Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece, its characters, and its plot. I only own the divergences from the true story.
Chapter 1: The Arrival and Welcoming
"Now that, that is pure bullshit." was my immediate reaction. Said reaction being completely reasonable in my opinion, especially when in my kind of situation, which is more than just improbable.
Let me explain, I am a fifteen years old high-schooler, otaku in all the good ways. Yesterday night, after insomnia hit me the two prior days, meaning that I hadn't slept for about 58 hours, I was prepared to endure a third night of insomnia and all its... Joys (please note sarcasm) when I just passed out.
I still don't know why that happened, but all I know is that I feel like I'm dreaming. After all, when I pass out in my bedroom I don't think I'm supposed to wake up in an inn on an island that looks suspiciously like Sabaody Archipelago from One Piece. Especially not when I'm in a body that looks and feels like mine... but isn't mine.
I normally have short dark chestnut-colored hair and dark brown eyes (so dark that they appear pitch black unless when hit directly by light) and a handsome angular face. Right now, the face in the mirror has shoulder-length indigo blue hair tied in a short ponytail, Tiger Orange eyes and an exact replica of my bone structure.
In short, I went from plain handsome to... colorful handsome. But what might be the reason I cursed, might be your question.
Well, besides the obvious, what particularly got my attention was the sudden rush of memories that don't belong to me, and trust me, getting an additional nineteen years of memories isn't a particularly enjoyable experience.
Let's recap those memories in a quick enough fashion.
My name is Hades 'Full Counter' Silver, I am a solo pirate with a bounty of 96 million berry. I ate the Counter Counter fruit, I can counter any type of attack, but it has to make contact with me. I am 19 years old. I mastered the Rokushiki except for the Rokuogan, am a powerful swordsman capable of launching air blades. I can use Busoshoku Haki. I mostly just attack corrupt marines and protect whoever needs help.
I currently wear a weighted black t-shirt of 100 kilos under a white haori with indigo blue flames licking the edges and the kanji for 'counter', or 'opposite' (対向). I also wear black cargo pants and black combat boots, on my hands are black metal-plated gloves. My log pose is attached to my right wrist and most of my other belongings are in a rather large rucksack.
It seems like I am a powerful individual. It seems completely surreal, but I guess I'll accept it for now. I look around me and spot a katana that calls out to me, the sheath is white with golden designs while the hilt is red and gold. It reminds... nevermind, it's the same sword known as 'Raikiri' in Nioh... Just think of electrical air blades, isn't that wonderful.
Based on my memories, Luffy's bounty was just bumped up from 30 million berries to 100 million berries, meaning that he beat Crocodile and will be going to Jaya and Robin must have just joined the crew...
Damn, I really want to join them... I guess I'll go towards Jaya, if I am fast enough, I might be able to meet them.
(8 hours later, Jaya. 3rd POV)
Damn, that hurts my legs like hell. We can find Silver currently in Mock Town nursing his legs, his repetitive overuse of Kamisori being damaging to his leg muscles, even if he did rest on several islands.
Normally, the Straw-Hats take one day to arrive in Jaya after Robin joins the crew, and one day before the knock-up stream happens. So the Straw-hats will arrive tomorrow. Silver is currently figuring out an approach on how to introduce himself.
"..."
"Fuck it," he muttered, a smirk on his handsome face. "Let's visit Montblanc Cricket, the descendant of Montblanc Noland."
With his objective set, Silver went on the other side of Jaya, it took him some time, but he arrived behind the old man's house. As he was approaching the house, he tried listening for people, but there was no one.
He was looking through the window when.
"What are you doing, kid?" a gruff voice interrupted him. Turning around with a genuine smile on his face, he came face to face with Montblanc Cricket.
"Are you Montblanc Cricket?" he asked bluntly, earning himself a raised eyebrow.
"Depends on who's asking." was the careful answer from the old man, who currently had a towel around his shoulders, probably because he recently went diving.
"The name's Hades Silver, just call me Silver. And you might be able to help me." After Cricket heard Silver's name, he at first relaxed a bit before tensing up again.
"Depends on what you need, 'Full Counter'." A brief frown came on Silver's face before he smiled again.
