Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece, just the OC(s)

Chapter 48

Further in the back of the little coffee shop stood Ikkaku wiping away at another mug. "Are you sure you don't want to be sitting over there with her and the rest of your crew?" Ikkaku commented, curiously. At first, she had been surprised and then honoured when Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Handsome stayed with her, especially after all that happened. So did Charlotte apparently given the look of surprise on her face.

As much as she loves Charlotte, the woman in her was happy for the attention. Though, she wasn't so sure if she did have his attention. The male had done nothing but watch Charlotte since he sat down. It was clear from his actions to his body language that his priority was her. She stared at the café au lait she made him, untouched. "If you don't like your coffee that way, you could have said something!"

Law turned back towards the shop owner, "You could have asked." She had placed the artful cup down before him with a wink before he said anything.

Ikkaku busied herself with wiping at the mug harder. He's right. She didn't ask, had done so since it was one of her favourite drinks to make. A drink on the house. A flirt. "Fine then, what is it that you want?" At the man's quirked brow, she gave a deep sigh. "I may not know you, but I'm not blind. You came all this way for her, didn't you? Yet you're sitting here with me. What's up?"

Law gauged the others for a moment. She was bolder than he made her out to be and drummed his fingers lightly against the counter. "I have a question for you." His eyes bore into hers, testing her.

Ikkaku swallowed thickly. Now that she had his attention, she wasn't sure she wanted it anymore. The pressure was more than she had originally imagined. "I-I thought you said I c-couldn't provide for what you need."

Law raised a tattooed hand, flipping beri's between his fingers, and Ikkaku was sharply aware of the word the letters etched onto each finger spelled. "I was wrong." He corrected and Ikkaku hummed a quiet 'Oh'. "I saw that look on your face when Charlotte said she's never been off this island before. Why is it that you knew that it was a lie yet she, herself, did not?"

"You weren't with her before she came here." Ikkaku commented and Law gave her credit for trying to maintain eye contact with him despite the fear in her eyes. She's a courageous one for those she cares for. Admirable. It wasn't a question, but a statement. One that Law confirmed anyway.

"No. She left us."

"Why?" came Ikkaku's immediate response. From what she gathered, they were friends with Charlotte.

Law rested his chin in his palm as he glanced back at the huntress. A sigh escaping him and a somber look in his eyes. "That's what I want to know."

Ikkaku watched the mysterious doctor and his gaze towards the other, lips twitching up into a snicker. So that was it. "You're upset that she didn't choose to stay with you." To think that Charlotte was such a player. No wonder the Ikedas didn't spark anything within her. She had him. "I don't know what happened between the two of you, but if you're honest about your feelings for her. I'm sure things will turn out for the better. I can even set up a date for you two if you want."

Law gawked at the winking woman. Feelings for her? He had feelings for her? One beyond that of camaraderie? Was that why he was so bothered by her leaving? "Don't read too much into something that's not there." No, he'd be the same if anyone else on his crew were to leave.

"Really? You'd chase anyone across the Grand Blue just because." Yeah right. Ikkaku wasn't born yesterday.

"That's because—!" Law stopped himself before he could say anything more. His voice came out sharper than he intended, and his crew was now staring at him. His face flushed slightly, and he froze at the self-gratified grin on her face. Told ya.

"Just ask her to stay with you." Ikkaku pushed, grinning cheekily. It faltered at the other's stare. "Wait, you did ask her to stay, didn't you?" She groaned dramatically. "Did she even know that was an option?"

Law stilled, a sudden realization hitting him. He never asked the huntress if she would like to stay on his crew. He gave her no choice in the beginning of their adventures together and he never asked her after she reclaimed her heart. Mostly because he didn't think he had to. Did she leave because she honestly thought that she wasn't allowed to stay after all this time?

"Gosh, don't tell me you thought her to be a mind reader. No wonder she left."

Law scowled at Ikkaku's dramatic words. Enough with her teasing. He coughed, changing topics. "I asked you a question, Ikkaku-ya."

