I was being pressed onto the ground by several men around me. Anger and despair coursed through my veins at the sight before me. A beautiful blond angel with blue eyes that held kindness as deep as the sky, wearing a soft light blue dress that hugged her body was smiling at me with gentle demeanor as she was being dragged away by a devil with a glass bubble to cover his head

"let her go!!", I growled again and again as I felt my vocal chords tearing up.

She smiled as she said the last words that I would ever hear from her

"Thank you, I appreciate your feelings at least, I was happy"

No!! It can't end this way!!

"~I was happy from the bottom of my heart~"

Her figure got further and further away from my sight as darkness slowly enveloped my body.

"Stella!!"

I jolted out of my bed, gasping for air while gripping my head.

"tch... another nightmare".

Sweat was soaking my bed where I slept while the morning sun beamed through the window. Stretching my body I got out of the bed, ' I have been having intense vivid dreams lately'.

I went to the bathroom to wash my face, feeling the cold water against my skin helped calmed my mind, I looked at my image in the mirror to find a young man around the age of 19 with long messy green hair and green eyes staring back. I wore a green shirt with a open button near the chest and dark blue pants.

Making my way towards the kitchen I grabbed myself a glass of water to satiate my parched throat, ' My recent dreams always involve either Stella or a mysterious guy in a pink suit, although they are just dreams they are so detailed, like I'm watching a show or performance...yet they feel so real'.

I stared at the loaf of bread that was to be my breakfast as these thoughts ran through my head.

knock* *knock*

"Oi! Tesoro are you awake yet ?" a deep voice of a man could be heard outside my door.

"Tch!"

' I'm late on rent, it must be the landlord ', I peaked out the window to see a man with rugged looking beard and long brown hair tied into braids, wearing circular glasses with a darker skin tone.

'Shit!, it is the landlord'. In a panic I grabbed the loaf of bread and jumped out the window.

thud*

"Huh?", the landlord was dumbfounded when I landed on his right with the loaf of bread still on my mouth.

'Shit!! , wrong window', I cursed myself in my head.

"Oi! Oi! Tesoro you aren't trying to run away without paying the rent again are you??" the landlord asked with a grimace.

I felt a chill run down my spine as I stood up from the ground.

"ifv wasfcf jushf leafing", i answered with my mouth full of bread.

"EAT FIRST YOU IDIOT!!", the landlord shouted as his expression became more demonic.

gulp*

"A-Ah, nice to meet you too Nathan. My d-door was locked and I lost my key so I had to use the window, I wasn't trying to escape or anything", I rubbed the back of my head as I made excuses.

Nathan just stared at me with scrutiny before sighing "Ya know, you still have rent due for this month", he said as he stretched his palm out infront of me

'What? Does he expect me to just barf out the rent right now' I thought as I saw his palm

"I know, I know, I still remember" I stated as I reached into my pants.

"Eh?" I patted my pants all over the pockets as I exclaimed,

" Would you look at that I seemed to have misplaced my coin pouch how silly of me hahaha " I laughed a little while praying that he would buy my performance.

Nathan's face became more grim as he shouted "TESOROO!!". As he was shouting a strong wind blew by at an instant as I shaded my eyes from a sudden bright light.

'Where's the light coming from?? ", I questioned as I look straight ahead at a shocking sight before me.

There in front of me lay Nathan with a bald head shining like a pearl in daylight. I came to know that his luscious long hair was a wig.

My mouth was wide open as Nathan hurriedly picked up his wig and put it back on before staring at me and stating, " I think I can increase the deadline for your rent if you keep whatever you just saw just between us".

Still recovering from this revelation I nodded my head.

"Good", He exclaimed before turning and leaving.

"Well, that was certainly an interesting start to this day", I muttered to myself before going off to work.

Making my way towards the construction site I encountered usual stare from people that I would get on the daily

"Hey look it's Tesoro, I heard he has finally saved up enough money"

"What? Damn, so he has finally achieved it after three years, damn I never would have thought that a previous crook could make money earnestly"

"Ah~what love does to people~i wish i was young again!"

"Oi! old lady you are creeping me out"

"Who are you calling old!!"

The people around constantly gossiped. I didn't pay them any attention and finally reached the construction site.

"huh? Oh Tesoro are you here to get your final paycheck" a Huge bearded man wearing a miner's helmet with pickaxe on his shoulder giving off a hunky masculine man aura smirked and asked me.

"Yes, boss I've been waiting for this moment for a while now" I laughed and said.

"Well you have put in a lot of effort day in and out, I've got to say If I didn't know the reason behind why you were putting yourself through this hardship I would assume you to be a masochist SASASASASASA" he laughed while patting my shoulder.

I flinched a bit as his little gesture of joy almost dislocated my shoulder.

"well here you go", Boss said as he handed me an envelope.

