A/N: After becoming hopelessly addicted to SMT:DS, I was finally able to finish one of the six different endings, and I have to say that it is the most badass, the most blasphemous ending I have gotten so far in my video game career. Unfortunately, I was pulled away from writing the new chapter, which causes me to wonder how I managed to produce this one. To those who have been waiting, I thank you for your patience and I apologize for the late update, which was more delayed than usual. It is not the best, but I hope you will find some enjoyment in this belated chapter.
JamieGlasgow4: Thank you for your reviews. About that word, I was attempting to create something that would sound similar to the term I was referring to; basically, I was trying to make it sound like "cliffhanger", because I could not find the Korean equivalent (haha). 한국인 입니까? 저는 아직 한국어를 배우고 있으닌깐요 가끔 내가 틀리게 쓸거예요. 답답해도, 잘 봐주세요.
avatoa, Darth Luffy, Crysania Fay: You have my gratitude for your reviews. Please enjoy the chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or any of its characters.
Chapter Nine
Dawn brought a play of orange and yellow into the lighten sky, filled with soft clouds that looked to clear by the afternoon. The land which had been darkened for the night was slowly becoming bathed once more by the warm rays of the sun, the landscape reflecting the light that corresponded with the colors it wanted to reveal. Small, jewel-like droplets of dew were sprinkled on the blades of grass, the incoming light causing the ground to look as if a large numbers of stars had come to visit the world. Overall it could be considered a peaceful morning, especially after the chaotic events that had rudely awakened the group from their sleep.
Luffy watched the sunrise through a glass window as he waited for the clerk to return; this Marines office was smaller in size compared to the ones he had visited before, but it served its purpose dutifully to make up for the loss. He could feel the carpeted floor from under his sandals, the softened fabric acting as an additional cushion under the soles of his feet. The desk in front of him looked as if it was well-maintained by its owner, the smooth sheen of the wood indicating that it was recently polished. Perhaps a good image did help the connection between the armed forces and the civilians; if the Marines took such care of a building, the people could imagine just how much more they would work to protect them from danger.
Normally, the protector would not have been inside such a building so early in the day, but the events from the previous night required him to make the trip. It was not serious enough to cause too much concern, though the boy had to admit that stopping by the office could not be delayed. Still, he wished that he could have gotten a few more hours of sleep, or at least rest, during the night. Then again, this was all supposed to be part of his job, so he could not give too many objections. Closing his eyes, Luffy thought back to the occurrence.
Only half of the moon illuminated the pitch black sky that hung over the group, which had fallen asleep in the open, unable to find an indoor shelter. The boys did not disapprove of the conditions, for either way they were to get their rest, but Nami gave them her opinion on the matter, even though there was nothing they could do at that point. In the end, she had to accept the fact that the situation could not be changed and fell asleep, draped by a comfortable blanket, in her stationary Ba Gua. Peace reigned over the group as the differing rhythm of each individual's breathing harmonized with one another as they slowly entered the state of slumber.
His dreams were filled with the lush vegetation and the dazzling sunlight that would always fill him with awe whenever he looked onto the world, though there was a large helping of meat that was in the distance, goading him to come and devour it. Strange as it was, each person is left to their own fantasies, especially when he or she is not conscious enough to realize that what they see are mostly illusions. Then again, who knew whether or not our dreams are reality and that we live in a fabricated world?
The boy continued to dwell in his bliss, oblivious to all else around him, when he felt a sharp kick drive into the back of his legs. At first unsure whether it was simply his imagination, he knew that the pain was real when the same movement hit him again, this time with more force. Removing the straw hat, which was decently repaired with Nami's sewing kit, from his face, he saw with the help of the moonlight the green-haired swordsman staring at him with a grimace.
"Wu's wron' Zoro?"
"Keep your voice down."
Luffy was surprised by the vehemence in the man's whisper, which gave a sense of urgency. The drowsiness leaving his body, he cleared his vision and spoke with controlled volume. "What's going on? Is something the matter?"
Zoro nodded slightly, keeping his dark eyes on the protector. "Don't make any sudden movements until you know exactly what's going on. First of all, did you sense anything out of the norm a few minutes ago?"
"Well, I was asleep, so no."
"…Anyway, I heard a low sound coming from the grass, but decided to wait before acting. That was probably a mistake because, now, the thing's slowly getting closer to the navigator's vehicle."
