Chapter 13

A/N: Minna-san! A thousand apologies (Author made a thousand 90 degree bows!). Been busy with my job and all. So, now I'll be updating until the last chapter of this fanfic. I made sure to finish the story before coming back here. It had been a very enjoyable experience for me writing this one. Thank you so much for your patience.

Oda-sensie you're just awesome! All the credits are his and his alone.

ENJOY!

(Chapter Start-O!)

Robin and Zoro saw what Sanji did and a knowing smile was plastered on their faces. Kai was fast asleep courtesy of Chopper who was now very fond of the little child.

"Poor, Ero-cook. His life is doomed." Zoro commented taking his gaze towards the dark open seas. It was like many other nights in the Sunny. Besides the rowdy background noise of their nakamas the whole night was pristine. Zoro gulped down the hot liquid in the liquor bottle he was holding. Robin on the other hand was holding a cup of coffee.

"And why is that?" Robin asked her eyebrows arched.

"He'd be a slave under Nami forever." Zoro said knowingly.

"You'd noticed it, too." she said. She her gaze landed on Zoro beside her. He got this relaxed ghost of smile. "So, you think that men who are in love are slave to women?" she asked wanting to know his answer.

He turned to her and their gazes met. And the atmosphere sizzled. It was always like that since last night. Maybe it was always like that even before both of them acknowledged it. Their comrades may not notice it. But the tension was there every time their eyes met and their hands or arms brushed with each other or even the heat they felt when each other were in close proximity. The sexual tension was there. Both of them knew it and they can't do anything about it. It is already a known fact that they want each other.

Zoro was the first to take his eyes away. "You knew very well that I don't dwell too much on gender issues. But it is just normal for a man to be enslaved by his woman? Doing everything he could just to please her and make her happy. Afterall, it was only the woman's affection he wants."

"Are you that kind of man, Zoro?" she asked. A twinkle in her eyes is of pure fondness.

She then smiled with the hint of red on Zoro's face. "Maybe, maybe not. To be honest, I'm not good at this relationship thing. I don't even had what they called past relationships." She too looks at the dark seas and knowingly smiled.

"That I kind of know. I kind of remember you told me that 'love dulls the blade'. Still, what if there came a woman you are attracted with and she felt the same way. Are you willing to take the risk?"

Silence governed them. Both of them are thinking hard. Like Robin he was feeling rather confused of all the cocktail of feelings he was experiencing. Everything just happened so fast between them. Even though they both knew that they are attracted to each other but he can't just let his carnal desires overcame him. Maybe just maybe, they'll regret it somehow. But he has doubts on the 'regret' thing too. He wanted Robin so much that it hurts. He also knew that she wanted him too. And that knowledge almost made him insane with need for her. But along with those desires is the fear that he might lose her somehow. The world is dangerous for pirates like him and her. He is not sure if he could cope up if that happens. He massages his neck in frustration. He now pondered about the thought that he could take risk on his dreams. But why can't he decide on the thing many called 'love and relationships'?

"Are you talking about us?" Zoro finally asked out of nowhere. Robin's face heated up. She shouldn't be surprised knowing that he was quite upfront.

"Is there really us, Zoro? After this morning I had time to think. Do you think if it hadn't for Kai would we address the sexual tension between us? I can't help but think through all this. If we go and fulfill our desires for each other would we regret it or not? Will it be for a while or for a lifetime? This thing is new to me." She confessed. For the first time, frustration and doubt is evident in her voice.

Zoro looked at Robin's expression. It was the first in two years that he saw fear and desperation in Robin's eyes again. Both of them are battling a silent war. Can they really handle what will happen after their desires for each other are fulfilled? Both of them have dreams to achieve and clearly they both don't want distractions. But the thing is, the distraction was there already. The problem is how to deal with it.

"I see we are feeling the same, too," Zoro admitted. "Falling for you is scary, Robin. Maybe we just need time to sort things out. The new world is a big place and we got lots of adventures and dreams to achieve. Maybe we'll find the answers we need somewhere over there." he then stood at his feet and walked away after saying to find some booze in the kitchen.

Robin on the other hand, took the deepest breath she could muster. Did she just get rejected or not? Zoro just told her he had fallen for her, did he? Both of them knew they had fallen for each other. She only knew that without the influence of booze, fireworks, a poker game and a baby, both of them will still be afraid to take the risk.

The next morning…

"Everyone on deck! An enemy ship was engaging the Sunny." Nami's voice alarmed everyone on the ship. Right after that a loud explosion was heard.

"Stay here with Kai," Zoro said to Robin before kissing her forehead and went out of the room. After their talk last night they still managed to be good parents to Kai and look after him. Robin was glad that eventhough they both decided to think through about their relationship first, still Zoro's affections towards her are slowly showing.

Outside, a humungous ship was approaching the Sunny together with several other ships. All of them had the flag bearing the insignia of the Hundred Beast Kaido.

As usual the three front men of the Mugiwaras; Luffy, Zoro and Sanji were poised to attack.

"This is exciting. A good warm up before facing that Kaido guy," Zoro commented with his three swords ready.

"How dare them to interrupt my cooking. Women and a child is on board. They have no respect. Thus, my fury they shall have." Sanji said in his usual cool demeanor as he lighted a cigarette.

