Chapter 3

Law jumped out of the boat and raced up the shore, pulling out his Vivre Card. Hopefully Nami still had the card he gave her. If not he would use the other one he had to track his crew, but Nami was the priority. He wouldn't put it pass Doflamingo to lie about his attack on the others put there was little doubt he had the Strawhat navigator. Besides, the Heart Pirates could put up a fight despite the difference in strength but Nami was completely in the power of that monster. Law tried not to think about what he might have done to her. Doflamingo was capable of anything and Nami was without doubt a beautiful woman.

Please, Nami-ya be safe.

He heaved a sigh of relief as the small piece of paper began to be pulled in Nami's direction.

To the west…

He turned and followed the line. Unfortunately as the card wasn't made from her it couldn't tell him her condition, just that someone in possession of the card was up ahead. He quickly scanned the area for any traps. There was the usual palm trees and lush vegetation fringing the pearl white beach. Above, the ground grew steep and led to rocky, volcanic outcrops. The Vivre card pointed to them. Law grimaced with indecision. The cool headed side of him cautioned himself to scout properly. Caesar was a risk now he was free and he had no idea what the status was of his crew apart from the fact they were presumably still alive as his other Vivre card had shown him. But every minute longer was another minute Nami had to endure in the hands of that freak…

Law cursed and raced through the trees and up the hill.

He needs me alive and fit to perform the operation. He might try to disarm or hurt me but I have to touch him to perform it so he can't bind my hands and it has to be freewill so his Parasite technique won't work. That should get me close enough to distract him while Nami-ya gets away. Then… Law bared his teeth, then I'll finish what I started, Doflamingo!

He summoned his Room technique and expanded it upwards to cover the area. He might not have time to scout but that didn't mean he couldn't be prepared. Focusing his inner energy outwards, Law kept his senses poised with Observation Haki. His nerves were drawn tight and mental fatigue was starting to wear at him after a full day of fighting but he had to stay sharp.

This is it. Watch over me, Cora-san!

Reaching the tree line, he crouched down. Just above him was a barren summit riddled with large cracks, overlooking the beach. The wind picked up and he thought he could hear faint cries before the sound of whimpering and angry ranting caught his attention.

Doflamingo? No, that' s definitely a women's voice…Nami-ya!

The muttering and occasional sobbing grew louder and Law strained to hear Doflamingo's wicked tones but after a while it appeared Nami-ya was just talking to herself. Repressing his concern, Law scanned the outcrop for an opening or any guards. There were none and it was unlike his former boss to be quiet when there was a victim to be tormented.

She's alone. Now's my chance.

Leaping up the steep incline, Law dived round the corner, drawing his sword. There was a gasp and there, concealed in the darkness of a cleft, was the woman he sought.


Nami bit her lip to keep from sobbing. Her whole body ached and various scratches and slashes were leaking blood. She was also caked in dirt from her woefully short duel with Doflamingo.

Momonosuke…She thought. The memory of him trying to wriggle desperately away in his dragon form as that tyrant held him fast kept repeating endlessly through her tortured mind.

"Why are you doing this!" She had shouted. "He's only a boy!"

"Weaklings don't get to choose how they serve me, Nami-ya." Doflamingo laughed. The flippant use of Law's name for her made her skin crawl.

"NAMI!" Momonosuke cried, trying to reach her as he was inexorably pulled back.

"STOP IT!" She screamed, "I won't let you!" She hurled herself at the Shichibukai, hands reaching for his neck.

He reacted instantly, whipping back his hand to strike, but Nami threw herself to the side and grabbed some grubby pebbles, throwing them at his face.

The move was such a basic one for a pre-eminent warrior like him that Doflamingo seemed stunned for a moment longer than usual. But that was all she needed to grab her Clima-tact, brought along to torment her with its uselessness, and show him what it could really do.

No time for a proper technique! She thought.

"Thunder ball!" she cried, directing the brooding clouds at Doflamingo as she flipped away from the strings speeding towards her.

