Ace & Bandits
A week passed by without their grandpa showing up. But Law knew that couldn't last forever. He knew the old man was coming. And that morning he woke up to the familiar sound of their grandpa's laughter. Sitting up, he glanced down at Luffy. The young boy was still sound asleep. So he took the time to slip out and head to the stairs. Once there he stood at the top and listened in to their conversation.
"I really am sorry, Garp," Dr. Bay said. "I just can't stay here anymore."
"Don't worry about it," Garp said. "I was getting tired of my grandsons being influenced by pirates anyway."
Law twitched with annoyance. He wasn't being influenced by pirates at all.
"And I know I arrived just in time," Garp continued. "I hear that Shanks had given Luffy his hat when he was here last time."
"That's correct," Dr. Bay said. "He also saved Luffy's life from a sea king."
"So I have heard," Garp said. "He wouldn't have gotten himself into that predicament if he wasn't messing around with those pirates and mountain bandits. Such a brat."
"Where will you take them now?" Dr. Bay asked.
Law's breath hitched.
"I'm going to take them up to Mt. Corvo," Garp said. "I have some people up there that will be more than willing to watch over them for me."
"Mt. Corvo?" Law asked himself. "Grandpa's been up that way before. I wonder why he goes up there."
"All right, Law," Garp said, making the boy jump. "You come on down here. I know you're there."
Swallowing, Law wandered down the stairs. Garp and Dr. Bay were sitting across from each other at the table.
"You should know better than to ease drop on your elders like that," Garp said.
"I'm sorry," Law said. "I was…just curious where you were going to take us."
"Well, I guess you know now," Garp said. "Is Luffy up yet?"
"No, sir," Law said.
"He better get up soon," Garp said. "It way passed sunrise."
"I can go wake him up," Law said. "When are we leaving?"
"As soon as possible," Garp said. "I have to get back soon to Navy headquarters."
"Garp, if you would," Dr. Bay said. "I'd like to have one last meal with the boys before we part ways."
"I suppose that would be fine," Garp said. "Law, go get Luffy up."
"Yes, sir." Law turned and headed back upstairs. Walking back into their room, he was hit with a huge dose of nostalgia. But it wasn't from leaving this place. It was from something else. Something more painful. He just couldn't figure out what it was. His eyes landed on Luffy. The boy was hanging half off the bed now with his mouth hanging wide open. He knew Luffy was going to hate what was about to come. Still, he woke the sleeping boy up. "Luffy, get up."
"Sleepy," Luffy said. He rolled over and fell onto the floor. "Ouch!"
"You're rubber," Law said. "How could that hurt you?"
"It just did! Okay?!" Luffy sat up and grabbed his head.
"Just get up and get dressed," Law said. He walked over to his dresser and pulled out some clothes. "Grandpa's here." He paused. Part of him wanted to tell Luffy they were leaving, but he couldn't bring himself to do so. "Dr. Bay is cooking us all breakfast."
"What?!" Luffy gasped. "Grandpa's here?!"
"Yeah, he's here," Law said, leaving the room. He wasn't surprised at all when Luffy followed him. The boy always did. It was rare for Law to have the bathroom all to himself in the morning. Most of the time didn't care. But some times he wished Luffy would give him more privacy. When they both were done and dressed they headed downstairs.
"Hey, Grandpa!" Luffy said.
Law watched as Luffy purposefully sat on the opposite side of the table of their grandpa before he sat down beside the old man. He glanced over at Dr. Bay. That old man was standing at the stove cooking and looking more miserable than every. He sighed and just stared down at the table while waiting for breakfast.
"So I see that Shanks has given you his hat," Garp said. "Boy, what am I going to do with you?"
"I love this hat!" Luffy said, pulling the hat farther down on his head. "Shanks saved me too!"
"He wouldn't have had to save you if you were being a stupid little moron!" Garp said.
Law sighed internally. These two would always be at odds with each other. He could just see the old man coming back from the grave, once he died, to argue with Luffy over how stupid he was being.
"I was standing up for Shanks' crew!" Luffy said.
"It was stupid!" Garp said.
"I don't care! I'm going to be a great pirate one day!" Luffy said.
