Chapter 29

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece, but Kyra was my idea.

Beta'd by Tomas the Betrayer.

"Gable has just informed me that a rival pirate ship is approaching swiftly from the starboard side." Law's calm voice from the head of the table easily cuts through the chatter of the men at breakfast. Kyra looks up from the remains of her waffles at the hint of steel in his words. "Get ready for a fight, men."

The crew immediately scrambles. Kyra moves to join them, only for a hand to quickly close around her wrist.

"You stay with the boy," her captain commands in a tone that brooks no argument.

"How much longer are you going to be doing this?" she asks crossly, tugging at her wrist in a futile attempt to free it. "It's been weeks. That bastard hasn't even spoken to me for the last eight days. I want to fight."

Law shakes his head, eyes narrowing as though he is displeased with her for questioning him. "No."

Kyra is somewhat less than thrilled. In the weeks since the Divine stripped her of her powers at a crucial moment, Law has completely forbidden the sorceress from engaging the various Marines and pirates they have crossed paths with. He hasn't even allowed her to do is put up a shield around the sub to protect them all from cannon fire. She is totally banned from using her magic at all. Kyra has been sequestered to the ship for the last couple of islands; hasn't participated in a fight in weeks; and is in danger of dying from sheer boredom. Law's extreme caution is getting old.

Kyra seethes, feeling the rage boiling up within her. It has been doing that rather a lot lately. She has fits of anger over inconsequential things much more often than she ever has before. Yesterday she actually tore the hatch from its hinges while stomping outside after an argument with the cook over which of the Blues has the better quality of coffee beans. She had fixed it, of course, but the flairs of blinding rage are bothersome. Kyra grits her teeth for a moment, fighting down the sudden urge to scream at the Dark Doctor.

"This is stupid. One of these days you're going to come up against some crew that's going to wipe the floor with you and your men. How am I supposed to keep that from happening if I'm stuck in here with Aaron? What the hell good am I if you treat me like some burden you have to keep shut away?" The fury drains out of her as suddenly as it had reared its head, leaving a heavy depression in its wake. "I'm not worthless. I'm not. Why won't you let me prove that? Don't you trust me anymore?"

She hates the pathetic sound of her own voice, these fucking unexplainable mood swings, and the way Law doesn't immediately answer her last inquiry. And why should he trust her? How can any of them trust her, after the Divine left her helpless and useless when they needed her most?

Law studies her intensely for a long moment, his icy eyes boring into her very soul in a way that still has the ability to make her squirm. Why does he look at her like that? What's he expecting to see, the Divine staring back at him? Kyra knows that the incident in which her troublesome 'slave' blew up Law's arm shook the captain, whether he will admit it or not. Doubtless that episode has a lot to do with his current overprotective attitude. But dammit, she's not the Divine! She's Kyra, she's her own person, and she'll never let that freakish monster control her like that again! Who the fuck does Law think he is, doubting her like this? How many times has she saved his worthless life, or the lives of his crew? How many times has she snatched her captain - her lover, for Roger's sake - from the threshold of the afterlife?

She tears her hand free of his hold and brushes past him, storming off towards their room. "Fine!" Kyra snarls, once again completely incensed. "Go on then, do whatever the fuck you want. Don't come crying to me if you get hurt or one of the guys ends up dead. I don't give a shit."

An iron grip clamps around the back of her neck halfway down the hall, forcing her to stop. Growling, shoulders tensed to a painful level, Kyra stands there and fights to regain control of her emotions. Turning around and decking Law in the face is not a good idea, no matter how satisfying it might be. Breathing in deeply through her nose, fists clenched so tightly at her sides that she can feel her nails puncture the skin of her palms, the sorceress waits for Law to say something.

"You do not speak to me like that, Kyra," he warns her, his voice dangerously quiet. "Or have you forgotten which one of us is the captain?"

The sorceress scoffs at this. "No shit, Captain. How could I ever forget that you're in charge and I'm just your bitch? You say jump and I'm supposed to ask how fucking high. I know my place, Master. No worries there."

Law's grip tightens significantly. "Your attitude could use an adjustment, my magician."

"And your ego could do with a couple of downsizings," Kyra snaps back, displeased that he would use that little pet name of his at a time like this. "Don't you have a crew to slaughter? The guys are going to kill everybody if you don't go up there. I'll be a good little tool and stay -"

She is jerked around, pushed so that her back slams against the wall as Law looms menacingly in her face. Unperturbed, the angry woman glares back, dearly wishing she could draw a little blood from that damn handsome visage crowding into her space. Stupid soul bond. Stupid magic.

