Warning: English isn't my first language so this going to have A LOT OF MISTAKES. Sorry for that—I will try to give my best. If someone can help me with this, I will be very grateful. So… That's all.


One of the first things he thought about his other half as Sabo was how he had endured his two brothers who were an individual tornado—leaving aside the Will of the D. and the storms they would cause in the world—, each other was a bunch of problems. Ace looking for a fight at every corner and Luffy in danger of being devoured by any beast he encountered.

He sincerely respected Sabo for that, from the heart. Even he wouldn't have had the patience to deal with those walking heart attacks (especially Luffy). Although he must say that he had some experience with problematic people. In his first life he had something similar, a two friends-brothers with whom he grew up until—well, his end.

Aru and Eri were a pair of twins who were more problems than solutions, but he loved them. They were orphans of mother and their father worked all day, so they had been left in the care of his grandpa and somehow became 'family'. Aru was that little sister who he had to protect, especially when they entered high school and somehow that girl who played with bugs and kicked the ass of the bullies who bothered her brother became an extraordinary beauty. He had to be on guard 24/7 so that no any asshole would want to cross the line. And Eri was that little brother who followed him like puppy, whining whenever a child older than him stolen his toys… or that was until like his sister grew and changed completely. He got his growth spurt and was taller than him, even attractive. Damn genes.

Somehow, he was glad he had gone when they no longer needed him so much. Aru went out with a guy who seemed to be a good boy and maybe they would get married in a few years and Eri was about to fulfill his dream of becoming a writer. They were making their own way in life and he was happy about it.

He sighed nostalgically and tried not to let the sadness over him, after all these years he still wasn't used to his new life. All the stories he read where the protagonist was reincarnated or transported to a new world didn't really help, those protagonists accepted their reality too easily, but it wasn't like that.

And again he was being seized with negative feelings.

He breathed and exhaled.

It was all the fault of one thing, his maybe next meeting with his little brother, Luffy.

He was nervous, scared, excited, again nervous, scared and excited. It was a vicious circle, so he tried to think something else but that other thing also made a mess with his head.

Basically he already knew what kind of reaction Luffy would have, the Dressrosa Arc had shown him, but being the one who was going to experience everything in his own flesh was a bit difficult to calm down.

What if thing didn't go well as he expected?

His hands began to sweat and he tried to calm down, or he was going to suffer a panic attack.

He watched the waves crashing against the ship, counting from 1 to 10, breathing deeply and exhaling all the air, anything that calmed his heart that beat at full speed in his chest.


He knew that the best way to find Luffy was to go to the place with the most scandal.

The sky was beginning to fill with gray storm clouds ant that only meant one thing, and he know what it was.

He ran through alleys, hidden under a cloak, until he found his destiny. A square full of civilians and pirates watching the execution platform.

He arrived on one of the streets next to the building behind the platform, Buggy had Luffy already trapped.

"For the crime of angering me, I sentence you, Monkey D. Luffy, to a Flashy execution!" Buggy shouted while laughing. "We're going to cause a flashy ruckus, boys!

The Buggy Pirates started firing and shouting.

"Just stay right there and look!"

Sabo looked at the platform and Luffy seemed to say something calmly, then Buggy and he began to scream each other. He couldn't help but let out a weak laugh, somehow remembered the dialogue of that part, Luffy saying something about it was his first time watching an execution and Buggy reminding him that he was going to be executed.

"Now we will proceed with the flashy execution for the whole public!" Buggy yelled, raising a sword in his hand.

"Nooo!" shouted Luffy.

The clouds began to gather more and more. Luffy seemed to say something again and he didn't seem at all sincere.

"AS if I'd just let you go, you idiot!"

Slowly he began to make his way through the crowd, his body moving automatically, until he began to hear part of Buggy's conversations with his brother.

"...Whether or not you have last words, it's not like someone cares what you have to—"

Luffy breathed all the air his lungs endured and then he screamed.

"I'M THE MAN… WHO'LL BECOME THE PIRATE KING!" he declared, and Sabo felt a chill run down his body. He remembered the first time he heard Luffy say that as a child, and the next, but this time he felt so real, it was as if he were saying something that was already a fact and not a dream.

The crowd began to murmur, some in disbelieve, others surprised, different emotions by the simple words of a boy.

Buggy raised his sword in order to decapitate his brother, feet began to move again, but—

"Wait!" called a pair of voices and Buggy stopped. They were the Nakamas of his little brother.

"Sanji! Zoro! Help me!"

"So you've come, Zoro? But it seems you're too late!" the clown resumed his attack and Sabo couldn't avoid the growing panic in his chest. Why did not that happen already?

Sanji and Zoro charged against the crowd and the rival pirates did the same, everything was in chaos.

