Chapter Text
Cherry blossoms turned into naked trees and barren lands as a lone figure left the Flower Capital behind.
While Law had made sure Basil Hawkins would stay incapacited for a while at least, he was certain he would soon meet Drake again. However, at the moment, the surgeon was in no condition to poke the Zoan shifter's true intentions out of him.
Even to Law's rather high standards of how much physical torment his body was able to endure, the torture session Kaido's underlings had kindly put him through had been no joke.
His left hand clenched around a tiny piece of paper. He had been lucky he managed to save his navigator's vivre card from the annoying curiosity of the Magician. All that remained for him to do was getting back to his crew and playing along the planned strategy. The other Heart Pirates seemed to have hidden themselves in Ebisu Town, south of the Flower Capital. Far too close to Orochi's area of influence for his liking, but it could not be helped for now.
Somewhere on the way, Law had found another tengai basket. While it was more than likely that Orochi had been notified of his description, there was no need to get further noticed by the common people of Wano, so he had concealed his features once more.
Just before entering Ebisu, the serene tune of a shakuhachi flute played from afar joined the regular sound of his zori sandals slapping against the earth, as if a komusō monk were acknowledging the presence of one of his own wandering the vastness of Wano country.
Every so often, the heavy clunk of his nodachi on the ground echoed in the empty streets. The sheated blade was presently the only thing preventing the surgeon from collapsing as he had been using it as an improvised walking stick ever since he had left the prison.
"Those... those bastards," Law hissed between two laboured pants.
In addition to more... conventional means of torture, Kaido's henchmen had taken a real pleasure in stabbing him in some very imaginative ways with nails crafted in sea stone. The adverse effects of the foul material on his body still lingered and he had yet to regain his stamina, let alone control over his powers.
What bothered Law the most, though, were the large and deep gash spread across his right side, the two or three bones he felt gritting against each other in his ribcage, and the threatening pain pounding between his temples. He had been granted a concussion, that was for sure; blood flowing from somewhere on his scalp finally dried up only a few minutes ago. A more thorough examination would be necessary to determine how serious his wounds were.
As he had no means to heal himself at the moment, anyway, Law moved his mind away from assessing his injuries when he caught sight of the dilapidated longhouse the vivre card had been pointing out. Behind the woven straw of his tengai, he took a glimpse of a blurred yet familiar spot of color half-hidden behind piled up barrels; the spot seemed to notice Law with a startled squeak before making a dash for the longhouse and vanished from sight.
At least Hawkins had honoured his part of the deal to the end and his crew was seemingly safe and sound.
Law let out a breath he did not know he had been holding until now before indulging himself in a soft smile.
He had found them.
"Alright, guys. Let's find a way to bring the Captain back !"
Twenty of the twenty one Heart Pirates were gathered around a makeshift table, a detailed hand-drawn map of the prison and its surroundings in the Flower Capital laying spread out before them. The glint of determination in their eyes left no room to doubt: they were ready to do whatever it took to rescue their captain.
"Infiltration may be our safest bet here. We're far outnumbered by Kaido's forces, and the sheer power of Hawkins alone is not to be underestimated," Jean Bart stepped in.
"Aye, you're right, plus he might be in company of some other pretty dangerous guys," Shachi replied, thoughtful. "Hawkins already knows about Bepo, Penguin and me, but what about the rest of us?"
"Why can't we just ask for Straw Hat's help? He's our ally! It would even the odds!"
"The Captain had us promise we'd keep his capture under wraps so Straw Hat and his crew don't prompt another disaster. Let's not betray his faith once more," Bepo answered, not without a hint of self-directed shame at his last words.
"Look, I don't want to be that girl, but there won't be any faith left to betray if the Captain dies–"
Whatever Ikkaku planned to say died out in the racket that suddenly broke out outside.
"Who's on watch?"
"Last thing I've been told, it's Clione."
"What's happening? Did Kaido's underlings manage to find us?"
