BAM! And I hit you all with another chapter! And it probably isn't your birthday yet. lol
I deserve a cookie for my efforts.

...

Chapter 10: Vulnerability

"The mind replays what the heart can't delete."
-Unknown
...

"How is she?"

Chopper looked over to see Zoro leaning against the frames with Kit on his shoulder. They had a rough night coming back from Enies Lobby, and they've only just arrived an hour ago. His dark eyes glanced over at the bed. Looks like she's finally getting the sleep she needs. He strode over to her bedside and sat on the armchair. They were in the Mayor's extra servant's room, and they will stay there until Luffy regains conscious from his fight with Lucci.

Zoro gazed at her face and all he could think about is her well-being. She doesn't fight, but she could defend herself (if running and a sharp tongue counts). He sighed. When he heard her scream and saw the blood stains on her face, he jumped into action. I was ready to kill that woman if she hadn't mentioned she saved you. I'm at a loss with you. Kit plopped down on her pillow and curled against her hair. I go mad when you're out of sight.

"I'm just glad that lady seemed to know what Ayame has. And the list she left was informative." Chopper shuddered after mentioning the assassin. "Can you believe one woman annihilated those Marines all by herself? And she was gone after the buster call!"

"We're in the Grand Line, almost nothing is impossible." Zoro leaned into his chair. He glanced at Luffy on the next bed, snoring. And to believe I was going to pick a fight with that woman. But what's got me thinking... He turned to Ayame, his suspicion on her grew back like a persistent weed. Why did she want to save you? How did she know how to treat you?

Ayame's face scrunched, whimpering incoherent words as her hands aggressively smacked the bed. Her body jolted up, startling Chopper and Kit. "No! Get away!" She yelled, grabbing anything (a pillow) and raised her arms up to throw it until she blinked, searching for someone. Blue-green orbs glanced everywhere before she met Zoro's unimpressed face. "Where...?" She started, looking past him.

"Back on Water 7," he answered.

Her breathing eased slightly. "Then...?"

"Robin's safe. She and the others went for dinner with the Mayor. And Usopp's been given a room in a hotel." Zoro informed, watching her drop her pillow. "Which reminds me, I need to tell you about the Going-Merry."

Ayame heard Chopper sniffle behind her, she knew before Zoro could tell her the funeral they had for the beloved ship. "Oh," was all she could managed. She flipped the bed covers over and placed her feet on the ground.

"And where do you think you're going? Your eardrums were bleeding out - meaning your balance could be compromised at the moment-" Chopper tried to warn her.

Ayame wobbled, gripping onto the bed. "I can't be here, remember? I left with Usopp." She whispered as she glanced down to her clothing. Someone had replaced her sweater with a new one. Mauve, she noted. Turtleneck. Lauca. "Where is he?"

"You can't go now," Chopper started, trying to put her back on the bed. "You're injured!"

"I'm fine," she waved him off. Something felt strange in her body. She felt lighter, like a feather, and it wasn't because of her equilibrium. It was as if feelings came easier to her now. Ayame didn't like that. Feelings causes her to remember, and remembering her past causes her to become vocal. A strange eidetic memory.*

"Alright," Zoro sighed, rubbing his temple. "I'll bring you to him. However, do you promise to go and eat something after? You look like hell." He ignored Chopper's violent outburst as the reindeer gripped onto his leg, trying to prevent the two from leaving the room.

Ayame looked at Zoro, startled at his proposal, but eventually she nodded. A shy smile presented itself on her face and she couldn't control it. I can't stop smiling. Stop smiling immediately, Ayame!

"You have to promise, it can't be a one-way promise."

The corners of her lips fell as he went over to her side, placing an arm around her waist (while dragging the doctor too). She jolted before relaxing. His scent. She thought. Iron, elderberries, wine, musk. It reminded her of home. "A lot of people break promises."

"I don't."

"I..." Ayame glanced up at him, at a loss for words. Why am I seeing him in a sparkly version? His eyes are really dark brown, and they're twinkling like stars. (smacks self) What's going on? Why am I feeling so much emotions? "I...trust you." Did I just say that? My heart... The pace was fast and loud.

"Alright, let's go."

Be still my heart. She bit her lip once they stepped outside. Kit followed them with a skip in its step, hopping up ahead. He (although Kit is a she, Ayame doesn't know that yet) would stop, glance at them and wait before hopping away again.

Coming out from the mansion as well was Sanji taking a smoke. However, when he caught pink hair in the wind just by the gates, his heart jolted ecstatically. Then his eyes wandered to the arm around her waist. That shitty Marimo is making a move on her. Not today.

"Ayame-ma chérie! Wait for Sanji-ky~un, my darling!" He raced down the steps in alarming speed. "You're Prince Charming is here to save you from that Marimo!"

Zoro sneered at him, removing his arm to hook around her arm instead. "What Hell did you crawl out from?"