"No, you're not! You're going to be a marine!" Garp said.
"I don't want to be a marine!" Luffy said.
"You're going to be one anyway!" Garp said. "Why can't you be more like Law? He's making a good choice in becoming a doctor for the Navy!"
Law chuckled internally. He never wanted to be part of the Navy either. He just wanted to be a doctor. But he was considering the Navy if it would keep Garp from yelling at him. There was time for that decision later. He wasn't any where near ready to become one. He still had a lot of studying to do. So he had no idea when exactly he was going to become a doctor.
"Breakfast is ready," Dr. Bay said.
Law grimaced at the meager meal Dr. Bay had put out on the table. The eggs were runny, the bacon and toast burnt, and the oranges had been peeled terribly. Still, he ate without a grumble, minus the bread of course. He once again gave that to Luffy.
"Boys, I want to thank you for the joys you have given me these past few years," Dr. Bay said once they were near being done eating.
"Hm? What are you talking about?" Luffy asked.
"I can no longer take care of you," Dr. Bay said. "It's too sad for me to live here. So I'm leaving this island to join some other family."
"We're moving to another island?" Luffy asked.
"No, Luffy," Dr. Bay said. "I'm leaving. You are staying here."
"But who's going to take care of us?" Luffy looked at Garp. "Is that why you're here? You're going to be taking care of us?"
"Not quite," Garp said. "I'm taking you up to Mt. Corvo to live with some mountain bandits."
"What?! I don't want to live with stupid mountain bandits!" Luffy screamed.
"Well, too bad!" Garp replied. "You have no choice!"
"We can live here! On our own!" Luffy said.
"No! You can't! You're just kids! You need an adult around to take care of you!" Garp said.
"I am an adult!" Luffy jumped up and ran for the door. "I'm staying!"
"Luffy! You get back here!" Garp followed his grandson.
"Just great," Law said.
"They're going to be a while," Dr. Bay said. "And there's something I want you to have."
"What is it?" Law asked.
"Law, I want you to have all of my doctor books," Dr. Bay said.
"But why? Aren't you going to need them?" Law asked.
"No." Dr. Bay shook his head. "I'm getting too old to be a doctor. Once I leave this place, I'll be hanging up my stethoscope for good."
"I wish you wouldn't," Law said. "You're too good to just quit."
"We must reach this point at some time in our lives, Law," Dr. Bay said. "The time has come for me to pass it along. And I pass it to you. I've taught you all I could. Take the books with you, Law. Keep them and continue to study. I know you'll become a great doctor some day."
Law nodded. The next couple hours became a blur for him as he packed up his and Luffy's clothes. Part of him wished Luffy was here to help him, but another part of him was grateful for the silence. It made packing quicker. He knew his grandpa would be back soon with Luffy in his hold. Time seemed to still as he waited and packed. Moving didn't seem right. But what could he do? They were just kids. They had to do what they were told. Even if they rebelled against Garp the old man would just carry them to their new home. He knew that was already going to happen with Luffy.
"Law!" Garp bellowed.
"Let me go!" Luffy shouted.
Law sighed. He was correct. Luffy was in their grandpa's hold. This was going to be a loud trip to their new home. But then what wasn't loud with Luffy around?
"Law, get down here! We're leaving!" Garp shouted.
"Coming," Law murmured. Grabbing the bag of their clothes, and his book, he headed out of the room. Forcing himself not to look back into the room, he kept his eyes on the floor as he clomped downstairs. There his grandpa was standing in the door with Luffy in his hand and his pack of books on his shoulders. Law was grateful the old man had picked them up. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to carrying everything himself.
"Let's go," Garp said, heading out the door.
Law glanced back into the room. Dr. Bay was nowhere in sight. He wondered if the doctor was even in the house or if he had already left. With what little they always had, he couldn't tell if the doctor was going to take anything with him or just leave it all behind. Either way, he followed after his grandpa, closing the door to their home.
The trek through the woods and up the mountain was a noisy one like he thought it would be. But Law said nothing as he walked behind his grandpa and Luffy on the worn trail. Glancing over to his right, he could see some of the forest creatures watching them curiously. It made him wonder how big the animals were going to be out here. He was glad for his Devil Fruit. At least he had something to protect himself with out here.