"How could they, we've been extra careful since we left the Flower Capital!"
"Everyone, quiet!"
Twenty mouths shut at once, leaving only silence and unspoken worry hover upon the room.
Clione's shouts could now be heard coming from outside as the sound of his footsteps stopped right in front of the closed door. "Guys!"
The shōji panel opened in one swing and sunlight flowed instantly into the house.
"Guys...!" Completly drained from his run, half crumpled against the door frame, Clione took a few seconds to catch his breath.
"The Captain," the Heart Pirate panted, still quite out of breath, his kimono completly crumpled as if he had just ran for his life. "The Captain! He's back!"
The Heart Pirates had found shelter in one of the many empty houses of Ebisu Town, altough the building looked more like a decrepit shed than anything else. Sunlight softly seeped into the dusty room through the torn sheets and the lattice frames of the shōji windows.
As soon as Clione warned the others of their captain's unexpected but more than welcome arrival, several of the Heart Pirates went out to meet Law and guide him into their temporary shelter. They did not bother to hide their elation at the sight of their captain brought back to them.
As Uni slided the door closed to hide the Heart Pirates from prying eyes once again, Law took the first chance to take a close look at his crewmates. Twenty of them, as healthy as possible. Good.
"Captain, we're sorry! We're so sorry we got caught, so you had to get us out..."
"Bepo, it's alright," Law replied, bringing to a halt one of the polar bear's never ending tirades. The room was almost completly bare, if not for the few pieces of furniture the Heart Pirates had had the good idea to bring with them. Sheated katanas and sharpened naginatas had been left aside along some parcels filled with food. From where he was standing, what Law saw of their medical supplies was scarce to say the least.
"I just had the chance to experience first hand how Kaido's subordinates welcome their visitors. Can't say I'd recommend the trip," the surgeon added with a slight, sarcastic laugh. The sudden movement stirred his wounds and set the pain ablaze, making him wince with discomfort. It did not go unnoticed.
"Captain, are you injured? Do you need us to examine your wounds?"
Law warily took a look at his midsection, grimacing. It was bad, and in any other situation, he would have taken the time to rest a bit and provide himself with medical treatment. It was not any other situation, though. For now, he would have to grit his teeth and bear his burden for a little longer. It was not even the first time he was doing that either, so who cared. "Guys... I'm alright. Really. They... They barely know how to throw a punch. More importantly, do you know how are the Straw Hats faring?"
"We met Nami when we arrived in Ebisu. According to her, we'll find at least part of their crew in a village located south of Kuri, called Amigasa," Bepo answered, before adopting a more hesitanting stance. "Captain, are... are you sure you're fine?"
"I'll be fine, Bepo. Nothing that should be of concern for you. Amigasa in Kuri, you said? The Polar Tang is not so far from there. Let's hope we don't encounter any more of Kaido's henchmen on the way."
Murmurs weaved with unease raised one after another among the Heart Pirates. Even with his heart pounding forcefully at his ears, Law managed to grasp the main ideas. It looked like his crew did not miss how he was using Kikoku as support, his teeth gritting with pain and his unfocused gaze, even in the relative darkness of the dusty house.
"But, Captain," Clione began. "Captain, you need immediate medical attention," Law heard Uni rasping under his scarf.
"I've just said I'm fine."
All of this ruckus began to get on Law's nerves, and it was certainly not helping with his building up headache. "If only we were at the Polar Tang," Shachi whined. "We're stuck in Ebisu at the moment, but the Captain could use a trip to the infirmary... We brought with us only the bare mi–" Alright, that was enough.
"I don't need the Tang's infirmary, and I certainly don't need you to make a fuss over my health– I'm perfectly able to take care of myself," Law snapped dryly, anger creeping in his voice, his blurred gaze now hard like steel. "Last thing I was aware of, I was the doctor here, unless my short, uneventful absence somehow changed my status."
