Thank you all for being so patient with me. I've been busy with school and having health problems and then we lost family members and a cat... it's been hard. I appreciate your patience and support.

I will NEVER abandon this story. Have no fear.

Gratefully,

YamatosSenpai

Part XI: Goodbyes and See You Laters

"What's it like?" Luffy wondered aloud, his legs kicking back and forth youthfully.

"What's what like?" Teach grumbled. A smile crossed across his face and suddenly he cackled, "Oh God! Is the baby finally old enough for the talk?! You wanna know?"

Luffy smiled in confusion before clarifying, "When you don't come back right away," Luffy questioned Law. "What's it like?"

"Oh, that!" Teach complained, shaking his head. "Good luck getting an answer out of him."

Law was lying on the floor of their cell. He was opposite the others, putting as much distance as possible between them. He gave no indication that he'd heard the question and Luffy had almost given up hope when he finally replied. "It's scary."

Teach snorted, "Scary? Yeah, that's for us, psycho. No one's trying to eat you…"

Luffy sat up, his large eyes blinking innocently, "What can we do to help?"

Law sighed, draping a slender arm over his face, "Help? How can you help me? Aren't we all in here together?"

"Worry about yourself," Teach warned, slapping Luffy on the back roughly.

"When it's scary," Luffy continued, ignoring Teach completely. "What can I do?"

"The only thing you need to do is stay out of my way," Law snapped.

It was Luffy's turn to laugh, "Okay, because we have so much room here."

"Law's weak," Teach barked. "His brain is fried. You and I, Luf, we're gonna survive, I can feel it…" Teach pat Luffy's shoulder affectionately, "I think we're alike."

"Don't ever say that again," Law hissed. "Luffy isn't like you in any way."

Teach chuckled darkly, "Don't."

"Don't what?" Law challenged, sitting up.

"Don't start with me or I'll snap your skinny little neck," Teach warned.

"You'd have to get off your fat ass," Law taunted.

"Stop!" Luffy commanded angrily. "I just wanted to know some things, not start a fight."

"Yeah, well, we're disappointing on all counts," Law murmured.

"Golden Boy Ace is gone. You're stuck with us," Teach barked. "And we're not gonna coddle you. Law doesn't have a soul and I ain't got a fuck left to give…"

"Why'd you have to go and mention him?!" Law snarled.

"Do you think he's scared?" Luffy suddenly asked.

"What?" Law shook his head in confusion.

"Do you think it's scary where Ace is?" Luffy explained, his brows knit together with worry. "You disappear all the time. Is he in the same place? Is he scared?"

"He's dead. He's fucking dead. The end. All gone!" Teach roared, shoving Luffy down to the floor roughly. He shook Luffy by the shoulders, pressing his face into the cement, "Get it in your fucking skull. He's done with this shit."

"Why are you so angry, Teach?" Law asked, his yellow eyes glowing. He rolled onto his knees, his fingers flexing against the concrete below him. "Let him up."

"I'm tired of it," Teach snapped. "He wants to know if Ace made it to Heaven or something… he wants to know what's beyond this place. And it's nothing! There's nothing waiting for us! For him! Nothing! We are cursed! Aren't you terrified?! Luffy! Aren't you terrified? Do you use your fucking head? If you did you'd worry about yourself, not the dead!"

"Are you scared, Teach?" Luffy asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Teach gripped Luffy's skull and pressed with tremendous force. Law scrambled forward his thin fingers wrapping around Teach's thick wrist, "Don't."

"He'll get back up," Teach snapped.

Law nodded slowly, "Yeah. But it still hurts him."

"Good," Teach exhaled.

"What's… af-ter… this?" Luffy asked with great effort.

"More of the same," Teach spat.

"Let him up," Law ordered, his fingers turning white around Teach's arm.

"What do you see, Law?" Luffy continued with desperation. "Have you seen Ace?"

"Ace isn't there," Law answered quickly. "Just drop it."

"What scares you?" Luffy pressed.

