Lol, my bad. No more cliffhangers, maybe. Depends on what I feel like.

I woke up for no reason, just that my mind decided it was time to get up. It took a few seconds for my mind to remember what happened yesterday. Right, I got captured.

I lay there on my side, trying to discern where I was. The surface I was laying on was hard and cold. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes.

This place, it was familiar, but not at the same time. I didn't recognize the specific room I was in, but the surrounding area was somewhere I had definitely been before, not so long ago, on a previous adventure of the Strawhats.

I was on the sixth level of Impel Down.

It wasn't a surprise. I did have a higher bounty then last time I was here, and of course they would put me in the infamous prison. I sighed inwardly. They couldn't have made it harder for me to escape could they?

I knew before I even moved that I was going to be incredibly sore. After waking up many a time with sore muscles or injuries, I could tell by the feeling this was going to be incredibly bad. So I brace myself. All right Rose, let's focus on sitting up first, then we can find a way to escape this cell, but first sit up. On the count of three. One, two, three.

I push up with my hands and immediately collapse against the ground again, hissing through clenched teeth. My back and arm were so much worse then yesterday, and now I had no adrenaline to help soften the pain. My legs and arms were sore from running so hard, which is something that rarely happens, but still does when I get a little insane like yesterday. I have a headache that I can't decide is from the pounding my face got, or the haki.

I lay there a few seconds, trying to breathe the pain away, but that doesn't help because it hurts to breathe even, probably due to the gravity of Fujitora and the kick from Ryokugyu. Man, I really messed up my body, I'm almost regretting the actions of yesterday. Then I remembered that I was not alone in my endevor yesterday.

My eyes flit around the cell, only relaxing when my eyes fall on the unconscious swordsman. Zoro is sleeping easily, snoring loud enough to wake the dead. His chest is bandaged up, and it doesn't look like it is bleeding, so that has to be a plus. I sigh with relief, again shooting pain up my ribcage. Ow.

Ok, back to my task at hand. I don't want to lay here so far away from Zoro. I should probably check to make sure he is all right. Ok, back to sitting up. I slowly sit up, trying to get my body to adjust to this old sensation. I had forgotten what intense pain like this felt like. I had gotten soft in my world. Holding my side, I crawl over to Zoro, trying not to fall over from the pain.

There, beside my swordsman. I settled down carefully, trying to ignore my aching body. I quickly put on hand on his throat, counting the beats. About sixty beats per minute, not bad for someone resting. Ok, that should be fine for now. My hands ghost over the bandages, looking for holes or messed up stitches that I would have to fix. Nope, everything feels fine.

Still, I have to worry. Zoro is looking weaker then normal, and that's not a look that suits him. He is injured and a cell is not the best place to treat or moniter an injury, especially one with such severity.

Why the heck did he jump with me? I could have handled it myself. Shut up Rose. Look how well you handled it, ending up captured and at the bottom floor of Impel Down. Yeah, you sure handled it really well.

I hug my knees to my chest, trying to stretch out sore muscles. Yeah, you handled that wonderfully. Letting yourself getting captured is one thing, but you gave up Rose. I did, I listened to my body, even though I know the mind tells the body what to do. I listened to that, instead of thinking of Zoro and my crewmates and getting back to them, I listened to pain and weakness.

I sighed, leaning my head against Zoro's arm. No, I don't have time to feel sorry for myself or blame Zoro or anything. The past is the past, but I can change the future. I just need to find a way out of here is all.

I was thinking, completely comfortable with my position next to Zoro, trying to figure out what to do, when this horrible feeling of dread filled my being. I opened my eyes, glancing around for guards or any person, but no one was around. What was wrong with me? Why was I suddenly on edge?

Then I see gold and my feet start dissolve. The force is taking me back to my world.

What? No! It can't just take me away like that for no reason and with no warning. what the heck? It's not just going to whisk me away like that. I clench my eyes tightly, whispering intensely.

"Force, whatever the heck you are, I have never asked you for anything."

My feet and shins were gone, and it was working on my knees now. I whisper faster.

"Please, just let me stay one more day. That's all I ask. Twenty four hours. Surely you can do that much."

