Darling Typhoon [One Piece Law x Luffy]

18. Sunlight

Chapter 18

Law stared blankly at the bright red flip flops glued to Luffy's feet. His eyebrow raised when suddenly the toes perked up and wiggled at him. Are they saying hi?

"You're not wearing those flip flops," He deadpanned.

As if waiting for those exact words, Luffy immediately groaned. "Come on Torao! I like these sandals! Look, they have optimus prime!"

As if Law had him under suspicion of lying, Luffy generously stepped out of his flip flops and his bare feet landed in the grass and dirt around them.

They were closer than normal to the base of the tall mountain the Poneiro Resort and Spa was located on. Alafei Mountain, Law soon came to understand, if the signs on the way down were any indicator.

Law was deathly afraid of any kind of incident happening when they went rafting, especially considering the block of coal next to him couldn't swim. As such, when the two of them had walked to the reception (with an excited Luffy jumping all around him) he had specifically requested a river guide with them.

That river guide was a rotund, middle-aged man with cropped black hair and a generous beard named Im'wah. His faced was weather-beaten, and his forearms large and dependable. Above all, he was quiet and kept to himself. Except for when his lips suddenly parted and he spoke up.

"Mr Trafalgar, you said this young man cannot swim?"

Law turned slightly to look at Im'wah. "Yes, and he has no sense of self-preservation, either." Law turned to scowl at Luffy. "Just toss those shoes away while you're at it. You need slip resistant shoes for rafting."

"What size shoes do you wear?" Im'wah addressed Luffy. Luffy frowned at the old man.

Law tsked and stomped over to where Luffy stood, grabbed his flip flop off the ground, and turned over the shoe. Law's brows shot to his forehead. His feet were bigger than he had thought. "Size 10," he muttered, before handing Im'wah the flimsy rubber.

Luffy reached out to grab it back. "I like those slippers, Torao."

"You'll get them back. Unless you want to slip and crack your head open."

The young man pouted slightly as he watched Im'wah take out some slip-resistant shoes that fit Luffy's size. "Those shoes look boring."

"Life is boring," he countered, then told Im'wah his size and accepted the shoes from him too.

"These are the Maniti Rapids, but don't let the name fool you." Im'wah handed a life vest to Law and Luffy. "He's a gentle river; calm yet unyielding. He will only push and pull you as much as you do him. Like throwing a ball against a wall."

Luffy frowned. "We're gonna go in that yellow boat?"

Im'wah turned to look at the yellow raft behind them, then smiled faintly. "Yes, please just relax behind me, or you can help steer if you'd like."

"I wanna help!" Luffy grinned widely, getting all excited. Law pinched the spot between his eyebrows.

"If you want to help, you'll need to listen to his instructions properly."

Im;wah went on to explain that the rapids started off quite fast and rocky, but about 5 minutes in it became very calm and the river shallowed. "The middle and end part of the river is used for river tubing," Im'wah explained. Then he frowned. "Though, the Maniti is connected to the Lower Alafia Harbor. I will be at the end to guide you, if you go on for too long you'll end up at the falls and crash into the river delta."

Luffy's eyes were blank, as if all of that had just gone right over his head. "Mmm! You got it old man; can we go now? Let's go!"

Luffy darted off towards the raft. He stepped in eagerly, but the raft merely swayed a little in the water. Luffy sat on one of the horizontal rungs that laid on the floor of the raft—raft thwarts. Law eyed the young man carefully as he leaned over and splashed his hands about in the water.