"Hey lu" ace smiled watching his brother walk into the room with a bunch of envelopes and a catalogue of some kind "what you got there?"
"Mail" luffy replied before sitting down next to his brother "nami was nice enough to give me some but she also gave mitsuki some too"
Ace raised a eyebrow "what do you mean mitsuki got some mail"
Luffy shrugged more interested in the colourful catalogue with the funny cartoon people "some stuff, envelopes with cards"
"Birthday cards?"
Luffy nodded "I think so but it isn't her birthday...is it?" He looked up to his brother who had his head in his hands
"God it's the tenth today isn't it?"
Luffy blinked still not getting it
Ace looked up from his hands to his brother "as in its mitsuki's birthday in 2 days"
"Oh..." Luffy thought for a second before it dawned on him "IT'S MITSUKI'S BIRTHDAY IN TWO DAYS?!" He stood up failing his arms round.
Ace grabbed his brothers shoulders and forced him back down to the seat "sshhh! Do you want her to hear!" He shushed his brother in a lower tone "look we'll get sanji to make a cake, th I can distract her while the guys and you can set up a party downstairs"
Luffy nodded "you know who would throw a great party...mitsuki" another moment ace wanted to slap luffy.
"Yeah except it's a party for mitsuki" ace tried to explain slowly
"Ok" luffy nodded slowly seeming to finally get it "so what are you doing for a gift for mitsuki? I can go ask her if you want" luffy got up again to go find mitsuki to be pulled back again.
A scream of pain could be hard from the room that sounded alot like luffy pleading with ace not to hit him.
The next day seemed to fly by in the blink of a eye with another lazy day. And before I knew it, it's going to be my birthday, September 12th; I never made a big fuss over my birthday, I mean usually I leave the past in the past but it always raises its ugly in my mind. I don't care about a persons parentage but its more like the whole history behind...me. When I was younger on the red hair crew, they made it their mission to make me forget by throwing me huge parities which always made me laugh in their antics. As I got older though it became less easy to forget.
This year it feels different though.
"Good morning"
Mitsuki felt something warm on her skin, making her moan as she woke; of course the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was him, ace just looking at her in the morning shone: no worrys, no concerns, it was the real him.
"Good morning" mitsuki replied with a smile.
All she wanted to do that morning was to stay there in their own private world, lying in each others arms with the warm morning sun shining through the window. Looks like ace didnt have the same idea...
He got up off the bed before picking her up bridal style.
"What are you doing?" Mitsuki moaned with sleep still in her voice, she wasn't complaining through since it was a whole lot better than being thrown over his shoulder.
He popped her gently down onto the floor infront of the rooms huge mirror, standing behind her with his arms wrapped round her "I just wanted to show you how beautiful you are" he swayed with her a little
Mitsuki noticed something on her neck, brushing her hair away to eye the bruise on her neck.
"Have a good time trying to hide that" ace smirked
"Gee I wonder how that got there" she turned her head to eye him but she couldn't help but smile.
"Stay there for a sec" he turned away for a second to get something "did I ever tell you how beautiful you are naked?"
"Numerous times" mitsuki ducked behind her long red hair to hide her faint blush. When she looked up again she found ace right behind her again holding a neatly wrapped box over her.
"Happy birthday mits"
She turned to face him "you didn't have to get me anything"
"But I want to" he grinned handing her the box again.
It was a very well wrapped small flat box with red wrapping paper and a white ribbon bow.
Mitsuki took the box from him and started to unwrap it.
Inside was another box, it looked to be one of those boxes used for transporting jewellery; she opened the box and gasped.
"Their beautiful ace"
Inside was a beautiful glass earrings, one in the shape of a moon and the other in the shape of a star; the glass looked marbled with orange that it looked like flames inside the glass.
"When did you get these? We've been at sea for days?" Mitsuki asked
"Well I had just gotten off the red force ship and was in the town we will never mention again, I was trying to find you and I saw the earrings in this jewellers window and had to get them. Even though some marines spotted me and I had to leg it"
"So that's why you had that pack of marines on your tail" she thought about it for a second "so you stole these?" She gave him a pointed look
"I left some money, don't know how much but it cannot be technically stealing if I leave some money, it's not like the fine and dash exactly" he scratched the back of his head a little trying to dig himself out of the hole he had created
"Thank you anyway" she missed his cheek before going to get dressed for the day which she did in about 5 seconds. She took he earrings carefully out of the box, they didn't feel cold in her hands like normal glass but it felt kind of warm, not hot enough to burn her hands but warm on her skin like the sun. Looking carefully at the glass she swore for a second that the orange marble like pattern had flickered as if there was a flame inside.
"Hey ace, did you do something to these earrings?" She looked up at him, he was currently trying to get dressed himself, fighting with his belt.
"You could say that" he smiled now trying to find a misplaced (never lost always misplaced) sock
"I swear that there's flames inside the glass but I don't know exactly how" she tried studying the earrings in the light at different angles, sure that there was orange flickers inside the pale white glass.
