22~ Old Enemies

Mira

"How the hell does two people lose someone like Luffy!" I checked down a few alleyways for our ellusive captain. A sudden gust of wind had picked up and carried his hat off somewhere, leaving Zoro and I to find him. "I mean, seriously! He was right there in front of us!! Now, poof! He's gone!"

"That's Luffy for ya..." Zoro sighed heavily. "Let's go this way."

"Okay..." So, I followed the hopelessly lost fool. I'm certain he has no idea where we're going. I stared at his back, glancing around in case Zoro missed a spot to check. When I looked back to Zoro, his head was turned slightly, and the sun light caught his face, making it glow. I gulped and looked off somewhere else.

My heart... It's beating so fast! What the hell!? I should be looking for Luffy, not admiring Zoro's bunching shoulder and arm muscles! Wait, admiring?! I shook my head roughly to clear it.

Snap out of it, Mira! Focus on finding Luffy!

"Oi! Mira!"

"Eep! Y-yes?"

"Stop spacing off and hurry up!" Zoro leaned his weight on one foot. "We have to find Luffy before he does something stupid, and get your katana again."

"R-right..." Only now was I aware of the distance between us. How did he get so far down the alley?

"Eh?" I looked up to the rumbling thunder and rolling clouds. "Ew... It's gonna rain soon." I jogged to catch up with Zoro. "We gotta move. Now! It's gonna rain and I'm not gonna allow myself to get soaking wet!"

"Okay! Okay!" He huffed through his nose. "No need to be so pushy!"

"Look!" I shoved past Zoro and to the shop. "We found the blacksmith's place! We'll stop here for a few seconds, then go after Luffy."

"Ah! Mira, wait!" Zoro ran after me. We burst into the shop at the same time and I rang the bell every half second.

"Stop ringing that damn bell!" It was snatched from under my hand. "Oh, it's you."

"My katana!" I grabbed the counter. "We're in a rush! Tell me it's done now!"

"Tch!" He knelt down behind the counter then came up with my katana. "It's been done! I want it out of my shop as soon as possible!"

"What do you mean?" I took it from him and slowly pulled it out, the smooth, familiar blade sliding out. I inspected the damaged area and found it to be fixed, the original color and shape still there. He did a great job.

"What I mean is, I don't want that sword in my shop anymore." His eyes narrowed. "It's a demon in its own right. It steals."

"Steals?" I leaned closer.

"Demon?" Zoro leaned back slightly.

"I can't say anymore."

"Aw!" I whined. "Why not?! Tell more about my katana! I wanna know! Please please please please please please plea-"

"Alright! Alright! Just shut up!" The smith's hands slammed on the counter.

"Don't yell at her." Zoro took a step closer.

"Nah, I gots this," I waved Zoro off and looked back at the smith. "Now, tell me what you know."

"I can't say much," The smith eyed my katana. "It'll curse me if I say too much about it. I can tell you this though, that sword you have is a thief. It steals what is precious to the body."

"Okay?" I rolled my eyes. "What kind of story is this?"

"It is no story for scaring children!" He began to sweat bullets. "It's real! I won't say the name, but I'll write it down for you." He pulled out a paper and scratched a pen across it. "Here."

I read over the paper. "Tamashī Sutīrā?"

"EEK!" A hand was placed over my mouth just as lightening flashed outside. "Don't sat that name! Don't you dare say it again! Please! I beg of you! Saying the name curses you!"

I shook my head and stepped away. "You're so weird and creepy. What is so wrong with this sword that you flip out like that?"

"That sword..." He swallowed hard. "That sword thrives on death... Those who are slain at the hand of that sword feel the pain of their final moments for the rest of their eternal lives."

"The pain of-"

"Get out, get out! I'm not saying anymore!"

"Hey! Stop pushing!" I cried out.

"Stop it, old man!" Zoro dug his heels in.

"Get out!" And we were tossed out of his shop, the door slammed shut behind us, and the sign was flipped to CLOSED.

I stood and dusted myself off. "Rude! Well, at least I got my katana back... Let's go find Luffy."

