I'm back~ No thanks to the help of school and broken computers. Just got my brother's old computer yesterday, so I figured I'd crack down on some writing. Enjoy, my dear readers.
The rest of us ran out after him as Nami yelled, "No! Let's talk about this!"
"Hey come back!" Sanji demanded.
"Ahh! Don't leave us, Usopp!" Chopper sobbed, tears running down his face. I was silent, hanging back next to Zoro who was also mute. I wanted so badly to run after Usopp and drag him back, but I knew it wouldn't do anything, but make everything worse.
"I can't go with you anymore… I won't cause you trouble anymore…" Usopp grumbled. "But the ship belongs to the captain… So fight me. If I win, I'm taking Going Merry. Monkey D. Luffy, I challenge you to a duel!"
I slunk around the ship in a dejected manner, my head low and my tail between my legs. As I passed the door to the boy's bedroom, I heard Nami yelling at Luffy. I paused, staring at the door as bile crept up the back of my throat. Seeing them fight like that make me physically sick. It wasn't right. This shouldn't happen. Why did it happen?
The door I was standing outside of slammed open, narrowly missing hitting me. I scrambled out of the way and Nami stalked out, so angry that she didn't even see me. I followed her as she stalked up the stairs and entered the kitchen. As soon as the door was open, move shouting drifted out. Zoro and Sanji were going at it.
"SHUT UP, BOTH OF YOU! THIS IS NOT THE TIME!" Nami thundered, shutting them both up straight away. "There's no point arguing about it!"
"Nami…" Sanji mumbled. "It's all this trash's fault anyway."
Chopper walked in the door silently, looking downcast.
"Chopper… Didn't you run after Usopp?" Zoro questioned.
"…" Chopper stared at the ground. "I wanted to finish treating him… But he forced me to come back… He's in the city now, and he said… "You and me are finished! Go back to the ship!"" Chopper's head snapped up and tears were streaming out of his eyes.
'Oh Chopper,' I gushed, feeling like a knife was being driven into my heart as I rushed towards the crying reindeer. I couldn't hug him properly, so I improvised. I passed my head over his shoulder and then pulled it back in towards me, pressing my chin against Chopper's shoulder as he was forced into my chest. I felt his tiny arms wrap around my neck as he buried his face into the fluff oh my chest. 'I'm sorry.'
"Everyone was so happy this morning…" Nami grumbled as she sat down on the bench. "And we still don't know Robin's whereabouts. It feels like the whole group is falling apart."
"It's 10pm. Usopp is coming."
"Don't come down, all of you!" Luffy ordered in his serious voice, looking back at the ship and us. We were all standing on the front deck of the ship, staring down at Luffy who was on the ground waiting for Usopp to show up for his duel. I was perched up on the railing next to the figure head, my head lowered and my eyes shadowed by misery.
"He's here," Nami gasped.
"USOPP," Chopper called.
"You look determined, but I hope you don't regret your decision later! This is what you want," Luffy challenged.
"Stop pretending and just come get me!" Usopp replied. "I came prepared. I'll beat you. Don't think that I am the same as your previous opponents who knew nothing about you, Luffy! I've been with you for a long time and I know you inside out!"
"Can't we stop them?" Chopper begged. "Usopp is hurt really bad."
"Go inside if you can't watch," Zoro replied, arms crossed over his chest.
A flash or anger lit up my eyes as my head snapped around to glower at him, but within seconds it was gone. Zoro was also feeling this; it was painful for him too. He was the second-mate of the ship, so it was his place to step-up here. He was just doing his job and making sure the rest of the crew didn't fall apart… Zoro's eyes met mine and I wished I had half the resolve he did. I knew him better than almost anyone else on the ship, and I knew what game he was playing. It didn't take me long to figure it out. I sent him a silent look with my eyes as I sat up straight, my shoulders squared. I lifted my head up high, staring defiantly at the two on the battle on the field. If Zoro could do this, so could I.
"Don't be too surprised when I tell you this, Luffy, but I have 8,000 followers waiting for my signal! Surrender now if you don't want to die!" Usopp snapped.
"OH MY GOD! 8,000 PEOPLE!" Chopper cried, gaping.
