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Law walked ahead towards his submarine, gesturing his group to resume loading so they could get the hell off the island. He was shouldering his nodachi, trying not to think back on the worst days of his life, the memories of which were brought back because of the straw-hatted boy who followed him to the sub. Law had his guard down because he was confident that they had taken care of everyone who dared put up a fight. He didn't want to admit it but slashing through flesh and bone brought a sense of sadistic pleasure to his being.

The small sounds of footsteps following Law were welcome in his ears as they distracted him once he started listening in on them. The boy had stopped sobbing momentarily. His mind wandered to what he was going to do with the kid, how was he going to get him back to his family, if he was going to help him enough to get back to his family or if he should dump him on the next island and leave him to fend for himself. When Law was in such a stream of thoughts, he was hardly ever able to focus on what was going around him but right now he was fairly aware. That didn't mean he took immediate notice of the footsteps that stopped following him. He sighed and turned around only to find the boy collapsed on the cold snow with his face buried in its whiteness.

He went to the boy and crouched down to flip him on his back. He was unconscious. Law checked for a pulse, breathing and checked all the vital locations, coming to the conclusion that the exhaustion and malnutrition had finally caught up with the kid and that he was going to be this way for a while. Law had half the mind to leave the boy there but then his brain would play images of what the kid had said and Law would groan so he decided to comply.

He picked the kid up by the back of his shirt and adjusted him against his chest, putting his small head on the left shoulder and using his right arm Law brought his left arm under the boy's legs and held him there so it looked like the kid was sitting on Law's left arm, resting his head against his shoulder. Once the small body was that close, Law took notice of how thin and bony it was and how many injuries it had. The fever the boy had was burning through Law's shoulder and he didn't think it was a good sign. A boy this young was going to be difficult to bring back from the depths of malnutrition with minimum long term effects. Regardless, Law quickened his pace and went inside the submarine, not handing the boy to any one of his friends who asked. Law was unsure of why he wouldn't part with the small burning body but he dismissed it as it would be better and faster if the boy was in his care so that if there were any symptoms, Law could be quick to action.

He went to the med bay and put the kid on one of the beds and started working on him. Law asked for Shachi to help him because he needed to divide the work force and with Shachi assisting him, Law could be relieved leaving the rest in the capable hands of Penguin and Bepo, though he told the crew to keep themselves submerged around the island and not move further for a while.

Law asked Shachi to first remove the boy's accessories while he himself pulled on his gloves and put on his mask and arranged the tools he knew he'd need. The straw-hat was carefully placed aside and Law began cutting through the torn and blood stained clothes. The boy was all skin and bones and it shocked Law that he could run and move at all.

Shachi handed Law the peroxide first, helping him clean all the blood off. The hair were matted with blood and sweat but there were no head wounds so that could be left for a later time. Shachi went ahead and cleaned the dirt and blood off the boy's face and Law noticed the scar under his left eye, wondering how it got there. The small puckered lips, cheeks and forehead and nose red from the fever, made the boy look a lot younger than he probably was. There were numerous scars on the kid's body, much older ones that had started to fade out of existence and once again the young doctor found himself in thought of what kind of hell his patient had been in before he got to where he was. What kind of life did he have, what kind of human connections. When Law reached the kid's legs, he had to restrain himself from ripping the skin off the boy's thigh. There was definitely a mark there that he remembered the kid had been trying to hide. It was a tattoo, the presence of which sealed the body's belonging to a revolting bastard. Law felt that rage again and the need to burn something came back and he knew just what he would be burning.

"Captain." Shachi brought Law out of his thoughts and the latter noticed how he was gripping the tattoo on his patient's thigh. Law composed himself and got back to work.

There were a lot of cuts and bruises but more worrying than that was the obvious fever and the state of the little boy's insides. All messed up. It brought back memories and Law scolded himself to make it go away. This was not the time for it.

His hands worked fast and efficiently. He took blood samples and capped the tubes for an analysis as soon as he would stabilize the boy's condition that is. With the state of the child's lower abdomen and insides, Law knew what kind of hell the kid had went through so he also knew to thoroughly check the throat and airways. It was all a big mess.

Law did his best in the few hours he spent in the med bay with Shachi. The kid was dressed in the patient robes - a plain big shirt that opened in the back - they had aboard the Polar Tang, hooked to their advanced tech and a few intravenous medicines he needed to keep him stable for a while. Before they attached the machines though, they had shifted the boy to a semi-private section of the sub's med center. It had Law's computer and his books and a fairly sized bed for patients that needed constant attention so Law could be there all the time.

The boy had yet to gain consciousness but that was to be expected given the circumstances. Law adjusted the IVs and made sure all the machines were properly attached and working before he breathed out and relaxed his shoulders. He dismissed Shachi who went to clean up the med bay and pile the wrappings of the supplies that were used so Law could make a list later.

