This chapter was difficult, trying to break the ice always is. Plus fellow Pandora Hearts readers, the newest chapter WOW major distraction. Again so happy with the response to this story, Thank You.

Fair warning my knowledge of One Piece is somewhat limited, so I'm sorry if I have mistakes.

Edit: I don't know what happened with the "what" fixed.

I do not own One Piece only my own characters.

Chapter 4

As she ran her fingers against the cold hard steel of the cell bars, she noticed that Ace had become quite aware of her movements. Whenever she would wake from her sleep to her endless hours of daydreaming. Every time she made a movement his head would turn ever so slightly just to catch a glimpse of what she could be doing.

Why bother even looking at her? There was nothing she could do for him or to him. She would never dare to attack him, if that was his concern. She had learned a long time ago that it was better to be invisible. Showing any kind of hostility would only lead to more violence and she had had enough of it.

She lifted her head and turned it enough to see Ace. His head was slightly turned in her direction, however his eyes were closed. She assumed that he was asleep; he looked so peaceful. As she looked at him she couldn't help but let her mind wonder. His behavior was not the only questing feature, Why was he here? Where did he come from? Who was he?

She knew that she lacked enough courage to speak such questions aloud. Lost in her thoughts she never realized Ace had opened his eyes. He turned his head to face her, staring right back at her. After a few minutes he realized that she was once again stuck in her thoughts, which could last for days.

"Good Morning."

Calling out to her he hoped that it would be enough to pull her back. Again the sound of his voice startled her. Snapping out of her thoughts, she didn't speak a word. However she did not feel the need to runaway, back to her corner as she was so accustomed to doing so.

"How are you feeling? No bad dreams I hope."

Again his questions, why would he want to know how she's feeling? No one had ever bothered asking such things. His concern for her well being went beyond questions. When he returned her food, waking her from her nightmare and even now asking about her feelings. There was nothing stranger.

"I have some good remedies for bad dreams."

She said nothing, did nothing simply continued to stare. Feeling all his progress slipping away, Ace leaned his head down in defeat. Seeing the change in his demeanor, a slight sense of concern swept over her. Was her lack of response having such an effect on him?

"…ava…"

The sudden sound of her name caught her off guard. Yes her name, the sound of it did not bring her a strange feeling on the contract it brought her a feeling of comforting. After so many years, a name. It brought her joy to know that she finally had an answer. She looked at the man that had given her that to her. His defeated expression soon overwhelmed her thoughts.

"Please talk to me."

He wished for her response. One thing after another, there was no end to his strange behavior. Realizing that in the strangest of circumstances he might need her response, she moved. Crawling on the rough concrete floor, she took a seat right in front of Ace.

"…what is the sea?"

She had often heard that word from the other prisoners. Dreaming of the days when the sea was all that mattered and how they wished to return to it. But what exactly was the sea?

Ace looked up to see her sitting in front of him. Placing distance between them as she leaned against the cell bars. The fact that she had willingly approached him was not what shocked him, but her question. Had she really been here so long that she did not know what the sea was. Collecting his thoughts Ace readied his answer, explaining the one thing that all pirates dreamed of.

"Being out at sea is the most wonderful feeling."

"…feeling?"

"Well the sea can give you many different feelings. The sea is vast open water as far as the eye can see."

Ace continued his explanation going back and forth from scientific to a more emotional response. Ava sat patiently listening to everything he had to say. She had to admit that his explanation was rather complicated only understand some of it. However what she did understand was the look on his face. The joy that he felt as he explained something that held special meaning, was simple enough even for her to see.