Worth Searching For

by yokokuroba

She had lost her shinobi status with a deadly poison. With a dying body and injured pride, she traveled the world to find him for more than one reason, but would he accept her after seven years of searching?

2. Life At Sea X An Unsolved Resolve

A/N: This is the revised version of this story. I've doubled up chapters, so what was two chapters have now been combined into one. For instance, chapters one and two have been combined into just chapter one. Chapters three and four are now just chapter two and so on. So now the chapters are longer with between 9,000 and 10,000 words for each. I've also edited all the chapters that were up. I've changed my username and will also be uploading this story onto Archive of our Own under the same username yokokuroba

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or One Piece nor do I make any money from my writings.

Chapter One: Life At Sea X An Unsolved Resolve

Pink hair flowed behind her in gentle waves, mocking the very water that she sailed on. Calm jade orbs were set in front of her, used to these waters. Although, this sea was rather gentle and calm compared to the one she had passed through on her way here. She couldn't remember how many times she had barely escaped death since traveling over this vast ocean people called 'The Grand Line'. Her once strong body had been reduced to that of a child's and without her strength and chakra, due to the poison coursing through her veins, it had been one hell of a trip. Luckily, she was able to make her way across the more dangerous half of the Grand Line thanks to a few generous pirate captains that let her travel with them.

Trafalgar Law.

That name was on the forefront of her mind constantly. It was something that had kept her going when she was at Death's door every time. The day she found out about him seemed like a blur now, only that name and the due date that marked the end of her life stayed in her memory for the most part. Six months. She was supposed to have died in six months. They said that she wouldn't have lasted the year and she had left the village to search for this man without permission. They had warned her, tried to keep her from leaving, but they all had failed. Even Sasuke wasn't able to convince her to stay behind while someone else found this mystery doctor and said that she should spend the rest of her days with him. Of course, she hadn't listened. They had told her that she would die out there and then no one would be able to find her when that day came. She would have died in six months. Alone.

Sakura had been searching for this Law character for seven years now. She wasn't sure what kept her going at first, perhaps the determination to prove everyone wrong, that she could survive on her own. Perhaps it was the fact that she was too stubborn to die from something as trivial as a poison like this. She did know that the doctor had something to do with it as well. She was anxious to meet him. She didn't know what it was, but she could still remember clearly what her attacker had called him when she gathered information from him. A monster. A freak.

She had many offers from hospitals and doctors to be looked at when she had nearly collapsed in the middle of roads and buildings from the pain that her body experienced. She had denied help from all of them. It wasn't that she didn't want the poison extracted from her body. It practically tore her apart cell by cell and sent her into a blinding pain where her vision would darken, and her body would numb temporarily. No, it wasn't like she enjoyed these episodes of torture. There was just something that her mind had set in the back of her consciousness, and it almost seemed personal. No. It was personal. At least for her.

This man was supposed to be a monster and she wanted to be cured by him. It was as simple as that.

The pinkette knew she was pressing her luck with this. She could die at any moment, she knew that. Yet there was something that kept pressing her forward.

For the first six years, she didn't even know the man's face and everywhere she went, she asked if anybody knew him or had seen him. They had all given a negative, saying they had never heard of him, and it wasn't long at all that she had realized the possibility of him not even existing at all. There was always that chance. After all, why would someone that had the power of being a miracle doctor not be known throughout the world, or even an island or two? Somebody should have known him, even one person, but she found nothing. Even with so many people saying they didn't know him and many questioning her sanity about whatever topics, she knew that he was alive, that he was real, and that she would find him eventually, even with nothing to go on but his name.

It wasn't until she saw his wanted poster in a tavern where she was sheltering herself from a thunderstorm that true hope started to fill her. She could remember the bartender commenting on the bright smile that had spread across her features when her eyes landed on his name and face. She had taken the poster with her after that, asking for his whereabouts, and earning comments from many about her being a bit too small to be a bounty hunter.

She had heard he was somewhere in the Grand Line while she herself was in the North Blue at that time, shortly having missed him. The information had brought a sort of relief to her, knowing she had been close to him. At that time, a new vigor had enveloped her being, urging her to continue to search all over again if need be. She searched relentlessly afterward along the Grand Line but had somehow ended up going a different way than him. That didn't deter her from her goal though. She would find him.

A soft smile etched its way onto her lips, a small blush coating her cheeks as she inhaled the fresh scent of the seawater surrounding all sides of her small rowboat. Luckily, she was nearing an island straight ahead of her. It should only take a few hours to reach it. Hopefully she would be able to gather information about Law's whereabouts, or at least get some food. It had been days since she had last eaten anything, and it was wearing on her energy. Of course, she was used to not being able to eat every day or get the proper nutrients she needed, but that didn't mean she didn't get hungry like everyone else. Or sick for that matter.

