I'm updating this much sooner then I expected, what with things as they are right now.

wow, only one chapter and it's already gotten plenty of reviews, followed and faves. Thanks guys, you really helped cheer me up.

Guest, Hey I'm happy that you liked it. I don't have any intention of stopping any of my fics, so no worries there.

IronSkilletofJustice, Thanks,I hope you like this chapter too.

FeyDancer, I know, I'm being downright evil to the boys right now but as you say, they have each other.

Nala1220, I'm pleased it caught your attention. Well, I think this chapter will take care of a few of your questions. Yes, Sabo and Luffy are normal humans. I had considered it but, it just wouldn't have fitted with Sabo's noble background and it just didn't seem to fit with Luffy's usual positive, cheerful, personality.

Bronze andromeda shun, I'm glad you like it so much. There's only a few new hints in this chapter and a lot more of their brotherly bond.

Warnings/special notes

minor swearing, ASL abuse, no blood or detailed injury account.

sigh, I don't own One Piece. Just my ideas, OC's and my lucky pen.

Luffy sat and waited, staring at the door his brothers were behind like it held the answers to all his questions. Dandan had long ago finished re-stitching the gash on his face caused by the bear and she told him to wait here until Red came out before going in to see his brothers.

It felt like he had been waiting forever for the door to open. He wanted to go right away to his brothers but, there was something in Dandan's voice that kept him from rushing off. It had frightened him, Dandan was really worried about them, she'd never been worried like that before.

Daylight was creeping into the room when the door Luffy had been waiting finally opened. When Red emerged he looked exhausted but, he was smiling. He glanced at Luffy. "Go on and see them, just let them sleep." Red spoke quietly, then he was off to let Dandan know the boys were alright. It was a close thing though, too close for his liking in Ace's case.

Luffy was through the door before Red was out of sight but, he did pause in front of his brothers beds, taking in the appearance of his brothers. Most of them that was visible were covered in bandages.

Sabo had thick bandages covering his head and left side of his face. Lighter bandages were wrapped around his hands. Luffy knew he must have been in pain, he'd had small burns before and they had hurt! Now at least, Sabo slept peacefully.

Ace faired worse, if the two brothers had entered a contest to see who could look more like a mummy, he would have won. Light bandages were wrapped around his head, hands and arms. Thicker bandages were wrapped around his right shoulder. As much pain as Ace was in earlier, he too slept soundly.

Luffy settled himself into a chair, determined to watch over his brothers as they had done many times before when he was hurt. Now, it was his turn to watch over his big brothers.

~~~~~~ Page Break ~~~~~~

It wasen't until after lunch when the first of Luffy's brothers began to stir. Sabo groaned, everything hurt and the reasons as to why were lost to him for the moment.

"Sabo!"

The sudden voice made Sabo wince, it was too loud but, it did serve to kick his memories back into gear. With a gasp, Sabo sat upright only to be hit by a wave of pain. It was all he could do not to cry out at the sudden shock of fresh pain the act of moving brought.

Hands were on him and pillows were rearranged to support him better. All Sabo could do was catch his breath. "Better?" Luffy asked. Sabo nodded, his one viable eye scanning over his little brother. apart from the stitches on his face, Luffy appeared fine.

"Ace?" Sabo questioned, his voice hoarse from the smoke he inhaled. Luffy smiled and pointed to the bed next to them. "He's still asleep."

With some effort, Sabo turned to look at the sleeping figure. He supposed he was sleeping at any rate, at least Ace didn't do anything really creepy while he slept, like sleeping with his eyes open.

Relived, Sabo let himself settle back into the pillows. They were all ok, he knew that Luffy and himself would be. He just worried what Ace might do to himself to make sure of that.

"You know,..." Sabo mused. "Eh?" Luffy asked, tilting his head to one side. "That was the first time you got your aim right, when you stretched to pull me and Ace out of the water after he came to rescue me."

Luffy appeared to think about that before he broke out into one of his wide grins. "Yeah!" Luffy shouted, punching the air. At Sabo's wince at the volume, Luffy looked sheepish. "Sorry."

"It's alright Lu." Sabo said, yawning. Soon, Sabo was asleep and Luffy went back to keeping watch over his brothers. He hoped Ace would wake up soon, then he wouldn't be so worried.

~~~~~ Page Break ~~~~~

Ace did not stir until after sundown. By then Dandan was also in the room while Sabo ate some soup and Luffy attacked his fifth plate of food. A hiss from Ace alerted the others in the room that Ace was beginning to stir.

Dandan rose from her chair to check on him. Ace blinked bleary-eyed at her before his eyes widened as if remembering something. Ace's pale features lost some more color as his gaze took in the sight of his brothers.

"I must leave the island." Ace said in a flat voice, not daring to catch his brothers gaze.

"Have you gone mad!? You can't go out on your own..." Sabo choked on his own words. He now understood what it felt like to be on the other side of the decision he made.

Dandan snorted at Ace's absurd statement. "You're not even fit to be going out into the jungle, let alone setting out to sea."

"Some of the villagers have seen me, they completely freaked out and ran... towards the fire, just to get away from me..." Ace spoke quietly, he didn't need to elaborate on what he ment. In that moment, Dandan understood his urgency.

Sabo's eye widened in realization, while Luffy looked confused. That even made Dandan pause, of all the complications that could arise from the business with the grey terminal fire and the bluejam pirates, this one was one she couldn't fix.

Dandan couldn't make the villagers un-see what they saw, nor could she protect Ace from the mob that was likely to be on his trail. Never mind that Ace rescued everyone from bluejam, oh no. All they'll remember and hear about is his red eyes and fangs, everything else will be forgotten in light of that.

If that wasn't enough to get the villagers after him than the automatic reward starting out at 30,000.00 berries the Marines have out for any of his kind, would influence them. His mixed heritage would only damn him further in the eyes of the world and that's without knowing who his father was.. Dandan knew that Ace's price would be higher, much higher than the starting price, even without the full details of his parental background.. He was strong and could do things that many of his kind could not and that made him different, scary... dangerous.

Luffy looked back and forth between his brothers. "Ace is leaving? Ace can't leave without us! Ace shouldn't be alone! Sabo shouldn't be alone! I don't want to be alone ever again, none of us should! We're brothers!" Luffy started to cry after his outburst.

"And brothers stick together." Sabo smiled sadly, gripping Luffy tightly. "I think I proved that it's a bad idea to set off alone. But together... I don't want to be alone again either. I thought I'd be able to protect us better by leaving but..." Sabo trailed off, they all understood what he ment.

Ace looked at his brothers, remembering the pain and fear he and Luffy felt when they realized Sabo had set out without them. Ace knew that he couldn't do that to them, Luffy had already felt it once and Ace could see the guilt in Sabo's eyes, now fully understanding what he put his brothers through. No, he couldn't do it.

Whatever was going to happen to them and wherever it may take them, they would go together.

Dandan sighed and looked out the window. "Most of the grey terminal in still on fire. It'll be a day or two before it burns itself out and even at that I bet it will take another day to nerve themselves up to come hunting Ace. That gives you boys some time to plan. I'll send Dogra out on the morning to get word to Maniko. She'll want to help and have a chance to say goodbye."

Dandan groaned as she remembered something else. "Garp is going to kill me..." Dandan muttered.