Q: When do people die?

A: 'It's when...they are forgotten.'

Dr. Hiluluk

Damn.

So this is it then? It's happening. Today. Now. Right now. Knew I'd die one day. No one dies forever. Fountain of youth was just a stupid myth pirates inven-

-momentarily separating from his (and their) thoughts, he coughs thunderingly with difficulty, indirectly reassuring them—setting their heart's regular tempo (there's a gasp of relief and a spluttering apology which makes no sense). His sounds remind them he's still there. Here on earth.

If his memory serves him right then, the revolutionary recalls how the youngest one arrived at his sides first, only to be followed seconds later from the eldest.

It's comforting, he may as well think, to have the two of him by his side (for the last time), supporting him together when he's at his weakest. So gathering his thoughts for a few seconds he pauses, mentally apologising for his silence but, he needs just a few precious seconds to dwell on what to say and how to say it. His mind does reel at the words that'll heal, console and uplift them rather than guilt.

Two of Sabo's arms currently draping over their shoulder moves at will, the hands settling to grip the duo's shoulders in a vice-like hold. His remaining strength is unrelenting, more or less so than the sly strangle of a python. Presently, he's simply unable and unwilling to let go of his foundations; nevertheless, he's no idiot: an idiot wouldn't be able to understand Ivankov's bleary then teary-eyed expression (his mascara runs down his cheeks horribly). An idiot wouldn't be able to understand the doctor's hopeless expression (that particular shake of head is universal).

Yeah, this is it. I can tell.

Bluntly put, time is not in his (their) hands. Sabo's no extraterrestrial Time Lord who travels though space and time. Still, he wishes he was so he could re-fix this whole badly-turned scenario. Such is life, right? Despite balancing and tiptoeing on a thin beam of determined time, he'll make it count—every last minute—and passing second.

Gently pushing his leaning-self away from them, still down on his bruised knees, he holds their shoulders at arms length (much more closer in proximity though), steadying himself also. Sabo briefly closes his eyes against the growl of pain this wakes in his remaining limbs.

Determined to look them both in the eyes (which is no easy task) as he speaks and in turn when they do, he discover solely by what he deciphers on their faces that he has to at the very least make them smile once more. Sabo's known since the beginning that their face were meant for country-mile sized grins which slyly affect others whether they realise in time or not.

Profound words were meant to unleash out his mouth but, "Weird," his voice breathes out in wonder, instead, like a child. Surprised, he didn't notice yet. "Seen you cry...only once, Ace."

Non pulsed, the commander doesn't know what to make of that. In fact, he hadn't realised his bleary-eyed state (though he did notice Luffy's). He'd been too preoccupied thinking he'd never be able to apologise. Shit-scared Sabo had gone without a goodbye. Plus, he gave up fighting the slow build up of waterworks behind his eyes – now is not the time to uphold something as stupid as pride.

"And you, of course…live up to your nickname, don't you?" Crybaby: the nickname. The almost term of endearment the youngest knows by heart since those days. He can't forget, despite Sabo's amicable tone (which'll last how long?). Luffy's eyes (more bleary-eyed than Ace's) close in pain that's more psychological than emotional. This habit of him losing his loved ones is an issue.

Didn't he promise (as much as blubber) long ago upon a cliff to get 'stronger and stronger and stronger' so that these issues wouldn't happen?

Referring back to short time at hand, Sabo directs his attention to the commander again. His look is nothing if not expectant. Nodding his head, Ace does question inwardly, how'd he know?

The commander digresses, "Years, Sabo, ten years and I finally see you. Somehow you make an entrance by falling outta the godman sky with Luffy and random prisoners to this godamn war...I'm s'ppose to be-was meant to be...but instead it's," he swallows a laugh of helplessness. "Sabo, this is crazy!"

The blonde brother cracks a smile, tingeing with mirth. "We live in a crazy world, Ace...people like you and Luffy exist, after all"

It's a struggle not to mimic Sabo's smile then. Ace can't help it. He really, really can't.

