Disclaimer: One Piece belongs to Eiichiro Oda sensei. I own nothing, except my OC (her visualization is an exception) and some part of the storyline, the non-canon one.

I'm going to say sorry first for any misspelled words and grammatical errors. English isn't my first language and I'm still learning.

The Name is Gingy

It was a normal day. Very normal one, on that winter island. A certain redhead was reading a book, as usual. Her dainty fingers grabbed a porcelain cup which was filled with hot darjeeling tea then brought it to her lips. Sometimes, a day like that day would be needed. For a witch's apprentice like her, most of her day were busy.

"I wonder where did-"
"Lashea!"

An out-of-breath blue-nosed reindeer ―who can talk and stand on 2 legs― suddenly called her. He entered her room, still trying to catch his breath.

"Hm? What is it, Chopper?" She asked as she gave him a questioning look.
"Doctorine ordered you- eh, no. Me, to tell you that she needs your help!"

The girl named Lashea ―as the reindeer named Chopper called her earlier― cocked an eyebrow.

"Just how many people are there? She usually doesn't need my help. And we have Isshi-20, right? Normally, people just go and beg Wapol so they can be treated by Isshi-20. So-"
"There has been an epidemic of measles in town!" Chopper cut her words by shouting. Lashea's face turned pale. Epidemic, huh? She couldn't look at another piles of corpses again.

"Lashea? Did you get what I said?"
"The epidemic... what epidemic is that?"

It seems like she only catch the word 'epidemic'.

"Measles. You don't need to be panic like that."

Her frantic expression suddenly turned into a relieved one, then turned again into a furious one.

"Then why did you shout like that?! I thought because you were panicking, it must be a serious epidemic!" She raised her voice, made the little reindeer flinched and terrified by her. When she saw that, she sighed. Lashea crouched then patted his hat lightly.
"Gomen ne, Chopper. I'm just sensitive with epidemic things."
"It's okay. Now, let's go. And don't forget your mask, Lashea. You haven't experienced measles yet, have you?"

She shook her head as she packed a lot of paracetamol, vitamin A, and some antibiotics, in case that the measles followed by bronchitis or sinusitis. She took two boxes of surgical mask and put it in her black duffle bag, before went out with Chopper to meet Dr. Kureha, the one they called Doctorine ―and the one people called witch―.

"It's so cold!"
"Of course. It's a winter island, Captain."
"Prepare to land! We have to collect supplies."
"Aye, Captain!"

A certain raven haired boy with an orange cowboy hat on his head smirked. He surely found it fun to explore a winter island. Grand Line is such an amazing sea. It didn't take much time for them to anchor their ship on the island's harbor.

"Find much and much of supplies, also drinks, folks!" Said the raven haired boy as he walked off the ship.
"Leave it to us, Captain!"

Usually, he'll join them to find supplies and such. But this time, since the whole winter island is a new thing for him, he decided to take a stroll, despite the low temperature that can freeze your bones.

"Ne, Chopper. How much further?"

A glimpse of a red haired beauty caught his attention, although he just saw her by the corner of his eyes. His dark orbs unintentionally followed the girl, who was talking with a... tanuki? Weird girl.

"A little bit more. Just be patient."

No. The one who is weirder is the tanuki itself! It... talked!

"You have a talking tanuki?! Is that your pet?" The boy asked her out of the blue. They both stopped. The said tanuki glared at him as it clutched the girl's coat, hid ―in a wrong way― behind her and the girl raised her eyebrows before chuckled.
"No. He's my friend. A good friend of mine. And he's not a tanuki. He's a tonakai." She said with a smile decorated face.
"Ah, sorry for asking you so suddenly," the boy bowed 90°, made the girl did the same, "the name is Portgas D. Ace. I'm Spade Pirate's Captain. Pleased to meet you."

Her brown orbs widened for a second, but she retained her smile. A pirate, huh? More than that, he's one of the 'D'-bearers. But... what's with that attitude? Why did he act so polite?

"You shouldn't reveal your identity to any person you meet, Mr. Portgas. It's dangerous. People might call the marines." She tugged the left corner of her lips, forming a smirk.
"Hearing that, I guess you're not the part of them, right?" He gave her a cocky grin which she replied with a chuckle.
"Ah. Where's my manner. Pleased to meet you too. We're doctors from this island. I'm-"

The redhead stopped when she felt Chopper kept tugging on her coat. She then crouched, so the reindeer could whisper to her.

"I get it already, Chopper. Stop rushing me." She said, before she stood up and handed the boy named Ace a surgical mask.
"Sorry. We have a serious condition here, so I'll skip the pleasantries. Here, use it. Unfortunately, this kingdom has became a plague-stricken kingdom."
"Eh?" He tilted his head slightly.
"Don't worry. It's just measles. But, you have to use it. I don't want to handle another patient."

