-What if I refuse?

After Robin came back, she had a suitcase within her arms, most likely containing her stuff from clothes and books... She turned to the straw hats, and once again gave each one of them a hug. Tears were gathering on the corners of her eyes, but on her face she still had a happy smile present.

After hugging each one of them, she finally said.

"I'm sorry I have to leave you guys. I really wanted to spend more time with you…" she said. At that time she refused Ian. She didn't want to make the same mistake again. She had a feeling that her life would be much better if she went with Ian.

Nami then came forward and gave her a hug as she shook her head.

"There is no need to apologize Robin, I'm sure we will meet again in the future, isn't that right?" she said at first towards Robin, before she then turned and gave a glare towards Ian in an attempt to be intimidating. She didn't want to part with Robin too, but there was nothing she could do about this, as such she made for the second best option, which is for them to meet from time to time.

But Ian's response was just a smile and a nod. While internally he was thinking 'Heh, just a cute little girl… how can that be intimidating' he was laughing inside his mind while shaking his head. Still he gave her a nod, because they will be meeting again in the future for sure…

"Then that's good" Nami said, tears were starting to gather at the corners of her eyes.

They had now already gotten out of the house, meanwhile Garp was still there fixing the wall he had broken with a punch. They were now standing outside and bidding their goodbyes to Robin.

Sanji, zoro, Usopp, all had smiles on their faces. Nojiko and Nami had tears on their eyes but they kept their smiles on. Meanwhile Chopper was outright crying while clinging to Robin's leg.

She picked him up and hugged him.

"Don't worry, I'm sure we will meet again. Besides men shouldn't cry isn't that right?" She said trying to calm him up. Ian from the side gave her a candy to give it to him. And when she gave it to him, the little guy stopped crying and had smiles on his face as he kept nodding about how men shouldn't cry.

"That's right, that's right" Chopper said as he was trying to unwrap the candy.

The crew were shaking their heads with smiles on. 'Didn't you just stop crying because of the candy? What does it have to do with being a man?'…

She then put him down, before she finally started walking away with Ian.

"I hope to see you guys later alright?" Luffy yelled when they had reached a distance away.

Ian without turning waved back towards them.

After a while they had already went a bit further away, through the roads of Water 7, and once they were near the docks, Ian was suddenly alerted, as he had felt a strong presence nearby.

He gestured towards Robin to stop with his hands, before he put his hands on his sword.

"Whoever you are, get out now or I won't be polite" Ian spoke. He was looking at the roof of a house that had a part of it hidden by a tall tree. The person was precisely using that tree to hide.

"I mean you no harm, Ian Louis. I just hope to talk to Nico Robin for a bit." The hidden person said.

"Aokiji?" Robin muttered. She was starting to panic.

Ian finally at this moment remembered what this is.

He was so happy right now that he ended up forgetting stuff on this day. Stuff that he absolutely knew were important. First it was about Garp. And now He forgot about… Aokiji.

'It is too soon for me to fight an admiral… how in the hell did I forget something this important…?' Ian thought in his mind. He was angry about himself for forgetting something like this. And it was not that he wasn't able to fight an admiral, in fact the presence he felt from him was much weaker than Garp. He just did not wish to fight one so soon, it will only bring troubles afterwards.

But apparently he may have to. He quickly thought things through in his mind, before finally deciding that he will interfere if he tries to hurt her.

"What if I refuse?" Ian said, as he released a portion of his Conqueror Haki and focused it only on Aokiji who was still hidden by the tree on the roof. Creaking sounds were heard from the roof, like it was straining and almost broke apart.

Aokiji who felt the pressure, was shocked. Sweat was starting to appear on his forehead. Just from the pressure alone, he managed to make a conclusion about Ian. Which was to not mess with this guy.

It was not to mean that he was scared of Ian, or that Ian was stronger. Rather, he knew that Ian was strong, and the fight between them would result in this island getting destroyed, he had only felt this pressure from his fellow admirals who he spared against… if only he knew that Ian would be able to beat him up quite easily.

Ian when he first left the island, his father had already told him that his armament Haki would put him among the strongest in the world. His observation Haki used in conjunction with his telekinesis was further enhanced than usual. And his close combat mastery enabled him to beat even his father… at this time and after many upgrades to his strength, he was already confident in tying up against an admiral who had awakened his fruit.

And then if he added his telekinesis to the mix, with its overpowered abilities, then he would easily beat his opponents. As such the possibly weakest admiral in the marines, would not prove any trouble to him at the current time.

But at this time Robin who had calmed down a bit, grabbed his hands, to which he turned to look at her.

"At a time, he had saved me when I had no way out left. As such I would like to at least hear him up. I owe him that much" She said as inside she was full of warmth as she knew Ian was ready to protect her.

And Ian knew that he couldn't argue against that. And it was not even his problem. And so he nodded.

And finally the sounds of creaking of the wooden roof stopped.

She then went near the house and leaned on the wall. She knew that since he did not show his face till now, then Aokiji did not want her to see him.

Meanwhile Aokiji finally composed himself. And thought of the words to say towards robin.

Ian took a bit of distance away from the duo, to let them have some privacy. But he did not let down his guard. He was prepared to use his telekinesis to stop Aokiji at a split second of time. Aokiji not doing anything in the anime, did not mean that he will not do so at this time.

Back to Robin.

Aokiji was originally meaning to ask her why she didn't run away like she usually did, as if she had acted on her own it was quite possible for her to run from CP9. He had wanted to confirm his guess but it was obvious now that he reflected about it. She had started to care about the crew, and she couldn't let them die.

The silence had been going for a few minutes now, before Aokiji finally talked. When he spoke, one could hear the conflicted feelings he had from his voice.

"You might not know this, but your friend, Jaguar D. Saul, that I was forced to kill in Ohara, was my friend too." He said.

And Robin was shocked as she didn't know this. She was there when Aokiji had frozen him, when Saul had been trying to show him that what the marines had been doing at that time was not true justice.

"At that day, although I carried out my duty as a marine, I also honored his wishes by sparing you and helping you escape." He spoke. And after that said, "However, after that I still felt responsible for your life. But when 20 years had passed and you still have not found a place to call home, I started thinking if Saul and I had made a mistake. In the end, even I had decided that you were too dangerous to keep living."

Robin closed her eyes as she listened. She understood what he was trying to say.

"At this time, I thought everything was going to finish once and for all. Of course I did not anticipate how things have happened now." he said.

And after a few seconds of silence he added.

"So have you finally found the place where you belong? Nico Robin?" Aokiji asked.

Robin, thought about the straw hats, then about Ian. These were the friends and family she always dreamed of. And they accepted her outrightly. As such she nodded towards him.

"Yes." Robin said.

"In the end, I don't know if Saul was right, and I don't know if what I did was wrong or not either. So from now on, I want you to show me the answer." Aokiji said.

And Robin nodded.

"I will" she said.

"Then live your life full of courage, and prove to the world that Ohara is still alive." Aokiji said as he jumped off the house to the back and started walking off.

When Robin saw this, she yelled at him to stop. And he did for a few seconds.

Then Robin said.

"Thank you." She said. And Aokiji didn't need her to say it to know what she is thankful about. He had a small smile on his face.

"That guy, Ian Louis. He is extremely strong, but he also appears to be trustworthy." He said before he continued walking off.

When he was a distance away, he used 'shave' to disappear.

Then Robin turned back walking towards Ian and gave a smile as they started going to their ship. Ian did not ask her about what they talked about, as it was personnel for Robin.