And .BACK!
XDD
Soo happy to back in here guys.. seriously I thought im going crazy with those stupid paperwroks trying to invade my anime life, altering my daily dose of anime!The though of bringing my nodachi is really appealing.. XDD
Now.. now putting that aside. My apologies for not getting back fast. At least I'm back faster than last time.. haha
Ace: Heard you cosplayed as me last Best of Anime 2013 huh. *smirks*
Hira: *grins* well, I was surprised to be called by someone too. Guess who… I was quite startled when someone ran towards me screaming… 'AAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEEEE!' An there's only one person to do that.. Luffy of course..
Ace: *facepalm* he was quite loud wasn't he?
Hira: Can't deny that.. *grins* maa, it was fun fighting Luffy.. haha..
Law: *enters the scene*, and you were me last Cosplay Mania 2013.
Hira: *smirks* It was nice seeing Bepo strolling around the place, Law..
Law: Looking for female bears? *raises eyebrow*
Hira: Nah I don't think so.
Chopper: And you tied me on his nodachi! *galres at hira*
Hira: *smiled apologetically* uh.. punk hazard version minus the coat?
Chopper: you had me swinging! Do you have any idea how dizzying that was?!
Hira: XDD nope.. But Luffy took pity with you and took you from my nodachi didn't he?
Law: Leave the idiots and start to read. *walks out*
Ace: *Puts arm around Hira and whispers* so… you removed your top?
Hira: *bonks Ace's head* NO YOU IDIOT! I had my ways..
Ace: I was just asking *pouts* *rubs sore head*
Hira: *sticks tongue out*
(~pagebreak~)
Men on the deck were all startled by the sudden appearance of an intruder. Everyone got into their fighting stance upon recognizing the figure.
It was none other than Portgas D Ace.
The pirate's face betrayed the sweet tone he used to greet them. In fact , his eyes promised the most painful death to everyone in the crew. "Where is Sei?"
Ace had spat the words with utmost anger.
No one in the crew dared to answer, all intimidated by the murderous look lingering on the pyro's eyes.
*clap* *clap* *clap*
"My oh my… what a surprise this is." A man wearing a captain's coat walked out of the deck and politely bowed in front of Ace. "It is nice meeting you Portgas D Ace." The man raised his head and smirked at the pyro with a knowing gleam in his eyes.
Mendell hadn't expected the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates to suddenly appear on his deck, but he can't say that he is surprised. After all, the girl he held captive in the dungeon was confirmed to be a part of the StrawHat Crew and Fire Fist Ace is Straw Hat Luffy's brother—as revealed by Marineford incident.
But what surprised him is the fact that the man managed to find them so easily. He knew that Raven would never reveal anything about her past and there are not much pirates who knows about them unless they were involved in the black market. Nothing less from the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Or rather… The D's are stirring the world again. Mendell grinned madly as he realized something. Portgas D Ace knew Ravensdale Sei. Why of course, the man wouldn't bother showing up on the deck of his ship with eyes filled with rage demanding them to release their prisoner if they weren't in good terms.
"The son of Gol D Roger and the last survivor of the Cursed Blacksmith. Ahahahahahaha! This is too much of a surprise even for me! Ahahahahahaha!" Mendel laughed like there's no tomorrow with which only ticked of the Fire Fist more. Nah, it wasn't that he didn't like being laughed at. But the fact that his time is quite limited, he didn't quite accept the each second of delay the man is causing him.
"Where is Sei?"
Much to Ace's annoyance the man laughed again. "S-Sei? Ahahahahaha? Seriously? You D's are quite interesting. First is StrawHat, and now… you? Ahahahahaha! You are not going to call her nakama are you?"
Ace began to light up his fist, realizing what the man had been taunting his brother's crewmate.
"Tsk Tsk Tsk." Mendell wagged his finger in front of his face in a mocking manner. "I wouldn't do that if I were you Fire Fist Ace. Remember that somewhere in this ship lies the person you are looking for. And I'm quite sure you wouldn't want to risk her getting burned are you?" Not that she can escape from her cell!
With that being said, the fire from Ace's fist immediately vanished.
Shit.
