A/N: Okay…sorry for the late update! Don't' kill me please!
…and to tell the truth this chapter is very late because of three reasons; 1 Midterms and finals, 2 Thesis and 3 I got addicted in How to Train Your Dragon that I even watched the series and Ben 10 (Alien Force, Ultimate Alien and Omniverse) ….yeah I'm a child at heart and I admit it wholeheartedly!
DISCLAIMER: Do not own any anime, manga or songs!
Chapter 18: The Calm Before The Storm
Back in the ship hours before the explosion in Dressrosa's castle gates
"You guys need to wear some disguise!" Bon clay declared as the spoon he was using to eat his parfait dangled between his point finger and middle finger on his right hand. He said it in a manner that sends shivers down on everyone's spine…well except the okama's crew.
"If you are trying to get me in one of your girly clothes then I will kick your ass so far—" Sanji didn't finish his sentence because Bon Clay cut him by one of his accented sing song voice.
"No~No~ I need you guys to disguise in something that will camouflaged you well in Dressrosa~" Bon Clay started twirling around and in the next moment he was holding some three piece suit and some fake beards.
At this Zoro raised an eyebrow,
"You want us to pretend as some high class old men?" the swordsman asked looking a bit skeptical on the idea presented to him.
"What?!" Kidd reacted at that, "Oh, Hell no! You are not going to get me changed into that?!"
This time it was the redhead who gained the attention of everyone.
"Ah…what exactly does shitty-magnet meant by that?"
"Kidd is a bit… I don't know, allergic or something in wearing suits," Killer explained as he was handed the clothes that will fit his frame.
"That's ridiculous," Zoro commented.
"Tell that to me when you wear those…those irritating stuff for like almost EVERYDAY!"
Oh right, Kidd does own one of the richest company in New World City.
"So you compensate it by wearing clothes that looks like something that could only be worn by a gang boss?"
"Shut up, Roronoa!"
Meanwhile Ace, Sabo and Luffy were watching the exchange with different level of amusement.
Ace was thinking that they look like some people who were just going to a costume party despite the seriousness of their situation. Like a party that has having a theme of mafia because of the all black color. Actually their clothes were similar to the movie MIB. Are they going to fight some aliens? Well if they tell him that the pink feathery guy was an alien he will not be surprised at all.
Sabo was feeling a little scared and irritated at the same time. Having two idiotic brothers was enough for him, he does not need a few dumb adults to add to the list thank you very much.
Luffy being Luffy thinks that everything was cool. Especially since their clothes were very similar to the movie Shanks and his brothers watched back in the past, though another man was really getting his attention.
"Ossan, ossan!" Luffy called out to the white haired man who was blowing something from his mouth.
"What?" Smoker decided to entertain the child for a while for he did not want to deal with the others. Well, he and Mihawk did not want to join in their idiocy in trying to kill the ballerina man… or whatever Bon Clay is. Also if that Okama forced him to wear those clothes he will make sure that it will be torn to pieces when he will be engaged in battle.
"What is your connection to our Daddy?" Luffy inquired while doing his cute little head tilt to the side.
At this Smoker raised an eyebrow. This was really unexpected. Judging from what other people says about the youngest he was expecting a question along the lines of 'do you poop?' because somehow the child was obsessed with such topics. Having a decent question coming from Luffy's mouth was really a first for Smoker. Well, this was really the first time he had a chance to talk to the kids.
"I'm the father of your 'Daddy'." Smoker simply answered.
"Oh…" Luffy tried to think about it, "But you look nothing like Daddy."
"That's because your 'Daddy' was adopted by me. We are not related by blood."
"Like us?"
"Huh?" that's it when he remembered that the kids were also adopted by Akagami Shanks and now they are adopted by Trafalgar Law, "Basically, yes."
"So… Daddy was abandoned also?" Luffy continued his questions.
Was Law abandoned? In so many twisted sense the answer is an absolutely yes but at the same time Doflamingo has his own way in showing his affections and love. Said ways was not inside the normative of society though.
"Maybe yes, maybe no," Smoker finally said because he himself did not understand the situation that much.
"Eh? What do you mean?"
"You already met the 'father' of your 'Daddy'."
"Yeah, didn't you just said that it was you?" Luffy clarified with a little bit of confusion.
How should he explain this?
