Author's Note: I'M SO SO SO SO SO SORRY THIS UPDATE TOOK SO LONG!! I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GOING TO BE AWAY ALL VACATION!! 'sniffs'

JuniperScaymoore: Hi hi! I'm good, thanks for asking! Apples are good, I agree. I promise my other story is coming, I promise! I really do! It's coming! I've almost figured it all out!

LuffysAngel: Thanks for the review! I'm glad you looked at this story, I really enjoyed yours too. :D

The Faerie of Darkness: Blah, I have midterms in three weeks. TT.TT Saya's fine, I promise. Getting uber lost is a major part in the plotline, I can promise you that. Brownie appears in the chapter, I also promise that. Erm... who are those other characters you mentioned? I don't know them...

yuMeNami: I wish I could kill him now, but then there wouldn't be much of a plotline, now would there? XD

SoDesuKa: 'smiles' Well, if they aren't idiots, then it's not One Piece. At least, in Luffy's case. The others are allowed to be smart once in a while, with the exception of Robin who is uber smart.

Mr. Thumbsup: Cliffhangers? They're my joy!! Hahaha! Except when I'm the reader... yeah... XD

TheCrazyScotswomanOfDOOM: Are you feeling any better? I was away for a long time, so I hope your sickness has passed!! I hope!

Comic Freaks United: Three tests in a row is going to be nothing compared to midterm week. TT.TT I wouldn't let that bastard Wandolf do anything to Saya! No way. Not ever. 'fume fume' I hope you enjoy the chapter!

luckyblackcat13: Sorry you had to wait so long for this update! I hope this chapter's worth the wait.

And-You-Thought-I-Cared: Being grounded is no fun. XD I do not apologize for my flame, that story was pure CRACK. O.o I get shivers just from remembering it...

Call-me-Lie-chan: Thanks! It's always good to hear from a new reader. Luffy's randomness is something we can all love, but he has a serious side too, which I find really amazing. He's a natural-born leader, which is something I bet you don't hear too ofthen. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece

Chapter Ten: Battle Commence

"Well… so now what do we do?" Chopper asked as the guards yelled and started calling to each other about the unexpected intruders. "He's done it again."

Nami sighed. "Guess we've got no choice…" She stood up and arranged her Clima Tact. "Everyone, we're just going to have to charge in and beat up anyone who's stupid enough to get in our way."

Usopp waved his hands. "Are you insane?"

Robin nodded thoughtfully. "It seems that's our only choice."

Usopp stared at her open-mouthed. "You too?!"

Sanji lit his cigarette. "Well, we'd better get moving. We're going to be found any second."

"That's true," the rest of the crew agreed.

They stood and all grinned at each other before they burst from the cover of the trees, yelling their lungs out and charging a bunch of very surprised guards.

"Hey… I'm dreaming…" Saya slapped herself. "I have to be!"

Zoro raised a hand. "H-Hey, don't do that…"

Saya suddenly turned on them, pretty much beating them to a pulp. "Why are you guys here?! Why are you here?! Go away!"

Luffy caught both of Saya's wrists. "We came here to get you, what do you think?!" he demanded. "You're supposed to realize that when people bust through your window."

"I didn't want you to get me!" Saya freed herself with a jerk and slapped him open-handed. "Why are you here?!"

Luffy ignored the slap. "Like I said, we-"

"Luffy," Saya interrupted. She met his eyes directly. "Get out of here. I am no longer a part of your crew."

"You're not the one who decides that," Luffy snapped. "If you want to leave the crew, you need the captain's permission."

"The captain's…" Saya choked.

Luffy's look silenced her. "Saya. You're not leaving the crew."

Zoro grinned. "Give it up. Once this guy decides something, there's no stopping him."

"I…" Saya's look turned into rage. "I don't care about any pirate taboos or traditions or any of that shit! I'm the one who decides what I do." Why did he have to make this even harder? Leaving the crew was painful enough, but they just had to drag it out, didn't they?

"Saya, why are you trying to make us leave?" Zoro asked.

Saya paled. "That's…I mean, you guys…"

Multiple cannons pointing directly at the undefended ship in the cove, ready to fire at any second…

"If you're being forced to do it…" Luffy grabbed the cuff of Saya's shirt. "Then why didn't you tell us?! We're your nakama!"

"I'm not being forced-"

Luffy's gaze silenced her. There was something that was like nothing she had ever seen on his face before; something dark and furious. When he spoke, there was some dangerous undercurrent in his voice. "Saya. Don't lie to me."

