Rejecting Freedom

Chapter 10

My eyes scanned the amount of carpenters lined up in front of the building calmly. They looked strong and determined. In some ways I felt sorry for them. They were about to have their lives ruined without being able to do anything about it. But the chances were, things would good smoothly and the masses would be cut through without thought. The mask on my face covered nothing but my eyes and it made it clear who I was.

I had seen neither hide, hair nor rumor of the Straw Hats since my earlier encounter. The city had been silent when I watched it earlier, as if it was taking a breath before a storm. I doubted it would be so silent tomorrow, thrown into more chaos by the events of tonight. Not that I would see the effects of what occurred tonight nor would I hear about it. As soon as what they were looking for was found, we would depart by Sea Train to the island of Enies Lobbies. No one would be able to follow us out, the enormous wave that would sweep across the island hiding our tracks.

The sound of ring brought me out of my thoughts. I ignored it, knowing it to be the signal that we were waiting for.

"Robin, are you ready?" Blueno inquired. I ran my gaze at our surroundings one last time and nodded, one hand going to make sure my hood still sat in place.

"Yes," I replied. An explosion rattled the ground, causing the distraction we were waiting for. So it began.

…

I listened to the CP9 question Iceberg for information silently. Although the information was interesting I didn't bother to pay very much attention. It didn't have anything to do with me, even if it had to do with the ancient weapon. Their reasoning to find and use me, however, was quite clear since I was the only one able to read the blueprints, if they were written in the ancient language. It did seem as though Iceberg's fear would come true.

Then, I began to hear a crashing noise, too loud to be anything but someone trying to break down the wall. My gaze went towards it quickly. It exploded in moments later, Luffy jumping through the gap, shouting for me. Seconds later, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the doors explode in as well.

"Luffy?" I gasped in shock. I heard the swordsman's voice echo me instants later. Why were they here? They shouldn't have been, shouldn't have been putting themselves in more danger. Couldn't they just understand that I wanted to leave them, that I had to leave them? My temper, which rarely showed itself, rose up, rising even more when Luffy shouted about finding me.

I sent him a deathly glare, trying to make him understand that he should be leaving by all and any accounts. I barely hear the rest of the crew say how glad they were to see me again. I felt like screaming at them, shaking them and forcing them to understand that I was doing this for them. I was sacrificing my dreams and the goals of Ohara for them and they wouldn't just let me be, let me die like I should have a long time ago!

My gaze went to the window. I needed to leave, to get out of here while I could. The crew was being distracted by the carpenter named Paulie's shock at his 'friends' betrayal. If I left now, they wouldn't be able to follow me.

My attention darted back in worry when Luffy attacked Lucci. He was such a fool. First, he attacked Crocodile thinking he could win and now he attacked someone much more deadly than the Warlord. It was a miracle he hadn't died yet. As expected, the rubber man was beat up quickly, not even able to put a scratch on the other man.

I was forced into the conversation once again, Luffy asking what I was doing. Nami joined in quickly. I didn't bother to listen to their words, my temper forcing it away. Why couldn't they just let it go? Why couldn't they just let me go? I turned my glare to all of them.

"You people don't seem to listen very well. I told the cook and the doctor goodbye. Didn't they tell you?" I inquired harshly. Chopper burst out with his disbelief. I forced my expression to as close to a sneer as I could make it as I answered. "To achieve my goal! A goal that can't be achieved if I stay with you people," I paused and continued, giving them a reason that they couldn't argue with. The swordsman was looking at me in what had to be anger. "To accomplish it, I will sacrifice anything!"

The crew was staring at me in clear disbelief. The swordsman's eyes narrowed, mind clearly working. He caught me by surprise slightly when he asked what my goal was before I remembered that he knew about my goal of finding history. I forced my annoyed gaze to stay. They couldn't know of my goal, not when it involved them and no one else.

"I don't have to tell you," I told him coldly, uttering the words slowly. Iceberg's voice almost cracked my façade, interrupting in an annoying way. It was clear I should have kept my mouth shut earlier when I had defended myself against his accusations. I turned my glare to him, ignoring his words. I wasn't going to let him spoil my plans, I wasn't going to let him.

I shut him up quickly, using hands to cover up his mouth. The crew acted like I was doing something horrible. I didn't even bother to listen to them. None of it mattered. Thankfully, before I was forced to reply, Lucci interrupted, cutting the conversation short. They began to talk of the mansion erupting in flames and such. If I left, the crew would have no reason to stay within it when the flames came.

I raised my hood back up. "I'll be going then," I said. Lucci dismissed me quickly and I began to walk away. Luffy called after me. I replied with a simple "Goodbye," thinking it would be the end of the conversation. Sounds of fighting followed after me but I ignored it completely. More sounds followed, the sound of the swordsman joining in the fight. I drowned out the sounds by opening the window. Luffy called after me one more time, unable to let me go. My temper went cold. I wouldn't let them follow me.

