Chapter Three

Sanji watched two lazy human slumped over the kitchen table each holding on to their coffee mug like oxygen mask. Sometimes the youngest blonde of the Donquixote family wanted to kick them out of the house. He decided to concentrate on slicing the tomatoes into fine seed free thin pieces. His father Donquixote Rosinate was treading on physical pain from constant falls and dreams while his elder cousin brother Law was wending on anger and bitter nightmares created of medicines he prescribed. It was an everyday picture for Sanji.

Sanji placed the finally oval shaped pieces of loaf in pan and sprinkled them with olive oil. His eyes peeped out of the window for the infinite time as he broke eggs into the white porcelain bowl, he had perfected the art of breaking eggs so well that he could look anywhere and land the yolks in bowl without breaking them. The road was still empty and fog was blanketing the view. This was the best part of his day, to wake up to cheery but mysterious morning and brew fresh coffee and prepare breakfast for two nightwalkers in disguise of human body.

Preparing breakfast for his father was not a challenge, but preparing breakfast for Law was a challenge. Sanji loved challenges. He broke away from the window and looked at his bowl, six beautiful orange yolks awaited to be spanked by him. Before the spanking began his expert hands pinched salt and pepper in them, a scoop of butter was dropped next moment. Sanji smirked as he dropped finely chopped bell pepper, carrot and onion in them.

Breakfast was meant to be the healthiest and heaviest of the three meals and Sanji lived by it, no one under his watchful eyes ever missed their meals. "Son… second cup please" the blonde father looked up. "Nope… Too much coffee will hurt your stomach. You will have breakfast in five minutes" Sanji overlooked the puppy eyes his father gave from behind the shaggy blonde hair and mixed his ingredients. He turned over the pieces of loaf in pan next and placed the sliced tomatoes on them and sautéed them. On other stove he placed another pan and dropped the egg mixture and flipped over the omelet two minutes later.

Like he promised three plates of mouthwatering breakfast sat on the table. While Rosinate grabbed the sautéed loaf first Law frowned at Sanji. "I know you hate bread; hence for you I have something else, fresh Tomatoes with herbs in crisp roll" Sanji placed a plate that had beautiful seasoned tomatoes wrapped in thin crackly crisp shell of wheat. "Thank you" Law gobbled his delight before his uncle could grab it.

"Brother have you visited the Laughmaker's?" Sanji asked out of the blue as he chummed on his egg. Law's hand froze in-between his picking up of egg and the bite, for split of a second. But he quickly recovered, but he could not escape Sanji's eyes. "No.. What will be my business with a Café?" Law chewed his eggs slowly. "It's not a Café, who gave you that impression?" Sanji asked. "But they have the Menu board outside and I saw tea cups on display" Law spoke.

"It's hard to explain, but of anything it's not an old school Café, Lamy is a fun child to talk with you will enjoy her conversation, do drop by once their coffee is excellent" Sanji winked, he had seen his brother walk by the shop every now and then for more than two weeks now. He wanted to talk to Luffy but was confused on how to approach. Sanji was not oblivious, his brother liked men and Luffy was just the kind of man his brother fell for- filled with honeyed sunshine. "When I have time I will drop by" Law spoke in a softer voice and Sanji nodded as he lit the first cancer stick of the day. Yes he agreed to the compliment he gave to Laughmaker's Coffee. Sanji needed one badly.

Dofalmingo did not know how or when his chair moved near the window, as he sipped on his black tea and munched on the hard toast his eyes fell on the One and Half building. On the roof he could see its owner sipping from his cup and the new tenant, the incarnation of wild wind laughing. As the sun rose up to glory, the fog dried up and Doflamingo could watch them clearly. It had become part of his morning routine for almost three weeks, to watch Shanks and Luffy chat over their cups of whatever they drank.

