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One Piece - Freedom
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East Blue Arc
Chapter 4 : The Boy Who Cried Pirate! Enter: Ussop
0o0o0 East Blue - Middle of the Ocean 0o0o0
"We're a crew of three…" Nami deadpanned as she stared at her now Captain and First-mate.
"Yep! The crew is slowly coming together," Luffy grinned, seemingly pleased with himself.
"We're a crew of three," Nami reiterated.
"We get it, witch. You're not happy. Get over it." Zoro waved her off, his eyes closed as he sat against the side of the small boat they'd commandeered from Buggy the Clown.
"You don't even have a ship. Or money for that matter either! Just how exactly were you planning on going to the Grand Line and becoming a famous pirate? I should just jump ship now," Nami grumbled as she glared at Luffy, who just sat there grinning like an idiot.
"I had a boat, who knows where it is now. Stupid bird. I still can't believe you wouldn't let me bring it with us. I wanted to eat it!" Luffy grumbled, lamenting the loss of the epic meals he could have had. "Besides, I'm already famous. It's just a matter of getting to the Grand Line again."
"First off, that bird would've sunk this… this dinghy! Secondly, I still don't buy it. Sure you're made of lightning. That's a thing. That I bore witness to. But a member of a Yonko's crew?" Nami crossed her arms as she levelled a disbelieving glare at Luffy. "If that were true, why would you ever leave? Just think of all the treasure that must have been at your disposal. Not only that, you're what 16?"
"17."
"Same difference. I refuse to believe that Red-Hair Shanks, one of the most powerful pirates in the world, let a 17 year old join his crew."
"Good thing for you, he didn't. I was 15 when I officially joined the crew." Luffy grinned as he witnessed Nami's head grow and her teeth sharpen.
"That's not the point! I mean what could a 15 year old offer a man who has virtually everything in this world?" Nami pondered.
"I am made of lightning." Luffy pointed out much to Nami's chagrin.
"Speaking of… how?" Nami questioned.
"I ate a devil fruit," Luffy replied lamely.
"That's not an answer!"
"Sure it is. I ate a devil fruit and became a lightning man. Doesn't get much easier than that."
"But why? How did you get a devil fruit in the first place and then - by what I'm assuming is luck - met Red-Hair Shanks and joined his crew. If you're not lying about that in the first place."
"Well I'd been travelling with Shanks' crew since I was 14. So I'm sure he was bound to make me a full member at some point. As for my fruit… I found it, ate it, and bam, lightning man." Luffy grinned at her.
"That… explains nothing. It only raises mor-"
"Let it go, witch. It's obvious he doesn't want to tell us. So just let it go so I can get some sleep." Zoro cut her off, his eyes still closed, earning a glare thrown in his direction.
"Fine. Keep your secrets. So just how is it you plan on expanding our crew and obtaining a ship Captain?" Nami stressed the word, already prepared to be unimpressed.
"Eh, I'm sure we'll find a shipyard or something. As for a crew, we'll find them as well." Luffy grinned. "It's what Shanks did. He just wandered around until he had his crew and ship."
Nami just stared at Luffy blankly. "Shanks. Red-hair Shanks wandered around and just... found people to join him?"
"Yep. Just think about all of the adventures he must have gone on finding everyone. Actually he picked up the last of his main crew here in the East Blue. In fact… hey, you know where the Gecko Islands are?" Luffy suddenly asked.
"The Gecko Islands?" Nami thought about it before her memory kicked in, pulling out the maps she'd taken that Buggy had left behind. "Actually yeah. They aren't far from here. Buggy had the islands marked on several maps. Why would you want to go there?"
"I think I may have found us a new crewmate."
0o0o0 Gecko Islands 0o0o0
The Gecko Islands were a small chain of islands consisting of two main islands with four small islands surrounding the two larger ones. Nestled on the largest was a large port city with a Navy outpost to protect it. Numerous towns littered the countryside of the six islands that made up the island chain. However on the smallest island was a single sleepy village with very little to make note of, save for the massive mansion that sat atop the largest hill, overlooking the entire island.
The only other fact that anyone would need to know about this small unlikely village, was the hidden knowledge that the infamous gunslinger pirate Yassop, of the Red-Hair Pirates, had once called it home.
Yassop had never once returned to the sleepy village where he'd left his wife and child in the 12 years since he'd set sail with Red-Hair Shanks. Nor did he show any sign of returning any time soon. The Navy had no idea which island he hailed from and had little information of any family he may have left behind. Thus, the Gecko Islands were left to their own devices. After all, they were just a small chain of islands with one port city in the East Blue. The odds of another major threat coming from there were miniscule.
For twelve years since that infamous pirate had left to make a name for himself, the sleepy village of Syrup he'd left behind woke to peaceful mornings for nearly every single morning. Most of the villagers didn't even know what had truly become of poor Banchina's husband that had left on some adventure with a man with red-hair. The sun rose, the birds chirped, and every single morning they were warned about invading pirates.
"PIRATES!" A skinny boy with thick curly hair, covered by a greenish-brown bandana, cried out as he ran through the waking village. "PIRATES ARE COMING!" He cupped his hands to his face to make his cries as loud as possible. Sticking out from in between his hands was the distinct feature that marked him as Banchina's son, his elongated nose. "Pirates are attacking! Run for your lives!"
This was Ussop, the proud son of a pirate and the village's only source of menace.
As Ussop ran through the town, the townsfolk came out of their homes. In their hands were plows and pitchforks. "That's it. Just one morning, just one morning. It's all we ask! Just give us one morning without you screaming your lies, Ussop!"
"We'll run you out of town for sure this time!"
"Don't let him get away again! This is the morning we take back our peace!"
