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In Heart's Embrace	By : Minnia Category: +M to R > One Piece Views: 478 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1
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It was a day just like any other, or so Luffy thought. He breathed a sigh as he walked down the cobblestone streets, the sweat pooling under his brow. It was the dead of summer in the tropical city of Dressrosa. Despite his light attire of a black shirt littered with sunflowers and cut off shorts, it was miserably hot. He wiped his forehead with the back of his palm and tugged his straw hat down over his head, sandals dragging behind him.
Nestled along the azure coastline, Dressrosa was like a painting, its pastel buildings mirroring the vibrant hues of the sea. The town's architecture was quaint, with archways and wrought-iron balconies that overlooked the bustling cobblestone streets.
Quaint cafes and seafood restaurants lined the waterfront, their outdoor tables inviting customers to stop and stay awhile. Residents and tourists alike gather at the town square, a lively market offering an array of goods from spices to fruit to trinkets.
Although Luffy was surrounded by such beauty and life, he couldn’t find any happiness in his heart. Not since that day. His heart tightened as the memory.
Ace. He pictured his brother’s face. The blood dripped from his lips, his arms limp as Luffy held him tight. Luffy palmed his brother's back and felt a hole that defiantly wasn't supposed to be there. Somehow the man still managed a soft smile as the light faded from his eyes. Luffy’s screams echoed across the pavement. He knew Ace smiled for him in his last moments as he always did. As far back as Luffy could remember, Ace always put on a brave face in front of Luffy no matter the situation. He protected his little brother to the very end.
Once when they were children, Ace and Luffy were acting as lookouts in a tree during one of their many pirate pretend games. Luffy stood up on his toes and stood tall, staring through a spyglass. Suddenly, Luffy leaned over the edge a little too far and began to fall out of the tree with a yelp. Quickly, arms enveloped him as Ace grabbed him, the two slamming into the ground with Ace taking the brunt of the fall.
Even as the bone protruded from his twisted and broken arm, Ace beamed at Luffy “I’m okay Luffy, it’s just a scratch. After all, pirates never cry!” Luffy, of course, was bawling his eyes out. “Crybaby” Ace muttered with disdain.
Ace didn’t cry. Even as he breathed his last words, not a tear fell down his bloody face. He just softly spoke to his brother “Thank you for loving me, Luffy. Don’t cry, okay?” as the final breath left his body and Luffy’s screams echoed through the streets of Marineford.
Luffy would never forget the face of the man who stole the light from his life. The smirk on his face as he held the smoking gun, a cigar hanging from his lips.
At the time, Luffy had known his brother worked for the Whitebeard Corporation but he had no idea how deep his ties went. After all, he had only seen Ace a few times since he turned 18 and left their hometown of Fuusha Village.
He never expected that his brother would be killed protecting him. Ace and Luffy had met at Marineford by chance. Ace was on a business trip and Luffy was passing through.
The nomadic life Luffy had been leading after the years on the Thousand Sunny wasn't always easy. He never stayed in one place very long and money was not readily available. He would take on odd jobs here and there, just managing to scrape by enough to afford a roof over his head for the night. But it didn’t matter. Luffy’s dream had been to travel, see the world, and help those he met along the way. Even if that meant some days his stomach would be empty, it was worth it. The sights he saw and the people befriended provided enough fulfillment to make up for the hard times.
Luffy didn’t feel that satisfaction now. In fact he didn’t really feel anything besides despair these days. His regrets permeated every waking moment of his daily life.
Ever the wanderer, Luffy hadn’t spent this much time in one place throughout his year of traveling. He had always been planning his next adventure. That too had changed. Truthfully, since he fled to Dressrosa after Ace’s death he hadn’t even thought of where his next destination would be.
Adventuring just didn’t feel right when he didn’t have his brother around to share it with. Although they only saw each other here and there, Ace and Luffy were always in contact. They would video chat daily, swapping photos in between.
The elder loved seeing Luffy’s adventures and gushed over the beautiful sights his little brother sent to him. Ace himself had gone on his own journey before settling down on the island of Sphinx where the Whitebeard Corporation was headquartered. He wasn’t really sure what his brother did there, but he knew he was surrounded by great friends who Ace spoke of fondly and Luffy had met via video chat. He also knew that the Corporation’s CEO Whitebeard treated Ace like his son and talks were in order for Ace to inherit the corporation. Ace seemed happy with his life there but Luffy had an inkling his brother had missed his adventures and lived vicariously through Luffy.
