Chapter five: The rebirth of the devil
The darkness fell. Countless nameless stars came out above the cruel world, and pale moon swam calmly through the milky sea of clouds.
It was a chilly night, but the group of people seated around the fire couldn't care less about the cold. They were too restless for that.
All of them were impatient, but another few minutes wouldn't kill them now, right?
They literally trembled in excitement..., and tried not to get overwhelmed by their own emotions.
"Finally, it's time to go back and change our destiny. I really look forward to seeing my wife again. I missed her cooking and loving embraces." Rayleigh said as he observed the red dancing flames with a soft smile and imagined looking into the Shakky's intelligent, yet fierce eyes once again. He really couldn't have found a better woman than her...
He almost broke down that day. The day when he found the Shakky's Rip-off bar destroyed. Every chair and table was busted to pieces, and empty bottles of alcohol rolled on the bloodied floor. Her lifeless body lied on the counter that was littered with glass shards. Her hands were bruised and burnt from cigarette butts.
'Will I really see her again?'
"Don't worry, Ray-san,... I'm sure you'll see her soon enough." Vivi assured him after noticing his obvious distress. "But I must confess, I can't wait to throw myself into the father's arms too. It's just that it has been so long since I've seen him...alive that is."
"Huh? How strange... Somehow I feel like seeing Sabo's idiotic face again. This time I'll make sure he remembers how scary I can get when someone upsets me." Koala snickered to herself as her eyes started glowing with unyielding determination.
"Koala-san, you're face is terrifying right now."
"Oh, sorry Vivi. I didn't mean to scare you hahaha." Koala laughed sheepishly
Perona tuned out their conversation and frowned at the man with bandaged arms and torso.
"Don't tell me you're still burning your wrist and forearms you fire-freak. And what's up with your chest?"
Luffy stopped his intense stare-down with the bonfire and looked at the pink-haired girl.
"He's so fascinated by it. It's almost creepy-yoi."
"You don't say." Law rolled his eyes at Marco.
"That's right, you little arsonist! I'm talking to you, Luffy! I don't want the burnt-out kitchen again!" Perona hollered.
Luffy glanced over to the girl and graced her with his beautiful toothy smile.
"No, not anymore, Rona. I don't need to." he beamed at her and spread his arms. "I have all of you beside me after all."
Others stopped talking to each other at that and paid attention to the smiley bundle of joy.
"You're my family. I love you, I would do anything for you, and I know you feel the same way about me. Your warmth is a lot warmer and comforting than that of a mere fire."
Everyone wordlessly stared at him. The more serious ones of the group blushed and grumbled to themselves.
"Aaawww, You're so cute right now. So much that I want to squeeze you to death." Perona squealed and jumped over to hug the precious boy.
"No shit. I think my heart just melted and I am fricking fire bird-yoi. Don't do that to me, Giggles." Marco huffed in annoyance at his weakness.
"SHADDUP! I'm not cute! I'm a tough man!" Luffy fumed. Sulking, he turned away from them.
"Oh, please. You'll always be a cute little idiot to us, and you know it." Koala purred and fondly ruffled Luffy's hair.
"That's not fair! Carrot's way younger than me!" Luffy pointed on the eating bunny accusingly.
"I sure am, but I don't say sweet things like that, Luffy." Carrot giggled and bit his ear.
"Garchuuu"
"Ouch, let me goooo!"
Rayleigh laughed with Fujitora in the background, and Vivi just observed their assault with the hint of amusement.
"Traffyyy, help meee." Luffy wailed and extended his hand towards the smiling surgeon.
"Hmmm... I guess I could, but somehow I don't want to." Law pondered.
"But I brought you the booooks." Luffy whined while his ear was being chewed on by the bunny, his cheeks being pulled out by Koala, and his lungs were screaming for oxygen thanks to Perona's tight hug.
Law brought a finger to his chin as if he was in deep thought and then whispered with a small grin.
"Room"
And turned his hand in his usual manner.
"Shambles"
He switched Luffy with an empty bottle of rum he had in his lap.
But before Law could set the boy down next to him, Luffy took hold of his torso with his rubbery legs and smiled mischievously.
Law expressed his disapproval by unleashing his famous murderous stare at him.
"Oi, let me go."
"Don't wanna."
"Tch, annoying bastard."
"Shi Shi Shi Shi."
"Haha, th-this boy *cough" Fujitora grinned and continued his game of cards with Rayleigh. By the look of a dark king's face, it was pretty easy to guess who was winning.
Nekomamushi shuffled nearer to the arguing pair of ex-captains.
"So, you-gara are not injured?"the cat asked with curiosity flashing in its eyes.
