Author's Note: I'm so flattered to see that so many people are following this from Deeper Than the Sea! For the record, I'm trying to start this out at a pace faster than DTtS, because there's so much more stuff that I want to happen in this story. As a few of you asked in reviews—yes, there will be Skypeia characters in this story! In fact, I have a whole sub-plot I want to write for the Skypeian characters...though it's rather intense, so I'm not sure I'll be able to fit it into the trilogy. But if I don't get it in this arc or the next, I promise I'll publish it separately, as its own little side story! (I just really want to write an AU with the Skypeia characters... XP)

Anyway, thanks for all the reviews and all the support! I hope that you'll all continue to enjoy this story as it unfolds!

Deeper Than the World

1: Iceburg Cutty

"What do you mean, it collapsed?" demanded Nami. "It's our meeting house, it can't just collapse!"

"The hell?" Usopp snapped back. "You were the least enthusiastic about this whole shack idea when Luffy first thought of it! I thought you were the one who would understand if I told you that it. Is. A. Piece. Of. Junk! Not fixable! I'm just lucky that I wasn't in it when it fell in on itself…"

"I bet you destroyed the little remaining foundation that was holding it up," muttered Sanji under his breath.

Usopp spun on Sanji with a death glare. "Like I would do something like that!" he snapped. "I may be an amateur, but I know what a foundation is!"

"Ah, but can you identify one when you see it?" asked Nami. "Especially in a pile of rubble that's moments away from collapsing anyway?"

Usopp threw his hands into the air. "Look, I'm just taking this to Luffy."

He moved to stalk off down the path, but Zoro grabbed him by the scruff of the neck. Usopp choked and hastily backed up.

"Are you trying to kill me?"

"If you take it to Luffy, he'll look at us with that disappointed look of his, and next thing you know we'll be living in a cave somewhere miles and miles from here."

"Or just a fraction of a mile, but far enough that Zoro would never get there," supplied Nami.

Usopp threw his hammer to the ground and threw up his hands in despair. "Fine, then! What do you want from me? Luffy's going to notice that the building's broken eventually, a big collapsed shack isn't exactly concealable!"

"You could put up a big board with a painting of a shack on it while you work behind the board," said Sanji. "Luffy'd never know the difference."

"Yeah, right!" huff Usopp. "No one would notice the missing dimension, I'm sure. Why don't I remove the second dimension and just make a line while I'm at it? I'm sure no one would notice!"

"Well, no need to be sarcastic," said Sanji in a distinctly sarcastic tone.

"I agree with Sanji that Luffy probably wouldn't miss the third dimension," supplied Nami.

Usopp stared at them, and then heaved a sigh. "Fine, I'll go buy a big board. But if he pitches a fit, it's on you two."

Still, when Usopp reached the store and looked at the largest board they had, he was filled with doubt that even the most realistic painting would be mistaken for anything but a painting.

"Hey, what can I do you for?" said a cheerful, familiar voice. When the large man stepped out from the pile of wood, Usopp blinked in surprise.

"Mr. Cutty?"

The man glared. "I keep telling you kids to call me Bro, I don't understand why that's so difficult! Mr. Cutty is so formal, it makes me feel old."

Usopp was very, very tempted to tell the man that as far as he was concerned, late 30s very much counted as 'old.' However, he also retained survival instincts which were screaming that to say such a thing would be a very bad idea.

"Um, in that case, I think I'll just…"

"Franky, how many times must I tell you not to intimidate the customers?" demanded another familiar voice, and Usopp blinked in terror as Mr. Iceburg Cutty stepped out from the back room.

"Mr…Mr. Cutty!" he squeaked. Where in the world was Ms. Kokoro, and why was her shop overrun with scary teachers?

"See, now that's just inefficient," Mr. Cutty who was Franky commented. "Now you're calling both of us Mr. Cutty, and we'd never know which of us was supposed to be which."

"You- you're related?" Usopp squeaked, and wondered why it should have never occurred to him that if there were two people of similar age with the same last name in a village this small, chances were that they were, in fact, related.

