A/N: Ahh, sorry sorry. I've been really busy lately…school started and I have some HARD-ASS classes. So, my parents have been limiting my computer use…and I've also been lazy so… Please forgive me! Hahah so enjoy this segment mmkay? I actually don't like this chapter very much, but it's necessary.
Robin frowned. This wasn't good. This wasn't good at all. Zoro's and Chopper's unsettling news about the marines docking in the island got her worried. Judging by Zoro's panicky tone and wide eyes, she figured that Captain Smoker was the one here; which made things all the worse.
Though she managed a meager glimpse of amusement when she realized that the swordsman's flustered behavior wasn't because of the white-haired, smoke-user, intimidating, large captain rather than the clumsy, blue-haired, sword-bearing, lieutenant.
Ahh Tashigi, if only she knew how much she really affected that man.
All things aside…this was bad news. They had many close encounters with the Marines before and normally they were able to take care of them easily. However, they always had conflicts with Smoker and Tashigi and were barely able to get away from the Devil Fruit User Captain. He was a formidable opponent indeed.
However Robin was still confused. Why would Smoker be on this island? She mused to herself sipping her coffee, tapping her fingers irritably against the table. They must be here for a reason. Hana no Yama wasn't exactly a marine base, more like a tourist retreat.
Robin paused for a moment, imagining Smoker in tourist clothes, sunbathing.
Smiling slightly, she analyzed the situation again. What was so important about Hana no Yama?
"…"
"Robin-chan!" Sanji's voice interrupted her thoughts. Wiping away again signs of frustration on her face, Robin turned to the blonde.
"Yes Cook-san?" She was surprised to see that he was frowning and there was a serious gleam in his eyes.
"That rubber idiot and Vivi-chan still haven't returned…" he started slowly. Robin's grip around her mug tightened. She looked over at Zoro and Chopper.
"Swordsman-san, Doctor-san, did you happen to see Miss Wednesday or Sencho-san while you were in town?" she asked calmly trying to keep a steady tone. Chopper looked back with wide eyes.
"Ehh? Didn't Luffy go to the carnival thingy at the center of the town?" Robin pursed her lips.
"And Vivi-chan followed him…" Sanji finished looking at Robin now. Usopp popped his head from the crow's nest, nails in his mouth and a hammer in his hand.
"Foo u fink Fuffy 'n' Fifi got fcaught by Fomker?" he asked through a muffled tone with the nails in his mouth. Sanji stared at him for a moment before kicking him in the head and yelling,
"IDIOT! DON'T TALK WITH YOUR MOUTH FILLED WITH NAILS!" That of course led to the nails sticking in Usopp's mouth and causing some major, MAJOR pain.
"OW OW BASTARD! THAT HURT! ARE YOU CRAZY OR SOMETHING? DON'T KICK PEOPLE! IT HURTS!"
"WELL THEN DON'T FILL YOUR MOUTH WITH NAILS!"
"I WAS FIXING UP THE CROW'S NEST!"
"WELL THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO STUFF NAILS IN YOUR MOUTH! ARE YOU SOME SORT OF CIRCUS FREAK?!"
"WHY YOU—"
"ENOUGH!" bellowed Zoro glaring at his nakama. Usopp and Sanji both glared and opened their mouths again, but Robin quickly intervened to avoid another screaming contest.
"Please stop, Long-Nose-san, Cook-san," she stated firmly placing her mug on the table and standing up. Sanji immediately obliged, while Usopp turned snorting slightly. Frowning again Robin looked out towards the island dock. Hana no Yama…it seemed normal enough…
"We should go find Sencho-san and Miss Wednesday," she announced climbing down to the deck. Zoro winced slightly, his eye twitching.
"Are you serious?" he demanded. "What about Smoker and…" he trailed off looking away from Robin's serious gaze sheepishly. Usopp choked back laughter at expense of the poor swordsman.
"I do agree," Robin said decisively. "It would be unwise to mess around with the Marines here. Apparently, something is happening on this island. A secret." Robin's eyes glittered with anticipation. This is what she loved. Solving mysteries, finding hidden clues, all leading to more and more history. "Cook-san and Long-Nose-san should go find Sencho-san and Miss Wednesday."
Sanji saluted, while Usopp gaped. Most likely, his captain was at the direct source of the trouble which meant him having to fight. "D-damn…" he moaned burying his face in his hands. Robin turned to smile at Zoro.
"Doctor-san, myself, and Swordsman-san will go and try to discover more about the island." Chopper nodded while Zoro "tched." Ahh well. He didn't want to take any chances in encountering that blue-haired wench.
Robin narrowed her eyes.
She would find out the secret.
The secret of Hana no Yama.
Luffy's head slammed into the ground, making him gasp as the familiar metallic taste of blood filled his mouth. Bouncing back upright, he wiped his bloody mouth with the back of his hand before glaring at his opponent, his dark eyes now in dangerous slits. Smoker stared back unfazed, his grip on Vivi tightening even more.
Enraged, Luffy growled, "Let go of Vivi you bastard!" Smoker raised an eyebrow looking down at the princess.
