News About Usopp
Chapter 4
It felt like an usual day in every way. The sun was shining, birds were singing and people of Syrup Village were working hard. But some of them couldn't enjoy this peaceful day.
Piiman, Ninjin and Tamanegi were silently sitting on the bench in the village's square. Beside Piiman there was a today's newspaper whose headline in the front page got cold sweat rise to boys' skin immediately when they had seen it:
Straw Hat Pirates Completely Defeated!
An article in the front page told how Bartholomew Kuma, a member of the Shichibukai, defeated all members of Straw Hat Pirates all by himself in Sabaody Archipelago. The wanted posters of Straw Hat Pirates were also had added in the article. But what had happened to them? Were Straw Hat Pirates arrested by Marines or had they died? For boys' frustration, it wasn't told in the article.
What had happened to their captain?
"Hey... Do you think that Kaya-san will get over from this?" Ninjin asked quietly from others.
Usopp wasn't the only person boys were worried. Boys had rushed to meet Kaya in order to check that she was alright after they had read news about Straw Hat Pirates' defeat. But unfortunately guards didn't allow them to enter in the mansion.
"Ojou-sama isn't feeling well today," the guard with beard informed to boys at the gate. "That's why we must ask you to leave, please."
"That's not fair!" Piiman shouted. "At least let us see if she is alright!"
"Ojou-sama has said that she doesn't want meet anyone today," the guard with slicked back hair said with stern tone. "So leave, please."
Finally boys hadn't other choices but to leave, no matter how worried they were from Kaya.
"What's wrong, boys?"
Boys started out of their thoughts and noticed that Mornin was standing in front of them.
"You seem so depressed that something must be wrong. What's the matter?" Mornin asked with worried expression.
"It... It's about this article in the front page," Piiman said quietly as he gave the newspaper to mayor.
Mornin read the article and he frowned for worry. "Oh no..." he said.
"They don't even tell what happened to Straw Hat Pirates, so we don't know is captain alright or not," Tamanegi said frustratedly.
"You are right," Mornin said with serious expression. "This article really doesn't tell what happened to them."
"What has happened and to whom?" asked pastor's wife curiously as she and her husband happened to walk past of them.
"We were talking about that pirate group Usopp joined," Mornin explained. "Apparently they disappeared after losing a fight to one of Shichibukais."
Pastor's wife gasped in shock and covered her mouth with her hand. Pastor's eyes widened from shock. "That's horrible! Is Usopp alright?" pastor asked.
"I don't know. The article doesn't tell what happened to them after the fight," Mornin answered. "But I'm sure that Usopp is alright. He is quick on his feet."
Boys sighed in relief after hearing this, happy that here was somebody who believed that their captain was alive.
"I don't think it helps in any way," remarked fisherman who had heard their conversation. "That Shichibukai probably killed them and disposed their corpses. It's possible that Usopp has already buried under the ground."
Boys, mayor, pastor and his wife stared at fisherman with shocked expressions.
"It isn't true!" Piiman shouted as he rose from the bench. "It can't be true!"
"Captain can't be dead!" Tamanegi shouted on the verge of tears.
"But pirates kill each others constantly," fisherman argued just when shopkeeper happened to walk past of them.
"Has that idiot get himself killed already?" shopkeeper asked.
"No!" boys shouted in unision. "Captain isn't dead!"
"But how could he had survive when they were facing the Shichibukai of the World Government?" pastor asked with worried expression.
"Oh, why he had to ruin his life?" pastor's wife groaned mournfully.
"This is what you get when you dream about stupid things like being a pirate," shopkeeper said darkly.
"He should had stayed at home and learn to do something useful," fisherman snorted.
"That's enough!" Mornin shouted, startling them. "The article doesn't tell what had happened to Usopp and his friends after the fight, so it's possible that Usopp is still alive! Stop speaking like he would actually be dead!"
Fisherman opened his mouth to say something but Mornin silenced him with stern look. Pastor, his wife, fisherman and shopkeeper glanced at each others for a moment before they left and returned back to their works.
But without others knowing, shopkeeper paused after he had walked behind a corner of one building. "That stupid brat..." he muttered as he wiped a corner of his eye.
Boys sat back on the bench.
"Captain is alright, isn't he?" Tamanegi asked from mayor.
"Just like I said earlier, the article doesn't tell that they would be dead, so it's possible that Usopp and his friends are still alive." Mornin said.
"I agree."
Mornin and boys turned in the direction of voice and noticed Merry.
