It didn't take long before Zoro was annoyed. He didn't mind helping Kia train, in fact his pride swelled each time she would push herself up to the next level. But when she was distracted and unable to focus like she was now, he had a strong desire to just break through her shabby defense and give her a hit- just to teach her a lesson of course.

Instead, he sheathed his sword and gave her a glare while making a disgusted noise. "Ugh, Kia! What the hell is going on with you?!"

Kia looked at him in surprise, and then apologetically winced. She had been thinking about what could be coming- she couldn't seem to help it- and hadn't focused at all on training. She didn't blame Zoro for yelling, though she did look around to see if anyone had heard.

She could see Robin nearby looking at a book, but knowing Robin, she was also listening.

"I'm sorry Zoro, I…" she tried to come up with a plausible excuse. "I'm just tired."

"Oh yeah?" he asked shrewdly. He crossed his arms in front of him, and just looked at her, and she squirmed a little at his stare. Then suddenly, he turned his head and yelled, "Oi! Chopper!"

After a moment Chopper appeared at the balcony above them, asking what was needed, and Zoro asked him to come down to them. Kia looked at him in confusion, not understanding why he was calling Chopper. It's not like I'm sick or…

The sudden realization of what was happening had her shooting an angry look at Zoro, who merely smirked back at her. "What's wrong Kia?" he asked her. "I told you this was coming."

"What's up Zoro?" Chopper asked as he came up to them.

"Nothing Chopper, we're fine," Kia answered shortly.

"Kia here still isn't sleeping," Zoro told their doctor, and the little reindeer looked at his friend in worry.

"Kia, I told you to come tell me if you needed help sleeping," Chopper rebuked her kindly. "Your body needs more sleep in order to keep you healthy!"

"I'm sleeping fine Chopper, I promise," she told him, shooting daggers at Zoro. "I was telling Zoro that I was tired, but I meant my body was tired of training."

"Oh," Chopper's worried expression faltered, but he was still looking at her, searching for signs of her insomnia. "If you're sure…" he trailed off.

"I am," she patted the top of his hat, and gave him a smile. "Thank you, and sorry for the confusion."

"No problem!" he replied happily, and turned to go back to what he was doing. "Be sure to let me know if you can't sleep, okay Kia?" he asked, pausing in mid step.

"Yeah, I will," she answered.

Robin watched Chopper bound back up the stairs, and looked over at the pair that were standing facing each other, both with arms crossed in front of them, and angry looks on their faces. They weren't saying anything yet, but she could tell that as soon as one started, it would become an argument.

She had the thought to intervene, and then wondered where that had come from. She wasn't one to involve herself in other's problems. She shook her head, but then turned to observe.

"Sleeping just fine, are you?" Zoro began with a sneer.

"I am sleeping," Kia shot back. "All I am able to. And I don't appreciate you calling Chopper into this like that."

Zoro was trying not to get upset, but she was really pushing all his buttons- plus he was actually really worried about her.

"You know what I don't appreciate, Kia?" he replied. He could see her look change, and her shoulders slightly hunch, and he could tell she was waiting for a blow, even if it was just from his words. But that didn't mean he wouldn't say it.

"Yeah," she replied before he could get started, and he glared.

"Yeah what?" he said gruffly.

"Yeah, I know what you're going to say," she said, and looked up at him, seeing that had thrown him for a loop, but the reprieve wouldn't last, so she had better give him something. "But honestly Zoro, I'm sleeping as much as I can. It's not the nightmare as much, I promise. I just feel… this need to work harder. Like, something is coming, and I need to be ready."

"And that's what all these weird exercises you're doing are for?" he asked, still not happy, but understanding a little more. Both were so focused that they failed to notice the third person in their group until she spoke.

"What are you trying to achieve with the rope exercise?" Robin asked, and they turned, surprised that she was next to them. She gave Kia a small smile and a shrug. "I tried to imagine the purpose, but I don't think I've got it."

"It's uh, nothing special," Kia answered, not sure why she wasn't telling them. "I'm trying to hone my other senses." Not a lie, but not wholly the truth either… "I'm training my body to be stronger, but I don't think that is enough, I need to train my mind too."

