Disclaimer: Since One Piece came out in 1997, it's pretty unlikely that I, a pretty cute kid at the time, possessed the mind to develop such a masterpiece.

AN: Try to bear with the difference of time, canon/non-canon/fanon devil fruits, teasing from a variety of characters, complications, implications, and OC characters as you read this fic.

Note that:

2DBE=Two days' before Execution

DBE=Day before Execution

DOE=Day of Execution

DAE=Day after Execution

Title: Phase1: Seek out a Marine

2DBE/Time: 9:03/Sabaody Archipelago

One has to wonder who was the catalyst that particular day.

Was it God? Was it a woman? Was it a photo?

Who was it that gave birth to chance and choice that day?

He does not know. He did not know. He will not know in the future, and he personally wouldn't want to know since whoever is responsible is far too intangible for him to thank, aside from the last two.

Anyhow, it's necessary to remember that: this life and that life are not identical. Repeat: this life and that life are not identical. Highlight that the two: are not identical.

. . . .

DOE/9:04/At sea between Impel Down and Marine HQ

The pirate watched the hell hole he was once condemned to appear smaller and smaller. Impel Down, the stuff of insanity, gradually became a speck on the horizon, and then it was gone. That fact still didn't diminish his blues.

How did it all come to this?

Of course he, the pirate to be beheaded/hanged/shot/poisoned, knew the answer. He knew the reasons. The chances he'd taken, the choices he made within them. Not all were regrets but those that were had no place in the present all the same. Thinking about them would only make him a hypocrite.

What had repeatedly swore to himself again and again?

Distracting himself, he focused on the great sea around him, yet the intrusive wind proved to be better. Annoying as ever it was as it brushed and toyed with his hair, more playfully innocent than anyone who may have spent night with him, and just as playful as a slow little brother, although not as fond as a mother he'd never got to be loved by. Granted, there was Dadan, but to reminisce about her and the bandits right now would leave him far too unguarded. It'd be a blow to his pride to let the all see what was bubbling right under the surface. His enemies surrounded him: left, right, front and back. There was no exit for the pirate. He only had whimsical distraction from his hair which gave off a ticking sensation, seemingly dancing around in a weird, misplaced sense of joy, like hope.

I won't dare do that.

This day had been a long time coming. It was in his blood. Hereditary, one could claim. Though it wasn't a fact of life he'd enjoyed remembering. He'd just been so content with life for so long to ever think about that bad blood of his.

No one will come for me over there.

Hard to hope so in his case when reality spoke harshly by the chains, exclusively sea-stone, restricting his hands and feet along with four guns, probably packing sea-stone bullets, held by Marines drilled to aim at him without fail. Not to mention, the site of this death just in the distance. Still, not all was bad. Perhaps a tiny bit of pride, warm as sake, helped remind him of the threat he could be (once unchained) since their cautiousness was not half-assed.

Might be meetin' Gramps again.

Before Ace jumped off that running train of thought and switched tracks to board one slightly despairing, the fact that he didn't hate the old man made him pause. It made him rewind back to six years ago. A bit petrified described the state him and Luffy were in as they carried back home a semi-poisoned Garp.

'Become Marines.' was mumbled deliriously, 'Fight alongside me.'

Not against.

His little brother wouldn't have heard that, he was too preoccupied with bawling his eyes out and begging Garp not to cross over to the mystery place. Ace had not openly cried up that day; however, his hand had grabbed hold of the old man's urgently once he thought Garp stopped breathing. Perhaps, it taken a while for him to let go. Even when Garp had regained his mind, the Marine hero displayed no signs of discomfort from the hand-holding.

Anyhow, as infected as the old man had been that day, it revealed the unsaid consequence hidden in their arguments: Marines vs. Pirates. Garp never gave in to their pirate dreams. In fact, stubborn to a fault, the both of them never gave in to the others demands. All three of them. A troublesome trait shared by something more than blood. The old man wanted the best situation for the three of them—a world where he'd never have to prioritize duty over family—a world where he didn't have to choose at all.

Sorry that fantasy doesn't exist in this life, Gramps.

His thoughts were interrupted by some Marines passing by his left, "That was a close one. I reckon they could have succeeded, but can you imagine the loss of face we'd have if those insane pirates broke out Impel Down?"

"Don't think like that! Boy, if that ever happened, we'd all have to keep it on the down low. Not even rumours. Can't let the world thinking that pirates run this world."

Don't think of him.

It was inevitable.

He'll be fine.

It was his prerogative to worry over him ever since age 10.

