The infirmary was located somewhere in the labyrinth of cramped corridors that made up the Polar Tang's middle level. Following Ikkaku and Clione there, Arisa counted at least five turns after leaving the stairwell before they reached their destination. Once inside the actual compartment, though, she was secretly surprised to find that the room was no less wanting in terms of space and provisions than the ward where Teru worked back at Valeris Island. Three empty cots lined the back walls, each separated by white curtains. A first aid station was also set up in the adjacent corner, complete with several medicine cabinets, a counter, desk, and a sink.

Clione went and sat on the swivel chair, turning himself about this way and that as Ikkaku disappeared into the supply closet. Unsure of where to go, Arisa found herself hovering restlessly near the entrance. Clione caught her eye and ceased spinning to shoot her a good-natured smile.

"I'm guessing this'll be your first transit on a sub?"

"Oh... yes. For me and Riyu both." Arisa paused, listening to the din of footsteps and voices which echoed through the hull, and cracked a small smile. "Is it always this hectic?"

Clione nodded fondly and began spinning again.

"Yup, without fail. Once we're off, most of the boys gotta work nonstop to keep this thing running. Eighteen hours a day, six hours a shift. Course, things slow down a bit once we get cruising depth - it's mostly maintenance to deal with then. Still gotta keep to schedule, though. Right, nee-san?"

Ikkaku had returned from the supply closet, her face closed off. Leaving Clione's question hanging in the air, she marched over and shoved a cloth bundle into Arisa's arms.

"Here. For you and your friend."

Arisa glanced down, mentally taking account of the items. They were mostly basic toiletries - towels, soap, toothpaste and the like. However, a small bottle of pills caught her eye.

"What are these?"

Ikkaku had retreated to Clione's side. She leaned back, propping herself up against the counter by her elbows.

"Dimenhydrinate tablets," she answered brusquely, brushing a curly strand from her face. "You said this will be your first time aboard a submarine, right?"

Arisa raised an eyebrow, puzzled. The last time she'd been seasick had to have been during her inaugural trip to Amenoka-jima as a child. Now, as accustomed as she and Riyu had grown to extended voyages, the idea that either of them would need the medicine felt slightly preposterous.

"Is it that bad?"

Ikkaku only shrugged.

"It depends."

"It depends?" Clione chuckled, shaking his head. "C'mon, don't sugarcoat it, nee-san! You've been a rookie, too!" He wheeled his chair closer and lowered his voice conspiratorially. "No joke, newbies aboard the Tang typically spend the first week or so puking their guts into a bucket. Take that as a warning, Chidori-san!"

"The first week or so?" Arisa laughed nervously. That spanned the entire projected length of the voyage.

"Don't listen to him," Ikkaku rolled her eyes. "It's worse for some people than others. And even then, most of the time it happens when we're closer to the surface. But you'd rather be safe than sorry."

"Good to know."

Ikkaku still didn't meet her eyes. She opened one of the drawers beneath the counter and began fiddling with something inside of it.

"You can take up to two tablets every four to six hours," she said. "If you ever need more, just come to the infirmary. Whether it's me, Clione, or Uni, there will always be someone on shift."

"Alright, thanks..." Arisa hesitated and started to turn away. But by mere chance, Ikkaku's restless movements drew her attention back to the counter for a fleeting moment, and catching sight of a picture frame just barely visible from behind the ravenette's elbow, she stopped short. The photograph enclosed within the plain oaken frame depicted five figures posing for the camera, some with their arms thrown over their comrades' shoulders, others with their hands outstretched to give the V gesture. Four of the beaming faces she immediately recognized. A laughing Ikkaku stood between Clione and another member of the Hearts she'd seen outside but still hadn't been properly introduced to yet, her arms linked with theirs. Bepo stood behind them to the right, posing with a goofy grin capturing his features. The fifth and final member of the ensemble was wholly unfamiliar to Arisa, standing next to Clione with her head tilted at a slight angle and one arm thrown affectionately over his shoulders: a pretty young woman looked to be about Ikkaku's age - perhaps in her early twenties - with platinum blonde hair and copper-tinged eyes. Like the rest of her companions, she too wore a jumpsuit which clearly identified her as a Heart Pirate.

It was all very strange though. Because as far as Arisa knew from the Navy intelligence that the Amatsuki had obtained (stolen) regarding the Supernovas, there were no reported sightings of anyone matching that description in the crew...

Ikkaku frowned slightly.

"Is there anything else you need?" she asked sharply.

Arisa immediately jolted back to attention.

"Oh, um... nothing." She fumbled a bit and cleared her throat awkwardly, lightening her tone in a pitiful attempt to ease the tension. " Sorry, I was just... ah...."