"You know…" he started slowly, "I don't understand why the princess of Alabasta is running around with some worthless pirates. People would get suspicious, Mugiwara," he finished lazily. Luffy snapped.
"It doesn't matter what sort of stupid title Vivi has! She's nakama!" Saying this, Luffy lunged forward, his fist stretching out for a strike. He stopped suddenly, realizing that Smoker had Vivi with him, and it wouldn't do any good if Smoker turned into…well smoke, leaving Vivi to take the blow. His arm flung back to him. He faced Smoker.
"Why are you here?" They both asked at the same time. Luffy blinked, obviously confused. Smoker growled in frustration. Vivi's eyes widened slightly.
"I thought they came after us!" she pointed out anxiously, remembering she was still at the mercy of a killer Marine captain. Luffy nodded in agreement, his gaze turning questioning. Though Smoker would die before admitting it, there was a somewhat sort of respect between him and Smoker. Luffy had defeated countless dangerous enemies before, and he knew of Smoker's reputation of being both clever and strong. So it was a pretty even match, give both their special abilities.
But on the rare occasions when Luffy was thinking rationally, he'd rather not fight Smoker if given the chance.
Though Luffy had started thinking a whole lot more rationally ever since Nami disappeared…
Smoker snorted. "D'you really think you're THAT important that we'd come all this way just to find you?" he snapped. "Besides—we lost track of you anyways and decided to grab you the next time we met." At this time, Smoker was clutching Vivi's shoulder so hard, his knuckles had turned white. "I never expected to meet up with you guys so soon…and at a place like this…"
Luffy froze. "What do you mean "place like this"?" he demanded angrily, stepping towards Smoker. Smoker looked back at him for a long time before answering.
"I thought you guys were trying to kill yourselves by coming here…"
"Nani?!" Luffy and Vivi exclaimed at the same time. Vivi swerved her head to look up at Smoker. His face was impassive, but there was an odd emotion clouding his dark eyes. She winced at the intensity of his eyes, and swirled her head back to Luffy's comforting question eyes.
"Luffy-san…"she moaned desperately, not really understanding her tone or the dread swelling inside her. Luffy started, looking worriedly at his blue-haired nakama.
"Vivi? Nande—" Smoker interrupted him again, slight urgency in his voice.
"Don't you idiots know?" Vivi and Luffy stared at him rather stupidly, and Smoker growled.
"Baka!" he barked sharply, his eyes flashing even more.
"This island…is a graveyard for any outsiders!"
"YOU'RE MY NAKAMA!"
Mina's eyes flew open, her hand flying to her chest, gasping aloud. She sat up suddenly, panting, looking around the room. Just a dream…she reassured herself, trying to calm herself down and restart her heart. "Just then…" she whispered looking down at her hands, her fingers curling up slightly. "I dreamed of something warm…and sunny…" she sighed closing her eyes as she tried to search for the last fragments of her dream.
She slipped out of bed, breaking out of her trance to realize that she must have had another one of her "episodes". She smacked her head. Noriko must've been terribly worried. Sadness washed over her. The old woman tried so hard for her, but she was just a burden. Just a ghost, living in the remnants of a forgotten past.
Mina blinked back tears.
Her past.
Mina trembled with contained rage. Why couldn't she remember? She remained still for a moment before noticing a slight pain coming from her hand. Looking down, she realized she clutched her fist so hard, that her nails dug into her skin, creating small scratches that started to bleed. Wordlessly, she opened her palm at stared at her bloodied hand.
It's not the first time I hurt myself.
Unconsciously, her other hand flew to grip her shoulder, which had started to throb. This surprised her. She'd never hurt her shoulder before. Her shoulder was also a thing of mystery; it had a tattoo of a pinwheel with a small tangerine on it. How scandalous…a tattoo. It seemed so barbaric.
Mina plopped back on the bed, ignoring the bleeding. Just what kind of person was I before… she wondered to herself. She stared at her wrist. Another remnant of the past. There was a crudely made bracelet ornamenting her wrist. It had small wooden charms, with letters on them.
I
M
A
N
Iman…she thought to herself. Wasn't that a boy's name though? Noriko told her that she'd rearranged the letters to make "Mina" her current name, because she thought "Iman" was too boyish.
Perhaps Iman was someone important to her.
Maybe that guy with the straw-hat knew who Iman was! Mina started up with excitement. She couldn't get that guy out of her mind. She felt like she knew him…the way he'd stared at her! Hungrily, desperately. Maybe he knew of her past.
Mina felt a little beacon of hope. This straw-hat was the key. She had to find him again. However depression filled her again. The last time she saw him, she'd told him to stay away from her. He was a pirate and that prospect had frightened. She'd only heard of pirates, and being the small town girl she was, she never had many encounters with them.
Still…even if he was a pirate, he seemed to had known her pretty well. It may have been a mere coincidence—maybe she just looked like this Nami character.
But he looked at her like he knew her.
Like he knew everything.
"But I'm NOT a pirate!" she whispered furiously to herself. She wasn't…
Mina sighed. Maybe this was a little to much to take in. She got up and walked outside her room, planning to bandage her hand.
