Chapter 3

Monet walked down the pavement, phone in hand and trying to keep her voice low as she reported to the Young Master who did not sound amused.

"Fufufufu, Bellamy really did disobey me then? That was rather stupid of him." Doffy laughed over the line. "So he ended up nearly kidnapping two different people before finally catching up to Law, only to have been soundly beaten by him?"

"Law did look exhausted and was sick afterwards." Monet said before frowning, confused. "My apologises Young Master but was that because of his sword? A light being like him, I didn't think he would have one of those cursed swords."

"Oh no, Law can probably handle a demonic sword well enough. He's just a sickly thing. Did he collapse?"

"No. Dr. Kureha reached him first and got him to take some medication. I recognise the pills, aren't they hers?"

"Yes Dr. Kureha created them for her but thankfully Law got ahold of them too, thanks to my little brother. Such a careless thing he is sometimes, and he's so protective of Law. Fufufufu, he's already away to deal with Bellamy, and he looks quite pissed too."

"He's dealing with Bellamy?"

"Fufufu, yep. I'll take care of whatever is left of the fool once Corazon brings him back. Of course that is if my little brother can get off the grounds first, that's him on fire and he hasn't even left the gate yet." The Young Master mused. "So Law's being taken care of them?"

"Yes, Dr. Kureha took him back into the hospital to rest."

"Alright, well at least we know he won't be going anywhere anytime soon- What the hell?"

She stiffened at that curse, alarmed at the Young Master's sudden surprise. It didn't sound like a good surprise either. "Young Master?"

"Fufufufu, well that's not so good. The human Lord's stirring. Isn't that the Lordling Law has sided with?" Doffy said darkly over the line. "Monet my dear, you're going to be kept quite busy for a while I fear."

She shuddered at the tone before smiling. "Anything for you Young Master."

"Good girl."

Ace groaned, curling further into the warmth around him. He didn't know why he was stirring, he was so comfy and warm but something was nagging at him. He buried his head further into Smoker's neck, trying to settle back down before tensing as wave of pure energy washed over him, making him sit up immediately, horrified.

"Not again." Ace gasped, recognising the feeling now. "Not another one."

This hadn't happened since Luffy! There couldn't be another Lord! Not now! He gripped his hair, tugging at it and biting down on his lip, trying to silence himself so that he wouldn't wake up Smoker who slept peacefully beside him.

"Don't wake up. Go back to sleep. Please." Ace pleaded. "Please don't find your key."

He didn't know who was stirring now but he desperately wished they would slip back under. Let their husk live their life. He couldn't stand the thought of another Lord entering this 'game', another person to try and hurt him and his family.

He didn't want to play this 'game'. He never had. It hurt too much. He had lost both his parents to it, his mother had been one of the ones tortured for information and had died during it. Ace didn't want to go out like that, he had wanted his mother so desperately in his life but only had her for a few precious years.

He would never regret meeting Dadan though. She was also his mother, not that he would ever admit it. The woman would try to murder him out of sheer embarrassment if he ever did.

"Ace?" He heard Smoker murmur sleepily, making him stiffen as the grey haired man sat up, a warm hand running through his hair. "What's wrong? Bad dream?"

"I-I felt a Lord stir..." Ace admitted nervously. "I'm worried that they might wake up?"

"You're safe here." Smoker declared fiercely. "I won't let them take you."

Ace let out a weak laugh. "They'd kill you if you tried to stop them. I'm not worth that-"

"Stop saying crap like that." Smoker growled, yanking him back down to lie down with him. "You're worth every bit. You have plenty of people who love you and would fight for you. So stop telling yourself you're not worth it. We all decided that you are."

Ace slumped against him at that, burying himself back into Smoker's arms. "Sorry... I am trying... Really..."

"Better." Smoker grumbled, running his hand back through Ace's hair who relaxed. "And as much as I hate to admit it, you got those Whitebeard nuisances to keep an eye out for you too. Even if they are trouble."

Ace grinned fondly at that. "They're my family."