"You are severely trying my patience, Kyra," the Dark Doctor informs her coldly, so close that his lips graze her own.

"Join the club," she sneers in reply, planting her hands on his chest and shoving him back. "Oh wait, that's right, I'm a tool. I'm not allowed to be irritated with you. Well, please excuse me, Master, I'm having a rebellious stage."

Law's hand twitches at his side. Kyra can tell by the look on his face that the pirate would dearly love to either slap her or pull out a scalpel. She thinks for a moment that he might actually act on that urge, that Law is about to cross a line he hasn't approached in a very long time. The witch braces herself for a real fight, perfectly prepared to do whatever she has to in order to defend herself. She will not be Law's punching bag, or his living test subject. She'll kill them both first.

But the moment passes as quickly as it came. Law turns without another word and stalks away, headed in the direction of the hatch to join his crew in the fight against their rivals. Kyra watches him until he is out of sight. She feels strangely disappointed, dejected even. Why the hell didn't Law try to hit her? Is she not even worthy of his fury?

Oh, come on! These mood swings are officially fucking ridiculous. What the hell is wrong with her? Spinning on one heel, Kyra stomps to the room she shares with Law and slams the door behind her before flinging herself on the bed. She grabs a pillow, presses her face into the soft surface, and screams for all she's worth.

What the fuck is going on? It feels like her emotions are doing a tremendously complicated dance, yanking her from one mood to another in the blink of an eye on the slightest provocation. If the crew wasn't so leery of her abilities, Kyra has no doubt they would have started up the PMS jokes days ago.

And it's not just the mood-swings. Her entire body aches constantly. She can't sleep for more than a few hours without waking up filled with restless energy. She has never been what one would call a binge eater, but now Kyra finds herself experiencing cravings for the most disgusting combinations of food. Sachi and Penguin had looked on in awe a few days ago as the sorceress downed a jumbo helping of pickles and peanut butter.

She loathes pickles.

Something is wrong, and Kyra would really like to know what so that she can damn well fix it before it drives her completely insane. Hell, if she wasn't already positive that she is unable to become pregnant - something about the magic in her body corrupting the female reproductive organs; Law had given a long lecture about it ages ago to explain why he had failed to knock her up - she might think that is the problem. Aching body, weird eating habits, mood swings from hell; that would fit.

Her pondering on the subject is abruptly put on hold when a cannon ball tears through one wall, sails across the room, and blasts apart the opposite wall as it continues on its way. Shrapnel from the damaged steel flies at impossible speeds through the air, several pieces embedding themselves into Kyra's side as she lurches off of the bed with a startled shout. She dashes out of the bedroom door and flings herself at Aaron's room, calling the boy's name as she jerks his door open and sees the holes in the walls from the projectile that just penetrated the sub. The vessel is heaving slightly from side to side as the wind picks up and the waves grow; freezing water sloshes into the room to soak Kyra's feet and the bottom of her pants.

"Aaron? Aaron, where are you? Talk to me, kid!"

A weak sob from the opposite side of the bed draws her attention; she is across the room in an instant. What she finds has Kyra stumbling slightly in shock before lunging forward to attempt to grab the boy up in her arms. He is hurt, his smaller body peppered with bleeding holes where pieces of the steel walls had blown inward and punctured his flesh. Tears run down his thin face to mix with the blood from the ugly gash on one cheek. He needs help. He needs Kyra.

Who is suddenly unable to move because someone has just picked up her heart and is apparently trying very hard to squish it.

In seconds the sorceress is on the floor, hands clutching uselessly at her chest as she gasps for breath that refuses to come. Water is still pouring into the room, dousing her and the wounded boy who is crying in pain mere feet from her. She tries to crawl towards him, stretches her power out to fill him and begins healing the damage to his form even while the pressure on her absentee heart grows fiercer by the second.

Aaron flings himself at her as soon as her magic finishes healing her, smaller hands scrabbling at her chest. "Kyra, what's wrong? Get up, there's too much water! You have to get up! Get up!"

Kyra struggles for a moment before managing to put a hand on the boy's shoulder and weakly push in the direction of the door.

"Find Law," she wheezes out seconds prior to loosing a glass-shattering scream of pure, unadulterated agony as whoever now holds her heart in their hands clamps down on the fragile organ with extreme force. Aaron bolts for the door, leaving Kyra alone with her pain to wonder if she is about to die.

A different consciousness suddenly touches her own. Little one, why are you in pain? What has happened?

Oh, fuck. Not now. She can't deal with the monster now.

If the Divine hears her private thoughts it gives no sign. I will come to you. Wait but a moment, little Kyra. I am coming.

NO! She doesn't want that thing anywhere near her! She wants Law! She wants the agony to stop!

