Ccino’s phone buzzed. He already knew who that was.
“Hi Color”, Ccino said with his usual kind tone.”Is everything okay? You called me earlier today.”
“Nothing outside the usual”, Color’s tired voice could be heard from the phone. He probably hadn’t taken a sip of his morning coffee. “I am just calling to know if you are alright.”
Ccino couldn’t help but let out a small giggle. “Hehe, you don’t have to worry, I am okay!”
“Are you though?”
Color said that as if he didn’t visit Ccino for weeks, when in reality he appeared in the previous day with his boyfriend to help take care of the kids and of the shop.
“Don’t lie to him, coffee boy!”, Epic’s voice could be heard on the other side of the call. “If this man discovers you were crying he is going to-”, and then he stopped talking. Instead, a very loud screaming from one of his rubber chicken getting smacked against a solid surface could be heard.
Ccino started to laugh as Color exasperatedly told his boyfriend to stop acting like that - it was 8 a.m.
Honestly, Ccino didn’t know where he would be now if it weren’t for them both.
…
Not so long after Nightmare disappeared, Ccino’s mental condition worsened. He felt lonely - the only person who stayed for him just… didn’t stay - and the fact he had to deal with his own feelings while having to prepare for the arrival of his kids and take care of an entire coffee shop on his own was, well, exhausting.
Then, these two guys, Color and Epic, started coming to the coffee shop. They started being frequent customers - probably due to Color’s coffee addiction - and they ended up making friends with Ccino. It was fun to have them around - they would always bicker each other in such a sweet way, and they all would have such fantastic ‘pun battles’ until the three would be wheezing on the ground.
Again, it was fun to have them around. They were extremely friendly, like most of his customers really, but, one thing the shop owner didn’t expect was the couple’s sharp eye to his silent signals of tiredness and discomfort.
They would always gently point out that he had bags under the eyes, that he would almost fall asleep in the back of the balcony sometimes and many other things…
So then they started by offering to help Ccino with his chores around the shop. They were both too stubborn to accept Ccino’s refusals. They managed to overcome his stubbornness - a big win, really.
They knew when Ccino was having a bad day, and it was in those in which they gave him a very, very helpful hand.
…But of course, that didn’t change the fact that Ccino was depressed and still didn’t overcome the fact Nightmare left him and his soon to be born kids alone… This resulted in Ccino having a mental breakdown in front of his two friends, in which he finally ended up saying what happened.
And once again, they both gave him the most helpful hands in the world. They stood in there for him, gave him room to think over his own feelings and vent his own feelings and insecurities when necessary.
When he suggested going to a therapist, they both supported the idea. And that meant the world for him, as it was a huge step he was afraid to take - he feared just talking about all the crap that made him feel upset with himself with someone he wasn’t familiar with… but in the end, he guessed that it wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be…
While managing to vent out, he managed to think things through - specially when it came to parenting - and he got a lot less insecure about it.
And then, the babies came. It was extremely difficult, but he wasn’t alone, as the triplet’s best uncles were always visiting to help their very tired papa. The least said papa could do was to make Epic and Color their godfathers - role they gladly accepted!
The kids would always have fun with Color and Epic. They were the best child entertainers and caretakers Ccino ever met. The back of his coffee shop, where his actual house was, would always be filled with laughters.
Of course, things weren’t perfect - three toddlers and a coffee shop filled with cats gave him a lot of work to do! - But Ccino wasn’t alone anymore. He had people who actually cared about him and would always be there.
Almost two years without updating this fanfic! I really am not proud of how much time it took for me to write two pages, but it is here!
This is the conclusion of Unexpected Changes. I wanted to apologize to everyone who was waiting for an update.
@lixgalactic sorry for the tag but you seemed interested in seeing a continuation. Actually, it was your comment that motivated me to give this story an actual conclusion!
I hope all of you guys enjoyed it! In case of any grammar or spelling errors please tell me!
The recent loss of a loved one, the burning hatred to the perpetrator behind it. That is what had drawn Kikoku to the young boy in the first place, and probably what drew the boy to them as well.
Whispers of promises to help him exact his revenge were more than enough to convince to emotionally unstable human, yet despite that, he still asked questions as to what would happen to him in the end. The sword was more than happy to answer, to give him the truth of what would befall his soul. However, despite the obvious implications of his death, the human boy agreed to the terms in exchange for the sword’s power and protection.
That was how Trafalgar Law with his deadly nodachi on his shoulder became a common sight over the years…
Even after years of sailing on the seas with a crew that absolutely adored the man, Law, their wielder, never let anything distract him from his ultimate goal. It was admirable, in all honesty. Previous wielders had a tendency to go astray from their original goal, not that it mattered in the long time though.
