Sorry about how long it took to crank out this chapter. It was a very sad, almost disgusting combination of writer's block and the deadly condition known as 'Unemployment NEET-ism.' Anyways, enjoy! :) Notes at the end!

3

It was morning when I woke up. The sunshine filtered through the closed broken window as I came to my senses. I felt a lot better. I even sat up and dangled my feet over the bed without any pain as I tried to collect my bearings.

The wooden room I was occupying was dirty, small and sparsely decorated. Leaves, broken pieces of wood and other debris scattered across the floor. I was sleeping on a bed fit for one, with a blanket spread underneath me. A rotting desk sat in the bottom corner and at the foot of the bed was a small sofa that looked recently slept in. Shingle's cloak was draped over it.

Where was Shingle?

The door leading outside was open. I could hear shuffling sounds coming from right outside.

Should I get up and look for her or should I stay put and be found?

It didn't take long for me to choose my answer. I put a bit of weight on the balls of my feet, then the soles, then pressed my feet on the ground. I felt a small twinge of pain at my ankles and knees, but it was like getting pelted with pillows compared to the hell I experienced just yesterday.

I got up, standing erect and breathing deep. It was a good feeling- empowering even- being able to stand by yourself after several hours of immense pain and fatigue. Having a chronic incurable illness made you realize that you had to take what you could get.

I walked through the door and found Shingle. She was dressed like a martial artist, with a long white gi over her black top, loose white pants and black flats. On the table were bread and other pastries, apples and bananas, soup and rice, as she just finished taking them out of a paper bag.

Her face lit up when she saw me. "Hey! You're awake! And you look great!"

It was too early for her to be so excited. She ushered me onto the wobbly old chair and I sat down, with her taking the seat across me.

"I bought this at that town we saw. And no worries. Apparently the Navy did come around there, but they left right away."

She took a sweet roll and ate it enthusiastically, then gestured for me to dig in.

As she raised her left hand to her mouth to take a bite, I noticed a white band around her middle finger. The blood ran out of my face.

"... Hey. Is something wrong, kid?"

"That ring," my voice sounded shaky even to me. "Is that made of amber lead?"

She seemed jarred by my reaction and looked worriedly at me. "N-No. Well, I know its porcelain... I mean, I don't even know what amber lead is, so yeah. I guess I wouldn't really know..." she mumbled while her eyes never left my face.

I let out the breath I didn't know I'd been holding.

"I see."

She stayed silent while eyeing me, her mouth a tight line of concern. I felt stupid reacting that way. Ever since my city was burned down, I've been suspicious or hateful towards white things.

I decided to start eating. It would be idiotic of me not to take this opportunity to feed myself, not when it might be one of my last meals.

I took an apple and bit into it, while I saw Shingle fidgeting in her seat.

"So... What do you plan on doing now?"

The question caught me off-guard for a second, but I answered nonchalantly, "I'll just keep doing what I've been doing and-" -look for a cure- "-keep running from the people trying to catch me."

I expected her to reply, but she simply kept looking at me with worry etched on every part of her face.

"What's wrong?"

She rested her head on her hand. Her gaze was steady on me, but it was as though she were looking not at my features on the surface, but much deeper, at something inside me that I seemed not to notice or even be aware of. Then she looked away.

"...too strong..."

I couldn't hear what she'd mumbled.

"What did you say?"

"You're sick, Law."

"I know that," I spat more than said.

Of course I knew that. Better than anyone, I knew. I knew the pain and suffering that came with my condition, and how each passing day would make it worse and worse til I finally dropped dead, just like so many before me.

She looked hurt. I hadn't meant to get irritated. She was a stranger, and really I should've been grateful for everything she'd been doing since she found me, but I was running out of time and options.

"Isn't there any way to cure your condition?" She finally ventured to say.

I would be lying if I said I hadn't been waiting for that question.

"There's no known cure."

"So... That means you've been trying to find one?"

She was more perceptive than I'd thought. This time I was the one who fell silent.

