Author's Note: Hi everyone! I hope you're all doing well and staying safe :) Can I just take a moment to say thank you for over 900 followers! We're getting closer and closer to one thousand and it's hard to believe XD Ya'll motivate me so much and I'm beyond grateful for the support!

To MelodiofHope: Lol yep, Law just goes straight to kidnapping and Kata is having none of it XD

To yukino76: They are always destined to meet...there is no escape ;) Katakuri may be a bit difficult at first lol. I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter!

To Princess Meria: Haha I hope you had a good sleep and you're very welcome!

To Madeline Leicht: Aw thank you so much!

To Masterdem060702: I'm so glad you enjoyed it :)

To OtherwiseAce: You're so sweet, thank you so much! I love writing their family dynamic, it's so pure. Oh yeah, Ace has a lot of amusing moments to look forward to ;) I'm so glad you enjoyed the update!

To Robotdocter: Haha, oh yes, protective Katakuri is my favorite.

To too addicted to fiction: Law enters! Definitely look forward to a team up ;) Thank you so much for the review (as always)!

To KitsuneNaru: You're very welcome! I'm pretty pleased with how this chapter came out :)

To GoddessOfFanfictionn: Lol I am mean XD I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter even though I ended it on a cliffhanger! Brulee is trying so hard, bless her. The nakama-ish relationship between Law and Luffy will develop over time but it will start here in this new update :) More to come when they're older.

To PotatoesandCheese: Haha is that sarcasm I sense? XD lol sorry about the cliffhanger *chuckles sheepishly* I'm glad you enjoyed it anyway! As for Hancock, their relationship will definitely be different than canon. Honestly, I'm not a huge Boa x Luffy shipper anyway, so it likely won't be romantic. I'm leaning towards a brother-sister relationship because of their similar experiences where she's very protective of him. Thank you for the question and the review! I hope you enjoy the update :)

To Wishfull-star: I'm glad you enjoyed it!

To Irene Sharda: I bet he can help (with a little convincing from Papa Kata lol)

To Beth3003: Aw, thank you so much!

To Louve3: Look forward to more fluff to come ;)

To Dragon of Yin and Yang: Thank you!

WARNINGS:

- Protective Papa Kata

- Some medical terminology and drugs

- Law is confused

- Mentions of past trauma

- Self-care/mental health

So many reviews! *blushes* Ya'll are so good to me. Now, on to the chapter!


Katakuri examined Trafalgar Law closely while holding Luffy securely on his hip. The young pirate was tall, slender, and had a multitude of tattoos that peeked out under his clothes. His weapon of choice appeared to be a nodachi, which required a good amount of skill to use.

From the information they'd gathered, he also knew that Trafalgar had some sort of connection to Doflamingo, which wasn't encouraging but, frankly, didn't matter. They were in the North Blue, far out of the Heavenly Demon's reach. Besides, Katakuri was confident in his ability to defeat the pink feathered pirate and manage a young whelp who'd only been sailing for a short time.

His gaze moved to Trafalgar's crew, causing them to flinch and cower away from him. It seemed Trafalgar's subordinates weren't quite as formidable as their captain. What did interest him was the polar bear mink. Katakuri wondered how the Zou resident had come to be in the North Blue of all places.

"You were searching for me?" Law questioned warily, bringing his weapon in front of him, "…why?" Katakuri frowned down at the pirate, inwardly daring him to attack. It would answer the question about his devil fruit, at least.

"Before I answer that, tell me this. Are you the current user of the Op-Op fruit?"

Law's scowl deepened and his crew readied to attack, bringing Katakuri to the conclusion that they were in the right place.

"How the hell do you know that!? Did Doflamingo send you?"

Katakuri growled under his breath at that, causing Luffy's ears to twitch slightly. This whelp of a pirate actually thought he answered to Joker!? The mere thought of working for the bastard made his blood boil.

"Papa?" Luffy whispered, looking up at him with, worried eyes. Katakuri shushed him, brushed his hair back, and placed him back on the snow.

"Don't worry, Luffy…I'll just be a minute."