He avoided of course, incredulously amused that she'd tried to fight, but that was what she was waiting for. The balls hit the cave wall and exploded, discharging lightning across the cavern.

"Joker!" Caesar cried and transformed into his gaseous form, snarling.

"Leave it, Caesar." Doflamingo shouted as he leapt away from the lightning strikes, his cloak puffed out with static charge.

Nami hit the ground, covering Momonosuke and redirected the electricity via her Clima-tact in a large semi circle to ward off both the scientist and the Donquixote captain.

More strings sped towards her and she shouted at Momonosuke to flee as she used the staff as a pole to flip between the threads.

Far from annoyed with her sudden aggression, the Shichibukai seemed delighted, covering himself with Armament Haki in case of another strike.

She charged up the Clima-tact again, unable to change attack in the swiftness of the fight, whilst ducking and springing away from Doflamingo's attacks. The cave walls shuddered as the slashes hit them but Doflamingo reinforced them with his powers and the space started to resemble a spider's nest. The comparison was a fitting one as Nami realised she was completely outclassed like a fly in a web as the warlord toyed with her.

He's too fast! She thought desperately as a fist caught her in the stomach and sent her smashing against the wall.

Pain exploded in her back and she almost passed out. Nausea made her stomach heave and it hurt to breathe. The Clima-tact clattered against the ground and rolled into the darkness.

….have to get…back up…

"NAMI!"

"…Go… Momonosuke!" She croaked.

"Oi, Nami-ya, is that any way to treat your host?"

"N-Nami…" Momonosuke shuddered as Caesar curled around him, baring his teeth.

"RRRRRRAAAAA!" Nami screamed, throwing all her fear, anguish and disgust into that one cry and threw herself at Doflamingo.

I don't care! I don't care if you're stronger! I don't care if you kill me! I WON'T LET YOU TAKE HIM!

His leer widened as time seemed to slow and suddenly she felt a slight prick at her neck and her hands closed into fists. Her body stopped in its lunge without her volition and with horror she found she couldn't move on her own and was instead moving under Doflamingo's power.

"Aah!" Nami gasped and could only watch in terrified disbelief as she marched over to Momonosuke and raised her arms.

"NO!" She cried "Please no!"

The fist came down and the dragon screamed. Nami screamed with him as her fists hit his scaled flesh again and again. Crying, she tried everything she could to stop but her arms wouldn't respond. Momonosuke began to sob piteously over the sounds of Doflamingo and Caesar's laughter.

"Please Doflamingo! Please! Please stop this!" She cried.

The Shichibukai allowed the beating to continue for a few more minutes until he was satisfied they were both broken.

"On your knees, Nami-ya…" He said softly.

Her legs became free and she sank to the ground, trying to hold Momonosuke but her arms were frozen.

"Not to him, to me"

Nami turned herself, wincing against the pain that threatened to make her lose consciousness till she was facing the feather coated man and bowed her head. Her back was a mass of pounding agony, her stomach bruised and swollen and her mind sick with defeat. But she had to do this, anything to stop the violence against the poor boy. All she wanted was to tear Doflamingo apart but she could do nothing.

Like always, I can nothing…

"Please" She croaked out, swallowing the tatters of her pride. "Please Doflamingo…"

She expected him to laugh, to glory in her submission as he had before, but instead he was silent for a moment looking down at her.

"Caesar… take our young guest to the safe-house."

"Yes, Joker! Now boy, you'd better be quiet"

"Nami…" The dragon gasped as he was dragged away by the mad scientist.

Fresh tears ran down Nami's blood streaked face. She couldn't bear to watch him being taken away.

If only I was stronger. If only I'd trained more. This is all my fault… I haven't changed since Arlong, I always rely on others.

A bent knee appeared in her narrow, glassy view as Doflamingo crouched down in front of her. Long fingers curled under her chin and lifted it up. Her own haunted brown eyes were reflected back at her in those demonic glasses. He leaned forward but she was too stunned to respond as his tongue flicked out and licked the trail of her tears. A shudder came from deep inside but despite the release of his technique Nami seemed powerless to move. Then placing his lips against the shell of her ear, he whispered.

