Follow up on the last chapter, the flashback from Ace's childhood!
Sabo's POV
The days passed quickly and soon it was time for Luffy's 6th birthday and Luffy was estatic!
I also noticed that Ace started to act more and more like himself, he had been unusual quiet and drawn back for a few days after the… "Incident", but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was still bothering him, I just couldn't put my finger on it…
"Uuffffhhh"! My thoughts was interrupted by the overly excited Luffy who was yelling something about Ace bringing home dinner and I frowned, thinking that he shouldn't go hunting on his own this late and walked up to him for a confrontation.
"Went hunting I see". I said with a disapproving look.
Ace just sighed "Sabo don't give me that look will you"?
"You know you shouldn't hunt by yourself, why didn't you ask me and Luffy to join you"? I asked a bit irritated, but on the inside I was actually worried.
"I just needed some time for myself" he answered, I could tell there was more to the story than that, but decided not to push it for the moment. We were brothers and I knew he would tell me if something was wrong. Hopefully.
"Why don't we cock this up before Luffy eats it raw again." I said and Ace sent me a thankful look, knowing I would let it be for now.
"I'll go start on a fire!" I said with a big smile and walked away, oblivious to the worried frown Ace sent over his shoulder into the forest.
Ace's POV
It had been almost a week since our fight, and since the weird meeting with the drunk.
At first I had been a bit shaken up by it but decided not to tell Sabo, I guess I was scared he would laugh into my face.
But the last couple of days I had had a weird feeling, like someone was watching me but every time I turned around there was no one there.
I guessed I was just shaken up by the fight with my brothers and decided to go hunting to clear my head, to get something to think about.
It didn't work the way I hoped it would though, as soon as I stepped out into the forest and started the hunting I once again had that feeling, and it was starting to go on my last nerv.
"COME OUT YOU JERK, I KNOW YOU ARE IN THERE" I screamed, and cursed as the deer I had been hunting got away and no one came forward.
I must be going mad.
I quickly located a boar and started dragging it home.
I was only 10 minutes from our treehouse when I felt a presence behind me and felt the annoyance build up to anger.
"WHAT"! I said angrily and turned around ,stopping dead in my tracks as I saw the man from a week earlier standing in front of me.
"Hey there Portgas". As soon as he spoke a shiver ran down my spine and a feeling of nausea fell over me, his voice was low, almost like a whisper, and so sugar coted and sweet sounding it made me want to puke.
"I've missed you"
"EEEEHHHHHH"!? was all I could think of saying, what was WITH this guy?
I could barley move as he got closer and kneed down in front of me, kissing my forehead before leaving, leaving me gagging, trying to breath and force the disgust away. He smelled horrible.
"You're sick" was all I said before I picked the boar up and ran all the way home, not seeing the maniac smile the other sent me.
Big time skip, December 19th
"AAAAAACEEEEEE!" Luffy yelled, he had looked for hours but still couldn't find his big brother, which confused the 6 year old a lot!
He never disappeared without saying so first, and he never left Luffy alone, saying he was a danger to both himself, and everything living in a 10 miles radie and therefor could not under any circumstances be left alone.
Luffy didn't really know what that meant, stupid Ace for using those mystery words.
But if that meant he never had to be alone, but he could be with one, or better, BOTH of his favorite people in the world, he would accept it.
So where was Ace?
Luffy knew he should be here, because Sabo had gone out into the woods to check the traps, and since Luffy had this… habit, of getting stuck, they only took him if they had to., which meant someone would be here, and that someone was Ace.
Slowly Luffy got confused with all the thinking about where Ace where, so he decided on going to look for him instead.
He knew that if Sabo or Ace found out that he went out alone he would be in big trouble, but Ace disappeared first. He thought.
He was now walking through the forest shivering from the cold, calling his brother's name.
After hours of looking he finally sat down on the ground, he was starting to get tired and he was also lost, he was starting to regret his decision on go looking for his big brother.
Ace was older, faster, and stronger and he knew the woods better than Luffy did, and now both he and Sabo was going to be mad at him for leaving on his own and getting lost.
Quiet creaking sounds broke the silent evening and made Luffy's heart stop for a second, "someone is coming" he thought and pressed himself against the tree he sat by trying not to be seen as the tall man passed by him, only inches away from him, carrying some kind of animal probably, it was hard to see in the dark.
As soon as the man was gone Luffy let out a breath he had been holding, it was not like him to get scared that icily, but he usually had his brothers by his side, now he was alone, hungry, tired and he still hadn't found Ace!
Determined to find his brother he once again rose to his feet and started to walk through the snow filled forest, soon it would be Christmas, and then Ace's birthday. Luffy and Sabo had been saving for a super nice present for him, it was a orange cowboy hat with a smiley and a sad face, and Luffy was sure Ace would love it!
Luffy had now been in the woods for hours and he was starting to get really scared now.
What if he never found his brothers again? He would be alone forever!
A loud creaking sound reached his ears, and whoever this was it didn't try to be silent while it ran through the forest.
"LUFFY WHERE ARE YOU"! a desperate voice screamed.
"SAAABOOOOOO" Luffy screeched, already in tears of relief for finding his brother.
The blonde ran up to Luffy picking him up on his back and without saying a word he walked back to the treehouse.
"He must be really mad" Luffy thought as he hugged his brother as hard as he could, because no matter if Sabo was mad at him, Luffy was still safe now, and he wasn't alone but with one of the two persons he loved the most in the world.
As soon as they got to the treehouse Sabo put Luffy down on the floor.
"Luffy, what did you do alone in the woods"? Sabo asked, weirdly enough he didn't sound mad, only worried and… heartbroken?
"I was looking for Ace, he disappeared"! Luffy exclaimed.
"Lu…." Sabo said, looking tired all of a sudden.
"What!" Luffy was starting to get a bit worried, noticing that Ace wasn't around, was he hurt?
"About Ace…"
"Yeah! I can't see him, is he with Dadan? IS HE HURT?" it was normal for them to go to Dadan when someone got seriously injured since they had way better experience with wounds.
Sabo sighed, looking down at the floor.
"Ace is gone, Luffy."
"Is he lost"?
"No.. Lu, listen to me" Sabo said, and Luffy actually stayed quiet, noticing that whatever his brother had to say, it was something serious.
" Lu…Ace left us, and he won't be coming back".
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Well here was a small follow up at the last chapter, I'm thinking about writing the ending to it somewhere in the story, but I'm not sure if it's going to be the next chapter or not, I'm guessing you want me to continue to the original story as well huh? Hehe
Well well, I have started to think about what kind of story I should write after this one is done, I'm thinking about maybe an ASL story or maybe Kidd x Law… anyhow, if you have a suggestion, please review it! And if I choose it, I promise to give you the credit for the idea. =)
This went on for longer than I thought it would… haha have a good day! :D