"Yeah and I'm going to arrest all of you. You're all just troublemakers."

Ace laughed. "You still haven't caught Luffy yet. So good luck trying to get the rest of us."

"Go to sleep brat."

"Love you." Ace murmured into his neck.

"Love you too." Smoker said gruffly. "Now sleep."

Dr. Kureha peeked into the spare room for overachieving brats that refused to rest at home. Those kinds she usually chucked in there when they needed a good sleep, the same room where that sickly Spirit Healer's of hers was now in, fast asleep under the blankets, snoring softly.

"Well, he isn't coughing anymore." Dr. Kureha noted, watching the brat for a moment in case he was faking it.

Not that he could usually resist falling asleep after taking his meds, they did leave anyone who took them exhausted and weary after all. Satisfied the brat was napping she slipped out, closing the door behind her and heading for a certain redhead's room, scowling at the sight of him now sitting up in bed.

"I thought I felt you stir, little Lord." She commented, earning a frown from the human Lordling staring at her.

"Heh, you ready for the game?" The brat asked, smirking at her.

"You're too young to be apart of it." She snorted.

Seriously, they were getting younger and younger. Not as young as the Boggart Lord but this one was also still just a kid too.

"I need to find my key before I drift off again." The Lord grumbled. "I should have found it ages ago. My stupid husk set me back so far behind."

"Don't bother getting out of bed. Your husk was just in a coma, you're only awake because of that Spirit Healer of yours."

The little Lord smirked at that. "I ran into him on the inside where I reside. It was great seeing him again, even if he looks younger this time."

"You're a young thing too."

"How is he?"

"The kid's tired out after using those abilities of his." Dr. Kureha offered, noticing the brat beginning to drift off again, struggling to keep his eyes open. "Trafalgar is resting now, so don't worry too much about that brat and worry more about yourself."

The redhead brat mumbled out something but soon he drifted off, leaving his husk sleeping contently in bed while Dr. Kureha sighed.

"These little brats, all think they're the next 'big thing'. They used to leave and train themselves up when they were kids but these ones don't even bother." She muttered to herself, striding out of the medical room to go make sure everything was still in order.

With that Boggart Lord running about nothing was ever safe after all.

Doflamingo finished up his letter and sent it to the chief of Drum Hospital where little Law worked with Dr. Kureha. He was quite happy about that, Law was finally in reach again and hopefully he could grab the brat before the Human Lord properly woke up. It was debatable but it might work out.

"Doffy!" A familiar voice chirped out sweetly as a brunette approached his seat. "Rebecca and I went shopping! Like my new heels?"

"Fufufufu, they look higher than usual, soon you'll start reaching my shoulders Lami." Doflamingo teased, reaching out to ruffle his daughter's hair who smiled at the attention.

"Rebecca got a few new dresses too. She looks lovely." Lami said. "She's been working on hard on her combat practise with Diamante-san recently that I thought she could use a few treats."

"Of course Lami, good children always get rewarded, fufufufu." Doflamingo chuckled, but paused as the door opened, Corazon strolling into the room with a limp form being dragged in from behind him.

"Oh my Uncle Rocinante, you really bet up Bellamy now didn't you?" Lami smirked. "What did he go and do hm? Isn't he usually so loyal to you father?"

"He's lucky I kept him alive." Corazon scowled, letting go of the other's foot and letting him drop to the floor again after being dragged about. "He tried to interrogate Law, even after Law bet the crap out of him."

"Law?" Lami frowned. "You found him?"

"It was quite a surprise find truth be told." Doflamingo offered. "It turns out he's been with Dr. Kureha all this time."

He saw Lami's expression darken at that. "You can't be serious, and she never bothered to mention that little detail to us sooner? We've been searching for Law for years after Uncle Rocinante kidnapped him!"

Corazon only shrugged at that, remaining quiet which was probably for the best once Lami was pissed off. Lami was such a spiteful thing after all, which was adorable.

"Now, now. Don't be too angry with Kureha, she is the clever woman who makes up yours and apparently Law's medication after all."

