Chapter 27
It seemed to Law that time had never flown so fast as it did now; however, with so many things happening, he barely even wondered about how quickly the weeks and months passed. Before he noticed, it had been a year since the events that had changed his life so much. In late January, Rosapelo and he went to the cemetery; it was the first death anniversary of Mrs Irma. The weather was different from the time when the hurricane had killed the boy's mother: it was still, and the sun was shining, with the temperature slightly over zero and snow lying only in the upper regions of the island. Rosapelo put some cold-resistant flowers on the tomb and in silence stared at the plate with his mother's name, and Law accompanied him.
Law knew that he could never reveal all feelings he was having now to the boy. He sill considered death to be the greatest misery and still wanted to fight it. He still felt sorry for Rosapelo and his loss... but looking at the black letters engraved in the pale stone, he couldn't be aware of the fact that, had Mrs Irma not died, his life wouldn't look like it did now. He wouldn't have experienced that happiness the boy had given him and that he never intended to renounce. He knew that such thoughts were low, but he couldn't help it. His remorse was a bit alleviated by realisation that he couldn't do anything about the past - and it wasn't him responsible for the woman's death - but it was a lousy comfort. Apparently, he were to remain an egoist for the rest of his life.
Glancing every now and then at the boy's profile, he was tormented by another question he wouldn't dare to ask and that didn't do him any credit: had he managed to fill the void and soothe Rosapelo's grief, just a little? He hoped so. It was common sense to believe that a parent's death couldn't be compensated for... but his heart remembered that new love could replace the lost one indeed. But did Trafalgar Law had it in himself what Rosinante had had? Could he become for Rosapelo what Cora-san had been for him? He wasn't sure if he could count on it.
Those issues gnawed at Law as the two of them went to the All Baratie afterwards, but he had no courage to put them in words. Rosapelo remained silent, but it was him who started the conversation over the meal, after all. "You know, Law-san... It's terrible to realise that someone died because of a... mistake that could have been avoided," he said in a cautious, emotionless voice, with his eyes fixed on the plate.
"What do you mean?" Law asked in the exactly same tone.
"We... my mom and I shouldn't have even been aboard that ship," Rosapelo replied, and Law agreed with him in his thought. "It was an accident, a mistake... that ended in a disaster," he added in a lower voice.
Law sat in silence, observing him closely. The boy had started the topic, so Law probably could take it. "Why did you board it, then?"
Rosapelo hunched, and Law thought that he shouldn't have asked that after all. Then, however, the boy grabbed the glass to drink some water, and there was no uncertainty to his movements. "We were going to the hospital because I had a broken arm. On my way home from school, wind suddenly pushed the door, and my arm got stuck between the frame," he said calmly.
Law felt his skin crawled at those words. The door being slammed by the hurricane could rip off one's hand. Besides... he knew that the boy was pretty resilient to pain, but something like that could make one lose consciousness, and Rosapelo was saying they'd been on their way to the hospital? He didn't comment, though, only listened to the story.
"Mom wanted to take me to the hospital, but someone told us that there was an accident in the hospital and the patient would be directed to Raftel, that there was a special ferry prepared. So we went to the harbour instead, and saw the ship that the patients were transported to. Only aboard, after we departed, my mom realised the mistake... but we couldn't go back..."
He paused. Absently, he put some food on his fork and then into his mouth. He ate in silence, as did Law, who frantically wondered how he should comment what he'd just heard, and if he should in the first place. On the one hand he was glad that the boy could finally talk about those tragic events... but on the other hand his reluctance to come into contact with psychological suffering acted up now. Or maybe it was his feeling of guilt for having thought that Mrs Irma's death didn't fill him only with sorrow...?
In the end, he didn't say anything, but it was then that Rosapelo resumed talking. "I can't remember much what happened later. Only that the ship tilted and started to gain water," he confessed quietly. "My mom, until the end, tried to assure me that everything would be all right, that we would be definitely rescued... She must have been very scared, but she just wanted to encourage me. And then... Next thing I remember was waking up here, in the hospital. I don't know what happened after the ship sank. I have no memory of it."
"Whatever occurred, your mom saved your life," Law said in a serious voice. "We can't do anything about what already happened... we can only take the best things from the past, remember them."
"I know, but..." Rosapelo lowered his head even more. "I can't get it out of my head, that everything was determined by some misunderstanding, some mistake..."
Law could understand him. The misfortune that could have been avoided was always the worst... But something else about the teenager's words drew his attention. "And I'm glad," he muttered and, when the boy looked at him with a frown, rushed to explain, "I'm glad that you blame the mistake, and not yourself, Pelo. I remember that last year... you thought it was you who should be blamed for your mom's death. I'm glad you no longer think that... it's very, very good."
Rosapelo fixed his eyes on the food again and said nothing. However, he nodded, which filled Law with relief. "I'm sure that you miss her a lot," he went on, receiving yet another nod. "And it would take much longer, many years, until her absence stops being so painful. But I'm-..." He paused. He wanted to say 'proud', but could he really? So he used the earlier phrase, as it seemed more natural, more sincere. "I'm glad that... last year, you decided to fight the despair... decided to live on. I think it was the better choice. And I'm sure that many good things will still happen to you," he said with emphasis.
Rosapelo glanced at him over his place. "But they already happened," he muttered so quietly that Law could barely hear him. However, there was no mistake about it, and his heart began to beat faster, especially that the boy kept talking, and now his voice was much clearer although still very soft. "It's thanks to you, Law-san... If not for you, I wouldn't be here."
Law's heart gathered even more speed. "You're no longer mad at me for having saved you?" he asked on the spur of the moment and felt his throat clench.
Rosapelo shook his head, looking down again. The next moment, however, he raised his head and pierced him with his intensely blue eyes that, in the dim light of the restaurant, seemed even more sharp than normally. "And you, Law-san? You don't regret it?" he asked almost provocatively, but then a remorse was reflected on his face and audible in his next words, "I mean... I give you so much trouble..."
"No," Law replied with calm that had suddenly fallen on him. "I don't regret, and you don't give me trouble. Quite the contrary, I'm so happy because of you that I wonder myself how it can be possible..." He shook his head. "In any case, I can't imagine any more that you weren't here, Pelo." It was truth that, put in less elegant words, sounded, 'If you weren't here, I would go mad'... Rosapelo, however, didn't need to know the exact size of his obsession.
