Rating: K+

Timeframe: pre-series

Spoilers: Not really

"Language has created the word loneliness to express the pain of being alone, and the word solitude to express the glory of being alone."

-Paul Tillich

It was raining. It wasn't raining very hard, but it was muddy enough where going outside wasn't an option. Robin sat and read in her designated corner, wishing that it would hurry up and get sunny, because Auntie was starting to shoot mean looks her way again. She couldn't think of a reason why (her chores were done and she wasn't making any noise) but Auntie's moods were unpredictable.

"I'm bored."

Robin looked over the top of her book at her cousin, not quite sure how to respond to the statement. Mizuira's strawberry-blonde curls bounced as she rocked back and forth on her heels, and she looked back at Robin with great expectation.

"I'm sorry?" Robin offered.

Mizuira rolled her eyes. "Wanna play a game of hide 'n seek?"

Marking her spot, Robin closed her book and eyed her cousin warily. They didn't play together, not ever. Robin got into trouble for even asking. But Mizuira looked serious, and Robin rarely got the chance to play with anyone, so she nodded.

"Great! You count to twenty, and I'll hide! No peeking!" Before Robin had a chance to respond, Mizuira dashed out of the living room. Closing her eyes, Robin began to count loudly. She could hear Mizuira tromp up the stairs, and the noise faded over where Auntie and Uncle's room was.

"…Nineteen, twenty. Ready or not, here I come." Opening her eyes, Robin glanced around, making sure Aunt Roji wasn't going to yell at her, and then made her way upstairs. Mizuira hadn't been nearly quiet enough; finding her would be easy.

Robin paused when she came to the threshold of Aunt Roji and Uncle Oran's bedroom. Technically she wasn't allowed to go in except to dust. Did entering for a game count as breaking the rules? It must not, or else Mizuira wouldn't have chosen it as a hiding spot.

As sneakily as she could, Robin opened the door. With a triumphant smile, she pointed the bulging curtains. "Found you! Now it's my turn to hide."

Mizuira tore open the curtains. "No fair, you cheated!" she exclaimed.

"Did not," Robin said crossly.

"Did so! How else could you find me so fast? You used your creepy power, didn't you?" Mizuira accused.

Robin's hands balled into fists. "I did not!" she said. "You were just loud."

"MOOOM! ROBIN USED HER YOU-KNOW-WHAT!"

Robin froze as she heard Auntie stomp up the stairs. "I didn't. I didn't use it, I swear!" she insisted.

"Serves you right for cheating, you cheater," Mizuira said in a nasty voice as she made a face. When Aunt Roji was at the door frame, she pointed to Robin. "Mom, Robin used her creepy power to grow eyeballs and cheat at hide and seek!"

Aunt Roji's face darkened. "Robin, you ungrateful brat, what have I told you about using that curse in my house?"

"Auntie, I didn't…"

"And what I have I told you about lying?"

"But…"

"And isn't this room off-limits?" Auntie snarled. "You stupid, stupid little girl! Why is it so hard for you to listen?"

Robin hung her head and listened to her aunt berate her. Uncle Oran wasn't home, and she knew that once Auntie got going it would be a long time before she was finished.

Stupid Mizuira and her stupid game of hide and seek. To keep from crying, Robin clenched her hands so hard her fingernails cut into her palms. It wasn't fair. Why did she have to be treated so differently? It couldn't just be because of her Devil Fruit, because Aunt Roji hated her before she ever ate it.

No, there had to be more to it than that. Robin wished she knew what it was. That way she could fix it, and maybe then Auntie would care for her even a fraction as much as she did Mizuira. Maybe then some of the aching emptiness in her heart, always present when she was around her family, would go away.

Robin would give anything for that.

Robin sat on a tree stump gingerly. The ground was still squishy from the rain, but the weather had broken and she needed to get out of the house. Her bottom was sore from Auntie's punishment, but it wasn't the worst she had received.

After settling in Robin found her spot in her book. She could have gone to the Tree of Knowledge, it certainly would have been more comfortable, but for some reason she didn't want to. Everyone there would want to talk to her, and right now Robin just wanted to be left alone.

She had read through several chapters when the soft sound of a person walking on the wet ground caught her attention. Scowling, Robin looked up. She didn't want to have to deal with the village children or her cousin, not today.

