Sabo's growing up. *sniff* I feel like a parent. But I've still got a ways to go before I've got my own kids, so I'm not going to worry about it now! Huzzah!

This fairly long chapter encompasses Sabo when he is fifteen to seventeen years old. There will be many OC names here but don't worry about them; if they're important, then I'll let you know. Hehe! It will also include the beginnings of the SaMeg relationship, but more toward the end. NO YOU CAN'T PEEK!

Read, review, and enjoy. Reviews get you the next chapter.

Chapter 11 – As the Years Pass

"Dragon-san!"

The flustered teen didn't wait for clearance before bursting into the main office, scaring the hell out of Brosh, who had been saying something about camel rations. The room was dimly lit only by the dying sun just outside the window behind the desk, curtained by dark maroon cloth. Tacked to the wall was a Wanted poster of a little black haired girl, a parchment rarely seen without the presence of Dragon, who was glaring at him from where he stood by the bookshelves, obviously displeased with the interruption.

"Is it true?" Sabo gasped. "About Ivan-san and Inazuma?"

Dragon's gaze softened just a fraction of a degree. "Yes."

"They were captured on their mission to Ricketet," Sabo heaved, leaning forward on his knees. "Wyett just told me. He said that the marines completely outnumbered them two to ten thousand. And they're being sent to…"

"Impel Down," Dragon finished the sentence for him. "Yes, it is true."

"Sir! Shouldn't we go after them?"

Brosh, a tall muscular man who was in charge of the camel stables, grabbed Sabo by the front of his shirt. "You insolent brat!" he yelled, spittle flying from his lips. "Anyone who falls behind stays behind! Dragon-san doesn't need to be worrying about weaklings!"

Sabo had no idea what the camel man had against him. The only evidence he had of Brosh's hatred was a rumor Dr. Huron told him a long time ago before his unfortunate and untimely death due to the disease influenced by the Kestia tick on a visit to that one ancient island Little-something to persuade giants to join their cause. The doctor had told Sabo that Brosh despised children, especially weak ones they had to carry as extra baggage. Sabo took this as a challenge and vowed to become strong.

"Calm yourself, Brosh," Dragon interrupted, and the camel herder growled, releasing the teen's rumpled green shirt. To Sabo, who was haughtily dusting himself off, he said, "Ivankov and Inazuma know what they're doing. I trust when the time comes, they both will be fully capable of escaping and rejoining us as the balance of power shifts in our favor. We cannot rejoice, nor do we mourn."

Sabo's eyes narrowed. "But –"

"You are fourteen years old," Brosh yelled, his temper flaring up again. "What the hell can you do?"

"More than you can, you bastards!" Sabo yelled, turning and fleeing from the room, slamming the office door behind him. He ran blindly through the labyrinth of corridors, not even realizing where he was going until he found himself at the peak of the highest tower of the Baltigo castle.

He threw open the window and stepped onto the ledge, gripping the rough shingles and pulling himself onto the roof. He pulled his knees to his chest, distributing his weight so he wouldn't be knocked from the tower during a particularly hard gust. Sabo rested his chin on his knees, staring at the ocean miles away.

One had a great view from the rooftop. The white sand stretched out for miles in all directions, and to the east the ocean could be seen only as a blue stripe on the horizon. When the moon rose a few hours later, it sparkled off breaking waves, lining the sea with a shimmer of silver sparkles. The sight calmed him in his most depressed mood, but now nothing could calm him.

Ivankov was his mentor. He loved the older okama, and even began falling for his 'fainting-I'm-okay!' ritual on purpose, yet always denying his offered "discovery of one's true self," whatever that meant. They often trained together outside, pulling sand sleds and running on the loose dunes for muscle tone, and agility other days. Inazuma would watch with that wine cup in his hand, never saying much but occasionally throw in a helpful comment.

"Sabo-kun?"

Sabo jerked up his head, sliding down the roof and hanging upside down to behold a pair of hazel eyes. Sabo still didn't understand why she decided to change her eye color; he liked the green. Still, he smiled, holding out his hand. She took it and he pulled her up to sit next to him.

Megumi smoothed out her black leggings and kicked off her flats. Her curly brown hair was tied up in a messy ponytail, but it was still long enough to reach the small of her back. A small yellow stain was splattered on the shoulder of her black tee, which had begun bulging slightly around her chest area the past few years.

"How'd you find me?" Sabo asked, staring once again out at the landscape.

"You always come up here when you're angry," was her reply. "You just don't realize it."

He looked at her curiously, and she giggled. "No, actually, I didn't."

"You're drawn to high places," she shrugged. "Physical and metaphorical."

