A.n I own nothing.

Last chance to vote on who gets the Ryu-Ryu Fruit, the poll closes next chapter. Our current standing is:

Votes for Malik - 4

Votes for Leonardo - 0

Votes for Adewale - 5

For information on this poll please see the A.N section in Ch8; Send your vote in a P.M or Review.

As always please review.

The next few hours passed in a blur. Evie had acted as soon as she had seen the stab wound, she tried to stop the bleeding by applying pressure with a nearby blanket. The other Straw Hats were alerted and Chopper quickly got too work.

The Straw hats were beyond furious with Jacob; he was in shock from what he'd done. All but Chopper were quite prepared to kill the man and Evie was ready to defend her brother if necessary as he was in no condition to defend himself. However before they could do anything Vivi got in between the angry crew and the Frye twins

"Stop" Vivi demanded, throwing her arms out wide blocking the crew.

"Out of the way Vivi. He needs to pay," Luffy ordered angrily.

"No, I won't move,"

"If you don't we'll go through you," Zoro threatened.

Viv froze in fear, would they really attack her? If she moved what would happen to Jacob and Evie? Why did everyone always resort to violence? Evie stared at the dessert princess in admiration; she was willing to put her life at risk to defend them. Evie new she could take down this crew easily, but she was more concerned with her brother and Evie really had no desire to fight the Straw Hats.

Vivi lowered her arms and walked up to Luffy and did something no one expected; she punched him hard in the face. Luffy was knocked down and everyone stared at the now pissed off princess.

"HOW IS THIS HELPING?!" She yelled at Luffy and the crew "HOW WILL HURTING THEM HELP CONNOR? RIGHT NOW HE'S BLEEDING OUT AND YOU'RE ALL PICKING A FIGHT!"

"But Vivi they…" Luffy started.

"I DON'T CARE! WHY AREN'T YOU HELPING CHOPPER? WHY AREN'T YOU BY CONNORS SIDE WHERE HE NEEDS YOU? WHY ARE YOU ALL SO USELESS?"

This snapped the Straw Hats out of their rage and surprisingly it was Zoro who answered her.

"Because this is all we can do," Zoro claimed.

"Viv-chan if it was anyone else…Connor would do the same," Sanji added.

They migrated onto the deck to wait for Chopper to give them the verdict. Jacob sat against the mast, his head was in his knees and he was muttering something about breaking the first tenant. Evie was trying to comfort him.

Chopper had temporary taken over Nami's room and the rest of the crew waited patiently outside for the doctor to emerge. Usopp and Luffy were in a panic, Sanji and Zoro kept glaring at the Frye twins hatefully, Nami and Vivi were just starring at the door in silence.

After an hour Chopper came out of Nami's room and the straw hats gathered round to hear the verdict.

"He's alive, for now. He has a deep stomach wound and lost a lot of blood. If Connor can survive the next twelve hours then he'll recover," Chopper explained.

"Can we see him?" Usopp asked.

Chopper shook his head "No he needs all of his energy right now,"

"What if we promise not to make a sound and just sit with him," Vivi suggested.

"I'm sorry but I can't allow any visitors right now, it really is for Connor's own good,"

The straw hats looked down sadly.

Zoro went over to the Frye twins, Evie steeped proactively in front of her bother.

"If Connor dies, so does your brother," Zoro warned and walked off before either twin could respond.

The Straw Hats continued their daily routines, except there was no energy in any of them. It was very strange seeing Luffy not hyperactive and bouncing around with Usopp. Zoro didn't nap all day, Sanji not once served the girls drinks or cakes; in fact he didn't even flirt with them.

Jacob had been locked in the men's sleeping quarters and Evie had joined him. She was very insistent that if her brother was to be locked up then so was she.

