I am deeply sorry for the very, very lame update, just go and stab me. This chapter is presented for all of my last reviewers and those who gladly put this on your list, especially for beloved naruhime87 who really wants to read this chapter since hundred years ago. I hope you enjoy reading this chapter, everyone! ^^
The Line Hasn't yet Ended
Disclaimer: Eiichiro Oda
Part 2 Delivering Her to Alubarna
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"Dammit, I just rushed into the wrong man again, didn't I?" Portgas D. Ace ran very fast, several strong dessert men followed him with sabers in their hand. Apparently, Ace had just attacked innocent eatable cactus seller, which made him in trouble. Furthermore, they weren't so nice people and chased him for revenge. "Sorry for the inconvenience, but I thought you were my target!"
"Catch that young man alive!"
"How dare you attacking my brother!"
"SORRY!" Ace shouted to them, adding his speed. "WRONG PERSON, GUYS!"
"Sorry your ass!" they shouted furiously at Ace, who was getting far and farer by the time went by.
Ace laughed and kept on running. Shit, wrong man again. He's obviously not in Arabasta… damn, I'm hungry already…
Ace hadn't found Blackbeard in the sandy country Arabasta, but he had successfully met his sworn brother Luffy instead in Nanohana City. Luffy had grown so much during his journey, he noticed. His brother had transformed into someone he could trust, someone he could depend on. That made him very proud, and relief. Therefore, he could concentrate with his mission.
Noticing all of his haters—just called them so—had lost him, Ace walked toward the bar nearby. It was a fancy bar with colorful color. Blue arabesque painted directly on the wall and flowery lamps hung on the ceiling. Ace knew that kind of place had good food, and he needed food immediately. His stomach growled and his head was dizzy.
"Bring me the best you have, old man, in no time, okay?" Ace sat and ordered so much food, making the other consumers look at him strangely. Like his brother Luffy, he also had sumptuous appetite, but of course not as monstrous as Luffy did. Ace couldn't care less about his commentators and continued eating until he heard someone was screaming near him.
"Let me go you jerk!"
"Come on, going with us for a while would be such fun!"
It was a beautiful girl in bohemian dress surrounded by some jerk-ass men, asking her to go with them. Ace wasn't kind of hero, and usually he ignored that scene. Besides, that girl looked though. Yet, there was something bizarre when he saw that girl. She looked familiar to him, actually.
That girl reminded Ace for his first crush almost one year ago in the sea, the girl with the name of bawling cow, Moda. Yes, even the girl wore the same pink bandanna. What a funny coincidence, perhaps if Moda added some height she could be that girl. Yeah, no one would accuse him pedophile if he made his move on Moda that way. Sometimes Ace blamed himself for his cowardice, couldn't meet that girl to inform her what he had done for her in Marine base, only for giving her letter.
That was damned right. Ace had bustled through in Marine Base, pretended to be a marine chief, fought with marines, and done all of hard things and passed through many problems only for delivering her letter. Then, he spent such night thinking of her in his lonely nights. Moda, my dear girl, why I couldn't bring myself to you?
"I have a boyfriend all right!" he heard the girl shouted once more. "A scary looking pirate named Ace! He has big moustache tattoo on his back!"
Ace suddenly choked when he realized that young, attractive girl had mentioned his name and his tattoo. There was no way someone could use his name for… fuck, that was really Moda, wasn't she?
She was beautiful girl indeed. Her face was cute yet sexy with those attractive eyes. Her lips were full. Her dress wrapped her lovely curves perfectly. In the girl's hand, there were several bottles of milk inside a wooden basket.
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"Excuse me, gentlemen, but this girl is mine," Ace folded the girl into his arms, staring at those annoying men. "I believe we already made some arrangements, right honey?"
The girl saw him with amazement. She pursed her mouth when she noticed that the man was the young man she had helped months ago. That was certainly him.
"ACE!" her eyes brightened and her expression changed. She was as cherry as the sun when she noticed him. "Ace, it's really you!"