"I'm not lying… I want you to leave…" Saya could feel her defenses falling. She fell to her knees and clenched her fists. "But I… I…" Suddenly, something inside her calmed down. After being cold for so long, it was warm light. "Luffy, Zoro, please… I want you to leave this island, but please… take me with you." Dark spots appeared on the floor. In the dim light, it almost looked like stars were falling from her eyes. "Take me to sea with you…"

Luffy laughed and Zoro grinned. "Okay."

Saya swiped at her eyes and chuckled weakly. "Somehow… that seemed a little too short…"

Zoro's grin broadened. "What? You want us to make a speech or something?"

"No." Saya stood and swiped at her eyes. "I don't like speeches. I've never had enough patience to listen to the whole thing." Then she remembered. "Shit, the cannons!"

Luffy blinked. "What cannons?"

"Cyclone Tempo!" Nami crashed through the guards. "Alright guys, we're in!"

"Alright, let's go!" Chopper yelled.

"Seis Fleurs!" Hands appeared on a man who was about to attack Nami. "Clutch!"

Nami yelled and ducked as the man flew over her head.

Robin smiled. "Be careful, Kokaishi-san."

"Y-Yeah…"

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!" Usopp was running wildly from a group who were waving katana at him. "No! Go away! Leave me alone!" He tore up the grand staircase and turned left, ducking into this room and that hallway. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

"Usopp!" Sanji yelled. "Damn it!"

I'll go get him, Adoni said, floating up the stairs. Everyone, do your best and don't die!

Nami sweatdropped. "Thanks Adoni."

"Party Table!" Sanji roared, kicking at a circle of attackers who were attempting to surround him. "Alright, you go do that!"

There was little talk that followed for several minutes after that, as everyone was wrapped up in their own battles. But that was what cost them.

Adoni looked around. He had no idea where he was, or how he had gotten there. This feeling felt familiar for some reason, but he couldn't quite remember why. Being lost, that is.

Oh right. He used to get lost in the forest all the time, and Saya would usually be keeping dinner warm for him. What usually happened was that Saya would get impatient after five minutes and run to find him. So he would find his way home about an hour later to find that she was gone and dinner was burning.

A chirp brought him back to his surroundings. He looked around to see Brownie perched on a cannon, eyeing him reproachfully with a black eye.

He smiled. You're right. I shouldn't be daydreaming, especially when everyone's fighting their hardest to save Saya. I should be doing the same.

But what could he do? He had no idea where she was, having completely lost his sense of direction. On top of that, he had no idea where he was either.

Furthermore, he had no idea where the others had gone either. He hit his forehead. Well this is just fantastic...

Then he actually looked around to see where he was and raised an eyebrow. Hm, why would a mansion on top of a mountain need a cannon room? He mused on it for a moment before he sweatdropped. Damn it, I don't have time to do this! The others, where'd they go?!

Though he didn't know it, at that exact moment, his statement was pretty much what was echoing in everyone else's minds.

Sanji took a deep drag on his cigarette and glanced at Usopp. "So? What do we do now?"

Usopp's nose was trembling, and his knees were knocking together. "I… I don't know…"

They were in a very elegantly decorated corridor, with portraits lining either side. But besides the fact that they were obviously lost, the man in front of them easily topped seven feet, with a trim haircut and neat suit. The big steel staff in his hand suggested that he wasn't the ice cream man. And he did not look very happy. "I am the Head of security here," he rumbled. "You will not go one step farther, Straw Hat pirates. How dare you infiltrate this place. What is your intention."

Usopp winced. "Why is he speaking in monotone…?"

"What is your intention. Answer me or suffer the consequences."

Sanji grinned. "We're here to get back an important nakama. You going to get in our way?"

"I will not allow you scum to go one step further. Saya-sama is no longer your nakama, she belongs to the Master. Surrender now, while you are still unhurt."

"L-L-L-Like hell we're going to surrender our precious nakama to that jerk!!" Usopp yelled, his knees knocking together even as he put on a brave pose, throwing out his chest. "Y-You're the one who should surrender! For I am the g-great Captaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaain Usopp-sama!!" Then he ran and ducked into a niche far behind Sanji's back. "Sanji-kun, the rest is up to you!"

Sanji relit his cigarette. "For goodness sake…"

"I will not let you pass."

"Then let's get on with it, big guy."

Usopp shivered as the two started the traditional stare-down before big fights. "Everyone…" he groaned. "Where'd you all go?"
Nami's eye twitched. She was having a staring contest with a small person who was about half her height. And I say person, because he… she… it? had on a heavy cloak, from which only two bright blue eyes were showing from beneath the hood.

