Chapter Text
Part 1
Snow was slowly falling down as they landed on one of the beaches of Swallow Island. Law had wanted to go to Minion Island, but that was too risky. Yet, he wanted to begin his journey as a captain at the place where he finally got his life back. Also, as if fate had planned it, there was someone he needed to meet here. He tied Roux’s scarf around his neck and looked up at the grey clouds above them. Snow kept falling softly. He reached out a hand and let the snowflakes land in his open palm. It melted instantly when it met his bodyheat, but he didn’t care. He could see lights in the darkness ahead of him. It had to be a small town. He put his gloves on and turned around. Mihawk stood behind him, with a small smile on his face.
“Will you be okay?” Mihawk asked gently and Law nodded. “Good.”
“You don’t need to worry about me Hawkdad”, Law soothed and Mihawk chuckled at the name. “Thanks to you and my family I am more than ready to be my own man.”
“I know, but remember this Tot”, Mihawk stepped closer and fixed the collar on Law’s coat. “If you ever want to come back home you can. If it gets too much, if something bad happens… just come home. No one will think any less of you.”
“I know that”, Law smiled gently. “You know that goes for you too, right? If for some reason the Marines turn against you or pirates ally to go against you and take you out… come home.”
“To the Force?”
“Or to Crocodad or to me. But yeah, Baka Dad would run to your aid if you asked for it. You know he loves you.”
“That silly man”, Mihawk chuckled. “Now get going. I need to go back home and act like I have no idea why he is shouting at me.”
“Will you be okay?” Law asked in turn. “My dads will try and murder you.”
“I can handle them”, Mihawk chuckled. “It is quite funny actually.”
“What is?”
“That I am the one that ‘took you away’ since I was the one to do it the first time. It is almost poetic.”
“I never even thought of that”, Law chuckled. “But it is a bit funny.”
“So, what will you be calling yourself from now on? Trafalgar-Akagami-Beckman Law is a dead giveaway.”
“I’ll go with my old name. Trafalgar Law. Only you, my family, the Whitebeards and Crocodad will realize it’s me. Oh, and grandpa Rayleigh and grandpa Sengoku too. And some civilian friends we’ve made along the way.”
“Be careful. Doflamingo and his crew will know it too.”
“I promise I’ll be careful. But he hasn’t been chasing me since Dressrosa.”
“He got those girls back though”, Mihawk said. “He didn’t even care, he just marched onto that Marine ship. Took them and left. He’s been very quiet since.”
“He is probably planning something. I’ll keep my head down as much as possible. If the rumors are true, there is a ship on this island somewhere that will suit my needs perfectly. Because if I get that, he cannot attack me from the sky like he always does. There’s no clouds where that ship sails.”
“I’ll say it again Tesoro. Be careful.”
“I promise Hawkdad. You be careful too.”
“Always”, Mihawk replied and pulled him into a hug. Law hugged him back. Then they parted. Law jumped ashore and walked up the hill a little bit. He turned around and waved at Mihawk. Mihawk waved back before turning his ship around and heading back out into the night. Law watched him until he could no longer see him. Then he turned around again and headed towards the town.
It was a small town with little quaint looking houses. He saw a few shops and an inn. He headed towards the inn and stepped inside after brushing the snow off his shoulders. A fire was burning in the fireplace and what appeared to be locals were having dinner and drinking at the tables. When he walked inside some of them stopped to look at him suspiciously. They were probably not used to seeing strangers around here and especially this late at night. Law ignored them and walked to the bar where an elderly woman was filling glasses for two elderly men. When she saw him she gave him a warm smile.
“A bed for the night, dear?” she asked.
“Yes please”, Law replied calmly.
“Something to eat?”
“If it isn’t any trouble.”
“Any allergies?”
“Gluten… so no bread.”
“Got it”, she smiled. “Just have a seat somewhere and I’ll bring you your food in a minute, dear.” Law nodded at her words and sat down at a table in the corner. He placed his backpack on the chair next to him and rested his sword between the backpack and himself. He took off his coat and gloves but kept the scarf on. He noticed quite a few people looking at him. Some curiously, others as if they expected him to cause a fight and some people were quite taken with him. A few young girls were giggling whenever he looked their way. Law just shook his head and looked out the window at the softly falling snow.