Ussop only smiled though as he continued to run and spew his lie about pirates attacking. "Pirates attacking… is just a lie! Hahaha! Catch me if you can!"
And so went the usual morning for the small village on the smallest island of the Gecko Islands. Despite the chaos stirred by the liar known as Ussop, it was a peaceful village that had never been attacked by pirates or inspected by the Navy hunting for the family of an infamous pirate like Yassop.
And just off in the distance was a boat with a black sail inching ever closer to the sleepy village and its sleepy villagers, that had never once been attacked by pirates.
0o0o0 Gecko Islands - The Ussop Pirate HQ 0o0o0
"Another well done job of bringing excitement to this boring village!" Ussop exclaimed proudly as he leant against several logs with target markers tacked onto them. "What would they do without me?"
"I told you he'd be here," a young voice spoke excitedly, causing Ussop to look toward the dirt path that led to the Ussop Pirates' HQ.
"Oh, it's you guys!" Before him stood two young boys. One wore a black sweater and a red cap with a skull and crossbones stitched into it and his face was shaped like a carrot. The other wore a light green shirt that had the same skull and crossbones stitched into it with his head shaped as that of a bell pepper.
"Good morning, Captain Ussop!" The two youngsters greeted, raising their wooden swords in salute. "The Ussop Pirates have arrived!"
"Pepper! Carrot! It's just the two of you? Where's Onion?" Ussop asked when a cry rang out from back across the dirt road.
"Terrible news! Terrible news!" A small black blur was running toward them, its cries becoming more and more desperate.
"Is that Onion?" Carrot asked, stepping forward to try and see if it was his friend.
"What's he freaking out about now?" Pepper sighed, thinking that his frightened friend had been spooked by a shadow again.
"Terrible news! Terrible-oof!" Onion tripped over a rock as he came tumbling into the Ussop Pirates' HQ.
"Onion!" The other three ran over to make sure the boy was ok.
Onion dazedly stood up, readjusting his glasses. Upon seeing his two friends and their Captain, Onion immediately began to cry, "It's terrible! Captain, it's like you've always said! Pirates are here!"
Ussop gave a lame stare at the onion shaped headed boy before his upper body seized up in laughter. "Hahaha! That's a good one, Onion! I see you've been working hard at selling your lies. But you can calm down now, no need to get lost in your imagination."
"But Captain, it's the truth. There's a boat with a skull mark at the north shore!" The boy proclaimed with clear determination.
"T-the truth?" Ussop stuttered out. For a brief moment he considered declaring it was time for him to go get a snack. But knowing Onion, the boy was more than likely mistaken about what he'd seen, and that meant a perfect opportunity for a prank.
"It's the truth Captain!" Onion once again proclaimed.
"In that case… it's time for my snack!" Ussop began, making all three boys give him a gobsmacked look. "However! As per my duty as Captain of the Ussop Pirates, I have to defend our turf from any and all attacks from any rival gangs!" Ussop raised his fist high in the air at his declaration. "Who among you is brave enough to follow me into battle!?"
"UNH!" The three boys shouted in unison as they raised their wooden swords, running forth and leaving Ussop behind.
"Oi! Don't charge ahead without me!"
0o0o0 Gecko Islands - North Shore 0o0o0
"...and that was back when I first met them all. Yassop is still the reigning champ in my home village to this day." Luffy finished regaling his two companions about the third commander of the Red-Hair Pirates.
"That's impressive and all, but what does this Yassop have to do with a potential crewmate?" Nami asked, having mostly drowned-out the near constant ramblings about the man that Luffy had been going on about since mentioning he knew where to find a 4th member for their small crew.
"Oh, he's Yassop's son." Luffy nonchalantly dropped as he and Zoro moored the boat onto the beach.
"You want to recruit the biological son of one of the most infamous pirate groups in the world?" Nami found herself staring at the straw-hat pirate for what felt like the millionth time.
"Yeah. In a roundabout way that makes him and I brothers!" Luffy exclaimed excitedly. "Besides, it's not like Yassop is going to show up to fight us over him."
"And how do you know that? Wouldn't it make sense for him to want his son to join his crew?" Nami reasoned.
"Yassop wants Ussop to choose his own path, live his own life. He's been telling me that since I was seven years old. So don't worry about it." Luffy waved her off, movement on the cliffside catching his eye.
"You need to learn how to go with the flow, witch. You might go bald otherwise," Zoro chimed in having also noticed the movement above them, his right hand grasping one of his swords in anticipation.
"I don't want to hear it from the peanut gallery!" Nami glared at the swordsman, not noticing the change in demeanor of her two companions. "Fine, let's just find this guy so we can find more treasure to… acquire! Yes, acquire," Nami couldn't help the belli signs that seemed to replace her eyes at the thought of stealing more treasure from pirates.
Suddenly the sand exploded with life as metal pellets began to rain down upon them, causing Nami to flee back toward the safety of the boat whilst Zoro and Luffy stood still, neither moving. "What's going on!?" Nami cried as more pellets were shot toward her, slamming into the side of the boat she was using to shield herself.
All along the cliffside flags rose from within the bushes and were waved rapidly, the distinct skull and crossbones of a pirate's Jolly Roger stitched into each one.
"Hahahaha! I am Ussop, leader of the great pirates who reign over this village! People praise me, and praise me more, as 'Captain Ussop'!" Standing proudly as he thumbed toward himself with a smirk, was Ussop, staring smugly down at the three pirates. "If you're thinking of attacking this village, then forget it! My 80 million subordinates won't sit by quietly!"
"That's the most unbelievable lie I've ever heard," Nami deadpanned as she stared up at the brown overalls wearing boy. "If you're going to lie, at least make it believable."
