Chapter 64: Calm before the Ice Storm

Kai had a seat and waited for things to go down. He sighed at his own circumstances. Pondering what to do, mainly whether to go all out against Aokiji and expose his devil fruit to him as well as his haki. As he was lost in his thoughts Robin walked over and had a seat beside him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"What are you thinking about?" She asked him.

"I don't know what to do, if I could avoid fighting Aokiji I would, but he is already on his way here and Luffy won't finish his fight before he arrives. I know I have to fight him, but I don't know if I should go all out. It's risky to expose everything I can do. I don't want my dad to somehow find out, actually nevermind, he wouldn't do anything or even realize it's me, but more importantly I don't know what the government will do. I just have no clue what might happen. Plus with my connection to gramps, the marine hero, it could cause a lot of issues for me in the future. But mainly, I'm worried about you. Aokiji is weird when it comes to you, I don't know what he'll do. Plus if the government starts to become suspicious of our connection then that would be bad for you. They might even start paying more attention to you just because of everything I did here. I'm not sure what to show Aokiji, but I can't fight him long enough for you guys to leave if I don't go all out. I don't even know if I can beat him if I go all out. If I can, it will be close and take a long time. I'm just lost."

Robin nodded slowly, processing this. She knew all about Kai now so everything he was saying made sense to her. She thought about it for a while before she said in a slightly shaky voice.

"I think you should go all out. Trust that Aokiji won't expose you, or us." Robin was still not over her trauma from her past and Aokiji was a big part of that.

Knowing this Kai was shocked. "Really? I didn't expect to hear that from you."

Robin nodded tentatively. "I can't say that this is easy for me to say. But just think about it. You want to show him what the reality of the world is like right? What the government truly is."

Kai nodded. "Yeah, he is a really strong ally to have. Plus the marines will need to have someone like him if they are going to change. If I have the chance to, I would rather he either try to change the marines from within or just straight up rebel against them."

Robin nodded. "Exactly, and you would need to show him your sincerity and trust him first if you want to earn his trust. Showing him this part of you and trusting him to not sell you out is the perfect opportunity to get him to really start thinking and listening to what you tell him." Kai listened to Robin's logic and agreed.

"True, if some stranger walked up to me and told me everything I knew about my life was wrong I probably wouldn't listen either. I guess I do need to do something to show him I'm not just an idiot in a mask."

Robin smiled lightly at Kai and gave him a peck on his mask. Right where his cheek would be. Kai smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulder pulling her in. The two sat together starting at the gates of justice in silence as they both thought about what was about to happen.

After a few minutes Robin giggled to herself.

Kai looked at her. "What's so funny?"

Robin giggled a little more before she looked up at Kai and answered. "I just remembered that you told the fleet admiral to retire. Nishishishi! I can't believe you really said that."

Kai smiled and laughed. "Wahahaha! Yeah, I really did say that. He really pissed me off back there. He was actually going to send a buster call on civilians. And to catch YOU. He really wanted to take you away from me! Can you believe that guy?"

Kai said while shaking his head as if he was in disbelief that anyone would try to harm Robin when he was around. "Nishishishi! Does that mean you would have come to my rescue again if I needed you?"

Robin asked with a slight hope and fear mix in her eyes. Kai lightly ruffled her hair with a huge smile on his face. "Of course, Robin." He said seriously, he meant every word, he would stop at nothing to protect those that he cared about. His recent haoshoku awakening was a testament to that resolve.

Robin smiled gratefully as the fear disappeared from her eyes, replaced by gratitude and joy. She snuggled into Kai's chest and muttered. "Thank you. Kai." Kai smiled happily as he held her in his arms.

The rest of the crew stared at the duo slightly confused. "What happened?" Chopper as he looked on.

Nami pondered for a bit. "Something must have happened when they were alone." Nami was feeling mixed emotions. She wasn't against Robin and Kai being together or anything. She had no feelings for Kai in that way or anything, but she did start to see him as an older brother.

She had seen his body and although she didn't know the specifics of his past she was still aware that they weren't happy and was most likely still a burden on Kai. Just like her own past was on her. She wanted to do what she could to help Kai and protect him, just like he had done for her. She was feeling a little nervous about Robin and Kai as she wasn't sure about what might happen. She wanted to protect both of them from anything bad happening.

Nami just shook her head. What was she going to do right now? When an admiral was coming. She would have to wait until later to talk to the two.

When Franky heard the crew speculating about Robin and Kai he cut in. "What are you guys talking about? They're dating."

The crew all turned to Franky.

"What do you mean?" Usopp asked.

Franky looked at them like they were stupid. "Those two you're talking about, they are dating. They told me when I was locked up by Spandex. I wonder where that guy went anyway?"

