This is the 9th chapter. I don't own the series of One Piece.
No flame reviews.
Jango the Hypnotist and Klahadore's True Name! Kuro, Captain of the Black Cat Pirates!
Gecko Island
At the outside of the village, the man was moonwalking towards the village to meet up with someone, until he heard a rustle as he turned.
"Who's there?" He questions, not letting his guard down, but only saw that the sheep was eating a grass.
He is a skinny, gray-haired man who appears to favor strange flamboyant clothes; the most notable of there are his red heart-shaped glasses which disguise his heart-shaped eyes and matching eyebrows and had a striped beard-like growth on his chin. He wore a flavored blue wide-rimmed hat, white shirt, blue jacket, olive-green trousers, gloves, and black shoes with tall white socks.
Meanwhile at the mansion, Klahadore saw Usopp on the top of the tree branch, four pirates, and three children trespassing in the mansion since he ordered them to leave. Ventus then sniff the air which he's getting the butler's scent which he knew that something was off about him as Kaya spoke.
"Uh, actually Klahadore, these people are-"
"Not now, Kaya." Klahadore interrupts, adjusting his glasses without looking at her. "You can tell me all about this riff-raff after they've left. Now get out! All of you! Leave now unless you have some business with me."
"Alright, do you think you can help us get a ship?" Luffy asks with a grin.
"Certainly not!" Klahadore denies, adjusting his glasses. Leaving Luffy groaned as the butler then noticed Usopp was hiding from behind the tree. "Usopp!"
"Crap!" Usopp cursed, got caught.
"You have quite the reputation. You are very well-known in this village." Klahadore said while Usopp climbs back up.
"Sure am." Usopp said with a chuckle. Kaya didn't like where that goes as the butler spoke.
"I hear you've been on many adventure. Quite impressive for someone as young as you." Klahadore praised with sarcasm which he knew Usopp that he's a well-known liar.
"Usually, people who admired me so much call me Captain." Usopp lied when he's at the top of the tree branch. "So it's Captain Usopp to you."
"Captain, huh?" Klahadore said with a smirk, adjusting his glasses as he chuckles. "Your father also had something of a reputation."
"What!?" Usopp exclaimed with a scowl, Kaya knows that the butler struck a nerve.
"Klahadore, please just stop!" Kaya pleads, but Klahadore ignored her.
"You'll never be anything more than a son of a filthy pirate." Klahadore stated with his serious expression. "Who knows what sort of trouble you're up to now. All I ask that you and your kind leave this respectable young lady alone."
Kaya didn't like this situation since Klahadore was making a mockery out of Usopp and his father Yasopp.
"A filthy pirate!" Usopp repeats with anger.
"You and she are from completely different worlds and you know it." Klahadore taunts. "Is it money you're after? How much do you want?"
"Seize this at once, Klahadore!" Kaya shouts. "Apologize to him!"
"Hey calm down, Kaya." Usopp tried to assure her.
"I don't believe there's any reason to apologize to this savage young man, my lady." Klahadore told her, adjusting his glasses as Usopp was getting more angry. "My goal isn't to slander, I am merely stating a truth. I sympathize with your situation. You must hate your great idiot of a father for abandoning his family and his village. Because of his mindless lust for treasure."
"Klahadore, stop!" Kaya shouts, but this is the last straw for Usopp since he won't stand this any longer.
"Don't you dare insult my father ever again!?" Usopp growled with anger, jumping down at the branch when the grappling hook grab hold of the branch, landing safely down to the ground as the grappling hook then recoils right at his satchel.
"Why have you gotten yourself worked up, Usopp?" Klahadore questions with a smirk, adjusting his glasses. "It's times like these when you should do what you do best and lie. Tell me about how your father is really a traveling salesman or about how you weren't related by blood."
"Enough!" Usopp yelled when he rushed after him, punching the butler when Kaya gasp with shock along with the three boys and Luffy's crew. Klahadore was sent flying down to the ground. Luffy knew that Yasopp was a great pirate and a great marksman which Klahadore have tarnished his name when Usopp couldn't stand him taunting his father.
"Case in point, he resorts to violence! I guess the apple never falls far from a tree, does it?" Klahadore mocks, adjusting his glasses.
"Shut up!?" Usopp yelled at him. "My father listen to his heart and chose a life of risk and adventure! I am proud to say that my old man is a brave warrior of the sea. You're right, I have been known to exaggerate from time-to-time, but I will never lie to who my father is. I refuse to be ashamed of my heritage! I am the son of a pirate!"
