A/N: yay for One Piece! and for this pairing, despite the fact that no one else seems to enjoy it...seriously, there are, like, no stories for this pairing. none. and it sucks big time so, in an attempt to generate more Sanji/Usopp-love, i've started this little gem of a tale.
the credit for actual plot goes to my older sister, Lancesinmyheart, who is a sheer genius when it comes to plots.
so, as always, enjoy and let me know what you think!
"Class, we have a new student today." says Nariko, offering her class a large smile. She ignores their irritated and disbelieving stares, instead waving one hand to the boy standing beside her.
Unfortunately, it's the middle of the school year and her class stays silent. Beside her, the young boy's shoulders droop. His eyes flicker, first to her, then to the plethora of staring high-schooler's before him. Shifts uncomfortably, shoves both hands in his pocket, and finally stares down at her feet.
The smile drops off of Nariko's face. "Come on now, kids. Why don't you give him a warm welcome? And, Usopp, why don't you introduce yourself?"
Again, her previous students stay silent. The tan-skinned boy beside her, however, gives one more uncomfortable shuffle of his feet before looking up at the other students.
"I'm, uh, my name's Usopp Rami." he squeeks out. His voice is high-pitched and rather shakey, nerves getting the best of him. "I just - I just moved to town and, uhm, can I go sit down now?"
He turns a pleading gaze on the woman beside him, relieved that she doesn't seem too up-tight. Horror-stories of uncaring teachers can do wonders for a boy that has always been home-schooled. When he first moved here, to Grand Line City, he'd been terrified of public school.
Still is, though the warm brown eyes of Nariko are doing a good job at easing some of his worries.
"Of course, Rami." she answers, waving him towards an empty seat. Between Sanji and Nojiko who, hopefully, wouldn't give him too much trouble. "And, now, before we begin, a few words about our new student. Not only is he from out of town, but he's been taught at home for quite some time. I hope that you'll all do well to welcome him and help him out!"
Again, she is met by silence. A few of the more social students send the long-nosed boys a smile, though most just keep doodling on their paper or staring blankly in her direction, waiting for the class to start.
Nariko lets out a sigh, then turns to face her black-board. Sometimes she forgets just how anti-social her class is.
-x-x-x-
The halls, Usopp decides rather quickly, are very simalier to what he assumes Hell is. Everywhere he turns, there is something new to dodge. An elbow here, a shove there, a nasty word and an angry scowl.
Twice, he is pushed into a locker. Several times, his feet are trampled. By the time that he actually reaches his locker, it feels as though his throat has something lodged in it and his heart is pounding in his chest.
He cannot breath.
He cannot move.
He cannot hear - and, when he lets his forhead fall against the cool metal of his locker door, it is with the knowledge that, everyday for the next two years, this is what he'll be forced to endure.
Suddenly, he finds himself missing quaint little Syrup Village.
-x-x-x-
Math class brings with it a tardy note and his first glimpse of a real teacher. Mr. Barnaby is nothing less then gruesome in his ways, focusing every ounce of attention on the quivering Usopp.
A question pops up? Usopp is called on. Something is gotten wrong? His knowledge is mocked. He is belittled and laughed at, by someone supposed to be teaching him!
And Usopp wants to protest Barnaby's accusations so badly. Tell the class that it isn't his fault, because he could only teach himself so much. Small town libraries aren't meant to provide an entire schooling's worth of knowledge, just like children aren't supposed to explain theoriums of algebra and science to themselves.
Instead, the young man just ducks his head and tries to deal with it.
-x-x-x-
Lunch offers a brief sanctum for Usopp. He doesn't have to wonder around and look for a table, nor does he need to wait in line for the soggy looking pizza that's being served. Instead, he's rescued by his pale-skinned cousin, Kaya.
"There you are, Usopp!" she calls, waving at him from her almost filled table. "Come sit over here!"
For the first time that day, Usopp gives a small smile. He shifts the bag carrying his lunch, packed by one of Kaya's many care-takers, and makes his way through the still bustling crowd.
"H-hey, Kaya." he says, taking the only empty seat there. It's inbetween his cousin and a red haired girl he hasn't met yet. "Thanks for, uh, y'know, saving me a seat."
