A Bear & 2 Bullies
By the time Law had reached the next town on Swallow Island the sun was already up. It burned against his skin, making him sweat from still wearing his cloak from being on…his thoughts trailed off. He didn't want to think about what had recently happened. He had things to take care of now. He had Lami with him. He needed to get more supplies for her and then figure out what he was going to do next.
The crashing of the waves on the beach was soon replaced with the noise from the town he was entering into. Several people wandered in and out of buildings as they went about their morning routines. Law stiffened. His mind raced with questions. Was anyone going to notice they weren't related? Was someone going to try and take Lami away from him? Would they just think they were brother and sister? What would he do if someone tried to stop him? Or asked about their parents? He glanced over at the docks. There were a few ships there. But they were way too big for him to work alone. And there was Lami he had to consider. If pirates were onboard the ships or close by, they could hurt her if he tried to take over a ship by himself.
Carefully, he continued through the town. His body started to relax when he found no one seemed to really care that he was there. They only gave him a few curious glances before they moved on. He guessed they were use to seeing kids on their own. There were plenty running around. And from the looks of their ragged clothes, they were probably orphans themselves. It made him feel better knowing he would blend in well enough. He continued on through the town, carefully taking in everything detail he could.
He continued on through the growing busier town, looking for a shop that would hold some baby supplies. Eventually, he found it. It was a small, quiet little shop with baby stuff decorating the window displays on each side of the white door. With a gulp, he entered into the store. The smell of baby powder greeted him upon entering. Looking around, he found only one person was inside at the moment. The woman was sitting behind the checkout counter with her nose in a book. Looking up, she pushed her glasses higher on her nose and gave him an unsure glance over.
"Is there something I can help you with?" she asked.
"No," Law said. "I'm just looking around."
"Okay," the woman drawled. She slowly dropped her eyes back down to her book.
Law walked farther into the store, his eyes trailing over everything in sight, while occasionally glancing back at the woman. She kept looked over at him as well. Turning his eyes back to the baby supplies he noticed the prices. "Geez. Being a baby is expensive."
Lami cooed at him.
Law smiled down at her, his arm cradling under her in case his quickly made sling decided to break. He wanted to take some items right now. But with the store clerk constantly looking over at him, he decided it wasn't the best time. He didn't need to get arrest. That would lead to the authorities figuring out they were both orphans. Who knows what would happen to them then. He didn't want to think about it. He guessed they would be separated. He wasn't going to let that happen. So he left the store, deciding he'd come back later. Perhaps he could find a safe place to hide Lami and break into the shop to get what he needed for her.
Walking on down the streets his stomach rumbling reminded him that he needed to eat as well. So he left the town. Making his way north, he came to a small hill with a single tree where he could see people coming up on him from all directions. He walked up the hill and sat down. Keeping Lami in his lap the best he could, he took off his cloak and bunched it up before laying it on the ground. He then laid her between it and himself, hoping it would prevent her from rolling away if she as old enough to do that. "I really need to figure out how old you are."
Law dug into his stash of food he stole from the woman and man. Sinking his teeth into an apple, he weighed his options. He really needed to get a ship, then a crew, and become stronger. But how was he going to do all of that and with a baby around? Chewing on the apple he thought it might be best to get a crew first. That way he could have someone else to help him watch over Lami. It would have to be someone he could trust. So what was the best way to get someone to trust you and you trust them? He wasn't sure. He felt like his trust in people was broken beyond repair.
The wind started blowing, bring the salty smell of the sea to his nose. Just as he finished up his apple Lami started crying. "You hungry or wet?"
Law picked her up and checked her diaper. "Nope not wet."
She stopped crying and giggled.
"I guess you just wanted to be held, huh?" Law smiled. Lifting up his hand, he tapped her nose. She wrapped her tiny fingers around his and pulled his digit to her mouth. His heart fluttered when she suckled on his finger. Their peaceful moment was interrupted by the cries of a soft yet scared voice.
