As promised here is the next update! I've had this on my computer since I started the story a while back, so I am super (suuuuuuuuuuuuuuppppper!) excited for you guys to read this. This is based on the mini-arc of the scorching don/flag bandits and it is really detailed thus forcing me to split it into 2 stories. So review a lot and I'll post the next update soon! Special thanks to Totong, Phoenix, Fanboy316, Taiski, and DinoZilla for review.

-yesiamweird

Tomoko Kimiko sat in her specifically designed science lab Franky had made for her in the middle of the Strawhat pirates new ship, The Thousand Sunny.

It was actually a funny story how they came up with the name for the ship. Literally in the middle of the fight with Luffy's grandfather, Franky declared they need to name the ship before it was to go any farther.

Luffy and the other's came up with some really strange names and Kimi stuck back to listening rather than attempting to think one up herself.

Polar Bear Lion, Tiger Wolf Lion, Dango Gorilla Lion, Lionel Master, Being of Darkness, Monsieur Sunflower and New Battle Franky Lion Gang Champion, were just a few of the names the crew had thought of…mostly Luffy…

But Franky had told them the inspiration for the Thousand Sunny came from Iceberg. The Pirate King need a strong ship as bright as the sun that can overcome and sail a thousand seas.

Of course, everyone agreed on the name except for Franky. He apparently regretted his story of Iceberg by how much everyone seemed to like the catchy name.

Either way, Kimi and the others were delighted by the presence of The Thousand Sunny and by the detail Franky and the Galley-La put into the ship.

Kimi's favorite part was definitely her Laboratory, but she also grew fond of the aquarium and library, as well as the swing on the grass deck.

The lab was not only for experiment but had also doubled as her own private bedroom. Though it wasn't a whole lot of space, she was happy to have her own personal space away from the other two female crewmates.

The young woman sighed lifting up a heavy box onto the black onyx experimental table Franky had also made for her. "Perfect!" She opened the box smiling at the contents, as they had been secure during the move to the Sunny. She thought about her time on the Merry and wished it had seen better days. No matter how much Usopp and she tried to fix the Merry it never seemed to be enough.

Kimi pushed aside the feelings of the Merry and sat in her desk chair and looking down at her perfectly placed experimental table. Feeling like she was back at home, she habitually looked to her left expecting her father to be sitting next to her smiling as he always used to...but he was not. She sighed and smirked feeling as if her father's spirit was right there with her.

She nodded her head and then reached for her father's and her own journal ready to start to finally experiment in peace and quiet after what seemed like decades among the Strawhats. Flipping open to a page she had bookmarked as 'complicated' reading the direction of the experiment and the side-notes her father made and then proceeded to make the liquid known as 'liquid metal.'

After what seemed to be like only minutes, actually became hours and before long the young scientist's stomach began to growl craving substance. She came to a stopping point in her test and sat up from her chair smiling. "This is just perfect." She nodded looking at her table and then around her room. She pushed in her chair and then walked behind towards the door reaching for the knob.

"Oi! There's a ship in the distance. There's something strange about it!" Kimi heard Zoro's voice over the intercom that rang throughout the entire ship. It was going to be a very useful and effective system to allow all of the crew members to know what was going on even when they weren't out on the deck of the ship. Kimi quickly opened her door and then proceeded to walk quickly to the deck of the Sunny.

"What's this?" She held her hand out feeling delicate droplets of snow on her fingertips while her gloves protected her palms from the snowflakes. "Snowing?" She looked to Robin standing by the mast.

"Yea would you look at that!? It doesn't have a sail or a flag!" Usopp used his binoculars to view the ship in the distance closely.

"An abandoned ship?" Sanji titled his head at the strange behavior of the floating ship in the distance. All of the crewmembers gathered to the side of the ship to get a better look at their companion.

"Come to think about it." Franky began, "There is a strange game between pirates called the Davy Back Fight." Kimi and the others frowned recognizing and remembering their battle with Foxy and his crew. "Yes…We know." They all responded simultaneously.

"Oh wait a minute! Someone came out and they are fishing!" Usopp noted.

"Yosh! Let's visit! If they are enemies, we'll beat them right!?" Luffy smiled while Sanji took the wheel of the ship. As the Sunny sailed closer to the opposite ship, Luffy had regained his spot on top of Sunny's head asking if the others on the ship were alright.