"Information. On the rumored Sky Island, to be more precise, and how to get there." he answered truthfully, a smile still on his face and his guard relaxed, but not abandoned.
"And why would you need that information?" Cricket asked again and Silver's eyes started twitching in annoyance at the interrogation. He pointed at his Log Pose and looked Cricket in the eyes.
"Figured it out yet?" he asked mockingly. Cricket stared at him for a moment before sighing.
"Stay here, if we're going to talk about Sky Island it's going to take a long time and I prefer drinking something stronger than water." Silver did just that, he sat on a log and started a campfire because the sun was setting and the sky was getting darker. Cricket came back with bottles of wine.
He explained what happened with his ancestor, the shame of his family, as others portrayed him. Cricket went on to explain that sometimes, the sky goes dark due to a Millenium cumulonimbus cloud. He explained his theory of the Knock-up Stream and how it could push a ship to the Millenium cumulonimbus, where he thought the Sky Island may be.
"So, what's your story?" Cricket suddenly asked, not at all drunk from the several bottles of wine he had drunk.
"Huh?" was Silver's intelligent reply.
"What pushed you to the sea? Nobody knows yet and rumors are running around about you. So, what's your story?" explained Cricket.
"Rumors? I don't listen to them, so I don't know what kind of rumors are flying. I just wanted the freedom to explore this crazy world, to free myself of the shackles of peoples' expectations." was the nonchalant reply.
"See the world... as for rumors, well there was that one where you were an official of the World Government but you were betrayed and became a pirate while labeled a traitor." Cricket's eyes were piercing Silver's head as the latter looked to the side nervously, a drop of sweat on the side of his head.
"Don't know where they go find those rumors, are there any others?" Silver questioned, eager to know other rumors about him.
"Well, some say that you punched a Celestial Dragon and that is the reason for your high bounty." Cricket looked at Silver suspiciously at that, but let it go.
"Huh, that's actually something I'd like to do one day, they are the scum of this world, worse than the worst pirates and pests that fester." came Silver's hateful reply. If his raised eyebrows are any indication, Cricket wasn't expecting such an answer.
"Well, you're not the only one..." was his mumbled reply.
"I'm going to sleep," declared Silver, propping his head against his rucksack and kept a hand on the handle of Raikiri.
Cricket blinked in bemusement before snorting a laugh and going inside his house. It was time for bed, being way past midnight.
(The next day)
Silver woke up that morning with the rise of the sun. He decided to go back to Mock Town for the day, seeing as the Straw-Hats would be asking about Sky Island, he could just interrupt the whole thing.
But for a good part of the morning, he decided to train to try and unlock his Kenbunshoku Haki with the help of Shoujou who hadn't been gone yet. He sat cross-legged blindfolded while Shoujou tried hitting him from different angles with different things: a stick, pebbles, rocks...
Unfortunately for Silver, he didn't unlock his Kenbunshoku Haki from that training, but he did manage to evade about a fourth of all attacks.
Then suddenly, the sky turned to night. That must mean the Straw-hats will see the shadows and get to Jaya. Time to get to Mock Town.
"Hey, Shoujou. I'm going to Mock Town for a while." He then took Raikiri by the sheath in his left hand and suddenly disappeared, the only evidence of his presence being little puffs of displaced air in big intervals rapidly appearing.
(In Mock Town, at the local tavern)
In a puff of displaced air arrived Silver he instantly sat down at the counter and ordered 10 cherry pies and a Soda. Minutes later entered Nami, Zoro and, Luffy. They all sat at the counter on Silver's left.
Immediately, Nami started acquiring information thanks to the barman while Luffy, Zoro, Silver and another big man were eating cherry pies and drinking soda.
"The way pirates spend money is like spilling water." the barman stated "Even though they see fighting and killing as an 'everyday thing', they rarely attack the citizens. After all, what good is money if there is nowhere to spend it at." he finished.
"Still, I don't really like this city!" stated Nami, drawing a small laugh from the barman.
"Haha... A normal person would say so. Unfortunately, there are not many normal people here. It takes 4 days to set the 'record'... So one must leave before getting in any serious trouble!" finished the barman.
"4 days... We should be gone in two days then... Hey mister..." BAM "Hey! Mister!"-"Hey, old man!"-"Hey, old guy!" Nami was interrupted by Luffy, the other man and Silver banging their fist on the counter and getting the attention of the barman.
