Um, wow. I'm actually on time, somehow. With a 2.5k words long chapter. Feeling so proud of myself.

Get ready for an awesomely awesome Lawlu chapter.

Well, not that awesome, but still. I hope you'll like it.

Enjoy~

(Disclaimer: uhhhh. One Piece? Not mine.)

CHAPTER 16: Conflict between friends

"Straw Hat! We're not done yet!" Luffy gave an irritated look at the white-haired man who was smoking two cigars at once.

"S-Smoker-san! Leave her!"

"Who're you talking to, you little dork?"

The woman next to him adjusted her red glasses with a flustered look and blushed, realizing she had been talking to Law. She turned around and noticed Zoro. "Ah! You!" The man cringed and walked away quickly, muttering about not wanting to talk to her. She followed him. "Wait! Pirate Hunter!"

It turned out the reason Luffy came flying into the pool was a certain Government agent called Smoker, whom Luffy appreciated, like he was her 'favourite' enemy. He was apparently always trying to capture her since that day at Logue Town where she almost got killed by some idiot, along with "that little copy-cat Government swordswoman who follows him everywhere", Zoro's words. Law didn't really understand everything the man said, but it seemed Smoker was the one who took the credits to Crocodile's downfall, when in fact Luffy was the one who took him down.

Luffy sighed. Smoker had interrupted that little moment she had in the pool with Law. She really enjoyed the feeling of his strong shoulders under her arms and his chest against hers, and his sweet smell of nature and honey. She shook her head, trying to get these strange thoughts out of her head. "Come on, Smokey. Listen to your friend. I haven't done anything, throwing a party isn't a crime."

"Being a criminal is a crime."

"I'm not a criminal. I'm a pirate."

"It's the same thing!"

"No, it's not!"

"Who cares? I'm taking you in anyway."

"First time we see each other after two years and you already want to arrest me for throwing a party? I didn't even organize it, Makino did."

"It's not about the party!"

"Well, I obviously won't come with you calmly like that. I just don't really want to fight like this right here, you see?" She showed her dripping swimsuit. Smoker's eyebrow twitched. That girl didn't want to fight? As if she had a choice! He grabbed his jitte and was about to lunge when a fireball nearly hit him and he stumbled backwards with a startled shout. Said fireball happened to be a certain blonde man with swirly eyebrows and was aiming for the tattooed man who had been hugging Luffy earlier in the pool. Smoker squinted and recognized the enraged man as 'Black Leg' Sanji, part of Luffy's pirate group.

"How dare you! Bastard!" He screamed at a bewildered Law.

Luffy scowled, not liking the murderous look in the man's eyes. "Sanji?" He turned, his expression immediately changing to adoring.

"Oh, my dear Luffy-chan~ I'm glad you're alright~ And you! I'm going to kill you now!"

Law gave him a confused look. "What did I do?"

"I saw you! Don't deny it!"

"I don't even know what you're talking about."

"Damn you Surgeon of Death! You, just now! In the pool! You… You…" Luffy's stare darkened. Sanji gritted his teeth. "Molester! That's what you are! Shitty molesting bastard! Go home to your freakish weirdo of a dad and don't you ever touch her again or I'll break your skull myself!"

That did it. Before anyone could react, Sanji was sent flying backwards and crashed into one of the snack tables. He stumbled furiously to his feet. All he saw was Luffy's straw hat hiding her eyes, and a punch to his jaw snapped his head to the side. He tasted blood in his mouth from the powerful hit. She grabbed the front of his collar and brought her face close to his. There was fury in her beautiful dark eyes like nothing Sanji had ever seen before. The blonde didn't understand. Why had Luffy hit him? What did he do wrong? Surely, she couldn't be protecting the surgeon, who had touched her with his filthy hands? She couldn't prefer that stranger to him, her favourite cook?

"You take that back." The pure wrath in Luffy's trembling voice shocked him. He flinched under the cold hard stare of his captain.

"Wh-What?"

"YOU TAKE THAT BACK!" She screamed, shaking him. "I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOU SAY THESE THINGS EVER AGAIN!" Her powerful aura burst with the emotion, and everyone around felt her blazing rage hit them. Kid whistled, unfazed by the explosion that could be overwhelming for most.

"That is one impressive aura."