A quiet grumble escaped her stomach as if in response to her thoughts, the sound proof of her hunger. Though she supposed the occasional indent in her skin where her bones dipped and bent was also evidence of her bad eating habits. Her body had slimmed out even more than before with her lithe form. With what little food she was able to gather on the small boat during her travels between islands, she was on the verge of getting sick. She was grateful her body had a strong immune system against diseases and illnesses, otherwise she might already be dead from the flu or pneumonia.

If she were religious, she could have sworn that an angel was looking out for her during her entire journey. She was getting close to her goal. She could feel it. Goosebumps prickled the exposed skin of her arms and legs that had nothing to do with the chill in the air. Excitement filled her veins at the thought of not only finally reaching land, but also the feeling that she was getting closer and closer to her objective with each passing day. She was reaching for something that would get her there. She didn't know how long it would take to find him, but she didn't care. She toyed with the thought of what she would do first once she got her chakra and strength back.

She would definitely return to Konoha and resume her position as a member of ANBU, participate in dangerous missions, and enjoy the flow of that energy coursing through her veins. She missed the way that the earth would crumble under her fists, the way torn skin and bone would stitch back together perfectly under her fingertips, and she especially missed the way she used to be of use to others.

However, more than that, she missed her loved ones. She missed her friends, her family, and her husband. Although, even if she did miss them, she didn't feel the overwhelming need to see them again. At least not until she accomplished her goal. It was odd to a degree. She wasn't too surprised to feel that way about her friends and family, but Sasuke… She had recently found herself thinking less and less about him as the years passed. She often contemplated if it was because of the distance and time they had spent apart from each other or because she had seen countless couples in cities that actually seemed happy. Those couples went on dates, kissed each other, held hands, embraced, and experienced romance.

A frown adorned the female's lips as her gaze lowered down into the water that would soon splash against the wooden boat. Her mind wandered over the relationships she had witnessed and couldn't help but compare them to her own. She had never gone on a date with the Uchiha, had never experienced romance with him before. Even their wedding day and night wasn't as spectacular and breathtaking as some of the scenes she had witnessed between two lovers.

When thinking about their relationship and how their feelings were supposed to be mutual, a question would occasionally pop up into her mind. Did Sasuke even know her? He spent most of his life obsessing over his revenge. What little time they had spent with each other when they were kids, she had put on an act to try to win his affections. Granted that was her fault, her façade hadn't stopped Ino, Kakashi, or Naruto from seeing through it and figuring out her true self.

Perhaps there was a time where he knew a little about her, when they were genin, but times had changed. She grew older and he had missed those years where she had matured into a young woman. He had left them twice and finally came back to the village, proposing to her as if some sort of love for her had grown inside of his heart during his 'journey of redemption'. A love that wasn't grounded by any solid feelings.

Sure, she had been loyal to him since they were children and she was sure he appreciated that loyalty, something constant in his chaotic life, but maybe that's all it was. Appreciation. After all, for there to be love, he would have to have known all her faults, her fears, her insecurities, her bad habits. All of them and none of which she had shared with him. He either didn't care beforehand or they just didn't have the time to sit down for a long discussion about themselves.

They weren't even married but for a few months and then she had left the village on her journey. They hadn't spoken since and the lack of information on how he was doing waned on her consciousness for the first few years. She had also come to accept the fact that it would have been possible he only wanted her to bear his child, with her being a young, healthy female at the time and the closest thing to having willingly accepted him. Well, other than Karin or perhaps Ino. It was highly possible he had pushed their marriage aside and had a child with the redhead. She wouldn't normally question the Uchiha's loyalty, but she doubted he loved her to begin with and that he had waited this long without securing the future of his clan.

That notion left a bad taste in her mouth and yet, she couldn't really blame him for wanting to feel secure. She couldn't imagine the inner struggle that he went through knowing he was the last Uchiha after the war was over. The fate of an entire clan and Kekkei Genkai rested solely on his shoulders and there was no telling how long a shinobi would live, so she wouldn't be surprised if she were to see a small miniature Sasuke running around once she got back. Although if it were anything like the man, it wouldn't run around too much, just brood and ignore everyone while giving off that 'holier than thou' vibe. A coy smile found its way onto her lips at that. Honestly, the situation should have bothered her more, but she had been preparing herself for a divorce once she got back for some time now.

She didn't have much time to dwell on the topic however, when she spotted dark clouds quickly rolling in. A sigh left her lips again as she stared up at the sky and she could feel the waves slowly getting rougher underneath her feet. It seemed that another test of survival would be thrown upon her, but she wouldn't be killed so easily. Although, she supposed that her boat was incredibly small compared to what was actually needed on this sea. She could easily be capsized. She figured she would just have to swim if that happened. Swim to find a wayward barrel or something.

It wasn't long at all until the wind picked up, whipping her hair back and forth behind her and across her face as she sat crouched down to the wood, her small hands gripping the railings on either side of her. Rain fell hard around her, and it was easy to compare the harsh liquid with daggers as they slid down her skin. With only a dingy, beige dress that had thin sleeves that covered only her shoulders, most of her body was left victim to the weather.

