One for Three
Neo scanned the town. It appeared that this place was a good place to hide for the time being. Like everywhere they went the houses were worn, some abandoned, smelling of dirt and dust. The townspeople barely even notice them when they strolled through the town.
A safe place indeed.
But how long would that last? And what about the crew? Something wasn't right. The bad feeling she had about Penguin, Shachi, and Bepo wouldn't leave her.
"Neo, come away from the window," Law ordered. With a heavy sigh, Neo walked over to him and sat down. The newspaper he was hold crinkled as he turned the page. He pressed a kiss into her hair. "They're strong. They'll be okay."
Neo nodded then turned her attention to the cries of Sanji.
"Waaaah! Komurasaki!" Sanji bit his kimono sleeve.
It was a shock to them all that the prettiest woman in the country had been died so shortly after they had seen her.
"Why are you crying?! You only met her once!" Usopp said. "Technically, you didn't even meet her. You only saw her from a distance."
"The death of a beautiful lady is a grave loss to the entire world!" Sanji wailed.
"Well, at least he's not wearing that outfit anymore." Neo huffed. "Sanji?"
"Yes, my darling fairy!" The man swirled towards her, tears gone.
"I don't ever want see you in that outfit ever again," Neo ordered.
"Yes, my sweet fairy!" Sanji threw his arms around her, rubbing his cheek against hers. "Whatever you say!"
"You are so whooped." Usopp shook his head.
"Looks like the funeral is tomorrow," Law said, eyes still on the newspaper.
"Do you have a sliver of sensitivity in your body?!" Sanji flipped back to crying.
"It's kind of hard to believe she's dead." Neo dropped her eyes to Cora. He puckered his lips in a suckle. "A harsh reminder of how fragile life is."
"I think O-Robi and the others were there when it happened. Think they're all right?" Franky asked.
"Probably," Usopp said.
"I haven't had any nightmares or bad feelings about them so if they are in trouble it's not life threatening or very bad," Neo said. "I'm more worried about my babies."
"Hey, why don't you try contacting them with that thing?" Franky looked at the sniper.
"The smartsnail? It's a mobile transponder snail, Wano's version of our transponder snail." Usopp held up a thick stick with a small snail on the top of it.
"It's so cute. I never knew snails came this small until we got here." Neo patted the little snail on its head with her finger. "Depending on what happened, they might not be able to answer. And I haven't been able to locate where Bepo is."
"The women's bath… Law!" Sanji said. "You got any news about Udon? About Luffytarou?"
"Oh, yeah. He's probably about to blow his fuse from impatience right now," Franky said.
"Yeah. We should meet up with him soon," Usopp said.
"Nothing about Straw Hat. But there's something about Eustass Kid," Law said.
"Kid?" Neo leaned closer to him.
"The women's bath! He's in Wano, too?" Sanji asked.
"He was allied with Hawkins. So it actually shouldn't be too surprising. But he's in a completely different position now. He broke out of prison," Law said.
"They were going after the emperors but it seems like the emperors are going after him. First Godfather and now Kaido." Neo leaned against Law's side. "I wonder how he got out. He'd be wearing sea prism stone cuffs."
"By the way, do you know where the public bathhouse is?" Sanji looking at his Germa can.
"Get your head out of the clouds already!" Usopp and Franky pounced on their friend for his lewd thoughts. The three rolled on the ground, slamming into the door. The door splintered and crumbled. The black can rolled on the floor and was picked up by some kids.
"I'm worried. Bepo and the others went scouting and haven't come back yet." Law exchanged glances with Neo. "And there's your feelings..."
Neo nodded.
Suddenly a man with a big smile, wearing a bandana over his blue hair, was standing in the open door.
"Who are you?" Neo tensed for a second before feeling this guy meant no harm.
Sanji snatched his Germa can from the kids and shooed them out of the house. "Are you an enemy?"
"Yoyoo. Don't worry about it! I heard you're Zorojuro's friends! Feel free to use as many empty houses as you like!" The man slapped his knee. "I mean, just look at us! People are dying of hunger one after another! So we've got plenty of houses to spare!"
Neo had noticed that, too, upon entering the town. She wanted to give them fresh food, but that would be a huge risk right now.
"How is that even remotely funny?" Franky scratched his head.
"He's so weird," Neo said.
The man continued, "We've got no choice but to laugh it off! But unfortunately, you just missed Zorojuro. He rushed out of here in a big hurry! He said that his sword was stolen or something. He was making a big fuss. Who knows who he was chasing, or how far."
"Well, at least someone has seen Zoro recently." Neo pressed a hand to her face. "But if someone stole his sword there's going to be trouble with him, too."
