The ocean shattered against the rocks of DEATH HQ, formerly Marineford, majestically as the sun shone bright.
It was cool out, perfect for outside activities such as picnics or going on a stroll. For Robin, she was about to set off to go to a place called "Won Shi Tong's Library."
She had never in all her years as a scholar heard of such a place, but this man who claims to be her father, Psycho Uchiha, wants to take her there himself.
Although.. Psycho hasn't been himself lately and who is this man with jet black hair and such a calm and welcoming face?
Robin stared with awe at the man as he stared back with a confused look.
"Robin? Robin?" The man asked through a distorted voice.
A loud crash in the distance snapped Robin out of her trance.
"You fool! I thought you said you were a crane operator before you joined DEATH!?" A DEATH member yelled.
"It was a mistake sir!" The crane operator yelled back.
"Explain it to Psycho-sama when his Tower of Peace isn't finished on schedule! I can't even begin to imagine what he might do!" The DEATH member yelled.
Robin had looked back at the men and then slowly turned towards the man again who was also looking in that direction with a small smirk.
"This can't be him... there's no way...!" Robin said to herself.
A DEATH member ran up next to the two.
"Psycho-sama! Lady Robin-sama! Everything is moving as it should! Our boats are being loaded and soldiers are ready for combat. The DEATH generals are all on board their ships specifically ready for departure!" The DEATH member reported.
Psycho smiled.
"Sounds good! But.. could ya please call me Tore! And drop the "sama" I'm not royalty!" Tore said with a laugh.
Robin's eyes widened.
"Tore? Who is that? Is that... Psycho's.. real name? And his interaction with that soldier... is not like Psycho at all!" Robin thought to herself.
"Oh! Well, alright then! Tore-san! We wish you and Lady Robin safe travels. We will take care of everything else!" The DEATH member said with a smile.
Tore nodded and then became serious.
"Where is Cyclone? Do you know?" Tore asked.
Robin stared at Tore with concern.
"Cyclone-sama was last seen fighting with the intruder from last night! After he went upstairs to confront him he hasn't been heard from since." The DEATH member confirmed.
Tore nodded slowly.
"Okay..." Tore said with a concerned tone, turning to get onto the Robin he summoned, Tore looked back at Robin and smiled.
"Are you ready?" Tore asked.
Robin hesitated.
"Who... who is he?" Robin asked herself.
"Robin." Tore said in a calm semi deep voice.
Robin regained her composure.
"It's okay, I promise." Tore said.
Robin didn't know what to say, but she could feel he meant what he was saying and slowly walked towards him. Once Robin was next to him she looked up at the giant Robin bird.
"H-How do we get up there?" Robin asked.
Tore smiled.
"Allow me to hold you for a second Robin." Tore said.
Robin looked back and nodded slowly.
Tore picked Robin up in bridal carry position.
"Sorry I have to hold a grown woman like this but its the easiest way to get you up here with me!" Tore laughed, "Hold tight."
Robin held on to Tore as he crouched and used the air beneath his feat to jump easily to the top of the Robin. Tore set Robin down.
"That jump reminded me of my friend Brook." Robin chuckled.
Tore laughed.
"Ha ha ha always talking about how light he is, that Brook." Tore said.
Robin became serious with slight concern.
"You... know Brook?" Robin asked.
Tore looked down and then back at Robin.
"I know about all your friends." Tore said, with a sfot and welcoming smile.
Robin didn't know what to say she just stared with shock.
Tore smiled big.
"Alright let's go! We've got to keep on schedule! Go ahead and sit down, there's no seat belts but don't worry about falling out. This Robin has been my go to for air transportation for a long time! Some of the smoothest flight you'll ever experience." Tore assured.
Robin sat down slowly and got comfortable. Tore turned and sat at the Robin's head and grabbed the reins.
Robin looked out at the HQ that used to belong to the Marines. Robin thought about Psycho from yesterdat, and this man today.
Every time she gets answers, its followed up by even more questions.
The robin slowly flapped its wings and floated into the air and fly into the sky.
"Once we get to a high enough altitude and cruising speed I'll be back there with you Robin!" Tore said.
"O-Okay!" Robin said back.
