It was of no surprise to Rosan at all, that the first one to wake was Robin.

He blankly watched her shoot up, tears streaming down her face that caused a pang to course through his body.

His girlfriend began frantically glancing around, before locking eyes onto him... and it caused him to wither a bit.

The speed at which she rushed him, jolted him out of his numbness and he instinctively wrapped an arm around her waist as she crashed into him.

Rosan steadied the teary eyed Robin with a look of concern.

"Are you alright, Robin?" He asked softly, noting the way she was shaking in his grasp.

Of course she wasn't alright. None of them would be alright. They had seen his darkest memories. They had seen his horrific past…

All of it. They saw all of it. They saw the monster he was, the monster he had been forced to become.

They all knew his secrets now… They knew how horrible of a person he was —

Rosan was forced out of his musings as Robin suddenly kissed him.

His eyes widened in surprise at the action and he felt his expression waver, as a moment of weakness coursed through his body.

He didn't deserve this... what was she doing? Why wasn't...

"It's okay, Rosan. Please calm down. You know they won't hate you after this..."

"But... how do you know that? How do you know how they'll react to seeing my memories?" He asked quietly.

"We don't know, but we have to trust them. Won't you please just trust them, Rosan?"

...He wanted to. Rosan wanted to trust them but... but Rosan was so afraid of being hurt by the people he trust.

He didn't want to put trust in them... just so they could turn their backs on him, That was a pain worse than loneliness. Rosan was someone who loved too much, so when he was hurt by the ones he loved...

That wasn't something he could handle. He'd never be able to handle that.

Mod frowned in distraught. Hearing Rosan's true reasonings be something besides he can't afford to trust others hurt so much... to hear him fully acknowledge that he can't be hurt by people he trusts...

"That… Kami, just seeing it all in one go feels so awful," Robin suddenly said, pulling back and gazing at the redhead with nothing but sorrow in her gaze.

Rosan's gaze wavered as he saw that look and he gazed away.

Robin was not having it. She forced him to gaze at her and felt the utter shame coursing through his body.

"Rosan… you have nothing to be ashamed of," she said softly, even as the tears refused to stop flowing.

Robin didn't think she'd be able to get them to stop anytime soon. There was no feasible way she could ever get them to stop after what she just saw.

To relive Rosan's life through his eyes… to feel everything he felt, to learn everything he did…

To lose all that he lost. Rosan's memories were painful but the most agonizing part of it all, was the sheer apathy that had washed over her at the point of Meiko's death.

Robin thought she understood Rosan's pain when viewing the memories but... but it felt like every emotion she felt had been dialed up to 10 after actually experiencing it.

Everything Rosan felt was amplified to such a dreadful degree. When Rosan had first met her, when he had first latched onto her, the sheer love he felt for Robin was almost overwhelming...

Robin didn't know Rosan had loved her so unconditionally so early on... it was no wonder he had been almost irrevocably broken when he realized she wasn't coming.

It was as painful as it was endearing, to know that from the very beginning, Rosan always loved her for being Nico Robin. If anything, viewing his memories like this showed Robin just how human Rosan was.

He was hurting and hiding because he didn't like being hurt... and the best way to not get hurt any longer, was to hide his heavy emotions that were so bared to the world.

That soul crushing apathy... the complete void of emotions... moments from Rosan's memories that made her smile, or gasp in horror, or cry...

Rosan felt none of that. Not a thing. How could he ever fault himself for becoming a monster if he lost the emotions that showed him these things?

To know that Rosan felt that for a majority of his life… Robin felt suffocated just thinking about it. She didn't know how she could possibly live like that.

She clutched Rosan tightly and just held him. The anguish in her heart at how he had suffered was rooted deep so for now, she'd at least let him know that he'd never be alone as long as she was alive.

Just like how he'd be the only person if he had to, to view her as human... she'd always be by his side.

"You're even stronger than I thought you were before," she whispered gently, burying into the defeated redhead. "I still love you, Rosan. Nothing will change that. I promise."

Rosan's eyes widened at that, before a small smile formed on his face.

He cursed himself for his eyes going foggy but… but he was just so happy to hear something like that.

At least Robin still loved him. Even if the rest of the crew rightfully hated him, he would always have her.

"I love you too," he whispered softly, clutching her to his frame as he tried to calm his nerves.

Robin knew he was still expecting the worst out of all of this but Rosan just didn't understand who their crew was.

"I saw... everything," Robin informed him. "In that moment, I wasn't viewing your memories, Rosan. I was you."

If anything, that just made Rosan feel worse.

"You shouldn't… you shouldn't have ever bore that. Becoming me is a sin no one should ever bear," Rosan said quietly, feeling his fury at Kuma rising.

None of them deserved that. Rosan was… Rosan wasn't normal. He wasn't human so other humans shouldn't have had the misfortune of becoming him.

"You're wrong."

Robin glared up at the resigned Rosan, feeling a passion she didn't think she had before.

Maybe the effects of glimpsing into Rosan's memories, were still affecting her.

"I don't know why Kuma did this… but I'm thankful because I've learned things about you that even I didn't know before. There is so much more to Portgas D. Rosan than meets the eye and… I know exactly how to help you," Robin said resolutely, clutching his cheek and pulling him close.

"You didn't want them to view your memories… because you didn't want them to abandon you. You think that the life you've lived is so bad, that even people you trust would turn their backs on you," she pointed out.

Rosan said nothing. He just averted those bright eyes of his.

Robin shook her head at that. "They won't Rosan… and deep down you know that they won't but you love to expect the worst out of people, because you think you're the worst."

Rosan was… he was such a complex person. He was in a never ending war with himself.

One half of Rosan, wanted nothing more than to love and be loved by everyone around him. He wanted to trust, be happy, be free.

But he couldn't.

He couldn't because there was another half of Rosan who thought he didn't deserve any of that because he wouldn't be able to protect it. This half of Rosan was afraid to love everything he worked so hard to protect, so he kept his heart shut and allowed them to leave each other... but never allowed himself to love them.

And he never allowed them to truly love him. It was self inflicted torture, disguised as a form of self protection...

Before they began dating, or even before his second and third chains unlocked… Robin simply thought his depression played such a huge part but no, it truly felt like Rosan was divided on how he should be treated.

It seemed to have started right after... right after she shattered him at Daybreak. Rosan was an enigma through and through... it almost felt like he was completely split.

Robin didn't care what it took, she'd drown out the noise of the half that wanted him to be all alone, because that was never something Rosan would want.

But still… she had to wonder, if Rosan really was so divided, why was it that he was almost constantly erring to the side of negativity?

Since they had been reunited, only with coaxing, would Rosan see the worth in himself… in a way that didn't seem like it was actually divided. It felt like one half completely dominated the other...

Well that didn't matter to her. What mattered was that Robin would help Rosan no matter what. He never gave up on her so she'd never give up on him.

Rosan looked down at her, noticing how her grip never loosened on his person.

Even if they hated him… he still had her. Even if they abandoned him, he still had Robin.

Rosan gently kissed her on the head and held her tight. "C'mon, you're exhausted… you can rest on me while I wait for the others to wake up."

Robin was thankful he offered it because she truly didn't feel like releasing him.

Her heart ached at his memories. The worst one to her, was the memory of witnessing Rouge's death because Robin had never seen that memory before.

She would never ask Rosan to replay that memory. It was completely unnecessary to see and Robin would feel like she were torturing Rosan if she asked him to view it...

And it was torture.

It was awful. The soul crushing agony coursing through Rosan's body, as he tried so hard to be strong for Mod-chan… Rosan had loved Rouge so much... everything he did, he would tell her. He wanted to be so strong for everyone at just the tender age of 4.

To Rosan who had only had Rouge for as long as he knew... he viewed her as his whole world and to suddenly lose that.

It was no wonder he latched onto both her and Mod-chan so strongly... he needed that support...

Never forget that mama loves you.

Rosan looked down in worry, as he felt more tears spilling on his person and clutched her tightly.

"I'm fine, Rosan," Robin choked out, feeling his soothing hands on her person. "It's just a lot to take in."

She took a deep breath. "Did you put everyone on the ship?"

He blinked before nodding slowly. "Yeah… you guys have been unconscious for a while… so I placed you all on the ship. I also took all the treasure from Thriller Bark and said farewell to the people who got their shadows stolen."

"What about Moria?" Robin asked.

Mod frowned. She had spent the whole time reassuring Rosan so that he didn't freak out further and guiding the redhead through the motions. It had been her idea for him to do all the things he did because he had been so close to having a complete breakdown and being unresponsive.

"Moria escaped while we were all regrouping… either that or Kuma saved him.. Regardless, we only managed to secure one person but at least their Devil Fruit was quite useful."

"Moria's Devil Fruit wasn't as great as I wanted it to be anyways," Rosan grunted. "I don't want anyone's shadow, and I don't want my own personal zombies… but maybe they don't have to be zombies."

