Chapter Four

Case of Broken Typewriter & Other Stories: Part-I

When seven-year-old Chopper takes his seat beside Lamy in the tiny class, he has two thoughts, he wants to stay away from the trouble making trio- Ninjin, Tamanegi, Piiman and study hard to make his mom proud of him. So with tiny legs and a heavy backpack, he moves to the first bench from his window seat at third row and rubs his muffler covered nose with his hands. As he sits beside Lamy, Chopper smells something sweet itch that the wool conspired with to itch his nose. Brother Coby, smiles at the children and pulls his glasses down and starts reading out the passages from composition book, the very same his mother sold.

It was around a month Lamy had joined the temple school, everything about her was a curiosity. Brother Coby treated her like any other child, but the whole class new Lamy was very different from all of them. Chopper too had been curious, but he never bluntly asked questions like Piiman or hawked around like Ninjin. Mom had taught Chopper to be polite and keep to himself, so he did. Chopper had no best friend, that was a big dream, he had no friends in truth, no one invited him to their birthday parties and Chopper always celebrated his birthday with his mom. Brother Coby cared for him, but no one really noticed Chopper.

As Brother Coby began to write on the board, Chopper pulled his muffler down from his upturn nose which had a bluish shade caused by the wild wind blowing outside. In that instant he turned around and looked at Lamy, deep rooted in copying down the words from the board to her notebook. It took Lamy seven seconds to figure out that she was being watched. The girl turned around and her peanut coloured pigtails swished around startling Chopper. Lamy flashed a big grin and returned back to writing.

When Brother Coby left the children in garden to have their lunch, Chopper tiptoed near Lamy, for first time in his life he wanted to talk to another classmate. The girl made no fuss about being near a boy like other girls of his class did. "You smell vanilla at first, but then of honey and lime" Chopper muttered. "Do I?" Lamy grinned. Chopper nodded with a blush dusted over his chubby ancient paper coloured cheeks. "Chopper is talking to a girl!" Tamanegi shouted and rest of the pack gathered around. "Chopper can talk?" anther shabby head asked.

Lamy chose to ignore the crowd and scooted near Chopper and grabbed his soft brown hair and pulled him towards her nose. "Ummm… you smell coffee, peonies, marigold, ink and cotton candy" Lamy gave a satisfied grin to Chopper who look perplexed, he was the only one in whole Dressrosa with acute and accurate Olfactory, or so he felt moments back. "Papa says I have a knack for smelling, do you want to try the lemon cakes my papa made? Before mixing the lemon in the butter and flour batter, we soak them in honey for a day" Lamy opened her lunch box and all the children staring at two odd balls gulped down air as their mouth watered at the aroma of the perfectly squared cakes Lamy and Chopper feasted on.

Luffy loved to sell curiosity, this was his call. But he too knew he was not free of its spell either. When the domestic quarrel from the ninth lane on his right entered his ears, his legs followed their own thoughts. With his red sweater and a strawhat on his head that was a total misfit for the season, he entered the old yellow Butcher street with empty basket in his hand. Luffy had been buying meat for his shop from this street for a while now, almost all shopkeepers knew him and gave up to his bargaining skills. The innocent face he carried had a charisma which made everyone bent to his will. His legs stopped in front of the noisy shop.

Luffy removed his strawhat and gave a big smile to the plump woman shouting and wagging her broom at the empty stairs six steps from her meat counter. "Trouble in Paradise?" Luffy placed the basket on the counter and picked the chunks of fresh meat on display. "You think a butcher woman can ever live in paradise?" the plump girl sighed. "Why not? Every good human can live in paradise; I am Luffy by the way" Luffy was examining the pieces of meat. "I know who you are, you are the café owner from One and Half Red Building, you are hottest gossip in Dressrosa, I am Lola by the way" the woman smiled.

