Nami sighed deeply as she was resigned to.. actually sweep the deck.
Usually Usopp would have handled that, as well as secured the sails for the morning and evening, assist Franky when he needed it and all sorts of other odd jobs.
One thing that had become painstakingly obvious in Usopp's absence was that he filled out a quite essential role to the crew, doing all of the things you didn't even notice needed to be done.. Until they weren't done any-more. Then it became quite a big problem, even if they weren't even sailing, but just harboured by the island.
"NAMI!"
"ARGH!"
It was Luffy, hanging upside down from the mast, his head right in front of Namis. "Luffy.." Nami hissed dangerously, then grabbed his throat and clinged him hard. "Don't ever do that again! You hear me!" she hissed.
"Sorry, sorry." Luffy gagged, and at last Nami let go.
"So what do you want?" Nami muttered annoyed leaning against the mop she had been using for sweeping.
"I was just wondering if you had seen Usopp." Luffy asked. "I can't find him any-where."
"Last time I saw him he was hiding away in the mens quarters." Nami sighed.
"Nope, he isn't there, I've checked like three times all-ready." Luffy told.
That made Namis eyes widened and she dropped the mop. "What!?" she asked. "He isn't there!?"
"That's what I tried to tell." Luffy muttered.
"Then, where is he?" Nami asked.
"I don't know, that's why I am asking you!" Luffy replied.
"LUFFY THIS IS TERRIBLE!" Nami exclaimed grabbing the Captains shoulders and then shook him violently. "What if he got off the ship!? We have to find him!"
And that at ones… got the entire ship in a deep uproar as they ran across the ship, yelling Usopp's name.
But.. no-body could find him, they were left to standing on the deck looking lost at each until..
Until Franky came bursting through the trap-door that went down to the work-shop and cargo areas of the Sunny.
"GUYS! GUYS COME QUICK!" Franky yelled as he burst up on deck, shocked the straw-hats all looked at him as the big cyborg tried to catch his breath.
"Franky." Nami blinked. "What's wrong?"
"I.. I found him!" Franky breathed. "Found Usopp!"
"WHERE!?" Luffy yelled as he jumped down from the mast.
"Easy! It's all-right!" Franky breathed. "He's below deck, he.. he found Mini-merry." He told.
Wide-eyed the crew looked at the Cyborg whom was out of breath.
"Mini-Merry?" Nami asked in a blink.
"I don't think I would be able to get him away even if I tried to drag him." Franky breathed. "You got to come and see this for yourself!" at ones all the straw-hats got on their feet's and hurried down to the docks of the Sunny, and then suddenly stopped as they reached the dock.
Because in there was Usopp, sitting on his knees, right in front of the mini-merry, starring intensely on the figure head with a deep frown on his face, and a wrinkled fore-head, it looked like the uttermost deep concentration, as if he was really wracking his brain.
All around him, all around on the floor, laid papers scattered every-where! Some of them had words on them, some of them.
Nami picked up the piece of paper closest to her and looked at it, it was a rough sketch of.. Chopper, standing in a rain of Cherry leafs, kind of like back at drum-island when the snow had been painted pink.
Luffy as well held a number of rough sketches in his hands, he saw the one of a giant whale with the shadow of Brook in the background, Nami and a tangerine tree, himself in front of a pirate flag.. looking at the scattered drawings, all of the straw-hats were there in rough sketch form, with other things that represented them.
Stunned Nami looked at the papers scattered across the floor, then up at Usopp, whom still looked so intensely at the figurehead of Merry, holding a piece of paper clutched in his hand.
"Usopp.." Nami whispered.
And it was like the word had broken a spell, as Usopp's neck snapped to the side and he suddenly looked intensely at Nami, at the straw-hats.
Nami blinked, then Usopp's jumped up on his legs and ran straight towards them, holding up his drawing and then almost pressed it against Namis face. "Who's this?" he asked. "I know this person don't i?! She's important to me! But how do I know her!?" he asked. "I didn't see her on the ship like the rest of you! WHO IS SHE!?" he asked.
Stunned Nami blinked as she reached up and took the paper, looking wide-eyed at Usopp. "E-Easy" she stammered. "I'm sure we can figure it out, just give me some.." Nami looked at the sketch in her hand, and then she blinked.
