Rainbase

Vivi's gaze remained unwavering, her determination evident in her eyes. "I'm offering my assistance in any way I can, and I can speak for the resources and support of Alabasta. If you help me, there will be rewards—gold, treasures, and influence. But more importantly, you will have the gratitude of a nation that will remember your aid."

"…"

Toshiro was silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he chuckled softly, his tone filled with amusement. "Are you scamming me, Vivi? Do I look scamable to you?"

Vivi's face flushed slightly, but she held her ground. "I'm not trying to scam you, Toshiro. This is serious. Arabasta is in danger, an—"

Toshiro interrupted her, getting up and yawning. "I'm going to Arabasta, but not because of you or to help your poor country. I'm not interested in your promises either. I just want to add someone to my crew if possible."

Vivi looked taken aback, disappointment clear in her eyes, but she quickly composed herself. "I understand," she said quietly, forcing a small smile. "Thank you, Toshiro, regardless of your reasons."

Sanji, ever the gentleman, stepped forward with determination. "Princess, you have all of my support. We'll do whatever we can to help you and your country. It's not just about gold or treasures; it's about doing what's right. And I, for one, won't stand by while your home is in danger."

Nami nodded in agreement, though her eyes were still filled with curiosity and caution. "We might not know everything yet or get help from Toshiro, but we'll figure it out together. We're in this now. Helping a princess save her country sounds like the kind of adventure we're meant for."

Kuro stood behind Toshiro, silent but observant, his expression unreadable as he processed the unfolding situation. His mind was already working through potential strategies and the implications of Arabasta.

Toshiro, unfazed and maintaining his characteristic aloof demeanor, turned away from the group. "Let's go training, fellas," he said nonchalantly, his tone suggesting this was just another day for him as he headed toward the training room.

....................................….

After five days of sailing, the ship finally reached the shores of Arabasta. The sight of the vast desert landscape was both awe-inspiring and intimidating, but the crew felt a sense of anticipation and readiness.

Onboard the ship, Toshiro stood at the helm, a confident and composed figure. He had both Nami on his right and Vivi on his left, his hands resting on their shoulders as he drew them close, hugging them and improperly touching them. Both women were visibly uncomfortable; Nami had an angry face but said nothing, while Vivi kept repeating to herself, "It's all for Arabasta," looking down.

Toshiro, with an annoyed expression, spoke, "Look at your deserted country. Do you expect me to walk all the way from here? And where is Rainbase? I want to go gambling."

Vivi looked up, her eyes filled with a mix of frustration. "The Rainbase is far inland, but there are faster ways to get there. We can take—"

"Stop yapping, I know," Toshiro interrupted, his tone dismissive. He intended to use the Straw Hat method of transport from the original show, making it clear that he had his own plans.

...…

After a lon capitag and arduous trip through the harsh desert, the crew finally Rainbase. The journey had been exhausting, but Toshiro had managed to tame a giant crab along the way, using it as an unconventional mode of transportation that sped up their progress significantly.

As they arrived in the bustling capital, Toshiro's first stop was to head straight for the nearest casino. His crew, though perplexed and somewhat frustrated, followed him, knowing better than to oppose his decisions.

Inside the casino, the atmosphere was a stark contrast to the outside world. The air was filled with the sounds of clinking coins, shuffling cards, and the excited chatter of gamblers. Toshiro made his way to one of the gambling tables, his expression as calm and composed as ever.

He began to gamble with a determined focus, but luck was not on his side. Hand after hand, he lost, the pile of chips in front of him dwindling with each round. Yet, despite the continuous losses, Toshiro's demeanor remained unchanged, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips as if he was enjoying the challenge.

Sanji, Nami, and the others watched from a distance, speechless.

"My heart, ughh, how can he lose all of this money without feeling anything?" Nami said, her hand on her heart, making a pained expression.

"I can't believe it. How does he continue playing after all these losses? Doesn't he understand when to stop?" Sanji said, exhaling a puff of smoke.

The others remained silent until they heard Toshiro talking. "Leave me alone. You're making me lose. Let me gamble peacefully."

"…"

"Finally, some time alone," Toshiro sighed.

"Are you going to continue gambling after all these signs? Doesn't losing all of this money affect you? I'm curious," a woman in a cowboy outfit spoke, her voice cutting through the noise of the casino.

"99% of gamblers quit before the big win," Toshiro responded, his focus never wavering as he continued gambling.

"Besides…" Toshiro continued.

"Besides?" the woman echoed, intrigued.

"I have child support to pay, plus I can retrieve my money at any moment," Toshiro said, his smirk widening as he placed another bet.

The woman chuckled, clearly amused. "Can I ask how old you are now?"

"I'm 19 now, By the way I think that my daughter is in your age—28 this year,if i'm not mistaken," Toshiro continued jokingly, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Robin laughed a little, the sound rich and warm. "Do you know who you're dealing with, right?"

"You mean Crocodile, right? But don't worry, I'll win," Toshiro said confidently. Just as he finished speaking, the slot machine he was playing lit up with flashing lights and loud noises, indicating he had hit the jackpot.

The room went silent for a moment as everyone stared in disbelief, forgetting about Toshiro mentioning Crocodile. Toshiro's smirk widened into a full grin as the machine poured out tokens and coins, the pile quickly growing at his feet.

Sanji's cigarette nearly fell from his mouth as he watched the scene unfold. "What the... He actually won?"

Nami's eyes were wide with shock, her hand frozen mid-air as she had been reaching for her purse. "I can't believe it..."

Robin, still chuckling, shook her head in admiration. "You certainly know how to make an impression, Toshiro."

Toshiro's smile faded slightly as he turned to face her. "I don't remember introducing myself," he said, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

Robin's smile widened, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "How could I not know my father's name?" she said, her tone teasing. "I did my research about you, Toshiro Arai, the captain of the Equation Maker Pirates, with a bounty of 39 million berries."

Toshiro's interest was piqued, and he smirked as he grabbed his reward. "Hmm… interesting. Do you want to join my crew, then, Nico Robin?"

Robin's eyes widened slightly, clearly surprised by his request. "I don't remember introducing myself too......Do you want to explain how did you know?"

Toshiro's smirk grew into a full grin as he grabbed a cup of alcohol and took a sip. "How could I not know my daughter's name?"

"..."

Robin's amusement turned into a more serious expression. "You have a lot of confidence and secrets, I see. I'll keep an eye on you, Toshiro."

She remained silent for a moment, then slowly started to leave. Before she walked away completely, she stopped and looked back. "By the way, the reason for why I rejected your request is simply because I don't think you'll live long enough for us to meet again."

Toshiro raised an eyebrow, his smirk undiminished. "Is that so? We'll see about that, Nico Robin. Until we meet again."

Robin's expression softened slightly, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Until we meet again, Captain Toshiro. Good luck. You'll need it."