"What was that guys problem, anyway?" Zoro asked as we walked down the road.

I shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe he's just highly superstitious." I fastened my katana to my belt loop. "That, and the guy who sold those swords to you. It's just a katana; nothing wrong with it. Now, your swords, on the other hand..."

"Huh?"

I sighed. "Never mind... Let's find Luffy."

"What about the others?" Zoro looked down at me.

"The others?" I ran a hand down the back of my neck. "We just might bump into them..."

"Like right now?" Huh? "Oi!"

"Oh, Zoro!" Nami? "And Mira!"

"Let's ask them if they've seen Luffy!" I jogged up to them, Zoro behind me.

"Have you seen him?" Zoro scratched his head.

"You mean Luffy?" What are Usopp and Sanji holding?

"Yeah, we got separated..." We stopped before the others. "I also feel something strange... like... something bad is going to happen..."

I nodded. "I feel it too... and so does my tail. I can feel it poofing up." Whoa... Look at those dark swirling clouds. So... ominous...

"Pirates're here!" Huh? "Pirates're are here!"

"Run!"

"It's Buggy the Clown!"

"Oh shit... How'd he get here?" I glanced around and stood on my toes to try and see him.

"What?!" Nami began looking as well as we saw a huge crowd running from the center of town.

"Buggy the Clown?" I looked around Zoro.

"An execution!" One cried out. "An execution is about to start!"

"Buggy the Clown will be executing Straw Hat Luffy!"

"What?!" I can't believe this. "He's going to do what to Luffy?! Guys, this isn't good!"

"Luffy's gonna be executed?!" Usopp gasped, his eyes wide.

"That idiot..." Nami huffed.

"Let's go!" Zoro took off in the direction the people were running from, me hot on his heels. The others followed closely behind us.

"Take care of this!" Sanji had Usopp stay behind to hold the fish, while Nami stayed with Usopp, since she's carrying nothing but bags. "Treat it like a lady, got that?!" He shouted back as we got farther away from them.

Within seconds, the entire city was covered in thick black clouds. The wind picked up tremendously and blew it right in our faces. I held my hat in place to keep it from blowing away. This storm is like none other that I've seen. The temperature was dropping rapidly. Any second now, the sky is going to open up and just pour everything its got on us. It will show no mercy.

A familiar laugher drifted to my ears on the wind. "Guys, this way!" They skidded to a stop and followed me down another road. The laughter was getting louder and I could faintly hear him speaking.

"... For the crime of getting me angry by becoming stuck up!" Cheers rang out after that statement.

"Almost there!" I called over my shoulder. "Hang in there, Luffy." Gun shots sounded with the seemingly constant thunder. We're getting close; I know it!

"Take this board off!" I heard Luffy cry desperately. "You bastard!!"

"We are now going to start the flashy execution openly!"

"Take it off! You liar! You jerkwad! You stupid head!" Luffy's insults were flying with Buggy's words.

I suddenly gasped and slid to a stop at a ton of people. "There!" I began to fight my way through the tightly packed crowd.

"Mira, wait!" But I didn't listen. I am not going to let my captain suffer this fate. We've done so much together to just suddenly give it up. I have to do something -anything!- to get him off that platform. I won't let him get hurt! I'm not going to let him die!

The crowd was soon becoming too tightly packed to move. Even if I were to freeze time right now, anyone I touch will set time flowing again; stopping time would be in vain.

Luffy suddenly screamed. "Stop it! No!! I don't wanna die! Let me go!" After a while, Luffy stopped yelling his head off and settled for low mumbling, which was hard for me to hear over the hysteric crowd and the rolling thunder. None the less, I still fought my way through the people, my sight dead-set on Buggy.

Finally, I found a break in the tightly packed crowd and burst through it. I gasped for air and cast my gaze up to the high platform. I can climb this thing in no time. I rushed to the platform and began climing. The people below me started crying out and yelling at me to get down.

Did I listen to them?

No.

As I neared the top, I could hear Buggy a little more clearly. "Since you have a big audience, do you wanna say something before you die? Well, that's okay of you don't wanna say anything at all." He chuckled in the back of his throat.