"I see," Robin nodded, glad to have a little further understanding.

"But that doesn't explain anything," Zoro stubbornly gruffed. "What about all your weird behavior?"

"What weird behavior?" Kia frowned, wondering what, of all the things she had done, that he found strange. I hope this isn't about the time when their memories were gone and I kissed his cheek goodnight… ugh, so embarrassing!

"You're too secretive!" he threw his hands up in the air. "Like you know something, and won't tell us!"

What?! she gaped at him, wondering how he was able to tell.

"It's just like you said," he continued. "You feel something is coming, and you have to be ready." He grunted as he rubbed a hand over his face and into his hair. "Why does that have to be your burden, Kia? Why isn't it we have to be ready?"

Kia wasn't sure what was happening, and she just blinked several times, wondering if this was some weird dream. "Uh.. I don't know."

"The swordsman is correct," Robin said, a little more gently. "Your crew should know if you are worried, even if you can't explain it."

Kia turned, looking at Robin, and hoping she didn't regret this. For all she knew, they were on a totally different course and wouldn't even end up at Water Seven.

"All right, fine," she declared, and Robin was slightly taken aback at the determined look on Kia's face. "I'm worried," she told them, though she focused on Robin. "that you are keeping a distance between all of us so that you can leave us."

Robin's eyebrow rose, and she frowned. "Why would that worry you?" she asked her hope falling. "You think I will betray you?" She couldn't help but be disappointed.

She could see the swordsman had turned slightly, and was watching her shrewdly, though Kiana was shaking her head.

"No," Kia replied easily and chuckled, and Robin frowned again, confused. "I'm sorry, I guess Zoro was right."

"Hey!" he griped, and Kia rolled her eyes.

"That's not why I'm laughing," she told him, and he seemed mollified. "I've been worried about Robin, and trying to figure out how to fix the situation, and ended up acting in the same manner."

She could see they didn't understand, and so she tried to explain. "The last two islands, you went off on your own," she told Robin. "And it made me think that you don't trust us, or feel like you aren't a part of the crew, so you can't involve us in your ideas." She shook her head. "Either way, I wanted to help, but instead I've been worried and struggling, because I'm not sure how to."

Kia held up her hands. "I know that you don't just leave, you're actually trying to help with whatever we're going through… it's just… I guess I'm worried that at some point you'll go to try to help with something, and we'll never see you again."

"I… had no idea you saw it that way…" Robin replied, feeling a tightness in her chest. Zoro, uncomfortable with all the emotions, turned towards the railing and looked out at the water.

"What is that?" Zoro mumbled to himself as he peered out into the water.

Kia and Robin both turned as he yelped in surprise. "A frog! A giant frog is doing the crawl! Out there in the water!"

"Whaaat?" Luffy came bounding over, as soon as he heard Zoro shout, and was looking everywhere excitedly. "Where is it? Where?" he asked.

"There!" Zoro pointed, wondering how the moron couldn't see what was right in front of him.

"Holy crap! The frog is doing the front crawl!" Usopp shouted from behind them.

"Let's go after it!" Luffy declared. "Get the oars!"

Robin shook her head, the mood completely different then it had been just moments before. She turned to Kia, to mention something about their captain, and saw that she had gone pale, and looked stunned.

"Kiana?" she asked quietly, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Are you all right?" she asked.

"They said a giant f-frog?" she asked, and Robin could see her tremble, though she also looked relieved.

"Yes, that's what they said," she answered, and looked over at where the long nosed boy was looking out into the water. "There is definitely something swimming out in the water."

"Robin," she said seriously, and Robin turned back to look at her in question.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Don't leave," Kia stressed. "Even for a good reason, or to try to save us."

"What?" Robin could hardly believe what she was hearing, and didn't understand. "I'm not-" she cut off, stepping back, though Kia reached out and grabbed her arm.

"You are part of us," Kia declared quietly. "I want you to know that- to believe it. And if you leave, Luffy will follow and bring you back, no matter what." She let go then and seeing the disbelief and anxiety on Robin's face, she decided not to say more about CP9 or what might be coming. She'd have to try to fix things a different way.

