The blue haired boy opened his eyes to gleaming sun and a gentle swaying as the waves of the ocean rocked the ship. He stretched his sore limbs and immediately felt a throbbing pain in his chest. He realized he didn’t have a shirt on, and stared at the gaping hole in his chest where his heart should be. He threw back his head and groaned. Secret’s out.

The teen sat up and grabbed the change of clothes somebody left on a chair beside the bed. He pulled on the shirt and the oversized pants. They must’ve been either Zoro’s or Sanji’s.

He heard a stampede of running footsteps and the door burst open. A panting Chopper, Sanji, and Luffy stood in the doorway. Chopper’s eyes filled with tears at the sight of him.

“Fruit Punch!” he sobbed, tottering over to him.

He fell back onto the bed when the reindeer jumped on him, enveloping him in a tearful embrace. He smiled and patted his head.

Luffy smiled from ear to ear as he watched.

“How did you guys know I was awake?"

Sanji pointed to the eye on the ceiling and the teen sweatdropped.

“Ah… Robin…”

The eye vanished after it winked at him.

“What exactly happened to me?”

“You had a… heart attack,” Sanji smiled nervously. “You’re really weak, aren’t you? Getting worked up over a nightmare like that.”

The blue haired boy scowled at the cook.

“Let’s do something fun, Fruit Punch!” Luffy cheered.

“No, Luffy! He needs to rest!” Chopper shouted.

“Awww,” Luffy’s face fell. “He’s fine now, isn’t he?”

“Listen to the doctor!”

Fruit Punch laughed and removed Chopper from his lap. They stared as he stood from the bed.

“Sorry, you guys,” he grinned sadly. “But I think it’s about time I leave.”

Luffy opened his mouth to protest but Sanji interrupted.

“At least stay until the next island.”

“That’s what you guys always say,” he spotted his rucksack and went to retrieve it. “And then something happens to keep me from leaving. I’m already in trouble for not meeting the important person back at Ember Island. I’m going to get scolded.”

“Stay, Fruit Punch! You have to!” Luffy ordered.

“Where’s my Baby Den Den Mushi?” Fruit Punch asked suddenly.

Sanji and the others glanced at each other.

“What?” Sanji walked up to him. “Den Den Mushi?”

“Aaaaaack!” the boy messed up his hair in aggravation. “Now I can’t call for someone to pick me up!”

“Yahoo—“

“Don’t ‘yahoo!’ me!” Fruit Punch interrupted Luffy.

Nami appeared in the doorway. “Usui! You’re awake!”

Fruit Punch looked around in confusion. “Usui?”

Nami went over to hug him, making Sanji flare up in envy.

“How are you? You uncomfortable anywhere?” Nami asked after releasing him.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m going to die later though. Young Master isn’t going to be happy about this.”

Sanji sucked on his cigarette for a moment, scrutinizing the young man. “Oi, Usui.”

Fruit Punch didn’t respond.

“Usui,” Sanji tried again.

Nothing.

“Fruit Punch, Sanji’s calling you,” Luffy informed him.

“Hm?” Fruit Punch turned. “No, he’s calling for a guy named Usui.”

The Straw Hats all froze in their place.

“What’re you talking about, Usui?” Nami inquired apprehensively. “You’re… Usui…”

Fruit Punch gave her a weird look. “No, I’m not.”

He cracked a smile. “You mean you guys thought my name was Usui? Where in the world did you get that?”

Law walked in just when Usui said:

“My name’s Vellane Sin. It always has been and always will be.”

_ A few moments ago.

“Eeeeeeeh!?” the Straw Hats exclaimed. “Fruit Punch doesn’t need his heart to turn back to normal?!”

Law grinned smugly. “My ototo is just that talented.”

“Explain it a bit more, Law,” Nami prodded. “Just a few hours ago, we needed to get Usui’s heart to help him and now it doesn’t matter anymore.”

“It does matter, just not as much as before.”

“I see,” Luffy and Zoro synchronized.

“If Robin and I don’t get it, there’s no way you two understand!” Nami spat.

“The key is his name,” Law began. “Whenever he came to ambush me and my crew, he’d always call himself Vellane. And for whatever reason, he introduced himself as Usui this time around. That’s probably because the effects of the Equ Equ no mi wore out, Usui’s relentless fighting made progress.”

“Ooooh!” Chopper sparkled. “Sugoi!”

Franky was crying his heart out. “Fruit Punch! What a man! What an admirable kid!”

“So!” Nami beamed. “We just need to chip away at the barrier then! Just nudge him in the right direction.”

Law nodded, a gleam of hope in his eyes. “Perhaps this will all end by the time we get to Dressrosa.”

