"I am known as Captain Usopp!"

Quickly sitting up I snatched my mask and placed it over my face before peering over the bushes to see what the commotion is about. Standing at the cliff edge a little way away was a long nosed boy whose curly hair was tied back with a bandana. Slung across his shoulder was a kaki colored messenger bag. He seemed to be yelling down at three people who happen to dock on the beach.

"It's best if you don't try to attack this village, because my eighty million men are not going to forgive you." At that moment several flags popped out of the bushes

I had to stifle my snickering. Eighty million men, there wasn't even five, just one bragging teen and three scared kids who were pulling several ropes that were tied to numerous flags to make it look like there was more people.

"Sugoi" cried the raven headed boy wearing the straw hat.

"You're lying," muttered the orange haired woman casting a withering gaze at the laughing boy in the straw hat.

"Waa! I've been caught!" Long nose cried.

"See, you said it yourself" she deadpanned.

"What, he really doesn't have eighty million men" cried the straw-hat boy.

"Only you would fall for such a ridiculous lie Luffy," muttered the third man who was wearing three swords.

"I see, Shishishi! You're so funny" the newly christened Luffy exclaimed.

Why did this lying boy seem so familiar? What did he say his name was again? Ucop, Udrop, no that wasn't it. Oh that's right, Usopp, such an odd name. Oh now I remember Usopp is the town's resident liar. He is always going on about pirates. These three must be pirates as well, working under Buggy the Clown. Although they look a little bit too normal to be part of his crew. I don't have anything against Buggy, besides his outrageous costumes and annoying voice, but Buggy made it clear that he wasn't heading to Grand line and I need to board a ship that is heading in that direction. Oh well, even if these people are not apart of Buggy's crew I still wouldn't be able to sneak aboard their ship without their noticing, its way too small. I'll just have to make do with my raft.

Picking up my knapsack I turned my back on the liar and newcomers and headed into town. It is about time I get something to eat anyways. Maybe I could stop at that small tavern called Meshi.

Despite it being a small village that hardly gets travelers the Meshi tavern was quite crowded. The pub was filled with lighthearted chatter and savory foods. Sipping on my sake I listened as a group of four slide into the booth behind me.

"So, you're looking for companions and a big ship for your big adventure." My hidden ears perked up at this.

"Yup" cried the too happy voice that I have come to acquaint with the straw-hat boy Luffy.

"Sorry to say but there is no place around here that you could get a boat, this is a small village after all."

I went back to nursing my drink. I already knew that there were no lumber yards around here to build boats, besides I couldn't afford a boat of my own let alone sail one by myself.

"What about that mansion up at the top of the hill, they may have a ship." The green haired swordsman asks.

"You stay away from there!" Usopp jumps out of his seat slamming his hand on the tabletop. What's eating him? I slyly glance over my shoulder.

"Uh, um I-I'm going to be late I'll t-talk to you guys later okay," He shouts running out of the bar.

"What's eating him" the green haired one questioned.

"I don't know but he is hiding something and we're going to find out what. Come on Luffy, Zoro." The red head starts for the door.

"B-but Nami the meeeaaat" wines Luffy.

"Come on" Nami growls dragging Luffy by the back of his shirt. But before they left the tavern Luffy's arm stretched back into the room only to grab a platter full of meat before disappearing out the door.

I sat there looking at where the three travelers and the platter of meat were only moments ago before glancing at my bottle of sake.

"Oh well" I finished off my bottle before paying for my meal and heading out after them. If they do find a boat then maybe I could sneak aboard and judging by their conversation they are most likely headed for Grand Line.

"Klahador" a feminine voice screamed.

Following the loud voices I came across the newcomers, the liar and two other people. The first was a young girl who was leaning out of the second story window. The second was a well-dressed man wearing a pair of glasses. Despite the man being merely a butler his aura seemed quite dark.

"Shut up" Usopp yelled as he punched the well-dressed man.

"I'm proud that my dad was a pirate," Usopp continued. "I'm proud that he was a brave warrior of the sea!"

"Kukuku, a brave warrior of the sea. What a joke." Klahador stood back up. "Your nothing but the product of a barbarian."

"Don't you dare insult my father" Usopp screamed grabbing that man's collar readying to punch him once more.

"Stop it! Usopp-san don't hurt him," the young girl shouted down from the second floor.

Usopp stopped mid punch and glanced up at the young woman.

"Please don't hurt him," she repeated. "Klahador is not a bad person."

"Get out of here and never come back" the man I have come to know as Klahador said, removing Usopp from his person.