Ikkaku's frown deepened in concern. Arisa gave up and nodded faintly towards the photograph.

"I, uh, didn't know that there was another woman on this crew."

She regretted the words the moment they left her mouth. The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees lower. Clione froze in his chair, looking as though he'd just seen a ghost. Ikkaku followed Arisa's gaze and immediately stepped up to block the view of the photograph. Her face, too, seemed to have grown several shades paler.

...did I say something wrong?

"There isn't," Ikkaku said.

"...there... isn't?" Arisa faltered.

"No." Ikkaku's voice was lethally cold, as brittle as glass. "I don't know what you're talking about."

I definitely said something wrong, didn't I...

Arisa swallowed back her discomfort and nodded.

"A-alright then," she stammered, clutching the bundle closer to her chest as she took a step back towards the threshold. "Sorry. Didn't mean anything by it."

Ikkkaku nodded once. She still didn't move, her spine rigid and her jaw clenched tight.

"Clione," she said out loud. "Do you mind showing her where the sleeping quarters are?"

──────────────────

"Can we blame this on bad ship design?" Riyu groaned. Sitting huddled between two bunks with a bucket propped between her knees, she truly was a pitiful sight to behold. Her face turned slightly green as the floor rocked and tilted beneath her. "Let's just blame this on bad ship design..."

About an hour had passed since the Polar Tang had officially left Yamizo Island. Most of the submarine was enveloped in a flurry of activity as the crew commenced with their operating duties, the halls made all the more claustrophobic with the steady stream of uniformed men rushing to and from their respective stations. Law, Shachi, Penguin, or Bepo hadn't shown their faces once since they'd taken off to the control room to give orders for departure. It seemed obvious that staying out of the way was the best course of action until things calmed down. So Arisa had done just that, returning to her designated bunk with the intention of going through the logbooks she'd taken from Gavros' safe. It came as quite a bit of surprise when Riyu - who was easily the more curious of the two of them - followed her lead, though the reason as to why quickly became apparent in the form of Ikkaku's prediction regarding the dimenhydrinate tablets coming true.

Arisa lowered the logbook with a small sigh. No matter how hard she tried, it was impossible to keep her mind off what had just transpired in the infirmary. Not so much due to Ikkaku's standoffishness when that could easily be construed as mistrust - more so the reaction to her question about the photograph. Awkwardness aside, something about the exchange rubbed her the wrong way though she couldn't quite put a finger to it. Maybe it was Clione's apprehension. Or Ikkaku's blatant denial, when everyone present knew the contents of the photograph were unmistakable in their implications.

Whoever that girl was, she had to have been a Heart Pirate at some point; the uniform was unmistakable. Maybe she'd left? Or been killed? Surely, that would explain the dodginess, wouldn't it...?

It's none of your business, Arisa scolded herself. So what if they have something they want to keep something to themselves? And it isn't as if you're so willing to be an open book yourself, either...

"Aneki..." Riyu whined, breaking her out of her thoughts. "I feel half-dead... This is beyond bad ship design, it's hell..."

Arisa peered down to the Mink over the edge of her bunk.

"Guess you should've taken the medicine when I told you to."

"Blegh..." Riyu made a face. "You know I hate taking pills! And how was I supposed to know it'd be this bad?"

She stopped short and gulped as the hull of the submarine rolled sideways gently, both hands flying up to stifle her mouth.

Arisa straightened in alarm.

"Bathroom?"

"...maybe..." Riyu groaned. "...but I dunno where that even is."

"Me neither..." Arisa winced. Clione had shown her around a bit, but the impromptu tour had been cut short after he'd been called down to the machinery room to help with some last-minute preparations for departure.

I really should have asked for a floorplan...

Arisa closed the book and swung her legs over the edge.

"Can you hold on a couple minutes?" she queried anxiously. "I'll go ask someone."

"I dunno..." Riyu mumbled, leaning over the bucket. "...I'll guess...I can try... bleh..."

Climbing down to the aisle, Arisa sweatdropped in spite of herself.

"You really do look half-dead..."

"...hurry the hell up!"

"Alright, alright. Hang on to that bucket!"

She hurried out and looked up and down the hall, instinctively flattening herself against the wall to give room for two men - Seiuchi and Kurage, she thought their names were - who came rushing wordlessly down from one end towards the aft end of the vessel. She turned after them and started to call out.

"Hey -" she trailed off upon realizing that they'd already disappeared past a corner. "....Alrighty then."

Further up the hall, the floor was still flourishing with activity. A chorus of shouted voices echoed within the metal walls as orders and acknowledgements alike were issued and exchanged, accompanied with the continuous bustle of movement - submariners milling about to carry out their tasks accordingly, squeezing past each other through the narrow tunnels as they couriered various messages and deliverables alike. Caught in the midst of all of this, Arisa hastily retreated to a corner to stay out of the way, a familiar feeling of helplessness needling beneath her skin as she craned her neck to find a familiar face - not even that, just someone who looked idle enough to be of help.