Besides, he needed to punish the brat for daring to try and kidnap his precious son.

Across from them, Law had fully drawn his nodachi and formed a strange ring in his palm. Katakuri huffed, cracking his neck. He wouldn't even need Mogura for this.


Law felt blood dripping down his face and he could barely catch his breath. It didn't take long to discover that the stranger was completely out of their league, but he refused to back down. He couldn't die here…not before he avenged Cora.

And yet, here he was, lying defeated in the snow alongside his crew. A quick scan of the battlefield (if you could call it that) revealed that his crewmates were all still breathing, which was surprising. Perhaps he intended to use them as hostages.

Law attempted to form another room to bring Kikoku back to him but was forced to stop when the stranger stepped on his hand, forcing it into the snow. He grit his teeth, frustrated his ability could be thwarted by such a simple tactic. No matter what they did, it was like their enemy could see into the future or something!

"Whatever it is you want…all I ask is that you spare my crew." He whispered, glaring up at the large pirate. Almost immediately, Bepo and the others voiced their disapproval of the plan, but he was the Captain. It was his job to protect them.

The scarlet-eyed pirate examined him for a moment before stepping off his hand.

"I have no intention of killing you, or your crew."

"Then why do this?" Law pressed, shakily pushing himself up onto his knees. His silver eyes flicked to Monkey D. Luffy, the boy watching the fight with big eyes. "If this is about Mugiwara-ya…he was never in any danger from me."

"So, you deny attempting to kidnap him?"

"No…I did and I'm sorry." Law quickly put in, worried he would anger the powerful man further. It was clear that he would need to choose his words carefully. "I was simply curious, that's all."

"Well that's good," The pirate answered, causing Law to frown in confusion, "because you'll be spending a lot more time with him."

"…what?"

"Perhaps we should take this conversation inside." The powerful man added, eyeing the submarine, "We have much to discuss and I'm sure you have questions. First, allow me to introduce myself…I am Charlotte Katakuri and this is my adopted son, Luffy."

Law's mind went blank as he attempted to process the name. Wasn't 'Charlotte' the family of Big Mom…one of the Four Emperors!? Thankfully, Bepo and Shachi helped him to his feet, bringing him back to reality.

No wonder they hadn't stood a chance.


About thirty minutes later (after Law had treated his crew and himself), they sat at the table in the galley of the submarine, awkwardly staring at each other. Law did his best to appear neutral and not scared at all but that was hard to do under the scarlet stare of Charlotte Katakuri.

Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo stood behind him, having refused to leave him alone with the other pirate. Law wasn't sure why he'd allowed them to stay. It wasn't like they'd be much help if Katakuri decided to kill them.

"So…what do you want from me?" He asked, getting straight to the point.

"Well, it's a bit of a long story-" Katakuri began only to stop and look to Law's right seconds before a small form glomped Bepo…again.

"AAAAHHHH!" Bepo screamed, throwing his arms up in the air while Luffy hugged his belly, "C-C-Captain…what do I-"

"Shishishi, you're so soft…" The little boy drawled before thankfully releasing the mink. Monkey D. Luffy then turned to Law, tail perked up and swaying behind him (indicating he was happy, or so his studies of animal behavior insinuated). "Ne, you're 'Torao' right? Papa told me so."

'Who the hell is 'Torao'?' Law thought, eventually realizing that the boy had completely butchered his name.

"It's Trafalgar Law, Mugiwara-ya."

"Mhm, right." Luffy answered quickly before trotting up to him with eyes that practically sparkled, "Papa also said that you're going to fix me! Is that true?"

Law wasn't sure what the boy was talking about and turned back to Katakuri for further explanation. Was the kid hurt or something? The pirate then stood to his feet and motioned for Law to follow him, causing his crew to immediately go on alert.

"Luffy, why don't you stay and play with your new friends." Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin's heads shot up at that, "I need to talk with Law for a moment."

"Okay!" The boy chirped, immediately hugging Bepo again while asking what game they should play. Law shot his crew a serious look, silently ordering them to do what Katakuri wanted. He was fairly certain it was entertain the kid or die.

