I do not own One Piece
It is owned by Oda
I just my OC
Enjoy!
All Scope Adventure opening: Colors - Flow, Code Geass OP1
Usopp's eyes shot open as he leaned from where he was suddenly laying down. The last thing the sniper remembered was when he was about to shoot a fish-man back in that destroyed town he and Johnny. He had no clue where Johnny went since he was ditched by the other-half of the bounty-hunting duo.
Usopp found himself in someone's home. It seemed comfy enough but he had no idea where he is. Usopp was about to defend a young woman from the fish-man that was looking for him until he was knocked out cold.
"Where am I?" Usopp wondered.
"My house," A voice spoke behind him. Usopp turned around and found the same woman he was about to protect from the fish-man that was chasing him.
"Sleep well?" she questioned with a smug smile.
"Who're you?" Usopp asked.
"I'm Nojiko," Nojiko introduced herself. "I grow tangerines here. Want one?"
"You're the one that hit me on the head!" Usopp exclaimed. "Just when I was gonna save you!"
"I'm the one who saved you," Nojiko stated as she slid a cup of tea across the table.
"Huh?" Usopp rose an eyebrow.
"If you had actually gone through with attacking that fish-man, you would've been killed for sure," Nojiko said resting her chin on her palm. "Stupid outsider." Usopp sat down at the table beside Nojiko and noticed the same young boy, Cabo, sniveling in a chair across from him.
"You'd figure a kid from here would already know better," Nojiko remarked. "What would make a child do something so reckless. That's a question I'd really like an answer for."
"I know!" Cabo spoke. "I know but they killed my daddy! They took everything from me! Those fish-men destroyed our town! Killed my friends! I had to make them pay for what they did! No matter what! Don't you get that?" tears welled in the boy's eyes. "So I went to Arlong Park by myself but this girl stopped me from going in. She's like an evil witch! I can't stand this, I have to avenge my father! I don't care if I die!"
"Then die," Nojiko said causing Usopp who was mid-drink of the tea given to him do a spit-take in the air like a fountain. "If you're truly prepared to die, then go. But you had better understand, boy. I stopped you and this "witch" you hate kept you from carrying out your revenge. So far, you've cheated death twice." Nojiko got up from her chair. "Just finish your tea and go."
"Hey, you're being a little rough on him, don'tcha think?" Usopp asked.
"I don't care who he is," Nojiko said. "If he wants to kill himself, then so be it. He doesn't have what it takes to suffer for revenge. It takes time. I suffer as well. Revenge is not an easy path for one to carve out. And to die just because you're too foolish for patience is nothing but a coward's plan."
"What do you want from me!?" the boy wept. "I can't stand the way I feel, but I don't know what else I can do..."
"How's your mom?" Nojiko asked.
"She's alive..." the boy mentioned.
"Then go back home," Nojiko gave a small smile. "She's worried about you."
"Okay," Cabo did as Nojiko said. Usopp smirked toward the blue-haired woman. Deciding she wasn't all that bad.
"For a chick with tattoos, you're actually really sweet," Usopp commented.
"Piss off," Nojiko dismissed. "It's time you told me why you decided to come here to our village."
"Oh, right," Usopp said leaning forward in his seat. "My name is Captain Usopp. I'm looking for a girl named Nami."
"Nami...?" Nojiko repeated like she knew the name.
"Hmm...?" Usopp hummed in confusion. "You know her?" Nojiko explained what she knew about Nami. "No way! She's apart of the Arlong Crew!"
"It certainly looks that way," Nojiko stated. "Everybody here knows that cow. Even the little boy. It gets better though, that cow is my sister. We grew up here. Well, technically she's my adopted sister since we were both orphans." Nojiko picked a picture that was on a table by the wall. "But a sister's a sister, ya know what I mean?"
"I don't believe it..." Usopp breathed out as he stood and looked about the home. "Nami's house."
"It was mine, too," Nojiko mentioned. "We were raised together in this house. She's the closest thing to family I have left since our foster mother died. The 3 of us used to be so happy together in Cocoyashi village." Usopp found a drawing of a compass and a sailboat with Nami's name underneath it.
"So..." Usopp was starting to get the facts straight. "You're telling that Nami betrayed her mother, her sister, and her whole village just to be apart of Arlong's crew?"
"Yeah, pretty much," Nojiko said as she put down the picture. "A real witch, huh?"
"Damn," Usopp growled. "Nami is a total witch. She had us completely fooled the entire time. To think, she was just after the treasure for herself. Even after she risked her life to save my village. I don't understand? She seemed so happy with us."
"She was happy...?" Nojiko seemed to be surprised by that news. "My sister..."
"We came here to try to convince her to come back with us," Usopp stated. "But I guess now that's pointless." Usopp realized something important which made his body go stiff. "I just remembered that some shipmates of mine were taken prisoner before we got here. Oh, I'm in trouble. I hope they're okay. I hope they're at least not dead."
Nami didn't expect to see them so soon. Luffy wasn't anywhere in sight but she didn't see Usopp either so it was just Jou and Zoro. The two of them were already bound by their wrist and ankles so they couldn't do anything even if they tried. When Zoro saw her, she can see him glaring daggers at her and noticed the large cut mark across his body She wouldn't be surprised at how he managed to obtain those with how reckless he can be. Jou, however, seemed to be trying to figure her out. Staring at her suspiciously, for once he seemed speechless and didn't know what to say which was a surprise for Nami. Since they were here, they were brought before Arlong.
"I guess you guys finally get it," Nami smirked. "I just used you guys to get what I wanted. You guys were skilled enough to serve my needs. But boy were you guys a bunch of suckers."
