Hellooo... maybe... Took long to update the new chapter. But this chapter is kinda short. Next time, I'll write longer than this.

Just when Law closed the door to his room, he bumped into Baby 5.

"Eh, Law? You are here?" She asked in confusion. "When did you arrive?"

"Just… this morning." He replied casually. The both then walked together to the main room where all the others were waiting.

"So, this is just a family meeting." Baby 5 stated.

Law looked around his surroundings and noticed there were only top officers and their respective reliable forces in that room. As usual, he would take his spot next to Buffalo. Baby 5 took a spot next to him. Even though he was one of the top officers, he rarely took his seat with the other senior officers. He would rather stand along with the both since he felt comfortable with them. After all, they spent almost all of their time together during childhood and before he was offered the top position.

From far away, he saw Doflamingo and Trebol walked along the hallway. As they walked past them, Trebol gave him a wicked grin, which he disliked a lot. As Doflamingo took his seat in his throne-like-chair, he looked at Law and sighed.

"I told you not to kill those women." He pointed at Law. "If you keep killing them, you are going to ruin my business."

"If they don't fight much, I would let them go." Law replied nonchalantly, "Freely."

Doflamingo sighed dismissively. "You…? Tch! Senor Pink would fit the job." he gave up. "Anyway, there is something I want to ask you."

Law glanced at him again waiting for his question.

"What exactly are you planning to do to that girl?"

Law let out a soft huff, "You know I bought her from your very whorehouse Doflamingo, so I expect you, of all people, know the reason already." he stated sardonically.

"Law," Baby 5 whispered as she nudged him and warned the young male to behave.

Doflamingo stared at him through his glasses. And later he laughed, somehow getting the meaning behind his words. "Ho… so you are planning on using her?" He leaned forward and spoke, "Let's hear you out, shall we?"

"It would be better if I let her stay in that house. It was hers to begin with. No one will ask nor do they even care. After all, she can take care of that house while I am away." Law explained.

"And… in what way she is useful?" Doflamingo asked.

Law smirked at him, "What do you think of a woman and a man staying together?" he asked back.

The whole room then went silence as if they were thinking for an answer to the question.

"An affair? It sounds very suggestive in a dirty way." Diamante answered.

Law snarled at Diamante, "I am different from you!"

"And in what way we are different, huh?" Diamante asked. "I do keep my women." He proudly admitted.

"Calm down! Calm down!" Senor Pink interjected when he saw Law almost stepped forward, "For a man, it's not weird to keep a woman or two-"

"Enough!" Doflamingo cut them off. "I see. A cover up, huh?" he chuckled. "By any chance, do you know who is she?"

Law lifted his gaze to Doflamingo, "Does it really matter?"

There was a long pause before Doflamingo replied, "No! Not really." he shook his head as he looked at the younger male. "It really does not matter." he mumbled lowly.

"She saved my life once." Law stated.

Doflamingo raised his brows, "She did? Why I never heard of this?" he asked as he studied him. Realization hit him, "Could it be…?"

"Yes. For three days, she took care of me."

"She knew you." Doflamingo chuckled, "So you are paying your debt? How unusual."

"She might think I am paying her debt." Law stated. "… Just let her think it that way."

"Cruel aren't you?" Doflamingo grinned, "What if, she is sent to keep an eye on you?" he stared at him.

Law gave him a long stare before he replied, "I'm sure your men do a background checking before selling her off." He paused. "Rest assured! I have her life the moment she saved me."

"You little..." Doflamingo laughed. He nodded. "I would rather you don't kill her. Just sell her back to Joker could do." he suggested.

Law huffed in annoyance.

"By the way Law," Trebol headed to Law and held out a brown envelops which Law accepted.

"Clean everything up!" Doflamingo ordered. He then turned his attention to the other officers. "So Diamante, how is it going on?"

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Hm? A cover up, eh?" A woman propped her head with her hands as she lay on her stomach watching the man sitting on the porch.

"What do you think?" Doflamingo turned his head to look at her.

"That's just so not him." She mumbled as she pushed herself up and reached out for her under robes, putting it on. The futon left spread on the floor as she joined him to the porch.

Sitting behind him, she snaked her hand to his chest and leaned her chin against his shoulder, "Does it make you feel uneasy, danna?" she stroked her fingers lightly on the exposed skin of his chest.

"Because he isn't that kind of guy, I believe." he explained as he sipped the remaining sake.

"Man is always a man." She replied. "Or, do you think he will betray you?"

He chuckled, "No. You know him very well too." he brushed her wrist with his fingers.

