Chapter 4

"Are you trying to wake Eustass-ya up Luffy-ya?" Law asked as Luffy bounced on the edge of Kid's bed, grinning widely at him.

"Traffy do you remember much about your Lord?" Luffy chirped out, much to his surprise.

"No." Law answered honestly. "I only know he's the Human Lord. Why? You're looking awfully suspicious at the moment Luffy-ya."

"Shishishi, have you made a guess yet?" Luffy sniggered, looking so amused which made Law now more weary than suspicious.

He had even stopped bouncing on the bed now, just sitting there, staring at him expectantly.

"I have made a few guesses considering what's happened but nothing has been confirmed yet." He offered, pausing at the sound of Eustass-ya stirring in his bed which made him approach to check over his paitent. "Why? Do you know who it is?"

"Lords don't know each other." Luffy shrugged. "We can tell who is what creature but not who they are. It's pawns we remember. It's a mystery power!"

"Unfortunately for me." Law scowled. "I can never seem to get rid of you or Doflamingo. It's also probably for the best Lords don't remember one another, Doflamingo would certainly take advantage of that. He'd probably try get the younger ones assassinated or kidnapped to join his child army."

"Mingo's a weirdo." Luffy stated dryly.

"It's worked so far. People are always there to support him, pawn or no pawn." Law mentioned before pausing when a familiar hand clutched his wrist. "Eustass-ya? Are you awake-"

He let out a startled cry when the moron yanked him down, his free hand tangled in his hair as their lips met. Law let out a protest as the redheaded idiot deepened the kiss, his tongue slipping into his mouth and leaving Law confused at the strange tingling sensation through him. The tingle glidded up through his chest where his heart should be and out his mouth, escaping into Eustass-ya's who pulled away once it was gone.

Eustass-ya grinned against his lips though, making Law shudder. "Thanks for the key Law. I knew you still had it."

Garp huffed. "You and Luffy are such troublemakers. Why couldn't you have both joined me in the force..."

He trailed off though, frowning when he noticed Ace begin to grow rapidly pale and shudder, looking startled. Garp tensed at that and took a closer look, seeing Ace's eyes blown and the brat letting out shaky breaths, as if he was getting overwhelmed by something-

Shit.

"Gr-Gramps..." Ace panted out, looking alarmed.

"I've got you. Deep breathes." Garp ordered, wrapping his arm around his grandson's shoulders, squeezing tight.

This had happened before. The first time and worst time had been when Luffy had awakened as a Lord though, he had been visiting at the time, checking up on the growing pair because Dadan had insisted that Luffy had been acting weird. Luffy had seemed perfectly fine though, until he had kissed a red haired girl who had his key.

Poor Ace had been too close by and had been completely overwhelmed by the awakening. He remembered how sickly and disorientated his eldest grandson had looked while Luffy had started crying, clinging to the girl's hands who seemed equally as stunned. At that time he had panicked, knocked out Luffy and the girl, picked all three of them up and took them straight home.

Bellemere had accused him of kidnapping and threatened to beat the shit out of him that day.

"You're not feeling overwhelmed are you?" He asked, trying to sooth his grandson who was definitely stressed out now. "Come on, I'm taking you back inside to that boyfriend of yours."

Ace was too shaky to move so he easily lifted him up against his side and walked straight back into the waiting room so he could dump Ace on that Smoker brat who could distract him while he went and made sense of the situation. If what he was told was right, Vault Keepers could handle the pressure of a Lord's soul as they grew older, but Vault Keepers could live for about six hundred years.

So that meant his grandson was just a baby compared to those ones and had a lot of growing up to do before he could handle it.

"Ace?!" The blue pigeon was instantly glaring at him. "What did you do?"

"It's fine Marco. He's sensing the new Lord, aren't you son?" Whitebeard said, his gaze on Ace who let out another shiver against him, making Garp grit his teeth.

"Oi, blue pigeon, where did the Smoker brat go?" He asked quickly, he didn't have much time left until the Vault Keepers would regain themselves.

Older ones were used to it if, again, what he was told was correct. They didn't go into as much of a shock anymore, younger one's like Ace though, it hits them harder because their system wasn't used to a 'Lord's awakening yet. He had only been through a few, most of the Lords were by far, older after all, and had already claimed their 'husks' by the time Ace was even born.

"Blue pigeon? It's Marco." Marco growled but tensed, looking startled when he shoved Ace into his arms, the blonde carefully adjusting Ace as Garp headed for the door.

"Keep that little brat of a grandson of mine safe while I go talk to someone. He'll be in shock for a bit but he'll snap out of it later." Garp ordered as he stormed out, finding Kureha across the hall, just outside the operation room.

She was leaning heavily against the wall, looking exhausted but with a grin still in place. "What? You here to find out the secret to my youth?"