Panicked, the opposing crew declared an attack but something about their ship told Kimi and the other's that they would not be fighting for very long against the well-armed Strawhats. As the Sunny got closer to their ship, Luffy, Franky, Robin and Zoro hopped out to examine the people on board.

"What are you guys? A bunch of fishermen?" Luffy questioned.

"Why yes! You see three days ago the ship was attacked, they stole all the food, destroyed the helm and took all the valuables." A crewmember cried.

"That's why even if you attack us, you will get nothing." Another spoke up.

"Nah! We aren't going to attack." Luffy smiled as usual. "You must be hungry, right? We were planning to have dinner soon, so why don't you come with us?"

"What seriously?"

"Of course, our cook can't abandon people like you! Don't worry! Oi Sanji!? Is dinner ready yet!?"

Kimi looked over her shoulder at the blonde cook walking out from the kitchen, "Yeah, it's already done. But before that!" He looked over at Chopper whom had been holding onto Kimi's leg scared from the unknown crew, "They're the patients you've been waiting for!" Sanji smiled.

"Oh, um yes…" Chopper let go of Kimi. "Then if there's anyone injured come with Kimi and me!" He nodded waving for the crew to come up. After that was settled, Kimi and Chopper took care of the pirate men as best as they could.

"Hold still, this may sting." Kimi smiled pressing a cotton ball with ointment to a man's injured arm. "There we are." She smiled kindly and then assisted the next man.

"Well isn't she pretty."

"Yea, just a beauty…" Kimi heard two of the men whispering about her. She smirked and held up another cotton ball with even more powerful ointment. "Give me your arm." She smiled to the man that had called her a beauty.

"OWWWWWWWWWEEEEEE!" He cried as the cotton touched his wound.

"There. You all should all be fine." Chopper nodded after finishing the last man. "Head through that door and the kitchen is on the other side." He instructed and began to put his supplies away. Meanwhile, Kimi had been fixing up a small boy's arms and legs while the rest of the crew left.

"There you are young one." Kimi smiled looking into the boys brown eyes. He wore a blue dotted bandana on his head and had not been dressed appropriately for the cold. "Hurry and go get some food before my crewmates eat it all." She grinned bigger and turned to help Chopper put the rest of his supplies away.

"Um, excuse me…" The boy asked from behind the two Strawhats.

"What is it? Are you hungry? The kitchen-"

"No it's not that, I…" The boy fell to his knees bowing nervously, "Sensei, Miss, I beg of you. After seeing your skills I want you to attend to one more person, please! Will you come with me to our ship?" The young boy raised his head with pleading eyes.

Kimi looked down at the doctor of the ship and nodded. "What do you think, Chopper?" She smiled.

"Um well of course, if someone else is in trouble then we should help."

Kimi giggled and looked to the boy. "Just let me grab a coat. Okay?" She walked through the back of the infirmary to the hallway that led down to her lab. She opened the door quickly and threw on one of the coats Nami had lent to her a while back. She also managed to take off her sandals and replace them with brown boots with her red pants tucked inside. "Yosh! Ready." Kimi smiled looking at the two. They managed to sneak out of the infirmary without letting the others see in case they became upset to Kimi and Chopper's departure.

"This way." The boy pointed after the three made their way onto the deck of the boy's ship. He led them through a passage that seemed to be through the walls of the ship. The small boy pushed aside a piece of the wall and walked through into the darkness while Kimi and Chopper followed behind. Trying her best to see through the darkness of the room became almost impossible, but using her other senses she could hear what seemed to be like a person in front of her moaning.

As a flame shined brightly in the dark room Kimi shifted her eyes, only for a moment, and then turned surprised at the sight. A man had been laid out on the wood frame covered in bandages and blankets. By the looks of it, he seemed to be in a lot of pain as his body shook viciously and sweat beaded around his head and neck.

"Is that him?" Chopper asked as the boy nodded. "He received a terrible wound and he's been under terrible pain for many days." The reindeer doctor walked forward and removed the blanket covering his body. "Oh my god! What's with this wound?" Chopper exclaimed making Kimi nervous as she walked over. He had a huge gash across his chest similar to Zoro's scar except this man's wound was still open and bleeding. "This wound should have been sutured! We can't move him to our ship in this state. I'll have to begin to operate immediately!"

