"Fucking let go of me!" Robin slapped his hands and pushed him away so she could escape from his grasp, but Zo gripped her arms even tighter and pulled her back inside her home.

"Stubborn woman." Zo clicked his tongue, and pushed her against the wall, earning a pained grunt from Robin.

"I just wanted to talk, can't we just have a little conversation—?"

She slapped his face, interrupting him. "I don't have any time for this bullshit!" She cursed at him but instead of being hurt, he smirked and raised a brow at Robin.

"I'm being nice here, Robin, I just want to talk."

"Oh yeah, coming in the middle of the night here at my home without my permission, and you wanted to talk? Look, this has already happened ever since you've been here. You're getting weirder and weirder, day by day." She didn't hold back her words, with clenched fists at her side, and an intense glare at him.

All of a sudden, Zo laughed hysterically as if she had made a joke, which she didn't. At that moment, she tensed, heart beating erratically. Yet on the outside, she tried to be strong. This was not the time to get a mental block. She needed to do something in this situation with this mad man.

Zo was not the man she thought he was.

"Did you really fall for what I said?" He clicked his tongue, and backed a step away from her. Still, Robin didn't let her guard down. She was just being cautious of his next actions, hands ready to fend him off.

"You're so gullible despite being a clever woman, no wonder you fell for a guy like that swordsman." Zo caged her in once more, towering her small figure.

"What did you say?" Her right hand moved closer to the vase, getting ready to grab it and bash it against his head at any time.

"I'm just saying… you should have known better than to fall for someone like that." He pouted mockingly.

"Excuse me?"

"Leaving you when you guys were finally together. I heard you two. Like two love birds saying those— ooh, I'm getting chills right now. " Zo scoffed with a roll of his eyes. "Why leave you when he can stay?"

"You're being unreasonable." She said with gritted teeth, and pushed his body away from her with both hands. But before he was far enough away, he uttered the words that made Robin lose her composure— the final straw.

"He would never fall in love with a weak woman like you."

She had enough of this bullshit he was telling her.

Robin threw the vase on his face, breaking it to pieces against Zo's head. Then she found a metal rod she hid in between her shelves to completely knock him away. It was a hard hit to his back, and fortunately for her, Zo was dazed, and slumped down on the floor.

Running down the stairs, she didn't realize that Zo had gotten up, and followed her— " AH!" She screamed when suddenly, he grabbed her hand just as she got to the last step. She managed to pull away from his grasp but it led her to trip on the floor, and trample on her foot. She tried to stand up to get away, however, her ankle was sprained.

Zo crouched to gaze at her, eye-level, and she couldn't move an inch. A dark chuckle rumbled in his chest, and Robin was starting to fear for her life. Her heartbeat ran faster than ever even though her limbs were exhausted, yet she remained strong on the outside despite the heavy tension that cold night.

"I'm not as weak as you are, woman." He grabbed hold of her jaw with his big hands.

Robin stared at him down, breathing raggedly, "And I'm not afraid of you!"

"Oh yeah, then what if I tell you something you'll love to hear?"

Robin didn't answer him but he proceeded with a cocky grin.

"If you want that swordsman to be with you, then do what I say. Guide us to the treasure you're looking for." His grip on her face tightened, forcing her to look into his eyes.

"What treasure?!"

Zo gritted his teeth in annoyance, "Don't play dumb, woman. The treasure inside the ruins!" Zo shoved her roughly at the shelves, toppling it along with the flower displays it held.

"I don't know anything about any treasure—!"

"Then what the fuck is this?" Zo took a piece of paper from his pocket and showed it to Robin, and her eyes widened in shock. That paper was the one she had been looking for, and all this time he had it. How did she not think of that?!

"I've been looking for that since we left Amazon Lily…" She mumbled under her breath while Zo rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, I know, and to tell you the truth, I don't give a fuck about Hiyori and Hancock, enjoyed their wedding though, but still, I'm not after any of them. I'm only after you and only you since you know more about the treasure than they do." He revealed nonchalantly.

"But you said you weren't after me?" Robin was still confused.

Zo clicked his tongue, amused, and shook his head before saying, "Don't be naïve, Robin, part of my job is to lie and get on with it. Do you think I'm that dumb to catch Hancock? For a smart woman like you, you sure are stupid sometimes. I should be thanking your aunt who helped me out. If not for her, then I wouldn't know where you were."

He snickered as he patted her cheek but Robin pushed his hand away from her face. Although at that moment, Robin was still processing that Zo had the paper and just now confessed that it was him who had been responsible for freeing her aunt from prison. It was too much to take in all at once, her head already hurt.

'This night had gone on for too long,' she thought.

He continued on even without Robin's response.

"I know what you're looking for, it's on this paper, but my boss wants you to find him the treasure. As for me, I want to see the gateway to the swordsman's world. So, what do you say— let that swordsman stay here with you while I get to be the one to go through the gateway, or we burn this town down along with you and that swordsman?"

