Omen
Eighteenth Sign
"M-maybe we should stop running…!"
"Don't talk nonsense!"
Trafalgar Law told himself they weren't trying to escape, but rather they were searching for a suitable stage, preferably somewhere with less audience and more space for movement, to fight it out. Elka was with him, and he knew very well how the girl would react if he involved the civilians around them.
Elka was afraid, it showed on her face and he didn't miss the quaver in her voice when she spoke. She was terrified of the consequences, of breaking the law, of becoming a fugitive - or maybe her greatest fear was the possibility of ending her friendship with Ross. The thought got him in a sour mood.
The dark doctor had a vague idea why the army wanted him. And he was even shocked at himself when he easily shoved aside the notion of Ross selling him out to the army he directly served. It should be his first thought, but after facing him in battle multiple times, Law subconsciously built some sort of trust on him.
So the question remained, and although he was certain he didn't commit any violation or offenses so far, and even though he was a pirate, essentially a criminal in that world too, he'd yet to commit any atrocities worthy of the army's notice.
But perhaps it wasn't about him being a criminal, but simply being him - an entity from another world.
He had brazenly displayed his devil fruit abilities earlier, perhaps a grave mistake he never really accounted, and he recalled the redhead straight up deriding him for it at the encounter. They were people belonging to a world without devil fruits and sky islands, a world without pirates and haki - a world where One Piece was fiction - such an abhorrent term.
Perhaps the army coveted his power, or maybe dreaded it.
How did they know?
If he was so convinced Ross was clear, then where did they get the information? How did they come to know of his existence?
Maybe it was one of the many reasons why the woman was so adamant about forbidding his usage of devilish powers. In that new, foreign world he was in, the people there had unfathomable ways to obtain information, reminding him to that time when Ross showed him a footage of the robbery act he was entangled with on the first day he came into that world. They had technology so advance, that it was only a matter of time before he was found to be an alien invading their society.
Nevertheless, Law could understand the meaning behind their actions, but he just couldn't grasp why Elka was included in the list. Ross told him about a 'snake', but it didn't quite make sense to him, the capture of Elka was too out of place.
Or maybe it was related to the thing he mentioned about being 'hated'.
He spared a glance at the woman, who still wore a panicked expression as they ran through the busy streets of Night Market. They collided against a number of people already, some spilled their things, others lost balance and fell, resulting to most of them yelling curses at them. It didn't bother him, though he admitted it attracted the attention of their pursuers and ensured they won't lose track of them. It didn't matter, he wanted to take them on anyways, just not at the current environment.
Elka, however, seemed to care a lot, muttering apologies while looking back at the persons they inadvertently hurt, distressed or perhaps scared. And to make it worse, she would almost trip, putting her weight on Law's arm and ending up slowing down their pace once in a while. The pirate captain had considered to throw her over his shoulder several times but decided against it, for it will limit his movement and vision. Their hunter was full of surprises, and circumstances warned him it was deleterious to compromise his sense of sight and range of motion.
"We should really stop!" Elka suddenly pulled hard at the dark doctor's arm, almost coming to a stop.
Obviously, the action irritated Law to an astronomical level. It was a time of urgency, and the woman decided to act stupid and suggested pure lunacy. But there was no time to remind her of her place, so he responded with a harder pull, forcing her to keep up with him lest she wanted to trip and fall flat on her face, and he made certain to let her know he was ready to drag her around like a broken doll with no remorse if it ever came to that point.
She kept at it though, struggling to have him stop in his tracks, persistent and extremely annoying.
His patience already worn thin, Law abruptly stopped and turned to her, large tan hand enclosed around her throat. Startled, she looked up into his face and met silver gray eyes, glaring down at her, teeth bared in a grimace.
"Unless you want me to slaughter your people here and now, you will obey me."
She gasped for breath, and at the moment she clawed at his grip, she felt his hold slightly loosening. Perhaps the choking part was unintentional.
"This might be a trap," she croaked out.
