Ho. ly. Crap. This is a freaking long chapter. Before I added any notes or review responses it was just shy of eleven thousand words. Anyway, I don't have much to say other than thank you for reading so far! Happy holidays!
I'm saying that now because, as is normal with me, my holiday fic probably won't be up in time. (sigh) But you guys are used to that by now. -- Anyway, I'm in a rush, so I'll get right to the review responses!
To Rusco: Thank you! I'm glad you're liking it so far! Thanks for the review! I hope you enjoy this chapter too!
To Jess: I'm glad you like it! And I'm really glad you think it's in character. I really try to keep them IC. Hehehe, I've gotta say that it's really fun to write them all awkward like that. XD I'm sadistic. I try not to skip over anybody, but if you look at most of my stories, I don't do much with Nami. Hehehe (hug) Thank you very much for your review!
To The Plushie Bandit: Yay! I'm so happy you liked it! XD I know, I'm all evil when it comes to almost-kisses. Did I say there was going to be a SanUso kiss? (shifty eyes) Mwahahaha... who knows! XD At least your time is being sucked away by something fun! But... Mermaids? No. Way. You HAVE to write that! It sounds so freaking cool! (squeal) I can't wait for more of your stuff! And I'm so glad you thought Zoro went out of character for those little kids, cause that's exactly how I saw it happening. Him trying waaay to hard. hehehe! Good luck with school! And about FMA... Is it bad that my two ideas involve Roy being drunk for a little bit? O.o And I actually have... let's see... For the holiday season I had a AU ZoLu oneshot that exploded on me again. (it used to be my thanksgiving fic) I still have to finish that... And then I actually had two sequels to that story for X-mas. We'll see how that plays out. Thanks for the review! Happy Holidays!
To JoeyWheelersOnlySanFangal: XD I know! I can only imagine how quickly anyone else who said that would be cut in half! Thanks for the review!
To meowerz: I'm happy you like it so far! I hope you like the rest too! Thanks for the comments!
To lost puppy love: It's all true!EEP! Harpoon! Here! Here's an update! And MAN is it long! I wanted to break it into two parts, but there wasn't a good spot that would split the chapters evenly. So here it is! I hope I don't kill your eyesight. Thanks for the review!
To Griever5: (sigh) Tell me about it. I almost wish that this hadn't blown up in my face like it did. My guess is that my winter holiday stuff'll be posted around Easter. XD Hopefully not, but who knows. I'm glad you like it so far! Thanks for the review!
To Anime-Dudette: XD Kyuterz! XD Yup, leave it to Luffy to completely ruin the romantic tension. Hehehe. I'm so glad my fic made you smile! I'm so glad you're liking it! I think this chapter is kinda angtsyish, but who knows! Tell me what you think! (hug) Thanks for the review!
To Noriko Sakuma: I'm so glad you like it! XD I still can't believe you're making that wonderful picture of Luffy in that dress! You're so awesome! (hug) I'll wait until you've finished it before I totally flip and tell everyone to go see it though. I've gotta be patient. Anyway, thank you so much for the review!
To polw: Really? Is Sanji scared of spiders or something? I didn't know that! Cool! XD Sweet! A candy apple! I'm glad you're enjoying it so far! Thanks for the review!
To WhiteTigress666: Yup! Zoro's got a fanclub! XD And I totally agree, Luffy SHOULD glue himself to Zoro. ...Wait, am I sensing a story idea? Hmmm... I'm glad you like how the SanUso is playing out. I can't wait to hear about how you like this chapter! There's a bit of angst in there. I can imagine that Hitler Homework would do that to you. Thanks for the review!
Warnings: Just yaoi/shounen-ai, and some language.
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece! Not a bit!
Anyway, I hope everyone enjoys this REALLY. LONG. CHAPTER. and has a safe and happyholiday!
It's the Onions
Chapter 5: Breaking the Habit
"Get out of my pants!"
Leering at the sniper's bad choice of phrase, Sanji reached for the boy again. "Aw, come on, Usopp..."
"No! Hands off!"
"Didn't your mother ever teach you to share?" The chef countered, one hand stealing its way around the marksman to grope about his left hip.
With an odd squeak the long-nose slapped at his wandering fingers, shying sideways. "Stop it!" Dodging another greedy swipe from the blonde, he put a safe gap between them before pausing long enough to scowl. "Don't come near me!"
Grinning wide enough to show off his fangs, the older pirate moved closer with slow, deliberate steps. "Hey, it's not my fault you decided to keep it in your shorts." Sobering slightly, he plastered the most pleading expression he could manage over his face. "Please?"
"Ha!" Barking out an indignant laugh, the younger of the two turned pointedly away. "Now you ask nicely!"
Looking hopeful, the cook gradually paced off the distance separating him from his goal, fingertips twitching as if missing their hold on the sharpshooter's denim trousers.
"Think again!" The liar snapped irritably, clasping both hands protectively over his pockets. For every stride his comrade took forward, he took two hastily back. "Get your own candy!"
"You know," began the chef, sounding increasingly annoyed. "I prepare more or less all of your meals. I think it's time to pay the piper."
Usopp mulled this over, still steadily retreating, but found himself lacking a response. Sanji did work awfully hard to keep them all fed...
"But if you simply refuse to part with your stash, I can think of a few other things I might accept in exchange." With his brow lifting, he approached with more confidence now, his lips curling with suggestion.
Eyes wide, the sniper let out a whimper. Preparing to make a dash for it, he shrank backwards only to find himself trapped against a cobblestone wall.
'Oh, no! No, no, no!' Panicking, Usopp's mind went in a million directions at once, scrambling to dredge up some sort of escape plan.
With the wall at his back, that direction was no longer an option. His biggest obstacle was in front of him, and drawing rapidly closer with each passing moment.
There was open road on both his right and left, but the last thing he wanted to do was turn his unguarded back on the blonde, simply to make a break for it.
With his heart thundering in his chest, the marksman abandoned all hope for saving his beloved sweets. Keeping one eye on the cook and the other on his task, he began shoveling the candy out of his pockets and into his fists.
"Oh, U-sopp..." the blonde sang. Stretching his arms wide in a welcoming manner, his smirk deepened. "I'll be taking that payment no-OW!" Suddenly caught in a barrage of colorfully wrapped projectiles, he was forced to shield himself before he took a chocolate bar to the face.
"Take it!" Burst the long-nose. "Just take it," he fumed. Hurling his last handful at the chef, he turned and stalked off down the dirt lane, grumbling to himself. 'Just don't...'
Cautiously, making certain that the boy had launched his last volley, Sanji straightened.
Frowning in concern at the boy's tense shoulders as he fled, he moved forward into a brisk walk, sighing dejectedly as he did so. 'Shit.' He'd only been kidding...
Continuing to stomp his way along the path, Usopp ceased his churning thoughts long enough to curse Luffy's choice in footwear. How could he walk in these sandals? They were all awkward and the strap part hurt his feet...
"Usopp! Oi, Usopp!"
Bristling as the chef's voice reached his ears, he quickened his gait as well as he could in his troublesome shoes.
'Why am I even doing this?' He wondered, brow settling into a scowl. The love cook hadn't actually done anything... yet. At least nothing compared to his normal antics.
The sharpshooter hadn't given the taller boy the chance to get in a decent grab, but suddenly he felt so defensive. It was just the way he spoke... just like he did to all those women...
Abruptly, the subject of his inner conflict appeared at his shoulder.
