Chapter 22

"If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are a lot better off than humans." – James Herriot

"We don't have time Luffy! Hurry up and destroy this stupid pumpkin!"

"I know."

"If you know, then do it!"

Kya chewed her lip as Luffy refused to help them out. The young girl on the blanket was the reason behind Luffy's failure to destroy the pumpkin. "I know, but I don't want to do it." His voice was stoic and his face held little emotion. There was a loud explosion to the side, gaining her attention. Usopp was running away from Mr. 5 and Ms. Valentine along with Carue.

"Ms. Goldenweek." Vivi muttered to the side. "It must be you!" The young girl with pig tails began to munch on a cracker. "Color Trap. Black is the color of betrayal. If any person is painted with this color, he won't care about his friends' words." She said in a light voice. "What does that mean?! What happened?" Nami shouted. "She is a portrait painter. She can create a feeling by colors. The imagination of color that she has painted will affect a person's mind." Vivi explained to her.

"Affect a person's mind? This is bad because hypnotism or something like that will completely affect an innocent person like him!" Zoro's face twitched as he spoke. "How annoying." Kya sighed, her body itching awkwardly from the wax. "If he can step away from that sign, then he should be fine!" Nami concluded. "Step away from that sign!" Luffy made no attempt to get off the paint under his feet.

"That's not gonna work. Luffy, don't step out of that sign!" Kya called out to him. Nami looked at her angrily. "Why would you say that?!" She screeched as the boy began to step away from the paint. "I don't want to help you at all. I won't listen to you." He spoke as he stepped completely off. "So, that's why." Zoro hummed to himself.

"Eh?! What happened to me!? I will help you now!" Luffy grabbed his head before busting out into laughter. "But first let me laugh!" He cried out in between giggles. "What's wrong now?!" It seemed like the pirates and the princess were going to die at any rate now. "Color Trap. Yellow is the color of fun. He can't move now." Ms. Goldenweek said over the boy's laughter, holding out her paintbrush. There was a huge yellow stain Luffy's shirt as he began to roll around, still laughing.

"She put a color on his shirt! Luffy! Take off your shirt!" Kya tried to call out, but he could not hear her over his laughter. "This is bad. We don't have much time left." Zoro grumbled, just as annoyed as she. Just then Usopp and Carue came running through the middle of the mess, Mr.5 and Ms. Valentine still chasing after them. "Carue!" Vivi called to her duck as they ran straight into Luffy. "Look! Usopp and Carue hit Luffy and made the sign fade away!" Nami pointed out as he stood to his feet. "Ouch! I was caught in that trap again." He turned angrily to Ms. Goldenweek. "Hey you! This is enough!"

"Yellow is the color of fun. You must have had a good time, right?" She asked in her strange voice. "Shut up! Are you crazy or something?!" He turned towards his crew and Vivi. "Anyways, I have to destroy this pumpkin. Gomu Gomu no-" He stretched his arms back as she began to paint another symbol. "Color Trap. Red is the color of target."

"Bazooka!"

Luffy's hands dropped straight into the ground where the red target was, but not destroying it. "What are you trying to hit?!" Nami screeched, making Kya sigh. "Yelling at him isn't going to make this better." She muttered; things were already looking down at the moment, saving them was going to be a difficult task.

"I won't forgive you! Just get out of my face!" Luffy cried out, stretching his arms back again. "Gomu Gomu no…Bazooka!" His arms went straight into the ground, again. "Is that fun?" Ms. Goldenweek asked him, seemingly amused. "This is bad. He can't beat her. His power means nothing to her." Nami finally admitted.

"I will mix this color for you. Yellow, the color of fun, mixed with blue, the color of sadness." Ms. Goldenweek sent another sign on the back of Luffy's shirt. "Color Trap. Green is the color of peace." Suddenly, Luffy was sitting with the young girl on her blanket; eating and drinking tea with her. "This tea is really delicious."

"Are you crazy?!"

"What will be the result of this?" Nami asked, making Zoro chuckle. "Result? I told you to pose nicely. I'm sorry for you." He told her. "This is not funny." Vivi scolded him. "We were doomed to begin with." Kya was beginning to get really frustrated. She couldn't move her finger anymore, and she was starting to lose feeling in her legs and torso.