He sneered, "And what do you know about traps?"
"I know Ross well enough to know how his brain works," she answered, a hint of panic lingered still on her face yet a flare of resolute confidence sparked in her obsidian eyes, "The ones chasing us are trying to corner us to someplace. It's an ambush."
He wondered, quirking a brow in slight surprise, and perhaps in consideration. "How do you know that?"
She gulped, hesitant for a moment before deciding to answer back, "Woman's intuition."
He narrowed his eyes, confused then angry. It was no time to dilly-dally and the answer he received was clearly unsatisfactory. "If that's the case then I'll have to trust my intuition and," he pulled her closer, releasing her from his grip and instead, wrapping an arm around her waist to casually lift her up, throwing her over his shoulder before resuming his sprint, "get back to running."
She did not seem willing to give up just yet. Telling 'stop, stop' nonstop directly to his ear, she flailed about and made it hard for the dark doctor to keep a steady pace, pushing his already limited patience to its extreme limit until he exploded, halting in his tracks and tossing the woman impetuously over to the ground.
She landed heavily on her bottom, but the pain she received from the impact against solid ground was easily forgotten when she saw the Warlord create his room and threateningly gesture to his nodachi.
"What is it with you, woman? Do you want me to dye this city of yours red?" he hissed low, his gaze cold and cruel, just like the icy tone he used the first time they had met.
But unlike their first meeting, there was nary a hint of fear on her face, only defiance and conviction.
"It's not just intuition. I've heard the whole idea from him once," she got up to her feet, holding his gaze fiercely and never breaking eye contact as she stepped closer to him, "You may be a Warlord, the 'Surgeon of Death' even, but you're just one man. Ross commands a unit of skilled soldiers, veterans, and I've heard they are the kind of men who are not afraid of death - of your very epithet."
He was taken aback, marveling at her sudden show of confidence. A while ago she was a cowering mess, and now out of nowhere she had the nerve to talk him down, the guts to threaten the man she clearly feared for the most parts.
Him, of all people.
Rage crossed his features for a split second before composing himself. "You dare say I'm incapable of dealing with hordes of average people?"
"They aren't average," was her quick reply, her gaze seemingly sharpening as the seconds ticked, "And their numbers can make it harder for you."
"I have the capability to turn this city upside down, Elka-ya."
"And he, you. You will be exhausting yourself by making an example out of this city, and he will seize you in your drained state, doctor. The same goes when you bite his bait. That's what Ross is."
He shot her a glare for a moment before rolling his eyes in acquiescence, his room disappearing in response as well. Chucking his sword over his shoulder, he released a sigh and began to scour the area, his eyes gliding over several heads before focusing on a few quick movements among the crowd that suspiciously approached their vicinity.
"You… It sounds like you're betraying him," he announced, his gaze directed at the crowd as he paused, and then returned to the woman beside him, "Or are you betraying me?"
"I'm not betraying anyone."
"You're essentially betraying someone. If you're lying, then you're baiting me. If it's the truth, then you're exposing his secret to me, the man he declared to be an enemy."
"I'm not lying, and it's no secret," she spoke with a staggering certainty, as if it was common knowledge, and somehow it astonished the pirate captain, "He's the type to tell everyone he's going to attack before landing a blow just so they can stand a chance against him. Danger is his middle name."
Law hummed, amused by this new-found knowledge about his stubborn adversary, but it disconcerted him somewhat, for the information might have been a trick as well. For all he knew, she must have been lied to. There was no denying the redhead was a sly fox when it came to tactical warfare, but the same could be said to him.
When the movement seemed to have vanished, he grabbed her by the hand and pulled her inside the nearby clothing store, urging her to hide behind the racks while he kept watch of the military men obscured by the crowd. She didn't protest, even being enthusiastic about it, jumping into a tall trestle filled with long gowns, blending in with the dresses. She peeked her head out slightly to call him over, suggesting he hide too.
But he didn't.
