Haircut

"Usopp'n, we should soon cut you hair'n," Heracles mentioned suddenly. "It is getting rather long'n."

Usopp fingered the plant in front of him—Uchiwa Grass: creates strong winds, fan-shaped, light green—thoughtfully. "Really? I haven't noticed."

Somehow, he knew that Heracles was frowning. "It is getting in the way'n. The plants and animals will use it to harm you'n."

Usopp smiled gently, hearing the worry and care in his mentor's voice. "I'll be fine, Heracles'n."

"But why keep the hair'n?" Heracles asked, confused. "You don't need it long'n."

Usopp thought of sunny afternoons with glistering seas; he remembered an even sunnier smile and a bright laugh that enlightened his world. He remembered warmth (in his heart, in his soul) on his shoulder and snores next to his ear.

He grinned this time, turning to look at Heracles. Heracles' breath stopped for a moment, seeing the obvious love and devotion and loyalty in those chocolate brown eyes and he understood before his student's answer rang in the air.

"Because there's someone who does."

.–.–.–.–.–.–.–.

"Oh my," Robin said gently, smiling. "Luffy and Usopp fell asleep."

Nami looked up from her magazine and looked towards the railing on the right side. Her captain and Usopp leaned against each other, snoring loudly and with bubbles coming out of their noses, fishing rods held loosely in their hands; the straw hat hung on its string from its owner.

"I already wondered why Usopp let his hair grow out like that," she looked towards Robin with a mock-suspicious glance, grinning and giggling into her hand. "Did you know anything about that?"

"I suspected," Robin smiled back.

They giggled before going back to their reading, because underneath their captain's head was a clump of black, curly hair that served to cushion their captain's head comfortably.

.–.–.–.–.–.–.–.

Author Note:

I absolutely love Usopp's hair; I really do. But I just thought, 'wouldn't that make him more vulnerable to animals and plants, being able to pull his hair and all?' and then the picture of Usopp and Luffy sleeping next to each other came into my mind and gave me massive 'awwws' effect.

I hope I got Heracles right. I didn't see much of him and I'm not too sure of how he is; but he seems to be very careful when it comes to danger, so I thought he would think along the same lines as me. I don't really know.

I'm sorry if the next few chapters are about Usopp too, but he's officially one of my top ten characters after the time skip and after really looking into his personality and past history (not to mention that he is a sniper—I find snipers/archers/gunmen so cool!). I'll try to make some of other characters, too. Any ideas/requests?

Thank you for reading and please review.