“Then the world’s greatest weapon will be on our side!” Usopp was exhilarated. “Doflamingo is going down!”

“If that’s the case, we don’t even need to do any work,” Sanji said jokingly.

“That’s boring, though,” Zoro sulked.

“But we still need Usui’s heart. He’s powerless without it,” Law reminded them. “If they decide that it’s not worth trying to get him back, they’ll kill him.”

“Then we’ll definitely get it back!” Luffy swore.

“I don’t really understand,” Brook said. “But I’m gathering that Usui-san won’t be a puppet anymore?”

“That’s right. As long as we can keep the momentum he provided us,” Law grinned again.

“He’s awake,” Robin informed them.

“Really?!” Luffy hopped onto his feet. “Let’s get him and Tra-guy to talk to each other!”

“Not yet, Luffy!” Usopp held him back. “He’s still going to go crazy if we even mention him!”

“What if it breaks the whatcha-ma-call-it quicker than whatever you guys were saying!” Luffy was still working his legs, trying to run out of Usopp’s grip.

“I’d rather not risk it!” Usopp said, still struggling to hold his Captain back. “I don’t want to die because of some off chance!”

Law watched Usopp convince Luffy not to mention him and then the cook, captain, and doctor rush to see his brother. He stared down at his hands, ecstatic. He’d never thought this day could come.

Robin smiled warmly at him and an arm sprouted in front of Law, handing him his mask. Law stared at the archeologist.

“Shouldn’t you go see him too, Trafalgar?”

Law smiled and, grabbing the mask, stood to head over to the sick bay.

_ end

“That was close,” Sanji said as he and Nami headed to the kitchen where the others dragged Usui off. “If Luffy hadn’t been intruding on Usui’s private property, we never would’ve been able to hide the Den Den Mushi.”

“Yeah, imagine one of Doflamingo’s crew members coming to retrieve him. Or even Doflamingo himself.”

They walked in silence for a few seconds.

“Tra-guy must be crushed,” Nami expressed as they reached the galley. “His theory was wrong.”

“No,” Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke. “It was right.”

“What?” Nami’s eyebrows creased. “But—“

“We just underestimated the adversary. Usui did manage to wear down the barrier, but who’s to say that we were the only ones who noticed. They upgraded the cage.”

Nami gritted her teeth. “This whole predicament is making me hate that damn warlord even more. What’s his deal, messing with children’s lives? The pedophilic bastard.”

They entered the galley and Nami joined the boys at the table as Sanji rolled up his sleeves to start lunch. Fruit Punch humored the Straw Hats, joining in on the conversation and laughing. He thought he could stay for a little while longer and leave later on in the day. He was already going to be scolded, a few more hours couldn’t hurt.

Sanji called for the others and the pirates all filed in for the meal. Law was the last one to enter and he took his spot on the bench, right beside Usui. He mentally cursed the Straw Hats. They did that on purpose.

“Why can’t they find a way to turn crumbs…” Fruit Punch paused for dramatic effect as Sanji laid out the sandwiches. “Back into food.”

Fruit Punch leaned backward as the last word left his lips, pleased with the awed expressions on his friends' faces.

“You’re a genius, Fruit Punch!” Chopper gawked.

Usopp and Luffy clapped in appreciation and Usui did an awkward half bow as he was sitting on the bench.

“Ridiculous,” Sanji smiled, placing the plate of onigiri down.

“Don’t you mean,” Vellane pushed back his bangs and pulled on a smug smirk. “Brilliant?”

“Yes, brilliantly ridiculous,” Law said.

The Straw Hats all tensed up.

“Thank you, Wal,” Vellane grinned, completely fine. “You sure know how to pay a compliment…”

Fruit Punch slammed his hands on the dining table and stood up. The Straw Hats all jumped into action, swords unsheathed, hands crossed, arm guns clicked, and slingshots were loaded.

“You just spoke!” Vellane beamed.

“Yup,” Wal said uncaringly, reaching for an onigiri.

Vellane punched the air in victory. He turned to the others. “Hey! He talked!”

The blue haired teen blinked. He noticed their edgy expressions and their readied weapons. “What’s the matter? What’re you guys doing?”

“Ah…” Nami smiled nervously. “It’s nothing.”

Everyone relaxed and sat back down, glancing between each other and at Law. Vellane stared questioningly at them for a second before going back to ogling at Wal with a bright expression.

Law lifted his mask but didn’t take it off entirely, just enough to expose his mouth to eat. Vellane grinned and reached for his own onigiri.

“I’m glad,” Vellane said, smiling at the rice ball. “I managed to hold a conversation with Wal.”