"I have something to say!" I reached the top of the platform and pulled my katana out. "Release Luffy, or perish at the hand of my blade!!"

"Elmira!" Buggy brought the blade closer to Luffy's neck. "Never thought I'd see you here! If you take one more step, I'll flashily chop his head off, then I'll go for you!"

"Touch a single hair on his head, and it'll be the last thing you do!" I threatened as I growled. As I spoke, flashes of lightening caught the surface of my blade, giving it an eerie shine.

"It doesn't matter, since you're both going to die." Buggy smirked at me as he stomped roughly on Luffy's head.

Luffy shifted his position and opened his mouth to speak. "I'm the man who's going to be King of the Pirates!" His statement rang out several times over the now silent crowd and city square. I slid my foot closer, reading my katana for when Buggy makes a move.

Murmurs drifted around the crowd as they let what Luffy said sink in. I kept my full attention on Buggy. He should have a break in his form somewhere... I just have to find it!

"Well then, I guess I'll just have to do it now..." Buggy rose his sword over his head. "I'll start with you, you damn piece of rubber, then you, Neko."

"We beat you once, we can do it again." I snarled and stepped closer. "Step away from Luffy and face me one-on-one."

"Stop the execution!" I looked out past the crowd to see Zoro and Sanji standing at the edge of the mass.

"Took you long enough!" I shouted back.

"Zoro! Sanji!" Luffy called back.

"Shame on you!" Zoro gave a wide grin and slid his own katana out. "There's a limit as to how much you can fool around, Luffy."

"If you start a side show, let me join you." Sanji added, his hands coolly in his pockets."What we have to do for now is drive those damn pirates away, right?"

"Pirate Hunter Zoro!" And so the crowd dispersed in the blink of eye. People ran every which way to flee and hide.

I took this distraction to charge at Buggy. He looked up at the last second and blocked my blow. He used my force against me and shoved me back.

"Little Nekos should learn to flashily wait their turns." Buggy scolded me.

"I follow my own rules." I bared my teeth at him.

"You two are a little too late!" Buggy called out as he raised his sword again. Sanji and Zoro charged at the platform.

"Don't touch my captain!!" I shouted as I raised my own blade to meet Buggy's, hoping to give the grinning idiot trapped below me some more time. Buggy cackled and slowly began to gain momentum in his swing down in a huge arc. I swung my katana up to block it.

"Not even Zoro can stop me now! This is the end for your captain!"

"Zoro! Sanji! Usopp! Nami! Mira!" Luffy cried out. "Sorry... I'm dead." I could hear the smile, but I never looked away from Buggy, not even as our blades came inches from each other.

The second our bladed touched, a huge bolt of lightening crashed down upon us, shocking us down to our core. I felt like I was flying. Maybe I was, maybe I wasn't. All I know is that one second, I'm touching blades to Buggy, the very next half second, I feel light. Did I die again?

No. I didn't. I hit a wall. Hard. When I hit the wall, I slumped to the ground soon after. I felt strange inside, like I was still being zapped. Nature sure has impecable timing.

I rose unsteadily to my feet and gazed up at the platform, some fifty feet away from me now. The force of the strike charred Buggy black and was causing their footing to crumble where it stood. I reminded myself to never doubt weather and its strange occurences again.

But, where is Luffy? Did he survive the shock? If he did survive it, he most likely won't survive the fire on the platform, or it falling sideways to the ground below.

And then, much to my dismay, the sky opened up and began to pour. At least the fire will be put out, then maybe Luffy will be able to walk away from this unscathed. Or, just badly wounded. Eithter way, as long as we get him out of here.

The platform came down with a mightly clang. Luffy's hat gently floated down from above with the wind. Where is Luffy? His hat made it out alright, but did he?

Yes! He did! I watched, a huge, relieved smile plastured on my face, as Luffy reached down and grabbed his hat, then placed it snuggly on his head. He, too, was smiling.

He let out a joyous laugh. "I'm still alive after all!" Buggy didn't look too good, though. Is he down for good this time? "I got lucky!"

