The Singer's Secret

Hey guys! Here's the new chapter!

There's nothing I could say right now, besides that I'll work on the chapters as much as possible for you. -

Dislaimer 's on the first page

Have a nice read!

Chapter 2 – His Solution

In the hospital Zoro with closed eyes were listening to the even, beeping sound of the electronic device connected to Luffy, to signal his heart rate. How could they have been so careless? They should have been paying attention more to the signs. It was obvious that, that Hancock chick was trying to do something, and it's going to leave a scar on Luffy!

A few minutes ago, he woke up, and told him what happened, it could've been worse, but to Luffy, it was some frightening experience, he won't just laugh it off as he usually does with things, he tries to avoid. He was scared out of his mind and they weren't with him. He didn't even want to think what could have happened, if they didn't interfere.

At this, he stood up and was about to punch the white wall behind him, when he suddenly stopped only a few inches short. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves. Luffy just went back to sleep a few minutes ago, he'd surely wake up, if he'd crushed the wall.

He didn't have time to think about the past and the what ifs! They got to figure out, how're they gonna work this trough. The doctor said, he will be fine physically (might be a scar left, but that's not serious). No, the real problem will be the psychical damage, this whole think caused. Luffy'll have to go to a therapist, that's for sure.

Zoro's been thinking about this kind of things, he was so into it, he didn't even notice the door explode on the other side of the room and then two men came through, like crazed animals. As they saw them they froze on instant, Luffy was sleeping, now not as pale as a few hours before, but Zoro's thinking face put them at bay.

Usopp cautiously approached him or maybe both, for that matter. Luffy was quiet because of the sedatives, they gave him to calm down. It was strange, Luffy was always a loud sleeper, the constant toss and tumble in bed was usual, just as his breathing somehow was always louder at night. But not now, he was just quietly laying in his bed. The silence from both was quite unnerving.

Sanji tapped on Zoro's shoulder to quietly but efficiently get him out of his thoughts and tell them what happened. Zoro flinched, them blinked a few to process what's happened. As soon as he sees them, he nodded towards the door for them to follow and discuss everything.

XYZ

The whole school learned what happened at the party and for a while, nobody wanted to go near them, but after some time, the teasing started and that's where everything collapsed. The student (be old or young) always found a way to make gestures that recall little pieces of that night.

Luffy held himself together as much as he was capable, but he has his limits too. He started avoiding everybody, the possibility that they hurt him drives him crazy and it goes as far, that he didn't even interact with his best friend, his brothers.

They obviously tried to chase them away, but the teasers always found a way to get close to him. So far Luffy refused to go to any kind of therapy. He didn't want to look weak, that was the last thing he needed after all this struggling to keep his composure in front of everybody.

The three left him be for a week or two, however, the first time, he didn't eat with them or just simply talked or spoke to them was the last strike. That night they planned to force him..., amm... no... that's too harsh, better say, just tricking him to do something he doesn't want, yeah that's it, so to trick him to go to the therapy.

The doctor in the hospital recommended a psychologist, who's able to assist such cases like Luffy's. So, the first thing was to call him, make him agree, then plan to trick Luffy. The obvious key was food, so the whole thing was based on food. It was actually, the red-headed man's idea, so it really showed his profession on the matter.

XYZ

The plans were ready and they were only waiting of Luffy to come out of his room. It wasn't too complicated, just had to pay attention what they say to him for the deceiving to be accurate. So, they started preparing on the early Saturday morning. They put away every single edible thing they had at home, a little cruel, but effective, so when Luffy went to have breakfast and found absolutely nothing, he had a minor panic attack what they used for deceiving him to do almost anything.

He was standing in front of the empty fridge frozen, but his eyes were lunaticly searching the shelfs. So, using his colourless state, Sanji took out a freshly cooked chicken leg out of a dinner pail, and put it in front of his nose. It twitched as the smell reached his senses. He instinctively tried to bite on it, but Sanji, missing only a hair's breadth pulled it away, trying to lead him towards the door and out of the house.

The hard part came as they went out of the house, because there were more confusing factors, like new noises or new odours that could be stronger than the chicken. As they went out of the door, a car hooted almost broke out Luffy of his trans, but Zoro was prepared for this possibility, so he took out his head set, put it on him gently, not to risk anything, and started a grinning voice, like something is being roasted. It successfully excluded the outside world.

The three released the breath they didn't even realise they were holding. The next obstacle was the variety of odours in the air, so Usopp always pushed a smoked ham under his nose every time. he looked like he lost his smell. They were doing it across the streets till they get there. Luckily the place wasn't that far so it wasn't that awkward, however after a while it was pretty funny leading him this way, so it got better.

They arrived and a whole table full of food waited them there, plus a red-haired man, named Shanks, behind it waiting for them patently. Luffy seeing this immediately rushed there eating like he didn't eat for weeks. Shanks saw this, he gestured for the boys to start eating as well, he'll take over from here, tho' they stayed a little further away from them.

