Disclaimer: I Do Not Own One Piece or Axe

Chapter 44: The Sand Labyrinth V

"WAH!" Aro jumped back on the bed, a cat like smile on her face. "So comfortable…" she purred as she snuggled into the blankets.

"We were lucky, Ms. Aro." Kit said while adjusting her bathrobe that looked the same as the one Aro wore. "They had a bath house here."

"True to that! The Grand Line knew I needed one." She sat up, crossing her legs and pushing the robe down to keep herself covered. "Thanks for washing our cloths after too. Once they're dry, I'm sure thing will be a lot better."

"Yes. I didn't know they were so dirty." She climbed on the bed as well, looking at the cloths that hung on a line in front of the fire place. "We were lucky this time. Two open rooms. Though,"

"What?" Aro stretched, scratching behind her ear while she did so.

"Though, I fell bad that Mr. Axe and Mr. Pierre have to share a single room..."

"Really? I thought it was funny."

---

"So… who was your partner?" Axe sat on the bed, elbows on his knees as he leaned forward. His hands were clasped together and his eyes were like needles on the strange man.

"You wouldn't know him."

"Try me."

"He's…" He turned from the fire in the fire place to look at the larger man. "Well… Pardon me if this is hard to say. He was a dear friend, you see."

"I don't care, so long as I get a name."

"Leo."

"Never heard of him. What was his bounty?"

"Very low, I'm afraid. He doesn't want to make him self too widely known."

"Didn't, you mean."

"Yes, didn't." He fell silent before looking back at the fire. His hands twitched nervously as he sat there. Every now and again, he'd pat his sword, then go back to being fidgety. Axe watched him silently and emotionlessly.

"So." He said after a bit, causing the well dressed man to jump slightly. "What's with the bad habit?"

"Bad habit?"

He motioned to his hand that was now resting on his sword. "That one."

"Oh, yes. Sorry." He put his hands on his knees, drumming them lightly while his face kept silent and still.

"Ok, why are you nervous?"

"I'm not use to having people around me that I don't know."

"What about when you first met your caption?"

"Oh, Jo was a good guy, he didn't mind my twitching much."

"I though you said his name was Leo?"

Pierre was silent for a second, "I did. Leo Jo. That was what he introduces himself as."

"Introduced."

"Right."

Both went silent for a bit. Pierre kept nodding softly to himself, eyes looking around the room in an uncomfortable manner. "You're lying, aren't you?" Axe finally asked. Pierre seemed to jump before looking at him in the eye.

"What makes you say that?"

"By the way you're acting." Pierre laughed weakly. Axe frowned and stood up slowly. "Get out."

"W-what? Aren't we traveling together?"

"Get. Out." He repeated. "You're one of the creatures in this tournament, aren't you?"

With a cold laugh, Pierre rose to his feet. "What makes you say that?" His hand went to his sword and Axe narrowed his eyes slightly. The door to their room suddenly opened.

---

"Ms. Aro? Are you ok?" Kit asked as she fluffed her pillow. Aro stood next to the wall, ear pressed against it as she strained her ears to the conversation in the other room.

"Some guys are talking about a short cut, Kit!" She whispered and shushed her. "Something about behind the safe house… I guess they've done this before! I'm getting the directions…"

"How randomly convenient..." Kit noted before she leaned against the wall. Her eyes trailed to the window that faced out back. "It's so dark out… I wonder if all the other people go to safety."

"You don't act like this with Kat around…" Aro commented before listening once more. "Ew… now they're being perverts." She went to the other wall, pressing her ear to it.

"No, Kat always lead me when it came to fights and such. She's my backbone." She looked at Aro and blinked. The Cat Girl's face was scrunched up in concentration. "What do you hear?"

"Axe and Pierre talking… there's a lot of strained silence. Come on, we're going to go check up on them." She started for the door. Kit slipped off the bed, picking up her wire container as she did so. "Keep that in your robe pocket, we might not need it."

"Better safe than sorry, I guess?"

"That's right." She opened the door and glared out into the night. Everything suddenly got brighter in her eyes and she noticed shapes moving around in the dark. "Keep on guard, something's out there."

"Alright." Kit followed her to the other room. Aro raised her hand and hesitated. "Well?" Kit pried.

"No, I don't want to know." She grabbed the door handle and through the door open. They took in the scene with wide eyes. "What's going on?" Aro finally growled.

"Nothing, Ms. Ar—"

"He's not a contender, Aro, he's one of the monsters in this cursed thing."

"I'm offended you'd think such, Mr. Axe!"

"Then why where you about to draw your sword!"

"I heard foot steps outside but didn't know whose they were."

"Axe…" Aro raised a questioning brow to him, her eyes begging him to explain.

"Ms. Aro, I'm sorry if I frightened you, we should all get some rest." He didn't let her asked her questions before he started over. "You both should be in warmer clothing than just bathrobes. Though flattering, they're not the best for a fight."

"You don't change shapes, so I don't care what you think" Aro tossed her hair back from over her shoulder. "Axe, can I speak to you? Kit, go back to the room please." Kit did as she was told and Axe all but ran to Aro. He closed the door behind him and opened his mouth. She held up her hand, stopping him from speaking. "Follow me." She turned and started to walk towards the girl's room, but kept going once arriving at the door. Axe followed. After some distance was made, she slowed to be walking beside him. "What happened?" He told her. "You think he really is one?"

"Yes."

"I see… we can't do anything about it here and now. We'll have to do something later."

"What if he tries to kill us in our sleep? I have no doubt in my mind that he'll try that."

"Then you can sleep in our room. We'll take shifts on guard."

He didn't seem to feel easy with the idea, but nodded. "Alright."

---

"He's getting too close to the truth…" Pierre paced around the room, hands behind his lower back. "If he knows about my plans, I can't do my job." He turned on his heels sharply suddenly, glaring out the dark window. "Pitiful…" he said to his reflection as he stalked over, "this is pitiful for such a strong being to be reduced to silent assassinations…" He got to the window and stared out at something invisible to all eyes. "If this is what I have to do," he said after a moment of silence, "then so be it." He drew his sword with a hiss of steel against steel. It gleamed in the firelight, casting light onto the objects around him and making the shadows dance in an oddly mincing way. "Tonight, they die. Tomorrow," he swung his blade around quickly in the air and sheathed it. "They all get bled for this…" He turned and went for the room door as small wedges of the wood smoked and fell from the wall.

(AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry about this taking so long. I can't seem to remember how this was suppose to go… x.x Gomenasai and thanks for baring with me.)