Law was petrified. Every attempt to utter anything, or even move went in vain. He simply couldn't comprehend what was right before his very own eyes. However, once his eyes met with another man's, he turned around with a still shocked expression, and run to his room, as quietly as someone can run, locking the door. He fell on the wall with his back, panting out heavily. He then slowly slid down, wrapping his arms around his legs.

Just what..was that?..

"Law! Law wake up!"

The voice of a young female woke him up. It was still early, but he remembered that he ought to attend another mission. It had been nearly every day these past weeks, but he didn't complain. Today, however, was a mission that was going to be a real pain. He didn't mind going with Buffalo or Baby 5, since they were the only kids there he spent a lot of time with them. Corazon however, was a person he wanted to spent the less time possible with. But yesterday.. Still, the mission was probably another one that would prove the children's worth, and Corazon was apparently there to watch them. All three kids doubted that Corazon would really watch them, and they would probably have to watch him, but none complained.

"Law get up already!" She said again, pulling the sheets off the bed. Law rarely woke up late for missions, but yesterday he didn't manage to really sleep after his sneaking exit, so him being tired was only reasonable.

Law shot the girl a glare, which made her stop annoying him and run to Buffalo for comfort. Law got up and got dressed fast, took the needed weapons, 'equipment', like it was referred as, and run downstairs. Buffalo and Baby 5 were near the exit door, talking and laughing carelessly with each other. Corazon was there too, smoking. Law avoided eye contact with him, and simply went near the other kids. After putting out the fire Corazon clumsily set on his coat, they finally left.

Law was still trying to avoid any kind of interaction between him and the older man, but to his surprise, the other man was just as reluctant.

"Young master-sama said that these pirates betrayed us. So you know what to do right?" Baby 5 was heard.

Law simply nodded. He knew perfectly clear that nobody betrayed Doflamingo and got away with it. Ally or enemy. He turned his head to the side, and from the corner of his eye looked at Corazon who was walking behind them. Once he saw the boy staring at him, he simply turned the other way, without any other action. Law frowned, and looked back in front. It was snowing, and the whole environment around them was painted white. It looked beautiful, with the small snowflakes falling down upon them. The boy shivered, and pulled the scarf he was wearing even higher on his face. Some distance away, Law could see a bridge, the same one he first met with the other two boys. The wooden floor of the bridge was now covered in thin ice, and several icy stalactites were hanging from its sides. Baby 5 seemed to know the directions, and from the direction she was walking to seemed that they'd have to cross it.

"Their hideout is right after the bridge." Baby 5 said loud enough to be heard in the heavy wind.

Buffalo picked her up, placing her on his shoulder, and started crossing the bridge first, the young girl laughing and looking around, enjoying the scenery.

"Woah! It's so pretty!" She exclaimed.

"Really-dasuyan!" The other boy agreed.

"Law, Cora-san! Hurry up! It's really cold, so let's return fast!" The girl was heard once more.

Corazon lit a cigarette, exhaling its smoke without replying. Law started walking on the bridge. He was looking down, carefully watching his steps on the frozen ground. But then, his mind travelled back on the two boys, and what had happened yesterday. They seemed safe when he left.. but what if something had happened after that? He didn't know himself why he cared that much, but he just couldn't help it. He raised his head, and took a look around, as if he was expecting them to be somewhere near. He continued walking just like that, but no sight of the two boys could be spotted as far as his eyes could see. Buffalo reached the other side in the meanwhile, and Baby 5 jumped off, looking around.

"Wah! I can see it! Hurry up!" She called to the two persons still walking on the bridge. Law ignored her callings, and continued looking around, ignoring the thin ice he started walking on as well. Suddenly, the boy slipped on the ice, and as he was walking near the side of the bridge, he fell through the gap, holding barely from the bridge with one hand.

"Law!" The children at the bridge's other side yelled scared. The river that run under the bridge hadn't frozen completely, and falling into its cold, freezing waters couldn't mean him just swimming out fine.