"And why is Bellamy involved in all this?" Lami asked, raising an eyebrow expectantly.

He really did spoil her so often. It was cute when she acted like this though.

"He had a little mishap with a supposed human with the Smile drug and recorded the incident. It also turns out that the human is a friend of Law's who was trying to keep him alive once Smile took effect." Doflamingo shrugged before grinning at Bellamy. "So Bellamy, what did you go and ask Law? You didn't tell him too much right? He doesn't need to get ahead in this game of our's just yet."

"I wanted to make sure he wasn't a threat! He knew about you Joker!" Bellamy looked desperate.

"Well of course he did." Doflamingo smirked darkly, leaning back on his chair as his fingers twitched, Bellamy's beaten form beginning to stand as whimpers escaped him. "After all my 'Spirit Healer' is important to me, being one of the last of his kind after all."

"A-A Spirit Healer?! Wait that means-" Bellamy suddenly choked making Lami roll her eyes, unamused and Doflamingo chuckle darkly.

"Yes, you tried to kidnap my son you fool. I warned you not to try go after him because I knew he would beat you and now he's alert. He knows I've found him and now he's going to be that much more difficult to catch because he'll be wearier. Sure he ran into Vergo but Vergo didn't manage to follow him like you did."

"So Bellamy just made things more problematic? Great." Lami scowled. "Shall I deal with him?"

"Are you bored my dear?"

"A little angry now. It would be nice to vent a bit."

"Fufufu, sorry dear, but as his boss I should really teach my subordinate better. Now off you go Lami, go play."

"I'm not a child anymore Doffy." Lami huffed but thankfully she obeyed, walking straight past Corazon who sat down, somehow without tripping up while Doflamingo grinned down at Bellamy, ready to set the brat straight.

"Are you waking up yet?" Luffy pouted, poking at Eussy's face who didn't even stir, much to his annoyance, so that meant to had to persist harder. "You're missing out, the game is playing away and you're not even up yet!"

"Luffy! Stop poking him!" Nami snapped, smacking the back of his head, forcing Luffy to instantly stop so he didn't get hit again.

"But Nami! He's not waking up! If he doesn't wake up his pawns might get stolen or someone might try killing them, if he isn't awake to defend them Traffy could get hurt! And that bear!"

"And Penguin, Killer, Bonney, Jean-Bart and Shachi? Are you forgetting about them?" Nami raised an eyebrow.

Luffy tilted his head. "Yeah the other guys too. Though Shachi's never died before! He's got all his lives! And Penguin too actually."

"We get ten each." Robin murmured from her seat in the corner, smiling pleasantly at him.

"The 'King' is eternal but their pawns aren't. They can get captured and broken or they can be traded." Luffy said bitterly, crossing his arms. "So we need to wake him up so he can protect them. Bonney only has one left!"

"There are rarely any pawns who have their all their lives left." Robin commented. "I wonder how each of us will die this time."

"I don't want to think about that!" Nami snapped, horrified.

"I won't let you die." Luffy said grumpily.

"Thankfully you have made sure we have stayed alive for most of our games, Captain-san." Robin offered cheerfully. "Most of us still have our lives left after all. Unfortunately for Bonney-san though she is a very old pawn now, already been used by her mother before she joined with Kid-san."

"Y'know, most of Kid's pawns seem to be someone else's too." Nami noted. "Killer is the only who has never had a Lord before Kid."

"Traffy was Mingo's, Penguin, Shachi, Bepo and Bart are Mingo's brother and Bonney was Big Mom's." Luffy blinked, stunned. "I didn't think of that before!"

"They must find it really difficult to recall him." Robin murmured.

"They could remember him if he woke up and took his key back!" Luffy snapped, he was ready to grab Eussy and shake his shoulders but Nami was quicker, hitting him across the head again. "Nami he needs to get up and get his key!"

"He'll get it in his own time. You got yours off me remember?" Nami frowned, crossing her arms as Robin chuckled.

"You were so surprised when he kissed you."