Law quietly followed Katakuri out onto the deck where he was bombarded with cold air. Wasting no time, he shut the door behind them and leaned against the metal exterior of the submarine, content to wait for the other pirate to explain the situation to him.

"You were saying?"

Law listened closely to the other pirate's story. He was surprised to hear that Monkey D. Luffy had been a slave, especially considering his trusting and happy nature. After going through so much…how was he not broken?

"We have done our best to treat his physical ailments, but some are simply beyond our skills." Katakuri continued, eyes sorrowing, "Unfortunately, we only recently discovered that he still feels the effects of the torture his master put him through. He hid it from us until he couldn't bear to carry the burden by himself anymore."

Law hummed, considering everything Katakuri had told him. It appeared that young Luffy wasn't nearly as 'okay' as he appeared and had some fairly significant nerve damage at his joints. He'd have to do a screening and exploratory surgery before making decisions about what the patient needed-

'Wait, am I seriously considering doing this?' Law thought, clenching his fist. He wasn't obligated to help this pirate, especially after he hurt his crew.

But…did he really have much of a choice? Katakuri would definitely use violence to force his cooperation if need be. Besides, as much as he hated to admit it, treating such a unique and complex medical issue made his heart race with excitement. That being said, there needed to be some ground rules.

Law didn't want to be constantly looking over his shoulder while carrying out Luffy's treatment.

"I am willing to examine Mugiwara-ya to get a look at the extent of the damage." He stated, gathering up all his courage to stand up to the terrifying pirate before him, "However, there are a few things I want in return."

"Such as…" Katakuri all but growled, prompting Law to swallow hard before continuing.

"As I'm sure you've noticed, I am a doctor, and a damn good one. But I can't do my best work with you hovering over me all the time."

"Are you telling me to leave?"

"No." Law swiftly replied, feeling bloodlust pulse from the man, "You are free to remain on board but I ask that you stay out of the exam room. I don't even allow my crew inside when I'm doing a procedure unless I require assistance. Mugiwara-ya will be in good hands."

"Somehow, I doubt that…seeing as those 'good hands' tried to kidnap him." Law felt his eyebrow twitch in annoyance. Katakuri was definitely giving off 'overprotective father' vibes that were going to make negotiating difficult. "Your reputation paints you as cruel and sadistic. How could I trust you to be alone in a room with him?"

"Do you want me to cure him or not?" Law finally spit, stepping forward so he was closer to Katakuri. The pirate scowled down at him but relaxed a few seconds later.

"Very well, but one wrong move…one mistake, and I'll make sure the 'Heart Pirates' never make it to the Grand Line. Understand?"

Law nodded numbly, wondering how the hell they'd gotten into this situation.


"Law is going to look you over, okay?" Katakuri whispered to Luffy, attempting to explain what was going to happen. Law watched them cautiously, silently going over the tools he'd need.

The Charlotte had also told him that Luffy was terrified of needles and generally uncomfortable with doctors, which would no doubt make treatment all the more difficult.

"C-Captain…" Shachi whispered, coming up beside him, "Are you sure about this?"

"Yeah, seeing as he'll kill us if we don't help the kid." Law responded, frowning when Luffy's ears drooped and he made to grab the end of his tail. To him, the movement appeared to be some sort of physical coping mechanism. He'd have to look into that as well. "Is the exam room prepped?"

"Yes, it's ready. W-What should we do while you're-"

"Try not to piss him off." Law hissed before stepping forward to receive Luffy, the boy holding Katakuri's hand tightly.

"This way, Mugiwara-ya." He said in what he hoped was a soothing tone, motioning for the cat-boy to follow him down the hall. Luffy looked up at Katakuri, not moving until the pirate whispered encouraging words in his ear and pushed him lightly on the back.

As they walked towards the exam room, Law immediately noticed how different the boy was acting. He seemed…withdrawn and nervous. A stark contrast to his smiley demeanor from before. It was clear that Katakuri's presence was very calming for him.

Eventually, they arrived at their destination and Law opened the metal door for Luffy, closing it as soon as the boy was inside.

