"We need to plan things more," Nami stated, her chin cupped in her hand in a thinking gesture. We had been sailing for a few days and so far everything had been fine so far. No major battles, no dramas, nothing. It had been peaceful.
"What do you mean?" asked Luffy.
"Do you really plan to go to the grand line like this?" Nami said, as if not believing that our captain could really be that thick. Unfortunately though, he was that thick – no doubt about it.
"Oh, that's right! Uncle Cabbage gave us lots of fruit, but we don't have any meat left." That's another thing I'd noticed about Luffy, his mind was either on pirates, fighting, or eating.
"I'm not talking about food supplies!" snapped Nami.
"And we don't have any sake to drink either, how boring." Guess whom that came from? None other than the green haired pirate hunter who was currently slouched lazily against the side of the boat.
"Let's not worry about the problem of food and drink right now!" Nami snapped yet again. If she kept losing her temper like this around the guys she'd have grey hairs very soon.
"The place we are going, the Grand Line, is the most dangerous place in the world. Every pirate in the world wishes to get the treasure there. So we need to get a better ship first!" Nami lectured.
As they had been talking my, head had been swiveling back and forth between them; my tongue lolling lazily out of the side of muzzle.
"We are also short on crew members and this boat doesn't have any equipment," she continued. "No matter what you think, we can't possibly be safe!"
"Oh!" Luffy finally seemed to get Nami's point. "So what do we do then?"
"We have to prepare first, and plan for the journey ahead. There is a village due north, we should go there first. First thing to do when we get there is look for a better boat," Nami planned.
"And eat some meat!" Luffy cried, which at this stage I was starting to think it wasn't such a bad idea - I had been living off scraps for the last few days. Although I guess I couldn't complain because I was being a free-loader at the moment and he yet to do anything to earn my keep in this crew. I needed to prove myself soon.
"Wow there really is an island here!" cried Luffy as we pulled up to the island and started to all clamber out.
"So, what did you expect?" questioned Nami. "We followed the map so it won't be wrong." She obviously had no idea who bad these two were with maps. One was an idiot, and the other was an idiot with no sense of direction. I couldn't claim to be much better than them though. I'd never had to use maps before, so I couldn't read them.
"Oh…" Luffy muttered before asking, "Is there a village here?"
I stretched out my limbs out with a lazy yawn, happy to be moving again. I was glad that I had room to finally move again. Being stuck a small boat for days on end isn't good for a dog that needed to exercise.
"Uh huh! Looks like there is a small village," confirmed Nami as she took a look at the map.
Zoro seemed to have the same idea as me as he began stretching as well whilst muttering, "Been a long time since I stood on firm ground." I let out a grunt in agreement.
I cast my eyes up the hill and saw some people hiding in the bushes behind a log at the top. Wasn't that Usopp and his little veggies?
"By the way, I just noticed a moment ago, what are those guys doing there?" At the same time Zoro said that they all turned they heads to the top of the hill. It took them long enough to spot our little spies.
Seeing that their cover was blown I watched the three little veggies freak out and take off running away from us while Usopp was yelling after them. I couldn't blame the veggies for running though, they were only little kids. Usopp then turned back us, sweat gathering on his forward head as he stared at us nervously.
He spun around and proclaimed, "I am the great pirate fleet leader, Usopp, who is in charge of the security of this island. Also known as Captain, Captain Usopp." Usopp then crossed his arms as he walked to stand in front of us. "It's best if you don't try and attack this village, because my 8 million men will not forgive you."
"You're lying right?" Asked Nami.
Usopp freaked out, reaching his hands up to clasp either side of his head as he yelled, "Waa! I've been caught!"
Nami deadpanned and said, "See, you even said so yourself."
"Argh! Did I just say that? Bad planning, bad planning indeed!" he cried.
Poor bloke didn't have a very good poker face or game plan. He was a pretty bad liar too...
Luffy just started laughing and said to Usopp, "You're so funny!"
"Hey don't underestimate me!" Snapped Usopp. "I am a man with high self-esteem. And everyone calls me the honorable Usopp!"