And it does. Just as abruptly as the pain began it ends. Arms of deepest brown are wrapped around her, holding her like a bride against a muscular chest. The solid torso rumbles soothingly as feathers brush gently over her bare arms and face. Over the sound of the flooding water and her own gasps for air, a rich voice reaches the mage's ears. "Just breathe, little one. I shall take you to your lover. No more harm shall come to you."

Kyra is engulfed in the creature's onyx wings. They shelter her from the rest of the world as the Divine walks, keeping her from knowing where they are going while she tries to recover from the ordeal of moments ago. What the hell is going on? What happened to her heart? Why did the pain suddenly stop like that? Before she can compose herself enough to voice these questions out loud, the Divine rudely plucks them out of her head and proceeds to answer.

"Little one, I do not know what is happening here. There are many humans on this floating den of metal and wood. Some are of your companions, but many more are not. Those with whom you travel are battling the interlopers, but there is little hope that they will be victorious. There is one amongst the numbers of your enemies who is of my race; no mere human has a chance at killing us."

What? Oh shit, she needs to get out there! Her guys fighting one of these freaks? They'll be slaughtered like animals! The Divine continues speaking, its words adding to her panic like oil dumped on a bonfire.

"It seems I was mistaken to think that the half-breed would be properly cowed by my commands. Instead it has chosen to recruit its sire. It is they who lead your enemies, and it is my brother who now has possession of your heart. I have shielded you from the pain his rough handling brought you, but we must quickly act to reclaim it."

Oh gods. Her heart in the hands of a monster. Merrick, on the sub. Merrick's father, on the sub and holding her heart. Gable said it was just some random pirate crew! Kyra's stomach cramps from the fear clawing away at her senses. The Divine holds her closer and wraps its wings tighter around her, shushing her in what is obviously supposed to be a soothing manner.

"Do not fear, little one. I will not allow harm to befall you. My brother will not touch you. Your heart will be returned post haste."

She doesn't have time to say anything. They are suddenly outside, standing on the deck amidst the chaos of battle. It has begun to rain heavily, the moisture quickly soaking Kyra as the Divine unfurls its wings from around her and raises them high behind its back. She is set gently on her feet as the creature smiles knowingly at her. "Go and find your lover, little one. I shall locate my brother."

Kyra does not need telling twice. Instantly she darts into the mob of men, unleashing her magic for the first time in weeks and butchering fighters in Marine regalia left and right. Her crew exclaims in shocked surprise as she passes, some of them giving shouts of disgust or annoyance when their opponents explode in their faces. She catches sight of Bepo crouching protectively over Aaron's huddled form. Good, the kid's okay. She spots a flash of yellow further along the deck and sprints towards it. Disemboweling Penguin's opponent with a negligent wave and shoving her friend out of the way, Kyra freezes in shock and fear when her view of Law is no longer impeded.

Her captain is bleeding, favoring one leg, his left arm hanging uselessly at his side. His spotted cap is askew, a deep gash slicing across one cheek. He is panting heavily, his right hand clenched tightly around the hilt of his long sword. He glances towards her through the rain for half a second; the look in his eyes in unreadable before he once more focuses his attention on the foe across from him.

Merrick.

The bastard spots her and gives a friendly wave. "Hello, lovey. It's so nice of you to join us. I asked your little friends to fetch you, but they were strangely reluctant to do so. Have you been telling stories about me, lovey-dearest?" The newly-minted Rear Admiral is standing on the deck of Law's submarine, looking completely relaxed and without a scratch on him. His Marine uniform works wonders to emphasize the plainness of his face. He could be anybody, any normal man who has dedicated his life to the symbol of justice on his back.

Except he's not.

Kyra is between Merrick and Law in the time it takes to blink, black magic rolling out of her skin to rise up in the air like smoke. Her soaked hair whips wildly around her face, and she knows that it is not only because of the roaring winds. She can hear the growls shaking her body as they explode out of her chest, can sense Law's tense form close at her back and smell the blood from his wounds. The scent drives her farther into the red haze of uncontrollable fury that rides her.

"You fucking bastard," the enraged sorceress snarls, settling low in a crouch that will give her excellent push when she lunges. "I'm going to kill you."

Merrick's eyes widen slightly at the change that occurs in Kyra's voice. An incredulous smirk spreads across his unremarkable face.

"Oh lovey," he croons, so softly that Kyra almost misses it under camouflage of the rain and wind. "You really are perfect, aren't you? Much more so than that pathetic fool behind you. Is this how it always is? You protecting your man when it is he that should protect you? How unworthy for you."