"Let him go, Teach," Law growled. "I mean it."

Teach laughed, "You're gonna make me?"

"What scares you?!" Luffy shouted loudly, pushing up off the floor unexpectedly. He folded neatly onto his knees and turned, watching as Teach lowered his hand in surprise. "What's in there? Where do you go?"

"You think he knows?!" Teach whispered. "He's fucking out of his mind, Luf. He doesn't even know who he is when he gets like that…"

"I don't believe that," Luffy argued quietly. "I see it. He's still in there. Somewhere."

"Luffy, it's…" Law trailed off, sighing deeply. "It's… It's like in the beginning."

"The beginning?" Luffy repeated unsurely.

"It's chaos," Law finally continued, "It's like waking up for the first time, over and over again."

"What do you mean?" Teach asked, suddenly interested.

"It's the freezer all over again," Law murmured. "Thousands of voices are speaking all at once. People are screaming. Dying. Running. I can taste their fear."

"You're in the freezer?" Luffy questioned.

"No, no, it's like that. Waking up and suddenly everyone is attacking and eating or bleeding and dying," Law explained. "And I'm there in the middle. I'm neither one nor the other. I'm different, I'm something else…" Law wiped his face slowly, "When I have a bad reset, I'm just stuck there. I'm watching everything crash and burn and can't do anything."

"Yeah, well," Teach muttered, "You certainly eat a lot of people for not being able to do anything."

"So, what's it like for you then?" Law asked, ignoring Teach. "When you go into the water coffin and come out like me?" Law's yellow eyes met Luffy's, "You've never eaten anyone. How?"

"I don't know," Luffy admitted. "But it doesn't feel like that to me. It feels like…" Luffy paused in thought, "I just think about you guys. I think about Ace too. I think about the people I don't wanna hurt."

"Oh fucking gross," Teach complained.

Law smiled sadly, "I'm glad it works for you." Law looked down, his thick lashes fluttering against his bronze cheeks, "I wish I had that self-control."

"The only time Luffy and self-control will be uttered in the same sentence," Teach joked. "Look, I've eaten people. But fuck them. I'm not human anymore. They're on the food chain now. Fuck 'em for makin' us with a taste for human flesh. Dumbasses."

"I'll help you," Luffy said softly, ignoring Teach. "You're not bad Law. You're not weak."

"You can't help me," Law replied, turning back toward his self-imposed isolation space, "Killing is my nature. You're a good person. I don't have that sort of heart. I can't just pretend to put others first. It doesn't work that way."

Luffy smiled, "I believe in you. You can do it."

Law sighed heavily, "For fuck's sake, Luffy, it's a lost cause."

Luffy snickered, "No you're not."

When Law woke he was on the floor. His body ached. He smacked his lips together uneasily, tasting blood. He let out a grunt, heaving his unnaturally heavy body onto his hands and knees. Blood spilled past his lips, spraying on the cement like a fountain. He blinked his bloodshot yellow eyes slowly, "What…?"

"Luf-fy," a small voice squeaked out weakly. "Needs… help…"

Law sat up on his knees immediately, sobering. They were still in the storage room, beneath the collapsed hallway. Chopper had spoken, but he was in terrible shape. His small, human body lay broken against a pile of rubble. Two bloody antlers were still lodged in the wall opposite them. Zoro and Nami were gone. Sanji was still alive; still conscious. He panted heavily, leaning against the wall for support. He looked exhausted and overwhelmed, and somehow, in worse shape than before. Finally, Law spotted Luffy.

Doflamingo had Luffy hoisted into the air by his throat. He squeezed violently, watching the poor young man squirm. Luffy's legs kicked wildly, his entire body thrashing for freedom. Luffy clawed at Doflamingo's hand in desperation, his eyes bulging with effort.

How long have I been out? What's happened? Whose blood is in my mouth? Law had a dozen questions he wanted to ask. He asked none of them. "Let him go," Law snarled as he scrambled onto his feet.

