffy asked. Law rolled his eyes in response.
"And there's the power," Law noted, standing up. "Our turn."
Law climbed over the fence with ease. A strip of his clothing stuck in the razor wire but it missed his flesh. He landed on the other side with a scowl. He examined his clothes before looking back at Luffy. "Come on."
Luffy walked up to the chain-link fence, a serious look on his face. He scratched his exposed belly and bent down, lifting the fence straight off the ground. He simply walked under the twisted metal and then let it fall back into place behind him.
"Showing off for someone?" Law teased.
Luffy shrugged, "I'm the muscle."
The compound wasn't heavily guarded. In fact, once through the impossibly thick steel doors, there was no one in sight. Law looked around in silence, his yellow eyes darting from place to place. Luffy cupped his hand to his mouth and shouted, "Hellooooooo?"
"What are you doing?!" Law hissed.
Luffy shrugged, "Seeing if anyone is home."
"Of course they are! Where else would they be?!" Law snapped.
But there was no reply.
Luffy and Law wandered down the hallway and into a waiting room of sorts. Law studied the maps on the wall while Luffy busied himself with the locked door. He popped the door open with little effort, kicking it ajar with his foot, "Come on."
"Hold on," Law murmured distractedly, "They've got the whole place mapped out."
"Helloooooo?" Luffy called again, peering through the open door. Luffy turned back toward Law impatiently, "Come on. It's not like they have 'TCH HERE' on the map… Let's go already…"
"They've got massive freezer storage here," Law whispered, his finger tracing the map.
Luffy knew the words unspoken. He just knew. He cleared his throat and leaned against the door jamb, "We can check the freezer before we leave."
Law seemed to snap out of his thoughts. He looked around unsurely, wiping sweat from his face, "I'm uncomfortable with the lack of defense."
"That's what I'm saying," Luffy sighed. "I don't think anyone's home."
"What if…" Law trailed off.
Luffy's eyes narrowed, "'What if' what?"
Law walked forward, his slender hands twisting anxiously in front of him, "What if this is a trap?"
"Then we'll get out of it," Luffy said simply.
"How can we get out of it?!" Law cried out. "What if the Revolutionary Army plans to bomb the shit outta this building? Or what if…"
"Hey!" Luffy barked. "Snap outta it! You're Law Trafalgar and I'm Luffy Monkey and there ain't shit we can't handle…"
Law couldn't help but smirk, "You are the corniest person alive."
"I can tell you all about the power of our friendship, if you'd like," Luffy offered jokingly.
Law shook his head, "I've been through enough today."
"I'll take the lead," Luffy said, walking forward as soon as Law approached the open door. "Let's go."
No matter how fast Luffy ran, no matter how many hallways they searched, there wasn't a soul in sight. Luffy was beginning to lose all hope of finding anything when he discovered a stairwell. He looked at the spiral stairs and then at Law. With an anxious breath he descended into the darkness. "Last time I was in a stairwell there were creepy people watching me…"
"Just assume you're always being watched," Law suggested.
"I'm getting nauseous going in these small circles," Luffy complained, jogging down the winding steps. "How far down does this place go?"
"Can't be too far," Law reasoned, "It's an island. Flooding would be a nightmare."
Luffy hopped off the last step with a sigh, "Finally."
The emergency lights were dim, forming sickly orange orbs on the dull, grey ceiling. They walked into a lab and they both froze in place. The water tanks, the surgical tables, the bright, big lights they would use…
"Damn," was all Luffy could muster.
"Damn," Law repeated in agreement.
Law jumped, startled, as Luffy touched him. Luffy pressed his smaller hand into his, clutching it tightly. Normally, Law would have reproached him, but he couldn't muster it. He could feel the hum of energy off of Luffy. He could taste the tension in the air. He could smell the fear, not just Luffy's but his own.
"Where did everybody go?" Luffy whispered, his voice small.
"I don't know," Law admitted. Law began to walk, dragging Luffy behind him like a small child. "In and out."
"In and out," Luffy agreed.
The first sign of struggle was in the next corridor. Dried blood streaked across the ground, walls, and even the ceiling. Empty shells littered the floor. There was a single shoe, large and black, left behind in a congealed pool of blood. They followed the carnage like a string, tracing it back to the start.
Teach was lying down, his hands folded behind his head and his legs crossed at the ankles. The glass of his cell was broken and the shards were everywhere. It looked like jewels, Luffy thought. Teach was awake, his dark eyes moving from one man to the next.
"Well, you fuckers finally show up!" Teach exclaimed.
Law's face darkened, "Did you kill your captors?"
Teach smiled an uneven, gap-y smile, "Did you? I assume that's why you're here."
"We came all this way to save you- and you- I can't believe this," Law groaned in frustration.
"Why're you in there?" Luffy asked, looking around the small, littered cell.
"What about the islanders?" Law interjected. "Did you kill them? Were they alive when you got here? Are any still here now?"