I took it with a huge smile "Thanks again boss letting me work with you for the past three years" I said genuinely.

Since I had led a life of crime since the age of twelve no one who knew my past would have ever trusted me enough to offer me a job.

"Ah it's nothing, everyone deserves second chances. Besides you remind me of my little brother SASASASA he also used to get into trouble a lot when he was a little critter but now he's joined the navy and is making a name for himself in the Grandline" he says as he mocking sheds A tear.

I chuckled at his comment, I knew he had a bad opinion about his younger brother because he left Boss to follow his dreams rather than to help out the family business.

'Boss has a rather loose mouth when he gets drunk', I thought back to all the times he would complain about his personal life in bars after a hard days work.

" Now now don't you have somewhere to be" he smirked and said as he shoo-ed me off.

"yeah yeah, see you later Boss" I said as I waved and started to walk away.

"You love birds should treat me to dinner once you are done with all of this mess" Boss's voice rang loudly behind me.

My cheeks reddened at his words, ' Tch, Boss can never be subtle can he'.

On my way to meet Stella I stopped to buy her some flowers. Well I still have some money saved up after skipping a few dinners so it should be fine.

On reaching the place I saw many people leaving in a hurry, I managed to over hear something about a world noble, 'well that has nothing to do with me' I thought as I entered the chamber where Stella lay.

As I entered the room my eyes laid upon her, there she was on a couch ( that I previously got her from one of my neighbors in a bargain) , she sat and read some books that I bought so she wouldn't get bored. Her beautiful blue eyes were trailing down the book as she made small mouth movements while reading. The sun shone upon her golden blond hair while her usual light blue dress looked more beautiful. She look up from her book and met my eyes while smiling.

"Tesoro what a nice weather we have today don't we ?" she asked with her soft and kind voice.

I grinned as I said " It is indeed a beautiful day because it's finally time", her eyes shone when I finished speaking.

I went up closer to her and handed her the flowers, "I hope you like it although it's not much but in the future I'll get you a whole cart full of flowers I promise " I said as I stretched out my arms.

She giggled and accepted the flowers " Thanks for the flowers, and I know you will fulfill your promise since you will become a big star in the future "

" You know I had almost given up on that dream until I met you " I said as I stretched my hand to meet hers.

She smiled as we interlocked our fingers, " The past three years were the most beautiful years thanks to you ", Stella muttered before jolting as she remembered something.

" Oh! I just remembered I finished my latest painting, wait right here", she said as she went back to get a canvas from a pile in the corner.

"Huh?" I muttered as I spaced out for a moment.

"Behold!! My masterpiece" she said excitedly as she presented her painting

'What is that??' I thought as I took in the sight before me. The painting depicted a dancing flaming monkey on a stage as the audience were dying of laughter. The monkey seemed to not be harmed by the flames and was even smiling widely.

"I was inspired to draw this piece after listening to one of your songs" Stella huffed as she protruded her chest forward seemingly very proud of her work.

"It's... very unique..", I said as I tried to recall which song made her draw this weird piece of art.

"Hehe, one day my art pieces will bought all across the world and will be hung in royal palaces", she said as she hummed to herself while dreaming about the future.

I stared at her loving figure as she smiled happily and dreamt. 'I'll support you through out your journey' I thought and smiled.

I then reached over to hug her body to bring it closer to mine but the cage between us made it a bit difficult. Yes, a cage as this place was a human shop and Stella was a slave meant to be sold.

[Three years ago]

I made a bad decision while gambling and lost a lot of money. My friends or people who used to be my friends left me to my fate and deserted me.

I was almost made a human slave by the casino owners but I managed to leave the island by fighting my way out when some pirates attacked the casino. I ended up here infront of another human slave shop (kinda ironic).

I limped my way over to an empty place and sat down. It was cold, it was snowing and I was shivering but I had no energy to move and find shelter, so to distract myself from this cold I started to sing a song to myself.

That's when I heard an angelic voice call out to be

"Mister you have a very nice voice hehe~", i turned towards the giggling voice to come face to face with a beautiful woman, no an angel.

She was behind a window pane but her beautiful smile radiated a heat that made my body warmer as my cheek reddened.

"H-how long have you been listening?" I stammered and asked her.

"Long enough to yearn for more~" she answered as she smiled.

My heart started beating faster, I had not sang infront of anyone for years since my mother would always beat me up and tell me to be silent , I coughed into my fist and said " it's rude to listen in on someone you know, but since you asked so nicely I'll sing you another".

I grinned as I started to sing for her. Not long after the owner of the place came and shooed me off but I promised to return.

The next day I came back and sang for her whatever song she wanted me to after which we started talking a bit.

"Wait I still haven't introduced myself, my name is Tesoro, Gild Tesoro, I'm gonna become a world famous star one day" I bowed before her like a performer.

She giggled before answering "My name is Stella and I wish to become a painter ".

