Hey Everyone! So I'm really excited for you guys to read this one! I had a whole bunch of fun writing the flirting and the reveal of the bounties! Anddddddd I already have the next 2 chapters ready to go so hurry and review and then I can post these chapters that I have had for a super long time!
Special thanks to Totong, avatoa, Taiski, DinoZilla, and Fanboy316 for Reviewing! And thanks so much fanboy316 for mentioning that Oda should put Kimi in the manga. Sadly I think she's a little too late to be involved in the adventures I've written about, but if he put her later in the story I'd be thrilled!
-yesiamweird
The past couple of days in Water Seven had been what Kimi would consider to be the life of a party. It was truly a victorious celebration for the life of a pirate and a Strawhat pirate at that.
After the crew had rested and healed their wounds from their battle at Enis Lobby, the whole city threw a large party for their victory. The party went from the late afternoon until dawn the next morning. Then shortly after their party the Marines paid the crew a visit…but surprisingly this Marine encounter was one Kimi and the others had not been expecting.
Not only was Vice-Admiral Garp of the Marines Luffy's grandfather, but he also revealed the truth of his father. Monkey D. Dragon is one of the most hunted and dangerous men in the world. When Garp told the crew Luffy's family tree, Kimi and the others panicked about this realization. Not only was Luffy a hunted man, but also his own father was even more of a threat.
As Kimi calmed from her shock, her only thought was to laugh. Luffy was so carefree that he hadn't even one ounce of a clue to who his own father was.
At the current moment, Kimi sat at the table of the cottage the Strawhat pirates were giving to live in until their new ship was rebuilt with a smile on her face. Her thoughts had been postponed on her current experimentation project and instead traveled to the memory of Garp leaving his Grandson. They were lucky, she thought knowing that Luffy knew someone high up in the Marines.
Maybe his connection with the Marines would be better than hers…she prayed.
Kimi wiped her forehead and then looked back down at her project. As much as she missed her father and her laboratory back home, she couldn't wait to have her own lab in their new ship. Franky had asked everyone if they wanted a specific room in their dream ship and Kimiko couldn't pass up the opportunity to have her own experimenting room.
With a shake of her roaming thoughts, the scientist adjusted her glasses on her nose and looked to the notes in her fathers journal. After the owner of the Inn granted Luffy and the other's their stuff back, Kimiko had her nose stuck in the book ever since.
"What are you doing?" Zoro's voice echoed through her head causing her to jump from the surprise. Since the battle, Kimi and Zoro had kept a slight distance from one another and until now they had not conversed in a one-on-one chat since their fight with CP9. They didn't even chat during the party…then again, Zoro had found a group of men drinking ale and thus sat in the corner the whole evening drinking.
Kimi shushed the man with a wave of her hand and then smiled, "I think I've created a sub-particle chemical that will ignite a-"
"Oi oi, what in the world does,"
Kimi laughed, "It's a fine powder that will replace cannon balls. I told Franky I was going to try to make some… but this chemical is very unstable so it's going to be complicated to recreate."
Nodding like he understood, Zoro walked up behind her and watched carefully as she took a syringe filled with water and placed it into the sample. With shaky hands, the blue-haired scientist attempted to rid her thoughts of the swordsman looking over her shoulder and filled the tester with too much water as her eyes attempted to catch a glance of him.
Right at the moment of her looking down in horror knowing she put too much in, the liquidly mixture exploded in a cloud of black smoke surrounding both of their faces. "No…" The female sighed not even bothering to wipe off the black soot from her face. "I guess I didn't balance out the atoms before I-"
"Kimi!" Zoro warned her from the intellectual comments once more.
"Heh," She blushed again underneath the soot on her cheeks, "Sorry. I just have been working on this all day and…gah." She massaged her temples and then removed her glasses. "I guess I forgot to double check everything." She lied knowing the real reason. With a saddened sigh she stood and looked to the swordsman.
He attempted to hide back a smile from the woman but she could see it clearly on his lips. Curious to why he would be laughing at her, the thought of the soot still surrounding her face could be the answer.
Quickly she turned around grabbing a paper towel from off the table and removed the mess. "I guess I should go into the town and replace the supplies I used… oh but I have to write down what I did so that I don't make the same mistake twice…" She was rambling again.
Turning over her shoulder she noticed Zoro was already turned around and heading for the door. "Zoro? Are you traveling into the city?"
