Revealing Kuro's Identity, Inviting Kaya

Hearing her words, Usopp became silent for a moment. He couldn't help but remember his father's words.

'A pirate flag is calling me.'

These words made Usopp hate and admire his father at the same time. He hated his father because after he left, nobody was there to take care of his mother.

But, he also admired his father because he left to become a pirate and a brave warrior of the sea. This has always been his dream. He wanted to become a brave warrior of the sea.

After a lot of hesitation, he finally came to a conclusion.

"Alright! I will join your crew but I need to say goodbye to someone first."

"It's okay. We will wait for you at the restaurant." Nami nodded her head and said.

"I don't think we should do that." Cathie suddenly spoke which made everyone look at each other with confusion.

"We are pirates. We shouldn't stay here for a long time. First, let's go with Usopp. We will stay away and let him say goodbye. After that, let's buy things while Usopp goes home to get his things. Then, we will all leave this island and have a banquet for a new crew member."

Hearing her explanation, everyone nodded their heads. Although Usopp was a bit uncomfortable, he still agreed. After all, he has decided to join this crew.

Soon, they walked toward Kaya's house. And, upon reaching closer, Usopp used his secret path to enter Kaya's house and climbed the tree while others remained on the ground.

"Usopp-san, who are they?" Kaye who was sitting on the balcony also saw Usopp but she was surprised by the presence of other people.

Usopp was silent for a moment. But, eventually, he gathered his courage and said.

"Kaya, I am leaving this island. A pirate flag is calling me."

Hearing his words, Kaya's heart shook for a moment. Her body became weak and she almost lost consciousness. But, she gritted her teeth and held on. She didn't want to embarrass Usopp.

Since Usopp was leaving this island, she didn't want him to stay for her. She squeezed a smile and said.

"Is that so? Then, I wish you good luck. You will definitely become a brave warrior of the sea."

"Kaya"

Seeing her condition, Usopp's heart was shaken once again. How could he not understand her situation? But, he was also in a tough position right now.

"Hey, who are you guys?" Suddenly, a voice rang from afar and startled everyone.

Everyone turned their heads and saw a tall man in a black coat walking toward them. When he reached closer, Cathie spoke.

"Captain Kurt, it's you. No wonder I recognized that pirate ship. It's yours."

"Huh?" Everyone except Kurt was confused. Kuro's eyes widened for a moment but he quickly controlled his emotions and stared at Cathie.

"Miss, what are you talking about? My name is Khaladore. I am a butler of Miss Kaya. But, I want to know why are you here. This place is off-limits."

"Tch! Tch! Kuro, I understand. So you were hiding here. I thought why Captain Axe Hand Morgan was so weak. He never captured you in the first place."

"He just made up a lie to boost his reputation. On the other hand, you came here to hide. But, why would a pirate with 16 Million Bailey come here to hide?"

Cathie suddenly turned her eyes to Kaya and continued.

"I understand. It seems like she is ...…"

"Shut up! Shut up! You bitch, you are slandering me." Kuro screamed but he still controlled his emotion and shouted.

Bang!

But, suddenly, a fist came toward him. This fist was so slow that Kuro easily saw it coming and dodged it.

"You bastard, Cathie doesn't lie." Luffy angrily shouted but he quickly retracted his fist. Seeing this, Nami, Cathie, and Zoro looked at him with surprise on their faces.

'When did this guy get so smart?'

"You guys, please stop. Usopp, please ask them to stop. Butler Khaladore has been taking care of me for three years. How could he be a pirate?" Kaya couldn't help but cry as she looked at Usopp and begged.

But before Usopp could answer, Cathie spoke.

"Miss Kaya, I know the truth is hard to accept but just now, you should have seen that punch. How could a butler from a small village dodge such an attack at such a fast pace?"

At this moment, Usopp paused. He looked at Maya and said.

