~

Law flipped through the newspaper, scanning through all the boring media traps. He was disgusted with the corruption of the seemingly nice parties, bullshit all around him. The doctor heard the call for dinner and closed the things in front of him, getting up from his bed. He was expecting a call from Luffy so Law took his phone with him. The call thankfully arrived after dinner when Law was settled in his bed, in futile attempts to sleep.

"Shouldn't you be studying for your exams?" Law asked when they had exchanged the basic 'how are you's.

"Boo! I am studying!" Luffy countered and Law could see the pout on the other side. "Just wanted to talk to you, Sabo made me take a break because I was studying for too long."

"The world is ending huh, you were studying for too long." Law joked and chuckled.

"Hey! That's mean Torao!"

"That I am."

"Anyway! Can you come for my birthday? Do you have patients?" Luffy asked, all eager and excited. Law hated that he had to do what he was about to do.

"I don't think I can make it... I have a job in another country." Law said in a low voice, not wanting to say it at all.

"Ok..." Luffy sounded sad and Law felt a guilty tug in his chest. Luffy already missed Law so much and not being able to see his boyfriend for his birthday made him very pouty. The younger wanted to celebrate that day with Law because it was his first birthday since they got together.

"Umm...we can celebrate it earlier or a little later if you want to consider that option...?" Law offered, at a loss, not knowing what to say or how to even say anything at all that would cheer Luffy up.

"...No that's ok. I will miss you."

Law shoved his fist against his mouth to prevent any choked sounds from escaping, not that he would ever admit he even made any sounds at all. "I'm sorry about this."

"No! We decided we won't push each other so... hey but you better be here at eighteen and a half!!"

"I have my schedule cleared for that particular time, don't worry."

"See ya later then! Sabo's calling."

"Ok."

"Good luck with your work! Bye Torao!" Luffy hung up and Law groaned. He hated making Luffy sad but that was for a surprise and Luffy would be way happier then. Law sighed thinking how he even got roped into this mess.

~

"What did you do?!" Nami yelled at Law the first thing when he answered the call.

"What?" Law asked, he had just sat down at the breakfast table and munched on his first bite of eggs.

"Luffy!! His face is literally melting, he's so sad and down! What did you do?!"

"Why did you assume I did anything?!" Law retorted, annoyed. He hadn't had his morning tea yet and this was too much.

"Because Luffy just told us you can't make it to his birthday!"

"You told me to do that!!"

"You could have been nicer about it!"

"I was!" Law took the tea Bepo had passed him with a worried look.

"I don't believe you."

"Fine then, I will call Luffy and tell him the truth." Law threatened.

"Don't do that! It'll ruin the surprise! I'll kill you if you do that Law!" Nami yelled.

"Decide already!"

Nami sighed. "Ughhhh! Ok! Don't tell him and just get here so we can start."

"That's what I thought." Law ended the call and went back to his room to prepare his bags. He was going to Goa, but not to meet Luffy.

~

Luffy sighed and kicked the ball Usopp's way, they were playing football penalty shootouts because it was just the two of them. Luffy knew what this was, Usopp was sent to keep him occupied so the others could prepare for his birthday, he knew they were going to surprise him with something. The younger only wanted to spend time with his friends though, he hoped he wouldn't have to be all alone on his birthday of all days. He was sad and pouting, all in all Luffy was moping.

The younger's birthday was only a day away and he really wanted Torao to be with him. This was new to Luffy, wanting one specific person to be with him at all the time, he wanted Torao, he wanted his constant person. Luffy hadn't felt this way for anyone before. He didn't want to act selfish and keep anyone with him at all times. Usually whenever someone he wanted to be around wasn't there, he would miss them a little but get over it soon too, not letting it put a damper on his mood but this was different, no matter what, Luffy couldn't bring himself to get over the fact that Law wasn't going to be there for his birthday.

This got Luffy thinking, if it was always going to be like this. Luffy wondered what if there was something he really wanted to do and share it with Torao but the older just wouldn't be able to participate? Then what? Luffy wondered if Torao will ever get the time for birthdays and parties in the future or if it would always be like this, learning to be with Law without being with Law. Luffy felt his heart sink, he didn't want to think on this line for long. He shook his head, it felt like he was blaming Law for having work to do. But he still wondered...

With the help of some meat and cartoons, Luffy was able to bring his spirits back up by the time the clock hit midnight. All his friends were crammed in the apartment so they were the first to wish him a happy birthday and give him his presents, this was the norm because there were parties on different scales with different people who were allowed. This was just his nakama and siblings, the bigger party would be in the evening.

