I don't like you by BloodyMarryMe
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or any of its characters as it all belongs to Eiichiro Oda. I do own the OC Suzune Miyako. This story is rated T for violence, language and suggestive themes.
Everyone, I hope you are enjoying your summer or you will soon! So my exam period just ended a few days ago and I concocted this short chapter about our two Heart pirates spending some time with the Strawhats. Just some fun and games (mostly) before they arrive at Dressrosa and shit gets real. :P
CHAPTER 64
When Miyako first met the Strawhats, she could tell right away that they were a rowdy and unruly bunch. However, after sailing with them on one ship, the girl got a true confirmation of that, realizing she didn't even know the half of it. Every day of their trip was a new revelation for her as she witnessed the loud arguments and fights that often occurred yet were just as quickly forgotten, parties that lasted late into the night accompanied with Brook's music, and then some more fights among them, before Nami stepped in and beat them all to the ground. What's more, it was hard not to get swallowed into their pace; you would be chasing a mischievous Luffy angrily around the deck before you even knew it. The samurai realized, much to her amusement, that even the ever-composed Trafalgar Law wasn't impervious to the Strawhats' shenanigans. He would often lose his temper, yet ended up completely ignored by the younger captain and his crew who didn't seem threatened by the Surgeon of Death in the least. Even the small doctor Chopper got used to the other pirate doctor as he wasn't trying to avoid him at all times like in the beginning of their journey.
The Wano girl was a bit more flexible than her captain in that aspect, as she soon learned to accept the tomfoolery around her and quickly got used to the other pirate group. Even though, the brash flirting from Sanji or Brook still left her uncomfortable sometimes as she was uncertain what to do or say at those times. She wasn't used to such treatment, even though she spent two years on a submarine with about 20 other guys. But Penguin and the others gave up on any serious flirting a long time ago and mostly treated her like one of their own. That's why, when Brook would ask to see her panties, she was completely baffled. Her first instinct was to kick him in the face, but was that really alright to do to your new crew of allies? Luckily, Nami would often come to her aid at such occurrences, and kick the pirate skeleton instead, not bothered by his complaints in the slightest. What's more, the woman navigator often assured her it was quite alright to treat the rest of the guys in the group like wild animals that needed to be tamed, and hit them when they deserved it, since that was the 'only way they'll learn;' as she put it.
So even though Luffy was at the moment hanging from Sunny's mast, swinging to and fro while laughing loudly as an irritated Usopp yelled at him and tried to catch him, Miyako didn't even bat an eye at the already-usual sight. The whole thing started with Strawhat being bored and going over to the sniper pirate, who was currently working on his new invention. Luffy wanted to see the contraption, while Usopp complained that he can't before it's finished, which of course didn't stop his captain. A struggle started, which ended with Usopp's newest invention broken. After that, the angry long-nosed pirate yelled his captain's name angrily from the top of his lungs, and started running after the young boy who in turn started to run away from his mad nakama, laughing all the while. Soon Chopper joined in, thinking they were simply playing a game of tag, and started running after Usopp, who was chasing after Luffy.
Nami and Robin were relaxing on the lounge chairs, sunbathing with their bathing suits on and black sunglasses shielding their eyes, when Usopp finally grabbed Luffy, making the captain trip right in front of the two women. He fell forward, with Usopp trampling over him and falling onto the captain, and finally Chopper bumping into Usopp and falling onto the heap. The tangled mass of arms and legs flew in a ball towards poor Nami who didn't have time to get out of the way, and simply screamed in shock as she saw the tree pirates flying towards her, unable to stop. Luckily, the female archeologist intervened with her powers and created numerous arms that sprouted like flowers from the grassy lawn on the deck. Just as the ball of humans was about to hit Nami, Robin's arms blocked it and sent it flying over the women's heads. The three pirates screamed as they were bounced off of Robin's hands and smashed right into the railing of the ship.
Nami sighed in relief. "That was close. Thanks Robin."
Nico Robin only smirked in amusement in return. She was watching Usopp, Luffy and Chopper arguing while they tried to disentangle from one another. "Don't mention it."
"Oww…that hurt," Usopp's voice was nazal as he hit his long nose into the wood.
"Hey, Luffy, gef youf foot ouf of my fafe!" An angry reindeer retorted as he struggled to break free from this mess.
"Haha, sorry Chopper," Luffy answered, moving from the small doctor, only to accidentally bump his back into Usopp's already sore nose. The captain, though, didn't seem bothered nor in pain even from their harsh lading. He actually appeared to be having fun with it. Miyako guessed it was because of his devil fruit abilities that made his whole body into rubber, meaning usual methods didn't hurt him.
"Hey!" Usopp warned angrily at Luffy's back.
"Would you three just calm down and shut up! You almost killed me!" It was Nami's turn to get enraged as she often did with her crew, and gave each a good punch on the head.
"We're sorry~!" Chopper whined with teary eyes as he got hit as well. Miyako felt sorry for the little guy.
"It's all Luffy's fault anyway," the sniper muttered in a grumble.
"Eh!? Why is it all my fault!?" Strawhat argued, suddenly irritated by the accusation, as Usopp and him got into another struggle, only entangling themselves further.
"Aaah, Nami-swan, don't bother with those idiots. Here, I'll make you another ice café for this sunny day, my lovely lady~" Sanji, the blond cook, danced towards the navigator and her raven-haired companion, serving them some delicious fruit cubes he had made. There was obvious adoration in his eyes as he tried to flirt with both beauties at the same time.
"Thank you, Sanji-kun," Nami winked at the cook, teasing him on purpose, which almost made his heart jump right out of his chest.
"Aaah! I can feel amour around me!" The blonde laughed happily, skipping back to the kitchen in ecstasy.
*Ah…he's so easily manipulated,* the samurai girl thought with a sweat-drop, but didn't comment on it. At least he looked happy, so there was no harm in it, she guessed.
She was currently watching the whole scene while sitting on the grassy surface, leaned on the railing of the ship. In her hands was her gleaming katana, as she continued to clean it carefully with an uchiko pad. Suddenly, a shadow came over her, interrupting her thoughts.
"Yohohoho! As usual, they are so rowdy," a high voice came from above and Miyako jolted, startled by two gaping black holes and a grinning smile of a skeleton. She was mostly used to Brook's strange appearance as he explained it was due to a devil fruit he ate, but it still unnerved her seeing such a tall skeleton loom over her and so close to her face.
"Well…I mostly got used to it," the girl answered with a faltering smile, trying not to offend the musician, yet slowly leaning back, away from his staring face. At least she thought he was staring.
She could still hear the jumbled noises of the two men and a reindeer, trying to break free and arguing at the same time.
"Waah! Zoro, help us!" Finally Chopper yelled out for the swordsman to come to their aid and untangle them. However, Roronoa was a bit busy with his own difficulty at the moment.
"Return it here, thieving pirate! I demand a fair fight for this!" Kin'emon's angry voice echoed through the ship as he rushed at Zoro once more with his katana. The said pirate didn't even unsheathe his sword in return, not intending to start a fight over the matter. However, he was also too lazy to explain properly to Kin'emon, which only made the samurai more suspicious of him.
Miyako and Brook both sighed as they turned to watch the scene between the angered samurai trying to slice up Zoro, and the pirate who simply dodged each strike. "They're at it again," the Wano girl muttered.
"Ah, is father fighting Zoro-san again?" Momonosuke joined in as he also watched his father argue one-sidedly with the green-haired swordsman.