"Put this on." He informed Luffy, tossing a hospital gown to him, "You can change behind the curtain." The boy nodded stiffly, clutching the gown to his chest as he padded over to the changing area.

Law had, of course, made sure to explain every process of the exam to Katakuri, knowing he would probably destroy his submarine to get to Luffy if he thought something was wrong. He didn't want the dangerous pirate to be surprised or suspicious of Law's motives, otherwise, he would definitely forfeit his life.

When Luffy emerged, he was naked except for the gown, underwear, and the straw-hat, which the cat-boy had around his neck.

"Erm…what're we gonna do now?"

"I'm going to see how well your muscles are working." Law explained, kneeling before Luffy to take his clothes. He was tempted to ask him to remove the hat, but something told him that wouldn't go well. "I want you to stand over there and walk towards me, okay?"

He attempted to channel his inner-pediatrician…which was buried deep (very deep) within his soul. Law didn't do 'nice' and 'child-friendly' but he also didn't want to die, so pediatrician Surgeon of Death was born.

Law watched closely as Luffy did what he asked. There was definitely something wrong with his movements, particularly on his left side. Was it…his hip? It also became painfully clear when he had Luffy walk on his toes and heels that the pain was elevated during movement.

"Was that right?" The big-eyed boy asked, clutching his tail nervously.

"Yeah, that was fine. Now I want you to go lie on the table."

Luffy turned to stare at the metal table with fear clear on his face. He swiftly shook his head and took a few steps back.

"N-No…I don't wanna."

"It's okay, Mugiwara-ya…I just want to take a closer look at your joints." Law attempted to soothe, only for the kid to shake his head even faster and retreat to the far wall, skin paling quickly. Humming as he thought of a solution, Law walked over to his cabinet of supplies and took out a small bottle. He imagined Katakuri wouldn't be pleased with what he was about to do, but it wasn't like it would hurt the kid.

"What's that?" Luffy questioned, eyeing the bottle with suspicion.

"Just something that smells nice." Law explained vaguely, moving to sit cross-legged in the middle of the room, "I think it might help you relax a little."

It was obvious that Luffy was curious so Law did his best to be patient. He wanted the kid to come to him. Thankfully, the cat-boy did eventually approach him, sniffing at the still closed bottle tentatively.

When the kid was close enough, Law opened the bottle and held it under Luffy's nose (making sure to hold his breath). After a few sniffs, the kid's knees buckled and he pitched forward into Law's lap.

"You okay, Mugiwara-ya?" He whispered as he closed the bottle. The boy looked up at him with a dazed expression, tilting his head slightly. "I'll take that as a yes."

The nitrous oxide held in the bottle was more potent than normal due to Law's many chemical experiments but did its job well and wasn't harmful to the human body. It would remain in Luffy's system for a while so that he could finish the physical exam without difficulty.

Luffy giggled when Law picked him up, rolling his head towards his chest.

"I feel funny, Torao…"

"I know." Law answered, laying Luffy on the table, "Don't worry, it won't last forever."

With that, he began an extensive physical exam of the boy on his table, muttering observations to himself as he found them.

"Definitely a previous hip and femur fracture…" Law murmured as he moved Luffy's left leg from straight to bent, feeling the unhealthy joint movement. It appeared that someone had attempted to fix it surgically, but Law would need to go in again and make some slight adjustments.

Placing the leg back down, Law flipped Luffy over onto his stomach and opened his gown so he could look at the kid's spine. He frowned when his gloved fingers ran over the little spots, the scars from the needle torture he'd endured. Katakuri was right, they really were everywhere…

His hand stopped when it reached the tail insertion point, just above the buttocks.

"Fascinating…" Law whispered, holding the fluffy appendage in both hands. It had become part of the kid's body and moved on command like an extra arm. He took a few minutes to test its flexibility and examine the distal end, noting the fur was thinner there.

"What're you doin'…" Luffy managed in his drugged state, moving his tail around in Law's grasp, "That's not your tail…silly."

"I'm just looking, Mugiwara-ya."

