Minawa: I suppose this is the end, even if I wanted to work a bit more with Ray. I just figure I don't have the time. Anyway, I hope you will like it!

Back to present time

"Let's end this." Crony said and aimed as the first light raindrops fell. The feeling of Déjà vu freaked me out but once again the rain made me and my powers gain strength. This time I wouldn't lose.

The arrow came aimed at me and despite the fact that I was prepared for it, Zoro jumped in between and sliced it in two.

"Zoro!" I said, grateful but surprised. "it's better if you stay out of this." I told him as Crony loaded another arrow.

"I can't leave you to fight this, I want to protect you." He said without looking back at me. I felt my cheeks blush and noticed Kai frown. I reached for Zoro's shoulder and turned him around, much to his surprise.

"I'm not a helpless little girl anymore! You know how strong I am and this man is my prey so back off Zoro!" I said, or more like yelled, to his face. He stared at me surprised and Crony took this opportunity to shoot another arrow at me.

Without flinching or looking away from Zoro I flung my arm and drew up a handful of raindrops. The water sliced the arrow into four pieces before I glared back at Crony. He was surprised but also angrier. He shot another one but this time at Kai. A gush of air came from my hand and steered the arrow away before I drew Hime. I rushed up on Crony and cut the upper side of his right hand before cutting apart his bow. He backed away confused but drew his knife. I placed my hand on his shoulder and flipped over him, landing behind him and kicking him in his back. He fell forward and dropped his knife, which Kai picked up.

I placed my boot on Crony's back and pushed him down into the ground.

"Game over, Crony. You lose." I said before knocking him unconscious.

Kai smiled at me and stepped forward.

"I will deal with this, Neil should get here soon." He said and started inspection his wound. I rolled my eyes and walked over to Zoro. He looked unhappy but didn't say anything.

"We need... to talk, I guess." I rubbed my cold arms. He nodded and I noticed Kai looking over at us. I walked over to Kai.

"You won't leave me now, right?" he said and I could see the heartbreak in his eyes. I sighed and frowned.

"I...want to be with you but...the Red Blade is not for me anymore. I can't go back to being an assassin." I said. Kai smiled unhappy.

"Technically you were just a trainee..." he joked and I smiled back.

"You know what I mean. And I'm having fun with my new friends... I don't want to leave them either." I said but got no response. Kai was lost to his own thoughts.

Steps could be heard from a distance. I looked at Zoro and nodded.

"Kai, let's meet and talk tomorrow. The docks?" I said before running off with Zoro.

Left was Kai with Crony's unmoving body.

.

"Will you go with him?" Zoro asked with a grumpy voice. I smiled at how he reminded me of a jealous kid. I shrugged.

"I love him... but I can't go back to the group." I said as Zoro stared out at the sea. He looked hurt. I jumped down from the railing.

"I love the crew. I... like you. Maybe if I never would have met him again, I would have wanted to... be with you." I said. Zoro gave me a stare.

"But he is here, isn't he?" He said with an angry voice. I sighed.

"Yeah but I don't know if we can travel the same road anymore. Maybe we will have to split again..." I said and now it was my time to sink deep into my thoughts. Zoro glanced at me.

We stayed silent like that for minutes on end.

"I do like you too and the thought of handing you over to another guy is...not fun." Zoro suddenly said, surprising me. I drew a long breath.

"Still, it's not like you were my first choice..." he added and now I really stared at him surprised.

"Huh?" I managed to say. Zoro smiled before walking off.

"Don't you know the way to a mans heart is through his stomach?" he said before walking inside.

I stood with my mouth open before it sunk in and I realised I had just been rejected. I smiled and continued to stare out to the sea on my own.

.

The next morning I couldn't sit still and ran about doing everything at the same time. Playing with Chopped and Luffy, helping Usopp blow things up and practising swords. It wasn't until Sanji pushed me down into a chair and handed me a drink that I could relax. Before walking away Sanji had complained about an irritating swordsman bugging him all the time and it left me grinning like an idiot for 5 minutes.

Suddenly footsteps were heard on the wooden floors of the docks. I rushed up and almost flew over the railing. An old man with fish was walking by. I hung over the railing and sighed.

"What is up with Kayla...I mean Ray?" Nami asked Sanji who was trying to pry Zoros fingers off his waist.

"I suppose she's waiting for that guy she told us about. Damn it Marimo!"

Nami shook her head and looked over to Robin.

"Should we do something?" she asked but Robin shook her head.

"She already explained everything yesterday, let's give her some space." Robin said.

As I hung over the railing I realized I was acting really silly. I sighed.

"Looking for someone?" Kai's voice was heard. I snapped my head up and spotted him standing on the railing. I gasped and hurried down. He smiled as I landed and hurried over.

I was about to say something but he pulled me in for a hug instead. I let myself relax and smiled as I closed my arms around him. I glanced down and noticed something odd.

"What's up with the bag?" I said and pointed behind him. There was a seriously over-packed bag next to Kai. It even had a sauce pan hanging on the side.

He let me go and shrugged.

"If you won't go back to the Red Blade then I won't either." He said. I frowned.

"But if you betray them you will be hunted too!" I said in concern. He smiled.

"No worries. I handed the responsibility to Nail and they all agreed to dropping the assassination business." He smiled. I let this info sink in and was about to ask about Crony but realized it was better if I didn't know.

Kai took my hand.

"I will continue to follow you all over the world, whether you want me or not." He said and I grinned.

"Well, you have been kind of annoying lately, stalking me for a few years." I teased. He smiled and reached down to kiss me. I let him and felt happiness fill me up as out lips met.

A chough could be heard and we pulled apart. Pretty much the whole crew was hanging over the railing, watching us.

"Uh...hi?" I said and smiled as Kai stared laughing. I sighed and looked at Luffy.

"Captain, I'm sorry to say this...but I can't leave him." I said and fought back the tears behind my eyes. Kai placed his good arm around my shoulders.

Luffy's face was unmoved as we stood and watched each other.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" he suddenly said. I felt my heart twist painfully as I knew this was goodbye.

"Get his bag onboard, I want to leave now!" he whined like a little kid.

"Huh?" both Kai and I said. The crew smiled.

"Don't you get it? We're leaving, all of us." Robin smiled at us.

"Let's go!" Luffy yelled with a grin before pestering Nami to find him a treasure.

I smiled at Kai and threw myself at him. He winced in pain, because of his shoulder.

"Oh, sorry..." I said and a pair of boots landed on the dock.

Zoro walked around us and grabbed Kai's bag. I looked at him but he shrugged.

"He can't lift this, can he?" Zoro simply said before walking away.

Kai looked at me worried but I smiled at him.

"It's fine, we are good." I said and continued to help him get on the ship.