Disclaimer-I don't own any of this except for the things not created by Eichiiro Oda.

A/N- I think I'll call "Nico" to "Robin" now. Error on my part...Shoutout-HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBIN!

-I-I-I-I-Chapter Five-I-I-I-I-

Torikki curled in his bed as morning waned, the black sheet on the floor. The windows stayed transparent, but no birds flew into them, thanks to certain...means. He turned over onto his back and looked at the black ceiling, then closed his eyes in exhaustion. His muscles twitched and he winced, massaging them. Sitting up, he reached over and took a small glass jar of pale green balm from the desk and unscrewed the lid. The scent of mint reached him and he inhaled, savoring it. The smell was his mother's favorite...he had drenched the whole room in it. That was another excuse the others made to keep from fetching him...like a toy. The angry thoughts started to rise, quicker this time. He clenched his teeth and dipped his fingers into the balm.

Rubbing it on his aching muscles, the cooling sensation calmed him, which left room for him to think. These last two days will be a hassle. Maybe those pirated could help...He pondered about that as he slipped on a black shirt and pulled on a pair of black jeans over his purple boxers. No, they have their own problems, he admitted reluctantly. Wrapping himself in his beltless trench coat, he finger-combed his dark purple hair. Tomorrow is the last day...He grinned. Watching this tournament will be fun when I'm free, he thought to himself. As he made his way to the door, he paused after catching a glance of himself in the mirror. Taking a pair of slim sunglasses, he placed them on his nose bridge and snapped them into place. Smiling grimly, he left the sunny, black, heating-up room. The heat would fry all the bugs to a crisp. Good thing he slept on a metal mattress.

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Usopp unrolled the map and pinned it into place on the wooden barrel. Zoro sat on the stairs, Reia by the trees, and Sanji stood by the mast. Chopper, Nami, and Robin sat at the table. A rough sketch of the island at a bird's eye view dominated the piece of paper. The four arenas were placed in order of the days of the fight, so one could progress smoothly to the next arena. Sanji's arena of mud was south of Demon's Eye, a bit west from the ship's location.

"Just a short walk," Sanji said nonchalantly as Usopp spread his fingers apart to measure a mile on the map.

"Two miles," Nami told him before he even began. He stared at Sanji in disbelief.

"...short walk?" Sanji straightened.

"Well maybe for you it isn't."

"You're gonna lose, you loser cook."

"Shut up, Zoro," Sanji snarled. Zoro grinned and looked at him mockingly.

Sanji shrugged, knowing when a tease was made. "Yeah, whatever." He looked up at the bright sky and leapt to his feet. "Okay, gotta go, catch up later!" he called out as he rushed to the edge of the ship. Suddenly, he screeched to a stop and looked over to Nami. "Nami-san, a good luck kiss?"

"Just go now!" she roared as she pushed him off the ship. He landed in the water with a splash and waded to the shore. Turning around, he gave her a silly grin and waved to the others. Blowing a kiss to the ladies, he sprinted into the forest. Zoro watched as he lifted his weights. As if on cue, Usopp slung his bag of bullets over his shoulder and also stood up. Stretching, he beckoned to Chopper and Luffy,

"Okay guys, let's go!" Luffy jumped up and also stretched. Nami started and turned to look at him.

"Where did you come from?" she asked in surprise. He cocked his head at her in question.

"I've been here all along, Nami!" he told her. Before she could reprimand him he stretched his arm over the water and grabbed a palm tree.

"No no no, Luffy, wait!" Usopp exclaimed as he pulled on Luffy's rubbery arm. Chopper joined Usopp in his efforts. Reia sat up and cried out in warning.

"Too late," she said as the threesome snapped off the ship and collided into the sandy beach. The women laughed softly as the groaning bunch untangled themselves. Zoro chuckled and lay down, but Nami frowned.

"Zoro, aren't you going with them, too?"

He shook his head and answered, "Didn't I saw he was gonna win already?" He pointed to his arm and added, "Watch your arms."

Nami nodded and Robin folded her arms as she watched the trio walk into the forest. Reia jumped off and joined the women.

"Are you ready?" Robin grabbed her hat and placed it on her head. She sported a pale-green shirt and Nami an orange spaghetti-strap one. Halter tops were just too dangerous in this sun and present circumstances. Reia adjusted her white tank top and pulled up her blue and grey camo pants. Rubbing her hands in anticipation, she grinned and spread her hands out for dramatic effect. She had disappeared. Mischievous laughter echoed on the ship, and Nami glanced around in curiosity when suddenly both she and Robin lurched forward, now levitating. They drifted off the ship and noticed glowing blue platforms underneath them.

Zoro smiled amusedly and waved. "Have fun."

An ethereal voice spoke out, "Oh, we will."

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"Where are we going now?" Luffy asked as he waved a stick around. Usopp ducked as the stick was swiped over his head and scowled.

