The blonde woman had traveled to Water 7 upon hearing that the Songbirds had been spotted there. There was something she needed to clear up, and try as she might, her conscience wouldn’t let her move on with her life. So here she was. As much as she had been waiting for this, she had been worrying about the meeting. It was time that some truths had to be shared. Truths that had kept her safe for over a year now. What would they think of her for deceiving them for so long? However with how things were going, she doubted she would be able to stay as Elena for much longer and she wanted them to find out from her first.

She stood just inside the Songbird’s hotel room, having taken a few steps after being let in. Hell, it was awkward, like a reunion with family after falling out. She was not going to hide anything anymore. Her hands went into her pockets and chewed the inside of her lip, the posture and demeanour that usually overflowed with confidence was replaced with humility and a touch of guilt. Ro agreed with everything that Junbei was saying. Ro would wait in a few seconds of tense silence after he had finished.

“I wanted to tell you, it was just…” Her thoughts lingered back to that day, where they had been caught between two armies, in a fight for the hidden wealth. It was all happening so fast. The lust for riches making beasts from men. The sky had begun to rain gold and jewels, which pelted down on those below, ripping them to shreds in a maelstrom of valuable shrapnel. The men had wanted riches and they had received just that, their vice of greed leading to a brutal end. They had escaped in the chaos and when it came time to leave, it just hadn’t felt… right. Ro wanted time to reveal herself, but maybe that was just an excuse. One bitten tongue was one too many when between friends. With a promise to see eachother again, they had parted ways.

She took an inward breath and began to speak, raising her head to make sure that the pirates could see that she was being truthful. “I am not the arms manufacturer named Elena Veil. It is a pseudonym I have been using while working in Alabasta. My real name is Rokuju Vinsmoke. I am very sorry for deceiving you all for so long.” Junbei may have heard her family name before, but chances were that he hadn’t due to the general secrecy of her organisation. “I’ve been working hard to rebuild what my family has lost and a fake identity was necessary so that I could move unimpeded. I am sorry that you were caught in the mistruth. I understand if you can’t trust me anymore.”

[486]

(cause the timeskip funkied this up, this is now a flashback)

Ro was shocked to find out that Junbei actually knew of not only the Germa 66, but her link to it. She hadn't expected someone like him to know so much about her true identity, but at the same time, it wasn't impossible. After all, it was nearly impossible to dive in a body of water without causing a few ripples, for lack of a better analogy. Junbei had been around Paradise for a while now, he must have heard something or even investigated the people he was buying from. Regardless, that did not matter now. In fact, it would make what she had to say next easier. When the topic changed to the invention she had crafted, as thin smile wormed it's way onto her face. She remember receiving the order from Junbei before they had first met, and the work she had put into creating the item. To her surprise she had run into the pirate and they went on a bit of a misadventure. Luckily she had remembered to drop the tonfas off to him before he left. She took pride in the things she created, and seeing the weapons again brought up fond memories of her solitary work. Oh how things had changed since then.

Junbei had come right up to her, placing his hands on her shoulders and flooding her personal space with his joyful exuberance. At this moment she couldn't help but compare herself to him. Carefree and bright passion made her own troubled icyness seem so much colder. Her eyes went sideways, unable to meet his gaze. And then he said it, he asked her to join his crew. "Don't say such careless things. I am nothing but trouble. As much as I enjoyed our adventures, I could never join people like you." Answering his exclamation with a hushed but pointed statement.

Junbei continued, telling Rokuju about how they would always be friends. This angered Ro. From her perspective, he just didn't understand. Like he was not capable of reasonable decision making. "You don't know me!" She stepped back. "Don't you see?" The young woman had quite the baggage, and she was convinced that it was much too much for anyone to handle. No, she had to be alone. To push through it alone. “If you do know about me and Germa 66 then you may be able to understand. I have things keeping me here. I have my own responsibilities that relate to the family business. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't run off with you.”

Use him for this, us him for that, what was he talking about? Who in their right mind was this reckless in their outlook of the world? Ro could not understand it in the slightest. If she was in his position, she would have never had trusted herself. She was potentially a very harmful person to have around, in many senses of the word. But still, despite their differences, the blonde haired woman could not deny that she had indeed had fun. It was like there was another part of her that had been brought out of herself when they had been on those adventures. Who was that person? Someone without the cold professionalism and unwavering scrupulousness that had become her trademark persona. Was it possible that there was more for her beyond her single minded quest? If so, was it possible that joining up with Junbei would let her learn more of this. Ro didn’t even know herself. Whoever she was, she wanted more time like that.

Ro stood there, stunned as the Songbirds came together to shower her with undeserved kindness. Maybe this was a good idea… During her years on Alabasta and even before that, she had come to know her own limitations all too well. Yet when she had fought alongside Junbei, it felt like she had a second wind blowing in her sails. This crew had potential, she could smell it. Maybe attaching herself to such a crew would enable her to reach even further than what she could ever hope to do on her own. Maybe she was just trying to convince herself in the moment.

She couldn’t help but break a flashing smile. “Alright, I’ll tag along. Only for a little while though.” Surrounded by friendly faces, she felt like she was tasting a childhood that she had been denied.

A ‘little while’ turned into a much longer while than she could have predicted, as she followed the Songbirds to Tres Iron Lotus.

And the rest is history.

~exit~