"Shahahaha!" Arlong boomed in laughter. "She had you guys completely fooled. It's no use. She's cold-blooded. She betrayed her family for money so you really shouldn't feel too bad."
Family. That word made Nami's stomach sink. To hide whatever emotion's she bit her lip but she felt the eyes of Jou and Zoro on her.
"If I were you, I would just admit defeat and forget the day you met her," Arlong advised. A small chuckle escaped Jou's lips as Nami and everyone brought their attention toward him. So now he decides to open his mouth after staying quiet.
"She's cold-blooded?" Jou questioned. "You don't say? I would've never even guessed it."
"It's all true," Arlong grinned.
"I'm not so sure about that," Jou smirked.
Nami didn't what Jou's game was. If he keeps talking he'll only get himself killed. Does he even know who he's dealing with? The next thing that happened was Jou hopping onto his feet with his wrists and ankles still bound.
"If you all wouldn't mind, of course," Jou kept his smile. "There is something I would like to test out."
What was Jou planning Nami had to wonder? She rose an eyebrow as other fish-men just murmured to each other.
"So, how about it?" Jou asked. "Will you allow me to humor you all?"
"What's this idiot prattling on about?" Kuroobi wondered. "We should just go ahead and kill them both and be done with them."
"No need to be hasty," Arlong dismissed with a raised hand. "Let's just see what the human has in mind. It might be good fun."
Nami almost let out a sigh of relief that Arlong wasn't going to kill Jou and Zoro outright. Although, why did it worry her about what Jou had planned? Knowing him he was going to try something foolish?
"Thank you," Jou gave a nod. "I should've known someone of your reputation would be a generous host, Arlong." Jou leaped onto his feet. "What I was going to do was dive into this water behind me..."
Nami's eyes opened in shock as she couldn't believe what Jou's idea was. Was he really going to risk his life all for a dumb trick? All around the fish-men shouted comments at Jou calling him 'stupid', idiot, 'fool'. Pretty much any name they can call out for Jou being the reckless moron that he is.
"Shahahaha!" Arlong laughed as others joined him.
"Jou..." Zoro muttered in shock.
"The next thing that's going to happen is someone is going to dive in and save me before I drown to death," Jou mentioned.
"Dammit Jou, you and I both know I can't jump in there and save you!" Zoro warned.
"No offense, Zoro, but you aren't who I have in mind," Jou smirked directly at Nami.
Nami avoided his gaze and only folded her arms over her chest. He had to be bluffing, there's no way he would throw away his own life for what he was going to pull. How would he know she was going to save him at all? It would be a mercy to let him drown rather than let Arlong kill him. But would she really be that cruel and let that happen?
"5..." Jou started to count. "4..." Jou looked at all the fish-men. "3..." Jou stared at Arlong who was grinning amusingly and seemed to dare Jou. Jou paused and closed his eyes and sighed. "What the hell." Jou leaped back first into the water and kept eye contact with Nami.
"JOU!" Zoro yelled as the water splashed upward once Jou went in.
Arlong and his crew were surprised by the stunt Jou pulled. Nami's eyes widened as her shoulders slumped. What the hell was he thinking doing that? Zoro put his head down with a sorrowful expression.
"Dammit," Zoro murmured.
"Was that guy just an idiot?" a fish-man wondered.
"He probably just did that just to get away from Nami?"
"I don't blame him. She could be really scary sometimes."
"Was he trying to escape?"
"So much for a test?"
"He even left his friend here all alone?"
"Leave him," Arlong stated simply not caring anymore.
"Did he really expect someone to jump in and save him?"
"Ha! What a joke!"
The fish-men continued to bad-mouth Jou and go on about how foolish he was. It was a stupid stunt to pull. But Nami knew what he was doing. Jou was testing her. Testing her to see if she would save him and he was slowly sinking in the water right now with his wrists and ankles tied. And dammit, he was right.
That idiot! Nami screamed in thought and couldn't take it anymore. She tore her sandals off her feet and dove in the water. Nami spotted Jou gradually drifting to the depths below. She swam toward him grabbed Jou by the arm and started to drag him to the surface. Nami surfaced with him and pulled Jou out of the water. Both of them breathed in the air as water dripped from each of them.
"They're back up!"
"She saved him!"
"Jou!" Zoro called sounding relieved. Nami was relieved that she made it in time before Jou drowned.
"Why did you do that?" Nami questioned him doing her best to hide any sign of concern.
"That's what I was testing," Jou chuckled as he turned to face her. "Knowing you would save me. And lo and behold, you did." he grinned weakly at her. "After all the fun times we've had together, I knew you wouldn't let me die." he gave her a wink. "You know you love me."
Nami fought the red that fell over her face. Though it was from anger as this was the Jou she knew was going to come out eventually. She glowered at him. The bastard! Nami goes through the trouble of saving him and his only response was to make jokes.
The smug grin on his face was getting to her and it really was. Nami clenched her right fist, tightening it, and punched him across the face. The impact from the strike can be heard which caused some fish-men to flinch. Zoro stayed silent but narrowed his eyes at Nami after she landed that punch on Jou.
"You bastard!" Nami shouted at Jou. "You do that again and I won't be the one saving you!" Jou turned his gaze at her. The gaze was intense and almost made Nami step back but she never faltered and stayed where she was. Still hoisting Jou up by his cardigan and noticed the mark she made on his left cheek as he smiled at her again.
"I love the kind of woman that can kick my ass," Jou remarked.
Nami had enough of Jou's smart-ass attitude. She was getting sick of that grin of his.
Not wanting to deal with Jou anymore she let him drop unceremoniously and walked back to Arlong. Nami heard him grunt as he hit the ground and stopped walking and half-turned her head and looked at Jou and Zoro from the corner of her eye.
"Jou, you okay?" Zoro asked in concern.
