"Hey Hakuren, you serious?"
Satch said, trying to stop you as you throw the sack over your back and glance at Satch with your good eye. "Get my Jet Ski." You said to another man who quickly follows your order and he runs off.
"Old man!"
Satch called out to Whitebeard who looks down at you, then takes a giant gulp at his sake. "Heh, I could care less." He replied as you pushes Satch out of the way. "Hakuren, if you go in that condition-" Satch stopped when he felt Marco putting a hand over his shoulder. "Forget it. Let her go if she wants." Marco said as you quickly take your chance and leap off the ship and lands swiftly onto your Jet Ski. "Hey Hakuren, wait!" Satch shouted as you looks up a bit before pulling out your Eternal Pose.
"I'll return in a couple days."
You said emotionlessly, tossing the sack on the back seat before riding into the ocean. Just when you're about to pull your hand into your pocket, you stop as the wind blows harshly against your skin. 'That's right…that fool tossed it away…' You thought, remembering how Satch had crumbled your letter within his hand and tossed it into the ocean.
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…………………
You don't know how long you've been riding for. Two days…no, perhaps three days…? Perhaps you've lost count since you feel your senses leaving you. You didn't sleep, and does nothing but watch as the sun and moon takes turns over the sky, never meeting. Most of all, your wound still itches in pain, especially your injured eye. You didn't stop by any island; you just keep moving and moving through the ocean. Looking up from your Eternal Pose, you catch a glimpse of a Volcanic Island up ahead. At that, you pick up your speed more as the island grow closer and closer. You make a sharp turn as your Jet Ski slides up the hot sand before coming to a sharp stop right by a tree. You glance up to the large volcano, frowning slightly as you climb off your Jet Ski. You could hear the sound of your bone snapping all over your body, but you merely ignore them as you grab the sack. Just when you're about to head towards the volcano, you gasp inwardly as you sense that you're not alone. At that, you quickly snatch a rock from the ground and hurl it towards a tree a couple meters from you.
"Come out."
You growled coldly as you watch the shadowy figure leaps out, revealing Ace. "That was dangerous, Haku." Ace said, tossing the rock you've thrown at him aside as you glare at him from under your hood. "Why are you here?" "A while before Jimbei came…you've been acting weird. So I went after you while Satch was making a big fuss on the ship." Ace replied as you grit your teeth. 'Satchi.' You thought. Of course, it's always that guy…even not intentionally, he just have to cause you trouble. 'I'll kill him when I get back.' You swear to yourself before shifting your glare back to Ace.
"So what's with this volcano?"
"Go back. This is an order."
"I can't do that."
Ace said before pulling out an Eternal Pose. Labeled on the Eternal Pose is MoltingMountain, the very name of this island. At that, your eyes widen in shock as you stare at Ace. "Where…did you get that?" You whispered as Ace puts the Eternal Pose back into his pocket. "The old man gave it to me when he notices that I was going to come after you. Thanks to him, I could take another route and reaches here before you without you noticing. Since he allowed me to come here, it means that I have approval from the old man, which means that I can't follow your order since his orders overwrite yours." Ace replied smartly as you curl your hand into a fist, feeling a strong urge to kill someone. 'That old geezer.' You curse in your head before sending Ace another glare.
"Then stay here. Don't move, don't even breathe and just rot here."
You said harshly. You feel weird…unlike usual…for some reason, you can't keep your temper stable at all…perhaps because of not sleeping and not eating. But when you think about it, you've went one a week without food and sleep and you could still manage yourself. "Haku, are you alright? You're awfully pale." Ace said just when he's about to reach for you. But you quickly take a step back, pulling yourself out of his reach before slapping his hand away. "Mind your own business, idiot. What do you know? Just stay here and die." You muttered as you turn to walk away. "I'm afraid I can't do that." Ace said, trailing after you as you mentally sigh but for some reason you feel too tired to argue with him. "…Do whatever you want but don't get in the way." "Ok-" "By not getting in the way. That includes not doing anything aside from walking behind me." You said seriously as Ace stares at you. "Alright." He said as you eye him slightly before looking up to the volcano. 'I can't believe I'm doing this…' You thought to yourself, already knowing you'll regret this. "Promise you won't do anything." "Haku, what's-" "Just promise you fool." You snapped as Ace stares at you for a moment before saying,
"…I promise."
