Dangerous curiosity
~~~~o~~~O~~~o~~~~
Emi woke up with a start, the noises Bepo made as he awoke bringing her back to reality. She blinked, instantly remembering that she was aboard the Heart Pirates' submarine. A sigh escaped her lips as she sat up in bed, stretching to chase away the last traces of sleep.
She wondered what she was going to do today. The excitement of discovering their pirate life mingled with a certain nervousness, as she still didn't feel safe in this environment.
Bepo climbed down from his upper bunk and yawned nonchalantly, then turned to Emi with a small wave. Emi returned the gesture without saying anything, observing with a small smile the way he headed to the washroom to freshen up. It was an almost too adorable scene. Emi had always had a weakness for anything cute, and Bepo fit perfectly into that category.
She scanned the room, wondering where the shower could be, as there was only a sink available. She didn't really like the thought of it, but maybe they shared communal showers?
"Tell me, Bepo... where's the shower?" she asked, hoping her voice didn't betray her anxiety.
Bepo turned his gaze to Emi, noticing her slight tension. "The showers are right next to the training room," he replied, unaware of the worries crossing the journalist's mind.
Emi's stomach tightened at the thought of sharing a communal shower with the other crew members. But before she could voice her concerns, Bepo added, "You know, the Captain has a private shower in his room. Maybe you could use it."
Emi felt a twinge of discomfort at the idea of using Law's private shower. It was out of the question. She didn't want to intrude on his personal space, especially as a guest aboard his ship.
"No, no, I'll find the communal showers," she replied quickly, trying to hide her embarrassment.
Emi walked past the kitchen and found Sachi and Penguin there, accompanied by Law, sitting at the table having breakfast. Penguin and Sachi greeted her cheerfully with wide smiles and invited her to join them.
Emi politely declined, explaining, "I'd like to take a shower first. I'll join you afterward."
"I'll show you the way!" said Penguin with a broad smile and cheeks a bit too red for Emi's taste.
However, Law immediately interrupted, asking Bepo, who was behind her, to accompany her instead.
Emi followed the polar bear through the submarine's corridors to the showers. When they arrived, she was pleasantly surprised to find well-maintained facilities, with a slight antiseptic scent in the air. The showers were clean and spacious, and there was even a thermal bath in one corner. Emi was impressed by the level of comfort offered on board the Heart Pirates' submarine.
As she stood under the shower, feeling the hot water flow over her skin, Emi let out a sigh of relief. It was exactly what she needed after the restless night she had. While she relaxed, her mind was busy planning her next step in gathering information about this Caesar Clown.
She knew she would have to rely on her seagull, Coco, to obtain crucial information. But in the depths of the sea, using Coco as a messenger would be impossible. Perhaps she could later ask Bepo for more details about their navigation plans.
After a refreshing shower, Emi turned off the faucet and left the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. She quickly dried herself off before putting on her clothes for the day: beige fabric pants and a navy blue t-shirt, simple and practical. She adjusted her recently cut, slightly wavy silver hair that now framed her face at shoulder length. Once ready, she gathered her belongings and the towels, then stepped out of the bathroom where Bepo was patiently waiting.
Surprised by his presence, she apologized, "Sorry, Bepo, you didn't have to wait for me!"
Bepo seemed embarrassed, responding hesitantly, "It's the Captain's order..."
Emi suppressed a sigh of irritation. He really seemed to lack confidence through and through. She promised herself to have a word with him about it later. Calming herself, she simply replied, "Let's go back to the kitchen."
After putting away her things in her cabin, she returned to the kitchen where all the members of the Heart Pirates were now having breakfast. Emi took a seat next to Penguin, who immediately offered her a coffee. She gladly accepted, grateful for the warm gesture.
Sachi presented the breads and onigiris carefully arranged on the table. Without hesitation, she chose a rice ball. Penguin, intrigued, asked her if, like the Captain, she didn't like bread. A smile formed on her lips as she thought about Law's peculiar tastes. "I just prefer salty foods," she replied with gentle confidence.
After finishing her breakfast, Emi turned to the polar bear and asked, "Bepo, are we staying on the surface for our next destination?"
Bepo responded with a reassuring smile. "Yes, the waters are calm in this area, so I think we'll stay on the surface for now."
This answer relieved Emi, as she knew she would be able to communicate with Coco during the journey.
Law noticed that Emi still had damp hair, remembering that there were no hair dryers in the communal showers. Aware that they still had some shopping to do before departure, he thought she could take the opportunity to find useful items, especially women's products that were missing on board, as his crew had been entirely male until now.
He suggested one last visit to the town before setting sail, and she eagerly accepted. Jean Bart accompanied them on this outing. While strolling through the streets, they stopped at a variety shop. Emi seized the opportunity to buy a hair dryer and some feminine toiletries. Although she wasn't bothered by the masculine smells, she still preferred to have her own items.
Once the shopping was done, they returned to the port, where Law announced to the crew to prepare for departure. While the other crew members attended to their tasks, Emi stayed at the edge, observing the ship.