Kimi knelt down by the man's face looking to Chopper. "What can I do, Chopper?" She asked sweetly. "For now try to attend to the cuts on his face. I'll be working on his chest." Chopper spread out the supplies from his backpack.

She nodded and began to unwrap the bandages on his forehead. She pushed his red hair out of the way caressing the masculine figures of his face. He certainly was a handsome man and she only hoped he would be grateful of the medical attention Kimi and Chopper gave to him.

Suddenly the man gasped widening his eyes and latched onto Kimi's slender wrist caressing his face. Kimi yelped not knowing how the man would react to strangers in his presence. "It-it's alright…" she smiled nervously not letting his strong grip on her wrist to affect her tone. "I'm watching over you…you are safe."

The man nodded and then closed his eyes sinking back to his position before. "Wh-who are…y-you?" He managed to speak and then opened his eyes ever so slightly.

The blue-haired girl smiled sweetly and rubbed his cheek with her thumb, "My name's Kimiko. Don't worry… you are in good hands." She whispered.

Unknowing to her, as the man looked up at Kimi with her stunning blue hair and gorgeous facial features plus the fact that she had been wearing a white coat, he viewed her as an angel protecting him from the heavens. "Ki-Kimi-ko?" He whispered and closed his eyes completely letting her wrist go and falling back into sleep.

"Sorry, I had to give him some painkillers." Chopper announced with a shot clenched in his paws. Kimi nodded and then looked back at the red-haired man, "Don't worry…" She whispered once again and then continued to take care of his wounds.

"I did all that I could, all that is left now is to wait…" Chopper wiped his head after completing his operation. "Thank you, Sensei and Miss." Jiro, the young boy had introduced himself to the Strawhats while they were operating. Kimi had asked for his name to make him lose his focus on the attention of his friend being worked on.

Suddenly, the entire ship started to rock violently causing the three to topple on top of the other. "Oh no. Jiro, Kimi, hold his body down." Chopper held the man's chest carefully. "If this keeps up, the wound will end up opening again!" Kimiko nodded and quickly cloned herself twice as the clone female copies held the man as Chopper instructed.

"Oh! A devil fruit user?!" Jiro smiled at the girl. She looked down and winked, "Yes now hold your friend still." The rocking eventually stopped and as it did Kimi released the force of her clones and stood from her kneeling position.

"Oi! Chopper, Kimiko! Where are you?! We came to take you back! If you're there, answer me!"

The doctor and scientist looked at one another at their captain's voice. "Kimi, can you stay here and watch over him while I talk to Luffy." The blue-haired woman smiled, "Of course." And with that he left.

"I should go too!" Jiro stood and ran off leaving Kimi alone in the room with the resting man. Once again she examined his wounds making sure the bandages were protecting the stitching Chopper and she had put in. So far he was healing nicely.

She looked back into his face and smiled. "You are lucky to have a friend like Jiro who cares so much for your safety." She sighed.

"Oi! Kimiko! You helping too?"

Kimi turned her head over her shoulder and waved hello to her captain. "Luffy! Why yes, he was in a lot of pain, but luckily Chopper and I have helped him." Within minutes, Luffy and Chopper sat in a corner attempting to catch up on a bit of their sleep while Kimi and Jiro managed to keep watch on the man, now who she knew as Puzzle, the captain of the Phoenix Pirates.

"Jiro…" Kimi started to whisper while patching up one of Puzzle's arm bandages. "I don't really understand your situation, but it looks like it's a very serious matter. But be at ease. We may be pirates but we are also now your friends. Chopper is one of the best doctors on the seas… if there's a patient under pain, no matter whom it is, he'll do his best to save a life."

Jiro smiled slightly and looked to his captain. "Even if he is all worn out and on the verge of death, he will certainly stand up and rise again…as if he were a phoenix. I, along with everyone else, thought that this man would become the pirate king. But the New World, it's definitely different over there…but I believe in him…Puzzle-san will rise once again!"

Kimi smiled and patted the young boy's shoulder. "He will…" She smiled and wiped a tear from his eye. "Don't you worry." The woman patted his back and then leaned in front of Puzzle's side resting her head on the wooden frame. "Go to sleep, Jiro. You need to rest." She smiled and then yawned closing her eyes.

