Chapter 5: The Sticks

Morning during the stay in Galley-La is always pleasant. The sun is quite tremendous already and high when the Strawhat pirates decided to gather in the dining room to eat their breakfast. All are there except Zoro and the known Sogeking, Usopp.

"Robin-chan! We're really worried about you yesterday night" Nami said sniffing.

Robin gave a soft laughed, wiping her mouth with the table napkin. Sanji came from the kitchen with a slate tray on his raised hand. He smiled on the ladies and served the food on the dining table. "Nami-swann and Robin-chwaan, I prepared a special breakfast for ya'" he said in a confident way.

"SANJI! Hey! Give me more of this octopus leg!" Luffy complained.

Sanji winked on the ladies and faced on Luffy. "Alright, I'll just get it on the kitchen"

Robin smiled and stared on the waiting plate of Zoro, her smile faded. Chopper, snatching on the fish in the bowl, noticed Zoro's absence in his seat. "Where's Zoro-kun?" he asked.

"I think he's sleeping… again" Sanji replied while delivering his today's menu to Luffy who's very enthusiastic finishing his food.

At the corner of dining room, Zoro leaned on the wall with his arms crossed.

Nami chewed her food and with a choking manner, she said "Did….ehrm. Zoro-kun just came back from the docks?"

"Really?" Luffy asked, eating harshly the octopus leg.

Sanji showed his paranoid face. "HEEEY! DON'T TALK WHEN -"

"Your mouth is full" Luffy disturbed. "yeah yeah yeah" he continued with a la la la tone.

Suddenly, Robin bent her head and tears ran on her cheeks. "Captain… everyone, Thank you for saving my life. In Enies lobby and yesterday."

"Nah, it's alright. We cannot lose you because you are our nakama." Luffy said, smiling widely.

"Especially to Mr. Swordsman, he saved my life many times. If he didn't come yesterday night, I probably freeze to death." Robin said, wiping out her tears. "Of course, if you guys didn't come also, we're dead"

Zoro who's eavesdropping smiled. When he decided to leave his spot and go back to his room, a hand pushed him in the room. "HEEEY!" he scolded.

Robin laughed. "What are you doing in the back of the room? Eavesdropping?"

"HEEEYYY! ZORO!" Luffy started, grinding the octopus leg with his teeth. "Sanji's octopus leg is the best. Try it!"

"WHO JUST PULLEDD ME?" Zoro said, disregarding Luffy's offer.

All went quiet. Sanji who is serving foods stopped, Nami who's finishing her gelatin dropped her spoon, Chopper who's about to eat the fish was interrupted, Luffy who's targeting the octopus leg again stopped and Robin still sipping her ripe mango shake with her straw. "Hey, Robin-chan" Nami whispered. "No one should mess up in him when he is newly waked up."

"Oh, alright." she whispered back.

"WHO JUST PULLED ME?" Zoro repeated.

All eyes went into Robin.

Robin softly laughed. "If you looked inside, you should enter also."

Zoro went quiet and self conscious.

"Sorry, anyway, for messing up." Robin said in a low tone of voice. "about yesterday and last night" she continued with her apologetic tone.

"Yesterday and last night?" All wondered.

Zoro crossed his arms again, his all-time manner, and sat on his chair. "Forget it" he said in a repulsive tone.

Robin put a happy expression as she put an end on her shake.

"By the way, Luffy, what happened? Did the Aokiji guy get killed?" Zoro interrogated while getting the pitcher of water placed on the middle of the table.

"Nah" Luffy answered.

With a complete surprise, Zoro suddenly showed his paranoid face. "I THOUGHT!" he said snapping her fingers.

Robin's eyes fluttered wide.

"He went away. Sorry Robin-chan" Nami said, standing up to reached Robin. She tapped her shoulders and kneeled at her. Robin stopped her. "No, It's alright. I'm the one who will finish him right away. My wound is healing, right Chopper?" she said, her voice quivering.

Chopper shook his head. "On what happened last night, it became worst than before. There's a chance it will bleed again if you make a wrong move"

Her crewmates looked at her, waiting for her answer.

"I'm ashamed of myself" she finally replied.

"Robin-chan." Nami expressed in soft voice.

The room went silent again. Suddenly, Luffy rushed outside the dining room. "Hold a second, I'll get something."

"Oi, finish your food first!" Sanji said as he lit his cigarette.

"IDIOTT! STOP SMOKING! I AM STILL EATING!" Zoro yelled.

It is in exactly 20 seconds when Luffy gone back. In his hands, a stick on 4 or five was wrapped. "The one who'll get the shortest stick will be the one who'll be Robin's bodyguard for awhile." He said, grinning. "We're not really sure if Aokiji left or not but this is for assurance of Robin's safety." He continued.

Like in their traditional way of playing this game, the shortest will be the one who'll do the chores that will be assigned.

Everyone picked on the wooden sticks on Luffy's hand. First to reveal the stick he got is Sanji. He moved it on the back of his hand and showed, Chopper's eyes widen. He showed on his sticks too and found out that his stick is short than Sanji's.

"Sorry, Robin-chwan. Can't be your bodyguard, need to gather more food." Sanji said with his puppy eyes.

Robin smiled. "It is alright."

Nami and Luffy revealed also their sticks and found out that Chopper's is still shorter than Nami. But Luffy's is shorter than Chopper's.

"I guess, Luffy who's going to be your bodyguard, Robin-chan" Nami said. "I'll need to shop for new shirts, anyway"

"Show your stick, Zoro" Luffy commanded.

Zoro deeply stared on Luffy's stick and his eyes amplified. He sighed. He exposed his little stick and flanged it in the air.

Robin nervously ascended on her seat. "M-Mr. Swordsman, It is alright if you don't want. I can protect myself."

Zoro ignored her and headed outside the dining room. He raised his hand. "I'll do the job. I'm just looking forward on your good payment for my service, Nico Robin."