The crew's faces froze with shock and shame at the reprimand. While he could get angry from time to time, even more since the Heart Pirates had concluded an alliance with the quirky Straw Hat Pirates, Law had always been the epitome of stern composure, a true embodiment of self-control and carefully concealed emotions. Law was used to his crew fretting over him like a bunch of mother hens, but he usually dismissed their worries with a knowing smirk and a wave of the hand, before finally reassuring them in a laid-back manner.
To lose his temper in such a harsh and sudden fashion was so out of character for the surgeon. Something was definitely not right. What had happened behind those prison walls?
Penguin, while still exceedingly worried over his captain's well-being, chose to step back. An irate Law was the last thing the Heart Pirates needed, but there was no way they were going to leave their captain in the state they had found him. Penguin had to attempt to make Law confess he did need help, for the captain own's sake, but with a more subtle approach. Maybe if he–
"Captain, we're terribly sorry," Bepo repeated like a jammed record. "Because of us, you had to surrend yourself to Hawkins. We're so sorry..."
Rays of pale sunlight showed a fresh sheen of sweat on Law's pale face. His eyes were closed, his body completly slumped against Kikoku, the tengai now forgotten on the ground. "Are you, Bepo? Are you really? The Straw Hats are already messing up, fooling around when they should keep a low profile... How can we fathom having a fighting chance when even... when even you, the Heart Pirates, are not taking this seriously?"
"We are taking it seriously, Captain," Shachi snapped back, his fists clenched with outrage. "You know we are taking it seriously, that we'll always have your back."
"Then act like you do! We're talking about going head on Kaido! We're not in Paradise anymore, we're not going against some random pirate acting tough for the sole sake of it! We cannot afford getting caught!"
That was it. Law had ended up yelling at his subordinates. The tremors in his hands intensified, and he strengthened his grasp on Kikoku's heavy scabbard, both as a mean to keep himself upright and to release some of his anger.
"That's rather rich coming from you, Captain," Ikkaku snarled. "Are you really telling us than you're stacking all the odds in your favour when you're not even letting us take a look at your injuries?" The surgeon should have known his crew would not let themselves be walked over by anyone, should it be their captain himself. What remained of Law's rationality in the muddle of his pain grinned at the outburst. He gathered strong personalities around him, after all, personalities who would emphatically speak up in front of injustice.
"I already told you that my health is irrevelant at the moment, that I'll be fine. The priority is to stick with what remains of the plan. Knowing Straw Hat-ya, he's already on the move. Let's go out." Stubborness incarnate, Law headed for the closed door, only to be stopped in his track by a very annoyed Penguin.
"No! We refuse to abide by this order, not when you are in dire need of help. Look at yourself, Law! You can barely stand!" Penguin, Shachi, Ikkaku, Clione, Uni, even the ever-apologizing Bepo or the quiet and obedient Jean Bart, everyone of the twenty Heart Pirates, all of them were displaying the same resolute countenance, determined to prevent Law from exiting the house by any means necessary.
"Remember on whom you're venting your anger, Penguin, and remember who get your sorry ass out of prison," Law retorted, a threatening finger directed at his offending crewmate.
Law knew he was the one being unreasonable there– at the end of the day, all those weeks spent in company of the Straw Hat Pirates meant their foolishness did rub off on him. The blood loss did not help either. Law needed medical attention, and the sooner, the better. As a doctor, he knew that the amount of blood he had been steadily losing from various cuts and holes in addition to the large gash on his side was worrying at the least; Kaido's minions liked their torture tools sharp and efficient. He probably had two or three broken bones apart from his cracked ribs– nothing he would not be able to remedy with his devil fruit once he had got his stamina back. It seemed the crew had yet to spot the growing blood stains, and the surgeon could only thank the black fabric of his kimono for that.
