The group of pirates all regrouped back at the slope to find Kuro defeated by none other than Luffy and the Black Cat Pirates retreating.
Everyone relaxed in their desired places on the slope, Lambo opting to sit cross legged, back leaning against the side of the cliffs, his injuries throbbing.
Usopp chuckles, "Thanks guys, without you, I wouldn't have been able to protect the village."
"Give credit where's credit due, if you just stood by and done nothing, I wouldn't have done anything either.", Zoro said, smiling smugly at the sniper.
"Yeah, same here.", Luffy agreed from his starfish position in the middle of the slope.
"Face it, you're the real reason this village was saved.", Lambo said quietly, but a noticeable smirk appeared on his features.
"Who cares about any of that?", Nami asked rhetorically, practically nuzzling the bag of treasure she took from the Black Cat Pirates, "I got my hands on this sweet sweet treasure and I couldn't be happier."
Usopp laughed at the crew's indifferent responses to his gratitude.
Lambo stared at the sniper out of the corner of his eye, noticing the stern expression he now wore as he stared off to the sea.
His eyes trailed back to his lap ad he couldn't help but to snort quietly to himself. Ten years living with Tsuna and the rest of the Vongola Famiglia, and Lambo never would have imagined becoming anything else but a mafioso. Now look at him, joining a pirate crew. One that held big dreams for themselves and the world.
This group couldn't be any more different than his famiglia back at Vongola, and yet, they couldn't be any more similar too when Tsuna first started his training to become the Tenth Decimo of Vongola.
A group of friends fighting for each other and what they believe in, whether it's for what's right or for their goals and ambitions.
But that's the main difference between the two.
Ambition.
And Lambo couldn't help but feel that, in a way, the crew's individual ambitions is what makes them stronger and closer than any other group he has ever seen.
Is it enough of a difference that will drive this crew into big things?
Honestly, who knows. Lambo doesn't care. Just the prospect of going on an adventure with people that seem to believe in his strength fills Lambo's entire being with a thrill that causes shivers to run down his spine.
Yeah, this will be amazing.
…...
Usopp and the pirate crew made their separate ways, the crew tended to their bumps and bruises, Lambo helped Zoro wrap the bandages around his chest since his wounds were already treated, as well as freshen themselves up. Lambo buttoned up his cow print shirt, left the suit jacket unbuttoned this time, keeping the sleeves pushed/rolled up to his elbows for more comfortable arm movement, but it allowed his left forearm to show the bandages covering his entire arm, that he wouldn't need after a day or two.
Once everyone was satisfied, they left their ships and headed towards the Meshi, the restaurant that Usopp first took them when they first met the other day, for a nice hearty meal after that hectic battle.
God, meeting Usopp felt like years ago when it only happened yesterday.
Lambo stretched out while Luffy chewed on a meatless fish bone. Only wincing slightly from bothering his wounds by the action, but it felt nice after finishing the well-deserved meal.
"Now that we've eaten, we should probably get going.", Zoro suggested.
Luffy leaned forward, still languidly chewing on the fish bone, "Yeah you're right."
Lambo heard the restaurant door open and heard the familiar high-pitched voice of none other than Kaya herself.
"Here you are!", Kaya exclaimed cheerfully at the site of the pirates.
"Hello there miss!", Luffy greeted back with just as much enthusiasm.
"Are you alright out of bed?", Nami asked worriedly.
"Yes.", Kaya replied, "I think now I can truly start recovering."
He'll say! She's no longer wearing her nightwear, now wearing matching shirt and skirt with a yellow striped suit jacket buttoned up on top, her skin isn't so sickly pale anymore, she's standing straight with perfectly posture, no longer hunched over as if something was slowly pulling her down, she wasn't even short of breath, and brow was clean of any sweat.
She looked fit as a fiddle, although still a little too skinny from the sickness, it'll take a little more time before she regains some of that lost weight.
It was nice seeing Kaya look so happy and unburdened by anything.
"You see my sickness last year was caused by the shock of losing both my parents.", Kaya explained calmly, "And Usopp's friendship helped me start getting better."
"I can't stay in bed forever you know.", Kaya said with a sweet tilt of her head and small closed eyed smile.
Lambo grinned, now that's the spirit.
"You've all done so much for me, I can't thank you enough.", Kaya said, voice filled with sincerity, "I've prepared a present for you from the bottom of my heart to show how grateful I am for everything you've done here. I'd be honored if you except it."
Call his curiosity peaked. Lambo is quite excited to see what present Kaya had in store for them. He wonders what it could be.
He was going to find out soon enough.
It didn't take long for Kaya to lead down the very same slope they battled Kuro and his pirate crew. Down at the bottom of the beach were they're two small boats were, was now replaced with a big weird and colorful ship. The most prominent eye-catching piece was the ram's head at the front of the bow.
It was a little silly looking, but it looked sturdy and strong despite its small size and silly demeanor.
A perfectly weird ship for this perfectly weird crew, Lambo thought as he gazed in awe at the sight before him.
This ship was exactly what they needed for the upcoming adventures that they'll get into in the future.
Lambo would have laughed at the face Luffy made upon the sight of their new ship if he wasn't gasping and drinking in as much detail as he could as he took in the ship that would take them to the grand line. Nami and Zoro gasped in excitement and awe at their new ship as well.
"It's a real Caravel!", Nami exclaimed excitedly.
"You're actually giving this to us!?", Luffy shouted in pure joy and amazement.