He disliked Shanks from his childhood; he was a genius of rarest kind but he was laidback, damn caring and relaxed. They studied in same school; they fought for the King under same regiment, defended its nation and contributed to its motto- Peace. But after the battle, Shanks chose to work for his father's coating business while Doflamingo studied hard to become Mayor. He disliked Shanks because the man lacked ambition. He went with the flow, had no moral obligation and lived by no rules. It was a waste of life. Yet here Shanks was acting all couple with Luffy. It was nothing unexpected from Shanks and that godless boy.

Doflamingo saw Luffy taking away the cup from Shanks and walk towards the stairs on the corner of the roof-balcony. Doflamingo gulped down the last bit of his tea and strained his neck to look at the men. Shanks reclined forward on the railing and waved his hand at Doflamingo. If anything he had learned over the years he had never learned to be impolite. Doflamingo raised his hand into a smaller hello and nodded his head. He was not a kindergartner, who would wave their hand without a worry and flaunt their grin to anyone who smiled at them. He was the Mayor of Dressrosa and Shanks was a petty business man.

Doflamingo stood up and carried his tray with empty cup and plate to the kitchen sink. Ever since his wife left the house he had asked the maid to refrain from coming to work. He angered his wife, as a deed of penance he decided to do every household work himself. It was still five days to get a reply of his letter to her. He was really sad at how things got out of control between them.

If only he knew how to calm her and earn forgiveness. Sadly he did not and this left him bitter, as bitter as the after taste of black tea turned cold by the wild wind's movement.

If Shanks was married he would have definitely wanted a son like Luffy. The boy was smart, cheerful and lived a day to fullest. It was over three weeks Luffy had moved in the house with his daughter. He would not mind a granddaughter like Lamy either. Sadly everyone knew the redhair did not love or dedicated his heart enough to reach the wedding altar.

But somehow Shanks had a feeling Luffy was replacing the role of his never present wife. It took him three days to understand the changes in his life. The boy woke up with the first cry of roosters from nearby chicken farm. He would swipe the roof-balcony and enter his big kitchen below. He would quietly put cookies to bake, lamb chops in hissing oil, skin vegetables, create butter out of milk, wipe every glass item in the shop and change the strange door hanging made out of lemon and chilies** and burn the earlier ones in the fireplace where strange but delicious stew was simmering. After that he would put on his red hood and slip out of the house locking it from outside.

He did all this by the strong sun's arrival. After he returned half an hour later, he takes a bath and poured water in the cool smelling plant he placed on corner of the balcony. Shanks yet had to ask the plant's name. How did Shanks know all this? The third night after Luffy's arrival, he had to stay on the docks when coating of ship took longer than expected. He entered the house at break of dawn and found Luffy busy returning back to home with his red hood on, next day Shanks peeped Luffy's routine from under his blanket.

Since then it almost became a habit for Shanks to be fed by Luffy a healthy, delicious and simple breakfast. Someday it was the stew with dried bread and strong black coffee, another day it was Luffy's special tea with ginger** and cinnamon rolls and mixed jam or a quick fix of leftover that tasted nothing foul in his mouth. He would often get in home and share dinner with father and daughter. But Luffy had made it a point that both Shanks and Lamy were fed a glass of milk before sleep, after both Shanks and Lamy were in bed Luffy again crept out of the house, Shanks had a good idea where he was going. Shanks should marry Luffy as soon as possible his inner self mocked him.

As Shanks saw Doflamingo leave his window he turned around to look at Luffy. His hair held back by the blue bandana and his lean body climbing up and down the spiral stairs with wet sheets. If only he could love men like he loved women Shanks would have fallen on his knees and begged Luffy to be his life partner. But he had a feeling and he could not shake it off, Luffy was attracted to him. He had to cure the attraction for Luffy's sake.

But again he felt, Luffy was a moving portal of entertainment, he talked like a naïve kid but his actions were very mature. He was moving curiosity and the whole town yet had to figure him out. People wanted to know who he was, where he was from, where was that little girl's mother. None asked and Luffy pretended to be oblivious about the curiosity he had planted in Dressrosa. Shanks was waiting to see how Luffy was going to storm the streets with his infectious smile.

