Chapter 21: Hold My Hand

"Zoro is not here!", Nami had veins popping out. "That's for the best. Let's just leave him here", Sanji gave a thumbs up. "What should we do?", Chopper looked at Luffy worriedly.

"We'll be splitting as of this time. Trafalgar-San and I will be doing some shopping. We might find him along the way", Rebecca nervously said. "Eih?! I wanted to tag along with Tra-guy. He'll be paying for my food", Luffy whined.

"Why would you go together? Sanji could do it if you want", Nami volunteered the man busy impressing Viola. "Ah", Rebecca panicked looking for an answer. "Well be going. The three of us. If any of you does the shopping, you'll just end up buying random items", Airi went down the stairs.

"Thank you", Rebecca held on to Airi's hand. "Don't get me wrong", Airi sighed and entered the car prepared by the chauffeur.

Carrot and Nami looked at each other. "Jealousy?", Nami nodded in agreement with her statement. "I can't believe Isobe-san would have a thing for Trafalgar-sensei", Carrot tilted her head. "What are you guys talking about?", Ussop joined their conversation. The two ladies shared their suspicion with Trafalgar and Nami. "EIH!", Ussop shouted which caught the attention of the rest. "Keep quiet. We're not yet sure", Nami slapped the back of his head.

"Tch, because of that moss head, I won't be able to enjoy my harem", Sanji gritted his teeth.

Car

Trafalgar drove while the two ladies sat on the back. "I miss the hills", Rebecca looked outside and saw the hill covered in green grass. "You are fortunate to live in such a fresh air countryside like this", Trafalgar commented. "Uhm, thanks to that, I am very strong. I rarely get sick", Rebecca said proudly. "That's great then", Trafalgar nodded. Airi looked outside the window and saw the blooming sunflowers.

"Are you guys going to hide it for forever? It's not like you can always find something to cover up your relationship", Airi said in irritation. "Sorry Airi, I hope we can keep up with this until this year. Sensei will be leaving the school after he takes the exam. I just don't want to cause an uproar. It'll also be inconvenient for him", Rebecca said in a soft voice. Airi looked at Trafalgar's reaction but he was just calm.

How can he be not tripping hearing those words?!

"Whatever", Airi gave up and closed her eyes.

Prefecture Prison

Rebecca walked next to Trafalgar. The polices' eyes are on her and some of them also whispered to each other. "Is it okay to leave Airi in the car?", Rebecca asked. "She's the one who fell asleep", Trafalgar shot a glare at the polices and they started to act busy.

"Are you alright, sensei?", Rebecca sheepishly asked. "Yeah. Thanks to this diversion, I was spared from dealing with idiots", Trafalgar sighed. Rebecca slightly chuckled imagining how stressed Trafalgar would be if he's stuck with Luffy. "I will apologize in advance if my grandfather would say something against you. Just like any other grandfathers, he's just too caring", Rebecca saw the meeting area for the prisoners.

Room

Rebecca hugged tightly on Riku. They both tried to have their fills from all the months they haven't seen each other. The warden just stood next to the door.

Riku finally noticed the man standing behind Rebecca. "And who might be this young man?", Riku asked and gently pushed Rebecca on the side. "He's...", Rebecca hesitated to introduce Trafalgar. "I am Trafalgar Law. Rebecca's fiance", Trafalgar said with a straight face. The warden suddenly coughed.

Pedo spotted.

"And why did you suddenly ask for my granddaughter's hand?", Riku furrowed his brow.

"Its not what you think Grandpa, sen-, Law and I will get married next year and we'll get to work out on our relationship", Rebecca said nervously. "Rebecca, isnt that odd? My case was also reoppened and my lawyer said there is a high chance to win this case this time", Riku looked straight into Trafalgar's eyes. "Are you also his pawn?", Riku shot a glare. The warden suddenly shifted stance and Trafalgar saw it in his peripheral vision. "Let's refrain from talking about that matter here, Doldo-san. I am just here to accompany Rebecca. I believe you are a just man and the claims put in your head was an escape route for someone which the government wishes to protect", Trafalgar said calmly as he looked back at the warden. The officer flinched and open the door. "You have five more minutes. We will be watching you", the warden said nervously as he exited. "I do not wish to clear my name", Riku seen through their facade. "Whoever is pulling the strings, you don't have to become his puppet as well", Riku patted on his shoulder. Trafalgar just nodded. For sometime, Rebecca narrated how she found great friends. Riku smiled knowing that she wont be alone anymore.

Parking Lot

Airi woke up and saw that she was left alone in the car.

