Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Your journey is not over yet..."

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I woke up with a jolt.

The sound of the waves hitting the hull was so comforting.

For someone who had already seen the sea covered in bodies… it seemed like a dream.

I looked at the deck. Luffy was smiling, with a fish almost the size of Chopper hanging from the hook. Zoro slept against the barrel, and Nami fought with Usopp over the map. Everything… the same.

I put my hand on my chest. The sound of my own heart was too real to be an illusion.

I felt the texture of my coat — old, worn.

— "Torao, are you alright?"— asked a worried voice.

I looked around and saw all the Straw Hats staring at me. They had stopped what they were doing.

The one who spoke was leaning over the railing, fishing. His gaze was fixed on me.

— "You look a little pale... did something happen?"

— "Yeah… I’m fine,"— I said, still a little short of breath.

I felt someone tug at my shirt and looked down.

— "Are you sure?"— asked a reindeer.

— "Yes, I’m sure,"— I repeated.

The reindeer frowned, and so did the boy with the straw hat.

I stood up and made my way to the kitchen.

As I caught my reflection, I realized I looked… different.

Now that I looked closer, the Straw Hats seemed different too—

younger?

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(There’s no way to go back in time… right?)

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to be continued..

Chapter Text

—"You don't think Torao-kun acted a little strange, do you?"— Nami asked from where she was sitting, her tone thoughtful.

—“True.”— Robin agreed, her eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity.

—"Nami-Swaaan, Robin-Chwaaan"— Sanji sang as he twirled around the deck, hearts practically glowing in his eyes.

—"Sanji-kun, don't you think Torao-kun is acting a little... strange?"— Nami asked.

The blond paused, confusion flashing across his face.

— “But… isn’t he always a little strange?”— he asked, tilting his head.

— “Weirder than usual?”— Nami replied, crossing her arms.

—"Maybe…?"— Sanji muttered, scratching his head.

They fell into thoughtful silence.

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—"Ah… the fish escaped…"— Usopp said sadly.

—"NOOOO! Usopp, you released MEAT!!"— Luffy screamed in horror and indignation.

—"Oe, it wasn't because I wanted to be."— Usopp defended himself.

—"Hohohoho… " — Laughed the skeleton, turning its empty eye sockets to the side — "Chopper-San, what are you thinking?" — Asked the skeleton curiously.

—"Torao acted a little strange… don't you think?"— Chopper asked the skeleton.

—"Actually... now that you mention it, I thought he was acting a little strange. Hoho."— The skeleton replied in agreement.

>>>

—"The food is ready, you idiots,"— the cook's voice echoed throughout the Sunny. Then, in a completely different tone: —"Nami-saaaan! Robin-chaaaan! Dinner is ready~"— the cook said.

After everyone is seated at the table and eating…

—"Has anyone seen Torao?"— Luffy asked after a while when he realized the brunette wasn't there.

—"Strange. He hasn't shown up yet."— Nami said, looking toward the door.

—"I'll see where he is."— Chopper said, jumping out of his chair and running out of the kitchen.

>>

— "Torao! Where are you? Dinner's ready!"— Chopper shouted. —"You better hurry, or Luffy will eat it all!"

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—"Torao?..."— he called again, this time a little quieter.

—"I'm here, Chopper-ya."— Answered a calm voice, behind Chopper.

—"AAHHH!"—Chopper yelled, jumping nearly three feet into the air.

—"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you"— Sorry brunette.

—"I-idiot, you didn't scare me,"— Chopper said indignantly. —"Let's go to the kitchen quickly before Luffy eats everything."— He said, already running to the kitchen, without even looking back to see if the other was following him.

The brunette lets out a sigh and starts following Chopper to the kitchen.

—( "Strange... he called me by name. And apologized...") — Chopper thought, frowning slightly as he walked back to the kitchen and sat down.

Law entered a moment later, silently taking his place. He took off his hat, placing it carefully beside him.

—"Here's your plate,"— said the cook as he placed the plate in front of him.

—"Thank you,"— Law replied simply.

The cook raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

—"Finally you showed up, Torao, hihihi,"—said the captain smiling. —"You almost missed dinner, shi shi"—

—"Thanks to whom?",— Usopp muttered softly..

___

As laughter filled the room, Law sat silently, his spoon hovering over his plate.

For a brief moment, he could see another table—the same laughter, the same faces—but covered in blood and ash.

He blinked once...

The image disappeared.

Chapter Text

>>>

After everyone finished eating, they left the kitchen one by one – laughing, talking, and teasing each other as they returned to their daily tasks.

Only Sanji stayed behind to clean up

Law leaned against the railing outside the kitchen, looking at the infinite blue ahead.

He heard the rhythm of the waves, the distant laughter of the crew.

Getting lost in your mind as the breeze blows through your hair.

The Straw Hat boy was running around the deck, laughing loudly as Usopp and Chopper chased him in a game of tag.

Nami and Robin sat nearby—Robin reading calmly while Nami enjoyed the afternoon sun.

Brook was having tea with Franky, who was, of course, drinking a bottle of soda.

And Zoro was... sleeping, as always.

Sanji's voice snaps Law out of his reverie.

— "Oe! You idiots! Why don't you go fishing instead of playing!?" — Sanji shouts as he leaves the kitchen.

—"Aye, aye!,"— they replied.

>>>>

Law sat on a bench near the mainmast, his hat tilted over his eyes, enjoying a rare moment of silence.

The rhythmic creaking of the ship's wood and the sound of the waves were almost hypnotic.

Then – a shadow and an arm extending unnaturally.