He stopped walking and turned his head slightly. "Yes."
"Oh, well…" Kimi adjusted her glasses into the pocket of her grey Galley La sweatshirt, "Would you mind if I walk with you? I should replace the supplies."
Zoro nodded slightly and turned around waiting for her with his arms folded over one another. Without another moment's notice, Kimi clutched her wallet on the counter and secured her bun out of habit. "All set."
The two did not speak one word to another as they traveled down the street and into the city. But Kimi didn't mind really. There was an aurora about Zoro that made her not on edge when the two wouldn't talk. Unlike other men, that silence could be driven with anxiety and fear… but not from Zoro. Zoro was different, and she liked different.
Passing by a wood shop, Kimi realized that she didn't even know why the swordsman was coming to town. "So what is it that you are searching for?" She looked to the side at the green haired man.
"My sword…I need to replace it after that sand bastard ruined it." He coldly responded.
Kimi nodded, "I remember that." She thought back to the fight when she watched his sword disintegrate into thin air. "He had some sort of rusting ability, correct?"
Zoro nodded. "You would know." Kimi nodded back remembering now that the man had also taken over her body after she jumped into the fight. "How's your leg, by the way?"
That was a rather odd comment, Kimi thought. She tilted her head not sure what he meant and then realized the bandaged cut on her thigh. Even now it was still bandaged, but she had gotten so used to it that she forgot. The only indication she was hurt could be seen by the edge of her black shorts. "Oh, I'm fine…Worse then than now."
The swordsman nodded, "Good."
Kimiko was about to question him further about their fight with Kaku and Jyabura when she spotted a chemical store. "Oh perfect!" She looked to Zoro with a slight smile, "I'll see you back at the house?"
He nodded once again. "Sure. Don't get into too much trouble." His comment made Kimi giggle, "Okay, just make sure you don't get lost."
The two parted ways with a wave of their hands and Kimi entered into the shop. "Is there anything I can help you with?" A young man informed the scientist. Feeling like she should shop around for a little bit Kimi shook her head, "No thank you. I'm just looking!" She smiled and the man smiled back.
"Let me know if you need anything!"
Kimi nodded and then continued to look up and down the shelves. She wondered about the rest of the crew knowing that they had been out and traveling the city as well. Both Robin and Nami asked the scientist if they would join her in going shopping but she only refused. Nami would most likely pressure the conservative scientist into buying a revealing outfit.
Although, she thought remembering the outfit change Nami tore of her corset, she did have a slim stomach and most of the guys thought it was sexy. As much as she hated the attention, she didn't mind the way a crop-top accented her features. Of course, she would have preferred to see herself without the blood or dirt from their fight.
Maybe she should attempt to find Nami and Robin…
She quickly paced around the aisles gathering the needed supplies she had to replace and also picking up some extra and interesting items to experiment with as well.
"Hello, did you find everything you were looking for?" The old lady at the counter greeted Kimi, "Oh my word! You are one of the Strawhat Pirates aren't you!" She gasped causing the young female to blush and nod.
"Well then! You can just take this! Go on and take it, deary! We owe you so much for saving Iceberg-san and Franky!" The older woman bowed after handing the scientist her bag of supplies. "Have a wonderful day dear!"
"Thank you so much!" Kimi waved a gloved hand to the lady and then exited the shop. "Now where would the nearest clothes store be?" she turned her head from side-to-side looking for a shop.
"Kimiko!" A voice yelled down the street. "Hey Kimi! Come here!" Nami waved up and down with Robin by her side.
Her smile was from cheek-to-cheek as she walked over to nakama. "Good afternoon, Miss Scientist." Robin smiled. It sure was good to have the calm and equally intelligent loving female back on the crew. "Did you find anything interesting in the chemical store?"
"Yea! Actually I found a-"
"Yea yea, that's nice." Nami waved the two, "Now that all three of us are together we can finally all go shopping! And Kimi you are in dire need for a wardrobe change!"
Kimi nodded, "Actually I was kinda hoping I would run into you two so that you could give me advice." Nami's face lit up. "But no skimpy outfits like the one on the train! That was too much!"
"Aw, Kimi! You're so cute and tiny, why wouldn't you want too?" The blue haired scientist glared at the navigator. "Okay…fine. Let's just go, huh?"