" Stella?? Hmm it means 'star' haha I guess we were fated to meet" I smiled.

Several days passed this way as I sang to her and performed some dance moves while she showed me some of her... Interesting art works... one of the art works being a bulldog sitting on a throne while surrounded by a war zone.

Then one day I confessed to her or what was my version of a confession, "You know what, I'll buy you... That sounded wrong I-i mean I'll free you and that doesn't mean you'll have to be with me i-I mean you can if you want to but I won't forc-", I kept on stuttering as she giggled at my anxious self.

I huffed and exclaimed with full conviction" I'll win your heart so please wait for me "

Stella's eyes shone as she smiled and nodded

Present time

"I'll be right back" I told her and left her embrace.

"You'll finally be free" I grinned and started walking away .

"I'll be waiting" She said joyfully as I left the room that she was in.

I made my way to towards the owners room and on my way I saw several other slaves in cages living with minimal necessities, I payed the owner extra money so that Stella would be treated differently.

The slaves had the look of despair on their faces, waiting for a wretched fate to befall them, ' I can't save everyone, I'm sorry' I thought in my mind as I knocked on the door of the owner

"come in" said a voice from the inside the room

On entering the room I could see the owner was distressed. He glared at me before saying

"Oh it's you Tesoro, I don't have time to deal with you right now so we should talk later" he said while waving me off.

"Oi we had a deal , I have been paying you since three years this is the last installment" I shouted angrily .

But before he could refute back the door behind me opened and then came in some men in black suits. They barged in pushed me off and then handed the owner some papers and suitcase.

"what the fuc-" before I could swear at them, one of them kicked me in the gut which made all the wind from my lungs escape.

"keep quiet commoner " they ordered as they spit on the ground before me.

The owner was sweating while dealing with them " I-I hope you can forgive that man, he has some impulse c-controls, I hope the prince had a safe trip over here" he stammered while fidgeting his hands.

'prince? Is it that world noble thing that the people were talking about' I thought while I heard a familiar voice shouting

"Get your hands off of me!!! Let me go!!!"

"STELLA!!!" I shouted as I ran out

" Tesoro!! Wait!!!" the owner shouted behind me

I rushed outside to find a scene that was oddly familiar to me

Several men in black suits had several slaves with bomb collars strapped to their neck while being held by chains. The slaves were being motioned to move while a hideous laughter filled the air.

The owner of this hideous laughter was a man in a white jumpsuit with a bubble sphere covering his head. He had an ugly smile and perverted gaze as he stared at Stella who was held beside him by two armed men

"Hiok! Hiok! Hiok! My my what a bountiful harvest I had today all of these slaves are really exquisite, especially this blondy" he exclaimed before clutching Stella by the hair.

"Stella!!!" I shouted as I ran towards her "LET HER GOO!!" I screamed as I tightened my fist to punch that bastard.

But before my fist could connect with him my face met the ground as I felt the weight of more than two people on me. A sudden headache assaulted my head as visions of glimpses played before me. My vision distorted as I saw a room full of mangled corpses.

"Tesoro!!!" Stella screamed.

"Huh was this insect trying to approach me?? Hiok! Hiok! What a fool, guards make him suffer " the prince ordered.

"Yes prince Kacke" the men saluted before picking me up and punching me in the gut.

They kicked me in my shin and kept punching me in the face. The pain coursed through my body as I felt some of my bones fractured while the headache grew.

" Please stop!!! I'll go with you willingly so please stop" Stella cried infront of the prince.

"Huh you think you can order me" the prince slapped Stella and she fell to the ground with a red mark around her cheek.

"... Y..you..." I glared at the prince as I was kicked again in the face before falling to the ground.

"tch Im bored let's leave" the prince said while leaving

The slaves were being moved and even Stella was picked up and pulled.

" Wait!! Let her go!!!" I shouted as I tried to get up from the ground. But fell back down

Stella saw what was happening and looked towards me with a kind smile as I tears ran down her face

"Thank you I appreciate your feelings at least"

'No!!! Don't say those words', a headache grew in my head as my heart rate increased.

My vision distorted again as I saw a man with a pink suit pointing a gun at me, "Any last words Vlad?". Voices and visions assaulted my mind.

"I thank you for the last three beautiful years that you have given me, I was happy"

"I... I... I'll.. sa... ve..." I muttered as I willed my body to stand

"I was happy from the bottom of my heart" Stella said before she was pulled further away.

The prince stopped and ordered "oh yeah grab that guy as well, he'll also be my slave".

"Yes prince Kacke!!" the armed men stammered before heading towards me.

The headache grew severe before in his head some voice said "memory assimilation starting".

Kill

Break

Slice

Voices started muttering in my head as my rage bubbled up.

I felt something or rather multiple things around me. All around me,in the ground, in the people around me, flowing inside them, it's inside them, I can feel it, it's IRON.