Notes: Thank you to all for the reviews, favorites, and follows. Sorry for the grammatical errors in this chapter. I still hope you find it easy to read though.
Disclaimer: Watashi wanpīsu shoyū shite inai
Enjoy!
This all felt weird for Sabo, sitting on the computer, in front of his unfinished novel. It was weird, but it was also frustrating. How did he expect to finish this story if he was half blind? Sabo stared blankly at the computer; his mind was just in a blank state. He didn't have an idea on how to continue the story. He couldn't think straight. He started pressing the "T" button on the key board, continuously just pressing the same letter over and over again.
Sabo had gotten out of his blank state when his cell phone rang. It was from his publisher, Inazuma.
"H-hello," sabo said out of sheer nervousness, and for what?
"I've heard you got out of the hospital," Inazuma said with a much pleasant voice, "I also hear you have hemianopsia."
Sabo let out a huge sigh,"Koala told you, didn't she?"
There was an uncomfortable silence between the two, until Inazuma had broken it. "Sabo as your publisher, I'd like to talk to you about the upcoming novel-"
"Please stop," Sabo said suddenly getting angry, "just stop!" This certainly was a surprise to Inazuma, he didn't really expect Sabo to be angry. "I'm sorry, but I can't talk about the novel right now, and I don't want to talk about it. It wasn't that long ago that I got out from the hospital, and I'm having this major headache."
Inazuma let out a sigh, "I didn't know you felt this way, I'll be sure to talk to you much later. For now, get some rest."
Sabo hanged up the phone and threw it on the couch that was closest to him. He just wanted to put his head down and get a little rest... Well, he was going to until the door bell rang.
Who could it be? Sabo let out a loud groan. He really couldn't get some privacy.
"Uhh, Hello?" Sabo wasn't really sure who this was, or why he was standing on his porch.
He had short black hair with a freckled face, wore a yellow shirt with a red jacket, and black shorts with a belt that had the letter "A" on the buckle. Sabo had never met this person in his entire life, so why was this person smiling at him.
"I just wan-" The male was quickly interrupted by Sabo, "I'm sorry but do I know you?" Sabo tried saying that in the most polite way possible, but meeting a stranger that wasn't even going to introduce himself was much ruder than what he had said.
The male shook his head in a "no" manner, "I'm sorry. The name's Ace," he let out a hand for Sabo to shake, which he did. "I just wanted to thank you for saving my little brother from the car accident, and I just feel like I should repay you."
Sabo was starting to get confused, "Your litt- Oh! You mean Luffy, " he said aloud now coming into realization." "You don't have to repay me, I'm sure most people would have done the same."
"I don't think so," Ace said giving him a stared down look, "Let me just pay you back, please?"
"Okay," Sabo rolled his eyes. He never really liked it when people had to pay him back; he wasn't the type of guy to want much. "Just one question, how did you get my address?"
"Koala gave it to me," Ace simply said with a smile
Damn, does that girl not know anything about privacy? Sabo cursed inside his head. He had a feeling he was going to change his phone number and get a new house because pretty soon random people would be throwing parties at his house while he's somewhere else. How did they even get the key to my house?!
~.~
Sabo might have a weird eye about Ace at first, but he now had no need for it. Ace had shared stories about how he and Luffy had encoutered a bear near their house, and tried to make it leave by throwing fires they had bought from McDonalds. Sabo would be lying if he had said didn't spit out his milkshake on Ace's face. Ace wasn't the only one with stories to tell, he told him about how he made a bet with his friend, Bartolomeo and lost, so he had to go around for the whole week telling people that his name was cinderella, when he introduced himself. Sabo soon regretted telling Ace that story because now he has to deal with this black haired male calling him "Cinderella". If the shoes fit, well it doesn't.
They were now in a store, trying to get Sabo a blind cane for his own purposeful use. Why, because he managed to bump into at least 11 people on the way to the sweets shop on their way there, and he bumped into 4 light poles on their way to the store. It was a good thing Ace was here, to laugh at him, such nice friend. It was as if his bad sight had gotten much worse when he bumped into those light poles.
