A/N An update! I was supposed to update this when the manga reaches the Wano Arc! But I decided otherwise. I hope you all have a happy Christmas and prosperous New Year! I don't blame you if you have lost interest because I don't update as much. But I'm hoping my favorite authors do update their fics please! Thank you for the reviews, faves and follows! Enjoy reading!

Chapter 4:

"Torao-kun!" Nami cried as her grip on her clima-tact tightened, eyes squinting as she tried to catch a glimpse of the culprit who knocked her company out.

"The weakest of the Straw Hat Pirates, Cat Thief Nami." A voice mocked, she instinctively whipped her head, only to be caught by a green jelly-like collar on her neck. She growled, anger flaring inside her chest.

"Damn you," she charged when a figure emerged from the dark, inching his way towards Law.

"Stay," the guy commanded confidently.

To Nami's surprise, her body stopped moving. It was then she realized, she was in deep trouble.

"Drop it," he followed.

And Nami really did drop her clima-tact in an instant.

"What do you want with me?" The navigator's voice croaked, she was beginning to feel restless.

"You see, I didn't expect you would really take my bait. Your captain and his friend right here," the man kicked Law's limp body vehemently. She could have sworn she saw how his expression changed from being composed to livid.

"–don't hurt him!" She thundered, trying her hardest to move and reach out.

The man clicked his tongue and ignored her, "They ruined my dreams, they destroyed my life! I don't want anything from you to be honest, I want something from them. I want to crush their dreams as they did to mine!"

"You will never be able to do that!" Nami asserted in full conviction. If there's anyone who knew her captain best, it was her. It will take more than death to wreck her captain's dream. She wasn't sure about Law though, but she believed he was a level-headed man yet as stubborn as Luffy.

"Humans! You believe in them that much?" He grumbled as he adjusted the rim of his hat, teeth grinding in annoyance.

She breathed heavily as recognition dawned upon her.

Broad shoulders, square jaws, large ears and purple eyes, his coat tattered and some teeth missing – she saw him four nights ago, kidnapping Ceasar from the Sunny. The guy Luffy, Law and Chopper went to beat up. There was no mistaking it.

"Aren't you a naughty girl?" Breed purred sending shivers to Nami's spine. "You see, when I first saw you, I knew instantly you are a maiden. Not pure, but untouched."

The regular sized man dragged Law by his feet, securing the Hearts captain with sea stone cuffs as restraints and tying it up on the large king-sized bed in the middle of the room.

Nami's heart pounded hard, if something happens to Law it would be her fault. This was her crazy idea. She would never forgive herself. "What are you going to do to him?"

"Rather, Cat Thief, you should ask yourself, what are you to do?"

.

.

.

Trafalgar Law had never been this distracted.

It had been days since they arrived in the Wano Country but there were no signs of Luffy and the others being successful at retrieving Sanji. Most times, he would find himself following Zoro around which the latter found rather annoying.

"You've been tailing us for some time now, Trafalgar. What the hell do you want?" Zoro asked him one night as the straw hat first mate walk around an unexplored forest by their team.

Stepping out of the tree he used as his hiding place, he deadpanned, "You have poor sense of direction and you strayed out of the path." It was not an answer to his question. Although it was the truth, everyone knows the idiot swordsman has a poor sense of direction and he really did stray out from their path, he would never tell him what he needed though.

Law wanted to know if he possessed even a bit of Nami's vivre card.

When Zoro looked back, he was surprised the team was really missing behind him. "It wasn't me who was lost, it was them." He growled in denial.

The Hearts captain waved his hand in dismissal, a mocking smirk curled up in the corner of his lips, "That's weird."

The straw hat first mate stretched his arms casually as he sat down, their eyes met for a second. "What do you really want from me?"

Law's smirk widened, "Nothing in particular." He lied.

"Did you really think I was stupid?" Zoro sneered, this time it was his turn to taunt him. "Why don't you just ask me directly what you wanted to know?"

Law knew Zoro was smart enough to figure him out. In fact, after that night in the hot springs, the swordsman never left Nami alone with him. "You think I need something from you?" he raised a brow and tilted his head slightly.

"You wouldn't follow me around if you don't." The moss head shrugged indifferently. "You've been doing it for days, shithead."

The Heart Pirates captain resisted the urge to laugh. Nami casted a grating spell on him, that was for sure, and it was driving him mad. He should focus on more important things such as his plan to take down Kaido and trivial matters like women should not be one of them.

Unfortunately though, that woman is the straw hat navigator.

"What do you think that is?" he tried to sound unconcerned.

"Something to do with the witch, perhaps?" Zoro smiled knowingly, eyes narrowing at him.

Bingo!

"Witch?" he tested, playing innocent when in all actuality, Law knew who that witch was.

"Don't take me for a fool, Trafalgar," Zoro simpered, amused at how the allied captain was playing his game. "You're acting like a lovesick puppy."

Was he?

Law didn't bother to hide his faltering smirk, obviously affected by the straw hat swordsman's choice of words. "It's been that bad?"

"Not as bad as the shitty cook," Zoro whistled as he pushed himself up and stood his stance, sheathing his swords as a wicked grin crept at the corners of his mouth, "Want to go at it, shithead?"

"And if I refuse?"

"Then, you're not worth her time."

It was a shrewd challenge. A challenge he need not to answer with words but with his nodachi. The captain knew Zoro won't hand her over that easy. It wasn't like he intends to steal her, though. He considered his feelings for the navigator insignificant, but certainly not the girl concerned. And being the man that he was, he would not turn him down.

