"Ahh, It's been a while since I've been on land," Zoro stretched. With a smirk on his face, he turned back to the boat. "Better wake Dagger up."
Nami looked at him, "I wouldn't do that if I were you." He had a handful of water cupped in his hand. Ignoring Nami's warning, Zoro snuck up over Dagger.
"HEY!" Luffy shouted, "It that the way to the town?" Zoro stopped in his tracks incase Dagger awoke. Unknown to him, she was already aware of him. Dagger didn't stir but was fully awake. Zoro turned his head to Luffy and glared, "Be quiet!"
Without warning and with accuracy, she kicked Zoro's hands causing him to throw water on himself.
"Don't do that," Dagger stood akimbo, "It's too childish."
Drenched, Zoro glared at her, "I wasn't going to splash water on you. I don't want to ruin your hideous dress." Dagger stuck her tongue out at him before joining Luffy and Nami.
She looked at Luffy who was drooling, "Meat! Meat Meat! Meat Meat! Meat! There's should be food in the village, right?"
Nami eyed him, "Why are you thinking about food all the time?"
Zoro joined them and let out a loud yawn. "Eh?" He stopped and with his thumb, he pushed his sword open so he can pull it out with ease, "Careful. We're not alone."
A smile came to Luffy's face, "Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where? Where?"
"Watch out!" Zoro cried as he turned back to see Dagger and Luffy moving their feet. Nami escaped and hid behind the bow of the ship. When the attack stopped, the four of them turn to the cliffs. Pirate flags started sprouting from the bushes and trees.
"WOW! This is AWESOME!" Luffy shouted in glee as he waved his arms up and down. Dagger gave him a weird look.
Nami shouted at him, "This isn't the time to be in awe!"
SUddenly, dramatic music came from nowhere. Their heads turned to the cliffs again when a voice boomed out, "I am the leader of the great pirate crew that conquered this village, Usopp! Everyone praises and addresses me as CAPTAIN USOPP!" Luffy's smile disappeared as the man continued, "If you're thinking of attacking this village, think twice! Just save your strength! My 80 million men will crush you like a little bug!"
"INCREABLE!" Luffy shouted while Zoro, Nami, and Dagger just sighed.
"It's a lie." Nami plainly stated.
Usopp screamed, "AHH! How can she see through my plan!"
"So it is true. See, even he says so." Nami smirked but raised her eye brow at him when he squirmed chanting to himself.
"What? He was lying!" Luffy asked.
"Damn you!" Usopp cried out, "80 million might be an exaggeration, but I have many powerful and strong companions!"
"You mean those three children?" Dagger pointed to a bush. The three children screamed and popped up from their hiding place.
They cried out, "She found us! R-RUN!"
Usopp shouted after them, "Hey! Don't run away!" But they didn't hear him and continued running.
Nami walked up beside Dagger and Luffy to bend over and pick something up, "Pachinko? (Japanese pinball) I never heard a pirate using these. Have you?"
Dagger examined it, "No, but these can hurt you know."
Luffy laughed, "You're an interesting fellow!"
"Hey you! Don't laugh at me! I'm a man of great pride!" He pulled out his sling shot and a pachinko, "Because of my great pride, people call me Usopp the proud!" He aimed the sling shot at Luffy, "As you saw earlier, my skill with the pachinko is better than a pistol."
Dagger crossed her arms and watched Luffy. He pulled his straw hat over his eyes and said with a serious tone, "Since you mention pistols, bet your life on it. It's not a tool to scare people."
Zoro smirked and flicked his sword slightly opened, "This man who stands before you is a real pirate."
Usopp shook in fear with two serious stares upon him. Luffy's menacing eyes stared up at him driving fear in his heart. Perspiration appeared on his face, arms, and hands. He stood with his sling shot cocked, but slowly released it after a few minutes of the stalemate.
He dropped to his knees, "As I thought, a true pirate's speech is more intimidating. Incredible."
Luffy and Zoro looked at each other. They began laughing. Dagger and Nami sighed at the two guys. Luffy looked up, "I just repeated what some guy said. The pirate who I deeply respect, Shanks."
Dagger snapped her head and looked at Luffy when he mentioned his name. She lost her footing on the sand, but balance herself before anyone saw. That name, it hit a nerve in her memory…
"S-s-shanks, you say? The red hair Shanks, you know that great pirate?" Usopp looked down at him.
"Yeah. Yasopp, isn't it? That's your father?"