"Chidori-ya."

She nearly jumped at the voice and spun around to see Law peering curiously down at her. In her frazzled state, the first thing that registered, weirdly enough, was the fact that he had discarded the long dark coat she'd seen him donning outside. Beneath that, he wore a simple grey hoodie with his crew's Jolly Roger emblazoned over the front in bold black lines, as well as a pair of jeans with a dotted pattern near the ankles that, along with his hat, reminded her of a leopard print. She couldn't help but note how strangely out of place he looked in such casual attire.

"Are you here to observe?" he asked.

"Not exactly. But I'm glad I found you -"

His gunmetal eyes suddenly flickered over her shoulder.

"Incoming!" someone yelled out from behind.

"Oh -" Arisa started to turn, startled, when Law unexpectedly reached out to grab her arm, guiding her towards the side. They both pressed against the wall as Jean Bart barreled past, lugging a large metal canister (or could it be a missile...?) over one massive shoulder.

"Sorry, Captain!" he called as he passed by.

"It's fine," Law answered, voice nonchalant. "Go on."

Feeling his hand fall away from her elbow, Arisa felt her cheeks warm in color.

"Sorry," she muttered.

"Don't worry about it. It always takes some time to adjust to life on a submarine." The surgeon folded his arms, watching the bustle of activity with what could only be construed as a glint of appreciation in his eyes. "Limited space has always been one of the biggest hurdles for our rookies."

"Not to mention the heat!" Bepo called out as he passed by.

"Oh shuddup, ya big baby!" someone tossed back.

"Hey! I'm the one with a higher rank now!"

A ghost of a smile passed over Law's face. It was fleeting, but looking back later on, Arisa would remember that moment as the first time she'd seen him smile genuinely.

"So what did you need?" he asked, turning back.

"I was just wondering if I could get a rough floor plan of the place."

"Didn't Clione give you a tour?"

"We got through it part way, yes, but..." Arisa paused, thinking back to Riyu's predicament. "Let's just say that someone refused to take her pills and could really use the restroom at the moment."

Law stared down at her, eyes narrowed in contemplation, before raising his eyebrows slightly as realization sunk in. He let out a sigh and turned on his heel.

"Follow me."

──────────────────

By the time Riyu fully recovered (which generally translated to the evening of the third day), Arisa had made some progress. Meaning she'd learned the general layout of the Polar Tang (somewhat). She'd also managed to internalize the daily working cycle of the crew in that she could roughly identify which times of the day hallway traffic had dwindled to the point of being reasonably navigable.

When it came to learning the unspoken rules of the submarine, her efforts were still a work in progress, but she was slowly starting to condition herself to implement them on a subconscious level. Simple, quality-of-life sort of things. Like staying on the right side in the halls to avoid incoming passerby. Avoiding lingering in hallways, instead always moving until you'd reached a room. Remembering to call up or down a hatch when you were changing levels through the ladders. Speaking quietly around the control room to avoid interrupting the flow of orders, calls, and acknowledgements between the officers and the crew.

As submariners, the Heart Pirates followed a schedule so strict it could easily rival that of a Navy crew. Just like what Clione had said, their days were regimented into three six-hour shifts, during which they split their duties between operation, maintenance, training, and sleep. Meals were served every six hours in between rotations, with the all-suffering Rakko keeping the kitchen running nearly full-time to accommodate the endless flow of mouths to feed. He was one of the four sole members whose duties weren't directly involved in the sub's operations, with the other three - Ikkaku, Uni, and Clione - making up the supporting medical staff. As a trio, they too worked in six-hour rotations, with their duties consisting of running the infirmary, managing the crew's medical supplies, and - when the circumstances permitted it - assisting their captain during operations.

With Riyu out of commission for the first two days, Arisa initially found herself at a loss when it came to filling her own free time, of which there was quite a lot. Law typically made time in the evenings - usually for one to two hours after dinner - for meetings with Shachi, Penguin and Bepo to discuss strategy. With the solidification of this alliance, he'd added her to the roster for these daily councils. Apart from the time she took to prepare for those, her schedule remained depressingly empty. On the first day, she'd tried to reach Hachinobe again several times, but due to either bad timing or deliberate dismissal on his part, none of her calls went through.

Another option she had was to return Teru's call, but she found herself balking at the risk. Despite already being aware of her step-sister's activities as yōgari, Teru was still insulated by the Navy-centric influences of her upbringing. There was really no way to know how she'd react if Arisa were to let slip where she was and who she was currently with... In the end, all of this overthinking only ended with the same conclusion which had hounded her so many times before: paralysis. In other words, she did nothing. That really did wonders in exacerbating the original issue with her boredom.

