Ah, I love the feeling of finishing and uploading a new chapter.

If you guys haven't figured it out by now, this entire story is being told by Hikari in her cell in prison. I told you guys I liked flashbacks. :3

I'm working on finishing up the last few chapters in this story. Thanks to all of you for putting up with me for so long, and sticking with me as I write this! Once I finish the last few chapters of Coming Closer, I'll decide whether or not I want to write a sequel to this story.

Also, sorry about how short this chapter is! I promise, the next one will be longer!

Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece.

I do own Hikari.

Zoro grunted, knocking back yet another small fry. He adjusted his grip on Sandai Kitetsu, taking a moment to scan the courtyard. There was really no need for him to worry. Luffy and the rest of the crew were holding their own against the hoard of underlings. Luffy himself had taken out most of the men upon bursting into the courtyard, and he and Sanji had made quick work of the rest. However, reinforcements were pouring in from all sides, and the flow of new forces wasn't slowing. Turning back to the men before him, he grinned ominously around the hilt of Wado and took up a fighting stance.

"Halt!" a loud voice ordered, ringing out over the courtyard. Everyone froze, raising their eyes to the source of the voice. On the balcony overlooking the courtyard stood a rather handsome, and extremely muscular, red haired man. Zoro was shocked to discover that the man looked almost identical to him. It was quite similar to looking in the mirror, but seeing your reflection changed in minor ways.

Zoro instantly didn't like him.

The man smiled down at them, and the swordsman found yet another reason to hate this man. Clapping his hands together, his eyes flickered over all of the crew in turn, finally coming to rest on Zoro. "Bravo," he drawled, smirking down at the green haired swordsman. "I must say, this has been quite… entertaining. But I'm going to have to cut things short."

"Who the hell are you?" Zoro growled, glaring up at the red haired man. The man in question smirked, making a mock bow as he answered. "I am Ryūnoichizoku Kensei, head of the Ryūnoichizoku Syndicate," he responded with a mocking tone. "Unfortunately, you all are going to have to do exactly as I say from now on."

"And why's that?" Nami shouted.

Kensei grinned. "Because if you don't, I'll kill the tanuki," he replied nonchalantly.

Zoro froze. He had Chopper? But that would mean…

Kensei motioned to some guards standing behind him, and someone walked forward. It took Zoro a moment to realize who it was, and when he did, his blood ran cold.

Hikari stood on the balcony, sword drawn and an unconscious Chopper under her arm. Zoro heard Luffy and the others shout out their disbelief, but he wasn't listening. He stared up at her, a mixture of shock and betrayal completely overwhelming him. Her expression was cold as she gazed down at him. Zoro saw nothing of the Hikari that he knew in that expression, in her eyes.

She had betrayed them.

Kensei stood beside Hikari, a cruel grin spread across his face and one arm draped over her shoulder. "Now, you all will do as I say. Or Hikari-chan here," he paused, taking a moment to nuzzle against her neck, "will kill your precious doctor."

Hikari stood stiffly, as if she was riveted to the spot, a look of utter disgust flashing across her face. Zoro narrowed his eyes. If she had turned on them, for him, then why was she acting like she despised the man who stood beside her? It didn't make sense.

Kensei stood back up to his full height, all playfulness gone from his voice. "You will leave this island immediately. If I so much as see any of you ever again, I will kill you where you stand. Do you understand?" he snarled, the rage he had been concealing before bubbling up to the surface. Snatching the tiny reindeer from Hikari's grasp, he threw Chopper off the balcony in the crew's general direction. Sanji sprinted over, leaping to catch the tiny body before it could hit the ground. "You have an hour to get to your ship and set sail," Kensei snarled. "Get out of my sight." Turning on his heel, he grabbed Hikari by the arm roughly and stormed off.

"And they just left? You can't be serious."