"Luffy" Shanks called out, he wanted to know the boy well. "Yeah?" Luffy grinned. "On Saturday, would you like to come with to the docks?" Shanks asked him out of impulse. "In the morning?" Luffy knitted his brows. "Nah… in the afternoon, it just is an hour's stroll, I felt like I should make you meet my team" Shanks smile. "Sure! For an hour I can trust Lamy with the shop" Luffy was back to his work mood hanging the clothes.

Law regrets the moment he knocks on the old couple's door. The old man would be bickering about the bitter medicine he provides and Law would grumble in return for negligence Fabre did. The old woman would in return be sandwiched. With knowledge of possible headache Law brushed his tattooed fingers on the door.

Old Fabre was standing at the door and Law was startled! The old man was walking with stick in hand three weeks ago. Now he was standing erect without his wife Luigia's help. Law was surprised."You.. are walking on your own?" Law mumbled. "Thanks to your medicine lad" the old man sure had a tough palm for the shagging expanded body he carried.

"You took the medicine I prescribed?" Law asked in a happy voice. "Yeah.. come in .. come in boy" Fabre dragged Law inside their small cottage. "Doctor-san…" Luigia came with a tray of cookies and smearing cups of milk tea once she heard the doctor come. "Doctor-san come in..." the old woman chirped. "Your husband seems fine granny, looks like you don't have to marry old Riku" Law smiled. "Yes,, it's so sad, I could have become Queen Regent of this country too, but Fabre is in good health" Luigia place three cookies of white and pink on Law's empty, beside the cup.

"The tea is really good" Law relaxed after the fourth sip. "Try the cookies" Fabre spoke. "Yeah,… I was" Law really disliked Pink, but he could not hurt the old cheerful couple. After years this cranky couple had found some happiness and health. Law took the first bite of the cookie. No it was not overwhelmingly sweet, the pink parts were not made of stupid strawberry flavor found in departmental store. It had the sour and sweet smell of cherries, freshly plucked from the tale woods in Greenbit. In moments Law had gulped down his second cookie.

"You like it Doctor-san?" Luigia asked. "Yes.. Granny your cooking skills have improved in two weeks since my last visit. She baked good cookies but the one Law ate were divine. "Oh no… I did not make them.. I bought them from Laughmaker's and tea leaves as well. That Luffy is a wonderful cook, he even fixed up our old toaster and pressure cooker! Have you not visited the shop?" Luigia asked crossing her tiny legs and pressing her palms together on the huge sofa in pure bliss. "No.. I haven't got the time and it's a Café right?" Law asked.

"No… its Laughmaker's. It's not some café they fill the sunflower streets with" Fabre spoke. "Actually Luffy helped us with your 'Medicine' too" Luigia smiled. "Sorry? He helped you? How?" Law was surprised. "You had asked him to drink the powder with warm water right?" Law nodded to old women's query. "Well Luffy helped us with the bitter part, he asked us to bring the powder and two days later he gave colourful balls" Luigia smiled. "Balls? Colourful balls?" Law was surprised. "He warped the powder in small coulourful balls" Fabre smiled. "So you just swallowed the ball with warm water without the bitterness?" Law smiled.

"Exactly" the old couple smiled. "Excellent.. here are the rest medicine for next three weeks, after that you are a new engine in old car. But make sure Mr. Laughmaker wraps them in balls for you" Law stood up smiling. "Sure…. Visit us again" both smiled at Law affectionately. "I will, if you take your medicines properly" Law stood up with a smile.

When the green haired stoic face guy entered the shop, Luffy's smile was equally bright and open. "Welcome to Laughmaker's. How may my shop help you?" Luffy could see this guy was a muscle head, loved drinking and was of the loyal kind. "Umm.. I don't know.. I want to…" the guy had a heavy voice. "Please take a seat" Luffy rushed and offered the cushioned Mora** to sit. "Thanks" the green haired guy had wore a sweat green shirt and army trousers, he must have had served at the battle of Rainbow Mist five years back.