"Grandpa, what I'm saying is I'll becoming King of the Pirates!" Luffy said, hanging from his cheek in their grandfather's hand.
"Cut the crap!" Garp said.
"Ouch! Let go!" Luffy shouted.
"On top of eating the Devil Fruit, you're talking such nonsense!" Garp said.
"Luffy, both you, Ace, and Law must become the strongest Navy soldiers ever," Garp said.
"Who's Ace?" Law wondered. But with the ruckus Luffy was making, Garp didn't hear him.
"Ow, ow, ow, dang it! Let me go!" Luffy said. "My body is made of rubber! Why does this hurt so much?! Let me go, Grandpa!"
"It was a mistake to leave you two in the Windmill Village! Of all things, you had to like pirates?! What a fool! You can't make friends with Red Haired Shanks!" Garp said.
Law sighed as Luffy grabbed a hold of a tree that they were passing. He could already see what was going to happen next in his mind. The tree was going to snap and hit Luffy and Garp. He watched as the roots started to give way.
"I want to become…" The tree snapped then smacked into them. "…a strong man like Shanks!"
"Hey!" Garp said.
Law sighed again. "They're always going to fight. They're like daylight and dark."
He turned his attention back to the worn path they were walking on. Considering how far they were up the mountain and in the forest, the path was used a lot. It made him wonder why. He would get his answer soon as they walked upon a medium size house in a clearing. He tilted his head, assuming this was their new home at their grandpa stepped up to the door and pounded on it.
"What is this place?" Luffy asked.
"Stop it! Whoever you are, do you want to get killed?!" a voice yelled from inside of the house.
Law blinked when a rather large woman with orange haired, wearing earrings, and cigarette in her mouth busted out the door.
"It's me," Garp said.
"What?! G-Garp?!" She jumped back out of shock, Law assumed. He looked passed her to see two guys sticking their heads out to see what hall the commotion was about. They were just as strange looking as she was. One had a red haired mohawk and the other was short with some kind of wrap around his head. The sight of them sunk Law's heart. He started missing the doctor even more. He didn't want to be around anymore strange people. Luffy was enough for him.
"You're looking good," Garp said.
"Give me a break! Please, you got to have mercy on me!" the woman said. "Ace is ten years old now!"
"Who's Ace?" Law asked again only to get ignored again.
"Oh yeah, already? How is he doing?" Garp asked.
"It's not funny," one of the men said. "We can't handle him anymore! You have to take him back!"
Law pulled his eyes away from the three new people to look at Luffy. Like always, his little brother was running around carefree. He shook his head. Luffy's emotions were like the wind. You never knew which way they were going to blow. One minute the rubber boy is angry, the next he's happy. It annoyed him to no end.
"Putting that aside," Garp said.
"Don't put it aside!" the man said.
"You're annoying, kids!" the woman said.
Garp grabbed Luffy by his shirt when the young boy runs by and holds him up. "Look after these two, too. Hey, Luffy and Law, say hi to them."
"Yo!" Luffy waved.
"Hi," Law said.
"Who are those kids?" the shorter guy asked.
"They're my grandsons," Garp said.
"What?! Two more?! Their Garp's…Garp's grandsons?! We can't!" the three shout.
"All right then, here's your choice," Garp said, arms crossed after dropping Luffy back to the ground. "Do you want to spend all your life in prison or raise them? There are many crimes you have committed that I've overlooked."
"Come on!" all three shout.
"Could you at least introduce yourselves?" Law asked.
"Shut up, kid!" the woman snapped.
"That's Dadan." Garp pointed at them as he said their names. "That's Dogra and Magra. The others are probably inside. They'll have to introduce themselves later."
"Right." Law nodded. That would explain why the path is so well worn. There were multiple people living here. He glanced passed the three and into the open door. He could only see wooden walls. No one else seemed to be around. Or they were in another area of the house that he couldn't see.
"Well, I don't want to get arrested but…" Magra said.
"Sometimes I think that maybe it's better to be in prison than take care of Ace," Dogra said.
"But you want us to look after your grandsons, too? I bet they'll be monsters, too!" Dadan shouted.
"Hey! I'm not a monster!" Law snapped.