It wasn't until the morning of the second day that Arisa had her epiphany. The realization was so obvious that she felt like hitting herself for not recognizing it straightaway.

Rakko, though thrilled at her proposition, was initially dubious.

"Are you sure you'll be able to handle it?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow as he wiped his hands with a towel. "I don't mean to flatter myself or anything, but it's a lot of work..."

Arisa smiled, leaning in over the counter.

"Trust me, you don't know Riyu," she pressed. "Once she gets back up on her feet, you'll thank me for the help."

Rakko thought about this for a moment, his eyes flickering to the cauldron hanging over the stove.

"Hmmm. You're definitely right in that she did eat quite a lot at Yamizo Island..."

"Oh, you haven't even seen the start of it." Arisa lowered her voice. "Did you know that ermines typically eat one-third of their body weight every single day? Well for her, it's closer to a half."

"Half...?" The cook's face turned slightly pale. "Why, that'll... That'll put her in league with Jean Bart and Bepo!"

"Exactly." Arisa grinned. "So what do you say?"

And that was how she earned herself one six-hour shift of lunch prep with the chef.

"Since we've only got the pickiest scumbags on this crew, I gotta put up with three separate options for lunch on a daily basis!" Rakko declared with a flourish. He held up a finger for each entry. "Soup, sandwiches, and rice balls! And of course we need to have three different meats for the sandwiches and three different fillings for the rice balls!"

"Three meats and three fillings, I see..." Arisa nodded in confirmation, before blinking and raising her head quizzically. "So... who decided that we need that much variety for each category?"

"I did!" Rakko puffed out his chest. "Because I'm particular like that!"

She sweatdropped.

So doesn't that mean that most of this difficulty is self-imposed...?!

"Listen here now, recruit!" Rakko went on, tying a bandana around his forehead. "We don't need to worry about the soup at all, since I made an extra big batch two weeks ago and froze the excess!"

"Two weeks ago..." Arisa muttered to herself, appalled. "Talk about taking meal prep to the extreme..."

"It's called strategy!" Rakko exclaimed. "Don't you get it?"

"Not...really..."

Rakko stabbed one finger into the air again.

"One! Freezing the food preserves its freshness, so you get no complaints about the taste. Two!" He held up another finger. "You expend the same amount of ingredients, but minimize the time you spend washing dishes and cleaning your workstation. And three!" The third finger went up. "Most importantly! The cherished chef gets to preserve his sanity!" Rakko dramatically wiped a stray tear away from his eye and tossed a spare bandana in her direction. "Why, it's the final word in efficiency!"

"I suppose...?"

"So! That leaves us with the sandwiches and onigiri! Don't underestimate them - they're both deceptive in their simplicity! Which will you take, novice?"

Arisa sweatdropped again.

Ah, now he's definitely getting carried away. It's so ridiculous! But... She put a hand up to her mouth to hide a smile from breaking. ...I can't deny that it's a bit endearing...

Turning the bandana over in her hands, she straightened and mirrored his grin.

"Rice balls are pretty easy, aren't they?"

──────────────────

"Where the heck is she?" Riyu grumbled, watching on as Shachi cut the cards. "You'd have thought she'd be here just worried sick on my account, but nooo..."

It was the afternoon of the third day. With the Mink finally starting to feel like herself again, Shachi, Penguin, and Jean Bart had invited her to one of the breakrooms to play a game of cards on the sly during their training shift. Penguin had been the one to suggest it, and as far as Shachi could tell, his intention seemed to stem more out of a genuine desire to skive off than it was a ploy to lower their ally's guard in any strategic sense. Still, the pretext was as good of an opportunity as any for passive information-gathering - one which Shachi was determined not to squander.

Shachi shrugged as he began to distribute the cards.

"Oh, the part-timer?" Penguin flopped back into his chair, interlacing his fingers behind his head. "She's probably still finishing up with the cook as we speak."

"Hey." Riyu narrowed her eyes. "Who're you calling a part-timer?"

"Rakko isn't even paying her for the help, is he?" Jean Bart arranged his cards in his massive hands.

Shachi shrugged again as he passed around the last few cards. He flicked a glance at Riyu's direction, half-expecting for the Mink's temper to flare up again. To his mild surprise, she merely leaned in over the table by her elbows with a subdued sigh.

"Tch. I'd be surprised if she did ask for pay," she huffed. "And I'm guessing she insisted on it herself, right?"

"S'what Rakko told us," Penguin said, fishing out a pair from his hand and tossing it into the discard pile. He turned to the Mink and presented his cards face-down. "We can start with you."

