Wow, this has to be one of the fastest chapters ever written. I didn't want to rush it, but I just got a craving to write and before I knew it I was at the end of ch 5! XD (I love not having a writer's block) I hope I didn't screw it up because of this...

Oh well, if it's bad I'll make it up with the next chapter! XD Let me know what you think of the update and, most of all, ENJOY!

4

Somehow Sanji and Nami had been right. After 'accidentally running into Law on purpose' things between them had certainly changed. Two days later Law became a part of the group. Not voluntarily. But rules like those clearly didn't matter when Luffy was involved.

Kid smirked to himself at the memory of Law's admission into the group. It was one of those normal, mundane, boring school day, where students moved through the routine of another few hours of school while pretending to listen to the teachers and to their friends and anyone else who required their attention. In a day like that, interesting things simply had to happen just to prevent youngsters from jumping out the windows.

Or at least that's how Kid saw it. It was him, Luffy and Sanji, heading to the cafeteria on errands. Nami, Vivi and Bonny demanded lunches. Zoro was held up with his practice so it was up to them to do what had to be done. Sanji practically danced his way down the hallway, his heart-shaped eyes glued to the three girls. Luffy was happy to go, because he was Luffy and that's what he did. Which left Kid, who didn't want to go, but couldn't not go either. Three pissed off, hungry divas was something he didn't want to test his strength against. Therefore, he went along.

The three reached the canteen and joined the queue. Normally it didn't take three strong guys to carry three lunches for three girls. However, Bonny wasn't normal. She alone ate enough food to feed half the school. Add Luffy to that and it would take a lot more than three pairs of hands to carry the load. Good thing they were physically able.

Kid felt a soft nudge and looked to see what the source was. It was Sanji. Luffy was in front of them, drooling at the thought of food. 'Does he ever think of anything else?' Sanji's eyes looked inquisitive. Kid knew exactly what was coming. Let the game of twenty questions begin.

'So…. What happened?' His voice a whisper. Kid wondered if he should answer or just not care. If he chose to stay ignorant, it would only look like he was hiding something.

'Nothing out of the ordinary. I told you it wasn't like that. We just… hung out.' Sanji scrutinized him, determining if he was telling the truth. Kid looked away. He had nothing else to say, so he let Sanji procrastinate his ideas.

'What are you two talking about?' It was rare for Luffy to care about an on-going conversation.

'Nothing Luffy. Kid is just in denial.' Eustass flashed Sanji a look that said 'drop it'. Sanji smirked in response while Luffy looked from one to the other.

'Denial about what?'

'Nothing. Drop it!' If he didn't snip this in the bud there would be hell to pay later. However this only invoked more laughter from the blonde and more inquisitive looks from the brunette. Kid scowled and looked away angrily. If he didn't entertain them they'd drop the subject; for now. While he wasn't looking, he missed Sanji whispering a name into Luffy's ear and winking at the boy.

'….Trafalgar Law?' Kid's neck snapped from the speed with which he turned towards the other two. He burned holes into Sanji. One thing he was grateful for was Luffy's usage of an inside voice, for once. The last thing he wanted was every student in the cafeteria focusing their attention on him.

'He's over there.' Sanji and Kid followed Luffy's finger to see the raven-haired boy at the end of the queue, just leaving, heading for a place where he could eat his newly bought food. 'We should call him over!' Too late did the other two realize what Luffy was about to do.

'Law! Over he-mph mph' Sanji's attempt to silence the waving boy was too late. In a matter of seconds he had successfully captured the attention of the whole cafeteria. Sanji's hand clasped over his mouth was like a flashing red light indicating the source of the commotion.

Kid didn't care about the two idiots who virtually destroyed his day. Law's reaction on the other hand, was surprising and had his full attention. He obviously heard the call, especially since it was his name being shouted, and he easily spotted them. He flashed a grin and waved back, then walked over. The silence over the room was astonishing.

If looks could kill Eustass would have been stabbed to death. He noticed the girls piecing holes into the three of them. He guessed they were thinking something along the lines of, 'Why does the amazing genius bother to talk with the bottom of the food chain?' Clearly, the genius himself didn't care about such shallow conceptions.

Once over, there was no going back. Once Luffy categorized Law as a nakama there was no other option but accept. And so Trafalgar Law became one of the group.

'I have to return a book. Care to join me?' Kid opened his eyes only to look into Law's. Strangely since he joined the team Kid was a lot calmer. Much like his normal self. Law was still a continuous presence in his mind, but he was capable of doing other things as well. Like sleeping during break on one of the many chairs with his hands behind his head, acting as a make-shift pillow, while the talking of his friends took the place of a lullaby. He missed not giving a crap.

'Sure.' Not surprisingly, Nami and Sanji studied the exchange of words. Zoro and Luffy continued their conversation, once more not noticing delicate situations. Since he was up from his trip to dram land anyway, there was no reason for him not to go. Right? Sanji and Nami's look exchange stated they believed his reason for helping out was of a more personal nature.

'Let's go.' The sooner they left the sooner he would be away from the smirking stares of his friends. The two boys left, not looking back.

'Where do you have to go?'

'Nowhere.'

'That's-….Wait, what?' If Law's smile was anything to go by, it was clear he knew something Kid didn't and he relished the red-head's startled reaction. Satisfied with the response Law walked on down the hall without a particular destination. Kid quickened his steps to catch up.

'Then why do you need me?' He didn't get an answer right away.