"I knew she was lying because Charlotte isn't from this island. She washed ashore a bit over a month ago. Timeline-wise would match with what you've been saying." She started and Law nodded, well aware of those details already. What he wanted to know was why he couldn't see a smudge of a lie from Charlotte's expressive eyes when she said she didn't recognize them.

"You say that, but Charlotte doesn't have any recollection of this. It's as if her memory was wiped." Ikkaku gasped at the theory, dropping a mug. She apologized for the disruptions and Law's eyes narrowed. "Is there anyone on this island who can do such a thing?"

"They weren't kidding about you being the fastest hunter. You managed to find everyone in record time. Playing hide and seek with you to kill time didn't actually kill any time." Penguin chuckled lightly, remembering how Charlotte managed to track everyone down at a terrifying speed. It eventually became a game of who can hide from her the longest. "Though, I guess now we know your secret. To think you were using Kenbunshoku Haki all this time." He added after a while, tugging on the huntress' sleeve when he noticed her gaze drifting again to the back of the café. Pulling her attention back towards him. "Let's see who'll win now that we also can see you coming." Tag would be so much more fun now.

"Remember to block off the armoury next time." Shachi interjected quickly and Charlotte raised a brow at the younger member, while the other two at the table paled. Penguin nodded profusely while Cole swore on his life that he'd hide the armoury so she could never find it or enter it.

"What's so bad with Charlotte going into the armoury?" Charlotte questioned and despite the oddity of hearing Charlotte refer to herself in the third person, they stopped correcting her on it hours ago. Just like how she had stop correcting them on the use of 'you' as they spoke.

After yesterday's awkwardness, Charlotte didn't think she'd see the small group of Heart Pirates again. They proved her wrong by showing up the very next day, determination on their faces as they sat her down and began telling her stories of their wild adventures together with a character called 'Charlotte' who apparently looks identical to her. It was weird honestly, hearing them talk about this Charlotte as if she was her. They would speak as if she was the one who did all those things. Things that she couldn't remember because well, they simply didn't happen.

Still, she indulged them in their antics, listening to their tales with earnest enthusiasm. At first it was because of the looks on their faces from their first visit. She didn't know why, but she didn't like the looks on their faces when she said what should have been innocent, painless words. The look on their faces stated otherwise and for some reason it pained her to see them—some strangers—wearing such looks.

"I think you have the wrong person."

The one who Charlotte had mistaken as a senior reacted first, landing a harsh hook against her right cheek before the others could stop him. It didn't stop the curses that exploded from him though.

"What the hell is wrong with you!" Ikkaku shouted, angrily at a stunned Charlotte's side. Brown eyes glared up in part fear and part anger as man with the longsword neared. "S-Stop where you are!" Ikkaku demanded, and then added, "W-what are you going to do?" When her words did nothing.

"Believe it or not, I'm a doctor." He responded, stopping before the huntress. Her cheek now swollen. Why didn't she dodge it? "I didn't chase you all the way here to be lied to with such an obvious lie." He didn't know what to expect from their meeting again; there were too many possibilities: avoid him, ignore him, perhaps she'd storm up to him, demanding answers or at the very least be mad at him for following after her explicit 'I'm done'. Lying, and a blatant one at that, was not one he was expecting from someone who has previously been so excruciatingly honest.

And an honest answer is what he wanted to the question that had been boring into his mind since he woke up: Why did you leave? His gaze darted back towards her faltered form. The red on her cheek already showing signs of bruising. Why didn't she dodge it?

"Chase me?" Charlotte repeated the words and her brows knotted together. "Why are you chasing me? Did I do something to you?" Surely, she'd remember such a strange rag-tag group of travelers. They even have a sheep with them! Wait, wasn't that the sheep she called Animal Control on yesterday? She shook her head. That wasn't important right now. Lifting her gaze to his, platinum purple bore into widening steel grey. "Sorry, but I really don't know any of you." Charlotte repeated.