Lightning struck down near her, the electricity spreading throughout the water in different directions and barely missing the wooden structure that held her. The ocean water splashed outward from the impact and though the lightning had missed her, the water found its way to her pale body and stung into her skin while the small boat was rocked back and forth harshly from the waves.

Feminine knuckles were turning white from the grip she had on the wood and the pinkette was sure that if she had even a fraction of her former strength, the force she was clutching the railings would have caused it to snap and break instantly. Her bare feet were pale and bruised, suffering from her long journey the most and they were being punished further by the ice-cold water that landed in the boat.

Sakura gritted her teeth and tried to open one of her jade eyes, which were both previously shut tightly from the rain. With one eye barely open, she tried to focus on anything in front of her. All she could see was the dark sky surrounding her, seemingly blending in with the vast ocean. Waves threw themselves over one another as if they were using each other to somehow reach the heavens above them and her boat was as defenseless as if it were an ant waiting to be stomped on by an elephant.

It only took one large wave to crash beside her and the current threw the boat over with her still clutching onto the sides. Sakura didn't scream as the boat tipped over, pulling her with it. Even if she had allowed herself to let such a noise escape her, it would have instantly died down the moment her body collided with the ocean water.

Sakura clenched her eyes completely shut for a moment, the sudden impact sending jolts to her body as if she were being electrified. Pain was the main aspect of her body at that moment, and she found it hard to move as the strong currents began to pull her downward toward the bottom of the ocean, no doubt trying to claim yet another life as it had done to so many others that were foolish enough to travel such a treacherous sea. However, the pinkette wasn't someone who could be taken down so easily.

Jade eyes snapped open, and her teeth gritted as she forced herself to face in the direction her instincts were telling her was upward. She was still being pulled down and her breath was running short, having most of it knocked out of her upon the impact with the water. Raw determination not to die yet, she summoned what little strength she had and began to kick the water. Her body rotated until she was fully facing toward the surface and the former kunoichi did all she could to swim with all her might.

She was determined to make it back up to the surface, to get fresh air into her lungs that would no doubt be burning in a few moments, and to find something she could use as a floatation device. She wasn't going to die. Not yet. She had to find Law. She had to be cured by him so she could regain her status as a shinobi of Konoha. Sakura had to be cured by this so called 'monster' before she even thought about dying.

The pinkette was sure that she would have made it to the top without incident, until she noticed something out of the corner of her eye. Normally, she wouldn't have bothered, but something compelled her to turn her head and look. Stopping, her jade eyes landed on a dark figure falling downward, having just fallen into the water itself if the large number of bubbles coming from it were any indication. Her eyebrows furrowed as she tried to focus on the object, her mind reeling, trying to decipher what it was before she ran out of oxygen completely.

Sakura let out a grunting noise, turned her direction, and headed for the mysterious object. She still had no idea what it was, the water too dark to tell anything really and she was fully aware that what she was doing wasn't the brightest thing to do. However, something in her body urged her to swim toward it. It was an instinct that she had developed during her years as a shinobi, and she was grateful that hadn't been taken from her as well.

Her legs kicked fiercely behind her, her arms by her side, and her head set forward with a determined expression. Her lungs burned and ached for air while goosebumps prickled at her body, the freezing temperature of the water coaxing her to stay still and to leave her fate in its suffocating clutches. Jade eyes were struggling to stay open during her journey to the mysterious object. She was having trouble trying to stay conscious with what little energy she had left, not that she had much to begin with. Her body was begging her to go back up to the surface, to lay down on something, and to rest. Eating something would have been nice too, but she pushed those thoughts aside.

It wasn't until she was a few yards away that she began to make out distinct features of the object. An arm, a leg, a torso, and she knew that her feeling had been right when she realized it was a person. She wasn't sure if they were alive or not, but that didn't stop her from swimming toward them even faster than before. She didn't have time to check either as she reached their side and grabbed their wrist, more concerned with grabbing them before she let them slip out of her reach.

His eyes were closed, but she could feel the soft pulsing of a heartbeat on the underside of his wrist with her thumb, answering the previous question in her mind. She reached forward with her other arm and grasped the front of his shirt. Pulling him toward her, she wrapped her arm tightly around his petite form and held onto the side of his shirt while her other arm stayed by her own side, prepared to aid her on her journey to the surface.

Sakura opened her mouth in protest at the lack of oxygen in her body, her mind slowly losing in a battle to stay awake. Bubbles escaped her mouth and she did all she could not to breathe in the water at an attempt to get air. Blinking back tears, the pinkette set her destination upward once again and pushed against the water while ignoring the aching of her body. Again, she convinced herself that she wouldn't lose out to this storm, to this ocean, and now it wasn't just her life that hung in the balance. She wasn't sure where this man came from or who he was, but that didn't matter. It also didn't matter that she couldn't use chakra to heal anymore. She was still a medic. It was still in her nature to help anyone she could.

It was still her duty even if her status was taken from her.

