Checking In
"Um, can you tell me why we're laying out here on the grass looking up at a clouded with pollution sky? At night?" Neo asked. The clouds of pollution passed over, allowing small glimpses of the moon to poke through. Crickets sang in the back ground as the lingering voices of those still outside faded away.
"Because you wanted to drag me out here and look up at the sky despite being unable to look at the moon and stars," Kailen replied.
"You didn't have to be so literal." Neo pouted at him.
Kailen chuckled. "I know you're disappointed about not behind able to look up at the stars and moon, but it's still nice to be with you like this."
"Yeah. I'm still very glad you decided to join us," Neo said.
"Me too." A moment of silence spread between them before he said, "Law should be coming out here soon. Are you ready to go check up on your friends?"
"I am." Neo nodded. Pain in her back forced her to roll onto her side. "I'm so worried about them. I know they're doing fine, but still. It's so hard not to worry about them."
"Oh?" Kailen glanced at her. "Or are you thinking more about Robin?"
"I might be," Neo mumbled. "I still don't like the idea of men leering at her. And possibly touching her. Do men touch geisha?" She frowned. "They do, don't know?"
"Well-"
"Don't answer that. I don't want to know," Neo said waving her hand to cut him off. "I'm better off not knowing officially. Robin will play her part, whatever comes her way. She knows how to handle herself. She's been doing it for a long time."
"She's a bright woman," Kailen said. "And very pretty."
"Do you like her?" Neo looked at her brother. His face was covered in shadows so she couldn't tell if he was blushing or if his eyes sparkled at the mention of the woman's name.
"Well, she is pretty."
"You already said that."
"As a friend then," Kailen said.
Neo studied him in the night. She knew he liked Robin as a friend, that was obvious, but she had no way of knowing what kind of girls her brother was interested in. And since they lived on a sub it might not be easy to find out without just asking. She tried to envision him dating Robin. Then she envisioned him marrying her. A bright smile spread across her lips at the image floating in her mind.
"What's that smile for?" Kailen asked.
"Nothing really. I was just picturing you and Robin as a couple," Neo said.
"Oh? And do you like it?" Kailen asked.
"Of course. I love you both. But I'm not going to try and put you two together or anything like that," Neo said. "If you were to fall for her then I would be happy for you. Robin's a good woman. Above all I want you to be happy. Though I suppose it would bother me that you would have to live on the Sunny then."
"I am happy." Kailen took her hand in his. "I'm with you after all."
"Yeah." Neo nodded. She squeezed his hand. "That is very good."
"And what do you mean I'd have to live on the Sunny?" Kailen cocked an eyebrow at her.
"Well, if you did marry Robin you'd want to be together as husband and wife," Neo said.
"What about the sub?" Kailen asked.
Neo laughed. Her bells rang out in the night. "Do you honestly believe that Luffy would let Robin go? Remember, she tried to leave the crew once before. And because of that he declared war on the entire world government and ripped through Enies Lobby."
"Oh," Kailen drawled out the word. "I see your point. That wouldn't be good."
Neo nodded.
"But I'm not romantically interested in Robin," Kailen said. "So you have nothing to worry about."
"You're right." Neo looked back at the sky. More clouds from possible rain were starting to move through the area. Though she didn't sense any rain coming in. She was glad. If it were going to rain she'd prefer it to happen later, after they had visited the Straw Hats.
"There is another option though," Kailen said.
"What's that?"
"We could combined the crews," Kailen said. "Not really an alliance but more of a merger. Law and Luffy would still be individual captains of their crews."
"I think Law's about had enough of Luffy," Neo said. "I doubt he'll be able to handle Luffy on a long term bases."
"You're right." Kailen smiled. "But it would be fun to watch."
Neo laughed with her brother.
"What are you two so happy about?" Law asked.
Neo and Kailen jumped. Tilting their heads back they looked up at Law. He was giving them a quizzical look.
"Oh, it's nothing," Neo said. "We were just talking about stuff."
"Yeah. Just stuff." Kailen adjusted his collar.
"Uh huh. Apparently so since you didn't even sense me coming." Law looked to Neo. "It's time to go now. You ready?"
"Yes! I'm more than ready." Neo took Law's hand when he offered it. Wiggling around the best she could she stood up and summoned her wind crystals. "Ugh. I should have just flown up instead of just standing up." Pulling a small gale around them she lifted them into the air.