"Uh-huh, as a token of my appreciation.", Kaya confirmed amicably.
Lambo whistled, "Some appreciation."
No one has ever given him something, if anything, out of gratitude. It felt nice.
No, it felt amazing.
"It's a slightly older model, but I personally designed it and she sails like a dream.", Merry explained pridefully, "She's a corbel made Caravel with lateen sails and central stern rudder. She's a fine ship and her name... is the Going Merry."
Lambo doesn't even care if it's named after the loyal butler, the ship is a beau. He should be proud of it and the name fits the ship as well as honors the designer that made her a reality.
"Allow me to explain the rigging.", Merry offered dutifully, "First about the …... yard adjustment..."
The rest of the things he said just floated in and out of Lambo's understanding. Having no idea what most of the words Merry was even saying. He was never a sailor before becoming a pirate, nor was he a navigator. He was a mafioso, one that rarely left the island out to sea, and when he does, it's by a crew hired or working under the Vongola.
But Nami, bless her soul, jumped in before he could say anything more.
"Hold on! You're better off explaining the technical stuff to me!", Nami declared jumping in front of their idiot captain, who also had no idea what the heck Merry was saying.
Luffy approached the ship, still drinking the sight of her with such enthusiasm.
"What a cool ship...", Luffy says in awe, "Do you guys see the front! It's totally awesome!"
"We've loaded it with all the provisions you would need to go on voyage.", Kaya informed him happily.
"I hope you hid the food and alcohol.", Lambo deadpanned.
"Thanks.", Luffy said sincerely, "Nothing to be tired."
"That's nothing to be desired idiot.", Zoro corrected him.
Lambo sweat dropped, "Remind me again why I joined an idiot captain's crew?"
"Because we give you sweets.", Zoro replied with no hesitation.
Lambo immediately perked up at the word 'sweets'.
"That sounds about right.", he replied cheerfully.
Suddenly Lambo felt the ground beneath him rumbling and could hear screaming in the distance.
Everyone turned to see a giant bag attached to a screaming Usopp roll wildly down the slope without any signs of stopping.
"Oh no, Usopp!", Kaya exclaims worriedly.
"Hey what's he doing?", Luffy asked curiously, "Looks fun."
Lambo deadpanned, "Only you would say that looks fun."
"Well, we better stop him.", Zoro said, "That weirdo is on a collision course with our boat."
Both Luffy and Zoro simultaneously raised their foot as Usopp's rolling ball of disaster approached them.
Their feet slammed against his face. Stopping him in his tracks.
Lambo winced, that looked painful.
"Oh, hey, thanks guys.", Usopp said, voice muffled from their feet on his face, tears rolling down his cheeks from, most likely, the pain.
"Anytime.", Luffy replied, unbothered and unworried.
The Captain and First-mate removed their feet, and Lambo decided to take pity on the older teen and help him from his backpack and leaving him to talk privately with Kaya.
Boarding the Going Merry with everyone else as they waited for the liar to have his moment.
"You guys take care!", Usopp called up to the group, drawing Lambo's attention back to him, "I hope we meet again sometime!"
"How come?", Luffy asks.
Usopp frowned with a shrug, "Well because... wow, are you guys antisocial or something? I thought it was the kid's thing."
"I'm not antisocial.", Lambo protests depressingly.
"Your expression and aura make you appear to be.", Zoro retorted mercilessly.
"Aw...", Lambo sagged comically being surrounded by a cloud of depression for a moment before quickly shaking it off.
"I'm taking off to a life on the high seas and hope we'll eventually meet again, that's all.", Usopp shouts up at the group defensively.
"What are you talking about?", Zoro calls down stoically as he pointed down at the boat, "Get on already."
"Huh?", was all Usopp could say, face twisted in confusion.
"We're friends, right? So get on.", Luffy replied nonchalantly.
Usopp just stood there gaping up at them like a fish, still not quit comprehending their words.
"Bugs will fly in if you keep gaping at us like that.", Lambo said teasingly, "Come on aboard."
The three boys stared down at the long-nosed sniper, a mixture of smirks and smiles on their faces as Usopp slowly, finally began to understand.
"I'm really a pirate captain now!", Usopp cheers jumping up with a fist in the air.
"Don't be stupid Usopp, I'm the captain!", Luffy screeched down at the overjoyed teen, while Zoro, Nami, and Lambo laughed cheerfully at their interaction.
The crew now has a new crewmate and ship as it set sail for a new adventure!
"Cheers! For a new ship and a new crewmate!", Luffy exclaims happily.
Everyone cheered along as five mugs of beer clanged against each for a toast to new beginnings and unknown futures on the hectic life on the sea.
Lambo has never felt so happy and welcomed before in his life has, he drank, although sipped on a single mug was a better description since he was only fifteen and partied along with the rest of his crewmates on their new ship.
Oblivious to what was ahead of them as they partied the rest of the day.
As well as to what's behind them, hot on their trail and slowly catching up, Reborn's ship landed on the beach just shortly after the straw hat crew had just left earlier that morning.
He needs to find that stupid cow soon, it's only less than a week until the Gala, and the Vongola need their Lightning Guardian.
…...
Late at night, wondering the deck of Merry was a figure hidden in the dark shadows of the night. He placed three bottles in a row on top of the railing of the ship and walked several paces back as he brandished his new weapon, feeling new and foreign, but comfortably in his hand.
He smiled.
"Let's get to work."
The weapon struck wildly through the air.