Chapter 14: Why Won't You Say It

What should he say? Should he even say anything about this? When Law had woken up to see Yulie standing in front of his drawer, he instinctively knew he was in deep shit. He could see how Yulie was trying hard not to cry and he could count the numerous ideas that were probably running through her head.

"Love"

He repeated calling her until she was finally facing him. The Log Pose still gripped tightly around her fingers. There was an unbearable silence between them until Yulie had spoken first.

"Since when?"

Her only question, her gaze still on the log pose. She's too afraid to look Law in the eyes. She couldn't understand what this feeling was but she was sure she didn't like it, not even for a tiny bit.

"Almost a week ago"

Law confessed. This time Yulie's tears finally escaped from her eyes. Law knew what she wanted to do in life. She and him had been talking about it everynight as they try to get to know each other more. He knew that she was in a hurry to meet Shanks and the others since they never stop at one place for too long. He knew how important it is for her to go to Elbaf. He knew and yet he had hindered her very dreams.

"Love I'm sorry, I wanted more time with you. I was going to tell you but…"

"But you didn't"

Law didn't like how Yulie's tears were staining her beautiful face. No, he would never like that. He held Yulie's hands and was thankful when she did nothing to pull away from his touch.

"Love, I'm sorry please don't cry"

"Law you knew that once in a while a log pose can destabilize again after stabilizing to an island's magnetic force. Were you waiting for it to destabilize to delay our journey?"

Yulie asked, her tears shining across her eyes as she stared at Law's. Panic quickly rose to Law's throat as his words got stuck and the only thing that he could do was stare at Yulie. He tried to think of anything he could say to Yulie. Anything to make her stay but he knew that was impossible even for him. He don't want to hinder Yulie, but, he doesn't want to lose her too.

"Law why?"

Yulie's voice finally cracked as Law's silence deafened her.

"Because I don't want to lose you, I don't want our time together to stop, atleast not yet"

Yulie felt her heart beat quicken as she tried to understand what Law had meant. Law had never bare his heart so openly to her. He would always tell her how much he wanted her, and he would call her love but the sweet three words she wanted to hear never came out of his mouth.

"Why?"

She asked again, more determined to hear what she wanted to hear from him. Yulie had known that Law wouldn't stay in Elbaf with her even if she had asked. He wanted revenge and she wouldn't stop him from doing that, not when she hated the man he wants to get revenge to. But Yulie, she was willing to postpone her dreams for Law, if only he gives her the one reason she wants to hear.

But he didn't.

Law stared at Yulie only to shake his head at her. He didn't have any reasons to tell her anymore. He had already told her everything. So it confused him when he saw Yulie smiled sadly. She wiped her tears and said with determination in her voice.

"I'm gonna sail alone to Elbaf if you don't want your ship and crew going there. I could go on my own anyway"

"Love, Yulie-"

"Also I'll sleep on Ikkaku's room for now. If by morning your decision doesn't change then this is goodbye"

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"I'm here to say goodbye"

Law didn't need to turn around and he didn't want to. He knew that seeing Yulie again after a long whole week would break him again.

"Leave if you have to leave"

He muttered coldly making Yulie clench her fists. It had been a week since she had left his room and it had been a week of not being able to talk with Law. The morning after that, Law had ordered the crew to set sail for Elbaf. Yulie tried to talk to him again after giving it a thought but Law had been persistently avoiding her.

He had locked himself in his room and never came out. Even when he had heard Yulie knocking on his door multiple of times, he never came out.

"Law"

Yulie called as she walked towards him. His back still meeting her and she couldn't fight the urge to touch him. Just one light tap on his back and it had sent Law's last shred of self-control down the drain.

He got up from his chair and in one swift movement Yulie found herself laying flat out in his bed. And she could properly see him now.

Reddened eyes, gritting teeth, eyebrows knitting, he looked as if he was in deep pain for a while now and Yulie didn't want to see that. She had missed him and she didn't want to see him in so much pain.

"Law"

She called out again and it took all of Law's strength to control himself from kissing her. He wanted to beg her to just stay with him here in the Polar Tang. He wanted to be with her so bad it drove him crazy just not being able to hold her this close. He wanted to tie her up and lock her up forever but he knew better.

Yulie wanted to see the world, he knew that too well but fuck did he want to just tie her up so she would never leave his side. Law clenched his fists and stared at Yulie's worried eyes.

"Stop testing me Yulie-ya, I'm on my last bit of sanity and if you don't want to be locked up in here, then leave. Don't make me do something I'm sure I'll regret doing for the rest of my life"

Law was ready for whatever expression Yulie have, shock, fear, anger, he was ready to take it all. But none of it showed. Instead, Yulie looked as if she was on the verge of crying. She could feel her longing for him seeping through her. She had done Law wrong and she would never be able to correct that mistake.

Law's eyes widened when he saw her expression and for a moment he wanted to hope a little that maybe she'll change her mind.

But Yulie stood up from his bed, went to gather her things and headed straight for the door. Law watched the space that she was just in, not bothering to look at her as she tell him what may seem like her last words for him.

"I'm sorry"

Law finally turned just enough to see Yulie walking down the hall, not giving him a single glance back. He brushed his hands in his face as he flopped down on his bed.

"That wasn't what I wanted to hear"

He mumbled as his body begun to tremble.

"Shachi, here"

Yulie extended her hand as she gave Shachi one of her butterflies the moment she stepped foot on the sandy beach of Elbaf.

"In case you need to contact me"

"Alright, do I need to feed it or something like that?"

Yulie shook her head at him.

"No, he's good, you just need to let him fly wherever he wants"

"Got it, be safe out there Yulie"

Shachi gave her one last hug before ascending the Polar Tang. Yulie's gaze went to the crew who were bidding her goodbye. Everyone was there, everyone except Law. She let out a sad smile before walking towards the forest. A rough voice making her stop on her tracks.

"Prepare to sail"

Yulie turned around just in time to see Law's back as he roughly instructed the crew to set sail. She felt her eyes stinging but she didn't bother wiping them away. She stared at Law's back for the last time while a sad smile was decorating her face.

"Idiot, why won't you say it? I wish you had said it"

She muttered as tears ran down her cheeks watering the path she took as she turn her back from the Polar Tang, from the heart pirates, from Law.

And that was the last time they had ever saw each other.