The tea party has come! Don Don Don!

Violent Ahegao: thanks so much for the such detailed review! I'm glad you think it's cute, and it will only get cuter (imo).

lazygreycloud: I'm glad you found it! Hope you continue to enjoy.

SilversHaki: I'm happy you've enjoyed it so far!

Enjoy~

Katakuri woke up the next morning, immediately anxious. The day of the Tea Party had come. There were going to be a lot of people, and 5 year old Luffy was not going to have a clue about what was going on or who anyone was. Who Mama was, or how she reacted to bad things.

He heard some noises coming from the living room, telling him that Luffy was already awake. He quickly got dressed and put his scarf on before walking into the living room to see Luffy playing with his toy Smoothie and Oven. Katakuri thought that the actual figures would find Luffy playing with them cute.

"Koori!" Luffy cheered when he saw the man enter from behind the couch. "Candy today, right?" he asked enthusiastically.

"Yes. But you can only eat as much as I give you, okay? We don't want you to get an upset tummy." (Or go batshit crazy.) "Do you remember what we practiced?" he asked, leading Luffy into the kitchen. Katakuri lifted Luffy up by the armpits and onto his stacked seat.

"I have to eat good and be good and no telling secret and say thank you," Luffy listed as he waited for toast with butter this time. The large man was surprised that he remembered all of that. He probably only remembered all of it due to the cake he gotta eat during the short lessons.

"Exactly. And what did I say about the sweets?"

"Eat as much as I want!" Luffy said, knowing full well that was not what Koori had said, but a boy can dream.

"No, I said you can eat as much as I give you. Don't give me a pout, it's for your own good," Katakuri said after handing Luffy his toast and a napkin so hopefully he didn't leave crumbs everywhere. He gave him a cup of water with a straw to make it less likely he'd spill and make the crumbs already on the table mushy.

Despite the boy's formal appearance, Luffy's hair was still messy, but that was fine. It wasn't a very big deal compared to the hair of some of the sweet commander's siblings.

He had Luffy recite the rules once again, and then headed to the party. Luffy was very excited to enter the cake building. Katakuri had a mochi band wrapped around Luffy's waist connected to his belt loop as a sort of harness. Luffy didn't complain thankfully. God, the man hoped he'd behave and everything would go smoothly.

Line

"Wow!" Luffy exclaimed as they walked through the palace and up stairs. Luffy, being very small, couldn't walk up the steep stairs too quickly, so Katakuri held him up in his hand while he walked both of them to the roof of the chateau. Luffy thought it was fun, and giggled the whole way up.

Katakuti stopped right in front of the door leading outside, and told Luffy that he had to be on his best behavior, and the little boy gave him a grin and a small thumbs up. He set Luffy down and walked through the door and out into the sweet smelling party area.

It was very crowded, and Luffy was swallowed in between all of the long legs walking around him. Katakuri shortened the mochi rope to keep Luffy closer to him. No one noticed him until Luffy gasped in a scream, startling those closest to him, and even Katakuri, who looked down quickly.

"Smoothie! Look, look!" Luffy exclaimed, oblivious to everyone looking at him and Katakuri strangely.

Smoothie had heard her name called by a young voice. She watched as Katakuri walked to her slowly, Luffy excitedly pulling the mochi rope closer to Smoothie. When Luffy was right in front of her long legs, sitting at a table, she finally noticed him.

"Why do you have a kid with you?" she asked, somewhat confused. Before Katakuri answered, Luffy said, "I have your toy!" happily. Smoothie couldn't help but smile, something she rarely did. Everyone else came closer to hear their older brother's answer.

"I bought him," he said simply, with a flat voice.

Luffy pulled out his little figure of Smoothie and showed it to her. Katakuri hadn't noticed that at the last moment, Luffy had shoved his toys into his pockets on their way out of the house. Then Luffy pulled out Pudding and Perospero. "I have Pudding an Oven an Peropero, too," he said and went on his tip toes to stand them on the table.

