Chapter 4

Pak

The sound of skin to skin broke the silence, kidd's head was thrown to the side, while luffy's mouth still wide agape from the shock, his hand was still hovering in mid air where kidd's cheek was not a few seconds ago.

"Mu-mugi chan?" The red hair shakily muttered. His tone was a mixture of shock and hurt, he looked up to see the boy was shocked as well at his earlier actions but instead of regret there was anger.

"Sorry…" he said quietly as he began to stand up and slipping on his okobo grabbing the railings for support.

"He-hey, please don't go! I'm sorry!" Kidd panicked and propped himself up quickly and grabbed the fleeing geisha by the waist before he can get away. " I'm sorry, please mugi-chan I won't do it again!" He pleaded when he felt the other struggling from his grip

"That… that , sorry kidd but I have to go…" no sweetness to his tone, no cheerfulness, just as easy as the kiss was, the young geisha fleded into the darkness leaving a devasted kidd behind.

Unbeknownst to the two a figure well-hidden behind a stone pillar left the scene after witnessing the whole event, his smirk was wider than usual as he hummed merrily to himself knowing that a threat was eliminated without his intervention.

… … …

Catching his breath, the young geisha looked behind his shoulder, he can feel the built up tension in his feet as his tall okobo wasn't exactly made for running. He walked in a much more relaxed yet still mainting a brisk pace.

"That was bad right? He kissed me… that was wrong… namiko said so! right?"

" I feel bad…" he whisphered,he does ―the feeling of guilt eating his insides like maggots, his earlier outburst of energy took its toll and he can already feel his knees grow weak with every step he takes, but he has to set things rights. He felt something wet prick his skin ,and then another one, he thought that it was his tears that was soiling his kimino but it was actually rain, something that nights during this season has, unpredictable, cold rain showers.

He stood up from his position and rushed not because of the inconvenience and the danger of whst rain brings but because he wants to set things right.

… … …

Namiko kept pacing back and forth at the waiting room of he okiya, worried that her brother was nowhere to be found. He felt anger rising from the pit of her stomach towards the other brunette who asked for their younger brother a few hours ago. She shouldn't have risked it knowing how foreigners act recklessly, well his brother was more reckless but that's not the point. Her older sister who was lounging uncharacteristically at a sofa sipping her 10th cup of tea for the evening, actions speaks louder than words and they didn't need to talk about it.

Frantic knocking was heard from the front door and before someone can say 'I got it' sanji who was also seething from rage threw the door open and a wet and dripping kidd was standing in front of them three, panting and shivering from the coldness that the unexpected weather has brought. Everyone in the room sent him a glare and was expecting to see a little ball of sunshine pop out of the corner.

The silence was defeaning, neither of the two sides could say anything to the other, they all share similar expectant looks and without spending anymore precious time, the red haired maled ran and went to a different direction signifying that no, he hadn't seen the boy―yet.

The three stood there more worried by the second but at the very least, they wer hoping that kidd would find the boy safe and bring him home. And when he does, that is when they'll deal with the red hair man.

… … …

Law was sitting at the desk of his room, his chin propped to the back of his tattoed hand, looking out at the window beside him, beyond the darkness and the accumulating fog. He was wearing a blank expression but unbeknownst to the oblivious, he was worried sick, he should have intercepted the geisha from somewhere! He can always pull off a lie for his convenience.

"Pleasant evening mugiwara-ya! You seem to be in a hurry, would you like me to walk you home?" Was what he thought he should have done from the beggining! But, he can't be blamed, he was just a spectator from what had happened. He should be happy, kidd was already out of the picture but there was something in his gut that was telling him to visit the boy.

Standing up from his comfortable position not a while ago, he took his midnight blue umbrella and slipped on his conveniently same coloured jacket before dashing at a direction looking for a geisha in distress, as he had presumed.

It's funny how time is faster at night and he had already found himself inside the teahouse, asking the blonde, the raven and the brunette for the kid. The grim expression on their face already spoke of their answers and comically similar ( if they were in a different situation) the doctor left off like the other earlier.

… … … …

Luffy, although growing up in this city found himself lost at an unfamilar district , female wearing kimonos were at the doorway of dim lighted establishments. Some of them are smoking while the others were at the back watching his every step. His kimono was soaked and it proved to be a burden for the kid, restricting his movement as the heavy silk clung to his lithe figure. There wad a few whisphers here and there until a black haired woman with curvacious figure stood out before him.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the famous geisha of that bitch's house!" She said with utter displeasure.