Sooner or later, his brain was going to wrack up scenarios as to how Luffy, too naive and too straightforward to a ridiculous fault, would escape out of that hell hole and somehow board a ship, and then find his nakama to pursue more adventures.

Being Monkey D. Luffy's big brother, he knew the rubbery pirate inside out. He wouldn't just forget Ace and move on.

He'd keep fighting. And dammit, if that idiot comes to...No. That idiot can't come to Marineford. He can't. He's out of his league there. He's has to know that. He'll...

He shut it off. Every single imagination about Luffy in that conflict was erased before it could exist.

Ace cast his eyes up to the sky, still believing that his other brother, the much more rational one he personally never was, would somehow hear him.

I'm sorry, Sabo. I failed. You told me to be there for him. And I failed.

. . . .

2DBE/Time: 9:04/Sabaody Archipelago

The first few minutes in this life (right here, right now) went all according to plan as it did in that other life before; two revolutionaries prepared to go to Baltigo from Saboady.

A blonde haired man still said what he had spoken before in that other life, "I dunno if it's a shame that we missed out on all the action around here earlier, or that we're in luck that Hack wasn't caught accidentally as slave in that auction house."

"I pick the 'we're in luck' option." replied a brunette in the likeness of that other life, "When you think about it, our investigation went smoothly. No need for incognito. We've now got a reliable source who knows about that Shichibukai's possible next move. And the Smiley project? Talk about unethical business. It's obvious he's up to no good. A shame his subordinate betrayed him oh so easily. Disco had quite the mouth when drunk."

The blond haired man said with a grin, "He's not the only one." which lead the woman to quickly notice the different shades of green in the grass. "And it's no surprise why Marines hate pirates much more these days if insane stuff like him exist. Though, Celestial Dragons are in a league of their own when it comes to craziness. Anyone can see that those monsters are-"

The brunette rolled her shoulders stiffly, as soon as he noted this, the man remembered how two irreconcilable marks made their home on her back, he therefore back-tracked immediately.

"Koala, I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay. It's in the past. I'm free now, aren't I?" her smile was not as wide as it could be, "But most importantly, whoever was once captured is free too." her voice possessed the same nostalgia as it had before. "And those snobs are scared to set foot here now. Thanks to pirates. Proves they're not all bad."

"Couldn't agree more. You know I respect some. Wouldn't mind meeting these so-called Strawhats, but if the rumour's true, to think that the Dark King was here. Man, what a legend."

"It's moments like these that makes me wonder if you ever missed out your calling in piracy."

The man frowned deeper in this life than he had frowned in that over life. "Who knows? From what Dragon and Ivankov told me years ago, I was sailing somewhere on a fisher boat with a pirate flag. Seems to me that maybe...maybe I did want to be a one. But it doesn't make sense why." the man sensed yet another one of his minor headaches in the near future. "Other than leaving that island, escaping probably, I really don't know what inspired me or who."

Silence, not entirely peaceful, settled over them. The past was at times a touchy subject for the both of them.

"Frown any harder and you'll lose whatever it is that makes you decently nice to look at."

The scene in this life still managed to follow the previous written script.

He had rolled his eyes as before, and huffed out a laugh. He walked passed a newspaper stand along with his comrade indifferently, whereas an indigo haired woman behind them stopped and received a newspaper free of charge. She read the news as she strolled while a blonde man in front of her commented on the manner in which his brunette comrade had used her own decently-nice-to-look-at features to buy reasonably cheap candy floss for two a little while ago. No sharing of course.

'You're twenty, Sabo. Twenty. I'm not your babysitter.'

Such a comment lead to a friendly elbow nudge, afterwards a rapid roundhouse kick delivered by her, he therefore ducked due to habit. Crouched down, he back rolled easily for the sake of space, upright he stood, he then moved into a defence, a smirk on his lips, his back though bumped somebody.

She might be the catalyst.

The indigo haired woman in this life remained timid, her eyes darting elsewhere when the man charmingly apologized to her. He aided her in picking up her things which had fallen from her arms. When reaching for the final item: the newspaper, their hands grazed each other's. She retracted hers at once, as though burnt by playing with fire. Had it been that other life, she'd have stuttered an excuse, laid hold of the paper, and made a run for it by now.

This life had bigger plans at hand; ergo, her inhibited temperament went on a temporary break, daring for once, a quick coup d'oeil was all she planned for. What had not been planned was for a glance to turn into a gaze—a mutual gaze now, allowing her to drink in irises that were not at all black, trailing downwards with her eyes revealed an amused smile which only seemed to leave her mentally paralysed, light-headed, and also...