When he was done with the tail, Law continued down the back of Luffy's legs. His knees had a lot of scaring, prompting concerns about scar tissue build-up. Law hummed and gently moved Luffy onto to his back again so he could look at his arms.

'This is also pretty bad…' Law thought, recognizing that the majority of the torture had been done to the boy's elbows and hands. He'd be able to see just how much damage there was with his power, but first…

"Shishishi…that tickles!" The boy muttered, giggling as Law ran his thumbs over the soft fur of the cat ears. As reported by Katakuri, there were holes in the skin there as well, leaving the poor appendages marred with terrible scars so tiny, most wouldn't notice them.

"Hold still, Mugiwara-ya." Law ordered as he moved his hands from the boy's ears to his stomach (pushing the gown down his chest so he could get full access to the skin while making sure Luffy's decency was maintained). He pressed firmly, interested to feel Luffy's rubber skin rebound against the pressure. "Well, at least your organs seem to be functioning normally."

He imagined Luffy's rubber body played a part in his ability to still function after having his body practically torn apart, joint by joint.

"Now…" Law whispered, holding up his scalpel, "Let's get to the fun part."


Katakuri sat with his arms crossed, doing his best to ignore Trafalgar's annoying crew and focus his observation haki on Luffy. The kid seemed to be okay, but it was hard to tell with the metal walls and other humans wandering around so close to him.

He knew they were wary of him, as they should be. The Heart Captain certainly could become something powerful one day, but his crew…they needed some work.

Suddenly, a blue film expanded in the submarine, alerting Katakuri to the fact that Trafalgar had activated his power. This must be the 'exploratory surgery' the brat had explained to him. He knew that the Op-Op fruit's abilities allowed him to cut people into pieces without harming them, which was part of the reason why Law's ability was perfect for a doctor.

'I hope Luffy isn't scared.'


When Luffy woke up, he was confused and laying on something soft. He remembered going with Torao, walking around and stuff, but then…

The boy vaguely remembered the doctor messing around with his tail and cutting his arm off-

"Mugiwara-ya, relax. You're hyperventilating." Torao suddenly came into view and knelt beside him. Luffy did his best to calm his breathing, clutching at his black shirt that smelled so much like the White Bread pirates. "That's it…just breathe."

"Y-You…my arm…?" Luffy managed, prompting a huff from Torao. The pirate tapped both his arms with a finger.

"They're fine, I just needed to get a look at your nerves."

"Where's Papa, I-I need to see him-"

"He's…not here right now." Torao explained, making Luffy's chest tighten, "We weren't sure when you'd wake up, so he went to go get his 'sister'."

Luffy bit his lip, feeling anxious. He didn't like being away from Papa. Torao seemed nice, but he was a doctor and used needles. The cat-boy turned to examine the older pirate, taking in his appearance for what felt like the first time.

Torao definitely looked cool with all his tattoos and stuff. Luffy also really liked his hat.

Fight? Protect?

'No…I don't think so.' Luffy thought, answering Blue's challenge. His inner-cat was feeling protective of him but the boy didn't feel like he needed him right now. Though he was nervous, he didn't feel like Torao was a bad person.

"Are you hungry?" Torao asked, standing to his feet. Luffy immediately nodded and moved his bare feet over the edge of the cot he was laying on. He recognized the room as the one they'd been in before, but thankfully, the table was gone. The older man walked across the room and opened a jar. "I don't have much in here…do you like nuts or dried fruit?"

"Yeah, food is food!" Luffy chirped, trotting up to the other pirate with tail up high. He could feel Torao's gaze on him as he ate and wondered if he wanted to ask him something. After popping another handful in his mouth, Luffy asked for more, prompting the doctor to hand him the whole jar.

"Do you feel dizzy at all?"

"Uh…a little, I guess."

"Okay, do you hurt anywhere?"

"Always." Luffy found himself replying, surprising himself. He looked up at the doctor, swallowing hard when Torao took out a notebook and jotted something down. "Y-You don't have to write that down-"

"There's no need to hide things from me, Mugiwara-ya." Torao responded, eyeing him closely, "I've already seen everything. In fact, if your 'Papa' has his way, we will be seeing much more of each other until this condition of yours is cured."

