Wow, I'm actually updating on a decent time for once. In two months after my last update! Anyway, I have confidence that you'll tear up a bit reading this chapter, but before that..
Let's start off with a light Q&A session
Q: Who is Jillian?
A: One of you asked about this several chapters ago and she'll be appearing in this chapter. For starters, Krasa Jillian joined the Demon Unit around 16 years ago and has a younger sister named June, who you all saw last chapter and is also Luffy's age. Prior to joining the Unit, Jillian worked day and night to support her sister and pay their bills. Her mother died due to an illness and her father abandoned them, leaving a large debt from gambling and causing Jillian to hate men. When she couldn't pay the debt, the collectors came for the sisters, who ran. When the collectors caught up to them, Lilia swooped in and saved caused Jillian to join the Demon Unit and to fall in love with her, much to her chagrin. A more in depth reveal on her character in the main story.
Read and Review!
Chapter 16
Saul And Robin
"I can't believe that you can't use Moon Bounce," Franky muttered irritably. After Lilia had left them alone in the desert, Franky asked Tom to use Moon Bounce to get them back, However, Tom, sheepishly, admitted that the only other power he could use was Iron Body, much to his student's irritation. Now, teacher and student were trekking the vast desert heading in the general direction of their companions. "You were talking so big earlier! What's the deal?"
"It's a rule of the ship that all members train their bodies," Tom explained as they walked. "I'm a supporting type member, so I don't need to have all the powers mastered. Besides, I could still beat you any day of the week."
"Bull crap!" Franky scoffed. "You just caught me by surprise before. I'll have you know I beat a guy who had all the CP9 tricks mastered. If it was head to head, I'd never lose to you in a fight."
"Hmph, CP9, huh?" Tom said. "I've heard of them during the early years of my enlistment. You know, what you call "CP9 tricks" is actually called the Six Powers. Get it right."
"What's there to get right?" Personally, he couldn't really bring himself to be respectful to anything that had anything to do with the government. Tom maybe fine now, but there's no denying that he was still arrested for crimes that he either did not commit, or crimes that shouldn't've been called a crime in the first place.
"Hmph," Tom snorted. "Still a snot nosed brat even after all of these years, huh? What have you been doing since your supposed "death"?"
"I've been protecting Water 7, I'll have you know," the cyborg answered. "You might not know this, but Ice-for-brains-"
"Became the mayor of Water 7, I know," Tom interjected. "I have been keeping tabs, you know?"
"If you knew, then why-" Franky immediately shut his. "Never mind. Forget it."
"...So, what've you been up to since I was taken away," Tom asked after a moment of awkward silence.
"Oh, you know, this and that," Franky explained, waving his hand back and forth. "I started a gang, collected some bounties, built my masterpiece, joined a pirate crew, and burned the pluton blueprints. But not in that exact order."
"So you actually burned them, huh?" Tom said, not caring at all. "May I ask why?"
"I decided to bet on the pirates!" Franky smirked viciously. "You probably know this already, but I got captured by the government pretty recently, me and Nico Robin, but she isn't the evil villain the rumors made her out to be. Not even close. But she still had the ability to read the poneglyphs, and if the government had even a slight chance of getting the ancient weapon, then my only option was to burn them. Besides, even if they did end up beating us, then, even if they got Robin, they wouldn't have the blueprints. A win for us either way. I know you would have done the same."
"One small correction," Tom added. "I'd bet on the Demon Unit. Every time."
"Hmph, you would," Franky grinned.
"But, you know, I kind of looked past it with the situation the way it was, but what're the odds that you would join the Captain's son's crew?"
"I know what you mean," he nodded. "I mean, I'm grateful that we ended up meeting each other again, but this some stroke of luck. I half think that this is all a dream and I'm going to wake up soon."
"I guess you could say like mother like son, huh?" Tom mused. "How long have you been a pirate anyway?
"It hasn't even been a full twenty four hours."
"Yikes! And you had to go through getting your butt whooped by by our Shauna-chan on your first day. Talk about some terrible luck, Franky."
"...Yeah," he admitted disappointedly.
"Hey, Franky, where're you and the Captain's son's crew heading after this," Tom asked suddenly serious.
"Hm? We're going Fishman Island," Franky answered, not missing his teacher's serious tone. "Why?"
"Thought so," Tom nodded. "Then I assume you're going to the New World?"
"Yeah, we are."
"Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Don't go to New World, at least not now."
"What?" Franky was surprised by the sudden warning. He looked at the Fishman, who looked back at him with an uncharacteristically serious expression. He wasn't kidding around.
"I'll be blunt. You and your crew are obviously too weak right now. I may not know your exact strengths and weaknesses, but if you guys can't beat Ren and Shauna, then you aren't ready for the big leagues yet. They barely meet the Captain's standards, we've got tons of guys stronger than them. I'm not saying they're weak, but they aren't ready for New World either."
"Seriously…?!" He was shocked to hear that that monster girl was actually a weaker member of this unit. Even more so after hearing that despite having the strength to make a deep crater,she still wasn't strong enough for the New World. "What kind of monsters are in that sea?!"
"Big ones," Tom answered grimly. "Big and strong. And I'm not just talking about my time in the Unit, I've been around the corner Franky, and it is scary. I lost you once. If the Captain had not done what she had done, I'd be dead in more ways than one. If you died for real, I'd go catatonic, then the Captain will do something. I don't want her having to do something to me. I have enough trauma."
"I could see that," Franky said, remembering the horrified panic attack he had had when he remembered how Luffy's mom had punished him. "But Tom, Luffy is the captain. He makes the decisions and I follow them."
"Hm, oh yeah," the shipwright teacher had said as if he had forgotten that his captain was the mother of his student's captain. "I guess if that's the case, then there's nothing to worry about. The captain wouldn't let her own son sail to his death."
"Tom!" A female voice shouted from above. When Tom and Franky looked up, they saw three people-all female- hopping on the air above them using Moon Bounce. When they got overhead to the teacher and students, they carefully descended onto the ground as if walking on steps made of air. All three ladies were in marine uniforms, but only one of them were clean. Two of them, who looked to be in their late teens, were covered in blood and they didn't look happy about it. The clean woman looked to be in her mid twenties. Her most defining factor was her long silver hair.
"Jillian-chan, girl?" Tom said in surprise. "What are you girls doing here? And why are you two covered in blood?"
"We ran into a horde of sea kings and then Jillia-san went berserk and killed them all instantly," one of the girls explained irritably. She was relatively tall with long back length hair and the part of her hair that wasn't covered in blood looked bubble gum pink. "Causing all this blood to get on Akina and me."
"But not on her…?" Franky muttered to himself.
"Tom-san, who is that behind you," the other girl, who was Akin with neck length hair asked, looking at Franky.
"Oh, him, um," Tom didn't look like he knew how to explain. "Let me introduce you. Franky, these ladies are Krasa Jillian," Tom gestured to the silver haired girl. "Dakota Piruha," he gestured to the girl with pink hair, then to the neck length haired girl. "And Hikiri Akina. They're member of the unit like me. Girls, this is Franky."
"Hey," Piruha said uninterestedly.
"It is an honor, Franky-san," Akina said respectively.
"Why is he here?" Jillian asked suspiciously, ignoring the niceties. "For that matter, why are you here?"
"That's kind of a long story, you know," Tom said awkwardly.
"I've got time."
"Actually, could you hurry it up. I don't think it's a good idea to be covered in sea king blood any longer that we have to," Piruha requested.