"Am I a reason to gossip? Wow, hello Lola-san, your stock of meat is the best of all that I have seen so far" Luffy acted so surprised about the gossip and next moment appreciating about the quality of meat that Lola thought Luffy was totally ignorant about the town. Luffy was far from ignorant. "I think I would like to have a business deal with you, I need thirty-five pounds of meat daily" Luffy flashed his deep eyes on Lola. "I can supply you that" Lola nodded as her pouting lips smiled. "Great, what do you do with bones and un-cook able parts" Luffy asked now sitting beside the counter. "My stupid father-in-law feeds them to our farm dogs and the dogs are turning unhealthy due to over eating" Lola sighed.

"So they earn no profit to you?" Luffy asked and Lola shook her head. "What if I buy half of those for thousand berries a month? Will that be a profit and keep the dog food in balance?" Luffy asks in a soft advising voice. Lola took out her notepad from her apron and began scribbling the calculations. "Yes" Lola agreed. "Please come to my shop in the evening, we can decide on the price for meat and decide when and how you must deliver them to me. And I would love to hear your troubles Mrs. Lola" Luffy placed two huge chunks of meat in his basket and paid the price written on the weighing machine. For first time in her own life someone wanted to talk and learn about Lola, this left her happy and humming for rest of the day.

When Zoro sips his black coffee, Luffy is busy dusting the display window. "Did Trafalgar talk to you?" Zoro swirled the question with the coffee. "Either you drink or talk, my coffee is very good, so shut up and sip your brown drink" Luffy gives a mocking threat. Zoro had to ask, so he keeps his black coffee at bay on the rosemary wooden counter. "Did Trafalgar Law ask you out on a date?" Zoro asked.

"Not yet" Luffy shook his head. "Have you guys spoken?" Zoro asked again. "He came to introduce himself two days ago rather he stumbled into me, he has stopped in front of the shop and waved at me thrice, he is so shy that he doesn't enter my shop shishishishi" Luffy laughed. "He is an idiot, he likes you but if Sanji and I did not push him last Friday he would have been walking on the rope forever" Zoro returned to his pouting cup of coffee. The cup was angry that it was not being held for more than two minutes.

"Stop forcing him, he is a good guy, a little younger than my regular taste in men" Luffy winked. For Luffy to get over heartbreak was not a big deal, he never brooded much on the why aspect of life or wasted time on the what ifs. He just let things be and absorbed what life offered and Trafalgar Law was life's gift to Luffy. He would gladly accept him, but Law was too shy and Luffy gave a secret chuckle at thought of first date, if it ever happened.

Doflamingo was not against love, he was not backward or conservative. He knew men fell in love with each other and so did women. He accepted them, but ten years ago when his only son told him he liked men, a tiny part of the blonde was sad. He wanted grandchildren, he wanted the bloodline to go on. Sanji was the perfect heir, but no matter what Corazon's grandchildren would not carry Law's genes, the only non-blonde in whole their family history.

Doflamingo had read books after books to understand about Law's perspective. Yet a minuscule part of the blonde's heart was hoping, hoping madly that Law fell in love with a girl. But when you are the Mayor of Dressrosa, it doesn't take long for rumours to turn into people's humour. His son was in love was the gossip, who better then him could know and confirm it? Sanji at best and Corazon if he concentrates hard. The Mayor had his eyes everywhere and his heart set on one. His son's walking had a jolly rhythm to it and his permanent 'Like I give a shit attitude' expression was less prominent.

Doflamingo had moved his whole study by the window to keep his eyes on the One and Half Red Building. The laughing shopkeeper was always interacting with new people. In a month whole Dressrosa was at his feet. The boy or man or the incarnation of wild wind himself was always laughing, too much of laughter would lead you to cry. The constant shishishishi of father and daughter had become complimentary piece with the noise Sanji made on his typewriter.

Sanji looked at his uncle boss, deep in thoughts, Luffy and Lamy's laughter was ringing around the central square. From wall to wall, brick to brick, on the wind their laughter rebounded and scattered. It was an ancient magic only Luffy and Lamy were capable of, Sanji was glad he could be part of that ride. The wild wind passing by suddenly hissed at the window and decided to play with the Mayor's blonde hair. The wild wind was feeling ignored as the taller blonde made no move to close the panes or shut the window.

