Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece.

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Law shut the book he had been attempting to read with a growl before reaching up and rubbing at his temples. Why the hell couldn't he focus? The dream he had just a few hours ago reared it's head and he groaned. Why the hell had he dreamt that? He leaned back against his chair as a knock echoed on his office door, "Come in."

Buck walked inside with a tray in his hands, "Morning Captain. How's the Kitten today?"

"She's doing well," The chef set the tray on his desk and Law began to eat his breakfast.

"Captain ya seem slightly..." The chef paused for a moment, "Well ya seem to be distracted today. Penny for your thoughts?"

Law was tempted to tell Buck to leave the situation alone, but found himself hesitating. He needed an answer to his questions and knew a second opinion would help him get those answers. Buck was also the best to speak to about things like whatever the hell this was because the man knew how to keep a secret and wouldn't blab to the whole crew. Outside of Bepo, Law trusted Buck the most out of the whole crew. With that in mind, Law sighed deeply, "Buck-ya have I been acting diffrent recently?"

The chef seemed slightly surprised by the question before contemplating his answer. Law waved his hand towards the chair across from him and the chef took a seat. After a few moments, the chef looked at him, "Permission to speak freely?" Law felt slightly confused by the question before nodding, "Captain you've been happier since Ari-chan joined the crew with Kuro and Maki," The chef took off his cowboy hat and ran a hand through his wavy brownish-red hair, "You don't seem as harsh or as easy to anger. You also eat in the galley with us more often and seem easier to approach," The chef smiled slightly as Law felt his eyes narrow, "While you act the same as you usually do on the islands we go to, you usually have the Kitten in your group."

Law thought it over and realized that the man was right prompting him to ask, "Why the hell would I do that though?"

"Easiest way to put it," Buck smiled at him, "You're in love with her Captain,"

"In love?" Him?

"That's what I'm thinking Captain," Buck seemed slightly amused, "You worry over her when she's hurt,"

"I do that with everyone," He reminded the man while trying to come to terms with what he was hearing.

"Captain you've barely slept a wink since the Kitten got hurt," Buck snorted softly, "And I can tell that when you did sleep, it was filled with nightmares that most likely involved our resident zoan user,"

"So what?" He snapped before grimacing at the sharp tone his voice had taken.

"Captain the only time someone is that worried about someone is if they're either kin," The chef was smiling, "Or they're in love. You obviously don't love her like a sibling if those heated glances and kisses you gave her said something," The man laughed, "Not only that, you let her get away with things that'd you never let someone get away with,"

"Like what?" He was starting to see what Buck was saying even if it was reluctantly.

"You let her call you by your first name rather than captain like the rest of us," The man pointed out, "You let her go off on her own when we're on an island rather than force her to go with anyone,"

"She can take care of herself," Law pointed out while part of him began accepting what the man was saying.

"Course she can," Buck shook his head, "Anyone with eyes could see that, but so can everyone on the crew and you make everyone else go with a partner,"

Law took in all the facts and the things he'd been feeling since meeting Ariun. The interest he felt when he first saw her and met her eyes. The surprise he felt when she was revealed to be a zoan user. The amusement he felt when he watched her interact with Maki and Kuro back before they joined the crew. The interest he felt when watching her kill Diablo. The wonder he felt when watching her fight that marine back on Zender. The anger and disgust he felt when reading about what had been done to Ariun. He remembered that Ariun brought up his memories of Lami and Corazan. He remembered the mass amount of amusement he felt whenever he got a reaction out of her. He remembered being unable to stop himself from wanting to touch her. He remembered all the times she had convinced him to stargaze with her until she fell asleep. He remembered the anger he felt when Ariun was with those women on the last island. He remembered the cold rage he felt when he saw Ariun laying on the ground and bleeding. He could barely remember anything other than the extreme want to kill that bitch and make sure Ariun survived. He remembered the sheer panic he felt when Ariun almost died while he was operating on her. Realization hit him with all the force of Ariun jumping on him, he was in love with Ariun, "Shit."

"Captain?" Buck looked at him in confusion as Law pulled his hat off his head, "What's wrong?"

"Ariun-ya's my subordinate," Law ran his hand through his spiky hair, "I can't be in a relationship with her,"

"Why not?" Buck asked with a slight smile.

"Because captain's aren't supposed to be in a romantic relationship with their subordinates," Law groaned softly.