"Stop whining," Jillian ordered. "You two are Lilia-Oneesama's students, act like it."
"I don't think that has anything to do with wanting to bathe ourselves," Akins muttered.
"Students?" Franky whispered curiously. "Onee-sama?"
"Okay, let me change the question," Jillian said strictly. "Why is the Demon Unit here?"
"You don't know?" Tom said, surprised. "Didn't you call the ship to find this place?"
"Not exactly," Jillian answered, now smirking proudly. "Through the power of love, I felt Onee-sama's seductive presence and, like a moth helpless to resist the bright flames, I followed the path created by Onee-sama's overwhelming spirit!"
"That was when we ran into those sea kings and this happened to us," Akina added, gesturing to her blood soaked body.
"How does the one who brutalized all those oversized fish stay as clean as a whistle," Piruha asked bitterly.
"...Hey, Tom," Franky whispered. "Is she…?"
"In love with the Captain? Yes," Tom answered the question Franky didn't finish. "I'm going to try and break the news about you-know-what as gently as possible. Play this wrong, and we're going to see how those sea kings met their bloody end."
"What are you two whispering about, huh? Does it have something to do with Nee-sama, because my Lilia-oneesama senses are tingling and they're telling me you're hiding something from me."
"It isn't as though I'm trying to-"
"Don't mince words," Jillian commanded after grabbing Tom by his beard and facing him viciously. "What is going on with Nee-sama?"
Tom gulped fearing for himself. "Well, y-you see…"
The Straw Hats were watching when Luffy's mom descended (crash landed) onto the desert plane. They wanted to go to Luffy, but his mom and that Nagika woman were in the middle of arguing, so it didn't feel like the right time. Just when they were done, Luffy's mom called for all of her subordinates to gather, which they did, and very quickly at that. Through what was said next, the crew inferred that Luffy had left his home without ever telling his mother, not only that he had never even told her his dream. That was quite a shock. Luffy was a lot of things, but being insecure wasn't one of them. They supposed that was just how much his mother meant to him. There were mixed feelings all around the crew when Lilia, who had learned they were going to the New World, started calling them weak. Zoro was a bit irritated, no very irritated, but what annoyed him the most was that he probably couldn't argue with her. He lost against Shauna, who was apparently average when compared to the rest of her crewmen. Usopp and Nami, after hearing how dangerous it was from Lilia, who was said to be on the same level as an admiral, were more wary of New World now more than ever. Chopper wasn't sure how to feel. Robin took the woman's word into serious consideration. And Sanji… was Sanji. He was too wrapped up in admiring Lilia's beauty to process her words.
"My crew isn't weak!"
When Luffy defended them against the words of his mother, who he feared greatly, even after suffering such a defeat from his cousins, they couldn't help but be proud to be on his crew.
The members of the Demon Unit, who hadn't already met Luffy, were surprised by how affectionate their scary captain and her lieutenant were to their son/godson. They all knew that they were both a bit softer towards children, if only by a little, but seeing the way they interacted with the young boy was uncharted territory for them. It warmed their hearts when Lilia said they were a respectable group when introducing them to her kid. They were also shocked to hear that the kid was seriously trying to become the King of The Pirates. Needless to say, that kind of dream isn't something that strive for without being willing to bet your life on it. Then again this was their captain's kid they were talking about. When they heard he was planning on going to the New World, naturally, they thought he was crazy. Yes, his crew had some very impressive accomplishments and he was the son of their demonically strong captain, but they were too green for that place. Their captain agreed too, as she berated her young son for being stupid and thinking his weak crew could go there. Then the most shocking thing happened. Their captain's kid actually shouted back at Lilia, defending his crew's honor. As stupefied as they were, none seemed more surprised than the perpetrator himself. Lilia asked if he was talking back to her, as if confirming her own ears. Reluctantly, the young pirate said yes, making her laugh softly, adding to her subordinates shock. She went on to briefly explain how dangerous the New World was and how he would surely die if he went.
It was quite a sight to hear Lilia sounding so sincere .
But what had surprised both parties was what Lilia had offered Luffy.
"You want to train me?" Luffy replied, shocked by what his mother just said. She had never offered to teach him any of her techniques before now, nor had he asked. The most she had ever taught him about combat was when she forced him to spar with her to help him get some battle experience. But to actually train him was something she had never done, nor had he asked.
"Yes," Lilia nodded. "I will teach you the skills needed to make it in the New World, train you to level up in combat, not only that, I will impart onto you the necessary knowledge you will need to help you on your journey. By the end of it all, we'll unlock all of your hidden talents! So, do you want to do it."
"Uh…"
"Just so you know, the alternative is me forcing you to go back home to Foosha Village."
"I'll do it!" Luffy nodded vigorously. Nothing against his birthplace, but this was his dream he was talking about here.
"...That's basically blackmail," Nagika said in an undertone. Although, she didn't disagree with training Luffy.
"But is this okay?" Luffy asked. "I'm a pirate."
"Don't you worry about that," Lilia dismissed. "It isn't a problem."
"It isn't?" The Demon Unit asked.
"It isn't," she said before turning to Nagika. "Moving on, Nagi-chan, I assume you told her?"
"I told her the important things, at least," Nagika answered.
"Good," Lilia nodded. "Luffy, would you let me talk to Nico Robin, please?"
"Robin, why do you want to talk to her?" Luffy asked curiously, not able to come up with any reason why his mom would want to Robin.
"I am here," Robin said before he could get an answer. She had walked past the large assembly of Demon Unit members to get to where Luffy and his mother (along with Nagika) were. There was only the slightest hint of nervousness as she approached the the family members. Her anxiety wasn't from walking past some of the most powerful fighters in the navy, nor was it from approaching someone who could arguably be called the most dangerous woman in the world, it was because, regardless of what Nagika had said, she could only think of bad reasons why Lilia's mother would want to see her. It had to be a case of her killing someone she cared about…. If that was the case, would Luffy hate her…? She immediately chided herself for thinking so little of him. Luffy would never betray her. She knew that much. Robin stopped just a few inches away from Lilia. "I heard the story from Nagika-san. Apparently, you have business with me, Captain Lilia-san. Rather, your mother does."
"Eh? Grandma wants to see Robin?" Luffy said, surprised. "Why?"
"It was something she asked of me a long time ago," Lilia explained before facing Robin. "She wanted me to find you before anyone else for reasons she never said, but you were hard to track down. I may have the reputation of being inescapable, but it isn't my specialty to track down slippery guys like you who can evade the government."
Meanwhile, Ren and Shauna had regained consciousness after being hit by Yuki. "What happened…?" Ren asked as he woke up, rubbing his head.
"That Yuki, I swear she had hammers for fists," Shauna said groggily.
"So you two are awake, huh," Kureto said as he finished up his treatment with the twins, the immediate part anyway. They would need much more care when he had the time. Ren had been wrapped head to toe in gauge. Shauna wasn't quite as severe, only needing wrappings on her arms. Both had their wounds covered with a special ointment that got rid of even the oldest scars. "Since I have you. YOU BOTH ARE A DISGRACE! I DON'T CARE IF YOU ARE THE CAPTAIN'S FAMILY! I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE GREENHORNS! DO NOT DISGRACE OUR DEMON UNIT!"
