Sanji's Return

"Captain! Bad news, Captain!"

Law jolted awake to the sound of Bepo's screaming. For a split second he wanted to yell at the mink to keep it down or he'd wake Neo, but then remembered he was outside while she was inside. Opening one eye he saw the bear, Shachi, and Penguin racing over to him. "What is it?"

"Straw Hat and Roronoa! They've just entered Bakura Town!" Bepo pointed towards the town and shook his arm wildly.

"Straw Hat's here?" Law sat up, his lips curled into a frown. "Just wonderful! When did he…? Never mind! We have to get to them! He's definitely going to cause some kind of trouble!"

"Exactly!" Penguin nodded.

"We've got to go stop those idiots!" Shachi said.

"Aye aye, Captain!" Bepo said before doubling over and wrapping his arms around his stomach.

"Bepo?" Law asked.

"It hurts," Bepo whined.

"What does? What hurts?" Law asked.

"My stomach," Bepo said tumbling to the ground.

"He ate a fish from the river," Shachi said.

"What?!" Law growled.

"We told him not to." Penguin shrugged. "But he wouldn't listen to us."

Law ran his hand over his face extremely relieved that Neo was sleeping. Though Bepo would benefit from Neo's solar crystal right now.

"A-am I going to die, Captain?" Bepo asked.

"What were you thinking, Bepo?! I told you not to eat fish from that river! Why did you do that? Now of all times?" Law looked towards the ruins then the town and then down to Bepo. Should he wake Neo? She would be beneficial to have to help Bepo and get to the Straw Hats before they caused trouble.

"But I was so hungry," Bepo whined. "I needed fish to eat."

Law sighed, pressed his fingers to his forehead. "Neo is not going to be happy with you. If you wanted fish then you should have asked her to get you some."

"Where is our sweet sister anyway?" Penguin looked around.

"Sleeping," Law said.

"Captain! Hawkins is at the gates!" Shachi said. "And there's a fire in the town!"

"What?!" Law whipped his eyes to his subordinate. Shachi was standing closer to the cliff with his binoculars to his eyes. Smoke rose into the already gray sky.

"Captain! Don't leave me!" Bepo said, his eyes round and pleading.

"Stop looking so cute. This is just great." Law gritted his teeth. His eyes wandered over to the castle ruins. He had to get down there and make sure Luffy and Zoro didn't cause any problems. Neo would make sure of that. The two Straw Hats would listen to her more than they would him. But she had only been asleep for about fifteen minutes. And since she had done so much cleaning this morning he knew she needed more time to rest. He'd have to go alone and hope he could rein in their antics.

"Go, Captain," Penguin said. "We'll keep an eye on Neo. I'll go to her."

"Fine." Law nodded. Holding up his hand he formed a Room and warped a wicker helmet into his hand. He placed it over his head then warped closer to the town.

Once at the edge of the town he ran between two buildings and into the street where Basil Hawkins was riding down on a large horned deer. Behind Hawkins were a few other Kaido warriors who were riding on lizard like creatures who ran on their hide legs. Wano's an isolationist country. They don't have much information from outside. This guy's one of the few who knows who we are. Got to finish him off. "Halt, Basil Hawkins! This is as far as you will be going. I'll be taking your life now."

Hawkins pulled back on the reins, slowing the creature a stop. He stared at Law. "Who are you?"

Law formed his Room. The blue film spread out around them. "Room," he said. Roronoa's with them, and he should know the plan well enough. They won't do anything like taking out Holdem. If we raise a single finger against him it's all over. Maybe I should have woken Neo up. I could have sent her after those two while I dealt with Hawkins. Pulling a rock from his pocket he tossed it behind Hawkins. "Disappear, Hawkins! Shambles!" Law warped himself in the place of the rock. He pulled out his sword and sliced one of the other men in half.

"Help me!" The man, cut in half, fell from his lizard. "Huh?! I'm not dead?!"

"What?! He's still alive?! What the heck?!" another man said.