"Slow down, Usopp, I can barely keep up with you." Falling into step beside the marksman, Sanji cast a quick look at the offended expression the teen's face held. "Oi, what's up? Did I do something?"
Rolling his eyes, the marksman kept up his purposeful march. "Oh, you mean besides all the other crap you pull on a daily basis?"
The smaller pirate's accusing tone stopped him in his tracks, and he blinked with wide, startled eyes as the obviously distressed form of his comrade moved away again.
Not certain whether he should be concerned or insulted by the teen's hostile statement, he reflexively sprang forward, one hand lashing out to close around the sniper's arm. "What's with you? I was only teasing..."
"That's just the problem, isn't it," the liar muttered to himself, attempting to pull his wrist free of the blonde's grip.
Surprised again, the cook faltered almost enough to release his hold. "What?" Had he heard that right?
"Nothing," Usopp spat hurriedly, trying to cover his slip. "Never mind," he added, hoping his companion would drop it. Tugging more insistently against the chef's grasp, he made no effort to disguise the fact that he was clearly avoiding the older boy's attention. "Let go."
"Now hold on." Struggling to hold the sniper still, he scowled. "Usopp! Listen to me..."
"Let go!"
"Wait a minute!" When he'd almost lost his only anchor on the long nose's slender wrist, he settled for a bolder approach. Bearing down on his quickly fading hold, he hauled the sniper closer, locking his free arm around the boy's hips.
Suddenly drawn back against the blonde's body, the sharpshooter's heart clenched in alarm. 'Leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone!' He pleaded silently, fighting all the harder.
"Usopp," the chef began, voice low with a nameless intent. "If you don't stop thrashing right now..." The hand once holding the boy's wrist slid upward, arching inward until it splayed against the lair's chest. "I'm going to have to resort to drastic measures."
Breath hitching painfully, Usopp felt as if he'd been doused with frigid water. The fingertips spread over his collarbone shifted, and the blonde's pinky slid just enough to meet with the bare skin past his neckline.
"Usopp..."
The sniper choked as he tried to draw out some sort of response. The words were both suggestive and expectant; as solid and absolute as the arms that reined him in.
"Well, Captain Ussop?"
...Enough was enough.
With a violent lurch, the marksman wrenched himself free, bare arms grating against the buttons of his friends cuffs. "Don't talk to me like that!" He cried angrily.
Once he'd been released, he was immediately in motion, pushing himself into a hurried walk as his instinct for flight prodded at his mind.
'What the hell just happened?' Wondered Sanji, feeling more lost than he ever had. Not willing to let his friend run away on that last note he broke forward, leaping into a sprint to cross the distance the sniper had already established.
"Don't talk to me like that," the long nose repeated, voice hushed. He wasn't speaking to anyone beyond himself, unaware of the young man who had settled barely a stride off his own frantic pace. "You talk to everyone else like that. All those women..."
The love cook frowned, step wavering a fraction as the boy's words registered. 'All those women?' He echoed internally, recognition dawning as his earlier confusion ebbed away. 'But...'
On the verge of a realization that had the potential to tilt his entire world on its axis, his concentration was thrown by a sudden cry from the marksman.
With one sandal snagged under an upraised tree root, the younger of the pair swayed dangerously, arms pin-wheeling in a frantic attempt to maintain his balance. With a gasp, he fell backwards, legs folding beneath him.
Without so much as a thought, Sanji was behind him, effectively preventing the boy's fall with his arms hooked around his torso.
'Everyone else...' The marksman's body was a comfortable weight in the blonde's inadvertent embrace, evoking the idea that had been interrupted prior to the sharpshooter's tumble. '...But you're not like everyone else, Usopp...'
Stunned, the liar noticed that the only audible sound was the fluttering of cloth, as the chef's cloak settled again after his swift reaction.
'He's not taking advantage of the situation,' mused the sniper, shocked to say the least that the cook hadn't moved a muscle.
Frowning absently in thought, the blonde carefully set the darker haired pirate back on his feet. So that was it. He'd become almost as reliant on flirting as he had on his cigarettes. It was going to be a hard habit to break...
But this was Usopp...
And he was sure as hell going to try.
Turning to face the blushing form of the sniper, the older teen found his own face heating as he coughed awkwardly into his fist. "Um... Usopp, I'm..." Stumbling over an apology, he found himself irritated at how tongue-tied he'd become.
"I'm sorry if I upset you." And with that rushed conclusion, before he could change his mind, he bent stiffly towards the still frozen liar, embracing him in an awkward, one armed hug.
As he drew away, face decidedly more flushed and looking rather astonished with himself, Sanji cleared his throat. 'Well that's a great start,' he thought sarcastically.
Pulling one of two lollipops that he'd salvaged from the sharpshooter's earlier tirade from his pocket, Sanji firmly shoved it into his mouth. 'There. An excuse not to talk and make a fool of myself,' he smiled in satisfaction.
The smaller of the two straightened after the cook's hesitant gesture. When had he wound up in an alternate universe? Had someone knocked him out? Was this a dream?
Regardless, the blonde had just hugged him, and that fact made his insufferable blush flare even stronger. Muscling his voice back into cooperation, he managed a feeble, "It's alright."
Once his tone had evened out, the sound coming level and calm now, he continued. "Sorry I freaked out. I was just upset by the candy," he fibbed. "Here I manage to collect all of my favorites and you start stealing them. I guess I kind of overreacted it's only candy after all but anyway I should have shared and this never would have happened so I'm sorry again next time I'll know just to be more-oomph!"
Usopp's rambling was efficiently halted when he found something abruptly thrust between his rapidly working lips. 'Cherry,' he noted idly, blinking in confusion. 'A lollipop?'
Having delved into his jacket for the second piece of candy, the blonde had decided that the sniper could use one as well. That way they'd both be spared from their stumbling excuses.
Crossing his arms, Sanji gave a subdued smile at the boy's baffled expression, mouth curving around the sweet that currently occupied it. With the candy's stick twitching erratically as he clacked it against his false teeth, he shifted uneasily, waiting for the marksman to make some sort of response.
With his shock still keeping him rooted to his spot, the long-nose quirked an eyebrow. Cautiously, almost experimentally, he rolled the lollipop over his tongue. On the verge of being satisfied with the recent turn of events, a sudden realization turned his eyes to the cook.
The sniper's eyes, narrowing in suspicion, sent the older pirate's face into a tense I-didn't-do-it-mommy expression. "What?" He questioned warily, ducking lower into his cape as if to shield himself.
Plucking the treat from his mouth, the liar lifted it towards the larger teen, pinched gingerly between two fingers. Gaze shifting between the blonde and the sweet, his focus eventually settled upon his friend.
The sharpshooter grimaced slightly as he gestured to the lollipop. "Did you get this off of the ground?"
Some time later, having dealt with the last of their candy, Sanji and Usopp made there way down the road in a heavy silence.
Regarding comfort, the air about them didn't seem one way or the other. They weren't uneasy, but they were far from content. There was a tension, a sense of expectation present that was so strong it was almost oppressive.
It was as if anything at all could happen at any moment, and that idea wasn't soothing the sniper's already frayed nerves in the least.
"Oi-"
"AH!" With an odd shriek, the marksman leapt forward several feet in surprise when the blonde, who had fallen several paces behind, suddenly appeared at his right shoulder.
"Don't do that!" He exclaimed, clutching his chest as he willed his heart rate to slow. "Now what do you want?"