"Wow, she's pretty." Sanji noted as he looked over Namis shoulder. "You know who that is?" he asked Nami.
"It's kaya!" Luffy exclaimed in a broad grin. "YOU DREW KAYA!"
Usopp blinked as he looked at Luffy. "Kaya?" he asked. "She's… important.. right?" he asked.
Nami nodded as she held the drawing in her hands. "You promised her to come back to her, remember?" she asked. "So you could tell her about all the things you've seen, and she's waiting for you. Because she believes in what you promised, that you would become a great warrior of the sea and then return. It's your promise Usopp! Your dream!" she told.
Sanji frowned for a while, then he spluttered. "IT SOUNDS LIKE SHE IS HIS GIRLFRIEND!" he exclaimed, then ripped the paper out of Namis hands and looked at it himself. "No way! No way Usopp could have a girl-friend this pretty! THAT'S SO UNFAIR!" he cried sinking to his knees.
Usopp blinked as he looked at Sanji, then he looked up at Nami. "What about them?" he asked pulling another piece of paper up to show-case to Nami. "They are important to aren't they?" he asked.
Namis eyes softened as she saw the piece of paper, on it rough sketches of three young boys, gently Nami took it as she smiled. "Tamangi, Ninjin and Piiman." She told. "Your little gang of Usopp pirates." She chuckled. "I think they saw you as their cool big brother! You played with them, told them stories, made sure they had lots of fun. They all adored you." She told giving Usopp the piece of paper back.
Usopp traced a finger across the paper. "Tamangi wants to be an author.. Ninjin wants to have his own bar-room.. Piiman wants to be a journalist." He whispered, gliding a finger over each of them as he spoke their name and their dream.
Luffy nodded. "That's right Usopp! You got it!"
"Kaya!" Usopp exclaimed as he pointed at the sketch still in Sanjis hands. "She wanted to become a doctor! She helped me! She.. she gave me a ship! That one!" he stated pointing on mini-merry, then he frowned. "Though.. that doesn't make a lot of sense, it's hardly a ship is it?" he asked looking confused at the mini-merry. "How was that able to carry all of us?" he asked in that confused frown of his.
Then Luffy dugged down on the floor, and started to threw all the pictures aside.
Usopp blinked as he looked at the Captain digging around, throwing pictures left and right. "Luffy?" Usopp question.
"AHA!" Luffy grinned as he sat up on his knees holding a picture in front of him. "I knew it! I knew you wouldn't let some-thing out that was that important to you!" he stated, then pulled up a rough-sketch in front of Usopp's face, that of a ship, a smaller ship than sunny, more humble, tattered, gentle, with a lambs figure-head, but yet it carried its crew very proudly.
"Merry." Usopp whispered as he reached forwards his hands, and Luffy let him take the sketch so he could look at it himself.
"You cared so much for that ship." Luffy smiled. "You gave it your heart and soul, that's how much you cared."
Franky nodded. "And I did my best, really I did, to maintain the soul you gave the ship, in this new body." He stated as he wiped away a tear and then leaned a hand against the wall beside him.
Then Usopp looked up at the others, with wondering eyes. "I remember." He told. "Merry…" then he winched as he pressed a hand against his forehead and hissed in pain. "Argh."
"Usopp!" Chopper exclaimed as he rushed forward and grabbed Usopp's shoulder. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"Hurts." Usopp groaned. "I was trying to remember what happened to Merry, and it hurts."
"Take it easy." Nami asked as she sat in front of Usopp, resting a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Those are some painful memories, you're probably just not ready yet, but you will be." She told in a smile as she whisked away a tear. "Just.. give it some time okay?" she asked. "Think of some more pleasant ones." She asked as she took the of Kaya away from Sanji and handed it to Usopp. "Tell us about Kaya." She encouraged.
Usopp wiped his eyes, before he looked up at Nami then smiled, taking the sketch back. "Okay." He whispered then looked around. "wow.. what a mess." He blinked then bowed down to pick some of the sketches up. "I'm sorry Franky, I'll clean this up right away." He told starting to collect all of the rough sketches around him.
