AN: Woot! has now caught up with my LJ account, so yeah. Now, I can voice out myself a little more around . XD
Enjoy the chapter!~ I'm sure this is the moment we've all been waiting for. Thanks so much for the reviews also. They mean a lot to me, and it just inspires me to keep on writing. I love hearing from you guys. :)
OH, and to the the reviewers who thought this chapter was going to be someone else's POV... Guys, I'm not THAT evil. XD
And no, guys. I don't hate Naruto. I just think that the thought of One Piece voicing out something against Naruto or Bleach is very amusing. Team Pirates~
And now...
Fourteenth Bite ~ Portgas D. Ace
I wasn't supposed to be here.
First of all, the doctors warned me not to, out of fear of another stroke. They felt that I didn't need the additional stress if it could be avoided.
Another reason why I wasn't supposed to be here was because it was already lunch period. May as well be absent at this point.
An even better argument against going to school right now was the people. How many of them would just walk up to me today and ask, "Ace, how did you get so messed up during your Dad's award ceremony?"
"This isn't a good idea," Marco even remarked when I finally checked out of the hospital and requested him to take a detour to Mugiwara High on the way home. I knew what the real danger was. Dad, from his office, could call the mansion at any given moment, expecting me to be home. Despite these, I was firm on my ground. If Dad had to admonish me yet again, I'd take it. Somehow, disobeying him was not as terrible as forgetting this one special day. This was personal.
I was glad to be free. The boredom gained while staying in the hospital for two weeks was enough to kill me, and that was being kind. I hated getting stuck in that place—other than the air of depression and the smell of antiseptic running inside your nostrils.
After that mishap with Luffy and the sedative, I woke up and my only means of entertainment was the radio. I'd listen to some rock station or radio talk, but that day was Boy Band Special filled with N*Sync, Backstreet Boys, West Life and a few unmentionable others.
I swear. If Uptown Girl played one more time, I'd grab my gun and the rest need not be explained. That radio could have transferred me to the nut house if the television hadn't been fixed a few hours later.
Like any other patient in a hospital, I had my share of visitors. Half of them were my school mates who eventually found out which room I was in, confidentiality minded or not. My guess was that some of their parents were the doctors who treated me. The rest were reporters and journalists who crowded in front of my room, trying to push through Marco and the rest of the guards just for an interview. Dad threatened to sue, so the hospital decided to switch me to a different room.
I appreciated the get-well-soon cards, the sweets and the other gifts I received from my classmates—just not their questions. Whatever gossip about me floating around school was just a step closer to sounding like one of Juzo's reports. The only difference was the rumors made more sense.
Family friends came as well. Uncle Zeff dropped by with his always delicious French Mousse. Having once settled in the hospital due to his bad leg, he abhorred hospital food. I wasn't surprised when I realized where all the food Marco offered me came from. They were French, after all.
Uncle Iceberg, the youngest among Dad's inner circle, dropped by to visit as well. Other than the usual Uncle-Nephew conversation, he also reminded me that my new car was ready to be picked up in the shop.
"Nma, maybe you should make Marco handle the steering first," he suggested, "Wouldn't want to break your other arm now." I had a huge feeling that Dad told him everything that transpired that night.
Uncle Zeff gave Sanji my new room number and he, Zoro and Robin came to visit on my fourth afternoon. Since Zoro and Robin weren't privy to some information, I had to invent an explanation without mentioning things like rooftops and shootouts.
"I tried to run as Dad said, but I couldn't find Marco. One of Dad's security staff drove by and told me to get inside the car. While we were on the getaway, one of the tires popped—probably someone shot the tires—and we ended up crashing by an alley." It seemed believable. Robin couldn't find a single inconsistency, what more Zoro?
Speaking of Robin, I was glad that she was finally back from Spain. She seemed well, and when I asked why she couldn't keep contact with us for weeks, she explained that her internet went down.
"Aren't there wi-fi signals around Spain?" I blinked, surprised.
"My sister kept me busy for some time. She had a vacation from work, so she thought of spending time with me," Robin answered.
"How is she, by the way?" I asked.
"She's fine." Robin replied curtly.
Robin's older sister worked in Spain, their home country. She was a government secretary under National Defense, even at a very young age. Both brilliant and beautiful, she breezed through her school years with honorary diplomas, scholarships and was even on the Dean's list for politics and law.
Although I was glad to hear that she was doing well, I had to admit she could be a little hostile.
I thought the last person I expected to come for a return visit was Dad. When he returned, I had this uneasy yet unexplainable feeling. After that argument we had, I couldn't find it in myself to forget it. On the other hand, Dad did—or at least, tried to forget about it.
