Legend of the Strawhats

by The White Wulf

John McCallum was an everyday fisherman who had just inherited his father's ship. What should have been a happy occasion with his loving family turned into a day of devastating loss. In a world utterly alien to him John finds himself associated with a boy made of rubber who wants to be the Pirate King. To make matters worse, said boy decided that John was a part of his crew.

5. Chapter 5

No beta, we die with honor XD

The Legend of the Straw Hats

Chapter 5: The butler did it…or did he?

"WHO WHO IS IT!" demanded Usopp "WHOSE KILLING MY FRIEND!?"

"I don't know" I muttered. The kid's anger was justified but he seemed to be going in circles. This was the third time he had demanded an answer. Still, I couldn't find it in me to get mad.

The most likely suspect was not in fact the butler. God, I felt in my bones but it was just an assumption, one made from far too many novels and movies. I mean come on; it wasn't actually always the butler. While I loved detective-based stories, I knew that the easiest suspect wasn't always the correct one. The butler was a dick, no two ways about it. But being a rude person didn't immediately peg you for murder. Not to mention that Usopp wasn't likely the most…stellar individual. From what I could gather it seems like the kid trespassed a lot. While Kaya didn't seem to mind, it bothered the butler something fierce. The kid was fine…just lied a lot.

I knew from experience that people didn't appreciate the boy who cried wolf. My own father was a stellar example. I too would normally be calling this kid but his lies were so horrifically bad that it was just funny to me.

"The only thing we know for sure is that the symptoms your friend has are consistent with what I know to be drug addiction."

"Kind of" I thought "it's not exactly like this but…it's the closest thing I can think of for what's happening."

"There are a multitude of drugs that can be addicting so it's not like we have a short list of what we could investigate" said Nami.

She had a point. Morphine was one. Take too much of it and you're dead and yet it was a life saver for a lot of people that were in pain…though that could be said for any drug-based medication. Hell, drink too much water and you could technically kill yourself. What was happening here was controlled but the signs of addiction were clear, odd as they were.

"The pressure on me for this is insane" I thought "but the truth is that there's no one else who knows as much as me right now. Damnit Luffy, we need an actual doctor…than again I doubt they have anything like blood tests in this world."

I don't care what I had to do but I had to convince Luffy to take on a cook and a doctor next, no question. Knowing that lovable goof he would recruit a musician before he got a damn cook or doctor.

I began pacing around, ignoring the concerned expression on Nami's face. At least she seemed to understand the issue present at the moment. Zoro, as usual, didn't seem to care that much. There was so much I didn't know. The only thing I knew of was that this girl was addicted to something that was likely killing her. Speculation, no facts. The only fact I knew was that she was addicted to something.

"We need more information" muttered Zoro.

"Not like they'll simply answer our questions".

Luffy tilted his head.

"Why not just ask other people? I mean the townsfolk probably like Kaya. Maybe they've seen something?"

I blinked and stared at Luffy.

"That's…actually not a bad idea Luffy."

"Thanks!"

"Still though…there is something weird going on" I muttered "The way that butler reacted…and the person that was watching us during our talk with Kaya…it's all strange. Usopp did Kaya ever bring in doctors recently? To double check on her condition?"

Usopp blinked and crossed his arms. The boy was in such deep though that his eyes were closed.

"Now that I think about it, no. After a while she just gave up on doctors. Kaladore insisted that she get checked out by his doctor every year, to not give up but she was adamant about it."

"I'd get mad too if every quack I talked to couldn't figure out what was wrong with me and than demanded I pay them anyways."

I smirked at Zoro.

"Not a pleasant experience with doctors?"

Zoro shrugged. But he had a point.

"Usopp…what kind of doctor did Kaladore want Kaya to see…"

"Just some friend of his. Someone that could check on her for free as a favor."

"Did he ever come by?"

"Oh yea a few times! Didn't see anyone else though…now that I think about the guy refused to."

Usopp seemed to realize the absurdity of this question though.

"WAIT WHY DOES THAT MATTER!?"

"It's about information" I explained "in cases like this even the most overlooked detail can create a picture. Think about it. Kaladore appears in Kaya's life. He was saved by her father and swore his servitude. He is kind to her I take it?"

Usopp blinked.

"uh…yea."

"A kind butler, one that offers stability and kindness in the face of an illness that struck her family…an illness that didn't spread. When people in this town get sick, what do they do Usopp?"

Usopp blinked.

"They separate the person?"

"They quarantined them. It's to prevent the spreading of sickness…yet what happened with Kaya's family? Did any of the servants leave her home?"

"Well…no."

"And yet no one got sick…just Kaya and her parents?"

"Well yea."
"Kaya's parents died from the sickness…how quickly was that?"

"How quickly?"

"How much time passed from the time they were sick until the time that they died?"

"Why do you need?"

"Usopp, answer his questions" stated Luffy.

It was said with such authority that Usopp just went straight and began answering.

"Uh, a few weeks!"

"How old was Kaya?"

"It was only three years ago!"

Usopp was getting pissed it seems. I didn't blame him. All things considered the kid was holding out pretty well…though he didn't answer my question.

"You're likely around 17 – 19 years of age…so mind explaining to me how a sickness that ravaged two healthy adults somehow left a sickly teenager alive and suffering for the next three years?"

Usopp blinked. The boy had described to me before that Kaya wasn't the strongest of people. Weak from a sickness that ravaged her from birth. Though I expected it more along the fact that she was just sickly is all. Still, how the hell did someone like that survive a sickness that killed two presumably healthy adults over a sick teenager?

"….I don't know."

"Here's what I know. Your friend and her family were likely poisoned. They took out the adults and than left the child alive for some unknown reason."

"But her parents were sick!"

"Did the villagers separate from them? Did her family's maids and servants go home during their sickness?"

"Well, no. Not that I can remember?"

"Do they live in the village?"

"Well yea!"