They spent a good two hours shopping and just when Kimi had thought she had enough, Nami insisted on more. "Nami-san…I think I've spent enough money for now." Kimi attempted to leave the two. As much as she loved shopping, she would rather spend all of her money on other supplies instead of clothes and shoes.
"Awwwww but Kimi! You didn't even look at jewelry or makeup and-" Kimi glared at her with fans once again. "Ugh, fine! We will see you back at the house then!"
"See you soon, Miss Scientist." Robin waved and pressed forward down the street with Nami by her side.
"Bye!" Kimi waved and turned around walking backwards towards the street that led to the direction of the outskirts of the city. Many store owners attempted to bring Kimi and the rest of the citizen roaming on the street into their shops, yet Kimi only smiled and shook her head no kindly.
She was on the mission to find the book shop right on the corner of the street. As much as she loved to read and analyze her father's journal, every now and then she would love to have a couple of good books on hand. She had read all of Chopper's medical books already in the attempt to be his assistant, and only half of Robin's books were in a text she could read.
Making her way pass an alley that led to the shop she heard a gruff voice passing by.
"Damn, I'm tired…" Zoro had his head hanging low and around his neck three small tiny babies. In both hands he held a set of grocery bags and for some reason his shirt had been changed into one that was entirely too small for him.
Trying not to laugh, Kimi nodded. "It's been a rough day, huh?"
"Yea whatever." He continued walking. "Why do I have to do something like this…" he looked to the side and noticed the woman standing and watching him. "YOU!?" He gasped and then pushed her into the alley.
Kimi couldn't hold in her giggles as he and she faced one another. "Damnit!" He muttered and Kimi caught a glace at a blush spread across his face.
"Please tell me you got lost?" She smiled genuinely and then looked down at the three babies hanging from his neck. On the tight yellow shirt, she noticed the words 'Mama' and a woman's picture across it. That didn't attract her attention as much as the bottom of it did, revealing the last level of his abs and a scar to the right.
At a lost for words, Zoro merely grunted.
She continued to giggle and then patted his shoulder exiting the alley. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone." She smiled, "Besides, that look suits you." Kimi walked away continuing onto the bookstore.
Just before she left the area, Kimi could hear two voices talking down the alley.
"Aniki, aniki! Who was that pretty lady?!"
"Is that your girlfriend, Aniki?!"
Zoro yelled, "She is not my girlfriend! Where is your mother? I'm done with this shit!"
Now it was Kimi's turn to blush. She had to tap her cheeks lightly to rid herself of the blushing thought that those kids thought she was dating the swordsman. Just as Zoro stated, the two were not dating whatsoever…nor would they probably ever date. Continuing down the road, Kimi looked down at her feet caught up in her thoughts as usual.
Zoro wouldn't be attracted to a woman like her. She wasn't a good fighter and most certainly had a nerdy geek like personality that couldn't attract a man like him. He would be into someone like Robin, a woman with a figure and curves that wasn't afraid to show off her body. She was also a fighter too…after the Enis Lobby event, Kimi couldn't even hold her own alongside Zoro in a fight.
Why would he ever fall for a girl like her?
Lifting her head up, she noticed the book store on the left and smiled. She decided walking into the shop, if she couldn't be with Zoro, then she was going to just going to enjoy his company as much as possible.
"Take a look at the most recent newspaper front Page." Kokoro Stated to Nami after placing a rolled up newspaper on the table. Nami read and then gasped. "What is this? 'Once again this month, 14 ships have disappeared.' What does this mean?"
"That triangular zone is the Florian Triangle." Kokoro informed the crew, "It's an area you're forced to pass through to get to the paradise of Merman Island. Every year over 100 ships disappear in that sea for unknown reasons and then much later, those ships are found without any of the sailors." Kimi smiled watching Nami and Chopper's reactions to the old lady's words. Of course she was attempting to scare them, but she was being truthful as well.
She continued, "There are eyewitness reports of a ghost ship carrying those deceased ones who sailed in that sea."
"Ghosts appear?!" Chopper cried. "That's scary!"
"Will we see living skeletons?!" Luffy exclaimed causing Zoro to shake his head, "What're you imagining?"
Nami cried, "No! I definitely don't want to encounter of see them! Such an awful ship, what could happen in that sea?!"
"Who knows… anything could happen there." Kokoro laughed. "Those who enter that sea never come back, that's why I don't know…It's a foggy, deep, dark sea… be careful…Before entering that extremely disastrous, dangerous sea, you better be firmly prepared."
