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. 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!
Part 17- A Less Than Warm Welcome
Usopp and Zoro paused at a small creek outside of Coco to discuss how to proceed. The road split on the other side of the sad, slow trickle of water, with the left fork leading to the town and the right over a small hill and out of sight. Fresh wagon tracks through the mud went right. There was no real telling whether it had been Nami and their wagon, however.
Usopp was all for heading into town to gather information. At the very least, they could get some decent food. Zoro had not permitted any campfires on the way, to avoid detection, so their diet had been restricted to hard tack and water. Usopp was fairly certain Zoro had only had the water.
Zoro insisted that they follow the wagon tracks. Luffy told them to bring Nami back, and it was their best lead, having lost visual contact. Also, he had pointed out, if Nami had approached the town from this direction and actually gone into town, there should be tracks going that direction, which there weren't.
"Either way, shouldn't we get some rest before we continue?" Usopp tried valiantly to mask his concern for his comrade's health with indifference. Zoro's eyes were glassy, and he seemed to sway slightly in the saddle every now and again.
"I don't need to rest, Usopp." Zoro sighed. Apparently the concern wasn't hidden very well at all... "I'm fine. We have a job to do, so let's get to it!"
Usopp had opened his mouth to protest, when he noticed three riders cresting the hill to the right. He considered hailing them, until he noticed they were both armed and wearing deputy badges. Wasn't the sheriff here supposed to be trouble?
"Zoro, maybe we should get off the road..."
It was too late: the men had seen them. Zoro's right hand automatically drifted to his hip and the gun holstered there. Usopp clenched his reins tightly and watched to see what the strangers would do.
The rider furthest to the left drew his weapon and fired a warning shot into the dirt between their horses. Zoro managed to keep his mount under control, but Luffy's mare bolted left, with Usopp hanging on for dear life.
Zoro fisted a hand in his shirt, eyes scrunched shut, as the sudden movement caused sharp pain in his recent wounds. When he opened his eyes again, he was surrounded.
"Well, well," the warning shot firer sneered. "What have we here? Don't get too many armed visitors around here."
"Seems pretty suspicious to me," another agreed. "We'd better take him to see the Sheriff, don't you think?"
Zoro briefly considered putting up a fight, but his chest was still throbbing and he couldn't seem to focus his eyes as well as he'd like. Instead, he held up both hands in a gesture of surrender. It was only for the time being, he told himself.
"You guys bring him in," the third rider directed, "and I'll go after that other one." When he received a nod of assent, he spurred his horse toward Coco. One of the other men grabbed Zoro's reins and began leading him away.
***
Usopp finally managed to calm the mare down about a third of the way down the town's main street. He took a quick look around him as both he and the horse panted for air. As soon as his lungs were full enough to do so, Usopp couldn't help a small gasp.
The streets were completely deserted. The curtains were closed tightly in all the windows, and the only sound was a soft plinking noise from a dripping pump at a water trough outside what must be the saloon. Usopp nudged his horse forward at a slow walk, eyes scanning all around.
"Psst! You," a low voice hissed from a narrow alley between two buildings.
"Me?" Usopp found himself asking foolishly. Of course they meant him! He was the only one here after all...
"Get off the main street before somebody else sees you!" A head poked out of the alley. It was a young woman with light blue hair. Her left arm was in a sling. She gestured frantically with her good arm for Usopp to join her. He dismounted and led the tired mare into the alley.
Usopp opened his mouth to ask about the odd circumstances in the town, when he heard a rider on the main street. The woman shook her head and Usopp closed his mouth again.
"Go out behind this building," she whispered, "and I'll join you in a moment." When he didn't immediately start moving, she gave him a less than gentle shove. "Go!"
Usopp hurried to the designated spot and resisted the urge to peer back around the corner of the building. He heard a male voice speaking moments later.
"Nojiko? What are you doing here?"
"I was watering the horses at the stables. Genzo usually does it, but since I was home injured anyway..."
"Did you see a man ride through here?"
"Well, a horse tore through here a few minutes ago like it's tail was on fire, but I can't honestly say I noticed anything about the rider. I'd imagine they're long gone by now."
"They head straight through?" Nojiko must have nodded, since there was no verbal response. "Guess I'll see if I can catch sight of 'em. Finish your work and get back home. You're no use to us, if that arm doesn't heal up nicely."
Usopp heard the rider spur his horse on with a whoop and let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He managed not to jump when Nojiko laid a hand on his shoulder. Mostly.
"Thanks for throwing him off my trail," Usopp sighed with a relieved smile.
"I thought the word had spread pretty far that people should avoid this place," Nojiko grumbled. "What are you doing here?"
"It's kind of a long story," Usopp offered apologetically.
"In that case, save it until we get back to my place." She held out her good hand. "I'm Nojiko." Usopp shook the offered hand solemnly.
"My name is Usopp. I appreciate the offer, but I think my friend may have been taken prisoner. I really should check-"
"If Arlong's men have your friend, there's really nothing you can do about it," Nojiko insisted. "If you don't get out of sight, you'll be joining him in no time. I'm going home. You can come with me like I offered, or walk straight into a hopeless situation. It's up to you."
"Well, when you put it that way..."
***
Arlong was seated at the large desk in his office when Nami let herself in without knocking.
"Well," he chuckled dismissively, "it's been a while, hasn't it?" He gave her only a cursory glance before returning his attention to preparing a letter for mailing. It was probably a bribe, Nami mused to herself silently.
"Not long enough," she smiled sweetly, belying the acid nature of her comment. She tossed a small bundle of documents onto the desk. "There are the land survey results you wanted from the fort. I also picked up a few gold strike claims for you."
"Excellent work, as always. When will you be completing your final maps of this area for me?"
"You haven't forgotten our deal, have you?" Nami ignored his question in favor of one of her own.
"I could never forget," he smiled like the shark he was. "I am, after all, a man of my word."
One of Arlong's men slipped in the door quietly and waited to be acknowledged.
"Yes, Kuroobi?"
"When you have a moment, some of the boys caught an interloper. I thought you might want to deal with him personally."
"You really think it's worth my time?" Arlong seemed rather annoyed, even though he didn't appear to have any other pressing business at the moment.
"Normally, I wouldn't bother you," Kuroobi answered calmly, "but I thought this particular man might be of interest. He appears to be the Devil's Gunman."
Nami tried not to show any reaction to the announcement, but her face must have given something away.
"I'm certain you don't know anything about this?" Arlong raised one eyebrow as he focused his gaze on the young lady.
"Actually, I might," Nami answered honestly, but declined to provide any further details.
"Very well," Arlong stood and straightened his shirt cuffs. "I think I will have a word with this gunman. Will you be joining us, Nami?"
"Maybe in a little while," Nami tossed casually over one shoulder as she left the room herself. "I have some unpacking to do."
"The Devil's Gunman, you say?" Arlong let a slow smirk spread across his face. "I wonder if he'll live up to his reputation..."
End Notes:
I am always appalled by the whole leaving Zoro tied up on the boat and running away scene... The initial abandonment scene is thus involuntary here.
Arlong and crew are not fishmen in this AU; they are regular people. Well, maybe not regular, but you know what I mean. I do however have several little nods to their original selves, like the "shark" line in this part.