Ameliorate ✦ One Piece

18

With the danger passed and gone, the crew now found themselves back at the shipyard, standing before the grand ship that Luffy admired from the moment he'd seen it. Staring up at its large figurehead, Akira couldn't help but smile, hoping that now their captain wouldn't have to hang off of the sails above the edge of the water whenever he was feeling like his usual overly energetic self.

"That looks just like your lawyer friend." Luffy spoke up, breaking the silence which had fallen over the group as he spoke to Kaya.

"Merry ran the shipyard after my parents passed." Kaya said with a fond smile as she thought of the man. "He was their dearest colleague. My oldest companion."

"Then his memory will live on." Luffy announced with a purposeful tone, eyes never leaving the figurehead as he spoke. "I hereby name this ship... the Going Merry!"

"It's yours now." Kaya said with a wide smile on her face, the name bringing her joy as she knew how much her friend would have loved the name. "Your new home."

"Thank you, Kaya." Luffy turned to her with a smile before looking to the ship again. He threw his hands in the air as he cheered at an extremely loud volume that had Akira laughing in amusement as she watched him. And it was good that she was because when he turned back to his crew and rushed at them, she was somewhat ready for the sudden embrace he pulled all three of them into. "Yeah! We did it!"

"We sure did." Akira laughed as he jumped in his spot in front of them a few more times, sharing an amused look with Zoro and Nami while Luffy's eyes turned to the side.

"Usopp!" He called out, walking over to the boy who'd at some point moved away from the rest of the group and now stood alone off to the side. "What are you waiting for? Get your stuff."

"What stuff?" Usopp questioned in a confused voice.

"You're coming with us. Right?" At the offer, Usopp stammered and stuttered in a confused voice, unsure of what to say as his eyes turned to the side, looking straight at Kaya as she took a couple of steps towards him.

"No... I... I couldn't." He tried to refuse, but even as he spoke it was clear he wished he could give a different answer.

"Just come on already." Zoro quipped impatiently, making Akira let out a small laugh.

"I'm gonna need a great sharpshooter. Just like Yasopp." Luffy spoke again, doing his best to convince Usopp to join them. "And I saw what you did back there. Sticking up for your friends. That's exactly the kind of guy I need on my crew."

"But... I couldn't leave Syrup Village." Usopp said in an uncertain voice, eyes looking away from Luffy and towards the one person who was very clearly the reason keeping him here even when he wanted to go. "What... What about Kaya? She needs me to take care of her."

At the mention of her name, the blonde now took determined steps towards the duo, soon moving in to replace Luffy as she took Usopp's hand and led him further away so they could talk. "Usopp, you've been a great friend, but I think it's time I start taking care of myself."

Akira felt Nami and Zoro shift beside her, eyes turning to watch as they approached where Luffy stood, crowding around him as all three of them had their eyes entirely focused on Kaya and Usopp as they spoke. "Will you people give them at least some semblance of privacy?" She hissed over at them only to go on ignored.

"I'll see you again someday." Kaya spoke, gentle voice making a steadfast promise to her friend. "And when I do, I expect to hear all about the real adventures of Captain Usopp." With the vow made, Kaya leaned closer, her lips brushing against Usopp's in a gentle kiss Akira was quick to turn away from, feeling as if she were intruding on a moment that she had no business being a part of.