Howdy everybody! Because I'm FINALLY DONE WITH MY SEMESTER AT SCHOOL, YOU GET TWO CHAPTERS! YAY!

Plus, I'm thinking of doing a holiday TOPA ficcu (Weeell, maybe more Christmas-y, since, ya know, Christmas is FIVE DAYS AWAY from when I'm posting this, so yeeeaaah!) And! I'm kiiinda working on another fanfic I might write~! Hoo boy, I'm keeping myself busy this break...

Anyway, aren't you just happy I'm updating regularly again?… Somewhat…? I don't know how long it'll last, though. School will be starting up again in January, and I don't know how busy I'll be then exactly. So enjoy it while it lasts!

But before I let you loose onto reading, there's a few things I want to bring up with you all! First is fanart. You don't have to ask me to do it. Do it! I love seeing stuff like that. It motivates me! So if you ever want to draw something, please do! Just also pretty please send me a link of it, because I want to see. :D

Secondly, and this might also be interesting for those of you who are also fellow FanFiction writers here! For those of you who haven't noticed, there's such a thing as a FanFictionNetBot that picks of information of certain users for this Fan History Wiki, which is supposed to celebrate fandoms. How do I know? I stumbled upon my Fan History Wiki page, which was generated by said FanFictionNetBot. It's got no real info on it, just a list of some stories I wrote (a lot of the earlier ones I've long since deleted are on that list that I'm kind of ashamed of BECAUSE THEY WERE SO BAD but it's got The One Piece Attempt in the list so that's good BUT IT DIDN'T MENTION TOPA: TO RUN AND FIGHT WHICH IS IRRITATING). So yes, if you're ever bored, I invite you to write stuff on it, if you want. Just nothing too bad, like "SofiBleuphyre is a butt-head who writes stories of Mary Sues and she thinks she farts rainbows but really it's just nasty fart gas." Or "SOFIBLEUPHYRE-SEMPAI-SAN-SENSEI-SAMA-CHAN IS THE BESTEST AUTHOR IN THE ENTIRE WORLD ASHJGDSKJG". The latter might be flattering, it doesn't explain much. Plus, the first is just mean… and stupid…

Anyway, enough of my rambling. You don't care about my ramblings unless they're crazy author notes involving me, Amelia, and some other obscure character. SO LET'S JUST GET ON WITH THE STORY ANDOMAIGAWDI'MSTILLRAMBLINGINEEDTOSHUTUP!

xxx

"You're all patched up, now. I did the best I could. You're going to need sutures eventually, but for now, at least you won't bleed to death."

"Hmm…"

I felt my brow twitch as I pulled out a small bottle of pills, taking out two and handing them out to Zoro, who was currently sitting up and staring anywhere but towards me.

"These will help with the pain." I said. "They're not like a narcotic or anything, but they'll take the edge off."

Zoro barely glanced at me before snatching the pills from my hand and swallowing them dry. I paused there, then eventually sighed, putting the bottle away and closing up my first aid kit.

"So I take it you absolutely hate my guts now, right?" I asked, looking at him. He seemed to flinch for a moment, but he still avoided me.

"Look." I stated, clutching the kit. "I didn't know that your dream was to defeat Mihawk, who happens to be a great swordsman. I didn't even know he was a great swordsman. He was just a guy who I ran into and who I talked to for a while before heading off again. He saw that I was troubled, and that I looked like crap, and he talked to me about it. That's all."

There was more silence between us. As for the others, they were sitting on the other edge of the ship, staring at us intently. They knew that there was tension. They probably felt it, too. And I assumed that was why they wanted to be as far away from us as possible.

Here I was, a member of the Straw Hats, and a friend of one of said Straw Hats' greatest rivals. I was also trying to explain this to said Straw Hat, but he was completely brushing me off and giving me the cold shoulder.

"You know what? I don't know why I'm sitting here explaining this to you." I said, laughing lightly in hysterics. "Here I was, worrying about you as I did what I could to fix you up after you almost died, and here you are pouting like a baby just because I happened to have a chat with Mihawk one day!"

At this statement, I took the first aid kit and slammed it onto the other side of the dingy, making a loud noise and causing one of the boards to gain and indent. The other three merely flinched as I then turned away from Zoro, sitting there with crossed legs and arms, scowling at the water.

I practically cried for the man. I patched him up with only a little help from the others, and he still sits there avoiding me.

Men can be such babies sometimes.

"Um…" I turned, looking at Usopp, who cowered away a bit, but then he cleared his throat. "We need to discuss the reason why Nami left…"

I ground my teeth for a moment, then sighed through my nose. "Was she looking at something or mention something before all of this?"

"Well…" Johnny said. "She was looking at this one wanted poster…"

"But she couldn't possibly be going after him!" Yosaku finished. He then paused. "Could she…?"

"Who are you talking about?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

Both Johnny and Yosaku shuttered. "Arlong!"

It was then that they went into dramatic speech mode.

"He's one of the pirate lords! Like Mihawk!"

"He's a mermen, which is a powerful race of beings that only get stronger when they're in water!"