"What is your name?" Smoothie asked in a nice voice.

"I Luffy. Who are you? Ah! I mean what is your name?" he asked, correcting himself for his mistake. "Oh, nevermine, I know your name." Then he giggled.

Katakuri was shocked to see almost everyone smile at him. For some of them, it was an expression they'd never worn, at least around Katakuri. Some of the girls came over to see him, while Daifuku asked why his brother had bought a child.

"I see potential in him. It would have been a waste to not take him. And he's a 'D', too." Of course, he didn't mention that Luffy had a powerful Devil Fruit as well.

"Koori save me from being slave!" Luffy cheered as he held his toys close to his chest before shoving them back into his pockets. Some of the others chuckled at "Koori". "He is nice and make me toast. I never had toast before." He turned back to Smoothie.

"Are you good at making smoothies?" Luffy asked her.

"I told you she can't make smoothies, Luffy," Katakuri said in a patient voice, not showing irritation at all. Then he noticed everyone looking at him in shock. He had sounded nice and not bored.

"Oh. I wanna meet Pudding!" Luffy said, patting Katakuri's leg rather impatiently.

The man sighed, "Okay, where is she?" he asked Smoothie. She pointed to the left, where Katakuri could see her sitting at a table, looking bored. He hoped she was in her good mood and not her cruel, random, one. He wondered how Luffy would react to her having a third eye. Maybe, if he did see it, and reacted well, Katakuri could show Luffy his own deformity. Then he banished the thought. He didn't want Luffy to even possibly be afraid of him.

Luffy hurried forward, once again dragging the mochi connected to Katakuri. He heard the girl's giggles and guy's laughter. If he ever blushed, he would be now. He couldn't help but be embarrassed, but at the same time, didn't really care. They seemed to like Luffy so far, and that was enough for him.

Pudding looked very surprised, more so than Smoothie, when Luffy walked up to her. "I have your toy!" Luffy said again, pulling out Pudding's figure. "You are pretty like Makino." Pudding smiled at him, soaking in the compliment, especially from a child obviously not flirting or making things awkward.

"I want a Koori toy, but I only want these ones first," Luffy explained. "I want toys of everyone."

"Hey, Oven, Perospero?" someone in the crowd of siblings called. Both turned their heads, not having seen Luffy yet. "You have a fan." Both men looked confused and walked over.

Oven was first to ask why the hell Katakuri had a kid attached to him.

"Don't swear in front of kids," Amande scolded in her monotone voice, easily able to see Luffy from how tall she was. Many could see Luffy once they turned to his direction, since so many of the siblings were very tall.

"He adopted him," Smoothie said. "He says he 'bought' him, but really he adopted him." Katakuri turned his glare to Smoothie. He didn't want to be a father when he bought Luffy. But now he was taking care of him in his house and feeding and clothing him. And he couldn't see himself as a brother either with someone so young. Maybe Katakuri would be like an uncle.

He was honestly mentally weak if he shied away from the role he took on.

Luffy looked up to the two new tall people. "Ah! I have your toys!" Luff called, waving both of his male toys in the air above his head. Oven laughed loudly, while Perospero actually looked uncomfortable. He walked away, but Luffy wasn't upset. He had lots of other fun people around him. Koori and Brool really actually had so many brothers and sisters!

Then, Flampe came over, very grumpy looking as she glared at Luffy, who was back to Pudding, asking if she made pudding. Pudding did reply she could bake, and would be happy to bake him some yummy desserts. Luffy was happy about this.

Everyone went quiet when Flampe walked to Luffy, who finally noticed her and turned around. He could tell this girl didn't like him, since she was glaring at him. But Luffy had never met her before. The others all knew Flampe was about to bully Luffy, but they wanted to see his reaction to her personality.

"I don't see why brother took in a baby. And a stupid one at that. You're a waste of time, Luffy. What kind of name is that? Brother will ditch you eventually," she said harshly, glaring at him. Katakuri couldn't help but glare at her, though he didn't intervene. This was a test for Luffy, and everyone knew it.