"Wait a minute. What's the 'thing' that you're talking about."
"Damn it, Luffy! I'm talking about an S.I."
Before the boy could cry out in excitement, Zoro sent another kick to prevent the outburst, though he did well to keep his movement hidden inside the Ba Gua. Moving his eyes to the other vehicle, the swordsman paused to make certain that the occupant was still safe before glaring back at Luffy, who was nursing his leg.
"I told you to keep quiet. The S.I. is a few feet away from us, so the slightest reaction will cause it to go berserk. You should know at least that much since you're a protector."
"I know, I know. But you don't have to kick me so hard."
"So, now you're aware of the dilemma. What do you propose we do about it?"
Luffy stared questioningly at his partner, who kept a hard face that hid his thoughts. "You should already know what we have to do. Was it really necessary to ask me?"
Zoro smirked at him, amusement now in his eyes. "I wanted to know what the protector would do in this situation. Besides, I figured that you would want to join in once the fun starts."
"You sure do have a weird sense of fun, but I'm willing to help you fight this one. Just don't kill it, alright?"
"Why not?"
"Well, if we kill it right now, it'll probably resurrect later and hurt other people. But if I turn a captured S.I. into a Marines office, the Supreme Commander can purify it permanently, making it harmless."
"…That's the most bullshit story I've heard in my life. What makes you so sure that your boss really gets rid of the S.I.?"
Luffy kept a serious face as he stared at Zoro. "I don't have exact proof, but I'm willing to believe that what I've heard is true." He saw that the swordsman remained doubtful, but they were losing time. "Please, Zoro? Can you promise that you won't kill it?"
"All right, have it your way, Luffy. But I won't believe that load of crap."
"Thanks, Zoro. So, just how far away is this S.I.?"
He kept silent for a few seconds, as if he was determining the exact location with an unexplainable awareness. "Luffy, we have to act now. The thing is right next to Nami."
Quickly moving his head, Luffy looked up in time to see a darkened form hovering over the sleeping girl, its head craning towards the motionless body. Throwing his hand back, the boy sent his hardened fist straight into the middle of the glowing, red eyes that fixed themselves onto his body before jerking backwards, the hit connecting with its skull. It staggered away from the Ba Gua, tottering to the side, and vigorously shook its head in an attempt to remove the pain. Luffy took this opportunity to jump over both vehicles and land in front of the monster that towered over him.
After watching his friend initiate the attack, Zoro reached for his swords and began to take them out of their sheaths while keeping his eyes on the enemy. It was a sizeable creature, though the most noteworthy parts of its body were the legs. The thighs may have looked lean and fatless, but they extended down to shins so thick that they seemed to be awkwardly proportioned; the oversized feet were bare, showing the ridiculously sharp nails that protruded from the end of its toes. Though the upper body was well-toned, it looked skinny and brittle when compared to the legs. Ragged, straw-like hair came down to its chest, covering a good portion of its face; Zoro wondered how the thing could see through the tangled strands that swayed back and forth with each movement.
Luffy saw the creature in the same light, though he was more curious about the purpose of the legs than the S.I.'s hair. At any other time, he would have investigated his opponent further, but the imminent danger prevented him from thinking too deeply about the little things. He had to be quick on his feet, as the next few minutes showed him.
Initially surprised, the S.I. recovered from the blow and swung one of its weighty arms at Luffy's head, intending to remove the annoyance out of its way. Stepping away, the boy watched the attack go by before sending another punch at the monster, this time towards its stomach. He was absolutely certain that he could not miss, which was why his astonishment was great when the S.I. avoided his fist. Of course, there was reason for the boy's shock, for the creature did not dodge the hit by moving to the side; instead, it had moved into the air.
The purpose of the seemingly disproportioned legs was clear to both the fighter and the swordsman, though it was still mind-boggling. Using the powerful feet, the S.I. had propelled itself into the sky, more than a couple of feet above the straw hat boy's head. It now hovered over the gawking boy, its body momentarily suspended in place; it was only seconds later when the S.I. plunged back to the earth, its heavy feet aimed at pulverizing the skull of its opponent.