The surface had never seemed so far away before and her eyesight was starting to darken. Her legs slowed down to a stop and her arm loosened, allowing the body that had been pressed against her tightly to slump over and threaten to slip from her grasp. She held fast onto his shirt however, determined not to let go of his unconscious form, and she wrapped her other arm around him tightly.

It was then that she noticed a figure swimming toward them through the darkness. Jade eyes squinted into slits, desperate to see what was getting close to her and though her body would normally spark up in high alert, it seemed to trust this figure. She assumed it was because there was the suspicion that it was a comrade of the man in her arms.

He stopped in front of her with his eyebrows furrowed and he seemed to regard her for a split moment before he wrapped his arms around them and pulled them to his chest. The man began to swim up to the surface and Sakura welcomed the warmth that his body resonated. It was soothing and slowly pulled her away from the freezing abyss that her own body was succumbing to. It was comforting and Sakura didn't fight it as her world went black.

~SCENE CHANGE~

Laughter echoed throughout the small tavern; the guffawing noises directed at the scowling female standing in front of the bar. Her jade eyes were narrowed down at the ground, her teeth gritted, her pink eyebrows furrowed, and her fists clenched tightly down by her sides. If she were able, she would knock the smug grins off everyone in this entire building. They were all laughing at her. What the hell was so funny about this?

"A miracle doctor? Who are you kidding, missy?" the bartender laughed, causing her scowl to deepen and her eyebrows to twitch in anger. "Ain't nothin' like that exist! Go back home."

"Yeah!" another man shouted, "Get out of that fantasy world of yours!"

Sakura felt rage course through her body as the laughing and mocking continued. All she wanted to know was if they knew the man she was looking for or if they had heard of somebody with his description. It was an innocent enough question. They didn't have to laugh at her.

"Don't feel too bad though! You're going to die just like the rest of us!"

The comment brought on another onslaught of laughter and the pinkette's fists trembled, eager to destroy something. Anything. She just wanted to get rid of the overwhelming feeling of being squashed like an insect. These people were telling her that her efforts were futile, that this doctor didn't exist, and that she was living in some sort of fantasy world, clinging onto some hope that there was an angel out there that would heal her of her ailment.

Sakura supposed it was true in a way. She was searching for a man she had no proof existed and could supposedly heal anything, as ludicrous as it sounded. The world was larger than she could have ever imagined and there was very little chance she would be able to meet him. She had managed to live longer than the best medics in Konoha had predicted, but that didn't change the fact she was only human. How far would her stubbornness be able to take her? How long could she live before she practically became even more of a moving corpse? How many life-or-death situations could she be in before she lost in this battle and something or someone finally claimed her last breath?

There were so many questions, so many possibilities, and such little time. She was only looking for one man, but it felt like she was fighting against the whole world. The world was saying she was crazy, she would die, and this man wasn't real. However, despite the laughter and ridicule that found its way into her ears almost every time she brought him up, she knew he was real. It was a burning sensation deep in her gut and it caused her heart to flutter. Her body would heat up in anger at the people denying his existence, rather than being angry that they were mocking her. True, it pissed her off that she was being laughed at, but it was worse when they told her Law wasn't real.

She knew for a fact he was, and she would find him. It was only a matter of time, and she would hold out until she did. It was more than a matter of pride now. She was going to prove these people wrong. She wasn't crazy. She believed he was alive somewhere. Somewhere…

Sakura turned around and began to run toward the doors that led to the outside of the tavern, her childish body bumping into the larger forms of the adults on the way. She had enough of their laughter and ridicule. She pushed herself past them, eager to leave, but the loud noises kept following her. She ran through the doors and her eyes were clenched shut without her knowledge. At least they were until she collided with the legs of someone, and she collapsed backward on the ground, landing on her hands and backside, unaware that the impact had caused her shinobi headband to fall loosely from her hair and onto the ground beside her.

The pinkette wasn't in the mood to see another person now, having had her fill of humiliation for the moment. Instead of looking up to meet the eyes of the person she ran into, she mumbled a soft apology before running around him. Her bangs had covered most of her solemn and distressed face, so it wasn't like she had seen much of the person anyway, but she could vaguely make out a pair of light blue pants with spots that resembled animal prints. Her heart had skipped a beat when the contact happened, but she had chalked it up to the fact that she was angry and upset.

Her faith hadn't wavered.

~SCENE CHANGE~

The sounds of soft talking were what she awoke to, differing greatly from the loud echoing of laughter that was previously in her mind from her dream. It was a welcomed change and though she wanted to succumb back to the sleep that beckoned her, she forced her mind to become more alert.

"Do you think she'll wake up soon?" a voice asked, holding concern in its tone, but Sakura could hear the restlessness in it as well. A bit high-pitched, but definitely a male. Possibly in his late teens.

The memories of what happened before slowly made themselves known in her aching head. She must have been taken in by the crew of those two men. She didn't sense any malice or danger in the air, so she continued to let her body relax into the soft mattress underneath her. Her breathing was even as she took in the different scents in the room. She couldn't make out how many people were in the room, but she could feel three presences right beside her. She could also make out the pillow underneath her head and the cover draped over her body, along with a wet rag pressed to her forehead.

