New chapter! I don't really like the end tho. Feels wrong. But whatever.
If I can, I'll try to make my updates more frequent, like once every few days instead of each week, but I might not always have the time and I want to be as regular as possible.
(Disclaimer: One Piece belongs to… someone who isn't me…)
Enjoy!
- Spoiler alert! Ace finally appears. ^^
CHAPTER 8: Connected Siblings
"You better explain after the visit. Or now, would be better."
Luffy looked up at Torao. They continued on their way after the fight, but he didn't seem very happy. He was sulking? She'd just admitted being the most popular fighter in the Corrida Colosseum, after all. Maybe she shouldn't have done that. "Torao, I'm sorry. I told you, Lucy trained me, that's how I learned his art." Because yes, Lucy was supposed to be a man. Straw Hat Luffy too, really. Torao glanced at her with a skeptical look on his face. She was a terrible liar, after all.
"Yeah, right. Did you tell your friends about it?" She looked away guiltily.
"No. I haven't. They know I can fight, but they don't know where I was kept after being captured. They never went to Dressrosa, too." She sighed. "If I told anyone, they'd feel guilty for not being here. I don't want that." Luffy could feel her friend's stare on her.
"You should tell someone. You need support during difficult times, you know. And I can tell you that, since I've had too many difficult times already."
"You don't tell people about your pains." He looked at her, surprised. "I know you've suffered a lot, but you've kept it all to yourself. You're the one who needs support, not me. Besides, I've told you, didn't I? You can support me." Torao was gaping at her, completely dumbfounded.
"You think… You're saying I can help you when you have problems and emotional issues? Me?" He was amused now. "You want me as your emotional pillar? That's a first. Usually, people don't even want me to get close to them. God, if Shachi heard that, I would be in so much trouble. He wouldn't forget about it in the next three years or something."
Luffy giggled but didn't add anything. She knew what he meant; Torao was supposed to be a heartless surgeon with EQ too low to reassure even a depressed chipmunk. Just the idea of him emotionally supporting someone was simply ridiculous. And yet, she couldn't help but trust him to do it. He could, if he broke out of his shell. She simply needed to get him to break out of it. His voice dragged her out of her thoughts.
"We're here." The Hearts Hospital stood proudly before them, a tall white building with its name displayed in black capital letters. The logo — an abstract grinning face with six branches — was right above the name, painted black too. Torao went to the glass double doors, which automatically opened in front of him. The interior was cleanly white everywhere. He strode to a counter, Luffy following him. The woman at the counter looked up and smiled. She had long wavy green hair and her yellow eyes were creepy, Luffy thought.
"Doctor Trafalgar Law. How may I help you today?"
"Hello, Monet. I'm visiting a patient. Portgas D. Ace."
The woman — Monet? — typed something on her computer. "Ah, yes. Multiple burns, bullet wounds and stabbed a few times? He looked really bad when he came in. Room 513." She then noticed Luffy, who tried to hide behind Torao. Luffy didn't like the woman much. Monet had a very dark aura that made her uncomfortable. "And who might this beautiful young lady be, Doctor Trafalgar? I don't think I've ever seen you with a girl."
"None of your business. Come on, Mugiwara-ya."
Monet's gaze followed them to the lifts. "Mugiwara-ya, huh…"
"Who was that, Torao? I don't like her."
"Me neither. Let's see… Fifth floor." Torao pressed the button to the fifth floor. Other people entered and greeted him like a superior, which confirmed her thoughts about him being important. They gave her strange looks, for some reason unknown to her. It became known when Torao glanced down at her after the doors closed and asked. "Mugiwara-ya, why are you hugging my arm like that?" Luffy blushed brightly and let go. She hadn't even realized she had been holding him and basically hiding behind him.
"Sorry. I, um, don't wanna get lost," she mumbled, staring at her feet. It was a very feeble excuse. The whole lift held their breath, waiting for their Doctor Trafalgar to get furious at the clingy (but pretty) little girl. He didn't, merely shrugging and shoving his hands in his pockets, which made everyone quite surprised. Not even a slight glare? Where was their genius-but-always-angry Doc?
Luffy was still red, and although she wasn't hugging him anymore, she still stayed close to him, disturbed by the many stares directed at her and the different auras she felt. It felt like too long until they got to the fifth floor.
"I didn't think you were shy," Torao told her once they were out, his tone somewhat amused.
