Chapter 64: The island of Zou

~~~~o~~~O~~~o~~~~

Law had found a quiet spot at the back of Bartolomeo's ship, right next to the crates where some fruits and vegetables were stored. Far from the shouting and constant antics of the other pirates—especially Luffy—he was finally enjoying a rare moment of peace.

Leaning against a crate, he closed his eyes for a moment, letting the rhythm of the sea calm his mind.

But just as he was starting to relax, he felt a presence nearby.

When he opened his eyes, he saw her.

Emi.

Standing in front of him, she wore a warm, almost mischievous smile. Was this a dream? Maybe. He was too tired to think about it, let alone argue.

Without a word, she crouched down in front of him, resting her elbows on her knees, her gaze fixed on him.

She was dangerously close. Her subtle orange scent lingered in the air, captivating yet faint. A strange feeling washed over him—a mix of disbelief and calm. He knew it wasn't real, and yet... he didn't want to wake up.

He studied her in silence, noticing every detail of her face: her almond-shaped eyes with hints of amber, the soft curve of her lips, and the way her gaze seemed to pierce right through him. It was all so vivid.

"What are you doing here?" he finally asked in a low voice, even though he knew she wouldn't answer.

She didn't. She simply tilted her head slightly, a mysterious smile playing on her lips, as if she knew something he didn't.

Law looked away briefly, his expression unreadable.

Is my subconscious messing with me? he thought, frowning in silence. Why would I be dreaming of her now?

It hit him then—he hadn't had nightmares since Doflamingo's defeat. For years, his sleep had been haunted by dark visions, but they had vanished after his victory. And now, instead of dread, he had this dream... calming, yet unsettling.

A dream where she shows up... Seriously?

Law let out a sigh, almost involuntarily. He should've been annoyed, irritated by this intrusion—even if it was just in his head. But he didn't feel any of that.

A fleeting, barely-there smile crossed his lips.

"You're so annoying," he muttered, more to himself than to her.

Emi—or rather, the version of her his mind had conjured—gave a wider smile, as if she was enjoying his remark. She leaned in closer, her subtle orange scent wrapping around him. Then, with surprising gentleness, she placed a soft kiss on his cheek.

Law stayed still, silent. His eyes locked on hers, as if searching for an answer to this sudden tenderness.

If this was a dream, then maybe he could give in, just this once.

Slowly, he reached out, his hand brushing against her cheek, his thumb lightly grazing her skin. Without a word, he closed the distance between them and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was slow, deliberate, but oddly sincere. For a brief moment, time seemed to stop—no battles, no grudges, just that fleeting connection.

But the bubble burst.

A loud crash echoed through the hold, snapping Law back to reality. His eyes shot open.

Luffy.

There he was, just a few meters away, locked in a fierce struggle with a crate he was desperately trying to open. The fruit inside had clearly captured his full attention, so much so that he hadn't even noticed Law.

With one final heave, Luffy pried the lid off with a deafening crack, earning an exasperated groan from Law.

"What are you doing, Mugiwara-ya?" Law grumbled, rubbing his eyes, annoyed.

"Sorry, sorry!" Luffy said with a sheepish laugh. "I just wanted... this!"

Before Law could say anything else, Luffy bolted, arms full of oranges, his laughter echoing as he disappeared onto the deck.

Still half-asleep, Law glanced at the leftover fruits scattered in the crate.

Oranges.

He stared at them for a moment, lost in thought.

With a long sigh, he stood up slowly, his gaze lingering on the crates.

"Exhausting," he muttered to himself, though a faint smile tugged at his lips.

For the first time in a long while, he felt... oddly at peace.

~~~~o~~~O~~~o~~~~

As Emi focused, desperately trying to figure out a way out of her prison, she suddenly noticed that Pege had stopped moving. She strained her ears, trying to catch any sounds from outside. Then she heard it—gunfire.

A wave of panic surged through her. What was going on out there? Who was shooting? Was it the Straw Hats? Caesar Clown? Or maybe the Minks? She stood up abruptly, every sense on high alert as she tried to piece together the situation.

