Time for more shameless self-advertising! :D I've started my first AceLu romance fic called The Divide so please check it out if you're interested! It has a slow start and isn't going to be overly romantic, but I've had a lot of fun writing it and I hope you have fun reading it XD Chapter 1 is out now and I'm finished chapter 2, which I'll post once (if) it reaches 15 reviews (we're at 13 now). I've actually got the first 5 chapters done and I'm going to post it based on how much feedback I get or if I'm not able to work on anything else. Sabo's in it :D Anything with Sabo is awesome, just saying.

Ahem.

Disclaimer: Luffy's regained his memories and says that I really am the owner of One Piece! See! *silence* Yeah, ok, flat out lie.

"So he does that often?" Luffy asked, stuffing his face with the meal they brought him. Thatch and Marco had joined him in his quarters for both breakfast and lunch. Ace told them about the encounter from the previous night and the commanders were eager to snoop around and find out anything they could about it. After all, if the tiny Marine was being less hateful towards his brother something must have changed, right? But they wouldn't press him for answers. For such a small boy he had quite the temper and they didn't want to risk undoing any progress made.

"Mainly when he's stressed, yoi," Marco stated, taking a sip of his soup from his seat on the floor. There was only one chair in the room and Thatch claimed it immediately upon entering.

Luffy mauled the information in his head, scrutinizing Fire Fist's actions from the night before. Apparently the sleepwalking was a result of his narcolepsy. In addition to his regular fits, there were other problems that his conditioned caused, such as sleepwalking and night terrors. He didn't ask about the terrors, though he was curious. What a fascinating man.

He snapped out of that frame of thought, cursing himself for ever thinking something like that about a pirate. Despite his self-loathing, he was starting to get accustomed to staying with them. It pained him to admit it, but they weren't so bad. He found himself treating them like he would his comrades at Marine HQ or Marineford, which he'd grown up at. Still, he had to remember that they were pirates – the scum of the sea – and that his stay on the Moby Dick would be over shortly.

A pain stung his chest. The old man was coming. How long had he been there? He knew that if the hero of the Marines was going to show up the crew of the Moby Dick would not escape unscathed and, as much as he didn't want to admit it, he'd grown rather fond of some of them. It was complete blasphemy for a Marine to think that, he knew, but it's not like he could help himself. They weren't like the pirates he'd fought in the past. Something was…different.

He was brought back to reality by a sharp clicking sound. The three of them, lunches almost fully devoured, turned to see the door open. Ace stepped through a bit nervously and immediately the two commanders sprung to their feet and headed out of the room, giving their friend a reassuring pat on the shoulder and leaving the brothers alone in their awkwardness. They were nosy – well, Thatch was, Marco just went along for the amusement – but they knew when to bow out and give the siblings some space. At least they thought they did, but both were silently wishing for them to return to break the heavy atmosphere.

The two hadn't spoken since their waking at dawn and, quite frankly, had no idea how to act around each other after that. Ace wanted to question the younger about his strange behaviour while half asleep, but didn't know if he would irritate the boy. Luffy was feeling guiltier as each day passed for the way he treated the man but was also fighting internally with the duties and mindset of the Marines that he held for so long. He had questions to ask his brother but his pride wouldn't allow him. Both were curious, neither knowing how to begin.

Ace sat in the chair across the room, knowing full-well that Marine Luffy was uncomfortable when pirates were in near proximity to him. He watched as Luffy nervously ate his food, retaining the disturbingly good table manners from before. Seeing him act so neat and careful was just…wrong. Luffy was a pig. He gorged himself over every scrap of meat in the vicinity and when he ate his portion he would resort to stealing off of other people's plates to fill his insatiable appetite. The two of them broke out in full-on fights during most meals as children. Both were gluttons. Then Sabo would break them up and they would eat their even shares with scowls on their faces. But that Luffy was gone.

When he saw that Luffy was staring at him questioningly he decided to attempt to strike a conversation with a boy. However, the Marine beat him to it.

"Why are you here?"

