News About Usopp
Chapter 4
It felt like an usual day in every way. The sun was shining, birds were singing and people of Syrup Village were working hard. But some of them couldn't enjoy this peaceful day.
Piiman, Ninjin and Tamanegi were silently sitting on the bench in the village's square. Beside Piiman was a today's newspaper whose headline in the front page had got cold sweat rise to the boys' skin immediately when they had seen it:
Straw Hat Pirates Completely Defeated!
An article in the front page told how Bartholomew Kuma, one of the Seven Warlords, defeated all members of the Straw Hat Pirates all by himself in Sabaody Archipelago. The wanted posters of the Straw Hat Pirates were also included in the article. But what had happened to them? Were the Straw Hat Pirates arrested by the Marines or had they died? For boys' frustration, it wasn't told in the article.
What had happened to their captain?
"Hey... Do you think that Kaya-san will get over from this?" Ninjin asked quietly from others.
Usopp wasn't the only person the boys were worried about. They had rushed to meet Kaya in order to check that she was alright after they had read news about the Straw Hat Pirates' defeat. But unfortunately the guards didn't allow them to enter in the mansion.
"Kaya-sama isn't feeling well today," Stanford, the guard with beard, informed the boys at the gate. "That's why we must ask you to leave, please."
"That's not fair!" Piiman shouted. "At least let us see if she's alright!"
"Kaya-sama has said that she doesn't want to meet anyone today," Gary, the guard with slicked back hair, said with stern tone. "So leave, please."
Finally the boys hadn't other choices but to leave, no matter how worried they were from Kaya.
"What's wrong, boys?"
The boys were started out of their thoughts and noticed Mornin standing in front of them.
"You seem so depressed that something must be wrong. What's the matter?" Mornin asked worriedly.
"It... It's about this article in the front page," Piiman said quietly as he gave the newspaper to the mayor.
Mornin read the article and he frowned in worry. "Oh no..." he sighed.
"They don't even tell what happened to the Straw Hat Pirates, so we don't know if Captain is alright or not," Tamanegi said frustratedly.
"You're right," Mornin said with serious expression. "The article really doesn't tell what had happened to them."
"What had happened and to whom?" Rose asked curiously as she and her husband, pastor Ross, happened to walk past of them.
"We were talking about that pirate group Usopp joined," Mornin explained. "Apparently they disappeared after losing a fight to one of the Warlords."
Rose gasped in shock and covered her mouth with her hand. Ross' eyes widened. "That's horrible! Is Usopp alright?" Ross asked.
"I don't know. The article doesn't tell what happened to them after the fight," Mornin replied. "But I'm sure that Usopp is alright. He's quick on his feet."
The boys sighed in relief after hearing this, happy that here was somebody who believed that their captain was alive.
"I don't think it helps in any way," remarked Joe who had heard their conversation. "That warlord probably killed them and disposed their corpses. It's possible that Usopp has already buried under the ground."
The boys, Mornin, Ross and Rose stared at the fisherman with shocked expressions.
"It isn't true!" Piiman shouted as he rose from the bench. "It can't be true!"
"Captain can't be dead!" Tamanegi shouted on the verge of tears.
"But pirates kill each others constantly," Joe argued just when Brett happened to walk past of them.
"Has that idiot got himself killed already?" Brett asked.
"No!" boys shouted in unision. "Captain isn't dead!"
"But how could he had survived when they were facing the Warlord of the World Government?" Ross asked with worried expression.
"Oh, why he had to ruin his life?" Rose groaned mournfully.
"This is what you get when you dream about stupid things like being a pirate," Brett said darkly.
"He should had stayed at home and learn to do something useful," Joe snorted.
"That's enough!" Mornin snapped, startling everyone. "We don't know what had happened to Usopp and his friends after the fight, so it's possible that he's still alive! Stop speaking like his dead is confirmed!"
Joe opened his mouth to say something but Mornin silenced him with a stern look. Ross, Rose, Joe and Brett glanced at each others briefly before they scattered and returned back to their works.
But without others knowing, Brett paused after he had walked behind a corner of one building. "That stupid brat..." he muttered as he wiped a corner of his eye.
The boys sat back on the bench.
"Captain is alright, isn't he?" Tamanegi asked from the mayor.
"Just like I said earlier, the article doesn't tell that they would be dead, so it's possible that Usopp and his friends are still alive." Mornin said.
"I agree."
Mornin and the boys turned in the direction of voice and noticed Merry standing nearby.
"Merry!" Piiman exclaimed. "Is Kaya-san alright?"