The curious wild wind got bored of Doflamingo and sensed Sanji typing. 'click, clack.. kich… click, clack.. kich… click, clack.. kich…' the annoying musing of the typewriter called the wild wind, the black keys were tired as the curly eye-browed man moved his fingers at lights speed. Wild wind chose to be mischievous and tickled the neatly piled up papers on right of Sanji. The papers flew up laughing and giggling. They traveled around the room, running wild, the 'click, clack.. kich..' stopped. The shishishishi ran loudly inside the room, both blondes began chasing the sepia papers. Sanji laughing at the wind's naughty endeavor and Doflamingo sensed a big torrential flood of love- Law was standing at Laughmaker's door. Love had conspired with wild wind to make Doflamingo sigh.

Though he braved his heart well, Law still had not entered the café. Two days he spent waving 'hi' and 'bye'. Luffy was always smiling. As Luffy opened the door Law's breath stopped. "Good evening" Luffy smiled, his big eyes happy, he was reclining on the door-frame and he was wearing a sleeveless red shirt, quarter length trousers and an ankle length apron draped his waist. "Good evening Luffy-ya" Law smiled. "Are you going to enter my shop or not? Or do you plan to make babies with me in your head?" Luffy raised an eyebrow and Law felt his face burning.

"umm.. I … I will go in. I mean enter" Law stammered and Luffy next moment pulled him inside by the hand. Law could feel Luffy's warmth sipping inside skin through other's fingers. And it was not a café, was Law's first thought. "Yes it's not a cafe" Luffy read his thoughts. "What are you?" Law asked as he gazed around. "A laughmaker obviously" Luffy pulled out the high stool and patted it. Law took his place, he was in wonderland of trinkets. One corner had collection of lamps with handmade tags, small Mansherry candles, ribbons, colourful animal shaped candles. One wooden rack had old books, scrolls, personal diaries of unknown people all preserved with care. The display window had exotic wine bottles, cakes, buns, chocolates, curious food Law had never tasted and various kind of bread which to Law's surprise was not revolting him.

The adam wood huge table-counter had terracotta idols, upturned coffee mugs, dried teacups, sleeping plates. Luffy stood at the center and behind him multiple hue of tin boxes stood on wooden planks. Tiny, small, large, gigantic. Each painted in a particular colour and labelled by the owner with his own handwriting. Used up tea bags were tied on the panes of the window that looked out to the kitchen garden Luffy had created on the barren land Shanks had complained on different occasion. At the end of the spiral stairs sat colourful flower tubs, in old pickle jars sat a mixture of sand and salt, and behind the stairs on a small tool sat a swing machine. This was a different world.

"Tea or Coffee? You don't like bread do you?" Luffy was running his hands on the container, tapping, talking but his eyes stagnant on Law. "How do you know? I don't like bread!" Law asked a little surprised, breaking from the awe. "I have no magical powers, I guessed, but it's mainly thanks to Sanji" Luffy could never lie, may be bent the truth a bit, but lie he never could. "Sanji! That big curly brow" Law hissed under his breath. "He is your brother right? He talks about the breakfasts he made for you and his father, and he never mentions you eating his bread creations" Luffy informed. "Yeah bread not my thing, he is my little brother and damn good cook" Law nodded.

Luffy clapped his hand on the wooden counter and Law looked up. "Coffee or Tea? Or maybe something more fulfilling? Baked Eggs? Grilled Fish? Beef corn soup? Chicken pickle? Duck Roast?" Luffy asked. "Coffee, coffee.. please.. with milk" Law smiled and a tad bit overwhelmed by choices. "I like men who drink milk coffee and don't try show manliness with Black Coffee" Luffy muttered as he flicked a white tin box. Luffy opened the white box and inhaled the fragrance. As Luffy's eyes closed and plump lips curved up with the breath, Law found his throat dry up. Before him stood one of the most beautiful creature gods ever made. An angel with a scar.

For a moment he was in a trance. "These beans go best with milk" Luffy took out few spoons and put them in the grinding bowl. "Your coffee will be with you in five minutes" Luffy went to his kitchen-store room.