But like hell was he going to concede that his subordinates got a point. As the captain, he had every right to require his crew to retain discipline and comply with his orders, rather than getting stupidly caught by the enemy, becoming a liability and fussing over some injuries they did not even have the skills to treat. No matter how the Hearts may feel at the moment, they could not afford straying away from their set path and stay behind the rest of the alliance; Kaido would not wait for Law to lick his wounds and in all likelihood, would retaliate against anyone who dared to act against him. Too close from the Flowers Capital under the yoke of Orochi, Ebisu was not a safe place anymore. Time was a luxury they did not have at the moment.
Under Penguin's hat, Law saw his subordinate's face hardening. "You saved us, like you've done repeatedly for thirteen years now, Law, and you're in this state because of us. For that, we are terribly sorry, and we're in your debt, like always. You're right, you should not have to address our shortfalls, not at this point of the journey. But we will not let you indulge yourself in your self-destructive tendencies, you can count on us for that. Captain."
Several of the Heart Pirates nodded in agreement at Penguin's words, words which shattered the last remaining strands of leniency from Law. Self-destructive tendencies?
"All of you, I would advise you to tread very carefully from now on. You're on the verge of what I could easily consider to be blatant disrespect, if not mutiny."
Law's fingers tightened their grip on Kikoku to the point they became white. Dots were dancing in front of the surgeon's eyes, and blackness were creeping in the periphery of his vision. His legs woobled dangerously– he needed to sit down, he was not certain he could remain standing any longer–
"Captain–"
"Penguin, we're not–," Law started, pouring all the authority he could manage into these few words.
The rest of the argument was lost in a gasp. Appalled, the Heart Pirates saw their captain's face drain dead-white. Saw the sheen of sweat on his skin transform to a drenching. Acute pain exploded through Law as if random vicious needles stabbed him over, and over, and over. He felt severe, unpleasant numbness and tingling sensations invade his body.
That was it. He had overdone it, again.
"Captain!"
The surgeon was unable to tell who had just shout out to him. Around him, everything felt... distorted, as if his surroundings were being crammed into a narrow tunnel. In the distance, Kikoku tumbled heavily on the ground. He felt a hand on his bad side, heard cries of horror.
He was unconscious before his head even hit the dusty soil.
They reached the Polar Tang just before sunset. The yellow submarine had been carefully hidden in a small cove south of Kuri, away from prying eyes and hostile hands, and had been ever since waiting for her crew to return. The sun was now only an orb of orange fire, barely visible at the horizon. Night would very soon fall once again upon the country of samurais, and Wano would become the land of thousands of paper lanterns and barely hushed murmurs. The Flower Capital would buzz with life like an anthill made of blossom trees and oblivious people, while the ones down below would only have poisoned water and false laughters to quench their hunger and appease their nightmares.
At the second their captain collapsed in front of their eyes, the Heart Pirates had made the choice to get back to the Tang as soon as possible: while not critical, Law's condition had been deemed worthy of concern after a brief examination. They simply did not have the necessary equipment to take care of him in Ebisu. The journey to the Tang had been uneventful for the most part; the surgeon had not stirred once while in the careful, almost loving embrace of Bepo, and the pirates had been stealthy enough to avoid any of Kaido's patrols between Ebisu and Kuri.
Law regained consciousness once shortly before the Hearts reached the deck of the Tang, his eyes half open but not quite seeing.
"Captain?"
Penguin had kept his voice low and soft so he would not upset or startle the younger man. "Alright, Captain, we're back at the Tang. What about a deal? We don't get caught anymore, and you let us take care of you for once. Deal?"
Law stirred in Bepo's soft arms, but did he agree with Penguin's offer or was he in no state to understand his subordinate's words, Penguin did not know. In any case, the surgeon did not answer the question.
The Heart Pirate tenderly smiled at the sight of his exhausted captain who drifted off into unconsciousness again.
"Let's say you agreed."
Once the entire crew was safe inside the bowels of their submarine, Penguin made sure to tightly close the hatch. For a few hours, it did not matter what might happen in Wano country; they had a captain to nurse back to health.