Disclaimer: See all other disclaimers before this one…
A Cat's Instinct
Chapter 8: Shaken Faith
Keiko, Nami, James and Zolo all relaxed in the side of the road, as Luffy went off to find Usopp.
"James, did you wee that?" Keiko asked.
"See what?" James asked, cocking his head.
"The way Klahadore fixed his glasses. Isn't that the way Kuro did it?" she asked.
James turned away.
"Are you trying to torment anniversary of his death. Do you enjoy rubbing it in?" he asked, growing slightly agitated.
"James, I'm just being observant. He's that guy form the market, remember?" Keiko said.
"Yeah but both of us know that the Captain died. He's just a look-alike." James said stubbornly, "My father wouldn't lie to me."
The "Veggie Pirates" (as Usopp called them) cane running down the road in pure terror.
"What's wrong with you guys? You're running like James is after you." Keiko said.
"We saw a weird backwards guy!" they said frantically.
James shot up,
"Where is he, this backwards man?" he asked.
"He's coming this way!" they said, "We gotta hide!"
"I can't believe he's here…" James said.
"You know him?" Nami asked.
"Defiantly. There's only one man on this earth who walks backwards in public." James said, chuckling slightly.
Django then came steadily down the dirt road.
"Hey! Who just called me strange?" Django asked.
James lit up immediately,
"Django, it is you!" he said, running over and hugging him, "What are you doing here!"
Django looked at him,
"James, is that you?" he asked, in his smooth tone.
He nodded, but Django looked at him uneasily.
"We're just stopping by." Django said.
Keiko looked at him suspiciously.
"Something's up, and I don't like it…" she thought.
"What are you?" Nami asked.
"I'm just your typical traveling hypnotist." He said.
The Veggie Pirates grinned,
"Wow, a hypnotist. Show us a trick!" they asked.
"Why should I perform for a bunch of veggies I don't even like. I mean, where's the broccoli?" Django asked.
The kids continued to look at him intently.
Django sighed.
"Fine, when I say one…two…Django, you'll fall asleep." He said, pulling out his medallion, "One…Two…Django!"
He and the Veggie Pirates fell asleep on the road.
"He's still got that habit of his…" James said, shaking his head, very amused.
"Let's go." Zolo said, standing up, "It's gonna look like we killed the guy…"
"Should we just leave him there?" Nami asked.
"Wake up the kids, the hypnotist can stay. He needs beauty sleep anyway…" Keiko said, with a slight shudder.
Nami shrugged.
Keiko nudged the kids with her shoe, waking them up lightly.
"What…?" they asked
"Come on…" she said, as she went to follow James and the others.
"Where are we going?" James asked.
"We're gonna go find Luffy." Zolo said, "What do you think?"
James shrugged his shoulders,
"How am I supposed to know? No one tells me anything?" he answered.
"No you're just clueless…" Keiko said.
He sighed, as they headed to the beach, the south shore.
James stood on the peak, and looked at the beach below.
"Hey, there's Luffy!" Keiko exclaimed, pointing to him.
They climbed down the mountain (Well, James jumped down).
"Luffy, are you okay?" James asked.
Zolo chuckled,
"This guy…" he said, prodding Luffy with the butt of his sword.
Luffy woke with a start.
"Whoa, how'd I get here?" he asked, "I could've sworn that I was at the top. Anyway, there's a pirate who's planning to kill Kaya!"
"What's his name? We'll protect her!" James said boldly.
"It's Captain Kuro!" Luffy said.
James froze, swooned, and collapsed onto the ground.
"Here, we'll get him off the ground." Zolo said, picking him up.
"You're so strong!" Keiko said, starry-eyed.
Zolo sighed, and carried the boy in his arms.
As they walked into the village, Luffy told them what he heard, as the others listened eagerly, well, except for James of course.
"Wow, I never knew the Captain was lying. Well, it doesn't surprise me…He always had something up his sleeve." Keiko said.
Edan, meanwhile, was wondering through the village.
Sekorie had sent him food shopping again, and he was dreading the task at hand. However, he was finished, and heading back to the house. He spotted the Zolo and the others, and seeing Zolo carry James in his arms (though he didn't recognize him) went over in concern.
"Is that boy alright?" Edan asked to Zolo.
Zolo shrugged,
"I dunno, I'm not a doctor. He just fainted." He said.
"Well, come on to my house. We can get him somewhere to lie down." Edan said.
Zolo then heard Usopp screaming.
"Here, take him. We have to see someone." He said.
Edan nodded, and took James into his arms.
They ran off, as Edan pushed the hair from James' face. He then noticed the sword and duffel bag that Keiko had left by Edan's feet.
He grabbed the bag, and the sword, and headed home.
"Edan, who's that?" Sekorie asked.
"He just got into town. He may have heat stroke." Edan said.
"The poor dear!" Sekorie said, gathering James' things.
Sekorie looked into the duffel bag, and spotted the cat claws. She almost dropped it in fright.