Managing to contain the leering response that sprang to his mind to a smirk, the chef quirked an eyebrow before responding. " I was going to say, what's that up the-"
He broke off as a sudden twinge lanced through his throat, and coughed briefly to rid himself of the nagging ache that followed. "-up there," he finished with a odd wheeze, pointing up the path.
'So that's what happens when I try and curb myself... I've never done that before... This might be harder than I thought.'
Moving closer, the liar gave him an odd look. "Are you alright?"
Nodding, Sanji waved him off with one hand as he clasped the other to his neck, clearing his throat forcefully. "Fine," he rasped, his voice gradually returning to normal. "I'm fine. Anyway, what is that?"
Following the man's gesture as he motioned ahead of them one more time, the long-nose turned to see a small line of people, most standing in pairs or groups of three, formed along the side of the road.
"I wonder," he murmured absently, pausing to read a sign as they neared the crowd. "Haunted House," he read aloud, looking uneasy as his focus lifted to the dark, rundown frame of the building settled in the center of a wide, overgrown yard.
"A haunted house?" Echoed the cook, looking intrigued as a young couple passed by on their way out of the attraction.
The young woman was clinging desperately to her escort's arm, the man seeming quite satisfied as he led her off to safety.
Grinning, the older pirate turned to his comrade before thrusting a finger at the uninviting residence. "I think we should give it a try."
Watching a trio of teenage girls tear past, chattering excitedly to each other as they fled, Usopp took a step in the opposite direction. "I dunno..." He spoke in a skeptical tone, hesitating as the line before them shortened bit by bit.
"Oh, come on," the blonde admonished. "Surely the Great Captain Usopp can handle a little fun house," he teased, sneering as he attempted to get a rise out of his friend.
With his brow creasing as he glared at the chef, his eyes answered the challenge in the blonde's own. "Of course I can!" He boasted, jutting out his chest as his pride got the better of him. "No problem!"
Nodding in approval, the larger teen crossed his arms, and jerked his chin toward the line. "Good." With a smirk, he reached out to give his companion an encouraging nudge onto the right course. "Let's go then."
As the line thinned, and more and more people filtered past them, Usopp's anxiety grew. Anyone returning from the dismal confines of the house appeared noticeably more pale than those still waiting for their turn.
The two pirates eased into a restless silence, and it was at least half an hour before the last party ahead of them rushed back from the rickety old structure.
The long-nose gave a startled squeak when the young man behind him laid one hand upon his shoulder, coaxing him forward as a young woman, who was dressed as a ghost and apparently the host of this little affair, waved them on.
The pair passed through the fence and the sniper paused to take in the narrow, winding path. The trail cut its way through the brush, until it ended in a tangled mass that flanked the front porch steps.
Their pace was sluggish, clearly reluctant until the chef's free hand found it's way to the marksman's unoccupied shoulder, his steady grip and a few teasing remarks prodding the smaller teen forward.
But as they neared the structure, its worn, crooked frame still imposing as it loomed overhead, the sharpshooter found himself having second thoughts.
...Well... He'd actually lost count of how many times he'd considered turning tail and making a run for it, so it was probably more like twenty-second thoughts
They were at the stairs, the rotting wood looking unfit to bear the weight of even one child let alone two young men.
The liar raised one foot to climb the first step, but found himself bracing against it, instead using that leg to lever himself backwards into the cook's insistent press. "I don't know about this, Sanji... I don't think this is a-"
"Don't think," countered the taller of the two, pushing his unwilling friend upward. "Just go. Most fears are psychological, so the more you think, the more scared you'll be."
Scowling as he tried frantically to backpedal, the darker haired teen began muttering. "I'm not scared," he defended, as if the very idea was completely absurd, though his voice was unsteady. "The Great Captain Usopp does not get scared. I just... decided that I'd rather go back and play that shoot-the-bull's-eye game again."
Forcing the boy over the last step and onto the porch, the blonde took a moment to rest himself. Getting the boy through the front door was going to make the journey this far look like a piece of cake.
"Even if that were true," the chef began, keeping his hold constant lest the sharpshooter slip away from him. "You were barred from that stand because you were too good. Don't you remember? You were upsetting all the kids."
Huffing indignantly, the younger of the two sniffed in offense. "Hey! I gave them all of the prizes I won! What more do they want?"
The love cook chuckled quietly, shaking his head in amusement. "Never mind, forget I mentioned it." Readying himself for a struggle, he coaxed the long-nose towards the open doorway before them.
Instantly planting his feet, the younger of the pair wedged himself against the doorframe, elbows locked. "I'm not going in!" He suddenly belted, the declaration accompanied by a furious shake of his head that threatened to dislodge his hat.
"Come on!" Heaving his whole body against the other teen's back, stiff with tension. "Stop being such a chicken!"
"I'm not a chicken!" Wailed the sniper, even as he struggled desperately against the unrelenting strength of the blonde's hold.
After grappling for a few more minutes, Sanji decided that in order to save time, he had to break the resolution he had made regarding his flirtatious habits. Releasing his comrade's left shoulder, he lowered his hand and delivered an inquisitive pinch to the back of the boy's thigh.
With a offended yelp, the marksman leapt forward, away from those curious fingers at straight into the shadowed interior of the haunted house.
When the sniper whirled angrily around, lifting eyes that were more betrayed than angry to his own, the cook simply shrugged.
"You know, I would ne- AH!"
As the sharpshooter had attempted to vocalize his aggravation, a walking corpse (or someone dressed as one anyway) apparently found that moment the perfect time to announce his presence, lunging from behind the door with an inhuman screech.
And Usopp, screaming just as loud, if not louder than the mangled form now shrinking back into the corner, balked further into the entryway only to have his bare ankle snatched by something hidden within a dust-laden cabinet.
"NO! It's got me!" The liar yowled, shying away. Almost tripping on a thick rug that covered the floor, he made a hasty retreat.
Expecting to be through the front door and free any moment now, his heart just about stopped when a gentle hand settled on the small of his back.
'Well, that helped,' the chef mused sarcastically, watching his crewmate lurch forward to try and escape. Sanji, hoping to still the smaller teen's hysterics, had extended a hand in an effort to calm him.
Clearly that had not been the best idea.
When the long-nose had finally ceased his flailing, the older pirate moved closer. "Usopp..." Warning the boy this time, he stretched again to lay one hand on the boy's arm. "Are you going to make it?" He questioned, voice shaking with laughter.
Pouting at the cloaked young man, fangs unveiled as his laughter deepened, the liar huffed. "Very funny," he snapped.
Sobering enough to speak, the chef's smirking widened into a grin. "Well, the way I see it we can do this one of two ways. Either you lead, or I do. What's it gonna be?"
Casting a suspicious glance at the cook, the sharpshooter crossed his arms, hunching over slightly in a protective manner. He didn't really like either option.
If he followed Sanji, he wouldn't have to worry about anymore groping from those undeniably comforting hands. But then again, he'd be easy prey for the frightening people waiting throughout the house.
After a few more moments of debate the smaller teen concluded that he trusted the chef far more than the costumed strangers.
As the larger pirate watched, a pink hue bloomed over Usopp's cheeks. "Well?" He prompted, idly straightening his cape, which had become twisted during their previous scuffle, and trying to hide a grin.
The younger of the two eyed the chef, suspicion written plainly throughout his expression. 'What's he up to...'