"Oh, fantastic," Jou groaned out. "I'd give you a thumbs-up, but at the moment, I'm a bit tied-up."
Zoro's only reply to Jou was a snort. For them, the situation was dire yet Jou was still in the mood for snide comments and remarks. It was just the kind of person Jou was. Nami didn't want to strike him the way she did. She only did it to show Arlong that Jou meant nothing to her. Just another person she used to get her way but that wasn't true. With them here, it was just to make things hard for her and Arlong's deal to work.
"Tell me..." Arlong said. "What should we do with these two?"
"Lock 'em up!" Nami demanded. "I'll take care of them when I have the time."
"Arlong!" A fish-man yelled running into Arlong Park.
"Yeah, what is it?" The fish-man leader wondered.
"These two guys didn't come alone," The fish-man mentioned. "There was a long-nosed weird-looking guy with them but he got away."
Both the heads of Jou and Zoro perked up at that news. Nami felt some relief that Usopp was okay. But it brought a sense of worry now that he had not only the fish-men but Arlong himself was after him now.
"I think he escaped into Cocoyashi village." The fish-man informed Arlong.
"Cocoyashi, huh?" Arlong grinned. "That's perfect. Now I have two reasons to go. It's time to go have some fun." Nami only balled her fist in anger as her body slightly trembled.
Nojiko took Usopp to Cocoyashi village and found Arlong and his men had come to the village. Arlong was currently talking to the village sheriff, Genzo. He was a man with a thick mustache and scars along his body. He wears a brown uniform with a matching shirt and shorts. On his head is a cap that matched his clothes with a pinwheel stuffed in the front.
"I'm responsible for 20 towns and villages, including this one," Arlong told the village leader. "And as your leader, I cannot tolerate even a little rebelliousness. Wiping out Gosa was just a small example of what can happen when you do not do as you are told. Tribute money must be paid no matter what?"
"Tribute money?" Usopp wondered.
"It's just what it sounds like," Nojiko confirmed. "Money we pay him so we can stay alive. Adults and children. If there is even a single person who can't pay, then what happened to Gosa will happen to everyone in this village as well. Our town and the people will be wiped from existence." Usopp swallowed a lump in his throat when Nojiko mentioned that.
"He destroyed an entire town because of one person!?" Usopp questioned.
"That's how Arlong rules," Nojiko stated. "To them, we're nothing but a sub-species. Killing us has always been easy."
"You pathetic humans need to stop with all this thinking you're up to," Arlong said to Genzo. "It's your greatest weakness." Arlong grinned. "I am allowing you to contribute to greatness here! Soon Fishmen will conquer the humans and your tributes will play a small part of the beginning of the glorious Arlong empire!" Nojiko stayed silent but had a worried expression on her face.
"Arlong empire?" Usopp repeated as he had come to realize Arlong's plan. "They're planning on taking over the entire East Blue!"
Jou and Zoro were brought up and tossed into the brig together. Inside the said brig, the two sat side-by-side. It was dark and the only bit of light that illuminated the dark room came from one small window.
"Tell me something, Jou?" Zoro asked.
"What's up?" Jou wondered.
"You think we can still trust her?" Zoro questioned.
"Do you think she would've been so quick to jump in the water after me?" Jou asked.
Zoro didn't reply right away. Jou assumed Zoro was still wary of Nami, thinking whether or not if she's still a friend to them. Jou, however, already knew what he thought about Nami. It was written all over her face.
"I do," Jou stated. "You noticed, too, didn't you? When Arlong brought up her family, I can see the pain in her eyes. You can tell a lot about a person by looking in the eyes. One look and you can tell what they've been through."
Jou noticed Nami's pained expression when Arlong mentioned her family. Jou himself had made that face when he was growing up sometime after his mom passed. Just remembering the final moments he had with her was hard to think about. Jou let out a quiet sigh if he only knew just what happened in Nami's past. Just when he was thinking about her, the brig door opened to reveal Nami.
"Nami," Jou said.
Zoro's eyes opened as he saw he saw Navigator. Nami flipped a knife that was held in her hand. Jou was impressed by how quickly she cut the ropes from both him and Zoro.
"Wait!" Jou called as he stood. "Can you tell us what's going on? What's going on between you and them?" she stopped walking but she never answered his question. Nami slightly turned her head to look at Jou.
"Get out of here quick," was all Nami said. "Arlongs' gonna be back soon." she left the brig as Jou almost wanted to follow her. But felt it was a bad idea as there might be fish-men still at Arlong Park. Jou opted to give Zoro a hand onto his feet. They stared at each other as Zoro's only response was a shrug of his shoulders. From behind them, they heard something hit the ground.
Jou found his chains and Zoro's Katana. Jou grabbed his chains and wrapped them around his wrists.
"Looks like we can trust her," Jou stated.
"I'm not deciding anything about her yet," Zoro shook his head as he gathered his sword.
Jou understood where Zoro was coming from. Zoro likely felt that Nami shouldn't be fully trusted yet. Jou felt differently. Hopefully, they'll soon learn just what's going between her and Arlong's crew. But for now, Nami gave them a chance to escape which meant they can get out of Arlong Park.
"Zoro, we should try to leave out the back or-" Jou suggested until he found his crewmate leaving in the opposite direction. "Oh, good grief. Zoro, wait!"
Usopp and Nojiko watched as Arlong clasped a webbed hand on Genzo's neck and lifted him up. Arlong came to town with his crew to question the villagers about them hoarding weapons. Arlong had enough of it and picked up the village leader with a single hand.
"Genzo!" Nojiko called in concern. Usopp showed a look of worry as he watched the scene.