"Ah, dear, you're awake," Doflamingo cooed, snapping Luffy's neck with a single hand. He tossed Luffy's corpse at Law, hitting him and sending him crashing back to the floor. "It's time to leave, get your trash."

Law was momentarily distracted by the expression on Luffy's face. His features were naturally so soft and delicate. His beige skin, usually impeccable, was marred with bruises and scrapes. One of his eyes was swollen shut. His lip had been pierced by a broken tooth. Blood pooled on Law's chest, dripping from Luffy's mouth, nose and ears.

Law rolled over, placing Luffy on the ground as gently as possible. He climbed back to his feet and turned, glowering at Doflamingo with as much hatred as he could muster. "This fight doesn't seem to be going anywhere."

"He… keeps get-ting… up…" Sanji spat, leaning even more of his weight against the wall.

"Can't you just go find a hole and die?" Law sighed. "No one wants you here."

"Tick tock," Doflamingo taunted. "How long do you think the evac will wait for you?"

"Until Luffy gets there," Law replied, arching a brow. "I don't think anyone gives a shit about regular ol' humans."

"And who's leading the evac? A friend of yours?" Doflamingo questioned. "Who in the world cares what happens to lab experiments?"

"You act like you haven't staked your entire life on us," Law sneered.

"I haven't. You'd be surprised just how far the D Foundation has branched out."

"Law," Luffy murmured. "Sorry."

"For what?" Law barked, his eyes still locked onto Doflamingo.

"I didn't get much done while you were gone," Luffy answered. "My bad."

"Did you cause him a copious amount of pain?" Law pressed.

Luffy shrugged, "Yeah, probably. I think we're about even on kills, though."

Law nodded in approval, "That is all I ask. I want him to suffer."

"Why don't all three of you come at me at once?" Doflamingo taunted. "Maybe then we can actually get somewhere…"

"You're not immortal, pretty boy," Law snapped, turning to scold Sanji. "Sit… this …out…" Law trailed off. For several terrifying seconds he thought that Sanji wasn't breathing. The angle he rested against the wall, his legs splayed under him, his body propped up unnaturally. He wasn't dead; yet. Law turned away in frustration, "Luffy, your friend is…"

Luffy nodded, "We need to finish this quick. We have to get him to a hospital." Luffy slammed his fists against his chest, "The two of us can do it. I know we can. Together."

"Three strikes and you're out, Law," Doflamingo warned, chuckling darkly. "You're just wasting everyone's time."

"How long is his reset time?" Law asked Luffy, hoping for a weakness to exploit.

Luffy smiled nervously, "So far, it's pretty instant." Luffy scratched his cheek, "He's reset about twelve times and nothing…"

"I told you, I'm better than you," Doflamingo sighed. "This building is on fire. The entire world is burning, for that matter. Just come along with me like good boys."

"Together," Law decided, nodding at Luffy. "We're gonna tear him apart. Try to reset quickly without your head attached, mother fucker."

"Should I just lean down then?" Doflamingo asked with a smirk. "So you can reach?"

Luffy moved first. He was inhuman with his movements, almost reptilian the way he scaled up Doflamingo and around him. His hands twisted around Doflamingo's neck, squeezing with full force. The bone didn't break immediately so Luffy was forced to keep choking the giant man.

It took Law a moment to realize that Luffy had begun his assault. He stepped forward, sweeping his long leg out to strike Doflamingo in the knees. He kicked roughly, a snarl of effort escaping his lips. Doflamingo slammed into the wall, pinning Luffy against the concrete and his large form.

It was monotonous. Luffy would squeeze, Law would kick, and Doflamingo would roll his enormous body backward until he was free. Then Doflamingo would attack, Luffy would take the brunt of the assault, sparing Law, and Law would catch Luffy's body before it reset. It was monotonous; the same thing, over and over and over again.