Luffy was busy celebrating with his friends that he missed Torao's text and call, only noticing it when he was ready to go to bed after everyone had left. Luffy was happy at the text, just a plain happy birthday, it was very like Torao, to keep these things simple. The younger was very sleepy but he still called Law back and they talked for a few minutes until the birthday boy had fallen asleep while talking. Law promised him good things in the hours to come and ended the call.

Then came the morning, leading to the afternoon and eventually the evening, Luffy wasn't feeling very up to celebrating again, since Law wouldn't be there. His mind kept going back to the thought that what if this would be the norm for all his birthdays, no Law in person but only wishes through texts and calls. Luffy scolded himself that he should be happy because he was at least getting that over nothing, but his heart wasn't budging, he wanted more. He wanted to celebrate with Law, in person.

Luffy distracted himself again with the help of his nakama when they led him to the venue for the party, Nami insisted he dress up for the occasion but Luffy didn't feel up to it and after some tries, the orange haired woman gave up too. Regardless, Luffy was sat down on the special seat for the birthday boy but he vacated it too soon, it felt stuffy and he wanted to sit with his friends. The party was the usual, a big celebration with everyone he knew, a few songs here and there, Buggy providing comic relief, Sanji providing the best food, Zoro providing the best companionship, Usopp providing the best jokes. Luffy should have been happy. But he wasn't.

He missed Law.

When the party started dying down, Luffy hid under a table to avoid being seen, he wasn't feeling very well, if anything, he was overwhelmed all of a sudden. Sure partying with his friends was always nice but he wondered how long it would go on for. Luffy wondered what kind of changes there would be in his life once his exams were over and he would graduate. Luffy wondered if his friends would still stick around or if they would all move away to find their own adventures, Luffy wondered if even he himself would stick around in Goa. He wondered how many opportunities he had left to see his friends, how many opportunities he had left to celebrate with them, be stupid with them until everything would change. Luffy didn't like thinking like this, he was always living in the now but sometimes, his core ached when his brain threw worries of the future at him. It felt like he had turned seventeen just yesterday and today he had turned eighteen, the time was moving too fast, Luffy felt it was all going too fast.

At such a moment, Luffy wanted to see Torao, more than ever. Law would help him make sense of things, assure him and maybe guide him about his thoughts too. Luffy considered himself off balance and wild, Law was all balance and stability, Law was his good place, the person who kept him grounded, didn't let him go so wild that he wouldn't feel the things he was feeling right now after the giddiness washed off. Luffy wanted to see Law.

"Ok now I'm going to have to ask all of you to vacate the premises, thank you for coming." Ace announced on the mic.

"Only those who have the yellow strawhat ticket can say, Franky and Brook are going to check for those so please keep them in your hands." Sabo added.

Luffy crawled out from under the table to see what was going on, everyone was leaving, well mostly everyone. Only the initial nakama and siblings remained.

"Ah Luffy-san, there you are." Brook said spotting the younger and making his way over.

"What's happening?" Luffy asked but the skeleton man didn't answer, just led Luffy to a quiet seat in front of the center stage.

"Mic check." Sabo said tapping the mic, catching Luffy's attention. Brook was standing with the young boy.

"Almost everyone has left, what's Sabo doing up there?" Luffy asked again.

"It's not that almost everyone has left but that only a select few have been allowed to stay." Brook answered.

"By who?" Luffy asked confused.

"Yohohoho, you'll see."

"Luffy, this is for you. All of you other assholes, don't dare record this." Ace said in the mic and took his place beside Sabo, at the far right of the stage.

"There are ladies among them too! Apologies to them!" Sanji said appearing and taking his place on the extreme left of the stage.

"You get triggered at the weirdest shit curly." Zoro joked, standing besides Sanji.

"No braincells I swear." Nami sighed and stood beside Sabo.

"But it's livelier like this, fufufu." Robin chuckled standing beside Zoro. To Luffy, it felt like the center place was for someone who wasn't there or maybe they made the arrangements like that. Luffy tried smiling and could only succeed for a few seconds.

The sky had become dark by the time everyone had actually left so the stage lights were on, all of his friends' and brothers' chosen colours. The center was unlit, now Luffy was sure that they made the arrangement like that. Luffy focused on the show everyone had taken the special time to prepare for him, he hyped himself up to enjoy it.

With the way Ace began the song and everyone followed, Luffy knew Ace understood what the younger was going through.

🎵

[ACE]

Nanimo iwanakute ii

wakatteru daijoubu

[SABO]

Sonna fuu ni mattete kureru

Dareka ga iru kara kitto

[ZORO]

Itsuka tadoritsuita to omotteta

kono basho ni

[SANJI]

Soredemo nanika mada tarinakute

Dakara bokura wa kitto

[NAMI, ROBIN]

To the next

[LAW]

Itami mo kunou mo

kako subete wo DAUNROODO

🎵

"That's Torao!" Luffy jumped out of his seat at the voice, eager to see Law, wishing the center place would light up and his Torao would be there. But it didn't.