Overjoyed, Usopp lean over and fell down from the cliff onto the sand. He sat up unharmed, "Yes, it's true. That's my father's name. But how do you know this?"
"Well, take me to… FOOOODD!" Luffy jumped at him, "Meat! Meat!" Nami rolled her eyes.
"A place with some sake would be nice too." Zoro added.
"Follow me then, there's a small place in town." Usopp stood up and dusted himself off.
"Usopp, I've heard stories about you time and time again that my ears almost fell off. Yassopp is a great pirate." Luffy said after taking a big bite of the prime rib.
"Exactly!" Usopp agreed.
Nami turned to him, "Hey, is there anyone in this village who can sail a ship or can obtain a large one?"
"Well, this village it pretty small. I'm very sorry but I can't fulfill your request." He looked away with a smirk.
"On top of the hill," Zoro looked out the window, "There's very large mansion."
Nami's face brightened and she put her hands together, "Usopp, do you know them? I wonder if you can ask them for a little finical support."
"You can't go there!" He snapped. The four pirates looked at him in surprise. "I…errr… I got to go somewhere. I have an appointment. I know the owner of the shop, so you can order anything you want." He said before rushing out. "I'll be on my way now!"
"Weird guy," Dagger commented as she took a bite of an apple.
"Not a weird as your dress." She turned to Zoro and whacked him in the head.
"Drop it already!"
At that moment, three small boys rushed in the shop. "The Usopp Pirates are here!"
Nami turned to the door, "What's going on here?"
"That captain… is not here…" One of them said. There three of them rushed over to the table, "Hey you pirates! What have you done with Captain Usopp!"
Luffy patted his stomach, "Ah yeah, that was some good meat."
The three children looked at him in shock. "AHHH!" They huddled together looking around the table and stopped at Zoro. "What…! What have you done?
He gave them one of his evil grins. "Your captain was… EATEN!" Dagger sighed at Zoro. Nami giggled at first, but it became loud laughter.
"AHH! OLD WITCH!" They shouted.
Nami stopped laughing and glared at them, "WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT ME!" They fell to the ground as Nami shouted at Zoro who was laughing, "It's all because you! You are being so stupid! They wouldn't have called me that!"
Dagger leaned over to the children and pointed, "Carrot. Green Pepper. Onion."
They sat up, "How did you know our names?"
"You look like vegetables. I just guess."
"NO WE DON'T!" They shouted back in unison. "AHHH! DON'T LOOK AT US LIKE THAT! We're not food!"
Dagger laughed. Nami turned to them, "It's only a joke. Would you be kind and take us to wherever Usopp is?" The children nodded with caution. "I said it was only a joke!"
They led the pirates to the enormous mansion on top of the hill. Onion said, "If you can't find the Captain in town, he's usually in there."
"What does he go there for?" Luffy scratched his head.
Carrot replied, "He goes there to lie."
Nami frowned, "That's not something you're supposed to do."
"There's nothing wrong with it," Green Pepper answered, "It's different right? When you lie to make someone happy." They all agreed.
"What do you mean?" Zoro looked at them.
"Well," Green Pepper begain, "Lady Kaya lives in the mansion and she is very weak. A year ago, her parents died from an illness and she's been depressed ever since. Despite all the money she had, there was nothing to make her happy."
"That's why the Captain makes outrageous lies to make her happy," added Onion, "Captain lying ability is the best!"
"What, he's a good guy?" Luffy asked.
"Yeah, I like the way he meddles in other people's business."
"I like the way he overreacts to everything!"
"I like the way he lies!"
Nami asked the children, "So, he cheered Lady Kaya up with his lies?" The children nodded.
"Yeah!" Luffy shouted, "Let's go ask her for a ship!"
"But… getting in is impossible. There are body guards every where and the whole estate is gated." The children looked around and stopped at the gate. They jumped back and huddled together, "AHHHHH! HIS ARMS STRETCH! WHAT'S GOING ON!"
"Hush and hold on!" Dagger grabbed all three of them and ran to Luffy with the others. Luffy catapulted over the iron fence with everyone holding on to him. As they flew up, higher and higher, Nami, Zoro, Dagger, and the children let go. "DAMMIT! I'm wearing a dress!"
They all fell down and crashed.
"Entry successful!" Luffy muffled into the cement.
"NO IT WASN'T!" Nami shouted at him.