"Unfortunately," the pair chorused, rolling their eyes identically.

"Not by blood, though, thank god," said Mr. (Franky) Cutty.

"That's my line," said Mr. (Iceburg) Cutty, and the pair launched into an attempt to name as many faults of the other as they could think of.

Usopp stared in awe as the usually calm, cold, efficient Mr. (Iceburg) Cutty shouted and complained and argued with his brother like a boy.

"Anyhow," said Mr. (Iceburg) Cutty, cutting off one of Mr. (Franky) Cutty's longer rants. "What was it you came to buy?"

"Um, I was thinking about getting one of these planks of wood…but I'm thinking about reconsidering."

"What're you planning on using it for?" demanded Franky in a voice that was a great deal louder than necessary (as Iceburg was quick to point out).

"Do tell," said Iceburg, turning back to Usopp after a brief argument with Franky about appropriate voice volumes. "We're both professionals, we should be able to help."

"Well, you see, there's this…thing…of questionable structural integrity. Well, it was of questionable structural integrity, now it really has no structural integrity, since it's not really standing anymore. But anyway, that shack was supposed to be…like a club spot, in a way, and there're a lot of people counting on it being there, so we had to do something quickly-"

"I really don't think that a 10' x 10' x ½" plank of wood is going to do you any good," Franky interrupted.

"He shouldn't have interrupted," said Iceburg with a glare, "but he's right. If it's entirely collapsed, then you'll want to start from scratch on that same foundation—assuming that there are still parts of the foundation that are usable, because otherwise you'll just be building a new structure entirely from scratch. So you'll want precise measurements, and especially if you're in a rush, it would be better if we provided you with-"

"No, no, no," Usopp interjected. "You're misunderstanding me. You see, I am an amateur, and I know that there is no way that I'll be able to build a building, even on top of an existing foundation, in the next week or even month. So I need a way to appease a certain…determined person who wants the building finished."

"…So you need a really large plank of wood," Iceburg deadpanned. "What, exactly, were you going to do to appease this person?"

"Er…paint a shack on the plank of wood and stand it up in front of the shack I'm building?" said Usopp timidly.

The Cutty brothers stared at him as if he had just spouted two heads and a few extra arms.

"It wasn't my idea!" he declared, throwing his hands up in the air. "I said that the missing dimension would be pretty conspicuous, but do they ever listen to me? No… I'm just the guy who builds things and fixes things because I'm a bit better at it than they are!"

Iceburg blinked. Franky put his hands on his hips, puffed his chest out importantly, and said, "Then don't you worry! I'll rebuild this shack for you, and I'll do it so quick and super that you won't even need the painting!"

Iceburg yawned. "Well, if you need help, you know where to find me," he said as he made his way back to the back room.

"I won't need your help!" said Franky. "I'll never need your help! Who ever said I'd need help from you?"

No reply came from the back room, and Franky turned back to Usopp. "Right, now take me to this shack!"

"Um," said Usopp timidly, "I don't think I'm allowed to bring people to the shack—it's kind of like a gang thing, you know?"

"You're not even allowed to have gangs in the Institute," said Franky. "You're not super smart, are you?"

"Shut up, I'm your best architecture student!" snapped Usopp.

"You've got no aptitude," sniffed Franky. "You treat architecture like sculpture!"

"What's wrong with that?" demanded Usopp, resisting the temptation to stomp. "So I'm more creative!"

"Nothing," replied Franky, "except that structural integrity is a lot more important in architecture than in sculpture!"

"Why do you keep throwing that word at me?" Usopp cried, finally giving in and stomping his foot in frustration. "It's not my fault that Luffy decided we were supposed to congregate in a deteriorating shack!"

"I," said Franky in that self-important manner of a master of a trade, "would have been able to fix it up super before it collapsed."

"I guess that's why I'm not an architect and you are, then!" snapped Usopp.

"I guess that means I'm fixing the shack!" said Franky.

