Usopp tried his best not to pass out. He could feel the steel of one of the bullets scratch against the bone in his leg and there was nothing he could do. He was left motionless as the marines gathered around him… laughing. The long nose would have been furious if not for the fact that he could barley think straight now and even the color he was seeing was turning wacky. It was almost like he was watching from the outside. He could still feel the pain enveloping him but he was chained down. There was no fighting back now and all the sniper could do was watch the marines celebrating with each other and using a transponder snail to contact someone. Usopp clenched his teeth through the pain when one of the marines pushed a rifle against his head. Another kicked him in the stomach. All the while they were laughing and saying how all pirates might as well give up and be caught like the sniper at their feet.

The wind had been knocked out of Usopp's lungs, which didn't help his already dire situation. Now even his hearing was failing him. He could only hear sections of the conversations around him. "Should – kill - long nose?" One marine asked into the transponder snail.

"Do—whatever-want. He'll die-." Usopp stopped trying to move or attempting to get away and tried to focus on breathing and staying alive at that moment.

Maybe… if I just stay alive… there'll… be a chance… Another marine kicked him as the sniper was rolled onto his back. … Ow… He was starting to see pictures from his life… Not good…

First it was Banchina. He could still see his mother lying in bed, eerily pale, and struggling to breathe. He remembered when he had first found her sick. She had fallen on the floor… he rushed over to her and she said she was okay. She told him to go and get the doctors from the village. Usopp helped her into bed and then did as he was told. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him, screaming, "SOMEBODY HELP ME! MY MOM'S SICK! SHE NEEDS HELP~!"… She died almost two weeks later. Usopp could never get the picture out of his mind… The doctors pushed him out of the house as Usopp screamed for his mom. "MOMMY! LET ME GO! I NEED TO HELP HER!" The doctors were able to shove him out the door and locked it. Usopp pounded on the door but then heard the doctors on the other side…

"Is she-?"

"… I'm afraid so… Banchina has passed away…" Usopp couldn't believe it. He wouldn't! He didn't want to! Usopp then turned sharply and ran from the house. The doctors were distraught when they couldn't find him. They looked everywhere for the missing boy until the owner of the largest mansion on the village dame to them… Kaya's father.

"He is down at the coast…" He said sadly. "Let the boy be. He's too young to deal with such a loss. Give him time." The man then returned to the coast to check on Usopp… It had been five hours since Banchina had passed away and night had fallen over Syrup Village. And yet the boy was still standing at the edge of the coast crying… Calling for his father who was nowhere in sight. "Please come home! Mom needs you…! I need you! Please dad… please?" Usopp fell onto the grass. His voice was hoarse now and shaking. Those five hours he screamed for his dad… And yet no one heard his cries. Only the waves and the wind that carried his message out to sea only to be lost… The funeral was a few days after. Usopp was there and stayed by the grave for almost two days straight. He wouldn't talk to anyone. He wouldn't eat. He just wanted to be alone…

…Then one day the village got quite a surprise… "PIRATES~! PIRATES ARE COMING~! EVERYONE~! IT'S TERRIBLE~!" Kaya's father could hear the ruckus from his home and ran outside. The long nosed boy he had seen just the other day crying and mourning as expected… was smiling! It had a shaky smile and he could tell Usopp was holding back tears but he continued to cheer, "PIRATES! PIRATES! THEY'RE COMING!" The man later found that Usopp had given up on his sadness. He had been telling his friends that he was going to become a real pirate… A brave man of the sea if you will, and that meant that he wouldn't cry. He wanted to become brave and if he didn't keep his same spirit how could his mother ever be happy? Those were the boy's words. And he would live by them for the rest of his days… At least that was what the three boys with hair that reminded many people of vegetables told the man.

Kaya… Kaya… I miss her… I'll never forget all of those stories. Just think of what I could tell her now… Heh… The whole fight with Kuro… that was really something…

Then the thought that meant the most came to him… Luffy… Zoro… Nami… Sanji… Chopper… Robin… Franky… Brook… Everyone… He felt a tear roll down his face. They were his family. When his mother died he had friends, he had the villagers… but he never had a FAMILY. Until they came around… until HE showed him what it was like to be brave. Until LUFFY showed him how loyal a nakama can be. He thought about the parties, the adventures, the fight, Luffy pulling him back to the ship... Their reunion after the war, the nights where Usopp would have guard duty and would climb to the top of the look out tower… just to stare at the water and think about how his nakama made him feel whole. He thought about how he and Luffy would run around the ship like idiots and have the best times BEING those idiots. How Usopp would always create those machines to keep Luffy out of the fridge only to give in to the puppy eyes and grab him some food during the night. They would always be best friends… Almost like brothers if you thought about it.