"Nah. I'm good."
"Then wh-"
"It's because of the tattoos and scars, right Strawhat-ya?"
"Yep" Luffy grinned as he let go of the surgeon and leaned back on his broad chest , which resulted in Law hissing with annoyance.
'This cheeky little thing.'
"Oh! That's right! It would look really strange for him to have it and maybe even caused our secret...getting... out..." Carrot faltered a bit at the thought of possible failure.
"Well, yeah! I don't feel like a six years old kid should have burn scars on his right wrist and tattoos all over his body." Luffy exclaimed as he slid his hand across the wrapped arm and bandaged chest.
.
..
...
"Bald-ossan! " smiling Luffy yelled as he bursted into the salon.
"What do you want, you little devil?" the scowling man, tattoed from the head to toe grumbled, and turned around in his chair.
"I want a tattoo."
"No."
"Pweaaase, bald-ossaaan~" Luffy pleaded on his knees.
"Ugh, you won't leave until you have your way, will you?"
"Nuh-uh"
"As I thought... Come here lil' devil, I have some time right now." the man in his forties sighed and gestured to the leather chair next to him
"Yay! " the boy cheered and ran to sit down before the artist decided otherwise.
"So, what do you want oh brave one?" the man taunted him with a wry smirk, but Luffy had a devilish smirk on his own.
"I want to have this tattoed on my ribs." Luffy said shamelessly as he handed a crumpled paper with some unknown symbols on it.
Man's eyes widened.
"Ancient language? You truly are a devil! Is this bravery or recklessnes?"
"It's guilt... and a reminded." Luffy murmured as his smile twisted into a pained frown.
"It's that I don't forget and break... And I can't break... I mustn't!"
"I see... " the man hummed.
"Anything else?"
"I also want this blue X on my left wrist, and word BLAZE spelled on my fingers of my right hand." Luffy said already grinning again.
"Oh? Like your gloomy friend does? You want to match?" man laughed heartily.
"Yep! But word death is so depressing... I like words like fire, blaze or flame much more!"
"hahaha okay okay you pyromaniac, will that be all?"
"Ah! And also..."
...
"So? What do you think, lil' devil?"
"That. Is. Awesome!" Luffy beamed at the tattoos with stars in his eyes as the man took off the bandages.
"What do you like the most?"
"I guess the whole-arm fire tattoo."
"I also liked that one the best, but oh boy, what a hard work that was... So muc details... By the way what does the ASL stand for?"
"Hm?"
"Y'know, the letters you wanted to have at the back of the right hand, right where the flames start."
"Oh! That is an abbreviation for Ace, Sabo and Luffy. Me and my two brothers!"
...
..
.
"That is... Clever." Vivi said perplexed.
"He actually used his head?!" Perona yelps in surprise.
"Well, we're not here to play games-yoi."
Everyone became more serious and concentrated on the raven-haired boy.
"Yeah, we're going to kick some asses." Luffy said with low dangerous tone that indicated his unbreakable determiantion.
"We're going to totally annihilate those bastards." Perona chimed in, with sinister smirk appearing on her lips.
"Agreed, they messed with wrong people-nyan"
"The true jus... tice will be-befall them."
"Anyway, I think it's time that we started." Luffy smirked with his straw hat shadowing his eyes and stood up.
"From now on, we are not only a family, but an organization, that has many goals, but only one true purpose."
Everyone grinned madly at their new leader.
"To ensure we are the ones to decide our destiny and no one else!"
"YEAH!"
"Now... The serious bussines."
They stilled in their cheers and waited for his next words.
"The codenames... " Luffy stated dramatically.
*SLAP
Everyone facepalmed.
"Really?" Perona deadpanned as Vivi patted her back reassuringly.
"Why did I think he could be serious for more than ten seconds?" Law groaned.
"I knew that he was going to say something stupid." Koala sighed and slopped down against the big cat.
"Nyan Nyan Nyan, don't be so hasty everyone! He has a point."
"I'm sorry, but I have to agree with Giggles and Nekomamushi here. We won't be always together. We'll need to communicate through den den mushis and as you know they are easily intercepted or eavesdropped on." Marco explained with his usual tired expression.
"What about the white ones?" Carrot asked curiously.
"They're too bi.. g and expe-expensive, it's not wo.. rth it. " Fujitora rasped as Luffy was vigorously nodding in background.
"Ah, okay.. But what ab-!"
"Shush! This is an important ceremony!" Luffy frowned and cleared his throat.
He waited for a minute until the whole group quitened down, then he spoke up.
"As your friend, family member and now your boss, I want to solemnly welcome new-old faces to our group!"
