I do not own One Piece.
I tried not to get too excited when we landed on the next island, knowing that there was a good chance that Sanji was just joking, but I couldn't help but dream of getting to shoot again. So, when Master Nami also handed me a bag of beri and told me that I could spend it on anything I wanted, I was ecstatic. I still went shopping with Master Sanji though so that I could help him carry all of the food we needed.
After we had put everything away on Sunny, and made it so that Master Luffy couldn't get into it, we headed back to town. We picked up some material for me so that I could make a slingshot and some ammo, I was also able to pick up a bag to put all the ammo in. I was pretty excited to get back to Sunny and began working. I had spent all of the money I was given, but Master Sanji assured me that it was fine.
Sitting down on the deck of the ship, I begin excitedly working on my slingshot wanting to use it as soon as possible, I figure I can use rocks to practice with and work on the ammo later. It took me a couple of hours to get it the way I wanted it, but it was finally finished. After looking around to see if I was needed, I grab the bottles that Master Sanji gave to me and ran off the deck, excited to try out my Ginga Pachinko, which is what I decided to name my slingshot.
Lining up the bottles, I walk a few feet back, take aim and shoot, effectively breaking the bottle. Walking back a few more feet, I shoot the next one with the same results. The rest went in the same way, me taking a few steps back and shooting. I was slightly surprised that I was still as good as I am. I was so lost in my excitement, that I didn't hear foot steps approaching me.
"That was really cool, Usopp! I didn't know you could shot like that." Luffy exclaims. I jump in surprise, turning my body to face, though I kept my head down, toying with Ginga Pachinko. "Where did you learn to shot like that?" he asks excitedly.
"Oh…my dad taught me." I answer quickly. He continues to stare at me, smiling lightly. Feeling suddenly nervous, I find myself beginning to rant. "He is the best sniper around. He always told me he could shot the antennas off an ant. I never saw him do it…but I am sure he can. But he left to become a pirate when I was still really little, so he didn't get to teach me everything."
"Pirate?…Ah….Yasopp, he is your dad, right?" he asks, getting more excited at his discovery. I stare at him in shock, not being able to form any words. "He came to my village when I was seven with Shanks. He was always talking about his son and bragging about his shooting skills. I couldn't remember the name of his son, but it has to be you. You look just like him."
"You…you really met my father, Master Luffy?" I ask in shock. This couldn't be true. Maybe if I behave and ask nicely, Master Luffy will tell me about him. I start to become excited, but looking up and seeing Master Luffy's serious face and slightly glaring eyes, dread begins to fill me. Thinking back I try to figure out what I did wrong. Then it hits me, I can't ask questions. Sanji allows me to ask things, so I got used to it, but that doesn't mean that Master Luffy wants a slave always asking questions. "I'm sorry. Please forgive me, I won't do it again," I plead, bowing deeply. I hear him let out a soft sigh before I see him sit on the ground in front of me.
"Usopp. Don't call any of us master. We aren't your master, you are not a slave. You are a pirate now…and pirates are meant to be free. No one is going to punish you…especially for something like asking a question. You…are…free, Usopp. Do whatever you want to do. Say whatever you want to say. Yes, people may get mad…the crew may get into fights with each other. But we are all nakama….we are all friends. That includes you, Usopp. I thought that once you got to know the crew and started feeling comfortable, you would figure this out yourself and sometimes I thought you had…but the second you feel you did something wrong, you revert back. But there is no need. We accept you for who you are and that won't change." I stare at him in shock for a few moments, not noticing the tears now streaming down my face. I fall to my knees, wrapping my arms around my middle, sobbing loudly.