Ussop felt beads of sweat roll down the back of his neck as his bluff was called. "O-of course it's the truth! Can't you see that you're surrounded!"
"By three kids?" Nami slyly suggested, noticing the three kids waving the numerous flags in the bushes.
"Wah! She saw through it!" Pepper, Onion, and Carrot shouted, giving away the scam, simultaneously dropping the flags and running away. "Run for it!"
Ussop stared in shock as his three minions, read as disciples, ran away. "Oi! Don't run away!" Eyes bulging, he shakily turned his attention back to the three unknowns that had arrived in a boat with a black sail and Buggy the Clown's Jolly Roger painted on it.
Nami bent down picking up one of the metal pellets that had been shot at her. "I've never heard of pirates using slingshots before. Pretty kiddish if you ask me." She raised the pellet to her face and blew the sand off that had stuck to it, off to inspect it better. That comment caused a flicker of irritation to rise in Ussop.
"Hey! Don't you dare insult me! I'm a very proud man!" Ussop rifled through his bag, pulling out his slingshot once more and loaded another pellet before pulling back the sling and aimed it at Nami. "Because of my great pride, people call me 'Proud Ussop'! You saw it for yourselves just now! My slingshot skills are far greater than your average pistol!"
Nami was about to take cover behind the boat, when she noticed a small spark leap out from Luffy. "Luffy?"
Luffy had been quietly observing Ussop, comparing him to Yassop. Yassop had always been vocal about his pride in his son, despite the fact he'd abandoned his family for a life on the high seas. He was also a prideful man in his gunslinging abilities. He'd seen it up close himself to know that Yassop could back up his outlandish claims on more than one occasion. Even before Shanks' rise as an Emperor, Yassop had always been a skilled marksman. He'd lost count of the number of times the gunslinger had saved his life. He owed the man a debt he'd never be able to pay back.
Luffy grinned from beneath the brim of his straw-hat at the fact that Yassop's skill had definitely been passed down to his son, including his pride. Every sling of Ussop's slingshot had been precise and accurate. Not a single one had gone astray. It was clear Ussop had no intention of causing them harm, having shot around them and taking care to not actually hit any of them. A clear indication of Ussop's naivete and innocent view of the world. They had arrived in a boat marked by the Jolly Roger after all. That was something that would have to be rectified at some point but he could work with this. After he dealt with his future gunslinger's mistake of aiming his weapon at his navigator.
"Now that you've drawn your pistol, put your life on the line," Luffy firmly said, giving Ussop a show with his lightning, letting sparks shoot out in any which direction, taking care to not let any of them arc toward Zoro or Nami.
"Huh?!" Ussop's jaw dropped at the sight of freaking electricity arc out of the straw-hat guy. "The heck is this guy? It… it couldn't be a… those are just a myth! It's gotta be a trick or something like my burning star attack!" Ussop quickly adjusted his aim from Nami, to the newly revealed threat. "T-the he-ck are you?" Sweat poured down his face from the intense feeling he was getting from looking at him.
"I'm saying those aren't for threatening people," was all Luffy said.
Zoro smirked as he realized what his Captain was doing. He had to admit the boy had some skill with the slingshot to have not hit them with any of his earlier shots. But it was clear he wasn't ready for what his Captain wanted him for. But if this was who they were here to collect, he'd do his part. Giving a confident smirk, Zoro flicked one of his black sheathed blades slightly out as he readied himself for battle. "What you're looking at now are real pirates!"
Ussop's grasp on his weapon shook as he stared down at the two confident pirates. It was clear they meant to fight him, kill him even. The one with the swords gave off a particular murderous aura. But the one with the straw-hat was downright menacing. At least until he'd aimed at him that is. It was like everything had changed with that choice of target. While there was still a dangerous air about him, it was nowhere near what it had originally was no time to dwell on that fact as there was still freaking electricity sparking out from him. It was clear to Ussop that there was only one choice.
His sling flew forward as the loaded pellet fell harmlessly to the ground. Ussop sunk to his knees in defeat. "R-Real pirates definitely have way more punch behind their words… awesome."
Luffy gave the defeated self-declared captain a blank stare before his eyes met with Zoro's. "Hahahahahaha!" The two laughed as Luffy addressed Ussop. "We stole those lines!"
"Eh?" Ussop blanched.
"From Red-Hair Shanks, a pirate I respect! Yassop's your dad isn't he?" Luffy asked, already knowing he was speaking to his former crewmate's son.
"S-Shanks?! EH! You know my dad!?"
0o0o0 Gecko Islands - Syrup Village: Meshi Restaurant 0o0o0
"No way." Ussop stared in awe at Luffy, who was happily shoveling as much food into his mouth as he possibly could.
The four of them sat at Ussop's favorite restaurant, the one he occasionally worked at to make some money when he needed it, as he listened to Luffy's tale of being a Red-Hair pirate. Zoro and Nami sat across from Luffy while Ussop sat outside of the booth he'd led them to. Once they'd placed their orders, Luffy told him how Shanks had sailed to his home village and he'd met the entire crew of the Red-Hair pirates, including his father Yassop. He then went on to describe how he'd ventured out on his own five years ago and eventually came across the Red-Hair pirates once again on the high seas. It wasn't long after that that he'd been inducted into the crew as one of its officers once he obtained his devil fruit, showing off his ability to turn into lightning by making his arm glow a brilliant blue.
"I sometimes don't believe it myself. I often think I'll wake up back in Foosha Village," Luffy grinned as he took another bite out of his meat on bone.
