Ameliorate ✦ One Piece

12

It wasn't too long of a walk before their new friend, Usopp as he'd introduced himself, managed to lead them to the house of the woman he'd claimed owned the ship which Luffy had expressed interest in. However, as their group came to a pause to admire the grand home, Akira still remained uncertain of how wise this was. It was safe to say that no one who heard their offer would be too pleased.

"I've never seen a house this big before." Luffy marvelled out loud as he walked a few steps forward, eyes daring around as he took in the garden area in the middle of which a well served as a decoration rather than anything else.

"I have." Akira admitted openly. And she knew that while they might look beautiful and grand on the outside, there could still be a lot hiding within its walls that they'd never be able to guess. Jahra's house back in Shells Town was a prime example of that.

"Impressive, right?" Ignoring Akira's comment, Usopp smiled widely as he walked pats Luffy and turned, now walking backwards as he continued to talk. "Kaya's given me an open invitation to drop by anytime I want."

"All of this just for one person?" Luffy continued to ask all the questions on his mind openly and without hesitation, although in this case, Akira and Nami shared a look, knowing such information could be good not only for the sake of stifling incessant curiosity.

"Well, she lives here with her butler and a few other staff." Usopp said openly while, beside him, Luffy climbed up on the edge of the well and whistled down to it as if he were a child.

"Money really shows you who people truly are." Nami noted, eyes scanning their surroundings as if she were able to tell who this Kaya was and what she might be solely from the looks of her garden. "Most people only care about themselves and what's theirs."

"Sounds like someone I know." Zoro jabbed, making Akira give out a small chuckle at the jab. And it wasn't as if it were an unfair one after the entire ordeal with Buggy, something Akira had yet to entirely forgive. Even if Nami had made up for it in the end by helping them get out and save Luffy after all.

"And a small staff makes for easy pickings." Ignoring the both of them, Nami simply continued to speak what was on her mind. Although, this particular thought had Akira giving out a hopeless sigh.

And she did so once again as Zoro, instead of having at least a little bit of a brain, continued to urge Nami to talk about what she was planning. "Why? Gonna rob the place blind?"

"At least a little blurry."

"You two do realize we could be overheard, right? How do you expect to get into the house if all the staff knows your plan before you've even knocked at the door?" Akira questioned in a pointed tone, sending them both a reprimanding look before she was walking again, following after Luffy and Usopp as the latter started to lead further around the house.

"So, if you have an invitation, why are we going around the back way?" Luffy asked curiously, and once she realized he was right in pointing out the direction Usopp was leading them, she began to wonder about a few more things as well.

"Oh, I never use the front entrance." Usopp said dismissively, as if it were no big deal. "This is more of a VIP entrance reserved for special guests."

"This guy's full of shit." Zoro announced, and both Nami and Akira nodded their heads in agreement. That much was quickly becoming clear.

"Yeah. But as long as he gets us inside the house, who cares?" Nami tried to reason only to have her argument met with one of Akira's own.

"Unless he's so full of it that he lied about being able to get us in too." The dark-haired girl pointed out in a concerned tone.