"I already gave her some medicine to reduce her fever. She's suffering from exhaustion mostly. She won't wake up for a while and when she does, she'll need something to help recover her energy." another voice replied. This one was soft and even more high-pitched than the last, someone smaller, and yet it held reassurance and a knowledge that was easily covered up by innocence. It was obvious that they were a doctor. Perhaps hope and relief should have filled her at the chance that she finally met the doctor that she was looking for. However, deep down, she knew it wouldn't have been so easy. It was a nagging feeling that she got, and it was always right.

"Luffy, why don't you go out on deck with Usopp and find something to do? It will be another hour before we reach land." a woman said, a confidence and yet gentleness in her voice. Someone that was used to giving out orders.

"Alright." the one called 'Luffy' replied, his tone holding a renowned excitement that wasn't there previously. It wasn't a moment later that she could hear footsteps leaving the room, getting farther and farther away.

"Did you find anything else wrong with her, Tony-kun?" another female asked, smooth and soft. This one was calmer and more collected than the previous one, extremely kind and soothing. She sounded intelligent and reserved. If Sakura had to guess, she held a high position.

"Nothing out of the ordinary, other than she's lacking the proper vitamins and nutrients her body needs."

Well, that confirmed her suspicion. This doctor's name was Tony. It wasn't who she was looking for. No matter. She would just have to keep looking. Sakura wasn't surprised he wasn't able to find anything else wrong with her. She hadn't allowed any other doctor to take a look at her since her journey began, but she figured they wouldn't have been able to find out what was wrong with her without a thorough blood examination. She didn't have any puncture wounds on her body to indicate anything and her skin wasn't discolored from any poison, just from the fact that she wasn't exactly healthy. Besides, normal humans didn't live for years after being poisoned, so her case was highly unusual.

The thought almost made her crack an amused smile, if it weren't so preposterous and depressing. Could she even be considered human anymore? She supposed at this point, she was more like a walking corpse, barely hanging onto humanity.

What was it that kept her going anyhow?

Was her pride as a shinobi really that important to her? She had endured pain that made her want to tear off her skin and rip her eyes out. She had endured ridicule and humiliation everywhere she went and often questioned her sanity. Who the hell spends seven years of their life chasing after somebody, especially when six of those years, she didn't even know what he looked like? Seven years of borrowed time. Seven years that might be wasted once she does finally meet him. Wasted if he declined to help her.

The thought usually found its way into her mind. She couldn't make the man heal her if he didn't want to and when that time came, she would just have to accept it. She knew that once he made that choice, she would die right then, most likely. Sakura had no idea how vast the world really was and how beautiful, and terrifying, it could be. Her little village was nothing compared to some of the places she had been to, and she would often find herself getting quite comfortable in some places. Although, she never allowed herself to stay for longer than necessary. She still searched for Law and despite the constant pain and struggle to survive, she enjoyed every moment of it. Well, most of it…

The fact she endured every moment of the hardships showed that she was still a shinobi at heart, that she still had pride to hold on to. The fact she enjoyed all the beautiful sights and the fear of losing her life showed that she was still alive. Her life had become much more precious to her during these years. The pinkette was doing all of this on her own, without orders and without permission. This was her journey to find someone that could help free her of not only the poison in her veins, but also of some of the guilt and resentment she held for herself.

Sakura figured that was it. She wasn't there for Naruto when growing up, so she wanted to see if this man was any similar to the way Naruto used to be. Perhaps it was arrogant of her to think this way, but maybe if she waited out long enough to meet him, ask him to cure her, she would be giving him a purpose. It didn't seem justified to be doing this for someone else though. She was sure that she was just being selfish. Or maybe she just wanted to find someone she didn't know and yet was so similar to her. Whatever her reasoning was, she knew she wanted him to cure her, and she was enjoying the journey toward her goal overall.

A small smile found its way onto her lips then, grateful she had somehow managed to survive another life-threatening situation and the man that had saved her was somewhere near her. She would have to properly thank him once she figured out who it was.

"Ah, she's smiling. I guess it's safe to say she's awake now."

"That was quicker than I expected." the young doctor said, surprise evident in his voice, "She shouldn't wake up for another few hours, at least."

Sakura furrowed her eyebrows before slowly, carefully, opening her jade eyes, only for them to land on a blurry object right beside her. It took a few moments for her vision to clear, and she blinked a few times, her gaze slowly adjusting to the bright light of the room she was in.

"How are you feeling?" the object next to her spoke, using the same voice as the doctor she had heard moments ago.

The pinkette blinked again slowly as the figure cleared completely and she was met with the sight of a small reindeer sitting on a stool next to her. He had an expression of concentration and concern written across his furry features. His round eyes were fixated on her, his brow furrowed, and his body leaning over slightly to inspect her. Jade eyes took in the creature calmly and Sakura didn't need to be told to figure out that this was the doctor that had been looking after her.