Zoro happily drank his beer, tuning his Captain's tale out as he knew enough as it was. If there was more to know, he'd know eventually. All that mattered was that Luffy didn't get in his way to the top. Sooner or later, he'd meet that man and defeat him. There was no other choice.
Nami carefully eyed the grinning idiot. She had hoped she'd be able to glean some more information out of the boy about his past, but had found his explanations to be vague and non-descript. The only real thing she'd learned was that he'd set out on his adventure at the age of 12, clearly inspired by meeting Red-Hair Shanks when he was 7. She did take note however, that he never called himself a pirate unless he was speaking about his current self as the captain of the Straw-hat pirates. Even when he started going on about meeting the Red-Hair pirates again and eventually joining their ranks, he never outright declared himself a pirate. "Why do I care? Once these morons get enough treasure for me, I'm going to rob them blind. Who cares if this idiot thinks he's some big shot, he's nothing more than an idiot."
"He gave you a choice,"a small voice whispered through her head.
"He made a bet that he was lucky enough to win. Nothing else," Nami justified.
"But you didn't have to take him up on it," the voice pointed out. "You could've walked away."
"I can walk away whenever I want!" Nami seethed.
"Then bet your life on it." The steely voice of Luffy echoed inside of her head. She relived the sheer resolve that had exuded from the pirate that had rooted her in that doorway back in Orange Town. How had he captivated her so in that moment? She should've walked away and took off with the map of the Grand Line. Instead she was now in a tavern recruiting the son of a notorious pirate to take up the family business.
Why couldn't she get that penetrating stare out of her mind? The one that had shaken her very soul into agreeing to a bet that would force her to become a pirate, the very thing she detested more than anything else. She needed to know more about this pirate named Monkey D. Luffy. She had to. Because there was no other choice. He gave her-
Nami's thoughts were interrupted by Ussop suddenly jumping out of his seat. "YOU WANT ME TO JOIN YOUR PIRATE CREW!?"
"Of course! Think about it! I apprenticed under Shanks and you're the son of Yassop! That practically makes us brothers! Why wouldn't I want you to join my crew?" Luffy grinned into the disbelieving face of Ussop.
Ussop quickly came over his shock and donned a confident smirk. "I'm honored you want me to join your crew. It's clear to me that you need a competent leader, so I'll gladly become your captain!"
"Pass," all three pirates responded in unison, each of them waving him off.
"So fast!" Ussop's eyes bulged in disappointment in their vote of no confidence.
"But seriously, join me Ussop. I've spent nearly my whole life hearing about you from your dad. And it's clear you inherited his skill. He's one of the greatest sharpshooters to have ever lived, and I know that one day you'll surpass him." All the various times that Yassop would drunkenly ramble on about his son to him flashed through Luffy's head. Despite only knowing him as a child, Yassop was extremely proud of whatever his son was up to on the quiet island that he'd left his family behind on. One particular incident of Yassop's drunken ramblings stuck out the most, as Luffy had nearly died of suffocation from a beer mug being shoved on his head.
"You really think so?" Ussop stared intently at Luffy.
"I do. After all, if I'm going to become King of the Pirates I can only afford to have the best with me." Luffy's statement struck a chord in all three teens.
"You already know I'm going to be the best," Zoro affirmed in his head as he continued to chug down his beer.
"The Great Captain Ussop does have a nice ring to it," Ussop mused as he envisioned himself dashingly standing aboard a gallant ship, only sailing on the most dangerous of seas.
Nami simply looked away, an odd sense of shame filling her.
A clock chimed on the back wall, signaling the afternoon and snapping Ussop out of his illusions of greatness. "Ah! It's that time already!? Look, let me think about this, but right now I have somewhere I have to be! I've got a lot of influence in this village so go ahead and eat as much as you want!" Quickly grabbing his bag, Ussop took off, leaving the three pirates behind.
"Where's he off to in such a rush?" Nami pondered, staring at the entrance to the restaurant Ussop had just run out of.
0o0o0 Gecko Islands - Syrup Village: Mansion Atop the Hill 0o0o0
"Miss Kaya, acting childishly will get you nowhere. That boy is nothing more than a vagabond and more than likely only trying to get at your money," a man in a black suit chided as he poured his mistress a glass of water to go with her daily prescription that the local doctor had ordered.
"He's not a vagabond Klahadore! Ussop is my friend, he and I have known each other since we were little! You have-" Kaya, the mistress of the mansion that overlooked Syrup Village and sole heir to the largest shipping company of the Gecko Islands, began to cough violently from the confines of her bed.
"Miss Kaya!" Klahadore rushed to her side, helping her stay up right and get through the coughing fit.
Once she was in control of herself again Kaya pushed Klahadore away from herself. "I'm fine." She muttered weakly.
"You need to rest Miss Kaya. I don't know what I or the rest of the staff would do if we were to lose you like we did your parents. I know it seems harsh, not letting you be with your friend, but I only want what's best for you. His stories always make you excited and right now you can barely even rest in your bed," Klahadore explained as he sat next to the ill girl. "Please, at least until you are well again, don't see that boy. For your health."
Klahadore sighed as Kaya pulled one of her pillows up to her chest and looked away from him. "I'm leaving your medicine on your night stand. Please make sure to take it. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call for us Miss Kaya," Standing from the bed, he left the girl to her solitude.
"Cheapskate," Kaya mumbled as she laid on her side, stinging tears falling from her eyes.
Ever since her parents had died, she'd been a prisoner in her own home. The staff was always too caught up in her safety, rather than her happiness. She longed for the days that she could roam the countryside with Ussop, imagining grand adventures on the high seas enhanced by Ussop's grand storytelling and wild imagination. How they formed the Ussop Pirates together and set up their base. "Ussop would always make a cute face when he was lost in his thoughts over what prank we'd pull next or what adventure we'd go on." A small smile graced her lips as her memories consumed her.
