SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 43 out, this is Chapter 44 of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors, myself included, sustain on readers' reviews.

Pairings: Ace/Sasha, familial Luffy/Sasha, patriotic Law/Sasha (Might end up as a Law/Sasha pairing later if I end up killing Ace at Marineford and if reviewers don't mind the age gap)

Disclaimers: One Piece belongs to Oda Eiichirō-sensei. Me, on the other hand, own absolutely nothing, except my OC.

Chapter 44: Arc 4: The Battlefront of Alabasta! Rainbase, the City of Dreams!

On Lashes, after parting ways with Ace in the desert, Nami and Vivi gushed over the new ring Sasha had on her ring finger. The two females had watched Ace's and Sasha's interactions ever since the older pirate boarded the Going Merry and the both had came to the same conclusion: Ace was the one who gave Sasha her promise ring.

And in her mind, Nami was already planning the wedding.

After arriving in Rainbase...

"The Navy's chasing them again." Sanji sweatdropped, seeing the fleeing Luffy and Usopp escaping from the Navy soldiers chasing after them.

"No way!" Nami exclaimed. "So why are they running this way?"

"Chopper isn't back yet." Sasha pointed out, realizing that the reindeer had not returned from his toilet break.

"Leave him." Zoro retorted. "He'll manage."

"Hey guys!" Luffy shouted. "The Navy is here!"

"You're the one bringing them here!" Zoro snapped, the rest of the group had also taken off running.

"Baroque Works is gonna spot us if we run through the city!" Usopp cried out.

"I think it's too late for that." Zoro remarked, glancing around to see the Billions agents situated around the city, with the crew's photographs in hand.

"Then it's decided." Luffy declared. "Let's go! To where Crocodile is!"

"Do you see that alligator-roof building up ahead?" Vivi pointed to the striped pyramid in front of them. "That's the casino Crocodile runs: Raindinners."

"It'd be best if we split up." Sanji suggested.

"It looks that way." Zoro agreed.

"Alright, see you later." Luffy grinned. "Let's meet at the alligator house!" he informed the others, leaping up the stall awing in front of him, the rest of the crew having split up into two groups at the T-section. "Come and get me, Smokey!" he taunted Smoker.

"White Vine!" Smoker dissolved into smoke, focusing solely on Luffy.

"Gum Gum Balloon!" Luffy expanded his stomach, freeing himself from Smoker's smoke tendril. "That was close." he landed on the ground and resumed running.

Elsewhere...

"Oops." Zoro stopped in his tracks, seeing the Billions agents in front of him and Vivi.

"Mr. Bushido, this direction too." Vivi turned back to see the gathering Billions agents behind them. "The Baroque Works Billions."

"Stuck between the devil and the deep sea, huh?" Zoro smirked. "Go on without me." he pushed Vivi off.

Somewhere else...

"Usopp, look after Sasha-hime and Nami-san." Sanji instructed. "I'll hold them off." he turned to the Navy soldiers chasing after them. "Go!" he barked.

"Look up ahead!" Nami pointed, the trio having shook off the Billions agents chasing them. "The entrance to Raindinners. It's in the middle of a lake."

"Is no one here yet?" Usopp wondered as they ran up to the entrance. "The enemy!" he screamed when faced with a row of Billions agent snipers before them. "Zoro!" he gaped when the swordsman kicked the snipers to the ground.

"Wasn't Vivi with you?" Nami asked.

"Is she not here yet?" Zoro inquired.

"There's a possibility she's already inside." Sasha suggested.

"Let's hurry then." Nami urged. "Luffy!" she turned when she heard her Captain's yell.

"Plume-Plume is with him!" Zoro realized, seeing Smoker right behind Luffy.

"Let's go!" Luffy shouted. "Run inside, guys!"

"We're going in?" Usopp moaned, the gathered group running into the casino with Luffy in the lead.

"Listen, Crocodile!" Luffy declared. "I'm going to kick your ass!"

SailorStar9: Any OOC-nes is regretted. *Sighs* Don't you just hate plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.