Carefully, I made my way over to Luffy, a slight limp in my left leg, after I slid my katana back in my sheath. Yes, Luffy; lucky in deed. Not even the people of the crowd can believe it. They can all easily catch flies in their mouths because they're so big.

I winced each time I put my leg down. It doesn't seem to be healing right away. Surely, I shouldn't be feeling it anymore. I gasped through my teeth as my foot suddenly began to slip out from under me, but quickly caught myself. Don't want anymore injuries at the moment.

Luffy and I reached Zoro and Sanji at the same time.

"Stop talking nonsense!" Zoro was saying to Sanji. "Let's get out of this town already! Another trouble seems to be brewing."

"Then let's go already!" I began to walk past them. "I'm not waiting up for anybody."

"Now!" I heard someone order from behind us. "Surround those pirates!"

"Let's go, let's go!" I urged as I tried to pick my pace up to a jog. "If ya wanna get out so bad, then let's go!" Marines began coming out of no where, their guns raised to keep us from leaving.

"Here they come!" Sanji called out. A fight ensued with Buggy's crew mates and the Marines, while us four slipped through the fighting to get away from it all.

"Luffy, this is no time to get excited!" Zoro began dragging Luffy away. "We need to get out of here!"

"We better hurry up to the ship now, or we'll never be able to leave the island. We'll never make it to the Grande Line." Sanji said as we ducked under people fighting.

"Sanji's right," I faced the three again. "We either move now," I flipped someone over me. "Or we never leave. Your choice. Now, Let's move!"

"What?!" Luffy was finally understanding. "That's not good!" We got through to Luffy and was soon on our way to the harbor. Our pace was quick and light footed so we wouldn't slip on the wet ground. Well, Luffy's, Sanji's, and Zoro's were. I was struggling with my ankle. I must have sprained it badly.

My left ankle was screaming at me for something that happened. When did I hurt it? It must have been when I fell, or something. When ever it happened, I wish it didn't. I was beginning to lose sight of the others.

I suddenly cried out in pain when my foot went out from under me to my side. I landed in a heap. I can't get up; my ankle is preventing me from moving.

"Mira!" Who was that? I can't hear them over the howling wind. Zoro soon came into view. "Mira, get up! This is no time to be laying around!"

I fought to get up, but my ankle refused to co-operate. "I can't! My foot hurts too much!"

"Then I'll carry you!" I went to protest, but I was soon lifted under Zoro's wing. We ran together, my left leg having less pressure put on it. Luffy and Sanji were already way ahead of us; out of sight.

"Zoro!" I brushed my hair out of my face. "Zoro, I'm only slowing you down! Let me go! I'll catch up with you guys eventually!"

"I'm not leaving you behind, Mira!" He said stubbornly. "We don't leave members behind! We do what we can to bring them with us!"

"But we'll never make it back to the ship in time!" I tried to shrug out of his hold. "Just let me go! I promise we'll see each other again!"

"I won't do it, Mira!" He stopped only for a second to scoop me up in his arms. "We're going together! That's final!"

"But you're not even going your fastest!" I pressed on. "It'll be too late! They'll already be half way out to sea and we'll be stuck all because you had to help me and stayed behind! We'll never make it and you know it!"

"They won't leave us!"

"How do you know that?!"

"Luffy won't leave us behind!"

"Zoro, this is insane!" I finally got out of his hold and landed on my butt. We were a fair distance from the Marines now. "Just let me go by myself! You go and catch up to the others and tell them I'm right behind you! Just go!"

"Mira, I've said it a dozen times now!" He picked me back up. "I won't leave you behind!"

"Ugh!" I pushed away, but he held on tight. "You stubborn mule! Why the hell not?!"

"Because... It's because I like you too much to leave you!" Our eyes met.

"W-what?" Did I hear him right?

"There! I said it!" He picked me back up and ran faster than before. "Now, forget what I said and let's get going! They won't leave without us!" I remained silent, letting his words ring out in my head over and over again. He... he likes me? No, that was just a trick of his to get me to listen to him. He doesn't love me. I've heard him call out for Kuina in his sleep several times.