"The possession of weapons is a clear afront to my authority," Arlong informed. "As an example to any other would-be rebels in this town. I'm going to kill you right now. So they can see the fate that awaits them!"
"That guy is insane!" Usopp commented as Nojiko only looked on in horror. "He'd kill someone just for having a weapon!"
"I won't let him!" Nojiko decided and ran out from her hiding spot.
"Wait, don't go out there!" Usopp tried to stop her but it was too late as Nojiko was already making her way toward the group of fish-men.
"You have absolutely no right to do this Arlong!" Nojiko told the lead Fish-man getting his attention. "We've paid you're tribute for over 8 years! Why would we rebel against it now! Just think about it! It makes no sense! Now take your hands off Genzo!" This caused the townspeople to come out of their homes to defend their leader.
"Let Genzo go!"
"It's not like he used the weapons!"
"Hoarding weapons shows he was planning a rebellion against me," Arlong stated. "But on the other hand..." he grinned. "I could destroy you all. Please try to protect your friend so you don't give me an excuse to do that. Either way is fine but rebellion will not be tolerated."
"Everybody just go home," Genzo said. "Do you want to waste all of our work over the past 8 years? For what? The time for you to give your lives for this village was back when they first came. Now we must continue to be patient. The most important thing is to continue to live. We swore we would not let them defeat us as long as we're alive."
"Genzo..." Nojiko muttered.
"Well said," Arlong said lifting Genzo in the air. "I agree with you. It's good to know that even disgusting insects like you enjoy BEING ALIVE!" Arlong threw the village leader into the ground as Genzo hacked out some blood. "There is no way any of you will ever come close to the perfection of the fish-men! Shahahaha!"
"Damn you!" a villager cursed.
"Don't move!" Genzo warned. "He wants you to attack." he held a hand out to keep the people back. "Your deaths will mean nothing. You must continue to be patient... even if I die...!"
"That's a good ending for you," Arlong agreed as he picked up Genzo and hoisted him up once more. "Pay close attention, humans! This is what happens to those who defy me!"
"Exploding Star!"
Something had hit Arlong before he could slam Genzo into the ground. Whatever had struck Arlong caused him to drop the village leader. The townspeople and Fishmen were alerted when they saw where the attack had come from none other than Usopp. The sniper stood proud with his arms folded with his long nose in the air.
"Who the hell is that guy...?"
"I am... the Great Warrior of the Sea!" Usopp announced with quivering legs. "Captain U-Usopp!"
"Usopp..." Nojiko muttered.
"Also known as the 'Demon King' Usopp, feared and hated by almost half the world!" Usopp declared. "I command thousands of men! Loyal ambitious men!"
"That's the guy I told you about!" called the Fishman that was Chasing Usopp before. "The one with the long nose! The guy that got away!"
The smoke from Usopp's Exploding Star cleared around Arlong. The lead Fishman was angered now by the arrival of the long-nose sniper.
"Bring on your thousands of men..." Arlong growled. "I'll crush them one by one!"
The Exploding Star did nothing and now he's pissed... Usopp thought worriedly.
"Repulsive human..." Arlong snarled as his eyes showed just how enraged he was. "WHAT CAN A CREATURE LIKE YOU DO TO ME!?"
Arlong made his way up to the house Usopp stood upon and began to lift it with his bare hands. He managed to pick it up off the ground as the Sniper did his best to keep his footing on the now risen home due to Arlong's incredible strength. The Fishmen were trying to stop their leader from wrecking the town and they won't be able to make any more money.
"If we lost some, we can always get more!" Arlong assured and tossed the house as it collapsed into pieces.
"Usopp!" Nojiko called worriedly. Thankfully Usopp was just fine as he crawled out from the rubble of the destroyed home.
"Am I... dead... yet..." Usopp breathed out with bulged eyes.
"He's not dead yet!" a Fish-man pointed.
"Oh crap...!" Usopp took that his cue to leave as the Fishmen began to chase after him.
"Catch him and tear him apart!" Arlong ordered as some of his men stayed to try and calm down their Captain.
"Let's get him back to Arlong Park!" a Fishman suggested as he and the others carried Arlong away from the town.
"We'll be back," Kuroobi grinned at the Cocoyashi villagers and left. "You can all live for now."
Nako, the village doctor, let Genzo lean on his shoulder. They watched the Fishmen leave on their way back to Arlong Park. The doctor patched up the village leader as Genzo apologized to everyone.
"I'm so sorry, everybody," Genzo said. "This has all been my fault."
"What're you talking about...?" Nako asked. "You're not a Fishman, are you?"
"But who was that guy who attacked...?" a villager wondered about Usopp.
"Hello everyone," a familiar voice got the villager's attention. "It's good to be back home," the voice came from Nami who was approaching the group.
"Nami!"
"It's Nami?"
"Oh, it's only her,"
The villager's aside from Nojiko, Genzo, and Nako all went back inside their homes and shut the doors behind them once Nami showed up. Nami had a bouquet of flowers in her hand as she stopped before her adopted sister.
"What's wrong?" Nojiko wondered. "You never just come walking through Cocoyashi anymore?"
"I heard quite a commotion," Nami replied as she noticed the destroyed home. "Arlong, huh?" as the wind blew through the town, it caused the pinwheel in Genzo's hat to spin. The flowers that Nami brought were placed before a grave with a cross at the head of it.
"I only have to get 7 million more Berri's," Nami mentioned as she sat cross-legged in front of the grave.
"Your already bad reputation just keeps getting worse," Nojiko told her.
"That's fine," Nami said nonchalantly. "I am a Pirate. Arlong can be a very reasonable guy when he wants to. I just need a little more money to finish our agreement. Just 7 million Berri's shy of the 100 million goal." Nami's lips curled in a smile. "You know, it's really not that high a price considering that it's gonna buy back our village!"