"I finally found one," Sabo said showing the white cane to Ace.
"Nice, now we can fence together." Ace said picking out a black cane of his own and hitting it against Sabo's white cane. Sabo quickly dodged it and hit Ace on his head with his white cane, claiming he was knocking some sense into him.
They both left out the store with something to hold. Sabo with his cane and Ace with his shades.
"Why did you even buy that?" Sabo asked pointing to the shades that Ace was currently wearing.
Ace took of the shades and put them on Sabo, "Actually these are for you." Sabo gave him a confused look, "If you are going to get a cane than you need blind glasses to go with it."
Sabo suddenly let out a huge laughter, giving short time to call Ace and idiot.
"Those are just regular glasses," Sabo said calming from his laughter. Ace gave him a fake sad pout, while rolling his eyes. "Blind glasses have cameras on each side of the glasses."
"For a person who just became blind yesterday, you sure know the difference between regular shades and a blind shade." Ace let out a little chuckle
"Well, it doesn't hurt to learn," Sabo said softly not having much of a comeback.
Sabo and Ace where now walking on the streets aimlessly and it was surprisingly simple for Sabo to use the cane, swiftly moving it left and right in front of him. Sabo and Ace were telling each other about themselves and their weird secrets. From Ace, Sabo learned that he could be an over protective brother. He would too if a gang tried to jump a sibling of his. From Sabo, Ace learned that he could be boring but still cool.
"So, Cindy, what are you going to do about your career," Ace said suddenly getting serious, kind of.
Sabo thought that he was able to forget about his work for just one good day, but someone just had to bring it up. It was weird though, Sabo didn't feel as annoyed as he did from the beginning, was it because of what Luffy said to him the other day? His cheeks were now slightly red; he sure hoped Ace didn't notice it.
"I think I can move on, I have someone to help me," Sabo said tapping the cane on the sidewalk repeatedly, out of sheer nervousness.
Ace suddenly stepped closer to Sabo, examining his face. This was just so uncomfortable for Sabo, having to be only three inches away from Ace's face.
"I can see that you like someone," Ace said moving away from him.
Sabo was about to say something back until he spotted Luffy with someone else from across the street. He felt his face grow red when they had made eye contact. Seriously what was wrong with him, he had just met Luffy yesterday and he was having mixed feelings about him. Sabo thought there was no such thing as "Love at first sight", but maybe he was wrong. It felt as if everything was in slow motion for him.
Luckily Sabo was out of this trance from Ace's obnoxious yelling. "Hey Lu!" Ace was quick to drag Sabo to the other side of the street, without looking both ways. Such a rebel! Sabo could feel himself having a mini heart attack.
"H-hey Ace, I thought you were with Kid," Luffy said.
"I was, than I went to see Cindy over here," Ace said gesturing to Sabo, causing Luffy to give him a perplexed look.
"Huh, so that's why you wanted to talk to Koala," Luffy said shrugging his shoulders.
"Since we're all here, let's just hang out than," Zoro said putting his arm around Luffy.
Sabo gave Zoro a glaring look, unfortunately he didn't notice. He then vigorously shook his head from the thoughts. They weren't dating, and if they were he shouldn't be bothered about it. He didn't even know Luffy well.
"That sounds good," Ace said punching his shoulder slightly, "Let's just walk around until we find something fun that might get us in trouble."
Zoro removed his arms around Luffy and started to walk next to Ace, leaving Sabo and Luffy behind.
"So, Cindy huh?" Luffy questioned after the short silence
"Please don't ask," Sabo gave him a pleading look.
Luffy let out a small giggle.
Aww, cute
Seeing Sabo using his cane just sent chills down Luffy's back. It just seems weird having to see him like this, but he wanted to be here with him. He did promise to help; he just had to figure out how. Luffy had seen a man twice as Sabo's size and quickly pulled Sabo near him.