It's an act to get me to listen to him. And it worked. Well played, Zoro... Well played...

But, why is my heart beating rapidly again? And, despite the cold rain and wind, my cheeks are hot. Am I... blushing? No! Don't be ridiculous, Mira! What Zoro did there was just an act! Just an act! He doesn't love you and he never will!

But I don't want to believe that...

After some time, we caught back up with Luffy and Sanji. "Which direction is the sea?" Zoro called out as we kept running.

"I can't tell where we're going because of this heavy rain!" Luffy responded as he had a firm hold on his hat.

"There they are!"

"Ah, crap!" I began hitting Zoro's chest. "Faster! Faster! They're gaining on us!"

"Stop hitting me!" His pace picked up a bit, as did the others. "What persistant bastards! Should we stop and fight them?" He suggested.

"We don't have time for that!" Sanji swiped some of his drenched hair out of his eyes. Something caught his attention. "Oh? Who's that lady!?"

"AH!" I held a hand over my eyes. "Cra~p! Zoro! It's Tashigi! What do we do?!"

"I didn't realize you're Roronoa Zoro and Elmira Hojosen," Her voice reached us on the wind. "And pirates to boot. You... You lied to me!"

We slid to a stop. "What?!" Sanji held a fist out to Zoro. "You did what to her?! Get your grubby hands off Mira! You don't deserve to hold a lady!"

"You didn't ask our names." Zoro walked closer to her, past Sanji and Luffy. "That's all. It's not that we lied to you."

"A rogue like you, Zoro, can't be allowed to own a renowned sword!" She shouted at us. "And you, Elmira! Even though you're a pirate, I don't want you to get hurt at the hands of that sword! You have no idea what it can do to you! I must keep it hidden from the world so it can't cause anymore harm!"

"Zoro! I'll collect your sword, Wado Ichimoji! And yours, Elmira! They'll both be mine!"

Zoro gently set me on my feet and pushed his blade out a few inches, a smirk dancing across his lips. "Try it."

Tashigi drew her own sword and charged at us. I pulled mine out, in a defensive manor, and watched as Zoro clashed blades with her. Tashigi pulled back and swung again. Zoro, once more, met her solid swing, the blades giving another metallic clang. I watched closely, watching her technique in case I would have to face her as well.

My katana began to grow warm in my hand, but it wasn't burning me; it was yearning. But for what?

"You jerk!" Sanji shouted from beside me. "How dare you attack a lady!"

"Please don't interfere!" Tashigi yelled at Sanji.

"What?"

"This fight is between me and Roronoa! There is no need to step in!" She explained. "Once I defeat him and take his sword, I'll take on Elmira and claim her sword as well!" As if.

"You heard her." Zoro said with his back to us. "Go on ahead."

Sanji was unsure, but Luffy was for it. "Let's go." He and Sanji continued on. I stayed behind, testing my weight on my foot.

"Hey, Zoro!" Oh boy... Just go, Sanji! "If you hurt her, I'll kill you! I'll never forgive you!" Then he took off after Luffy.

"Sergent Major Tashigi!" The Marines caught up to us. I faced them, blade ready in a defensive stance in front of me. I turned my head slightly and watched as Zoro reached for his other swords. His pressure on his sword in battle now never let up.

Now, he was taking the offensive with two swords, one in each hand. Tashigi jumped back and quickened her strikes to keep up with him. Slash after slash, clang after clang, the two kept on each other. Neither of them was giving the other an inch. The way they were moving, it would be considered a dance.

I shifted my position a bit and made my gaze steady with the other Marines that had joined to watch the fight. My ankle was still sore and painful, but I held my ground.

"It's Elmira Hojosen!" One of the Marines cried out. "Sergent Major! Elmira is here!"

"I know!" She called back. "Just make sure she doesn't try to escape please!" Escape? I can hardly escape in my current situation as of now. I glanced down at my now purple ankle. Why isn't it healing?! I should have been fully healed and no longer hurting by now! What gives?! Did the lightening mess with my system?

