Sanji had told the others to fish and Usui was in the galley with Sanji preparing side dishes. They were low on meat and Sanji knew if they were going to have a party, the crew (especially Luffy) would vacuum up the food in less than a minute.

Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper were sitting over the railing with their own fishing rods.

“Oh!” Luffy pointed at school of dolphins. “Look at that!”

“Ooooh!” Usopp’s smiled at the sight. “There’s so many!”

 “Cool!” Chopper’s eyes sparkled.

Luffy pouted. “Why can’t I catch any of them?”

“You could, but you wouldn’t be able to eat them,” Usopp said.

“I’m sure they’d be yummy…”

There was a tug on Luffy’s pole.

“Oh!” the trio exclaimed.

“Here we go!” Luffy said, reeling in the fishing line with all his might. “Come to Luffy, dolphin!”

The surface of the water broke and a giant, plump pig flew out of the depths. The boys’ eyes popped out and their jaws dropped to the deck.

“A PIG?!?!”

“EEEEEEEEEK!” Chopper shrieked.

“Luffy!” Sanji had barged out of the galley with Usui close to his heels. “Don’t you dare let that catch get away!”

Usui laughed in exhilaration, watching the pirates fight to reel in the pig. “Sugoi!”

“I’ll make the best pork in the world out of this!” Sanji said, rushing to their side.

Luffy’s eyes became stars and his mouth started watering. “The best in the world?! Sounds great!”

“Alright!” Usopp and Chopper assisted Luffy as he almost got pulled off the deck. “You won’t escape!”

Sanji stomped on Zoro’s stomach as he ran.

“Buahoooh!” Zoro said at the sudden weight.

“Wake up, shitty swordsman! Our dinner is at stake!”

“What the hell—?!”

“Ooooooh!” Franky picked up the trio and pulled backwards. “A sea pig, huh?! Can’t wait to sink my teeth in!”

The pig was jumping over the ship and Zoro grinned, unsheathing a sword. “A sea pig!”

“Strike it under its chin!” Sanji ordered.

“Got it!”

Zoro pounced into the air and two slashes later and an ear splitting squeal, the pig descended back into the sea.

“Yeah!” Luffy and Chopper cheered.

Franky dropped them and Usopp appeared to be dead on the floor.

“Usopp!?” Chopper yelled.

“Oh, warui,” Franky apologized. “I might’ve squeezed too hard.”

“Ah… ah... ah…” Usopp stammered,  his eyes rolled back into his head.

The pig was bobbing in the water when Sanji flew into the air, his leg prepared to kick. “Waaaaaaah!”

“What’s with all this noise?!” Nami demanded, exiting the study with Robin.

“Look, Nami!” Luffy pointed. “We caught a pig!”

“Huh?!” Nami squawked.

“A pig?” Robin blinked.

Bam!

Sanji wiped his forehead and grinned toothily after he had subdued the pig even further. He stood on the pig’s belly and grabbed the kitchen knife he had in his holster. He twirled the dangerous blade around in his hand. “There’s so much of it. We’ll have plenty of leftovers!”

“Barbeque! Barbeque!” Luffy was screaming.

“How about a hot pot?” Franky asked.

 “Or a pork stew,” Zoro said.

“Bakamono*!” Sanji pointed the knife at the people on the deck. “The guest of honor gets to choose!”

“Hm?” Usui sweatdropped as everyone flashed evil glares at him. “I-I don’t particularly care what we eat…”

“Okay then,” Sanji said, a heart popped into his eye. “Then what do you want, ladies~?!”

“Barbeque, Nami!” Luffy commanded.

Usui chuckled and noticed that the skeleton hadn’t joined the commotion outside. He went to the study and saw that Brook was working hard at a desk.

“Brook?”

The skeleton looked up. “Ah, Usui-san.”

“What are you doing?”

“I’m adding a few more touches to that song we were working on from before,” Brook stood up and he towered over Usui.

Usui beamed. “You finished it!?”

“Hai.”

“Let me see!”

“I can’t do that, Usui-san,” Brook said, dodging Usui’s attempts to grab the music sheets.

“Why not?” Usui pouted.

“It’s a surprise for your party.”

“I already know half of it. What’s the harm in reading the whole thing?”

“No can do, Usui-san,” Brook hit Usui on the top of his head with his forehead.

“Itai!” Usui rubbed his head ruefully. “Hidoi naa, Brook.”

“Yo ho ho ho ho!” Brook laughed then stopped abruptly. “By the way, what was going on outside?”

