Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece


PRESENT - II

You know, right?

How much I love you.

Kuni woke up with a start.

Her eyes opening up to the bleary surroundings. She looked up at a familiar white ceiling, the light of the rising sun seeped in through the nearby window bathing the room in a soft glow. She turned to her right where an orange beanie sat with an unfinished bowl of rice porridge. She was in her room. Her papers on the nearby desk were organized and some of her books had been stacked on top of each other, so that there was more space to move around. Did someone look through her things? Kuni sat up, feeling the familiar and comforting weight of someone beside her.

When she turned to look, she found Sabo fast asleep, holding her hand tightly. Even in slumber.

Ah, that's right.

She was sick.

Papers and his DenDen Mushi sat on the floor beside him. Forgotten along with his hat and metal pipe. He looked peaceful. Like the world could go to hell and he'd still be in a blissful slumber. She continued to watch him for minutes – maybe hours. The clock ticking away. She wanted to touch him, to brush the hair out of his eyes. But she refrained from doing so. Their only form of contact was his hand holding hers. She wanted to bring up again what she felt for him, but those things just couldn't be said easily. Somewhere along the line, she lost her nerve. Words got caught in her throat. Why'd that part of her have to change? She hated it.

How kind of him to care for her though.

No concern for his own health.

He really was a great friend.

"Sabo," Kuni muttered, looking down at their clasped hands. Trying to pull away only to find that she couldn't. His fingers were bars. No. Claws. They didn't let go of things so easily. "This is a bit cruel."

With her free hand, she flicked his forehead.

Sabo immediately shot up, groggy eyes trying to blink away the lull of sleep. "Kuni?" He mumbled, before his eyes widened and he became about ten times more alert. "Are you feeling better?"

"I'm great," she told him, moving her hand away. "I'll order ramen for you as thanks."

He let out a relieved sigh, before giving her a bright smile. "That's good. I was worried about you."

"Thanks, Chief," she said, grinning back.

"I mean it wasn't just me," his face exploded in red. He got embarrassed at the strangest times, but that was something she liked about him. "You need to take better care of yourself. Koala, Inazuma and Ivan-chan were really worried too. They came by to help last night."

"I'll thank them later," she muttered. "It's still early, Chief. You should head back to your room to rest. My fever's gone already."

"You sure?"

She nodded, waving a hand to usher him out.


Kuni's eyes snapped open.

She flinched from the glare of the sun's blinding rays as she pushed herself up off the ground. It was hot. The sun was merciless today. Wait. Sun? Her eyes widened as she looked wildly at her surroundings, she was lying on a few crates. The sun high above her head and around her there was a wall of flames that for some reason weren't coming any closer. They stood at a distance as if controlled by someone, but the only one that had the ability to control flames was Fire Fist Ace. So, either he was alive or there was some kind of machine out there that had the ability to control fire.

Kuni ran a hand through her hair, combing the fringe out with her fingers then she suddenly stilled. Stopping midway.

Fingers?

Her eyes widened as they dropped down to her hand, before she started to examine her whole body. She was outside of the cell and had her body back. Was this a dream? She flexed her fingers, trying them. They were moving. Her legs were next, then her neck. She didn't want to pinch herself. If this was some kind of cruel hallucination, it was one she didn't want to wake from.

"What's going on?" She asked herself.

She was about to stand when she saw something by her side. A familiar sight. A sight that had tears stinging at her eyes. Slowly, she picked up the black hat. The hat that could only belong to one person she knew. Kuni rolled the headwear around her fingers, touching every inch of it. The goggles were gone, likely dangling around the neck of their owner. Where that owner was, she didn't know. But Kuni had no doubt that Sabo was definitely the one that had gotten and put her here.

"Sabo…?" Kuni called, looking around her as she stood. Actually, it didn't have to be Sabo. Any familiar face would have been nice. But that was just the name that left her mouth. Over and over again. "Sabo, Sabo, Sabo?!"

Kuni stared at the flames surrounding her, how was she supposed to leave? With a gentle hand, she massaged her throat. Would her Devil's Fruit power finally work again? Only one way to find out.

Taking a deep breath, Kuni let out a high pitched screech and what she heard shouldn't have had her grinning so broadly, because the only thing that invaded her ears were the painful screams of people beyond the wall of flames around her. She screamed again and again and again. She yelled out his name, Koala's name, everything, anything, just trying to get his attention. Trying to tell him to get rid of these flames, because if they were surrounding her like this then there was no way he'd leave her if he wasn't sure that they wouldn't hurt her in any way. He was kind like that. The kind, caring man she remembered. He was probably controlling them by some kind of machine or a Devil's Fruit that she didn't know about.

Was Fire Fist Ace alive?

No. Impossible. She didn't doubt the possibility of a Devil's Fruit that revived the dead existing, but it was far too unlikely and far too convenient if such a fruit were used on Whitebeard's Second Division Commander. So, if Ace was dead, then had the Chief gotten Fire Fist Ace's fruit? That was far more likely.

She took a deep breath.

Another scream, then another and another. She was hurting people. But she couldn't find it in herself to care. Things like that didn't matter, they were inconsequential and meaningless. All that mattered right now was…

Where was he?

He needed to get rid of this burning fire. Kuni wanted to go outside and run on her legs. She wanted to see what was going on. How long had it been since she last had the chance to move around in her own body? Months? Years? Far too long.

In the next instant, the flames died down and as if making way, they moved to the sides to expose a grinning man with a face she knew all too well. A wave of familiarity washed over her and she grinned. That same scar, those eyes, the blond hair and a slightly dirty cravat. His goggles sat around his neck. Yes, this was definitely him. There was no one else in the world that could make her so happy, so relieved by their mere presence. She wanted to run up to him, to grin, to tell him about her time in that dingy cell and shed her tears of joy. But, she didn't do any of these things.

Instead, Kuni smiled. For once her eyes came to life to express how she truly felt and with that face filled with bottomless mirth, she called out to him.

"Hey, Chief."


A/N: Well, damn. This is a short chapter ahahaha. I bet you guys are like WTF right now :D I promise a longer chapter next week. As I said, in my first A/N, this is meant to be a short story, so if it feels rushed then please go and read that note. There are previews up on my LIVEJOURNAL. The link is on my profile, but FF links are currently malfunctioning so pls just put in the direct URL that's written there. Special thanks to Zecrea, and Daisy Field for reviewing! I appreciate all the support!

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