Kin'emon swung his sword horizontally, aiming for Zoro's neck and the other had to crouch before jumping back to avoid the cutting edge. Instead, the sharp blade cut into the wood of the mast which was behind Roronoa.
"Whoa, that's dangerous," Brook called out, trying to stop the two but not daring to come close to Kin'emon who was still swinging his sword.
"Hey, don't wreck the ship!" Franky's angry voiced called from above from the upper deck, where he was casually steering the ship from behind the helm.
"This is an important matter! That sword on this man's waist is the great blade, meito Shuusui of one of our greatest heroes Ryuuma! However, his tomb was pillaged and the katana was stolen! How could you!?" Kin'emon angrily shouted as he stopped for a while to catch his breath.
"I'm telling you it wasn't me! It's a misunderstanding!" Zoro yelled back in hopes the samurai will finally listen.
However, Kin'emon ignored him as he instead turned to stare at Miyako. "You say something too, Suzune! Are you not affected by this obvious insult towards the Wano kingdom!? We need to get this historical blade back to Wano where it belongs!"
The girl blinked and squirmed uncomfortably as she was put on the spot. Kin'emon's gaze was so intense, it was hard to say anything. She felt a sweat drop appearing on her forehead. Finally she sighed, feeling troubled that she was being brought into this when all she really wanted was to clean her katana in peace. She shrugged, glancing at the meito tied to Zoro's waist. "Isn't it fine like this, though? It's better for it to be used by a good swordsman than to gather dust in some museum or rust in a tomb, anyway. If he managed to tame that Shuusui, it means he has the ability to use it for its true potential, so why not let him have it? He seems to be in the favor of the sword," she explained, expecting another meltdown from Kin'emon because of her words.
"Eeeh!? How can you even suggest such a thing!?" The samurai yelled in irritation, but actually appeared to calm down as he didn't try to attack Zoro again.
"Tch," Zoro clicked his tongue in annoyance as he found the whole situation bothersome. "It seems I have no choice but to explain. I met the samurai you speak of, Ryuuma. He was turned into a zombie by some crazy doctor and I beat him in a dual so he left me that sword. I have full claim on it," Zoro explained curtly, crossing his muscular arms on his chest.
Everything fell silent as the crew stared blankly at Zoro, everyone thinking the same thing.
"There's no way anyone could understand anything from that explanation." The one who broke the silence and said what everyone was thinking was none other than Caesar Clown, who was still tied to the mast with the kairoseki chains.
"You be quiet there!" Usopp called out, feeling brave against their foe now that he was shackled and unthreatening.
"Humf," Kin'emon puffed out a breath of air, reluctantly sheathing back his katana. "Well…I do not quite understand your explanation, but in light of what I have seen…I think I can trust you. You are worthy of a samurai's sword, I admit," he sighed, staring back at Zoro who smirked in response. "Perhaps, young Suzune is also right. However, I will keep an eye on you and how you treat Shuusui," he warned, giving Zoro a cautionary look.
"Heh, to be honest I didn't think he'd listen to me," Miyako jokingly whispered to Momonosuke in feigned wonder, making the boy chuckle.
As Kin'emon glanced at the samurai girl, he noticed a glimmering shine of her katana and gave it a closer look. "Speaking of swords…could that be the legendary Yawarakai-Te!? One of Masamune's swords? What's with all of you, suspiciously having such famous swords?!"
"And what's with you and this obsession with swords? You remind me of that sword-maniac, marine woman," Zoro grumbled back as he watched Kin'emon approach Miyako with interest, staring at her katana.
It was quite a beautiful sword, with the blood red scabbard and the same colored hilt. Yet the sword itself almost appeared silver as the metal gleamed in the slowly dying sun.
Miyako stopped using the uchiko as the other samurai drew closer to examine her katana. "You noticed," she confirmed with a nod. "But before you start throwing ridiculous accusations at me, I'll just tell you that this katana was given to me by a blacksmith that comes from a long line of apprentices that goes all the way to Masamune's first apprentice," she explained with a hint of warning in her tone so that the man wouldn't get any ideas about taking her katana as he wanted to do with Zoro's Shuusui.
"Hmm, so you were bestowed this sword by the rightful owner. Very well, I shall believe you and accept that…," even as the man said that, there was a hint of disapproving in his voice. However, Miyako didn't need to ask to know why. He was surely bothered by the fact that such an important katana was bestowed to a woman. Another insult to the Wanokuni tradition.
"Huh!? That was too easy! After you grinded me for weeks about my sword?!" Zoro complained angrily about the different standards here. He barely got Kin'emon to listen to him, after all.
The girl sighed in resignation, not intending to start another quarrel about the gender issue and stereotypes in their traditional upbringing. At least he wasn't as obnoxious as in the beginning. Slowly, although reluctantly, he even started to let up on the rigid beliefs he had so far. The fact that he didn't get into another fit of rage and start rambling about this girl being a wanna-be samurai and getting such an undeserved item, was the proof of it. For now, him 'accepting it' with a sulky tone under his breath was the best he could do. Also, it seemed the samurai was a bit more lenient with her lately, after everything they went through on Punk Hazard and after seeing how close she and Momonosuke had become. His child trusted her, so Kin'emon also decided to show her some trust. If nothing, she did earn his respect over time, even if he was still unsure how to address such a deviant from their society.
Miyako's thoughts were interrupted as the other samurai continued, his tone a shade darker. "But I must warn you…you know what they say of Masamune's and Muramasa's swords."
Miyako glanced at her sword, raising it before her, the metal so pure it almost shined a glistening white in the sun. "That every Masamune's sword finds his counterpart in Muramasa's blades. And if two blades of the same caliber ever meet, they will cancel each other out…or rather, they will both break," Miyako answered in thought.
The man nodded in agreement repeatedly as she talked, his eyes closed and his arms resting in the long sleeves of his gi.
"However," the girl continued, her tone making Kin'emon look at her in interest. "As good as a sword can be, its potential is always limited by the skill of its master. Even the most high quality sword can appear as nothing but a butter knife in untrained hands. In the end, it will be the kenshi who decide the outcome…not the swords, nor their blacksmiths," Miyako finished, sheathing Yawarakai-Te back into its crimson scabbard.
Their talk was interrupted by Zoro who made an amused sound. "Not bad words for a samurai woman, huh?" He watched Kin'emon knowingly as he spoke, as if using the other man's words sarcastically against him, before he turned back to the girl. "Though, it means nothing until you can actually prove your words on the battlefield."
Miyako felt a twinge of competitiveness rise inside her at his challenging words. "You think my swordsmanship skills will not be enough in Dressrosa?" There was a slight annoyance in her golden eyes that started to burn lightly. Suddenly, the reason why the Navy called her Burning-Eyed Miyako became very clear to the swordsman. She was already used to being underestimated, but something about another swordsman demeaning her kenjutsu skills really agitated her. "Did I not already defeat one of Doflamingo's henchmen, Monet?"
Zoro tilted his head as he remembered their fight with the harpy woman back at Punk Hazard. "If I remember, it took two of you to take her down, and I delivered the finishing strike," he reminded her blankly, though his laid-back attitude only irritated her more.
"Only because she had my heart," the girl muttered under her breath, gloomily.
"Though I was a bit surprised," the green-head continued as if remembering something suddenly. "I didn't think you would even risk that marine's life to beat Monet down," he finished, though there was no actual disapproving in the tone of his voice. It didn't seem like he cared either way, it was more as if he simply didn't think Miyako to be a person who would be able to do that.