"Then why did no one else get sick around the same time?"

"I…."

"That's how I know it's poison. It's something addictive and slow acting. Probably kills once the body accumulates enough of the poison and can no longer fight it off."

I stood up and began pacing. I was on a roll.

"The butler has his own doctor and refuses for anyone else to see the young lady without his supervision. He kept watching us, looking at us as we had a conversation. He veered away but he always had us in eyesight and hearing range."

I turned to Nami.

"There weren't many staff inside the mansion, right?"

"Just the butler and that old man" said Nami "I didn't see anyone else…hey wait how did you?"

"Nami you are sneaky, but I noticed you scoping the place out."

Nami pouted. The girl was sneaky. Hell I never noticed her doing it until that stupid headache of mine. "Usopp, is Kaladore head butler?"

"Oh…uh well yea. Kind of. I don't think they have a hierarchy like that."

"They do" I stated "or there wouldn't be anything getting done. To your knowledge has Kaladore ever fired Kaya's personal maids? A lady like that needs one, especially due to her weak body."

"…yea" muttered Usopp "yea he did. I remember. There's a girl in the village named Lucy, she was Kaya's best friend and was a maid in training. Her and her mom were helping Kaya out when Kaladore fired them!"

"He limits the amount of eyes on Kaya, drives people away, only has his people interact with her, and seems to only be kind when he is in her presence."

"…holy crap you're right!" yelled Usopp "it was Kaladore this entire time!"

"No."

"…what?"

"This is all speculation, heresay."

Usopp seemed a tad confused where as Luffy just laughed.

"He means it can't be proven one way or the other! We need more right?"

I nodded at Luffy.
"We can't just trust our intuition about people. Kaladore is a prick, but that doesn't mean he's the one behind it. Though I strongly suspect he is."

"Cause he's a dick?" asked Luffy.

"Basically, yes."

Luffy laughed as he slapped his knee, ignoring the fact that Nami was rubbing her skull between her fingers.

"Please tell me I didn't just join a crazy crew?" she begged.

Zoro grinned.

"You know exactly what you joined."

Usopp however was struggling to contain himself.

"WHY ARE YOU ALL JOKING AROUND! MY FRIEND IS!"

I looked Usopp dead in the eye and the boy calmed down. Out of fear or respect I didn't rightly know.

"Your friend is fine for now. Whatever this is, they are going at it the slow way. The issue here is how we are going to go forward. Luffy…did you want to be involved?"

Luffy looked to the sky, staring at the birds.
"Yea. I do. No one deserves to be caged. Let's free Kaya!"

I nodded and smiled. Though the way Luffy said it was weird.

"…than what's our first move?" asked Zoro.

"No idea!" laughed Luffy.

"I think we should ask questions" I said "try and get a feel for how other people feel about Kaladore."

"You're really stuck on the butler" muttered Zoro.
"I'm sticking with my gut this time around. But if you come across anything let us know."

Zoro shrugged.

"I'll be hitting the bar."

I couldn't help but squint.
"With what money?"

Zoro turned to me and grinned, not saying a word.

"…"

Than again we were pirates. Who was I to judge about skipping a bill. I turned to Usopp and noticed that the kid was agitated…too agitated.

"Say Usopp, want to help me?"

The boy jumped, his ridiculously long nose bouncing a this turn.

"WHO ME!?"

"Yes you. I'm thinking me and you can investigate Kaladora."

I turned to my captain.

"That alright with you Luffy?"

"Yea you go on ahead! I'm gonna talk with Nami some more."

Nami blinked, wondering what the boy wanted, but was quick to relax all the same. The two began moving to the town.

"No one else is doing anything" grumbled Usopp.

"They are" I explained "it's just not as obvious. If all six of us were to begin investigating…it could tip off someone like Kaladore. Not to mention that we don't rightly know who is on whose side here. Are the towns people loyal to Kaya?"

Usopp shrugged helplessly.
"They say they respect her but…I can tell."

"Can you now?"

Usopp glared at me.

"The town's people are decent people, but some of them…well."

"You don't have to explain kid. Now, tell me more."

Usopp began to regale me with tales of his youth. They were, of course, filled with lies. Atrocious, completely bonkers lies. But those lies told a simple story. The story of a boy whose mother died, whose father was out at sea, and the townspeople doing nothing to help him. The boy who had watched the slow agonizing death of his mother. The boy who lived alone since he was a kid for Christ sakes.

My face was stern and unmoving. But my heart? I felt for this kid, I really did. Perhaps these towns people weren't all bad but I felt zero respect for them. They would be useless going forward. No, we had to focus on those that worked within Kaya's residence. We were far enough away that the mansion was but a spec in the distance when I crouched with Usopp in the bushes.

"Why are we so far away?" demanded Usopp, his impatience brimming to the forefront.

"Calm down. Rushing in does nothing for us. We are not police, we don't the authority to investigate things properly."

"What the hell is a police?" demanded Usopp.

I stalled for a second, before I rephrased.

"I meant the Navy; my people had a different term for them. Point is that Kaladore has no need to answer our questions or give us unrestricted access. Not to mention that there is the real possibility that we could tip off whoever is doing this into taking drastic action. No best to keep our distance."

I concentrated. I could feel the ice leave my chest as I tried my best to create what I needed. I had begun to realize that there was such a thing as too much focus. This world was a zany cracked out place. My ice was difficult to work with…but was it really? I mean I made an ice rope dart for god's sake. Ice doesn't bend or become flexible and yet…I did it. Granted it was a major pain in the ass that required more energy than some static creation like a spear but still, it was a doable.

As such, I felt that a spy glass wasn't too much to ask for. It formed slowly with a focus on the lens. It couldn't be too thick, or it would just be a block of ice. Instead, I focused on making my ice as clear as possible. I knew the basics of how a lens was supposed to work…so fingers crossed.

"….is that?"

"Hopefully. Never actually made one of these before."

