Yuji and Hancock had successfully navigated the daunting Reverse Mountain, crossing into the Grand Line with relative ease. Now, they found themselves wandering a quiet, shallow island, the salty sea air mingling with the faint scent of wildflowers as they strolled down a narrow path through the island's sparse village.
As they walked, the distant hum of conversation floated through the air, snippets of words catching Yuji's attention. His sharp ears picked up a few whispered words that made him halt in his tracks.
"Did you hear about the teen doctor?"
"Yeah, and he's got a talking bear with him, can you believe it?"
A grin crept onto Yuji's face. "Gotcha," he murmured, his voice barely audible but filled with a spark of excitement.
Hancock, who had been silently observing the surroundings, glanced up at him. "So, I assume those two are what we came here for?" she asked, one eyebrow arched as she gave him a knowing look.
Yuji nodded, his grin widening. "Yes, that's exactly who we're here to find."
Curious to learn more, Yuji decided to ask one of the locals for directions. He approached a nearby fisherman with a friendly nod, but before he could get a word out, the man's eyes widened as he noticed Hancock standing beside him.
"Uh… excuse me, miss," the man stammered, his cheeks reddening as he looked at Hancock with an admiring gaze. "Are you… by any chance… single?"
Hancock's expression shifted from neutral to icy in a flash. With a flick of her wrist, she raised her hand, and in an instant, the fisherman was turned to stone, frozen in place with a lovestruck smile on his face. Hancock then looked at Yuji with a shy, almost bashful expression, her cheeks tinged with a slight blush.
Yuji sighed, shaking his head with an amused smile. "Let's try asking someone else," he suggested, already searching for another island resident.
As he approached a group of villagers gathered near a market stall, he cleared his throat, preparing to ask them about the mysterious doctor and his companion. But just as before, one of the men glanced over at Hancock, his eyes lighting up with instant admiration.
"Excuse me, miss, are you with this gentleman?" the man asked, clearly hopeful.
Hancock didn't even hesitate this time. With another flick of her wrist, the man joined the first as a lifeless stone statue, his face frozen in awe.
A slight blush spread across her cheeks as she glanced at Yuji, who was struggling to hide his laughter. "I… I just can't stand it when they stare like that," she mumbled, looking away as if embarrassed.
Yuji let out a soft chuckle. "Well, it's safe to say we'll have to find these two ourselves."
They continued on through the village, keeping their ears open for any mention of the doctor and his unusual companion. After a few more unsuccessful attempts to gather information (thanks to Hancock's tendency to petrify any admirer), they finally spotted a pair who matched the descriptions they'd heard earlier.
Ahead of them, near the edge of a quiet meadow, was a young man who appeared to be around sixteen. He had a rugged yet meticulous look, wearing a white, fur-lined hat dotted with black spots, his gaze intense yet guarded. Dressed in a yellow hoodie emblazoned with a strange insignia, he was clearly not from the island. His expression was stern and almost cold, his mouth set in a hard line as he lectured a large, white-furred bear beside him.
"Do you even listen, Bepo?" the young man said, his voice tinged with frustration. "You can't keep making these mistakes. If you don't pay attention, I can't guarantee your safety."
The white bear, who stood upright like a human, scratched his head, looking down at his feet in embarrassment. "I… I'm sorry," he mumbled, his ears drooping as he averted his gaze. "I will not do it again"
Yuji and Hancock exchanged a glance, silently agreeing that these were indeed the people they'd been searching for. Without hesitation, they approached the pair, drawing the young man's attention.
The boy's gray eyes shifted to them, narrowing slightly as he sized them up. He seemed wary, his posture tense, as if he were prepared to defend himself if necessary.
"Hey," Yuji greeted casually, offering a nod. "I'm Yuji."
The young man regarded him in silence for a moment, his expression unchanging. Finally, he spoke, his voice calm but cautious. "I'm Law," he replied, his tone carrying a note of reservation. "Why did you approach us? Are you a patient?" His eyes flicked briefly over Yuji, his keen gaze assessing for any signs of injury.
Yuji chuckled softly. "No, I'm not a patient," he replied. "I just heard some interesting rumors about a talented young doctor and his talking bear companion, and I had to see it for myself."
Law's expression remained guarded, but there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. "Interesting rumors, huh?" he said, his tone skeptical. He glanced at Hancock, his brows furrowing slightly as if trying to gauge her intentions. "People here talk too much," he muttered, mostly to himself, before he turned back to Yuji.
Meanwhile, the bear presumably named Bepo had lifted his head, his eyes wide with curiosity. "You're… not here to make fun of me?" he asked, his voice surprisingly soft and polite.
Yuji shook his head, giving Bepo a reassuring smile. "No, not at all. I'm actually here because I'm interested in what you two are capable of."
Law crossed his arms, his expression serious. "We're not interested in any trouble," he said firmly. "If you're here to start something, then you're wasting your time."
Yuji raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "I promise, I'm not here to start anything," he said calmly. "But I am here to talk. Maybe you'd be interested in hearing what I have to say?"
Seeing Law's hesitation, Hancock spoke up, her tone gentle. "He's telling the truth. We mean no harm. We're simply… interested in what you two are doing here."
Law's gaze flicked between the two of them, his posture gradually relaxing though he maintained a guarded expression. "Fine," he said at last, his tone wary but begrudging. "But I'm not interested in whatever you're selling."
Yuji couldn't help but chuckle at the young doctor's bluntness. "Don't worry, I'm not selling anything," he replied. "I just wanted to meet someone as skilled as you."
Law's eyes narrowed, a flicker of suspicion crossing his face. "Why?" he asked bluntly. "What do you want from me?"
Yuji smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he met Law's gaze. "All I want is a conversation. Let's just say… I think we could be useful to each other."