You felt your eyes water slightly as you looked at him.

"I'm sorry."

But all you could do was embrace him, letting out soft sobs against his chest, as you felt his arms encircle you.

"You shouldn't even be apologizing."

You cut him off,

"I should be thanking you-"

You looked up at him, your cheeks wet with tears as you said,

"But you're so stupid-"

"I'm not worth offering your life for, Sora."

He shook his head hand gently moving to hold your face, thumb brushing the tears away.

"I'd do it again right now if I could, if it meant you were safe."

You let out a shaky exhale.

And he looked back at you with concern, and care, soft brown eyes intently fixed on yours.

"I was so worried."

"Every single day.'

He hesitated.

Although he dreaded asking it, he needed to.

"Did he hurt you?"

"Touch you?"

The answer to that was yes, he did hurt you.

But not in the ways Sora was thinking.

Because how were you supposed to explain that he had broken your heart.

You swallowed hard,

"No."

"He didn't lay a finger on me."

You paused,

"He's a good guy Sora."

"And so is the rest of his crew."

Sora shook his head his voice gentle and so genuine,

"Shiina good people don't take you away from the only ones you have left."

"He saved your life, yes, because he thought you had information. Because he saw value in you."

"He's a pirate- a ruthless one, Shiina."

"Don't forget that just because you were lucky."

"Yes-" your voice cut him off, raising slightly.

"And pirates rape, beat, torture, and kill."

He shook his head,

"So he's 'good' because you're alive? He's 'good' because he didn't-"

"He's not a bad person!"

You had no idea why you were yelling.

Why you were defending someone who had in fact taken you captive for information.

And in the end left without a word.

"People are products of where they came from- what they have experienced."

"And there are some that are inherently bad-"

"But he's not one of them."

Sora stayed silent looking at you.

"You give everyone around you too much credit."

He paused.

"Shiina, most of the people in the world- our world, this world of pirates and marines are disappointing."

"Liars, cheaters, killers."

"I know you're not naive- you know this."

"But..."

He sighed heavily,

"They take advantage of people like you- abuse the fact that you always see the best in people, and use it to their advantage."

"I'm telling you this again because I care- and I can't stand watching that happen to you."

He paused.

"Shiina, even the most evil people have awful, unfair pasts."

"But that doesn't justify their actions."

"That doesn't make doing bad things and hurting people okay."

You bit your lip.

You hated that what he was saying was true.

And that Sora was truly selfless.

"You have a fire in you- I've seen it before."

"You're an incredible person."

"Stop letting people take from you."

"Because I won't watch that again."

"I won't watch you give yourself to someone who doesn't deserve it."

You let out a shaky exhale, leaning your head against him.

You felt as he gently stroked your hair.

You felt his chest vibrate as he spoke,

"I kept that promise."

"I wouldn't stop searching for you."

"And I will continue to keep it."

Sora rounded the corner to find you standing, with that paled expression on your face. Still looking at where Law had just stood, and disappeared from.

"I'm surprised you spoke to him."

You sighed approaching him,

"I owed it to him."

"He saved my life."

"For personal gain," he added, looking at you with a saddened gaze.

"And then he left-"

You interrupted, "But I understand why he didn't tell me."

Sora sighed heavily,

"I don't know why you defend him."

"Because there was something I hadn't told him either," you said quietly.

You looked down at your hands, that were fidgeting.

Because how do you tell someone the person they're here to get revenge on and kill, is your father and the person you're here to see.

The one person he hated more then anything- that took away someone so important to him.

But it wasn't your fault right?

Kids can't choose who their parents are.

"Shiina."

You turned to look at Sora, as he gently placed a hand on your shoulder.

"Stop feeling bad about it."

Dammit he can see right through me.

Always could.

"You don't owe him anything else."

"And the man still is your father- anyone would do the same if they had no family left..."

"...you shouldn't feel bad for wanting answers."

You looked down at the ground,

"Yes, but I should feel stupid because I was warned he was a bad person, if I do end up getting myself into trouble."

Not just a bad person.

A murderer.

He was inhumane.

Psychopathic, even.

He gently squeezed your shoulder,

"I want to do whatever you want, Shiina."

"If you change your mind we can leave whenever you want."

You shook your head,

"No... we came this far."

He nodded as his hand gently released its grip on your shoulder, returning to his side.

But another thought occurred to you.

"Sora?"

"Hm."

"Correct me if I'm wrong but that woman... looked like Nico Robin... one of the strawhat pirates..."

"And the other... the sniper from that crew."

He sighed softly, leaning against the alleyway wall as he looked at you.

"Well I wouldn't put it past him to involve himself with more pirates."

You glanced out toward the busy street,

"The strawhats, huh..."

"They said the bridge was reinforced with iron."

Usopp glanced around anxiously,

"Damn right this thing better be..."

Caesar Clown, Usopp, Robin, and Law trudged along the bridge toward the island of Greenbit, to where the handover of Caesar Clown would be taking place.