"It's also said that he and his crew have been through the Grand Line! And survived!"

There was a tense pause as Usopp seemed to shudder.

"Where is he now?" I asked.

"Arlong Paaark!" Okay, seriously. Cut the dramatics.

After a while, I sighed, turning around in my seated position, barely noting that Zoro was now, finally, looking at me. "Very well. It seems that we might just be heading to Arlong Park, today."

"W-Well, let's not get too hasty…" I felt my brow twitch as Usopp crawled over. "We can just find the ship, grab it and go! There's no reason to stick around and find Nami now is there? I mean-!"

Usopp was cut off as a sheathed sword hit him on the head. I blinked, turning towards Zoro, who was handling said sword. "We have orders from our captain." He said firmly. "We'll go in there, get Nami and the ship. If we have to fight some mermen, it'll be a bonus."

With that, he looked at me, and for some odd reason, I felt that, maybe, he was finally starting to realize that he was being childish. That maybe there was still a chance that Zoro and I could be friends.

Of course, it could be that those pills I gave him actually were narcotics…

xxx

Yosaku had left to deliver the absolutely wonderful news to our dear captain back at the Baratie, which left Johnny on the ship with Usopp, Zoro, and myself. It was still a heavily separated group. Usopp and Johnny were at one end, while Zoro and I were on the other.

Despite this arrangement, Zoro and I still kept deathly silent. So my latter point about the pills talking for him might be closer to the truth than I thought.

So here we were, on the ship. Zoro was seemingly sitting there in contemplation with his one sword, and I was closer to the edge, looking out at the water. Strangely enough, I wasn't scared or nervous. I honestly felt more calm than anything.

Maybe it was because I actually knew what was going to happen.

Or maybe this whole strength thing was finally getting to my head.

I sighed through my nose, rubbing at the bridge of it, and I froze. That's right. I lost my sunglasses when I dove after Zoro, the ungrateful butt munch that I was sitting next to.

Granted, they weren't prescription or anything, I still liked them. They did their job and looked kinda cool.

It's sad to know that I'll never seem them again…

I was snapped out of my thoughts when there was some scuffling on deck, causing the ship to rock around, and I blinked, turning around to see Usopp quickly scooting around at where he was, whistling loudly, Johnny also playing oblivious.

… What the hell was that about?

I looked back at Zoro, who looked rather irritated himself. His brow was twitching and he was growling low in his throat.

Oh dear. Did he need more painkillers?

"Something wrong?" I finally asked, causing Zoro to tense.

He glanced at me a couple of times, alternating between that and glaring at Usopp and Johnny, before finally letting out an irritating sigh and handing something out to me.

I blinked at the object in his hands, almost in disbelief.

It was my sunglasses.

"Here." He said shortly, causing me to look at him.

"Where did you get these?" I asked.

He snorted. "Where do you think?"

A part of me wondered whether or not he actually managed to grab them when I was pulling him out of the water without me noticing. Another part of me wondered if Usopp actually did the fetching and gave them to Zoro so he could make a sort of peace offering with them.

My guess was that Usopp was getting sick of the tension and wanted us to make peace with each other already.

Tentatively, I reached out and gently took them from his open hand, which he immediately retracted and used to cross with the other.

"Thanks…" I muttered briefly, expecting them. I then pouted. "They're chipped."

Suddenly, Usopp and Johnny jumped, backs to us, but still peering over their shoulders. Zoro merely stared off to the side towards me.

They were indeed chipped. Thankfully, it wasn't at the center, but towards the edge where the lens met the frame. It wouldn't really interfere that much. Just be hella annoying.

"Meh." I finally said, taking my shirt to clean them and then putting them on. "I can still use them. Thanks again, by the way."

There was more silence between us as I went back to staring at the ocean.

Eventually, after a long pause, I heard Zoro let out a long sigh. "I don't hate you…"

I turned back to him, seeing that he still looked off to the side.

Despite my best hopes, I had a feeling he was just saying that. "Really? Is it just dislike? Or what?"

Zoro twitched. "Look." He said simply. "I admit, I don't like the fact that you're buddies with Mihawk."

"Acquaintances." I corrected, causing him to give me a look that said 'shut the hell up, I'm trying to make peace here'. "Sorry. Continue."

Zoro merely sighed. "To be honest I just thought you didn't like us. That you're being forced to be part of our crew when you don't want to deal with any of us." He eventually forced out, trailing off a bit.

… That's it? Really? He thought I didn't like them? That's why he was so frikkin pissy at me?

Good lord…

I sighed, turning so Zoro and I were shoulder to shoulder, barely noting that Usopp and Johnny were listening intently.

"I'm gonna admit, I didn't like Luffy at first." I stated plainly. "He saved my life, and I was grateful, don't get me wrong, but… The damn idiot was pushy, and he kept calling me a boy. I mean, how would you feel if Luffy kept calling you a girl?"

Zoro's cheeks flushed a hair and his eyes widened slightly. I heard snickering and I shot a look back at Usopp and Johnny, who automatically went back to pretending not to listen.