Seeing the hefty creature coming at him, Luffy sprinted forward to avoid the obvious but deadly attack; as soon as he moved out of the way, the S.I. slammed into the ground, which became corrugated by the amount of force that was such an unexpected shock that the dirt failed to absorb it. The surface of the world vibrated under Luffy's feet, certainly not a pleasant sensation, as he did a one eighty to face his adversary. He noticed that even though the creature was back on firm ground, it remained hunched over, looking under its feet to see the effect of its action. He had to admit that out of all of the S.I.s he had fought, this one had the most languid mind; it was a wonder that the monster was able to catch its food at the pace its brain functioned. Yet, Luffy noticed that his success in dodging the blow had put him in a disadvantageous position.
Crap, that S.I. is closer to Nami. He stared past the creature, catching a glimpse of the Ba Gua; from the lack of activity inside, he was sure that the orange-haired girl was still asleep. I better end this before it gets out of hand. Good thing that this Sadistic Impurity isn't the brightest of the bunch. Determined to finish the fight, Luffy prepared his arms for a final workout when a treacherous exhalation caused every muscle inside his body to freeze.
The Ba Gua, planted firmly into the ground at rest, had responded to the sudden wave of vibrations by quivering along with the earth. By itself, the shifting of the machine should not have awakened the sleeper, but the dull heavy sound had reached the navigator's ears, which in turn caused the brain to send signals to rouse the body. With much effort, Nami barely lifted her head out of the vehicle when she saw a monstrous form looming over her body, its crimson eyes turning to stare into the brown irises that became seized with fear.
A piercing scream ripped through the air, creating a ringing throb in those unfortunate enough to be within the range of the cry. It may have been a major inconvenience to a human, but to the heightened senses of the S.I., the thoughtless shriek generated the same pain as if someone mercilessly fastened about ten screws into the top of the skull. Roaring from both anguish and fright, the creature changed its focus to the one who unwittingly tortured it; it aggressively swung its arm with intent to backhand the navigator with enough power to snap a human neck.
Her own instincts taking over, Nami pulled her head back into the Ba Gua, feeling the rush of wind go by as the hand missed its target. She was about to grab the wooden staff, her defensive weapon, hidden inside the vehicle when the Ba Gua rocked slightly; thinking it was the monster, the orange-haired navigator looked up to see not the strange creature but the black-haired boy's nakama, one of his feet placed on the metal edge. That gave the explanation of the movement, though the swordsman did not stay long in the position; with a quick burst of energy, Zoro pushed off the Ba Gua and sent himself straight for the S.I.'s torso, his twin katanas horizontally parallel to each other. At the same time, Luffy rushed at the creature's unprotected back while lengthening his arm in the opposite direction; his fingers closed into the palm as the muscles in the outstretched limb became firm.
Anybody viewing this situation would realize that the S.I. stood no chance against the fearsome duo. The first signal of pain came as a throbbing in its backside, the flesh around the collision vibrating from the point of contact. Before it had time to cry out a second signal of pain, this time near its chest, burst into its nervous system. What made it worse for the S.I. was the fact that the impact from behind pushed its body forward just as the katanas slashed sideways; the result was that the sharpened blades ripped the tissue deeper than the original intention. And because of its lean composition, the slight change made the weapons pierce its pectoralis major muscle. Luckily for the creature, it did not have to suffer the hurt for long; the shock from the double hit was so compassionate that it allowed the S.I. to blackout and become unaware of everything outside of its mind.
In the pale, moonlit night the two boys, protector and swordsman, stared at the opponent that lay defeated at their feet. It was not the way they wanted to spend their time, but circumstances forced them to partake in the fight regardless of their protests. With the enemy down, they were rid of one of the responsibilities, though now they had to decide on the fate of the S.I.
Nami's eyes were open to the max as she eyed the motionless creature, the fallen form still at level with the vehicle because of its size. She turned her gaze to the pair, grim expressions on their faces in spite of their victory. Finding her voice once more, the orange-haired girl shook away her fright and called out.
"Was that…"
"…an S.I." Finishing the sentence, Zoro walked back to the other Ba Gua and jumped into the vehicle. Nami continued to keep her eyes on the black-haired boy, who simply nodded to affirm the swordsman's information.
"Are you…okay? I mean, did you get hurt while fighting it?"
"Don't worry about me; I've fought plenty of S.I. to know what I'm doing. More importantly, are you okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
Zoro answered the question, though neither of the other two saw him. "He's asking because that thing was right next to you before we stopped it. I was actually surprised that you knew to duck when it was about to tear your head off."
