Yes, yes, I know. After all this time, finally an update. I bet you forgot this story even existed, didn't you? :) Well, I didn't I've been steadily working out people's roles and how things will work out. Not much is written though, sadly. But all the same, here is the next installment!

By the way, every chapter will be from a Straw Hat or family member's perspective, and every Straw Hat will get one, but not every chapter will be from a different person's POV. For instance, I know that Usopp gets at least two. Ah, the benefits of being author's favorite!

Enjoy!

There were very few times when Usopp resented his heritage. Or his hometown. His father, now, that was another issue entirely, but as he stood in the bathroom he shared with three of the other boys in the orphanage, he couldn't help but clench his jaw as he took stock of the reflection frowning severely back at him.

Dark brown skin. Black curls—truly black, not that half-assed brunette so many girls were parading around town these days despite the ever-beating sun. Big, dark, dark brown eyes with almost feminine lashes. Nose... Well, his nose was a bit long, but so had his mother's been. A large mouth with prominent lips, usually smiling. But no matter how you looked at it... Black.

Usopps fingers tightened on the edge of the sink as he leaned closer to the mirror.

And promptly had his face smashed into it when a small body rammed into his lower back. The was a thud as that same small body slid sideways and crashed onto the floor, flailing legs nearly kicking Usopp's out from under him. Hanging onto the sink for dear life, Usopp peeled his face away from the glass—which he would now have to clean; tomorrow was bi-weekly cleanliness inspection day—he turned and looked at the boy pushing himself up from the floor.

He sighed. "Onion!" Usopp pushed himself away from the counter and crouched down to just below the boy's level. "What now?"

"There's a lot to report, Captain! But first—I can't seem to find my—"

"Glasses," the two finished together, and Usopp reached past the younger boy and pulled his glasses out from behind the toilet.

"Here."

"Thanks, Captain!" Onion pushed himself to his knees, but fell backwards again when he found himself face-to-face with Usopp. "I think Carrot hid them earlier," he cheerily informed Usopp as he moved to put them on, but halted when Usopp coverage his smaller hands with one of his own.

"Onion. Those were behind the TOILET. Wash them off first!"

"Oh yeah. Thanks, Captain!" he said again, then hopped to his feet. Dodging around the still-crouching Usopp, he quickly launched into an explanation of that days adventures. Listening with a smile, Usopp stood and pulled some cleaning supplies down from the highest shelf. He paused halfway through the motion when it occurred to his that just three years ago, he had always needed a stool to reach these high-up supplies, or an adult to do it for him.

"... And then Pepper shoved Carrot off the swing, can you believe it! He got sent to the matron's office and everything, it was way cool!" Spraying the mirror, Usopp watched Onion's reflection take a deep breath, then grin up at him, and felt a twinge of guilt—it was probably his fault that Onion, Pepper, and Carrot had such a taste for trouble. It WAS his fault that everyone called them that instead of their proper names.

When he had first met the younger boys during dinner six years prior, Usopp had looked at his spoon, halfway to his mouth as it was, and back at them. This process had repeated several times until finally the matron had asked what was wrong. His automatic response had been, "Nothing," but after a short pause he had added, "but they look like my soup. See?" and he had then pointed to the slice of onion, green pepper, and the baby carrot balanced on his spoon. Then he pointed to each boy in turn. "He's green pepper. He's an onion. And that one looks like a carrot!" It had been a child's logic that made the observation, and a child's immaturity at having to share the room that had, for the previous two years, been his alone that spurred him on to actually start addressing the new boys by their respective vegetables. But it was the fact that he had been at the orphanage longer than nearly any other child that had caused the other boys to pick up other the inane names. And they had stuck. Everyone save the matron herself had been calling the boys such ever since.

Luckily, the self-proclaimed 'Usopp's Pirates' (though Usopp himself couldn't help but think of them as the 'Veggie Pirates') didn't seem to mind being addressed by the names of the vegetables they most resembled. All the same, it caused a twinge of discomfort and a round of awkward chuckles every time they had soup for dinner.

Usopp was brought back to the past when the other two boys themselves stormed in. "It was not cool!" Pepper protested, fists clenched at his sides. "Now I'm in trouble and I have to do dishes afteer dinner for the rest of the WEEK!" he complained loudly. He turned beseechingly to Usopp and repeated, "The whole rest of the WEEK, Captain! That's-"

"About three days." Usopp fought a smile. "I think you'll survive, Pepper. It sounds like you earned it, too."

"But Captain!" the boy whined. "It's just—"

"Oh shut up," Carrot piped in, bringing his fist down on Peppers head. As the boys began arguing, Usopp noticed several band-aids on his palm, wrist, and fingers. They were plain, just flesh-toned. Usopp replaced the cleaning supplies and pulled out the much lower bin of band-aids'n'things. There were still plenty of superhero ones, as well as Star Wars, pirates, and bugs. Which meant that Carrot had chosen to use Usopp's plain, adult band-aids himself.