"The gateway…?" Did he mean the place where Zoro would return to his world? Wait, burn what? "Burn Rustbay? You're lying and you're all alone!"

"Oh, really?" He scoffed before he grinned, crossing his arms on his chest.

As if on cue, there were three suited brusque men, stepping out of the dark shadows of the shop. Robin backed away a little, and Zo smirked, sensing her fear.

"I assure you they're not the only ones here. We've already surveyed the town last week when you and your friends weren't around. And, by the way, we have bombs planted across town. If you agree to join us we'll have all of them removed by tomorrow. If I were you, I'd consider cooperating cause if not—"

"Robin?!" A shout was heard coming from outside of the shop. "Robin, are you there?!"

Was that Ben? What was he doing here? Robin tensed the moment she saw Ben's silhouette behind the door. She was worried that Ben might get involved in this.

"Are you okay? I heard shouts!" Ben called out.

He wasn't supposed to be here!

Zo looked at Robin and gestured his hand at his neck, nudging Robin to go outside. Robin tried to stand on her feet despite the aching pain in her ankle after she stumbled down the stairs. Nervous, Robin faced Ben with a composed face, and a forced smile. She just wished Ben wouldn't notice that she was in pain.

"Everything's fine, Ben… What are you doing here? It's already past midnight." She smiled yet Ben still saw through her.

"You don't look fine, kid. Is something wrong—?"

Before he could even finish his sentence, Ben was forcefully pulled inside, by a hand which Robin found out belonged to Zo, and then smashed against the flower pots, his body slumped on the floor along with its broken pieces.

" What the hell?! Ben didn't even do anything to you!" Robin shouted at Zo.

"I'm getting impatient." Zo shrugged, "I don't need someone ruining this for me!" Zo gestured for the three men to grab hold of Ben before he stabbed him in the abdomen with a small dagger, pulling it out quickly with a scoff under his breath.

"I haven't even told you my choice! Why the hell did you stab him?" Robin shouted at him, immediately sitting beside Ben.

"I don't know, maybe payback for what that swordsman did to my leg. Made it hard for me to walk so why not return the favor for this old man." He spoke nonchalantly as if it was a casual thing to do.

"You're fucking insane!" Robin gritted her teeth.

"You have to make a choice, Robin, or else Rustbay will burn!" Zo shouted at her with a dagger pointed.

Robin was about to retort once more but a hand landed on top of her lap. Glancing down, Robin looked at Ben and began to worry about the older man. "Ben, stay with me!"

"Kid… Just do whatever he wants, maybe it's for the best…"

"But…!"

Ben stopped her by squeezing her hand, shaking his head.

Robin bit the inside of her cheek. She was trying to hold back her tears as she made her choice. Feelings coursed inside her— a mix of exhaustion, guilt, the burden came all at once inside her tired mind. With a deep sigh, she held her gaze towards Zo. She didn't want to do any of this at all. But she was left with no other choice…

"Just leave Rustbay out of this." She started.

"I'm the one you want, just... Promise me you won't do anything to hurt the people here." She asserted.

"Wise choice. I knew we could trust you." Zo grinned, and he walked towards her, holding her face once again, but Robin swatted him away, making Zoro roll his eyes.

Proceeding, he said, "This matter stays between you and me, got it?"

Robin didn't respond, just stared at him.

"We'll meet again tomorrow here in the afternoon, and remember, if you change your mind... Rustbay is going down with you." He said as he walked towards the exit, followed by the three men. "See you later, Nico Robin." He waved goodbye, and left Robin and Ben completely.

Robin couldn't believe that she agreed to help that mad man.

"Ben… I'm sorry…" She muttered but Ben shook his head.

"I think it's better that I came at the right time, instead of you hurting all alone." He muttered with a weak laugh.

"I'll get you to Law right away." She promised and slung his right hand around her shoulder despite she, herself, having a hard time standing up. With a pained huff, she successfully stood up along with Ben, and they left the shop to disturb Dr. Trafalgar's clinic in the middle of the night.

Just like that, everything was over in a blur. The night she expected would turn out well was replaced by a bad ending… And Robin thought at that moment that maybe good things weren't really meant for her all along…

The next morning, Robin was exhausted when she woke up in the medical bed at the clinic. Her limbs were sore, especially her ankle. Law already wrapped her ankle with a cloth to prevent further swelling. Fortunately, she could move her feet quickly enough, although there was a small ache in her feet which she told herself she could endure.

In the next few hours, she and the others were supposed to depart for the ruins together, in order for Zoro to get back to where he came from. But there would have to be a change of plans now.

"This matter stays between you and me, got it?" She could hear Zo's voice in her head, the moment before he left with the three suited men.

