When the cherry blossoms fall to the ground...
And the scent of perfume fills the air...
The air sparkles with a new life and light...
As the gates of Whole Cake Academy open for the day...
Robin's day had started out so great. How did it get so horrible at the end of the day?
After her study session with the only male at the all-girls school, she felt ready to open up more to her fellow peers. She had always secluded herself from everyone in fear that she may grow attached or get someone hurt due to her past. As she helped Luffy out with whatever subject he was struggling with, his kind aunt and uncle interacted with her. Makino, the kind lady, served them snacks and refreshments when they had break. Shanks, one of the most wealthiest males in the country, was joking around and helping Luffy understand some things that she couldn't explain to him. Both of them were grateful that she helped their cute nephew out. Plus, she was invited to come back anytime she wanted an escape from reality.
Strawhat-san has quite the interesting family. Perhaps one day I can ask about his parents. Robin thought, pulling out her key to the house. Opening the door, she noticed the inside was eerily dark and quiet when it usually was bright and warming. She didn't see her mother anywhere at all, making her heart race faster. She was just about to call for help when she noticed a body passed out on the floor. The man she thought she would never see again in all her life, the one that made her fear the one thing she knew she could never trust again.
Her now deceased uncle's killer himself.
Kuzan groaned loudly, feeling something pressed up against his forehead. His mind was groggy, trying to recall what had happened to him prior his unexpected nap. His head was throbbing, feeling like he had just got punched by Sakazuki.
"I wouldn't recommend moving cop. Had it not been for Nico-ya's call, I would've left you for dead."
Kuzan's eyes opened to see a young man with a puffy hat treating his head wound while other teens sitting around the room. He saw Robin being comforted by a pink haired girl while Garp's grandson sat beside her. A red haired punk sat next to another masked punk while a long haired blonde guy fiddled with cards.
"Robin..." His voice came out hoarse and dry. "What happened to Olvia?"
"We should be asking you that question cop." The red haired guy sneered. "What were you doing in this chick's house with the windows broken and a mysterious note on the table?"
"Kidd calm down and let the cop talk." Killer said, calming down his buddy. "There's obviously a good reason for him being here."
Kuzan struggled to get himself up, eliciting a grunt from Law. "I came to visit Robin and her mother to check up on them since the last time we saw each other was under unforgivable circumstances."
The group gave him a wary glance, seeing how sad Robin was acting made his story a bit farfetched. Luffy gripped Robin's hand a bit, holding the note in his hand.
"What do you know about Baroque Works?" Luffy asked him, giving him a glare.
Kuzan sighed, rubbing his forehead from the wound on his head. "They are a criminal organization that works with the underground and other elicit activities. Each member gets assigned a number or a holiday and they work for the main man upstairs; Sir Crocodile."
"That old gator? I heard that he was transporting some sort of rain powder upstate from Alabasta!" Kidd laughed, getting smacked on the back of the head by Killer. "Ow! It's true!"
"I used to be apart of Baroque Works." Robin said, making everyone surprised. "I worked as Sir Crocodile's right hand woman and was one of the most ruthless assassins. I never told my mother this because I didn't want her to worry about me going out in the streets. I met Crocodile through the library program and became quite intrigued with him. He found my skills useful enough for him to exploit. I ended up being his translator for all his texts and kept the others in line. We were the perfect pair."
"Wow, I never took you for the mercenary type Nico-ya." Law said, putting up his medical equipment.
"Didn't think the master genius of my own school used to be in a gang. Frankly, I'm impressed." Bonney remarked, giving Robin a grin.
"Sir Crocodile wanted to become more than just friends with me. One night, we were about to make a deal with the Donflamingo Family. We stayed at a hotel to make the trade when Crocodile locked the bedroom we were staying inside." Robin was now in tears, wrapping her arms around Luffy's. "I asked him why he did that, but all he said nothing. Suddenly, I was thrown onto the bed and he pressed his hands down on my arms."
There was silence as they let this information sink in. Kuzan was now gritting his teeth in anger at someone trying to sexually assault the girl he considered a sister to him. The others were angry that someone had tried to trick a poor girl into doing things to her. Luffy gripped Robin's hand as a calm anger overtook him.
"Did he do something to hurt you?" Luffy asked her, giving her comfort.
