For a character I wasn't going to give his own chapter, Usopp's entry to the crew kind of exploded beyond what I'd originally intended it to be. I think you guys will like this more though then if I'd tacked him on to the end of Nami's chapter like I was going to though. So please enjoy!
"Halt, Pirates! Don't take one step closer!"
The voice called from the cliff edge above, revealing the single figure of an overall-wearing kid leering down at the Straw Hat Pirates.
"I am Captain Usopp, of the Usopp Pirates! If you invade this island, you will face my three thousand followers."
Ace rose an eyebrow in disbelief as six flags with a non-descript skull and cross bones started waving in the air. His feelings were clearly shared by Nami, who called out the lie, "Oh yes, all three of your followers are incredibly frightening."
The shrubs rustled as three little kids popped out of their hiding places and fled from the side of the cliff, all of the boys screaming in terror at being caught. Panicked by the desertion, the one remaining villager drew his weapon, aiming it at Luffy. Ignoring the threat, Luffy stepped further up the shore a frown marring her face.
"Drawing your weapon means you put your life on the line. Piracy isn't a game. Weapons aren't for threatening people, and they aren't toys. If you draw, you fight to win."
Ace watched silently as Luffy scared the local kid, who had clearly never come across real pirates before. A smirk crossed Zoro's face as his thumb unsheathed and re-sheathed his sword, allowing the sun to glint off the blades.
The boy shook with fear, unable to keep up the pretence for long. Dropping the weapon, he followed it to the ground, landing harshly on his knees.
"You're for real then? You're actually pirates?"
Ace lounged casually in the booth in the restaurant that Usopp had lead them to. It was nice to finally be able to wash the taste of the damned fruit out of his mouth. Chewing at a relatively sedate pace, Ace speared his fork into the table as Luffy's fingers inched towards his plate.
"Order your own food."
Luffy pouted, but raised her hand to catch the attention of the waitress. Her ten empty plates neatly stacked at the edge of the table, just as Makino had taught her.
"Don't talk with your mouth full." Nami reprimanded him.
Ace shot her a grin, exposing a piece of greenery in his teeth, his cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk. With a disgusted grimace, Nami turned her attention back to Usopp's tale about the sick girl in the mansion. Ace wasn't particularly interested in listening to the island's gossip. At least half of everything Usopp was spouting was a lie, and Ace had no time for liars. Wrenching his fork out of the table, Ace finished off his plate ignoring the fact that Luffy had still managed to snag one of his sausages.
Luffy walked beside the three little boys with a bounce in her step, listening happily as they chatted about the princess-like Kaya. She could still recall some of Gramps' bedtime stories about princesses living alone in big castles from before her time living with the bandits...
"Hey Grandpa, will you tell me a story?"
Garp set himself down on the edge of her bed as he stroked his grey streaked beard.
"Hmm... I suppose one story wouldn't hurt."
Luffy listened with rapt attention as her grandfather wove a tale about a lonely princess who had lost her parents.
"...and then one day, the princess decided to leave, she wanted to travel the world, and sail the many seas. So she left, and decided to join the Marines! Through hard training, she moved up the ranks, to become a strong young woman, who could defeat any foe."
Grandpa's stories tended to revert back to including the marines, and whilst he wasn't the best story teller, Luffy appreciated his efforts.
"Do you think I could be like her?"
"A princess?"
"No, strong. So strong that no one could ever beat me!"
"It'll take hard work, and lots of training, but maybe one day."
Garp's hand brushed her raven locks out of her face as sleep rapidly consumed her, his fading voice in her ears.
"Sleep well, my little princess."
Luffy may have traded in tales of princesses for pirates, but the childish spark of fantastical people and places had never truly died. Although Kaya was apparently too sick to go on an adventure, Luffy supposed she could see the resemblance to Gramps' stories.
Tamanegi fiddled with his glasses with one hand as he tugged on Luffy's red vest with his other, as he indicated away from the path they'd been walking on, to the side of the large estate.
"The butler has guards stationed at the gates, so we'll have to go around if you want to see Kaya."
The four older pirates shared glances over the younger boys' heads. Why did a young woman need guards in a town like this? Luffy shrugged in acceptance, and allowed the three boys to tug her towards the side fence.
"The Captain has a secret entrance somewhere, but we can never find it." Ninjin informed her morosely.