Seeing the liar's hesitation, the blonde smirked. "I'll protect you," he offered, stepping forward, arms spread wide in welcome and his cloak held open. Tone deepening with a teasing conviction, he added, "I promise."
Hearing this, the blush coloring the sharpshooter's skin flared, spreading in the blink of an eye until his entire face was taken with an angry scarlet. Twisting heatedly away, the long-nose huffed. "I don't need you to hold my hand, thank you very much!"
That said, the darker haired teen turned on his heel and marched with a new determination into the kitchen.
...And straight into a trap.
Usopp's frantic screams, complemented by several alarming crashes and followed by an aggressive withdrawal on the marksman's part, only served to drive the chef into a fit of laughter.
There was a rush of air and a desperately wailing blur that could only have been the smaller pirate, before Sanji found a second body sharing his cloak.
"Again," the blonde spoke tolerantly, glancing back over his shoulder at the new figure using his costume as cover. "Are you sure you're gonna make it?"
The black fabric shrouding the long-nose shifted, pulling and catching on the brim of his hat as he nodded stiffly. "N-no problem!" He boasted meekly. The enthusiasm was there, but the boy's voice was too unsteady for it not to be false.
"Well, if you're sure." Tucking his hands into his pockets, the cook moved just enough to unveil the huddled form of his companion. "Let's go check out the basement."
"If your body... should ail..."
Zoro yawned loudly, trudging onward beside his captain.
"Or your... waking mind fail..."
After stretching, the green haired young man settled one arm upon his swords again.
"Should the heart... within you... bleed dry..."
Glancing sideways at the rubber-man, who had busied himself hopping from fencepost to fencepost, he sighed. 'I wonder what time it is...'
"With a kiss... you are bound..."
"To this...one you have... found..."
There was a sudden, lengthy quiet, and the swordsman tensed as he noticed his friend wobble upon his perch. But the boy righted himself easily, and with a careful swing of his right leg to gain momentum, he skipped casually onto the next support.
"By a seal... that you cannot defy."
Once he was certain that the raven haired teen was back on course, the larger pirate eased back into a saunter, careful to keep himself within a stride or two of his friend.
"Be it... be it..."
There was a pause in both the boy's speech and his playful steps. "Oi, Zoro, how did that line go again?"
The first mate cast a tired look in the younger of the two's direction. "Be it blessing or curse," he prompted, reciting the words slowly for his comrade's benefit.
Luffy grinned as he resumed his balancing act. "Oh yeah! Be it... blessing or... curse... For better... or worse... It is only... a... " The rubber-man's lively tone faded into silence again, as if he had lost interest.
"Zoro," he keened. "I'm bored. What should we do now?" Preparing to spring across to the next post, he found his path blocked by a jack-o-lantern propped upon the opposite pole, instead opting to step down onto the rail and inch his way across.
Watching his captain cautiously settle himself on the narrow board, he shrugged. "Makes no difference to me." Lifting one hand from over his blades, he scratched distractedly at the base of his neck. "It's up to you."
"Hmm..." Pausing as he swayed upon the railing, the rubber-man considered his options. "Well, we could... no, not that. Oh! I know! We can go... Oh wait, we already went there... Maybe we could... we could... Eep!"
One hasty step and the raven haired teen found himself reeling, swaying precariously on one foot as he scrambled to recover his stability.
In the same instant that the boy's yelp had escaped his lips, Zoro was beside his friend, reaching out to steady him as his slender frame tipped. His right hand surged upward, catching Luffy's own as it grappled for something, anything to steady himself.
Feeling the familiar grip of his swordsman, the smaller pirate instantly clung to it, and with little trouble from then on, managed to find his equilibrium again.
"Whoa! That was a close one!" He spouted excitedly, a beaming smile gracing his features now that he was safe. "Thanks, Zoro!"
"Yeah, yeah." With a dismissive nod, the green haired young man was about to pull away when, instead of releasing his hand, his captain's grasp shifted.
Hold twisting and flattening against the older teen's palm, the younger of the pair laced his fingers with that of his first mate.
With their hands effectively joined, the infamous straw hat moved onward along the road's border, using his companion as an anchor; his friend far too startled to do anything more than follow him in a stunned silence.
When the fence line ended a minute or two later, and the raven haired pirate dropped back to the ground, the swordsman felt somewhat reluctant to let go.
But even as his mind warred between awkward relief and disappointment regarding the end of their exchange, an exchange that had lasted far too long yet not long enough, he offhandedly realized that his captain had yet to release him, and was tugging him off down the path as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Wow!" Abruptly, the rubber-man eagerly piped up. Feeling his first mate jump slightly, a brief jerk against his arm, he lifted one finger to point out the worn frame of an old house, set neatly in the heart of a unkempt lawn. "Look!"
Following the boy's gaze, as his friend withdrew his hand in favor of bounding across the road, the older teen immediately felt its absence. "Look at what," he wondered, halting behind his comrade. "That house? What about it?"
With his smile taking a mischievous turn, the rubber-man quickly hefted himself over the low wall that marked the boundary of the property. "I bet it's haunted!" He gushed quietly, motioning over his shoulder for the swordsman to follow.
"Luffy," the first mate warned, leaning his hip against the barrier, "I believe that's called trespassing."
Whirling to face his crewmate, the raven haired boy gave his friend a stubborn look and propped his hands on his hips. "The house is haunted," he offered insistently, gesturing at the darkened windows, "No one lives there."
The larger teen crossed his arms and quirked a skeptical eyebrow at his captain, but kept silent, hoping his posture would convey his answer.
Seeing his companion unmoved by his explanation, the rubber-man abandoned his attempt at looking authoritative and simply tossed his head back, letting out a pleading whine. "Come on, Zoro!" He moaned loudly, pouting at his first mate. "Let's go investigate!"
Closing his eyes as he shook his head, Zoro pushed away from the wall and straightened his swords. "Nope," he replied, tone short and firm. "Why don't we just head back and get you some more..."
Pausing when a sudden shriek of laughter broke the relative peace, he turned to find that his companion had deserted him completely, and was now halfway to the back of the house.
"Oi!" He exclaimed irritably, attempting to coax the teen back in his direction. "Oi, Luffy! Get back here!"
When his friend's only response was to turn and give him a wave that was both teasing and beckoning at the same time, the green haired teen could only cuss under his breath before clambering into the yard himself.
"Damn it, Luffy!" Upon reaching his friend, he scowled, scolding the boy for taking off. "We shouldn't be here. This house is so ancient it could be dangerous for all we know. It could collapse or something."
Grinning, unconcerned, at his first mate, Luffy turned away to hook his hands over the sill of an open window. Bracing one foot, clad in Usopp's heavy boots, against the house, he tried in vain to heave himself upward.
After several unsuccessful attempts, the smaller of the two huffed in frustration, glancing hopefully back at his cohort. "Gimme a boost!"
Blinking at the boy's request, Zoro's eyebrow lifted again. "You're made out of rubber," he began, striding closer. "Can't you just jump?"
With an impatient squirm, the raven haired pirate shook his head, nearly dislodging his wig and goggles. "I'm trying to be sneaky!" He spoke, tone suddenly hushed.
"...Oh. Right..." Chuckling despite the circumstances, he watched fondly as his companion scrabbled to gain purchase on the faded siding of the structure. Relenting, the swordsman bent over, letting his captain step into his clasped hands and hoisting him up and into the building's dark interior.
