Yes yes, I know. It was so late, late update. But don't blame me. I failed in English and thus feeling unmotivated for the rest of the month. I was emotionally broke down that I couldn't think every time I tried to type out this story. But now I get over it, because that teacher would allow me to repeat her paper (of course after blackmailing her), now I presented you the longest chapter in history to make up for the long hiatus. (It's 6,218 words excluding the notes, for fuck sake).
And again, not to forget to thanks those who silently read this, giving review, following and favoring this story. You make me happy.
Blood splattered about staining the road. Moonlight flashing briefly on lifeless bodies sprawled on the ground. He was still standing implacably in utter shock, swords firmed in his hold. His breath ragged from the exertion and his muscle ached, but was all forgotten as his mind focused on the girl standing in front of him.
Lost of word, he could only glare. She wasn't supposed to be there, yet there she was, standing across him, her face and kimono were stained with the blood of his enemy.
How can she be there? How long has she been there? Did she see everything? His mind swirled with questions. WHY? Why was she there?
"Why are you here?" He asked, hard and angry notes in his voice.
A silence gathered. She could sense his piercing gaze upon her, feel her presence was something he displeased. His voice told her he was upset. Her eyes met his hard glare without flinching. She wasn't scare of him for some reason though she knew she should be.
"I was on my way home." She replied, partly a lie. Her voice toneless, offering him no clue.
Which left him standing with no idea what to say. Or do.
"Whoever saw you, kill them." Doflamingo's warn echoed in his mind.
"Kill them… Kill...?" He repeated as if the word was an alien to him, "Kill… her?"
His mind tottering. Should he kill and left her for dead just because she saw everything? Should he? Just the thought disturbing him at some degree. He didn't quite understand himself.
Least he expected, it reminded him of her still unanswered question long time ago, "If… if… you were ordered to kill me… will you kill me?"
Chill went through him that instant. He felt his heart stopped momentarily as his chest clenched tightly with a feeling he wasn't used to. His brows furrowed, unsure of himself.
The silence held between them. He had remained statue-like for what had seemed an eternity until she spoke.
"I am not supposed to be here?" She asked, clutching her hands together.
He studied her. For his part, he did not know what to say. He was confused even though he knew what he was supposed to do. Doflamingo only gave him an option. Yet, there he was, hesitating.
Her presence disturbed him. He couldn't decide on anything. All he wanted to do right here and now was to flee. As soon as possible, along with her. He had the urge to do so. He didn't want either Baby 5 or Buffalo to see her there… no, he didn't want any soul to see her there. He had decided then.
Shaking of the remaining of blood from his sword, he slipped it back into its scabbard. Quickly he walked towards her, snatching her wrist and pulling her carelessly as he dashed down the road.
He didn't have to predict what would happen if Baby 5 and Buffalo saw her. He was certain, those two pricks would rat on Doflamingo. And of course, there was no telling when would Doflamingo put her name on the list. As of now, he didn't want to see that happening. Grabbing her wrist a little tighter, he quickened his pace.
She had to practically trot to keep up with his long strides until they had reached the bridge then he slowed down and letting her wrist go. She waited but he didn't say anything, instead he walked steadily. She followed quietly, rubbing her wrist with her thumb.
He felt her following but did not look back. His mind was still wandering, trying to find a reason behind his own reckless action. What he just did, was something he had never done. He didn't understand himself. His body just reacted on his own. He heaved out a sigh.
Maybe he just had to make up an excuse of his sudden disappearance.
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She dabbed the damp towel on her face, cleaning off the remaining blood. The iron smell of the blood still faintly lingered in her nose. She sighed lowly, turning her head to look at him. He was sitting on the step, head hung low, yet she could see his eyes were closing. Once again she wiped her face with the wet towel.
/"Romantic!" A voice piped in.
Nami gasped and tilted her head up just to be greeted with an amused smirk of Diamante. She felt her face warm up, ashamed that he caught them in that position. She was about to get up when she felt a hand gently pulled her back and then Law was already on his feet, standing in front of Diamante.