The boy tried to hold from the edge, but the bridge covered in ice and him being a mere child didn't help his efforts. Slowly, his fingers slipped one by one, and he eventually was forced to let go and fall. And exactly that would have happened, had Corazon not rushed to him, kneeling down and grabbing his hand. Law looked up to him shocked, speechless at the man's action. Corazon grabbed the bridge's side with his left hand, as with his right one he tightly held the boy's smaller one. He then, slowly pulled the boy up, and when he knew he was at a safe height, threw the boy away towards the other side.

"Law!" Baby 5 yelled and run towards him. "Are you alright?" She asked, sobbing as well. "I thought you were going to diee..!"

Law rubbed his wrist, that had a red mark from the strength that pulled him up, and softly panted out. "I-I'm fine.. I just slipped a bit.."

The older man had also reached the other side now, and quickly approached the children. He then, punched Law on the head with quite a lot of strength, resulting in a pained yell from the child.

"Ow..! What the heck?!"

Corazon then simply turned around and continued walking towards the pirates' hideout, slipping and falling on the snow as well on his way there.

The three children simply stood there, staring at him.

"Cora-san..just saved your life.." Baby 5 said, her eyes still on the man who was walking away, with a blank expression.

"Dasuyan.." Buffalo agreed shocked.

Law didn't speak, just continued staring at the man, with his mouth half opened.

Why..?!

"I think that's all they have!" Baby 5 was heard from the other room.

"Yes-dasuyan! I can't find anything else!" Buffalo's voice from another room.

"Let's just leave then", Law was heard, now entering another room."Some of them ran away, but whatever." He shivered once more from the freezing breeze. On the room that he entered, he noticed Corazon, now standing up, a bag filled with valuables on one of his hands. He inhaled his cigarette, and was about to walk away. Suddenly, a figure jumped from behind a couple of barrels on the room's back, and a man charged towards Corazon, holding a dagger. Corazon was all too late to notice, and once he turned around, he was met with the dagger impaled through the left part of his chest, pushing him down. The bag with the money, his shades and his gun scattered around, and a man now climbed on top of him, trying to stab him even lower, towards his vital organ.

"Fucking Donquixote scums!" He yelled, moving the dagger lower, Corazon gritted his teeth, and grabbed his own knife, stabbing the man on the chest. But the man didn't react, simply continued trying to deal the fatal blow. Law simply watched speechless as the man was closer and closer to killing Corazon. The other children run inside too, shocked at the scene spread in front of them.

"Cora-san!" Baby 5 yelled, as the man on top gave the dagger another dangerous push.

Suddenly, a gunshot was heard loudly and clearly. The bullet hit the man on the neck, that started bleeding heavily, soon him falling on the man below with his last breath. Corazon pushed the body off, and then pulled the dagger out, with a silent groan. His white shirt had started to get painted in a crimson colour, and he held his wound in pain. But then, a slow panting drew his attention, as he raised his head to look. He saw Law, with a shocked expression, holding his gun, hands trembling. The gun then fell at the floor, as the boy run outside. Baby 5 and Buffalo didn't believe their own eyes, for the second time this day. Corazon however, had a shocked expression just as theirs, as he pressed his wound more with a quiet hiss.

"C-Cora-san!" Baby 5 was heard, as she run towards him. "Are you okay?" It wasn't that the girl hated him anyways, she enjoyed pranking him even with him beating her up afterwords. He was an executive as well, so if anything happened to him she could easily be blamed.

Law continued running away. It had to have been a miracle that he didn't slip a second time on the bridge, even with him running. He started walking close to the town buildings, trying to reach the city's other side, where his own crew's hideout was. He run amongst the streets without noticing the surroundings or anything else. Why.. Why did I save him?! Didn't I want him dead?! Why did I shoot that gun?! . Thoughts like that echoed throughout his mind, but were suddenly cut off from the impact of his body with something that knocked him behind, falling down.

"O-Ow.. what-" he looked in front of him, and noticed another figure on the ground. His vision was kind of blurry from the impact, so he shook his head and looked in front of him. However, he was met with a shotgun's muzzle right between his eyes that rightward startled him. However, once he looked from the side of the huge gun, he was met with a pair of golden eyes. A pair, that seemed all too familiar. The figure seemed to notice the boy too, and they both exclaimed loudly the same thing.