"Gyahahahaha! Just watch carefully from there! Witness the last moments of your captain!" the sword in his hands reached the maximum point and began to descend, almost in slow motion before his eyes.

"Zoro! Sanji! Usopp! Nami! Sorry, but it looks like I'm dead" said Luffy with an unusual calmness while smiling broadly.

He remembered Ace and his last moments. His smile. Dying in Luffy's arms.

Crack

Something snapped inside Sabo.

Nothing else matter anymore, not even the fact that he shouldn't use Ryuusouken in that place. His hand blackened with Haki and he ran to the platform, hitting and knocking down the pirates who were coming at him with ease.

"Luffy!" he cried out, but his voice was overshadowed by the sound of battle.

And then, like a miracle (although he knew it was not, but he was relieved by it) lightning hit the platform.

Sabo stopped just like everyone else, the platform started to burn and the rain fall, no one made a sound and from above a straw hat began to fall softly until hitting the ground with a thud.

A hand reached out to lift his hat and put it on his head.

"Shishishi! Looks like I did survive! How luck!" said Luffy, standing in the rubble with Buggy completely burned at his feet. The crow was still in shock and Luffy look the opportunity to walk towards his Nakamas.

They started talking calmly but the Marines made their appearance and Luffy and his friends began to run away. Sabo stayed there, watching his brother run so he did the same, he didn't want to be caught by those people—although it was doubtful that they would.

He thought a bit that and after a few moments he blushed slightly, that had been a bit narcissistic on his part. When had he become like this?


When he arrived at the scene the swordsman—Roronoa Zoro—had already defeated the sergeant, so he ran across the rooftops to where his brother and Smoker were.

Sanji had been thrown against a wall, and Smoker was submitting his brother to the ground, the Captain was about to take his Jitte when a hand prevented him.

"…You're!"

Luffy moved under the marine's grip, trying to see who was there.

Dagron released the grip and a gust of wind appeared from nowhere taking with it several Marines, Smoker and Luffy. Zoro appeared and began to shout for them to run, the three boys ran away without looking back. Dragon watched them go and smiled.

"Haha… go on then, is that is your desire!"

Smoker got up and faced Dragon.

"Why did you help him escape?! Dragon!" demanded the Captain.

"What reason do you have for preventing a man from setting sail?" Dragon asked with a grin as the rein grew stronger.

"Sabo" called him and he jumped from the roof where they were. "Go" ordered, and Sabo did no more than obey.

He pulled out his pipe and lashed out at smoke man who defended his attack with a grimace. Sabo pushed again causing him to retreat and he himself moved away to attack again from another direction, the Captain managed to block him but he couldn't do anything more than that.

"Is that all?" Sabo asked with a mocking tone and Smoker gritted his teeth, holding his Jitte with one hand and the other began to turn to smoke, ready to attack him but Sabo did the same, taking the opponent's fist in a firm grip.

"What…" Smoker looked perplexed and Sabo took advantage of the situation, dropped his weapon and pushed himself with one leg and with the other cover of Haki kicked the man with force making him of through a wall of a nearby building and being buried under debris.

Dragon started walking and he assumed the battle was over, took his pipe and followed the man.

"Are you sure you're not going after him?" he asked quietly as the rain turned into a storm.

"Yeah… I don't think I'm ready yet, besides, he'll soon enter into Grand Line so I'll have more opportunities to do it" and somehow he was relieved. Maybe he should start practicing how to greet his brothers.


"So… Why are you so determined that Luffy is the first to contact? Since he sail, Ace was in Grand Line for at least a year and the others in New World, you have had more than enough opportunities with him" Koala asked as she facing Sabo and watched him eat—or devour—his lunch.

The quarter's cafeteria was almost empty, lunchtime was over a while ago but Sabo preferred to eat alone and in peace—although Koala didn't seem to share the idea.

The girl rested her chin on her hands without looking away, waiting for his response. Sabo sighed defeated.

"It's easier to deal with Luffy than with Ace" was all his response and he hoped it would be enough.

"Yeah."

It was not.

"We know each other, what, seven years? I know there is something else and you can't lie to me. Now talk.

Sabo under his silverware and scratched the back of his head. He could no win against his best friend.

"The thing is…" he began with a grimace, not quite sure what to say or how to explain it. "It's just that I… I'm scared" he admitted, looking down at his food, suddenly he didn't feel so hungry anymore.

"Scared? From what?"

"Ace. Of both, really. How can they react? I have been out of their lives for ten full years and I have no excuse, I have no forgiveness for abandoning them. Before sailing on my own I sent them a letter, but I don't think that was enough to express how important they were—are for me.

He felt Koala's gaze on him but he didn't say anything, they both remained silent only filled by the movement of the cooks and some other people eating. Seconds passed until Koala let out a sigh.