The boy lowered his eyes again and resumed eating. "I would've never thought of it... that the greatest doctor in the world could be happy because of something like that..." he muttered and glanced at him again, and it seemed to Law that something flashed in his sight. "Or could it be that you keep me here only because I prove an interesting medical challenge... Law-san?" he asked, putting the fork aside.
Law bit his lips to refrain from smiling, but the warm sensation in his chest got only stronger. If Rosapelo could joke in this situation - after all, they had started this conversation in a serious mood resulting from the sad anniversary - it was the most wonderful thing in the world. "Of course," he replied in a similar tone. "I must keep the Ope Ope no Mi in shape, and you're the perfect person to this task."
The boy snorted, wiping the corners of his eyes at the same time. He pushed the empty plate away, drank water from the glass and wiped his mouth with a napkin. Law observed him without suppressing his smile anymore.
"You know, I wonder about it..." Rosapelo resumed talking, and his gaze turned absent, unfocused. "Why it was only your voice I could hear... that time when I almost went insane."
Law's pulse accelerated again. "And what conclusions did you reach?" he asked cautiously.
"None at all," the teenager replied with annoyance, shrugging, and Law tried not to be disappointed. "But I think that," the boy kept talking, which got Law hopes up again, "I remembered how you'd talked with me the first time we'd met. I had the impression that you treated me serious. That's how I remembered it. And other adults treated me like a little kid. Sure, I was only twelve, but..." He shook his head, playing with a crumpled napkin. "In any case, for some reason, I wanted to listen to you and not them," he stated firmly. "And when I was here again, when I learned about... my mom... they all were so good, wanted to comfort me, felt sorry for me... And I know they wished well, but... Law-san, you were the only one to say what you thought. Without overdoing anything. I guess that was what I wanted... even if I didn't realise it."
Law listened to it with conflicting emotions. "But... my words were cruel...?" he pointed out. "At least at the beginning... when..."
Rosapelo glanced at him before shaking his head energetically. "But they were genuine. You were being yourself. You didn't pretend."
"Well... yeah. I usually never conform and sometimes pull no punches," Law muttered. "Many people resent me for that."
"But to me it was important," the boy said. "Because of that, I wanted to listen to you. I felt your words mattered... that they weren't just empty phrases. That's why I could hear you when nothing else reached me anymore. I can't think of another explanation."
Law nodded slowly. "And I was sure that was because I'd scared you to death when I'd yelled at you and broke your arm, on top of it... Do you remember it?" Rosapelo nodded, looking at him closely. "It was terrible. I never stopped to reproach myself for that," Law confessed, running his hand through his hair. "It was the first time I mistreated a patient in my own hospital."
"Law-san... it stopped me," the boy said with emphasis. "And, after then, I at least didn't try to jump out of the window anymore," he added dryly.
"It's not funny, Pelo," Law said, frowning.
"I know, but I'm serious... You really saved me that time," Rosapelo assured, looking him straight in the eye. "So you don't need to feel guilty."
Law looked back at him, and they simply stared at each other in silence for a while. He felt like saying so many things - about guilt and forgiveness, about loss and happiness - but in the end, he only muttered, "Thanks."
And Rosapelo smiled briefly.
"What would you say to a dessert, gentlemen?" Sanji asked, appearing by their table and taking the emptied plates. "Today, I recommend ice cream sundae with chocolate, nuts and whipped cream, together with warming clove spiced tea. Moreover..."
January, for all bad events it reminded of, was also the month of Rosapelo's birthday. Law suspected that the boy would never be able to celebrate that day freely, with a memory of the greatest tragedy that had happened in his life coming only a week later. Still, he could hope that the clash of those two conflicting matters would result in the message that joy and sorrow belonged into life equally and that life and death intertwined. He probably couldn't count on anything else, but it would be enough, for he really didn't want that month to only made the boy feel depressed every year, just like November had done to Law.
This year January 19 fell on Sunday, and they spent it mostly in the New Piece amongst the various entertainments (and bumping into closer and more distant friends all the time, as it seemed that the majority of Raftel population, to say nothing of the foreign visitors, used to spend weekends in the greatest shopping and entertainment centre under the sun). A planetarium show, an exhibition of Grand Line minerals and another, on technology topics. A travel film in the cinema, a violin concert in the music hall and a swordsmanship show. And, to top that all, an unparalleled feast in the All Baratie. Law did his best to buy Rosapelo no present; after he put the diamond fibres in the boy's bones, Rosapelo had forced him to promise it was the only 'birthday gift'. The attractions didn't count, as Law had a free entrance to the New Piece for the rest of his life, and it was extended to his company as well. Of course, Law would buy Rosapelo anything the boy wanted, although he'd always believed that experience was more important than material goods. He was glad that Rosapelo apparently wasn't a materialist, either.
The procedure of reinforcing the bones with an uncommon method that hardly anyone could afford was performed in mid-January and without complications. Rosapelo's skeleton was impregnated with the fibres of the hardest natural material. The surgery itself was much easier from previous stimulation of the bone tissue, its main concept being inserting one thing into another. Of course, it required precision, but in fact it was a simple physical operation of 'cut-paste' sort. The boy endured the treatment without any complaint and even said, having waked up from narcosis, that he couldn't tell any difference. He was slightly disappointed that he couldn't see the fibres before the surgery, but it was a deliberate decision on Law's part; he didn't want to show to the boy the material worth hundreds of millions beli he deposited in his body, in order to avoid yet another spell of remorse due to such 'wasting' the money. As far as he was concerned, Law considered it to be the best investment.
One month later, it seemed he'd been right, for the fractures ended at once, despite Rosapelo having fallen thrice. It was too early to declare a victory and breath a sigh of relief, but optimism couldn't be quelled, for earlier such falls would always result in the bone being broken. Diamond was the hardest substance humanity knew, and it obliged to something.
In late February, when winter had ended - or, at least, nothing indicated it might be back - Rosapelo returned to his football trainings, and Law could tell how happy he was about it after several months of break. Whenever the boy talked about the school team, the matches and new moves, his eyes shone with enthusiasm and he wouldn't stop smiling. Oh, it made him so happy to do what he loved again, and that he could indulge in it without restraint, without fear that his next step might result in an injury. He would often say he'd fallen or had been fouled, but nothing had resulted from it: his bones were tough and could withstand the impact like never before. Law suspected that Rosapelo might play much more riskily now - basking in confidence he was protected from an injury, or simply making up for long months of football being banned for him - but he didn't see a reason to mention that. His son was reasonable enough to never cross a certain line, and that pleased him.
