Thank you to everyone that favorited and/or followed~

Title: Thanks for always believing in me
Rating: K
Genre: Gen (you could read it as Usopp/Kaya too, if you want)
Word count: 2,135
Characters: Franky, the Straw Hats
Summary: Despite the ocean between them, they helped each other towards their dreams.

Dear Usopp,

It's been only a few days since you left the village. People are starting to ask questions, you left in such a hurry, but I promised I won't tell them anything about what happened. Carrot, Onion and Pepper won't stop coming to the mansion despite Merry's protests. I don't mind, they mean well. They are trying to replace your presence.

Speaking of the mansion, it feels empty since Kla It feels empty. I already miss your stories. But I want to be as brave as you are now, I won't dwell in a corner anymore. I talked with the town's doctor, he's willing to teach me. Can you believe it?

I've never felt this light in a long time. I am doing so much better now, I wish you could witness it with your own eyes, yet I know it's better that you don't. We both have years before us to work for our goals and dreams and I don't doubt that we will reach them. We need to accomplish these things ourselves.

You will certainly never read those letters. I won't send them, it's for the best that the Navy doesn't find either where you are or that I'm linked to you, a pirate. Still, I mean each word I will write in them.

I hope you are having a pleasant time with Mister Luffy, Mister Zoro and Miss Nami.

Until we meet again,

Kaya.

Dear Kaya,

Guess what, being a pirate is hard.

I mean, obviously it wouldn't exactly be a never-ending party. I don't know how to say this, it's been about a week or two, I think? And so much already happened. We met and dragged another crazy monster who doesn't know what pain and normality is, he's a bit of a jerk but he's a great cook. We learnt a bit more about Nami. There is more to that, but I feel like I would invade her privacy, it is her story to tell, not mine. All you need to know is that everything is well.

Yes, being a pirate is hard. We are getting closer to the Grand Line as I'm writing this. But I've never felt so good in my life before. I feel like we can accomplish anything. (Don't tell anyone, but I'm a little afraid. Luffy's dream is crazy, so is Zoro's to be honest and sometimes I have doubts they will ever happen. But what do I know?)

I'm looking forward my dad's face when I'll meet him one day on the other side of the world.

Nami told me it's better that I don't send these to you. I can't call you either, despite the fact that we do have a Transponder Snail, since we already had a bit of a skirmish with the Navy in Loguetown. I want to protect you and the village. I just feel relief writing these.

Hope you're doing good,

Usopp.

Dear Usopp,

I saw you in the newspaper! In the corner of Mister Luffy's bounty! You look so great, I am so delighted to see you are having fun with your journey!

You should see the mansion, there are books scattered everywhere. I study everyday, I learn every complicated word and method. I don't get as easily tired as before, but sometimes my head feels a bit dizzy. Despite Merry and the doctor's requests, I won't stop right now. I love what I am doing too much to stop.

How is the Merry doing? I hope it is proudly bringing you to your destination,

Kaya.

Dear Kaya,

I'm sorry. I messed up.

The Merry is gone.

We loved it and it loved us. Can you even believe that it protected us and saved us on its own? It had the best life of any ship that sailed on this sea. It overcame so much to bring us even further, it never stopped. It even flew towards the skies once. It was our home.

I was an idiot, I didn't see it and I kept lying to myself. After all, that's my job. Usopp the liar. I'm really the worst. I've been lying all my life, to myself, to everyone, to you. How can you now despise me?

We have a new ship now. It has been a really tough time for us, we lost something dear to us, we almost lost something else. Thankfully, we didn't, we even got another crazy one to join us on our strange adventure. Still, I think I was the most stupid one here, so I guess our pain is my fault in a way. I almost gave up on them, I almost went back to the village. That's who I am, stupid Usopp. But I didn't. I thought about you, about the disappointment in your eyes, so I decided to go back. I have to be brave, so you can be proud of me.

The Thousand Sunny really feels it is Merry's legitimate successor, and its warm presence is still sailing alongside us, I can feel it.

I miss him. I'm really sorry, Kaya. I hope you are not too disappointed in me,

Usopp.

Dear Usopp,

I can't believe you have your own bounty now! You even created yourself a nickname! The children doubted it was you at first, but I will never mistake that nose of yours for someone else's. You are also not fooling the village, the mayor was quite angry at you. Still, you know how he is. He never really forgave your father for leaving your mother and you all alone. We threw a party to celebrate your celebrity and after a few drinks, there was so much pride and happiness on his face. He really loves you.

I won't lie, I fear for your safety. You all angered the Navy at Enies Lobby. But I know you are a pirate, a free and proud man not afraid to show his convictions. If you think it was the right thing to do, I won't judge your choice.

I entirely trust you to be safe,

Kaya.

Dear Usopp,

I'm scared. The newspaper said that you are all dead, that only mister Luffy survived. It's horrible, what happened to his brother, I didn't know. They say it's the end of the Straw Hats.