Luffy patted the beanie clad boy on the head as she strode towards the wrought iron bars. Splaying her hands out against the cool metal, Luffy released the darkness, allowing it to consume enough bars for them to fit through. Closing the black hole, and pulling her hands back, Luffy tucked them into the pockets of her cut off jeans.
"Oh look! An entrance!"
The Usopp Pirate's blinked at the newly formed hole, their minds slowly ticking over to register what they'd just seen. In unison their attention switched to Luffy, lights shining in their eyes, almost sparkling at her in amazement.
With a wink, Luffy stepped through the empty space.
"So what do you say? Can you help us out?"
"Absolutely not."
The unfamiliar voice stole everyone's attention, as Kaya released a sad sigh. Luffy's eyes hardened, her body shifting closer to Ace. Like Ace dumping a bucket of water over her head, an ice cold warning rushed down her back, forcing her to suppress a shiver.
"Who the hell are you?"
"How vulgar! I am Klahadore, Miss Kaya's personal butler and all of you are trespassers!"
He appeared sophisticated with his carefully selected words, his immaculate presentation... however appearances were deceiving. The evil that he concealed beneath his tailored suit may fool many, but it couldn't shield his darkness from her. Taking a step back, Luffy's hand stretched behind her to press against Ace's stomach. Gently pushing him backwards, Ace took the hint and took his own step back.
"Guess we won't be getting a boat after all. Zoro, Nami, let's go."
Nami watched the childlike captain with confusion. Only moments ago she'd been care free, not at all bothered by the fact that they were breaking into someone's property. Now, in a complete 180 degree change of mind, she wanted to leave.
Backing out of the garden, Luffy's eyes didn't leave the butler as she addressed Kaya one last time.
"It was nice meeting you Kaya. I hope you get better soon."
"I – thank you." Kaya paused as she watched the four pirates remove themselves from her property. "Usopp-san, you and the boys should probably go as well."
"Usopp... Yes, I've heard a lot about you. The bastard son of a filthy pirate. You need to leave and never come back."
The long-nosed boy shook with rage at the slurs aimed at his heritage. He was in no way ashamed of his father, or that his father chose the call of the sea. Sometimes it hurt though. That his father hadn't been there when he needed him, that he didn't have anything more than faint childhood memories, and stories from his mother to remember him by.
"My father is a brave warrior of the sea, and I am proud to be the son of a pirate."
Kaya leant over the window ledge, well aware of the pain of losing one's parents, "Usopp-san."
Turning his back on the butler, Usopp let Kaya's voice calm him. "It's okay though. I won't be back. Ever."
"Pirates! Pirates are coming! At dawn! They're going to attack the village!"
Usopp's breathing was ragged, his shoulders heaving as he stopped in the centre of town.
Nothing happened.
No doors opened.
No screams, no panic, no fear.
Nothing.
"Oi, oi!"
Running up to one of the village elders, Usopp waved his hands as he tried to grab his attention.
"Pirates! I saw them! They're coming here!"
The old man sighed tiredly as he turned away from the young lad, "That's enough boy."
"But it's the truth! Klahadore is really the Pirate Kuro! He said so himself!"
It was a shame, the village elder thought, just how strongly, Usopp's mother's death had impacted on the boy, but enough was enough. To make up such a horrible lie!
"Stop this nonsense! Klahadore is an upstanding citizen. Unlike yourself! Go home. We've had enough of your lies."
The villagers that had been peering through their windows let their curtains fall shut. Usopp gritted his teeth. Nobody was listening! Taking off in a run, Usopp speed away blindly, tears blurring his vision.
"Captain Usopp! What's going on?!"
Usopp ground to a halt at the call of Piiman, the boys little wooden sword being drawn from his sash as he readied himself to vanquish any of his Captain's foes.
"It's Klahadore! He's the pirate Kuro! He's going to attack the village and kill Kaya!"
The wooden sword cluttered to the ground.
"What?! We have to warn the villagers!"
Usopp's face morphed further into despair. How could he tell them? How could he crush the dreams of his three tiny followers? The town's people would never believe him, and they would never believe the three boys, because he'd allowed them to be included in his lying reputation. He choked on the words he didn't want them to know... 'No one believes me'.
"They wouldn't listen to me."
The boys wore matching faces of shock at the declaration from their Captain. Their resolve hardening, they thrust their fists into the air with determination, Piiman scooping up his sword as they did.
"The Usopp Pirates will just have to warn them again!"
"Yeah!"