"You should go inside," Zoro instructed, stepping up to the railing between Chopper and I.
'I agree with Zoro, Chopper…' I mumbled quietly, not taking my eyes off of Luffy and Usopp.
"I AM PRETTY SURE YOU'RE JUST LYING, USOPP!" Luffy yelled back.
"Then eat Usopp Spell! Gigantic Razor Blades Between Each and Every Tooth in your Mouth!" Usopp said, trying to get Luffy to imagine the feeling.
"Gyyaaa!" Chopper gasped from beside me.
"Go inside already!" Zoro finally snapped.
"Gomu Gomu…" Luffy started to say as he jumped forward, but Usopp suddenly fell to his knees, coughing up blood all over the ground. Luffy stumbled to a stop.
"Usopp!" Nami panicked.
"Waah! See! See! See! I told you he's hurt really bad!" Chopper cried.
I felt like someone had a hand wrapped around my inside and they were slowly squeezing it, but I didn't let it show on my face. I tried to stay as indifferent as Zoro. It was hard, but I was determined to do it.
"It's foolish to pity your enemy and leave yourself vulnerable!" Usopp snapped and threw something on the ground before him. "Flash dial!" Luffy cried out, stumbling back as he covered his eyes and Usopp jumped up to his feet, his slingshot in his hands. "Hissatsu Tamago Boshi*!"
The egg Usopp shot shattered all over Luffy, leaving him covered in gunk. "Ah! So smelly! How old are these things! Stupid! Get serious already!"
"You think this is stupid? Soon, Luffy, you won't think so!" Usopp barked, putting another bullet in his slingshot. "This is my fighting style! By the way, Luffy, don't open your mouth so wide! You may get burned! Hissatsu Tokusei Tabasco Boshi*!"
Usopp shot something into Luffy's mouth, causing him to choke and turning his face red. "HOT!"
As Luffy stumbled back and went to fall, Usopp called, "Also, when you're falling down, you should look out beneath you!"
"Ah!" Luffy gasped as he fell onto a tone of tiny spikes. "It hurts!"
"How do you like my caltrop hell! Luffy, I'm going to beat you and get Going Merry, and I don't care how I do it!"
"Damn," Luffy coughed as he stood back up. "So smelly… Spicy…"
"Didn't I tell you? I've prepared all my attacks just for you! You won't get a chance to catch your breath! Hissatsu Shuriken Ryusei-gun!*"
"Wah!" Luffy had to jump and dive to escape the hail of shuriken that came his way. While he was doing that, a foggy substance suddenly started to cover the area and Luffy half crouched, glancing around. "Smoke?"
"It's a breeze dial! I used the rotten egg to stop you from smelling it while I surrounded you with gas."
'No,' I gasped in horror, my eyes going wide as I figured out what he planning. My façade fell and I started shaking, staring on in horror, unable to move. 'No, Usopp. Please. No.'
"Gas!" Sanji gasped.
"He's going to…" Nami said breathlessly as it clicked for everyone. Zoro was the only one who didn't let it affect him.
"No hard feelings…. KAEN BOSHI!*" The whole area exploded in a balled of fiery fury, swirling around the area. The boat was hit by a wave of hot air and I closed my eyes against it, turning my head aside until it settled.
"LUFFY! USOPP!" Nami screamed and we all turned to watch until the smoke cleared away. I wanted to run in there. I wanted to stop them. It hurt to watch them do this. It was tearing me apart inside. "I really don't like this…"
"LUFFY. USOPP." Chopper called.
My heart thumped against my chest as I heard the faint sounds of a scuffle in the smoke. I glanced back at Zoro, my eyes begging for him to let me run in and stop this. I wanted to be human so I could scream at both of them until I lost my voice. I wanted to grab their heads and slam them together, and then I wanted to curl into a sob until I couldn't breathe. I wanted to swing around a hit wall, over and over again, until all I physically couldn't do it anymore. I wanted this to stop. I wanted to protect them like I had so far on this journey, but how was I meant to protect my friends from each other.
