AN: There's some slavery mentioned in this chapter and hinted at noncon. Nothing explicit, but I figured I should warn you before you read. On a lighter note, we get a teaser at some of Law's (made up) past.

After apologizing to the doctor about his behavior while indisposed, he asked questions about their methods of treatment and the healing properties of the hot springs. He listened carefully so that he could write everything down later in his medical journal and by the time his check-up was complete, any hard feelings were forgotten as they entered deep discussions about finding a way to take the springs' healing components and combine them with the antivenin.

As Law prepared to leave, Corazon urging him to wrap things up, the doctor cleared his throat slightly. "May I ask one last question?"

Law looked at him curiously. "Shoot."

"Well, if your…attitude…had not been caused by anything in your environment, that means you have a general disgust for everyone and everything by default…" The man hesitated slightly. "How do you hide it so well?"

Law smiled slightly. "Just look at everyone as if they have bombs hidden in their clothes that they'll detonate if they get angry. That's what my mom taught me, anyway. If they ignite the charges, there will be no salvaging the situation, you and your town is wiped off the map." He saw Corazon pointing at his bare wrist and scoffed slightly. "I gotta go. Bye."

He ran over to the man and they jogged to the ship where the others were waiting.

"Fucking finally, what were you doing, braiding each other's hair?" Kid huffed in annoyance.

"Chill out, drama queen." Law scoffed as they began to sail away from the island. "Do we have any candy left?"

"I think we've got some Gusher bushes still producing." Killer replied.