"He couldn't be her boyfriend, we have followed her for hours, and she's been alone, right?"
"Right, he only pretends to be her boyfriend!" the other boy answered. "Hey, man, if you dare…"
"I'm sorry you have been waiting for me today. I've got several nasty people to kick," Ace said, looking at the gang nonchalantly. "I don't mind having some more, actually."
"He's only talking big, isn't he?"
"Come on, what are we waiting for?"
"EEEEEHHHHHH?"
The gang were about to launch brutal attacks on Ace when they noted the tattoo on his back. It was Whitebeard Tattoo.
"DON'T TOUCH HIM, BASTARD! IT WAS HIM! HE IS THE FIRE FIST ACE!"
"YEAH! RUUUUNNNN!"
"RUUUUNNNN! FORGIVE US!"
It appeared that, they canceled their intention in seconds, pale faces and all. Their actions made Ace smiled. He shouted loudly to them, "thanks for your understanding, everyone!"
However, problem was still following our lovely Ace. The gang bumped into several men near the bar door, whom Ace acknowledged to be the men he was troubled with Blackbeard incident. They were still trying to catch him, he grunted.
"Someone saw him entering this place," one of people said. They were looking at all directions for Ace.
"Come on, Moda!" Ace smiled uneasy, took Moda out of the place as soon as he could, and covered his face with his notorious hat. "Let's leave this place!"
Moda nodded happily, didn't know what was happening there. "If you say so, I'm with you…"
The young couple successfully walked out from the bar without anyone noticing. What an unfortunate moment for the bar owner, he screamed desperately, looking those empty plates and bowls.
"THAT YOUNG MAN RAN WITHOUT PAYING!"
The rest of the bar costumers shook their head.
Ace and Moda kept on walking in the small market, holding hands. Ace noticed that she was almost his height, having lovely curves and amazingly managed to have big breasts. She looked very different from little girl Ace met long ago. Very different. Damn, he knew his face turning red by thinking that way.
"I guess it was far enough, Ace." Moda wiped her sweats from her temples. Her face was reddish because of the heat from the bright sun above them was reaching the highest temperature that day. Ace was fire user, yes, so Arabasta's crazy heat was nothing for him.
"Hmm, I think so…" Ace tilted his head, looking at the girl who was standing beside of him. He couldn't resist asking her, "how could you change this much?"
Moda blushed red when Ace asked her. "Milk is good to build strong bones, right? I told you before!"
Ace grinned widely from ear to ear. He still remembered that phrase very well. No one could say it except her. "Moda! It's really you!"
The girl nodded, "long time no see, Ace…"
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It had been one years since their first meeting. Ace was still in his Blackbeard obsession mode and he tried his best to find that cruel, bastard traitor with all his best. So far, Ace had found seventy-nine persons with the same name and around forty-five persons with the same features with Blackbeard. However, he didn't even feel tired or sick with those facts. In fact, he quite enjoyed his journey.
Ace had tracked Blackbeard's trail and from the last information he had, Blackbeard was in Arabasta. So there he went, trying to get closer to his prey. That was pretty coincidence for him. First, he met Luffy, and then he met Moda too. Life couldn't be better than that.
In the other side, as she had promised before, in one year Moda gained 30 centimeters. She admitted that she forced herself to drink two bottles of milk every day since their meeting. She said she was very upset because everyone considered her younger than her real age. Ace chuckled when he heard her cute confession.
"Please don't laugh at me, I did try really hard to gain this height, Ace!" Moda pouted her mouth. She looked completely cute that way. Ace felt his heart like bursting when he saw her. "What do you think of me now? I'm not a kid anymore, right?"
Ace gulped when Moda questioned him. Damn, now she looks too sexy…
"What do you think about me, Ace?" Moda asked him delightfully. She looked so tempting when she asked him. Suddenly, Ace fully understood that Moda had no self-awareness that she had changed into lovely girl. No wonders boys were crazy about her.