Ace nodded as he used the mask she gave him, "Thank you."
"Nah," she waved her hand, "It's nothing. And use this," she put off her black winter coat and put it on him, hung it on his shoulders, "It's cold, isn't it? I've used to it. But, a tourist like you probably not."
"No. I don't need-"
"It's rude to reject a doctor's kindness, Mr. Portgas."
"Ace." He said suddenly.
"Huh?"
"Just call me Ace, then I'll accept your kindness."

She couldn't help but smiled to his words.

"Okay, Ace-san. I must go now. Looking forward to see you again, Captain Portgas D. Ace!" She gave him a curtsy then grabbed Chopper's hand before walked away. His dark orbs followed their silhouettes. When it disappeared, Ace mumbled to himself.

"That smile... looks familiar."

"Chopper! Lashea! What took you so long?!"

The 'witch' has already stood by the door frame with both of her hands on her hip, glaring a dagger on the pair.

"I'm so sorry, Doctorine. Please don't blame Chopper, because it was all my fault." Lashea bowed politely as the redhead handed the old woman a surgical mask, only to get rejected by her.
"I've suffered measles once. There's no need for me to use it. Just give it to another patients. And, I'll hear your story later. Now, quick, help me!"
"Roger!" Lashea and Chopper rushed to help other patients.

"Doctorine."
"What is it?"

They've decided to stay at the barn ―where they gathered the patients for the incubation stage― that once was full with livestocks, until its owner died and the villagers decided to sold all of it. They finally had their break for today. Everyone was asleep, including Chopper. It was midnight, so it's normal. Lashea sat on the window sill of the barn, staring at the moonlight.

"Where did Isshi-20 go?"
"Who knows?"
"And they called themselves doctors?" Lashea chuckled bitterly. The old woman shrugged before she closed the book that she had been reading.
"So, what happened with you and Chopper?"
"Ah. We met someone."
"Who?"
"A pirate captain."
"I see. You didn't get hurt, did you?"
"Since when you care about me, Doctorine?"

Lashea cracked a smile. She was glad, really glad actually, to has Kureha by her side. All she needs is a person who cares about her. And Kureha fit that role perfectly, although the old woman never admits it. When Kureha didn't answer her question, Lashea chuckled to herself.

"We didn't. That guy was a quite funny guy. He said that he's a pirate, but he acts all polite." She said. Smile never gone from her face.
"You hate pirates, don't you?"

Kureha's question made Lashea fell silent. Her face turned serious as her smile faded by seconds.

"Akagami no Shanks. Shirohige. I hold no grudge to both of them. For a government's agent, I know how they run their business. And... I respect them."

Lashea was dead serious. It's true that she respects them, even though they are pirates. More than that, they both are the Yonko.

"Also, when I met that guy, I had a feeling that he's not a typical pirate. I'm guessing by his look, though." Lashsa laughed heartily. That time, Kureha studied her apprentice's face. Lashea never laughed that way because of a stranger before.
"You fell for him, huh?"
"Of course not. I'm not a type of girl who will fall for every good man. More than that, he's a stranger and I don't believe in 'love at the first sight'. He's just interesting, that's all."
"I see. Okay, enough for the chitchat and let's sleep."

Lashea nodded as she got down from the window sill and sat on the blanket-covered-hay, hugging herself.

"Where's your coat?"

Lashea wouldn't go anywhere without her coat. All of her words to Ace that she used to the cold was a lie. She suffers from cold intolerance, all because of anemia. Funny, huh? She's a doctor but she suffered from anemia. Actually it's natural, since she's a vegetarian, so she couldn't get enough supply of vitamin B12 that usually contained in meat or seafood.

"I forgot to wear it. We're in a hurry, so Chopper rushed me to go, and voila! I left it on my bed."

Lashea decided to lie to avoid Kureha's another question.

"You should go back home. It's warmer there."

"I think, WE should, Doctorine. I don't want to imagine Wapol's guards suddenly come and take you with them, because you are the only doctor who's not under Wapol's command."

"Don't worry, kid. They won't, trust me."

"Then I won't go home. Sleeping will help me to ignore the temperature." Lashea hugged herself tighter and closed her eyes.
"If you want to ignore your dream and die, go on. I won't try to stop you."

Kureha's words seem has hit her hard as her eyes jerked open immediately. The 'witch' pretended to sleep as she turned her back on Lashea. Not long after that, Kureha heard the rustle of the hay right beside her, then sound of footsteps, signaling that the redhead decided to go home.

"I'll come back tomorrow, Doctorine. Early in the morning. I promise. And stop pretending that you're asleep because I know you're not." Lashea said before she bowed and left the barn. A small smile lit Kureha's face in return.

(Lashea's PoV)

It is cold. So damn cold! No matter how I try to warm myself up, I can't get any warmer. Being a vegetarian sure is healthy, but also troublesome. Lack of meat, seafood, and egg will bring an ilness, that is anemia. But, since Doctorine is always taking care of me, I never faint before. I know that I should be thankful for that.