Explosions echoed around them as Usopp and Carue walked into the clearing. Things were beginning to get quiet for her as the wax began to build up around her head. Her eyesight was giving way, and she could barely breathe. 'It can't end this way.' She choked as the last bit of air was taken from her.

A hand smacked her hard across the face, sending her to the ground. "I thought I told you to stop going into the forest." Ron stared down at a 10 year old Kya angrily. "You'll have to be put on probation again." He sighed, scratching his cheek. "No! I don't want to go back on probation! I do everything you ask! I'm not doing anything bad I swear!" She screamed back at him. It had been nearly a year since they had taken over her home; the hell they put her through could be compared to the brutality of Impel Down. His hand went to smack her again, but she grabbed him quickly. Before he could react, she slammed his wrist down against her knee, a loud snap echoing the forest around them.

"Stop it!" A young boy, about three, came running over to them, tears streaming down his face. Kya realized Ron's hand and grabbed the boy, coddling him in her arms. "Stopping fighting, Kya-sama." He cried into her shoulder. Ron growled, holding his broken wrist angrily. "I'll get you for this you little b-"

"Now, now! Ron, don't be so rude in front of the children." Niro came into view, his snow white hair shining out from his dark surroundings. Sora was by his side; he was a spitting image of his father with the same face and red eyes, only he had brown hair. "She broke my wrist!" Ron spat, glaring daggers at the girl, who held tightly onto the younger boy.

"You're scaring Lee, stop!" She cried angrily, making Niro laugh lightly. "It's always my best student who causes the most problems." He placed a hand on her head and ruffled her long pink hair. "You'll make a great member of CP9 one day."

Kya awoke, coughing her lungs out. It took her a moment to realize that her surroundings where on fire. "Let's go!" She was hoisted to her feet quickly by Zoro, whose shirt was lightly charred. "What the hell happened?" She coughed. "Ask questions later, we need to get out here!" He pulled her through the flames, dodging debris until they heard noises of fighting.

Pulling into the clearing, they saw Usopp being (albeit strangely) attacked by Mr. 5. Zoro released her arm, leaving her to find a way over to the rest of the crew without being burnt. "Fire Sword!" He used the surrounding fire on his swords to easily finish off Mr. 5. "Fire swords aren't that bad." He noted as she maneuvered her way over to the others.

The ground rumbled as Brogi managed to push himself up into a sitting position. "So, to be alive is the happiest thing in the world right?" Zoro smirked up at the giant. "You're right." He laughed, looking at his dead friend near him. "There are two more enemies?" He asked, earning some strange looks. "What happened anyways?" Nami's shirt had been burnt off completely, leaving her in her bra. 'At least Sanji isn't here to swoon.' Kya chuckled to herself as Usopp partially explained what happened.

Luffy hadn't returned from fighting Mr. 3, so everyone ended up getting comfortable. Kya was in charge of taking care of wounds, and she was currently working on Zoro's. Usopp and Brogi were talking while Nami and Vivi were discussing plans for getting to Alabasta. "You're such an idiot." The assassin grumbled as she cleaned his nearly cut off ankles. "I was trying to free myself."

"How would you have fought? On your knees?"

He pursed his lips and turned away from her. "Maybe." He said quietly, making her chuckle. "Idiots." She began to stitch up his left leg with the poor string she had. "Sorry." He muttered, clearing his throat. She raised an eyebrow at him. "For what exactly?"

"Your arm." The bruise had actually gotten pretty massive. She wasn't angry though; his hands were rather large compared to her small frame. "It's no big deal. Don't worry about it." She tied off the stitches on his leg awkwardly. "You do owe me and explanation." He informed her. "Of?" She moved onto his other leg. "Who that guy was."

As she began to work on his other ankle, Luffy returned with Carue. He had successfully defeated Mr. 3 and Ms. Goldenweek with ease. "It took you long enough." Nami muttered, crossing her arms across her chest. "Sorry." He rubbed his head and laughed half-heartedly. Suddenly, Brogi burst into tears, which were more like waterfalls to the others. His cries were so loud Kya ended up having to cover her ears so her eardrums wouldn't burst.

"He's crying too loud."

"It looks like a waterfall."

"The sound is shaking my brain."

