Me: Yo! Of those who read this!
Luffy: Shishishishishishi! That's almost like a poem!
Nami: How do you even know what a poem is?
Me: Some things are just better left unknown... *ish the one who taught him for some reason* Anyway, I want to answer some reviews, if no one minds ^^
The crew: Why are you asking us?
Termia: Hm... what kind of DF that Yuca has? No one will ever know... . Well, until the much later chapters...then again, maybe I am going to give him a DF, maybe not. I'm switching between options lately. And sorry for the confusion on that last chapter, I'm just too lazy to even like make each chapter of each event on how we got the crew. Oh, and thank you for being my most regular reviewer ^^
Me: Ahhhh... well, that's all the reviews that I wanted to answer ^^ Now, on to the story! (There might be one more I'm going to answer at the end of the story)
Zoro: I have a bad feeling about this...
7. The First Bounty
"Nani..? This again?"
The voice laced with high amusement chuckled, though it was not clear whether the sound was good or not.
"Aren't they getting tired of this?"
"Is there a complaint?" a voice questioned sternly, coldly, and indifferently. The person that the question was seemingly directed at saw the deep frown and the sharp, angry eyes. All he did was pull off and innocent smile.
"Of course not. It is my job after all."
Somehow, that smile seemed pretty cold but somehow...tired...?
The person in the shadows continued to deeply frown, and reluctantly gave the young teen a golden pocket watch, the sound of ticking clear in the darkness.
"Don't dare take this lightly...Yuca..."
Yuca soon woken up; opening his eyes to blue sky, partly cloudy, with the occasional seagulls in view. The blue haired teen knows from the fact that he's up on the crow's nest, which have been his favorite spot to be since they have gotten Going Merry. It's peaceful (at times), it's nice to be near the blue sky (when the forecast is good) and he could see everything that's happening below (not that many people like it of course). Not a bad place to be.
Grabbing his knitted hat -which was next to head-, his blue hair is exposed for all to see; he stood up and looked, stretching from the long nap he had. Looking down from his other hand, he saw the golden pocket watch right there. That's all it ever was, a pocket watch. But also his identity. For what? It too troublesome to even think about.
The teen stuffed the ticking instrument into his pockets and looked down at the crew as an entertained smile formed on his lips.
It was a good, and basically, a normal day for the straw hat crew.
"Nani! The cost got up!"
Yep, a peaceful day for anyone in this crazy crew. Well, Yuca could say that as he watched the rest from up at the crow nest.
He chuckled as he saw Nami arguing with a newspaper pelican, who looked a bit nervous at the outraged, orange haired woman.
"Why you..." Nami glared at the poor pelican, who can only stay still and sweat out nervously, darting his eyes from side to side. Narrowing her eyes, Nami reluctantly gave him a coin.
"Fine then, but if it goes up again, I'm not going to buy it, ya hear me?"
Nodding quickly and frantically, the bird already shot up to the sky; to get away from the scary woman before she uses her chef, that he saw from behind her, cook him into something that he doesn't want to be at all! No matter how delicious it is!
Yuca can't help but laugh at that from far away. Of course, not loud enough for the easily angered woman to hear him. It's not that he's scared of the woman; he just rather not deals with her at all.
Usopp just sighed at Nami's scariness.
"Sheesh, it's just a newspaper." Usopp dared to say, though he was too busy focusing on making a new bullet for his slingshot to even bothered getting scared.
"Yeah, but if you get it all the time, it adds up!"
Usopp can't help but sighed at this once again. "You didn't need to pay back your village, right? So I see no reason why you're saving up."
"Baka, that's why!" Nami snapped, making the long nose teen flinched slightly.
"Since I don't have that obligation anymore, I can't go around being some kind of cheapskate pirate, can I?"
"Oi, oi. What about us?" Usopp questioned sweatdropping as Nami totally ignored his question and turned to the newspaper.
"Right, right... Just don't bother me; I need to finish this bullet..." Usopp told her, well, mumbled towards her.
He needed to finish upgrading his weapon for special purposes. And special purposes, he meant that tw-no wait, three bakas that resides on the ship. If Usopp is looking up now, he would have seen arrows on Zoro, Sanji, and, especially, Luffy. And Luffy would have a sign on his forehead that said "Baka #1".
During this time of concentration when Usopp is just putting the last ingredient for his bullet (not to mention hot sauce).
In the background, a hand was gently...gently...gently...reaching..for the perfect tangerin-
"TEME!"
Before Usopp knew it, his eyes were on fire.
"AHHHHHHHH!" His screamed can be heard throughout the ship.
"Yama! Can you keep watch?"
"Hai!"
The random guy named "Yama" blinked as he looked over at one side... is that fire coming out of the water in the distance?
"Huh? Sempai! There's fire blowing out from the sea!"
"It's probably a volcano coming out, its fine as long it isn't on our course!"
Yama look back at where the fire is supposed to sprout out, only to see it gone; already disappear. Shrugging, he looks to the other side.
Poor Usopp, his eyes are defiantly spent and burnt.
Yuca couldn't help but chuckled as if this is something that happens every day of his life. Though, that probably is an actual fact.
"Come on Sanji! Let me have one!" Luffy whined, not bothering to worry about the bump he has on his head. Well, not like it could hurt him that much, being rubber and such, but it does look pretty nasty.
"Never! This is Nami-san's tangerine grove! I won't let you lay a finger on it!" Sanji said all proud and mighty, looking like an actual guard for his beloved's tangerine grove.
In an instant, his attention turned towards Nami, obviously trying to show off his devotion towards the "she-witch" as Zoro would call her.
Yuca from above shook his head on what's going down the deck. Zoro made an irritated insult towards Sanji before going back to sleep, Usopp tried to cool down his eyes, Nami too preoccupied by the newspaper, and Luffy and Sanji continued to fight about the tangerine. This is defiantly a regular strawhat day. He rather it wasn't anything else.
Looking at the pocket watch, a small smile came across the, usually sadistic, face.
"Forgive me."
With that said, Yuca leaned backwards, tumbling out of the crow nest, only to land perfectly near Sanji. No one seemed to notice him, not even Sanji as he jump down and took his place sitting on the railing, an entertained smile taking place as he continued watching the crew.
