Bepo saw Law sitting on the sunflower field. He approached cautiously and with a low voice he called for his friend.
"Law?"
The boy turned and Bepo could see the surprise in his eyes.
"B-Bepo?"
Law rose, but remained without reaction - he didn't know whether it was true or if it was one of Doflamingo's string puppets.
Bepo ignored Law's lack of reaction and embraced him; Law was so small now, he appeared to be so fragile near him.
He placed Law on the floor and looked at him.
Law had changed. He was taller, had earrings in his ears and tattoos on his hands.
"B-Bepo? Y-You came back?"
And then reality hit Bepo, he was gone; he left and leave Law behind. Alone with the monster. Not knowing what to do, Bepo did what was marked forever in his personality.
"Sorry..."
But Law hugged him back; his friend didn't hold a grudge over his departure.
"I was so worried. I asked for you. I was afraid that he had killed you, but at the same time ..."
Bepo could see Law's eyes full of tears that refused to fall, were trained not to fall.
"... I was happy for you. You got- you got away, you are free."
There was nothing in this world that Bepo wanted more than to see Law again, he waited for this moment for years and as much as he had not forgotten the situation in which his friend lived, to see and hear him talk about choices and freedom hurt Bepo's heart.
He had returned to rescue him.
But not even that he was able to do.
"Bepo? Are you okay?"
"Huh? I'm sorry … I was distracted."
"It's alright. But tell me, why you're here?"
Bepo was surprised by the question. Isn't it obvious? He was here to rescue Law.
"I'm here to see you ... I came to res ..."
And with a serious face Law closed its muzzle.
"Don't say another word, you stupid bear. How dare you come back here? How dare return after being able to escape!? What did he ask in return?"
Law was angry and Bepo didn't understand the reason why, he thought Law would be happy to see him; that he would be happy with the possibility of running away.
"I came back for you. I didn't want to abandon you, sorry."
"I never blamed you, Bepo."
And that gladdened Bepo's heart despite being angry - Law didn't blame him.
"I came here to save you. I trained over the years to become stronger, defeat them and rescue you."
"Shut up, Bepo!"
Bepo still couldn't understand it.
Law wasn't happy for him?
Why Law refuse to leave?
Even if they're weaker, they certainly are more intelligent, at least Law is, they can get away! He knows that!
But Law's face showed him something else. Law approached him, and seemed to look for a specific position while moving Bepo around.
"Say no more. I'm never really alone, ever. If you say something about ran away, he will never let you get close to me again. "
And finally Bepo understood the situation, but had doubts about how to proceed.
"So what are we going to do?"
"We will wait for the right moment. For now, let me show you my submarine. "
"Submarine?"
"Yes."
"You will be like a Pirate Captain?" Bepo said excited and Law smiled at him, a small smile but one full of emotion.
"One day, Bepo. One day..."
"Yay yay Captain!"
~~~~ PRESENT ~~~~
"So ... what do we do?" Asked Usopp.
"We got here chasing Bonney's trails." Sachi said.
"Bonney, one of the worst generation? What she has to do with this? " Zoro questioned, curious about how that woman fit in the situation.
Robin smiled at Law, who was completely lost as to who they're talking about, so she decided to speak.
"She has the power to reverse people's age ..." The Heart Pirates agreed "... but what happened to you seem to be much more complex, I think she has improved her skills, and as you yourself have said you know something ... if it is important or not it doesn't matter, she probably thinks it is."
Law was thoughtfully, what could it be?
But suddenly Luffy interrupted everyone.
"Torao will only remember whatever she wants him to remember when he has the right age, right?"
"Yes."
"So let's find this eating pizza woman and asked her why she did what she did, who made her do it."
"Eating pizza woman? How do you know that?" Usopp asked.
"I saw it on the wanted poster." Luffy looked at Usopp as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"I agree!"
And everyone looked at Law.
"Why are you looking at me? Let's go!"
"YAY CAPTAIN!"
And Law couldn't contain his smile - A crew just for him !
Luffy looked at Law also smiling - Torao was coming! - And giving a semi hug Law he excitedly announced.
"You guys have heard ... LET'S BOARD IN AN ADVENTURE!"
Law grimaced and tried to push Luffy away, and Luffy smiled even more - Torao was definitely coming back!
~~~~SUBMARINE ~~~~
Penguin found Law in the kitchen, staring at the water trickling from the tap, without moving, Law seemed to be elsewhere.
"Captain...?"
No answer.
"Law?"
And Law turned to look at him, clearly a little surprised.
"Oh ... Sac ... no ...its Penguin, doesn't it? I think I remembered something very important. "
~~~~ SUNNY ~~~~
To Nami disappointment, they ended up having to follow the submarine - she wanted to guide them and not be following that yellow thing.
"Nami-chaaan!"
"Sanji-kun."
"What are you thinking?"
"I'm not thinking about anything, I'm just here relaxing in this sea full of possibilities without being able to use the LogPose I so lovingly left ready for it."
Sanji gave glass of orange juice for Nami, sitting beside her.
"Don't worry; I'm sure we will fall into a huge storm where we will need your beautiful, wonderful and amazing mind to save us ..."
Nami smiled at Sanji who was full of hearts just by sitting beside her; till Zoro's voice stop them.
"You want to jinx us, Shitty Cook."
"Shut up, Marimo!"
And there was those two again. Sometimes Nami wondered if Zoro was always lurking around waiting for Sanji to be distracted by women to come in and stop it.
It was always the same.
She could even say that Sanji never found a woman because Zoro always cockblocked him.
But before Zoro and Sanji could destroy something, Chopper, Franky and Usopp came bawling into the room.
"Law is in the Den Den Mushi! He remembered something! "
~~~~KITCHEN ~~~~
They're all assembled, being served with mini sandwiches while listening to Law in Den Den Mushi.
"It is more important than I imagined. I don't remember the details, but one thing is more than clear to me. Doflamingo wanted to overthrow the four Yonko. "
The astonishment was general, when they faced the Warlord, at any time it seemed to be his goal – he was they dealer, more than that he was Kaido trading partner - how could he want to destroy them?
It didn't make sense!
What was the point?
Law seemed to have the same doubts as them so answered without them having asked.
"Doflamingo knew he couldn't fight against them using only brute force, so he began to negotiate through a Family whose name I can not remember, and then he came in contact with Whitebeard and BigMom ..."
"Which Family?" Sanji asked, abandoning all the snacks he was doing.
"I don't know, I heard only part of the conversation. But I remember knowing that Whitebeard was feeling ill and needed medical attention ... Doflamingo then offered help, nurses and medicines. "
Robin joined the points very quickly.
"He did something with Whitebeard?"
"Yes. As I said, he had no chance using brute force, but what if it could weaken his enemies? "
Robin looked at Nami and Franky; the others have finally begun to understand. Even Luffy, being he the only one who was near the Old Pirate.
"What exactly did he do? You know something, Torao? "
"I'm not sure, but I think he wanted to slowly poison Whitebeard. And it was not only Whitebeard that he wanted to overthrow, he had plans to Kaido, but at the moment I only remember something about he looking for someone named Caesar. "
"WHAT?"
Everyone was surprised when they heard that name, but Law seeing their surprised faces got even more confused and asked.
"Did you guys know something?"