The spy glass looked about as basic as they came. A simple handheld version. I wanted the stereotypical pirate one but…well beggers can't be choosers. I could feel the construct physically break apart as I tried to create it, so this was the next best thing. I could never get comfortable with ice coming out of my chest though. I put my eye to the spy glass and sighed in relief. Its zoom wasn't incredible, but I could honestly see far enough to peek into the windows if needed.

"What do you see?" asked Usopp.

"I…I only see Kaladore and that other guy. Are they the only two servents?"

"Well yea. Apparently Kaladore is more than capable of doing everything. He does the gardening, the cooking, and the book keeping."

Everything? Did he not take breaks? Honestly, Kaladore was looking so much the perpetrator that I couldn't help but think that it was too obvious. Was the asshole being set up? Used as a scape goat? It was beginning to look more likely considering how neat my theories came together. I noticed far in the distance a flickering light. I turned to it, seeing a sparkling light that occurred on some small island off the mansions harbor. I rose an eyebrow at the light.

"Usopp…what's on that island?"

"Island? What Island…you mean that small rock?"

Ah, right.

"Yes."

"Nothing really. I remember some of the villagers taking the kids there sometimes to play but they stopped going there for years now. Not entirely sure why."

"….I think I found where we need to go."

"What? There!? WHY!? KAYA IS."

I covered Usopp's mouth and dragged him down. I felt a…pinging in the back of my mind. Now the two of us were covered in foliage. There was no way that Kaladore could see us from the distance that we were, superhuman or not. Yet, that insistent pinging kept hammering into my head, that something was on the right of us and coming closer. Usopp tried to fight me, but the boy was too weak. His struggling stopped as we heard footsteps.

"You heard that right?"

"I didn't hear nothing. Now let's get back, boss Kuro wants us on diligent watch."

"For what!? We've been for three years and nothings happened. It won't happen now."

"You want to tell the boss that? It took years to orchestrate being here, he'll kill you for even thinking of deviating from his plans."

"Look at you with all your fancy words! Been reading those stupid crosswords?"

"At least I can read, retard."

"HEY!"

With that the two walked away. I slowly rose my head from the bush that we had and from a distance I saw the two men. They were oddly shaped, with one being incredibly lanky and the other so fat he was actually round. As in including his head the man was perfectly round.

"They're gone."

Usopp gasped for breath and looked at me with awe.

"How did you? I didn't even hear them coming until they were close."

"I just…heard them" I said.

It was the truth…sort of. I wasn't telling no one that I had a headache induced warning sign. Had enough on my plate as is. It wasn't even a pleasant headache…if those existed. Talk about a discount spider sense. I turned to Usopp.

"Best we head back. We got another place to investigate, and we'll need Luffy to get there."

"You mean that small rock formation? Why?"

"I saw a twinkle."

"….you serious?"

"A twinkle in this case refers to the glare reflecting off a spy glass. If what you say is true there shouldn't be anyone there…yet we now know that there's someone named Kuro whose calling the shots. They might just be on that island."

"…this is insane" muttered Usopp.

"Best we prepare for the worst" I said, "you ever been in a fight?"

"Well of course!" declared Usopp "I've fought countless warriors across the vastness of the seas!"

"So not at all."

Usopp fell into a tirade about how this wasn't in fact a lie. He must have gotten a new record because by the time he finished we were in front of village's pub…or at least what counted for it. It was a small building but the scent of food was unmistakable. We walked in and I could already tell that the place was filled with idiots. After all, they were giving the stink eye to Usopp. I wasn't one to defend a liar, especially one as twisted and hilariously bad at it as Usopp. But the kid basically raised himself because these villagers couldn't get off their asses and be adults. My expression must have irked some of them because they looked away. Usopp scowled.

"You didn't have to do that" he muttered.

"They lacked the responsibility to care for you in youth, they don't get to say shit about you live now lad. They've lost that right."

"….You're an odd one, you know that right?"

"So I've been told."

"And I don't mean about your voice."

"…I figured that out."

"Good. Because I, Usopp, lord of the 14 seas, didn't want you to misunderstand my greatness!"

"…isn't there only four seas?"

"URK!"

Wasn't entirely sure of that myself, but the look on Usopp's face was hilarious. I entered what accounted as a bar for this place and saw Zoro drinking away on some sake.

"Zoro."

The man simply nodded, sighing as he watched Luffy tear away at all the good in the joint. A small bag of money was given to who I assumed to be the owner, the man rapidly bringing Luffy more food.

"He acts like we were starving him" muttered Zoro.

"To him, we here. Don't know if it's the fruit or his genes but the lad eats like a bear."

"How is he not fat?"

I turned to see Nami, who was looking at Luffy with a bit of disgust.

"He's Luffy" I supplied, having given up on trying to explain the biological impossibility that I was seeing.

"We didn't learn anything" muttered Nami, leading us to the table where Luffy was gorging himself at.

"Really?"

"Really. Apparently everyone that worked for Kaya's family all moved to different islands for work. They were given recommendations or something."

Ah, that. It was a practice that some nobility used, wherein the servants that they acquired were only hired based on recommendations of friends and trusted peers. In the modern day, we call it nepotisim. Here…it made sense.

"So, they're all gone" I muttered "how convenient."

"Is it really that bad?"

I stared at Luffy and closed his mouth with my two fingers.

"Swallow."

The boy did so.

"Now talk."

Luffy grinned.

"Is it really that bad they're all gone?"

"…not really. I might have found a lead and to be fair their testimony likely wouldn't matter."

I kept going about this as a "detective" when the truth of the matter was that it made no sense to. What evidence could I find without forensics to verify it? An occupation that came with authority? I was flying by the seat of my pants but I couldn't play by the rules I was familiar with.

"There's an island where I noticed a glint from a spy glass. Usopp tells me it's basically been abandoned…and yet there might be people there. I was thinking of heading over there during the night to see what we could find."

