-Flashback Fifteen Years Ago-

Bepo

"You're a monster, a monster." The second monster was emphasized and I couldn't help but flinch. "Just get out of here you worthless piece of shit. Go be someone else's problem for once and never come back. I never should've gotten someone like you but what'd you expect from a worthless man like him." Venom laced the voice as it continued on. "Get the fuck out of here brat and go die in an alleyway for all I care." I reached my small hands out towards the person who was glaring at me. My hands were slapped away and before I could do anything else I was kicked out the door into the pouring rain. The door slammed shut in front of me as the rain soaked me to my core. I sat there a bit in shock before I shakenly stood on my feet. There was no possible way to change their mind I thought still looking at the door before turning around and slowly making my way away from that door, that house, that person, and that life.

Six days after the incident and endless walking I found another home; one that wouldn't kick me out because of what or who I was. I had been walking through rain again on that day when I had accidently bumped into something. When I looked up I found out that it was a someone instead of a something. It was a big burly man who had taken me back with him and by then I didn't care. The things that they had said had finally been starting to take a toll on my mental state and it didn't help that I had been walking for six days straight in rain with little or no food. I had no strength and part way to where ever he was taking me I passed out.

When I woke up I found myself in a bed with the man sitting on a chair beside it. I found out that his name was Haruki and that he lived out in the forest in this huge tree house he made. He nursed me back to health and I ended up staying with him. He welcomed me with open arms since it got pretty lonely in the middle of a forest no one would really enter since the wild animals were pretty bad. I soon became accustomed to this life style and Haruki taught me everything he knew. He taught me everything from surviving in the wild, navigation, and even fighting skills such as martial arts and Haki use.

I was now twelve and making my way back to the tree house with some groceries. We do get most of our food from the forest around us but somethings we have to buy since they either don't grow in the area or we don't have the proper equipment to make them. I jump back and a tiger goes hurtling past through the spot I was just standing in. I let out a sigh and roll my eyes in annoyance. I ignore the tiger and continue on my way. I reach the main tree the house is situated on and I easily climb up. I place everything in its rightful place before I head to my room. Half way to my room I hear voices on the ground. I recognize one as Haruki but I can't recognize the other one and I can smell another person besides the one speaking. I move over to the edge and look down to see three people standing below. One was Haruki while the other one was an older male who was wearing feathers and a lot of makeup. The last person appeared to be a boy around the same age as me and he wore a white hat that had spots on it. I noticed some white spots on him as well and I can smell some amber lead mixed with his scent.

"Let's head up and get you guys something to eat." Haruki says and the boy tilts his head in confusion.

"Up?" He asks confused and Haruki points up to the house along with the other man. The boy's eyes widen at the sight in front of him and I remember feeling the exact same way. "Man that's pretty cool." The boy says scanning the house when his eyes land on me. "What's that?" He asks pointing at me and the other two look up towards me. I give them a small wave and head over to the kitchen.

"I'll introduce you guys when we get up there." I hear Haruki say as I walk to the kitchen. I change my form and immediately get started on making something quick to eat. When I finish I place the food on plates before setting the plates on the table. I only made up three plates since I wasn't hungry and I cleaned up the mess I had made. I change back when I was completely finished and I start heading over to our weapons room since when I was making food I noticed we were getting low on a couple of things. We need to restock on a couple of spices that are extremely easy to find and we need some that are located deeper into the forest which harbors the more dangerous animals. I reach the door when I hear the footsteps of the others on the floor heading towards the kitchen.

"Man this is bigger than I remember." A voice says and I think it's the man who had on too much makeup.

"Well I expanded it after Bepo got here. Hey there's food out already. " Haruki says as their footsteps enter the kitchen. I open the door to the weapon room and walk over to the left side wall.

"Bepo?" The man asks as I grab a small backpack from the wall before walking over to the opposite wall. I place some small knives along with a machete into the backpack before closing it tightly and slinging it over my shoulder.

"Is that the bear from earlier?" A higher pitched voice says and I assume it to be the boy. I close the door tightly behind me before walking towards the kitchen.

"Yeah that was Bepo." Haruki says and I step into the kitchen a second later to see the three sitting at the table eating the food I had prepared. "Hey; there you are Bepo. Guys this is Bepo; Bepo this is Corazon and Law." Haruki says pointing to the man then the boy.

"Nice to meet you;" I say while giving them a slight bow.

"IT TALKS!?!?" Corazon and Law yell at the same time.

"I'm sorry;" I saw in an extremely depressed mood.

"What are you sorry for?" Corazon asks.

"I'm sorry I talk." I say quietly while staring at the floor.

"Why are you sorry for that? We were just surprised." Law says but I'm still depressed.

"Hey Bepo were you going somewhere?" Haruki says and I look up again.

"Oh yeah we were getting low on a couple of things so I was planning on running out to get them." I say.

"Okay but be careful. Remember everything I've taught you and try to avoid Shekie's cave." Haruki says. Shekie is a tiger that's very violent and he's strong as well.