Nonetheless, the commander wants to say something else. He wants to say everything else; however, there's so many words—not enough time – not enough minutes – not enough seconds in a minute to say what he wishes to.

So instead, he says nothing.

"S'okay, Ace...don't hav'ta...if you don't wanna,"

Despite himself, the commander stares straight into infuriating, insightful eyes which have always did manage to seep silently through his study, stubborn exterior. Man, if he knew, all those months ago, that his vengeful quest would eventually cause a war, and this...

There's an interruption – a declaration. Thank God for the teen of rubber Luffy who lays down the essentials his older brother can't, "We love you. You're are brother. Always have been – always will be. W-we won't forget you, Sabo."

Salty tears start to becoming a tangible taste upon his tongue. Unashamed, Sabo sniffs, his own two eyes a moistening mess recently affected solely by words. Unbeknownst to the black-haired pirates, his bolt unbolts a bit. Their true as blue attitude towards him put him at ease, unscrewing little nuts inside him which then unravel his emotions. Reprieve the biggest of them all.

So they still consider me their brother, through and through, after everything

"Thanks, s'all I needed to hear."

An interruption occurs, "Don't," die. "Sabo, just don't. Y-your not s-seriously gonna leave off without saying...saying something like-"

"Not your faults, don't blames yourselves, both are still...precious t'me...both mean world t'me, sorry for not...not seein' you sooner?" he coughs wetly and weakly, his blonde brows furrowing. "Th-thought you could tell."

The revolutionary pauses suddenly, involuntarily experiencing the tempo of his heart beat go slower. Time is of the essence. Weary, he leans forwards on their shoulders as before, attempting so badly to win a losing battle against his body.

Sabo's tone is lower than ever; his voice just manages to be hearable, "S-sorry to sound fussy but, promise...both of you...don't-try not to forget me."

"Whatever you want.

Taken aback by those words, Ace and Luffy visibly finch a bit – hurt they seem. How the hell could Sabo say that? Neither blink their non-dry eyes as they exchange apprehensive yet, accepting looks. They reply, "We promise." meaning every word.

Blurredly visualising three Fates with scissors, playfully stroking with his Thread of life, Sabo quells his expiration as long as he's able, using borrowed time, without their consent, willing also his words to be coherent, even though it comes to a point where his ragged breaths are near non-existent.

"As long...as you remember me," whispers Sabo, so slowly, for the final time. "I'll never die."

(If so, then why does he...physically?)

As though it is synchronised, their vice-grip clutches on his tailcoat lose their cobra like grip, when the revolutionary arm's slack around them, his fingers lifeless, shoulders slowly slagging as well as breathing now fading and faded. Their hairs at the base of their necks stand on end, like frozen icicles hanging from a wintry island's caves.

The thread has been cut.

So laying the now-corspe upon the ground with utmost care is what and all they can do. And there it is: the peaceful smile frozen in perfect time.

Straight away, the pirate commander shuts his eyes close and tosses his his head side to side. Numb disbelief gives way to heartache whereby his own blood-pumping organ seems to go beyond ballistic, all in order to rip it's extensions and crawl its slow way up his throat and out his mouth. What is more is that he discovers that it's difficult to draw a single breath.

His little brother on the other hand...

"He's gone. He's gone for real." Luffy says frenziedly, "F-forever." afterwards he runs his ten fingers absently through his hair, and the sensation brings forth the last time Sabo had ruffled and teased his locks in Impel Down, his hands at the time welcomed and his face so prideful when he said to him, 'That's my brother! Stronger than ever now, right?'

Never. I'll never forget you – I can't!

As is his nature, the captain weeps audibly, intertwining his fingers with Sabo's and resting his head as close as he possibly can to him. It's still no use. Magical tears don't work in real life as they do in fairy tales. Their brother has indeed died in his and Ace's arms.

You idiot, he thinks, you're an idiot for makin' us promise that—something that needed no guarantee. How the hell can we forget you?

