The corridor was empty, even though it was just past noon. Normally places like this would be filled with guards, but for some weird reason, there weren't any today.

With a set of cuffs in his hand, Law walked slowly and with caution; thinking about how hard this task would have been if he had really been as hurt as he had pretended to be.

His body could take an awful lot and it would take much more than that squabble between him and Doflamingo to make him immobile.

His acting skills had gotten him in the castle's 'hospital', from where he had planned to take back a few of his old belongings and then quickly escape on his own.

Until he had met Saria.

He felt bad for her: A woman, trying to escape, but too weak to succeed. Something about her made him want to help the her.

"Why the sudden change of heart?" Her innocent question floated around in his head.

Because he wanted to save her at all costs. He wanted to save an innocent life.

For once.

The soft tapping of his heels against the marble tiles was the only sound Law made.

As soon as he heard a sound different from the one he produced, the surgeon immediately shot into one of the rooms of which the door was ajar.

Within seconds, his back was pressed against the white wall next to the door as he tried to control his breathing.

The sound of footsteps got louder.

Stay away.

And louder.

Please, don't come any closer.

When the door slowly opened, Law was ready to use his ability. Until he heard a certain voice, that was.

"You sure are defiant, aren't you, Law?"

He relaxed his shoulders and stepped away from the wall, focusing his attention on the woman in front of him.

"I have to say: I'm surprised you're still here, Violet. I thought you had made plans to escape."

A sad smile appeared on her face and she shrugged her shoulders.

"I'm like a lion without courage." She said, softly. "I have the claws to fight, but I lack the bravery to face that man."

Law knew she was right. The powers of her Giro Giro No mi were quite useful, but the she herself wasn't.

"Listen," Violet said as she stepped forward, closing in on Law. "I have something you're looking for, but in exchange for that, I want you to take me with you. How about it?"

This isn't like you, Violet.

"What kind of 'something' are we talking about?"

Then, as the beautiful woman spoke, the surgeon's eyes got bigger. He would have never dreamed this part of the plan would run so smoothly.

They agreed Violet would bring 'it' later that day. It apparently was as simple as that.

As Violet scouted the area for any people who might be nearing, Law scanned the room; looking for something -anything- that belonged to him.

No such thing was found.

"We're in the clear." Viola whispered. "Leave now and you won't run into anyone if you're quick."

Law nodded and walked towards the door. As he passed Viola, he felt something being handed to him.

"He was the one who kept on trying to visit, but couldn't enter."

"What are you-"

"You'll get it later, now go."

As he shook off his confusion, Law returned to his room with caution.

It took him back, being here again, roaming these corridors like he used to years ago.

The place where he had made a promise to Viola that he'd rescued her.

So you are joining me after all. I don't know if I can handle the pressure of saving two women, though.

Before he knew it, he was standing in front of his room, whispering the same words he had uttered when he had left.

"Room.

Shambles."

Law's biggest relief was the fact that Saria was still asleep. She seemed like she hadn't moved from the moment he had left.

Convenient.

As the surgeon crawled back in his bed, he hid the Sea Prism cuffs underneath the pillow.

He had figured running into someone with a Devil Fruit ability was highly likely and had stolen the cuffs as soon as he had left the room.

Of course he had known where to get them. All thanks to his well-trained memory. It surprised him that Doflamingo hadn't rearranged the rooms, though.

It seemed like he wanted to hold on to some sort of nostalgic feeling. Or not, Law couldn't be entirely sure.

A rustling sounded from within the room and Law slightly shot up.

"Hrm... Don't leave me... Stay... I... Live... Hrm... Kill Do-"

When Law did his best to form a logical sentence from the words spoken by Saria, he almost fell out of bed as soon as she suddenly flicked her head sideways and slowly got up.

She looked like a zombie during its awakening; Law hoped to never see something like that again.

Saria looked around, her face flustered.

"Good morning," she said, rubbing her eyes gently.

"Good afternoon, you mean."

"How are your wounds?"

"Almost fully healed."

Underneath the blanket, Law clutched the piece of paper Violet had handed to him tightly, wondering what it could be.

If only he would have inspected it more closely.

Suddenly, there was a sound on the other side of the door and within seconds, it swooped open.

In walked Diamante.

"Saria, we will be needing your services for a little while."

The doctor stood up and, with reluctance, followed her superior, leaving 'the wounded man' behind.

Said 'wounded' man immediately opened what -when he took a look- appeared to be a letter.

Even though it wasn't addressed to him.

Little sister,

The Mera Mera no mi will be yours. I'll get it for you and explain everything then.

Stay safe.

Suddenly, Viola's hint made sense. He was the one who kept on trying to visit, but couldn't enter.

Of course. An idiot like Bellamy would be pacing in front of the door, just waiting to get caught. That amateur.

It explained the occasional pacing footsteps and attempts to fiddle with the lock Law had heard.

Law felt the need to chuckle sarcastically, but refrained from doing so. It seemed to be inappropriate towards Saria.

Still, that idiot of a pirate wasn't the brightest. Trying to get her a Devil Fruit in such a way as to win an unfair Colosseum fight, why couldn't he have found one earlier?

Just like Law himself had done this afternoon.

All that worrying had seemed to really strain Saria, for the Zombie that had woken up this afternoon wasn't all that different from the one that had returned when the sky had already darkened.

She threw herself on a chair next to the bed as she looked at Law, who had hidden the letter once again underneath the sheets.

"I want to sleep again so badly. Do you require further attention this evening?"

Law chuckled darkly.

"There is one thing."

There was a quick knock on the door and before Saria had noticed Law had said the word 'room', he had already returned.

"I'd like you to take one bite."

"I'm not hu-"

Law took a step forward and held the deep red fruit in front of her.

"One bite."

The female doctor sighed and did what he asked of her. At first, she wanted to complain about the terrible non-fruity taste, but as soon as she had swallowed a piece, there was something completely different on her mind.

"You-" her face had turned more pale and her eyes had widened. She took tiny steps backwards until she was backed up against the wall.

"You gave me a Devil Fruit."

"Now you can fight. It was what you wanted, right?"

As soon as Law detected a slight smile, he felt as if he had taken the first step. That important first step towards saving -now- two people he wanted to save.

"So?" He asked smugly. "How do you like your new powers?"

To be continued.