Life Can Be…
ll. So Cruel

A/N: Thank you for all your reviews! :'D But heed this warning: Law is ooc in this chapter. Sorry. Also, I have a feeling this is going to take a turn you guys weren't really expecting. So…surprise! XD

Also, I do not own the cover photo. It belongs to its rightful creator.

Take a breath, take it deep
I'm sweating now, moving slow
Said I'm terrified but I'm not leaving
But it's too late to think of the value of life
Know that I must pass this test, so pull the trigger
And you can see my heart beating, you can see it through my chest

Law came to a grinding to a halt; his eyes wide and mouth agape. His breath hitched and his heart skipped a beat as he finally registered the sight before him. There was Corazon, dressed as a marine with reinforcements following his lead. At first, Law merely thought it was a case of mistaken identity. It wouldn't be the first time he'd mistook someone else as the clumsy blond; after all, there were many tall blonds in the world. But there was no way he wouldn't recognize that face. That was Corazon, and there was no doubt about it. His sudden stop grabbed the attention of the other members in the group, and they all stopped to see what was wrong. The surgeon brought a shaking hand over to his arm, and gave his skin a hard pinch that would no doubt leave a welt. He felt the stinging pain travel up his arm, but the form of Corazon did not waver in the slightest.

It wasn't a dream or hallucination.

The other members of the group were calling his name, trying to get his attention and asked what was wrong. But he ignored them, his attention solely focused on the blond who stood above the other marines he was running with. "Cora…san…" Luffy's eyes widened upon hearing the name, and he snapped his attention to where Law was looking.

"What? Are you sure that's him? You said he–"

"Cora-san," Law repeated, as if he hadn't even registered Luffy talking. Zoro looked between the two. It was obvious Law had told Luffy something during their time together finding Doflamingo. But before he could say or do anything, Law's nodachi fell to ground with a clatter, making Zoro scowl for a moment. Swords were to be treated with great respect, especially cursed swords. He'd seen how careful Law was with Kikoku, he took excellent care of his sword and took it everywhere he went. For him to actually let it slide off his shoulder and fall to the ground so carelessly only proved that the person he was currently looking at was someone he greatly cared for, and was greatly surprised to see.

The Surgeon of Death was suddenly running toward the group of marines across the clearing.

"Oi, Law! Law!" But Law kept running, even when the group of marines noticed him and all turned towards the tall blond at the front.

"Captain, sir! Trafalgar Law is currently approaching!" The blond gave a scowl, turning to face the oncoming pirate. He heard that the man known as Trafalgar Law had lost his title as Warlord due to his alliance with the Straw Hats, and was now back to being the captain of the Heart Pirates. He also heard rumors of just how terrifying the power of the Ope Ope no Mi could be. But before he could do anything, the pirate captain had weaved his way through the surprised marines and stood before the marine captain.

Law then flew himself at the blond, catching him in a tight hug.

Law, despite growing over the past thirteen years, was still short compared to the ten-foot-tall Corazon; barely coming up to the man's chest. "Cora-san…!" Law felt elated, completely and utterly happy that he was not indeed imagining things, and that Corazon was, in fact, still alive. The thought nearly brought tears to his eyes, and he squeezed the blond even tighter. "I thought you were dead," he said, his voice muffled by the man's shirt.

But Corazon was not hugging him back, nor had he said a single world. It worried Law, and he suddenly had the feeling that something was wrong. He pulled his face away from the man's shirt and looked up. Corazon didn't look much older really, he aged rather well the surgeon concluded. His hair was still shaggy and the same length, the only real difference being he no long wore his makeup or hat but a marine captain's jacket instead. He was distantly aware of the fact that Luffy and the others were fighting the other marines to keep them away from him. Confusion painted Corazon's face, along with mild disgust. "Cora-san…?"

"Who?" Law's heart sank a little, but he still gave a small smile.

"Cora-san," Law repeated, searching the man's face for any signs of recognition. "Don't you remember me?"

"I have never met you before, pirate," the blond spat, finally trying to shove the pirate away now that he got over the initial shock of having a notorious pirate captain hug him. Was it a trick to get him to lower his guard? The Surgeon of Death was famous for his clever and patient strategies. It was one of the reasons the Marines had been so eager to have him on their side, his tactical plans were thought out to the last detail and almost always ended in success. Law's arms came away from the blond as realization began to dawn on the surgeon. He tightly gripped the front of the marine's coat instead. "Let go, pirate!"