“Here you go, dear”, the inn keeper said as she placed a plate with potatoes, stew and pickled beetroot in front of him. Law handed her what he would owe for the food and room and started eating. It was not up to Cook’s standards, but it wasn’t bad. As he ate, he thought of his family and smiled sadly to himself. He would miss all of them so much and he knew they would miss him too. Hopefully his dads wouldn’t come after him to drag him back… he wouldn’t put it past his Baka Dad to at least try it… his Dad too come to think of it. He felt a bit bad for Casper though, leaving him as the sole doctor on the craziest crew on the Grand Line.
“Oi! You!” A voice shouted and Law lifted his gaze from his food. A few steps away from him was a man who had gotten a little too much to drink. He was swaying where he stood.
“Me?” Law asked calmly.
“Yeah! You! We don’ take kindly to your kind ‘ere!”
“My kind?” Law asked. “Whatever do you mean?”
“Strangers.”
“Now, now Jim he’s just a kid”, Jim’s friend said and grabbed the swaying man by the arm. “He’s not bothering anyone.”
“I don’ like his face!”
“He’s just a kid, leave him alone. Come on, let’s get you home.”
“Ignore that drunkard, dear”, the innkeeper told Law and patted his shoulder. “He lost his wife and daughter to bandits a few years ago.”
“Bandits?” Law asked.
“Yes. Survivors from Minion Island. They used to be part of a pirate crew, but another crew and the Marines attacked them and wiped them out. Some of them survived and got away, they moved here to Swallow Island and started robbing and tearing up the place.”
“Oh…” Law felt guilty. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Jim and a few others are suspicious of strangers ever since. You’re not a pirate, are you?”
“No”, Law lied. “I’m just a traveler.”
“Where are you traveling?”
“I am trying to figure that out.”
“Oh, well you can stay here as long as you like while you do.” She patted his shoulder gently and walked back to the bar. Law continued eating his food but used his Observation Haki to keep an eye on the people around him. He doubted Jim was the only person that wanted him to vanish into the night the same way he had arrived. He could not feel any ill intent for now. He thought back to what the innkeeper had said. The bandits plaguing this little town were pirates from the crew Cora stole the Ope Ope no Mi from. Those men had managed to flee to Swallow Island and started causing trouble. All because of Law. Law felt guilty about this. These people had suffered because of him… well indirectly because of him. Maybe… while he was here, he could put a stop to it? No, no, no…. he was a pirate. Not a hero. He sighed and finished his food. The door was flung open and two young men entered. One of them had ginger hair and a green peaked cap on his head. The other one had a dark hat with the word penguin written on it. Law couldn’t see that one’s hair. Both young men looked to be around his own age. Law noticed something else. When the two of them entered, people started glaring at them. The innkeeper however smiled.
“Oh, hello boys”, she said warmly. “Are you here just to warm up or to get something to eat?”
“Something to eat”, the one with the dark hat said. “And… some extra for our friend.”
“He doesn’t want to come in today?”
“No… he wasn’t feeling so good”, the other one replied.
“Well just make yourself at home boys and I’ll bring you your food”, she smiled warmly and then turned to the tables. “You idiots better behave, or I’ll close the bar for the night.”
“Yes, Madame Rose”, the people said and Law cocked an eyebrow. It looked as if this ‘Madame Rose’ was just as dangerous as Cook when angered. Maybe it was a chef’s thing.
“Good”, Madame Rose said and looked around. “Oh… the tables are full. Why don’t you boys sit down with our guest? He looks a little lonely.” Crap. Law turned his gaze to his empty plate and debated if he should just get going… then again he had not gotten a room yet… or a key to one for that matter. He looked up when the chairs opposite him got pulled out.
“Sorry to bother you”, the one with the penguin hat said. “But nowhere else is free.”
“Whatever”, Law replied calmly.
“You’re not from here, are you?” the ginger haired one asked wbile sitting down.
“Obviously.”
“I’m Penguin and this is Shachi”, the one with the Penguin hat said. “What’s your name?”
“Law.”
“Law?”
“Yes.”
“Huh… do you speak sentences with more than one word in them?”
“Nope”, Law smirked, and Penguin grinned at him.
“I like you! You’re funny. So, if you’re not from here… where are you from?”
“Around.”
“Around where?” Shachi asked and grinned.
“Anywhere”, Law replied.
“Oooooh mysterious. I like it!”
Law chuckled in reply.
“If you are not from here, what are you doing here?” Penguin asked curiously.
“Eating”, Law replied and leaned back in his chair.
“Duh obviously”, Shachi said and then grinned when Rose came with the food for him and Penguin. “Madame Rose’s food is the best!”
“Thank you Sachi, dear”, she replied and turned to Law. “Now don’t let these rascals fool you. They are both rascals and sometimes more trouble than they’re worth.”