She slowly stood up, brushing off the petals from her cloth as she watched the two sauntered away from her. Although she couldn't hear them talking, she somewhat knew what they were talking about. She didn't want to guess, realizing it was something she shouldn't know.. Her brows furrowed, thinking about the uncertain possibilities. Spending their time together very often made her forget about who Law really was. Some time later, she saw him walking towards her.
"Go ahead. I'll be back in the afternoon." He said as he stood in front of her.
She looked past him and saw Diamante smirked at her before returning her gaze to Law and nodded reluctantly. She wanted to say something but the words died in her throat as she watched him turn on his heel./
She sighed again. Whatever it was, she knew everything had something to do with Diamante who had come the morning before. Slowly she turned her head and stole a glance at him. His eyes still shut close but his grip on his sword still firm, indicating he was still awake.
The sound of her dipping her hands in the water alerting him her presence. It made him think again, why was she there? More like, how could she be there? Was it just a coincidence? Or, was she the following him? But then why would she? She wasn't a spy.
Spy?!
His eyes shot open and narrowed at the possibility. A spy? Then he craned his neck slightly to steal a glance at her. She was wringing the small towel and hung it on the sill before pouring the remaining water onto the drain-board floor. From the way it looked, didn't seem like she was one. His inner thought denying. He was with her almost all of the time and she had never spoken with anyone… suspicious… Not sure if she did it unnoticeably.
Even if she were, then who sent her? Which faction she belonged to? What was her purpose? He questioned his inner self.
Thinking back, he knew nothing about her. Not a bit, he never asked. His thumb sliding up and down the hilt of his sword mindlessly. His eyes following her, watching her every move. How much had she known about him more than he knew about her?
"You are not changing?"
Her voice brought him to the present and he saw her standing in front of him. He wasn't sure how long had he been staring at her that she was now staring at him in confusion.
He stood up, lifting his sword off the ground. With a sigh, he walked towards the door. He stopped for a while as his hand rested on the door. He probably shouldn't think much about it.
"What you'd seen just now…"
"I won't tell anyone." She cut him off, as if she already knew what he wanted to tell her.
He spun around, a look of stunned on his face.
"I won't tell anyone," she repeated. "It's not like it's something I can talk about."
He nodded slightly and slid the door open. A relief etched on his face as he stepped out of the house. Maybe, he was just thinking too much. She was still the same woman he had known, the woman that he had learnt to trust ever since. She wasn't anyone he should be suspicious of. At least, he convinced himself.
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She lay on her back, staring at the ceiling. Every time she closed her eyes, she still could see the image of the bodies splitting apart playing like a movie. It was sickening. The expression left on his face told her the pain and fear he experienced before death. If it wasn't him, she probably would be the one lying on her puddle of blood, with the same expression on her face. She sighed and pulled the blanket up to her chest.
She craned her neck to look at him. His shoulder rose and fell in a steady rhythm she thought he had already fallen asleep. She looked up the ceiling again and let out another soft sigh.
"Can't sleep?"
She turned her head just to see he was still lying on his side, with his back facing her.
"You still can't sleep?" He asked again.
"I…" She uttered, unsure what to say. Her hands clutched onto the blanket.
"Can't get it out of your head?"
Understood what he referred to, she replied with a sigh. There was another silence. Her eyes staring mindlessly at the ceiling before craning her neck to look at him again.
"What about you? You can't sleep too?" she asked curious.
"Was about to." The reply wasn't coming immediately. "But you keep making some noises."
"Uh… sorry." She said as she turned her head away. Staring blankly at the wall, her mind began to think about the person next to her. He was a killer, she knew, but didn't feel like she was living with one. He was dangerous, she had been warned, but she wasn't scared of him. If anything, she thought he was her savior.
Whether he knew or not, his presence was a comfort. She felt safe around him. She was just happy being with him though she wasn't sure if he felt the same way. He might be an assassin, but he was still a human. A nice man too. Now it made her wonder, just what kind of past he had been through that made him the person he was now?
"Law…" she called out softly, her sight still fixed on the wall. There was a long pause as she contemplating whether she should go on asking or not. But then, assuming he would not tell her, she decided not to. "Sorry… just forget it."
She could hear the swift of the fabric as he shifted. She turned her head to the attention, just to find he was looking at her. For long his gaze fixed on her but he didn't say anything. It made her slightly uncomfortable.