"He's just like you." She hummed softly, "But danna, instead of having an affair, why not tell Law to stay with her?" she suggested as she rocked their body slowly.

"What do you mean?" He leaned back a little for a comfort as his body swung along with hers.

"Young unmarried couple, staying together, it doesn't give out a good impression, does it?" she pointed out.

"… You are right." He replied. "Then, what do you have in mind?"

"Law is one of your shadows, why don't just keep him in the shadow?" She asked. "You know he won't betray you, so just let him stay with her. If he keeps going back and forth, he will expose himself too much, don't you think so?"

He muted as if thinking over her suggestion. Then, he slowly turned his head to look at her and then he smirked. "I'll think about that later." He returned his gaze to the moon.

How many weeks had it been? When she woke up in the morning, he was nowhere to be seen, like he was never there. She even had no idea where he went. And, his futon was already folded neatly at the corner of the room, meaning that he had returned that night but his meal which she left on the table for his dinner the night before was still untouched. Always like that. She wondered if he noticed that or simply didn't want to accept food from her.

With a sigh, she tidying up the table, she decided to reheat the meal if it was still good. At her current situation, there was no way she could be picky about the food that she would eat. Having a place to stay, even though it would be hard was good enough rather than being a prostitute. Prostitute? She cringed at the thought. He just saved her from that. Had she not found him, she probably won't be here, in that small house.

When she looked around that house, her childhood memories flashed in front of her mind. Her mother and her sister. In that small house, they lived together. Even though the house was small, but it was still comfortable. She smiled to herself as she reminiscing her good memories.

It was rare, but that night, he was there. Sitting on the step, turning his back to her. She sat silently by the irori, waiting for her food to cook. She was hesitating at first, but it was just polite to serve food to him, she thought. So she did.

"What's this?" He looked at the food and then at her.

She was a bit shock at first but then managed to reply him, "It's no different cooking for one as well as for two. So, eat up." he lowered her gaze as she brought the tray to her lap.

He glanced at the food and then looked at her again. "Just forget what you saw last time." he warned.

She snapped her eyes at him. For a moment, his gaze locked hers she couldn't even blink. His cold stare sent chill down her spine. She was almost suffocating, remembering the same threat he posed back then, she realized what he meant. Swallowing hard, she answered, "Yes."

He then glanced away from her.

She slowly backed out and returned to the small table. She realized her hands were trembling as she held the chopsticks. Her other hand reached out for her face, instinctively wiping away the tears she didn't realize falling from her eyes. She was scared.

For the first time, she lost her appetite. She sat there, unmoved, telling herself she would be fine. It didn't work at all until she heard his footsteps. Her heart beating so fast she could feel it behind her ribs. But gradually calming down when she saw him settling himself to sleep from the corner of her eyes.

When she was sure he was already asleep, she slowly turned her head to the back, glancing at the untouched tray of food she served for him. As she thought, he didn't eat at all.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Every night he returned, his futon as well as dinner were ready. She was already asleep. As soon as he removed his shoes, he went directly to the futon and slept.

Just before dawn he woke up, before she even did, folding his futon and put it in the corner, after that he left. That was what he had been doing every time. During the day, he stayed in the mansion where they always gathered and discussed about their plans and mission.

Sometimes he went away for a week or two. But still, every time he returned, his futon was ready and meal was served like always.

And that particular night, after he went out for a "special" mission Doflamingo assigned him and Gladius, he went straight to home. Slowly he slid opened the door, not to wake her up. It was quite dark since she already put out the lantern. His hands fumbling over, searching for a lantern he remembered in one of the wall near the door. Granted, he found it.

He lit it on and made his way to the step. He sat there for a while. Somehow, unconsciously, he turned his head to back, knowing where she left his meal. He stared at the table which covered with cloth. Slowly he scooted closer to the table, removing the cover.

She really put much work on it seeing how the meal served in quite a manner. He thought. Then, he reached out for the bowl and began eating. It was already cold anyway, but still it tasted good. For the first time in his life, he felt he ate very delicious rice.

She blinked for several times before she pushed herself up. First thing she did was looking at her side. When she saw there was no longer a futon, she snapped her eyes to the corner just to see it folded nicely. "So, he had returned." she thought to herself. She sighed and then moved her eyes to look at the food she sure was left untouched.

Her eyes blinked in surprised when she saw the table was set on the small closet. She looked for the dirty dishes in the kitchen, but all clean. That must mean he washed his own. But what important to her was that, he ate the food she cooked for him. That was enough to make her smile in happiness.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

She was just preparing the dinner when he returned that night. He was early than any other days. Her eyes followed him as he crouched down the step.

