22


"What?" Niji and Yonji exclaimed together as Ichiji faced them, pacing short steps in front of them. They were on the landing between floors, as kids left their classes with the usual excitement reserved for the end of the day, and Ichiji had called the two of them together for a meeting.

"But why?" Niji cried furiously, red faced. "Everyone's going to start talking about what sort of a fag my own brother is - !"

"Who saw this happen? Maybe they were mistaken!" Yonji protested, mouth open. "There's no way Sanji would do that in front of everyone!"

"Quiet!" Ichiji snapped at them both, looking to the side. Being that they were on the other side of the school, Sanji would not know they were talking without him. Ichiji supposed he was already outside, waiting for him in the parking lot. "Look, for today, don't say anything about it. Don't bring it up to him. Don't let him know that we know. So far, everything he's done he's managed to either hide or simply not care about. The thing is, father has done what he could to discourage him, and Sanji has not faltered in any way to stop from doing this. Our words have fallen on deaf ears, and he seems not to have cared too much over…what happened that one day. So, upon this, I have to think of another way to discourage him from taking this route."

"You can't un-gay people," Yonji pointed.

"We can disown them!" Niji growled, fists balled up at his sides.

"Overall, we've seized the wrong opponent," Ichiji said, hands on his hips. "Of course Sanji would fight us – it's expected. But the kid he chose to mess around with…he's a different sort. His file tells me he's easily broken, despite the show he puts on. He has a time limit – he has a questionable background. If we can't discourage Sanji, we'll have to shift gears."

"So, we go beat him up, then?" Yonji asked tentatively. "Because that sounds…like it'd interfere with my wrestling."

"I got a meet coming up, and, frankly, my side is really giving me problems," Niji complained, holding his right side.

Ichiji stared at them incredulously. "I wasn't going to suggest that in the first place, but it astounds me how easy you've given up on the idea! This concerns our family as a whole!"

"Well, yeah, but dad would get pissed at us if we did something to fuck up our sports careers," Yonji muttered.

"I mean, I can do it, no problem, but he's a little taller than me, so I might need some backup bringing him down," Niji said.

"Shut up! Both of you are stupid!" Ichiji snapped at them, watching them look at each other sheepishly. "I said nothing about physical retaliation. For now, we're going to be supportive."

"WHAT?" they cried again.

"Yes," Ichiji insisted. He crossed his arms "We're going to be…supportive. We're going to put on this show, that this…is something we'll have to accept of Sanji."

"Have you gone mad?" Yonji asked cautiously.

Niji kicked the nearby bannister. "For what point? I don't agree to my brother coming out at a freaking faggot! With English? Fucking old man, skeleton faced ninny -!"

"We're going to show the entire school that we're okay with this," Ichiji continued over their protests. "We're going to apologize publicly for our ways, and we're going to do nothing to interfere with whatever it is those two want to do."

"I don't agree to this!"

"I don't know if I can," Yonji muttered as Niji snarled, growing red in the face. "I mean, that might be a little farfetched for me."

"Think of it this way, you two. How nice it would be if they were allowed to conduct themselves in this manner, to be free to express themselves, but what a shame it would be if one of them were pushed to react because the other wasn't the person he was supposed to be?"

Niji and Yonji looked at Ichij with clueless action as Ichiji smirked. "Psychological warfare."

"Okay, I'm going to have to be told what to do every step of the way, because I'm not following," Yonji sighed, rubbing his head. "This sounds like I have to do a lot of thinking, and I really can't afford to do that, right now."

"Are you saying you're going to fuck with someone's head until they mess up?" Niji asked for clarification.

"Yes."

Niji and Yonji looked at each other, then gave halfhearted shrugs and grumbles.

"I'm not going to make this easy for either of them," Niji muttered. "I can't. It's too gross. How disgusting. So, you're going to be okay with Sanji hanging all over some dude in the middle of the hall - ?"

"Hey, we can't!" Yonji shouted, startling some kids walking by. "We're not allowed to have girlfriends, so why is it different for him?"

"Oh yeah! Injustice!" Niji cried, fist shooting up into the air. "This isn't fair!"

Ichiji frowned at both of them.