"I wondered if they figure it out yet."
"You know Sengoku..." Garp said, one day eating crackers and drinking tea inside Sengoku's office. Why, Sengoku doesn't even know.
"Does it seemed that his reports are send at the same time my grandson appearance, doesn't it? Even though it was only two reports, it's pretty strange don't you thi-"
Garp raised an eyebrow in question as Sengoku looked at him as if there was something incredible happen.
"Garp... did you just use your brain?"
"Eh? That's rude!"
"It should be about time they realized that. It would be troublesome if they finally found me so I guess I should pace my reports." Yuca mumbled, though there were some people listening to him.
"You're creeping me out Yuca..." Usopp couldn't help but say as Luffy just laughed at his friend carelessness, already sitting by him after his little tumble with Sanji. While Luffy wouldn't think too hard about what his best friend would've said, the others couldn't help but wonder... when he said "It would be troublesome if they finally found me", they couldn't help but wonder if he's some kind of ex-convict or something familiar to that. They wouldn't be surprised if so.
"By the way, anything interesting navigator?" Yuca said with an oh-so-innocent smile, as if he didn't notice their accusing looks towards the teen.
Clearing her throat slightly, Nami looked back at the newspaper. "W-Well basically, the world is pretty much in a mess." Nami simply stated, feeling a bit cautious towards the blue haired teen.
Turning the page a flyer fell out.
For some reason, Yuca didn't seem interest in it as the others as it passed both Luffy and him before landing gently on the floor.
At that moment, as everyone took their whole attention to the flyer.
"…?"
Yuca smiled as he began to wonder how louder can this small crew be. Apparently, the scream of surprise that they made was enough to wake even Zoro up.
Yuca chuckled as Luffy kept pestering him, like an excited child would do to their father when they found something totally fascinating. Yuca only gave his best friend a calm smile; after all, this is to be expected.
As predicted, the marines took this quite seriously, despite the fact that they boy didn't looked over a 15 year old. But everyone knew that they couldn't take the chance, especially if that boy was able to defeat Arlong and some of the most dangerous villains that are around the East Blue.
While some parts of the world seemed to be a bit suspicious at the fact that there is such a young looking boy on a poster like that, others are rejoicing at the news that Straw Hat Luffy finally got a Bounty as he such deserve.
"OUJOU-SAMA!" A voice rung among inside the mansion, a man with a sheep-looking hairdo ran up the stairs, calling out to his lady of the manor.
"Kaya-Oujou-sama!"
Slamming into the room in such a panic fashion, the said lady, Kaya, looked up at Meri, her butler, with a curious look to why Meri was so panicky all the sudden.
"What's the matter, Meri?" Kaya questioned concerningly, hoping it was rather good news.
Meri quickly held up a Wanted Poster towards his lady, showing her who was actually on it. "Please look!" Meri requested as he saw Kaya taking her glasses off and looked at the poster carefully.
Kaya's face lit up immediate as she saw someone she wished to see.
"Usopp-san!"
Meri face falter a bit, a bit confused on why she called Usopp when he's only showing her a Bounty Picture of Monkey D. Luffy. He took a look at the picture again, to see what she was referring to.
"That back profile..." Kaya happily pointed out, while Meri just squinted his eyes a little till he finally notice a familiar shape in the background. "..is definitely Usopp-san!"
Remembering her last moments with Usopp before he went out to see, she ran towards her window and quickly pushed it open. She smiled softly at the memory when Usopp would have been waiting for her out there, sitting on the tree and greeting her as he was about to make another one of his ridiculous stories. Those kinds of memories are always the most precious to her.
She remembered when the Straw Hat crew came here and helped the whole village from the Black Cat Pirates. She remembered the memories she also have with them and the kindness they gave her. They were sure weird pirates though.
"Usopp-san is pursuing his dream..."
The image of Usopp in front of her disappear, but she smiled and felt much more determined than she was.
"I'm studying to become a doctor, so that I can help people." Closing her eyes, Kaya put her fist above her heart, as if she was making a pledge. "My dream and Usopp-san's dream... the day when they'll meet again and become one will surely arrive."
Meri couldn't help but smile at his Oujou-sama as he walked next to her, understanding her feelings in a way. Kaya then open her eyes, looking up at the sky as if she's already looking up towards the future that lies ahead.
"I'm sure of it."
A large grin spread on Coby's face as he found the Wanted Poster on the bulletin board, forgetting about his clean duty only temporarily. In truth, he kind of thought that Yuca would've gotten the first Bounty in the crew. No, it's not that he didn't believe in Luffy of course. It's just that...well... You see, Luffy maybe be a reckless, careless, idiotic, no-brainer, rubber man; but he was also kind, faithful, and trustworthy... at times. Yuca is just completely the opposite. In short, the blue haired teen is a demon. Coby would admit that Yuca is someone who could be kind as much as his Senchou, but the sadistic part of the informant personality would always be the first thing Coby would describe if asked.
Oh well, it doesn't matter either way, since Coby is happy either way that Luffy has gotten recognized as a dangerous pirate.
"At last... at last... at last!"
This Bounty Poster didn't give Coby a fearful feeling as other Bounty Poster usually do. Instead, it gave him a more determine feeling to chase after his dream.
"Luffy-san is moving on with his dream!"
Coby couldn't help but remember his time with Luffy and Yuca, how they save him, how they encourage him, and how they helped him make his dream come truth. He couldn't help but be indebted by them for all they do, and for a total coward like him. But still...
Coby clenched his fist as he also remember his duty of being a marine.
He will go out to sea someday, and capture the Straw Hat crew! As soon as he's strong enough, he'll be face to face with Luffy and the others. They'll be enemies.
Despite the thought, Coby couldn't help but be excited.
Some marines, some pirates, some others couldn't help but be surprise that Mugiwara Luffy has already got a bounty in such short time.
The Straw Hat Pirates on the other hand...
Well, let's just say that their captain would, without a doubt, declared a party if he wasn't so busy showing off the bounty poster to his crew.
In an instant, sweeping up the bounty poster, Luffy made some type of maniacal laugh as he raised the poster up higher for everyone to see. Everyone could tell that their captain is just too happy about this, even if it met more danger on the way.
