A/N: Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece.

So... Yes, today is not a Friday. I did not post this a day late on purpose though. I thought 'next mid-month Friday' was a bit ambiguous, so I decided to update it every 15th of the month.

Nevertheless, enjoy.

Murder

Part One- Hidden Truths

Departure

"RRRRRIIIIIIIIINNNNN-!" The alarm clock sounded as the alarm hand struck 6am. The hammer between the bells moved furiously creating the loud noise that echoed the walls. A hand swiftly moved on top of the alarm clock and slammed it on the alarm clock's head. Then it's fingers diligently touched it's cold body until a switch was clicked off. "-RRIIIIIIINNNNGGGgggg..."

"...Uuugh" The male lying in bed grunted. He shifted his hands underneath his pillow and hugged it closer to his face. "Mmph..."

He did not want to wake up.

It was a Tuesday, but it wasn't necessary for this male to wake up this early to go to work or anything. He used to wake up this early regularly when he worked at a huge hospital facility- more like he had to wake up whenever there was an urgent patient. -But now it wasn't really necessary.

The male laid there for a while. He then took a peek at the clock.

...6:05am He read. Wait, he thought, Was I supposed to meet Eustass-ya at 6am, or just wake up at 6...? Then he remembered him saying "be up by 6am."

"...Shit." Law cursed as he pushed himself off from the bed. The sheets and bed covers easily slipped off of him. He blinked and tried to shrug off the drowsiness he still had. His forehead felt very heavy and cloudy- he knew he should have slept earlier than 3am, but the new books he had bought were attracting too much of his attention. The cold air in the room hit his body and he soon shivered.

The man then quickly rushed to his closet and grabbed a pair of sweats and a jacket. He quickly slipped them on, over his pajamas since it was cold and he was in a rush.

I'll wash my face later- he won't know. Law convinced himself as he slipped into his fluffy slippers, which helped him keep his body temperature, and skidded downstairs to the dining tables. There, he met the red head- which was pulled back and held down with gel- in a dark blue suit with a black tie, already sitting there with his plate. The air here felt much more comfortable, thanks to the gas heater on medium.

"You're late." Kid said with a scowl. But Law was able to tell that he was purposely putting up that face and smiled to himself. Kid noticed his vague smile and hid his own with his black coffee. As Law scooted his seat across from Kid, Sanji quickly came in with his plate.

"...You didn't wash your face huh." Kid spoke as Law stared down at the plate that had two crumpets with melted cheese on top, sun-dried tomatoes, and a couple sausages.

"...Eh." Law uttered without thought.

"You usually greet me before I speak when you're fully awake." Kid raised his missing brows. "Plus, you have that death glare on you right now." He pointed out.

"...Good Morning." Law forcefully smiled. He had forgotten how he glared at people when he was half-asleep. He couldn't help it- his eyelids felt too heavy.

Darn, Law regretted. I should have at least washed my face to clear up. He thought as he saw Kid snicker from his greeting. Law blushed from embarrassment as he felt awkward about Kid knowing too well about him.

"Sorry, Sanji," Law tried to change the subject as Sanji poured in some English Breakfast (tea) in. "Is the cheese goat, or..."

"Oh, no. It's not goat cheese. It's medium to sharp white cheddar cheese since it seemed like you didn't like it." Sanji informed him as he placed the teapot in front of Law.

Am I really that easy to read? Law started to wonder. He was slightly disturbed.

"Sorry, it tasted a bit too gamey to me." Law confessed. Sanji gave him a shake with his head, implying that he didn't mind.

"Picky." Kid spoke between bites. This time, Law purposely created a glare for Kid.

"I am not." Then Kid smiled.

"'I don't eat bread or english muffins but crumpets are ok'? Tell me, they are all the same."

"No, I don't like yeast."

"See. You are a picky eater." Kid teased in a matter of a fact manner- which made Law pissed even more.

"-Eustass-ya, just shut the hell up."