That all changed when her parents suddenly fell ill and died. If not for Klahadore and Merry, Kaya wasn't sure what would've become of her. Her father's family owned the largest shipping company in all of the Gecko Islands for as long as anyone could remember. Thankfully Merry was taking care of all the finances in her stead, until she came of age and could take over the family business, whilst Klahadore watched over the numerous properties her family owned.
She was all that was left of her prestigious family. She had no aunts or uncles and certainly no siblings. She was alone. At least as long as she was sick, she was. Ussop had promised her that she would always have a place among the Ussop Pirates as First Mate. That one day they would set sail and leave this tiny island and all of their worries behind. They would live the adventures they had once imagined so long ago.
Ussop never viewed her as the heiress of her family's company. She was simply Kaya to him. His friend and first mate. And perhaps-
Tap
"What?" Kaya bolted upright at the sound.
Tap
Turning to her window, she watched intently until it shook, being struck by a pebble from below.
Rushing to the windowsill she opened it and looked down, a smile immediately striking her face.
"Yo, Kaya!" Ussop saluted.
0o0o0 Gecko Islands - Syrup Village: Meshi Restaurant 0o0o0
"What's your favorite color?"
The sudden question from Luffy caused his two crewmates to stare at him in utter confusion.
"What?" Nami asked, raising an eyebrow, noticing the question had been directed at her.
"Your favorite color. You know blue, red, green! Mine's red." Luffy smiled looking down at his red button up.
"Green." Zoro smirked, clearly proud of his natural hair color.
Nami stared at Luffy unsure what was going on. "I... don't… I guess er… I mean blue. I like blue."
"Awesome! What's your favorite food? I love meat! Fire roasted, fresh off the bone is the best! Sea King meat is the absolute best though. When we go to the Grand Line we're definitely stocking up on some." Luffy salivated as he thought about the monstrous sized chunks of meat that he would eat with the Red-Hair Pirates.
"I don't have any dish in particular but my preferred drink is sake." Zoro swished his beer once before downing the last of it.
"Um… what are you doing?" Nami questioned rather than answered.
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
"This. Why are you asking these questions?"
"I want to know my navigator better." Luffy grinned.
"Your? I'm sorry, do I belong to you?" Nami scowled.
"No. But you are my navigator aren't you? It's what we agreed to. You're my navigator and I'm your Captain. Is it really so wrong that I also want to be your friend?" Luffy's genuine smile shattered the rising anger that had been mounting in Nami into a million pieces.
Words failed her.
Friend.
How long had it been since she'd even heard the word? Let alone directed at her? A multitude of emotions raged inside of her at that moment. Anger, hurt, relief, and a feeling she couldn't quite remember. But above all else, there was curiosity.
"Why?" The word left her lips softly as she directed her gaze down at her half-eaten meal.
"Why not?" Luffy asked back.
Nami gave him a confused look. "What do you mean-?"
"The Ussop Pirates have arrived!"
Taking her attention, Nami turned to see the three young boys who had been with Ussop on the beach, marching toward them whilst holding up wooden swords. "What're they doing here?"
"The captain is gone!" Carrot noted as the three reached the Strawhats' booth not seeing Ussop seated with them.
"Y-you don't think…?" Onion trailed off as his suggestion that the Strawhats would eat Ussop, may have actually come true.
"H-hey, pirates! What'd you do with our Captain Ussop?!" Pepper demanded.
Having resumed eating once the boys had stormed in, Luffy gave a satisfied sigh after taking a swig of beer. "Ah! That meat was good!"
"Meat?!" The three boys shrunk into each other as they watched Luffy rub his stomach in horror.
"Don't tell me the captain…" Onion began to suggest the unspeakable.
Nami couldn't help but chuckle at the naivete of the three boys which made them look at her and subsequently Zoro.
"W-what… what did you do with Captain Ussop?!"
Zoro gave the boys a crazed look, unable to stop himself from messing with the frightened boys. "If you're looking for your captain… we ate him."
"Ah! Old hag!" The boys' heads and eyes grew large as they looked at Nami in terror.
"What're you looking at me for?!" Nami screamed at them, her teeth becoming shark-like as she unknowingly fed into the boys' fears, making them fall flat on their backs.
Zoro and Luffy laughed whole-heartedly at the scene, making Nami direct her ire at them. "You just had to say something stupid!" She scowled at them, but couldn't bring herself to fully blame them. Had the boys not insulted her she would've found Zoro's prank funny as well.
0o0o0 Gecko Islands - Syrup Village: Mansion Atop the Hill 0o0o0
"So why would Ussop come here?" Nami asked as the three boys led her, Luffy, and Zoro to the massive mansion that overlooked the village, where they believed Ussop more than likely was.
"To lie," Carrot casually answered, throwing his hands behind his head.
"That's a bad thing to do! I hope he isn't teaching you three that it's ok to lie to others," Nami scolded as she put a hand on her hip.
"Not here it isn't! Right guys?! This is where Lady Kaya lives! So it's ok to lie here!" Pepper beamed in pride, making Nami give him a confused look.
"Why would this Kaya person be ok with lies, is she weird or something?" Luffy asked, ignoring the side glances he received from his first-mate and navigator.
"If anyone here is weird it's you." Nami and Zoro both thought at the same time.
"Lady Kaya is the Captain's first-mate! She was part of the crew before us. She used to play pirates with us and would even bring some of her fancy snacks before she got sick." Onion explained.