"Have… have you eaten?" She asked. To her surprise, he pushed herself and sat in front of the table. Her lips curved in a smile. Without much talking, she served him and the both ate in silence. Ever since that day, every so often he returned before dinner and she made sure, the dinner was ready when he returned.

"She rarely made contact with the outside world." Vergo explained as he kept chewing his food.

"So she isn't a spy?" Diamante interrupted, setting his sight in front of him.

"I don't think so." Vergo assured.

"Don't be so sure!" Doflamingo who sat facing the stall warned them as he sipped his drink.

Each of them faced different direction as they sat on the stool, having their secret meeting.

"Law was sent to kill the owner of the restaurant where she worked at, there could be a possibility she wants revenge." Vergo suggested.

"Was she related to the owner of the restaurant?" Diamante asked again.

"Just some acquaintance," Doflamingo replied. "Probably."

"Then, there is no need for revenge either." Diamante stated.

"No… it's more than that." Doflamingo sighed. "Poor beings! So unfortunate." he chuckled.

Vergo and Diamante respectively looked at Doflamingo from the corner of their eyes.

"You know something don't you, Joker?" Vergo asked suspiciously.

It had been almost four months since they stayed together. Not so much she knew about him except knowing he was dangerous, though now, she wasn't even sure to what extent. He never asked her anything and they hardly ever talked. Sometimes, she wanted to ask, but herself conscious restrained her back. The question left unanswered deep inside her.

She knew she should run away from him ever since he threatening her, she could. But she didn't. She still couldn't figure it out why, but she knew it had nothing to do with returning the favor or to pay back her debt to him.

She still didn't know where he was during the day. He only returned at night just to dine and sleep. There were some nights he didn't show up at all. Sometimes, for almost a week. Only an empty futon next to her when she woke up. But she never wondered, because she knew he would return, no matter what. She didn't know for sure what exactly he was doing but somewhere deep inside her telling her, he was engaging in some wrong doings, she was sure of it. Many times she saw him return with hands covered in blood. But all she did was just watching him cleaning his hands in the kitchen.

During meal, they ate in silence, always. Just the two of them, with only the lantern to lighten up their surroundings. He never said anything, he never complained. After eating, he would just slumped himself on the futon comfortably, at the same spot, just next to the irori. His sword was placed behind him to mark his territory, which she would and should never cross. She didn't. She knew her place and would always keep the distance.

As she stirred the soup, she heard someone slid the door open. Upon seeing Law closed the door, she turned her attention to the soup.

Law sat on the step and set his sword next to him. She spared him a quick glance, taking in the sight of his broad shoulder. He would always do that, sitting on the step with his back facing her, until she called him for meal.

Setting the low table, she called him. With just that call, he rose to his feet and sat across her. As always.

As they were eating her frugal meal in silence, suddenly he broke the silence.

"I… won't be here for a week."

Nami stopped eating and raised her head to look at him.

"… so, don't wait." he added.

There was a brief silent moment before she replied "Yes." Her voice was low. She didn't know why, but it was the first time he talked to her like that. It simply made her happy. At least now, he acknowledged her presence.

He didn't sleep yet. He stared blindly at the burning cinders. He wasn't really sure why he told her, he just felt like he needed to, he wanted to let her know he wouldn't return. He didn't expect that reaction though. Probably because she got used to it, she simply said yes and then, she said nothing as if she understood very well.

Normally, he wouldn't say anything. Yes, he did buy the house; he did buy her, let her stay in the house to take care of he had no reason to tell everything he had been doing to her. That house only served as his resting point, to say the least. But that night, when he saw her serving the meal, he realized, that was what she had been doing every day, for the past months.

He remembered every time he returned late at night, the meal was already served on the table, his futon was ready, spreading neatly next to her while she was already asleep. She probably always did the same even when he didn't return. She probably was waiting for him. Every day.

It made him curious. Curious as why she did that. He knew she wasn't that stupid, she probably knew what kind of "job" he engaged with. He knew she noticed that already. She should be afraid. She should run away when she had a chance, which he believed, plenty of times. But, every time he returned, she was still there. She never asked nor did she talk about it. What made her stay? Was she really trying to pay her debt by doing so?

It didn't bother him at first, but when he thought about it, he was actually wondering. He sighed and closed his eyes as he felt the heavy weight of sleep dragged him into oblivion.

Notes;

Danna: Master/ Geisha's patron

Hope you guys enjoy this update.

And yes! Thanks for the reviews, favs and follow. You guys rock! If I am not that busy, will be updating next week. :). Not a promise okay!