Zoro always told him to be quiet when Usopp, Luffy, and Chopper got too loud as Usopp told yet another tale. The long nose had a feeling that Zoro would listen from time to time even though he always acted way too strong and manly to even take note of crazy tales. Zoro had saved him a good number of times… and yet he never seemed to mind. Usopp was always thankful when Zoro was around so he could go and hide behind the nearest object for cover, telling him to kick the opponent's ass for him.

Nami… She meant a lot to him. All of those times where he got hit over the head for a dumb act or a silly lie was overcome by those small moments in time where she was kind and came out of that unbreakable shell around her emotions. He could still see her stabbing the back of her hand for HIM. He could still hear her crying for him and the others to help her against Arlong. He could still see her smile when he agreed to make the clima-tact for her. He could still feel her embrace when he made her the perfect clima-tact. He could hear her screaming for him when Oz almost crushed him. He still heard her making him promise that he would come back safe after all of this…

Sanji, the crazy guy he always idolized and had fun with. The cook hated his dislike of mushrooms but he finally got used to the routine of not serving that food to his sniper. They would always make fun of Zoro behind his back or straight to the swordsman's face considering the situation. And Usopp could always count on Sanji to save him when it was really important. Chopper… Usopp loved Chopper like a little brother. The reindeer believed every single lie he told, except when it came to health. He could see through almost anything in that department. But every time his eyes grew wide and sparkled with amazement towards Usopp the liar felt proud and almost felt like those stories had always been real. They were best friends and Usopp would do anything for his little fuzzy nakama.

Robin… she was just a person he had trouble understanding half of the time. She was so quiet but was always cheerful around him. When he tried to help get her back from the CP-9 group he could tell she listened to him… He could tell she felt horrible that she was fighting back against him. And when they all came to rescue her he felt like it was the first time all of her real emotions showed. Maybe she was a better liar in ways then he was! After he came back to the crew they even talked about their own experiences after leaving the crew alone.

"Did you feel alone?" Robin asked as I nodded.

"Yeah… I hate that feeling… I still don't know what I was thinking!" I said as I pulled on my hair. Robin gave me a small smile.

"You cared for the Merry just like we all did. You wanted to fight to keep it from harm. It's understandable…" Robin looked up at the stars for a moment… "Can you do something for me, Long Nose-kun?"

"Uh… Sure! What's up?" Robin looked at me with those knowing eyes and smiled sincerely.

"Would you please thank Sogeking-san for coming to my rescue even though I almost killed him?" I was silent for a minute.

"Uh-uh…"

"I truly want to thank him, and tell him how much I appreciate his bravery to come and save me." Robin stood up and prepared to walk away.

"Okay. I'll be sure to tell him." I chuckled. Robin then came over to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"Arigatou hero." Then she walked away… As I said before I could barely understand Robin half of the time.

"N-N-No problem?"

Franky, his partner in crime you could say when the two worked together to come up with their wild inventions. Usopp barely even cared about how they fought against each other at Water 7 anymore. It was all water under the bridge after he had helped him see what the truth was behind the Going Merry and trying to save Robin. Franky called Usopp his long nosed-bro so he was another nakama, and a SUPER one at that. Then there was Brook. He was a very loyal crew member and even though he scared the heck out of Usopp every time he had watch duty and the skeleton would come through the dark to relieve him of his post for the night, Usopp was happy to have him on the crew. He was just as reckless and insane as Luffy, Chopper, and himself so he was more than welcome.

Reminiscing was nice and all but it was hard to focus when yet another marine kicks you, this time hitting one of the fresh bullet wounds in your flesh. I could see them finally getting the sea stone cuffs from one of the marine's pockets. So… This is it huh?… Guys… I'm really sorry I couldn't fight back… like I planned. Thanks for everything… if I don't get out of this. Then I thought about dad... Dad… Goodbye… Sorry I couldn't find you on my own… But if the guys can save me I'll see you someday… I hope…

It all happened faster than I could really take into account when I heard continuous banging and watched marine after marine fall onto the ground like rag dolls. I had not idea what was going on as I heard muffled screams and then saw one marine running away through the trees. Then a person just appeared right in front of me. I didn't even know how he got there but he was now between me and the KO'ed marines. His back was to me at first and he was holding something long as he scanned the space around. I wanted to run. Or at least move a little but my body was solid. I couldn't feel anything anymore. Not even the raindrops that continued to fall through the trees. I coughed up more blood and gasped for air when the pain in my chest exploded around the entry wound at my rib cage. The person in front of me turned abruptly and kneeled down beside me.

"W- I- y- n-?" I tried to understand what he was saying, but the tone sounded frantic.

"Wh-t is y—r n-me? Ple-se –ell –e!" I felt a hand on my shoulder. I could see the outline of a long rifle on the ground beside him and that made my fear spike. Oh please say this guy wasn't the one… shooting me!

"-sopp? –s y—r n-me –sopp?" Is he saying my name? Why?… I don't get… it… My own thoughts started to trail off but the guy prompted me to stay awake as his hand shook my shoulder.

