Hey guys I've started work for the summer so i'll try to do two chapters a week. Again I don't own any of One Piece or it's characters in this story except for my original characters. Enjoy!
"Law-kun!"
Law grimaced as he quickened his pace. The crew recently moved the base further south from Spider Miles to Jackton a farming island. The fresh air was more preferable here, which was health wise better for Law. Since he had nothing better to do, he decided to sit out on the lawn enjoying the silence and scenery he rarely got. He spent most of his days shadowing Doflamingo and training with the other members in order to get stronger. He was still pretty weak compared to the others, but it never stopped him from giving his all especially when it came to missions.
He would always be the one to go in and fight with rival enemies with only a knife and a gun. When the first time came he would admit he was nervous and was second guessing himself, but all that went out the window when Doflamingo spilt the first blood. Law felt powerful when he inflicted damage on others, willing to stab, slice, or shoot anyone that got in his way; it felt good. For his good work, Doflamingo would let him take a body to dissect it for his medical purposes much to his glee. During the mission fights, he would notice that Ione would never be the one to be the enforcer. She always stood in the back and kept a focus eye on the fighting and only interfered when needed. She made sure to never get her hands dirty, always using her devil fruit powers to throw people around.
Ione. Law considered her to be of a close acquaintance and wanted it to stay just like that. Since the whole emotional Corazon fiasco they did spend a lot of time together. He did sometimes sleep in her bed when he couldn't sleep, since she didn't seem to mind. She was in awe to learn that he wanted to become a doctor and personally got him medical books, much to his gratitude. While he read and studied, she would be either be reading a book of hers or meditating enjoying the comfortable silence between the two. Also he learned that she liked it when he read aloud, she giving him her full attention in learning about medical terms and procedures. He would never admit it, but he enjoyed her presence whenever she was around… and it scared him. He remembers the promise he made to her about continuing to live, but so far it's not looking too good. There hasn't been a devil fruit sighting yet and his health was steadily declining. His white blotches of skin covered his chest and it was slowly creeping up his neck. Again he still didn't care about dying, but he knew his death would hurt Ione and that was something he didn't want to do.
"Lawwwww" Baby 5 whined as she caught up with Law. Sucking his teeth he finally stopped and turned to the out of breathe girl.
"Can't you see I'm busy." he snapped. In reality he wan't but he will be damned if he had to spend another second with her.
"Oh I was going to ask you if you got anything for Ione's birthday yet?" she said looking at the boy. Ione's birthday was next week and she was curious to see what he would get her seeing as he mostly spent his time with her. Getting no response, she crossed her arms and looked pointedly at Law.
"Don't tell me you forgot it was her birthday! You are a horrible friend Law" she yelled pointing her finger at him.
Law had to resist the urge of strangling the girl. Of course not he didn't forget. He always remembered her birthday. Last year he just got her a card out of confusion of what to get her while she in return for his birthday got him a stethoscope. It made him feel guilty about his grift to her being cheap and insignificant, yet she hugged him and posted the card on her wall thanking him for the gift. This year he wanted to return the favor.
"No I haven't forgot. Now please leave me alone" he said walking away.
"What did you get her? It better not be just a card. At least last year I gave her flowers and made caramel apples, her favorite I might say" she chimed in walking after Law making him groan.
After escaping Baby 5, Law decided to check up on Ione. He hasn't seen her all day and from what he remembered she was feeling a little under the weather. She insisted she was fine when Law offered to give her a check up, saying that it was probably nothing and would come to him if it didn't go away in a day.
Not knocking, Law entered her room, to see her curled up on her bed. He could see that she was in a ball and her face was scrunched up, deep breathes exhaled out her body. Law walked up and put his hand on her forehead.
"How are you feeling Onie-ya?" she didn't have a fever. That ruled out a lot of possible diagnoses and got Law into thinking of other possible illnesses.
Ione opened her eyes and gave a weak smile looking at Law in his doctor mode that she found amusing to watch him in.
"I'm fine Law." she groaned rubbing her stomach. "I just got these weird pains in my lower abdomen."
Law turned her on her back and felt around her lower stomach. "Do you feel any sharp pains when I press here?"
She shook her head as he pressed around. "It's more like a radiating pain that comes in waves." she said as she looked at him. His face was concentrated and his brows were furrowed as he tried to figure out what was wrong with her. Ione gave a silent chuckle looking at his inquisitive face. Law went to lift her shirt up to see if there was any coloring or bruising on her stomach. As soon as he lifted the shirt Ione grew frightened at the pale face he gave looking down.
"Law…?"
"You're umm bleeding… umm down there" he said looking at her, his pale face soon turning red.
It took a moment to grasp what Law said and soon her face light up like a christmas tree. She felt stupid of not guessing it was that that was happening to her. She rubbed her face in embarrassment.
"Oh god…"
A shriek echoed sounded in the room startling the two as their eyes viewed the horrified expression Jora wore on her face as she stood in the door looking at Ione laying in the bed with Law holding the bottom of her shirt up.
"Law what are you doing to Ione!" screaming hysterically at the sight.