"If we can't have girlfriends, he can't have a boyfriend, it's just not fair!" Yonji continued, hands to his head. "It's the same concept! We'd still have to tell dad about this, and dad's going to be pissed."

"Even if you do, consider this – you tell dad Sanji's seeing English, and dad will react furiously, as he should. He will forbid Sanji from doing so, yell at him, slap on some consequences for him to suffer, but do you think, after everything that has already happened, that Sanji will abide by it?" Ichiji asked curiously.

Yonji and Niji stared back at him with bewildered expressions, then looked at each other.

"No," they answered together.

"Then go ahead and waste your time."

"So, we're covering for Sanji while he blatantly breaks the rules?" Niji asked on a snarl.

"Make his life miserable, Niji," Ichiji encouraged. "Please, do and say all the things that you want. Unleash it all on both of them. And the school will come together in support of their relationship, bashing on you, making it harder for you as you try to achieve justification of your prejudice on what your brother intends on achieving. They'll find sympathy for him – this poor, spoiled rich brat who found lust with a poor, neglected and disabled piece of shit from the streets – it's already reeking of Romeo and Juliet before any of us has a hand in it."

Niji groaned noisily, shoulders slumped and face pointed towards the ceiling. Yonji gave Ichiji a concentrative expression. "But those guys killed themselves, so are you thinking Sanji will do that, too? Like, for attention?"

"Who knows?" Ichiji replied crankily. He smiled though. "That kid Sanji is messing with is already fragile – he snaps very easily, he's starved of normal human interaction, and he's already with blood on his hands. It'll be easy to fuck with his head. If physical intimidation has done nothing to these two, then there's another way about it."

"You're a scary motherfucker," Niji said, straightening. "Like, that's Hannibal Lector shit leaking out of your mouth."

"So, you're going to mind fuck this guy until he leaves Sanji?" Yonji asked Ichiji for clarification.

"Pretty much."

"Ohhh," Niji and Yonji said, staring at their brother as if they'd seen him for the first time.

"While I still think it's unfair that he's allowed to bend the rules," Yonji started off with before Niji interrupted with, "I will find a way to make both of them suffer for what's happening!"

"So, are we clear on these things?" Ichiji asked, unfolding his arms.

"We're just going to pretend that we don't care, but talk shit anyway because you're going to do your dastardly mind fucking powers on English," Yonji said, counting off his fingers.

"I'm going to punch Sanji in the face!" Niji decided. "That way, he won't be aware of our plans!"

"I'm just going to bitch and bitch and bitch about how he's getting away with one of dad's rules, and not make this easy for him!" Yonji added, glowering at the floor.

Ichiji rolled his eyes. He headed for the stairway, all three of them making their way down to the first floor. "Good. Do that. But don't let Sanji know what our true intentions are. Is this understood?"

"Yeah," they chimed, with varying expressions of grumpiness and disgust.

"So, should we tell dad about it?" Niji asked, pausing in the main hall. "I just gotta get to swim, so…"

"Do whatever you want," Ichiji murmured. "Sanji's going to do whatever it is he's going to do, with dad's permission or not. But the more dad reacts negatively to his actions, the more stubborn Sanji will be. Since his efforts aren't working, I'll work on English myself."

"Okay, whatever," Yonji said airily, waving at them as he walked off into the opposite direction.

Shoving his hands into his pockets, Niji glared at Ichiji, then left for the swimming pool. Ichiji frowned on his way out to the parking lot, fists curled tight. Sure enough, Sanji was waiting at the table he normally sat, and he looked at Ichiji with question as he approached.

Ichiji wasn't sure if Sanji were aware of them knowing what he was up to. He studied his brother's face while he walked up to him, and his younger brother held tightly to a rather stubborn frown, clearly expecting something from him.

"What's your problem?" Ichiji finally asked, watching for any shift of expression. He would either let Sanji tell him what was happening, or wait until it was exposed that he knew.

"What took you so long?" Sanji asked him uncomfortably. "You're usually here when I get here."

"I can't take my time? I ran into the others and spoke with them before coming out here," Ichiji said, taking a seat at the table.

