CHAPTER 1

MEETING THE STRAW HAT PIRATES

It was one of the few days which was passing calmly for the Straw Hat Pirates. The captain of the crew Monkey D. Luffy was enjoying the nice trip, though was a little depressed for they haven't encountered any new adventures for a long time now. Sometimes you could hear him asking Sanji when the lunch would be served and then whining for the fact that they hadn't recruited a musician in their crew yet.

By this time Nami, the navigator of the ship, would have already finished counting her gold coins and jewels. This was the right time to start working on the map which was presenting the islands they had explored. For that reason not only did she demanded from the crew absolute silence but she also put a fine for the crew mate that would disturb her.

Sanji, at the same time, went straight to work. Today he would cook three different species of fish that swim in the mythical waters of Grand Line, and that were accidentally found by Luffy and Usopp. Of course, as he always did he would honor his fair ladies by preparing a delicious dessert for them.

And here comes Usopp, Going Merry's sniper and prospective warrior of the entire sea. He had finished some repairs needed to be made and then complained to his captain that he wasn't a professional shipwright and they would soon be in need of one, if they don't want to end up without a ship. Then he walked towards his place to invent new "gadgets" that could be useful in a fight.

Behind Usopp was his close friend Tony Tony Chopper, the official talented doctor of the crew. He was experimenting on some new types of medicine, using some newly discovered herbs. That cute reindeer kept doing the best for the health of his precious nakama. Each and every one of them was very special and important to him.

Roronoa Zoro, the former Pirate Hunter and now first mate of the crew, was exercising meticulously with his weights. He, as everyone of his nakama, had a dream to fulfill and so he was doing anything possible and impossible to succeed. Generally, the famous demon cutter was never satisfied with his strength and fighting techniques so he was continuously pushing himself to surpass his limits and become better.

So everything was ordinary and that was the reason why Nico Robin, the archaeologist with specialty in assassinations, was trying desperately to act as usually. Thus she was sitting in her beloved chair on the deck, basking while reading a book and tasting her favorite coffee. Unfortunately, with the charming swordsman in the field of her vision and plenty unanswered questions she wasn't capable of acting normally.

Robin in fact had started getting well with all the crew members acknowledging each one's habit and behavior. However, there was one stubborn boy that would never accept to open himself at her. Adding to that, she had assumed that he was generally isolated and kept things for himself, something that created a very mysterious aura around him. But she wasn't in favour of asking the other crew members about the green haired Kenshi, let alone that she always liked challenges. And this one was very interesting.

First of all, it was sensible to be cautious about her. She was under the command of Crocodile and vice-president of Baroque Works for enough years to be rendered suspicious. Also, sometimes he was acting like her in some situations. She was stunned of his composure and clear thought before a dangerous situation and of course of his dignity and moral standards, despite his young age. Their personalities were very similar so the fact that he was keeping an eye on her wasn't because of her character but rather her mysterious past.

However, while they were fighting Enel in Sky Island happened something that both surprised and confused her. When she was electrocuted by that so-called God the witnesses(aka Nami) claimed that Zoro caught her in order not to fall abruptly in the ground and then he furiously attacked him, though that was pointless. And what about that "She's a woman". She never thought that he could show mercy on an enemy, even if she was a woman. Maybe he was considering that she's a nakama, but actually she hasn't seen any change in his behavior.

At last, she decided to approach him. All the others were very busy so they probably wouldn't interrupt them, should the swordsman have the time and predisposition to talk to her.

"Kenshi-san, I would like to say something to you" said Robin while closing her book and turning her head to face him.

"And what would be that?" Zoro asked somewhat surprised. Robin wasn't talking to him very much and he was a little stressed about the imminent conversation.

"Miss Navigator informed me that you had caught me when Enel electrocuted me, so I would like to thank you" she finally said giving him a warm and grateful smile.

"It's ok" he said bluntly wanting to end the conversation, because he knew it would bring him in difficult position, something that Robin understood but was rather curious and dared to ask…

"And why did you do that. I'm asking because you have made clear that you don't trust me at all"

By this time they could feel the tension that had emerged between them.

"Holy shit! What's her problem? I don't like discussing this stuff" he thought.

"Kenshi-san I suppose that you know the answer. There is always a reason behind every action, right?" she insisted.

"That woman definitely doesn't know when to stop and I'm sure she does it deliberately to get on my nerves" he thought looking away from her because if he saw her smile he would have that strange feeling that he couldn't explain "But as she said there should be a reason for that too. But let it go for now"

Finally he said shrugging "Well, I think that I did it on impulse, just to save a life, and other than that what Enel did to you wasn't a very noble action, rather cowardly".

"I see. You're right Kenshi-san" she said bitterly but then she thought "Robin stop daydreaming, he would never do that because he… What am I thinking? No one would save me because afterwards he would miss me or something". She sigh and then turned to the kitchen as Sanji yelled that the dinner was ready.

"That woman will drive me mad. Why the hell was she sad about my answer? And why the hell she's so sexy? Now that I think about it, it was right to save her. She struggled very hard for our aid and then how could I keep on living without listening to that characteristic 'Kenshi-san'."

"Hey marimo stop daydreaming and come here to eat before Luffy gobbles on you food" Sanji said.

"Ok perverted love cook. Stop screaming"

"How did you just call me? I will dig your head to the…"

"Nooooo! Stop fighting" Usopp said pleadingly "Our favorite ship wouldn't endure another damage by your barbaric techniques"

So both of them stopped and started eating exchanging irritated glances.

"Kenshi-san, you seem very nervous today. I think you should calm down a little" Robin said teasingly.

"Not again" Zoro thought blushing "that woman will definitely drive me mad"

END OF CHAPTER 1