"It's nice to see you, too," Ace replied dryly, trying to remember to keep his temper in check. He was getting use to the new Luffy, even if he didn't show it. After what happened the previous night he was even tempted into liking the brat with the short fuse. Sure he missed his little brother above all else – he always would – but this kid wasn't as bad as he first thought. He treated them like lower beings but it was a part of his profession to do so. If Garp had anything to do with his training over the last three years then he probably beat that mentality into him, seeing as the boy had amnesia which gave the old Vice Admiral a blank slate to mould. He'd have to beat the old man next he saw him for whatever he did to his baby brother after he left.

"No, sorry," Luffy started, dropping his head into his palm as he tried to control his unnecessary irritation. Ace was struck dumb by that. Marine Luffy, apologising? He had to be dreaming. "I just…I don't know…"

It wasn't hard for him to notice how confused his brother was becoming. He was trying to be nice, to not snap as he so often did, and so Ace would have to take the conversation into his own hands. Maybe, if he caught his interest with something, the boy would be able to relax and take his thoughts elsewhere. Then he spotted the bundle of straw atop his matted hair; it was the perfect topic. "Say, Luffy, do you know where you got that?" He pointed his index finger at the hat, receiving a curious, wide-eye look that so much resembled the boy from his memories.

"I know that it's important, but…" He pulled it over his eyes to shadow the shocked look on his face. Its origin never occurred to him. The more he thought about it, the more he realized how empty his memories were on the subject. It made him think closely about Fire Fist's claims, wondering just how much he didn't know about himself. Before his arrival on that ship he didn't notice the blank spaces in his memories at all, yet the more time he spent there the more he questioned if the pirate was telling the truth. Were they really brothers?

"A pirate gave it to you. He saved your life and handed over that hat. You were supposed to return it when you became a great pirate."

"Me? A pirate?" He scoffed at the idea, noting how ironic it was that he was now in the white garb of a pirate's worst enemy. He heard a bit of a chuckle leave the older man's mouth and looked up to see a small smile on Ace's face.

"Yeah. Looking at you now it's hard to believe. You used to say that you were going to be Pirate King." Though his smile was still there, Ace was replaying memories in his head with a pain he'd become all too familiar with over the course of that week. That clumsy, bumbling rubber boy was replaced with a temperamental, stern teen who had forgotten even the most precious of his dreams.

"Pirate King? Like Gold Roger?" Luffy asked, watching his older sibling with big eyes. That was not the reaction Ace expected. He figured the younger boy would get upset or angry or accuse him of lying, but the expression he gave was one of interest.

"Yeah…" He tried not to grit his teeth at the mention of his father's name, to no avail. He didn't want to bring up that man, whom he hated so much, but Luffy was showing some interest so he would grin and bear it. Maybe he could get the kid to quit being a Marine. Nah, too stubborn.

"My loyalties lie with the Marines," Luffy stated, voice oddly calm despite the topic. Ace knew that already. He didn't need a constant reminder that his brother turned against him – it was enough hearing it the first time. "But I could probably do it…if I wanted to." That Fire Fist did not expect. His eyes shot up to meet the contemplative face of the tiny Marine. Was he actually considering it?

"Heh, a runt like you? Not a chance."

"The hell's that supposed to mean, asshole?"

"You couldn't even make Marco break a sweat! No way you'd become Pirate King."

"Why you…" Luffy composed himself before his explosive anger got the best of him. He contorted his face into a pout rather than a scowl and watched the pirate with narrow eyes. It wasn't like he could retort by saying that he could take on Phoenix because their last battle clearly showed otherwise and he knew that a fight with Fire Fist would likely give the same result, much as he hated to admit it. So he contented to sulk. "Not like I want to, anyways."

"…I know."

Ace pulled a chair up near to the bed and watched his brother sleep. He'd done the very same thing once before, resulting in that attempted assassination, and was hesitant to try it again. He couldn't help himself. The way Luffy acted on deck while half asleep was still bothering him. It gnawed at his thoughts constantly throughout the day and yet he was unable to ask the boy about it. He realized that Luffy was likely unaware of his behaviour himself. So he found himself in his brother's room once more, much more cautious than his last visit, watching the boy sleep. Even he thought his actions were creepy.

Luffy stirred, grumbling something under his breath as he shifted into a more comfortable position. It nearly made Ace's heart leap from his chest. He really, really didn't want to be caught doing something so…abnormal. But, as if sensing his anxiety, the boy's eyes opened. Just a little.