"And then you blew up the entire base because you were holding the bazooka backwards!" Charlotte chuckled lightly at that, keeping her questioning thoughts of "is it even possible for someone to mistakenly hold a bazooka backwards and manage to still shoot it?" to herself. What wild imagination they have. She smiled with them, enjoying the laughs and the near visible tears sprouting at the corners of their eyes as they continued their tales, reminiscing of a time foreign to the female. "How nice," She mumbled, and the others quieted at her voice. A grin tugging on their faces as they noticed her fleeting attention locked once again at their captain in the backroom.

"You really don't give up, huh?" Charlotte turned back towards the others, a shy look on her face from being caught distracted again. The apology dying on her lips at their next words. It meant to be a tease, she understood that much from their tone. But that wasn't what caught her attention most. It was the words. It caused something within her to stir. "Still hunting Captain, are you?"

Charlotte blinked, brows knotting together. "Hunting? I thought you were friends with Charlotte." The idea of being friends with a hunter hunting their boss seemed utterly ridiculous, yet the concept felt familiar. Had she read it in a manga or book somewhere? Charlotte pulled her gaze back away from their leader and back towards the crew, not entirely sure when her gaze went away again. A frown settled on her features as she noticed the not-so-subtle bandages that they were all wearing. "Hey, those wounds… they didn't come from her, did they?" Maybe they weren't as close as she thought them to be.

The other's faces darkened at the mention, a look that Charlotte missed, turning towards the door at the sound of a bell. A hand gripped at her wrist, stopping her from greeting the newcomer. She glanced back towards the man who punched her yesterday and the tightening grip, uncertainty building within her. Was he going to hit her again? Charlotte stared at the fiery man so uncharacteristically quiet, shaking slightly as if struggling with himself. The rest of his crew stared at him curiously.

"This is all the witch's fault. That bastard was here for her. She realizes that stayin' here will lead him to us again, doesn't she?" Cole was certain she had overheard them complaining in the galley that day. He saw the look on her face. He knew it hurt her, and he hadn't apologized for it. Instead, he demanded she put them in harm's way to train. To bear the weight of their injuries again. "I-is that why you left?" He just didn't know it impacted her that much. Did she really believe the angry spout of words? "Is that why you're have this stupid act on of not knowing us?"

Their plan of tripping her act up on past tales had proven fruitless.

Did you leave because of what I said?

"I'm afraid Ikkaku is out today." Charlotte announced easily as she wiped away at what seemed to be an endless supply of dirty cups. Her back facing him.

"I'm looking for you actually." He corrected and he hid a chuckle at the surprise on her face. "How's your cheek?" The large white bandage on the side of her face hard to miss and a painful reminder that the hit had struck. That she hadn't dodged it.

"Taking responsibility for the action of your crew?" Charlotte spoke with no real malice on her voice. Her cheek still stung awfully and was swollen rather comically.

"The Captain's always responsible for his crew."

She stiffened slightly at the serious look on the other's face and quickly waved it off. "I'm not holding a grudge. He already apologized for it." That and then some. She thought back to the strange conversation they held last. His apology and words made no sense to her, but she could tell that he had been struggling with it for a while.

Law quirked a brow at that. While he may not know fully what she meant, it wasn't important if they settled it already. "You didn't ice it yesterday." He ignored the way the other stiffened as he peeled back the plaster carefully.

"I-I still had a shift to do. I didn't have enough hands to hold an ice bag to my face." He scoffed lightly at her excuse. How very Charlotte-like to avoid listening to his treatment orders. "Ah, cold!" She blinked at him, hand ghosting over her swollen cheek and the new bandage he applied.

"It's a cooling bandage." Now she didn't have any excuse to not be applying something cold to help with the swelling. "Hands are free now, right?"

She stared at him for a moment, before her face shifted, and Law stiffen. "Thanks!" He swears, sometimes her overtly honest expressions were a bit dangerous. Just be honest with your feelings for her! Ikkaku's advice echoing in the back of his mind, and he shoved it away, focusing on the woman working. Charlotte swiped two ceramic mugs from the counter. "So, what can I get for you this fine morning? You can't keep coming here without ordering anything."

