A/N: Disclaimer; I do not own One Piece.

Yes, I will admit it is late although the time I'm posting it still says the 15th. Super last minute typing. I will apologize to any spelling and grammar issues ahead of time. I will edit my chapters whenever I have some time.

Enjoy.

Murder

Part One- Hidden Truths

Pearl Lilies

A young man breathed heavily as he continued up a certain dirt pass. He paused for a moment and glanced up above him, then behind him to see how small the city has become. A cold breeze passed him in the cold autumn air, which he thanked for since he was sweating and hot from the long walk. He then took his hat off to let the wind blow its cool air through his autumn leaves color hair. He moved his hair to its side, which went down to its shoulders, to expose the nape of his neck to cool down even faster.

From behind him, a faint gong of bells rang. Instantly, he let his ears take in its sound as it echoed through the city in the valley.

...Two o' clock. Shachi concluded as the bells went silent. He glared up at the cloudy sky since it hid the sun and its ability to show what time it was. Hopefully it's here, otherwise it'll get dark soon. He thought to himself.

He recalled how he ended up here, and it all started from his door knocking at 4am this morning. He grumbled as he answered the fifth series of knocking (he attempted to ignore it) and it was the mistress, Lady Welma Eustass. She was already fully dressed unlike Shachi's pajamas and his fluffy brown robe.

"I would like to ask you a favor." She spoke, "I am planning on making a party and would like you to find one of my most favorite flowers, can you please do it?"

He remembers asking her why him in this early morning, and she said it was to be a surprise party and he was the only one who answered the door.

Shachi grumbled as he dragged his feet up the hill. Man, I should've just ignored it. He glared uphill as he regretted answering his door. Why did it have to be that early in the morning too? Plus, I mainly work for Law, not her!

Then a sudden wind of thought flew to him. Penguin and Killer were much better butlers- unlike him. They will answer and do all jobs requested by Law and the Eustass couple. They didn't answer her knocks? Shachi questioned. It felt very odd to him. Then wondered why he didn't realize it when Lady Welma first said it. Fuck. I must've been half-asleep when I heard that. Then again, he didn't have the strength to start a complaint early in the morning with her and that was how he ended up here. Yeah, I must have been. Shachi sighed as he took one last step to reach the top of the hill.

The hill he was walking on for the past few minutes turned out to be a plateau. The land from here was quite flat, with a couple of greenery bordered with a wooden picket fence. It must have been a former hill before its top was cut off for gardening. Shachi observed the unnaturally flat-looking land. The flat top made it perfect for gardening and this plateau was just made for that. It was a Community Allotment- something like a public garden. The citizens near this town had made it to grow their own food and for their gardening hobby activity.

Shachi walked along the picket fence, searching for the entrance. I hope this is the right one. Shachi muttered in his head. This was the third allotment of the day. He was searching for Lady Welma's favorite flower, Pearl Lily. It was a flower he's never heard of, despite helping Crocus every week. He was asked to purchase the whole garden full of it- but was never told where he was able to find them. She only suggested him to look up the list of the public gardens around here.

It must be from someone's private garden. Shachi thought. Then he saw the entrance and a sign right next to it. He moved away from the fence to get the right angle to read the sign.

"'A Peace of Bliss'" he read out loud. Shachi let out a sigh of relief but his relief was short-lived. He was exhausted from the long walk and was quite upset when five of the gardens he contacted on the phone did not answer him. So, he went to visit those gardens and the first two didn't have the Pearl Lilies. Also, the rest of the public gardens he was able to contact said that they never heard of that flower. A few recommended contacting the gardens he wasn't able to reach- including 'A Peace of Bliss.'

He wondered if this one had the Pearl Lilies, or maybe if the Pearl Lilies never existed in the first place.

He quickly entered the garden, hoping that this one had it. I guess if this one didn't have it, I have two more chances left. Then he imagined himself going to the other two and not finding a single Pearl Lily. That would mean I would have to go back to square one... Shachi dreaded.