Howling in rage, Kyra shoves off from her low position and practically flies at him. Her fists are encased in black, one of them pulled back to bury itself in Merrick's face. He barely manages to dodge, his reflexes lightning fast as he darts away from her with that smile still planted firmly on his lips.

"I know why your shaman's rituals failed now, Kyra-lovey," Merrick whispers as he artfully dodges a rope of black energy that lashes out on a collision course with his head. "You had already formed a soul bond with this pirate, hadn't you? It must have been so amusing for you, watching the old fool struggle to bond us and knowing it would never work."

She doesn't bother trying to reply, focusing instead on gathering her magic in a tightly compressed ball that she then throws in Merrick's direction. It explodes outward before he can dodge, ripping into his face and the right side of his chest to tear chunks out in a satisfying hit. Kyra relishes the idea of his pain, gloating over the blood that quickly stains his perfect white uniform red. It doesn't matter that the wounds heal themselves almost immediately; Merrick has been made to bleed. Kyra plans on the submarine receiving a fresh coat of scarlet.

The mad scientist turned Navy officer tries to look just as nonchalant as ever, but the sorceress has no trouble picking up the tense set of his body along with the glint of something burning behind his eyes.

"Have you met my father yet, lovey?"

The question is casual, polite, and carries such a furious undercurrent of anger that the soaked hairs on the back of Kyra's neck spring to attention.

"He's very curious about you. He's a little busy at the moment; he wanted a reunion with an uncle of mine that he hasn't seen in a few millennia. I think he knows you, as a matter of fact. Really, lovey, I had no idea you were acquainted with one of my many strange relatives."

With all the speed of a predator going in for the kill, Merrick crosses the space separating them and grabs Kyra by the neck, jerking her off her feet to dangle in the air. She gags, bringing her hands up to latch onto his arm and tries to blow it up.

Nothing happens.

"Ah, ah, not this time, lovey. Father has given me a little added protection. I'm somewhat more durable than I used to be."

A long blade swings towards them out of nowhere. Merrick jerks to avoid being cut, his grip loosening slightly in his distraction. Kyra is able to yank free, falling to the deck and rolling to give herself some space before springing back to her feet. A jolt runs through her upon seeing Law standing much too close to Merrick, nodachi held ready to take another swipe. She throws herself towards him, flinging up a shield as Merrick reaches for the Dark Doctor.

"Don't you touch him!"

Merrick catches her fist in his hand and yanks her towards him as her shield shoves Law back to form a dome around the shouting pirate. She tunes out whatever he might be saying as she uses her free hand to jab Merrick in the ribs, immensely pleased when she feels his bones shatter under the force of the blow.

"You -" - punch to the gut - "- don't -" - foot to the instep - "- touch -" - elbow to the sternum - "- him!"

Merrick doesn't seem terribly phased by the beating he is receiving. He talks to her in a calm, level tone over the sounds of his own bones breaking as though conversing over afternoon tea.

"I have a little job I need you to do for me, lovey. It shouldn't be too difficult for someone with your particular gifts. I just need you to track someone down and kill them for me. The World Government and the Navy would be very thankful. They'd even be willing to lift you and your pretty captain to the level of Shichibukai and suspend the impressive bounties tied to your heads. Won't you hear my proposal, lovey?"

"Fuck your proposal!" Kyra grabs Merrick around the neck and tries to rip his head off.

Pure, unadulterated agony. It strikes with the swiftness of a cobra, snatching Kyra in its clutches and dropping her to her knees in an instant. Apparently whatever the Divine had been doing to shield her from the pain of having her heart used as a stress ball has worn off. Flashes of white burst before her eyes until they obscure her vision entirely. She can hear herself screaming, can hear Law's voice somewhere in the background.

"Dammit, Kyra! Take this fucking shield down! Kyra!"

Wait, that can't be Law; in two years she's never once heard the man cuss like that. And anyway, she's not going to remove the shield. Merrick will kill her damnably hard headed captain unless she keeps him safe.

The Rear Admiral's fingers yank painfully on her hair, his lips brushing her ear as he whispers under cover of her screams.

"You're going to find Marshal D. Teach for me, lovey. You're going to find the Yonkou Blackbeard and you're going to kill him. You do this simple little task, and all your troubles will blow away. You'll never be hunted by the Navy again. No one under association with the World Government will ever again hound your footsteps. Your precious Heart Pirates will be safe from retribution for their numerous crimes. My father and I will hold on to your heart until such time as your task is complete. Don't worry, lovey; I promise we will take very good care of it."