"It can go the other way around. He probably knows you just as well to understand how your brain works."
A smile, yet it seemed such a lonely expression when compared to the smiles she previously offered him. He was unsure of the meaning behind it, so he waited, but she said nothing, and if it weren't for the clacks of heels, and the chatters between the sales clerks and shoppers present inside the store, the silence would have been deafening, and painful.
Perhaps she was unaware of her own expression at the time, Law had thought, but he wasn't sure he wanted to know the reason behind that smile of hers. It was the first time he ever saw her wear it, and if he was to connect it from his previous statement, then it would mean -
"Either of us may end up dead tonight," he stated solemnly, carefully observing her features as he added, "You'll choose, no matter what."
And there it was again, the loneliest expression beneath a pretty smile, an expression that spoke a world of answers without even needing a single word uttered, confirming his sneaking suspicion that the woman had finally decided on something - someone - and although he was convinced she chose him, at that moment he felt a tad doubtful. And the longer she wore that certain smile, the stronger the unease he endured.
Law sighed, leaning in closer and bringing down a tattooed hand to caress her cheek, "I've seen you cry, fake a smile," he said, and she flinched as his thumb brushed over her cheekbone, "But this is even worse, I can't describe it."
Elka frowned, gently removing his hand from her cheek. The gesture seemed to suggest his touch was unwanted, and it showed in his eyes, a flicker of disappointment, but on the contrary, she liked Law touching her so delicately as if she was so precious. She couldn't admit it, didn't want to admit, because she didn't want to get used to it, she refused to get used to it.
Her inner turmoil was left misunderstood, and Law decided it was best to move away before things between them went poorer. He slowly stepped away from her, and the way he retracted his hand showed a reluctance that was so foreign to her, that suddenly she missed his warmth, instinctively reaching for him. She stepped out of her hiding and tugged at his sleeve, but it was more of a yank with the way he unexpectedly whirled around, shock and bewilderment written all over his face.
"Don't-" she cut herself off. She was about to say 'don't leave me', and those words sounded more of a plea. She didn't want to seem weak before him, not when she finally made up her mind. There was no need for pity, nor any kind of affection. She looked at her hand and then at the sleeve she firmly held, the wrinkles around it was a testament to the amount of force she applied on the fabric, desperate and wanting, and the realization made her pull away, withdrawing her hand as if it had been burned.
She cleared her throat and said instead, "Don't just leave without buying a change of clothes. Your ruined coat is bothering the other customers."
He stared at her blankly, and for a good while they both stood still, frozen, until she could not bear the numerous pairs of eyes they had managed to attract, prompting her to spin to her heels and march over to the store's men section.
The pirate captain trailed behind her, falling into deep and silent thought as he tried to grasp the significance of her previous action. She lied, he knew there was something she wanted to say, something entirely different than those that left her lips. It could mean anything, and the inference he drew from it worsened his mood. There was no mistaking her concern for their pursuer, an existence so hard to ignore, and proved to be a huge annoyance. She was stalling, he deduced, likely to prevent them from meeting - clashing, to be precise.
He had initially planned to dispatch the men sent after them, but perhaps he should simply get rid of their captain, he pondered. Unlike the redhead, he had no problems upsetting the woman.
Then his eyes found her browsing the racks, pulling out articles and comparing sizes. He watched her silently, and then later he was picturing her sorrow for a dear one lost and then anger directed at him. And it unnerved him, the awareness of it disturbed him immensely.
She shoved a pile of clothes into his arms, briefly telling him to try them on and then turning back to the rack to keep looking, completely oblivious of his lingering presence. A look of shock crossed his face, replaced with anger after which he realized he was caught off guard, caught at the brink of tipping his inner scales of logic over sentiment. His expression morphed into a glower, magnifying his frustration over the matter but decided against acting upon it. Instead, he hurried over to the changing rooms, his anger ever boiling even after tugging the curtains closed behind him.