Instantly tense after his companion had disappeared, he easily levered himself onto the narrow ledge, but found himself struggling to slip through the small opening.
Apparently a few inches in both height and width made all the difference.
When he had finally managed to squeeze inside, and after his eyes had adjusted to the shadows, Zoro found himself beside his comrade in the middle of a kitchen.
Blinking until his vision cleared, the first mate carefully scanned the room, shocked at what he found. 'This place can't possibly be for real...'
The kitchen cabinets, most of their doors thrown wide or missing altogether, were not empty as he had expected, but filled with jars. Jars containing... organs... and strange looking creatures, suspended in thick, off-colored fluid.
The drawers too, those that remained intact, were open as well, filled with twisted tools and various metal apparatus that glinted in the light from a single candle resting upon the counter.
...Zoro was pretty sure he'd rather not know what that candleholder was made out of...
As Luffy murmured distractedly, caught in wonderment over the disturbing state of the oven, the large pirate turned to look for an exit and almost crashed right into the dining table. Unconsciously checking the tabletop, he found himself recoiling in disgust.
Sprawled on the wooden surface lay a shrouded corpse. What little was visible beyond the soiled sheet was twisted beyond recognition, and what looked like a mangled eggbeater had been plunged into what must have been a very uncomfortable place...
Well, it would have been anyway...
'This place can't be real!' He fumed internally. 'There's no way!'
"Ooooh," the rubber-man shuddered, his grin still securely settled over his face. "This place is creepy!" He crowed happily, clearly unaffected by the gore.
"Um... yeah." Backing toward the door he'd spotted, the green haired teen snatched his friend by the arm and hauled him out into a wide foyer. There was a staircase in the center of the space, flanked on both sides by a doorway, one of which was closed.
The other appeared to lead downward into a cellar, but the older pirate couldn't see much of anything due to the fact that his comrade had halted in his line of vision, once again awestruck by the dismal atmosphere.
As he took in the image of his captain, framed against the shaded doorway, an intense feeling of apprehension made something in his chest clench. It seemed as if the inky blackness was reaching outward, trying to envelop the smaller teen within it's depths.
"You can't have him," he muttered subconsciously, voice cold.
The only sign Luffy gave of even hearing his friend was the tipping of his head in the swordsman's direction, his eyes never faltering from his inspection of the room. "Huh?" He questioned absently.
"Nothing," Zoro spoke quickly. Unease pulsed through him, and though he felt foolish for being affected by something that wasn't truly there, he stepped around his companion to shut and latch the basement door.
...Just to be certain...
Five minutes past found them in a cluttered living room. The cushions from the couches were sunken and flat, the curtains torn and faded. The wooden tables and bookshelves had lost their luster, now overwhelmed by the random objects now stacked in disheveled heaps.
The rubber-man, against his swordsman's warnings, was fascinated by the many odds and ends, and continued to prod at them. "This place is so cool!" He suddenly burst, almost knocking into a bookshelf.
Unable to shake his discomfort, Zoro kept one eye on his friend at all times. "I still think we should get the hell out of here," he mumbled, eyebrow twitching in agitation.
"Aw, what's wrong Zoro?" Straightening from where he'd been doubled over a small statue of an elephant, he cast an amused gaze at his first mate. "Where's your sense of adventure?"
'Lost it back at the costume store with my dignity,' he mused sarcastically.
"It's the onions," the larger pirate replied, frowning slightly. "Those ones you've got back at the ship. For some reason they're creepin' the hell outta me. It's makin' me all jumpy," he added, tossing a shifty glance about the room.
Breaking into laughter, the rubber-man suddenly dashed over, throwing his arms around his crewmate in an offer of comfort.
"Don't worry," he spouted, emphasizing his words with an enthusiastic squeeze. "They're just vegetables!" That said, the smaller teen moved away again, still giggling to himself.
"Yeah, just vegetables," the green haired pirate echoed quietly, feeling oddly reassured. He snorted, feeling quite ridiculous as he moved towards the room's hearth.
The fireplace was dark and empty, save for the ash that layered the mortar base, it's walls stained black by flames long since extinguished.
Even though it appeared not to have been used recently, as Zoro leaned against the mantle, he could still smell the odor of burning timber. Something about that distinct aroma had always rested well with him.
Inhaling deeply, the first mate gave a subdued smile before glancing at the trinkets residing on the shelf over the opening, and what he saw made his breath rush out in a startled shout.
Reeling backwards, the larger teen gaped with wide eyes, his heart pounding, at the face answering his stare.
'An... an onion!' He raved internally. 'That was not there a second ago!'
But there it sat, eyes ablaze, smiling widely at him from beside a small stack of books, their pages yellowed with age.
Drawn by his swordsman's yell, Luffy was instantly at his comrade's shoulder. "What is it, Zoro!" Taking his visibly shaken friend by the arm, he gave a persistent tug. "Zoro?"
Tearing his eyes away from the leering expression of the vegetable, he turned his stunned face to his anxious captain. "It's one of those damn onions!" He ranted, thrusting a finger at the hearth. "How the hell did-"
"Where?"
Watching the smaller boy follow his gesture, he saw a confused look cross his features. "What do you mean where?"
Blinking curiously up at him, the rubber-man tilted his head. "I don't see any onion."
Whirling around to face the mantle again, Zoro was appalled to find the shelf now devoid of any produce. 'There's no fucking way...' "But," he began, tone lost as his friend's grip left his arm. "It was right there!"
Easing into another bout of good-natured laughter, the captain moved towards the foyer again. "You're weird," he teased jokingly. "Come on, let's go look around some more!"
Rooted to his spot, eyes glued to the place where that damn vegetable had rested only moments before, the swordsman stood, completely aghast. "I'm losing it," he whispered aloud, "I've spent too much time on that ship, and I've finally snapped!"
He remained still, the thoughts churning in his mind, until Luffy wandered back into the room and physically removed him, dragging him out into the entryway by the wrist.
The cellar was damp and cold, the air thick with an unpleasant moldy smell. Apparently the area was supposed to look like a dungeon, because even though they had yet to encounter any actors on this floor, there were chains and shackles strewn about the walls.
"It's really dark down here," Usopp muttered from behind the chef. "Why is it so dark down here? Does it have to be so dark?"
Sanji sighed. Ever since they had reached the bottom of the stairs, the sniper had yet to take more than one step away from him. And even though he didn't really mind, the boy's teeth were chattering audibly, and it was becoming very aggravating very fast.
"Relax," the love cook suggested, shifting idly beneath his cape. "It's doesn't look lie there's anyone down here."
Peering cautiously around, the marksman reluctantly straightened from where he'd been cowering. "I guess you're right. Maybe they do-"
THUMP!
Freezing, Usopp instinctively ducked several inches upon hearing the loud crash. When there was no further sound, he opened his mouth to speak, only to falter again when the ceiling began to groan with footsteps upon the floor above them.
After a couple minutes had passed, the blonde felt the liar bury small fists in the folds of his cloak and turned, lowering his eyes to take in the other teen's frightened expression. "I wonder who that is," he mumbled absently, quirking one curled eyebrow at the liar as he stood again.
"Ghosts!" Usopp insisted, nerves making his voice sound strained.
"Ghosts," the taller pirate repeated, tone unimpressed. "Are you-"
"SHH!" With a harsh whisper, the sharpshooter pressed both of his hands over his crewmate's mouth, efficiently halting anything the cook might have said.