Hikari raised her tired gaze to meet the gaze of the old pirate. "Yes," she responded simply. "I am serious. They left. After all, Kensei made it look like I had betrayed them." She once again turned her gaze down to her hands.

"But still! They had no proof! They should have stayed and rescued you," the old man snarled, crossing his arms and shaking his head. "Kids these days… There's no sense of family in a crew anymore."

Hikari decided not to argue with the old man any longer. That sense of family was exactly the reason why they wouldn't be coming to rescue her. She had been accepted into their family, and she had betrayed their trust.

The door to the prison slammed open once again, and the guard jumped to his feet, offering a sloppy salute. Glancing up, Hikari met the dark gaze of Kensei. She glared at him as he grinned down at her. "What do you want, you bastard?" she spat.

Kensei simply chuckled in response, leaning against one of the bars and staring intently at her. "My offer still stands, you know," he commented, waiting for her response.

Hikari stood slowly, walking over to where he stood. She pulled herself up to her full height, glaring straight into his eyes. "Your offer…" she trailed off, her expression softening for a moment.

Then her right arm flashed forward, her fist connecting with his face.

Kensei staggered back, clutching his bleeding nose and gasping for air. He looked shocked, as if he had been expecting a different response. "That's what I think of your damn offer, you asshole!" Hikari shouted. The red haired man glared at her, his face turning almost as red as his hair. He stormed out of the prison, pausing only to shout back, "Then we'll see you on the execution platform!"

Hikari slumped against the wall of her cell, sliding down to the floor. Her hands found their way into her hair, and she fought back sobs. It was really happening. She was really going to die. There was no avoiding it this time. Curling in on herself, she sat and waited for the end to come.

After what seemed like an eternity, she heard the door to her cell creak open. Raising her gaze, she saw the two guards standing at the door, each carrying a naginata. The taller guard held a pair of kairoseki handcuffs limply in his hand. "Let's go," the shorter guard snapped. "I don't have all day." Resigned to her fate, Hikari stood and let the guards cuff her. Each one grabbed one of her arms and escorted her out of the prison.

Hikari trudged up the long flight of stairs, a sense of dread filling her with every passing second. She could hear the senseless babble of hundreds of people. Had Kensei really called everyone here? She supposed that she could be used as an example of what happened to those who betrayed the syndicate. She laughed to herself as she sarcastically thought that perhaps her death wouldn't be a waste after all.

The procession finally came to the platform at the top of the stairs, bringing them out into the blinding sunlight. Hikari squinted against the bright light, stumbling a bit as she was pulled towards the contraption that would end her life. The guillotine stood dark against the sunlight, the blade gleaming ominously. The two guards forced Hikari roughly down on her knees before the monstrous apparatus. The wood at the base was stained red, and she could smell the stench of dried blood radiating up from it. Swallowing back bile, she tried not to breathe in the stench as the guards forced her head forward, her neck resting uncomfortably on the wood. She half-heard the announcement to the crowd before her, not really processing the words as they were spoken. Closing her eyes, she waited for the moment when the blade would come crashing down.

The moment came sooner than she had expected. She heard a guard shout, heard the familiar sound of steel cutting through a thick rope, heard the grinding of the blade as it plummeted towards her.

And then she heard the clang of steel meeting steel. The crowd, which had been rowdy and noisy, was now silent. Hikari opened her eyes slowly, verifying that she was still alive. Everyone was staring at the guillotine, a mixture of shock and fear on their faces.

"Dammit, shit-cook, keep your end up," an all-too familiar voice growled behind her.

"Worry about your own side, shitty Marimo!" another, higher voice snarled in response.

Hikari froze.

It was impossible.

Craning her neck, she looked behind her. The two guards stood on either side of her, their naginatas holding the guillotine blade mere inches from her neck. While Hikari, watched, the taller, sleepy guard reached up with one hand and pulled his helmet off. She gaped as Zoro grinned down at her.

"How's it going, idiot? Guess what? We came to rescue you."

TBC

Thanks for reading!