Dagger had her eyes shut and felt she landed on something soft. She looked down to see Zoro. He looked up at her, "G..get o..off me." Struggling at the strange situation, as she tried to get up, she fell on him again. Her face was inches away from his. A blush crept on her face as she smiled and just rolled off him. "You're an idiot, Dagger."
"Shut up."
"Why are you wearing pants under the dress?"
"You looked up my dress? Why are you even asking you perverted swordsman!"
"I'm not perverted!" He shouted out loud. The children turned to him and shook their heads at him. "WHAT? You have the children against me!" Dagger shrugged and dusted off her dress and looked around. There was a man with dark green hair and circular glasses which kept slipping down his face. Ever so often, he pushed it up with his palm instead of his fingers.
Her eyes narrowed at him. She recalled someone like that from her memory, but who? She watched with the others in silence as Kurahadol insulted Usopp and his father. The children gasped when Usopp punched Kurahadol in the face and left fuming.
"You bastard! Stupid caretaker! Our captain is not that kind of person!"
"Yeah! That's right, you idiot!"
"BAKA!"
Dagger raised an eyebrow when Luffy shouted too. Zoro smacked him in the head, "Why are you butting in all of a sudden?"
All Kurahadol needed to do was look at the children. He sent them running behind Nami and Dagger. He looked at everyone and stopped at Dagger. Shock was written on his face when he saw her, but he did his best to hide his shock.
"ALL of you leave the estate! Or I'll have you all arrested!"
"Yeah, yeah," Dagger waved him off and ushered the children away with Nami.
"You." Dagger looked over at him. Zoro did too. "Stay, I want a word with you."
Zoro looked at her with a raised eyebrow questing her if she wanted him to stay. "Go on, he won't do anything." Zoro nodded and followed Nami and the children. Luffy ran off somewhere already.
Once they were alone, Kurahadol asked her, "Why are you here with them? What did you do to your hair? Why did you color it green?"
"I don't know what you mean?" Dagger crossed her arms. "What is it that you want to say to me? Do you know me or something? My hair color is the SAME as yours!"
"Black hair suited you better. And my hair color is not like yours, it's better. But, ah," He replied with relief, "So this disguise actually works. I wanted to test it out and see if anyone recognizes me. It seems to work."
Dagger decided not to tell him she lost her memory and led on the fact she knew him. "Sure does, but it seems such a low life like you doesn't deserve to be remembered. What's your name?"
He laughed, "Words I expected to come from your mouth." He flexed his hand, "I was Captain Kuro, but now, I retired and is a butler to Lady Kaya."
"That's a big demotion," Dagger smirked, "Are you going to live out your life like this?"
Kuro looked at her, "I'm not going to tell you my plan. You'll have to wait." He looked at the time, "I got to go. I have a meeting with some old friends, but chatting with you took most of the time. The lady needs her lunch. Will you do it for me?"
"Are you crazy? I'm not stooping to that low." She replied still playing her act.
"She might let you change into better clothes." He looked at her dress. "I never expected you to wear a dress, especially a PINK one."
"Shut up! I get it enough from Zoro."
"Roronoa Zoro? He's in your crew. That's a surprised. So you guys are pirate hunters." He looked at her and his glasses' glare hit her eyes.
"Of course not, I'm traveling with a band of pirates. Our captain is going to be Pirate King."
Kuro burst into laugher. "What do they call you then? I bet they don't know who you really are."
"Dagger, the name he gave me."
"Funny. He gave you it." He laughed menacingly, "You forgot your memory. I heard from rumor and it's true." He looked at her, "I like you this way, frail and ignorant. Go on and get Lady Kaya her lunch."
Dagger grumbled, "Fine. Hopefully, she'll let me out of this hideous dress."
She entered the mansion and was bombarded with large men in black suits. "Kuro- Kurahadol sent me. He had to go somewhere." The men looked down at her and signal each other to stand down. Dagger wiped her brow in relief. A cook pushed at cart toward her, "Lady Kaya's lunch."
Dagger started grumbling to herself as she rolled the tray toward Kaya's room. The door was opened sp she left herself in. Kaya was coughing hard. She looked up to see Dagger.
"Where's Kurahadol?"
"He had to meet up with an old friend so he sent me here in his place. My name is Dagger. How do you do?"
"Dagger? What kind of name is that?"
"Well," Dagger poured hot water in a teapot, "My captain made it for me. He said he always wanted to name something."
"Why?" Kaya looked at her. Somehow she fell a little better.