She fell into a sweet slumber until her body had gained enough energy and then woke her up. She opened her eyes slowly and then widened them at Puzzle's grimacing face. Sitting up she watched silently in confusion as he whispered, "Vigaro…" and then proceeded to raise his hand in the air as if he was reaching for something, or rather someone.

She sat up and pulled his hand back to his side, "Puzzle. You must rest. Please…Listen to my voice." She calmly spoke. "Rest…"

"Puzzle-san!" Jiro woke up and ran next to Kimi, "Is he?"

"He should be fine, it seems like he is having a nightmare…" Kimi watched as he muttered the name 'Vigaro' once more. The small pirate boy rubbed his captain's shoulder hoping to calm him down, but instead the man shot open his eyes.

"VIGARO!" He yelled sitting straight up and then ducked back down as his head hit the support beam above.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Chopper woke up from his position around Luffy and walked to Jiro. "Nothing is the matter! Puzzle-san has woken up! Sensei is truly awesome!" He hugged the small reindeer. Kimi giggled at the two and then looked innocently at the now awakened man she had been taking care of.

"Hello, are you alright?" she asked bewildered and not sure how to respond to his confused face.

"Y-you…" He whispered looking at the woman. "Ki-Kimiko?" She seemed taken aback by the fact he had remembered her name and nodded, "Y-yes."

He looked at her with no emotion and then nodded with her, "You saved me."

"Well actually, my friend Chopper really helped you." She pointed. "I just helped him out."

Puzzle then began to shake his head softly, "No, you were sent from the heavens to help me. My angel…" He responded making Kimi blush. "Thank you. I think…"

He looked to his side at Jiro and Chopper. "What happened, Jiro?"

"We were attacked by some incredibly strong guys in the new world. But thanks to the time Vice-captain gave us, we managed to break free of their hold…" Jiro then proceeded to explain that once they escaped the fight, they caught up with bounty hunters that managed to steal their pirate flag and force them to do their bidding as well. "But everything is better because Puzzle-san had resurrected!" The boy smiled despite his tears.

It was then that Puzzle grunted and attempted to sit up to the side in the process of standing. "Oh, wait!" Kimi stood hoping to help the man through his life-threatening injury. "Don't exert yourself!" Chopper jumped up and down.

The man smiled at Kimi and placed his strong hand on her shoulder, "Don't worry, my body is okay." He looked to his crewmate, "Jiro gather the crew on the deck!" The boy nodded and then proceeded to run off.

"Please, let us help you put on some warm clothes." Kimi placed her gloved hand on his back to help him stand straight. "Chopper, Jiro brought down a shirt, vest and jacket for him. Could you hand it-"

"Thank you Kimiko, but I can dress myself." Puzzle cut off her statement.

"But-"

"Thank you." He pushed his body out from her hold and reached to grab his clothing. "You all have my thanks for helping me and my crew." He pulled on a blue collared shirt.

"Oi, he's awake." Luffy sat up with a snot bubble still in his nose. "Good to see you." It popped loudly as he grinned.

"Thank you for your help but my crew and I will no longer need your assistance." Puzzle buttoned his shirt and then pulled on a black vest overtop. He looked for his jacket and then blinked as Kimi handed him the warm clothing article. "Kimiko, you are truly an angel." He smiled taking it from her hands.

"Thank you, but you should know, Puzzle-san, just how much Jiro looks up to you. He kept telling me all about you and your adventures. He truly admires and believes you are a great pirate captain." She nodded looking up at the well built man, "I just thought I'd mention that before you talk to the rest of your crew."

He nodded to her and then proceeded to walk out of the secret room with Kimi, Chopper and Luffy following behind. As they all entered the deck, Puzzle announced to his crewmembers how his return and his thanks.

"Chopper, Kimi…let's go." Luffy whispered as the crew hugged and cheered for the revival of their captain. They tried to sneak out, but little Jiro would not let them go so easily. "Kimi-san, Chopper Sensei! Luffy-san! Thank you very much!" He smiled widely with a coat now on and a long chain wrapped in his arms.

"Don't mention it."

"I'm a doctor, so it was the most obvious thing to do!"

"You're very welcome."