The crew heard this and had their jaws drop.

"They told you they were dating?" Zoro asked with an amused smirk on his face.

Franky nodded. "Yeah, that's what they said. I tried to punch the guy with a mask and Robin stopped me saying 'don't hurt my boyfriend' or something like that."

The crew was still shocked and Zoro laughed.

"She said that?" Nami asked. When Franky nodded Nami had a smile grace her lips, maybe they would be good for each other. She thought but still decided to talk to the two later.

Just then Zoro stopped laughing. "Someone's gotta tell the shit cook about this."

Suddenly a serious voice sounded from behind him. "Tell me about what?"

Zoro and Nami slightly jumped up in shock. "Don't do that, you bastard! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?!" Zoro yelled.

"Shut it mosshead! If you get scared that easily then maybe you should just go back home!"

Nami took a deep breath after the shock. "What do you think you're doing?! You scared me half to death! You owe me $100,000 belli for that!" She yelled, causing Sanji to instantly turn towards her with hearts in his eyes.

"I'm sworrry Nami-swan! I'll pay you right away!"

Zoro's eyebrow twitched. "Why is it okay for her to get scared but not for me?"

Sanji turned to him with a disgusted look on his face. "You're not cute like Nami-swan is. Damn three bladed blender."

Zoro jumped at Sanji and attacked.

"Say that again, Shit cook!!"

Sanji jumped forward and met him halfway. "Make me! Mosshead!"

Nami, Chopper and Usopp stared at the two.

Chopper asked. "Did Zoro just get mad because Sanji didn't call him cute?"

Nami and Usopp thought for a second. Usopp responded. "Yeah he did. That's kinda weird."

Nami sighed. "At this point I don't think they even care about what each other says. They just want to fight."

The three nodded sagely at this new revelation.

Kai and Robin had turned to look back at the rest of the crew who were as carefree as ever. Kai smiled before his smile turned evil. "They're having fun. Maybe I should just let Aokiji attack them."

Robin smiled. "Nishishishi! Then we would all become icicles and die."

Kai chuckled. "Wahahaha! Well it's not as bad as getting blown up by endless cannon balls."

Robin put a hand on her chin like she was seriously considering it. "That depends on how fast the cannonballs kill you. If you die instantly from a shot to the head then it would be better."

Kai then mimicked Robin's pose and said. "That depends on whether you feel pain if you are frozen. Maybe it's a painless death?"

The two continued to laugh and talk about gruesome things that if any of the other crew members heard would make them shiver in fear.

Eventually Sanji and Zoro paused their fight and Sanji asked. "So what did you guys want to tell me?"

Zoro had an evil smile on his face as he pointed to Kai and Robin. "Those two are dating. Seems like you were too late to get your precious 'Robin-chan', Shit cook."

Sanji looked over at the duo and lit a cigarette. He smiled genuinely at the sight of the two together. He exhaled a puff of smoke and said. "Is that so? Good for them."

At this point the whole crew had their jaws fall to the floor. Sanji was fine with it? The world must be ending!

Everyone was really confused and stayed silent for a while until Nami said. "Sanji, you're ok with them dating?"

Sanji nodded. "Yup."

Nami had her jaw fall slack.

After a little she returned to normal.

"Maybe you aren't so bad after all, Sanji." Nami muttered with a small smile on her face.

The moment Sanji heard this he leapt into the air at Nami. "Thank you Nami-swan! I love you too!"

Nami felt a tick mark appear on her forehead and she said. "Nevermind. You're still a dumbass!" As she turned around and stomped off.

Sanji turned to Zoro and got pissed off. "It's all your fault, Mosshead! You ruined our wedding!"

Zoro was shocked for a moment. "What wedding?"

He asked out loud and the rest of the crew minus Sanji, face palmed. Sanji was about to reply when a chill ran through the air.

Kai stood up at this moment. "Alright everyone. All aboard!"

He said as he sent a wind blast that knocked everyone other than Robin off the edge of the bridge. The crew's face contorted in shock as they fell to the sea below them. Zoro, Sanji, Franky and Usopp landed face first on a hard object and just before Nami and Chopper landed another gust of wind blew and set them down gently.

Kai turned to Robin and asked. "Do you wanna go down too?"

Robin thought for a bit before nodding. "I don't wanna meet that man again." She said before she took a step closer to Kai.

She leaned in and slightly shifted his mask as she met his lips briefly. She pulled back with a smile on her face. "Good luck out there, Kai. Make sure you stay safe."

Kai smiled and nodded. "Of course, I wouldn't wanna make a cute girl worry about me after all." Robin giggled as a small wind slowly lifted her off of the ground and flew her down towards Merry. She landed on the deck softly with a smile still plastered on her face.