"Crappy shack!" Luffy said.
"You want to fight, you little brats?!" Dadan screamed. But Luffy ran off like he didn't even hear her. Law knew he didn't. His little brother was the best when it came to selective hearing. "Not listening!"
Law turns and watched Luffy run around the area. Suddenly, a blob of spit came from the trees and landed on his cheek. He cringed as Luffy wiped it off. His eyes then wondered towards the direction the spit came from. A freckled faced boy about their age was sitting on top of an animal with a scowl on his face.
Luffy said, "What is this?! Ugh, spit! Gross! Who did this?!" He walked over to Ace. "Hey, you! Say sorry! It's gross!"
"Ace!" Garp said.
"Huh?" Law watched Garp walk over to the boy. "So that's Ace."
"Are you back, Ace?" Magra asked.
"Hey! Say you're sorry!" Luffy said.
"Luffy, Law, this is Ace. He's three years older than you," Garp said. "You two are going to live here with them from today on."
"That's just great," Law grumbled.
"What?! You can't just do that!" Dadan said.
Garp hit Luffy. "Be nice."
"It's decided just like that?!" Dadan asked.
"Any problem with that?" Garp asked.
"What?! We'll take him!" the three said.
Law sighed. He knew that was coming. This old man had a way of getting what he wanted.
"That's all from me. I'll stop by when I have time," Garp said, sitting Law's books down.
"Thanks," Law said, despite not feeling any joy in his chest.
"Uh, what about some child support?" Dadan asked.
"Put it on my bill," Garp said while he walked away.
"This is not a bar," Dadan said.
"You're always welcome!" Dogra said.
"Boss, we can't take care of two more kids!" Magra said.
Law turned back to his brother just in time to see him follow Ace inside of the house. Instead of following the two, he remained outside and looked around his surroundings. His heart sank. He already didn't like it here. A ruckus from inside caused him to grab his books, turn, and enter into their new home. He looked around the hall. It was plan; lacking any sort of pictures. "So where's our room?"
"Huh?" Dogra turned and looked at him. "Oh, down the hall and to the right. You and Luffy will be staying with Ace in that room."
"Thanks." Law hosted his books back up and headed down the hall. Coming to the room on his right, he entered it. There was only one bedroll on the floor. He assumed, or hoped, that they at least got one as well. With another sigh threatening to pass over his lips, he moved farther into the room. He placed their clothes and his books down in the corner of the room. He glanced around again, hoping to find a lantern he could use to study with. Not feeling like going out to be with the others, he sat down and pulled out one of his medical books. He opened it but barely registered any of the words that were staring back at him. He just couldn't get focused on reading. Some voices passed by the room, all complaining about having to watch two more kids. Law couldn't agree more with them. He wanted out too. His mind began to calculate how quick they could get out of here. It wasn't quick enough.
Before long the smell of meat leaked into the room. It pulled him away from his book and back out into the hall. He followed the smell to a larger room. There several bandits had gathered just as Dadan placed a pile of meat on the floor. He walked over and sat down by a square hole in the floor where a fire was. Dadan was sitting there as well. She handed him a bowl of rice. He took it and looked up just in time to see the bandits piling on top of the meat like a pack of rabid dogs. He was glad to not be very hungry. He might have lost an entire arm trying to get some meat.
"Can I have some more, Pops?" Luffy asks after finishing his rice.
"I'm a woman! Do you even know where you are now?!" Dadan screamed.
"No," Luffy said.
"Then I'll tell you. This is the den of the Dadan family, mountain bandits that rule Mt. Corvo!" Dadan said.
"Mountain bandits? I hate mountain bandits," Luffy said.
Dadan pulled out a knife and jammed it into the floor. "Shut up, you little punk! We're annoyed by having a kid like you around! If you don't want to stay here, that's fine! Go away and die like a dog somewhere!"
"Easy, easy, boss," Magra said.
"I want to eat more. I want to have meat, too," Luffy said as a stream of drool spilled over his lips as he watched Ace rip into a piece of meat.
Law groaned and rubbed his forehead in frustration when Luffy snapped like a piranha as Dadan dangled a piece of meat just out of Luffy's reach. "You're so pathetic, Luffy."