"Wh-what?" She asked nervously, pulling the blanket higher to her chin.
"I want to sleep." With that he closed his eyes.
That left her speechless. She stared at the calm feature in front of him and wondered what the look was for.
"It's hard to move freely when there are eyes keeping on us." Doflamingo complaining. "The police ambushed the secret meeting. They got Bellamy." He added, rubbing his temple.
"At least, it wasn't you." Diamante smirked.
"Are you going to retrieve Bellamy?" Gladius asked.
Doflamingo shook his head and smirked, "Vergo can take care of him. As long as he kept his mouth shut, he'll be fine." And then his eyes directed to Law who was sitting silently. "By the way Law!"
He felt uneasy when Doflamingo called his name. He lifted his gaze, noticing the sly smirk etched on his face.
"Buffalo said you disappeared last night. Something up?"
Still keeping his gaze on him, he had expected that Doflamingo would bring that up. He had already came up with few shitty excuses if he asked further. Maintaining his composure, he replied casually, "Nothing. I went home as soon as I finished."
Doflamingo leaned back and folded his arms together, "Went home? Really?"
Law wasn't sure what Doflamingo was thinking but he knew his excuse wasn't convincing enough. Or probably, he did not believe at all.
"Ah, never mind. As long as you have done." Doflamingo assured, "Well done!"
Law twitched slightly at the weird response. He didn't expect that well done coming from him. As if he never did something so well. He felt like that man knew something he didn't. Was he doing it on purpose to catch him off guard? But he didn't want to question either. Better left it that way. Saving him from saying some unnecessary stuff.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
She had thought she bought enough ingredients for lunch and decided to go back. Law did tell her to go straight home if she had done everything.
She walked past the narrow alley. Eyeing the zero evidence of what was happening last night. If she had not known, the road just felt the same. She looked up at the sky noticing the dark cloud overhead indicating that it would be raining in any time. She should hurry.
As soon as she slid open the door, few drops of cold rain hit her neck and then it coming down faster. She shut close the door, and made her way to the irori. Peeping through the window, didn't seem the rain will stop anytime. Wondering if Law could make it home before lunch.
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Law was staring at the wet ground. Didn't expect it would rain and now he stuck in the small restaurant with an annoying old man, Diamante who never stopped talking ever since they left the mansion.
"So, that's just it. That lady probably regrets letting me go." Diamante ended his story. Eyes looking around the passersby running to nearest shelters.
Talking about women in general, suddenly it brought Nami to his attention. Diamante was keeping his eyes on her while he was gone. He must have known or seen something he didn't.
"Tell me about Nami." Law demanded, all of sudden.
"Huh?" Diamante frowned. There was a silence before he asked again, "Why me? What do I know about her? Ain't you living with her?"
"You watched over her while I was away, don't you?"
"Oh!" Diamante smirked getting an idea, "Why? Finding something interesting about her?"
"Just tell me."
"Where shall I start?" Diamante was thinking as if recalling the memory. After a long pause, he smirked, "That... she was robbed?" He told, gauging reaction from him.
Law snapped his head at him and frowned, "Robbed?"
"Or molested?"
Another shock stricken on Law's face.
Diamante raised his brows, finding his reaction amusing, "Why? She didn't tell you?"
Law was still looking at Diamante in confusion.
"Come on! You guys are living together yet…" Diamante turned to Law and gaped at his reaction, "She really didn't say anything about that?"
Law shook his head.
"Not even a bit?"
Law shook his head again.
Diamante shrugged, "Got your hands on a secretive lady huh?" He commented. "I guess she just had terrible luck when you aren't around."
"You saw everything?"
Diamante heaved out a sigh, "I was keeping my eyes on her. Remember?"
"What happened?"
"Just some naughty thugs ganging up on her, robbed her of all her money."
She really had been? Law frowned. "How did she get away with it?" He asked in wonder. "You… helped her?"
Diamanted turned and frown at him, "No! No at all. Why should I?" He denied, "I wouldn't want risking my self expose to her. She would surely know someone is keeping an eye on her if I were to help and save her."
After a pause, he added, "Well, I will, if situations get out of her hand. Guess, she has her own way to settle things up."