"…" the silver eyed geisha just stood before the towering figure and sent her a glare that his deceased brother would have been proud of.

"Speak up, but do mind your next words though, darling～" she winked and shifted her weight, looking almost sensual to the audience who was gathering at windows and doors.

"Alvida～ it is a pleasure for a lowly geisha like me to be in your presecence." The other shot back with sacrcasm laced in his voice.

The female scoffed and folded her arms glaring with more hatred to the boy. " I'm humbled～ from the looks of I can tell that you are lost" And as the way she said it, he felt danger rising to the air, he wasn't sure what it is but he knows that he needs to escape before anything happens.

"Iie beautiful nee-san though it isn't good to pry on other's business is it? I'm merely passing through." He answered back bravely though the men who were throwing dirty looks from the windows was crippling his bravery, he wasn't a coward but he wasn't oblivious knowing what alvida can do, facing a woman with power especially in her turf isn't the smartest thing to do. The boy quickly pulled himself out of his thoughts and proceeded to walk away.

"Oh～ little boy! Where are you going? Boys～"

In a matter of seconds the young geisha was struggling from 5 men who has managed to constrain him.

"Let. Me. Go.!" He tried prying his arms away but failed miserably, he was no match compared to the sizes and strength of his captors. Memories of what happened more than a decade ago came flooding back to him and the emotions that he had successfully locked away had resurfaced.

"Ace!"

"LUFFY!"

He cried , he screamed desperately, the world around him was swirling, he felt dizzy as waves of tears blurred his vision until everything came to a stand still and his consciousness was taken by the darkness, he was silently praying that when he wakes up everything would be just a dream.

He felt like floating―no drifting, he felt like drifting above the surface of the water because it was cold but there wasn't any current, he wasn't moving but it felt like he was rotating . As time passes Luffy began feeling dizzy, he felt sick. He felt his stomach churning from the movement, he wishes it would stop soon.

"I'm going to be sick… " he mumbled, though he wasn't sure if he was with anyone that can hear him, "bwahhhghhh" it was too late. His dinner came out of his system. He vomited and that's when everything around him started to come back. He heard someone shuffling and felt something warm touched his face. He moved his hands to catch that warm feeling but to his dismay the boy's hand only met thin air. He wants to scream a cry of protest but his throat won't let him, he tried to move his back but his body won't answer him. He didn't want to fight the feeling, he'll just let the chips fall where it may.

… … …

Ace came back from their business trip with a grim face, he was utterly stressed from meeting with various prominent figures around the country, and for the lack of progress thereof in finding his brother. And he thought this was a vacation.

*sigh

"Don't worry only a few more and we're done, yoi!" Ace felt hands tapping his shoulders. No, the encouragement didn't get through the freckled man.

"You keep saying that marco～" he whined. While the others laughed.

"Ace!" Sabo shouted from the railing and rushed down towards the group who just arrived.

"Sabo! What's up?" He asked good naturedly, of course he wouldn't snap at someone who was not involved.

"You look horrible man!" The blonde commented when he saw a closer view of the raven. "Anyways, kidd and law hasn't come back since yesterday I'm kinda worried about those two!" He added, his voice turning serious upon the situation at hand.

" Don't worry daddy-o～ they might have been drinking yesterday for all we know." Ace dismissed the other's dilemma but sabo's face was still worried and well, he is also partially responsible if something happens to his friends so with yet again another sigh he decided to go look for the two with his group plus sabo.

The group decided to split up upon reaching an intersection.

… … …

Luffy slowly opened his eyes, and stiffled a yawn. He slowly propped himself up with the help of his elbow. Realization hit him hard and started to panic internally.

He wasn't in his room in the okiya, he noted the room's size and style. It was a very nice room with big windows and an elegantly carved bed frame but that doesn't matter right now. He assessed any damage that he might have suffered from yesterday's encounter but to his relief there wasn't any. Wait, there wasn't any. He remembered being held back by men but after that everything was blank. It could have been a dream but he wasn't wearing his kimono. So it wasn't, this is real, he rubbed his face with his hand and started to get up. He still feels woozy but it was manageable. Upon standing, he saw his kimono folded neatly at a table. He quickly garbed himself and scampered out of the room in a few minutes.

He found himself inside a very big mansion, yes mansion, with chandeliers and very high ceiling at the top, marble tiled floors and all. He must have been taken here by his captors. Fear began bubbling on his stomach for the second time as he heard footsteps coming from the grand staircase at the middle of the building.

"You're awake!" It was a gruff voice that echoed through out the wide space. " You still have a fever, don't push yourself, stay" the voice commanded with utmost authority.