Garp snorted. "Don't need it."

"It's annoying when one of those little Lordlings wake up. My kind always feel it, One Piece created us both after all, but for such a little one it must be hard. I'm still a young thing but Ace is still just a baby compared to our elders." Dr. Kureha chuckled weakly.

"How do you handle it so old?" Garp couldn't help but snark, jerking his head to the side when a knife flew at him, lodging into the wall instead.

"I'm only four hundred and forty-one!" Dr. Kureha snarled.

"Do you know which Lord is it?"

"He's a brat with a chip on his shoulder." Dr. Kureha shrugged. "The 'Human Lord' has always been like that though, so temperamental."

Garp tried not to tense. "Is he a danger to Ace?"

"All Lords are a danger to our kind." Dr. Kureha huffed. "Your little brat is lucky though, he has three Lords who favour him. Of course there is his brother Luffy, the 'Boggart Lord', then Shanks, the 'Werewolf Lord', who he is friends with, and then he precious father figure, Whitebeard, the 'Bigfoot Lord'. Most Vault Keepers are just tools to them."

"Ace isn't a tool." Garp growled.

"None of us are." The doctor chuckled, looking much more settled now as she leaned back, her breathing calming down. "Yet none of the other Lordlings care. They would butcher us as long as they had access to one Vault Keeper so that no one else could get it."

"The crimes committed against the Vault Keepers-"

"Were cruel. I did autopsies on some of them and some of them had been my friends." Dr. Kureha scowled, her gaze darkening. "That's why nobody will ever find out about me. I'm too young to die. Roger and Rouge didn't make it, Rouge had been captured and murdered and Roger was killed during that battle between you lot. It was unfair, we both know it."

"Roger was still a criminal."

"Rouge never did anything wrong though and she was still murdered." Dr. Kureha pointed out and he nearly winced, remembering Ace's little voice calling out for his mother, so confused and light when Garp hadn't brought his mother home who had been long dead by the time he reached her.

He remembered the smile on her cold, pale face and the confusion on Ace's.

Kureha continued though, drawing him out of his depressing thoughts. "But it doesn't matter any longer, they're gone now. Their murderers never got off lightly either, One Piece doesn't like us dying after all, if the legends are true."

"It will avenge you."

"A Lord never controls us after all. One Piece created us, we're it's children." The old woman shrugged. "It loves us, but it still keeps sending us back no matter what."

"Sorry I lost the last game." Kid murmurs, stroking Law's cheek who blinked at him, seemingly stunned into silence for the moment.

Fuck, that was a rare sight.

"I'll get payback on that bastard who murdered me last time. It was one of the Dragon Lords right?" Kid scowled, it had been one of them, he knew that, but he had no idea who they were or which one did it.

"Doflamingo." Law finally says, offering him a strange blank look.

Kid frowned, trying to remember where he recognised the name from before stiffening. "What the fuck? That businessman? Donquixote Doflamingo?"

"Yes, Doflamingo is one of the two Dragon Lords-"

"Oh fuck that's the guy who adopted you!" Kid gaped.

"Well it's nice to know that you've been paying attention to someone Eustass-ya." Law remarked dryly.

The door was flung open though, cutting him off from replying as two familiar faces appeared before him. Of course Killer had that damned helmet on as usual while Bonney just looked slacked jawed, staring at him as if he just grew another head.

Kid smirked at the sight, only to wince when Law smacked his head. "Oi! What was that for?!"

"Don't act so smug!" Law snapped, that strange look in his eyes was still there though, making Kid slightly worried about it.

"Yeah, you've been a lazy shit all these years Kid." Bonney snarked, munching on her chippy, making him instantly hungry when the scent hit him. "You took way too long to wake up. I should be the Lord instead of you."

"You gotta fight me for it." Kid sneered.

"That isn't how it works." Law sighed.

Killer interrupted them all though, lowering his head. "Welcome back."

"Heh, it's good to be back." Kid grinned, reaching over to pat his oldest friend's shoulder.

He couldn't wait to get started.

Law glanced out the window, ignoring the sounds of Bonney and Killer reuniting with their Lord. He heard Luffy approach who leaned against him, making Law instantly sigh.

"What is it, Luffy-ya?"

"Are you okay?" Luffy asked, looking oddly serious.

Law sighed at that, unsure how to answer the question. "I'm a bit frustrated... Eustass-ya and I have been room mates for years, he's been this close to me all this time and I didn't even notice that he was meant to be my Lord. My lover."

"You and Eussy have been lovers for years." Luffy noted quietly.

"And I didn't notice him. I even had the key apparently and I didn't even know about that either. I didn't remember." Law sighed. "It's frustrating, unable to remember anything and now it's suddenly all back because of my roommate who I've been living with for years now."

