Law woke up late the next morning, if one could call it that, since he only slept a wink after he sent Luffy home. Yesterday, he had met Luffy's relatives. Her uncle, Shanks and his wife Makino who owns the flower shop they stopped by yesterday. Turns out, Luffy is living alternatively with her brothers and uncle. She's fond of her aunt Makino that's why she's still staying with them when her brothers are not home. Makino was a calm and collected woman which is the exact opposite of his husband Shanks. He doesn't want to remember how he had a hard time dealing with the red head yesterday. He barely come home alive because of the interrogation the red haired done with him.

But that's not really the reason why he had troubled sleeping. He wracked his brain all night thinking about his growing feelings with Luffy. He convinced himself that he's just confused. He never felt something like this before that's why he's not sure what his feelings are.

'There's no way i have feelings for her, my brain is just confused because i saw her more often recently. This will pass if i don't see her for a few days.'

He remembered mumbling before drifting off to sleep 4 am in the morning.

~~~

"Shit. What am i doing here... again?"

Law got off his car and stood up at the same forest he's been visiting for the past two weeks.

He was supposed to stay at home and read his medical books that day and not visit the pond but he felt suffocated by the silence in his room that his head began to hurt. There's just one place he's supposed to be to ease that pain.

'Right. I need to absorb fresh air to calm my nerves. It's not like I'm here to meet that chibi.'

"Dammit. This is childish." He groaned.

He erased the thought on his head and began to walk towards where the pond is, he could only hear the birds chirping and the sound of his footsteps. He could feel the hot summer breeze hitting his skin.

As he got closer to the pond, his heart began to beat frantically.

'Am i excited? What's there to be excited about?' Law thought.

After a few steps Law finally saw the same tree where Luffy and him use as a shelter from the bright sunlight.

There's no one there. No trace of the cheery little girl who's always sitting there early in the morning, pouting because he's always late to arrive. He felt a little disappointed but at the same time, he's also relieved that he's not going to worry about how he'll face her. He's in an abnormal state and he would appreciate it if he's not going to see her for a day or two.

"Toraooooo!"

'Geez. I can even hear her annoying voice in my mind.'

"Hey!"

He heard the voice one more time.

"Don't tell me."

He turned around and almost lost his balance when Luffy suddenly jumped unto him, her hands clasped into his neck giving him a tight squeeze that he couldn't almost breath.

"Jesus christ. Chibi-ya!" He gasped with feigned shock.

He was surprised by the sudden action that Luffy almost fall on the ground, it's all thanks to his fast reflexes that he quickly hold Luffy's waist to prevent her from falling.

Luffy gives of her unique chuckle.

"Shishishi. Torao, what are you thinking about that you didn't heard me calling you again?"

He looked down at the sight of the teenager who has a wide grin plastered on her face staring at him directly. 'Even in my embrace, she's still so small.' He thought. They're so close to each other that he could smell her sweet scent. Come to think of it, maybe it's not just the place that's giving off a calming vibe to the young surgeon, maybe it also because of Luffy. Luffy always carried such a relaxing fragrance to him. Even by now, he's feeling better just by smelling her familiar scent.

Law is so focused on staring on Luffy's face that he didn't heard what she had said. Getting impatient by his silence, Luffy suddenly get closer to him, scanning his face.

"Oi."

Law's eyes widened. She's so close that he felt her hot breath in his neck. His heart who had just calmed down a moment ago was beginning to beat fast at it's continued proximity by the much closer contact. His cheekbones slightly flushed. He's feeling hot all over his face and beads of sweat is forming on his forehead.

"Damn. Why is it so hot in here?" He turned his body away to hide his face.

Right. It's the summer season. He's starting to feel hot and humid that he thought about wearing something light next time he comes here.

"Huh? You're feeling hot?" Luffy asked cluelessy.

He was about to say something when someone called Luffy.

"Oi, Luffffyyy! Where are you?"

Thanks to that sudden disturbance that he is back to his senses. He totally forgot that she's still in his embrace! He immediately let go of Luffy and curses silently. He loosen up his neck tie to let in some air.

They both looked at the boy standing near the pond, searching for Luffy.

Luffy waved at the boy.

"Usopp! I'm here!"

The boy's eyes found them and ran to where they were.

"What are you doing here? I thought you had already jumped into the pond and drowned!" The boy nervously said while holding Luffy's shoulder. The surgeon's brow shot up by the action.

Law's eyes scanned the long-nosed boy with curly hair up to his shoulder, he had some headphones on with a little goatee and a white suncap on his head. They are probably the same age as Luffy, but he's one or two inches taller than her.

While Law is still staring at the two, the boy named Usopp didn't even give him a glance because his attention is focused on lecturing Luffy.