Despite no sunlight pouring through the porthole of the captain’s quarters, it seemed that Law’s internal clock told him it was morning, which meant it was time to get up for the day. It was something Kikoku did not have; they relied on the sunlight and on their wielders to give them the time of day. Being underwater, in this metal deathtrap, it took quite some time to get used to.
The movement of the man brought the sword back from their musings, throwing their senses outwards in order to get a better awareness of the submarine and its inhabitants.
Nothing out of the ordinary. Good.
A tattooed hand wrapped around their sheathe, lifting them off of the ground and resting them on a shoulder instead, drawing their attention back to their immediate surroundings. Exhaustion and apathy poured off the surgeon in waves, which Kikoku ignored in favor for giving off a comforting aura. They could feel the amusement from the man, earning a small smile for their efforts. It was enough, for now.
Everything was safe, everything was normal. The normalcy lulled the cursed blade into something similar to, but not quite, sleep. Even the dull chatter of those lost souls they kept within them couldn’t pull them from this much-deserved rest.
Most of the morning was spent dozing as the crew and captain went through their usual morning routines. However, the news of an island spotted on the horizon immediately brought Kikoku’s attention back to the present. It wasn’t long after that the raven-haired captain was standing in front of his crew to address them.
“As most of you may have guessed,” Law began, shifting his grip on the sword, “there is a rather large island ahead. Yes, we are going to stop there, but only to restock supplies. After we’ve done that, we have to move on because the Log Pose isn’t pointing at this island. Staying too long here may ruin the course set by it. Be on your guard as well; other pirate ships, as well as Marine ships have been spotted in the area. Understood?”
There were a variety of noises of acknowledgement, which seemed to be enough for the captain. The blade hummed in anticipation, conveying the feeling of excitement as best they could to the man. An island meant sunlight, fresh air, and the potential for battle. It was a shame their wielder didn’t share their love of bloodshed and death. Some things couldn’t be helped.
The hour it took to reach the island felt like nothing to the sword, having lived well over a century already. Time was meaningless when one’s blade was never left unpolished or bloodied by a recent victim. The docking process was annoying to deal with, however, leaving the nodachi agitated over the long procedure.
Patience was a virtue, but Kikoku had never been one for virtues in the first place.
That first step taken out of the metal deathtrap and into the sun was always the best; it left them feeling invigorated and ready for action. A shame Law never felt the same about where that energy should be spent…
“Before we find the supplies we need, we first need an inn. I’m sure many of you want to spend a night on dry land, so stick close to me for now.” The crew cheered, making all sorts of racket and drawing too much attention already. It was good the Heart Pirates was such a small crew; most inns probably couldn’t handle more.
The amused feeling quickly faded when ill intent struck through them like lightning. Something was wrong, very wrong. Someone here meant harm to their wielder, possibly the crew as well. The intent quickly faded, disappearing as if it had sensed the cursed blade as well and decided to retreat. Even with the intent gone, they still reached into their wielder’s mind and conveyed the message of ill intent to him. A gentle push was the man’s response; something simple to inform them that he had received their message. It would do, for now…
The next morning brought with it the sunlight, and the awakening of the Surgeon of Death. For once, it was bright and warm, and that was thanks to the inn the crew had found the day previous.
However, the morning did not come peacefully for Kikoku.
Ill intent had circled the place all night long, and even into this very morning. It was if someone had scouted out the place and the occupants, possibly looking for weaknesses or formulating a plan. It was unnerving, and frankly, quite alarming. It seemed Law had picked up on their agitation, if the look he was giving the sword was anything to go by.
“What’s wrong, Kikoku-ya? You seem… Upset…” The tattooed man spoke softly, almost like he was talking to a frightened animal. For that, the sword flung anger and agitation at him, sensing him flinch from the ferocity of it.
“No need to get nasty. I understand you’re upset, but no need to take it out on me.” Even so, he picked up the blade and kept them close throughout his morning routine, and eventual descent down the inn stairs.
The day was spent gathering supplies, and bringing them back to the submarine. It would be considered relaxing, in a way, if not for that awful sensation that plagued Kiko the entire day. After enough time focusing on it, they could determine if was from a larger group, one that rivaled the Heart Pirate crew in size. Each new piece of information was relayed to the captain, keeping him updated and on-guard for possible attacks.
Unfortunately, the attack still took them all by surprise. One moment, the group had been walking down the road, and the next, attackers pounced from every angle in a sneak attack.
The sing of their blade being freed from the confines of the sheathe brought Kikoku such joy. Yes, it was unfortunate that the crew was attacked, but they lived to maim and kill, so that was what they would do. And so ensued the lethal dance they and Law performed, one of screams, of limbs being removed and replaced, and of fear. It was absolutely beautiful, although others might not see it in that same light. It was something to get lost in, those familiar motions of battle.
Those familiar, comforting motions were lost with just a single touch.