"We tried to visit her earlier but the guards didn't let us in the mansion," Ninjin told.
"I know. They told me that you had visited earlier and I really appreciate your concern toward Kaya-sama," Merry said as he sat down on the bench. "Unfortunately the article shocked her so badly that she needed some rest."
"But she'll be alright, right?" Tamanegi asked.
Merry sighed mournfully. "I really would like to say that everything will be alright but... After reading the article Kaya-sama seemed so depressed that I'm afraid that she'll fall sick again. And when I remember how little I was able to do for her during her previous illness..." Merry said unhappily as he hung his head.
The boys and Mornin stared at Merry with worried expressions.
"Kaya-san must not become unhappy again!" Piiman said.
"Yeah, but Captain isn't here cheering her up anymore," Ninjin said.
"And we can't bring Captain back because we don't know what had happened to him," Tamanegi sighed.
"That's exactly why!" Merry said suddenly, earning both the boys and the mayor's attention. "We can't do anything to help Usopp-kun. Only thing we can do is believe. Believe that Usopp-kun is alright and that he'll come back. Kaya-sama too needs to believe in it and only you can help," Merry announced with determined expression. "That's why I'm asking you to support Kaya-sama. Please. For the sake of both her and Usopp-kun."
The boys stared at Merry for a moment. Then Tamanegi said to others: "Merry is right. Kaya-san needs us."
"That's true! And we know that our captain can survive from any situations," Ninjin said. "Surely he's alive!"
"Captain would be ashamed of us if we wouldn't take care of Kaya-san!" Piiman confirmed.
The boys turned to face their friend's butler again. "Let's go visit Kaya-san now!" they decided.
Merry smiled gratefully to them.
"Well, looks like it's time for me to return back to my work," Mornin said with a smile as he gave the newspaper back to Piiman. "Say hi to Kaya-sama from me."
"Yes, mayor Mornin," the boys answered in unision before they left towards the mansion with Merry.
Soon they had arrived to their destination and Merry guided them to a door of Kaya's room.
Merry knocked the door and said with audible voice: "Kaya-sama. The boys have come to meet you." Without waiting her response, Merry opened the door and let the boys into the room.
Kaya was sitting on the chair and watching out of the window.
"Hello, Kaya-san," the boys said.
"Hello, boys," Kaya replied quietly as she turned her attention from the window to them. The boys noticed immediately how unhappy Kaya looked.
"You don't need worry about Captain! He'll be alright!" Piiman promised as he tried to sound convincing.
"That's right! He fought so well against Kuro's pirate group!" Ninjin said.
"This is completely different!" Kaya exclaimed, surprising the boys. Then she turned her eyes at her hands on her lap. "I'm hoping that Usopp-san and his friends are alright. But their opponent was a warlord, much stronger pirate than Kuro. I'm... I'm so worried about them," Kaya told.
"Don't you believe in Captain, Kaya-san?" Ninjin demanded.
"Of course I believe in Usopp-san but-" Kaya began as she turned to face the boys again.
"The mayor and Merry noted that the article didn't say anything about Captain and his friends being dead!" Piiman pointed out.
"Yeah! Maybe they just had to retreat after their fight with that warlord and they're now hiding somewhere. Captain is good at hiding," Tamanegi reminded.
"Listen to them, Kaya-sama," Merry encouraged his mistress. "If they would be dead, it would had been told in the newspaper, especially after what happened in Enies Lobby. But since nothing like that had been written, it's very possible that Usopp-kun and his friends are still alive."
"That's right! So believe in Captain, Kaya-san!" Piiman exclaimed.
Kaya stared speechlessly at them for moment. Then she smiled little bit.
"Boys... Merry... Thank you," Kaya sighed. "And sorry. I know that Usopp-san is strong but maybe I was just thinking that it wouldn't hurt so much when they decide to announce news about their demise if I assume that the worst had happened. But you're right. I can't believe that I allowed myself lost my faith in Usopp-san."
Although Kaya was smiling little bit, she looked still a little bit depressed. The boys knew that should do something else to cheer her up. Then Tamanegi got an idea.
"Kaya-san, have you ever heard how the Usopp Pirates were formed?" Tamanegi asked.
"Well, I don't know all the details," Kaya answered.
"In that case we'll tell you about it," Tamanegi said with smile as the boys sat down on other chairs. Merry smiled and left the boys to tell Kaya about adventures of the Usopp Pirates as he went to a kitchen to prepare tea and biscuits for them.
To be continue...