Maybe it was that realisation that helped him somehow endure one Sunday match that he went to watch incognito. His skin crawled upon seeing what those kids were doing on the field - and once he'd been one of the central figure in the Great Pirate War, too! - but he kept repeating to himself that nothing serious could happen there. As for the pleasant things, he learned - and it filled him with pride he did his best to hide - that his son was one of the three best players, and Luffy's Ace, for example, was no mach for him. Apart from the impressive motor coordination, Rosapelo had a great insight in the game and was the one to make practically all plays of his team. And even if Law would admit that even less eagerly, he was always happy to accept the proofs of his kid's intelligence.
"They made me a captain," Rosapelo announced upon returning from the match.
Law had managed to leave the school grounds unnoticed and was now sitting on the coach, drinking tea, reading a newspaper and generally making the impression of someone who hadn't moved from the spot in the past two hours. Tiger, curled in a ball next to him, certainly authenticated that vision.
"That should be like that," Law decided, giving him a thumb up. "Now we are a captain and a captain."
"Aboard the same ship?" the boy muttered.
"Well, sometimes it isn't that bad... I can tell you how it was when I happened to sail together with the Straw Hats..."
Spring was beautiful, and life continued without turbulences. Rosapelo was healthy and kept growing up. Sengoku-san recovered from the leg fracture and was considering visiting Raftel. Tiger performed night concerts and certainly contributed to the growth of the local cat population. The hospital didn't experience any greater catastrophes, and the new wing had been finished and taken into use. The number of staff increased, just as did the amount of work. (From time to time, Law had to remind himself that all that happened of his own volition, as, contrary to the situation from the last year, nowadays that fact didn't thrill him). The Pirate King's island once again miraculously avoided being destructed due to Shachi and Penguin's birthday party, and Law once more got into the Top 5 in the ranking 'the most eligible bachelor' made by the readers of the most popular women's magazine.
At first, Rosapelo only goggled him ('I had no idea you were so popular... You know, my mom didn't read such magazines...') only to later giggle every time he saw him and suggest that Law seized an opportunity. Later he became lost in thought and only observed him intently for a couple of days, driving Law to emotional distress. 'Should I get married...? Do you think our home lacks a woman's hand...?' Law asked in the end, which provoked a spell of hysterical laughter in Rosapelo but also put an end to that strange situation that had lasted a whole week. Law never managed to understand his kid's reaction, so maybe it was all about Rosapelo being fourteen already, and at that age boys became interested in other things beside football. Moreover, it was spring. All in all, he came to the conclusion that he should be prepared for the day his son would bring a girl home... He hoped it would be the only shock he would experience in relation to the boy's adolescence.
In March, however, the first time in several months, Law was called to the school. He teleported straight from the consultations, driving away an unpleasant thought that was it for the therapeutic success... But it was impossible that Rosapelo had got a fracture, not with those diamond fibres in his every bone...! What could have happened, then?
When he opened the door of the school medical office, he felt his skin crawl, as a teary moan reached him. It took him a second to recognise Rosapelo's voice. The boy must have been in terrible pain now; normally, he endured everything without any complaint. What had happened?! In a hurriedly pace and clenching his fists, Law entered the next room. His son was lying on the bed with his eyes shut tight. He was clearly trying to keep from screaming, but tears were rolling down his face as he was obviously crying from pain. The nurse was giving him an injection, probably an analgetic.
"ROOM."
Rosapelo opened his swollen eyes and looked at him through tears, but before he managed to say anything, Law put him to sleep and anaesthetised. The moans of the boy were like knives being stuck in his body, and he wanted to silence them. He walked to the bed that his kid was lying on inertly - and without pain - and wiped the tears from his face before looking into his organism.
Rosapelo had dislocated both shoulder and elbow, something that occurred in medicine next to never. It explained the boy's suffering, as luxation always caused greater pain than fracture, but what could explain the injury, itself?
"How did it happen?" he asked the nurse, having told her the diagnosis.
"He was hit in the corridor. Someone ran into him and knocked him over. He had to stretch his arm on reflex when falling... But two luxations?" she asked in astonishment. "How is that possible?"
Law clenched his teeth. He would like to know it himself. Of course, if the force of the impact was really huge, and the hand fully stretched, then something like that could happen. At least, he hadn't broken anything, Law thought, but for some reason that thought, instead of filling him with relief, made him grew anxious... No, he assumed too much. Dislocation would occur to any person in such a situation.
Using the Ope Ope no Mi, he set both joints and healed the injury to their capsules. He hoped that Rosapelo would feel no pain upon waking up. Then he took the boy home, extended the narcosis and went back to work. He left a packet of the analgetics on the bedside table, just in case, along with a glass of water and a note to order the dinner from the restaurant.
When he came back at seven, Rosapelo was awake and busy in the kitchen. He said he wasn't in pain and told his version of things that corresponded to what Law had heard from the nurse. "It's good it was just a luxation," he declared with a pale smile, putting the delivered dinner on the plates. "But it seems I'm not going to break my bones anymore, so that diamond works fine."
Law said nothing. Put together with the terrible pain Rosapelo had experienced, the phrase 'just a luxation' seemed a serious misunderstanding. Never before had Law seen him suffer so much, and he hoped he would never see again.
Nevertheless, it took a longer while before a bad feeling diminished.
In April, a year passed since they'd started to live together. It had passed very quickly, although, at the same time, Law was under the impression that he'd experienced much more during those twelve months than he'd had during twelve years preceding them. Most of those experiences were good, although sad moments had happened, too, but they seemed only an exception proving the rule and weren't difficult to bear and soon forget about. Being with another person made him stronger and resilient, was a good thing in and of itself, and besides... After the tumultuous beginning, everything about their relationship had been easy, so there was no reason to complain. Law knew he wouldn't trade away a single day he'd spent with Rosapelo.