"Don't breathe!" He commanded, withdrawing his hands to clamp them over his own lips, before adding another instruction.
Frowning slightly, the older teen paused, listening to the muffled words. "Come again?"
Unclasping his hands, the sniper launched into another rapid statement. "I said that if you breathe, the ghost's will be able to possess your body!" He sniffled briefly, and abruptly his eyes widened, as if he had only just realized that he'd been breathing. With a frantic squeak, he clapped his mouth closed again.
Smirking, Sanji shook his head in amusement. "That's ridiculous," he remarked, fixing the liar with a doubtful look. "Who on earth told you that?"
Scowling at his friend's claim, the marksman made a vehement retort from behind his fingers, something the blonde translated as 'it's true!'
"Look here, I'll show you." Taking a step back, he spread his arms wide and inhaled deeply. "Mm! Smell that dank, haunted air!" Pounding one fist to his broadened chest for emphasis, he let his breath back out in a rush and sarcastically added, "Good stuff!"
After his demonstration, the former Baratie employee looked down at himself, and patted himself as if doubting his own solidity. "I don't feel any more possessed than before. Guess I'm okay!"
Usopp's frown deepened as the blonde mocked him, but made no move to drop his hands.
Pointedly turning his eyes away, he listened carefully as the footsteps, which had moved to the other side of the house several minutes ago, drummed closer before disappearing altogether.
Eyes trained upward, the older teen laughed quietly. "See Usopp? No need to be afraid," he teased. "Whoever it was is gone now. You can relax." When silence was the only thing that answered, he whirled around. "Usopp?"
When his gaze settled upon the long-nose the first thing he noticed was that the boy's eyes, which had been angry the last time he'd glanced over, were now wide and panicked.
The second realization, the one that struck him almost as aggressively as a solid kick, was that the darker haired teen was still holding his breath. "Usopp!"
The sharpshooter flinched at his tone, but remained motionless, seemingly petrified by his fear.
"Usopp!" Sanji cried, roughly shaking the boy's shoulder. "What the hell are you doing? Breathe!" He commanded.
When the smaller pirate still refused to comply, the chef lunged closer, and as much as he hated doing so, slapped his comrade forcefully between the shoulder blades. "Breathe, damn it!"
Startled by the sudden blow, Usopp gasped, coughing before his breath returned, quick and shallow in his visibly terrified state.
Completely livid, the blonde seized his friend by the arms, fangs bared. "What the hell did you think you were doing?" He demanded, hauling the boy closer so he couldn't look away.
But when the sniper's still frantic eyes met his, his unforgiving grip immediately softened. "Usopp?" He called gently, as the teen wrenched himself free. "Usopp," he coaxed, voice easing and wavering with concern. "What's wrong?"
Drawing into himself, the younger of the two bit his lip before he simply shook his head.
Recognition suddenly dawned across the blonde's face, and he found himself stepping cautiously forward. "Oi," he began faintly, not wanting to set the boy off any more. "You're... you're really scared, aren't you?"
Sanji watched as the liar nodded wordlessly, eyes cast down at his feet. "But... you know... that this is all fake, just props and actors, right?"
The smaller teen gave another curt nod, finally finding his voice again. "I know," he replied, voice cracking with emotion. "But this stuff... it just really freaks me out! I can't stand it..."
The love cook soundlessly moved forward and took his companion by the shoulders as a sign of support. "I'm sorry," he offered. "We should never have come in here. I wish I'd known sooner..."
Shaking his head with more force now, Usopp swallowed hard. "No, it's not your fault," the younger of the pair insisted, his focus still aimed at the floor. "It's just me. Even in this stupid house... We're not even in a battle... a life or death situation..." His voice faltered as he laughed bitterly. "I'm just a coward."
Giving his crewmate an encouraging squeeze before releasing him altogether, the chef felt his heart ache. "No, Usopp... you're not a coward. Everyone's afraid of something."
Bending slightly, just enough to peer at the boy's face, he gently smudged away the tears that had slipped past his tightly closed eyelids. "I know you probably don't care what I say right about now..." Pausing, he grimaced. "Shit... you're scared and here I am making fun of you," he muttered, positively furious with himself.
"But," his resolve waning, he too bowed his head before he managed to force out the rest of his offer. "But, I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
Usopp was visibly surprised, his breath catching at the blonde's pledge. Gradually lifting his face, he eyed his companion, uncertainty written plainly through his posture.
The marksman sniffed briefly, his thoughts drifting back to the point earlier that day, when Sanji had given him that clumsy hug... and he found himself hoping for another.
With his attention raking over the liar, the larger teen was startled when his friend took a tentative step closer... then another... and another, each more confident than the last, until he had crossed the distance between them.
Afraid to speak, not wanting to find that this had all been a dream, the older pirate felt his heart hammering in his chest when the marksman pressed close, burying his face in the blonde's chest, his arms hanging motionless against his hips.
"Usopp," he whispered, voice barely audible.
Now it was Sanji's turn to be frightened.
Even in the midst of the most terrible of their battles, when the darker haired boy was most panicked, he had never fled to any one of their crew before... He always favored a solid barrier, though that sometimes turned out to be one of them, over the comfort sought in the arms of a friend.
With this in mind, the blonde smiled fondly. Carefully, he folded the boy within his cloak. His grasp was much softer than he would have liked, but he was too anxious about scaring his comrade away.
Realizing that this was a chance he may never see again, he nestled the boy within his embrace, holding him for all he was worth.
Having lost track of his captain yet again, Zoro raced out into the foyer to find the boy standing at the top of the staircase.
"Come on, Zoro!" Luffy called quietly. "Let's check up here!"
Taking the stairs two at a time, the swordsman paused in his hurry only when he'd reached his friend. "Would you stop disappearing already?" He suggested, slightly out of breath. "There's something seriously wrong with this house..."
The rubber-man waved him off absently before wandering away again.
The second story consisted of one long hallway that branched off in opposite directions from the stairwell. There were two rooms, one on each end of the corridor, and four others behind doors spaced along the walls.
The raven haired teen paused, debating which room to check out first, and found his attention pulled to a room at the left end of the hall.
One room stood out, considerably lighter than all the others they had been through thus far, and as the pair entered, with Luffy forging on ahead and Zoro guardedly bringing up the rear, they realized why.
This room lay in glaring contrast to the rest of the house. Its walls were a stark white, and it's furniture immaculately kept. If anything, that made the room the most eerie of all.
Well, that and the dozens of porcelain dolls that lined the wall opposite the door, pale faces expressionless and their eyes caught in a perpetual stare.
"Whoa!" The younger pirate exclaimed, moving further into the room. "This room is really creepy! Maybe we'll see some ghosts in here!"
Frowning in discomfort, the first mate cursed himself for ever helping his comrade through that window.
"Hey! Look at this!" The smaller teen called, motioning his companion closer, one hand clutching a piece of parchment.
Moving to peer over his friend's shoulder, the older of the two frowned in thought. "It looks like a letter or something," he offered, leaning back and tucking his hands into his pockets.
"Yeah." Speaking in a distracted manner, the infamous straw hat lowered his attention to the creased paper he held, scanning the page. "Dear Lindsay," he read aloud. "I'm very sorry to hear about Snowy."
Zoro paused in his study of the room, about to wonder why the boy was reading a note that wasn't his, but his captain continued before he could speak up.
"I know you loved her very much, but she wouldn't want you to dwell on her. While you must still miss her, I think you should talk to your parents. To help you feel better, I think you should think about getting a new ca- Ouch!"
