Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece!

Chapter 5: Plans and Yells

Aro watched the pendulum of the clock wing back and forth. If her ears were out, they would be perked up, interested in the motion. Her tail, still hidden by her trench coat, swayed at half the speed of the clock. Her scythe was propped against her chair, in it' sheath. Cap and the Straw-Hat crew sat behind her, talking and or eating. They had been for a while. Aro continued to watch the clock. The restaurant's logo, The Rusty Bucket, was on the clock's face.

"Aro!" Cap's voice made her jump and turn to him. She blinked. "Have you been listening at all?"

"Uh…" She looked away looking embarrassed, "Somewhat…" The clock chimed, catching Aro's attention again. She watched the clock's pendulum once more.

"Aro…" Cap said in a fatherly tone, "You were the one who wanted their help. You were the one that wanted to fight. Now, finish what you started by paying attention." Aro didn't turn. "I'm planning your deal now—"

"What's there to plan? We go in, beat up the guy who's bad, come out." Aro looked at Luffy, who had taken a pause from his twelfth plate to make this comment. Cap sighed. The Straw-Hat Crew had told him that Luffy didn't remember names of the 'bad guys' well. He had tried to teach Luffy Veldoro's name, and finally excepted failure.

"So that's your plan, is it?" Cap asked. Luffy nodded. Cap just stared at him as if he had said something tabooed. "That's foolish."

"That's how we handle these kinds of problems." Zolo said with a laugh.

Aro laughed as well, "Sounds good to me!"

"Shouldn't someone," Usopp said, slightly shaky, "Stay behind with the people, the Merry-Go, and Chopper?"

Aro wondered who Chopper was, but decided to ask later. "Are you volunteering, Usopp?"

"He takes any chance he can to get out of a fight." Zolo added, "A true warrior would never run away."

"Actually," Cap said, lost in though, "That's a wise choice. Usopp and Nami should stay here." Usopp and Nami nodded to him. "Who knows what Veldoro could have prepared now…" Aro nodded in agreement. Cap looked at her, "Aro, you should stay too.

"WHAT?! Why?!?" Aro looked at him in shock.

"You're not strong enough. Guzen could have killed you—"

"Could have, but didn't!" The Rusty Bucket got really quiet.

"—If Usopp hadn't stepped in—"

"That was the first time in—"

"You get one life, a first time could be the last—"

"That's in the past—"

"History can repeat—"

"Or it can be buried."

"Lessons need to be learned. We need to be careful. You will stay—"

"Will?! WILL?! Cap, your can't make decisions for me! You keep forgetting that—" Aro was on her feet now. Even Luffy stopped eating to watch.

"Aro, it's for the best—"

"Your Not My Caption Any More!" Silence pressed on everyone like an invisible weight. Cap stared at her. Aro stared back. Everyone froze. The anger, fear, and determination of the two's auras choked the air.

Aro shifted her weight a bit to stand taller. Cap slowly rose to his feet. He was taller than she was, but she didn't back down. Aro lowered her voice, barely audible; "You're not my caption…"

"You said you would always see me as your caption." He said in an ever so calm voice. Aro didn't reply. She didn't know what to say. "If this is really true, then what are you getting angry about? If I still were viewed as your caption, you wouldn't be arguing. Isn't that right?" Aro looked away. "Is this you admitting that you were wrong to argue?"

"No…" She looked back at him with tears. "This is me realizing I'm on my own still." She then picked up her scythe and started towards the door.

"Aro." Cap said, not moving his eyes from where they now rested on the clock she was watching earlier. Aro continued to walk. She could feel the Straw-Hat crew's eyes still on her back. The only thing she could think of now, was P.I.T.A.; how it must have been starting, and how Guzen had to be there. She set the scythe and sheath on her back, and started down the empty street. The few people, who had been in The Rusty Bucket, she realized were the few people who were on her side. Who agreed that it was time for action, time to do or die. She hoped it was the former.