Law threw his gaze to the soaking road. He was speechless he had to hear this from someone else, not from her. He couldn't picture the hardness of the situation she had to deal with, the fear she had to endure all alone. How could he neglect her all those times? Or that he never took notice any of it? Guilt burnt in his heart thinking of all the pain that she must have felt.
The rain was still pouring heavily. There was no hint it would stop soon.
"I swear if the rain doesn't stop, I'll just run and head to fisherman town." Diamante suddenly mumbled again and straightened up, "You coming along?" he turned to Law.
Law shook his head. "I'll just head home."
"Home?" Diamante repeated in amusement and sprinted off.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
For a longest time, he felt he had been standing and staring blankly at the rain. He could feel the biting cold cutting into his exposed skin making him shiver slightly. He tucked himself even tighter.
"Figured you'd be here."
A voice snapped him out of his reverie. Turning his head, he saw Nami standing next to him. Droplets fell from the rim of her umbrella like curtain of tears, mud splattered the hem of her kimono.
Staring at her reminded him of Diamante's story. Why would she still care about him when he had done nothing in return. Then he stated, "You don't have to do that."
"It's almost lunch." She replied, wiping the dampness of her face with her sleeve. "You barely ate anything during breakfast."
He recalled that morning they were just eating cold left-over rice without side dish. He straightened up, "I thought of waiting until the rain stops."
"It probably lasts the day."
"You can tell?" He looked up the sky. "How did you know?" He turned to her, asking in wonder.
"The birds." She replied, nudging one oiled-paper umbrella to him.
He looked up at the couple of birds that flew in the air. Wondering what she meant by that but he had gotten no clue. He then took the umbrella from her.
"Let's go home." She flashed him a smile before turning away.
He glanced up the sky one last time before opening his umbrella and followed after her.
"How long are you going to let him stay with the girl?"
Instead of answering, Doflamingo only let out a giggle. As they reached the main room, Doflamingo slid the door open, allowing Vergo to enter the room.
"How long you asked?" Doflamingo shut the door close and then turned to Vergo who was settling himself on the zabuton. "As long as he wants." He added as he settled himself across Vergo.
Vergo stared at Doflamingo suspiciously. "Aren't you taking things for granted?"
"The longer the better." Doflamingo broke in with another laugh.
"You are incurable." Vergo muttered and smirked.
"I bring you drinks." Baby 5's voice, from the other side of the door broke the short silence.
"Come in." Doflamingo replied.
At once, the door opened and Baby 5 was kneeling with a tray of flasks next to her. She then picked up the tray, carried it near to the small table, put the tray down before retreating and closed the door completely.
"I thought you never care about Law." Doflamingo pointed out.
"I don't." Vergo poured the sake into his cup and pushed it to Doflamingo, "What he does is."
"You are strict as always." Doflamingo brought the cup to his lips. "Just let him loosen up a little bit, will you?"
Vergo looked up at Doflamingo, "Loosen up? With all those loosen up things that happened before your eyes… you still want to let him do as he pleases? Until when? Until he soften up? Until he turns the table on you?" He asked rather impatiently.
"Chill! Law knows what to do and he hasn't caused any harm yet." Doflamingo assured. "And he never will ."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I know it." Doflamingo chuckled, "Law isn't going to be so pleased when he realized what he had done to her." He heaved out a sigh, "Law and Nami… what a twisted fate."
"You are ruining him." Vergo commented as he eyed him suspiciously.
"I don't think so." Then, Doflamingo laughed.
"Put that aside, I want you to tell him to stop the act together." Vergo stated. "Pretending to be a married couple? It's disturbing."
"Come on now, you don't object the idea before, why now?" Doflamingo asked.
"It's not necessary anymore. Her task ended here, and so her life."
After a few cups of drinks and little conversation, Doflamingo pulled out his pocket watch and stared at it for a brief second.
"They all should be here by now." He muttered.
Second passed by, and the door to the room slid open. Starting from Diamante followed by Trebol and then the rest of the Doflamingo's members entered the house, lining up at the middle of the room.
"Now they all are here." Vergo remarked as he adjusted his seat, facing the rest of the members.
"Listen up!" He announced, getting their attention, "There's been a great deal of assassins lately… I know you are all aware about it. Though, at this point, we still haven't got any clue about them yet, which faction are they belonged to, what is their purpose and where they are coming from."