Sanji watched him, standing pensively with his hands in his pockets. Ichiji noticed he was wearing a fresh bruise on his jaw, the imprints of knuckles causing him to stand up to look closer. "Where'd you get that?" he asked, genuinely curious. "Who'd you piss off, now?"

"It's none of your business," Sanji said stiffly, touching the spot.

"Did you drop?"

"Just about."

"Sucker punch? That Monkey kid, again?"

"No to both."

"Someone had enough of your shit."

Sanji shrugged, lowering his hand.

"Did you deserve it?" Ichiji asked, folding one ankle over one knee.

"Yes," Sanji murmured, looking away with a heavy frown.

Ichiji studied him for a few moments, deliberately making him uncomfortable as he fiddled with his uniform, touched his hair, his cast. Ichiji then looked over who remained in the parking lot. He felt betrayed; frustrated and angry that his little brother wanted to ruin what was practically given to him. But if he couldn't get to him, then he could make the other boy crack. English's file was enough for Ichiji to use. He stood up and walked over to his brother, taking hold of his chin to force him to look in the other direction so that he could examine the wound better. He tightened his hold when Sanji made to jerk away.

"Who did it?" Ichiji asked.

Before Sanji could answer, both of them heard a snort nearby. Both of them looked over to see Luffy walking up to them, chewing on a fully loaded hotdog with a 7-11 wrapper around one end. A plastic bag hung from the crook of his left arm; drinks, snacks and what looked to be a half gallon of milk pushing against the plastic. With his mouth full, he dropped one hand to wipe on his slacks, examining both of them with a critical expression. Ichiji and Sanji glanced at each other, unsure of what the Monkey boy wanted with either of them.

"Hi," Luffy said in their direction, swallowing tightly. "What's up?"

"What the hell do you want?" Sanji asked, Ichiji frowning at Luffy as he turned away from his younger brother. Having both of them abreast of each other made Luffy consider their confrontational stance versus the one that was just held moments ago.

"Nothing. Just saying 'hi'," Luffy said cheerfully. He held out the arm with the bag. "Want a snack? The milk's for me, though. Garp sent me over to the gas station for it, in case he forgot."

"No," Sanji said slowly, having absolutely no idea how to respond to this very random moment.

"School took way too long, today," Luffy said with a sigh, taking another large bite of his hotdog. "I fell asleep only twice, though. Hey, you have PE at all?"

"…No…"

"You have classes mainly with Zoro, right?"

"…Yeah…?"

Luffy then looked at Ichiji, furrowing his brow as Ichiji looked back at him, feeling himself tense because Luffy was going to reveal what it was Ichiji was only waiting for Sanji to say.

"Where's the rest of you?" he then asked, looking around them. "There's four of you, right?"

"What is it to you?" Ichiji answered stiffly.

"I never really looked at you guys as a set before, that's all," Luffy answered, finishing off the rest of his hotdog. "I thought I could look at you all before you went home, today. Are you identical, or fraternal?"

"Fraternal."

"Like a fraternity?"

"No, idiot."

Walking up close, Luffy examined Ichiji's face, then Sanji, eyes straying on his newest facial wound. "What happened? Someone get lucky?" he asked, tilting his head as Sanji turned his. "Who hit you?"

"What's it to you? Get out of here! None of us asked to talk to you!" Sanji snapped at him. Luffy frowned at him suspiciously, digging out a Gatorade from his bag and ignoring his request.

"I noticed you weren't in the hall after lunch," he stated, opening up the bottle and taking a sip. "Is that when you got jumped, or something?"

"It's none of your business!"

"You've been coming to school with a lot of different things about you, so I was just asking," Luffy grumbled.

"Isn't this cute?" Ichiji commented, hands on his hips. "The rabble interested in our business."

"No one cares about what happens to me, dipshit, so don't bother asking!" Sanji snapped at Luffy incredulously, finding his invasive questioning rude.

"Okay. Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow! Let me know if you want anything to eat, I'm sure I'd have extra!" Luffy then ambled off, leaving behind two very confused Vinsmoke brothers.

Ichiji thought it was very suspicious that the youngest D brother would approach them that way. He was positive this was Sabo's way of letting him know that they were under their surveillance – because everyone in the school knew that he'd retaliate in some way, and that Monkey kid was checking up on Sanji's schedule because they were planning on 'protecting' him in some way.