"…Nah, I got a better idea!"

"Oh?" I said, smiling "what's that?"

"Punch Kalawhatever in the face!"

"Luffy no!"

The rubber man just grinned at me.

"Luffy yes!"

I almost shit myself as Luffy jumped over us, running towards the door. I could have frozen Luffy in place, try and reason with him, but there was people all around us and I was terrified my ice might hit someone other than Luffy. That…and a bugging suspicion that Luffy might be on to something. I swallowed my pride and followed him. Usopp seemed raring to go, reaching into his pockets and grabbing a slingshot of all things.

"Yea lets go!"

Zoro sighed, chugging the rest of his sake while Nami just rushed after us. It was quite a scene we caused as Luffy made all sorts of noise. The three of us trailed behind Luffy as he calmed down on the path ahead, going up the long pathway to the mansion. I felt the throbbing on the right side of my skull, looking at the trees. Sure enough, I saw the barest hint of the lanky man…along with someone else I never say before. I wasn't sure if I locked eyes with them or not through the bush, but considering it moved erratically, I'm sure I must have scared whoever was there.

"We're surrounded" grinned Luffy "good."

"You knew?"

"Nah. Wasn't too sure till we got here but if the guy was doing this for a while he definitely needed help! Place is too damn big! I remember trying to clean my place with Ace and Sabo, took us forever! He had to have people helping take care of the place!"

I stared at Luffy. It was idiotic. Luffy couldn't clean a room if he had three days…but my god the idiot had a point. Usopp kept telling me how the butler took care of everything. Cleaning, cooking, gardening. But there was so much to be done that it didn't make any sense that the man did it all. He couldn't do it all. A mansion like Kaya's wasn't the biggest thing in the world but when you had to clean each room everyday, garden, and cook? There was simply too many responsibilities for that to be done effectively and still remain as stalwart as Kaladore seems.

"The guards" I muttered "of course. He's been having people help him this entire time. To sell the ruse."

I grinned at Luffy as he knocked on the door.

"You sure you want to do this?" I asked, "We might be wrong."

"Eh it will all work out!"

"I'm not entirely sure I'm comfortable with that logic."

"Well too bad!"

I laughed at that, watching as the butler answered the door. His scowl was immense as he narrowed his eyes. Against the setting sun, his eyes shone with a red like hue from the glare.

"You lot again!? You have been URK!"

Luffy's fist shot out, driving into Kaladore's skull with a resounding thud. The man was launched so powerfully that he was knocked through the back door of the mansion and into the garden. I whistled.

"Damn."

Luffy grinned, giving me a thumbs up. I decided to act quickly, rushing into the kitchen. I ignored Kaya's screeching as I rushed past her. I could smell some food being cooked so it was easy to find. The lack of servants was helping a good deal here as I rummaged through the pantry. It looked so…modern that it threw me off a bit. I kept forgetting that as backwards as this world was, that it still had modern utilities that I was familiar with. I scowled, noticing that the so-called spices had dust on them, along with most of the kitchen. Instead, there was a single pot of food, a stew. It was eerily dead.

"Think about it" I muttered "if it is the butler, he wouldn't have it anywhere on him, but he wouldn't have it in an obvious spot."

I decided to try something knew. I closed my eyes and let my ice spread slowly. I was the ice itself. I could feel it wherever the ice went. Every nook and cranny of this place was soon covered in ice. Then I felt it, a place where the ice seeped into. To be fair there was a few small cracks and whatnot that my ice filled but this was different. I let the ice evaporate except from the area I felt. There, hidden behind some kind of picture. I moved it and sure enough, there was an indent. I moved a single stone and there it was, a packet of some sort. It was filled to the brim with an odd red powder. I turned to the stew and smirked. There was an interesting thing about stews. Sometimes, when cooled enough, liquids and solids would split again. Salt and other such stuff can settle at the bottom of a liquid while others simply separated. Wasn't too sure how it worked myself, but I assumed that this poisonous spice would seem right to the top!

"….."

I blinked as the soup, unfrozen but still cold, did nothing of the sort.

"Hmm…I was wrong" I muttered "…is it weird that I like being wrong?"

It was nice to know I wasn't some super genius. If I was being honest, it was kind of getting to my head. I grabbed a cup from the cupboard, just in case, and filled it with water. I slowly made my way back to the door, seeing Kaya in near tears watching Kaladore and Usopp at each others throat. Jeez what did I miss?

"YOU TRULY ARE YOUR FATHER'S SON" growled Kaladore, sporting a few more injuries than before, "A RUFFIAN! THROUGH AND THROUGH!"

"SAYS THE MAN WHOSE BEEN KILLING MY FRIEND!"

Kaya, now having tears stream down her face, was struggling to understand what was happening."

"Usopp" she whispered.

"Kaya! I'm not lying. You know me!"

She did. I could see that she believed him…but there was a difference here that Usopp wasn't accounting for.

"You can't expect her to just take your side in this" I said, making everyone turn to me "after all Kaladore has been taking care of her for years and to be fair, had ample opportunity to just outright kill her whenever he wanted."

The man smirked.

"Finally, some sense…though coming from you lot".

I smiled and lifted my hand with the bag. The man's expression faltered into a stone-cold façade. He stared at the bag I held in my had and the cup.
"I found this" I said "right in the kitchen behind a painting."

The man's face faltered a little, a twitch here or there. I could sense that he was getting angry but with a hint of trepidation…though the pain in my frontal lobe was annoying.
"Mind explaining why this was hidden so well…and why I found some of the powder by that soup you were making?"
A white lie…but fuck it I was a pirate, sue me. Kaya stared at Kaladore, slowly moving towards Usopp. The boy didn't let her go slowly though, moving in front of Kaya without a second thought. He whipped out his god damn sling shot and aimed it right at the man. Honestly, the kid needed a gun. What was so threatening about a sling shot?