Inhuman roars. Magic so thick the very air feels heavy. Tremors rocking the deck of the sub. The unbearable pressure on her heart is lifted once again, and Kyra's magic immediately throws Merrick away from her. A heavy arm instantly wraps around her waist and yanks her up into a chest covered in fur. Growls reverberate from the body through her back as wind whips her hair away and she spots Merrick rising to his feet through the torrential downpour. A man appears next to him, a man of perfect proportions with flawless alabaster skin and a magnificent set of wings the color of a setting sun. Eyes like red rubies pierce her in appraisal.

Merrick's father is every bit as glorious as the Divine who holds Kyra so tightly, and every bit as terrifying. In one of its hands rests a human heart.

Kyra's heart.

I do not wish to fight you, my brother. The mental voice tears through Kyra's mind like a migraine as the arm around her tightens. Return my little one's heart to her at once, and there shall be no quarrel between us.

The new one responds out loud. "Your terms are fair, brother. I have no grievance against you or your little human. And yet I must decline for the sake of my son, who you have sworn to kill. I will not further harm the human woman. As my son said, we will return her heart when the task she has been given is completed." Rich and smooth, calmly arrogant just like the Divine. The other creature spreads its rosy wings slightly, still studying Kyra intently. "It is a pleasure to meet you, little human. You have my thanks for the service you have done for my brother. Your heart will be well cared for. We will meet again soon."

And in a flurry of feathers Merrick's father shields him from view before they both vanish into thin air.

Trafalgar Law is not a happy man.

The fight is long over. The holes in his submarine have been mended and the water expelled by his magician under the careful eye of the mechanic Haru. The wounded have been treated. Gable has followed orders and submerged. Aside from a bandage or two, there is no sign that anything out of the ordinary has happened today.

And still Law is not happy.

Do you really think you can keep her forever, Trafalgar Law? A woman as powerful and magnificent as our dearest Kyra? You are nothing but a pathetic little pirate.

He sits alone in his infirmary, scowling at nothing as the events of the day replay within his mind.

She isn't meant for you, Captain Law. Kyra's destined for far greater things than some pointless quest for a mystical treasure and your sad little dream of being the King of the Pirates. She's mine, you know; soon enough she will realize this as well. She'll return to me of her own free will.

In one hand the surgeon clutches a delicate necklace, made of gold and shaped like half a broken heart. A fine filigreed ring dangles next to the heart pendant, glinting silver in the light of the room.

Why don't you give this back to her, Law. I'm sure she'll be thrilled to have a reminder of her dearly departed mother. Here, hold still now won't you? I'm afraid I'll have to punish you somewhat for taking what belongs to me. I'm sure you understand.

His shoulder still aches fiercely. He knows that he should find Kyra and get her to heal it, or at least remove his hoodie so that he can wash and sew the wound himself. He does neither; simply sits in his hospital bay and stares at the bauble in his hand.

You're in far over your head here, you know. You might have one of those delightful Devil Fruit abilities, but when push comes to shove you're still just a normal human man. Do you really think it wise to tangle with immortals? Wouldn't it be so much easier to simply step aside? Let her go, before you get yourself and your little flunkies slaughtered like cattle?

Law slowly closes his fingers around the locket, squeezing so tightly that he can feel the precious metal digging sharply into his palm.

Just give up, pirate.

His cheek twitches; the pain reminds him of the gash to his face.

She's mine.

He should really treat it before infection sets in.

A warm hand settles gently over the wound before Law can move, its partner hovering just in front of the hole in his shoulder. He looks up to see that his magician has entered the infirmary at some point and is now standing mere inches away from him. She is leaning towards him at an awkward angle over his legs as she heals his wounds without a word. Equally silent, Law uses his uninjured hand to coax Kyra into his lap until she straddles his thighs. There's no reason for her to strain herself trying to help him and not do so from a comfortable position. It is not as if their relationship is a secret to anyone on this vessel.

They sit thus for a long time after Kyra finishes, Law unable to look away from the woman perched atop him and Kyra apparently fascinated with his hoodie to the point where she refuses to meet the surgeon's gaze. The argument from this morning,the words from the newest Rear Admiral, and the complete absence of Kyra's heart all linger like an elephant in the room. Neither of them particularly wants to begin the necessary conversation. Law eventually clears his throat and opens his mouth to break the unpleasant silence.

"The Divine's gone," Kyra blurts out without bothering to raise her head. "I made it leave. I don't know where it went or if it's coming back at some point. I really don't care, if it's not here at least it's not harassing me. It did say that my random mood swings are caused by the upsurge in stored magic that results in not being allowed to use my powers, so can we not do that anymore? I'm tired of going from homicidal fury to wanting to bawl my eyes out every ten seconds."