"Remove that helmet!" Hawkins said, pulling out his sword. Holding it out towards Law the sword extended and wobbled. "It's useless."

Law gritted his teeth when the wobbling sword stuck in his helmet and pulled it off. What kind of devil fruit power was that?

"Trafalgar Law!" Hawkins said.

Law smiled. Swiping his sword he cut down several more of the men Hawkins had with him. He then warped himself on the neck of the creature Hawkins was riding.

"You certainly catch on quick," Hawkins said.

"I'm still just bluffing. I don't like taking lives," Law said. "After all I'm a doctor."

"I find that hard to believe considering how protective you are of your woman," Hawkins said. "Where is she? She's never too far from you when you're in a fight."

"Sorry to disappoint you," Law said. "But you're not going to see her."

"Is that so?" Hawkins said. "Well then, welcome to the country of Wano. We haven't seen each other since that fateful day on Sabaody, have we? I have little doubt you're here to sightsee. I didn't expect your whole alliance to enter this country together."

"What?" Law gasped.

"Surprised that I know? I came across Straw Hat earlier. I assume you sought to seal my lips before I could tell anyone but…" Before Hawkins could continue his transponder snail interrupted them. He pulled it out.

"Lord Holdem has been defeated by the bandits! They're on the run now! We've already reported to Lord Jack!" a man said from the other side of the transponder snail.

Neo rolled onto her back then shifted again as Law's anger filtered into her mind. With a low grunt she opened her eyes and sat up. "Law, why are you so angry?"

"You're awake, huh?"

Neo turned her eyes to Penguin who was sitting at the foot of the bed. "Law's not happy."

"Yeah." Penguin nodded. "I figured that would happen."

"And he's not near the castle." Neo frowned when she sensed Law in town. "What happened?"
"Nothing much." Penguin scratched his cheek.

"Penguin," Neo growled.

Penguin sighed. "There's a bit of a disturbance in town. Roronoa and, um, Straw Hat-"

"What?!" Neo gasped. "Luffy's here?!" She refocused her attention on Law's location. Pushing back all the elements and devil fruit users she sensed she searched for the rubber element. She found him. Luffy, plus a large creature, was heading closer to Law's location. She jumped from the bed but paused. Her eyes shot to Cora. "Crap! What do I do?! I can't let Law fight on his own! But I can't leave Cora either!"

Neo walked five feet to the door before walking back to the bed. "I can't take Cora with me. Not to a fight. Having him around Queen was more than enough." She walked five feet back to the door then back to the bed. "But I can't go like this. Ah! What do I do?! Law!"

"Just go," Penguin said. "You know Cora is safe here with us. I'll keep him with me."

Neo closed her eyes to the tears gathering. Heart cracking into a million pieces she knelt down on the bed. Brushing her fingers over Cora's cheek she said, "Don't worry, Cora. Mommy will be right back. I promise I won't be gone for long." She turned to Penguin. "Stay right with him. Don't leave him for a single second."

"Of course." Penguin nodded.

Gritting her teeth Neo forced herself from the room. Stepping outside of the castle she launched herself into the air with her wind crystals. She pulled a breeze to the town. She was going to need it. "Law!"

'Neo! What are you doing?! Stay at the castle!'

"I won't!" Neo snapped. "You should have woken me up when you found out Luffy was here!"

Law didn't reply.

Neo arrived at his battle within a few seconds. Law and Hawkins had stopped fighting as she hovered above them. She shifted the wind so it blew in Hawkins face. Suddenly Zoro shouted out, "Hey! You lot over there! Make way! Coming through! We're in a bit of a hurry!"

The large animal Neo had sense rushed towards them. She wrapped her wind around Law and lifted him into the air as everyone else scattered to the large creature pulling a treasure ship full of food into the town. People screamed and the ship rumbled over the ground as it tore through the town. She sat them down on the ship. Her eyes went right to Luffy. She rushed towards him, throwing her arms around his neck. "Luffy!"