Riyu leaned in, her dark eyes roving over the backs of the cards.

"Aneki's always been like that, you know," she grumbled as she plucked one of Penguin's card from the middle.

"Like what?" Shachi raised an eyebrow.

This earned a shrug as the Mink rearranged her hand and presented it to Jean Bart.

"She's restless. Too restless for her own good. And this is coming from someone like me, so you-teia should know it means something! She always prefers to be doing something - even if it isn't that something doesn't turn out to be particularly productive or anything -"

"Ouch, Rakko wouldn't appreciate that sentiment!" Penguin chuckled.

"Hey! You know what I mean!" Riyu flushed and lowered her chin self-consciously.

So... like a workaholic then? Shachi frowned slightly. If that's the case, I wonder if it stems from her motivation for the Devil Fruit...

Jean Bart glanced down at the pouting Riyu over his cards.

"But from what I've heard, little one, the Nighting-"

"Chi-do-ri!" Riyu expostulated.

"-Chidori volunteered to work on your account."

"What?" The Mink tilted her head in confusion. "For me?"

"Apparently," Penguin said knowingly, "she told poor Rakko that he'd have to work twice as hard to satisfy your appetite when you got better, and that's why she wanted to help him."

"Really?" Riyu blinked and slowly looked down, a tinge of self-consciousness creeping into her voice. "Oh... That's... awfully... considerate...."

The three sweatdropped.

How gullible...

Not to mention the fact that she didn't even try to deny the part about her appetite!

"How's the invalid?" a new voice interrupted them from the doorway.

Riyu stiffened and narrowed her eyes. Shachi jolted to his feet, making a pitiful attempt at hiding the cards behind his back.

"H-h-hey Captain! Fancy seeing you here! W-we're just, um -"

Law merely rolled his eyes. A coffee cup in hand, he went over to the break station and took up the percolator to pour himself another serving.

"You shouldn't even try to hide it when you're being so obvious," was all he said before he brought his mug to his lips.

Shachi felt his shoulders sag in relief as he shared knowing looks with Penguin and Jean Bart. They were lucky he was in good humor.

Law lowered his mug and shot Riyu a questioning glance.

"I overheard Clione discussing your case," he said. "So it wasn't just seasickness?"

"Well," Riyu grumbled, "it's kind of a long story."

Penguin snickered. "Long? Don't you mean embarrassing?"

"Shut up!"

"Ikkaku already checked on her today, so no worries," Penguin went on, catching Law's confused frown. He sent Riyu a sly look. "So... Want to tell him the official diagnosis?"

Riyu huffed out a breath, sinking her chin low behind her cards.

"...apart from the seasickness?"

"Apart from the seasickness."

Law waited, arching an expectant brow.

"Food poisoning," Riyu admitted begrudgingly, crossing her arms over her chest in a protective stance.

Jean Bart chuckled and discarded a pair of cards from his hand.

"Most likely from all the taiyaki you ate on the first day..."

The surgeon clicked his tongue.

"That's to be expected."

"To be - why, what's that supposed to mean?!" Riyu sputtered. "Tell me that, Mr. Dots!"

"Pretty sure you can infer it yourself, Weasel-ya."

"C'mon, Captain!" Shachi groaned.

"How many friggin times do I need to spell it out for you?" Riyu whined, flopping back into her chair. She pointed at herself. "I'm an ermine! Er-mine! Not a weasel!"

"To be fair, I can hardly tell the difference..." Shachi muttered within earshot of both Penguin and Jean Bart, earning vigorous nods from them both. He paused and perked up as an idea struck. "Say... are you busy at all right now, Captain?"

Law narrowed his eyes slightly, his mug freezing at his lips.

"Why do you ask?" he asked suspiciously.

Shachi shrugged and held out the cards.

"Well, if you've got nothing going on at the moment, then I'd say you're welcome to join us! Right, guys?"

"Ehhh?" Riyu started to make a face, only to be blocked off by Jean Bart who purposefully propped his elbow up on the table.

"Why not?" the large man agreed, moving to make space next to him. "The more the merrier."

"Yeah!" Penguin cheered. "C'mon, Captain - it'll be just like the old times!"

Law studied them for a beat, before letting out a sigh. The Hearts didn't miss the slight twitch of his lips as he set the mug on the table and pulled up a chair.

"Fine. If you insist..."

──────────────────

They had started a bit later than usual that day and by the time they were done cleaning up it was well into the afternoon. Bepo dropped by at some point to snag a leftover sandwich and ended up staying to chat as they finished wiping down the counters. Rakko eventually dropped into a chair, saying that he reckoned he could afford about another hour or so before he got started with dinner.