Tch, they didn't even bother to wake me up.

She walked around the corner and saw a couple fighting at the entrance of the gate. "I'll drag you to prison. I want you to experience hell!!!", the woman shouted while crying.

Airi was about to change route when the woman saw her. "Come here young lady", she called for her. Unwanting to cause more ruckus, she walked towards them. "You see, this man dared cheat on me. We have a young girl waiting at home and he was gone for three years. Now, he's coming home with another child with a different mother", the woman sobbed and shook the man in the shoulder. "Its not like that. Im telling you, that wasnt my child", the man defended.

That wasnt my child.

Someone blocked the scenario. "What's the next thing you will try to interfere with? A couple's quarrel?", Trafalgar clicked his tongue. "Sensei, are you done already?", Airi wasnt expecting him to appear randomly in front as if blocking the scenario. Trafalgar pushed her to turn. "Its time to go", he said.

The two marched back to the car. "You met her grandfather. What did he say?", Airi opened. "It does not concern you", Trafalgar said unitnerestingly. "You never met Rebecca before? I asked Eustass-san and he told me you're families arent closely acquainted as well. Why are you going to settle if its not like a political marriage?", Airi finally had the nerves to ask. "You spend too much time with Eustass-ya. I think I need to discipline that mouth of his", Trafalgar massaged his temple.

"In any case, are you doing it out of guilt?", Airi looked back and saw Trafalgar's caught up face. He slightly flinched and tried to compose himself. "If you are that guilty, are there any ways to do it aside from sacrificing yourself and Rebecca?", Airi added. Trafalgar grabbed on Airi's neck and pulled his face closer. His other hand covered his mouth. "Not another word", he said in a rather soft tone. Airi felt warm as she felt Trafalgar's slightly rough grip on her. In such a close distance, she could clearly see onyx eyes filled with so much stories.

They heard some footstep and they turned their head on the direction at the same time. Rebecca gasped to see the two. She covered her mouth. "Was I interupting something? Im sorry", she flushed.

Trafalgar lets her go and Airi looked away from him. "I just want to say that I'll be dropping by my mother's grave. You can go and meet the others", Rebecca panicked feeling guilty of appearing suddenly. "Your mother's grave", Airi repeated. "She passed away since I was 6. I missed her", Rebecca said with a faint smile. "We'll be tagging along", Airi stepped forward but Trafalgar grabbed on her hair. "Tell me what time we'll fetch you", Trafalgar raised his phone. Rebecca nodded and excused herself.

Still holding on to the lady's hair, Trafalgar looked down on the visible burn marks on her back. He already saw it back in the hospital but he felt how Airi avoided talking about it last time. "Do you know what happened 10 years ago in this place?", Airi looked at the prison building. "The chief of police was told to order the whole prison to be burnt into ashes. Inside the cells are important whistleblowers. Though it is obvious that someone wanted those mouths shut, someone needs to take the blame", Trafalgar was referring to Riku. "They were criminals, to begin with, but people started to turn their back on the leader of the police to whom they but the burden of keeping the peace and order of the nation", Airi clenched her fist. Trafalgar lets go of her hair.

"That aside, where do you like to go?", Trafalgar asked. "We're going to wait for Rebecca's signal to fetch her. After which, you will visit a nursing center. Have you practiced your dance?", Airi started to walk towards the car. "Somehow", Trafalgar followed behind her. "Sensei, Rebecca isn't that hard to be attracted with. She has so many things likable about her", Airi held unto her arm. Trafalgar noticed it and cleared his throat. "What do you want to say?", the man matched her pace and they are already walking next to each other. Their hands bumped.

"One day, you will hold her hand like you meant it, right?", Airi smiled slightly. "You won't be like that couple we saw a while ago right. You won't leave her because of another woman", she tightens her grip on her arm. Airi had flashes of her past with her mother hysterically messing up with Airi's room.

That child is not mine!

Trafalgar did not respond. He remembered a time when Luffy held Ace's hand very tight as they stand in front of the pedestrian lane.

You need to cross the road on your own, Luffy. Raise your hand like this. You're too small that's why the driver might not see you.

Why do I need to learn how? You will always be there with me, right, Ace?!

You cheeky brat.

"Zoro!", Airi shouted as she saw the green head wandering along the parking lot. "How did you even reach this place?", Airi sighed in disbelief. "How about the two of you? What are you doing here?", Zoro yawned. "Don't you ever leave our side until we reunite with the rest. We can't take our eyes away from you", Airi marched towards Zoro. Airi grabbed on his sleeves and started dragging him to where their car is parked.

Chapter end.