Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece.

Start

"What's the first thing you're going to do when you're fully healed?" Shachi asked prompting me to look up at him from my sketchbook.

The sub was surfaced and Law decided to let me out onto the deck. I was curled up against a napping Bepo as Shachi and Penguin fished. Humming softly, I contemplated the question before answering, "I'm going to spend some time in my animal form."

"Really?" Penguin looked slightly surprised, "Why?"

"It's tradition I guess," I shrugged lightly, "I can't transform while injured like this, so the want to transform just builds up until I feel like I'm going to explode if I don't transform soon," I returned my attention to my sketchbook, "So when I can finally transform again, I stay in my animal form for a few days,"

Both looked at me in surprise before Shachi commented, "I never woulda thought that would happen."

I looked up at them in amusement, "Because I don't transform into my animal form often, right?"

"Yeah," They nodded.

I ran a hand through my hair, "Due to my background, I don't spend much time in my animal form. It's not that I don't want to, but it's an ingrained habit formed after years of dealing with hate."

"Damn," Shachi shook his head lightly, "You know something Ari-chan?" I looked at him curiously, "You can act like a normal person most of the time, but things like this pop up to remind us that you aren't. The fact you can function somewhat normally is amazing,"

I leaned back against Bepo and felt him shift slightly before relaxing. I smiled softly as I reached out to run my fingers over Bepo's soft fur as I said, "Sometimes it's hard to act like a normal person, but then again, what is normal?"

The two laugh and I shook my head lightly.

Law opened the door to the main deck and was greeted by laughter. He glanced around and found Ariun laying against Bepo. Shachi and Penguin were fishing for whatever reason. The duo of mechanics were the source of laughter prompting him to ask, "What are you two laughing at?"

Penguin and Shachi jumped while Ariun offered him an amused smile. So she had heard him approaching. Law smirked at her before directing his attention to the duo. Penguin recovered first, "Ari-chan said something funny."

"Not too funny as it was a slightly serious question," Ariun retorted with mirth in her eyes.

"Yeah right," Shachi snorted, "You asked 'what is normal?'. How exactly is that a serious question?"

Ariun rolled her eyes, "It is a serious question. Just what do people consider normal?"

Law chuckled before either of the mechanics could retort, "Ariun-ya normal isn't something you would find among pirates."

"Understatement of the century," This statement caused the other two to look at Ariun, "My caretakers were pirates remember. None of them were normal least of all the leader of them,"

"Then that means we have a good chance to meet them," Shachi said gaining a giggle from Ariun, "What's with the laugh?!"

Ariun shook her head lightly, "It is unlikely that we will be meeting them anytime soon. They're probably in the New World."

Law cut off Shachi and Penguin's reply to that statement, "Ariun-ya I need to check on your injury."

"Right," She closed her sketchbook as he walked over to her and placed it into her canvas bag.

He held out a hand for her and helped her up before pulling her back inside of the sub. He kept their hands linked as he did so because he honestly enjoyed the feeling. Ariun seemed slightly distracted prompting him to ask, "Something wrong?"

I blinked at the question before shaking my head, "No just thinking."

"About what?" Law looked at me curiously.

"About Shanks and the others," I sighed softly, "It's been years since I last saw them and I wonder if they even remember me,"

"If what you've told me about Redhair-ya is correct, he'll remember you," Law pulled me into the infirmary and directed me to sit down on one of the exam tables, "He doesn't seem to be the type of person to forget,"

I slipped my shirt off as I thought that over and took a seat on the exam table. Shanks wasn't the type to do that and I was an idiot to think that. I shook my head lightly, "You're right."

"Kitten where are you going?" Buck asked as I walked out of Law's room.

I almost jumped in surprise, but stopped myself. Taking a deep breath, I turned to glare at him, "You almost gave me a fucking heart attack."

"Sorry," He replied with a sheepish smile, "You didn't answer my question,"

I rolled my eyes, "I want to go stargaze. It's been awhile and we're surfaced for the night, so it's one of the best times to do it."

Before I could even begin walking down the hall towards the stairs, Buck stopped me by placing a hand on my shoulder, "Kitten you should be resting."

"Buck I've rested enough and I really need to get outside," I ducked under his hand and moved towards the stairs.

"Captain won't be happy," Buck argued only for me to shake my head.

I offered him a grin as I walked towards the stairs, "I'll deal with Law. I need this Buck."

I also needed to think without Law or anyone near me. I mean I'm alone in his room, but Law's the subject of my thoughts. Being in his room was only making my thoughts worse and worse, I had to get somewhere alone and the best place to do that was on the top deck. Without another word to Buck, I headed up the stairs.