"I am Luffy" Luffy forwarded his hand to the guy. "I am Zoro" the man took Luffy's hand gruffly. "I am the town blacksmith and I run a dojo above my shop" Zoro spoke. "Cool! I was looking for a blacksmith too, I wanted to melt few of my old utensils and make something useful of them" Luffy moved to his counter and began pouring tea in a cup. "Do you like Mint or Ginger?" Luffy asked.

"Sorry?" Zoro was looking around the shop. "Which one you like Ginger or Mint? You are clearly a regular drinker so?" Luffy winked. "Anything is fine" Luffy poured the mint water in the tea. "Here, on the house, it will clear your block head" Luffy smiled. "I can pay, I may look terribly poor types, I do have stable income" Zoro frowned. "Shhh…" Luffy placed finger on his own lips and shook his head. "I know you can pay, but I want to be your friend. Paying me less for one cup won't make me poor, it's for friendship" Luffy bought his own mora and sat opposite Zoro.

"Thanks.. I am not trying to be rude" Zoro smiled, rather tried to smile. "I want to gift someone something...no.. how do I put it" Zoro scratched his head. "And that someone is class apart from you huh?" Luffy asked. "Yeah.. very and we have an age difference too and tremendous education difference" Zoro was nervous Luffy could see it in his gesture. "Have you asked them on a date?" Luffy had a feeling it was on negative scale and Zoro shook his head. "How do you plan to approach them?" Luffy asked.

"Their son attends my dojo and I think they like me" Zoro was in mess. "Why not try to win the son first? Treat him well and then approach their parent?" Luffy mumbled. "The boy looks up to me. But you see both have seen a lot, they have hard time trusting people in this town" Zoro bit his lips. "I think I have something for you" Luffy stood up from his mora and walked towards the shelf, he lightly tapped on the tin boxes as if examining the health and hearing them speak. "Ah ha.. here you are beanies" Luffy pulled out a big green tin box and a cloth pouch from other end of his counter.

Few moments later he was pouring coffee beans in the white pouch. He tied the pouch and looked at Zoro. "You have cups? Right? Decent ones? That are presentable and fancy, chique?" Luffy asked. "Yeah, Kuina used to buy now and then, I will find them" Zoro mumbled. "Kuina?" Luffy asked. "My late wife, that bitch ran the dojo" Zoro smiled, the first confident smile Luffy saw in him. "She will be proud, that you are trying to move on" Luffy threw the pouch and Zoro caught it with a proud nod.

"I am going to pay for it" Zoro stood up searching his pocket. "Yes I do want my payment, but first ask them for coffee inside your home. When you earn your date pay me for the coffee beans and buy gifts for them from me I am not moving anywhere, I work for money too.. I have a daughter to look after." Luffy grinned. "You are not brother to that little girl?" Zoro asked. "No.. not parent and child by adoption either. Daughter and father by blood" Luffy's eyes twinkled. "You can send her to my dojo, every Thursday and Tuesdays, children need little physical exercise" Zoro said seriously. "She is a ball of energy, a little self defense is good too. Let me ask Lamy and I will come see your shop as well" Luffy wiped his hand on his white apron. "Good day Mr. Luffy" Zoro bowed. "Luffy.. just Luffy" Luffy waved his hand.

"I swear Luffy.. one day I will break my typewriter" Sanji sat on the carpeted floor and reclined on the painted wall spreading his long legs apart and resting his hands on his knees. "Just ask Mr. Mayor to buy you a new one" Luffy spoke casually. "Like that honest Abe is going to spend extra coppers on typewriter. He is waiting for it to fall piece by piece! I hate my job! All I do is type, type and type! Even in my dreams I can hear click, click, click…" Sanji was whining. "Sanji….." Luffy called in a cheery voice and the blonde looked up. "You should take a vacation and it looks like you are not having much of sex these days either" Luffy placed freshly baked cookies on the display and new metal mugs were put on display window.

