Riley walked out of The Tipsy Trickster with a map in her hands and Kiri wrapped around her shoulders.

Riley and Kiri had decided to go exploring with Robin and Chopper. Chopper had insisted on visiting a bookstore and perusing their wares while Robin had simply been interested in sightseeing and shopping. At first, Riley had felt the same but then they'd walked by the pub...

Riley hadn't been able to resist the laughter echoing out of the quaint building. Pubs and restaurants always held a plethora of people and were overflowing with stories. They were Riley's heaven.

Chopper had wanted to go in with her to make sure she would be safe but Riley had argued. After all, she knew how badly Chopper wanted new medical books. While she would have enjoyed their company she didn't think it was fair to spend all of their time doing what she wanted. In the end, with Kiri's reassurance and Robin's trust, she'd managed to convince Chopper that they should split ways and meet back at the ship in a few hours.

Riley had learned quite a bit in the couple of hours she'd spent inside The Tipsy Trickster.

At first she'd been disappointed when she'd realized that the pub mainly catered to the shipwrights on the island but she soon found out that there was no one better to tell her about Water 7 then it's shipwrights.

It seemed that these men, all from the Galley-La Company, were Water 7's heroes, protectors, and prominent source of revenue. And Galley-La was owned by the mayor and master shipwright, Iceburg. The same man Kokoro had sent them to meet. It seemed luck was on their side this time.

Riley also learned about the bounty hunter scavengers named The Franky Family. She'd have to keep an eye out for them and warn the others as well. But she wasn't in a hurry to do so. After all, from what she heard, they weren't that big of a threat.

Well at least the Family wasn't. Franky, on the other hand, seemed to be a different matter.

She wasn't sure what was so special about him and was growing frustrated with the lack of detail.

All the Galley-La shipwrights took their job very seriously and only seemed to come to the pub during their lunch breaks. Which meant that just as Riley had convinced one to reveal a little more, he suddenly had to go back to work.

It was frustrating so Riley had just asked the bartender for a map of the city, talked her way into one of the shipwright's pointing out Galley-La Company Headquarters and the Franky Family residence and then walked out.

Riley opened the map and studied it. She could let her curiosity guide her to the Franky House so that she could learn more about them. Or she could try to find Nami and lead her and the others to where Iceburg was probably staying.

"Riley!"

Riley head shot up in surprise at the shout.

She saw Chopper begin to trot towards her.

"Hey Chopper. What is it?" Riley asked, noting the worried expression on Chopper's face.

"Have you seen Robin?"

"Wasn't she with you?"

Chopper looked around, brown eyes troubled. "She was but then she suddenly disappeared. I thought maybe she'd come back here."

Riley shook her head. "I haven't seen her." She rested her hand on his back and smiled reassuringly. "But we'll find her."

"You've got a great nose, after all." Riley grinned when Chopper didn't seem to believe her.

"Right!" Chopper nodded before dropping his head to the floor and searching for Robin's scent determinedly.

Riley followed Chopper as he wandered back the way he'd come.

He twisted and turned down some of the residential streets, nose still glued to the floor.

Worry began to gnaw at Riley the further away they went from the market. What could have led Robin this far? There wasn't anything here and it was in the opposite direction of the Franky House so it wasn't the bounty hunters.

"Robin was right there." she heard Chopper mumble to himself as he kept searching. "Right there. Where could she have gone?"

Suddenly his head snapped up towards a bridge, eyes narrowed in concentration. "This way."

Riley followed him across before Chopper stopped again. "I know this smell." he told her in surprise before leading her around the building. "I thought so."

"Sanji?" Riley asked in surprise when they found him sitting at the end of the street, seeming to be in heavy contemplation.

Sanji turned towards them, eyes wide as he stared at Chopper. "Speak of the devil." his eyes turned towards Riley and she swore she could see hearts appear. "Riley! My sweet!"

"Have you seen Robin?" Riley asked, knowing it was always best to halt Sanji's flattery as soon as possible.

"Yeah," his smile faded into a frown. "I did."

"The Merry's in trouble and Robin is still missing." Sanji's shoulders slumped. "I'm worried about both of them."

Riley clutched Kiri to her chest while he lay curled in her arms and looked at the battered mast.

The Going Merry would never sail again.

"A ship's wounds just pile on" Zoro had said in his frustratingly calm voice.

But he was right.

Wherever Riley looked there was another bruise on the Merry.

Riley looked down at the loose floorboards with a sad sigh.

"Hey! Guys!"