"Hey, Neo!" Luffy laughed, wrapping his arms around her.

"You're here! I can't believe it! You made it to Wano!" Neo pulled back and looked around. "Where are the others? Is Sanji here? You did bring him back, right?"

"Of course I did." Luffy patted her back. "We got separated before landing. I'm sure he and the others are on the island somewhere."

"I'm relieved you all made it," Neo said bring her eyes back to Luffy. "Though I'm sad I can't see Sanji yet."

"He'll be happy to see you too." Luffy's grin widened.

"You bastard!" Law shouted, turning Neo's attention to him. He was practically yelling in Zoro's ear.

"Oh, Law," Zoro said as casual as ever.

"You gave your word that you wouldn't do anything to cause trouble!" Law continued. "And not only did you get on the wanted list, you've gone and done something bad enough to get Jack called out! Your job was to be a ronin in the Flower Capital! Why are you all the way out here in Kuri?!"

"You've caused enough trouble yourself, Law." Neo crossed her arms.

"What?! Me?!" Law turned to her.

"Why didn't you wake me up when you learned Luffy was here?!" Neo stomped over to him. As she spoke she poked him repeatedly on the chest she added, "And because you didn't I have to leave Cora behind!" Tears poured from her eyes. "What if he wakes up and we're not there?! He'll think we've abandon him!"

Law twitched.

"Cora?" Luffy blinked. "What are you talking about? Cora who?"
"That's right," Zoro said. "You don't know yet. Neo had her baby."

"What?!" Luffy shrieked. "Really?!"

"Yes!" Neo turned a cheerful smile at him. "He was born a few weeks ago! He's the cutest thing ever!"

Law sighed in relief.

"Don't think you're off the hook, mister." Neo glared at her husband then she smiled at Luffy. "You're going to love Cora!"

Luffy nodded with a huge grin.

"Good thing for you she's still having mood swings," Zoro said.

Law could only nod in agreement.

"Really? That's great! I can't wait to see him!" Luffy said.

"Zorojuro! We'll be out of the city soon!" a woman said.

"All right. We'll split this up in Leftover Town," Zoro said.

Neo pulled her attention from Luffy to the three others on the ship she hadn't noticed before. One was on Kaido's crew, a man made devil fruit user of the horse variety, the second was a tall long black haired woman, and the third a young girl. "Who are they?"

"Hm? Oh, that's Tama and Kiku and Umami. We met them a little while ago." Luffy pointed at the women as he said their names. "And Tama met Ace!"

"Really?" Neo blinked. Her hand drifted to Luffy's. She shared a smile with him when his hand closed around hers.

"That's right." Tama, the little girl, nodded.

"Well, it's nice to meet you," Neo said. "I think."

"Don't worry, Neo," Luffy said. "They're good people."

A few minutes later the ship came to a stop in Leftover Town

Luffy released her hand and started moving the food and water from the ship down to the ground. "Water! Poison free! Money free, too! Take it!" He placed down a large bucket of water. The people of the town gathered around.

Neo smiled. Using her winds she help unload the food and water from the ship. She caught a glimpse of Law cautiously looking around. Sure she wasn't suppose to use her crystals in front of people, but no one was noticing her and it would be faster for her to unload the ship so they could get out of there.

"The name's Luffytaro! Anyone asks, you tell them that!" Luffy shouted.

"Water?!" The people started shoving in the food and water to their mouths, some gathering armfuls of food and running off to give to their families or the elderly who couldn't move.

"Luffytaro! Thank you!"

"So much drinkable water! How many years has it been?!"

Neo smiled. She glanced around to make sure everyone was distracted before summoning several earth crystals. She hovered them next to the rest of the food and created as many fruits and vegetables as she could manage.

Law cocked an eyebrow at her.

Neo sent him a challenging look. "Don't you dare tell me to stop."

Law nodded and turned to Luffy. "Straw Hat."

"Huh? Tra? It's been a while," Luffy said.