"This meat is from a bison that Ace brought home. He gave us a cut of the take so everybody can eat. The mountain bandits' world is rough sailing. You're going to have to work pretty hard from now on. Cleaning, laundry, polishing shoes, and weapons, burglary, robbery, fraud, and murder! Remember you can't tell Garp what we make you do! One bowl of rice and one glass of water for a day! That's all I can guarantee you. You've got to get everything else buy yourself and grow up on your own," Dadan said.
"Okay," Luffy said.
"Okay?! Why don't you cry or something?!" Dadan shriek.
"I'm fine because Grandpa threw me into a jungle once and there was water to drink and frogs, snakes, and mushrooms to eat in the forest. Plus, I'll become a pirate someday so I must be strong like that!" Luffy said.
Jungle? I don't remember Luffy being thrown into a jungle. Law narrowed his eyebrows and stared into his bowl of rice. The memory wasn't striking a cord with him at all. If Luffy was really his twin then he should have remembered that. The sound of something hitting the floor brought his eyes back up. The woman had fallen over, probably from Luffy's revelation about surviving the jungle. Luffy then jumped up and ran after Ace who headed for the door.
"Wait! Where are you going?! Did you just say pirate?!" Dadan asks. "He's not listening!"
"Welcome to my world," Law said. "And, yes, he did say pirate."
"No way! I don't want to take care of Garp's grandsons at all!" Dadan said.
"Easy, easy, boss," Magra said.
"No!" Dadan said.
Law sighed. "If it makes you feel any better, nether one of us wants to be here either. But we have no choice. We're just going to have to make the best of it."
"You seem a lot more mature than Luffy," Dogma said. "Are you two sure you're related?"
"I've been wondering that a lot lately myself," Law said.
"What?" Dogma asked.
"Nothing." Law finished his rice and placed the bowl down before standing up to head for his new room. "I'm going to study."
The men mumbled something as he went but he didn't stop to listen to them. He just made his way to his and Luffy's new room and sat with his books. Time passed fairly slow as he ran his eyes over the words before him. Eventually, he placed his book down and left the room. Just as he made his way into the hall Ace walked through the door carrying a large fish.
"Where's Luffy? I thought he was with you," Magra said.
"I don't know nor do I care where he is," Ace said.
"He was following you," Law said.
"He's not my responsibility," Ace said.
Law frowned. Ace did have a point. But he could have at least made sure Luffy got back safely. Pushing it aside, Law walked passed Ace and stepped outside. His eyes scanned the darkening jungle around him. He wanted to go out looking for Luffy but knew it would be stupid. Luffy could be anywhere. And it was getting dark. He had no choice but to go back into the house and wait to see if Luffy showed up. He found himself wondering down the hall to the fire room. Peering inside he found Dogma and Magra slicing up the fish. "Need any help?"
"You want to help?" Magra asked.
"Sure." Law shrugged. "I don't mind. I could make some onigiri."
"Onigiri, huh?" Dogra said.
"Yeah." Law nodded. "It's one of my best dishes."
"Sounds good to me," Dogra said.
"It goes best with grilled fish," Law said.
"We can grill the fish," Magra said.
"I'll get started on the onigiri," Law said. Walking over to the cabinets, he pulled out the necessary items he would need. He then washed his hand and set out to mold the rice.
"Get a hold on yourself, boss!" Dogra said.
"What did you say?" Dadan asked.
"I said it's not good that we lost him on the first say," Dogra said.
"Who cares?! If he dies, he dies!" Dadan said.
"Garp's going to kill us," Magra said.
"First of all, why should we look after Garp's grandsons?!" Dadan pours her more sake. "We're not nannies! He has to take care of his own grandsons!"
"Why don't you say that to him?" Magra asked.
"You have a problem?" Dadan asked.
Law listened to the three speaking across the hall from him. He was still working on the onigiri and wondering where Luffy was. As much as he wanted to go out and looked for Luffy, he knew better. Going out into an unknown jungle at night was stupid. He would have to wait until tomorrow.
