What was I…?

What…is this?

Your mind races as your thoughts jumble all together. Something…it was like there's something fogging your brain. You couldn't think. However, even though you can't think straight, you could feel something salty sliding down your throat. You couldn't breathe. Very slowly, your eyes slowly flutters open, but your vision is nothing but a blur. As second passes, you could feel your numb body…as though your body parts are reattaching back to you. Then you felt it…something warm and soft over your lips…almost as if there's another pair of lips. However, you're not sure…you couldn't think at all. The minute you tried to move, you choked on the salty liquid as you break into a heavy cough. At that, the warm things against your lips quickly pull themselves away only to reveal Ace.

"You're finally awake."

He said, sounding pretty relieve as he pulls you up and pats your back as you cough. Suddenly feeling dizzy, you fall back against him. You couldn't to argue with anything as you feel your consciousness slowly slips away. The mind that was just cleared a moment ago suddenly starts to fog again…

"Here, drink this."

Ace said, holding a glass of water against your lips. Unable to speak, you just weakly take it with Ace's hand still supporting the cup. When you drink down the water, you found that there's salt mixed in it. The same liquid you felt going into your throat a moment ago. Once you finished, you quickly pull away as you pant softly. You shake your head slightly as you soon find yourself able to think again. When your mind fully clear, the first thing you notice is that you're resting in Ace's arm with him staring down at you.

"Are you feeling better, Haku?"

Ace asked as you stare at him. Almost immediately, you roughly pushes him away from you while avoiding meeting his eyes. The minute you stood though, you collapse down onto the bed, your legs are numb to the point where they can't support you. "Are you alright?" Ace asked as he sits at the edge of the bed, staring at you with those soft, concerned glazes. "…A bit dizzy." You whispered as Ace places the cup onto the table and gently pull the blanket over you. "I'm really sorry about that, Haku. I couldn't find any way to get you to drink the wat-" "...Under normal circumstances I would have kill you." You muttered coldly, showing no mercy at all to your savior. "I'm really sorry." Ace apologized sincerely as you slowly pull your face up so that you can face him.

"How did you know?"

"Know what?"

"The salt."

You said impatiently, as though it's the most obvious thing in the world. At that, a soft smile crosses Ace's lips as his glaze shifts to the cup. "I have a hunch that Kuran is a Devil's Fruit user, and salt has the same effect as Seastone. So I just gave it a try." He replied as you slowly bury your face back into the bed. "Thank you." You muttered so softly that Ace didn't hear your words. Though even if he does, you doubt he could make out what you said thanks to the bed sheet that muffled your voice.

"Are you really alright?"

Ace asked, seeming to be worried as you part your eyes slightly. "…Just woken from a long dream." "Dream?" He said as you close your eyes gently. "Where's Kisa?" "She's asleep in the other rooms." Ace replied as you very slowly pull yourself up. AS you move, the joints of your bones starts to make sickening cracking sounds. However, you merely ignore that as you stare into space with your unchanged expression. "I would look after her rather than me then if that's the case. Kuran…hates old man. He'll surely target her." "…Haku, who exactly is he?" Ace asked as you slowly shift your glaze towards him before looking elsewhere. A quick flashback of that dream you just head flies into your brain as you grit your teeth. "He ate a logia type fruit call Kiri Kiri no Mi (Mist Mist Fruit)." "So he's a Devil's Fruit user after all." Ace commended which you merely nod your head very slightly. "His ability is similar to mine. He can turn any part of his body into mist and injects himself into other people where he will take control of the brain. His mist will fog your mind, causing you to loose your ability to think and can even take control of your thoughts." You muttered as you remember back to his kiss. Scowling to no one in particular, you slowly lift your hand up and wipe your lips against your sleeve…

"If you inhaled too much mist, you will loose yourself and falls into a coma like state-...How long was I out for?"

"2 days. Is there something wrong with it?"

"If you sleep for more than 3 days…you're memories will be completely recreated."

You said plainly as though you could careless.

"What does that mean?"