The man got surprised from the immediate response from the Fire Fist. Actually, he didn't really expect that the man would comply with his wishes so easily. Just what is between him and that blacksmith? Such rage burning coming from the man's eyes. Mendell knew that if the girl hadn't been in his ship right now, the fire fist wouldn't have any hesitation on burning them to death.
"Release her."
"And why would I do that, young Fire Fist?"
"I said release her." Ace spat with a growl, his eyes darkening.
It seemed that Mendell was either stupid enough to ignore the imminent danger in front of him or he had ways to survive the situation—he didn't even bother noticing that his death will be claiming him soon enough. "Have you tried asking that woman if she wants to be back? Huh?"
Ace stopped at this.
As if she could still speak with that blood coming out her body! Mendell mentally snickered.
"…"
"Getting silent aren't we Fire Fist?"
"What part of 'release her' did you not understand, old man?"
The captain's brows twitched in slight annoyance. "I don't know what you planning to that girl Fire Fist Ace, but I will never give to you that powerful tool. She's too precious to give up~"
Ace dug his hat on his head and let it hid his eyes. He jumped of the railing and started walking slowly towards the captain, completely ignoring the pirates around him preparing for an attack if he gets close enough.
"Tool…?" Ace whispered.
As if taunting the man, Mendell laughed again. "Ahahahahaha! Of course 'tool'. You are not referring her as a 'nakama' just like your brother, are you not?" But the answer was clearly written on Ace's face. He didn't like Sei being referred as a tool. He didn't like how his voice sounded. It brings up bad memories. The sound of taunting. The voice clearly mocking them, filled with disgust. Voices that are saying that they shouldn't have existed in this world. Voices that kept them from having freedom.
Now.. I'm seeing the cause of Sei's distrust. This man is keeping her from having her freedom… He caged her.
The girl is going through the phase he had been years ago.
She had been in pain all along. Ace made further steps, ignoring the bullets fired and passed through his logia body. I.. didn't realize… those eyes…
"Do you know that she is the one responsible for all those powerful cursed weapons scattered all over the Grandline? She made them~ She is nothing but a tool for destruction." Mendel once more laughed, his eyes filled with crazed delight. "And a tool serves nothing than racking money for me!"
Ace's hands slightly twitched as he approached the half-crazed pirate.
So.. It is this guy all along… The reason why she had those eyes… The reason why she had not seen herself as someone worthy. Anger started running through his veins, pumping his blood. Ace cracked his knuckles.
"Shut up…"
The man leered at him. "What? Don't you want to hear the truth? Her family had been killed by the world government. I was also wondering how the hell did that kid managed to escape, and show herself in the Grandline! A devil's luck indeed." Mendell laughed, not noticing the look on Ace's face becoming darker with each word coming from his mouth.
"I said shut up…"
"Why are you so interested with that woman anyways? Was she a good—"
Before the man could finish his sentence, Ace's fist already connected with his face—sending the pirate flying on the wall.
Ace is furious.
No he is beyond furious. Every instinct in him is screaming with rage.
"If Roger had a child?"
"Well of course he'll be killed! He's a son of a demon after all."
"He doesn't deserve to live."
"Son of a demon"
"Son of a demon."
"Son of a demon."
"Son of a demon."
"Son of a demon."
"Son of—"
"SHUT UP!" Ace could practically hear those voices that ruined his childhood life. Those voices which caused him to shun the whole world, hate himself and everything around him. But he was saved from that pits of hell he had locked himself into.
He was saved by Sabo, Luffy, Marco, Whitebeard.
His family…
Despite the injury he sustained Mendell laughed. "What? Do you not want to hear the truth? I'm doing you a favor Fire Fist Ace." Mendell wiped the blood on his chin. "If you continue to shelter that blacksmith, you'll end up being dead too. The whole world is after her abilities, even the World Government are doing their best to track her location. The Navy wants her dead! Can't you see it? It would be better if she did not exist!"
"You…"
Mendell's eyes widened like there was something clicking inside his mind. "Ahahahahaha! Why did I not notice this earlier?"
"You want her power don't you? I never thought that StrawHat is also an ambitious person. Of course! Of course! That brat is not good with anything other than creating cursed weapons! With her power you could rule the Grandline! You also want to use her."
*thud*
The soft noise startled everyone on the deck.