Suddenly, his expression turned pondering.

"Damn never mind, I have plenty of ideas for his Devil Fruit," Rosan scowled.

If he encountered Moria again, he'd be sure to capture the man. Rosan already royally fucked up by killing the invisible man, he needed to be more careful in the future.

Robin sighed fondly. At least for the moment, he was taking his mind off current things. Rosan just needed to wait for the Straw Hats to wake up so that he could have his worries assuaged.

"Could you bathe me? I got quite dirty in the encounter with Moria and the tears are making a mess of my face," Robin requested in hopes of fully distracting him and herself.

She really did need the distraction...

Judging by the way his gaze lit up at the idea of helping her, it had worked.

It was adorable how innocent the murderous Rosan could be at times. Just the idea that he was able to help her in some way, was able to fill him with an almost childish glee.

She made no fuss as he lifted her up bridal and simply wrapped her arms around his neck.

He really was too adorable sometimes.

----------------------------------------

A tired Robin snoozed on the vigilante Rosan, wearing one of his purple silk sweaters as she drifted on and off.

Being bathed and pampered after a tough battle was just divine and Robin forgot that she had asked him for this to take his mind off things.

She sighed in bliss as the redhead ran a hand through her damp hair and burrowed deeper into his black tee.

Rosan idly massaged her with one hand as he kept watch of his still unconscious crew and the ship as well.

He wasn't quite confident in sailing without Nami's expertise and the Sunny was a big ship but despite that, he did set them back on course with the help of the Log Pose.

If anything happened, he would deal with it while his crew slept. The only part of him that was injured, was his ego at the one-sided affair against Kuma.

The Nikyu Nikyu no Mi… Rosan would love to get his hands on that fruit and he'd love to get his hands on Bartholomew Kuma too.

Stupid bastard. Who the hell did he think he was? Rosan would make him pay tenfold for his transgressions.

"I'm with you Father! We'll destroy that piece of trash," Ram snarled violently, glad that Rosan was finally back to working levels.

When Father was stressed, she got stressed and when Ram got stressed, she got violent and teary... and Ram hated being teary because Ram hated crying.

"Thank you, Ram," Rosan said softly. "I know I can always rely on you."

Ram beamed at that.

Rosan was brought out of his musings, as groans began ringing out of the clear.

Robin's eyes opened as Rosan's grip on her tightened and a small wave of trepidation coursed through his body.

At once, the Straw Hats began to all awaken and the redhead frowned.

"Now that they are all awake, I have business to attend to —"

"Rosan."

"Rosan."

"Father."

Rosan paused at the firmness in their voices and reluctantly canceled the Save Point he was planning on using.

"Fooood," Luffy whined, shooting up first and rubbing his belly.

"I need a drink," Zoro groaned, holding his head as he fruitlessly wiped at his eyes.

"Forget that for a second," Sanji grunted, wiping the tears from his eyes to the best of his ability. "After what I just saw, I'm really not equipped to cook something right now."

"Y-You're telling me," Nami choked out, unable to even think straight as tears continuously fell down her face.

Chopper and Usopp couldn't even properly muster a response, just letting out sobs from what they saw.

Franky was also sobbing, wiping his eyes repeatedly as he pulled out a guitar to begin playing.

"My word that was..." Brook muttered, placing a skeletal hand over where his heart would be.

"So you're all awake…"

Everyone snapped to attention at the very familiar and resigned voice.

They all gazed at one Portgas D. Rosan, their scout… whose life they had just bore witness to…

They saw it all… from when Rosan was the young and innocent age of 4… to the angry and violent 9 year old… to the lifeless and resigned 18 year old who had been that way since he were just 12...

Rosan's life was a nightmare and suddenly, everything had been cleared up to them.

All of his problems… all his fears and concerns… They finally understood why he acted the way he did..

To see the life Rosan lived through his own eyes…

Rosan grunted in surprise as he was tackled to the floor.

What...?

"R-Rosan!" Nami cried, holding the redhead like her life depended on it. "I-I can't believe you saw your mom die like that! Mam — I mean Rouge was so precious and I can't believe you had to..."

To think that he had watched his mother die too… They really were so similar. The screaming pain of having to watch it was all too familiar to Nami and she felt her copious tears somehow renew.

Rosan recovered quickly and wrapped an arm around her with soft eyes.

"It was really hard… I wanted to —"

"Crawl in a hole and give up," Nami finished, eyes just as soft as she ran a hand through the precious redhead's hair. "But you didn't because you wanted to protect Mod-chan."

The small little child, holding in all his tears until he could no longer hold it in... all because he wanted to protect his first friend.

Those large innocent eyes, glowing purple with such joy... only for that joy to be replaced with anguish.

Rosan was even more of an adorable kid than he and Robin made him out to be... the boy was downright precious.

He shone as bright as the sun with his endless optimism and joy... to know that he had gone through that.

"The bravery to give up assured comfort and go sailing on your own…" Usopp sighed, gazing at the redhead in awe.

"The strength needed to keep moving forward," Chopper sniffed, wiping his eyes as he recalled all that he had seen.

Rosan flinched in surprise at that, noticing that none of them were displaying fear or horror like they should.

"You aren't… disgusted with me?" He asked quietly, sounding genuinely confused.

Every single Straw Hat gazed at Rosan like he were a complete idiot.

"What?" They asked in confusion.

Robin felt a smile form on her face.

Rosan wasn't quite as pleased.

"You saw it all," Rosan said with a frown, unable to believe what he was hearing. "You saw the hell that is my life… you saw how I embraced the hell I lived in and became a demon… why are you so confused at my question?! Don't play dumb with me!"

They saw the slight hysteria in his gaze and frowned.

"I'm sure Robin-chan already explained it to you," Sanji said, reeling from the memories still.

It was awful truth be told. No child should ever have to go through that… the sight of Rosan being tortured so callously... to see him imprisoned...

But the worst part was the lack of emotions… It crushed Sanji from all angles and he nearly buckled underneath the crushing weight of Rosan's apathy.

The fact that Rosan still saw it fit to free him, it made Sanji find the redhead all the more inspiring. He didn't have a single reason to free Sanji. There was no sympathy in Rosan's stance, no empathy for his goal... just a sheer contempt for a small child being imprisoned... and a belief that anyone with the determination to so strongly proclaim their dreams, should have the right to seek those dreams out.

That... was really cool of him. The shitty redhead was way too cool for his own good.

Sanji wondered if that apathy was how his brothers felt at all times. If so, suddenly Sanji sympathized with them. His envy at their conditions when they were younger had practically vanished if they were even remotely similar to how Rosan had been.

"We felt what you felt, Rosan," the chef explained with a sad frown. "We felt the loss of Rouge-san, felt you getting tortured… felt you losing Meiko-chan and we felt you feel nothing. So you did a bunch of stuff we wouldn't do... you're getting better now aren't you? It's not like you were always like this!"

Sanji frowned sadly. It was getting very hard to ignore these tears but at least thankfully, he wasn't the only one. Not a single person, barring Luffy, seemed to be unaffected by what they just saw.

"If you thought for even a second, we'd hate or despise you because of the hell you lived, you're even dumber than I thought, shitty redhead," he declared, glaring at the redhead.

Rosan was stunned at that and the Straw Hats knew now that he genuinely couldn't believe that they didn't view him like the Devil.

"But the people I've killed… the damage I've dealt… the hate I feel… you've seen me at my lowest so why? You know I'm a demon… so why won't you look at me like I'm one?" He whispered.

Chopper shook his head, never removing himself from the redhead's person. "You're not a bad person Rosan! You did bad things… but you did so many good things too! You've been dealing with so much things since you were a child… the fact you turned out this way, into someone capable of raising an orphan into such a passionate queen… you're amazing!"

Sure he had done bad things but... but Rosan hadn't always been bad! No at one point, Rosan was just like them, with wide and wondrous eyes that just wanted to be happy with the ones he loved.

But those bright wondrous eyes... had been forced to witness the darkness of the world until they snuffed out the light in his.

Rosan tried and tried but he... he couldn't do it on his own. Chopper would be a failure of a doctor if he condemned Rosan for the trauma he had suffered...

Especially considering it had been a doctor who set Rosan firmly down this path... he understood fully where Rosan's hatred for doctors came from and the fact that he trusted Chopper enough to continuously work on his body.

Not once had Rosan shown discomfort when Chopper touched him. He accepted it with the same ease he had accepted Meiko and Demon's treatments and that thought moved the reindeer to fresh tears.

"You're the best, Rosan! I'm sorry I couldn't have met and helped you sooner!" Chopper wailed.

Rosan reeled back at that, eyes going wide as his emotions began flaring.

"You have to be one of the strongest people I know, bro!" Franky sobbed, failing to rub his tears away as he bear hugged the faltering Rosan. "After everything you've been through... you still have such a super spirit inside of you! You never fully gave up no matter what!"