"You just had to go the wrong way, didn't you?" Jou asked Zoro.
The swordsman had the bright idea to start walking the wrong way. Jou tried to stop Zoro but he had already stepped out the main entrance of Arlong Park. Outside, they were met with some Fishmen that Arlong left behind. It led to a fight as the Fishmen attacked them the second they saw them. After a short scuffle which ended with Jou and Zoro standing over multiple Fishman Pirates strewn about the ground unconscious. Zoro made himself comfortable in Arlong's chair, resting his hands behind his head.
"I was telling you we should've escaped outta back window or something," Jou suggested. "But no, you just had to go out the front door."
"Does it even matter?" Zoro shrugged. "They would've caught us leaving either way."
"Sure," Jou replied with a shake of his head. Jou kicked over one of the unconscious fish-men onto his back. The fish-man didn't move a single muscle as he was shoved over with his eyes rolled back. Jou figured that this was definitely going to make things worse. Arlong was not going to be happy once he see's what happened to his men. He would probably want him and Zoro's heads on pikes for what they did if he is that kind of person.
"You know this is all your fault, right?" Jou said to the swordsman.
"Why am I to blame?" Zoro questioned. "Not like we wouldn't have had much choice. Besides, we were gonna come here anyway to get Nami. We promised Luffy we'd bring her back with us."
"Think Luffy will be here soon?" Jou wondered as he coiled his steel chain around a wrist. "What's the plan? Just sit here and wait for him to show up?"
"Maybe," Zoro said as he relaxed into the chair. "I don't see any other options." Jou slung his red chain over his shoulder and leaned against the wall beside Zoro's seat. "Wonder Luffy up to right now? Because things are getting messy around here."
That's because we're going to be the cause of it, Jou thought as he crossed his arms. Something tells me this is going make things even harder for Nami especially the risk she took in letting us out.
It had been 10 minutes of Jou and Zoro waiting for Luffy to show up. Jou sat down against the wall and out of boredom, he twirled one of his last remaining throwing knives. He either spun in his hand or tossed it in the air just to entertain himself.
"You having fun over there?" Zoro asked him.
"Gotta do something to keep occupied," Jou replied as he continued to flip his throwing knife. "What about you?"
"I'm bored," Zoro answered as he slouched in the chair. "It's no fun sitting here waiting for Luffy."
"Let's get out of here then," Jou suggested. "We could go to Cocoyashi village. Although, I don't now the layout of the island."
"I-Incredible! What're you some kind of super fish!?" The chain-wielder and swordsman heard a voice from over the wall that surrounded Arlong Park.
"Not even the mighty Hatchan, Octopus leader of the Arlong Pirates can pull you from the ocean! What an epic battle! I don't know who you are but you're the gutsiest fish of the East Blue!"
Jou and Zoro listened to whoever was beyond the wall who was being way too loud for someone who was supposedly fishing. Their eyes widened as the person fishing was hoisted into the air by their own fishing pole.
"The fish was me all along!?" the fishing lines snapped as they dropped Hatchan unceremoniously on the ground. "You are indeed the gutsiest fish in the East Blue! Me!" Hatchan's expression turned to one of confusion as to what he just said. "Hold on, that's weird?"
"He sure is," Zoro commented. The Look-out and Swordsman were indeed looking at an Octopus Fish-man with white spiky-hair.
"Yo!" Jou said with a wave.
"Who are you two!?" Hatchin shouted at them. "Speak up now!" his face was angered until he relaxed and pointed at himself with all 6 arms. "Huh? Me, well... I'm Hachan but all my friends call me Hachi!"
"You a Fish-man, too?" Zoro questioned.
"An octopus type, too?" Jou said.
"That's right!" Hachi exclaimed and waved his tentacles. "I'm an amazing Octopus Fish-man. It looks to me like you're just a couple of humans."
"Yep, just humans," Jou replied.
"Are you Marines?" Hachi asked as he continued to swerve his tentacles. "Or possibly guests?"
"Guests?" Zoro repeated. Jou and Zoro stared behind the carnage they left behind, staring at the unconscious bodies of the Fish-men Pirates. The both of them figured it was best to lie to the Octopus fish-man. He didn't seem to suspect them considering they pretty much took out all of his crewmates.
"Yep," Jou answered Hachi. "We're guests."
"Arlong isn't here, is he?" Hachi wondered.
"No, you wouldn't happen to know where he is, do you?" Zoro asked.
"Apparently there's some long nose guy running around causing trouble," Hachi mentioned. "So, Arlong locked the long nose's 2 friends here then went to Cocoyashi village to hunt down that pesky troublemaker."
"Oh man, Usopp..." Zoro muttered.
Jou himself was also concerned once he heard that. Jou was still sort of upset with Usopp for leaving him and Zoro to be taken by the Fish-men. But he was still their crewmate and they should at least go and see if they can get to him before anything happens to him.
For someone who tries to find the safest way out, Jou thought. You sure do know how to make a commotion, Usopp.
"Excuse me, Hachi, was it?" Jou said as he leaped from over the wall.
"What is it?" Hachi asked.
"Think you can give us directions to Cocoyashi village?" Jou wondered as he was followed by Zoro.
"Get in," Hachi pointed to the large jug in the ocean. "You're our guests. Hop in. I'll take you. Swordsman." he stared at Zoro's sword. "And, uh..." he looked at Jou seeming unsure what to call him. "Chainman?" he noticed the chains on Jou's wrists.
"Right..." Jou drawled as he scratched the back of his head. "Oh, and thanks for the ride."
"Sure thing!" Hachi remarked.