"S-stop it!"
Law looked up. His eyebrows drew together upon seeing a white bear, wearing clothes, running away from two boys that looked about his age.
"You're such a little freak!" one of the boys' said.
"What's with the outfit?!" the other one asked. "Animals don't wear clothes!"
The first one tackled the bear then kicked the creature in its ribs.
Anger burned inside of Law. He stood up and took one step towards them. He paused when Lami shifted in his arms. A curse flew out of his mouth. He couldn't fight while holding a baby. Looking around he reluctantly decided to leave her up against the tree's root. Tucking this cloak up beside her in hopes she wouldn't roll away. "You stay right there. I'll be back as soon as I can."
Law pushed himself to his feet and ran down the small hill.
"Your face looks so stupid!" the first one said. He pulled his foot back for another kick. "What are you anyway?!"
Law dove for the boy just as he started to swing his boot at the bear. The boy gasped, his air leaving his lungs. Law pushing him to the ground then swung a punch at his nose. Blood shot out.
"What do you think you're doing?!" the other boy yelled.
Law looked back just in time to see him take a dive at him. The boy pushed him to the ground but he easily used the momentum to throw the boy off of him. He leaped to his feet. With a roundhouse kick, he nailed the second boy on the chin.
"You little creep!" the first boy shouted.
Law turned. Waiting for the boy to come at him, he kicked out his foot at the last second. The boy wrapped his arms around his stomach and sank to the ground. Checking to make sure they weren't going to attack him again, he walked over to the bear. Kneeling down he checked the bear's wounds. They didn't look serious at all. Just some scrapes mostly. "You okay?"
"Uh huh." The bear nodded, tears staining its fur. "Th-thank you."
"No problem," Law said. He glanced over at the other two. They were still clutching their injured bodies. He brought his eyes back to the bear, stood up, and walked back over to the tree. He exhaled when he found Lami sound asleep right where he had left her. He sat down beside her. He glanced up when the bear's shadow appeared over him. "What?"
"N-nothing." The bear turned its eyes to the baby.
Law tensed.
"She's cute," the bear said.
"Thanks," Law said.
"Could I sit with you?" The bear looked over his shoulder at the two boys still on the ground. "At least until they leave?"
"Sure." Law shrugged.
The bear sat down. "I'm…I'm Bepo."
"Law," Law said.
"Could I ask what the baby's name is?" Bepo asked.
"Lami," Law replied. "So what did you do to those two to get them to beat up on you like that?"
"Nothing," Bepo said. "They've just been picking on me because I'm a talking bear."
"Why can you talk?" Law asked.
"I'm sorry." Bepo hung his head, a depressing aura radiated from his body.
Law blinked in confusion. "Um, okay."
"I'm a mink," Bepo said. "A polar bear mink."
"A mink? Don't think I ever heard of them before," Law said.
"We're a tribe of animals that live on the back of a giant elephant," Bepo said.
"Really?" Law asked.
Bepo nodded.
"Then why are you out here?" Law asked. "Shouldn't you be there?"
"I'm looking for my brother," Bepo said. "He left our home some time ago."
Law's heart lifted. Maybe this bear had a ship if he was looking for his brother. "Do you have a ship?"
"I do." Bepo nodded. "They actually took it from me. I haven't been able to get it back yet."
"I see," Law said. "Don't worry. I'll get it back for you."
"You…you will?" Bepo asked.
"I will." Law nodded. "But I want to sail with you."
"You do?" Bepo asked. "What for?"
"I'm a pirate," Law said with more determination and pride than he thought possible. "I'm going to form my own crew and set sail. I assume since you're sailing a ship that you know how to navigate?"
"I can." Bepo nodded. "I've been studying navigation for a few years now so I can find my brother. I'd love to be your navigator. It can be my payment for you saving me from them."
Law chewed on the thought silently. On one hand the bear looked extremely weak from having two kids beating up on him. But on the other hand, bears did have incredible strength. If he could train Bepo like he was trained then having the bear around could be a very good thing. "Fine. You're now my navigator."