Law wanted to follow Luffy, the first moment Luffy stole his heart was with the very act of grinding. Law had seen a glimpse of the man through peeling newspaper on the window. But Law sat to his stool, when a girl with peanut flavoured pigtails walked inside. "Hello" the girl smiled. "Hello little one" Law smiled. He had seen her come in and go out of the shop, Law's ears were open, the girl was related to Luffy. Some said she was sister, another an adopted child, some had weird ideas that Luffy was raising her so that he could marry her in future. Anybody could say the girl was from his family, sister was Law's pick.

"Is papa grinding coffee for you?" the girl dropped her school bag on the floor and sat beside Law. Her legs dangling like her pigtails. "Yes he is, I am Law. What's your name?" Law asked, he acted fine, but he was in shock when the child uttered word papa. "I am Monkey D Lamy" Lamy grinned.

"Are you in love with papa?" Luffy had raised his girl well Law thought and too smart. "Will you dislike me if I love your papa?" Law asked. "No… it's been more than two years' papa has been out on a proper date! Uncle Ace tells papa needs to look after his heart too, otherwise he will turn into an old hag sishishishi…." Lamy had passed very vital information.

"For the seven-year-old you are, you talk too much young lady." Luffy walked inside with simmering cup of coffee. "But it's true, you know it too, after Shuraiya-san you stopped dating, mom is also worried for you" Lamy grinned. "Yeah… yeah… pick up your school bag, rush to room, your turmeric-milk awaits you and ask your mom to get married! She will turn into a hag as well" Luffy flicked Lamy's forehead, next moment the girl was gone.

"Your coffee Law" Luffy sat in the place Lamy vacated. "You were married?" Law asked sipping his coffee, and this was the best coffee of his life. "No… She is my gift from god of mischief" Luffy winked. "I wanted to thank you" Law finally spoke. "For?" Luffy asked. "For curing old Fabre, I was wondering when you are free if you could…" Law was trying to rephrase. "I will help you create rumble balls, don't say thanks, I know how old people and children are with bitter medicines! I have a grandfather and a daughter" Luffy ran his hands in Law's hair and bought them to his nose.

"Herbs, rose water, spirit and my coffee" Luffy inhaled. "Before you ask, I have a knack for odors" Luffy smiled and Law fell into love's 'forever trap'. And the wild wind decided to carry the message from leaf to leaf.

When Law stood at the door to leave, Laughmaker's was crowding up with customers. Luffy had a charm, he was like the sun of this small solar system, warming and pulling all in his rotation. Law wanted to stay and Luffy wanted him to stay. But when a broccoli head and goldie locks entered the shop, Law had to leave. Zoro and Sanji could be tease. Old Wazu and his master were relishing on stew and bread Luffy baked, to Law's surprise that bread did not look unappetizing. Drunkard Kokoro was chumming her custard and housewives from different streets were fussing over Luffy and his cute daughter and simple chocolate pastries he made. Law was surprised that Dressrosa was accepting a man who could cook, well Luffy was not their 'own man' hence he got leeway, Law felt bad for Sanji. The feeling of bad left him when Sanji winked at him, that idiot brother was bound to tease him at night.

"Excuse me guys, I will see off Law here" that was how Law was now standing at the door and looking at Luffy. "I am glad you came" Luffy scratched his head. "I was wondering… maybe some night Lamy and you would go watch a movie with me" Law asked. "Did you just say Lamy was invited?" Luffy's eyes glittered. "Yeah... you are a team right? Honestly I am not good with kids, and I just learned she is your child today, but she was the first child who did not cower away watching me. And if I want you to love me, I too have to love what you come with, Lamy is like package deal" Law smiled.

"Where were you all these years?" Luffy crushed Law in his arms. "I was here, in Dressrosa" Law spoke and saw Luffy's costumers stare at them. "People are watching" Law spoke in Luffy's ears. "Are you in closet or afraid of loving a man?" Luffy asked back quietly. "No… Not in a million years, I seek what I want" Law firmed his hug around Luffy. "Will you kiss me?" Luffy whispered. "Gladly" Law placed his lips on Luffy's plump lips. 'Fear, anxiety, doubt, hope, dreams all swell up in a pot and when you stir them, Curiosity is born. Remember Luffy, you sell curiosity, and what comes after when you spend away your own curiosity?' It is love Luffy thought in his head.