The cyborg burst out into tears again at the redhead. "No matter what happens to you, you just keep moving forward and now look! You're finding what you've set out for! You're doing Meiko super proud! I know she's smiling down at you!"

"Finding what you set out for."

"You're doing Meiko super proud!"

Tears pricked his eyes but he didn't notice.

"I'm… finding what I've set out for? Meiko... she's proud of me?" He asked quietly, so quietly that they strained to hear him.

"Of course!" Nami nodded like it were obvious. "You really thought we'd hate you after this?! We've always loved you Rosan! We had no idea you didn't know! Don't think something like this would ever make us change our minds because you've shown us way too much for us to ever think you were unredeemable!"

Zoro snorted. "He's supposed to be one of the smarter members of the crew and he didn't know something as simple as that? I've killed people too. It's not like you go around murdering innocents, dumbass."

"Shishishi! Rosan's been through a lot," Luffy laughed cheerfully. "He's really stupid so he doesn't understand simple things. That's what Ace told me so we have to help him a lot!"

"You're not wrong… he's got a very creative mind," Usopp nodded sagely, thinking back to the redhead's way of thinking.

Rosan watched them, stunned as they conversed like they hadn't just peered into his twisted past… into his never ending nightmare.

They didn't… they didn't think he was disgusting… they didn't see him as the demon he thought he was.

A bony hand laid on his shoulder and Rosan turned towards the skeletal face of Brook.

"As someone who has only known you for a few days... I would like you to know that not once, have I ever thought of condemning you after what I saw," Brook said earnestly. "You are a powerful young man. One of the most powerful I've ever met and... I'm glad that we get to be in a crew together! Yohohoho!"

None of them were lying... not a single lie had been told here. Everything they said... they meant it. They meant all of it.

Even Brook... the newest member spoke so earnestly... he had the least to go with. He didn't know Rosan past a few conversations. He knew Mod-chan more than he knew Rosan but... but he saw all those memories and he said such kind things to him.

T-That was... t-that was s-so...

"You're looking for something you already found, Rosan. You already have plenty reason to live but you're scared to open your heart up like you did with me."

Robin's smile at their infallible crew, turned into a gasp as she felt something wet drop on her.

Was that... were these tears?

She slowly glanced up at Rosan and couldn't stop her own tears from forming once more, as she saw tears streaming down his face.

He gazed at the crew with wide and stunningly innocent eyes, looking as if their words had shown him a side of the world he should have been subjected to first.

For the redhead who had been plunged in darkness for so long... the beacon that the Straw Hats shown to him, was something that he didn't think he could still find.

For the boy who just wanted to love and be loved... to finally realize that no matter what he did, he was still capable of being loved...

Rosan was a person who was afraid to open his heart because his heart was so big and he was so lovable... but he was terrified of being burned.

But he wasn't being burned right now... no the fire the Straw Hats lit, was one that filled him with an indescribable warmth.

Her gasp brought the attention back to them and everyone gazed at the crying redhead with shocked eyes.

After all, he hadn't cried since he was 12! This was a momentous occasion! Rosan was capable of still shedding tears!

"Are you okay, Rosan?" Robin asked in concern, holding his cheek as the tears continued to spill from his body.

"Something I already found. I... I already found it. I found it so long ago but I was too blind to see," Rosan thought to himself, clutching the hand holding his cheek.

They watched as the redhead grinned brilliantly, despite the tears falling down his face. His abnormally sharp fangs gleamed, as his eyes shone the brightest they had seen yet.

The redhead stared at them all, an emotion that they immediately identified as love in his gaze, as he let out a watery laugh.

"Kahaha… I'm so sorry you all… I can be really stupid so it takes longer for me to notice things. I... I'm glad everyone is so patient with me because... because I'm not very patient with myself. Meiko said the same thing to me," Rosan said to them, face glowing in the most innocent display they had seen from him yet.

"We know!" they chirped.

"She was right," Nami sighed incredulously. "You're so ridiculous Rosan."

He really was so stupid. Rosan thought Meiko had been talking about just Robin but no… she had been talking about everyone in his life.

All of them were worth living for and he had never seen that because he was too in his own head. For so long, Rosan had firmly believed someone like him could never truly be loved because the moment a person learned everything about him... they'd want nothing to do with him.

Even with his family... he thought that. The only ones Rosan truly thought could ever actually love him, were Luffy and Ace but... but he was wrong.

They were right, he was really stupid and that removed a burden off his shoulder he had been battling for years.

"R-Rosan," Mod sobbed, holding a hand over her mouth. "I-I told you that you could trust them! I'm so happy you finally made these realizations."

They'd all been telling them haven't they? He owed everyone an apology, Rosan's head was way too up his own ass.

Guess he really was royalty. He had the royal douche down to a t.

"I'm sorry Mod-chan, really," Rosan said sincerely, trying and failing to wipe the tears away. "I'm sorry for making you feel so inadequate over the years. You've been trying so hard to make me see how dumb I've been..."

"Y-You never have to apologize to me for something out of your hand, Rosan. I've been with you from the beginning, I know exactly why you were the way you were and I'm just glad we finally found the people that can free you," Mod smiled brilliantly, rubbing the tears from her eyes.

"I'm sorry to you too, Ram. It took me too long to acknowledge that you were my daughter and you didn't deserve that neglect."

Ram gasped at that and nodded eagerly. "You've never neglected me Father! It... it hurt that you didn't see me as your daughter, but that's not your fault!"

He smiled softly at that. "You are my daughter first and then my weapon, don't ever forget that. Even when I eventually have kids with Robin. You can be big sis Ram like you wanted, to them."

Mod's jaw dropped and a brilliant flush covered her cheeks at his shameless words. "Could you stop being so shameless for just a few hours?!"

"Kids?" Robin thought in shock, an unseen red on her cheek as well at how shameless he was.

D-Didn't Rosan want 4 children?! She forgot about that possible prospect!

Ram beamed in happiness. "That's so gross Father!"

Rosan cackled and stood up, before bowing to his crew.

"I'm sorry," he began earnestly. "I've been a terrible crewmate to you all. I've kept secrets, operated on my own… it's not what I should have been doing and I'll do my best to be better to you all…"

They deserved it. Rosan would become better to them. He would confide his plans with all of them now... no more operating in the shadows. He would be a good crewmate.

"What are you talking about Rosan?" Chopper asked in confusion.

"Yeah, we're totally fine with the way you act! It'd be weird if you stopped!" Nami beamed, forcing the redhead up from his bowing position.

"It would be way too strange if you stopped acting like the secretive asshole you are," Sanji nodded in agreement.

Rosan laughed lightheartedly and ran a hand through his red hair. "You guys are so weird," he said softly.

The redhead shook his head and took a seat, grabbing Robin and placing the elated woman atop him.

"At the very least, you guys should rest more… no matter how well you guys are handling it, my memories are still jarring," he informed them. "Take it easy, I'll make sure we don't sink for a few hours... and please don't hesitate to come to me if you have nightmares."

The Straw Hats gazed at the redhead and nodded, accepting his offer.

"So what happened after we fell unconscious?" Nami asked, as Sanji darted to the kitchen to go make them all food.

They were starving after the events that transpired... and honestly some food would be a great distraction. Despite the much more uplifting mood around the ship, that did not change that Rosan's memories were very... scarring to witness.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Seriously... how could he stand here and still grin and smile so freely? They knew it had taken him a while but... seeing that Rosan was even still capable of being saved was incredible!

Rosan explained everything that happened.

After screaming in frustration and rounding his crew onto the ship, Mod-chan had told him to take everything of value from Thriller Bark, requesting that he give some to the pirates that helped them so that they could at least sustain themselves.

The leader of the troupe... Lola was her name, had been so tearful at his kindness, that she had asked to marry him...

Rosan was so out of sorts he couldn't even deny or accept her request, but Ram had transformed into human form to give the woman a firm lashing about how "Father's already taken you stupid cow! Mother is 3000 times cuter and smarter and hotter!"

He would have laughed at the events... if he hadn't felt like a zombie.

Ah that reminded him.

"Nami, the woman named Lola wanted you to have this. I don't know why but here," he muttered, pulling a sheet of paper and handing it to her.

"A vivre card?" Nami muttered in surprise, remembering the piece of paper Ace handed to Luffy and Sabo.

"Yeah," Rosan nodded. "I dunno why she picked you, but she mentioned trusting you for some reason."

Nami blinked before a look of realization crossed her features. "It's a long story… I ran into her zombie... we became friends. I guess Lola remembered at least a little?"

Funny how that worked...

Rosan nodded, easily accepting that explanation, and adjusted the yawning Robin. "Tired?" he asked her softly.

"Mentally exhausted," she told him truthfully. "I can't believe you had the nerve to say you're mentally weak. For someone as arrogant as you, it's ridiculous how much you downplay yourself."

