"Hey, do you have any idea where my dad went?" Usopp released his shot, hitting the center of the target. "He's been gone for a while."

Luffy shrugged. "He probably went back to the ship. Maybe he needed to get something."

Usopp landed another perfect hit.

"Damn! He certainly has your gift for sniping, doesn't he?"

Usopp yelped and spun around. A red-haired stranger stood next to his father, whose chest was puffed out in pride.

"Captain Shanks!" Luffy ran to Shanks' side. "It's so cool! Usopp hasn't missed once!"

"That's quite a record." Shanks ruffled Luffy's hair. "You and I will have to go back to the ship soon, okay? Once I've talked to Banchina, it's back to resting for you."

"But I feel fine!"

Usopp stayed back a step, watching the two interact. "Woah… real pirate captain..." Shanks and Yasopp went back inside. "Luffy! You've got to tell me more about him!"

In the house, Banchina waved slightly. "Hello again, Shanks. It's good to see you."

He nodded. "Same to you. I only wish it were under better circumstances."

"These things can't be helped," Banchina said, "From what I've read, you've had some challenges of your own to face."

Shanks didn't answer, but pulled the left side of his cape closer.

"I will admit," she continued, "I've asked you to come here because I have a request. To get right to the point, I want Usopp to sail with you."

Yasopp, who had sat at the end of the bed, sighed. "I thought that might be why you wanted to see Shanks." He ran a hand over his face. "Banchina, while I appreciate you supporting my dreams, we can't ask something like that of the captain."

Shanks raised an eyebrow. "And why not?"

Yasopp paused. "Why? Well, isn't it obvious? A pirate's life is dangerous. Usopp wouldn't be able to protect himself."

"Yasopp, we're considered one of the strongest crews on the sea. Everyone will help keep him safe. Besides, you're a one man army when pissed off. He'll be fine."

"I'm trying to be reasonable here, Boss."

"And I'm saying you're worrying too much."

Yasopp groaned. "Look, I get it. You're being a friend, but I know you've got to think about the crew as a whole. If that means I stay here with Usopp, then I'll live with that."

Banchina shook her head. "You can't do that. You'll be miserable."

"I'll survive. I made that clear earlier, didn't I? It was one thing leaving when you two had each other, but I refuse to leave Usopp alone."

"Then bring him with," Shanks replied. "We've already got one kid. Another cabin boy will hardly be an issue."

"Says the guy who panicked about bringing Luffy." Yasopp shot back.

"And I got over it. Luffy's a part of the crew and Usopp can be as well."

"Luffy's situation was completely different! It wasn't like you had a choice!"

Banchina's eyes widened at her husband's outburst. The room began to fill with an electric tension from the two men. Yasopp waited anxiously as Shanks closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Yasopp," he said, "what do you think Luffy is to me?"

"Well, he's..." Yasopp hesitated. "He's like your son, right?"

"To some degree. I'm still new to a lot of this. I see a lot of myself in him. Whenever he gets himself into trouble, I worry. I feel the need to keep him safe and help him achieve his dreams." Shanks looked Yasopp in the eye. "At the end of the day, though, he's not my kid. I didn't have the right to take him aboard our ship."

"But Boss, Claymore forced your hand. Luffy wouldn't have been safe without us."

"We both know that's a lie. Garp would have guarded Luffy personally and he'd have the entire Navy to back him up. With his position, he could have an entire fleet protecting Luffy and no one would question it."

Yasopp stood. "And he would have made Luffy a marine! I don't get what this has to do with Usopp."

"Our situations aren't that different. I took Luffy because I knew how unhappy he would be at Marineford. Maybe he'd still become a pirate someday, but it'd be after years of service to a group that doesn't share any of his feelings. Your fear of Usopp's loneliness is the same when you get to the heart of it."

"That's why I'm asking to stay!"

"You're forgetting something important."

"Like what?"

Shanks scowled. "Like what your leaving would mean for the crew."

"They'd understand!"

"That's not what I'm referring to. What would happen to the crew as a whole if you left our ship?"

"W-what would happen? I'm not sure what you mean."

Shanks gripped the hilt of his sword. "You said I have to consider what's best for the crew, right? That means I have to keep the crew strong or else we might fall to our enemies. You're one of the best snipers I've ever seen and easily one of the strongest on the ship. Without you, we'd be at a severe disadvantage."

"Captain..."