Around mid-afternoon Chopper came out with some interesting news, he called the Straw Hats into the cabin and showed them his discovery. Connor was lying on his back unconscious and barely breathing. His shirt and jacket had been removed and he was covered by blankets; his bare arms were on top of the covers. His brand could be seen but it was different; it had dark blue vein lines coming out of it and it was glowing slightly.

"Is it always like this?" Chopper asked, indicating to the glowing brand.

The Straw Hats were stumped, they had all seen the brand but it was never like this.

"No it's not," Usopp answered "when he first showed it to us it looked like an ordinary patch of burnt skin,"

Chopper nodded in understanding, he hadn't seen the brand before so he was unsure if this was normal.

"How long has it been like that?" Sanji asked.

"I don't know, I didn't really pay any attention to his shoulder when I was treating his stomach," Chopper admitted.

Luffy stared at the boy in silence for a few minutes, he then took his hat off and placed it on the bedside table next to the bed; Luffy turned and left with a serious expression on his face.

Zoro watched him go; the swordsman took one last look at Connor before he too left the room.

Chopper then requested that everyone leave as well.

On deck Luffy marched over to the men's quarters and went inside. Jacob was leaning against the hull of the ship and Evie sat with her arm around her brother. Evie looked up as Luffy approached, it was clear that he wanted answers.

"Why? Why did you do it," Luffy asked Jacob in a low voice.

"Don't come near us Luffy," Evie warned.

"I wasn't talking to you," Luffy snapped dangerously. Evie flinched and stepped back.

"Evie it's alright," Jacob said and looked up at luffy.

Luffy could see the regret in his eyes as well as shame.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to harm him," Jacob claimed.

"But you did,"

"Yes I did and I will accept any punishment you deem necessary. Even if it means my own life,"

Luffy blinked at the younger twin, he was not expecting this. Jacob had not made any excuses and was putting himself at the Straw Hats mercy.

"You still haven't answered my question," Luffy pointed out.

"I…I thought he was someone else," Jacob claimed.

"Someone else?"

"Yes, you see many years ago I nearly got Evie killed. I upset a very powerful man and Evie paid the price," Jacob explained "Every time I go to sleep I see that man with my sister's dead body. But this time it was your crew that had killed her,"

"So you had a nightmare?"

"Yes, in the nightmare the man is always represented by a shadowy figure,"

"Jacob and I never sleep in a new place or with people we don't trust," Evie explained "but even we have our limits. It's likely that Jacob hasn't slept since before coming to Drum,"

"I see. So you had a nightmare and attacked this man in your sleep. But you were really fighting Connor,"

Jacob nodded.

"Zoros already made it clear that my brothers' fate is tied to Connor's," Evie claimed.

Luffy nodded in agreement, "Connor is the one who got hurt so he'll decide your fate. But if he dies Zoro's threat holds,"

Luffy left the twins and went back on deck. He noticed that the rest of the crew were waiting for him and told them what Jacob had said.

Later in the afternoon Luffy and Usopp were fishing, Sanji had noticed a large smoke cloud coming out from the ocean. He had alerted Nami to it but the Navigator assured the crew that it was from an underwater volcano and not harmful in any way. Chopper suddenly burst out of the cabin in panic.

"Everyone you won't believe this," the doctor cried out.

Everyone on deck turned their attention to the doctor, fearing the worst about their youngest member.

"Connor's wound has healed,"

The Straw Hats stared at the young doctor in shock.

"He's completely healed? That's impossible," Vivi stated.

"Well he's still asleep and it's not completely healed," Chopper clarified.

"Then what has happened," Nami asked.

"Well I went to change his bandages and when I removed them the bleeding had stopped,"

"That's good right?" Luffy interrupted.

"Generally for an injury like this it means it's infected, but there's no infection. So I did a quick test and found that his stomach has healed,"

"The blade pierced his stomach right? That's where all the blood came from," Zoro added.

Chopper nodded in confirmation "Right and now there is no damage to the internal parts of the stomach. It's like it never happened,"

"Hey do you guy's remember the injury that Kuro gave him," Nami asked the crew.