Sanji let out a forced laugh, hooking his arm with his petit chou. He secured her hand with his free one, giving her a genuine smile when she looked up at him. The smell of wine too, but sweeter like summerwine. And nicotine laced with wood/vanilla cologne. "Go back to Hell, Marimo." He said through his smile.

Ayame sighed while her cheeks reddened. "I think I can find my own way-" she pulled her arms free from the two, turning her entire body to them as she stepped back.

"Don't be ridiculous, my dear/You idiot, you'd get lost in a minute/You can't go anywhere in your condition!" The two plus Chopper said at the same time. Watching Ayame get away, the two men glanced at the floor and saw a staircase. "Ayame-" The two reached for her hands as she slowly fell...

Into Paulie's arms. "What in the-" he shifted her weight in his arms as he glanced down. His cheeks became red as he realized a woman was in his arms, staring back at him with those wide pale blue-green eyes.

Sanji was the first to explode. "Unhand her, you hooligan!"

"Hooligan?!" The shipwright repeated.

"Oi, I wouldn't carry her if I were you." Zoro started as the doctor shouted at the shipwright to hold her gently. "She's a walking bad luck charm." And the four began arguing while Ayame deeply sighed, watching Kit nip at Paulie's ankles. He yelped.

So this is what a five nation war looks like. She frowned, eyeing the cook preparing to get physical with Zoro for branding Ayame as a cursed charm, Paulie shouting profanities to Sanji and Chopper continuing to squeeze the life out of Zoro's leg while he pulled his two swords out at Sanji.

Shoulda bolted when I had the chance. Ayame sulked, stuck on Paulie's arms for what seemed like hours of the bickering.

...

Two days later

Paulie wiped the sweat off his forehead. Damn, Aqua Laguna hit us real hard this time. Grabbing a water bottle off the side and emptied it in a seconds. It was hot with a bit of a breeze as shipwright and good people continued to work on the collateral damage. The street vendors opened as soon as the water levels went back so it smelled like home in an instant. Mizu-mizu meat sizzling and mizu-mizu ramen boiling. Just thinking about food nearly sent him running over if he hadn't seen the pink-haired girl just finishing up lunch at a waffle stand.

She got up and began walking his way, glancing around her surroundings with curiosity dancing in those eyes.

He gulped. There was something about her that draws him to her. As she approaches the bridge he was on, he smiled and began a conversation with her.

"You look better than I saw you last. How's the head?" Paulie questioned taking a drag as he leaned on the railings on the small bridge they're on. He exhaled away from her as his eyes wandered slowly down her form. She wasn't like most women. The clothes she wore covered her skin, this he was thankful for. But there was something familiar about her. He just could not place where he had seen her before. Before the incident two nights ago when she fell into his muscular arms.

"Alright." She answered.

"You had me quite worried there." Paulie grinned boyishly. Man, this is awkward, he thought, rubbing his neck. She's cute in that Galley-la t-shirt - He smiled at the white top. And those leather bottoms she's wearing. Just turn a bit for me-...Snap outta it, P! She's a pirate! She's only in it for the treasure.

I am treasure (smirks)... SHUT IT DOWN, PAULIE! (Punches self)

Ayame watched his face changed ever-so-slightly from a slight blush to a distraught expression. She tilted her head. Internal conflict? She thought, amused. "You, worried? You barely know me."

He chuckled nervously. Look at you, Paulie. Look at you! Falling head-over-heels for a 17-year-old! Shame on you for hitting on a girl half your age-

"Are you hitting on me?"

ABORT! ABORT! ABORT!

"Oi!"

They turned their heads to see Zoro catching his breath as he grabbed her hand. "We have to go. The Marines are here." Was all he inform before he tossed her over his shoulder.

"Hey - what are you doing! Put me down, you brute!" She pounded on his back as one of boys guided the swordsman back to the mansion.

He chuckled. "You call those a punch?"

"Do you want me to practice my backhand on your face instead?" She shot back.

The boys turned to Zoro and ooh'd him. While running, he purposely jabbed his shoulder on her gut. "Don't you need a stool to reach my face first?" Then the tables twist on her, their audience were gawking.

"You..." she was furious. "You..." Think of something - Anything!

One of the boys, his name was on his shirt: Hoichael, glanced between the two and said: "We're here!" But the Marines have the place surrounded that Zoro placed Ayame down and drew out his weapons. The walls were broken down by the older Marine.

"Stay out of sight." He glanced over his shoulder, causing her to scoff. Then he turned to the kids and said his thanks.

No need to tell me. She ran along the bushes until she clumsily crashed into something.

"Yowch!" He cried.

"Usopp," she whispered harshly. "What are you doing here? And where's Kit?" Blue-green orbs glanced around him before she caught a black blur scurrying to the windows to watch what was happening inside. The pup used its tail to tell them to come over. Then it dawned her. "Are you going to tell them?"