Gritting his teeth in extreme grief, Ace starts to feel his third batch of tears ready to explode out of her eyes.

How was I ever supposed to?

He too wants to mourn like his little brother by howling rightfully like a distressed banshee; however, their enemy won't let him. Their enemy a sky-scraping tall, tough bastard who's actually managed to survive an earth-shattering blow from Whitebeard by the skin of his teeth.

Hell-bent on the 'demons' of the earth, his eyes fix themselves forever on the two black-haired people – unarmed – unalert – unprepared, while his red-trousered legs propel him faster and forwards. This is no surprise after all, the Admiral's intent to be exact. Absolute justice has no issues these days when it comes to kicking men when they're already ravine-level down. Ace is pretty sure he can hear Marco's, Vista's, Jinbei's urgent voices bellowing at him so hard to do a runner with Luffy – now!

. . . .

Even though he's not the only one, the young captain instantly becomes drawn right into quagmire; his eyes are a mixture of intrigue and fear.

Déjà vu!

It like that time when, he thinks briefly, then refuses to remember. That time is unspeakable. Nonetheless, this moment is familiar. Way too nostalgic. Instead of a beam of light emerging from a foot, the present gifts him a sight of hot molten rock that'll melt right through Sabo's-

"NOOO!"

Tears out his throat, reverberating to everyone's ears – reminding them that Monkey D. Luffy is a pirate indeed but a kid.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE! FUCKIN' LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

Helplessness is a restraint; Ace hates restraints – loathes them; nevertheless, it what he feels now. He can't do a thing about it – that! He can't run over there and make change cause it'll make Sabo's sacrifice all for nothing and that...that's not happening. The commander gets that but the young captain, "Damnit, Ace! Lemme go! Lemme go!" is a shitstorm of no future vision and struggle. Not ceasing in strength, his arms are a stronghold as they tightly restrain Luffy, desperately willing his stupid brother (thrashing still to get to Sabo) to get his shit together and understand that-

"P-PLEASE DON'T-" oh, man. He's begging now.

Akainu turns and frowns at the sole rubbery wailer, "Don't be alarmed: this is JUSTICE!" sinister is the tug on his lips. "Behold!"

If one must behold something then, one thing's for sure – his foot is hotter than hell itself.

The magma exuding around the Admiral's entire foot, through and through, descends down and down, inches nearer, very close to the corpse, seconds away from dripping lava unintentionally, and perhaps five seconds away from scalding a skull intentionally, ready to demonstrate his standpoint, ready to showcase the change Marines need now...

Shame his message isn't sent.

His foot never reaches the blonde locks. Oh no. It never could – it had no chance. No chance in hell when a shadow appears behind him, then before him. No time to react. All he can do is witness two livid pupils, recognise his attacker and afterwards accept a tanned fist, as black as the darkness of coal, propelling straight for his face once – then twice.

Thrown back in surreal, slow motion, Akainu's consciousness fights to awaken fully and not partly; however, the crashing landing he gets when he's done flying ungracefully does leave a dent in his noggin. Devil fruit user or not – all spectators had heard the sickening crack beneath flesh.

Never have Ace and Luffy loved the old man's punches so much till now.

"Scram you two, IDIOTS!" Garp offers them and his friend a thumb up. "I swear on my life that he'll get a proper burial. It's...the least I can do."

Never have they loved the old man so much till now.

Ace and Luffy take one last glance back—their hearts still heavy, before their feet make them clear out of the site. They'll never omit him out of memory. Never. All the while though, Sengoku juggles with two palms the war and world and waywardness today, he wonders, Why'd you react now? then sighs heavily. As a dirty curse escapes his mouth, the aged man visions (reluctantly so) on the paperwork and jail sentence he'll have to give his friend.

A/N: I so don't know who to feel more sorry for...Also, I really needed a Garp redemption/intervention thing so: here it is! Thanks for reading! Please REFLECT on what you've read then, REVIEW by typing your thoughts or/and criticisms.