But time dragged on—or at least it felt like an eternity—until something unusual happened. A strange vibration rippled through the walls, making them tremble slightly, then shake more erratically.

"What the hell is going on now?" she muttered, exasperated by the endless string of unpredictable events.

Frustrated, she activated her Haki and punched the wall that seemed to be shifting. She didn't care about the consequences anymore; she just needed to get out of there, no matter what.

The impact caused an even stronger tremor to shake the area. The ceiling above her began to quiver, and Emi narrowed her eyes as she spotted something strange.

Legs.

Legs—clearly a woman's—were dangling from the ceiling.

"What the hell is this?!" she shouted, utterly baffled.

Before she could make sense of what she was seeing, the lower half of the body started retreating back into the ceiling. Realizing this might be her one and only chance, Emi didn't hesitate. She leapt up and grabbed onto the slim legs disappearing above her with all her strength.

She was suddenly pulled upward, through the ceiling, before landing with a hard thud in another room.

The silence that followed was quickly broken by startled voices.

"What the…?!"

Emi looked up to find a room full of shocked faces staring at her. The redhead whose legs she'd just yanked was gaping at her in disbelief, while the rest of Pege's crew looked equally stunned. But it was Pege himself, seated at a table, who seemed the angriest, his face turning a deep shade of red.

However, it wasn't them who caught Emi's immediate attention. Her eyes widened as she recognized the faces around her. It was them… The Straw Hats?!

She quickly scanned the room and froze when she spotted a familiar figure—Caesar Clown. Had they already captured him? And if so, why hadn't they said anything?!

Before she could ask a single question, her gaze locked onto a blond man who had leapt to his feet, his expression unreadable. Sanji, the Black Leg.

"Wait, I－" she started, but he didn't give her a chance to finish.

In a blur of motion, Sanji unleashed a powerful kick, his leg cutting through the air with deadly precision. The force of the attack sent Pege's crewmates flying out of his body, freeing everyone from the hold of his Devil Fruit.

The sudden release hit Emi like a shockwave, and she found herself collapsing to the floor, her body returning to its normal form. Her limbs felt heavy and numb after the strange ordeal. Around her, the other Straw Hats were slowly regaining their bearings, clearly shaken but unharmed.

Before anyone could fully process what had just happened, a massive figure stormed into the clearing. A huge cat, towering and fierce, burst in, his feline eyes blazing with fury. He turned to Pege, his voice a thunderous roar:

"Why is Pekoms lying on the ground, covered in blood?!"

Bege tried to bluff, his tone deliberately confident: "One of Jack's men stayed behind and attacked us. Nothing serious."

But the tension in the air was thick.

Nami, her voice trembling with panic, shouted, "Sanji! What are you doing?! Get out of there while you still can!"

Sanji, still inside Bege's body, turned to look at her slowly. He spoke calmly, but there was a clear sadness in his voice: "Trust me… I'll be back."

Nami felt tears welling up, but Sanji didn't give her a chance to argue. He turned his head toward his friends, letting his gaze linger on each of them, as if trying to memorize their faces. Then, with a big smile meant to reassure them, he disappeared into Bege's mechanical body. Bege shifted his legs into tank treads and sped off at full throttle.

"Sanji!" Nami screamed, her voice breaking with despair.

A feline Mink, her sharp teeth bared, turned to Brook and the others. "We have to chase them!" she growled.

But Brook, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, clenched his fists and shook his head. "No… Sanji doesn't plan on coming back. He's already made his decision."

Silence fell over the group, broken only by the distant rumble of Bege's tank, carrying Sanji toward a fate only he seemed to understand.

Emi, still dazed by the chaos and the speed of the events, watched the scene in disbelief. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of it all. Then, like a bolt of lightning, a realization hit her. Big Mom's pirates had come for Sanji… and Caesar Clown. And they had succeeded.

Her heart sank.

This was her fault.

She had given away their location, even though she'd had no choice. But that didn't change the outcome—Sanji was now torn from his crew, heading straight into Big Mom's grasp.