"I'm not shy! But there was this really disturbing presence in the lift. I don't know who it was, but…"
He smirked. "It's alright. Next time, though, try not cut my blood circulation. It's not comfortable." Luffy's blush returned. "Here. Room 513." He knocked lightly on the door and entered. A nurse was inside, she was the one who kept telling Luffy to get out. The nurse politely greeted Torao, then saw her and frowned.
"Why is she here, Doctor? I told her she couldn't come. I don't want her to disturb Mr. Portgas."
"She said she really wanted to see him at least once."
The nurse's frown deepened. "You accepted?" This wasn't like him.
Torao was getting irritated. "Yes, I accepted. Is there a problem?"
"Um…"
"Good. You're dismissed." The nurse did a slight bow and hurried out. Angering Doctor Trafalgar was never a good idea. He sighed. "Mugiwara-ya."
Luffy nodded, walking to the bed. Ace was there. He seemed to be sleeping peacefully. A machine was helping him breathe. Behind her was a weak but steady beeping — his heart.
He was alive. The machines said so. His heart said so. And yet, her chest was still empty. The warm feeling that usually filled her wasn't here.
Ace felt dead. Luffy couldn't feel him, his fiery soul.
Luffy crouched next to the bed, her hand in Ace's hair. "He's alive." It wasn't a question, but Torao answered anyway.
"Yeah. He is."
She leaned into her brother, her forehead lightly touching his. Tears threatened to fall. She breathed deeply, recalling memories, Luffy and Ace, Ace and Luffy, they played together, fought, ate, slept together. They did everything together. He had been here to reassure her when she'd collapsed, she had been here to show him he was cared about. They were always connected, he was like another part of her. "Then…" She slowly stood up and slightly turned her head, cheeks flushed, and looked at Torao, the dam broke, tears spilled down her cheeks. Her hand clutched her chest. "Why do I feel so empty?" The emptiness was so painful. She needed the light warmth Ace's presence filled her with.
They'd both left her, Ace and Sabo both left, and she was completely empty, even though Ace was breathing right in front of her, she was cold and empty, her link to her brothers telling her they were gone.
Luffy's hands clenched. She didn't see Torao approaching her. She couldn't see anything. The world was a blurry mess.
She was alone.
Alone.
His arms awkwardly wrapped around her, hugging her tightly, her face in his shoulder. A light gasp escaped his lips. That made her wake up.
No. She wasn't.
She wasn't alone.
She still had him, this man she'd just met but she liked so much.
This man who was now wordlessly trying to comfort her, who was silently crying with her.
Trafalgar Law.
She gripped the back of his hoodie and sobbed into his shoulder.
They stayed like this until she calmed down. Law had his eyes closed, waiting for her to speak. Her tears soaked his shoulder, but he didn't mind. All that mattered now was the sniffling girl he was holding against him.
"Hey, Torao," Mugiwara-ya muttered. Law opened his eyes. She was resting her chin on his shoulder, not looking at him. "You won't leave me, will you?"
"No. I would never."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
She sighed and grinned. She was still tense, clutching his hoodie like her life depended on it.
"I'm sorry I can't do more, Luffy-ya. I wish I could save him right now, but—"
"Torao." He stopped. "You're really stupid, you know?" No, he didn't. "You don't have magic powers or anything. I don't blame you, because whatever happens—" she moved her head to look straight into his eyes, "—Ace will wake up." Her tear-streaked face broke into a smile, her usual bright smile, and she giggled softly, finally relaxing. She pulled away.
"And you called me Luffy, this time!"
"Yeah, well, enjoy that while you can. I'm going back to Mugiwara-ya now."
"Shishishi, I don't mind. Can I go home with you? Nami's busy with something."
That surprised him. "Don't you have a home?" She nodded.
"In Fuusha. But I don't stay there much, I usually live with Nami or Ace in Grand Line. Also, Heart-ossan is nice. I'm sure he won't make me pay for the food." Law facepalmed. Of course it was about food. What else? "And I wanna spend time with you." Right. There was the answer to his question.
Wait.
Spend time with him?
The heck?
Law fought the blush away. What was the matter with him? Why was he so affected? He wasn't in love with her, he wasn't!
Was he?
He sighed. A single, simple question was too much for his genius brain. He really was changing. "All right. You can come. I hope I won't regret this." And Cora-san didn't invite the idiots, he added mentally.
"Thanks!"
She looked at her brother with a sad smile. Walking over to him, she leaned down and lightly kissed his forehead, whispering something. Law felt an unwelcome twinge of jealousy.
"Yosh, let's go!" Mugiwara-ya's bright smile made him forget everything else.
He'd heard everything.
He'd heard her pain.