The words echoed in Luffy's head again and again even after their kiss parted, but Luffy was melted butter in Law's embrace.

Late in the evening Lola enters Laughmaker's when it's time for Luffy to close his shop and her heavy bosom sigh in excitement and disappointment. This place was too beautiful for her, to pretty for a woman no one loved. She saw the polished furniture, boxes of chocolates, she dreamt in her teens her prince charming would buy her. Alas! Her mom never gave her the chance to fall in love and married her off to the first guy she saw suitable. The words still hurt after all this years, 'It's best to sell a heifer when its young, you are fat, stupid and lack grace, you should be happy someone wants to marry you' that ended her chocolate dreams.

"Hot chocolate for you Lola" Luffy placed a big white mug on the counter. "No…no,.. I can't" Lola was still stuck to the entrance. "Yes you can, and shut those gloomy thoughts and sit here" Luffy made a face. "Thank you, it's a pretty place you have, very high class and I will dirty it" Lola grabbed her stinking apron above her flowing skirt in shame. "Please, stop making me feel like an evil landlord and drink it" Luffy pulled her inside. Next moment she was sitting on the stool and warm chocolate mug rested in her fingers.

"So I will be doing business with you, I need all these things every day by five in the morning" Luffy pushed a paper in Lola's apron pocket. "My husband and father-in-law think you are bad human" Lola mumbled. "But what do you think of me?" Luffy asked large grin stared at Lola. "You are good guy, I feel it" Lola mused. "Good, so we have a business deal, you own the business right? And in morning you were fighting with your husband huh?" Luffy asked as Lola drank from the mug. The heavy woman nodded.

"Arranged marriage?" Luffy asked forwarding a plate of milk cookies. Hesitantly Lola took a cookie. "Eat it… they are good" Luffy spoke. "My husband married me, because I was coming with a decent dowry, he hated me from the first day we were married, I am fat, ugly and he is good looking compared to me. We have been married for thirteen years and he hardly looks at me" Lola did not know what made her talk, she never spoke in confession. Her heart bore all her suffering in silence, but today when Luffy came up in morning she felt her heart twitch. She was lonely and Luffy was opposite of lonely. "Is he cheating on you?" Luffy asked.

"NO! He is disinterested, if there was another woman, I could at least grieve that I lost him to someone beautiful, slim, sexy and crafty in bed. We you... know hardly… have these. intimate things. I count it, in last thirteen years we have slept with each other, only twenty-nine times, only if I was beautiful…. I am so ugly" she was dropping big droplets.

"Say no more! You are not ugly! You are cute like a teddy bear, and that husband of yours we will teach him a lesson! The Laughmaker's way shishishi! Wipe your pretty face" Luffy grinned. "But how?" Lola sighed. "Leave it to me" Luffy was again meddling and the wild wind blew with pride around Dressrosa.

"I am supposed to have broken up with you" Viola sighed. "And I am duty bound to keep a lonely lady happy" Sanji ran his fingers up and down Viola's naked back, playing on each spine like reeds. "Stop it… it tickles" Viola pushed the hand away. Sanji instead grabbed her by the lean waist and turned her around. "You are aroused by me and I worship you, why deny each other the pleasure of two excellent bodies" Sanji rested his palms on her exposed buttocks and brought her luscious lips to his.

Her long silky midnight hair curtained their faces. Sanji kissed her passionately and Viola grabbed his torso. Passion broke loose and the bed began to creak for the infinite time in this week. Viola shouting in excitement, the floral print sheets crumbled up in shame as violence and passion were at moments reach and Sanji pleasured her mouth his tongue, her curved breasts with soft and constant caresses and her core burning around his melting candle. The blonde made her crave him, his every touch and moan made Viola violently evoked and possessed by passion gods.

Sanji did not know how it happened but, but a week back he came to say proper break up words to Viola and gifted her the mansherry candle. Next day Viola demands more of those candles. Here he was a week later raining inside her like untamed beast. For a week they were having passion flights, every night they were moaning and embarrassing the widowed room. The room was dark but small little flames burned at four corners, two at the small table at right and one at the window. The room was filled with fragrance of lavender oil. Little mansherry's melted to ignite unrestrained passion. Sanji was thanking Luffy for his candles.