"Who are you Iman?"
Golden eyes appraised the ship distastefully. It was so…small. The large bald man walked towards the Going Merry, his hand fingering his dagger. He had a large black cloak wrapped tightly around him. He kept his ears open for any sounds coming from the ship, but it seemed quiet.
He glared at the sullen girl behind him. "You said that their ship was here," he snapped in a low rumbling voice. "Danza-sama will not be pleased." The girl scowled, pulling at her dark red hair, her blue eyes flashing.
"I told you, this is where their ship is. I have no idea where they could be. I'm not a mind reader," she hissed back, furious. The bald man snarled.
"Listen girl—"
"My name is Jun if you don't mind!" The bald man looked as if he could care less. Yellow eyes figured the ship.
"They probably go explore the island. Or run from Marines," he suggested to himself, keeping his hand on his dagger. "We should go find them," he announced more loudly so that Jun could hear him. "Bring them to Sencho-san. Maybe," he smirked delightfully. "I could have a little fun with them first?" he unsheathed his dagger, admiring the sharp glint in the sun.
Jun shivered.
She hated this. But she was being blackmailed. She didn't want her shop to burn, or her family to be hurt. It was all that Danza bastard's fault.
"Besides…" she whispered quietly holding her arm to herself. "Mina-chan needs to be safe…"
She didn't know where she was. All she knew was that she was in darkness. And that she had been here for a very long time. It got her depressed. She wanted to get out! She wanted to find her loved ones! She wanted to live!
But where was she now? A pawn in some sort of game? Whatever happened, she'd never know the truth unless she did something. They were holding her captive, with other people too. Others that had lost hope a long time ago. She could feel them around her, empty shells that never spoke to her. They were alive, but they all died inside a long time ago. No hope…She was alone even though people surrounded her. But it was like a place without people, without feeling.
She didn't want to be like that.
She knew that maybe perhaps a while ago she would've lost hope. But something—more specifically someone taught her to believe there was always light, no matter how small, in the darkest of places.
She just had to wait for her light.
And she would wait.
But the darkness wanted her; it craved her, wanting her to cave in.
If her light didn't come soon, the darkness would soon overcome her, take her away forever, unable to regain her hope.
Lieutenant Tashigi frowned. Smoker-san had been gone for a long time, and he had told her to stay on the ship, but she was worried. She didn't really want to be here, at this infamous Hana no Yama. Of course the information about this island wasn't public—it was supposedly a legend, not a tourist attraction.
She sighed. When would justice ever come? It seemed that no one was telling the truth anymore, there always had to be lies. If there was anything Tashigi hated more than anything, it was lies.
Lies made her think about a certain green-haired swordsman and how he had lied to her. It really pissed her off, that guy! He wouldn't even kill her…because she was a woman. Having the same face as his childhood friend…she thought bitterly to herself clenching her teeth. Who'd he think he was?
Tashigi couldn't deny that he was a master at swordsmanship. She paled in comparison, and with her added clumsiness, it seemed like she was a hopeless case. But, she had been training these past years, in motivation to beat Roronoa Zoro, and she had gotten quite good.
But not good enough…
A glint caught her eye, and she turned herself slightly. She was taken aback. A rather large bald man with unusual yellow eyes, was fondly holding a dagger, and behind him was a grouchy young girl about her age, with dark red hair and deep blue eyes. She didn't know why, but a heavy feeling of suspicion and danger lay in her when she looked at the pair.
Tashigi bit her lip. They might be up to something, she was good at sensing these things. Should she follow…? She really didn't want to disobey Smoker-san's orders, but these people looked dangerous. At least, the man looked dangerous. The girl looked as if she was holding a very important secret and didn't feel like sharing.
Tashigi sat there, looking from the ship at the docks where the pair stood. Her gaze wandered around, meandering away from the girl and man and looking out to sea. She froze then, every nerve in her body tingling.
There stood a ship. Not any ordinary ship. The ship of the Mugiwara Pirates.
The ship that Roronoa Zoro was on.
That meant that he…was on this island!
Tashigi jumped up, her decision made. She dashed off the ship her eyes narrowed, following the pair as they began to walk into the crowd.
"Look out Roronoa, 'because here I come!" she whispered viciously.
A/N: Ha! Felt like stopping there. Have I unveiled enough suspense for you guys yet? Ehehehe So I'm thinking I might need a beta-reader…someone to keep me on top of things and make sure I start updating regularly. It's been…ehh two months? Yeah not that bad…not…that…bad…
ANYWAYS—have you guys seen the new One Piece? The dub? Pshh it's a heck of a lot better than the 4kids crap I had to deal with. The voice actors are much better, still kinda disappointed with Luffy's. OH WELL:D
Also also. I am a bit peeved with some guys. I'm ecstatic that you guys like my little story so much you favorite it and alert it! I'm touched really! But what I really want are reviews…to kinda get how you like the story. It really bothers me when people favorite and alert without giving your insight on the story. So please please review okay? Well that's pretty much it. I'm still very open to ideas and suggestions—don't be shy!
Dark-chan