"That is simply medicine" stated Kaladore "It was hidden precisely so that people like you wouldn't steal it! It is expensive and difficult to procure."

"Wow" I whispered, my shit eating grin expanding "I must say, that's smart. Any side effects with medicine like this…say addiction?"

The man's mouth twitched but his smile widened.

"Of course not. This is not the medication you peasants use."

The man seemed to forget who was there. I had no doubt that Kaladore had very good excuses for the way he treated Usopp. After all, he never attacked the boy. But to see it from the front is very different than hearing it second hand. Kaya gripped Usopp's clothes and scowled.

"That's amazing. No side effects whatsoever."

"Bullshit. There was no such thing as side effect free" said Zoro.

"Too true. But let's test that theory."

I held the cup and poured a bit of the powder into the water. I stirred it by swishing the cup around. Kaladore began to sweat. I held the cup out to the man.

"Want to prove it?" I asked.

Kaladore stared at me. I walked closer, close enough to be nose to nose with the man.

"Prove. It. If the medicine is as effective as you say…actually…what is this supposed to do anyway?"

Kaladore scowled. I gasped theatrically.

"Don't tell me you've been feeding your master a medicine you don't understand!?"

"Of course not" growled Kaladore "it is meant to assist with pain and energy."

I turned to Kaya.

"You always in pain?"

Kaya blinked shrugged.

"Usually more so after dinner than anything."

"So after the medicine?"

Kaladore growled.

"I mean makes sense. Sometimes things have to be worse before they get better. Besides, if this is not addicting you have nothing to worry about…right?"

The man opened his mouth and without even thinking I splashed the laced water into his open mouth. I blinked, surprised at myself. I smirked as Kaladore tried coughing and putting his fingers into his mouth to try and throw up.
"…seems a bit extreme for medicine, no?"

Kaladore glared at me as he stood up…or at least tried to. He finally succeeded throwing it up and the man shook horribly as he shivered. Kaya's tears fell fresh once more as the situation began settling in. It was like I could feel her sorrow…and beneath it an ungodly rage.

It kind of terrified me if I was honest.

"….how did you know" he whispered, his eyes frantically scanning our group. When he didn't receive an answer the man became more frantic.

"HOW DID YOU KNOW!?"

I decided to be a bit of a troll here.

"Did you know" I whispered, kneeling down to the man "it's always the butler."

Damn that sounded so good in my head, but the way the man stared at me like I was a simpleton really killed the moment.

"Damnit does no one here read detective stories!?"

Everyone shrugged while Luffy just grinned.
"Um…what's a detective?" asked Nami.

"DAMNIT!"

Luffy just died laughing as usual.

"That…was your reason" smirked Kaladore "what do you think is even going on here you simple-"

"Oh you're obviously slowly killing her for the money, right?"

The man blinked.

"I mean, you probably thought you could inherit whatever money the family had so long as her parents died, but you found out pretty quick that the navy or government would scoop up the assets if the beneficiary wasn't directly stated to be you."

I turned to Kaya.

"You own a company, right? A trading company?"

"Y-yes" stated Kaya, her eyes unfocused. She was probably too tired to continue this for long. I felt the stinging sensation in the back of my skull. I decided to trust it and keep an eye on it, headache be damned.

"Has Kaladore ever expressed interest in running the company for you? Becoming a CEO of sorts?"

"Well…not a CEO but he wanted to became the head of the company."

Same thing. Wait, they probably didn't even have "CEO's".

"What would happen if you died say…tomorrow?"

"Well, the navy would take the company's assets. I'm still well enough….oh god".

I smiled, finally someone that got it.

"The slow and steady route" I muttered, glaring at Kaladore, "kill them softly overtime, make her dependent on you for everything. You fired her maids, so she could only depend on you. You keep the grounds with those weird partners of yours so that others wouldn't catch on. The only other servant here is that old man…wait where is he?"

"We got him right here!"

Kaladore's eyes widened as he glared at the lanky man in the door way, the older servant trembling from the knife at his throat.

"Don't worry boss we got him! Now they have to let you go!"

"DAMNIT!" yelled Kaladore "what did I tell you!"

The man blinked.

"Um…stay out of sight?"

Kaladore stood, his fingers itching as he scowled.

"Fine. It's obvious now that there's no getting out of this."

From behind him the man equipped…what the fuck?

"What the fuck are those?" I asked.

The man put on these gloves that had fucking Katana's attached to each finger. How the hell he put it on I didn't even know. Scratch that, where the hell did he keep them!? I watched it and I still didn't understand it. He flexed his fingers, his eyes filled with bloodlust. He moved, faster than anyone I've ever seen. I felt a chunk of my torse shave away…and the man holding the older servant hostage exploded in a shower of viscera. I saw it right away…no…I felt it. The servant and the man were dead.

"NO!" screamed Kaya. She began to sob uncontrollably, with Usopp being her support.

"Now…for the rest of you."

I grunted as I stood up, the hole in my chest already gone. Kaladore turned to me, his smirk disappearing.

"…what? How are you standing?"

I stared at the bleeding form of the old servant, and I couldn't help but sigh. Damnit, this was why I didn't want to rush. I turned to Luffy…and my captain was distraught. The boy was no fool…but to be fair to him there was no way of knowing that this was going to happen. Who knows, maybe Kaya would have followed Kaladore to whatever future trap we set for him. Or maybe the village would have been raided the second we left to investigate that stupid island. Or perhaps a super meteor would kill me on the spot. The future was always in flux. Luffy seemed to understand that as he stood up, his hat covering his face. Kaya stared at me as well, my form shifting to become what I referred to as my "Ice Knight" form.

…God I was a loser. Ice Knight, really? Sounded like a bad batman villain. Worked like a charm though. I made to move, Zoro drawing his swords too. I faltered though as I felt more presences behind me. I turned and began moving to the back. Zoro seemed to be in the same boat, probably having sensed his own group of enemies.