Sanji wondered what brought that on – it was unusual for Luffy to seek someone out without wanting to blast them for some reason or another. Since he did not approach them aggressively, Sanji didn't know what to think. He fiddled with his cast before looking at Ichiji and seeing a rotten expression on his face. He wondered if he'd missed something. He tapped his lips.

"I really want a cigarette," he commented.

"I've been really relieved not smelling that shit all the time," Ichiji told him, taking his seat.

"I don't give a fuck. Anyway, wasn't that weird?" Sanji commented, looking in the direction Luffy had taken. "He never talks to us, save for that one time..."

"Did something happen?" Ichiji asked him, removing his glasses to clean them.

"No," Sanji muttered, looking at the table with a terribly heavy frown. Ichiji stared at him while he wiped his glasses clean.

"I'll ask around, maybe even look at the security footage to see who blasted you," Ichiji then decide, slipping his glasses back into place. "Protecting somebody because you're scared of them isn't exactly ideal around us."

"I'm not protecting anybody! I – I deserved it, I was talking a bunch of shit, and I wouldn't shut up, so…this was justified."

"At least let it be someone from your class, and not a younger classmate."

"Yes."

Ichiji frowned at him. He didn't think it was Law because if they were seen kissing, then that was the opposite of committed violence. He figured he'd find out another way. His curiosity was only piqued because of Sanji's reluctance to say anything about it; it was important to keep tabs on Vinsmoke opponents, and even if Sanji deserved it, Ichiji only wanted to know who he'd pissed off recently.

That Wednesday morning, he and Niji walked up to the class Niji shared with his brothers, and, being that first bell hadn't yet rung, saw that Mr Hansen was not there yet. Yonji had the position of distracting Sanji away from the room so that Ichiji could find his answers. Since this class was the most active with Sanji's usual commotions, Ichiji thought he'd start there, first. Once he walked in, Niji took a lookout position at the doorway, and since it was unusual to see Ichiji in a lower class, everyone there took immediate notice.

Once he had every student's attention, he crossed his arms firmly over his chest and looked at each of them individually. It pissed him off that Law wasn't yet present.

"My brother is walking around with a bruised face," Ichiji stated low. "I know what an idiot he is, but he won't say who did it. It's now up to me to locate the person, or persons necessary for that injury just to find out what caused it. It's fine and dandy if it was only retaliation to whatever shit he caused, but if it were an unprovoked attack, then this person needs to answer to me."

Everyone looked at each other uncomfortably, unsure of how to answer. Puzzled expressions ranged from 'I-Don't-Know' to curiosity. Ichiji was aware that it wasn't easy for anyone to speak up for this sort of situation, considering who they were to face, but it seemed that no one had an idea of what he was speaking of.

"What does it matter?" Zoro asked, frowning at him.

Ichiji looked at him. "It matters because someone struck my younger brother, and it's unusual of him to hide it. He has no trouble admitting who he'd pissed off, but now I'm curious as to who it was that felt they had to lay a hand on him."

"Everyone knows he's a dick and he deserves it, but it's not up to you to find out who did it and what for," Zoro said. "It only sounds like you're going around trying to intimidate kids on his behalf."

"Normally, I don't give a fuck. Now, I do. Especially since he's incapable of fighting back," Ichiji snapped at him.

"With an injury you guys caused yourselves," Zoro pointed out.

"Shut up, moss!" Niji snapped. "Your opinion is stupid and insignificant!"

"Pick one and leave it at that," Zoro told him.

Before either Vinsmoke could say a thing, they were both bumped forward as Law walked in, pushing through them as he headed to his desk. Ichiji had to catch himself as he stumbled, and Niji made to attack when Ichiji swept an arm up against his chest to stop him. Uncaring of their reaction, Law wandered to his desk without a look back.

"You jerk!" Niji snarled, resettling by the door to watch out for Mr Hansen.

"What happened to Sanji's face?" Ichiji asked Law, refolding his arms over his chest and glaring at him. He noticed that the sweater he was now wearing was more fitting – it lacked the weird stain in the shoulder, and was looser, suggesting that it was his in the first place. He figured Sanji had finally returned it once their dad bought him a new one.