Nami and Chopper hugged one another and cried while Robin and Kimi exchanged a smile. "Ghost ships that are mere shadows of what were once merchant ships or pirate ships are indispensable parts of the legends of treasure ships." Robin stated.
This information caused Nami into a cheer, "Let's search for the ghost ships!" She laughed, "NO! I don't want too!" Chopper cried over Luffy's cheering.
"I intend to stock up with lots of provisions in case we have an accident, so don't worry!" Sanji smiled with his hands on his hips.
Kimi nodded, "Don't worry Chopper, I found an entry in my journal how to make a portable torch light. With the dials from Sky Island, I'm sure I could make my father's invention twice as good so you won't be afraid of the dark!"
"A treasure ship…" Zoro muttered to himself. "There might be katanas as well."
"PIRATE-Neechan!"
"Strawhat!"
Three sets of voices yelled and then entered into the room. Kiwi, Moz and Chimney caught up to their breath, "Franky-aniki told us to come and call for everyone!"
"The dream ship is complete!"
"It looks great!"
Luffy jumped from off the ground, "It's complete already!? That was fast!"
"The five top-notch shipwrights stayed up all night building it!" Moz smiled.
Sanji held a fist out, "Yosh then let's go-"
"STRAWHAT-SAN!" Another voice yelled from outside forcing the pirates to run outside. There in front of the house, were the Franky Family panting just as the three females had don't just before.
"To be honest, we just heard about it!" One of the men gasped. "Did you see the wanted posters?!"
"Wanted posters?" Luffy questioned.
"Yes! You have been given an unexpected bounty, Strawhat-san! Also, everyone else has one as well!"
This bit of information caused Kimiko to panic. "No…" She gasped with a hand over her lips. Zoro paid her a quick glance and then looked to the man scattering out their posters on the ground.
"See it for yourselfves! All eight of you now have bounties!"
Kimi noticed the picture of herself on the dingy brown poster paper and frowned. "This is bad… very very very bad…" She thought looking at her picture. It was one of her adjusting her glasses on her face during the fight at Enis Lobby. A single trail of dried blood gathered near the bottom edge of her lip, and her forehead and cheeks were dingy.
"Strawhat Luffy, bounty 300,000,000 beri. Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro, bounty 120,000,000 beri. Burglar Cat Nami, bounty 16,000,000 beri. Cotton Candy Lover Chopper (pet), bounty 50 beri. The Devil's Child Nico Robin, bounty 80,000,000 beri. Multiplying Beauty Tomoko Kimiko, bounty 50,000,000 beri. Black Leg Sanji (attempt to take a photo failed), bounty 77,000,000 beri."
Sanji pouted sadly at his horrible sketch while Nami and Chopper fell to the floor by their bounties. Kimi tried to fit back her tears but instead failed miserably and had to wipe them away instead.
"Maybe she will never notice. After all, she still thinks I'm home with Father… everything will be okay… I hope."
"There's also one here for Sogeking!" Luffy laughed.
"I-I know these were your motives and you have many many things to say to each other but, please wait! What we're requesting, is here." The man pulled another wanted poster out of his shirt. "This!"
"Franky?" Luffy questioned looking closely at the picture.
"Cyborg Franky, bounty 44,000,000 beri."
"This is terrible!" Kiwi cried, "Aniki has a bounty on his head!"
"That's right," The man nodded. "We somehow managed to avoid this, but Aniki couldn't… his life will be in danger if he stays in Water Seven and if he gets caught this time we won't have the power to save him! Surely, Aniki must be worried about us and doesn't want to leave the island that's why we want you even if it against his own will…take Aniki out to the sea!"
"WE BEG OF YOU!" The family bowed to the captain. Luffy only smiled, "You don't have to say it! I've already decided to make him my shipwright."
"Seriously!?" The family cheered, meanwhile Sanji still stood over his bounty depressed by the image drawn of him. "Now that we know that there is no use staying! Let's go men, Strawhat, make sure you gather your stuff and head to your new ship!"
The crew waved good-bye and then went into the house to gather their items. Kimi still couldn't get over the fact she had a bounty… and how she was going to avoid her sister…
"Kimi, here's your picture!" Nami handed her the bounty and then continued to hand out the others their own. "Thanks…" Kimi muttered and then sighed pathetically at her picture.
