"DIDN'T YOU HEAR ME! I NEED TO GET TO CITRUS ISLAND FAST AS POSSIBLE!"

"AND I SAY REST! THAT'S AN ORDER!"

From above, beside the railing, Yasopp observed the strange kid he had picked up having an argument with their doctor. The kid wanted to go at ones, rowing to citrus island if he had to. And the Doctor had called him out on both being starved and fatigued beyond reason, demanding the long-nosed kid to rest and eat before he did any-thing.

"Hey isn't that the slingshot kid that rescued us?" Dennis asked. Dennis whom was a dark skinned tall man with black hair, and one of the people Yasopp had been tied up with.

"Yeah." Yasopp mumbled. "It's him all-right."

"Odd looking fellor isn't he?" Dennis asked.

"Yeah." Yasopp exhaled deeply resting his arms on the railing in front of him, looking down at the kid whom had obviously lost the battle as he was simply denied his row-boat for now, and sourly he sat down beside the mast with crossed arms looking angrily at the doctor, as if every-thing was his fault.

"But he got balls! Have to give him that!" Dennis laughed. "I kind of like him." He grinned.

Yasopp how-ever, didn't look the least bit amused as he looked at the kid.

"Hey, what's the matter Yasopp?" Dennis asked with a lifted eye-brow.

"Nothing, it's just." Yasopp sighed leaning his head on his hand. "It's complicated." He at last told.

"You sound like a woman." Dennis snorted. "Keep me out of that one."

"Now now Dennis, don't tease." Both pirates turned around and was met by a lean red-haired man whom had just exited his quarters.

"Good morning Shanks." Yasopp shrugged turning around, back to the kid as if this wasn't any-thing special. "Or is it just good-day at this time?" he asked.

"Glad you made it back, that makes a full crew." Shanks noted in a little smile. "But who's the kid?" he asked looking down at Usopp whom sat by the mast, looking as annoyed as ever.

"He's the kid I told about last evening." Dennis told. "The kid with the weird sling-shot, he wanted a rowboat in exchange for freeing us so he could go back to his own crew, he claims he is a straw-hat."

"Is that so?" Shanks asked his eyes shifting to Usopp. "Well then I supposed with better give him a boat."

"The doctor says that it's probably better to wait a couple of days." Yasopp pointed out. "The boy swam all the way out here from halfway to citrus island, he's exhausted in spite of how he acts." He told just as Usopp hissed at one of the older pirates whom had apparently said some-thing to him.

"What's that Yasopp, you're usual not this sentimental." Dennis commented. "Are you growing old?" he asked teasingly.

Yasopp snorted. "Wouldn't you love that?" he asked

Shanks how-ever shrugged. "If he wants to go now to meet up with his crew, I don't see how I am in any position to stop him. He seems determined enough to make it."

Yasopp blinked, and then turned his head towards the captain. "What?" he asked.

"I said he seems like a young man able to make his own decisions, I don't see why I shouldn't just give him the boat." Shanks stated. "I will call it a little favour to the straw hats." He smirked.

"Please Captain, why hurry. Can't we wait a few days?" Yasopp asked.

Shanks lifted an eye-brow as Dennis starred gobsmacked at Yasopp. "Now you don't sound yourself at all." Shanks told Yasopp.

"Regardless, can't you wait, as a favour to me?" Yasopp asked.

"Why?" Shanks asked.

"Erh.." Yasopp halted.

"Yasopp, if you don't give me a good reason right now, I am going to go down to the boy, talk to him myself, and probably give him that boat. He'll be off my ship within the hour." Shanks told. "Unless you tell me a good reason right now why I shouldn't." The captain demanded.

Yasopp exhaled deeply as he lowered his gaze. "That boy not only claims to be a straw-hat pirate." He told sighing deeply. "He also claims to be Usopp, he claims to be my son." He told looking up at Shanks again. "of cause I have no way of knowing wether it's true or not." He told. "He just popped out of no-where. No other crew members around. He claims he swam to shore, but as far as we know, he could be a marine in disguise, we all-ready know there are marines around on this island."

Both Shanks and Dennis were starring at Yasopp at that point.

"He claims to be your son!?" Dennis exclaimed. "That son from syrup island you just wont shut up about when-ever you had a bit to much to drink!?" he asked.

"As far as I know I don't have any other sons around." Yasopp snorted. "Why don't you go down and take a closer look at him, then you can tell me what you think!" he hissed.