"Are you seriously just noticing me now?" Law's eyebrow twitched. "Never mind. Listen, Straw Hat, what you have just done here is rebellion against Wano."

"An apple?" Tama picked up a plump apple, her eyes shimmering in delight.

"This is repaying the food Tama gave me. And it's just the beginning," Luffy said before he ran over to the food piles. "Save some for me!"

Law growled.

"Same old Luffy." Neo smiled.

"Tama, don't let just this satisfy you. I'll make this your every day," Luffy called back with a mouth full of food.

"Brother!" Tama said, tears came to her eyes.

"By the time we leave this country, we'll make it a place where you can eat your fill everyday," Luffy said. "Do you not want that?"

"N-no! Of course I want that! I'm just so happy! Just… surprised!" Tama cried.

"Sheesh. You're always doing stuff like this," Zoro said. "And because of this they're going to be after us for real now. Get ready."

"I don't want to hear that from you!" Law snapped.

"All well." Neo shrugged. "We're going to fight sooner or later anyway."

"Forget it." Law pointed up to the castle ruins. "In any case, we need to get going. Up there. That's the ruins of Oden Castle, on that peak. We've got to meet up with Wano's ghosts."

"Ghosts?" Luffy asked.

"You're in for a surprise," Law said.

"Yeah, I was pretty shocked too," Zoro said. "You're about to learn an unbelievable truth."

Neo nodded. Her eyes landing on the large creature she had sensed with Luffy. Her eyebrows lifted. It was a mix of a pig, lion, and a dog. It's fur, if that's what it was called, curled like flames. She squealed. "So cute!" Summoning a wind crystal she lifted herself off the ground before a hand jerked her back down. "Hey! Law!"

"No flying," Law said in a low tone. His eyes drifted over to the people still around them. "You've used your crystals enough for today."

"Oh. Right. Sorry." Neo ducked her head. She banished her crystal and walked over to the creature. Instantly the creature lowered his head and rubbed against her. "You're so cute!"

"His name is Komachiyo," Tama said.

"Komachiyo," Neo said. "Cute name. And if I'm not mistaken you are a komainu."

"That's right." Tama nodded.

Komachiyo licked her cheek.

"I so want to take you home with me!" Neo tangled her hands in his mane.

"Not happening," Law said.

"Ignore him," Neo said, stroking Komachiyo's fur. "You're cute. And you can come home with us." She turned to Luffy when he started shouting.

"Take care of her! I'm counting on you, Umami." Luffy waved to Tama who was sitting on Umami's back.

"I'm Speed. A headliner of the hundred beast pirates! Not to be counted on by the likes of you!" Umami said.

"Why is Speed listening to this kid?" Law asked.

"Well, maybe she charmed her?' Neo tilted her head. "Like I do with animals?"

"You're an elemental," Law whispered. "Animals like you no matter what."

Komachiyo barked and wagged his tail.

"Maybe so," Neo said scratching Komachiyo. "But some people do bond easily with animals."

"Brother… the taste of the shiruko and of this apple. I'll never forget them," Tama said holding another apple in her hands. "I'll give an apple to master, too!"

"Yeah! Tell Grandpa Nose I said hi," Luffy said. "We'll bring your dog back, too. I promise. Also, can I keep this for a little longer?" He touched the katana at his side. "Without this katana I can't be a samurai."

"You still haven't used it. Let me see it. Seriously," Zoro said.

"You're not even a samurai." Neo looked at the sword. "Do you even know how to use a sword?"

"I doubt he does," Law said.

"See ya later, Tama!" Luffy waved. "Let's go! I guess she didn't want to use her dango to make you into her servant, huh?"

Komachiyo barked.

"Dango?" Neo asked.

"Yeah!" Luffy nodded. "Tama has this devil fruit. She can create dangos from her cheeks." He pinched his cheek. "When she feeds it to an animal that animal becomes her servant."

"Oh. So that explains it then. Anyway we should get going," Neo said. "I don't want Cora to wake up with out us there. Komachiyo said he'll carry us."