"Oh my. It's starting to snow." I say when I feel a couple of snowflakes land on my head. I love snow, but I hate snowstorm. It usually destroy people's houses and greenhouses. And I have a feeling that this time, it isn't just a normal snowfall. So, I start to run ―even it's kinda hard due to the snow on the ground― towards our home, in order to make a glass of hot chocolate with marshmallows on it and snuggle in a thick blanket in front of fireplace.

"Oi!"

I hear someone's call. It looks like, if I keep on imagining warm and cozy things, I can feel it too, like it happened for real. Nah. It's impossible, but, it's true that I get warmer. The last thing I want is the hot chocolate.

"Chocolate..." I mutter unintentionally before I lose my consciousness completely.

( Ace's PoV )

I'm right. This winter island sure is fun. Except the fact that half of the town is dead ―not literally―, probably because of the epidemic that girl mentioned it before. Talk about her, she said she's a doctor. She even gave me her winter coat. She sure is nice, but actually, it's unnecessary. I ate a devil fruit, Logia type, called Mera Mera no Mi. My whole body is a fire, so no one can hurt me. Pretty cool, huh? So, cold would never bother me.

It's time to go back to our ship. Time flies so fast that we don't realize it's already midnight. Half of my crew were drunk. We nearly spent 100.000 Beli for drinks and snacks. It's quite a lot, I admit it. But, as a captain who loves party, I ignore the numbers.

"Eh? What is it?"

The sight swam before my eyes. A glimpse of red sways in the middle of snowfall which slowly become a snowstorm.

"Get back to the ship, now!" I order them as I run towards the red thing which is not far from my current state.
"Captain! Where are you going?!"

"Don't mind me! Just go back to the ship!"

Is it really a person? I lit up my fire to melt the snow that blocked my path. Fortunately, I manage to catch that 'person' right in time as the owner of the fiery hair starts to lose her consciousness. I brush off the snowflakes in her face, before my eyes widen in an instant.

"Oi!"

Her face is all cold like an ice. It's almost frozen, I presume. I pull her into an embrace as I start to generate heat from my body. That's when I realize that her whole body was freezing.

"Gingy, can you hear me?"

I call her up again numerous time but I don't get any reply. Ah, no, I do get it. But, all she said was...

"Chocolate..."

I mean... seriously?!

Her eyebrows twitched as she opened her eyelids slowly. The sun has up already, but she couldn't deny that she's still feeling sleepy, so she decided to take another nap. Doctorine would forgive her for being late, right?

Ah... wait.

Doctorine? Forgive her? Without give her some lectures?

Yes, if the end of the world came that day!

It caused her to jump from her sleep, only to receive dizziness a second later. Lashea should stop doing that thing, really. But, before she fell, a muscular arm catch her small build and dragged her close to its owner. This time, her eyes jerked open, widely. Her brown orbs started to observe her surroundings. It wasn't their house nor the barn where the patients stay.

"Are you okay?"

Lashea unintentionally pushed the person who held her, but ended falling from the bed she was occupying before. And, she landed face first, making it worse.

"Ugh..." Lashea grunted lowly. She wanted to prop herself up but a sudden yet stupid idea came across her mind. She shut her eyes immediately, acting... like she sleeps? Or... dead, as she started to hold her breath.

"It must be hurts." She heard the man said as he got down from the bed.
'Yeah, thanks to you.'
"Oi. Are you..." The man's voice trailed off when he lifted her, "Eh? Play dead?"

Busted.

He roared with laughter when he saw a tinge of red adorning her cheeks.

"You should open your eyes right now, Gingy."

Lashea opened her left eye first to identify the man. When her brown orb met his darker ones, she gasped as her right eye opened and both grew wider.

"Ace-san!"

The raven haired boy gave her a chuckle before he grinned and sat her on the bed. He then sat right beside her.

"Yo, Gingy."
"Eh... Gingy?" Her eyebrows raised in questioning style.
"Ah. You haven't told me your name, so I called you according to your appearance."
"So... my appearance is like a ginger, to you?" She somewhat offended by his statement.
"No! That's not it, you silly. It's because of your fiery hair. Ginger is a common nickname. That's why I changed it into Gingy."
"I'm not silly, you know." She sulked, suddenly.
"I know. I'm sorry to call you that."

She nodded, accepting his apology, before she spoke again.

"I'm Lashea."
"Just Lashea?"
"Hm. I can't give you more information about my name."
"Why?"

Lashea stared down to her lap, playing her fingers for awhile.

"Well... I just... can't. I'm sorry."

Ace got up from the bed then patted her head.

"It's okay. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

She could feel her face reddened. No one ever do that to her, except a friend of hers, years ago. He's a stranger, she's well-aware of that. But, strangely, she felt secure and... comfortable around him. When she was busy with her thoughts, his voice rang, pulled her out from her own world.

"Come on. Let's have some breakfast."

Lashea nodded as she stood up and followed the pirate captain. She walked right beside him then she spoke.

"Anyway, I love it."

Ace raised his eyebrows as he looked at her in questioning manner.

"What?"
"Gingy. I love the name that you've given to me."

I've published this chapter on wattpad already. But, I changed some parts here. So, any thought for the first chapter? :)