"I guess so!" said Usopp, and spun around in a huff as he started down the road.

"I'll be back!" called Franky at the shop.

"No kidding," came Iceburg's voice back from the shop. "Unless you intended to cut down trees and fashion the lumber yourself."

"Shut up, or I'll do it and I'll do it super!" snapped Franky, spinning around to yell at the shop.

"'I'll do it superbly,' would be the correct way to phrase that sentence," Iceburg called back.

"Are you coming or not?" demanded Usopp, causing Franky to snap his mouth shut and hurry after Usopp, but not without sending an, "Idiotburg!" over his shoulder at the shop.

It was probably for the better that Iceburg muttered his retort under his breath.

"Well, this is bad," commented Franky within ten seconds of entering the clearing.

"Yes, but how bad?" asked Usopp hesitantly.

"Well, another few weeks of work at least, I'd say," replied Franky.

"…Still sure we don't need that painting?"

Franky waved a hand dismissively. "No one would be fooled by a painting for long anyway. Why not just try to keep that guy away from this place while I'm working on it?"

"I could try," said Usopp doubtfully. "But I doubt it would work."

"I could arrange my tutoring times strategically for the next week or so," said a voice from behind them, making them jump. They spun around to see Nami, her swim bag slung over her shoulder. "I can't help you during my swim practice, though." She grinned widely and turned. "Have fun, boys!" she said, waving idly as she slipped into the trees.

Usopp and Franky stared after her in silence for a moment.

"That was…brief," commented Usopp.

"I didn't know Nami Mikan ever looked happy," remarked Franky.

"So, the shack?"

"Yeah, super! Leave it to me!"

"I can help, you know."

"Amateurs just get in the way. Leave it to me and it'll be super!"

Usopp briefly considered arguing, then thought of all the free time he would have.

"Okay then, see you!" He turned to walk away.

"Oh no you don't," said Franky, catching him by the back of the collar. "You're going to run to the shop and get me the materials I need."

Usopp groaned.

"Do you want your place to get fixed, or not?"

"Yes, sir!"

"No," said Kuina coldly.

"But why not?" huffed Luffy. "Look, I'll just take it, use it, and bring it back! Isn't that what you're supposed to do with library books?"

"Yes, when you're checking them out to read them," said Kuina.

"And?" said Luffy.

"You're not checking out that encyclopedia to read it."

"Yeah! How'd you know?"

"It's a physiology encyclopedia."

"…What's fisylology?"

"Exactly."

"But I wanted it!"

"For what, exactly? Or dare I even ask?"

"Well, you see, Chopper and I were playing this game where he sticks twigs in his hair like antlers and I pretend I'm Santa and steer him by the antlers, but he's always just a little too short, and there's nothing the right size for him to stand on."

"So you're borrowing this as a stool?"

"No, I want Chopper to stand on it so he'll be the right height."

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"I'll give you some meat, I know I've got some here…" He began digging through his pockets.

"No!" exclaimed Kuina, but Luffy had already pulled something white and blue and orange from his pocket. "I don't think I like that kind of meat… And besides, I- I'm suddenly vegetarian."

"Really?" said Luffy, stuffing the lump of mould into his mouth. "Why?"

Kuina fought nausea frantically.

"Never mind…I'm not letting you have that book. You'll have to find another stool."

Luffy's shoulder's slumped a bit for a moment, but as he placed the large leather-bound book on the desk, he suddenly perked up again.

"I know! I can get a log! Usopp can cut down a tree for me!" With that, he rushed out of the library.

Kuina sighed and rubbed her forehead, wondering why she always felt so tired after having a conversation with Luffy.

A blur of blue in the corner of her eye made Kuina turn her head. She caught a brief glimpse of a girl with hair that was a bluish grey—is that grey? Kuina wondered, She looks far too young to have grey hair—and tied into a ponytail.

Oops, thought Kuina wryly as the girl scampered out the door—without setting off the alarm system. Chased off another patron.