The two sneaked pass - well, it was more like Ayame dragging Usopp from hedge to hedge because he tried to roll out the ninja way. But fortunately she was there to just run to the next hedge without making a complete fool of themselves.

"Not yet." He admitted. Peering up at the window, they saw Luffy was finally awake. However he genuinely appeared terrified of the Marine. "Who's that?"

"That's Garp the Fist." Ayame whispered, flabbergasted and starstruck. "He's a marine hero. He's one of the good ones."

Usopp seethed, smacking her arm. "We're pirates now, marines hate us, remember?" Kit in between them agreed.

"So, I've heard you met your father Luffy." Garp said.

"Father? I have a father?"

"Back at Logue Town. You know," the man trailed, "Monkey D. Dragon."

Usopp and her froze.

"Who's that, gramps?"

Gramps? The two thought, one was more horrified than the other. Dragon: the worst criminal in the world, Dragon?

"Ah, I probably shouldn't have told you that. Forget it," Garp grabbed a hammer and began fixing the wall he broke. It would seem the Marine was letting them off the hook for now.

Usopp fell causing her to glance at him and sigh. Guess it's time to leave. She grabbed both his ankles and dragged both of them out of sight. Kit jumped aboard on the boy's body. "Kit, not helping. You're getting too fat." It stuck its tongue at her, and in response she gasped, dropping Usopp's ankles to point her finger at the pup. "Don't you stick your tongue at me, young fox!"

Kit blinked slowly, still sticking it's tongue out.

...

In the afternoon

"Did you hear there's going to be a party at Galley-La's?"

"Usopp," Ayame sighed. "I'm short, not deaf."

He smacked his forehead. "Well, are you going?"

"Aren't you?" She wondered, seeing that he cleaned himself and pawing his mask that he was hiding behind his back. "I know you're this Sogeking guy, and frankly, I think that's a clever idea. We should go together. Kit, want to come?" The baby fox mewled happily, bouncing left and right before hopping up to Usopp's head.

The sharpshooter smiled. This was the Ayame he remembered back at his homeland. Carefree until she began travelling back and forth to Logue Town as a delivery boy. Although her voice was still a matter-of-fact tone and a bit on the expressionless side, he could see she's trying to be more like them. More expressive instead of brooding and raging anger. He was proud of her accomplishments.

"What?" She glared at him, glancing down to his smile.

In response, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and rubbed his head against hers. "I'm glad the old Ayame's back."

Old Ayame? She was confused. Had she changed during the past? Racking through her brain, she remembered only a bit. Yes, she did become more distant while travelling to Logue Town. That port had news from everywhere and she listened intensely if the marines spoke about the World Noble or her people on Elendil's Island. Or sometimes she would read it in the newspaper. All she thought about was how lucky she was to escape from war and the injustice.

"I'm sorry," she whispered after realizing that he had been alone. She was used to being alone, but Usopp wasn't.

Usopp pulled away with plates for eyes. "Did I just hear-"

"I had a change of heart so don't ruin the moment." She muttered, walking ahead of him. All because you guys did everything to save Robin from the Marines, and me too. I've never had anyone save me like that. I was always on my own until I met you guys. Sighing, Ayame shook her head. "Moment ruined, actually... Well? Let's go."

Grinning from ear to ear, Usopp placed on his mask and followed after her. "Race you there!" He shot pass her.

"Hey, no fair!" She shouted after him as her fox looked over its shoulder and stuck its tongue out (again). "KIT!"

A/N

Lauca = Warm
ma cherie = my darling
petit chou = sweet bun

*Shades of Cool, chapter 12. If you don't already know about Ayame's memory "powers"

So excited this is out. I kinda have a thing for Paulie so I couldn't help it. And the vulnerability Ayame is showing is exactly how I want her to act after this CP-9 arc. It's all because of how she saw Robin, a double agent, is still accepted as part of the crew. This arc builds character from Vivi's situation to Robin's situation. Both are strong women Ayame admires. Even Nami, because she wants things done her way despite that it's a man's world. I love the girl power here. Even though they dress "scandalous" it's a free world to dress however you like.

You wanna dress like a cross-dresser? Do it! You wanna dress like a 2 dollar hoe? Do it! You wanna dress whatever you like? Well, darling, you go and do it. Fuck the media and fuck those judgmental people who expect you to dress appropriately. Be extraordinary. Be yourself, because that's what makes you you. If someone says otherwise, tell them to fuck off.

Anyway, next 2 chapters is a favorite from readers who read the original story. Will be up soon!

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Thank you for the support, rycmika!

As for Guest, I'll try to do once a week (unless I start procrastinating). So if I don't put up a chapter in a long time, HARASS ME. Like, PM me, put up violent reviews. Because it does motivate me ahahaha but I'll try not to make you angry.