“Luffy and the others caught a sea pig.”

“Aaaaah… a sea pig…”

Brook laid his eyes on the dead pig. “It really is a pig!”

“You didn’t believe me before?!” Usui shouted back.

_

“I caught a pig in the sea~! I’m going to eat it for dinner~!” Luffy sang happily.

Usui walked passed him and sat down next to Robin at the table set up outside. He looked over at what she was doing and saw that she was sketching the gruesome sight of Sanji completely disfiguring the dead pig with his giant kitchen knife. Usui sweatdropped.

“Can I look at the other drawings?” Usui asked.

“Go ahead,” Robin smiled, passing the sketchbook over.

Usui flipped to the very front and saw a sketch of the ship in the depths of the sea, surrounded by fish and various creatures he’d never have imagined.

“Is this when you guys were traveling to Fish-Man Island?” Usui asked enthusiastically.

“That’s right,” Robin watched the boy marvel at the picture. “Have you been there before?”

“No,” Usui shook his head. “But I’ve read about it in books that…”

Robin waited for him to continue. “Usui-san?”

“Oh!” Usui smiled apologetically. “Sorry, lost my train of thought.”

Robin nodded slowly as Usui flipped the page.

“You met the Kraken?!” Usui said with childish eagerness.

“Yep.”

“That’s so cool!”

_ _ _

“Are you a pirate, Law no aniki?”

Law nodded.

“Am I a pirate?”

“If you want to be.”

Usui scrunched up his face in thought. “I don’t know what I want to be.”

“Do what makes you happy,” Law turned a page in his book. “But don’t do something pointless either.”

“Hmmm,” Usui fell backwards onto the bed. “What makes me happy…”

He popped back up again with found realization. “I guess I will be a pirate then!”

“Being a pirate will make you happy?” Law raised an eyebrow.

Usui shook his head. “That’s not what I mean. What makes me happy is staying by aniki’s side! And if you’re a pirate then that makes me one too!”

Law blinked.

“Ne, ne, ne!” Usui leaned forward. “Is it exciting to be a pirate?! What do you see when you go outside?!”

Law swung his legs off the bed and walked over to his bookcase. He slid a book out of a jammed shelf and tossed it at the boy. Usui caught it.

“Read it,” Law sat back down on his bed. “It explains the various islands in the Redline, Grandline, and the New World.”

Usui sparkled down at the book like it was some sort of treasure. He met Law’s eyes. “I’ll definitely join your crew one day right? I’ll always be with you right?”

“It’s not going to be my crew. I’m still a subordinate of Doflamingo’s. But I’m sure, when you’re older, he’ll assign you to the same section as me.”

Usui looked so happy that he couldn’t form any words. He hung off the side of the bed, staring avidly at the cover of the book. “I can’t wait…”

Law kept his emotionless eyes on the boy. He saw the bandages peeking out of the kid’s shirt and he was sporting some bruises. Law closed his eyes.

“I can’t wait…” Usui muttered again.

_ _ _

Law had been holed up in the boy’s dorm for the past two days and he was starting to get sick of staring at the ceiling. Robin and Nami had let him borrow some books but he had already finished the lot of them. They were stacked carefully and neatly at the side of the room.

Law sometimes exercised for the sake of something to do and he would play with his vivri card. They were getting close to Dressrosa, where that hateful man lived.

He sighed. He just wanted Usui to leave already. It would be so much easier without him around. He just needed to stick it out until the next island.

There was a knock on the door and he muttered an irritable ‘come in’.

Luffy and Usopp entered and Law sat up. He immediately regretted allowing them entry when he saw the looks on their faces.

“Tra-guy~” Usopp said in a sing-song voice.

Trafalgar gazed at them in suspicion. Luffy pounced on him.

“Mugiwara-ya!” Trafalgar struggled with the rubber limbs wrapping around him. “What the hell are you doing!?”

“Put it on, Usopp!” Luffy yelled.

“Aye, aye Captain!”

The whole dorm was shaking and vibrating with cursing and yelling. The rest of the crew and Usui was staring in interest at the commotion. Zoro yawned and went back to sleep.

A few minutes later.

Luffy grinned from ear to ear and placed a hand familiarly on a masked man’s shoulder. Usui’s eyes had turned into little dots again and Robin’s lips were slightly parted. A man with a sign closely related to Doflamingo’s on his sweater with a collar of feathers along with light blue, leopard printed pants stood before them. But a cat (or maybe it was a tiger, Luffy’s art isn’t the best) mask was covering his face and he looked disheveled and was sagging in defeat and annoyance.