Something unknown and malevolent brushed against their hilt, sending pain through Kikoku like a bullet through a weak human. It was… wrong. This shouldn’t happen unless it was something unnatural; a Devil Fruit. Rage ran through them, distracting them from what was happening to their body. Kiko located the perpetrator, raising a blade of their own and bringing it down against him. They relished in the feeling of skin and muscle separating under their deadly blade, blood and manic laughter filling the air. The man, the one behind their pain, fell with a shout of pain before the rest of his group grabbed him and retreated. Kikoku hadn’t even realized their own change until it was silent, realizing then that no one was holding them, that they were moving on their own.
One look downwards told them everything they needed to know. Their body, it was different, it was human.
Mix-matched eyes, one gold and the other lavender, took in their surroundings as the now-human slowly turned in place until their gaze found their wielder, the crew. Their expressions caused them to take a step back, nearly falling because of their lack of proper balance. The Heart Pirates, they looked… They looked terrified and unsure of what they were seeing. Even Law, even the one the sword was bonded to, looked unsure of them.
“I…” The demon’s voice sounded off, not quite right to their own ears. A voice, they had a voice now. “What happened..?”
If only there was someone who could give the answer…
“A special kind of chocolate?” you asked, echoing Tooth’s words.
Tooth nodded. “Yeah! I’m not sure what he’s been up to, but apparently this chocolate has some sort of power?”
The frosty guardian stood nearby, leaning against his staff, an amused smirk quirking at his lips.
“This sounds definitely interesting.”
Sandy stood there, listening quietly. A question mark made of sand floated above his head.
North chuckled. “I’ve heard that Bunny hasn’t had much luck make a new kind of chocolate though.”
“What do you mean by that?” you asked, curious about the past.
Everyone exchanged a look, amusement appearing across all their expressions. Clearly whatever happened was probably troubling for your poor bunny friend.
“Let’s just say you can never expect anything with the special chocolate,” Jack explained, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “You should’ve seen what happened to the Easter Kangaroo last time, he -”
“Hey! Frost!”
Everyone turned to look at the newcomer who barged into the room. The Guardian of Hope immediately darted in front of you, as if to protect and prevent you from hear his tragic experience. He leveled a intense glare at the other guardian.
“What did I tell you about never speaking about that again?!”
Jack laughed, highly amused by the situation before him.
“Bunny, is everything okay?” you asked, peeking at Bunny.
He turned back to look at you, a gentle smile on his face. “I’m fine, (Y/N), thanks. I think I’ve finally perfected the special chocolate.”
“You think?” Tooth echoed.
“Yeah.”
Although his voice wavered, Bunny looked determined.
Jack laughed in the background.
“Well, Bunny,” North exclaimed. “You’re free to try your chocolate here, we’ll be around to make sure nothing bad happens to you.”
Sandy nodded encouragingly.
Bunny pulled out a small box and opened it up. Several pieces of small chocolate sat within. Although these normal sweets looked like any other piece, there was something about them that made you realize they were different.
“Let’s see how this goes,” Jack said, bemusement quirking at his lips.
Tooth flit around, ready to witness the chocolate’s effects.
“Well, here’s to success,” Bunny exclaimed before popping in a chocolate.
You held your breath in anticipation. Could the special chocolate really have a strange effect?
Nothing seemed to be happening.
“I think it’s fine,” Bunny declared. His nose twitched. “Actually, I feel a tingly feeling...”
There was a puff of smoke and everyone froze. When the smoke vanished, there was something definitely wrong with Bunnymund.
“Oh no,” Tooth murmured.
Sandy frowned, question marks floating above his head.
Jack was busy laughing, clutching on to his staff for support.
You grabbed a small mirror and handed it over to Bunny.
“I think something went wrong with this batch of chocolate too.” North said, breaking the atmosphere. “I’m sure it will wear off in time.”
Bunny looked shocked at the results.
“Don’t worry, Bunny,” you reassured. “I’ll help you if you need anything.”
He offered you a sad smile.
“Thanks, (Y/N).”
A few hours later, Bunny was finally restored to his original form. The entire time, you had stuck by his side, making sure that everything was alright.
“I’m glad you’re back to normal,” you said, petting the top of Bunny’s head. “Those special chocolates really are... something else.”
“Yeah... I probably should stop experimenting with it. I have to admit though, I’m glad I got to spend time with you.” Bunny looked at you fondly. “I really like you, (Y/N).”
You blinked, surprised. Smiling warmly, you tossed your arms around his neck and hugged him.
“I really like you too, Bunny! I hope we can spend more time together in the future.”
“Without the special chocolates?” he asked jokingly.
You giggled. “With or without, I’m happy just spending time with you.”
Bunny blushed. He was lucky to have you by his side. Even through unexpected changes, he could count on you - from now and, hopefully, forever.