"I think I will." Dennis stated as he wide-eyed looked down at Usopp, then moved away from Yasopp and Shanks to have a closer look.

"Hmm." Shanks mumbled looking at Usopp. "What a coincidence." He noted. "So we meet the praised son at last. If he really is your son."

"I don't know." Yasopp muttered looking down at Usopp, whom now was looking around in that saddle he had constantly been carrying out. To finally take up what looked like a sketch book and a pencil, and then he simply started to scribble in it.

"Could he really be my son?" Yasopp asked his captain. "Is it really possible?" he asked. "Or is he making it up?"

"How should I know?" Shanks asked. "Okay if you want my honest opinion just looking at him." He frowned crossing his arms looking down on the young man scribbling away in his note book. "Well Yasopp, he is the picture of you, a pretty good look alike. He even has the same hair as you would have if you didn't bleach it and made it into dreadlocks like that. I distinctly remember you having black curls when we first met." Shanks observed as he stroke the bit of beard he had on his chin. "If he really is a froth, he is a damn good one. Damn he looks a lot like you when we first met, it's almost scary. Except that nose, I don't know how on earth he ended up with that thing."

"It's exactly like Banchinas." Yasopp exhaled.

"Hm?" Shanks asked as he lifted an eye-brow looking at Yasopp whom sighed.

"My.. wife." Yasopp at last admitted as he swallowed. "And my sons mother, god that kid looks so much like her." he commented as he hopelessly leaned on the railings looking at the young man whom sat with crossed legs leaning up against the mast while he scribbled away. "If this is a hocks, it's a god damn good one." he had to admit.

"Well, do what you want." Shanks shrugged as he turned around. "No matter what, that kid will soon be on his way again, you can see it in his eyes, he is determined to meet up with his crew fast as possible, no matter what. If he is your son or not your son, how should I know that? I'll give you till tomorrow before I hand him his boat." Was his final words as he turned around and entered his quarters ones again.

"Urgh." Yasopp muttered as he almost fell over laying up against the railing looking at Usopp. What was he supposed to do now!? He knew the Captain had been very lenient, and he shouldn't waste his captain's generosity by not taking his chance. But to go down there and talk with that boy again!?

Yasopp stood up and bit together as he took a deep breath in and out through his teethes. He had to do it! Just like ripping off a bandage, he better do it quick. He had to go and damn talk to the damn kid and get it damn over with!

With those thoughts in the front of his mind, Yasopp went ahead, down the stairs, he took the steps towards the boy.. and only to quickly stood in front of the boy whom didn't even look up at him. But just kept on scribbling in that damn sketch book as if the thing he was working on was more important than Yasopp, whom snorted as he placed his hands on his hips.

"What are you doing boy?" Yasopp at last asked in an impatient tone as he stood like that.

Usopp shrugged. "Not much, just sketching." he mumbled, not reacting the least bit to Yasopps surprisingly harsh tone.

"You mean drawing?" Yasopp asked with a lifted eye-brow. "A pirate who draws?" he asked a little amused. "Sounds girly."

"Hey! My mother taught me that." Usopp hissed looking annoyed up at Yasopp. "You know, Banchina, your wife." he commented dryly.

Yasopp blinked, then sighed as he looked out at the ocean. "How is she?" he at last asked. "She must be lonely by herself back at Syrup… but then I suppose you can't keep men of the sea away from adventure for long." he added in a tryingly teasing smile, but that was wiped away rather quickly, because Usopp didn't look the least bit amused nor appreciative by the comment, merely sat with his sketch book drawing while frowning sourly. "Hey what do you want me to do?" Yasopp asked annoyed with raised arms. "I am really trying to open conversation with you, so what the hell?" he asked.

"It makes no difference to mother whether I stayed at Syrup or not." Usopp at last muttered not looking up.

Yasopp frowned. "Did you have a fall-out?" he asked.

"No." Usopp replied. "She loved me a lot."

"Then what is it?" Yasopp asked more annoyed by the second. "I am running out of patience boy."

Usopp shrugged not the least bit touched by Yasopps annoyance. "Well, she died." he told shortly, still not looking up.

Yasopp's eyes widened as his mouth dropped open. "What?" he asked as if the words hadn't exactly sunk in.

"Don't worry it was a very long time ago." Usopp shrugged looking surprisingly relaxed. "I was just seven at the time so that makes it." Usopp looked up in the air as he thoughtfully chewed on his pencil. "Eleven years and two months ago." he noted going back to his drawing.