Law hums his permission, one hand roving up and down his magician's back and the other removing her fingers from his face before sliding down to cup her hip. He had given the order for Kyra not to use her powers in an effort to see if the Divine could still track her. Surely not, if her greatest tie to the creature is the magic it bestowed upon her while she was little more than a fetus in her mother's womb? That theory has now been blown out of the water, so there is no reason for Kyra to abstain any longer. The absence of her violent mood swings will be quite welcome; he does not want any more repeats of the scene this morning.

How could I ever forget that you're in charge and I'm just your bitch?

Law pauses in his ministrations, frowning slightly.

Oh wait, that's right, I'm a tool.

"You are not simply a tool to me."

His sudden words slice through the infirmary as efficiently as any scalpel. Kyra tenses in his lap, still staring fixedly at the grinning Jolly Roger on his hoodie. Law does not force her to meet his gaze, does not try to elaborate. There is no need to speak further, as far as the Dark Doctor is concerned. Kyra made an accusation earlier that is false. Law has now informed her of that mistake. The matter is settled.

"I believe it would be beneficial to us if you were to pay a visit to the Yonkou Red-Haired Shanks. If I remember correctly, Shanks owes you a favor. We need to pinpoint the location of Blackbeard as quickly as possible so that you may kill him in the near future. Rest tonight. Tomorrow I will accompany you to Shanks' ship and we will see what he can tell us."

Kyra huffs slightly, finally glancing up with those pretty blue eyes. "You're in a hurry all of a sudden. How many times have I tried to bribe you to go after that fat-ass?"

Law tightens his hold on her, leaning down to peer with the utmost seriousness into orbs like the sea. "Blackbeard's death has never before been a priority. Now it is."

His magician actually looks mildly confused. "Why?"

Why? What a foolish question. He taps her spine over the space where her heart should rest. "Merrick has something I want back. Killing Blackbeard ensures its return."

She stares at him as though he has sprouted a pair of antlers. "How is that? Merrick's got my heart, Law. Do you really think he's going to give it back if we kill Teach just because he said he would? Fat fucking chance. I know him, there's no way in hell he's just going to hand us my heart with a 'thanks a bunch, guys' and let us sail off scot free. And I'd bet anything the offer to become Shichibukai was bullshit. Well, not for you, but for me? The government wants to put me back in their labs and cut me open again. That's what they've always planned. There's no way in hell they'd make me a Shichibukai."

"I am not interested in being a government dog. The title of Warlord holds no appeal to me." Law smooths long fingers over Kyra's back to ease her forward until they are touching from collar bone to belly. He does not object when she leans her forehead against his shoulder and sighs, fisting her own fingers in his clothing. "I do not care about any of Mr. Merrick's proffered rewards except the return of your heart. If Mr. Teach has to die for that to occur, then his days are numbered."

"What if he won't give it back?" she whispers, and Law's sensitive ears barely pick up on the fear in her overly quiet voice. "What happens then? What are we going to do when Blackbeard's dead and Merrick reneges on his promises?"

Law is silent, something in his gut clenching in regards to his own insecurities about the Rear Admiral's words. What will they do should worse come to worst? Merrick is not a normal human. He is aware of the weakness to Law's Devil Fruit abilities, is strong and fast enough to take advantage of them, and appears to know exactly what buttons to push in order to break Law's concentration. He has that inhuman father on his side, as well as the Navy and by extension the World Government. How in Roger's name can the Surgeon of Death and the Demon Witch hope to take that kind of united front on single handed should Kyra's heart be withheld after Blackbeard's demise?

"Would the Divine be willing to retrieve it for you, should his brother and nephew attempt to go back on their word?"

His magician shudders against him, tightening her grip in his hoodie. She does not answer his question, but her reaction to it is answer enough.

"We will regain your heart, Kyra. One way or another. It's ours, after all, and it will be a cold day in Hell before I allow the likes of Merrick to keep something so important."

The girl stiffens in his arms, her fingers in danger of tearing a hole in his clothing. "...Ours?"

Law slips his hand under her shirt and caresses the bare skin of her hip, rubbing the cold metal of her dead mother's necklace against her flesh. "Is it not?"

There is a long, long moment during which his magician is silent and stiff. He waits patiently, allowing her the time she needs to gather her courage before giving the reply they both know is the truth. Eventually Kyra relaxes against him once again, slipping her arms around his waist in a loose embrace. Her voice is muffled when she speaks, her face pressed against the fabric of his hoodie, but the Dark Doctor hears her loud and clear.

"Yeah. I guess it is."