"Sorry," Luffy mumbled. It didn't take long for him to realize how close their bodies were. He quickly moved away from the situation before anyone saw, and by anyone I mean Ace.
There was a pleasure silence between the two and Sabo liked it. He could tell that the others did too as they all hummed in content, in unison.
This was surprising to Sabo, no sounds came out of the four of them, it was as if they were agreeing to just shut up and realize the beautiful sounds around them.
Sabo started to hear a sound of a sweet melody; it was as if someone was playing the xylophone. He was mesmerized by the sound and how perfect it sounded. Soon his legs began to move towards the sound, wanting to know where it was coming from.
"Sabo!" Zoro said startled to see Sabo walking into an ally.
They quickly followed him inside. There they could see Sabo standing in some light. Soon they heard the same sound that Sabo was hearing, and was quick to rush to where Sabo was.
It was more amazing than the for of them had imagined. It was a street band playing such simple instruments with beautiful show lights. The whole place was lit up, like the fourth of July. Lots of people were gathered around, enjoying the melody of the music.
"Wow," Ace, Luffy and Zoro said in astonishment as they appeared behind Sabo, startling him.
Sabo looked behind him to see only Luffy's face of astonishment, which Luffy failed to notice. The wide eyes that shone in the light and his bright beautiful smile. It was as if all his attention was focused on him. He just wanted to walk over there and just hug him, hold him tight.
The music had faded away and loud clapping noises were heard from the crowd. Sabo quickly turned his attention to the band, they were waving and smiling at the crowd.
"I always thought I was into Rock," Zoro said chuckling a bit.
"I know right, never thought I'd like something as sweet as this," Ace said. "What did you think Luffy?"
Everyone's head were turned to Luffy. They were suprised to see the younger boy silently crying.
"Luffy!" Ace shouted as he shook him.
"Oh, what happened," Luffy said getting out of his trance
"You were crying," Sabo said giving him a look of concern.
Luffy chuckled as if nothing happened, "I guess the music got to me." Everyone gave him weird looks, "Don't worry I'm fine."
"..."
"So what should we do now?" Ace asked looking at all three of them for ideas.
"I probably should get home," Sabo said giving a nervous smile.
"Aww," Ace gave him a pouting look, "bye Cinderella..."
Sabo gave him a small wave before heading to home, using his new blind stick to aid him.
Luffy looked at Sabo as he continued to walk slowly on the side walk. Man, being blind could really slow down a person. He continued to watch him go, his mind was than set to what he had said to him at the hospital. Maybe he should help him tomorrow. Sabo was probably to tired to do anything more. It wasn't until Sabo reached a corner, than Luffy started chasing after him.
"Luffy!" Ace called out to him
"Don't worry I'm heading over to Sabo, I'll see you later," Luffy said yelling back to them.
Ace gave Zoro a weird look and they both shrugged. As long as Luffy was going to be alright.
Luffy was able to catch up with Sabo, he didn't know why he was breathing so heavily. He had told Sabo that he wanted to come over to his house, of course with a mad blush on his face. Sabo agreed to let him, but after seeing Luffy with that huge grin he immediately regretted it. It was going to be a long day...
~.~
"Wow your place looks great," Luffy said in amazement. Everything was just so clean, it was nothing like Luffy's room. Which was really messy.
"Thanks," Sabo said smiling, "So why did you decide to come here?"
"I promised to help, didn't I?" Luffy said with determination.
"You're really serious, huh?" Sabo said.
"Yes, Yes I am." Luffy said seriously.
Sabo smiled at him. He was actually glad that he was going to spend more time with Luffy. This way they would be able to get to know each other.
"Ok than, how should we start?" Sabo asked.
Luffy didn't say anything, he just started to look around Sabo's living room. Sabo looked at him weirdly; was this his way of helping? Luffy was only looking for an idea, he thought that maybe something in this room would give him something. And there was. He quickly moved to the cane that Sabo left by the door.