"You know Nami-ya. I preferred you when you were more fiery." Then his laughter rumbled from deep in his chest as he stood up, looming over her.

"…Damn you, you bastard!" She burst out. "Fuck you! Fuck you Doflamingo!"

"Fufufu…yes, just like that." And before she could launch herself at him again he gestured and razor sharp string enveloped her arms and legs and she fell back against the dank wall.

"I need to see to Law's little crew. You'll sit here nicely and wait for me, won't you Nami-ya?"

Without waiting for her furious response he left the cave still laughing.

That had been half an hour ago, or more, it was difficult to concentrate with pain engraining itself further onto her awareness. Nami forced herself to repeat her mistakes again and again, etching them deeper than the physical suffering to keep herself from fainting.

My carelessness got Brook and Chopper hurt. My weakness caused us to be captured. My lack of training got Momonosuke dragged away. How many times have I been kidnapped? Absalom, Enel…who else? How many times have I needed to be saved?!

She repeated it as a litany, first in her mind and then aloud, louder and louder until she forgot the pain and only fury was left.

I may not be the strongest but I can't lose! Don't you dare underestimate this Cat Burglar, Doflamingo!

She may not have a Devil Fruit or Haki but she had perfected the skills of her trade and she hadn't earned the name Cat Burglar for nothing.

Breathing deeply and slowly, she centred herself, ignoring the stabbing ache that came with inhalation. Bracing herself for a burst of excruciating agony, she took another breath and began flexing her shoulders out of their sockets.

If I can't cut this string I'll escape it instead!

"Nami-ya!"

Her vision went white with the pain but she recognised the voice. That beautiful, cold, confident voice!

"Tra-guy!" She cried, tears burning in her eyes as she popped her shoulders back into place with a groan.

"Nami-ya, are you ok?"

He looked almost as battered as she did, long coat ripped, dried blood in streaks down his face and tattooed chest, the shadows under his eyes like caverns but she'd never seen anything so glorious.

Law grasped her shoulder lightly but the area was still extremely tender from her attempted dislocation.

"AHHH!"

"I'm sorry, Nami-ya! Tell me where it hurts?" He brushed her tangled hair out of her face, delicately tracing the cuts and grazes that covered her brow and cheeks.

I must look awful. Why am I thinking about my appearance now?

"Try everywhere." She managed, leaning back against the dripping wall.

"Did he…" Law broke off, unable to find the words and then his face changed becoming the smooth mask she remembered from Punk Hazard.

"Is anything broken? Dislocated?" The dispassionate doctor was back in place.

"I tried …dislocating my…shoulders to escape."

His eyes widened.

"I've done it before… I would have been free if you hadn't come in…"

For some reason it was imperative he knew she could have done it, that she wasn't useless.

"I believe you. But that would have put you out of action for a while. Can you stand?"

No. "Yes." Nami said, trying to force herself upwards, Law clasped her hand, pulling her up as gently as he could, hand coming round to support her back but before she was halfway the string cut into her and more blood seeped out down her chest and thighs.

"Ugh!"

"Nami-ya!"

She fell back and the strings cut deeper.

"These were on Bone-ya and Tony-ya." Law said, touching the restraints.

"Are they ok?!" Nami forgot her suffering to ask. "He said he'd killed them!" A sob suddenly burst forth from her mouth.

They couldn't be! They just couldn't be!

"Nami-ya." Law said, crouching down and leaning towards her in a weird repetition of Doflamingo's action. "When I last saw them, they were alive. All your crew were."

"Were?" Nami repeated, picking up the strange note in his voice.

Law looked away from her. "It took me awhile to get here. Where's Doflamingo?"

"Oh!" She said, brought back to the present. "Tra-guy! He was here half an hour ago with Caesar and he took Momonosuke to some sort of safehouse."