Aokiji had mentioned that she would be included in the crew's total bounty at one point…but she didn't realize how soon it would be. Looking at her picture once again the number caught her eyes: 50,000,000 beri.
That was a decent price for a first time bounty and it made her wonder why…then again. The government knew how dangerous her family and brain were so that could explain it. With a growl, the scientist folded the paper into a small quarter length square and placed it in the back page of her father's journal before joining the boys in the kitchen. With her bag across her shoulder and her rolling trunk in her hands, Kimiko was ready to see and get settled in her new home.
"How long are you gonna stay depressed?" Luffy looked to Sanji still whining about his picture. "Why am I the only one with a drawn picture?!" Sanji cried with fangs.
"That's an amazing amount for a first time." Luffy smiled.
The cook shoved the poster in the captains face even more, "Which part of this picture looks like me?! Where am I in this?"
"It looks exactly like you…" Zoro muttered with a roll of his eyes.
"LFLKA DJGAS DKGA SDHA FLKH" Sanji muttered. "I can't understand your words…" Zoro sweatdropped and crossed his arms over his chest.
The love cook fell to the floor face first, "I'll be the laughing stock of the whole world's ladies…"
Nami held her poster in her hands, "I was tricked…that man said he was the town's magazine reporter." She shrugged her shoulders and smiled, "At least the picture turned out cute though and I got a bounty…"
"I'm also a pirate!" Chopper yelled at Luffy with his bounty in his hand. "And I fought like a true man, so I gotta object to these 50 beri!"
"Well try harder next time!" Luffy laughed just before Mozu yelled for the crew to hurry up outside. "As soon as we get the ship and Franky, we depart so don't forget anything!"
"Luffy," Chopper whined. "Sanji isn't moving."
"Then just forget that curly guy." Zoro responded constantly continuing with their fight.
"Wait…" Sanji growled and then followed after the rest of the group.
Kimi and the other's nodded and then followed the girls to Scrap Island after saying good-bye to Chimney, Gobe and Kokoro. "Oh!" Luffy exclaimed after they arrived to the shore. "There's something huge over there!"
"Is that it?" Chopper smiled jumping up and down. "Let's go see!" Luffy ran forwards, "Oi! We came Franky!"
Instead of seeing Franky, they came across Iceberg standing in front of the covered ship. "Unfortunately, Franky isn't around…However, the ship is complete and I will show it to you in his place." He walked over to the blanket and pulled it off swiftly. "If you're going to become the Pirate King someday, Strawhat…"
The blanket revealed one of the biggest and most detailed ships Kimiko had ever set her eyes on. And the best part, was the fact she would live with this ship to the end of the world.
"…You have to ride this King of Beasts!" Iceberg ended with his hands extended in the air.
Everyone gasped and smiled at their ship.
"This is the best!" Luffy cheered.
"Are you really just going to give this to us?!" Chopper cired.
Zoro nodded. "It's double the size of Merry!"
"What a big sail!" Nami smiled as well as Sanji, "Show me the kitchen! The kitchen!"
"What a splendid ship!" Kimi giggled. "It really is wonderful."
"I wonder what kind of big flower is that on the ship's bow." In Robin language, that meant she liked it.
Iceberg muttered shyly, "Well, I was sure it was a lion."
Not wanting to wait any longer, Luffy jumped on the deck along with the others trailing behind. The deck contained a grass bottom complete with trees and a patch of Nami's orange groves. Kimi had to admit, the part of the deck she was going to enjoy the most was a small swing dangling from one of the trees.
When she was younger, Kimiko loved to sit outside on her tree-swing and think. She didn't have to think specifically about science because there was no one around to gripe her to do so. It was her only form of relaxation and she took in every inch of it when she could sit outside and swing back and forth.
Now, seeing the swing most likely made for Luffy and Chopper, she smiled knowing she'd have her fill of the object.
Sanji exclaimed from the inside of the kitchen, "Oh it has a refrigerator with a lock on it that I saw in my dreams! Franky, thank you! This ship is the best!"
"Oh," Kimi traveled up the stairs, "I wonder if Franky put in the laboratory I asked…" She was about to venture for the room when Luffy asked Iceberg for Franky to thank him.
"Oh, it seems he doesn't want to see you." The mayor replied. "Strawhat, you want to invite him as you shipwright, correct?"
"Yea, you got that right, I've decided he will already!"