Ace eyes widened at the sight. There comes stumbling on the deck the very person he is looking for. Though her condition was worse than what he had expected it to be. Sei came out of the deck full of bruises and dirt as if she crawled her way there from the prison. One of her hands were holding onto the wall for support whilst the other futilely tries to stop the bleeding from her wounds. She was almost bathing in her own blood, and still bleeding. Her eyes were glazed with pain and out of focus, he doubts she could see them right now.
"Here comes our guest of honor! Raven!" Mendell glared on of his men to grab Sei before the Fire Fist makes it to the girl.
Shit!
Being too shocked with the woman's condition, Ace regretted his second of carelessness for now he is seeing Sei being held by Mendell's men non-too-gently. Oh darn it! HE wanted to burn every single pirate in his view for putting his not-so-official-fiancé in such condition.
Ace glared at the man holding the blacksmith. He didn't know how much he can last at restraining himself. He gripped his hand tighter to prevent himself from jumping at the man.
Fuck it! Ace mentally shook his thoughts. He needs to concentrate. One wrong move, the blade beside the girl's neck could easily end her life. Just a flick of the wrist and everything will be over. Ace could feel his fire just beneath his skin, raging, burning, waiting to be released, waiting to destroy everything in his view.
Mendell noticed the rage burning on the pyro's eyes. Holding the girl tighter, he grabbed the pistol strapped on his wait and rested the tip on Sei's temple. Seeing the pyro tensed at his action, he grinned wider. He had never had so fun like he is having right now. The feeling of being in power. Not even the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, the son of Gol D Roger could raise his hand against him. Now.. Now.. who would've thought that this day would happen in his life? Mendell grinned wickedly at Ace. "Lower your hands Fire Fist."
The pyro's eyes flared with defiance, but upon seeing the cold tip of the gun touching Sei's temples Ace slowly lowered his hands.
Mendell ushered one of his men. "Get the cuffs."
Sei, finally realizing her situation, struggled to get out of the man's grasps, ignoring the profusely bleeding of her wounds. I won't let myself die by his hands.
"L..L-Let go.. Ba..s…tard."
"Sei!" Ace worriedly yelled.
*cough* "D-Don't… get him… i-involved.. in here…"
*click* sea stone handcuffs were already placed on Ace's hand, completely rendering Ace's powers useless. The blacksmith couldn't be more devastated. She wanted to keep everything to her grave. She kept everything about her family just to avoid getting the Straw Hats involved yet she had managed to get Ace in trouble.
*cough*
She can't die yet.
Not until she makes sure that Ace will be safely returning to his brother.
Sei felt Mendell lifting her chin up, meeting her on eye level. Oh how he despises those eyes full of greed. Why hadn't she noticed this man's personality for years? Glancing at Ace's now cuffed hands, she is starting to regret everything. No one should've gotten involved. No one should've gotten themselves inside the underworld's workings. She hated to admit but she knew she had pulled her friends down in the mud with her. When she noticed Ace staring at her with worried eyes, she mouthed. Sorry, Ace… But I'll get you out of here. Even if it cost me my life…
The pyro's eyes widened with disbelief.
She looked like she's going to die by any second. But…save me?
"Argh! IDIOT WOMAN!" Ace struggled his way through the pirates holding them down. Despite the handicapped, it was quite an easy thing for Ace to get through the lame pirates. It was stupid to think that he going to be easily beaten without his Mera Mera Powers.
"ACE!"
A blur of red, yellow and blue lunged itself on the crowd, not giving anyone the chance to react. The whole ship swayed with the force of the impact making pirates lose their balance –including Mendell who lost his grip on the bloodied blacksmith.
The girl's eyes widened not because of fear for her life, but in surprise when she recognized the figure which arrived on their ship.
"I'M HERE TO GET MY NAKAMA BACK!" a pirate wearing a straw hat declared.
It was none other than her captain—Monkey D Luffy.
It was bad to feel relief and happiness, but she couldn't stop herself from having her emotions. Luffy shouldn't be in there, Ace should not have met her. She shouldn't have attached herself to the Strawhats. Seeing that both the D's were surrounded by the crew armed with her very own created weapons, she became desperate.
"I-.. Don't touch them! I..I-Ll do anything! Just.. d-don't touch them. Let them leave…" The blacksmith suddenly shouted, dread completely shown in her face.