"Yes! I won't let you down!" Bepo said, his fur tinting pink.
Lami fussed.
Law picked her up and sat her in her lap, expecting her to stop fussing, but she didn't.
"What's wrong with her?" Bepo asked.
"Probably hungry." Law grabbed a bottle and mixed her up some formulate, hoping he didn't need to have to do anything special to it. He ran his eyes over the directions and found nothing abnormal. Shrugging, he placed the nipple to Lami's mouth. She took it. Her eyes examining Bepo as she drank.
"She's cute," Bepo said. "She your sister?"
"Something like that," Law said.
Lami smiled at the bear.
Bepo smiled back and reached his paw timidly towards her. His eyes light up when she took a hold of his fur.
"Guess she likes you," Law said.
"That's great," Bepo said.
"Hey! You with the spotted hat!"
Law looked up to find the two boys he had beaten up were standing close to them. He frowned for getting so distracted by Lami and Bepo. He didn't hear them walking up to them. He expected a fight. But what happened, he didn't expect.
"That was so amazing!"
Law lifted an eyebrow, finally taking time to look them over. The one who just spoke had shaggy light brownish red hair, wore dark sunglasses, and a green hat with a dark red bill. The other one wore a black and white hat with the word penguin across the front hiding his black hair. He couldn't see his eyes either since the hat covered them.
"We didn't expect a kid your size to be so strong!" the penguin hat said.
"I'm Shachi," the first boy said. He pointed his thumb at himself then jerked it at the boy standing beside him. "This is Penguin. Though you could probably already guess that from his hat."
"We real are impressed that you beat the both of us," Penguin said. His eyes dropped to the baby. "Cute kid."
"Thanks," Law said carefully.
"So where did you come from?" Shachi sat down in front of Law. "I don't think I've seen you around here before."
"I'm just passing through mostly," Law said. He eyed Bepo. The bear shifted uncomfortable, but didn't seem to object to the boys being so close.
"Oh," Shachi said. "That's a bummer. We could really use someone like you in our gang."
"You're in a gang?" Law asked.
"Two of us isn't a gang, Shachi," Penguin said.
"I didn't mean it like that!" Shachi snapped.
Lami cried at his outburst.
"There, there." Law rocked Lami until she settled back down.
"Moron," Penguin said. "You made the baby cry."
"I didn't mean to," Shachi said. "So where are you headed?"
"I'm not really sure yet," Law said. "But Bepo's a navigator."
"He is?" Shachi looked at the bear. "So that's why you have your own ship."
Bepo ducked his head.
"So you're setting out to sea," Penguin said. He sat down and kicked his feet out in front of him.
"Yeah." Law nodded. "But first I need to get supplies for Lami. I can't set sail without them."
"Then go buy some," Shachi said.
"I don't have any money," Law said.
"But you said you're a pirate," Bepo said. "You could just steal what you need."
"You're a pirate?!" Penguin and Shachi screamed.
Lami cried out again.
Law glared at them for upsetting her and started rocking her again. "Don't yell like that around her. And, yes, I'm a pirate."
"That's so amazing!" Shachi said.
"No wondering you kicked our butts so hard and easily," Penguin said rubbing his jaw.
"I've always thought about becoming a pirate!" Shachi said.
"Since when?" Penguin asked.
"Shut up! I have thought about being a pirate! I just never had the opportunity to become one!" Shachi said.
"So you're going to become one now?" Penguin asked.
"Why not?!" Shachi asked. "This guy is clearly strong enough to be one! So can we! It'll be fun!"
"Maybe," Penguin said. "Sailing all over the sea does sound like a great adventure. We'll be going up some of the best pirates on the sea though. Not to mention the Grandline. That's going to take a lot of power."
"I have a Devil Fruit," Law said.
"What?!" the three shrieked.
Lami shifted in Law's hold but settled back down to her bottle.
