Chapter Seven
Yuki, Robin, and Sabo made it to the river before the sun set, carefully setting up and checking a small area so they could rest overnight. It was a small area surrounded by an outcropping of rocks, sheltering most of it from the torrid sun.
Sabo dropped his satchel, pulling off his jacket and shirt and jumping into the cold water of the river. The ripples after the splash reached the bank in a matter of second, only slowing after a bit of time had passed.
Yuki picked up Sabo's satchel and placed it near one of the large rocks after she removed a towel for the soaking wet man. She scoffed when he surfaced, chattering teeth spread in a grin.
"If it's that cold, you'd better get out before too long," Robin cautioned, laughing quietly to herself. She sat down on one of the smaller boulders and started to take the rolled up bedding she would use that night out of her bag.
"It's not," Sabo replied, floating on his back, "but compared to the heat of the desert all day, it's like ice. It feels so good! You should join me, Yuki, you'll relax a bit after a swim. It would probably help your 'situation', too."
She looked at him enjoying himself for a long time, brows furrowed, but finally gave in to the sweet temptation of the river. "Alright, give me a few minutes. I'll come join you, and Robin, you should, too."
She grabbed her bag and carefully hid herself in between two stones about her height. Her swimsuit was black swim trunks and a blue bikini top that matched her hair; she bought it in Water 7 when she saw that it was pretty cheap on sale. Not having one might've proved difficult in the long run, so she decided to buy it just in case. The things people buy "just in case" always turn out useful.
When she finished changing, she dashed back out across the blistering sand to leap in the river, causing a splash that overtook Sabo completely. When she surfaced, she caught him staring at her.
"What?" Yuki asked curiously. Sabo blushed a little, but pointed to her stomach, its huge, jagged scar plainly visible. "Oh."
Sabo shook his head sadly and the two of them spent a few moments in silence broken only by the sound of rushing water. In the past month, Yuki had been having so much fun with her friends that it was hard to think of her as having died. The scar only struck a painful reminder for the two of them. A reminder that she was unnatural, a freak of nature.
"I didn't mean to... y'know..." Sabo muttered, half to himself. He sunk under the water, trying to sit on the bottom. He couldn't hold his breath for very long, though, and gave up very rapidly.
Yuki glanced down once more, reaffirming the fact of her death, and returned to the shore of the river. "It's not your fault. I can't really remember my death, anyway," she lied to him, trying to comfort the depressed blonde. The fact of the matter was, she still had the occasional crippling pain from her stomach but managed to hide it well.
At first, she only had the pain once a week, but it had gradually been getting a lot more frequent, and sometimes the pain doubled or tripled. She was starting to worry that the other noticed, and that this might be a bad thing, but no one said anything to her so she left it alone.
After toweling off the water and sand, she set up a fire in the center of the ring of huge boulders, preparing their dinner. The swimming had worn her out a bit, like it had before she ate the Devil's Fruit, and she was sleepy.
Two hours later, it was dark and their bellies were full with savory meat. Robin organized her things for the next day, and Sabo was dozing off with his back pressed against yet another boulder. There were a lot of boulders.
Just after Yuki laid down on her blankets, Robin asked her how she met Luffy, Ace, and Sabo. "I assume you grew up with them, but what made you become friends in the first place?"
Yuki closed her eyes as memories filled her head with nostalgia. She had always been around that goofball, Luffy. She couldn't remember a time when she hadn't known him. "I suppose it's because my parents and Gramps- I mean Garp- were friends or something. I can't really remember them, and I've always been with Luffy.
"When I met Ace, he and Luffy had been living together for a while. I guess I was just lonely, not having that idiot around, but I was kind of eager to make friends. When I first heard that he was Gold Roger's son, I didn't believe it much, but there was a small resemblance to the King's wanted poster. Anyway, I never really had a problem with that and he was glad for that."
Robin chuckled quietly, closing her book any lying down. "So I suppose you met Sabo much the same way?" she pressed, wanting to find out more about her and her life story.
"I guess. I was surprised with Sabo. He was really nice and came up with the ideas that got the others into trouble, but I wasn't sure where I stood with him for a while after I met him. I swore to be their sibling, I realized that no matter what, I could count on them. When we thought he died that day, when the Celestial Dragons visited Goa, I cried for a long time. It was like a piece of my heart was ripped out.
"I guess I saved Ace because of two things. First, I never wanted to lose anyone ever again. It was so painful, I couldn't breathe. Second, I kind of..." she trailed off, mumbling the last few words so Robin couldn't hear.
"What was that last part?" Robin asked.
Yuki blushed bright red and pulled the covers over her face. "It was nothing. It's not important, so put it out of your mind! Don't worry about it," she replied quickly.
Robin nodded and didn't press any more, understanding why Yuki didn't want to say it. She could have easily guessed why the girl wanted to save Ace, and why she didn't want to come back.
Sabo had been awake for the entire conversation. He was startled to hear what Yuki thought when she first met him, but not unhappy. In a way, he had even considered it a compliment. When she explained about Ace, thought, he had a burning curiosity about the other reason she had for saving Ace. He had even considered demanding an answer, but then decided against it.
Over the next few days, he would drop hints and occasional questions, hoping that she would let something slip. If he couldn't get it by the time the met up with Vivi, then he would ask her straight out.
With that last thought, he fell asleep, to dream of the four siblings being reunite
Yuki, Robin, and Sabo were wandering through the dunes in Alabasta, rapidly making their way to the main city. It was very large, with tall white buildings made of stone and clay, windows carefully carved out to be the perfect size.
When they passed down a main street, the sidewalks were filled with fruit stands, marketers, and all manner of vendors selling all manner of things. At one point, Sabo stopped to look at some trinkets, a pocket watch and thick silver chain, trying to barter with the shopkeeper, but Yuki grabbed the collar of his cloak and dragged him on before he could make the purchase.
When the three companions finally reached the palace, they were at an impasse for what to do. They couldn't attract attention, they wanted to move quickly, and they needed to see Princess Vivi and her father.
"Yuki, can we please just go and ask the guards?" Sabo inquired with a heavy sigh. "I'm tired, and we can rest after we talk. We've been walking all day!" He walked over to a wall and threw his bag down, plopping himself on the ground.
"Idiot! You know we can't attract attention," Yuki replied in a low voice, angry at Sabo and wondering why he was still so stupid. "You've been a revolutionary for years, haven't you? You should know better by now, at least! We have to find a way to get in without causing a disturbance."
Robin tapped Yuki on the shoulder. "We could walking in with some merchants supplying the palace with their goods, and meet Vivi that way. I know she'll recognize me, and be willing to talk. She's Luffy's nakama, after all."
Yuki nodded slowly, a plan forming in her head. It could work, certainly. She might be able to pull this off with their help.
"Fine," she said, smirking. She scanned the area for some merchant wagons to walk in with, and found some to the left. They seemed to be carrying some high quality items and heading towards the palace, so she rushed over to it.
Sabo followed slowly, walking confidently. With a smooth motion, he tossed one part of his cloak over his shoulder, resembling closely a snooty merchant on his way to an important business deal.
Yuki leaned over to him and whispered, "I guess that Noble blood does come in handy after all!" She giggled and turned around again, preparing her possessions for search by the guards.
After Sabo and Robin did the same, they caught up with the wagon approaching the gate. Yuki got asked about her sword, but after a short debate they let her carry it inside the palace.
Grinning, Yuki looked over her shoulder at Sabo and Robin.
"Now, we see the princess!"