"Yeah that was nasty," Usopp shuddered at the memory "and that was before he got shot,"

"Kuro?" Chopper asked.

"Kuro was a pirate we fought in the east blue. He slashed Connor's back open and his first mate shot him twice," Luffy explained.

"I don't remember that," Sanji said.

"It was before we met you,"

Sanji nodded in understanding.

"Right and do you remember how he was unconscious for three days? But after that there was no sign of his injuries,"

"Wait you don't mean…"

"I do. Connor told us that his brand nullifies anything that prevents him from fulfilling his orders. I'd say a near fatal stab wound counts, his brand is healing him," Nami concluded.

"How is that possible?" Chopper asked.

"I thought Luffy told you about his brand," Usopp added.

"He did, but he failed to mention the healing factor," Chopper claimed.

"To be honest none of us really believed that the brand could heal him," Sanji admitted.

"What did he tell you and Vivi?" Zoro asked.

"Only that Connor was enslaved at the age of four, he has a brand that marks him as a slave and that he was part of an abusive pirate crew before he met all of you," Vivi explained.

"Ah, you guys got the nice version," Nami sighed.

"There's a different version?"

"Yes but I wouldn't worry about it," Nami said "unless you want to pay me 500,000 bellis for the information,"

"So is Connor going to be okay?" Luffy asked Chopper.

"If what you say is true then… I reckon that he'll be fully healed by tomorrow. So I suppose he can have visitors,"

"ALL RIGHT," Luffy yield out happily.

"If you promise to be quiet and not disturb him. He still needs rest after all," Chopper said firmly.

Sanji was sitting by Namis bed, he had decided to come down and sit with Connor because Luffy was being a loud idiot again.

Ever since Chopper had told them that Connor would be up and about Luffy had reverted to his hyperactive self. Sanji had taken a good long look at the glowing brand on the boys shoulder; he really hated it and what it did to Connor. But Sanji had to admit that if it weren't for the brand Connor would have died years ago.

Sanji could hear Luffy, Usopp and Chopper making loud noises on deck; he suspected that they were up to no good.

"Seriously what part of "Connor needs rest" do they not understand," Sanji muttered.

Though he had to admit, it was a relief to see Luffy and the others in good spirts.

Vivi came down and approached Sanji.

"Any change?" the princess asked.

"None, I doubt he'll wake up before tonight," Sanji answered.

Vivi nodded and knelled down next to the bed.

"What's going on deck?" Sanji asked.

"Luffy fished up some strange man dressed as a ballerina; apparently he ate a devils fruit that lets him copy the appearances of others,"

"So he's entertaining them then,"

"I guess," Vivi said sadly.

"What's wrong?"

"One of the faces that he copied was my father,"

"Oh, that's not good. Not good at all,"

"I know. I don't think just coming home alive will be enough anymore,"

"Hey cheer up; we're already in Alabastas' climate zone,"

Vivi nodded and the two sat in silence.

That night Connor woke up. He was groggy and didn't recognize the room at first, until a sharp pain from his stomach snapped him awake. Connor wrapped his arms around his stomach and winced in pain. He noticed that his shit and jacket was gone, he would have panicked but the bandages on his stomach told him that Chopper had most likely removed them to treat his injuries.

Then it all came back to him, Jacob had stabbed him with a blade that came out of his wrist. Connor took a look at his brand and noted that it wasn't glowing, but the blue veins were still coming out of it.

"Guess I don't need the healing coma anymore," he said to himself.

Connors eyes shifted to something bright yellow on the table next to the bed; it was Luffys hat. Connor reached for it, but hesitated just before he touched it.

'No, I have no right to touch it,' he thought and pulled his arm back. Though it was comforting to know that Luffy had been in here.