Dad was conversing about the usual subjects he'd enjoy ranting about. He mentioned the uproar in his office due to his near assassination and the tightened security he's given. He also came to remind me of my new schedules and appointments. Dentist check up on Saturday morning, May nine. Leadership training and SAT practices will resume after one more week of rest. A learning mind must be clear of trauma, as Dad noted. I was also excluded from gym and extra-curricular sports like basketball and tennis at the Newgate Country Club. Things like that.
He didn't even bring up a single mention about our argument. He was talking so casually, so effortlessly. I guessed Dad didn't want to rouse up another issue and whether he meant those words or not, I was thankful that he didn't say a thing. That was probably the sign of a real businessman—today's matter over yesterday's profit. With restored respect for him, I did my part by keeping the conversation just as steady.
"You take care now, my boy. Marco'll watch over you." He stood up to leave after another lengthy conversation about the world outside the hospital. I watched him heading for the door while taking a spoon of parfait to sweeten the night time. Today was his fifth visit, and suddenly, I couldn't hold it anymore.
Sometimes, letting go of pride was a lot better than keeping it inside. It was either he humbles down or I would. As I gulped down that spoonful of cream, I knew who had to rise and who had to fall. "D-Dad, sorry."
He stopped in his tracks. He probably didn't hear me. "Also, I don't want you to starve. Honestly, I'd complain about the food served here. This is why Zeff can be a godsend at times like these," he said. He left but I noticed a smile under that large, white moustache of his. I couldn't help but grin as well.
I turned to Marco—"Did you get it, by the way?"
Marco picked up an envelope from the dashboard and handed it to me. "Why did you ask for this, though?" There was some mild curiosity in his voice.
"You'll see," I said while pocketing the envelope. Marco raised an eyebrow at this. "Thanks," I added. He nodded and resumed driving.
I turned to my pile of homework, shuffling through and arranging them according to subject. I wanted to be sure that everything was complete, pausing when I reached the Chemistry section. I checked every chart, every equation—with its products and its balanced forms—every solution, punctuation and even spelling. I even went through the complete history of Chemistry with the list of names, dates and contributions since there was a quiz first thing tomorrow.
I sighed. It would have been easier if Stuffy Buggy wasn't my teacher. The tiniest bit of error that Stuffy Buggy could find would cost you, and since I haven't failed his subject at any point as of yet, I didn't want homework to be a first.
It was a good thing Marco came with my Macbook after seeing me suffering from boy bands. Just so I could pass the time and feel more productive, I decided to do my homework, starting from hardest to easiest. Chemistry, therefore, was the top priority. It felt a lot easier to concentrate on my assignments since majority of my daily contacts were at school, meaning fewer distractions. Answering felt silent and fast paced, but eventually, I spent time on Youtube, Sogeking, adding more entries on LiveJournal, chatting on Facebook and even starting up a new Twitter account. I guess that's how boredom kills.
Unless you're talking to your friends or a certain R.P. King, you'd hit the highest level of dullness.
One time, I was browsing for some English references. It was almost dinner, and I was listening to DBSK's Share the World just to drown out West Life from the deepest and darkest depths of my mind. At that moment, I received a buzz. My Y!M flashed an instant message from R.P. King who finally appeared online that night.
R.P King: were were u? u were missing 4 dayz! how come ur not always online anymore? DD:
I chuckled, remembering that this wasn't the first time I was unexpectedly logged off from the Internet.
xxwhite_firexx: Sorry, R.P King. It's a really long story.
R.P King i wanna know! :)) tell me!111!11! :D
How the hell could I explain all of this? If, by chance, R.P. King happened to live in Grand Line City, then he knew the current events. I knew for a fact that he could send messages in both English and Japanese. This meant that he was within the borders of Japan. I began to think of things, what to reveal, what to hide and my choices of words.
Everyone in Grand Line could guess that I was in the hospital by now. What if I told him the truth—that there was an inauguration ceremony intruded by an assassin who wanted to take my father's life, and I ended up chasing after him, killing him while landing on the hospital bed in the process? With an explanation like that, it'd be obvious that xxwhite_firexx was Portgas D. Ace who was placed in the hospital after a very similar ordeal. Even worse, what if he began to think that Portgas D. Ace could shoot that he does dangerous things, that he runs after his father's assassins like a vigilante? That he could kill someone? Then, the secret would spread out like wild fire. Portgas D. Ace was a criminal. What would that make Edward Newgate?
The one golden rule we made for each other since the start of our cyber friendship was that neither of us should know the other's identity. My finger was tapping on one key as my mind raced for a proper explanation by using all lies available, but then I thought about it.