"Are they all rushing here?" asked Nami.

"Probably" I said, my voice deeper and reverberating.

"You guys go…I'll handle this" said Luffy.
I gave Kaladore the finger for my own sense of anger…but I turned to Kaya and Usopp. The two of them were in tears over the older servant. I walked towards Kaya and Usopp, not retreating my ice armor. The ice flowed from my feet and began to encircle Kaya and Usopp.

"You'll be safe this way, we'll handle the rest."

Usopp made to move but Kaya's grip was unrelenting.

"It's fine lad, your place is here."

Usopp nodded as the ice surrounded them. I smiled, hearing Usopp being shocked at how warm the ice was. Room temperature ice wasn't normal after all. I turned to the back door, slowly moving through the wreckage to meet the dozen or so men on the outside. I let a burst of steam escape from the holes of my helm. Now that I actually took stock of myself, I had to admit…I was slowly turning my ice form more and more into what looked like a medieval knight. God…was my own inner fantasies as a child come to life right now?

"Focus" I intoned.

"THE FUCK IS THAT THING!?"

I cracked my neck, watching as a man smirked. He was…odd. His glasses had spirals in it and the man was chuckling as he swung this weird pendulum around.

"Well boys, looks like Captain Kuro is in quite the bind!"

How did they get here? My guess, considering that the lanky one took a hostage, the round one must have signaled for the rest of this rag tag group.

"Look into my pendulum!" yelled the man.

I simply stared at the man himself. His grin slowly lost its luster as he stared at me.

"…you're not staring at the pendelum are you?"

"…why the actual fuck would I do anything you say?" I asked.

"…you know that's a fair point. GET HIM!"

Three rushed me and I decided to fight without thinking. I formed a sword from chest and struck. One man was literally bisected and through my blade's arc another two were wounded deeply. I felt sick to my stomach and for the first time…I felt peace. I was disgusted at the damage I had done to another and that made it easier to kill them. I couldn't let them live, not with the idea that they'll retaliate agaisnt the townsfolk. Not to mention that there was no way of knowing what other schemes they'd pull. Anyone that would watch as they slowly killed someone…well they didn't deserve to live either. It was odd how that made me fight even more, understanding that the weight of my actions still haunted me…but these men did not deserve mercy. This was not my world. It could take weeks for the Navy to get here, and anything could happen during that time. I needed to close myself off from their suffering.

I needed to be a warrior.

I stomped my foot and ice shot out from my foot, launching from the ground. My ice speared three men in the chest. Jango screamed loudly, moving to run away along with the rest of his crew. A rush of icy steam escaped my helm as I focused on my ice. It was always so hard to control my ice but I needed to do it now. The difficult was about the same as when I formed a detonating javelin, my Gungnir.

…

Oh my fucking god.

"I swear to the lord if this works!" I declare.

A name, any name god damn it!

"Cold rush!"

Nothing. They were starting to get further away and I gave chase. I needed control and it seems like I might have found the means. It needed to be tested and these people needed to be caught.

"Tundra rush!"

Damnit me, stop using rush in the name! It's obvious that its not working.

It was like I slowed down time, my thoughts running at a thousand words a second. I needed something, anything, and it was than I realized why the attack names worked the way they did. They invoked an image, an action into reality. A way to focus whatever nonsense these powers of mine worked on. I could feel it rise to the center of my chest, my eyes glowing through the slits of my helm. The ice on my upper torso steamed as whatever I was doing came to reality. I wanted to fire pin missiles that froze on impact…here we go!

"Wild Hunt."

The ice in front of me exploded and wolves made of ice howled out. I stopped moving, watching these icy wolves slam into each of the retreating men, freezing them solid. I stopped moving. Suddenly the sound of panting made me turn to my right. It looked like a happy husky, panting away. It was seen through and turned to me with bright blue eyes.

"BARK!"

Its tongue lapped out and the creature(?) disappeared, blown away with the wind.

"…."

I turned to each of the frozen men, feeling a good deal of my strength had left me.

"What the" I muttered.

I stared into the sky, my brain doing jumping jacks from the ridiculous thing I just witnessed. When I intoned wild hunt, this was not in any way shape or form my thought process behind the attack. Did the names mean something now!? Come on man I just wanted a break! First the rope dart, then the spy glass, and now ghost wolves!? Well, more like see through icy wolves but still! What's next I grow wings and fly?

Wait was that possible.

"I need a drink" I muttered "preferably whiskey."

I knew…somewhere deep that this attack wasn't fool proof. That there were limitations of some sort…but of course what they were I didn't know. God damnit it I wish this stupid fruit came with an instruction manual or something! I turned, leaving these men to their icy fate. I felt the ice break apart and with it, their bodies. I could tell the difference between a surface level freeze versus one that reached its way through their entire body. They were dead. I sighed, realizing that I was more adapted to this world than I thought should have made me happy, but it just made me depressed instead. Luffy was already done with the fake butler, his fist dyed in blood.

"You killed him?" I asked.

Luffy nodded.

"He killed Kaya's friend. Besides, he kept aiming for your little fortress thing. Anyone that attacks normal people are just scum."

I noticed the scratch marks on my dome. My armor disappeared and with it, the ice I used to protect Usopp and Kaya. The poor woman was obviously in better shape now, though still shaken.

"I'm sorry" she kept whispering to Usopp.

"It's alright Kaya."

He held her close. His eyes went to mine, and he nodded.

"I'm going to bring Kaya upstairs its…it's been a night."

I agreed one hundred percent. Nami went with them, probably to make sure Usopp didn't do anything. The boy didn't seem the type but still, you never know. I turned to Luffy.

"…you alright Lad?"

Luffy scowled.

"John…if I didn't rush in…would that old man still be alive?"

"….probably."

Luffy sighed, visibly deflating in front of me.