"Yes, Doctor Kureto…" Twins rolled their eyes at the old doctor. Kureto was, in more ways than one, one of the oldest members of the Demon Unit. As such, he held a large amount of pride in his unit and wouldn't allow its reputation to be sullied by rookies who couldn't beat other rookies. In contrast, he didn't get mad at even the most reckless patients who got hurt too easily.
"Good, seems you understand," Kureto let up. "That cousin of yours sure is reckless though."
"Yup, that's Luffy for you," Ren nodded dryly.
"Saying he's going to New World before he's ready," the old doctor continued. "Ridiculous youth."
"He really is," Shauna said uncaringly.
"Now he's going to train with the captain for who knows how long."
"Is he?" The twins said, slightly more intrigued. It was a fifty fifty chance of Lilia offering to teach her son. The woman didn't really like extra responsibility, but they guessed she love her son more than she hated the former.
"So everything is settled, huh?" Shauna said. "That's good, but I don't like that we are letting pirates go free."
"Give it a rest, sis," Ren sighed, earning a bonk to the head.
"It isn't over quite yet," Kureto countered. "Apparently, Nico Robin has some business with the Captain."
"Omni Limbs?" Shaun said her nickname for Robin. "Why?"
"Don't know. Let's go see," Kureto instructed. "Shauna-chan, since you can walk, you push Ren-kun's wheelchair."
"Alright," she complied, pushing her brother's chair towards the crowd. That is, until she noticed the Straw Hat crew standing a ways away from the crowd of marines. "Hello, pirates. Aren't you going to go see Luffy?"
"There doesn't seem to be a good time yet," Nami answered. "It would be awkward coming in between their family talk."
"Point taken," the bo staff wielder nodded. "But now we, who are family, are going to see our cousin. You could come with, if you want."
"Oh, Shauna-chan," Sanji swooned passionately. "You are truly a kind girl. Allow me to apologize for our idiot Moss Head's uncouthness. I will definitely make sure he pays."
"Why? It isn't his fault my aunt made us fight," Shauna said. "Besides, I'm not one to hold grudges, mostly. If I was, then I'd have already smashed your head for hurting my brother."
"Oh, how understanding of you!" Sanji exclaimed.
"So now you do call Aunt Lily your aunt?" Ren questioned.
"I've never denied Captain Lilia as my aunt," Shauna answered. "It is just improper of me as her subordinate to address her as anything other than captain."
"Wow, you sure are strict about weird things," Nami said. "And I still have to pay you back for hitting me, you monster girl."
"I held back, Citrus Scalp," she retorted.
"Stop calling me that!" Nami was becoming livid, but then remembered something she had wanted to ask. She leaned in close and whispered in a voice only Shauna would hear. "Hey, about what you before, when we had you restrained."
Shauna flinched. "J-Just forget what I had said back then, okay? I tend to let things slip out when I get emotional."
"But, I don't think you were wrong," Nami admitted, shocking Shauna. Although, they were on slightly different wavelengths. Shauna thought she was talking about how she had said promises don't mean a thing, but Nami was talking about how Shauna had said that they were taking advantage of Luffy's kindness.
"What're you saying…?"
"How did you get as strong as you are?" Nami asked.
"Eh? I trained, obviously," Shauna answered, sounding confused. "Very hard, I might add. Why?"
"Well… do you think I could get that strong if I trained like you do?"
"...huh?"
Lilia examined Robin with her gaze. She really was a beauty. She had seen her both versions of her wanted posters-one of her as a kid and the other as an adult- and she had really matured physically. However… seeing her face reminded her of a frightened child who was about together scolded by an adult.
"No need to be so guarded, Robin-chan," Lilia smirked. "You're my baby's friend. I won't do anything to you no matter what mom says."
"..."
"Robin, I'm not sure what grandma wants, but," Luffy began. "But she's really great. I don't think she'd want to do anything bad to you."
"Thank you, Luffy," Robin smiled. "It's just… I've done many terrible things to survive until now. And I know that there are many people who would want me dead, but… I don't want to die. I want to continue sailing with you and the crew for as long as I can. But I fear that if I have made myself an enemy of your grandmother, then you would-"
"I can never hate you," Luffy cut her off, glaring at her passionately. "Even if Grandma hates you, even if mom attacks you, you will always be one of the crew mates that I love!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"What?" The older women and the Demon Unit were silent. They were unable to respond. Yuki started to feel scared that it wasn't Nami whom she would have to worry about catching Luffy's attention. Robin was speechless. When was the last time someone had told her the loved her (besides Sanji)? It made her feel warm. "Why are you all staring at me like that? Robin why is your face red?"
"I'm just… very elated, Captain," Robin smiled, her cheeks red.
"Luffy…" Lilia began. "You can't just say you love a woman so recklessly. Women are sensitive creatures after all."
"What do you mean?" He asked innocently
She sighed. Luffy's innocence will cause him trouble one day. "For now, I need a Transponder Snail. Nagi-chan?"
"The ones I was using were only 2-ways," she explained. "You'll have to get them from the ship."
"Alright, I'll be back in a second," Lilia said before disappearing in a blur of speed. The moment she did, the Demon Unit surrounded Luffy. It was Ellie who approached him first.
"Nice to meet you, Luffy-kun," Ellie said politely. She was just a bit taller that Luffy. "May I call you Luffy-kun?"
"Sure, I guess," Luffy shrugged.
"Good. I'm Ellie, the fifth ranked member of the Demonic Six," she introduced herself.
"Demonic Six? What's that?" This made Ellie, and the other Demonic Six members who hadn't met Luffy until now,blink before looking at Yuki, then Nagika.
"You never told him?"
"It wasn't something he needed to know," Nagika shrugged.
"Besides, Luffy is almost as forgetful as Rizen-san," Yuki explained.
"Still stings though," Rige admitted. "That none of you ever talked about us at your home."
"Who would want to talk about you?" Yuki said coldly, making Ridge slump down in depression.
"I'm talkable…" he moaned.
"Basically, the Demonic Six are the best 6 fighters in the Unit," Ellie explained. "Under the Captain, that is."
"Oh… so you're all strong?"
"You know it," Ellie declared proudly.
"So who're the other five?"
"You don't even know who three of them are? Man, it's almost like Captain wanted to completely avoid talking about us," Ellie sighed. "Okay, the sixth rank is Ridge with his mighty hammer!" Ellie dramatically gestured to Ridge, wh posed like he was about to swing his hammer. "Next is me, the mistress of wonder, Kucoah Ellie!" She introduced herself as she posed in a martial arts stance. "Up next is our number 4, the self absorbed underground boxing champion Ricky Oscar!" Oscar denied being self absorbed before going into a boxer's pose. "Going to our number three is Rem Nagika, the cool, calm, and collected noble warrior clad in priestess garb!" Nagika did not pose. She just stood there with a dry, irritated expression. "To the second rank goes to Skyra Rizen, the master swordsman with the awful memory!" Rizen had a "who me?" expression. "Finally, the princess of hell, the leader, and our number 1, Yuki!"
"Wow!" Luffy's eyes sparkled. "Yuki-nee, you're number 1! Above Uncle Rizen and Aunt Nagika?!"
"Uh… yeah, I am," Yuki answered dryly, embarrassed at Ellie's introduction of their team. "But a leader… am I really? Sometimes I wonder..." She muttered to herself, wondering her true role in the unit.
"Hold on," a certain orange haired girl said. "She's number one?"
"Nami? guys?" Luffy said. His crew came up to him along with Shauna, who was pushing Ren in a wheelchair, and a very tall old man. "Hey! It feels like I haven't seen you guys in, I don't know, two years."