"What kind of Devil Fruit?" Bepo asked.
"It's called the Op Op Devil Fruit," Law said.
"What does that do?" Penguin asked.
"I'm not really sure yet," Law said. "But it can cure things."
"Cure things?" Shachi asked.
"Like a doctor," Law said. "I'm also a doctor. Or I will be one. I haven't completely my studies yet."
"Wow." Shachi whistled and leaned back on his hands. "Pirate, Devil Fruit user, doctor…you're going to make one heck of a pirate."
"Totally." Penguin nodded in agreement.
"We should totally form a pirate crew!" Shachi said.
Law lifted an eyebrow at him.
"It'll be amazing!" Shachi continued. "We already have a navigator and a ship!"
"My ship," Bepo grumbled.
"Hey, we're sorry about taking it from you," Shachi said.
"And we're sorry for beating up on you," Penguin said. "But we're friends now. So let's get along."
Bepo frowned.
"What do you say, um…what is your name?" Shachi asked.
"Law," Law said.
"Law." Shachi nodded. "You need a crew, don't you? It makes perfect since. We're strong. But we'll get stronger. Let us join your crew."
"I don't know," Law said. He looked at Bepo, earning a shrug from the bear. "If we do this, you can't ever hurt Bepo again."
"We won't!" they said. "We promise!"
"We'll need to gather up supplies before we set sail," Law said. "That'll mean stealing unless you have money to pay for it."
"Yeah!" Shachi and Penguin cheered. "And we don't have money! We can steal it!"
"That'll take a few days," Law said. "We're going to need a place to stay. Preferably a place where no adults will find us."
"No problem," Shachi said. "Penguin and I have this handled." They stood up. "Follow us."
Law exchanged looks with Bepo before gathering up his stuff and following after the two boys. He cautiously watched everything as they led him into the forest. He wondered where they were taking him but got his answer a few minutes later.
"Here we are," Shachi said.
Law glanced up at the tree house. It was placed between the two trunks of one tree that decided to grow funny. There were two small ramps leading up to the small porch.
"It's a tree house," Bepo said.
"Duh!" Penguin said. "Of course it is. Shachi and I built it ourselves. It's our fort. No one else comes here."
"It'll do just fine," Law said. He followed them up the ramps. Inside was an old trunk, some short wooden chairs to sit on, a small table, a bookshelf with only three books sitting on it and posters of people he didn't recognized but assume were some kind of band since they were holding instruments.
"Sorry we don't have a bed in here." Penguin sat down on the trunk and tapped it with the heel of his boot. "But this is full of blankets."
"It'll be fine," Law said.
"So what's the plan now?" Shachi asked sitting down on one of the chairs.
"We'll take a few days to get all the supplies we need," Law said. "Does this island have a bookstore?"
"Yeah," Shachi said. "Why?"
"I need them for our journey," Law said. "I'm going to continue my doctor lesion myself."
"Can you do that?" Penguin asked.
"I was training to be a doctor before," Law said, unsure if he wanted to tell them his entire story yet. "Both my parents were doctors."
"I see," Shachi said. "And I'm guess becoming a doctor also has something to do with those white spots?"
"Yeah." Law nodded. "Something like that."
"So how are we going to go about getting the supplies?" Penguin asked.
"We should make a list," Law said. "Do you have some paper and a pencil?"
"We sure do." Shachi walked over to the bookshelf and pulled the items off one of the shelves.
They all gathered around the table and worked on a list of things they would need to take with them.
"That's good," Law said, running his eyes over the list. "I think we've just about got everything in order. Some stuff we can pick up later on. Now all we need to do is wait until dark."
"What for?" Bepo asked.
"It'll be a lot easier to steal things when people are in bed," Law said. "We'll be able to use the night as a cover also. We'll bring all the stuff back here."
"Then we go out tonight on our first pirate raid," Shachi said with a big grin.
"This is going to be so amazing!" Penguin cheered. "I can't wait to get out on the seas! I wonder what pirate crew we'll run into first!"