"You?!"

Law frowned. "Yes, me. Now take that gun out of my face!" He said, and pushed away the gun's barrel.

The redhead boy pushed the shotgun behind his back, that was tied from a rope around his body. Law noticed the gun being several inches bigger than the whole boy's size, which put him in thoughts.

"What the hell are you doing?" The redhead said.

"Were did you get a gun like that?" Law asked.

The reply was "I just got it."

Law frowned, which made the younger boy huff in annoyance. He extended a hand towards Law's direction, and the latter saw the dagger hanging from his own belt move, and then go flying towards the redhead's direction. The boy grabbed the handle in time, and pointed it at the boy still at the floor.

"Like that. Satisfied?"

Law extended his own hand, on which the other boy returned the dagger.

"Where's your friend?" The older boy asked.

Kid scratched his head, looking around. "I don't know. Some thugs were chasing us cause we stole some food, and we got separated while running. I stole that gun just in case. I was looking for him, when you fell on me." He said, as he extended the shotgun's stock towards the boy. Law grabbed it, and by pulling it got up. He stared at the redhead in front of him. He had some fresh bruises and scratches all over his body, and a cut across his cheek. Law remembered how life was before all these, at his hometown. Everyone laughing, smiling, having fun. Celebrations, festivals, happy families all around. Just like his own used to be. And now? In front of him, was an 8-year-old boy, covered in blood, dirt and wounds, holding a gun bigger than his own body. Just.. Where had yesterday gone? And the worse was.. that this didn't even surprise him anymore. He'd grown used to it over the past year.

"You look pale." The redhead commented. "More than usual. And I'm not talking about your illness."

Law ignored him, as he walked away. The younger boy started following him, but the raven-haired boy didn't say anything. The redhead would probably follow him even if he did say something, so he didn't even bother to talk.

"That brat! He's part of Doflamingo's crew! I saw him back there!"

Both boys turned towards the voice's direction, and saw three men holding similar shotguns to the redhead boy. They aimed their guns towards their direction, ready to shoot. Law took a step back.

"Shit!" He didn't have enough time to run away. The men pulled the triggers, and the bullets were shot off towards him. Law however, watched in awe as the younger boy reached out his hand towards their direction, and the bullets stopped mid-air, returning to the men that just shot them at a high speed. All three men were shot right on the chest, and immediately collapsed. Once he made sure they were dead, Law glanced back at the redhead. He hadn't flinched at all, not even blinked. His eyes however, had that dangerous spark in them. He looked back at Law.

"What?"

"You didn't even hesitate.." Law said.

"It's a dog eat dog world. If I ever hesitated, I wouldn't be here now."

"Don't you have any parents?" Law asked with a frown, but received the same expression.

"Do I look like I have parents?"

He didn't reply, as the redhead walked towards the bodies. He kneeled down next to them, apparently searched for any money, weapons or valuables.

"So how come you're out here today?" Law heard the redhead as he was walking towards him.

".. I was on a mission." He said, as he kneeled next to another body, searching him as well, and throwing any kind of valuables near the redhead.

"A mission huh? What kind of mission?"

Law rolled his eyes. He had better things to do than explain the situation to the young child, but replied anyways.

"These guys betrayed our captain, so me and some others were sent off to deal with them. But then..this stupid..this stupid..!" He clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. The redhead simply stared at him, without commenting. He got up.

"I guess that's all they got." He said, shoving the money on his pocket. A cold breeze passed through them, making both boys shiver. "Shit! It's cold.." the younger child said, rubbing both his hands with each other in an attempt to get warmer. Law glanced at him, and then noticed something. The boy was wearing the same clothes as in the previous days. However, today the weather was colder than ever, and he was running around with a sleeveless shirt and rugged pants. Even his pale nose had a red colour from the cold. Kid noticed the other child staring at him, so he looked back with what would be a raised eyebrow, if the child had any, that is.