—"Hey, Torao!"— Straw Hat shouted while using his arm as a slingshot, landing next to Law. —“What are you doing?”— he asked.

 And there goes peace…

—"Nothing, you idiot. Can't you see?" — replied Law sarcastically.

—"Uhm..."— Straw Hat hummed, blinking. —"Don't you want to play tag with me, Usopp and Chopper?"

-"No"-

Straw Hat stares at Law for a while —"Why not?"—

— “Because I don’t.”

— “But why?”

— “Because I don’t.”

Straw Hat is silent for a moment —"Why not?"—

—"Because I said so, idiot!" — Law retorted, finally raising his head with an irritated look. — “Now go play with them and leave me alone.”

Luffy pouted for a few seconds, still looking at him.

—"Okay..." — Straw Hat mumbled after spending a few seconds staring at Law and then leaving his side.

Law exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples.

—(He's exactly the same...)

>>>

Later that afternoon, the sky turned dark orange, the sun set over the horizon.

The sea was calm, only a few lazy waves rolled under the sun.

Law was sitting in the kitchen, silently reading a book. The air was calm.

Very peaceful.

Then-

A sudden boom! shook the ship violently. The book slipped from his hands and fell to the floor, followed by others that fell from the shelf.

— “We are under attack!” — someone shouted, with panic in their voice.

— “We are going to die!!” - another shouted.

—"shi shi shi"— came a laugh from somewhere.

A loud slap! echoed. — "Why the hell are you laughing, you idiot!? We're being attacked!"

— "Ahh—ow! Why did you hit me!?"

- “Do something!” — someone shouted desperately.

Law ran out of the kitchen.

The moment he stepped onto the deck, chaos struck: smoke, splintered wood, cannon fire echoing across the sea.

And there-

Nami stood frozen, terror in her eyes, as a man with a shining sword charged towards her.

Chapter Text

Law's fingers twitched. In an instant, a sphere of brilliant light expanded around him.

- "Room."

The air shimmered as space itself curved. In the blink of an eye, he switched places with Nami – his eyes widened when she suddenly found herself behind him.

The enemy's sword came down – but Law was faster.

Steel met steel with a sharp sound, the shock wave rippling across the deck.

The man staggered back, eyes wide.

- "What-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Law delivered a powerful kick straight to his chest, sending him flying from the Sunny into the sea with a crash.

Nami blinked, still dazed, her hands gripping the railing. and silently watches the fight.

All around, chaos spread.

Usopp threw something small and shiny into the crowd of enemies—

BOOM!

Smoke and screams followed. Five pirates fell instantly.

— “Don’t mess with Captain Usopp!” — he shouted… before immediately running to hide behind a barrel.

Nearby, Chopper transformed into his Kung-Fu Point form, spinning furiously and throwing enemies into the sea one after another.

Robin stood calmly, a book in her hand, her eyes barely lifting from the page.

Dozens of hands sprouted across the deck, grabbing and restraining the enemies as if they were vines.

>>>

— “Hihihi, that was fun!” — Luffy laughed, his smile wide.

— "Fun for who, idiot,"— said Nami a little irritated.

Zoro was already sitting in a corner, drinking calmly.

Usopp and Chopper went back to playing some strange game, while Robin went back to reading as if nothing had happened.

— "ISLAND!! ISLAND!!" — Luffy shouted suddenly, his eyes shining with excitement.

On the horizon, a large island appeared, its peaks glowing dimly in the sunset.

Luffy ran to the bow, climbing to his usual spot with that same unwavering smile.

Nami approaches Law.

— “Thank you… for earlier,” — she said calmly.

Law looked at her and then gave a small nod.

Chapter Text

The ship slowed as it approached the island's coast.

The sun was low, painting the sea with gold and red stripes.

Law exhaled softly, leaning against the railing.

That's not part of the plan.

(We should go straight to Dressrosa… no detours.)

He opened his hand, squinting at the island ahead—dense jungle, fog spreading across the jagged cliffs, and strange silhouettes moving in the trees.

— “Let’s explore!” — Luffy shouted, already jumping into the sand before anyone could stop him.

— "Luffy! Wait! We don't even know what's in there yet!" — Nami shouted, exasperated as always.

— “I'll keep an eye on him,” — Zoro said lazily, stretching as he followed him.

— “That’s what you said last time…” — Robin murmured, hiding a slight smile behind the book.

The law did not budge at first.

He stood at the edge of the deck, watching them scatter toward the forest.

For a moment, the sound of the waves disappeared—replaced by whispers that weren't real.

Flashes of smoke. Screams.

A red sky.

He clenched his jaw and blinked—the visions disappeared.

— “Torao?” — Luffy called from below, waving. — “Are you coming?”

The law has finally left the ship.

His boots sank into the damp sand as he adjusted his sword at his side.

—“Let's do this quickly,”— he said flatly. — We don't have time to waste.

Luffy just laughed. — “You always say that!”

The law did not respond.

>>>

Luffy’s eyes lit up as he spotted a tall tree heavy with bright, round fruits.

— “Food!” — he shouted, already stretching his arm toward the nearest branch.

— “Hey! Don’t just eat random stuff you find!” — Nami scolded, hands on her hips.

Law sighed quietly, watching from a few steps away.

The crew’s laughter and chatter mixed with the sound of waves lapping at the shore.

For a while, the island seemed harmless — just another patch of sand and trees under the fading sun.

They explored for a bit longer, but there was nothing special there.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sea in deep orange, the crew gathered the fruits they had picked and returned to the Sunny.

Law was the last to step aboard.