"Hmm? What?"
"His cherry pie tastes so good I'm gonna die!"-"This cherry pie tastes so bad I'm gonna die!"-"This cherry pie tastes so horrible I'm gonna die!" they continued in sync.
"Oh?" (x3)
"..." they sent angry looks at each other before taking their pint and chugging it in unison
"*gulp*"
"This soda tastes so bad!"-"This soda tastes so good!"-"This soda tastes good!"
"I'm not the cook, I don't really care..." The barman trailed off with a sweat-drop when lightning started shooting from both Luffy and Silver's eyes to the other man.
"Is there something wrong with your tongues?" asked the big man.
"Is there something wrong with your brain?" asked back Luffy and Silver in unison in an equally condescending tone.
"Old man, I'll take 51 cherry pies to go."-"Mister, I want 50 pieces of meat to go."-"Hey, gimme 50 pieces of meat to go." they started again before realizing a problem.
"Ah... I meant 52 pieces"-"52 pieces, my bad." A quick look of respect was shared between Luffy and Silver, which Nami picked up on (which made her want to facepalm) before the big man spoke up.
"My mistake, I'll take 53 pies."
"Wait, change it to 54 pieces."-"54 pieces, please." another look shared.
"55 pies"
"60 pieces of meat" (x2)
"70 pies"
"80" (x2)
"100" Suddenly, Luffy and Silver get up and get in the man's face while he does the same.
"WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM, YOU WANT TO FIGHT!?" they all shout at the same time, baring shark teeth and brandishing their arm.
"HOW DID THIS TURN SO HOSTILE!?" shouted Zoro also bearing shark teeth.
"Luffy! You promised, remember? We're not carrying enough money anyway! We're not here to shop!" Said Nami, but she was swiftly ignored by all present.
"You are... Pirates...!?" asked the large man to both Luffy and Silver.
"Yeah, that's right!" answered Luffy.
"Of course." was Silver's answer.
"Bounty?" came the short question.
"30 million!"
"96 million!"
"30 million...!? 96 million!? You? IT'S NOT POSSIBLE, YOU'RE LYING!" shouted the large man.
"KNOCK IT OFF!" shouted Zoro, only to be ignored.
"I'M NOT LYING! IT'S TRUE!" shouted both Luffy and Silver in unison, again. But they were interrupted by the barman.
"Hey you, please don't fight in my bar. Here, take this and please leave!" he said while presenting a big wrapped package "50 cherry pies."
The large man took the package and started walking with a "Hmph..." but...
"Sa... Sa..."
"Huh?" was the confused grunt that the large man let out.
"*crrk* !?" A gasp of surprise emanated from most people in the room.
"Is there a pirate, with a straw hat in here?" the question came from the person who just entered the tavern.
"It's... Bellamy!" someone shouted in the room, this got Luffy's attention.
"Hmm... So you're the 30 million bounty boy...? 'Straw Hat Luffy'"
"What is it?" Luffy asked.
"Someone is looking for you Luffy." said Zoro while drinking a pint.
"Isn't Bellamy... The name of the guy who reserved the hotel?" Nami asked, but was ignored again, except Silver, who turned to her with a frown on his face.
"I don't like the fact he just randomly popped up, he ain't the kindest of this horrible bunch of asshats." he said directly to her, she raised an eyebrow in question, asking him to elaborate but he gestured for her to just listen.
"The people that I've met today are huge!" remarked Luffy lightly.
"Give me a glass of your best wine. And give the kid whatever he wants." Bellamy ordered the barman.
"...Alright"
Meanwhile, Nami and Zoro were observing the group from the hotel who had killed clients just to take their place and were talking between themselves at a distance.
"Here, sorry to keep you waiting." Said the barman, giving Ballamy and Luffy their drinks
"Here, let's drink."
"Ah, thanks. Hahaha, you're a... Good guy after all." Luffy prepared to chug his pint.
"Huh?" "Luffy!" warned Zoro, taking his sword out.
Meanwhile, Luffy was chugging his drink when...
*CRAAASSH* His face was planted in the counter by Bellamy, breaking the latter. Zoro put Wado Ichimonji at his throat.