I'm scared. If you can, try to show me you're alive?

Please.

Kaya.

Dear Usopp,

I don't feel lively these days. My hands are shaking quite a bit, it is getting hard to write. It is like the weaker version of myself came back all at once to crush everything I built these past few months.

Merry begged me to stop studying and rest for a week at least, but I feel like it would only bring dishonor to you and me, to our promise. We both wanted to reach our dreams, I have to do it.

The children are sweet, telling me you will never die like this. Their never ending faith in you gives me hope.

I still believe you are out there somehow.

Please.

Kaya.

Dear Usopp,

We are close to the second anniversary of the Summit War. If I know the entire world is both celebrating and mourning Whitebeard, yet I don't have the will to think about what this date really means to me.

I know you are doing fine. But give me a sign?

Please.

Kaya.

Dear Usopp,

Why aren't you

Dear Usopp,

I knew you were still alive. I never lost hope.

Kaya.

Dear Kaya,

I'm sorry I didn't get time to write anything for more than two years now.

What I am saying, I'm not even sending these to you. Whatever.

So much happened, I'm sure you know. I hope I didn't worry you, the children or the village. I probably did, though. Well, I want all of you to know that I've never been better.

It hasn't been easy, I won't lie. For two years, I had to hide from the Navy and train myself for the worst, at Luffy's request. I'll do anything for my crew now. Luffy is the man who is going to become the Pirate King, I never doubted that. (Actually, now that I think of it, I did once? Well, my bad.)

I wanted to write you the moment we got back, the moment when everyone would learn that the Straw Hats are still alive and kicking. But like I said, so much happened. I mean, you probably saw it in the newspapers. We could never catch a break. The alliance with Trafalgar, and everything with the Emperors… Remember the jerk cook I talked about? Well, there was more to it. We almost lost him, like we almost lost Robin, like we did lose Merry. It wasn't easy for me. He is like my best friend and I never knew what he went through.

But we got stronger. All of us. We are doing it, Kaya. We're almost there.

I won't tell you anything now, I want to give you the full story of my adventures the day we'll get to meet each other once again,

Usopp.

Dear Usopp,

I haven't written for you in years now. I still follow your adventures through the newspapers, but I didn't have time to sit and write a letter as I was getting closer to my dream. Because, you know what?

I did it!

For once, I don't know what to say. I have been working so much to get to where I am now. I am officially a doctor. Carrot became an apprentice so he can open his bar in the future. Pepper is working hard to build a hospital for me and Onion just finished his first novel! See, we are all getting there. I know you will too.

I will wait for you to come back, then I will go on my own, to help anyone who needs a cure.

I feel like the day we'll meet again is getting closer,

Kaya.

Dear Kaya,

We did it!

I did it! I will take you to Elbaf one day. I smiled and cried and screamed so much my entire face hurts now.

Also, my dad's face was priceless.

I'll get back home soon,

Usopp.

Dear Usopp,

It was great to see you again. It has been so long since you left. Five years, maybe more? You are not the skinny teenage boy you used to be the last time we saw you. Your crew is so lively and funny, I'm glad you found such a family to travel with. Mister Chopper is now my hero, he can really cure anything! I have so much to learn from him. You grew up a lot. So did I. Did I surprise you? I did change a lot, but you didn't have to cry like you did. You do realize I will never forget that?

We are all proud of you.

I don't know why I am still writing to you, when you're just inside the cabin next to mine, on our way to Elbaf. I guess it is a habit I will never get rid of. Please tell me we will travel together a bit more after this? I want to see the world with you. I could have never left my huge, cold and empty mansion without you. I owe you everything.

I am so proud of you,

Kaya.

Dear Kaya,

Well, this will probably sound stupid, considering there is only a wall between the two of us. I don't know why I am still writing to you. It's a habit I will never get rid of, I guess.

I'm thinking of giving you every single letter I wrote to you. This is even more stupid, but I guess I grew up or something. I just want you to know my journey from the beginning to the end.

Also, please, forget what you saw when I cried like a baby. It's just, it has been so long since we've seen each other and you grew up and matured so much? I feel like I accomplished nothing. I guess I have enough courage now to say that you are beautiful, Kaya. I know and I admit it, I could have never done this without your endless support. We were oceans apart, but I knew you were out there, telling me to keep going. So I did, for you, for the children and the village.

Elbaf is the best island I've ever visited, you'll love it.

Thanks for always believing in me,

Usopp.

A/N: So many line breaks.

Took me a while after the 20k mastodon of a thing I published already a month ago to make Sanji suffer but I needed a break and then life happened, but here we are! It's a bit shorter and quite simple, but it was fun to write.

This one was a request from ao3 user NamelessAnami who asked for a phone call or a letter between Usopp and Kaya. I hope you enjoyed it!