The brothers were not related by blood but their bond from their time at Dadan’s Orphanage was as deep as any familial ties. Their brotherhood was solidified one night when they were kids who stole sake from Dadan’s stash and toasted to being family along with their third brother, Sabo.
Sabo. Luffy sighed at the thought of his other older brother. After Sabo’s mysterious disappearance at age 10, everyone had believed the boy was long dead. However, Luffy knew his brother was out there somewhere. Throughout his travels he always kept an eye peeled for a flash of blonde hair and the crooked smile of his brother. Although he never told anyone, his travels had also been a secret side quest to search for Sabo. Luffy knew one day he would find him. He needed to tell Sabo about Ace’s death and be there to share in his pain. He didn’t want Sabo to suffer alone like he had.
Lost in these thoughts, Luffy looked up and realized he had been trodding along with no destination in mind. It was Saturday and his shift at New Kama didn’t start until 8pm. Luffy had made it a regular habit to meander the streets and beaches of Dressrosa to clear his mind (which usually didn’t work).
He looked around and realized he was surrounded by green. A large park lay before him. The tall trees provided much needed shade and respite from the blazing sun. A small pond lay to the right with a flock of ducks cooling themselves amid the cattails. The trees rustled gently providing a small and much needed breeze. The landscape was lush, with manicured pathways weaving through the verdant expanse.
Luffy had never been here before and wasn’t sure what part of town he was in. Although he had been in Dressrosa for almost four months, he usually stayed on the north side where New Kama and the small loft he had called home were located. This was definitely not the noisy north side.
In one quaint corner, a couple embraced the laid-back rhythm of a lazy Saturday. They had a cozy picnic under the shade of a sprawling oak, the tree providing an oasis from the beating sun. The young man and woman reclined and with fingers delicately entwined, silently gazing into each other's eyes.
Luffy hadn’t really given romantic relationships much thought, mostly due to the fact that he never felt like he was missing out by not having a partner. He wasn’t a virgin by any means, but the extent of his sexual experiences involved allowing himself to be dragged along by lustful suitors for a one night stand, mostly out of sheer curiosity and a desire to experience the pleasure Sanji often boasted about.
It wasn't a lack of enjoyment, but rather a realization that the euphoria derived from these encounters paled in comparison to the simple pleasures he found in other aspects of life. Not one to care about social norms, Luffy had experienced both men and women. Whether he was the giver or the receiver, the experience, while enjoyable, remained underwhelming. There was just no passion. Luffy's appetite for adventure (and literal appetite), the camaraderie of his friends, and the thrill of exploration were way more satisfying than the fleeting pleasure present in sex.
The concept of a committed relationship had always been like a distant island on his vast sea of his priorities. It wasn't that he viewed such connections as insignificant; rather, they simply hadn't sparked his interest in the chaos of his ever changing lifestyle.
Outside of the confines of dating and marriage, he understood his own need for companionship. For Luffy, the prospect of a romantic partner wasn't merely about filling a void but rather an extension of the relationships he already treasured. The concept of having someone all to himself did pique his interest. After all, he didn't like to share. Luffy's ideal a relationship was a haven where physical affection, laughter, and shared moments existed.
For his present self, that seemed like a pipe dream. The isolated passage of time Dressrosa created an emotional distance from other humans that he had never experienced before. The loving embrace of another person felt like a distant memory. The idea of a relationship was too far away for him to even imagine.
Loneliness had settled into the crevices of his heart, a persistent companion in the wake of Ace's death. Luffy harbored a self-imposed punishment for his brother's murder. He had convinced himself that he deserved this. The notion that Ace would never again experience the tender touch of another, laughter surrounded by friends, or experience a long life full of love, bore heavily on Luffy's conscience.
Most of Luffy's friends were in happy relationships. Nami and Vivi lived together in Alabasta on Vivi’s family estate. The two had experienced love at first sight when they first met in their teen years which evolved into a beautiful romance as adults. Usopp was head over heels for his childhood friend, Kaya and they had a daughter together in their hometown of Syrup Village. Even Zoro and Sanji finally admitted their love for each other with the Chef confessing after one of their notorious blowout fights. Luffy still was confused how the chaotic bickering of the two men bloomed into romance, but he was thrilled for his two best male friends nonetheless. He loved his friends and felt relief that they had found the happiness they deserved.