"What did Law ever do to you?" Luffy continued, while Sanji cowered in front of her. She used my name, the surprised but pleased surgeon noted. "He's nice, he's polite, he didn't bother you! All that happened was me jumping onto him because I can't swim! It was my fault, not his! Would you like for a stranger to want to kill you for something you didn't do? Would you like it if someone insulted you and Zeff that way? Would you?"

"N-No—"

"What I do with Law is what I want to do with him. It's none of your business! I don't see why you have to react to every single thing that happens to me! Do you think I, your captain, am fragile? Do you not trust me to not get too close to those who want to harm me? Don't you think that, if I like him, it means he's a nice guy? You're so annoying, always getting behind me, Luffy-chan this and Luffy-chan that! I'm not yours, for God's sake!"

"I-I-I didn't—"

"Why do you have to be such a bastard about Law? Why can't you just understand that I—" She stopped short, breathing heavily, and glanced around her with wide eyes. Smoker was leaning against his jitte with a bored expression, Kid was still slumped over the edge of the pool with Bonney eating her pizza next to him, Law was standing behind her awkwardly, Kikoku on his shoulder. Beyond that, she saw Usopp and Chopper staring at her, and Hancock and Bartolomeo looking worried, Makino looking shocked, and a bunch of other people watching her with a bunch of different emotions. Her lips trembled as she lowered her voice. The anger was fading now, leaving her dazed and shaken after her outburst. "Whatever makes you hate Law, the others got over it. I think it's time you did too." She turned and ran back inside the house to hide her flushed cheeks and guilty expression.

"Well, I should've seen that coming." Sanji turned, and saw Nami striding towards him. Never had she seemed as beautiful as she did that moment. "With the attitude you had towards Trafalgar, Luffy was bound to explode some time." She handed him a handkerchief to wipe off the bit of blood from the blow. "She's right, too. You were a bastard. That wasn't a nice thing to say to him, Corazon is a nice guy. And you're in no place to give a lesson on molesting women. Trafalgar is obviously not dirty-minded like you are." She smiled, and grabbed his arm. "Idiot. Come on. No, leave her. She needs space."

Law, who had been about to try to find Luffy, scowled. He wanted to see her, comfort her, tell her everything was all right and she didn't need to feel ashamed. He was happy she stood up for him, even against her friends, then immediately felt guilty for thinking that. He didn't want her to fight her friends, it made her unhappy. Nami gave him a pointed look. "Fine." He headed inside.

The night was quite pretty, Law thought as he walked along the pathway on the second floor. It circled the house, uncovered, and he gazed up at the cloudless purple sky twinkling with stars. The noise from the pool didn't bother him anymore. His mind was elsewhere. Luffy-ya's livid face when Black Leg-ya insulted Cora-san. The things she said. Her explosive aura, crushing him under the powerful weight of her uncontrollable rage. Her agitated expression when she realized what she'd done.

Law stopped and climbed the protective fence that kept people from falling off. There were two fences, which made the space on them just large enough for him to sit on. He let his legs dangle over the swimming pool under him. He wasn't scared of heights. Someone, probably Apoo-ya, was playing music down there. Law recognized the song as Call Me Maybe, from Carly Rae Jepsen, and wondered who was choosing the music. It most certainly wasn't the DJ.

I'd trade my soul for a wish
Pennies and dimes for a kiss
I wasn't looking for this
But now you're in my way

He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Maybe he'd do anything for a wish too. Yes, he would wish emotions weren't so dangerous. He'd wish loving couldn't hurt him, wish it couldn't destroy him and make him suffer the worst hell after feeling the greatest joy. Nothing would stop him from loving Luffy-ya then, he wouldn't be as miserable as he always was, he wouldn't have nightmares of that night and wouldn't dread something bad to happen to the few friends he had, like the pessimistic he was. He wouldn't dread them leaving him, all alone. He would be happy.

Hey, I just met you and this is crazy
But here's my number, so call me maybe
It's hard to look right at you baby
But here's my number, so call me maybe

"Nice song, isn't it, Torao?"

Law turned to see Luffy-ya walking towards him. She was wearing a loose shirt over her swimsuit. She smiled faintly. Her cheeks had a slightly red tinge to them.

"Kind of reminds me of that time, when we'd just met." She climbed the fence too and sat next to him, but not meeting his eye. "It was crazy, right? I asked for your number. Everyone freaked out." She giggled softly. "I remember, these few days when you visited me at the hospital… I could barely look at you. Every time I did, I just couldn't breathe, and my heart beat so fast. I remember thinking that your eyes…" She leaned her head against his shoulder and tucked her knees against her chest. "They were the most beautiful things I've ever seen," she whispered, her voice catching at the last word.