"Check it out, we're WANTED!" The hyperactive captain exclaimed, as if to pronounce it to the whole world, in an absolute giddy way. It's a wonder why he isn't bounce around the ship. Though, from Yuca's point of view, it seemed that everyone was ready for something like that to happen, just in case.
Still a bit baffle by the new, Usopp couldn't help but look at the poster more closely as he read what's on the flyer.
"Wanted...Dead or Alive...30,000,000 belis!" Usopp blinked a little as if to make sure his eyes weren't deceiving him. Nope, what he saw was true.
At the price on his head, Luffy couldn't help but laugh even more at the pleasure. "30,000,000 BELIS! YEAH!" Then, everything became a bit more ridiculous when Usopp found his back profile in the poster, which got Sanji actually jealous.
Yuca, in the background of this entire hullabaloo, is perfectly calm. Unlike the others, he seemed visibly relaxed as if... this wasn't something to be partying about. Nami, noticing how quiet their spy is, raised an eyebrow. She thought he would be one of the happier people, since Luffy is his best friend and such. Or at least give an indication that he's amused by smirking or such. But -in fact, it creeps her out- he only have a polite kind of smile. There was also something in that smile but, she couldn't quite put her finger on it...
Apparently, Zoro -who was at the other side of the ship- twitched as he know that look. Being one of the longest people in this crew, he can tell what some of the sadistic teen's expressions mean.
"You knew from the beginning, didn't you?" Zoro questioned between clenched teeth. Yuca's smiling is not only polite, but it's also smug at the same time. That means the teen knows something that they didn't know.
The other three of the crew stopped their excitement (meaning Luffy stop boasting and Sanji and Usopp stop doing the can-can), looking at the blue hair teen who took his time answering the swordsman question. Zoro knew from the fact that the sadistic teen already got an answer, and twitched as he also know for the fact that he's purposely making the air intense just for fun.
Soon after, Yuca tilted his head, the intense air replace of one that could only be describe "innocence". But anyone, with the exception of the captain, knew that Yuca was anything but innocent.
"Maybe I did?"
The first mate wasn't surprised that his best friend glomped him, complaining about the fact that his best friend didn't tell him sooner.
"No fair Yuca! You knew but I didn't! It was my Wanted poster!" Sulked the captain, only making his father-like companion laugh. Luffy didn't care what kind of information Yuca got, illegal or not, but if there was something about himself, especially if it was about a Wanted Poster, he wanted to know firsthand.
After a few whiny words, Yuca rolled his eyes and pushed Luffy's boshi down to cover his face, effectively shutting the boy up. Everyone made a note about this. Shutting up their captain is almost next to impossible. But to Yuca, it seemed like an everyday thing. Now only if he done it often than watched them –amused nonetheless –as they try to shut their captain up, which they either fail or succeed at. All they know is that the warmly-dressed teen can do it without breaking a sweat.
"Because it's a surprise." Yuca said with his signature smirk.
Putting his boshi back in place, Luffy looked at Yuca with wide, blinking eyes, letting go of first-mate.
"Oh really? Thanks Yu-chan!"
Everyone immediately slump at the answer, sweatdropping at their captain's naivety. Of course Yuca would be able to get away from it easily without even the need to think about it.
Demo... Nami thought
...isn't he... Usopp then thought.
...just trying to... Zoro soon after thought.
Everyone shook their heads but didn't say anything, as if something like this is bound to happen someday.
...prevent Luffy from getting too noisy?... Everyone thought coincidently at the same time. If Yuca was human, even he has a limited to how annoying Luffy can get. There was no doubt that if their captain knew it quite earlier, he would have all the more reason to party.
On the other hand; well actually, that's not the reason why he didn't tell Luffy. He noticed everyone's look towards him, but simply ignored it and didn't say anything to protest about their thoughts.
If one could see clearly, there were several arrows around the teen pointing above his head. One said: "Too conceded, confident, and smart"... he added the smart part probably. There was another one that said: "Actually calculated the numbers and the ranks of the guys Luffy beaten and average it out to figure out how much Luffy's head is worth". There was one more that said: "Been with Luffy since childhood and was, by now, immune to his hyperness".
So basically, Yuca didn't know how much belis that are on the rubber captain's head. He knows that there is going to be a bounty soon after Luffy defeated Arlong, but he didn't accurately know how much it's going to be. Apparently, the number he concluded was the same as the one on the bounty poster, but he didn't bothered in the first place telling Luffy about his estimate because he rather not be called a "liar" by his best friend just because he mis-calculated the total price of his best friend head. Yeah, Luffy would somewhat understand, but his senchou is still a childish idiot.
That, and he didn't really cared enough to tell his best friend in the first place.
With that over with, Luffy immediately went back to his happier mood and pointed over, well, particularly nothing but the horizon. Yuca can easily see the flash of disappointment in Luffy's eyes that disappeared quickly; as quickly when Luffy is met face to face with his favorite dish. Wait, I mean dishes.
He was probably disappointed that there wasn't a sunset to make his pointing a bit more dramatic, but oh well.
"All right crew! We're goin' to the GRAND LINE!" Exclaimed their loud captain as he then pumped his fist into the air.
It was enough to get both Sanji and Usopp excited as they yelled noises of agreement, ready to take on the Grand Line as if it wasn't...well, the Grand Line.
Nami only facepalmed.
"You guys..." Nami mumbled, her eyebrow twitching. "Once again, you really don't understand the seriousness of this situation! Don't you see what this mean, they're coming for our heads?"
Seeing that Luffy is still making an excited fool of himself, the other two just cheering along- Nami didn't have a choice but to give her captain a good knock on the head.
"LISTEN TO ME WHEN I'M GIVING YOU AN IMPORTANT WARNING!" Nami shouted furiously while Luffy just shrugged off the bump on his head with a laugh. Usopp mumbled something about scary Nami, and Sanji went on with his "Nami-swan looks so cute when angry!" and such.
Growling, Nami gave her captain a glare -out of concern or out of annoyance, it could be taken either way- and crossed her arm. "Look, after this, I don't think we'll be able to lounge about in East Blue anymore."
