"So this is Kohza?" I mutter under my breath, watching the tall dark-blonde-haired, tanned leader of the rebellion step forward, right into the deadly scene straight from the depths of Hell.

I can see his narrowed eyes behind his violet-tinted shades. They are the eyes of a man who has outlasted his patience. Much like Chaka only moments ago. Kohza wears a dark purple trench coat, held open to reveal his dirtied white shirt. A brown sash is wrapped around his waist, a blue scarf his neck. His fisted hands are adorned with brown leather gloves, the material straining over his tense hands. He has a sword strapped to his back, and I have no doubt he is very prepared to use it to obtain what he demands.

He's as dirty as I expected the rebels to be, and bruised and battered. A scar runs over the edge of his left eye, though it isn't recent. Vivi told me how he got it, when he protected her all those years ago.

"Kohza!" Vivi shouts again, somewhere to my left. I've become a little disoriented from my fall, and the sudden absence of pain, so I didn't realize she'd moved.

"It's you," I hear King Cobra breathe. "You used to come using the hidden shortcut..."

"It's me alright," Kohza says, narrowed eyes trained solely on the King. "You got problems with your eyes?"

"Harsh," I mutter, struggling to regain my composure. This connection is a pain in the ass.

"I've come here, to persuade the royal army..."

"Little late there, buddy," I tell him. He looks at me with the same hatred he wore for the King, then glances around the bloodied courtyard. His eyes slowly widen, taking in all the dead or incapacitated soldiers, and Chaka, lying limply on the roof, as well as the King, nailed painfully to the pillar, covered in his own blood.

Honoo hums in my hand, and I break away from staring at Kohza to address my blade. "Wado's ok?" I ask softly. Another soft hum. A slow smile fills my face, and I sit back, my relief making my knees weak. I get another look from Kohza; he's most likely wondering why I'm smiling, and sitting on my ass with scorch marks surrounding me.

Kohza looks up at Crocodile, and I turn my head to face him as well. "Why would the King nearly get killed by the hero of this country?" he asks, disbelief evident in his voice. "I won't believe this..."

"You won't believe what's right in front of your eyes, Kohza?" I demand, shooting him an unimpressed glare. He returns the look, raising a pencil-thin eyebrow as though to ask who I am in the first place, and what right do I have to be speaking to him like that?

I'd answer, but Crocodile's booming laugh cuts off any responses. "You're so funny!" he bellows. "In such a problematic time for both armies, I didn't expect you to show up here. It's like this war is being fought by lizards with their heads cut off!"

Kohza stiffens, sweat dripping down his tan skin, exhaustion present in every movement he makes. This information isn't helping his weakened condition. I don't think he's injured, at least not severely. But this war has been going on for a while now; every is bound to be tired out.

As Kohza still looks baffled, Miss All Sunday crosses her arms, smiling, and says, "You seem troubled. It's quite simple. Just think of the worst situation possible, and you'll understand."

"She speaks the truth," I mutter. "Even if I don't like her." From beside Crocodile, Miss All Sunday sends me a smile that makes me want to stab something with my sword. Repeatedly. "You gonna listen now Kohza?" I ask him, turning away from the infuriating Vice President of Baroque Works.

His eyes locked on Crocodile, he strides over to me. I expect the look of fury that's slolwy building on his face. What I don't expect is for him to offer me his hand and hoist me to my feet. "Who are you?" he asks, meeting my appraising gaze.

"Flynn D. Raya," I reply. "Friend of Nefertari Vivi. I'm here so she can talk to you, actually. Good thing you came here; we would've had to blow up the palace if not."

He looks taken aback by how casually I relay that information, but quickly smooths over his confusion and nods to me. Vivi must see her chance, because she tries to call out, "Listen Kohza..."

He cuts her off. "Vivi! The person who took away the water from this country! Who the hell is her?!"

I cock my head to the side. He hasn't figured it out yet? Oh wait. No that's not it. He just wants confirmation, so he can find the correct outlet for his pent up rage. So he's finally come to his senses, eh?

