A/N: Hello my dear readers, first things first, I apologize for not updating the last two weeks or so. If you're curious as to why then you can look up a good friend of mine, my compadre Typhoon Odette. To make up for that I will be uploading three chapters today, after of course reviewing them one more time. Have a good read.

P.S Thank you to Bunnyplosion for recommending I put a system in for thoughts, flashbacks, etc. For ones in past chapters, they will be edited some other time but from here onwards I've tried to follow this system best I can.

'Thoughts'

"Speaking"

'Quotes/Emphasis'

"Techniques/Emphasis"

'The Wolf Within'

"Luffy's words are echoed/amplified by the Wolf Within"

'Luffy's thoughts are overlapped by the Wolf Within'

FLASHBACK START

FLASHBACK END

Syrup Village

The Lying Marksman

ZORO'S POV

Standing by the side of the ship I watched Mayor Boodle summarizing the events of the day out of the corner of my eye, the afternoon sun beginning its descent underneath the horizon. I let my thoughts wander to Luffy 'The adopted son of Red Haired Shanks, rival of the greatest swordsman in the world, Dracule Mihawk.' The tales about how when the two of them fought, a rift in the sky would form, flying slashes colliding with each other, exploding outwards upon impact, the unwavering seas parting to their power. My mind would have probably conjured up more images of their battles but Mayor Boodle approached me. "Young'un why don't you go get that Captain of yours and that girlfriend of his? The town's throwin a feast for you guys liberating us from that clown." Mayor Boodle's face sneered at the mention of Buggy but I just shrugged it off. "There's gonna be alcohol right?"

"Of course."

"I'll grab Luffy." The sun was dipping beneath the waves now, the sky now a warm orange around it, dark blue everywhere else dotted with twinkling lights. I bristled when I took my first step into the hallway, a wave of protectiveness washed over me before dulling. 'The hell?!' I shook my head and started walking faster to look for Luffy. 'Must be behind this door.'

"Luffy the Mayor's going too-" I opened the door to… the toilet. Closing the door I walked forward to the end of the hallway smelling food. "Luffy?" Nope still no wolf eared captain. This went on for about another 20 minutes, me opening the door to multiple rooms looking for a pantry only to find; the captain's quarters, the other toilet, the men's quarters, the first toilet and their weapon's storage, before I passed an open door, Luffy inside laying down… Nami on top of him… making out. I blinked before rolling my eyes.

"A feast is being thrown in our honor back in the town. Come on over after you're done." I smirked as Nami yelped and scrambled off Luffy, red in embarrassment, Luffy blinked before he glared at me for interrupting. "Not cool Zoro." Snorting, I walked away to leave the two lovebirds to grab their treasure.

LUFFY'S POV

Heaving the big sack of gold over my shoulder, Nami and I walked out the Buggy Pirate's treasure room and towards the town, already looking more lively and rambunctious. "Well they recover quickly." Nami commented with a small smile, a map in her hand. "Let's head over there now. I'm pretty hungry since we couldn't finish our lunch at the Mayor's house earlier." I nodded my head in confirmation, picking up the pace as we made our way over. "You plan on bringing this treasure with us or leaving it with the town? They'll need a lot of funds to rebuild and reconstruct their town." Nami bit her lip in thought. "Well… I guess I don't need it anymore… and they do need it… Yeah, all right, they can have the Buggy Pirates gold." I smiled as I walked towards the Mayor, who'd started waving the two of us towards him as soon as he noticed us. "LUFFY!"

"Mayor." I said back with a grin as I smelled grilled meat. The Mayor, Zoro and Chouchou were at a long table with two empty spaces on the bench next to my first mate. "So how much did you end up getting from 'em?"

"Count it yourself. It's yours." Dropping the bag next to him I watched amused as the man sputtered obviously not expecting it. "You guys need it for repairs after all. Just take it, think of it as compensation for the feast." Nami said, sitting down next to Zoro, reaching for the bottle of sake Zoro had in front of him. Tears filled the Mayor's eyes as he thanked us profusely, I just chuckled before going around with a plate to pile up on food.

BARK! BARK!

'Oh sounds like Chouchou's feeling better already.' The brave little pupper now walked beside me, eyeing the mountain of skewers, steaks, chops, sausages, and whatever other meat I could grab my hands on. I smiled, taking a roasted pig leg out of the pile and dropped it next to Chouchou as I took my seat next to Nami. "Go nuts, little guy."

"You're eating all that?!" The Mayor cried in shock, staring at the 6 foot pile of food, Zoro and Nami not that much better before they seemed to get lost in thought. "You know… now that I think about it, hasn't Luffy always eaten ridiculous amounts of food?"

"Yeah… How didn't I notice that before?"

"Probably cuz I eat quietly and don't have bits of food flying around." Zoro sputtered indignantly knowing I was taking a jab at him for how he ate in Shell's Town.

"I hadn't eaten in three weeks ok?!" The swordsman retorted in indignation.

Nami shook her head before reaching for a barbeque skewer and some salad. "When do we set sail, Luffy?" I paused before looking towards the moon. It hadn't reached that high yet so it was probably still around 8 in the evening. "Tonight. The faster we get out of here the better. Marines were probably informed of Buggy recently but haven't been able to dispatch any in time. No sense in sticking around if they end up arriving tomorrow." Zoro and Nami nodded while the Mayor tried convincing me to stay the night at least but I just shook my head, already set on leaving. "Then at least let us stock up your ship with supplies." Well I wasn't going to say no to that so I nodded gratefully. Before turning to the side as three men started making a ruckus, they had paint on their faces that made them look like clowns. 'Ah so they're the ones with faded scents back on the ship.'

Zoro stood up and walked over promptly, beating them all up and throwing them in with the rest of Buggy's crew who were still unconscious.

I waved goodbye to the Mayor and the townspeople from the sailboat, now back in my red cardigan and navy ripped jeans, my coat on Nami's shoulders as she set us on course to Syrup Village.

"So who are we picking up from Syrup Village, Luffy?" Zoro asked as he took a seat on the front of the ship. "Our marksman, at least assuming he's taken after his dad, but definitely someone who's a potential crewmate." Zoro hummed back in response before proceeding to get some shut eye, satisfied with the response.

"Why don't you get some sleep and let me handle the navigating tonight, Luffy?" Nami said as she seemed to observe the surrounding areas. "We're getting good winds so we'll probably make it there in the morning and there won't be any storms tonight." I raised an eyebrow at that as I took a seat next to her. "You can read the weather?" She chuckled as she nodded her head. "Yeah something like that. It's why I can say I'm the best navigator in the East Blue. Spent 8 years around these seas and haven't met a single one else who's able to read the weather like me." I smiled before kissing her cheek. "Wake me up if you get tired or need anything." With that I walked to the other end of the boat, opposite to Zoro, and put my hat over my face as I drifted off to sleep as well.

'Only a few days and you've already chosen one mate? Perhaps you think more with your lower brain than I thought.'

'Oh brilliant' Opening my eyes I see I'm on a cliff, fog heavy in the air, tips of pine trees poking through, the path behind me clear for a few feet before being shadowed by the fog. "What do you want?" Honestly I wasn't in the mood to think about him, much less talk to him, especially about this.

'To comment and annoy you. Why else would I bring you here.' A strange cacophony of snarls and wheezes came from the fog below the cliff's edge, the bastard's weird rendition of a laugh. The laughter ended soon enough when he noticed bitterly I hadn't been goaded into his bait. '... Do you truly think it wise to take her? True she has the resolve and the will to stand next to you but those won't matter if she can't fight on her own.' Sighing I walked to the edge to take a seat, my legs hanging off and swinging. "She can get stronger. Both of them will." I added the last part expecting him to also bring up Zoro. 'I have waited too long to have my chance at freedom to once more be slipped away by weakness, boy.' Dramatic as always. "Like I said, they'll get stronger and don't worry when the time comes the only restrictions on you will be who you target."

'STILL RESTRICTIONS! STILL CHAINS!' The voice from the fog roared as the mountain rumbled as if in fear of him.

"Still MY body, …" The beast calmed but rose from the depths when I called its name, its massive body blocking away the moon, its golden eyes peering at me through the fog. 'Do you believe you will have the strength to rein me in once I begin?' The fog parted and the beast's massive body became clear, pitch black fur with tribal-like swirls of tattoos adorning its entire body, emitting silver moonlight luminescence, a ginormous black wolf bigger than a mountain was what lay hidden amongst the fog. 'Do you believe you can stop yourself once you truly awaken me?' I just glared back at him, his face now a mask of impassiveness, but that's all it was. A mask. "I won't crumble like your other wielders."