"-and it really goes to show how there's no end in sight to all this work," he monologued, fanning himself with a towel. "But you don't ever catch me complaining, do you?"

Arisa laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her neck.

"Well... -"

Rakko cut her off with a blinding smile and a double thumbs-up.

"That's right! Such is the fate of a seafaring cook! No matter how shoddy the ingredients or how cantankerous the guests, we should hearken back to our days of training and strive for true excelle-"

Bepo gulped down the last bit of his sandwich.

"That one tasted kind of funny," he deadpanned. "Can you make me another one?"

"DO YOU WANT TO DIE, YOU UNGRATEFUL LIL PUNK?!"

Arisa hastened around the counter and grabbed the Mink by his elbow, dragging him away from the counter in time to avoid the volley of tomatoes and onions which was sent pelting in their direction.

"Time to go!" she ordered.

"But I wanted a fresh fish sandwich..."

"Later, when he isn't around! Besides, you already had your lunch, remember?" With one final shove, the polar bear was out the door. Arisa wheeled around hastily to give the rampaging Rakko one final wave. "Tomorrow, same time - okay? See you then!"

"Oi, wait-!" Rakko's rejoinder was cut off as the door to the kitchen slammed shut.

Once outside in the hall, Arisa leaned back with a small sigh, fighting the urge to sink down to the ground in relief. Bepo stood waiting for her with his hands clasped innocently behind his back.

"Later, you said?" he asked hopefully.

Arisa looked over to him in resignation. In some ways he really reminded her of Riyu... though maybe without the self-awareness factor.

"Yeah... Later," she relented, pushed away from the door.

This request was quickly forgotten by them both, however, when they soon stumbled across the most confounding scene in the break room adjacent to the crew's quarters. Warm light shone from the half-open doorway, stream of laughter and bickering voices spilled past the threshold, reverberating through the halls in a jovial cacophony.

"That's...that's dirty!" Penguin sputtered, half-rising from his chair. "You totally baited me into taking it!"

"It's how the game works, you dummy!" Shachi laughed.

"Shut it!" Penguin jabbed a finger into his friend's chest. "Everyone knows you've got a terrible poker face - that's why you wear those stupid sunglasses! It's cheating!"

"Ooohhh!" Riyu batted her eyelashes dramatically over her fan of cards, before breaking character and snickering into her free hand.

"Yeah right. And now you've really done it, spilling the beans to everyone that you got the Old Maid!"

"Looks like you need to watch out now, Weasel-ya," Law mused as he rearranged his hand.

Riyu immediately straightened and glared at him from the opposite end of the table.

"Not a weasel...Mr. Dots!"

Arisa could only exchange bewildered looks with Bepo.

"Riyu?"

"...guys?" the polar bear echoed.

Five pairs of eyes immediately riveted over to the entrance. Riyu blinked in confusion, while Shachi shot them a lazy grin and a wave. Both Jean Bart and Law appeared relatively unaffected as they peered over to them over their cards. In contrast, Penguin immediately brightened.

"Perfect timing!" He let out a victorious whoop and scooted his chair to make room at the table. "Get over here, both of you! We can start a new game!"

"Eh?!" Shachi and Riyu spun in their seats to gape at him, appalled.

"Right when you started losing?!" Shachi sputtered.

"No way!" Riyu whined. "It isn't fair!"

"The more the merrier! That's what you said - right, Jean Bart?"

"...erm... that's true, but..." Jean Bart put down his cards and shot his captain a questioning look, with Shachi and Penguin doggedly mirroring the motion. Bepo

Law lowered his coffee and blinked, shifting his gaze repeatedly between the three of them.

"....why are you all looking at me?" he asked. "I don't care either way."

"Then it's decided!" Penguin cheered and beckoned excitedly. "C'mon now Bepo! You too, part-timer!"

"...part-timer? Really?"

──────────────────

Teru called her on the fifth night. Given how long Arisa had been dreading the conversation, even the fact that she'd picked up the receiver came as a shock to herself. Though if she were to guess, it was probably due to a combination of things. Perhaps the stress of adjusting to her new environment - not to mention her prevailing anxiety regarding Law's strange Kyōki signature - had succeeded offset some of the old worries which had hounded her at Valeris Island. But the conversation with Teru immediately brought said worries back to the surface.

"...has Lisle-san reached out to you at all recently?"

She bit her lips and looked away from the Snail's probing eyes. Over the past couple of weeks, suppressing the unwanted recollections hadn't taken much effort; there had always been something at hand - whether it be a mission or a harmless conversation with Riyu - to keep her mind from straying down a rabbit hole of dangerous memories. But with the mere mention of the Senior Inspector, it took nearly all the concentration she had to attempt to keep the dam from breaking, to throttle back the awful details of that night and the days that had followed.

