Chapter 23: The end of the cycle

"CAPTAIN!!" 

Law didn't think twice and transported himself towards the island being covered by the mist. Their ship arrived a moment earlier only to find some of the giants fending off the Blackbeard Pirates. He had easily spotted Robin, Usopp and Nami along with Sanji who was surprised at his arrival but he had only uttered one word. 

One name, Yulie, and immediately they knew as they pointed at the now mist-covered island. 

Law hadn't forgotten about Yulie's dreams, the one that had haunted her night after night. He didn't forgot about what she had told him over and over again. He knew it was poison but he gambled anyway. Because the moment they had arrived, Yulie's butterfly had already died. And that was enough to tell him that he might never see her again. That Yulie really was on her last breath. 

Law gritted his teeth as he transported himself into the island, holding his breath as soon as he landed. Only to find out that the mist wasn't poisoning him. Instead, it cleared a path for him. Like it had a mind of it's own. 

He didn't second guessed if it was a trap or not and ran ahead. Only slowing down when he heard a wail. Loud wailing, voices crying and shouting Yulie's name. He'd recognize that voice anywhere, but instead of the joyful tone that always lingered with it, a sorrowful tone that made him tremble came. 

"Yulie please, hold on, Chopper might be on his way" 

Law finally reached the last clearing. His gaze fixated on Luffy and Sabo kneeling, on Kid who was by her side. On Yulie, whose chest had been struck by a sword, kneeling on the ice covered land. 

"Yulie-ya" 

He mouthed and for a short moment he saw Yulie flinched, like she had heard him. His steps went faster as Franky, Zoro and Jimbei regarded his presence. The three were equally surprised to see him but he didn't bother greeting them as he knelt beside Luffy right in front of Yulie. 

"Torao" 

Luffy seemingly noticing him, finally turned to him as he gripped his shoulders and shook him.

 "She's my sister, help her. You're a doctor" 

Law couldn't answer him. His gaze darting to Luffy, then to Sabo, then to Kid who was surprised at him. All three of them bleeding and had injuries that might have been life threatening but their attention was wholly on Yulie. 

"Please, save my sister" 

Sabo pleaded, his eyes wet from so much tears as he looked at Law then to Yulie. 

To Yulie who slowly looked up to see him. Only, she couldn't, Law noticed. Because Yulie's eyes were now the shade of red, blood. Because of the pain, Yulie's nerves had finally exploded leading her to be blind but none of the men surrounding her could tell. None, except for Law. 

Law swallowed hard as the words leave his mouth. 

"Yulie-ya" 

Slowly. Slowly, Yulie's lips curved into a smile as a bloodied tear escape from her eyes. 

"Law" 

She muttered slowly making Law's chest tightened with pain. He was afraid of losing her, he knew that he would but he steeled himself and told it that he still had time. He could still heal her. His devil fruit, it's real power, with it he can heal her. He wouldn't let Yulie die, not her. He wouldn't let her go.

And he was willing to do it even if the cost of it was his life. But then, Yulie spoke again, called his name again, her voice trembling but she called him regardless.

 "Law" 

Yulie weakly raised her hand, aiming blindly, seeking him and he moved closer to her, his own hands darting to enclose hers. To hold it tightly as he pressed them on his forehead, like a silent prayer for any Gods who were willing to listen to him. 

"I'm here love, hold on there, I'll heal you"

Love, the word that had slipped out of his lips with so much ease made everyone around them stiffened. Kid took one look at Law. At his face that was contorting with so much pain and anger and he knew. He knew that the person who held Yulie's heart was him. 

Luffy and Sabo took one look at him, at their hands and they too had a silent understanding that Law meant more than just a stranger for their sister. 

"No" 

Yulie's strained voice made everyone look at her. Law finally snapping as he felt every last bit of Yulie's strength vanishing. A tear left his eye, the very first one since Cora-san had died. And then another one, and another as he said... 

"I can do it, you know I can" 

"You'll... die" 

Was all Yulie said and Law immediately cursed at himself for taking too long. Yulie knew his powers, she knew the cost. But she should have known that he would do anything for her. Anything just so she would have lived. Anything just so he can save her.

"I don't care, I can't lose you. Not you, my life won't matter if you die" 

And somehow Law had this strange sense of understanding that Yulie knew. How he really felt, those words that he didn't dared tell her before. But she gave him one last smile as she said the words that no doubt would forever haunt him. The words that never left his lips.

"I love you" 

Before she took one last breath, a smile still plastered on her face. 

No more promises. No more interfering. This time, we'll live as if we didn't exist. We'll break the cycle this time. This will be the last time. 

Yulie closed her eyes as she felt herself falling down in a comfortable darkness. Every last bit of the pain she felt vanishing. She felt the soft darkness clinging to her skin. Unlike the darkness that Blackbeard had, this darkness was flowing alongside her. Like it was carrying her, down and down. 

She smiled to herself. Atleast she got to tell Law how she really felt for him. No more regrets. 

"Are you sure?" 

That voice asked her again but Yulie only smiled. 

"Watch but never interfere,

Listen but never speak,

Feel but never act,

Live but never exist" 

"Thank you" 

The collective voices thanked her, one by one as they all dissipate into thin air. 

"You will be the last one" 

"Because you don't want to seal your memories" 

"You will live for all of us" 

"Thank you" 

Because Yulie decided to go back to the past without sealing her memories, something her past selves hadn't done. Because she decided to live but never to exist, she had closed the door for their endless death. 

Closed the endless cycle of recreating another ill-fated beginning. 

She will be the last one. And her new life would be so much more painful than her last ones.

As the warm sunlight hit her face and three young boys' voices filled her ears, she knew that there was no more turning back. 

She opened her eyes and saw the lush green all around her. Atop, was the vast blue sky along with the pirate shaped house in the tree.

 "Yulie, are you done sleeping?" 

"Do you wanna go home?" 

"Should I carry you?" 

Yulie felt a smile tugging her lips as a tear fell on her eyes, one she quickly wiped away as she stared at her young older brothers. 

Sabo, Luffy, and Ace, all staring at her. All alive and well, and eyes gleaming with so much mischief. Yulie smiled, a big one, one last smile for her brothers as she said. 

"Mm Let's go home" 

For the last time. 

Before Monkey D. Yulie Anne had planned her death and disappeared at the age of 5, never to be seen again. Forever.