He wondered where the rest of the crew were; suddenly he heard the cabin door open. Connor quickly pulled the covers up to his shoulders and over his brand, he did not like it displayed. It was a good thing he did because Jacob and Evie walked in. The twins stopped and stared at Connor, they weren't expecting him to be awake, let alone sitting up.

Evie pushed Jacob forward, and the two approached him, Jacob pulled up the desk chair and Evie sat on the end of the bed.

"Hi Evie, Hi Jacob what are you guys doing down here?" Connor asked happily.

The twins looked at each other, confused at the boys' cheerfulness.

"We came to see you, how are you felling?" Evie said gently.

"Oh I'm good, in a bit of pain but that'll pass soon enough. Do you know where the others are?"

"There sleeping on the deck, it's around eleven at night," Evie answered.

Connor nodded "I'm surprised there not sleeping in here,"

"They wanted too but Chopper was against it,"

"Umm…not that I'm not happy that you're alive, up and talking…but how are you…alive, up and talking?" Jacob asked.

"I heal very quickly, besides I've had worse injuries than a knife in the gut,"

"Wait worse?"

Connor nodded "There was the time some old guy broke both my arms and legs, the time I got shot in the chest around here," Connor said and pointed to where his lungs were "And recently a pirate tore my back open with his cat like claws,"

Both Jacob and Evie stared at the boy in shock. How had he survived being shot in the lungs?

"Listen about stabbing you…I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to," Jacob apologized "I've told Luffy this, but I'll accept any punishment you or the crew want to give me,"

"Hmmm," Connor thought about what Jacob was offering. Whenever he got hurt or injured no one ever apologized to him or offered to take responsibility.

"You'd do anything I ask," Connor confirmed.

"Yes," Jacob said seriously.

"Okay I've got two things in mind. The first is Evie was teaching me a move to counter opponents, I want to learn how to do it properly,"

Jacob looked at his sister for an explanation.

"It was a basic counter move; I spent a good hour or two trying to teach it to him. He never got it right," Evie claimed.

Jacob nodded; he knew the one she meant.

"I guess I can help you with that. What's the other thing?"

"You two are really good at fighting right and what I'm about to ask won't be easy. In fact it will be downright dangerous, possibly even suicidal,"

"Ohhh now were talking," Jacob joked.

Evie rolled her eyes and Connor explained what he wanted them to do. When he was done the twins left the boy to rest, they headed back onto the deck. Carefully stepping over the sleeping pirate crew, they stealthy made their way to the men's quarters.

"Well that could have gone worse," Jacob said to Evie.

"Yes it could have, his requests were simple."

"He had my hopes up when he said the second one would be dangerous, but even that one is simple enough in itself,"

"Don't get cocky dear brother," Evie warned. "Should we repot in?"

"Nah, there's no need to wake anyone. After all we'll be in Nanohana tomorrow, so we can repot in first thing," Jacob reasoned.

The next morning when Usopp woke up he noticed that the hatch to the men's quarters was wide open. He looked at it for a second and looked around; the rest of the crew was still asleep on deck. 'Probably just Jacob, must've got up before us,' he thought and lay back down.

Then it hit him, he stood up and peered into the men's' sleeping quarters; it was empty. Jacob was up and about and that could mean… suddenly he heard a thump coming from Nami's room. He panicked.

"Guys wake up we've got trouble," he urged and began to shake his crew mates awake.

"What is it?" Sanji mumbled.

"Jacob has escaped," Usopp panicked.

This got the entire crews attention. Luffy Zoro and Sanji dashed too into Nami's cabin. Inside they found Connor who was wearing his clothes again sitting on the floor with Jacob standing over him, knife in hand. Evie was off to the side watching.

"Perfect timing," Jacob smirked, when he spotted them.

Connor looked behind him and realized what was about to happen "No wait," he tried but it was too late.

"GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Sanji yelled.

He jumped in front of Connor and tried to kick Jacob in the head but Jacob grabbed Sanji's leg and twisted into Sanji, using his body as the center of gravity he pulled Sanji down and threw him on the floor.