Once Law settled at his desk, he realized that the eldest Vinsmoke was talking to him, and that the class looked as if they were being held hostage. He glanced at everyone, seeing their uncomfortable reactions, then back at the red-haired teen that glared at him. Being put on the spot made him uncomfortable, the content of Ichiji's question reaching him belatedly. He did not like the position he was in; he felt safe because he knew Ichiji couldn't openly do anything, but he found it odd that Sanji's injury was even in question after what his brothers were capable of doing to him themselves.

He minutely debated on the outcome, then said stiffly, "I hit him."

Ichiji frowned crossly at him, trying to read his expression. Kids shuffled in their seats, uncomfortable with what was being revealed. Not that their reactions mattered to Law, but could sense sympathetic looks in his direction. Everyone seemed to understand why he would, but they also seemed to wince under the admission.

"Why?" Ichiji demanded shortly.

Law shrugged. "Felt right."

The bell rang, and Niji nudged Ichiji with a foot to indicate that Mr Hansen was on his way. Ichiji hated the way Law disregarded him; how this kid could think to play these games with his brother just made Ichiji more determined to ruin him. Not on Sanji's behalf, but because Law chose the wrong person to push.

"Make sure to kiss it better, please," he then said sweetly as Mr Hansen walked in, and faces erupted with combined horror that Ichiji was aware of the rumors, and that he'd openly say such a thing to Law in the first place. "If you plan on carrying on some disgusting relationship with my little brother, then you'd best know your place."

"What's going on?" Mr Hansen asked, looking at him with a startled expression as everyone in class shifted with immense discomfort over the entire scene.

"Nothing," Ichiji told him, leaving the classroom while Niji snickered, and sauntered over to his chair while other kids rushed in to avoid the tardy bell.

"Pretty gross," Niji commented loudly for Law to hear. "Like, who knew? Like, I was aware Sanji swung differently than most, but to take it up with you? You're gross, too. I guess guys like you has to get it where you can find it."

Law did wonder how word had gotten out over this – did Sanji say something? Or were they seen? Why did it matter to people what they were doing? It wasn't like either of them were friendly with anybody, but he supposed it made sense that Sanji's brothers would cause a fuss. In a small way, he did like the feel of upsetting them. But he was also aware that he could be putting Sanji into a potentially dangerous situation with his family, because they'd already shown that they were capable of hurting him.

He said nothing in response to Niji's words, but because the Vinsmokes were aware of what had happened, Law did wonder what effect it would have on Sanji. If Sanji would regret choosing him, if it would hurt him, or –

Sanji and Yonji finally swept in before the late bell could ring, both of them grumbling at each other as they made their way to their desks. Now that they were aware of things, their classmates looked at Sanji's face with interest, Sanji unaware of the attention as he swept off his bag and demanded Mr Hansen's attention to the latest grades that the teacher had put up the night before.

"Not now! After class," Mr Hansen said with a heavy sign, Yonji hollering at Niji for a response to his text. At Niji's answer, Mr Hansen had to raise his voice to be heard.

Sanji made his way to his desk, noticing Niji snickering at him, so he sat with a frown, tossing his bag atop of his desk. "What's your problem?"

"Nothing," Niji told him. "Did you and Yonji find what I'd asked for?"

"No! I'm starting to think you guys were lying to me about it," Sanji grumbled, pulling out a pen.

"I'm serious, I dropped a hundred dollar bill between the seat and the console, in the car's own Bermuda Triangle, and it's finders keepers if it's located," Niji said with a sniff.

"I make my own money, now," Sanji said, almost cheerily as he settled in his seat. "I don't need your handouts."

"It's good that you do," Niji told him, grinning. "To support that boyfriend of yours."

"Shut up!"

"Ichiji gave his approval, but he needs to stop abusing you," Niji added, Sanji looking over at him with a frown.

"Mr Hansen! Niji needs to be drug tested, he smells like weed!" Sanji hollered, Mr Hansen cringing at the volume of his voice.

Yonji twisted in his seat as Niji glared at Sanji. "Niji! Is this true?"