Yasopp fell down on the deck landing on his rear as he looked surprised at Usopp. "That long?" he asked surprised. "Has she really been dead for over ten years?" he asked.

Usopp shrugged. "Guess so." he muttered. "But don't worry, it was a very peaceful death. I was with her to the end. Then she smiled and told me every-thing would be all-right, as she always does, always being very kind and positive, so that's also how she died." Usopp told. "Excuse me, I'm just going to take a bit to drink, the doctor says I am dehydrated and should drink as much as possible." Usopp told as he drowsily stood up, leaving his things behind before he walked towards the kitchen where the beverages would be.

Yasopp blinked as he looked after the strange teen, then his eyes were drawn to what was left behind… the sketch book.. shakingly Yasopp reached for it, and sat with it for a while, before he dared to open it, and on the first page he was met with the drawing of a young beautiful woman with long blond hair.. Yasopp had absolutely not idea whom that was, but the portrait was really good. Flipping the pages more people entered whom Yasopp had no idea who was, three young boys who looked a bit like vegetables, a boy with a straw-hat on his head, wait, that was Luffy the straw hat Captain! The drawing was a brilliant, it looked exactly like the wanted poster! There was a light-haired man with a funny swirly brown, a skeleton with an afro, some-thing that looked like a cross between a little human and a tanuki, probably some-thing Usopp had made up while he was bored, two young women together one with long black hair and one with shorter lighter hair. But the portraits only made out a small portion of the sketch book, so many of the pages were filled with sketches of ideas to inventions, contraptions, all sorts of stuff. It looked absolutely amazing and far from Yasopp's comprehension, then at last he reached the page that Usopp had been so consumed by, and Yasopp had to swallow as he tried not to cry. It was yet another portrait, but this one he recognised immediately. It was very good, it was of a woman with long straight black hair, a soft smile and a nose that was peculiarly long.. Banchina, the likeness was astounding, Yasopp slightly touched the page. A good artist would easily be able to draw this portrait based on a photo, but only one whom had known her intimately would concentrate so much on making her eyes look that kind, as kind as the real ones had been. And her smile as well, soft and kind, as only Banchina smiled. "He really is my son." Yasopp realised. "It's true." he sighed as he closed the book and closed his eyes looking down, and then merely sat there for a while as a few tears silently fell down from his eyes.

Slowly a pair of feet's came towards Yasopp, then stopped, right behind him.

"I really did love your mother you know." yasopp whispered as he felt the presence standing right behind him, and he knew for a fact it was Usopp, he didn't know how he knew it, he just knew that it was. "I loved her so much that I honestly thought I was going to settle with her.. But every day I ended up longing for the sea. Then when my pirate crew came back to town, I decided to leave but just for a little while.. just enough to fill me up on the adventures. I would come back once we were finished sailing the eastern blue… once we had finished sailing the grand line.. once we had finished sailing the new world." he sighed deeply. "And months turned into years, and before you know it. So much time has passed."

Yasopp felt a hand on his shoulder, and then Usopp's voice spoke. "I don't blame you." Usopp told. "Not really, I spend most of my childhood looking up to the father whom dared to really leave for sea, though I had never met him. You inspired me to really do it, and become a great pirate as well."

Yasopp smiled amused, then handed back the sketch-book over his shoulder without looking at Usopp still. "You have your mothers artistic talents." he told. "The paintings she could draw, they were as beautiful as her soul." he sighed. "And the stories that went with the pictures, they could always lift a sailors mood." then finally he turned around and looked up at Usopp. "Do you tell stories Usopp?" he asked.

Usopp smiled lightly. "People call me the biggest liar of the seven seas." he told as he let go of Yasopps shoulder. "But merely being a liar is not enough to handle yourself in the new world, don't you think?" he asked.

"Depends on how good a liar you are." Yasopp commented as he stood up, brushing his pants.

"I am the best." Usopp told in a big grin pointing at his own chest. "But there's some-thing else I want to show you. Oi Shanks?" he yelled at the reiling.

"Huh?" The red-haired captain looked up with a drowsy look in his eyes, as he stood pretty far from them, and Usopp had to yell to make himself understandable.

"So pleased to meet you Captain, Luffy told a lot about you." Usopp greeted in a grin.

Shanks smiled as he gave Usopp a thumbs up and a wink.

"Do you have a coin on you?" Usopp asked.