Her thoughts caught up to her, as did her feet, ready to find a corner to curl up and die in.

"Wait, you're forgetting your p-"

Her ears did not hear his statement. Her thanks was expressed in the same rush her legs possessed when darting off.

Mirthful, was the current state of his comrade nearby.

"Charmer." she purred.

"I-It wasn't intentional."

"Whatever you say, lady-killer."

The moment the brunette's beam on her face showed teeth, he diverted his attention to the paper in his hands. There was no hope winning this round.

Right here now, right now was a crucial moment where something in this life went horribly wrong or wonderfully right.

He read the headline. He read the subheading. He read the infamous name he heard at bars and from his comrades.

Portgas D. Ace. Fire Fist Ace. Second Division Commander. Whitebeard Pirates.

He knew four of these verities like all the long-winded fisherman at port, just as he knew briefly of magnitude Gol D. Roger was in the pirate world. Nothing more but generalities.

His eyes travelled lower, noting the issue of a war close to this island, the prediction of casualties, the evacuations taking place. He then saw the photograph accompanying the pirate. He'd never seen an image before. So is this why his eyes had widened by each second, far more owlish than ever before? They stared at the photo for aeons, nothing in the world powerful enough to remove his attention away from it, specifically—specifically—specifically the dots featured on each side of the pirate's cheeks.

He knew, he immediately knew, viscerally, he knew the total of dots on the right and left side.

Twenty.

Right now, right here was another crucial moment where a junk yard appeared in his mind's eye. There was firstly an angry boy in this junk yard who refused to give his name; there was secondly an angry boy in this junk yard who refused to give his name, and thus left him no option but to give the angry boy a nickname.

This is the first memory out of the thousands upon thousands to crash and land violently without warning later on.

'Leave me alone.'

'C'mon, I ain't asking much. Give me a chance, Freckie.'

'Freckie?'

'Well, I was gonna Frecks or Freckles, but that's just plain rude, ya know?'

His hand tightened on the newspaper, veins popping out ugly. His bottom lip trembled, he had to bite it. His mouth became dry. He swallowed hard. His heart, hurt and relived, nearly failed. Overwhelmed it was at massive storyboard that opened all of its old pages in his mind.

. . . .

DOE/9:08/At sea between Impel Down and Marineford

Unforgettable moments, in form of photographs of the past, probably his greatest moments as a pirate, were what summoned in his mind in first place. Next, all and every visual gained movement, the nature becoming aural as well. In his mind, his only sanctuary—his escape, there seemed to be a library-sized recollection of distinct voices that he would remember till he couldn't no more. In fact, in this particular library, it contained the entirety of well-lived life which illustrated who and where he was today.

'Take care, Ace! When I set out to sea in three years, I'll have gotten even stronger!'

'Me? A pirate? Well, if you have that much faith in me then I guess I'll be the best damn First Mate you'll ever have...Captain.'

'I never knew he had a brother! I see. I'm glad you came!'

'I'm not going to allow a kid with a murderous intent to see the old man!'

'Become my son!"

'Hey! I'm Commander of the Fourth Division...Thatch!'

'Because he calls us his sons. To the rest of the world we're all just outcasts. It makes us happy.'

That had jolted his heart when he heard it. That had become satisfying later on. Fulfilling. To be accepted unconditionally regardless of everything.

'It doesn't matter who your parents were. Everyone is a child of the sea.'

Absolutely everything.

'And now, Ace is officially the Second Division Commander!'

'Ace. It's fine. I have...'

Whitebeard's were left incomplete. Left ignored by his body and mind as he rushed towards to Blackbeard that day.

Should he have heeded his father's advice? Would he have gotten to meet Luffy so soon? And would Blackbeard still have gotten the balls to send Luffy to the Marines despite Garp's presence at Water Seven?

Far too freakin' late to think about this all. It's done.

The past could not be changed. He couldn't go back and change it himself. All he could do now was wait for what was to come soon.

Death.

Everyone's gotta kick the bucket sometime. Wouldn't mind an extra ten years, but I kinda wonder how they'll take me out.

And wasn't that something to look forward to?

From what he could recall instantly, ranging from civilians to witches to talking animals to Marines to pirates like himself, it was foretold that the exact moment you were about to die, or during the moment you inhaled and exhaled your very last, apparently the life you lived rushed through your mind with great clarity, all and every highlight of your lows and highs. The final memory of yourself—by yourself—for yourself.

Think I did that too early.

