Chapter 27
"-Then, It's a promise..."
Sabo kept his gaze on his coffee. He sighed from time to time and nothing seemed to distract him, not even all the soldiers running nonstop behind him or all the shouts of orders from his companions trying to organize that bustle.
-bo .. - he heard slightly.
The blond didn't look up.
-SABO! - finally, he heard Koala's scream, which almost gave him a heart attack.
-God, what's going on? - he replied annoyed.
-What do you mean with "what's going on"? You've been starring the coffee for 10 minutes straight! - Koala replied angrily -Do I need to remind you that we're in the middle of a war and you're the chief of staff!?
-Haha, sorry - he replayed as looked away with an awkward smile. He hated having to deal with an enraged Koala.
-You're really something else!
-Relax Koala - Hack tried to reassure her - He's affected because of Mina, you can't be with him like that ...
-Because Mina is not there, he should try harder than ever! - Kola interrupted as he grabbed the blonde and looked at him furiously - She was the only one capable of keeping this crazy house in order and now she's gone! So do me a favor and move your ass RIGHT NOW!
Both men ran in fear of their partner's fury.
-Geeez, what a woman... - Sabo said.
-Well, you can't blame her, she's also quite affected.
Mina and Koala actually had a great relationship. Koala appreciated Mina as a very close friend.
Sabo saw Trafalgar Law struggling to keep more people alive in that makeshift operating room, with hardly any resources.
-Surgeon of death, huh?
Of "death" he had nothing, although clearly he didn't know what that man did in his free time.
-That man and Mina ... do they get along? - He asked Kota, who was next to him.
-Who? Trafalgar? Well, she seems happy when she sees him, so I guess so.
-Why is Mina so interested in him?
-Are you blind? - Koala replied - He's so handsome! What a man! I can't believe he's a pirate!
-Handsome?
It was true that dozens of women had come to try to talk to him since he arrived at the camp. And they all always talked about him with hearts in their eyes.
He had already spoken to Trafalgar several times, and the truth is that he didn't speak at all like a pirate.
Sabo saw the surgeon go to drink something, so followed him.
When the surgeon sat down, Sabo also sat with him.
-Oh, Sabo-ya... - he seemed uncomfortable.
-I've been thinking about it a lot... You don't look like a pirate. You look pretty... respectable to be one.
Law raised an eyebrow.
-Is that a compliment?
Sabo laughed.
-You're a skilled surgeon. Why did you become a pirate? You could have been a professional and worked in a renowned hospital.
The answer was simple.
Because he always wanted to end Doflamingo's life, and didn't think about the future, because he never believed that would actually survive.
"But I can't say that to him"
-I guess... I always wanted to live freely. And this was the only way I thought I would make it
He saw the blond smile.
-You could have joined us! You really are useful around here.
Law smiled.
-If I had found someone like you back then...
His hatred towards the World Government was the same as a revolutionary. The World Government had ruined his life since the Flevance massacre, so he had no problem collaborating with the Revolutionary Army, regardless of his relationship with Mina.
-You're a great guy! - said Sabo with a big smile.
Law smiled, confusing the blonde.
-It's because of you that she refuses to come with me, now I know. You're just like Mugiwara-ya.
-I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm glad you like my brother! And I'm also glad that Mina likes you so much! You are a good man, Trafalgar.
While Sabo was laughing happily, Law smiled sadly. Now he understood Mina better. He didn't need her to tell him why she was still there, because that smiling blue-eyed blonde boy was surely to blame.
He knew this because he felt the same way about Luffy.
Law would never recognize it out loud. Not even with a knife pointed at his neck.
But secretly, he wished for Luffy to become the Pirate King.
-A week later-
Explosions, screams, blood ...
Always the same.
abo was already exhausted from all that. The war was not going as they wanted.
The World Government's strategy was not "all or nothing". They were sending platoons that attacked by surprise and quickly. Then they disappeared immediately and as if nothing had happened.
This was not like the Marineford War. The scale was a thousand times greater. The life of a pirate was not at stake, but the freedom of the entire world. Furthermore, more and more countries were raising their weapons to join their cause, but that just meant more work and more supervision.
Dragon was also tired. He wondered every day when the hell his subordinate was coming back. He needed to have them all in order to organize properly. Furthermore, it was precisely Mina who had knowledge of war and military tactics. She was crucial in developing stratagems and attacks.
Still, he trusted all his subordinates fully, and knew better than anyone that she would return. It was impossible for someone with so much pride to rot in a cell.
Sabo's flames were beginning to fail. It had been many days since he had rested properly, and the fatigue was beginning to affect him.
Those intermittent attacks were slowly destroying his own spirit. And if he gave up, how the hell was he going to keep the whole world together? Luffy still hadn't arrived, and he didn't have his nakama either.
-SABO! - he heard someone shout from afar. Koala maybe?
He didn't see it coming. He was so distracted by his own thoughts that the man who approached him from behind with a dagger in hand pointing at his neck came so close that he could see the Kairoseki gleam of the weapon.
He waited for the stabbing pain and warmth of his own blood, but only heard the peculiar sound of the cut meat.
When he came to, he saw a figure attached to a sword cutting off the head of the man who almost managed to hurt him.
-Since when are you so distracted? - he heard a mocking voice speak - Aren't you the chief of staff?
Sabo noticed how the emotion drowned him.
-MINA! - he shouted with overflowing joy - You came back!
