Woot! Ok so I'm sorta unhappy with the last part of the last chapter…mainly because I was half-asleep so the grammar was horrible -_- I'll go edit that when I get this chapter uploaded \"(0.O)"/ (sorry I just wanted to make a random face ._.)

Anyways, thank you angelrider13, Emz, Ailei-chan and Camierose.

Ok so MarcoAce, I gotta say this review made me laugh out loud. And feel kind of sad knowing she saw through my tricks._. Hehe! ^_^

And Caramel27 asked a very good question, yes, Minako does know how to fight. I didn't add that last chapter cause, like I said, I was half-asleep and had no idea what I was doing :P But long story short, she got help from Vista, Haruta and Izo. That's sorta how they became so close. ^w^

Anyways, enjoy the chappie! ^w^

Chapter 7. 100 Days of Minako Trying Not to Rip Off

Fire-Fist's Head

Day 16

Minako banged her head on the table; Fire-Fist was going at it with Pops again.

This had been going on for about two weeks, and to tell the truth she was really trying to reframe from just going over and ripping the dude's head off. Not that she didn't have a feeling Pops would be sometime soon…

Bam!

"Baaah…" Chibi rolled his eyes, looking at Minako.

She sighed and walked out the door to see Haruta, Izo, Thatch, and Vista standing over an injured Fire-Fist. When Thatch saw Minako he was more than happy to leave things up to her.

"Oh look Minako-Chan's here. Ok so someone has to take care of Ace so…NOT IT!"

"Not it!" They rest yelled in unison.

"You're it!" Thatch pointed to Minako.

Minako scowled at them and dragged Fire-Fist to the infirmary.

"Ouch that had to hurt." Minako winced as she looked over Ace's injuries, mostly just burns. Probably after-affects from missing Pops with his signature move, the 'Fire-Fist'.

She sighed and walked to the cabinet where the bandages are, when she heard Fire-Fist stir, notice where he was, and try to get up.

"Don't move!" Minako ordered, running over and pushing him back to bed. Fire-Fist groaned in protest but obeyed. Minako sighed and got out some healing salve.

"Watch out, this may sting a little…" She poured it on his back.

"GAAAAAAAH!" Ace screeched; Minako nearly dropped the bottle and quickly covered his mouth. Chibi baaa'd unhappily after cowering out of from under the bed.

"Shhh! The whole ship probably just heard you!" Minako hissed, removing her hand. Fire-Fist coughed and winced.

"Goddamn that hurt." He muttered like it was just a slight scratch. Minako sighed and facepalmed, "Oh my god…" She muttered.

XxXxXx

Day 25

Minako sighed happily as she sat down on a chair, getting out a book and reading. This was one of the very few moments of bliss she had since Fire-Fist came along. She'd rather be sitting here forever…just relaxing. Chibi baaa'd right beside her, curled up into a big puffy ball. Ahh bliss.

WHAM!

Minako sighed; well it was nice while it lasted.

XxXxXx

"Ow!" Fire-Fist pulled his arm back. Minako scowled, "Hold still! Geez you're like a child…" She muttered, tying the bandage around his wrist. Ace grunted, obviously not liking being cared for like that.

"There. Now maybe If you'd stop being so stubborn and join the crew…"

"No."

Minako frowned and shrugged, "Ok, Fire-Fist. You're free to go." She rolled her eyes and practically pushed him out.

Day 32

"Okay now just focus on your target; will you go for a frontal assault or a sneak attack from behind?" Thatch asked seriously, crossing his arms and giving a blindfolded Minako an intense stare.

Minako gulped, sweat beading from her forehead as she concentrated on the battle dummy, she couldn't see anything with her blindfold on, instead of seeing with her eyes she had to see with her ears. She shook off her inner thoughts and focused. Nearby she heard a bird, heading west. She heard chatter coming from the dining hall. Quietly, she made a swift motion with her foot and smirked.

"Neither. A surprise attack would be pointless; there are leaves and twigs everywhere. No matter what I do, I'd get caught. And a frontal attack would only get me killed; the enemy would have the advantage of knowing where I am and what I'll do. Far combat would be the best decision."

Thatch smiled approvedly, "Good. You've grown quite well, Minako-Chan. I remember the first time I trained you..."

FLASHBACK

"Ok Minako-Chan, we're going to use a simple technique. All you have to do…is hit me." Thatch grinned, whereas Minako just blinked.

"That's all?" She asked, puzzled.

"That's all."

Minako frowned but nodded, "Okay, here I come!" She darted toward Thatch in her cub form. Thatch smiled and jumped slightly, dodging the little cub's attack.

"C'mon, you could do better than that!"

Minako let out a little growl and threw herself at him, Thatch caught her by the scruff of her neck and grinned.

"We have a lot of work to do." Minako squirmed in his hand.

FLASHBACK OVER

Minako grinned, "I've changed over the over the past few yea-"

CRASH!