"That's all-right Usopp-bro." Franky sniffed as he wiped away a tear. "In fact here, let me help you!" he asked dropping down on his knees himself.
"ME TO!" Luffy exclaimed as he dropped down and started picking up. "OHHH!" he exclaimed holding up a drawing. "SOGEKING! That's awesome!" he exclaimed.
"Zoro looks fierce on this one!" Chopper chuckled looking at a rough sketch in his hooves.
"Why the hell do I look so ridicules on this one!?" Sanji asked holding up a rough sketch. "I'm not ridicules! I'm cool!"
Usopp looked at Sanji, then smirked. "Turn it around." He offered.
"Huh?" Sanji blinked, then turned it around and smiled. "Now that is more like it!" he grined to show-case the drawing on the other side of the paper, where he stood in the shadow, smoking his ciggerate just looking incredible cool.
"This is amazing." Nami whispered as she collected all the drawings. "I wonder how long he has been down here to do all of this."
"I wonder if we should even look at them." Robin then admitted.
"What, why?" Nami asked looking at Robin.
"I might be mistaken, but aren't these images.. how Usopp sees us?" Robin asked. "Images from his point of view?"
Nami blinked, then she swallowed. "Well, that isn't so bad is it?" she asked. "Thus far it seems he is thinking very highly of us." She commented.
"Hai, but.." Robin hesitated, then turned around the rough sketch she was holding, this was a weird one, looking pretty black, there was just one person on it, he looked very small, very weak. "This is the only self portrait I have seen so far." She admitted.
Stunned Nami took it and looked at it. "Well.. we all-ready knew Usopp doesn't give himself to much credit, his sense of self-worth is indeed horrible." She stated and then.. crumbled the piece of paper together in her hands and then stuffed it in her pocket out of reach for any-one to see. "His Sogeking drawing was all proud and mighty though." She pointed out.
Robin looked at Nami, then shrugged. "Sogeking is a mask, and that is the nature of lies, to cover up the truth that lays beneath, for what-ever reason. How-ever." She mumbled as she looked at the laughing Usopp, holding up a schematic for how to build the clima-tact. "That reason can be misguided and actually hide a truth far more impressive than the lie, if only the person behind the lie was aware of it."
Nami smiled vaguely. "Yeah." She sighed. "I do like Usopp the best when he is completely himself.. When-ever that happens, but he is a lot of fun to, when he is fumbling around. It's nice to have him back." She observed as she glanced up at Usopp, and saw him.. laying a gentle hand on Merrys figure heart as he actually, smiled, and used his other hand to hold over his heart.
Soon the drawings were all collected, and the crew-members retrieved.. Nami saw Usopp dissapear into the galley, with all of the drawings in his arms.. as if he was trying to sneek away from the rest of the crew.
Nami decided just to let him be.. for a while. After an hour though, she decided to check on him, and silently entered the galley herself.
To be faced with Usopp sitting by the table, looking intensely in front of him, where he had spread all of the drawings with the side upwards, some-times he would move them a little around, put them in other, and Nami realised.. he was creating a time-line with the drawings, though it looked like quite the strain on him as he sat with Robins sketch in his hand, seemingly very confused about where it was supposed to be in his time-line, before he at last put it down beside Vivi, but before Franky.
And then he sat there looking very thoughtful. He rested his chin on the back of his folded hands as he looked frowningly at all of the pictures.
"Usopp.." Nami whispered.
Slowly Usopp glanced up and then looked at her, then completely out of no-where uttered. "Mint-tea."
"Huh?" Nami blinked.
"You wanted some mint-tea, but there was none left. Luffy had tried to use it as fish-bait, and you hit him when you found out.. cause tea wont work as fish-bait." Usopp told.
"Ohh.." Nami realised as she looked up, yeah.. She did remember some-thing like that, but.. it was a very long time ago. All back when Vivi was still with them. "I can't believe you remember." She told honestly. "I would have forgotten if you hadn't just reminded me."
Usopp how-ever frowned, as he returned to look at the drawings.
"So erh.." nervously Nami sat in front of Usopp. "You.. you got your memory back."
"Not sure." Usopp mumbled. "Bits and pieces.. a random name here and there, but.. It does feel very real." He admitted. "It's just hard to believe.. that I should be that Nakama you talked so much about, I mean.. I'm not very impressive or any-thing. Not like you made him sound."