'That's what they all say. They never follow through…' The wolf looked sad, I knew it was sad. It's previous wielders' sanity save for a…special handful never made it past the awakening… but I would. "You'll have to pray to the Gods if you want to get rid of me that easily." I grinned as the wolf snorted before fixing me a glare. 'The Gods are the reason I AM here boy… although you may be right, perhaps I would need to pray for myself to be free of you.'

"Just you wait. Soon enough, you'll be fully awakened." Standing up I dusted off my pants, more out of habit than actually needing to. "And when you do… We'll devour all of them." The wolf's strange laugh filled the skies again as malice burned like wildfire in its eyes. 'Until then, young pup.' The wolf receded back into the depths, I doubted he'd actually stay quiet until then but I didn't voice the sarcastic comment. I blinked, closing my eyes to the view of tree tops piercing through fog and when I opened my eyes once more it was to sunlight being covered by a familiar face, my hat lifted from my head by her hand. "We're here Luffy, Syrup Village."

NO ONE'S POV

Luffy, Nami and Zoro got off their sailboat, covering their treasure and supplies in a tarp, and walked onto the beach. It took only three steps before Luffy and Zoro stopped and turned to face the cliff on their right, Nami took another two before pausing and turning back to them with a confused look on her face. "Uh guys?"

Suddenly pellets started shooting towards Nami, who Luffy grabbed and pulled back towards him, Zoro hovering his hand over Wado Ichimonji prepared to but not drawing it. 'Three? No…' Turning to Luffy, Zoro mouthed the number four in question, to which Luffy nodded just as Pirate Flags with the skull's mouth opened in a O popped out from the bushes, 'That's about 34 flags.' Nami observed, her side pressed to Luffy's chest, before shadowed figures peeked from the trees holding what appeared to be bows, crossbows, etc. 'Thats a lot of… wait a minute are those?'

As Nami was deep in thought, a man stepped forward from atop a hill. He had curly black hair, prominent lips, and a really long nose. The man wore a yellow bandana with olive green plaid, brown overalls with a white sash and a yellow satchel. On his back was a quiver of arrows and a bow of his own. "I am Captain Usopp! Leader of the Great Usopp Pirates! Leave this island peacefully or my 80 subordinates won't sit by quietly!"

'At least he went with a somewhat believable number but still…' Luffy sweatdropped watching the 'Captain's' display. "You're lying aren't you? Even if you had hidden your subordinates, those ones-" Nami accused as she pointed to one of the figures peeking out from the trees. "Are nothing more than human shaped straw carrying toy weapons!" The 'Great' Captain flinched before he tsked and muttered out, "Damn it. Noticed that huh?"

"Probably be more convincing if THAT ONE STILL HAD IT'S HEAD!" And there went the man's composure as he turned and cursed flailing around. 'Yassop what the hell…' Luffy thought as the sweatdropping just kept coming the longer he watched the son of one of his childhood idols. "W-w-well 80 subordinates may have been exaggerated but I do have great men under my command!" Usopp exclaimed as he threw his hands out sidewards. A certain section of flags began moving up and down, Zoro had completely relaxed at this point and deadpanned, "You mean three kids?"

The pirate flags flinched before three children jumped out from the bushes. "HE SAW THROUGH IT! R-R-RUN!"

"H-h-hey, you guys! Don't run away!" Nami ignored the man who gaped at his 'subordinates' retreat and picked up a shinny pellet from the sand. "First time I've ever seen a pirate use a slingshot." She mused as the man turned to her indignantly "OI! Don't you insult me! I am a very proud man!" Taking his bow out, Usopp notched an arrow and pointed it towards Nami, "The slingshot pellets were a non-lethal warning shot. Don't expect the same courtesy now! Because of my pride people have also called me 'Usopp The Proud'."

Luffy's eyes filled with a mischievous light as he positioned his straw hat to shadow over his eyes, giving a menacing look when he peeked from under them. "Now that you've drawn your weapon, put your life on the line."

"Huh?!" Usopp gaped at Luffy who was scowling and the wolfman's eyes were filled with malice. "I'm saying those aren't for threatening people." Zoro grinned and pushed Wado Ichimonji out of its sheath with his thumb smirking as he watched for how his new potential crewmate would react. "What you're looking at now are real pirates!"

Usopp and Luffy continued their staring contest before Usopp sighed and unnotched his arrow from the bow. "Real pirates definitely have way more punch behind their words… Awesome…" Luffy just smiled hearing what the tanned man said before he turned to Zoro and shared a look for one second before the two of them burst out laughing, Nami didn't laugh because she was amused. "We stole those lines!" Luffy confessed looking up at Usopp. "I got it from a man named Shanks, I respect him a lot. Your dad is his marksman." Usopp who already gaped disbelievingly at Luffy for mentioning Shanks, looked like he lost his marbles after the last comment. "You're Yasopp's son aren't you?" And whatever little composure Usopp had left vanished as he slipped down the hill in shock, crashing at the base of it in front of Luffy, Zoro and Nami. "Y-Yeah, Yassop is my old man… but how did you know that?"

Usopp brings Luffy, Zoro and Nami to a restaurant in the village called… Food… 'Is it because it's the only restaurant around?' The three outlanders wondered to themselves, staring at the sign as Usopp went in ordering food for them. Sharing a look the three promptly entered after the man and sat down at the stall he'd waved them over towards. "Dig in, guys. The owner's a good friend of mine." Zoro decided to sit opposite to Luffy, Nami seated next to her captain, and Usopp sat at the head of the table. On the table were an assortment of fruits and vegetables, mugs of alcohol, baskets of bread, and plates.

"Itadakimasu!" Nami and Luffy began to eat their meal consisting of rice paired with juicy leg of meat, Usopp also enjoying his rice meal while Zoro immediately went for his alcohol. "Good, huh?" Usopp said, watching his companions' content faces, nod in agreement.

"I met him, your dad, when I was a kid." Luffy started the conversation knowing Usopp was dying to get to it, if the multitude of side glances throughout the meal were any indication. "So my old man's on Shank's ship?"

"Yep! You guys look a lot alike… and you match the description he gave whenever he told stories about you." Luffy's eyes drifted to the ceiling as he recalled how often Yassop had talked his ear off about the son he had in Syrup Village. "R-Really?! My dad talked about me that much?! W-What kind of stuff did he say?" Luffy laughed at Usopp's eagerness and promptly began sharing what Yassop had all those years ago, the stories he shared, his prowess as a marksman, able to shoot the nut outta a squirrel's hands from a kilometer away with a pistol, and whatever else came to mind. By the end of the tale Usopp was eating with pride in his eyes and a wide smile on his face. "You're dad's a great pirate, Usopp… just talked my ear off a lot whenever he had the chance to bring you up." Luffy said laughing, Nami and Zoro chuckling at the recollection of the long nosed man's very loving and proud father. Usopp himself couldn't help but laugh albeit while scratching his head embarrassed and flattered, on the one hand he was glad his father obviously loved him, on the other apparently the man never shut up about him which was both endearing and embarrassing. "I'm proud of my old man, who leapt onto these endless seas to live with his life on the line!"

Nami smirked slightly before deciding to address what her beloved captain had come here to do. "From the sounds of it, you want to follow in his footsteps don't you?" Usopp turned his attention from Luffy to the orange haired woman wearing a captain's coat. "Of course! I dream to be a brave warrior of the sea and sail through all the oceans of the world!" Luffy's eyes gleamed with excitement hearing that specific word, Zoro smirked knowing that Luffy would stop at nothing to get Usopp to join the crew now. "Then why don't you join us, Usopp? I actually came here to recruit you in the first place! Come with us and let's turn this world upside down as we sail as brave warriors of the sea!" Luffy thrusted his hand out to Usopp who looked delighted by the offer but deflated a bit as he turned to Nami, the orange haired woman raised an eyebrow in question, wondering why he turned to her. "I'm honored, Luffy but… shouldn't your captain be the one deciding who to recruit?"

Nami, Zoro and Luffy collectively blinked before Zoro burst out laughing figuring out what got Usopp confused. "Nami here-" Zoro started as he gestured to the orangette "Is Luffy's girlfriend." Usopp blinked once before slamming a fist into his open palm. "Oh that's why she's wearing the coat." Nami blushed at Zoro's blunt statement before looking down and realizing she was wearing Luffy's Captain's coat. Luffy just laughed and slung his arm over Nami's shoulder bringing the woman closer. "So what'll it be Usopp? Wanna brave the seas together with us on our journey to make our dreams reality?" Grinning, Usopp stood up and proudly stated. "But of course, Luffy! I, the GREAT Usopp will grace your ship with my presence and prowess!" His hand on his chest and chin pointed up, Usopp looked as condescending and arrogant as one could get. Luffy and Nami sweatdropped while Zoro frowned slightly at the man's behavior, but before the swordsman could comment on it Nami decided to bring up their second objective on this island. "Usopp, do you know anyone who'd be able to sell us a ship?"

