Usopp was completely defeated. Triple ice cream bumps on his head and his body steaming from the superhuman punches. Luffy was enjoying being the pirate, which was weird since he already was. He had Usopp’s goggles adorned on top of his head, letting his straw hat rest around his shoulders.

“I give up!” Usopp panted, flipping over onto his back and throwing his head back. “I should’ve known this would happen.”

Luffy crouched down and put Usopp’s goggles on his chest before grinning from ear to ear. “You can have them back.”

Usopp cracked an appreciative expression as he sat up. Luffy took a few steps forward to look over the railing onto the lawn of the ship. He could see Franky at the helm and Nami had stepped outside to read. Searching for a particular doctor, he heard some voices conversing from below him.

Climbing through the railing, he landed on the deck and put his ear against the door.

“You gave this to him Tra-guy?”

“Chopper?” Luffy guessed, leaning in closer.

“Yeah,” Law’s voice answered the ship’s doctor.

“Can you open it?”

There was a pause and some shuffling as Law did as Chopper asked.

“What are you doing Luffy?” Usopp finally joined him.

“Shh!” Luffy said roughly. “I’m trying to hear!”

Usopp gave him a look but nevertheless joined him in eavesdropping on pure curiosity.

“Is that you?” Chopper asked from the other side of the door.

A brief silence, probably filled with Law nodding.

“You two look so happy.”

“I suppose.”

“It’s not polite to eavesdrop,” Nami had snuck up behind them.

“Shhh!” Usopp and Luffy gestured. Nami blinked as Luffy waved her over. She too pushed her ear up to the door.

“You can always confide in us, Tra-guy. Luffy thinks really high of you and I know the crew will do anything to help.”

“There’s nothing that you people can do.”

The three at the door leaned in, almost like they were trying to meld into the wood.

“I don’t think that there’s nothing we can do…” Chopper sounded like he was pouting.

“Look Chopper-ya. This isn’t any of your business,” there was a sharp click and the sound of someone standing. “I’m dealing with this on my own.”

“But, don’t you want to be brothers with him again!?”

“What are you guys doing?”

The three snapped around to shush the newcomer, but a second later they all stumbled back. Usui blinked at their reactions, tilting his head.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

They all nodded furiously.

He sighed and his gaze landed on Nami. “Have you been experiencing any aftereffects?”

She shook her head. “No. I’m good.”

“That’s a relief,” Usui smiled kindly. “By the way, has any of you seen my pendant?”

“Pendant?” Luffy frowned.

“Yeah,” Usui looked up at the sky thoughtfully. “I remember eating something but then everything goes fuzzy. And now, my pendant’s gone.”

Usopp and Luffy exchanged glances.

“Uh… don’t you remember playing that game?” Usopp asked.

“Game?” Usui said inquisitively. “What game?”

“The one you dragged us all on the deck to play!”

Usui pondered for a while before shaking his head. “I don’t remember.”

The door tried to swing open but Usopp pushed it closed again.

“Hey!” Chopper’s voice called. “The door’s stuck!”

“Let me try it,” Law said.

Something sparked in Usui’s eyes, he took a step forward.

“Ah!” Nami said, getting between him and the rattling door. Luffy assisting Usopp, both smiling nervously, trying to look casual. “I have something to show you, Usui.”

Usui’s attention diverted but his dark eyes wandered over to the boys’ dorm again.

“Come on,” Nami dragged him along. “I’ll take you on a tour.”

When the two went around the corner, Usopp and Luffy took a step back and Law and Chopper, who had been banging against the door, tumbled out.

“Why the hell were you trapping us in there!?” Chopper growled, his teeth sharp.

“Warui,” Usopp apologized. “Usui was right outside.”

“What a weird guy, Fruit Punch,” Luffy crossed his arms and closed his eyes. “He has a short memory.”

Law pulled himself up onto his feet and Chopper saw that he was clutching the pendant close to his chest. Law seemed to realize it himself and he threw it to Chopper, who caught it.

