An Eventful Day, Chapter Four

For twenty minutes now, I stared at the ceiling in my bedroom, comfortably lying down on my bed. Last night had been quite tiring. Between the monsters known as my nephew and niece, who didn't let go of me one second during the evening, and Luffy who was just as excited as them, the first thing I did when I got back home was collapse on my bed without bothering taking my clothes off to put on my pyjamas. Seconds later, I was fast asleep.

Thanks to the strange conversation I had with my sister, my night was punctuated with weird dreams where I was a child again. Law, in his adult self, proclaimed his love to me in a non-him fashion, with roses and chocolates. Then, Ace appeared out of nowhere and said that I was HIS girlfriend. The two of them got in a fight. Aaaaand, I woke up. Let's just say that I was still confused from my dream (nightmare), which would explain my staring contest.

Since I was not going to stay in that position all day long, I slowly got up. My blanket fell on my side as I was putting my feet on the ground. I noticed that it was only 8h20 in the morning. I sighed. I didn't get to enjoy sleeping in on a day off because of my horrible dream. I got to my drawer with a grunt and searched for random t-shirt and shorts. I lazily put them on without bothering to put on socks before exiting my room. I stopped and listened. Only the regular sound of the clock could be heard in the kitchen. Which meant Law was still asleep. I murmured a silence Yes! and made my way through the hallway. I got myself a quick breakfast that consisted of a bowl of cereals, some fruits and a big glass of milk before going in the living room. I put them on the little table beside the couch and I slouched down on the furniture. I nonchalantly took the remote to turn on the TV.

The first channel to pop up was the news. I immediately changed it. Then came a child's program. I didn't even wait for it to appear on screen before changing again. CSI New York? I considered the option before choosing against it. It wasn't a bad show, but each episode resembled the last, so… Furthermore, half of it already played. Then, the first movie of Harry Potter popped up. I thought for a couple of seconds and put down the remote on the table to get up against my will. I can't even count how many times I watched that movie, I could recite the entire script if I wanted to, even before the characters themselves said it. I approached the television and crouched down in front of it, where the DVD drawer was. Law should have some good series or movies in there. I started my search, and got immediately disappointed. The first few DVDs were documentaries. Awesome. Then, slowly but surely, different movies showed up, some as old as the 80s. The more I dug up, the more I started to worry. What if I find porno in there? I think I would be traumatise for life if I ever found one in here. But he wouldn't leave them in the open, right? Or maybe I was just worried over nothing, maybe he didn't have one at all. Still, he's a man, and he has needs like all of us…

I shook my head like a madman while grimacing. No need to traumatise myself! I didn't want to have even worst nightmares tonight..

Then, like a savior, my eyes caught sign of something to alter my train of thoughts. The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It has been a century since I watched those movies! But the short versions were three hours each, and I still had to make lunch.. I just had to do the two things at the same time. It was one of the perks to have both room across from each other.

Without delay, I took the package and opened it. I carefully took out the first movie and put it in the DVD player. I bolted towards the couch and comfortably vouched myself on it.

During long minutes, I just sat there watching peacefully while eating my breakfast. Just as Frodo and Sam were meeting up with Merry and Pippin, I heard loud and dragging footsteps coming from the hallway. I glanced over my shoulder to see Law emerging from the door frame, his messy hair and dark circles illuminating his face. He lazily scratched his belly with a yawn. Then, he finally noticed the turned-on TV that I was watching. He stared at it a couple of seconds before speaking.

"What are you doing?"

What I was doing? Is he blind or something? Maybe he wants me to draw him a picture.

"I'm watching a movie?" I raised an eyebrow.

He smirked at me like I was dumb. That fuelled a little bit my wrath.

"You know" he began, like I was 4 years old, "the chores won't get done on their own. Laundry neither."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"It's only 8am! I can do them this afternoon!" I protested.

He didn't say a word, he just kept on staring at me. I was losing my patience.

"And even so, why am I always the one doing chores?" I was starting to get mad. "I always cook each dish, you can at least help me clean the house! Why don't you take your part of the charges, uh?!"

If he was losing his patience, he didn't let it show. He remained calm to answer.

"Who pays rent? Food? Electricity? Internet?"