"Usopp… -s y—r n-me Usopp?" The guy asked, this time he asked sadly. Almost like he was begging me to answer. I nodded a little and looked at the guy's face. … This is the guy… I passed before… He had the cloak on and then took his hood off. I could see the basics like his long dreadlocks, a really weird star looking cape underneath the cloak, a squared face… Hm… He looks… familiar… And why the heck is he crying?… "Usopp… -t's me… Yasopp." … You have got… to be kidding me…

I blacked out then. Damn bad timing.

"Usopp! USOPP! Wake up!" Yasopp tried to wake his son back up but the long nosed teen was limp on the ground and unconscious. The sniper took the boy into his arms and moved his head out of the blood. What have I done? If I had gotten all of those damn marines… This wouldn't have happened! Yasopp shook his head and turned his attention back onto the issue at hand. He quickly took his cloak from his shoulders and started to tear it into strips that he would use to wrap around the bullet wounds. Thunder rumbled overhead and a strong breeze picked up as Yasopp worked as rapidly as possible to stop Usopp's bleeding. I have to get him back to the guild! I'm not a doctor and this will only be a quick fix… He looked at his hand and saw blood covering his fingers.

He never thought such a thing would happen… The last time he saw Usopp he was two years old. He left Syrup village… But how could something like this HAPPEN? I don't understand what's happening... But I have to get him out of here… NOW! Yasopp wrapped the last strip of his cloak and wrapped it around the wound that went through Usopp's hand. Yasopp almost felt paralyzed for a moment as he held his son… 16 years… It had been 16 years since he last saw him… He knew something was strange when he started having those dreams about Usopp even before he set sail for Tanarashi. He took his cape from his back and put it over Usopp so that he wouldn't be seen and would be kept somewhat out of the rain.

He then carefully moved to stand and put the unconscious Usopp over his shoulder. He had to keep one hand free so he could fire back at any opponent if the moment called for it. He also saw the strange green slingshot on the grass that he grabbed and slung over his shoulder. Yasopp stood slowly and smoothly before making sure that he had a firm grip on his boy over his shoulder. His body was completely lax and Yasopp could hear Usopp breathing which gave him some comfort, but the blood that had already started to soak through the material wrapped around his head made the sniper concerned. Yasopp swallowed before walking forward, keeping his stride steady. His shoes tore through puddles and soft spots in the grass as his thoughts raced and he looked at every tree, ready for an enemy to appear. Ben and Lucky really were telling the truth! He really was in that sniper tournament… Usopp… How is he here? Is he really with Luffy? I'll have time to ask questions later… But right now… right now… I have to get back to the guild! I HAVE TO SAVE MY SON! Trees passed in blurs as Yasopp raced through the forest, still making sure he was moving steadily and that no marines were following close by.

Yasopp soon reached the town as he quickly maneuvered through alley ways and found his way back to the stairs that were built into the hill side, well hidden from the untrained eye. He was about to start the climb when Usopp moaned from a throbbing pain stretching through his body from the wound on his side. The groan was weak and quiet but Yasopp immediately stopped and hid behind a small abandoned building. He carefully set Usopp down on the ground and dropped his rifle down at his side. "Hang on Usopp… We're almost there, I promise!" Yasopp whispered sadly as he rubbed a trail of blood from Usopp's forehead. The rain had picked up even more and now the wind was tearing at the trees while the lightning struck on all parts of the island. Yasopp panted heavily as he rearranged his cloak back over Usopp and then checked the perimeter from behind the building. He could see figures in the downpour as they talked to one another restlessly.

"All of the pirates escaped?"

"Yeah! The captain barely made it out of the fight with his life! The red-haired pirate, Yasopp, is on this island too!"

"Do you think he's with the long nosed guy? I thought he was dead for sure!"

"There's no doubt. All of the pirates are in it together. The general told everyone to step up enforcement even with this kind of weather, so let's hurry up and find them quick!" The three men nodded and rushed into the dense wall of rain as Yasopp turned back to Usopp.

"They're not all together yet… which means I still have a chance to get out of here unseen." Yasopp checked the material around Usopp's wounds one more time and found that the blood had completely soaked through. "Dammit… dammit! I'm so sorry… Usopp! Please hang on... PLEASE!"

0-0 YASOPP! YES! He's here!… Oh man this chapter just wouldn't end! (Well now it did but I digress.) The entire flashback part with the crew and Banchina's death was sad but when Yasopp finally came in I felt like cheering. And, sorry for the confusing switches with point of views. I started the flashbacks with 3rd person and then moved to Usopp, then back to 3rd person, and back to Usopp… and I was just too lazy to fix it. Please keep a look out for the next chapter to see what happens to Usopp! Hope you like the chapter!

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(If you want to. ^^)