"NO!" Niji shouted at him, throwing his pen at Sanji, Sanji ducking quickly with a snicker.

"Shut up, all three of you, please," Mr Hansen snapped, turning to the whiteboard.

Halfway through the class, as Mr Hansen was setting up a projection to display a short documentary on the screen he'd pulled down in front of the whiteboard, Niji straightened up from his desk after putting his phone away. Loudly, over the casual din of the classroom, he asked, "So? When are you two going to come out with it?"

"Come out with what?" Sanji asked with irritation, flipping through his notebook for fresh paper.

"Grandline High's newest prom couple, of course! It's all over the school that you two are a pair," Niji said, folding his hands underneath his chin while Sanji looked at him with a start. Law rolled his eyes, hunching his shoulders because that definitely drew attention their way. Most of those who overheard Niji tried not to look as if they were listening, but they were.

"Whatever," Sanji muttered.

"Rumors are, you guys were caught in a passionate embrace," Niji continued. "So fucking romantic!"

"SHUT UP!"

"Ichiji was actually in here, giving it his blessing," Niji added. "So, the whole school knows. If big brother is fine with it, we're, ahem, fine with it."

Sanji looked at Niji with bewildered action, momentarily shocked. He didn't know what to say, mind racing, unable to picture who had seen. He knew that they could have been seen – but was it a true statement that his brothers knew? He didn't know how to react.

"Guilty!" Niji hollered, startling those that were listening. "He has no words!"

"I have words! And shut up, stop spreading rumors! What's your problem?" Sanji snapped at him, throwing his pen at him.

"Trafalgar, welcome to the family," Niji told Law, who did his best not to give the teen a reaction. "It makes sense that Sanji would choose trash to play with, considering no one else would give him a chance."

"Shut up, Niji!"

"I am going to separate you both!" Mr Hansen snapped, turning to glare back at them. "Stop disrupting class!"

"Yeah, you guys!" Yonji yelled. "I'm trying to learn, here! We all are for our education, not gossip!"

"Separate us!"

"It doesn't matter where he goes, we're still going to have a conversation!"

With a huff, Sanji brushed his hair out of his face, but he couldn't help but look at Law, a little panicked with how he should react.

"All I'm saying," Niji said with a sigh, leaning back in his chair with an impatient stomp on Koala's chair, "is that this is okay with us. Ichiji said it was fine as long as it doesn't affect the family in any way, but I'm pissed because you fags piss me off, and I'm not okay with it. But, overall, we're okay with it."

Yonji twisted in his chair again, blocking the view of those that were trying to watch the documentary, but also keeping an ear out on the confrontation as well. Mr Hansen drank heavily from his water bottle.

"It's okay," Yonji stressed, stretching a plastic smile over his face, eye twitching. "You two can come out of the closet, now. It's safe. We've got a safe place in our arms just for you both."

Sanji reddened, ready to explode at both of them, Niji laughing loudly. He didn't have to look, but Law knew Sanji was close to that breaking point. He sighed heavily, leaning back with restless action in his chair.

"Countdown to a meltdown!" Niji hollered jovially, Mr Hansen standing up with a growl.

"Shut up, all of you!" Koala shouted out fiercely, rising up from her chair with a slap of her hands atop of her desktop, causing those around them to startle. Breathing tightly, aware that she had everyone's attention, she looked back at a surprised Niji.

"You need to stop this idiotic instigating! What are you, five?" she snapped at him. "Your behavior is absolutely disgusting! I'm sick and tired of hearing you pick on your brother because you're a fucking asshole! And you! You big green turd, you're just the same! Shut up! And YOU! You know what they're doing, why do you keep responding to it?"

"I'm feeling attacked, Mr Hansen," Yonji complained. "Why is she allowed to talk to me like that?"

"I can't concentrate on what you're saying when your breasts are heaving like that," Niji told Koala, whose face reddened, covering herself in response. "So can you repeat yourself? Slowly?"

Koala slapped him, and most of their classmates cheered as Mr Hansen roared for order in his class, ringing for the security guard. Niji rose up in his seat to strike her back when Sanji leapt out of his and slammed into him, both of them tumbling to the floor.

"Are you stupid?" Sanji snarled at Niji, using all his weight to keep his brother from getting up and exacting revenge on the girl.