It was familiar to luffy but it could probably belong to someone else.

"Mind telling me what you were doing at the pleasure district at that time of the night?" Luffy was going to answer the question but when he saw the tall figure reveal himself he was dumbstruck.

"Hmmm?"

"Cro-crocodile…" was all he can muster at the moment, he looked away from the shichibukai. "It's been a long time…" he muttered. "You saved me…" he quietly whisphered.

"Yes luffy, I did ." As the man descended the stairs he was still wearing a questioning look in his face.

"I-I got lost…" luffy shyly said as the older laughed loudly at him , he wasn't sure if it was his answer that made the other raven laugh.

"My,my look at how you have grown! If I knew that you'll become as beautiful as you are now I shouldn't have sold you to robin in the first place." Crocodile teasingly said as he neared the boy and laid his uninjured hand to the other's cheek. Making the boy blush at the contact.

"Tell me… how have you been? It's been what? 4 years?"

Luffy nodded, the words seems somewhat stuck in his throat. The powerful man looked at his silver eyes for a bried moment before closing the distance between them.

"Hmmm, tell me luffy, are you still in love with me?" He whisphered.

… …

After sleeping in an uncomfortable position for hours. Law woke up with a back ache coupled with a dried throat. He stood and stretched to ease some tesion in his joints, he looked around and his lips curled up a little from the view, the park in this city was beautiful. Wait! He rubbed his eyes and blinked, yep he was in the park.

He ran and went to the direction of the okiya, he forgot about mugiwara-ya, the young surgeon recalled that he was searching for the boy and out of exhaustion he leaned on a tree and that is the reason why he must've dozed off. Fuck, why is he doing this for a summer fling? The gears in law's head started turning, no no nope can't be, is he falling in love?

And he stopped, not slowed down as in stopped. It was a delayed reaction, first his eyes widened and he felt a bubbling warm feeling in his gut. Like his intestines were tied. He assessed his heartbeat, it was heavier and faster than average. That smile, that smooth silky skin, the way he moves, that idiotic laugh those beautiful big silver eyes. The signs were there but he was denying it over and over again. This was not just carnal desire. This is it, falling in love! An emotion that he had never felt before towards others.

He can't help it, he was struggling to hold back, but his involuntary muscles were stronger. He smiled and he felt the warm tears drop to the ground. The timing was so off, mugiwara-ya can be in trouble right now but the doctor was amazed by this unfamiliar sensation. He needs to find him now, to tell him how he feels, he had waited a long time for this moment. He felt a little complete inside.

… … …

He smiled towards the tall man, there was unspoken pain in the way he smiled.

"Of course , you will always be my first love … I do believe that no one can forget them for the rest of their lives… but." He looked away, years of past memories flew before his eyes, after the influential man had dropped him off at the okiya, he had never forgotten how every month he would never fail to stop by to give him presents. As a matter of fact the jade kimono that he was wearing right now was crocodile's gift to him on his birthday. At first, he thought it was only the same love that he feels for his family, because no one except for them had doted him to such extent but as he grows up his feelings for the man also multiplied. He woke up one day madly in love with the man who took away his only family and freedom but gave him home in return.

"Yes, continue" the older's eyes grew softer, he was very fond of the geisha, true. But, ever since he found out that the other was falling in love with him, he had withdrewn himself voluntarily. This wasn't their time, this was not their destiny, it was against the norm, he could already pass off as the boy's father. Besides he knows that the boy deserve someone better. Not a bitter, old, greedy man like him.

" I'm older now, I know what my duty is to the okiya as well as to my sisters." He quietly replied. He felt like standing on the same ground as the man before him, he felt very sure of himself as he had reminded himself why he took this path.

There was a brief silence between them, it wasn't eerie, just silence when people are thinking.

"You really believe that shit huh?" He pulled away his arm and motion for them to seat at the luxurious sofa of the living room. Luffy winced at the question, of course he believes that the okiya and his family was everything to him, they are his top priority. He doesn't want to lose anyone that he xares for deeply anymore, what he said earlier was the truth, that family and nakamas do come first but he can't deny that he still have feelings for he shichibukai even if it was unrequited. He needed to lie.

With a snap of his fingers a butler came in and bowed graciously.

"Bring out some refreshments, apple juice?" He darted his eyes to the young geisha who smiled and nodded his head firmly. "And… whiskey for me, I also need an ashtray" he finished. The butler again bowed and exited the room.

" From what I've heard from robin, you're mizuage is highly anticipated." He pulled out a cigar from his coat and held it between his lips.