This atmosphere was getting tense when Usopp would lie about his own made-up adventures, but he'd never lie about Yasopp and wasn't ashamed of his heritage of a pirate. Klahadore then laughs about his father and spoke.
"Pirates are brave warriors of the sea, are they?" Klahadore mocks with a smirk, stood up. "That's quite of a twisted way of putting things. You don't seem to understand that you're a living proof of his savage blood. You ran around spouting lies and use violence when you don't get your way. To top it off, you cozy up to the lady of the house just to steal her fortune."
"You're wrong!?" Usopp exclaimed. "I only-"
"Your father is a filthy no good pirate! Treachery is in your blood! Of course, you would have such an evil scheme!" Klahadore shouts with a taunt, but Usopp then grabbed his collar with anger.
"You won't let up, will you!?" Usopp growled, getting ready to punch him.
"Stop it Usopp! Please!" Kaya shouts, causing him stop. "No more violence, I can't take it! Klahadore isn't a bad person, he's just...he's just trying to do what he thinks is best for me and sometimes he goes too far."
Usopp then began to loosen his grip of Klahadore's collar, causing him to slap his hand.
"Leave this place." Klahadore demands with his scowl. "You are never to come here again!"
"Yeah, I get it. You don't have to tell me twice, buddy." Usopp said as he then walked away. "This is the last you'll ever see of me."
Usopp then ran out of the mansion since he's still angry at Klahadore insults his father. Kaya was sad to see him leave which she wanted him to stay. The three boys then rushed in front of the butler with their angry look.
"Hey, you butler jerk! Our Captain is not that kinda guy!" Carrot shouts.
"You stupid jerk face!" Pepper added.
"Jerk face!" Onion added.
"Jerk face!" Luffy adds with a shout, earned a bonk on a head from Zoro.
"Shut up! You don't have a bone to pick with him." Zoro pointed out.
Klahadore then snarled at the three children, causing them to ran and hide behind Nami, much to her dismay.
"What are you doing? Don't hide behind me!?" Nami exclaimed while Zoro restrained Luffy before he would make it worse. Klahadore then adjust his glasses with a scowl and spoke.
"You will all leave immediately!" Klahadore shouts with a demand. With that, they left the mansion without saying a word to the butler.
When everything was settled down, Kaya buried her face in a pillow, crying while coughing. She heard a knock on a door, revealing Klahadore opens the door while walking towards with a kitchen trolley and her supper.
"Your meal is ready, Miss Kaya." Klahadore informed her.
"No thank you, I don't want it." Kaya told him, muffling. Klahadore then stopped with a sigh since she doesn't want her food.
"The cook would be most upset to hear you say that." Klahadore said. "He works his hardest day and night to come up with delicious meals that suit your needs."
He then began to pour the hot water on the teapot as Kaya spoke.
"Why were you cruel to him?" Kaya questions, causing Klahadore to stop pouring the hot water. "I know I was wrong to talk to Usopp without telling you, I'll admit that much and I'm very sorry for not being honest with you. But this situation did not warrant that kind of harsh treatment."
Klahadore then looked at her for a few seconds, putting the pot down while looking back at her.
"May I sit down?" Klahadore asks her permission.
"Go ahead." Kaya answered without looking at him.
He then sat on the edge of the bed next to her as he spoke.
"It has been quite some time since I first arrived at this house." Klahadore said. "Soon it will be three years that I have been under the service of your family. I will never forget what happened when I showed up at your father's door."
Kaya then looked at him when she remembered the time when she first met Klahadore three years ago, she was pouring the water on the flowers with a smile when she noticed him walking towards at the front gates, all in rags and lying on the ground, dying.
"My former employers were brutal, pitiless men, I'd been kicked off this ship I've been worked on for some small blunder I had made. And with no work or money, I was on a verge of dying like a beggar." Klahadore said when he remembered that the guards told him to leave, but her father then ordered the guards to let him in. "As far as I know, I would've died without your fathers help, I owe my life to your parents. And now that they're gone, I owe my life to you. I know that it isn't my place to interfere with your friendships, I wouldn't have taken such a bold step unless I thought it absolutely necessary. It's just that Usopp isn't exactly known for this upstanding character. You see, if anything were to happen to you, it would be my fault for not seeing to your safety and I would never be able to ask forgiveness from your parents. Do you ill of me for my childish behavior earlier today?"
"No, of course I don't." Kaya answered with a smile. "I'm thankful to have you around to, Klahadore. But I stand my opinion, Usopp is one of the nicest people I know."