"Get your fag hands off me!" Niji howled, shoving at his face while kicking to get back to his feet.

Yonji sighed heavily, shaking his head at the sight of his brothers rolling around on the floor, knocking into desks while kids watched with intense fascination. "Dad's going to be so pissed," he muttered sullenly to himself, sending a message to Ichiji.

"Please take your things and head on down to the office. I'm sure you'll be fine," Mr Hansen told Koala, who did so with her head lowered. He immediately separated Sanji and Niji, the security guard hurrying in at the first prompt Mr Hansen had sent. He forced Sanji down to his seat and gestured at Niji to gather his things. Red faced and furious, Niji did so as the security guard stood nearby, hand on his Taser. "Don't let him bother her."

Everyone clapped as Niji was led out of the classroom, Mr Hansen scowling at all of them. As he headed to the front of the class to restart the documentary, Yonji complaining noisily about the treatment of his brother and the other students talking excitedly about what had happened, Law turned in his seat to look back at Sanji. He was still red-faced, glaring at his notebook, still near 'meltdown mode'.

He reached out and touched his head, Sanji looking up with a startled expression. "Your older brother started this," Law told him quietly. "Earlier."

Fidgeting with his pen, Sanji glanced around nervously. Ichiji's behavior made sense, yesterday, and he swallowed tightly once he realized a couple of kids were looking over with interest. He looked at Law uneasily, trying to determine what he was thinking from his expression.

"People know?" he asked anxiously, unsure of what to do from there.

"I don't care if they do," Law told him.

That wasn't something Sanji wanted to hear at that moment, just knowing that there was more to his brothers' agitation than what they were saying. Maybe prompting him to tell the truth, to expose them, to entrap them both into something drastic. He did not accept their 'acceptation' of the rumors. If Ichiji was behind it, then Sanji definitely felt intensely wary of any retaliation or action that they might take. He unconsciously fiddled with the cast on his arm, aware of what they were capable of.

He didn't want to reject Law's feelings, either, by denying them. He looked at him with worry, coming up with nothing to say in response to the matter. He was definitely very nervous about how the situation would play out. He didn't want to lose what he'd just found with Law, but wasn't sure what his brothers were capable of now that they were aware of them.

Aware of his distress, Law dropped his hand from Sanji's head to his hand, and gave his tightly curled fingers a light squeeze. Sanji deeply appreciated the gesture, but he was so agitated with the possibilities of his brothers' future actions that he couldn't return it.


Naghi-Tan: :D

RR: Ah, his brothers' reaction definitely caused concern, especially with Ichiji's plans. D: While they show positive reaction to Sanji's absence, this chapter showed that they definitely aren't 'for' him or his choices. The content of that note is to be revealed! How they'll continue to behave will should have a reader nervous.

DedicatedFan: LOL the vinsmokes are too badass in canon to show off their immaturity side (save for Yonji, that wicked little 'cinnamon roll' (I love him in the manga – he's definitely their younger brother XD Those panels with him delight me!)

A to the Z: Eek! Thank you! :D With Ichiji at the helm, shit will hit the fan *gently, but enough to cause a ghastly mess

Snowflake 97: Ichiji's reaction was here, and he has a plan, indeed! Not a good one, but hopefully these two realize it in time. But only time will tell what will happen because of it. The angst this fic will have will continue as they get closer.

Sarge1130: The brothers definitely miss him when he's not around, but it's not always a positive reason. They all fit together, but they aren't very supportive in any way – they're just waiting for their moment. When it's just them, they're fine, but when someone comes in between them, it's definitely not acceptable, especially with Sanji's choices being what they are. Ichiji is too 'mature' to allow their constant ribbing bother him, and they know it, so they give up. Haha! Law isn't – hes already acknowledged what experience he had (male and female, but how much is only limited to what he will only acknowledge, and the difficulty with what he spoke with tells much of it). In the end, two people with limited knowledge of what affection is is only based on what they know (which isn't very much), but it'll be fun/difficult to write what they do! The D boys are aware, and their interference is clumsily expressed XD but they will continually be involved – especially after Koala's stance!

Thank you all for reading and commenting!