"You okay?" Kailen asked.
"Yeah." Neo nodded. "Just typical pains of being pregnant." Using the cover of darkness, and the rotten pollution, she guided them towards the capital where their friends were located. Fire lit up pathways as people wandered around the roads. "What time are we supposed to met up with them?"
"Franky and Usopp should be done with their work by now," Kailen said. "So we're going to head there first. By the time we get there it should be about seven thirty. And as long as he hasn't gotten lost, Zoro should be there as well. Clients of geisha sometimes stay late so we can't go to Robin until about ten o'clock."
Neo turned her eyes back down to the island below them. They all kept a close eye out for anyone that might possibly spot them. But since it was rare for an attack to come from above they figured they were safe. And those who were still out most likely were drunk or returning home for the night. The lanterns started going out one by one. Just as the clouds parted Neo spotted someone slipping around to the back of a house. She wondered if it was someone who lived there or if it was a burglar or someone like that. Part of her wanted to go down there and stop them if they were up to no good. She kept flying. It was impossible to stop all the bad that happened in this country. The closest they would get to that would be to defeat Kaido. Most of the crime in this country was happening because of him.
"There it is," Kailen said when they flew over the neighborhood where Franky, Usopp, and Zoro were staying. He pointed to several small houses lined up together. A few lights were still on in some of the windows.
Neo hovered them for a few minutes to make sure no one was around to spot them before lowering them to the alleyway between two of the houses. They paused and listened. A cricket sang in the distant, but no one spoke. Silently they slipped towards the front of the houses. Law glanced out onto the road before giving them a nod. They moved up to the door.
Kailen knocked on the door. It slid open.
"Hey." Usopp appeared. He waved them into the house.
Candlelight inside of a lantern lit up the room. It gave them enough light to see the other two Straw Hats were there. Franky was sitting cross-legged on the floor while Zoro was sleeping with his hands behind his head. Neo shook her head. "I should have known he would be sleeping when we arrived."
"He can sleep through about anything." Usopp closed the door. When he turned around Neo threw her arms around him. His arms went around her out of reflex. "Whoa!"
"Usopp! I've missed you guys!" Neo said. She pulled back and looked at him, eyeing him for anything and everything that might be out of place. "How have you been? Are you eating enough? Are you feeling okay?"
"We're fine, Neo," Usopp said patting her back. "My toad oil sales have been good actually."
"You look like you're keeping your weight up." Neo rushed over to Franky. She hugged him too. "Franky! And how are you doing?"
"I'm super!" Franky said. "This job is easy!"
"Considering where you're from I don't doubt that at all. And you're eating fine?" Neo asked. With the way his body was she really couldn't tell if he had lost weight or not. And the air in the house smelled like body odor so she couldn't really tell if they had been cooking recently.
"Of course. The boss man keeps us well fed considering who he is," Franky said. "He can't have his workers starving after all. It's actually not that different from being back in Water 7. The carpenters get in a lot of fights. I feel like I'm back home."
"That's good. I'm glad you're having fun and keeping busy." Neo moved over to Zoro while Kailen and Law sat down around the lantern. She knelt down and looked the swordsman over. She smiled when he continued to snore, completely unaware of her presence. Unable to stop herself she reached out and poked him on the cheek. "So cute. The samurai look really suits him. I love his topknot."
Zoro snored a few more times before waking up.
Neo continued to poke him.
"Will you stop that?" Zoro looked at her.
"Why? Am I annoying you?" Neo smiled innocently at him.
"Yes." Zoro's eyebrow twitched.
"Good!" Neo giggled. "It's what you get for worrying me."
"What?!" Zoro grabbed her hand and sat up. "What do you mean?! I haven't worried you at all! We all agreed on this!"
"Of course you have," Neo said. She lift her other hand and started poking him again. "You've been away from me. I haven't seen you in days. That worries me. And there's the issue with you and your habit of getting lost. Plus there's also the fact you haven't taken a bath in days. You stink."
"That was the plan! Who are you?! Luffy?! I don't get lost! And what do baths have to do with any of this?!" Zoro demanded. He grabbed her other hand and held them together. "Stop poking me! Tra! Do something about her!"
"Have you made any progress of getting the blueprints?" Law asked.
"Not yet," Franky said. "Though he does have them. I should be able to get them in plenty of time."