Chopper shot to his feet and looked over the railing towards Water 7. "It's Nami and she's alone."

Riley walked towards them and frowned as she saw Nami walking towards them.

"That's weird." Sanji murmured. "I wonder what happened to Luffy and Usopp."

"Is she ok?" Riley asked, noting Nami's downcast demeanor.

"Hi Nami!" Sanji waved at her. "Is everything alright?"

Nami shook her head vigorously.

Sanji jumped off the ship and helped Nami on board. "What's wrong Nami?"

"Usopp..." Nami bit back a sob.

Nami grit her teeth and told them what had happened.

She said the Franky Family had kidnapped their friend, beating him bloody and leaving him at the side of the street while they stole the money he had been protecting.

Chopper had run to his room and gathered as much of his medical equipment as he could while Sanji had told Nami about Robin.

Riley had let Nami write on her map where she had found Usopp, declaring that she would remain on the Going Merry to wait for Robin and protect the remainder of their money.

"You should stay with her." Sanji suggested.

Riley played with one of her blades and gave him a look.

Zoro smirked.

"I'm ready." Chopper announced.

Riley nodded and followed Sanji as he led the way back to Water 7 and their bleeding friend.

Chopper tended to Usopp while the others waited among the wreckage of the Franky House and it's Family.

Kiri helped Chopper lift Usopp and turn him gently so that Chopper could bandage him.

His wounds were great but luckily not as severe as Chopper had originally feared.

Usopp was strong, after all. He could handle a little pain. And soon he'd be better.

The others talked about what to do next, but Chopper didn't really care.

As long as everyone was alright they'd figure something out. Wouldn't they?

Chopper sighed and rose to his feet. "Ok!" He yelled at the others. "The first aide treatment is done. Now we should take him back to the ship."

Riley was the first to make her way towards them. "You alright to carry Usopp all the way to the Merry?" Riley asked Kiri who still held Usopp.

I will keep the Warrior safe.

Riley smiled. "Warrior, huh?"

Kiri simply began to drift away, without bothering to respond to her.

"Is he going to be ok?" Riley asked Chopper while they followed Kiri.

Chopper nodded. "Yes."

Riley sighed. "Good."

They reached the Merry before long, the journey spent in silence.

What could any of them say?

Usopp was going to be alright and they'd dealt with the Franky Family, which was great, but...

Robin was still missing. Usopp was still unconscious. And they were going to have to leave the Merry soon.

Chopper loved the Going Merry. She was the first ship he had ever been on. She was his home. A home he had chosen for himself, a home that represented freedom and adventure. He'd helped tend to her wounds the same way he had to everyone else's.

Now they were going to part ways. Forever.

Chopper shook away his tears and concentrated on Usopp. His patient still needed him.

But... How would Usopp react when he found out about the Merry?

Chopper was afraid Usopp would blame himself. But it wasn't his fault. It wasn't anyone's fault.

Kiri watched the fight between The Captain and The Warrior.

The Long Nosed Idiot wasn't strong nor was he overly brave. Yet Kiri knew he was a warrior.

The Music sings, the Shield protects, the Captain leads, and the Warrior fights.

No, he wasn't brave or strong or smart. But he was clever and stubborn and willing to shake with fear while he held his weapon steady.

The Warrior was a liar and a coward. The Warrior had betrayed his crew. The Warrior had insulted his honorable Captain and broken the Wind's uncatchable trust and the Sun's glowing heart.

But he was a Warrior.

He knew they would heal. The wounds were deep and the scar would remain but it would fade like all scars are meant to.

The Warrior knew the Crew would heal.

Just like he knew Home was dying. Just like he realized Home's scars would never heal.

The Warrior wasn't fighting against the Crew but against the inevitable lose of Home. He was fighting against the pain and would continue to do so until nothing but a board remained.

The Captain was a warrior too, but he was more. He was The Captain. He accepted his defeat in the battle because it wasn't just him fighting and he understood that. He understood that losing a battle, even one this grave, would not be their defeat.

The Warrior betrayed the Crew so he could stand on the battlefield alone. A battlefield of his choosing but a battle he knew he could never win. The Warrior would fight every lose, fearing defeat more then any battle he could imagine.

The Warrior knew the Captain. Knew him well enough to be worthy in battle. But the outcome was predictable.

Kiri watched the Captain defeat the Warrior. Watched, the Warrior crumble and bleed while the Captain walked away.

The Sun cried and tried to go to the Warrior but the Earth stopped him. A Warrior does not accept pity, the Earth reminded him.