Much later, when the sun has slipped below the horizon and the men have long since retired for the night, Law leans against the wall across from the bed in his room and watches his magician sleep. Her rest is a fitful one; she tosses and turns, twisting the sheets into knots and groaning as though in pain. Those delicate, dangerous hands grope blindly across the mattress in search of something. Pushing away from the wall, the surgeon perches on the edge of his bed and puts one of his hands in the path of hers. Questing fingers latch onto his own digits like a shipwreck victim clinging to a piece of driftwood. Kyra instantly relaxes, letting out a contented sigh as she sinks deeper into unconsciousness.

He will not be joining her in their shared dreams tonight. Too many things chase each other around his mind to allow the oblivion of sleep.

Law has a decision to make.

Kyra is his greatest weakness. As a man who knows his own failings, Law has no problem silently admitting as much. The fight today against Merrick had adequately illustrated just how much of a hindrance she is to him. All Merrick had to do to throw the Dark Doctor off balance was to mention her. It is highly unlikely that the Rear Admiral would have overlooked such a thing. Merrick will doubtlessly use it against him the next time they meet. If Kyra happens to be fighting by his side at that time, she will become distracted trying to protect him and will leave herself open for attack. She has shown with her meltdown today that she is too emotionally connected to that foe to be able to fight him in a detached manner. This is the man who tortured her for years when she was a child. This is the man who killed her mother. There are multiple reasons for Kyra to become enraged during a fight with Merrick, but it will not be to her benefit. The naval officer is simply too dangerous an opponent when one loses one's focus.

Law cannot afford to have Kyra around when next he fights Rear Admiral Rafe Merrick. She will serve as too great a distraction at a time when he will not be able to afford one, and the likelihood of the woman sustaining serious injury trying to protect him and the crew is high. Likewise, Kyra will definitely be more reckless than usual with her own wellbeing on their quest to kill Blackbeard and regain her heart. Powerful she may be, but Law's magician is not immortal. There is a great probability that she might end up dead by the end of this business. Dead, gone, beyond his reach forever.

This is unacceptable. The Surgeon of Death therefore has only one option.

After some time, he carefully disentangles his fingers and stands. Law ignores the renewed mutterings of his slumbering magician as he exits his bedchamber and shuts the door quietly behind him. The galley, when the captain reaches it, is deserted and dark but for the light over the stove. He sits in his customary seat at the head of the table and lets his eyes drift closed, deliberating for a long moment in silence.

"Are you watching us tonight, Mr. Divine? If so, kindly take the time to relocate to my sub. There is something I wish to discuss with you."

"You're acting weird," Kyra informs her escort the next morning as Bepo leads her to the galley, where he says the captain is waiting for her. The fluffy bear twitches slightly, his ears flattening themselves against his head, but does not reply. The walk to the galley is completed in the type of silence that sets Kyra's nerves on edge. This is just odd. Bepo is never this quiet around her. He is practically radiating an aura of total depression, his whole body drooping even as they move closer to the galley. Aaron is not with him, either. The bear's odd behavior only adds to the sorceress' trepidation. All of her stuff had been gone from the room she shares with Law when she woke this morning, only a set of clean clothing laid out for her. And if Law really does have something important to say to her, as Bepo claims, why didn't he just wake her up and tell her? None of this is making any sense.

The presence of a certain winged immortal in the Heart Pirates' galley when they arrive even less so.

Kyra stiffens in shock the instant she spots the Divine standing much too close to Law in this favored room of the ship that is her home. Its arms are crossed firmly over its chest, wings half-spread and a brooding look about its face. Law's expression is just as worrisome, his signature grin replaced by an almost... sad frown. At his feet sits a familiar satchel bulging with what she would bet money are her belongings.

What the hell?

Kyra hovers in the doorway, wanting to go to her captain but not wanting to be anywhere near the monster keeping him company. The Dark Doctor solves this dilemma by stooping to pick up her satchel and crossing the floor to stand before her, holding out the bag as though offering it to her. When Kyra makes no move to take it, Law quietly walks around behind her and very gently manipulates her arms into the straps until they rest on her shoulders. The surgeon then wraps his arms around her middle in a tight embrace, burying his face against the side of her neck over the Jolly Roger and inhaling deeply. Bepo is shaking slightly as though trying not to cry. The Divine is watching them with a mixture of fury and despair, and Law is holding onto her like she's going to vanish off the face of the earth as soon as he steps away.

Kyra is officially freaked out.

"Law?" she murmurs, her voice much quieter than she intends. His behavior is scaring her. The magic gathers just beneath her skin so as to be easily accessible should it be needed. "What's going on? Bepo said you wanted to talk to me. What's wrong?"

Law says nothing for a long moment, simply holds her close and breathes in her scent as though trying to memorize it. When he does speak, it is immediately plain that he is not addressing Kyra.