"Anyway, eventually I warmed up to the guy. I admit, he can be quite thick and all, but despite that, he's a great guy. Courageous. And he does good. And I was happy to call him my friend after a while, despite him thinking that I'm an okama." I said. "That, and I didn't want anyone to get hurt because of me, and I was afraid that if I did join you guys, you'd get hurt. Then I talked to Mihawk…"

I barely noted that Zoro tensed, but I had to push through with this.

"… And he told me that it sounded like I was doubting my friends, and it wasn't fair to any of you. So for that, I'm sorry. I'm also sorry that you thought I hated you lot. I truly am." I said, looking up at him, seeing him give me a side glance that seemed much more… kinder…? Let's go with that. "And to tell you the truth, I didn't hate you at all. You never gave me a reason to. Granted, I was pissed and I thought you were acting like a moron, but I never hated you…"

He seemed irritated at the moron comment, but he now had his head turned towards me, and seemed to be fully regarding me. I think we're kind of making a breakthrough, here…

"So…" I said, smirking and holding a hand out to him. "Friends?"

Zoro snorted, smirking as well, he looked around a bit before finally pulling a hand free and clasping mine.

"Sure." He said. He then gripped it tighter, leaning forward a bit, the look on his face actually quite creepy. "But if you ever run away again, I'm kicking your ass. Got it?"

I couldn't help it. I returned the creepy look and leaned in as well, our foreheads touching. "I won't be running anymore, but I'd sure as hell would like to see you try!"

"All right! Now we're a happy pirate crew!" We both stopped turning to Usopp. "All hail the brilliant Captain Usopp!"

"So it was his idea all along?" I inquired, feeling Zoro tense a little in my hand. But I only snickered. "I had a feeling. Still good to get that all out, ne?"

Zoro merely smirked, then let go of my hand snagging the first aid kit that was nearby and chucking it at Usopp, who yelped and dodged it, causing it to fall and land, thankfully, still in the dingy.

"Quit being a moron!" Zoro called.

"Hey!" Usopp said, stomping over. "If it weren't for Johnny and I, you two would still be giving each other the cold shoulder!"

"Aw, Usoppuuu!" I crooned menacingly, pinching his cheek and pulling, causing him to wince. "Do you doubt us that much? I'm hurt!"

I then let go, smirking as he huffed, rubbing his cheek. "You're both nuts!"

"Aw, we love you too, Usopp!"

xxx

After that delightful conversation, Usopp and Johnny both felt comfortable enough to sit by us. That, and we were closing in on Arlong Park. So really, we all seemed to be fitting into our roles at this point.

Now my question was this: Do I simply sit back and let Zoro take the fall and get clonked out by them alone? Or do I team up with him and possibly get the same treatment?

… Ah, screw it. Zoro's journey's much more exciting. Plus, I might actually get to kick some ass. Joy of joys!

"We're finally here…! Arlong Park!" I heard Johnny whimper.

"The base of the merman pirate, Arlong, who survived the Grand Line!" Usopp didn't seem any more confident than Johnny did.

"I don't see why you're both so scared." I said. "Isn't a merman just a girly man with a fish tail?"

"How can you be so naïve!" Johnny cried. "Mermen are vicious creatures! It's like they're born from nightmares themselves!"

"I'll believe it when I see it." I stated, finally turning to see said formidable place.

To be honest, one would think it would look more run down, or even dark and depressing, maybe a thunder cloud here and there.

But no. Like in its name, the place looked like it was an entrance to a bloody theme park, minus the twinkling lights, roller coasters and Ferris wheels.

… Damn, now I wanna go to a theme park, get cracked up on cotton candy, and just let lose on childish escapades.

"Is Nami really here, though…?" Usopp questioned.

"Probably." I said. "She sailed in this direction. Plus, you did say she looked at said merman's wanted poster."

I heard Johnny swallow. Hard. "Firstly, if Nami-aneki is here, we should be able to find the Going Merry. So, shall we check to see if it's really anchored here first?"

"Nah." I drawled, waving my hand. "That's too frikkin boring."

"So what, you suggest we just rush in and fight to the death just to see if she's there!" Usopp cried.

There was a slam on the deck and we all turned to see Zoro stand, turning towards the island. "That's exactly what we're going to do." He stated firmly. "Prepare to rush in!"

"Why the hell would we do that!" Usopp and Johnny yelled.

"We don't know anything about this place!"

"Our opponents are mermen!"

"We should plan everything out first!"

"Sorry, but I don't do such cowardly things." Zoro said firmly. "Luffy asked us to bring back that woman. I don't care who the opponents are, but we'll surely bring her back!"

"I agree. Besides, planning takes too long." I said, standing. "We're probably gonna have to deal with these guys anyway. I highly doubt they're just gonna let us waltz in and take our ship back!"

Zoro smirked at me, and I returned the cocky look, then we both turned back to look at Arlong Park. For the dramatics, I placed one fist on my hip and lifted the other in a jeering fashion.

"Let's go!"

"Yosh!"

And cue the dramatic sequence of getting our heads bashed in and being knocked unconscious. You know, I didn't think I'd be able to get knocked out, and I was gonna fake it, but damn!