"Look at that rainbow behind it!"

"My ears are going to explode."

"I completely understand Brogi-san's feelings!"

Even though the pirates had made their complaints, Brogi still did not stop wailing. His cries were so loud, they forced Dory upright, even though he was presumed dead. Everyone's eyes nearly popped out from their skulls at the sight of him moving. "It seems that I passed out for a while." He croaked out, holding his injured shoulder. "Dory….Why are you…?"

"Dory-san!" Usopp, Luffy, and Vivi were all shouting happily for the injured man. "It might be because of our weapons." He explained to his friend. "Weapons? I see." Brogi nodded sadly. "Elbaf's weaponry is made to last a long time, but not long enough for this 100 year fight."

"I am stunned." Usopp breathed out happily as Luffy laughed. "This is a real miracle." He added as Kya finished with Zoro's ankle. Brogi leaned over and grabbed his friend, hugging him tightly. "Hey Brogi! Don't hug me too tight, it hurts my wounds!" Dory laughed lightly. "I am so glad that you're still alive my dear friend!"

"Miracle? That's possible, just like those 100 year old weapons and their owners." Zoro commented from the stump he was sitting on. "This is a wonderful day! I have to thank the Elbaf god!" Brogi laughed, earning a look from Dory. "You just hit me once, and you are this happy Brogi?" He asked. "I didn't say that." Brogi smirked and hit him in his wounded shoulder. "Don't touch my wound." They both laughed lightly before getting to their feet and in each other's faces. "You want to fight?!" "I will knock you down this time!" "Hey! Why are you fighting again?!" Nami screamed at them, which ended their small skirmish.

The crew and the giants meandered their way over to one of the huge skeletons on the island, where Dory's wounds were dressed. "We want to repay you for saving our lives." Brogi told them sincerely. "We've completely forgotten that we were still wanted by the World Government." Dory laughed. "Because of me, those people are coming to this island." Vivi admitted sadly, making Nami grab her cheek. "Stop speaking nonsense." She scolded as the princess cried out in pain. Luffy, Carue, and Usopp were sitting around eating rice crackers, and kindly offered Vivi some, which also sparked a fight with Nami.

Kya rolled her eyes at the crew, reminding herself that even though they were idiots, they were strong idiots. She realized that it was time to go, but remembered it took a year for the Log Pose to set at this crazy island. "We need a year for the Log Pose to log the frequency, that's no joke." She said to the giants. "That's right. It's no joke at all." Brogi repeated her. "You can't do anything?" Luffy pouted as he stood on a rock in front of them. "Don't be silly. That is the only thing we can't control."

"Wow! Nami-swan! Kya-chwan! Vivi-chan! And those unimportant people."

Sanji came into the clearing finally, hearts for eyes. "I'm so happy that you are safe!" He began to spin in circles. "Hey Sanji!" Luffy waved at him. "He didn't do anything and how dare he come out now!" Usopp growled, but it was ignored by the chef. Sanji turned, catching sight of Dory sitting there. "What's this?! Are you Mr. 3?!"

Something in Kya's head clicked: Sanji wasn't here to witness Mr. 3 attempt to kill them. "How do you know about Mr. 3?" She asked him as Nami walked over next to her. "Kya-chwan!~ Nami-swan!~ You're so sexy!" He spun around again before sitting on a stump near him.

He explained that, while looking for the others, he ran into a strange wax hut in the forest. There was a Den Den Mushi inside, and when it rang, he answered. On the other line was Mr. 0, of course the blonde chef spoke to him and told him the Straw Hats and Vivi were dead. "So, you were….talking to Mr. 0?!" Vivi's voice cracked in surprise. "Yes. He thought I was Mr. 3" Sanji nodded, a cigarette in his hand. "So, he believes all of us are dead?"

"That's what I told him."

"Even though no one is trying to kill us, we can't get off the island." Usopp informed him angrily. Sanji gave him a strange look before pulling something out of his pocket. "Can't get out? What do you mean?" The object in his hand turned out to be an Eternal Pose to Alabasta. "You have some business in this place? I just got this thing." Everyone's jaw dropped to the ground. "Eh? What's wrong?"

"The Eternal Pose to Alabasta!"

"Great!"