"Yes, sir!" The Marines pulled out their own swords and pointed them at me, ready to strike if I made a move.

Within seconds of speaking, Zoro had Tashigi pinned against a wall. Her sword flew out of her hand and landed in the cobblestone streets. The rain had picked up tremendously and was gushing in the drain pipes to who knows where.

Zoro finally spoke again. "I can't let you have this sword no matter what." He pulled away and slid his swords back into their sheaths. "Let's go, Mira."

The Marines around us were muttering about how their Sergent Major had lost. I kept my sword out and held an arm out so Zoro could half carry me back to the boat.

"Well then," He faced Tashigi again. "We're in a hurry, so..." We started headng back in the direction of the harbor to meet up with the others.

"Why aren't you finishing me off?!" Came Tashigi's demand from behind us. Zoro pulled us to a stop. "Is it because I'm a woman?!" Zoro lifted his head a bit. "It's humiliating that you won't fight me seriously in a game played in earnest just because men're physically stronger than women!" I slowly pulled away from Zoro and faced Tahigi's pained face.

"I'm sure you don't understand the feeling that I wish I was born a boy!" Tashigi pressed on. "I don't hold a sword for pleasure!" In all honesty, I thought the same way when my parents left me. I've always wondered what would have happened if I was a guy instead of who I am now. Would they have taken me with them?

But I've come to terms with who I am. My gender isn't a burnden; I made myself a burden until I was able to see the world in a new light, and I embrace who I am. She should do the same.

Zoro suddenly snapped. "I don't like your very being!" Whoa. Where did that come from? "Listen!" He jabbed a finger at Tashigi. "Your face! It looks exactly like my close friend's who died a long time ago! On top of that, you started to say the same thing she said! Don't imitate, you copycat woman!"

"What?!" She got right in his face. "Stop talking like a child! You're rude!"

"And we're wasting time!" But my words fell on deaf ears.

"I live the way I am!" Tashigi and Zoro's faces got closer, their scowls growing more heated. "I don't know what your friend was like, but I'm the one who feels upset! Isn't she the copycat?!"

"What'd you say?!" Zoro roared as he leaned back and puffed out his chest.

"How about we all just go our separate ways and deal with all this later!" I suggested as I began to push Zoro away from Tashigi before he did something stupid.

"Mira, let go!" Zoro pushed back against me. My feet were beginning to slip on the ground.

"Zoro!" He finally looked down at me. "Go. I got this." I took off my hat and gave it to him. "Return this to me when we meet up again."

"But-"

"Oh my God!" I shoved him hard. "Do you need a written invitation?! Just go!" I turned him around and shoved him towards the harbor. "Follow this road and you'll make it to the boat! Don't you dare look back! I'll be right behind you!" Reluctantly, he left. I faced Tashigi again and stared hard at her as a flash of lightening illuminated the scene before us.

"Y-you're a Neko...?" She took a staggered step back.

I did a mock bow. "Elmira Hojosen, in the flesh for who she really is." I kicked my foot under her sword and grabbed it by the hilt. "You wanted to face me. Let's see what you've got."

"B-but..." Her grip tightened. "I can't fight you!"

"Why?" I tossed her sword at her feet. "Is it because I'm a Neko? Because I'm different? I'm a woman, just like you, who wishes to be accepted in this male dominate world. Are you going to deny me of my will to fight? After all, you are the one who wanted to face me in a battle for my katana."

She thought carefully for a few seconds before she reached down and took up her sword. "Alright! I'll be your opponent. Two women, dueling it out."

But we didn't even get our fight. Just then, the sky turned a sickly green and the rain stopped. Immediately after that, a tremendous gust of wind blew around us, billowing our clothes and sending us into the air.

"What the hell is going on?!" I cried as I quickly put my katana safely back in its sheath. "If this is what the weather is like outside the Grande Line, who's to say what it's like inside?!" I grabbed the edge of the roof of a nearby building and held on tightly.

As suddenly as it had started, the gust of wind died down and rain poured again like it had never even stopped. I righted myself on the roof and looked out to the harbor. I could just barely make out Going Merry out on the ocean.