"Y-You…you really can fix me?" Luffy managed with a broken voice, emotion causing tears to form in his eyes. He'd been content to live with the pain because his family would always be more important, but now that someone was completely focused on him, his health…now that he had hope.

Maybe it was okay to wish for something for himself.

"Yes, I can." Torao affirmed, tensing up the second Luffy launched himself forward to hug the pirate around the middle, "O-Oi…what're you-"

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" He sobbed, tail wrapping around Torao's ankle in a mini-hug, "I-I…thank you."


When Katakuri returned with Brulee, he was surprised to find Luffy eating in the galley with the Heart crew. The boy appeared happy and was being treated to what looked like a fruit pie of some sort. He scowled when he saw how red and puffy Luffy's eyes were, like he'd been crying.

"You're back." Trafalgar said from his position against the wall. Katakuri had to give it to the young man, he had guts to stand there and act nonchalant when it was clear he'd done something to upset Luffy. "Before you ask, I did nothing to Mugiwara-ya."

"Then why was he crying?"

"He was happy." Law added, turning his head towards Luffy, "Apparently, he was ready to be told he'd have to live with the pain forever. I simply said I could cure him…that's all."

Katakuri hummed, inclined to believe Trafalgar. That sounded like Luffy. The poor, sweet kid was often too selfless for his own good. It was okay to think about your own health and well-being every once and a while.

"So then…what's the plan? What did your exam reveal?" Brulee asked, leaning forward so she loomed over the shorter pirate. Law eyed his sister before returning his gaze to Katakuri.

"To be frank, his body is a mess. His joints are a disaster, he needs additional surgery on his hip, and the nerve repair won't be quick." Law huffed and adjusted his hat before continuing, "Honestly, if his body wasn't made of rubber, there's a good chance he would've lost some of his limbs due to paralysis."

"I…I see." Brulee stuttered, gazing sorrowfully at Luffy. The cat-boy was laughing alongside the mink, completely unaware of their serious conversation. Katakuri sighed and motioned for Law to continue.

"How long will the treatment take?"

"Based on my estimate…six months to a year." Trafalgar informed them, making Brulee bristle.

"What? You can't be serious!"

"The surgeries required to repair his nerves are very delicate." The doctor emphasized, turning to face them completely, "I will have to do one joint at a time and if I rush, there's a chance he could lose feeling completely. If you want me to do this right, Mugiwara-ya will have to stay for at least that long."

"Very well." Katakuri agreed, causing Brulee to gasp in surprise, "Do whatever you need to do."

"B-But brother-"

"This is for the best, Brulee." He interrupted, scarlet eyes fixed on his beloved son across the room, "Luffy needs this."

"Yes…but Mama expects us back much sooner than that."

That's right, Mama wanted the delicious sweets he'd promised her from the Blues. Admittedly, it had simply been an excuse to go pick up Luffy, but he would be a fool to not bring her something in a timely manner. Unfortunately, he hadn't expected Marco's report on Luffy's pain, effectively throwing a wrench into their plan.

"Then she will just have to wait." Katakuri determined, a tremor of fear coursing through his veins. To defy Mama was to court death…but this was for Luffy. He'd just tell her that the candy was hard to come by or something.

Brulee paled slightly but nodded, nonetheless.

Law stepped away from the wall, hands in his pockets once they'd finished their brief conversation.

"I'll start tomorrow."


Three months later…

"Oi, Pops! Check this out!"

Edward Newgate looked up from his bottle at Thatch's excited exclamation. The brat was waving around a newspaper and what looked like a bounty poster in his hands. Based on the happiness on his face, the old pirate knew it had to be related to Ace.

"What is it, my son?"

"Ace's bounty went up again! It's all over the news, especially considering he just entered the Grand Line. There's even talk the Marines might offer him a Warlord position."

Whitebeard had to laugh at that. Ace…a Warlord? There's no way he would accept.