The person wasn't anyone Robin recognized. The girl, perhaps a couple of years older than herself, was wearing a bright yellow raincoat and galoshes even though it wasn't raining anymore. Her light brown hair was pulled back into a pretty braid, and she gave Robin a big smile.

"Are you new?" Robin asked politely, thinking of no other reason for the smile.

"Yeah! I'm Anko, me 'n my family just moved from Kor Island. I'm exploring!" she said proudly.

"Oh. I'm Nico Robin. Pleased to meet you."

Anko's grin grew wider, revealing a missing tooth. "Hello, Robin. Hey, that's a big book. Does it got any good pictures in it?"

It had several nice diagrams, charts, and even a few grainy photographs of stuffy-looking famous people, but Robin didn't think that's what Anko meant by the question.

"Not really," Robin said

"Too bad. Hey, do you know any good adventure spots? Mom and Dad told me to go away so they could unpack, so I've got all day to mess around."

Robin thought about it for a moment. "Have you gone to the beach? There're some interesting tide pools."

"'Course not, silly! I told you I haven't been anywhere yet. Do you think you could show me?" Anko asked.

"I guess," Robin said uncertainly. She didn't quite know what to make of Anko, but she hadn't called her monster or any other name, and not showing her around would be rude.

"Awesome! Then maybe you could come over to my house? My mom makes the best fried fish ever!"

"I-I would have to ask my aunt," Robin stammered.

"Sure, sure, gotta get permission first. Now lead on to the tide pools!" Anko exclaimed.

Robin tucked her book under her arm and gave Anko a shy smile. "We have to go this way," she said, pointing west.

"Sounds good." There was a loud noise, and Anko paused, turning her head the other direction. "Hey, Robin, do you know those guys?" Turning around, Robin groaned. Several of the village boys, no doubt drawn by Anko's shouts, were approaching.

"Who you got with you, Weirdo Nico?" one of them called. There were a few whistles and taunts, and Anko stepped forward, glaring daggers.

"What's your problem?" she asked, her hands on her hips. "Robin was just showin' me around."

"Oooh…preying on the new girl, Monster?" Addressing Anko, the boy smirked. "You don't know 'cause you're not from around here, but she's a demon. My da says she drinks blood and everything."

Anko looked at Robin quizzically. "Really? She looks normal to me."

"Yeah, she hangs out with those crazies at the library."

"I heard she killed her own parents."

"She ate a Devil Fruit."

"Shut up!" Robin shouted. She felt so angry her hands shook, and she stepped towards the boys. They all backed away. "Just leave me alone."

"Or what?" the bravest of them asked. "You know it's true. Why else would your own mom abandon you? I bet she knew the moment you were born and ran away in shame."

"My mom's working out at sea," Robin said, her stomach twisting painfully.

"Yeah, right. She just knew what a freak you were and dumped you-"

Robin's temper snapped. Calling on her power, she made arms sprout through the clearing. She didn't want to hurt anyone, just make them stop spouting their hateful lies. Sure enough, the moment the boys saw the extra arms, they fell over each other in their rush to get away.

Panting, Robin released her power. Petals floated to the ground before disappearing. Then she looked at Anko, fearful of what she might see. The older girl was staring where the phantom limbs had been a moment ago. Shaky and pale, she seemed to be at a loss for words.

Anko slowly turned to face Robin, a look of dread plastered over her face. "D-d-demon…Get away from me!"

Then Anko ran away. Robin looked down at her hands, feeling hurt and lonely.

"What'd I do wrong?" she whispered to herself. No answer was forthcoming, so Robin crouched underneath one of the trees to wallow in her misery, not caring that Auntie would be angry when she saw how muddy her dress was.

"Mom, I'm going to Anko's to play dolls!" Mizuira shouted as she rushed out the door. Robin watched intently, making sure her cousin was really gone before slipping into the house.

"Auntie, may I go out?" Robin asked softly.

"Is the laundry done?"

"Yes, Auntie."

"And the dishes and the weeding? You've been gone a lot recently, brat. Don't forget you have to earn your keep here."

"All of my chores are done, Auntie," Robin said, inwardly cringing. Was she really that obvious? Was there a chance someone would find out her secret?

