The scorching sun burnt the ground to brittle hardness. If this had been any day, Sophie would have basked in it. But this was not any other day. She once more checked the contents of her new larger bag and sighed weakly. Hopefully this was going to suffice until she could get more things for herself. The captain had no clear idea when they were going to reach their destination, but he had informed her that they would make a few stops at different islands on their way there.

Sophie didn't care, however, she was set on making it there. She stared into the bag one last time, knowing that the sooner the better, before closing the zip.

Yes the past few weeks had been more than pleasant, but she could not bare lying to Mihawk any longer. He was bound to find out anyway. Maybe in years even, but as things were now, Sophie only had a couple of months. She needed to arrange a steady supply of medicine or get home where she could easily receive a prescription. But honestly, she preferred both.

Shouldering her bag once more, she walked around searching for a distraction. The captain had told her to be back in an hour so she wouldn't be in the way of the cargo. She had thought it would be the perfect opportunity to explore, but only to realize how dangerous it was being out in the open like this.

While Mihawk was indeed known for prolonging his naps longer than necessary, there was never a guarantee. So she headed into a small alley that branched off from the grand boulevard and sat down in a café. If she would have her back to the street, her face should be hidden from a searching glance, but the air was just too sticky to sit inside.

Sophie sighed. So far it all was going like she had intended. After ordering some tea and cake she picked a book from her bag and skimmed through some pages.

She didn't feel caged anymore. For once, she was not terrified to be found out or being killed by the hand of the man she had, surprisingly, grown to love. It was quite the opposite. She was focused on leaving and worried only for what the future held.

"Here is your tea and cake ma'am," a lovely lady said as she placed both before Sophie.

A smile found its way on her face as she turned around to get her purse so that she could give the lady a tip. At that moment, she was sure her heart had stopped for a second.

It was gone.

And with it everything. Neither her money mattered, nor her passport. None of the other things from home mattered. No. Her pills were gone. And that meant none of the rest mattered.

She remained frozen, distress etched on her face as the waitress getting more nervous by the minute.

"Is everything alright, ma'am?" She had taken another step towards Sophie but the girl was still paralysed.

"I-I've been r-r-robbed!" Sophie finally stuttered.

She did not understand how she had not noticed her bag being carried away. It was not like the bag had been small.

Unable to quite wrap her mind around the situation, Sophie watched as the waitress took the cake and tea into her hands, gave her an apologetic look and pressed her lips together, "I'm sorry. If you are unable to pay for this I will have to take it back. Company policy."

"It's alright, I'll take care of it..."

The young waitress was stunned when she saw who had spoken to her. She had heard of the man, but so far had never come across him. And he was just was pleasant as she had been told. She forced herself to relax and grinned shyly.

"Thank you, sir. We have had troubles with pickpockets lately. It's gotten worse since the assault a few weeks back."

"Yes, that's why I'm here. Last time I had to ask others to take care of matters, but now I wanna see for myself how I can help. Oi, Sophie!"

Only then did Sophie get pulled out of her shock. Only one man in this world knew her name but even Shanks' presence couldn't put a smile on her face this time. But at least he would understand. A sob shook her and she ran up to him, screaming and crying out her desperation.

"Hey... It's just money, don't worry..." He tried a grin but Sophie just hid her face in his shirt. So he tried a different approach.

"You're leaving him, aren't you. I think that's the only way to save your neck in the long run." But that only made her cry harder; there was no 'longer run' for her anymore.

"At least let us get out of the public. Have you already chartered a ship? If not I might have a spot for you."

Sophie looked up to him, her face a portrait of misery.

"Don't burden yourself with me. I'm a dead girl walking!" The tears shook her again and Shanks put an arm around her.

"Don't say that! You're not a burden! And what do you mean... dead girl walking?" His expression was a lot more serious now, a deep frown between his brows.

Realizing they were drawing too much attention to themselves, Shanks led Sophie towards his ship and into his...cabin? Office? Both? He sat her down on a sofa and took the place across her in an armchair. By now all Sophie felt was a disturbing clarity.

She would never make it home, see her family again. She was going to die; there was nothing that could save her now, was there?

"Shanks?" she whispered through her tears. Shanks looked into her eyes, trying to understand what she meant. It couldn't have been because of Mihawk that she was referring to herself as a dead girl was it, "Do you have any...thyroxin in this world?"

Sophie at least had to ask. If by some miracle their medical and, even more so, their chemical knowledge had indeed advanced this far then maybe there was hope and Shanks could get some for her in time. But his clueless face didn't bode well.

"Umm... What is that supposed to be? Something from home?" He added with a small smile. She could read it in his face, he was brimming with questions about her world. She should have guessed he was curious by nature. But this was no laughing matter.

"It's medicine; medicine I need to live! Without I'll die in - I don't know - a week? Two weeks? Who knows... And they stole it! I had enough for almost two months, and now that's gone! I'll die!" She cried again, but harder now. Shanks hurried to sit by her side, pulling her closer, trying all he could to put her mind at ease.

"I'll ask my ship's doctor if he knows anything. Maybe it has a different name here?" Sophie stopped crying at once. That made so much sense, why hadn't she thought about that earlier? Now she felt a bit better and smiled weakly up to Shanks.

"Thank you. Please do that."

She sighed. "But I can't go back to Mihawk now. Not because he will kill me if he finds out I am not Yuki, but because I do not want to lie to him any longer. He is a good man and deserves better than myself...or Yuki. , can I? I don't want to lie to him any longer. He is such a good man, he deserves better than me...or Yuki! Why would one dare cheat on a man like him!?"

Shanks shifted uncomfortably in his place. The same went for him and he knew it. He cupped her cheek in his hand, wiping away her tears as he looked into her eyes, "I was unable to protect Yuki. And it has haunted me. I have tried to drink the pain away..."

Shanks fell silent as he put a strand of hair behind Sophie's ear, "I am going to protect you Sophie. You Sophie, not Yuki."