Without a word more, the three charged towards the village, ready to do whatever it took to warn their friends and families. The older group watched in silence as they disappeared from view.
"I believe you."
Usopp's head snapped towards Luffy, her legs swinging carelessly back and forth from her spot on the fence.
"You– You do?"
"Sure. Why else would you be so frightened?"
Panic momentarily forgotten, Usopp's hands flew into the air, completely offended.
"I'm not frightened by the pirates! This is my town! I have to protect it."
Ace snorted as he took in Usopp's shaking knees, the knobbly bones clanging together so loudly that he almost winced at the thought of the bruising that would undoubtedly show up later.
"You're scared. We hardly need Luffy's powers to work that one out."
Ace's tone was harsh, but he wasn't saying anything that wasn't true. The town's people may have pandered to Usopp's lies, but Ace wasn't going to placate him by encouraging lies. Growing up with the bandits and Garp, there had only ever been brutal honesty. When Luffy arrived that hadn't changed. Hell, as a child, Luffy had been blunter than their bow staffs.
The truth could be dangerous and it could hurt, and no amount of lies could change that.
"You should let them come." Ace said.
"WHAT?!" Usopp screeched.
Zoro butted into the conversation, not hesitating to wind Usopp into a further state of panic, "Let them come. You said you're not afraid, and the villagers don't believe you, so let them come."
Ace grinned at Zoro while Usopp flailed in his panic. Unbeknownst to the boys, their teasing had not gone completely unnoticed.
Nami slid off the railing they'd been sitting on to join Luffy standing behind the boys.
Thunk. Boink.
"Ouch! Luffy!"
"What the hell woman!"
Ace and Zoro rubbed their bruised heads as Luffy and Nami stared down at them, matching frowns and folded arms presenting a formidable image. Scrubbing at his head one last time, Ace reluctantly pushed to his feet, putting his hands up in a show of surrender.
"Okay. Okay. We'll go find the butler. Jeez."
Reaching his hands up above his head, Ace stretched out his back, groaning with satisfaction as a ripple of pops sounded.
"Which shore did you say?"
"Ahh... Their meeting was at the south shore!"
"You have no idea do you?" Nami cut in, "They could be arriving at the north shore, where our boats are! Where my treasure is!" Nami's voice finished in a shrill panic, as images of her treasure being taken from her filled her mind.
Luffy frowned at Nami's realisation. Whilst she didn't particularly care about the boats, or the treasure, it wouldn't be good if they ended up on the wrong side of the island.
"We'll have to split up."
Nami's hand was the first to shoot into the air.
"I'll take the north shore!"
Accepting Nami's desire to be at the northern end of the island, Luffy finished organising the groups, "Usopp, you and Zoro will go with Nami. Ace and I will watch the southern shore."
Ace grinned at Luffy's transparency. Even though Zoro could hold his own, it would make more sense for the two of them to split up, being the stronger (and currently uninjured) fighters. But splitting up meant that he had a fifty-fifty chance of being at the right shore, whilst Luffy would potentially miss out on having some fun.
Noting Nami's concern at not having either of them going with her, Ace finished off Luffy's plan.
"If they aren't in sight by daybreak we'll assume that they've arrived at the opposite shore and head over."
"They're here! I'll go warn the others!"
Usopp's plan was short lived as Nami slapped him on the upside of his head, pushing him into the dirt.
"No way! You have to fight!"
"But I'm such a weak individual."
Zoro took a deep breath as he stepped past the squabbling pair, both trying to outdo the other with how scared they were. Why did he get dumped with these two?
"You two are useless. I'll handle it. Just make sure you catch any strays."
Untying his bandana from his arm, Zoro tied it around his head. Deftly pushing his katana out of their sheaths, he charged against the incoming onslaught.
Nami and Usopp watched in awe as Zoro knocked back the wave of pirates, the pair launching into a series of cheers as it became apparent that Zoro didn't need their help.
"Woo! Go Zoro!"
"Yay Zoro! Knock 'em down!"
The Black Cat Pirates rolled on the ground, mewling with the pain from their injuries. Jango's hands flew to his head in disbelief. This was bad. This was very, very, bad. They were already behind schedule because he'd slept in. If they didn't get to the village soon... No. They'd get there. He'd just have to use their trump card.
"Nyaban brothers! Come on out! You're up!"
Zoro shifted his grip on his blades as two shadowed figures appeared from the depths of the ship. These guys were getting seriously annoying.