"Let's have a rice cracker party!"

Everyone was jumping and shouting for joy at this revelation. Vivi ran to Sanji, hugging him tightly. "Thank you very much Sanji! I thought that we wouldn't get out!" She cried. His eyes turned to hearts and his body mush. "You're welcome. I didn't know you'd be so happy." Kya shook her head, albeit smiling, and turned to Brogi. "I guess this means we'll be leaving you shorter than expected." The giant laughed, placing a large finger on her head. "No worries small stuff. Just make sure you visit sometime in the future."

"By the way, have you forgotten about our hunting competition?" Sanji turned to the swordsman next to him. "I will win for sure." He informed him. Zoro opened his arms out wide. "I caught a very huge rhinoceros." She shook her head as the two giants laughed behind her. "It was a triceratops, baka."

"Then it's time to say goodbye! I wish both of you luck!" Luffy shouted suddenly. "Oh! You must be in a hurry." Brogi sounded sad, but no one could tell with the smile on his face. "That's too bad, but we won't stop you. I wish that you could save your country." Dory nodded at Vivi and she smiled. "Thank you."

The crew began to walk away, Zoro and Sanji leading with their bickering while Usopp and Luffy lagged in the back to say their last goodbyes. Kya sniffed, catching a whiff of herself. Her face scrunched together at the smell of sweat and burned hair coming from her. 'I really need a shower.' She sighed; the sooner they got back to the ship the better.

"Can't you see? My rhinoceros is bigger!"

"Then you must be blind because mine is definitely bigger than yours!"

Sanji and Zoro were standing on their kills (which were not rhinos, and both equally large) yelling at each other. "You don't need to argue. They both look delicious anyway." Luffy commented from the side of the ship. Kya chuckled next to him, swinging her legs in the air. She had changed into a strapless light blue dress that stopped an inch above her knees; something quite odd for her to wear.

"Shut up!" The two yelled at him before Nami attempted to end it. "How long are you going to fight? We can't carry the whole thing anyways. Just cut the parts that we can bring and let's go." She said, surprisingly calm, from next to the kitchen door. "Yes Nami-swan!" Sanji waved at her. "Don't you think I'm winning, Usopp?" Zoro turned to the sharpshooter, who pointed at himself. "Huh? I don't want to decide."

"Can't you call it a draw?" Kya suggested to the swordsman, who gave her a glaring look. "There is no draw in competition." He stated clearly. Eventually, Nami cut the competition short with her screaming, making Zoro cut up the dinosaurs into pieces that wouldn't overflow the ship. After loading the ship with the excessive amount of meat, the crew was off. "If we are heading straight, we can go out of the west sea." Nami informed them as they moved to the front deck. "Can't we bring more meat?" Luffy complained. "Don't be silly, we can't bring any more meat! Are you trying to sink our ship?"

"Hey! Those are the giants!" Luffy pointed out in front of them; the giants were standing on either side of the canal, their weapons in hand. "They're coming to send us off!" Usopp cried happily. "The small humans that came to this island.." Brogi started off. "They have a big reason to go to the next island."

"What are they doing?" Nami asked the question everyone was thinking. "You have protected our honor with your lives." They crossed their arms. "We won't let anything to your flag!" "Trust us! No matter what happens we want you to keep heading straight!" Apparently Luffy was the only person who understood what they were talking about. "Got it! I will head straight!" he shouted at them as they reached the ocean.

"We shall meet again…"

"Someday…"

The water in front of them began to move violently as something rather large poked through its surface. "Look at that!" Nami screeched. A ginormous goldfish breached in front of the pirates as they held onto the Merry for dear life. "Is that what I think it is..?!" Kya's eyes widened at the sight of the vile fish. "What is it?!" Nami cried. "A giant sea monster!" She turned to look at Usopp. "Hurry up and change course or we'll be eaten!"

"That's huge! A giant goldfish!?"

"A giant goldfish? Sounds like I've heard of it somewhere." The long nosed man said to himself. "Hurry Usopp!" She screamed up at him. "No! We will head straight! Isn't that right Luffy?" The captain of the ship nodded. "Yep! Absolutely!"