"Zoro, you lied!" I stood on my feet and half ran, half hobbled from one rooftop to the next. "You said they wouldn't leave without us!"

I reached the harbor and watched what looked like Sanji, Luffy, Zoro, and Usopp fly onto the ship. They took off, but most likely against their will.

I drew in a lungfull of air. "Don't leave without me!!!" I faintly heard someone call my name from the ship. I took in another breath, this time to calm myself. Soon, the pounding rain came to a stop, no longer drumming on my head or the ground. When I opened my eyes, dropletts of rain hovered in mid-air around me, some in mid-drip, others just hanging around.

I looked back out to the ship. It, too, was stationary. If I touch any object around me, time will start back up again. But, will that work with the ocean? It's worth a shot. Hesitantly, I limped to the edge of the water and placed my foot in it. The flat surface of the water rippled slightly, but nothing else moved.

I smirked. "This will work just fine..." I set down my other foot next to my right. Time to run across water like a bad-ass. I concentrated hard as I took off across the water's surface, tiny ripples in my wake. Time stayed motionless as I neared the Going Merry and my crew mates. Just before I neared the ship, time was slowly becoming active again. My feet were sinking lower into the water and the waves were making it harder to stay on my feet.

I willed my nails to grow longer as I reached the ship and dug them deep into the wood. Time was its normal pace again.

"Where'd she go?!" I hear Nami shout. "She was there just a second ago!"

"Mira!" Luffy and Zoro called out.

"Down here!" I answered them and tried to climb my way up. "Can someone toss down some rope or something!? I'm starting to slip!"

"Mira!" The relieved voices of my crew sounded above me as a thick rope was dropped down near my head. I grabbed ahold and climbed up onto the ship.

"I'm so glad you're okay!" Nami said as she and Usopp helped me up over the rail and onto the deck. "What happened? How did you get here so fast?"

I..." I took in a deep breath, suddenly worn out. "I froze time again... And this time, it took a lot out of me..."

"Mira-cha~n!" All the air in my lungs was forced out as I was pulled into a bone crushing hold. "You came back!"

"Sanji!" I hit him upside his head and squirmed out of his hold. "Let go! I can't breathe!" Pain shot up my left leg as I stumbled away from him, still unsteady on my feet from the pitchng waves and rocking boat.

Strong arms steadied me. "I've got you, Mira."

"Thanks, Zoro..." He helped me onto my feet and guided me to the railing not far from the others.

"Ugh!" Luffy groaned. "It's almost like this ship's gonna tip over!"

"Look at that light!" We cast our gazes to the light house.

"Is that a lighthouse from the island?" Usopp asked.

"Doesn't that mean we should going away from it?" I asked to clarify. "A lighthouse usually means that there is a rocky shore not far from it!"

"It's a 'guiding light,' Mira. " Nami said. "The entrance to the Grande Line lies beyond that point!"

"The Grande Line is ahead of that light," Luffy said in awe.

"What do you wanna do?" Nami said to him.

"B-but there's no reason to enter during a storm like this!" Usopp tried to reason as he clutched one of the masts.

Zoro nodded, Sanji gave Luffy a thumbs up, and I gave a wide grin. Luffy faced Nami and laughed. That was answer enough for Nami and the rest of the crew.

"Okay then!" Sanji announced. "Shall we hold a launching ceremony for setting sail on the great ocean?"

"That's a great idea!"

"Hey, yeah!"

"Sure!"

"Let's do it!"

Sanji rolled a barrel over to us and set it up. He placed his foot on it. "In order to find the All Blue!"

Luffy placed his up next. "In order to be King of the Pirates!"

Then Zoro. "In order to become a master swordsman!"

Next was Nami. "In order to draw a world map!"

Usopp hesitated slightly before he put his foot up with the others. "I-in order... In order to become a brave warrior of the sea!"

I was last. I balanced on my right leg and placed my injured left one up. "In order to prove that I am not a disgrace to the world!" We stared at our feet as our goals were laid out in front of us.

Great things are going to happen. I can't wait to see what adventures await us.

"ACK!"