The people waved started to wave and thank Luffy for the food as they climbed upon Komachiyo's back. "Luffytaro! Thank you for the treasure ship!"

"We've never seen a feast like this before!"

"Gramps is all better now!"

"It was a gift at the gates of hell!"

"My son is better too!"

"Pirates doing good deeds. It makes me want to vomit." Law sat down and grumbled.

"Liar." Neo poked him on the cheek multiple times. "You've done plenty of good deeds. You kept me after all."

With a sigh Law took her hand away from his cheek and kissed it. "Only because that's you."

"You're so cute when you try to lie like that." Neo giggled.

"We did a good thing didn't we," Luffy said.

"I thought we committed robbery," Kiku, the tall woman, said.

"So why are you coming with us?" Zoro asked.

"I'm sorry. I've just always wanted to see Oden Castle!" Kiku said.

Neo looked at the woman. While Kiku smiled she couldn't help but noticed a bit of something else in the smile. Kiku looked nervous. She shrugged it off. Kiku didn't seem like a bad person. Even if she was there was no way Kiku could face all of them.

"You're a good person, and you're strong, Kiku! It's okay!" Luffy said.

"But she's hiding something," Zoro said. "Haven't you noticed that? And what about Neo? We're heading back to the ruins after all. Cora's there."

"I think it'll be fine," Neo said looking right at Kiku. "I know we'll be able to subdue her if it comes to that."

"Do not fret," Kiku said. "I will not harm any of you or your comrades. By the way, you and Luffytaro were holding hands earlier yet you seem to be smitten with him." She looked to Law.

"Oh, Law and I are married," Neo said.

"That's right!" Luffy took Neo's hand in his. "Me and Neo are just friends. But we're really close. Neo's the goddaughter of Shanks. And I have known Shanks since I was a kid."

"So you two hold a special bond with each other?" Kiku asked.

"That's right." Neo nodded.

"We're here," Law said.

"What?! There's no castle!" Luffy said.

"Yes, that's why it's called ruins," Law said. He picked Neo up and jumped down to the ground. Setting Neo down they walked towards the graves Kin'emon had shown them when they had arrived on the island. "Hey, over here, Straw Hat."

Luffy rushed over to them. "This place gives me the creeps."

"Yeah, being deserted for twenty years will do that," Law said.

"At least we've gotten used to it." Neo stepped closer to Law when they got closer to the graves. The warmth of his body passed over to her. "Well, sort of. We don't really come to this area."

"Graves?" Luffy asked when he saw the graves. "What the heck?! Raizo! Momo! Kin'emon! Kanjuro! Why are their graves here?! Did they die?! Come to think of it, I couldn't get in touch with them and…Where's Kin'emon?" He looked around. "I thought he was waiting here for us!"

"He's gone. Has been for a while," Law said.

"Gone?!" Luffy shrieked.

"But he may come out at night," Law said. "He did last night. As he has done for many nights."

"What do you mean?! Is he some kind of ghost?!" Luffy asked, grabbing the front of Law's kimono. "Spit it out! Did something hard to talk about happen while I was gone?!"

"It's not just something I can tell you!" Law said.

"Tell me! Are they really alive?!" Luffy demanded.

"Calm down, Luffy," Neo said.

"Oh! Luffy! I'm so glad you're safe!" Kin'emon's voice called out. "Forgive me for not coming out to meet you sooner."

Luffy whipped around to see Kin'emon stepping out of the shadows of some ruins. "Kin! So you're okay! See, they are alive, Tra!"

"I never said they were dead!" Law said. "I said I thought he'd come out at night."

"Quit telling me ghost stories then!" Luffy said.

"You should have mentioned he was in the bathroom." Neo pressed a hand to her cheek.

"I would have if Straw Hat gave me a chance." Law huffed.

"Lord Kin!" Kiku ran towards Kin'emon and tackled him to the ground. "I see you've returned! I wanted to see you so badly I was trembling!"