Perched on the side of the cliff, Ace and Luffy's eyes roamed over the horizon. The sun was up, and the enemy pirates hadn't arrived on their shore.
"Bugger." Luffy all but pouted. She'd wanted to get first dibs.
Ace nodded at the sentiment, "We'd better hurry or Zoro will have all the fun."
Spinning on their heels, the brother and sister pair dashed towards the northern shore.
"You can't even follow the simplest of instructions, Jango."
The sudden interruption sparked the cat obsessed brothers to scuttle back to their crew. No one liked to be in the firing line when the Captain was angry. Three days or three years, it was never worth tempting fate when it came to Captain Kuro's ability to be several steps ahead.
Zoro took the opportunity to regain his breath as the battlefield came to a pause. Nami and Usopp had been doing a decent enough job of picking off the strays that had managed to slip past him as he occupied the two weirdo cat-men, but they had not remained completely unscathed. Usopp's goggles were cracked, blood smeared down one side of his face, whilst Nami had shallow cuts peppering her arms and legs.
"Captain Kuro! We were just on our way in! You didn't have to come all this way to check on us!" Jango stammered from the shoreline.
At the arrival of the Black Cat Pirate's Captain, Zoro hoped that his own Captain and First Mate were not far off.
Zoro's foot slid backwards to support his weight, catching Kuro's ten swords against his own three blades. Luffy and Ace were still missing, Usopp was out, having caught a blow from behind, and Nami was barely keeping out of the reach of the Nyaban brother's claws. The situation was anything from ideal.
As the man in front of him moved out of sight once more, Zoro spun on his heal, catching the blow on his side. The momentum from his movements toppled him to the ground, his swords immediately coming up to brace against the next blow.
"My, my. You are determined. For what I wonder? It's not like you know anyone here. You don't owe them any favours, and yet you continue this foolish notion, why?"
Zoro grunted as Kuro leant more of his weight on his swords.
"Won't. Let you. Stop Usopp. Captain's orders."
"Admirable. Or of course it would be if it wasn't interfering with my plans. I will kill Kaya and that deluded liar, along with the rest of this sorry lot. I'm afraid you've just become an unintended addition to my death toll."
The jaws of the Black Cat Pirate's fell open at their Captain's declaration. There was no denying that by 'sorry lot' he meant them. He'd called them that many a time before, but to kill them? Surely he wouldn't really?
"But Captain!"
"Captain Kuro, you can't!"
"We can still–"
Their cries were cut off by Kuro's snarling voice.
"I had no intention of letting any of you live, you idiots!"
Luffy took in the scene in front of her with blank eyes, the enemy Captain's words ringing through her mind.
"Usopp is a far greater pirate, a far greater Captain, than you could ever hope to be."
Kuro growled at the arrival of more of the inconvenient brats. Separating himself from his downed opponent, Kuro pushed his glasses up with the heel of his hand.
"Stupid girl. You're just a child playing pretend, and frankly, I don't have time to deal with this nonsense."
Glaring at Kuro, Luffy cracked her knuckles one by one.
"Zoro?"
"Yeah Captain? Zoro panted out as he pushed up onto his feet.
"Switch."
Zoro hesitated at the order. Kuro may not have been very skilled with traditional sword work, but he was still a swordsman. Zoro didn't really want to let this one go. He could finish this guy now that he wasn't being distracted by being the only fighter.
"You can take the weirdos."
Realising that he wasn't being given an option, Zoro offered a curt nod. Though it pained almost all of his instincts, Zoro twisted away from his opponent, moving down the slope towards the cat brothers he'd been playing with earlier.
As Luffy reorganised that battlefield to her liking, Ace zeroed in on the remaining weirdo. Sliding down the side of the cliff, Ace landed in a crouch. Dusting the sand off his hands, he sauntered across the beach. It was too bad that Gramps had taught them not to play with their food. This wouldn't take long.
Kuro watched the young girl stalk towards him. He hadn't factored into his plans anyone helping the lying, long-nosed trouble maker. It was a situation he would have to rectify if his three years of demeaning labour were going to come to anything. Shifting side to side, Kuro prepared for his ultimate attack. This had gone on long enough.
Luffy rolled to the left as she felt rather than saw the claw handed man breeze past her. The screamed cries of the Black Cat Pirate's filled the beach as they were brought back to their knees, this time by their own Captain.
Zoro jumped away from the Nyaban brothers as claw marks gouged into the side of the cliff and the skinnier brother.