Robin didn't notice Law call her name since she was preoccupied with her thoughts, recalling the events of last night. She needed to face Nami and tell her their plans. Omit the details they didn't need to hear. They would understand. They were her friends after all… But what about Zoro? How could he accept her choice, if it meant he might not be able to return… That was what she wanted all along, right—?

"Robin?"

Law called out her name once again.

This time, there were no formalities between them. Right now, she was at the clinic after the events of last night.

Robin single-handedly brought Ben all the way to Law's clinic in the middle of the night. A drowsy doctor greeted the two of them, before he realized that Robin was accompanying a bloodied Ben. Law acted quickly and tended the old man, while Bepo assisted Robin to the sofa, giving her water.

"What happened?" Law asked Robin. There was a furrowed brow of concern, and he sat beside her in the still silence of the clinic.

Robin only let out a deep sigh before she leaned her head on his shoulder.

She couldn't explain how she felt right now. There was no relief. There was no spark inside her. There was only tension in all parts of her body, her mind, her heart, as the events last night, leaving the happy moments, kept on replaying inside her mind. She felt empty actually… She couldn't even feel her hands at all, numb and cold, until the doctor's warm hand wrapped around hers.

"Is it related to what happened to Ben?" Law asked her.

Robin could only nod her head. At this point she felt like was about to pass out again, but instead, tears streamed down her cheeks.

"I don't know what to do, Law… Zo threatened me…" Words started to come out of her mouth. "If I don't do what he says, Rustbay will be blown up."

Law straightened his body, hand still wrapped around her own, and faced her, saying, "What? Why? That bastard can't do that!"

"I don't know… He was the one who stabbed Ben, what more is he capable of aside from that? I don't really know… I don't know, Law… I don't know…" Robin's hands were trembling, and Law, despite the cold man he was, warmed Robin's hands with his. Even Law didn't know what to do, only offering his presence, and comforted the crying woman leaning on his shoulder.

She looked exhausted, and Law left her to rest on the sofa. Bepo saw her tired state, and was worried, wrapping his big arms around Robin. His warm jug dampened her worries, and she began to cry on his chest until her eyes got tired, falling asleep in Bepo's arms.

Next thing she knew, she had awakened in one of the vacant beds of the clinic.

"I'm doing fine… I guess?" She let out a weak laugh, and averted her gaze from him.

"Robin…"

"Look, I've already decided, okay?"

The doctor only nodded in response, and let her meet the others at Baratie's even though Law said she needed to rest first.

As persistent as she was, Robin went on her way to the restaurant. Besides, they were all supposed to meet there before they went to the ruins, but instead, their plans would have to be scrapped completely to her dismay. Robin tried her best to mask the guilt and burden with her usual calmness as soon as she entered the restaurant. She would face them with all her might, and wouldn't let anyone see through her. Although in the end, they were her friends after all. It was natural for them to see through her…

"What are you talking about, Robin? Didn't we already plan all this? And why— Wait, where are you going all of a sudden, we're not done yet!" Nami called her out as soon as Robin finished saying her short message to them. She quickly turned her back against them, refusing to face them. She was the worst, she knew that, but she didn't have any choice or else even worse things could happen.

Once she was outside the restaurant, she inhaled deeply before letting it all out to dampen the anxiousness. It wasn't going to be alright but it was the choice she needed to make. She started walking, and repeated the words again and again inside her mind, her steps matching every word:

Do not look back or else they will try to change her mind. Do not look back or else they will try to change her mind. Do not look back or else they will try to change her mind. Do not look back or else they will try to change her mind—

"Robin, what changed?"

She stopped in her tracks but did not look back. She knew whose voice that was, but still, she didn't look back. She was quite far away from the restaurant but he still followed her all the way. Robin smiled faintly— hope sparked between them but only for a moment…

"I'm sorry, Zoro."

Once again, she apologized. How many times did she apologize to him? She couldn't count the times on her fingers already, but either way, she kept going back on her words, then always ended up muttering apologies every damn time. How foolish of her. After that brief moment with Zoro, she went away, and never tried to explain herself.

"I'm here." Robin said as soon as she entered the flower shop.

The shop still looked the same as last night. The flower pots where Ben was shoved into were still in broken pieces, and the shelves that tumbled down hadn't moved an inch, along with the flower displays on the floor. The good thing was that the shop was closed until today and none of her employees would have to deal with anyone here.

There were a lot more suited men than there were last night in her shop. More than five men, Robin wasn't sure. Their cold gazes felt like they could pierce her skin. They didn't give her the slightest comfort if that's what they were trying to do right now… Still, she wouldn't let them scare her. She needed to do her part so that no one in Rustbay would be hurt in any way.

"Robin, you didn't break your word! Glad to have you here!" Zo welcomed her with open arms but Robin ignored him and stood in front of him. "Aw, no hug?"