“This is Wal, Fruit Punch!” Luffy introduced.

“D-domo…” Usui said uncertainly.

There was an awkward silence, then the man whipped around to leave but Luffy whipped him back around to face Usui.

“Don’t be shy, Wal!” Usopp patted the man’s back. 

“May I ask…” Usui said. “Why I haven’t seen you since I got aboard this ship?”

Silence, except for muffled laughter and snickering of the Strawhats present.

“He’s been hiding in the dorms,” Usopp explained. “He’s not very social.”

“I see…” Usui’s confusion broke into happiness. He held out a hand. “Nice to meet you, Wal!”

.

.

.

Luffy grabbed Wal’s hand and made him shake hands with Usui.

I’ve been pulled into their pace again…

_

“Fruit Punch!” Usopp called, running toward the boy.

Usui had been staring interestedly at Wal for the past hour, barely blinking and making Wal uncomfortable.

“Hey!” Usopp held up a string of lights. “Help me put this up.”

“Mmkay,” Usui got up from his seat and waved at Wal. “I’m definitely making you hold a conversation with me when I get back.”

When he was gone, Law sighed and sunk into his seat. He stared at the sunset throwing colors into the horizon. He lifted the mask up just enough for him to breathe in some fresh air and threw his head back.

He understood why Luffy and Usopp had devised this plan, but it might be even more tiring than giving Bepo a bath. At least he was at peace alone in the dorm, he’d been bored as hell but he didn’t need to put up with the kid’s stubbornness he knew so well.

“Oi! Luffy!” Sanji yelled. “Don’t eat before I’ve even cooked the meat, idiot rubber!”

“But I’m hungry!” Luffy whined.

Sanji sighed through his nose. “Just be patient a little while longer.”

“Why don’t you prepare Usui-san for the big surprise, Luffy,” Robin recommended.

Luffy perked up. “Yeah!”

Luffy grabbed Usui’s wrist and lead him to the bow. He lifted Usui onto the figure head and hopped up beside him. He crouched down and placed his hat on the blue haired boy’s head.

“Luffy?” Usui was shocked. He had been expressly warned by the others never to touch Luffy’s hat because it was his most precious treasure. The fact that Luffy was placing it willingly on his head was unprecedented.

Luffy laughed through his teeth. “I like you!”

Law twitched in his seat, oddly uncomfortable with the proceedings. He saw the Captain of the Straw Hats glance at him meaningfully.

“We’re ready here, Luffy!” Usopp said, hanging up the last decoration.

“Ditto,” Sanji said with a cigarette in his mouth.

“Alright, everyone!” Luffy hopped off the figure head, leaving Usui alone.

The pirates all had a drink in their hands and Luffy’s arm stretched to hand Usui one. They lifted the cups up toward Usui.

“To Usui!” they all said.

Before Usui could speak, Brook began playing multiple instruments at once, creating a catchy and somehow nostalgic tune.

(Author's note: play video)

“Arittakeno yume o kakiatsume

sagashi mono sagashini yuku no sa!

ONE PIECE!”

“Brook!” Usui said, thrill apparent. This was the song! The song they were working on.

“Yo ho ho ho ho!” Brook laughed warmly. His fingers and hands flying across multiple instruments. “That’s right, Usui-san!”

The rest grinned and Nami took a deep breath to continue.

“Rashinban nante jyutai no moto

netsu ni ukasare kaji o toru no sa.”

Robin and Chopper joined in.

“HOKORI ka butteta takara no chizu mo

tashikameta no nara densetsu jyanai!”

Then, Usui’s mouth dropped when he heard Luffy’s solo.

“Kojin teki na arashi wa dareka no

BIORHYTHM nokkatte

omoi sugose ba ii!”

“You were right about Luffy-san’s voice!” Brook said, still laughing his skull off.

“Yeah!” Usui said, his cheeks flushed in joy.

They all joined in this time.

“Arittakeno yume o kakiatsume

sagashi mono sagashini yuku no sa

POCKET no COIN, soreto

YOU WANNA BE MY FRIEND?

WE ARE, WE ARE ON THE CRUISE! WE ARE!”

It was only instrumental now and they danced around energetically while Usui laughed and clapped his hands at the beat of the music.

Zoro cleared his throat and took in a deep breath.

"Don't mess this up, Marimo!" Sanji grinned.

Zoro smirked then began singing at his cue.

“Zembu mani ukete shinji chattemo

kata o osarete iippo LEAD sa."