Those who were not in relationships were following their dreams. Robin taught archeology at Egghead University where she lived with Chopper who was studying at the school to become a doctor. Brook was on another tour under the moniker of Soul King and Franky had returned to his hometown and worked alongside his childhood friend Iceberg as a shipbuilder for the Galley-La Company.
Luffy’s closest companions were still unaware of Ace’s death. He knew that if he told them, they would have dropped everything and crossed hell and high water to be with him and help him through his suffering. But they were all happy and accomplished and Luffy didn’t want them to pick up their lives to console him. So he made up excuses like saying he broke his phone while he was in the hospital and put on a bright sunny mask for their group chats and phone calls. Instead, he suffered alone.
Luffy would be meeting his friends in Sabaody at the end of the year for what usually was his favorite time of the year. No matter where they were in the world and in life, the group vowed to meet in Sabaody every December. It was always the highlight of Luffy’s year and his memories of those trips shone brightly in his mind. Drunk nights at Shakky’s Bar with the fond smiles of Shakky and her husband Rayleigh combined with the sounds of laughter from his friends motivated him to keep going no matter how difficult things were. This year however, he was anxious and knew his friends would know something was wrong immediately.
Luffy’s eyes trained away from the couple enjoying their picnic and he pushed his musings about relationships and his friends out of his mind. He desperately needed a drink to relieve the scratchy feeling in his throat. This heat was brutal.
In the distance, an oasis appeared—a small, white building nestled along the path. The quaint structure, no grander than a large shed, bore a welcoming sign that simply read 'Coffee.' While Luffy had never been one to indulge in the bitterness of coffee, the irresistible allure of the aroma of food had long been a guilty pleasure. His senses perked up as he caught the sweet fragrance wafting through the air, drawing him closer to the promise of warmth and comfort.
Approaching the cafe, Luffy found himself enchanted by the charm of its surroundings. The quaint patio beckoned with a vine-wrapped pergola casting dappled shadows, and scattered umbrella trees offering a delicate dance of shade and sunlight. The ambiance embraced him like an old friend, a respite from the blazing sun and the burdens of his thoughts.
Upon entering, Luffy's eyes traced the offerings on the menu, settling on a comforting choice—a milk tea with an extra dose of sugar. As his stomach rumbled in anticipation, he discovered an added delight—the shop's selection of stuffed meat pies. The fragrant aroma of savory fillings wafted from the counter, and Luffy's hunger took command.
He ordered a curry chicken pie and a beef pie, his eyes glittering in anticipation. The cashier handed over the warm pastries, their golden crusts inviting him to savor the flavors within.
Luffy loved to eat and his appetite was usually all consuming when left to his own devices. He tried to slip food so often from the cooks at New Kama that they eventually started setting aside meals for him so he wouldn’t deplete their stock so recently he had been eating most of his meals from their kitchen. Luffy was thankful for their kindness. Although he made enough money to afford food, he couldn’t really cook anything so he mostly just lived off of snacks and instant food. He dreamed of the days where he could eat Sanji’s cooking for every meal.
With pies cradled in one hand and a cup of milk tea in the other, the young man, lost in the simple pleasure of his meal, surveyed the cafe's surroundings. Scattered across the patio were white wrought iron tables, each an invitation to a moment of respite. Luffy began to make his way before a gust of wind causing his straw hat to slip down over his eyes. Guided by instinct, he carefully meandered towards the tables.
He settled into the first available seat he found, his hat casting a shadow over eyes. Sighing, Luffy placed his drink on the table and brought the meat pie to his lips. The initial bite unleashed a burst of flavors–succulent curry melding with the rich, savory filling. His eyes fluttered closed in satisfaction, a contented hum escaping his lips as he reveled in the simple joy of indulging his senses.
As Luffy lifted his gaze from the delectable feast before him, a realization struck him–he was not alone. Across from him, a tall man occupied the seat with an air of calm absorption. Legs crossed, he reclined in his chair, a book grasped in one hand, his focus dedicated to the contents of its pages.