"You'll abide by our agreement?"

Across from them, the Divine's wings flex slightly. "I shall. The boy has already been safely deposited with a human family that will see to his continued wellbeing. My little one will likewise be sent somewhere safe, and I will watch over her from afar as I have done until now. I will not fight against my brother, but I will protect her in my own way."

"Sent somewhere?" Kyra blurts, interrupting the two as she begins to squirm in Law's embrace. "What does that mean? Law? Where's Aaron? What's it mean 'send me somewhere safe'? I'm not going anywhere!"

The notorious scoundrel whom she has fallen so in love with does not answer. It is the monstrously perfect immortal who responds to her panicky questions.

"The boy is gone now, little one. I have sent him away for his own safety, as your lover did not believe it wise to allow him to remain with you. He will be well cared for; you need not worry for him. As to your other inquiry, the human and I have decided that it is no longer feasible for you to continue your journey with these men. I will be sending you to travel with others who owe you favors for past deeds performed, two of whom you have met before. It will be safer for you there than here with these pirates."

WHAT?

"NO! That's bullshit! You can't just send me away! I don't need to be protected!" Kyra is fighting Law's hold in earnest now, desperate to get loose so that she can turn and see his face. Surely this isn't really happening. Surely Law wouldn't really banish her like some kind of burden. "I can help! For Roger's sake, it's my fucking heart on the line, not one of yours! Don't I get a say in this? How are you even going to kill Teach if I'm not there? His Devil Fruit will just cancel yours out, Law, you'll be a sitting duck! You think this thing is going to step in and keep you from getting slaughtered? Don't do this, Law, you need me!"

She finally manages to tear free, whirling around and grabbing her captain's face between her hands. His grey eyes are closed. The frown seems permanently carved into his face. Long fingers curl around her hips to pull her close as Law leans his forehead blindly towards her own until contact is made. Kyra vaguely registers the feel of something being dropped into her pocket as the Surgeon of Death's hot breath washes over her face.

Law's eyes open. They stare at each other for a long moment, communicating without words even as the mage's ears pick up the sound of approaching footsteps from behind her. Kyra's grip on Law's skull tightens. Her breathing and heart rate skyrocket in panic. No, she won't leave him. She's not leaving the crew. She won't let them go off without her to die, damn it! NO!

Unwanted hands settle on tense shoulders. Magic is forced from within a terrified girl. A black cocoon begins at her feet and travels slowly upwards, and all the while Trafalgar Law stands there with his gaze fixed on Kyra's face. At the last possible moment, the Dark Doctor leans in and claims the Demon Witch's mouth in a kiss. It is not short and sweet; it is not brimming with the usual passion.

It is a farewell.

He whispers against her lips as the blackness swallows her, seven little words that have her reeling just as much as the disorientation when her power dissipates and she finds herself standing on the deck of an unfamiliar ship. There are people, pirates that have stopped whatever they might have previously been doing to stare at the woman who has just appeared out of thin air. Other ships flank this one. Calls ring through the air along with laughter and music. Kyra can't process any of it. She immediately tries to teleport back to Law, only to be dumped on the same ship in the exact same place. She tries again; and again; and again, those seven words spoken by her captain-lover-friend echoing over and over again in her mind.

Eventually she collapses onto the strange deck, the futility of her actions finally sinking in. The Divine has sent her here and ensured that she cannot return. Kyra is cut off from the sub, from Bepo and Jambarl and Penguin and Sachi... cut off from Law...

Law...

A tentative hand settles lightly on her shoulder. Kyra raises tearful blue eyes to this intruder on her grief, unable to feel surprise at the sight of Fire Fist Ace or Straw Hat Luffy hovering anxiously behind him. The pyromaniac gives her a gentle squeeze, squatting down so that he is at her level and reaching to put his free hand on one of her knees.

"Kyra?" he inquires softly, black eyes scanning her face as more people cluster around them. The others on the ship have realized that they have a new guest.

"Hey, Kyra!" Straw Hat blurts out, sounding halfway ecstatic to see her and halfway worried. "It's awesome to see you again! You can meet all of my nakama! Hey, why are you crying? Are you okay?"

Is she okay?

Law is gone. Kyra can't get back to him. He is sailing towards Marshal D. Teach in a quest for the other man's head, bent on killing him for the miniscule chance at recovering Kyra's heart from the fiends that have taken it. He is going without her, having allowed the Divine to send her away because he is worried for her safety but gives no thought to his own or that of the crew.

That fucking idiot.

I love you, my magician.

Is she okay?

Be safe.

Kyra puts her hands in her hair and screams.

A/N: Please review