"So the Captain decided he would tell her lies about his adventures when he was a kid to cheer her up! She loved all the adventures we had before she had to stay home. She sent us a letter that she'd no longer be able to be in the crew until she was better." Carrot explained.
"Kaya's really awesome though! Her family owns a shipping company on the main island which is why she lives in this big house. She has butlers, horses, and even a ship that we got to sail on once!" Pepper exclaimed as he recalled the vessel Kaya had taken them on to let Merry, Kaya's butler, show them how to sail it.
"A ship you say?" Luffy's ears perked up as he rounded on the green haired child and stared at him with stars in his eyes.
"Er… yeah. It's not a big ship, but it was really cool! It even had a goat head for a figure head!" Pepper sweat dropped but then excitedly detailed for Luffy.
"You think this Kaya would sell it?" Luffy asked before his ear was snatched into Nami's tight grip.
"And just where did you get money, Mr. Broke?" Nami questioned as she tightened her grip.
"I thought you could lend-OW!" Nami twisted his ear before he could finish.
"And. I. Thought. It. Was. Clear... I need that money for myself!"
"It's our money, witch. We all fought equally for it." Zoro didn't flinch as she turned on him. "Besides, if this chick is willing to sell us a ship, it's in your best interest to help pay for it. After all, you really want to sail around with that much money in that small, what was it you called it… oh yeah 'dinghy.'" Zoro smirked, knowing he'd presented a catch 22 before the girl.
Nami let go of Luffy's ear, slamming both her hands on her hips. "You think I don't know that?" She then gave a curt 'hmph' as she crossed her arms under her chest.
"Then why are you complaining?" Zoro smirked as Nami steamed in silence.
"Well we're not going to get a ship standing out here. How do we get in?" Luffy asked the boys rubbing his ear as he shot a pout at Nami.
"I didn't pinch that hard!"
"Captain has made a hole in the fence in the back corner in the wall that he uses," Onion explained.
"He sneaks in? What is he, a thief?" Nami unironically questioned.
"No, he's a pirate!" the three boys exclaimed at once.
"That sounds like it'll take too long," Luffy commented. "I already found him. We can jump over. Zoro you bring them," Luffy pointed at the boys before striding over to Nami. "And I've got you."
Before Nami realized what was happening she found herself wrapped in Luffy's embrace. "Who said you could - kyaaa!" Nami quickly wrapped her arms around Luffy's neck as he leapt into the air and over the wall.
0o0o0 Gecko Islands - Syrup Village: Outside Kaya's Room 0o0o0
"That was when I realized I was standing on the massive goldfish's poop!" Ussop explained as Kaya rolled with laughter, Ussop joining her having finished his latest rendition of his pirate adventures as a child.
They continued laughing for a minute before they were able to calm down, Kaya wiping a tear from her eye. "I missed your silly adventures Ussop."
"I missed telling them to you." Ussop replied with a content smile on his face.
"Ussop… when I'm better… I… will you-" Kaya's question was interrupted as a scream came sailing over the mansion wall.
"- Kyaaa!" landing just next to them was a black-haired teen with a straw-hat on his head and an orange-haired girl holding on to him for dear life.
Ussop and Kaya stared at the two in bewilderment.
"We've landed Nami you can-" Luffy was unable to finish as he was quickly tackled to the ground.
"Don't just grab me without permission!" Nami yelled, grabbing him by the collar and shaking him violently.
"My bad, my bad!" Luffy chuckled, which only irritated the girl even more, causing her to shake him harder.
"Oi! If you're going to do that, get a room first." Zoro chimed in, having landed moments ago, Pepper, Onion, and Carrot in a pile at his feet.
Nami looked down, realized she was straddling Luffy's lap, and immediately jumped up completely red in the face. "S-shut up."
"Hahahahahaha!"
The three pirates finally looked over toward Ussop and Kaya, who was laughing at the scene before her.
"I'm sorry!" Kaya continued to laugh as she tried to calm herself down. "That was just too funny."
"What are you guys doin- I mean, these guys heard of our reputation and travelled far to join the Ussop pirate gang!" Ussop lied to try to explain Luffy, Nami and Zoro's sudden appearance.
"No we didn't," all three pirates answered as they once again waved Ussop off.
"You didn't even consider it!"
Ignoring Ussop, Luffy stood up and stepped forward. "My name's Monkey D. Luffy and I'm a pirate. I came here to make a request."
"A request of me?" Kaya gave Luffy a genuine look of surprise.
"Yeah! I heard that you have a ship and I'd like to buy it from you." Luffy ignored Nami's pointed glare being thrown at his back.
"You want to buy a ship from me?"
"Those boys said you took them sailing on it. I'm in need of a bigger vessel to continue my journey as a pirate. We have plenty of money to buy it from you."
"The Going Merry…" Kaya couldn't remember the last time she'd seen the small caravel. Not since before her parents… shaking her head, she determinedly looked at Luffy. "You're really a pirate?"
"Sure am! Have a bounty and everything! I just need-"
"We are not in the business of selling ships to pirates, let alone Lady Kaya's personal vessel!" Klahadore suddenly stormed into the well kept yard.
"Ugh, Klahadore's here." Ussop grimaced at the sight of the butler.
Carrot, Onion, and Pepper ran in front of Ussop as they glared up at the butler that had prevented Kaya from hanging out with them.
Kaya paled at the sight of her irate butler. "Klahadore…"
Zoro gave the man a stare, not caring for the butler's presence.
Nami stepped closer to Luffy, not liking the glare the man was directing at their group.
Luffy raised a brow, as he observed the man. "He's different."
"I'm afraid you'll all have to leave. Now. Lady Kaya is unwell and needs her rest," Kuro explained, raising his hand to adjust his slipping glasses with his palm.
