Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece.

Start

I followed Law into the infirmary for hopefully the last time in a while and Maki smiled at me, "Ready for this Storm?"

"Yes," We walked into theatre one and I took a seat on the metal table.

"This shouldn't take longer than ten to fifteen minutes," Law informed us as I took my shirt off.

Bandages were undone, I was laid back, and Law activated his room. Maki began using his powers the moment Law gave the all clear and I struggled to keep myself still. The excitement of no longer being in pain from my injury was running through me. Maki rolled his eyes, "Calm down Storm."

I pouted at him before taking a deep breath to calm myself.

Law smirked at Ariun as she tugged on her shirt once more, "Fully healed Ariun-ya."

She looked at him and smiled, "Yup."

Maki had left to go take a nap which left them alone in the infirmary. He ran his fingers over her clothed thighs and watched as Ariun's eyes darken a little, "Ready to finish our game?"

Ariun slid off the table which put her chest to stomach with him. She smirked up at him as he was forced to move back a little, "I believe our game will have to wait."

"Why's that?" He was both amused and annoyed.

"Because I need to go take a nap," She moved away from him and was out of the door in seconds.

Law stared after her in surprise before chuckling. Even if she put it off, he was going to win their little game.

Rather than take a nap like I said that I would, I decided to take a shower. The first one I had taken alone since I had gotten hurt. Once that was done, I curled up on my bed and fell asleep as a wave of tiredness hit me.

When I woke up, I headed upstairs and found that it was almost lunch time. Buck grinned at me, "How ya feeling Kitten?"

"Pretty good," I grinned up at the man, "What's for lunch?"

"Sea king stew with a side of bread, rice balls, or fruit salad," I hummed softly.

"Need any help?" Buck shook his head.

"Nah we're almost finished, but you can help with dinner if Captain's given you the all clear," Buck looked at me curiously, "Did he?"

I bit my lip before shaking my head, "Not officially, I just want something to do."

Buck laughed for a few minutes, "Sorry Darlin'. I can't help ya find anything to do since Captain hasn't given you the all clear."

Sighing softly, I asked, "How long until lunch?"

"Ten minutes," Buck gained a contemplative look, "I think I might actually have a job you can do,"

I looked at him curiously, "Oh?"

"Go tell everyone it's lunch time," Buck replied.

Law walked into the galley and found everyone eating lunch. Bepo, Ariun, and Maki were the sole exceptions to this prompting him to ask, "Where are Bepo-ya, Ariun-ya, and Maki-ya?"

"They already finished eating," Shachi explained with a slight grin, "Maki went to go finish his nap while Ari-chan decided to go sit in the navigation room with Bepo,"

Law found Ariun in her animal form staring at the window while Bepo sat at the nearby table. Bepo beamed at him, "Hey Captain! We're making really good time. We should be at the next island in three days."

Ariun looked away from the windows to look at Law. She blinked at him before snorted softly and looking back at the window. He nodded to Bepo, "Good. Inform me if there are any changes."

"Aye Captain!" Bepo returned to looking at the maps on the table.

Law walked over to where Ariun was lying on the floor and commented, "I'm surprised you decided to come up here."

"It's less noisy and I like watching the fish swim by," Ariun didn't even look up at him.

Law frowned slightly at the lack of attention she was showing him, "Ariun-ya is something wrong?"

"No," She looked up at him, "Why?"

He was slightly surprised by the question, but pushed that surprise away, "You seem distracted."

Ariun snorted softly, "I just find looking at the sea life interesting."

"More interesting than me?" He questioned earning a soft chuffing sound from her that he knew to be laughter.

She nodded, "It's ever changing while you are not. Of course, it's more interesting than you."

Law felt vaguely annoyed and wondered if that was some sort of insult. He decided that it probably was, but ignored it as he inquired, "Why are you in your animal form?"

I was slightly surprised that Law didn't question the insult, but shook it off, "I felt the need to transform as I always do after getting injured enough that I couldn't transform freely. I'm probably going to stay like this for a few days."

Law stared at me in surprise, "A few days? Why?"

I gave the best leopard shrug I could, "It's just something that happens. I won't transform back until the ache goes away."

"Ache?" He frowned slightly, "What kind of ache?"

I felt slightly lost as no one had asked that question before. Struggling for a few minutes, I finally came up with the best answer I could, "It's kind of like an itch that needs scratched and it get's worse the longer it's left alone."

Law was silent for a few moments before sighing, "Will you transform back at any point or will you be like this for the rest of the few days?"

"I will transform back to bathe, but that's about it," My tail swished lightly causing the rings on it to chime, "Sorry about this,"

Law looked at Ariun as she trotted down the hall, "Where are you going?"

