Chapter 40

They both stared into each other's eyes. Mina still remembered the words she said in Impel Down more than a year ago.

If we ever meet again, I hope we can do it right this time.

Honestly, she didn't expect to see Doflamingo again. She didn't even think about the possibility that the world was small and that their paths would cross again.

Mina knew Law was about to pull out his katana to tear Doflamingo to shreds, so she motioned for him not to move a finger.

"What the hell are you thinking, Mina-ya? That man is crazy!" was what Law was probably thinking.

-I see you've made new friends~. Do you think you're happy now?

Doflamingo had just asked her if she was happy? Something inside Mina made her think that, maybe, she should try to get along with him.

"Perhaps... not everything is lost between us."

That was the man who had done her the most harm. Never anyone hurt her as much as Doflamingo did. The weight of his sins still hurt. So... why did she still feel like she loved that man?

Mina felt Doflamingo's hand patting her head just like when she was a child.

-You're still a good girl, huh?~

She couldn't help but smile at Doflamingo's loving words.

"I still love this man. It can't be helped."

The pirates didn't know how to react. Law felt like he was going to tear Doflamingo apart as he played a second time around.

-That man... - Ikkaku said while looking at Doflamingo in horror - He's just playing with her...

Law looked at her nakama.

-What do you mean, Ikkaku-ya?

-Isn't it obvious? He's smiling like that because knows that Mina-chan has fallen again! I have never seen such manipulation!

Mina knew that too. Doflamingo only played with her because he knew that she still loved him.

"And still, I still want to believe in you."

Doflamingo hugged her with what looked like affection, and that made her happy. Even though the years had passed, Mina still wanted to be loved by that man.

-My daughter~ Do you know how long I've been looking for you?

Mina felt Doflamingo raise his hands to her neck.

-This time you won't run away, I won't make the same mistake twice~

"I knew it! I knew that bastard just wants to fuck around!" Law was furious. He regretted not cutting off his head the day Luffy defeated him in Dressrosa. "I shouldn't have left you alive, scum!"

However, before Law could attack Doflamingo, he saw Mina clutch Doflamingo's wrists tightly with her left hand, pulling his hands away from her neck.

-Insolent brat. Will you disobey your father again? You still just a slave! I have the right to decide about your li...

Before Doflamingo could finish the sentence, Mina struck the back of Doflamingo's neck with her hand and knocked him completely unconscious.

"Wow, that... was fast..." all the Heart Pirates thought confused. They expected a bigger fight, but it was evident that Mina had much more strength than Doflamingo.

Mina sighed annoyed. She sat next to Doflamingo, despite the fact that he had completely lost consciousness. She really thought they could have a normal conversation father-daughter. "How annoying, nothing has changed."

-You really don't know how to keep your mouth shut, Doffy.

When she looked up, she saw the horrified face of Law and the rest of the crew. She smirked.

-Those looks of pity are because now you know that I was a slave? Fufufu Don't worry, that happened a long time ago.

-You...

-Huh? - she cocked her head - Do you feel disappointed to have dealt with something as unpleasant as a slave? Oh it's true, you freed Jean Bart, so my words don't make sense. My fault, captain~

-I will kill Doflamingo. I will definitely do it this time! - Law pulled out his katana and headed towards Doflamingo, but Mina stopped him while smiling.

-Don't try to fight my personal battles - she looked at Doflamingo - His sins were forgiven long ago.

-Have you lost your mind!? That man made you a slave and killed Cora-san!

-Well, he was the one who released me too, so that's fine. I don't intend for you to understand or forgive him. If you kill him, I won't feel sorry or regret, but right now this is not your problem.

Law looked into Mina's completely empty eyes. Obviously she was hurt by what happened. The pirate, despite his infinite hatred towards Doflamingo, decided that she should be the one to handle the situation.

-Okay, but if he tries something again, I won't hesitate to cut his head off.

Doflamingo woke up and noticed that he was lying on his stomach and with his hands and feet tied with Kairoseki shackles.

-Wow, I see that you have taken precautions, fufufu~

-If you get too smart, your head will roll on the ground, so control yourself, scum - Law shot him a threatening look.

Doflamingo chuckled. Suddenly, he felt that Mina was still sitting on top of him.

-It's not that easy to tease you anymore, huh?

-It can't be helped, I'm not a kid anymore - Mina rolled off his back and knelt in front of Doflamingo - No matter how long it is, we can't help but keep hurting each other. And still, I will still love you.

For a few seconds Doflamingo didn't know what to say. He didn't understand why she kept loving him despite of everything he had done to her.

-Heh, you were always a child who shouldn't have born.

Mina smiled sadly.