Portgas D. Ace was who he was. Even if R.P King would be the only normal person who'd know the truth, who'd believe him? What case could he file against someone who no longer assumed the identity? Whether R.P King would take it as a joke or not, there wouldn't be any implications that the guy he was talking to was Portgas D. Ace, and with a little twist to the story, xxwhite_firexx wasn't Portgas D. Ace. I played with three identities at once. This was the genius and the danger of the internet.
With the exception of Edward Newgate as my father and making myself appear as a teen prodigy security agent, I told R.P King everything—the assassination attempt, the car chase, the building shoot out and even my moment of near-death. I wasn't completely specific on the details since I didn't want to make things turn obvious for my chat mate.
R.P. King: thats so cool!111!11! *_* u stole a car?11? I thought u have a rly cool car111!11!
The keyword should be had.
xxwhite_firexx: Oh, well, some kid from school trashed it. He's actually my brother. Can you believe that?
R.P. King: rly? : o well, i hope u beat up ur bro 4 doing tht! :3
I sighed at this. I really hoped that despite all the hostility my peers were most likely giving to Luffy, nothing was going to be taken too drastically.
Bullying wasn't something new to me, but it was something I disapproved of. Mugiwara High has its shares of them and I wasn't blind to it unlike some of the teachers. It was something you know when you feel it—not always when you see it—and you'd know the pain.
I didn't know how to explain it to anyone—even to my friends and Marco. I felt disturbed and somehow anxious. God knows what's happening to Luffy at the moment. Arlong would want some pay back once he finally gets out of suspension. Even worse, from their blogs, my entire batch was dissing him. I felt guilty when I considered what state Luffy could be in—crying, avoiding school, physical injuries, self-injuries, emoting, lack of appetite, suicide even. All these because of my car?
xxwhite_firexx: I hope they don't give my brother a hard time.
R.P. King: how come? he broke ur car, right?
xxwhite_firexx: He's my brother. He's worth a lot more than a car.
R.P. King: lol ur funny~
xxwhite_firexx: Yeah, yeah. Haha, I guess. :]]
If only I was R.P. King whose life was probably a lot simpler.
"We're here," Marco announced when I felt the car stop at the parking lot block. He then opened the door for me as he usually would. I got out, slipping in some gratitude before heading to the main doors. Marco followed suit.
Being the "son" of Edward Newgate earns attention. Mostly unwanted. I didn't take pleasure in receiving it, especially if things were too exaggerated.
It was unsettling to walk through the corridors. One second, eyes were locked on me, and before I knew it, a crowd blocked my way, questions bursting. Who did that to you? Did you really get into a car crash? Did the assassin try to kill you, too? How did crashing feel? How did it feel to be the hero who saved Edward Newgate from getting shot? There were too many questions.
I suddenly thought of Thatch Newgate—did he have to go through something like this at one point of his life?
I felt bad for Marco. He was already traumatized by my schoolmates. One time, they decided to applaud me for my win in basketball practicals, and the poor guy was caught in the middle. He was stiff and rigid in his movements as he was making a way for the both of us to pass through. Some classmates who peered at his usually sleepy expression could sense the silent look and decided to back off. I sighed at this.
"What're you doing here?" I heard a familiar voice, and I looked over my shoulder. Sanji was pushing through a bunch of students. Behind him was Zoro who was giving others the signature "Touch-Sanji-and-You're-Dead" look. Everyone seemed to heed the warning, and all of a sudden, we had space to breathe. Robin was also there, snapping her book shut and politely waving. All of them must have come from our favorite spot—the courtyard.
I grinned sheepishly at him. "I just wanted to see someone." The noise became more hushed from what I said, and the questions turned to murmurs. I knew exactly who they were talking about. Barely, I heard the mention of my brother's name. Right after, more people stepped aside to give me way. I looked behind me, noticing that Zoro, Sanji and Robin joined Marco in accompanying me. Three out of four of them were feared.
I noticed that all of them, from the small embedded numbers in their collars, were sophomores, juniors and seniors. Strange, where was the youngest batch? I kept searching, and just before I decided to head to the records office for Luffy's section, I found a pair of students—two freshmen.
"Have you seen Monkey D. Luffy?" I asked after approaching them, "Do you know his section, at least?" One of them—a blonde haired girl—turned and ran towards another direction. She looked scared—and so was the other one.
"He-He's at the Stu-Students' Hall." He looked down with a look of apology and regret. I gave him a friendly smile, patting his shoulder as a sign of thanks and changed course.
"Thanks," I said while moving away. My smile faltered a little while after. I didn't like their fearful expressions.
As I approached the Students' Hall, things turned awkward. Loud noises and screams rang inside the hall, but the moment I stepped in, there was dead silence. The blonde haired girl was there. She must have brought the news to everyone.
Suddenly, I remembered what Dad always said about instilling a fear in others. I was suddenly reminded why I disagreed with some of Dad's firm beliefs. Fear brings reluctance, not actual respect.