"We'll see about that." Klahadore said, stood up while adjusting his glasses. "Until then, he is still not welcome here."
"Klahadore! You blockhead!" Kaya said with a pout.
"'Blockhead' will do just fine." Klahadore said, smiling.
Meanwhile, the man was moonwalking towards the village slowly while Nami and others were waiting for their Captian which he left them behind, probably try to find Usopp as Nami spoke.
"Hey, where'd Luffy go?" Nami asks curiously.
"Who knows. He'd probably ran after that 'Captain'." Zoro answered with a shrug.
"I bet he's at his secret spot." Pepper guessed.
"Yeah, over by the shore. He always go there when he's gonna think something over." Carrot agrees.
"Hey, is there someplace I can use for practice?" Ventus asks.
"You can use our hideout." Pepper suggested.
"Alright, lead the way." Ventus said.
That got Zoro's attention as the boys led the pirates to their hideout, when they arrived Ventus looked around.
"Yeah, that'll do." Ventus said.
"Hey kid, mind if I join?" Zoro asks. "I could use some practice."
Ventus gave him nod as he drew out his lance while Zoro drew his white katana. The boys then watched the two spar each other which they were amazed of those two. Nami noticed that Ventus and Zoro were in sync when they parried and counter each others attacks, but noticed the young Dragoon began to leap and dive after the swordsman, causing him to block his attack. Ventus took a few steps back as he spoke.
"I'm impressed Zoro. Your swordsmanship is a force to be reckon with." Ventus compliments with a smirk.
"Thanks, you're not bad yourself kid." Zoro said with a smirk. "I'm actually impressed of your spearman skills."
They then get back into fighting, leaving Nami smiled that these two were practicing and sparring each other.
"Should we go see?" Pepper questions curiously, earned her attention.
"He'll be fine. Luffy can take care of himself." Nami assures him. "But where's your other friend?"
"Oh yeah, Onion." Carrot and Pepper said in unison.
"Come to think of it, he just up and disappears a lot." Pepper said.
"Yeah. And then he shows up out of nowhere all freaked out." Carrot added.
Until, Onion rushed towards them at the hideout with panic expression on his face as he spoke.
"TERRIBLE NEWS, GUYS!" Onion yelled.
"You see?" Carrot said.
"LISTEN TO ME!" Onion yelled as he then stops running. "Some nut-job is on his way here and he walks backwards."
"You liar." Pepper and Carrot said in unison which they don't have room to talk.
"It's the truth!" Onion shouts. "I'll show you!"
With that, Ventus and Zoro then stopped when they noticed that Onion was leading the three to were that man was heading as the two followed them. When they got out of the hideout, Onion was telling the truth when they saw the man moonwalking backwards, approaching them as he spoke.
"Now which one of you people has the nerve to call me weird?" The man questions. "I'm just a normal guy."
Of course, their not buying it which they think he's nuts as Nami spoke.
"Is that so?" Nami questions. "You look insane."
"Don't be silly." He said. "I'm just an ordinary run-of-the-mill hypnotist."
"A hypnotist? Really? Awesome!" Onion said excitedly.
"Show us something." Pepper said.
"Yeah, do something." Carrot added.
"What? You fools, what makes you think I want to reveal my masterful hypnosis techniques to a bunch of roadside strangers?" He asks with his serious expression, but he pulls out his pendulum. "Okay, you convinced me. Now watch the ring closely."
"What a ham." Zoro said with annoyance as the hypnotist then swings his pendulum.
"So, by the count of Jango, you'll be in deep sleep. Alright, are you ready?" He asks as the three boys look at the pendulum. "One, two, Jango."
With that, the three boys were asleep, but the hypnotist have made himself fall sleep which it's unexpected when he's still holding the pendulum.
"Who is this freaky weirdo!?" Zoro exclaimed with annoyance, tick mark on his head.
Meanwhile by the shore, Usopp was still upset that Klahadore have stomped and tarnished his father's reputation and his name which he's just wanted to be alone.
"Hi." Luffy greets with a smile, hanging upside down which caused Usopp spooked. "What are you doing here?"
"I came here to be alone, but I guess that's not happening." Usopp answered with his stern tone. "Did you follow me? What do you want?"
"Oh you know, nothing." Luffy said as he placed his hands on the ground, walking towards the edge but landed on his head, winced a bit while chuckled. Usopp then look down at the ground with his sad expression, feeling hurt at Klahadore's words as he spoke.
"I can't believe that butler." Usopp said with his somber tone. "Insulting my old man like that."
