27 26. Departure
It's time for their depart, they go very early as they want to slip past the Marines that chase them. Jon come back to the room and the others have done packing. Vivi come and say goodbye to them, and Luffy ask if she want to come with them. But Vivi can't answer, so Luffy said they will wait her answer on the ship later till noon. They jump from the windows and run. Jon is the last to leave, before he leave he hug Vivi and kiss her as there's no one there. They stay still for sometime before let go.
"Vivi, even tough you have trouble deciding, i know your answer for Luffy's question. Just know that even if we're not together, i will always love you. So do what you want to do. You have your dream, and i have mine. If you feel lonely call me, if you missed the crew just call, if you have difficulty just ask. I will always be there, we will always be there. I love you, and we care for you, we're friends so just depend on us a little. I've leave the dancing statue in your room, so check it. See you again Vivi, remember our promise."-Jon
"*Sniff* See you again Jon, i love you too, and i will always remember our promise, so you better remember it too."-Vivi
Then Jon left to the crew without looking back. He didn't want to waver and decide to stay or take Vivi forcefully with him. Jon & Vivi have a small tears and wipe it. They already know each other's intention and dream. So they will not back down as they already talk about this. Sometime later they arrive at the place that Bon Clay said but they didn't see Merry.
"Did he lied to us?"-Zoro
Just as he said that, Merry come out from behind a rock, and Bon Clay is on the ship. They hurriedly go up the ship and load their supplies. The money of course being saved in Jon's inventory as it's the safest place. They move to their appointed place to meet Vivi and will wait there. They'll wait for Vivi to show up and give her answer. Jon knew her answer but he didn't tell them, he want Vivi to tell them herself as it is her decision.
On their way there, they meet some Marines ship and they need to pass them. The one in command is someone called Hina, a captain from Marines HQ. Jon didn't get her info in library or when he infiltrate Rainbase. He didn't focus on gathering information about Marines so he will do it later on another island. He only know some big names like the three Admirals, Marine Hero Garp, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Great Officer Tsuru, and Chief Commander Kong.
The Marines ship have come close to them but they didn't move. The Marines ships then shoot them with long spears. The spears hit Merry, but they still didn't leave.
"Hurry up and go, why are you still here? The Marines have come."-Bon
"If you want to leave, just go. We will not leave now."-Luffy
"East coast at 12.00 am, 15 minutes again, we have appointment there."-Nami
"What is it that you want to get there? If it's treasures or money you can get it later. Your lives is more important. Just go there and die, then!"-Bon seem upset
"We go to pick our friend."-Luffy
Bon and his crew shocked hearing this and cry, he's someone that treasure friendship, so he decide to help them.
"Running away now is not Bon Clay's Okama way. Abandoning friends that go to pick up their friend,..will we be able to enjoy our food tomorrow? Listen guys, and strawhats.."-Bon
Bon then tell them his plan, he will change into Luffy, and his crew will disguise as the other. They will go with their duck ship and bait the Marines while the strawhats hide in their ship and leave after the Marines follow them. Bon's crew cry and follow their captain, they're influenced by him and strongly believed in friendship.
They executed their plan and the Marines fell for it. After the duck ship left the Strawhats go to their appointed place. When the Marines saw this, it's already too late. So they engage a battle with Bon's crew while the Strawhats run away.
"Bon-chan, we will not forget about you."-Luffy
Luffy, Usopp, Chopper, Jon and Sanji cry behind the ship. The four have some fun before so they become some sort of friends, and Sanji maybe because their battle before. They move forward to meet Vivi but Vivi hasn't come yet. Sometime later the other Marines ship have come too so they become anxious. Just when they decide to attack the Marines, they heard Vivi's voice.
"EVERYONE.."-Vivi
"Vivi, she's come"-Luffy
"Also Carue, I'll turn the ship back"-Usopp
"I've come to say farewell"-Vivi
"!!? What did she said just now?"-Luffy
Vivi then take a microphone on Carue's back that connect to all speaker in Alabasta and Carue's back of course.
"I like sailing with you guys, and doing adventure together. But as i tought, i really love this Kingdom. So i will stay here and help my father and this kingdom. Even then in the future, if we meet again, will you still call me your friend?"-Vivi
The citizen that gather in front of the castle smile hearing this. It's actually Vivi's coming of age ceremony, even tough it's late because of the war. But she left to the coast and Igaram disguise as her.
"Of course you'll always be our fr-"-Luffy
"Ssshh, don't say it. There's Marines hearing us, we didn't want them to think that the Princess is friends with pirates. Let's show our answer quietly."-Nami
The crew didn't answer so Vivi become anxious. But sometime later, she saw they crew raise their left hand and show the cross mark on their hand. Vivi cry seeing this and show her own mark. Carue also show the mark altough struggling when opening the bandage. Luffy has said in the past that,
~~
"No matter what happen, this mark will be the proof of our friendship"-Luffy
~~
"Good bye everyone, i will always remember you. Also Jet!"-Vivi
""Jet? Who is Jet?""-The crew and citizen
Jon sweating hard hearing this, he didn't know what Vivi want to say by calling his nickname. He have a bad feeling about this.
"Don't forget your promise, and don't you dare to cheat on me for another girl or i will come and discipline you!"-Vivi
Jon sweating really hard now. Vivi basically tell everyone that she has a boyfriend and she also threatened him. Now every citizen become shocked and curious about a man that their princess loved. The King and his ministers also shocked as they didn't know this, but they know it's someone from the Strawhats, and they will investigate it.