He'd heard another man comfort her.
It destroyed him. She was suffering because of him.
He'd also heard her faith in him. How he wished to be as strong as she said he was.
If only he were strong enough. If only he could get out of this darkness, of this world where he was just a bystander, knowing what was happening, not able to do anything.
He couldn't feel anything. Couldn't move. Couldn't see. Only hear.
She was gone. The person he loved most. He couldn't stop her.
The last words she whispered to him broke his heart.
If only he were strong enough.
He wanted to cry, but his body didn't obey him.
He could hear the machine beeping his heart's rhythm. He could hear his weak breathing.
Yet, he didn't feel alive.
If only he were strong enough.
She'd said she felt empty, because they were linked.
His presence was gone. He didn't feel alive.
If only…
"Oh, Law!"
He froze at the sound of this all-too-familiar voice. Oh, no. Not him. Please, not him. "Let's go, Mugiwara-ya." Law walked faster, the girl struggling to follow. They were in the lobby. If that idiot started chattering here, it would attract too much attention.
"Law~ Why are you running from me? Wait a second, is that a hot girl with you? Oh, my God, are you dating? That would make great news! I gotta tell Morgans, he'll love it. Genius Surgeon Trafalgar Law Has Finally Found Love. Oh, all your fangirls will be depressed! The girl looks too young for you, though. I still think you should've gone with Monet. At least—"
"Can't you shut up for once, you damn clown? We're not dating! We just met!"
There. People were already watching. Probably interested in Law's nonexistent love life or simply the fight between him and Clown-ya. These happened a lot.
"But Law, you never walk around with cute girls."
"I never walk around with a date either."
"All right. Then, how about Genius Surgeon Trafalgar Law Visited A Patient For A Girl? First one was more catchy, though."
The crowd bristled with surprise and excitement. Doctor Trafalgar and a girl…
"I said shut up, Clown-ya. Where'd you even get that?"
"You had no reason to visit Portgas D. Ace, except this girl who happens to be his sister. And I was in the lifts with you. Hey, I know! Genius Surgeon Trafalgar Law Was Hugged! That never happened, as far as I know." There was a collective stunned gasp from around them. The crowd stared with wide eyes. No, that had never happened before. "See that, Law? Everyone wants to know about it."
"As much as I appreciate you calling me a genius, I don't really want something this stupid to be in the news, thank you very much. Got find some new experiment to do."
"But—" Before the mad scientist could add anything, Mugiwara-ya pulled Law away, somewhat angrily. She quickly strode to the front door, but not before Clown-ya squealed. "Yes! People are gonna love that so much!" Jaws dropped all around them. Law took a moment to understand what was happening.
Mugiwara-ya was holding his hand.
He was Trafalgar Law. The antisocial doctor who beat up anyone who got too close. He was never dragged out of the hospital by an upset girl holding his hand.
And yet, that was happening right now.
The dumbstruck look on his face slowly morphed into horrified realization.
"CLOWN-YA! DON'T YOU DARE!"
He smirked. "Sorry, Doctor. You'd have to beg." He took out his phone. "You're very popular in Punk Hazard, you know? Almost our own PH celebrity. Something like this would make headlines. Shurororororo. Morgans will pay me so much for this."
"DAMMIT, YOU PURPLE-HAIRED BASTARD!"
"Aw, look how many people are already watching. News will spread anyway. But I won't get anything if it's just a rumor."
"Let me go, Mugiwara-ya!"
"No."
He struggled under her hard grip as she pulled him out of the Hearts Hospital, in front of the shell-shocked crowd.
Caesar Clown's laugh followed him all the way out.
"What did you do that for?" he shouted furiously at her once she let him go. "He's going to get us on the front page! There's going to be tons of rumors and false conclusions about us!"
Luffy didn't care. "Remember the disturbing presence in the lifts?" Torao walked away and she followed. She wouldn't let him leave her. He'd said she could come, after all. He grumbled something that sounded like "Yeah".
"Well, the guy just now had exactly the same aura."
Torao scowled. He was fast when he was upset, Luffy could barely keep up with him. "He did say he was in the lifts with us."
"I don't like it. He's full of bad intentions. And then he started bothering you about your personal life, it really pissed me off. Sorry about that." People who saw her storm out holding Torao were staring and whispering with amused looks. "C'mon. You don't like attention, do you?" He raised an eyebrow at her and sighed when she responded with a grin.
Luffy wasn't paying too much attention about where she was going, so it didn't really surprise her when the man grabbed her cardigan's collar. "That way. You really need to do something about your sense of direction."