Sakura's smile deepened from appreciation of life to an absolute adoration of the animal sitting next to her. Knowledge was behind his eyes, and he looked as innocent as he had sounded. What caught her attention the most though was the blue nose that sat atop his snout. It was adorable. "Aren't you just the cutest thing I've seen in my life?" she asked, her voice soft and weak from the lack of not having anything to drink in a while and having been sleeping for who knew how long.

The little doctor seemed surprised at first by her statement and with what he did next, it was Sakura's turn to be surprised. He turned his head to the side while smiling bashfully, his eyes closed, a blush on his cheeks, a hoof to his mouth, and his arm held out toward her that seemed to move in waves. "Calling me cute doesn't make me happy or anything, you stupid jerk."

The pinkette blinked at him curiously for a moment before her expression softened in understanding and adoration. After another moment, the reindeer turned his attention back to her health and with a serious expression, he asked, "How are you feeling?"

"Better. Not dead or anything." Sakura replied and the reindeer let out a sigh of relief.

"I was honestly surprised when Zoro brought up a child along with our idiotic captain."

Sakura took that time to look at the one that had spoken and around the room. The female had short orange hair, brown eyes, and she had her arms crossed over her chest. She wore a perplexed expression with one eyebrow furrowed and the other arched. A tank top, short skirt, and boots. She was standing off to the side and in between her and the doctor sat another female on a stool next to her bed. This one had long blue hair that was pulled back into a ponytail, two bangs hanging down on each side of her face. Grey eyes and she wore a tank top as well with a pair of pants and boots.

The pinkette looked around the room and noticed that it was a bedroom. "Do you remember anything?" the blue-haired woman asked.

Sakura landed her gaze on the female and didn't fail to notice her tense a bit under her jade eyes. The pinkette smiled softly and with a gentle tone, she said, "Everything."

They seemed taken aback a bit by her, though she wasn't sure why. Then again, she supposed it wasn't the first time she had that effect on a crew when she first met them. She could remember the reaction one male had to her about two years ago. He seemed like a kind, young man, though shy and a bit withdrawn. She had been overall accepted by the large crew, especially by the captain, asking her if she would like to join his crew and become his 'daughter'. The young man had done his best to avoid her at first and by total accident later on, they had been locked into the storage room by themselves. Though she used the word 'accident' loosely since she was sure that it was the work of one of the older crew members.

That had been an interesting five hours and the young man had ended up telling her that she made him nervous, as if her eyes could see through his soul. The reference had reminded her of the Byakugan at the time and had made her laugh. He had taken offense and a short argument had erupted between them before he had relented and sulked quietly to himself, doing his best to ignore her. She hadn't allowed it, of course, and had forced him to talk to her. With much reluctance on his part, he eventually opened up to her afterward and they became close friends.

Sakura had to leave after a few months however, after they had kindly brought her over into the peaceful half of the Grand Line. She had told them of her journey to find Law and with much encouragement from her new friends, she set out on her own once again toward her goal.

Perhaps that's what made this girl tense. That supposed feeling of her looking through their souls. Sakura felt a smirk tug at her lips at the memory of that teenage boy, his freckled face still clear in her mind, along with that unique personality and grin of his.

"What's your name, by the way?" the redhead asked curiously.

"Sakura." the pinkette replied calmly.

The redhead smiled in return and put her hand to her chest in introduction. "I'm Nami." She then gestured to the female beside her, "This is Vivi,", and then pointed to the reindeer, "and this is our doctor, Chopper."

Sakura nodded her head, committing the names down to memory. It would seem that she would be stuck with them for a while, at least until they reached land. "It's a pleasure to meet you all."

The little doctor appeared to be satisfied for the time being as he got off his seat and began to make his way to the other side of the room. The pinkette kept her eyes on him in interest while he made his way up some steps and out of the room.

"What were you doing out there anyway? Don't tell me you were traveling by yourself?" Vivi asked, a frown creasing her features.

Sakura looked up at her with a sheepish smile. "Uh, yeah."

Surprise flashed over their feminine faces, evidently shocked that a 'child' was sailing these waters by herself. Sakura couldn't blame them though. She sometimes wondered if she had lost her mind, but she couldn't be tied down to one crew and travel with them. She needed her freedom if she was going to catch what she was chasing after, and it was the same with this new crew. She would thank the man that saved her and the little doctor, then leave.

"What could you possibly be trying to accomplish, sailing the Grand Line by yourself?" the blue-haired woman asked, the shock she felt being expressed through her tone.

Sakura furrowed her eyebrows and tried to sit up, only for her to feel lightheaded once she accomplished the movement. She leaned forward slightly, the rag that was previously on her forehead fell to her lap, and she placed her hand over where it had been. Her eyes were closed, and she let out a low groan.

"Whoa there." Nami said softly, appearing by her side and placing her hand on her shoulder to steady the pinkette. "Take it easy, alright?"