"Information."

Charlotte blinked at the strange request. He does know this is a coffee shop, right? She turned back around. "Sorry, we're fresh out of information today."

Law glanced outside at the rising sun. He was the first customer of the day. "It didn't seem like it'd be a hot order."

"You'd think it'll be at a coffee bar. Unfortunate. That's why we've stopped stocking them."

Law smirked. Instinctively adaptive. The girl grew far too quickly; perhaps that's why he always had trouble getting her under control. Or why he liked having her around. It was never boring with her. "I'm sure you'll find more than enough reason to not discontinue that product." Law hummed, resting his head against the back of his hand in a carefree way. His grey eyes following her every movement.

"Perhaps." Charlotte gave. "But that's not up for me to decide." She placed the white cup down gingerly. "I'm only but a worker here. I will pass along your feedback to management." She gave him her customer facing smile. "Is there anything on the menu that I can get you instead?"

"Is it him?"

Those simple three words that Charlotte never thought could be bone-chilling had her whole body go cold. Charlotte swallowed thickly. "Is it who?" And she wasn't even the target of the threat, though she now desperately wished she knew who. The sword he came in with suddenly all the more taunting. It rested against the counter not too far away. Charlotte could reach it too, but could she reach it faster than him? Fast enough to intercept the poor man he was about to attack because of an imagined relationship between her and this other stranger.

"The one whose coffee you just prepared." Charlotte glanced down at the black coffee she had just filled. "You're prey."

"Prey?" Charlotte made a face. "You mean like predator and prey?" She asked slowly, taking her time to test the waters. It seemed like his urge to attack whoever this prey is dwindled with ever step closer she got to him. An exchange, Charlotte quickly came to realize. It was her for him. Charlotte exhaled deeply, picking up a rag. Well then, he could wait forever. The black coffee was for him. Not that she was going to tell him anymore.

"I don't think I'm much of a predator, really." Charlotte smiled, busying herself with polishing the espresso machine. Keeping busy also helped to calm her twitching nerves and wandering mind. This was the second time the hunter thing came up. Charlotte's reflection reflected off the metal back at her a little too early for liking, but she could find something else to do in the meantime.

Law watched her carefully. "I beg to differ." her acting was really not letting up. Was this because she's hunting? Or does she truly not know?

"Believe what you will." She grunted, stretching to reach the second level of the cabinet. They weren't exactly low on the Alabasta coffee beans yet, but it wouldn't help to refill. The issue was reaching for it. Placing both her hands flat against the cabinet, Charlotte lifted herself up. Next was getting her knee over the counter. Shifting her weight, Charlotte lifted one hand to reach for the bag when a second hand reach passed hers, grabbing the bag of beans before she did.

"You can drop the act now." Law whispered into her ear as he did so.

Charlotte jumped, losing balance for a moment before another hand pressed against the small of her back, steading her. "Ghost!" Charlotte shrieked and paled.

"A ghost?" A low musky voice tickled her ear and cheek. His laughs vibrating off her and resonating with her erratic heartbeats. "Your coffee beans." Charlotte blinked, eyes focusing on the bag Law held before her, his other arm cradling her and keeping her upright. He lifted the bags out of her reach when she reached up for it. "It's rather rude to call your customer names like that."

"You're not a customer! A customer would have ordered something by now!" She excused. She added a little hop to grab the bag this time, but Law only lifted it higher. He shifted his arm to hold her, so she didn't fall off the ledge. The action pressing their bodies closer together.

"You're in no conditions to be picky." Law reminded with a mock smile down at the flushed woman cradled to his chest. He leaned forward, bringing his chest over hers and she leaned back, trying to maintain the easily disappearing space between them.

"I'll scream." Charlotte challenged, her glare never failing her as she stared at the male suddenly too close. She could feel the toned muscles beneath the thin fabric the male had on. Wasn't he too fit for a surgeon?