"Hey! Don't ignore me!" Zoro said.
"Good." Law nodded. "I'll be sure to let Kin'emon know things are going as planned."
"So how are things going on your end?" Usopp asked. "How's the clinic?"
"We're doing fine," Kailen said. "The clinic is coming a long fine. We've had a lot of patients since opening. Unfortunately, quite a bit of them have very little to pay for their treatments. I feel so guilty having to take what we can from them. I wish we could just help them for free."
"Yeah." Usopp nodded. "We've noticed that as well. People here are really suffering." He glanced over at Neo and Zoro.
Neo laughed as Zoro's cheek twitched in annoyance at being ignored. She squealed. "You're so cute when you're annoyed. And you look really, really good with this topknot. I think you should change your title from swordsman to samurai."
"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" Zoro glared at her. "You are not having a mood swing at all."
"You caught me." Neo beamed. "I'm not having a mood swing at all."
Zoro sighed and released her hands. "You're just as bad as Luffy."
"Your so sweet!" Neo wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek.
Zoro growled but didn't pull away.
"Yeah right," Usopp said. "She doesn't annoy you like Luffy does. You actually love Neo. If it was Luffy annoying you, you would have knocked him across the room already."
Zoro frowned at the sniper.
Neo, deciding he had enough, got up, and went to Law. She wrapped her arms around his and snuggled into his side with an exhausted exhale.
"We have to take money from them," Law said. "If we don't we could draw suspicion to us. That's the last thing we need."
"I know." Kailen nodded.
"How are you doing, Neo?" Usopp asked. "Is this pollution hurting you or your baby?"
"No, not really." Neo shook her head. "We're fine. Law and everyone is keeping a close eye on us. Mostly all the pollution here does is drain our magic and energy, at least for now. We're still not sure how it'll affect us in the long run. My solar crystal is healing us just fine as it is. I'm sure we'll be out of Wano long before anything bad happens to us."
"I'm glad to hear that. Luffy and the others will be glad, too." Usopp smiled. "Have you seen Robin yet?"
"No," Neo said. "We're going to see her in a little while."
"I hear she's becoming quite popular as a geisha," Usopp said.
"I hope she doesn't become too popular." Neo wrinkled her nose.
Usopp chuckled. "Don't like the idea of sharing her, huh?"
"Not one bit." Neo huffed. "I can't wait for this part to be over. How is the search for our allies going?"
"I've seen a couple already," Usopp said. "And I managed to get the drawing to them."
"It's been hard looking for people with the tattoo when you're hammering nails," Franky said. "Though I have done work for a couple of men with the tattoo. No complications in the delivery."
"Do what you can. We still have a lot of time left before we attack," Law said. He looked to Zoro. "How about you?"
"I'm doing just fine." Zoro laid back down. "Don't worry about it."
"You know if anything happens you all can come back to the castle ruins," Neo said.
"We'll be fine. The people here trust us," Usopp said. "And we still have our weapons with us. We can handle ourselves if something comes up. Try not to worry, even though you'll do it anyway."
Neo nodded. Her eyes scanned over the Straw Hats bodies. She noticed a few new scraps and scars collected from their jobs here. So she summoned her solar crystal and gave them a little boost.
"Are you sure you should be doing that? Don't you need to conserve your magic?" Zoro asked.
"Ah, you're worried about me. You do care." Neo beamed at the swordsman.
Zoro scoffed but didn't reply otherwise.
"I'm doing just fine. It won't hurt anything to use my solar crystal on you all. You need to be strong as well," Neo said. "I want you all to be in good condition."
"She does have a point." Usopp smiled.
"Kailen, will you go ahead and give them some fresh fruits and vegetables?" Neo looked at her brother.
Kailen nodded then summoned his crystals.
Neo finished using her solar crystal then helped her brother add more fruits and vegetables for their friends. After that she turned her attention to the Straw Hats. "Have you guys eaten yet?"
"We did." Franky nodded.
"Yeah, but we're not the best cooks in the world." Usopp sighed. "I really miss Sanji's cooking. I can't wait for him to get back. Just thinking about his food makes my mouth water." His stomach growled as if agreeing with him.
"You poor babies. How about I make you something? We have a while still before we go check on Robin," Neo said.
"You don't have to do that." Usopp waved his hands. "You're probably tired."