The robin flew higher into the sky until it flew past a layer of clouds.
Robin looked out at the view, it was beautiful.
Robin then looked back at Tore who looked to the left and right, presumably at the clouds below.
"When do I ask him?" Robin thought.
Tore looked straight ahead.
"What do I ask him?" Robin thought again.
Tore broke the silence.
"Alright, I think we're good for a while!" Tore turned around with a thumbs up.
Robin had a flash in her mind of a man with similar characteristics doing the same gesture when she was a kid. Tears slowly began to run down Robin's face.
Tore walked down the robin's back and up to Robin. Tore crouched down and wiped the tears from Robin's face with his thumb.
"Robin, it's okay." Tore said softly.
Robin continued to stare blankly with tears slowly streaming into Tore's hand.
Robin's eyes closed slowly and Tore laid her down. Tore stood up and looked down at Robin with a straight face.
Tear drops ran down Robin's face, but they were revealed to be from Tore, who stared down at Robin with a blank face but tears streaming.
"If you only knew how painful this was for me too, Robin. I'll tell you everything you want to know.. before... " Tore paused.
"I'm not even going to think about that." Tore said, wiping away his tears.
Tore turned and faced forward and then sat down.
Tore slowly felt a seal on the back of his neck and stared straight ahead.
One hour later.
Robin slowly woke to Tore reading a book.
Robin looked out at the beautiful blue sky and now visible ground. Tore looked at Robin and smiled.
"Robin! You're awake!" Tore said.
Robin stared and then smiled big.
"I wasn't dreaming..! This man.. Tore.. is still here." Robin said to herself.
"I had no idea you were such a heavy sleeper! A knock up stream shot a Marine ship right past us!" Tore asked.
"Why would the marines be taking a knock up stream I wonder?" Robin asked.
"If I know those marines like I think I do they're probably trying to enforce their laws on sky islands ha ha ha!" Tore joked.
Robin chuckled.
"I could definitely see them doing that." Robin said.
Robin reached into Tore's bag and pulled out a sandwhich.
Robin began to eat as Tore started reading again.
"What are you reading?" Robin asked.
"Hm? Oh, just some of my old log books. I've been to quite a few places in my life ha ha ha, just doing some research again before we get to them." Tore said.
"Where exactly have you been? To each of the four blues?" Robin asked.
Tore closed his log book.
"Oh, a lot of these places are far outside the four blues." Tore said seriously.
Robin was shocked, always having been taught the world was the four blues and the red line that separated them.
"This world... is bigger than the four blues?" Robin asked.
Tore smiled.
"You wouldn't believe it! You're going to learn a lot on this trip!" Tore said excitedly.
Robin's eyes widened slightly. Remembering what Mifune told her yesterday.
"You should consider yourself lucky, Nico Robin. You get to see the world as we see it."
"Have they.. traveled outside the Four Blues too?" Robin asked herself.
Robin looked out at the vast lands below them.
"I-I can't wait to see it!" Robin said with a smile.
The robin began to fly over the ocean once more.
"We'll be stopping at Windwaker island in the North Blue before we venture out even further. It'll take us a while to get there though so get comfortable!" Tore said.
Robin looked at the sea and then back at Tore.
"How fast does this bird fly?" Robin asked.
"Ha ha, pretty fast, but it's a shinobi robin so it's not your regular robin." Tore explained.
"I see..." Robin said.
The two sat in silence for a moment.
"Who are you?" Robin asked, with a straight face and watery eyes. Robin couldn't take it anymore. It just came out. Robin had to know.
Tore looked down and then began to smirk.
"I knew I wouldn't be able to avoid it..." Tore said with a smile.
Robin calmed a little.
"I-I just have to know... I'm so tired of being in the dark." Robin said with a shaky voice.
Tore stared at Robin with concern.
"I know, Robin. You don't have to worry any more. I'll tell you everything." Tore said.
Robin breathed in and out slowly and stared at Tore. The last time someone "told her everything" it was a lie, but Robin could feel the sincerity, she decided to give it one more chance, to learn the truth.
"Okay..." Robin said.
