"You know… that's the second town we've run out of now," Haru mutters, staring at the azure sky over-head. Their small boat rocks gently with the waves, as they sail onto parts unknown… which would normally be cause for concern but with Nami, their new navigator leading the way, he doesn't feel any at all. Speaking of, as far as Haru can tell, she's still a little miffed with Luffy for leaving behind half their treasure haul for the townspeople. The red-head reclines against the edge of the ship, elbows draped over the edge.
"It can't be helped, Red," Zoro tells him, fingers threaded behind his head as he reclines against the side of their boat. "We're pirates, after all."
"Alright," calls Nami, attracting the attention of the three. "The way things are right now, there's no way that we should even think about heading for the Grand Line. We need supplies, and we definitely need a proper ship if we're gonna have ANY chance of making it there."
"Aah… yeah, I guess you're right," agrees Luffy. "We definitely need some good food before we go there! Oh! And a cook, too!"
"And some booze," adds Zoro. "Red and I drank what was left."
"If we're getting a new ship, then we definitely need a shipwright, too," Haru tells them. "And while we're at it, more crew members."
"Yeah, let's add a musician!" Luffy chirps happily, earning a round of laughter from his two male crew mates, and an insult from Nami. Their navigator informs them that an island is a bit south of them would be a good place to stop to resupply, and attempt to find a proper pirate ship. Naturally, they're on board. So, several hours later they come ashore on a deserted beach. Every one of them is glad to stretch their legs after sailing for a few days.
"So, this is the place?" Haru asks her, stretching as he stares ahead at a slope leading off the beach.
"Yeah, apparently, there's a small town here on this island," Nami tells them all, looking briefly at the map. "But it's supposed to be really small." It wasn't a surprise to any of them that the first thing Luffy thought of was finding a place to fill his stomach. But that was put on hold when Zoro informed them that he sensed the presence of others on the beach, and as if on cue a man with a long nose made his appearance on the cliffs overlooking the beach.
"I am Usopp, leader of the pirates who reign over this village!" begins Usopp in a way of introduction, making Luffy and Haru grin in response. "I've got eighty million subordinates at my disposal, so you pirates had best leave!"
"Eighty million?" echos Nami. "You sure? Are you sure it's not more like… three?" Three boys immediately pop up from the bushes behind the man, and take off at a sprint away from the beach. Luffy, Zoro and Haru all break out into laughter while Usopp begins sweating bullets.
"You really remind me of your dad, Yasopp!" Luffy tells him, grinning.
"You know my dad?" Usopp asks them, grinning as well.
"Yeah, he's sailing with Haru's dad, Shanks!" Haru raises a hand and waves at him.
"E-Eh?! Your dad is the great pirate, Red-Haired Shanks?!" Usopp loses his balance the next moment, and tumbles down the cliff to the beach. Though, he doesn't seem to be any worse for wear as he immediately jumps to his feet and approaches grinning happily. He leads them into town, to a small bar where he bombards Luffy and Haru with all kinds of questions about his father. How he's doing, and how strong he has become. He also shows an interest in Haru, for being the son of a "great pirate" as he put it. Usopp was eager to know all he could about the man and it was difficult for the red-head to answer the questions unbiased. No matter how hard he tried, he could never quite look upon at his father and his crew with the same reverence as some of the other pirate crews.
To Haru, he was a goof-ball, a booze-hound, a notorious womanizer, and above all else, a good father before he was "Red-Haired" Shanks… but even so, he was still very much aware of his strength. The same strength that had achieved him renown as a Yonko, one of the single most powerful pirates in the whole world… and it was that strength that he had to surpass. Something Shanks had not only been happy to hear but encouraged him to do when they parted ways all those years ago. When Usopp finally stopped asking about his father, they took that chance to ask him if there was somewhere or someone that they could get a proper ship from.
"A ship, huh?" mutters Usopp. "Well, unfortunately, this village is pretty small so there isn't anything like that here."
"What about that mansion?" Zoro asks him. "I noticed it up on the hill on the way here."
"Do you know those people? Do you think you could ask them for a favor?" Nami begs him.
"No!" exclaims Usopp. "You absolutely cannot go there!" All four of them stare at the man in surprise, who immediately excuses himself, claiming he has something to do before running out the door quickly. They four thought it was strange, but otherwise didn't really give it much thought. Instead, they continued eating and drinking, enjoying this down time after their previous troubles with Buggy and his crew. This time was cut short when the doors to the bar burst open and their table was stormed by three children, all three of which demanded the location of their "Captain" Usopp.
"Usopp?" echos Zoro, grinning evilly as he stares at the children. "If you're looking for Usopp, then I'm afraid you're gonna be disappointed because… we already ate him!" The three kids turn as white as ghosts, faces losing their color as they panic, much to the amusement of Luffy and Haru as well. After getting an ear full from Nami for being "childish" they tell the children that he ran off, and they inform him that he went to visit the mansion, and a girl named Kaya. So, naturally, they decided that they would go and visit the girl with Usopp.
"I'll pay the bill and catch up with you guys," Haru tells them. Luffy, Nami and Zoro follow the kids out of the bar while he approaches the old man at the counter. "Hey, old timer." He isn't surprised when the bill for their meal is rather huge considering Luffy's, Zoro's and his own appetite so he almost empties out his wallet to pay the bill. "These two are gonna break me." He turns on his heel, and begins to walk out when a woman stands from her table, running right into him and nearly causing him to knock her over before he can catch her.
"Sorry about that," the dark haired woman tells him, smiling from under the hood of her cloak. She's tall… very tall. He's worried that he might lifting her up by accident but a quick glance down shows both feet firmly on the ground. In fact, she's the first woman he's ever met that can meet his eyes without looking up, and honestly, it's kind of attractive to the red-head… and familiar, too. He'd only gotten a small glance under her hood but he's certain he's either met, or seen her somewhere before.
"No problem." He releases the woman, suddenly aware that he's held her a bit too long, and again she favors him with a smile before placing a few bills on the table and walking out the door. "She was… pretty. And pretty good, too." He pats his back pocket and smirks slightly. "She almost took my wallet without me noticing." The red-head leaves the restaurant, and glances in the direction of the mansion on the hill, and then in the opposite direction. It's the same way the woman departed in. "Haah… sorry, cap'n, but I'll have to catch up later..."