She smiled as she rested her sword on her shoulder.
-Let's get this over with and catch up, okay?
The blond smiled. He felt a rush of adrenaline rush down his spine. Their flames rekindled.
-Hey! Be careful, idiot!
Trafalgar Law was operating again in the makeshift medical ward, when he suddenly noticed that there was a great uproar.
-What the hell is going on?
-Quick, notify all the high positions! - he heard a man say through the base camp - There's an emergency meeting right now!
The Heart Pirates were confused. Why was an emergency meeting? What had happened?
-Trafalgar! Look at you, fucking bastard! - he heard a hoarse voice too familiar shout - You look worse than usual! And that's saying a lot.
Law turned and spotted Eustass Kid followed by his nakamas.
-Eustass-ya? What the hell are you doing here? - he asked. He knew that this man was certainly not there to help those in need.
-If I told you, you wouldn't believe it - he replied smirking
-Surprise me - he insisted with a raised eyebrow.
-Quick! - he heard from a man who, if he remembered correctly, was called Joe Bunny - The General is back!
-Wait a moment... - Bepo said thoughtfully - Isn't that...
Law turned quickly to see the redhead, who gave him a confident smirk.
-You're w-e-l-c-o-m-e, fucker - he answered, pausing with emphasis his words.
Despite the fact that the man irritated him greatly, Law ran.
The chaos was remarkable. Dozens of people were moving rapidly in all directions after the announcement.
Finally, he stopped.
Next to a crying short girl (if he remembered correctly, her name was Koala), there was a taller female figure speaking.
After a few seconds, the female figure finally turned and looked at him back.
She also seemed surprised. They both said nothing for what seemed like forever.
Hot. He felt his chest burn. His heart rate was shooting up and slowing down at the same time.
Relief. He was relieved to see her alive.
Finally, the surgeon walked over and hugged her tightly. She returned the hug.
-Law... What are you doing here?
Mina also didn't know what to say.
When she saw him, felt like she could breathe again, but choking at the same time.
How can a person make you feel so many contradictory things at the same time? Why was it so satisfying to have him around?
They both continued hugging. Until Koala broke the silence.
-You two make me feel quite uncomfortable, you know?
The pirate quickly separated and turned, embarrassed.
"What the hell am I doing?"
-Are you helping the medical team? - Mina asked, also uncomfortably changing the subject.
-Yes, they definitely needed more than a hand.
She smiled. She had never felt so much happiness to see a person. Why?
Law took a good look at her. She was covered in wounds: a black eye and a split lip, plus a fully swollen cheekbone. She still had shackle marks too tight and could see sloppy bandages.
Her neck was bruised showing that she had been heavily hanged, and she had small involuntary spasms that she was trying to hide.
They were very clear signs of torture.
-Who the hell has...
-MINA-CHAN! - A cheerful voice shouted with emotion. It was Sabo, who threw himself at his friend's neck - Where the hell have you been!? I thought they were going to kill you! - he began to cry out loud.
-I'm glad to see you too~ - she replied while smiling.
The blonde looked at her with eyes full of tears and snot.
-Do you know how I felt when they caught you? DO YOU GET A DAMN IDEA!?
-I can't die before knowing the result of our bet, don't you remember? - she replied as let herself being hugged by a crying Sabo.
The pain of losing Mjosgard was still great. Huge.
She still remembered his smile. But also, his head falling to the ground and his warm body falling off in front of her like an inert doll.
She wasn't alright, but... ¿What else could she say?
Suddenly, a hand began to pet her head, messing up all her whitish-pink hair.
She looked up, confused.
-You did well - Sabo said with a huge smile.
Mina opened her eyes. And she felt, for a few seconds at least, all that sadness gone away.
- FOR GOD'S SAKE! DON'T YOU KNOW HOW TO CONTROL YOURSELF!? - she suddenly heard Koala scream as she grabbed Sabo by the cheek - How many times do you think I called you? Dragon-san wants to see you now!
-Hey, it hurts! - The revolutionary replied while leaving with Koala.
Mina was still blushing at her nakama's words. That made her feel a little better. She touched her head happily.
-Mina! - Koala shout from a distance - You have to come too!
The young woman came out of her thoughts and got up from the ground.
She turned around and saw Law.
-See you later, captain~
He watched as she left, clenching his fist tightly.
Sometimes he forgot that she had a life and own motivations.
A life beyond him.
And that hurt him. It bothered him. It infuriated him.
He became aware of his thoughts.
Was he... jealous?
He quickly dismissed those thoughts, annoyed, and walked back to the medical ward, where Eustass was still.
-What the hell do I have to do to get some food? Killing virgins!?
-What the hell happened? - Law asked while ignoring the previous comment.
-What do you mean?
-Why the hell is she full of wounds and EVIDENT signs of torture, but you're perfectly fine instead?
Kid looked away, uncomfortable.
-I don't think it would be up to me to talk about it, better ask her... - he replied with a shrug.
Law approached him, furious.
-You had nothing to do with it, right?
-Huh? - Kid replied annoyed - Don't put me in the same bag as that scum! And of course, don't even THINK about threatening me, Trafalgar!
-We have cured her with what we had, but you should take a look later - Killer interrupted to calm down the atmosphere.
Law looked at Kid's second-in-command and nodded.
-Thank you - Law replied as he left.
-He's so annoying! - Kid said angrily.