"It was all--"

"Me!" Crocodile finishes, chuckling. A cruel smile curls his thin lips, pulling at his stitched up scar oddly. We all snap out gazes up to him, both Kohza and I glaring intensely, Vivi barely pulled together. "Kohza," he goes on. "Everything that you though the King did... was traps set up by my company. You have all danced a very amusing dance for me these past two years... Even though the royal family and the army were trying their hardest to reveal our shadows!"

Honoo growls, and I join her, a dark rumble in the back of my throat, wishing I could kill Crocodile myself. Damn Logia Types... And he actually has control over his powers. Any slashes from my blade would be in vain. But there has to be something... nobody is truly invincible. Even Devil Fruit users has weaknesses, besides not being able to swim.

"I think you would have died much easier if you hadn't known about this!" Crocodile laughs, enjoying the horror on Kohza's face, and the anger twisting mine. And of course, he must love the bitter hatred masking Vivi's kind face.

Kohza's losing his resolve. I can see it quite clearly. Eyes widened from shock, mouth dropped open slightly... He doesn't want to believe what's going on. No one does. But like the rest of us, he's being forced to accept that even "heroes" have dark, greedy shadows.

"Don't listen to him Kohza!!"

"King..." we say at the same time. How is he standing this? He must be in agony. Or possibly he's numb to the physical pain. But the rest, the mental strain, the emotional turmoil... How can he bear it, and still speak so calmly?

"The only thing you can do it to leave here now," he tells Kohza. "Go back and save the lives of the people, as many as you can!!"

"What...?" Kohza mutters.

I give him a sympathetic look; I myself am still processing the news of the cannon. And he hasn't heard about it yet.

"Within thirty minutes..."

Chaka. Kohza and I look up, surprised the Jackal Man is still breathing.

"The palace square will be blown up!!" Chaka finishes, coughing heavily, blood spilling from his open mouth, joining the red tide settling around him.

"So you're still not dead..." Crocodile murmurs, stepping up to the large, barely conscious man. I don't like this. "Hurry!" Chaka howls, and Kohza spins around, ready to take off for the square. I see Vivi rushing towards him, tears spilling from her wide, dark brown eyes. And she doesn't appear to want him to continue running. Leaping forward slightly, I tug back on Kohza's jacket, halting him in his tracks. Vivi stumbles at first, surprised she didn't crash into him. Then she grips his shoulders tightly, keeping him from escaping my grip. I give her a nod, knowing she has a reason to keep him here.

"Don't do it!" she cries, and I feel Kohza stiffen, first in shock, then in anger.

"Hey, Vivi!" he yells. "Get off! What do you think you're doing?! Soon the square will turn into a battlefield! If it's blown up--"

"We will not allow it to turn into a battlefield!!" Vivi shrieks, shaking Kohza just shy of violently. "You're still in shock!! If the royal army finds out the square will be blown up, there will be chaos!! Then no one would be able to stop this war!! No one will be saved!!" She takes a deep breath, and when she next speaks, her voice has softened considerably. "Isn't that right?" she asks.

"True," I mutter, letting go of Kohza's jacket. It flaps lifelessly against his back.

"The only thing you can do has been obvious from the beginning!" Vivi releases Kohza as well, stepping back slightly. "You have to stop this falsified rebellion! And you're the only one who can do it!"

I smile slighty; Vivi can be as mindful of her surroundings, and the consequences of everyone's actions, as Zoro sometimes. These are the values one needs to be a King, or a Queen. When we finally get Crocodile's ass out of here, I'm sure Vivi will make this desert country flourish.

I go to say something that backs up her point, but never get the chance. A dark menacing presence forms swiftly behind me, the sound of millions of grains of sand falling against one another.

Crocodile.

"So you think I will sit here quietly and let you do what you wish?" he intones. My body reacts purely on instinct: As his golden hook swishes through the air, I dive forward, knocking Kohza and Vivi back, waiting to feel the sting of my flesh being ripped from my bones.
Instead, the sound of metal clashing with metal greets my sensitive ears.

Lying atop both Kohza and Vivi, I look back, and gasp, "Chaka!"

How is he even moving in this state?!