…
Law sighed as he walked back to the house. One week has passed since Luffy disappeared from following Ace. He had gone out each day since, trying to figure out where his little brother went. He found nothing. Pausing at the door, he looked back at the jungle, hoping to see Luffy. Nothing. He went inside. Passing by everyone, he entered into their shared room. Just as he sat down shout broke through the house.
"Luffy! Where the heck have you been?! DO you have any idea how worried I've been about you?!"
Law jumped up and bolted outside. He grabbed Luffy in a hug. "Luffy! You idiot! Where the heck have you been?!" He pulled back to look at Luffy's injures. He didn't get a good enough look as Dadan grabbed Luffy by the cheek and pulled.
"I've been chased by wolves at the bottom of the valley," Luffy said.
"What were you doing at the bottom of the valley?" Dogra asked. "Anyway, it's nice that you're okay."
"Yeah." Magra nodded.
"It's not okay! The pest came back!" Dadan said. She grabs him and takes him into Ace's room. "Why don't you go to bed tonight?! You got work to do tomorrow! Already?!"
"Idiot," Law murmured as he followed Dadan into the house. He wasn't exactly sure who he was calling an idiot, Dadan or Luffy. Perhaps he meant both. They both were being stupid after all. Sighing, he sat down and turned on the lantern he had acquired. Opening his book he read over the material on how to fix a damaged intestine.
…
Law looked up from his book and stared at a piece of the blue sky through the leaves of the trees. A month had passed since they were brought to his place. And things were oddly normal. Luffy constantly went after Ace when the freckled face boy disappeared into the jungle. And each time Luffy came back with more cuts, scrapes, and bruises. He tired to talk Luffy out of following Ace, but it was to no avail. Luffy just wouldn't listen to anyone once he had his mind set on something. So all he could do was continue to study so he could fix up Luffy's wounds. But today something felt off. Something told him he needed to go after Luffy.
"Where they went?" Dogra said. "Well, sometimes Ace goes towards the Grey Terminal. They might be there."
"Thanks." Law shifted his pack of medical supplies and headed of to find them. The forest snapped out at him, scraping him up but he didn't care. He only knew he needed to find Luffy. Iron then found its way to his nose. His heart pounded hard against his chest. He broke through a bunch of giant leaves and paused. There they were. Ace and Luffy and some blonde boy he's never see before. "What the heck?! Luffy! What happened to you all?! You're bleeding like crazy!"
"Nothing happened," Ace said.
"Don't give me that crap!" Law snapped. Pulling out his medical supplies he started taking care of Luffy's injuries. "I'm not stupid! How did you get so badly injured?! Tell me right now or I'm going to tell Dadan and Garp about this!"
"Fine," Ace said before telling them everything about what happened between them and Bluejam.
"That's just stupid," Law said. "This whole thing is just stupid. How did it get to this? Just yesterday we were sitting on a peaceful island and eating a big meal thanks to Neo and Sanji."
"What?" Luffy asked. "Who're Neo and Sanji?"
"What do you mean?" Law asked. He looked up at Luffy then over at Ace and Sabo. All three of them were looking at him like he just sprouted a second head. "Okay. Why are you all looking at me like that?"
"Yesterday you were at Dadan's," Ace said.
"Why did you say we were out on an island?" Luffy asked. "And who's Neo and Sanji?"
"I don't know," Law said. "I don't know anyone with those names."
"Then why did you say their names?" Sabo asked.
"I don't know," Law said. "I don't even know what you're talking about."
"And I thought Luffy was strange," Ace said. "Sounds like you're just as weird as he is."
"You three aren't making any sense," Law said placing a bandage on Luffy's cheek.
"Ouch! Not so hard!" Luffy said.
"Shut up," Law said. "You three really take the cake." After finishing Luffy, he got up and took care of Sabo and Ace. "There. That should do it. Let me know if anything gets infected."
"You have a bad habit, Ace, did you know that?" Sabo said as he leaned against a cliff. He looked up at Ace. The freckled faced boy was wrapping tape around his pipe. "When faced with a real pirate it's best to run! Why do you have such a death wish?"
"This one doesn't feel right," Ace said taking a swing with his pipe. "I liked the one I had."
"We made a very stupid mistake. The Bluejam clan won't forgive us," Sabo said. "They'll come after us."