The Captain paused and revealed some of the pain he carried on his shoulders.

The Shield spoke.

The Wind wept but stayed frozen in place. The Sun raced to the Warrior to help but not to heal. The Music had tears in her eyes and her song went silent in agony.

The Captain let his sadness flow, slowly accepting this new pain.

When it had dulled, the Captain straightened and let his burden settle into place.

Kiri knew the Crew's wounds were deep. But they would heal. In time.

But he had to wonder what would happen to the Warrior. Would he heal after the defeat that awaited him? Would the Warrior even want to continue fighting?

"So this is where you've been." Sanji drawled as he came out onto the roof. "We went to all the trouble of renting a room and no one is using it. I guess no one could sleep, huh?"

Everyone stayed silent.

Sanji was right. No on had slept.

Luffy remained slumped on top of a neighboring roof, brooding while he watched the distant sea.

Chopper had paced the length of the their roof, sat in a corner, and then returned to his pacing unable to hide his restlessness.

Riley stayed silently perched on the railing all night with Kiri curled on her lap, staring but not really seeing her surroundings.

And Zoro simply sat beside the bell, waiting.

When they had arrived, Sanji had vanished and Nami had tried to coax them all inside.

They'd all taken their current positions and ignored her.

Nami had gone downstairs to the sleep but Zoro had seen the weariness in her eyes this morning when she'd come to check on them. She hadn't slept either, he was certain.

"And where's Luffy?" Sanji asked Chopper.

Chopper turned to their Captain's roof. "Over there."

Sanji nodded and walked towards Riley, leaning on the railing beside her.

"Are you alright?" Sanji asked Riley.

She gave a sharp bob of her head as her only reply.

"So," Chopper asked, bringing Sanji's attention back to him, "where were you?"

"I kept look out at the rocky cape all night." Sanji told him. He took out a cigarette and pressed it between his lips, "I wanted to be there in case Robin came back."

"Oh." Chopper replied while Sanji lit his smoke.

"She never said anything about leaving. I wonder where she went." Sanji frowned thoughtfully.

"Ever since we got to this island it's been one bad thing after another." Chopper observed morosely. "Our money was stolen, then there's everything that happened to poor Usopp. He's injured. He could barely even stand up. And by now, on top of everything else, he's probably got a fever."

"Chopper." Zoro interrupted their Doctor's well meaning worry. "That's enough, ok. Don't talk about him anymore."

Usopp was no longer part of their crew. Talking about him would simply cause them unnecessary pain.

He'd seen Luffy tense when Chopper had mentioned his name and Riley's shoulders had slumped when they'd been reminded of his injuries.

Usopp had been their friend so it was only natural for them to worry.

But he was no longer crew and trying to forget him was the best thing for all of them to do.

Sanji turned and looked out at the city. "I think I'll try looking for her in town today."

"Do you think we're going to find her?" Chopper asked shakily.

"Who knows." Sanji sighed. "It's not as if I have any place specific in mind to check out. I just feel certain that she's still here, somewhere."

Riley turned towards Sanji. "Then what's keeping her away?"

Sanji looked at her. "If anything should happen we should use this inn as our meet up point."

"I want to help!" Chopper announced. "I'm going to come too."

"Kiri and I will check from the sky." Riley offered, voice soft from disuse. "We'll search the streets from the roofs."

"Be careful." Sanji insisted.

Riley turned around and dropped off the railing, Kiri floating to the ground beside her. She smiled at Sanji. Not her usual grin but a real smile at least. "Of course."

Sanji grinned at her widely in response.

"Luffy!" Nami yelled, slamming open the roof's door.

"Nami!" Sanji shouted in surprise. "What's wrong?"

"It's awful," she told them, breathing heavily. "The whole city is talking about it!"

"Luffy, listen to me!" Nami shouted at their captain. "Last night, something terrible happened to Iceburg!"

Luffy looked over his shoulder at Nami. "Ice-pops from the shipyard?"

"Yes." Nami nodded, hurrying to the railing and leaning towards him. "I've heard he's still unconscious."

"I thought everyone in this entire city loved that guy." they heard Luffy say to himself. "Why him?"

"Who are you talking about?" Sanji asked, just as confused as the rest of them.

"He's the nice man who helped us out so much yesterday." Nami told them. "The president of the shipbuilding company as well as the mayor of Water 7."

"The shipwrights at the pub yesterday said he was Water 7's hero." Riley added.