"? What are you going to do!? Stick boy!" challenged Bellamy.
"That question... Should be for you to answer!" warned Zoro before being interrupted by Nami.
"Zo... Zoro! Wait! We haven't found any info yet, ok?" she said, making calming motions with her hands.
"Shut up! Someone attacked us, I'm just defending!" shouted Zoro, meanwhile, Luffy stood up.
"Hmm? You can still stand up, Haha!" laughed Bellamy, Luffy wiped some blood from his mouth.
"Alright... It looks like you're ready for a fight." commented Luffy.
"Haha! They actually want to fight Bellamy!" someone shouted, "Haha, so it, do it!"
"Gyahaha! This isn't a fight, it's a test!" declared 'The Hyena' "Come on! Show me what you got..."
"Luffy! Wait!" Interrupted Nami, she turned to the barman again. "Hey, mister! We want to go to 'Sky Island'... Do you know anything about it?"
Gasps echoed before a supreme silence filled the tavern.
"Is she joking...?" said a member of Bellamy's crew "What did that girl just say?"
"How to get to 'Sky Island'" Nami repeated, just as confused as Zoro and Luffy.
"GYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" - "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" everybody except the Straw-Hats and Silver burst out laughing like that was the best joke anybody would ever hear.
"She said 'Sky Island'...!"
"HAHAHAHAHA! You have to be joking!"
"...What are you laughing at! The log pose is pointing to the sky!" Nami pointed out to everybody, a silence permeated the air until.
"Did the log pose really point to the sky!?" - "HAHAHAHAHA! The log poses mess up all the time!" Nami flushed red from embarrassment. Bellamy was still chuckling a little and was about to talk...
"Actually." from the moment Silver started to talk, everybody shut their trap and turned to him. "She isn't wrong, because a true pioneer from the Grand Line would be able to tell you that the log poses are never wrong in the first half of the Grand Line." People were starting to gawk at his audacity. He turned to the Straw-Hats.
"And if you want to hear about 'Sky Island', or Skypiea, as is its true name, the come with me." He started to walk out of the tavern, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He looked above his shoulder to see Bellamy.
"Waaaait a minute, you didn't even tell us your name, dreamer." His eyes were starting to become bloodshot and a vein was throbbing on his forehead. Silver shrugged Bellamy's grip effortlessly before turning to him.
"My name? I'm Hades Silver, but most of you know me as 'Full Counter' Silver." some gasps were heard, but overall, silence permeated the air.
"Hades 'Full Counter' Silver..." Bellamy looked thoughtful for a couple of seconds "Where did I hear that name?"
Suddenly, Silver pulled out a bounty from his back pocket and lifted it for all to see. Even more people gasped, some became white as snow.
"You might have seen it on this." He stated plainly before turning to the Straw-Hats again. "So, you coming?" he asked but didn't wait for an answer before he walked out of the tavern. The Straw-Hats exchanged looks before nodding in unison and starting to walk towards the exit, but were stopped again by 'The Hyena'.
"Wait for a second, Strawhat, this discussion isn't finished yet." he said with a hint of warning in his tone.
"Yes it is." everyone froze a the voice and turned towards where it came from. Everyone saw Silver directly behind Bellamy, Raikiri unsheathed, crackling with yellow lightning poised to strike at Bellamy's neck.
"This conversation is finished and the next person to interrupt us is dead." his voice was colder than ice and no one dared to move, except the Straw-Hats who just started walking again. Before they even reached the entry, Silver had disappeared, but the weight of his threat hadn't.
(The Going Merry)
"I don't understand why you are making us get all of our crew." asked Nami, curious and slightly suspicious about Silver.
"Because we will go visit someone, someone who can help us get to Skypiea, and everyone has to hear this." was the answer she received.
"Wait, us? You want to get to Sky Island too?" asked Zoro, in the guise of an answer, Silver, with a deadpan stare, just pointed at his log pose, which was pointing towards the sky.
"Seeing as it's my next stop, yes, I need to get to Skypiea." everyone nodded, minutes later, they arrived at the Going Merry.
"Huh? Luffy? Guys, did you manage to get information on the Sky Island?" asked Usopp, Sanji, and Chopper watching on the sidelines as Luffy, Nami, Zoro and Silver approached the Merry. "And who is that with you?"
