Chapter 6

It was warm and there was no pain. Nami felt like she was floating on light instead of waves, wrapped and coddled in strong arms. There was a tang on the air not of salt but of citrus.

"Oh..." She whispered and clung back, nuzzling into the cotton shirt with its scent of tangerine and nicotine. A smell she hadn't smelt for years. A person she had cried herself to sleep over so many times.

"Bell-mère-san..."

"Hello Kiddo...I'm sorry it's been so long..."

Nami cried unashamedly, pressing herself into her mother's chest that she was sure was about to disappear. She couldn't even bring herself to look up in case it was a dream.

"Hey, hey, honey! I named you after the ocean not a raincloud!" She laughed.

Nami for Nami - I named you after my favourite thing because you're my favourite thing!

Nami sobbed harder.

"Hey darling, I'm so sorry. But I'm here now. Let me take a look at you."

Fingers tilted her her reddened, snotty face up, and Nami wiped her tears and stared up at the face she'd wished for, for so long.

"Wow, aren't you a looker! I always knew you'd be beautiful! But let's wipe that nose of yours."

Bell-mère was just as she had remembered - kilowatt smile, auburn hair, punkish mohawk. She cleaned Nami's face just like she used to when she was a child. Nami drank in the sight with starving eyes.

This can't be real! Oh but please make it real!

"You're...you're dead! Arlong killed you...I..." Nami burst into tears again and crushed her in a hug. "I'm so sorry I couldn't save you!"

Bell-mère hugged her back just as tight. "No, don't apologise. It's my fault. You should never have had to see that, but it was the only thing I could think of to save you and Nojiko."

"I had… I had to work for him, I had to protect the villagers, but I hated it! Im sorry!"

"Honey, didn't I say you don't have to apologise? I should have killed him when I had the chance!"

"But I betrayed you."

"I know you didn't want to, what you did was very brave. You protected our friends even with their hatred. I'm proud of you, Nami!"

A heady rush of relief made Nami's knees buckle. "...Don't just say that..."

"Hey." Bell-mère forced her to look at her. "Are you called your Mother a liar?"

"No. Never."

"Well then.." Bell-mère grinned and then her smile faded as she brushed the long strands of hair out of Nami's face. "I wish I could have been there for you both, Nami. Having to live with that freak and putting yourself in such danger stealing from pirates alone. I felt so terrible for leaving you in that situation."

Clogs whirled in Nami's head. "Wait, I didn't say the villagers hated me and I certainly didn't mention being a cat burglar..."

"Being dead has its privileges." Bell-mère winked. "I was watching over you, even though you couldn't see me."

A flush of warmth flooded through her. Her mother had been there even when she had felt so alone. Then she blushed.

"Oh don't worry." Bell-mère's grin took a wicked edge. "I know how to mind my own business. Every girl needs her secrets, don't think I didn't get up to trouble in my time too."

Nami giggled. Jeez I wonder what she got up to…

"But I guess we should talk about these Strawhats..." Bell-mère gave her a stern look.

Nami released her, stealing her heart. "I..I won't be ashamed of them! They might be pirates but they are good people!"

"Hmm..." Bell-mère pursed her lips. "I can't agree with all of Strawhat's antics, attacking Marineford with a Yonko, getting himself thrown into Impel Down...Enies Lobby..."

"Bell-mère-san..." Nami whispered. Please, please don't give her back to me, only to tear me apart like this!

The red haired ex-marine was silent for a long moment as she contemplated her rebellious daughter. "But..."

"But?"

"They have taken care of you and rescued the village, plus and I'm ashamed to say this, Strawhat seems to be doing a better job taking care of pirates then us Marines...and his heart is in the right place."

"Please Bell-mère-san, he's a good guy! He doesn't pillage from civilians, he helps people where ever he can, even risking his life! The others are the same. And," She bit her lip "the World Government isn't all it's cracked up to be! If you've seen all I've seen, then you'd know."

"I have seen, and I do know Nami, and you must believe me when I tell you, that isn't what I signed up to serve."

"I know. You'd never knowingly serve that."

"The Marines do a good job but there's always corruption. I wish I had lived so you could have grown up to know them as I do."

Nami opened her mouth to protest.

"But," Bell-mère cut in. "Even if they want the best for their kids a parent can't dictate their child's lives."

Nami snapped her mouth shut.