There was a wham, an abrupt and loud sound originating from one of the booths, startling most of the crowd within the store, rendering them almost quiet. A sales assistant was courageous enough to approach the source, softly asking if the person behind the curtains was fine, only to be answered with nothing but stillness. The clock continued to tick and they began to worry, a few customers expressing their concern by coming nearer to said booth and calling out to the person as well.
Elka was curious too, unaware of who was behind the closed curtains. She knew Law had gone to one of the many booths to try on the clothes she picked, but she failed to catch which of the several rooms he went in.
Until the curtain opened suddenly, and the crowd gasped in surprise when they saw the dark doctor emerge. The navy blue shirt she had given him seemed a bit tight for him, its long sleeves underlining his thews on his lean arms. The fabric stretched taut across his chest, accentuating his muscles and broad shoulders. If not for the smoldering gaze he wore, he would have been very much approachable.
"Uh, sir?"
A small voice squeaked to his left, but he completely ignored it, keeping his eyes trained onto a certain raven-haired woman, waiting impatiently for a response.
Thankfully, she responded fast, swiftly wading through the crowd that seemed to have formed around the changing rooms. Cocking her head to the side, she peered past Law and found the wall behind him crushed, a fist imprinted at the center. She glared at him, and he glared back. She was clueless as to the root of his anger, but for the time being she decided to let it go.
Her back grew hotter from the curious stares thrown at their direction. She acted quick, placing her hands on his wrists and saying in a considerably loud voice, "Oh there was a huge roach? It must have startled you," she turned to the sales assistant, smiling in hopes of easing their anxiousness, "Next time, make sure to thoroughly clean your booths."
The crowd quickly dissolved, and the whole place returned to being noisy. Understanding surfaced on the sales assistant's face, and next they were bowing their head in apology. They offered to get rid of the 'insect', and Elka persuaded them to gather their 'cleaning materials' first because it was 'a mess in there'.
They didn't wait for the sales clerk to return, and after paying for the shirt Law wore and a few other clothes she grabbed at the heat of the moment, the two made themselves scarce with all speed.
"What happened in there?" Elka asked as soon as they were a few meters away from the store.
Law remained quiet.
She knew if the dark doctor decided to shut his mouth, it'd take all efforts on her part to pry his mouth open, but that glower on his face compelled her to keep pushing. She wanted to know where that sudden surge of anger came from, especially coming from the Trafalgar Law whom she had known to be always calm and composed. It was so out of character and it bothered her to no end.
"Doctor, can you please tell me what's gotten into you?"
He didn't reply still, but she knew he was listening by the way his jaw clenched in exasperation.
"I told you already, I'm not betraying anyone. Not you."
Still no reply, not even a gesture of acknowledgement. It was nice he kept his pace and walked beside her, but the silent treatment stung her.
Lifting her eyes, she saw a neon sign with a familiar ring to it. She studied the building, the adrenaline leaving her already beaten body when one of its billboards flashed an image of a room with a large, comfy-looking bed. She was tired, finally feeling the whole weight of all the mental strain piling up since the previous day.
Her steps quickened, and for a moment she had forgotten the dark doctor's existence, entering the establishment without hesitation. Not looking twice at the implication of its signage.
The person behind the counter was a strapping lady, a cigarette stuck between her lips as she read a monthly fashion magazine. Glancing up, her eyes immediately zoomed in on the woman, looking her up and down.
"Are you sure you want a room here," she paused, her eyes briefly sweeping across the tall, tan man standing behind the aspiring doctor and then landing back at her, "miss student?"
Elka got the message, presenting her paper bag filled with change of clothes and promising to be careful next time. With a paper signed and a payment made, the lady handed over a key. After hearing directions, she immediately went on her way, glancing over her shoulder once to express her thanks back to the lady and then dashing up the staircase.
Law's anger had dwindled by then. It helped that he was able to blow off some steam on the last store. But now he was tired, his body was beginning to complain of exhaustion, yet his mind remained at work, and he wondered if it was a good idea to come into such a place. He considered Elka's condition, but their pursuer was perfectly capable of combing the whole area in search of them. It might be possible to get some rest, but not for long.