Luffy just stared at her blankly, before he heard the giggle of a very small child. He looked in that direction and saw a baby with pink hair and a hat. "Ah! Look, Koori! A baby!" he exclaimed and went hurrying towards two pink haired people, completely ignoring Flampe and her mean words. He knew she was mean, and he didn't like her, but he didn't get mad at her because he wasn't supposed to. Plus, he didn't feel like getting in an argument at a party!

Katakuri smirked, which was barely visible to the sibling as tall as him next to him who could see his crinkled eyes. Smoothie smirked as well. Everyone else were impressed, but now there was a very angry Flampe, steaming at how Luffy hadnt even reacted. She had wanted him to act out and annoy everyone who was fawning over him. They should be impressed and adoring her! Not a stupid little kid who could barely even talk grammatically correctly!

Luffy had reached the baby he had heard and rushed the a pink haired woman with big lips, who was coddling the baby. Luffy wished he had a hat!

"Is that your baby?" he asked the women excitedly. She turned to him in surprise. She hadnt heard or seen Luffy and the crowd he'd gathered because she was focusing on Pez.

"Yes, his name is Pez. Who are you?" she asked kindly. Where did another child come from? He didn't look like a kid from Big Mom because he just looked like a normal boy. No strange facial features or strange outfit.

She was surprised when Katakuri came over to them shortly, following the mochi rope that had stretched from Luffy hurrying off so quickly. Katakuri was glad he wasn't a very social person so going with Luffy instead of talking with everyone was good for him. He was still impressed, though not surprised, by how Luffy had handled Flampe's attempt at bullying. She was probably trying to get a negative reaction of out him. Well, she didn't.

"I Luffy. Koori save me and now he take care of me," Luffy explained simply, looking at the baby in wonder. The baby had a strange binky. But he didn't say anything about Pez's unique features. "How old is he?" he asked. Luffy hadnt seen a baby in a long, long time, but he liked them because they were cute. And smaller than him, so that was nice, too. Luffy was always the smallest person when he even was around others his age that he met while being a slave for a short while with a noble who had kids fight each other.

Luffy won a lot, and lost a lot.

"Pez is nine months old. He looks just like his papa," the woman, Chiffon, said to him after introducing herself as well. Luffy danged his fingers above the baby.

"Hi, Pez," he said happily. The baby grabbed his fingers, causing Luffy to giggle. He played with the baby for a few minutes, while Katakuri stood behind him, facing the other direction. He was being over protective in case one of his siblings did not approve of or like Luffy being there in the first place.

And he was also watching out for Flampe coming over and doing something. Or worse, trying to dart him from a distance. But she wasn't showing up, and he could see her a ways away pouting and raving to her "friends".

Then the man turned to the side, away from Flampe and her possy, to see the expressions of some of his siblings. They were smirking at him. He glared back, very glad he had never blushed. The ones he could tell didn't approve were mostly men, and they just ignored Katakuri and Luffy. Oh well, at least they weren't picking a fight. He cared for his siblings, yes, but he cared more for some than others.

He turned once again away from his siblings and looked to Big Mom. Her look almost gave him chills. She was not happy about the positive attention being given to Luffy, or the fact that Katakuri was sticking to him so much that he was choosing to be with the boy over his own siblings.

While her brother was looking away from her and also away from the stupid little kid, Flampe got her silent blow dart ready, not using a lethal one, just one that would ruin the rest of his day and possibly tomorrow as well and make him sick. She aimed, one eye closed, from around the corner of a table stacked with desserts.

A few others saw what she was doing, but were sure Katakuri would handle it. Then wondered what he would do. But those who saw her were not the ones who openly expressed positive emotions about the little boy with black hair.

The moment the dart flew out of the tube and towards Luffy, Katakuri sensed it, and easily caught the thing in midair. Then he turned to look at Flampe with the scariest look and the angriest haki that she'd even felt. He crushed the thing in his big hand, as if daring her to just try again and see what would happen.