Vivi had heard the conversation between Luffy and and the librarian. She had not, however, been scared out of the library by Luffy's idiocy. (She had, in fact, been chuckling to herself as she listened to the conversation, marveling at the librarian's patience.)

What had sent her scampering out the door was the sight of a familiar face in the garden.

"Kohza?" she called, running after the familiar form. He turned around, and sure enough, it was her best friend since childhood. "Kohza!" she repeated joyously as she ran up to him.

"Vivi," he responded with a wide grin.

"What are you doing here?" she asked in delight.

"I heard about the situation from my father," he said.

"Uncle Toto," Vivi sighed. "I thought he might tell you…"

"I thought you might be needing some help…" shrugged Kohza. "But by the time I got my visa and arrived, I guess you'd already sorted everything out."

"Oh, thank god—so the illegal exports and imports stopped after Kuro was captured?"

"Yep—seems that that escaped convict had one heck of a market going under the radar."

"It's just…" Vivi sighed. "There were strange things in his records, you know. Like how he was interviewed here while he was supposedly still in prison in Alabasta."

Kohza raised his eyebrows in amusement. "So you thought he had an accomplice here? Vivi, you worry too much. Besides, that evidence would suggest an accomplice in Alabasta's jail—not here in Fuchsia."

"I suppose," sighed Vivi. She smiled wryly. "Sorry, you know me—I have trouble believing anything when I'm only looking at pieces of information, and can't see the whole picture…"

"You just like to worry," teased Kohza. Vivi laughed.

"So think you can handle it?"

"Of course!"

"You're a great swimmer—easily the best. I don't understand why Coach Arlong never put you in any of the competitions."

Nami shrugged. "He and I had…a number of issues."

Lola laughed. "Say no more. The man's horribly sexist, if nothing else. But as long as I'm coach, the only merit anyone gets is from skill and possibly effort."

"Unless one of the guys agrees to one of your proposals one day." Nami smirked.

Lola laughed heartily. "Unlikely. They've all rejected me so far."

But a glimpse of a red ball of energy running from the library had caught Nami's attention. "I'd love to continue to chat, Lola, but I'm afraid I have someone to catch and force into tutoring."

Nami was already running and waving by the time she had finished her sentence.

"Have fun!" called Lola, turning to head back into the gym.

Nami sprinted towards the intersection where the path Luffy was on merged with the main street, and managed to catch Luffy by the back of his shirt in the nick of time.

"What?" exclaimed Luffy, halting and turning in surprise. "Nami! Hey, I was trying to find something for Chopper to stand on so he'd be the right height to do—something, I don't remember what, but that's not important because I'll figure it out later—and Kuina wouldn't let me take any of those big books from the library, so I need to go ask Usopp if he has a big block of wood or something! So I have to hurry!"

Nami crossed her arms threateningly. "Homework?"

Luffy's eyes became notably shifty. "Um…I don't know what you're talking about?"

"Strike one. Try again."

"I'm sorry, Nami, but I promise I'll do it later! Right now I really have to get this done!"

"You're playing."

"No, it's an essperimement."

"Is this…experiment in any way relevant to anything you're learning in class?"

"Um…can I ask Usopp? Or Chopper?"

"No. Come with me, we're finding Zoro and doing your homework."

"Why?" whined Luffy. "He can just copy later! It'll take ages if we try to find Zoro!"

"Zoro won't learn anything if he copies your homework, and then he'll still be in high school when he's thirty!"

"I think he'd quit after a few more years," said Luffy.

"Which would be bad," Nami stated.

Luffy sighed. "Fine… Can we at least search separately?"

Nami's eyes narrowed. "And let you escape? Absolutely not."

Luffy sighed forlornly. "Fine…"

"Wow," said Sanji mildly. "You still confident that you can get this done before Luffy notices?"

Usopp rolled his eyes testily. "Can you not see that I've been demoted to errand boy?" he said.

Sanji raised his eyebrows. "And here I expected an embellished, extensive tale of how the situation was fixable until you were attacked by some sewer monster."

"Sewer monster? There isn't even running water here!"