Who was everyone, exactly?
A few minutes later found me lying outside the door of a café while everyone else stuffed their faces, and since dogs weren't allowed into cafes I was left to stay outside. I let out a deep sigh, my ears dropped back in moping expression.
'Why did I have to come here as I dog?' I thought 'I'm going to die of either starvation or malnutrition before anyone has a chance to kill me.' Although, I guess I should be happy that I wasn't left guarding the boat again. Maybe that was because we weren't in hostile territory this time. Luckily I knew the basic story behind Usopp and his lady friend, I forgot her name, so at least I wasn't missing that much not being inside.
I watched with a raised eyebrow as Usopp ran out of the café muttering about being late and then I remember that he had to tell his lady friend those 'stories' of his. If that was the case his little veggies should be here soon then.
And that they were, a few minutes after Usopp left I saw the three little veggies making their way towards the café, each of them holding a short wooden sword. I don't know what they planned to do against three pirates with wooden swords, but I have to give then some credit for their bravery at least.
I watched as they walked in; my head still not leaving its resting place on top of my front legs. I was too comfortable to move at moment.
After another short while they all came out of the café, so I lazily heaved myself back up to my paws. Nami walked towards me before bending down in front of me, holding out a serviette with some leftover meat.
"Here, I thought you might be hungry as well so I saved you some meat." I could have kissed her, and in fact I did. A dog kiss though, right on the cheek. At least someone cared about me, thank the Gods. I think having Nami around will be handy. Though she did make a face while she wiped the drool off of her cheek, mumbling under her breath.
I quickly ate the meat she offered and then we were all on our way to the mansion. Luffy, Zoro, Nami, the veggies, and I. What a weird looking bunch we must be.
"Good afternoon!" called Luffy. "Please lend us a ship?" We were standing in front of the mansion, the gates blocking our entrance. Although apparently gates don't matter to Luffy because he just climbed right over them while saying, "Let's just go in."
Nami just face palmed and hissed, "We can't stop him!"
"If we can't stop him then we'll have to follow him," said Zoro in a very nonchalant manner.
So that's what we did, we all followed Luffy until we saw Usopp, leaning against a tree and talking to a girl that was sitting in the window listening to Usopp. I was lazily trotting next to the little veggies as we walked towards them, my nose twitching curiously. My sense of smell had seemed to get better over the duration I had been a dog. It was stronger than when I was a human, but I seemed to be getting the hang of using it now. It was the same with my body too, any movements that would have been awkward before were slowly becoming coordinated. I guess I just needed some time to settle into my new body.
"Caaaaaaptain!" yelled Luffy towards Usopp. I'm guessing he was calling Usopp that to play along with Usopp's lies.
Usopp's head whipped around in shock when he was us and remarked, "Huh! What are you doing here?"
The three little veggies just pointed a Luffy and called out unanimously, "We brought him here!"
Usopp walked over to Luffy and threw his arm over Luffy shoulders, trying to play it cool as he said to his girlie, "These guys heard of my reputation and travelled far to see me. They are the new members of the Usopp pirate crew!"
"No, that's not it…" muttered Luffy before walking over the girl in the window and said, "We have a request."
"A request?" the girl asked, and as she was saying that I walked over to the window she was leaning on and jumped up to the window sill, balancing on the ledge as best as I could; thankfully it was a wide window ledge. I then sat down on and licked the girl's cheek in greeting. She appeared shocked by my sudden appearance for a few seconds before she smiled and reach out the pat the top of my head saying, "Hello there doggie."
If I remember correctly she was a kind girl; that's why I was saying hello to her like this. That and I felt bad for what was about to happen to her in the next few days.
"Yeah," Luffy said the girl. "We need a big ship!" Luffy was an idiot, it was as simple as that.
"What are you doing here!" yelled a voice before the girl could answer Luffy. "You can't just barge into a mansion like that!"
We all turned our heads to see a man dressed in a butler's uniform; I was very tempted to growl when I saw him but instead I held it.
"Klahadore…" Muttered the girl before she addressed him. "Listen Klahadore these people are…"
Klahadore just lifted up his hand to the girl as he walked closer to cut her off, "You don't have to explain, I will ask you about it later."