"What?"

Law sighed, and walked closer to him. He unwrapped the scarf from his own neck, and then slowly wrapped it around the pale neck of the redhead. The child was looking at Law with suspicion at first, but once he realized what he was doing he stayed quiet and let him finish. Law wrapped the whole cloth around him, then turned around and continued walking. The redhead simply followed him.

"Are you worried about your friend?" Law said.

"No. He's older than me, and a whole lot smarter too. He can take care of himself." The redhead simply replied, his voice muffled from the scarf but still intelligible.

"You know its the North Blue here right? Why are you dressed like that?"

"I'm not from here. We are from South Blue. We got mixed up in..something, and we somehow ended up here. We are still trying to find a way to return back."

Law stopped walking, and turned to the boy. "How the hell did you end up all the way here from South Blue?! There's the Red Line, the Grand Line, the Calm Belts..!"

"I told you it's a long story shut up!" Kid barked at him.

Law sighed as he continued walking.

"So what happened with your mission?" The child now asked, curiosity hidden within his words.

"This guy saved my life, although he hates me and is a total idiot of a klutz." Law said.

"Well, I don't know many guys that hateme and would save me as well.", was the comment he received.

Law just looked away. Corazon hated him, plain like that. He had been showing it to Law ever since their first meeting, more than a year ago. All this hatred, without caring about what he'd been through, without caring about his disease. Plain hatred, without even saying a single word. If that was true.. why did he have that worried expression on his face as he was holding him from falling? And Law.. he hated him too. Someone like Corazon didn't deserve to live when everyone from his own life were dead! Then why.. Why did he save him from that man? He could have simply stepped back, and let him get killed. Everything was just too confusing in his mind. But the thing that was worrying him the most at that point was the Amber Lead in his body. 18 months? Maybe less. The hope that Doflamingo had spread upon his life had started to vanish, along with everything else. Just when he had finally accepted the fact that he was going to die, that was ready for it and not even scared, these magical 'Devil Fruits' had return the fear of death in his mind. What if Doflamingo found it too late? Or if he didn't find it at all?

"Eustass-ya, what would you do if-"

"No ya."

The raven-haired stopped walking once more and looked at the redhead. "Huh?"

"If you're gonna call me by surname at least say it correctly." The redhead frowned.

Law frowned as well. "I am saying it just fine. Eustass-ya."

"There's no goddamn ya!" The younger child barked at him.

"What the hell are you saying?!" The other boy yelled back.

Suddenly, a loud gunshot was heard. And then several others. The direction was towards the south..where Law had come from. He gasped. Corazon was wounded. What if other guys from that crew returned? Baby 5 and Buffalo were strong for kids, especially since the girl had a Devil Fruit as well.. but they were still kids. They were always accompanied by an adult on each mission, and Corazon wasn't exactly the man that you should leave alone with kids for many reasons.

"Eustass-ya..I have to-" his sentence was cut off once he saw the redhead running towards the area the sounds came from. "Where are you going?!"

The boy turned his head to the side, without taking a stop from his running. "What if Killer is there?!"

"Wait you idiot! It's dangerous!" Law replied, as he run after him.

Some time later both boys reached the familiar bridge. The ice on it had broke in pieces, and numerous footprints could be seen on it, despite the snowflakes slowly falling upon them. Another gunshot. Both boys run to the other side, now closer to the house.

"Wait I said!"

Both boys were panting, as they entered the small house that was used as the hideout. The older boy's suspicions were confirmed, as another couple of pirates were inside now. Law managed to stab, one of them, and saw the other one falling down after a shot from the redhead's shotgun. He looked around, but no there was no sight of either his crewmates nor the child's blond friend. Were they.. He shook his head in denial. They couldn't be dead.

"Oi, Killer! You' in here?!" A shout from the redhead child was heard, but without receiving any reply. "Damn!" He run straight ahead, to the exit that leaded to the backyard. Law followed him as well, and saw him point his gun somewhere with a mad look.

"Who the hell are you?!" He yelled.

