Since setting out to sea, he has abided by a single rule as a pirate doctor - to not abandon any one of his patients. This time will be no different.
No matter the odds, Trafalgar Law will not let Murasaki Arisa die.
« Trafalgar D. Water L...
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Rakko stared down at the glass vial in Captain's proffered hand. Even with the explanation he'd just received, his stomach churned with anxiety – so much so that his dejection over his own miserable failure from last night now felt like a distant memory.
The kitchen window was propped halfway open to let in a draft of cool morning air. From the enthusiastic chorus of One, two, three, four's audible from outside, Riyu was leading the others in her daily regiment of radio exercises. The familiar piano tune streaming in from the outer deck now felt oppressive in the stark contrast it provided to the gravity of the proposition staring Rakko in the face.
Captain was watching him closely.
"If you don't think you can handle it –"
"Of course I'll do it!" Rakko set his teeth and swiped for the bottle, the little white pills rattling loudly within the glass cylindrical prison as he clenched it tight in his fist. His attention flitted momentarily to the open window, and a pang of guilt registered hollowly in his chest. He shifted his weight, papering over his unease with a self-assured grin. "Tch, you think it'll bother me if they try to give us grief over it? You can call me many things, Captain, but a softie sure isn't one of em!"
Captain nodded and glanced down at the bottle.
"Make sure to double check the dosage with Ikkaku," he said briefly. "We aren't in the position to deal with any unnecessary collateral."
"Aye, aye!" Rakko's grip tightened over the bottle. He hesitated, then spoke up again just as Captain was starting to turn away to leave the kitchen. "...hey, Captain?"
Captain paused mid-step, cutting the cook a questioning look from the corner of his eye.
"Arisa-san..." Rakko swallowed. "...she sure is gonna kill us once she hears about this, won't she?"
Captain smiled faintly, though the expression wasn't quite sufficient to mask the grim finality underlying his words.
"Well, she can certainly try."
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Over at Hidamari Village, Isseki Yanjirō's guesthouse was engulfed in a flurry of activity as the entirety of Hachinobe Mototatsu's visiting party prepared for their departure. Though preparations had been ongoing from the day before with most of the packing now out of the way, there was still plenty left to do, including cleaning and taking a final account of the valuables after loading.