Her fists clenched tightly, her nails digging into her palms as guilt gnawed at her. But her spiraling thoughts were cut short by a horrifying sight: Pekoms' lifeless body lying a few meters away, blood pooling from his bullet wounds.

"Pege did this?" she thought, horrified.

Weren't they supposed to be allies? Why the sudden betrayal?

A sharp voice snapped her back to reality. "And you, who are you?!"

Emi looked up to see the feline Mink staring her down, golden eyes glinting with icy suspicion.

Thinking quickly, Emi replied, "They had me captive too!" She struggled to her feet, adding, "I used the chaos to escape."

The Mink hesitated, her piercing gaze scanning Emi for any sign of deceit.

Sensing the doubt, Emi pressed on, "I'm with the Revolutionary Army. I was in Dressrosa to dismantle an arms trade. I have no reason to harm you or your people !"

After a tense moment, the Mink slowly nodded, seeming to accept her explanation.

Other Minks began to appear, joining the Straw Hats to help free them from their chains. The air was heavy with disappointment and bitterness over Sanji's departure.

Emi, feeling out of place, stayed back, watching quietly. She knew there was nothing she could say to ease their pain. Worse, she couldn't shake the guilt weighing on her shoulders—she'd played a part in all this.

As she stood there, Nami approached cautiously, her eyes still glistening with emotion. Her voice, however, carried a spark of hope. "You said you were in Dressrosa… Did you see Luffy and the others?"

"Yes," Emi answered quickly. "Luffy's safe. He's still recovering from his fight, but he should be here soon with the others."

Nami clasped her hands against her chest, trembling slightly with relief. "That's… that's such good news," she breathed. Then, as if a new thought had just occurred to her, she asked hesitantly, "And… what about Law? Is he with them?"

Emi nodded slightly, a faint smile on her lips. "He should be with Luffy and the others. They can't be far now."

Reassured, Nami let out a sigh of relief.

After a brief pause, Emi hesitated before speaking. "And… are the Heart Pirates here, on the island?"

Nami gave her a curious look before answering, "Yes, they're here. They're resting in the village."

A weight seemed to lift off Emi's shoulders. The relief was almost tangible, and she let out a sincere smile. "That's good to hear."

Nami raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by Emi's sudden interest. "You know them?"

Emi hesitated but eventually replied, "Yeah, in a way. I spent some time with them."

Though surprised, Nami nodded, sensing there was more to the story. She turned toward the Minks, who exchanged glances before one of them offered, "If you want to see them, I can take you there."

"Really? Thank you so much!" Emi exclaimed, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling with gratitude.

The Mink smiled at her reaction and nodded. "Follow me."

A little while later, as they reached the village, Emi spotted a familiar group. Sachi and Penguin were the first to notice her.

"EMI ?!" they shouted in unison, sprinting toward her before practically tackling her in a burst of joy.

Other members of the crew quickly joined, some wearing surprised smiles, others looking visibly relieved to see her safe and sound.