Turning, she ran for her room, wanting to try to remember all the bad things that happened in Water Seven, and how she might change them.

Robin watched her go, feeling strange. She was usually able to get a good grasp on a new idea or situation quickly and acclimate. However now, all she felt was confusion and for some strange reason… dread.

"You're going to eat it?!" Nami asked in revulsion.

"Yeah!" Luffy cheered as he pulled the oar as quickly as he could. "Keep rowing guys!"

"Disgusting," Nami muttered as she glanced down at the log pose. Oddly enough, they weren't going too far off course, so she let her captain do as he pleased. As long as he doesn't get us lost at sea, I can let him have his fun… she thought with a shrug.

"Lunch is served, Nami my love," Sanji said as he exited the kitchen. He glanced around, wondering why all the boys were rowing. "Are we being chased?" he asked, worried. "No one sounded an alarm."

"No, we're giving chase," Robin said as she finished climbing the stairs to join them.

"Robin," Sanji practically sang happily, and offered her a mug of coffee.

"Thank you, Mr. Cook," she said as she took it from him, taking a sip.

"Are you all right Robin?" Nami asked, seeing the signs of distress on her face.

"Yes, thank you," Robin answered. "Kiana seemed pretty shaken up about the frog, and went downstairs," she admitted. "It put me on edge slightly I suppose."

"I'd better go check on her," Sanji frowned even as Nami used her binoculars to see the frog better. She didn't see anything sinister, just that it had scars all over its body. She followed the direction the frog was heading, surprised to see a structure nearby.

"A lighthouse?" she said in surprise. "In the middle of the ocean?"

Sanji and Robin followed her gaze, seeing something in the distance that was growing larger.

"What is it?" Zoro called to them from the lower deck. "You see an island?"

"No, it's a lighthouse," Nami replied, raising her voice. "But it's strange that a lighthouse is out here, isn't it?"

"Who cares about that, which way is the frog going?!" Luffy huffed as he continued to push the others to row faster. "Are we catching up?"

"It seems the frog is going to the lighthouse," Robin replied thoughtfully.

"Yahoo! Barbecue time!" Luffy grinned.

"It's better if you deep fry it," Sanji offered his opinion.

"Would you two stop encouraging him?!" Nami glared at them. "We're not eating that gross thing!"

"Full speed ahead!" Luffy shouted.

"Right!" Zoro, Chopper and Usopp replied as one.

"What's with the sudden crew unity?!" Nami complained.

"Hey stop! Do you hear that?" Sanji asked. When his call went unheeded, he yelled down at the other boys to shut up so they could all listen more closely. As they did, they could all hear the clanging of a bell. It wasn't that they had never heard a bell before… but why were they hearing such a loud bell out in the middle of the ocean?

The ship suddenly lurched to a stop, and the boys that were rowing fell over onto the deck. "What was that?" Zoro asked. "Did we run aground?"

Nami, Sanji and Robin stared as Kia was suddenly next to them and shouting. "Hurry, full reverse!" she yelled down to the others. They could tell by the tone that she was serious, and picked themselves up quickly and rowed the opposite direction.

At first the ship wouldn't move, but they pushed even harder against whatever was holding the ship above the water as they heard Nami scream in fright. It was over suddenly as the ship splashed back into the water just as a loud whistle pierced the air.

"WHAT IS THAT?!" Usopp screamed as he fell to the deck.

Luffy stood to see what was happening. "An iron beast!" he called behind him, and screamed as well at seeing the coolest frog he had ever laid eyes on standing right in the huge beast's path.

"Hey!" he yelled. "LOOK OUT! Get away frog!"

His jaw dropped as the frog was struck, and the beast kept roaring away as if it hadn't even seen it.

"Was that a ship?" Chopper asked, equally stunned. "It was spewing smoke."

"A steamboat?" Zoro asked skeptically, turning as he heard voices.

"Pirates Granny! There's pirates here!"

He turned, seeing a little girl and an old woman, who was grabbing a transponder snail. He grabbed the hilt of his sword, only to turn when a hand clamped down on his arm. He turned to Usopp in surprise even as he shook his head, though Zoro had to agree. He couldn't just attack a defenseless hag and kid.