The two humans settled into Hachi's jug as the Octopus pulled them to the other side of the shore. Jou couldn't help but think Hachi was awfully nice and surprised that someone like him would be on Arlong's crew. But if Hachi out found what Jou and Zoro did to his crewmates, he might not be happy. Hachi brought them to a dock which allowed Jou and Zoro to step onto it as Hachi told them this was their stop.
"Cocoyashi village," Hachi announced. "Arlong should be around here somewhere."
"Oh great, thanks," Zoro said.
"Thanks again, Hachi," Jou added.
"No problem!" Hachi answered with a wave. "Bye now!" Hachi splashed back into the water pulling his jug along. "Oh, one more thing!" Hachi turned back around which caused Jou and Zoro to pause in their tracks. "I completely forgot to ask you your names? What do you mean? We've been over this, I just told you my name. Hatchan!" he announced proudly. "Nice to meetcha!" with that Hachi started on his way back to Arlong Park.
"That was strange," Zoro commented.
"Yeah, to say the least," Jou agreed. "Since we're finally here, let's get going and hope we can find Usopp." the two ran off to find their way around the island in search of their crewmate.
Usopp managed to evade the Fish-men but was eventually caught by one of Arlong's executives, Chew. Arlong and his men returned back to Arlong Park to find the rest of their Pirates had been cut down and unconscious. Arlong questioned one of his fallen 'brothers' what had happened. The Fish-man muttered to Arlong that Roronoa Zoro and his bounty-hunter friend with the chains were the cause. Chew dropped Usopp before Arlong so his captain can have a chat with the long nose.
"Catching this scum isn't enough to satisfy my hunger," Arlong said as he placed a large foot on Usopp's back.
"Oh, yeah?" Usopp tried to reason. "Then let me go! And I'm sorry about earlier! I was just saying hello! That's how we do it in my village!" the sniper let out a nervous laugh but went blue in the face as Arlong planted a knife in front of his face.
"Long nose, you're one of Zoro's men, you and that other guy with the chains," Arlong stated. "It's only natural for well-known bounty-hunters to come after me," he said slowly easing the knife on the tip of Usopp's nose.
"Please, don't kill me!" Usopp pleaded. "I don't have anything to do with Zoro! I promise! Please don't kill me!"
"Chu, enough of your cowardly lies," Chew said. "Even if you don't know Zoro, you still stood against Arlong. You die either way."
"Okay, no more lies!" Usopp claimed. "Zoro, Jou, and I are like brothers! Partners for life! If you so much as lay one of your creepy-webbed fingers on me, they'll show up and kill you all!"
"Is that right?" Arlong questioned. "So if I kill you, your friends will show up?" Arlong eased the knife onto Usopp's nose as his nose curled as he cried tears.
"No, no! That's not what I was trying to say!" Usopp wailed. "I was trying to say the exact opposite! Killing me is bad! If you keep me alive Zoro and Jou will show up, see?"
"What I want to know is how...?" Kuroobi said as he approached Arlong with rope in his hand. "How did they escape?"
"What do you mean?" Arlong wondered.
"What I mean is someone let him escape," Kuroobi deduced as he let the rope drop on the ground. "I think that somebody has betrayed us. Perhaps it was Nami who let them in. So those bastards can take your head."
Nami was hidden behind the entrance of Arlong Park as she overheard what was said.
"Nami has been acting strange lately,"
"Yeah, she even helped that Jou guy when he jumped beneath the water."
"Don't tell me she was working with them from the start."
"And tricked us all!"
"Don't forget," Kuroobi mentioned. "Her chief skill is deception."
Nami finally came out of hiding and walked through the doors of Arlong Park. As Nami approached, she switched to her usual persona when around the Fishmen pirates that hid any emotions that she was currently having. Nami had to use this when she let Jou and Zoro free. Jou asked her what was going on between her and the Fish-men but she couldn't tell him a thing. Not like she could tell him at all.
Jou and Zoro just had to beat or cut down Arlong's men. They could have easily escaped out of the back but they had to cause a scene that made her situation harder. At least they got away but not the way she hoped. Now Usopp was here and she had to somehow get him out of here too or else he'll be killed by Arlong.
"Enough of this!" Nami announced. "You should be ashamed. This is pure conjecture. How dare you. You would call me a traitor?" she questioned as she continued stepping in-between the Fishman and slightly shoving Kuroobi out of her way. "I swore I was a member of this group 8 years ago." she touched a hand on Arlong's pirate mark tattooed on her shoulder. "My loyalty is shown with this tattoo."
"I'm sorry," Arlong smiled. "It's natural for you to be upset. But you should know, I don't suspect you of anything treacherous, Nami, I trust you. After all, we've known each other for 8 years. We're just a little on edge right now, that's all." he clasped his hands on her shoulders. "Truly, you can understand that. We need to focus on Zoro and his gang of bounty hunters."
Arlong turned his head to look at the frightened Usopp. It was obvious Usopp was scared judging by the current situation and looked at Nami pleadingly.
"H-Hey, Nami...!" Usopp shook. "Say something!" Nami said nothing and only gave a blank stare. "P-Please, Nami!" Nami remembered the fish-men laying about Arlong Park which was the doing of Jou and Zoro.
They just had to go and do that... Nami thought in irritation as Arlong released her shoulders.
"What's wrong, Nami?" Kuroobi asked. "You're pale. You feelin' okay?" he made his way over to Usopp. "As for Long Nose here, not even you can save him now." Kuroobi pulled the knife that was lodged in the ground. "No, when he defied Arlong."
"How long?" Nami questioned. "How long will I be suspected of betrayal?"
"You're too clever for your own good," Kuroobi stated.
"I'll have the amount Arlong and I agreed to soon," Nami argued. "It doesn't make any sense for me to betray you now."
"The amount they agreed to?" Usopp repeated as he seemed confused.