"Well then, what are you doing here?" Ace quickly asked her, trying to avoid the previous subject. "Last time you were in that island near…"
"My parents moved here 2 months ago, so I came to visit them. Of course, I brought some milk for them too. They really like our milk. Ah, I also brought some here!"
"Don't you think it was quite dangerous for a girl traveling alone in Arabasta?"
"Aagrh, you are underestimating me again!" Moda jokingly hit him, "I went here with my uncle and his friends, of course. I promised to meet them again in the next two weeks in the next city, Alubarna."
"Means you are alone, now?" Ace looked worried. He didn't want that scene happened again. He took back his words. She didn't look tough. In fact, she looked very, very fragile. "That's dangerous, Moda!"
"Ace, I just wanted to see the beautiful dancing in the desert festival. People said she was the best dancer…"
"Tsk…" Ace raised his brows. Moda didn't seem to be culture freak long ago. "Moda, the real reason?"
"Ehmm… actually I wanted to see the costume pattern." Moda smiled shyly. Ace acted as if he were her guardian or somewhat similar to her. Somehow, that made her happy. "I like the flowery pattern in the traditional clothes, and I think I would like to make it for myself. "Eh, how about you? What are you doing here?"
Ace's face tightened. He retorted seriously, "I'm looking for someone, someone very important to me."
Moda nodded sadly. Ace has already had someone special in his heart. She could her heart sound like cracking. Of course, she hadn't drunk that much milk for those inconsiderate people who thought that she had been little girl with her height. She had drunk for Ace, wanted to show him that she was no longer child. Oh, what a shame…
"I see. Ah, I guess this is the end of our—"
"Still, for this time being, I'll keep you company, Moda, if you don't mind." Ace added. He couldn't let her going alone. Hell, he would regret it for the rest of his life if something bad happened to her. Besides, he wanted to be with Moda. "Then, where are you going after this?"
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"Are you sure you have nothing to do right now?" Moda asked happily, one of her hands lingered around Ace's waist, while the other held pink cotton candy. They were riding camel together toward the next dancing show in the oasis nearby, near Katorea, the city of perfume producer. Ace said it would be better if they didn't waste their money by buying one camel, but the real reason was he wanted to keep Moda by his side.
"Eat that slowly," Ace turned his head to her; gentle wiped the cotton candy around Moda's face. "You are my priority right now, considering I'm returning your kindness long ago."
"Hmmm…" That was quite frustrating to know Ace was only repaying her kindness actually, but Moda couldn't say anything.
"Tonight we will rest in the desert, since I hardly found any place to sleep."
"That's okay," she answered. The place where Ace had touched her felt so warm. She felt so grateful to go with him, even though she didn't know why Ace was so willing to guard her during her journey. Yet, she knew something good was waiting for her. Her feeling said so.
They were sleeping in the desert that night. The moon above them shone very bright, yet the temperature was very cold. Moda had prepared her thick clothes, wearing them like snowman, but she couldn't feel warm. The temperature in Katorea, as same as the other places, was extremely cold at night. Furthermore, the bonfire, which Ace had lit before, didn't give much help.
"Ughh…" Moda mumbled silently, her body was shivering. "Ahhh…"
DEG! DEG! DEG!
Ace noticed that Moda was terribly cold, but he was afraid of touching her. Hell, she was so attractive, how if he lost his conscience and attacked her? Even though Ace was polite and nice young man, but he was still a man with passions and desires. That would be a complete mess!
"Ace… I'm so cold…"
Damn, how could he ignore her pleas?
"Ace… do you feel cold?"
God, why you creates this situation? How If I lose my control?
"Ace, can you add more woods to the bonfire?"
I'm going insane fast…
"Ace, will you—"
Moda stopped when Ace came to her and wrapped her tightly under his body. His body was hot, fiery, but tender. His scent was rough, like wild animal. Ace's breathe, hissing like fire behind her hair. Moda felt her heartbeat ran very fast, especially when she noticed Ace's body was getting closer and closer. Was it her imagination? Was it only her sweet dream in the middle of the dessert with the man she felt compassion?