“I’m going to stay inside,” Law said, getting swallowed up by the shadows of the boys’ dorm. The door slammed shut behind him.

“Can I see that, Chopper?” Luffy held out a hand for the pendant.

Chopper relented and Luffy clicked the locket open. Something seemed to pass within the depths of his eyes and he clicked the locket closed again. He handed it back to Chopper and walked passed him and into the dorm.

Usopp and Chopper looked after him in worry.

“Hey,” Usopp jerked his chin out at Chopper. “Better get that back to him.”

Chopper looked down at the locket and nodded.

_

Nami was laughing at a joke that Usui had finished telling her, hugging her stomach and losing breath. Chopper went up to them, the aquarium throwing blue lights onto their skin. He hopped up beside Usui and saw the smile on his face as the boy watched Nami guffaw. It was genuine, but somehow strained. He looked over at the reindeer.

“Here,” Chopper held up the pendant.

Usui’s face lit up and he grabbed his possession from the doctor. “Where’d you find it?!”

“On the deck,” Chopper lied, averting eye-contact.

“Thank you so much!” Usui grabbed Chopper and hugged him. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if I’d lost this.”

Chopper watched the boy pull the necklace over his head and twinkle down at the sight of the pendant in his palm.

“Ano…”

Usui looked over at the reindeer. “Hm?”

Chopper fidgeted and after a reassuring nod from Nami, he took a deep breath. “Why’s that so important to you, Usui?”

Usui fingered the smooth surface of the locket. “I… don’t know…”

Nami and Chopper’s attention intensified, both leaning in.

“I just feel…” Usui’s eyes became unfocused. “Like it’s something that I can’t ever be without…”

“Have you ever…” Nami started. “Opened it?”

Usui scrunched up his eyebrows. “It opens?”

Chopper furiously shook his head and paws behind Usui’s back. Nami got the message and rubbed her neck and laughed nervously.

“Nothing, nothing. Forget everything I said. Ha ha ha ha…”

Usui dropped the pendant down his front and stood up.

“It was nice speaking with you, Nami-san,” Usui grinned.

“Likewise,” Nami said sincerely. “It was very amusing.”

_

The room was dark and almost peaceful, but tension oozed off the two men in waves. The shadows stretched and shivered. Nothing moved, nobody twitched. Luffy’s face was shadowed by his hat and his eyes peeked out from the brim.

Law kept staring up at the ceiling on his spot in his hammock, trying to pretend the Captain of the Straw Hats wasn’t staring unashamedly at him.

“Hey…” Luffy greeted.

Law’s pupils moved to the corner of their sockets to look at him.

“I want to ask you something…” Luffy informed him.

_ _ _ Flashback (somewhat…)

“How’s Mr. Corazon?” Usui asked, licking some ice cream from his cone.

Law looked over at the little boy. They were sitting on a bench in one of the parks in Dressrosa, one that was more pushed to the side and forgotten than the others. The flora was overgrown, the playground equipment and swings were rusted, and vines have snaked their way up the various benches that were placed randomly around.

Law nomed off the tip of the ice cream and licked his lips for the stray drips of the sweet.

“He’s fine,” Law finally answered, Usui looking at the bitten ice cream in irritation. “Still bloody annoying though.”

“He’s doing his job then,” Usui said, still considering whether or not he should continue eating the ice cream. “I like him better than Doffy.”

“What did you say, little Sin?”

Law and Usui whipped around and saw the towering figure of Doflamingo behind them. His huge hands snatched up Usui and the ice cream splattered onto the ground.

“It really hurts to hear you say that,” Doflamingo pouted at the boy in his arms.

“Doffy…” Usui was slightly panicked. “I didn’t mean it in a mean way… I just…”

“Fufufu,” Doflamingo chuckled. “Don’t be so scared, little Sin. I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Why are you here, sir?” Law asked, glancing from Usui to Doflamingo anxiously.