"Ah... Cranky? Should I soothe you with a good morning kiss?" Kid joked around.

"Very funny Eustass-ya." Law curtly said although the corner of his mouth expressed opposite of his tone. "You seem very cheery in this early daybreak. What's up?"

"I'm a morning person- unlike you." Kid resumed eating. "Plus, I guess I'm glad you woke up just for me." He smiled mischievously.

"Aha. Yeah, just for you." Law laughed bitterly. "You sounded urgent last night, so I was curious."

"Oh. I just wanted to have breakfast with you before I'm gone for a while."

"...That's it?"

"Yeah. Basically. Sorry my reason didn't match your expectations."

"...It's fine." Law answered, but let out a small sigh. "But what about your wife? Why didn't she come down?"

"She's not a morning person."

"Well, me neither." Law admitted. He was planning to say more when he caught a glimpse of Kid's sullen expression.

"...You don't complain as much as her." Kid sighed to himself and met Law's eyes. He sat there for a while with a pause. "Law, I have something to tell you when I'm back from my business trip."

"...Is it something about Welma that you mentioned yesterday?" Law asked as he took a gulp from the brewing hot tea.

"That too, but something more." Kid stated. From Kid's tone, it sounded serious and Law immediately wondered if there was something wrong that he did. "Oh, it's nothing that you did or anything. I think it's not bad news for the both of us." Kid reassured as he saw the subtle change in Law's expression.

"Alright. I'll be waiting till you're back then." Law breathed in relief.

"Trafalgar, I just have one favor-" Law looked up from his plate to let Kid know he was listening. "Please be in charge of the house while I'm gone."

"-Me? Not Welma?" Law wondered out loud. Kid nodded in agreement.

"I trust you the most. I've already let everyone, even Welma, know you'll be in charge while I'm gone."

"But you're only gone for a few weeks? -And, there's also your trusted butler,-"

"I want everyone working to understand that you are to be respected and would be the head of the household, even Killer." Kid stated as he placed his coffee down. Kid was already finished with his breakfast, but he grabbed the newspaper off from the table and opened it. Law wondered why Kid said this.

It must be something related to what Eustass-ya and his wife discussed about yesterday. Law brewed in thought. Otherwise, why should I be charge? Law tried searching for an answer from the information he just obtained, but couldn't figure out what. He then looked at Kid who was just relaxing and reading the newspaper. Law took a glimpse at the clock on the wall.

"Don't you have to get ready to go?" Law asked as he finished his last piece of sausage.

"I can wait a bit more. Not too much in a rush." Kid answered. "I'll stay around till you're done. No need to rush." He smiled with intention. Law immediately caught what he meant- it meant to hurry up- he was waiting for him. So Law grumbled to himself as he picked up his pace. Kid snickered as he was glad Law got his point. Whenever Law took long- whether it was eating, or shopping, or just waiting for him to come with him, Kid has always waited for him. Even if Law had told him numerous times to go on ahead, Kid had always refused and would stick around (and jokingly claim that he is lonely and needs him). Law never understood why he does that, but it still made him feel pleased- even if Kid was pushing him to hurry up. It made him feel needed and respected.

o-o-o-o-o

After they finished breakfast, they brushed their teeth together (more like Kid came over with his toothbrush to Law's bathroom). And while Kid went to drop his belongings downstairs, Law washed his face.

The time was almost 7am when they got to the garage with Kid's slick black car. It was a Peugeot 601 Éclipse, a classic French model with an oblong slim hood and artistic beautiful curves along its tires. The convertible had its seats exposed since Kid had opened it since it was a hot sunny day a few days before.

"Guess I better get going." Kid said as he hopped into his convertible. Law took a few steps away from the vehicle as it roared to life. "Hey wait," he called out to Law, "aren't you going to give me a 'have a safe drive' kiss?" Kid smirked as he pointed his left cheek.

Law just gave him a grim blank stare as he pressed the garage door opener. A huge gust of the autumn wind entered the garage and Kid shivered as it licked his face. Law regretted not wearing a pair of socks as his fluffy slippers couldn't block all of the cold.