The crew also confuse to who is this Jet. Sanji become furious and cry hearing that Vivi have a boyfriend and say he will kill him if he make her cry. Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper have no idea what Vivi talking about at all. Only Zoro and Nami have a hunch and they look at Jon that sweating hard and smirk. They knew that Jon & Vivi become really close after the war, and yesterday Vivi also take him alone and leave somewhere they didn't know.
"Jet, i will wait for you, so wait for me. Even if we're far,....*sniff*....i will always love you, really really love you."-Vivi cry
Jon stunned hearing this, he didn't think that Vivi will be brave and bold enough to say that out loud even when Marines hear her.
"I love you too, Aqua, my princess."-Jon
Jon said that with small voice and there's a small tears in his eyes. He didn't want to alert the crew and make the Marines hear them. The crew are rather blabber mouth, as Sanji will berate him out loud. Luffy and Chopper can't lie. Usopp's lie is bad even tough he is a liar. Only Nami and Zoro can keep quiet, and luckily, it's only them that hear him. Then they sail away and Vivi go back to Alubarna. Their journey has continue again, but,
"Hey hey, who's this Jet? We haven't meet him before."-Luffy
"I don't know, maybe someone from Alabasta. Hey Jon, did you know him? You're with Vivi yesterday"-Usopp
"I-i don't know. I didn't meet with someone named Jet at all. Maybe they met when we're not together."-Jon
"Hmm, yeah, they must've met when 'WE' are not together."-Nami look at Jon and he can only look away.
"M-more importantly, we have to run from the Marines, they're close."-Jon
"Ah, that's right. SET SAIL!!"-Luffy
They sail fast but the Marines still chase them as their ship is faster. Usopp and Chopper take the spears out and fix the holes. Jon take the handle and do what Nami said. Luffy, Sanji and Zoro want to defend the ship but they got tripped by the spears. Luffy decide to throw them but funnily and luckily, the spears fly and fall on Marines ships, sinking them. The Strawhats didn't think much and sail away fast.
Sometime later they finally succed and left the Marines away. They feel relieved but then they feel sad. Everyone except Zoro had a long face.
"What's with your faces?"-Zoro
""We missed her""-Others
"Then just force her to come"-Zoro
"Aah, Demon"-Chopper
"Heartless"-Nami
"Criminal"-Jon
"Mosshead"-Sanji
"Santoryu"-Luffy
"Wait Luffy, santoryu is not a mockery."-Usopp
"Yontoryu"-Luffy
"It's the same, how about natto? It's stinks"-Usopp
"Have we succeed running away?"-???
"Yeah"-Zoro
They didn't notice before, but then they realize it's not one of the crew's voice. Then they see Nico Robin get out from inside the ship. They surprised and the coward trio panicked, Sanji went to his simp mode, Zoro make a stance, only Luffy and Jon that relaxed.
"What are you doing here?"-Jon
"Your captain had done something to me and i want him to take responsibility."-Robin
"What do you mean?"-Jon
"LUFFY, What are you doing to this pretty lady? Hurry up and apologize!"-Sanji
"I didn't do anything. Hey you, don't accuse me like that. I didn't do anything to you."-Luffy
"No, you saved my life before, even when i don't have a reason to live anymore. So you need to take responsibility."-Robin
"Hmm? Responsibility? How?"-Luffy
"Let me join your crew."-Robin
"Is that so? If that's the case, then it can't be helped. Okay."-Luffy
""HUH? LUFFY!""
Zoro, Nami, Usopp and Chopper objected, only Jon and Sanji didn't say anything. Sanji just, well, being Sanji, he's simping. Jon know why Luffy accept her as he also saw what she's doing in the underground, basically he saved Luffy too as she gave the antidote, so he didn't have objection. He just worried that she will betray them later like she betray Crocodile. Even if she helped once but he didn't know what she will do in the future.
"Don't worry, she's a good person, hahaha"-Luffy
"Well, she saved Luffy before, so at least she is a benefactor."-Jon
"Saved?"-Zoro
"She gave the antidote to Croc's poison."-Jon
The other surprised too hearing this. They thought that the Kingdom give him the antidote. But it's actually this woman, even so,
"Even so, we can't trust her that fast, she's Crocodile's partner."-Nami
"Alright, alright, just do what you want, ask her or something. I already saw what she's doing before and i think she's not a bad person too. Maybe just an overly cautious lady."-Jon
Zoro, Nami and Usopp still didn't convinced. Chopper & Luffy already played with a hand that made by Robin's power, Sanji suddenly go to kitchen, and Jon just left, sitting on crow nest. Usopp arrange a table and chair, he start to interogate her, but keep his manner of introducing himself first.
Her name is Nico Robin, Archeolog, being hunted by WG since eight y.o so she run away from organization to organization.
"What's your speciality?"-Usopp
"Assassination"-Robin
Usopp become scared and want to object to Luffy but Luffy is playing happily with Chopper. Then Sanji got out from kitchen and start simping. Nami say she will not get fooled, but when Robin take out a little bag of jewels she immediately call her 'big sister'. The others become speechless,
'I gave her hundreds of millions and she got bought by a small bag of jewels? Is it because i just give money and not pretty jewels? I don't understand woman, whatever then.'-Jon
"They fall for her tricks. Now it's only us two."-Zoro
"Really a bunch of unreliable guys."-Usopp
"Oi, Usopp!"-Luffy
"Huh?"-Usopp have a serius look
"Chopper"-Luffy
"Pfftt"-Usopp
Usopp see Luffy has a pair of hand and look like Chopper so he follow them playing, making Zoro irritated. Zoro just left but he still keep an eye on Robin. Anyway they have succeed runing away from Marines and continue their journey. It's still a long way to go.