When the flowers bloomed in their garden again, he realised they both had got used to their life together. It wasn't even about sharing the days as a family, more about believing it would last, not end anytime soon. Law guessed he'd been as uncertain as the boy, at the beginning... But a whole year had passed, and they were still here, undisturbed by any major trouble. Rosapelo attended school, played football and grew up, and nothing ailed him. Law went to work, treated the patients and managed the hospital, and in the evening he returned home to eat a dinner together with his son. There was no disasters and no wars, but there were stability and security, helping him believe that he would be able to keep his happiness this time. And yet it still happened that he would sometimes go into the boy's room in the night to have a look at his sleeping face and listen to his even breath, to make sure he was all right... and was still there.
His attachment to Rosapelo grew stronger with every passing day, although Law had no idea how it was even possible. He admired him as a whole, and obsessively. His sight made him happy, and his way of being made him proud. The discussions they had were a pleasure, as were their all moments together. Even if they sometimes expressed different opinions, they hardly ever quarrelled. Maybe they both considered it to be a waste of time, and no matter was so important as to spoil the good mood cause by nice the company. And whenever Rosapelo joked and laughed, Law had the impression he was the happiest man under the sun... and, by some miracle, had managed to achieve something good outside the field of medicine.
Over the winter, Rosapelo had grown up some more centimetres and could now reach as high as Law's shoulder. He kept his hair a bit too long, with fringe falling on his eyes. His voice started to change and occasionally happened to break. His face was still round, but he'd developed a great deal on a psychological level. The traits of his character were even more visible now: decisiveness, but also prudence, patience and persistence, sense of justice and uprightness. He was sensible and trusted his own assessment. He stuck to his decisions and consequently realised his plans, also those long-term ones. He helped others and returned favours. If needed, he could work hard; at school, he did greatly in some subjects and at least passably in others. All in all, he perfectly fitted into the type of person that Law would love to deal with... although it was possible, too, that Law would love him as much even if Rosapelo had been a terrible rascal.
How he wished for the boy to be healthy and free of any complaints...! Aside from the fact Rosapelo's suffering made him suffer, too, he just wanted a happy life for his kid, devoid of serious worries. He very much hoped that the newest treatment method would be a success and put the end to the fractures.
In late April, however, Rosapelo returned home from a Sunday training, holding his right arm. He was very pale, with his lips pressed tight and tears in his eyes. Law bolted from the couch and caught him before the boy, having entered the flat, fell on the floor.
"I'm all right..." he tried to protest, sniffing.
"Right, you're only close to fainting of pain," Law grunted, activating the Ope Ope no Mi. "You've got a shoulder dislocation again. Why didn't you let me know?"
"It happened on my way back, not so far... so I thought I could walk as much," Rosapelo said in a weak voice.
"If you were so close, you could've shouted. I'd hear you... You know, Pelo, sometimes I wish you weren't so heroic," Law replied with disapproval. "Now you'll get some sleep," he announced and put the boy in the narcosis to cure the injury.
Later, as they were eating the dinner, he noticed Rosapelo was down. The boy was sitting in silence with his eyes fixed on the plate. He only pecked at the food delivered from the All Baratie: Roger Bay.
"Pelo...? Are you all right? Do you feen any pain?"
Rosapelo shook his head. He kept it so low that his fringe almost got into his dinner. "I cause you trouble again," he said quietly.
"Stop it. You cause no trouble," Law replied immediately.
"Why is it happening? I thought everything would be fine now. Fractures ended... why did I start getting luxations now? It's not... fair," Rosapelo said in a breaking voice. "I don't want to be your patient for the rest of my life..."
Law put the fork down. It clattered on the plate, and Rosapelo twitched, looking up at him and straightening up in the chair. "Law-san, I mean... I didn't want it to sound that way. You're the best doctor in the world, everyone would want to be your patient..." He tried to smile but failed miserably. "I cause you trouble," he repeated his earlier words as if he hadn't heard Law's answer.
"Pelo, if I'm going be your doctor for the rest of your life, it would be the best option," Law replied calmly. "Please, don't worry about it."
"You know it's now what I mean," the boy said with annoyance.
"I know," Law admitted. "I feel bad, too... like always when you get hurt."
"I just want to be... healthy...!" Rosapelo uttered, putting one elbow on the table and resting his forehead on his hand. "But it feels like it's never going to happen..."
Law's heart clenched with compassion, but at the same time he felt angry, like every time his kid suffered. He thought he would probably never get rid of the tendency to feel guilty about things that were up to him...
"Of course it will happen," he said with confidence he didn't really feel. "It's only that you're still growing, and that makes you vulnerable to injuries. And luxations... they happen to everyone, especially young, active people," he added, although he was under the impression he was trying to convince himself in the first place.
"I never had them before."
"Well, before those accidents would always end in fractures," Law said and smiled briefly.
"Is it because my bones can no longer be broken?" Rosapelo asked in a quiet voice, still hiding his face. "And the impact causes dislocation?"
Law didn't say anything. He felt terrible, realising his child was clever enough to deduce that way - reach the very same conclusions and formulate the very same frightening theories he did - although, at the same time, he was happy about Rosapelo's intellect and his ability of logical thinking. The boy was fourteen and slowly stopped being a kid that would swallow everything his seniors fed to him, without thinking.
Yet, Law had to reassure him, not stir his anxiety. "I think it's too early to claim such things," he said in a cautious voice, but Rosapelo shuddered at that answer, so he'd probably expected or hoped he would hear a denial. Law suppressed a sigh and only repeated his earlier words, "Luxations happen."
The boy nodded and muttered, "I'm sorry," then got up and took his plate with barely touched meal back to the kitchen.
"There's no reason to apologise," Law said, following him with his eyes. 'It is I who should apologise, as I still, still can't help you... cure you once and for all,' he thought and pressed his lips in a thin line. 'I hope you will never hate me for that, Pelo...'
The next two months went without any injuries, and Rosapelo regained his cheerfulness. Even if he felt anxious, he didn't show it. He bustled around the house like before, attended trainings - now rare as the end of the school year approached and he had to focus on lessons, as did his team - and talked with Law normally. He smiled all the way to his eyes, often shining with enthusiasm. Beyond doubt, he was okay, and Law desperately wished it to continue, although his reason laughed at him for such hope.