Even the girl looked a bit taken aback by his words, as if unsure what he was talking about. Only when she finally realized, remembering that scene, her eyes widened a little and her mouth formed a silent 'oh.' "Well, I needed to make Monet believe I was about to kill her and my kenshi spirit was enough to put pressure onto her, making her senses so scared that it really appeared to her like I was going to kill them both if need be," the girl explained.
Zoro blinked in surprise, "So you were actually bluffing the whole time?!"
Miyako closed her eyes, shrugged and tilted her head with a smirk, answering his question without any words. There was a sense of pride visible in her amused expression. "See, I was even able to fool you. Besides…" Miyako opened one eye and glanced at Zoro from under her eyelashes, still giving him a teasing smirk as she made her expression a bit more devious than before. "You're talking quite smugly to me for a man who cannot seriously battle a woman. What will you do if there are more women among Doflamingo's executives, mister powerful swordsman?"
The man flinched, Miyako's taunt obviously pushing the right button just as the girl foresaw. "I took down that bird woman, didn't I?!" He lost his smug look from before as he glared at the samurai girl with his one good eye.
"That doesn't count since you didn't even use haki to properly finish her off. She was still alive after it," the girl countered and the two felt their blood boil as they started to bicker back and forth, throwing piercing or sarcastic comments at one another.
"Um...guys…don't fight," Nami tried to calm them as the situation became more intense, but they completely ignored her. There were already electrical sparks flying between the two, when a dark voice from the deck above interrupted them.
"Save that battle spirit for the actual fight when we get to Dressrosa. Fighting among ourselves is meaningless," a cold tone stopped both Zoro and Miyako from quarreling as everyone glanced up at the person responsible.
"Torao!" Luffy smiled as he greeted the other captain who just came from inside the ship.
Both Zoro and Miyako cooled down in an instant and they both sighed, still grumbling a bit to the other, but already over their little quarrel. They looked up to see Law leaning on the railing of the ship, staring down at the crew and giving Miyako a warning stare not to cause any trouble. He had enough of that with this rowdy bunch of Strawhat pirates and their crazy captain. He was in no mood to simmer down his own nakama as well. His reprimanding stare was silently telling Miyako she should know better, but the girl turned away, pulling her lips in a tight line and hiding her pouting expression from him.
The doors of the deck opened again, this time showing the blond hair of the cook as he stepped out with a cigarette in his lips and a smile on his face. "Then I'd say my snack came just in time to lighten the mood. I made pizza!"
"Whoa, you go Sanji!" Usopp grinned as he jogged up the stairs towards their galley.
"Yahoo, pizza!" Luffy's eyes were wide and his mouth already drooling at the thought of Sanji's snacks. In an instant, he stretched his arms, gripping the railing there, and pulled himself on the upper deck, almost bumping into Sanji in his landing.
"Watch it, you idiot!" The cook yelled after him, but the boy hardly listened as he was already running inside the galley, following the wonderful scent of freshly baked food with his nose.
"Ooh, it's that delicious Pidda we had last time!" Kin'emon remembered the name instantly along with the delicious taste that exotic snack provided.
"Pidda! Pidda!" Momonosuke repeated after his father in excitement, his little stomach already rumbling at the thought as he smiled happily.
Miyako sighed and shook her head. "It's pronounced 'pizza,' you know." She was glad that for once she wasn't the clueless one among the group when it came to foreign things. The Hearts often teased her or were genuinely baffled when she admitted she was ignorant of some of their ways. She got the same reaction when she was the one completely unknowing of this strange meal called pizza. Rather, she asked them 'What was that pidda thing they kept speaking off' and made the whole room go silent with everyone just staring at her, making her uncomfortable. After they finally calmed down from their bewilderment, Munk insisted to make one for her in the galley, and that was the first time she tried it and learnt it could be made with various toppings.
"Hey, Strawhat, give me a slice too! I'm hungry and I can't move at all!" Caesar complained, shrieking from his spot under the mast.
However, there was one person in the group that wasn't as excited as the rest. Miyako could see Law's dark look under his fuzzy hat, as his eyes twitched in annoyance. It was good that he didn't have his nodachi in his hands since it was left back inside the ship. "Oy, I wasn't finished speaking!" However, he was completely ignored as everyone rushed passed him and into the galley. Finally cracking, the captain yelled out despite himself, "And didn't I already say I don't like bread!" A shiver ran down his spine when he realized what he did again, but more importantly he could feel a stare piercing him from behind without even having to turn around. He could completely feel a pair of amused, golden eyes boring into his neck.
The captain slowly turned around to see Miyako watching him, drilling her amused gaze into him. She didn't laugh nor tease him, knowing that would only set him off. Instead, she simply stared at him with that clear-eyed expression that silently said everything that was on her mind without her even making a sound. She was obviously loving this and her quiet expression only irritated the captain more. He felt a hand on his shoulder as Miyako walked up to him, still feigning innocence that was supposed to mask her enjoyment.
She gave him a look of consolation, though the gesture only appeared mocking to him. "Just give it up and go with a flow. It will be easier," she nodded at him.
The dark doctor sighed, bowing his head and pinching the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes, trying to send the upcoming headache away. "Just go inside…," he muttered, suddenly feeling defeated. Even more so, when he saw Miyako's grin before she passed him by and starting to whistle a happy tune. She was enjoying his misery way too much; he thought as he stared after her.
~…..~
Most of the group sat round the large table inside the ship, chatting as they feasted on the remains of the pizza. Franky and Usopp, however, went back outside to guard Caesar after Law warned the Strawhats not to leave their biggest trump card unsupervised. They were still unsure whether Doflamingo has sent any of his men after them so they could all be attacked at any moment. They weren't safe even now, before they entered enemy territory.
"So as I was saying, we should be arriving at Dressrosa tomorrow if we keep this pace," Law spoke, taking another bite of his onigiri. He was the only one who didn't eat the pizza as he complained it was the same as eating bread – a food completely without any taste or substance, in his opinion.
"Ugh, that doesn't sound great at all…" Chopper whined as he gulped in anxiety, thinking that in only a day they will be in the territory of one of the Shichibukai.
"Is Doflamingo really that dangerous?" Miyako asked, chewing on a slice of pizza as a string of cheese stubbornly wouldn't break.
"Yes, he most definitely is," Kin'emon nodded grimly in answer. "What he did to our friend, Kanjuro…," he trailed off, his tone pained. His son sniffled once next to him, remembering Doflamingo's psychotic look as he tortured his prisoners.
"Speaking of, you said we need to come prepared, but you didn't explain the whole plan to us. What when we reach Dressrosa?" The samurai girl continued as she gave a questioning look to her captain. As she spoke, she saw the dark, cold liquid in a bottle that Sanji served. Franky told her it was Cola, but Miyako never tried it before. She heard Joshua and the others talking about it, but never really had the chance to try it. A bit excitedly, she poured the brown liquid in her glass and watched as it foamed and frizzled like acid. Uncertainly, she brought the glass to her mouth but first took a sniff at it. The bubbles got into her nose and almost made her sneeze. She frowned and scrunched her nose in suspicion, before taking a sip of the frizzy liquid.
As soon as she did, she regretted at it as she started coughing, her eyes tearing. "W-what is this!? It feels like a million ants are biting my tongue and throat!" Her voice was a bit raspy as she spoke in bewilderment.
"Eh? Miyako-chan, you never tried Cola before?" Nami blinked in surprise.
"Let me try too!" Momonosuke took the glass out of the girl's hand and took a large sip. "Acid! It's acid!" The boy cried out in panic.
"Momonosuke! Are you alright!?" Kin'emon yelled in fear for his son's life.
The rest just watched with sweat drops as the three Wano residents flailed at the table, passing down this strange, but powerful drink.