-I know.

She knew that better than anyone. She knew that she didn't deserve to continue living.

-But still, I think I'll keep trying. I won't let Mjosgard's death be in vain. It doesn't matter if you don't love me back, I will continue to live. And eventually, I will find a reason to move on.

Doflamingo looked at her with hatred.

-Undesirable little girl...

Doflamingo was suddenly kicked. But not by Mina, but by Law.

-Shut up bastard. You have no right to decide about the lives of others. I don't care that she has forgiven you, I never will. My hatred for you will be infinite for murdering Corsa-san and for hurting Mina-ya. Your sins will never be forgiven.

Bepo looked at Mina, and then at Doflamingo.

-Sir, you said not to love Mina-chan, that she shouldn't have been born ... but I think you're lying. We love Mina-chan and we thank her for being born.

Mina looked at Bepo with surprise.

-And not only us, Sabo-san and the rest of his Revolutionary Army nakamas also love Mina-chan! And the captain the one who does it the most! So no, she's not a person who shouldn't have been born. She's te best!

Those words from the polar bear touched Mina. Law and the rest saw that Mina was smiling in a way they had never seen before.

"So she can smile like that..."

Doflamingo saw his niece's face. That cheery smile brought back memories of when she was just a happy brat in Spider Miles.

Of those times when the two hadn't yet hurt each other. From when their relationship hadn't yet broken. Because yes, there was a time when Doflamingo loved her like normal person, like a normal father figure. But he loved that kid so much that he got scared.

Even now, he knew he still loved her madly. And so, he couldn't help but want to hurt her. Even he recognized that he was a psychopath. He loved Mina so much that he just wanted to hurt her.

Doflamingo laughed.

-I guess you've grown up, brat.

Mina, to everyone's surprise, removed the shackles of Kairoseki from Doflamingo.

-Are you crazy!?

Everyone thought that Doflamingo would try to kill her once more, but none of that happened. They both stared at each other, until Mina handed Doflamingo a crumpled paper.

-I live here now, if you ever want to come to do anything other than kill me, you're welcome.

Law saw a face he never thought he would see in Doflamingo. The blonde looked at that photo where his little brother and his parents were also.

-Where the hell did you get this?

-I told you, now I live there. You're free to come whenever you want, because it's also your home.

Doflamingo got up, causing Law and his nakamas to move into an attacking position.

-Relax brat, I'm not going to do anything. - Doflamingo turned around and put his hands in the pockets of his pants as began to walk away - That house is cursed, you should leave before getting hurt.

Mina smiled as she watched Doflamingo leave.

-See you again, Doffy.

Doflamingo didn't reply. Or at least that's what Mina thought, because when Doflamingo was about to disappear, he raised a hand and answered her.

-Live freely, Mina.

All the Heart Pirates ate at that makeshift picnic.

-By the way, Mina-chan - Shachi asked - Why did you tell the bastard that this is his house too?

-Because it is. Doffy and my father lived there as children until they were attacked by the citizens.

Law and Shachi spat out the food.

"Th-that's the house where Cora-san lived!?"

"I lived in the house of some fallen Tenryubitos!? Why the hell did nobody ever tell me anything!?"

As both pirates continued to think about their things, Mina approached Bepo and pet him. Bepo, happy to receive caresses, smiled happily.

-Thank you Bepo, you really are adorable~

-S-Sorry!

-Mina-chan has called you adorable! Why the heck do you apologize!?

Law cleared his throat.

-The important thing is that I don't know why you told him to visit you, Mina-ya. If I ever see that bastard near Pleasure Town, I'll personally arrange to put his head down at the entrance to the city.

Mina laughed.

-The surgeon of death, huh?~

-It has nothing to do with it!

Mina walked up to Law and kissed him, making him blush and look away in embarrassment.

-You have also behaved well, Captain. You will be rewarded~

-I don't want your rewards!

-My my, what a troublesome man~ Let yourself be loved~

Even though Law pushed Mina aside, everyone could see that he didn't dislike her displays of affection either.

"Ahhh, captain is acting shy, isn't he?"

Perhaps that reunion with Doflamingo had not gone as she had wished, but it made her realize something.

All this time, she had assimilated that one could only love in two ways.

On the one hand, the twisted love that Doflamingo had taught her for so many years, and on the other hand, the innocent love that Sabo had shown her with his friendship.

When Law had declared that day, Mina didn't know where to place those feelings.

"I don't love him the way I do with Doflamingo or Sabo and Koala. Law is different from everyone."

But now, she already knew. It wasn't necessary to associate him with what she already knew, but to create a special position just for him.

"Law is better than all of them. Yeah... I really love Law."