“I was in the area and thought I might pick you two up. It’s time for Sin’s appointment you see.”

Law seriously doubted that Doflamingo would be in this corner of his kingdom by chance but didn’t question it.

Trafalgar gazed up at Usui, who was riding in Doflamingo’s arms as they walked. The little boy was chewing on his bottom lip and fidgeting with his hands nervously.

_ _ _

Luffy exited the boys’ dorm to see that Sanji had been captured by Zoro and the swordsman was raising his belly warmer in triumph. They both looked exhausted, sweaty, and exhilarated.

“Oi! Luffy!” Zoro called. “Where’s that Usui brat!? I want to tell him I kicked this pirate’s ass!”

“We aren’t playing anymore,” Luffy said, walking up to them. “How lame, Sanji. You don’t deserve the title of pirate.”

Sanji glowered at him. “No meat for you.”

Luffy’s jaw dropped to the floor. “Noooooooooo, Sanji! I’m sorry! Don’t take away my meat!”

Usui peeked around the corner and saw the swing hanging from the tree. Walking over, he sat down and swung idly, watching the pirates yell and laugh. He reached down the neck of his shirt and pulled the pendant out. He ran a finger on the little sliver of break on the side. What did Nami mean when she said it opened? He’s had this for as long as he could remember. He would’ve known if it opened.

“Fruit Punch guy!”

Usui lifted his head to see Luffy waving at him.

“Come here!”

Usui relented and thought he might ask them for a paddleboat. He was supposed to stay on Ember Island to wait for someone… he forgot who though…

_ _ _

“Doflamingo,” Trafalgar said as they reached the castle. “I would like to speak to Usui alone.”

Doflamingo seemed to consider the boy behind his sunglasses and lightly put Usui on the ground before walking inside.

Law crouched down to Usui’s level and pulled something out from his pocket. He graced it onto his neck and Usui watched him. The chain was a little long so Law wrapped it around twice so it wouldn’t be in the way. Looking satisfied, he looked up stoically at the little boy.

“Why did you give me jewelry?” Usui said, ruining the moment.

Law sighed out a mushroom cloud, standing up straight again. “Do you not want it?”

“Does it make me look like a girl?” Usui handled the pendant interestedly.

“No.”

“Then I’ll keep it,” the locket clicked open and Usui’s eyes widened.

Law gazed at the wall like it was the most interesting object that he had ever had the privilege of beholding, trying to look nonchalant.

Usui wiped his eyes hurriedly and looked up at Law. He held up a fist. “You’ll be there when I get back right?”

Law cracked a smile and gave the kid a fist bump. “Always.”

_ _ _

“Ooooooh!” Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper goggled at Usui. “That’s so cool!”

Usui was controlling the grass, making it grow and dance around him. Usui beamed, looking like he was having the time of his life. He whipped his hands around and the blades of grass combined into eight thick tentacles. A green octopus had come to life on the deck of the Straw Hats.

“Look,” Sanji shoved Zoro lightly. “It’s your family.”

“What does an octopus have anything to do with me, Dartboard?”

“Not the octopus. The grass. They finally decided to welcome you back, Moss head.”

“More importantly,” Nami said to Robin as the two boys began grappling with each other. “What kind of devil fruit does this guy have exactly?”

The grass shrunk back to their original size and the spectators’ faces fell. Usui panted, looking over at the girls.

“I ate the shuiro shuiro no mi,” Usui answered. “Many people think that it’s only a logia type for blood, but they’re only half right. It involves cells too.”

“Cells?” Robin perked up at the new information.

Usui nodded. “Humans, animals, and even plants have cells. I can control blood flow but I can also control the basic structure of cells as well.”

“How creepy…” Nami shuddered.

“Not necessarily,” Usui looked down at his palm. “I can help heal different types of illnesses that people have contracted that would necessarily mean inevitable death. It’s been helpful numerous times.”

Nami and Robin glanced at each other.

