Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece

Start

Everyone was in high spirits as we ate though some of them grumbled about not being able to get drunk just yet. I rolled my eyes and looked at Law to see him watching everyone with his usual smirk in place. I saw something warm in his eyes and realized it was pride. I smiled slightly and turned my attention back to my sketches. I added the last few details as Law asked, "Finished?"

"Just about," I looked over the sketches before nodding, "Finished."

I handed them over and he scanned them. His smirk widened after a few moments and he looked at me, "These are just what we need, you did a good job."

As pride welled up in my chest, I grinned at him, "Thanks."

When we finished eating, we went back to the sub. I went straight to my room to grab the last of my weapons. It was as I slid my staff into its regular place that my eyes found the box sitting on my bed. I debated what to do before reaching out and opening the box. My tail swished behind me as I picked up the two rings and observed the way they glittered in the light. I moved my tail in front of me and slid the first one on. My tail felt heavier, but it wasn't uncomfortable. I slid the second one on and found that it wasn't uncomfortable either. I released my tail and watched as the rings slid across it before settling on the thinner part of my tail. Swishing my tail lightly, I was surprised to hear a bell-like clink and found myself smiling slightly. I swished my tail around at varying speeds and found myself pleasantly surprised that the rings didn't fall off no matter what. I stopped moving my tail when I heard a knock on my door and Kuro shouting, "Are you ready?!"

"Coming," I called out to him as I closed the box and walked over to the door.

He stood just outside of it and we began to walk upstairs. He glanced at the new additions to my tail and asked, "Why do you have those?"

"They were given to Law as a gift and he gave them to me for now," I replied and was surprised when Kuro stopped walking.

"Wait what?!" The slightly higher pitch made me frown at him.

"You heard me," I continued walking.

"Why the hell would he do that?" Kuro asked quickly catching up to me.

I shrugged my shoulders, "Dunno and don't really care."

We walked up the stairs and towards the deck. I nodded to the crew members that joined us and felt slightly bad for not knowing their names. I shook it off as we reached the door to the main deck and walked onto the sun warmed wood. Night had fell around us, but the lights of the city chased most of the shadows away. Law spoke once everyone had gathered, "The group going with me are Ariun, Shachi, Penguin, Kaze, Bepo, and Atsushi," Murmurs broke out, "Maki-ya I want you to stay with the others to act as a guide outside of the building," Maki nodded to Law, "Now let's go and get this done."

A small group stayed back to prepare the sub to leave at a moments notice while the rest of us went.

I shifted into my leopard form and darted forward to walk next to Law. He looked down at me with a raised eyebrow. I gave him a leopard's grin, "Night vision will be useful ahead of us."

"Right," He glanced at my tail, "No problem's with those?"

"No," I swished my tail lightly causing a small bell-like clink to echo from the rings, "They do not weigh much and do not hinder my tails maneuverability,"

Law nodded and focused ahead of us. As we drew closer to the building we were going to rob, I noticed the sounds of feet that hadn't been there last time. I glanced at Bepo and saw his ears twitching. He looked at me and asked, "Ari-chan?"

"I hear them," Law looked between us, "People are ahead of us. More than there were last night,"

"So they might be expecting us," Law theorized with slightly narrowed eyes, "Everyone be on guard. We're about to encounter resistance,"

"Aye Captain," Everyone murmured softly.

We soon reached the building and found the workers walking out. It seemed that this was the end of their shift. When the first one spotted us, he shouted, "PIRATES!"

I led the way inside once we got through the frantic workers. We met a few people on our way through the building, but they were easily taken care of. It became quite clear that none of them were trained to actually fight. Shachi actually sighed as we made it onto the second floor, "Damn this is weak."

"Yeah," I felt bad for Penguin and Shachi since they seemed to have envisioned this as something much harder.

"Don't pout guys," They looked at me, "You can't expect excitement every time you rob a place,"

We soon reached the door from before and I listened carefully for movement. I heard the sound of muffled voice and Bepo commented, "Three people are inside that office."

"Shachi," The ginger haired man turned his head towards Law, "Open the door,"

We watched as Shachi kicked it in and we walked inside. The old man from the last time I was in this office, baldy, and a man that I've never seen before stared at us. Shachi, Penguin, and Kaze were quick to detain the trio. I was somewhat surprised that the old man wasn't struggling. Baldy shouted, "Boss!"

"Old Man!" The man shouted, "What do we do?!"

The old man ignored them and stared at Law. I looked at the old man's eyes and noticed something that shocked me. Regret, knowledge, and acceptance. The old man spoke, "Ya 're Tra'alg'h La', Corr'ct?"

"Yes," Law observed the man and seemed to see what I saw.