Luffy laughed at the sight. "Haha, you guys are hilarious!"
The one who wasn't laughing was Law, who also had a drop of sweat running down his forehead along with a bothered look. *They're completely ignoring me…and right after they just asked me a question,* he thought darkly.
"This is indeed my first time having the chance to try this," Miyako answered Nami's question when she finally calmed down from her awe.
"Well I'll make you anything you want Miya-chwan! I'll make a lot of new dishes for you to try!" Sanji sang in his happy tone, giving Miyako a wide grin.
"Then, make more of those sandwiches we had the other day," Kin'emon suggested immediately.
"I didn't ask you, you shitty samurai!" The blonde cook bit back at the man, his expression turning 180, from a lovey-dovey to an annoyed one.
Trafalgar suddenly cleared his throat loudly, getting everyone's attention. "Well…about the plan we mentioned. As you already know, we need to destroy the SMILE factory on Dressrosa while keeping Doflamingo busy with the exchange of Caesar. However, I will tell you the whole detailed plan once we arrive since-"
"Whoa Brook, how many of those pizzas can you put in your mouth!?" Luffy exclaimed as he clapped at Brook who was stuffing the slices of pizza one after another in his skeletal jaw.
"Itf's allf abouf unhinjfing yourf jawf!" Brook spat saliva and food everywhere as he talked with his mouth full.
"That's disgusting, Brook," Nami commented as both her and Robin made a troubled face while watching that scene.
"I bet I can put in more!" The young captain called out and stuffed his rubber cheeks with food, stretching them to unimaginable lengths.
"Whoa, that's awesome, Luffy!" Chopper exclaimed as he watched his goofy captain with admiration-filled eyes.
Trafalgar's eyebrow twitched as he tried to keep his cool, though it was obvious he was once again ignored. *That's why I didn't bother telling them the whole plan yet…this idiot would forget about it in an instant anyway.*
The Wano girl noticed her captain's distressed and smiled at him sheepishly, trying to calm him down before he decides to use his Room to behead them all. "Maa…It's better to just go over the plan tomorrow when we dock and everyone's together," she suggested with a drop of sweat on her eyebrow.
The dark doctor took a deep breath, regaining his composure again. He took another onigiri made by Sanji as he muttered his complaints, "Honestly, I'm starting to have doubts about the capability of these people." He took a bite as he continued, "I don't think they understand the danger of-" The older captain stopped and coughed out some of the onigiri suddenly, bringing everyone's attention with his sudden disgusted look.
"Torao, what's wrong?!" Sanji came over to the dark captain, worried that the other started choking on his food.
"This is…" Law started, glancing between Sanji and the rice ball accusingly. "I really hate umeboshi!"
"….." The crew fell silent as the blonde cook and the pirate captain started bickering over food.
"Are you a kid?" Sanji's curly eyebrow twitched and he pulled the cigarette out of his mouth in an annoyed fashion. He didn't like being criticized when it came to his meals. "You should have told me earlier, then!"
Law glared right back at the cook, though. "You should have asked me as the cook!"
The rest of the group only listened on in silence as they just saw another side of the feared Surgeon of Death without him even noticing.
*A spoiled brat.*
*He's just like a spoiled brat…*
*He's like a spoiled husband, Yohoho!*
*He should have just given me that onigiri instead.*
"I didn'tf knowf you're suchf a brat, Torao!" Luffy commented, his cheeks still completely stuffed with food.
*You're one to talk Luffy,* Nami thought in response, but decided to keep it to herself.
Indeed, coming from Luffy it just made it sound worse.
Even Miyako was amazed, especially since she could practically feel what everyone was thinking. *Whoa, I didn't realize until now since Munk-san was always in charge of his food, but Law is really a picky eater,* the girl thought with a sweat drop. *In any case, I think you'll fit right in here after all, Law,* she added as she watched Sanji and Law continue their quarrel.
"Well, in any case, we should be getting ready for bed soon. We have a big day tomorrow," the navigator suggested, slowly standing up and trying to change the subject.
"Somebody should stay and guard the ship. I mean...what if Doflamingo comes at night and attacks?" Brook sipped the last of his tea as he spoke.
"Eh?! Y-you really think that might happen, Brook!?" In a second Chopper was in a panic from the idea, his big eyes getting teary. Miyako couldn't help but think he was so cute and cuddly, though if she said that out loud he would surely get into one of his embarrassed tsundere fits.
Law nodded in regards to Brook's idea. "I will stay outside and keep an eye on Caesar or any suspicious movement around the ship. At least it should be easy to spot the enemy coming since we are out on the open."
"B-but doesn't that leave us unprotected and at a disadvantage, as well," the small doctor whined, his fur on the back of the neck starting to rise from fear.
"Hm? I'm the one usually watching from the crow's nest, so I'll just do it," Zoro suggested leisurely as he sipped some of his sake.
"You always only fall asleep there, stupid marimo! Guarding, my ass!" Sanji growled back.
"What was that, curly-brow!?" The swordsman got in the cook's face instantly and glared at the other with an irritated expression.
"How is that even an insult; 'curly-brow,' Sanji retorted a bit louder than before.
"It's an insult because you look ridiculous! You can hypnotize someone with those eyebrows!"
"Well I hope to hypnotize you to shut up! Baka muscle-head!"
The rest of the crew completely ignored the two, already used to their daily routine of baseless arguments. Momonosuke turned to Nami, pulling the rim of her shirt as he rubbed his eyes with his other hand. "Princess-sama, I'm tired," he mumbled.
Nami was awe-struck as soon as she heard the nickname he occasionally bestowed upon her. Her eyes were seeing starts from the compliment as she hugged Momo, almost suffocating him with her large chest. "Aww, we'll get you ready for bed Momo-chan."
"Then, shall we take a bath together," Robin suggested with a gentle smile.
As soon as the rest heard that, they glared at the Wano boy with anger that obviously masked their jealousy. Sanji, Brook and even Kin'emon all rose in an uproar, "You dirty brat!"
"Don't frighten the poor boy!" Nami yelled back and socked them all in the face with her fist of fury. Alas, she didn't notice the self-satisfied smile on the Wano boy's face.
Robin and Nami stood up with the navigator tightly holding onto Momonosuke, carrying him in her arms while the boy hugged her; much to the perverted trio's disdain.
"Let's go, Miyako-chan," Robin called out at the girl samurai, still smiling, though now her expression somehow appeared playful. It left Miyako with a suspicious feeling in her chest.
"Eh? Me too?" The girl blinked in surprise, but got pulled along by the archeologist before she could protest.
Sanji suddenly ignored everything else as he danced over to the samurai girl. "Miya-chwan~ I'd be happy to scrub your back for y-„
Yet before he could even finish, Miyako turned to the blonde, smiling brightly as she cut him off with a simple statement, "I'd rather die." It was a reflex reaction from her time with Penguin and the others from the submarine, and luckily it seemed to work just as well on the cook of the Strawhats.
Sanji felt as his heart was pierced in an instant by such a quick rejection. He fell on his knees with a gloomy atmosphere surrounding him, staring sadly at the floor with a depressed expression.
The only one who commented on it was the green-haired swordsman, though even he felt that one word was far enough for this love-cook, „Idiot."
As Nami carried Momo and pulled Miyako along out of the kitchen and towards their large bathroom, Robin stayed only a moment longer to turn to Sanji. "You should be careful when courting Miyako, Cook-san. You might regret it later, fufu," she snickered at her comment as her knowing stare left the cook and quickly glanced at the Dark Doctor.