"A human memory is made up like chains. Each memory connects to one another like a tree. If you cut down a branch of a tree, it will grow back and the tree wouldn't be damage. Even if you cut the tree down, there's still a chance to survive unless you dig out the roots. Within 3 days, Kuran can travel through the different memories to seek out the Root, in other word, your very first memory. A memory where all your other memories are link to, forming a chain. If he can find it and replaces that single memory, the other memories will immediately rewrite themselves. They will reawake on the third day living and believing anything Kuran rewrite in their mind."

"Then your dream-"

"The old man…I forgot about the old man."

You whispered, not even sure if you're speaking the truth at all. You're not sure…whether it's because you remembered Whitebeard first that allows you to remember Ace…or the other way around. 'In the past I would have just told him off…' You thought to yourself, wondering if you're still being affected. Normally, you would have said something like "it's none of your business" or anything similar to that.

"…Hakuren, you've became soft."

Kuran's voice came back to you as you clench onto the bed sheet. You turn your head slightly away to the side as you sigh out softly. "Haku, what happened to your hand?" Ace asked as you look down at your wrecked hand. You had completely forgotten about then…the injuries you inflected upon yourself.

"It doesn't concern you."

You snapped, your cold voice suddenly returning to you. Though for some reason, using this tone against Ace seems kind of…weird. Or rather, strange. Like it's something you're not used to when you should be used to. "Those wounds are made by repeatedly pounding your hand against the tree, isn't it?" Ace suddenly said as your eyes widens slightly, wondering how he knows. Seeming to catch your expression, Ace says, "There are wood shards in your wounds. Haku, did you…" Before he could finish, you quickly grab the pillow next to you and toss it at him. However, Ace simply raises his hand and catches it with ease. "My affair has nothing to do with you!" You said and at that moment, your eyes widens as you quickly bite your tongue secretly inside your mouth.

"You're right. I'm sorry, Haku."

Ace said politely, gently placing the pillow down before getting up and walking away. You didn't need to look at his face to see the damage you cost. You just sit there, listening as Ace gently closes the door behind him as he leaves. The minute he's gone, you slowly falls back down onto the bed as you remember how you could only think of Ace in your dream. You grab the pillow, stuffing your face against it as you suddenly feel the pillow growing wet. However, you didn't bother pulling your face out to see why.

xxXxx

"Ah, Ace, let's go see that!"

Kisa exclaimed as she runs over to a toy shop and holds up a stuffed rabbit. "Isn't this cute?" She asked cheerfully. Not knowing what to say, Ace just smiles out a reply. At that, Kisa smiles wider and quickly dashes to the cashier to pay for the rabbit. While she's doing that, Ace turns, looking back at the hotel where Hakuren is in. He had offered if she would like to come with them, but Hakuren refused no matter what so in the end, they had to come out by themselves. All the time, Ace couldn't help but worry…knowing that even though the effect is removed from her, Hakuren is still worn out. And on top of that, she hadn't eaten for 3 days now. She refused to eat anything yesterday and she still refused to eat today's breakfast and lunch. At the thought of that made Ace wonder if she's still mad at him. She wouldn't talk to him or open the door no matter how much he apologizes.

xxXxx

You stare at the mirror, looking at your slightly swollen eyelids. '…This is stupid.' You told yourself, remembering how seriously swollen they were yesterday. Sighing softly, you place a hand over your stomach that just called out for food again. As much as you want to eat, there's just no way you could open the door and let anyone see your eyes like this. This is a solid proof that you've cried…or at least you think you did…but then again, maybe some germs just got in. You're not even sure if you really did cry with your face buried in that soaked pillow all day. And even if you do acknowledge it…why in the world did you even cry for? You don't know…you don't know anything at all. You don't even know what emotion you're feeling right now. Just as you sit on your bed, thinking about your problems, a blur of white suddenly passes by your balcony. At that, your eyes immediately widens as you quickly kick the window door open and rushes onto your balcony. When you look around, you caught what seems like a trail of mist flying into the sky. 'Kuran…!' You thought as your eyes immediately narrow. You quickly dash back into your room and grab your naginta. Without thinking, you jump off the balcony, landing onto a roof as you quickly follow after it. You know that this is some sort of a setup, but you could care less…as long as you can see that man again.

"Haku."