Soon they were inside a modest room, its walls painted in a lighter tone of pink, the floor covered in an alternating white and red tiles, a singular window, and a white, comfy-looking double bed. The pillows looked very fluffy, and the cream sheet over the mattress was inviting.
With the dim lighting, it took them a moment to recognize the bathroom separated by a glass partition. And it seemed to shake Elka awake, jolting spectacularly at the sight.
The Warlord didn't seem to mind its existence, casually brushing past her, slumping into the bed and making himself comfortable. He threw her an inquisitive look, but perhaps she imagined something else entirely and it showed on her face because the smirk curving his lips told her he had read her mind.
"It's not what you think," she said defensively, struggling to force the color from rising in her cheeks.
His hard stare augmented her feelings of mortification, and she internally scolded herself for letting her thoughts wander to sinful contexts. They were in a pinch, curse it all, and here she was, thinking of inappropriate things involving the dreamy dark doctor.
For a second she decided to close her eyes, and once she snapped them open she was back to her calm self.
"Well, love hotels are cheap," she quickly followed, "And they're not too strict with identification and whatnot. Can't be too picky while on the run."
"I don't mind the places you choose," he offered back, a smirk still lingered at the edges of his lips, "Or the imaginings you conjure."
She blinked, and despite herself the blush she struggled to suppress had resurfaced so easily. But she slapped her cheeks, maybe a little harder than she intended judging by her fleeting frown. At least, it helped her to push those thoughts aside, finally able to move closer to the man.
Her eyes drifted back to the bathroom, and a thought struck her, carelessly saying it aloud, unwittingly. "I wonder if he has experience…"
Law was curious. "Experience with what?"
And perhaps it slipped her mind, answering the question ever so carefree, "Sex."
As soon as the word left her mouth, she found herself standing right before the dark doctor, staring at her with an expression akin to intrigue. Her eyes widened in shock as realization hit her, then embarrassment crossed her features, the gears of her mind working in panic, searching for anything to give as an excuse, or defense, and she remained quiet for the whole time, partly hoping the man before her dismissed it as something trivial and unworthy of his time.
"Is that curiosity directed at me, or at someone else?"
Confused, she searched his face in the dim light, his eyes gray like ashes burned by hot fire - an ire in restraint. "Huh? What are you saying?" Then understanding dawned on her, but she hesitated to address it, to ask if it was jealousy she heard.
He was silent for a long time until he dropped his gaze, heaving a sigh as he leaned his back against the bed's headboard. "Forget it. Go get some rest while you still can."
She idled for a moment before sitting over the mattress beside him, eyes fixed on the floor, a tiny crack on the red tile under her shoes. "By the way, doctor, what made you so angry back at the store?"
There was genuine curiosity in her tone, mixed with a bit of worry that made him wonder whether she was offering it to the recipient of his anger, or to the source of it, which was himself.
And for the life of him he couldn't understand why he wanted to push her, speaking in such a cold and cruel manner, answering the question with what he exactly knew would lose him many points, "I want him dead. You want him alive."
Her gaze snapped back to him, the turn of her head sharp as a whip, and instead of fear there was accusation in her eyes, cruel and unforgiving. "You intend to kill Ross?"
He returned her gaze squarely, donning an indifference that seemed to fan the flames of her anger by the sharpening of her eyes, like a dark blade wanting to cut through flesh and bone. But he did not hesitate to reply, and when he spoke next the challenge was clear in his voice. "When I can, yes."
Her brow twitched, it wasn't the answer she wanted to hear. "He's my friend."
"He's my enemy."
Her hands curled into fists, she was now gritting her teeth. Perhaps it was the first time he'd seen her seethe. "Listen, this could have been all a misunderstanding. Ross is-"
"A soldier bound by his duties," he growled, cutting her off rudely. Her eyes widened, biting her lip in frustration as she heard the next thing he said, "He's complying with the orders given to him, orders to capture me and you."