"Or maybe not" I said seriously "truth of the matter is we don't know how else this could have gone down. My investigation could have been fruitless, and we left, leaving Kaya to die slowly. They could have raided the village tomorrow. We don't know anything. Actions have consequences, both good and bad. No matter what we do these consequences will exist. Don't beat yourself up too much over this. Live and never forget what happened here. You're going to be king of the pirates, right? Stuff like this will happen more often than we might want. After all, one person's hero is another person's villain."

Luffy smiled.

"Alright than. Let's get some sleep."

"Cool. I'll just stay up for the day, sleep when we're back on the water."

"Hey, you don't get to skip sleep! You kept complaining whenever I did it."

"That's because you kept trying to train yourself to will sleep away by eating it."
"….it was a good idea."

"It was ridiculous, and you know it. Now get some sleep."

"I'm gonna check on Kaya and Usopp first though. I wanted to talk to Usopp about joining our crew!"

"Really? Just like that?"

"He has the same spark as Nami! Of course he can come! Besides we need a sharpshooter."

"He can shoot?"

"You betcha!"

….when the hell did Luffy see Usopp shooting people? With his sling shot? Wasn't I with the kid the entire time? Fuck it, I didn't care anymore.

I transformed again, letting my ice become armor once more. I had found that with my physiology the way that it was, so long as I remained in ice form, I was free from the need for food and sleep. It was kind of creepy if I was being honest. If I were to take a stab at it, I would say that my metabolism slowed significantly in that form. As such I could go a few days without sleep if necessary.

"Where's Zoro?"

"Apparently, he took out of bunch of these other guys. Now he's going to the village to see if they have a bounty."

"There's a bounty office here?"

"Apparently. Either that or its close by."

Intriguing. Something I'll have to ask Zoro about later. For now, it was time to keep watch. The night moved slowly but my thoughts were not idle. I kept wondering and focusing on what made my powers work the way they did, why it was I felt the way I did, and pondered the wonders of this new world. Honestly, it was refreshing to have a few moments of peace and quiet.

-The next day in the afternoon-

I was pleasantly surprised to see that Luffy wasn't wrong. With that slingshot Usopp was a crack shot. The boy was eager to show off when I requested it. He even had these trick shots. He was like a discount green arrow. He was also eager to join us on the seas…though he was obviously hesitant. I didn't blame him. To abandon your friend so soon after this whole debacle…it wasn't a good feeling. Though when I discussed it with Usopp he seemed ok with it. I found out later why…and I was livid.

"Absolutely not!" I demanded "That is asinine and you know it!"

"…what does asinine mean?"

"It means you are being completely idiotic! A moron! This is stupid to the highest degree!"

"Hey" growled Usopp "that's Kaya you're talking about!"

The entire crew plus Kaya were currently in her garden, eating away at new supplies. Kaya was shaking a bit from withdrawal but was holding strong. She was eager to try different food though. As it turned out, the drugs did in fact eat away at her muscles but that was only due to the horrific diet she was under. A simple fix all things considered.

That same small waif of a girl shrunk into herself at my objections. I wilted.

"I didn't mean to imply that there is anything wrong with you young lady, but this is different!"

Luffy pouted.

"What's the problem? It's my crew?"

"Usopp is fine" I growled "anyone else and I would fall into line, but this is about a sickly young woman! She is sick Luffy, SICK! Life on the sea would be of little help to her. You don't even have a doctor for God's sake! THINK MAN!"

Luffy looked me dead in the eye. I could feel this monstrous weight for a second, but I cared little for it. I felt it wash over me and I powered on.

"….Kaya".

We all turned to the young woman, her face becoming more resolute by the minute.

"You remember what you told me last night" grinned Luffy "about being free. About wanting to become a doctor."

"Of course," muttered Kaya.

"You know if you stay, you could become a doctor without all the danger of our crew."

Kaya gripped Usopp's sleeve…but than let it go. She stood on her own shaking knees and scowled.

"My life here is gone…I can't stay here anymore."

I moved to say something but the look she had made any words die in my mouth. Whatever this was…she needed to say it.

"I've been on this island for all my life. I could never explore, never see the outside world! I felt safe here…and now that safety is gone. What difference is there in being confined on this island safe if my life could end any day! I want to see the world! I want to become a doctor! I want…I want to live my own life!"

She whirled to me, her face relaxing bit.

"I know you worry for me…and honestly your words make sense."

Kaya's eyes closed as she smiled, tears streaming down.

"But I want to live happy…not safe."

I sighed.

"…how the hell do you plan to help her luffy. She'll be going through withdrawal soon and we don't even have a ship!"

"I can help with that. If you let me join".

I stared at the woman. I saw a core of steel in those eyes of hers. I sighed and turned to Luffy.

"I'm sorry captain. I shouldn't have objected."

Zoro's thumb over his sword left, though he probably wasn't aware I knew of his intentions. Luffy merely grinned.

"That's why I keep you around John! I'm the captain, but if someone thinks somethings a bad idea, I'll listen!"

I simply gave Luffy a droll stare.

"No, you'll hear it and make your decision after."

Luffy stuck his tongue out and I sighed.

"Fine. That doesn't explain the withdrawal issues."

"…can't you do something about that?"

"For the last time Luffy I don't know everything!"

"…but you do though."

I felt like punching myself in the face. Nami just giggled with Zoro shook his head. Usopp stared at me, probably wondering what the hell this was all about. I sighed.

"Fine. She'll need blankets, food, and time. Life on a ship will be rough for you Kaya…do you understand what you're going to go through?"

"Not really" sighed Kaya, her arms shaking "But I think I get it."

"….now that I think about it, this might work out."

"See!"

"Shut it you rubber git. You never planned any of this!"

"That's the adventure!"

"NO!"

Luffy just laughed at my suffering and rubbed my face.

"It's your job quarter master!"

"If you're going to call me by a distinction, at least use the right one!"