Usopp blinked before coughing and dropping his prideful stance, scratching his chin he began. "Well there is Kaya, she's the wealthiest person in the village and lives in a mansion on top of the hill but I don't know if she has a ship to sell… Aside from her though I don't think anyone has a ship or sea vessel any better than the sailboat you guys used to get here."

"Sounds like this Kaya is our only option then." Luffy said standing up, offering Nami a hand like a gentleman which she accepted with a smile, Zoro just rolled his eyes at his captain but had a small smile of fondness as he too stood up. "Anything we should know about her, Usopp?"

"Hmm, no not really. Just let me talk to her first all right? She's a good friend of mine."

"Good friend or Girlfriend?" Nami asked, elbowing the marksman playfully. Usopp blushed but didn't comment as he started walking towards the mansion on top of the hill, Zoro shared a look with his captain who nodded that yes, Usopp had a crush on this Kaya. Hanging a bit behind Nami and Usopp, Zoro decided to bring up something to Luffy. "I'm picking up all these cues and stuff because of the enhanced senses and instincts aren't I?" Luffy nodded with a smile but it fell a bit as Zoro seemed to be displeased by something. "There a problem, Zoro?"

"… There doesn't seem to be any of the drawbacks you mentioned that balance it out…" The swordsman replied despondently.

'Ah he's still worried about it being an unfair advantage…' Facing Usopp, Luffy mused 'Well assuming Usopp's relationship with Kaya goes beyond just friendship…' "I don't think you'll be thinking it comes for free much longer Zoro." The swordsman looked confused before shrugging, deciding to put his fate in his captain.

'He hasn't lied yet, so I guess I'll get to judge whether this is a fair trade or not soon enough.' Zoro thought as the mansion came ever closer.

Zoro stopped worrying about the fairness of his enhanced abilities as soon as Usopp said hi to the blonde woman by the window before going off on some tall tale. The swordsman's face broke into disgust smelling the new odor permeating in the air as he turned to Luffy, who already turned to look at Zoro, wearing a resigned expression "You get used to it." Zoro paled before he turned green and pinched his nose to block out the scent.

"You live like this?!" Luffy just nodded at the swordsman's hushed whispers tinged with disgust, fear and horror.

"Just wait till you meet a woman on her… special time." And there went the disgust to be filled with absolute terror. "This is just your sense of smell, Zoro. Word of advice, never fight loud opponents in closed spaces. It's hell." The swordsman looked like he wanted to continue the conversation but the appearance of a hostile presence made both him and Luffy face towards a slender dark green haired man in a butler's suit glaring at them.

"And just what is riff raff such as yourself doing here with our lady, peasant?!" The hostile coldly stated, his narrowed eyes zeroed in on Usopp who tensed briefly at the comment before returning to his aloof demeanor, waving off Kaya's apologies for the butler's, Khaladore's, behavior with a smile. "It's fine Kaya. We probably overstayed our welcome anyway-"

"Your kind was never welcome to begin with, rat." Nami and Zoro bristled and glared at the man as Usopp closed his eyes and tried to reign in his emotions so as to not make Kaya feel worse. Kaya reprimanded Khaladore again, her face mortified at his rude and hostile display, meanwhile Luffy just seemed to stare at the butler. 'This guy… I thought he was executed…' Khaladore's next comment made both Usopp and Luffy's blood boil.

"Apologies Lady Kaya, however the son of a no-name deadbeat pirate of a father has no business here." The butler said with a smirk as he readjusted his glasses with his left hand. Usopp was about to jump down only for Nami to grab onto his shoulder and keep him in place causing him to turn to her in anger. Nami was unaffected by the withering glare as she gestured to Luffy who'd dropped down and

"W-W-WOLF EARS?! AND A TAIL?!" His anger momentarily forgotten, Usopp's eyes grew comically wide seeing Luffy's new additions, Khaladore himself lost his composure and began sweating under Luffy's predatory gaze, the younger man seeming to grow larger with every step he took.

"Be careful what you say about Yassop, Thousand Plans." Khaladote stiffened as his epithet came out the man's lips, darting his eyes 'Khaladore' relaxed slightly as Kaya and the riffraffs didn't appear to hear Luffy. His relief was short-lived when the wolfman continued however. "Emperor Shanks doesn't take kindly to others dissing his crew, much less from cowards like yourself." The butler glared as the wolfman targeted his pride but Luffy just took another step and stopped right beside the butler, his hand coming to rest on Khaladore's shoulder as he brought his mouth closer to his ears. "And before you think your safe from Shank's wrath because he's in the New World, I don't take kindly to offender's of my father's crew either." Letting the pale man go Luffy turned back to Kaya who looked curious as to what the conversation between her butler and the mysterious wolfman was.

"Lady Kaya, I've come to learn that if anyone on this island were to have a ship to sell it would be you, is this true?" Kaya seemed to ponder over it, putting her finger to her cheek as she glanced upwards in thought before she excused herself to look for someone named Merry. Shortly after Kaya returned with another man with sheep wool life hair and small ram horns in his head wearing a butler's uniform, Merry, Luffy presumed. The two conversed briefly with one another before Merry decided to offer Luffy and his companions a tour of the ship, which they agreed to. Khaladore glared at Luffy before walking away, Kaya frowning at her butler's conduct before retreating back into her room to sleep.

"Luffy, what's with the wolf ears and tail?" Usopp asked once the wolfman rejoined the group with Merry at the front of the gate, from the look on Merry's face it looked like he was curious as well. "I ate the Inu Inu no Mi and became a wolfman." Luffy said simply before flinging his arm around Usopp's shoulder taking the man to the side as Merry led them to Lady Kaya's private dock. "Sorry for intervening earlier, but I figured it would strain your relationship with Kaya if you were the one to deal with Khaladore."

"It's fine. Would have punched him instead so you're right about straining things between Kaya and I. Khaladore's an ass but Kaya's my best friend and he does take care of her so…" Luffy was silent about that, doubting Khaladore was truly taking care of Lady Kaya with her best interests at heart but if Usopp noticed he didn't make mention of it. Instead Usopp looked towards Merry who was proudly presenting a small quaint sea vessel, a caravel, sporting a cute sheep with ram horns as its figurehead. "I call this beauty the Going Merry! Built her myself for Lady Kaya's parents, and when we took her out she sailed like a dream!" A misty look appeared in the old butler's eyes as he reminisced days long past, Nami, Zoro, Usopp and Luffy wisely kept silent and let the older gentleman have his moment as they observed the caravel.

"Are you sure you want to sell it to us? You seem quite attached to it." Merry nodded his head as he answered. "Yes. I'm sure." He turned to Usopp with a small smile. "While I do not approve of you and Kaya ever pursuing a relationship together I cannot deny how much you've done to help her since… that." A gloomy look appeared in Merry's face when he said that last word, a similar look appearing in Usopp's. Luffy decided to board the ship and explore, stopping by the kitchen, Captain's quarters, men's quarters, women's quarters, and finally the storage room below deck.

'Well… it is a caravel so naturally it wouldn't have much.' Luffy stood on the balcony overlooking the deck where his companions were about to save for Nami who stood by his side, still wearing his coat. 'I'd take it back but damn does it look good seeing her in it.' Zoro's face scrunched up and he looked towards Luffy accusingly, who coughed and turned away, Nami turned to the man beside her confused by the random action. "You ok, Luffy?" The wolfman just nodded before going down to the deck towards Merry and Usopp who seemed to be discussing about Kaya, Luffy had decided to focus his ears on other things so he wouldn't intrude on the marksman's privacy earlier which is why he could only take a guess on what their discussion was now. "How much for the Going Merry, Merry?"

The butler rubbed his chin in thought before answering. "...15 Million Belli. Perhaps when she was just built she'd have been 35 Million but it's been years since and she hasn't gotten much action recently so she isn't in the best state either."

"30 Million Belli, additional 15 for clean up, rudder replacement and reinforcement, as well as stocking up on provisions. That good Merry?" Luffy asked, extending his hand to the butler who shook it with a smile. "It will be done, sir, and I apologize for Khaladore's behavior back at the mansion. He is rather… unpleasant towards outsiders." Luffy smiled wryly 'Can't imagine why.' "Eh, not the first time I've met a rude butler."

Luffy and his crew decided to explore the other side of the island while Merry set about his tasks on the Caravel. Most of their walk consisted of sharing the adventures Luffy, Nami and Zoro had already been on.

"You did all that, for a dog you just met?" Usopp backpedaled upon the withering gazes Zoro and Nami sent his way. "Not judging! Just really surprised you'd go that far for a dog you just met…" Usopp said walking with his hands behind his head, Zoro and Nami just chuckled.

