Chapter 21: Why?

= The Next Day =

It's early in the morning. Today is the day Rin fights Ace. It's the deal she made with Ace. If she wins she can join them, if she loses she won't join them. Rin arrived at the bandits shack and was about to knock but Sabo suddenly comes out with a bag, behind him is Ace and Luffy.

"You really came for the fight?" Ace whispered while raising an eyebrow.

"Doesn't matter. If you came for the fight than come with us." Sabo whispered.

"Umm..." Rin looked at the bags their holding and ask "Are you running away?"

"Yeah, we are. Grandpa gonna beat us up once he woke up so we're running away from him." Luffy answered while whispering.

Ace facepalm himself "You really do have a big mouth." he whispered.

Rin look at the three of them, crossed her arms and said "Alright I'm coming."

Rin followed the boys into the forest.

= Minutes Later=

"We got away successfully!" Luffy said happily.

"They're not coming, Dadan and the others."

Ace smiled and said "I can tell that she feels happy now because her troubles have gone away!"

"You sure about that?" Rin asked.

"!?" Ace turn around to see Rin standing behind him. "It's none of your business." Ace glares at Rin.

"... You're right... it's none of my business."

*pitter* *patter*

"Looks like it's gonna rain..." Rin said.

"Let's find a place to hide from the rain for now." Sabo said.

Rin puts her hood on and followed them. They found a big tree with a hollow at the bottom. The four of them went inside the hollow space inside the tree.

"Let's stay here and hide from the rain." Ace said. "... Do you have to stay here?" Ace asked Rin with an annoyed voice.

"It's pouring so I'm not going back to the village.". . .' plus I kinda wanna stay... '

Luffy laugh and said "This is exiting!"

= Minutes Later =

"They fell asleep..." said Rin as she took a glance at them. "Maybe I should go to sleep too..."

.

.

.

The rain stops.

"Hey! Wake up all of you!!" Sabo yelled.

"!?" Rin opens her eyes, she look at Sabo waking Luffy and Ace up. ' Ah! Right... they're gonna make their hideout... I shouldn't disturb them. I'll fight Ace another time. ' Rin starts sneaking away.

"Where are you going?" Luffy asked.

"Um... it's not raining anymore so I thought I should go back to the village...". . . ' I got caught... usually Luffy wouldn't realized I'm sneaking away. '

"You're always disappearing... can't you stay?" Luffy asked.

"I can't. Makino will get worried..." Rin starts walking back to the village.

"Wait!"

Rin turned around and saw Ace standing next to Luffy.

"You're the one who fought the Bluejam member who caught Luffy last time, right?" Ace asked. "When we saved Luffy, we asked him how he didn't get major injuries... he said you came and fought that Bluejam member but disappeared when we arrived. Why?"

"..." Rin opens her mouth but instantly close it back. ' I forgot Luffy got a big mouth... why did I thought Luffy wouldn't tell them... '

"Ace, you don't have to pressure her like that..." said Sabo.

Ace turns towards Sabo "Isn't that the reason you asked her to join us?" Ace asked with an annoyed face.

"... Well she survived fighting a pirate for an hour so I thought she might be strong..." Sabo said.

Ace turns back towards Rin and asked "So? Why did you disappeared and why were you sneaking away just now?"

"Um... for the first one... I kinda had a bad feeling so I followed Luffy secretly that day... but then you came so I thought you could handle it better than I can... for the second one... I thought I'll be disturbing if I stay..." Rin said awkwardly.

The three of them look at each other.

"You won't be disturbing... so you can stay... plus we still have the promised fight." Ace said.

"!! Really! I can stay!?!" Rin smiled excitedly.

"Looks like it. If Ace doesn't mind then it's fine." said Sabo.

' YAY!!! ' Rin thought happily.