Nobody realized the connection and Sanji only blinked at her with puzzlement, but one man did notice after all. Law still had an unreadable expression, but he lifted his head at her words and his stare connected with Robin's gaze from under his hat.
„Eh, Robin-swan?" Sanji questioned after her, not understand what she meant, but got no response. Without another word, Nico Robin turned and left the galley, her amused yet mischievous smile never leaving her lips.
Meanwhile, Miyako was still dragged by the long-haired navigator towards the bathroom as she mildly protested. Even though public bathhouses were a regularity in Wanokuni and the girl often enjoyed them, it was the first time while on the Sunny that she was invited to bathe with the other girls. Somehow it appeared to be a form of bonding between them and Miyako, who barely had any female friends over her lifetime, felt nervous by this. She wanted to get closer to Nami and Robin, yet felt anxious to do so. Then suddenly her train of thought was lost when a flashback came to her mind of what just happened and she realized how Sanji-san had been addressing her lately; Miya-cwan. Her eyes widened in sudden realization. *Oh no, if this goes on I'll get that irritating nickname from the submarine back! I am finally back to being Miyako again, so I don't want to go back to Miya again!* She stopped, trying to turn back towards the galley and get this misunderstanding sorted out before anything worse happens and that damned nickname sticks. "Wait! I need to go back and tell Sanji-san I'm not Miya-anything, I'm Miyako!"
"Eh? What are you talking about suddenly? " Nami furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "What about being 'Miya'?
"I think it's rather cute, though," the archeologist commented with a smirk as she also caught up to them.
"No, no, no, you don't understand. I've been trying to get rid of that blasted nickname for so long and now it's following me even here!" Miyako struggled, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Maa, it's fine! It is cute! Alright, from now on we'll call you Miya-chan!" The navigator happily announced, nodding in affirmation as she liked the nickname. "Now come on, let's go!" She caught the girl by the back collar of her shirt and dragged her with them.
"Nooo! No waaay!" The Wano girl all but whined in frustration as she was dragged towards the bathroom.
~…..~
The samurai girl sighed once again as she cleaned Momonosuke's back with a towel, the boy sitting on the stool in front of her while the girl knelt behind him. She was still bothered about that ordeal with Sanji and her nickname, having a grim feeling about it all. *I just know that stupid nickname will stick to me again. I can feel the dread.*
Nami laughed, seeing Miyako's worried expression. "Would you just let it go? There's nothing you can do about it now." She shrugged while washing her flowing orange hair that fell all the way to her waist. The Wano girl never saw such an odd color on anyone before and she had to admit the girl had beautiful locks. Then again, the Strawhats were all full of surprises and peculiarities. The swordsman of the group even had green hair and it seems it was naturally so. Every time Sanji called Zoro 'marimo' Miyako kept quiet, but deep down she actually thought of the same thing since the first time she saw the man's hair, as it indeed reminded her of the said moss ball.
The young navigator cleared her throat as she saw the other girl stare at her, though her gaze seemed to go right through her as if she was lost in thought. The samurai quickly pulled herself out of her musings and shook her head to clear her mind. "Ah, sorry! I was just thinking, Nami-dono, you have such an interesting hair color." Realizing what she said and fearing it might be taken the wrong way, the girl instantly tried to correct herself. "Aaah, I mean, it's very unusual, but also quite beautiful!"
Hearing Miyako's praise, Nami instantly grinned in satisfaction, curling a strand of hair around her long finger. "Oh, this…this is all natural. I mean, I hardly condition it at all~" The girl's reaction reminded Miyako of Chopper when complimented, but she only smiled at the girl in response.
"You don't have such hair color in Wanokuni, Miya-chan?" Robin called out, currently only wearing a towel like the rest of them, which emphasized her every curve and her mature body.
Before the samurai could answer, Momonosuke called out, "In Wano, it is unusual for people to have such bright colors of hair naturally. Mostly, we only have dark hair, usually black." Staring at Nami, the boy smiled brightly. "That is why, you are such a beauty Nami-sama," he added.
"Iiiyaa, Momo-chan, you're such a good child," the girl navigator squealed and leaped forward to hug the boy, stuffing his face into her chest by accident.
Miyako sweat dropped at the sight. *Can he even breathe like that?*
As if giving her an answer, the Wanokuni boy started to struggle, his words still muffled by Nami's chest. "Nami-donfo, I can'f breatfe…"
"Ah, sorry about that," the girl pulled away and laughed, sheepishly smiling as she scratched the back of her head.
"That's right…Wanokuni…I wonder when we'll be able to return home." Momonosuke's smile faltered and soon, a sentimental expression replaced it as he remembered his home country. All three girls could see he was struggling on this journey; trying to be brave for the sake of his father and everyone else. But he was still only a child; sometimes it was easy to forget that. Miyako knew him the longest of the three and still remembered how resolute he was on Punk Hazard; masking his fear with pride and stubbornness. Yet the girl was not fooled. She could see he had a lot on his mind, starting with the worry for his friend, Kanjuro. The boy must've missed his homeland and family, if he even had any except for Kin'emon.
Her eyes softened from her thoughts and she reflexively put a hand on the boy's head, trailing her fingers through his loose hair that was out of his usual topknot. Then an idea crossed her mind. She couldn't take him to Wanokuni any sooner, but perhaps there was a way to comfort him if only a little, after all. Perhaps she could bring a piece of Wanokuni to him, instead.
She remembered an old song her mother used to sing to her. It was a song every Wanokuni child knew as it was often used to calm them or put them to sleep by their families. Miyako remembered she would lay her head in her mother's lap, letting the woman comb through her hair with her slender fingers while she listened to the beautiful voice that chimed through the room. No matter if the girl was upset, scared or angry; those gentle gestures and that soothing voice would comfort her and Miyako felt at ease. In those moments she felt completely serene and it was the safest she ever felt in her entire life. After her parents passed away, she never felt like that again, but she never forgot the memory and feelings of that time either.
So almost on instinct, prompted by her own nostalgia and Momo's depressed sighs, the girl opened her mouth and a soothing melody came out. It was years since she last even heard that song, and a whole lifetime since someone had sang it to her, yet as soon as she started, it all came back to her. The words along with a slow tune came out without her even thinking and she let her voice guide her, singing soothingly to the boy.
Nami, Robin and Momonosuke all seemed surprised by her suddenly breaking into song, but the two other women could see it meant something more to the boy. Shock passed through his expression as he stared behind him where Miyako was kneeling, before his face filled with emotions. Emotions of sadness and nostalgia, but also comfort and happiness at hearing something so familiar. Something he started to think he might never hear again. "That is….," he trailed off, recognizing the song immediately, but unable to find the words in his choked up throat to continue.
Miyako's voice might not have been as beautiful as those performers on courts in their homeland. It was plain, neither surprisingly good nor horrid. Yet as it bounced off the bathroom walls, the room giving it an even clearer sound, it held a certain power for the boy. It left pang of emotion in all their hearts as they listened and Momonosuke could feel a sting of tears at the corners of his eyes. He willed them back, only sniffling a few times and he listened to the familiar song that brought back memories for both of them.
Only when the samurai girl finished and the song ended did they dare to move. Miyako opened her eyes to give Momonosuke a smile, seeing his wet eyes staring back at her with a mixture of grief and gratitude.
"Miyako-oneechan!" He suddenly exclaimed, leaping at her and almost knocking her down form her spot as he hugged her tightly as best as he could with his small arms.
