CHAPTER 1 - Passing through my fingertips

If asked if he believed in any supernatural phenomenon, Law would immediately scoff and say no. Everything that happens is caused by a reason that Science can explain and if the answer to such phenomena is still not discovered then surely in due time research would bear fruit and answer all questions that plague all of mankind.

But tonight, at the center of his kitchen, butt stinging upon impact when it met the floor, his precious rice balls scattered below, Law's understanding on how the world works and how science is the foundation of all phenomena quietly crumbled. Bits of pieces of rice were still stuck on his hands and despite its sticky texture which made him feel dirty, fingers itching to clean the substance off him, Law's eyes remained glued on the being in front of him.

If asked if he believed in any supernatural phenomenon now, Law would have swallowed his own words, reluctantly nodded and said yes.

Today was the same as everyday.

Law, as always, went home late. His shift at the Grand Line Hospital not allowing him to leave while the sun is still out. While being a surgeon has always been his dream (and cutting up people is a bonus to his job) what Law didn't look forward to was the unending shifts and grueling hours he has to go through. Usually, when he arrives at his flat, he immediately goes to bed and leaves it to morning Law to feed and bathe himself when he wakes up. Today wasn't any different from most days and as soon his head hit the pillow he was already in a dreamless slumber.

A call from Cora-san woke him up from his sleep, asking how the surgeon was and if he was eating right. After learning that Law in fact was not eating right, he was scolded by his father and was forced to make and eat dinner. And although Law grumbled, slowly sitting up on his bed, he couldn't help but smile at his father's concern. Forever grateful that his foster father never gave up on him despite being so difficult to handle most of the time.

He checked his phone again to check the time and saw that it was already 23:00. Law groaned realizing how late it already was and how another full-packed shift was waiting for him tomorrow. Law decided to sleep some more when his stomach grumbled. Spikes of hunger suddenly stabbed him and only did the surgeon remember that he hadn't eaten anything for dinner, except for the coffee he drank right before starting his last surgery for the day. He slowly got up, his bones and joints protesting that he should lie down just a little bit longer but his stomach's rumbling only grew louder by the second.

The surgeon scratched his messy black hair, yawning as he entered his kitchen. It had been quite a while since he last tasted a home cooked meal. He kept relying on convenient store bought bentos, ramen and coffee to get him through the day. Deciding to make onigiri he prepared the ingredients he needed, grateful once again that Cora-san does the grocery for him once a week.

Law made three rice balls. Two normally was enough for him and made him feel bloated but he wanted to spoil himself a little this time. He deserved an additional serving. He does, after all, help people because of his job and because it is his job. Plus he was already starving, having one more wouldn't hurt. Even if he would surely regret this later. Feeling full isn't something Law is actively fond of. Most of the time it makes him feel drowsy and he works slower when he is full so he avoids eating too much. But today, he decided, was an exception.

Law planned to eat while watching a documentary. That is definitely not boring, excuse you Shachi. The surgeon made a move to march towards the living room but he let out a yelp when he suddenly hit something. Law could only watch in despair as his onigiris fell on the floor with a bounce. Two of them were wrecked and ruined. He managed to save one but he really wanted to eat three. Disappointment settled in his stomach which quickly turned into anger. Law was fuming, promising hell to the reason that ruined his dinner, and he directed his sight looking for what he bumped into only to realize it was a who.

In front of him was another black haired boy who was years younger than him. He also fell down rubbing his backside gently while murmuring. Law was beyond furious. How did this kid get into his apartment? Was he planning to rob Law while he was sleeping? Was he a thief? Oh hell no. Law chuckled darkly and quickly shut down the shiver climbing up on his back when pieces of rice still stuck on his hand squished when he clenched his fist. He would make this thief regret choosing him as his victim.

He reached out his arm, clearly aiming at the teen's neck, fully intent on scaring him via strangulation, blocking his airways enough to not kill the young teen (Law wasn't a cold-blooded murderer), when his hand passed through the boy's body. Law tried again, completely miffed when he realized that he missed his target. Must be the lack of sleep, he thought. When his hand, once again, passed through the boy's head. Law too shocked to move did what any sensible human would do.

He screamed.

This scared the young boy-ghost, as he started screaming too.

Law's head was racing with thoughts of confusion and denial. There was no way ghosts, of all things, exist! They were just stories made by adults to make children follow and obey them. Was this the end for him? Was he really going crazy? The surgeon knew that thriving between 2-3 hours of sleep was detrimental for the brain but he didn't expect that he would start hallucinating, not when he was definitely sure that he had bumped into something.

Wait.

He bumped into something.

Law slowly opened his still clenched fist and cringed seeing the sticky mess still present in his hands. He then looked at the floor where the destroyed remnants of his dinner were laying still. Law took a deep breath and looked at the boy still on the floor.

Is he really seeing things? Or was everything real?

He reached out his hand once again, attempting to brush the strand of hair covering the boy's eye. And this time, Law was expecting his fingers to pass through like it did earlier but was shell shocked once again when he touched, cold to the touch but solid, skin.

Before he could voice any of his thoughts the intruder raised his head and looked at Law. Law felt the air disappear from his lungs. Doe-like eyes met his gold ones and he couldn't look away. There was something in those eyes, and even though it only lasted for a second, it left Law unable to say anything. Those eyes held sadness and grief so deeply that he was sure if he hadn't seen anything like it before, if his eyes didn't hold the same loneliness it did, he wouldn't have noticed. Unable to form any words, his anger earlier completely forgotten, Law could only gape at the boy, ghost, in front of him.

"Shishishi! Sorry about that."

His laugh was melodious. A complete contrast to what his eyes betrayed earlier. The ghost grinned after giving his apologies. Law wasn't used to being on the receiving end of such a pure and happy smile that he couldn't help but stare. The boy stared at him, still grinning, with a hint of confusion. Alas, his smile held no lies that Law couldn't help himself but give the boy a smile of his own. Although he was sure it looked stiff, the little ghost made no comment about it.

The ghost bobbed his head a little and offered his hand to Law. It was when he noticed the strawhat hanging by the ghost's neck. A strawhat, huh. Law thought. Odd fashion choice but somehow it fits the boy. His eyes next landed on the small crescent scar underneath the ghost's left eye. He wondered how he got such a clean scar. Law didn't realize he was staring at him until the little ghost suddenly introduced himself.

"My name's Luffy!"

The boy said with cheer, his bright smile still intact.

"Law," he replied, voice cracking. He coughed a few times to cover his slight mishap and spoke again. "Trafalgar Law."

He reached for Luffy's outstretched hand for a handshake when his fingers passed through Luffy's palm once again. Sweet giggling graced Law's ears once again when Luffy grabbed his hand and shook it.

"Nice to meet you, I'm a ghost by the way!" Luffy said.

And Law could only stare dumbfounded and in his most deadpan voice. He said, "Obviously." While the strawhat ghost, Luffy, continued to laugh his heart out.

What has Law gotten himself into?