Spring was warm and beautiful, and summer started in May, actually. Sengoku-san hadn't visited Raftel, after all; he'd won a trip to the South Blue in the contest held by the manufacturer of his favourite rice crackers, but he promised to arrive the next autumn. A global tabloid ran a story about how Rosapelo was, in fact, Trafalgar Law's illegitimate son, not an incidentally met orphan. Those revelations were backed by interviews with several women who described the greatest doctor in the world as a playboy who, in his younger years, had been a smooth operator. 'A sailor has a wife in every port,' was repeated quite many times in those articles, often adding, 'and a kid, too.' The journalist claimed he'd reach several people who 'in all likelihood were the descendants of the Surgeon of Death and intended to enforce their rights'... the subject, however, died down at once when the competitor printed out Law's letter that could be abstracted to: 'Alleged descendants are invited to Raftel to undergo the genetic tests that will resolve any doubts about kinship.' No need to mention that no candidate to the surname of Trafalgar didn't show.
In the last week of June, Rosapelo's school organised a trip to Wulbel, one of the Four Islands, where Nico Robin had discovered the ancient ruins that had been preserved better than anywhere else. Over the time, the archaeological dig had begun to provide other materials as well, which had acted as an excuse to open a natural history museum. Of all five islands, Wulbel had the most gentle scenery, consisting mostly of vast grasslands and hills, instead of mountains like on Raftel or Vokzel, or a stratovolcano like on Tihxel. The plan of the trip included visiting the museum and ruins, and - which probably excited the kids the most - an entrance to a prehistoric park, situated close to the beach. Rosapelo, interested with the world in general, didn't want to miss the occasion of seeing another island, so Law, of course, let him go. He only warned him - ten times, probably - against climbing the high places or any other that he might fall from, and the boy promised earnestly he wouldn't. 'I'm not a little kid; I'm not excited by rubber dinosaurs.' he added with dignity, and Law had that unpleasant feeling of a bittersweet realisation, 'My kid stopped being a kid.'
After breakfast, Rosapelo made for school, where the students were to gather, filled with enthusiasm, and Law returned to the hospital. Weather was splendid, with no clouds, and it seemed that the day would be hot, just like the previous one. Until the day before, it had been raining, but one hot and sunny day had sent most of the moisture back up in the atmosphere. In his thought, Law reviewed the potential harms that Rosapelo could suffer and, his imagination being vivid, the list was long and included, among others: tripping over a stone or his own legs, slipping on the mud, puddle in the grass or hail (a hailstorm could happen), falling off from the cliff or a dinosaur (despite declarations) and, of course, being pushed by the classmates and hitting the wall or any other barrier. Then, all those thoughts made him quite ill, and he forced himself to focus on work; however, with every passing moment, he felt even worse and, in the lunch time, he knew that having given Rosapelo his consent was the worst decision he'd ever made and a proof of stupidity he'd never suspected himself of (at least, since the day he'd thought of forming an alliance with Straw Hat Luffy). It took all his strength to fight the urge to jump in a submarine and go to Wulbel. In the canteen, he almost got sick and, in the end, he returned to his office, accompanied by the thought of shamblesing all food into the ocean.
He sat by his desk, clenching his fists so hard his knuckles ached and trying to stave off a panic attack. 'His bones were reinforced, after all,' he kept repeating like a mantra. 'He can't get any fracture. And luxation... well, it won't kill him.' Of course, the thought of Rosapelo suffering - somewhere far from here... well, at least, beyond the reach of the Ope Ope no Mi - made his heart do terrible stunts in his chest. Rosapelo had already suffered too much, more it could be accepted... and yet Law may have exposed him to pain again. Beyond all doubt, he was the worst parent in the world, and now he could feel only disgusted with himself. He should have forbidden him to go, should have promised they would go there together. Oh, why hadn't they visited Wulbel so far? Why had they always stayed on Raftel, instead of letting the boy see something of the world, when under the watch of the best doctor? Law would've had an excuse the refuse his permission...! 'You're a git and an idiot, Trafalgar Law,' he told himself and felt like banging his head on the desk.
"Hey... Everything's okay?" a familiar voice came from the doorway. Law looked in that direction and saw Bepo with one paw on the frame. Now he remembered he had heard a knocking, indeed. "If it were someone else, I'd think you're suffering from a stomach upset," the mink said. "What happened? Why are you looking like someone before an execution?"
"Rosapelo... I let him go on a school trip to Wulbel," Law replied in a dull whisper, feeling his facial expression had already turned into a mask of fright.
"Oh?"
Law knitted his brows. "What 'oh'...?" he asked with annoyance.
"I think it's a good thing you let him go...?" Bepo suggested politely. "He's big enough already; he doesn't need you to hold his hand all the time."
Law frowned even more. "You don't understand? He may hurt himself. That kid is like a glass figurine. One push, and he'll fall to pieces..." He stopped. Again, he felt he would fall to pieces any moment, himself...
"Even after that special treatment of yours you wouldn't tell anyone about?" Bepo asked.
Law rested his head on his hands. "Even after it. I mean... He stopped breaking his bones, but he started to get luxations instead..." he choked out.
"Well, no-one dies of luxations," the head of the emergency department stated, coming closer. "And if you reinforced his bones, he shouldn't break them. Of course, like every kid, he's at risk of getting hurt... but why prophesise them...?"
"To be prepared...?" Law said in undertone.
"You're going to ruin your health," Bepo muttered, resting against the desk.
Law groaned and ruffled his hair... but then he realised that the presence of his friend could calm his nerves just a little. "I bet you're thinking I'm some paranoid father...?" he muttered after a moment, looking up at him, distractedly... and felt stupid the moment these words left his mouth.
"Well..." the mink replied diplomatically. "Let's say that your kid is a bit special, medicine-wise, so... hmm, you do have any right to feel more concerned than an average father. Besides, you've been a father for one year only... or slightly longer... so you can't compare to normal parents, who had got accustomed to all that looooong ago... to fear for their kids, I mean."
Law groaned again. " I shouldn't have let him go," he muttered in despair. "I think I'm going crazy..."
"Should I call Clione...?" Bepo asked in an innocent voice, and Law shuddered at the suggestion.
"Don't you dare. He's the last person I need now..."
