Rocinante's head was pounding when he woke up. Where was he?!
"Law?!"
"Cora-san!"
The boy was drifting in the water beside him. It was then that Rocinante realized that he was on a piece of driftwood, floating in the sea.
"Law? What are you doing? Switch with me!" Rocinante attempted to get off the driftwood, but as soon as his foot touched the water, he felt weak.
"Cora-san, are you an idiot?" asked Law, pushing the Devil Fruit user back onto the piece of wood.
"I… forgot…" said Rocinante, panting.
"Forgot that you can't swim?!"
Rocinante sat up, and looked around. They really were stranded. There was no land in sight, nor a boat they could wave down. How had this happened?
"This next one will be it, Law"
Rocinante was sure of it. Doctor Reagean was reknowned throughout the world as an expert of supposably 'incurable' diseases. However some said he was too crazy to be dealt with. That he'd gone senile in his old age, and hadn't practiced medicine in 15 years. But Rocinante still held hope. And so that's why they found themselves in front of the Doctor's dark mansion.
"It's creepy," said Law.
"Way to state the obvious," replied Corazon.
"No, really. I have a bad feeling about this. Let's go home."
"Are you kidding me? We came all this way to get you better, and you're going to give up now?"
"Fine…"
"That's the way. Now let's go."
Rocinante took Law by his hand and led him to the door.
"Do you want to knock?" asked Corazon.
"You do it," said Law, "If we get in trouble, it's your fault."
"Alright then."
Rocinante gave the knocker one solid tap, and before he'd even let go of the handle, the door opened. A man stood in the doorway. His hair was pure white, and he was short, almost Law's size.
"Yes?" asked the man.
"Are you Doctor Reagean?" asked Rocinante, peering over the man's head into the mansion. He could see a large machine that was puffing out steam and smoke.
"Yes, that's me," said the Doctor, stepping out the door and closing it behind him, effectively ending Rocinante's little investigation. Rocinante cleared his throat, and stepped back.
"Well, as you might be able to tell, we have quite a big problem over here," said Rocinante, patting Law on the head. Law gave the doctor an awkward little half smile, and waved robotically.
"Intruiging," said the Doctor, "Amber Lead Syndrome, eh?"
"You recognize it?" asked Rocinante, stunned.
"Of course I do. Every ambitious person in my field has been working on this for ages under the government's eye."
Rocinante found this to be interesting. The government had known all along about the disease, and had been funding reasearch for it instead of stopping it in the first place. Typical, really. As long as there was money to be gained, those hogs would stop at nothing to gain it. The death of an entire city meant nothing to them.
"It's been difficult, however, to find a live patient," continued the Doctor, moistening his lips. Rocinante did not like the way the Doctor said live. Law was right. This was a terrible idea. Damnit.
"Why don't you step inside, and I'll see what I can do for you?"
Rocinante's every atom was against this development. But the Doctor pulled them inside, and slammed the door shut. Rocinante looked around. He couldn't see a thing.
"Silent," said Rocinante, snapping his fingers. A soundproof barrier formed around him and Law. "Ok Law, I'm going to make this quick. If something happens, get out of here. I'll meet up with you back at the ship. Just don't get hurt. It'll be an even bigger pain in the ass to take care of you then."
Law nodded. Rocinante dispelled the barrier.
"And because of that, we are certain we can find a cure."
Hold on.
"Certain?" asked Rocinante.
"Certain. Of course, your little friend here will have to do us a little sacrifice. The research can't be completed without it."
"What kind of sacrifice?"
"You know, the living kind."
"You want to kill him?!"
"Well… Yes. His death would prove most beneficial to ouur research."
"Cora- san," said Law, tugging on Rocinante's pant leg.
"I'm afraid we're not up to making that kind of sacrifice," said Rocinante, keeping his tone level, even though he was infuriated.
"Well… That's rather unfortunate. I guess I'll have to force you into it, huh?"
"And then that metal machine somehow threw us up here?" asked Rocinante.