*Oneechan, huh?* The girl smirked at his words in response, but hugged him back and put her hand on the top of his head to comfort him. She could feel the boy's slender shoulders shaking slightly as he stayed completely still and silent. She could tell that he was sobbing, but said nothing as she didn't want to hurt his young warrior pride that would never allow a man cry in front of a woman.
She exchanged glances with Nami and Robin who both had smiles on their faces. They could read the atmosphere and also stayed silent until the boy calmed down and removed himself from Miyako's arms, quickly rubbing his puffy, red eyes.
*Indeed, still only a child,* Miyako thought once more as she saw his exhausted face and small body. Despite his upbringing and all his brave front he put on, which he obviously learned from his father, Momo was still only a child that needed to be comforted and reassured at times. "Come now, you need to retire to bed already. It's passed your bedtime." She took his face in both her hands and grinned as she made him look up at her. "Tomorrow is a new day and you will once again be the brave son of the samurai that you are. You will need your rest in order to protect your father and save Kanjuro-san, right?"
The boy grinned back, suddenly getting a boost of confidence. "Indeed, I shall! After all, I have to protect everyone as the future samurai and be strong! I can do it!"
"Of course you can, Momonosuke," Robin added.
"Aww, he's just too cute for words!" Nami exclaimed in another squeal and glomped the boy again, though he was far from complaining. He rather enjoyed it actually.
Robin and Miyako exchanged smirks, silently communicating with each other and deciding on the same thing, before they also hugged the boy at the same time. All three girls squeezed Momonosuke tightly, making it hard for him to breathe. "Protect us well, Momo-chan~" The navigator sang jokingly.
~…~
The moon was high in the dark sky already, shining the only light along with the stars onto the lone ship sailing through the calm waters. A light wind passed by every now and then, while gentle waves rocked the vessel, creating a murmuring sound of water as they smashed into the large hull of the boat. The only other noise was the light snoring and wheezing sounds coming from the sleeping crew aboard the Thousand Sunny.
Even Caesar Clown, their hostage, was snoring quietly. The pirates guarding him also fell asleep, leaning against the railing as they sat on the soft grassy lawn on the ground. Even though Usopp was shaking from all the terrible possibilities that crossed his mind about Doflamingo coming after them long into the night, eventually his own fear tired him out and the man fell sleep soundly. He had been insisting on guard duty every night, wearing some ridiculous old armor he found in the storage room of his old items, but just like every night before, the night was so peaceful he quickly fell into slumber. Not far away was Law, sitting on the stairs of the deck, leaning against his long sword and nodding off, though it was hard to say as his eyes were hidden under the large rim of his hat.
The others retired to their quarters, women into their own large room and men into their. Only Zoro decided to climb up to the crow's nest, saying that he will keep watch from above, yet he was the first to fall into unconsciousness soon after.
The only one who didn't seem to be falling asleep was the samurai girl. She was anxious, with her mind racing and too filled with thoughts to rest. She kept tossing and turning, entangling her sheets around her body and then trying to free herself out of them again. Tomorrow they were to dock on Dressrosa and deal with Doflamingo. Tomorrow, Law will tell them the full plan and they were about to make the long-awaited exchange using the gas scientist. Yet as much as everything appeared to be going as planned so far, Miyako couldn't release herself from the feeling of dread she was plagued with. She knew exactly to what that grim feeling was connected to; to none other than her captain. It was for his safety that she worried most of all when tomorrow comes, as he will be confronting his nemesis face to face.
*Will Law really be alright with that? I know he can keep his cool under the most distressing of situations, but will he also be able to do it when meeting the man he so eagerly wants to defeat? I have a feeling Doflamingo will be different from any enemy we had to deal with until now.* Miyako turned to her side once more and sighed, desperately trying to fall asleep and rest for tomorrow as she willed herself to close her eyes. Yet sleep simply wouldn't come…only more thoughts. *I know he said that we would not fight Donquixote openly, but let him battle with Kaido instead, yet I still feel anxious about it. For now everything seems fine…Doflamingo even abdicated from his place as one of the Shichibukai so why do I still feel so uneasy?* A part of her knew exactly why, though. It was because of her captain's strong hate and resolution to defeat this man. It was a different side of Trafalgar than she was used seeing and she could tell Law would do anything to accomplish his goal here. Anything. The thought made Miyako shudder.
Realizing sleep won't come, the girl sat up in her bed and glanced quickly at her two companions in the room; Nami and Nico Robin. They both seemed sound asleep, meaning she could easily slip out of the quarters without answering any questions. She didn't bother putting additional clothing on as it was quite warm even during the night; staying in the short pajama pants and a spaghetti shirt Nami lent her for bed. The girl told herself she simply wanted some fresh air, but a part of her truly wondered if that was the only reason she went outside on the deck. True, it was peaceful enough for her to clear her mind, but she also knew her captain would be there. A part of her wanted to discuss some things with him before tomorrow, yet she felt reluctant to do so.
Nevertheless, before she even realized while still deep in thought, her feet already carried her out on the deck. She could feel the light breeze caress her skin while it moved strands of her long hair around her, which she let down at night. The moonlight only made her skin appear paler under it, making her silhouette ghostly white. As Miyako walked, she felt the grass move under her bare feet, giving her a natural and comforting feel.
The samurai took a deep breath of fresh air, feeling her mind clearing, but the ever-gnawing feeling of concern in her chest did not go away. As she looked around, the first thing she saw was Caesar, chained to the mast and sleeping with a bubble of snot coming from his nose. For a while, she wondered how this almost comical man managed to do so much damage over the years. He created so much trouble for everyone on Punk Hazard, yet now he was as meek as a sheep.
A rattle of armor brought her attention as Usopp moved, deeply in dreamland. Every now and then he would stir or mumble something that sounded as 'Go away, Doflamingo' before returning back to sleep.
*Will he really be ok tomorrow?* Miyako shook her head with a worried gaze, her head tilted do the side as she watched the pirate sniper. He was clearly a scaredy-cat, but she could also feel a sense of strength deep inside him. Sometimes, it was really hard to judge the power of these Strawhats from what she saw. They were all over the place; from being goofy to dangerous.
The last person on the deck was Trafalgar Law, sitting on the stairs and leaning his nodachi and his shoulder on the stair's railing. His head was bowed down, the fuzzy white hat with spots she got him for Christmas hiding his eyes from view. By the movement of his chest and shoulders he appeared to be sleeping, but Miyako knew better than that. Trafalgar would never fall completely asleep when knowing Doflamingo's men could attack them at any moment. Besides, he would never leave his most important advantage, his hostage, completely unsupervised. Law was probably only resting his eyes, while still on guard even now. He was always a light sleeper and he surely sensed Miyako's presence as soon as she stepped outside.
As if he could read her mind or simply felt Miyako's stare on him, Law sighed and slowly opened his eyes to look up at her. His dark grey eyes, still in the hat's shadow, pierced through her golden ones which gleamed through the darkness like a cat's. "You can't sleep?" The captain's low voice resonated around them, sounding even deeper than usual in this darkness.
The girl shook her head in response without uttering a word. She kept silent, not quite sure what to say or how to begin a conversation she both wanted and didn't desire to ever start.
It was obvious to the other pirate that his nakama was troubled by something, and from their current situation it was easy to tell what. She was worried about tomorrow's exchange meeting with him and Doflamingo. With another sigh, he stood up, leaving his nodachi on the stairs and slowly walked over to the girl. "What is it?"
Miyako racked her brain about how to tell him in the best possible way. She glanced to the side while thinking, before looking at his eyes again. "Tomorrow….Tomorrow, maybe I should go do the trade for Caesar with you," she suggested carefully. She didn't want it to seem as if she didn't trust in Law's capabilities to do that on his own, knowing Law didn't take well to jabs at his pride and this could certainly sound as such.
