Disclaimer: you know the drill! Me no own One Piece, savvy?

Chapter 21: Usopp, the hot chocolate, and the bandits

"...'sopp," Kiba said, we went to the bar and took our seats at the counter. A long nosed guy stood there polishing cups. "Get me some hot chocolate, four of them."

"Sure thing, Kiba," Usopp said, he walked passed me then paused. "Hadn't seen you two in a while, how's it been?"

"Sanji and I were only here for two hours, you?"

Usopp took a deep breath, then slammed the cup on the counter, I fliched. "I've been here for two stinken' months working at a bar, the crew was missing and I still can't find the Going Merry! This is all your fault, we wouldn't be here if you didn't have to go blow us up like that!"

"Hey, that's no way to treat a woman!" Sanji yelled at Usopp.

"OI! This is my inn, Usopp, if you're planning to have a fight, go outside!" Kiba yelled. "Either you get fired, or you get less of your salary! Now, get us some hot chocolate!"

"Whatever," Usopp grumbled, he went to the back of the bar. "Next time, Sanji, when Luna asks for your lighter, say no."

"Sorry, but he's right," I said as Usopp handed us our drinks. I took a sip. "Yay, mint!"

After we drank the hot chocolate, a loud BANG! was heard from outside. We looked out the window...

"C'mon, give us the duck, and we'll give you, ah, a 100,000 berries."

"No! He's not for renting!"

"Sounds like they're back," Kiba said, he took out a flintlock and loaded it.

"Who?" I asked.

"Bounty hunters, since our town has the most animals used for traveling and minning, bandits come here to steal them and ssell them for a higher price. If a person ate a Zoan Devil Fruit, they'd kidnap them and try to use them for carrying supplies and stuff," Kiba explained, we went out side to see Vivi riding Carue across town.

"Vivi-kun!" Sanji said.

"Sanji?!" Vivi said, Carue stopped and rushed over to us. "I ran into some men who want Carue a week ago, we've been riding for ever!"

"Don't worry, I'll help you," Sanji said, a group of five men came rushing towards us on horseback with guns out, Sanji lifted his foot while I switched to beast point.

"There! A Zoan user, boys! Get her and try to not knock her out, kill the guy with the dartboard eyebrow if you have to!" ordered a man that was head of the group.

"Right!"

"Girl, if you want money, join us! How much would it be?"

A single thought crossed my mind. "Do any of you know about Nine Tailed Trace?"

Everybody stopped.

"Trace? He's a pirate that came here a while back, going to get exicuted next week at Fannette Dock under the orders of Mayor Silverback."

"Can you take us to him?"

"Would you join us?"

"No, but I'll get you something very valuable."

"Name it."

"...It's something you really want the most."

"The duck, a wolf?"

I switched to human point and whispered something to Sanji. "Help, I'm running out of ideas. All they want is an animal they could sell for a lot of money."

"I'm thinking...how about we just double cross them?"

"That's what I'm afraid of...but I'll try. Okay, when we get to Fannette Dock, I'll let you take me in, deal?"

"Sounds good, but we don't have enough horses for you three to ride...maybe if you get us some horses, we'll let you go."

"Fine...Kiba, do you have any horses for us?"

"Sure," Kiba said. "Got two of them, you could use your own."

"Chopper can be in walking point for our trip, right doc?"

"Yep."

"And Vivi can use Carue."

(Later)

Kiba and I placed the sadles and reins on Loki and two other horses, on black while the other goldish color.

"I think Sanji would do good with Jack, the gold one, Usopp will use Sao," Kiba said as we got the horses out of the corral. "They're the one's who are as fast as Loki, be careful with them."

Sanji, Usopp, and I hitched our horses. Ironically, Jack has the same personality and look as Sanji, it was mainly because Jack had part of his mane covering his left eye, no wonder Kiba gave the horse to him.

"It's going to be a long ride, so stay focused," the lead rider said to us. "The name's Okane(1). Everyone else is Robuberu(2), Banetsu(3), Suteareru(4), and Jakukeru(5). Let's hit the trail! Mushi!(6)"

We all ran out of town with Kiba waving at us. We'll find everyone else...eventually.

Wonder what those names mean in Japanesse? Here:

(1) Money

(2) Robber

(3) Bandit

(4) Stealer

(5) Jacker

(6) it's not a name, it just mean 'Mush!'...in other words, go!