"I'm betting he's already got himself into a fight." Usopp crossed his arms.
"Maybe I should have had one of the elementals follow him," Neo said with a sigh. Cora shifted with a fuss. She rocked him. "Isn't that right, Cora? You're Uncle Zoro is probably lost or in a fight or both. He's such a goofball. Yes, he is."
"Where did Blackleg go?" Law looked up.
"Hm? Come to think of it, he's been gone a while," Usopp said. "Don't tell me he's already…"
"Where did he go?" Neo looked around to find the cook was no where in sight.
"The bathhouse." Usopp and Franky sighed. "That moron."
"The bathhouse?" Neo blinked a couple times before it sank in. Heat rushed to her cheeks. "Oh." She felt Law tense beside her. "Law?"
Law cursed under his breath. "Neo, I need you to try and stay calm."
Neo's heart rate increased. "Is it...?"
"They're fine, but... Penguin, Shachi, and Bepo have been capture."
Ice ran through Neo's veins. Her babies had been capture.
"What?! Are you serious?!" Usopp rushed over and looked at the newspaper. "Others are being captured as well! Crap! This isn't good!"
Neo forced herself to hold her ground, forced herself not to let nature react to her feelings. If she let nature reflect her feelings they might be discovered. Instead she took deep breaths and ran through some plans to get her family back. How may pollution stones would they have at the prisons? Should she have the elementals charge the prison? Should they dig underground? She would be able to sense where Bepo is, but what about Penguin and Shachi? Would they be together? Would they be separated? Would Bepo know where the other two were being held?
It was all useless though. She knew exactly how Law would get them back.
She jolted when a hand landed on her shoulder.
"I'm sure they'll be fine." Robin smiled at her. "They won't kill anyone right now. We have a chance to save them."
Neo nodded, noting those who had appeared during her worry fest. The samurai, ninja, and Nami were also with them now. She hugged Robin. "I was worried about you, too! When did you all get here?! I'm glad you're okay!"
"A few minutes ago. Tra filled us in on what's been happening with you all." Robin looked at the others while patting Neo's back.
Neo scanned everyone that was in the house with them. When her eyes fell upon Sanji. The straw hat cook had several bumps and bruises on his face. How long had she been distracted with her thoughts? "I take it you found the bath house."
"That bear guy and his friends must have blabbed about it!" Shinobu said.
"What?!" Neo gasped and jumped to her feet. "How can you say that?!"
"Bepo and the others would sooner die than talk! Don't you look down on them!" Law said walking towards the door. "We'll just save them and ask! You'll see!"
"Are you out of your mind?! It will be like turning yourself in!" Usopp said.
"Our allies who want to take down Orochi are getting caught one after another ever since your crew messed up!" Shinobu said.
Neo seethed. Through gritted teeth she said, "Shut up."
"What do you mean?!" Law's icy stare locked onto the ninja.
"That little bear and the others definitely told them about our plan!" Shinobu pointed at Law.
"Chill out Shinobu!" Usopp said.
"What did you say?!" Law's hand tightened on his sword.
"Bepo and the others will never talk!" Neo forced back dark thunder clouds that were threatening to roll in. Cora tensed against her, sensing her anger. She tempered her anger as much as she could. "Do not talk about my family like that. More than just our three crewmembers have been taken. You have no right to single us out because we're not from your land."
"No one here would ever talk!" Shinobu said.
"Neither would my family!" Neo's crystals appeared around her.
"Don't waste your breath or magic. Let's go, Neo." Law headed for the door. She followed.
"Wait." Sanji held out his hand. "This is exactly what the enemies want, Law."
"You can't tell me what to do, Blackleg." Law shot the cook a glare.
"Stop it, all of you! Fighting over it isn't going to solve anything! You shouldn't suspect your friends! Besides, I didn't see anything anyway, so…" Sanji said.
"You're the most suspicious one here!" Nami growled.
"How man times did ya have to hit a person's face for it to end up like that?" Franky asked.
Law and Neo tried to leave again.
"Hold it!" Sanji reached towards them.
"The captured must be done away with. Silenced!" Shinobu said.
"Don't say that!" Neo whipped around, a clap of thunder accompanying her tone. "They didn't talk!"
"It's common sense in the ninja world! We're not playing games here!" Tears poured down Shinobu's face. "We've waited for this day for twenty years! We won't get another chance!"
Neo clenched her fists. This woman didn't get it.
"Shinobu, calm yourself," Kanjuro said. "Things don't always go according to plan. I understand your frustration. But without the strength of these friends of ours, who miraculously happened to have the same aims as us, Lord Oden's dreams will certainly never come true!"
