Why Do I Have Too?

It was a cold winter night. Law walked down the street of the small town. It was strange that no one was out. People were normally outside doing something at ten at night. He wasn't worried though. At this time of the year, it was almost normal.

It was the year of the annual ball that was held by the king and queen. The ball was for their sons to choose a bride. They had had one every year and every year was the same. They never found anyone that interested them. To Law, this was nothing special. It was just a ball. He never went to them.

"Hey Law." A voice sounded in the almost absent street. He looked up to see his best friend Shachi walking toward him. He was the only one that understood him, except for Bepo and Penguin. "What are you doing?"

Looking royally pissed off, Law answered him. "I'm walking home. Why?"
Shachi was acting a bit nervous. Law could tell from the way that he was swaying back and forth in place. "No particular reason. Are you going to the ball tomorrow night?"

"No. I never go. I don't see the reason to. I want to have a peaceful night by myself." Shachi swayed again. There was something he wanted to say. "Do you have something to say?"
"Everyone eligible has to attend. That includes you," he said in a low tone. Law looked offended.

"Why the hell would I go? I have never been told that I had to go." If he wasn't mad before, he was surely pissed now.

Shachi shrugged. "It was the announcement this morning. One that you didn't here." He didn't like that Law was angry. He knew it wasn't directed at him, but it still made him uneasy.

The ground started to turn to ice. "L-Law! Calm down!" Said man was glaring at nothing in particular. It was hard for a wizard to control their magick when their emotions are in play.

After a moment, Law just trudged toward his house. "I'll come by your house tomorrow to help you." Ignoring Shachi, Law continued home. He was not looking forward to the next day.

Reading a book on medicine, Law heard a knock on his door. He already knew who it was, so he didn't rush to open it. Shachi stood there, smiling. "Hey, Captain." It was a nickname that they called him.

Law turned around and walked back into his little cottage. It was on the outskirts of the town. It was small even though he had enough money to buy a bigger house. He was the town's doctor after all. He was the only one that knew healing spells.

Healing spells were considered old school. Most people, now a day, want to learn fire magick and all other fighting magick. It was aggravating to know that no one in the town, even the royal family, knew anything about healing.

Shachi sat down in one of the armchairs that were by the fire. Law wouldn't deny that he made his fire manually, or without magick. If it came to it, Law could blend in with humans on a regular basis. He had been studying their behaviors.

"What are you doing here?" Law broke the silence. Shachi just smiled.

"I'm here to help you pick out an outfit for tonight. You seem to take things seriously," he answered. He could tell he was not wanted, but he didn't want Law to get hurt for not going to the ball.

Sighing, Law realized that Shachi wasn't going to leave until he did what he came there to do. "Fine. You can choose it. Doesn't mean I want to go." He crossed his arms as Shachi rose from the chair. He made his way over to the wardrobe and started digging through it.

Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo were just like Law. They didn't like to use their magick that much and just liked to do things manually. It made life more interesting and kept them from being bored on a daily basis.

Pulling out a black tux, Shachi held it up. It looked perfect. "Why not this? It works perfect with the attire and all you need is a mask." He turned around to him. "You don't have a mask, do you?" Law shook his head.

Leaving the house, Shachi gave Law instructions to get ready. He would be back to pick him up and bring him a mask. He nodded and shut the door after him. It made him more comfortable being alone.

Entering his bathroom, Law looked around. It consisted of a small bath, a small shower, and a toilet. He shed his clothing and turned the shower on. Entering the shower, Law let the water flow down his body. His mind was thinking of that night. The night many years ago.

Law walked down the street. He had just gotten beat by some bullies. Tears were streaming down his face. He rubbed his cheeks to get rid of them. It was not his best day. He had burned someone by accident and was sent to the headmaster's office. He apologized for burning them, but was told to go home for that day. High school was hard.

When he had exited the building, he was ganged up on the boy's friends. They flung him into a building next to the school, burned his arm, and gave him a black eye. He was sure that today was not his day.

All of a sudden, he bumped into a large figure. He looked up to see a man with a pink feather coat standing in front of him. He was massive. A grin was in place on his lips.

"What's with the rush? Have somewhere to be?" The man's voice was disturbing. He didn't like him.

"I-I'm just heading h-home." He was angry at how his voice stuttered. Another man walked up beside the first one. This one wore a black feather coat.