"My parents offered you to pay for my part, you were the one who refused!"

I fixed him angrily, and he remained unfazed, like always. Our competition went on until I was the one to give up. When he was like that, I didn't have any chance to win and make him go back on his words, or even change his mind. I sighed furiously and got up against my will while taking my dirty dishes. I passed him by staring at him, and he just smirked deviously before taking my place and continuing where I left off. I cursed him under my breath as I was putting my dishes in the sink. I had to get prepared for a morning full of cleaning, folding and scrubbing.

xXxXxXxXxXx

After cleaning the floors with the vacuum cleaner, dusting the entire house, washing and folding the laundry, cleaning the bathroom, cooking lunch and doing the dishes, I finally finished doing the chores for today (at least until Law find something else for me to do). I could finally relax, and I was quite proud of the amount of work I did in such a short time. I could finally do what I wanted. Since I wanted to move a little, I decided to play my old game of Dance Dance Revolution on Playstation 2. I went to my room to get my console and brought it to the living room only to realize Law was still hauled down on the couch, watching TV. Didn't he have something better to do? Like correct homework or prepare his next course for Monday?

"Laaaw?" I sweetly said to coax him.

He didn't as much as move a muscle to show me he heard what I said. I didn't let that discourage me and I posted myself in front of him.

"Can you leave me your place so I can play my game?"

He finally fixed his eyes on me, bored as always.

"Come on! I did everything you asked of me! I deserve a reward, don't you think?" I begged him.

He just sat there, looking at me for a couple of seconds, without any reaction. Then, he returned to watch the television, which I took for a yes. I put down the console in front of the TV and plugged it in. I turned it on and returned to my bedroom so I could go find my pad, which was under my bed. I took the game case and came back to the living room. I installed my pad on the ground, plugged it in the console and put the game inside of it. While I waited for the screen to pop up, I looked over my shoulder. Law stared in front of him with a bored expression. He had the intention of staying there and watch me play? I preferred not, but.. Let's just say that having his eyes fixed on my back while I played didn't enchant me.

I tried my best to ignore him and focus on the screen. I choose the free mode and picked a random song. I fixed the difficulty and launched the song. I haven't even done half of it When I heard laugh resonating behind me. I ignored it, but as the song was progressing, the laugh just intensified. When it was over, I quickly turned around and glared angrily at Law, and he miserably failed at concealing his laugh.

"Is there something you found funny?" I furiously asked.

He still laughed as he answered.

"Is this supposed to be dancing?" He asked, teasing.

I looked at the ceiling, exasperated.

"It's a game! How do you want it to resemble dancing when the only thing I'm doing is stepping on arrows?"

He stifled another laugh.

"You mostly look like a trout trying to dance."

My mouth fell. Did he just call me a trout? My eyes threw daggers.

"And you, you're an expert at dancing, I bet?!" I viciously said.

He displayed his signature disturbing smirk. He slowly got up and walked over to me. Without a warning, he placed his hand on the small of my back and took my hand in his to get me flush against his chest. My eyes doubled size. What the hell was he doing?

He gently took a step forward, two step back, and he smoothly guided my steps. Too stunned to react, I just let him do what he wanted. Just like a puppet in his arms, he led me forward, backward, to the left, to the right, he made me spin around. My movements were in perfect synchronisation with his, as if our two bodies were one. He took us across the entire room, his movements with a surprising elegance to them. Bepo looked at us as a mere bystander, hypnotised by the gestures of his owner. The fact that no music was playing in the room didn't even phase Law. Then, to end our "dance", he softly lowered my back, just like in movies.

He slowly brought me up with a delicacy that I didn't know he possessed. My body was again flushed against him and he stayed still for a couple of seconds. My forehead barely went to his shoulder. I could smell a faint scent of spices and cologne. My head spun. Why did he not let me go? My heart skipped a beat. My cheeks burned hot. Close. He was too close!

Just then, the phone decided to ring. It made us jump, and quietly, he released me. I almost bolted to the telephone and took a deep breath before answering.

"Hello?"

"Hey Cerys, it's Nami!" Said an energic voice on the other line.

I sighed. She had incredible timing. Then, a terrifying thought got to me. What if it was Law that answered instead of me? I would have been in big trouble.. Maybe it was time for me to buy a cellphone.