Law went to go see, hoping there were some blue ones left.

~~~~rp~~~~

On the next island, they didn't find anything really interesting, it was a normal island. It would take two hours for this pose to set but they wanted to stretch their legs a bit after restocking and decided to explore the crowded bazaar.

Somehow, he got separated from the group and was left wondering how he'd lost track of a freaking giant like Cora-san. He wasn't worried though and he continued to browse the wares on display.

Someone bumped into him and he got a strong whiff of Sake. "Oi! Watch it, brat!"

He ignored the drunken mess of a human being as he went to the next stall.

"Don't ignore me, you little pest!" The back of his shirt was grabbed and he frowned as he was lifted up to their eye-level. He still couldn't see Cora-san or his Oji-ya. "Someone should teach you to respect your betters!"

Refocusing as the man drew back his fist, Law took out his collapsible bo staff and had it extend before he slammed it into the guy's head in one smooth motion. The man fell like a bag of bricks and Law landed on the street with a small thud. He should probably keep the staff out if those types were common.

"Boss!"

Dammit. He dodged the men that attacked him and began to take them down. There were ten guys and he was little, but the entire battle only took ten minutes.

Letting the staff rest over his shoulder to avoid the blood dripping onto his hat, he walked away from the pile of men and was given a wide berth by the shocked townspeople.

"Law-chan! There you are!" Corazon said happily as he scooped him up. "I've been looking everywhere for you! Don't wander off, it's dangerous!" He exclaimed worriedly, as if Law weren't holding a staff with both ends dripping blood.

"Sorry." Law said easily, knowing Corazon was weird about when he worried. "There are a lot of people." He looked around before asking wearily, "Where's Penguin?"

Surprised, Corazon looked around too. "AH! Where'd he go?!"

Law climbed up to stand on his shoulders and surveyed the crowd. "There he is, by the fountain!" He yelped in surprise when he was pulled into a sitting position.

"Hold on, buddy." He said cheerfully before he began running in the direction Law had indicated. When they exited the crowd, they saw that Penguin was now fighting a group of people.

Growling, Law shoved himself back to his feet using Corazon's head but as he leapt from his shoulders, he was caught around the waist.

"Now Law-chan, you can't fight all their battles." Corazon chided gently. "He's got it under control.

Reluctantly, Law lowered the staff and stopped struggling. "But he's so little."

"So are you." He reminded with a smile. "You don't see me interfering in your fights."

"EVERYONE'S little to you, though!" He exclaimed.

"Ojii-san, pick me up too!" Penguin said excitedly as he leapt up to hug him around the waist.

Grinning, Corazon did as he was told and set them each on a shoulder. "There, this way I won't lose either of you again."

"I can see Ojii-ya from here." Law said, pointing.

"HIIJIJI-SA~~N!" Penguin shouted, waving when the man turned to look.

Law saw his eyes go straight to his staff and nonchalantly shifted it behind their backs, but it was too late.

"You run into trouble?" Sengoku asked as he met them half-way, Kid and Killer at his side.

"Sencho told me to kick their asses, so I did!" Penguin said cheerfully. "But his friends didn't like that so I had to beat them up too."

"They what?!" Law demanded furiously. He was off Corazon's shoulder in a flash as he ran back to the fountain. "I'm going to kill them!"

Corazon snagged him by his shirt, bringing him back. "Hang on a moment, what are you talking about? Penguin, we weren't with you when you started fighting."

"Let me go! I'm going to eviscerate that pedophile and feed his organs to his friends!" Law shouted furiously. He saw they noticed him and were scrambling from the scene. "ROOM!"

The dome exploded outwards and though it hurt to do so, he pushed it until they were all inside, yanking them over to their group where Kid and Killer were quick to take them down.

Law's room shattered and he made a pained noise before he could stifle it. Fuck, that always hurt! But he pushed it back and struggled to get down to the fuckers.

Corazon was alarmed by the sound. "Law-chan, are you okay?"

"Boys." Sengoku's calm voice pierced through Law's enraged thoughts and all of them turned their heads to look at the man. "Leave this one to me. Penguin, who was the man that molested you?"

Penguin pointed at the bloody mess collapsed between the two men Kid and Killer had face-down in the dirt staffs prepared to crush their skulls. "Oh yeah, he also said he had other kids on his ship, so…"

The crowds were quick to clear out when the killing intent all five let out at that news started sending people to their knees.

"Sengoku-taicho?" A Marine Commander asked in surprise before the group saluted sharply.

"Locate these men's ship immediately! They have children held hostage on board." Sengoku ordered.

"HAI!" They affirmed before they began searching for identifying marks.

"Sir! There is a vessel with this symbol in dock 37!" One said and they were gone, heading for it.

Pain from the shattered room had faded, so Law tugged at one of the strands from Corazon's hat. "Cora-san, they probably need to be healed."

"That's not something you need to deal with right now, Law-chan." He replied. "The hospital can take care of them."

"They don't deserve to feel that pain any longer than they have to. I can take it away in seconds!" He protested.

"Law-chan—"

"Roci." Sengoku cut in calmly. "If he thinks he can help, let him." He reached up to take Penguin from his shoulder and said, "I'll keep an eye on the kids. Go."

Reluctantly, Corazon nodded and he began jogging towards the dock the Marines had named.