"Kiku? Why are you with them?!" Kin'emon blinked at the woman.

"Why didn't you let me know you'd returned? I was so worried. How aloof of you! Is Lord Momonosuke all right, too?" Kiku asked.

"Huh? They know each other?" Luffy asked.

"They definitely know each other," Law said.

"Wait, Lord Kin. Don't tell me these men…" Kiku looked back at the pirates.

"Ah, I don't know who or where to start with but… Kiku! These men are our friends. And they are quite strong!" Kin'emon said.

"Luffy! You made it!" Momo runs out of the ruins with his practice sword in hand. "Look! I was just practicing my swordsmanship!"

"Hey, Momo! You're here, too? Did that old dog guy come, too?" Luffy asked.

"He's here too," Neo said. "But he's in another area. We all couldn't gather here. We'd draw too much attention to this place if we did."

"Really?" Luffy asked.

Neo nodded.

"Lord Momonosuke! I'm so glad you're well!" Kiku smiled.

"It's has been awhile, Kiku," Momo said.

Kiku's smile faded. "What?! Momo?! Wait a moment, Luffytaro! That's quite rude! That boy is-"

"It's okay, Kiku," Momo said.

"Luffy! Did you finally make it here?!" Sanji shouted.

"Sanji!" Neo squealed when Sanji and the others who had gone to retrieve the blonde haired cook, came running up to them. Nami was riding on Chopper's back while the others were running. They all were damp. Sanji held his shirt in his hand, which told her they must have fallen into the ocean at some point in getting here.

"Neo!" Sanji smiled. Hearts popped into his eyes. "My sweet little fairy! I have missed you!"

Neo rushed towards Sanji. When he got close enough to her she lifted her hand. The snap of skin on skin rang through the air. Her hand stung.

Everyone froze in shock.

"She… she slapped him," Nami said. "Neo actually slapped Sanji."

"But… but why?" Chopper asked. "Neo's never lifted her hand to anyone before."

Law closed his eyes with a small smile on his lips.

Tears streamed down Neo's cheeks. "You stupid idiot! Do you know how worried I've been about you?! I had a nightmare about you leaving! I thought you were going to… You were suppose to be…Why did you leave like that?!" She wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her face into his shirtless chest. "You idiot. Don't ever do that again."

Sanji, now with a red mark on his cheek, looked down at Neo before his eyes drifted over to Law. When the surgeon nodded at him, he wrapped his arms around Neo, resting his chin on her head while placing one hand on the back of her head. "I'm so sorry, Neo. I didn't mean to make you worry like that," he said. "And I certainly didn't mean to make you have a nightmare. I had to go there. If I didn't you all would have been targeted. I couldn't let that happen." He stroked her hair a couple times. "Forgive me for making such a stupid mistake. I'm back now. And I'm not going anywhere like that ever again."

Neo kept her arms around him, breathing in the mixture of his scent with the salt of the ocean and his cigarettes, for a moment before pulling back. She brushed her tears away. "Okay. I forgive you. But you're going to tell me everything that happened while you were gone."

"All right. I promise I'll tell you everything," Sanji said.

"Good. Now there's one more thing we need to take care of before we move on." Neo narrowed her eyebrows and crossed her arms over her chest. "You have to be punished for making me cry."

"What?!" Sanji jolted.

"It's the law around here," Neo said. "Anyone who makes me cry must be punished. Right, Law?"

Law nodded.

"You… you can't be serious!" Sanji's eyes widened.

"And since you like to cook, I'll be taking your hands for a while," Neo said then snapped her fingers.

Law spread out his Room. A sadistic smirk spread over his lips.

"Wait!" Sanji screamed waving his hands. But it was too late.

Law lifted his sword and sliced off the cook's hands.

"Oh, come on! I said I was sorry!" Sanji said as his hands popped off his arms. "Let me have my hands back!"

Neo grabbed his floating hands before he could reattach them to his arms. "Nope. Not happening."

