Chapter 25: Cats Are Nocturnal Animals
Night fell quietly.
Because of Cheng Lang's warning, Usopp rushed to the gates of Kaya's mansion.
The estate was unnervingly silent.
When he reached the door, he hesitated. Kaya's harsh words from earlier in the day echoed in his mind. This was the first time he had come to her so late at night. What if she misunderstood his intentions?
He scratched his head, but finally pushed aside the camouflaging leaves and slipped inside.
The moment he entered, a scream shattered the silence—followed by the crash of breaking glass.
Usopp froze. The voice was male, and disturbingly familiar.
"It can't be… Cheng Lang was right?"
He crept toward the sound, peering cautiously into the room.
There, Butler Merry lay sprawled on the floor, blood pooling beneath him.
"?!"
Even though he had braced himself, the sight made Usopp's breath hitch. His chest tightened, panic rising.
"Oh no! Kaya's in danger!"
He scrambled up the great tree outside her window. The curtains were open, and through the glass he saw Kaya sleeping soundly—too soundly. She hadn't stirred at all despite Merry's scream.
Something was wrong.
Before he could act, the door to Kaya's room opened.
Kuro stepped inside. One hand wore a black glove fitted with five silver-white blades, each dripping fresh blood.
The truth was clear: Merry had been cut down by Kuro.
Usopp flattened himself against the branch, trembling. His mind went blank.
But then he thought of Kaya—helpless, about to be killed. His eyes hardened. Slowly, he reached for his slingshot.
The faint scrape of blades against each other reached his ears.
"No! I won't let Kaya be harmed!"
With sudden resolve, Usopp raised his head and fired.
The iron pellet smashed through the glass.
Kuro hadn't expected an attack from outside. He barely managed to deflect the shot with his clawed glove, sparks flying as metal clashed.
Seizing the moment, Usopp leapt through the window, slingshot firing in rapid succession.
"Must-kill… Smoke Star!"
A cloud of thick smoke exploded across the room. Hidden within the haze, Usopp's projectiles whistled toward Kuro, forcing him to defend instinctively.
By the time the smoke cleared, Usopp was gone—Kaya slung across his back.
Kuro touched the shallow cut on his cheek. A vein bulged on his forehead.
He had been careless. Three years of quiet life had dulled his edge. Though his body was still honed, his vigilance had slipped.
He had blocked most of the shots, but not all. And when the smoke bomb went off, he had been forced to retreat.
He didn't pursue. Not knowing where the next bullet might come from, he chose caution.
"Usopp… I didn't expect that damned liar to have such strength."
---
Meanwhile, Usopp sprinted through the night with Kaya on his back.
But she still didn't wake.
Her breathing was steady, her body warm—yet she remained in unnatural slumber.
If not for those signs of life, Usopp would have thought she was dead.
Fortunately, years of running from villagers had given him speed. But before long, he stumbled upon a group approaching.
It was Luffy and the others.
Cheng Lang had insisted they follow, in case Usopp was mistaken for a thief.
"Hey, hey, hey—you just kidnapped Miss Kaya?!" Alvida teased.
Usopp ignored her. His face was pale.
"There's something wrong with that Crabatel! He killed Butler Merry! He was about to attack Kaya, but I stopped him just in time!"
Nami gasped and rushed to Kaya's side. She checked her breathing—still steady. But the deep, unnatural sleep was alarming.
"Kaya! Wake up!"
No matter how Usopp shook her, she didn't stir.
"This is a very high dose of sleeping pills," Nami muttered grimly.
Usopp's eyes widened. "That's right… Kaya's been weak ever since her parents died. She couldn't sleep, but she never took this much before."
"She shouldn't be this unresponsive. If Crabatel wanted to kill her, why drug her like this?" Nami frowned.
The answer came—not from Usopp, nor Cheng Lang, but from the shadows.
"The reason is simple. Miss Kaya must live… at least until she finishes writing her will."
Luffy and Zoro turned.
Kuro stood there, immaculate in his butler's suit. If not for the bloodied claws gleaming in the moonlight, he might have looked like a refined gentleman.
Cheng Lang's eyes narrowed. The story had diverged. In the original, Luffy and Zoro hadn't confronted Kuro this early. But now, because of him, the timeline had shifted.
How long could Kuro last against them here and now?
"But now that the plan is exposed," Kuro sneered, pushing up his glasses, "Kaya's life or death no longer matters."
In a blur, he vanished.
When he reappeared, he was already in front of Zoro.
Twin blades flashed as Zoro blocked the strike.
"Oh? Roronoa Zoro—the pirate hunter. Famous in the East Blue these past two years. You do have some strength," Kuro admitted.
"So fast…" Zoro muttered, eyes narrowing. He had sensed the killing intent and drawn his swords just in time. A moment slower, and he would have been cut down.
Luffy's expression hardened.
Kuro's speed was terrifying.
Cheng Lang rubbed his eyes. He hadn't even seen the movement—only the clash of steel told him the fight had begun.
In the moonlight, blades gleamed coldly.
"You know," Kuro's voice echoed, "cats are nocturnal animals."
---