Kuro Reveals His True Colors

"Are you? Are you guys really Pirates?" She asked with enthusiasm.

All the girls just chuckled at her display. Looks like Usopp really filled her head with pirates being some kind of brave warrior of sea or something like that.

"Are you guys really pirates?" Merry asked, getting very worried.

"Yes we are but don't worry we are not here to do anything bad, if we were we would have just demanded the ship instead of buying it." Luffy calmly explained to Merry Who relaxed a bit after hearing that but was still worried.

It made Luffy wonder how no pirates have attacked them before Kuro's crew. They barely had any security, and a lot of money. Any small-time pirate should be able to steal the money from them, much less someone like Kuro.

"Then can you tell me about your adventures." Kaya asked with stars shining in her eyes.

"Well we just started some time ago so we only have a few stories to tell." Makino told her with a smile.

Then Kaya had told Merry to check on the ship and repair it where needed.

After that Luffy and Girls had told many kinds of stories. They have also told her about some reality of the world so she would not be so naive. She was even in denial for some time that people could do things like that, but still He would say that he had disillusioned her somewhat and the remaining job will be done by Kuro.

Luffy had also explained to her what he thought about her illness and she kind of understood what he was trying to say as she told them that she wanted to become a doctor. And that she has already studied some medicine.

Apart from that Kaya had quickly become friends with Luffy and the other girls as they have told her many kinds of adventure stories and she didn't really have friends so it could be said that she just latched on to the first people who were there to become her friend, just like Usopp.

And Luffy and the group had quickly become smitten with the girl because of her kindness, politeness and somewhat naivety but it was part of her charm. Even though he probably would have to get rid of her naivety.

"Hey Kaya, would you like to come with us on Adventures. Then you won't have to listen to someone else's adventure, you could make your own adventures." Luffy said to Kaya while the girls looked with excited faces.

First Kaya was really happy to hear that. Then she thought with a faraway look, "Go to the sea to go on my own adventures. Can I do that? Really, but can I just leave my house and everything."

"There are also many miraculous doctors in the grand line and they will easily be able to heal you even if you have some kind of physical sickness, we can also find someone to mentor you there. Being able to Fulfill your dreams will easily become there.

Besides You don't have to worry so much about it right now as we will be staying here for a few days. You can just decide later." Luffy told her.

"Alright I will think about it. But if I go, can my friend Usopp also come with us?" Kaya asked with an expectant face.

Luffy just gave an awkward smile at that and all the girls were snickered with their hand on their mouth as they all knew how much he wanted an all female crew.

"We will see, I would have to meet him first and see what kind of a man he is." Kaya looked hopeful after hearing that.

"Well it's getting late, Mmm Kaya do you know any place in this village to spend the night." Luffy asked her.

"You could just stay in the mansion there are many rooms that are unoccupied." Kaya said to them.

"Are you sure we wouldn't be intruding?" Nami askrd a little hesitant.

"No-No, I will be really happy if you stayed here." Kaya said with a hopeful gaze.

"Alright then we will be intruding on you Kaya." Luffy simply said with a smile.

After that she called servants to prepare rooms for Luffy and the group. Then they talked until the night, surprisingly Kuro didn't come to make trouble for them in any way.

Maybe he got too scared or maybe because his plan was already on the verge of completion so he didn't want to cause unnecessary problems.

And neither did Usopp come, maybe they were knocked out for a long time.

After that they spent the night at the mansion but also kept eyes on things. But the night was really peaceful. After that their morning was spent leisurely with talking and doing morning things.

In the morning after some time Luffy felt Captain Kuro going out of the mansion and toward the beach but as he was going towards the beach opposite to the beach where their boat was docked so he didn't care much.

A few hours later a shocking news spread throughout the village. Usopp was found dead near the shore. Soon the news also reached the mansion. When Luffy heard it he was also surprised by the news.