"I was having good sex until few days back, but my lady Viola has broken it off" Sanji sipped his delicious coffee. "Poor you.. you need a wife badly" Luffy smiled. "That's big coming from a teenaged father" Sanji smirked. "Hey don't go by my face, I may look young, I am a man you know! I have daughter! She is seven years old" Luffy grinned. Still you are younger than me" Sanji winked.

"Yeah I am. But I am the father here" Luffy moved inside his big kitchen. "Hey Luffy" Sanji called out. "Yeah?" the reply came. "Doesn't Lamy miss her mother? I miss my mother at times too" Sanji asked. "Of course she does, but their missing each other is on different scale" Luffy chuckled from inside. "When was the last time they met?" Sanji asked. "Three years ago, they do exchange letters time to time" Luffy walked out with basket of decorated eggs. "You painted your eggs? Who will buy painted chicken and duck eggs?" Sanji raised an eyebrow. "No.. These are chocolate eggs, wrapped in coulourful sugary coating, try one" Luffy offered the blonde the basket. "How much?" Sanji raised an eyebrow. "Five berri" Luffy grinned.

"You saw my wallet did you not? I walked in with thirty berri, I spent twenty four berri on coffee! Luffy you sly guy" Sanji picked the golden egg. "You had three cups of coffee and now one chocolate egg, I saved you a berri and you are angry with me" Luffy placed the baskets on the display window. "Give me something of One Berri" Sanji pouted as he sucked on egg. "This is awesome!" Sanji was licking his fingers next moment.

"What do you want? Peppermint toffee? Paper Fridge Magnet? Ginger bread stick? Mansherry Candle? Chocolate-bun? Soup Toast? Shoe lace? Hair Ribbon? Brown Bread crumbs?" Luffy asked. "How are you providing these things that cheap?" Sanji asked raising his curly brow. "I don't know. It's the correct price I feel" Luffy shrugged his shoulder. "Do you make profits?" Sanji asked. "Of course I do? Otherwise how have I been travelling and keeping my business alive?" Luffy asked in a mocking tone. "How indeed" Sanji mumbled. "Let me pack the Mansherry Candle for you" Luffy wrapped up the blue little goddess of wax in a brown paper with green ribbon.

"I am not a religious person" Sanj smirked. "Give it to someone in need of good sleep, my candles have jasmine oil in them, they help in sleep and helps in awakening passions too" Luffy gave big innocent face for the words he uttered.

"One more of those candle please, I need to give one to Viola as parting gift" Sanji placed a copper berri on Luffy's palms.

Law finally decides on a day to meet Luffy, Sunday. For two weeks he had avoided the existence of Laughmaker's in Dressrosa. And he had almost spent almost another week stalking the shop. So on Friday night with Zoro and Sanji, Law sat in Party's bar, the old ancient Adam wood now family bar, once the favourite spot for Mountain Bandits. "What a rare surprise? I see pallet of colourful hair on my counter" the owner of bar Makino smiled as she placed the beer mugs.

"You are as lovely as the evening Makino-san" Sanji blew a kiss. "Ah.. ha your flattery won't take you too my bed chamber. I heard Viola dumped you lad?" Makino asked to Sanji. "Haha.. curly brow.. I told you she was going to dump you" Zoro patted Sanji's back. "You green field of algae better stay away from my pain, I at least got to be part of her universal love, where as you! You have been waiting in queue alone for almost a year now!" Sanji spat back. "Slow and steady win the race" Zoro huffs. "Only if you could walk straight towards the target Zoro" Law mumbles.

And three of them burst out laughing.