Starting at his captain's yelp, which had been accompanied by a clatter, the swordsman quickly stood from where he'd been inspecting the delicately quilted bedspread.
"You okay?" He called over the music that suddenly filled the room., watching his friend rub at the back of his leg.
"Huh?" Blinking widely over at his first mate, Luffy grinned sheepishly. "Oh! Yeah, I just bumped into this table over here." Pausing for a moment to listen to the peculiar, lilting tune that now floated from the music box he had knocked to the floor, the rubber-man cocked his head.
"What a weird song," the raven haired pirate mused, smiling as he stooped to retrieve the music box. Holding it open for a few more moments, he let the unusual melody wind itself down, before closing the lid with a quiet snap.
In almost the same instant that the metallic plinking of the mechanism ceased, a new sound rose from somewhere within the room. A soft, insistent mewling.
"Hey," the smaller pirate began, his eyes darting around the confines of the bedroom. "Do you hear that, Zoro?"
Nodding, the first mate frowned in concentration. "Sounds like a cat," he offered, pinpointing the source of the meowing. "I think it's in the closet."
"Here kitty," the young captain crooned, turning as there was a scratching noise from the opposite side of the closet door. "Here kitty, kitty, kitty."
Something about the way his companion was calling made his hair stand on end. There was something seriously off about the whole place... "Luffy, I don't think you should-"
"Here kitty, kitty, kitty," the smaller teen continued, not paying enough attention to hear his friend's caution. Approaching the door he reached out, his hand closing around the knob. "Do you want to come out and play?"
There was a rather enraged hiss from within the closet.
"Luffy, don't open that-"
"Don't worry kitty," the raven haired boy soothed, "I'll let you out." And with that, the rubber-man pulled open the door.
With an angry yowl, a large white ball of fur came flying out of the shadowed cupboard, only halting once it had found itself in the center of the room.
'Well, that was anticlimactic,' the first mate mused, partly expecting some half human, half cat creature to come crawling out from the shadows..
"Hey, kitty!" The rubber-man greeted the feline enthusiastically, pouting when it shrank away from him. Crouching on the span of carpet between Zoro and the bedroom door he held out one hand, palm up, as a sign of peace, beaming when eventually, the cat returned and began rubbing against his outstretched fingers.
When the cat began to purr contentedly, now winding itself around the boy's left leg, Luffy turned excited eyes on his first mate. "Look, Zoro! She likes me!" The animal's fur felt almost too soft, and it, like the rest of the room, was completely unstained.
Unable to help himself, the swordsman felt the teen's enthusiasm infecting him as well. "I can see that," he countered, propping one arm over his swords. "But how do you know it's a she?"
"I dunno..." Stopping to think as if this was the first time he'd really considered it, the lanky teen shrugged, his grin back in place. "I just do!"
"Oh, right." Nodding as if this completely answered his question, Zoro stepped backwards to settle himself against the bedpost, only to have his attention caught by something in the hallway. Something moving...
There was a quiet, moaning voice, barely audible, and the shadow moved closer.
Dropping his eyes to his companion, still engrossed in combing through the feline's soft fur, the older pirate noted that the boy was between him and the intruder. "Luffy," he urged, eyes locked upon the form within the corridor. "Get over here."
Focus drawn by the edge in his comrade's tone, the smaller of the two sat up to meet his comrade's eyes. "Zoro?" He questioned, hand stalling over the animals back. "What is it?"
"Get up," the green haired young man ordered, stepping forward. "Get over here."
Now slightly concerned at the look on his friend's face, Luffy stood, and the cat, becoming bored, fled from the room. "Zoro? What-"
"Get over here!" The larger of the pair commanded, taking another imposing stride toward his captain. "Now!"
The apparition moved ever closer, and it's voice had become clear enough to decipher its speech. "You shouldn't be here," it breathed, swaying slightly left on it's path.
Halfway to his comrade, the rubber-man halted, hearing the mysterious form's plea. "Huh?" Spinning slowly, in search of the noise's origin, he gaped when his eyes shifted to the strange newcomer. "Is... is that a..."
"You're not supposed to be here!" Wailed the specter, sounding more upset now as it closed the space separating them.
"Luffy!"
The phantom was in the doorway now, inching into the light cast by one of several candles upon the dresser. "You're not supposed to be in here," scolded the form. "You shouldn't be in here!"
When his companion refused to move, Zoro moved for him, throwing himself between the apparition and his captain.
For an instant before drawing one of his blades, the first mate wondered what a sword could do against a ghost, but shrugged off his uncertainty and swiftly unsheathed one weapon, thrusting it towards the intruder and hoping that would keep it at bay.
"Stay back!" The older teen warned, tone threatening as he pinned the ghost with a glare. "What the hell do you want?"
The spirit gave rather feminine, rather lively shriek, and fell gracelessly on her backside. "Wait a minute! Hold on!" She cried desperately, holding up a hand to ward her attacker off.
Luffy stole his way out from behind his protector, groaning when he saw that their intruder was simply a petite young woman clad in all white. "Aw, you're not a ghost," the rubber-man pouted in disappointment.
"No, I most certainly am not a ghost!" The girl exclaimed, climbing to her feet and dusting herself off. "And what are you two doing in here? You're completely disrupting our haunted house!"
"Wait," the older teen prompted, eyes narrowing at the newcomer's painted face. "Your haunted house? So this is all fake?"
"Of course!" The costumed young woman gushed, tidying her outfit. "And you aren't supposed to be here! We already have a group in the building, and we had to tell all of the actors to stay out of sight until we could get rid of you guys."
Watching as the ghost kneeled and spoke to someone under the bed, the two young men were both surprised and amused to see a hand emerge from behind the dust ruffle, giving the girl a thumbs up before disappearing again.
Returning her attention to the two pirates, the woman flashed them a tired smile. "Alright, let's get you two out of here. And keep your voices down if you would please." And with that, she ushered them back downstairs and out into the yard.
Only after they had passed through the fence and onto the road did Luffy speak. "Sorry about all that," he supplied, grinning an apology. "But your haunted house was so cool!"
"Oh, it's no trouble." Shrugging off the boy's words, she smiled in return. "But you weren't scared at all?" She exclaimed, sounding astonished that all of their carefully made props had fallen short. "Not even a little bit?"
The smaller of the pair puffed himself up, jutting out his chest as he posed proudly. "No way!" He boasted, gifting both the girl and his swordsman with an odd, macho smile.
Chuckling to himself, Zoro shook his head before addressing the ghost. "Yeah, I think your cat startled us more than anything."
"Cat?" Echoed the costumed woman slowly. "What cat?"
"Yeah!" Pausing long enough in his strutting to join the conversation, the raven haired teen nodded energetically. "The pretty white one," he clarified.
Suddenly the girl's face, masked with thick white make up, creased into a baffled scowl. "There couldn't have been... My daughter had a cat, but it passed away several months ago, and the man you saw stationed under the bed, he's terribly allergic. If there had been any furry animal near him, he would have been sneezing up a storm."
Frowning as the girl bid them farewell and moved on, the first mate turned his disbelieving eyes to meet the shocked ones of his friend. "There's no way..."
"Could it have been a..." Voice fading away as his eyes widened in excitement, he broke into wild cheer. Throwing his arms into the air he crowed, "A ghost cat! So cool!"
The marksman had been nearly calm when the footsteps returned, sending the smaller pirate into another frenzy, though not nearly as panicked as the first.