“Madame you wound us”, Penguin said and grabbed his heart.
“Hush you, you know I’m right. I better not find you trying to steal anything from in here again or I will have your hides.”
“Yes, Ma’am”, both young men replied.
“Just kick all three of them out Rose”, a woman called. “That other one seems to be just as much trouble as Shachi and Penguin.”
“And here I thought the rumors about the North Blue’s cold hospitality were just rumors”, Law replied calmly, and all eyes turned to him. “Guess I was wrong. Then again scum like me should not expect a warm welcome, or am I wrong? Do tell me what I have done to earn such scorn. As far as I can tell all I did was come inside, ask for a room and a meal and then ate it. Perhaps you got insulted when I mentioned my allergy to gluten?” the woman blushed. “Or perhaps you believe I have nefarious intentions because I have a sword with me?” Penguin and Shachi stared at him and then the sword at his side. They had not seen that at all! The smile Law gave the woman sent chills down Penguin and Shachi’s backs. It was almost sadistic.
“Judging a book by its cover like that”, Law continued. “That doesn’t sound very warm or welcoming.”
“S-sorry”, the woman whispered and turned her gaze away. Law just smirked and took his glass and started drinking the content inside. He was not surprised to find out it was beer. He noticed Penguin and Shachi stare at him. He smirked and shook his head. Then he saw the horror on their faces. Law just calmly sipped his drink… before gripping his table knife and swinging his arm back behind himself. He covered the little knife with haki and stopped the dagger a man had tried to stab him with. Everyone in the room gaped at the scene.
“You need to train some more”, Law said and got up, pushing his attacker back at the same time. The man stumbled backwards and tripped over his own feet. He hit his head hard. There was a strange almost melodic sound and he looked up. He froze in fear because the stranger he had just attacked had gotten his blade, had unsheathed it and was now aiming the tip at his throat.
“I told you to leave them alone!” Madame Rose shouted as she stalked over to the table. “You will make this stranger believe we are nothing but savages and fools here!” She turned to Law and bowed. “I do apologize for the inconvenience.”
“Better not let it happen again”, Law replied and sheathed his sword. “Madame Rose, I am very tired from my journey. May I get the key to my room?”
“Oh yes of course, dear.” She handed him a key. “Just go up the stairs and it is room number seven. You can’t miss it, sweetie. As for you.” She turned to the man on the floor and her face got really scary. The man fled. Law got his things and headed for the stairs. He could feel all eyes on him as he walked up the stairs, but he ignored it.
He locked the door behind him before throwing himself onto the bed, with Kikoku right next to him. He closed his eyes, meditating and soon he found himself in the half-dream-half-awake state where he could communicate with his blade. Law smiled when he saw the man waiting for him.
“I can feel your displeasure”, Law teased as he sat down next to the sword-spirit. “Thanks for keeping an eye out as well.”
“My master is all alone, save for me”, Kikoku replied. “I will help protect you, always.”
“I know. Thank you Kikoku. Say, I have a question.”
“Oh?” The spirit turned to him.
“You are quite recognizable. You are in the picture of my wanted poster… is it possible for you to change the way you look, to others I mean.”
“What do you mean, Master?”
“Your scabbard for example. It’s quite easy to recognize. Do I need to have a swordsmith change it or can you do it yourself? I don’t want anyone to recognize you and try to steal you away when I’m not looking.”
“And you don’t want the world to realize you are Tot the Sword.”
“You know me too well Kikoku.”
“I can change my scabbard… if that is what my Master wishes. It would be easier if you just go new leather though and used that to hide my design.”
“Why didn’t I think of that”, Law asked and blushed.
“Because my Master has been plotting too much on his own”, Kikoku ran a hand over Law’s hair and Law chuckled.
“I’ll do that tomorrow then”, Law said and yawned.
“Master, you can sleep tonight. I will keep watch.”
“Thank you Kikoku”, Law said and closed his eyes, leaning against the spirit as he slowly drifted off to sleep.
“Master, try not to get worried, try not to turn on to problems that upset you. Don't you know everything's alright, yes, everything's fine. And I want you to sleep well tonight. Let the world turn without you tonight. If we try, we'll get by, so forget all about me tonight. Sleep and I shall soothe you, calm you, and protect you.” He placed his hand on Law’s forehead. “My cold steel for your hot forehead… Then you'll feel that everything's alright, yes, everything's fine. And it's cool and the air is sweet. Forget the fire in your head and feet. Close your eyes, close your eyes and relax, think of nothing tonight.” Kikoku kept watch over his master as Law drifted off to sleep.