So, hello everybody.
New chapter for you today, and I can say that It's the last chapter after Ace make his choice about joining Newgate.
But for now, here, we have a very special guest. Please, make some noise for Garp !
Well, thanks again for everyone reading this translation and specially for gaarablack, bloodytears87 and Girl-luvs-manga for the review, it realy make me happy.
So please, enjoy this chapter, and don't forget reviewing, it take just two minutes ^_^'
Garp wondered once again if he should curse or thank this Akagami no Shanks brat for the piece of information.
Because now, he was both hopping mad and worried !
By all the gods, why did Ace have to go after Shirohige's head ?! Well, basically, Garp had to admit that he was proud of the boy, because he was bold. But still ! He was not your run of the mill pirate! He was Gol D. Ace! The son of Shirohige's rival ! He would lose his life!
Then, for Garp, there was no question of Ace joining the Yonkou. Oh no no no no no ! The old sailor was going to quickly find the kid and kick his arse till East Blue ! There, he would start his training back from nil intensively, in order to make a true marine out of him and his brother Luffy ! Garp would have wanted Sabo to choose the Marine, too, but the kid mysteriously disappeared, and something was telling the old D. that he chose a path quite different than that of justice.
Biting into a donut, Garp scanned the horizon to try to find his idiotic grandson. He should never have entrusted his education to Rayleigh…
Ace woke with a start from a narcolepsy crisis.
Something was wrong.
His gut was telling him that something was really wrong. That he was in grave danger.
Looking around him, while getting up, the young man remarked nothing out of the ordinary, well, as much as he could tell since he had only been on board for three months.
But he had to retreat, and soon. That was what his gut was telling him.
Picking his bag and hat up, Ace slipped himself onto the deck to the large mastiff, under the suspicious gaze of Namur who was discussing something with a man of his division. He ended up sitting next to Stefan who raised his head to look at him before returning to his chew toy. At least the young pirate had nothing to fear from the beast, and it was pleasant company. Not constantly asking him to talk about his life, or to join the crew.
Ace put his hat on his head and half-pulled his dagger from its sheath, ready to sell his skin really expensivelly if needed.
Jozu lowered the telescope, frowning.
It was bad.
Garp was here. And when Garp was here, it was a sign of events that were everything but normal.
- Oyaji ! Genkotsu no Garp's ship is in sight ! Jozu announced.
Shirohige frowned, while Marco swore profusely. What was the old marine doing here ? They only had to hope that Ace would not get into his head to try a surprise attack at this moment, otherwise, things would become very complicated. Since nothing was ever easy with Garp in the vicinity... if Ace got himself into it, they would neversee the end of it.
- Marco. Let's welcome our dear Garp as we should, Shirohige asked.
- NOTICE FOR THE TAISHOU ! GET IN LINE ! Marco shouted.
His avian vocal chords allowed him to be heard in the whole ship. Soon, the commanders present on board were in two lines, making some sort of way to their captain. There were five on board, at the moment : Marco, Jozu, Thatch, Vista and Namur. The others were spread on the other ships, around the Yonkou's territory. Around the rest of the crew gathered, untrusting. If the commanders were getting into line, you had to stay on your guard.
And as always, Shirohige took his perfusions off, to the greatest displeasure of his crew. But well, the Yonkou was stubborn, and that was why a nurse had to bring the medical material inside of the ship.
Soon, the Marine ship boarded them and Garp jumped on board of the Moby Dick, still devouring a pack of donuts, his dog mask dotted with a few crumbs.
He walked through the commanders who remained on the lookout for any suspicious gesture of the old marine.
- Well, Monkey. To what do I owe this surprise visit ? You want to talk about the good old time? Shirohige asked before swallowing a whole barrel of sake in a few gulps.
- I'm not here to natter. I'm here to get back someone I've been looking for for a while, already. This Akagami kozzo made me believe that you had him on board.
- And who are you looking for with such passion, my old enemy ?
- My grandson.