Such arrogance and self doubt should not exist in one person. Rosan truly was an anomaly and even being him for a moment didn't make it any easier to understand.

What a strange redhead he was.

"It took me too long to realize I'm not the worst person in the world," Rosan admitted with a soft laugh. "I'm... it's hard for me to change my mind about something once I've made it huh?"

The most prime example was with the World Government. Rosan knew they weren't all terrible people, yet he still hated them all...

He couldn't help but feel slight guilt now at his actions towards Commodore Emma...

That was... not right of him. She had unjustifiably been scapegoated for Smoker's actions...

Rosan, wouldn't become a good person, but he would try to become better.

"Rest up some," he murmured. "Thank you for never giving up on me."

Robin sighed happily and tucked into him. "Idiot. Thank you for never giving up on me."

He grinned fondly.

He was… so glad that he met this crew. Time and time again, they managed to impress and catch him by surprise… and this one was the greatest surprise yet.

Rosan didn't like being surprised. He liked having all the details so he could prepare accordingly… but he would let it slide this time.

"Oh that reminds me!" Nami suddenly said. "Rosan! Transform into Mod-chan! Bring out Ram too!"

"M-Me?" Mod asked in confusion.

"Huh?" Ram blinked.

Rosan blinked at that and nodded slowly, gazing at the suddenly energetic Robin.

"I'll sleep afterwards, I promise," Robin assured, pushing herself up.

The redhead nodded and stood up, quickly taking the form of his mother in the process.

Almost as soon as Mod gained clarity, she was swamped by nearly all the Straw Hats (Luffy dragged Zoro who fruitlessly protested) hugging both her and Ram.

"!" Her eyes widened in shock and a brilliant red marred her cheeks at all the people hugging her.

"W-What?!" Ram gaped, squirming at all the people hugging her.

"You're amazing, Mod-chan," Nami said warmly, squeezing the woman with all her might. "From the beginning to the end, you've been an amazing mother to everyone, especially Rosan and Robin. This probably won't compare to when Rosan finally manages to hug you, but hopefully this is enough for now."

Throughout everything, Mod had been trying her best to keep everything together. If not for her, Rosan would have gone off the deep end as early as 4 years old. Her calm, rational and kind soul had done everyone so many favors.

It wasn't an exaggeration to say the reason Rosan could be saved in the first place, was majorly because of Mod-chan. She was the perfect pillar and mother that Rosan needed.

Mod's eyes turned foggy at that and she whimpered. "Y-You all..." she whispered.

"You remind me of my mother, Mod-chan. She was the kindest soul on the planet and made me believe that I really could be a cook... Rosan's lucky to have you," Sanji said earnestly, fondness in his eyes.

"He's right. I don't know what I'd do without you Mod-chan... you're the reason that I'm able to be reasoned with. Without you... I'd be dead or all alone," Rosan said genuinely, joy in his eyes.

Mod began sniffing at that, big red eyes showcasing just how human she had become over the years... to compensate how lifeless Rosan had been.

"You too Ram! You both added a lot of life to everyone struggling. You were like a breath of fresh air," Usopp beamed truthfully.

"Just existing managed to give Mod-chan especially, so much vitality. She really needed you in her life," Chopper nodded enthusiastically.

Ram's cheeks burned red in mortification at that. "I-I don't need your compliments! I only live for Father and I acted accordingly! Of course I'm a breath of fresh air! Look who you're talking to!" she squeaked.

W-Who did they think they were, giving her earnest compliments?! She didn't ask for this! Ram only lived to serve father so who did they think they were making her feel all warm inside?!

Tears sprung in Mod's eyes at their words and she sobbed happily, trying to return the hugs to everyone to the best of her ability.

Even the bony body of Brook!

"I'm so thankful for you all!" Mod sobbed. "I've been pleading with Rosan and Robin to both trust you all from the moment we all met and I'm so so glad that I was right."

"Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart, for saving both my son and daughter," she finished tearfully, looking at the crew with love in her eyes.

"Of course, Modi," Luffy laughed wrapping both arms around her. "They're our friends! We'll always help them!"

Mod laughed in joy and nodded tearfully before finally breaking the group hug.

It was a long time coming and even despite her urging Rosan... she had had some doubts that maybe not everyone in the crew was trustworthy... but she was wrong!

They were all such lovely people and Mod was so glad that Rosan got to meet them.

"So you're Ram…" Brook mused, remembering the unhinged girl well from the memories. "It's a pleasure to meet you in the flesh. Might I see your panties?"

A tan fist floored him with extreme strength and Ram glowered at the flattened skeleton.

"S-Such strength! Yohohoho!" Brook wheezed.

"I don't wear panties, pervert. If you ask that again, I'll unlock a bone transformation by absorbing you," she snarled.

"Duly noted! You make my skin crawl... oh but I don't have skin! Yohohoho!" Brook laughed joyously.

Ram sighed. Morons all of them. This was why she stayed in the mindscape, everyone was so dumb.

Sanji's eyes bugged out of his head. "Y-You don't wear panties?!" He balked in disbelief, a lecherous grin slowly forming.

The belligerent ring sneered at the blonde. "Of course not! Not enough freedom! I wear boy shorts!"

Mod sighed. "Ram, please don't tell them that. Rosan just apologized to them and now you want him to commit murder?"

Ram's eyes lit up. "Father will commit murder in my honor if I mention what I wear?!" She asked excitedly.

Robin sighed. "Ram, please don't. Rosan really will do it."

The ring pouted at that. "Fineeee," she mumbled.

Everyone sweatdropped.

----------------------------------------

"Looks like the hunger got the best of you."

Perona let out a loud shriek at that, jumping 10 feet in the air at the deep voice behind her.

After pacing about and realizing she had no idea where she was... Perona had attempted to send her ghost out to inspect the area she was in...

And that's when she saw the outside of the castle. The never ending darkness, had frozen her up to the core and caused her to shudder in horror, even in her ghost form.

Wherever she was, was utterly unnatural in nature and she took the woman's words to heart about not exploring too much because this place was horrific.

So Perona sat tight in the strange castle, until she was no longer able to ignore her rumbling stomach and the girl decided it was time to take that woman's offer of eating something if she were hungry...

Well, that offer had flown out of the window (along with her soul) at hearing the deep and amused voice of the demon in human flesh.

Rosan looked at the girl tentatively cooking a sandwich for herself and rolled his eyes.

"Go sit down. I don't like when people cook in my kitchen. My student tried it once and nearly burned it all down."

The pink haired woman nodded hastily at the commanding voice and took a seat, going completely pale at seeing Nico Robin stare daggers into her.

"So I take it you don't often stare at people's naked bodies like the other dead one, right?" Rosan asked conversationally, deftly moving through the kitchen as he made a meal.

Perona shuddered at being in a room alone with two dangerous predators and went pale at his very obvious point of mentioning Absalom's state.

Seeing Nico Robin keep eyes on her, was one of the most terrifying things she didn't know she'd be terrified of.

There was a disarming smile on her face, as those icy blue eyes peered at her. Her only reprieve, was that Nico Robin frequently focused on the Red Devil, taking her eyes off Perona in quick intervals.

Where was the purple haired woman? At least she radiated warmth and kindness!

Perona shook her head rapidly. All she could think of was Absalom's body on the floor... from this man's treatment.

She could not let that happen to her.

"N-No… I'm not a pervert! Honest! I was just checking to see what Absalom was doing because we had a very specific set of orders that we normally do. I didn't think he would be stupid enough to attack you two while naked!"

"You're lying," Rosan said easily, not even glancing back at her. "Don't lie to me again. I'm not as nice as Mod-chan or Robin."

Perona squeaked in terror and began to sweat as Robin's eyes once more roamed over to her.

"O-Okay okay! I did think Absalom would do something like that but I didn't realize he was that stupid! I knew he was dumb but attacking you two with your bounties… You two have such high bounties and it was unprecedented to see such a strong crew show up! I wanted to wait for Moria to awaken before deciding our course of action but he decided it for us!"

Rosan chuckled darkly and placed a plate of rice in front of her. "So one of you are smarter than the rest."

It seems there truly was intelligence in cowardice. Maybe he owed Usopp an apology.

"Attacking my crew and I… it was the dumbest mistake you could have made and your freak of a friend paid the price."

Perona looked at the plate like death itself had given it to her and gazed up into the piercing eyes of a truly terrifying entity.

As someone who lived on Thriller Bark, a place full of the supernatural... Perona found herself reassessing the definition of the word horror.

"Are you going to be as dumb as he was?" Rosan asked quietly, eyes sparking in fury as he forced her to hold his glowing gaze.

Perona shook her head hastily. "Nope! Nuh uh! I have no intention of being stupid like him! I give up completely! It's your win!" she practically vomited the words out at the speed she was talking.

Rosan looked pleased. "Good. You've lost this battle. I don't quite know where Moria is but he has vanished. I don't believe in needless torture and you're useful, so I think it would be a waste to kill you."