"It's not your fault. Pawns never remember who their Lord is, well they can't recognise us. They know who they used to be to us but until we have our keys you can't recognise us." Luffy frowned, looking upset. "I was lucky, I unlocked mine very early because I kissed Nami while we were in the playground. I felt the need to."

"Body urges tingling?" Law snarked, making him laugh.

"I felt a tingle!"

Law snorted, now feeling amused. "I have the feeling you and I are speaking of two completely different things Luffy-ya."

"Taking the key back from Nami did make me feel tingly though? Did you not feel it?" Luffy asked, obviously confused.

"Yes I did." He huffed. "And yes, I do understand it's not my fault, I'm just irritated at the situation."

"I hurt Ace that day." Luffy murmured quietly, leaning in closer making Law relax back against the younger. "I overwhelmed him when I woke up and he was so sick and bewildered that he slept for days afterwards."

"He was only seventeen." Law pointed out. "Vault Keepers age differently. He's actually counted as a baby still."

Luffy laughed at that. "He hates that!"

"Hey, what are you two talking about over there?" Bonney-ya asked, looking bored while Luffy instantly shut his mouth, alarmed.

"It's none of your business." Law scowled, eyeing Luffy to see if he was about to attempt a lie or not, and was thankful that he just kept silent.

At least he would try and keep this secret for his brother at the very least. He still couldn't believe that Luffy had one day just blurted it out to him after he had revealed to the young teen that he was a Spirit Healer. Ace-ya's face that day had been very interesting colour though, if he wasn't too busy trying to murder his little brother, he would have asked to do a check up on him.

"So what exactly has been happening in this game of ours?" Kid asked.

"It's been mostly quiet." Killer revealed. "The only recent events are Vergo running into Law, and considering one of Doflamingo's minions tried to kidnap him, he knows exactly where Law is working, at the very least. Another new development is that one of Whitebeard's pawns are in hospital, apparently having taken a knife to the back."

"And any news on any of the Vault Keepers?" Kid questioned and Law instantly slammed his foot on Luffy's, seeing his expression darkening.

Luffy thankfully didn't butt in, he had tensed instead, eyes meeting his own, leaving Killer to reply negatively.

"No, we haven't heard of any."

"There is also a lot more to Doflamingo than Killer-ya knows. Doflamingo had been working on his 'empire'." Law said firmly, trying to carefully change the subject so Luffy didn't accidentally let something slip. "He's expanding his business range, he had that huge hit with those toys that can walk and talk-"

"Ah! Kyros!" Luffy gasped, now successfully distracted.

Law nodded grimly at that. "It turns out that new toy range is created by a Devil Fruit. One of Doflamingo's family members can turn people into toys and cause everyone to forget them once they have been transformed."

"Holy shit really?! But you see them all the time!" Kid gaped.

"Whoever it is must have turned a lot of people." Killer grunted. "It sounds a bit like your Devil Fruit Bonney."

"Except mines works on ages and doesn't cause people to just forget!" The pink haired woman snapped.

Law sighed. "Doflamingo's also a big charity case. He is always raising funds, especially for rare diseases."

Bonney sniggered. "Yeah, he's so protective of you, it's adorable."

"Fuck off." Law cursed lightly, sticking his middle finger up as he kept his attention on the redhead. "Anyway, he also does trade-offs with people such as Sir Crocodile, Princess Rebecca of the Riku family and sometimes even with Empress Hancock. There are plenty more people but they are by far some of his best partners."

"He did something to Rebecca!" Luffy huffed.

"I recognise the name." Kid muttered to himself before tensing. "Oh shit, the pink haired kid! Wait weren't the elves my fucking allies?! She went and betrayed me!"

"Not on purpose. Doflamingo got to her." Killer stated grimly. "We believe he overwhelmed her soul in the last game, he is a powerful Lord after all. Now she's been reborn into her family again and was forced into betraying them too."

"Her dad's trying to save her." Luffy nodded. "And so is her aunt and her grandpa."

"Eustass-ya, you trusted the Riku family and while we were in a meeting with them they captured us both." Law reminded, gritting his teeth as the memories, now with no shadowy figures covering up his Lord's person, came back to life. "The others mostly were killed but Shachi managed to go get help that day."

"Eussy was already dead by the time we got there. Burned to death."

"The nightmares..." Kid muttered.

"I was partially right, it was a suppressed trauma." Law said smugly, earning a glare.

"Don't look so smug asshole!"

Killer interrupted them though, looking grim. "Rebecca rules over the Riku family now and has been firmly trapped under Doflamingo's influence."

"We'll save her and beat up Mingo!" Luffy declared.

Law snorted though. "You just want to save her because she gave you food."

The kid pouted though. "She's also my friend!"