Yuca tilted his head a little at what Nami said before smirking at the thought, his eyes shadow giving him a complete evil look. No one noticed the change in Yuca as he thought about it, everyone too busy with their own problems.
Nami was absolutely right about their time here in East Blue being limited. Currently right now, Luffy's bounty is the highest out of all the East Blue pirates. At such a short time, his senchou has already put the spotlight on himself. With this much attention, things would be interesting and highly entertaining.
In the corner of his eyes, he saw Zoro looking at the giddiness of the crew, before look up at the sky in wonder. Yuca can easily tell what the swordsman is thinking.
30,000,000 belis. With a huge bounty like that, even the top Marines will be looking for us. Zoro couldn't help but though, his eyes narrowing. And tough bounty hunters after the money.
The swordsman sat up from his position and look at the others from the other side.
Then, his eyes met Yuca's and he could tell from the sadist's twinkle in his eyes, that this is not something to take light of. They'll be in the bigger league than before.
The swordsman expression turned furious when he saw the sadist's smirk becoming wider, grabbing onto his only one of his katanas but didn't unsheathe it. He knows what the smirk means. It was very clear as if Yuca was actually saying it himself.
"Are you ready, Roronoa Zoro?"
This was a challenge, a challenge that Zoro aimed to beat. With that, Zoro gave Yuca a smirk of his own. As if knowing what it means, Yuca turn back towards the other four, who was still cheering, with a polite smile as if everything is back to normal.
Zoro visibly relaxed and went back to his sleeping position, but the smirk hasn't disappear from his lips.
Yuca, on the other hand, couldn't help but think as he kept up his polite facade: I wonder what the smirk is about...? Oh well, it's probably nothing to think about too much.
Yuca can really make anyone misunderstand him. Well, it always entertains him in the end anyway.
"LET'S GO! LET'S GO! TO THE GRAND LINE!"
On a broken-down looking ship, not far away from Going Merry, a specific ex-captain is wallowing himself in self-pity, complaining about how life was like a dream before that "one bad waiter" ruined it all. In other words, he looked completely pathetic (no offense to any Full Body fans of course).
While drowning himself drunk with "cheap wine", cursing from time to time as he slumped deeper into his seat; the pitiful captain heard several knocks, before the solider came barging in, broking the door in the process.
"Full Body-Senchou!" the soldier yelled, giving his captain a salute before he tumbled from the force of power he used trying to get in the cabin. Fullbody only rolled his eyes.
"What? You're so noisy." Fullbody barked, narrowing his eyes slightly at the sudden disturbance.
Gulping slightly, the marine crawled a bit closer before holding up a poster for the captain to see. "Um, it's the new wanted list..." the marine said, looking up at Fullbody.
Not really caring about the bounty poster at all, Fullbody grunted and swung his legs down from the table, which they were on, and point on the spot where his leg use to reside. "Yeah, whatever. Put it there. It's not like it has anything to do with us." He mumbled, taking in some more wine as the marine officer quickly set down the paper at the instructed spot and quickly exit out to leave his captain in peace.
Snorting, Fullbody took some more wine in, looking at the poster as he froze in place...wait a minute, he had seen this boy before...
"I've never seen that pirate flag before."
Fullbody stepped out from his cabin, walking over to the port of his boat, eyeing the pirate boat with much amusement for it seemed to be only child's play to him. He slammed his hand on the railing, making his iron knuckles quite menacing.
"I am Boat Captain 'Iron Fist" Fullbody!" He looked around the gathering of teens, trying to decipher which and who is the captain. It could be that scary faced green haired guy, he seemed dangerous enough to be the captain... But he know it is not wised to assume by looks. "Who is your captain?"
He was surprised that a skinny boy with a straw hat just step forwards, but tried to kept himself composed. There are many strange things in the sea, and he have been taught not to judge a book by its cover, no matter how ridiculous and funny it is.
"Ora Luffy!" the young teen declared.
Then, it has gotten a bit more ridiculous after another teen, probably the same age step up with an incredibly long nose.
"Ora Usopp!" It's like he's declaring that he's the captain instead. But it also sound like he was saying "I'm a liar" instead.
Apparently, the other one just ignored it.
"The flag was made just a couple of days ago, right Yu-"
The one named "Luffy" looked back to see...well, Fullbody wasn't quite sure what the boy was looking for.
"Ehhhh? Where did Yuca go?"
The long nosed one look back too, jumping in surprise.
"N-Nani, he was here just a minute ago!"
Fullbody's eyes widen a bit more as the memory came back to him.
"Oh yeah, I remember that time..." the captain mumbled as he grabbed the wanted poster, immediately knowing what could come out of this.
Silly-looking, weak boy + a bounty of 30,000,000 = an opportunity.
"Yes! He's given me a chance to escape this boring, lousy post!" exclaimed marine captain as he immediately snatch the wanted poster, starting to straighten himself up as he crashed out of his cabin and went to call his men.
He had to groan at the stupidity of this crew though.
"Luffy."
The said captain turned his head towards his first mate, blinking as he was sitting on the railing of the left side of the ship. He swung his leg as he peered at his best friend who was, no surprised there, entranced into the little black book that Luffy is ever so curious about. The captain does wonder what the book is about. He does wonder what would he see in it. He also does wonder if Yuca would give him a treat if he did ask about it like last time. Talking about meat, he wondered if Sanji is finished with his food yet- no, he means the crew's food of course. But it's mostly for him, right? He hoped it would be delicious- well of course Sanji's food would be delicious-
"Luffy."
Yuca finally looked up from his book and sweatdropped, seeing that his best friend's mind is far away from this world, drooling.
"Monkey D. Luffy."
The meat-loving teen finally snapped out of his glance, looking at an amused Yuca who only shook his head.
Zoro was near the two, sleeping the day away or something familiar with that. Usopp is behind the two, sweatdropping as he saw how the two interact, well, mostly Luffy. He kept his eye out for the informant of the crew.
"I planned our next location. We're going somewhere first before we get to the Grand Line. I already talked to Nami about this."
While Usopp have to give props to Yuca about getting Nami to agree with him in some way; immediately, Luffy protested.