Luffy just laughed and for the first time I think I saw what Kaya meant. She was soon swept up in Luffy's arms along with Usopp and the three were laughing away as Luffy announced his two newest crew members. Kaya's smile was bright, even in the face of her symptoms…perhaps the girl had a point. What's the point of a safe life if you were unhappy?

"This reminds me of the tale of two birds" I said.

Kaya smiled brightly.

"Another tale Mr. John?"

"Just John lass. And aye. The tale follows two birds. One is free as can be, the world open to it. It was wrought with adventure and peril in equal measure. The other bird lived with a home. It was closed off from the world but was filled with everything it needed for a healthy long life. The bird with freedom yearned for the safety of the cage, whereas the bird within the cage cried out for freedom."

Kaya blinked.

"…I see. It's about perspective."

"Precisely. I'm sorry lass for not giving your perspective the respect it deserved. Will you forgive me?"

The poor girl blushed in embarrassment, but she nodded.

"Alright. Let's get what we need" said Zoro "you said something about a ship right?"

Kaya nodded. As it would turn out, the ship in question was more than I bargained for. It was a good ship, a great ship! Just one problem. There was a fucking sheep on the prow.

"What is that?" I muttered.

Kaya's bright smile was almost as infectious as Luffy's…though it was tinged with a bittersweet sadness.

"This is the Going Merry! Merry was the one who built it…it would be a shame for it to just sit there. It's an old model but it will suit us well!"

I think Merry was the name of that servant who died…would explain the tinge of sadness I was feeling from her. My head ached again and I scowled. Damnit, the senses were useful by headache was horrific. Made it hard to focus.

"You alright?" asked Nami.

I sighed and nodded.

"Just a headache. Not sure why it keeps coming."

"We should probably get you a doctor than?"

I smiled and shook my head.

"This has been a problem for a long while lass, you don't have to worry about me."

Nami gave me the stink eye but relented. I stared at the Going Merry.

"So we finally set out for real" I muttered.

Zoro stood beside me his eyes leering at me a bit.

"A good crew member doesn't argue with their captain."

I turned to Zoro with my own judgement in my eyes.

"So you'll follow Luffy if he decides to rape and pillage?"
Zoro growled.

"He would never do that."

Jesus christ lad, how the hell did your garner such loyalty?

"Of course not but that's not the point. The captain is the leader, there is no disputing that. However, when a decision is dumb you discuss it with the captain. Tell me, would you have taken Kaya?"

We were far away enough now, leaving Luffy and the others to check out the ship. Zoro clicked his tongue.

"You and that silver tongue of yours. It's annoying."

The sword lashed out and without thinking my arm came up, my own ice covered in the gautlet of a knight. I quickly lashed out with my fist, aiming for Zoro's chest. The man jumped back but I refused to let that be the end of it. A spear jutted out from hand, forming rapidly and chasing Zoro. The man smirked as his sword lashed out. With a clang his sword bounched off my ice and his eyes near bulged out their sockets.

"What the hell!"

"I guess you wouldn't know" I muttered "But perfectly formed ice is harder than steel."

That was bullshit. My ice was far from normal. But did Zoro need to know that?

"Ha!" smiled Zoro "nice little lie. Keep it for your enemies. But this will work."

"Hmm?"

"You asked me to train with you, remember."

"I remember. Didn't realize now was the time."

"Now isn't. We have a ship to prepare. But there was no point in training with you if you couldn't exchange a few blows and deliver some of your own."

A fair point…though I think it was an excuse.

"Right, more like you wanted to test me for yourself" I muttered.

Zoro scowled.

"Your insight is annoying."

"Says the asshole who struck at me."

The two of us glared at one another but I couldn't help but respect the man. He was unrepentant, uncompromising in his life. He was a man that knew exactly what principles he lived by. For a young man his age…that was incredible. His eyes relaxed as he sheathed his blades.

"You have a point. Look, I'm not sure how it was done at wherever you're from, but here? A captains word is law. When you join a crew…it means everything."

"Really? Even if you joined someone like Kaladore?"

Zoro sighed and shook his head.

"It's more than that. I get…the logic of what you're saying. But this is more than just logic."

…oh shit was this like a religious thing? No…more like a spiritual matter, cultural even.

"I see…I'll make sure to bring future objections with more respect than I did today."

Zoro nodded.

"Good…you're really not from around here are you?"

"Not even remotely" I said honestly.

Zoro smirked, gesturing to the ship.

"You'll have to tell me about it one day."

"…Sure. One day."

I don't even know what happened but at least it was over. I turned to the house, intent on rummaging for any supplies. We weren't leaving anytime soon, but I'll let the others enjoy their little tour of the boat, for now…someone needed to make sure we had what we needed. I felt a bugging sensation at the back of my head but I was too late to stop what happened. Luffy's hand wrapped around my throat and next thing I knew I was being dragged onto the ship!

"Luffy!"

"Don't be a party pooper John! We can do that later! WE GOT SHOWERS!"

"…wait what!? We have plumbing!?"

What the actual hell! That's awesome! I wonder what other things this world could have that I didn't even consider? Guess I'll find out.

END

Couple of notes. I realize that doing things from John's perspective means that we didn't see Luffy's discussion with Kaya. I wanted to see how that would play out in something like this. Please let me know if that was something that added some surprise and mystery, versus just feeling like something was left out.

Now Kaya is one of two new members to the crew. The other is Yamato but that is so far into the future it's not even funny. I wanted Kaya as a member for two reasons. One, the crew is a sausage fest. Two, it brings a merchant like character to the crew which is new!

Now, some people have decried the fact that I used a black market. First off, there is no evidence in my research that Doflamingo as any influence in any of the four seas. I think Sanji's father used his market before but to be fair I believe his father travels to the grandline somewhat frequently. This black market is more centered on the four seas and has no bearing on the grandline in the broader sense…or does it?

Guess you'll have to find out.