"Oh, that was scary! I thought I was going to die!" Luffy cried.
"Don't cry," Law said sitting down beside Luffy. "You made the decision to follow them."
"You're so annoying! Shut up! Stop crying already!" Ace yelled. "I don't like cowards or people who cry a lot!"
"Thank you." Luffy bowed his head. "You helped me!"
"You little brat! How dare you say that to me!" Ace snapped and scrambled to rip Luffy apart but Sabo held him back.
"Whoa, he's just being thankful," Sabo said.
"Why didn't you cough it up in the first place?" Ace asked. "They're kind of people who'd kill women and kids without hesitation!"
"I thought if I said anything you wouldn't be my friend," Luffy said.
"It's better than dying, isn't it?" Ace asked. "Why do you want to become my friend that much?"
"Because…" Luffy said.
"Didn't I give you a hard time until now?" Ace asked. "How could you follow me this far?"
"Because…because I don't have nobody else besides Law to trust!" Luffy said. "I can't go back to Windmill Village and I don't like the mountain bandits! And Law does nothing but study because he wants to be a doctor!"
Guilt hammered into Law. Did he really spend that much time studying? He thought back over the passed month but for some reason he couldn't remember anything. His mind was a huge black and empty void. He murmured, "That's odd."
"If I didn't follow you, I'd be all alone!" Luffy said. "Being lonely is more painful than getting hurt!"
"Where are you parents?" Ace asked.
"Grandpa and Law are all I have," Luffy said.
"Is it easy for you when I'm around?"
"Yes!"
"Is it hard without me?"
"Uh huh."
"Do you want me to live?"
"Of course I do," Luffy said.
"What about you, Law?" Ace asked.
"Yeah, I guess so," Law said snapping out of his thoughts. "I'm becoming a doctor. So it's not normal for me to wish for people to die."
"I see. But I don't like spoiled kids like you." Ace turns his back to them.
"I'm not spoiled! I'm strong!" Luffy jumped off the cliff he was sitting on.
"Strong?! You're not strong at all! You cry like a girl!" Ace yelled.
"Have you ever gotten hit by a spiky thing?! I'm only seven! When I become your age, ten, I'll stop crying and become stronger!" Luffy said.
Law sighed and rubbed his temples. Why did everyone he came around have to yell all of the time?
"I wouldn't cry even if I were seven, stupid! I'm not like you!" Ace said.
"I'm going to become stronger than anyone! I promised Shanks I'd become a great pirate!" Luffy replied.
"You become a pirate?!"
"Yes!"
"No way!
"Yes way!"
"Is he always like this?" Sabo asked walking over to Law.
"Yup. How about Ace?" Law nodded.
"Yup." Sabo said. "Okay, that's enough!" He pushes the two arguing boys apart. "Hey, by the way, I have a little problem."
"What problem?" Luffy asked.
"Bluejam and the others will try to kill the three of us after this for sure, right?" Sabo asked.
"Well, I think so," Ace said.
"I say that's a safe bet from what you've told me," Law said.
"This forest that I've been living in is close to where they are, the Cove of Pirates," Sabo said walking away from them a bit. "What if they attack me when I fall asleep exhausted?"
"Then they'll kill you," Ace said.
"Yeah! They'll kill you," Luffy said. "Right?"
"That's why I need your help," Sabo said, turning back to them. "Huddle up, guys."
…
"You know Dadan isn't going to be happy about this," Law said as they headed back to Dadan's house. "She's going to scream a lot about this."
"It's not like we got a choice," Sabo said.
"Fine," Law said. "But don't say I didn't warn you."
"Is that it?" Sabo asked a little while later when the house came into view.
"It sure is," Luffy said.
Law sighed. The other three ran ahead of him. He followed them but reluctantly. Once inside he found they were instantly asleep, partly piled on top of each other as they had their legs crossed. He shook his head. A heavy wave of sleep passed over his body. He laid down and tried to get some sleep. But he was restless. Images passed through his mind all night long, as did voices. He saw Luffy, Ace, and Sabo fighting. A large fire had broken out somewhere. All kinds of voices yelled out but among them were one that stuck out the most. They sung a soft melody that made him want to set out to sea and spoke of changing your destiny.