Christine's Pirate Journey

Chapter 6: Kaya and her staff

They all looked at the scenery in awe as Usopp led them into a courtyard with a mansion in the distance.

The mansion had two huge, tall trees on each side and you could see the mountains behind the house.

"I've never seen a house this big before.", Luffy said.

"Me neither.", Christine nodded mext to him.

"Impressive, right?", Usopp looked proud. "Kaya's given me an open invitation to drop by any time I want.

Luffy and Usopp leaned against the well, admiring the view.

"Wow, all of this for one person?" , Luffy asked.

"Well she lives here with her butler and a few other staff." , Usopp replied.

As Usopp and Luffy talked, Christine went near Zoro and Nami, since there were some beautiful flowered bushes there.

"So pretty~", Christine leaned down to look at them more clearly, but a pain came rushing through her side.
"Ouch.", she touched her wound and stood up.
"That freaking clown💢."

What she didn't know, was that her white T-shirt had reddened a bit at her wounded side.

Then she overheard Nami and Zoro talking.

"Money really shows you how people truly are."  Nami said with a bitter voice. "Most people only care about themselves and what's theirs."

"Sounds like someone i know.", Zoro commented but Nami ignored him.
"And a small staff makes for easy picking."

Christine left the flowers and went ahead to walk with Luffy and Usopp, since she didn't want to hear them bicker.

"Why? Gonna rob this place blind?", Zoro asked sarcastically with a raised eyebrow.

"At least a little blurry.", she smirked.

"So, if you have an invitation, why are we going around the back way?", Luffy asked him, confused.

"I never use the front entrance. This is more of a VIP entrance for special guests.", Usopp confessed.

"This guy's full of shit.", Zoro muttered, not loud enough for the others to hear.

"Yeah, but as long as he gets us inside the house, who cares?", Nami remarked.

Then, Christine saw two staff members working at the back door.

Seeing them, Usopp quickly turned around, stopping Luffy and Christine.
"Oops, you know, there's actually a more exclusive entrance this way.", he tried to lie, but failed to escape the sight of the workers, as the man threw a knife at his feet in front of him, slicing a flower.

Christine's face quickly turned serious as all of them backed away and Usopp turned around cautiously.

The man with the curls walked towards them.
"The hell are you doing here, Usopp?!", he demanded

"Buchi, buddy. Ahh... Kaya's expecting me.", Usopp explained as the teal-haired woman stopped brooming.

"Another one of your lies.", Buchi hissed as he got in Usopp's personal space and grabbed him by the collar.
"You aren't welcome here and you know it."

"I know nothing of the sort. I'm here to give Kaya and extra-special gift." , Usopp said confidently.

Buchi didn't let go of him, until a sweet voice called Usopp out.
"Usopp!"

It was a young, blonde woman in a pink dress.
She looked sick and was clutching a butler's arm.

"What a wonderful surprise.", Kaya smiled as she stepped closer.

Usopp grinned and approached her as Buchi let him go.
"Kaya! Happy birthday!"

Kaya chuckled. "You remember."

"Of course i do."

The butler cleared his throat and pushed his glasses up with his gloved palm. "Usopp. We've had this discussion. You mustn't show up unannounced."

"Nonsense, Klahadore." , Kaya corrected him calmly.
"Have you come to tell me another story? I do love hearing about your adventures."

"I'll do you one better. I brought some of my crew.", Usopp turned to the four.

Luffy turned to the others, confused.
"Is he talking about us?", he asked and vot no answer.

"It's so nice to meet you.", Kaya started talking again.
"You all must stay for dinner.", she invited them and Luffy's expression grew happier.

"Miss Kaya.", Klahadore spoke up.
"It is a bit last minute. "I'm afraid the kitchen hasn't prepared for extra guests."

"Please, Klahadore."  She pleaded. "It's my birthday. Can't be too much trouble, can it?"

The teal-haired woman rolled her eyes at that and Klahadore finally gave in.
"Of course, Miss Kaya. Anything for you."

"All right! When do we eat?", Luffy asked excitedly.

"You don't.", he looked at them up and down. "Not dressed like that.
Sham. Kindly show Usopp and his friends to the guest suites."

She nodded respectfully.

"You will bathe and change before dinner. ", he ordered them.

"A bath does sound nice.", Nami accepted it with a smile and the group followed the maid.

As Christine walked ahead, she heard Kaya gasp and calling her out, worried.
"Uhm! Little girl, you're bleeding! Are you alright?!"

"Huh?", Christine looked at her now red shirt
"Oh that? Yeah, i'm fine. But can you also give me some bandages to treat it?"

"Of course, uhm?"

"Christine."

"Okay, Christine."

"Christine.", Zoro called out to her as he was about to walk past her. "Let's go.", he said and shot the butler a dirty look, who returned it.