Only to find the boat in question ablaze.

"Where are the children?" Corazon asked the Commander as he approached.

"Saint Charloss has ordered them to be executed with the remaining pirates as damaged goods." The man replied.

Law was out of Corazon's hands and running towards the ship before either man could react. He ignored his father's shouts as he ran up the plank and jumped onto the burning deck. It was a standard ship, so he knew exactly where to run and within seconds of boarding, he heard banging, shouting, and crying.

"Get away from the door!" He shouted and after a second to give them time, he kicked it and it burst open.

Inside the room were five apparent slaves. The two oldest were thirteen and ten, the last three between one and seven.

"Are there any others?" He asked them as he created a room and had the collars and shackles relocate into the sea.

"N-no." The ten-year old girl said shakily.

"Then let's go, the ship's being burned down." He said, going to pick up the youngest—a mink? A little jaguar Mink that had Law's heart skipping a beat. He gave no outward sign as he lead the duo holding the last two back to the deck.

And into flames. Throwing up an arm to shield his face from the heat, he cursed as the girl screamed and jerked back. "Cora-san!" He shouted, but doubted the man could hear him over the roaring flames.

"This way!" The boy said, pointing towards the mast. They nodded and ran over, Law making them climb up first as the encroaching flames began coming faster. He made sure they didn't drop either of the children before he started up after them, just as the fire hit some accelerant and completely covered the deck.

"Now what?" The girl asked as they looked down at the blazing deck.

"Kids!"

Turning, they saw the crew of the neighboring ship had connected the rigging of the ships with a boarding plank. Law slid down so that he was using the net as he helped the girl walk over, Mink mostly supporting herself with the claws buried in Law's shoulder. The boy did the same on the other side and they soon made it to the plank where she hesitated. Swallowing thickly, she tightened her grip on the crying boy in her arms and began to cross with the boy clutched tightly to her chest.

"You next." Law ordered the boy, who nodded and climbed back up. The girl in his arms was crying too, face buried in the boy's neck and her thin arms in a stranglehold around his neck. He started to cross the plank too but the ship began to capsize and he lost his balance. The man at the other end caught him and pulled them to safety as the plank fell into the water.

"Kid!" The men shouted in horror.

Law climbed up onto the rigging and carefully stood. "You better catch her!" He shouted and he unhooked the Mink's claws from his shirt. When the men were ready, he told her to curl up before he tossed her over. She was caught, but his relief was short-lived as an ominous crack rent the air.

He looked down and saw the flames were climbing up after him, eating through the wood. It jarred and he lost his balance, falling over the edge, but he caught himself on the now-loose netting, swinging above the flames and the intensity of the heat nearly had him slipping.

A room would be nice about now, but since he'd pushed it so far earlier, plus getting rid of the exploding binds, he was tapped out until he regained some strength.

The mast began to tilt and he quickly climbed back up, not hearing their shouts as he focused. The way the mast would fall was towards the ship, but the angle meant it wouldn't actually reach it. He saw the other side of the sail's rigging had also had the net burned away, so the mast wouldn't turn. He would have to jump and time it just right so he wouldn't hit the water. Normally, one of the men would likely be able to jump in and save him, but with the capsizing ship posing a serious hazard AND the boiling hot water…yeah, he wouldn't bet on that.

It took him a moment to figure out when to jump, but then he got into a half crouch as it finally began to fall.

There! He jumped with all his strength and landed on the neighboring ship's deck in a roll.

"Ow." He muttered as he sat up, feeling blood starting to drip from his raw cheek, hands and knees also bleeding from landing on the rough wood.

Suddenly he was scooped up off the deck and held in the air as the crew cheered in relief. Then he was set down as the other kids were brought over and they hugged him tightly as they cried in relief, the Mink mewling against his chest.

Without warning, Corazon plucked him up, hugging him within an inch of his life as he cried as well.

Law smiled and hugged him back tightly. "I'm okay, Cora-san. Now put me down so I can check them over."

The man reluctantly obeyed but kept a large hand on Law's head as he created his room just large enough to surround them.

Thankfully, there was no sign of force on them. Just some hand-shaped bruises in unmentionable places that he was quick to heal. He removed the Soaring Dragon brand from their backs and with that, there was no proof they had ever been slaves.

Ending his room, he smiled. "There, all done. Where are you from, we'll take you home."

The two looked away, toeing at the boards. After a moment, the boy said, "Fishman Island…"

"Oh good, it's on the way!" Corazon said cheerfully as the crew reacted in shock. "We were going to go through Mariejois, but it won't take too much longer if we stop by the island."

Both looked ecstatic and began crying again.

Law was put on Corazon's shoulders so he could pick up the duo still clutching the children and Corazon told the crew, "Thank you for saving them. But you didn't see any children." He said with a sharp look.

"U-uh, s-sure." They agreed quickly.

As Corazon headed to the plank to disembark, Law leaned forward. "Um, Cora-san? Can you not tell Penguin I ran onto a burning ship?" He asked sheepishly.