'No particular reason. Is there something wrong with me spending time with one of my new friends?' Law made it his business to keep his eyes in front of him and not look at the one beside him. Kid on the other hand didn't try to mask his curiosity. He stared intently, unable to figure out Law's reasoning.

'But why me? There's five of us, so why me?' Law's smile changed into a grin and widened. He simply loved this. Kid's reactions were amusing to say the least. His reason of asking Kid to join him was simply because he found him very interesting. He wanted to find out more about the red-head. 'Curiosity killed the cat.'

'The reason why I 'chose' you is-….' Kid waited expectantly for the end of that sentence. 'Go on.' However Kid's hopes were dashed. Law's smile dropped like a rock in water. He swallowed drily. He kept walking but his steps lost their spring. His eyes were glued dead center on an approaching group of three boys.

They were bickering amongst themselves. The one who seemed to be the leader looked vaguely familiar to Kid. He had brown locks of hair and distinctive green eyes. But those weren't the things which triggered a faint memory. For some illogical reason the thing which struck him as familiar was the way he walked.

The tension could be cut with a knife, it was so thick. Kid and Law passed by the three strangers as if in slow motion. Law looked like he was physically preventing himself from dashing away from the scene, and it wasn't easy. Kid glanced in his direction only to find the other unnaturally pale and almost on the edge of feeling sick.

'Are-….' Law caught Kid's shirt, just above the waist, and clung to it like his life depended on it. Eustass got the message. 'Wait until they are out of sight and I'll answer your questions.' His rigid fingers also held a hint of desperation that implied a 'please' at the end of that message. Kid complied and kept his mouth shut.

The moment passed and the group of three were behind them. Before they turned the corner, Kid looked over his shoulder and made eye-contact with the brown-haired guy. He was also looking over his shoulder and just as they passed out of sight, he gave Kid one of the most menacing smirks he had ever seen.

Law lead Kid in total silence after that. He was still clinging to his shirt, though he himself didn't seem to realize he was doing so. Kid kept the silence, unsure of what to say. Trafalgar's destination was the roof. He had to calm down and go back to his cool self.

The thing that got to him most and prevented him from successfully slipping on his mask wasn't the run into them. They were students just like himself so it wasn't like he could avoid them forever. Eventually he would run into one, two, all of them on the halls, canteen, classrooms or yards. Unfortunately he couldn't avoid them even if he wanted to. The reason it took so long to do something that was second nature to him, was because someone else was beside him.

Usually he could slip on his camouflage without any sort of problem, but this was different. For some reason he couldn't or wouldn't mask his feelings and a part of his true self and fears slipped through the cracks. Along the way, instead of regaining his composer, it cracked further. He expected Kid to ask questions any second, questions he couldn't answer. Eustass didn't break the silence.

'Aren't you going to ask anything?' Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. He had to take the initiative and ask the first question. 'Curiosity killed the cat.'

'I was, but you won't answer. You'll lie. If you wanted to tell the truth then I wouldn't have to ask.' That answer totally silenced the curious cat and he walked to the rail of the roof alongside Kid. Only when he reached the iron bars did he realized that his fingers were still holding onto the white shirt fabric. He let go hastily, like he suddenly caught fire, invoking an involuntary smirk from his 'friend'.

Embarrassed, Law looked away and muttered a hasty 'sorry', but he couldn't help feeling a little bit better. He was secretly relieved Kid was there. His presence was strongly comforting. For the first time in a long, long time someone else saw through the cracks and Law was actually happy.

Kid looked sideways at Trafalgar, who was still keeping his eyes pined on an imaginary point in the opposite direction from where Kid was. This was not the sort of situation he was good at dealing with. He wasn't the sort of person who made others feel better. He had no idea how to act or what to say so he kept his mouth shut. He didn't realize that his silent presence was more than enough.

Kid needed a distraction. He needed to take his mind off this whole business. He reached inside his trouser pocket and took out his always-present packet of cigarettes. He tapped the pack on the rail and one of them popped out. He put to his lips and pulled it out with a certain satisfaction. Just as he was about to put the pack back he remembered he wasn't alone.

'Do you want one?' Kid pointed the pack at Law who debated the idea.

'Why not….. Thanks.' He took the cigarette and stuck it between his own lips. Meanwhile Kid lighted his own and extended the lighter to the other. Law didn't seem to notice it. He knew just the thing to make himself feel better. Messing with Kid was just what the doctor recomanded.

The only thing preventing Kid from stepping back was the iron rail placed there just for that reason. Law was uncomfortably close. Trafalgar craned his neck so the two tips of the cigarettes were touching. He stayed there, waiting for the fire to catch while Kid breathed in huge gulps of air. He couldn't believe how close they were.

He could practically count Law's eyelashes. The wind changed slightly and he caught a whiff of his scent. He couldn't believe how intoxicating it was. Kid's eyes ran down Law's face and he saw a slightly aerial view of his slightly exposed neck. Just as quickly as it happened the moment ended. Law pulled back, inhaling a lungfull and exhaling a puff of curling smoke.

His mask was back. Kid stared into the distance, trying to calm his racing heart, his cigarette barely suspended between his lips.

Thank you for the read and now, LET THE REVIEWS COME! XD

Also, a special thanks to all the people who have reviewed the story so far! I answer each message individually but just in case I'm not clear on how grateful I am for all of them, I'll include this message! So to all, THANK YOU!