****************Important********************

Please read.

So you guys may have noticed I haven't updated in a while. That was an unintentional hiatus. It just kind of happened. But don't worry I never forgot about this story. I plan to finish it this year. (The academic year not the actual year.)

This was not the direction I intended the story to go when I started it nearly three years ago. But tragically someone stole my story plan and repurposed it for another story (That person was me). So I have to come up with another idea. Which is a good thing as there are a lot of similar fics out there (all of them amazing!) So I thought I would do a lesser done angle.

The last few chapters might be confusing since they weren't really in order after chapter six. And because the story is tweaked a bit I am going to change some of the details. Not big things just Luffy's age and maybe do some corrections. But right now I have to go to class so they should be up tonight. The main thing is that Luffy is twelve right now. He met Ace when he was seven (not ten) and it's been five years since then.

But what I really wanted to say was thanks for sticking with me guys! Even after like two years a lot of you still seem to care about this. It makes me so happy!

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XXX

Luffy watched the commotion from his perch high up on the railing. He shifted one of his legs under him as the other dangled below. From up here he could watch the people below bustle about, all of them having jobs to carry out and chores to be done. Technically Luffy had chores as well. Apparently he was too young for real responsibilities so he was give meaningless tasks that "not even he could mess up". Most of the times he made them eat those words. Someone had joked, rather mean spiritedly, that if the job was too complex for a squirrel then it was too complex for Luffy. So most of the time he was sentenced to endless hours of peeling potatoes, sweeping floors and other jobs that made him wish he actually was a squirrel. Right now he was supposed to be in the kitchen cleaning the breakfast dishes under the watchful eye of the head cook. A rather grumpy and girthy woman who was as likely to whack him with her rolling pin as she was to speak. She did not appreciate Luffy's bottomless stomach the same way he didn't appreciate her rolling pin.

But up here, tucked away on the upper landing with some of the records he had about another thirty minutes before he was found. And after that he was sure the cook would make him regret his decision to skip out on chores.

"Where is he?" A furious voice called from below.

Or not. She was getting really good at finding him. He watched as she stormed into the command room her beady eyes scanning the crowed. Some of them looked up curiously but most ignored her. When she didn't see him on the main floor she looked up, first towards the ceiling then at the railing of the records room. Their eyes locked and Luffy waved at her like she was a friend he hadn't seen in a while rather than a furious cook ready to skin him alive.

"Get down here right this instant boy!" She screamed although much of her volume was lost by the bustle of the command room. She began to storm over towards him, shoving people who got in her way aisde.

"When I catch you," She began too angry to think of an adequate threat. "Well you better hope I don't catch you!"

Sensing his life force was being threatened Luffy uncrossed his leg from underneath him. He jumped off the railing and into the crowed twenty feet below. Not even bothering to slow his fall he crashed into the ground with enough force to break a normal persons legs. But luckily he wasn't normal. Being rubber had its perks. He rolled once from the momentum of the fall before he was on his feet running again. He weaved in and out of the crowed easily and most people ignored him and the call of

"Stop him!" From the cook.

Although somebody must have taken pity on her as he felt a rough hand grab a handful of his shirt yanking him off his feet.

"Causing trouble again eh kid? The fishman asked as he held him off the ground by his collar. Luffy didn't recognize the man but he did recognize the brand on his arm. It matched the one on his shoulder. He wasn't surprised the man knew his name. Lots of people did. He was rather notorious for the trouble he caused.

"Let go," he insisted beginning to squirm. "She's going to catch me."

"That's the point." He told Luffy dryly.

"Traitor."

"If it gets her out of here so we can work in peace then sure."

Unsatisfied with this fight Luffy wiggled free of his shirt just as the cook was closing in. Leaving the tired looking fish man holding the clothing and the cook screaming with rage he tore out of the room sprinting down the corridor.

As he ran past a few people gave him an odd look but most were used to it. After all Luffy rarely did what he was told. He took a sharp corner hoping to lose her, who despite appearances, was much faster than she look. Luffy liked to think he was helping her stay fit. When he had gotten here nearly a year and a half ago she couldn't make it up the stairs without breaking into a sweat. And look at her now! She could go into competitive sports. Especially considering the way she had jumped that wall last week. Even Luffy had to scramble up it but the cook scaled it in a single bound with a well-timed barrel roll at the end just for show and then kept going oblivious to the surprised and impressed claps from around her. The cook however didn't see it the same way.

Taking another left Luffy burst from the doors and outside. The sun was rising higher in the sky but the air was still cool and fresh. It felt good on his flushed skin. Luffy put his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath as he looked on. It had snowed a bit last night and the sun had yet to melt it. Luffy liked it though. From here he could see the sow tipped mountains. And beyond that was the ocean. The headquarters itself was carved into the side of a cliff. Which was impressive considering just how large it was.