"I was…" Sakura began, her head spinning around in circles, and she tried her best not to vomit. That wouldn't be a good way to show her appreciation for helping her. Since they went out of their way to let her stay on their ship, she supposed it wouldn't do any harm to tell them the reason why she was traveling. The former kunoichi looked up slightly, her gaze landing on the cover as sweat ran down the side of her face. "I'm searching for someone."

"Who?" Nami asked curiously. Who could be so important that it would cause such a small child to go out to sea by herself and risk her life like that?

Sakura turned her attention toward the redhead and a gentle smile crossed her petite features. "Someone who can give me back my life."

The two female teenagers stared at her for a few moments, not sure how to react to her answer. Her expression was so serene, so gentle. They could both feel it. The small child on the bed was not what she appeared to be. Sakura knew they could tell something was off about her. It was obvious by the way they stared at her, as if contemplating something.

The pinkette knew that if someone were to take a closer look at her, they could tell she wasn't normal. Her eyes held too much wisdom, were too hard and deep to hold a childish innocence, and were too sharp and observing to possess a young imagination. If they were the ones that had changed her out of her ragged dress into this new, light pink one, they would have seen the numerous amounts of scars that marred her small body. Her fingertips, her palm, her feet, her back, even her neck wasn't unblemished from the hardships of life. She was far too torn and mature to be a normal child and she knew they could sense that. They could see it in her eyes and hear it in her voice.

"What do you mean?" Vivi asked, breaking the silence in the room that was starting to grow uncomfortable.

Sakura turned her attention to in front of her, her hands placed calmly on her lap while they stood and sat beside her, patiently waiting for her answer. "I'm not sure if I should tell you or not. It's more of a matter of me regaining my pride or not." Jade eyes lowered down to her hands and upturned one so she could glance over the thin scars on her palm, proof she had held her beloved blades and messed up with them. "If I can find this man and accomplish my goal, then I can go back home with my honor restored."

"Well, what does he look like? Maybe we can help you find him."

The pinkette shook her head briefly before grimacing in pain at the movement. Confusion as to why that had hurt crossed her mind, but she pushed it aside for the moment. She frowned downward and replied, "No, that's alright. I don't want to be tied down to one crew for too long."

Nami looked over her for a moment before she shrugged, "Well, I'm sure you have your reasons, but the offer still stands. It's way too dangerous for a child to wander around by themselves like that."

"I appreciate it, along with everything that you have done for me thus far."

There was a knock at the door before the hatch to the room was opened. Sakura kept her gaze forward, an unsettling feeling etching its way up her spine. She recalled the moments of what happened before that storm even began. Her head usually hurt from the poison in her veins, along with every other organ and cell, but something was off. She was mostly used to the pain that it caused her, but something was different and the fact she didn't know what it was unsettled her.

"So, this is the young lady that saved our captain?"

Sakura was brought out of her thoughts when the smell of food entered her nostrils rather than the new presence in the room. The pinkette turned her head and looked to see a blonde making his way down the steps with a tray of food in his hands. Pink eyebrows furrowed and she had to look away to keep from salivating. It had been days since she had eaten anything. Her stomach didn't even growl anymore. She was sure it had gotten fed up with her by that point and had eaten itself long ago.

"This is Sakura." Nami smiled and the male nodded in acknowledgment before making his way to her completely.

He placed the tray on the bed over her legs and she looked at it with slightly widened eyes. "There you are. Chopper told me you won't be able to eat any solids for a while, so I prepared this for you."

Sakura glanced over the bowl of stew and the glass of water that sat next to it. She was never any good at cooking, but she could tell that the dish was delicately prepared. If the scent was anything to go by, she could tell that she would melt after the first spoonful in her mouth. Turning her attention to the man beside her, she regarded him carefully. His blonde hair stopped at his cheeks and was parted to cover his left eye, exposing the right and his curly eyebrow. He had a cigarette in his mouth that was smiling softly down at her as he stood in a black suit. She could tell that he was a confident man by his stance, his hands in his pants' pockets now that they were free.

"Thank you." the female replied in gratitude.

The male nodded his head and said, "Sure thing. Eat it while it's hot. I'm Sanji, the cook on this ship. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

Sakura felt a smile form on her lips at his kindness. "I will. I appreciate it."

He nodded again and then turned his attention to the two women, an affectionate smile on his lips. "Ladies, dinner will be done in a few minutes."

They smiled at him in return while Sakura picked up the glass of water and pressed it to her lips, slowly letting the liquid slip into her mouth and down her throat. She did her best to suppress a moan as the cool beverage soothed her dry throat and it seemed she was successful since nobody turned to look at her.

"Thank you, Sanji-kun. We'll be up there shortly." Nami replied.

"Please, take your time." the male swooned before shortly making his way out of the room, but only after stating that he would be back for her dishes after a while.

Sakura glanced over at the redhead, finding her smirking coyly at her and the pinkette lowered the half empty glass of water down to the tray. Jade blinked at brown, expecting her to say something and she wasn't disappointed.

"You should really reconsider our proposition. It would be a lot more fun searching for this guy with us than by yourself."

"Not to mention, a lot safer." Vivi added.

