CHAPTER 1

The sky was dark. It was darker than the bottom of the sea. Ominous clouds were accumulating threateningly. It was going to rain.

But she didn't mind.

The piercing cold was causing her bare skin to ache. It was November. The earth around her was barren and the trees almost lifeless, just bearing a few last leaves ready to be carried away by the merciless wind.

But the young girl just stood in front of her friend's grave silently. Only her calm breathing could be heard. So serene and yet grandiose was the atmosphere.

"Why life is so cruel? How can a girl so strong, lively and full of determination and dreams for the future end up like this, in such an early age?"

A tear trickled down on her gentle face. She still couldn't believe it. She couldn't conceive that it happened.

"Just a stupid accident was enough to take her life away? I'm a wanted woman for thirteen years and I have somehow survived, and she died because of an accident? Life is a bitch! Everyone says that I'm a devil. I have started believing it myself. Why should an angel die? Why she and not me?"

She couldn't help it anymore. She had kneeled down on the cold and wet ground, and started crying incessantly, for the tenth time since she received the letter with the bad news that Sensei had sent to her, a month ago.

"My best friend has died. The only girl in this world that trusted me before knowing me well, that hugged me without fearing that I'll hurt her, that taught me along with him to believe in me and my dreams, even if they didn't know my dream"

After her sobs had ceased, she wiped carefully her tears and laid a bunch of flowers on the gravestone. Some of them were purple lilies and some of them blue flowers.

"I'm so sorry that I have to leave again, but I can't risk to stay here for longer. If I meet them again it'll be more painful to turn my back on them for once more. This is possibly the last time that I'm here, so I want you to know, finally, who I truly am"

"I'm Nico Robin and my dream is to find the True History"

She said sternly but before leaving she gave a bitter smile.

"I'll never forget you, Kuina"

It had started raining.


For the past seven years, whenever it would rain, she would stand in front of a window and would gaze the moody weather, while reminiscing the last time that she had been in front of the poor girl's grave, at Shimotsuki Village.

However, here in Alabasta it hadn't been raining for the last two years. She had missed the sound of the raindrops on her window.

Robin looked at Alubarna's Clocktower. The time had passed and she had to take care of some jobs in Whiskey Peak. She put on her purple cowboy hat that matched her clothes and headed towards her next destination.

"One step closer to my dreams or one step closer to my death"

Hi! So this is my new story. I would really appreciate it if you tell me your opinion on that.

Thanks for reading!