"Sounds like an important guy." Sanji noted.

"Yeah." Nami agreed. "It's pretty much the worst thing that could've happened to this town."

Luffy stood up. "I'll go check on him." he announced before jumping off the roof.

"Luffy, hold on!" Nami shouted, racing towards the door. "I'm coming too!"

"On that note, let's go look for Robin." Sanji decided.

He turned towards Riley again.

"We'll meet back here." She told him.

Sanji nodded and began to walk towards the door. "Come on, Chopper."

He stopped beside Zoro. "What about you?"

"Well," Zoro sighed and folded his arms behind his head. "I think I'll just wait a while and see how things turn out."

Sanji simply resumed walking towards the door, Chopper close behind.

Zoro turned towards Riley as the door closed behind Chopper. She was just staring at him, head tilted slightly to the side as she studied him.

"Aren't you going to go look for Robin too?" Zoro asked.

She nodded. "I will."

Still, she remained. Her gaze locked on him.

She was assessing him. Her head always tilted when she was contemplating her opponent. He'd been privy to that look countless times before during their sparring matches.

Zoro closed his eyes. He couldn't rush her, he knew. Riley would reach her decision when she reached it and react accordingly.

"You don't trust her." Riley stated, sooner then he'd expected.

Zoro opened his eyes. "She was once our enemy." he replied honestly.

"And yet you still fought for her against a Marine Admiral."

"She's crew." he answered again.

Robin had proven herself to be trustworthy since joining their crew, but that didn't mean that Zoro would forget how they had met in the first place. It didn't matter that the rest of the crew had accepted her so easily, Zoro believed he would always have some reservations when it came to her. Nonetheless, Luffy had accepted Robin and Zoro trusted Luffy.

"Finding her will give us more answers then waiting will."

"Sometimes we're not meant to find any answers at all." He replied. "Which would make your effort pointless."

"What if waiting brings you trouble instead of answers?" Riley argued.

He smirked. "What makes you think trouble isn't the answer?"

Riley shook her head with a smile. "Have it your way then."

She walked back towards the railing and hopped on. Riley looked at him over her shoulder while she stood at the edge precariously, Kiri causing her red strands to sway as he breezed around her head. "I prefer choosing my own fate."

Zoro watched as she jumped off and on to a floating Kiri.

"Can't fight fate." He murmured to her fading form.

Riley groaned as she rose to her feet unsteadily.

That damn Catman had hurled her clear across the city and onto one of the backstreet's roofs.

She took a deep breath and yanked out the shard in her side before wrapping it up with her jacket. Riley began to make her way back towards the Galley-La Company, seeing the smoke from even this distance.

She couldn't believe they'd gotten the better of her. Sure, the woman she'd fought had been quick and fierce with her slashing kicks but all she'd done was leave Riley with a couple of bruises, nothing more.

The Catman, on the other hand, was the one who threw her through the damn window and imbedded the piece of glass into her side. She didn't understand how he could be so touchy. All she'd done was climb on his shoulders and tried to slit his throat.

He was an assassin. He should be used to that type of thing. Especially when it was a justified retaliation for harming her friends.

Riley kept her gaze locked onto the smoke, fighting against the strong wind that had formed.

She didn't know what was going on. She didn't understand how Robin could be their friend one moment and frame them for murder the next.

Zoro had made it clear that she shouldn't be trusted, but Luffy had refused to believe that. Even when Robin herself admitted that her goal was more important then them. Luffy still wouldn't believe her.

Riley didn't want to believe it either. But it was hard to argue with what had happened. All she knew was that she had to get back to the others. They'd figure out the rest later.

"Rrrraa!"

Riley paused as a large screeching bundle rushed past her.

She looked behind her. A frown furrowed her brow as she studied the gray cloud stuck to a nearby pole.

Was that soot or smoke? Why would either be sticking to an antenna of a random house?

The gray cloud screeched again.

She narrowed her eyes. Wait a second... Is that...?

Riley gasped and raced towards the pole as fast as the slippery ceilings would allow.

"MEOW!"

The gray bundle meowed before its hold on the pole slipped and the wind dragged him back.

Riley ran after him, no longer caring about her footing.

The bundle was Kiri. Kiri in his wind form. Kiri in his wind form during a storm.

"And you call me an idiot." Riley grunted between leaps.

She was worried about Kiri but if... when... she managed to catch him she was going to shave off all his fur and completely cut cream from his diet.

Zoro held onto Chopper's throat as Luffy and Riley laughed.