"Yoyo! Excuse me! How's everyone doing?!" The smiling man from before came back in. "I can hear you all all the way outside. Yoyo! What pleasant voices."
"Hold up! Who even are you?" Usopp asked.
"Wah! Is that a fair goddess I see?" The smiling man looked at Nami.
"Oh, please come in." Nami blushed and pressed her hands to her cheeks.
"Hey," Usopp said.
"Ah." Smiling man looked to the female ninja. "Is that my dear Shinobu? And Kanjuro?" He held up a piece of paper with their use-to-be secret code on it. "This little drawing is all the rage in the capital right now. Is it really happening? The final battle?"
"It was." Shinobu cut Law and Neo a sharp glance. "Until their crew blabbed about our plans."
Neo growled and stepped forward. She stopped when Law lifted his hand.
"I won't forgive you for doubting our crew! Alliances without trust might as well not exist! There's no way I can leave this in your hands!" Law said then stalked off.
Neo glanced at their comrades before rushing after Law. She hated to leave her friends behind, but her crew took priority right now.
The silence between them grew thick and tense. She could feel his mind spinning with how to get their family out of the prison. When he didn't speak up she asked, "What are you going to do, Law? Should I gather the elementals?"
"No. We can't let them know how many of us there are." Law sighed. "But there is a way I can get them back. And it's something you're not going to be happy about."
Neo stopped walking.
Law stepped back to her and kissed her. "I'm going to propose a trade. Myself for the crew."
Neo bit her lip. Of course he was. It was the go to plan he always had in place if anyone from the crew got captured. Still, tears pressed against her eyelids. She hated when any of her crew was in trouble, especially Law. Her eyes fell upon Cora. Despite how loud they gotten back at that house he had fallen asleep again.
"If anyone has a chance of escaping the prison it's going to be me," Law said as softly as he could.
"Not when they place sea prism stone cuffs on you." She looked at him. "Let me come with you."
"No." Law's voice was firm yet tender. "There's a chance they have pollution stones ready for you. The article didn't mention any elementals captured, but we can't take the chance."
"That's no different from sea prism stone."
Law gave her a pleading glance. "Neo, please, don't fight me on this. We don't have much time."
Neo closed her eyes. She knew he was right. They didn't have much time. Kaido's forces could kill their crewmembers at any time now. And it seemed this was the only way to minimize how many of them were gone. Plus, Law did have a better chance of escaping than the other three. She looked at him. "Fine. But if I feel our life is in danger I'm sending all of us in after you. I don't care about the plan."
"Very well." Law nodded. Slipping his arm around her shoulders he lead her back to the crew.
...
"Captain! Neo!" The crew ran up to them. "Is it true?! Did Penguin and the others get caught?!"
"It's true. Many of our allies have been captured," Law said.
"What are your orders, Captain?" Jean Bart asked. "Are we going after them?"
"You all are going to stay here. I'm going to trade myself for them."
Everyone's eyes shot to Neo.
"Don't give me those looks. As much as I hate admitting it, I know this has to be done. I'm going as far with Law as I can." Neo passed Cora over to Ikkaku. She brushed her hand over his soft hair. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
"And so will I," Law said to Cora and Neo.
"Do you want us to come, too?" Archer asked.
"You all stay here," Neo said when Law didn't utter a word. "I don't want the risk you all getting captured as well."
The reluctant in their eyes was plain as day. But the crew obeyed their captain's orders.
Neo gave them another look before heading off with Law. The flight to the prison was a quiet one. There was nothing that could be said to make it better, or pass faster. So Neo forced it from her mind. One way or another Law would get out and come back to them.
All too soon the prison came into view. Neo sat them down several houses over from the prison. She tucked herself into Law when he touched her shoulder. "It'll be all right, love."
"I know." Neo nodded. She looked up at him. "Don't stay away for very long."
"I'll do my best." Law captured her lips in a deep kiss.
They pulled away. Law brushed his nose with hers before warping over to the prison.
Neo fiddled with her fingers, paced, summoned and banished her crystals. Seconds turned into hours to her as soon as Law disappeared inside of the prison. She had no idea how many passed before she felt her energy leaving her and spotted three familiar dots coming from the prison. She sent out her winds and pulled them to her.
"I'm so sorry, Neo." Penguin wrapped her in a hug.
"We all are," Shachi added.
"We didn't mean to get captured." Tears dampened Bepo's fur.
"It's okay." Neo wiped her own tears away. "It's not your fault. We have no idea how our plans got out."