All that was heard after that was the loud explosions of bombs that never reached the Sunny.

"Well, well, well. So it is true that the Mugiwara pirates are powerful." The Luffy and the others were shocked to see a man standing at the head bust of Sunny. He was cloaked in red so his face was not clearly seen. A sword was clearly strapped at his waist.

"Who are you?" Franky asked.

"Me? You don't know who I am? And yet you trespass in my waters. I am Fareed, son of the Hundred Beast Kaido. And here I am going to get a compensation as a passage of entering my waters."

"What? We are not giving you anything!" Nami sneered thinking of all the treasures they've accumulated in the treasure room.

Suddenly in a blinked of an eye, he teleported behind Nami. "So this is the famous cat burglar, Nami. It is really true that you are a beauty."

"Get away from her!" Sanji kicked the man on his side and missed by a thread because he suddenly disappeared in thin air.

He appeared again by the ship's railing. This time the cloak covering his face was blown by Sanji's sudden attack, "Don't worry I am not after the mikan girl. All I want is for you to hand over the Devil's child Robin."

Zoro's face turned super scary upon hearing the intent of the unknown man. "You can't have her."

"Really?" Fareed smiled sinisterly. "Try me." after that they heard Kai's cry. And the door from Robin's room opened up. A big girl behind her had her hands shackled on a kairoseike (Sea stone A/N: Did I make the right spelling?). Fatigue was on her face. Looks like her capture happened so fast that she didn't had a chance to fight.

"Master Fareed this woman seemed to have a child already." The big girl informed.

"Mother or not, I am taking her as my bride." He said and suddenly Zoro's swords were swinging at Fareed's face. Good thing he was fast enough, if not his head could have been rolling on the ground.

"You coward! Stop running around and fight me." Zoro roared.

"I don't have time for silly swordplay. I still have a wedding to prepare. Let's go, Feina." With that he disappeared.

"What did you do to Kai?" Nami waved her weather wand at the big girl.

"Don't worry. I don't hurt children." With that she jumped so high carrying Robin with her. Zoro and Sanji was about to jump to catch up with her but canons from the enemy fleet fired at them again, shaking the seas below them. The weather is also getting bad courtesy of the wailing child in Robin's room. Good thing that Chopper was there to take the child to safety.

They cursed under their breaths as Zoro went on berserk mode as he sliced up every enemy ship he saw. But they are too outnumbered by the enemy.

"Zoro! We'll go coup de burst. We will need the ship to be intact if we want to rescue Robin!" Nami said to the rampaging Zoro. But he didn't listen and continued his massacre frenzy.

"Luffy, Sanji please pacify Zoro. We'll end up losing the ship too,"

The last thing Zoro remembered was the sight of a sinking enemy ship in front of him and the void that stayed with the Robin's abduction.

"No! Robin!" Zoro yelled as he woke up.

"Zoro, calm down," Nami was immediately at his side.

"No, I'm going to save Robin." He said and tried to get up but Luffy and Sanji subjugated him in a vice grip hug. He knew he could get away from Luffy but for some reason his strength wasn't there. His thoughts are in mush. He just can't believe that he let Robin get kidnapped by some unknown man just under his nose. He needed to get her back no matter what.

"Calm down, Zoro." Nami said. "You are not the only one who wanted Robin back. Don't take it away from us. We are the Mugiwaras and we are comrades. You also have to think about Kai." He looked at Nami and then to the people around him. She was right he need to calm himself. Berserking will not help.

He let out a sigh and calmed down. "Ok. Where is Kai? Is he alright?"

"Yes," Law said. He was holding Kai and gave the kid at him afterwards. "I'm going with you."

"Aren't you going to see your nakamas?" Nami inquired.

"Yes, but I want to help you rescue Robin." Law was dead serious.

"Just don't get in the way." He said gruffly. Nami smiled because she knew that he was still grateful.

"So, where are we?" he asked.

"We are currently landed in a small island after we coup de burst. Ussop and Brook are currently out to gather information."

"Minna-san!" it was Brook's voice. They then saw Ussop running hurriedly towards them.

"Minna, I know where Robin is."

"You do? Where?" he asked immediately. That son-of-unforgiving-manbitch must do nothing bad to his Robin because if he did, he will definitely hunt him and his descendants. Nami irked at the menacing aura emanating from Zoro.

"When Brook and I were asking about Fareed, we overheard some town-folks talking about the incoming wedding of Kaido's son and a certain devil's child/pirate. And we confirmed that it was really Fareed and Robin they were talking about."

"Wait? You mean that Fareed guy kidnapped Robin for him to have her as his wife?"

"Yes," Ussop nodded in affirmation. So what the man said was true.

Everyone turned at him when they heard Kai crying due to his menacing aura. Suddenly the bright blue sky became dark. "Hey Zoro, you are scaring the kid." he then turned to Kai and tried to calm himself again. "I'm sorry kid." he said and his heart was pained to see the tear-streaked face of the little boy. He would not let this little child be an orphan again. "We will definitely get your mommy back." he said.

"Alright, we have a wedding to gatecrash." Nami said cheerfully. "So Ussop do you know when and where is the wedding?"

"The wedding is at the next island from here and it will be tomorrow."