He then turned his attention to the other people standing around as I jumped down from my perch, walking back over to stand by Zoro with my head cocked to the side to keep up a doggish impersonation, but my eyes were narrowed in the butler's direction.
"Please get out," he demanded. "Or is there something else you need to say?"
Luffy just smiled like the dork his was and said bluntly, "I want a ship."
"No way," Klahadore said just as bluntly as Luffy had, before turning his attention to Usopp.
"You…. You're Usopp," he muttered and Usopp's lady friend gave a worried look. "I've heard some rumors about you, the villagers talk about you all the time."
"Oh… Oh thank you," Usopp said as he crossed his arms over his chest. "You may call me Captain Usopp, everyone calls me that."
Klahadore just ignored his remark and pushed his glasses back up saying, "The guards said you were lurking outside the gates… What do you want?"
"Err... Err.." Usopp stuttered. "I heard there was a huge mole in the mansion! So I came to see it for myself."
"Hahaha, I can see that you certainly lie well," Klahadore said maliciously. "I have heard about your father too. You're a son of a filthy pirate. I'm not surprised that you turned out this way, but you had better step away from Kaya."
Oh, so that was her name – Kaya.
Luffy, Nami and Zoro shared shocked looks at the fact that Usopp's father was a pirate. Do people in this anime really judge others on who their parents were?
"His dad was a pirate…?" questioned Luffy.
"Did you say filthy pirate!" snarled Usopp.
"You and Kaya belong to different world," the butler continued. "Is it money that you are looking for? Name your price."
"THAT'S ENOUGH KLAHADORE!" screamed Kaya in fury. "APOLOGIZE TO USOPP AT ONCE!"
"There is no need to apologize to this uncivilized person," Klahadore said with a shrug turning back to look at Kaya for a moment. "I'm just telling the truth."
This guy was really starting piss me off. I knew that I couldn't take him in a fight, but I wished that I could. No one should say such disgraceful things about another; especially right to their face. If you have nothing nice to say don't say anything at all. Another of my mother's lines that she preached.
Klahadore then turned back to Usopp and continued with, "I feel sorry for you, you hate your father, don't you? Because he is a dumb 'treasure hunter pirate' who deserted his village and family."
"KLAHADORE!" screamed Kaya at the same time I let a snarl out, directing it at the butler.
I had just realized that he was a cat and I was a dog. We were natural enemies figuratively speaking.
"I WON'T LET YOU SAY ANOTHER BAD WORD ABOUT MY FATHER!" yelled Usopp, his fists clenched.
"Why are you so angry?" he asked. "You're not very smart are you? You should have just told your usual lies and say that father is traveling merchant… Or that you and him are not blood related…"
Usopp finally snapped and with a scream of, "SHUT UP!"
He threw a punch that Chuck Norris would be proud of and caught Klahadore right across the face, throwing the butler to ground. Kaya just gasped in horror, raising her hand to her mouth in shock. Luffy was frowning for once, Zoro nonchalant and Nami uncertain.
The little veggies cried out, "Captain!"
Klahadore clutched the cheek that had been hit and taunted, "Uh…grh, see you're so violent! Like father, like son!"
"Shut up!" Usopp yelled again. "I'M PROUD THAT MY DAD WAS A PIRATE! I'M PROUD THAT HE WAS A BRAVE WARRIOR OF THE SEA! YOU'RE RIGHT THAT I LIKE TO LIE! BUT I'M PROUD OF HAVING A PIRATE'S BLOOD IN ME! I DON'T HAVE TO PRETEND THAT I'M NOT! I AM THE SON OF A PIRATE!"
By the end of Usopp's screaming rant he was left hunched over, and my ears were ringing, having dog hearing is not a good thing when people shout. But good for Usopp, he had every right to be proud! I let several barks rings out in support to Usopp with an impish grin on my mug.
"Oh yeah! That guy!" Luffy said, suddenly remembering something. "Now I remember!"
But it appeared no one but me had heard Luffy.