The other tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey. Mom will be upset if we don't hurry up." He then noticed Law standing there. "Who are you?" It was said in a loving voice.

"I j-just want to g-get home." He tried to push passed them, but the bigger one wouldn't let him. "I need to get home." He was no longer scared but irritated.

Both men smiled at him. "Maybe we can walk you home," offered the one wearing the black coat. The other's grin widened.

"No. I can walk home myself. I don't need an escort." Law finally was able to push past and walk home. The entire time, he felt as if he were being followed. It didn't take long to get home and he was thankful. He never took the same route home again.

After his shower, Law decided that he would try the tux on. It had been years since he wore it. It probably doesn't even fit. He pulled on some black underwear and tried on the outfit.

Surprise hit him. It wasn't that it didn't fit because it was too small. It didn't fit because it was slightly too big. The arms of the tux almost swallowed his hands and the pants bunched up at his feet. He felt like a child.

Hearing the door open, Law trudged up to Shachi. "How did this happen?" He shook his hands in front of the other's face to show what he meant. To his surprise, Shachi just stared dumbfounded. Penguin stood behind him.

"That thing was just a little bit small on you when you first got it." Shachi went around him like he was on display. "I don't know how this happened."
Penguin entered the small abode with a package in his hand. "Hello, Captain. It's good to see you." Law turned to the other, just noticing him.

"Good to see you too," he greeted. "What is that?" He pointed to the package in his hand. Penguin lifted it up to him.

"Shachi wanted it to be a surprise so he wrapped it up. I think it would look good on you." Penguin smiled. Shachi and he were always trying to impress the other. They always had found Law cute with his attitude.

Taking the package, Law cautiously opened it. The last time he was given a gift from them, he had to stay in bed for a week from fever. Looking down, he saw something that made him stand in awe.

A black masquerade mask sat in the middle. It was encrusted with white jewels around the outside, had soft feathers that came out the back, and little designs in white all around the face. It was gorgeous.

"How did you guys get this?" The awe was evident in his voice. They didn't need to waste their money on him.

"We put our money together. We normally wear the same thing every year to the ball." Shachi beamed at Law's expression. "We decided to help you out this year."

Law didn't know what to say. They did that for him. "I don't know if I can accept this." They both look at him with shock.

"What do you mean? It's a gift for you." Penguin was holding his hands up. "We won't take it back."

"This is too much, guys. You went all out just for a ball." He didn't want to accept the gift. It made him feel weird.

The two shook their heads. "You're gonna wear it. We didn't get it for nothing."
Sighing, Law didn't argue anymore about it. He got Penguin to help him with the tux to get it to not be so baggy, slipped on his dress shoes, and looked at himself in the mirror. He didn't bother brushing his hair. Picking up the mask, Law pulled it on. He didn't look like himself.

Shachi and Penguin waited for him and made their way to the castle. Law had a bad feeling that something was going to go terribly wrong.

Doflamingo stood in his bedroom. It was another year of the same old thing. They had been through most of the people in their country. Neither him nor his brother had found the one that they liked. It was very unpleasing.

"Doffy?" A voice roused him from his thoughts. He looked to his bedroom door to see his little brother standing there.

"What do you want, Corazon?" He was tired already and the ball hadn't even begun.

"I wanted to see if you were ready yet." Corazon entered the room and plopped down on the king-sized bed.

"I've been ready for a while now." Doflamingo looked suspiciously at his brother. He only came into his room to ask him something. "Is there something you wanted to ask me?"
"Do you remember that kid we met a few years ago?" He had a distant look on his face. Doflamingo thought about it.

"Yeah. He was pretty cute, especially when he was angry." It made him smile. They both had met the kid a while back. They never met him again because he never went that way again.

"Do you think he'll be here tonight? He is part of the kingdom." Doflamingo turned toward his brother.

"How do you know we haven't met him already? It's a masquerade ball every year." Corazon just grinned at him.

"Because, I would know that attitude a mile away. He's hard to miss." Agreeing with him, Doflamingo sat next to the other.

A knock sounded on the door. A woman with the same blond hair as the two men came in. She was all smiles. "The ball is about to start. I hope both of you are ready." The brothers pulled out their masks and placed them on their faces.

"This is going to be boring again," Doflamingo said as they followed their mother out of the room.

"Have some optimism, brother." With that they entered the room where everyone was masked. This was not going to be easy.