"I know," Kuroobi replied as he held the knife in front of Usopp's face causing the sniper to quiver in fear. "8 years ago, you agreed to purchase Cocoyashi village for 100 million berri's." he tapped the knife against Usopp's nose. "Heh. But I just can't figure it out. You love nothing, accept money. You betrayed your family and your village for it. So, why do you care for this village now? This puny little heap of houses." Nami's eyes narrowed into a glare. "I thought long and hard about it but I found this in your room."
Kuroobi held up a piece of rolled-up paper and revealed it to be a map as Arlong also looked at it in suspicion.
"I-It can't be...!" Nami's paled as she saw the map. "T-That's my..."
"This looks suspiciously like a treasure map," Kuroobi figured. "And it seems to be pointing to Cocoyashi village." the fish-men began to murmur around Nami but she didn't pay much mind and kept glaring at Kuroobi.
"I can't believe you have the nerve to go through my personal belongings!" Nami shouted. "That's my map and it has nothing to do with you!"
"So angry," Kuroobi commented. "Is there something on your mind?"
"WHAT IS THIS!?"
Everyone turned to the water and saw Hachi. The Octopus Fish-man stared fearfully at all the numerous bodies of his brethren.
"What happened to all these guys?" Hachi questioned.
"The Pirate Hunter Zoro and his friend happened," Arlong mentioned. "Why weren't you here Hachi? This could've been prevented had you been here?"
"Of course it could've!" Hachi exclaimed. "Had I only been here!" he clenched all 6 of his fists. "It's unforgivable!"
"We get it," Kuroobi said. "You weren't here. So you don't where they are, isn't that right?"
"Well, I saw 2 guys," Hachi began to think out loud. "Yeah, that's right. One of them was a slightly suspicious swordsman-type. The other guy with him wore a blue hat and some chains around his wrists." Hachi's face paled once he realized what he had done. "That was them!"
"You didn't see them, you idiot!" Kuroobi shouted. "Where did they go?"
"They told me they wanted to see Arlong so I gave them a ride to Cocoyashi village," Hachi explained.
"Excellent," Arlong said in a dark tone. "That means we don't need to hurry. They're going to come straight to me."
If Jou and Zoro come here they would be running straight to their deaths, Nami thought as she bit her lip.
"Sorry, Arlong," Hachi said. "But if I had known you were going to be back so soon, I would've kept them here for ya. But they said they were guests and I thought I should get them to the village as fast as I could."
Nami from the corner of her eye noticed Usopp smirk as he reached into his bag for his slingshot. If he tried anything now, he would surely be killed. She had to stop the idiot now or else.
Why do you keep getting in the way!? Nami thought as she ran at the sniper. Everything's so close to working out! she put her staff together and smacked Usopp across the face with it. SO CLOSE!
Nami didn't have a choice to do what she had to. Nami felt just as bad when she had to hit Jou earlier for diving into the water and testing her. She didn't want to keep hurting her friends like this. Yeah, her friends. If they even consider her that anymore. Usopp skidded across the ground from the strike and quickly leaned up.
"Damn you, Nami," Usopp muttered. "You wanna fight, don't ya?"
"This is your fault, Usopp..." Nami said with a smirk. "You're the one getting in the way. This is what you get for messing with Arlong!"
"Nami, you really disappointed me," Usopp said as he stood. "Even after you stole our ship and ran off, Luffy and Jou had complete faith in you! They trust you completely and you haven't even shown an ounce of guilt! How can you betray someone like that? Are you really that cold-hearted?"
"The only thing I trust is money," Nami replied. "Those dumb enough to be fools deserve it."
"How can you say that!?" Usopp argued.
"You idiots," Nami stated. "It was going according to plan." she dropped her staff and reached for the knife in Kuroobi's hand. "I'm not about to let you and your friends ruin 8 long years of hard work. So long, Usopp. It's just business, you understand."
"Well, I'll be damned," Arlong commented. "Looks like you became a Pirate while you were gone."
"So long?" Usopp repeated but then laughed. "Like your gonna kill me? Hahahaha!"
"That's right," Nami stated with a smirk. "I wouldn't underestimate me." Usopp seemed scared until he reached into his bag.
"Special Attack: Smoke Star!" the attack caused the fish-men to gag as smoke surrounded them. Usopp started to run away but Nami blocked his path.
"This is just like something you'd think up," Nami voiced with a hint of amusement.
"Nami..." before Usopp could say anything, Nami dashed up to him and placed a hand on his body, and stabbed her own hand. It hurt but she smiled to make her act look believable.
"Don't do this," Usopp pleaded in shock.
"It's for my business," Nami said. "This is my only choice."
"Nami, how could you?" Usopp questioned as she yanked the knife out of her hand.
"Now go and die," Nami remarked as her hair showed her eyes. Usopp collapsed into the water with a splash as the fish-men cheered for Nami.
"Your wish came true," Nami remarked. "You died at sea."
"Nami, I'm sorry for doubting you," Kuroobi said as he approached Nami with a smile. "Without question, you're our friend." he held a hand out to her.
"'Friend', huh?" Nami repeated and handed the knife to Kuroobi. "There's only one reason I joined this group. And that's to buy Cocoyashi village from you." she took her map back from the Ray Fish-man. "You got that, just business. Not friends." Nami started to walk out of Arlong Park. "Keep your end of the deal. I'll have those berri's soon."
"Yes, of course," Arlong replied. "I'd rather cut my stomach open and die than break a promise concerning money. That's the kind of man I am."
"Glad to hear it, Arlong," Nami said as she continued her way out. "You know the score."
"She gives me the creeps," Kuroobi paled as he stared at the blood-soaked knife in his hand.