"To the arena, stupid head," Usopp told him, also taking a stick. Chopper clip-clopped after them in silence, looking around in awe. Usopp looked at Chopper slyly and tapped his other shoulder with the branch. Chopper yelped and looked around in apprehension. Usopp bit his lip, trying to control his laughter, when Luffy leaned forward to look at Chopper.

"Oy, Chopper, do you have a cut?" He shook his head as they trooped through the forest. He looked up at the branches, then back to the ground. Usopp, noticing his thoughtful silence, stuck out his stick behind Chopper when he turned his head. Usopp quickly withdrew the branch and started whistling.

"Usopp, what will the people do with our blood?" he asked quietly. Usopp stopped whistling.

After a few moments, he said admittedly, "I really don't know. Let's just hope it's not for the worst?" He smiled reassuringly down at Chopper, who grinned back, his troubles forgotten. They proceeded down the dirt road into the clearing. Mud sucked at Luffy's sandals. He yelped and jumped around, picking up his gloopy sandals. Squelching around, he laughed.

"The mud between my toes feels great!" he exclaimed. The other spectators looked back at the group and laughed softly, a few also with bare feet. Usopp looked disapprovingly at his shoes, then brightened and pulled them off. Suddenly, he lost his balance and started to wobble.

"Uh, Luffy, help!" With a loud "squish" he fell to the mud. Chopper doubled over in giggles and held his stomach from laughing so hard. Luffy grinned and kicked a bit of mud in Usopp's direction. It landed with a splat onto his face, and he yelped. Wiping the mud from his eyes, he saw Luffy and growled. Scooping up more mud, he threw it at the captain's face. It landed on the spot, and Luffy sputtered and spat mud out of his mouth. They ran at each other and started throwing mud at each other, laughing and whooping. Chopper joined the fray, giggling. The smell of wet earth soon permeated the air and onlookers shook their heads at the sight of the three teens covered in mud.

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"Third Battle, Sanji verses Sline. For all you newcomers..." The announcer paused as the two fighters entered the ringed off mud arena, then continued, "...especially you three in the mud, here are the rules. Win by any means, battle ends when either opponent is knocked out. In circumstances when both are, well, whoever gets to wake up first wins! Just kidding, we'll have a tie-breaker." The announcer said gaily. Sanji looked over the crowd and spotted the standing muddy figures. The mud sucked at his shoes. Unfortunately for his opponent, the arena was the muddiest place on the island, and he wasn't doing so well. Shaking his head, he lit his cigarette and observed the bumbling skinny man.

Tall and thin, Sline reminded Sanji of an eel, so lithe and...slimy. The man's eyes darted up and down the cook and his fingers flexed. Sanji stepped in place, getting a feel of the mud. Why he chose this arena lay in the power of his legs. This would be easy. He looked at the bell expectantly.

"Clang!"'

Sanji and Sline circled one another, looking for an opening in each other's defenses. Sanji kept his hands in his pockets, glancing occasionally at the crowd. Sline noticed and one of his fingers twitched, when suddenly daggers flashed into the open as Sline lunged forward, unexpectedly nimble in the mud. But not enough for the pirate.

Sanji evaded Sline's stabs and slashes, cool as ever. The crowd roared in suspense. A dodge to the right, duck, spin, Sline stumbled, the crowd booed, WHAM! Sanji quickly lifted a mud-stained leg andconnected it with Sline's open side. He stumbled forward and snarled, a dagger flying backwards. Sanji's eyes widened and he tripped; the dagger flew past his head, cutting a few strands of blonde hair. The people hissed, and Sline regained his balance and smirked, spinning a dagger. Sanji's eyebrow twitched, and Sline's smirk was erased completely.

"No one...messes. With. The hair." Forgetting all about the mud, Sanji flipped over and spun his legs around, catching Sline in the stomach. People started cheering. Round and round the two spun, the mud squelching as Sanji moved his hands.

Wha-POCK! Sline impacted the corner of the ring and slid to the mud slowly, not making a sound. He did not rise. Sanji stood up and with a violent flick of his hands made all the mud fly onto Sline's shirt.

"Ding ding ding!"

"And the winner is...SANJI!" The announcer cried. Applause deafened the forest; a few birds flew up because of the racket. Sanji smiled and finally noticed the few hundred people standing in the mud. He noticed Nami's orange hair and waved as the tournament guards led him out. She was still clapping with the spectators. Reia smiled at him, but Robin-chan was no where to be found. Suddenly, Nami and Reia frowned and looked around, then ran off. Sanji stared in shock and his shoulders drooped. One of the guards patted his back.

"Hey man, what's the deal? Awesome fight back there. You won, what you sulking about? Girlfriend ain't here?" the guard asked, grinning. Sanji just looked at him.

"Tell me about it."