"...Should I go grab your black leather jacket?" Law asked as he started stepping out of the garage and back into the house.

"I'll close the top, but yeah, thanks." Kid grumbled as he rubbed his arms. He had forgotten how cold it was now. The grasses here were sparkling with ice jewels, a creation from the dew and the night air. It was still September, but the nights have already dropped to freezing temperatures. The cloudy gray sky did not make it warmer too.

Law immediately left to Kid's bedroom. Then Kid suddenly flicked his head up and called out to Law, "Fuck, wait! Nevermind! I'll get it!"

Before the door that connected the halls to the garage closed, Law stook his head out.

"Too late. I'm already on my way." Law sneered as he rushed back into the house again.

He quickly fled up the stairs and entered Kid's bedroom. Law wondered why Kid looked very flustered about it. It's not like I care if he hid porn mags in there. Law thought to himself. Law entered Kid's walk-in closet and quickly grabbed Kid's usual leather coat. The place was very clean- despite Law not having to clean it (he only cleaned the bedroom- not including the closet). Just as Law was returning the hanger back to it's place, he saw a glimpse of something metallic. Curious why such a metal thing was in there, he swished the rest of the clothes aside to reveal it.

It was a shiny cube, about a foot in length for each side. There were also a panel with numbers and a handle to open it. It was a safe.

...A safe in a closet? Law asked himself. Why isn't this in his office? -But I guess it's too common to have financial safes in the office. Hmm. In the closet? How creative. Law touched it's cold body and then tried it's handle- as it was expected, it was tightly closed shut.

Law was going to see if he could try a code just for fun, but then he heard the thunder of feet climbing up the stairs.

"Fuck," Law cursed as he grabbed the hanging jackets and swished them together to obscure the safe, "that must be Kid." He quickly jumped out of the closet just as Kid entered the bedroom. "...Did you leave the engine going? You didn't need to come up? -I got your jacket?" Law tried to hide how he just jumped out of the closet. However, he thought he was speaking a bit too fast than usual, making him sound suspicious.

"...Ah. Uhmm. No, I turned off the engine." Kid replied without noticing Law's attitude. Law could tell that Kid was concerned about something, but he tried to not look too concerned. "I thought to get a different coat than that... but I guess that's fine." Kid mumbled- an excuse for running up the stairs. Law slightly lifted his brow wondering if it was the safe and if so, why didn't he want Law to know where the safe was. It wasn't like he knew the code anyways. -Or there was something in the closet besides the safe. However, Law didn't ask any questions and threw the coat on Kid's face- but he caught it before it hit him.

They went downstairs together and Kid looked a bit bothered. As Kid got back onto his car-its hard roof top was closed securely- he turned the engine again, but this time gestured Law to come closer. Law obeyed and placed his ear closer to Kid's mouth.

"...Sorry, can you not go in my closet till I'm back?" Kid said. Law made eye contact with him and nodded.

"But I still have to clean your room?"

"Yeah. Please. Thanks." Kid said. "I'll tell you what's up when I get back." Kid smiled. "That'll be one of the first things I will tell you about."

"-more than the other thing you wanted to tell me about during breakfast?"

"Mmm... About the same." Kid stated. Then he caught Law off-guard as Kid aggressively grabbed Law's head and licked his cheek.

"Fuck! The hell?!" Law startled as he jumped away from Kid. Kid laughed obnoxiously as he drove the car out to the driveway- and Law missed his opportunity to punch him.

"See ya in a few weeks!" Kid said as he drove away from sight.

Law grumbled to himself as he wiped Kid's saliva off with his sleeves. He then closed the garage door and entered the hallway to start the days without Kid.

A/N:

Thank you very much for reading.

I guess this chapter was shorter than my usual ones.

Update will be next 15th.

Next chapter- in my opinion- is...meh. Sour. Bitter? Hmmm...