"I will; I'll be back by nightfall at the latest." I say before I step out one of our doors that's located in the kitchen. The door leads to a rope that'll take you right to the forest floor and I slide down the rope. I land firmly on the ground before running off to gather the spices.

~~~

Law

I watch as the bear, who was wearing pants and a t-shirt, steps out a door and slides down a rope until it's out of sight.

"So what were you saying earlier Corazon?" Haruki asks and I look back at the man.

"I was wondering if you knew anything about the Amber Lead Syndrome and possibly something to counter act it." Cora says and I start munch on an apple that has been sitting beside my plate the whole time.

"The Amber Lead Syndrome...I might have something about it." Haruki says before he gets up and he walks into another room. We hear him shuffle some stuff around before he walks back into the room carrying three books with him. "These might have something in them but I can't guarantee anything. I haven't read them yet. Actually if Bepo was here he might be able to tell you something."

"Why would Bepo be able to tell us something about it?" I ask tilting my head in confusion.

"All the books we have up here are Bepo's and he's read every single one of them. He's also had a couple more before but he sold those to get more." Haruki says.

"Okay do you mind if we stay here for a bit?" Cora asks.

"No not at all. We have a couple of spare rooms as well that have surprisingly comfortable beds." Haruki says.

"Thanks and can I ask about Bepo?" Cora asks.

"Sure I found him about six years ago just walking along the street looking half dead. You could see his bones and he had this broken look on his face. I brought him back here but halfway here he passed out. I carried him the rest of the way and I somehow managed to get up here without dropping him. His feet were bloody and it appeared that he'd been walking for a while; a long while. He slept for about two and a half days before finally waking up. I took care of him and he kinda just stayed. He didn't start talking to me for about two weeks though and he never told me his name. I kinda just gave him the name Bepo and he just got used to it I guess." Haruki says and I remember something about Bepo.

"How is he able to talk though? Is it a devil fruit?" I ask.

"I think so but Bepo hasn't said anything to me about it so I'm not one hundred percent sure it's a devil fruit." Haruki says. "I'll show you to your rooms now and I'll give you a quick tour as well." Haruki says as he stands up.

"Thanks again Haruki." Cora says.

"No problem; you know I'll always help out a friend." Haruki says before he leads us out of the room.

~~~

Bepo

I whistle a soft tune as I pick the spices that were located near the edge of the river. I place them into the bag along with the other spices I've collected and I check them off my mental list. Only two left to go and they're the ones who are in bad spots. I stand up and head over towards the cliff that was located on the other side of the forest near the ocean. I walk out of the tree line to be greeted by a huge gust of wind that caused me to shiver. I change my form and walk over to the cliff's edge before getting on my knees and climbing onto the cliff's face. I slowly and carefully move down the cliff towards where the spice was located. I get to the same height as the spice before moving left to where it was growing in a small rock enclave.

I make sure my feet and right hand have a firm grip on the cliff before I remove my left hand to pick some. I grab three plants and stuff them into my bag before quickly climbing back up to the top of the cliff. When I was back on the top of the cliff I let out a sigh of relief. I prefer not to be that close to the ocean when I can help it. I'm fine if I'm on solid ground but when I'm on the cliff there isn't solid ground to stand on and the wave's crash against the cliff face. I walk away from the cliff and towards the next destination which happened to be the spot I was told to avoid; Shekie's cave. The last spice grew in a couple different places but they were just one or two plants and we needed at least four since for some reason we were down to only a few leaves.

I quietly creep towards Shekie's cave and I spot the tiger sitting outside of it in the clearing sleeping. I quietly slip into the clearing and make my way to the entrance to the cave. On the right side was a patch of green and that was exactly what I was looking for. I slowly move over to the patch and grab six plants to be sure we had enough. I slip the plants into my bag while still watching Shekie. I slowly moved back across the clearing after I was sure the plants were in my bag. I was about halfway through the clearing when Shekie suddenly moves. I freeze on the spot and the tiger just rolls onto its back before falling back asleep in the sun. As soon as I was sure Shekie was asleep I started moving again. I was still going quietly but at a faster pace and I let out a relieved sigh when I was in the tree line. I turn around and take a step without looking down.

"SNAP;" I freeze and look down to see that I had just stepped on a twig that snapped right in half. I turn around to see Shekie on his feet looking straight at me.

"Ah fuck." I say before whipping around and sprinting through the trees. I jumped over some logs and take a right then a left before turning right again. I see exactly what I was looking for right in front of me and I go into a slide. I lean my hand back so it was just about to touch the ground before I whiz underneath the rock. As soon as I was on the other side I started running again and I can hear Shekie growl in annoyance since he ran right into the rock. I let out a little laugh before quickly scaling a nearby tree. I use the trees to move back towards home and just before I reach the clearing I jump out of the tree. I change back and walk into the clearing.

I climb up the tree and slide into the kitchen. I see that the table's been cleared and the dishes are sitting on the drying rack. Wow that usually never happens unless I do it. I shrug it off for now and I empty my backpack's contents onto the counter. I separate all the spices before cleaning them and putting them into their proper spots. I also give all the weapons I brought with me a good wipe down. I carry the weapons back to the weapon room where I put them back in the correct spot and I place the backpack in our laundry room to remind me to give it a good wash as well. I head towards my room and on the way I pass by the doorway to the living room where I spot some sleeping figures. I grab two blankets and walk over to the two figures. I gently put a blanket over Corazon before I turn to Law and do the exact same thing.

I look at the papers and books that were scattered around on the coffee table we have. I gently remove the paper that was located underneath Law's hand and I read it over. It had information on the Amber Lead Syndrome and I look back at Law. White spots were located on his face and I can see some on his arms as well. I see; I sit down cross legged in front of the coffee table on the opposite side of Law before I grabbed another piece of paper and a pen. I recall everything I've ever heard about the Amber Lead Syndrome and, after changing my hands, quickly scribble it down whether it be useful or not. When I have everything that I remember down I grab a book and start reading through it. I write down anything else about the Amber Lead Syndrome that I don't have down already. I keep going on like this until I feel my eyelids starting to grow heavy. I let out a yawn and put the paper on top of the pile of books I've been through. I write a quick note saying that I've been through this whole pile on the paper before I head over to my room. I change my hands back and plop down on my bed. As soon as I landed I was surrounded by darkness.