Law was looking over the crews medical supplies when Buck entered the infirmary, "Buck-ya have you been injured?"

"No Captain," The man shook his head, "I came to find you,"

Law offered the chef a raised eyebrow after he wrote down the amount of pain medication they had, "And why did you need to find me?"

"The Kitten," The pen in Law's hand dropped.

"Did she reopen her wound?" Law demanded already figuring out what he would need to close the wound and how exactly it could have happened.

"No," Buck's voice stopped Law before he could begin grabbing what he would need, "The Kitten's fine for the most part,"

Law offered Buck a slight glare, "What do you mean for the most part?"

Buck winced at the glare and terse tone, "The Kitten walked out of your room and went up to the top deck to stargaze."

Law frowned as he hadn't told her that she could do that, "She should have stayed in my room as ordered to."

Setting his clipboard down, Law made his way over to where Kikoku sat against his deck and picked the nodachi up. Buck looked at him, "Captai-"

"Go do whatever you were doing. I'll deal with Ariun-ya," Law walked out of the infirmary.

The stars burned brightly as the waxing crescent moon floated above. I stared up at them with a sigh as calmness surrounded me. I breathed in the scent of the sea and relished in the cool night breeze ghosting across the waves. Ever since I had woken up after first being injured, Law had been acting off. Granted, I didn't mind it too much and really enjoyed the time I spent with him. Our interactions felt diffrent...like they had a deeper meaning to them, but why? It wasn't like anything had changed between us, right? I rolled my eyes at the thought. I'm probably reading into this too deeply. Our interactions felt diffrent because Law and I were closer now. I closed my eyes. Closer, but how much closer? I mean it wasn't as close as Maki and Kuro that was for sure. The duo were my idiotic brothers after all, but it felt like Law was almost as close just a diffrent type of close. I groaned softly and shook my head. It was probably the game between us that was causing these stupid thoughts. The game just needed to end and these thoughts would vanish. With that in mind, I opened my eyes just as I heard the door open. I glanced behind me and smiled, "Hey."

"Ariun-ya," Wow he looked kinda angry, "What the hell are you doing out here?"

I blinked at the question and wondered what was wrong with me coming out here, "I wanted to stargaze since it's been awhile."

"Ariun-ya you're still healing. You shouldn't be out here," I snorted softly.

"I'm fine Law," Law glared at me making me wonder if I had cut him off somehow, "I've just been laying here and nothing has happened,"

"How are you going to get up?" He retorted making me frown.

"What do you mean?" I'm pretty sure I could manage to get up on my own by now.

Law's glare increased, "Ariun-ya you're still injured and getting up on your own could cause further injury."

I felt the small strings of irritation start to appear as I retorted, "Could being the key word."

Is she really that much of an idiot? How the hell couldn't she see the problems with that statement? Law felt like shouting at her, but held himself back as he said calmly, "Could means it can happen-"

"But it might not," Ariun cut in making his frustration grow.

"Stop cutting me off," He hissed at her.

"Then stop overreacting," Overreacting?

Him? Oh that tore it. Law's patience was thin due to the increasing sexual frustration he felt, the fact Ariun had been attacked by Callen, finding out about Callen being a spy, and now Ariun was arguing with him. Feeling his patience snap, he growled out, "Fine. Get up on your own. Don't come back to my room tonight."

She looked at him in surprise, but he ignored it as he turned on his heel and walked away.

I stared after Law as he walked away and tried to figure out what had happened. I mean sure I argued with him and I probably shouldn't have since he was my captain, it was nice out here. It had also been awhile since the last time I stargazed and tonight was perfect for stargazing. I shook my head and returned my gaze to the sky above me. I needed this moment alone and maybe a night alone in my room would do me some good. Nodding to myself, I focused on the stars above me and began remembering the stories attached to them.

Law returned to the infirmary as he decided to get his work done for the night. He needed the time to calm down before he would have to deal with Ariun again. It wasn't like Ariun wasn't going to return to his room since she needed his help showering and all that. Law picked up his clipboard after placing Kikoku against his desk and picked up his pen from the ground before returning to look over the medical supplies.

When I finally got enough of stargazing, I slowly sat up against the railing and reached up to pull myself up with the help of my tail. By using my tail and being careful, I didn't stress my injury. I walked over to the door and opened it before walking back inside. I closed it behind me and made my way down the stairs. I paused on the second floor before shaking my head and continuing down to where my room was on the floor below. I'll go see if Maki's still awake and willing to help me with my bandages after I shower.

End