"I don't believe you." He smirked darkly. Charlotte didn't seem like she was the type of person who'd ruin a hunt just because her old target was being difficult and clingy. Especially when it drew so much attention to her. "Besides, it doesn't matter to me if you do." She was the one who had been suppressing her presence. He smirked at the red tinting her face.

Her lips settled into a small pout. "I liked it better when you were laughing."

A twinge of emotion gripped at his heart. "I said you can stop your act." He pulled back from her, realizing just how close he's gotten. Yet the usual cautious bite was missing and that was dangerous. His usual reminder missing. He eyed her pouting lips and swallowed thickly, taking a step back. He did not have feelings for her.

The look on her face shifted. "I'm not acting." She pushed him back and slipped onto her feet. "Honestly, I can't believe you. You barely know me, and you think I'm that kind of girl." Charlotte took out the filter and held her hand out for the beans, keeping her gaze away from him and forcing the residual heat to disappear from her face and her heart to thump normally. "You've heard the rumors I presume." It wasn't that hard to believe. Not everyone in the world was nice. People are only human. They greed and envy when others are better treated. The Ikedas were unanimously voted best looking in town. Charlotte was the one living with them. She was never short of angry fan girls to say the least. Married woman and Ikkaku were the only one female she got along with.

He plopped the bag on top of her head. "Rumors?" Law had no idea what the woman was getting at. He couldn't help the soft smile on his face as he watched her treat his hat with outmost care, inspecting it for any stains. "You don't look too happy about that. Those rumors." Perhaps he should ask around.

"Rumors often are misleading. It'll be easier if everyone just asked." Law chuckled at that. "What?" Charlotte quirked a brow, not enjoying this laughter. She was glad that he was laughing, just not so much that she might be the expense of his laughter.

"Nothing, it's rather odd to hear that from you." It was something he had said to her before. Who knew she took it to heart? Though she didn't seem to realize she was using his words. "But what if someone lies."

Charlotte waved away the guy's weird reaction. "That's why things like that never work. No one ever honest."

"If you're honest with your feelings, I'm sure things will turn out better." Law pushed the annoying words away. "How about you? Do you trust?" Law questioned, leaning against the counter now behind him. He's been waiting patiently for her to share with him her troubles and past. To say he wished that she had warned him about Aceteon earlier wouldn't be too far fetched. Then at least he'd be better prepared to protect the crew. Her especially. The added scaring in her shoulder a weight in his mind and his hand clenched.

"You?" She quipped. "Please, I don't even know your name." She wasn't facing him so she couldn't see his expression, not that she was likely to notice the small dip in the corner of his lips.

"Law." Charlotte blinked, turning to face the man, jolting when she realized just how close he was. He caged her with his arms now. A brief blank look rested on her face before she burst into laughter. Law frowned. This wasn't the reaction he was expecting

"Sorry, you seem more like the type who'd make their own rules than follow them." She explained. He wasn't being angsty; it's his actual name! "Well, you already know my name. So, I guess that means we're finally squared."

"No, I wouldn't say so." Law told and Charlotte quirked a brow at him. He pointed a tattooed finger toward the fuzzy hat, amused at the way she pulled it back immediately. "I already knew that. If we're trading, then it'd only be fair if I get something I didn't have before. For example, I'd like my hat back."

She blinked, "You're hat?" She was astounded at the other's audacity to nod. "This is my hat! What are you talking about?" How could something she had belong to a guy she's never met before.

"Actually, it's mine." Law corrected. He pulled out his bounty poster and slid it across the counter towards her. His lips twitched up at the way she shuffled closer to look but kept the hat on the opposite side of her, away from him. As if that little of a distance was enough. He could easily shamble it to his hands. He could shamble her along with it to his lap. He grinned, wondering what kind of expression she'd show him then.

"Wow… it's the same design. Spots and all!" Charlotte's surprise broke through Law's thoughts and his attention shifted. Charlotte pulled back, crossing her arms across her chest, hat tucked underneath one arm. "But it could just be the same design." She didn't buy it.