"Then get out of my sight."

Robin scurried away, not allowing her aunt a chance to change her mind. She took the long way around to the bluffs, avoiding as many people as she could. Over the years she had gotten very good at not being seen.

Finally, she made it. With a big smile Robin hunted around for Saul. She couldn't find him right away, which wasn't unusual. It was only when Robin used her power to sprout extra eyes that she caught a hint of his red beard, hidden in a nook of the cliffs.

"Saul, it's me!" Robin called. The ground rumbled as the giant shifted out of his hiding place. Craning her neck, Robin looked up at him.

"How do you do that?" she asked.

"Do what?" Saul replied. He reached down with one of his massive hands, and Robin climbed into his palm.

"How do you hide so well?" Robin clarified, bracing herself as Saul lifted her to his eye level. "You've been here for days and no one's even guessed that there's a giant on the island."

"Oh, that. Derishishi! That's simple, you just gotta be still!"

Saul gently placed her on top of one of the bluffs so it would be easier to have a conversation, and Robin looked at him skeptically.

"That doesn't make sense, Saul."

"Sure it does! You gotta be still here," he said, pointing a massive finger to his heart, "and when you are, it makes it easier to listen."

Robin giggled. "Now you're being silly."

He smiled. "Naw. It's hard to explain, but out here where it's so quiet 'cept for the birds 'n the waves…" Saul shook his head. "Dereshishi! You'll know when you feel it, trust me, Robin!"

"You're definitely being silly," Robin said, which made him laugh again. "But if you say so, I believe you."

"Dereshishi, that's all I ask."

The two sat for quite some time in comfortable silence, just enjoying each other's company.

Robin hid in the top of a cottonwood tree. She had been chased out of town, and it was likely a mob had been formed to hunt her down. Luckily the village consisted mostly of farmers, and there was no marine presence on the island. When it got dark they would lose interest, and she would be free to move on to her next destination, wherever that was.

Until then, Robin would just have to wait. Digging through her (stolen) pack, she grabbed an (equally stolen) apple and a hunk of aged cheese. Robin took her time cutting the fruit with her belt knife before taking delicate nibbles of her meal. Who knew when she would have a chance to eat so well again? It was best to enjoy the good fortune while it lasted.

After she finished, Robin wiped her hands on her pants and leaned back against the tree trunk. A squirrel chattered animatedly in the distance and warm sunlight filtered through the canopy. While not exactly comfortable in her impromptu hiding spot, Robin was warm and safe. All in all, it was a beautiful day.

A soft breeze rustled through the leaves. After several minutes of quiet listening, Robin realized that the sound was somewhat different than she was used to. It was like listening to the ocean from a distance, and Robin found it to be strangely comforting. Curious, she used her power to pluck a leaf off of the cottonwood.

The leaf was shiny, and it had a very long, flat stem that was sure to catch the wind easily. With a small smile, Robin let the leaf float the ground. What was it the professor always said? There's no mystery that can't be solved.

Robin very much doubted he had been referring to the discovery as to why cottonwood leaves sounded like the sea when they rustled in the wind, but it was a nice sentiment all the same. So long as she stayed up in this tree, Robin could pretend she was on some grand adventure instead of running for her life. Up here, so close to the sky, it was a little bit easier to imagine a future that included a happy ending, rather than to think of the cruel truth of her existence.

A strange feeling settled over Robin. It wasn't quite peace, but it was a little more than contentment. It felt good to be away from the world, even if it was only for a couple of hours. Besides, the sounds of the forest blended together in a way that was almost musical, which was always nicer to listen to than the bile that so often occupied her life.

Shifting into a more comfortable position, Robin smiled. It was the moments like these, the quiet amidst the storm, that she treasured. Rare as they were she wasn't about to let this one go to waste.

Saul had been right all along, you just had to be still enough to appreciate it.

AN: The stuff about cottonwood leaves sounding sea-like in the wind is true. There're even videos on youtube (not particularly high quality, but they exist!).

And I always find it odd that no one besides Robin noticed Saul. The anime even gave him some pretty specular rumble effects when he walked (and tore trees out by their roots…). I suppose it goes back to the age old question: If a giant laughs alone in the woods, does he really make a sound?