Nami's cheeks darkened at that, confusing Luffy but he grinned at the sight, Nami looked very pretty with her cheeks flushed like that.

"Robin! That's not even funny!" She protested as Luffy glanced over Eussy again, reaching over to try wake him up but Nami smacked him again.

How does she always know what he's trying to do?!

"We're going back home Luffy! It's late!" Nami snapped.

"But I don't want to!" He pouted.

"You don't exactly get a choice in the matter!" The redhead snapped, Luffy protests dying off as one of her spells teleported them away.

She always cheated like that.

"Oh thank goodness! You've arrived!" A blonde girl wailed, clinging to her hands and startling Monet into nearly stepping away in alarm. "Thank you so much for taking over. I'm free to go! This is the best news I've had since I started working here!"

"Is it a bad job?" Monet couldn't help but ask.

The girl flinched, alarmed. "Oh no! Definitely not, you'll love it here!"

How desperate she sounded. What a liar. Humans, such weak and fickle creatures.

"Look, you'll be reporting to Dr. Kureha, she has a few assistants around if she gets to be too much to handle. Everything will be fine though! She's a lovely woman- DUCK!" The blonde yelled, throwing herself down as Monet did, alarmed as a large axe flew past both their heads, embedding into the wall.

"What was that?!" Monet cringed.

"That was nothing! Again, thank you so much for choosing this job!"

The Young Master had actually gotten her into it to keep an eye on Law, but of course the former assistant didn't know that. There hadn't even been a job going, she literally just kicked this girl out of her own work.

The human seemingly very happy about that.

"GET BACK HERE YOU BRATS!" A older woman ran by, armed to the teeth-

Dr. Kureha?!

Two kids were screaming ahead of her, heading straight for the doors as they both fled for their lives. Monet ducked under another weapon, it too now embedded into the wall, while the former secretary shook her hand and headed off immediately, telling her 'good luck'.

"What is going on around here?" Monet muttered to herself as she cautiously stood back up now that Dr. Kureha and the kids were gone.

"Oh don't worry. That was just Luffy and Usopp. Luffy was disturbing Dr. Trafalgar but Dr. Kureha chased off him off it while Usopp was chased off for distracting me with his stories." A friendly voice from behind greeted her.

A blonde girl with big, brown eyes stood before her, smiling kindly at her. Monet smiled back and shook her offered hand.

"I'm Monet." She introduced herself. "The new secretary."

"I'm Kaya. I'm training here to as part of my university course. Would you like a tour?"

"That would be wonderful. Thank you." Monet smiled sweetly.

If she could get a few friends here it might be easier to learn more about her targets.

"Why did I have to be in the back of the car? I look like I got in trouble again." Ace pouted, staring at Smoker through the cage separating the back of the police car from the front.

"Sorry, it's a standard policy, if there are two police officers in the car they both are to sit in the front." Tashigi explained while Ace poked at the partition, grimacing when it began to drain him.

"Did you actually make these out of seastone?" He asked, immediately pulling away.

Smoker nodded. "It's a precaution for any dangerous Devil Fruit user. Of course most humans don't know about it, they all think it's a fairy tale after all."

"Except you." Ace pointed out.

"That's why I said 'most', some of us still do know the truth about it all." Smoker grunted. "The war did happen and One Piece is real."

"Would be so much easier if it wasn't." Ace remarked, leaning back in his seat as they parked, though he paused at the sight of Luffy and Usopp, running out the building screaming hysterically.

He gaped at the sight of a chicken sailing above their heads, along with various weapons flying out the doorway as well as Dr. Kureha appeared, livid.

"AND STAY OUT!" He nearly tensed when Kureha's eyes landed on him, a smirk now on her face. "Ah, I've been waiting to see you getting locked up in a police car little brat. What did you do this time? Set your boyfriend's house on fire?"

He grinned cheerfully at that, offering a wave as Smoker unlocked the car door for him. "Ace was fine. It's his brother I'd be more worried about."