"All I care about is that you are ok. That you're with good people who care about you." Bell-mère hugged her. "That's all a real parent cares about." She laughed. "My parents didn't want me to be a Marine either. They thought it was unseemly for a woman." She cracked her knuckles. "I certainly showed them! So, it would be hypocritical of me to blame you for your choices like they did with me."

"Thank you." Nami grinned, hugging her back in relief.

"I'll just have to think of Strawhat as Vice Admiral Garp's grandson instead of Dragon's son and a notorious pirate."

"He's not so bad." Nami smiled. "I'm sure he'd do whatever you wanted if you fed him your duck in tangerine sauce."

"Hmm." Bell-mère's face dropped. "That was what I was cooking for you guys when.."

"Don't think about it. It's just good to see you again...Wait if you're dead and I'm here..."

Shit it really happened!

"Yes, you're here because you're passing over, but it doesn't have to be that way."

"What?"

"You're on the border. If you have enough will to get back you might make it." The sly grin came back on her face. "Besides there's an extremely attractive young man who's kissing you right now. I wouldn't miss it if I were you."

"Kissing me? Who? It better not be Sanji!"

"No, it's the dark one with the cute goaty beard and sideburns. Although to be fair to him I think he's just trying to save your life."

"Law-kun!"

"That's the one. Not that it's my business but he's hot stuff Nami! I'd definitely take him for a few rides round the block."

"Bell-mère-san!"

"Sorry, I thought you were a grown up now and could appreciate my humour. Haha, you've gone red again!"

"Enough about that..." Nami said trying to steer the conversation away from several of her more explicit fantasies. "I should get back, it will cut them up if I die and I need to help Luffy achieve his dream. But if I do," She said, looking up at Bell-mère. "I'll lose you again, won't I?"

I can't do that, not again!

"Darling, I'm always here. You're young, you've got so much yet to live for!"

Nami struggled with herself. The two most important things in the world were warring within her.

I have to go back. Law-kun won't forgive himself up if I die, he'll see it as another victory for Doflamingo and I can't do that to the guys...but... She looked at her beautiful, proud mother, fresh and seemingly alive again. No, I can't choose.

"I'm not leaving you." Nami said emphatically.

Bell-mère's mouth twisted with emotion but her eyes were firm. "I'm always going to be here Nami but they won't be. Remember what I said before - 'If you can survive, then happy times, lots of them, will come your way.' Well this is just the start!"

"Bell-mère..." Nami whimpered.

"Go on, get the hell out of here! Besides that boy's getting blue in the face, don't keep him waiting!" Bell-mère pushed her away and Nami felt herself dissipating into modes of light.

Bell-mère's arms came round her one last time. "And remember the other thing I said." She whispered in her daughter's ear. 'I love you!'"

Nami's eyes blurred with tears as she tried to hold on to the fading sensation of her mother for as long as possible. "I love you too...always..."

The tide was pulling her, her spirit flowing across vast distances, back to pain, back to being an orphan. Bell-mère was a cloud of light. "Tell Nojiko too..."

"I will! I promise!" Her voice became a whisper and then she was back in her body with pain exploding in her left shoulder, back and stomach.

Law's lips were soldered to hers but before she could enjoy the moment the burning need to cough became paramount. Wrenching herself away she coughed her lungs up and was deafened by shouts of shock and joy at her return.

Guys...She thought, a fierce love covering the well of loss in her heart. Forcing her grainy eyes open she only had a moment to blink before Chopper and Sanji blocked her view with their cheering faces. A rubber hand grasped her and she could just hear Zoro and Robin's exclamations over Sanji's frantic "Nami-swan, Nami-swan!" and Chopper's chokes of happiness.

"Let her breathe, you idiots!" Zoro shouted and as they backed off she could see his smiling face, looking down at her like a big brother.

"NAMI!" Luffy ignored him to pull her closer and she buried her head in her captain's scarred chest.

Oh Gods, how could I ever think of leaving them. I'm a Strawhat, this is where I belong!

Over Luffy's shoulder she caught sight of Law looking at her with a white, strained face. His eyes were leached of their colour and he looked as if he had just run a thousand miles with relief and despair battling across his handsome features.

Staring at him, she realised with a jolt that if she was here then Doflamingo must be dead. Nami's face burst into a smile.

He's gone, Law-kun! You're free! Your loved one is avenged.