“Oi, fruit punch!” Usopp waved Usui over. He and Luffy and Chopper were standing near the kitchen. “Sanji made a snack! You gotta try this!”

Usui sprinted up to the galley and disappeared inside after Usopp.

“Maybe you were right about the split personality, Robin,” Nami said as they walked more leisurely to join the boys. “So far, we’ve seen a blood thirsty monster, an almost child-like Usui, and now something that seems like his original behavior.”

 Robin held her chin in her hand. “I’m not so sure about that theory anymore. Something seems off.”

The kitchen door flew open and Usui was standing in the doorway. When he saw them he grabbed their wrists and pulled them inside.

“You’ll miss out on the snack if you don’t hurry!” he said.

_ _ _

“No! I don’t want to!” Usui struggled in his captors grasp. Screaming and kicking, trying anything at all to get free. “Please don’t make me do it!”

“Little brat!” spat a man that Usui had kicked in the chin. “You’ll pay for that!”

“I’ll do anything else! Just don’t make me do it!”

They threw him against a wall and he grunted at the impact. The pendant that Law had given him a hundred years ago, clattering onto the floor in front of him.

“Restrain him!”

Usui struggled to his feet and dodged a wave of hands that were trying to reach him.

“There’s nowhere to run, little snot!” one of the grunts yelled, right on the boy’s heels.

Usui pushed off a wall at the last second and caused his pursuers to run into it. Jangling a door handle desperately, Usui felt hostility shadow him from behind. He turned around and put his back to the door. The men creeping up on him.

He glanced around, adrenaline rising into his systems.

His eyes landed on Doflamingo up in the observation rooms and he called out to him only to receive a grim expression.

Pupils dilated and his breathing hitched, he threw himself to the side at the last second. A man had lunged forward to get him when he was preoccupied. Usui ran. Stumbling a bit before picking himself up again.

“Dammit! Get the whips and the drugs!” a gruff voice said.

Usui had his hand around his pendant like it was a life line. Breathing heavily, he felt a burning sensation on his back.

Crack!

Usui fell forward and cried out at the pain. The blows just kept coming. He flinched every time they landed. He couldn’t let them shoot a sedative into him.

He jumped forward and his tiny arms wrapped around a man’s leg.

“What the fuck!” the man exclaimed as the whips stopped. He shook his leg crudely, trying to get the boy off him. “Get this kid off me!”

Usui took the chance of momentary confusion to pry himself off and bolted for the main exit.

“Stop him!”

Usui was just about to grab the handle when hands dragged him back and slammed him onto the ground. He tried to crawl away but he felt something prick him on his back and the fight was sucked out of him as the sedative did its job.

“Please…” he saw somebody walking forward. “Please… don’t do this to me…”

His fist shook as feet stopped in front of him.

“I don’t want to…”

The person crouched down.

“I don’t want to forget…”

Somebody grabbed a fistful of his hair and pulled him onto his knees. His breathing was shallow as a man with gray skin and greasy white hair revealed himself.

Usui made one last attempt to free himself but just felt a sharp pain pulsating through his body.

“You’ve had your fun,” the man who was holding him hissed as he enjoyed the boy’s screams of agony. “There’s no use fighting anymore.”

Usui squeezed his eyes shut. “I won’t do it again! I won’t fight back! Just don’t make me forget!”

“Usui!”

Usui’s eyes snapped open and his eyes went to the observation room where there was a little scuffling going on. The drug was making his eyes watery and dull. A bunch of people were forcing back a teenager who was desperately trying to get to him. Usui squinted, trying to focus.

“USUI!” Law yelled again.

Usui saw the distressed expression on Law’s face.

“Law no aniki…” his words were barely audible. “Help…”

The man holding him forced his head around and Usui was gazing blindly at the white haired man again.

The man opened his eyes. Something forced its way into Usui’s eyes and the pupils rolled back into his head. A blinding pain, one last glimpse of the struggling Law.

Usui’s hand slipped off the pendant and hung limply at his side.

_ _ _