Quick as I flash, I climb to my feet, pulling the two others with me. I back us up a few steps, watching Chaka's shaking form hold back Crocodile's tearing hook.

"I am... the Guardian Spirit of Alabasta. The Jackal!"

Chaka's voice is strong, resonating deeply in both my ears and my heart. He will give everything before he lets this country die. I glance up and spot the two huge statues on either side of the palace door: A regal jackal, and a proud falcon.

Chaka and Pell, Guardians of Alabasta.

"I destroy the enemies of the royal family," Chaka growls, using every straining muscle to hold off Crocodile, who merely appears bored and uninterested. This is no struggle for him. "As long as I can breathe, I will fight!" Chaka declares.

"Now that's what I call an idiot," Crocodile replies coldly.

"Kohza, Vivi-sama, and Raya."
I blink. I didn't know he even knew my name.

"Do as you were! I believe I can hold him off for only a few more minutes!!"

I nod. I don't wait for Vivi and Kohza's reactions, nor do I wait to see what Crocodile plans to do next. I spin around, grab Kohza and Vivi and start sprinting for the stairs. These two are the only people capable of stopping this godforsaken war. I'll do everything I can to help them.

"PUY UP THE WHITE FLAG!!? Vivi shouts before we even reach the second staircase that leads down to the square. "SURRENDER NOW, SOLDIERs!!"

Needless to say, they don't understand.

"Vivi-sama! Why are you.... Surrender?!?"

"If we do that wouldn't the future of the country...?"

We burst into their view, and a collective gasp sounds through the square. I keep dragging Kohza and Vivi down the stairs, listening to the solders' shouts and cries. Which I could live without.

"Hey look at that!!"

"It's Kohza!! What could the leader of the rebels be doing here?!"

"Does it matter?!" I shout. "Vivi said raise the white flag! This war ends here!"

"She's right!" Kohza says, loud enough to be heard by all those in the square. "We don't want victory anymore! We don't want to fight anymore! We want to stop this battle!"

We're almost down the stairs, and I feel slightly guilty that I'm making Kohza and Vivi run while they're trying to quell the outbreak of war. But the faster we're away from Crocodile, the safer I think we'll all feel.

"I will now inform the rebels that this war is meaningless!"

More gasps, more shouts, more deafening howls. These soldiers are starting to tick me off. Can't they just accept what comes out of this man's mouth as the truth? Sure, he's a rebel, nothing short of their leader. But he's with Vivi! He can be trusted!

"There is no reason to fight! The war will only cause needless bloodshed!! Hurry and wave the white flag!" Vivi screams, her voice panicked, yet commanding as before. "PLEASE!"

I cock my head to the side as we reach the base of the stairs. Footsteps... many, many pairs of footsteps.

"The rebels," I hiss, but keep moving forward, pushing past startled soldiers without any sort of polite excuse.

They scramble around us, getting ready large white flags. I can't figure out where they all came from, but I'm glad the message will be so clear, and so easy to spot. One flag is handed to Kohza, who accepts it with a short nod.

"You ready for this?" I ask the both of them.

Vivi bites her lower lip, her own stress technique, but nods confidently. Kohza looks from the pristine white flag and locks eyes with me.

"I'm ready," he says, his voice steady, even, and Kami help me, seriously alluring.

There's something wrong with me if I, during the middle of a civil war, can find a man's voice alluring of all things.

Several royal soldiers overturn a heavy water basin with intricate desings curling around the bottom. Kohza climbs up onto it, giving the approaching rebels easy view of him and the symbol of surrended held tightly in his hand.

Just as I hear the rebels halt in one of the square's opening, dozens of white flags, as large as bed sheets, snap together in the wind, a symphony of sharp sounds.

"The white flag?!?!" a rebel cries, amongst several other similar yells. "The royal army raised the white flag?!"

Then they catch sight of their inspiring leader.

"Kohza?!"

He stands unaffected by their accusing, somewhat fearful stares, his arm held erect, letting the white flag blow and sway above him.

"The war is over!" he shouts, no doubt startling ever member of the rebellion who has made it this far into the decimated city. "Everyone throw away your anger and your weapons, no one has any reason to fight anymore!!"