"Oh, don't worry!" Franky called, poking his head out from behind a pole that he was steadying. "I'll attach the building to the city reserves, so there'll be running water, electricity, cable and internet when I'm done."

"Isn't that a little excessive?" asked Sanji.

"But this is our lair," said Franky, staring at Sanji as if he had grown another few noses.

"First of all, I believe that Luffy defined it as a 'hide-out' or something like that, and for another, what the hell do you mean, 'our'?"

"Well, I expect to have special access privileges, seeing as how I'm building you a well-equipped building for free."

"You just want a room of your own, don't you?" said Usopp, taking a wild guess that, given the size of the Cutty family, Franky was forced to share a room with one of his siblings.

Franky opened his mouth defiantly as if to deny this claim, but then seemed to think better of arguing, and his shoulders slumped over. "Yeah," he said. "And Ma won't let us wire up the house so we can get internet."

"In this day and age, you don't have internet at home?" said Usopp incredulously, stopping his work to stare at Franky.

"Whatever, and who gave you super permission to stop working? Do you want this thing done as soon as possible or not?"

"Yes…" sighed Usopp gloomily, resuming handing Franky nails, screws, planks, boards and blocks as requested.

"Well, I've got work…" Sanji lied, instinctively sensing that another few moments in the clearing and he would be drafted to assist as well.

"Traitor! Stay and help!" called Usopp, but Sanji was already well on his way out of the clearing and into the trees.

A few moments later—once the sounds of voices and working behind him had faded—he suddenly realized that it was his first time walking this trail alone; the trail appeared to fork, but he didn't remember having ever seen this fork before. Forced to guess, Sanji opted to turn right, figuring that that path looked better trodden. If he guessed wrong, he had only to turn back and go the other way.

The hum of voices made Sanji sigh in relief—surely the road wasn't far away!

Then he recognized one of the voices. Miss Robin Nico—he wouldn't mistake that soothing, sensual voice anywhere! He rushed forward to get a glimpse of the raven-haired beauty—and stopped as he realized that the conversation was not taking place at the road, but in the middle of the forest. Sensing that this was not a situation into which he should barge in blindly, Sanji tip-toed forward as close as he dared without being detected by the rustle of the underbrush.

"…isn't very happy with you." Miss Nico's voice was as luscious as ever—though perhaps colder and icier than Sanji remembered. But the iciness only made her voice all the more beautiful!

"Then can't he have the decency to say so himself?" The voice was that of a man, but it was barely louder than a whisper—Sanji thought that the voice sounded vaguely familiar, but not familiar enough that he could not dismiss it as a trick of the mind.

"Don't be ridiculous. The boss has more important things to do."

"So he tells me to do his dirty work for him?"

"You did it without complaint," Miss Nico replied.

"I assumed there would be compensation."

"You get to maintain your position here. He could have had you transferred."

"He said to be subtle."

"An obvious intruder with no trace of an entry is hardly subtle." Sanji hadn't known that Miss Nico could be sarcastic, and he had to bite his lip to keep from swooning.

"How was I supposed to know they wouldn't consider suicide?"

Sanji's eyes widened as he realized that there was only one possible incident in the little town of Fuchsia that could possibly be the event under discussion.

The sound of a light impact.

"And these discussions must not contain such obvious words either."

"Then make up a code."

"You're a professional. We would have expected that you would not need such fundamental guidance. Now go."

"Ladies first."

"If you insist."

Sanji froze as he realized that it would be virtually impossible for Miss Nico not to see him. He tried his best to edge around a tree at the side of the trail, hoping like nothing else that she would not look back.

He heard the crunching of leaves coming closer, and tried to become the tree against his back. The crunching footsteps approached the tree, and then came around the tree; Sanji saw Miss Nico's back, and just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief—she looked back.

Miss Nico looked at Sanji without a trace of surprise in her eyes. Then she smiled a smile that sent shivers running down Sanji's spine—and he wasn't sure that they were entirely the good kind of shivers—and turned back on her way.