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"Chopper!!! You're okay!"
The moment Kaito and the others came into view, Luffy shot out from cover like a cannonball.
"Luffy!!!"
Chopper scrambled toward him on his short legs and the two crashed into each other.
While they were busy being loud about it, Zoro and Sanji kept their eyes fixed on Kaito, something quiet and watchful settling into both their expressions.
"Oi, Luffy. We've got company."
That got everyone's attention.
"Right, right! Sorry about that. Um — who are you?"
Chopper, remembering himself, jumped in.
"Oh! Let me introduce them! This is Tina, and this is Kaito. As for what they actually do, I kind of... didn't get to ask."
A vein twitched at Kaito's temple.
'Names. Just the names.'
"I own the camp back there. And this is my little sister, Tina."
Nami and Vivi looked at Tina. Whatever they were planning to say next evaporated.
"Kawaii!!! Come here, come here!"
Nami swept Tina off her feet and started pressing her cheek against hers over and over.
"Mmm! Mmm! Kaito-nii, help!"
Kaito looked at Nami.
"...You going to let go of her?"
"Oh! Sorry, sorry! I couldn't help it, she's just too cute!"
Nami finally let go, though she looked like it cost her something.
Sanji straightened up. "Setting that aside — what are you two doing out here in the desert?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Kaito tilted his head slightly. "You did send Chopper to spy on us."
The Straw Hats went quiet.
They had, in fact, done exactly that. Nobody had a good response to it being said out loud.
"Well. I don't have any bad intentions toward you. If you want, you can stay the night at our camp."
"Really?! You're such a good person!"
Luffy's face broke into a full grin. Kaito waved a hand and started walking back.
"Come on."
Vivi followed with the rest, but her eyes stayed on Kaito's back the whole way.
"Kaito-sama! Welcome back!"
A Security Force member appeared out of nowhere beside them and snapped to attention.
"Keep at it."
"Yes, sir!"
It was over in two seconds. But Luffy and Zoro both felt it — the way the man had simply been there before either of them had registered any presence at all.
If he'd wanted to, none of them would have had time to react.
The easy feeling they'd had walking in went somewhere else.
"What's with the faces?"
Kaito glanced back at them, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
"N-nothing!"
Nami got her hand over Luffy's mouth just in time and smiled.
"Heh heh, good."
The deeper they went, the harder it became to stay quiet.
"Wow!!! They even have streetlights out here! How does that work?!"
"Luffy! People are sleeping!"
Vivi said nothing. She just looked. As the princess of Alabasta, she knew this desert better than anyone — just surviving in it took everything most people had. And yet here were paved roads, lit streets, potted plants growing along the paths. She couldn't begin to explain it.
"This villa's yours for the night."
Kaito stopped in front of one of the houses.
"Wow!!! It's gorgeous!"
"Stop standing there and get inside. I need water before I die."
They went in. The hall was bright and comfortably furnished, which got another round of impressed noises from everyone — right up until they noticed the figure standing quietly behind the sofa.
Not Kaito. The woman in the maid uniform.
Sanji's eyes went full hearts. He was already moving before his brain had voted on it.
"What a beautiful lady! Would you allow me to—"
Nami's hand closed around his collar.
"Sanji! I'm so sorry, he's not usually— well, he is, but he doesn't mean anything by it!"
She shoved his head into a bow.
Kaito looked at him for a moment. "Don't let it happen again."
"I'm sorry. I truly am. Please forgive me."
Sanji didn't put up a fight. He knew what he'd done.
"Forget it."
Kaito settled onto the sofa and let his gaze drift to the blue-haired girl across the room.
"You're Nefertari Vivi. Princess of Alabasta."
The room erupted. Everyone was on their feet except Vivi, who looked back at him and didn't move.
"Yes. That's right. And I'm guessing you're not from Alabasta."
"Clap, clap, clap."
Kaito brought his hands together slowly.
"Not even close. We're here on holiday, actually."
Silence.
They had thought of a lot of reasons he might be here. That was not one of them.
"...A holiday." Vivi kept her voice even. "Mr. Kaito, our country is at war."
"I know. But as long as it stays out of our way, why would I care how hard you all fight each other?"
He smiled a little and leaned forward.
"Princess Vivi. What do you say — want to make a deal?"
Every pair of eyes in the room locked onto the two of them.
"What kind of deal?"
Vivi didn't look away.
"I want you..."