"E-Edan…!" Sekorie said, startled.
"What is it, Sekorie?" Edan asked.
"Edan, that's James you're carrying!" she exclaimed.
Edan looked at James, stroked the boy's head, and brought him quickly into the house.
When he laid down James onto a bed, Sekorie sat down beside him, and put a damp cloth on his head.
"You got so big, James." She said, "We didn't even recognize you."
James stirred slightly,
"Wh-where am I?" he asked weakly.
""Calm down James. I'm here." Sekorie said.
James eyes opened,
"How'd I get here, where are the others?" he asked, looking around.
"Aren't you happy to see us?" Sekorie asked.
"Of course I am, but my crew. They didn't leave the island, did they?" he asked worriedly.
"They'll be back, tiger." Edan said, "They just had somewhere to go."
James lay back down, relieved.
"So, how's your quest coming?" Edan asked.
"Alright. Django is in town. I saw him on the street. Unfortunately, he hypnotized himself." James said.
"Oh yes, Django. I remember when his entire crew was young. Your father was dating your mother, and it was defiantly cute." Sekorie said.
James grinned, he never could imagine his father dating anyone.
"Well, did they love each other?" James asked, very interested.
Sekorie smiled, a tear running down her face,
"Yes, they loved each other very much, but that day killed your father inside." She said.
James cocked his head,
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
"Well, the day your mother died. He was crushed. You heard the stories, about your father's evil deeds." She said.
"No, he was a good person, my father. Even you said so yourself!" James exclaimed.
"I know what I said, but that didn't mean he never made mistakes." She said, "Your father, killed many people James. I can't lie about that. You're old enough to understand your father's dark side, and possibly yours."
"My father never killed anyone! You must be lying to me. I don't believe it!" James growled.
"I'm telling you the truth, James. He was a murderer, bent on revenge for his wife, who took her own life." Sekorie said.
James felt himself becoming angry of the persecution about his father and mother.
"My mother died of a stroke. My father told me that, and he'd never lie to me! I trusted you Sekorie, and your husband, as my parents, but my father and Captain would never lie to me!" James snarled angrily, standing up.
"James, I would never lie to you. Your mother committed suicide. You were hidden, you wouldn't remember the incident." Sekorie said, more tears coming to her eyes.
"Wouldn't you think that I'd remember an important thing like the death of my own mother!" James asked, "I'm outta here. I'm tired of being lied to."
James ran out the door, grabbing his cat claws and supplies with him.
Sekorie let out a sob, as Edan ran over to her.
"What happened to him?" he asked, looking at the closed door.
"I tried to tell him the truth about his father, but he's not ready." Sekorie said, wiping her eyes.
"Well, he's a bright kid, he'll figure out the truth by himself." Edan said, embracing her, "But, it will be hard for him to grasp."
James ran down the street, tears running down his face, he then bumped into Usopp.
"Watch where you're going!" James snapped.
"I'm sorry. Are you going to be alright? You're crying." Usopp said.
"I'm fine…" James said, standing up.
"Did you hear? Captain Kuro is alive, and is going to attack the village tomorrow!" Usopp exclaimed.
James swiftly punched him, grabbed him by the shirt collar, and lifted him off the ground.
"I'm sick off all the lies about my father!" James snarled, "He was a good man, but he's dead now. I'm tired of hearing otherwise."
Keiko, Nami, Zolo, and Luffy spotted him.
"James, let him go!" Nami exclaimed, "He's with us!"
"He's lying about my father!" James said, his teeth clenched, "Everyone I know is lying to me. He's dead!"
"No he's not. That villain must've lied to you." Keiko said.
James glared at her.
"Take that back!" he demanded viciously.
"It's true. He wants to kill Kaya for money! That's not a good thing, James." Zolo said.
"You are all liars!" he said, "All of you! I can't believe you're all against me. I know that he made mistakes, but that doesn't make him a villain."
"James, murder is more than a little mistake." Nami said.
James released his grip on Usopp, who scampered like a frightened mouse, and hid behind Zolo.
"I don't believe you." He said, "I know you guys hate me, but that doesn't mean bringing my father into this, and brainwashing my Aunt! I'm outta here, and out of this crew."
He walked down the road, and sat on the beach.
"James?" Nami asked from behind him.
"Leave me alone. I'm not coming back." He said, pulling his knees to his chest, and stared out into the water.
"James, we're telling you the truth. I know it's hard, but you have to believe us." She said.
"Until I meet him personally, and he tells me. I won't believe a word you're saying." He answered stubbornly.
"Well, I hope you change your mind." She said, walking away.
He felt calmer, and his anger had settled down.
"I better go apologize," He thought reluctantly, "But that can wait."
He walked into town, and continued to think about what everyone had said.
"Who am I to believe?" he wondered, his mind a total jumble, "I trust both."
He looked around; the streets were deserted, once again.
"Maybe that's why Django is in town. He's not one to go sightseeing…" he thought.