Perona let out a sigh of relief at that. Hopefully it stayed like this... with the Red Devil not wanting to kill her. The redhead looked very unstable and she did not want to be the trigger for that.

"So what do you want?" she asked hesitantly, taking a tentative bite out of the food offered to her and feeling her eyes light up at the delicious taste.

She very much doubted he poisoned her. He could literally crush her skull with his fists. Poisoning was completely unnecessary.

Rosan hummed and took a seat next to Robin. "You are useful. Your ability allows for a safe way to have eyes and ears in places and not to mention they can incapacitate just about anyone with their negative abilities."

Perona puffed up at that.

"If you used that ghost on me, by the time I recovered, I'd probably be so mad that I'd rip you apart," Rosan said truthfully.

Without his emotions, they wouldn't have worked but right now? Rosan would be a complete sitting duck at the face of Perona's abilities.

Perona balked at that, dropping her utensils as she nervously gazed up at Rosan again.

"I want you to work for my student. She could use someone like you. You could easily become one of her most important assets," he finished.

Robin let out a small laugh at that. "Always thinking of Maro. Should I be concerned?"

The redhead glanced at her. "Well she wouldn't be so opposed to my public displays of affection like a certain someone I know, that's for sure. I bet she'd be happy if I was saying the unhinged things I said about you," he grunted, pinching her cheek.

Robin let out a noise of annoyance. "Well please take her then. I don't want to deal with you! Let someone else do it!"

Rosan snorted. "No way. After all the effort I went through, you think I'm going to just give you up? Keep dreaming, babe."

The Devil Child let out a noise of misery. "You hear my clones say that once and use it to mock me forever. You're unreal…"

"Am I getting thirdwheeled in a situation that could decide my future from now on?" Perona thought in disbelief.

Considering what Rosan had done to Absalom… It would really be in her best interest to not piss the Red Devil off.

"I'll… I'll work with you?" She interrupted the two. "What does your student do…?"

Rosan and Robin stopped conversing to look at her.

"She's a Queen in the North Blue. As long as you don't irritate her, you will live a good life," Rosan grunted.

"It's very hard to do so anyways. Maro's a sweetheart," Robin smiled fondly.

That smile turned into a yelp as Rosan's hand gripped her cheeks again.

"Don't even think about it," he growled warningly.

Robin raised an incredulous brow and growled back, summoning multiple hands. "Are you serious?! She is a married woman, Rosan! Why do you think I'd even attempt to do that?!"

"So if she wasn't married you would?!" Rosan asked in return.

"Well maybe! She might be a pervert but at least she isn't as insufferable as you are!"

"Oh fucking yeah?!"

"C-Can we just go now?!" Perona blurted out, sweating at the two gearing to attack each other.

She went pale as those angry eyes glared at her.

"When you want of course," she squeaked.

Hopefully the Queen wasn't as scary as these two.

----------------------------------------

"Hey Maro."

Maro perked up, a big grin on her face as she launched herself over the table into Rosan's waiting arms.

She eagerly dragged Robin into the hug as well and let out a happy noise.

"Are you guys happy to see me? Believe it or not, I was actually thinking of you two for some reason! I felt a few shivers going down my spine and began to worry for my safety," Maro rambled to the duo.

"If you're Maro… then they were arguing with each other nonstop because they kept accusing the other of wanting to date you."

The goblin perked up at the unknown voice and peered over Rosan's shoulder to find a tired pink haired girl.

Whatever fear Perona felt at the two, had completely vanished as she watched them escalate their argument until it came to blows.

Watching the two roll around and claw at each other was fairly funny and terrifying... only for all that to be replaced with disgust at watching them suddenly —

Never mind. She should just purge that memory from her head.

"Who's this?" Maro asked curiously, waving cheerfully at the pink haired girl. "Another soldier for me?"

"Yeah," Rosan said, glancing back at her. "She was apart of Gecko Moria's crew. Her ability is very useful so I thought to give her over to you."

"I'm not some type of toy that you can just give away you know," Perona deadpanned.

Rosan raised a brow. "Where did all your fear go? You were terrified earlier," he pointed out.

"Hard to be afraid when I was forced to watch you and your girlfriend lock lips for 30 minutes while I ate," Perona replied dryly. "I just want to bleach my eyes and go to sleep. You two are cute, but I don't appreciate the free show."

"I'm jealous," Maro sighed morosely. "Can you two repeat it for me?"

"Please don't," Perona sighed.

Robin rolled her eyes. "This is what I meant by public displays, Rosan," she chastised.

"You say that like you're not the one who initiated," Rosan accused.

Maro sweatdropped at the two and focused on Perona.

"It's nice to meet you Perona, I'm Queen Maro of Celadon. I'm a little interested in seeing why Master thinks you're so useful!" she grinned cheerfully, gazing at the girl.

She was cute and short, with a head of pink hair and big, round black eyes.

What a uniquely cute girl!

Perona paused as she digested, before her eyes bugged out of her head.

"Y-You're Queen Maro of Celadon?!" She asked in disbelief.

"You know of me?!" Maro beamed happily.

She'd be psychotic to not know about the woman! She was one of, the most famous people outside of the Grand Line!

How the hell did the Red Devil know her? Did he say she was his student?!

How did the Queen of an island like this one, know of a demonic pirate? What the hell...

"Hello?" The beautiful queen asked, waving her hand curiously.

Perona jolted and nodded hastily.

Rosan was giving her an opportunity to work for one of the most prestigious islands in the North Blue! She'd be a dumbass to not accept it!

It was much better than... the other option. Perona may have lost much of her fear for the Red Devil... but that didn't change the fact that he was terrifying and he only stopped being scary because she agreed to be allies with him.

"I'm Perona... I'm 23 and I ate the Horo Horo no Mi so I'm a ghost girl! I can send out ghosts that are very good at immobilizing threats and scouting!"

Maro's eyes widened in joy. "Hey I'm 23 too! Woah! You look so young!"

She didn't have an actual scout! She mostly used Mikita or Drophy for that but having someone who was actually apedt at the job, would be amazing!

Perona saw the joy in the woman's eyes and let out a sigh of relief. She summoned her Hollows and demonstrated them to the awed Queen.

"I won't show you because I don't want to die to that demon over there… but I can send this through anyone and take away their will to live," she explained. "I can also make them explode too!"

Maro ooh'd and awe'd at that.

"I can also turn myself into a ghost! It makes my actual body susceptible but it's great if no one knows where my body is!"

The Queen's eyes widened at that. Perona was a goldmine!

Master got this girl for her?! Amazing! Incredible! 10 points!

"I hope you know I have high hopes for you but I won't push you hard," Maro beamed. "You're so impressive! You already have the potential to be one of the most important pieces of the island!"

Perona beamed in return. The Queen's personality was very cute! Much cuter than those demon's getting ready to lock lips agai —

Oh hell no.

"AHEM!" Perona coughed loudly, making the two jump in surprise.

Rosan glared daggers at her while Robin sighed in exasperation.

Perona was so tired of them.

"Do you have any place for me to stay, Queen Maro? I can set up my ghost network as well but you should warn the people about me to not cause widespread panic."

Maro nodded in excitement. "I especially need to warn Angel… she's super afraid of ghosts. I'll set up some arrangements for you to live somewhere that leaves you secured and safe!"

Perona smiled at that. This was certainly better than being massacred by the Red Devil.

She did miss Moria though… she wondered how he was doing.

With pleasantries finished, Maro had Kanna and Kaori escort Perona to her new place with a pleased smile.

Robin and Rosan both watched the queen turn towards them with a coy smile.

"Arguing about me eh?" Maro cooed, waggling her eyebrows perversely as she pulled the both of them close. "My oh my you little perverts! I realize I'm super hot and you two are also super hot but I'm also married you know!"

Rosan rolled his eyes. "Shut up you goblin. I'd never date you for various reasons."

"Me as well. You're beautiful but I would rather not," Robin nodded with a small smile.

Maro spluttered, before curling into herself in depression.

"You guys are so mean," she mumbled as she drew a circle on the ground with her finger.

Why did they always bully her? What did she do to deserve this! She was queen damnit!

Bah, no one had any respect these days.

The two laughed at her reaction and Maro eventually shot up with a look of curiosity.

"You guys fought another Warlord?" She asked.

Wasn't this a little ridiculous? The Straw Hats never seemed to have any respite at all! All their journeys were just chaos after chaos!

Rosan's smile vanished a bit. "Not just one. We saw Bartholomew Kuma as well," he muttered with a deep frown.

Maro's eyes widened in shock. "You met Bartholomew Kuma and Gecko Moriah at the same time?!"

Robin nodded. "We did, it was quite the difficult battle and we were very ill prepared for Kuma's sudden arrival."

Maro frowned at that. "So how did you guys manage to get away? Did anyone… die?"