"This is tedious," Doflamingo murmured, exhaustion finally cracking the surface of his features. This time he didn't wait for Law's sweeping kick, instead he thrust himself backward sharply, impaling Luffy on the set of antlers stuck in the wall. He leaned forward, easily scooping Law's wrist into a single, gargantuan hand, "We're leaving."

"Luf-" Law hissed, his thin fingers scratching uselessly at Doflamingo's.

"Don't worry, he'll catch up," Doflamingo snarled, dragging Law behind him. "He won't let us get too far…"

"I… can't… let… you…" Sanji panted, inching along the wall toward the opening, "Leave… here…"

"Vinsmoke, please," Doflamingo chirped dismissively.

"Sanji, stay out of it," Law warned.

But Sanji ignored them both. He pushed off from the wall and staggered into the open space of the floor. He seemed as if he might crash to the ground, but eventually he steadied himself. He laughed, strange and low, fishing a cigarette out from his pants pocket. The cigarette was broken, curved comically downward. He lit it anyway.

"Those things'll kill ya," Doflamingo teased.

Sanji smiled halfheartedly and gave a shrug, "Hardly matters now, does it?"

"Move," Law demanded, pushing ahead of Doflamingo to block Sanji.

"You're letting him take you," Sanji exhaled, smoke shooting from his nose. "Do something."

The words stung. Sanji was right. Law was tired. Exhausted; mentally, emotionally, physically exhausted. But he wasn't defeated. Doflamingo wasn't defeated either. Law stood between the two blondes, ignoring the uncomfortable tension on his wrist. "Mister Vinsmoke," Law whispered coolly, "Move."

Sanji grimaced at the use of his surname. He mumbled something around his broken cigarette, something too quiet to be heard. Suddenly he grinned, his handsome face and blue eyes lighting up. He chuckled to himself, dragging a shaky hand through his blonde hair.

"What's so funny, dear?" Doflamingo asked, pulling out his pistol and pointing it at Sanji.

"You'll laugh too, in a minute," Sanji said simply, unable to wipe the grin off his face.

"Will I?" Doflamingo asked, his voice deceptively cheery.

"Oh, yeah," Sanji promised, staggering weakly as he spoke. "It's funny."

Doflamingo spit a mouthful of blood onto the back of Law. Blood spewed from his mouth and from the wounds in his lower abdomen. For several seconds he stared down at his body in shock. He released his grip on Law's wrist, his hand fluttering confusedly to the tip of the object protruding through him. It took him several seconds to realize he'd been gored.

The antler unexpectedly thrust further into him. He gripped the tip with bloody hands, "You stupid little reindeer…" Doflamingo gnashed his teeth, "I'll break your neck."

But Chopper was still lying down in the rubble. With the appearance of a small child he was curled into a fetal position, his body aching. His eyes were wide, his nose twitched, and finally a smile broke out across his youthful face.

"I caught up…" Luffy growled, pushing the blood soaked antler further into Doflamingo's body.

It was a bizarre sight. Luffy, still impaled by two antlers, had gored Doflamingo on the end of one of them. He pulled the antler through his own body, blood spilling onto the floor. Blood poured freely from his mouth, dripping down his chin unchecked. With a final pull he finally yanked one of the antlers from his body, piercing it further into Doflamingo in front of him.

Doflamingo pushed back, doing his best to force the antler back the way it came. He snarled furiously, spitting mouthful after mouthful of blood onto the floor. "You… little…"

Law grabbed the bloody tip of the antler and held tightly, "No you don't…"

Doflamingo suddenly burst into laughter, "You're right, Sanji. This is hilarious…" Doflamingo struck out, slamming Law in the side of the head. He spun around and reached for Luffy, but Luffy was faster. Luffy smashed his small body against Doflamingo's piercing him with the second antler.

Doflamingo and Luffy stood front to front, panting heavily. Luffy bled greatly, his blood splashing against the ground like a fountain. Doflamingo gripped the second antler, the one still impaled through Luffy, and he pushed forcefully. Luffy cried out, fighting back against Doflamingo's movement desperately.