"Thanks for the supporting details." The green-haired man rolled his eyes at the sarcasm, but kept quiet. "Still, I guess I should thank you both for saving my life."
Luffy grinned at her, the serious atmosphere lightening up. "No problem! We couldn't let our nakama get hurt, now would we?"
Caught off guard for a moment, Nami regained her composure while smiling to herself. He's definitely a smooth talker. I should be careful around this one. With this in mind, she looked over once more to the unconscious S.I.
"So, what are we going to do with that monster?"
The sound of a door closing brought the meticulous office back into Luffy's vision, which was bleary because of the quick doze. As he listened to the footsteps that drew closer to the open room, the boy remembered how there was disagreement about the method in dealing with the S.I. Zoro suggested that the group waited until morning before actively seeking a place to drop the monster off, an idea that Luffy had agreed to, but Nami insisted that the S.I. had to be divested from their presence; the final decision was to follow the navigator's proposal and look for a Marines office. The search was not an easy one, the building located at the same time the morning sun peeked over the horizon. Laborious as it was, Luffy could not help but feel that it was simpler to turn over the captured prey than retain it, and now that it was a new day, he found himself alert despite the loss of sleep.
Finally arriving, the young officer stopped in front of Luffy with a small smile on his suave face. Holding up an envelope with the symbol of the Marines etched into the corner, he smoothly handed the thin package to the protector, who accepted it while returning the smile.
"The Chief apologizes for being unable to meet with you personally, but he hopes you'll understand that, due to the circumstances, we are short-handed at the moment. Duties that should be dealt by the lower ranks are currently our responsibilities, so he is incapable of wasting too much time." Luffy nodded to show his sympathies; he had noticed that the man who greeted him was one unused to the job he had to currently fill. "If there is nothing else that needs to be relayed, the Marines wish you a good day." Though the farewell was concise, it was not unkind.
With reward in hand, Luffy went through the egress and back into the outside, brightening sky overhead and crisp vegetation underneath. Looking ahead, the boy saw his companions next to their respective Ba Gua, Zoro nodding off as he leaned against the edge while Nami sat on the hood of her vehicle; both had refused to go into the Marines office. Luffy could understand Zoro's choice; the chance of getting caught in a building full of people who would regard him as a threat was unappealing, even if the swordsman did well to keep his identity hidden. On the other hand, the black-haired boy could not comprehend Nami's resolve to stay outside; she did not have a good reason to avoid the presence of the Marines, or did she? Luffy decided not to voice this thought.
"Did you get rid of that thing?"
"Yup! The Marines will have to deal with that S.I. now."
"What's in the envelope, Luffy?"
The boy stared first at the mentioned item in his hand and then at the inquiring navigator. "This? It's just the reward they give me whenever I turn in a Sadistic Impurity."
An interested look crossed Nami's face. "Wait a second; you get paid for your work? I thought protectors were supposed to be volunteers?"
"We are, but the officials in the Marine Headquarters decided that the protectors would work harder if they had a reward to spur them on."
"The incentives defeat the purpose of volunteering."
Luffy shrugged at the light accusation. "I told them that I didn't want the money, but they would always insist. I found it easier to just accept without complaint. Besides, it helps me pay for my food."
She stayed quiet for a moment, keeping to her thoughts before sharing them, though not without a little hesitation. "You know, I've been thinking about what happened last night. Since it looks like we'll be traveling together for a while, wouldn't it be smart to buy a larger Ba Gua for the three of us? At the moment we're always separated in terms of vehicles; if we were able to be in just one, I think it'd be more advantageous for us."
"So you're saying that you want to upgrade our machines?"
"You could put it that way."
"Then you'll help us pay for the additional charges, right?"
"Of course!" Yeah right. Nami gave an innocent smile, though her eyes did their best to hide the guile.
Jumping into the larger Ba Gua, Luffy was soon ensconced in the driver's seat; the sudden action awoke the slumbering swordsman. The dark eyes opened and stared groggily towards the back of the protector's head.
"You ready to leave, Luffy?"
"Yeah." The said boy watched as, in response to the question, Zoro also climbed into the machine and claimed a space. "Hey Zoro, Nami wants us to get another Ba Gua, one that's bigger than the ones we already own combined. What do you think?"