Zoro looked down and met my eyes, seeing my mental battle. His face didn't soften at all, if anything, it got harder. He shook his head once at me, and then turned his attention back to the smoke as more sounds of battle echoed out of it. It felt like he had hit me in the chest, and I couldn't breathe for a few seconds. He knew. Stopping it would only make things. I knew that, but I didn't want to accept it. Zoro was the one with the strength to do that. And I knew if I tried to stop them, he'd stop me anyway he had to. I stopped, took a deep, shuddering breath and I turned back the battle, praying that neither of them would die from this.
The smoke cleared in time for us to both of them battered, but still standing. Luffy swung back his fist and let it fly into Usopp's stomach. "Gomu Gomu no Bullet*!" I fought the urge to close my eyes and turn away. The rest of the crew stared on in shock, and Nami gasped and covered her face.
"USOPP!" Chopper sobbed as the liar fell.
"It's decided then," Zoro stated as Luffy fell to his knees.
"STUPID IDIOT!" Luffy screamed in anguish. "THERE'S NO WAY YOU'D WIN."
"I can't take this," Nami cried softly, tears streaming down her face as she covered her mouth.
I couldn't breathe. I was staring with horror filled eyes.
"Do whatever you want with Going Merry," Luffy said as he stood and walked away from Usopp. "We'll get a new ship… And we'll go on. To the seas ahead. Goodbye, Usopp. It's been fun."
"USOPP!" Chopper screamed as he tried to jump of the boat but Sanji jumped forward and grabbed him before he could.
"Hey! Chopper, stop!"
"Why!" Chopper demanded, struggling. "He was in pieces to start with and got beaten up like that…"
"This is not just a fight or a game!" Sanji snapped.
"So what!" Chopper roared as he changed into his human form, and shoved Sanji away. "I'm a doctor! Let me at least look at his wounds!"
Sanji jumped forward, tackling him as he shoved the large reindeer into the railing. I had to jump onto the deck to avoid being hit. I landed next to Zoro who wasn't even flinching and I watched on like a coward. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know how to stop them without making things worse.
"HE LOST A DUEL AND WAS THEN PITIED. THINK ABOUT HOW HE MUST FEEL RIGHT NOW," Sanji ordered. "THINK ABOUT HOW THIS KIND OF KINDNESS PAINS THE LOSER… He entered the fight knowing that this might happen."
"It's heavy…" Luffy muttered as he reached the boat and we all looked down at out beaten up captain.
"That's what a captain is..." Zoro finally spoke up again. "Don't hesitate. If you can't be decisive, who can we believe in? Let's clear the ship. We can't come back here ever again."
The wind fluttered past, tugging at my fur and bandana. Dully I noted that the wind had been picking up a lot lately. At first I thought it was just windy because of the fact that I was on top of the hotel roof, but I soon figured otherwise. I heard footsteps tapping against the ground over the sound of the wind, my eyes cracking open as they approached. I glanced next to me, to Zoro who was sitting and sleeping. He didn't even twitch. My eyes roamed over to Chopper who was leaning on the railing of the roof, staring out at Luffy who was quietly sitting on the small roof of a tower, not far from us.
The door to the roof swung open, and I watched silently as Sanji strolled over to us.
"There you are," he stated. "We paid for rooms and no one's in there. Guess they can't sleep of something. Where's Luffy?"
"There," Chopper said, pointing to Luffy. Sanji frowned, not replying as he walked over to where Chopper was, leaning against the railing as he pulled out a cigarette. "Where'd you go, Sanji?"
"I was keeping watch at the Peninsula. I thought maybe Robin-chan would come back," he said. "I wonder where she went without saying a word… I think I'll search around on the streets today. If anything happens, we'll regroup in the hotel room."
I frowned at the mention of Robin; another of the crew's problems. She'd gone without saying a word to anyone.
"I'll go too! To search!"
'Chopper,' I sighed, gaining his attention, 'I'll go too. I can see if I can pick up her scent, but the chances don't look good… There are too many people in this place, and the scents get mixed up.'
"Mamori said she'd come too, and try to smell out Robin," Chopper said to Sanji.
"Okay, sure."
"LUFFY!" The door slammed open as Nami ran out onto the roof, panting. Although my mood was depressed and dejected, I swiftly lifted myself to my feet, making my way towards Nami in case she was in trouble.