Luckily, Law already knew his samurai well enough to know she was often blunt, but doesn't mean anything bad by it. "Tomorrow, we all have our own duties to accomplish." He paused a little, examining her features before continuing. "Do you think I will falter and lose my temper when confronting Doflamingo?" Spot on. From the flinch the girl made at his words, it was obvious to him that he read her mind completely.
She let out a troubled sound as the man in front of her saw through her so easily. "Can you really blame me…You once said to me that you became a Shichibukai for the sole purpose of coming closer to destroying that man. You are even lying to the Strawhats about our agenda so that you could use them to beat Doflamingo. It's not you plotting schemes is anything new, but it's the first time I've seen you so invested in vengeance…I've never seen this side of you so I'm worried...is that so wrong?" She gazed back into his eyes, locking her stare with his to see what was truly on his mind. Yet that emotionless expression stayed never-changing on his face.
"And you think my thirst for vengeance will destroy me," the dark doctor finished her unspoken words. However, a devilish smirk appeared on his dark features as if he was amused rather than insulted by her statement. He used his sole index finger to lift her chin up, closing in on her with that grin. "Should I feel honored that you are showing such concern for me?"
However, Miyako only narrowed her eyes, already used to his tricks and taunts. He was simply trying to embarrass her and change the subject with his actions, but she wouldn't allow it. Staying her ground firmly and giving him a light glare, the girl stated coldly, "Don't try to change the subject."
"So I've been caught, huh?" His grin grew wider as he didn't even bother pretending to be disappointed. However, his smile vanished as he suddenly became serious with his next words, "I'm not going to die."
Miyako bit her lip as she fought the urge to push him away in anger, "You're lying."
"I'm not," his voice stayed calm even as he felt her frustration rising.
"Then don't say it like you don't believe it!" She bit back.
The captain had to take a deep breath and close his eyes for a moment to calm down his own frustrations. "You're testing my patience here..."
"As your nakama, shouldn't it be my job to go with you and protect my captain tomorrow. Why won't you let me come?" His samurai discarded all tact as she decided to speak with him frankly about her issues with his plan.
Unfortunately, that was one thing Trafalgar didn't want to answer. The reasons were so many after all. If something went wrong and they ended up in a battle, he didn't want Miyako anywhere near Doflamingo. After witnessing what happened to Corazon, he didn't want anyone important to him close to that sick bastard of a Shichibukai. He wouldn't give that man the pleasure of taking anything else important to him ever again. What's more, if Doflamingo finds out that Miyako is his weakness, he will surely try to use her against him. Even knowing Miyako's strength and skills, the risks were too great this time and he would not gamble her life. This was different than allowing her to aid him on Punk Hazard…this was Doflamingo, a completely different caliber from Caesar Clown or any other enemy they faced together. Law learned that fact the hard way 13 years ago.
"Did I not state once that my orders were absolute? I don't want another incident like when you followed me on Punk Hazard." His tone was ice cold now, warning her that he was done with this subject already.
"I don't even understand why you're so set on Joker. If I could just understand your reasons for doing all this-"
"That's enough!" Law cut her off before she could even finish. That was one train of thought he didn't want to follow. He didn't want to remember right now. Somewhere to their right, Usopp mumbled something and stirred. They both kept silent, neither breaking eye contact with the other. Finally, the sniper pirate stopped stirring and his light snoring continued.
The girl bit her lower lip, both in frustration and thought. The last thing she wanted now was an argument between them, though somehow it always seemed to happen. Her golden gaze fell towards her bare feet and unconsciously she shivered as a cold feeling rushed through her body.
She almost looked like a scolded child to the captain, making a pang of guilt appear inside him. He sighed in exasperation once more, seeing her shiver. He wanted to at least warm her up, but doubted Miyako would really want to be touched right now. He knew her well enough to know when she needed space. A part of him expected her to put on that cold mask she always had when she got really angry at him and just walk away, but her actions startled him. Instead, the girl took a hold of his sleeve and stepped closer to him, letting her forehead rest on his chest.
They stayed silent for a while before the girl broke it. "Everyone close to me died. They would always leave me behind."
Law couldn't see her expression, but there was a strange tone in her voice. It was more than just sadness or worry…rather, it almost sounded like resignation. As if a part of her already accepted the inevitable truth that she would always end up alone and was prepared for that, as cold as it sounded. Perhaps that was the problem.
"I don't want that to happen to you too…," she added, leaving a part of her feelings left unsaid. I don't want you to leave me too.
Even without her saying it, Trafalgar understood. *I already understood long ago; even with the prideful front this woman presents…she's actually very lonely. She has been a lonely person from the start.* Perhaps, since he also lost his entire family, Law could relate to her much more than she thought, even if he never said it. After everything he lost, he managed to build himself up from the ashes with sheer determination and a strong thirst for vengeance. And through it all, he found his crewmembers, the Heart pirates, who became his new family. Ironically, Miyako was all alone as well, until she found the exact same people; the pirates of the yellow submarine. Now they both shared ties connected to those men. However, unlike with Law, it seems Miyako's loss developed a sense of fear and helplessness, creating a belief that no matter how much she struggles, she would eventually always lose her loved ones. That's why it was so hard for her to start trusting and relying on the crew. Because somewhere in the back of her mind, she didn't want to relive the pain of losing her friends yet always expected that day to come. That's why she created so many walls around her; walls that are still not completely broken. And Law realized he would have to bloody his hands to tear them all down. *Then again, isn't that the same for me? I am also maintaining a distance between the two of us, pushing her away every time she comes to close.*
The man sighed, feeling utterly defeat by this girl even without knowing the reason why. He put his arms around her, bringing her closer to his chest as he stared far into the endless horizon in front of him.
"Law," Miyako started again, but her voice didn't sound frail or sad. The tone made him look down in question and he saw her staring up at him, her large golden eyes perfectly clear. Her tone was determined, he realized. "If something does happen to you and Doflamingo stays alive…I'll finish it for you."
"What?" He was taken aback, startled by her statement. Of all the things he thought she would say, that one didn't even cross his mind. After a while he added. "That is not your fight," he started to answer, but Miyako continued instead.
"But it is, because my captain's fight is my fight, right?" She gave him a small smile, but it soon vanished as her expression became unreadable again. Her eyes bore into him and her tone sounded soft but icy to his ears, giving him a strange feeling. There was something in this demeanor of hers that rendered him unable to object as she talked. "If it comes to that, I will kill him for you, no matter what. So you don't have to worry."
*I thought she wouldn't even want to hear of a possibility of me dying tomorrow, yet she's saying something like this now.* But somehow, her words comforted him. As if she was saying that he could rest in peace no matter what happened after tomorrow. That it will be alright. However a part of him felt uneasy as it felt like Miyako already reconciled with his death. That agitated him, actually giving him determination to stay alive and survive no matter what happens. Narrowing his eyes, he pinched her cheek and pulled at it a little, leaving a red mark on her sore cheek. "Don't write me off as dead so soon, Miss Miyako," he warned.
"Ouch!" The girl yelped in pain, rubbing her aching cheek. However, much to Trafalgar's satisfaction, that weird look left her face as the girl returned back to her old self.
Wanting to use this opportunity to take her by surprise, the man dipped his head down and captured her lips before she could complain about his actions. He circled his arms around her in a hug, more so she wouldn't be able to struggle and push him away than anything else.