Law run outside as well, and saw in the garden the three familiar faces. Corazon was laying on the ground, looking his worst, Baby 5 pressing a cloth against his wound, as an attempt to stop the heavy bleeding, and Buffalo, aiming a gun towards the redhead boy. The latter redhead, released the gun's safety, ready to shoot. Law however, grabbed the shotgun's barrel, pulling it away.

"Don't shoot! They're from my crew!" Law said as he run towards them, while the redhead run back inside to search for his friend. He shot a glance to Corazon, who looked pale and weak. He then turned to the young female. "What happened?"

"Some of the pirates came back.. and Cora-san couldn't do anything because of.." between her sobs she managed to continue, "..we managed to fight them off somehow."

"Young master-sama isn't answering the Den-Den Mushi either-dasuyan!" Buffalo added.

Law slowly inhaled the cold air through his mouth, and then exhaled in an attempt to calm down. Once he did, he turned to the other children. "We can't stay here. When we came there were way too few of these guys. They may come back at any point.." he stood back up. "Come on, let's-"

Once he turned around, he noticed a large man that just entered the backyard, with several other men behind him. Everyone, armed and dangerous-looking.

"These are the guys, boss! Doflamingo's dogs who came for us 'cause we broke off the deal!"

The seemingly captain laughed in a weird tone. "Mere brats and a wounded guy?!" He walked menacingly towards Law and the others. "They must be underestimating us!" He barked with a laugh, his crew joining in as well. He stood few metres in front of Law, who was several metres shorter, causing the boy to take a step back in caution. Law then noticed with the edge of his eye, the house's wooden and almost destroyed balcony behind them. But what caught his attention was the redhead child, kneeled down as to not be visible, and his friend right next to him on it. He seemed safe and sound, apart from several minor wounds. Kid shook his hand in a negative way, as to show Law that he should stop staring. Law did just that, turning back to the enormous captain, who had moved right in front of the child without him even realizing it. He grabbed Law from the neck, raising him high in the air, choking him slowly.

"I'll teach you that you shouldn't underestimate us!" He yelled with a laugh, squeezing the boy's neck with more strength. Law felt his consciousness slowly fading at the sudden loss of air, but he made eye contact with the redhead who reloaded the shotgun, now aiming at the captain. However, instead of a gunshot, a loud 'slash' sound was heard, and everyone turned to look at the pirates near the yard's entrance, each falling down with big claw-like fatal markings on their bodies. Now everyone could see the man who just entered the yard, a tall blond man in a pair of jeans, a black shirt and a bright pink tie, wearing same-coloured sunglasses. He looked mad. He raised his hand towards the captain, which made the latter paralyze with fear letting the boy fall down with a cough, rubbing his neck. Then, the captain raised his own sword, aimed at his own neck.

"P-Please! No!"

Despite his pleadings, and with a plain move of the blond man's finger, the sword met the pirate's neck, collapsing with a loud sound an a stream of blood pouring out. The man straightened his tie, and walked closer to Law.

"Wu-ah-ah-aah!" The young girl cried as she run towards him, hugging the man's tall leg. "I was soo scareed!" She yelled inbetween her sobbing.

Doflamingo simply sighed, as he glanced at Law. "Are you okay?"

The child's response was a simple nod, but was enough for the man, who walked closer to the man at the floor, examining the wound. The raven-haired boy shot the balcony another glance. However, nobody was there anymore.

The Donquixote captain took the Den-Den Mushi from Buffalo, and after a short conversation with who from the high-pitched voice seemed to be Pica, kneeled next to his brother.

"I called for a doctor and backup. Just hang on." He said.

Corazon simply took out a cigarette, lit it, and inhaled the smoke, his hands trembling.

"..."

Law was sitting on his bed, reading a book that read with big, calligraphic letters 'The Heart' on it's cover. He enjoyed reading about medicine, even with the whole life-span problem he had. His father had the same love about this field, and he seemingly passed it on to Law. He looked out of the window. The snowflakes kept falling down, the snow now piling up. That's North Blue for you. Suddenly, the door opened, and a familiar young girl appeared with a smile.