And Law's heart began to sink lower and lower, only one thing coming to his mind. Amnesia. Corazon had amnesia. He had no memory whatsoever of Law, or probably of his former life before the shooting. His fists gripped the captain's shirt tighter as his heart began to pound harder. The marine was starting to push Law away to grab for a weapon but Law's grip on him was iron-tight and he refused to let the man reach for a weapon. The surgeon looked him in the eyes with both hope and hurt. "Cora-san, please…"

In the fray, a marine that barely managed to dodge an attack that had been directed at him. He tripped and fell to the ground, feeling the rubble beneath him dig into the skin of his arm. Gritting his teeth, he began to push himself onto his feet when he caught sight of the ex-warlord Trafalgar Law and his Captain in a struggle. He instinctively raised his gun and took aim. "Get away from our captain, you scum!" He pulled the trigger the moment before a fist connected with his face.

Something dug into his side, and the Surgeon of Death let out a surprised cry as he registered the fact that he just got shot again. He felt his knees shake and his back arched at the pain, but he refused to let go of Corazon's coat. He just found the man after thirteen years, there was no way he'd let go. Ever. He pushed the pain from his mind and focused on the man's amnesia. Maybe if he told Corazon about his past a little, and how they met, it would make the blond remember. He had to trigger the memories. "I-It's me, Law. You took me in thirteen years ago," he started, and it seemed to catch the marine captain's attention because he stopped trying to grab for a weapon and actually seemed to listen.

"You told me to not give up living… To fight my illness. That you would save me, you would find me a hospital…that you would cure my Amber Lead Disease. And then…when you heard the Ope Ope no Mi was found, you went and got it for me…" Law was having a hard time talking now, finding his eyes slowly begin to droop from the exhaustion he was feeling. "You saved me." The statement was barely a whisper, and Law could clearly remember the day he was saved from his illness. It was one of the memories that stood out the most in his life. It would never fade away. Never. "You gave your life so I could live. Please, C-Cora-san…" Law shook his head with furrowed brows. "No, wait. That's not your real name. It's…" He gave a quiet growl as he searched through is fogged mind for the name he was looking for. "I-It's… Rocinante-san. Rocinante-san, please. Remember me…!"

Rocinante, for the most part, actually looked torn. He looked like he wanted to remember, like it was the first real lead he was getting about what his old life was like. But then there were the obvious doubts, that Trafalgar Law was a pirate, and pirates were all liars. And Law was no exception despite the fact he was a warlord for a little while. Pirates will always be pirates, no matter what. "Rocinante-san, please! You have to remember!"

Law truly was getting desperate. He had gone on living with the idea that Corazon had died thirteen years ago. And, in a way, he did. Corazon no longer existed, only Rocinante remained. But Law needed Rocinante to remember. He had lived with the guilt for all those years, thinking he was the reason for the man's death. But here he was, alive and a marine captain. He missed the blond, missed him so much it actually hurt. Those smiles and victory-signs and clumsy accidents, he wanted to see them all again…! The man before him had become a father-figure in Law's eyes, and he'd be damned if he didn't at least try to make Rocinante remember him. He shook the blond hard, his voice rising. "Remember, damn it! You took me in and saved me! You are the person I cherish most in this world! Don't–"

The sound of another pistol going off rung in Law's ears, and he felt his eyes widen once more. Pain blossomed in his chest and he felt the familiar sensation of a bullet tearing through skin, muscle, and bone. Blood oozed from the new wound, and the surgeon found his strength had finally run out. His body had taken on too much abuse, and that last bullet that had dug into his chest right next to his heart had been the final straw.

He looked up at Rocinante, a look of near betrayal entering his eyes, and his hands slipped from the marine's coat as he fell to the ground. The gun in the blond's hand was still smoking. Law struggled to keep his eyes open, and his breathing began to come in short rasps that brought a bout of pain. He heard a familiar voice scream out his name, and something rubbery wrapped around his waist several times; dragging him away from the blond. Still, he weakly reached out his hand, hoping the man would take it.

He did not.

Instead, Rocinante turned away to help his men.

Law discovered in that moment just how cruel life could be.

He couldn't help the stray tear that fell from his eye as he his world was consumed by the darkness, Corazon's words echoing endlessly in his mind.

"Law...I love you."

A/N: Bang bang, he shot me down. Bang bang, I hit the ground. Bang bang...that awful sound. Bang bang...my baby shot me down. XD XD (Aren't I just horrible? I think of that song every time I think of Doffy shooting Roci. XD ^^;)

So yep. Roci shot Law. Roci…shot…Law… Were ya expecting that? …Yes? Damn. But yeah, amnesia!Cora for ya. My internet is getting shut off for the next two-three weeks and decided to upload this now. So no updates/messages/reviews from me until then. I'm sorry. DX But when I return, THERE SHALL BE MANY UPDATES ALL AROUND. :D :D :D …hopefully.

If anything seemed waaaay out of character, let me know and I'll try to fix it. I'd like to hear your thoughts on this chapter too if that's okay. ^^;

Your shy ice elemental,
~»roo the psycho«