AN:Thanks to everyone who reviewed! ^-^ I'm glad you know you guys like it so far. I will warn again though that there's some dark stuff (I'll try not to get to specific) ahead, I just don't want anyone coming after me when they realize what's going to happen. xD

I do not own One Piece, (though I wish I did!) so please don't attempt to sue me. I haven't got anything anyway. :P

Brook looked up at the darkening sky. "Miss Robin, Chopper-san…It's starting to become late."

The archeologist and doctor turned back to look at him, surprised. The two had been standing outside a used book store trying to decide whether to go in or not. Robin looked up as well. "It appears so." She murmured softly.

Smiling she turned back to her nakama. "We can always come back tomorrow, ne? Let's go back for tonight."

Chopper gave one last look of longing at the book store before trotting away, followed by the two dark haired pirates. Their crew had landed on the small island earlier that day and it had been decided, by Nami, that Sanji and Usopp would look for food, Franky would guard, while she, Zoro, and Luffy would take a look around. Robin, Chopper, and Brook were free to do as they liked, since they hadn't made her angry that day, and so the three had decided to do some exploring of their own.

They had come a bit further than the archeologist had realized though. The town they had docked in wasn't hugely populated, but it was situated in a long valley and consequently was several miles from end to end. In their unplanned exploration they had gone at least three quarters through the valley and now the sea, and their ship, was far off.

Silently chastising herself for not paying attention Robin led her companions onward, listening to the oldest and youngest members of their crew chat cheerfully about inconsequential things.

It was a little less than half an hour later when they ran into trouble. By this time the sun was just about to set and the bars were beginning to fill up with the citizens of the town. As one particular tavern filled with its regulars a certain pirate captain and part of his crew left it, not wanting to deal with the crowds.

These two separate groups met at a cross roads, and while the Strawhat's would have continued on without a problem the drunken shouting from the other group made them pause. Or rather, it made Robin pause, since they were yelling specifically at her.

"You!!" The captain shouted, pointing one finger at the startled archeologist. "You goddamn bitch!!!"

Chopper and Brook, also stunned, stared at the approaching quartet. "Robin? Do you…know those guys?" Chopper's voice was quiet and a little panicked as he looked up at her. Uncertainly she shook her head. "Not…that I know of." The short man in the lead looked vaguely familiar but…

"I thought you died years ago!! You would deserve it you filthy demon!!"

By now the drunken pirates were much closer. Chopper shifted into his more human form and Brook's hand was on the handle of his sword, looking for all the world like he was only clutching his cane.

The dark haired woman's eyes narrowed and she held out her hand in a stopping motion. "Just a moment please…" She said quietly. Not looking very happy about it the two males with her paused to let her speak.

"Do I know you?" She said in a cool voice.

The leader of the other pirates began cursing at her violently but they didn't move any closer. "You fucking bitch!! Yes, you damn well know me!!!"

Robin raised one thin eyebrow, not allowing any anger to show on her face as the drunk continued yelling at her. "Captain…Captain…" The pirate began sobbing and the second man, she assumed it was the first mate, took up where he had left off. "Our former captain…Sir Janno Tilberg, you remember him don't you?"

The pirates glared at her hatefully but she only nodded slowly. "I remember now…" She murmured to her nakama. Raising her voice the archeologist spoke to the drunkards. "I thought you had all been caught and killed."

The short captain's only reply was a sob followed by more cursing.

"Who are they Robin?" Chopper hadn't moved from his spot, just as she had asked of him, but he was watching the others carefully, ready just in case they started a fight.

"About twelve years ago I was on Captain Tilberg's ship…" The dark haired historian crossed her arms across her chest, her eyes not leaving the group of men before her. "We were attacked by marines and I had assumed they were all taken to jail or executed."

Hearing her casual dismissal of, what they perceived, the problem she had created the pirates began muttering angrily amongst themselves. "Don't act innocent you bitch!!" The drunken captain raised his head to shout at her again. "It was your fault we were attacked to begin with!! And then you ran away-"

She cut him off, her voice cool again. "As pirates you always run the risk of being attacked…and obviously running was the right choice. You would have handed me over to save your own skins." Robin deliberately turned her back on them to look at her nakama. "Shall we continue? The others will start to worry about us soon."

Captain Frendin, (Captain Tilberg's former first mate) continued to scream at her but she paid it no mind. Brook looked back and forth between the drunken pirates and the beautiful woman. "Are you sure Miss Robin?" He said quietly. "Won't they…try something…?"

She started walking again and her companion's had no choice but to follow, continuing to throw wary looks at the group of pirates they were leaving behind.

"It will be fine Brook-san…" She smiled at them reassuringly. "They're cowards." The two males with her nodded, but neither seemed convinced. After several moments though, with no sign of pursuit, the doctor and musician began relaxing.

Robin continued to walk down the dirty street, following it back to their ship, and though the others kept pace with her they would occasionally look at each other helplessly. The encounter had obviously ruined the archeologist's mood and neither knew what to say to her.

It was an unspoken rule on the ship that they not ask about her past, knowing it was painful for her…This was the first time, that Brook had witnessed at least, a piece of that past had come back to haunt her.

So the three continued on in an uncomfortable silence until, barely a block away from the harbor she spoke again.

"Let's not mention that encounter to the others."

"Eh?" Both males looked at her but she only smiled at them…using the fake smile she hadn't bothered with in so long. "Nothing happened and I wouldn't want our captain to go out and start a fight."

Brook nodded hesitantly and she turned her attention to the little doctor. "Chopper-kun?" She said softly. "Let's not cause trouble if we can avoid it."

Sighing he nodded as well…though he still didn't agree. Robin's reasoning was sound, of course, but he didn't like the idea of leaving someone who hated her out there without even…Well, he didn't know. It wasn't like he wanted them to die or anything. But he just couldn't shake the feeling that it was unwise to turn their backs on an enemy.

"Brook-san?"

The skeleton looked down at her as she smiled up at him. "It's become a little gloomy around here…would you mind playing a song for us?"

He agreed enthusiastically. Whenever he was down singing was just the thing and it made him ecstatic that the quiet woman had suggested it, unaware that she had done so solely to cheer them up.

Pulling out his beloved violin the musician began playing as they walked and by the time they had returned to the ship the soft music had relaxed them all.

Pushing the unpleasant memories away Robin followed her nakama onto the deck, to be met by a cheerful Luffy, Usopp, and Franky.

"Au!!" The blue haired man posed as he looked at them. "Did you guys have a Super time~?"

The doctor and musician shared another look but she nodded without hesitation. "Maybe tomorrow Nami-chan will let you go out too." She smiled as the cyborg groaned. "I didn't do anything…" While he pouted on the ground the two teenage boys had grabbed up Chopper and had begun to dance. "We're getting a special meal tonight~!!" Usopp sang. "Sanji and I found some great stuff!!"

The small reindeer, completely forgetting the other pirates he had met began cheering with the sniper and captain. "Yahoo~!!!"

Smiling genuinely now the archeologist shook her head at them and excused herself to go to her room…She would have time later to think about what had happened…

AN: I'm going to try and keep the chapters small to moderately sized in this story (ignoring the freaking huge prologue. :P) and I'm going to try to keep it from being to long. I can't even begin to guess how long it will end up, but I can guarantee it will not be 50 chapters. xD (49 maybe but...Eek! I'm kidding, I'm kidding!!!) Please review and let me know if you think I'm keeping them in character. I've never tried to write Brook before, and Luffy and Zoro are especially hard for me. x_x

Oh, and thanks for wishing me a happy birthday!! I'm an old lady now. :P