Disclaimer: All the characters herein, with the exception of some random extras, are the intellectual property of Eiichiro Oda and all the companies involved with publishing and production of the One Piece manga and anime. I just twisted 'em a bit.
Spoilers/Warnings: This story will eventually encompass the entire first season of the anime, which is up to about halfway through volume 11 of the manga, just so you know. There's a bit of a spoiler of sorts in this part, but unless you already know about what I'm spoiling, you probably wouldn't pick up on it, so... This is an AU, so many things have been changed/altered/warped to suit my needs. Also, there is some language and violence.
Pairing: None. However, I like subtext, so you can probably find hints of just about anything, if you look for it.
Dedication: To the OP at the fanforall at LJ, for requesting a cowboy AU and spawning this in my brain. Many thanks to Dandy Wonderous for beta-ing.
A/N: Name order for all characters has been westernized. Don't like it? Tough cookies! I do not claim to be an expert on anything involving gun fighting, the old west, or the cavalry. I did some very basic research for some of this, but I probably got lots of stuff wrong. Humor me.
A/N 2: Remember up there ^ where it talks about "changed/altered/warped" stuff? From this point onward, there's a lot more of that. This one's pretty short and mostly filler...
Part 8- Mementos and Motivations
The group made camp a little before sunset, allowing themselves time to really look over the supplies from Kaya while they decided on dinner. Luffy was thrilled as long as there was meat involved, which was rather a given. Zoro wasn't picky. If it wouldn't kill him, he'd eat it. Nami wasn't too particular either, as long as she wasn't expected to do the cooking.
"I know a great stew recipe," Usopp offered, as he looked over the food rations. "I can get it started, and it can cook while we finish setting up camp." He felt that it was only fair that, as the new guy, he contribute. Certainly, none of the others were going to argue.
"It can't be any worse than snake and beans..." Nami mumbled, rolling her eyes.
"Are you serious?" Usopp asked, blinking. "Snake and beans?" It sounded vaguely like some kind of dirty joke...
"Unfortunately," Nami sighed, "I'm completely serious. That's the first meal I ate with these two."
"Well, I liked it!" Luffy cheered, grinning broadly. "We should do that again some time!"
Camp set-up didn't take very long at all, and soon they were all sitting around the campfire, the only sounds the occasional bubbling hiss from the pot of simmering stew. Usopp, having lived alone for years, was never much of a one for silence when he did have actual company. Moments later, he was entertaining Luffy with wild stories.
Nami had seen a little too much of what most of the world was really like to truly enjoy Usopp's tall tales. She glanced over to see that Zoro wasn't paying much attention either.
He was very carefully looking over his weapons. He was currently holding the white gun, a far off look in his eyes. She was curious, despite herself.
"I've never seen you draw that one," she observed. Usopp had just finished a story, so the comment drew the attention of the other two boys, as well.
"You said once that it's only got one shot, Zoro," Luffy added. "How come?"
The gunman didn't answer right away. He opened the cylinder and let the single bullet slide out into his palm. Zoro ran his thumb over a single word scratched into the casing long ago. Kuina. In truth, the lone round was treated with care equal to, if not greater than, the white gun itself.
"This is a special bullet," Zoro finally responded. "I made somebody a promise. I'm going to challenge the greatest gunfighter there is, and this shot's meant for him."
"Can I see it?" Luffy asked, eyes wide and eager. Zoro closed his fist around the bullet protectively, then sighed.
"Come over closer, then. You can't touch it, mind, but I'll let you look."
He was a little surprised when all three of his companions moved to hover over his hand. He opened his fingers slowly, a little embarrassed by how almost shy sharing this made him feel.
"Is that a word?" Luffy squinted in the dimming light. "What's it say? Kuh... Koo-"
"Kuina," Zoro supplied, slipping the bullet back into it's usual chamber. "It's a name."
"Is that the person you promised?" Usopp almost wished he hadn't asked when Zoro's expression darkened.
"Yes. There's a bullet just like this with my name on it. It's buried with her, so far as I know." That far off look was back again.
Usopp started to open his mouth, unsure whether he wanted to apologize, offer consolation, or something else altogether, but Nami nudged him with her elbow and shook her head, expression grim.
"My hat's kind of like that." Luffy's voice broke the awkward, solemn silence. "Except the man who gave it to me, Shanks, is still around."
Zoro looked up at the young man, who was fingering the brim of his straw hat. The gunman raised one eyebrow in silent inquiry. He wasn't going to be the only one sharing this evening, if he could help it.
"He saved my life once, when I was just a kid," Luffy obligingly continued. He sat down again, removing the hat and setting it in his lap. "Lost his left arm doing it, too. I promised him that I was going to be a famous outlaw someday. He gave me this hat, and I'm supposed to give it back to him when we meet again, after I've fulfilled that promise."
There was another short silence, before Usopp spoke.
"I wish I had some kind of noble motivation like that," he sighed. "All I've got is my silly dream."
"It's not silly," Luffy insisted, plunking his hat back down on his head purposefully. "A dream is the best sort of motivation there is!"
"Thanks, Luffy." Usopp smiled. Luffy's confidence easily rubbed off on those around him. Zoro couldn't keep a small smile from sneaking onto his own face.
Nami looked away from the group, however. She had her own sorts of motivation, but she had absolutely no intention of sharing. A change of subject was in order.
"Hey, Usopp," she called, fervently hoping the cheerfulness in her voice wasn't too obviously forced, "how's that stew coming along?"
"Yeah, Usopp," Luffy wholeheartedly seconded, "when can we eat?"
"Let me just check if the potatoes are cooked."
The mood lightened even more once everyone had a nice, warm bowl of stew. It was certainly no culinary masterpiece, but it was filling. They traded a few funny anecdotes, and Usopp convinced Luffy to join him in a little singing. Their combined tone deafness and volume didn't seem to bother the singers at all, but Zoro finally couldn't stand it any longer.
"Enough! You two are worse than the coyotes!"
"It's getting awfully late," Nami agreed, "and we'll want an early start."
She pulled a bedroll from the back of the wagon and laid it out a short distance away from the others. She could hear Luffy and Usopp whispering with an occasional order for silence from Zoro. She rolled over and tried to focus on sleep. She was starting to get attached, and that was something she simply could not afford.
Zoro took one last look at Nami's back before pulling his hat over his face. There was something off about that girl. Zoro had a gut feeling that trouble was coming, but, seeing as there was nothing he could do about it at the moment, he'd let it go. Nothing, but nothing, was going to cause him to lose sleep!
Usopp gazed up at the wide open sky, full of twinkling stars. He was too excited to sleep yet. These guys were a little crazy, but he knew he could depend on them. He could also be certain that life would be anything but boring, now.
Luffy yawned and snuggled under his blanket contentedly. The Straw Hat Gang was up to four members! He thought about the wagon full of rations, and the conversation before dinner. He came to a conclusion: canned meat was well and good, but they should try using snake more often!
Also, the next member to join should probably know how to cook.