"Then, I don't know. Maybe you should take a boat and go there," the mink offered. "Go and see that everything is fine. I can replace you during the consultation, I have no work now. Well, the audience will surely be disappointed, but I'll sacrifice myself for you, just this time. I can at least give some counsel to surgeons and orthopaedists."
Law looked at him again. "If I go once, then I'll always do it," he uttered, his eyes getting wider. "I shouldn't..."
"For such things, you really need Clione, not me," Bepo said somewhat impatiently. "Just make up your mind."
Before Law made his mind, however, a sudden sound of Den Den Mushi in the pocket of his white coat made him almost jump. The next moment, even before answering, he noticed a perfect calm descending on him - as if he'd waited for that. Listening to the communication, he felt like being submerged in nice, cold water that absorbed all movements. 'A message from Wulbel hospital... your son... an accident... they ask to arrange the transport...'
"I told you," he said to the mink in a voice completely devoid of emotion and then, without waiting for reply, he teleported to the harbour.
He contacted with the hospital on Wulbel, informed he was on his way and learned that Rosapelo had suffered multiple fractures, but his life wasn't in danger. The next half an hour - that long the journey to the neighbouring island took - he spent with his eyes fixed on the dark depth in front of him. Looking at him, no-one would guess that just a few minutes ago that man had been on the verge of panic or even past it. He was sitting in the cockpit in one position, straightened, holding the control firmly in his both hands. He knew his face was calm, expressionless, and his eyes were flashing yellow in the dim light of the submarine. Not a single muscle twitched in his body - except for those he used to pilot the boat, but those were quick, precise movements he performed and then froze into a statue again. His heart was beating fast, slightly faster than normally. He was breathing through his nose, but deeply, with the whole volume of his lungs. It was the state that threat triggered; long ago, he'd used to react to fighting this way, and in more recent years, to any crisis situation when he'd had to save someone's life.
Law was that type of person that the emergency got into the maximal concentration on what he should do - and calmed him. It was a wonderful sensation where everything simply vanished, save for the aim and actions to achieve it. His whole energy went to treating people; he couldn't use it to anything else. Now he'd already reached the physiological component of that state, although not psychological yet; his thought were still running their course, but they could no longer affect his body and behaviour. And when he got into the direct contact with what required him to act, his mind and his body would synchronise fully and operate as one.
Rosapelo had suffered multiple fractures? But his bones had been reinforced with the hardest material ever existing and couldn't be broken - that was what a layman would think. But Law knew that even that method hadn't guaranteed the boy life freed of constant injuries of skeleton. He'd hoped, had wanted to do something... but all in vain. Because Rosapelo was still growing, most of the diamond fibres had been inserted only in the shafts and not the epiphyses. Between a shaft and an epiphysis lied a cartilage producing the bone tissue, and the cartilages mustn't be damaged, for it would lead to the growth disturbance. Law had dared to risk the interference with the cartilage and inserted some fibres over the whole length of the bone - so that they'd gone through the cartilage - but as the bone had grown, they'd been naturally 'shortened' and could fill only the shaft that had constantly elongated.
Bones were usually being broken in the shaft, the thinnest and least dense part, anatomy-wise, so reinforcing the shafts had seemed a sensible option. That method, however, carried an obvious risk: if a shaft had been hardened beyond being broken, then the whole force of impact focused on the spot where the reinforced tissue contacted with the normal. At first, it'd caused only luxations, but Rosapelo had grown again several centimetres, so the fibres had 'slid' out of the epiphyses. Now, Law expected he would find his kid with multiple fractures of the epiphyses; it was the only option.
Realisation that his own actions had lead to Rosapelo suffering - while the primal commandment of every doctor was 'first, do no harm' - and guilt resulting from it, would normally drive him crazy, but now, as he had everything under control, he could analyse it calmly. He knew he'd used that method for there'd been no other. He'd known that better effects could be achieved if he'd waited until the boy stopped growing, but it might take even ten years. In ten years, many tragedies could happen, many accidents, including the worst eventuality he didn't even want to admit. The only way to prevent that would be to ban Rosapelo from moving altogether - but how could he even consider something like that in the case of a teenager? To immobilise for a decade? To lock inside without letting him see his friends or do sport? To a young man forced into that, such coercion would probably seem worse than death itself... and certainly worse than occasional fractures that the Ope Ope no Mi could heal within a few minutes.
Yet, Law knew that those fractures would be more and more often, because over the past two years he'd seen with his own eyes that they'd got only more frequent. Rosapelo's bones turned even more fragile, and that process couldn't be reversed. And even if what he broke were mostly arms and legs now, sooner or later he would suffer a life-threatening fracture, for example of a spinal column. Law had to - just had to! - find the way to prevent it. He was the only one who could do it. And, until then, he really needed to eliminate all threats, regardless of how much Rosapelo might protest against it.
Radar informed him the submarine approached the island, so Law reduced speed and soon entered the harbour. He hadn't been on Wulbel since his inspection of the local hospital, but thanks to his perfect memory, storing the map of every place he'd ever visited, he knew where to go. He teleported to the hospital grounds and walked straight to the casualty department. A nurse by the reception desk hurried towards him and tried to stop him, but he didn't even slow down. He only looked at her and said in an emotionless voice, "I'm Trafalgar Law from the Corazon Memorial Hospital on Raftel. I come for my son, who got sent here an hour ago with multiple fractures."
The nurse's abashment was clear. "Dr Law, of course..." he said. "This way, please."
In the corridor, a woman was sitting, and Law recognised she was one of Rosapelo's teachers. Upon seeing him, she got up and, tears in her eyes, began to chaotically report the events and apologise. He silenced her with a wave, without even stopping. He had no time to deal with the things that didn't matter. He didn't want to hear people he didn't care about.
He wanted to hear only Rosapelo... but as he walked the corridor, he felt relieved he wasn't. Above all, he didn't want to witness the boy's suffering. A bit too late, a voice in his head said, but he ignored it. Rosapelo probably had been given a painkilling injection... or was unconscious. When the nurse took him to an examination room, he learned it was the latter. Rosapelo was lying still on the table, very pale, with his eyes closed and traces of tears on his cheeks. Two doctors were standing beside him - one middle-aged and balding, the other one younger and tall - and looking at the X-ray. They both turned when he entered.