"Law! Cora-san is awake!"

The boy flinched a bit, but continued reading. "And?"

The girl blinked a few times in confusion. "And"?

"Why would I care?"

"You don't want to see him?"

"Why would I?" He frowned.

"He did save your life you know.." was the replied he received.

Law sighed and closed the book. He wouldn't normally go, but he wanted to talk to him about.. yesterday. And also about today's events, so he got up and followed the girl downstairs, to the room that was used for recuperation. She opened the door, and walked in with a smile as always. Inside, there was Corazon sitting up on the bed, without his shirt on, his body around the rib cage wrapped with bandages. He was smoking, as always, and in front of the bed was Buffalo, holding his head that had a huge, red bump. Behind him was Doflamingo, leaning against the wall, arms crossed with a serious look. After the kids who just entered, Gladius appeared at the doorstep, and after exchanging a look with the captain, Doflamingo walked out.

"Corazon. Don't beat on the kids to much." He said on his way out. He received no reply, as usual. In the meanwhile, Baby 5 had brought him a cup of tea, which was of course, another one of her pranks. The man tasted it without a single clue, as always, and ended up spitting it ahead of him, right on Buffalo.

"Owww! It's hot-dasuyan!" The child yelled, Baby 5 laughing loudly. The boy then started chasing the girl, and after some running inside the room's close space, they run outside of the room, the door slowly closing behind them. Law and the older man stayed alone in silence. Law clenched his fists, and looked at him.

"I saw you yesterday. In Doflamingo's room. Our eyes met for a second, so don't deny it."

The man removed the cigarette from his lips, and looked at the boy with a serious look.

The boy's fists were clenched even harder. "Why..Why was he..?"

Corazon grabbed a small piece of blank paper, and scribbled a few words. He then proceeded, and showed it to the boy.

"FORGET WHAT YOU SAW"

Law looked away. He didn't want to talk about this anyways..he just..A sigh.

"Why did you save me? At the bridge. Don't you hate me?!" He now lashed out.

The man placed the cigarette back on his lips, inhaling. His look, however, was distant, now looking outside the window the same way Law did before.

"I don't hate you."

Law blinked a couple of times in utter confusion. He looked around the room, just to make sure, but still no other presence could be seen. He glanced to the door, but it was shut as well, after the other kids' exit. He then gasped, as his realization came late and slow, however, clear. He turned and looked back at the man, who was still staring outside the window. But now, having taken notice of the boy's staring, turned his head and looked back at him.

Law's confusion couldn't be described.

"Y-You.. You just.."

"Back then," the man spoke once more in a deep voice, which made the boy flinch, "these kids. Who were they?"

"K-Kids..?" Back then?..He means.. "J-Just some kids.. doesn't matter!" The man looked away once more in a sceptical way."You, you can talk?! Why did you-"

The door opened once more, and the family's captain entered. He stood still, staring at both the young and the older male, but finally simply walked in, sitting down.

"I thought i heard voices.. Must've been my imagination."

Law glanced at the injured man once more, thinking. Should he tell Doflamingo about it? He didn't seem to have the slightest idea that Corazon could speak.. But why would he keep it a secret from his own brother?! In the end, he decided to remain silent. For now, at least.

"I never thought it could turn out like this." They heard the blond man speak. Corazon looked at him with cautious. Had he heard him?

"It seemed like an easy job. That's why i sent just the kids, and you to overlook them." He said, rubbing his temples. The tension that had build up on the wounded man's shoulders relaxed, once he realized what he was talking about. He turned his sight to the child, who continued staring away.

"Law."

The boy turned towards the man who just called him.

"Leave us alone for a bit." Doflamingo said, although the tone of his voice seemed more like an order.

The boy stood back up and walked out, glancing at Corazon one last time on his way out. Their eyes met, but once it happened he averted his eyes, closing the door.

The children who were still chasing each other around the house saw Law from the stairs, and stopped.

"Law?" He heard the girl's voice. "What's wrong?"

"No..Nothing.."