"For some reason, I feel like that too," Nami nodded. "So back up. She's the strongest?"
"That's correct," Nagika answered before anyone else. "Yuki-chan is our princess. Our number one."
"She's very talented," Rizen added.
"Yuki-chan's much stronger than me and Ren-chan," Shauna inputted. "Air go, stronger than Luffy. Captain Lilia says that Yuki-chan is most likely the strongest in our generation."
"I'm not that impressive," Yuki insisted, a blush on her face.
"She's stronger than Luffy?!" Usopp exclaimed, frightened.
"She's the strongest in our… my generation," Zoro whispered in disbelief.
"Such a talented young woman you are, Yuki-hwan!" Sanji swooned lustfully.
"Just how powerful is she?!" Chopper wondered.
"She's also a real beauty," Ellie added
"P-Please, just stop!" Yuki boomed, embarrassed. "Yes, I'm first in the Six. Yes, Master Lilia has called me the best in a generation. But I'm nothing special."
"...hearing that from a genius is irritating," Shauna said dryly. "But I got to see you look cute, so I'll let it slide."
"I feel like you're not listening…" Yuki sighed. Just then, Lilia reappeared in a blur of speed, holding a blue Transponder Snail.
"I'm back," she said, surprising the Straw Hats, minus Robin and Luffy. "Oh, it is the rest of my Luffy's crew."
"Um… nice to meet you," Nami introduced herself. A polite greeting was the first thing to come out of her mouth. Lilia didn't seem like the kind of woman that you should be rude to.
"Likewise, but, if you don't mind, we'll have to wait for proper introductions later," Lilia said, dialing a number. "A twenty year long request will finally be fulfilled."
"A what?"
"I will explain," Robin said as the Snail was ringing, then explained the situation.
"Seriously, what does Luffy's grandmother want with you?"
"We're about to find out…" Robin was nervous. Very nervous. Someone answered.
"Hello?" A woman answered.
"Hello, mom, it's me, Lilia," Lilia said to the snail.
"Lilia-chan," her mother replied. "How rare for you to call. What's the occasion, need money?"
"Holy crap, I'm just processing that we're hearing the Captain's mom," Oscar whispered.
"Why is that that is always what you say when I call you," Lilia sighed.
"Well, you have always been a very greedy little girl," her mother humored. "Always scheming one way or another to make a quick buck."
"The world runs on money," Lilia countered.
"Oh, lord, where did we go wrong raising you," her mother sighed. "So, I assume you had a reason for calling me?"
"Yeah… remember what you asked me to do twenty years ago?" Lilia half consciously glanced at Robin.
"Hm… twenty years ago," her mother muttered. "I don't suppose you mean when I requested of you to find Nico Robin and bring her to me?"
"Yeah, that," Lilia replied uneasily. "I'll be blunt. I've found her and she's right here. Actually, she is a member of Luffy's crew."
"..."
"Mom?" There was a long, awkward silence. "Mom!"
"...you aren't lying, right? This isn't some stupid prank? If it is I'll-"
"It isn't, mom," Lilia assured before holding out the Transponder Snail in front of Robin. "Listen to her voice."
"...H-Hello," Robin began in a hesitant, shaky voice. She was so nervous. She felt like a defendant at court talking to the judge who would decide whether she guilty or innocent. At that moment, Luffy grabbed her hand, squeezed it, and smiled at her, assuring her that everything would be alright. It was just what she needed. All the tension faded away and she was ready to face whatever came at her. "I'm Nico Robin. You're Kathlea-san, correct? I have heard that you want to see me."
"...I can't believe it," Kathlea whispered. "It really is you. You sound so much like Olvia…"
"...Excuse me?" What Kathlea had said had completely thrown her off. Her heart raced again. Olvia was her dead mother's name! "What did you say."
"Olvia?" Nami repeated, confused. The other Straw Hats were surprised to see Robin so off kilter. It reminded them of when they had met Aokiji. That was not good.
"I know this is all very shocking. Believe me, I have rehearsed what I would say to you when we would meet for twenty years, but I can only be blunt," Kathlea continued. "I wish this could a face to face meeting, but this prolonged for too long. Robin-chan, I want you to listen carefully to what I have to say. Will you do that?"
"...Yes, I will," Robin forced herself to calm down.
"Good," she said. "I will start at the beginning. Now a days I go by Aura D. Kathlea, but prior to my marriage I was known as Jaguar D. Kathlea."
This was too much. Robin's legs gave in on her and she collapsed onto her rear. Her crewmates immediately went to her side. "I-It can't b-be… of all the names, yours is that…"
"Surprising, isn't it?" Kathlea humored dryly. "I had heard from my daughter that there was a rumor that you had joined Luffy-chan's pirate crew. I see that it is true."
"Just who are you, lady?!" Usopp screamed outraged, shocking those who
listened. "Why are you harassing our archeologist?!"
"You must be one of my grandsons friends," Kathlea replied evenly. "It is nice to meet you. And I am not harassing anyone. To the contrary, I hope this will give peace of mind to both Robin-chan and myself."
"It is fine, Usopp, Everyone," Robin assured weakly. "This is something I have to face."
"But-" Chopper started, but Robin cut him off.
"Thank you, doctor," Robin smiled. "You as well, Usopp, but I can handle this. No matter what, I am a pirate who sails with the man who will become King of The Pirates. I will be strong."
"The pirates smiled at her, knowing she would endure whatever would be said. Watching them, Lilia smiled. 'You seem to have a real tight knit crew, my sweet Luffy.'
"I'm happy that my grandson has such a strong woman on his crew," Kathlea said sweetly.
"I thank you for that, Kathlea-san," Robin said. "Please continue."
"Yes. I'll start at the beginning," Kathlea began. "I was born in the West Blue. I was my parents second child and first daughter. My brother was 15 years older than me. 10 years later, he married a giant."
…
"Feel free to react," Kathlea giggled.
"A giant!" Everyone, minus Kathlea's relatives and Robin, screamed in shock.
"Hm… that sounded like a lot more than a few," she said. "Lilia-chan, are your subordinates there?"
"They are," Lilia answered.
"Ooh, how nice," her mother said. "You should introduce me."
"Back up!" Ellie boomed. "He married a giantess!?"
"What can I say?" She said. "Onii-chan liked his women big. In contrast, I prefer my men small."
"So Captain Lilia is part giant… it all makes sense now," Oscar said in a state of shock.
"I've never heard about this," Yuki cried out before turning to her friends, Ren and Shauna. "You two never told me!"
"Luffy's part giant… how amazing," Chopper gasped.
"That explains so much," Usopp whispered.
The ones in question were not amused. "I am not a giant!"
"Pay attention to the story, you dolts!" Lilia shouted. "My uncle, who is blood related to me, married a giantess, who isn't blood related to me. I don't have giant's blood!"
A collective "oh" was said throughout the shore.
"We seem to have veered off topic," Kathlea said, amused.
"Whose fault is that?" Lilia sighed.
"Any way, while I'm sure some of you may know, interbreeding can be very hard and it's very rare for a child to be born," Kathleen continued. "But Onii-chan and Onee-chan did it and gave birth to a baby boy."
"I'm guessing that boy was Saul," Robin surmised. "So, he was your nephew."
"Correct."
"Still… marrying a giantess and having a kid with her," Ridge said, thinking about it. "The Captain's uncle must've really- OOF!"