Sabo laughed, and his friend joined in. "And I thought I was the smart one."

"Well you're not dumb," Megumi laughed.

"Thank you."

The two friends sat in silence. Megumi leaned back on her palms, her legs crossed lazily at the ankle. Sabo let out a deep sigh, squinting as another heavy wind blew across them. Her stray locks fluttered around her face, sliding across soft skin and those beautiful round eyes. Wow, those eyes. Like the stars that flashed in the sky high above, and that soft smile…

"Happy Birthday!"

Sabo blinked, and the white light that had suddenly begun to encompass her began to fade. "What?"

"It's March twentieth, isn't it?" Megumi shifted to face him. "It's your fifteenth birthday."

"Oh, well, yeah, I guess so."

"That's it?" Megumi pouted. "Do you want my present?"

"Present?"

She giggled, giving Sabo a vague idea of what was to come. He felt a slight color rise in his cheeks, and he blamed it on the harsh night wind. He prayed the sky had grown too dark for her to see anyway. But still, the darkness could not stifle the sudden fast-paced beating of his heart.

"It's got two parts," she continued, one hand roving toward the hem of her T-shirt. "The first part is this!"

Sabo hurriedly shut his eyes. "No!" he yelled, shuffling back a few paces. "Nuh-uh, no way!"

"You don't like it?"

Sabo peeked through his eyelashes, then heaved a huge sigh of relief as he saw not a shirtless girl but a long staff, brown with a strip of leather wrapped around the center. His eyes widening in awe, he took the bo staff in his hands, running his fingers down the smooth surface. "Oh, wow."

"Gunter helped me make it," Megumi said proudly. Sabo grinned; Gunter was the carpenter on Baltigo. He was too old to go on missions, so his job was mostly to repair the sand sleds that Sabo somehow always managed to break. The old man had a knack for woodwork, and the birthday boy could see Gunter's style in the cylindrical shape.

"Thank you," he said.

"It has a bunch of random things in it," Megumi said, gesturing to a button on the side Sabo hadn't noticed before. He pressed it, and huge fan-like wings suddenly sprouted from the side. He jerked back, releasing the button and they retracted, folding back into place. "And it even folds like this." She reached over, her hands sliding lightly across his as she pointed out hinges on the edge, folding it down into thirds for easy concealment. That's how she managed to keep that thing under her shirt without being seen; it certainly wouldn't fit in her leggings.

"I have to name it," He said, straightening it back out.

"Name it what?"

"That's the point of saying it aloud; you imply you need help."

She chuckled. "Okay. Wooden Fury, Riddles, Contraption Passion…"

"What the hell? What kinds of names are those?"

"You asked for my help and you got it."

Sabo groaned. "Well, this thing is full of tricks, isn't it? So you don't know what will come out of it." He gripped it tightly. "It's the Trickster."

"See? You didn't need my help."

Sabo pulled out his pocketknife and began picking away at the wood, engraving his new weapon's name into it. Satisfied with the rough writing, he folded it again, slipping the knife back into his pocket. A shiver suddenly ran up Sabo's spine as a particularly harsh wind threatened to steal his hat. He lashed out, catching his treasure with one hand. However, his momentum carried him forward, and he winced as his forehead collided with the rough shingles.

"Oh my gosh, are you okay!?" Megumi cried, wrapping a protective arm around him and pulling Sabo back up into a sitting position. "A few more inches and you would've fallen!"

"I'd rather fall that lose this treasure," Sabo panted, gripping his hat tightly in his hand. It was his only memento of home, the only memory tying him to his previous life. There was no way he would give it up, not even through death.

Megumi fell silent, turning his head to face her so she could examine his forehead worriedly. "You always manage to get hurt," she chided. "And I never have the proper equipment with me when you do."

Sabo winced as her supposedly expert hands lightly brushed his scraped forehead. She was training to be a doctor, and had been training under Dr. Huron for years now, considering herself an expert. Sabo didn't quite believe it yet, and he voiced this opinion often, only to receive a sharp rap on the head. He wrapped a hand gently around her wrist and pulled it away.

"It's fine; I heal fast anyway."

Megumi sat back. "Don't blame me if you get an infection. There's lots of particles floating around in this air that can seriously hurt you."

"And if I get infected, I'll let you know."

"Sometimes I wonder if you're already infected in the head," she muttered, and quickly denied saying it after being questioned.

Sabo laughed aloud, momentarily forgetting what he had climbed to the roof about. His expression faded into one of slight sadness as he suddenly recalled the happenings in Dragon's study, and he slipped his new staff into the pocket of his jacket, staring moodily out at nothing.