He answered her grin with one of his own, knowing exactly what she was thinking. He still didn't believe it, she could tell, a dazed, childlike look in his eyes, but he would eventually and then he would fly free as she had, unshackled by the past.

What you did was very brave.. I'm proud of you Nami!

Bell-mère-san… are you still watching over me? Looking up at the sky and the gold, gilded clouds she knew it. Love with the keen edge of sorrow made her close her eyes and lay her face against Luffy's shoulder as he placed his hat on her head.

I love you too, Bell-mère-san. I always will!

Looking back she saw Law walking away.

No Law-kun! She wanted to pull him back, tell him it was over, that it would be alright.

You're one of us now.

But the tumult of her friends blocked him from view.

I hope you're ok...


The next few days passed in a succession of well needed sleep, Chopper's doting treatment and visits from friends, but Law was not one of them. She realised he had other things to do and he trusted Chopper's expertise (not that he would have had a choice, the reindeer wouldn't let anyone else look after her and Sanji had left the room with several bruises of his own before he got the message.) But still it nagged at her.

Don't be selfish, Nami. He has to rebuild his submarine and bury his crew.

Her heart ached for him, to lose more precious people to Doflamingo on the eve of his victory.

At least Momo had been rescued. Luffy had wasted no time in hunting down Caesar despite Chopper's desperate attempts to keep him bedridden. Nami ground her teeth, he was having much more success with her.

"No, not one move!"

"But I'll go crazy if I don't get out of this bed!"

"I don't care. You're not aggravating those wounds. You're lucky you can still use your arms especially the left one."

"I thought you said you used the fairy's tears" She still didn't quite believe the whole Tontatta thing yet.

"We didn't have the proper tears, Tra-guy just told us to wash out the vial and give it to you so you've only partially healed. I promise we'll get you some more soon."

"Don't worry about it..."

Chopper's look faded from pedantic physician to concerned friend. He pressed his hooves together.

"Hmm I still haven't fully examined you...er...is there anything you want to talk about...anything I can do?" His expression was dire, what the hell was the issue?

"I'm fine, thanks. Maybe I could do with some tea."

"Sure." He perked up. "I'll send Robin in."

Nami looked at him suspiciously. It was the third time they had tried to get Robin to talk with her, not that she wasn't overjoyed to see her best friend but something was definitely up.

The elegant, dark haired woman came in ten minutes later. Nami's heart gave a wrench. They looked nothing alike but there was something indefinable about Robin that reminded her of Bell-mere. She set the steaming tea down on the side table and sat down on the nearby chair.

"How are you feeling?"

"Much better." Nami said, hoping this would get back to her furred jailor.

"You look better." Robin said, then she poured the tea into delicate cups and handed Nami one.

The navigator dipped her head as much to avoid her crew-mate's penetrating gaze as to sip her drink.

"I'm so glad you are all ok. Doflamingo said you were fighting Kaido."

Robin smiled. "It turns out Big Mom and Kaido don't get on. She was convinced we had still Caesar and wasn't about to let her rival have him."

"Thank goodness! Crap, I didn't realise she was still around. We had to outrun her earlier. Where is that bastard scientist now?"

"In chains." Robin sipped her tea with the same calm expression. "Tra-guy-san thinks he will be useful in exploiting Big Mom. Luffy wants us to go after Red-haired Shanks next though."

"Doesn't he know him?"

"Apparently they are like father and son but Luffy's still determined to surpass him."

Nami laughed, feeling a burst of affection for her irrepressible captain. "He never changes."

"No, he doesn't." Robin looked at her again with those searching eyes.

"What is it, Robin?"

"It can be difficult, being a female pirate. I know this more than most. Working with Crocodile and his cohorts wasn't easy, before that worse things happened..."

Why is she telling me this?

"Nami, you don't have to say anything if you don't want to. It's your own business but just know I'm here for you."

"What do you mean? Why wouldn't I want to tell you anything?"

Robin's sympathy was beginning to grate on her. Did she really guess about Bell-mere?

"Tra-guy-san told us that Doflamingo had said things...done things..." Anger was building behind the anxiety in her friend's eyes but it wasn't directed at her.

"Of course he would have said that, wait what things did he say?" Nami was really worried now.

"He said he...he raped you." Robin reached out a hand. "Nami, I'm so sorry we didn't get here faster."

Nami's mouth fell open. So that was what this was about!

