The next morning, Ume jolted awake. She felt the ship come to a complete stop.
"Ace! Ace I think we're home!" She jumped out of bed and ran up to the main deck. Luffy and the others were already awake, helping with docking preparations.
"Good morning Ume! I hope you and Ace are ready to be home?" Nami walked over to Ume and placed her hand on her forehead. "Hey, your fever is gone! How do you feel?"
"My.. OH! Yeah I guess I didn't notice, I woke up when we docked."
"Well, good. We docked at the entrance to your island."
"Have you seen any Marines walking around?"
"Actually, no. So you both should be good. Go get your man up and get ready!"
"Alright." She turned around and walked down to their room. Unfortunately, he wasn't awaken with Ume's shouting. She walked over to the bed and laid next to Ace. She began kissing his neck softly, and began kissing his neck.
"Wake up, sleepy head." Ume rubbed her face in his neck. Ace slowly opened his eyes and rolled on top of Ume.
"Now there you go again, turning me on while I'm sleeping." He smirked and kissed her roughly.
"Oh.. Ace, not now. We're home!"
Ace chuckled and sat up. "Well you best bet that we are going to celebrate." He got out of bed and began to get dressed. "Come on, get ready!"
Moments later, the couple made their way up to the main deck. Their fingers were laced tightly, and both seemed to be in pleasant moods.
"Let's go. I don't think Ume can hold in her happiness any longer." Ace walked Ume over to the ladder and gestured for her to move down. She was the first one off of the ship.
"Ume! How's the sand down there?" Nami shouted.
"It's warm! Hurry up, guys! It's great!" Ume waved up to the other crew members.
Ace made his way down. As soon as he sat foot on the beach, he took Ume's hand , leading her to the man-made path. The others soon followed.
"This place seems like it as changed a bit." Ume looked around, and then looked back at Ace. "Does it seem different to you?"
"No. I just think you don't feel that great."
"Ace, I feel fine. Really, I have no fever."
"Well, alright. Come on let's get on home."
Luffy looked around and ran ahead of Ace and Ume. "Come on! We need to get you both home so we can have lunch! I'm hungry!"
"Luffy, shut your mouth, we're dropping them off and leaving. We don't know when the marines will be back." Sanji sighed and looked at Nami. "Come on, Nami. Knock some sense into him."
"Luffy, he's right. We need to let them get adjusted back to their lives."
"Oh Nami. It's okay, really. We would love to have you all for dinner! Come on, it's just up this hill." Ume unlaced her fingers from Ace's hand and began running up the hill. "I can't believe it, I'll be home in a few moments! It feels so good to be back on this island!"
"Ume, wait up!" Ace began to run after her. But Ume made it up to the hill before him. He heard a scream, and saw Ume fall to her knees. Ace and the crew ran faster and finally caught up with her. Ace kneeled down to Ume and held onto her shoulders
"Ume, what's going on?! What did you see?"
"No! It's.. It's our house! It's burned down!" Ume ran towards the smoldering pile of what used to be their home. She collapsed and began to sob. "SOMEONE BURNED DOWN OUR HOME!"
"Ume, get away from there!" Ace ran to her, and gently pulled her farther back. "Ume, please calm down!" He held her tightly and felt her tears soak his chest.
"WHO DID THIS?!" Luffy shouted and ran towards the house. Zoro and Sanji ran after him.
"What did we do to deserve this?!" Ume continued to sob, and then raised her head to look Ace inl the eyes.
"I don't know, babe. Just calm down, we should be happy that we are all okay! This could have happened when we were asleep, or when all of us were inside! It's just a house, we'll build a new one."
"Guys, come quick!" Nami shouted and held up a piece of paper. "This was hammered on a tree by the house!" Luffy ran over to Nami and grabbed the piece of paper. It read:
"Next time, you won't run away from the fight. Fight me like a man, or you will both die." – Blackbeard
Luffy gripped the paper in his hands and walked over to Ace and Ume. He handed the paper to Ace, and watched his face turn red.
"That.. Bastard! Why burn down our home?! I'll fucking find you and kill you!" Ace stood up and began to run towards the woods.
"Ace, don't!" Ume stood up and began to run after him. Luffy caught up with her and held her back.
"Ume, stay back there with the others! You can't be running after him, you just got better. Besides, if something happened to you, he would never forgive himself. Now, go back."
"Luffy, I've never seen him this mad! What are we going to do?!"
"We'll find something out. Just calm down and go back." He ran off towards the woods to find Ace.