The whole room was quiet, listening as Vergo filled in them with the information.
"They have killed so much. But what concerns me is that, they don't kill random people. They know exactly who to kill. Have set their target from the very beginning... So to speak, they've killed people belonged to a certain faction."
" Just nights ago, they targeted the two administrators belonged to Cobra's faction. There's a few information about them so far and I can't tell more than that." Vergo said.
There was a silence, then they talked amongst themselves.
"These people…" Doflamingo spoke, unamused tone in his voice, causing the people in the room shifting their attention to him, "They sound like, they are trying to wipe out other factions and become the ruler of the town."
"Indeed." Vergo glanced at Doflamingo.
"Oh? Is that so. Then, it is safe to assume, we are being targeted to?"
"It's a safe bet."
"I like the way you think." Doflamingo praised.
"I've been with you for so long." Vergo shrugged proudly. "We don't want to lose our good men, do we?"
Doflamingo smirked, "What is your suggestion then?"
"Stick together. From the way it looked, they have the tendency to attack when their target is alone, unguarded." Vergo said as he glanced at the few men in the room.
"So, they work together to kill." Diamante concluded.
"The result of the autopsy shows signs at least the cuts formed from more than two different swords. Most likely were done by highly skilled swordsmen."
"It's going to be a hard deal." Diamante said. "Especially when we have no clue about them. Not even a bit."
"Indeed. At least, at the moment, Smoker has his attention in this case. But that doesn't mean he gave up on Joker. While, I do further investigation about this matter too, try to work as discreet as possible. We don't want another unwanted attention."
"Again…" Diamante whined.
"That is why, Law! Buffalo!" Vergo called out causing the two men lifted up their heads. "I'll have to ask you to move out from your house."
"Got it!" Only Buffalo replied. "I hate the smell of the sea." He added disgustingly.
For a while, Law only stared at Vergo without saying anything and then lowering his gaze to the floor. If he had to, then that meant, he had to leave her behind too. Somehow, the thought alone made him uneasy.
"Got something to say Law?" Vergo asked.
"No." He replied in a low, uncertain voice.
"Do you understand?"
He paused for a moment before answering. "Yes."
"Good."
Doflamingo only smirked in amusement. Noticing the change of face the younger male before him made when Vergo ordered him to move out. He chuckled lowly and broke in, "You have something on your mind Law? Speak it up."
Law lifted up his head and eyeing Doflamingo suspiciously.
"It's all written on your face. Is it about your little miss?" Doflamingo added before Law could say anything. "Because I too, have something to say concerning her."
All eyes landed on Doflamingo and then Law.
"…"
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Nami wiped the bead of sweats on her forehead with her sleeve and looked up the sky. It was almost dark and she decided to stop. Carrying the last pile of water into the house, she closed the door. He might be late, but she knew, he would return eventually.
She lit up the lanterns and headed to the kitchen area to prepare dinner.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
All of the members exited the main room leaving Doflamingo, Vergo, Gladius and Diamante inside.
"I thought you agreed to my suggestion." Vergo commented.
"I've changed my mind." Doflamingo replied shortly. "Let him learn in a painful way so that he'll understand. He still needs me to teach him a lesson."
"You don't give him a choice in that matter Doffy." Diamante giggled lightly.
"He has no choice to begin with." Doflamingo replied. "And he should know that too."
"So now you have them under your string." Vergo said. "What will you do?"
"They have been the very moment he met her. I just need to pull the right string, and it will all play accordingly."
Diamante let out a small chuckle. "Sure it is. It's going to be a good drama."
Vergo heaved out an annoying sigh, "You should stop before things getting out of your hands."
"Listen Vergo, I told you already, none of them will be pleased when they found out about the truth of their intertwine fate." Doflamingo affirmed. "Just wait a bit longer… a little bit longer. You'll have a good laugh in the end."
Vergo only sighed. Devastated. Somehow, he felt something will not turn out right.
Gladius had been listening from the very beginning without interrupting. The meaningful conversation among the three piqued his interest. He might had no idea right now, but from what he understood, Law and Nami were bound with a fate they didn't even realize. Then he probably just had to sit and watch until the end.
