CHAPTER 12

PROBLEMS

Four days have passed since the incident at Thriller Bark and things had utterly changed back to normal. That means that everyone was immersed in their respective occupations or antiques. Sanji and Zoro got on each other's nerves, Luffy and his boisterous gang couldn't stop getting on Nami's nerves and Robin was inexplicably gloomy and pensive. In fact, she didn't even give a damn about what's going on around her.

Of course Nami was the first to notice hers and his strange behavior, because as she tends to say proudly, she can understand such situations from kilometers away. And not that she cares about Zoro, besides, she's sure that Robin's state is his fault, but she wants the best for her Onee-chan and the crew's peace and unity, generally.

So, as a result, she decided to discuss the matter with Robin and see if she could help her with anything. She found her on the library "how unusual" Nami thought. Robin was so absorbed that she didn't notice Nami, who was standing in front of her with her hands on her hips while she was able to discern a thoughtful look, lingering on her young face.

"Robin, what's the matter? Why are you so sad?" the aforementioned was somewhat shocked because of her friend's sudden outburst but she did a could job suppressing he real emotions.

"Why would…." Robin started talking calmly but she was interrupted by Nami's loud voice.

"Before you say anything you have to know that I have already increased his debt" in fact, poor Zoro's debt had skyrocketed long ago, but Nami told that so that Robin could understand what she was talking about, and so to avoid useless explanations.

"Why would you do that Nami? It's nothing that concerns you" Robin's words made it clear that she didn't want either to talk about it or take revenge for what happened.

"Aha, so something happened" Nami giggled wickedly but then took a look on Robin's furious face and became serious again "Look, Robin, I know that what you do with your boyfriend doesn't concern me and you have the right to tell me nothing. But I want you to be sure that if you need anything you can tell me. I can't stand seeing you like this"

"So I am that obvious… Anyway, thank you very much Nami" said Robin while standing up and then hugged her friend "I feel so much better knowing that I have a good friend that cares about me. By the way, nothing crucial has happened. Just a minor quarrel" the archaeologist finished her sentence and smiled comfortingly at her.

"So it's only that! It's ok, couples have to withstand such situations all the time. Don't worry, everything it's going to be alright" Nami said smiling truthfully.

"Exactly! Nevertheless, we've discussed about our argument and now we're fine. I'm just a little biased, that's why I'm so thoughtful" Robin said strangling not to show her anxiousness.

"Ok then. I'm leaving you to finish your work"

When Nami left, Robin went to stand near the window. She spent a lot of time staring over at the vast sea and sky. They weren't that fine.

FLASHBACK

Zoro was in his gym, exercising with his weights and Robin was sitting on the bench in front of him, trying to find the correct words to tell him what had been torturing her mind all this time.

She knew that his workout session was something very sacred to him and also, she wanted to adjust her thoughts into the right words, so she said that she would wait for him to finish.

After a few minutes he put his weights down, wiped out the perspiration with a towel, drunk some water and went to sit beside her.

"So what do you want to talk about?" he said kissing her gently on her lips.

"You've finished very quickly today" was all she could utter. She wasn't ready enough to start talking.

"I could have done more but I was curious to find out what you wanted. I can continue later. Anyway, you seem to be very pressured, why?"

"Well, I don't know how are you going to react on what I want to say to you. I have a feeling that something bad is going to happen"

"Are you pregnant?" he asked playfully while raising his eyebrows.

"For god's sake Zoro. No. That would be the last thing I could take right now"

"Oi, calm down. I'm just mocking you"

"Look Zoro, I know what you did back at Thriller Bark"

"What exactly do you mean?" his face was now very stern, making it excruciating for her to go on.

"I mean I know that you took Luffy's pain away, when you confronted Kuma"

"And what do you want me to do now? Just don't say anything to anyone"

"Of course I won't. But don't get so angry. I just want to discuss about it" she said brushing her lips against his neck in order to calm him down.

He just nodded signaling to go on.

"You see, it was very respectful of you to do such a thing for your captain, and I acknowledge that you would do that for everyone in this crew. You don't know how lucky I feel to be with such a man like you. But…" she stopped in order to contemplate what to say next.

"But?" he said somewhat irritated. He obviously knew where she was heading with this.

"But no one has asked you to put your own life on the edge for themselves, especially when there's no reason" she suddenly found the courage to say it, but right after finishing she put her hand on her mouth and waited for what was about to come next.

"Excuse me?" he asked ironically. She could feel his nerves vibrating, and suddenly he started yelling at her.

"Look, Robin, I wouldn't wait for someone to come and beg me to save him. I have my own standards, I make my own decisions. Thus, I do what I want. I thought it was the right thing and so I did it. I wouldn't have asked you first"

"I never said that you had to take my permission to do something. I already knew what you said…" she was evidently insulted.

"So what's your problem? And what do you mean without reason?"

"Stop screaming and listen to me without interrupting me. Have you ever thought how Luffy would feel after learning what you did? He would blame himself for your bad state"

'First of all, Luffy will never ever find out about that, savvy? And secondly, it was my decision, no one has to blame himself or be indebted to me. That's crap"

"No it isn't. You have to into account the other's feelings. Everyone was concerned about you. I was devastated, Zoro. Or you think that Luffy would mind if you hadn't endured his pain? Everyone was in pain. Everyone had to go through this and most of all YOU! That's why there was no reason"

"There was reason for me, woman"

"How did you call me?"

"I couldn't take the risk and leave Luffy die. He has to be the King of Pirates. My dream is minor comparing to his. I do everything to fulfill his dream. My dream can become reality if Luffy's dream becomes too. As for yours and the crew's feelings, that's something very selfish to take into account"

"So you don't care about my feelings, Kenshi-san?"

"Damn it! I was just talking for that specific occasion. Look, Robin, that's the way I am, either you like it or not"

Robin was on the verge of crying, but she didn't want him to see that, so she left, running towards her room.

She had show him her vulnerable side many times, but as it seemed, that wasn't good for her at all. She was always ending up more hurt than before.

Zoro, on the other hand, grabbed his katana and started practicing fiercely. He was very pissed off that she couldn't understand him and that she pushed him to talk to her like that.

"Woman? Why the hell did I call her like that? Jerk!"

He would definitely talk to her, but later or maybe tomorrow. It was better to give her time to think.

"Damn, things would have gone better if she had told me that she's pregnant"

END OF FLASHBACK

END OF CHAPTER 12

I'm sorry for the late update :( I hope that you enjoy this chapter!