"Yeah," said Law, "a malfunction. He meant to send us to a research lab, but this happened instead."
Rocinante laughed.
"Tell me, Law, do you think I'm an idiot?"
"Yes," said Law, without hesitation.
"Well what about now?"
Rocinante pulled out a baby den-den mushi.
"Especially now," said Law, grimacing, "babies only work across islands."
"Now, this is where you've gone wrong. In the East Blue, there is this wonderful restauraunt called 'The Baratie. It'll answer any S.O.S. call, no matter how weak the signal."
"I've heard of it. Isn't it run by other pirates?"
"Well I suppose you'd rather starve to death?"
"Point taken."
Rocinante began tweaking with the snail phone, twisting and pulling at knobs before he finally got a signal. Rocinante began tapping the snail. 3 Short 3 long 3 short. S.O.S. Before long, the snail received an inoming transmission.
"Message…Received…Help…Coming… .They got our message, Law!"
The teenager could hardly help it.
"Duh, Cora-san."
"You could sound happier you know."
Before long, a small sailboat came into view.
"Hey Sanji," said a large man, pulling up beside the stranded pair and looking over at Rocinante's large stature, "we're gonna need a bigger boat!"
"Ha-ha. Very funny," a blonde kid, maybe 4 or 5 years younger than Law, emerged from the cabin. "Seriously, Patty, why did I let you watch that movie on the way here?"
The large man chuckled, smacking the kid upside his head.
"Well rescue service sure beats enduring rush hour at Baratie, eh?"
"No. Not at all. I could be doing knife training right now. Or kick practice."
"Anways," said the man, turning towards Rocinante, "need a hand?"
"Yes please," said Rocinante, taking the hand being offered to him. Rocinante clambered on board while the blonde kid was helping Law up.
"Anywhere we could drop you off?" asked the large man.
Rocinante suddenly remembered something.
"Actually, yes," he replied, "Is Cocoyasi village too much out of the way for you…?"
"Patty's the name," said the large man, "and this brat is Sanji."
Law stared at Rocinante, and stuck out his tongue. Rocinante recognized the signal and created a barrier.
"Yes?" he asked.
"Who do you know that lives in the East Blue?" asked Law.
"A friend of mine…" said Rocinante, smiling and dispersing the barrier.
"It'll probably take around 3 hours from where we are to get there," said Patty, "you got stranded in a pretty lucky place for where you're going."
"I guess so," said Rocinante. Luck was not usually something associated with him, but this time he was glad.
"Can we pick up some of Bellemère's tangerines when we get there?" asked Sanji. Rocinante promptly fell overboard. Law dived after him while Patty brought the boat to a sudden halt. Law tugged the man back to the boat, where Patty and Sanji helped him lift Rocinante back onboard.
"This happen often?" asked Patty. Law nodded.
"Don't speak much, do you?" asked Sanji, addressing Law. Law stared at him, wide-eyed.
"Want something to eat?" asked Sanji. Law shook his head, but his stomach growled loudly. Immediately, Law's face burst into flames, the red showing up vibrantly in his white patches of skin.
"What would you like?" asked Sanji, "We've got a limited food supply, but I can make pretty much anything with what we have."
"Can you make onigiri?" asked Law, quietly. Sanji flinched. A chef (in training) from the world-famous Baratie was offering him any meal he could think of, and all he wanted was onigiri? Well, Sanji could sympathize. Comfort food was usually what strandees craved.
"Sure," said Sanji, setting to work immediately.
3 hours later, they arrived in Cocoyashi village. Rocinante had called this Bellemère person (he still wasn't revealing their relationship to Law) in advance to let her know that they'd be staying with her for a while. As well, Patty had ordered a several large boxes of tangerines from her, and told her to prepare them for when the ship arrived. When the rescue boat docked at the village marina, Law saw a woman who looked around Cora-san's age standing there with several large crates. He figured this must be the Bellemère that everyone was talking about.
"Hiya there, Bellemère," said Patty, hopping off the boat while Sanji tied the ship to the docking post.