"I don't mine." Neo rolled her kimono sleeves up. "Will you start a fire for me?"
"Well, if you really insist. And if Tra doesn't kill me for it." After giving Law a glance, Usopp got up from the floor. He disappeared outside for a few seconds before coming back with some wood. He placed them in the small square that had been cut out in the middle of the floor for cooking.
Neo rummaged through their storage closet. Since meat was hard to get here she had to stick with fruits and vegetables. "We're going to have to catch some fish soon. You all are probably getting tired of eating so much fruit and vegetables."
"It's fine," Usopp said. "Better than nothing."
"Bepo's been complaining about the lack of fish in his diet," Neo said. As she worked to make their meal she listened to them tell some stories of things that have happened since they started working in Wano. Time passed quicker with their stories and with the food to keep them busy. When they were certain Robin would be back they said their goodbyes. "Take care, everyone."
"We will." Usopp waved to them from the door. "Thanks for the food. It was great!"
"Super yummy!" Franky said.
"Don't forget to bathe, Zoro!" Neo said.
Zoro growled. "Just leave."
Giggling, Neo gathered Law and Kailen into her winds and lifted them back into the air. They flew over several neighborhoods until they got to Robin's temporary home. It was bigger than the building the boys were staying in. She figured more than one person lived in this place. She sat them down at the back of the house. No lights were on in the windows so they had to wait for Robin to return.
Forty minutes passed with them waiting in the dark. Neo fiddled with her sleeve in nervous twitches. She glanced down the small alleyway to the lightly lit street, hoping to see Robin passing by. No one came.
"She'll be here," Kailen said.
"I know, I know." Neo passed in front of the two men. "I'm just being a worry wart. If something happened we would have heard about it. But why do you think she's late?"
"Probably a client who doesn't want to let her go," Law said.
"I wish I had a list of her clients. Maybe we'd be able to keep a better eye on her if we did." Neo continued pacing. She paced and paced until a cat walked up to her. The cat meowed and rubbed against the elemental's leg. She picked the cat up and started to pace again. With possibilities of what could happen to Robin in such a dangerous situation she didn't hear the giggles or the footsteps coming closer to them until Law placed his hand over her mouth. She gave him a questionable look. 'What?'
'Someone's coming.'
'Oh.'
"I am glad that we are finally home," a woman said. "I am exhausted."
"Yes. It has been a tiring evening," Robin said.
"I do not like men who are that clingy," the woman said. "I am overly joyed that he does not request us but only twice a month. Any more than that I would not be able to handle it."
"I must agree with you on that," Robin said. "My feet are rather sore tonight."
"I am ready for a nice hot bath," the woman said.
Neo smiled upon hearing Robin's voice.
"I shall see you in the morning. Goodnight, O-Robin."
"Goodnight."
Neo shifted on her feet, straining to hear for the front door sliding open. A few minutes later a light lit up in the window then the back door open. Robin stood there smiling. "Robin!" The cat jumped from Neo's arms before she threw her arms around the woman. "I was so worried about you!"
"It's good to see you, Neo." Robin hugged her back. "I'm sorry I worried you. A client of mine was having a really good time. He stayed up longer than he was suppose to."
"The jerk," Neo hissed. "How dare he?! You don't need to be up all hours of the night like that!"
"There, there." Robin rubbed Neo's back. "Let's get inside before we are spotted." She guided Neo into the house.
"So how are you doing? Have they hurt you? Did someone touch you in any inappropriate way?" Neo bombarded Robin with questions. "Are you eating all right? Should I have some of the crew stay with you? Are you being followed?"
"Calm down, Neo. I'm all right," Robin said. "Nothing bad has been happening."
Neo's eyes ran over Robin's face and body. Despite all of the hair accessories, makeup, and the flashy kimono the woman looked fine. She sighed and wrapped her arms around Robin's. "I've missed you so much!"
"I've missed you, too. Have a seat. I'm sure you're tired." Robin waved to the cushions around her table. The group sat down. The cat jumped onto Neo's lap. "Would you like some tea?"
"No, we're fine," Law said. "How is your mission going?"
"Quite well," Robin said as she sat down beside Neo. She scratched the cat under its chin, earning a purr of pleasure. "I'm moving up in the popularity rankings. I should be able to get close to the shogun if things keep going this well."