Then amused name reached forward a hand, and took Usopp's hand. "Now you sound exactly like yourself, you never exactly had the greatest confidence in yourself." She informed. "Which is a shame really. You should honestly know better by now." She told in a roll of her eyes. "Usually at this point, you would exclaim you're not scared at all and is in fact, a brave warrior of the sea with 80,000 followers in your back."
Usopp blinked. "Do.. do I have 80,000 followers?" he asked.
"No." Nami laughed. "That's just a lie you try to tell, lord knows why." She chuckled. "Maybe because deep down you are a bit of a coward."
Usopp also smiled a little amused, then frowned at the drawings.
"Look Usopp.." Nami hesitated, making Usopp looked up at her again. "I erh.. I just want you to know that.. That I'm really really sorry."
Surprised Usopp looked at Nami, whom suddenly sniffed as she whisked away a tear.
"I understand if you can't forgive us when you get your memories back." Nami sniffed. "What we did, it was the most horrible thing we could do. Hurting you like that, hunting you down. I'm.. Usopp I'm so sorry!" she cried and then stood up to walk behind Usopp and embraced him to cry into his hair. "I don't know what I could ever do to make it up to you. We are all so sorry! So sorry." She cried. "We should have known.. should have known.."
"Nami.." Usopp breathed, then turned around, to return the embrace.
Namis eyes widened slightly as the Sniper stood up, and she felt his arms tugging her in, and then, a tear dropped down his chin. "No no, I.. I'm sorry for making you worry." He told. "I'm sorry I cant be the person you all want me to be.. I."
"You are just as big a dumbass as always." Nami muttered as she retrieved, and chuckling used her hand to wipe away Usopp's tear. "This is just like you, thinking you are not wanted. And that's why I am here to beat some sense into your head!" she stated, playfully giving Usopp's head a little harmless slap.
"Heh." Usopp smirked a little embarrassed scratching his own neck. "Some-how.. that does make a lot of sense.." he told. "And seems really right…" then he dug into his pocket, and reached a folded paper slip towards Nami. "Here." He told.
Nami blinked as she took the folded piece of paper. "What's that?" she asked.
"It's what you wanted, isn't it?" Usopp asked as Nami slowly unfolded the paper and her eyes widened.
"Directions to Livian." Nami realised.
"I didn't know if I should give it to you or not." Usopp admitted. "But, I can't help but trust you.. I know you just want to help me.
Nami looked at the paper, then smiled. "Thank you." She beamed at Usopp. "I knew it, I knew you would be yourself again in no time, it just take your mind a little bit to settle, I bet after a good nights sleep, you are just fine again!" she told.
Usopp smiled as he nodded, then his eyes turned to the Kabuto.. that still stood in the corner of the galley.
Nami smiled. "Take it, it's yours." She asked of him.
Usopp didn't respond as his eyes were fixated at the Kabuto.. then slowly he walked towards it, reached out a hand and.. suddenly his hand retrieved.
"Usopp?" Nami asked.
"Shit." Usopp hissed as he bowed down, with his back to Nami.
"What.. what's wrong?" Nami asked.
"It should have been obvious, she wouldn't let me go that easily! She was just buying herself time!" Usopp hissed. "That bitch."
"What?" Nami asked.
Then Usopp turned around and looked at her, and.. his eyes were red! He held up his hands, but his fingers were being forcibly curled together into a more claw-like form. "Nami.." Usopp swallowed. "Nami get out of here, get some of the others!"
"But.. But Usopp!?" Nami exclaimed.
"LAST TIME I ALMOST BIT YOUR ARM OFF!" Usopp shouted. "GET OUT OF HERE NOW!" he exclaimed, as he fell down on all fours.
Wide-eyed Nami looked at him, hissing on the floor.. then she snapped out of it and turned around to run, run for the door, she ripped it up and slammed it close behind her, just in time for some kind of big beast, to slam up against the door from the other side, roaring.
Wide-eyed Nami stood there, with her back to the door, trying to hold it back as good as she could, then she took a big breath and yelled. "LUUUUUFFYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"