"I think he looks good like this." Zoro grinned. "Make it permanent."

"Shut up, stupid moss head!" Sanji screamed. "If I don't have my hands I can't cook anything!"

"So? Neo's here. We don't need you anymore. Besides you're the one who made her cry," Zoro said. "I think it is a justified punishment."

"Wait until you make her cry! Then we'll see what you have to say when they take your hands away!" Sanji said. "You won't be able to use your swords!"

"I'm not weak like you. I can still use a sword in my mouth," Zoro said.

"Not if I break it off!" Sanji said.

Neo pulled her eyes away from the arguing pair to Sanji's hands in her own to Law who was eyeing her carefully. Biting her lip a rush of playfulness washed over her. With a chiming giggle she placed Sanji's hands Luffy's head. She clapped her hands. "Now Luffy's Chopper!"

Luffy laughed.

"What?" Chopper, back to his normal form, looked up at his captain. "Hey! He does look like me!"

"Hey! Give those back to me!" Sanji demanded.

"No!" Neo said. Summoning her wind crystals, she lifted herself and Luffy into the air.

"Yes! We're flying!" Luffy cheered. "It's been so long since we've done this! Faster! Faster, Neo!"

"Luffy! Give those back to me!" Sanji screamed. "Neo!"

"No! You can't have them back!" Neo giggled.

"Neo!" Sanji launched himself into the air. "Come back here!"

"Nope!" Neo flew her and Luffy away from Sanji just before he tried to tackle them. She dipped, swooped up, and spun in a circle until the cries of their baby reached her ears. Instantly she landed.

"Aw. That was too short," Luffy said.

Penguin walked over to her. "He just woke up."

"Hey, sweet baby." Neo lifted Cora from Penguin's arms. "I'm so sorry. Things got a bit out of hand. But your uncles from the Straw Hats finally arrived in Wano."

"Wow." Sanji stepped to her side. "So Cora was born while I was gone. He's so cute."

"He looks just like Law!" Luffy said coming up to Neo's other side.

"He was early like we thought," Neo said. "But Healer Zinnia took real good care of him."

"Oh, yeah. How's Bepo doing?" Law asked.

"He can't come out of the forest. Diarrhea," Penguin said.

"All of you are so…" Law sighed.

"What happened to Bepo?" Neo looked towards the forest. "And why is he in the forest?"

"Oh, he, um, ate a fish from the river," Penguin said.

"What?!" Neo snapped, making Cora cried harder. She rocked him. "Sorry, Cora. I didn't mean to yell. There, there. You're probably hungry."

"We should move away from here anyway. There's a lot we have to talk about. We've safe food inside of the ruins. Help yourselves," Law said.

They all walked away from the graves. Most of their group headed inside of the castle while Law, Neo, and Penguin headed for another area outside. Neo sat down on the ground. Adjusting her kimono she brought Cora up to her breast. He silenced as soon as her nipple brushed his lips.

The guys stood with their backs to her, keeping an eye out on the world below them for anyone who might have seen them come here or for anyone looking for them because of what Luffy had done.

"I wonder what Luffy's going to think after he hears what Kin'emon has to say." She looked up at the sky.

"It was shocking," Penguin said. "I still find it hard to believe that people can actually travel to the future."

Neo hummed. "Or the past."

"Thinking about your parents?" Law walked over and sat down beside her.

"It crossed my mine," Neo said. "But going back… we'd probably get stuck there. Kin'emon and the others are stuck here. They can never go back to their real time. It's actually really sad."

"True." Law nodded. "But nothing is back there for them."

"Yeah." Neo rested her head on his shoulder. When Cora finished eating she lifted him to her shoulder and patted his back until he burped. The presence of a large dragon hammered her sense. She gasped, her eyes shot to the sky.

"What is it, love?" Law asked.

Neo used her winds to stand. "Kaido. He's coming."

"What?!" Shachi said as he and Bepo rushed over. Their eyes lifted to the sky.