If the Marines had a clue to this true parentage, which seemed to be the case for some of the higher-ups due to those secretive looks he got thrown at him, then they would make it quick. He carried the blood of a demon after all. A sin to be exterminated ever since a particular sperm and egg fused together. From then on, those two humans in love: Roger and Rouge, had painted a target on their son's back.

He'd only been living on borrowed time.

I used it well.

. . . .

2DBE/Time: 9:05/Sabaody Archipelago

"Hey, what's the matter? You look like you've frozen yourself to the ground. Is there something on the press really juicy?" the woman drew nearer behind him, peering over his shoulder, setting her eyes downwards to what he had read.

"Oh." she said. "He's a big deal. This is gonna cause one heck of a stir with his crew when his captain finds out. His captain's a legend. Whitebeard pirates never let one of their own-"

"K-koala,"

"Hm?" noting his stutter, her lips pursed. Weird. He rarely did that. "I'm listening."

He shook his head, hands releasing the newspaper which fell to ground, they fisted themselves in his hair instead, pulling too tight at several strands.

"Tomorrow." he whispered, as if the thought of saying it louder would push the execution date today. "It's in two days. Only two days. And we're so near I-I can't believe this."

"Sabo, I'm not following." she said gently, "Please help me understand."

"I don't get it myself! Why now? Why the hell is it now? What's the joke? What hell is going on?" Words gushed out his mouth unchecked, akin to geysers, cloudbursts and volcanoes. "It's back and it doesn't feel fake. I'm not dreaming, I'm not drunk, I'm not drugged. This is real. These memories are real. It's all real."

He caught her whole attention now. Her concern grew as ferocious as his abnormal panic taking over him.

"Work with me here, Sabo." Koala's tone was becoming appeasing, "What memories? What memories are back?" she intended to be the lifebuoy of sanity he could easily cling to rather than drown in the turmoil of his recent discovery.

"Argh, how'd I forget? How? If it wasn't for him I wouldn't...Koala, I just wouldn't, okay? What kind of propaganda is this? What'd he do? Sure, he's part of Whitebeard's crew. Second Division Commander. Still doesn't explain why is it a big deal for...of course." His comrade winced as an ill-natured laugh left his mouth. "That's what's going on. It's not about him. It's his dad. His real dad. Why is that dead bastard still putting Ace through this crap after all these years? His stupid damn legacy."

Sabo dropped to his knees, slamming a fist against the ground, sending underground vibrations for a radius of 20m. The frantic man grabbed for the newspaper again, attempting to scan and memorize every line of text written despite his breathing ragged and uneven, despite the sweat increasing on his forehead.

Only three passers-by began to stare. Koala however was preoccupied with her comrade in middle of a crisis. He was stressed. He was petrified. He was so far from himself that Koala could have mimicked his mannerism and passed off as him with flying colours. Sabo, recently the second-in-command, had always regained himself in tough conditions. He didn't just break down and mumble non-stop. It ached to witness him this way. All she realised was that Sabo was going to claw the skin and hair off his head dragon-style, successfully yet accidentally reaching his brain if she didn't figure it out soon.

To her credit, it took her under eight seconds. Her deduction was plausible enough.

"You know him." she knelt in front him, placed one of her hands on his trembling shoulder, the other feeling the frantic pulse on his neck,"You know him personally, Portgas D. Ace. Who is he to you exactly?"

Sabo looked straight through her, lost. Up close, she saw the actual colour of his current watery eyes. The sight stunned her: how did a happy-go-lucky man switch to morose in under a minute?

"Koala, he's important. So important. And I forgot. I forgot everything."

"Tell me more."

The admission fell easily out of his mouth, "He's Frecks. He's Freckles. He's Freckie. He's moron. They're gonna kill him. He's gonna die. He's gonna die tomorrow. He was my-" he fell easily likewise in Koala's ready arms, who supported his unresponsive self.

. . . .

DOE/Time: 9:12/At sea between Impel Down and Marineford

He'd likely meet his death by swords, in memory of that...that man he could barely pronounce without the urge to spit and scowl. Ace could imagine it vividly, how it would all go down. Perhaps he'd be on his knees, a sign of total submission. Solely for the occasion, recently polished—recently sharpened swords, the utmost best for the utmost worst, would strike down once.

Sometimes.

Ace grimaced once the doubt took its seat in his mind. Normally, it would take one final strike by two executioners, however he'd seen with his own eyes some decapitation ceremonies here and there. It took more than one strike at times, and yes, it looked inhuman and horrendous. Screams by victims one had to hear with one's own ears stayed with some for days if you couldn't get a grip fast enough. He'd seen how executioners were permitted at times to hold up the head, he'd seen how that head still possessed some spirit left to blink. Definitely disturbing. He did have goosebumps that particular day. His Flame-Flame fruit had malfunctioned as well, unable to grant him warmth. He had been at his coldest temperature yet.