The man's distinctive appearance captured Luffy's attention—glasses perched low on the bridge of his nose, granting him a scholarly look. Dressed in a navy short-sleeved button-up shirt and light-washed jeans, the man exuded an effortlessly casual charm. Dark, ruffled hair stood in charming disarray, adding to the allure of a well-maintained bedhead with intricate black tattoos traveling down his well-formed arms and onto his hands. Two sets of gold hoops glinted in the sunlight on his ears.
A cup of untouched black coffee sat beside a notepad embellished with neat cursive scribbles. He was the picture of a mind engaged in its own world, one which Luffy had unintentionally interrupted.
Noticing the presence of another, the arm holding the book fell to the table and he looked up at Luffy with an irritated expression. Luffy tensed up immediately realizing his mistake and his eyes met the golden gaze of the man. He opened his mouth to apologize but before he could speak he was met with a velvety deep voice.
“Excuse me, this table is taken,” the man grumbled. Luffy, sitting there mouth agape, ready for another bite, appeared momentarily stunned before realizing his mistake.
“I - I’m sorry!” He stammered. He looked around quickly for another table but realized they were all occupied. After a few seconds with the young man awkwardly not moving, the tall man sighed.
“It’s fine. You can stay, just don’t be annoying.” He huffed and returned to his book, bringing the coffee cup to his lips.
Luffy stared in confusion at the man who was no longer paying him any mind. He noticed the book in hand was some sort of complicated medical text and realized the man was probably some important doctor.
Given the permission to stay, Luffy devoured the remainder of the first meat pie in two bites and did the same with the second one, crumbs falling down onto his lap.
He slurped his milk tea until he hit the bottom, the straw making a loud noise in the process. The man across from him looked up through the edges of his rectangular frames in annoyance,
“Sorry…” he murmured.
After finishing his drink Luffy’s eyes were again drawn to the man before him. He admired his sharp jawline and how his eyes quickly scanned the pages. In fact, the man himself was insanely attractive. His gaze moved down to the man’s hands that clutched the text, noting the dark ink that spelled “ D E A T H” on his fingers. Luffy raised an eyebrow and his eyes were immediately met by golden ones.
“Is something wrong?” The man questioned, eyeing him curiously. Shit. Luffy realized he was caught staring. He had to find a way to recover.
“Uhh… What are you reading?” He blurted out the first thing he could think of. The man sighed and placed the book down on the table.
“A medical digest.” The man responded. Luffy was perplexed. Who would read such a boring book for fun?
“Are you a doctor or something? He questioned.
“Yes. I’m a surgeon at Dressrosa Hospital.” he stated, entwining his tattooed hands in front of his mouth. Luffy’s eyes were drawn to his hands once again
“What’s up with the ‘death’ tattoos? I thought surgeons were supposed to save people, not kill them.” Luffy didn’t mean to be so blatant but he genuinely wanted to know. Might as well indulge his curiosity before he got kicked out of the table for his rudeness.
“I’m not really sure how that’s any of your business, kid.” He grumbled.
“I’m not a kid, I’m 22!” Luffy snapped back.
Luffy always got irritated when he was called a kid. He knew his stature made him look younger than he actually was and his wrinkleless skin and large round eyes didn’t help matters. But being treated like a child always got under his skin. He was an adult and had taken care of himself all over the world.
“Well perhaps you should start acting like one and learn some manners” the man glared at him, eyeing the food stuck to his lip. Luffy’s tongue darted out and he held his gaze a with a similar scowl.
“Well maybe you shouldn’t be so cranky all the time. You must not have many friends, huh?” Luffy snapped back with a cheeky grin.
“I have friends,” the man sighed.
As the conversation briefly tapered off, an unexpected revelation dawned upon Luffy—he was, against all odds, finding enjoyment in the banter he shared with the enigmatic doctor. The dark-haired man’s initial crankiness, rather than a deterrent, served as a source of bemusement for Luffy. Plus, he was nice to look at.
In the quiet lull, he realized that the surgeon's demeanor brought forth memories of Dadan, a stern figure from his childhood who revealed in chastising him with a perpetual air of crankiness. Dadan, despite her gruff exterior, concealed a soft side, providing care and protection for Luffy and his brothers in between yelling and chastising them for their behaviors.