It wasn't difficult to find him. He was right there in the middle of his batch mates, chewing on his food. I noticed food and cakes surrounding him. Did I ruin his birthday party? I felt a pang of guilt rush.
I approached him, staring at the person before me. Short, messy black hair, large black eyes with that clueless look—a proof that he was the same brother I tended to when we were little. My brother—he was alive and right before me. When I stopped in front of him, we both ended up staring. I felt like an idiot.
What should I say?
Luffy was the one who beat me to it. "Hi, Ace-senpai! What are you doing here?" Suddenly, there were a lot of whispers, and while they continued, I dug though my pockets.
Actions usually speak louder than words, right? "U-Um, Luffy—He-Here." My hand was trembling while I passed him the envelope. Luffy blinked curiously, taking this. "Happy Birthday, Luffy. Have a great time, alright?" I smiled. The weight was finally off my shoulders.
He didn't find this weird at all. When he opened the envelope, his jaw dropped. A month's worth gift certificate to the Baratie was in his hands.
"Ace-senpai! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Immediately, he hugged me, and I was once again captured by that amazing bear hug of his. I wiggled in protest. There weren't any pain relievers for my broken arm this time.
"Luffy—! My a-arm—!" I wheezed until Marco pulled Luffy away from me. He was still smiling, and the more I thought about it, I felt that a million bear hugs were worth the expression.
"Hey, Luffy, I have to go. I have some homework to submit." I smiled while turning to leave, but when I felt my hand being held in an instant, my eyes widened, and I turned to look at him. He was holding me back.
"Come stay with us! It'll be fun!" He grinned. He was inviting me, accepting me.
"Luffy, I—" I didn't know what to say, but I knew that now was not the right time. Dad should be calling anytime soon. I pulled my hand away. "Uh, sorry, Luffy. How's about we hang out next time?"
"Oh, alright. I'll be waiting, then!" Luffy chuckled. I couldn't help but return the gesture. I'll be waiting for that time as well.
I took my leave, and when I entered a presumably safe distance from the classroom, I heard the loud cheers of freshmen floor the entire corridor. I felt a lot better than before—relieved, actually.
Some of the juniors and sophomores looked at me, surprised. The other juniors and seniors looked annoyed, either because I let Luffy off the hook or the sounds of triumph from the freshmen. They must have expected some brawl between him and me. I walked past, smiling mistily at the result of this "brawl."
Luffy was my kryptonite.
"What was that about?" Zoro mumbled, "You came all this way to greet him 'happy birthday'?"
"That, he did." Robin was always the keen observer, "Luffy seems very happy."
"Why didn't you tell him anything else?" Marco asked. Here was another keen observer. Did he sense my fear?
I shook my head. "I'm working on it."
"I wonder when the big revelation will be," he pondered. I sighed at this. Marco had no siblings. I guess he wouldn't understand that telling your long lost brother the truth needed time and careful consideration.
"I overheard some of the freshmen, by the way," Sanji blew a ring of smoke, "They thought you were going to eat his soul."
I chuckled at this. "Why would I?" I asked, "He's the last person I'd do that to." No one said anything else. They all knew who Luffy really was to me.
After submitting my homework to Shanks and saying goodbye to my friends, I went back inside the car. Marco switched the engine on, and we were back on the way home. I was on the car seat, watching the view from the window whizz past. In the inside, I was dancing with joy.
"Hey, Marco. Can you turn on the radio, please?" I asked.
Marco switched from Dad's usual station to my personal favorite. They were playing Share the World, and while it was already ending, I was able to catch one line.
Mienai kereno noko kara nii
Matte iru kimi ga itena
Mou sugo nii todoku kara
I believe hitotsu sekai de
Behind the invisible wall, you're waiting for me. I'll arrive soon. I believe in my own world. The song spoke for my feelings. There was nothing left to be said.
~*~ Omake ~*~
-pop music begins to play-
Ace: Is this all they have?
Marco: 'fraid so.
Ace: Sheesh. Can you change the station? –lies down in the hospital bed-
Marco: Sure.
-more pop music begins to play-
Ace: Wow. There, too?
Marco: Seems like it. Switch?
Ace: Please.
-sentimental pop acapella plays-
Ace: Oh, for crying out loud.
Marco: There must be some special theme in all stations.
Ace: Turn it off, then.
-girly pop acapella begins to play-
Ace: I thought I told you to turn it off.
Marco: I did.
Ace: Then, what's that?
-both trace the sound and look-
Juzo: … Oh, sorry.
AN: Okay, guys! I have a college exam coming up and I'm studying my math. I'm sure you know the system of this equation.
Reviews + Inspired and Happy Author = NEW CHAPTER
Yay, math.