The sensation of Doflamingo's tongue on her face repeated itself, his hands on her hips and breasts, the way his eyes grazed her body on the Sunny and in that awful cave. She shuddered and Robin's face became even graver.

"You don't have to talk about it-"

"It didn't happen!" She said, setting her cup down and pulling her hand away.

Gods, what the others must think?! No wonder why they were tiptoeing around her! Chopper's nervous sideways glances, Sanji's anguished looks.

"Okay." Robin said.

"I'm telling the truth, Robin!" Nami cried. "Yes, okay he touched me and it was horrible but it wasn't anything like that."

Shit it could have been though…She thought, horrified. Thank goodness Law-kun came when he did.

Without the distraction of Momonosuke and Law's crew that would have been the perfect way for a sicko like Doflamingo to spend his time and get back at Law and Luffy. She would have been powerless to stop him too.

"Fuck, I'm sick of this!" She burst out. "Sick of being the one kidnapped, the one everyone has to save and worry about. I'm so fucking weak!" Nami buried her head in her hands, shaking all over.

It could have been me. It could have been me! What about next time?

That laugh played in her mind, first with Doflamingo's face, then Enel then Absalom then finally Arlong laughing at her weakness, her pathetic human vulnerability.

"Nami, how can you say you're weak?" Robin came and sat on the bed, taking her hands from her face. "You're the one that helped kill Doflamingo! Even Luffy couldn't do that."

"Yeah, helped!" Nami said, suddenly furious. "All I did was cry and run away most of the time."

"You did what you had to, to survive and win. Anything else would have been foolish. How many times was Tra-guy-san beaten? He couldn't have done it without you."

"And I couldn't have done it without you." Nami smiled tearily. "Thank you for understanding what I was trying to do. I thought you'd pull me back because it was too dangerous."

"I wanted to. Both for your sake and Luffy's but that's not how we work. We trust each other." Robin stroked her hair and Nami felt like she was back with Bell-mere again. It was difficult to breathe over the catch in her throat.

"Did…did Momonosuke tell you what I did to him?" She said, sick to her stomach on remembering. That had been far worse than any twisted attention Doflamingo had given her.

"He told us that you fought tooth and nail to free him. He thinks that you are an angel, even more than before."

"I beat him, Robin." Nami said, seeing it all over again in her mind. "Doflamingo forced me to. I don't know how. I couldn't stop myself." She looked down, afraid of the judgement her friend might give her.

"We learnt from the Tontatta that Doflamingo had forced the previous King to massacre his subjects so that he would look like a hero saving them from him."

Nami looked up in disgust.

"Neither Momonosuke nor Kin'emon blame you, Nami, so please stop blaming yourself. As for being weak, Tra-guy-san told us that you blasted Doflamingo with your lightning during the fight. Sanji almost fell over in admiration!"

Nami couldn't help but smile, then it dropped, thinking about Sanji and what he must be wondering.

"Does Sanji know about what Law-kun said? Does everyone know?"

"No, he told Chopper because he's the doctor taking care of you and Chopper told me because they both thought you could use a female friend. Sanji would have killed Doflamingo all over again."

"Don't you think I would too!" Nami snapped and then forced herself to soften her tone. "Sorry… it's just…even without that, I still feel like I've been through the mill."

"That's because you have. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up but we were worried that perhaps you might not feel you could talk about it. Even though the worst didn't happen just know that you can always talk to me about anything, ok?"

"I know. Thank you, Robin."

Robin smiled again and pressed her hands tight. "I think you could do with some more rest."

"Ugh, I've had all the rest I need, not that Chopper will listen! Oh, will you tell him…tell him I'm ok, that that didn't happen? I don't think I'm up to it."

"Of course." Robin got up and cleared away the tea.

"Robin? How is Law-kun?" It was valid for her to ask, he was an ally after all and had just lost some of his nakama.

"He's had a lot to deal with. He's not really saying much. In fact after the burial of his crew he's been away a lot."

"Away?"

"I'm not sure where, maybe he's been trying to source the parts and materials for his ship although the rest of his crew seem to be doing that. Luffy has taken them under his wing." Robin smirked. "They don't really know what to make of him."

"I should go talk to him." Nami blurted out.

Robin raised a perfectly plucked brow.

"I mean he might need someone to talk to and I was there…you know…fighting Doflamingo." Nami quickly tried to back-peddle.

"Luffy wanted to do the same but Zoro thinks he will be okay. Taciturn fighting men seem to understand other taciturn fighting men."