"Andromede" he gestured to Vivi that stood up and shyly bowed.
"Moonstruck" he pointed with his thumb to the purring Nekomamushi
"Nice one, boss-nyan nyan nyan."
Luffy chuckled and gently nudged Law's arm.
"This one's Sinner."
Law grinned darkly and murmured "Oh, I'll enjoy this."
"Ne, Luffy! What si mine, what is mine?" Carrot beamed at the man with straw hat.
"Calm down, Snowdrop.I was just about to introduce you." Luffy smiled and pinched her nose
"Ah jerk!... But I like that name!" she cracked a sweet smile.
Meanwhile Luffy came up to Fujitora that just won against Rayleigh, and told him:
"Just as I expected from the Gambler." then he turned to devasted Rayleigh.
"You curious?"
Rayleigh just lifted his eyebrows at him in amusement.
"Doom"
"Oh, I actually like that... A Doom's day is nearing those who hurt my family. That will be my catch phrase." he glowered.
"H.. Hey, are you in for a another round?" Issho smirked at his friend.
"I'm already broke thanks to you and your damned luck."
"Phantom" Luffy pointed at the ghost girl.
"Horohoro, works for me."
Luffy was about to announce Marco's codename, but phoenix was faster.
"Inferno here! Nice to meet ya."
"You're so mean! I was just about to say it." Luffy huffed and pouted.
Marco chuckled.
"Can't risk that you'll change mine at the last second, because you're still sore about me helping you with the names."
"So you helped him! That explains the good codenames." Koala cackled.
But Marco smirked at her and said: "Yeah, sure. But don't blame this one on me."
"Huh?" Koala breathed out in confusion.
Luffy put a hand on her hat and said "Say hi to Killjoy"
...1
...2
...3
"WAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Horororo!"
"RNYAN-NYAN NYAN~"
"Pffff-"
Everyone busted out laughing like a madman they all were, aside from Koala that was now redder than your average tomato.
"You little sh-" she stood up abruptly and started strangling poor Luffy.
Okay, maybe not that poor.
"That is assault against your boss! " he choked out.
"Oh no, I guess we have a rebelion here, after just a few minutes since creating this organization." Law grinned.
After five minutes of crushing his neck with haki-infused hands, Koala finally released him.
"What is the name of our group anyway?" Vivi tried to change the topic.
"Lotus"
"Lotus?"
"Yeah, Lotus." Luffy looked at her with blank unreadable expression.
"Why?" Vivi inquired.
"...Robin taught me the language and symbolism of flowers when it was only us at the end... And Lotus means rebirth if I'm not wrong... Pretty fitting name for our group. Don't ya think?"
"Yes, indeed it is." Fujitora smiled.
"That sounds so cool, you-tea did awesome job!" Carrot literally shine with respect and adoration.
"Wait.. What is your codename then?" Law pried.
"Ah, me? I'm Mephisto."
Everyone gaped at him.
"Wait, why are you surprised?! I thought you helped him with this!" Perona yelled at confused Marco.
"But I did!... Hey, Giggles! What's up with that? I thought you wanted to be the gorilla-meat king?" Marco asks in disbelief
"I wanted at first but.. I feel like this suits me more..." Luffy smirked mysteriously and said no more than that.
"A devil huh... Yeah it fits you perfectly." Law smirked up at him "Boss..."
"Right?!" he beamed and started happily dancing around them.
"Agh, whatever, ...!" Marco groaned.
"...Does everyone have their notebook with the plan and all the vivre cards-yoi?"
Everyone nodded.
"Now then... Now that we all have those super cool codenames and as a right-hand man of boss of this group I can happily announce... " Luffy smiled at phoenix and continued instead of him "...that operation 'BLOOM' has just started! "
Marco stood up and wrapped his arm around Luffy's shoulders.
"As a your right-hand man, I approve of this name."
"Tsk,you're so obnoxious."
"My my, you're one to talk."
Everyone laughed.
"Good. We are ready to go."
"Vivi? If you please."
"At it Boss!" she giggled and held her head in front of her with palm facing the endless sky above them "I practised hard for two months, so it should be ok." she reassured herself and started concentrating on the flow of time around her.
"Aha! I got it!"
"Toki Toki no Reversion!"
A white barrier surrounded them.
Golden veins started to appear on the walls, pulsating in rapid rythm, snaking its way slowly towards the center of the barrier, to the Vivi.
"You can do it Vivi!"
"Yea, you're awesome!"
"Huh already! She needs to concentrate! Or do you want to end up in dinosaur's stomach?!.." Koala yelled at them.
"It's... hard for her. Not only she needs to get us back in time, but she also using time-space manipulation to get us to Swallow island, which is really advanced technique!"