Shirohige's eyes went round, while all the commanders chocked with surprise. It was already enormous to imagine Garp having a child...
But a grandson !
- I've got nobody wearing your name, on board. This gakki misinformed you. If I cross way, in the Shin Sekai, with your grandson, I'll tell him that you're looking for him, Shirohige told him, getting his bearings back, even if he was trying not to laugh.
Garp himself remained a phenomenon, despite his age... the Yonkou was curious to know what it was for the grandson... and more importantly, who was the kid of the old marine...
- I didn't tell you that he was using my surname, since it isn't the case. Come out of hiding, k'ssou gakki ! I'm going to teach you the difference between what you became and what you were supposed to become !
Ace froze, gulping, as he heard Garp screaming after him.
Ooooh, no, he may be a kamikaze, but he was not suicidal !
Fingers crossed, the young D. prayed to Davy Jones that he could escape the wrath of the old degenerate.
- Who are you looking for, Monkey ? growled Shirohige.
Garp pulled Ace's research poster from an inner pocket of his suit and brandished it high enough so that Shirohige could see it.
- Hiken no Portgas D. Ace is my stupid grandson. Get out of here, Ace ! It's useless to hide, it doesn't work with me, you know it !
- Time out ! Thatch said. Ace ? Your grandson ? It must be a case of mistaken identity, because he is, apparently, Silver's nephew, isn't he ?
Garp rolled the poster and went to the side, towards Stefan's kennel, a fiery smile on his lips. A thin smile stretched Shirohige's lips, who signaled his men to let Garp do what he wanted.
Ace nearly went into cardiac arrest when Garp appeared at the corner of Stefan's kennel, saying with a mad smile :
- Found you, Ace !
Ace made off immediately, narrowly avoiding a punch that was intended for him, and that broke the deck, startling Stefan.
He ran on the rail, taking the risk of falling in the water at any time, and tumbled, completely traumatized and scared, in the middle of the commanders, who were surprised by the face he was making. Well, where was the smile he stubbornly kept, even during the flights the Yonkou made him do, each time he failed an assassination attempt ?
- I'm going to kick your arse till East Blue, Ace ! Garp roared, following his grandson. And we'll talk again of your future in piracy !
- No way ! I'm in the Shin Sekai, I'm staying ! Ace retorted while throwing himself to the side to avoid another punch that broke the deck.
- Oyaji, what do we do ? Jozu asked.
- I find this familial reunion very interesting... Marco, keep count of the holes Garp is making. We'll send the reparation bill to Sengoku, said Shirohige, settling a little bit more comfortably, with a smile showing his teeth.
Ace had finally been caught by his shirt and was struggling to try and get away.
- Can you imagine how worried I was to not have any more news about you in the newspapers ! Did you think for just a moment about what could happen to you on this ship ! Did you forget who you are, or are you trying to die !?
And bam !
One nice bump for Ace, and one !
- Itaï ! But let go of me, jiji ! Ji-chan knows ! If I was in any danger, he would have come to retrieve me by the scruff of my neck ! Ace growled while trying to kick the old marine. The only person who's at risk of killing me, for now, is you !
- I'm taking you with me to Marine Ford ! And you'll see what I do with weaklings like you ! You'll be a Taishou of the Marine ! Pride for all ! An example for all citizens!
- Get the violins, Genkotsu is making his speech, Vista sniggered.
Taking him at his word, Thatch began to mimic the action of playing music.
- Leave me in peace ! roared Ace. I don't wanna become a marine ! Do I have to write it in the poneglyph language for you to understand !?
- You're going to be a marine, Ace ! Whether you want it or not ! There, we're going ! I'm not taking any more of your time, Newgate ! I'll be back one of those days to send you to Impel Down !
And Garp strode to his ship, insensitive to Ace who was trying to flame up, key word being trying, so as to escape his degenerated jiji.
- I regret to tell you that I'll keep him, Monkey, Newgate said while standing up. I find this boy interesting at the highest point. Although I'd love to know a little more about this boy's strange family tree for his grandfather to be a marine like you, and Silver to be his uncle ... I intend to integrate Portgas D. Ace in my crew.