"Oh, that's" "Hades 'Full Counter' Silver" interrupted another voice, everyone looked to the side to see someone approaching.
"Ah, ah! You're back Robin-chan! Would you like to eat first or take a bath first?" asked Sanji in his 'love' mode, but was ignored when Luffy asked
"Where did Robin go?"
"I went to buy clothes... I also tried to find clues about 'Sky Island' along the way." she answered, but was looking directly at Silver. She took a map out of her bag and gave it to Luffy.
"Ooooh! It's a treasure map!" remarked somewhat eagerly Luffy, only to be corrected by Usopp.
"It's just an ordinary map. Where is this place?" he asked
"It's this island... The city on the left is where we are, Mock Town. On the other side... Do you see the X mark on the east coast?"
"I heard that a very special person from Jaya lives there." said Robin.
"Oh, you're talking about Montblanc Cricket" interrupted Silver "Your captain, navigator and swordsman asked me about Sky Island and I was going to lead them to that old man. I need to get to Skypiea too, and I've been with the old man for a day." he said, looking at Robin carefully, she returned the look, but something he said caught her attention.
"Skypiea? Is that the name of the 'Sky Island'? Where did you find it?" she asked, looking curious while still being careful. Silver just raised an eyebrow before answering.
"I found the name in an old book I found on this island. I think the one who wrote it was an archeologist, I'll lend it to you when we're at Cricket's house if you want." He answered truthfully. Robin looked very surprised for all of a second before nodding.
"I'd like that very much, but I have a question first. How did you know I would like to read it?" she asked, her eyes piercing him. Everyone else was watching the exchange curiously. Silver just smiled mysteriously, not unlike Robin's smile which she wasn't wearing.
"The first reason is that, knowing where you came from it's a given. The second reason is that you may try to hide your emotions, but the very second I mentioned the name of an island lost to history, you had a sparkle in your eyes." her eyes widened at his reasons before quickly regaining her cool gaze, but he continued.
"It's actually quite cute considering the rumors going about you." he casually stated with a mischievous grin and laughing eyes. Her eyes flashed with surprise again, before getting a mischievous glint, a sort of predatory smile stretching her face.
"This coming from a traitor of the World Government and fellow part-time archeologist? Why I'm flattered." she started walking towards the kitchen, leaving behind the whole crew gaping at the exchange, plus Silver who was gawking at her comeback, his eyes not leaving her form. Before she entered the kitchen, she looked at Silver above her shoulder, the mischievous glint in her eyes turning a bit sadistic.
"You might want to close your mouth, it's starting to water and you might swallow a fly." she let out a laugh before closing the door fully. Silver closed his mouth with a click and a blush on his cheeks before coughing a bit.
"W-well... That was enlightening." he awkwardly commented, sweat lining his brow.
"DON'T JUST BRUSH OFF THAT CONVERSATION!" everyone else except shouted, shark teeth directed towards him, except Luffy who was laughing so hard he was rolling on the floor. Sanji, who was somewhat jealous of the banter between Silver and Robin, had just gripped the first's collar.
"What kind of conversation was that! How dare you try to embarrass Robin-chan you blue disaster!" he was clearly angry, but he wasn't the only one. Nami having a throbbing vein on her forehead and twitching eye wasn't a good omen. Meanwhile, Luffy had stopped laughing and had followed Robin in the kitchen. She was sitting and reading a book.
"Robin." he called her, she looked up with a smile on her face.
"Yes, Captain-san?"
"What did you mean by calling him a traitor of the World Government?" he asked seriously, she also turned serious.
"His parents were killed by the World Government when he was a little boy and he was forced to become a member of a secret organization of the World Government that specializes in assassinations." she told him.
"So, he's here to kill someone?" he asked with a snarl, which was not something that is often seen. Robin shook her head with a small smile.
"He could certainly kill any of us extremely easily." she admitted, "But the World Government betrayed him. Because as an assassin, he was supposed to dispose of all his emotions, to become a killing machine." she continued with a frown.
"A... Killing machine?" Luffy asked quietly, she nodded.