~…..~
Chopper's two feet tapped on the cold floor as he rubbed his eyes drowsily. It was the middle of the night, but he woke up in sweat after having a nightmare about being chased by the large, blonde Shichibukai. He was still wearing his sleeping clothes; a cow hoodie with the hood pulled up on his head, and two sewed-on horns sticking on the top.
"Mmm, Milk…"
Being thirsty after such a bad dream, the small reindeer decided to grab something to drink in the galley, before retuning back to sleep.
He walked slowly to the deck, still half asleep, when suddenly a dark figure caught his attention from the corners of his eyes. Thinking the worst, that it was an enemy, the doctor froze and peered into the darkness in freight until he recognized the shape. Rather than one large figure, it was two silhouettes seemingly merged together. He recognized Miyako's back who was leaned into the Surgeon of Death, who had his arms around her. They both stood their silently just like that. At first Chopper gaped, thinking the dark doctor was surely doing something sinister again, but only stayed frozen when he saw Law was staring back at him. *Ah! He noticed me!*
The young Shichibukai gave him a devilish wide grin that made a shiver run through Chopper's spine and then he slowly touched his smirking mouth with a sole index finger, gesturing for the reindeer to stay quiet. Something about the impish smirk and the gesture made Chopper wish he hadn't stumbled upon this sight. *I-I'll just go back to bed quietly and pretend I didn't see anything,* the small doctor decided and quickly tip-toed back to the shared quarters with one last gulp.
Glossary:
Uchiko ball – a powdered pad used for cleaning the blade of the katana
Umeboshi – pickled plum, which is very sour (but also very healthy)
Gi – The top part (for the torso) of Japanese clothes for men (the lower part is called hakama)
Tsundere – person who is initially cold and even hostile towards another person before gradually showing their warm side over time
The scene with the umeboshi is based on a small story Oda told when answering a question about the time Law ate Sanji's onigiri. (He liked the tuna-mayo and okaka, but hated umeboshi :P) So he acted like a spoiled brat and started bickering with Sanji.
I hope you enjoyed the chapter. It was just a little something to have fun with before the next chapter when we start the Dressrosa Arc. Thanks everyone for your lovely comments and so sorry it took so long for me to write and respond to you. Luckily, I'm free for the summer so I'll be posting more frequently as of now!
Guest: Thank you very much! Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Amelie'sHuman: Me too, it was good to see what they're up to before returning back to the Strawhat crew. ^^ He'll catch up. The rest of the Heart Pirates actually train a lot together during their travels, not only Law and Miyako. ;P
Avaiaal: Thank you, I look forward to writing them!
Trainer Azurite: Thank you, I'm very glad that you like them since I do try my best.
loveanime1999: I'm glad to hear that. I'm always happy when I can touch my reader's hearts. :D
Lucy Jacob: I know what you mean about the Punk Hazard being underrated. I think it's because it just went on for so long even though it was only one day in the story. Truly, One Piece Arcs are becoming very prolonged, and that's getting kinda frustrating for me. :/
Monkey .D Lucy: They will be in due time. :3
SurgeonOfLove: Indeed, they deserved a chapter of their own. I'm also glad you liked it! This chapter is mostly just about the interaction with the Strawhats, so I hope you'll enjoy it. :D Oh wow, after 64 chapters, it's really hard to say which one I like the best. Mostly I have favorite scenes from the story, like the one where Miyako and the Hearts have a war with the guys from different quarters (and Miyako ends up in trouble with Law, of course :P). Or the intense scene in the infirmary with the first kiss between Law and Miyako. There's a lot I like, really. ^^
Hitoshirezu Ryu: No worries, it happens to me sometimes too. :') To me it seemed like it all passed so quickly, yet when you list it out like that do I only realize exactly how many things they experienced in that one chapter. XD As always, I'm so happy from your comments and glad you enjoyed the chapter. I will be eagerly awaiting yours and Volleys-chan's as well.
ThexWhitexPhoenix: Thank you very much. I really love those two so it wasn't hard. It feels like they're very close in the cannon too. ^^
Slacker: I was thinking about some filler adventures with the Strawhats, but it's already overdue to start with the Dressrosa arc after all. ^^' I only wrote about the last day, but they have been sailing together for a quite some time after leaving PH, so bonding did occur. (More bonding in the Dressrosa arc too :P) She will learn about it eventually, but not just yet.
Guest: haha no, it's not. Though I'm curious why would you think that? For now, I'm keeping Miyako's past unclear on purpose, but it will be revealed through the story.
lazyGuest: I would love to write a spar between Miyako and Zoro, but I doubt I will get the chance to because neither of them would just fight each other without a good reason. I don't see either of those characters as someone who would cross swords just to prove their skills since they both feel have nothing to prove to each other. So for now, I'd say they probably won't. :3 I also agree that it's not like Zoro is sexists and thinks all women our weaker than him (he just didn't meet a strong enough one, yet ;) Though I do think he also has a slightly 'gentleman' side where he just doesn't feel right hurting women. Also, even though Swordsman's spirit doesn't exist in OP cannon, it totally looked like Zoro used it against Monet, right? :D
VanillaMilkshake18: No Law and Miyako in the last one, but I hope it was interesting anyway. Sometimes the side characters have to get some spotlight too. ;) But that's why the two Hearts are in this chapter so enjoy! :D Thanks for reviewing!
Reflected Sade: I'm glad you liked it. :D I really love all my side characters too so it's always fun to write about them. I hope I will be able to make Dressrosa arc interesting too, especially since it's cannon. Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Orion's Left Arm: I agree. I like writing more about the Hearts, before to me they are just as important characters as Miyako or Law. I definitely want to make more chapters for the side characters in the future too. ^^
PS, since I couldn't respond to your review on my How to celebrate Christmas the pirate way story, I'll respond here: That is a story special, so it doesn't fall under the timeline of the cannon story. It's just a one-shot that stands on its own and is not connected to 'I don't like you' storyline.
In any case, thank you very much for reading and reviewing! I also hope my next update comes sooner. :P
Chocogirl24: Thank you very much. Yeah, I felt the crew also deserved some screen time after Law and Miyako had all the glory in the PH Arc. :P
jazzie1019: Thanks! Hopefully I'll get to update sooner now during vacation. ^ ^
Apple bloom: Always grateful!
Bizzy: I hope you did well on yours too! :D Thank you for reading and reviewing!
Cbintangc: In that casethank you very much for taking your time to read and review my story anyway, especially since you say English isn't your first language. I'm happy you like it so far and hope you will continue to in the future. ^^
reddevil47: Indeed, they've been through a lot. :P
Volleys-chan: Haha Indeed, I feel bad for him, especially since he tried to so hard yet only managed to get beaten to a pulp…several times. This Dressroa Arc will be a roller-coaster ride for everyone, especially Miyako as Law's nakama, I'd say. I really did have some trouble with the timeframe and for all the scenes to make sense time-wise while keeping in mind the time that passed on PH and with the Strawhats. In any case, I timed for this to happen just before they arrive at Zo. Thanks, I always thought that it was important to invest time into making the side-characters and not only the main ones or the cannon ones. I'm happy my effort paid off a little. And I can tell you, you are definitely succeeding with it in Dragon Chronicles. Unfortunately, I haven't had time to start No Gilded Cage to Hold Ye yet, but I will now that I have time and I'm sure I will enjoy it. :) As for the Arcs, I usually have an idea or two about what I want in the new arc and then just start writing, and the rest just comes to me while I write so I expand the storyline like that. Thank you taking the time to review this story!
Mawuppa: They'll definitely have their own adventures to tell about when they meet up with Law and Miyako. I know right, I loved writing about them too. :D