"Brother how long are you going to avoid visiting Laughmaker's?" Sanji asked. "As if the movement of world has stopped if I don't visit a café! Why are you so hell bent to make me visit that place?" Law roared. "Don't tell me you haven't Law?" Zoro chugged his glass. "What do you mean? Zoro you did not visit that place? Why? You of all the people!" Law's eyes grew large. "To my surprise I did on Wednesday and the coffee beans he gave me worked wonders on Thursday, I still have to pay him. Luffy is a nice chap, on Thursday Lamy joined my Dojo as well, the girl came with a bag of cookies for my evening coffee with her. Luffy helped me out because I had nothing to offer with my coffee" Zoro grinned.

"You asked her out?" Sanji and Law thrilled up. "No… not yet, I asked her for a cup of coffee in the shop while the kids changed" Zoro was proud of his actions. "She loved the coffee I brewed" the green haired man was chirping now.

"See.. there is a reason I want you to visit the shop" Sanji smiles. "Yeah Law, Luffy has this really cool knives, swords and stuff hung up on the wall too" Zoro added. "Sunday.. I will visit the cafe on Sunday" Law made an oral promise.

Doflamingo was looking out of the window when he stood up in surprise at Sanji's sudden appearance in his office and Doflamingo stumbled back when Law crept up beside the younger blonde. "You do know boys, I have a calling bell system below" Doflamingo regained his composure. "You mean pull the rope tied on that gigantic Ox bell and wake whole Dressrosa up?" Law sat on the guest chair as Doflamingo fixed his pink night robe.

"Why are you both here?" Doflamingo asked, trying to hide the food tray. "Are you eating that shit for dinner?" Sanji rushed towards the coffee table resting below the window. "Language Sanji" Doflamingo groaned. "You are drinking black tea? A small slice of cheese and two bread sticks? What the hell is wrong with you?" Sanji yelled. "Slow suicide" Law mumbled as he walked towards his father and pushed him on the chair.

"Let's see, how pathetic you have gone" Law flashed his carry on torch at Doflamingo's eyes and counted his pulse. "Brother how bad it is?" Sanji asked. "Classic case of malnutrition and low blood pressure" Law sighed. "That's it, I am cooking you your supper after my work" Sanji hissed. "No" Doflamingo protested. "Let him die, Sanji. I don't have to bother bringing him Mom's letter" Law smirked as he waved a brown envelop.

"Give it to me, Law" Doflamingo stood up. "On one condition" Law looked at Sanji who raised his curly brow at his uncle. "Okay one meal a day" Doflamingo sighed. Law handed him the letter. "Don't give up father, she loves you the most" Law saw his father sigh in relief as he further melted on his cushioned chair. "I am lighting this Mansherry candle, it will help you sleep well" Sanji saw his uncle rip open the envelop, ignoring their words as he lit the candle and placed it on the coffee table.

"Let's go" Law pulled out Sanji from the building.

"You can keep an eye on the shop for an hour right?" Luffy asked putting on a goat skin jacket. "Yes dad.. I have been looking after shop since the age of four" Lamy pouted. "That was when I left for loo, it was just for five minutes. Today it's an hour. And do not let any human in if you don't trust them at first glance. Fishy looking men are dangerous okay?" Luffy sat on his knees and kissed Lamy on the forehead.

"I am a big girl you know" Lamy hissed. "Just seven, just seven, still not big enough" Luffy patted her face and joined Shanks waiting for him outside. "You are complete man" Shanks pulled out a cancer stick and lit it as he began walking with the metal Tiffin carrier in his hand. "What makes you say that?" Luffy adjusted his strawhat. "The way you keep your business floating, you keep that girl happy and mind it I figured your little charity work too" Luffy pretended to unheard Shanks.

They both left the central square and took a turn on left, leaving the hustle and bustle of the main market. "Have you always been in Dressrosa?" Luffy asked. "Not forever, most of my life. I was in Mairneford Battle and before I joined my father's coating business I did a bit of travelling. Not as expansively as you father and daughter do, but I have seen major places of this country" Shanks offered his cancer stick to Luffy.