"Luffy's fine." Ace pouted as his boyfriend. "You're always trying to find excuses to arrest him."

"He's a troublemaker, that's why." Smoker snarked back as Tashigi got out as well, managing to stick to her feet surprisingly.

"I take it you're here to interrogate that red haired brat then?" Dr. Kureha asked as they entered the hospital, the entrance looking rather busy.

"Yes. I was hoping to get it done and over with early if he's awake?"

"Yep, the kid woke up last night. He's recovering well now."

Smoker grunted at that. "Good, then he's got plenty of questions to answer for. Ace, are you sure you don't mind waiting? I can drop you off now if you want?"

"I'll wait for you any day Smokey." Ace winked, laughing at his lover's expression while Kureha grimaced.

"Don't make me screw with your medicine kid." The doctor warned. "I'd have it knock you out more often instead of helping you stay awake."

"That would be mean." Ace pouted but froze when he heard the front doors bang open, moving instantly out of the way only to freeze when he recognised who was on the gurney speeding past them, Dr. Kureha letting out a curse.

"Thatch?!" Ace gasped, unable to get the image of him pale and covered in blood out of his head as Dr. Kureha took off after the gurney, barking out orders immediately.

"Ace!" Marco was suddenly there, hands firm on his shoulders and eyes searching everywhere. "Let me look at you! Nobody tried to hurt you right?!"

He couldn't bring himself to reply, too confused at the situation, even as Smoker's voice cut in for him. "What the hell is going on here?!"

He saw Pop's approaching out of the corner of his eye, looking sullen as Luffy moved past to go stand at his side, looking strangely serious while Ace fought to think, but he didn't get how Thatch could be so badly hurt. He's been hurt before sure but he's never been covered in so much blood before-

"We found Thatch by himself with a knife in his back in the manor." Marco growled, hands still firmly holding him in place. "We managed to find a faint pulse and rushed him here as fast as we could but he was completely unresponsive."

"Who the hell hurt Thatch?" Ace managed to get himself to speak up, shaking off the terror as best as he could.

"Children, let us go to the waiting room before we talk about this." Pop's called out, he nearly smiled when he felt Pop's hand brush the back of his head gently while Marco's arm slipped around his shoulders, following straight after their father figure.

Marco answered once the doors were closed. "Whoever did it took care of our security cameras. The records are completely blank."

"Then this will need investigated." Smoker said, startling him as Marco seethed.

"We don't want police involvement! This is our family's business!"

"Don't be a fool. It could have been a Lord who attacked you lot trying to get to Ace." Smoker snapped, meeting Ace's eyes who frowned softly at the worried look his lover sent him. "He felt one stirring last night after all. Maybe it was the new one?"

"The Human Lord hasn't awoken yet, only stirred from his sleep." Pop's said quietly, sitting calmly on one of the seats.

He had no idea how Pop's could look so settled at the moment. He was barely keeping himself from screaming, he ended up leaning heavier against Marco, pausing when he felt Luffy lean against his other side, a strange, silent support.

"Ace, you should stay at the manor with us." Marco said sternly. "We don't know how this happened and you could be in danger-"

Smoker cut in though, looking livid. "Like hell! I know you lot are trouble! I don't want you dragging Ace down with you, especially when he isn't even a pawn of yours!"

"Oi! Don't say something like that in public!" Marco snapped.

"Hey!" Dr. Kureha was suddenly before them, looking irritated. "Be quiet or get lost! You're disturbing the other patients you little brats!"

"You scream and shout all the time Doctor-ya." Law said as he walked in, looking a bit drowsy as he sipped at his drink.

"Law are you drinking juice?" Ace couldn't help but say before pausing, recalling that Law only did it if he wasn't allowed coffee.

"TRAFFY!" Luffy screamed cheerfully, lunging at Law only to be kicked in the face by Dr. Kureha, sending Luffy crashing into a wall.

"Oi! He's only just recovering and doesn't need a hyper brat jumping him!"

"How are you feeling Law?" Ace asked quietly as Law made his way over, looking grumpy.