She didn't like the way Master was looking right now. He was rather grim while explaining it all so something had to have happened...

Rosan shook his head. "After we beat Moriah… Kuma and I fought and he… pushed out a bubble full of my memories."

The Queen's eyes widened in dread at that. "Your… memories? He can do that?"

Master's memories? What the hell… Maro would be lying if she said she didn't want to know more about Master's past but she also knew that alot of bad things happened to him... so for someone to forcefully extract those memories from him were just...

"He said… if my crew touches that bubbles and sees my memories, he'd let us go and they did," Rosan told her. "At first, I was terrified. I didn't want them to see my past, I didn't want them to see my own personal hell… but they still accepted me despite everything they saw."

He still couldn't believe that they... would be able to look past all that.

Maro's eyes softened at that. It seems like Master was finally beginning to realize how much they valued him.

"Of course they did, you dumbass," she said quietly, pulling Rosan into a deep hug. "I can't believe I fully trusted them before you did, you were being extremely stupid, Master."

Rosan let out a deep sigh, hugging his student back and taking in the little details about her.

It was a fun little thing that he began doing since gaining all his emotions, just fully taking in details about a person for no other reason than to learn more.

"I'm an idiot," he agreed. "I've been… very afraid to open my heart again and… it's been hurting me and the people around me. That's another reason I'm here, I wanted to apologize to you specifically."

Maro blinked in surprise. "For what you did to me when I was a kid? Don't worry Master, I understood exactly why you did it and Ram even told me Robin gave you a firm lashing that I wish I saw!"

Rosan shook his head. "I know but I never formally apologized to you. Doing it without my emotions… it's not sincere enough so I'm here now to make things right."

The redhead took a step back and bowed deeply to the queen, making Maro's eyes bug out of her head.

"Queen Maro of Celadon, my prized student… I'm sorry for what I forced you to go through. No one regrets my decisions more than I did and I'm so glad you turned out the way you did, despite what I made you do. Truly, if there's anything you want me to do to make it up to you, just say the word," Rosan said truthfully.

Robin just watched with fond eyes as genuine remorse rolled off Rosan's frame.

He truly was trying to just be better. You couldn't undo the past... but Rosan was trying to make sure it truly stopped shackling him.

There was a tense silence, before Rosan let out a tiny grunt, at being bonked in the head by Daisy.

"For one, I want you to stop bowing to me!" Maro barked, forcing the redhead up with a stern frown. "Are you kidding me Rosan?!"

Rosan winced at hearing Maro call him by his actual name. She rarely ever called him that when speaking directly to him.

He stared into the angry orange eyes of Maro and flinched back, but the Dokkaebi grabbed him in that impossibly strong grip of hers and pulled him into a fierce hug, causing him to recoil in surprise.

"I knew how much you regret what you did to me even when you had no emotions! I saw the way you eased up on my training, saw you let me hang out with Angel and Demon more, saw you give me random spur of the moment gifts… Even now, every time you give me something for Celadon, you do it with my best intentions in mind," Maro ranted, personally offended that he still felt the need to apologize to her.

Rosan's eyes widened. She noticed all of that?!

"Of course I noticed! Just who do you think I'm the student of?!" She growled, glaring at the redhead with indignant fury at the fact that he still held such regret.

When he had first started doing these things... Maro had thought it was a trick. The first time he told her to go hang out with Angel and Demon, she had denied in hopes that she had passed his test...

But it wasn't a test. Rosan was still as expressionless as ever but something had changed in their relationship and... and he wanted her to have fun and grow up while retaining some of her kid qualities.

It was surreal. He would listen to all her woes, get her gifts of whatever she was interested in... soothe her when she was moody...

To Maro, it felt like Master had begun to actually care for her. How did he think she wasn't going to notice that?

"I was raised by the most observing, strict and ruthless teacher I could have asked for…" Maro began bluntly.

Rosan withered at the accuracy of his words.

"...But behind that… behind that cyborg of a teacher, was the most caring and amazing man on the planet who never once doubted his hopeless student. Behind the cold facade, was a man who's heart was so big, he didn't want his loved ones to be taken advantage of again. Behind those all knowing eyes, was someone who wanted everyone else to love like he had once did," Maro said softly.

Rosan's expression wavered at that and he heard Mod-chan begin sniffing, already ready to bust out the waterworks.

"You're extreme Master, you always have been," Maro whispered passionately to him. "You express yourself by going above and beyond, be it positive or negative. You tried to make me kill that man, not out of unnecessary cruelty, but because you genuinely wanted me to have the guts to stand up and steel my heart and even though you regret it… and even though I was so scared back then…"

Maro took a deep breath and her fierce hug turned into something tender.

"I don't regret having you as my teacher for a second. I'm not scared anymore. I'm brave, I'm strong, I'm happy, I'm loved… and it's thanks to everything you've done for me."

"Your methods are extreme… but that's just one of your charms, Rosan. I don't regret getting strong under your teaching because now I can protect the ones I love without relying on you. You wanted me to be your right hand, an extension of you, a weapon… yet you're the one who pushed for me to become this independent. Even when I didn't want to become Queen, you told me to do so and I'm so glad you did because I love this island, I love my people and I love you," Maro whispered, tears springing in her eyes.

"Don't you dare ever regret what you did for me because that's spitting on everything I've ever become, Portgas D. Rosan. If you continue to regret, I won't forgive you," the queen finished.

…

What was with everyone today, making him try and cry? It's like they were hellbent on abusing his new emotional status.

Rosan fiercely hugged his precious student and let out a soft laugh of disbelief. "This is why you're my prized student… because even despite the adversity you faced, you still ended up like this. You deserve nothing else but the role of Queen. Anything lower would be an insult to you."

Maro let out a watery laugh herself and beamed. "That's because I was raised properly by a King!"

"Fuck you."

"Anytime~"

Robin let out a snort and joined the hug, unable to resist. "I can't praise you enough with how you turned out Maro, I was proud just watching the memories. Even with how shameless and perverted you were."

Maro spluttered at that. "C-Can you blame me?! Master and Angel are so hot!" She exclaimed with wide eyes. "You're hot too, Robin! Hey, you wanna —"

The Dokkaebi squealed in distress as Rosan summarily hoisted her up by the leg and placed her upside down.

"I don't mind if you're a pervert to me, but hands off Robin! Keep your perversion at a minimum!" Rosan barked, shaking her up and down as if he were trying to steal her coins.

"O-OKAY I'M SORRY! I'LL JUST BE A PERVERT TO YOU!" Maro stammered.

A set of hands began tickling the helpless queen and Maro's shouts of distress got more panicked.

"I also would prefer you to not make too many blatant comments about Rosan. I'm far more tolerant but I have my limits too," Robin said, smiling softly at the helpless queen.

"S-STOP!" Maro shouted. "M-MY KIMONO IS SHORT TODAY YOU PERVERTS! PUT ME DOWN! A-AND STOP TICKLING ME, I'M SUPER TICKLISH!"

"Aww did you hear that," Rosan mocked. "The super pervert is calling us perverts! How adorable! Seeing your panties is only the tip of the iceberg for all you've done to me! Nice color by the way, you never struck me as a pink type."

"I thought she would have worn white or blue," Robin added with a small smile.

"ANGEL HELP ME! MY CHASTITY IS IN DANGER!" Maro shouted with a strangled gasp.

Somehow, Angel heard that and showed up to the door in record times. She kicked open the door with a fierce expression and was met face to face with two demons torturing her upside down wife.

Angel's fierce expression slowly melted away, at the twin smiles from Robin and Rosan and she chanced a glance at the blushing and squealing Maro.

She slowly glanced back at Robin and Rosan, before gazing at Maro once more.

"...Sweetheart, I love you so much but I don't want to get caught up in this," Angel said wisely, backing away from the dangerous vibes she was getting from them.

Maro balked as her wife made a run for it in her time of need.

"YOU'RE SLEEPING ON THE FUCKING COUCH TODAY!" Maro roared with razor sharp teeth.

"All this because they were both arguing about the other wanting Maro? The poor girl," Mod laughed disbelievingly.

"Mother and Father are so scary," Ram muttered in shock.

----------------------------------------

"Hey Rosan."

Rosan paused in his workout and turned towards the voice.

"What's up Nami —" he tried, only to finish with a grunt as arms wrapped around his neck.

Nami squeezed him tightly with a small smile on her face. "I just wanted to thank you again for everything at Cocoyashi. I... saw what you did afterwards with those corrupt Marines. I'm glad you felt the need to defend me to such an extent, big bro."

Rosan blinked, before his eyes softened and he wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Sorry you had to see what I did to him. I was extra brutal with those guys," he said truthfully.

"Tell me about it," Nami complained, shuddering a bit at the memory. "I had no idea you went after them! I'm just so surprised you did all that on my behalf... not to mention with the 100 million and everything."