"Yeah, I hate that guy too." Luffy agrees. "No matter what anyone says, Yasopp was a great pirate."
"Yeah really." Usopp agrees with a smile, cheered up a bit. "I've always looked up to my old man for living every day with his live on the line. Out in the open ocean, he made a brave choice and I admire him for that. And then that stupid snotty butler stomped all over my pride. He's gonna pay for this."
"Hey, wait." Luffy said, turned to him. "Do you know if you're ever gonna see that girl again?"
That got Usopp gasped, but sighed.
"I don't know." Usopp answered. "I'll consider it if that butler apologizes to me for the things he said."
"That butler right there?" Luffy asks, pointing down.
"Yeah, that's the one." Usopp answered, looking down when he noticed Klahadore was at the shore along with the hypnotist. "Id he-"
Usopp then slams Luffy down to the ground.
"What In A World Is He Doing Down Here?!" Usopp exclaimed with his eyes popping, leaving Luffy muffling in the ground while the two listens.
"Hey, Jango." Klahadore called him with a scowl. "I specifically ordered you to keep yourself inconspicuous. That doesn't mean sleeping in the road."
"Relax, man. I've perfected the skills of a chameleon." Jango assured him. "I blend in."
"There's someone else with him and man, is he weird." Luffy stated.
"I'd never seen him before." Usopp pointed out seriously. "Who is he?"
"So, have all the necessary preparations been made?" Klahadore questions, adjusting his glasses.
"But of course." Jango answered simply. "We can start anytime. On the rich girl murder plan."
"Murder." Usopp said with shock when he overheard their conversation.
"Don't call it murder, Jango. I don't like the sound of it." Klahadore told him.
"Oh right, accident. It's an accident that you planned." Jango corrects himself.
"Uh, what are those guys talking about?" Luffy asks with confusion, not paying attention.
"Just be quiet! Maybe if we'd listen a little closer, we can find out." Usopp told him quietly.
"We can't simply kill her. It is critical to our plan that Miss Kaya perishes in an unfortunate accident." Klahadore told him as he then walks off. "So don't screw that up."
"So basically on your signal, your men and I storm the village and manage to accidentally kill the little rich girl?" Jango questions, sat down on a rock. "Then you get her inheritance, we all get paid right?"
"You moron! Your ignorance is astounding!" Klahadore said with a scowl. "We're not related! So how can inherited anything from her?"
"You'll work very hard too." Jango answered.
"No Jango, I won't." Klahadore refuse as he then walk towards him. "Now listen to me, this is most important part, before you kill her you'll use your hypnosis to make Kaya write her will. And it will say 'I leave my entire fortune to my butler, Klahadore'."
That got Usopp shocked with horror when he heard that Kaya was about to be murdered by Jango.
"Then and only then will I have undisputed control of her enormous fortune." Klahadore said with his evil smirk, adjusting his glasses. "And no one will suspect a thing. I have spend three long years gaining the trust of everyone around me so that it would be unsurprising for her to leave the entirety of her inheritance to me."
"Three years as a butler for this, huh?" Jango said, stood up while walking. "You sure had us scared back then, Captain Kuro. Three years ago, you suddenly said you were giving up life as a pirate. In no time at all, you set up someone to be your double. Then, you let the world see Captain Kuro executed. Only now do I understand that was just the beginning of this plan. You are the Man of 1,000 Plans."
"Never call me that again." Kuro ordered with a scowl. "I abandon that name years ago. I now wish to obtain my wealth without attracting the attention of the government. In other words, I'm a pacifist."
"Some pacifist you are." Jango said with a laugh. "Murdering an entire family doesn't exactly qualify as peaceful."
"Hold on." Kuro said, adjusting his glasses. "I haven't murdered an entire family. The father's death wasn't planned."
"Whatever you say, it makes no difference to me." Jango shrugs. "If it's all the same to you, hurry up and give the word. The crew is getting bored, we've been waiting in the waters near here over a week. And the men are growing more anxious by the minute."
Usopp was getting really tensed up with horror reaction when by heard of their conversation about murdering Kaya and the village getting destroyed by pirates. Also, he now knows that Kuro have faked his death to get away from the Marines and faked his name so he can gain trust to the villagers and Kaya which everything will happen very soon.
'This is horrible! This is really horrible!' Usopp mentally shout with panic, body trembled.
"What are they talking about? Is it bad guy stuff?" Luffy asks which it's a dumb question.