The veins finally met at the Vivis feet and the barrier broke down.
A white flash of light blinded them and when they blinked away the Shock, they were standing im snowy landscape with nothing more than a summer clothes and white thin cloaks on.
"Brrrr, s-s-s-so c-cold." Luffy managed to bite out despite his teeth clanking together.
"Oh right, I forgot that this was a winter island." Law stared nonchalantly.
Everyone glared daggers at him, except for the two minks, who's fur warmed them.
"Well, it's not like a small cold like this can stop us now! Group A have their task here. Remember not to reveal you identity by any means! Not until we meet Jewerly Bonney, so she turn us to our respective ages! Group B goes with Vivi to take Issho-ossan to the Drum to that old lady, He needs a the best doctor!"
"Aye boss!"
"Roger that!"
"Shi Shi Shi, I am so smart" Luffy laughed at his own greatness.
"Yeah... riiiight, after we literally beaten the knowledge into you head!" Marco huffed at hit his head gently.
"Jerk! You should be glad I am at least going with the plan."
"It's important that we don't screw this up. It's expected of the boss to know the plan and follow it."
Luffy shut up his whining and turned serious.
"Okay... Sorry..." he croaked out.
"Anyway... Snowdrop, Sinner and Phantom with me!"
"Hai!" Carrot and Perona cheered.
"Aye aye... Boss." Law mumbled and looked around in hope to see his friend again.
They pulled up their hoods and took off.
"I SEE TH-" Luffy shouted in surprise, but was muffled by Law's s cold hand.
"Shut it, you dumbass!" he hissed and glared at him.
"Sorry" Luffy lifted his hand in front of his face.
"Guys, look. He's already pretty beaten up." Carrot whispered.
"L-l-look at all of that blood... "Perona stuttered out." Are we too late? "
"No, we're not. Now shush, we all know what to do, so just listen and do as you were told." Law cut her off.
"Oh.. Okay."
...
"He was doomed to die in three years... But he got over it" man with blond hair and pained face rasped as he slowly stood up and aimed the gun at his brother.
Law's eyes watered.
'It's really you... Cora-san! Wait just a bit more, we're here to save you!'
"He's no the same Law... who lost track of himself and came to visit a crazy pirate that day."
The tension in the air was unbearable and snow was slowly falling around the two siblings.
"There is nothing he can gain from you since you're like a child of destruction! Leave him alone now! He is free!" Corazon screamed at his brother eith the gun still locked on Doflamingo.
"Room" Law whispered and light blue barrier enveloped the close vicinity. Miraculously, Doflamingo didn't seem to notice as he was in state of extreme rage after being betrayed by his own brother and had those red-tinted sun glasses. Sucks to be him I guess.
Doflamingo scowl deepened.
"Doppleganger hollow" Perona whispered into the wind.
The head of Donquixote family pulled the trigger and first shot went through Corazon's shoulder.
Corazon fell to the ground and slumped against the chest as Doflamingo shot three more bullets towards him...
...
Corazon's body is cold, lifless,...moveless.
Doflamingo turned around and went away towards the harbor.
...
After a few minutes 'Corazon's' corpse dissolved into a few small ghosts.
"... we did it?" Carrot asked in disbelief.
"Yahoo, you bet we did!" Luffy called out.
"I still need to heal that one shot and bruises he got before we arrived... But he's safe now" Law smiled at the man in his arms.
Law took Corazon's hand as the man stared at him in awe and hint of fear.
"Wh-who are you?... I think I know y-you from some where..."
"Shh, we're here to help. Sleep for a bit and then we'll answer to your questions." Carrot smiled sweetly... But Corazon was still nervous and suspicious of the strangers... He didn't say a word about the child in the chest, in fear that this was a trap.
His body was really tense and blood was still gushing out of his wounds.
Law squeezed his hand.
"it's okay Cora-san, I am here... "
Corazon's tired eyes widened in surprise.
"L.. La-" he lost the fight with his exhausted body and fell into unconsciousness.
"Well, that went awfully well."
"Yea, for a minute there, I thought Doffy will notice that his other shots passed through the body." Perona quivered in fear.
"Nah, he was too blinded by anger for that... That Mingo is so dumb. Shi Shi shi"
"Let's take him and wait for Vivi and other group to arrive."
"Welcome to the gang, Taciturn."
The things are finally moving forward, or backwards? (Omg I am SO not funny) I dunno haha. Anyway, how did you like this chapter? If you have anything to point out or say, please write me a comment, it'll make my day!
Hmmm I wonder, what's going to happen next?
Kalon Thorn~