Overwhelmed by the warm welcome, Emi couldn't help but smile sincerely. After everything she had been through, reuniting with the Heart Pirates felt like finally finding a piece of home.

~~~~o~~~O~~~o~~~~

Law walked through the woods, his black shirt slightly unbuttoned, his footsteps soft against the forest floor. His eyes stayed fixed on Bepo's vivre card, silent and focused.

As he moved along the path, a calm had settled over the area, with only the sounds of birds and rustling leaves in the background.

Finally, he spotted his crew.

"CAPTAIN!" Bepo shouted, leaping toward him and wrapping him in a hug.

Sachi, Penguin, and Jean Bart stepped forward, their faces lighting up with joy at the sight of their captain. Law stood still, but a faint, rare smile appeared on his face, a subtle sign of relief.

"Captain, you're finally back!" Sachi said, clapping him on the shoulder.

"We missed you," added Penguin with a genuine smile.

After the warm welcome from the crew, Bepo spoke up, his tone suddenly more serious.

"Captain, you need to know what happened here. Jack, one of Kaido's lieutenants, attacked the island. The Minks fought back, but it was a massacre."

Law, now fully attentive, listened closely as Bepo explained. He recounted how Jack had been searching for Raizo, a ninja, and how that had led to a war against the Minks. Law hadn't expected Zou to be caught in the crossfire of Kaido's forces.

Sachi chimed in, "And when they used that toxic weapon, we thought it was over. But then the Straw Hats showed up. Captain, it was incredible! Those guys are tough as nails."

"And now?" Law asked, his expression serious. "What about Jack?"

"He retreated, but that doesn't mean he won't come back," Penguin replied. "The Minks are already preparing for another attack."

A heavy silence fell over the group as Law tightened his grip on his nodachi, lost in thought.

"I see."

Law took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over each member of his crew as he gathered his thoughts. He quickly outlined the current situation, sharing the intel he had gathered and laying out their next steps to take on Kaido. His calm, precise explanation had everyone listening intently. Their expressions made it clear: excitement, determination, and a hint of apprehension were written on their faces. They knew this mission would be one of the riskiest yet, but they were ready.

When he finished, Law crossed his arms, his tone growing even more resolute. "Alright," he said firmly, "it's time to properly introduce yourselves to Mugiwara-ya and his crew."

At those words, a wave of excitement swept through the crew. Sachi and Penguin exchanged eager looks, their faces lighting up with bright smiles. Even Jean Bart, usually stoic, allowed a faint grin to appear.

"So it's official," Sachi declared with a hint of pride.

They had crossed paths with Luffy before, notably during the rescue at Marineford, but this time, it wasn't a chance encounter. This was a formal introduction, ally to ally, and the thought of being part of such a crucial alliance filled them with pride.

As the mood lifted, Penguin suddenly seemed to remember something and turned to Law, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Oh, by the way, Captain... did you know Emi's here?" he said with a sly grin.

Law, about to give another instruction, froze. He frowned, caught off guard. "What? On Zou?"

A brief silence followed his words, quickly broken by Sachi's laughter.

"She showed up right after the Straw Hats," Sachi explained with a broad smile.

"Yeah," Penguin added. "And she helped treat the injured Minks. She was pretty impressive, actually."

Law's eyes narrowed slightly, a sign that his mind was working at full speed. But he stayed quiet, letting the information sink in. Then he sighed, running a hand over his face. At this point, should he even bother asking questions? He'd lost count of how many times she'd shown up where he least expected her.

One thing was certain, though—he'd have the chance to ask her directly soon enough. She was never one to stay in the background for long, and he knew their conversation was inevitable. He couldn't help but notice, yet again, how she always seemed to have a knack for getting caught up in the most critical moments.

~~~~o~~~O~~~o~~~~

The Minks had decided to celebrate their victory over Jack and his men with a grand feast. Joy and relief filled the air, mingling with a deep gratitude toward those who had helped save them. It wasn't just a celebration of survival but also a tribute to their allies—the Straw Hats and the Heart Pirates—whose intervention had turned the tide of battle.

Bonfires lit up the night, casting dancing shadows on the towering trees of Zou's forest. Laughter rang out from every corner, accompanied by the hypnotic rhythm of drums and the Minks' songs. Tables overflowed with delicious food, made from what remained of their supplies, and the atmosphere buzzed with music, excitement, and heartfelt thanks.

In the midst of it all, Law, against all odds, found himself at the center of the festivities. At first, he'd flat-out refused to join. Parties weren't his thing, but after some convincing from his crew—and a bit of reflection—he reluctantly agreed to make an appearance. Maybe blending into the crowd, even for a little while, could help ease his mind, tense from all the planning and battles ahead.

Without meaning to, he scanned the crowd, his eyes sweeping over the lively scene. He wasn't sure what he was looking for. An opportunity? A distraction? Or maybe, deep down, someone in particular?

And then he saw her.

Amid the laughter, singing, and dancing, Emi stood out. She was wearing a long, white flowing dress the Minks had given her, moving effortlessly to the music. The dress, slit on the sides, accentuated her graceful movements as she spun, her long, slender legs flashing in time with the beat. She smiled, caught up in the freedom of the moment, her silver hair shimmering in the flickering firelight.