"Do what you want." With that, the green-haired man fell asleep with his hands behind his head. Luffy shrugged and looked at Nami.
"I guess that's that. So, do you know a place that sells Ba Guas?"
"Well, I don't know about a specific shop, but," she scrutinized the unfurled map in her hands, "there's a town a good distance from here. If we pace ourselves, I'm sure we can get there before noon."
The likely chance of a restaurant in the town and the empty stomach from the previous night allowed excitement to grow in Luffy. "So we can still get breakfast, right?"
Nami saw that Luffy was becoming eager and smiled; she was starting to see how the mind of this protector worked. "I'd have to say that it would probably be brunch, but either way you'll get your food."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's hurry to the next place!!!"
"Hold it!!!" The harsh command quickly halted Luffy, who was about to press down on the pedal. "You don't even know which direction it's in! Besides, if you keep forcing the Ba Gua to go that fast without proper use of the gear shift, you're going to ruin the machinery."
"Okay…then, you lead the way, navigator!"
The bright radiance of the sun made it impossible for him to stare into the sky without squinting. A new day had begun once more, likely to be filled to mischief to counteract the boredom of the everyday routine. And what better way to create excitement by giving the town a good wake-up call?
The boy scratched his curly black hair under a plaid bandana as he considered the options he had for his prank. His tanned skin coincided with the brown overalls that clothed his body, though his outfit did not include a shirt. But the most interesting aspect of the boy was his nose, an extended feature that was longer than that of the average person. I already used bandits too many times…I know, I'll use that! Haven't mentioned it in a month, so somebody's gotta fall for it. After taking a number of breaths, the boy burst across the town in order to cause as much havoc as he could.
"It's an S.I.!! Run for your lives!!! There's an S.I. in the town and it looks ravenous!!!"
The continual shout of desperation rang through the individual ears of the townspeople, used to the random outburst in the mornings. Many of the older couples simply continued their conversations, chuckling occasionally at the boy's choice of panic for the day. It was almost like a tradition, a harmless habit that did little to startle the people. Yet, the implied despair that accompanied the boy's frantic calls was enough to make some of the men raise their guards; in a world filled with monsters like the S.I., it would be foolish to become too comfortable with the supposed security.
Realizing that some of the inhabitants were exiting their homes in order to investigate the matter for themselves, the boy could no longer hold in his laughter. The distressed enunciation soon changed into jolly mirth as the trickster snickered at the incredulous looks on each of the faces. Still chortling, he called out his confession.
"Just kidding!! There's no S.I. anywhere near this town!!! Nothing to worry about, folks." A metal pot was flung at his head, which swiftly jerked away to avoid the projectile. The surprised expressions quickly turned to irritated fury as the people crept towards the boy with controlled steps; they were angry at him for playing the trick, but also embarrassed for actually believing the boy. One of the fooled, a fisherman by trade, brandished a broom at the one who created such a lie.
"You brat! We'll teach you to mess with our heads this early in the day!!!"
He was already gone before the man was finished with his threat, the wind aiding him in his flight. A moment of shock passed, and then the chase began; the townspeople furiously pursued after the miscreant in misplaced hopes of catching the rascal. However, years of fleeing gave the boy experience that managed to take him out of the way, saving him from trouble. With the boy out of the sight, the panting chasers were forced back grumbling to their homes. Interestingly, one could say that the regular events gave their legs a much needed workout, though it would be wise to keep this fact from the people at the moment.
Watching from his place on a tree branch, the boy laughed to himself as the people walked back to the town. Sure it was a lie, but he did not mean too much harm from it; besides, it was always hilarious to see them worked up over nothing. His legs stretched out in front of him, he leaned against the thick trunk and considered the lack of action in the vicinity. For as long as he could remember, peace reigned over the quiet settlement; nothing major had happened for a while now, so long that he began to wonder if there ever will be a time of chaos.
Under the tree, two boys, younger than the one above them, looked up with expectation. One of them, a child with his hair in the shape of bell-shaped vegetable, cried out to the older teen.
"Reporting for duty, Captain!"
"Huh? Oh, it's you guys!" Dropping from the branch, the "Captain" deftly landed in front of his subordinates and crossed his arms. "Are you ready for another day of adventure? Pepper? Carrot?"
