''So, Luffy,'' Sabo started. ''Why didn't you tell the pirate about our treasure?'' Ace widened at the question. I forgot to ask him that!

''I wanted to become Ace's friend,'' Luffy honestly said.

Ace and Sabo's eyes widened.

''Wha- Why do you want to become my friend so badly?!'' Ace screamed. Luffy was again in brink of tears. ''You could've died you know?!''

''If I did. Ace won't become my friend then I'd be alone!'' Luffy cried out. ''Gramps is away. The village is too far. I hate mountain bandits. There's only Ace!'' he sniffed. ''Being alone is more painful than getting hurt!''

Chapter Nine

Ace's breathing hitched as he heard Luffy's words. ''So, it isn't bad when I'm here?'' Luffy nodded. ''You prefer me to live?'' Another nod from the other. Ace gritted his teeth as he turned away. ''I still hate crybabies and weaklings.''

''I'm not weak!'' Luffy said. Ace rolled his eyes.

''Now really?''

Luffy pouted and directed his gaze away from Ace. ''What do you expect? I'm just seven for now!'' he turned back to Ace. ''I will get strong when I reach your age!''

''We'll be 13 by then!'' Ace said.

''Okay. Seriously,'' Sabo interjected. ''Stop it you two! I have also a problem to voice out here.'' the two Ds turned to him.

''Really?''

''Come on! You don't really expect for me to stay here with those pirates on our tails.'' Sabo said. The two widened their eyes. ''Now, I've got an idea for that and I need your cooperation.''

They huddled and talked.


''Okashira~'' Magra called. Dadan turned to him, annoyed.

''What is it?''

''We have a-'' he panted. ''- problem!'' Somehow, it brought Dadan and a few others run towards Ace and Luffy's room.

As they opened the door, they entered, seeing figures covered with the blankets. Dadan couldn't understand what was wrong until she notice an unfamiliar hat in the middle.

There was silence. Dadan made the first move to break it.

''Ace. Luffy. Huh?'' she looked at the said two as she mentioned their names and the unfamiliar boy at the middle. Shaking her head, thinking that it was a delusion, she began to make a roll call again. ''Ace. Luffy. Huh?'' she repeated it again and again, getting more albeit speed. Finally, she roared, ''ACE, LUFFY! WHO IS THIS?!''

''Shut up.'' Ace got up before sleeping off again.

''Hmn.'' Luffy just hummed as he sat up before laying back down.

''How noisy,'' Sabo commented, half asleep before joining the two.

Dadan felt a vein pop on her head. Her mouth was slightly twitching upwards...


''My name's Sabo,'' the blonde introduced himself. ''You're Dadan right? I heard you're an old hag.''

''What was that you brat?!'' Dadan exclaimed.

''A nice, kind old hag,'' Sabo added, ''who never turns down any request.'' Dadan narrowed her eyes at the smiling blonde in front of her.

''What,'' she asked, ''are you implying?'' Sabo's smile widened.

''I'm saying can't you take a homeless boy, in?''

''Are you kidding me?!'' Dadan exclaimed. ''As if this two monsters aren't enough!'' she pointed at the said two.

''Pretty please, pops! We promise to your food.'' Luffy said.

''I'm a woman damnit!''

Well, somehow they got Dadan to agree and the three went to their merry way.


Luffy drooled as he watched his 'friends' eat a handful of fish meat. Right now the three was sitting, cooking by the river.

No words was spoken between the three, not until Sabo took pity on the youngest as he drooled a few meters away from him and Ace.

''You can have this,'' Sabo said as he threw the fish tail to the scarred boy, Luffy enthusiastically caught it and began to nibble on it. Ace glared at his best friend.

''You don't have to feed him you know.''

Sabo just smiled, slightly. ''We ate most of the fish any way. We can just let him the tail.''

Ace snorted. ''If he's hungry, he'll have to hunt his own.''

''Cut him a slack, Ace.'' Sabo said, sighing. ''And oh! Luffy, you mentioned eating a devil fruit?'' Luffy nodded and grinned.

''I ate Gomu Gomu no Mi thus making me a rubber man!''

Ace snorted. ''Rubber? And you say eating a devil fruit take away your ability to swim?... How stupid!''

''What did you say?!''

''I said your power is stupid, STUPID! I bet it's useless in a fight.''

''It's not!''

''It is!''

''It't not!''

''It is! If it's not then you could've beaten Porchemy by yourself.'' Ace said.

Before Luffy could even retort, Sabo decided to interrupt. ''Ace, I don't think powers can't be controlled for a short period of time. Luffy did say that he only have eaten a few months ago.''

Ace 'hmph'ed. ''How hard can it be?''

''Super hard, you asshole!'' Luffy said.

''I doubt that,'' Ace said, crossing his arms over his chest turning his back to the youngest.

''So, what can you do, Luffy?'' Sabo asked. Luffy shone, happy that someone was paying attention to him.

''Oh yeah! I thought of a new technique and it's awesome,'' he said. ''I'll let you see it!''

Sabo, then, found himself eager whilst Ace was all meh. Luffy took a long intake of air and he began to inflate.

''Gomu Gomu no... Fuusen~'' he chanted as he had a hand onto his mouth to prevent air from coming out.

Sabo was torn between terrified or amazed. It wasn't that awesome but normal people can't do that! Ace, on the other hand, have different thoughts. The freckled boy smirked.

''Hey, Sabo,'' he stood up. ''Kick him back! Time for some exercise.'' and he kicked Luffy up into the air. Sabo looked like he wants to protest but did what the other said.

''Sorry.'' he mumbled as kicked the boy back.

''S-Stop it!'' Luffy said. He was kicked by Ace again resulting him to fly to the waters of the river.

He panicked and let go his mouth and flailed before an alligator decided to gobble him up.

Ace and Sabo gaped and with their pipes raised, they went and rescued the boy.


I get the feeling that this Luffy has more common sense and is albeit smarter than the canon. Though he'll be losing bits and bits of them as time passes by. If you know what I mean... (Hint: Ai no Koboshi~) and the characters are OOC, aren't they? And also, he might be or might be not turning up soon~ lol. Depends on his (or teeny tiny bit of Luffy's) sense of direction.
EDIT: October 3, 2015