"What is this?" Teach chuckled. "It's been years and I can't even get a 'hello' first."
"Hello, Teach," Luffy began. "We're here to rescue you."
"I don't need rescued," Teach retorted with a laugh.
"Why are you in there?" Luffy repeated.
Teach side-eyed Luffy before answering, "'Cause here I've got food and water and AC. Well I did until you two idiots shut the power off."
"Our apologies, Your Highness," Law muttered.
"The villagers are nice," Luffy said simply. "The helped us get here to find you. We can all go back together, to the village and-"
"No."
"No?" Law repeated the word in confusion. "What do you mean 'no'?"
"I'm not going anywhere with the two of you," Teach spoke loudly, "I've spent too many damn years with ya already, cooped up and forced to do as I'm told. I think I'll stay here. I've got everything I need."
"You'll run out of food," Luffy pointed out.
Teach smiled and shrugged, "Not if there are islanders."
"You can't!" Luffy shouted, his hands curling into fists at his side.
"Luffy," Law warned, placing a slender hand on Luffy's shoulder.
"But-"
"He's just trying to get a rise out of you," Law explained.
Teach made a dangerous face, "Am I?"
"We came to release you from prison," Law said simply. "You're free. Our job is done."
"Yeah, and good riddance."
"But Teach, you can't…"
"Don't fucking tell me what to do!" Teach roared, sitting up. He bounced to his feet, clearing the space between them in two strides. He grabbed Luffy's arms and squeezed tightly, shaking Luffy back and forth as he spoke, "You don't tell me what to do. No one does. Not anymore."
"Let go," Law breathed out, figurative flames licking from his lips.
"If you wanna be heroes," Teach announced, releasing his hold on Luffy. "Go down another floor."
"What's down there?" Luffy asked.
"I don't fucking care."
Luffy walked off, Law following suit. They searched the level in silence before finding another stairwell. This time Law went first. His feet seemed too big for the steps and his head nearly hit the stairs above him. Everything about Law was lanky and lean. The more he stared at the back of Law, the more he realized how much they'd grown. Luffy wondered if he'd always had such large ears but decided not to mention it.
"Watch out," Law finally spoke. "The floor's wet."
"Think anything is down here?" Luffy asked, relieved to be off the stairs.
"Can't you feel it?"
Luffy was silent for a moment, listening carefully. And then he felt it, a drum-like concussion in his chest. Luffy looked around the dark, wet space, "Something's here."
Law nodded slowly. He crept around a large water tank, his hands held out in front of him as if he were stumbling in the dark. "I think…"
"It's coming from," Luffy muttered, rounding another water tank.
"Here." They said together, placing their palms on the cold glass.
Luffy stared into the water tank in confusion. The water was dingy. Law's image was distorted slightly through the glass, but he could still make out the other's expression. Law was disappointed. He had felt something. He could have sworn it.
Bubbles shot upward, gathering at the top of the tank and Luffy realized that the tank's bottom was well beneath them. He peered hard into the grimy water, his brows furrowed in concentration.
There was a sudden explosion of movement in the tank. Law and Luffy gasped, Law stumbling backward in shock. Luffy's eyes widened, watching in awe as the blue creature filled the tank. The creature's webbed hand pressed against the inside of the glass, its palm against Luffy's.
Luffy smiled and Law cursed. The creature smiled a toothy smile; large teeth jutting past its lips. Luffy smacked his hand against the glass, "Wow, you're awesome."
"Be careful," Law warned, fearful about the integrity of the glass. Law watched the creature with wide eyes, "What is it?"
"No idea, but it's cool," Luffy beamed, pressing his face against the glass.
"Don't startle him," Law whispered.
"My name is Luffy," Luffy shouted, his lips pressed to the glass. "What are you?"
"I don't think he can hear you…" Law sighed.
The creature gestured upward, toward the airlock.
Luffy pointed too, "Want me to open it?"
The creature nodded, bubbles shooting from the gills below his ears.
Luffy climbed up the water tank, perching on top. He twisted the heavy wheel and twisted until the lid popped off the tank. Salty water splashed over the floor and the creature breached the surface.
"I am the Same Akuma," the creature replied, water pumping from his gills, pulling his massive body upward. "And yes, I can hear you."
"Oh, you're the…" Law hesitated, looking the creature up and down. "You're the Same Akuma?""
"Yes," the creature replied simply.
"You're like a God or something?" Law continued.
The creature nodded, "Or something."
"You're not like us," Law stated. It wasn't a question.
The creature nodded again, "No. I am… something else."
"You speak English," Law noted, shrugging. "Impressive."
"I am also impressed you can speak," the creature replied, his eyes sparkling. "Humans are such primitive things."
Law was taken aback. He opened his mouth to make a cutting reply but Luffy interrupted, "The islanders have asked us to take you back," Luffy announced, extending his hand in greeting. "Nice to meet you…?"
"Jinbei," the creature answered, smiling again. "Nice to meet you too, Luffy."