Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece

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"We will be reaching Zender within the next hour," Bepo's voice came through the nearby voice pipe as I made my way towards the galley for breakfast, "We will be surfacing in thirty minutes,"

I yawned softly and ran my fingers through my hair commenting, "It will be good to feel the sun again."

"Zender from what I've read is one of the few islands of the north blue that have a warm climate," Maki said with a pleased smile, "It is theorized that the warm climate is caused by how close it is to Reverse Mountain,"

Humming softly, I murmured, "It also has one of the larger marine bases in the North Blue much like Lounge Town in the East Blue."

"So we may get to fight," Kuro commented with a slight grin, "Been a long time since we've fought with some marine's. Eh Maki?" He nudged Maki with an elbow, "It'll be fun,"

"The Captain most likely won't want us to fight unless provoked," Maki pointed out as we reached the galley.

"Oh right we have to listen to orders now," Kuro grimaced and I rolled my eyes.

I took my seat across from Law and asked, "What are you going to have Maki, Kuro, and I do?"

"You'll be with me," Law replied as he dug into his own breakfast, "Maki-ya and Kuro-ya will be helping the others gather supplies,"

I nodded my head with a slight frown, "What are we going to be doing?"

"We'll be paying a visit to the Marine's," My lips twitch as Kuro groaned, "Do you have a problem with that?"

"Nope," I turned my head towards Kuro with a grin, "Do you have a problem Kuro?"

Kuro gave me a glare, "Not a fucking word Brat."

"Don't call me a brat. I'm a year older than you," I ate one of the grapes on my plate, "If anyone's the brat, it's you,"

"Storm-" He began only for me to snort.

"Kuro you're just pissed you may not get to fight anyone," I continued to eat my breakfast.

Law cut off any response Kuro would've had, "Ariun-ya please inform the rest of us about what's going on."

Kuro groaned as Maki shook his head. I grinned at Law, "It's really simple. Kuro's a fight manic. He'll take any chance to fight he can get," I then gesture to myself, "I don't particularly enjoy fighting unless it's against strong opponents or someone I really hate," I shrug lightly, "Kuro's merely pissy over the fact it is unlikely he's going to be able to fight."

Law chuckled and smirked, "You do not have to worry about not fighting Kuro-ya," Kuro looked at him with slightly wide eyes and an eager smile, "I'm planning on creating a confrontation with the marine's in order to increase my bounty as well as gather some of the research notes they have. We'll most likely have to fight our way out."

"Sweet!" Kuro was practically drooling with joy.

I rolled my eyes and lightly swatted him on the back of his head, "Calm down you idiot. We won't be fighting for awhile."

I made sure I had my scarf, my daggers, and my bladed staff on me before leaving my room. I made my way up to the main deck where Law was with the rest of the crew. I walked over to him as everyone started to get the sub ready to dock. Law glanced at me and asked, "What's with the tube on your back?"

"It's the compact form of my bladed staff," Law nodded as I took the hanging tube from it's holster and handed it to him, "I just have to twist it in a specific way and it'll extend,"

Law looked over the black tube before handing it back to me. I returned it back to my holster as he asked, "Why bring it?"

"Better safe than sorry," I shrugged lightly, "You're planning on getting into a confrontation, so I thought it best to have my weapons on me,"

"Smart," He gestured to my canvas bag, "And the bag?"

"I was hoping to have a chance to get some new materials to work with," I explained with a slightly sheepish expression, "If you're willing that is?"

Law seemed to consider it before nodding, "I don't see a problem doing that since I wish to check out a few shops."

Ariun smiled at him before looking at the approaching island with slightly wide eyes, "Are those cherry blossom trees?"

He took note of the pink trees and nodded, "So it seems."

"I've never actually seen them before," She breathed out softly and her nose twitched, "The air's starting to smell sweeter,"

The fact she could actually smell them at this distance was a surprise. He watched her move forward a little with her eyes becoming half-lidded. Humming softly after a few moments, she smiled softly as her tail swished in an almost hypnotic way. He noted that she seemed relaxed even among the hectic atmosphere the crew created as they got the sub ready to dock. He felt his curiosity peak since she had been relaxed when they were fighting through Diablo's base. He commented on that fact, "You seemed relaxed even though the area around you is hectic. Why is that?"

She shrugged slightly and turned her head towards him with a lazy smile making her look much like a cat, "I've found that becoming stressed in most situations will only make it worse and thus a waste of time. Why waste my time and energy on being stressed when I can be relaxed?" Her tail stopped swishing and wrapped itself around her waist, "Quite honestly," She turned fully towards him as her eyes opened fully, "I like being able to keep my options open when it comes to most situations. When in a fight, I can make my opponents second guess themselves and mess up if they think that their attacks aren't doing anything to faze me."