The straw hat swordsman charged at him, his kikoku an imposing sight as the moonlight glinted off of the massive blade. Law shifted into a defensive stance, focusing on the man and his three unsheathed swords in front of him. His blades met his with a shower of sparks and vibrations that shook his arms, Zoro's strength and speed were incomparable to all the swordsmen he had fought with until now.

Expertly twisting his wrists, he managed to land a strike on the straw hat swordsman's forearm and so did Zoro. The moss head had inflicted a few cuts on his shoulder.

"You should use your ability. Do not underestimate me, Trafalgar." The swordsman hissed in dander.

Law was not underestimating him the slightest. Zoro was a deserving opponent, an honorable one. "I reserve my stamina for the finale." He retorted inconspicuously.

Yet again, their swords clashed swiftly in the air, their orbs meeting each other's gazes sharply, unmindful of the humungous trees falling around them. For some time, both kept blocking, charging, striking and flipping like they were too eager to kill each other. Law could feel his durability waver but strangely enough, he could feel a boost of strength when he thought of the reason why he was being challenged.

The intense exchange of blows continued for over an hour until Law was forced to use his ability.

"Room,"

As the blue sphere enveloped them, Zoro charged quickly. He knew the fight was about to end and he had to thrust a gigantic blow to the Hearts captain.

"Mes,"

With Zoro's ungodly speed, in a matter of seconds, he was able to inflict a big strike over Law's chest. The swordsman's beating heart however was unintentionally squeezed in the captain's hand causing him to land in all fours.

Rather than cringing at the pain of being cut in his own room, which by the way, he never knew was possible, a resounding laughter filled the forest.

"You impressed me, Zoro-ya." Law laughed heartily. It was a genuine comment. Zoro really did impress him. Never in his life had he experienced someone inflicting damage to him when inside his room.

Zoro coughed as he panted heavily, following a chortle. "So did you."

An intense silence lurked in between them. Law returned Zoro's heart as both collapsed in exhaustion, both eyes directed to the gloomy sky.

"Are you serious about her?" The moss head started, sincerity dripping through his words.

"I still can't tell for now." The allied captain replied in all honesty. He knew that was not the answer the straw hat swordsman wanted to hear but he would only tell them the truth. He was not fond of telling lies. The real question should be 'Is Nami serious about what she was doing?' All he knew was he desperately crave for Nami's presence and he badly hope it was just sheer lust that he had found himself grown too attached to the young lady, but unfortunately, he had already realized it wasn't just that. Don't expect him to give her an idea about this though.

But he plans not to jeopardize any of their dreams. For that, he was certain, was what Breed meant by his self-proclaimed revenge against him and Straw Hat Luffy. Though, funny how he finds it the best revenge, he was still wary. The guy had a backbone definitely, a big shot to support him. Breed wouldn't be able to recover that quickly with the injuries Luffy had inflicted on him, but he still did in such a short span of time. Someone should still be after them.

"I can't blame you. She's a witch." Zoro chuckled but Law did not miss the hint of melancholy in his tone.

Law heaved a sigh, "But I can definitely confirm that she is unexpectedly a distraction to me at the present."

"It's what she does best." The straw hat swordsman frowned, orbs reflecting fascination to the gray clouds above them.

The Hearts captain observed the straw hat first mate for a second. Calculating, analyzing and assessing his facial expressions.

And everything clicked into place with stomach-turning clarity.

The straw hat swordsman was in love with their navigator.

Zoro might not seem to realize it yet but Law knew the fondness in his eyes says it all. This kind of relationship with Nami, the Hearts captain could not even label it, was ominous. If she had managed to capture this sturdy man's heart, how many more would she be able to? His brain kept on nagging him he had to immediately draw a line at whatever relationship they were building but his heart wouldn't allow it.

To be honest, the captain was still confused with his feelings. He could not even admit to himself that he likes Nami.

"It was purely physical, Torao."

He recalled Nami's words. It was. He knew. And yet he was amazingly stubborn to think – or maybe cling into those tiny bits of hope that it could be more than that.

He was beginning to look pathetic, really.

"Captain!" Bepo's voice echoed from somewhere, interrupting his train of thoughts in an instant.

Law pushed himself up, dusting the tads of dirt off his pants. He turned to look at the running bear, his paws waving above his head in hysterics.

"Did something happen?" Law probed as the bear managed to close the distance between them.

Bepo gasped for air, "We were finally able to get a hold of the Strawhat's ship, Captain!" He enlightened excitedly, still panting.

Both men's ears perked up, all attention now focused to the Heart Pirates navigator.

"The operation: Retrieve Blackleg-san was a success so Straw hat wanted you to prepare a banquet full of meat upon their arrival. Nami-san said it will take them two days at most to get here and the party is not particularly necessary but if you absolutely insist on giving in to Straw hat's unreasonable request, then who is she to object? But make sure it is safe." Bepo mimicked Nami's tone animatedly.

A familiar smirk curled up on his lips, perceiving the hidden implication on Nami's weird message. She wanted him to throw a party to keep the others distracted, didn't she?

Zoro was right.

Nami is indeed a witch.

"You owe me the most delicious booze this country has to offer, Trafalgar." Zoro exclaimed as he walk past him, supposing to go back to their team mates.

Question marks animatedly appeared above Bepo's head as he took notice of the two's injuries. "Did you encounter some enemies, Captain? Both of you looked beat."

Law let out a chuckle as he pointed a tattooed finger towards the straw hat swordsman, "Guide him back to the camp, Bepo. His sense of direction is awful."

"Aye, aye!" the bear saluted.

"I can hear you, bastard!" Zoro was quick to shout in wrath.

In the end, Law wasn't able to get what he really wanted from the straw hat swordsman. He'll make sure to ask her himself next time though.