"No.. I don't smoke" Luffy shook his head. "Nor do you drink?" Shanks asked. "Nah.. I may sip wine with my family once in a while but in general I don't drink" Luffy smiled. "We walk through the woods now" Shanks held out his hand and Luffy gladly took it. "Tell me about your coating team" Luffy inquired. "We are four guys, Benn Beckman, Lucky Roo, Rockstar and me and few apprentice" Shanks smiled as they walked through the green glade.

"Benn Beckman is a smoker and can joke with stoic face. Lucky is a glutton, never and I say never invite him to your shop okay!" Luffy nodded at Shanks terrified face. "Rockstar looks scary but has a heart of a teen girl" Shanks smiled. "A manly team you have" Luffy smiled. "I hope they like the meat bun I brought" Luffy paddled faster as Shanks took big steps.

"They will love you for this and here we are" Shanks rested his hands on his hips and smiled at Luffy. "This is beautiful" Luffy's eyes grew large. "The clearest fresh water river you will ever have tasted in this country, welcome to Green Bit" Shanks pointed at the big hanging pool that connected the docs and tail like extension of the mainland piercing into the blue water. "I did venture on other side, but I never figured this side was treasure island with herbs" Luffy inhaled the fresh smell.

After that Shanks watched his team worship Luffy. Lucky Roo was begging Luffy to make him meat buns everyday to which Luffy was trying to deny his best. Even Benn was not left untouched, Luffy's self less smile cheered up his team. Rockstar was weeping at the kind gesture showed to him by Luffy. Offering food to someone was the greatest gesture anyone could do in Dressrosa. Luffy was doing it without any expectation. Within half an hour Luffy had smitten them.

"Guys.. Luffy has to go now, Lamy is alone in shop" Shanks broke the news and three of them began pouting. "Why don't you go back and let Luffy stay here?" Rockstar complained. "You want to be sacked from the job boy?" Shanks glared. "No" Rockstar hurried off with his hammer. "Let me show Luffy the way out" Shanks began leading the way. "Bye.. guys.. I will visit again soon" Luffy waved. "Please bring prawn chips next time" Lucky Roo waved. "Shishishi and I will bring tomato chutney** too…" Luffy laughed.

"Luffy, you can go home from here I hope?" Shanks asked as they reached the woods. "I can. I cannn... I never forget roads" Luffy grinned. "It feels like you have been part of Dressrosa forever" Shanks mumbled. "No it will be three weeks for my shop tomorrow and almost a month for Lamy and me" Luffy shifted the metal Tiffin carrier from one hand to another.

"If you were a girl I would I have asked you to marry me" Shanks laughed. "Why not ask me now?" Luffy asked with a straight face. "Sorry" Shanks looked at Luffy with confusion. "Mr. Shanks I do like you, you are attractive and good man. You are not blind either, you have seen me stare at you too" Luffy was not joking here. "Not Mr. Shanks, Shanks is fine, I thought you like women, I did see you checking me out… but…" Shanks took a step back. "No.. I like men, I always have" Luffy blushed. "Your daughter?" Shanks asked. "She was the gift from a mistake, I never regret fighting to bring her in this world" Luffy grinned.

"Luffy, I don't think I can love you. I like you, I respect you, but from whatever angle I see you, I wish I had a son like you" Shanks placed his hands on Luffy's shoulder. "May I kiss you? Once?" Luffy asked. "Promise me, after this you won't be awkward with me and deprive me of good breakfast?" Shanks asked. "You are not the first man who is going to reject me, but I do want to see if sparks fly on your end or not and I can never stop feeding people" Luffy smiled.

"Cocky little brat, yes you may kiss me" Shanks leaned forward and Luffy tiptoed and graced his lips against the nicotine layered lips. No sparks flew, Shanks' had his eyes open, but Luffy had them closed. But no sparks flew. Luffy pulled back opening his eyes.