"Exactly, but he couldn't do it, he was too good, too empathic, too great a person to be able to do it. So the World Government tried to dispose of him." she continued quietly "But he escaped, with an extremely powerful sword no less. He was then labeled a traitor and given a great bounty, he started showing his dislike of the World Government by killing corrupt people, whether marine or pirate and by helping any civilian or honest person who needed it." If someone truly knew her well, that person could have heard the admiration in her voice.
Luffy, who had been quiet and had his hat shadowing his face, suddenly looked at Robin with a determined glint in his eyes and a smile.
"I've decided." Robin cocked her head to one side in question, a smile on her face.
"He's going to join my crew." he declared. Both of them got up and out of the kitchen, only to arrive on an amusing sight. Silver, Sanji, and Zoro were face-first on the ground with enormous bumps on their heads, Nami was looming over them, her face furious and both her fists fuming. Chopper and Usopp were making themselves little to not set her wrath on themselves.
"Stop being a bunch of idiots!" She shouted, groans were her answers.
"Get up, we're going to see Montblanc Cricket."
"Before we set sail." Luffy interrupted, turning to Silver, who was up again with nary a scratch on him. "I have a question for you."
"Huh? What is it?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Do you have a dream?" was Luffy's question, which drew stares from everybody on the ship. Silver nodded, suddenly serious, he passed a hand through his now detached hair (how nobody saw him detach it is a mystery).
"My dream is to dethrone the five Elder Stars of the World Government, make them and the Celestial Dragons pay for everything they did to our world." It was met with wide eyes from everybody, and begrudging nods of respect from both Zoro, Sanji, and Luffy. Nami and Usopp had paled rapidly and were quivering.
Luffy smiled widely, getting everybody's attention again. "I've got something else to say to you." there might have been a mischievous glint in his eyes as he said it, but it's Luffy, so nobody was sure.
"Join my crew!" there was a moment of shocked silence before.
"Heeeeeeh!?" everyone except Silver, Luffy and Robin shouted in surprise. Nami was quick to recover, she tried punching Luffy upside the head, but he evaded without looking.
"Don't just ask him to join like that!" she shouted with shark teeth, Usopp and Chopper nodding in the background. Robin just giggled quietly, mirth in her eyes. Silver looked at her suspiciously.
"I'm sure you're the reason for this." he stated, his lips twitching towards a smile. She just had the most innocent expression anybody could (just not convincing at all) and a mysterious smile on her lips (SUPER COMBO).
"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about." she stated, if the deadpan stare he was giving her was any indication, he did not believe her at all. It might have been because of the mirth in her eyes. Luffy just laughed.
"What are you saying Nami, I didn't ask him anything." he stated with a confused frown, everyone just stared at him incredulously. Silver just started laughing his ass off.
"Pffhahaha! Good joke, Luffy." he stated, recovering quickly, but when everybody looked at him with some kind of pity, he started to sweatdrop; Zoro just patted his shoulder solemnly while shaking his head.
"Just drop it, you're a Straw-Hat now, he won't ever take no for an answer." he stated solemnly but froze when the temperature around the ship took a drop. Nobody moved except Silver, who was glaring daggers at Luffy.
"Hell. No. I escaped from the World Government while giving them the finger to be free. I will not be tied down to a crew, why do you think I'm a Solo pirate? One of the two single pirates not tied down. There's me... and Dracule Mihawk." When Zoro tried reaching for his sword, he suddenly froze as Raikiri was put to his throat.
"Don't mistake me for someone else, and don't try to threaten me. If Robin didn't tell your captain yet, let me tell you. I could kill you all and disappear from the face of the planet before any of you could twitch an eyelash. Be warned." and without any other word, he disappeared without being seen by anyone.
Most of the Straw-Hats were frozen in fear. Nami, Usopp and Chopper were hugging themselves and trembling in fear. Sanji was trying to light a cigarette to dampen his stress and fear, but his hands trembled too much, Zoro was frozen in place. Luffy was staring at the spot Silver disappeared from and Robin was trembling.
She knew that he was ridiculously powerful and that he sought to destroy the World Government, but she wasn't aware of the gap in strength, and resolve between them. She thought he was a carefree individual, or at least someone to relate to, but it seemed that she wasn't the only one to hide her emotions behind a façade.