He straightened and stretched his arms out to feel the warmth of the sun on his skin. A lot of things had changed since he was seven. He had been passed around to so many different masters he had lost count towards the end. Too many households, punishments and people for his brain to keep track of. He had changed too. The most perhaps. But the one thing that had never changed, no matter what, was his love out being outside. He still loved to look up at the sky, to watch the weather shirt and turn. To feel the sunlight and the wind and the chill of winter. It never failed to put a smile on his face.

Someone had asked him once if he regretted being born. He couldn't remember their face but he remembered it had been a slave so broken by the world they lost their will to even exist. Luffy had thought that was a dumb question. He would have told them as such but they died shortly after. Which was selfish considering that now Luffy was stuck with an unused answer for a stupid question. But no, he didn't. And he never would. Even though his short life wasn't always pleasant, and he may very die before he made it to fourteen due to all the stupid decisions he made, what else was there? He would rather live a life full of pain and misery then nothing at all. Because short and sad as it was it was it was his! And he didn't regret a second of it.

Without his shirt the brand on his shoulder blade was clearly visible to the world. It would never heal. And his back was a mess of scars from various and creative punishments. There was also a set of fresh bruises on his side from yesterday's training. Plus the one on his hands from the cooks ever present rolling pin. She was vicious with that thing. Speaking of her…. The door behind him shuttered in it's frame once. 'Ooops.' In the excitement of the snow Luffy had forgotten why he was out here.

When the door flew open less than a second later to reveal and incredibly pissed woman Luffy was halfway in the window across the stone courtyard. The two locked eyes again and he gave her a thumbs up. Wanting to let her know that despite the fact she was chasing him her short range sprinting was great! Quicker than last week for sure. But as always she was not appreciative. Luffy tumbled onto the room inside to avoid the rolling pin that was flung at him with military grade precision. He pushed himself to his feet as he once again began running down the hallway and smack into another person.

"Oww," He said sitting up. It felt like he ran into a brick wall rather than a person. That was what Strawberry called good form.

"In trouble again are we Luffy?"

At the voice he looked delighted.

"Your back!" He took the hand gleefully as he was pulled to his feet. He immediately launched himself at the young man. He felt a hand run through his messy hair in a gesture of affection.

"You were gone forever."

"A week is not forever."

"It felt like it to me," Luffy said and the hand in his hair turned into a tight hug.

The moment was ruined a few sounds later when the cook caught up, red faced and breathing like a bull ready to charge. Luffy squeaked in alarm as he ducked between the dark coat, desperate to put as much space between him and the furious lady.

"Move aside chief!"

"Skipped dishes again didn't you?" He asked and the woman nodded furiously.

"When I get my hands on you," She took a step forward making Luffy step back.

The young man sighed. Equally exasperated with both of them in the same way the cat chasing the mouse if equally but oppositely tiring.

"He was actually doing an errand for me."

Luffy felt an arm around his shoulder tug him out from his hiding place to stand at the young man's side as they faced the fire breathing dragon in front of them.

"Right Luffy?"

"Right!"

"Like I'd believe that!" She huffed.

"Check the schedule." He said with a simple shrug.

All three of the room's occupants knew that that was total bullshit the same way they knew that if the cook tried to challenge him on this she would be proven wrong. Luffy had no clue how he did it but he always managed too. If she set off right now to check the schedule, despite having checked it this morning, by the time she got there the schedule would have changed to whatever bullshit excuse he came up with for Luffy. Last week it had been 'official boot shining businesses. And the week before it simply read 'nondescript excuse' in bold letters. But when the cook had taken it to the boss to complain the schedule mysteriously went missing and another had to be drafted. Sometimes Luffy thought he was magic. But he told him that it wasn't magic, he was just a master of getting out of things he didn't want to do. And he had a lot of practices.

Realizing she had been beat the cook leaned in to glare at both of them. Luffy stuck his tongue out at her while the older boy just looked innocently onwards.

"Fine! But tomorrow morning if you are not in that kitchen doing dishes until your hands fall off you are going to regret it."

She turned away remarking loud enough for both boys to hear her, "Never thought I would live to find someone who was more useless in the kitchen then you."

"Me either." The boy remarked as he looked down at Luffy, who was inspecting his hands wondering if they could indeed fall off from too many dishes.

It was a well-known fact that the chief sucked at peeling potatoes. Some people liked to joke that the only reason he had been promoted was so that he wouldn't have to work in the kitchen anymore.

Once she was out of sight Luffy turned to the older boy a big smile breaking across his face.

"What happened to your shirt Luffy?" He asked although his tone sounded like he didn't really want to know.

Luffy laughed in response. Glad he got to both keep his skin where it was and not have to do the dishes.

"Thanks Sabo!"

"Don't mention it kid. Now put on a shirt, your dad wants to talk with you."

XXX

If you are confused how Luffy ended up here I promise it will be explained in the next few chapters. Like I said it's been six years since they got separated and lots has happened to both of them!

Where you guys surprised by the ending?