Robin only looked at him gravely and Zo chuckled at her serious expression. "You're too serious." The woman rolled her eyes which earned a chuckle from Zo, then he asked, "So, you know where to go, right?"

She nodded as her response. On the inside she felt disgusted at herself that she agreed with him, but she didn't have any choice but to comply…

She was alone when she was driving the car. No suited men. No Zo. Only her inside the car. That was the only thing she could ask from them: her own privacy. Besides, they were already following her car all the way to the beach where the entrance of the ruins could be according to the map.

While she was inside the car, she called Law. It took her two calls before Law eventually picked up his transponder snail.

"Robin?" The doctor immediately focused his attention on the call. "Where are you? Nami was looking for you already."

"Don't tell them I'm off to the ruins, Law. They don't know where it is, but still, please don't tell them."

"Then what do you want me to do?" He asked. Robin could see the concern in his eyes despite them being in a call.

"Just tell all of them to be safe, I'll do this on my own."

"And for the swordsman?" It was a quick assumption for the doctor's part.

Robin bit her lip when Law mentioned Zoro. She gripped the steering wheel tighter, trying her best to maintain her composure. Her voice almost cracked when she replied shortly, "Tell him 'I'm sorry.' I hope he understands that."

He always would.

With that, Robin immediately dropped the call, and cried to herself while driving. It was the only time she would be alone to let out all her emotions. She had been trying to stay strong, but all this time, she couldn't… All she could do was cry at that moment, scream, if she could, and curse everyone's name without an ounce of care that someone might hear her while driving past on the empty road.

This was the storm after the calm clouds she had experienced the past few days…

"What did she say?" Nami asked the doctor, while Zoro, seated at one of the lobby's sofas, watched them with an intentful gaze.

It was Zoro who had grown suspicious of Robin's actions earlier that day. There was no way Robin could act like that if nothing happened. That was why they were at the clinic, to check if Robin happened to be here. It was just Zoro's gut feeling. Although he wasn't sure why the clinic of all places— he was right and wrong at the same time. Wrong that Robin was at the clinic, but correct that Robin had been here.

Law only shook his head as he pocketed the transponder snail.

"She only said that all of you should stay safe, and she would do it on her own. And as for the swordsman," Law moved his gaze at the swordsman, whose ears perked up in interest.

"Robin said that she was sorry."

"Bullshit," Zoro stood up from his seat. "I knew something was wrong." Zoro clicked his tongue, and turned his back to them to look outside.

It was Zoro who sensed that Robin might've been hiding something. With the way she acted earlier in front of them, sure she appeared to be doing fine, but her eyes spoke differently. As if her eyes were asking for help, pleading for something, but Zoro didn't know why.

"How about Ben? Did you try asking the old man?" Zoro faced them once more, and all gazes went to the bedridden old man. He hadn't yet woken up according to the doctor. Dr. Trafalgar also added that he was stabbed in the abdomen, and it was Robin who had brought him in late at night.

Why did he leave her all alone at her home? If only he didn't leave Robin there, he could have defended her and none of this would have happened… Wait—

"What do you mean by stabbed?" Zoro asked the doctor. Then that means…?

"Fucking hell." Zoro muttered under his breath.

"It was that fucking bastard!" Zoro exclaimed, kicking away his seat and all of their gazes focused on him. "I need to go follow them—!" Zoro was about to leave the clinic but Nami was quick to pull him back by dragging his shirt, forbidding him to go out alone.

"Oi, let go of me!" The swordsman tried to pry Nami's hands away from his shirt, but the orange haired woman shook her head, "Not a chance, stupid. We need a plan or else you might spoil Robin's plans. We don't even know where the hell they are, and where the fuck those ruins are. Robin was supposed to guide us there…"

"It's under the cliffs…" A voice croaked, and all of them were startled. It belonged to Ben, who happened to wake up a few minutes ago. Law quickly checked up on him, reading his vital signs.

"What do you mean 'under the cliffs'? Have you been there before?" Nami then asked.

He shook his head, "No, but the elders spoke about it in old stories back then… I don't know whether it was true or not…"

Zoro and Nami looked at each other, an understanding forged between them. They were about to leave the clinic when Ben opened his mouth to speak again.

"They were speaking about a bomb… That Zo… Rustbay might blow up at the end of the day…"

That stopped the both of them in their tracks.

"A bomb? W-What?!" Nami exclaimed.

"We don't have much time…" And there, Ben fell asleep again, and Law sighed deeply.

"Don't tire my patient, he still needs to rest. Now go. You have to take care of this or all of us will be dead— good luck."

Nami nodded her head despite the threatening blessing from the doctor. From the look of her eyes, she was about to cry, but Nami quickly composed herself.

"We need to go tell the others." Nami said to Zoro, and they left the clinic.

They needed to act fast or…