"Nani! Yu-chan, I wanted to go to the Grand Line already!" whined a fuming Luffy, only whining even more when he could tell that Yuca wasn't change his mind. Usopp cringed at the thought of a restless whining Luffy, for the teen was wanting to go to the Grand Line for a long time.
"We need to get more food and prepare for the trip."
"Ok, let's go!"
Usopp found himself falling over flat on his face. He agreed so easily! Well, of course simple-minded Luffy would agree with just the need for more food.
"And there is another surprise."
Luffy eyes shined and twinkled as he loved surprised, doing a full 180 degree turn as he looked at his best friend with starry eyes.
Yuca only smiled his signature polite smile, making his senchou pout. That means it was a discussion that they would have to discuss later, preferably with the whole crew. Usopp can only look at the two strangely, as he was not one to read their expression unlike that other two. He means, the long-nosed teen has only been here for so long, and Luffy and Yuca has known each other which seemed like a lifetime. But, he has a feeling that he'll regret trying to read their minds, especially Yuca, so he didn't bother trying to figure them out.
Yuca then notice an incoming ship.
"A ship..." he simply blurted out as he look at the coming vessel.
Luffy immediately turned as he look out upon the floating transportation with excitement.
"It looks broken down..." Usopp said as he saw the ship coming pass them, smiling a bit as he wondered how that thing could stay afloat.
"Ghost ship?" Luffy questioned.
"No, just broken down ship." Yuca reassured as marine ship quickly passed them. "Though, I think I recognized one of those guys."
"Friends?" Both Luffy and Usopp asked as they watch the ship going farther and farther away until suddenly, it did a sharp 180o turn and sailed right towards them.
"Nope."
They ship tried to catch up to their sides, making the three teens blink.
"Are those guys pirates..?" Luffy questioned as he shaded his eyes to have a better look at the ship.
"Pretty rusty ship for a pirate though. Colors pretty weird." Yuca stated.
"Yep." Usopp agreed.
Yuca raised his eyebrow as he saw the ship moving even closer. That looks like-
"Are they using a scrapped military boat?" Luffy asked as he also, amazingly in a way, recognized the design and the color of the ship.
Usopp narrowed his eyes as he look upon the ruin Marine Vessel.
"How wasteful, the Marines are. Just throwing them away as scraps..." Usopp commented, crossing his arms as he shook his head.
"WE ARE NOT SCRAPS!"
Usopp flinched at the words while Luffy and Yuca silently look at the person. There he was, "Iron Fist" Fullbody, in all his, well, former glory. The man looked rather perplexed, his hand clenched into a fist as his foot was on the railing in trying to look more imitating.
"Are you idiots blind!"
The three of them tilted their heads at being called idiots, pointing at themselves as if to question who's the idiot.
"YES YOU!"
Fullbody growls as he slapped his forehead.
"How could you forget Fullbody the 'Iron Fist'?" Exclaimed the marine officer, quite offended by their expressions.
Yuca slam his fist into the palm of his hands. "Oh yeah, the marine guy back at the restaurant."
Luffy slammed his fist into his palm also.
"Ah! It's that Marine-ossan!" Luffy exclaimed as he pointed towards the marine as to make out his point that he recognized him. "Are you in trouble? Do you need us to save you?"
A vein popped from the marine captain's head at the pitiful looks he got from the captain himself, as if his crew was the one in a dire situation than their own crew. As if Luffy is being the good guy rather.
Usopp and Yuca just stay back while leaving their captain to this, even though it was not an entirely wised decision sometimes.
"STOP KIDDING AROUND!" Full body was almost at the end of his patience, his face scrunching up to an angrier expression.
"Destiny has placed you into my hands!" Fullbody then immediately whipped out Luffy's bounty poster, and Yuca instantly knew what the man was after... well, he probably knew from the beginning, but since he did not see the man as a threat, he started going to the other side, opposite from where Luffy is, and leaned on the railing, watching them from the background.
"MONKEY D. LUFFY!" Fullbody pointed at the picture of the captain of the Mugiwara crew. "You are under arrest!"
Except for the fearful reaction that he thought he would get, the captain and the long-nosed person next to the wide-eye teen looked rather proud at the bounty poster, both grinning like idiots. Yuca chuckled in the background, thinking that this would probably boost their egos if so.
"Cool! My picture looks good!"
"And the back of my head looks good too!"
Fullbody was still irked at how carefree they are, seeing that they aren't imitated by him at all, but his face soon contorted into a nasty expression as if he thought of something to get rid of them easily without him having to fight in the frontlines.
"Dead or Alive." the captain stated in English, then said it in his own language, already having the answer in this head.
"LOAD CANNONS!"
At the sudden gesture of a cannon pointing at them, Luffy blinked quite dumbly as he didn't quite get the situation. Usopp was the total opposite though, paling as he gape at the weapon pointing at them. Yuca only seemed to find this amusing.
"Nande -Are they attack me?" Luffy questioned, not really getting what they're doing.
Usopp gulped, backing away little by little as he began to move away from his captain. It's not like he's abandoning him, he's rubber for crying out loud and a cannon wouldn't do any harm on him.
The other two absent members of the crew are doing their own thing. Nami just relaxing in her chair reading the newspaper, though she did mumbled something about them being too loud; and Sanji just continuing to make dinner for the rest of the crew, preferably, his sweet Nami-swan.
"T-They're aiming right at us..." stuttered Usopp, looking at the cannon quite fearfully.
In the background, Zoro sighed at the idiocy of it. He has been awake for some time now; enough to know that they are being threaten by a run-down marine and was about to be shot from a cannon. Grumbling a few things about idiotic captain and such, he grabbed his swords, ready to do some action if the thing calls for it.
Not surprising, Luffy found this a challenge that he wanted to face, grinning his big stupid grin as he grabbed his arm, ready for action to the fullest extent.
"Yosh! Lemme at 'em! I'll bounce it right ba-"
Luffy blinked as he was dragged back by his first mate. Wait, when in the world did Yuca get behind him?
"Nani..?" Luffy asked his best friend, looking up at him owlishly while Yuca only smiled ever-so innocently. Both Usopp and Zoro knew that Yuca was planning something, though they were not sure whether that's a good thing, or a bad thing.