With that, you turn and walk off towards the volcano. After walking miles, you two finally reach the top of the volcano. "Haku, are you sure you're alright? You're not acting like yourself?" Ace asked, breaking the silence as you clenches your fist. "Just shut up already." You snapped, holding yourself back from not screaming that out as you step to the edge of the volcano. "…What is this?" Ace whispered in shock as he stares down to see houses built around the side inside the volcano. "Molting Mountain." You replied as you step down the path that's leading towards the inside of the volcano. "The people who live within here worth ship the fire god. It's their motto to be one with the god so they live within the volcano." You explained with a clear flat tone that shows how less interest you are to this place. After walking for a while, houses soon came into sight through the thick smoke. The people around the street stare and gasp in horror at your presence.
"The she-devil!"
"It's that disgusting child again!"
"That demon's back again!?"
"The wrench!!"
The villagers shouted, quickly pulling to the side as you walk by.
"Go away!!! You monster!!"
They shouted before starting to throw sharp rocks at you. You didn't bother dodging at all as you walk through, letting the rocks bounce off your body. "Hey, What's wrong with you?" Ace snapped at the villagers, quickly blocking off a larger rock from you with his. "Ace." You said deadly, stopping in your track as you glare at him from the corner of your eye. "I thought you promised..." You reminded him in a low voice as Ace stares at you for a moment before pulling himself away from you just as another rock hit your left eye that's still injured, causing you to reopen your wound.
"Haku-"
Ace call out as he reaches for you. But you just roughly slap his hand away before you keep walking deeper and deeper down. You ignore all of the villagers who all have the same reactions once they land their sight on you. Just like this, you both head down to the next level…then to the next…and the next…until you two came dangerously close to the lava pit at the bottom of the volcano. At the very end of the spiral path, there stood a lone house. A very worn out old house which can make anyone wonder how it can still stand. "Ace." You said you suddenly stop dead in your track. "You finish with your tour now aren't you? Get lost." You said, feeling slightly emotional already as you feel your hand that's holding the sack shaking slightly. You quickly try to stop that, but your hand wouldn't obey at all as your stomach twists and turns. "Sorry, but I can't. You're really acting strange, Haku. You're not like yourself." Ace repeated the same old thing as you bites down at your lower lip, so hard that you start to bleed.
"Don't act familiar with me you idiot."
You snapped in a low voice. Knowing that it's too late already to change your mind and get this idiot out, you slowly step forward as you approaches the house…
"Hakuren!!!"
A voice sounding much like Hakuren's called out as the door slams open. A white haired girl with sky blue eyes charges out, throwing her arms around Hakuren's neck just when she was about to knock. She, like everyone else in the village, wears a short, thin robe made out of silk with sandals. All of them seem to have the symbol of a phoenix embedded on the back of their clothes. Ace knew just from a simple glance that the mark must be the fire god people in this village worship.
"There was this symbol on her clothes. I'm not really sure, but I've heard rumors that there is a clan of people who dresses in strange silk robes and worth ship the fire god."
Satch's voice flashes back into Ace's head as he stares at Hakuren and the girl. 'So then this much be Hakuren's hometown. But…' He thought before snapping out as the girl laughs in delight. "Hakuren!! I've missed you!!!" She cried, jumping around in joy like a child.
"Oh? And who's this?"
She said, pulling away to glance at Ace who's standing behind the girls. "Please to meet you, I'm Portgas D. Ace. Please take care of me." Ace said politely as always, follow up with a bow. He couldn't see Hakuren's expression for that her back was to him, but the girl who greatly resembles Hakuren smiles and hugs Hakuren more.
"Oh, you're a friend of hers?! I'm Kohaku!! Hakuren older sister!"
"Older sister?"
Ace said though he could already tell from Kohaku's appearance and voice. "Twin sister." Kohaku added a moment later as Ace smiles at her. "Hakuren you're so lucky!!! Are you always surrounded by boys like him~?" Kohaku chirped pulling away before gluing her eyes onto the sack Hakuren's carrying. "You've brought it!!! Oh, thank you!! You're the best!!!" She shouted, giving Hakuren another huge. At that, Ace feel his smile fainting from his lips as he stares at the twins. Kohaku seems completely oblivious to the blood all over Hakuren…the blood from all her reopen wounds and bruises thanks to the villagers here. She didn't even ask a single thing about all the wounds over Hakuren or even show any concerns. Hakuren just keep her mouth shut, never saying a single word as she hands the sack to her sister. At that, Kohaku quickly and carefully put down the sack and opens it to reveal priceless valuables.