Robin stared at Law. Nami bit her bottom lip, trying to keep from doing anything insensitive. Zoro closed his eyes, reaching for the bottle of sake. Sanji’s eyes were hooded and his teeth gritted. Chopper quickly wiped away his tears and Usopp gazed pityingly at Law. Franky had to excuse himself, unable to hold back the sobs. Brook kept his eyes on his food, unmoving. Luffy’s eyes were shadowed and perhaps even more frighteningly, he kept his hands off the sandwiches.

This is… Nami bit aggressively into her sandwich.

Too… Chopper strained a smile and struck up a conversation with Vellane.

Too… Usopp joined in, laughing raucously.

Too much… Sanji lit his cigarette.

Law kept eating his food, nodding once in a while at Vellane’s questions.

It was better for him to acknowledge his existence… Zoro took a swig of alcohol.

Than to forget him all together… Brook finally bit into his sandwich.

Vellane leaned in to address Robin and she smiled. How…

Nami sniffed. How…

Sanji blew out a string of smoke. How…

Zoro hit Vellane on the head and the blue haired teen clutched it, yelling at the swordsman. How…

Brook burped and Nami threw a spoon at his skull. How…

Chopper climbed onto Vellane’s shoulders and giggled. How…

Usopp teased the soldier of Don Quixote’s crew. How…

“Sad,” Luffy said in a monotonous tenor.

“Hm?” Vellane looked over at the Captain. “Did you say something, Luffy?”

“Not really,” Luffy muttered.

Vellane gave him a worried look. Usopp shifted in anxiety, then chuckled nervously.

“Hey, Fruit Punch,” he held out a glass. “Can you get me a glass of water?”

“Sure,” Vellane accepted the cup and hopped over to the kitchen.

Sanji was about to speak when the sound of shattering glass interrupted him.

They all snapped their heads over at the noise. Vellane was stationary in the middle of the kitchen, hauntingly silent.

“Oi, Fruit Punch! You alright?!” Luffy ran over to him. “Oi—“

Luffy clamped his mouth shut. The life had been sucked out of Vellane's nebulously scarlet eyes, creating two empty voids.  

“Oi,” Luffy’s voice broke. “Fruit Punch…”

Law stood from his spot and walked out of the room.

“Oi…” Luffy shook Vellane’s shoulders. “Fruit Punch… Fruit Punch!”

 Vellane’s head lolled limply, unresponsive.

Luffy gritted his teeth.

The next few days, Usui sat dully on the lawn or stared unconsciously at the swaying ocean while leaning on the railing. He was just there. He didn’t talk, he didn’t eat. He was an empty vessel.

Chopper had no idea how to help. He got so frustrated with himself, his limitations, that he transformed and made a huge hole in the sick bay’s walls.

Usopp would try to coax the teen to talk. He would place a fishing pole in Usui’s hands and sit beside him to fish. Whenever the pole slipped out of Usui’s weak hold and splashed into the ocean below, Usopp would smile and tell him it’s alright. Then, the sniper would pull out another pole and replace the former.

Robin and Nami would sit him down and attempt to make him read or smile. Robin would sprout hand after hand, tickling his sides, she would make random parts of her body appear to produce the reaction she would normally get, but nothing. After gaining no progress they would look at each other almost desperately. Nami would turn to Usui and pull on a strained smile, telling him that he’d better get well soon.

Franky would pose randomly in front of the disconcertingly detached boy. He would show off his robotic parts, hoping it would lead to impressed expressions and praise. Brook would pull out his instruments, asking him what he should play. He’d pretend to get an answer and go on to perform an entire rock show. Nothing.

Zoro didn’t speak, he didn’t try to draw out some response. He simply sat down next to the teen and kept him silent company.

Luffy acted like nothing was the matter. He acted like he had when Usui was himself. He’d talk to him, play games with him, and laugh with him. It was all one sided though.

One day, when Sanji was exiting the galley, he saw that the plate of food he had left beside Usui was once again untouched.

Sanji bit down hard on his cigarette and stomped over to him. This was the last straw. “Oi, high maintenance brat!”

“Sanji!” Nami reproached, trying to hold him back.

Sanji’s face was the likeness of the devil. “We can’t keep dealing with your shit forever! You’ve been playing around for thirteen years! Get serious already!”

Usui didn’t reply, staring blankly. The others were still in their places.

“You were fighting, weren’t you?!” Sanji’s lips trembled as he shouted. “You were going to become a person again! Huh?!”

“Sanji…” Nami whispered.

They heard footsteps and turned to see Law walking over to Usui. They stared with wide eyes as he crouched down and grabbed the teen’s wrist. He forced Usui's fingers to curl into a fist and then met it with his. Usui’s eyes shown with life.

“I’m back,” Law said dimly.

Usui’s head whipped up, pupil's dilating.

Law gritted his teeth. “Ototo.”