Even without emotions, Rosan was quite the sweetheart in his own way. He just had a funny way of expressing it.

"I'm surprised though... you gave the fishman to Aiko to clone," she mentioned with furrowed brows.

Rosan paused at that.

Right... she did know that now.

"Do you have a problem with that?" He asked seriously. "I can tell her to plug it if you want me to. I have no sympathy for those fishmen but I won't make your decisions for you."

To his surprise, Nami just shrugged.

"I don't really care what happens to them honestly. I just hope I never have to see them again," she replied truthfully.

Rosan laughed slightly at that. "Are you sure my personality hasn't affected you a bit? Robin said it felt like she was me for a bit so I wouldn't be surprised."

Nami thought about it. "I'm definitely desensitized to killing after what I watched. When you told me you fought a fishman, I didn't realize you were already in your kill as brutally as possible phase," she shuddered.

She had no clue Rosan was so strong as a child. To be able to go toe to toe and overwhelm a Fishman at his age, was nothing short of incredible.

What a battle maniac. Even just remembering any memory where Rosan fought got her blood pumping.

"That reminds me! I want Mod-chan to train with me more when you manage to get her a body!" Nami exclaimed.

Mod perked up at that.

"Really?" Rosan mused. "Your use of the elements is pretty similar to hers. You two are alot more surgical with them."

Nami nodded in agreement. "Hurry up and find a way to bring her into the real world! I want the both of you out and about," she demanded.

Rosan let out a tiny snort and nodded. "I'll definitely find a way. I've accomplished almost everything I've been looking for... but I still need to give Mod-chan a hug."

Mod glowed, turning a brilliant shade of red and she began poking a wall in her happiness.

Her pokes turned progressively more aggressive... until she punched a hole into the wall but she didn't notice in her happiness.

"There's just something about how you remember such a little thing... after all these years that truly fills me with far too much love," Mod muttered happily.

It wasn't even that important! Rosan just wanted to hug her in real life but the importance to him... for him to remember even after all these years touched her soul so much.

She really did love Rosan.

"I'm a little afraid to train with her though. I thought you were joking when you said she was a maniac but you weren't. She practically tortured you!"

Rosan nodded sagely. "I told you. Keep in mind I'm not normal either. Imagine her training someone that was way more regular than I am."

Nami shivered. "Yeah, I think I'll die."

Mod spluttered. "I had no idea my training was so bad... but Rosan did learn how to train someone from me so..."

She had seen how Rosan trained Maro... the boy was just as effective as she was... oh dear. She really had tortured her poor son with training.

"Don't worry Mod-chan. Like a good son, I passed on all your teachings!" Rosan reassured.

Now Maro could torture any future student she got!

Mod groaned in misery and Rosan simply laughed at her.

"Mod-chan would love to train with you," Rosan said to Nami. "She says she'll try not to be a maniac."

Nami beamed and tapped Rosan in a way that instinctively made him link to her.

Rosan blinked. How the hell did she do that?

"I love you Mod-chan but I'm not your son! I'm way more regular so don't kill me," Nami said shamelessly.

Mod flushed red. "O-Okay, Nami. I get it!" she whined.

"I'll be more careful. Please stop teasing me!"

Nami couldn't stop her laughter.

Wow, it really was easy to get Mod-chan all flushed!

"No wonder Rosan is so overprotective of you. I feel the same way!" she said.

Mod had a look of horror on her face and Rosan grinned smugly.

"No wait Nami! Don't say such a damning sentence! Don't you understand that Rosan is the type of person who grows more egotistical when someone agrees with him?!"

The redhead shrugged helplessly. "What can I say? No one wants you to date for good reason. At this rate, everyone will disagree with the notion that you should be seeing someone."

Mod spluttered and Nami felt the heavy glare on her person.

The navigator suddenly laughed nervously. "W-Where's Robin anyways?"

"In the library with Ram. They want to find a book that the both of them can enjoy and read it together," Rosan informed her, flashing his ringless finger.

Nami thought that was extremely adorable. "Why didn't you go with them?" she asked.

"I said they could read historical porn since that fulfills both their requirements and got kicked out because of it. Pretty sure I'm sleeping on the couch too."

Ram had turned a rather funny shade of red at that and Robin had glared at him so yeahhh... he was probably in trouble.

Nami sweatdropped at the utterly infuriating grin on Rosan's face. "There's something deeply wrong with you. There's no way you can handle sleeping on the couch. You'll miss her too much."

Rosan nodded easily. "There's no way the punishment will stick... Robin likes using me as a pillow too much but if it does stick, I am not adverse to using my charms to weaken her defense."

Utterly shameless.

"One day it will fail, Rosan."

"I play life on the edge," he said freely.

Nami laughed earnestly at that. Seeing Rosan so at ease was a joyous sight.

He looked so alive. Watching him grin and laugh and seeing the way his eyes glowed in mirth...

All because he knew that no matter what his past was like, he'd still have people to accept him.

Nami couldn't help herself and hugged the redhead again.

Rosan blinked and hugged her back with a look of slight confusion.

"Hey just because Robin is mad at me, doesn't mean I'm suddenly available. I'm still a proudly taken man."

"I wouldn't date you in a dozen years," Nami replied easily.

"...Why wasn't that a lie?"

Nami snorted loudly.

She knew how Rosan's inner lie detector worked now. You just had to say a truth that you believed.

While attractive, the redhead was all Robin's and Nami had no interest in dating him so she truly did mean that.

Besides, Rosan was annoying. Only someone as patient as Robin and Meiko could handle the redhead.

----------------------------------------

Rosan leapt back with a grunt, avoiding the swords flying towards him with narrowed eyes.

Before he could retaliate, a flurry of arms wrapped his body tightly, holding him long enough for a leg to smash into him.

He held up his arms and blocked the kick but he didn't need to for long, as a fist forced the offender to step back.

Sanji grunted in annoyance and kicked away, only for his eyes to widen as a furious wind wrapped around and forced him towards the charging Luffy.

As Luffy attempted to punch the hell out of Sanji, a flurry of arms spawned underneath him, grabbing his legs and halting his movements long enough for Sanji to get away.

Luffy grunted in annoyance and ignored the lightning smashing into him that forced the arms to swiftly vanish and turned towards the ever vigilant Robin.

Before he could make up the mind to go after her, Zoro made his presence known and dashed towards the rubber boy with grim determination.

Luffy didn't even flinch as the ground surged from underneath him, pushing him well out of range of Zoro's attack.

Using the elevated ground to his advantage, Luffy cracked the floor and rocketed towards Robin at immense speeds...

Only for a kick to intercept him.

Sanji's kick did not connect because the ground surged once more and blocked it, allowing Luffy to ignore him and continue his flight.

Before the chef could shoot forward to intercept him once more, he was forced to block a staff that crashed against him.

Nami grinned coyly and Clima surged with electricity.

She was taking full advantage of the fact that Sanji was not keen on hitting her.

Normally she'd be out of sight of Robin because the woman could disarm her easily, but she was being occupied with Luffy so she was free to do so.

Sanji grunted as the sparks began surging across his body. He swiftly dashed away from Nami and shook off the effects of the lightning, before being forced on the move again as the ground began chasing him.

As Luffy closed the distance between him and Robin, the calm woman suddenly let loose a violent grin.

Raven summoned a flurry of arms that restrained Luffy, long enough for Zoro to close the distance.

Rosan attempted to ward the swordsman off, but a mass of arms were currently doing a great job at making sure he couldn't move and he eyed the apologetic Crow with a thin veil of annoyance.

Luffy saw Zoro approaching with his swords poised and huffed in annoyance but fortunately for him, Nami was there to provide support when Rosan wasn't.

Zoro let out a true snarl of annoyance, as he was bombarded with heavy winds and an iron cloud that protected Luffy.

At the same time, Rosan exploded in electricity and shot a bolt of lightning directly towards Zoro and Luffy, forcing Raven to release the rubber boy as well.

Then, he soared over to the real Robin to get her out of the fight.

Nami scowled at the feeling the very strong hands grappling her to the floor, before she forced Clima to explode in electricity, much like Rosan was doing this fight.

To her delight, the hands swiftly vanished off her person and she huffed, before nodding to herself.

Rosan's eyes narrowed as he launched himself towards Robin, but before he could capture Robin, Zoro made his presence known.

At the same time, Sanji swiftly closed the distance between him and Luffy and the two began exchanging furious blows, observations clashing with each other nonstop as they tried to get the upper hand.

Ram transformed into a broadblade, immediately clashing with all 3 of Zoro's blades and the two began a furious dance...

Except Robin continued to make her presence known. The clones and original would pester them nonstop and Rosan's scowl was out in full force.

Just as it seemed like his temper was going to fully erupt, as he was put on the backfoot of his duel with Zoro, the redhead suddenly grinned violently and soared into the sky.

At the same time, Luffy kicked back and launched himself into the air.