"As long as you don't tell Tou-san I let you." He replied easily.

Grinning, Law hugged the Mink closer as he giggled. "Deal!"

"Kids, if anyone asks, there was no fire or boat jumping, or capsizing ships."

"Okay, Cora-san!" They said eagerly.

The man quickly reached the fountain and called to Sengoku, "Give me the kids. We gotta go—like, now." He winced as Penguin immediately leapt onto his shoulder and Law moved so Kid could sit on the other, Killer reluctantly joining the ones in Corazon's arms. "Take them out." He said as he took off.

Sengoku sighed and took out a gun. "Alright, but you owe me an explanation later."

Law felt Corazon activate a Calm field and smiled at his thoughtfulness. "So what are you guys' names? I'm Law, this is Penguin, Kid, and that's Killer."

"I'm Suki." The girl said cheerfully. "This is Donnie and the kids…she said her name is Yuki, but the boy doesn't talk that well. The hairy kid doesn't speak at all."

Law stroked the cub's head soothingly. "She's only a baby. She won't be able to talk for a few more months." Then he told the others, "They were slaves of that asshole Charloss. I got rid of collars and the marks though, so if anyone asks, the slaves sank with the boat."

"They were gonna sink us with it, but Law-chan saved us!" Suki said happily.

"Just Law-san?" Killer asked.

"I had to stop the Marines from carrying out Charloss's orders," Corazon replied. "Which is why we need to leave immediately."

"Haha! No way! Tou-san, you just got like 20 times cooler!" Kid said excitedly.

"Did you get rid of any witnesses?" Penguin asked with a frown.

"Don't talk like that in front of the little ones." Law chided him immediately.

"Sorry, Sencho."

"But yes." Corazon said before they reached the correct dock.

Kid and Killer immediately got to work preparing for take-off while Corazon carried the others into the ship. Law and Penguin got to work making them food while Corazon fetched them some better clothes.

"What is that?" The man asked curiously as he returned, peering at the pot Law was stirring at the stove.

"A substitute for her mother's milk." Law replied. "It hasn't been that long so the malnutrition hasn't set in yet, but until we get her home to her mother, this will be the best we can do." When it was thick enough, he turned off the heat and poured it into a hastily created bottle made from a cup and a glove. After cooling it so it wouldn't scald the cub, he gently coaxed her into drinking. It took a few moments, but then she was drinking like she was starving.

This was the sister he never had. The reason Momo and Baki took him into their home after he lost Corazon and drifted in the New World. "Maki-chan…" He murmured quietly and for the first time, baby blue eyes opened to look at him. He smiled at her, a weight settling over his shoulders at the knowledge his mother would never love him again. But this was okay. "We're going to take you home, little one."

She mewled quietly and he felt his heart break. He'd give his mother the cub that had been stolen from her. Maki began to purr and it took all he had to keep from crying.

"Sencho, aren't you going to eat?" Penguin asked once the other kids were served.

"Gene…" He began quietly to avoid his voice cracking. "Do you remember what Okaa-ya told you about why she took me in…?"

"Wha—" He gasped, hands flying to cover his mouth as he stared at the cub. "No!"

"I'm not hungry." He told him softly.

"I'll call my cousin and tell him to send a message to Nekomamushi-sama!" Penguin said before he ran off.

Law looked up when he felt their worried looks burning into his back and smiled. "Come on, eat guys. You'll need to get your strength back. We don't want your parents to think we didn't feed you."

"Come sit with us, Law-chan?" Suki asked shyly.

He immediately walked over. "Sure, but I ate earlier so I think I'll just have some water."

They immediately brightened and as they fed the two kids between bites of their own food, Law fed his sister.

AN: Well, there we have it. Are these chapters too long? I wouldn't get used to it.

So you guys had some questions! I'll try to address them all here.

Sarge1130: The Heart Pirates at the execution weren't the original twenty or so we were introduced to on Zou. Something happened at some point and all but Law and Bepo were killed. As for how they're in the past, it takes a back burner for a while, but I'll address this eventually. :)

Guest: I'm not really sure if they've realized it yet even by journal nine. Maybe they just brushed it off as Law being a weird kid so he gets weird friends. Maybe they have their suspicions, but they're keeping it to themselves? Who knows?

Sarge1130: Hello again! I'll address both reviews in this one since I barely noticed it was all yours. He won't actively try to change the future, he's not that confident in his planning at the moment. He's just taking the punches as they come, focusing on the here and now. I'm glad you liked my idea of how he got rid of the Amber Lead, but again, I'm not sure if it was an original idea, so don't give me the credit.

As for Corazon crashing the ship…he was a little distracted by Law. He thought the kid was gonna die but not only is he's still alive, he's been saved! All that work he put in during the six-month journey has paid off and he's got his favorite little prickly pear forever now! What's a little thing like steering a ship to the miracle he held in his arms? Lol, the poor man is smitten.

Yeah, Law doesn't trust Sengoku, but he's putting an effort in for Corazon and surprisingly, the Admiral doesn't seem that bad. As for Vergo, yep. Law killed him. Vergo wasn't expecting an electric attack, plus he's nowhere near Punk Hazard strength. It gave Law the fighting chance he needed to take him down.

If I forgot something, I'm sorry! Thank you everyone for the reviews, follows, and favs!