"Ace?"

When he heard Luffy's voice he just about jumped out of his chair. It took him a minute to compose himself. Then he watched the half-asleep boy and realized he'd used that same, innocent tone from before. And he said his name, just like when they were kids. He sat back down and leaned in to get a better look at his brother. Through the darkness he could see that Luffy's eyes were glazed, like he was still asleep. It resembled the look his face held when he would sleepwalk and he resigned himself to think that Luffy wasn't actually consciously aware of himself.

"What is it, Lu?" Ace asked in a silky, smooth tone. He'd used that gentle way of speaking all of the time when they were little, to calm his brother down. The boy looked worried – unnerved.

"I'm scared," he stated, voice childish and shaky. The older of the two froze and his eyes widened. Memories of his small, younger sibling saying just that filled his head. This wasn't Marine Luffy.

"Do you want a light?" He looked around to locate the lamp he brought with him. When he spotted it on the ground he went to get up but was halted by a warm grasp around his wrist. Looking back at the form in the bed, he saw Luffy shaking his head, eyes glossy with tears that he refused to let fall. Ace sat back down. Waited.

"I…I don't want to be alone," he stuttered, sniffling as the tears fell across his skin. "Sabo…Sabo's gone."

Ace's blood ran cold. His circulation froze over like ice and he could feel his body numb as he watched the pained expression on Luffy's face. He wasn't seeing the teenager, though. He was seeing that tiny, frail figure from his past – the one that huddled up next to him every night after their brother was killed, sobbing into his shirt until he fell asleep. His shock only grew once he fully grasped the situation. Luffy remembered something. He remembered Sabo and that Sabo was dead. Why was that the first thing he recalled?

"Ace…" He focused on the Luffy before him, looking much weaker and younger than he really was. Noticing that his wrist was still clasped tightly by his brother, he placed a reassuring hand on top of the smaller one's. "…I don't want to lose you, too."

"Idiot, don't go killing me off so easily. I told you before: I'm not gonna die."

"Promise?"

"Yeah, I promise. Now go back to sleep."

Luffy's tears ceased and he closed his eyes, moving in closer to his older brother's warmth. Ace watched this and lifted one of his hands. He started running his fingers through the boy's dark strands, mimicking an action he did so often when Sabo first died. It calmed him.

"…Thanks," the younger murmured lightly before his breath fell even and shallow, giving way to sleep. He pushed stray black strands from Luffy's eyes, giving him one last look and mauling over when just happened inside his head. He remembered having that conversation before. In fact, he'd repeated those words many times when the boy was little. It was so nostalgic, hearing him say those things. Acting that way. Like a child.

He slowly moved his hands away from Luffy, being careful not to disturb his sleep once more. As he stepped lightly towards the door he didn't look back. He was starting to understand what was going on and that Luffy, the one from his childhood, had once more been replaced by the Marine.

He refused to set eyes on him again. Because, come morning, he wouldn't remember.

Frantic shouts and rushed steps woke the sleeping stragglers and alerted them to attention. Both Ace and Luffy instinctively rushed out of their respective rooms and to the ship's surface. They gawked, dumbstruck, as they stared out at the sea in front of them. A Marine fleet with well over fifty large ships. The fleet was headed to engage the Moby Dick in combat. Luffy didn't care about the ships themselves, though. He was more focused on what was on the ships than anything.

His Adam's apple moved in his throat as he swallowed heavily. He took a few unconscious steps forward, causing some of the commanders, as well as his brother, to look at him with confusion.

"Gramps…"

A/N: So yeah. Here's the next chapter. Not really sure what to say, for once. Should I self-advertise again? Hmmm...nah, I don't need you guys yelling at me to stop mentioning my new stories XD

To my lovelies~

xXxWolvesInTheNightxXx: Lol well you're going to have to wait XD A long, LONG time. Teehee I'm such a troll.

Kitsune Foxfire: Hehehe, perceptive you are ;) Finding out Luffy's past is going to be a long, drawn out, arduous process. You'll see bits and pieces soon but eventually I'll have a chapter or two deticated to it. But that's much later. Like...towards the end later. Because I'm a troll. My tendons are improving :D Though typing out chapters still gives me some pain, so I have to take a lot of breaks in-between.

namelessreader: I'm glad you like it so much ;_; Hopefully this update is up to par.