"Sorry. Sorry. I saw Torao over here that's why i left the fishing rod for a moment." Luffy explained laughing.

The boy finally glanced at him. Law is not aware that he's glaring with the boy's hand on Luffy's shoulders that made the boy's eyes widened and suddenly looked terrified. Usopp hid behind Luffy and whispered something to her that made Luffy laugh a lot more.

"Don't be scared! Torao's a good guy!" Luffy bluntly stated.

"Who's scared?! I'm not scared! I'm the brave warrior of this town!" The boy suddenly stands bravely in front of Luffy as if protecting her from Law despite his obviously shaking legs.

Law just look at them blankly.

Later on, Luffy introduced the two of them to each other. Ussop is a funny guy but is a bit aloof and scared at Law, he can sense that the guy doesn't trust him, which he fully understand.

They didn't talk much because Ussop is so tensed infront of Law, and Law does not look like he wanted to talk to either. That's why Luffy and Ussop just continued their fishing while Law stayed under the tree doing something on his laptop.

Usopp is still uncomfortable and trying not to glance at Law. He is whispering to Luffy, but Luffy didn't bother to lower down her voice that makes Law still understand and partially hear what they are talking about.

"Luffy, are you sure that he's not some sort of a serial killer that's roaming around this forest?" Usopp whispered.

"I don't think so. He didn't try to kill me when I punched him once." Luffy casually replied.

"What?!" Usopp absentmindedly shouted that makes Law glance at them.

"Sorry." Usopp bows a little and gives him an apologetic and nervous smile.

Usopp hit Luffy's shoulders lightly and continued whispering.

"You did what?! You punched him? You idiot! What if he got mad and decided to sell you to the city?"

Luffy just laughed, totally used to her friend's behavior.

"By the way, I'm going to help Kaya with her birthday preparations later. Do you want to come with me?" Usopp asked.

"Is there any meat there?" Luffy asked, with her usual line.

Usopp couldn't believe his friend. She's just like that. She's in when there is meat. It's a miracle that she's not gaining weight despite of her enormous appetite.

"Nope. We will just decorate her mansion."

The look of disappointment is visible on Luffy's face.

"Oi, oi, Luffy, don't be sad. The party will be happening next week and there's going to be lots of meat there." Usopp added in order to console his friend.

Luffy's face lightened.

"Oh? Damn, I forgot about that! I will definitely come." Luffy said excitedly.

"Don't forget to invite Ace and Sabo. Kaya is looking forward of seeing them." Usopp reminds Luffy. Pertaining to Luffy's two older brothers.

"I will."

Luffy assured Usopp and focused her attention to the pond.

"Hey, Luffy. Be honest with me, are you sure that guy over there is a good guy?"

Usopp whispered to her again. He's really worried about his friend. Luffy is a naive, innocent girl who thinks everyone she meets is a good person. That makes her the town's most loved person. She's just too good for the world that the world doesn't deserve her.

Luffy turned to him and gave Usopp a reassuring smile.

"I told you already. He's a good guy. I would've just beat him up if he wasn't."

Usopp sighed in defeat. He wouldn't argue anymore. After all, Luffy has good judgement with people. If she had someone she didn't like, she would tell them to their face. She's an honest person and even though she looks like a weak little girl, she can totally beat up people in the blink of an eye.

"So would you come with me later to Kaya's place?" Usopp changed the topic.

"Can we bring Torao with us? He looked lonely, isn't he?"

Usopp frowned. He knew there was a chance that she would ask the creepy guy to come with them, but he didn't expect he'd guess it right.

"Pretty please?" Luffy asked pleadingly, with her usual puppy eyes, that no one could ever resist.

"Fine. fine." Usopp defeatingly replied.

Luffy excitedly stood up and ran towards where Law was.

"Toraoooo!"

Law looked up at the girl running towards him. She looks happily excited, and that makes him curious about what she's up to this time.

She sits in front of him with a wide grin plastered on her face.

"Ne. Torao, we're going to Kaya's house to help her with her birthday preparations. Do you want to come with us?"

Law glanced at Usopp who's standing behind Luffy, murmuring something.

Usually, he wouldn't hesitate to refuse. First off, he doesn't know who this Kaya is and he's not used of coming over to other people's places. He already visited Bepo's apartment once when his friend got drunk and needed someone to bring him over, but it didn't happen again.

And why is she even asking for his permission. He just grabbed him yesterday to that Bartolomeo boy's house.

'If you really want to get rid of me, this is your chance.'

'I suggest that you enjoy your stay there.'

He suddenly remembered his last conversation with his father.

'I guess it wouldn't hurt a little to follow his orders before we finally cut our ties with each other.'

Law thought before he closes his laptop and slid them to his bag.

"Alright."

Luffy couldn't contain her excitement. She's happy that Law agreed to come with them. Usopp, on the other hand, curses silently. He's expecting Law to refuse. But he's still tagging along despite his silent protests.