"Merry!" Piiman exclaimed. "Is Kaya-san alright?"
"We tried to visit her earlier but the guards didn't let us in the mansion," Ninjin told.
"I know. They told me that you had visited earlier and I really appreciate your concern towards Kaya-sama," Merry said as he sat down on the bench. "Unfortunately the article shocked her so badly that she needed some rest."
"But Kaya-san will be alright, right?" Tamanegi asked.
Merry sighed mournfully. "I really would like to say that everything will be alright but... After reading the article Kaya-sama seemed so depressed that I'm afraid that she will fall sick again. And when I remember how little I was able to do for her during her previous illness..." Merry said with unhappy expression as he hung his head.
Boys and Mornin stared at Merry with worried expressions.
"Kaya-san mustn't become unhappy again!" Piiman said.
"Yeah, but captain isn't here cheering her up anymore," Ninjin said.
"And we can't bring captain back here because we don't know what had happened to him," Tamanegi sighed.
"That's exactly why!" Merry said suddenly, startling both boys and mayor.
"We can't do anything to help Usopp. Only thing we can do is believe. Believe that Usopp is alright and that he will come back. Kaya-sama too needs to believe in it and only you can help," Merry said with determined expression. "That's why I'm asking you to support Kaya-sama. Please. For the sake of both her and Usopp."
Boys stared at Merry for a moment. Then Tamanegi said to others: "Merry is right. Kaya-san needs us."
"That's true! And we know that our captain can survive for any situations," Ninjin said. "Surely he is alive!"
"Captain would be ashamed of us if we wouldn't take care of Kaya-san!" Piiman confirmed.
Boys turned to face Merry again. "Let's go visit Kaya-san now!" they decided. Merry smiled gratefully to boys.
"Well, looks like it's time for me to return back to my work," Mornin said with smile and gave the newspaper back to Piiman. "Say hi to Kaya-san from me."
"Yes, mayor Mornin," boys answered in unision before they left towards the mansion with Merry.
Soon they had arrived to the mansion and Merry guided them to the door of Kaya's room. Merry knocked the door and said with audible voice: "Kaya-sama. Boys have come to meet you."
Without waiting her response, Merry opened the door and let boys in the room. Kaya was sitting on the chair and watching out of the window.
"Hello, Kaya-san," boys said.
"Hello, boys," Kaya answered quietly as she turned her attention from window to boys. Boys noticed immediately how unhappy Kaya looked.
"You don't need worry about captain! He will be alright!" Piiman said as he tried to sound convincing.
"That's right! He fought well against Kuro's pirate group!" Ninjin said.
"This is completely different!" Kaya exclaimed, startling boys. Then she turned her eyes at her hands on her lap. "I'm hoping that Usopp-san and his friends are alright. But their opponent was a Shichibukai, much stronger pirate than Kuro. I... I'm so worried about them," Kaya said.
"Don't you believe in captain, Kaya-san?" Ninjin demanded.
"Of course I believe in Usopp-san but-" Kaya began as she turned to face boys again.
"Just like the mayor and Merry said, the article didn't say that captain and his friends would be dead!" Piiman said.
"Yeah! Maybe they must had retreat after their fight with that Shichibukai and they are now hiding somewhere. Captain is good at hiding," Tamanegi said.
"Listen them, Kaya-sama," Merry said to Kaya. "If they would be dead, it would had been told in the newspaper, especially after that what happened in Enies Lobby. But because nothing like that had been written, it's very possible that Usopp and his friends are still alive."
"That's right! So believe in captain, Kaya-san!" Piiman said.
Kaya stared speechlessly at them for moment. Then she smiled little bit.
"Boys... Merry... Thank you," Kaya said. "And sorry. I know that Usopp-san is strong but maybe I was just thinking that it wouldn't hurt so much when they decide to announce news about their demise if I assume that the worst has happened. But you are right. I can't believe that I allowed myself lost my faith in Usopp-san."
Although Kaya was smiling little bit, boys noticed that she looked still a little bit depressed. They should do something else to cheer her up. Then Tamanegi got an idea.
"Kaya-san, has you ever heard how Usopp Pirates were formed?" Tamanegi asked.
"Well, I don't know all the details," Kaya answered.
"In that case we will tell you about it," Tamanegi said with smile as boys sat down on other chairs. Merry smiled and left boys to tell Kaya about adventures of Usopp Pirates as he went to the kitchen to prepare tea and biscuits for them.
To be continue...