"That's good but also scary," Neo said. "Do let us know if you need anything."
"I will." Robin patted Neo's hand. "Don't worry."
Finally able to relax, Neo took a moment to look around the room. Unlike the guys' place this one had more than just two rooms. The living room, which they were in, had several large cushions for people to sit on. A nice, but small, kitchen stood off to the left. And what Neo assumed was a bedroom was directly across from that. A flew plants and ink drawings were scattered around the room. "Oh! That reminds me! You won't believe what we've learned recently!"
"And what's that?" Robin asked.
"Topaz made a new friend," Neo said. "Her name is Mao. And her husband, Itsuki is a descendant of elementals!"
"Really?" Robin's eyebrows rose.
"Yes." Neo nodded. "They don't have any records written down for the safety of our people, but elementals have definitely been in Wano."
"That's amazing," Robin said. "I wonder if there's a poneglyph with the history of elementals being here."
"Wouldn't Itsuki be aware of that if one was?" Neo asked.
"Not necessarily," Robin said. "It could have been done by another clan."
"I bet if there was one then it would be hidden somewhere only elementals could get to," Neo said.
"Like deep underground," Kailen said. "Probably well below the sea level."
Neo nodded. "I wish we had enough time to look for it."
"Maybe someday we'll come to know the truth about the elementals connection to this country," Robin said. "Remember things are being discovered all the time."
"Yeah." Neo moved to nod again but paused when something fluttered in her stomach. "Hm?"
"What is it, Neo?" Robin asked.
"Neo?" Law looked at her.
"I'm… okay." Neo placed her hand on her stomach. She smiled at Law. "I think Cora just moved."
Law smiled back. "I think he did."
"How exciting," Robin said.
"Cora's growing stronger every day," Kailen said. "I bet you can't wait to write this down in the baby book."
"We'll have to do that before going to bed," Neo said looking at Law as he nodded in agreement. The group stayed for a while longer before deciding to leave so Robin could get her rest for the next day.
…
Neo yawned as she pulled on Law's shirt. She stretched out her body before lying down on their makeshift bed. Having just got back from the sub to record Cora's movements, she was more than ready to get to bed and sleep.
"Feeling better now?" Law asked leaning his sword up against the wall. His eyes went to the cat that followed them back to the castle. Locking eyes with it the cat flicked her ear before curling up at the foot of the bed. He sighed.
"Yeah. I'm glad they're all okay," Neo said.
"Good. I hope it'll settle you down for a while." Law removed his shirt, slipped on his sweat pants, and then slipped into bed with her.
"I'm sorry." Neo rolled onto her side, facing him. "With all my worrying I'm worrying you."
"I'm okay."
Neo scanned his eyes. She found his body was heavy with exhaustion. Reaching out she cupped his cheek. "You feel tired."
"I am."
"Maybe you should take a sedative? Or, better yet, take a day off from work."
Law took her hand and pressed a kiss into her palm. "I'll be fine. Just need a good nights sleep. That's all."
"And cuddling." Neo smiled.
Law chuckled. "And cuddling." He scooted closer to her. "Better?"
"Much." Neo snuggled into his warmth. "Though I still don't like it that you're feeling this tired. If it keeps up I'm going to insist you take a day off. Kailen and Healer Zinnia can handle the clinic for a day. Topaz will help. She knows enough to be a nurse for them if it comes down to that."
"I know." Law stroked Neo's hair. "But I'm really fine. I really think it's just all the worrying you've been doing lately. Now that you've seen the Straw Hats you've calmed down a lot."
"Most of them." Neo sighed.
"I'm sure it won't be much longer before they come back," Law said. He pressed a kiss into her hair. "Now sleep."
"Okay." Neo snuggled into him. Breathing in his scent she allowed it to lull her to sleep.
Law stayed awake for a little while longer. Stroking Neo's hair soothed him. Watching her sleep had the same affect too. Finally, sleepiness washed over him. Resting his arm over Neo's hip he allowed himself to fall asleep.
…
"Princess, are you awake?" Healer Zinnia called from the hall.
"Yes. We're both up and dressed. Come in," Neo said.
The healer entered the room.
"Something wrong?" Neo asked.
"No." The healer pushed her glasses up. "Its just time for me to put the crystals on your stomach."
"That's right. I almost forgot about it," Neo said.