"Are you free now, like immediately?" She suddenly asked.

During a split second, my eyes wandered around the room. Law had disappeared.

"I am. Why?"

"Well…"

xXxXxXxXxXx

"Look at that skirt, it's so cute! Do you think it would look good on me?" Asked my friend as she admired a little white skirt on display in a window shop.

She fixed the object she lusted for before her gaze caught the numerous bags in her hands.

"Don't you think you bought enough clothes for today?" I made a remark with a nod towards her bags.

She looked at them a while before gazing up and shrugging her shoulders.

"Maybe you're right." She admitted.

She started to walk again on the sidewalk. I followed her. When the redhead called me, it was so I could escort her while she shopped. And I could observe how good of a negotiator she was. She managed to obtain 50% off articles she pursued in a clothing store a few minutes ago. She can be real persuasive when she wanted to. Poor employee that had to go through her negotiation. He almost cried when we exited the store. Nami was frightening when she wanted to. Even I had cold sweats running down my spine.

A small gust of wind passed through us and brought me back to earth. I raised my head and closed my eyes to enjoy the hot rays of sunshine. With my hurried self earlier, motivated by my need to get out of the house, I totally forgot my camera at home, lonely sitting at my desk. I regretted it deeply right about now. All the great photos I could have took…

I sadly sighed and caught up with Nami who was a little ahead of me. My gaze wandered around lazily and stopped at a certain shop. The window showed proudly vivid orange colours and dark scary black. Specialised in multiple holidays, the shop lived up to its name: the masters of celebration. And since Halloween was in a near future, their exterior dressed in the usually colours of that dreadful day. Many decorations were available, as well as candies that made me drool. And above all, they sold a variety of costumes, all of them as extravagant as it could get. I abruptly stopped Nami by grabbing her wrist. She almost let go of her bags. She stared at me, her gaze a mixture of surprise and anger. I didn't acknowledge the daggers she was sending my way and I pointed at the shop with my finger.

"I want to go there!"

I didn't wait for her answer, I just dragged her behind me and I walked across the street. I opened the front door and heard the bell announce my presence. A woman at the counter happily welcomed me. I did the same before finally letting go of my friend so I could start my treasure hunting. I eagerly scanned the shelfs. Like a child inside a candy shop, I lost control of myself. I rushed over the costume section. Nami reluctantly followed me.

"You know that Halloween is still more than one month away, right? You have plenty of time to look for a costume until them." She tried to reason me.

Her words fell on deaf ears.

"Maybe, but I prefer to go early so I can find the perfect one!"

She sighed loudly, but decided it was futile to try and make me change my mind. She absentmindedly looked around while I avidly searched on my end. I showed her some costumes, asking her which one was better and looked best on me, and without realising, she got influenced by my festive mindset. I was now looking through witch costumes when she asked me a question.

"Why do you love this holiday so much?"

I smiled before returning to my search.

"There is two reasons for that. First, I just love to disguise myself!"

I showed her a fairy costume. She sharply shook her head. I put it back in his place on the shelf with a pout.

"And second, I was born on that day."

She flashed me surprised eyes.

"Your birthday is the 31st of October?"

I nodded. She stopped talking for a bit. After all, I had an unusual birthday. I was born the same day as Halloween, the same day as my favorite detective*! Suddenly, I remembered something. Another person I knew was born on the month of October. The 6th of October, Law was turning 23. Should I buy him something? Unintentionally, earlier played in my mind. The heat of his body against mine, his hand on my back, the grace behind his movements, his scent. I violently shook my head. No, I did not want to remember that! I rapidly looked around me to find something to cleanse my mind. And I did find something.

To my right, there was a beautiful Kendo uniform. A Kendogi. With a nice black Hakama. This made me think of someone else. A guy who was part of the Kendo club. Zoro.

Sad and repulsed by my own thoughts, I turned tail and got out of the shop, Nami not far behind, confused.

"Are you alright?" She asked upon seeing my face, concerned.

I abruptly stopped and turned towards her. She nearly missed dropping her bags on the floor by charging into me.

"I'm hungry. Do you want to go eat at the Baratie?"

*Ryûzaki's (L) birthday in the manga Death Note is on October 31st.