She realized his sudden desire to be alone, and voiced aloud she was going to bed. He nodded a response, and listened to her light footsteps slowly treading on the loose shingles. Suddenly, she stopped and crawled back to him. "I almost forgot birthday present part two," she whispered, and pressed her lips quickly to his cheek.

Sabo's blood temperature suddenly rose to a million degrees, and he held a hand to his face, watching with wide eyes as she slipped down off the roof and into the window below, racing downstairs. He knew his face was red as a cherry, and he knew that she knew. He bowed his head, pulling the brim of his hat over his eyes to conceal his embarrassment.

Ivankov, he thought, projecting his mind out toward wherever the okama was right now. When you get back, you have to tell me. What do girls like?

2 Years Pass –

"Sabo!"

He moaned, turning over in his bed.

"Sabo! Get up you lazy ass!"

"Five more minutes…"

"Megumi's in trouble!"

Quick as lightning, Sabo leaped from his bed, not even combing out his disheveled hair as he flung open the door, barreling out into the hallway in nothing but boxers, and suddenly crashed into someone. Both of them fell backward to the ground, moaning and rubbing their heads.

"Well, that got you up, didn't it?" someone laughed, and Sabo glared up at the owner of the voice, immediately recognizing him.

"What the hell, Kuron?" he growled, running a hand through his ruffled hair. "It's what, nine o'clock on my day off."

"Dragon wants to see us," said Kuron, grinning wickedly down at the younger boy. Though Kuron Riley was only twenty one, he and his brother, Raxon, who lay on the floor rubbing his bruising forehead, were top commanders of the Revolutionary Army, highly skilled and trusted by their leader. The two boys were twins, each sporting wild dark blue hair and black eyes, traits that probably came from their unknown mother, because they certainly didn't have Dr. Huron's salt-and-pepper-though-more-salt hair.

"What the hell for?"

"Someone's got a dirty mouth this morning," Raxon taunted teasingly, holding out a hand. Sabo took it, and the two boys pulled themselves back up to standing position. "I don't know what you're for, but we've got a mission." Raxon indicated himself and his brother. He smirked as Sabo began walking dejectedly down the corridor, yawning. "Though you might want to get tidied up, first."

Sabo glanced down at himself, dressed only in bright blue boxers and his jagged scar clearly visible. "Shit!" He raced back inside his room, slamming the door in the twins' faces. "Tell Dragon-san I'll be there momentarily!"

He could hear the twins roaring with laughter as they proceeded down the hall, leaving Sabo to stare at his red face in the mirror. Now that he was seventeen years old, his face had lost its young roundness into an almost square jaw though slightly curved at the edges. His hair had grown longer, bangs whisking in front of his eyes, only thick dark slits under his light eyebrows.

He shook his head, ridding his skin of redness and letting his shaggy hair fall into place. He pulled open a drawer, grabbing the first few garments he saw. Sabo tugged on the white muscle tee and slid his arms into the navy blue jacket, buttoning the middle together. In too big of a rush to change underwear, he simply stuffed his legs into the black knee-length shorts and shoved his feet into his favorite leather boots. He made sure his Trickster was tucked safely in his jacket pocket and his hat was securely on his head before jerking open the door and racing down the corridor.

He dived and weaved between the kitchen women already preparing to feed four thousand hungry mouths lunch, muttering many "excuse me"s and "sorry"s. He spotted Christy's blue hair by the laundry room, and saw her carrying a pile of fresh clothes. He gave her a wave, and she grinned in return, but Sabo had already disappeared behind the corner.

Sabo skidded to a stop, leaning forward on his knees and heaving breath into his lungs. Taking a moment to compose himself, he leaned against the wall and rested a hand against his chest to still his beating heart. Damn, he thought angrily to himself. If I'm tired just by dodging women, I need more training.

"You can come in now," said a deep voice from behind the door, and Sabo rolled his eyes. He should've known.

He straightened his jacket and pushed his way into Dragon's office, spotting Kuron and Raxon standing a bit to the left. Their katana were strapped to their waists, and Sabo instantly recognized the dark hilt of a Kitetsu blade at Raxon's hip. Beside them stood Brosh, who had been promoted from stable duty to fourth commander of the second division last year. The ex-camel man gave Sabo a hard glare as he entered, and Sabo returned it menacingly. It was well known the two despised each other.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" he asked, closing the door behind him so the five men could have privacy.

Dragon didn't waste any time. "I have reason to believe Nico Robin will be arriving on the island of Shibaba in the West Blue in one year's time."

"One year?" Brosh said gruffly. "Then why the hell are we being deported now? And why is this bastard coming along?"