"No, I'm done," I told him but more addressed them all. "We will never meet after this," The navigator called after me. I ignored her and continued in my mission to vacate the area as soon as I could. The swordsman shout to Luffy to catch me made me pause, if only for a second but it was long enough to hear said man get hurt and Luffy attacking someone once again. I kept my face calm although the sounds were starting to get to me. But anything was better than seeing them getting killed because of me. They would survive this and that would be the end of it.

I barely heard Lucci tell me to go before I leaped out of the window and left the crew behind for was the last time. Once I hit the ground, I started to run, my anger fading away back into the comfortable numbness. I had to get away from the crew as soon as I could. My orders were to go to the train station where more of CP9 would be waiting for me. The other members would be there soon.

At the same time, worry spread over me as I ran away from my past for what seemed to be the hundredth time. The crew was being hurt because of me. But at least they would live this encounter. I simply hoped they would finally understand that I didn't want to be with them anymore, that I couldn't be with them anymore. Then again, they were quite slow when it came to understanding things. As a last resort, the storm would keep them at bay long enough for me to finally escape their grasp.

I slowed down as I reached the train station and tried to make my face cold. I failed completely, unable to hide my worries. My façade was wearing thin. I was simply happy that the crew was unable to see my face now, to see how false my conviction to not be with them was.

A man met me at the columns of the train station, which was completely deserted except for marine men in suits. The man eyed me for a moment, taking in my face and such.

"Nico Robin?" he inquired. I nodded silently. "Get on board the sea train first," he ordered. I stared at him and ignored their jibes at me. None of their taunts mattered now. I simply followed them to the front of the ship, ignoring the great force that was gathered upon the train. I sat down without a word and stared out at the window when Lucci and the others came to the ship, carrying something which was squirming around. I turned away and examined the cabin.

Within a few moments, the train started to move, the sound of rain pounding against the windows growing. I closed my eyes. The sound was almost peaceful, steady and unyielding like a heartbeat. My gaze went back outside, watching the rain fall. In some ways, it reminded me of Alabasta, when I first met the Straw Hats. It had rained when the conflict was over then too.

My memories went back through my memories with the crew and a bittersweet smile came to my lips. I had to admit, it had been worth it. Every moment with the crew had been worth it. I only wished I had been able to stay with the crew longer, to stay with them where I was finally happy. But it was just that, a wish. My hand went near my eyes.

Tears were coming to my eyes at the thought. I covered my eyes quickly to hide them, a smile still on my lips. I would not regret this decision. I would not wish to be somewhere else. I had learned long ago there was no use in hoping for anything. No help, no knight in shining armor would ever rescue me. This would be the end of the line for me but at least it was better than letting everyone I cared about dying again.

The tears dried up quickly with that thought. I forced the sadness away. I was doing this for them and I wouldn't regret it. My hand went away from my face and my gaze went back to the ocean. My fate was sealed.

…

It was silent in the cabin, not a single noise drifting in from outside. The man named Franky sat on the row of seat across from me, completely silent. I tried my best to ignore him, to pretend he wasn't there. Even so, his words, along with Sanji and Usopp's were chipping at my resolve. But I couldn't let it. I couldn't allow myself to put my trust in other, not even Luffy.

I couldn't depend on another miracle from the captain of the crew, not like in Alabasta. Miracles only happened once. And while the rest of the crew insisted that they didn't care that I wanted to leave, I couldn't listen to them. They simply didn't understand the situation. They were used to facing enemies they were able to defeat, pirates who wouldn't keep attacking once they were defeated. But I knew the World Government wouldn't stop, not as long as I was alive.

And yet, the blue-haired man's words were affecting me. The explanation was simple, however, they reminded me too much of Saul's words. But they were both wrong. Not everyone was born into this world for a happy life. They hadn't ever seen what I had, hadn't gone through what I had. The thought was overly optimistic, too hopeful to believe in this world.

The train had begun to slow, meaning we were growing closer to Enies Lobbies and the end of the line for me. Franky seemed to notice the same thing, jaw compressing slowly, body tensing to get ready for a fight. I looked out the window at the slowing rain, at the sun ironically appearing in the sky. The man could fight all he wanted but I knew his fight would be in vain. He would never take me back to the Straw Hats and that was a fact. We would both likely die in this place or perhaps we would make it to the great jail before death came.

When the train came to a stop, the officers flooded in. Franky began to struggle, fighting against them in any way he could. I watched it, my face blank and simply followed them off the train. The sunlight hit my eyes brightly as I peered around at the great island of justice.

a/n: Sorry, its another short chapter. My muse does not want to write this, in the least. Hope you understand. I hope everyone enjoyed and review…you know you want to…