"Um hello?" the old lady spoke loudly into the receiver. "Whadda want?" she asked. "Who me?"

She was close enough now that he could see the bewildered look on her face. "Uh... I forget," she concluded and hung the receiver up onto the snail even as she hiccuped. He heard Usopp mutter something about her being drunk, and he had to agree.

She looked up at the ship, and laughed. "Hope y'all aren't train robbers!" she called, which Luffy took as an invitation, and jumped down to their platform.

"I'm Luffy, the future King of the Pirates!" he announced. The girl seemed suitably impressed, but the old woman merely laughed heartily.

Kia had listened to Kokoro and Chimney carefully, giving Luffy a smile every time he grinned at her in his excitement, but inside she was worrying. She was about to attempt a major change in the story, and she could only hope that it turned out. If she failed, something horrible could happen.

She had been with them long enough to not doubt her captain. He'd overcome whatever odds befell them regardless if she had knowledge about what they faced or not, so she no longer worried about that. But there were still horrible possibilities that could occur, such as the Sunny never being built.

True, Luffy would set sail anyway, on whatever they could get, but she couldn't let that happen. The Sunny saved them all just as any of the crew would, and if there was no Sunny, there was probably no Franky.

When she had run downstairs, she had made a few lists. Essential items, primary items, and items she wanted to change. Obviously, Franky and the Sunny were under the essential column, while meeting Iceberg and the shipwrights were primary, and having Usopp leave the crew was something she wanted to change.

If possible, I'd love to avoid Enies Lobby completely… she thought, though she wasn't very optimistic about it. She doubted she'd be able to stop CP9 from getting to Robin, nor stopping Robin from going with them even if she were to tell her the truth ahead of time.

Right now, Robin saw herself as expendable, and nothing she could say was getting through. Robin had to know deep down that she was a part of them, and she wasn't quite there yet. So, Kia decided she'd have to leave that to Luffy. And be ready to use her growing fighting skills to do her part and keep the crew alive- which admittedly for her… was keeping herself alive as the fighting happened.

The biggest decision she faced now, was where to start. Luffy would want her to accompany him, she was certain. But, he wouldn't say no if I asked to go with Sanji or something… she thought.

She could hear the crew talking excitedly around her as they sailed towards Water Seven, and she made some quick decisions, hoping they were the right ones.

Luffy was happily hauling the sack of gold, talking animatedly to Kia as the pair followed after Nami and Usopp. Kia had to admit that the town was exciting.

From the huge fountain, the people, the amazing masks that so many wore, and the fun of riding on the yagara. The only bad part was that Luffy couldn't see around the bag of gold, and Nami had been too cheap to go for a bigger yagara. So Kia ended up sitting on Luffy's lap for the first little bit.

She was more than happy as they walked out of the gold exchange with small cases filled with berri. Now she could sit in her own seat, and simply take in all the sights.

"Luffy, stop swinging that case around!" Usopp yelled at the captain as they made their way back to the yagara. "You're making me nervous!"

Kia turned and gave him a smile. "Well, you were too nervous to carry one!" she reminded him, and he grimaced at her.

"Yeah, but still!" he complained. "I feel like Luffy's gonna lose it!"

"Whoops!"

Kia shook her head. Luffy's timing… seriously… she thought as Nami and Usopp both dove for the falling case, landing in the canal as Luffy snatched it out of the air with a stretched out arm.

"Now's not the time to go swimming!" he called to them as they surfaced. Kia winced and distanced herself from him as they climbed out of the water with murder in their eyes.

A very quick beating later, they were back in their rental boats, Kia sitting behind Luffy who was pouting. Nami and Usopp didn't even trust Luffy enough for Kia to hold onto a case of money while in Luffy's boat. She had handed it over without a qualm, but Luffy felt insulted as they wouldn't even bring their boat near him.

Though, she could admit to herself that it had been a good plan. Luffy kept pointing out things to buy, and at insane quantities.

