Gathering the rowboats had been no easy task, seeing as some of them had seemingly been dashed to pieces in the attack, but it was an ironic fortune that the remaining rowboats matched the number of remaining crew. Groups of threes and fours silently teamed up, piling into rowboats and paddling with oars and planks of wood and their own hands to move. Kid, of course, took the lead with Sakura and Killer, all three of them sharing the same boat.
Sakura had slept through the two hours it had taken to gather the boats together, and she remained asleep as Kid and Killer began rowing, the shallow rise and fall of her chest her only sign of life. Kid could barely keep an eye on their nonexistent course as he watched her, curled up in the middle of the boat, as if afraid she would suddenly flop over the side like a fish and drown.
"Captain, let me row for a while," Killer offered. "You can use your arms for . . . more important things."
"No," Kid said, though he didn't take his eyes off of Sakura.
"Kid—"
"Just—give me a minute." Kid dropped the oars, removed his torn jacket, and placed it over Sakura as a makeshift blanket, tucking the sleeves under her head for a pillow. He picked up his oars again and rowed, his eyes now focused on the horizon in search of safe land.
"You sure you're the same guy that kills people who make fun of you?" Killer whispered.
"I'll kill you if you don't can it," Kid hissed. Killer tossed his head in an invisible eye-roll, and they and the crew sailed on.
It was half a day before Sakura woke up. Her eyes were dull but clearer than before, and at the same time she handed Kid back his jacket, she gestured to Killer, taking the oars from him to allow him to rest while she worked. She was quiet, seemingly understanding the situation without communication, and only gave a small nod to Kid as acknowledgment.
It was a day before the crew, rowing nonstop in shifts, was blessed with rain, not strong enough to capsize but heavy enough to grant them drinking water. Refreshed, they carried on.
It was two days before they reached land.
They beached the boats on the coastal shelf, one by one, and climbed out, one by one. The ones weakened by hunger and thirst collapsed upon the sand, while the stronger ones dragged the boats ashore so they wouldn't drift to sea.
"Think it's populated?" Killer asked, shielding his eyes from the sun as he tried to peer into the trees.
"We'll worry about that later," Kid said. He turned to Sakura, but she was checking on the crew who had fallen down. "Let's just work on food and water. Did the cook make it? I didn't have time to . . ."
Killer looked around and shook his head.
"The carpenter?" Killer shook his head, and Kid swore. "The doctor?"
"Over there," Killer said, pointing to the unconscious man Sakura was examining.
"Small miracles," Kid muttered. He marched over to Sakura and patted her shoulder. She looked up, waiting. "Do you need help here? Killer and me can go find food and stuff, but I can stay if you need it."
"I'm okay," Sakura said, her voice hoarse. "Everyone needs food and water. See what you can do. And don't get lost."
"Hey," Kid protested, but fell silent when he saw a faint smile on her lips as she returned to her examination. He patted her back and went over to Killer again. "She's fine. Let's go foraging."
The two of them set off into the jungle bordering the beach. Kid led the way, using his metal arm to hack away leaves in their path. When he stopped, Killer bumped into him.
"What?" Killer snapped, before tensing up himself.
"Some of these leaves are already cleared," Kid said. "We're not the only ones here."
"No shit," Killer said. "Your Observation Haki needs work, Captain."
"What? Who's there?"
In an instant, Kid and Killer found themselves wedged inside of one tree trunk each, displayed like butterflies in a case and staring at the chunks of wood shaped exactly like them, standing where they had been moments ago before teetering and falling over.
Two old but familiar faces stepped out of the shrubbery.
"So it was you?" Trafalgar Law said, sheathing his sword.
"Eustass Kid and Killer, right?" Bepo said behind him.
"Fuck are you doing here?" Kid spat, struggling to free himself.
"I could ask you the same thing, Eustass. This doesn't seem like your kind of island."
"How long have you been here?" Killer asked, noting Law's disheveled appearance, torn tank top, and dirty jeans.
"None of your business," Law said shortly.
"Kid," Killer hissed. "He might be able to help."
"Oh, fuck that," Kid hissed back. "We don't need help."
"Is that Cherry gal still with you?" Law asked, folding his arms.
"Get her name out of your fucking mouth!"