"Mind your own business." Law grunted, making Ace grin softly at the grouchiness. "Sorry to hear what's happened by the way Ace-ya, I would do the surgery myself but my medicine leaves me too lethargic. Chopper can handle it though, he's a skilled doctor."

"Trafalgar." Smoker called out, startling him. "I might as well ask now since you're here. You're roommates with Eustass Kid, I have to ask, have you ever abused illegal substances before?"

"No Smoker-ya, I haven't." Law drawled out tiredly, sitting on one of the waiting room chairs. "I have a very successful job that I have dreamed of doing since I was a child. I would not risk that for some ideal pleasures."

"You sound half-asleep still Trafalgar-yoi." Marco noted, looking a bit surprised.

Law shrugged at that. "I was affected by a terrible disease when I was younger. It's not contagious but I need to keep taking medicine to fight it off. Unfortunately one of my medicine's side effects is putting me to sleep and it leaves me groggy when I finally wake up. I'm not allowed to work in this state so this is now pretty much my day off."

Ace nearly jumped when the door slam open, a very familiar face standing before them, making Ace squeal in alarm and try to hide behind Marco. This couldn't be happening. Not now. Why was Gramps here of all places?! Couldn't they just have had Smoker responded to their case?! He was already here!

"You little brat! How dare you not come out and greet your grandfather!" Garp snarled but thankfully his precious saviour and lover sacrificed himself instead, approaching wearily.

"Vice Admiral? What are you doing here?"

"That's hardly a greeting either Smoker!" Gramps huffed. "And I've been assigned to the case here."

Ace nearly flinched when both his grandpa's and Pop's gazes met. He looked around the room, finding Luffy long gone, the sneaky shit. Strangely enough Law was gone now too, so that might have meant that Lu' kidnapped him?

"This is a family affair Garp." Pop's stated, shaking his head while Garp only laughed.

He let out an alarmed noise when Gramps began to approach, Marco tensing before him, looking agitated but Garp only laughed again.

"Don't fret, I just need to talk to my cheeky grandson for a moment." Ace let out a pained cry when he earned a 'Fist of Love', twitching as his gramps took him outside the waiting room, even against Marco's protest.

Pop's betrayed him though, sounding a bit more amused as he told Marco to leave it be. Ace obediently slumped, terrified into submission and not bothering to fight Garp as he dragged him over to a corner. He was dumped against a wall, his grandfather now staring at him seriously, with concern in his eyes which made Ace frown at the look.

"Has anyone came after you Ace?" Gramps asked quietly, one hand now on his shoulder, keeping him steady against the wall. "This could have been an attack on you. Does anyone new know about you?"

"Just the usual folk." Ace asked honestly. "You, Pops, Marco, Thatch, Izo, Luffy, Sabo, Law, Dr. Kureha and Smoker. Nobody else should know about me."

"That's still a lot of people." Garp grumbled, looking a bit peeved. "I can understand your brothers and Dr. Kureha considering she is your doctor and maybe at a push Whitebeard but your boyfriend too? And your friends? Why did you bother telling the Trafalgar brat? And those other Division Commanders?"

"I trust them."

"Ace we need to keep you safe got it? You can't tell anybody else. If people found out who you were they would come for you and they would try and hurt you for information that you definately don't have."

"I can take care of myself." Ace huffed, a bit irritated how nobody seemed to think he was able to.

Gramp's hand tightened on his shoulder. "You need to be careful Ace. If the wrong people found out then you would never get to have a normal life. Which is what you should be doing now instead of galivating around with crooks and getting yourself into trouble."

"They're my family?" Ace offered, earning a groan.

He loved his family. He would do anything for them. He thought Gramps would have noticed that by now.

.:End of Chapter:.

Hope you guys all had a great Christmas! Mine's was great fun, apart from my poor car's leaking again o.o (I now literally have ice stuck to the bottom of my car o.o) Anyway have a Happy New Year when it comes along! :D

SEllen23, It's always fun writing those two, especially Luffy scenes :D