"Hey, water-water cakes! Let's buy a thousand!" or "That poster says there's a gourmet food island! I bet they'll let us eat all we can for three hundred million berri!"

Kia just chuckled whenever Nami and Usopp told him to shut up, and he turned and gave her a pout. It was simply adorable how childlike he could be. "Hey Luffy, let's find Iceberg and get an estimate for fixing the Merry," Kia told him as they neared the shipbuilding factory. "And then I'll buy you a treat."

"Yeah?" Luffy turned giving her a huge grin. "Let's do it!" he cheered, all past hurts forgotten.

The yagara seemed to know where they were going, and pulled into a small alcove at the front of the building. They all climbed out, Nami waiting until the money was safely ashore before she disembarked. Kia and Luffy walked over, and Usopp gave a case to Kia with a grateful look.

"Thanks Kia," he murmured to her. "Carrying two hundred million was giving me serious anxiety."

"No problem," she replied.

"Let's find the ice guy," Luffy suggested.

"Mr. Iceberg," Nami corrected him.

"Right!" Luffy agreed. "Ice-pops!"

"I wonder who he is," Usopp commented, looking up at the huge door that had no walls attached to it. "And how does this work? Do we just go in?" he asked them, then his jaw dropped at hearing Luffy yell.

"That's what I'm doing!" Luffy called as he started to climb over the small fence that was attached on the side of the giant door. He was stopped suddenly by a long-nosed man that pushed him back with a hand on his forehead.

"Whoa there," the man said, giving them all a glance and Kia gulped. "Only authorized personnel are allowed in the factory."

Here goes nothing… she thought, telling herself to stay calm as she glanced at Kaku, her first encounter with CP9.

Robin was reeling. A buster call… she thought, trembling. It can't be. It just… can't.

She knew she had frozen in fear as the stranger had whispered to her as they bumped into each other on the street. Waving Chopper into the shop was the only way to keep him safe, but she had to discover what the man wanted.

Just saying CP9 was enough to cause distress, but she was able to keep her face impassive as she followed the masked man. She found herself in a small room, and stayed quiet as another man spoke to her. She didn't care for it, but she wasn't able to deny what he was saying. It was true… there was nothing that she could do. Not for herself, not for the wonderful people that had taken her in at her lowest point. Nothing…

Then, the awful man smiled at her, as if to offer comfort, but she could see through the facade. He was smiling because of the pain he was causing her. He was smiling, because he was getting what he wanted. It had nothing to do with her comfort.

"You will follow Blueno," he told her as he stood. "I have to get back." He glared down at her, wicked amusement in his eyes. "You know the penalty if you fail to meet my expectations," he warned her, then gave that awful smile again. "However, if you perform admirably, we will let your friends leave the island unharmed."

She knew it was a trap, she knew it couldn't be true, but Robin glanced up with a gasp all the same, her eyes wide with hope.

"Obviously, your life is forfeit, and you will be taken to Enies Lobby," he told her, and that small part of hope that had blossomed within her died. "But whether the buster call is used, is now in your hands."

He stepped around her, speaking in whispers to his colleague before leaving the room. Robin could only replay the conversations of the day as they warred in her mind.

"I'm worried you'll go… and we'll never see you again…"

"Everyone we come across will die, if that is what it takes to capture you…"

"Don't leave… even for a good reason, or to try to save us…"

"We have the golden snail… the Buster Call… and we'll use it. Against the Straw Hat Pirates."

"Robin… don't leave…"

A tear fell down her cheek as Kiana's voice dimmed, and she laid her head in her arms as the darkness seemed to swallow her whole.

It couldn't be called a choice… I have no choice here at all… I'm sorry everyone, but at least there is the chance that you can go on without me.

Blueno spoke her name, and she raised her head, eyes clear and dry. She nodded along as he outlined what they wanted her to do.

She hadn't been paying proper attention, so Kia had missed when the Franky family had taken Usopp's case. True, they had only gotten one hundred million of their berri this time, and in order to put her plan into action, she was going to let this first attempt play out… but still.

She gave herself a mental shake, telling herself to not get sidetracked, or all her careful planning would be a waste. She hoped it would be enough.