"Are you sure about this break up? Why not marry me?" Sanji asked as a relaxed Viola fell on his toned chest. "No Sanji, I don't want to break up with you, I like being with you. But I cannot marry you, I am ten years older than you and I want you to follow your dreams" Viola kissed Sanji's temple.

"But we can still do our nightly activities?" Sanji asked. "Ah ha… we can" Viola pulled the sheet to cover their tired bodies. But a loud yelp shocked them up on their bed. "Viola… I am sorry" her father was standing at the door with wide eyes, but the old man was quick on feet and ran downstairs. "Dad" Viola shouted after remaining in a state of coma for few seconds.

This was the last chapter of Sanji and Viola's love story. The wild wind carried the news to love, who was busy showering on a marimo head and a coffee loving woman. Wild wind complained, but love smiled, there was better love conspiracy waiting for Sanji. Unknowingly, Luffy was going to be the cupid to that love story.

Law met Shanks late in the night at Makino's bar. "I thought Coffee was your new liquor boy" Shanks patted Law hard. "It is… and you seem to have your eyes open all the time Shanks-ya" Law recovered from the pat. "I love Luffy, I need to keep an eye on whom he attracts, the boy is like a magnet" Shanks sighed.

"Luffy loves you too… A little more to my liking" Law almost pouted. "He has too much of love and I am sad I cannot love him the way he wanted. But how far did your story go?" Shanks asked and Makino joined in with beer glasses. "We kissed today, it was like whole heaven was falling down on me" Law confessed. "You love him already?" Shanks chocked on his drink. "I don't know, I have never been drawn to someone like this. He is like one single star that is always twinkling despite the world being gloomy, you know what I mean right?" Law asked gulping down the whole beer. "Yeah, he is like that, constantly rolling in a peace but driving others nuts. But you are madly in love boy" Shanks smiled at Makino. "I have to go meet Luffy guy myself he sounds great" Makino got interested in him now. "Oh yeah! He is great" Shanks and Law banged their beer mugs like comrades in battle.

"Do you have something exquisite and classy for her?" before Luffy can utter his welcoming words, a tall man with sunglasses walked in on Sunday at Laughmaker's, when Lamy was praying inside Temple. Luffy looked up to the photograph of a beautiful woman with fiery eyes and olive green hair was standing in a sunny landscape. "Does the lady love perfume?" Luffy asked. "Yes, she loves wearing perfumes, but her complain is they run out in two hours, she hates carrying a bottle all the time, I would not go for that option" the man was well built and stoic. Walking to one of the shelves he bought out few antique jewelries. "Do you have a party planned?" Luffy asked as he opened a box and dropped copper, brass, oxide, gold, silver trinkets and gave a grin.

"No we have wok, so it will be just us. I am not much aware of these things, you see my wife is really someone who likes to keep things sophisticated and when she goes out to work, she has this air of mystery, you know what I mean right" the man tried to explain, he was deep in love and Luffy nodded. Luffy examined each piece of trinket with his hand, a pocket watch he brought from an old Duchess, a ruby studded pendent a nomad had made, sapphire bracelet he bought at Aruba, copper anklet from Ohara auction house, and many more, trying to imagine the one that will suit the olive haired woman. The man watches Luffy lost in his own world of curiosity, the wild wind poked his haired, but his eyes were hard and his lips traced into a permanent smile, wild wind was after all his slave. Next thing the man knows is Luffy has already pushed a red envelope in his hand. "Hey…" the man protested.

"That will be three fifty berries Sir, and what should I write on the gifting card?" Luffy asked like he never heard the man resist the envelope. "To Dearest Monet on the occasion of our seventh marriage anniversary, from Vergo" the man mumbled. "When is the anniversary Sir?" Luffy asked while scribbling. "The day after tomorrow" the man paid Luffy the amount and took the gift with knitted eyebrows. "She will like it, right?" Vergo asked. "When she falls asleep, put the thing around her neck tonight, women love surprises and preparations beforehand, see how she feels in the morning tomorrow and here is a complimentary Mansherry candle for you, lit it tomorrow at night before you retire to bed, it will be great anniversary starter, place the gifting card in the velvet box of this ornament, let her be happy in morning" Luffy grinned with bright confidence and Vergo felt blinded despite wearing shades on.