"So…so when are we gonna go get him?" Thatch questioned, bouncing up and down in place like a little boy waiting to receive a puppy.

"Hmmm…not yet. Let him spread his wings a bit more." He responded before taking another sip of his alcohol, "Gurarara, it's important for young pirates like him to experience being a captain and leading others."

"Pops…you want to make him a Commander, don't you?" Thatch teased, elbowing him lightly. Whitebeard just laughed.

"Gurarara, perhaps! First we have to get him back on the Moby." It was then that Whitebeard's gaze moved out to the sea, his thoughts turning towards his youngest child, "Any updates on Luffy?"

Dogtooth was keeping them updated on the boy's status. Thanks to Marco's initiative, they'd managed to locate the current user of the Op-Op fruit, Trafalgar Law, in the North Blue. The young pirate had started Luffy's treatment a few months before, meaning the little one was slowly getting closer to being pain free.

However, due to the sensitivity of the surgeries and Luffy's difficult recovery, they were unable to move around much, leaving them open to attack should the Marines or bounty hunters discover their location. Dogtooth requested that either he, their allies, or Akagami take the initiative to try and draw their enemies' attention elsewhere.

Shanks had, unsurprisingly, agreed to be a distraction, which allowed Whitebeard to focus on Ace.

"Last I heard, he's doing okay." Thatch reported, seating himself on the steps that led to Edward's chair, "It sounds like the doc's finished his legs and is going to move on to his hips this week. I think the hardest part is the sheer amount of surgeries the kid has to go through…well, that and the rehabilitation they're having to do between procedures."

Whitebeard sighed and took a long drink, feeling sorrow for the pain his child had to endure. But at least he was on the way to recovery.


Luffy swung his legs off the table, ears flicking back and forth happily. Though it'd been a grueling few months, he could now say that his legs were pain free. It was an amazing feeling!

Torao had honestly scared him at first, but he'd quickly discovered the older pirate was super cool and had the most awesome power ever. At first, the whole 'cutting off limbs' thing had freaked him out, but now he wished his tattooed friend would leave him awake for some of the procedures so he could watch.

Of course, Torao would never do that. He always said it was 'delicate' and he didn't want Luffy to make him mess up. Papa Kata also told him that the doctor used sharp objects that could really hurt him if he was awake. At that realization (and that he was probably using needles without his knowledge), Luffy didn't pester Torao anymore.

"Oi, someone's calling for you." The doctor said as he entered the room, holding out a den-den mushi. Torao was carrying a box of gloves, meaning he was ready to get to work on his hip. Luffy tilted his head slightly but took the snail anyway.

"Lu, is that you?"

"Sabo! Hi!" He chirped, pleased to hear his brother's voice again, "It's been a while!"

"Yeah, it has." His brother replied, smiling gently through the den-den mushi, "I'm just calling to check in. Honestly, I thought you'd be closer to the New World by now. Dogtooth said you're in the North Blue?"

All of a sudden, Luffy's stomach dropped. That's right…he hadn't told his brothers what was going on.

"U-Uh…yeah. Erm, actually…" He swallowed nervously, glancing up to Torao for support. The doctor just raised and eyebrow and motioned for him to keep talking. Torao had been pushing him to voice his own fears and be okay with relying on other people's support sometimes. He said it wasn't healthy to keep everything to himself. "There's something I need to tell you."

Luffy told Sabo everything about his pain, including how long it had been going on and his desire to keep it a secret so that Ace wouldn't worry. His started to tremble about halfway through his story and wrapped his tail around his leg in an attempt to keep himself grounded. For his part, Sabo listened quietly, only interjecting to ask occasional questions.

"Luffy…" His brother muttered, making him sniffle.

"A-Are you mad?"

"What, no! Of course not!" Sabo quickly exclaimed, "I guess I'm sad that you didn't feel like you could tell us, but I understand why you kept it to yourself. I'm just glad you're getting treated."

"Mhm. Torao is the best doctor ever!" Luffy chirped in a rough voice, smiling at the tattooed pirate across the room.

"Is he there? I'd like to speak with him if I can."