Shachi then saw a small gardening hut next to the locked gates to enter the garden. He entered through the door to speak with the manager here to show him the list of the planted plants and their tenants. The hut was a small little log cabin with wooden flooring and small decorative lights on places away from the windows. There was a pair of cozy couches and a coffee table in the middle of the hut. He saw one mixed gender restroom and a single counter along the opposite end of the door.

No one was at the counter.

Shachi went up to it and rang a small bell that said "Ring if you need assistance."

After waiting a couple minutes, no one came. It was like this for the previous two gardens he's visited.

So, like the other two, he stepped out and found a cow bell hanging on the porch. He rang that one vigorously and then heard a faint sound of someone saying 'yes?'

"Hi, is there someone I can speak to who knows about the plants here?" Shachi asked from the direction of where the voice was.

"Oh. Oh, yes. That's me." The voice replied, along with the noise of ruffling. A very thin elderly man appeared from the gardens. He had a very long beard and a mustache which were pure white. He quickly unlocked the gates and got over to Shachi's side. "I'm Gan Hall. Sorry I didn't notice you here."

"It's fine." Shachi replied, then went straight on topic, "have you heard of the Pearl Lilies around here?"

"-the one from Sir Drake?" The old man asked as he took off his gardening gloves.

"-uh, I'm actually not quite sure who's it is, but is there a Pearl Lily here?" Shachi was surprised by his immediate answer and wasn't sure if he heard it right.

"Yes." Gan Hall simply stated. "Would you like to see it?"

"Yes. -Actually, I would like to purchase it."

"Purchase? Well, you would need to ask Sir Drake for that. Do you know him? He was a general from the war five years ago?"

"Sorry, I haven't paid the news till recently. Shachi replied honestly. "Do you have his contact information? I would like to contact him?"

"Well," the old man looked down and sighed. "I've honestly haven't seen him a while. He would always check his garden every other weekend, right on noon. He's been a tenant here for five or so years and he hasn't paid the last few months of this land. I'm a bit troubled by it."

"I believe buying some of his flowers would help you a lot? My lady is particularly very fond of it and would like to purchase the whole lot of Pearl Lilies. She needs it immediately for decoration."

"Well..." The old man scratched his beard, "it's not my flowers though..."

"900 Bellis per flower. How's that? I believe there's a whole lot? Maybe around 1000 flowers? 900,000 Bellis." Shachi stated. He wanted it done and over with. Lady Welma had paid him more than enough to buy them.

"...1000 Bellis per flower? You only see them here." Gan Hall stated.

"950." Shachi stated.

"Well, alright. I would need your contact information if I ever get back with Sir Drake." Gan Hall stated as he went towards the door to the hut. He then gestured Shachi in, and he followed suit.

o-o-o-o-o

After filling out some forms and making the payments, Shachi followed Gan Hall to where the Pearl Lilies were kept. They walked through a nice greenery passage which the old man introduced as the Pathway of Woods.

"I maintain the whole garden here." He stated. "I especially love my pumpkins I've told you about. You know the juice I served you? It was from one of my best pumpkins here." Gan Hall pointed out towards his right.

"Really? It had a nice flavor and a satisfying clean taste to it. I may have purchased one of them if not for the flowers." Shachi tried to see where he was pointing but couldn't tell where it was. He then looked back at him nodding slightly, creating an expression as if he saw it.

"Ah, but sadly, they aren't for sell you see. You have to come visit me to have it." The old man laughed. "This way, I can have visitors stopping by."

"Do you get visitors often?"

"Mm... I guess twice a week- not counting the local tenant gardeners. But they do bring along some visitors sometimes. Couples caring for the plants... it's quite a pleasant peaceful sight." Gan Hall spoke as he recalled some of his memories. "Ah... We're here."