"If you make a good first impression on Luffy you're basically family to him at that point. Chouchou made a really really good first impression." Zoro explained with a small smirk on his face.

"... I thought you said they were having a staring contest?"

"To Nami, Zoro and any other normal human it was a staring contest, to me, a wolfman, it was listening to Chouchou's life story, goals, aspirations, dreams… and his dedication to his mission…" Luffy had stopped walking and turned towards the forest with his wolf ears and tail up alert, Zoro himself also turned to stare towards the woods, seemingly concentrating on something. Usopp looked lost while Nami put her hand closer to her hidden collapsible staff knowing what these shifts in behavior usually meant.

"Hostiles?" Nami inquired as Usopp tensed before bringing out his bow and notching an arrow in the time it took to blink.

"In a sense. Not after us though or anyone for that matter. Follow me but keep quiet." Luffy said as he slowly made his way through the forest, his crew not following his lead being as quiet as possible, their hands close to their weapons, or still holding a notched arrow. Not long after, the group came to a cliff and crouched as Luffy put a finger up to his lips before gesturing to the two men underneath the cliff on the beach, Khaladore and a man with heart shaped eyeglasses, a stripped cloth hiding his beard, a blue trench coat, a blue cowboy's hat, white undershirt, green slacks, ending in white, and black leather shoes… In short, a weirdo.

"Hey, Jango. I told you to avoid anything to make you stand out. Yet you go and sleep in the middle of the village…" Khaladore reprimanded the weirdo, Jango.

"Don't be stupid. I don't stand out one bit. I'm not weird either." 'X to doubt' Luffy thought offhandedly as his companions voiced questions like, "He's kidding right?", "What kind of screwed up fashion sense is that?", and "Who is this clown?"

"So, preparations for the plans are ready, I hope?" Khaladore asked as he readjusted his glasses with his left hand once more.

"Of course… Do you truly not wish to modify it in case that wolf brat you mentioned was telling the truth?" Khaladore shook his head dismissively at Jango's concerns. "No, he's not. What would the son of an emperor be doing on the weakest seas? He'd be sending his child a death sentence and if it is such a case then killing the brat won't matter, he's nothing more than a brat relying on his father's infamy."

"Very well, the Rich Girl Assassination plan is ready to commence at your leisure then, sir." Zoro covered Usopp's mouth as he appeared to be ready to blurt something out. The swordsman pressed a finger to his lips as Nami whispered to the indignant marksman "Calm down, Usopp. The more we know the more we can prepare for." Placated by the level headed orangette Usopp nodded and Zoro took his hand off the marksman's mouth.

"We can't just kill her outright, Jango." Khaladore said exasperated, as if he'd had to have this conversation multiple times before, he had. "Lady Kaya must have perished in an unfortunate accident. Don't mess that up!" Jango just sat down on one of the hard rocks on the stony beach. "So basically, on your signal, the man and I storm the village and kill the girl, and then you'll get her inheritance…" A tick mark appeared on Khaladore's face as he rounded on the man in rage. "You fool! You didn't understand a thing! How would I, an outsider, inherit Kaya's estate?!"

"You'll work hard?" Nami couldn't stop the facepalm even if she wanted to, hearing Jango's response. "Hard work has nothing to do with this! Listen, this is the most important thing! Before you kill her, you'll use hypnosis to make Kaya write her will to say, "I leave my entire fortune to my butler, Khaladore! Only then will I inherit her enormous fortune, in a completely ordinary manner…"

'WHAT'S ORDINARY ABOUT IT?! YOU GET LEFT A WILL MADE A FEW MINUTES BEFORE SHE'S DIES! HOW SUSPICIOUS DO YOU THINK THAT WILL BE?!' Nami so wished to scream how idiotic the man's plan was but held it in with the sympathetic looks Luffy was giving her as he rubbed her arm comfortingly, Zoro gagged at the PDA, Usopp probably would have joined him in gagging if he wasn't hearing about the murder of his best friend. "I spent three long years gaining the trust of everyone around me so that it would be unsurprising for her to leave her inheritance to me."

'THREE YEARS DOESN'T MEAN SHIT IF THE TIMING IS THAT SUSPICIOUS, DUMBASS!'

"Three years as a butler for that, huh? But you sure scared us back then, Captain Kuro." Nami froze, recognizing the name while Zoro turned to Usopp to see if he knew who this Kuro guy was, only to see a pale Usopp. Luffy just observed impassively, already knowing who Khaladore, Kuro, really was. "Three years ago, you suddenly said you were giving up life as a pirate. In no time flat, you set up a subordinate to be your double, then let the word see Captain Kuro get executed. So that was the very beginning of this plan. You truly are Kuro, Man of a Thousand Plans." Kuro glared at Jango. "Don't call me that. I abandoned that name three years ago. Now I just want to obtain great sums of money without the government on my back." Kuro turned to Jango with a smirk, "In other words, I'm a pacifist." 'Pacifist my tangerine loving ass, you're nothing more than a scummy coward, I should…' Luffy continued holding his girl back who looked ready to tear Kuro apart, glaring at Zoro who had the audacity to smirk and mouth 'whipped' at him. "Some pacifist you are," Jango said laughing, "killing off an entire rich family for this 'peace' of yours."

Fixing his glasses with his left hand once again Kuro turned to Jango fully with an exasperated expression. "Hold on, now. The father's death was real. I hadn't planned on that." 'Is that supposed to make you better or a saint or something?' At this point Luffy was tempted to stop holding his girlfriend back but kept at it with a sigh knowing that if they did anything now they would only be seen as aggressors and Kuro a victim.

"Well, whatever. It doesn't matter. Anyways, hurry and give the signal. We've been sitting in the waters near here for a whole week now. The men are starting to grow impatient." Khaladore scoffed before walking away. "Tomorrow morning, Jango. Attack the village at daybreak. Tear up the villagers' homes a fair amount and make certain Miss Kaya's murder looks like an accident!"

Usopp stood up and bolted in the direction of the village before Zoro or Nami could grab him. "Shave" Luffy appeared in front of Usopp and tackled the long nosed man to the ground. "Stop Usopp, even if you warn the village you'd be the boy who cried wolf." Luffy said coldly as his tail wagged around slowly. "SO I'M JUST SUPPOSED TO SHUT UP AND LET EVERYONE DIE?!" Usopp screamed indignantly at Luffy who just smirked. "I never said anything about that."

LUFFY'S POV

I wasn't sure whether to be impressed or exasperated as I watched all the booby traps Usopp laid out on the stone beach Kuro and Jango had been on earlier. The slippery slope of the hill, the hidden bear traps in the forest, the unbelievably well hidden pitfall trap, I mean seriously even with all my gifts from my devil fruit I wouldn't have known it was there till I was right next to it. That was all the impressive feats, the exasperation comes from what Usopp seemed to have looked over while he went about making these traps with razor focus. A shared look with Nami confirmed she too noticed the oversight, Zoro… Zoro just looked hungry for battle and couldn't be bothered to use his brain for anything else at the moment. 'In some ways that's a blessing and in some cases, like today, it's a curse.' Sighing, I decided to bring it up to Usopp before he added another trap. "Usopp… how sure are you that Kuro's men are attacking this beach and not the other one on the other side of the island?"

Nami and I watched as Usopp froze, dropped some sort of mine, unactivated thankfully, and pale as he turned to us. "... not a lot…" And Zoro took that as his cue to start berating Usopp with pure white eyes and shark teeth. Nami and I shared another look before she walked towards both of them.

BOOM!

The two bickering idiots now sported steaming bumps on their heads as they lay down, face first, on the stone beach. "Let's head over to the other beach. We still have some time for Usopp to set a couple of traps before they arrive." The night was about ¾ of the way done so we'd probably arrive at least an hour before daybreak.

'Right on the dot.' I stood on the shore of the sandy beach watching a pirate ship in the distance bearing the jolly roger of the Black Cat pirates. Usopp continued his mission of booby trapping the entire stretch of the beach while Nami moved our sailboat to a more secure location. Zoro stood next to me still sporting a prominent bump on his head but to a slightly less exaggerated degree. "Mind letting me take point, Luffy? I'm itchin to see how much your boost gives now that it's fully taken effect… it is right?"

"Considering you can pick up on scent changes like earlier then yeah the blessing's fully taken into effect now. Knock yourself out, consider this your warm up for the haki training you'll start on the Going Merry."

"Haki Training?" I nodded as I turned to him, the ship only a half hour away from shore now, Usopp and Nami making their last minute preparations. "You saw my arm turn a sheen of black back when I decked Buggy right? Well that was Armament Haki, it's the physical form of haki that anyone can train to learn and acts as a booster to one's physical attacks, and for swordsmen like yourself they coat their weapons in the black sheen enhancing their destructive capabilities."