Law was at a lost for words while Ione was mortified at the situation. Law finally found his words and went to speak.
"Well you s—"
"I got my period."
Ione gave a sheepish smile at Law when he looked at her. She knew how Jora could overreact to anything and was seconds away from turning Law into her next painting to hang on her wall. Might as well tell Jora about her stepping stone in life and having her be apart of it— how cringeworthy.
Another shrill sounded in the room as Jora ran to the bed and and peppered Ione in kisses.
"You're a woman now!" she cried as she held Ione in a death hug. Law had an amused smirk on his face as he watched Ione try to comfort Jora while trying to get out of her grasp.
"Why that is exciting news."
Law turned to the door to see Doflamingo leaning on the doorframe. Law tensed not liking the vibe he was getting from him as he looked at Ione.
Doflamingo laughed as he turned to leave. "Again congratulations my dove."
Law walked around the town looking at different shops to buy Ione's present. Her birthday was today and he still didn't have anything. He thought about getting her a book, but decided on trying to get her something she never had before. Ione would like anything anyone got her, she was a generous person, yet Law wanted something to blow her away. She wan't a complex person, so Law needed something simple.
Law saw a store window that had on display different kinds of jewelry barrettes and hair clips. Ione didn't wear anything in her hair, but liking the designs he went in to look around. The store sold a lot of handcrafted pieces like necklaces, rings, and bracelets.
"Ah my boy! What brings you here today?" asks the friendly old man coming out from the back room.
"Just looking for a birthday present for someone."
"Someone special?" the man incline laughing at the blushing boy. "Don't worry I'm sure you'll find something in here for her. What kind of things does she like?"
"Simple things" Law said as he looked at necklaces.
The man rubbed his chin and gave a thoughtful look. "Simple eh? That's a rare quality for women to have especially her young age. Make sure you keep a hold on her" he said patting him on his back. Law rolled his eyes and ignored what the man said and continued to look around. Nothing was calling out to him. In his finally attempt he look at some bracelets. He saw some hand woven designs that looked nice, but still wasn't the one he was looking for. A beaded bracelet caught his eye and Law look at it's features. It was simple, black and white beaded, and it had these crystals in the white beaded part making it shine.
"So you like that one?" the old man went and pulled the bracelet out to give Law to look at. "It's a special piece I made with the idea of the chinese yin and yang. Such contrasting colors that intertwine together. It's nature itself."
"What do you mean?" Law said.
"Well take a shadow for example. A shadow cannot exist without light. Also think about death. In order for death to happen, there needs to be life. It's a balancing thing" the man cited.
He looked at Law who wore a frown on his face while looking at the jewelry in his hand. Sighing the old man assumed he went a little overboard with the metaphors of life and death and must have deterred the boy away getting the bracelet.
"There are other fine things to loo—"
"I'll take it."
"You want it?" the man asked confused as Law stared at him holding the bracelet up.
"Yes I want it."
Law excited the shop with the box in hand as he walked back to the base. Law was proud of himself getting the present for her. Ione will like it, and Law liked the meaning the old man said behind the bracelet. It vaguely symbolized their relationship and it was his way of showing her how much he appreciated everything she has done for him., this will be a constant reminder of him whenever she looked at it.
Lost in thought, Law bumped into something and fell knocking the box out of his hand as he landed on his knees. A hand and instead of helping Law, it went to pick up the box. Law looked up to see no other than Corazon opening the box to look at the bracelet.
"Hey! don't touch that! It's not for you!" Law spat growling at Corazon. Of course he stabbed Corazon a while back and got his revenged, but he still ticked Law off to no end and Law didn't want to risk him falling over and damaging the bracelet.
Corazon didn't say anything as he examined the bracelet. A slight smile appeared on his face as he put the jewelry back in the box and gave it Law walking away.
Law was left confused as he straightened his clothes and went on his way.
"Weirdo."
At the birthday party for Ione, she was sitting at the head of the table as the rest of the crew were mingling around drinking and having a good time. Ione just sat at the table with the rest of the kids eating cake. Ione had received gifts of books, clothes, flowers, and money from people. Corazon got her a novel, Jora got her more clothes she would never wear, and Doflamingo got her a white feathered coat in similar fashion of his and Corazon's. Ione was grateful for the gifts she received but her thoughts were clouded with Law. He was quiet the whole night, which was nothing new, but she felt this anxiety rolling off him in waves.
"Law?" She placed her hand on his breaking his haze. "What's wrong?"
Law gave a big swallow and looked around to see if anyone was paying attention to them, before he pulled to the outside patio. Ione stared at him shifting from foot to foot, not looking at her. He then went into his pockets thrusting a box in her face.
"Happy Birthday" he mumbled.
Ione opened the box to reveal the black and white bracelet. A smile broke out on her face as she looked at it with delicate hands. Ione then put her hand out in front of Law.
"Will you do the honors?" she said giving a bashful grin.
Law clipped the bracelet over her wrist and Ione wrapped her arms around him, giving him a hug.
"Law it's beautiful… thank you." she breathed
Law remained quiet as he wrapped his arms around her, gladly returning her warm embrace.