"No," she heard herself say. "Why? Has the Service concluded the investigation?"

"No word on that yet." Teru's voice audibly shook with nerves. "It's just... Ugh. I can't help but have my suspicions, you know?"

"About what?"

"Anson has been asking around for you."

"...Anson has?" Arisa froze in place, her mind racing. The last time she'd seen Ignas' brother in person had been at Jasha's funeral. They hadn't spoken once the entire time, but the silent accusation she'd remembered seeing burning in his eyes was something that haunted her to this day. "What for?"

"I don't know! It came out of nowhere, but I couldn't help but wonder if Lisle-san had something to do with it..."

"Does Misa know?"

"I would have no way of knowing if she did. She's been so busy with work lately, she's hardly ever home. One minute she's needed at Marineford, the next it's Enies Lobby. Besides, he came to us alone..." Teru's voice wavered. "What should I do, Arisa? It's all so confusing. Anson... He wasn't acting like himself at all."

Arisa fell silent, her gaze falling to the darkened windows of the Polar Tang's now-empty observation room. Her jaw clenched as the memories rose forth once more, wavering across her mind's eye. The bland, sterile walls of the interrogation room. The harsh, fluorescent lights and the ticking clock. Heart pounding. Confusion. Disorientation. Lisle Florence's vacant smile. The icy clasp of her hands offering only a crude imitation of comfort when she'd broken down under the weight of her grief...

I can't rely on them to find the truth. I won't.

They don't care. They never cared - not when he was alive and suffering, not after he was buried. Why should I give them another chance?

"'Risa...?"

She dragged in a tattered breath, a vicious stab of pain lancing through her chest. 'Risa. He'd liked to call her that too, hadn't he?

"Tell him that you can't reach me so that he doesn't keep bothering you," Arisa said quietly. "I'm not in a position where I can go see him. Besides... I don't plan on going back to Valeris Island for a long time anyways."

"I see..." Her sister's voice had grown quiet.

"I'm sorry."

"No. It'd probably be for the best. At least... at least until things calm down a bit..." Teru's voice hitched. "I keep hearing things around the hospital, you know. Thoughtless, horrible things from some of the patients. And Raku told me it's still pretty bad at the Naval Academy too. Thank God that none of the kids in Yumi's grade have bothered her about it yet, but I still can't help but worry that she might get some grief over it..."

"I'm sorry," she repeated. She swallowed back the lump which had formed in her throat. "Teru, I'm so sorry..."

"No. I don't want you to blame yourself. You didn't do it. I know you, Arisa. There's no way it could have been you...!" Teru breathed in deeply. "I still haven't forgiven myself, you know. For telling them all those things."

"Teru."

"I was so foolish. Thinking that they really wanted to help...! And they've used it to put you through so much grief..."

"No." Arisa shook her head. "They would've done the same even if you hadn't given your statement. They would've just found a different way."

The Transponder Snail emitted a rattling sound - akin to that of a door sliding open - followed by footsteps and the murmur of a child's voice.

"Oh -" Teru's voice momentarily grew muffled as if she were turning away from the receiver to speak to someone else. When she returned, there was an apologetic undertone to her voice. "Speak of the devil, it's the rapscallion herself. Is it okay if I switch with Yumi now?"

Oh... that was right. Yumi...

Just the thought of her niece helped to ease the storm of anxiety brewing at the pit of her stomach. Arisa mustered a weak smile.

"She probably won't have it any other way, will she?" she said. "She takes after you too much in that regard."

The Snail snorted in mock indignance.

"Hey, watch it," Teru chided. A small rustle sounded, presumably as she handed the receiver over on the other end. The Snail's expression morphed abruptly to mime the characteristics of its speaker.

"Hi, 'Risa!" a young high-pitched voice presently sounded in a small burst of static. "It's Yumi!"

Arisa sank down on one of the lounges, her smile growing.

"Yumi - it's been so long! Happy late birthday!"

"Thank you!" Yumi gave a closed-eye grin. "It was lotsa fun!"

"I'm sorry I wasn't able to make it to the party. Did you have a lot of fun?"

"Yeah! Sa-chan and Taro-kun and Miki-chan came to my house - oh, and Grandpa and Misa-chan! I got lotsa presents and Mama made a big cake!"

"Oooh, cake! What type?"

"Chocolate! And sprinkles and -" .

Arisa rested one elbow on the sill as she listened to her niece babbled on about the cake, momentarily fixing her gaze beyond the viewing window, into the pitch black depths of the ocean deep swirling beyond the glass. Her smile faltered when she caught a glimpse of the door opening in the reflection.

Talk about the worst timing -!