"Someday," Jiro nodded to the three, "We'll definitely repay you this favor."

"Yes, I guess we will see you in the New World." Luffy nodded.

"Oh, well then from now on we shall be rivals!" One of the crew smiled but Kimi noticed the distressed look on Puzzle's face, "Everyone…We are no longer going back to the New World. From now on, we'll remain in the bounty hunter crew."

Jiro's tears broke Kimi's heart as he held onto the red pants leg of his captain, "Damn it. Have you lost your pride?!" he cried.

Luffy stormed off "Oh, wait!" Puzzle stopped Luffy in his tracks, "I'd like to repay you all but I lost everything in the New World. That place isn't to take as light as you may be thinking." He warned.

"Nah, its fine. We will go and find out. Besides," Luffy looked back smiling. "We're strong!"

Kimi looked over at her captain and then back to Puzzle who eyed her carefully and longingly. "Fine." He muttered and turned his back. "Do as you all wish."

Kimi watched as Jiro had almost tripped and fallen trying to follow Puzzle's footsteps. "Poor Jiro…" She shook her head.

"Let's go. Kimi, Chopper. They gave up on their flag and they are no longer pirates. " Luffy pulled the two back to reality and they walked to the mast of the ship preparing to climb back to the Sunny with the thick rope that connected the two. Suddenly, the ocean below started to grow and just as Kimi and Luffy were about to jump off the side of the Phoenix ship, an iceberg rose from the sea splitting the rope from the Sunny.

When the sea settled down, Luffy cheered at the giant iceberg in front of them. "It's a huge block of shaved ice!" He cheered and then stretched his arms to attack and punch the ice block scaring all of the men on the ship with the use of his Devil Fruit ability.

"What? He's a Devil Fruit user?!"

"That is crazy!" The men talked among each other. Kimi smiled and cloned herself twice to fool the men. She placed one by Jiro and the other in the middle of the deck. The clone with Jiro tapped him on the shoulder and smiled while the one on the deck waved sweetly. Then before the men freaked out even more, they disappeared.

"The woman!"

"She's a Devil Fruit user too!"

"No way!"

"They are invincible!"

"Kimiko…" Puzzle whispered making her turn around to look back at the phoenix crewmates. "Aw…my shaved ice went away- oh! And the Sunny's gone!" Luffy and Chopper yelled not seeing their ship in sight.

"Oh no…" Kimi sighed turning back around as her crewmates cried. "It'll be okay…we will find the Sunny eventually." She patted their backs. "Do you all have a small boat or dingy we could use to return to our ship?" She turned back around smiling.

"Why of course beautiful Neechan!" The men melted at the sight of Kimi's innocent beauty.

"Luffy, follow them to the ship, Chopper and I will try to receive any other information about this place." The three nodded and separated. "Oh you there, Stancen, do you know how these icebergs move?" She asked one of the men that she had met in the infirmary earlier.

"Well actually, yes…" He nodded retaining his sitting position. Chopper ran in front of him while Kimi continued to stand. "You see there are Doom Penguins located in this area. They are very strong and they move the icebergs from under the waters helping the bounty hunters to gather their targets. That's the reason why they say that you can't get away from this sea." He nodded.

"Awesome penguins!" Chopper gleamed.

"I see…thank you." Kimi nodded about to ask another question when Luffy called out to her and Chopper.

"Thank you very much!" Chopper bowed and then ran off leaving Kimi behind.

"Oi, wait!" Stancen made Kimi turn around. "Forget them!" Puzzle's voice made the man and Kimi look at him on the bottom of the deck staircase. "After all, it's the same wherever they go."

Kimi eyed him carefully, "What do you mean Puzzle-san?" She frowned.

The captain smiled and stood to walk in front of the small blue-haired woman. He placed a hand on her shoulder about to say something when Luffy called for his female crewmate once again.

"I'm sorry Puzzle-san. I must go." She pushed aside his hand and then walked off not daring to look back. As she entered in the small boat with her two friends, Chopper began to row the boat in his human form.

"I hope those guys will be alright." Chopper looked back at the Phoenix crew. "I'm sure they will be fine, Chopper," Kimi smiled hopefully looking to Luffy. "Right now we need to find the Sunny."