Luffy ran up and charged at Jacob with an out stretch fist, Jacob grabbed the rubber arm and did the same maneuver, this time sending Luffy crashing into the cabin wall, he landed on the bed.

Jacob turned expecting Zoro to attack next but he came face to face with a very pissed off swordsman, two blades were already crossed right in front of his throat. Jacob slowly raised his arms in surrender and dropped the knife.

Luffy and Sanji both got up, Sanji picked up the knife off the ground. All three were glaring at Jacob. The rest of the crew came in.

"Idiot, you could have stopped him," Evie said.

"I'd like to see you do better when you have two very sharp blades inches from your throat," Jacob shot back.

"Kid you okay?" Zoro asked and eyes shifted to look over the boy.

The lack of attention was all Jacob needed, in one swift movement he'd drawn his Kuki and separated the two blades. Zoro was not expecting the attack and was thrown off balance. Jacob swung his Kuki and disarmed Zoro; one blade went flying upwards and got stuck in the ceiling and the other skidded across the floor. Jacob tackled Zoro to the ground and held his Kuki at the pirate's throat.

Zoro was terrified, he hadn't seen Jacob move and he was on his back with a jagged blade poised to slit his throat. He could see Luffy and Sanji stare at him in shock, no one moved in fear of Zoros life. Zoro stared into Jacobs eyes and found that they were cold and calculating. He waited for the man to end his life but Jacob did something no one expected. He removed his blade and got off Zoro.

He then turned his attention to Connor.

"Did you see that? That is how you perform a perfect counter," Jacob said in his cheery voice.

No one moved encase Jacob decided to finish the job.

"Hey, why didn't you kill me?" Zoro demanded and slowly got to his feet.

Jacob looked at him with a raised eyebrow "That would defeat the purpose of a demonstration wouldn't it?"

"Demonstration? What demonstration?" Sanji asked.

"Why on how to perform a counter move of course. You three were really into it; I never had any intention on actually killing you,"

"I don't get it what's going on?" Luffy asked.

Evie sighed "We came down here last night after you lot went to sleep, we wanted to see Connor. He was already awake and we told him that Jacob would accept any punishment that Connor deemed necessary,"

"That's right," Connor confirmed "I really wanted to learn that counter move that Evie was teaching me. Jacob agreed to help me learn it,"

"So they weren't trying to hurt you?"

"Of course not, we started an hour ago, everyone was still asleep so we practiced in here," Evie claimed.

"But there's only so much you can learn without seeing it in action. I was just thinking about waking one of you to help with a demonstration when you all charged in," Jacob finished "Really you lot have perfect timing, although Zoro looking away was a pretty stupid mistake; if we'd been fighting for real he'd be dead right now,"

"But I heard a thump," Usopp claimed.

"I've being tiring the move out and tripped, in fact I've been tripping all morning," Connor admitted shamefully.

"It's not the easiest move to learn, it took Evie and me four months to get it right," Jacob reassured "it just takes practice,"

"Why are you practicing fighting moves when you're injured?" Vivi demanded. "and with the man that injured you?"

"I'm not injured anymore," Connor stated. "Besides Jacob already apologized and I already forgave him,"

"He did? And you're okay with it," Luffy asked.

"Yeah, it's not like he did any permanent damage,"

"Alright then, Sanji food," Luffy demanded.

"Hold on are we just going to let him get away with this?" Chopper asked concerned.

"Of course not, Jacob has to make it up to him and if teaching Connor a new combat move is what he wants then that's what Jacob has to do,"

"What's done is done, I'll go make some breakfast," Sanji said and walked out of the room.

"Connor let Chopper give you a check-up before you start training again okay," Luffy ordered.

Connor nodded.

"Well let's pick this up after breakfast, I don't know about you but taking down pirates makes me hungry," Jacob joked. Evie sighed and pushed her brother aside. "Plus Sanji still has my knife