"Back and forth," Doflamingo murmured. "Back and forth." Doflamingo frowned, "And it's getting hot in here."

"We're gonna burn to death in here," Chopper interjected, wiping sweat from his brow.

"I can't let you out of this room," Luffy challenged, struggling to hold the antler in place.

"You're willing to die to slow me down?" Doflamingo asked. "Because that's all you'll manage, LUF."

"There's nothing to be done," Law groaned, rushing behind Luffy. He shoved the end of the antler, attempting to free Luffy. It gored Luffy violently as it moved and Luffy began to twitch. "Damn it!"

"Hurry before he resets," Sanji breathed, hurrying to help Law. "Push!"

"I am pushing," Law muttered anxiously.

Luffy let out an agonized cry as he reset. His legs shook and gave out, forcing his weight onto the antler and Doflamingo. "Shit," Sanji barked. "Before the next one…"

"Guys," Chopper panicked, "Smoke."

"I'm nervous enough as it is!" Sanji snapped. "I don't need to know how close the fucking fire is…"

"Get over here and help us, stupid raccoon," Law snapped.

Chopper puffed up indignantly and pulled himself onto his knees, "I'm not a damn raccoon!"

"We don't care what the hell you are," Sanji rasped. "Just help us."

"Give me a minute," Chopper wheezed.

"We don't have a minute!"

"Luffy, hang on," Sanji whispered, his cigarette bouncing. "Hold… on…"

"We're so fucking stupid," Law growled, struggling to free Luffy. "All we can do is run away?" Law shook his head angrily, "All those years thinking we were special…"

"He's resetting," Sanji murmured, his hands slippery with Luffy's blood.

"Get him off, get him off…" Law demanded.

Luffy gasp loudly as he reset. He looked up, up, up, at Doflamingo. For a moment he was confused, unsure of his surroundings. He reached out and touched Doflamingo delicately, as if wondering if he was really there. And then he spewed blood.

"Come on, Luf," Sanji pressed. "Almost there…"

"We can't let him go…" Luffy heaved with effort.

"The house is burning to the ground. We gotta go," Law explained.

"Luffy," Chopper called out. "Break the antler!"

Luffy looked down at the antler that ran through him and into Doflamingo. Luffy blinked slowly, spitting blood onto the broken up floor. Luffy shook his head, "Leave me."

"We're not leaving you, dumbass," Sanji snapped, his entire body shaking.

"We can't stop him," Luffy admitted. "I can't let him leave this room… Zoro is…"

Sanji closed his yellowing eyes, "Luffy, please… for me… Let's just go…"

"I can't burn to death, I can't…" Law snapped. "Now fucking help us help you!"

"Zoro trusted you to come back!" Chopper yelled, finally managing to pull himself to his feet.

Luffy grunted, "Fuck it hurts."

"It's almost out," Sanji promised.

"It's just so jagged…" Law murmured to himself. "So many prongs…"

There was a loud crash and the floor above them came hurtling to the ground in a smoldering pile of rubble. The heat was intense and much of the rubble burst into spontaneous flames.

"Time's up," Doflamingo said, clicking his tongue. He reached out and grabbed a handful of Luffy's hair. He held on tightly to Luffy's hair and began to climb up.

"Wait! Wait!" Sanji cried out, losing his grip on the slippery antler.

"What are you…?" Law began to question, dropping to the floor as he lost hold of Luffy.

"You can all burn to death, for all I care," Doflamingo spat. "You've all really pissed me off…"

"Luffy…" Chopper squeaked, running up the mound of rubble to give chase.

"Chopper, wait…" Law hissed. "I need help with Sanji."

"But!" Chopper cried out, "He's taking Luffy!"

Law watched Doflamingo disappear onto the next floor, taking Luffy along with him. "It's okay," Law realized. "He's taking him outside. He doesn't want to get caught in the fire either."

"We've… gotta follow… them…" Sanji gasped, choking on the thick black smoke.

Chopper nodded, "Yeah. We're getting the heck outta here too."