Law stared at her, emotions swirling inside his head. Surprise, happiness, confusion, pride, embarrassment, sadness, love. Why was she telling him this now? Was it because of the outburst? "I…"

"Law." The sound of his name in her voice was so satisfying, he wished she said it more. "Law." Her voice was shaking. She gasped and Law realized she was crying. She buried her face into his shoulder, gripping his shirt tightly. He wrapped his arm around her. "Law, I don't know what to do anymore."

Before you came into my life
I missed you so bad
I missed you so bad
I missed you so so bad

"Ace was gone, and suddenly I was so empty, and it destroyed me… And that day when I passed out, it felt just like he came back, except it wasn't quite the same, and the feeling was so faint… It keeps going, coming back, sometimes strong and other times almost disappearing. But I'm still so cold inside! I don't know what's happening to me! I feel so messed up, and it's making me so upset, and I can't help getting angry and shouting at my friends when they haven't done anything, and—"

"It's all right." She looked up at him, and he tear-streaked face was so beautiful and so heartbreaking he couldn't stop himself from reaching up and wiping her cheek. "It's all right. I understand, we all have to suffer at times. I'm with you now. Everything will be all right."

"Law…" Luffy-ya sighed his name and snuggled closer. "You know… When you're with me… It's like you replaced him. Ace. You helped me cope with the emptiness."

Before you came into my life
I missed you so bad
And you should know that
I missed you so so bad

She gazed deeply into his eyes, and he returned the stare. "I'm glad you're here, Law." Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes shone brightly in the dim light coming from inside. She leaned up. "Happy birthday," she whispered with a smile.

Their lips met.

Bepo sprawled himself across the couch. "I wonder if Law's having fun…"

"Missing him already, are you?" Shachi sniggered. The albino blushed slightly.

"Well, it's his birthday after all. He never has any fun, I'm just hoping…"

"Of course he's having fun. He's with his adorable girlfriend." Penguin propped himself up against Bepo's plump body.

"I wish I had the adorable girlfriend," Shachi pouted. He changed the TV channel. "Oh, yes. A horror movie."

Corazon walked out of the kitchen. "Come on, boys, not that again," he complained. "You know I don't like those."

"Don't watch, then."

"Aw, that's mean."

"Guys, it's really late, you know? Hey, Cora-san, can we sleep here today? Since Law is absent." Bepo asked. The blonde was about to respond when the doorbell rang.

"Huh? Do you have a friend coming over? What's-their-names, these guys?"

Penguin frowned and shook his head. "Ikkaku is probably already getting her beauty sleep. Anyway, she wouldn't ring the bell. Uni and Clione are in North Blue for another month, I don't see why they would come back now. Lili-chan is on a hunt, she wouldn't be here either. I have no idea who this is."

"Why would anyone visit at this hour anyway?" Shachi rolled his eyes.

Corazon looked at the door with a worried frown. Something about it made his skin prickle with dread. He tried to see out of the window, but it was too dark to see more than a large shadow standing in front of the house. "I have a bad feeling about this."

Bepo nodded and stood up, making Penguin fall off the couch with a small 'oomph'. "Me too." Everyone knew to trust Bepo's instincts. Corazon opened the door cautiously. And stumbled back, eyes wide.

"Well, well, well," the tall silhouette grinned at him. A silhouette he had hoped to never see again in his life. The three friends tensed behind him, not liking the pure shock and hatred they could see in Corazon's face. "Long time no see, Rosinante."

OH MY GOD look at how I finished the chapter. Lol. I'm feeling SUPER today. Like, super annoying. XD

I feel sorry for Sanji tho, even if he was an asshole. Poor him.

Kadek8785: I wonder who is this special someone?... I mean, I don't ship Kid with anyone… But I'll see. And wow, Law really fell in love. Surprise surprise.

Well then, I hope you enjoyed this chapter anyway. I really had to stop it here because I'm a very mean writer XD

There should be some drama and angst from now on.

Also, the song lyrics taken from Call Me Maybe, song from Carly Rae Jepsen. You know, for the credits and all. I chose it for no particular reason, but the lyrics kind of fitted the idea I already had for the end, so I guess it's all right.

See you next chapter!