"Let have Roronoa handle this Luffy~" Yuca requested, looking upon the swordsman in the corner of his eyes. Zoro instantly saw the look, his hand grasping the hilt of his sword tighter. He does not know what those eyes of that demon is implying, but he felt as if Yuca is challenging him.
Grumbling a bit as he saw that there was no way he would turn down a challenge, especially from the blue-haired demon that is, apparently, their first mate. He do wanted to show that guy off, saying that he can come across anything that would happen. Besides, he was about to step in anyway. A small smirk appearing on his face, Zoro took his place on the previous spot where Luffy was, holding on to one of his katana out seeing that he would only need one.
"Nande, nande, nande?" Luffy continuously questioned as he was pulled to the side so not to interfered with Zoro. Apparently, Usopp began to help too though Luffy wasn't struggling at all. Just rather confuse.
"Just don't get involved Luffy." Usopp told him, sighing as they were away from the swordsman just enough not to get caught in the fire.
"Yes and just watch your little swordsman." Yuca soon added, leaning against the railing as he crossed his arm; a closed-eye, amused smile is on his face. "Do please entertain me Roronoa Zoro-"
"I'M NOT OUR GUINNE PIG!" Snapped the swordsman as he unsheathe only one of his katanas, ready to slice the cannonball.
Fullbody just ignored the commotion down there and smirked, doing a thumb-down. "Sink them." He ordered, a smirk on his face as he thought that he got these stupid pirates.
The officers complied with what their captain said and shot the cannonball towards the swordsman.
Zoro, on the other hand, was completely calm unlike the panicking Usopp who looked upon the swordsman nervously. Closing his eyes, taking a deep breath as the cannonball is coming closer and closer; Zoro then opened his eyes and position himself, taking only one swipe to just slice the cannonball in half.
"Woooo! Sugei!" Luffy exclaimed as he looked at where the cannonballs disappeared into the sea, obviously impressed. Usopp looked quite agape and shock as well as the other marines on their ship. Especially their captain. And-
"What do you think?" Zoro confidently boasted, turning around to look at Yuca as he sheathed his swords. A smirk on his face as he hoped to get one up from the first mate.
His expression fell. Why in the he- does Yuca look disappointed for?
"Hm... I was hoping for something more...flashier. Like slicing it up to tinier pieces than a dull cut in half thing.."
"I'M NOT HERE TO ENTERTAIN YOU!"
Ignoring the outraged swordsman, Yuca then look back at the marine captain with a polite smile. The captain and the marines on the ship flinched as the smiled look pretty menacing rather anything but innocent.
"Are you finish? Could you leave because we're busy here-"
"LIKE HE- I WOULD LISTEN!" Fullbody shouted, motion the guards to get ready for a second shot. He was in desperation now and couldn't let a few snot-nosed brats tell him off! Especially one that would get him back to his post!
"How many shots do you think you could stand?" exclaimed Fullbody as the cannon was more adjusted to get them.
Yuca then noticed something.
"Oh my, oh my~" Yuca said, smiling ever so innocently as they were ready to shoot the crew.
Luffy, blinking at what his best friend looked said upon where his first mate was looking at, blinking.
"Ora...not good." Luffy mumbled as he shook his head.
"Not good?" exclaimed the marksman when he looked to where Luffy is looking now.
"Shoot!"
As the marine shot the cannon; it suddenly blew up itself. Every one of the marines were surprised and smoked as their only cannon, now ruined.
"See? The cannon had a crack in it." Luffy pointed out, looking a bit pitiful at the marines.
Usopp and Zoro sweatdropped at the ridiculousness of it while Yuca chuckled ever so amused.
"Un, that's definitely not good." Usopp agreed, wondering if they were, in fact, faced with marines. They probably are, but they just seemed like wannabes.
That's it; Iron-Fist Fullbody had enough.
The frustrated captain ordered that their ship would crash into theirs and when they came into contact, he was ready to battle them to the fullest. He would not let this opportunity go!
"You brats! Do not look down upon an Ex-Captain of the Marines!"
Do you have to admit you're an ex-captain though..? Both Usopp and Zoro thought as they sweatdropped in the back of their heads.
"We'll defeat you in close combat then!" Fullbody jumped down from his ship to their deck, having full intent to beat them. "Come on men!"
The other marines, well, they're not looking too hot about the decision. They obvious knew how strong these pirates are, despite their captain's denial on how the situation actually is. The captain has a bounty for 30,000,000 freakin' belis! But, they couldn't ignored his order. He's the captain nonetheless.
Taking out their swords, they jump onto the pirate's ship and began to charge.
While Luffy and Zoro put on a battle stance, the latter two: Usopp was busy trying to hide behind Luffy and using him as a shield and such. Yuca was just particularly looking very relaxed, if not, even amused. It seemed that he wasn't going to help at all with the situation.
When Luffy noticed that the captain, Fullbody, was going towards him, he looked at Yuca with a questioning expression, as if he was asking permission.
The first mate only smiled.
"Do what you want. There was never any need to ask permission," Fullbody raised his fist as he was about to punch Luffy in the face. "from these low-life, pathetic, wannabe marines."
Fullbody then tripped as he skidded, his face attach to the floor, right passed Luffy.
"Oi, oi, isn't that cruel?" Usopp deadpanned as he looked at the fallen marine, feeling a bit sorry for the guy.
"It's the truth. I never lie."
Usopp only swap away the sparkles that came from Yuca's oh-so blameless smile.
Growling as Fullbody was trying to get his composure back, glaring at Yuca of course at the same time, he started to attack Luffy again. He mustn't forget his main goal!
Well, this time without any interruptions, Fullbody did a good punch to the mugiwara's head. But, the other thing that surprised him is... that his neck has stretched...farther than a human's neck should be. Fullbody's eyes popped open.
And then, the head was coming back.
"Gomu gomu noooooooo..." Luffy's forehead met instantly with his opponent's. "KANE!"
The sound of head clashing onto another head was heard clearly as he Fullbody ended up flying back hard to the railing because of the force, groaning as he tried to clear his vision.