"Dr Law," said the older one, and his expression was a mixture of relief and apprehension, which was a normal reaction in the most doctors who happened to meet Trafalgar Law during work. "It's so good you're here. It's really-"
"I'll take care of him," Law interrupted him in the same voice he'd spoken to the nurse, and approached the table. "Please, step back. ROOM."
Since he'd been already prepared, and was in that particular state of emotional detachment, the sight couldn't shock him. All long bones in Rosapelo's limbs were broken in the epiphysis areas, right beyond the reinforcement, some in several parts. Fortunately, the ribs, pelvis, spinal column and skull had suffered no damage... Well, if they had, Rosapelo would be in the operating theatre or intensive care unit now. Or even...
He forbade himself from thinking any longer and started treatment instead, putting the boy in a deep anaesthesia. He rebuilt the bone and cartilage tissue of the epiphyses so precisely that no-one would be able to tell the location of the fracture lines. He repaired the joint capsules damaged by the bone fragments, as he did the ruptured blood vessels and nerves. He healed the inflammation of the adjacent tissues. Once he finished, Rosapelo's organism was like new, as if nothing had ever ailed him before...
'Until the next time,' came into his mind like a cold snake.
"I'm taking him," he announced the doctors, who'd been standing in silence by the wall all that time.
"Just like that?" the younger one asked, which made the older cast a shocked look at him and try to silence him, but to no avail. "Without a single word of explanation? We really didn't deserve that glare... You look like you wish to wipe this hospital off the face of the earth, Doctor."
Not a single muscle twitched in Law's face as he stared at the man, who was giving him both offended and challenging look. "You didn't do anything wrong," he answered calmly. "I don't blame you for anything." 'Except for being on the same island where my son was hurt.'
"Dr Martin, stop it. You're being rude," the older doctor spoke and came closer. "We just... didn't expect... Your son... Such terrible fractures...?"
"Rosapelo's bones are extremely fragile. His treatment is still underway," Law said, although he hadn't intended.
"And those... bars? What is that? It's the first time I see it," the man kept asking. "I'd love-"
"It's part of the treatment," Law replied, resisting the urge to grind his teeth. "I must return to Raftel." He turned to Rosapelo, still in narcosis, but then glanced over his shoulder and muttered, "Thank you," although he didn't really had to.
Without waiting for a response that he didn't care about anyway, he teleported Rosapelo and himself to the submarine and then spent half an hour, thinking of his next move. When there were just the two of them, the state of unnatural concentration started to fade, making way for emotions. Relief that Rosapelo was fine couldn't obscure a deep fear for his future well-being. Even if now the boy wasn't suffering, the basic problem hadn't been resolved and Rosapelo was in danger of subsequent injuries. So far, no method of treatment had been a success... and it was better to remove the diamond fibres from the bones, at least those in the limbs. Law had to think of a new way to reinforce his skeleton. It was a good thing that the summer holidays were starting and the boy could remain home. Of course, he wouldn't be happy about it, but he would surely understand he shouldn't risk another accident, at least until the new plan was made.
Law felt horrible - because of Rosapelo and of himself, too. Why couldn't he cure him? Why the Ope Ope no Mi couldn't help in this case? Why did it happen to the dearest person under the sun? He ignored the voice reminding him that, had it been not for those fractures, the two of them would've never met and certainly wouldn't have become what they had become to each other... It had already occurred, and it was pointless to return to it; he should only focus on the present. Why couldn't he find the reason behind the fractures? Why couldn't he reinforce the bones? For the thousandth time, he asked himself was he really the best doctor in the world if he couldn't help the boy in this situation?
As for Rosapelo... How could he trust him since Law repeatedly betrayed his trust? He'd promised to cure him of those fractures, and yet he still hadn't. Rosapelo believed him, approached his every idea openly, willingly, with optimism. He submitted to his every order, even if it meant to give up on the physical activity, or constant vigilance when walking. Without any complaint, he bore with all restrictions and worked for his recovery. And all for nothing. Law wanted to be someone reliable - not only for Rosapelo, but in general - and yet he'd failed entirely.
It was frustrating, degrading and very painful. He felt like screaming, banging his fists against the controls, grinding his teeth and crying. He hated the problems and always searched for solutions to get out of the uncomfortable situation. He was proud of his intellect - some considered him a genius - that helped him make the best plans. His skills - or the very status - let him put those plans into action. He'd got used to the knowledge that things Trafalgar Law couldn't gain if wanted, were very scarce, not only in the field of medicine, but every other as well. There was a reason why he was still considered to be one of the most influential people in the world, despite not having left Raftel region in over ten years. That was why the feeling of complete helplessness was so unbearable... It struck his self-esteem, provoked remorse and depressed - and it also resonated with suffering of Rosapelo, the boy who'd become his only important person.
But he mustn't give up. He had to pull himself together. He had to think and search, and try, learning from the mistakes he'd made and failures. The greater debt of trust to Rosapelo, the greater was his determination to pay it back. The solution would undoubtedly appear. He was no longer that weak man who'd had to put his fate in someone else's hands - like when he'd needed Corazon's help and later Straw Hat's. He was powerful and strong enough to move forward and never stop halfway until he gained what he needed. No, he wasn't going to tell himself 'enough, I can't do more'. If needed, he would cross the line of impossible and create a miracle, just like a man-created miracle had saved him, long ago.
He teleported home and put Rosapelo in the bed. He stood for a moment there, looking at his sleeping face and wondering how it was possible that he loved him more and more with every passing day. But... he never went halfway - and it was good. He knew from experience that only such a crazy love that didn't accept any limitations had the power to save.
After three hours of admitting new patients, he stayed in his office to prepare himself for meeting Rosapelo. He knew that the boy would be down, and for many reasons. He'd been careless and injured himself again. The trip had been a failure as he'd had to interrupt it, had scared his friends and teachers, and had given Law trouble. On top of it, he'd suffered fractures again and could as well forget about being healthy and active. One of that was enough to depress any teenager, to say nothing about all at once... How should Law support him? How to make him believe everything would be all right? How to cheer him up?
Take him for some ice-cream? Buy him a new book? Try to approach the situation with humour and then talk about everything else? No, he knew that the only way was to be himself - and let Rosapelo be himself. The boy had said he'd needed his words and wanted to listen to them as they'd always been honest. He was too wise to accept any shallow assurance - but he didn't expect Law to say he didn't know what to do, either. Then, Law had to find a golden mean of truth being entwined with faith and hope and strengthened by unwavering love. Once he decided on that, he felt ready to face Rosapelo.