The idea was to be forgettable. She had worn her halter top and put her hair in a single braid down her back, in an attempt to look like any other tourist, yet show enough skin that Paulie would avoid looking her way. She made sure to bring sunglasses with her, in order to help hide her eyes from the CP9 members.

But she had liked meeting Iceberg, and had stood there enjoying watching the way her crew interacted with him. He hadn't seemed to mind Luffy's bluntness, and had even smiled back when Luffy laughed at his antics.

As they stood watching, Paulie ran into the street, and accidentally saved their money when he commandeered the Franky family's yagara to get away from his debt collectors. And then Lucci showed up behind them, his pigeon saying that he would get their money back.

Kia took a deep breath, releasing it at quietly as she could, steeling herself for what was coming. Don't look at them Kia… she reminded herself. She knew she'd end up staring if she did. She took a step and a half behind Luffy, so that she was still a part of the group yet apart enough to be overlooked.

Paulie and Lucci had their tussle, and Kia took that moment to look at each of them. While lean, both were extremely strong, and it showed. Not quite like Zoro, who lifted weights and whose muscle was centered in his arms, but more of an overall physique from their years of hard work.

She let herself flush slightly as Paulie called her disgraceful for the skin she was showing, not really holding it against him. Nami was insulted enough for both of them, and started to tell him off in disbelief.

"It's okay," Kia told her quietly.

"No it isn't," Nami replied sourly. "You look great! I can't believe he's serious about this."

"Maybe he's just nervous around women?" Kia suggested, and Nami gave her a sly look with a cunning smile.

Oops, Kia thought. Sorry Paulie… I hope Nami doesn't embarrass you too badly…

Kia went over to Usopp as Iceberg offered to show them the boatyard, giving him a smile as he started pointing out all of the tools of the trade. While Luffy wanted to see the biggest and best ships- and sit atop them- Usopp wanted to see the craftsmen at work- most excited when he spotted the men working on installing a cannon.

"Check that out Kia!" he told her, pointing. "It's made of copper I think! I wonder if they need someone to test it!"

"Go get a closer look," she offered. He looked down at the case in his hands, and she hoped he wouldn't see through her. "Here, I'll hold onto it. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity!"

He glanced up to her, wondering why she sounded so strange, but he couldn't deny that she spoke the truth. And he really wanted to see that cannon up close, and maybe see what tools they were using to shape the metal. Perhaps he'd be able to get some ideas.

"Okay… I mean, if you're sure," he said, and she gave him a smile, holding out her free hand.

"Sure I am," she replied, even as her heart pounded. "I know you'd do the same if we were looking at paintings or something."

He laughed and handed the case over. "If that happens, I promise I'll hold your bags," he told her. "Stick close though, we have to watch out for each other!" He quickly stepped over towards the cannon, unable to curb his excitement.

Kia gave it a few moments to be sure he wasn't going to turn back to her, and then stepped away. She needed to get to a place where the Franky family would feel comfortable about taking her. And she'd need to convince them to take her back to speak to Franky.

She huffed out a breath. No problem…

"Is that really what he said?" Chopper asked, lip trembling. "But… what's going to happen to the Merry?"

"That doesn't make any sense!" Sanji slapped a hand down on the railing. "We've sailed the Merry from the East Blue to here, and now suddenly she can't go further?"

"You just answered your own question," Zoro said, as he sat back against the railing a ways away from the cook. "People get stronger as they go through hardships, but a ship? Their wounds just pile up."

"It's just hard to accept," Sanji turned away, not liking that the swordsman made sense. "Besides, how do you think Usopp is going to handle this? He's closer to the Merry than anyone."

"I don't want to leave!" Chopper cried, running to face Zoro. He held out his arms as if to ward away the bad news. "I love the Merry!"

Zoro looked down at the reindeer who was still so young and inexperienced. "I know," he said as gently as he could. "We all do. But her wounds are just too deep," he explained in a way Chopper would understand.

Chopper grunted, but nodded.

"The Merry is in trouble, and Robin is missing," Sanji mused. "Not what we were hoping for when we landed here. And I'm worried," he said, though to no one in particular.