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...
"Well, look who came crawling back to me. I knew you couldn't stay away from me."
Robin stood there, not trying to break face as she walked closer towards Crocodile. The entire Baroque Works hadn't changed that much, but she did notice that Bentham was gone. He left the group to join the college tour group where Professor Ivankov worked. Good that he changed his mind at the last minute. Daz and Paula were giving her a smirk, knowing that she would be reprimanded by the boss. Marianne shot her a worried look, knowing she was the reason that Robin was there in the first place. Galdino sneered as she walked past him, the small girl holding him back before she could do something stupid. Robin was surprised to see Miss Drophy still there with her little grandson Babe, considering the mole shaped woman was getting older. The only ones she didn't see were Gem and Mikita, both of which were busy with the chocolate shop and being the resident firefighter. Sitting on his stupid throne was Crocodile himself, the man with the hook for a hand and eyeing her with a lustful gaze.
"Well I knew you had something of importance of mine here." Robin joked, crossing her arms. "So...where is my mother?"
"I wouldn't be so callous when addressing me, Miss All-Sunday. You should remember your place." Crocodile warned, pointing his hook at her. "I can end her life at any moment."
"You won't because you still need me. I don't work for you anymore nor would I ever go back to that life." She turned to see some of the Billions blocking the door behind her. "Release my mother now or else."
The rest of the group laughed at this. Crocodile narrowed his eyes at her and got off his throne.
"You think we didn't expect you to have some backup or people who are helping you. I told the Billions to deal with your friends outside and I haven't heard anything from them yet. So perhaps they're either dead or currently dying at the moment." He took her hair with his hook, making her turn her head. "You are better off staying here with me and letting me get what I want."
"You won't win, my friends are coming to save me, especially Luffy."
SLAP!
Robin fell to the floor, holding her cheek in shock. The angry form of Crocodile loomed over her and his face was red with fury. Grabbing her by the hair, he yanked her up to his face.
"How dare talk to me that way! Never forget how you owe me and you lead me on that night. Face it Robin, you can never get rid of me." He blew smoke in her face, making her choke.
"Let her go Croc. She's not the same girl who was being used by you anymore."
The door blew open to reveal Luffy and his friends were standing there along with Aokiji, who lazily leaned against the door frame. The members of Baroque Works were all shocked that they had survived the many minions that they sent their ways. Even Crocodile gave the kid a shocked look before glaring right back at him.
"Who the heck do you think you are brat? Don't tell me you are the Luffy she's been writing about?"
This remark made Kid and Killer snicker, Law smirk, Hawkins not making a sound, Bonney chortle, and Luffy giving her a small smile.
He dipped his hat over his eyes, making a shadow. "Yeah, so what? Are you going to try and intimidate me? You already hurt my girl and now you want to hurt her mother. Some old fling you turned out to be." He gave Crocodile his signature smile. "Do me a favor and go to hell."
Daz and Paula charged forward with their brass knuckles and mace to hit the boy who dared to talk to their boss like that. They were blocked by Law and Kid, who had taken out their sword and metal boxing gloves respectively. Galdino started to throw hot wax, but it got knocked away by Hawkins using some straw. Marianne wanted to go and fight, but was blocked by Bonney who kept her at arms length. Drophy gave Killer a glare before she and Babe went to fight him. Aokiji stood next to Luffy, sighing as they left the others to fight.
"It was a good plan, I'm surprised that you thought this out in the car ride here." The officer said, giving him a small smile.
Robin drove the car while everyone sat in the back row. Aokiji sat beside her, looking as if he was about to fall asleep. Luffy sat behind her, casting a worried glance in the mirror.
"Robin, I know you are afraid, but you need to trust that we can do something about this. Leave the minions to us and you go straight to Croc. Aokiji, you can save her mother right?" Luffy relayed the plans once more.
"You can count on me. I owe her and Robin this much." Aokiji stared at Robin's scared face. "I will make sure I repent for what happened to-"
"Save it, I don't need your pity nor your forgiveness."
Kid chuckled to himself, shaking his head at what was happening. Killer slapped him on the arm, making him stop. Hawkins was leaned up on the window. Bonney was snacking on a bag of chips. Law was reading his medical book.