"Doflamingo did?"

"No, Caesar….Oh no…" She said looking up into those slate grey eyes. "Tra-guy, he said he was going after your crew."

Law's face hardened. "Right. We need to go. First I need to get those strings off you."

"Will you use your sword? Be… be careful Tra-guy!"

"Im not using Kikoku." He said, standing up. "Those strings are too hard even for it to cut . Im going to use 'Shambles'."

"Will it work? The strings are really tight."

Law's eyes narrowed and Nami felt a rush of anxiety.

If he doesn't get it right, I'll be cut up…

"Tra-guy, wait.."

"We don't have time for this, Nami-ya. Just trust-"

"How are you going to defeat Doflamingo?" She cut in. "Luffy said you found it difficult before."

He grimaced. "I'll think of something."

"But Tra-guy, he'll know all your tricks now. He won't meet you in a place where you can swap things."

"Is there a point to this?" Law cut in harshly. "I need to save you. I'll deal with him later."

"Tra-guy," Nami said, her brain working furiously. "What if you did the mind swap thing that you did with me and Sanji-kun?"

Shock briefly passed across his face before it became resolute. "Nami-ya, I need to get you out of this situation. You'll be in too greater danger restrained like this. He'll use you against me."

"But think about it! If he's in-" Nami winced in disgust. "If he's in my body and I'm his, then he won't be able to fight you." She laughed suddenly at the ironic brilliance of it - her own weakness would be Doflamingo's downfall!

"I can also just run into the sea! No matter how powerful he is, he's just the same as every Devil Fruit user! Even Luffy is weak as a baby in a bath. Then you can switch us back!"

Law looked at her for a long moment and bit his lip in thought.

"No." He said finally. "It's a good plan but I won't risk you like that, one wrong move and he will cut you in half."

"You know me too well, Law."

Doflamingo!

"Fufufufu! I see you've found my hidden treasure." Doflamingo said leaning against the cave entrance.

Law whipped around just as the warlord crooked a finger and Nami was pulled straight towards him.

"SHAMBLE-"

Nami cried out as the string cut deeper.

"I wouldn't Law, you know how fast I am." He grinned, glasses reflecting the light from outside. "She'll be cut in half by the time you finish."

Law hissed and lowered his hand. Nami gasped as she was hauled past him into Doflamingo's arms. Every wound and bruise began to scream in unison and she swayed, only kept upright by Doflamingo's strong grip. He smelled of blood and sweat mixed with expensive cologne. Before she'd joined the Strawhats the cologne alone would have made her target him for a theft.

If I had a death wish…huh, I guess I do. She thought, cursing herself for stymieing her own escape.

Law was staring at them, breathing heavily. It was only then she realised he was on the edge of exhaustion.

Shit, what have I done?

Doflamingo chuckled softly looking at his former subordinate. Nami felt the motion through her bruised back, the bumps of his abdominal muscles pressed against her naked flesh. She shivered. His right hand came up to tangle in her dirty hair, wrenching her neck back as the other caressed her hips and exposed midriff. She hated herself for the involuntary spark of arousal the action caused, particularly in front of Law. Her cheeks flamed and Law snarled.

"You look like some fairytale villain, Doflamingo." Law said derisively. "Hiding behind a defenceless woman."

"Ha, you should have seen her earlier, Law, I was frightened for my life! But," he laughed as he pulled Nami's head back further and ran his face down the length of her white neck. "She does make a good damsel in distress."

Nami snapped. It might have been true but she didn't have to hear it from this guy, especially in front of Law who probably never had a weak moment in his life. She shoved herself back sharply against Doflamingo, and Law, seeing his distraction began a technique.

But Doflamingo was too quick for both of them. Using Nami's force to twist her back against him painfully, he flicked out a finger and shot Law in his outstretched hand.

"Enough of this, both of you. You've lost. Accept it. "

"Let…her…go…Doflamingo!" Law dragged each breath in, clutching his bleeding shoulder.