Since Ace left her, she always knew there was something missing. He had stolen her heart, swiftly and gently he had crept into her mind. He was stranger, she only knew him for days long ago, and one day including that night, but why she trusted him that much?
People said it was love. Moda had never felt love before but she knew she had feeling for him.
Ace barely slept with Moda in his arms. He was so desperate to control his instincts to possess her. Her soft skin and sweet scents had driven him crazy since he grabbed her then. Fuck it, why couldn't he just leave her before? The temptation is too much for me!
Moda looked so sexy. Ace slowly and carefully opened her shawl, wanted to reveal more of her beauty. He saw that all right. Her white skin and slender neck were more than enough to break Ace's sanity.
DEG! DEG! DEG!
Dammit! I'll break the law! Could I just leave her here?
Well, he knew he couldn't. He missed her so and he couldn't let her alone. God knew what would happen to lonely girl in the new places.
Knowing Moda had been sleeping, Ace tried to create some distances between them. The problem was, Moda kept hugging him, didn't want to let go the source of the heat, which came from Ace body. That way, Ace couldn't control his desire anymore. He moved closer, tracing Moda's neck and softly kissing it. Her skin was so delicate, making him want more and more. He heard her moaned. Shit, that moans burned his desires, making his mind turn upside down.
He nuzzled her neck, licking it passionately. Ace felt his body was turning hard because of doing that. He kissed her again, and again. She moaned, but remained sleeping. Ace moved again, rolling to Moda's front side. She was so pretty. Her body was amazing. He opened her jacket, undoing her lapels. Her breasts were amazing. He slowly…
Ace stopped suddenly, slapping his own face real hard. There's no way I do this! I'm not a pervert! I may be weak against her, but I still have good morality inside my heart! How could I take advantage such girl? How low could I be?
"Hmmm, Ace… that's great…"
Fuck it. He heard Moda called his name in her sleep. That was the last straw. That did it!
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"Last night was so nice, thanks to you!" Moda thanked Ace, smiling. She washed her face that morning pleasantly. Water was quite rare, so she tried to save as much as possible. "Why you look so tired? Are you sick, Ace?"
Ace didn't know what to say. He hardly opened his eyes. He could sleep anytime with his current condition, aside from his sleeping-while-eating hobby. He replied weakly while chewed his food, "I'm wonderfully fine, Moda."
Ace had caught a very big snake, cut it, and cooked it into roasted snake that morning. Still, he didn't tell Moda it was snake he had cooked. He knew how sentimental girls could be against reptiles and so on.
"EEEEEHHH? Why there are reddish marks around my neck? Oh! There are some around my chest too!"
"There was a very wild bug last night, it was so hard to kill," Ace explained with flat tone, his face was amazingly red, even his freckles looked like flaming with shame and guilt. True, he was such a low person. He had never imagined he would commit such things. Remembering how hard he had strong temptation with Moda last night, Ace decided that in whatever condition, they had to find motel, hotel, or whatever at night.
"Is that so?"
"YES, THAT IS." Ace pressed his voice, his face was still red as ever. "YOU'D BETTER EAT OUR FOOD BEFORE IT'S COLD."
"Ohh, I heard bugs in Arabasta were as big as us, and they are very dangerous! Thanks for taking care of me!" Moda told him. "According to this map, we are close with Katorea. Could you Ace? Ace?"
Ace was sleeping while eating his sumptuous breakfast. In his sleep, he hoped he could deliver Moda safely to Alubarna in time.
Not far from them, there were several dusty carts with amazing speed, which carried desert slave traders and the slaves. The sandy color made them invisible in the desert. They were looking for available girls, and virgins were the best. Their main job was fulfilling the need of virgin sacrifices for rain dance needs. That job gave them big money and they wished to keep it forever. Apparently, they spotted Ace and Moda.
"Guess I found gold, brother." The man in bronze clothes spoke, kept looking Moda with his binoculars. "She's yummy."
"Yes, you are right, so does he…" The another man in the cart behind him answered. "Let's ride on fast!"
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