At the same time, all of the sudden, all the marine underlings of Fullbody flew back, seemingly attacked, as they fell back into their own ship. Fullbody looked at the flying bodies that were above him with a bewildered expression. Why is his men defeated so easily by some snot nosed kids?
"How dare you interrupt a cook in the middle of his work."
Looking at where the voice came from, Fullbody did a manly scream at who he found is standing in front of him. There he is, the shi-y cook that just embarrass him and strip him off of his high rank. Just right there in front of him looking particularly murderous.
Without any self-dignity, he jumped back to his ship, completely giving up on trying to capture the mugiwara's head, and then dived into the water to escape the crazy crew even more along with his marine underlings who jumped into the water before.
Luffy blinked.
"Nani? Over already...?" Luffy questioned as he adjusted his boshi on his head.
"That guy's still a jacka-" mumbled Sanji as he frown at the thought. Never thought that he would meet him again.
Usopp looked as if he won the battle instead, looking all haughtily as he crossed his arm. "Huh. That guy's is all talk!"
Yuca was leaning over the swordsman, who was kicked out of the way by Sanji whenever he was about to attack the remaining crew member. "Having a nice nap, swordsman-san~?" questioned the informant as it was evident to how amused he is.
Zoro contemplate whether who to kill first. Aho-cook or Ahoformant. It's pretty hard to choose.
Yuca then looked at the old ship of the marines, tisking.
"You could've at least play with them a little more Cook-sa-"
"WE'RE NOT HERE FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT!" Zoro snapped, proceeding to kick the informant. Yuca only laughed as he dodges a few punches and kicks.
"Nani! You guys are so noisy!" Nami said from the other side of the ship, closing her newspaper shut.
"NAMI-SWAN! FOOD IS READY!"
"ALRIGHT! MESHI!"
"STAY STILL YOU-"
"I see no reason why I should swordsman-san~"
"Zoro, Yuca, try not to break the ship..."
WHACK!
"TEME! YOU HIT ME YOU BIG, GREEN LUG!"
"YOU WERE IN THE WAY AHO-COOK!"
"Shall we at least prepare the table Usopp~?"
"Why are you so calm about this?"
"MESHI! MESHI!"
"Hahahaha! Luffy did it, eh Senchou!" One of the pirates exclaimed, taking a big dunk into his booze before he laughed once again with the rest of the partying crew.
The said captain laughed as foolhardy as the rest, already drunk from the many beers he has consumed. Mihawk just stay sober unlike the other, only drinking from time to time as he watched the pirates party to till they drop, literally.
"GAHAHAHAHA! I wonder how that anchor is now after all these years! Probably drinking apple juice!"
Many laughed at the memory of their snot-nosed brat who would always be starry-eyed whenever they told him of their adventures, knowing that the same brat is making his own adventures now.
Grabbing the bounty poster, Shanks looked upon it with a proud gaze, his eyes shining as he did thought of the kid as his own. Just with this bounty poster, he knows that Luffy would go far. Farther than he would be right now.
He then laughed like a mad-man at the memories he remembered being with the squirt. Telling him stories, fooling around, making pranks, playing games; all sorts of stuff! Like he was also a kid himself, just big apparently. Well, many of his crewmates would agree anyway.
"Hahahaha! Remember the time when that blue haired kid just out-smarted our captain! Then again, our captain could get out-smarted any day when he's drunk!"
"Oi! I resent that!" Shanks joyfully argued as he threw an empty booze bottle towards the pirate who said that, laughing.
Oh yeah, he remembered Yuca. The kid always have time to make snappy comebacks whenever he can. He's one of the very people that could always make him speechless. Well, not that he admitted it. He just told everyone that he let the child win. Of course, some didn't believe it.
"I bet he's twiddling his thumbs when he saw the bounty poster! He always have been panicking over anchor!" Shanks said, laughing at the imagine of Yuca pacing back and forth in that little hut he build far from civilization, probably mumbling about how Luffy shouldn't be so reckless. "Bet he's doing that right now!"
Many others laughed. They got to know the kid right after Shanks have been introduced to him. So, ever since then and every time that Luffy would run up to see them, Yuca would be there either right beside him or just watching him from the background. They know how worried he was of Luffy when he was little. They thought it shouldn't be different from back then.
"You mean the blue haired kid?"
No one heard Mihawk except for Shanks, who looked at the shichibukai with a confused expression mixed with an expression of bewilderment. How did Hawk-eye know? Mind reading?
"I did not mind read." Mihawk reassured as he noticed the expression on the Yonkou's face. "I met him once on the sea."
Shanks eyes widen as he look at Mihawk with astonishment. So Yuca's out in sea? So he wouldn't go out with Luffy to sea with him but went out to sea by himself?
Mihawk sweatdrop as he saw the sad look that Shanks had, as if he was feeling sorry for someone.
"I saw him along with the boy, Monkey D. Luffy." Mihawk carefully and clearly stated.
Apparently, everyone heard that part; the whole place silence as they realized who Hawk-eye was talking about.
Mihawk didn't really wanted to say anymore, since he originally didn't want to be here in the first place and was just dropping off the news to Shanks. But he's stuck here and it didn't look like the captain is going to let him go anytime soon. And now, Shanks is giving him a puppy-dog look to get him to go on talking.
The swordsman sighed, seeing that there is no way out of this.
"I was tracking down some pirates apparently that I haven't destroy yet." Some sweatdrop for it sounded like something Mihawk would've done. "And your "anchor's" swordsman challenge me soon after that."
Leave it to Luffy to find some crazy-a- people.
"The swordsman was still in his prime so-"
"Just get to the part already!" Groan Shanks. He doesn't want to know the whole story, he wanted to know why in the he- is Yuca with Luffy. The boy decline many of Luffy's offers of joining him when he goes out to sea, when in the he- did that change?
Mihawk raised an eyebrow but complied.
"In truth, I don't know much about him or see him do anything but watch; but he's there, looking particularly dark."
A cloud of foreboding took some of the crew. Yuca, dark? They all know how sadistic the child was in the first place. So... doesn't that mean it has gotten a lot worse since last time? Some do not want to figure it out.