"The one before I became his father."
"Really? When did I meet him? Where did I meet him? Did he try to take Daddy away from you?"
"One question at a time brat!" Smoker scolded the child a little but his voice was not that high enough to gain the attention of the others, "The man I was talking about was the one who kidnapped you and your father."
Just like that the room's temperature went cold and the heaviness of the atmosphere finally stopped everyone from their nonsense fighting. Zoro and Kidd were trying to land a punch in the other's face when their fists halted in midair to see where the sudden change came from. Sanji was trying to see if the fake beards fit him searched also while still holding the item in front of his face. Killer, who was making his own coffee when all the fight started, settled his cup on the counter as he looked at the youngest child on the ship. Mihawk just continued leaning on the wall but still curious at how things will turn out. Ace and Sabo was having a silent conversation on how to bring Luffy out of his one of his dark moods.
Luffy just have his hair covered his eyes. That and the hat was giving him an extra shadow so good luck in seeing what expressions he was having at that moment. Then he looked up, one eye was visible thanks for the light that illuminated that part, though that eye did not show the usual playfulness but rather something that promised pain.
"I'm going to kill him,"
That simple statement got everyone in a crazy state. Yes, every single one of them. That was because when Luffy decided to do something they knew that the child was going to do it no matter what. Well maybe not everyone knew it as the truth since they just heard it from Shanks years ago. It was only Sabo and Ace who could really vouch for it.
"Oi! Mugi-chan! That's not a word you could say lightly!" Bon Clay exclaimed as he took hold of the boy's shoulders, "Take that back!"
"No." Luffy answered firmly.
"Oi, Luffy even if you say that do you think you can do anything about this matter?" Zoro asked thought his question did not really help their situation.
"You do really have to ask that, Marimo." Sanji grumbled under his breath.
"What was that, Love cook?!" just like that the two started fighting again which only made Killer to sigh in exasperation.
Chaos ensure again as voices erupted here and there. Some of it says that Luffy should calm down or Luffy's idea was not really good while others were just some petty fights between the only couple in the room. Smoker simply put his right palm on his face and sigh heavily at what was happening while Mihawk just stared at the scene. Finally, being fed up Smoker tried to get the attention of the youngest child by flicking his fingers enough to make some noise.
"Luffy," Smoker started, "That's your name right?"
"Yeah,"
"You see Luffy, the word 'kill' is a really heavy one and when said seriously you are really meant to end the life of someone," he started explaining.
"I know,"
"Huh?" didn't they say that the kids did not know the meaning of death before Shanks' died? How come Luffy easily understood the word 'kill'? Or maybe…
"I already saw people who killed other people," with this answer everyone stopped again interested on what was being said between the adult and the child, "Living in the streets made me see the black side of the world."
Did Smoker have something to counter such statement?
Of course he did.
"Yes, but the world is not just black and white,"
At this Luffy tilted his head and his childish curiosity was instantly back on his face.
"You see, people do things because they have reasons behind it. For example you kids steal things back when you were just fending for yourselves, right?"
Hearing the question Ace looked to the other side of the room and pretended to whistle innocently while Sabo scratched his head in sheepishly. They did have a habit of stealing. In fact until now they still have some of their habits, especially eat and runs.
"Yeah! Ace was really cool and Sabo was really good at thinking on how to get the money of those stinky rich guys!" Luffy stated proudly making both of his brothers groaned in annoyance. Their little brother just revealed half of their not so stunningly well fit to the society past.
"But stealing is bad," Smoker scolded the child a bit, "yet you still continue to do it back then."
"That's because—"
"You need to do it to survive," Smoker finished. He then let his right leg to kneel on the floor so he was eye to eye with the child, "Everything has a cause and effect, Luffy. You do something because there is a cause. Killing will never be the best option, remember that. Also remember that the job of your father and your previous father was to keep people safe and alive how do you think they will feel when they discover that you destroyed the very thing they wanted to protect?"
It was a slow process and Smoker almost thought that because he made such a long speech the child did not understand the half of it. He was prepared to make a short version and Luffy's tummy suddenly growled.
"I'm hungry…" Luffy whined as he turned his gaze to Sanji.
"Are you kidding me? You just ate like an hour ago."
"Sanji! Meat!"