"Armament Haki is the physical form, huh? So there's others as well?"

"Three in total. Armament is physical, Observation is mental and Conqueror's… well I'll explain that one later, for now it looks like you'll be busy." Turning away from the beach I walked towards the top of the hill, taking a seat at the peak. "Usopp don't interfere with any duels Zoro engages in but take out any other pirates who try to intrude, Nami you'll be making sure Usopp doesn't get any unwanted company." Nami nodded without questioning but Usopp turned to me with a raised eyebrow. "What about you, Luffy?"

"I'll step in if there's someone you guys can't handle. All of you need to have as much fighting experience as you can now while there's still enemies you can stand up against." Usopp looked like he wanted to argue more but Nami cut him off with a glare as she gestured towards the docking ship with her chin. The Black Cat pirates roared in cheer as they disembarked from their ship, pirates with black eyeliner make up and… cat ear headbands? '… I can't tell whether to be amused or disgusted, I may be basic with fashion but I'm pretty sure that ain't a good look…' A peek at Nami confirmed that the fashion sense was indeed poor.

NO ONE'S POV

As the pirates charged their way up the hill multiple things happened at once. Volleys of arrows began raining down on them knocking them out from consistent shots to the head, pitfall traps were revealed as multiple triggered them and fell, bringing some of their comrades along for the trip as collateral, and some dodged the arrow as they slipped and face planted on the slippery hill.

"There's someone at the top of the hill!" One of the Black Cats said as a crumpled unconscious member of the pirates slid down to Jango, an arrow clattering next to the incapacitated pirate. 'Blunted arrows? Non-lethals…' Looking up from his observation, Jango recognized a familiar man holding a bow, notched with another blunt arrow, at the top of the hill. "You!" By the archer's side was an orange haired woman who Jango didn't recognize as well as an unfamiliar man with black hair and a straw hat seated not that far away, a swordsman with three swords and a bandana a few feet in front of the marksman. "My name is Captain Usopp! Leave now and never return!"

The Black Cats anxiously regrouped, wary of more pitfalls or any other traps that may have been set up by the group. Jango tsked realizing the boy must've overheard the plan he and Kuro had discussed by the stone beach. 'No matter, we just deal with this group of brats before Kuro comes looking for us in anger.' Jango shuddered thinking what his former Captain may do if they didn't execute his plan to the letter. "Crush 'em and decimate the village, men!" The pirates roared in cheer as they began their ascent using their swords as a means of dealing with the slippery slope.

Usopp grit his teeth as he began firing arrow after arrow in rapid succession with frighteningly accurate precision. 'Definitely Yassop's kid.' Luffy thought watching the situation unfold.

"BASTARD!" "COWARD!" and a whole slew of other insults filled the air as Black Cats watched their comrades falling to the blunt arrows. Usopp grimaced when he realized he'd run out of arrows, panicking as a Black Cat jumped towards him with impressive leg strength wielding a stone hammer.

"I don't think so." Zoro quickly dispatched the airborne threat before he descended from the top of the hill to begin cutting down the rest of his foes who'd finally made their way out of the slippery section of the slope. A Black Cat paled as he recognized the man wielding three swords. "CAPTAIN JANGO! THIS SWORDSMAN IS THE PIRATE HUNTER! RORONOA ZORO!" Jango flinched and grit his teeth, also recognizing the man now that the name had been called out. "We don't have time to be dilly dallying any longer men! The sun has risen far past daybreak, Kuro will come looking soon enough and he won't be pleased!" The Black Cats paled knowing how ruthless their former captain could be, picking themselves back up and faced Jango who pulled out his circular ring. "If what you need is strength then look here, on "one, two, Jango," you're strength will increase drastically! Your wounds will heal and your strength will know no bounds!"

"That's not how hypnosis works! You can't just heal someone just because you hypnotized them!" Nami said, shaking her head at the ridiculous notion, Luffy just calmly observed as Zoro paused to see if the effects would actually take place. 'That'd make this a more interesting fight.' "One! Two! JANGO!"

The effect was instantaneous as the Black Cat pirates no longer seemed sluggish or weighed down from their wounds, one even smashing a section of the cliff next to him, causing a landslide. "H-H-How the fuck does that even work?!" Nami cried out as she watched the incomprehensible scene, Luffy just turned to her with a sympathetic look. "You get used to it."

"HOW DOES ONE GET USED TO THE STUPIDITY OF THIS?!"

"… You get used to it." Now Luffy had a gloom surrounding him as his eyes had become glassy, obviously recalling how many times he witnessed common sense no longer being common… or sane. Nami paled, wondering what the hell could have happened to make Luffy get used to stuff like this before she realized her own stupidity and facepalmed. "… If Devil Fruits actually exist and everything else about the Grand Line is true then this is just the tip of the incredulous iceberg isn't it?"

"Yep." Luffy said popping the 'p' as he turned to watch Zoro mercilessly cutting down the Black Cat pirates like nothing had changed at all '…or maybe he was putting in a little more effort' Luffy corrected himself, as he noticed the sheen of sweat now forming on Zoro's skin. Jango bit his lip in anger and fear. "If Captain Kuro caught sight of this, he'd slaughter all of us, too!"

"Hey, Butchie! Come look! This is bad stuff!"

"What the hell?!"

Jango gasped before he turned back to the ship with a smile. 'Of course! Our trump card!' "Come forth, Meowban Brothers!"

Two figures leapt from the ship and landed on the beach, one a man with green hair, black mascara, and green cat slit eyes wearing a blue t-shirt with a bow tie and green shorts. "You called, Captain Jango?" The other a bigger man with a derpy face, black hair, and the top right section of his head painted black wearing a cape and black and red striped pants with a yellow sash. "You called?"

"Siam…" Greenie said "and Butchie!" Derpy continued, before together they finished striking a pose. "Together, we are the Meowban Brothers!"

Silence reigned among Luffy and his crew as they watched the ridiculous pair jump to the front of Jango. "Butchie! Siam! We absolutely must get past this hill, but as you can see, an obstacle is in the way! Roronoa Zoro!" The Meowban Brothers broke out in 'nervous' sweat as they backed away in 'fright'. "We can't possibly do that! Right Butchie?!" Siam asked, turning to the taller derp of a man. "Yeah, he looks strong!"

"What kind of jokers are these?" Usopp asked Nami who only shrugged in response, equally unsure what to make of the two newcomers. Luffy however smiled inwardly noting Zoro's stance tensing, knowing something wasn't right with the way the two were acting. 'If his battle senses are this improved with just the blessing how much more of a monster will he become once he learns Observation Haki.'

"And besides, we're just supposed to guard the ship!" Siam cried "Yeah! This isn't really our place to fight…" 'Their lying… It's all an act.' Zoro thought as he took deep breaths to calm down and keep his senses sharp, as Jango reprimanded Siam. "Enough! Take care of him now!"

"Eh?! M-Me?!" Siam cried dramatically, grasping his head in his clawed hands. "HURRY!" Siam and Butchie had tears in their eyes as they assented. Rushing towards Zoro with flailing arms Siam gave a feeble battle cry. "Hey, you! Get ready! I'm gonna scratch you good with these claws!" Zoro's eyes narrowed as he got in a stance. Ignorant of how Zoro saw through the sham, Siam grinned "Just kidding!" leaping towards Zoro with his clawed hand expecting the swordsman to block it leaving his other swords open for the taking. Reality is often disappointing.

Blood bloomed as Zoro rushed past Siam, leaving the man to crumple into the ground as lacerations spread open around his torso. Coughing blood, Siam turned incredulously towards Zoro who kept him in the corner of his eye while also watching for what the derp face might do. Usopp and Nami seemed confused and flustered as the shift from useless to deadly to incapacitated happened in mere seconds, to Luffy however he could only grin in satisfaction. Seeing as Siam wouldn't be much of a problem, Zoro put more focus into Butchie deciding to trust in Usopp to cover his back in case Siam decided to attack while he engaged his brother.

"GET AWAY FROM MY BROTHER!" Butchie screamed the derp's face red with rage as he leapt up an insane height to come crashing down to Zoro who tensed before realizing what he was standing right next to. '… Should I? No, this is a duel I shouldn't.' With a glare Zoro leapt up and slammed into Butchie, pushing the bigger man away from his initial trajectory. Butchie landed with a confused expression as he didn't suffer any wounds from the exchange like he'd been expecting at the very least. "This is a duel. It would stain my honor if a battle was hindered by preemptive traps like pitfalls." Zoro said calmly gesturing towards the area Butchie would have landed on. "Honor? This is a battle between pirates, you fool! Honor doesn't matter here!" Siam cried as he leapt up behind Zoro, but the swordsman didn't even turn as he heard the familiar sound of his Captain's teleporting ability.