The pinkette glanced between the two of them before she smiled softly, feeling welcomed among the ones she had just met. The two teenagers stood up before turning toward the door and they waved before heading up the stairs and leaving the room. "Chopper should be in here later to check on you." Nami told her before she left the room, shutting the hatch door behind her.

Sakura looked down at the bowl of stew, grateful her company was gone. At least this way, she wouldn't have to worry too much about manners since she was sure that her hunger would get the better of her and make her look like a starved beast while she ate.

~SCENE CHANGE~

Arms were folded behind a pink head as jade eyes stared up at the ceiling above her. Her legs were bent so that her knees were up in the air and one calf was folded across a knee. Sakura laid on her back, the sounds of the crew above her, in what she assumed was the kitchen, shouting at each other. Rather, at a specific crew member, from what she could gather. Something about taking all the meat.

She listened to their ramblings halfheartedly and though Nami's proposal was still clear in her mind, she didn't take it to heart. She could tell that the crew was grateful for whatever service she had done for their captain, but she had no intention of staying with them. She had something that needed to be done, sooner rather than later. She didn't mention any details to her previous visitors, not having seen any point in it. The female didn't have time to sit around and have fun while looking for Law.

Law…

She had to find him quickly or she would die.

After she had finished eating and with the fear of capsizing out of the way, she had time to sit down and meditate for the first time in months. It was a refreshing feeling. At least it was until she came across a disturbing revelation, one that had her threatening to bring her food back up. How she hadn't noticed it sooner, she didn't know, but she was more determined than ever to find this doctor.

Only… she couldn't remember his face…

Sakura gritted her teeth in anger and aggravation. The ex-shinobi could remember grabbing his wanted poster from the tavern, conserving every last detail into her memory, and keeping his picture if she ever needed reminding of his features. She had lost that picture however when she capsized before she was brought onto this ship. She didn't have any pockets or shoes to keep it in so she just held onto it wherever she went. How could she forget something like that?! Things like that didn't just happen. There was a reason behind it and she knew what it was.

The poison was affecting her body even more so now than ever. It was taking her memory away from her. She wasn't sure what else she had forgotten, but it couldn't have been anything that happened more than a year ago. It seemed to be working backwards for some odd reason or maybe it just took out random memories during whatever point in her life. She just hoped it wouldn't cause her to forget more recent events, like how she ended up on this ship or the name of the man that she was searching for…

Sakura turned onto her side toward the wall beside her, lowered her legs, and placed one arm down in front of her while the other stayed under her head as a sort of cushion, even though she had the pillow underneath her as well. She scowled at the wood beside her, her hand trembling slightly from the frustration and anxiety that raked her body. What the hell else could go wrong? Although, she supposed that if she were to give up on her quest for Law, she could get the little doctor upstairs to heal her. But then what would the last seven years have been for? She couldn't bring herself to do it for more than one reason.

An agitated sigh left her lips as she closed her eyes. This whole situation was giving her a headache and she had no one to blame but herself. Without much protest, she allowed sleep to take over her body.

~SCENE CHANGE~

Pain racked its way through small limbs, the cracking echoing throughout the room and resonating within her bones. She wouldn't scream. She wouldn't. Teeth bit into her lower lip harshly, the blood rolling down the pink flesh and over a pale chin. Tears ignored her protests and rained down from her bloodshot eyes and over flushed cheeks, blending in with the dirt and blood that had dried there weeks before. She covered her ears with her small hands as her eyes stared ahead of her.

She had lost track of her time here. She had lost track of everything. Her body ached and it trembled fiercely, having lost almost all feeling. She was numb. She was cold. She was scared. She didn't know what to do or how to escape from this awful place. What the hell had she gotten herself into?

Her eyes were glazed over as her body was kicked to the ground and she landed on her side, the blood on the ground splashing upward as her body collided with the crimson puddle. Goosebumps raided her body as the liquid soaked into her clothes, hair, and skin.

The female could hear screams coming from others in different rooms surrounding her own. No. Her cell. Her prison. Her hell. The sounds of the cracking whips were still loud and clear, and she knew that some others were receiving worse treatment than her, though not many and the thought didn't comfort her.

The man above her tsked with a disapproving grunt. "You're nothing but a worthless tramp. I don't see why the Young Master keeps you around."

She furrowed her eyebrows and let a few more quiet tears escape her eyes at the harsh words. "Personally, I think that hair of yours is creepy as hell and you don't even whimper. You're like some kind of monster."

Monster.

"You're a freak."

A freak?

"Leave the pink thing alone already. We've got better things to do with our time."

Time?

The man in her cell let out an amused laugh before saying, "You're right."

The sound of footsteps could be heard growing farther away, though the sound of the door to her cell opening and closing was lost on her. She just wanted them to leave her alone. She just wanted to be out of this hell. She just wanted to go home already. She had to find Law at any cost.

The female pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her shins before placing her forehead to her knees. "I'm not a 'thing'." she softly sobbed.

~END OF CHAPTER ONE~

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please enjoy future chapters as well.