"You're an idiot" she declared like that, making him raise his head.

"What—"

"Sabo, you're an idiot" repeated with an overly serious expression. "You may be one of the smartest people I've met but you're still an idiot. You're thinking this too much! It's almost as if you want the worst scenario to happen just so you can say 'I told you so'.

Sabo opened his mouth to say something but Koala didn't leave it.

"Since I met you, you have gone through life planning every step you take, every event and what it may cause in the future, you are afraid that something unexpected will happen and you can't control it. And that is stupidity. You can't plan a life completely. You aren't living. I understand that you are afraid, really, but thing will get worse more and more if you keep waiting for the perfect situation. Stop doing it! Braveness is not the absence of fear but rather the strength to keep going forward despite the fear[1]! I will be by you side if needed!

Sabo lowered his face again but this time it was to hide a smile of happiness. Koala really was amazing; she had cleared his clouded thoughts only with words and attitude. Even so, he didn't want to give her the satisfaction of achievement.

"It's a good speech, worthy of Revolutionary; it would be even more amazing if you were not on the table" he point out, and indeed, the girl was on her knees on the table, almost with her face stuck to his, had reached that position to be so absorbed in her lecturing.

Koala let out a high-pitched scream that made him put hands to his ears. He tried to do something but all he could do was yell as felt Koala's fist against his face. After that everything around him vanished.


They had some business near the first Red Line islands in Paradise, and Sabo was nervous, he knew that Luffy and his crew would be at least on their way to Little Garden so they would not meet for a while.

Koala's words had filled him with courage so if he faced his little brother by chance he would be ready…

Or so he thought.

Because there, in an insignificant island, in an unimportant town, in a restaurant of the few that there was, he had to meet the least expected.

In restaurant bar, completely asleep on his food and proudly showing off a certain tattoo not difficult to recognize on his back was the Second Commander of Whitebeard. Portgas D. Ace. His brother.

He felt his breath leave him, as did his soul and all thoughts.

"I think he's dead" a worried voice murmured and other murmurs followed

"I think someone poisoned his food, someone say it's a revenge" said someone already spreading nonsense gossip.

"It's one of Whitebeard's pirates, look at his tattoo; sure someone had his head in their sights.

Suddenly, Ace raised his head and everyone fell silent, he looked at the sides looking for something to clean himself, without finding anything he put his hand to his face and remove the remains of food.

"Ugh, I fell asleep… Hey, what's up, old man?" he asked the owner who saw him with amazement and fear. "Is there a show?"

"He fell asleep?!" the others yelled in an annoyed and incredulous way and Sabo felt déjà-vu—although wasn't really one if that situation had not happen yet. But he suspected that Ace used to do that regularly.

"W-we think you was dead, sir…" said the owner still not recovered.

"Huh? Why would they think that?"

"You suddenly fell…"

"What do you say" Ace put food in his mouth without taking in account the eccentricities of other diners and staff. "By the way, old man," he said as he searched through his belongings and pulled out a bounty poster. "Did this boy come to town?" he asked, showing it to him.

"Huh? No, I've never seen him here," answered and left the boy alone whit his food.

Ace looked thoughtfully at the poster, eating slowly. Luffy wasn't in this direction, it was a pity.

Sabo continued to look at Ace's back, not moving until felt a hand on his own back. It was Koala who tried to show her support. He swallowed and took a few steps forward. It was time for the truth; it could not want to withdraw like with Luffy in Loguetown.

"Portgas D. Ace, I need to talk to you," he said, perhaps too loudly, calling everyone's attention and finally the person named.

Slowly Ace turned around to face whoever had called him. Maybe it was a bounty hunter or a rival pirate, either way he was an idiot with guts o just an idiot. His eyes traveled from bottom to top quietly. He was a man with wide light-blue pants tucked in black boots; a buttoned vest with a blue shirt and a black belt, and a long trench coat on. And a freacking cravat. A weird outfit. Who think he was that presumptuous idiot? And finally he reach the face.

Every sing of mockery or arrogance left the Ace's face when he met the other man's face. He was different from what he remembered, he looked more mature and had longer hair, and a horrible scar decorated his left eye. So different from that child he met and yet so alike. Even the same top hat.

He stood up instinctively, almost knocking over the bench where he had been sitting.

"Sabo…" he whispered without thinking.


[1] It is one of my favorite phrases of Paulo Coelho, I couldn't help it.


Yeah, I know. I'm a shit for leaving it here but I can't help the cliffhanger—hehe. Sincerely, I didn't think that this chapter came out so late, it usually takes eons to update my stories, I hope you can understand it.

Anyway, what did you think? I hope you liked it. Thank for the follows, favs and reading!

Next chapter: A beating is the least you owe me.

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