"They only drank your sake?" Law huffs with a frown. You hold the jug upside down.
"Not a drop... I'm surprised they moved like they did... I thought the batch was the strongest I've ever made too..." You sigh, setting it down.
"Well... How's your new batch?" He asks. You smile, lighting up a bit before pouring him some.
"It's a bit sweet, but I really like it," You tell him as he takes the sake cup. He takes a sip and blinks, eyebrows raising.
"Sweet and strong..." He comments, letting out a breath.
"Do you like?" You ask, tilting your head. He blinks and smiles a bit.
"You're becoming quite the brewer, ___," He says as you pour yourself a cup. You touch bowls with him, grinning more.
"You think so?" You chuckle sheepishly.
"I really do," He chuckles as you both drink up.
"Alright! Then I'm gonna need more ingredients! Wanna come?" You ask, grabbing your sword and satchel.
"I would love to, unfortunately I have to go check on Usopp-ya's mother," He says, straightening up.
"Oh... How is she?" You inquire. He releases a sigh, which was never a good sign.
"I'm afraid I'm running out of options for her..." He admits.
"Well... Maybe Smoker can show me to some medical herbs that you haven't tried yet, sound good?" You ask. He blinks and smiles again.
"Sounds great.... Thanks ___," He murmurs.
"No problem, hopefully I'm back before sun down," You say before going out and going your separate ways. You reach the forest and call Smoker who swiftly comes to you. "Hey big guy, I don't suppose you know where any herbs are, do you?" You ask hopefully. He blinks up at you and gives a nod before leading the way. He leads you to a part of the forest you weren't familiar with and deep in it too.
He leads you to a clearing but stops as a small group of bandits comes into view, they seemed to be threatening a green haired man who lounged against a tree. You and Smoker duck out of sight to avoid being seen. The leader had blood red hair, and the bandit at his side had long, unkempt blond hair and wore a kitsune mask.
"Look at me you bastard!" The red head growls. The green haired man simply kept his eyes closed, unaffected by the group. Annoyed, the red head draws his dagger to attack the man. You step out instinctively.
"Isn't that a bit of an overreaction?" You interrupt despite Smoker trying to push you back behind the brush. Their gazes move to you, even the green haired man opened his eyes to stare at you. Red head, blinks and smirks, turning to you.
"Come again?" He asks. Your heartbeat uneasily beneath his gaze, your hand instinctively going to your sword hilt.
"I said 'isn't that a bit of an overreaction?'," You answer.
"Well aren't you noble? Speaking up for someone, do you know him?" He asks, gesturing to the green haired man who stares dead at you.
"No... I actually don't," You admit. The red head snickers.
"I like women like you," He comments, taking a step toward you. You grip your sword tighter, watching him warily, but Smoker steps to shield you, releasing a growl as smoke whisps around him, brown eyes glowing white. The bandit stops, blinking in surprise.
"It's a guardian," His masked companion comments as the group slowly retreats.
"The hell is she doing with guardian?" The red head growls before they briskly leave. Smoker relaxes after a bet and you lean over his back, scratching his stomach and making him groan lowly.
"Aw! Smoker! You didn't have to go and do that!" You chuckle, scratching behind his ears. He pulls away so he can give you a disapproving look. "Really, you worry too much," You muse before looking over to meet the green haired man's gaze. You pause at the look he was giving you, like he was mad or something. "What's your problem?" You question, feeling a spike of annoyance from the way he was looking at you.
"Why do you have a sword?" He inquires.
"To protect myself of course," You respond. He frowns.
"But you have a guardian to protect you," He points out, eyes not leaving you.
"Well, sometimes he's busy," You respond, patting Smoker's shoulder.
"I wasn't referring to him," He says in annoyance. You blink, why the hell was he getting offended?
"Oh, you mean the drunken tiger... Sorry, I don't think he exists," You reply with a shrug. He sits up, scowling at you.
"And why not?" He questions. You pause as the memory of being attacked flashes through your mind.
"I don't need to explain myself to a man who won't move to defend himself... Come on Smoker, we have herbs to find," You say coolly, patting the wolf's shoulder.
"Hold on! Tell me why!" The green haired man demands as you turn away. You grit your teeth and turn back to him, pulling open your yukata to show the scar that went from your shoulder to your hip. He freezes eyes widening.
"Because when I called for him, Smoker was the one who came for me," You inform him coldly before situating yourself and stalking out the clearing with the wolf. You felt highly annoyed and he could sense it. Smoker lets out a huff and nudges you, speeding up a bit. You blink and glance over at him as he breaks into a run. "H-hey! Wait up!" You huff, hurrying after him. He pivots and turns on you suddenly. You blink, realizing what he was up to. "Smoker!" You gasp as he leaps at you, making you fall on your back. He covers your cheeks with affectionate licks, making you giggle.
"Alright! Alright!" You giggle. Pushing his face away. His chest rumbles as he moves off of you. "Geez..." You chuckle, sitting up. He presses his forehead to your cheek. "Thanks Smoker, I feel a lot better now," You tell him, resting your head on his. "Now co,e on, we have herbs to find."

"These might work," Law muses thoughtfully. You perk up at that.
"Really? That's great!" You tell him. He nods with a smile, putting a hand on your head.
"Thanks, I hope it wasn't too much of an inconvenience for you," He says, putting a hand on your head.
"Not at all, I think Smoker and I bonded more because of it," You reply with a smile. He lets out a hum.
"I'm surprised the guardian comes almost every time you call... Must really be attached to you," He comments, starting to mix the herbs together.
"You think so?" You yawn.
"I do... You should head home now, it's getting late," He says, glancing up at you.
"Kay... See you tomorrow," You murmur, giving him a hug before going out. You leave Law's place and cross the village to yours, slowing down since you felt like you were being watched. You go in and close your door, relaxing a bit before going to bed.