"A recording Luffy-san. He really couldn't make it." Luffy sagged again at Brook's comment but enjoyed nonetheless. Luffy was happy that Law, in all his antisocial and introverted nature, recorded a song of all things for Luffy and allowed it to be played in public like this. Luffy understood this was the permission thing Brook had mentioned earlier.

🎵

[NAMI, ROBIN]

Go to the next

[LAW]

Subete yosou funou

na asu e to APPUROODO

[NAMI, ROBIN]

Let's move on to the next

[LAW]

Fuan ni furueru karada wo

daite tatakai no DANSU wo

[NAMI, ROBIN]

Go to the next ima

[LAW]

Tomoni fumou tsugi no SUTEPPU wo

to the next stage

[ACE, NAMI, ROBIN]

Mada minu sekai e Unlock yourself

[ACE]

Soko ni nani ga atte mo

[ZORO, NAMI, ROBIN]

Ima wo kurikaeshite

Unlock your heart

[ZORO]

Asu ni tsumazuite mo

[ROBIN]

Nemurenai yoru no hate

[NAMI]

hateshinai michi no hate

[SABO]

Sono saki ni tsuzuki ga aru nara

[SANJI, NAMI, ROBIN]

Now we'll go to

the next step & stage

[ZORO]

Sou mondainai yo zenzen mada daijoubu

[SANJI]

Muri shite mite mo kizuite kureru

Dareka ga iru kara kitto

[ACE]

Itsuka kugiri wo tsuketa

genkai toka risou toka

[SABO]

Soredemo dokoka mitasarenakute

Dakara bokura wa kitto

[NAMI, ROBIN]

To the next

[LAW]

Itami mo kunou mo

kako subete wo DAUNROODO

[NAMI, ROBIN]

Go to the next

[LAW]

Subete yosou funou

na asu e to APPUROODO

[NAMI, ROBIN]

Let's move on to the next

[LAW]

Fuan ni furueru karada wo

daite tatakai no DANSU wo

[NAMI, ROBIN]

Go to the next ima

[LAW]

Tomoni fumou tsugi no SUTEPPU wo

to the next stage

[ZORO]

Mada minu mirai e Unlock yourself

Tatoe kizutsuite mo

[ACE, NAMI, ROBIN]

Itami sae kate ni Unlock your way

[ACE]

Kako wo hitei shite mo

[NAMI]

Furiyamanai sora no hate

[ROBIN]

hateshinai toki no hate

[SANJI]

no saki wo tashikametai kara

[SABO, NAMI, ROBIN]

Now we'll go to

the next step & stage

🎵

The stage went dark after that, Luffy thought the song had ended. It was a nice thing to hear Torao but Luffy still felt like he needed to see him in person. Luffy sighed and Brook caught up on that.

"It's not like you to miss someone Luffy-san."

"I know. It's stupid. But I..." Luffy breathed, "I really miss Torao right now."

"Cheer up Luffy-san, the song's not over yet." The old man said and left Luffy alone. Luffy was confused, it looked like the song was over, the lights were off. Then Luffy heard it again, Law's voice.

🎵

[LAW]

Haha, You call me?

🎵

Then the light turned on only in the center, the one space that looked like it was empty. It wasn't empty now. Law stood there, the mic in his hand, no control over the big grin on his face at seeing Luffy's surprise. Taking Luffy's shock to his advantage, Law winked and carried on with his part of the song.

🎵

[LAW]

I sway nageki no utagoe wo

Tsunaide itami goto koero

Who's callin' me ! ? Okay kimi ga yobu nara nando datte

Norikoerareru day by day...

Fuan to kyoufu no SANDOROORU

Wakarukai ? Unmei tte nu wa gankomono

Kettobashite kekka dekiru step up

Brrr, stick'em ha-ha-ha stick'em

Kizutsuitenai furi shite

Koronde surimuite mata muri shite

Waratterarenai'n ja nanmo iminai

Kono te wo kasu yoso kono kimi e

Welcome to the next stage

🎵

Luffy wanted to jump on that stage and hug Torao so hard, he was so happy that he didn't know when he had started crying. But Luffy controlled himself, the song was still going and he didn't want to insult his friends' efforts by ruining their sequence, they were definitely recording this for laughs later so Luffy wanted this entire thing to be recorded, so he could have Torao on tape, so he could listen to that part from Law over and over and over again. All of Luffy's doubts that he was feeling just minutes ago, all of his worries, all of his apprehensions, they were gone for the moment, just like that, with a few verses from Law. Luffy sniffled and wiped at his seemingly never-ending tears, determined to see the song through till the end.