Minako threw her hands up in frustration, "Don't say it, I know." She stormed over to the injured Fire-Fist.

Day 50

Minako glared at Fire-Fist, "Again, really?!" She grimaced at the sickening angle his elbow was in, trying really hard not to go over and break the other one…as well as a couple of his legs.

Fire-Fist just laid back and let her do her work. Minako ran her hands through her curly hair and sighed.

"I'm really getting tired of this."

Day 72

"So…Minako…" Haruta blinked in disbelief, "I see you have a new friend…"

"He's hardly my friend…" Minako grumbled, glaring daggers at the handcuffs Marco planted on her and Fire-Fist to keep him from attacking Pops, whom was running a fever, that day.

Izo stared at him, "Uhm…how are you today…?" Ace shrugged, "Pretty good. You?"

Minako facetabled.

Day 88

"So…Fire-Fist…I see you've been injured…again." Minako said in feign surprise.

Ace mumbled something incomprehensible.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

"I thought so."

Minako got out her EFFK (Emergency Fire-Fist Kit) and began treating him once again.

When she was done she sighed and fed Chibi, "You can go now, Fire-Fist."

"…Ace…"

Minako blinked, "Huh?" She turned toward him.

"My name is Ace."

And then he walked away.

Day 99

Ace sighed and looked out the ship; nearly one hundred days have passed since he first came across this pirate crew, he sighed, rubbing his bandages the girl with orange streaks gave him.

Speaking of her…why does she keep doing that? It's obvious she doesn't want anything to do with Ace but yet she still goes out of her way to treat his wounds. It really made no sense…

And also…, Ace frowned and looked over to the dining hall, hearing the distinct sound of everyone's laughter, why is everyone so happy here? When he first came here against his will, he expected a mob of savage pirates, waiting for the next village to rob or the next woman to screw.

Instead he got a nice group of men and a woman, that almost treat each other like…family.

Speaking of family, Ace's mind wondered to his younger brother, has he become a pirate or still having to face the wrath of Grandpa's 'Love Punches'?

"Hey."

A voice cut Ace out of his thoughts as he turned to see the blonde pirate always hanging out with that girl.

"Hey…"

"Something wrong?"

Ace frowned, "Nah…"

The guy didn't look convinced so he propped himself onto the ledge of the ship and stared at Ace till he'd crack.

"Yes there is."

Ace sighed, "Why's everyone so happy here?" [1] It confused him to no-means.

The guy chuckled, "You know you remind me of someone…she had the same reaction when she first came across us…though not as extreme." Ace blinked,

"You're talking about that one girl here…" The guy chuckled and nodded.

"She was going through a tough time, her parents died when she was young. The villagers hated her, drove her out of her house, refused to let her buy any food. It was awful…that lasted for four years."

Ace's eyes widened, "Four years? How'd she survive?" The guy shrugged, "Same way anyone would survive, steal and hope for the best.

"Anyways we finally came to the island to stock up on some supplies…let's just say the villagers freaked. They assumed we were there to murder them all or something, so they bargained a human sacrifice…take a wild guess on who that was."

Ace stayed silent. They guy continued,

"Anyways, when we found Minako, she was a mess. Her hair was in clumps of dirt and grease, her clothes were ragged as hell and looked like they were going to fall off any minute, and her ribs were practically sticking out of her skin.

"When she first saw us, she ran like hell. Refusing to have anything to do with us."

Ace frowned in confusion, "So why'd she join? Did you kidnap her?" That last part dripped in bitterness.

The guy laughed, "Hardly. I just told her a small story...about a pirate crew with broken men, and a captain with a heart of gold. A crew who treats each other like family. A crew who is family." The guy grinned at him.

Ace just stood there with a dumbfounded stare, the guy chuckled again, "I really suggest you should remember that. After Minako heard that, she was hooked. Now here she is, happy as ever." As if on cue, Ace heard the sound of a woman's laughter coming from the dining hall.

"Oh, almost forgot. The name's Marco." And with that, he walked away.

Ace blinked, a crew where everyone's family…

Family….

The story about that Minako girl also surprised him. Looking at her, you'd almost think she was rich, full of life and love, when she was little.

He smirked; he was going to consider it, yes. But first, he had a job to do…

XxXxXx

"And then I sit there like, 'Uh. This is my food, Mister. You may be the best martial artist in the North Blue, but you've got lousy manners." Everyone laughed.

Minako giggled along with them, "Really, Vista? How'd you survive?" Vista gave a hearty laugh.

"Well I flicked him, of course!" Everyone burst out in fits of laughter, Minako could feel her eyes tearing up as she laughed hard.

BAM!

"OH COME ON!"

End of chapter 7

I know none of this actually happened in the manga or anime, but I didn't exactly have access to the internet while I was making this chapter so I just made something up :P

Anyways, review please!