Chopper was hiding behind a pillar. "Scary…"

The blue eyes snapped towards him in a seemingly malevolent glare. He screamed and ran in circles for a moment before tripping over his own feet and falling down.

Suddenly, the eyes filled with tears. The hood slipped off, revealing a little girl as she fell to her knees and sobbed.

Nami blinked. "What… a kid?"

"I… I wanna go home!" the girl wailed. "Mama and Papa must be worried about me… I wanna go home!"

Chopper looked up. "Eh?"

"I wanna go home…" The girl wiped her eyes. "I was trying to run away from Wandolf. He took me from my home a few weeks ago, and he won't let me go-"

The girl's sobbing was abruptly interrupted by Nami whacking her Clima Tact on her head with full force. "Don't lie to me!" Nami snapped. "The innocent act doesn't work on me."

"What?" The girl sniffed. "B-But… I…"

Nami pointed right between her eyes. "No. This Wandolf or whoever probably wouldn't have anything to do with a regular girl like you. And also…" Her eyes darkened. "Those aren't real tears."

"Hmph." The girls eyes suddenly turned cold. "I still don't get how you figured it out. I portrayed all the emotions perfectly."

"No one's that perfect," Nami snapped, swinging at the girl with her Clima Tact again. This time, however, the girl stopped it with one hand. Nami only had time to widen her eyes before she went flying head over heels into the floor.

The girl threw off her cloak, revealing an assortment of weapons on a belt around her waist. "I am Gilda, child genius. I will defeat you pirates here, and get the reward from Wandolf-sama."

Chopper blinked. "Reward?"

Gilda lunged forward, a dagger in hand. "If you're not going to attack, then I will!"

Nami barely rolled out of the way before the knife sank into the stone right where her head had been. "She's fast!"

As Gilda attacked both Chopper and Nami in turn, both of them shared the same thought. Where the hell was everyone else?!

Robin was wandering around rather leisurely as hands sprouted on the soldiers who were attempting to reach her. She touched the wall with her real hand. "Pure marble walls…"

Opening a door at random, she found an enraged Brownie dive-bombing Adoni… or attempting to anyways. The little bird was doing his best.

Stop! Stop it! Adoni was yelling. How am I supposed to think of what to do if you're attacking me like this?!

Robin chuckled. "Bird-san," she said, "perhaps you should stop."

Brownie cheeped and went to perch on the cannon again.

Adoni winced and brushed himself off. Thanks. You saved me.

"It was no problem." At this point, Robin noticed something rather important. "Adoni-san, have you realized there are four elderly men sleeping in the corners of this room?"

Adoni blinked. No, actually…

It was true. Four ancient men were sitting in the four corners of the room… and sleeping. The little bubbles coming out of their noses proved that fact, though the knobbly walking sticks with knives coming out of them like the teeth of a saw took away from the innocent look.

Adoni sweatdropped. Erm… what should we do with them?

Robin shrugged. "They shouldn't be a problem so long as they don't wake up…"

All four bubbles popped. One of the old men opened his eye. "Hrm? We seem to have a guest."

The other three men murmured agreement. "So it seems."

"It seems to be an intruder," one of them said.

The other three murmured in agreement. "So it seems."

"We must do the usual then?" another one of them asked.

"The young lady's here without permission from Wandolf."

"We should do the usual."

"What a pain. I wanted to sleep a little longer."

"Yes, so it seems."

Robin smiled faintly. "So you really can't be seen by those who you don't want to see you."

Adoni gave her a thumbs up. They can't hear me either.

"The young lady's out of her mind."

"Talking to the air."

"Let's be quick."

"Yes, so it seems."

The old men stood on their shaky old knees, picking up their staffs. "Let's go!"

Adoni pulled the ghostly metal pipe from out of his belt. Well, at least I won't be completely useless. He grinned. Attack them as you like, Robin. Don't worry about me; I can't be hurt by anything. Being dead has a couple advantages.

Robin chuckled before crossing her arms across her chest. "So it would seem."

Wandolf stirred lightly on his bed, before turning over and snoring loudly. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open and he sat bolt upright, his eyes narrowed. "Someone is trying to steal my prize," he growled. "Damn you, Straw Hats. I won't let you take her away. She's mine."

Next: While most of the Straw Hats fight their own battles, Wandolf makes his way to Saya's room to find Luffy, Zoro, and Saya. What's going to happen because of this?