Chapter 10

"Long time no see, Amaya." Ace smirked at the assassin that was casually sitting on the ship's rail. "How've you been doing?"

"Is that really what you want to say, Portgas?" She chuckled lightly, finding his sudden formality humorous to her.

Suddenly he pulled her into a tight hug, twirling around with her.

"You still look so adorable!" He cheered, sincerely amused by the sound of her laughter. "You haven't changed one bit."

"Not even just one tiny bit? We both grew old, Ace-dear." Amaya hugged him tightly, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"How's Sky?"

"I hope he is alright. He stayed back in the island, under my sister's supervision." He finally let her down, his hands never leaving her shoulders, letting his natural warmth heat her up. "You're still the same."

"You're still cute looking." His wide smile turned into a devious smirk. "But those clothes… You should cover up that cuteness of yours."

"I could cut you up into tiny little pieces, you punk."

"I'd like to see your try." They both laughed loudly before they were interrupted by Luffy.

"You two know each other?"

"Yeah. I was attacked by Samuru's assassins and was left for dead." Amaya began to explain, not bothering to hide her past anymore towards her captain.

"I found her and nursed her back to health." Ace finished her line of thought.

"He was awful, trying to cheer me up with terrible jokes. I preferred when he told me about his adventures." She smiled widely at Ace, genuinely joyous by his presence.

"You got better quickly because of that!"

"Just a bit." His smile grew wider even when she pinched his cheek. "Don't get too cocky."

"Yes, miss cute."

"You two are hilarious." Luffy laughed out before pulling both of them towards Sanji that was giving away drinks. "Let's celebrate!"

"To our nakama!" Usopp cheered, Luffy and Chopper joining him.

"Who said I'd be your nakama?" Ace growled, sitting down on a barrel.

"Don't worry about them." Nami explained to him. "These guys are always looking for a reason to celebrate."

"That is true." Amaya agreed, taking Ace's hat and placing it on her own head.

"Give that back!" He warned, quickly grabbing her wrist and pulling her close to him. "That is mine." She smiled at him as he took his hat back and returned it to its place on his head.

She waved at him before heading to the upper level of the deck, sitting under the tangerine trees, hiding herself from the crew. The assassin inhaled deeply before chuckling out her exhale.

She had missed him so much. He was like a brother to her and she adored to play around with him since he seemed to enjoy it as well. As long as she could cheer him up, Amaya would be happy to continue with her life. He was such a goofy spirit, not like Luffy but still goofy.

A free spirit.

"You like him?" Zoro's voice reached her ears, earning him a smirk.

"Is that jealousy I hear in your voice, Zoro-kun?"

"Answer my question." His poise was tense, his voice monotonous yet serious. She breathed in deeply and sat up, wrapping one of her arms around her knee.

"He's a brother to me." She answered honestly but the swordsman didn't seem to buy it. "Don't believe me?"

"No."

"Lovely." Amaya relaxed once again, letting her back rest against the tangerine tree.

"What is he to you?"

"Zoro, admit it: you're jealous that I don't do that to you." Her blue orbs were became emotionless and cold when they turned towards his figure. She stood on her two feet and walked slowly towards him. "I would but you shut me out sometimes so I let it go." She breathed in deeply before her eyes regained their life. "He's only a brother to me, Zoro. Someone that took care of me and helped me out in the past. He's like family and I cherish him so much for what he did for me." Her smile was tender and sweet as she placed her hands on the back of his neck. "You don't need to be jealous, Zoro-kun." She whispered, pulling his face closer to hers. "I don't want anybody else but you, Zoro." She caressed his cheek with her nose, breathing in his scent. "Can you do me a favour?"

"What is it?" His voice was husky and low, his breath warming her already heated cheeks.

"Trust me." With that said, she locked her lips with his, tasting his skin in that tender and light kiss. His hand ran to the back of her skull, letting his fingers mess her raven black hair, pulling her closer to him. The swordsman kissed her soft lips, feeling the addicting flavour of alcohol on them before looking into her blue eyes. "Can you trust me?"

"As long as you trust me, Amaya."

"I like the way you say my name." She smirked deviously at the swordsman that was completely at her mercy.

"Amaya." He whispered once again, giving her another kiss. She shivered when she heard her name escaping his lips before running her nails over his scalp.

"AMAYA! ZORO!" It was Luffy that was calling for both of them. The assassin could only chuckle while the swordsman smirked before stepping away from her.

"What is it Luffy?" Zoro asked, appearing in his line of sight.

"Ace says he can take both of you on in a drinking challenge!"

"WHAT!?" Both of them shouted before rushing down the stairs, towards the man that had challenged them both.