This obviously didn't sound right to Luffy's ears. "What the hell are you saying Sei? We're her to save you!"
"Y-You don't u..understand Luffy-san… T-They—.."
But the blacksmith's please were ignored by the rubber captain who finally noticed the extent of her injuries. She is almost bathing in her own blood, her body trembling with the shock is obvious to everyone. Right now the only thing that is helping her to be conscious is pure determination to save her friends from getting dragged in her mess.
Luffy's stance fell and became relaxed. Way 'too' relaxed that not even his comrades will believe his reaction. His had dug his hat further on his head, allowing the brim to shadow his eyes. With a slight growl, he began to question. "Who did that to you?"
Much to the Luffy's surprise, Ace's cuffed hands blocked his way from advancing towards Mendel. Ace neither moved nor speak. Then, Luffy spoke.
"I understand."
No words or movement, neither eye contact were needed between them. Luffy can read his brother without doing anything. His brother's action only meant one thing. Even though Ace knew that Sei is one of his brother's crew, he needs to back down. Ace will be the one saving his fiancé.
"How cocky of you Fire Fist Ace." Mendell scoffed as he wiped a trail of blood flowing on the side of his mouth. He glanced at the cursed blacksmith trying to pick up herself on the floor a few good feet away from him. With the distance, he could easily grab her and use her as a shield from the two D's. He is sure as hell that the two won't make a move if that girl's life is on the line. Her life be damned, he already had more than enough weapon at his disposal to run his business and he had already bathed them with her newly cursed blood.
He glanced at his men who were already at their feet, ready to strike the two invaders on their ship. Fear and hesitation are clearly on their face but they knew the extent of their captain's wrath. They will be killed once they disobey an order from Mendell.
Yea, wither way they will be killed, wither in the hands of ace, or their captain's hands.
"KILL THEM!"
Men stsrated charging from all directions with every intent of killing the two D's on their ship. Luffy did nothing but evade the pirate's attack, while Ace on the other hand, despite his bound position easily handled his opponents. It is indeed a one sided battle. Mendell started to get agitated. He knew that if the situation continues he will be get killed.
"I SAID KILL HIM IDIOTS!"
Ace continued to dodge and attack with ease despite being cuffed, his face remained blank. Rage is an understatement for what he is feeling right now. He wanted to destroy everything. Crush the cage that had trapped Sei all these years. The cause of her hesitation and the only thing that keeps her from having her freedom.
"A…ace…" The blacksmith awed the fight before her eyes. She couldn't help but stare the way the pyro dodges all attacks and countering them in one swift motion. It was enchanting and touching at the same time.
They didn't have to do it for her. She doesn't need to be saved. She needs to disappear. Sei had finally found the resolve to die just not to drag her comrades along with her.
If her death is the answer, then she'll gladly face it head on. But hesitation started to crawl in her chest as she see those brown orbs filled with determination on saving her. Not once did they waver, even though he was outnumbered and cuffed in the middle of the ocean.
He wants to save her. That is definitely clear in the pyro's eyes. Sei could feel tears brimming on her eyes.
Why?
She glanced at her captain not a few feet away from Ace who is also dodging attacks aimed at him. Not once he raised a hand against his opponents, letting his brother do everything. Luffy felt the stare and glanced at his comrade, the rubber pirate could clearly see the question in her eyes. He returned the stare.
Because you're nakama!
Sei's eyes widened. She glanced back at Ace who is still facing his opponents with much grace.
He's…
Ace felt this and glanced at the blacksmith. Much to girl's surprise, Ace his raise both of his hands doing a peace sign and grinned at her.
Without any second of hesitation Sei stood up, ignoring her injuries and ran past Ace's opponents.
A loud bang was next heard throughout the ship.
BANG!
A thus on the wooden floor was next heard.
(~pagebreak~)
Sorry for ending the chapter that way but I really had to..
:D
Now now… read and review.. *reveals guns*
Ace: *raises eyebrow* Soul eater?
Hira: I'll do Perona this Toycon. But for the mean while.. ill be death the kid. Haha.
Ace: that was an out of the blue decision again.
Hira: *pouts* Perona costume needs time! And kuma-sy too! That's why I postponed it.. =3=..
Ace: Putting that aside please read and review.. *bows*
