What It Means To Mean Something
---
He is burning. He had forgotten what that felt like. What it means. It's probably ironic, he's not sure. What does know is that is that it hurts.
Luffy's presence is comforting. His little brother is all grown up now. He knows this already but it still hurts -on top of everything else- but this, at least, is bittersweet.
He doesn't deserve bittersweet. Even though part of him, most of him, knows that Luffy will be okay, it's his destiny after all, he still is not- was not able to see him out safely.
Around them the battlefield rages on. He does not notice Akainu not attacking them, that's a probably a good thing. He does notice the shouting is becoming dim. How strange.
It's hard to think of the present, when the past suddenly seems so clear. He owes them so much. His nakama, his family. Luffy.
"Old man...!!! All you guys...!!! And... Luffy...
"Even though I've been a good for nothing my whole life... Even though I carry the blood of a demon within me... You guys still loved me... Thank you so much...!!!"
He wishes he could properly thank them, but his world is being consumed by light. It's not Kizaru; it's different. He was expecting this, the idea of it, anyhow and it's brighter than anything he's ever seen in his whole life. And to think, he was expecting darkness.
He smiles.