Another unique way of thinking. He chuckled softly and nodded, "I suppose that's one way to think of it," He turned his gaze towards the Marine base that was becoming large by the moment, "How is your shoulder?"

"Only a little tender," She answered and followed his gaze before whistling, "Damn that's going to be one big base," She turned towards him, "So any idea where the things you want are located inside that thing?"

"I've done a bit of research and have interrogated quite a few marines since starting out," He replied with his usual smirk feeling confident in his information, "I've figured out the general area though there are several places it could be, so we'll have to check all of them until we find what I want,"

She smirked as she commented, "Made damn sure the information was correct? Smart and well thought out," She nodded as her smirk widened into a grin, "The area is most likely well guarded or at least somewhat well guarded right?" He nodded wondering why she would ask, "Anyone of note stationed there?"

"I believe so. Why?" He had a feeling about why, but he wanted her to confirm it.

"I want to fight a strong opponent," And there was his confirmation, "Will you let me?"

"Of course since it will give me a better idea of what you can do," She nodded with a large grin and turned back to the island, "Will you be able to transform?"

She hummed softly for a few minutes before nodding her head, "In an hour."

"What about your invisibility?" He wondered if she could extend it to others.

"I can use it at any time," She turned her head towards him with a frown on her face, "Why?"

"Can you extend it to others as well as yourself?" She bit her lip and closed her eyes.

A sigh left her and minutes passed. He wondered why she was hesitant to inform him. It was his right as captain to know what his subordinates could do after all. He was about to speak when she opened her eyes.

I stared at Law as I finally decided what to do, "I...I can extend it to others though I dislike doing it."

"Why?" Law pressed making me sigh.

I turned away from him to look at the approaching island as the memories of the last time I had extended that ability to another pressed against my skull. I shoved them back as I murmured, "It leaves me vulnerable and weakens me. If I extend it to another, I prefer that person to be someone I trust."

I grimaced slightly at admitting that to someone I barely knew. It rubbed me the wrong way at how much digging Law was doing, but I suppose it was the duty of the captain to know what his crew could do. I pushed the feeling down as Law asked, "If I need you to use it on both of us, will you?"

"If it comes down to it," I frowned at the thought, "I hope it doesn't,"

He wanted to question her more about her abilities, but the chance was gone as Bepo walked up behind him and engaged him in a conversation about what he should be doing while they were docked at the island. When he was finished, Ariun had gone off to speak with Shachi and Penguin. He walked over to them and listened as Shachi said, "And Captain used his devil fruit to cut the base in half."

Ariun whistled softly, "Damn his ability is useful."

"Yeah," Penguin grinned at her, "In more ways than one,"

"Though it's kinda creepy," Kuro commented from where he stood nearby.

Law was about to speak when Ariun snorted, "Nah," She smiled slightly, "I like his ability. It's really interesting."

"Careful Storm," Kuro spoke in an almost bored fashion that didn't fit the man, "Your sadistic streak is showing,"

"And you're one to talk," Ariun rolled her eyes as she waved him off, "At least I don't act like an idiot just to get attention,"

Kuro glared at her and opened his mouth to say something when Maki laid a hand on his shoulder, "Calm yourself Kuro," The brown haired male quieted down while the silver haired one looked at Ariun, "Do not push his buttons Ariun," Ariun flinched and he realized that this was the first time the silver haired male had called her by name, "It will do neither of you any good."

Ariun nodded silently and Law chose this time to speak, "Kuro-ya, Maki-ya you will need to be fitted for your boiler suits while we're on the island."

The two nodded and Ariun turned to him, "I don't have to wear one right? It'll only get in the way."

"I wasn't planning on it though you'll have to wear our jolly roger somewhere," He wondered what she meant by it getting in the way and decided to ask at a later time as they slowly slid towards the docks, "We're about to dock,"

"Sweet," Kuro grinned and looked at the island eagerly.

Ariun however looked rather pensive as she gazed at it. Her ears constantly twitched on her head as they drew closer and she murmured softly, "We need to be careful."

"Storm?" Kuro and Maki looked at her in slight alarm.

"Something is off," Her ears stilled as her eyes narrowed and gained a yellow tint, "Be careful both of you," She looked at them seriously, "I don't like it,"

"Alright," The two agreed without hesitation.

He placed a hand on Ariun's shoulder and the spotted haired woman looked at him, "What's going on Ariun-ya?"

Her eyes narrowed as she looked back at the island, "I don't know, but something's off. I don't know what it is, but it's causing my senses to go into high alert," She smiled and it wasn't her usual one, this smile was much darker, "Somethings going to happen," The hairs on the back of his neck rose as she licked her lips and her eyes seemed to gain a more cat-like look to them, "Oh this is going to be interesting."

End