"Shahahaha!" Arlong laughed. "Oh, what a great woman she's become!"
Nami went inside Arlong Park and made her way to the top floor where her 'room' was located. She pulled the door open and inside was everything needed for cartography. Books stacked on a shelf, maps piled all about the room. Arlong took her into his crew when she was 10, this was the room he introduced as 'hers'. From everything Nami had has been through, she is close to achieving her goal.
"It's strange, I made it all this way..." Nami spoke with a distant stare. "I've endured 8 whole years since that day." she clasped her injured hand holding back tears. "8 years I persevered... I had no choice but to endure it..." suddenly the whole building started to tremble as Nami held onto the door frame, not knowing what was happening.
Jou and Zoro were sprinting through the forest. The two were in a big hurry as they went to Cocoyashi village. The townspeople told them that Usopp had been captured by the fish-men and was on their way back to Arlong Park to mount a rescue. Although, while they were running, Jou heard the birds in the trees chirp in alarm and came to a conclusion that something was wrong.
"Sounds like something set the birds off..." Jou said. "What do you think it is?"
"How should I know...?" Zoro shrugged.
From the left, Jou spotted something quite peculiar. He saw... a ship. A whole entire boat was sliding across the island and was barreling straight toward him and Zoro. The ship got closer as Jou saw a familiar straw hat captain of his at the front.
"Hey, Jou, Zoro!" Luffy called as the ship careened to the look-out and swordsman.
"Oh, crap...!" Jou exclaimed as he quickly dove out of the way. He rolled across the ground to narrowly avoid the boat although Zoro wasn't so lucky. Jou was thankful at first until he felt a hand clasped the back of his cardigan.
"Oh no..." a look of realization fell over Jou's face as he was yanked away. He hit the deck of the speeding boat and saw the excited grin of Luffy.
"Hey, Jou!" Luffy waved. "Welcome aboard!"
"'WELCOME ABOARD', MY ASS!" Jou shouted with shark teeth. "DID IT LOOK LIKE I WANTED TO GET ON!?"
"I didn't want you to be left out!" Luffy let out a hearty laugh. The ship collided with the side of a cliff as the ship and was demolished the moment it impacted. There was only debris left of the vessel as everyone involved in the destruction was laying on the ground. The only one who remained unscathed was a certain straw hat.
"Awesome," Luffy as he brushed the dust off his hat. "We're here, guys!"
Jou stood as he shoved the remains of the ship off him. His beanie had fallen off his head, Jou ran a hand through his hair and thankfully found his hat and picked it up, and wiped any dirt that covered it.
"Dammit, Luffy..." Jou glared at his captain. "You couldn't just dock normally? You just had to come speeding across the island, huh?" Luffy laughed like the reckless fool he was but Jou only smiled fondly with a shake of his head. "But I can't say I'm not happy to see ya."
"Yep," Luffy responded. Jou took notice of a new face among them. He saw Sanji, the same chef from the sea restaurant that Luffy wanted to recruit so badly.
"Hey there," Jou said to Sanji. "So, you finally decided to join us after all, huh?"
"To say the least," Sanji remarked as he re-lit his cigarette.
"Sanji's our cook now, Jou," Luffy mentioned.
"Oh, great," Jou replied. "We could use one of those. Welcome to the crew."
Sanji only gave Jou a small nod. Jou noticed Yosaku who was stuck in the rubble. Jou made his way over to give the bounty hunter a hand. He took him by the ankles and yanked him out with no effort at all.
"You good, Yosaku?" Jou asked.
"B-Big bro Jou... is that you...?" Yosaku stammered eyes white with fear. "A-am I dead...?"
"Not particularly," Jou stated as he set the bounty hunter down.
"What the hell were you doing!?" Zoro exclaimed.
"We're here to pick up Nami," Luffy said. "How come you guys haven't found her yet?"
"It's complicated," Jou mentioned.
"What do you mean?" Luffy wondered. "Where's Usopp and Johnny?"
"Come on, we gotta hurry!" Zoro exclaimed urgently and started running. "Usopp's been caught by Arlong? We gotta hurry before they kill him!"
"He's already dead!" a voice called as everyone turned around and saw an upset Johnny. "We're too late!" he dropped on his knees. "Big bro Usopp is dead." he punched the ground and looked at the group with tears streaming down his cheeks and yelled something the group did not expect to hear.
"NAMI MURDERED HIM!"
As promised, another chapter has come soon. Both of them set-up chapters but we are making our way through this arc. I've decided to put review replies on hiatus. Mainly, because it's hard to keep up with them from time to time and to keep answers fresh and creative. Although, sometimes people don't give me much to work with or much to mention.
Jou: But we do appreciate it when people give us the simple 'Keep up the good work'. And we appreciate you, silent reader's, because we know you're out there.
Right. It's not you guys, it's me. I'll bring them back when I think it's time but for now, we'll end it well... without review replies.
But I do read each and every review and people are free to ask questions if you have them.
Like for example, pokemonking, I have removed Jou's previous opponent for this current arc. At the end of my first chapter, I mentioned that 'Jou will have a 'different opponent in a certain arc'. Speculate and put the pieces together people if you've figured out what I'm doing. If you haven't, it'll be revealed later...
Jou: *frowns* Through our second opening for this story...
You sound worried, Jou?
Jou: It's mostly for your safety. People will throw rotten tomatoes at you and I'll be hiding behind a large, glass reflector shield.
Right since people will mostly blame me for the decisions made. Wonderful.
Anyway, we'll see you guys next time.
Jou: Yep, and everyone please stay healthy and safe remember, 6 feet apart. If you do go out, make sure to wear a mask...
Everybody is already aware of this!
Jou: Doesn't hurt to remind people... Later, guys!