"Perhaps to scum like you." Luffy coolly stated as he smacked Siam away with the back of his fist towards the side of the hill, embedding the man at least 3 feet deep, causing him to groan out in pain. "To swordsmen like Zoro, honor in battle is a given." Turning away from the fallen pirate Luffy looked to Usopp who'd drawn his slingshot with a lead pellet. "Too slow, Usopp. If I didn't interfere Zoro would have forever been shamed." Usopp looked down and trembled in frustration knowing Luffy was right. He was supposed to watch Zoro's back like Luffy ordered earlier but he wasn't fast enough, and it would have cost Zoro a lifetime of disgrace.

While Luffy provided his lecture, Zoro and Butchie traded blows and Jango bit his fingers in anxiety. 'Kuro won't wait much-' Jango's heart stopped as he let out a gasp seeing the man atop the hill, watching the scene below in rage. Usopp and Nami, having moved to the side, turned and froze seeing the seething figure carrying a bag with him. Zoro paused his assault seeing Butchie had also frozen, and glanced behind him as Luffy looked unworriedly at the new hostile.

"S-S-Sir! I can explain!" Jango nervously said with his hands trembling at his sides, Kuro just adjusted his glasses with his left hand once again before he began. "Night is long gone now, so it seemed odd that the plan wasn't making any progress…"

"C-C-Captain Kuro!"

"W-We're dead!"

"Oh God help us!"

The Black Cat pirates who'd regained consciousness shook in fear of the man who was once their captain.

"WHAT IS ALL THIS?!" Kuro screamed with his facial veins bulging in anger, and ocular nerves strained.

"C-C-Captain I can explain! I swear!" Jango repeated, pleading for Kuro to calm himself but the retired captain only dropped his bag. "To think that these brats have held you back… How the Black Cat Pirates have fallen… right? JANGO?!"

The heart shaped glasses wearing man flinched and fell backwards at the butler's indignant exclamation. "Y-Y-Y-You didn't say anything about these brats actually being able to fight! Or about the Pirate Hunter!" But Jango's rebukes fell on deaf ears as Khaladore, no, Kuro looked down with cold fury, not accepting that a miscalculation of his plan was made by himself. "I don't need the excuse of pathetic feeble losers."

Whatever fear Jango experienced was washed away as he stood back up and yelled back. "WHO ARE YOU CALLING FEEBLE?! WATCH WHAT YOU SAY CAPTAIN KURO!"

"You were strong before, but that was three years ago!" Siam cried out indignantly as he pulled himself out the cliff side. "It's not like we partied all night while you lived the good life in this village!"

"'As right! We've attacked lotsa towns and sunk lotsa pirates!" Butchie added, sweating nervously but not backing down.

"Your point?" Kuro asked coolly

"YOU'VE DONE NOTHING FOR THREE YEARS!"

"THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN BEAT THE MEOWBAN BROTHERS OF TODAY!" Both Meowban Brothers screamed battle cries as they rushed to Kuro who just grabbed his bag calmly.

"You're not our captain anymore!"

"Sorry, but we're gonna kill ya!" It was then that Kuro's feet stamped the ground multiple times before he suddenly flashed behind the brothers. Zoro's eyes widened recognizing the move and Luffy's eyes suddenly shined with interest as he mused 'Oh maybe he isn't as boring as I thought.'

"Who's killing who?" Kuro said coldly, his hands now equipped with long bladed gloves, a deadly sharp blade for each finger. "He snuck behind us?!" Repeatedly stamping the ground once more, Kuro vanished again. Jango bit his cheek, muttering under his breath. "There it is, the Pussy Foot Maneuver!"

'Pussy Foot Maneuver? Not shave?' Zoro thought, glancing at Luffy who continued to observe Kuro, who to others could no longer be seen, making his way to the Meowban Brothers turned back once again, throwing his hands around them, locking them in between himself and his blades. "You're right. I am feeling a bit sluggish." Kuro commented to the brothers who flinched and glanced nervously at the blades.

"That man's "Pussy Foot Maneuver'' is a silent movement technique. Even a group of 50 assassins would be killed before they could even sense him! There's no way we can escape his plan!" Jango said begrudgingly as he watched Kuro who smirked before pulling his claws away from the shivering brothers. "It seems I've grown soft as well. If you can't take care of things here in five minutes… Then I'll kill every last one of you… With my own two hands."

Collectively all the Black Cat Pirates gulped as Jango opened his mouth to give out orders again. "You heard the Captain! Kill them all!" Not needing to be told twice the Meowban brothers rushed towards Zoro who just modified his stance to holding two of his swords behind Wado Ichimonji which was held by his teeth. "Tiger…" Just as the Meowban Brothers were within range Zoro brought his blades down. "TRAP!" The two brothers were sent flying, blood bleeding outwards and crashing at Jango's feet.

"Four minutes"

"Don't worry! I'll crush every last one of you before you're five minutes are up!" Zoro confidently goaded Kuro who only flashed him a twisted grin before composing himself and fixed his glasses.

"Three minutes"

Butchie clutched Jango's leg, begging the man to hypnotize him to be more powerful, his brother finally unconscious having succumbed to his wounds. Nami glared and leapt to intercept and stop the man but had slowed as she suddenly sensed something was wrong. Too fast to stop her assault however, she panicked mentally as Jango threw his hypnosis ring at her. 'CRAP! IT WAS A CHAKRAM?!'

"NAMI!" Usopp called out the woman's name in distress.

"LOOK OUT!" Zoro yelled, frustrated knowing he wouldn't be able to intercept.

Nami closed her eyes knowing she wouldn't dodge in time only to hear a familiar voice. "Good grief." Opening her eyes she saw Luffy standing before her, the chakram in his hands as he coldly faced Jango. "We'll need to work a lot on your training, Nami." The orangette could only look down in anger knowing she was nothing more than dead weight to Luffy as she was now.

"Two minutes."

Butchie rose up with pure white eyes, successfully hypnotized by Jango who nervously faced the wolfman he'd heard about. "We need to hurry Butchie, we don't have much time left! Kill the Pirate Hunter and the marksman! I'll handle the wolfman and his incompetent captain."

'Ah looks like they thought Nami was the captain again… Maybe I should stop letting her wear my coat. Good as it looks on her, it makes her a bigger target.' Luffy thought, sighing inwardly as he wouldn't get to see his girlfriend wearing his coat for a while. Nami glared at being called incompetent mostly because she knew that at the moment that was basically what she was. Unlike Usopp who was now deadweight, she hadn't contributed anything to this fight in any way. Luffy could practically hear the self-deprecation rolling off his girl in waves and frowned unhappily. 'Nami needs a confidence boost…this was a bit too over her level… and skill set.'

"One Minute."

Jango and Butchie rushed towards their respective targets only to either have their targets flash away or slice them up even more.

"It's about time for everyone to die now." Kuro said coldly, no longer waiting for the final few seconds to pass only to turn hearing someone approaching from behind. "You dare attack me…" Usopp gasped as he leapt in front of the newcomer to take the blow from Kuro. "from behind!"

"KAYA!" The newcomer was pushed back as blood sprouted out of Usopp's chest, crisscross lacerations from Kuro's blades which ran with the archer's blood. "U-Usopp!" The blonde woman cried as she grabbed hold of the man from behind. "M-M-Merry! He was attacked! K-K-Khaladore he-"

"Get out of here, Kaya!" Usopp yelled, cutting the woman off whose eyes filled with tears, the funny lying man she'd grown fond of having never raised his voice at her before. "Your life is in danger! Kuro plans on killing you! You need to run!"

"Kaya… why are you here?" Kaya froze as she looked up to the butler who'd taken care of her for three years, who she'd come to see like family, who she'd come to trust wholeheartedly bearing weapons drenched in the blood of her best friend. Then her face twisted in rage "Stop this, STOP THIS! KHALADORE!"

Kuro's eyes widened in disbelief as the woman he'd cared for for three years screamed at him. "Merry, told me everything! If you want my fortune you can have all of it! Just leave the village! Right now!"

"I would but…" Kuro adjusted his glasses with his left palm yet again, a wide shit eating smile on his face. "There's one other thing I want, you see… What I want… is peace of mind." Kaya blinked uncomprehendingly as the butler's strange statement, Usopp equally confused but now standing between the two, protectively standing over Kaya. "Peace?"

"Yes. I want simple peace. I find the villagers' trust that I've fostered these past three years to be nice and comfortable now. So I want to have that peace of mind forever…" Kaya backed up, reaching a hand into her coat, "And I will have that peace! And your fortune…" Kuro turned dramatically with his hands spread out towards his men. "In short, pirates will come to the village!" Turning back to Kaya, he pointed over to the girl, completely ignoring Usopp who gripped his bow tightly, ready to swing it like a bat. "And you will leave your will and die! These two things are absolute."

