Chapter 10

After a long journey from the Akagami's main ship to the Sabaody, Ace and Shanks finally arrived in the shore of the archipelago. Luckily for them, the wind direction helped them reach Sabaody faster than they expected, so they arrived in the archipelago early.

Because of the recent war in the Marineford, most of the marines that stationed in Sabaody got called back, leaving the island only guarded with police patrol. Shanks and Ace saw this as a great help since their appearance in the archipelago could bring chaos.

Shanks went to the town to find any information about Rayleigh. He told Ace to stay at the ship if something unexpected happened. The red haired man wore a hood first before he left for the town.

After a few hours, Shanks finally returned to Ace to tell him about the information he got from the town.

"So Shanks, got any lead to where Rayleigh is?"

"Yes. When I asked some people about Rayleigh, they only knew a coating mechanic that went by the name Ray. He can be found at a bar named Shakky's Rip Off Bar," Shanks replied.

"So you think that this Ray is the Rayleigh that we've been looking for?"

"I don't know Ace but a lead's a lead,'' Shanks said. "Put on your hood. We'll be passing by several towns to get there.'' Ace nodded and did what he was told.

Ace and Shanks, then, passed several towns in order to reach the bar. As they passed each town, they noticed that they were quite deserted because the people were too afraid to go out with minimum security. Pirate population was quite low due to the recent visit of the yellow admiral. Many of the pirates died and captured...

After quite a walk from the shore, they finally arrived at Shakky's Rip Off bar. Ace and Shanks noticed the 'closed' sign hanging on the door, but decided to enter anyway. They saw a woman standing behind the bar stool, cleaning the glass and stool.

Shakky, the owner, noticed the two hooded man who entered the bar.

"I'm sorry, the bar is closed today. You can find the drink in the town's bar," she said.

"We're not here for a drink. We're looking for Rayleigh," Shanks said. "Rayleigh? I'm sorry but he's taking a day off today," Shakky said as she blew smoke from the cigarette she had been smoking on. ''So if you want your ship to be coated, I'm afraid you'll have to come back tomorrow.''

"Then if Rayleigh isn't available," Ace said. "Then, we're looking for the 'Dark King'... "

Shakky widened her eyes at the mention of 'Dark King'. She knew that the only people who called that knew Rayleigh as a well-known pirate. They could either be the marines, or the pirates themselves (especially those pirates who were known before the Golden Age started).

Her eyes narrowed. "What's your business with him I wonder..." she said. "Perhaps are you a marine seeking to catch him? Or rather, a pirate with a life long grudge?"

"No, no," Ace said. "None of those... I wish to speak with him."

"Then who the hell are you," Shakky demanded, albeit rude.

Shanks and Ace took off their hood. Their faces revealed, making Shakky gasp. She knew those faces.

"My name's Sha-"

"I know your name, boy," Shakky giggled. "My, my. What a surprise. Here to meet your former vice, eh? And, aren't you Fire Fist Ace?" she said as she looked at Ace. "Well, gotta fetch Ray. Stay put, boys..."

Shakky went upstairs, told Rayleigh an ex-crew mate wanting to see him. The man felt the familiar faces and could only wonder what would the emperor want if he went through all the trouble and visit him. He went down and saw his guests.

"So Shanks… what business do you have to come here all the way to meet me with Fire fist Ace?" he asked as he joined them.

"No… Ace is the one who wants to meet you," Shanks said. "I'm just here accompany him."

"Hmm…? Is that so? Now Ace what do you want from me?" Rayleigh widened his eyes before turning to the devil fruit user.

"Ahh… Actually I came all the way to here is to do Luffy some favor," Ace said, sheepishly.

Hearing Ace mention Luffy, Rayleigh's mood became sullen. When Rayleigh met Luffy for the first time, he knew that he will become something special. Rayleigh, himself, personally has great expectations to Luffy. The lad greatly reminded him of Roger. But when the news arrived, telling about Luffy's death at the Marineford war, Rayleigh himself somehow felt a hit in his heart and can't believe that the Mugiwara boy was dead at the hands of the Marines.

"So Portgas D Ace… I heard from the news recently that you got captured by the Marines and Whitebeard pirates with Luffy come to Marineford to rescue you?"

"Yes," Ace said. "You heard that right."

"Also I heard that you're Luffy-kun brother. What does he wanted you to do?"

"Luffy's final wish before his death… he wanted me to pass a message to his Nakama. He told me that they got separated by the Shichibukai Kuma. He said that you will be able to help me with that."

A memory flashed by in Rayleigh's mind. It was when all of the Mugiwara crew were trying to run from the marines, suddenly, Kuma arrived in the middle of battle and immediately used his power to make them vanish one by one. Though before he had done that, Kuma told him that he was part of the revolutionary army and wished to help Luffy and his Nakama by sending all of them across the sea. After the battle with the marines, Kuma visited Rayleigh in the bar to tell him that he doesn't have much time left before he turned by the World Government into complete human weapon and he wanted to help the Mugiwara pirates so they won't be captured by the marines.

"Luffy-kun's Nakama… Ah yes, they all, indeed, got separated by Kuma. So what is his message for them?" Rayleigh asked.

"He said 'Meet at Sabaody in 7 days'. But I didn't know how to pass this message to them and I need your help to do it."

"Is that so? Let me think for the way for a while," Rayleigh said. "Meanwhile give yourselves a drink..."

Rayleigh, then, went upstairs while Ace and Shanks remained on their stools, drinking. Rayleigh thought of the way hard on how to pass the message to all of Luffy's Nakama that got separated across the sea. While he thought of something, he couldn't help but notice the uncanny similarities the boy had with Roger when it it come to their nakama.