The other boy, whose hat made his purple hair look like the top of a carrot, replied to the inquiry. "We're always ready, Captain Usopp!! Just say the word, and we'll follow you through anything."
Usopp gave him a nod of approval. "Good, that's the kind of loyalty that every member of my group should possess. By the way, where's Onion?"
"I think he's still in bed." Pepper replied in a nonchalant manner, as if it was not unusual for the third member to be late.
The older boy sighed. "It's not even that early right now. I wonder why he feels he needs to oversleep all the time." Right as he finished, a frantic pattering of feet made all three of the boys notice another person rushing over, his breaths coming out in heavy pants. The onion-like hairstyle immediately identified the newcomer as their tardy friend.
"We've got huge problems, guys!! A group of weird-looking people I've never seen before just stopped in the outskirts of our town!!"
"Liar." The accusation that came from the three mouths hit the messenger as if they had thrown heavy stones at his head.
"No, it's true!! I saw it with my own eyes!! They're at the southern end of town, near the edge of the wood. If you don't believe me, I'll let you guys see them for yourselves."
"Wait, so this isn't a joke?" The eyes of the captain grew as the realization took hold of his mind; the idea of random people stopping by their small town was highly unlikely, but not impossible. He continued to stare dubiously at Onion, though his doubt started to dissipate when he saw the serious expression on the boy's face. "Well, look at the time. I'd best be going now." Sprinting away from the boys, he headed for the middle of the town when he was stopped by their fierce cries.
"Where are you going Captain?!?!"
"You see, I've been given strict orders to avoid meeting strangers; it's supposed to be detrimental to my health."
"That's not true, well not entirely anyway." Carrot hesitated slightly as he thought about what Usopp had just said. Onion took this opportunity to convince their leader.
"I mean, I was surprised by their sudden appearance, but it's only three people."
"Only three?"
"Yeah, they came in two small-sized Ba Guas."
At the mention of the modest party, the captain's dwindling confidence suddenly became kindled once more. He had imagined an entire fleet of bloodthirsty men simply waiting to rape the town, but now he had to admit that he had blown it out of proportion. Perhaps, if they did plan to cause harm, he could chase them off and become a hero. Childish as it was, the teen could not help but put his idea into action.
"All right, men!! Our group has a responsibility of keeping the town safe from anything that threatens it!! In any case, let's go check them out!!"
With his fist raised high in the air, Usopp hurried towards the area where the targets were located without waiting for the rest of his group to follow. The unexpected change of heart astounded the younger boys, but each of them nodded to one another before sprinting after their leader, infected by his enthusiasm. They continued around the town until finally reaching their destination, in which they considerably slowed down in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the potentially hostile group. Even though he was the only one wearing corrective glasses, Onion was the first to point out the people.
"There they are!! I told you I wasn't lying."
The other's followed his outstretched finger, and realized that they were a few yards away from the parked vehicles. Wanting to avoid detection, the three boys quickly scurried behind a tree and studied the new arrivals from around the trunk. Curious himself, Usopp climbed the thick trunk and viewed the entire surrounding with his feet on the lower branches. He stared at them silently, wondering who they were and what their intentions were in the town.
After hours of driving the metal vehicle, it felt good to step into firm ground. Luffy removed himself from the Ba Gua and watched as the Zoro followed suit. The green-haired swordsman stretched his arms above his head and let out a yawn.
"Finally! I was getting tired of sitting in that machine."
Luffy frowned slightly. "But all you did was sleep the whole way. Oh yeah, good job leading us, Nami!! I can't believe we actually made it to the town!!"
"It's my job, so I'll do it right. Honestly, how did you two manage before I joined your group?"
"It somehow worked out." Luffy gave his goofy grin that showed his carefree nature, and Nami simply shook her head.
"Hey you two! Not that it's important but it looks like we have some spectators." Zoro jabbed his index finger at the precise tree that was being used by the group of curious boys, revealing their hiding place to the other two. One would have thought that it was a harmless gesture, but to the energized youths the movement was all it took to activate their fight or flight mechanism; they chose the latter to be the safer alternative.
"WE'VE BEEN SPOTTED!!! RUN FOR IT!!!"