"That might be the problem." He nodded, "If he was invited face to face then he wouldn't be able to refuse. That's why he went to hide. Well, perhaps his true feelings are to go with you guys out to the sea." Iceberg smiled. "You must know pretty well how much he cares for this dream ship he's giving you. Franky really has a liking for you all from the bottom of his heart, but he's always thought of staying on this island as a duty. To me it's just a stupid obsession, but if you really want him to go with you the only method is to use force to get him."
"By force?" Luffy questioned. "I really want him to come but…is that really okay?"
Iceberg nodded, "It's the only way…"
Kimi and Nami had to shake their heads at their soon-to-be shipwright. Not only was he not wearing any pants (not to say that his speedo was any better) but now with the use of Robin's Devil Fruit power, she had grabbed his manly parts as their means of 'force' to get him to join the crew.
The boys freaked at the sight, "They have been grabbed! Robin, I want him to still be a man when he becomes our nakama!" Luffy yelled. "They'll be smashed, Robin! It hurts just by looking!" Chopper cried.
After squealing and twitching to the ground, Franky stopped screaming and moaned in pain instead.
"Just like when a treasure is in front of a pirate and he doesn't want to let go, if I don't receive a good reason then I'm not letting go." Robin smiled having the perfect reason for Franky to join the others.
"I want to go, but there are still things I must do here!" The cyborg complained. "I quit being a shipwright to begin with and this is the last ship I'll ever build, that why I gave it to you." He continued to twitch from the pain.
"Franky," Iceberg began walking calmly over to the man, "That still hasn't become the dream ship you talked about. You now have done everything you had to do in the island. On that day you blamed yourself and regretted the capture of Tom-san, but Tom-san has already forgiven you. By showing you a new path! You protected everything Tom-san loved in this Water Metropolis to atone for your guilt…even though Tom-san has forgiven you…even though…I have already forgiven you. It's time… to forgive yourself, Franky. Live your dream now." Iceberg ended with a smile to his long-time friend.
Just then an explosion hit Franky, forcing him to fall away from the hit. "What? A bag?" He wiped his tears.
"It's the luggage for your trip, Aniki!" The Franky Family yelled and cheered for their leader to go along with the Strawhats.
Franky frowned, "Don't but into my life! It's shameful and if you were the ones to think this through then you shouldn't have in the first place!"
"But we care for your happiness!" One of the brothers yelled. "We want you to be happy!"
The blue-haired cyborg began crying and twitching on the floor once again, and honestly Kimi wasn't sure if it was because he was saddened by his friends or if it was from Robin.
"It hurts so much that I can't stop crying! Damn you, Nico Robin!"
Well, that took care of that question, Kimi shrugged to her own question. But when she looked to Robin, the scientist discovered that Robin had already stopped grabbing him.
"He's smart." She smiled resting on the railing. "Blaming the pain for those tears." Her raven black hair blew through the breeze as she turned her head to the captain. "I just started the motion…"
Kimi shook her head with a smile, "Guess that answers that…again." She giggled while Franky continued to cry and complain.
"Aniki we will still test our strength here in Water Seven, please don't cry anymore! Aniki!"
"Even if you go far away, we will always be your followers!"
"Aniki!"
In the distance, Zoro and Sanji ran at full speed towards Franky and the ship. "Luffy! We are in big trouble!"
"Your grandpa came back, Luffy!" Zoro yelled out, "He's at the opposite coast making arrangements to attack and is looking for us!"
"Why? I thought he decided not to capture us?" Luffy questioned without a care as usual.
"How should we know?" Sanji frowned and then passed up Franky. "Oi you bastard, you're not wearing your pants yet?!" And then the two hopped on.
"Here," Luffy threw the speedo to the man and then stood on the railing with his arms folded across his chest. "Well then, get on, Franky. On my ship!"
"Heh, stop talking so cocky." Franky placed his glasses from off of his head and onto his nose. "The only repairs you amateurs are capable of, are cheap ones. If there isn't one shipwright on board, I would pity the ship! So I'll help, your ship's shipwright will be the great Franky!"
"YAY! A NEW NAKAMA!" Luffy cheered along with everyone else on board. Franky clutched the yellow bag packed by his family and climbed onto the deck with everyone else. "We're off!" The crew unrolled the sail heading out of the shore with the tide and breeze.
"But Luffy…" Nami grunted as the captain sat on the round platform seat around the mast.