The upper deck of the Polar Tang stood majestically before her, gleaming bright yellow with a light green hull. Unlike conventional pirate ships, she noticed it was mainly constructed of metal and powered by engines. However, the wooden upper deck added a touch of tradition to its appearance. Two large masts rose proudly at the front and rear, ready to hoist sails if needed.
The Heart Pirates' Jolly Roger and Law's "DEATH" tattoo were clearly visible on the outer hull. Lamp-like lights were arranged all around, allowing the depths to be illuminated.
It was then that Coco appeared, snapping her out of her thoughts by landing on her shoulder with a Den Den Mushi in its beak. Emi took the device her companion offered, noticing a note stuck to the shell with "C.C Sam" written on it. Recognizing the nickname instantly, she smiled with satisfaction. She had asked her former colleague from the Times, Samuel, for information on Caesar Clown a few days ago, and he had replied faster than expected. She quickly slipped the Den Den Mushi into her bag, hearing Sachi calling from the deck.
"Hey Emi, we're about to leave! Come on up!"
With a final affectionate gesture towards the bird, she let it fly off into the sky. Emi then climbed the ladder to the upper deck, where Penguin and Jean Bart were busy inspecting the equipment and making sure everything was in order for the journey. Sachi seemed occupied adjusting the ropes, while Law was having a private conversation with Bepo, probably giving the final instructions for departure.
As she observed the activity on the deck, Emi wondered if she should offer her help with the preparations. However, remembering that she wasn't an official member of the crew and doubting she could contribute much, she decided to stay back and not intervene.
While everyone was busy, Emi discreetly slipped inside the submarine.
As she wandered through the corridors, she found herself thinking about the ship's organization. It was certainly imposing for the small number of crew members, but perhaps Law preferred to keep a tight-knit group for specific reasons.
As she found herself alone in the submarine, an idea came to her mind. She realized it was the perfect opportunity to explore the ship a bit more. With everyone busy, she felt free to discreetly slip into different sections of the submarine to try to learn more about the Heart Pirates and, especially, their captain.
Emi felt a slight thrill of excitement mixed with a hint of determination. Since Law wasn't willing to reveal anything about himself, she would find the answers on her own. This clandestine mission she had assigned herself brought a sense of adrenaline and responsibility. She knew that her discoveries could change the dynamics of their collaboration, but an opportunity like this might not come again.
She quickly realized she didn't have time to search the entire submarine, but she was determined to uncover as much as possible. She decided to focus on Law's quarters, convinced they would hold the most valuable clues about his true identity and activities. Carefully, Emi made her way to the part of the ship reserved for the captain, her mind alert and ready to detect any hint.
She found herself standing in front of Law's cabin door, hesitating for a moment before taking a deep breath. Hoping the door wasn't locked, she grasped the handle and turned it. To her surprise, the door opened easily. Apparently, he wasn't as cautious as she thought...
The room was dimly lit, illuminated only by the morning light filtering through the portholes. She could smell a faint scent of male shower gel mixed with the metallic odor of the submarine. The quarters were minimalist but functional, with a neatly made double bed and a desk cluttered with documents.
Emi headed to the desk, where she began to methodically sift through the scattered papers. She tried to open the drawers but found them locked. However, she was not discouraged. With calm determination, she discreetly took out a lockpick from her pouch and got to work. After a few moments of intense concentration, the satisfying click of a lock giving way echoed in the room, allowing Emi to open the drawers one by one.
She examined the notes and documents, searching for anything that might give her a clue about Law's intentions and motivations. Her hands trembled slightly with excitement and apprehension as she rummaged through every corner of the desk, aware of the risk she was taking by venturing into the captain's quarters.
Emi came across a series of articles marked with the name Donquixote Doflamingo. Surprised, she quickly skimmed through the writings, which attested to the sinister reputation of Doflamingo she already knew all too well, confirming his ties with criminal organizations and influential figures within the world government. Emi shuddered, realizing the extent of this pirate's power and influence, as well as the dangers associated with his involvement in Law's affairs. Was he after him? Such a dangerous and influential man? She suddenly found herself plunged into an abyss of questions. Why was Doflamingo involved in Law's affairs? What were the ramifications of this connection? At that moment, she realized that her search was leading her into much murkier waters than expected. The mere mention of Doflamingo's name was enough to evoke potential threats.
Emi took a deep breath, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart. She then decided to take some photos of the documents, events she had not yet heard about. Just to keep them with her in case she needed to bargain for information... This was her greatest currency in this dangerous and ruthless world. And she had to make this excursion worthwhile, as these pictures might prove valuable in the future.
Satisfied, Emi carefully put the documents back in the drawers, when suddenly, she heard the characteristic click of the door closing. Her heart stopped as she realized that Law had burst into the room. Before she had time to react, he drew his Nodachi in a fluid motion, cutting the mini Transponder Snail that served as her camera in two before her horrified eyes. The sharp blade pressed dangerously against her throat, leaving a thin line of sweat beading on her forehead.
"You've crossed the line, journalist-ya," murmured Law in an icy voice, his eyes piercing hers accusingly.
~~~~o~~~O~~~o~~~~
What will be Emi's fate in the face of Law's wrath?
Don't miss the next chapter to find out ~
Don't forget to leave a comment 💭 it will motivate me a lot! 🙏
Thank you for your support ~!