Missing Piece

Chapter 4

Law watched the huntress slip from the scene alone with interest. She's fast. Very fast. Her skills were nothing to laugh at. She managed to hold her own against two pirates whose bounties exceeded 100 million, even if Urouge's was just barely. Probably could taken one of them too if she had help from another hunter. Which beg the question, why was she alone on the island full of slave trading crews, kidnapping groups and hunter tag-teams?

He thought back to the forces he felt trailing them before they entered Saobady Park and how one by one they were taken out. Then they stopped all together. He was certain she was somehow involved.

"...h-hey, she walked away... so does that mean we can still go after them?" Law turned towards the tiny voice, spotting two kidnappers hiding behind a building, scared and far too over their heads if they think they could get any of their bounties. "Y-You still w-want to go after them after that?!" The other cried, legs wobbly from witnessing the fight.

Though the first statement bothered him.

What did he mean by can they still go after them?

"Why are you following me?" Charlotte snapped at the silent masked man behind her. Killer had been tailing her ever since she left the scene much to the huntress' dismay. He wasn't even trying to hide the tail instead choosing to walk boldly behind her. "If you keep doing this, then people would actually mistake us as siblings like the big oaf did!" She groaned, eyeing the lack of blades protruding from his choice weapon. "And don't copy me!"

He stared at his hands and flashed out his blades, holding them like mantis blades. "Give me the key to the cuff." He repeated and Charlotte groaned. "He has the key already!"

He stared at her, or Charlotte guessed he was looking at her. She couldn't tell through the striped mask. Neither of them moved, off into a stare war that Charlotte had no idea if she was winning. "Fine!" She yelled frustrated, turning around and closing her eyes. She ignored when Killer leaned over to peak at what she was doing, letting her Haki spread out around her. I'll find that damn Captain and show the stubborn pirate that his captain was indeed fine and—"SEE!" She snapped her eyes open, pointing through the crowd where tufts of red hair were peeking out over heads of people. "He's up and walking fine!"

"Killer!" Kid called over at the commotion. "There you are!" He waved for Killer to come over and the right-hand man didn't fail to catch sight of the missing Seastone cuff. He turned back towards the huntress who was watching him, waiting for him to see the 'told you so' look in her eyes. "Oh, you're with that hunter. Great, bring her with you!"

"Huh?!" Charlotte jeered at the captain, and immediately brought her blade up between her and Killer's hand. "Touch me and I'll cut you." She warned before turning back to their Captain. "Why should I go with you?"

"You're interesting." He grinned and Charlotte deadpanned, not at all understanding the connection. Kid crossed his arms, attention focused back to his childhood friend. "You fought her too. What do you think?"

"She's strong." Killer nodded, conversing over her head. Both males were at least a head taller than her, and Charlotte was above average height herself.

Freaks. She thought, turning to leave. Two hands shot towards her, and Charlotte spun around, blades snapping out and her stance low as she dodged the incoming hands curtesy of her always-on Haki.

"I said you're coming with."

Her lips twitched at the corner at the order. "And if I say no?"

"Then we'll bring you with force." Charlotte clicked her tongue. She was surrounded now. The rest of his little group catching up. Standing up, Charlotte released her fists and the blades slipped back against her forearms. Kid watched the smooth motion with a light whistle, turning towards Killer with a gleam in his eyes as if saying 'just like your Punishers'.

"Where are we going?" She asked, voiced chipped. They were not like his damn Punishers!

"To the Human Shops." Charlotte stifled and she debated for a moment if she could beat all four of them. Despite her walking willingly with them, they still had her sandwiched between them. Platinum eyes shot up towards the goggles wearing leader. He had more brains than he looks.

"Why?" She asked, mood sour. There was no way she could beat them.

Kid shrugged, "Might be interesting. Never been to a human shop."

"And why am I coming?"

He shot her a warning glance. "Because I'm not done with you yet."

Great, she was going to a place she hated on the whim of a pirate she had no interest in and further away from her target. She turned towards the blond on her left, eyeing the blue and white striped full-face helmet. "Hey, can I borrow that?" She asked when the other turned to her.

"...why?" He asked and the light smile that Charlotte had put on for curtesy fell, replaced quickly by her true feelings. She grumbled something under her breath before turning to the red head captain.

"Oi Kid, at least let me borrow your goggles. I'm coming willingly, aren't I?"

"...What do you want with them?" He glanced over his shoulder at the huntress. It didn't seem like she had any ulterior motives. He eyed the many bands wrapped around her arms like gloves. "Can't you use one of those?"

Charlotte glanced at her unique gloves and frowned. "No, these are gloves." she stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Then added, "I don't want my face to be seen is all." She muttered quietly, kicking a pebble on the ground as if she was a kid. The rock shot forward, striking another rock and shot back against Killer's shin. He winced and Charlotte grinned devilishly at the unplanned attack.

"Here." Charlotte stared at the studded square-shaped googles thrust before her.

"... Thanks," she muttered, surprised. She didn't actually think the pirate would listen to her request. She picked the googles up gingerly, taking extra caution to touch only the googles. An action that didn't go unnoticed by the Captain. She snapped the googles over her eyes and brought the front of her scarf higher her face, covering her nose and mouth.

Her target wasn't going to go anywhere soon. Their coating had only started, and she had to deal with the situation she's in first.

"We're here."

The large wooden human shop in Grove 1 stood proudly before them and Charlotte narrowed her eyes hatefully at the arrogance of the building still erected.