Her dance was flawless, as always. There was a natural fluidity and elegance to her movements that drew the attention of everyone around her—including his.

Law frowned slightly, tearing his gaze away to stare at the fire, as if trying to will himself to ignore what he was feeling. But no matter how hard he tried, his eyes kept drifting back to her. The slits in the dress revealing her pale skin, the way she moved with such carefree confidence—it unsettled him more than he cared to admit.

He brought his glass to his lips, taking a sip in an attempt to distract himself, but it didn't help.

As Emi finished a graceful spin, her gaze locked with his. For a fleeting moment, everything around her seemed to fade away. Her heart clenched at the sight of him—alive, visibly healed from his injuries. It wasn't just relief; it was as if a weight she'd been carrying for days had finally lifted.

She took a deep breath, pushing back the heavy emotions threatening to overwhelm her. Vulnerability wasn't her style, especially not now. With a feigned lightness, she walked toward him, a radiant smile on her face, determined not to reveal how much his presence reassured her.

With confidence, as though no time had passed between them, she said,

"Are you planning to just stand there watching me all night, or are you going to come dance?" she teased.

Law raised an eyebrow, feigning indifference. "I don't dance."

She crouched slightly to meet his eye level, her hair falling over her shoulder. "Funny, I seem to remember you being a decent dancer."

He held her gaze, trying to maintain his neutral expression, but that persistent warmth inside him was almost unbearable. "Don't get any ideas," he replied calmly, looking away.

She laughed lightly, carefree, her cheeks slightly flushed. Law noticed she always seemed to blush at the slightest effort—or was it the alcohol? He wasn't sure.

She tilted her head slightly, studying him.

"Traded your old beanie for a new look, huh?"

"So what?" he replied coolly, though his right eyebrow twitched slightly.

She shrugged, her smile widening. "Nothing, nothing… I just think it suits you. I mean, the beanie gave you this... soft vibe, despite your cold and calculating nature. But this hat..."

She trailed off, a playful glint in her eye. "This hat makes you look almost... approachable."

Law blinked, caught off guard by her comment. He couldn't tell if she was joking or if the alcohol had made her bolder.

"Soft? Approachable?" he repeated, a mix of skepticism and amusement in his tone.

Emi chuckled softly, raising her glass.

"Yeah, soft. But don't worry, I won't tell anyone. It'll be our little secret." She gave him a playful wink, a small smile dancing on her lips.

Law stayed silent, despite himself enjoying the exchange. Then, a faint smile tugged at his lips before he finally replied,

"I didn't know my fashion choices were such a point of study for you."

She raised an eyebrow, surprised by his response.

"Oh, I didn't know you had a sense of humor, Captain. Could the sake be making you… more relaxed?"

Law crossed his arms, taking on a mock-serious tone.

"Maybe. Or maybe it's just that you're more annoying than usual."

She burst out laughing, her clear laughter blending with the sounds of the celebration.

"Touché. But admit it—you don't hate it. Otherwise, you'd have already told me to get lost."

He held her gaze for a moment, his gray eyes piercing into hers. Then, to her surprise, he replied,

"Maybe." A faint smirk appeared on his face.

A silence settled between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Emi watched him for a moment, realizing how much she had missed that rare smile of his. The teasing had given way to an odd sense of camaraderie. Finally, she broke the silence, a mischievous grin on her face.

"So, if I find you another hat, will you wear it?"

Law sighed, though the faint smile lingered.

"Don't push your luck, Emi-ya."

She laughed again, raising her glass in a mock victory before turning to rejoin the festivities. Law's eyes followed her, a trace of amusement mixed with a flicker of something he couldn't quite place. Seeing her here... it was strange, but also oddly comforting.

She hadn't changed—not in the ways that mattered most to him.

Straightening up, he tried to refocus, pushing aside the thoughts that threatened to distract him. Yet his eyes, trained to observe in silence, couldn't help but follow her every move. And for once, he allowed himself to watch her longer than usual.

~~~~o~~~O~~~o~~~~

Thank you so much for reading this chapter!

Stay tuned for the next chapters, where things might heat up even more hehe