Nami bit her lip to stop herself from disagreeing. She didn't want the whole crew knowing how worried she was.

"I guess you're right."

"Do you want to sleep now or should I let Sanji in? He's been holding a vigil at your door."

"Oh alright then, just for a little while."

Robin left her only to be immediately replaced by a flying Sanji.

"NAWI-SWAAAAAAAAAAAN!"

"No hugging!" Chopper shouted from outside and Sanji fell mid-dive and collapsed on the ground. Quickly recovering himself, he swept into a bow and grasped her hand like a knight from some particularly cheesy fairytale.

"Nami-san." He said, hand on heart and head still bowed. "I need to beg your forgiveness for letting this happen! I should have been the one to protect and rescue you, not that Law."

From being amused, Nami's humour plummeted. " I don't need protecting and I'd certainly prefer Law-kun than you, you big flirt!" She said pulling her hand away.

Sanji reacted as if shot, clutching his heart and falling over.

If only he could be serious for one minute! Although I know he cares, the moron…

"Nami-swan! Forgive…wait he gets to be given the precious 'kun' from you too, I thought that was just reserved for me!"

Nami crossed arms belligerently. "It's none of your business, Sanji and besides," She smirked. "I've been hearing a lot about a certain 'Violet-chan'…."

Sanji fell over again, his face flaming red.

"Nami-san…I…I can explain…" His expression made him look like he was being racked. Nami had to stop herself from giggling.

"No." He said, standing up suddenly resolute. "Seeing you there, lying like a princess from legend waiting to be kissed made me forget myself." His eyes turned into hearts but he shook them off. "But I cannot lie to you and dear Robin-chan. I am sorry to break your hearts, you know I will always adore you both but Violet-chan…" He brought a fist to his heart and his eyes were on fire.

Jeez he is actually serious!

"…Violet-chan is my true love! There, I've said it." He grabbed her hand again and knelt at her side. "Can…can you forgive me?" Tears were streaming down his face.

Forcing her face and voice to a solemn gravity, she clasped his hand between hers.

I wish Robin was here to see this haha!

"Sanji-kun…my true knight…"

"WOAH Nami-swan!"

"Be silent,"

"Yes, I'm sorry…"

"Sanji-kun. I can't deny my disappointment and I'm sure that Robin feels the same but as long as you and Violet-chan are happy…"

"NAMI-SWAN!" He cried, leaping up. "I can't let this beautiful, womanly forgiveness go! If you both love me that much…" His face took on a perverted leer and his nose dripped blood. "I will happily love all three of you at once!"

"Idiot!" Nami cried, smashing his face into the wall. "Do you want to get stabbed!"

"Of course, you are thinking of my health." Sanji said, recovering himself. "It's true that Violet-chan is a passionate Dressrosa woman and I will likely be killed for my transgression. But it will be worth it!"

"Sanji!" Chopper said before Nami could smash him into the wall again. "This is why you weren't allow in in the first place! You are agitating the patient!"

"Oh so I'm just 'the patient' now?" Nami's face contorted along with Sanji's who said at the same time "Chopper stop queering my pitch here!"

"I mean it!" Chopper crossed his hooves.

Nami returned to her bed and Sanji sat in the seat that Robin had vacated. Chopper gave him a death glare then closed the door.

"But Nami-san…seriously I'm sorry. I wanted to go after you but Law insisted and the others needed me. If he wasn't the best at fighting Doflamingo I would have abandoned everything to save you."

"You shouldn't have to Sanji-kun." Nami twisted the bed covers in her hands.

"It's my job saving beautiful ladies, Nami-san, I'm happy to do it."

"Maybe the beautiful ladies want to rescue themselves…"

"When I saw you lying there like you were dead, I couldn't forgive myself knowing that I had attacked you when you were in Doflamingo's body." Sanji dug his nails into his palms.

"Don't worry, it wasn't your fault."

"I'm going to make it up to you. I'll cook anything you want for as long as you want."

"Thanks, Sanji-kun." Nami smiled.

He is quite adorable when he puts his mind to it.

"And I won't let that idiot Law get anywhere near you again. I mean, not that he thinks of you like that, he wouldn't know a beautiful woman if she kicked him in the head, which he deserves…"

And sometimes he isn't…

"What do you mean?" Nami felt her temper rising.

