Chapter 18: Obligated to obligations
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Before they could react, they were both swept away by the waterfall. The sensation of free-fall took Emi's breath away as adrenaline surged through her body. The world around them became a swirling blur of light and water.
The brutal impact of their plunge into the water made Emi cry out in pain. As they were dragged underwater by the current, she was violently thrown against a rock, painfully injuring her rib. Despite the pain, she clung tightly to Law and his Nodachi, refusing to let him fall prey to the tumultuous waters.
Panic heightened as she desperately tried to reach the surface against the strong current pulling her down, making every movement an exhausting struggle. In a final effort, she grabbed onto some floating seaweed, using it to pull herself up to the surface.
Finally, she managed to emerge, gasping and exhausted, and was horrified to find they had landed in the sea. The cold water and the fall had sapped almost all her energy, but the need to get Law to safety gave her the strength to swim to the nearest shore. Each stroke was a challenge, and she focused on keeping Law's head above water, fearing he would inhale more saltwater.
Out of breath, she finally reached a rocky beach. With the last reserves of her strength, she dragged Law out of the water, laying him down beside her on the shore. She collapsed next to him, breathing heavily and with muscles trembling from fatigue.
She glanced quickly at Law, and seeing him silent and still, panic surged in Emi again. She quickly sat up. Her hands trembled slightly as she awkwardly placed her palms on his chest, pressing firmly to try to expel the water from his lungs.
Law, though conscious, remained still, his strength depleted but curious to see how far Emi would go to save him.
Seeing no reaction from the pirate, Emi didn't hesitate for a second and leaned down to give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, her warm breath mingling with the cold coastal air.
When their lips touched, Law felt a mix of shock and warmth, surprised by the intensity of her action but also by the softness of her touch.
Emi, focused on her task, didn't notice Law's slight twitch. After blowing air into his lungs several times, she pulled back slightly, watching him anxiously for any sign of response.
Ready to start again, she leaned in once more, but at that moment, Law opened his eyes and struggled to sit up.
"Law! I thought you were dead!" she exclaimed in relief.
Law, still regaining his strength, looked at her with his gray eyes, gradually returning to his usual calm demeanor despite the situation. He hadn't expected such a medical intervention from her.
"You know, there are easier ways to revive me,"
Emi gave him an incredulous look, her eyebrows furrowing slightly. "Don't tell me you were conscious the whole time."
"Let's just say I was conscious enough to appreciate your initiative," he replied with a slight smirk as he observed her reaction.
Emi, blushing and visibly embarrassed by the situation, bit her lower lip in frustration. "You're the worst, Law!"
Law's smirk widened, noting that this insult had become a habit with Emi.
"I suppose that was your version of first aid?" Law remarked, his serious tone tempered with a hint of irony.
"I was trying to save your life!" Emi retorted, clearly vexed by his comment. "A thank you would have sufficed. Next time, I'll let you handle the saltwater on your own," she added, crossing her arms with a pouty expression.
Law was grateful, of course, but wasn't in the mood to thank her openly. They had ended up in this situation because of Emi's insatiable curiosity. If she hadn't insisted on exploring that merchant ship, they wouldn't have had to flee into this toxic forest.
He attempted to sit up, propping himself up on his elbows, his gaze fixed on the horizon where the sea met the sky.
"I appreciate the effort, journalist-ya," he added, a wry smile forming despite the lingering frustration.
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Emi and Law stayed on the edge of the beach for a while, regaining their strength in silence. Emi couldn't stop thinking about the scene they had witnessed earlier, slaves disembarking from ships, their faces marked by exhaustion and despair... She couldn't shake the image of their empty stares and overwhelming fatigue from her mind. She felt a heavy weight on her conscience, a mix of anger and compassion compelling her to act.
Finally, she broke the silence, determination clear in her voice.
"Law, we need to investigate the castle."
Law frowned, irritated by Emi's insistence on going to the castle despite everything they had been through and his current state.
"What happens on this island doesn't concern us, journalist-ya."
But Emi, irritated by his apparent indifference, refused to back down.
"And those people? We're just going to leave them to their fate? There are even children involved, Law!" Her voice was full of reproach and indignation.
"It's not my problem," Law replied firmly. "And it shouldn't be yours, especially in this state."
Emi glared at him, her determination unwavering despite the clear pain she felt. "Why do you refuse to fight? You're a pirate, aren't you? Kicking some Marines' asses shouldn't be a problem for you!"
Law sighed as he looked at Emi. He had noticed her strong sense of justice, a trait that didn't align with the pirate life. He wasn't indifferent to what was happening, but he wasn't as naive as she was. The harsh reality of the world they lived in required a certain toughness that Emi seemed to ignore.
"I'm not here to play the hero," he finally said, his expression hard.
Emi, however, wasn't ready to drop the matter. She stood up, hiding her pain as best as she could, her voice betraying her resolve. "I can't just stand by. Even injured, I have to act. I'm going to the castle with or without you."
Law sighed again, irritated by what he perceived as Emi's idealistic stubbornness.
"Listen, if you cross a noble, it's over for you. Your life as a journalist will turn into a never-ending manhunt. You'll be marked for life by the government," he explained gravely.
Emi, usually indifferent to the threats associated with her profession, found herself touched by the broader implications of her actions. The reality of the situation hit her when she thought of her father. Working for the government, he could face severe consequences if she ended up on the wanted list—perhaps even worse.