"Yosh!" He laughed as an iceberg attacked the boat from behind dragging the dingy back in the direction they had come from. "Hold on!" Luffy smiled stretching his arms towards the mast of the Phoenix ship. The small boat flew in the air causing the three to fly in the air towards the deck of the ship once more. "Oi! We're back!" Luffy called out as the ship crashed on the deck. He landed on his feet along with Kimi landing next to Puzzle while Chopper fell into an unknown man on the deck.

Kimi huffed trying to catch her balance while Luffy laughed, "Well, we came back here after all!"

"Strawhat-san! I thought you were heading back to your ship?" One of the men asked.

"Well…" Kimi patted her gloved hands together, "We didn't know exactly where we were going…" she smiled at Puzzle and then frowned towards the man Chopper had hit when they landed. "Who is that?" She pointed as he stood from the rubble.

"Ah, well after all, finding a ship without a mark will be hard; don't you agree Strawhat Captain-san?" The muscular man smirked. He was very weird looking and Kimi couldn't help but think what type of clown villain she and her friends would have to face now. "However, I'm really lucky that I ran into three pirates with bounties and two with extremely high ones at that." He smirked looking at the three standing side by side.

"Oh, Kimi-san and sensei have a bounty?" Jiro looked over at the woman while standing in-between Luffy and Puzzle. She smiled at him and nodded then proceeded to look back at the villain.

"Who are you anyways?" Luffy frowned.

"I'm the Atchino family's second son!" the man declared raising his arms. "Brindo-sama!" Ignoring the man, Luffy and Chopper walked over to Stancen, the man that gave Kimi the hint about the penguins lying on the ground unconscious. "Oi! Pay attention!" Brindo yelled. "Listen, we took your flag and added it to the family collection." He boasted.

"What!?" Kimi took a step back not believing the man's words.

Puzzle huffed. "Are they the ones that took ours too?!"

"I don't know what that symbol meant to you, but if it was stolen that easily then you better keep an eye on your underlings, Strawhat." With that comment, Luffy sprung into action declaring battle between the bounty hunter. They fought for a while until Luffy had jumped from the mast to the deck following behind Brindo.

"You caught me off guard last time, but that won't happen again." He boasted combing through his hair. "What a stupid captain! That's the reason why his precious pirate flag was stolen." He smirked making Luffy upset.

"Gum gum, Gatling gun!" Luffy yelled punching his stretched fists more frequently but none of his punches hit the man.

Wanting her captain to put Brindo in his place, Kimi raised her arms making her trademark triangle shape and yelled, "Clone Clone!" Suddenly from behind the bounty hunter three of Kimi's clones kept him still causing Luffy finally land a punch.

Brindo frowned standing up punching the clones and making them disappear as Kimi released her control on the doppelgangers. "Is a flag really that important to you?" He smirked.

"Of course! The flag is our pride!" Chopper yelled. "It's more important than anything!" Kimi held a fist at the man walking in front of the small reindeer. Luffy had attempted to hit Brindo once again but without Kimi's clones, he jumped down to face the blue-haired woman.

"Woman shouldn't butt into these types of conversations or fights. We're having a pirate conversation now." He smirked leaning closer into her face. He was by far one of the ugliest men she had seen since she began her journey with Luffy and with him getting into her personal area she was not going to have it.

"Shut up! I am a pirate!" She yelled but instead of saying anything back, Brindo simply raised his hand and smacked Kimi across the face forcing her to the ground. Angered Luffy retaliated back but as usual he missed his target.

"Kimi-san!" Jiro ran over to help her along with Chopper and some of the other Phoenix pirates. "Are you alright, neechan?" They worried about her.

She nodded sitting up mermaid style and then looked back at Luffy and Brindo. Completely angry at the fact that Brindo had hit Kimi, Luffy had used all of his might and finally latched onto the big bounty hunter punching him into the siding of Puzzle's ship.

"Luffy!" She cried not really sure what to say afterwards.

"You will tell me where the flag is, after your beating of course." He smirked holding up his fist.

Feeling a cold stinging pain deep in her cheek, Kimi rubbed her face with the smooth surface of her gloved hand. "Are you alright, Kimiko?" Puzzle's voice whispered next to her. She widened her eyes looking up and over at the red-haired captain. "Oh, um… yea." He bent down to help her back onto her feet ignoring the red growing on Kimi's cheeks. "Thank you, Puzzle-san." She nodded.

