Hey everyone! Another week has gone by and we're back!Robin: Seems like you're going to be busy for the next few weeks.

Yeah… (sighs) I'm gonna have to put off writing for a bit until I'm caught up with my schoolwork. (glooms)

Robin: I'm sure you'll make it through the whole year.

Thanks Robin. Well! Let's start the 'Reviewer's Reply' and get this fic rolling!

Robin: (giggles and holds up a box) This is from NeoGene.

(looks curiously at the box before opening it) It's cake! Thank you! Wanna share Robin?

Robin: Of course. (picks up another review while waiting for her piece) From Kami-san…

(hands plate to Robin) I knew that question is going to come up. Sanji will be in this, but not in the next few chapters… When I'm caught up with my homework and not feel so pressured to have time to put in that chapter in my rough book. And Brooke will come in later after that. Be patient.

Robin: Like I said, you'll do fine as long as you study. (takes a bite and uses her powers to pick up the next review) From Pirateking1…

Yeah… same thing happened to me with the reviews. I saw them on the fanfiction, but not in my e-mail. Oh well, must be the computer being moody or something.

Robin: (giggles) That's pretty funny.

(grins and eats her piece) This is really good!

Robin: ( picks up another) From hanabi857… Mind if I have another piece while you're at it?

No problem. (starts cutting) Yeah, that was kinda weird that the alerts weren't working for a moment there, but all's good in the end. And I had fun with that part with Nami, it just wouldn't be Nami without her being murderous in someway. Here you go Robin. (hands the piece over)

Robin: Thank you Cupid-san. (grabs her plate and uses her ability to get the last review) From XcrazyXookamiX…

Ah! Ookami-san! Yes, Sanji will appear in the next few chapters, but at the same time you might not see it if I'm preoccupied with my schoolwork… Though I do have a three-day weekend… I'll try to finish as much as I can tomorrow and we'll see from there. And about the torture method, I think I remember seeing that sometime ago… Didn't it make the person want to go to the john or just really annoyed them, I can't remember what the result was…

Robin: I'm sure Ookami-san will be happy to explain.

Without a doubt. I really think that Ookami-san and Kami-san would be great pals of the twisted humor… finding out ways to torture people and scaring the life of someone…

Robin: (giggles) Sounds like you like them.

They're just so much alike!

Robin: (laughs a little) Well then! Should we start the long awaited chapter?

You bet! Enjoy everyone!


Chapter 9: Kaya's Arrival

"Huh? Kaya's coming?" Usopp asked.

The usual three went to their usual lunch spot, where there were leaves starting to change color.

"Yeah! It caught me by surprise, but she's gonna be here in the evening and we're gonna have a welcome party for her!" Luffy smiled widely. "And I want you guys to come!"

"How come?" Usopp asked as he took a sip of his orange juice.

"Because I want to introduce you guys, after all we are friends!"

"Well… I don't know…"

"What about you Zoro?"

The mentioned man opened one eye and shrugged. "What the hell? It's a small party and I have nothing better to do."

"That's great!" The teen said happily as he looked at Usopp. "Don't worry Usopp! You'll like her!"

"How would you know?"

"You'll see!"

Usopp gave in and sighed. "There's no moving you when you decided on something."

"Huh? What does that mean?"

Zoro chuckled as the bell rang. "So we meet at the bus stop after school, right?"

"Yep!" The teen said as he and the other two headed back towards the building.


Later: Nami's Apartment

"Okay!" Nami said as she grabbed her coat. "I'm going now!" She looked at the three guys. "I expect everything ready by the time I return! And Luffy! If you dare eat a crumb of the food, you're not gonna have lunch for three days!" With that, she closed the door, leaving the guys in the apartment with a list of chores.

"Damn that bitch…" Zoro said as he looked at the list. "Who knows how to cook?"

Usopp grinned and posed. "Funny you should ask that…"

"Never mind, I'll do the cooking… that leaves you two to do the cleaning."

Usopp seemed to pout at that but sighed. "Fine… Oi! Luffy! Quit looking depressed and help me!"

"No lunch for three days…"

"Oi! Luffy!" Zoro said as he bopped the teen's head. "Get yourself together, the sooner you guys get the rooms, the less chance we hear from that bitchy witch of a cousin of yours."

Luffy almost seemed surprised when he heard 'witch' but quickly realized that's not what the other referred. 'Just an insult, nothing to worry about.' He thought. "Okay!"

"Come on Luffy!" Usopp said as he dragged the teen with him to the first room, the second guest room, while Zoro started with the meal.

Half an Hour Later

"Finished!" Usopp and Luffy said in unison as they collapsed on the couch.

Luffy sniffed and craned his head back to see Zoro working in the small kitchen. "Smells so good!"

"It's not great, but it's something." He said. "Should be done in a few minutes…" He looked at the party tray of cut up vegetables and the dip in the center, a few bowls of fruit salad, and he was waiting on the small pizzas he managed to make without too much problems. He started to clean up the mess he created, so he didn't have to face the wrath of the scary, ginger-haired girl. Once he was done, he took out the said pizzas and smiled to see that they weren't burnt like he was afraid they would, turned off the oven, and started to place all the prepared items on the table. "Luffy, if that damned cousin of yours does this shit again, I'm walking out!"

"I'll join ya!" Usopp said.

"Sorry guys, I had no idea she would do this."

Zoro sighed as he sat down next to Luffy and ruffled his hair. "It's not your fault… But I've got to say it must be tough to live with her."

Luffy smiled his usual goofy smile. "She's not bad, just has to put her guard up to people she's not familiar with."