"We'll need to keep a close look out for the Navy," Shachi said. "And we'll have to keep a close look out for possible crewmembers."
"We need to think of what kind of crew we're going to be," Penguin said. "Should we all eat Devil Fruits?"
"You can if you want to," Shachi said. "I like being able to swim."
"I do too, but the powers of a Devil Fruit can be amazing," Penguin said.
"If you get an amazing one," Shachi said. "From what I heard you don't know what powers a Devil Fruit holds until you eat it. Too much of a risk for me."
"You're just scared," Shachi said.
"I have no trouble admitting that when it comes to Devil Fruits," Penguin said. "I'll stick with my normal way of fighting and leave the Devil Fruit stuff up to the captain."
"The captain?" Shachi asked.
"Captain Law," Penguin said. "He's the strongest. So it makes sense that he'll be the captain."
"That's right!" Shachi said. "What do you say, Captain?"
"Fine with me." Law dropped his eyes down to Lami as the two kept on talking. She was fast asleep in his arms. He didn't want to separate from her, but he knew that she couldn't go with them. If he had to run he didn't need to worry about hurting her in the process. He was going to have to leave her behind. And someone was going to have to stay with her. His eyes landed on the bear. Lami seemed to like him enough. And Bepo would stand out with his white fur in the night. So he decided on Bepo to stay with Lami while they go get supplies. "Bepo?"
"Yes?" The bear turned to Law.
"I want you to stay here with Lami," Law said.
"You're going to let him take care of her?" Penguin asked.
"Yes." Law nodded. "His fur will stand out too much in the night, especially if the moon isn't covered with the clouds. We need to get in and out of buildings as quickly as we possible can. And we can't do that if I'm holding a baby. She has to stay here. But she's not going to stay alone either."
"I don't mind staying," Bepo said. "I'm not sure how to take care of a baby though."
"I can show you," Law said. "She shouldn't be much trouble since she'll be asleep when we leave."
"Why not just leave her here alone then if she's going to sleep?" Shachi asked.
"You moron!" Penguin punched his friend in the arm. "You can't leave a baby by themselves. What if some wild animals come and eat her for dinner? Or what if a person finds her? And what if that person is bad? And they do horrible things to her?"
"Okay, okay! I get it!" Shachi said. "Leaving her alone is a big No-No!"
"So where's your ship?" Law asked. "Depending on how much stuff we take, we might have to move some of the stuff onto it."
"We docked it out in a cove just east of here," Penguin said. "So far no one has found it. Not many people go out that way."
"Good." Law nodded. "We'll get some supplies then decide from there what we're going to do."
"What do we do until then?" Bepo asked.
"How about we eat?" Penguin said. "I'm hungry."
"Yeah." Shachi nodded. "Me too."
"Let's go get something then." Penguin stood up and headed for the door.
"Wait here," Shachi said. "We'll be back as soon as we can."
Law nodded. He watched them go then turned his attention back to Lami. She was now awake and looking around the new room with curiosity. Her eyes landed on Bepo and she giggled, wiggling her figures towards him. He contemplated letting the bear hold her. He decided to let him. If he was going to leave Lami with him then he needed to know that she really did like the bear. "Here. Hold her."
"What? Are you sure?" Bepo asked.
"I am." Law held Lami out until the bear took her from him. He then sat back and forced his desire to pull her back to his arms down.
"Uh, hello, Lami," Bepo said.
Lami stared at him. Her small hand reached up to his nose. She tapped him with her finger and smiled.
Law's heart filled with warmth and a bit of jealousy. But at least he was now a hundred percent certain that she would be safe with Bepo.
Northwind123: Thanks. I figured that would be the name Law picked if this actually happened. Glad you like it.
Koi the Lazy Seawing: Thanks. Glad you like it. It just popped in my head. I wonder if more will like it.
Candinaru25: Thanks. Glad you like it. I hope I finish it too. I don't usually leave stories unfinished so I should.