"Hold on a second!" By the time he looked under his feet, Usopp found that his group had dispersed, running for the safety of the town. Mouth agape, he turned his eyes back at Luffy and his nakama, who merely returned his stare, waiting for him to explain himself. His mind began to run its gears in order to deal with the situation; should he also bolt from the place or should he bluff his way out? After a few minutes of contemplation, Usopp knew what he had to do.
Leaping off of the branch, the long-nosed teen swiftly landed a couple of feet away from the tree and immediately crossed his arms, his face showing strict self-control as he frowned at his adversaries. In a deep, confident voice, he addressed the three people.
"Halt! If you intend on bringing destruction to this town you had best think twice. I am the Great Captain Usopp, leader of the famous militia known for its strength! With my seven thousand men, we will guard our sacred town from any offender who dares to challenge us!!" Confidence growing, he allowed his words to penetrate into the listener's ears.
The concept of a large number of people joining together for the sake of a single town was amazing to Luffy. Like his desire to protect the world, these men must have loved their homes enough to cooperate with one another for a common goal. His black eyes glittered with excitement as he caught everything that came out of the strange boy's mouth.
"Really? Seven thousand people? That's awesome!" And yet, he failed to notice the unbelieving glances the other two shot his way; they almost had a hint of pity for the seemingly naïve protector.
Nami raised her eyes and replied with definitive aura. "You're lying."
"How did you know?! You must be a genius to see through my deception!" The boy began to twist his body, as if he was shot through the heart by the missile of reality. It could have been said that he was over-exaggerating his reaction to the girl's semi-accusation, though Luffy seemed to find it amusing.
"Ha ha ha! You're kinda weird."
The long-nose immediately stopped the silly pretense and gave the protector a hard look. "Hey, don't laugh at me! I am a man who doesn't enjoy being insulted, so much so that some people call me 'Proud Usopp'."
"I see."
"Anyway, you guys aren't going to attack the town, are you?"
Luffy looked at the speaker as if he had lost his mind. "Why would we do something like that?"
"I guess that's a good thing. But why did you guys come here?"
The question was almost like a switch that triggered the straw hat boy's desire. "Oh yeah!" He turned to Nami and Zoro with a grin. "Let's go find a restaurant and fill our stomachs!!"
"Food sounds good right about now, as long as there's some alcohol to go with it." The green-haired man started to follow his nakama, who was already trotting at a brisk pace towards the buildings.
"What's the point of getting drunk in the middle of the day?" Nevertheless, the navigator went after the two, leaving Usopp standing with his mouth open. Apparently, a meal for their bodies was more important than a conversation with a random stranger, which is understandable.
"Hold on! I wasn't done talking yet."
The group plus the deceiving captain ran across the town, causing many of the people to turn curious gazes in their direction. The first two did not seem to mind these looks, the girl was slightly embarrassed but refused to lose sight of the others, and the last could have cared less about what they thought about him because he had lived in the town for too long. Eventually, thanks to Luffy's ridiculously strong sense of smell, the newcomers found a bustling eatery that took no time to serve them the expecting food. Though he was not hungry like the others, Usopp decided to sit down and watch them devour the viands at an alarming rate; intimidating as it was, the boy became interested in the group, deciding that he wanted to find out their story. Unfortunately, it took some time before the three opened up, though it was most likely because the boys were simply too busy satisfying their needs.
"So let me get this straight. You guys are protectors who are travelling through the lands while fighting against S.I.s? And right now, you're looking for a new Ba Gua?"
Nami placed her fork next to the plate and stared calmly at the inquisitive captain. "Most of what you said was correct, but don't put me in the same group as these two. I'm just a navigator who decided to team up with them for a common goal."
"Okay fine. Then you're two protectors and a navigator. But the important thing is that you're looking for a machine."
"That about covers our story."
"Hey owner! More meat at this table!!"
"Bring over some sake too!"
"Do you two even care about what we're talking about?!" Usopp's eyes seemed to bulge from their sockets as he looked with disbelief at Luffy and Zoro, who proceeded to disregard his outburst once their requests were fulfilled. Nami gave him a sympathetic nod, almost like she was telling him that she understood what he was going through.
"Ignore those two. They're probably more interested in their meal than our protection. So, do you know of any dealers who will be willing to sell us a Ba Gua?"
Crossing his arms and leaning back on his chair, the long-nose captain returned her gaze. "I hate to say this, but you kind of lucked out by coming to this town. Although it may seem larger than a village, it's still not big enough to draw the attention of a lot of merchants. As far as I know, there aren't any shops that carry the type of Ba Gua you would be looking for; most of them only have the kind that can't be used for long distances."