Katakuri knew that the dart would have just passed through Luffy's body due to his logia power, but he wouldn't let Flampe attack Luffy and didn't want his power to be exposed. When he felt the small thing flowing through the air towards him with his haki, easily sensed, he felt rage and intense protectiveness for Luffy. It had only been maybe a week, including on the boat, since he'd bought - adopted, whatever you want to call it - Luffy and he was already caring much more about him than some of his siblings. For example, Flampe.

Others saw Katakuri's face and the feeling of rage he gave off and had all decided they would not be messing with Luffy whatsoever.

Luffy's attention was brought away from the baby and his mother when Big Mom spoke from her table. Katakuri was usually at her table, but he didn't want to leave Luffy yet also didn't want to bring him to her table. He didn't know what to do.

When she looked at him pointedly, he knew it would be safest (for Luffy) if he were to sit with her. He quickly walked to Pudding and asked if she could watch Luffy while he sat with Mama. She said she would, and agreed to limit Luffy's consumption of sweets provided freely for everyone.

After Big Mom had her short talk that most didn't pay much mind to, they dug in. Well, except Luffy, who was pouting at his small serving of sweets. He had a normal sized piece of cake, a few cookies, and a brownie.

He looked to Big Mom, and said, "But she's eating a lot, why can't I?"

"We don't want your stomach to be upset," Pudding said nicely as she drank some of her tea. Everyone knew why Luffy was not allowed to eat too much. Some had had more than 80 younger siblings, and each one went crazy as a little kid when they consumed too much sweets. Flampe laughed at him from a table over, her own plate loaded with tons of sweets.

Luffy pouted again, but then did what he and Koori had practiced. He ate neatly. As neat as he could. He had crumbs all over his mouth after eating the single piece of brownie, but didn't make a mess besides that.

"So, Luffy, what do you think of Katakuri?" Amande asked. The others listened and watched Luffy's reply.

"He nice! He bought me and I went on his ship and it was fun. And his house is so big. The couch and chairs super big, so I have to sit on a box on the chair. He say he doesn't cook much, so we just have toast for breakfast. He teach me how to eat neat," Luffy explained as he ate his cake, mushing his napkin on his mouth after every few bites, soon tearing it to pieces. "Oh," he said as he looked at the ruined napkin. But there were others on the table, and he got a new one.

The others smiled at Luffy's explanation. "How old are you?" Smoothie asked, taking a sip of her very sweetened coffee. Luffy chirped that he was five and took a sip of his own drink, which was plain milk.

"So you were a slave?" Custard, a purple haired sister asked. Luffy nodded.

"No one want me for long though. They say I boring," Luffy replied, his cake finished, not knowing there was some frosting on the tip of his nose. He mashed another napkin around his mouth, though this one didn't dissolve.

"Well, you don't seem boring to me, Luffy," Pudding said, wiping his nose with her napkin. The others wondered why someone would find a slave boring. They weren't exactly there to share company.

"You are all so nice!" Luffy said. "I like you," he said in general.

Big Mom sat at her table with the sweet commanders besides Smoothie, along with some of her other older children. As they talked about events around the New World that they'd read in the papers or heard in their travels. Apparently Portgas D. Ace of the Whitebeard Pirates was going to be executed. Big Mom laughed at this.

"The marines are planning on fighting in a war if that's true. Glad it has nothing to do with us!" she laughed. Cracker smiled because he was supposed to, along with some others. Katakuri was silent as usual. He was keeping his haki focused on Luffy, even if he wasn't watching him. Also, he was disappointed deep down that Mama was not Whitebeard, and did not treasure her children like that man did. After all, Big Mom had killed her own children many times.

Katakuri spoke up, like he rarely did. And it was about a certain little boy. "Mama, how much time are you gonna take off of Luffy's lifespan?" He sipped his drink, not looking at his mother. He didn't want to see her face about the fact he was talking about his new charge at her table.