Dearest,

It's been almost a year that we have been living apart, I know I am testing your patience. I am sorry but I still haven't settled my heart. I know you are a forgiving, accepting and an extremely kind man. But I am not as kind as you are or you make of me. I adamant, this is a matter of my Business and I will see the end of it. I hope you and Law are in good health. Sanji wrote me a letter complaining about your mal-nutrient diet. I strictly forbade you too harm your body. I have always taken good care of you, you are the Mayor of Dressora. You are the ethical light! Fight, fight for the ideas you believe in. My love whatever bothers you shall perish, I love you.

Your's forever.

With this letter in his pocket, Dafalmingo tiptoes from his building. Three boxes of food safely secured in his hand, his aching shoulder covered in pink coat. The tall blonde walks out of his home. In one swift move he takes a dark empty ally and skids towards the homeless corner. Every now and then he would feed the homeless of Dressrosa, but he stopped when his wife left him and he practically stopped feeding himself. But he started dropping dinner boxes Sanji cooked for him in the homeless streets, every three nights.

But work had delayed him and he ended up freezing his dinner for a week. Thanks to Sanji rushing out of office at five, the younger blonde cooked his dinner at home and dropped it before hurrying to his nightly dates. Doflamingo knew the food he bought was not enough, but Sanji was too clever, he tooked worth three meals a day for Doflamingo, hence it would provide a little to all out there. It was better than being empty stomach. He knew acute hunger! In war he had seen what hunger could do. He still recalls the cold night he and Shanks were hungry and there was nothing they could feed on. Their whole battalion was starving; it was terrible time. Doflamingo shivered and came back to reality.

When he reached the homeless streets, he found the number of beggars were less. Though it was called homeless street, it was unpitched road that ended and lead to the beginning of the forest. All the beggars, homeless, drunkard and mentally frayed ended up here. For years Doflamingo had been trying to get them return to main streets, but he was far from successful.

Many ragged bodies had circled around the fire burned on the garbage churned out of the garbage they collected. Seeing them, Doflamingo's one meal a day resolve got stronger. Until his wife returned, he was going to live on modest meals, despite Sanji protesting.

"Here I have some food for you" Doflamingo handed the boxes to a skinny woman slumped forward. "Thank you, kind sir, tonight is our lucky night" the woman gave a smile. "Yeah… its first time in our life that we have head a week with filled stomach every night" another spoke. "Yes goddess Mansherry has been kind to us, thank you sir, we can feast on this food as our breakfast" another smiled. Each smile was one that had hope. Doflamingo saw it, but it left him shaken up. He gave a polite smile and walked away as softly as he could. In a way he was not required here, in last fifteen years' no one from the homeless street had ever smiled at him. They hated him for showing half-baked kindness by giving them leftovers. Today they were thankful and Doflamingo was inflicted by a new reality.

"Well… will you go out on a date with me?" Zoro scratched his head as he reclined on the wooden wall of his bedroom and clutched the den-den mushi with all his hope. A slight chuckle escaped on other side. And Zoro turned into a blushing bride here. Kuina's photograph smiled at her stupid husband's antics. Zoro was never good with romantic stuff, it was all Sanji's department. Sanji knew what wine to order, what main course to choose and what desert to charm a woman with. Zoro was practically an army man and nothing less.

"Yes I would love to" the beautiful authoritative voice spoke. "Really?" Zoro gasped. "Yes, but it has to be weekdays, weekends I have overtime" the lady of Zoro's heart informed. "Sure… sure… umm what about these Wednesday? I will tell you about the location tomorrow" Zoro almost yelled in excitement. "I will wait for your call, goodnight Zoro" and Zoro bloomed up like a fresh broccoli after the light rain.