Law took off his gloves, threw them away in the bin and washed his hands in the sink nearby. He wasn't nearly done with the kid yet, he had only made sure that the boy won't die while Law ran some tests on his blood and tissues.

The kid's blood was type F. A rare type. Law cursed but let it go remembering he was also blood type F and that he would just prepare a bag of blood for the kid, so he left everything as it was - not in a dangerous or unprofessional setting - and went to prepare for blood donation. He got out the needle, tube and bag, attaching everything and cleaned the area on his left arm where he would be pricking with the needle. He taped the needle on his skin after the pricking so it wouldn't move while he worked and went back to the sampling table with the tube attached to his arm and the bag resting in his lap. He knew he shouldn't be working while his blood was being drawn out and leaving an uncomfortable sensation throughout his body but he didn't have much time. Besides, it would only take some ten minutes for a decent amount of blood to be extracted. He took this time to check the sample blood for diseases or allergies.

When the blood bag was full and ready, Law carefully detached the needle from his arm, ignoring the ugly bruise that remained because he was carelessly moving his arm a lot during the procedure. He stood up and immediately stumbled back down on the chair.

Shouldn't have done that. Law thought and rubbed his eyes to make the dizziness go away.

So much of his blood had just left his body and he was stupid enough to stand up immediately. He waited a few minutes so at least the fainting feeling would subside, he could deal with the throbbing headache later. He sealed the bag, made sure it was the right temperature to be transferred, grabbed a blood filter and attached the whole unit to the boy. The small breathing could be heard through the oxygen support and the noise of the numerous machines he was attached to. The blood would add to better the boy's condition.

Uni knocked on the metal wall lightly, getting Law's attention and silently passed him a mug of coffee, leaving as he came, quietly. He should be downing actual food but he left it for a later time. Law appreciated the coffee because just after he had given the kid blood, his head had started aching from everything that he was keeping at bay.

The memories. The tiredness brought by his insomnia and the day's events. The feeling of disgust at the recollection that he mercilessly murdered and decapitated human beings despite being taught otherwise.

Law downed the whole hot mug in under a minute and felt thankful for the burning in his throat that would surely keep him awake and alert, at least long enough to study the samples he had laid out and to prepare a whole plan of action for the boy for when he wakes up. It was up to the boy's will power and need to get better that would decide whether Law would have to adjust the diet plan for willing intake or tubal intake.

There were minimum allergies but the negligible white blood cell count was worrying. Law thought he would have to go through this really carefully or the body's immune system would just up and shut down. He did not want that. Law was not going to let the boy die when he had went through the trouble of saving him. Might as well go the extra mile and make sure that he lives properly and healthy.

A final check on the samples and noting down the data, typing it in his computer, preparing patient sheets and changing some IVs on the boy, Law was satisfied that the kid would last the twelve hour time period in which he could get some rest, hopefully.

Law left the med bay and went to the control room where most of his group was. He told them to round the island and stop at specific locations. He had some last minute shit to pull before he could leave the island behind with a sense of satisfaction. The Hearts were a little worried at Law's command but followed nonetheless. Some of them went with him, especially Bepo, to do the deed, they trusted their Captain but thought that Law and his actions needed to be looked after when he got the cynical gleam in his eyes. This was one of those times and what Law had planned to do was good in a small way but dangerous in the grand scheme of things.

When they got back, Bepo took the controls of the submarine and Law sat down beside him, breathing in and out, in and out to keep himself from falling into panic. Bepo knew what was happening, going back in such a place where Law only had bad memories ingrained in his brain, he was sure to spiral down the darkly familiar path of panic attacks. It wasn't new for the Hearts' Captain but Law had never allowed his group to see him in that condition. Penguin and Shachi had caught him in that state on accident but Law willingly went to Bepo for comfort sometimes. He felt closest to Bepo than to anybody else and Bepo being a Mink had different ideologies than human beings and thus his presence was the most comfortable out of anybody in the Hearts.

Law leaned against Bepo, standing up, gathering some control over his raging mind. He reeked of blood from various battles in the day, was tired, extremely sleep deprived and hadn't had the proper time to put food in himself. But now there was time. He was going to do every one of those things he had neglected till now.

"Set course for Flevance." Law said and left the control room.

"Aye aye Captain!" Bepo called and Law smiled lightly before heading to his quarters for a nice bath.

Law would liken himself to a cat, well, a snow leopard by definition what with all of his aesthetic. He was not a big fan of baths but was enough of a clean freak to actually muster up strength to keep himself from accumulating filth. This time was no different.

There was a permanent scowl on Law's face when he undressed and showered and that worsened when some shampoo went in his eyes. He cursed under his breath before resuming washing his hair. His hat would need cleaning too and he was just hating the idea of putting his precious hat through a wash where it could get easily damaged.

Outside the captain's quarters and in the small lounge on the sub, the men of the Hearts were talking amongst themselves. Most had gone to sleep before their shifts for watch would start - they were under water but still somebody had to man the controls and the radars and with a patient on board, their captain was bound to fix monitoring duties.