- Really !? Garp said, turning towards Shirohige, an insane smile on his face.
- Yes, Monkey...
- When do I have my say in this story? roared Ace. Tell me when you'll be done deciding for me!
- When you're of age! Garp retorted.
- You should have make me adopt the East Blue nationality !
Bam!
Another bump for Ace.
He decided to sacrifice his shirt. He flamed up. It was his favourite... the jiji will pay him back dearly for this sacrifice.
Thus freed, even if bare-chested, Ace immediately distanced himself from the old degenerate, so as to save his poor skull.
- Why don't you go running after the Kaizoku Hime instead, hey ? Newgate said, pointing his bisentô threateningly on the marine.
Marco kept himself from facepalm exasperatedly.
Something Ace did not hesitate to do.
Come on, Newgate ! You just threw Garp a line ! He's going to raise to the bet !
Except that the most unexpected thing happened : Garp was surprised. Open-mouthed, eyes nearly popping out, and a small drop of mucus flowing from the nose kind of surprise.
He stared at Ace, and pointed to Newgate, surprised, trying to send him a message.
- Oyaji, it seems, is pretty unobservant, yoi, Marco sighed, feeling an obligation to explain the situation.
- And what right do you have to say that, eh Marco? asked Namur.
- Because it's true. So, I think that the answer to the question you're somehow trying to silently convey to Ace, Monkey, is 'no'.
- I don't see what you're speaking of at all, but something's clear, I won't become a marine... Ace, who had again taken refuge at Stefan's side, growled. I'd rather throw myself into the ocean now, than give up on my childhood dream, and turn my back on the universe that I was brought up on me since I was a baby.
- You are aware of the trouble that I have given myself to make you a strong man, Ace ! growled Garp, striding threateningly towards the young man. You were to become a Marine. It was an agreement that we reached !
- I was eight years old when Sengoku arrived in Dawn to screw over the quiet life that Lu' and I had with Ji-chan ! If I remember correctly, he closed his eyes on Ji-chan's presence there, if we became Marines ! We should have joined the ranks at our majority ! And, what happened almost four years ago ? Sengoku came back to send Ji-chan to Impel Down ! And you speak of agreement after that ?!
Ace took a few steps back when Garp was too near.
- Ji-chan did more for us than you'll ever do, Jiji, Ace hissed.
- I should have sent him to the scaffold, after Roger, it would have spare me a lot of trouble !
Ace instinctively reacted. He slapped Garp. He looked at him with a fiery and teary look. He hurt his hand, but it hurt less than Garp's words.
- Take what you said back, Jiji, or the next time, what your face will get will be my flames, Ace hissed. And remember that without him, I'd probably be questioning my existence, since you never helped me, when the people were spitting on me for something that I'll always be proud of.
Garp put a hand on his cheek, confused.
Before things could escalate, all the commanders got in the way, including Shirohige.
- Out of my ship, Monkey ! Newgate ordered.
Garp seemed to hesitate. With one last glance at Ace's furious stare, he turned around to get back to his ship.
- Take care of him, Newgate. Even if he is an idiot, I care for him a lot, Garp growled. And I'm counting on you, damn bird, to keep your beak closed.
- Even a tomb is more talkative than I am, yoi, Marco assured him.
And the marine ship sailed away.
Ace freed himself from the commanders and went to sulk in his corner.
Not long after, Thatch came to see him, handing him a lollipop.
- We won't ask, if you don't want to talk about it. If you have a concern, you know where to find us, the cook told him. There, sweets are good to lift your spirits. I'd proposed you some ice cream, but it would have melted before you could savour it, and I finished the last of the chocolate last week.
Ace looked at the sweet hesitantly, to finally take it, muttering a thank you. Thatch looked for a while at Ace, still curled up on himself, two pulsing bumps on the top of his head, lost in thought, mechanically playing with the strawberry lollipop in his mouth, that the commander had given him.
He really was a kid.