The Long Con [[ Nami x Law ]]

Ch 5 - Waiting

Ichiji led Nami inside the front entrance of the manor. He briefly checked his pocket watch before offering to give her a proper tour. It was something she had previously hoped for, although with a different guide. It was easy to pull a con when she could read her mark. Unfortunately, Ichiji was the one Vinsmoke that showed her nothing. She was desperate to understand his intentions so she could plan for whatever was to come. That ended up causing her to struggle with dividing her attention between mentally mapping the layout and trying to get a read on Ichiji.

Conversation didn't flow as easily as with his brothers. With Niji and Yonji, she would let them regale her with stories of their "heroism" and would easily feign interest, or she could laugh at their shallow attempts at jokes. Ichiji seemed reluctant to speak freely. When she wasn't looking at him, she could feel his gaze boring into her. With every step, she had to work harder to temper her fear. Did he know who she was? Was he simply getting her away from the others so he could confront her? Kill her? She hadn't used a fake name but was careful to hide her tattoo. She had no weapon on her to fight back and no way to signal to law if she needed help. She did not bring her baby den den mushi because they planned to be together during the celebration. All of the servants or soldiers who would normally be inside were out at the games. They were alone, and she prayed her wits were enough to get her through whatever he had planned.

They reached the top floor and he led her down the wide hallway, pointing out the bedrooms of the Vinsmoke siblings as well as some guest accommodations. They didn't enter any of these rooms, and he gave her a look that pushed her forward without touching her when she lingered too long in a doorway. She wouldn't be able to map out the rooms in detail, but she could tell the basic layout and size based on what she saw from the outside and the floors below. At the end of the hallway, he stopped to motion to a set of large, wooden double doors. "After you."

She hesitated but pushed back her thoughts of dread as it seemed the tour was ending and he would subject her to whatever torment was involved in his chosen favor.

As the doors opened, she had to blink a few times to adjust to the lighting. The sun was beginning to set as a sea of soft pinks, oranges, and blues scattered across the horizon. The sunset was reflected in the ocean beneath as well as in the flowers covering all sides of the moderately sized balcony. She let out a small gasp at the sight, and she heard Ichiji let out a short huff of air behind her. She walked to the edge and took in the full landscape. Her eyes drifted from the sea to the rooftops of the town and ended on the lawn with the concluding games. She all but forgot herself until she glanced down to see a dark figure under a tree, a white ball of fluff in his arms, returning her gaze with unwavering golden eyes.

She held his gaze even as she heard the door behind her close, sensed footsteps approach, and felt the heat of the man standing directly behind her.

It felt like ages waiting for her to return. Law cursed himself for not forcing her to bring the baby den den mushi. He cursed himself for allowing her to talk him out of bringing his sword. He cursed himself for letting the situation get so far out of his control. He knew his time would be better served questioning Niji and Yonji, but he did not trust how thin his temper was at the moment. Stroking the hair of the now sleeping mink cub was all he could do to keep from going insane.

Ichiji seemed utterly uninterested in Nami by everything she had told him. The oldest brother seemed to be the cleverest, although based on his brief experience with the Vinsmokes, Law doubted any of them were all that bright. She focused on manipulating the other two, and he worried what Ichiji may have seen in her while her attention was elsewhere.

Movement caught his eye on one of the balconies. He had been watching the outside of the manor religiously, looking for any sense of what was inside.

His heart lifted slightly as he watched the redhead gaze over the island, seemingly unharmed. She was safe. She was calm. She was looking back at him.