Law sighed lightly, resting his face on his hand. "Or it could be mine." He teased, grinning at the caution on her face. "Tell me how you got it then."

Charlotte harrumphed at the easy ask, and she opened her mouth with confidence. Except nothing came out. She blanked. She doesn't remember how she got her hands on it. "I-It's just been with me as long as I can remember!" Charlotte stuttered, feeling less confident in herself with every word. At the other's mirthful grin, she snapped back. "How about you? I bet you don't remember how you got it either!"

"I had it custom made back in North Blue. It's one of a kind." He responded immediately, lips curving further at the shock on Charlotte's face and the defeated droop of her pointed finger. He watched her fumble a bit, worry and panic overcoming her. She stared at the precious hat debating and he shifted it back on top of her head before she could decide. "You can answer my questions."

Charlotte blinked, surprised at the sudden shift.

He added, "Instead of the hat."

A smile graced her face, and she tugged the hat snuggly back on her head. "Ah, yes, information." Charlotte played along, rolling her eyes. She settled into the space between his arms, leaning back against the edge of the counter. She was comfortable between his arms. Platinum eyes fluttered up to his, a smirk on her face and a challenge in her eyes. "What's your question, Mister Law?"

"Why did you leave?"

Charlotte blinked, surprised at the hidden pain behind that question. Her lips thinned as she stared at the other, his true question shocking her: why did you leave me?

"Leave? But I was never—ah, you mean that Charlotte girl you're looking for." Law's flinched. "Like I told the others, that's a question for her not me." The answer was one that Law should have saw coming, one that only made sense given her amnesiac display. Yet, it didn't lessen the sting one bit.

"Did you know staying was an option?" The question escaped him faster than he could catch it. Charlotte blinked and so did Law. Surprise etched on both of faces for but a moment. Law felt an irk at the giggle that escaped her.

"Did you not ask her to stay?"

Grumbling he pivoted topics. "Tell me about these rumors of yours."

Charlotte let out an incomprehensible grumble at the request and Law grew increasingly curious. Her free hand shot up to scratch her head in annoyance. She shouldn't be advocating the spreading of the rumors that she hates so much. But he didn't seem like the type to blindly follow a rumor. He seemed too smart for that. Smart enough to decide for himself. "Long story short, I live with two popular guys and jealous females make stupid stories about me trying to sex it up with them."

Or at least she hoped so.

Law's lips tugged down. "Which one of them is the one your target?"

The words hit Charlotte hard. The drip coffee finished, and Charlotte didn't move to get it. She believed in him to not let rumors determine who her character. She made a gamble on it, and she lost. It shouldn't matter what he thought about her. Him, a stranger, here today, gone another. Yet for some reason, it bothered her. Anyone else, it would have been fine, but him, she really wanted to believe in him.

Just when she thought the two of them could finally get along too. Like she did with the rest of his crew. For some reason, he was the only one who stayed away from her, and it bothered her, but she thought they were getting past that seeing as how he came alone to visit her. If only he hadn't been annoyingly adamant about the predator-prey act.

Prey, huh? So that was what he meant. Charlotte bit her lip. The whole thing felt like a set up. All to get to know which of the two she was targeting. For some reason it hurt. A lot.

Charlotte strangled the cloth in her hand, "Ne, just what kind of a person do you think I am?!" She asked, voice raised and eyes glowering down at him.

Law was at a loss. His last visit had proved fruitless too. Charlotte didn't let up on the act nor did he get the answers he was looking for. The fruits of his last visits ended like the first—with an expression that he had never seen on the huntress. They were so raw, so unfiltered and it made him doubt what he was doing. Charlotte was never so vulnerable, so civilian, so normal. His latest visit, that last look was one that had Law questioning what it was he was doing.

She looked like she was about to cry.

"Aren't you acting a little too much for a target that isn't even there?" He grumbled into his palm.