"Kaya, I know you are sad but why don't you confirm it first? After all, they are also pirates. It's normal for one pirate to know about another pirate."

Kaya who was barely holding on after the news that Usopp gave her finally couldn't bear it more. She lost consciousness in an instant.

"Miss Kaya"

At this moment, a scared voice rang from the door. A man with a sheep-like head rushed toward Kaya.

"Kaya!" Usopp also screamed and tried to rush toward her.

"Nami, use him to train yourself." Cathie said and extended her arm. She caught the pillar on the balcony and jumped inside.

"W-w-who are you?" The man with a sheep-like head looked at Cathie with a cautious expression and asked.

Cathie looked at him and said.

"I have a way to cure her. But, I also need your promise for two things."

"Please, please, save miss. I will promise you anything." Merry immediately begged in front of Cathie with a terrified expression.

"Please, Cathie! Please help Kaya" Usopp also lowered his head and begged.

Cathie looked at Merry and said.

"If I am not wrong, Miss Kaya has feelings for Usopp, right?"

Hearing her question, Merry didn't know how to respond while Usopp turned red.

"When Usopp told her that he was leaving, she almost lost consciousness. With her weak body and mind, it would be hard for her to find a cure on this small island."

"And, the thing that I have might be able to cure her but whether it's going to be permanent or temporary, I am not sure. So, the first promise that I want you to make is to let Kaya join us."

"Since you are the only one who is close to Kaya, you can be called her guardian. If you also ask her to join us, she won't hesitate."

Cathie continued to explain.

But, hearing her words, Usopp's and Merry's expressions changed drastically.

"But, the pirate life is too dangerous. How can I allow her to take such danger?"

"Yes, Cathie! Kaya is too innocent and sweet. How can she become a pirate?"

Cathie chuckled and said.

"Well, our captain is also innocent and sweet but he is our captain. In this world, courage isn't something that is born within you from the beginning. It grows slowly."

"Just like you. Even though you are a coward, you still decided to face those hundreds of pirates alone. If we hadn't arrived in time, you would've died. But, knowing that, you still tried to protect this village."

"Kaya might be innocent and sweet but she can still grow. And, we can make her stronger. In fact, if she is lucky, she can even be as strong as Nami. So, do you still think you need to be worried about Kaya?"

Hearing his words, Usopp didn't know how to respond. On the other hand, Merry stared at Usopp in shock. In his eyes, Usopp was just a coward who likes to brag.

He never expected Usopp to do something so amazing. After thinking about it, he took a deep breath and looked at Cathie.

"If miss leaves this village, can you protect her?"

Cathie nodded her head.

"Sea is full of danger. So, unless all of us die together, we will always keep her safe."

Hearing her words, Merry suddenly put his head on the ground and said.

"Then, please! Please take Miss to the sea and cure her completely."

Cathie smiled and nodded her head.

"Don't worry, we will always keep her safe. And, as for the second condition. We need a ship."

Hearing her condition, Usopp looked at her with confusion and asked.

"Wait, don't you already have a ship?"

Cathie nodded her head.

"We do have a ship but our ship is a bit special. It requires eating another ship to grow. Right now, our ship is in normal condition but if it wants to survive in this sea, it needs to be stronger just like us. After all, a ship is also our crewmate."

Hearing her words, Usopp and Merry tilted their heads in confusion. Because they have never heard of such an absurd thing. But, Cathie didn't care.

She took out a yellow potion and said.

"I can sense that you have a ship that is ready to sail. Since that's the case, let me use this on Kaya."

She put Kaya in her arms and then took off the lid. After that, she puts the potion in her mouth and put Kaya back on the ground. She turned her head at Merry and said.

"Alright, I hope you will explain everything to her. I will go back and take look at Captain Kuro's condition."

Saying so, she walked out of the balcony and jumped down. Just when she jumped down, she heard a voice from Nami, and a golden light illuminated the surrounding.

[Ama no Murakumo]