"I guess I can understand that, seeing as you're the hopelessly trusting type."

"No doubt that's where it comes from." Usopp said, agreeing with the man.

"What are you guys talking about!?" Luffy said as the door opened.

"We're back!" Nami said, making the teen jump up from his seat and went straight to the other girl, who was wearing a large, white sun hat.

"Hey Kaya!" He said excitedly.

The other two stayed where they were as Nami looked around.

"Impressive." She said with approvement as the teen and the other girl ran pass her.

"Guys! This is Kaya! Kaya, these are my coolest friends in the whole world!"

"Just had to go there…" Zoro said with an amused grin on his face.

Usopp was going to say something as the girl took her hat off and he was rendered speechless.

"It's a pleasure t meet you." Kaya said in a soft voice. She's a fair skinned young woman with pale blonde hair, and dark chocolate eyes.

Usopp swore he saw her glowing when he felt someone bop him on the head. "Huh?"

"Introduce yourself, baka." Zoro said in a bored manner.

"Huh?"

"And the one being funny is Usopp." Luffy said, saving the other from further embarrassment. "He's really good at telling stories."

"Really?" Kaya said as she seemed interested.

"Yeah! And a lot of it is really funny!"

"Is that true?" She asked Usopp, who used his nervousness and changed it to his form of confidence.

"Of course! I'm the Great Captain Usopp! Brave Warrior of the Sea!"

"Brave Warrior of the Sea?" Kaya said.

"Really?!" Luffy said, stars shining in his eyes.

Zoro silently sighed as he dragged Luffy. "Come on! That cousin of yours wants us to serve."

Usopp was a little nervous now that he was on his own with the young woman, but he continued what he started. "Yeah! Like the time I was five years old and I helped saved a whale!"

"A whale?" She said as she sat down next to him.

While in the kitchen area, Nami looked from the two to the two guys, specifically Luffy. "Did you bring Usopp over because you knew how much she liked stories?" She asked.

"Na? I wanted to introduce my friends to Kaya, since she's gonna stay here with us too."

"Oh…" She said as she took the offered plate of food and drink.

Then Kaya started to laugh as well as Usopp.

"Those two connected quickly." Zoro said as he handed a plate to Luffy, which had more portions on it then the rest.

"Yeah." The teen said with a smile. "Kaya went through a hard time growing up. Always being sick, parents died some years ago, and couldn't be out as much as she wants to. I'd go insane if I was her."

'And this is you being normal?' Nami thought, knowing how incredulously crazy her cousin is.


Later

The party was a success and Zoro and Usopp were saying their good nights, when Kaya came up to Usopp.

"Uhm… Usopp…"

"Y-Yeah?" He said, feeling a little nervous, but not as much when he first spoke to her.

"Uh… well… Since I'm new to the city, and I don't want to bother Nami-chan and Luffy-kun… uh… Would you mind showing me around tomorrow?"

Nami would've protested, but Luffy covered her mouth, making Zoro lift a brow at the strange behavior, but didn't question it.

"O-Of course!" Usopp said as nervousness and happiness came at once. "I am, after all, the Great Captain Usopp! I know this city like I know my name!"

Kaya looked equally as happy. "Great!" She said as a small tint of pink was on her cheeks.

"It's no problem!" He said as he felt his face being warm. "Well! I guess we'll be seeing each other again."

"I'd like that." She said, causing the long-nosed teen to blush more.

"We'll be seeing you." Zoro said as he grabbed Usopp by the back collar of his uniform.

"Oi! Unhand me! I'm the Great Captain Usopp!"

"Yeah? Well I'm the Demon Lord of the South."

"You are?!" The other teen said.

"Don't be stupid!" Zoro said as the other laughed as he waved like a child before closing the door. "Looks like you have a date."

"Huh? No! No, no, no, no… It's not like that! It's just a tour around the city is all! Nothing much!"

"It's a date."

"Are you even listening!?"

"Shut up… you're getting really annoying."


Meanwhile: Nami's Apartment Room

"Well! Well! Well!" Nami said with a huge, cat-like grin. "Little Lady Kaya asked a guy on a date."

Kaya blushed a brilliant shade of pink. "It's not like that at all, Nami!"

"Uh huh…" Nami smiled. "Then why did you say you didn't want to bother me and Luffy? We would've gladly showed you around."

"But Nami," Luffy said. "don't you have that witching test to study for?"

Nami looked horrified. "Oh my gosh! I totally forgot!"

Luffy yawned. "I think I'm going to bed.

"It is a little late." Nami said with a grin. "Tomorrow's a big day for you, Kaya."

"H-Hai…"

Luffy went to his room and changed to his p.j.'s, before grabbing his journal and started to write.

'Dear Journal,

Today was a good day. School was normal and I invited Usopp and Zoro to come to a welcome party for Kaya, who's going to stay with me and Nami. Well, Nami left us with some chores to do, which was uncalled for! But we got everything done before Nami and Kaya came in. Kaya and Usopp hitted off right away. Usopp was telling her stories almost all night and she was all smiles and laughs. Then, before Zoro and Usopp had to go, Kaya asked Usopp to show her around the city! It was surprising because she's very quiet and shy, so it was a really good thing. Well, I don't have much to say tonight, so I'm gonna hit the sack. Later!'

He placed the journal on the nightstand and laid back in bed with a happy smile on his face.


I'm gonna work on my profile a bit. Hey… does anyone know how I put an icon on? I don't know how…

Robin: (giggles) See you in the next chapter.