Kaya's eyes became glassy as she slowly pulled something out of her coat. "Y-Y-You're not-"

"Kaya, just run! Run away as fast as you can! There's no use talking to him! Run, Kaya, run!" Usopp screamed only to stop as the girl he'd gotten smitten for pulled out a gun and pointed it towards Kuro. "Y-You're not Khaladore! Leave this village!"

"Oh? You'd point a gun at me?"

"Leave this minute!"

"I see. You've certainly grown a lot these past three years… Miss Kaya." The woman's grip on the gun relaxed as Kuro moved to remove one of his gloves, carrying his blades, "Do you remember? So much has happened in three years…" Usopp tensed even harder. "We spent so much time together, even before your parents passed away and became bedridden… So many memories, Together we suffered…Together we rejoiced…" 'A change of heart?' Usopp thought but didn't relax, not completely trusting the man, "K-Khaladore…" Luffy's eyes only narrowed recognizing what was happening, Nami's following as she recognized it accompanied by the dreaded laughter of that monster.

"I would visit the city with you, look after you whenever you had a fever, tell you stories you'd happily listen to, I devoted myself to you…" Kuro reached for the gun, glancing at Usopp who backed away but remained close enough to attack if he tried anything. "Yes… for so long I endured it,"

"Eh?" Kaya, whose face now streamed with tears, looked confusedly at her butler, Usopp gritting his teeth, his gut telling him something was wrong but as he moved Kuro lifted his other hand, still equipped with blades at him. "Yes, it was all so that I could kill you today…"

"KURO!" Usopp yelled, moving to bat away the blades only for Kuro to draw them back to bitchslap the archer away. "Yes, I, a man once known as Captain Kuro, had to smile humbly for some snot-nosed girl, I went against my nature and sucked up to you…" Dropping the gun to the floor, Kuro's eyes were filled with sadistic fury as he watched the woman he served for three years burst into tears. "Damn you…" Usopp growled, wiping the blood off his mouth. "Do you understand these daily insults?! DO YOU UNDERSTAND THIS MAN WAS ONCE KNOWN AS CAPTAIN KURO?!" Drawing his hand back, Kuro looked ready to strike the weeping woman down only for a hand to grasp his head before he was thrown away and towards the Black Cat Pirates, crashing with a dust cloud spread eagle. Luffy stood there coldly looking down on the enemy captain, his ears and tail puffed up in anger, sclera pitch black and irises gleaming like gold. So enraged he was he didn't even turn or was amused by the appearance of the three children he'd come across the morning before.

"THE USOPP PIRATES HAVE ARRIVED!" They cried only to see a crying Kaya, a wounded Captain Usopp and a tall wolfman standing there menacingly. "AH KURO HAD A RABID DOG FOR BACKUP!" All three jumped up and smashed their clubs on Luffy's head but the man didn't even flinch, the three children did though when their captain yelled. "WHAT DO YOU THREE THINK YOU'RE DOING?!"

Confused the three quickly explained their adventure since they'd been separated from their captain, going to the diner looking for him only for the owner to say he was going around with three new individuals, meeting Merry on his old caravel who told them the same thing, finding a bloody Merry incoherently talking about Khaladore actually being a pirate and now where they saw Luffy standing menacingly between the bloody battered Usopp and distraught Kaya. "… You know without context, I do kind of look like the evil one." Luffy said, actually forgetting his anger to smirk in amusement, Usopp only screamed back with shark teeth about how taking three clubs to the head shouldn't be anything to laugh about. "It didn't hurt in the slightest Usopp, water under the bridge." Luffy waved it off in favor of keeping his eyes on Kuro who sat back up with veins bulging and face filled with fury.

"Wolfman" Kuro growled through grit teeth, his men and Jango muttering to themselves about devil fruits and the wolfman atop the hill. "Jango, I'll handle the brat. You hypnotize Kaya and get her will then... Kill her, the children and the enemy pirates."

"Understood, it will be done, Captain Kuro." Jango brought out two chakram and stalked towards Kaya and the Usopp Pirates, Butchie rising to engage Zoro once again. The swordsman glared down at the Meowban brother. "I already beat you Butchie, stand down." Butchie didn't listen and leaped towards Zoro much faster than he had before… but the swordsman just dashed past him leaving an x-shaped slash on his chest, reaching and stopping at his sternum. "Sorry Hypno Freak, I can't let you hurt the lady or the kids." Jango tsked as a bead of sweat made its way down his face, Zoro ready to spring into action, just waiting for the hypnotist to make his move.

"TODAY, JANGO!" Kuro had no patience for any further delays and reprimanded the weirdo before springing towards Luffy using his Pussyfoot Maneuver once more, thrusting one of his Cat Claws at the wolfman. Luffy just stared at the man who, while definitely the fastest opponent he's faced so far since he'd begun his journey, still moved at a rather pathetic pace.

'Perhaps… I overestimated you.' Reaching up calmly, his eyes becoming half-lidded and filled with boredom, Luffy grabbed the center blade, attached to Kuro's middle finger, a few inches away from his face. Silence descended on the hill as Zoro, Nami, Jango, Usopp, Kaya, The Usopp Pirates, The Black Cat Pirates, and even Kuro himself looked at the wolfman in shock.

'He didn't even grab my wrist for a more secure hold… he grabbed the fucking blade, this arrogant brat!'

"Something wrong Kuro? You look like you've eaten a chili pepper." Kuro growled before he attempted to pull his hand away, 'attempted' being the keyword as no matter how many times he pulled Luffy did not let go. "Adios."

Kuro could only blink and ask one thing. "What?"

BANG!

A sound like a gunshot resounded when Luffy punched Kuro with a fist shining like it was basked in moonlight. Luffy still holding one of Kuro's Cat Claws remained on the slope, Kuro on the other hand had crashed back into the beach, the sickening crunch of bones breaking reached the ears of the Black Cat Pirates as they watched their former captain cough up blood.

"C-C-CAPTAIN!"

"SIR!"

"CAPTAIN KURO!"

Kuro growled and shook his head, glaring at his former subordinates before he stood in a hunched over position, the Black Cat Pirates paling as they recognized it, their concern for their captain vanishing, replaced by fear for their own lives. "CAPTAIN DON'T TELL YOU'RE GOING TO USE THAT?! HERE?!"

"WE'RE RIGHT HERE CAPTAIN! HAVE MERCY!"

"PLEASE CAPTAIN WE CAN MAKE IT RIGHT! WE STILL HAVE TIME! DON'T USE THAT TECHNIQUE SIR!"

Kuro paid no mind to their pleas and began swaying left and right, his hearing becoming distorted and his mind slowly blank, his eyes rolling to the back of his head leaving only pure white sclera. 'What the hell is he doing?' Luffy pondered, briefly glancing behind him to see Jango had also stopped his fight with Zoro, having engaged the First Mate after Kuro's reprimand. Nami was above the hill next to Usopp, her and Kaya working to bandage his wounds while the Usopp Pirates stood guard holding their clubs in front of themselves. 'I doubt that would actually be of any help but it's the thought that counts.' Luffy smirked before he turned back to the sound of blood being spilt, and what he saw filled him with unbridled fury.

"PLEASE CAPTAIN! STOP HAVE ME-" One Black Cat cut down, five diagonal lacerations from his shoulder to his hip,

"DON'T DO IT CAPTAIN KU-" Another Black Cat down, his body split in half with slices of himself in between.

"MERCY!" A third one cried before he pushed one of his comrades away, the man's body once one whole, became two halves, a vertical cut leaving bits and pieces of the poor pirates' innards to leak out his eviscerated body. The third pirate did not mourn or grieve for the man he'd pushed to take his place and instead grabbed two others and held them like shields much to their dismay. Other Black Cats follow suit.

Slash marks appeared elsewhere as well, on the side of the cliff, a random boulder, the side of the ship, a tree and soon enough one came dangerously close to Nami and Usopp's group, the individuals yelping and backing up in fear, Nami pushing the Usopp Pirates behind her as Usopp pulled Kaya down under him to keep any harm from reaching her.

Luffy had seen enough and shaved in front of Zoro, holding a Cat Claw that was about to descend on his swordsman. "You'd kill your own crew? Your friends?" The wolfman's withering gaze resting coldly on the enemy captain. Zoro jumped away to put some distance between himself and the two knowing Luffy wouldn't be able to fight if he had to worry about getting himself caught as collateral, Jango remained frozen before running away like a cowardly dog with a tail in between his legs.