With my luck, they might have to hack it off a couple times, and then kick my head off 'cause my bones are too damn strong.

His lips managed to frown and smirk at the same time.

Didn't know I could be this morbid. It can't get any worse. What's worse than death?

"Ah, Portgas D. Ace. We meet at alas."

Speak of the devil's twin brother.

. . . .

DBE/Time: 19:00/Sabaody Archipelago/Clinic

Sabo awoke from his slumber, his fever to be precise, yet he did not know that until later.

Where am I?

All he could make out were two figures to his right, a man and woman. One probably a doctor and the other his friend, Koala.

"Hey, where am I? Is this a hospital? Why am I at hospital?"

The two figures stopped talking once hearing Sabo's grumbling, both turned towards him, both of their faces relieved or overjoyed in Koala's case. In haste, she went over to him.

"Sabo, you idiot," was that a sob he heard? "I swear, if you ever scare me like that again, ever, even for a joke..." was what he could somehow hear out despite her face hidden in his lap.

"I got it," he murmured softly, eyes softening too at her worry. "what I don't get is what led me here exactly?"

Koala huffed, "Obviously me, and never again. I'm lucky I managed to find a good clinic in this zone, the hospital was way too far." and gave Sabo mental whiplash with the way she rapidly regained herself. "Plus, you're heavy. Hack would easily agree. Watch what you're eating next time."

"It's muscle."

"The jury's still out on that."

"You wanna see the evidence?"

"You're seriously not my type."

It was then that the doctor cleared out throat, either to gain attention or to halt a laugh. "To answer your question, you're here because you did give us quite a scare. From what your friend told me, you began hyperventilating and subsequently passed out. A panic attack, most likely. I can simply induce that you were unable to process whatever alarming thing you discovered." the doctor's next words were no longer clinical in tone. "If your mental, including emotional trauma had been more severe in nature, you might have found yourself in a coma."

Stated thus, Sabo spoke slowly, still trying to digest the word coma down in mind's stomach. He had yet to process his two days of bed rest. "Is that the good news or bad news?"

"Worst case scenario. The good news is that you'll be discharged the next morning. The bad news is that visiting hours end in 30 minutes."

The young man blinked, reflecting on the entirety of memories that burst through with dark and light colours, "Seriously, is that it? Not that I don't trust your judgement, Doctor, it's just that...this doesn't happen to me often."

"Hm," the Doctor glanced down at the notes head taken, "I had my suspicions too. Your heart rate however is at its regular pace. Your brain activity holds no irregularities. You're breathing evenly. I will however visit later, say around 8:25 to find if one of my fears is proven wrong. Does that work for you?"

"It works. Thanks by the way."

"I agree. Thank you. Thank you for everything, Daichi." Koala beamed, unjustifiably brighter than usual.

"Just doing my job, Koala." the Doctor accompanied his words with a warm smile, unjustifiably inviting. Though whatever door Daichi opened, Sabo sensed that it wasn't inclusive.

"Not everyone puts their heart into it."

"I think you'll find that I'm an odd one out."

"I personally have no complaints."

Ah, so that's what it is.

There was something was in the air the three of them breathed; there was something more than smell of mild disinfectant. It seemed that Sabo had missed out on quite a bit. Beguiled, he smirked at their silent exchange, positively certain he could slip right out the window while the two, mutually mesmerised, were none the wiser.

A remark at the tip of his tongue let loose once the Doctor left, "My, oh, my, first name basis already?"

"Don't."

"And he's a red head."

"I'm warning you."

"Everyone knows about your thing for them by now."

Koala looked away with her cheeks rather warm, her arms folded themselves. "Sheesh, Sabo, of all the things to talk about."

"He might be married, you know. With a jawline like that-"

"Oh shut up."

"Cheer up, I'm sure he has a brother."

"He sure does." her amicable tone went south from that point on, "Down at the hospital, healing from a gun shot all because he tried to persuade a Celestial Dragon not to take his fiancée away days ago."

"Woah."

"No one can reason with those monsters. They're lucky they've evacuated from this island. I wouldn't mind showing them how I've-" Koala breathed through her nose thrice, regaining herself. Her smile didn't stretch as it normally did; however, her eyes were what Sabo took at face value.