"Then we don't have any reason to stay in this town."
"Well, there's always that person."
"What do you mean?"
"You see, there was a wealthy family who lived in a mansion at the edge of the town, opposite from the direction you came from. I think they were the richest family here, and they did not lack anything."
"Are you trying to say that we should ask them for help?"
"I would have said that if it wasn't for that tragedy." Luffy looked up from his meat, and even Zoro gave a glance that showed that he had at least a small amount of interest in the coming explanation. "About a year ago, the master and his wife became infected with a deadly disease that was deemed incurable by the doctors. Soon after the diagnosis, the couple passed away, leaving their only daughter to inherit everything they owned, including their properties and servants."
"A rich heiress…"
"Yeah. But what's the point of being wealthy if it brings pain and sorrow?" Usopp placed his hands behind his head and stared into the ceiling. "After the death, Kaya, the girl we're talking about, was bedridden because of the grief. It was quite recent that she began to overcome her emotions, step-by-step."
"'So at the moment, she's incapable of meeting our demands' is what you're saying?"
"It's not only that; she's unavailable to the public right now. By the request of her friends, Kaya went to her family's villa for rest and relaxation; it's a good distance away from the town, probably a day's trip if you used a Ba Gua."
They remained quiet, each in their own thoughts; Luffy chewed his meat, Zoro drank the alcoholic beverage straight from the bottle, Nami rested her chin inside the palm of her hand, and Usopp kept his eyes in the air. The conversations in the restaurant did not cease, the constant chatter always around the group but never acknowledged in their brains. It was like they were in their own worlds created by their subconscious, oblivious to their surroundings. Then, Nami rapped the table, not too forcefully but firmly with her outstretched hand.
"There's no use brooding over this for too long. We got unlucky, so we might as well try another town and see if we can get what we want. I say that we stock up on supplies and head for a big city, okay Luffy?"
"Sure! Let's see if we can get the supplies from this restaurant!! They seem to make good food."
"That's a really bad idea. If we aren't careful, our food will spoil in a short time because we don't have a refrigerator in our vehicles. No, leave that part to me! I'll make sure that we won't starve on our journey."
"By the way," Usopp paused as the attention was brought back to him, "you guys are on a journey to travel across the world, right?"
Luffy grinned. "Yeah, I thought we already made that clear."
"How about you let me join your group? With my remarkable skills, I can be your captain!!"
"No thanks." The protector, swordsman, and navigator all replied in harmony, an imaginary shadow hanging over their heads as they instantly rejected the offer while avoiding the boy's eyes.
"Don't you want to think it over?!"
Before they could say anything else, the three boys who had fled from the scene before now burst into the restaurant with heavy breaths and distress written on their faces. Quickly scanning the room, they caught sight of their captain and ran for the table in a hurry. Their appearance caused most of the people to stop for a second, but they soon figured that it was another game that was simply being played and ignored their behavior.
"Captain! We really need to talk to you in private!! It's very important, and we think that you need to hear this!!"
"Now hold on a second! What is the meaning of this, men?"
Pepper began to tug on the long-nose's overalls. "We mean it, Captain! It has to do with Kaya-san!!"
"Kaya?" At the mention of the girl's name, Usopp jumped up from his seat and followed the boys outside.
Nami stared after them with a curious glance before turning to the other two. "Looks like trouble."
"I wanna see what the fuss is about. They seemed really upset."
"It's not really any of our business though."
Determined to follow his instincts, Luffy refused to give in. "I still wanna go listen."
"All right, you win. Go pay for the meal, and then we'll go see what's going on."
It did not take more than five minutes to give the money to the cashier, and before long the group was walking towards the huddled boys who decided to remain near the building. It was not exactly private, but it was better than staying in the earshot of the people inside the restaurant. It seemed as if they were just beginning to inform their leader.
Carrot was the one who started. "Captain, you know how Kaya-san went on a vacation to her family-owned lake, right?"
"Of course I know! Everybody in town was supposed to have heard about it."
"Well, we believe that something happened to her while she was over there!"
"What are you talking about?"
Onion could not hold his tongue any longer. "Captain!! Kaya-san has been kidnapped!!!"
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