"I understand" Usopp replied before leaving the grounds.

The others left as well but I decided to glance back at the man named Klahador. He was standing stark still only readjusting his glasses with the heel of his hand. He is not who he says he is? Whatever he is planning it isn't good. I thought studying the man's aura. Maybe I should warn them. I quickly shrugged of the errant thought and continued down the road. After all, I don't want to be here when all chaos breaks loose. It doesn't really matter to me. I'll just go on my own way and let the ningen play their little games. Don't want to paint a target on my back anyways. I probably won't ever see them again anyways. I thought continuing down the dirt road.

"One, Two, Jango."

I glanced across the fence to see three kids and a weirdo passed out on the ground while both Nami and Zoro stared at the unexceptional hypnotist.

And Fate likes to prove me wrong. Sighing I head back I remind myself to pick up some supplies before heading out to my raft on the southern beach.

.

Walking along the cliff edge I sense a bright aura sluggishly pulsing. Eyebrows furrowed, I follow the pulsing a ways from my raft and spot the corpse of that idiot named Luffy. Feeling the aura slowly fade from my senses I walked towards the corpse of the young boy.

"And the morons die so young" I grimly mutter before closing my eyes and bowing my head in prayer.

"Zzzz…..Zzzz….."

"Huh?" my hidden ears twitched at the soft sound.

"Zzzz…..Zzzz….. Grrrr…." Turning my head to the boy I checked his pulse.

"The idiot is asleep," I deadpanned.

"Snore…..Meaaat!"

"And dreaming about meat," I sweat dropped.

"Meat!" Luffy cried sitting up suddenly.

"Ack!" I scrambled back as fast as possible, far away from the meat-crazed boy. Quickly rifling through my knapsack I looked for the vial Sokou gave me before a shadow overcame me. Slowly glancing up the boy Luffy was mere inches away from my masked face, staring at me.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"Um, I am a figment of your imagination created from your subconscious mind after you fell of the cliff." I hastily answered hoping he would buy the lame explanation.

"Oh… so you're a mystery person!" He declared.

"Uh, yea-ah. Yes, yes! I'm a mystery person!" I silently deadpanned at the stupidity of this kid.

"Sugoi! Hey mystery person, join my crew!"

"Wha?"

"I said join my pirate crew! We'll go on amazing adventures and I'll become the Pirate King!" Luffy announced grinning widely.

I could only stare at this kid. This immature, innocent looking kid just declared that he was going to sail the most dangerous sea in the world and become the King of the Pirates by finding the treasure former Pirate King's great treasure known as One Piece. Hundreds have died on this expedition, hundreds who were better trained, better equipped, and a whole lot smarter. But for some reason beyond my knowledge I felt as if he could make it. Ludicrous, I know. No human has ever, nor will ever, make it to Rafiel. But the feeling still remained. It doesn't matter if he becomes Pirate King or not, he is headed for Grand Line and offered me a ride. Provided that I join his crew. I however do not want to be tied to a pathetic crew. How about a little test? Just to see how dedicated he is to this dream of his. And if he is worthy of my help.

"No" I answered.

"Huh, why not?" he questioned.

"Because I'm not real" I smiled behind my mask.

"Yes you are, your right in front of me!"

"I'm real but not really real."

"So you're a mystery person!"

"We've already been over this" I sighed looking at his grinning face.

Dear lord, how stupid is this kid? "Look, what you see right now is an illusion," I grinned. "You have to not only find the real me, but earn the right to know my name. I don't give out my name to just anyone. If you can't do those two things before we leave the island than you will have to owe me a favor."

"But if I do then you'll join my crew?" Luffy probed.

"Yes, but I'll warn you it will be very challenging."

"Yosh! I'll find you and then make you join my crew," Luffy laughed.

"You are getting ahead of yourself now. First go find your friends. They have been looking for you and word on the wind says that there is going to be so trouble soon."

"That's right that butler is actually a pirate captain and he is going to attack the village. I got to tell the others!"

"Well hurry" I said pushing him a little. "You don't want your friends to get in trouble now."

"Yeah, I'll find you later after I kick that no good butler's butt" Luffy cried before stretching his arm and grabbing one of the tree branches on top of the cliff. A second later he was gone.

I looked back and forth between the tree branch and the area Luffy occupied moments ago. "A devil fruit huh?" I mumbled to myself. For some reason I felt Lucifer crossing over a particular six foot deep hole with my name on it. Sighing I headed towards my raft and directed it towards a hidden sea cave near the north shore. Don't want to be caught in any of the ningen's battles.