Law added, his eyes searching hers, "You should know better than anyone. They have resources and contacts everywhere. If you get noticed, they'll do everything to silence you."
Emi stared at Law, aware of the implications of his words. She knew exactly why he was saying this. She wasn't ready to risk so much and lose people she cared about, and he knew that. But part of her wondered if he was saying this to protect her or simply using a strategy to persuade her to give up.
This realization weighed heavily on her heart. With this in mind, she admitted defeat and agreed to return to the ship, though she was deeply frustrated by her inability to help more.
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On the way back, Emi began to feel the pain in her broken rib intensify, and she realized with horror that she had also badly sprained her ankle. Nevertheless, she continued walking behind Law, biting her lip to avoid complaining.
However, Law suddenly stopped, and Emi, surprised, bumped into his back.
"Sit down against that tree," he ordered her in an authoritative tone.
Emi retorted, refusing to give in to her pain. "I'm fine, I can keep going to the submarine without stopping!"
Law turned to look at her, analyzing her from head to toe with a scrutinizing gaze. Then, he spoke in a cold, serious tone.
"With a broken rib and a sprained ankle, you won't get far. Plus, your slowness is delaying us."
Emi gritted her teeth, frustrated but recognizing the truth in his words. She finally resigned herself to sit against the tree.
"Fine, fine! Thanks for your 'concern'," she said with a hint of irony, leaning against the tree trunk, her voice reflecting both relief and irritation.
Law approached her and carefully lifted her shirt slightly to inspect her injured rib. A large bruise had formed, a painful reminder of her fall. He was surprised she hadn't mentioned the pain earlier, knowing that this type of injury was severe enough to immobilize many people.
He gently placed his hand on the bruise, causing Emi to wince in pain. He activated his blue sphere around her abdomen, then, murmuring the word "Ope," he made a precise gesture with his hand. A snapping sound echoed, and Emi let out a muffled cry, trying her best to suppress a stronger expression of pain.
"What did you do?! That hurt like hell!" she exclaimed, surprise and pain in her voice.
Without responding, Law repeated the gesture on her injured ankle, and once again, Emi stifled a cry. After a brief examination to ensure everything was in place, he stood up satisfied and explained calmly:
"I performed an operation. The pain should go away now."
"What?" Emi was both stunned and relieved. Indeed, the intense pain she had felt moments ago was already subsiding, replaced by a sense of relief she never thought possible so quickly.
She felt ashamed. Once again, she had been treated by the Surgeon of Death, and it wounded her pride. She hated this feeling of indebtedness, but, grateful for the help she had received, she got up with a quiet "thank you", and they resumed their walk towards the submarine. Law walked slightly ahead, while Emi followed, pondering the complexity of her feelings toward the pirate.
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The sky had begun to darken, painting twilight hues on the calm water, when the familiar silhouette of the Heart Pirates' submarine finally appeared before them. Emi's stress began to slowly subside as they approached the relative safety of their temporary hideout.
On the deck of the submarine, Sachi and Bepo were waiting for them, their expressions a mix of worry and relief.
"Captain! Emi! What happened out there?!" Sachi exclaimed, concerned by their condition.
"Just some unexpected complications...," Emi replied, avoiding the details of their mishap, while Bepo, always attentive, scrutinized their visible injuries with a worried expression.
Law, noticing his companions' concern, responded in a calm but firm tone. "We'll talk about it later." He then turned to Bepo and quickly gave orders, "We're leaving now. Make sure everything is ready."
He judged that staying on this island was pointless for them, having realized that the castle and its slaves had nothing to do with Doflamingo. Although he needed to confirm this with Emi, who might know more from her investigation on the ship, their priority was to leave and avoid unnecessary trouble.
Penguin, who had just joined them, looked at Emi and Law with astonishment. "Why are you both soaked?" he asked, concerned.
Law ran a hand through his hair, sighing, aware that he couldn't avoid their questions tonight. "Someone found a creative way to attract the Marines' attention," he said, giving Emi a pointed look.
Emi raised an eyebrow, fatigue gnawing at her, and the throbbing pain in her previously injured ankle resurfaced, heightening her irritation.
"Oh really? And who decided to take a detour through the toxic mushroom forest, huh?" Her wet clothes clung to her skin, revealing the silhouette of her body, but she stood tall, defiant.
Law responded calmly, his gray eyes narrowing slightly. "The one who had to save a certain stubborn journalist who wanted to play the hero."
Emi pretended to think for a moment. "Oh right, thanks for reminding me how brave I can be." She crossed her arms, challenging the captain with her gaze.
Law gave Emi a serious look, his gray eyes hardening slightly. He was visibly surprised by the sudden audacity of the journalist, who dared to openly challenge him in front of the crew.
Sachi, seeing the tension rising between the two, decided to intervene, looking back and forth between Emi and Law, a slight nervousness in his voice. "Uh, Captain, should we prepare the submarine to dive?" he asked, hoping to defuse the situation.
Law turned to Sachi and replied in a terse tone, "We dive now." His gaze became colder and more determined. He then turned to Emi, "Follow me to the infirmary," his serious tone leaving no room for discussion.
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Thank you for reading this chapter! I will try to write longer chapters from now on; this one was a bit too short sorryy