"Captain…" muttered the trio of veggies.
"You said pirates are 'brave warriors of the sea'?" Klahadore asked from his position on the ground. "Don't twist the truth. It's because you have that savage kind of bloodline that you like to lie so much, and use violence whenever you are enraged. I believe that you only get close to Kaya for the money." He then pushed himself up of the ground.
"What the hell are you talking about!" Exclaimed Usopp.
"Who cares what your motive is! The fact that your father is a pirate is more than enough reason for me to kick you out!" Klahadore said, resorting to yelling.
Usopp lunged forward, grabbing the front of the butler's uniform and pulling his fist back as if he was ready to punch Klahadore again. "I dare you to say that again!" he threatened.
"Usopp! Please stop!" Cried Kaya desperately. "Please don't use violence! Klahadore… Isn't a…bad person." she sobbed as she brought her hand up to cover her eyes. "He's just concerned out me. That's why he's a little extreme."
Klahadore slapped Usopp's grip away from the front of his shirt hissing, "Get the hell out of here! Savages like you are not welcome here! I'll let you off this time, but I warn you….don't come here again!"
Kaya looked beside herself as Usopp muttered, "Fine… I understand… I'll leave without you telling me to!" He turned around and began to walk away. "And I'll never come back!"
"You bastard! Captain is not that kind of person!" screamed the veggie with the red cap.
"Yeah, stupid!" the pepper veggie joined in.
"Baaaka!" cried the onion veggie.
"Baaaaka!" I heard a familiar voice join in with the kids. I shouldn't have been surprised at Luffy, but I was.
"Why are you screaming with them?" hissed Zoro as he hit Luffy over the back of the head.
Nami grabbed the three veggies as they went to charge at the butler and Zoro grabbed Luffy, and together they dragged them away kicking and screaming.
I had been silent through the last bit of that fight. I couldn't believe Klahadore. I remember that he was a nasty piece of work for the anime, but I never knew he was that bad. I heard the voices of my friends disappear as they walked away, but I didn't even turn my head to watch them walk away. I kept my livid gaze on the butler as I slowly plonked my ass down on the grass.
I then proceeded to dig my nails into the dirt as I let out a low growl at Klahadore who had now looked down at me. 'Try and get rid of me, I dare you,' I hissed mentally.
I knew he couldn't hear me, but I knew that my body movement was enough to issue my challenge. When I had said ages ago that I was stubborn, a trait I now shared with my breed, I wasn't kidding nor was I exaggerating. If someone rudely demanded or told me to do something, and if I didn't like them or didn't know them I would not do what they asked, told, or demanded. And since I had such a burning hatred for him at the moment I was going to be a real idiot and issue my challenge. Plus this guy just plain pissed me off so it's time to pay him back a bit.
I saw him narrow his eyes at me as he said, "Get out of here dog."
A flick of my eyes was all it took for me to confirm that Kaya was no longer watching and had closed her windows. And so Klahadore and I had a little glaring contest, waiting to see who would give in first.
I saw him take a step forward after a few moments and said, "Shoo! Get out of here!"
He didn't yell, but I heard how pointed his words and the threats that lurked bellow his smooth tone.
I didn't move of course, but I did peel back my lips and snarl at him, my teeth being my threat. The air between us was thicker with tension then I thought possible. But still, neither of us gave in. I think I was seeing Klahadore the pirate standing in front of me at that moment, not Klahadore the butler.
I saw irritation flash through his eyes, but he kept his face placid, and I saw his leg tense up as if ready to kick me. I didn't flinch though or give any indication that anything he was doing or going to do was unsettling me. I kept my own body perfectly lax, although my steel blue eyes were filled with tell-tale storms.
He hesitated for a second but turned around with a hiss and proceeded to stalk back to the house, leaving me sitting on my lawn by myself.
'Fuck yeah!' I cheered. 'I do believe I just won that round cat.'
I waited for a minute to be sure he was gone before I stood up with my head held high in an aloof and proud position; my ego firmly inflated. I then turned around and trotted out of the mansion ground using my nose to follow the trail of scent my friends had left behind as they left.