Ok I would say two, three maybe chapters left. Try to enjoy what's left.

Back aboard, the Straw-hats relaxed finally. The ship seemed empty after having all of those slaves here, but it's nice for it to be just the Straw-hats and me again. I've wanted alone time with them for a while now, and I liked the slaves, but I'm a bit possessive when it comes with the Straw-hats.

Nami immediately karate chopped Luffy's head.

"You baka, we weren't finished shopping yet."

His face swollen, Luffy apologized.

"Sowwy."

I smiled.

"It's probably not his fault. Luck just happened."

Sanji danced around me in a circle.

"Oh Rose-swan, you look even more beautiful in that outfit."

I look down at the new clothes and feel a little shy.

"You think so?"

Sanji melted under my shy question.

"Of course, but you would be beautiful in anything."

I really do feel more like myself in more comfortable clothes. I pull my hair back into my signature ponytail and sigh. Yes, I feel much more like Rose.

"Sanji, dinner."

"No Luffy, we just had a feast."

"I'm still hungry."

Sanji went to the kitchen, carrying the grocery bags to the refrigerator.

"You can wait."

I pat Luffy's back.

"Sorry pal looks like you have to wait. You want to play a game?"

Luffy's face immediately brightened.

"Yeah, tag."

Nami and Robin immediately backed off, heading toward the lawn chairs on the upper deck to get out of the way. Usopp and Chopper join our game. Franky heads down to his workshop to deposit his tools and wood he had bought. Brook strikes up a lively violin song that is the perfect beat to run to. Zoro is nowhere to be seen, but I can assume he is in the crow's nest, working out or napping.

Ah, normality at last.

The game of tag the best game I've had in a very long time. We had to handicap Luffy of course so he couldn't just stretch and get us. That would have put a damper on the game.

Tag to me is very important. I consider myself a tag master, and I take it very seriously. I run faster, jump farther, and do anything in my power not to get caught.

One time, I was going down a slide and everyone was tired of me not being it, so one guy blocked up the slide so I was trapped. The guy that was it was coming so I practically crawled over the guy, kicking him in the shoulder to get out. Point of the story: don't mess with me while playing tag. It's not a game; it's war.

The game started out perfectly, laughing as I sprinted across the lawn, sliding under railings, and basically keeping out of the way of whomever was it. Luffy was it first, but he quickly got Chopper because the little reindeer ran into him. Chopper got Usopp because he snuck up on the sniper, who was hiding behind the mast.

I always kept my eye on who was it, always asking who it was. I wasn't getting caught. No way no how.

Carefully avoiding Nami and Robin sunbathing, I kept out of the way of the It person at the time. Law just sat by the mast, watching our game with what looked like indifference, but I could tell he was getting some form of entertainment when Usopp almost slid off the deck into the ocean, or Luffy tripped and fell flat on his face.

After about thirty minutes of running and laughing, I was the one that they hadn't caught yet. Luffy was it and he was chasing me. My mind went a thousand miles a minute, trying to search out routes that I could take and he wouldn't catch me. Usopp and Chopper were taking a break, panting as they lay on the deck. I heard Usopp's amazed gasp.

"Is she not tired yet?"

I giggle, sliding between Robin and Nami to slide underneath the railing to the grass deck below. Luffy wasn't going to enrage Nami so he ran around. I leap over Usopp and Chopper, replying breathlessly.

"Not yet."

Endurance is important in tag, and also in cross-country runners. I am very used to the question by other people that can't keep up with me. I am determined, but so is Luffy. He will get me, but I am not going down without a fight. Hopping slightly on the balls of my feet, I eye Luffy carefully, trying to gauge what he would do next.

Luffy however did not come alone.

"Usopp, Chopper, now."

I feel furry arms grab my arms into a nelson hold and muscly arms grab onto my ankles. Grinning, I call.

"Three on one isn't exactly fair guys."

It would be slightly more difficult, but that only ups the challenge, and I like the challenge so I won't protest too much.

There is two ways to get out of a full nelson. One is to not get into it in the first place by pinching your arms closely by your side so they can't put you in the hold. I was caught by surprise and am already in it so that won't work.