"Sorry I didn't catch you before you got your kimono on." Healer Zinnia eyed the kimono.
"It's not problem." Neo undid her sash. "I'm getting the hang of how to put these things on. Though I'm so ready to go back to our normal clothes."
"If you would lay down?" Neo laid down on the bed. The healer stepped over and placed the crystals around her stomach and her heart. "There you go. Now I'll be able to keep a closer eye on you."
"This makes me a bit nervous." Neo clenched her trembling hands a few times before they relaxed. "Cora's going to be here before we know it."
Law nodded.
"Indeed." Healer Zinnia shoved her hands in her kimono and left the room.
Neo got back up and fixed her kimono before leaving the room with Law and the cat, which she named Sora. They ate breakfast then headed down to the clinic. Some people were already waiting when they had arrived. Not feeling like being inside she sat down in the rocking chair Penguin had brought to the clinic for her a few days before.
She smiled as the sun beamed down on her face while she rocked herself in the rocking chair. She had kicked off her sandals the second she sat down. The wood was warm on her toes as she pushed herself. Her hand stroked the fur of the cat that made herself at home on her lap. The cat yawned before settling down. "I can't believe the sun is actually shining here."
"The pollution doesn't seem as thick today." Penguin leaned back on his hands and looked up at the sky. "I'd like to take it as a good omen."
"Just take it as sunshine and enjoy it," Shachi said. "And Sora's really enjoying the weather too. That cat has hardly left your side since you brought her back with you."
"I'm glad you guys decided to join me today," Neo said.
"Getting a little bored around here, huh?" Penguin asked.
"Very. Though Sora has brought some entertainment with her." Neo rocked back, holding there a second before releasing her toes. "I'm so use to having you all around. It's rather lonely without you all causing mischief. There was always something happening on the sub."
"Not always. You've gotten plenty bored on the sub as well." Shachi smiled.
Neo pressed her lips together to keep herself from laughing as some people walked by. "Yeah, you're right."
"Things are definitely different than being on the sub," Penguin said. "I just hope we're not here for as long as we were on Zou."
"So who do you think will come from there?" Shachi asked. "How many elementals?"
"It wouldn't surprise me one bit if all the elementals came from Zou to protect their princess," Penguin said. "Well, not all of them, but most. I'm sure the kids and elderly will stay on Zou."
"I have mixed feelings about them coming here," Neo said. "I know they'll be a big help in the fight, but there's also pollution stones here. It won't be good if Kaido imprisons my people."
"I'm sure Red Hair would not be happy about that." Shachi cringed. "I wouldn't want to be here when he arrived in a situation like that. He and his crew would completely obliterate this island."
"I wonder what he's up to right now," Neo said.
"You're not going to start worrying about him, too, are you?" Penguin frowned at her. "You're worrying enough as it is."
"I'll never stop worrying about my precious babies. But whatever he's doing I'm sure he's fine." Neo smiled. "He has a goal to meet up with Luffy again." She stroked Penguin's cheek. "Don't worry. I'm fine. I can always go see him if I really feel like it."
Penguin took her hand and pressed a kiss into her palm before releasing her.
"Speaking of which," Shachi said. "What exactly makes Luffy a great pirate?"
"I've been wondering that too," Penguin said. "Straw Hat's already done a lot of crazy things."
Neo hummed. Her mind repeated Shachi's question. What would make Luffy a great pirate? Would it be when he becomes king of the pirates? Or was he already a great pirate? She thought he was great already but that didn't mean the rest of the world did. Luffy, after all, has broken into Impel Down. That prison was supposed to be impossible to get into to, and get out. Yet Luffy had done it. Luffy had also saved Robin from CP-9 and got his crew away from Enies Lobby. He had taken down Doflamingo. Now Luffy was in Big Mom's territory to bring Sanji back. She knew he'd do it. She wasn't sure if he would take down Big Mom but entering into and escaping an emperor's territory was a great feat in itself. Luffy really was a great pirate already. So when would Luffy meet up with Shanks? Would it be when they happen to run into each other on the sea? Or would it be when Luffy became king of the pirates and finds One Piece? She didn't know and figured there was no way of knowing for sure. She gasped when something thumped from the inside of her stomach. Her heartbeat picked up.
"Something wrong?" Penguin asked.
Neo smiled. "Cora just kicked me."