"Give up, Sanji, you can't win against Luffy once he wants something," Zoro put a hand on his lover to make a point.
"Which makes me think that he was being a spoiled brat if not for the fact that he was too stupid to be spoiled in the first place." With that Sanji went into cooking some snacks.
That's it? Discussion was already over? What just happened?
"Oh! Grandpa Smokey!" Luffy called out,
Many eyebrows were raised at the new nickname.
Ace and Sabo stared at each other then started snickering until it was an all out laughter. The laughter was so contagious that everyone joined. Mihawk was trying his best to appear aloof but the quivering of his shoulders was a dead giveaway.
"Oh, That's rich! The Vice Admiral is now being called in such a cute name!" Kidd exclaimed in between of feats of laughter.
"Shut up!" Smoker scolded but his cheeks had a little taint of red from embarrassment.
"You've got to admit Smoker-kun, the new nickname is indeed 'cute' as how they put it." Mihawk finally joined the conversation, "Though it might ruin a bit of your reputation."
"Stop throwing more reasons to them! I can't believe you're even joining this nonsense talks!"
"Well contrary to popular belief I too have a sense of humor," Mihawk stated with a smirk.
"Woah, too much revelations," Sanji whistled when he heard what Mihawk said, "I didn't know your brother knows how to make and appreciate a joke, Zoro?"
"Oh, yes, but believe me his sense of humor is a twisted one," his lover replied back remembering the things that his older brother did to him when he was still a child. Never again will he trust Mihawk in standing behind him when bungee jumping is included. Being shoved unprepared once was enough of a reminder.
"Grandpa Smokey! Grandpa Smokey!" Luffy tried to get the attention of the adult again.
"Will you stop calling me in that name?!" finally Smoker turned his head again towards the younger child.
Luffy simply smiled at him and said, "Thank you!"
All the anger and embarrassment was forgotten after the strawhat kid said those words. This child and his adopted son might not be related in blood but somehow they have their own similarities.
"You're welcome,"
Amusement filled the air after that as Sanji settled down the food and made enough for everyone, though in reality, the trio were the only ones who ate the majority of it. An hour or so passed when one of the crewmen of Bon Clay knocked on the door and told them that they were about to arrive in Dressrosa.
"Okay~ Is everyone ready?~"
It was already night time when they finally anchored to one of Dressrosa's ports. What baffled them was that no one was there not even guards. It was already a bad sign for them.
The kids were left inside the ship courtesy of Kidd and Sanji. The two of them tied the brothers together with a rope to prevent them from escaping. Both of them don't care if the others approved in letting the little ones join them. The kids will stay on the ship and that's final. Little did they know that Ace already predicted it to happen so the freckled boy hid a small knife in his pocket. When the adults were nowhere in sight it only took a few minutes for them to make their escape and take their own route.
"Well~ what are we waiting for? Let's go now~" Bon Clay twirled around as he led the group.
Staying cautious to their surrounding the rest of the party followed the okama. It didn't take them five minutes of walking when what they were dreading for happened. Explosions started to erupt here and there forcing them to split. What a cliché situation they were having now.
"Really?! This mission is becoming more and more movie like! I will not be surprised if the shitty okama will do a noble sacrifice of his life later!" Sanji screamed as he tried to dodge the explosion and stones that comes along with it.
"Ora! That's not a nice thing to say Sanji-kun! Don't end my life just like that!" Bon Clay reprimanded as he run along with the chef. If the skipping and twirling he was doing can be considered as running away to save his dear life.
"What the hell?! What are you doing in here?! I thought Zoro was the one beside me!"
"The swordsman guy? He went to the other way when we run." Bon Clay supplied.
"Damn it, Zoro and his directionless brain," Sanji cursed for a moment before he sighed heavily, "I guess I have to put up with you in the mean time."
"You make it sound like you don't really want me to be here!" the okama protested looking angry.
"Is it not obvious?!"
"Why y—" the okama was not able to finish his sentence when the ground they were running suddenly disappeared making them to have an epic fall.
"What the hell is wrong with this country!" Sanji shouted as they freefall to whatever destination they will be.
On the other road Killer and Kidd were running also away from the explosions.
"What a stupid trap we fall into," Killer muttered appearing to be calm, even though he was running on his top speed his face did not show any sign of tiredness.