" You know Law, there's a reason I chose Nami-ya."

"I can guess." Law said, eyeing the placement of his hands. Nami gritted her teeth. She wished she hadn't decided to wear the hot pants and bikini top. No showers would ever make her feel clean again.

"Fufufufu, it's true she's easy on the eye but Im disappointed Law, I thought you were smarter than that."

Something about me?

"Get to the point…Doflamingo." Law's arm spasmed again and his chest was heaving.

"I thought you'd appreciate another few moments to live…fufufu, very well." Nami struggled against him again and he effortlessly pulled her back.

"You and Nami-ya have more in common than you think."

"We're both pirates?" Law said, as if speaking to a particularly stupid child. Veins bulged in Doflamingo's brow but he continued smirking.

"After Strawhat's little escapade at Marineford I decided he and his crew were worth investigating. Turns out I was right." He laughed heartily and turned his head back to his victim.

"Cat Burglar Nami," He pronounced her name with relish. " Bounty 16,000 beli. Hardly worth looking at when compared to some of the others. But then something caught my eye. " He looked at Law. "Orphaned as a young child, adopted by Bell-mère, a Marine…."

Nami squeezed her eyes shut, she couldn't hear this, especially from the lips of a man that reminded her so much of Arlong.

"…who sacrificed herself to protect the young Nami and was shot right in front of her little daughter. But our Nami-ya's a survivor, just like you, Law. She even worked for the man who'd killed her mother, some big name in the East Blue, where as you ran away after I killed Corazon, didn't you? Fufufufu!"

Nami opened her eyes and stared at Law.

Similarities? So this happened to him too?

Law's eyes were fixed on Doflamingo and his face bore such an expression of twisted hate and pain it could have been herself looking at Arlong.

Gods, he has. He has been there.

His eyes flicked to her and she was pulled again into those dark, hollow depths, alone, abandoned, as if she had felt the warmth of the sun then someone had destroyed it. That aching void where all Bell-mère's love and protection had been, never to return. A pain so vast it couldn't be contained till Luffy and the others had come along and the light had begun to seep back into her life.

Whatever it takes, Law-kun. I won't let you suffer there forever. I will save you, even if it costs me my life!

"You deliberately captured and tortured her, just so you could remind me about Cora-san?" Law said, revulsion thick in his voice. "Are there no levels to which you won't sink?"

"Law, you mistake me. I only wanted to offer you the chance to play the hero, since you've decided to join the good guys. Fufufu, this way you can even save a version of yourself. See i'm trying to make up for all those years ago. You know I used to think of you like a little brother."

"Ha, well we all know how you treated real brother, Doflamingo. I guess I should expect no less."

"Fine…but there is the matter of your crew."

"What have you done with them!"

"Let's just say that if you don't complete that operation within the next five minutes there won't be enough of them even for a surgeon of your calibre to reassemble!"

"Where-"

"Enough Law! Do the operation now or the deal ends here!"

Law hissed and his eyes went back and forth between them. Nami braced herself.

Do it, Law-kun! She tried to tell him with her eyes. Swap us!

But she could tell from his expression something was wrong. He was no longer the laid back, cocky pirate she remembered from Punk Hazard. The way he was looking at her had completely changed.

Shit, don't tell me what Doflamingo said has got to him that much?

The moment hung on a knife edge then Law's expression fell and he bowed his head.

"…Fine Doflamingo… swear you'll let them go and not hurt them and I'll do it."

"NO, LAW-KUN!"

Law looked at her, surprised at the more intimate address and then firmed his expression.

"It has to be done, Nami-ya."

"Fufufu, don't worry Law, I'll treat them all like they were my own family."

"…Bastard…" Law snarled but when the strings began cutting into Nami and she bit back a cry, he advanced forward.

"Im sorry, Nami-ya."

No!


Thanks for all lovely reviews, faves etc. Just a friendly reminder that reviews asking me to change the pairing will be deleted. This story is already competed, if someone wants a different pairing, please use the search tool and find one. :D