Everyone moved frantically around, but no one changed the course of the ship. 'A giant goldfish…a giant goldfish.' Kya searched everywhere in her brain for an answer as she held onto the railing. She'd heard of a giant goldfish somewhere but she just couldn't remember where. The Merry quickly made its way inside the fish's mouth, and as the mouth began to close around them, it came to her. "The Island Eater!" She called out to everyone, earning strange looks.

"Heading straight!" Usopp cried out loudly. "We were eaten why are you still shouting that!?" Nami screamed at him. "Going forward!" Luffy joined in. Both boys were very adamant that the crew would come out alive; the others, not so much. "We're going to get swallowed!" Vivi yelled just as a giant hole was blown through the goldfish's body. Merry flew from the giant sea monster, heading back out into the sea. "Yahoo! We're flying!" Luffy shouted. "Don't look back! We're going forward only!"

Kya held onto the railing for dear life as they crashed back onto the water. The giants knew the Island Eater was coming all along and we're there to save their asses. She smiled to herself as she got to her feet shakingly. She never thought she would have befriended giants on her journey. Running over, she leaned over the railing happily. "I'd never thought that one day I would actually see an Island Eater., let alone nearly eaten by one." She said over Luffy and Usopp's singing. "You seem extremely happy about it." Vivi scoffed, crossing her arms. She jumped down to the lower deck, shrugging her shoulders. "I thought it was pretty fun."

Nami sighed and fell down against the mast. "I don't know why, but I'm really tired." She said hoarsely, holding a hand up to her sweaty forehead. "Can you take care of the rest Vivi?" She handed the Eternal Pose to the princess slowly. "Finally we are heading to Alabasta. But on the way, I hope that nothing will happen to us." She smiled at the navigator. "Yes! And I will definitely go back there because I am the only one who can free my people! I have to live and return to Alabasta."

"Try to relax Vivi-chan." Sanji walked over to the three girls. "You can always count on me. Just take a good rest and try my food. Do you enjoy coffee or tea?" He held a tray in front of them with the two choices of beverages and some food on them. "Sanji-san.."

"It looks good!"

"It looks delicious!"

Luffy and Usopp drooled over the food, and the chef pointed at the kitchen. "Your portions are in the kitchen." He said, and they ran off to get some. Kya could hear Zoro talking to himself on the back deck as Sanji left to make sure the two idiots didn't destroy the kitchen. "I'll be back in a second." She said to the two girls, who gave her an understanding nod.

"You're going to pop your stitches." Zoro jumped at her voice, but didn't stop lifting his unnaturally giant weights. "They'll be fine." He defied her in a cold voice. "I'm not going to fix them if you do pop them." She leaned back against the wall and looked at the sky. "I wouldn't ask you to anyways."

It was silent for a while; he kept lifting his weights and she just stared at the sky. He wanted to ask her about what happened, about the man, about everything; but he knew she wouldn't say much so there really was no point. The most he would get would probably be the man was her father or something like that. Not wanting to be rude, he set down his weights and turned to her. "You said you'd tell me."

She looked at him from the corner of her eye. "I did say that." He frowned. "Don't play stupid shit with me woman." He grumbled, making her chuckle. "I was only kidding, no need to get so angry." She smiled at first, but it quickly faded into a frown. "What all do you want to know?"

"Who that guy was, why he wanted you to go with him; something along the lines of that."

She let out a long breath and closed her eyes. "His name is Ron. I've known him for about nine years now since he came to my home. I ran away from him when I was about 12 when we were in East Blue. I guess he's just been trying to save his ass and get me back. I've done a pretty good job at hiding until recently." She chewed her cheek angrily as she glared at the ground. There really wasn't much left to say about him. "But hopefully he should be leaving us alone for a while."

Zoro frowned at her; there was still some things bothering him. "Did he kill your family?" He cleared his throat awkwardly. She furrowed her eyebrows together, thinking deeply. "I don't even know who killed my family." She admitted. "I'm just asking this because I'm the first mate. I have to-" She waved him off. "Yes, yes. It's your duty to protect the Luffy and the others. Trust me, I have no intention of hurting them."

"Everyone come here quick! Something's happened to Nami-san! She has a high fever!"