"What!? Weren't you listening to any of that!?" Usopp questions with annoyance. "Those guys aren't just bad, their evil! Captain Kuro is known to be the most devious and scheming pirate around and though he's known for his smarts, he's legendary for his brutality. Word had it that the Marines caught and executed him three years ago, but Captain Kuro is alive and well posing as Klahadore the butler. And he's had his diabolical sight set on Kaya's fortune for the last three years."
Luffy starts to understand a little as Usopp continues to explain which it'll be worse than that.
"First they'll attack the village! Then they'll kill Kaya! This is bad! This is seriously bad!" Usopp exclaimed with panic.
Luffy then look down at the cliff with his serious expression on his face as he then stood up which Usopp wants him to get down.
"Hey, Bad Guys! You Better Stay Away From That Girl!" Luffy yelled, causing Usopp to face fault to the ground with teary eyes.
"Who are you?" Jango questions, caught his and Kuro's attention.
"You idiot! They've spotted you! Come on, hurry up and hide before they decide you need a long slow death." Usopp begs, tried to get Luffy away from them.
"Well now, if it isn't Usopp the mischievous town liar." Kuro said with a scowl, causing Usopp to scream with fright.
"Oh no! I'm spotted too!" Usopp screamed.
"Did you hear anything?" Kuro asks with his evil smirk.
"Nope! Nothing at all! I don't know what you mean! We didn't hear a peep! We just got here! So, didn't hear anything about anything!" Usopp lied, waving his hands with scared expression.
"We heard it all." Luffy answered simply, earned a smack from Usopp.
Kuro then began to chuckle as he turned to Jango, ordered him to dispose of the two.
"Well if you say so." Jango said, tipped his hat while Kuro adjusts his glasses. The hypnotist then drew out his pendulum. "Pay attention, boys. And watch this ring closely."
Usopp was hiding Luffy from behind while the rubber captain looked at the pendulum.
"Okay." Luffy said simply.
"Don't you get it! It's some kind of weapon, we gotta run!" Usopp told him with teary eyes.
"By the count of Jango, you will be in a deep sleep. Are you ready?" Jango asks, swinging his pendulum. "One, two, Jango."
Usopp was lucky that he quickly takes cover by ducking down to ground while turned away, but Luffy was sleeping while Jango was also sleeping, laying on Kuro's back which it annoys him.
"Jango, you idiot! I see you're still sleeping on a job!" Kuro said with annoyance.
Luffy began to fall down at the cliff which he's still sleeping as he then crashed down towards the ground. Usopp was shocked that Luffy have fallen down, believing he's dead.
"He had to go and fall off the cliff, didn't he?" Jango asks with a sigh. "A pity really, I didn't mean to kill him, but there's no way he could've survived."
"This can't be happening!" Usopp exclaimed, clenching his fist with horror. "They killed him! He's really dead!"
"What about the other one? Shall I take care of him?" Jango asked his captain.
"There's no need." Kuro denies, adjusts his glasses while looking at him with a scowl. "Everything he could say would sound like 'lies'."
That got Usopp shocked since Kuro knew that he's a well-known liar in the village.
"Jango, tomorrow at daybreak, the men are to attack the village." Kuro told him. "Rough up the villagers sum and tear up their homes a little for good measure. And above all, make sure Miss Kaya's death looks accidental."
Usopp trembled his body when he overheard of Kuro's plan for destroying the village and kill off the villagers. And the worst part of all, murder Kaya.
"Just accept it, Usopp." Kuro said with his evil smirk. "There is nothing you can say or do to warn the villagers at this impending tragedy."
Usopp then stood up and then rush towards the villagers to warn them about Kuro's true name and his plan to destroy the village and kill Kaya. However, neither of the villagers will ever believe a single word to what Usopp have told them only because he's a liar, but the only option for him to do is try.
"Are you sure about that one?" Jango questions.
"Of course I am, my plans are flawless." Kuro answered.
Usopp continues to run through the forest while get to the village. He remembered when he first met Kaya which she was sick, but he did try to cheer her up by making her laugh while telling his make-up stories. It worked for him to make Kaya laugh for only three years.
'I can't believe this! This terrible! I gotta do something! Everyone in the village I grew up with is in danger! And Kaya is gonna be killed!' Usopp mentally shouts with teary eyes since this situation is getting really serious as he continues to rush towards the while Jango head towards the ship to inform his crew. Kuro looked at the pirate ship while adjusting his glasses, thinking that his plan would perfectly as he then smirks with his laugh.
That's it for the 9th chapter. Sorry about the delay.