Ace whispered, catching the sight of Hakuren leaping from roof to roof as though in a hurry. Just when he was wondering what she's hurrying for, he caught the fading trail of what seems like mist/clouds in the sky. At that, his eyes narrow slightly as he recalls Hakuren's words back then.

"He can turn any part of his body into mist."

Her soft voice whispers back into his mind as something suddenly grab his arm, pulling him out of thought. "Ace?" Kisa chirped as Ace quickly looks down to see Kisa. By the time he looks back up…they're gone.

Neither Hakuren nor the mist is now visible.

He wanted to go after her, but he has a mission on his hand with protecting Kisa, therefore he couldn't leave her. However, he also knows Hakuren couldn't go up against Kuran if they really do meet. He could feel it…The distant between their strength. And in that weak state, Hakuren's definitely not a match. "Ace?" Kisa called again as Ace looks down at Kisa. That's wrong? You've been staring at the sky for a while now, Ace." "…It's nothing. Let's go back to the hotel." Ace said with a smile as Kisa quickly hugs onto Ace's arm. "Let's go, let's go!" She sang with a bright smile as Ace turns back to the roof, taking one last look before walking off.

xxXxx

'This is…'

You thought as you stare at the field of red lilies. This was the place you were resting in before you went into that restaurant and met up with Kuran. 'It can't be.' You told yourself as your heart skipped a beat. 'It can't be…it couldn't be…' You thought over and over again as your eyes widen more and more by the second. Could it be that…all along, you were watched? The moment you stepped onto this island…you were being watched? With his ability, it's no surprise he can turn into mist and mix himself with the clouds. At the mere thought, you grit your teeth, quickly snapping your head up just as you see a figure walking out of the trees. "Kuran." You whispered, your voice dripping with venom as you glare at him. "Hakuren! I was really worried when you collapsed. Are you alright?" Kuran said with a soft smile…his face smug with that innocent. "Don't act innocent." You growled as you watch a smirk replacing that innocent smile. "Oh?" His smile fades into a smirk as his eyes open slightly, revealing those emerald pupils that dig into your very soul.

"Then? Can you attack me?"

He said, smirking wider as you clench your fist tightly. "I gave you everything that time, Hakuren." His voice whispered, echoing into your mind. The miute your blink, your eyes widens as you see how his hand is only about an inch away from you. At that, you quickly reacted by leaping back a couple meters. "You're fast, as always." Kuran commended as he stares at you, his eyes dancing with amusement.

"You know…That Portgas D. Ace. He seems pretty familiar to you. He even called you Haku. Why's that?"

"That has nothing to do with you."

"I see. But Hakuren, don't forget who was the first to give you the warmth you needed. The way you open up to me back then, have you forgotten it all?"

That moment, your vision blurs as you look around to find yourself suddenly surrounded within a layer of mist. You quickly stop breathing, as you quickly dash towards him, spinning your naginata in your hand. But that moment, your vision blurs again and slowed your movement by a split second. That's all the time Kuran needed as he seizes your wrist. With a twist, you grit your teeth in pain as your naginata slips out of your grip and stabs into the solid. "You might be quick…but that's only because you have no muscles, making your body lighter. Once caught, you can't do a single thing…not when you can't use your illusions." Kuran muttered softly beside your ear. Then you felt a blow against your stomach as you gasp, inhaling the mist as your mind suddenly turn blank. Unable to even stand, you fall limply against him. All you could do is struggle…struggling in your mind, fighting to stay conscious as you feel a hand grabbing your chin. You tried to speak, but your lips wouldn't move at all as you feel your head being lifted as pair of lips brushes against your cheek.

"Your eyes are swollen. Did you cry?"

Kuran asked softly, his lips sliding down your neck and starts placing butterfly kisses all over you. It was unbearable…you feel completely disgusted and even the urge to throw up. You tried to summon your strength to fight, but you couldn't move your body at all…you can't even feel your fingers. You even tried to summon your illusions but couldn't think straight at all. Your head is all fogged up…you can't do anything. Just like it was in the past…you're powerless against him. "Without a clear mind, you won't be able to use your illusion. Like a mouse trapped in a corner. You're always weak around me." Kuran whispered into your ear before nibbling your earlobe.

"Stop...!"