"Finish that sentence and I will pierce you," Yuki threatened Ridge after punching him in the gut and yanking him down to eye level by his neck.
"G-Got it…" He said fearfully.
"Any way, Saul-kun was very cute as a baby, not to mention big, a whole fifty pounds," Kathlea went on. "He grew fast too, I heard that was a giant trait. I loved him like the son I never had."
"What about the son you do have?" Lilia questioned.
"This was before any of you were born, sweetie," her mother explained. "Saul-kun was a kind of rambunctious child, but not half as bad as my daughters, which reminds me-"
"I will hang this up!" Lilia yelled before her mom could reveal her embarrassing secrets.
"A story for another day," Kathlea conceded. "Anyway, Saul-kun and my sister in-law were probably the biggest proof that giants were no different from humans. The laughed, cried, and ate as much as us."
"Ate, huh," Nami muttered. The grandma must've eaten as much as her grandson.
"Eventually, I became 17 and I left to the sea to travel the world, when I did little Saul-kun cried like a baby. It was adorable, he was such a crybaby," Kathlea giggled.
"I remember Cousin Saul," Lilia said suddenly. "He was good guy. Kind of like the big brother I never had. You remember him too, right, Nagi-chan?"
"Yes, I do," she nodded, smiling. "He was sweet and quite gallant. Honestly, when I think back on it all, I'm surprised you are related to such a sweet guy."
"How rude," Lilia smirked.
"Moving on, after I left my island I quickly realized that I should gather a crew of sorts, so I did," Kathlea explained. "I managed to gather about 15 guys and decided to go to the Grand Line."
"Hah! Nagi-chan, me, and Rizen were more than enough to take on the Grand Line back when we went," Lilia bragged. "And Luffy only needed four other guys to begin his journey on this sea."
"Well, I guess we can't all be as popular as me," Kathlea retorted.
"Hmph."
"Anyway, I decided to make one last stop before beginning my campaign in the Grand Line," Kathlea continued. "I stopped at Ohara."
"Ohara…" Robin choked out the name of her birthplace. Even now, thinking about how her homeland was nothing more than a memory made her heart sink.
"The island that was destroyed by a buster call twenty years ago?" Ellie suddenly asked.
"That's the one, Ellie-chan," Lilia answered mournfully.
"When we docked, no, even as we approached the island, I saw what had to be the oldest, biggest, and grandest tree I had ever seen," Kathlea said passionately .
"The Tree of Knowledge," Robin smiled weakly, thinking back to all of the fun times she had at the library she with Dr. Clover and the others.
"Right," she confirmed. "Out of a sense of adventure, I decided to go there. I was amazed to discover that the tree was a library. It had the widest selection of books I had ever seen. Being an avid book lover myself, I was overjoyed."
"She likes to read?" Zoro said, surprised. He and the rest of the group glanced at their captain, who was intently listening listening to his grandmother's story and still tightly holding Robin's hand. Sanji was quite envious, but reasoned that it was a captain's job to reassure his crewmen. However, he wasn't only the one that was jealous. A certain orange haired navigator and a certain bird woman couldn't help but sneak nervous glances at the captain and his archeologist.
"I had really really wanted to take as many books as I could carry, but considering that I may never return to that place, I settled for some wandering. I was amazed at how many different types of books there were, literature, history, how-tos-"
"Hey, mom, I know you like to read, but I think you should get on with it," Lilia instructed.
"R-Right," Kathlea coughed. "So as I explored the library, I met a young girl who was reading a very complicated book. It surprised me since, you might already know, in those days it was rare for people to learn how to read. I learned through my parents, but even most adults didn't know how to read. I was curious so I ended up staring too intently at her, something she didn't take kindly to. She told me to, and I paraphrase, get lost and, just to be nice, go read the kiddy books on the top floor. That was how I met your mother, Nico Olvia."
"...Was my mother really like that?" Robin couldn't help but ask.
"Yeesh, I can't imagine Robin ever being rude like that?" Usopp said.
"I don't know, maybe not so direct and blunt, but I could easily picture-"
"Hm?" Robin smiled darkly at the green haired swordsman before he could say something he would regret.
"N-Nothing…" Zoro said fearfully.
"Yup, Olvia was indeed a snarky, sarcastic, precocious, bratty, known it all… however she was a smart girl and studied very hard to become an archeologist like she wanted. I didn't dislike her. Honestly, I really loved her. She really was just a socially awkward girl."
"..."
"Well… I didn't take kindly to being insulted, so I showed my knowledge of history and we competed in a trivia contest… but I guess it was too much to expect to out show a girl who was trying to become an archeologist. Ha ha ha…. Anyway, while I didn't beat her, I did earn her respect and became her friend. Eventually, I left Ohara, went on my journey, met Lilia-chan's father, had Lilia -chan, then Olanda-chan, then Kirchen-kun, and reunited with Olvia. The end."
…
"Hey!" They all shouted. "That was so not the end!"
"And who's Olanda-chan and Kirchen-kun?!" Ellie shouted frustratedly.
"Our mom and uncle," the twins answered.
"Just kidding," Kathlea laughed. "Just thought I'd make a little joke. When I met with Olvia again, she was married to her husband and pregnant with Robin-chan."
"...You knew my father?!" Robin gasped. From what she remembered, her father had heard her father had died when she was very little. She had grown up accepting that she'd never know who he was or even what his name was.
"Yeah, I did. He was pretty good looking and nice."
"C-Could you tell me his name…?"
"It was Taiko. Nico Taiko. I didn't know him too well, but from what I heard he was an archeologist from South Blue. I had heard from the other scholars that he and Olvia didn't get along too well at first, but also that it was rare for Olvia to get so emotional with anyone else besides old man Clover. I was pretty surprised too. That overly serious woman with an expression to match was now always wearing a grin and patiently waiting for her baby to be born. You and Taiko-kun made her smile, Robin-chan."
"Taiko-kun was very invested in your birth. He must've spent a million berries on your room alone. He was a good husband and was going to be a good father… however…" She paused. Clearly thinking about to say what she was planning on saying. "He had a dangerous dream, one that he shared with every scholar in Ohara."
"He wanted to find out the true history, am I correct?" It wasn't very hard to guess. If her father was truly a scholar of Ohara, then of course, like everyone else, he desired to find out the contents of the Void Century.
"You are and I'm sure you can imagine the gist of it. Just to let you know, the rest of this story is based off of the last letter I had ever received from Olvia. He devoted much of his time to researching the poneglyphs, knowing full well of the consequences should his secret ever get out… and, eventually it did. There was an agent of the government working undercover to confirm whether or not the Oharan scholars were conducting the forbidden research. One night, that agent snuck into the library why Aiko-kun and some other researchers were doing their work. The agent discovered them researching the poneglyph, but was also seen by your father. Knowing what would happen should the agent reveal Ohara's secret, Taiko-kun engaged him. From what I could deduce, the agent was probably not any kind of powerhouse, but your father was a scholar, not a fighter. However, he had managed to subdue the government's agent… at the cost of their own lives…"
A lone tear escaped Robin's eye. It wasn't as though she expected to hear that her father miraculously survived, but hearing that he had did it for Ohara's sake made her the proudest daughter ever!
"You're probably thinking he died solely for Ohara's sake, right?"
Robin blinked in confusion.
"Certainly, that was part of it. But Olvia believed that he didn't want his infant daughter to suffer from his dream."
Robin didn't know what to say. She didn't know what to think!
