Opavia

67.

kierra watched in amusement as luffy, usopp and chopper swung from the tree, jumping off periodically. she frowned as sanji ordered them to get some octopus, kierra watching silently as usopp dove down into the aquarium.

vitani joined her and watched as the octopus were thrown out, pausing beside kierra.

"what are they doing ..." she murmured, watching the octopus whither along the ground.

"they're getting octopus for sanji to cook."

"why'd the water turn black?" luffy murmured as vitani sighed.

"hey! usopp's in the middle of an octopus sandwich!" nami cried from below the deck as chopper screamed in panic. luffy stretched his arm into the water.

"usopp! grab on!"

"what kind of idiot can't handle an octopus?" vitani snapped, joining them around the aquarium opening.

"usopp you aren't dead are you?!" chopper cried.

"it's no use, i can't find him with this black water." luffy huffed, pulled forward. kierra grabbed his arm desperately and pulled him back from the water, helping him up.

"you okay?" she looked over him as he cracked his knuckles.

"maybe this will give me a better view... gum-gum gatling!" he pummeled the water in punched, vitani grabbing him and shaking him violently.

"are you crazy?!" she snapped. usopp flew from the water, swollen with bumps.

"gee thanks pal!" he snapped sarcastically.

"are you alright?" vitani asked dryly, kierra snickering at his swollen face.

"hey! there's something floating in the ocean!" zoro announced over the speakers, kierra and vitani leaning over the edge.

luffy pulled the floating barrel to the ship, vitani looking it over.

"treasure time, treasure time ! open it up, see what's inside!" luffy, chopper and usopp sang as vitani rose.

"i don't think this is a good idea, luffy." vitani advised as nami and robin joined them.

"it's probably just some old booze and preserved food." nami added.

"what?! you can't see inside ! how do you know?"

"because it says a treasure offering to the sea god..." vitani answered, kierra snickering.

"it's an old practice called barrel drifting. people do it to allow safe travel from the old guardians of the sea." nami explained. "so it's more about superstition than actual treasure."

"so we got our hopes up over a barrel of trash?" usopp scowled. zoro rose and approached the barrel.

"what? who says booze is trash? let's drink it."

"that's bad karma!" usopp scowled.

"you'll be fine! just say a little prayer." nami smirked.

"i pray to no god, sea or otherwise." zoro huffed as kierra threw up her hands mockingly.

"ooh, tough guy." she mocked. zoro pushed her face, the straw hats moving to surround it.

"after you finish, they say you're supposed to add a new offering for good luck, okay?" robin smirked.

"who cares?! open up!" franky snapped. luffy opened the barrel, an explosion throwing him back. kierra shielded her eyes at the loud red light, vitani hitting luffy in the head.