Shachi looked over his shoulder and saw a beautiful patch of lilies. They had a soft, white, pure color and it gave a pearl-like luster that gave out a light rainbow sheen. The beauty of the flowers seemed to make the cloudy gray autumn sky to a feeling of spring. It was as if the flowers came from a different world- stopping time as it showed it's glamour.

"I was taking careful care of these beauties. I wouldn't even want to put it out for sell." Gan Hall spoke sadly. "And they would be used for a party? It's a regret that you'll be ending their lives for such an event..." He then realized what he said, "-but I bet it will be a very magnificent party." Shachi smiled sadly as he stared at the glorious flowers.

"I think I would like only half of the flowers here." Shachi took at step at the flower and stated. "For the rest of my payment, can you move it to purchasing pots for them? I would prefer them to be potted instead." He took a whiff of scent from them and they smelled very sweet and gentle. He took a peek at Gan Hall and he looked much more relieved and a faint smile appeared beneath his beard.

o-o-o-o-o

It was already getting dark. Shachi had asked Gan Hall what time it was, and it was already 6pm. They were done potting them, but he was only able to take a handful with him. He then asked the old man to send someone over to Lady Welma's house for tomorrow with the rest of the potted flowers with them. He agreed and Shachi went straight home.

By the time he reached the house, it was a little past seven. He was just unlocking the back gates to enter from the back yard when someone halted him.

"Who's there?"

"...Me." Shachi uttered as he recognized Penguin's voice. Shachi was standing right under the lamps and could only make out the shadowy figures. He saw two beings and assumed the other one to be either Sanji or Killer.

"What's all these flowers?" Killer asked.

"...This was the job I was assigned from the Lady since you two didn't want to awake up." Shachi pointed.

"...What are you talking about? I just came home from her assignment too." Penguin said.

"Really? Me too." Killer said. "I went to find the tailor who made her beautiful dress to fix it."

"Huh." Penguin raised his brow. "I had no luck for finding the other pair of her precious earring." He said and dangled out a pearly grape earring from his pocket.

"Wait, what time did you two wake up?"

"Around 5?"

"Yeah around there for me too." Killer said, "Woke up from her knocking on my door."

...5? So did she lie about trying to get these two up first? Shachi wondered. His heart started to flare up in frustration that he was forced awake at 4am.

"...Well, I'll go find Crocus to plant these somewhere in our garden." Shachi grumbled as he resumed getting the lock open.

"What are you upset about?" Penguin recognized his tone of voice immediately.

"I was forced awake at fuckin' 4 in the morning." Shachi spat as he got the lock open.

"Ah..." Penguin understood. "Wonder why she woke you up early?"

"Maybe cause it was far? I don't know." Shachi said. "Man, now that I'm back, I gotta go to the restroom." He pushed the cart of potted flowers in.

He soon found Crocus and he went straight to the potted flowers.

"What are these lilies? They're beautiful." Crocus said.

"More will be coming in tomorrow. You know that lot where we used to have some cilantro plants, but we got rid of them? Can we plant some there? Half will be used for the party."

"What party?" Crocus asked.

"Welma said she wants to have a grand party." Killer butted in. As Killer started explaining where he gone to for the whole day, Shachi went towards the dollhouse hut.

"Where are you going?" Penguin asked Shachi. "I thought you had to go to the restroom."

"Yeah, this one has one- plus it's closer." Shachi paused his feet to explain.

"Huh? Really? I've never been in there." Penguin confessed.

"I was curious one day and went in." Shachi laughed at himself.

"Ah... Law went in there." Crocus revealed as he saw Shachi go his way.

"...Huh?! Why?" Both Penguin and Shachi blurted. For the two of them, they knew very well that Law wasn't a person who would enter any room unless asked to.

"Don't know." Crocus shrugged. "But I did see Welma come out."

Welma and Law? Shachi asked himself. I know Kid looks like he is fond of Law... Both Shachi and Penguin felt a bad feeling that something happened while they were gone.