She fell quiet for a time, her glare softening to make way for glassy eyes, expression almost pleading, but then she looked away, unable to bear looking at the face of the man ready to take the life of her friend. And when she spoke again, her voice was so faint she wasn't sure if he heard the words.
"You really should go back."
"That was the plan from the start."
"Then let's keep moving," she rose up, and tears were already streaming down her face. It made Law increasingly uncomfortable, but refrained from letting it show.
"Move to where? Back to where we started?"
She visibly flinched, but she didn't move nor speak.
"We've done that so many times yet nothing happened," he continued, and the cold, hostile tone he used spoke of his withering composure, threatening to break any moment then. "Do you have any idea how to get me back? You're simply stalling - wasting time."
"Then what should I do?!" she snapped, "How about you think of something too?!"
She didn't see him move before she was on her back, the fleecy mattress squeaked briefly under her full weight's heavy fall. There was a flash of light, a blade brushing beside her head and she felt a warm liquid trickle down her face. A sting followed, but she did not dare break eye contact to check on the wound she sustained because she was far more afraid for her own life.
He leaned in close, his face a few inches away from hers, making her all the more conscious of the rare display of his livid expression.
"Here's an idea," he said, annunciating every word. "If you're so concerned about him, take his place and die."
One second and she looked at him calmly, though her heart pounded loudly against her chest. "He has nothing to do with your being here. Do you seriously think killing him or me will help you get back?"
"Judging by the way your world treats you, yes."
She was reminded of the series of unfortunate events she'd encountered since, and her composure slipped at the understanding. Death hounded her for days, and whenever she was saved the life of another was taken instead. It was like an exchange, her blessing for someone's curse, and following the disasters that had taken place since, it was likely that Ross was next.
And she couldn't bear to live with that knowledge, that in exchange for her own happiness she was essentially robbing someone else. And the trend seemed to have gotten to persons close to her, whom she held dear and treasured most. The pain and sorrow of a dear one lost surely was unbearable, and recalling Maribelle's death made her want it to end one way or another.
But she was still afraid, a coward so afraid of death.
"Would you really kill me?"
Law inched his blade ever closer to her neck, the cool steel meeting her skin made her hold a breath. It was the soundless answer he gave her, an affirmation of his intention.
He was still hesitant, reluctant to go through it because, other than the possibility it may not work still, she had managed to crawl her way deep into his skin in a strange way. And he remembered the time when he promised - kind of - to protect her. It was an ironic thing, but thinking about the events that followed, it seemed to be pointing that the key, which he believed to be Elka herself, was supposed to be destroyed in order to release him, to get himself back to his own world.
And how fitting it would be, that the Surgeon of Death be the one to deliver her end.
Elka took a soft inhale, and the following exhale cleared her mind. Perhaps she should simply accept it, after all, losing the one friend she dearly treasured would only leave her feeling empty, and who could tell, her parents, her one and only sibling, they may become next targets, and losing them equated to death, albeit an even agonizing one. But it wasn't easy, because her dying would also mean the grief of those who were left behind, people she loved and reciprocated, and she figured she was being selfish by accepting death's embrace.
However, she already made a decision.
"I won't let any of you die," she said quietly, firm like a conviction, but he didn't move an inch, and it took him a moment to realize the implication her words held.
A risk she was willing to take. For the promise it held, there was hope she was willing to bet her life on.
He was quite shocked, but he managed to hide it. He waited, letting her words linger between them, almost hoping she would say something else or offer another way, but what she announced next only stunned him.
"If it meant returning you to your world, and saving Ross in the process," her voice quavered, there was still some fear in there, expectation thrumming along her skin and her veins, yet she let her eyes drift shut - a sign of faith so vivid even he couldn't deny it. "Do it."