Every rebel freezes. The anxious tension is suffocating, overflowing in the crisp, dry air. Like a storm building, it expands to fill the entire square.

"Really... Kohza?" a lone rebel asks in a hoarse voice.

"Yes... this war has--"

The click of a gun being drawn back.

They're all close to me.

Shit.

"Kohza! DOWN!" I scream, jerking him down by the back of his coat, just as several shots ring out, slicing through the silence.

A stinging pain erupts on the side of my neck. A bullet must have grazed me. But the more pressing concern is the body lying limply on top of me.

"Hey, Kohza..." I choke out, my lungs compressed by his larger weight. "You... ok?"

He raises his head, which was lying beside mine in the dirt, and looks at me with wide eyes. Wide with surprise, and gratitude. Well, that's good. He's alive.

"You..." he says breathlessly. "You saved me. And got hurt."

He picks himself up, and helps me up as well, his gloved hand clamping down on my neck, helping to stop the flow of crimson.

"No big deal," I say, somehow managing a smile at him. "This is much easier than the time I saved my crew mate from being shot by a cannonball. That wound was a lot more serious."

He just shakes his head, slightly amused. Though how he can be amused in a time like this, even I don't know. Ignoring it, I gently pull his hand away and scan the faces of the royal soldiers, only to realize they've all engaged in battle with the rebels.

"Shit," I hiss. "The rebels must have thought you got hit! And I can barley hear myself think over the shouting, and the metal clashing, and the damn gunfire. There's no way you'll be able to get their attention again. I didn't even realize they moved..."

"Why would a royal soldier shoot?" Kohza asks as I search for Vivi in the crowd of vicious attacking soldiers.

"They wouldn't," I answer, stretching my burning neck to see where in the world that blue haired princess could've gotten to. She was... what? Fifty yards away when the shots went off? I know she was working her way back to the stairs as Kohza was getting ready with the flag. I think she wanted to be close to the palace, for her father, still trapped, and for Chaka. Even if Crocodile is still up there.

"What are you talking about?" Kohza asks.

"Baroque Works," I growl, hating the way the words sound from my mouth. "The company that Crocodile controls. They must has infiltrated the royal army. Probably the rebels too. This explains that cannonfire earlier, when we were trying to stop you guys in the desert outside the city."

"What?" Kohza looks incredulous. And guilty. "You mean Vivi really was out there? I didn't imagine it?"

"Not in the slightest," I reply, finally accepting that I won't be able to spot Vivi while kneeling on the ground. I pull Kohza to his feet, thinking maybe if a few rebels spot him alive and well we can salvage this attempt to stop the war. But, just my luck, a sandstorm attacks the square right at this moment, obscuring every man's vision.

They aren't going to be able to recognize Kohza like this!

"Damn you Crocodile!" I shout, knowing full well that no one will hear me. Save Kohza.

"This is his doing?" the rebel leader asks me, eyes narrowing behind his shades. I nod, grinding my teeth together. He must know Kohza is alive, otherwise he wouldn't have bothered with the sandstorm. But there could always be another reason...

"I'm going to find Vivi," I say, scanning for openings in the fighting I'll be able to slip through.

"I'm coming with you."

"What about the rebellion?" I ask Kohza dubiously, turning to give him a sharp look.

He returns the look easily. "What can I do from here?" he asks rhetorically. "If we go find Vivi, it's possible we can come up with something together!"

I exhale slowly, gripping Honoo's hilt with more force than necessary. What a trying time.

Without giving Kohza a response, I turn in a circle, looking for the large clock tower I saw earlier, the one that borders the square. 4:15. Fifteen minutes until the square is blown to smitherines. Gah! We don't have time for this!

"Fine," I hiss, jerking my head for him to follow. I finally spot an opening and shoot for it, with Kohza on my heels. I have to dodge and duck constantly, relying mostly on my hearing to warn me where projectiles and weapons are. I'm nearly cleaved in half by a man with a broadsword, but Kohza jerks me back in time.

We continue like this for a few minutes, searching for the stairs. Even when a rebel does happen to notice Kohza, he keep fighting, even harder actually, as though his resolve has been strengthended by seeing his leader alive. Well there goes that plan. Crocodile didn't even need the damn sand. These people want to fight no matter what!