Law paused at the doorway, A coffee in hand and a book beneath his arm, narrowing his eyes slightly in confusion as his gaze zeroed in on the miniature Transponder Snail in her hand. With Yumi's long-winded description of her birthday cake trailing off, Arisa just barely had time to shoot him a terse smile before turning her attention back to the call.

"Wow, I'm so jealous!" she gushed. "Mama knows how to make the best cakes, doesn't she?"

"Yeah! And I really love chocolate!"

"I know you do!" Arisa stole a glance into the window reflection. To her secret relief, the Surgeon of Death seemed to have put two and two together regarding the so-called lighthearted nature of this conversation. He dipped his chin awkwardly in greeting, before retreating to the set of lounges arranged at the other side of the observation room. Probably still within earshot as far as Arisa was aware, but it was better than nothing.

A small shuffling sound came across, followed by the hiss of intent whispering. The Snail blinked and turned its head sideways as if to listen intently for something, before perking up.

"Oh!" Yumi quipped. "And thank you for the Tone Dial! Mama just said I have to say thank you -"

"Yu-mi!" Teru scolded from the background.

"- and I like it a lot! It's soooo cool! Me and Miki-chan, we love Soul Prince!"

In spite of the situation, Arisa found herself letting out a small laugh. Law glanced up from his book from the other side of the room, wearing a look of what could only aptly be described as a cross between bewilderment and intrigue.

"Well, I'm so glad you like it. Do you know what's funny though? I barely know how those things work myself, so how about you show me how to use it the next time I visit?"

"Yeah! I can show you, 'Risa-chan! It's easy!"

"Okay. Is that a promise?"

"Promise!" Yumi cheered.

The rest of the conversation followed the same sort of beats, with the six-year old enthusiastically divulging the particulars of her birthday presents, the latest happenings at school, and the various trials and tribulations suffered by their neighbors in their attempt to get their twin mastiffs to behave. These recountings only came to an end via intervention by Teru, who put her foot down and declared that it was long past time for both the esteemed elocutionist and her younger brother to go to bed.

Law still had his nose buried in his book by the time she finally was able to put the receiver down. Unsurprisingly, he was quick to cut right to the chase.

"Was that your kid?" he asked bluntly.

Arisa slumped back into the lounge, tiredly leaning her face against one hand.

"Niece." Directing her gaze up to the ceiling, she let out a heavy sigh. For some strange reason she was struck with a foolish impulse to explain herself to a certain extent - an impulse she found herself too exhausted to resist at the moment. "...I missed her birthday party, so I had to apologize."

The surgeon flipped a page and nodded once, as if to concede that this made perfect sense. A small silence settled between them. Lingering, but nowhere near as uncomfortable as was to be expected. Arisa presently tilted her head slightly to study him across the room. Strangely enough, she detected no trace of judgment or condescension in his demeanor as she'd expected he would from the moment he'd first walked in.

"Somehow," Law suddenly spoke up, still not looking up, "you didn't strike me as the type who'd be good with brats."

Arisa shrugged and looked away.

"I don't think I am, really..." She paused and reflected. "I guess it's just different when it comes to family. If that makes any sense..."

"Somewhat."

Arisa shifted her position to glance over at him again. This time, though it was for just a fraction of a second, she caught his gaze flit upwards to meet hers at her over the cover of the book. Another strange impulse seized her.

"What about you?" she asked, keeping her voice as lighthearted as possible. "Are you any good with kids, Mr. Surgeon of Death?"

Law didn't even bat an eye.

"Not in the slightest."

Unsurprising. Arisa found herself chuckling all the same.

"Coming from you, that's to be expected."

He huffed and aimed a perfunctory scowl her way over the pages of his book, but the expression was far from genuine. She could have even sworn to have detected a small glimmer of amusement alight in his gaze before he looked away again.

Outside, all remained still and silent as the Polar Tang continued to eke her way forth through the dark, frigid depths of the Grand Line.

Note(s):

- For the slice-of-life bits aboard the Polar Tang, I took some inspiration from irl footage of submariners aboard nuclear subs. Obviously not everything can be translated over because there is so much information, but there were still some key aspects I wanted to convey  - namely the cramped compartments & storage space, the limited mobility, etc. Life on a submarine is quite a unique experience, and I think for most people it will take quite some time to get used to it. Arisa and Riyu are no different!

- The part about seasickness - apparently, it's actually not nearly as bad on subs as opposed to normal ships as long as they're deep underwater. Near the surface, it's worse as subs have rounder hulls that make them more susceptible to rolling from the waves. My own personal headcanon is t hat the average wave strength in the Grand Line is way stronger + can resonate deeper than in the Blues, making seasickness a key issue for rookie submariners.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed or have any thoughts/questions, feedback is always greatly appreciated ^^

-shiba