"How are you feeling? I mean, I assume the captain is..." Penguin trail off.
"They put the sea prism stone on him. I'm not sure when." Neo lifted her hands. She could see the cuffs on his wrists as if she were the one wearing them. She shook the image away. "I can fly us back. Cora's with the crew. We should go."
The three nodded before Neo flew them back to the crew. A few seconds passed when pain erupted in Neo's stomach, across her cheek, and nose. Her crystals wavered. They tumbled to the ground. She growled. "They sure didn't waste time with the torture."
"We're so sorry!" Bepo cried.
Neo shook her head. "Blame whoever let our plans out. They will be the ones to pay for it."
"Let's get you home." Penguin helped Neo to her feet. Together they made their way back to the crew on foot.
...
Neo watched as Cora slept in his bassinet. It had been a long day. Way too long. Her mind kept swirling over everything that happened.
Not long after they returned to the crew Nami had arrived. Neo couldn't handle facing the Straw Hat pirate. She knew she would blow Law's orders of not letting Luffy know about his trade for his crewmembers. So she tucked herself away from the navigator and let her crew take care of things.
Then, a few hours later, Tsuki arrived with some disturbing news after a man called Tonoyasu was killed. Tonoyasu turned out to be the smiling blue haired man they had met after fleeing the capital. Apparently he was an ally to Momo's family, had been for years. He was the father to Toko, the little smiling girl at the soba ship. Tonoyasu told everyone who gathered at his execution that he was the one who made and passed out the secret message as a joke. The man turned himself in as a sacrifice so the plan could continue forward with a minor change to their symbol of the attack. Toko was now fatherless.
Also informed them of the truth behind the SMILE devil fruit and the people of Wano came to them. The defective SMILE fruits were given to the hungry people. Therefore they were not only unable to swim and couldn't express sad or angry emotions. All they could do was laugh.
It was heart breaking and renewed her anger towards Caesar and Doflamingo.
At least the torture had stopped. That was over an hour ago. Law had contacted her a couple times to make sure she was all right. The last time he told her to get some rest. She couldn't. She couldn't even stay in their room. So she put Cora in his bassinet and settled in the rec. room, even though she knew she won't get rest until Law was back.
"Neo." Penguin walked into the room.
"Shachi's cut okay?"
"Of course. You healed it nicely."
"I hope Law slices Hawkins' head off for hurting Shachi like that." Neo glared at the wall. Her stomach growled.
"You should eat." Penguin picked up the bassinet and lead her to the galley. Some of the crew had already gathered their. They smiled as she headed over to the stove.
Neo barely ate a fourth of her meal when she got the good news from Law.
'Love, I'm coming home.'
Neo shot to her feet. "He's coming back."
"Really?!" The crew jumped up.
Neo scooped Cora up and headed for the door. She flew herself and crew as fast as she could towards Law.
Law popped into her view.
Setting the crew down, Neo dove into his arms.
"That wasn't very long, now was it?" Law stroked her hair.
"It was! You idiot!" Neo, tears streaking her cheeks, smiled up at him. "Any time away from you is torture!"
Law chuckled.
"Captain!" The crew gathered around. "We're glad you're okay!"
"How did you get out?"
"Drake," Law said.
"Excuse me?" Neo pulled back a little.
"Apparently, he's Kaido's enemy still," Law said as they head back to the sub.
"That's crazy," Neo said as Law ate and she healed his wounds. After they had gotten the whole story from their captain, the crew headed out for the day. Or those who hadn't been captured did. The three who were decided it would be best to lay low for a while.
"Yeah." Law nodded.
Neo yawned, the stress of the day had reached her.
Law studied her. "We're going to take a bath then get some sleep."
Neo nodded. That sounded very good to her.
After washing the dishes the three headed to their room. Neo washed the blood off Law's skin before they disrobing and crawled into the tub. Neo held Cora on her legs, his little butt pressed against her stomach. Their son's lips puckered with a relaxed expression. She giggled. "Sometimes I think he enjoys taking a bath more than I do."
Law chuckled. "While it's clear he loves a bath I doubt he loves it more than you. There's also the possibility he'll resist taking baths in the future."
"Really?" Neo glanced back at him.
Law nodded. "I think most boys do when they're younger."
"Did you?"
"I did for a while. I preferred staying dirty."
Neo rested her head on his shoulder. "I guess we'll seen."
...
Neo laid Cora in his crib. Resting her arms over the rail she watched him sleep until Law tugged off her towel. Turning to him their lips met instantly. Snaking her hands over his hips she found he wasn't wearing his towel. She smirked.
"What's so funny?"