As I twist away from a sword set to strike me in the back, I feel a sharp pull in my side. Like a stitch tearing loose. Damn, damn, damn!

"Damn!" I hiss. Warm blood begins trickling down my side, and while it isn't the torrent from before, it worries me. The medicine Chopper applied kept it from hurting, but if the stitches all pull loose, the wound will open up again. And I'll be done for without a doctor. I'm not a hundred percent, though I may show it on the outside. Another situation like last time, and I won't pull through so easily.

Kohza must notice the taut look on my face, because he jerks my arm gently, getting me to face him.

"Are you ok?" he asks, an odd concern in his voice. I find it strange because we barely know one another. Maybe it's because I said I was Vivi's friend. Or maybe it's because I just saved his life. Whatever the case, his concern does little good at this time, however touching I find it.

"I'm fine," I say, nodding curtly to end the discussion.

We suddenly burst from the sandstorm, almost tripping over the sandstone stairs. The fighting continues on behind us, but I drown it out, searching, searching, searching for Vivi.

She's not here.

But Miss All Sunday is smiling faintly at the top of the steps.

That can't be good. What did she and Crocodile--

"VIVI!"

I jump at Kohza's masculine scream, turning to see what he's so anxious about.

Oh holy shit no.

"VIVI!" we shout together. She's dangling from Crocodile's outstretched hand, on top of the gate's wall, high, high, above the ground. They appear to be talking, with Viv shouting, but I can't make out what they're saying. But I see Vivi crying.

"We have to save her!" I shout, starting up the long, long steps. Why did they have to build the damn palace so high above the damn city?! But even as I climb step after step, I know deep down that we won't be in time.
And I watch, horror-stricken, as Crocodile abruptly unclamps his large fingers from her neck, and she plummets.

In seemingly slow-motion, I see Vivi fall. In total, awe-struck silence. Not even Kohza, screaming his head off beside me, registers in my ears. Just the sound of the wind ripping at Vivi's dark blue cloak. Nothing else.

And then, cutting through the onslaught of deafening quiet, comes the cry of: "CROCODILE!!!!!"

"Luffy?" I whisper.

He's here. My Kami, he's here. He's alive.... I knew it! I knew it!

From behind me, a large bird swoops down, a familiar, lanky, straw hat-wearing boy on his back. He throws a goofy grin at me over his shoulder.
He catches Vivi, long before she hits the ground.

"LUFFY!!" I scream, leaning over the side of the stairs, waving to him like a fool. He smiles broadly down at me, the large falcon he's riding on circling in the sky, slowly descending, before turning back to speak with Vivi.
I fall against Kohza, too stunned to hold myself up. He helps steady me, an astonished smile on his face, silent tears dropping lightly onto his tanned skin.
"She's alive..." I hear him whisper.

Luffy and Vivi land beside us, at the base of the stairs, a moment later, and I swarm them both in a massive bear hug. Vivi breaks away to stare at the not-dead Kohza, and I allow them to have a moment, fully embracing my captain.

He wraps his arms around me warmly. "You're back, Cap'n," I whisper, my voice too hoarse for normal speech. "I just wish a had a welcoming gift for you."

He chuckles slightly and pushes me back to give me another goofy, yet reassuring, smile. "Of course I'm back, Raya!" he says excitedly. "I told you I'd kick Crocodile's ass, didn't I?"

"As far as I can tell," I say, smiling up at him, "his ass hasn't been kicked recently. Not even lightly tapped."

Luffy laughs again, pushing his hat up from his face. "Shishishishishi! Cause I still gotta job to do!"

(A/N: "Shishishishishi!" is how Luffy laughs. Each character, or most of em anyway, each have there own unique way of laughing. If I remember, I'll try to start using the others' laughing styles in their speech, instead of like "hahahaha" or something)

I step back from him and rejoin Vivi, who tells me that Kohza made up his mind to return to the fighting and try to convince as many rebels to stop as he can. I nod, slightly saddened by his absence, but too euphoric over Luffy's return to care much.