A few minutes later the clouds swirled together mixing into a dark gray. Wind whipped around. Neo used a single wind crystal to divide the wind and push it around them.

"Wonderful," Penguin said. "Why did he have to show up now of all times?"

"Because of what Straw Hat did." Law tightened his grip on his sword.

"Who wants to bet on what Straw Hat's going to do about this?" Shachi said.

"Still he has to know about Kaido. He's never see Kaido's dragon form," Neo said just at the emperor started lowering from the clouds. She shivered. The sun glinted off Kaido's blue scales. His large eyes scanned the area below him. She swallowed, keeping herself as calm as possible so she didn't upset Cora. It was still hard for her to think of Kaido in this form even if she had seen him before. Once she had said she would turn a hurricane against him if he did anything to anyone she loved. But now, seeing how big he actually was, she wasn't sure if she would be much help in fighting him. All she knew for sure was this was going to be the toughest battle they had ever been in. And people were going to die.

Law rushed for the ruins. "Hey! Straw Hat! Come here!"

"What's the matter, Tra?" Luffy asked before everyone came rushing outside. "Huh? There's something in the sky!"

"This is bad, Straw Hat," Penguin said. "So stay focused and calm."

"Bring those brats to me now," Kaido said, his voice booming over the island.

"A dragon? What the heck is that?!" Luffy came to a stop at the edge of the cliff. The rest of the group joined them. All their eyes lifted towards Kaido.

"That's Kaido," Law said.

Neo stepped closer to Law.

"Kaido's a dragon?!" Luffy his eyes widening in shock.

"Indeed. That thing you see in the sky is Kaido," Kin'emon said.

"Kaido can turn into a dragon?!" the Straw Hats scream.

"That's… he's huge!" Nami shrieked. "How can we possible take him down?"

Sensing another presence of a dragon, Neo turned to see Momonosuke had transformed. His whole body trembled. She wished there was something she could do to easy him, but they all were intimidated by the emperor. And Momonosuke had been dealing with Kaido for a long time.

"Master Momonosuke!" Kin'emon said.

"What?! Master Momonosuke!" The lady ninja gasped upon seeing Momonosuke in his dragon form.

What? That dragon," Kiku said.

"I'll explain later. He's gone and changed into this form. The hated dragon form." Kin'emon knelt down beside the boy.

"Over there. That's Leftover Town," Luffy said.

"Why is Kaido suddenly in Kuri?" Kin'emon asked.

"I'm sorry, Kin'emon. Straw Hat, Zoro, and I had our identities revealed," Law said. "They must have informed Kaido of this."

"What?!" Kin'emon asked.

"What the heck were you doing, Law?!" Sanji asked.

"You Straw Hats best not be telling me what to do, all right?" Law said.

Cora fussed.

"Calm down, Law." Neo rocked their son and rubbed his back. "Cora needs to know we're in control."

"Sorry." Law brushed his fingers over Cora's head. "It's all right, son."

"Yeah. It's probably all Luffy's fault anyway," Chopper said.

"Anyway, I'm sorry," Nami said. "Luffy's always such a pain."

"Yeah, well, there's a lot we still have to talk about. Kaido's making weapons in this country," Law said. "On top of that, we've got Doflamingo and Caesar's artificial devil fruit black market trades. We destroyed the main factories behind their production at Punk Hazard and Dressrosa. And sent the buyer, Doflamingo, to prison. It's almost as if we're the ones picking the fight with him. He's after my head. And Straw Hat's."

Luffy gritted his fists before bolting down the hill.

"Luffy! Where are you going?!" Nami asked.

"Luffy!" Kin'emon shouted.

Neo pursed her lips. "Well, there goes our rubber son, Law."

"He's not our son!"

Neo laughed. "What are we going to do with that boy? Your Uncle Luffy is really crazy, Cora. But you'll get use to him."

...

I've got a few chapters to post but I'm gonna only post one a week. Maybe that way I'll have more to write and won't have to wait over a year to post again.