Curiosity sparked in Luffy's eyes as he contemplated the possibility of the same softness in the mysterious surgeon. Did this seemingly stoic individual harbor a secret soft side much like Dadan?
Luffy debated ending the conversation there but realized that it had been a long time since he really talked to someone other than his customers at the bar and his co-workers. Well, if you could count the conversations he had with the mostly drunk patrons as ‘talking’. They mostly flirted and gushed about how cute Luffy was, even trying to take him to their beds. They of course had all failed.
He knew that the bar owner, Ivankov would faint of happiness and ask for all the ‘tea’ if he found out Luffy had slept with the patrons, many of whom were his friends, but Luffy didn’t really care about those sorts of things.
“What’s your name, friendless guy?” Luffy chuckled. Even though the man said he had friends, Luffy kind of doubted it. Although he was super attractive, he expected most people would be shooed away by the man’s sharp personality. Plus, he thought it might be fun to push the irritated man’s buttons a little more.
The man provided the expected response, another sharp glare and Luffy thought for a moment he wouldn’t tell him.
“Dr. Trafalgar.” He muttered, a sigh escaping his lips as he took a long sip of his coffee.
“Dr. Tr-a-o-um Dr. Torao, nice to meet you, I’m Luffy.” He tripped over the man’s complicated name and just settled with the first thing he could come up with. This gained a raised eyebrow from the man.
“Torao…?” he contemplated the new found nickname. After a moment, the man continued, “Well Luffy, as much as I would like to sit here and be antagonized further by you, I have to get to my shift. Have a pleasant day.”
The doctor began to gather his things into a leather bag and stood up. Luffy gawked as the man towered over him, not realizing how tall he really was. His eyes scanned the tattooed man who turned to depart.
“Wait-“ he blurted out.
"Yes?" Torao grumbled, his impatience cutting through the air. Luffy, caught in a moment of uncertainty, felt a pang of confusion. The desire to express the unexpected enjoyment he found in their brief exchange caught in his throat. Luffy's mind raced, searching for a way to convey his unspoken sentiment. The seconds ticked away, and he felt the weight of the impending departure. With a shrug and a grin, he settled on a simple yet genuine response,
"Uh... it was nice to meet you. Hopefully, we'll see each other again." The words, though seemingly ordinary, carried the weight of an unspoken request to see the other again, a testament to the curious connection that had blossomed in the brief exchange.
The man stared at the younger pensively for a brief moment before giving him a quick “Sure.” Luffy watched as the man's tall and slim figure departed and let out a huff.
What an odd person, he thought. It wasn’t until he looked back to the now vacant seat that he realized that the man - Dr. Torao - had left a white spotted hat on the chair.
Luffy picked it up and cradled the hat in his hands, running his fingers over the well-worn fabric. It felt soft beneath his touch, and he couldn't help but draw a connection to his own cherished straw hat that accompanied him on countless adventures. The thought occurred to him—perhaps, like his own hat, this simple accessory held significance for the tall, serious man.
The mental image of the stoic doctor donning a fluffy, childlike hat brought a genuine smile to Luffy's face. As Luffy envisioned this unexpected touch of playfulness, the contrast with the doctor's serious facade added a layer of delightful intrigue to the encounter. Luffy’s curiosity was piqued. He liked interesting people.
Driven by a spontaneous impulse, Luffy brought the hat to his nose, inhaling deeply. The scent of vanilla wafted through the air, a surprising scent. The contrast between the stern exterior and the sweet fragrance heightened the enigma of the man. Luffy found himself further drawn into the intrigue of the mysterious surgeon, wondering if his stoic persona held layers that veiled the unexpected sweetness beneath.
Realizing he must look like a fool, Luffy came back to his senses. He checked his phone and realized it was almost 6pm. He had about two hours to find his way back home before his shift and knew Ivankov would scold him if he showed up late and sweaty.
After all, Luffy didn’t really even know where in Dressrosa he was or how long it would take him to get back to the loft. Sighing he swiped open his phone and pulled up a map app. ‘Green Bit Park’ flashed on the screen as his current location and he typed his address in. Begrudgingly he once again dragged his sandaled feet along the cobblestone and began his trek home with the strange and handsome surgeon’s hat in hand.
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In Heart's Embrace