"Klahadore, I want to-"
"You don't have to explain! You can tell me later. Now all of you leave. Or was there something you wanted to say?" Klahadore asked.
"I'm here to buy a ship," Luffy stated.
"Out of the question. Hmm?" Having eyed the small group, Klahadore had finally taken notice of Ussop. "I thought I told you not to return. Your tall tales disturb Lady Kaya and will not be tolerated any longer. Do I have to involve the local marines or were you saying your final goodbyes just now?" Klahadore once again adjusted his glasses.
"I merely heard there was a huge mole inside the mansion and my friends and I decided to check it out. You do have one don't you?" Ussop challenged.
"Going with the lies again I see. Is that what you do at night? Lie to yourself about why you're alone? A dead mother and a filthy pirate for a father. I'm surprised at what the common folk have to say about you. Pride in being the son of a pirate? If I were you, I'd at least lie and say he was a marine."
"Did you say filthy?" Ussop scowled as he clenched his teeth.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he was dead. Some nameless deadbeat with delusions of treasure and-"
"Hahahahahaha!"
"Hmm?" Klahadore looked toward the laughing teen that had tried to strike what was no doubt an underhanded deal with Lady Kaya and glared. "And what's so funny?"
Luffy composed himself before settling a small smirk on his face. "I know Ussop's father. Up until recently I sailed on the same crew as him. He's anything but a nameless deadbeat."
"That's right! My father is a member of Red-Hair Shanks' crew! And I'm proud to be his son!" Ussop boldly exclaimed. "I don't ever have to pretend that I'm not!"
"More lies. Is pretending he's on a Yonko's ship how you console-"
"Klahadore that's enough!" Kaya yelled. "I'm sorry about-"
"Lady Kaya it's unbecoming for one of your stature to apologize to vermin such as this!" Klahadore reprimanded.
"Is that really how a butler speaks to his mistress?" Nami spoke up seeing the blonde girl shrink into herself, losing all will to reign in her servant.
"What-? How dare you! Enough of this! All of you leave before I call the guards and let the local detachment know pirates are milling about!"
Nami went to continue her dressing down of the butler, but felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning she saw Luffy shaking his head. "But-"
"We'll go." Luffy then gave Zoro a nod before collecting his navigator in his arms once again. "Bring him too." Luffy nodded at Ussop.
"What- hey!" Ussop found himself thrown over Zoro's shoulder, Carrot, Onion and Pepper squeezed together under his armpit.
"Not agaaaaaa-!" Nami cried as Luffy jumped back into the sky and up and over the wall, Zoro right behind him.
0o0o0 Gecko Islands - Syrup Village 0o0o0
"What a complete jerk! How can a guy like that still have a job?" Nami ranted to vent her frustrations, Luffy laid out at her feet, several lumps growing atop his head.
The Strawhats plus Ussop were walking down one of the various country roads with no real destination in mind. The boys had already departed, mentioning they had to finish chores at home.
"I don't like him either. But he's been the head butler for 2 years now, there's not much to be done about it," Ussop sighed.
"Still, it's odd that he'd treat her like a misbehaving child rather than listening to her," Luffy said, walking alongside everyone no worse for the wear.
"He's been like that since Kaya's parents died a year and a half ago. As much as I don't like him, he's only had her best interests in mind. I think."
"You think?" Zoro raised an eyebrow at that.
"...It may be nothing, but... Not too long after he became the head butler her parents died in a boating accident. And ever since he's been completely focused on Kaya. To the point he hardly lets the other servants attend to her."
"That is suspicious," Nami agreed.
"Suspicious, but nothing more. Klahadore has been her main caretaker even before he became the head butler. I just wish there was more I could do for her." Ussop's shoulders sagged as depression settled in.
"...Well, if there's nothing truly pressing, I'm going to go train. Been too long since I've had a good session." Zoro split off, waving at the others as they continued down the path towards the cliffs of the island.
"Does a guy like him even need to train?" Ussop questioned, jealous of the green-haired man's ripped physique.
"Of course. His goal is to become the world's best swordsman. He can't afford getting lazy. Especially if he wants to take on that guy." Luffy smiled knowingly.
"That guy?" Nami asked.
"It doesn't matter for now. Speaking of training… is a slingshot all you use?" Luffy turned to Ussop.
"Er… yeah. I haven't really needed anything else before. Besides, my skill outmatches even the greatest of marksmen! They call me 'Ussop the Accurate' after all." The long nosed boy pointed at himself in pride.
"And if you joined my crew would you still use a slingshot?" Luffy continued to question.
"Um… I suppose. My sling is my best weapon. I also have a hammer, caltraps, and…" Ussop suddenly got real close to Luffy to whisper to him, "Don't tell anyone but I've got some secret ammo I've been working on as well."
"Interesting. To be honest, I was thinking of just buying you a pistol," Luffy said casually, as both Nami and Ussop tripped over themselves.
"A-a-a pistol!?" Ussop stammered.
"You've got to be joking! You can't just give someone a gun. He's just a kid," Nami chastised.
"Hey, I'm not a kid! We're practically the same age!"
"It doesn't matter how old he is. He needs a weapon that can stop enemies." Luffy continued, glancing from Nami to Ussop. "A slingshot can't do that."
"Hey! My sling can stop anyone in the East Blue!" Ussop protested as the trio came to a stop at the cliffside.
"I'm not planning on staying in the East Blue. Where I'm going, there are men that can withstand being shot hundreds of times by rifles. Men that have no fear of death. I'm not saying you shouldn't use your slingshot, but you have to be able to stop people like me if you want to live." At this Luffy allowed sparks to start springing from his body. "Do you really think you could stop me if I wanted to plunder your village?"