The crew quickly ran over to Vivi, who was holding an unconscious Nami in her arms. "Nami's sick?!" Luffy practically screamed. "Hurry! We need to get her to her bed!" Sanji took the duty of grabbing the navigator, followed by Luffy, Usopp and Carue. "Kya-san, please watch over this." The princess handed the pink haired girl the Eternal Pose. "I will." She nodded as Vivi followed behind the boys to take care of Nami.

"I guess that means we're in charge." Zoro chuckled at the fact as he put his shirt on. Kya held the Pose in her hand carefully as they walked up the steps and onto the back deck. "Well, we're headed in the right direction at least." She said as he sat on the railing and began lifting another weight. "Maybe she caught something at Little Garden." He suggested. "Or maybe she's just run down."

The two sat in a comfortable silence for a while, making sure everything was in the right order. "There is nothing wrong around here." He said suspiciously. She nodded in agreement. "Hold this. I'm going to grab something to eat." She handed him the Pose and moved inside the kitchen. She had to admit, she was feeling a little run down herself. "Maybe I just need some water."

After chugging a glass of the liquid, she grabbed an apple off the fridge and began to return back outside when she heard Zoro arguing with someone. "Hey! Get your butts out here, everyone!" He suddenly called out. She munched on the apple as she walked outside, the door slamming into his back. He turned, giving her a menacing glare. "Sorry." She chuckled in between bites of her apple. He rolled his eyes and turned back to the rest of the crew on the deck. "We're changing the ships course to the south."

"I don't feel like working with you ordering me." Sanji scoffed. "Shut up and do it! Take the sail out!" Zoro ordered, but only Usopp listened. "What is it Nami-san? The weather is nice." The chef turned to the sickly navigator, who was holding onto the ship tightly. "There will be a storm heading towards us, I think." She said, obviously out of breath. Luffy and Kya walked over to her with worried looks on their faces. He pressed a hand to her forehead, making her jump. "What-?" He pulled away quickly, holding his 'burning' hand. "Ouch! Hot! Hot! I think we'd better stop and find you a doctor." He blew on his hand. "Stop talking nonsense! It's just a cold! Why don't you just go to work and stop worrying about me!"

"Nami-san, I know that you are worried about Vivi-chan, but I think you should rest." Sanji said from the lower deck. "I said that I am fine!" She screeched at him. "Nami, don't overdo it!" Usopp chastised. "Just leave me alone and get this ship moving!" Kya pressed her own hand against the ginger's forehead. "Nami, you're fever is above 100. You really should sleep. This isn't a normal cold." She frowned as her hand was forcefully moved away. "Just leave me alone!"

"I would like to ask all of you a favor." Vivi suddenly came onto the deck and stood next to the assassin. "Maybe it's not right for me to say this since you are bringing me back to my country, but my country is now in danger and I want to go back there as soon as possible." The princess clutched the railing tightly. "I can't even waste one second. So from now on, I would like everyone to head to Alabasta at the fastest speed."

"That's right. I promised you that we're going to make it." Nami smiled as she limply stood against the wall. "So let's start finding a doctor and cure Nami-san as soon as possible, then head to Alabasta. When Nami-san is cured, we can go at the fastest speed right?" Everyone smiled at her. "That's right. There is nothing that can make this ship go faster than with Nami in good health." Luffy told her. "Are you sure? You should worry about your people because you're the princess." Usopp raised an eyebrow at her. "It's true. That's why we have to cure Nami-san as soon as possible."

"You worry too much kid." Kya chuckled, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Very good Vivi-chan! Your words make me fall in love with you all over again!" Sanji declared below her. "You are brave." Zoro told her from his spot on the railing. "I'm sorry to put you through this Nami-san. I think you'd better take a rest now." Vivi told the navigator, who smiled lightly. "Sorry Vivi, but I don't think I can go on…." Before she could hit the ground, the blue haired girl caught her in her arms as Luffy started screaming. "What's that?!"

"A cyclone?!"

"Nami-san hang in there!"

"It's so huge!"

Off in the direction the crew was going through was the biggest cyclone Kya had ever seen in her life. "If we even get near that thing, we'd be dead." She muttered as the others ran off to steer as far away from it as possible. Zoro handed her the Eternal Pose. "You should hold onto this." He gave her a compass too. "And tell us when we're going south."