"I'll take that as a yes."
Silence permeated the jungle, save for the hum of insects.
"Is this island populated?" Killer asked.
"Why are you talking to him?" Kid snapped.
"Yes, but we're on the unpopulated side of it," Law said. "So you just got here?"
Silence fell again. Bepo looked around nervously.
"Well, if you aren't going to talk, I suppose Bepo and I will take a walk on the beach," Law said, making as if to turn around. "I'm sure there are some interesting people there. Perhaps even a nice young lady."
"Wait!" Kid exclaimed. Law looked at him, smug. "Let us go first. Then we'll talk."
Law eyed him before flexing his hand. Kid and Killer swapped places with the trees again, the wood returning to its rightful spot and the two men falling to their knees. They stood, glaring at Law.
"Talk," Law ordered. Killer placed a hand on Kid's shoulder, preventing him from lunging forward, and shook his head. Kid let out a heavy sigh.
"We—" He glanced at Killer. Killer nodded, and Kid grit his teeth. "We just got here, yeah. Red-Hair Shanks nearly wiped us out near Elbaph, but most of us made it. We just needed to find a safe place to recover."
"I see." Law's tone was unusually subdued. He folded his arms. "Are any of you injured? I could help."
"Aw, Captain!" Bepo exclaimed, clasping his paws together. Law waved a hand at him.
"We don't need your stupid help," Kid snapped. "Doc and my—well, we're fine. So fuck off and—"
"Trafalgar Law?" someone said. Kid and Killer turned around to see Sakura behind them. "What are you doing here?"
"Offering to help, but he says you're fine," Law said. "Are you?"
"We could use all the help we can get," Sakura admitted.
"Hey!" Kid hissed.
"What?" Sakura demanded, turning on him with a glare. "I can't get Doc to wake up, and my chakra needs time to recover. If he's offering to help us, we should take it!"
"Okay, fine," Kid grumbled, turning away and folding his arms. "Show him the way. And ask him why he's here."
"What am I, your middleman or your girlfriend?" Sakura said dryly. "Come on, all of you."
The five of them set off for the beach again, and found the crew in about the same state as they'd been before Kid and Killer had left. Law surveyed the situation.
"Cherry gal, Bepo, help me out here," he said. "I want you to organize the bodies into two groups. One for the men who need help now, one for those who can wait."
"Don't order her around!" Kid snarled.
"Sure," Sakura agreed, giving Kid a sunny smile. "C'mon, Bepo."
"Roger, miss!" Bepo and Sakura descended upon the pirates, dragging the unconscious and delirious bodies into one of two groups after brief examinations. Kid, Killer, and Law watched them in silence.
"You wanted to know why I'm here?" Law said finally. "Blackbeard. He wiped us out. Bepo and I are the only ones who made it here."
Kid looked at him, stunned. "Damn. Your crew?"
"Don't know."
"Sorry to hear that," Killer said.
"Me, too." Law shifted where he stood. "Surprised I didn't see you on Wano."
"We were there for a minute," Kid said. "Broke out of jail and got the hell out."
"Good thinking."
The silence returned, only to be broken by Sakura and Bepo, running up to Law.
"All sorted," Sakura announced. Behind her, the bodies were lined up into two groups, while the conscious crew stood nearby, unsure of what to do.
"Thanks, both of you," Law said. "Kid, I'm borrowing her again. I could use an assistant."
"Wait," Kid exclaimed, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"What now? I'm not trying to get under your skin here, I'm—"
"You can stay with us. I know your Devil Fruit's overpowered as hell, but being in a group's gonna be safer than being alone. Once we get back on our feet, you can travel with us for a bit."
Law looked back at him, raising an eyebrow, and looked at Bepo, who nodded vigorously.
"Alright," he said with a nod. "I appreciate it. I'll see about getting food and water for tonight." He turned around again. "Come on."
"Coming," Sakura said. She went up to Kid and kissed his cheek before following Law to the survivors.
"You're awfully nice all of a sudden," Killer remarked.
"Shut up," Kid muttered, his eyes glued to Sakura. "I'm just glad she's feeling better now."
"You should thank her. She pretty much saved us all back there."
"I will. Just as soon as that bastard is out of our hair."