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He had been keeping silence and lost in thought ever since he arrived. His elbows were propped on his knees, fingers threaded together as he sat on the step. His eyes were closing with a deep frown between his brows. Pondering about what Doflamingo had said earlier.
As he was so lost in thought, he felt something soft caressing his glabella and he shot opened his eyes. He looked up at her and saw her pulling back. He touched his forehead, the soft touch of her fingers still lingered between his brows, "What?" he managed to utter.
"You don't even realize I'm standing here." She pointed out, "Is something matter?"
He opened his mouth to answer but closed it back. He shook his head instead.
She sighed, knowing he was lying. "Aren't you tired keeping your brows scrunching up like that?"
Without waiting for his answer, she climbed on the step. "The dinner is ready. Let's eat before it gets cold."
Turning half of his body towards her, he watched her carrying the meal to him. This woman, that he kept by his side all this time, he had brought her into the mess before he even knew it.
A pang of guilt hit him in the chest knowing she knew nothing about the misfortune he was about to bring her. If only he had let her go long before, he probably didn't have to deal with this unsettling matter.
No.
He had mistaken. He didn't have that choice to begin with. He should have known. He was being too carefree to realize the day would come where he had to choose between her and his obligation.
And now he was stuck. Whatever choice Doflamingo made him choose, none of it favored him but showing all his weakness to Doflamingo and the rest of the family. Doflamingo probably had seen it in him and used it against him to remind him about his place.
"You can't think with your stomach empty." Her voice pulled him to the present. She was holding out a bowl of rice to him. "Eat up."
He stared at the bowl in her hand. Reflecting just what kind of person is he? He had been neglecting her for so many times he hadn't counted. He had left her unprotected and vulnerable to the dangers around him without noticing the pain she had to endure all alone. He didn't deserve her kind treatment.
Yet, there she was, still waiting patiently for him. Without knowing anything. Still treating him with the kindness she had shown even before they knew each other. She didn't deserve to live like this. But about her life, he couldn't do anything anymore.
Because that's why, in return to all of that, he had decided, he would protect her from the ugliness of his fate. He didn't know any other way.
He took the bowl from her hand and slowly set it back on the floor then he looked at her. There was a confusion on her face as she looked back at him.
"Listen." He uttered and then sighed. He was bad at explaining and ended up with just a simple statement while leaving the most important part untold, "We'll move out."
She stilled at the suddenness, just looking at him as if she was trying to comprehend his words. Without asking again, she agreed.
He stunned at her respond. Wondering why she didn't ask but probably that was the best, he didn't know how to explain to her either. Then he lifted the bowl, reaching out for the chopsticks and began eating.
She sighed lowly, watching as he ate his meal before she attended to her own. She assumed it was what bugging him. Probably he found it hard to explain, judging the constrain on his face. Maybe it had something to do with the assassination of the administrators of the town nights ago, she guessed and voiced it out loud.
He lifted his head in surprise. He had to admit she was sharp, although it was just partly the reason. Nodded, he added, "They don't have reason to attack this place, but I don't want to think it's safe to stay either."
"Understood." She muttered softly. She believe his judgment that was why she didn't say anything afterwards. Slowly she swallowed her food. She didn't think she was safe either unless she was with him. She was just glad he didn't leave her alone this time.
A minor relief in his head when she didn't ask any further. As long as she understood, that's enough. While he's at it, he would make sure no one is going to hurt her anymore. Physically or emotionally. That he promised to himself.
As the morning fell into full swings, they started their journey. Half an hour later, they reached the town. The major town flaunted with a wide variety of business. The cries of natto, clam, vegetables, and streets vendors could be heard. They walked further ahead and stopped in front of the two-storey row houses. It looked as though it was an inn.
He turned to her, "From today onwards, we'll be staying here." Then he slid open the door, allowing them to enter.
They were greeted with a pair of older couple. And they seemed to be familiar with Law since they shouted his name excitedly.
The older woman, who introduced herself as Jora, led them to their room upstairs. After exchanging few talks with Law, she excused herself and leaving them alone.
Law slid opened the shoji door that led to their room.
"You'll sleep here." He pointed out as she stepped inside.