Ussop looked at Luffy in fear. "I-I…"
"Stop with the scare tactics already!" Nami cut in, hands on her hips. "Also, I think it's unfair to use yourself as an example of a plundering pirate, Mr Devil Fruit. It's not very common to run into someone like you, now is it?"
Luffy turned his gaze back to the orange haired girl. "I'm going to return to the Grand Line, Nami. There are people there that are far stronger than me. People that have the same goal as me." Seeing both of their gazes locked on him, Luffy continued slowly, making sure he got his point across. "It's not going to be easy. In fact, it will be the most difficult thing in the world. And I want you to come with me." His black eyes locked onto theirs. "And I want you to be able to protect yourselves. A slingshot will not cut it."
After a pause, Luffy smiled sheepishly, dispelling the heavy air. "But you're right Nami. I'm not a good example of a pirate, shishishi. And you should be fine in the East Blue, Ussop. Just keep my words in mind, ok?" Unconsciously, Luffy's hand lightly pressed against his right side.
"Y-yeah," Ussop responded, unsure what to make of Luffy's advice.
Nami noticed Luffy's hand pressed against his side and the seemingly far away look that overcame him. "That's odd."
Before Nami could ask about the odd gesture a voice echoed its way up at them.
"I told you not to show yourself in the village." The irritated voice of Klahadore rang out drawing the attention of the two pirates and town nuisance.
Down below them was Klahadore and a strangely dressed man.
"Hey what's-" Ussop found himself being shoved to the ground with Luffy by Nami.
"Don't shove peo-" Luffy felt the agony of new lumps forming on his head, effectively quieting him.
"Shh!" Nami glared before turning her gaze back down at the beach.
"But Captain, there's no other way to get here. And it's not like I stand out." The other man, dressed in a large blue hat, a blue jacket over his white tee, long white socks going up to his dark beige pants and disappearing into his black flats, suddenly pulled out a metallic ring attached to a string and swayed it back and forth. "I don't stand out! 1,2,3!-"
"Don't!" Klahadore interrupted the hypnotist. "I trust the preparations for the plan are ready. I'd be very disappointed if they weren't."
"Of course. The crew is ready and we can start anytime to carry out the 'Rich Girl Assassination Plan'!" Jango announced.
Nami couldn't help the gasp that escaped her lips.
"Assassination!?" Ussop cried out, his eyes glued to his friend's butler that was planning to assassinate her.
Luffy scowled at the two men. He was no saint himself - far from it - but there were lines he wouldn't cross.
"I told you not to call it that. 'Assassination' is too strong of a word for what must be done. Accident is far more appropriate." Klahadore adjusted his glasses.
"Of course, of course it will be an 'accident'," Jango affirmed.
"We can't simply kill her. Lady Kaya has to perish in the most unfortunate of accidents. Don't mess that up!"
"So basically on your signal, the men and I storm the village and kill the girl. And then you'll get her inheritance."
"No! You incompetent fool. How can I, an outsider, inherit her estate!?" Klahadore glared at the other man.
"You'll work hard to?" Jango pumped his fist in encouragement.
"Working hard won't amount to anything. No. For this plan to work I need you, Jango."
"Me?"
"Listen carefully. Before you kill her, you'll use hypnosis to make Kaya write her will and leave all that she owns to me. It must say, "I leave my entire fortune to my butler, Klahadore." It must say that, or the past three years will have been for nothing!"
"I can't believe this guy. Has this been his plan all along?" Ussop questioned.
"We won't let him get away with it," Nami offered in assurance, seeing the other teen tremble.
"So that's what this has been all about the last three years? It didn't make sense when you decided to leave the pirate's life back then. The Black Cat pirates were a force to be reckoned with because we had you, Captain Kuro." Jango revealed. "In no time at all you set up a subordinate to be arrested as you and executed for the whole world to see, and 'Kuro of the Thousand Plans' disappeared."
"Do not call me that. I abandoned that name three years ago. I now want to obtain a vast fortune without the government on my back. Captain Kuro could never manage such a thing, but Klahadore the butler can. In other words, I'm a pacifist."
Jango couldn't help but laugh. "Some pacifist you are, killing off an entire rich family for this 'peace' of yours."
"Hey now. The parents really did die on their own. I hadn't planned on that," the now revealed Captain Kuro admitted as he once again adjusted his glasses.
"Well it doesn't matter. What does, is when you'll finally give the signal. We've been sitting in the waters near here for a whole week now. The men are starting to grow impatient."
"Who's Captain Kuro?" Luffy asked, swinging his legs back and forth out of boredom.
"Eh? Captain Kuro was said to be the smartest and most brutal pirate of all!" Sweat poured down Ussop's face. "Word had it the navy caught and executed him three years ago, but he's been alive this whole time, living as Klahadore."
"This is bad, Luffy. Even I've heard of Kuro and they were all horror stories. He usually leaves no survivors, unless he wants to make a point." Nami shuddered as she remembered being told about Kuro. Whilst the stories were nothing compared to him, she still didn't sleep well when she found out just how terrible 'Kuro of the Thousand Plans' was.
"I see." Luffy stood up, brushing himself off. "You two head back into town and warn everyone. Nami, find Zoro."
"What about you?" Nami asked
"I'm going to ask them not to attack Kaya." Luffy smiled before jumping off the cliff.
Nami and Ussop just stared numbly at where Luffy was standing just moments ago, before turning toward each other.
"Did he just-?" Ussop began, only to be interrupted by the grinding of Nami's teeth as she hung her head in her hands.
"It's official. I hate him."
0o0o0 To Be Continued 0o0o0