As soon as the den-den speaker rested, Zoro rushed out of the door pulling up his boots. In no time he was banging Laughmaker's. It was almost ten in the night, a time for bars to make money and café's to call it a day. "Luffyyy…" Zoro exhaled his breath when the owner of the shop opened the door.

"Yo Marimo" Sanji was slumped on the floor and hugging Lamy's teddy bear, Lamy was sitting on the high stool and finishing her homework. "Why are you panting?" Luffy let Zoro inside. "What am I to do on a date?" Zoro slightly kicked the slump of Sanji and sat beside him. Both of them had love for Luffy's carpet bought from Drum Province.

"Just be natural" Luffy sat beside Lamy and pointed her mistakes. "And use condoms" Sanji lamented Zoro banged Sanji's head for uttering adult words infront of Lamy, "We have a child here". "Lamy is used to worse Zoro" Luffy grinned and two pigtails nodded. "What happened to goldie locks?" asked Zoro. "Lady Viola broke it off" Luffy sighed. "Did she not dump you three weeks back?" Zoro asked frowning.

"We rekindled, but yesterday her father walked in on us! That Old Riku!" Sanji curled further into a ball. "He asked you to break up with her?" Luffy asked. "No.. not exactly, you know Violet had an elder sister" Sanji was becoming puddle like every passing moment. "Carry on" Zoro encouraged. "She died, she left a daughter and husband behind. Old Riku has proposed that Viola marry his son-in-law and become a new mother to the child and Viola has actually agreed, she can't marry before a year passes, so I was side trip till the deadline" Sanji was back to crushing the stuffed toy.

"Oh poor you" Zoro mumbled. "Luffy… what am I to do before, on and after first date?" Zoro ignored Sanji's muffled protests. "Keep it simple, take her to places you like okay? Don't sprout stupid ballad like the cook here" Luffy grinned. "So… it's basically don't be a Sanji?" Zoro smirked. "Exactly" Luffy walked towards Sanji, "Come on… come on wake up… Drink this… you need to start talking about your brother" Luffy pulled the blonde up offering a cup of warm green tea. "Law asked you out?" Sanji and Zoro smirked with swollen cheeks and cheeky eyes. "Drink the tea and tie the tea bag on the window and make a wish" Luffy sighed. "So Law actually asked you on a date!" both men chuckled. "Stop pretending like you don't know, you all saw us kiss. Now talk" Luffy winked.

"Firstly never cook him anything that has bread in it" Sanji ran his fingers in his golden hair. "He loves rice balls" Zoro added. "Tell me something I don't know" Luffy commanded.

TBC

Disclaimer- Seriously? Nope not my Manga

Lll'LordBrat, eve9613, bloodyredfox, Niilo's ReadingIsAllIDo, coffee-table-flip, NatiXav9598 thank you for follow and favourtie.

Daydreamfox, LunaSkye23, Wildcat1144, poyochin, Lionel Orlando (I hate your new pen-name! I will never write that here), {slothed crow – sorry for the (r) last time and yes your Role Play Demand is awesome} - Guys thank you for reviews and pointing out my typos & other mistakes and suggesting me how to deal with story more smoothly. It would be great help if in your reviews you point out my typos and their position, then I fix them in one setting. So help me fix my typos. No I am not in need of beta, I wannnnna develop my skills! Sorry I am asking too much.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

was penning this chapter for long time. From this chapter to next four, will be part of Case of Broken Typewriter & Other Stories. I plan to be done with story in fifteen chapters. If I enjoy it too much twenty will be max. It's just I want to play with more and more characters here, so yeah LawXLu will suffer a bit, but chapters will get longer. Sorry beforehand, but it will be good story I promise.

It's my final sem, I kind of have a magazine to run with my boss/buddy, a blog to feed and my life is getting hectic so I have decided on few things below-

My hopeful Fanfic New Year Resolutions-

1) One chapter of Wild Wind At Dressrosa every month

2) At least One chapter of Role Play every month, (maximum three, wishful thinking)

3) And finish I BREATHE by JULY! (I am ashamed to hang it)

4) And pick up my two gorgeous Junjou Romantica fanfics from Hiatus Fanfic Care (Ashamed again)

bye love you all