The other is a little more difficult. All you do is relax, and drop. Raising your arms above your head will slide you out of the hold. So that's what I did.

Chopper emitted a cry of surprise as I just dropped out of his grip, right onto Usopp who is holding my ankles. He is also startled so he lets go of me. Laughing, I somersault away from Luffy's seeking fingers, sprinting to the other side of the ship.

Robin and Nami are chuckling at the stunned looks on the boy's faces. I lean against the railing near them, grinning. They do look pretty silly.

Then Luffy's eyes alight, like he has an idea. Oh this should be interesting.

He, Usopp, and Chopper have a huddle, speaking in low tones. I raise my eyebrows. What could they be planning?

Luffy breaks off and heads off while Chopper and Usopp come toward me. I narrow my eyes. All right, I can handle this for now, but I should keep an eye on Luffy just in case.

I leap over the railing and sprint to the mast, swinging up the rope ladder toward the observation tower. I hear Chopper and Usopp's triumphant laughter. They think I'm trapped.

I reach the observation tower and slam the trapdoor close behind me. Zoro is there in the middle of swinging a weight like a sword. He looks at me in confusion. I explain hurriedly.

"Tag. I'm winning."

Then I am gone to the window. I am halfway out on the yard when Chopper and Usopp burst through the trapdoor.

"Sorry Zoro."

I call back. I really am for interrupting his training but I have to win this game.

I crawl more out onto the yard, trying to keep my balance. My stomach knots up as I make the common mistake of looking down. Wow, if I hit the deck that it's going to be painful. Ignore, concentrate on the game.

"Rose."

I hear the call; both Usopp and Chopper are looking at me and the beam I am currently standing on in horror. They won't follow me out here. As much as I would love to stay and keep out of their way, that would make the game boring. So I grab a rope and jump.

The sail is full of wind, blowing the ship toward our next destination. I bounce on the full sail like a cushion and use it as a slide to skate down the taut material, using the rope as a safety net in case the wind stopped blowing.

I grab the boon at the bottom, hanging off of it as I drop to the deck. I grin up at Usopp, Chopper, and Zoro who had joined them at the window.

"I'm all right."

I am, but I wouldn't recommend that to anyone. Don't try that at home kids. This is a One Piece world only thing. I told you, willing to do anything to win.

Usopp and Chopper recover from their surprise and hurry to get down and chase me again. I wink at Zoro who is smirking.

"You have more luck then Luffy."

I laugh and call back.

"Good, I will live a long happy life then."

While Usopp and Chopper are climbing down the ladder, I glance around and frown. Luffy has disappeared, and that makes me uneasy. What is he doing?

I don't have time to completely ponder it because Chopper and Usopp are after me again. Chopper is in his jumping point and is super fast, but he can't climb as well in that form. Usopp is quick too, probably from running from the things on those islands for two years. I keep my head though and have experience they don't.

Suddenly I know what Luffy is been up to.

I am about to leap down the steps back onto the deck again from the upper deck, when a sphere surrounds me. I have time to blink in surprise before I am suddenly transported in front of Law and a grinning, triumphant Luffy.

Oh, crap.

Luffy reaches for me and tags me as soon as I appear because I was so surprised.

"Tag, you're it."

My mouth drops open. Chopper and Usopp are laughing uproariously.

"Look at her face."

"Yes, just as the great Usopp-sama planned. Nice going."

It takes a second but I protest.

"Hey that's cheating. Law isn't playing."

Law however is smirking faintly. Luffy stuck his tongue out at me.

"It is not, we said the only rule was I couldn't use my devil fruit powers. We didn't say anything about Law."

I glanced from Usopp to Chopper to Luffy once, before sighing. I was a master at tag, but I know when I have been beaten. Besides, they look so happy and I didn't want to ruin it. Why couldn't I just be it?

"All right I'm it. That was an awesome chase though. Most epic round of tag ever."

Luffy patted my back.

"You put up a good fight."

I laugh.

"You did too."

"Dinner!"

Sanji's announcement fills the air. Luffy seemingly disappeared, reappearing by the galley. If I had had meat attached to me somewhere, Luffy would have gotten me in two minutes. I laugh happily and follow them into the dining room.