"I'd like to see your try, Ace." The assassin smiled at the freckled man, holding a mug filled with ale.

"You're on." Zoro chuckled, holding his mug out towards Ace.

…

"Is this Yuba?" Luffy asked, as they reached, what looked like, an abandoned and destroyed city.

"No. This is Erumalu. It was once known as the Green City." Vivi began explaining, her eyes completely blank but deep down her heart was being attacked by a turmoil of emotions. "Looking at this city, you can understand just how much the Baroque Works organization has done to this country and just how much Arabasta's people are suffering."

"There's nothing here." Amaya commented, pulling the hood of her cloak over her head, blocking away the scorching sun.

"Yes, but even though the city is now in ruins, up until its collapse, it was a lively town full of lush green plants." The group began to make their way through the destroyed town as Vivi continued her explanation about the history of the city that was the complete opposite of how it looked now. "The last three years not a single drop of rain fell."

"Three years?" Sanji asked, somewhat surprised for the long time without water resources.

"Couldn't they harvest the water in the river we used?" Usopp questioned.

"The answer lies up ahead." The blue haired princess explained, continuing to walk ahead of the group. "Complete lack of rainfall is a catastrophe that hasn't occurred in Arabasta for thousands of years but there was one place where there was always rain. That was the capital city: Alubarna where the Royal Palace is located. People called it the King's miracle until the day a certain incident occurred. A carriage containing a package that the king had ordered crashed, letting large sacks of Dance Powder to spread out."

"Dance Powder?" Amaya asked, not completely sure of what it was.

"What is that?" Luffy asked.

"It's also known as 'Rain-calling Powder" Nami explained, capturing the crew's attention. "I had only heard of it myself, but… it was invented by a researcher in a kingdom where rain never fell. The powder emits a mist-like smoke that rises up into the air and artificially creates rainfall. That is the Dance Powder."

As the group continued to walk by the destroyed town, Amaya's blue eyes were roaming throughout every single building that had collapsed over time. The architecture was magnificent and she could only imagine the beauty that the city once held. Despite not being a person that enjoyed the heat, Arabasta had captivated her for the liveliness that still remained, even under the protection of a Shichibukai and the constant threat of war from the Rebel Army.

A rush of wind was felt by the group, creating what seemed to be the sound of voices that reflected against the stone walls before a small reached the group, surrounding them with loud cries from Erumalu's deceased people.

Luffy suddenly began to run towards a small lump that was seen in the distance, revealing it to be a small, decayed corpse. Vivi fell to her knees, her hands protectively surrounding the skull.

"Father…" She mumbled under her breath. "What have my father and the people of this kingdom ever done? Destroying the lives of the people who have struggled against Nature to live in this desert… Why? What right does he have to do this?" Her entire body shook with anger and despair. "Why? He acts as though he is the hero of the people as one of the Shichibukai… and no one realizes that this man is deceiving the Kingdom!? I… I will never forgive that man!" That last sentence receive only one response from Luffy, Sanji and Usopp which was the complete destruction of a single building that was left standing.

"You guys are such kids." Zoro stated as he saw the three walking back up to the small group. Ace and Amaya, on the other hand, helped to dig a hole where Vivi gently placed the decayed corpse, burying it afterwards.

"Vivi!" The captain called, making the group look at him. "We have to keep going forward! We've been sitting here too long."

"Let's go, Vivi." Nami's voice reached the princess' ears, making her look over her shoulder.

"Let's go to Yuba, Vivi." Amaya reached out her hand to her so that she could help the blue haired woman get up from the sandy surface.

"That's where the Rebel Army is, right?" Zoro asked.

"Yes. I'll persuade the Leader to stop the uprising."

"Persuade?" Amaya questioned, trying to figure out how she would manage such a thing.

"All the catastrophes in Arabasta have been engineered by Crocodile! I'm going to tell them the truth and put an end to this useless bloodshed." That was her final resolution.

"Very well."

And with that, the pirates continued their journey throughout the burning desert, walking away from the destroyed Erumalu.

A/N:

Another chapter done!

Let me just say: I ADORE writing the interactions between Amaya and Zoro. It's so much fun :D

I do believe this will be my longest work since it had both the Drum Island and Arabasta arc plus Amaya's story that will be the last part of it. I already have everything planned out for the story so I won't be delaying anything unless anything shows up just like these two past weeks. I am sorry for that once again: consistency is something I value and this is killing me!

There won't be more chapters this week, just like last one and I will return to the normal update schedule nest Sunday!

I hope you are enjoying the story so far. I certainly am! xD

I do not own One Piece!

I only own Amaya and her Yoru no Ame