"For the first time I agree with you, how could we not see that coming?" Kidd replied.
"Well, I don't know but I've got the feeling that we were about to fall on a simple trap again."
"What do you mean?" but before Kidd could get an answer Killer accidentally step on a tile that embedded itself on the ground.
"Oops," was all the blond managed to say before the ground disappeared underneath them.
"The situation take the 'fall' thing quite literally!" Kidd screamed before darkness swallowed them.
"Damn it, where did they go? Did they get lost again?" Zoro grumbled as he ran from building to building.
When the explosion happened he was sure that he followed Sanji when the man turned right…or was it left? Whatever, the point is why he was running alone now. Not even one of his comrades was with him when he took off.
"Ah, where they could possibly be?" he scratched his head as he leaned on the wall. He did not know that it was a trap door and not just an ordinary wall so when he leaned all his weight into it the door slide down and flip hip inside.
On the other side of it was a slide thing that takes Zoro to somewhere else.
"I thought these things only happen in the movies?" he questioned as he yawned and waited to reach the ground…. Actually he might get some sleep because it looks like this slide was long enough especially with all its twists and turns.
"Where are we supposed to go again?" Ace asked Sabo as they entered the castle through the garden.
Earlier they were having a problem in which way to go. Surely they could not take the time to search the whole country. When in one of the rare moments Luffy showed them his smart side.
"Didn't they say that Daddy will be held in somewhere where he will be hard to find?"
"Yes, that's what they said, Luffy," Sabo confirmed his little brother's question, "What do you want to say?"
"I'm just thinking," Luffy put his pointing finger on his temple.
"Oi, Lu, don't hurt yourself," Ace said as he saw the reddening of Luffy's face.
"Dungeons are not easy to find, right?" Luffy finally said as he released a puff of air.
Realization dawn on the other two,
"That's right, didn't they say they have to go inside a castle?" Ace looked towards Sabo,
"And dungeons are found in the castles," Sabo shared a smile to his brothers as they finally had a place to search.
"For once Luffy you say something very smart," Ace smirked at his little brother and ruffled his hair.
"Shishishishi!"
"The dungeon, Ace," Sabo answered.
"Right…" Ace grumbled as he dusted off his shirt before finally letting his anger to go out, "So why the hell those explosions keeps coming from one after another?!"
"I don't know how was that question connects to your first question." Sabo motioned for them to follow him on the backdoor he found, "I mean we did not know that there are traps everywhere,"
"That's it Sabo!" Ace shouted his frustrations again, "How could we not think that there are fucking traps in here?!"
Sabo turned to his freckled brother and narrowed his eyes, "Ace, watch your language."
At this response Ace looked at his brother incredulously,
"Really? Really, Sabo? You're correcting my manners right now?"
"Yes," Sabo answered him sternly.
"What are you guys doing we don't have time to waste!" fortunately or unfortunately it was Luffy who stopped the nonsense arguing of his brothers as he run on the nearest stairs.
"Damn it, Luffy, wait for us!" Ace followed his little brother along with Sabo. Who knows how many traps lies inside the castle.
When they of them round the corner they bumped on their little brother who stood frozen to where he is.
"What the hell, Luffy?" Ace exclaimed as he stood up but then he saw the surprised of Sabo and he was now curious to what his brothers were looking to that made them speechless. When he gaze in front of him he was sent into silence also.
No way…
The person they were looking for was just on the other side of the hallway staring at them also like he don't know them and they were considered as a threat.
Time seemed to stop only for their little brother to break it again,
"DADDY!"
A/N: Woah, I finally got this off my chest! Next chapter will be all the fight scenes! But beware I'm not that good in describing fight scenes so expect that each one will be really, and I mean REALLY SHORT!
Anyways here is an omake!
OMAKE:
Where Kidd learned not to mess on Law's collections
Kidd: Hey Trafalgar, can I get some coffee?
Law: Sure, in the kitchen.
Kidd: (got up and started making his coffee but accidentally tear the ear of the bear mug) Ooops…
(A dark aura surrounded him)
Law: What did you do to my Bepo…
Kidd: T-Trafalgar, I-I swear it was just an accident….
Law: You hurt my Bepo…
Kidd: I-I'll just replace it…
Law: I'm going to kill you!
A/N: Thanks for waiting patiently!