"Funny calling me a bastard; my parents were married," Sabo shot back, somewhat painfully at the mention of his parents. "What about you, Brosh? Your mom and dad drunk in a bar and got a room for a one night fling?"

"You–!"

"Knock it off," Raxon sighed.

"Seriously, can't you at least keep your mouths closed for ten seconds?" Kuron agreed.

"This is not a time to be playing games," Dragon interrupted, and the four men fell silent. "Nico Robin is the light of the Revolution. She is an incredible asset to us. I'm sending second division to bring her back here to Baltigo. Do not use force unless absolutely necessary. Your lives are more important than apprehending Nico Robin."

"And why is Sabo coming?" Kuron queried.

"Training," was the reply. "I've decided he will take over the second division when the time is right."

Sabo blinked, his gaze flicking to his comrades as they stared at him with awed gazes, only Brosh's was more skeptical and pissed off than anything else. A – a promotion! Seven years as only a page, running errands and training constantly had finally paid off! He resisted the urge to yell out in victory and only bowed low at the waist. "Thank you very much, Dragon-san."

Dragon proceded to fill in the second division on his intel. Though the planned arrival date was a year away, it would take several months to reach Shibaba all the way in the West Blue, not to mention paddling across the Calm Belt using stolen methods from the marines. The men would blend in with the society there so they would look like normal citizens and not arouse suspicion.

After the basic briefing, Sabo was dismissed from the meeting so Dragon could discuss something with the other three in private. He tried listening in through the door, but it was impossible to discern what their leader was saying. The boy gave up after a while and began shuffling back to his room to being packing; departure was in thirty minutes.

Halfway back to his room, he suddenly let out all his excitement in one full blast. His chest felt tight and compacted, and he let out a whoop, cart wheeling and somersaulting back to the living quarters, letting out his excitement in one huge yell of happiness.

He finally finished his latest summersault, landing on his back in front of the door to his room. Sabo heaved air into his lungs as he stared up at his name printed on the white paint, placed there many years ago to establish ownership. He reached up and pushed open the door, crawling on hands and knees to the closet, from which he pulled a small suitcase-knapsack traveling bag. Lurching to his feet, he began grabbing garments at random, throwing them into the bag.

Sabo stopped packing for a moment, his hand half inside his bag. His suddenly adrenaline rush had left him, and he realized this place had been his home for the past seven years, and now he had to make a new life for himself again, starting over for who knows how long. He stared at his reflection in the mirror, watching a calm expression suddenly replace his excited one. He redirected his vision to the wall, where fluttered two wanted posters.

The first was of the same girl Dragon always tended to stare at, who he called the "Light of the Revolution." Any girl who could destroy eight marine warships when she was only eight years old was a goldmine to their cause. She would be about twenty-five now, probably twenty six by the time she arrived at Shibaba, and hard to recognize. But those eyes would give Nico Robin away instantly.

The second was of a black-haired man staring at something over his shoulder, a smug grin on his face. Around his neck hung a red beaded necklace, and on his head sat an orange hat with smiling and frowning faces. Sabo had accidentally ripped the poster after grabbing it quickly, and now the bounty was impossible to read. But Sabo smiled at Ace's photo all the same.

"I was first to go to sea," he said. "And you were second. Luffy still has three years to go. So this time, I'll set out again and maybe we'll meet each other on the high seas."

Someone knocked on the door. He shouted for them to enter, and Megumi stepped through. She wore a bright red tank top with a light pink vest a bit too small for her enormous bust. Her long slender legs were covered by a long pink wrap-around skirt with a green floral pattern. Her hair was in waves around her shoulders, which was odd, because she usually preferred to keep it in a high ponytail.

"So I hear you're leaving," she said quietly.

Sabo nodded. "In a few minutes, actually. Don't know when I'll be back."

"I guess there's no chance of me going with you."

"No. It's just me, Brosh, Kuron and Raxon."

"I see." She shut the door, leaning on it with bare hands. "I'll help you finish packing."

"No, that's okay, I think I can –"

"Let me help!" She demanded, and Sabo took a step back, raising his hands in the universal sign of surrender. Taking this as the go ahead, she pulled several more folds of clothing from inside his dresser, placing them neatly inside the suitcase. Next she pulled books from the shelf at random and folded the wanted posters inside them. How she knew he would take them Sabo had no idea. She threw in a few more miscellaneous objects before forcing the zipper closed.

"You're not going to try and force the whole base in there, are you?" he asked, staring at his bulging knapsack.

"I'd at least make sure there's enough room for me to stow away."