Robin's confusion only lasted a split second before her eyes widened.

Before she could open her mouth to warn the other two of what was about to happen, Nami made her presence known.

"Flood!"

A great surge of water suddenly flooded the room, capturing the three in it.

"The Water Dial is no joke," Nami said in awe, floating on Clima like he were a broom.

Rosan nodded in agreement, watching as Sanji and Zoro both burst out of the water with the Robins.

"Cheap," Robin coughed, spitting out the water.

"I didn't know she could flood a room," Zoro grunted in annoyance, ensuring the Robin's didn't go under again.

"She's getting scary," Sanji swooned.

"Asshole," Raven snarled, coughing in spades.

"They got us," Canary complained.

"We never saw it coming," Crow sighed forlornly.

Luffy laughed cheerfully. "That was hard! Fighting Robin is so annoying!" he exclaimed.

"Tell me about it," Rosan and Nami grunted in unison.

The Navigator floated down and stuck Clima in the large pool she created, absorbing all the water back into the weapon with a shake of her head.

"For how fast that fight was, it was utterly terrifying," Nami said, wiping the sweat off her brow. "Robin alone could have ended me within the first few seconds!"

Rosan snorted and grabbed all the Robin's with his tail, bringing them close so he could dry them off. "Robin is a bad matchup for you. You can't really take a hit and she's good at ending things quickly," he explained.

Luffy, Robin, Rosan, Zoro and Sanji had wanted to all spar and due to their incredible teamwork, it was decided that the couple of Robin and Rosan should not be on a team together.

Not to mention the numbers were uneven, so they decided that it would be Rosan and Luffy vs Robin, Sanji and Zoro...

But to their surprise, Nami had wanted to join in on the spar.

Seeing as she was the weakest of the 6, they saw no problem adding her to Rosan and Luffy's team (those two were the definitive strongest which was why the 2v3 was decided) but perhaps she tipped the scales in their favor more.

Rosan landed on the floor and gently pat all 4 of the Robin's outfits down, before pulling the downtrodden Crow into a hug.

"Don't be upset. You did a good job restraining me. But Robin and I have been through this song and dance a lot. I'm not a very good matchup for you all," Rosan soothed.

Crow sighed sadly and tucked herself into him. "Did I really do a good job?"

The redhead snorted and pat her. "Course you did. Imagine if we all weren't holding back so much? I'd have to deal with healing my body while fighting Zoro. Nami would be dead too."

"Don't remind me!" Nami scowled.

Crow nodded at that. "That makes sense... you're right."

"I always am," Rosan cackled.

Raven scowled. "Hey, I'm pissed that I lost! Where's my attention?!" she demanded.

Crow cowered at the scariest of the Robins and Rosan just rolled his eyes, pulling her into the hug.

"You did good too, Raven," Rosan said in amusement. "I'm sure if we weren't holding back, I'd have holes in my body because for some reason, you're the only Robin who wants to use Shigan."

Raven hmphed. "You're damn right. Now pat me."

Rosan conceded easily, just amused to see someone with Robin's face demand something like pats from him.

"No fair! I want attention too!" Canary complained, leaping into the group hug.

Rosan grunted as he was summarily dropped to the floor by the clones.

"Y-You guys are crushing me," Crow said quietly.

Robin watched with a befuddled expression as Rosan was swamped by her clones.

She had no idea how versions of her would so freely stroke this annoying redhead's ego yet here she was...

The worst part was that he would forever think this is what she wanted too... and was just too shy to ask for it.

Utterly ridiculous. Robin was just more dignified and refused to do so in public. Shyness had nothing to do with it!

"That spar was awesome!" Chopper gushed in awe.

"Truly! Why my eyes nearly popped out of my head by seeing what you all could do... but I don't have any eyes! Yohohoho!" Brook clapped in awe.

"I wanna get in on that eventually!" Franky grinned challengingly.

"I can't believe Nami was brave enough to join those monsters," Usopp muttered.

Nami laughed at that. "I was terrified but Rosan is surprisingly really good at playing a more supportive role!" she exclaimed.

Rosan chuckled under the pile. "You can thank Maro and Luffy for that. Maro made me good at supporting, Luffy made me great."

"Shishishi!" Luffy laughed. "Rosan supports me all the time!"

"That's because you only know how to go forward. If I want to keep you alive, I have to take a backseat," Rosan complained.

Luffy wouldn't be able to support even if his entire fruit was based around supporting.

"Modification is a supportive fruit and you primarily use it as offense."

Rosan ignored her and continued his train of thought.

His little brother was just a fighter through and through. His idea of supporting, was punching someone in the face.

"This is why Robin's my favorite partner. She's fine letting me take charge," Rosan sighed forlornly.

Robin smiled at that, finally growing tired of her clones hogging all of Rosan's attention and banishing them.

"You should all join next time. Rosan and I would be happy to show you how proficient we are in combat together and we could do an entire crew team up," she added, pulling Rosan up.

Usopp and Chopper shuddered. "I'll be on Rosan's team!" they both blurted.

"There's no way I'm going against big bro!" Nami beamed.

Rosan blinked. "What the hell? Why do I have the weakling trio on my team? You're telling me I have to go against Luffy, Zoro and Sanji? Give me a break guys."

Zoro shrugged. "Least you don't have to go against Maro and Luffy."

The redhead snorted. "Fighting Maro and Luffy is basically a game of seeing which one of them are gonna hit the other first. They both refuse to support each other."

They would always accuse the other of running into their respective attacks and then it devolved into arguments.

Needless to say, Robin and Rosan rarely lost to the duo. Though, when the two were in sync, even Rosan had difficulty stopping them. Maro and Luffy were both monsters after all and if they put their minds to it, they'd probably be able to comfortably beat Rosan and Robin.

Too bad they were both idiots.

----------------------------------------

"So... Crocodile and CP9, huh?"

Rosan wasn't too surprised that they were questioning him about that so he nodded his head.

"Yeah. Crocodile was just a matter of me wanting to make all of Baroque Works submit. CP9 was because of Izumi making a deal with me," he explained truthfully, even though they already knew his reasoning.

Usopp shook his head disbelievingly. "You are terrifying. My CP9 opponent nearly killed me and you took him out in one hit," he recalled, shivering at the way Rosan had killed Nero.

"Tell me about it!" Franky said in disbelief. "My opponent gave me a lot of trouble and you treated him like yesterday's trash."

Rosan huffed. "Yeah, I wasn't very happy about CP9 but I already made a deal with Izumi so I didn't kill anymore of them."

Izumi... how could Rosan even stand her presence after all that she had done to him?

Meiko that's how. That girl truly was as precious as everyone viewed her...

It was no wonder Rosan had found it so difficult to move on from her. She was a gentle and incredibly kind soul... one who had managed to even break through Rosan.

"Well, it's not like we have a problem with it," Sanji shrugged.

"They probably hate taking orders from you and you're unstable as hell, so I'm fine with it," Nami laughed, thinking back at the hatred in Crocodile's eyes at being forced to listen to Rosan.

Deserved for scum like him.

Rosan hummed at that. "You guys are oddly accepting of everything you've seen in my memories. Do you guys seriously not have any issues with my decisions?"

"Not really," Zoro shrugged.

"The only problem I had, besides your brutal murder spree, was your manipulation tactics on my village," Usopp said truthfully.

Rosan nodded at that. "That's fair... well why haven't you mentioned it before?"

Usopp blushed and shot him a thumbs up. "Because the entire time I thought you were flirting with Kaya but you were just vouching for me! You called me her boyfriend! Nice job, Rosan!"

"Dumbass," Rosan thought with a sweatdrop. "Kaya's 17, sickly and not my type at all, Usopp. You never had to worry about that. She likes you anyways. I actually thought you two were dating."

Usopp blushed and rubbed the back of his head. "Y-You think she likes me?"

"If you had asked her to come with us, she would have said yes in a heartbeat despite being sick. Then you'd have your girlfriend traveling with us and you'd stop being insecure," Rosan shrugged.

The sniper fell. "Y-You didn't have to say all that," he muttered.

Robin laughed slightly at that. "You shouldn't accuse him of being oblivious. You're even worse," she pointed out.

Rosan glanced at her. "Aren't you just as bad as me? I was in love with you too you know."

"I'm not as bad as you," she replied easily.

"...Are you going to explain why?" he asked in confusion.

"No."

He thought about her response and nodded to himself.

This was one of those things where he'd be in trouble no matter what if they argued so best to not.

"Actually, I have a problem! How come you never introduced us to Aiko and Akemi?" Nami scowled, crossing her arms.

"Aiko is a busy person. You would have met her at the girls day but she was doing something," Rosan replied. "If you guys wanna meet them, I'll set up a meeting alright?"

They were all so demanding suddenly...

Rosan sighed with a wry smile.

He supposed it was fine. His family was also very demanding and the Straw Hats had officially become his family... so he was fine with it.