"I couldn't tell whether he was powerful or not. It's like he's hiding something but I don't get what." Mihawk stated truthfully, taking a sip of his booze.
"He has a smirk the whole time while I was fighting the swordsman. I think his smirk gotten wider when he sliced his torso."
A large sweatdrop was placed on the back of their heads. Yep. That's Yuca alright.
"THERE IS NOTHING GOOD ABOUT US PROVIDING A PIRATE!" yelled Woodslap as he scolded the townsfolk about how they are too dang happy about the thing.
"But, it's his dream, right?" Makino questioned, smiling happily at the joyful atmosphere around her bar. It is rather a good day.
"More like fate." Woodslap snorted, taking the drink that Makino gave him.
"Like he was born to be one."
"We're closing up on the Grand Line, now- Luffy! Listen to me!"
Luffy took his gaze away from the fly that was flying around his head and looked at his navigator with a big stupid grin as if he didn't do anything wrong.
"Yeah Nami?"
The navigator just groaned.
"Listen here Luffy, we're closing up at the Grand Line. The only way to get there is through here."
Nami pointed towards a mountain feature of the map before looking at the others quite seriously. Sanji, Usopp, and Luffy peered at where she's pointing at out of curiosity.
"Going through Reverse Mountain is the only way to get through the Grand Line!"
Zoro snorted. They are going to have to climb up a mountain?
"Pain in the as-. Can't we just go straight there from the sea?"
"Nope." Sanji quickly disagreed, recognizing the name Reverse Mountain. "According to the old man's stories, It's the only way to get into the Grand Line."
Usopp looked at Sanji with a questioning gaze. The only way? Surely, he must be kidding. "Why's that?"
"It's extremely dangerous." Sanji replied.
"That's why I asked! Why?"
"I don't know any more than that! If you want to ask anyone, ask our shi-y infor-"
Sanji looked to see that their informant is, in fact, asleep, snoring the day away while they're here planning out their next move.
"WAKE UP YOU SHI-Y LAZY BUM!" Sanji snapped as he kicked the teen from his spot, who landed near Luffy.
Yuca did in fact woke up, it's just that he made it as if Sanji didn't kick him in the first place.
"Huh...? Map of Reverse Mountain..?" mumbled Yuca as he looked at the sheet of paper, rubbing his eyes.
"Oh! Wait a minute! What about our food!" Luffy then suddenly exclaimed, remembering that there was someplace else they were supposed to go to.
"What about our food...?" Sanji questioned, hoping it wasn't something like that Luffy just emptied out their provisions.
"No. Loguetown."
Everyone but Nami looked at Yuca confusingly.
"Yes, Loguetown. Yuca and I agreed that we should go there first for preparations before heading towards the Grand Line."
"I'm sure that an agreement between those two would end the worl-"
Usopp didn't have any more to say for Nami pummeled him soon after.
"And this place has also some historic significant."
They all looked at Yuca; the warmly-dressed teen has a smirk on his face, his eyes closed as if he's deeply in thoughts.
"The place where Gold Rogers was born. But also, the place where he got executed." Luffy widen his eyes as he heard what Yuca said. "The place where he died. That is Loguetown."
Opening his eyes and looking up upon the crew, seeing all their faces at the new information (except for Nami); Yuca smiled ever-so innocently once again.
"You looked interested, Senchou."
There was no doubt in Yuca's words that what he said is a lie. The light in Luffy's eyes was changed all the sudden, as if he was staring ahead the future that is sure to come. There's no doubt, with the sudden seriousness that his current demeanor hold, that he wanted to go. To go to see where the Pirate King was borne, and where the Pirate King has died.
"I want to go see."
Just that simple sentence, everyone understood where their next destination is supposed to be.
Everyone nodded their heads in understand; Yuca different from the rest, smirked.
"Hai Senchou~" Replied the first mate.
Then, the mood was ruined by a rumbling stomach.
"SANJI!~ NIKU~~"
"SHUT IT YOU SHI-Y RUBBER! YOU JUST HAVE LUNCH HALF AN HOUR AGO!"
"DEMO~ I'M HUNGRY!"
"SNOOOREE~"
"Already asleep! Hey, where's Yuca?"
"UGH! Being around you guys are hazardous to my health! I'm going to rest, don't disturb me!"
"HAI~ NAMI-SWAN!"
"SANJI! MESHI!"
From the crow nest, the warmly dressed teen couldn't help but chuckle.
"And the plot continues."
Me: Thank you for reading this! I'm sorry it took so long since I have not that much time. Choir is doing an opera and such XD Forgive me also for the grammer mistakes.
Anyway, I wanted to reassure you guys of something.
I'm not trying to make Yuca powerful than the rest of the Straw hats and such. Does it seemed like it? Yes, then I'm sorry. But Yuca has been obviously so adjusted and knowledgeable about how life works from a young age and knows how to get around the world (if you haven't notice already why .). When it comes to strength, he could be as strong as Zoro and Luffy (more or less. He is the first mate and has been with Luffy since far childhood) and he's mature than most (no matter how sadistic he is), so of course he may seemed powerful in a way but he barely fights any of the main fights. He always let Luffy or the others do. Usually, he's in the background making strategies or just enjoying the show (don't worry, there will be some fights that he'll include himself into). He is somewhat just ridiculously strong like some of the trio monsters. Maybe more, maybe less. As I say again, he never shows true his strength though. The crew might know that he's strong, but not to a full extent. (to tell you the truth, I'm not sure how strong he could be). He's still human nonetheless. Not like rubbery Luffy. So of course he could get hurt, but he's smart and intelligent enough to know ways to get around that. He's the deceiver. His most strong points of his abilities would be his agility but that's pretty much it.
As some of you may know, Yuca is somehow protective of Luffy huh? Well, as they get older, Yuca became less and less of a mother hen around Luffy. Because he knows that Luffy would be fine to the point that he'll let him do any kind of reckless thing. But, if Luffy's life is in danger, it's hard to tell what he would do. For he trusted Luffy to get through it in the end, but he also know that the boy has limits. So, there might be some thinking on my part for that.
Long huh? Don't blame ya XD. I just want to make sure people didn't think I'm making him a...Mary sue? Well, the male version of that XD
Hope this makes sense!