Anger surged within him like a vicious thing, furious at the outcome she agreed to receive, and it showed from the trembling of his hands, the grimace and conflicted look on his face. It was true he wanted to return to his world fast, to finally get back on track and continue his journey of realizing his plans, but for some reason he found it hard and utterly unacceptable to take the life of the woman before him. He had previously thought he was prepared to do anything to achieve his goal, but perhaps he was still weak, allowing some woman to break his resolve and influence his decisions.
Some woman.
She wasn't some woman to him, perhaps not anymore, and to this he clenched his jaw, in nervousness or anger, he was not sure anymore, but he knew he didn't like that small flame kindling within him.
And to think he believed she was the only one with a choice, options so forcefully thrust against her face - he too had it, and by then he had grasped its curse.
He slowly withdrew his blade, and with the slightest movement, a small whimper escaped her throat yet her eyes remained close, still waiting for his sword to cut across her neck and finally stop her breath for eternity. And this irked him even more, her willingness to sacrifice herself for another, because he knew it wasn't just for him alone, but for someone else too.
It was childish of him, and unbecoming, and he was well aware of it. "Let's think of another way," he said then, as he sheathed his sword.
Her eyes snapped open to find his back turned to her, and she blinked, so astonished at the course the Warlord had taken. "But I thought you-"
"Had I killed you and nothing happened, then I just ruined my chance to return to my world," he interrupted, looking over his shoulder calmly, yet the hard line between his brows hinted at the remaining irritation he felt at their situation. "But when we find proof that your death will allow me to return to my world, I will do it."
Elka only nodded, closing her eyes in resignation. By then she had accepted it within herself, that the option of her death be chosen when the time came, and although she still prayed it wouldn't come to that, she willed herself to prepare for it.
=/=
When Elka woke, she quickly rose up, sitting over the bed bemused of how and when she drifted to sleep. And it was a strange sight to find the dark doctor seated comfortably beside her, eyes fixed on her thoroughly so. Maybe he'd been watching her sleep since. The theory made her heart skip a beat.
She looked at the window and found that the lampposts were still lit, though the burst of colors and noise outside had lessened. "How long have I been asleep?"
Law seemed to think for a moment. "Maybe two hours."
"And Ross?"
He shifted his gaze towards the door. "I've been keeping watch and he's probably nearby."
She panicked. "You mean behind the door?!"
"No," he stood up and stalked towards the door, holding his sword at the ready. "Not immediately behind this door but he is nearby."
"Then should we leave?" she asked, unsure of her own question.
"Considering you don't want him to die, yes," he said, his voice oozing with mockery and a hint of bitterness.
She frowned at that, but didn't talk back. It was the truth anyway, and since he was being amenable she didn't want to anger him and cause him to change his mind.
"You should change clothes. Your white uniform stands out too much," he remarked.
And she promptly complied, undressing right then and there without even waiting or checking if the man with her had already looked away, but perhaps it was the panic and alarm that stripped her off of her logical side, or she simply, genuinely forgot his presence. The latter amused him, causing him to keep his eyes on her so as to let her know he was watching, but she seemed to be too consumed by the fact that the redhead was nearby. And unconsciously, a look that said he made a mistake by saying it crossed his face.
She pretty much wore the first thing she got her hands on from the paper bag she carried, uncaring of how it looked on her as long as it fitted her. The black tee seemed a bit loose on her, but at least the denim shorts fitted snuggly on her. Her uniform was then discarded to the paper bag, but she kept the shoes on since she didn't buy a pair of slipper or a rubber shoes to change with.
Dressed up and ready to go, she found Law leaning against the door, arms folded across his chest, staring at her with that utterly amused smile. And after a while she felt her cheeks hot, trying not to think about what she had done and fighting the urge to ask if he watched her change. Because if he did she was going to ask him to run her through his sword and get it over with.
Not later, he seemed to stand in alert, turning to the door and placing a hand on the knob while he held his weapon at the ready.
She stepped closer to him, although slowly in an attempt to reduce the sound of her footsteps. "Is…is he behind the door now?" she whispered, partly afraid of the answer and what might come next.