Torao huffed and took the snail from him, spending the next twenty minutes talking 'smart stuff' with Sabo. Luffy didn't really understand it, but he was glad the two seemed to get along well enough. He busied himself combing out the fur on his tail with his fingers while he waited. Bepo had given him some special conditioner that really helped fluff up the fur and make it soft.

"Well, at least you seem to know what you're doing."

"Obviously." Torao replied while flicking a scalpel up and down, "Considering I've done over ten procedures on your brother, I feel fairly confident in my ability to treat his condition."

"Are you getting sarcastic with me? I suggest you watch your tone, Mr. 'Torao'. I know where you live."

"Shishishi!" Luffy giggled, entertained by Torao's scowl, "You're funny, Sabo!"

"I'm glad you think so, Lu. Keep me updated on everything."

"I will!"

"…do you want me to tell Ace?"

Luffy bit his lip, unsure how to respond. Ace wasn't quite as level-headed as Sabo, so there was no telling how he'd react to the news.

"No, I want to tell him."

"Okay, then I'll respect your wishes and make this our little secret." The den-den mushi winked, making Luffy's tail sway happily. He loved his brother sooo much. "Be well, Lu. I'll talk to you later."

"Bye, Sabo!"

Torao took the snail from him, placing it across the room.

"Your brother is just as overprotective as Kata-ya." The doctor muttered as he pulled his gloves on and readied his equipment.

"Ace is even worse!" Luffy stated with a giggle, making Torao sigh.

"Wonderful."

The boy didn't resist as Torao pushed him down onto the table. Luffy was already in a hospital gown so he was ready for the procedure. He eyed the mask and tubes Torao placed next to him. Luffy didn't really like the gas stuff, but it was better than being stuck with a needle.

"Are you ready, Mugiwara-ya?" Luffy pouted and batted at the older man's face with his tail.

"You gotta say my name, Torao~"

"I did say your name."

"No, you didn't."

"…are you ready, Luffy-ya."

The boy grinned and nodded, pleased he'd gotten his way. They were friends now, after all. It was only natural they say each other's names. Torao rolled his eyes and placed the mask over Luffy's nose and mouth, causing a slight sweetness to fill his nostrils.

He breathed normally, doing his best not to hyperventilate. The constraint of the mask was often stressful for him.

"Torao…is it gonna hurt?" Luffy asked, eye-lids drooping slightly. The doctor hummed, leaning on his elbow so he was looking down at him.

"Maybe. I imagine you'll at least be sore. Unfortunately, the further up we go, the more sensitive your nerve endings are."

"But…I'll…feel better?"

"Yes, definitely. Leave it to me, Luffy-ya."

He smiled at that and finally succumbed to the sleeping gas, content to trust his new friend with his broken body. If anyone could fix him, it was Torao.

Luffy trusted him completely.


Law pulled his surgical mask up over his nose and looked down at the sleeping boy before him. At first, he'd only started the kid's treatment under threat of death, but now, after months of getting to know Luffy, he found that he didn't require incentive anymore.

No, he wanted to help him.

Luffy was the only other D he'd ever met, and epitomized everything Cora had told him about the Will of D. Despite the horrors he'd endured, Luffy still held on to his dream and fought so hard even when the whole world was against him.

Though he was embarrassed to admit it, Law found that he respected the fourteen year old. He hoped that someday, once he was cured, they would meet again as pirates and compete for the One Piece.

"You'll be something someday…that's for sure." He whispered, sterilizing a needle hidden in his pocket. Law always put in the IV and any other tubes he needed after Luffy was asleep. Against Katakuri's advice, he'd tried to introduce the kid to a needle in an attempt at exposure therapy, but it hadn't gone well.

No, that was when Law met 'Blue', Luffy's demonic little cat friend that apparently lived in his head. Thankfully, Katakuri and Brulee were able to contain him…otherwise Law would've taken more than a scratch across the chest.

Luffy still had a lot to overcome, but he had no doubt that the kid would do it.

"Okay..." Law whispered, gently inserting the IV into Luffy's limp arm, "let's get this done."