"Well I'm convinced he's gay, I mean his crew's full of guys, he never looks at women, he's obsessed with fighting and the bastard spent all that time on the Island of Women with Hancock-hime and he didn't even care when I asked him how he managed! I would have died of blood loss!"

"SANJI-KUN STOP TALKING ABOUT LAW-KUN THAT WAY!"

So he didn't look at the Pirate Empress huh?

"You…you don't like him, do you Nami-san?" Sanji looked like someone had actually stabbed him through the heart this time.

"W-why would you even say that?" Nami spluttered.

Chopper didn't even say anything this time as he marched in and dragged Sanji out.

"Get better soon, Nami-swan! I'll cook you your favourite dish!"

The door slammed and Nami sank back into the pillows, still disturbed.

Damn Sanji, just because his mind's always on sex doesn't been everybody else's is!

Not that she hadn't been passing the time thinking of Law in various states of undress, or perhaps because he was a doctor he could give her an extremely thorough examination that naturally would lead to….

I hope he's not actually gay…

Turning over, she tried not to irritate her shoulders and other wounds.

I shouldn't be thinking of this. He's gone through hell. The last thing he needs is any romantic crap.

It was weird to imagine of romance for herself either. This voyage was one of adventure and fulfilling dreams, relationships would just get in the way. Even though there were vibes between her and several of the crew, none of them had ever wanted to break the bond of friendship between them to see what lay beneath. Despite what she could only describe as love between her and Luffy, she wasn't convinced he actually understood or cared about sexual attraction. The man even seemed completely oblivious of Boa Hancock's lust towards him! Plus he was too sweetly innocent for her to really think about him that way. There was also a certain undercurrent between her and Zoro that usually manifested itself in childish fighting as a way to let off steam and because he was one of the most frustrating men on the planet, but he was also like the brother she'd never had. Sanji made up for the others lack of obvious sexual interest by being possibly the most pervy guy she had ever met apart from Brook. She knew he genuinely cared about her and if he actually could keep to one bed she might have indulged him. But Law…

Ugh I need to stop thinking about this…

She closed her eyes but all she could see was Law's face as he emerged through the cleft to rescue her, his look of shocked admiration at her lightning bolt, his expression of exhausted relief at her recovery.

He's far from a cold, taciturn fighting man, Robin… I wonder what he's thinking now? Where he is?

She knew what it was like after Arlong's defeat - the disbelief, the joy and the aftermath, remembering Bell-mere so keenly every memory cut her like shattered glass. It was only her sister and the Strawhats that had brought her round. She may have hidden it behind a smile but that void never went away. Only seeing her mother again and getting her approval had lightened the load she didn't even know she had been carrying for all these years.

Does he even have anyone he can rely on? I know he has his crew but he has to be their captain not their friend.

After tossing and turning for a while, Nami had had enough. She got out of bed and peeked out the door.

"No." Chopper said, puffing himself up to his larger form and blocking her way. "Back to bed."

"You can't keep me in here!" Nami raged.

The door slammed and Nami hit it which jarred her injured arm and had her cursing and holding it in pain.

"I'll be out here all the time so don't even think of coming out."

"What if I need the toilet?"

"There's a pot in there and a washbasin."

Of all the indignity!

Nami stormed back to bed. After fuming for several minutes she slipped into sleep. Dreams haunted her of a long grey shore. She seemed to be running along it but never catching up to the small figure in the distance. After hours of running she saw a small boy with Law's shadowed eyes and hat being mobbed by a flock of giant flamingos. Try as she might she couldn't stop them from dragging him away into the waves. Diving into the dark ocean as she had before, she swam down, trying to find him, only to be caught by Arlong.

"You're in prison! You don't matter any more!" She screamed, her mouth full of briny water.

"You'll always be my navigator Nami. You can never kill me, you can't escape me!"

Then he shot her like he had Bell-mere and she woke up.

Breathing heavily in the dark, she noticed the sheets were clammy with cold sweat. Her hands were still shaking as she raised them to touch her forehead where the bullet had hit.

"Enough." She breathed. "I'm not going to let you torture me forever. I've moved on." She told the ghost of Arlong. "And so will Law-kun."

Pulling the damp covers off her she glanced through the porthole.

Dawn...

I'm going to find him.


A/N - I'm back after a horrendous but finally successful year at University. Sorry for the big delay but you know...priorities and all that. A massive thank you to everyone that reviewed so far.