Drowsily Shanks rumoured in his pockets and held up a small 2 berri coin.

"Perfect!" Usopp grinned. "Would you please throw it up in the air as high as you can?" he asked.

Shanks blinked, then looked curiously at Usopp before he shrugged and did as he requested, throwing the coin truly far up in the air, so far that it went beyond the mast and up where no one could possible see it.

"Yosh." Usopp gribbed as he with practised speed put on his glasses, drew his Kabuto from his back, collected it in less than a second, straightened it as he looked up where the coin had dissapeared to… and then he shot.

Every-body blinked by the strange antics, and some movements went by before the coin finally came into view again, plummeted down and was at last being grabbed by shanks in mid-air.

Yasopp blinked. "What is supposed to have happened?" he asked.

Usopp grinned as he put his Kabuto away. "Wait for it." he asked pulling down his glasses.

Shanks blinked, then looked down in his hand and slowly opened it, before he gasped in deep surprise.

Yasopp blinked. "Captain, what is it?" he asked.

Wide-eyed Shanks held up the coin for every-one to see, to reveal a little projectile hole, right in the exact centrum of the coin.

Yasopp's mouth fell to the ground as he saw the little hole and Usopp laughed as he crossed his arms. "Did I mention that they call me the king of Snipers?" he asked.

Yasopp had to rob his eyes and double check. "That is definitely not some-thing you got from Banchina." he commented stunned.

"Nope." Usopp grinned as he shook his head. "I was lead to believe that was some-thing I got from you."

"Then you have definitely out-grown me." Yasopp wide-eyed commented scratching his head. "I could never.. I mean!" suddenly it seemed the man realised what he was saying and cleared his throat. "Well of cause!" he exclaimed. "You are making your old man proud, taking up the family tradition, all though." Yasopp glanced on at Usopp's kabuto. "I still don't understand that thing!" he exclaimed. "What's wrong with an old fashioned gun you can always rely on?" he asked swinging his own trusted gun.

"Guns are not as accurate." Usopp shrugged. "And my kabuto is quicker to load with any kinds of ammunition."

"Yeah I saw that weird ammuntion of yours. But what's now wrong with bullets?" Yasopp. "They have always been reliable for me, they have been reliable for generations of pirates!"

"Nothing wrong with bullets, but in some situations small bombs, smoke bombs, tear gas, rotten eggs or Tabasco sauce is more useful." Usopp told pulling out a variety of bullets from his saddle to show Yasopp, whom blinked astounded. "These I all designed and made by myself." Usopp told in a smile. "Then there are these instant growing seeds, the very unique pop green that I found on a living island and modified for combat." He told very carefully pulling up a pop green. "These are extremely powerful and can grow into massive plants instantly, they can wreck entire houses on my command."

"Well I be dammed." Yasopp commented astounding sitting down on the deck with crossed legs. "I wish I had thought of any of that." He frowned. "But then again, I never had half of Banchinas creativity." He admitted rubbing his chin.

Usopp laughed sitting down in front of his father.

"Seems I got the best from both worlds." Usopp grinned. "My mothers creativity and my fathers strength and courage." He grinned lifting his arms to showcase his biceps.

Yasopp laughed loudly. "I can see that, you know what, you're all-right boy." He told pulling Usopp's had down so it covered Usopp's eyes. "You've done your old man very proud." He stated in a grin.

"What?" Usopp halted and then wide-eyed looked up at his father under his hat. "Proud?" he asked. "I've done you.. proud.." suddenly a tear appeared in his eye. "That's.. that's all I ever wanted to hear!" he sniffled and then had to wipe his eyes with his elbow due to the tears.

"No don't cry boy!" Yasopp exclaimed. "That's not manly at all!" he exclaimed, though suddenly, he was also crying and had to wipe his own eyes with his elbow.

"I'm not crying, you're the one who is crying!" Usopp exclaimed though obviously crying.

"No I'm not, you are lying again!" Yasopp exclaimed.

"I never lied to you for a bit!" Usopp exclaimed.

"Don't rebuke your father boy!" Yasopp exclaimed right back.

"Old fart!" Usopp hissed.

"Kid!" Yasopp replied, and suddenly they were fighting all over again. Verbally and physically.

"Well." Shanks noted amused as he rested his head in the palm of his hand looking at the two. "If that isn't a father and son, then I don't know what is." He pointed out amused as the two fought it out. Though for a pair of people fighting, both of them seemed awfully happy.