"While the death of the agent prevented the immediate danger, if he never sent in any reports, the government would most likely send more agents, ones who a civilian probably couldn't fight to a draw. A plan was made. They would senda portion of their scholars away to find more poneglyphs, which would catch the government's attention and draw their focus away from Ohara. It worked out, since they were planning on leaving to find more anyway. I assume you can guess what happened next?"
"My mother went with the scholars who left Ohara."
"Yeah, she just didn't think it was okay for her to just not continue her husband's dream, which was her dream as well."
"...After hearing all of that, I can't say I blame her. Daddy was really cool."
"Yeah, he was…" kathlea sounded hesitant to continue, but did so anyway. "Robin-chan… this maybe selfish of me, but I want to know about Saul-kun."
"Yes, I understand. I will tell you everything." It was only fair. She, his aunt, had the right to know about Saul's final days. She started around the day she met him. She was surprised, but disinterested in him-
"Hey, you're telling me a giant actually washed up on your home's shore and you weren't the least bit interested?" Usopp couldn't help but ask.
"No, I wasn't."
"How very you…" Robin continued by explaining how he had hurt his leg and couldn't leave right away, so he had to wait. She spent the next few days visiting him and talking with him. Thinking back, he didn't act at all how she imagined a vice admiral to be like.
"He was a vice admiral?" Yuki suddenly said, shocked.
"I guess I forgot to mention that," Kathlea laughed. "Saul-kun wanted to join the navy, but Onee-chan was very against it. She tended to be docile, but when angered she was a beast."
"I see, the Captain's uncle must've really enjoyed-"
"How many times do I have to say, never open your mouth…?" Yuki hissed at Ridge after punching him in the gut and yanking him down to eye level by his ear.
"No more times…?" Ridge offered fearfully.
"Eventually, Onee-chan gave her reluctant approval."
"Perhaps it would've been better if she had kept her foot down. Then Saul wouldn't have met me and he wouldn't have been killed by Aokiji…"
"Don't worry about it." It wasn't Kathlea, but Lilia who had said it. "Cousin Saul was a sentimental, sweet, stupid guy. A really good combo, as I'm sure you can agree." She semi consciously glanced at her son. "You haven't told us the exact circumstances, but I know that he is happy that you survived and had no regrets to his last breath. Don't go underestimating my family, Robin-chan. We, not a single one of us, never do things half heartedly."
"Um… if I may say something," Yuki spoke up shyly. "In regards to yourself, Robin-san, you probably feel like you aren't living the way Saul-san and your mother wanted you to, but I believe that they wanted you to just live."
"...You've felt what I have felt too, haven't you?" Robin smiled at the young female marine, feeling like she had a lot in common with the young girl.
"How many people haven't, I wonder," Yuki smiled back. "The truth is… I was born and raised on the streets, my earliest memories were of being alone, which made me think that it was natural to be alone. The only thing that kept me alive in those days was the primal desire to survive. I stole, I cheated, I lied, I became a parasite who feasted on the efforts of others. Then one day, things got hairy and I was going to be killed, but, then, a boy and girl saved me. They were quite strong and, more importantly, kind. They were kind because they were family, they balanced each other out, so when they offered me a place in their family and made me their little sister…"
Yuki paused, tearing slightly.
"I thought that, maybe, being by myself wasn't something I should be content with, it's something I have to force my way out of. My entire life was something I had to change with my own power. I probably didn't say that the best way. Do you get it?"
She nodded. Robin believed she understood where Yuki was coming from. Her entire early life she believed that she could only steal and leach off of others, however, when she stopped to think about it, she thought that it didn't have to be that way. She could change because she wanted to. Robin acknowledged her as a strong, young woman. Much stronger than her. "You're admirable, Yuki-chan."
"Nah," she scoffed, flinging her hand. "Trust me, I'm far from admirable. I've done things that are the exact opposite of admirable. Some of them for very selfish reasons. I can't ever take back what I've done, but I can try my darndest to pay people back for all the trouble I've caused."
"Then we're the same in that regard," Robin countered. "I've done undeniably evil things to survive. But I have never considered making amends for my sins. I'm a pirate after all."
"That's got nothing to do with it," Yuki spat, her mood shifting from a shy girl voicing her opinions, to a colder, harsher lecturer. "There are two types of people in this world. Conformists and nonconformists. You decide who you want to be. Screw the previous beliefs! Build your own path and walk it, no matter how dirty you get at the end. You're you, Robin-san, and I won't my little brother's crew mate undermine herself so easily!"
…
Silence spread throughout the shore until a certain grandmother broke it. "Yuki-chan… you have really matured these past few years. I hate to admit it, but my daughter is a really good teacher."
Yuki's face went red, as though she had forgotten that there were other people there besides her and Robin.
"I've got to admit, you've really matured since the day I picked up that borderline-emo little girl," Lilia admitted, further adding to Yuki's embarrassment. "Still kind of an airhead though."
"That's one of the best parts," Ellie chimed. "She's intelligent, sexy, cool, and cute. That's the best combination!"
"Yuki-nee is really cool," Luffy added, pushing Yuki over the edge. It took all her strength to not let her knees buckle up on her.
"I should've just kept my mouth shut," she muttered tiredly.
"But what do I have to do with anything?" Luffy asked curiously.
"Huh?" Yuki looked at him weirdly.
"You said that you wouldn't let Robin undermine herself because she was my crewmate."
"Tha… I dislike people who let the sacrifices of others weigh them down," Yuki explained, although she herself wasn't entirely sure why she said what she said to Robin. It was just that she and her seemed similar. Both loathed by those around them, both losing people important to them… both being saved by the same members of a family. "If they're going to be depressing about it then why be saved at all? The fact that you were her captain is just more incentive."
"Hm?"
"Luffy," Lilia giggled, becoming amused at Luffy's inability to take a hint. "Just be glad that Yuki-chan is the sort of girl who thinks about you all the time."
"I don't-"
"But it seems we've driven off topic," Lilia continued, interrupting Yuki. "So, Robin-chan, what do you have to say after hearing my student's little speech?"
"It was inspiring, to say the least," Robin admitted. "I can see the similarities between her and our captain."
"How so?" The two in question asked.
"However, there is something I want to know, Kathlea-san," Robin faced the Transponder Snail in Lilia's hand. "Why search for me? What were you thinking would happen if you found me?"
"Nothing really," Kathlea admitted nonchalantly, causing most of those listening to fall over in disbelief, save for Lilia, Luffy, Robin, Nagika, Rizen, and Yuki.
"You were expecting "nothing"!" The disbelievers shouted.
"I had heard about you after the Ohara incident from Kuzan-kun," she continued, making Robin's blood grow cold (no pun intended).
"Aokiji?!" Robin growled uncharacteristically.
"Aokiji?" Luffy repeated. "What does he have anything to do with anything?"
"Aokiji, and all of the other admirals go by aliases," Robin explained, squeezing Luffy's hand tighter. Before she she knew it, her captain had become a source of comfort for her. "In truth, his real name is Kuzan."
"Saul-kun and Kuzan-kun enlisted the same year and became fast friends," Kathlea explained. "He had even come over for visits several times in the past…"
"Friends, huh…?" Robin's voice was void of emotion. "But he…"
"After the destruction of Ohara, Kuzan-kun came immediately to our island and explained what had happened, not censoring a single detail," Kathlea continued mournfully. "He tried to keep his voice devoid of emotions, yet I could tell that ending Saul's life was hardest on him."