She rolled them, "Don't give me that look. Change of subject. I confess. I maybe went overboard with the clinic, but hey," Koala whispered her next words, "Dragon'll chew me out for bringing back our second-in-command out of shape due to necessary precautions not taken."

"Don't sweat it, I'll shoulder the blame." he said, "We are after all kind of behind schedule because of me."

"Kind of?" she repeated.

"I really don't wanna play the guessing game right now, Koala."

"I'll save you the trouble and say it's been two days."

TWO DAYS!? WHAT? THEN TOMORROW ACE'LL BE...Chill. Don't let it be obvious. Don't mention him.

Sabo's mind came to a standstill afterwards. "That's not possible. Tell me you're joking."

Koala counted her fingers and multiplied the numbers mentally. "Technically it's been thirty-four hours or so."

Sabo muttered a curse that still echoed around the room. "But that means...that means we've completely missed our boat and our rendezvous with Hack on Picnic Island."

His hand twitched on top of his knees which led Koala to brush away his worries before said hands could reach his hair again. "Granted, it's not your fault intentionally, Sabo. I rented us another boat for tomorrow, and I've already relayed the message to Hack." Koala clicked her fingers once a recent fact resurfaced in her mind. "Oh yeah, you'll never guess who I saw strolling about as I carried you."

"Who?" Sabo asked, liking the change in topic.

"Satomi." Koala answered. "The jet-black hair she's got now threw me off, I almost didn't recognise her. Still, it begs the question why she didn't just take the infusion she and Ivankov worked on together. It's got the whole package of infiltration if you ask me."

Sabo would have to rack his brain to remember this 'infusion'.

"Even though I wanted to, I couldn't really talk to her since she's still in disguise. Plus, she was surrounded by her subordinates. They're most likely patrolling the area, on the search Celestial Dragons who were lost during the chaos, restocking supplies, or providing military reassurance for the upcoming war."

The last word spoken jolted him a little close to home.

"Seems like the situation is getting pretty serious."

"Speaking of which, a few disagree with the war. Personally."

Her words were spoken casually. Her tone layered out a neutral ground where no position was taken.

Sabo picked at his nails to stall for time, whereas Koala waited with all the patience of a grandmother.

No one pointed at the elephant in the room.

Deep down, he wanted to get it off his chest. Reveal his view on how this upcoming war was nothing but placing a father's sins upon their child. Divulge what exactly he was planning to do about it. How instinctual and natural it felt to understand what he had to do soon. Above all, make known how he'd never forgive himself if she got the short end of the stick in case events turned for the worse tomorrow.

The more people get involved, the more complicated things become. I refuse to put any of my nakama in jeopardy.

Today destined to be tomorrow was in five hours or less. He had to act soon.

"Forget it, Koala." Sabo sank lower into the bed. "I overreacted."

"You're putting it lightly," Koala measured the value of her words before voicing them, "I know it's none of my business, but it must've been pretty hard to remember someone you tried to forget in order to move on. Whether or not you two still have a thing for each other, you don't have to deny to me that it hurts, okay?"

His eyes opened wide in disbelief. Not blinking for a while. She was way off track. Completely. So far from the truth that telling her Portgas D. Ace was his biological father held more credibility; however, better for her to think like that, notwithstanding her blue eyes of sympathy.

Luckily, his abrupt cough and swift head turn to the window made Koala believe her own assumptions. "Change of subject. What were you saying again about Satomi? I've heard it's been roughly a year she's at Marine HQ."

She let him deal with his own feelings, continuing on with life. "Playing them flawlessly. Kichirou's not bad himself. Still, how does she cope with all the workload that comes from her position, including the original objectives from our side?"

"As if that tea-loving, workaholic queen can't handle stress. She loves it." Ignoring Koala's warning about the particular nicknames used, he went on to ask, "So what's her rank again?"

"Captain." she declared with pride.

"No kidding. I knew she was damn good, like when it comes to subterfuge, it's like she gave birth to it."

"True, but then the base she was at before Marine HQ held a fast track program for the prodigious types. Truth be told, there might've been a Commodore at that base who knew kind of supported the Revolutionary army in secret."

"Really?" Sabo may have sounded hopeful, greatly liking where this information could take him. "That's great!" Yet, he liked more how a competent 'Captain' could aid him tomorrow.

"Why do you sound so surprised? I'm pretty sure you were debriefed at one moment. Probably more than once."

Sabo kept his cool, and let out an absolute truth.

"You're merciless, Koala. I've been out for days. Gimme a break."