It was an hour after sunset and the crew had just finished eating dinner. It was odd at first to see Ariun eat in that form, but it became easily ignored. Ariun looked at him curiously, "Down to Maki and Kuro's room."

"Why?" Law felt faintly irritated since it was like Ariun was using this as an excuse to ignore him.

"Because I doubt you want me sleeping in bed with you when I'm like this," The fact that she honestly believed that radiated through her voice.

"I don't mind actually," She looked at him in surprise before doing that odd leopard-like shrug.

"Okay," Ariun started walking towards his room.

Law shook his head and followed after her.

I settled down on the couch next to Law and laid my head on his lap. He lifted his book up and looked at me curiously, "What are you doing?"

"What I usually do when I'm in this form," I snorted softly as I felt his hand settle on my neck, "I sleep a lot more when I'm in this form unless I need to be up,"

Law nodded slightly and I closed my eyes. I was slightly surprised when he began running his fingers through my fur, but decided to enjoy it.

Ariun jumped onto the bed after he had laid down and curled up next to him with her head on his chest. He involuntarily shivered at the feeling of her fur touching his bare chest. It was soft, yet coarse like Bepo's was when he needed a good brushing making him promise himself to brush out her fur at some point tomorrow. He reached up and lightly scratched behind her ears gaining a loud rumbling purr from her. He chuckled softly and commented, "You enjoy having your ears scratched don't you?"

"Yes," Her voice was slightly raspy leading him to believe that she was close to falling asleep.

Law was surprised by the truthful answer prompting him to ask, "Why are you being so blunt?"

"My animal instincts find dancing around the subject to be annoying and useless," Ariun's voice had a low rumble to it, "Due to this, I am rather blunt while in this form,"

Law found himself smiling, "Do you lie when you're in this form?"

"Not usually unless I find a reason to," She cracked open an eye and looked at him, "Is there something you wish to ask?"

"Do you having feelings for me?" He felt her tense lightly before sighing.

"Perhaps, I am unsure as to what they truly mean," She closed her eyes, "Please do not ask anymore,"

Law stayed quiet as he thought over the information she had just given him. He knew that he was in love or at least what felt like love to him; however, Ariun wasn't sure. Considering her past, he figured that she wouldn't really know what love is. It was probably why she had been acting the way she did which was both cute and annoying. He would have to take things slow with her and help her understand the what she was feeling, but in the end, she would be in his bed. He also theorized that she probably thought that she had to win the game to keep him interested in her which was why she had been so bold lately. He decided that he rather liked that side of her and would find ways to draw it out in the future, but he was going to win the game. It was unavoidable and he would make Ariun see it.

I groaned softly as I felt movement under me and opened my eyes to glare at the source of movement. Law returned the glare with one of his own, "Ariun-ya get off me. You're heavy."

I snorted in reply, "I'm not ready to get up yet."

Law's glare darkened, "I need to get up."

I slowly came to realize that Law wasn't going back to sleep and snorted softly. Yawning, I slowly got up and made sure to put pressure on certain parts of his body before using his chest as a springboard to jump off the bed. I landed on the carpeted floor and stretched out before looking at Law with a slight smirk. He glared at me as he rubbed at his chest and I let out a rumbling laugh, "Don't look at me like that, I'm not the one that wanted to get up."

"You could have just moved," He growled out as he sat up.

I inwardly winced at seeing the small look of pain on his face and regretted where one of my back paws put pressure. Offering him the best sheepish look I could, I apologized, "Sorry. I don't like getting up before I'm ready."

"I can tell," He snapped.

I walked over to him and butted my head lightly against his stomach. I looked up at him as I laid my head in his lap, "I'm really sorry."

He rolled his eyes as his fingers tug at my ears earning a soft hiss from me.

"Ariun-ya come here," He pointed to the spot in front of him.

She walked over and took a seat, "What's up?"

"Turn around," She slowly stood up and turned until her back was facing him before sitting down.

"What's goin-" He began running the brush he had through her fur.

She let out a low purring sound that caused him to smirk. The brush caught on some tangles, but they were easily dealt with. By the time he was finished brushing her, Ariun was laying on the floor with what could only be a leopard's grin on her face. Law chuckled and ran his fingers over the fur on her stomach earning a shiver.

Law wondered where Ariun had gotten off to when a slightly damp looking snow leopard walked into his office. He stared at the tail that slowly released the door handle and commented, "You can open doors with your tail?"

"Yeah it's a useful skill I picked up ages ago," She kicked the door lightly with her back paw.

"Did you take a shower?" He asked as she jumped up on the small couch he had in his office.

"Yup," He was slightly disappointed that she hadn't taken a shower with him.

End