"Aren't we still waiting for one more person?" Franky questioned causing Luffy to shake his head, "I've waited long enough since I heard from Sanji in the Galley-La room."
Kimi closed her eyes remembering that evening when Sanji revealed his information about Usopp. He had seen the marksmen practicing on the shore and revealed that he was in an attempt to get the crew to want him back.
However, Zoro had another thought about the idea…
"No matter what happens, it isn't you who should behave modestly, Luffy." The swordsman crossed his arms over his chest. "I won't accept him until he comes and begs."
"Zoro!" Chopper argued, "What are you up to?!"
"Hey, why're you being so…" Nami began to walk towards him until he yelled at her and the reindeer to 'Shut up!'
"No matter how Luffy and Usopp felt when they started to quarrel, no matter who was right…" He walked towards the captain while pulling out one of his swords, "After demanding a man to man duel, you gotta devote yourself to the outcome of the battle."
As much as his words hurt Kimi and the others, Zoro was correct.
"And after losing the battle, he left on his own accord… listen everyone!" Zoro turned to the crew and tapped Luffy's head with the handle of his sword, "Even though he's an idiot, he has the title of Captain…The crew would be better without someone who doesn't show respect for this guy."
Zoro clutched Luffy's cheek and stretched it, "A crew that loses the respect for their captain, is sure to collapse. You can act easy going as you usually do but, if even for an instant, the guy who is my leader lets others step over him, it is me who will be next to leave this crew!"
This bit of information shocked the others, "That won't settle down this conversation!" Nami pouted.
Zoro let go of Luffy's face causing him to snap back and to the ground. "If that idiot wants to come back, it's fine. However, if he doesn't make a distinction of the current matters, and is acting for self-interest, then I definitely won't forgive him!"
Kimi stared at the cup of tea resting in front of her on the table. As much as Zoro's words were painful to hear… the events that had lead up to the fight between Luffy and Usopp had been worse. The swordsman was correct, even though no one wanted to admit it.
Luffy would seem like a weak captain if he let Usopp onto the crew without an apology…
"If so, it's better for you to leave Usopp on this island!" He finished.
"Wait up, Zoro…it's true that he made some mistakes but if you just tell him what you said when he gets back-"
Angered intensely, Zoro unsheathed his sword into the floorboards. "Is leaving the crew such an easy thing to do?!" He yelled.
"No…but…"
Sanji puffed a breath of smoke, "Nami-san. It is unfortunate but, just for this time what he's saying is right."
"We also can't keep trusting a guy who started such a thing on a whim." Zoro continued to get his point across. "It's simple, if Usopp's first thing to say is a deep apology, then fine. If not, then there's no place for him to go back to…What we're doing isn't a childish pirate game…"
Those words struck Kimiko deeply…she knew the consequences of coming out to see with Luffy and the others…but to be told it by a Nakama was more intimidating. She only hoped her past wouldn't come back to haunt her and her friends.
Luffy's laugh pulled her out of the memory, "We waited for him the entire time in that place, but he didn't ever come. So that's the answer." He smiled but deep down even Franky knew Luffy grin was a fake one. "I think he also will be please with this…it's not like he quit being a pirate, so we might run into him on the coming seas." He laughed again, painfully obvious he was trying to hide his rejection that Usopp still hadn't apologized after all this time.
Kimi looked down at Zoro sitting near the railing. He too, was admitting with his body language that he was upset Usopp still hadn't shown up. The grip on his white katana was strong, stronger than it ought to be…
"Luffy, let's wait a little longer." Nami asked as the breeze blew the ship, "We are in no rush for departing-"
Just then the ocean rumbled and forced the Strawhat Pirates to look out on the edge of the shoreline. "Damn it! The marines already found us!" Franky declared as two more cannonballs fired around the ship.
"OI LUFFY! CAN YOU HEAR ME?!" Garp's voice echoed from the ship. "GRANDPA HERE! GRANDPA HERE! ANSWER IF YOU CAN HEAR ME!?"
"Oi grandpa, what's wrong with you, didn't you say you weren't going to capture us here?!"
"WELL A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENED. I'M SORRY BUT YOU'RE GONNA DIE IN THIS SEA! I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU BY MYSELF!" Vaguely the crew could make out the old man standing on the mast holding something in his hand.
"What is he doing?" Sanji questioned until a black cannonball charged right alongside the ship. "H-He just shot a cannonball at us with his bare hands!"