His words, spoken like someone three times his junior made her grin. He continued to do so just as he kept his hidden agenda. Questions left his mouth at certain stages, teases and jokes thrown about here and there to prolong a relaxed, familiar, non suspicious mood. From what he could tell, Koala hadn't caught on.

. . . .

DOE/9:13/At sea between Impel Down and Marineford

"How are you, Portgas D. Ace? It's been a while I must admit." greeted the very representation of oil to Ace's water. "I thought you were finally dead. Hopefully this time I'll see it and believe it."

Someone kill me now.

"Cold feet? Don't worry, it'll be over soon."

Any takers? Anyone will do.

"Provided that your feet are actually cold, I assure you that you'll be given shoes at Marine HQ. The best we have to offer you. It just wouldn't do for you to be mistreated in your final hours. I won't allow it."

Ace continued to stare at nothing but the sea behind the disfigured Rear admiral. Disfigured behind his half-designed mask that is.

"Why won't you speak? Surely Impel Down didn't traumatise you to that degree? Or perhaps...Oh. No wonder. I'm hurt, Ace-kun. Is this how you treat a beloved acquaintance?"

The pirate snorted, still making no eye contact, "You have a pretty messed up take on how we see each other." his words were cold and blunt. A complete contrast to his warm nature.

"We've been through a lot together." The Marine's grin could almost be taken as a leer, "Why, we saw each other's true selves that day, didn't we?"

That day referred to year ago, deep in the New World where a battle raged heavily and costly across waters. Casualties were on both sides, injuries were on both sides, yet different in execution. One Rear admiral was horrendously burnt, whereas one Second Division Commander was rendered mute for a day, psychologically traumatised.

The two had brought out each other's greatest fears down to a fine art.

"I clearly remember the fusion of our memories that day." the admiral sighed dreamily. "You're the very first to come to a draw with me. "

"The only thing I clearly remember was you drowning. Who the hell had enough pity for you?"

"Need I remind you that I clearly remember your parentage." Just as Ace scowled towards the Rear admiral, willing to confront him face to face now, the Marine cast his eyes elsewhere. An unasked game of hard-to-tolerate-with was set in motion.

"Sengoku, the Fleet admiral if it escaped your notice, was astounded by my discovery. It appears that the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. Then again-"

"Cut to the chase." Ace interrupted his adversary, "you're wasting my time."

The Marine blinked, showing none his distaste for the (uneducated was the adjective in his mind) pirate before him, "Your father's death inspired thousands, and yours will not. You won't change the era."

Ace's toes curled in repressed rage.

"He. Is. Not. My. Father."

"No, of course not." the rear admiral agreed with pretended support, "His and your unkempt black hair, life of piracy, and remarkable strength have no correlation whatsoever. How silly of me. One look at your back reveals who you truly belong to, regardless of the blood who determined your fate for you."

"Are you done?"

"On your father? Yes. I do not have much facts about your mother."

"Watch it." Ace did his utmost best to not lose it. He could not lash out. He was in no position to. He could not throw the admiral overboard. He was in no position to.

"Watch your mouth."

The rear admiral sighed, as if he was at the end of his ropes with a stubborn ten-year who refused to believe the sky was blue. "You seem to keep forgetting the hierarchy today, Portgas. I could exert my power over you at any given moment. No questions asked."

Don't spit at him. Don't spit at him. Don't spit at him.

"Friendly advice: respect your superiors."

Sarcasm, not at all in the top three of Ace's defences was employed. "Sure, I'll get straight on that. Just give me a minute. You know what, screw that. Go ahead and do your worst, oh wait, I'm already on my way to Marineford from Impel Down. Sorry, admiral, but there ain't much worse you can do to me in chains."

"Oh, Ace-kun, there's plenty of things I could do to you, specifically restrained tightly."

The implications were diversified.

How the hell did that backfire?

Ace blinked hard, attempting to erase what had just been said. He was not going to wonder about the connotations in those word. He did although wonder why he hadn't set out to put down the bastard in front him rather than Blackbeard.

"How do you sleep at night?"

"Thanks to dreams, Portgas. Shall I tell you the one from last night?"

"You're sick."

"You're underdressed."

"You're no different from a pirate."

The rear admiral paused several seconds. There happened to be a glint in his eyes, something unresolved boiled underneath the surface before he stepped back, creating distance between them.

"Oh, yeah. That's right." Ace smirked, "You do share pirate traits, don't you?" revelling in his sudden jump to a higher spot in today's hierarchy. "Remember how our memories fused? Yeah, guess I'm not the only one with daddy issues. Though at least my good-for-nothing pop is dead and gone."