🎵

[ACE, NAMI, ROBIN]

Mada minu sekai e Unlock yourself

[ACE]

Soko ni nani ga atte mo

[SABO, NAMI, ROBIN]

Ima wo kurikaeshite

Unlock your heart

[SABO]

Asu ni tsumazuite mo

[ROBIN]

Nemurenai yoru no hate

hateshinai michi no hate

[ACE, SABO]

Sono saki ni tsuzuki ga aru nara

[ZORO, NAMI, ROBIN]

Ano mirai e unlock yourself

[ZORO]

Tatoe kizutsuite mo

[SANJI, NAMI, ROBIN]

Itami sae kate ni unlock your way

[SANJI]

Kako wo hitei shite mo

[NAMI]

Furiyamanai sora no hate

hateshinai toki no hate

[ZORO, SANJI]

Sono saki wo tashikametai kara

[ALL]

Now we'll go to

the next step & stage

🎵

The song ended and the general lights of the stage overtook the special coloured lights. Luffy was about to jump on stage but was shocked when Law handed his mic to Nami and jumped off himself. The younger's stillness was short-lived and he ran the rest of the way to tackle his boyfriend in the hug he had wanted for a few days.

"WOBAOOOO!" Luffy cried.

"What the fuck- are you crying?" Law chuckled at the mispronunciation of his name because of all the snot and tears running off Luffy's face, but he still hugged Luffy close. Law was grateful that everyone was huddled on a side, busy among themselves and left the two alone.

"You said you won't come! I was so sad!" Luffy said wiping his nose on his sleeves and backing his head away a little so he could look at Law properly and absorb however much of his looks he could. "When did you get here! Why did you tell me! I missed you so much!"

Law smiled, but it was kind of sad. The older had been keeping an eye on Luffy since he got to Goa a week ago. Luffy had looked so sad and down the last few days that Law was about ready to ruin the surprise and face Nami's wrath. Even at the celebration, Law had seen Luffy hide himself under the table, the older could sense the disturbance the younger was feeling.

"NAMI told me to lie to you." Law answered with a grin, making sure he said Nami's name loud and clear for the witch to hear. "And your shocked face was pretty hilarious and worth it."

"NAMI!" Luffy complained, tears back again.

"Happy birthday." Law said and Luffy turned his attention back to the man in his arms. The younger felt so overcome with emotion in that moment that he hid his face in the older's shirt, not wanting anyone to see him like that. "Since you're being like this," Law started and rubbed Luffy's back before continuing, "let's ditch."

"You both better not be thinking about doing naught-" Sabo started over the mic.

"Let them be!" Uta groaned from a distance.

"Yeah, let's go." Luffy finally said and the boyfriend went out of the venue, hand in hand.

~

1) I AM SO SORRY FOR THE DELAY!2) I LOVE THIS SONG SO MUCH!When I heard this song at the end of 3D2Y, my GOD! I cried! It fit Luffy's situation so much!Then I googled the full version and came across this wonder video: The placement they did is sooooo right that I wanted to incorporate this in the story! So here it is! 3) A hell lot has been going on, my brother decided he doesn't want to live in the house we are currently living in and wants to move - he hasn't disclosed the reason for that but my parents are well, abusive and biased, so they immediately jumped to my brother's defense and aid and agreed - fucktards. The house we live in right now is our own, in this economy, this house is our own. Now imagine what kind of a fucking fool my brother must be to want to move to a house where he has to pay at least 250 dollars in rent instead of doing the wise thing and put that money into renovating the house we currently live in. So most of my time and energy is spent in looking for houses and it's been exceptionally difficult because my health complications don't leave much room for compromises. The thing that made me shut down was my parents and brother going to view a house, now that was normal, but they finalised the deal then and there without consulting with me. I had panic attacks for the entire last week over this. Then I went to see the house for myself and had another give days of panic attacks because the house is too small, there are too many windows allowing for dust that's bad for my lung health, the drive to and from work is too much - all in all, they have made a lot of inconveniences for me. I just got better a few hours ago so I wrote this.4) I have found a new pulmonologist and I have an appointment tomorrow - not looking forward to a reasonable doctor-patient experience but let's see what happens. 5) I am going 52 for 52, meaning not skipping a chapter so I can have the self-allotted title of having written all weeks of the year because once we reach Chapter 52, it is going to be an year with this story! <3 My current schedule stands for:05 - 11 JUNE: Chapter 4712 - 18: Chapter 4819 - 25: Chapter 4926 - 02 JULY: Chapter 5003 - 09: Chapter 5110 - 16: Chapter 52So before One Piece Day, this story is going to be an year old!I am not going to skip a week, this chapter is last week's and if I am able to write this week's chapter, I will publish it at that moment, no time wasted!Thank you for your continued love and support everyone!