"This," Luffy said holding up the cane
"That?" Sabo said pointing at it. He was really confused. What would Luffy want with his cane?
"Why'd you buy this?" Luffy asked him
"To help me..." Sabo said with a strange face, "Luffy how is-"
Before Sabo could finsih his sentence, Luffy had thrown his cane in the long hallway. Sabo was at shock, then he was mad. He didn't really like it when people disrespected his stuff, and he wouldn't start now. Sabo was about to question Luffy, but Luffy had something to say first.
Luffy had explained to him that using his cane was just slowing him down. He needed to get used to his blindness, well half, without his cane. Sabo was surprised by what Luffy had told him. He was right, Sabo would just be cheating himself. But how could he get used to his blindness. It's not like he could just yell out "HEY I'M HALF BLIND, SO PLEASE MOVE OUT THE WAY IF YOU SEE ME SO I CAN AVOID BUMPIN INTO YOU". Well he could, but that would just sound stupid.
Luffy than came up with the idea to do a game of hide and seek, in which Luffy would hide some small objects and Sabo would have to seek it out
"How is this helping," Sabo asked as he put on the blind fold, he was now more blind than ever.
"It's going to," Luffy smiled to himself. He than attempt to make a joke about it, but it only resulted in Sabo not getting and Luffy's face being red.
"Okay, so how do we start?" Sabo asked confused.
"I've hid your blue watch somewhere in living room," Luffy said, "It's supposed to ring in next 5 seconds, find it."
Sabo watch did ring in the next five seconds but how was this helping. How was he going to find something like that when he was freaking blind folded. However, if this was his way of helping than he had to try... Even if it resulted in sheer embarrassment. Sabo had managed to bump into his computer table, the T.V, and couch, and Luffy couldn't stop his snickering.
This is embarrasing, Sabo thought as his face turned red.
Sabo took of the blind fold, "I give, I can't find it." He fell back in his couch; this surely wasn't going to work.
"Of course you can't find it," Luffy said chuckling, "You're not using any of your senses."
Sabo stayed quiet for a while. Luffy was right he wasn't using his sense. He was just trying to find the stupid watch. He decided to give it another shot. This time he would use his senses, in anyway possible.
"Let's try this again, than," Sabo said putting on the blind fold once more.
Luffy smiled, he was happy that Sabo was giving this a second chance. What kind of helper would he be if the person he was helping would just give up? Luffy quickly moved to where the watch is. He reset the timer so that the watch could beep in the next minute. Then, he hid it back in its original spot.
"The watch is going to beep in the next minute, find it." Luffy said in a much serious tone.
Sabo didn't start moving, he waited until he could hear the beep coming from the watch. The beep lasted for five seconds. To Sabo the beep sounded muffled, it wasn't as loud as he expected it to be. It wasn't as loud as he expected it to be. It wasn't until the 5th beep that Sabo started moving.
Sabo had a feeling that his watch was in one of his couch. He just had to figure out where he was before he started moving. He used both of his hands to help him. He started to feel something that was flat, but had edges. Moving his hands up, he felt something that was also flat as well, and it seemed to be shaped as a square. Was he at the computer table? Sabo denied that thought when his hands couldn't find the mouse or the key board. He knew now that he was at near the t.v.
Luffy watched Sabo in delight as he started to move, while using his hands to guide him. He saw how Sabo would use his right hand to brush up against the wall, so he wouldn't walk into it. He also used his left hand to feel any objects that he was walking pass. His hand touched the lamp. a small wooden chair, and a glass table.
Sabo stopped moving when his legs had bumped into something. It felt hard at the bottom, but when he moved his hands up it was soft. This was definitely his couch, he just had to check the sofas if the watch was here, and it was. This was his watch alright. He could feel the small flat circular screen, the small buttons at the side, and the straps at both sides also. Sabo slowly took off the blind fold to check. He felt relieved when he saw the watch, he could only see half of it though.
"Told you I'd find it," Sabo said joking as he swung his watch in Luffy's face.