"It is just Puzzle, Kimiko." He nodded back causing Kimi to have a déjà vu moment.

Kimi giggled turning back around letting her blue hair down from her usual bun. Zoro had been peeing in a bush and once he finished he walked backed over to her kneeling down to wash his hands. She dumped her hands back into the water and combed her wet fingers attempting to wash her blue hair.

The two kept quiet as they continued working on their jobs and finally Zoro walked out from his area. "Good night." He muttered and walked away from the girl. "Night Zoro-san!" She shook her head and stood up.

He looked back and smirked. "You can just call me Zoro." Kimi blinked a few times confused by her courtesy and then blushed. "Oh okay. Good night, Zoro." She restated as he walked off. She looked back at the Merry and then back at the forest. Sighing, she walked through the trees and into the campfire area.

Kimi shook her memory away and watched as Brindo was punched once more by Luffy. "W-wait!" He gasped and then pulled a small piece of a white flag from out of his shirt making Luffy respect the symbol of surrender. "The truth is that the flag is here." He stated standing up, "I'll give it to you now-" And with that, the bounty hunter jumped from the ship to a small dingy being pulled by the Doom Penguins.

"LUFFY!" Kimi ran towards the captain as he ran off of the ship trying to follow the man and instead, fell into the depths of the cold water below.

"Wait, Kimiko!" Puzzle pulled the girl back before she too, fell into the water. "Please! Luffy can't swim! Help him!" She pleaded to the man holding her back from protecting Luffy.

"LUFFY!" Chopper tried to run over the edge to help Luffy but Jiro caught onto his legs and held onto him before he too sank. "Chopper-sensei can't swim either right?"

"Please!" Kimi pulled onto Puzzle's shirt collar looking into his eyes almost as if she were reading his soul. Something was troubling him. The death of his crewmate? The loss of his pirate flag? Or maybe it was something deeper, something more intense but Kimi honestly didn't care at that moment. She only hoped he could help her rubber captain.

A strong hand pulled her behind a body and then she felt the wind of a whip from above her head. "Puzzle…" She gasped feeling his body heat in front of the woman. "Thank you!" She nodded and then watched as he pulled up not her captain, but Brindo instead. "Capture him, Kimiko!" Puzzle pulled the man back onto the deck and quickly Kimi cloned herself to tie up the man to the mast with some chain on the ground.

"Not a pirate…hmm?" The clone kicked Brindo's head and then disappeared. Meanwhile, the real Kimi helped Puzzle and the rest of his crew pull up her drowning captain from the depths below. Once Luffy appeared back on the deck of the Phoenix ship, Kimi release her control on her clones and ran towards Luffy with Chopper at her side. "Luffy!? Are you alright?"

"I thought you were done for!" Chopper cried.

"Here, Luffy-san!" One of the Phoenix pirates walked over handing the Strawhat man a blanket. "For the cold."

"Thank you!" Luffy smiled and then sneezed.

"Luffy, you better not get sick…" Kimi smiled standing up and shaking her head. She looked to the side of her at Stancen who had now been sitting from his position on the ground. "Are you alright, Stancen?" She asked sweetly making Chopper waddle over to check if he was okay.

"Yes, thank you Kimiko-san and Chopper-san." He nodded.

Right then, Jiro had a burst of courage and determination as he confronted the stationary Brindo against the mast of the ship. Kimi had stood from her kneeling position from Stancen and looked around the group for the Phoenix captain. She had become somewhat attached to him for who knew what reason, but she wouldn't let it stop her from being a tough female pirate. "You have a sharp tongue kid." Brindo pulled Kimi back to the center of the ship.

"Enough!" Puzzle's voice rang right after that. His crew separated making a path for the man to confront the bounty hunter. "Don't get me wrong, I didn't capture him to hold him here. I want to…negotiate with you." He frowned looking up at the big muscled man.

Kimi walked behind Jiro and held him back from attacking either Brindo or Puzzle, she wasn't quite sure which he had been aiming for. "Easy Jiro…" She whispered.

"I want you to leave these guys and the Strawhats alone." He looked to his right at Kimi and Jiro. "In exchange…in exchange, I'll surrender my bounty."