"Nami," Sanji mumbled, surprised to see her.
"Big news, guys! Everyone in the city is talking about it! Luffy, last night Iceberg was shot in his house!"
"Uncle Ice was…?" Luffy gasped, finally turning his head towards us. Nami walked up to the railing so that she could speak to Luffy, and I shadowed her footsteps.
"Yeah, he was shot," she confirmed. "He's unconscious right now."
"Who is that, Nami?" Sanji asked.
"The guy who took care of us the other day at the shipyard. He's the president of the company and Mayor of Water Seven."
"Wow, he must be one important guy," Sanji replied.
"It's said to be the greatest catastrophes to ever happen in this city," Nami said.
"That guy… He's respected by so many people…" Luffy mumbled before leaping up moodily, jumping off to roof and onto the ground. "I'll go look."
"Wait, Luffy! I'll go too!" Nami gasped, spinning on her heels and running towards the exit so that she could follow Luffy. I paused, glancing at the others to see what they'd do.
"Then Chopper, Mamori and I will go to search for Robin, you coming?" Sanji addressed his question to Zoro.
"I'll wait and see what happens next," Zoro replied. I gave him a subtle nod of my head, trotting towards the door, finally aware of how I could make myself useful and stop myself from moping around. I needed to find Robin; she could have been in serious trouble for all we knew.
"This is an announcement," a voice called from the loud speakers as Sanji, Chopper and I walked through the busy streets, Chopper in his full-reindeer form. "The Water Seven Weather Forecast Department has officially declared an Aqua Laguna warning for the entire island." The people around us began to mumble. "Repeat; The off-"
"Heeey! The Aqua Laguna's comin'!" a town's person yelled. "Go tell people who haven't heard about it. Take a break from work!"
"What?" Chopper muttered as we all looked around, confused.
"Aqua Laguna?" Sanji question before he stopped a random stranger to ask them. "Hey, you, what was that announcement about?"
"Ah, you must be travellers," the guys said, stopping to explain it to us. "What a bad time to be here, eh. Aqua Laguna is what you would call a high tide."
"High tide?" Sanji repeated.
'A high tide on an island in the middle of the ocean is NOT good, I'd bet,' I mumbled, my mind drifting to the others.
"Yeah. Make sure you get to a high place. This town's gonna sink," the stranger said.
"WHAT!" Chopper gasped. "This town's gonna what?"
"Well, it's not like it'll happen immediately. Don't worry. It usually happens at around midnight, after the warning. Its like this every year," he laughed, waving to us as he walked off. We all stood there awkwardly for a second as the news sunk in.
"What! This place's gonna sink!" Chopper repeated yet again.
'Everyone seems really calm about it,' I noted, glancing around as I noted that no one was panicking too much.
"It seems that way," Sanji replied to Chopper. "So we have to hurry and find Robin."
'And warn the others too,' I pointed out.
Hissatsu Tamago Boshi: Literally "Sure-Kill Egg Star". "Hissatsu" has several translations such as "Death Blow" or "Killer" in the Viz Translations. Known as "Special Attack" in the FUNimation Dub and sometimes in the Viz Manga. However, "Tamago Boshi" is translated as "Egg Star" no matter the source material.
Hissatsu Tokusei Tabasco Boshi: Literally "Deluxe Tabasco Star". Called "Deluxe Pepper Sauce Star" in the Viz Manga and "Special Tabasco Star" in the FUNimation Dub. For "Hissatsu", please refer to "Hissatsu Tamago Boshi" for that translation.
Hissatsu Shuriken Ryusei-gun: Literally "Shuriken Meteoric Swarm". Both the Viz Manga and FUNimation dub calls this attack "Shuriken Shooting Star". For "Hissatsu", please refer to "Hissatsu Tamago Boshi" for that translation.
Kaen Boshi: Literally "Flame Star". Called "Fire Star", "Flame Star", or "Flaming Star" in the Viz Manga and the FUNimation dub. Often called "Exploding Star" in the FUNimation dub as well.
Gomu Gomu no Bullet: ... I (praeses) really have to translate this? It's kind of self-explanatory... Gum Gum Bullet.
Beta read by praeses.
Translations provided by the One Piece Wiki.