Luffy pinwheels his arm, gripping that shoulder with his free hand like he's winding up for a pitch. "I ate a lot of meat!" he informs us with a proud grin. I sweat drop slightly, but smile back. "Enough blood too!"

Ok, kinda gross. But if he's ok from whatever Crocodile did to him before, then I'm fine with it.

He turns to look up at Crocodile, still grinning determinedly. They lock gazes, and Luffy announces confidently, "I will not lose!"

Pell, who I've just noticed is back from the dead as well, reverts to human form as Luffy throws back his arms, ready to fling himself up to Crocodile.

"AHHHHH!!! Luffy is still alive!!"

I tear my eyes away from my captain and turn, along with Vivi and Pell.

"Chopper?!"

"Tony!"

The little reindeer doctor stand behind us, jaw touching the ground, eyes nearly popping out of his head from sheer surprise.

And behind him, a bulky white figure hobbles forward.

"WHAT?!" is exclaims. "Is it really Luffy?"

"See! See? I knew it!"

It's Usopp, wrapped thoroughly and thicjly in heavy bandages. His nose is wrapped up as well, like it was broken. Yeesh, that must have hurt.

"Really?" Chopper asks, fixing his little hat.

"Yeah right. Is that the face of someone who knew it?" Sanji walks up after them, sweatdropping and gesturing to Usopp's marred and obviously relieved face. Eyelash is just behind him, though I can't say I'm particularly pleased about that.

Out of nowhere, Nami appears, swiping angrily at Usopp's back, rocketing him forward. "Usopp!" she shouts, fury and venom dripping from her loud voice. He cries out, "Ouch!!"

"Nami!" Vivi says. "Mr. Bushido! Everyone's safe!"

Mr. Bushido?

"Who asked you to make a party toy?" Nami demands from Usopp, holding the weapon her gave her before, other hand on her hip. Her dress is in tatters, though it reveals barely any more than before, and her hair is a mess. Though mine probably doesn't look much better.

"You can stand just fine!!" someone spits, furious.

I peer past Nami, and my heart skips a beat.

"Zoro!" I scream, tackling him to the ground in a very unexpected hug. He grunts as his back hits the dirt, while everyone else goes silent around us. "You're ok..." I say softly against his chest. He's covered in blood, his white shirt and green haramaki drenched in red. I can feel the cuts and slashes across his front. But he really is alive. I couldn't be sure from my supposed connection with Wado, because I have a hard time believing it even exists. But it's true. He's ok.

"Raya..." he says, surprised. I shake my head, my face still buried in his chest.

"You have to stop scaring me like that," I say, low enough that only he'll hear. "I knew you had trouble... but I couldn't.... I had to focus on helping Vivi. I had to believe you were going to be alright. I know you don't want people being concerned about you but I...."

He manages to sit up, my arms still wrapped firmly around his neck. No one else has made a sound yet. Except for Sanji, sobbing loudly some ways away from us.

"Hey, it's ok," he says against my ear, his lips hidden by my hair. "I was.... I was worried about you too. But what do you mean, you knew I had trouble?"

I pull back and shake my head again. "I'll explain it later," I say, shakily getting to my feet.

He stands after me, reaching out an hand to steady me.

I turn back to the others, not embarrassed in the slightest. And thank Kami, before they can say anything, Luffy speaks.

After sending a reassuring smile my way, he says, "Sorry, I lost to that guy once. So this time I can't lose."

"Hurry up with it," Zoro says, in a tone that suggests he doesn't understand the severity of the situation. But one look at his eyes tells the truth. He gets it, maybe more than any of the other Straw Hats, how serious this next fight is going to be, for Luffy, for us, for Vivi, and for this country.

"If you can't win, who can?!" Usopp declares loudly. The others only offer small, supportive grins to our captain.

"I'll finish this now..." he says, the muscles in his rubber arms rippling, veins bulging beneath his smooth skin. "All of it!"

"ALRIGHT!" the rest of us cheer, even Eyelash, in his weird camel way.

And with that, Luffy slingshots himself upward, aiming straight for Crocodile.

Whatever happens here... it's really the end.