"So then we won't have to worry about those fighting fish...?"

"I'd hope not..."

Law ignored the two, Usopp and Ceasar yapping on about nonsense.

But one voice pulled him from his thoughts as they walked along the bridge,

"I didn't take you for the type to have a girlfriend."

Law glanced at Robin who was smiling slightly as she walked beside him.

She was familiar.

One of the few, perhaps the only Strawhat, that didn't make him lose his mind.

She was similar to him in a lot of ways.

She was intelligent, clever, and introverted. Something he appreciated in the midst of all the chaos.

He let out a heavy exhale,

"Careful what you call her."

"You might get slapped too."

Robin let out a soft laugh at his words.

After all, they had all watched you slap him in the face like an angry girlfriend. The thought hadn't occurred that they might be curious about it.

Silence fell over the group until Law stopped in his tracks.

Robins brows furrowed,

"What is it?"

"One of the fighting fish is approaching."

Then came Usopp's panicked voice,

"You guys hear that?"

Then Caesars,

"YOU GUYS SEE THAT?!"

Sure enough, there was a huge fish with horns charging straight toward the bridge.

And soon, the group was sprinting across the bridge toward Greenbit.

You walked out from the alleyway letting out a heavy sigh.

Shutting your eyes, just enough to calm your racing thoughts.

You had to admit you were curious.

What the hell was he doing with the Strawhats?

Did he not think he could take down Doflamingo himself?

"Hey, Sora-"

But your words were cut off when something slammed into you causing you to lose your footing and fall.

Well, someone.

You let out a soft groan, one hand rubbing your eye, the other resting flat on the pavement, eyes flickering open as you realized you were face to face with a man.

A green haired man with a mustache.

Sitting on top of him.

What the-

"Oi- get off me woman!"

You blinked in surprise as the man pushed you off him onto the ground beside him, as he continued,

"I have places to be- the sunflower field and then- dammit nevermind."

He shifted standing up to his feet, and you remained in a slight state of shock from having been knocked to the ground.

But when he looked like he was getting ready to run off again, instinct kicked in.

You immediately stood to your feet, picking up a loose pebble from the street, and threw it as hard as you could at the back of his head.

Nailing him right in the center of the back of his head.

Causing him to stop in his tracks and glance back at you with a bewildered expression.

And the words left your mouth before you could stop them,

"You knocked me over, and then run off?!"

"Oh hell if I let that happen bonehead!"

"Who the hell do you think you are?!"

And by now, some of the townspeople were staring at the scene.

His jaw clenched as he said,

"Shhhhhut your mouth..."

In a quiet tone.

"I'm supposed to be undercover, you idiot."

You stepped forward and grabbed the collar of his suit jacket tugging him down so he was eye level with you,

"Listen here-"

But you immediately stopped when you realized something.

Holy shit.

"Pirate Hunter Zoro."

The Strawhats.

Well honestly it made a lot of sense.

His jaw clenched more, eyes flashing with a bit of panic as you were sure he wondered how the hell some random knew who he was.

The poor guy was just trying not to blow his stupid cover.

So you quickly spoke, voice low, grip not releasing on his collar,

"You're working with Trafalgar Law."

"To take down the Donquixote family's reign."

He just looked bewildered at the words that were coming out of your mouth.

"How do you-"

You released your grip on his collar cutting him off,

"Where the hell are you trying to go?"

He blinked,

"To find the sunflower field."

And just then you saw a miniature human looking thing poke out of his shirt, eyes widening.

What the hell-

"Miss, please help us! He's dense! He can't follow simple directions-"

Zoro pushed the little fairy's head down back into his shirt, cutting it off.

"I need to find the sunflower field- and then to the Sunny," he explained.

"Wicca- this little fairy thing said a group of Donquixote pirates were attacking our ship."

"I need to return this little nuisance to the rest of them so he can report the whereabouts of the Donquixote family, and get back to my ship."

Your eyes widened slightly.

You didn't know why you were surprised.

You knew the Donquixote family wasn't a good one.

But technically you were a part of it.

"Shiina."

You glanced over your shoulder to see Sora approaching, probably already dreading what mess you were getting into now.

You glanced at him immediately speaking,

"They have information. On Donquixote whereabouts."

You swallowed hard, turning back to face Zoro and the mini human.

"I'll come with you."

"We'll come with you."

"Shiina-"

But before Sora could even form a response to protest, you slapped Zoro's hand away, letting the little fairy creature poke its head out again letting out a gasp for air.

You looked at Wicca, head sticking out of Zoro's shirt.

The thing was adorable.

Dressed in a little top hat, and big eyes.

"You tell me where to go."

"We'll go."

And the fairy nodded.

Zoro immediately spoke up,

"Woah- how the hell do I know if I can trust you?"

You looked at the man with furrowed brows,

"You want directions or not?"

And he knew better then to mess around with your deadly gaze.

Because soon you were running through the streets of Dressrosa, side by side with Pirate Hunter Zoro.