"So when we get there, are we going to bash some skulls in or what?" Kid asked, pounding his fist together.
"Baroque Works has many people working under them. You can go all out." Aokiji said, staring at the mirror. "I won't arrest you if you do so. I was put on this case anyways."
"That's what I wanted to hear." Luffy said, his face now angry. "Anyone who makes my friend uncomfortable needs to pay."
"CROCODILE!"
Luffy sent a punch at the mob boss' face, sending him flying backwards into a bunch if crates. He swallowed a deep breath before charging again with another punch. However, Crocodile saw this one coming and blocked it with his hook hand.
"I'm gonna send you ten feet under Strawhat!" He threatened, about to skewer the boy before he was throughly soaked with ice water. "Blech! Who the heck?"
Aokiji blew the tip of his ice water gun. "You need to cool off Croc. That was a warning shot."
"What kind of freakin police officer carries around ice water guns!?" Crocodile exclaimed, wiping his face in frustration. Another punch was sent into his gut curtesy of Luffy.
The combined efforts of both Luffy's punches and Aokiji's water gun distractions got Crocodile riled up. Now he was desperately trying to hit Luffy and get his revenge against Aokiji. No matter what, the duo made sure that he would not be able to land a single hit.
"This one..." Luffy cocked back his fist and gave Crocodile a deadly glare. "IS FOR ROBIN!"
POW!
The once powerful mob boss received a nasty haymaker to the jaw. The impact was so hard that it made the mighty man fall to the ground unconscious. Luffy glared down at him before walking towards the now sobbing Robin.
"Hey, why the tears? I won, didn't I?" Luffy placed his hat onto her head, making her cry harder. "You are safe Robin, and I will never let anyone else harm you ever again."
Footsteps were heard as Olvia came into the room, being rescued by Law when he finished his fight. When she saw the crying form of her daughter on the floor with a boy, she didn't even hesitate to go on her knees and hug the both of them.
"Let it all out baby, thank you so much for saving me." Olvia cried too, letting out all the locked up emotions that she held inside her for years. "I love you so much."
Aokiji watched from afar, feeling both a sense of pride...and remorse.
The chilly officer called for backup to come and arrest all the members of Baroque Works. Garp had called him up and congratulated him for a job well done. He even mentioned a promotion in the future for taking on such a big case.
Great...more paperwork for him to do.
The Strawhat boy and his friends had left the scene not too long afterwards. Said boy made him promise to do some sparring one day when he was available. He would look forward to that match when the day came.
For now, he just wanted a soft pillow and a long nap.
"Another attempt to gain Luffy's affection wasted! I'm starting to think I put my trust in the wrong people."
Alvida bit her nails in frustration as she typed up the newest segment of her gossip column. She thought getting rid of Nico Robin would be easier than Nami, but it backfired on her! The worst part was that she made the two of them develop a closer bond.
"Linlin has a better chance with him at this point! She hates his guts and if he flirted with any of her female siblings, then she would kill him!"
Wait a minute...that wasn't a bad idea! If she could forge a note that Luffy signed and delivered it to the Charlotte household, then she could make it seem like Luffy wanted to date all the girls! Bonus if this not only made Linlin jealous, but jealous enough to send him flying. Then she would be there to fix him up, nurse him back to health, and become his girlfriend in one swoop!
"It's so diabolical that it just might work!" Alvida said to herself, giddy at the prospect of getting back at Linlin. "Just you wait Luffy, I'm going to make you mine yet!"
Next Time:
Luffy is in a crisis!
Smoothie: Hey Strawhat, you sent me this letter asking me out.
Amande: You better make this date enjoyable or I will cut you.
Galette: I didn't think you were into devil girls Luffy-kun.
Luffy has to date the females of the Charlotte family or else!
Custard: Come back here Strawhat and start this date!
Broyė: I've never dated someone before, please be gentle with me.
Cinnamon: Not bad Strawhat, you sure can show a girl a good time.
Will Luffy be able to survive all these females? Or will Linlin's jealousy get the best of her?
Find out next time: Go For It Luffy! The Overwhelming Dates of the Charlotte Women.
Poire: Hey Luffy, come on over, we don't bite!
Flampé: I bet you won't last a whole week with this family.