After about thirty minutes of sailing south, it started to get really cold, and then it began to snow. Kya handed the compass to Usopp, telling him to watch it carefully so she could change into something warm. She put on a pair of grey skinny jeans, black fuzzy boots, a black sweater, and a black parka. "I hope the doctors are close by, I can't stand this cold anymore." She groaned as she head back outside. Usopp was waiting for her outside the hatch, yawning tiredly. "I'm tired. You and Zoro and Luffy are on shift because you're not sleeping." He mumbled the last part as headed into the bedroom. She rolled her eyes, looking at the compass to make sure they were still heading south.

"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa."

Luffy's whiny voice reached her ears after he collided with her into the snow. "What do you want?" She muttered, regretting ever coming back outside in the first place. "Come with me! But close your eyes, it's a surprise!" He stood off her, grabbing her hand. "I can't take my eyes off the compass!" He pouted, grabbing the item from her hand. "Zoro!" The first mate leaned over the crow's nest. "What?" Luffy sent his arm with the compass up. "Watch this for Kya! We'll be back in a second!"

As soon as the word 'second' left his mouth, they were off. "Close your eyes!" He complained, pushing her eyelids down with his rubber fingers. She chuckled and shook her head. "Fine! Fine! They're closed!" He dragged her a ways farther until they walked into a room; what she thought was the kitchen. "Alright when I count to three, open your eyes!"

"1…..not yet!...2….and…..3!"

She slowly, and carefully, opened her eyes. Chuckling, Luffy opened his arms out in a strange fashion. "I knew you really liked them, because that's all you seem to eat, so I got you a bunch!" He smiled brightly at her. "Luffy…." She placed a hand on her cheek and laughed at the pile of apples in the basket on the table. "Where did you get all those?"

"Well, I took most of them from that mean brat with the pig tails…" he huffed to the side, making her laugh more. "Do you like them?" His eyes became big and wide, reminding her from a child. She bit her lip, smiling, and nodded. "Of course I do."

"Great! Now come with me again!" He grabbed her hand, pulling her out the door. "But Luffy, it's cold outside." She frowned as he turned and blinked at her. "It is?" Sighing, she pushed him forward. "Just do whatever you were going to do."

He pulled her up to the front deck, pushing her towards Merry's figurehead. "Go up there and sit." He demanded. She raised an eyebrow, but complied; whatever he was doing wasn't harmless, right? She shivered as she climbed up on top of the ram's head, sitting in his spot. He climbed on after her, taking a seat next to her. The water was smooth and the night was quiet; a feeling over serenity washed over her, making her smile lightly. "If I keep doing nice things for you, you won't leave right?"

She snapped her head to the side, facing him. "Who told you I was leaving?" She asked quickly. "Zoro…." Of course; the swordsman could never keep anything from his captain. "Luffy…. I don't want to leave you. Even if I do, it will be because I have to." She swore to him, but he frowned deeply. "I don't want you to leave…"

"What are you guys doing?"

The two of them turned to look at Zoro, who yawned boredly. "Well, someone told Luffy that I was going to leave and he thinks it's his fault." She gave an accusing glare the green haired man. Even though she knew she would be leaving at some point, she didn't want to make herself look so emotionless. "Listen, neither of you understand the position I'm in right now. Me leaving is for your own good, no arguments, got it?" Luffy drooped his head, but nodded. "Got it." He jumped off onto the deck, getting ready to leave, but turned back to her. "Oh and Kya?"

"Ya?"

"Will you help me make a snowman tomorrow?" She smiled kindly at the younger boy. "Of course." With a loud cheer, the boy left to go to bed. "You know, you should just tell us the truth." Zoro suddenly tossed her the compass. "The truth? That was the truth, whether you chose to believe it or not is up to you." She informed him. "I just-"

"Don't want to see my captain hurt, I got it." She slid off onto the deck. "And trust me, me leaving will cause him less harm than if I stay." He grabbed her arm tightly. "Just tell me what the hell is going on." She brushed him off, staring at the ground. "Maybe another time." She said quietly before walking away. In all honesty, she did feel bad for not telling them her secrets. It was hard not to tell them her secrets, but she knew it wouldn't do them any good. She wouldn't be able to live with herself if she saw them harmed; she cared about tem too much.