A knock at the door interrupted them, Smoker slipping in, looking grim as he approached, getting wearily looks from them all, apart from Luffy who instantly grinned widely.

"Smokey! You're here! Where's Ace?!" Luffy called out cheerfully.

"He's with Whitebeard." Smoker said distastefully, making Luffy huff. "Now leave, all of you. I need to speak to Eustass."

"I need to examine him." Law replied as the rest reluctantly shuffled out, Bonney dragging Luffy behind her who whined.

"Fine. You can probably help answer some questions too." Smoker grunted as he leaned against the wall. "Eustass Kid, how long have you been going to your dealer for?"

"I don't know what you're talking about officer. I just met up with a friend." Kid said through gritted teeth.

Smoker growled. "Don't bother lying. Your test results will be proof enough."

Law sighed. "Unfortunately there was an error in the system. Dr. Kureha told you about that did she not? Our patients at that time who all were tested got the wrong results."

"You're covering for him Trafalgar?"

"I would do no such thing." He was telling the truth. "It was Luffy-ya's fault in the first place, how in the world he got into the testing room and then dumped his milk in the machine I will never know."

"That's what happened?" Kid gaped.

"Unfortunately yes. That moron was apparently chasing Dr. Chopper around again, got told off by the technicians inside the testing room but then Luffy-ya fell asleep during the lecture and dropped his glass of milk, not his meat of course but his milk." Law remarked dryly.

He remembered Dr. Kureha's rant about that while Franky, who had been called in, tried to fix it and shook his head, saying the test results where all mucked up now. Law couldn't figure out if Luffy had done that deliberately or not, just to keep the peace for Eustass-ya.

He had a feeling it was just a simple accident, either that or Nami-ya or Nico-ya had put him up to it.

"Fine then." Smoker seethed. "Eye witnesses. We have plenty of time Eustass and I have plenty of questions and you will answer them."

"Bite me." The redhead snapped back but Law smacked him across the head.

"Stop picking fights in hospital Eustass-ya!"

Before Kid or Smoker-ya could say anything though Law felt this sudden, overwhelming pressure that nearly knocked him over while Kid flinched, seemingly alarmed. Law gripped the chair, trying to keep to his feet, even as it felt like he was being crushed from the pressure that had seemingly appeared from nowhere.

"Trafalgar? Are you alright-" Smoker looked a bit surprised but they all jumped when the door slammed open.

"Captain Smoker!" Tashigi-ya cried out, breathless. "It's Whitebeard's man! He didn't make it!"

Law fought to stay on his feet, relieved as the pressure suddenly eased off, as if it was being restrained just as Smoker cursed and ran out, Tashigi staggering behind, the pair looking alarmed. Law instantly collapsed into a chair, his legs shaking.

"That was Whitebeard's soul." Law breathed out shakily.

"He's pissed." Kid grunted out as he leaned back heavier against the pillows. "Fuck, I'm always amazed how overwhelming his fucking willpower is. I can recognise it even after all this time, and hell, Lords aren't supposed to even remember each other."

"You can recognise a soul though once it's awakened." Law noted.

Kid nodded. "Yeah but we don't remember who they are, we can only tell what Lord they are. So all the Lords should know that the Human Lord is awake now and that Bigfoot is beyond pissed off."

Law remained quiet after that, trying to regain himself. He hated that pressure, it was overwhelming and sometimes made him feel like he was actually suffocating. He didn't enjoy feeling so weak and helpless, it reminded him of his childhood all over again.

Kid frowned, noticing how quiet Law was now, which immediately worried him. He liked it better when Law was confident and snarky, unshakable and strong. Not this quiet and helpless version of him, that version pissed him off.

"Law-"

"Be quiet, Eustass-ya." Law ordered, still not looking up at him, eyes remaining on the floor, alarming him further. "How terrible was it? We were right next to each other all this time but not even once did we figure out who you actually were."

"Law I'm sorry." He hated how distressed Law sounded right now.

Law only shook his head though, finally raising his eyes to glare into his own. He felt oddly relived at the anger in them, the sheer determination to win.

"Doflamingo isn't going to kill you this time. This time you need to survive." Law stated, eyes hard. "I'm sorry I was too weak, I won't be again."

"Fuck Law, we were both too weak. We'll get stronger. I won't let him take you again."

"That we can agree on." Law said, lowering his gaze back to the floor again.

He wanted to curse at the sight of it but instead he covered his face with his hands and groaned. This wasn't going to be easy, in fact, this was going to suck. A lot.

.:End of Chapter:.

Oh yeah, I was wondering if you guys wanted me to put up a list of the 'clans' and their species, maybe make things easier to remember who is what creature, for every chapter or so? If so I'll probably be putting up Luffy's clan and Kid's clan first :) And I hope I'm explaining things okay, please ask away if you're not too sure, I'll try answer as best as I can :)