Neko-VongolaPrimo: Lol I'm glad you liked it so much XD That was my favourite scene to write. I like fluff . Yes, Marco is awesome and he always will be. I just noticed that he's in ALL of my stories, even the new one I just posted! (well, starting in chapter 2). Or actually, he's not officially in Resolve yet...but he will be. Soon. Luffy is just remembering the words at the end. It's a sign he's making connections :P That's why it's in italics. Can't skip the uninteresting chapters in Skip :/ They're boring but they're important to the plot and I'm not willing to sift them out to make every chapter dramatic and action-packed. Garp, as you now know, will be showing up next chapter.

bakahime123: Thank you!

YingYang21: Glad you liked it! Hope you liked this chapter as well!

MeikoKuran999: Lol it's improving but I keep having to take breaks so it slows down my writing...a lot. Yeah, Luffy's confusion makes him so angsty XD Glad you loved it, hope you loved this chapter as well! :D

elixluna: There will be more fluffy moments :3 But not for a long, long while. Yeah...the angst is going to return and the plot of the story is acutally going to start from here on out. It's not just about Luffy's memory loss like a lot of you guys think ;)

angelrider13: I love your reactions XD Thank you, I'm glad you like their interaction. It can be hard to write sometimes... =_=; Hope you liked the update!

Son Goshen: Yeah...don't count on Luffy's memories returning for a long, long time...especially after what happens in the next chapter...ugh it's going to be so hard to write. You guys are in for a long ride :P

Hotaru JaegerJaquez: Well I'm sure this chapter answered your question already but Sabo is, in fact, dead. The plot divergence didn't happen until Ace set sail so everything from before then is unchanged. Sabo's in my newest story The Divide but sadly he isn't in any of the other ones. He's mentioned in each of my other stories, but that's about it :/ And Garp is coming XD And you guys will get so mad at him! Oh well.

Sealing Mistress: Well he doesn't really have coherent memories. They're just flashes of the past that he tries to remember...for now. He subconsciously remembers him, though, like in this chapter. He subconsciously remembers everything. Shouldn't have said that...

samettikettu: Haha! You've fallen prey to my fanfiction! Lol glad you like it ;) Hope you enjoyed the update.

bbhelen3162: Thank you, enjoy!

99 luffy: Your words are too kind ;_; Thank you so much and I'm glad you like it!

XxSaorixX: Come on, you know it's fun to read about Luffy being a jerk *nudge nudge* Lots of people liked that scene . Sadly the story is not as straightforward as it seems.

AkaNeko-san: I'm sorry, but you're going to hate me for what I did to your poor Luffy ^^; What, you didn't expect him to lose his memories from a bump on the head, did you? No, no, no, no, nothing so simple. Honestly, you don't wanna know what happened to him. Or what will happen in Skip :P But you'll be subjected to it if you continue reading muahaha. Hope you liked the update!

Cyborgnetics: Who says he isn't? Ace is pissed at Garp, of course, he just hasn't had a chance to express it yet.

Kiyoumi: The parallel worlds one would have been complicated but a lot more fun than this one. While this has angst, the other one would have had fluff and adventure. But people prefered angst :D At least someone likes Luffy as a Marine XD Most people do not. As for the crew, you'll have to wait and find out :P Hope you like the update!

(Guys! Guys! Lovlies! We're almost at 100 reviews :D Isn't that awesome? Though it's still really far behind the others...Resolve is 168 which is amazing. Then Skip is at 124 which is also very good. And this story has 93 :D So close! I can't believe how much support I've gotten on all of my stories ;_; You lovelies are amazing, seriously. Reviews are the reason I keep updating. I love hearing from you guys so much and honestly I probably would have dropped all of the stories if it wasn't for you. Seriously. And now we have another story to foster! XD The Divide is like the baby of the stories, probably the most unique as well since its fully AU. Got 13 for that one! Going to put up chapter 2 once we reach 15 :D But that's beside the point. I promise I will never drop any of these stories unless something very serious happens like my arthritus getting worse or death or something traumatic...but so long as those can be avoided I will continue to write! So thank you so much T^T)