It'd been bad enough when Chopper and Riley had found him stuck head first in the chimney, but their laughter simply completed the humiliation.

"Zoro, you dope!" Luffy spoke breathlessly between laughs, "I couldn't be that lame if I tried."

Nami grabbed Luffy's face. "Don't forget you did the same thing, twice!" Nami yelled angrily at him. She turned towards Zoro and Riley. "You're all dopes, ok!"

Riley blushed. Zoro looked at her in interest. What had happened to her? And why was Kiri's waist tied with a rope that connected to her wrist?

Riley must have seen the questions in his eyes because she nodded her head to Chopper.

Zoro turned back towards Chopper, finally registering the whacks on his forehead.

"You too, Zoro." Nami added, dragging Zoro's attention to her.

What else had happened?

He released his hold on Chopper and let him fall to the floor as he listened to Nami tell him what she'd learned.

"So let me get this straight, you're saying Robin sacrificed herself to protect us?" Zoro asked Nami.

"That's right."

"The Cook and Usopp are on the train with her." he added as he scratched his head. He turned towards Luffy. "Well, what should we do, Captain?"

Luffy stood with his back towards them but the anger radiated off him in waves.

"Only one thing to do," Luffy declared. "We set off and rescue them right away!"

Zoro rose to his feet. "I had a feeling you'd say that."

Luffy's loyalty was one of the reasons Zoro followed him, after all.

"Let's go."

"That looked fun." Riley commented as Zoro sat down beside her.

Zoro shrugged. The Marine Captain hadn't been as difficult as he'd originally believed but his right angle swordplay had been interesting.

"Thirsty?" Riley asked. "I'm sure the Franky Family has some booze hidden away, if you'd like?"

Zoro shook his head. "I think I'm just going to take a nap until we get to Eneis Lobby."

Riley stretched out her legs and patted her lap.

Zoro's eyebrows rose in surprise.

"Take it as a thank you."

"For what?"

Her lips quirked. "For protecting me from the other men's ogling when I was changing."

"You're not like Nami." He explained.

Besides, all he'd had to do was stand in front of her while they all changed their clothes. A few of the men had tried to sneak a peek but one look at Zoro had had them hurriedly turning their attention back to Nami.

"I'll protect you while you sleep." Riley offered again cheekily.

Zoro scoffed but laid his head on her lap.

Her gentle fingers combing his hair made him tense.

"Relax." Riley ordered.

A light warmth settled on his exposed chest. Zoro looked down to see already purring on top of him.

He frowned but willed himself to relax. Riley wasn't an enemy. He could trust her.

Slowly, the gentle rhythm lulled him into a mild doze.

"I forgot to ask." he murmured sleepily.

"Hmm?" she hummed in response.

He lifted one heavy eyelid. "What happened to you after that Leopard sent us flying?"

Riley's hand stilled and Zoro noted the color staining her cheeks. Just like before.

"Riley?" he asked, opening both eyes.

She huffed indignantly. "It's all Kiri's fault."

Zoro's brow rose.

Riley looked down at Zoro's hair, her fingers beginning to play with the strands.

"Well?" he prompted.

Riley grimaced.

"Lucci sent me to the backstreets, like you two." She began, eyes remaining fixed to his hair. "And I suppose Kiri followed me. In his breeze form. But since Agua Laguna was coming, it was really windy, and... well... we went on a... er... a merry chase."

"Is that how Chopper and Nami found you?" Zoro asked. He didn't understand how she could be embarrassed by that. Kiri liked to lead everyone on a merry chase. How could this one have been worse?

Riley's blush darkened. "Actually Chopper found us after I'd caught Kiri. But... ah... I thought it'd be a good idea if we were tied together. And then Kiri decided to try and get us to Galley-La faster. But... well..."

Zoro waited.

"Kiri-ended-up-tangling-both-of-us-upside-down-on-one-of-the-lamp-posts-and-we-couldn't-get-out." she rushed out with one breath.

Zoro blinked up to her.

He cleared his throat.

Riley narrowed her eyes down at him.

Zoro fought the quirking of his lips.

Riley glared at him. "Do you find something funny, Chimney Boy?"

He grinned, closing his eyes to take a nap. "Nothing much, Tangled Lady."

Zoro would definitely have to ask Nami for the details later. There was no way he was ever going to forget this.

Riley tugged on his hair lightly. "Stop grinning and go to sleep already. I'll wake you up when we're there."

Zoro yawned. "Whatever you say." his grin softened to a smile as he drifted off.