Luffy closed her eyes as she hurtled towards the ground.

She was tired.

Dead tired.

There should have been pain as she connected with the building debris that lay scattered from the Strawhat's fight with Oz, but there was none.

Her body was still running off battle-induced adrenaline.

She knew that she should listen to what her crew was saying but presently she couldn't bring herself to care.

Just a quick nap.

Usopp crossed his arms as he seated himself on an elevated piece of rubble not too far from his passed out captain.

"You guys know this isn't sustainable right? The enemies we come across are only going to be getting stronger and at this rate Luffy's going to kill herself from over doing it."

The rest of the crew frowned as they watched their Captain.

It was true that she had outdone herself in both of her last fights, going beyond her physical capabilities, but each time she got up, ready to do it all again.

No, Zoro thought, what doesn't kill her will make her stronger.

He could see it looking back on how far they'd come. From the people Luffy had fought and over come, each one a little stronger than the last.

He could see it right now.

The minor cuts that Chopper was attempting to patch up were fading almost right before his eyes. Luffy had always been a fast healer, but now her body was repairing itself at an unimaginable pace.

Injuries that should have taken weeks to heal were only taking days; ones that used to take days were only taking minuets or even seconds, just like now.

She might be wiping herself out by the end of each fight, yet her time to recover was steadily decreasing.

"OH MY GOD!"

"Nami, how many times do I have to say it, there is no God."

"Now's not the time Zoro! I forgot to tell you all but earlier I saw–"

Nami's eyes widened as she took a step back.

What were they going to do?

"Oi, oi! Nami, what did you see?"

Usopp gripped the navigators' shoulders as he shook her back and forth hoping to force out a response.

Sanji was about to attack Usopp for hurting his precious Nami-swan when she lifted a single arm to point directly behind them.

"Him." Nami squeaked.

"Who is–"

Usopp fell silent as Robin answered his unfinished question.

"Another of the Seven Warlords. Bartholomew Kuma. He was once considered the most violent pirate to travel the seas."

Cringing slightly Zoro pushed himself to his feet. Luffy was still out and that put him in charge of the crews safety. He wouldn't let his Captain down, even if it cost him his life.

It wasn't long before Kuma and Zoro were trading blows. Zoro knew he was at a huge disadvantage. Not only was this guy able to repel his attacks, but his mental exhaustion was starting to take toll.

His form was sloppy.

His mind was becoming unfocused.

He would need a miracle to get out of this alive. If he did, Zoro swore he would up his training tenfold. He never wanted to feel this weak or pitiful again.

The pair paused.

Zoro tried to stabilize his breath, counting slowly in his head whilst retaining a cool mask of indifference to the Warlord.

"I've heard that Strawhat had been collecting members of particular skill."

Robin and Zoro were the only ones not to react to Kuma's unintended compliment, the others rubbing the back of their heads in a show of flattered embarrassment.

"You are creating waves, above those of other pirates. Your bounties are starting to reflect those of pirates of more notoriety. The World Government is not blind. Your existence will be eradicated."

Fed up with the 'lecture', Zoro resumed their dance throwing everything behind his attack.

"Zoro! You're too injured!"

Usopp's cries fell on one set of deaf ears but not another's.

Zoro was quickly flung back to his nakama by Kuma's giant hand.

"I only need Strawhat to keep the World Government happy. Your choice. Giver her up or be annihilated."

Sanji reacted first sending the strongest kick he could muster into the chin of their opponent.

The shock of pain that rocked Sanji's leg forced him to the ground, his leg curled into his chest in a futile attempt to ease the pain.

Kuma had let his guard down, not expecting such an immediate reaction from any of the crew.

It was almost the way of most rookie pirates. Undying loyalty until their lives were the ones at risk of dying. Those were the crews that, for obvious reasons, fell apart.

He had expected the Strawhat's to be no different, yet the looks of defiance in even the most cowardly members, informed him he'd assumed incorrectly.

"I see you have made your decision."

"Don't you dare touch my nakama's."

The condensed bubble of air that Kuma had planned to unleash disappeared into nothingness.

"You will hand yourself in then."

Another rookie trait that often resulted in the demise of a crew was the captain's inability to die to protect their crew. Instead they would choose the path of a coward, running whilst their own heads were still attached.

"No."

Kuma almost found himself disappointed. So she would run.

"Zoro, take the others back to the ship."

Zoro's momentary hesitation was enough to signal to Luffy that he was reluctant to follow her orders. Her eyes narrowed as the pair silently communicated.

He may have started the fight but she would finish it.

Nodding gently, Zoro pushed gently on Chopper's shoulder forcing him to turn in the direction of the Sunny.

"Run, Chopper. We have to go."

The watery eyes of the youngest Strawhat showed what everyone was feeling. It was reluctance. It was fear. It was concern for the person who many of the crew owed their lives.

Blinking rapidly Chopper morphed into his reindeer form, hooves pounding the ground as he took the lead towards the ship.

Chopper would not raise his head to look where he was going– instead he relied on his nose, finally unable to hold back the tears.

Zoro took one last look at his Captain before following up the rear of the group.

Sanji ran alongside Zoro, making sure that everyone was keeping up. He wanted to question how they could do this to their beautiful Captain-chan, but he knew that Zoro wouldn't have allowed them to run without good reason.

The grin Luffy had given her first mate dropped off her face as she returned to gaze on the Warlord in front of her.

Well this was no good, Kuma mused as he watched the stern faced Monkey.

She was a lot more like Dragon than either of the two probably realised, although he could hardly fault the girl on that, never having met the man.

Kuma sighed.

This was not at all what he'd hoped for.

What he had really wanted was for Moria to force the Strawhat's to run away. Then he wouldn't be in this conundrum.

Turning to the left Kuma walked away slowly, his bible still clutched to his chest, leaving behind an incredibly confused Luffy.

"I thought you were going to fight me?"

"I've lost my interest. I suppose I will inform the government that you got away before I reached you."

Tilting her head, Luffy said nothing more as she watched the bear like man disappear over some rubble.

She stood there a few moments longer unsure of what this all meant. If he wasn't going to fight her then that was good...right? She could leave now?

Shrugging her shoulders Luffy started to whistle as she walked towards the Sunny her eyes lingering on her shadow beneath her feet.

"It's good to have you back!"

Week. From. Hell. I was supposed to have this up earlier, then life decided that it didn't like me :(
Anywhoo, changing topic, I'm looking to update 'Expect the Unexpected's' summary, so if you guys have any ideas I'd love to hear them! (I can't write summaries -.-')