'Looks like if original Luffy wasn't there with Usopp to hear the news, Fall down from the cliff and "die". Then it's what would have happened to Usopp. And that's also to make it clear that they came one day before the events of the canon.' Luffy thought to himself.

He went towards Kaya's room from which he could hear the sound of crying, it seems some servant had already told her about the death. The door was already open, Luffy went inside And saw Kaya crying on the bed. He went beside her and put his hand on her shoulder. After seeing Luffy, she just threw herself on his chest and started crying even harder.

Luffy just consoled her by saying things like it's going to be Okay and things like that but her crying didn't stop. Other girls also came to the room to console and comfort her. Some time later Kaya's crying had almost subsided.

"I want to see him." Kaya said, wiping tears from her face.

"Are you sure Kaya? You don't have to, The girls and I can go take a look at what happened." Luffy said to Kaya.

"Yes, I want to see him, I want to see him at least for the last time." Kaya replied with a determined face.

"Alright" Luffy replied after that they all went to the shore. They came to the cliff near the beach, there were already many people there. They went through the people and came to see the dead body of Usopp. There was so much dried blood around the corpse and there were five claw wounds going through his torso.

After seeing him Kaya just started to cry. Luffy came and hugged Kaya, "It's going to be alright, we will find whoever did this and we will make him pay." After that they took Kaya back to the mansion.

After that, she spent mostly with Kaya consoling her and try to make her feel less sad.

Luffy decided not to tell her about Captain Kuro that day as she would just find out the following day, and he didn't want to sour their relationship for nothing.

At night the girls decided to sleep inside Kaya's room, after which beds were arranged for them in the room while Luffy just slept alone or at least he pretended to.

After Midnight

Luffy got up and went to the girls room and woke them up quietly.

"Ahh Luffy San what are you doing here this late." Kaya asked and other girls also looked at him curiously.

"I got to show you something, but be quiet and don't make a noise." He then brought them to the upper side of the stairs and told them to hide behind the railings.

Merry was cleaning in the Hall and Kuro came back. After seeing that some girls already had ideas about what this is about.

"Ah Klahadore San, you came back." Merry said after seeing Kuro.

"Where is the young miss?" He asked in a casual tone.

"She is already asleep, she was quite exhausted after today's events." Merry told him.

"And the Other guest, where are they?" They are also asleep, and the girls are with Miss Kaya in her room.

"oh.., still I never would've thought of such a thing to happen while I was away." Kuro said, loosening his tie off and continued, "That young man named Usopp was a real troublemaker."

"Still I don't know who would have killed him, even though everyone hated him. But I don't think they would kill him for telling lies." Merry said.

Kuro saw a present wrapped in a box sitting on the table. He went to it and picked it up. "This is..?"

"Ah.. That's a present from the young miss to you. It has been three long years since you've been a part of this house. It was supposed to be an anniversary gift. It seems your glasses slip quite frequently. So young miss had them custom made for you. She is really attentive and considerate." Merry said with tears in his eyes.

Kuro unwrapped the box and saw Glasses inside the box. He just chuckled. "Speaking of anniversaries, tomorrow will certainly be a day to remember. It's a crescent moon tonight, isn't it? A night like this makes my chest throb harder and my blood boil for excitement." He then threw the gift on the floor and stepped on it, breaking it.

Kaya gasped and covered her mouth after seeing that.

Merry had his mouth open after seeing that, "Klahadore san! What do you think you're doing with young miss's gift."

"I have accepted the present. But that's not just that, it's everything in this mansion!." Kuro said with an evil glint in his eyes.

"What are you talking about?" Merry asked, very confused.

"There is no need for me to continue this act anymore, let me tell you, I am captain Kuro, captain of the Black Cat Pirates. And I have just been acting for three years. In a few hours my whole crew will reach here and raze this village. I was also the one Who killed that son of pathetic pirate Usopp." He walked up to merry and in his hand he had a glove with five blades on it.

After hearing that Merry tried to back away and yelled "Miss Kaya, Run."