46 Brave Warrior Of The Sea

"You sure she's gonna listen to us, Luffy? Kuro has been her trusted servant for 3 years, she would be overwhelmed when we tell her the truth." Usopp asked as they were crouching in front of the window to Kaya's bedroom.

"If we just stick to the plan and present facts and information, there's a chance she will listen. If not, then we will give up on convincing her and go start defending the village. " Luffy replied. Usopp nodded and knocked gently on the window. It was immediately opened.

" Usopp! " Kaya gasped as she saw Usopp and Luffy standing in front of her. She immediately hugged him tightly.

Usopp blushed and hugged back. He heard Kaya sob. "I-I thought you would never come back. Guess you were just lying all along, right?" Kaya smiled at him while having tears falling down her eyes. Usopp smiled back.

"Yeah, I was just fooling him. He's an idiot for believing me. Hehehehe! " Usopp rubbed his long nose while puffing his chest out proudly. Kaya giggled at his antics.

Usopp then cleared his throat and got serious. Kaya noticed it and became confused.

"Umm Kaya..... We have something to tell you, you may not believe us, and it's fine if you get mad and all, but it's so important that your life will be involved. " Usopp started off seriously, surprising Kaya. Of their 1 year long friendship, she had never seen Usopp being serious at all.

"Kaya, this is about your servant Klahadore. He's not who he claims to be. Here, look at this and tell me this guy doesn't look at him." Usopp showed her the book of bounties where Kuro was on it.

Kaya looked at the picture of Kuro and widened her eyes, not believing what she was seeing.

In the picture, Kuro wore a standard black captain's coat with a red interior and the Black Cat Pirates' symbol on the epaulets. Under the coat he wore a simple white shirt and a pair of black pants reaching down to his knees along with his trademark shoes.

"It's not possible, Klahadore isn't a pirate! Please Usopp, tell me this is just one of your lies!" Kaya looked at Usopp with tears forming at the corner of her eyes.

"I'm sorry to tell you this, Kaya. But unfortunately I'm not lying here, Klahadore is just an alias. His real name is Kuro. He faked his death and pretended to stumble upon here. He's been lying to you and the rest of your servants for 3 whole years, Kaya. " Usopp whispered while holding Kaya's hand gently. Kaya started crying.

" Why? No please, tell me you're just lying!" Kaya looked at Usopp who also had tears in his eyes.

" I'm not, Kaya. I swear I'm not. He wants to inherit your fortune, Kaya! Me and Luffy overheard him talking to this Jango dude that he plans to invade this village and murder you." Usopp looked down.

" Please Kaya, please believe me for once. I don't want you to die! I love you too much to let you go like that!" Usopp declared, making Kaya gasped in shock.

"Usopp..... You really mean it?" She stuttered out with a blush on her face. Usopp looked at her with a serious face and nodded.

"I mean it 100%! I will never lie about my feelings for you!" Usopp replied seriously.

' So you ain't a coward after all!' Luffy thought while looking at the two with a smile on his face.

"Usopp, this is wholesome and all. But we need to tell her the full story." Luffy reminded. Usopp nodded at him and looked back at Kaya.

"Kaya, Kuro is his real name, not Klahadore. I know it's hard for you to believe, but it's true. He and his old crew, the Black Cat Pirates will be invading the village tomorrow morning or even earlier. " Usopp started explaining.

" This dude, Jango, is a hypnotist. He's going to hypnotize you and force you to write a will so that Kuro can inherit all of your fortune. " He added.

" I can back that up, I was there when they both met up. " Luffy smiled at Kaya.

" It was all Usopp's idea to inform you. But I have to ask, do you believe him? " Luffy asked her. Kaya looked down.

" Have the pirates arrived yet? " She asked.

" Yes, they've been here for a week. I sent Nami, my crew's navigator to scout and she told me that they're docked at the north side of the island. " Luffy replied. Kaya looked down. She seemed to be thinking about something.

" Kaya, we won't force you to believe us. I just want you to know the truth." Usopp whispered. Kaya looked at him.

" Take me there. " Kaya said, shocking Usopp.

" What?" Usopp whispered.

" I want to see it for myself. I want to see the real Klahadore. " Kaya added seriously. Usopp looked at Luffy who shrugged.

"Just hide alright? I don't want you to be taken hostage or get hurt." Usopp told her. Kaya nodded.

" Wait, let me put on my shoes first. " She muttered. After putting on a pair of shoes, Kaya went back to the window again.

She climbed it. Usopp held out his hand and Kaya grabbed it.

He carried her for a while and set her down gently. "Thanks Usopp." She whispered. Usopp grinned at her.

"Are you sure you can walk with how serious your health is right now? " Luffy asked out of concern. Kaya nodded.

" I can manage. Though, I think I might need someone to carry me if I fall. Would you be able to do that, Usopp? " Kaya asked him while giving him puppy doll eyes. Usopp nodded and puffed his chest out.

" Of course, Kaya! I can lift 100 tons with one hand, carrying you will be light work! " Usopp declared proudly. Kaya giggled.

Luffy smiled and they set off to the place where they will battle against the Black Cat Pirates.

.

.

Nami and Zoro were standing behind a bush as they were watching a giant ship in front of them.

The ship was named the Bezan Black and it is the pirate ship that carries the dreaded Black Cat Pirates and its captain, Kuro.

The Bezan Black is a simple red and black pirate ship with a black cat as a figurehead, and a pair of ornamental cat claws on the sides. Its hull has a green base.

The Black Cat Pirates' flag is a standard jolly roger with a skull the shape of a cat's head, completed with slitted eyes, and crossbones.

Nami was getting impatient as the seconds passed by but Zoro was dutifully observing the movements of the pirate crew he was going to be fighting soon.

They heard footsteps approaching them. Zoro put his right hand on Wado Ichimonji's grip and turned around, ready to fight.

He saw that it was Luffy, Usopp and Kaya. He raised her eyebrow at Kaya being here and looked at Luffy and Usopp for an explanation.

"She said she wanted to see it for herself." Usopp explained simply. Zoro nodded and pointed at the Bezan Black behind him. Kaya looked at the ship and froze at the sight of it.

"Luffy, don't mean to question your judgement again, but are you okay with having her witness death? You do know she's extremely sick right?" Zoro whispered in Luffy's ears.

" Shit, I forgot about that part." Luffy grumbled, making Zoro sigh.

" Kaya, are you okay with uh..... witnessing us fighting those guys? You might see a lot of blood." Usopp asked her. Kaya looked down.

" I've coughed out so much blood that I'm practically used to it now. Plus, you do know that my dream is to become a doctor right? What kind of doctor isn't used to the sight of blood? " She asked him. Luffy smirked and punched his palm.

" Yosh!! Let's do this! You're going down Kuro!!"

To be continued...