It was suddenly hard to swallow past an odd lump that seemed to have grown in his throat. Regardless, he ushered them out of the bathroom and, this time being sure to lock the door, went back to the mirror.

What had he been thinking about? Something that had frustrated him, that he couldn't do anything about... His gaze fell on his school bag.

Oh yeah.

Kaya.

His stomach squirmed a bit at the thought of the beautiful, frail debutante. She was the richest girl in school (so rich she even had a butler!), but didn't really have any friends, even though they were juniors this year. She missed so much school because of her illness that no one ever bothered talking to her much. But they'd had classes together all year, and even sat next to each other in creative writing (which he admittedly had been pressured into taking by his counselor as an attempt to channel his—quote—'penchant for tall tales' into something productive). And, not being the quiet sort, Usopp had started talking to her. Everyday. At first she had been startled, that much was easy to see. But she had looked so confused during the history notes review that during lunch, when he passed the table where she sat, alone, fanatically thumbing through the text book that they didn't even ever really use, Usopp hadn't been able to stop himself from asking to sit with her. And introducing himself. And explaining how the tests usually went, as he'd had the same history teacher the previous year.

The anecdotes, of course, had a few embellishments here and there, but there was no way she could know that. And she had laughed anyhow, so what did it matter? When she pulled out a chair at her table the next day and waved him over, he knew that it didn't. Not at all. Kaya thought he was funny. She liked talking to him. She was also gorgeous, delicate, sweet and polite. In other words totally at odds with him in both behavior and looks.

And, oh, her looks. Kaya was pale; nearly everything about her. Pale, silky-looking yellow hair, so often kept back from her face with a light blue head band. Her clothes was almost always pastels; green, touchably soft T-shirts and light khaki capris or skirts, light pink converse... Her eyes were the only contrast. A rich brown, they practically sparked with life and interest and humor. Her skin was pale, too. Very pale, not just from a life lived mostly hospital rooms, from what she had told him. Her whole family was just naturally extremely light-complected.

Kaya was very, very white.

Usopp was very, very not.

And unfortunately, they lived in the Deep South. And while ordinarily this wouldn't be a problem, Kaya's family was old blood. Very old blood. As in, once had slaves old blood. It was years ago, decades, if not a century or more, but...

Her grandfather still lived in the family home. And there was just no way he would ever let Kaya date a black man. Or even a half-black man, like Usopp. Which sucked, because he was pretty sure he loved her. Like, actual love. Love-love, not like-love. And sometimes he even though she liked him back. Maybe just as much.

He did catch her watching him sometimes. Like, from inside the 3-D arts room as he ran past during laps in Phys Ed. For awhile he had thought she was watching the ever-popular and very French senior who was in Usopps's period—Kaya had mentioned him a few times; they had home ec together first period, so it was plausible. But then one day the upperclassman had been absent and Usopp had still caught sight of Kaya pausing, up to her elbows in clay, and looking out the window.

Surprised, Usopp had slowed to a jog and waved at her hesitantly. She had freed one arm and waved back, then looked away quickly, as though her name had been called. So she was looking for him every day, right?

That had to mean she liked him, right? Right? Maybe Usopp could strike up a conversation with the Frenchman; he was a nice enough guy and certainly popular with the ladies, if the gaggle surrounding him while he ran circles around everyone was anything to go by. Yeah! Usopp could get some advice, maybe learn some fool proof moves that would—

Oh, who was he kidding? He didn't even know the guy! And Usopp and Kaya were friends. Just friends. That was all there was to it. That was all there would ever be.

...the self-proclaimed 'Usopp's Pirates' (though Usopp himself couldn't help but think of them as the 'Veggie Pirates')...

Yes, well, thank you 4Kids, for this at least. As I recall. I kept the English names simply because that is how I think of the boys; I am always genuinely confused whenever I see 'Tamagi' or whatever it is while reading. If the reverse happened to you while reading my story (the English names confusing you) than I apologize.

...the richest girl in school (so rich she even had a butler!)...

Yeah. That's who you think it is. That's exactly who you think it is.

...the ever-popular and very French senior who was in Usopps's period—Kaya had mentioned him a few times; they had home ec together...

*nudge nudge wink wink* Oh yeah, he's a major player. And take that however you like!

That's about all I can think of that I had to comment on. Again, my apologies for this being so long. And I finally update with a chapter that's mostly introspection and character indtroduction. Boooring, but I hope it entertained you at least a little. Please, tell me what you think! Do you like this Usopp? I do.

Ja na!