"Hello, Patty," said the woman, tossing Patty a tangerine. Patty in turn tossed it to Sanji who inspected it thoroughly. Sanji gave Patty a nod.
"Fantastic quality as always," said Patty, "the brat agrees."
"Why thank you, Sanji!" said the woman, walking up to the boy, hugging him, and planting a pack of cigarettes in his back pocket. She pulled back from the hug, gave him a wink, and returned to helping Patty stack crates onto the ship. Law had seen this entire exchange, and walked up to Sanji.
"You shouldn't smoke those," said Law, "they're terrible for your health. Ever heard of lung cancer?"
"Ok man," said Sanji, "I've dealt with your shitty sorry ass for this entire 3 hours, and that's fine. But the shitty old man won't let me have these things, so I beg of you, don't ruin this for me, alright?"
"Whatever," said Law, riling from being sworn at from a 7 year old, "don't be crying home to mommy when you get tuberculosis or diabetes."
"Don't think momma would care that much," said Sanji, with a mischievious smirk.
Bellemére loaded the final crate onto their ship, and stood back, clapping her hands together.
"That should do it!" she exclaimed.
"Thanks much," said Patty, tipping his hat, and untying the knots that linked the boat to the Cocoyashi harbour. Sanji made his way to the cabin, and as soon as the sailboat was out of sight, Bellemère turned to Rocinante.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Roci," she said, smiling up at him, "but business always comes first, y'know?"
"No worries," said Rocinante, "thanks for taking us in."
"Well, thanks for bringing some good customers by!" responded Bellemère, "And in any case, it's always nice to catch up."
"Ain't it?"
The pair laughed, and began walking through the town. Law trailed behind them, clutching at Rocinante's pant leg like a little child.
"You went and made a kid, huh Roci?" asked Bellemère.
"Err… More like adopted one," responded Rocinante sheepishly.
"Is that so? Well I've got two of my own as well. Both adopted."
"Won't that be nice, Law?" said Rocinante, "You'll have two sisters!"
Law frowned slightly. He already had a sister. Lami…
"Nojiko and Nami would love to have an older brother, I'm sure of it," said Bellemère.
"How old are they?" asked Rocinante.
"Nami's 6, Nojiko's 8," said Bellemère.
"Wow. Only a few years younger than you, Law."
Lami would have been Nami's age…
Finally, they arrived at a small farmhouse. A large tangerine grove was growing behind it.
"Nami, Nojiko!" called Bellemère, "Come meet Roci and Law!"
Two girls scrambled out of the household. The younger had bright orange hair and a big smile. Law assumed this was Nami. The other had blue hair, which was being held back in a headband. Law assumed this was Nojiko. Both were dressed in raggedy clothes.
"Who's that?" asked Nami, walking right up to Law and looking him in the eye. It was silly, really. Law dwarfed the younger girl, who had to step up on her tippy-toes to see his face.
"Nami…" groaned Nojiko, dragging her younger sibling away from Law.
"Girls, this is Roci and Law," said Bellemère, "say 'hi'!"
"HI!" chorused the two girls, and from there, Law's troublesome month in Cocoyasi Village began.
A.N.: Ok.. Tumblr has been raving about Cora-belle, and while I am very much the canon person, I wanted to play with the possibility of something actually happening... I don't know yet if I'll make it romance based. I just really wanted to throw this out there for the meantime, and see the response before I continue. The Coffee Shop is in progress, I promise you, and Happy Birthday is, of course, going nowhere for the next 6 months. I'm hoping that having several projects at once will actually motivate me to write more, and be more productive. But let's just see where this goes for now, ok? Reviews, Favourites, and Subscriptions are welcomed and much appreciated!
P.S. I don't know if anyone noticed this, but I really wanted to point it out just in case. Sanji's age and timeline does not fit well with this story. This is something small I decided to overlook simply because Sanji will not be featured in this story save for the first chapter. So, let it be known that I have purposely made this error to help the story move along.