"I'll be honest, Yasopp. I'm not doing this for Usopp. Sure, I feel sympathy for him, but I don't know him well enough. I'm making this exception because the alternative isn't acceptable to me. If bringing him with us means you'll stay on my crew, then I'll make it work out."

Yasopp plopped back onto the bed, his gaze locked on Shanks in stunned silence.

Banchina laughed weakly. "That's quite the high praise, dear. I always knew you'd do great things."

"Captain," Yasopp blinked, "you mean it?"

"Of course!" Shanks grinned. "Who knows; maybe he'll help keep Luffy in line!"

Regaining some of his confidence, Yasopp smirked. "Good luck with that! Luffy's got your stubbornness!"

(Meshi Restaurant, Syrup Village)

"Doc, are you sure it was him?"

Several men and women crowded into the restaurant, called in for a town meeting by the trusted doctor. He adjusted his glasses. "I spoke to him myself. As you can imagine, I was quite surprised to see Yasopp in the doorway. I thought Usopp was simply up to his old schemes again."

The nurse, sitting across from him, fiddled with her fork, pushing her food across her plate. "I could hardly believe my eyes. Even poor Banchina was shocked. After a moment, she excused us."

One woman drummed her fingers against the bar. "Banchina's always been smitten with that dog. I had hoped his sailing away with those riff-raff would bring her to her senses, but it seems to have made things worse. If Yasopp is back, he'll be a horrible influence on little Usopp."

"That's not all," a fisherman added, "He's brought his whole rotten horde with him. I spotted their ship on the coastline."

"The Red-Haired Pirates? Aren't they the ones who caused a scuffle in the Goa Kingdom?" the bartender asked.

The nurse gasped. "You don't think they're going to kidnap Usopp, do you?"

The doctor frowned gravely. "With pirates, who knows. You saw the boy Yasopp brought. It's quite possible he plans to use that child as a lure to get Usopp's attention. Both are too young to understand how dastardly pirates can be. Regardless of their intentions, we must be prepared." He pointed towards the fisherman. "You said you saw their ship. Have the mansion's guards been warned?"

"Yes. I went to them as soon as I could. They've increased security around the mansion three-fold."

"Good. That means Miss Kaya is safe. Knowing her parents, they've probably alerted the marines. Usopp is my main concern."

The woman at the bar bit her lip. "Doctor, how is Banchina? Is she recovering?"

"...I've done everything in my power to help her, but she's right about one thing. It won't be long before her body completely gives out."

The fisherman gritted his teeth. "It's up to us to care for Usopp. If Yasopp refuses to stay true to his duties as a father, then the responsibilities must fall to his village. It's the best thing we can do for Banchina at this point. I'll be damned if I can't protect her boy. Who's with me?"

A cheer sounded throughout the small crowd.

(Banchina's cottage)

Orange and pink dyed the sky as Usopp trotted inside with his father. Shanks and Luffy had left for the ship hours earlier, allowing Usopp time to show off his marksmanship to Yasopp. "Only my kid could shoot like that! Not a single miss! Luffy wasn't kidding!"

"Yeah, but Dad, did you know Luffy can stretch his body? It was crazy! He pulled his cheeks out to here!"

Yasopp chuckled. "He showed you, huh? He ate a devil fruit a while back, which turned him into a rubber boy. He's a pretty weird guy."

"Cool! It's like he got superpowers!"

Banchina glanced over Usopp's head, catching Yasopp's eye. He gave her a small nod. "Usopp, dear," Banchina spoke softly, "come and sit down. Your father and I have something we want to tell you."

Climbing onto the bed, Usopp snuggled up to Banchina's side. "What is it, Mom?"

She brushed a hand over his cheek. "Have you liked having time with your father?"

"Yeah! I'm having tons of fun!"

"And what did you think of Captain Shanks?"

"He seemed nice." Usopp's smile slipped. "What's going on?"

Yasopp joined his family, sitting next to Usopp. "Son, I can't stay long. The marines would give anything to find us. When the time comes to set sail, we've decided that you'll be coming with me."

"But what about Mom? She's coming too, right?"

Banchina's expression grew more serious. "Usopp, I've explained this to you already. I know this is difficult to accept, but I need you to understand what's going to happen."

"But Mom!"

Yasopp put an arm around Usopp. "At least this way, you and I are together."

"I..." He looked up at Yasopp before leaning against his dad's side. "Okay. I'll go."