Chapter 1
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Whirpool Arc: Aurora
It was midday on board the Moby Dick, crew members came and went; the ship was lively as always, pirates talking with each other or exploring the island they had moored at for supplies. Off to the side stood a group of three division commanders, talking in hushed tones as their subordinates moved around them.
No one noticed a shadowy figure flit onto the ship.
Thatch was chatting with Ace and Marco as he showed them the new Devil Fruit he had found on the island, and pondered over the abilities it gave.
"It could be-"
"Ace!"
Ace froze in the middle of his conversation as the shout drew his attention. His coal eyes widened a moment before a blur of crimson connected solidly with him, arms wrapping around his neck, and the force sent him crashing to the deck of the Moby Dick with a grunt.
The observers around the 2ndDivision Commander paused and looked over at the fire-user who was sprawled on the ground, a teenaged girl with flaming red hair perched, grinning, on his abdomen.
Ace groaned, dark eyes blinking up to meet bright blue.
"Konichiwa, Ace!" The girl chirped.
The dark-haired young man groaned again and dropped his head back onto the deck. "Uzu." He greeted, "...How did you get on the ship?"
His answer came in the form of a mischievous grin.
Ace paused as he stared at that grin, flashbacks of pain and humiliation coming to the forefront of his memories, and he cringed."Okay - you know what... I don't want to know." 'Uzu' giggled and clambered off the brunet, who sat up, his freckled features stretched into a smile, "It's nice to see you again, Uzu."
"So, Ace." The two glanced over as Thatch and Marco approached, both men eyeing the red-head still seated comfortably in the younger man's lap. "Who's the girl?"
Ace looked from Marco's relaxed, but prepared form, to Thatch's sword arm inching it's way to the weapon on his waist, and finally back to Uzu.
Good, they knew not to underestimate his childhood friend.
He knew that despite her nonthreatening disposition and size, a pretty face marred only by the three whisker marks on each face (in which Ace found endearing and cute, not that he'd admit out loud), bright blue eyes, crimson hair pulled into a messy ponytail, and petite build, she was a dangerous enemy to have.
While the only thing that looked threatening about her was the katana she had slung over her shoulder, and the Red-Haired Pirates jolly roger tattooed on her upper arm, Uzu had many weapons under her orange 3/4 length pants, and black tank-top.
For one, Ace knew (from experience) that the knuckles of the fingerless gloves on her hands hid a thin layer of sea stone. Perfect for punching people in the face, Devil Fruit users or otherwise. And the slip-on shoes on her feet had a secret compartment in the soles that contained twin daggers in case she ever needed them.
Even Ace, having known her since he was ten, and had once travelled with her for over a year, didn't know about all the dangerous items she had hidden on her person.
"Ah," Ace shook himself from his musing. "Well, this is Uzu. Tempestas D. Uzu. Uzu, meet Marco and Thatch."
Uzu grinned, still not moving from her spot with her arms around Ace's neck. His own were wrapped around her waist, keeping them balanced.
"A pleasure to meet you."
Marco eyed Uzu with new interest. "Shinku Kyōfū no Uzu -yoi?"
And at the same time, Thatch said; "Your girlfriend?"
Ace spluttered, a blush lighting up his face, and Uzu laughed brightly.
"Naw, I've known Ace since we were kids - he was ten, I was seven." The red-head explained, "Pops was visiting an island and I made some friends, he let me stay for a year or so before coming back to pick me up again." She was grinning. "We stayed in touch after that, I'd come to visit occasionally, and then we met again when Ace finally went out to sea."
"She was traveling alone at the time, so I invited her along with me." Ace picked up the story, "She was my First Mate-"
"In all but name." Uzu interrupted, "It wasn't official, but everyone listened to me like I was the First Mate anyway."
Ace chuckled, resting his chin on her shoulder as he grinned. "Anyway, she wasn't there when I challenged Pops, she was with her dad at the time-"
"Who's your dad?" Thatch asked suddenly, cutting Ace off mid-word.
"Akagami no Shanks." Both younger pirates said at the same time.
"I didn't know he had any kids -yoi..." Marco muttered, looking surprised enough to make both younger pirates grin at him.
"Not by blood of course." Uzu told them, "We have no idea who my biological parents are, but Pops suspects I may be a relative of some sort. He adopted me when I was five."
Ace nodded, before continuing with his explanation. "When I invited her to join the Whitebeard crew she punched me in the face."
Uzu scoffed, "That's because I thought you were dead, baka."
"But it hurt!" Ace exclaimed, and would later deny that he pouted.
Uzu harrumphed, "It should've."
"In the face, 'Zuzu."
He was ignored,
"And this is the first time in nearly three years that we've seen each other face-to-face." Uzu paused, "That reminds me..."
Getting up, she began digging through her backpack until she pulled out a sheet of paper and handed it to the was silent as the dark haired man's eyes roved the paper in his hand before a large grin spread over his face and he burst into bright and delighted laughter, and scooped Uzu up in a bear hug.
Grinning, the two broke apart and Ace beamed at his crew mates, "Look at this!" The paper was shoved in Marco's face, "He did it!"
The 1st Division Commander peeled the paper from his face and looked at it. The first thing that caught his attention was the grinning face of a teenaged boy with dark hair and an old straw hat.
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Monkey D. Luffy
"Mugiwara no Luffy"
Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates
Reward: 30,000,000
Marco immediately knew who the boy was; he had heard enough stories from Ace (enough to make his ears bleed - and Ace still denied he had a brother complex). His eyes continued over the list of crimes Straw Hat had committed so far and was fairly impressed.
Defeating Arlong? Don Krieg?While not very impressive compared to what the higher members of the Whitebeard crew, the kid was only 17, and a brand-spanking-new pirate to boot.
The Phoenix's eyes moved from the wanted paper to Ace, who was chatting with his friend, and back to the photo... Seems like the two brothers were more alike then any of them knew.
Both were complete monsters. (In a good way of course.)
-)))-(((-
"So," Uzu was seated next to Ace, who was deep in his narcoleptic-induced slumber, enjoying a well-cooked dinner as she talked with her new friends. "You're saying you found a Devil Fruit and you have no idea what it does?"
"Yup."
The red-head eyed Thatch warily, "That's not something you should advertise. A lot of people would kill to have a Devil Fruit - either to eat or sell. They're worth a lot."
Thatch waved a hand dismissively, "We're among crew mates, there's no harm."
Uzu huffed, "Fine, just don't come crying to me when someone stabs you in the back."
"I trust my Nakama with my life," Thatch told her, "they wouldn't betray that trust."
His exclamation was met with haunted blue eyes, and Thatch couldn't help but wonder what had happened to her for her to have such a look in her normally dancing eyes.
They were the eyes of someone who had been betrayed but one they had once called a friend.
-)))-(((-
Across the room, a large dark haired man eyed the Devil Fruit hungrily.
The Yami Yami no mi...
The Dark-Dark Fruit - He almost salivated at the mere thought of the power that fruit could give him.
Pensive eyes traveled to the 3rd Division Commander; Thatch would be on watch that night...
A darkly amused grin spread over his ugly face.
The perfect chance to strike.
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So there's the first chapter, I don't know how often I'll update but I started this story and I kept nagging me to post the first chapter to see if it was worth writing.
So please review with your thoughts on what I could do to make it better and/or your thoughts - but please, no flames.