"Really?" Shachi and Penguin asked. Leaning closer to her they placed their hands on her stomach.
"And who gave you permission to touch my love's stomach?" Law asked.
"Oh, hey, Captain," they said sheepishly while not removing their hands from Neo's stomach.
Law shook his head. "Fine." He placed his own hand on Neo's stomach before kissing her. "Just checking on you. I'm inside if you need me."
Neo nodded. "I'm fine. Don't worry."
Law pecked her lips again before going back inside.
Neo waited patiently for her brothers to remove their hands from her stomach. When they did she went back to rocking herself. More people walked by the clinic, talking with each other as they went about their business. A breeze teased her hair. "Feels like a storm will blow in later tonight."
"They could use the rain here," Shachi said.
"And speaking of dark clouds," Penguin said. "Here comes one right now."
Neo scanned the people. She knew exactly who he was talking about when she spotted Kana. The woman was walking over to them, hips swinging like a pendulum. "Again? I'm starting to think this woman is purposefully hurting herself."
"She is," Penguin and Shachi said.
Sora lifted her head from Neo's lap. Her tail twitched in annoyance.
Kana stepped in front of them and smiled.
Neo noticed the woman's kimono was more open in the front than it had before. She suppressed a smirk, knowing this woman's tricks wouldn't work on Law at all. "Hello, Kana. Back again? What is it this time?"
"It is none of your business." Kana cocked her hip and placed her hand on it. "You are not a doctor, are you?"
"No. I am not." Neo calmly stroked Sora's fur when she felt the cat's annoyance grow.
"Oh." Kana put her fingers to her lips. "Then you are jealous of me."
"I am not," Neo said. "I have no reason to be. You are only a patient to Law."
"I am, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman he has ever laid his eyes on." Kana flipped hair over her shoulder. "It is only a matter of time before I make him my own."
"If you believe that then you are more naïve than you look." Shachi kicked his feet out in front of him and leaned back on his hands.
"What is that suppose to mean? Who are you two anyway?" Kana demanded.
"We're Neo's brothers," Penguin said. "And we have been with her and the cap-Law since before they became a couple. If you can't see how much he loves Neo then you are blind."
"It matters not if they are in a relationship. I will get him as my own," Kana said. "Many men have left their previous woman in favor of something better."
Neo smiled. "Yeah. Good luck with that. Law isn't one of those men. Men that leaves their wife for another isn't worth anything."
Kana's cheeks turned red. She huffed and marched towards the door. "I will get him. Mark my words. Men never turn me down." The door opened and closed.
"That woman is so out of her league," Penguin said.
"At least we have a little entertainment now," Neo said. "If only we could be in the exam room with her. I'd love to see her face when she tries to seduce Law. Again."
"I wonder if he'll warp her into water like he did with what's her name back on Luminous," Shachi said.
"Or will you attack her before that can happen?" Penguin glanced at Neo.
"No, you know I won't do that again," Neo said. "Well, normally I wouldn't. I can't say what I'll do when my mood swings hit. But if I do try and attack her I'm sure Law will step in and stop me."
"Such a shame. I'd like to see her go flying." Penguin sighed.
"Though this does raise a question." Neo stroked Sora's fur when she laid back down.
"And that would be?" Shachi asked.
"If Kana doesn't get her way will she try and follow us back home?" Neo asked.
"Good question. I know some people let their obsessions take over them. She could be a real problem if she follows us home," Shachi said.
Sora meowed.
"What? On that's wonderful." Neo scratched under Sora's chin.
"What'd she say?" Penguin asked.
"She said she'll keep an eye out for Kana." Neo lowered her voice so only her brothers could hear her. "I should have thought of it sooner. Sora goes off to find mice. So she can easily see if Kana is snooping around."
"Hey, guys." Bepo walked over. "What's going on?"
"Not much," Shachi said.
"Where have you been?" Neo asked.
"Just walking around the town." Bepo sat down with them.
Neo frowned as she eyed the basket the bear had taken up wearing. "I really hate that thing. I wish you didn't have to wear it."
"Me too." Bepo fanned himself with his paw. "It gets really hot under here at times."
"My poor baby." Neo summoned a wind crystal under the basket.
"That's so much better." Bepo sighed. "Thank you, Neo."
"Don't do that much," Penguin said. "He can handle a little heat. He's just being a baby since he knows you'll spoil him."