"I mean, I guess I shouldn't even ask, since it would be pretty obvious you'd be looking for a way to make yourself better," she said, eyes downcast. "I mean, who wouldn't, right?"

"But well," she continued, "even if you intend to keep looking, you're not in any state to do so. A few steps and you might collapse!"

As much as that was true, there was nothing else left for me now. Was I supposed to just lie around and die in agony? And why did she care so much anyway?

"Hey, I got it!"

I couldn't help but cock an eyebrow at her.

"Why don't you stay in this abandoned shack for a while and I can take care of you?"

...

"What? Too straightforward?"

"I can't tell if you're being serious."

"I'm completely serious!" she exclaimed with a goofy grin that just added to my suspicions.

"And why the hell would you help me?"

"To be honest," she said while stretching, "I really have nothing better to do. I'm a drifter, kid- going where the winds take me, like I said. Or I guess, I'm the one moving the winds around, haha."

She took a look at my face.

"Ahem… A-Anyway, I do whatever I want, and right now I wanna help you."

That was the most ridiculous thing she'd said since I met her. And that was saying a lot.

"There's no way I can believe that."

"Oh come on, I know I'm extremely suspicious, but you have to admit that it's a pretty good offer!"

I was almost impressed that she was aware of just how suspicious she was.

"There's no way anybody would do that without having anything to gain," I reasoned harshly.

At this, Shingle fell silent. She didn't look upset and angry, just sort of sad, as though it hurt her to know that I still hadn't decided to put my trust in a complete stranger.

"Well…." She stood up, and placed her hands on her hips, her brow still heavy as she started looking around her like she had no idea what to do next.

"I guess… there's really no changing your mind if you really don't trust me. I mean, I can't blame you. Dangerous times, dangerous people, y'know? A lone kid like you in the world has to look out for himself….

I will respect your decision." Her mouth was a tight line after this final declaration, and she walked up to the door, and opened it carefully before stopping for a moment.

"Go ahead and finish eating." Then, she left.

…What was this? Was she actually feeling depressed, or was this some elaborate ploy to get me to lower my guard? And why in the world did she leave the shack?

… Was she being dramatic?

If I really thought about it, she could've kidnapped me by now. I could've been drugged, mortally wounded, restrained, or done in through countless other methods of incapacitation. And, given my weakened state, it would've been more than an easy feat. But, the fact of the matter was that I was still very much alive and able… Well, as able as my condition allowed me.

If I really did take her up on this offer, it would give me time to figure out just how to use my devil fruit powers. The Op Op fruit was, after all, the supposed legendary cure of all cures. She could even help me figure it out. At the same time, I wouldn't have to worry about being on the run or where to get food or shelter.

But was it worth the risk? If I was captured, how could I ever face Cora-san?

No…. Cora-san was dead, and there was no way I could ever see him again.

Cora-san saved me… but why? He was an undercover agent for the Navy, shadowing his own brother to provide the World Government with valuable information on their operations, and he tried to stop younger members from joining in their organization. Members like me. He'd even kidnapped me when he found out that I was ill, and vowed to help me find a cure, bringing me to all the corners of North Blue to do so. And finally, when he got information that the Op Op fruit was on this island, he fought through sea and storm to bring me here and make sure I got the fruit so I could heal myself. He even threw his life away.

But why? Why would someone do that, with nothing to gain for themselves? Back then, when I was still loyal to Doflamingo, the only thing I thought about was destroying everything in sight, and tearing down the world that took everything from me. I was determined for Cora-san to be exterminated by my superior and his lackeys for daring to cross me.

But ever since that man died, I understood.

Cora-san did that because he was a good person. He cared about me because he knew what it was like to be alone. He died for me because he wanted me to go on living.

He loved me.

This woman…. I didn't want to admit it, but so much of her reminded me of Cora-san. The way she spoke and grinned and laughed. Her willingness to help those in need. It was almost as if a second Cora-san had simply taken the first one's place.