"Just thinking. When we go through something stressful like today we always fall into bed."
Law chuckled as he led her to their bed. "Indeed."
Neo laid down, their lips still attached to each other, their hands exploring.
"This stint in that cell got me thinking," Law said a while later.
"About what?" Neo tilted her head to look at him.
"You and Cora."
Neo tensed. "I'm not going to like this, am I?"
Law shook his head. "There are only six days left before the attack. And you've only spent a few times away from Cora since he was born. The longest was when Straw Hat arrived in Wano. And you were a wreck."
"Don't say it."
"You need to take time away from Cora."
Neo crawled off him and their bed. Grabbing some pajamas from their closet she pulled them on and headed for the door.
"Neo." Law grabbed her before she could leave the room. "You know you have to do this. If you don't get use to being away from him for long periods of time then you won't be able to focus on the battle. If that happens, you won't be going with us."
Neo gritted her teeth. He was right. Of course he was. If she didn't get use to being separated from their son now then she wouldn't be able to focus on the battle. "Sometimes... I hate that you're always right."
"I'm not always right." Law wrapped her in a hug from behind. "It'll be fine."
Neo sighed.
The next morning, after Neo took her time eating breakfast, they started her train of getting away from Cora. He started her off slow by having her stay a few minutes away inside the safety of the sub. When her time was up she rushed back to Cora, crying and apologizing multiple times for leaving him. Then when she grew comfortable with that he had her go outside for five minutes then increased that time from there.
On the fourth day they left Cora with Kailen in the sub, since her brother would be one of the ones to watch their son during the battle, and headed out to check on the minks. Neo flinched and twitched with each step that took them farther away from their son.
That was until they noticed a person they hadn't expected to find here.
"Kid?" Neo rubbed her eyes, thinking she was seeing things. But when she looked again the red haired captain, and Killer, was standing there, looking as cranky and mean as the day she had first saw him on Sabaody. Of course being tied up by elementals probably didn't help his mood. "You have got to be kidding."
"What are you doing here?" Law asked.
"Princess, we found these two lurking around," an elemental said.
"We were not lurking around!" Kid growled. "We were looking for our ship and crewmates!"
"Shall we dispose of them?" the elemental asked.
"No, that's okay. While we're rivals on most days, we both have a bigger enemy right now," Neo said. "I'm sure he's heard of our plans."
The elementals nodded and released their prey.
Neo studied the red haired pirate. This was the man who attacked her godfather.
"What are you staring at, you little brat?!" Kid demanded.
"Whether or not I should have you disposed of after all." Neo cocked her head. "You did go after my godfather. Though, I suppose, I could show you mercy since you didn't hurt him or his crew."
Kid twitched. His face turned red with anger. "Shut up, you brat!" He lifted his arm, the metal items clanking together as he did. "I'll kill you if you don't."
Law, the minks, and elementals tensed.
"Go ahead and try!" Neo snapped. A smirk then bloomed over her lips. "I'm sure Godfather would love to hear how you're treating his goddaughter. And I'm sure he'd had no problems taking your other arm."
The red darkened across Kid's face. Murder pooled in his eyes.
Neo hit a sore spot for sure. It was a low blow, especially for her, but stood her ground. There was nothing this pirate could do to her that wouldn't earn her godfather's and the elementals' wrath. She knew it. And he knew it.
Kid growled and jerked his eyes at Law. "Trafalgar! Control your woman!"
Law smirked. "Why? She's doing fine on her own."
Kid's face darkened more, if that was possible.
"It goes without saying that I don't like you," Neo said. "And I certainly don't trust you."
"Then don't say it!" Kid snapped.
She ignored him. "But I can admit that you are strong. And we need all the strong fighters we can get for this war against Kaido. However, if you do anything to hurt my family and friends I'll personally drag you to Godfather and have him hack off your other arm. Do we understand each other?"
Kid scoffed. "Fine. Whatever. I don't care. All I want to do is kill that bastard Kaido for what he did to my crew."
"Then you're welcome to join," Neo said. "As long as you behave."
"This is ridiculous," Kid grumbled. "Having to bow down to a little brat like her."
Law held a proud grin on his face.
"Seems the princess has become a fierce mother bear," Wanda said. "I believe this is the first time she's stood so tall on her own."
"Huh?" Neo blinked. "I guess I did. Wow." She laughed. "Never thought I'd face up to someone like Kid like that." She pressed a finger to her chin. "Though I am aggravated from being away from Cora."
"You are a fine mother and warrior." Wanda licked Neo's cheek. "Garchu, Princess."
"Garchu!" Neo hugged the dog mink.