"I'm sorry." Bepo ducked his head.
Neo giggled. She poked Penguin on the cheek. "I spoil you all."
"Okay, okay," Penguin said with a smile. "You got me there."
"Now stop picking on Bepo," Neo ordered.
"Yes, ma'am," Shachi and Penguin said.
The crew fell back into silence again as they continued to enjoy the nice day. A group of six young men walked closer to them. A man holding his wrist said, "You all didn't have to come with me."
"Don't be stupid. You're hurt," another one said. "We have to make sure you get properly taken care of."
"Yeah." A third one nodded. "We're all from the same dojo. We're brothers. We look after each other. That's how it is. That's how it'll always be."
Suddenly, all of Neo's strength and magic drained from her body. She slumped in her chair with a groan. Sora perched up with a concerned meow.
"What's wrong?" Penguin asked.
"Pollution stone," Neo said.
Penguin looked around, his eyes desperately searching for the cursed stone. "Pollution stone. Where is it?"
"I don't see it either," Shachi said. "But she didn't become weak until these young men showed up. One of them must have it."
Neo scanned the young men the best she could.
"There," Bepo said. "The shortest one. He's wearing it on his bracelet."
"Just great." Penguin gritted his teeth. "How are we going to get them away from here?"
"We'll just have to fight." Shachi cracked his knuckles.
"N-no." Neo panted. "Don't… fight. You can't. You know you can't."
"Hold on," the injured one said. "You all can't go in with me. This is just a small clinic. And you're all being rather noisy."
"Fine. I'll go in with him," the second one who spoke said. "You all stay out here."
The rest of the group nodded.
"Maybe I can get them to leave." Penguin stood up. "Excuse me. This is a clinic. It's not a social gathering place. You all need to move on."
"Huh?" The group turned to them as the third one who spoke started addressing them. "Our friend is in trouble. We're waiting for him."
"You friend is in good hands. You all can go home now," Penguin said.
"No way." The third one frowned. "We're staying right here."
"Are you trying to pick a fight with us?" a fourth one said. "And who are you to tell us to leave? You all are sitting here as well."
"Our sister's husband owns this place," Penguin said. "We have a right to be here."
"We're not leaving." The third one pulled out a wooden sword.
"No," Neo said. "No fighting."
"Shut up, woman," the third one hissed. "You have no right to tell us what we can or can't do."
"Hey!" Penguin shouted. "Don't talk to my sister like that!"
Shachi and Bepo jumped to their feet, fists lifted.
Neo gritted her teeth. Despite knowing Law was already on his way she still called for him. 'Law!'
"Enough of this." Law stepped out the door. "This is a health clinic not a playground. You know you're not suppose to fight here."
"Sorry," the trio of pirates said.
The young men turned to Law. They lifted their wooden swords but paused at the harsh glare the pirate gave them.
"I am aware of your friend's condition," Law said. "And I do not tolerate people disrupting my clinic. I'll make sure your friend gets the care he needs. The rest of you get out of here. Now."
The young men grumbled but walked off.
Neo took a breath when her body started to recover from the drain. "Thanks, Law."
"You three need to be more careful," Law said.
"Sorry, Captain," they said.
Law stepped over to Neo. He knelt down next to her, pressing his fingers to her pulse.
Neo smiled and cupped his face. "We're fine now." She gasped when Cora kicked her. "Did you feel that?"
"I did." Law beamed. He cupped her stomach just before Cora kicked her again. "Cora doesn't seem too happy someone was messing with his mommy."
Neo rolled her eyes. "Sure that's what it means. He's not stretching his muscles at all."
Law chuckled. "It could mean that." He gave her a serious look. "If another pollution stone comes around I want you to go back to the castle."
Neo nodded.
"You three stay close to her for now," Law said.
"We will," the trio said.
"So how is Kana?" Neo asked with a sparkle in her eyes.
"Disappointed." Law smiled. "I'm having the healer woman check her over."
A shot of pain shot through Neo's stomach. She winced.
"Neo?"
"It's nothing." Neo shifted her position. "Just a little uncomfortable."
Law stared at her.
"Don't give me that look." Neo pulled him into a kiss. "Go on back to work. You can feel I'm fine."
Law slowly nodded. He kissed her again before heading back into the clinic.
Neo relaxed in her chair, well aware of Law's constant watch over her and their baby.