" I'm not sure about that, I only handed one to a foreigner who I've met a few days ago and another last night." luffy said, he took the match from the table and lighted the other's cigar, just what would a geisha like him do for their clients.

"I see, and I assume you fancy them both?" He blew out the smoke away in a different direction from where the guest was seated.

"No…"

Crocodile's eyes widened slightly "you're a very terrible liar!"

"Shishishi! I am…"

"Well?" Looking expectant for a straighter response.

"I don't really know the answer…yet"

"Why? What does your heart tell you?" It was so not him to speak such words, but luffy was not just anyone and he certainly wouldn't mind steering the boy in a better direction.

" that I needed them for the okiya's stability?" The boy answered sheepishly.

"Why did I even bother!"

"Shishishi! Oh! My, what time is it!? I need to go home now, everyone is probably worried…" the geisha was about to stand up when he remembered that his sisters probably didn't know where he was right now, but was held back by a firm grip to his wrists.

"It has been taken care of, sit, I'm not done with you yet." And with that, luffy immediately obeyed the older's command. He doesn't ant to go either but it was hard to ralk about these things to someone qho you see in a different light.

The next thing luffy saw was a blur of pale skin and he felt the other's soft, warm lips on his.

… … …

"Hanako-sama, what happened to luffy?" Sanji asked worriedly, as he brought the mistress' beverage.

" he got lost last night at the pleasure district, luckily crocodile-san was also there and took mugi-chan with him, he is fine and well so please stop worrying cook-san" she smiled to one of her family member and turned to the others as well.

"But, when is he coming back nee-san?" Namiko asked while fixing her kanzashi, usopp on the other hand was fixing the back of her obi intently listening to the conversation between the two.

"Mugi-chan contracted a fever after being soaked in the rain, cook-san would you mind waking kidd-san up?"

Sanji was still irritated with the foreigner but nonethless obeyed his master's wish, he looked at namiko's and raised a curly eyebrow to her before exiting the room.

"Do not in any way, I repeat, do not harm kidd-san or else…" the eldest geisha warned from her open newspaper.

Namiko,Usopp and Sanji groaned in disappointment.

"As you wish madame"

"Usopp, can we please have some privacy for a moment?" Namiko though rare asked the long nosed boy nicely.

"Sure, I'll fix the carriage for the mean time, who knows when we'll need it to fetch mugi-chan" he said while leaving the two females in the room.

With a knowing look in her eyes robin bought the cup to her lips and took a sip of the piping hot beverage.

"I completely trust mugi-chan and crocodile-san…" she said while reading today's news.

"It's not him that I do not trust sister, it is your danna that I do not trust" namiko quipped.

"Nonsense! We all know how greedy, manipulative and vindictive crocodile-san is,but the truth is he truly cares for the boy as if he is his own offspring. He is in good hands." namiko decided not to go against her sister's words. She believes her. Her sister is a very good judge of character, she still prays for the boy's safety.

Usopp knocked before sliding the doors open.

"Excuse me for interrupting but law-sama asks if there is any news about mugi-chan's whereabouts?" He politely asked.

"Tell him that as of the moment mugi-chan is safe and well, unfortunately he will be returning in a few hours at the very least." Robin automatically replied returning to her reading as soon as the servant left.

" I wonder who'll he choose?" Namiko who started busying herself with calligraphy thought out loud.

"That we cannot tell."

… … …

Law was to say a little pissed when he saw kidd's shoes at one of the shoeracks of the establishment. The servant arrived with the message and he felt some of his worries disappate into thin air. He took his leave and headed out in the direction if the ship. But first, he needed some coffee.

The owner of the shop gladly allowed him to use their private toilet as the shoo was merely placed in the comforts of their houses first floor. Once inside, he saw his reflection in the mirror. He looks well… horrible. He cant believe himself that he allowed others to see him in his current state. Disheveled hair with some leaves stuck in it, blood shot eyes from lack of sleep sweat marks marred his midnight blue dress shirt laced with a white powdery substance which he assumed as the salt from his perspiration.

He was in a complete mess, but he doesn't mind it at all, if it means that it is for the lively geisha who captured his heart. Maybe, just maybe that was one the many consequences of falling in love. Leaving the comforts of your zone just to please that special someone.

He just wishes that this was not a one way road.

… … …

Kidd remembered coming back to the okiya early in the morning to tell them that he didn't found mugi-chan, he begged for their forgiveness but was told to take a rest and find the boy early in the morning. He heard from sanji that the boy was well and would be coming back later at night.