"No, I managed to push him off before he could do something to me. He got furious at this, slapping me across the face and demanding that I let him do this. I got angry and kicked him in his private parts. After this, I broke the lock and ran into the night. Far away from home, I had no idea how to get back to my mother since my phone was dead."
"How did you get back?" Killer wondered, now intrigued by the story.
"Help came in the most unlikely place. Coach Viola was driving nearby and picked me up. I was so grateful towards her that I now tutor her niece on the weekends." Robin looked down at her hands, seeing them shaking. "I can't stop thinking about that night, how scared that made me. The fear...it haunts me till this day. I don't ever want to experience that feeling ever again."
"Geez...that's some terrifying crap." Kidd muttered, eyeing the sad visage on Robin's face.
Both Luffy and Kuzan got up and headed towards the door. Bonney's eyes widen in surprise at this, blocking them at the door.
"Um...where are you two going? I'm sure you both don't have a plan on where to find this place." She informed them, shaking her head.
"We go there and kick Croc's butt for what he did to Robin!" Luffy said, pounding his fists together. "Officer, is it alright for you to overlook this one time thing?"
"I know your grandfather, so I'll let you off the hook this time." Kuzan admitted, staring at the rest of the group. "If you lot want to help out, then I will make sure not to turn you in."
"There's a fifty-three chance that this could work." Hawkins informed the other, putting his cards away. "I'll help just because the odds are high."
"Count me in too! Any chance to kick some big shot's butt will get me some street cred!" Kidd grabbed Killer by the shoulder. "And Killer goes where I go."
"I have nothing planned tonight, I'll help Strawhat-ya and Nico-ya too." Law got up and sighed. "I'll call my father and tell him that I'll be late tonight."
Bonney just groaned and nodded her head. "Guess I'll have to help too. I'm not going to stand here and watch you all leave and never come back."
Robin saw everyone walking towards the door. She couldn't believe how much help she was gaining from people she barely knew. Luffy...the one she had wrote about in her journal since that day. Now she was going to help save her mother and break her out of the hell that her ex-boss put her through.
Luffy...thank you for believing in me.
"Let me come too. Nobody messes with my family and gets away with it."
There was a dark and damp room in the middle of an abandoned warehouse. A lone lightbulb swung from the ceiling as the spotlight shone down on a single woman tied up in a chair. Her silver hair hung over her face as her breathing will steady and calm. Even tied up and blindfolded, she kept a calm demeanor.
Footsteps were heard and Olvia felt a cold metal hook go underneath her chin. Chuckling was heard as the smell of cigar smoke filled her nostrils.
"Hello Ms. Nico, charmed to finally meet you." The voice was rough and older sounding. "I'm sure your daughter has mentioned me beforehand."
"I have no idea who you are sir, but please leave my daughter out of it." Olvia replied calmly.
"Your daughter has everything to do with this. In fact, you could say that this is somewhat of a trap I've laid out for her and her new boyfriend."
Boyfriend? Does he mean that gentleman she was helping out today?
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Robin doesn't have a boyfriend."
SLAP!
A red handprint appeared on her face, but Olvia refused to cower in front of this man.
"DON'T YOU DARE LIE TO ME! SHE WROTE ABOUT HIM IN HER DIARY!" The man roared, shaking her by the shoulders. "All those lies and slander about my name and she said nothing but praises and admiration about him. That book holds all her darkest secrets, her true history, and her newfound love for this Luffy guy."
"I've never read my daughter's journal and you had no right to read what's hers." Olvia chided him, gripping her bonds.
"Oh I think I'm gonna enjoy breaking her down bit by bit like how she did me. I'm going to mess with her mind and tear her down to her weakest point. Then, just to solidify the fact she made a mistake, I'm going to kill that boy in front of her." More smoke was blown in her face. "Once she's brain dead and broken, I think I'll take her back."
Olvia struggled in her bonds, tears streaming down her eyes. "Do. Not. Hurt. My. Child."
Suddenly, she felt something hit her behind the head, causing her to blackout temporarily.
"Don't worry, I don't plan on hurting her too much. I'm just setting an example on how Baroque Works deals with traitors."
Crocodile left the interrogation room, Daz standing outside the door waiting for him.
"Daz, is everything prepared for Nico Robin's arrival?"
"Yes sir, in fact, I just got notice of a silver car pulling up at the entrance of our territory. Some say that she was the one driving the car."
Crocodile chuckled, biting down on his cigar. "Then by all means, let the mouse come straight to the cat."