"Captain we're pirates," The chef pointed out with a laugh, "We can do as we please,"

Law's hand froze before he thought that over. Once that was done, he smirked, "Right. We're pirates. We do and take what we want."

I was reading one of my books that Maki had brought to me when Law walked into the room. I glanced at the clock and realized that it was time for him to check my stitches. I set my book down beside me and looked at Law while hoping he wasn't going to act odd like he had this morning. I noticed almost immediatly that he seemed to be in a much better mood than this morning prompting me to comment, "You seem to be in a better mood. Did Buck tell you that we've run out of bread or something?"

Law chuckled and shook his head as he got out what he'd need to change the bandages on my chest, "No," He tossed me a smirk over his shoulder, "Why were you paying so much attention to me? Trying to decide if you love me or not?"

"No. I was trying to find your weakness," I snorted at the thought though my heart beat sped up a little, "If I find your weakness, I'll be able to win our game much faster,"

Law made his way over with a smirk, "If that's true, I'll win our game fairly quickly."

"Oh?" What the hell was he talking about?

He stayed quiet as he set the materials in his hands on the rolling cart next to the bed I was in. Once he set that stuff down, he reached out and cupped my cheek. Sparks of pleasure shot down my spine as his thumb brushed against my whisker-scars. The pleasure doubled when his other hand reached up and rubbed one of my leopard ears. A low moan left me as my eyes slid closed and I leaned into the touch. As a pleasurable haze settled over my mind, I felt Law's warm breath against my lips and heard him murmur, "I know your weaknesses."

Before my mind could clear, I felt his lips on mine. Without thinking about it, I started kissing him back. A gasp left me when he nipped my bottom lip and his tongue found it's way into my mouth. I moaned softly as the muscle brushed against my own and enticed it into a game of war. I finally got to taste him and found that I rather liked it. It was a strange mixture of mint, coffee, and strawberries. My fingers slipped into Law's hair causing his hat to fall and found it to be silky soft. Law groaned as I tugged lightly on his obsidian locks and his hands fell away from my head to my hips. He turned my body towards him which made my hazy mind realize that my slightly twisted position had caused me some pain. He pulled me closer to him as one of his hands found their way to my hair and his other arm wrapped around my waist. It wasn't long before the need for air became too much and we broke apart. My head rested on his chest and my hands dropped down to his shoulders as the hand in my hair fell to my waist. I took the time to finish clearing the haze that had descended over my mind and realized that my chest was hurting. I pushed away from him to place a hand over my chest with a mutter of, "Ow."

Any comments or observations his mind conjured fled upon hearing those words, "Ariun-ya move your hand," She did as he asked and he grabbed a scalpel, "Room," His room appeared around them as Ariun looked at him in confusion, "Scan."

"What is this ability?" Ariun asked as Law looked over her chest.

"It allows me to x-ray you without having to use my machine which would be a bad idea when we're not close to an island," He explained to her and felt relieved when he found that nothing had torn open, "You're alright,"

"Doesn't feel that way," She grimaced making him chuckle.

"The pain medication I gave you this morning must have worn off," He pushed down his amusement and settled into his doctor mindset, "I'm going to check you over,"

After he had bandaged her up and made sure that her stitches were okay, he put everything away as Ariun asked, "What brought that on?"

Knowing what she was referring to, Law chuckled and smirked over his shoulder at her, "I felt like it and you looked too good to not want to taste."

Her cheeks gained a pale pink rose-like hue and he felt his amusement double as well as his pride in causing that blush. Now that he'd realized his feelings, he found himself wanting to cause her to blush more. It made her look better in his mind and it made him want to have her under him all the more. He would definitely wait until she was healed before he took her in his bed, but it would be worth it if he could continue to make her blush. Ariun shook her head, "I don't look like this. In fact, I think I look kind of crappy," Her nose scrunched up, "When will I be able to take a shower?"

Immediately, he found his smirk growing and Ariun seemed to realize something. Oh the next two weeks were going to be amazing. He turned towards her and leaned back against the counter, "You won't be able to shower for a week and even then you'll need someone to help you wash until your wound fully heals."

"So I'll be..." I trailed off as my mind conjured images of a naked Law helping me shower.

My cheeks heated up as Law chuckled in a husky way and his grey eyes became half-mast, "Why Ariun-ya, you'll be bathing with me."

Law and I in a bath together. Naked as the days we were born. Without really noticing it, my eyes roved over his form and I nibbled on my bottom lip. Maybe it won't be too bad.

End