"Shishishi, Zoro is even worse."
"Zoro? Actually, I don't even want to know." They stopped talking for a while. They were almost at his house.
"Hey, Torao," Luffy said. He glanced at her. She stared at Torao's sharp face, the sideburns and tanned skin, and his grey eyes, always his eyes, the portals to his hidden emotions and his inner struggles. "Can you smile?" He just frowned even more. She didn't want that, why was he doing the opposite of what she asked?
"What?"
"Smile!"
"Why?"
"Because," Luffy rolled her eyes, the answer was way too obvious, "you're hot when you smile. Well, hotter than usual." His eye twitched and his cheeks turned an incredibly vivid shade of red. "Oh, are you sick? You look very red." She started to reach up to take his temperature when someone burst out laughing loudly behind her. Turning, she saw a man leaning on a door frame and doubled up with laughter.
"Heart-ossan!"
"C-C-Cora-san?"
They hadn't realized they had arrived.
He howled. "You should've seen your face, Law! Brighter than a tomato!" Torao's face flushed a shade darker. "Oh, God, never thought I'd see that one day. Your reaction when Straw Hat said you were hot was priceless." The man shook with more laughter, holding his sides.
"Right, can we go in now?
"Yeah, yeah."
Luffy rushed in and flopped onto the sofa like it was her own home. "Wow, so comfortable! What's for dinner? I'm hungry!" Torao's dad went to switch the TV on.
"Rice. And chicken."
"You'll have to make more, Cora-san."
"Pizza, then."
"Tch, you're so — hey, we're already on the local news? That was too fast, even for Clown-ya. Well, at least it's only in Punk Hazard." A plump man with quite a long neck and a small black top hat appeared next to a blurry but recognizable picture of Luffy dragging Torao by the hand. Seeing that, Heart-ossan cracked up again, which irritated Torao. "Morgans again. He always makes sure to get the most 'interesting' news, but at least he hates jumping to conclusions. He will never confirm anything without enough proof."
-X-X-
"We have strong evidence from many eye-witnesses that the popular genius Trafalgar Law has a new relationship with an unknown young lady, seen here dragging the doctor out of the hospital during an argument with Doctor Caesar Clown, the fight itself being about her. The reason for her anger is still unclear to most.
"On the other hand, we do know that Doctor Trafalgar is quite attached to her, as he ignored it when the girl hugged him. My sources confirm that he went to the hospital specially at her request. They were here to visit a comatose man named Portgas D. Ace who arrived two weeks ago in bad condition, and who, according to sources, also turns out to be her brother. Strangely though, despite my searching, I have no proof that Mr Portgas and the young lady are connected somehow. Doctors say that it is still unsure if Mr Portgas will wake up. I personally do hope he does.
"We do not yet know if the relationship is real or not, therefore, to avoid jumping to conclusions too fast, I am not confirming anything between Doctor Trafalgar and the mysterious girl, or what links her to Mr Portgas.
"Stay well and updated! This was Morgans, your best journalist for confirming anything interesting."
-X-X-
"That's all bull."
"But everything they said is true, Torao."
"I can't believe they even have a photo of you hugging my arm. I bet that was Clown-ya."
"Morgans is nice, he said he hopes Ace will wake up. Can you order pizza now? I'm so hun—" her eyes suddenly widened when a sharp pain stabbed through her chest.
"Mugiwara-ya? What's happening?"
She clutched her chest, choking for air. She felt like she was imploding. Her vision faded and she couldn't see anymore, her mind was blank, she couldn't breathe. A fiery ball formed in her chest, filling her with intense heat, at the same time burning her inside out. It was hell. The fire expanded to fill her, then calming down and becoming just a soothing warmth. Something came back. Something that had been missing for two years.
Luffy collapsed, unconscious. The last thing she heard was Torao saying it was over.
Yes, it was over.
The pain… And the coldness in her heart.
They were both gone.
Whooo, Ace appeared! *mentally throwing a party*
He did take his time.
And yup, I just had to add this little embarrassment for Law. Poor Law. I tried to make it funny, but I don't know. I'm not as good as Oda for that kind of things.
Hope you enjoyed, my chapters are getting longer every time for some reason.
Kadek8785: Well, of course she's sad. Bad things happen when you're a slave of that Flamingo bastard. Oops, what am I saying. ^^
Well, I kinda feel sorry for Luffy now, I mean, what happened there… But I won't say anything!
Don't forget to review, of course! And any ideas or requests, you can PM me, I will answer.
See you next chapter!