Sabo took Megumi gently by the shoulders, staring her in the eye. "I don't want you to come because I don't want you to get hurt, okay? We don't know what will happen and in case something happens, you'll be safe."

"But I don't care about that." She tried to argue. "Sabo-kun, you have no idea what will happen and since I'm a doctor I have to go with you! I'll have to make it a quick pack though, and something small since I'll be sneaking on and –"

Sabo let out a small sigh and made a split second decision. He leaned closer and silenced her ranting with a kiss, closing his eyes to avoid embarrassing her. Megumi's arms tensed beneath his fingers, but she soon relaxed and leaned closer, returning the passion with some of her own.

This was definitely not how Sabo had imagined his first kiss, but still, he was glad he had given it to Megumi. Her lips were plush and warm, tasting of cherries and other fruits. Her warm body pressed against his was exhilarating for some reason, and his arms left her shoulders and wrapped protectively around her waist, and she rose on her tip toes to reach his height. Sabo pulled away after a moment, watching Megumi's face. It was flushed, from excitement or embarrassment Sabo couldn't tell. Her chest rose and fell as she tried to catch her breath, though her eyes were filled with an illuminated light.

"You're not coming," Sabo said firmly.

"No… no, I won't go." She whispered, and he wasn't sure if she was even fully conscious. Still, there was no reason to provoke Megumi any longer, and he picked up his suitcase, slinging it over his shoulder.

"I'll write as often as I can," he said, and she nodded. "Take care." Another nod, her eyes illuminated by a million falling stars. She was too elated to say anything. "I'm leaving now."

As his hand fell on the door handle, she crashed into him from behind, wrapping her arms around his waist in a tight hug. "I love you," she mumbled into his shirt.

Sabo smiled, closing his eyes. "Just wait for me, that's all I ask." He skirted around a directly reply, feeling it fitting as a farewell parting, one he hadn't been able to properly manage seven years ago. He unlatched her fingers from his midsection, opened the door and walked out into the hall, hoisting his suitcase to a more comfortable position.

He walked back down the hallway, unsure of exactly where Megumi would go now. Sabo wasn't sure where the hell that kiss had come from; something suddenly just… came over him. Yeah, so it was a cliché from a romance novel but it was true. He shook his head, walking faster. Sabo took the shortcut through the camel stables, giving Melody a quick pat on the nose. The camel gave a snort and nuzzled his cheek.

"Popular with the ladies, are we?" a familiar voice – or voices, teased, and Sabo glared over his shoulder to see the Riley twins leaning against the stable door, smug grins on both their faces. Sabo had an aching feeling in his gut they knew exactly the goings on in his bedroom.

"What's it to you?" he said roughly back, turning to face them.

"Oh, nothing," Kuron whistled.

"Just never took as a guy to go for the ones with the big boobs," Raxon threw in.

"Bastards!" Sabo yelled, chasing the twins out of the barn and into the shifting sand, where a sand sled sat ready for them. Brosh was already prepared, seated on a box of cargo while whittling a stick. Where he got the stick in a desert, Sabo didn't ask. The Rileys stood at the helm, a huge gust whipping their traveling cloaks about their legs. A man Sabo didn't know stood at the wheel to bring the sled back to the base once they had departed.

Sabo dropped his huge bag of belongings to the floor, panting at its ridiculous weight. Something on the back of his neck prickled, and he stared back up at the huge white castle, a hand keeping his hat firm on his head. From his position, he could barely see a thin figure on the roof of the highest tower, facing them.

He laughed quietly to himself, watching as Megumi noticed him staring at her. She shrank into a tiny ball, waving a timid hand. He waved back, knowing full well she was trying to hide a blush. I'll be back soon, he mouthed, and she nodded.

With that as a final goodbye, he braced himself as the sails were lowered, and the sled shot off like a rocket, barreling toward the wide open sea.

Bring it on, world! Sabo yelled mentally, letting out an elated whoop. Show me what you got!

Imagine Kuron and Raxon Riley (sons of Dr. Huron; nice originality there, I know -_- I just wanted to use those names for something in here) as slightly more mature versions of either Fred and George Weasely or Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin. Your choice; they're the mischievous type, though more serious and battle-talented. You don't get to be the commanders of the second Revolutionary division easily, mind you. And poor Raxon has his hands on Kitetsu the Second. That's a bit of foreshadowing. I considered giving Kuron an O-Wasumono, then thought no, too coincidental.

Anyway, Sabo's adventures on Shibaba Island will be revealed next chapter. Yay! Reviews get you that chapter, so remember to type something in that beautifully wonderful box below. See ya until next time.

Coming Up: Chapter 12 – Sabo's Past: Horrors of War