"What?!" I glanced around everyone's faces as they stared at the barrel. "Nami, why'd you scream?!"

"Why didn't you tell us earlier that you were injured!?" She demanded as she rushed to my side and started dragging me below deck.

"I didn't think it was important at the time!" I hardly struggled as she took me away from everyone. "There's no need to fuss over this! Really!"

"It could have gotten worse!" She insisted as I was tossed onto my bed. "Your ankle isn't supposed to be a deep purple! It's almost black!"

"It'll heal!" I assured her. "Trust me! It should've been healed by now!"

"Does it usually take this long?!" She pulled out a couple wooden sticks and a thick bandage. "A sprain this bad takes days!"

"But I'm a Neko!" I crossed my arms and watched her work over my ankle. "It should have been healed completely by now."

"What did you do to make it look this bad?" Nami held the sticks in place as she wrapped the bandage tightly around them.

"Well," I looked up at the ceiling. "It first started when I was struck by a bolt of lightening when fighting Buggy-"

"WHAT?!"

"The force of the shock sent me flying into a wall, then I was walking, running, and standing on my leg." I finished in brief.

"You're lucky your foot didn't break!" She tugged the bandage into place.

I cried out in pain. "Nami! That hurt!"

"It wouldn't hurt so bad if you had taken care of it right away." Finally, she fastened it into place. "There. That should do it. I'll come check on you in a few hours. In the mean time, keep that foot elevated." She took one of my pillows and had me lean against it while the other was used to prop my left leg up. My blanket was placed on my pillow to give my leg a little more height. "Stay. Don't move."

"Yes, Nami..." I muttered as she left my room. I sighed and bonked my head against the wall. Why hasn't my foot started to heal? I'm beginning to think that something did happen when I got zapped with Buggy.

Whatever it was, it's got me in a situation where I can't be with the rest of the crew until I'm healed up again. Worst day ever...

--------

No one's POV

"What do you mean you're out of Healing Potion?!" Josten paced angrily around the hut.

"I mean I had to use the rest of it up from your last fight with Wapol!" Kira shouted back at him. "Then, during one of the worst snow storms, you just had to go for a run and fall off the edge of a cliff! That used up my reserve potion in case of emergencies!"

"The ledge was unstable!" Josten countered with. "How was I supposed to know it would give out?! You should be paying more attention to our daughter and less on me!"

Kira's cheeks heated up. "You're my husband! I love you! How could you say that?! Do these rings mean nothing to you?!" For emphasis, Kira held her left hand up, the gold ring and diamond stone in perfect sight for Josten. "I put this ring on for you, knowing full well what your job was, and was ready to face it with you! For better or for worse! Through sickness and through health! For richer or for poorer! Until eternal death do us apart!"

"I know our vows!" Josten pinched his eyes shut. "I know our vows, Kira... I know what I said, and I meant every word of it. I know you were upset when I ran off. I know you didn't want me to go, and that side tracked you from our daughter. I should have listened to you."

"But you didn't." Kira's hard stare softened. "You were a stubborn, hard headed mule. I wanted to be sure you were going to be alright."

"And it's my fault you can't heal Mira." Josten cupped Kira's cheek. "Can you forgive me?" Kira slowly nodded.

"I have an idea," Josten grabbed one of Kira's woven baskets and both of their coats. "How about you and I go together to gather up the ingredients to make the potion?"

Kira gave him a half smile. "Sounds like a plan. Just don't fall off any cliffs again."

"You aren't going to let that down, are you?" Josten helped Kira into her coat and fastened it for her.

This time, her grin reached her eyes. "Nope."

--------------------

Hey, guys! So, this is a fair warning for you all. Come Monday, July 21, I will be starting my senior year of high school. I won't be able to update very often, but I'll try my hardest, ok? I promise this story won't be forgotten in my mind full of homework and stress inducing work.

I wanted to give you guys this update, for it may be my last for quite some time. The next chapter will be nice and long. I'm going to try and squish several episodes into this next chapter to make up for the long wait.

Thanks for reading, and for those of you heading back to school, good luck and do your best!

-M12