"Maybe 10 years," Big Mom said, gauging her son's expression, as well as the others. But he made no expression, and just let out a tiny sigh that no one noticed. He wasn't surprised. It was a lot, though. And he didn't like that Luffy was getting lifespan taken away when he had no choice but to come to Totto Land. But Katakuri said nothing but gave a short nod. He didn't feel like eating sweets anymore. He was too nervous to enjoy them, and he had long since grown tired with candy and sugar (except donuts). He liked any other types of food more.

Speaking of other types of foods, Katakuri needed to learn how to cook. Luffy couldn't just eat toast and sandwiches for every meal. Maybe he'd have to ask for help, which he really didn't want to do, but it was inevitable. Pudding was good at cooking. At least she was about baking.

Big Mom noticed one of her important sons was distracted in his thoughts. She interrupted them, asking what he was thinking about. She didn't like that he wasn't focusing on a conversation with her. And she really hoped it wasn't about that brat.

Katakuri answered truthfully. Well, he warped some of it. "I need to learn how to cook healthier meals. I'm getting sluggish." He hoped she bought it.

"Ma, ma-ma!" she laughed. "You don't look like you've gained weight. Don't worry over such trivial things."

"I need to be healthy to do the jobs given to me. If I can't perform them perfectly, then that's a disgrace." He was just telling her things she wanted to hear now. But at least she bought it.

Everyone was done with their sweets, and the drinks were either gone or cold now. Luffy didn't feel the tension on the roof, while the others felt it easily. Even Flampe felt it, and she didn't like the feeling, even though she didn't like Luffy.

Katakuri had Luffy back with him, and was holding him up, reminding him of how to act with Big Mom. He recited back what he had been told many times. To be respectful, speak when spoken to, and do what she says. He clearly couldn't see the nervous look Katakuri was trying to hide, though Smoothe and Cracker definitely could see.

The thing that gave away his nervousness was the bead of sweat rolling down his temple. The man put Luffy down and unattached the mochi rope. Everyone stood in a horizontal line across from Big Mom, while Luffy was walking in front of the line towards the Yonko.

To someone as young and gullible as Luffy, Big Mom looked like a very friendly person. Big but smiling. That meant she was nice. Katakuri bit his lip slightly when Luffy walked up to her with a pleasant expression on. Big Mom looked like he was a good meal she was about to eat. Well, she wouldn't eat him at least. God, everyone wanted him to behave well. They didn't want to see Luffy get his soul sucked away and die.

"Hello, Luffy," Big Mom said, silence falling around all of them. Even the noise of them breathing seemed to be gone.

Luffy replied pleasantly, "Hello, miss." Pudding suppressed a smile. He really was cute. But this wasn't a situation for smiling. Big Mom narrowed her eyes at him, even though he was being perfectly polite. It was because he still had that oblivious expression on his face. Usually, people, even adults, get scared in front of her. This kid just acted like he was talking to an old friend.

"How old are you, Luffy?" she asked sweetly, but with a vindictive smile.

"I five," Luffy answered.

Luffy was doing his best to pay attention to Koori's mama, but there was a cloud and a sun floating above her with faces! He'd never seen clouds or the sun with faces on them. His eyes kept wandering to the left and right of Big Mom's head, but finally, he was able to restrict his attention. But then they talked!

"He's a runt, mama," the sun said, somewhat rudely. But Luffy didn't get it. The cloud nodded and floated down to him to look at him closer. For some reason, the cloud felt something from Luffy. Something different, but familiar. He, nor anyone else besides Big Mom and Katakuri, knew that he was recognizing lightning. After all, Luffy's body was technically lightning.

Big Mom shushed her homies, and even her hat spoke, too. Luffy was amazed.

"Well, even if you're a kid, there's a rule in Totto Land. To live here, you must give away some of your life span," she said with a terrifying face, making sweat bead on even her children's' necks. No one was sweating more than Katakuri was.

Luffy, please get scared!

Luffy didn't understand what she meant, and cocked his head in confusion.

"It means I take years off of your life so you can stay here. As payment," the pink haired giant explained impatiently.