I may have accomplished my orignal objective, to save Luffy, but now it is trying to take me away while Zoro is still trapped here, injured. I can't abandon him like that. That's not how Strawhats run things. They never leave a nakama anywhere, under any circumstances.

"I will do anything to stay, please. Give me a chance."

I glance down to see that the force had stopped at my mid thigh. I am breathing hard from panic, and for the first time in all my trips here, the force or whatever it is spoke to me.

Anything?

The words just appeared in my mind. Not like telepathically by another person, just like I was thinking of it. I nodded into my knees.

"I will do anything."

Hmm, I will make you a deal.

I cock my head.

"A deal?"

What kind of deal could this thing give me? What kind of anything is this thing thinking of?

This is the first time you have asked me for something, and it will be the last. I will give you the twenty four hours you speak of, however, I will never again pull you back to this world. If you choose to leave now, then I will pull you back here again. Choose.

What? Holy crap, this force can't be serious. I was about to answer straight up when I mentally slap myself. Rose, think you idiot. I can't make rash decisions like that. Let me weigh my options here.

So let's say I don't go back. I stay here, make sure Zoro get's out. Then what happens when the crew needs me in the future and I can't come back to help them?

On the other hand, if I don't stay, Zoro might not get out, not to mention with his injuries they could easily kill him. There is no point of me coming back to an incomplete crew. They would blame me, even knowing of my comings and goings of this world, I'm sure they would blame me a little bit.

There is no good answer, but this is the best option. Straw-hats don't leave their freinds.

"Fine, I will stay."

Very well. Good luck.

The voice vanished, and in it's place was a clock that was all too familiar, counting down twenty four hours, reminding me of my choice. Did I make the right one? What if they do need me again? No, I will take my chances. The crew is strong enough to adapt to situations without me. They have done it before, they will do it again.

I lean back up against Zoro with a sigh. Gosh darn it. I just hope the rest of the crew is ok. I need to get Zoro out of here before my time runs out. This is familiar, this is what every other trip here ended up as, and I am used to working under pressure.

My eyes pop open as I hear the sound of shoes clopping on the concrete floor. Who on earth could that be? I watch and immediately regret my decision. Oh no. Not her. Not again.

Sadi-chan stood in front of my cell. For a few seconds we stared at each other. Could I rush out of here when she opens the door? I'm betting no. I probably shouldn't jump the gun right now. No use rushing in blindly. She cackled, which brought up bad memories of whips and scissors.

"Oh Rose-chan, how nice to see you again. Who should I take, you or the swordsman that interrupted us last time?"

I unconsciously grab onto Zoro's arm protectively. No, he protected me, it's my turn to protect him.

"I'm coming."

I grab the wall for support and pull myself up. Oh, this ought to be tons of fun. It wouldn't be hard to torture me the way I am now, but rather me then Zoro. She would probably "accidentally" kill the swordsman. I sigh as I slowly, but steadily make my way across the small cell to the door, which she opened courteously.

My knees buckled a little, but I found whatever strength I needed to stay upright because of all people to fall in front of, Sadi-chan would be the very last. I glanced back at Zoro, still sleeping as she shut the door. I just need you to stay alive and out of trouble while I am gone.

So I allowed Sadi-chan to lead me through the spaces between cells. I keep my head down, but my eyes dart around, trying to find something useful. I keep my eye on her whip too, coiled on her hip. She's so unpredictable she could pull it out any second.

She licked her lips lovingly as she glanced back at me.

"Oh Rose-chan, I'm so excited to have you again. It was unfair for that swordsman to save you last time."

Yeah, but you are seriously underestimating me Sadi-chan. I may be injured, but in no way am I that frozen girl you met last time. I am way more powerful, and have endured a lot more then your whips. I will win this time again. Of course, I don't say that to her face, but I see how she tenses up in displeasure when I give her a small grin.

She opens the door to a room, not the last one, but one similiar on the sixth level of hell. Oh lovely. I had expected a lift ride to calm my nerves and at least give myself time mentally prepare. Sadi-chan gave me a smile that sent shivers up and down my spine.

"Here we go Rose-chan."

Suspicious I walked inside and stopped abruptly. Inside the room were two chairs, one already occupied. Of all people, I didn't expect him to be here. What is he doing here?

Akainu stared at me coldly.

"We meet again, pirate."