"I told you I would, didn't I?" Kaya asks, then she turns to the rest of the table. "This is my cousin, Usopp. I hope you all don't mind if he sits here with us?"
"Of course not, Kaya." the girl beside Usopp says, rolling her eyes. "Since when do we care who sits here?"
A few of the other kids around her laugh, including Kaya, and Usopp gives an awkward smile. After just a few moments, everyone is introducing themselves.
Nami - who is sitting on his left, short hair tucked behind one ear, and clad in what he assumes is fashionable clothing.
Luffy - who is too focused on eating to do much more than grin and wave, though he seems like a decent guy.
Robin - who, with a slight smile, introduces herself and turns back to her conversation with Nami.
Sanji - who, it turns out, is the blond that Usopp sits beside during English.
Zolo - who scowls and grunts but doesn't actually speak.
Kaya is perfectly at ease here, among her friends. They don't mind that she's sick, and always will be. They don't care that she's rich, or that she's a little on the quiet side. They enjoy her company.
Usopp? He wishes he could go home.
-x-x-x-
The rest of the school day passes in the same, rushed but drawn out manner. Most of his teachers find joy in watching him squirm, most of his fellow students don't notice that he's there. The ones that do are either introduced to him by Kaya, and offer a smile and nothing more, or only add to the stress of the day.
Twice, he is knocked down.
Once, he gets lost in the maze of halls that make up his new school.
He drops his shoulder-bag, misplaces his lunch money, and desperately misses the days when he taught himself all that he knew.
At the same time, he isn't sure that he wants to go home to his new house. Oh, it isn't really his. It's Kaya's - or rather, it is Kaya's parents home, though the two adults are rarely at home. Instead, the sickly girl is taken care of by the numerous helping hands that the Naveah family have hired over the years. And it's a grand house, especially when compared to Usopp's former dwelling. It's just that, if he's honest, Kaya's personal butler makes him more than a little nervous.
-x-x-x-x-
"Ah, Miss Kaya. You're home. I trust that school went well?" purrs Kuro, voice slick with fake wonder. He is standing just outside of the main entrance to the mansion-like abode, one hand resting on the fine white railing that surrounds the covered porch.
Almost ignorantly, Kaya gives him a kind smile. "Yes, it did. I've actually made plans to have Nami over later this evening, if you think that would be alright? Maybe we could even get Valtina to make those little orange cakes for dessert?"
As he always does, Kuro pauses for a moment as though in deep thought. His dark blue eyes, almost black, narrow slightly, mouth turned down in concentration. Then he gives a slow nod, but doesn't smile back.
Never smiles back, as far as Usopp can tell. The younger boy is standing just a few spaces behind his cousin, one hand gripping the strap of his olive green shoulder-bag, the other shoved in the pocket of his jeans.
On the very first day of living at Kaya's, Usopp had decided that something about Kuro just wasn't right. Maybe it's the fact that, even when he is speaking to someone else, if Usopp is around then those almost black eyes are latched onto him.
Just like now, when he nods at the blonde girl beside him and starts down the red-wood stairs.
"I think that we can arrange that, Miss Kaya." Kuro tells her, then he slips slender fingers under the loop of her bag and slides it onto his own shoulder. "Why don't you go make your request? I believe that she is in the upstairs sitting room, presently."
"Alright, thank you Kuro!" says Kaya. She flashes him another smile and then, slowly and carefully, just like always, makes her way up the stairs and into the house.
The dark-haired man turns to Usopp then, corners of his lips quirked up in a smirk. "And what about you, Usopp? Was your first day at a real school...pleasent?"
The last word comes out almost as a hiss and, without thinking, Usopp takes a step away from the older male. "It - it was fine, I g-guess."
Like with Kaya, Kuro nods and then moves to take the long-nosed man's shoulder-bag. Before Usopp can protest, which he plans on doing, pale fingers have already wrapped themselves around the worn strap.
For the briefest of moments, they hesitate there. Cold skin against Usopp's bare shoulder, in a way that seems more menacing then anything else, and then they are gone.
With them is Kuro who, by the time Usopp manages to blink the haze of fear away from his eyes, has already dissapeared into the house.