"But he-"
"Killed him, I know, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't resent him for it, but… he wasn't the one who truly killed Saul-kun."
"That's…" Robin couldn't completely disagree with her. Yes, Aokiji had done the deed, but the one's who ordered him to attack Ohara were…
"You're a smart girl. Surely you know who's really to blame, no? The one's who selfishly desired to burn down your home and all of its people were-"
"The World Government…" Robin finished. It was their fault. It all their fault! The reason she spent twenty years alone. The reason she had lost her mother. The scholars. Saul. It was all them! She continued to squeeze Luffy's hand even harder than before. If he wasn't rubber, it wouldn't be surprising to see her shattered Luffy's hand.
"Yes… but they aren't important. They don't make your choices for you. If you want to avenge Saul's-"
"His parents."
"Hm?"
"What happened to Saul's parents?" Robin bit back her newfound rage and asked the first question to pop into her brain.
"You won't like what you-"
"I can take it," Robin promised. That was all she could do.
"When Kuzan-kun… confessed, my brother and his wife weren't angry nor were they enraged, they were just empty. The shock of hearing that Saul-kun had died existentially killed them…. Onee-chan had gone depressed and refused to eat. A year later… she died due to starvation. As for my brother, life after losing his wife and son… he joined the Revolutionary Army to get revenge on the World Government."
"WHHAAATTT?!" Luffy, Ren, and Shauna screamed in shock at what they just heard.
"You always said that Great Uncle Omen committed suicide," Shauna said to the Transponder Snail hysterically.
"Yeah… that was a lie," Kathlea admitted shamelessly.
"A lie?!" Ren exclaimed incredulously. "How could you just lie to your own grandkids?"
"Oh, Ren-chan, Shauna-chan, Luffy-chan, you'll all realize sooner or later that lies are the ties that bind families together," Kathlea said, trying to convince her grandkids, which earned some knowing nods from some of the members of the Demon Unit. "Besides, that was hardly the biggest family secret we all kept from you kids."
"There's more?!" The three exclaimed, shocked.
"Yeesh, talk about a real family disaster," Ellie whispered. "Guess the Captain's family is a bit more dysfunctional than I thought."
"Although it is pretty fitting for them," Yuki added.
"How are we ever going to trust you again?" Shauna questioned.
"Like usual," Lilia ordered. "It isn't like any of you haven't ever lied to us. Or at least attempted to."
"Well…" Shauna couldn't retort, but just glanced at Luffy. "Doesn't this affect us? If the World Government ever finds out, then Ren and I, no all of us, will become fugitives. I'm not Luffy. I don't want to live the troublesome life of being a fugitive."
"...I can't say that won't happen and, I am sorry about that, but when that happens, I'll protect you," Lilia promised. "All of you."
"Kind of irresponsible," Shauna muttered before glancing at Robin. "But others don't even get that. But Uncle Kirchen's kids aren't even ten…"
"I'm sorry," Robin said to the trio. "This all happened because Saul-"
"Ugh, you sound like a broken Transponder Snail," Shauna groaned. "How long are you going to act so depressing? I'm not blaming you, okay? If I have to become a fugitive, then so be it, but it would've been nice if I had gotten a bit of warning before hand."
"Well, you know now, don't you," Lilia said, offering her niece a bit of positive thinking.
"Oh, come on. I need time to prepare. I'll need to build like thirty hideouts and safe houses all across the world, store as much food and water as I can, not to mention I need a contingency plan for when I run into a threat I can't I handle…"
"...It could be my imagination, but it looks like Shauna-chan is enjoying the idea of being a fugitive," Ellie muttered.
"She's always been the type to enjoy impossible challenges," Ridge explained.
"You certainly are my daughter's daughter, Shauna-chan," Kathlea said dryly. "Look, even if we had explained things to all of you, can you honestly tell me that none of you would ever blab about our little family secret?"
The ones who knew Luffy slowly turned their heads to strawhat wearing boy. "What?"
"Good call," Ren nodded.
"Yeah, you made the right choice, grandma," Shauna nodded. "All is forgiven."
"Good, now back to you, Robin-chan," Kathlea said, redirecting her attention back to Robin. "Sorry we veered of topic."
"It's fine," Robin assured. "It was entertaining to watch your family drama."
"You should see us all during a family reunion. Total pandemonium," she humored, before continuing her story. "Now where was I…? Oh, right, my sister in law died and my brother joined the Revolutionary Army. To be honest, I had my daughter search for you because I had hoped that you being there would raise Onii-chan and Onee-chan's spirits. That, and the fact that you were Olivia's daughter and the one Saul-kun died for-"
"I'll make up for it!" Robin declared to Kathlea and to herself. "I'll take them all with me. Saul's, my mother's, the Ohara scholars, Saul's mother… I'll take their will's and forge my own path with Luffy and our crew. That's the only way I can bring meaning to their deaths!"
…
"Ha… haha…" Kathlea laughed. She laughed as hard as she could. Not just her, but Lilia and Nagika and Yuki and even some of the other Demon Unit members were all laughing, much to the Straw Hats confusion. "I-I'm sorry, but do you have any idea how difficult what you're saying is?"
"My life will stop being my own," Robin answered. She may have decided it on the spur of the moment, but she knew what she declared would mean. What it entailed. "Every major decision I make from now on, they'll be at the forefront of my thoughts. They will be like ghosts, influencing my every choice."
"Anticipating that, you still think you can carry their wills like it's no big deal, Robin-chan," Ridge said, a huge smirk on his face.
"It is a big deal," Robin answered confidently. "Which is why I plan to endure the burden of the path I choose because it's a burden. A burden that I must overcome."
She would endure, struggle, push herself for the sake of the lives that were lost instead of hers. It was her responsibility as the sole survivor of Ohara and Saul's friend. Even if the weight overwhelmed her, she knew her friends would help pick her back up.
"Good answer!" Ridge bellowed jovially. "I like your eyes, missy."
"Oh, Robin-chwan, you look so gallant," Sanji swooned. He and the rest of the Straw Hats were listening quietly up until now, but it looked like they had passed the climax.
"I'm not sure I get why doing what Robin is saying is so hard though," Nami couldn't help but ask. It isn't like she said she's directly risking her life for the, or anything.
"It isn't about hard or easy," Zoro explained. He knew what it was like to carry someone's will and it wasn't always easy. "However, if you're doing it halfheartedly, then you aren't doing it right and the one who would notice most is you. In short, it's a lot deeper than you'd expect."
"I see…" Nami figured she kind of understood. After all, she lived for the sake of her village for eight years and it certainly wasn't easy. Still, she didn't get why living for a dead person's will could be hard.
"Well, Robin-chan, it's unfortunate we couldn't meet face to face," the Aura D. grandmother said. "Well, I say that, but I'm guessing you wouldn't have been quite as likeable if I had met you a few months before now, right?"
"I suppose you wouldn't," Robin giggled, squeezing Luffy's hand just a little bit tighter. "Even I can't be sure of how I would have treated before I met your grandson."
"I guess if I had met you prior to you joining with Luffy-chan I would just have to deal with whatever personality you chose to show," she sighed. "After it was because of Lilia-chan's ineptitude that kept you from being found for twenty years."
"Excuse me?!" Lilia interjected, feeling insulted as she glared at the Transponder Snail.
"Twenty years, Lilia-chan, twenty years."
"Excuse me for having to prioritize my job and raising Luffy," she countered. "If you wanted to find her so bad, then why didn't you go look for Robin-chan?"