(At Cricket's house)
Silver arrived with a puff of displaced air next to Cricket's house, a frown on his face. He felt terrible to have blown up like that, that and he spelt some secrets he didn't want to spill. The fact that he really was that powerful being one of them. He decided to meditate to calm himself and train his haki some more.
He sat down in a position he felt most comfortable in, Raikiri on his lap and just concentrated on hearing all the sounds around him. He did it for an hour before he heard a shout.
"That's so cool!" he heard someone, probably Luffy, shout, he stayed inside the house meditating when he suddenly... sensed would be the better word, the people and in which direction they are. It seems that for now, the range is limited and he can't tell a person's power yet, but he unlocked his Kenbunshoku haki not by evading hits, but by just listening to the world and what it tells.
"Ah! It's just a board!?" he heard Luffy this time. "What!?" followed by Usopp.
"Hello! I'm coming in!" he heard at the door. "Hey! Don't just walk in there!" He heard Usopp shout. The door opened and Luffy walked in, not seeing Silver immediately.
"Hmm? No one seems to be in here. HELLO!"
"Luffy Stop that! What if he's a bad guy." Usopp followed Luffy in but saw Silver directly, he froze for a second before he started to tremble a bit.
"H-h-hey, S-S-Silver! F-fancy seeing you here." he stammered nervously, it got Luffy's attention.
"Oh, hey Silver." was the nonchalant greeting. Silver opened his eyes and stared at them both, making them freeze.
He stared.
And stared...
And stared...
"ARE YOU GOING TO STOP THAT!" shouted Usopp comically, shark teeth and exaggerated expression in place. Luffy though, he burst out laughing, along with Silver.
"PffAHAHAHA! Y-you should have seen your faces HAHAHA!" the latter said through his laughter while Luffy just kept laughing. Nami walked in, a frown on her face.
"What's going on here?" she asked in confusion, and froze when she saw Silver, who looked up holding his stomach and wiping a tear while a chuckle escaped him. When he saw Nami frozen, he burst in laughter again.
"PFFHAHAHAHAHA!" he laughed along with Luffy, even Usopp laughed at her face, which unfroze Nami and irritated her, the throbbing vein on her temple being a testament to it. The guys' laughter was starting to abate, but they didn't stop rapidly enough to see Nami brandishing her arms.
(An instance of feminine wrath later)
We find everyone out of the house by the log on which Silver had sat on the day before, except that Luffy, Usopp and Silver were sporting bruisings and swells, courtesy of Nami's wrath. Robin was pointedly giggling whenever Silver glanced her way, which seemed to be often enough. Sanji was internally doing a jig at Silver's predicament, but was actually listening to Nami. Zoro hid a smirk when he saw the three bruised but otherwise didn't say anything. Chopper, was shuffling away from Nami, who looked calmer but still had an angry aura around her.
Meanwhile, Nami saw an old book.
"Ah, a picture book... It's areally old one too! 'King of Liars, Noland' hehe." she read, Usopp added his two berry.
"Ohhhhhhh! This sounds like a very interesting book!"
"'King of Liars, Noland'... That brings back old memories, I used to read it a lot."
"You know about this book Sanji? But it says it's published in North Blue." asked Nami
"Yeah, I was born in North Blue. Didn't I tell you?"
"First time you said anything about it, I thought you were from East Blue." commented Usopp
"I grew up in East Blue. But this story is really popular in North Blue. People say it's just kid's story. But I've heard that this Noland guy really did exist!" answered Sanji.
"Of course he did." scoffed Silver "Or did you forget Cricket's full name? It's Montblanc Cricket. He's the descendant of Montblanc Noland, 'King of Liars'." people gaped at him for a second, except Robin.
"Robin should be able to tell you that this story is incredibly old. It's over 400 years old." he continued, glancing at Robin, who didn't react at the little jab at her work. They counted the story until the end.
"And the pathetic liar... Died..." Nami turned to Usopp "Without becoming..." - "DON'T LOOK AT ME!" - "A true warrior... Of the seas..." - "AND STOP MAKING UP ALL THAT STUFF!"
"WAAAHHHHHHHH" Luffy shouted, falling into the water.
"WHA? Luffy fell into the water!" remarked Nami.
"!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" shouted Usopp
"Who the hell are you people?" interrupted a voice that only Silver recognized.