Kuro met the wolfman's glare with his own after the shock of being caught quickly wore off. "Friends? They're nothing more than tools. A means to an end. That is what a pirate crew is, boy. Pawns on a chess board for the Captain make use of in order to achieve their goals. Without me those brainless thugs would amount to nothing, they already amount to nothing as they follow this useless hypnotist failure of a captain." As soon as those words came out his lips the temperature on that hill dropped to absolute zero, gasps and breaths became frosty as they left their owners' shivering mouths.

"These scum have no sense of camaraderie, honor, or semblance of true pirates." Luffy calmly pushed his hat off his head to let it hang off his neck. "Zoro… deal with the sniveling cowards below. I'm tearing this one apart myself." The swordsman nodded before going off to deal with the remaining Black Cat Pirates who continued using each other as shields as they tried to board their ship to flee.

Kuro growled as he attempted to free his wrist from Luffy's grasp but stopped dead as he watched the wolfman grow in size after saying a few words. "Bathed in Blood." Kuro could only crane his head up in disbelief as Luffy now towered over him and for the first time Kuro actually felt fear. "What the hell are you?"

"I… hehe… We… are -." Kuro paled, recognizing the name. 'It can't be… this brat has the devil fruit modeled after THAT-THAT MONSTER?!' "Heaven's Downfall" The fake butler screamed in agony as black flames erupted from the wolfman's hands only to shut up as his head was snapped to the side by a vicious left hook, burning his cheeks and breaking his glasses. Kuro's remaining Cat Claw came off as the man crumpled onto the ground but Luffy wasn't done with him just yet, savagely kicking the drowned man into the side of a cliff that collapsed under the impact burying the butler.

"K-K-KHALADORE!" Kaya cried in distress from Usopp's arms catching Luffy's attention. "Usopp!" The marksman flinched before shifting his eyes to his captain who glared up at him, eyes shining like the purest gold, sclera darker than the deepest ocean depths. "Take your woman and the children out of here! This isn't something they should see." Usopp looked like he wanted to clarify Kaya wasn't his anything but Nami walked past him, shooting him a look, before grabbing Kaya and pulling her away, consoling the distraught woman who even now could not bring herself to believe the man who cared for her for three years was a vicious bloodthirsty pirate. Usopp cast one more glance down the hill before he ordered his three young friends to follow him and watch over Kaya and Nami.

Seeing them gone, Luffy slowly stalked towards the rubble, Kuro already making his way out but obviously suffering from wounds and bruises. The man once hailed as an infamous strategist with complex yet unbreakable plans could only scream in pain as a no-name rookie pulled him out the rubble by his head in a vice-like grip, hands no longer burning with black fire. 'If we kept Heaven's Downfall activated we'd risk burning his nerves off, we can't have that now can we?' Luffy mused while listening to the butler's squeals.

"P-P-Please! D-D-Don't kill me!" The wolfman could only chuckled before turning the man's head so he could look into the scum's eyes.

"Oh Kuro~ You'll wish that's all we did to you." Screams filled the air as Luffy broke Kuro's fingers one segment at a time, breaking his arms next, his forearms last. By the end of it bones sprouted out of Kuro's upper limbs in multiple areas and the man was in too much pain to pass out, unable to scream as Luffy had dislocated his jaw and crushed his windpipe, not enough to kill him just yet but enough that he couldn't scream.

'Our poor ears, man. We can't have you hurting our poor ears.' Luffy's mocking words replayed in Kuro's mind when the wolfman had taken his ability to scream, Luffy fondly caressing his ears while smiling sadistically as he said it. "Now, your legs." Luffy's sadistic grin remained on his face as Kuro begged him with his eyes to just finish him off but to no avail as the webbing in between his toes was torn apart, slowly. Having run out of tears long ago Kuro could only spasm continuously, his body going into shock. Noticing this Luffy frowned knowing the enemy captain wouldn't hold out much longer and with a sigh decided to speed up his work, ending with pushing each and every rib into the man's chest, puncturing his lungs letting him drown in his own blood as it filled his airways before they collapsed in on themselves.

While Kuro's torture went on Zoro had finished cutting down and incapacitating the last of the Black Cat Pirates and boarded their ship to grab their gold. The swordsman wasn't entirely sure what compelled him to do so but he got the feeling it would have been an issued order later on anyway so he decided to just go with it. Exiting the ship with a rather disappointingly small haul Zoro could only whistle seeing his captain's handiwork. "Remind me to never get on your bad side."

Luffy only chuckled before heading towards the beach to meet up with Zoro, his eyes returning to their original dark shade, his sclera clear white. Noticing his captain eyeing the bag of gold with a questioning look Zoro explained. "Got a feeling that I should loot the ship after I had finished dealing with all the small fry. Didn't know where it came from but figured it would be an order later on anyway so I just went with it."

Hearing this Luffy could only laugh sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head. "Didn't think it would happen this soon but that's also one of the drawbacks for becoming part of the pack. Though why it's affecting you when Nami hasn't officially joined yet I don't know." Zoro decided to ignore the second statement and ask Luffy to clarify the first. "Ah well Nami's going to be my Luna wolf. The Alpha female. So you getting the urge to loot the ship probably came from her desire for treasure."

Zoro blinked before he began grumbling. "Not sure how I feel about being a greedy woman's lackey."

"You aren't her lackey, Zoro. If anything when she officially joins you're basically her older brother… who spoils his little sister a lot… who your other brother is dating, wow this came out a lot better in my head." The swordsman could only shake his head incredulously at Luffy who began scratching his head with a dissatisfied frown. 'Probably trying to think of a better way of putting it… though if he didn't continue I would have just taken the older brother thing and run with it.'

"Ah whatever, anyway Zoro mind helping me get rid of this blood in the ocean?"

"Can't you do that yourself?" Luffy just stared at him blankly before the swordsman facepalmed remembering the moment Luffy's submerged he's in danger of getting carried away by the surf or just facefaulting into the sand and suffocating in knee deep water. 'For all the ridiculous powers Devil Fruits grant you they are honestly more trouble than they're worth.'

Zoro grumbled as Luffy just smiled apologetically knowing the swordsman really didn't want to do it but resigned to help anyway. "Thanks Zoro." The green haired man only grunted in response before he began washing his captain

PLOMP!

Only to groan and facepalm yet again.

"Uh, Zoro? Little help?" Luffy's voice mumbled out from underneath the sand where he'd facefaulted the moment he got knee deep in seawater.

A/N: Ok, this ending reminded me of a little tidbit some of you guys mentioned in past reviews. The seawater affecting them only when they're submerged detail? I did not know that, I'll be honest. Apparently it's in Oda's SBS thing in the One Piece manga…but the thing is I'm anime-only and just reached Punk Hazard Arc so please bear with me for any errors I make regarding certain details. To make for those errors I try to modify or shift the details abit so in the end it still ends up being like how Oda canonically made things work.

In the case of the bucket of seawater affecting Luffy way back in the Prolouge I decided that it would be a fixed detail of this story. That is to say individuals who just ate or have just recently eaten their devil fruits will be affected even by small amounts of seawater. Over time they gain resistance and are eventually only affected when submerged.

SPOILER WARNING, I REPEAT SPOILER WARNING

Well not really since Vivi is placed along with Nami for Luffy's lovers in the character sheet but still. Vivi is going to be joining the Straw Hats on their adventures past Alabasta, with her own dreams and ambitions in mind. Don't expect a darker Vivi however because I plan on keeping her as the kind hearted, peaceful solution first princess that we all know and love…except you know willing to get her hands dirty to achieve her goals but if conflicts can be ended peacefully she'll go with that approach. Also going to nip this in the bud right now, Luffy will only be having three lovers, any more than that and this fanfics going to be more implied sex scenes rather than actual plot. If you want sex scenes they'll be in another story, that is to say some of the implied sexual interactions I mention throught out the Straw Hat Wolf will be written in full detail there in all its smutty goodness for you horn dogs out there. You know who you are. And in hopes people stop asking me, the three lovers of Luffy are going to be Nami, Vivi and Hancock. I am not going to do Luffy x Robin…at least for this story, maybe in another one I think of. Hancock and Vivi have special roles to play in the future for this story because of their standing, or at least how I understood it, and history in the world. Nami…I'm a sucker for LuNa what can I say, :P

Ah P.S For those wondering how Nami knocked Luffy off the boat that one time

a. Luffy stood guard the whole night so was a bit drowsy

b. Luffy was not expecting to get attacked so he didn't think to activate observation, he may be smarter but he's still Luffy

c. Nami can beat the shit out of the Monster Trio any day of the week for comedic moments. That is to say outside of say an actual battle between her and a member of the Monster Trio she will generally 1 shot any of them. Expect this trend to continue as she will be the Alpha Female of the Straw Hat crew.