"I lost my memory and I don't remember my name or anything from my past."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Dagger poured the tea from the teapot into a teacup and handed it to Kaya.
"I'm a little glad." Kaya looked up, "It's like this. I'm not bounded with my past and I can be anything I want. It's an ironic freedom, but enough about me. Tell me why you don't go outside. It's a wonderful day out. Fresh air would do you some good."
"I don't feel well. I'm always tired."
Dagger sighed, "Alright Lady Kaya. What about Usopp? He cheers you up, yes?"
A small smile appeared on her face, "Yes. He always comes but Kurahadol doesn't like it. And now, Usopp will never come back." Kaya sobbed.
"Now, you don't know that." Dagger patted her on the back. "He might come back. He cares about you, I can see it in him by the way he acts. He comes here knowing that he's trespassing to cheer you up."
Kaya smiled as she wiped her tears away, "I guess."
"Good. Umm, I know it's kinda rude to ask since I didn't know you for so long, but do you have a shirt I can have?"
"Huh?"
"I don't mind wearing dresses, but this one is not a color I would want to wear…" Kaya laughed and got out of bed.
"Yes, it's ugly isn't it? I think I got something better for you."
"May I have something with sleeves? I have a tattoo on my right arm and I don't want anyone to see it."
"I might have something. Come with me." Dagger followed Kaya into her enormous closet. She stood in awe at the door way as she looked at the mountains of clothes. "How about this one?" Kaya pulled out an orange top. It was a t-shirt with short sleeves.
"I think that would work. Thank you Lady Kaya," Dagger bowed.
"Call me Kaya. I'll let you change in the closet." She handed Dagger the shirt and left her alone in the closet.
The shirt fit perfectly and covered the tattoo. She smirked at herself for bringing the shorts with her. She didn't want to take any more from Kaya. The pink dress was on the floor, "I'm gonna burn you, you stupid dress. But I can't… You lucked out."
Once she was done, she left the closet to see Usopp pull Kaya out of the window and one of Kaya's bodyguards screamed. Dagger dropped the dress on the floor and stood in confusion as the event happened before her eyes.
"…" She looked at the door and window. Picking the window, she ran to it and jumped out. Landing on the tree branch, she shouted down, "Usopp, what are you doing?" But he didn't hear her. Dagger watched as Kaya slapped him. As Usopp ran way, the bodyguard opened fire. Usopp fell to the ground as Kaya screamed. Dagger dropped down to see her friend, but he got up and ran.
"Catch him!" the bodyguard pointed to Usopp and shouted to the village people who ran pass him, "Don't let him do anymore to our Lady!" The village people charged after Usopp.
Kaya watched him run away in the distance, "Usopp…" She suddenly felt light headed and fell. Dagger caught her, "Kaya?"
"Lady! Please hang on!" The bodyguard shouted, "Bring her to her room!"
Dagger and Meri, the bodyguard, lifted Kaya up and brought her inside. They went to her room and placed her on the bed.
"I'll watch over her," Dagger said, "Until Kurahadol comes back."
"Okay…" Meri replied, "Keep her safe. That liar, how could he do this to Lady Kaya."
A loud noise woke Dagger up. She fallen asleep watching over Kaya. As she sat in silence, she heard foot steps waking up the stairs. The door to the room opened to show Kuro with his glove on the glove with the sword blades as fingertips.
"Welcome back." Dagger stood up and placed her hand on a dagger.
"You can go now." He walked beside Dagger and looked at Kaya. He raised his arm with the glove hand to her. Dagger watched him with her keen eyes. If he did anything to hurt Kaya, she was there to stop him. Kuro slowly drew back and turned to Dagger, "I'll escort you out."
With every step, Dagger kept her eye on him. Once they were outside, Kuro sat on the front steps of the mansion. "If you're wondering, your friends are at the south slope. Bye-bye, Princess."
Dagger raised her eyebrow, but decided not to ask. She ran south as fast as she could. Morning was approaching fast.
WOW! So much reviews! THANKS EVERYONE!
Next chapter, Dagger's going to use her Devil Fruit Power! Yes! Haha! I'm so happy you guys! Thanks so much. You guys are awesome!
Thank you for reviewing: I-dun-did-it, Shadw: haha. lol., Memmi, gothywolfie: lol, Loki's Beloved, Hiei's ice baby, Chris: : P , WildGamer, Hamstertai, and Mini.