The playful, stuck-up Marine was gone too, leaving in his place the inexorable living creature just beneath his skin.

His words were cold and blunt,"I'm ending this conversation."

"Ain't that responsible? You did start it first, hypocrite."

"I'd choose to be a hypocrite over a dead man any day, Portgas D. Ace."

Although he kept his poker face well as long as the stare-off had lasted, the pirate did not speak again. It was becoming a challenge to do so in face of upcoming events.

He had no chances. He had no choices.

. . . .

DBE/Time: 19:27/Sabaody Archipelago

Koala's words soon became a verbal advertisement, "Knowing her, as soon as she got that scheduled evening pause for Marines, she'd probably make a run for that tea house in grove 75. It's pretty close to the Sabaody Marine base and it's got the perfect blend of calm and secrecy."

That's definitely her type of place.

"I reckon there's all kinds of business deals that get made upstairs, though of course, you gotta pay for it." another thought came to mind, "There's maybe a code or puzzle in order to enter too. Probably a rumour."

"Think she'd pay for it?"

"For the total privacy it provides? C'mon Sabo, this is our Satomi. You should know better. You got amnesia or what?"

Koala had no idea of the truth she'd just spoken.

Amnesia. Memory loss. Could it be?

"...would love to meet her, but I gotta pay my keep to Shakky and help out at the bar. I did promise."

"Wait, what? Who's Shakky?"

"Just a kind soul who offered me accommodation. Thanks to her, I didn't have to pay for inn last night and I won't tonight. I can't exactly sleep in the waiting room."

"Can you trust her though?"

"I'll be fine, Sabo. I know what I'm doing."

Just like me, but if I can't find her, how do I get inside Marine HQ? I could sneak on a Marine ship before they embark, hide in a crate...but then what? I need Satomi on this. I need to go out too, but Koala's has to go first.

With impeccable timing, the clock read his thoughts as he cast his eyes on it. Its little hand laid on top the seven whereas it's bigger counterpart laid upon the six. Once Koala's eyes followed Sabo's, she easily saw the suggestion of her departure before Sabo could make one.

"Looks like your all on your own." Koala said, rather reluctant to admit it. "My time's up, Sabo. I ought to go now. "

He nodded his head in accord, "You better. I'd hate for you to get told off by one of the nurses or something." and then his small grin, similar to a fox, stretched to the left, "Though, I bet you wouldn't mind getting scolded by Mr. Red."

Koala froze, both at the words, and the nonchalant tone Sabo just used, with the faintest hint of amusement in his voice.

"Or should I say Dr. Red? He seems to be rather taken by-"

"I'm out!" was a declaration, followed by the woman storming off towards the exit, her long legs moving in autopilot, her hip brusquely bumping a table where Sabo's belongings fell straight down to the floor.

"Dammit."

Damn indeed. Since when was Koala that ungraceful with her movements?

Sabo chuckled, "Clumsy when frustrated. A few find that cute."

Refraining from cursing, she held her tongue, she relented, she bent down with a sigh. "Real subtle, Sabo." Her left hand grabbed hold of the black trench coat; her right hand entered inside her side bag. "Didn't I say you weren't my type a while ago?" Her hand then entered inside the trench coat's left pocket. The right one forever catered for his journal. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll find someone to tolerate you for life somewhere unknown."

"Ouch." Sabo looked towards window with feigned hurt. In this position, he failed to see the fleeting glint in his comrade's eyes when she turned around. All he heard was Koala smoothing his full length coat and placing it back on the chair. His hat and steel pipe were picked up afterwards.

"I'm leaving for real now, Sabo. Remember: However restless you get, do try to stay in one place." her thumb and index finger pointed directly at him while she walked backwards, set on lock-on, as deadly as a sniper, almost like a bullet manipulated to aim at the possible lies he might spit out. "That clear, second-in-command?"

"Crystal."

His objectives for tonight and tomorrow however were clearer than that.

I've got a chance. I've made my choice. I'm coming for you Ace.

2016 A/N: Well, the plot is simple for now. I think. It's been revised. Much more ideas have filtered through. Basically, provided that Sabo was quite close to Marineford during the upcoming war of Ace's execution and managed to regain his memories despite the amnesia along with skilled comrades around him, I think he could have intervened much more subtly and effectively than anyone since Revolutionaries do go undercover-which I really like about their jobs. Frankly, Sabo saying 'I wish I could've seen you again while you were alive.' in the anime/manga almost ended me. This fic is probably my life support.

Reflect and review if you wish!