SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 93 out, this is Chapter 94 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, sibling Luffy/Sasha and Sabo/Sasha, patriotic-retainer Law/Sasha

Wolfgirl: With how my fic has evolved till now (I started the crew's Haki training before Water 7), I'll mostly likely be able to avoid both the Impel Down and Marineford Arcs altogether since Sasha actually intervenes midway through the Ace-Blackbeard fight. So yes Ace will survive the fight and will totally avoid getting handed over to the Marines.

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

Chapter 94: Arc 8: Setting The Stage

"Now, now!" Kumadori posed. "Prepare yourselves! Are you ready?"

Prepare ourselves? Nami wondered. No matter how I look at it, he's not a good mach. Getting the key is our first priority."Yo, assassin!" she called out. "Where's the key?"

"Since you asked," Kumadori changed his pose. "Let me tell you. The key is..."

"Yes, yes." Nami prompted. "The key is..."

"The key is..." Kumadori repeated. "The key is right here..." he hopped backwards. "My key is right here."

"He misplaced it, didn't he?" Sasha sighed. "This is quite troublesome." she admitted, slicing off Kumadori's extended hair with the pair of claymore swords she summoned.

"Sasha, we're no match for him!" Nami grabbed the weapons mistress and fled back the corridor. We're lucky enough to get away once. She mused, both girls were now hiding between two rooms surrounding the courtyard. He's not coming after us? We were lucky enough to get away once. We'd be dead for sure, next time. We need to find the others before he finds us.

"Life Return!" Kumadori snuck behind the two girls, his long hair carpeting the floor.

"Nami!" Sasha exclaimed, dodging the agent's attack.

"Damn!" Nami cursed, finding herself entangled within his hair.

"Let's see, what comes next..." Kumadori twirled his khakkhara. "Shall I pierce thee to death or choke thee to death? A fragile life, a wintry wind. Now, before spring can come, a flower succumbs to the cold..." he was cut off when Sasha's blades cut his hair off and freeing Nami.

"Cloven Roseo!" Chopper ran in, slamming his hooves onto Kumadori's face. "Did he eat a Devil's Fruit?" he wondered. "What's up with his hair?"

"I think I heard him call it 'Life Return'." Sasha frowned.

"Come on." Nami got to her feet. "This is our chance to get away. The less we see of that guy, the better."

"But how are we supposed to get the key?" Chopper asked.

"This little thing?" Nami showed him the key she had snitched from Kumadori. "Stealing the key was the easy part, I just couldn't deal with that hair of his. Anyway, have you seen the others?"

"Before I get to that, could you tell me what number your key is?" Chopper asked.

"It's three." Nami reported.

"Wrong one." Chopper sighed.

"You're gonna have to explain this to us." Nami reminded, when their conversation was cut short after a deformed Sanji fell into the floor in front of them. "This place is falling apart." she winced. "Wait, what?" her eyes widened. "Is that a doll?"

"No, it's Sanji." Chopper gasped. "What the heck happened to him?"

"I'm sorry..." Sanji coughed blood. "I lost... I couldn't get the key."

"So, that's how it is." Sasha noticed Kalifa leaning against the staircase above them.

"Sanji, you really couldn't win?" Nami questioned. "You really gave it your all? You fought that blond woman, didn't you? You must've gone easy on her. This fight is a matter of life and death. You can't stick to your stupid code of honor. Is chivalry really worth dying for?"

"I don't want this." Sanji admitted. "I don't want to die. But I was raised to never hit a lady, no matter what. So even at a time like this, even if it kills me, I won't kick a woman."

"I see." Nami sighed. "That's stupid." she hit him with her Perfect Clima-Tact. "Is running away against your code of honor, too? Because that's not worth dying over either. Nobody wants to see you throw your life away in vain. Leave that woman to me and Sasha. You try to get better. And by the way, even if it's dumb, I like that chivalry of yours."

"And for the record, we won't play nice." Sasha declared. "Ex-equip: Water Dragon Armor!"

"Neither will I." Kalifa returned after Sasha donned her armor. "We'll get along fine."

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