He found the boy on the couch with Tiger curled on his lap. He knew that way Rosapelo wanted to show him he was okay; if he'd stayed in bed, the impression would be different. A realisation hit him, deepening the warmth in his chest: if the boy didn't want to worry him, it meant he cared about him.
He smiled. "I'm back," he said from the doorway. "Do we have anything to eat?"
"I ordered a delivery," Rosapelo replied in a neutral voice and got up, having shifted Tiger aside. "I'll put it."
After washing his hands, Law poured water in the jug to take it along with the cutlery to the table that Rosapelo put two plates on. The meal went in silence, but after living together for so long that silence didn't seem an enemy. When Law emptied his plate and moved it aside, he put his both hands on the table and leaned forward, looking at the boy closely.
"Pelo, I must apologise to you," he said, and Rosapelo gave him a hesitant look. "I hoped that last method would finally remedy your fractures, yet it didn't happen. You're still growing, and thus even that method wasn't perfect, and I want you to know that I'm very sorry because of that. You guessed it yourself that reinforcing your bones had caused it that force affected its structure differently, which, in result, led to different injuries than before... just like today. I must think of something else," he declared calmly, not too light, but not indicating it would be something difficult, either.
The boy was silent for a moment. "In other words, such methods wouldn't have any chance of success as long as I'm growing?" he asked in a crisp voice, but before he got a reply, he went on, "Then, maybe you should make it so that I no longer grow, Law-san."
"That's out of question, you're too short," Law replied, shaking his head.
"Believe me, I'd rather be short and active than at a risk of constant fractures, luxations and other damage," Rosapelo said with emphasis.
"Give me a chance," Law asked. "We can't give up yet. I'll certainly think of something."
The boy opened his mouth and then shut it again. Law had a nasty feeling Rosapelo wanted to say, 'Isn't there enough experimenting with my body?'
"I know it's hard for you..." he kept talking. "No, it's was an understatement," he corrected right away. "Your situation is a nightmare. And I, instead of helping you, only add to your suffering..."
"Stop it," the boy interrupted him. "I know well that every treatment comes with its risks... adverse effects..."
"Pelo, you can't treat the multiple fractures as an adverse effect," Law said softly.
"I mean... I understand it could've happened," Rosapelo replied in a stronger voice. "So don't blame yourself, okay?"
Law remained silent, observing him with a frown.
Rosapelo leaned on the edge of the table. "Law-san... I owe you my life," he said as Law still wouldn't speak. "I lost count of how many times you'd saved me. I know you wouldn't hurt me. I know that! I don't want you to feel guilty because of me."
"Pelo... I'm a doctor... and your guardian," Law replied calmly, although he was trembling all inside. "Those two reasons are enough that you ha-... hold a grudge against me."
"I don't have any grudge against you!" Rosapelo called in exasperation. "Didn't you hear what I just said? I. Owe you. My life. Or maybe you consider me to be someone who forgets such things...? Forgets it the moment the things stop going smoothly...?"
"I'd rather you blamed me than yourself."
For a moment, Rosapelo sat with his mouth open, staring at him and blinking. Then he lowered his head and hunched his shoulders, moving back in his chair. Law felt his heart was racing, but he could still control his nerves, which relieved him - as did the fact Rosapelo was still sitting here and wanted to have this conversation.
"Do we need to blame ourselves all the time?" Rosapelo muttered with his eyes fixed on his lap. "Can't we just accept what... what life gives us? Focus on those good things, instead of seeing only bad ones all the time?"
"That would be great," Law agreed, "but I must be prepared for those bad things, too."
"Come on, you know that's not what I meant," the boy grunted. "Gosh... I don't know how to talk with you, Law-san..."
"You're doing pretty well," Law said under his breath although he hadn't planned it.
Rosapelo cast him an annoyed look, as if he'd wanted to make sure that Law was making fun of him... but at least the mood was no longer as heavy as before. The boy straightened in the chair and brushed too long fringe from his eyes.
"Are you going to remove all fibres from my bones?" he asked in the end, having probably thought it was stupid they were sitting like that in silence.
"No, only from your arms and legs. I'll leave those in the ribs and vertebrae, as they grow much slower."
"You think you can sell them at better price you bought them?" came another unexpected question. "It would be good to have at least some benefit from that business," the teenager said pragmatically,
Law blinked. "No idea," he replied with a wry smile he could afford now. "It doesn't really concern me. In any case, we're going to temporarily resort to the method Number One, that is increasing the bone density."
Rosapelo rested his forehead on the clasped hands. "That's because I didn't listen to you, Law-san," he said in a low voice. "I promised you to avoid the places I could fall from, but... One of the kids, two years below, climbed on the dinosaur and his clothes got stuck, so he couldn't get down. I was nearby, so I wanted to help him before he fell down. It wasn't very wise, but I couldn't help it," he admitted with embarrassment and some provocation, too. "But he got in panic and started to wrestle, and he pushed me so that it was I who fell down... fortunately to my arms and legs... I mean..." He stopped, realising he hadn't been fortunate, after all.
"Then, the next time I should rather request that you refrain from playing a hero under any circumstances," Law commented with a sneer.
"There will be the next time?" Rosapelo asked, looking up at him and with such hope in his eyes that Law averted his gaze.
"One day, it certainly will," he muttered.
They kept sitting by the table in the atmosphere of, as it seemed to him, peace, mutual care and respect. And they hadn't got in the argument, even though there would be all the reasons to quarrel. Law thought that, of the two of them, Rosapelo might be the wiser, desiring to focus on positives, on hope, instead of seeing only those less cheerful things and letting them depress, blame oneself and apologise all the time.
"You really don't have a grudge against me?" he dared to ask, in the end.
Rosapelo shrugged. "As long as you're here, I'll be all right," he answered, although it wasn't really an answer, which Law pointed out. "I just... I just like my life now... so as long as I can live here, I'm not going to complain," he explained, looking at him with confidence. "Even if I sometimes feel ill or in pain... I'm under the impression there are more important... greater things than this illness."
And Law silenced the voice of his reason that was wincing terribly at that suggestion, because, prompted by a single memory from over half a century before, he knew he could understand it.