... I guess that settled it.

I started to stand up. My muscles and joints started aching, but it was bearable, and I ignored the sensations as I walked up to the front door and opened it.

Sunlight hit every part of my body as I stepped outside, and I had to blink away the brightness for a few seconds as my eyes adjusted to the world around me. The landscape was blanketed with a considerable amount of glimmering snow, with the trees and bushes glistening as the light bounced off the ice crystals- a pristine white wonderland. My mind's eye brought back the image of a white city. I bit back the negative emotions welling up inside me, all the pain that threatened to burst out, and I continued on.

The chilly morning wind sent shivers through my body, but it was enough to distract me from the pain that was building up in my arms and legs. I had to find Shingle.

It wasn't hard. She sat on a ledge overlooking a slowly sloping inclination, down into a wide plateau. In the distance, about a few kilometers away, I could see the town that she had told me about last night, the one we had avoided.

I approached the spot of black on the white canvass. It seemed she was completely lost in thought, because she hadn't noticed me come up behind her.

"Hey."

She started violently as she turned to look at me, so much so that I started myself.

"Holy shhh-crap, kid!"

She stood up quickly, dusting herself off while avoiding eye contact with me, embarrassed. "I'm really sorry…I'm kind of a jumpy person, so I scare easy." She chuckled half-heartedly, as though she knew only she had found the whole thing funny.

"Anyways, what's up? You finished eating? And is it alright for you to be walking around like this? You should probably rest."

Her mouth went off like a Gatling gun, and there were too many unnecessary questions in that statement.

"I'm doing okay. I'm not done eating. I have something to say."

"Oh… What is it?" Her expression dampened, like she was steeling herself up for me to say that I was up and leaving that instant.

I drew a deep breath. I felt like I was on the verge of regret over what I was about to say. Might as well make it quick.

"I'll take you up on your offer."

….

"What?"

Shingle's face looked like it had been frozen in time, and her gaping mouth was almost comical.

"For real?"

"I realize it would be more of an advantage for me if I decide to focus on resting and making myself better."

"So… you trust me?" Shingle's face brightened up like the blinding first rays of a sunrise. It was terribly uncomfortable.

"…."

"I guess that's a 'no', then." Her face fell just as quickly as it had lit up, but immediately she began smiling again when she looked up at me.

"Well, whatever! I'm really happy!" She got up and put her fist in the air, whooping like a kid who got a long-coveted toy.

"But if you don't mind my asking," She looked at me curiously, "what made you change your mind about the whole thing, kid?"

This lady didn't seem to have any trouble switching emotions at the drop of a hat….

I sighed. "If you make me think about it too hard, I might change my mind." I warned, starting to feel tired without it having to do anything with my physical health.

"Okay okay, geez." She held her hands up in surrender and walked up to me.

"Now let's get back inside. I'm freezing, and we can talk about our game plan. Sound cool?"

I nodded, and we walked back to the decrepit shack. The snow piling up into irregular stacks on the roof shingles, and it looked barely able to hold up the weight. Shingle seemed to notice this as well, and blew a breath that steadily grew into a large gust that swept away the snow.

"Cozier already," she remarked.

….

Notes:

IMPT: Well, if ya haven't caught on by now, this story is pretty tame at the beginning in terms of heart-stopping events. Throughout, this story will mostly be a young Law rediscovering himself in a more docile environment (though there will be some action later, definitely!), so please keep these things in mind :)

Zawa Zawa fruit: So basically the name comes from the Japanese onomatopoeia of a strong wind blowing. ('Zawa zawaaa') Its English name is the Gust Gust fruit. I kinda f*cked with the consistency of whether I'd be using the English/Japanese, so for clarification, its Op Op fruit and Zawa Zawa fruit. OTL

Fun fact: Apparently some of the side effects of lead poisoning are insomnia, aggressiveness and irritability. Hmm.

Everybody is free to ask Qs Constructive criticism and feedback are GREATLY appreciated.