"-I'm gonna go and check Law's room." Penguin quickly rushed towards the house.

"Wait, I'll be there too!" Shachi exclaimed. "I'll just go quickly!" He then ran into the hut. But as soon as Shachi opened the door, he found Law right at the table, his face hid in his arms on the table. "WAIT! PENGUIN! HE'S HERE!"

Crocus knitted his eyebrows and went towards the hut. Killer, seeing his expression, came along. Penguin came running towards the hut as soon as he heard Shachi's voice.

"What's he doing in there?" Penguin wheezed as he caught up to where Killer and Crocus were at.

"...I think he's sleeping... but he didn't wake up from my voice..." Shachi held the door on his back and his eyes were glued to Law as he observed his back moving slightly. He was breathing very slow and deep.

"He didn't wake up!?" Penguin shouted in shock. "He's never a deep sleeper?" He went next to Law and tapped his shoulder. "Law? Wake up? You'll catch a cold?"

"...If he's been in there since I last saw him, that would mean that he's been sleeping for at least six hours." Crocus stated with unease. The three men glanced at Crocus for a moment if he was lying or not- then straight back to Law with much more concern.

"Law! Law! WAKE UP!" Penguin shook Law's shoulder violently, but his neck just rolled to the side and his eyes remained peacefully shut.

"Shachi, call Dr. Tony Tony right now." Killer demanded. Without further thought, Shachi ran out of the hut before panic or anger towards Welma reached him.

o-o-o-o-o

Dr. Tony Tony tested the tea left behind and created a medicine to counter that right before Shachi's eyes. Law was laid flat on the floor with all the other three men sitting around him. Shachi then observed the small strange doctor with antlers feed the medicine to Law with anxiety.

"I think that should do it." Dr. Tony Tony assured with his high-key voice. "Try waking him up."

"...Law?" Penguin called out to him. He held his shoulders and gently shook them.

"...Nnn..." Law crushed his eyes with a scowl and gradually opened his eyes. Everyone around him sighed with relief. Shachi watched Law as he checked his surroundings. Then he saw the face of his color change and his eyes widen.

Ah... He must be fully conscious now and just realized his situation. Shachi noted to himself. However, to him, it looked like he remembered something very disturbing.

"Law...? Are you alright?" Penguin asked. Law briefly nodded. Then Penguin let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you very much Dr. Tony Tony for coming in immediately after our cal-"

Law got up abruptly and wobbled as he straighten his stance. Shachi stood up with him and grabbed his arm to steady him.

"Law?" Shachi murmured, but he was soon pushed away as Law ran out of the hut.

"Law!?" Chopper and Penguin shouted with concern. Before Shachi could see them give each other eye contacts, he ran out to follow Law.

For a man who just woke up from a deep sleep, Law ran very quickly and whirled past through the doors. He flew up the stairs and turned a corner. Shachi realized where he was headed- towards Lady Welma's bedroom.

When Shachi reached the fully opened door where Law stood, he was breathing heavily and coughed from the speed he ran. But the exhaustion melted away as soon as Shachi saw Law's frozen body and his blue face. Shachi peeked though and door and saw the lady lying on her bed. The color of her face looked like it was under-painted with a strong hue of blue. Her rosy red cheeks were gone and she looked like a lifeless doll. Then Shachi noticed an empty vial on the floor.

"Fuck..." Law slid down and went on his knees. "FUCK."

Shachi fully understood the situation- Lady Welma had committed suicide.

Then a wind of realization came upon Shachi. The 'party' she must have been talking about must have been about her funeral- which meant that he was already preparing her funeral in the last minutes of her life.

Shachi's heart felt very disturbed and sad that he had purchased those magnificent flowers for a sad occasion.

A/N:

I hope you enjoyed it.

This was actually the "...Eh."/Ok story I was talking about in my previous author's note. It's an "Eh" kinda part of the story since it's not too exciting.

Kinda dark for a fic to post in December.