Usui laughed at how serious Zoro was when he was singing and calmed down to listen to Sanji’s part.

Sanji solo.

"kondo aetanara hanasu tsumorisa

sore kara no koto to kore kara no koto.”

 Usopp's part.

“Tsumari itsumo PINCH wa dareka ni

APPEAL dekiru ii CHANCE

ji ishiki kajyoo ni!”

Everyone.

“Shimittareta yoru o buttobase!

takara bako ni KYOUMI wa nai kedo”

Luffy solo.

“POCKET ni ROMAN, soreto

YOU WANNA BE MY FRIEND?”

Everyone.

“WE ARE, WE ARE ON THE CRUISE! WE ARE!

arittakeno yume o kakiatsume

sagashi mono sagashini yuku no sa

POCKET no COIN, soreto

YOU WANNA BE MY FRIEND?

WE ARE, WE ARE ON THE CRUISE! WE ARE!

WE ARE! WE ARE!”

Luffy ended the song heartily and everyone burst into cheers.

“I knew you guys would be good singers!” Usui hopped off the figure head of the lion and shoved Luffy’s hat back on to his head. “Especially you!”

“Shishishi!” Luffy gripped his hat familiarly.

“Oh, gomen, Wal!” Usui said sadly. “I didn’t know you even existed so I couldn’t add you in.”

Wal waved it away and Usui grinned. The blue haired boy turned to the doctor.

“Chopper! Come dance with me!” he scooped up the reindeer and started twirling him around.

“Sanji! Meat! Meat! Sea pig meat!” Luffy ran to the chef.

“Dig right in!” Sanji laid out the plates of barbeque. “There’s plenty!”

“Suuuuuupppperrr!” Franky posed with Usopp and Chopper who had ran off to join them. “Suuuuuppppperrrr!”

Robin and Nami were clapping and Brook was managing to play several instruments at once to produce a catchy pirate’s jig. Luffy’s cheeks were overflowing with food and he spit some of it out as he hooted in pleasure. Zoro was drinking his heart out, slapping his thigh and bellowing with laughter.

Sanji and Usui were both tap dancing and swinging their arms around elegantly but at the same time, roughly, both with toothy grins pulled onto their faces. Sanji slapped the sole of his shoe and clicked his heels on the wood of the deck, his dance getting heated. Usui pulled Nami and Robin on to the floor and he began to twirl Robin around, while Sanji actually looked seducing dancing around Nami.

Robin smiled warmly as Usui pulled her in and she spun back out. Sanji was holding Nami bridal style, spinning around on his heel several times.

“Wal,” Chopper tugged on Law’s pants. “Why don’t you join us?”

Law leaned down to whisper. “My name’s not Wal, Chopper-ya. And no, I won’t be joining you. I’m better off just watching.”

Chopper pouted but he didn’t need to say anything more because Usui had ran over to them.

“Come on, Wal!” Usui grabbed the man’s arm. “Don’t be so reserved!”

Law had no choice but to let Usui lead him onto the deck.

“If you don’t move,” Usui grinned ominously. “I’ll make you.”

Law, knowing how Usui can do just that, began halfheartedly dancing with Nami.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” Nami sneered. “Wal?”

Law glared at her from behind the mask.

The party died down almost at the crack of dawn. Usui was wide awake and cleaning up after the others. The girls had left the party halfway to get some shut eye but the boys had kept going until they dropped from exhaustion. Usui carried Luffy, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, and Brook into the boy’s dorm, but left Zoro and Franky as they were because they were a bit on the heavier side.

When he went into the dorm, he saw that Wal had snuck away from the party to sleep as well. He still had that mask on.

That can’t be comfortable.

After pulling the covers over Chopper, Usui walked over, reaching for the mask—

“Usui.”

Usui turned around to see Nami at the door.

“Good morning, Nami,” Usui went over to her. “How did you sleep?”

“Horribly,” Nami bellyached. “You men kept us up all night.”

“Warui,” Usui said sincerely, stepping outside and closing the door behind him.

Law sighed in relief and took off the mask to run a hand over his face.

“Tra-guy.”

Law didn’t need to look to verify that Luffy had called him.

“Tra-guy.”

“What is it, Mugiwara-ya.”

Luffy’s obsidian eyes blazed, but his face remained impassive. “You haven’t answered my question yet.”

“And don’t expect an answer any time soon,” Law said, drained of energy.

_________________________________________________

* bakamono- idiots

the part with the pig is not my original idea. i got it from a doujinshi.