"Sham!"
With the pair no longer interested in fighting him, Zoro brought his swords up defensively. This damn Kuro was fast. His throbbing side a strong reminder not to let his guard down.
Luffy could barely compute what she was seeing. It was one thing to hear him say that he didn't care about his nakama, but it was another altogether to watch him take their lives. This was NOT what it meant to be a Pirate Captain. Luffy saw red.
Catching his oncoming movement, Luffy connected her fist with his stomach, forcing the air from his lungs. Sweeping his legs out from under him with her sandal clad foot, Kuro fell to the ground, his head connecting with the ground with a sickening crack.
Luffy stood tall over Kuro's stunned form, his glasses shattered, blood trickling from his mouth and the back of his head. Stretching her arm into the air, Luffy snatched Ace's dagger from the air as he tossed it over to her, Ace's own opponent lying unconscious at his feet. Glaring down at the defeated man, Luffy crouched beside his head.
"You could never understand what it means to be a pirate."
Luffy watched the stars from the rear deck of the Going Merry. The gentle crash of the waves on her side was the only sound filling the night.
Ace walked slowly towards her, his hand trailing along the wooden railing as he went. They'd lucked out that Kaya had not only owned a boat, but one that she'd been willing to give them. Merry was their first real ship. He just had one problem with the situation.
Sliding down the wall, Ace joined Luffy watching the sky. They sat together quietly until Ace broke the silence.
"Are you okay?"
Luffy eyes didn't leave the sky as she answered, "He wasn't the first..."
"...And he won't be the last." Ace finished for her.
Wrapping his left arm around her shoulders, Ace tugged her closer to his side. If Luffy didn't want to talk about it, he wouldn't press the issue. He was here for her if she needed him. Their path was never going to be smooth sailing. It was inevitable that sooner or later they'd take another's life, be they marine or pirate. Their lives had always been dictated by the bandit's 'kill or be killed' motto, but this was the path they had chosen. Their fight for freedom would be messy, of that Ace had no doubt.
The pair continued to sit in silence. Ace's hand skimmed through Luffy's short cropped hair, the repetitive motion lulling her away from her dark thoughts.
"What is it?" Luffy asked.
"Mmm?"
"Something's bothering you."
"It's nothing that can't wait till morning." Ace deterred.
Luffy's eyes roamed along the stars, judging their position in the sky. Finding what she was looking for, Luffy forced her reluctant body away from Ace's warmth so that she could face him, his arm sliding off her shoulder as she moved.
"Morning's not that far away."
Ace sighed at the knowledge that whilst he might not press her to share, he wasn't going to be given the same consideration.
"He's going to be a liability, Luffy. I know he's got a good eye for sharp shooting, but he's a coward and a liar. Nami's not brave, but she's smart. Usopp could put the entire crew in danger."
Luffy didn't answer straight away, trying to find the words that would help Ace understand. Intertwining their fingers, just like Ace did to make sure he didn't lose her when they were running through the forest, Luffy began by conceding to his point, "He's not brave, and he can't fight very well... but he lies to protect himself. It helps him forget his suffering. He's going to be the best sniper in the world, and a brave warrior of the sea... He just needs a little bit of help getting there."
Luffy shifted back beside Ace, her head resting on his shoulder as she waited for his thoughts.
"How do you know?"
"Yasopp's his dad."
Ah. Ace felt the pieces fall into place as he begun to see what Luffy had seen all along. A mother he wasn't able to save, with a great pirate for a father, one that had failed to stop the death of his mother. Their situations weren't the same, and they certainly didn't handle them the same way, but there were enough parallels. It also didn't hurt that Usopp's father was one of Shanks' nakama.
Luffy eyes slid closed as Ace relaxed with understanding. Ace was doing his best to look after her, sometimes he just needed to be reminded that this was her crew. She could take care of herself and them, all of them, if need be.
"He's still a liar." Ace grumbled softly.
The corners of her lips twitched, but she refrained from saying anything, instead she shifted closer to his side. He'd come around eventually.
Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed, faved and/or followed 'Sail With Me'.
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Guest 1: Thank you for your review. I can't guarantee how long the future chapters will be, but I hope this chapter was closer to what you were after. Thank you as well for your feedback, I'll keep it in mind as I continue writing!
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Mr Turtle: All shall be revealed soon...
Luffys wife: Thank you, and yes, there is more to come!