After an hours of thinking, Rayleigh came down and told the plan.

"For Luffy's message to be able to reach his Nakama, I think that you need to be in the newspaper."

"Ehh…? What do you mean?" Ace's face scrunched up in confusion.

"Here's what I thinking for an hour long: You, me and Shanks are going back to Marineford acting that you are grieving and mourning on the dead ones while the true intention is that you are going to pass the message to Luffy's Nakama."

"Eghh… Why do I have to go to Marineford too?" Shanks asked.

"Shanks, I need your help to guard Ace-kun. I'm getting old and my power alone wouldn't be able to guard him," Ray said. "Especially when we do not know where the admirals are."

"I see… you got the point," Shanks sighed.

"I don't get it Rayleigh, can you please give more detail about it?"

"So before we go to Marineford, I'm going to make a tattoo in your chest that writes 3D7D and the 3D stands for not in 3 days and 7D for 7 days." Rayleigh explained his plan and wrote the 3D7D in paper. "So when you "mourn" in Marineford, a press will definitely take the picture of you and it will be in the tomorrow newspaper where Luffy's Nakama are able to see the tattoos."

"I see… But will Luffy's Nakama will understood the meaning?"

"I'm sure everyone will understand since the one who passed the message is Luffy's brother. But I have a doubt that, that one person would understand it," he said as he stroked his beard.

"Who might that person be?" Ace asked, curious.

"Don't worry about it, as dull as that person is, I'm sure that person will eventually understand the meaning."

"So Ace, are you okay coming back to Marineford?" Shanks asked.

Ace thought of the plan well. In all terms, it was good. Very good actually but... the thing is. He had to go back where everyone died. Where his family died. Ace was having second thoughts because of it.

"I don't know Rayleigh… I can't go back to that place. I don't want to go back to Marineford because that place is where… Luffy died…" Ace's face showed how sad he was.

"I know what you've been through Ace. I saw it all on Visual Den Den Mushi. But considering this is your little brother final wish, would you able to just ignore it because that's the place where he died?" Rayleigh asked.

"But Rayleigh…"

"Ace listen to me, Luffy-kun cares his Nakama so much. When they got vanished one by one by Kuma, he tried his hardest to save them but he failed because his opponents are the Shichibukai and Marines. He immediately broke in tears and guilt just because he can't even save one of them," the man said.

"Luffy is…"

"I always got a respect and honor for someone who treasures Nakama more than anything else. And Luffy is the one who has my respect because he treasured his Nakama like his own family," Rayleigh said.

"Luffy…"

"So Ace, I'm sure Luffy would not die in peace if his Nakama's fate is left unknown. And you must accept and overcome his death too, because he mustn't be happy in his death if his brother still drowned in sorrow and anguish."

Ace thought of it deeply. He could remember back then at Alabasta. When they were travelling together, they had shown to him that they care for each other...

He felt the same way like Luffy when he is with the Whitebeard Pirates. The Whitebeard Pirates always cares so much to their own crew like family do and vice versa for Ace.

He knew that Luffy can't live again no matter how many times he screamed, cry and get angry. So sooner or later, he must accept Luffy's demise because his little brother wouldn't be happy in his death seeing him in sorrow every time he remembers him.

After thinking about what Rayleigh said to him, Ace finally agreed to return to Marineford for Luffy and his nakama sake.

"Alright Rayleigh, I'm going to return to Marineford. I can't let Luffy's Nakama being separated out there with no captain to guide them," Ace finally decided.

"What do you mean Ace-kun?" the Dark King's brows furrowed.

"Luffy asked me to become the captain of Mugiwara pirates after his death. After hearing Oyaji and your word about how Luffy cares about his Nakama, I decided that I will be their captain and gather them in Sabaody."

Rayleigh immediately smiled as he heard Ace's statement. He quickly liked Ace because of his spirit reminded him of Luffy and he also saw a similarity between Roger and Ace. He knows this because they are basically father and son in blood and both has Will of D running in the blood.

"But Rayleigh, how do we suppose to get to Marineford? I mean we have to pass gates of Justice and the security must be tightened after the war right?"

"Don't worry Ace, While I collecting info about Rayleigh, I heard from people that a marines battleship will arrive in the port to stationed the troops back in the town. We can steal that battleship to pass through gates of Justice and go straight to Marineford." Shanks finally spoke.

"Really… What a coincidence," Ace looked dubious.

"So Ace, Shakky is going to draw the tattoo in your chest," Ray said. "I'm going to prepare what we need while we're in Marineford."

"Now Ace-kun stay still, I'm going to draw the tattoo now," Shakky said.

"Ahh…" Ace complied.

While Shakky drew the tattoo on his chest, Ace then stared at Luffy's Mugiwara hat. He was reminded of his childhood when he first meet Sabo then Luffy, drinking cups of Sake to become brother, meeting him in Alabasta and all the way when he rescued him in Marineford. He then promised to himself that no matter happened, he would fulfill Luffy's last wish and become the captain of the Mugiwara Pirates to continue his brother's dream to become Pirate king.

"Luffy don't worry. I will fulfill your wish and going to reunite your Nakama. And I will try to overcome your death, so don't worry about your dream and your Nakama okay?"

A/N: Sorry for the long update, I'm really really busy with the college/university and there is at least one assignment every week that I have no time for other stuffs including writing. Also I have midterm exam 2 weeks again and it really makes me out of business for writing.

But don't worry I'm going to update the story again if the situation is possible where I have no assignment and exam.

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