"Oh, okay," Luffy said. The room suddenly seemed to get darker. Then there was a weird face in front of him. The big lady had disappeared. Why had it gotten so dark? Luffy looked around, not seeing anything but black and the face in front of him. It had also become colder.

Luffy just focused on the face in front of him. The mouth opened and suddenly Big Mom was there, looking crazed. Luffy just stood there in confusion.

He was unafraid.

All of the siblings watched as Luffy went into his own world where all there was was Big Mom's deadly face. Luffy just stood there, looking confused. He looked away from Big Mom, clearly wondering what the heck was going on and where everyone went.

No one had ever been able to escape Big Mom when she was going to take a soul. And here this five year old kid wasn't scared at all. Was he just stupid, or fearless? They could tell their Mama was getting upset. She grew angry after she said "Life or stay" in a chilling voice. Luffy frowned. What answer should he give?

"Um… Stay?" he offered. But when Big Mom reached down to him with her massive hand, he just stood there and nothing happened. None of his soul would come out. Nothing, not even one minute. One second. Luffy wouldn't be losing any lifespan unless he grew afraid of the Yonko, which would be the smart thing to do.

The giant grew furious and ended up grabbing little Luffy in her big hand and bringing him to her face. Then he started to scream. Katakuri sighed in momentary relief before Luffy screamed, "Too high! Lemme go!"

Luffy was afraid of heights, not Big Mom. Katakuri was surprised that Luffy was never afraid of being high up with him. Even though she was the one picking him up, he was scared of how high up he was being held. She began to squeeze him, but being a logia, he felt fine. As she squeezed tighter, though, little sparks started to come out of her hand. It stung, but then she remembered the little shit was a logia. So she coated her hand in haki, and squeezed more, now hurting Luffy.

"Ahh, stop it! Put me down!" he screamed, in tears. He was gonna fall, and his sides and tummy hurt! Even now, as he was screaming in fear and tears, gripping Big Mom's hand like a lifeline, she was unable to take any lifespan.

She finally dropped him from 30 feet up in the air. Maybe by her hurting him, he'd be afraid and she could show him his place. That he wasn't above anyone just because Katakuri chose him, not that Luffy even thought like that. After all, he'd agreed to giving away some of his life span.

Luffy screamed as he tumbled through the air. He was about to hit that hard ground before Katakuri was suddenly there, holding Luffy. He'd reacted on instinct and caught him. It took everything he had to contain himself from at least telling his mother to put Luffy down or stop hurting him.

Some gasped. Others sighed in relief. But Big Mom's anger clouded those feelings and reactions. Katakuri turned around with a stony face, taking the crying Luffy and sticking him inside his vest's front pocket. The cries were muffled, and suddenly Luffy felt much safer.

That lady was mean! Luffy was being nice, and then she hurt him! He didn't want to be around her again. She was like that mean girl. Why did people not like him? He wasn't rude to anyone. At least he tried not to be. And everyone else was nice to him!

While Katakuri didn't leave, he didn't bring Luffy back out. Even as Big Mom sent him a death glare, he kept a straight face with Luffy still hidden inside a pocket. The others wanted to flee from the two forces of giant haki, one angry and the other defensive. No one did anything, and it was quiet. Silent. You could've heard a pin drop.

Zeus, the cloud with a soul in it, floated down to Katakuri, getting close to the pocket the sniffling little boy was in. Katakuri made no move since he felt the cloud homie wouldn't harm Luffy. "Mama, this boy feels strange."

The sun, Prometheus, floated over as well, though this one made the air hot near Katakuri. "I don't feel anything."

"That's because he has the power of lightning," Big Mom said coldly. Everyone looked very surprised. He had a Devil Fruit? Though no one wanted to be the one to ask for clarification as Mama was still angry.

"I want Luffy out of Totto Land," Big Mom said suddenly. "Or he will -"

"No."

Cliffhanger! Next chapter will go into more detail about Luffy's life before being a slave.