Luffy gave him a whole heart laugh, which Sabo thought was just really cute. Hearing the sound of Luffy's laughter made him happy as well.
Luffy was about to say something when a a flash of blue light was seen, and a loud crackling sound was heard. He had jumped up and quickly moved to hug Sabo. The sound had faded away, and a new sound of heavy water was pouring on the ground. It was raining, and it was heavily.
"I didn't know you were afraid of thunder," Sabo said chuckling.
Luffy quickly let go when he realized his arms were around Sabo's waist, "I'm not, t-that just startled me," he said with a pout, and a blush on his face.
Sabo looket out to the window, the rain was pouring heavily. He knew it wasn't going to be safe to let Luffy walk out there. Even if he could provide him with an umbrella, it would just be blown off by the heavy wind that came along with the rain.
"You should probably phone your brother, he might be worried about you," Sabo pointed out.
Luffy pulled out his phone and dialed Ace's number. While Luffy was doing that Sabo had decided that he should try and continue his novel. He had forgot that he had left the computer on, before leaving out of the house with Ace. He quickly saved the document, at least 10 times. Better safe than sorry. He could see his open note book, where the final draft of the story was written. He could see only half of the keyboard. Some letters were available to him, while the others weren't. This definitely was going to be tough. Luffy had startled Sabo when he miraculously came up behind him.
"So what did Ace say," Sabo asked.
"He said that I should stay at your place until the storm clears up," Luffy said nervously as he looked away from Sabo's eyes.
"Oh," Sabo simply said.
Sabo never really had anyone sleep over at his house, not even koala, and they were best friends. Having someone he thought about often sleeping over his place was enough to make him nervous.
"It's alright, you can stay," Sabo face turned extremely well.
Nothing was said between the two for a short while, it was just that awkward silence that felt so long.
"Having trouble with your novel," Luffy questioned giving Sabo a worried look.
"It's not that, it's just I can't even see the whole of the keyboard." Sabo said slumping into his chair, "All because of I had to go and get this stupid hemianopsia!"
Luffy didn't say anything, and Sabo started to wonder why. He turned around to see Luffy crying; it felt his heart shatter. Did he just make Luffy cry? It certainly wasn't his intention to. He didn't know why he was yelling, it was as if he was putting Luffy at fault. Sabo quickly got up from the chair to give Luffy a hug.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Luffy said repeatedly to him, his voice sounding soft and fragile.
Sabo tightened the hug between the both of them. He couldn't believe that he had made Luffy cry. The sound of Luffy crying made him really sad. It was as if Luffy's emotion was his as well. When Luffy was happy he too will be happy. When Luffy was sad, he as well was sad.
"No, don't be sorry," Sabo said rubbing his back trying to comfort him, "I shouldn't have yelled anyway. I'm sorry that you though my anger was directed towards you."
Nothing was said from Luffy, he just put his arm around Sabo, and buried his head in his chest and continued to cry. Sabo let him; if this was enough to comfort Luffy than he didn't really care about his clothes. He just wanted to see the boy happy again, he wanted to see that smile of his. The smile that sent millions of butterflies to his stomach, that one smile that made him blush.
It wasn't until this evening that Sabo knew that he had fallen for this sweet, gullible boy. He had always had a feeling about it, but he just wasn't sure if those were his real feelings. Now he was sure. Sabo's heart started beating rapidly as he pulled Luffy's head closer to him, and rested his chin above his head. He looked down to see Luffy, now silently crying, giving soft hiccups. The radiation between the two was warm; Sabo could stay like this forever. Sabo slowly closed his eyes as if he was in thought.
I wonder if he likes me too.
Notes: I feel so proud of this chapter. Yay!~ I wanted to add more but I decided to save that for the next chapter. I hope you guys liked it. The next (a little preview) Sabo would learn more about his hemianopsia. Please be sure to REVIEW, FAVORITE, AND FOLLOW please. I certainly would appreciate it.