Gold, jewels, berries and all sorts of accessories.
"They're beautiful!!!"
Kohaku cried as Ace stares in slight disbelieve. The way Kohaku hog onto them…he could clearly see the greed she has for the items. There are blood flowing out of Hakuren's wound and she is actually worrying over the berries more than Hakuren's welfare.
"The promise."
Hakuren whispered out softly as Ace stares at her, confuse on why she's suddenly reminding him at a reunion like this. Before he could even think further, Hakuren tumbles slightly to the side, her head thrown to the left just as a pale hand flew across her cheek.
"Haku-"
"What is this!?!?!?"
Kohaku's scream cuts off his voice as Hakuren balance herself before looking back up at Kohaku. "What you wanted." "I thought I told you to get something worth of 300, 000 berries!!" "They are." "No they aren't!!! It's not even enough for me to live through a single day!! You want me to starve to death!?!?" She shouted, ripping Hakuren's hood down before grabbing a handful of her snow white hair. Just when she raises her fist to beat her, Ace quickly moves forward. He quickly grabs Kohaku's wrist and with a twist, he forces her to release Hakuren's hair as Kohaku cries out.
"What's wrong with you?"
Ace whispered deadly, his cold glaze hardens over Kohaku as he quickly pulls Hakuren away. "Stop it, Ace." Hakuren commanded as Ace glances down to meet Hakuren's glare as she quickly moves away from Ace, stepping out of his grasp. Unwillingly, he releases Kohaku who quickly pulls back her wrist. "Sisters should look after each other. It's her duty to feed me properly. Who's fault do you think it is having me ending up living at the bottom floor of the volcano!? Outsiders should stay out!!" Kohaku snapped, grabbing a handful of gold coins and berries before throwing them at Hakuren.
"These are all garbage!!! 600,000 berries! Your head worth a lot more than that right? Then get me something decent! You want me to die in this stinking house!?"
She snapped as Hakuren turns and grabs Ace's arm firmly with her fragile hands. With that, she hurries away, dragging Ace with her so that he wouldn't do anymore unnecessary things.
"Hey, Haku-wait…!"
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……………
"I said leave me alone."
You repeated, but Ace wouldn't back away. Finally, after what seems like hours of quarrel, you finally gave in…more to the heat and tiredness than to him, but you gave in none the less and allow Ace to tend to your new and old wounds. "…You didn't have to take that." Ace said as you stare at him from the corner of your dark eyes.
"Mind your own business stupid."
"Is it because she's your sister?"
Ace questioned as you stare at him from the corner of your eyes before pulling your hand away from him. Saying nothing, you walk off, out of the forest and to the beach where your Jet Ski is. "Haku." Ace called after you, quickly catching up as you stopped, looking at the ever blazing sun for a while before you stare out to the sea.
"Luffy was it?"
"Eh?"
"Your pathetic little brother who seems just as stupid as you. What if that boy asks you for berries? What would you do?"
"Luffy wouldn't ask for that."
"That's why I said if, stupid."
"I'd give him."
Ace replied without a bit of hesitation as you start to walk off, but stopped when you heard Ace add, "Because he's a brother who makes older brother worries about him." "…" "He's a brother who likes to cause trouble and always do something reckless so I have to look after his back." "You care for him, don't you?" You asked, though your voice didn't come out as a question, more of a statement.
"It's my job to look after him."
Ace replied casually with a smile. The warmth of his smile at the thought of his brother Luffy already explained everything. You pull your hood over your head and watch the sea for a moment before turning around to face him, your eyes hidden within the shadow.
"Even if you're dislike by Monkey D. Luffy?"
You whispered those words out, letting them echo into Ace's brain like the wind. Before Ace could reply, an image shot into his head as you smirk a little. In your usual self, you would never do something like that. You know that you aren't feeling like usual…However, you didn't know why, you really had to do it. Was it because of Ace's ignorance of your feelings that tipped you off the edge? Or was it something more? You don't know… you just feel so annoyed right now that you could care less.
Your mask is falling…but you don't care anymore…
You could care less.