"I w'ntcha ta k'll meh," The old man said making everyone save for Law and I to gasp.

"Why?" Law asked curiously.

"I 'ave notin' left," My heart ached slightly at those words and I remember what someone said before.

I began getting ready to leave until I heard, "Yeah the boss is happy that we're charging those pirates through the nose."

"Damn didn't think old man Wink would do that," I turned my head and found a pair of guys sitting at a table, "He's always been welcoming to pirates,"

"Not since his daughter was taken by that group under Joker," One of them grumbled, "Damn old man hasn't been right since,"

I spoke softly while cutting off Law, "Your daughter was taken by pirates working under Joker."

Law and everyone froze while the old man stared at Ariun. She shifted into her human and the old man let out a dry chuckle, "'Ow di' ya know?"

"I heard it when I was listening to some of your workers talking," She informed him, "More than likely, she was the last of your family,"

"Corr'ct," He nodded to Ariun before looking at Law, "K'll meh,"

Law stared at the old man while trying to come to terms with the fact Joker or one of his associates had been here. He mentally gritted his teeth knowing it wasn't the time for such thoughts. Nodding to the old man, he turned to Kaze. The 16 year old was the one holding the old man. Kaze stared at him for a little while before taking out a knife. When he nodded to the boy, Kaze slit the old man's neck. The old man gurgled as the two workers in the room cried out in alarm. Kaze laid the old man on the ground almost gently making Law mentally wince. Out of all his crew members, Kaze had one of the worst pasts and still suffered from it. He would need to speak with the teen later, but right now he needed to get this job done. Turning to Shachi and Penguin, he ordered, "Knock them out," The two did as he asked, "Ariun-ya show us where the valuables are."

She nodded and walked over to the large portrait on the wall. She lifted up one of the edges and moved it off of the wall. A hole filled with treasure greeted them.

Everyone was carrying a bag of something towards the sub. Law was quite pleased with how the whole thing had gone with a few displeasing things happening. He disliked the fact that the pink bastard had business done on this island and he hated the fact that he had missed the chance to find out more about his dealings here. He looked at where Ariun was walking with her two friends and scowled slightly. Why the hell hadn't she mentioned that specific detail in her report to him? He needed to speak with her, but it would have to wait until after he spoke with Kaze. He looked at the sixteen year old and frowned at the slightly blank look in the teens eyes. It would seem that he would have a sleepless night tonight.

I scowled at Kuro and Maki as they barged into my room, "Why the hell didn't you knock?"

"Why the hell are you wearing those rings?" Kuro retorted with a glare.

"Because I felt like it and Law gave them to me for now," I rolled my eyes.

"Take them off," Maki demanded making me glare at him.

"No," I crossed my arms over my chest, "What the hell is your problem?"

I stared at them and Kuro threw up his arms, "God damn it why the hell are you acting so dense?!"

"What the fuck are you talking about?!" I demanded in return feeling irritated as hell at them.

They stared at me for a few moments before Maki asked, "Are you not dating the Captain?"

"What?!" Where the hell did they get that fucking idea? "Hell no!"

"Then why did he give you those rings?" My eyebrow twitched.

I took a deep breath to calm myself and keep myself from clawing both these idiots. I spoke calmly while glaring at them, "I told you why. He was given them and decided to give them to me. We are not dating and we probably never will."

Kuro stared at me in slight disbelief, "So you do not find him attractive?"

"Oh he's hot as hell and I wouldn't mind having him in my bed," I calmed down realizing that they were being overprotective as usual, "But I don't love him. He's a good friend that's all,"

"Oh..." Both flushed slightly in embarrassment.

"Guys does it really matter if I date him?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No," Maki shook his head, "It would actually be preferable to us if you ended up with him rather than another member of the crew,"

I hummed softly upon hearing that and let myself fall onto my bed, "Then why react the way you two did?"

I heard a sigh and Kuro dropped into bed next to me, "Storm we care about you and don't want you getting hurt."

"We would blame ourselves if you got hurt," Maki added while dropping next to me, "It scared us that you maybe trying a relationship after only knowing Captain for two almost three months,"

I rolled my eyes and pointed out, "A lot of relationships start after only knowing the person for a week or two."

"True," Kuro sighed softly, "Just promise us something,"

"What?" I asked while absorbing the heat they gave off.

"If you somehow end up together, you have to make sure he won't hurt you," Maki murmured softly, "You need to be sure you love him before you get together with him,"

Rolling my eyes, I said, "I don't exactly know what love it. You two have it, but I've never really felt it before."

Frowning at me, it seemed they realized that little fact as well. Kuro groaned before muttering, "What the hell are we going to do with you?"

"Love me and protect me until we all die," I offered dryly.

End.