"I had to raise your brother and sisters," Kathlea responded. "The heavens know that I couldn't let your father take care of them."
"Excuses, excuses."
"Hmph, well I guess I never needed to ask you in the first place. Luffy-chan did your job in just a few months, less even. Speaking of which, Luffy-chan. I want to thank you for taking in Robin. Even if it wasn't your intention, you have done your family a great service. I'm so proud of you, my sweet."
"I-It's not like I need to be thanked," Luffy stuttered, sounding uncharacteristically nervous. "I just wanted to save Robin. I never ever even knew I had an Uncle Saul."
Right… Saul was Kathlea's nephew and Kathlea is Luffy's grandmother, which made Luffy a relative of Saul's. That had completely slipped Robin's mind. She took a long hard look at Luffy, then thought back to her first meeting with the rubber man onwards. She remembered thinking that he and Saul were quite similar. At the time, she thought it was just because they both had D in their names, maybe it was, or maybe it was because they had the same blood in their veins... Not that it mattered. They were both uncommonly kind and that was because of their choices. Not their blood, nor their name.
"Huh, I'd say I've never seen you sound so nervous before, Luffy," Nami started. "But lately that hasn't been the case, has it? You're quite nervous when it comes to your relatives, huh?"
"Oh, be quiet, Nami," Luffy retorted, annoyed. "What do you know?"
"Enough to know that you do have some sense some of the time," she answered teasingly. "Shame you can't use it at more convenient times."
"I have sense."
'Liar!' The twins, Yuki, and his crew thought at once.
"By the way, hearing how I'm hearing your voice, Luffy-chan," Kathlea started. "It looks like your mother has finally found you. Knowing her, she probably gave you a horrible punishment and I back her 100 percent on that. No matter what, running away from home the way you did is unacceptable. I hope you have learned your lesson."
"Yes, grandma…" Luffy sighed, ashamed and embarrassed.
"...So, are you finally done with your big reveals, mom," Lilia asked. "Cause my arm is getting tired."
"Just one more thing. Robin-chan, as I have told you, I knew you since your mother's pregnancy and, naturally, she knew of Lilia-chan and my other children, so we decided to become each other kids's godmother…"
"Huh...?" As Lilia slowly processed this new piece of information, her eyes slowly widened.
" You're my…?" Robin started in disbelief.
"Godmother, yes," Kathlea finished. "And Olvia is my children's godmother."
"So you're saying…?"
"Let's break it down. I'm your godmother, which makes you and Lilia-chan, and her siblings, godsiblings. That makes my grandkids-"
"Our godaunt?!" Luffy and the twins screamed in shock and horror. Learning that Robin was apart of their family was shocking enough, but when they thought back to…
How Ren had flirted with her.
How Shauna had insulted her and fought her.
And how Luffy had treated her when they first met.
"We're sorry!" The trio had jumped at Robin's feet, much to her surprise.
"I'm sorry I flirted with you!"
"I'm sorry I hurt you! Captain Lilia made me do it!"
"I'm sorry I broke your Eternal Pose when we met!"
"Um…" Robin had no idea how to respond to this flagrant apology. Meanwhile, the vast majority of the Demon Unit and the Straw Hat Pirates looked on in utter disbelief at their respective comrades begging Robin to forgive them.
"The Aura D. family is very strict when it comes to respecting older family members," Yuki explained, answering the unasked question that was floating in the air.
"But… isn't this a bit much…?" June asked.
"Try living with that family for 15 years, then we'll talk," Nagika said sassily.
"You old hag, why didn't you tell me earlier," Lilia asked her mother angrily. "I would've tried harder to find."
"Don't call me a hag!" Kathlea ordered. "And no you wouldn't… but, yes, maybe I should've told you all that at the beginning. I just had a lot that needed to be said."
Meanwhile, Robin was trying to tell Luffy and his cousins not to worry and to stop panicking. However, the trio could just not stop panicking. It was really starting to disturb their respective teammates. They supposed just how terrifying the punishments they had to endure were. It took Rizen, Yuki, and Nagika to pull them off of Robin's feet for them to stop screaming.
"Now, now, Luffy," Nagika said in a soothing voice as she held her godson in her arms. "I realize this is a shocking realization for you, for all of us, but you shouldn't forget that your strongest feature is to not be fazed by anything."
"Shauna-chan, stop, your hyperventilating," Yuki ordered, Shauna struggling in her arms. "You're supposed to be in a wheelchair!"
"Ren… what was the problem again?" Rizen asked, holding ren in his arms.
"Ah, Uncle Rizen is the worst!" Ren cried.
"You sure did cause a scene," Lilia sighed.
"Apparently, sorry, Lilia-chan," her mother said sincerely. "Robin-chan, you still listening?"
"Yes," Robin answered. "So it's true?"
"I wouldn't have said it if it wasn't."
"This is all too much," she sighed. "I certainly didn't expect to wake up this morning and learn… all of this."
"You'll just have to deal with it," Lilia instructed.
"This doesn't change what you said before, does it?" Kathlea asked.
"Of course not," Robin scoffed. "I will carry the wills of the dead no matter what happens."
"Huh, you're really strong," Kathlea chuckled. "Head over to West Blue when you get the time, kay? We can talk in person there… and take care of Luffy-chan. He's my beloved grandson, you know?"
"He's my captain, I would do that regardless of whether or not you asked it of me," Robin replied with a smirk. "Besides, he's my nephew."
"That he is," Kathlea said kindly. "Until next time, Robin-chan, Lilia-chan, Nagika-chan, Rizen-kun, Luffy-chan, Ren-chan, Shauna-chan, Yuki-chan."
"W-Wait!" Ellie requested, dashing to the Transponder Snail. "My name is Kuchoa-"
"She already disconnected," Lilia informed her.
"Aw, I wanted to introduce myself," Elloe said sadly.
"You'll see her one day," Nagika assured, still holding Luffy.
"I guess…"
"So, have you calmed down now, Luffy," Nagika asked her godson.
"Yeah… sorry, Auntie Robin," Luffy lowered his head to Robin.
"Auntie?!" The Straw Hats gasped.
"Auntie… Robin," Robin muttered. " I like the sound of that."
"I remember when Luffy first called me Auntie," Nagika smiled. "I felt so nice and warm that day."
"Aww… that's sweet," Yuki cooed before putting Shauna back on her wheelchair as Rizen put Ren onto his.
"Well, I for one, am glad that that piece of drama is over," Lilia admitted.
"Come on, Lily-chan," Nagika said scoldingly. "You could at least try to care a bit more. Afterall, you did just meet your godsister."
Lilia glanced at Robin, who averted her gaze. "You don't need to treat me special, Lilia-san-"
"No, I do," Lilia approached the dark skinned woman and, to her surprise, hugged her. "From now on, you ar my sister, Robin-chan. Never forget that."
Sister…
Auntie Robin…
Goddaughter…
Such nice words…
"O-Okay," Rob agreed, her voice choked up and her eyes watering. For so many years, so many long, lonely years… she yearned for the warmth of friends and family. Now she had it. She had friends and family. "Lilia… onee-san."
This is a good spot to end this chapter. So, what'd you think? Is it heartwarming? Brought a tear to your eyes? I hope so. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Oh, and now that Lilia knows that Robin is her sister, she will waste no effort in making her and Luffy the strongest on the sea! Plus, Nami just asked Shauna to make her stonger. Look forward to it!
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