After a while Shanks, asked Luffy if he liked the food, though he was still eating. Luffy nodded, didn't even thinking about he's never seen that men before, but oh well… not like it matters, the food's good and talking about it is even better. Shanks did his job so well, that Luffy didn't even noticed, when he started talking about more and more personal stuff. After an hour of talking, the food was long gone, Luffy finally asked who he is, because that somehow was left out.

Luffy gaped at him, thinking trough what had happened this morning. After he found out he was supposed to be a psychologist, he didn't know what to say, that wasn't that bad, his brothers were decent about it too, so maybe it could be good to come here more often.

"So, was it good enough to you to come back next time willingly?" Asked the read head.

"Omm… I-I don't really know, will be there food again?" Asked back Luffy, his stubborn self-showing about this. But as Shanks nodded for this, he agreed. His friends in the corner watched the interaction and smiled at the success.

XYZ

The therapy went quite well, but still, Luffy kept his deepest emotion in check during the talks. His blank face was improving to an another level. It was going on like this, nothing new, nothing special, Luffy just talked about his days, what happened and stuff, but leaving out the hurt full parts.

One day, Shanks were walking home, and a big crowd drew his attention. He walked closer and in the middle of it saw as a raven-haired boy was sitting on his knees, his head planted on the floor, while his two hands were on each side of his face covering his ears, not wanting to hear what they'd say. The people around him obviously knew about what had happened and were mocking him about it.

Shanks witnessing this dashed into the middle of the circle and shouted out to the youths around him to get the hell out of there. They startled by the loud roar, and the possibility of a police case, scattered out.

Shanked crouched down in front of him and pull him up to face him. Luffy looked like broken picture of himself, as tears stream out of his eyes, his hair ragged at the sides, as its've been dragged this whole time.

Luffy slowly, but registered Shank's being there. He didn't really know what to do at the moment. Shanks just pulled him whit himself up, to a standing position, then started walking to the direction of his home, still dragging Luffy behind him, who didn't try to protest.

Shanks's home was a little flat with modern furniture and electronic equipment, like his gigantic TV on the wall or the smart home system all-round the apartment. The walls were mostly grey, blue, black or somewhere a little white for the style of it. It's a real bachelor Pad.

Luffy awed at this, he didn't even know half of this thinks how to use, or just turn it on. They had to work for their own phones too, so it's not so surprising. But at least his spirit came back a little.

Shanks gestured him into the living room and onto the comfy sofa. He sat right next to him, but didn't say anything, patently waiting for him. Both of them just stared at the grey wall before them.

The younger fidgeted with his finger, while thinking what could he possibly say.

"I should thank you for what you... um… did, so thanks, I guess…" And that's all he's managed to put together about it.

"Don't worry about it, you're welcome, but I would like an explanation though." Shanks tried to motivate him to talk with more and less success.

"Yeah, that's a funny story. Hehe… so, you know about it, right?" Luffy asked as he turned his head, to finally look at him and saw as Shanks nodded one. He's brothers told him about the incident when they planned the trick.

"So, I'm usually able to … you know…, but today they were like, following me everywhere. Across the school or on the way home, there always was somebody who could disturb me. "Shanks nodded yet again, noting every little detail in his head, and still giving him his space, to be as comfortable as possible talking about it.

"And it it's getting too much, how do you fight it? What do you do to get over it?" He tried to use the occasion to get to the bottom of it. His fears his so afraid of.

"I... uhh... the food usually good for that…, but today I didn't even have appetite just to look at it. The memories just popping out in my mind like images, and … I don't know what to do about them." Said Luffy, while he covered his eyes with his hands. The uncertainty radiated of off him.

"You know," Shakes started yet again "I used to have that kind of feeling too, when I was younger, the seniors were always picking on me for my read hair colour. I didn't know what to do until my music teacher helped me find a method, to clear my mind and calm down my nerves." Luffy quickly looked at him, surprised by the fact that he had that problem too. But what interested him more was the solution to all of this.

"He said the music is a part of our life, the sounds all around us, we just have to listen and get lost in them, if you could into it enough, all of your problem will go away for that time." He said with a little laugh at the end.

"He was a crazy old man, but I'll never forget his advice" then he looked at Luffy as he stood up and walked across the room to the piano in the corner. He sat down, and started playing on it. The tune was familiar and relaxing, and after a while Shanks's singing voice added to it perfectly.

"I won't say, it's going to help everybody with their nerves to calm they everyday life, but you seem that kind of guy, who could be." After that he stood from the piano and walked back to him, who looked at him with stunned expression.

"I think you should try the singing, who knows, maybe you'd like it better than you think."

XYZ

So that's how we got to this point, where they were in the waiting room preparing to the first station of the talent show, their first concert in the open, which's going to change everything and shake the world.

To be continued...

That the end of it for now, so thanks y'all!

Bye :)