There was no more any reason to stay at the okiya. So he slipped on his jacket and fixed his hair although it turned out sloppy from the absence of gel. Something was in his jacket, he doesn't recall putting anything in there last night. He took it out, and what was once a beautiful red box inlaid with golden ink was resting in his palms. It was wet and smudged, likely from getting wet in the rain last night. He opened it and found a rice cracker in the middle. He didn't know where it came from. He'll just have to ask the people in the okiya about it.

Sanji who was still at the corner watching his every move like a hawk decided to break the mystery to the foreigner.

"Mugi-chan must've slipped it in your pockets when you weren't looking…" he said with the same as always, uninterested vibe in his tone.

"So? What is this?" He asked quizically.

"It means that mugi-chan chose you to take his mizuage…"

"Mizu-what?" Okay, kidd was growing more and more confused, he feels like any moment soon, question marks would soon pop out of his head.

Sanji flinched a little, it was kinda embarassing to say what it was but… with a sigh he closed the distance between them and whisphered the "v" word to kidd's ear. As expected, kidd went a few shades of red and went gawking at the thought of him and the geisha together in bed.

Sanji with an audible 'ew' exited the room and left the still dumbstruck man in his own thoughts.

Kidd shook his head a few times, desperately trying to get rid of the dirty thoughts invading his mind. Their lips pressing, bodies moving in rhythm together as one was one hell of a thought for the foreigner who although, had have shared a bed with a few people in the past was completely new to the idea of taking his object of affection's virginity. That was enough to sent a static through his system. But then again, the box could've been slipped before the kiss. That isn't good for the lovestruck brunette. He really needs to talk to mugi-chan to ask for his forgiveness.

Leaving the okiya with mixed emotions, he rode the carriage and decided that he needs his sister's advice

… … …

Law, after having breakfast ran into ace and sabo.

"Where the hell have you been?" Was the first thing that sabo barked at the young doctor.

"Walking… I guess."

"The fuck? You like you've been chased by a demon!" Ace commented.

"Well… I kinda went out last night…" he answered sheepishly. The whole time law was still in cloud nine, his mind wandering, not really listening to he rants of his friends.

"Well, by any chance, have you seen kidd?" Sabo again spoke up.

The young doctor knew where he was, but no, he can't allow them to know where they went, it would blow a hole to his ego. Knowing fulky well that everyone would be at his back all the time asking who made the "surgeon of death" weak on his knees, heck, it might even lead to teasing. That isn't good, he doesn't like people getting past his walls, his own personal bubble. Well except for mugiwara, he's an excemption to all those rules. He can make him weak on his knees all day long.

"…to law?"

"EARTH TO LAW! HELLO!"

That seems to pull the doctor out of his thoughts, he remembered he is with two pesky companions and diverted his attention back to them.

The two was waiting for him to answer. "Lack of sleep…" he reasoned out. Ending with the two dragging him back to he ship, he really needs to stop spacing out of conversations.

Upon reaching the ship, they found bonney scolding his brother who seems to have arrived a few minutes before them.

"No!" they heard a whine came out from kidd, there are only a handful of people in the world who can pull out kidd's soft side like that. Bonney, their parents and well in law's knowledge mugi-chan. They proceeded to walk near the two but a harsh glare from the fuming pink head stopped the trio from eavesdropping. After watching kidd get more scolding from her one minute older sistet they disbanded and let the two missing passengers rest and recuperate.

Ace was extremely exhausted from these past few day's activites, he had wasted another day not finding any single clue about his brother. This so called vacation had a lot of unexpected surprises, everything is not going according to his plan. He sighed and let his body rest against the soft padding of his bed.

… … …

The kiss was short and chaste, only lasting for a few seconds, but for the young geisha it seems like eternity had passed before him, though wanting this to happen for the longest time there wasn't any static or driving force whatsoever that urges him to want more. It was merely a kiss.

Looking up to the older man's eyes, he was surprised to find something that he had never expected from his master. It was gentle and soothing, unlike the cold one that crocodile wears everyday. There was no want, no intimidation and no harshness into it. It felt like home, not that he remembered much about it. But maybe he doesn't have to. Maybe he had already found home with his sisters and nakama and crocodile as well.

With his cheek cupped in a large hand, he feels the warmth that is coming off from the man. He heard him whispher, it was soft and faint almost inaudible but it was very clear to him.

Crocodile had said "I Love you…"

To be continued…

… … …

God kill me! What have I done?

Please write any comments and suggesions, thanks for reading my half assed chapter, I'm really sorry about this. But still, I will continue writing.