She looked around. It was bigger than her single house. She headed to another shoji door in that room that led to the balcony. She pushed it open and from where she was standing, she could see the town.
Law walked up to her, standing behind her as he looked outside, "I used to live here."
She turned to him. "This is your room then?"
"Yes."
She nodded. "Where are you going to sleep?" she asked out of curiosity.
Then he sat on the raise panel of the open shoji door, leaning against the frame and threw his gaze outside. His legs stretched out.
"There are plenty of empty rooms. I can sleep anywhere."
She sighed and sat next to his feet. Now she's in a new house, she wondered what to do, but didn't seem like she could do anything. All that around her was so foreign, except him. The thought of sleeping alone made her uneasy too. She would want him to stay in the same room, that if he didn't mind.
"I wouldn't mind if you sleep here too." She voiced out and turned her head to him, "This room is big enough for two of us."
He heard her. If she didn't mind, he wouldn't too, "If you said so."
Then there was silence. Respectively lost in their own thought.
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He was sitting in front of the shoji door, bathing in the evening sun as he staring into the distance. His mind pondering again. Did he make the right choice.
/"Because I too, have something to say concerning her."
He was speechless. Didn't like the tone Doflamingo was using. From the way it looked, it'd be best of he didn't say anything yet.
"What is it that you want to say?" He asked.
"Now it comes to this, don't you think she no longer serves any purpose?"
He fell silence and sensed the 'order' coming.
"Isn't it the time to shut her up for once."
Nailed it! Doflamingo was being too straight forward it sent chills down his spine.
There was a lengthy silence as his mind flooding with his own thoughts. If he could, he would send her off somewhere, far away from the town and let her live freely. A life that had nothing to do with him, or Doflamingo.
But the idea died just like that when he realized how powerless he was. He had forgotten that her life and his, were bound to Doflamingo. He couldn't do a thing at all. He should have known that. Maybe, it was a mistake that he met her.
Even if he had spared her alive, there was always unseen death coming after her. And now, he saw it coming. The thing that he couldn't do that night, he was forced to do it again. In the end, he could do nothing about the life that he tried to protect. What should he do?
Then he heard Doflamingo chuckled. He lifted his gaze to Doflamingo, noticing the smug grin on his face.
"Seems like you are not ready yet, aren't you?"
He heard another laugh coming from Diamante and Trebol. They were mocking him, he knew. Those two older men were just stupid and insensitive it annoyed him at some point.
"Then how about this, I let you choose. You, me and underground. That's the only place I allow her to go."
"Doffy!"
He heard Vergo snap but then went quiet when Doflamingo waved his hand. Doflamingo never had the intention to let her go at all.
"So, Law? What's your choice?"
He didn't like any of the option, to be honest, but he never had the choice anyway because whatever he chose, the end result would still be the same. /
She slid open the door with her other free hand and saw him sitting in front of the open shoji door, dozing off. His sword propped against his shoulder while his arm wrapped securely around the sword.
Seeing him sleeping somehow so attractive and charming. He looked calm and collected. Slowly she approached him, blanketing him with the scarf in her hand and stopped when she heard the clank of the sword. Her heart skipped a beat and she turned her head to him.
Law looked up and stared at her. His thumb pulled back as he straightened his posture.
"It's just you." He said with a frown.
"You'll catch a cold." She said softly as she pulled back and letting the material fell on his thigh.
He looked down at his feet, placing his sword on his lap.
"The wind-"
"You asked me once if I were ordered to kill you…" He cut her off.
"…" Indeed she once asked him about that. But that was a long time ago, and she thought he had forgotten about it. Her eyes studied him. His head still hung low. For a moment, there was a pause as though there was a moment of hesitation.
"I won't." His hand clutching the fabric in his hand.
Her eyes widened slightly, staring at him in surprise. Didn't expect the answer coming from him. Her gaze softened, a small smile crept on her lips.
"Only you, I won't!" He said softly.
She stood still, relishing the silence joy he had given her unconsciously. The evening felt a lot more comfortable than any other day. If only he knew how she felt at the moment.
Notes;
Genkan - entryway
I think, this could make two chapters. -_-'
P/S: I never fail in English. It was all just a drama. A drama. But the writer-block part is true.