Tore breathed in and out slowly, trying to relax, a lot of personal memories were about to come up, but the truth was finally about to be revealed!
"Well, where do I begin?" Tore asked rhetorically.
"Start with Mom." Robin said instantly.
Tore stared at Robin through sad eyes and smiled slowly.
"I should have known." Tore said.
There was a short silence. All that could be heard was a smooth breeze.
"It was the first day she met me.." Tore paused and tears fell slowly.
Robin stared with wide eyes and concern.
"She took me in her house... she didn't even know me." Tore said, as the two looked at the ground.
FLASHBACK OHARA, ISLAND OF SCHOLARS (30 years and 11 months ago)
A ship docked at the island of Ohara. A young looking man with jet black spiked hair and eyes limped from the boat with bandages.
Tore looked up slowly at the dock workers.
"Your best doctor, please?" Tore asked.
The people were more than willing.
"Somebody get this poor man some help!"
"What happened to you!? Was it pirates?"
A beautiful woman with snow white hair and tan skin looked down at the commotion and saw the hurt man.
"I-I was sailing marine waters and they blew my ship up for trespassing." Tore said.
"Those damn marines!"
"Why in the world would they do such a thing!? Come with me! I'll take you to our doctors."
The woman with snow white hair barged in.
"I'll take him! No need to worry!"
"Nico Olivia! You're not a doctor! What can you do?" A woman said.
"I just got back from an island of medicine, the Drum Kingdom! The best doctors in the Grand Line are there, I think I can handle these wounds." Olivia said, walking up to Tore, who weakly looked up at her. Olivia blushed, Tore did too.
They couldn't take their eyes off each other.
"Did his wounds shock you Olivia? Why are you just staring!?" A civilian said.
Olivia shook her head and grabbed Tore's arm, pulling him through the crowd.
"Hey, that hurts!" Tore said.
Eventually the two got to Olivia's house.
"Sit here." Olivia said, directing Tore to a table. Tore sat on the table.
"What's your name?" Olivia asked.
"Torebion, but I got by Tore for short." Tore answered.
"Well it's nice to meet you Tore, I'm Olivia." Olivia smiled.
The room was dark but slowly lit up with candles that were spread about the room.
"You're not trying to get romantic are you?" Tore asked.
Olivia blushed.
"No! This is how I usually relax. I try to keep my clients relaxed too. I'm just now getting into medicine, and relaxation before treatment is one of my major focuses." Olivia explained.
"Interesting... what else do you like to study?" Tore asked.
"Just about anything really." Olivia said.
Tore was silent for a moment as Olivia began to remove the wrap from his body.
"Even, the void century?" Tore asked.
Olivia flinched and stopped.
"How... do you know... I've been looking into the void century?" Olivia asked.
"The government's got a bounty on you across all four blues and the grand line." Tore said.
Olivia lowered her head. Tore got ready to speak but Olivia beat him to it.
"That'll just make every adventure even more worth it now!" Olivia said with a big smile.
Tore was shocked but he smiled softly.
"Can I ask you something?" Olivia asked.
Tore slowly looked back. Olivia grabbed a paper.
"Is.. this you?" Olivia asked.
Tore looked at the paper and his eyes shot wide open with a gasp.
WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE, PSYCHO UCHIHA: 500,000,000 berries.
"I'm not the only one they want..." Olivia said.
Tore looked up at Olivia and then back down.
"So.. that's why you made such a scene at the docks." Tore said.
Olivia smiled.
"That.. and.. you're very handsome." Olivia smiled with closed eyes.
Tore was surprised and stayed silent for a moment.
"Y-Yeah... that's me... in a way." Tore said softly.
"In a way?" Olivia asked.
"I'm sorry for answering a question with a question... but how far out have you actually been? As far as the grand line? The Four Blues?" Tore asked.
Olivia was surprised by the question.
"I've been in the grand line my whole life unfortunately, I've always wanted to visit each of the four blues, the fish man island, the places are endless!" Olivia said happily.
Tore turned and faced her, Olivia blushed.
"How about I take you somewhere nobody else has ever been? And tell you my story over a night out?" Tore asked.
Olivia blushed even more.
"That sounds perfect." Olivia said smiling.