Law was quiet for a moment, "No, but he's moving away."
"Observation haki, huh? How can you tell if he's nearby or moving?" Elka wondered, intrigue evident from her voice.
"It's not accurate, but I can sense his presence," he explained, but didn't elaborate further. His hand remained over the knob until he decided to turn it and pull the door open.
She peeked behind him but there was no one present before them. They then stepped outside and saw nothing except for the several doors lining the corridor and then the staircase at the end of it.
"Are you sure it's okay to leave? Isn't Ross still nearby?" she asked again, obvious worry spilling from her words.
He paused, and then gestured to the stairs. "He doesn't seem to be anywhere near this building. Let's leave while we still can."
And soon they were out in the open, walking amongst the crowd in the busy streets of Night Market. It was already past 1 am, and yet the place remained lively, still brimming with people despite the reduction of the volume of speakers booming out music from each store due to a handful already closing shop.
"Um, doctor? How do you sense Ross? How does that work?" Elka was fairly curious, because she knew the concept of haki did not exist in their world. It was a mystery to her, that the Warlord was able to feel Ross's presence when in fact the lad lived in the same world as she.
Law looked at her for a moment, seemingly contemplating whether he should explain or not. He determined there was no harm in telling her, but he hated to admit that it may sound like a compliment. So he picked his words carefully, but still ended up with something close to a praise.
"Ross-ya has this presence that's sort of hard to ignore."
"I'm flattered that you think so highly of me."
It was a familiar voice, too familiar that raised the pirate captain's alarms. He whirled around, a blue aura swirling below his palm, but right after his room expanded, a body slammed into him, pushing him roughly against the floor. His head cracked painfully against the cobblestone and he felt dizzy for a moment. Then a weight fell over his torso, knocking off the breath from his lungs. Dazed, he looked up into the face of his assailant, the electric blue orbs and the childish freckles across his face shook him wildly awake.
Elka had noticed what happened a second later, and when she turned back to the dark doctor he was already on the ground, pinned down by the man she was eager to protect. Ross's arms raised threateningly into the air, the steel daggers he held on both hands glistened under the light of lampposts. It was noticeable that he was missing his coat, and instead he wore a casual red shirt, but his pants remained that of the khaki green uniform, for it held lots of pockets to which he carried his weapons.
The instant he motioned to stab Law's eyes was also the instant he seamlessly disappeared, a lone rock falling over the dark doctor's chest as a seeming replacement. And the pirate got up to his feet at once, pulling Elka by the arm as they ran away to the opposite direction.
Steel daggers met with stone, and Ross cursed as a jolting current ran through his arms. It completely slipped his mind, the devilish ability the pirate was capable of doing, and it was a huge mistake to allow himself to get carried away and damage his own dagger, and his own hands. A look of disgust crossed his features before he lifted his face, and once again he was left to watch their figures shrink away from his sight.
He took out the radio that was concealed on his back, "Hey Raven, I lost them," he said, but his deadpan expression suggested he couldn't care less.
"Understood," a voice echoed from the other line. "We'll proceed as planned."
He huffed then, cutting off the connection and placing the radio back on his rear pocket. His eyes swept over the direction he last saw the two, and as he began to march forward he muttered to himself, begrudgingly at that, "If only Seastone Cuffs were a thing here."
A/N: I'm writing this note because December is almost here and I'd like to inform you all in advanced that I may not be able to update this story sooner because I'm about to get real busy (I know it's nothing new, sorry for that). But at least, I think, we'll be nearing the end of this story (I know, sorry it's short lel, perhaps around 20 chaps overall is all I can do, so since this is the 18th, maybe 2 more and it's done. Well, unless my brain acts up again and creates some new scenes I want to add).
Anyhow, I am eternally grateful for your patience and support! So then, I want you to know, dear readers, that you all are wonderful creatures! Hope you enjoyed this new chapter, you beautiful people!