From that point on the crew's plan was simple, get out of the shoreline area without getting hit by the balls. With, or without, Usopp.
Kimi had cloned a few copies of herself and the crew to aid in the deflection of the cannonballs but still, these weapons were fast…how in the world was he throwing so many as if he were a revolving launcher.
"Everyone!" Chopper declared. "He's here! I can smell him!" Kimi looked out to the land and saw nothing of Usopp's figure…She looked back at the clones fighting and getting destroyed and had to quickly make more.
"I hope he gets here soon…" She thought grimacing while another clone disappeared from the hit. The ship was getting farther and farther away from Water Seven and it would only be a matter of seconds before they were too far away from bringing Usopp back on deck.
"Usopp came Luffy!" Chopper yelled again. "He's here!"
Instead of paying attention, Luffy blocked a ball with his balloon figure. "Protect the ship!" He declared.
Kimi looked back and then made a glimpse at a shadowy brown figure running down the shore. His voice was faint over the cannon blasts, but she could hear no apology from any of his vague words.
"You're so happy that you can't stop crying, right?! Everyone, wait! That's it, right?"
"Apologize!" Kimi yelled in her head, grunting as she attempted to help Franky block a cannonball.
"You guys, don't tell me you actually believed that joke back then?!" His voice was getting louder, and more alarmed. "We've known each other for a long time now! We argued quite a lot, but we're still nakama! Let's leave the past behind us!"
Kimi and the others held their foreheads low still not hearing the correct words to come out of the marksmen's mouth, "Oi! Say something!" Usopp cried out trying to compose himself. Stop messing around everyone!"
Kimi shook and then decided to fight back with her own set of tricks, "Clone clone, cannonball!" She yelled out and mirrored the attacks of the balls offsetting and disarming them from attacking the ship.
"Oi, your power is pretty cool, twin-san!" Franky grinned.
"Twin-san?" Kimi tilted her head still with her hands positioned in the triangle. "Ow, yea!" He laughed and shot a ball with the gun from his hand, "You have the same hair color as me, so you are Twin-san!"
Kimi giggled softly. "Ah, I see. Thanks." She had to admit, her color of blue hair, wasn't quite the same shade as Franky's but it was about one shade darker. Whereas, her sister and Father had a dark deep rich blue tint to their hair color. She was actually fond of his nickname for her.
"Luffy! Usopp is calling!" Chopper spoke out. "I don't hear him." Luffy replied.
"Zoro!" The doctor turned to the person next to him, "He's calling out to us!"
"I don't hear anything."
Chopper cried, "Liar! You can hear him!" He looked to the blue-haired female, "Kimikooooo!"
She didn't say a word and instead shadowed her face from the reindeer.
"Just fight!" Luffy yelled out, "Protect the ship at all costs!"
Why did Usopp have to be so damn stubborn, Kimi thought glaring past the splashing sea to the shore of Scrap Island. She could barely make out the shore line, let alone could she even attempt to see where Usopp was.
He had about ten seconds to apologize before the ship was out of the sight of the island… They probably wouldn't even be able to hear him if he did say 'sorry' and Kimi wasn't even sure if Luffy could stretch out his arm for him to bring Usopp back.
"Five seconds…" She grimaced blocking another set of fire with her new clone trick. "Four…three…two…"
"I'M SORRY!"
Everyone looked to the shore, "I'm sorry I'm so stubborn. I was wrong!" They heard Usopp's voice loud and clear.
Kimi smiled from cheek-to-cheek and then continued her attack while the other's listened to the rest of his apology. In the next second, Luffy stretched his arm all the way out despite the cannonballs and stopped his hand right in front of their nakama.
"YOU IDIOT!" Luffy's tears poured from out of his eyes and even from his nose, "Hurry up and grab on!"
Sanji and Chopper cheered as Luffy continued to cry even more. "You're the idiot." Zoro laughed as Luffy pulled their friend onto the ship.
"You two guys are pitiful…" Nami attempted to hide her own cry but failed miserably. When Usopp landed on the ship, he collided heads with the rubber captain forcing the two to land on the ground. "We are finally complete!" Luffy exclaimed triumphantly. "Let's hurry up and get outta this bombardment to go for more adventures, men!"
"OI!"
Yay! Onward crew! Hope you guys liked this, it was roughly 21 pages in my word document! Now, REVIEW and I'll put out the next two chapters asap!