Usopp sighed in contentment, pressing closer to the warm body holding him. His nerves had settled for now, and he was feeling almost ready to...
"Alright?" Questioned the chef, leaning back so he could look down at his companion.
Recognizing Sanji's voice, the sniper stiffened as if remembering his predicament. Scrambling backwards and out of the blonde's reach, he clutched a hand to his heart. "I'm fine," he squeaked, his face coloring noticeably as he hugged himself. "Sorry."
With a dismissive wave, the older teen turned, concealing his look of disappointment, and made his way toward the stairs. "Never mind," he offered, glancing up at the cellar door. 'I don't remember closing that...'
"Come on," the love cook beckoned, motioning at the still form his comrade. "I think it's about time we get the hell out of this place."
Nodding enthusiastically in agreement, the liar followed, eager to be out of this nightmare. "Good idea." He paused at the foot of the steps as Sanji climbed ahead to open the door, lost to the shaded stairwell until his voice called down.
"Um... I think it's locked..."
Usopp paused, mulling this over for a moment before the full gravity of those words registered. "WHAT!" Scrambling up the stairs, the younger of the pair reached around the blonde to try the knob himself.
Watching the marksman's attempts fail, the older pirate gave an offended huff. "What," he began, sounding insulted as he teased the boy. "You don't think I can handle a doorknob?"
Rolling his eyes in the darkness, the sharpshooter glared back as if this were entirely his fault. "Quite frankly," he quipped easily. "No."
With his lips easing into an affectionate smile, Sanji moved aside to allow the sniper more room, relieved things were beginning to feel normal again.
After a few more tries to jar the door loose, the younger pirate let out a pained moan, slumping against the wall. "We're doomed," he wailed, burying his face in the palms of his hands. "We're gonna be trapped down here forever!"
"Not necessarily," piped the chef, head bowed as he pointed to a small hatch in the bottom of the door. "But it's up to you now."
Eyeing the exit warily the liar whimpered. "You don't seriously want me to-"
"You're smaller than me," the love cook explained. "I don't think my body will fit through there."
"So let me get this straight," prompted the darker haired teen. "You," he pointed to the cook. "Want me," he turned that accusing finger on himself. "To squeeze through that tiny opening?" And his gesture fell to the smaller door.
The larger pirate blinked, still for a moment before nodding. "Yup. That's about it."
"There's no way!" Usopp cried, furiously shaking his head. "I'm not doing it. Nope. I'll get stuck! I can't, I won't, and you can't make me! Nothing you could say or do could convince me to..."
Sanji waited patiently for his crewmate to take a breath and, while he was busy doing so, reached out to grasp his shoulders. "Usopp," he spoke, voice commanding the boy's attention.
When his friend's eyes rose, looking slightly shaken, the chef pressed on. "Captain Usopp," he began again, playing toward the teen's fumbling pride. "Our escape lies solely in your hands." Tightening his grip as he leaned in closer, his tone lowered with conviction. "I'm counting on you."
Inching slightly backwards, the marksman blushed so hard that it was noticeable even in the shadows. Avoiding the blonde's intense gaze he gave a stubborn pout, as if he was about to do something he'd rather not. "Fine," he muttered. "Whatever, I'll do it."
And before the cook could pull anything else, the long-nose carefully lowered himself, pushing the hatch open and peeking warily out into the foyer.
"Alright," he whimpered, "Here I go..." He took one last look at his older comrade, as if hoping for the blonde to stop him, before sighing and setting down to work.
The going was slow at first. It was a tight fit, but eventually the liar realized that if he twisted on an angle, he could get through rather easily once he'd coaxed the brim of his hat through the opening.
The smaller teen was about halfway to freedom when Sanji noticed that he had ceased moving forward. "Usopp?" Calling out, he crouched, balancing carefully on the top step.
There was silence for only a few more moments, before the boy suddenly screamed, beginning to thrash against the confines of the door.
His comrade's earlier breakdown had made Sanji incredibly edgy, and now his heart leapt into his throat.
The older of the pair clutched anxiously at the boy's flailing leg. "Usopp!" Shouting in an attempt to draw the boy's attention, to discover what the hell was happening, he had to flatten himself against the wall lest he be kicked down the stairs.
"Usopp!" Rapidly becoming frantic, the blonde felt sick with helplessness. Here he was, right beside the sharpshooter, but unable to ease the smaller pirate's terror. "Damn it, what's going on!"
All of his comrade's earlier comments about ghosts and possession came rushing back to him, and the chef gasped.
What if there really were ghosts? And spirits and all other sorts of things! What if something was trying to possess Usopp right now! He was stuck on the wrong side of the door, with no way to come to his crewmate's aid!
"Usopp! Don't breathe!" He burst, pounding one hand, palm flat, against the cellar door. "Don't breathe!"
Several frenetic moments passed and suddenly the sniper's body went slack, the boy's calf becoming a dead weight in his grip as the teen's cries died off as well.
Now the cook was really worried. "Usopp!" He called, pressing his ear to the door, hoping for any sound. "No, wait! Breathe!" Now begging, he began shaking the boy's leg. "Breathe, Usopp! Breathe!"
Abruptly, the muscles beneath the love cook's fingers twitched, movement returning as the sharpshooter jerked himself loose. "I'm fine," he called meekly, beginning to drag himself the rest of the way out. "I just thought I saw something."
When the boy's feet vanished through the hatch, and the small door swung closed, Sanji stood, nervous now that the boy was completely out of his reach. He could hear the lock being fiddled with, and then the door creaked open.
Usopp gasped as a pair of arms were suddenly thrown around him, holding him with a possessive care. "S-Sanji?" He stuttered against the man's chest, his earlier blush returning full strength.
For a moment the blonde simply held him, hugging the pirate's smaller frame relentlessly before he stepped back and took the boy roughly by the shoulders.
"Don't you ever do that to me again!" He whispered fiercely, shaking the boy for emphasis. "Do you understand? You scared the shit out of me! I thought someone had gotten you!"
Completely thrown, it was all the liar could do to meet the chef's upset eyes with his own, and after a period of tense silence nod in assent.
"What got you all scared again, anyway?" The taller of the pair wondered quietly.
Nodding to indicate the opposite wall, he explained. "I thought I saw a monster or something, but it just turned out to be a jack-o-lantern up against the broken mirror over there."
Glancing over his shoulder, the older teen faltered. Settled before a mirror, its glass webbed with fractures, was an apple.
The apple's eyes bored into his own, the dumb grin shifting strangely with the flame burning within it's core.
There was no way that anyone besides Luffy would carve a jack-o-lantern out of a fruit...
Forcing his concentration back to the present situation, Sanji moved away, turning to take the marksman eagerly by the wrist. "Come on," he mumbled hastily. "Let's get the hell out of here."
Yielding without hesitation to the familiar hand clasping his arm, Usopp nodded energetically. "Yes, please."
And there you have it! Chapter five done! One more to go! I'm on a roll, so review lots to keep me going! Who knows, the sixth chapter could be up tonight! Seeing as I have no qualms about staying up until five a.m. XD
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it!
Next Time: With the midnight hour rapidly approaching, the guys ditch the haunted house for some safe, not-ghost-related fun. When Luffy runs into Usopp, he gets the idea to play one hell of a trick. Will Usopp go along with it? Will he even have a choice? And does anyone get to try out that curse? Find out next chapter!