"See?" Shanks smirked. "You are in love" Luffy smiled softly. "With you?" Shanks frowned in confusion."No. You are in love with someone.. no wait you were in innocent love with someone years ago and you have been loving another someone for years now. You never hurt people. You are good man, you are waiting for them" Luffy hugged Shanks with all the warmth he could muster. For years Shanks had avoided thoughts from past, here he was crumbling in arms of a boy less than half his age. "You little deep shit, I seriously want you as my son, I cant imagine you as my creepy little lover" Shanks hugged him back. "I will make you laugh, I promise I will shishishishi" Luffy grinned.

From a distance, Law could just see. He saw the strawhat wearing boy kiss his landlord. Law felt a sharp pang of jealousy, he wanted to love this boy. A smile interrupted on his lips, Shanks never loved anyone, everyone in Dressrosa knew. He could see them, kiss like naives, hug like brothers and cheer each other like parent and child. Law was not blind, he could read between lines, he could read gestures. He was going to meet Mr. Laughmaker the very next day. He was going to ask him out, pamper him and love the boy with all his heart. From distance he could see Luffy's eyes swell in tears as Shanks and he parted. Luffy just got his heart broken, Shanks could not love, that was his curse his mother had mumbled once, he was too good a man to be selfish.

Actually fuck Sunday, Law was a selfish man, he was going after Luffy now.

"Excuse me Mr. Laughmaker" Law joined the path of crushed plants and trampled flowers five minutes later. Alone in the woods, Luffy was like a single ray of sunlight breaking inside the deep green glade, he was bent over the pile of boulders and examining the green plants growing in crevices carefully. "Mr. Laughmaker" Law finally reached him. "Are you calling me?" Luffy turned around his head, the strawhat around his head glowed like a halo, he was beautiful and Law's tongue knotted up in his throat.

"Yes? I see no one around, you must be calling me" Luffy's eyes still were tear stained yet his smile was warm.

"Mr. Luffy Laughmaker, umm, he.. hello" Law huffed. "I am Donquixote Trafalgar Law" Law gave his hand.

"It's not Luffy Laughmaker shsishishishi… Mr. Law, I am Monkey D Luffy" Luffy took Law's hand with a grin, as if there was a personal joke Law cracked open. "Just Law for you" Law smiled. "Luffy…" Luffy could feel warmth spreading on his palms, the kind he loved and wanted from certain red hair moments back. "Nice meeting you at last after three weeks of hurdle race and inner turmoil ne?" Luffy smiled mischievously at Law blushing hard. His loitering around the cafe never went unnoticed by Luffy. Law was already in love with this boy whose face was fresh like the full moon and his black hair was fluttering in the rising wind, Luffy's strawhat tumbled forward and Law caught it, their hands brushed again and Luffy could feel sparks fly his eyes lit up now only for Law. Law smirked at thought of his father who would be so annoyed; Law was seduced and seducing the wild wind.

TBC

Disclaimer- No yarrrr I am not the creator of One Piece!

Lemon & Chili as door hanging**- To ward of evil eye (Most hindu shops tend to put it up, we have to change it every morning)

Ginger Tea**- Helps in fixing up glitches in immunity, or so my granny tells me

Mora**- a chair without back or legs, can be called as Mura too rather a thing made of bamboo comes in shapes, one in my home resembles a wine casket.

So finally both have spoken. Thing with Shanks was, required. It triggered stupid lazy Law right?

omegaluffy, KuinaKuniKu, MossDoll, Readingshoe, amber. vale22, hunnybunny382, Apikins, Carnivorous Fish, Hakai-san, MYnekoheart, Yugikitten, wildcat114, thank you for follow and favs :)

Readingshoe, Lionel Orlando, Daydreamfox, Hakai-san, poyochin, LunaSkye23, guys thank you for reviews

FORGIVE FOR TYPOS- I cant stop doing them.