"I didn't think Captain would actually burn down the whole building." Penguin laughed at his comrade's comment.

"That just explains that you are new. He has done more for less."

"Yeah but did he do it for the kid? I mean we could all guess that the kid ran away from the southern pleasure house but that doesn't explain why Captain would burn down all of those places on the island. I mean, wow, what."

"That's our Captain." Shachi defended. "We don't know who he did it for but what he did was good. He freed those under forced labor too. He's a softie."

"Man he was just badass." Penguin sighed.

"Yeah especially when he was going to light the fire and went, 'I am not some saint so get your asses out before I light shit up.'" Shachi acted in his best Law-voice but everyone's laughter got caught in their throats when an arm slid across the redhead's neck.

"Aren't you just having the time of your life, Shachi-ya?" Law looked dark and irritated and angry and downright scary. His hair dripping wet, the droplets amplifying the golden of his eyes as they fell past it. And there was the name tag Law used that made everyone shudder. This time it was a close mix towards knowing someone very well but not enough to not want to murder them.

"C-captain! Would you like something to eat?" The cook asked who had wisely scurried towards the sub's kitchen connected to the lounge. "Should I prepare some onigiri?" He was quick-witted enough to divert Law's attention from a gone-stiff-out-of-fear Shachi to onigiri. That always worked.

"Sure." Law muttered and took a seat between Penguin and Shachi, moving his arms behind both of their heads on the headrest. That shut them up good and proper. The cook went to prepare Law's food and the captain noticed that the lounge was mostly empty.

Law's hair were still dripping on the towel on his shoulders, he was just lazy to move his arms to rub his head with it. Penguin noticed this and sighed grabbing Law's towel and putting it on his head. "Dry your own hair for once you brat." he rubbed viciously and Law could head Shachi laughing behind him.

Law was the youngest in among the three of them and sometimes they treated him like that too and though he would never admit it, Law liked it. It was a change from the intimidation he always seemed to carry around. So Law realized something that all his friends could be relied upon for something different. Bepo can't bash him like he is a brat, it was something only Shachi and Penguin were brave or stupid enough to do. But they always created some sort of fuss over Law's nightmares, sleeplessness and panic attacks, something Bepo took silently and never talked about again.

The cook came and put a huge tray of onigiri on the table that was bolted to the floor. Law was going to get up for coffee but grimaced when he was handed tea instead. He liked tea but right now he was in the mood for coffee.

"The mug Uni gave you was enough Captain. You need to sleep. There is a patient on board." Law would have glared at the chef but he was right and he appreciated it when he was called out on his bullshit.

Law silently ate his onigiri, sharing with the idiots on his either side. The amount of huffs he let out during his mealtime made it known to both his friends that the grumpy was tired enough to consider even chewing a chore. He rubbed his eyes multiple times as well.

When they had all eaten, Law took the two of them to the infirmary and explained the situation. He showed them the machines they would be taking readings from every two hours and that should the numbers go below average - the list of which Law has stuck on the side of his table - they were to wake him immediately. He didn't put them at ease that he thought that the boy would be relatively stable because if he did they would unconsciously be relaxed enough to make a mistake.

"You know what, I am not going to be able to sleep anyway, I will stay here just in case." Law said and made to move to the chair in front of his desk.

"Oh no, no, you are not doing this. You are going to sleep."

"Don't order me around Penguin and I'm staying here."

"How about you try sleeping and if that doesn't happen in an hour, you can come here?" Shachi reasoned.

"I am having a coffee first though, my head is aching." Law side stepped the two and started making his way towards the kitchen. They both took Law by the shoulders and started guiding him to the captain's quarters. Law was still scrawny and shorter than the two so they were easily able to overpower him and steer him where they wanted. Law thought he would have to get some muscle buildup to stop the two idiots from bullying him but felt like he would really just stay thin all his life, that maybe it was his physique to not be a macho-man. He was OK with it though. The one person he admired more than living itself wasn't macho either so Law was content with what he had.

"Fool somebody else Law, go to sleep." Penguin started.

"You clearly need it." Shachi backed.

"I still have to wash my hat, it's going to get ruined if I let it stay blood stained-"

"We got that."

"Geez does this kid have arguments for everything or what."

When they turned the corner they almost collided into Bepo who was coming out from the navigation room.

"Suimasen." He went immediately.

"Oh nice timing. Stay watch on the Captain so he actually sleeps?"

"Ok."

Law grumbled when Shachi and Penguin shut the door of his room behind him and left him probably after locking it from the outside. Law messed with his hair but decided to try sleeping since his body was on the verge of shutting down and that was something he wanted to avoid because he didn't know when he might need the strength in this unknown sea. He thought sleeping a better tactic and followed on it.

He didn't even have to even struggle to find a comfortable position because as soon as his head hit his pillow he was out like a light.

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