Ace had found his sock by then and had tied up his boots, he walked over to mitsuki and took one of the earrings off her "there is a flame inside the glass but its not ordinary. You know the vivre cards?"
"You mean like the pain in the a(s)s piece of paper that I had to get a fake for when I rescued you? Yep" mitsuki replied crossing her arms
"You never told me how you got a fake" ace shook his head before he distracted himself knowing she wouldn't tell him anyway "well the flames inside are like that, as long as I'm alive, the fire in the earrings will never die out. It's like you'll have a piece of me, not matter how far apart we may be"
"You always have to be the romantic don't you" mitsuki slightly teased him "thank you, I promise I won't take them off" she kissed him before taking the earring ace had in his hand and put the earrings in.
"Shall we go upstairs then?"
Mitsuki nodded with a smile.
"Why did you have to blindfold me again" mitsuki didn't like being unable to see, it was a assassins unwritten rule to always observed their surroundings so being blindfolded was a pain.
"it's a surprise" ace hushed in her ear; great something else she didn't like cause the last time ace and Luffy had tried to surprise her half of foosha nearly burned down (this was before aces mera mera powers) and Luffy having no eyebrows for a month (which was hillarious).
"oh goodie" she muttered
By the projection of footsteps and the number she could tell that they were heading for the dining room.
when her blindfold was whipped off the first thing she heard was "SURPRISE!" and for her then to be tackled from the side from a certain monkey into a bear hug.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MITS!" luffy grinned with zero volume control
A huge birthday cake was placed on the table, finely decorated with red, gold and white roses with sweeping marzipan vines round the cake with the words 'Happy Bithday Mitsuki-Swan' in curly joined green writing.
The party itself looked childish (proberly cause luffy organised it) with even each crew member wearing the silly paper birthday hats, zoro didnt look happy at all with the bright party hat and scowl, while some other members of the crew looked happy to the brink as chopper and ussop danced round the deck with Franky soon joining in 'showing them how it was done' and brook belting out songs on his violin in the background (almost dancing round with them). Nami laughing, trying to not fall over on her seat, clapping along with the music while robin gracefully watched and smiled; sanji at their feet brining out a bundle of food to go with the cake. Even wasp was up early (for her) to join in with the festivities, just smirking at the group going out of their way for someone most hadnt met but only a week or so ago but that was just this crew, they cared.
'yeah this year is different' mitsuki thought to herself looking round the room.
"I thought I saw you come out here"
mitsuki turned to see ace standing behind her, she was sat down on the boats watching the scenery before her; she moved over a little to let her fiance sit down next to her.
"sorry, I just wanted to think for a bit especially after we all got zoro to play 'pin the jolly roger on the flag' and he pinned it on sanji" mitsuki laughed to herself "I was told his sense of direction was bad but I didnt think it was that bad"
"so what are you thinking about then?"
Mitsuki looked out to the sky again "stuff, memories, history, that kind of thing and dont give me that look, I'm like this once a year your like this nearly everyday" she smirked
He leaned in closer to her "could we break that little contract of ours, just for a second" he soothed her, wrapping his arms round her shoulders "please tell me why your so upset today about your history cause I got a feeling its about your mother"
Mitsuki played with tsuki tsume, feeling its smooth metalic locket under her fingers "Its partly that" she looked back at him, he looked concerned about her as in the fact that she felt hurt was hurtung him as well "ok, I'll tell you but the rest still stands unless you want to tell me about sabo on your birthday"
"alright then" he sighed, knowing he may regret it later though
Mitsuki took a deep breath...
22 years ago.
My home town was more relaxed. Open. Friendly. Pirates had nothing to fear really…you know except for the marine base but that was about it.
They were barely men, my dad and his crew. He had just secured his ship, and was looking to expand his crew a little further.
She sought them out. She had known they'd be in port that night…some how.
"cheers!" the sound of laughter, old pirate songs and the clinging of mugs filled the air; the whole atmosphere of the bar lifting everyone's spirits. It wasn't even midnight yet and many men were already drunk, singing and telling stories of adventures that may or may not be true, the bar tender smiling at the men who seemed to fill the place with such life.
On one table was a very happy captain shanks with his most trusted crew members, drinking to their so far success as pirates; he was leant back in his chair, his friends around him, a bottle of sake in his hand and a smile on his face – life was good.
"you're here. Thank goodness"
Shanks turned his head to see one of the prettiest ladies he had ever laid eyes on: a delicate angelic face with big blue eyes and long lashes, long whispery mousy hair that had this slight curl to it, full rouged lips that were curved into this cute half smile, perfect porcelain skin and high cheek bones. She was dressed in a red and black dress that hugged her angelic figure perfectly with ruffles and lace that indicated she came from wealth yet round the edges at the bottom it was caked in mud and she wore black boots that were equally caked in mud.
Shanks looked at her up and down trying to figure out if they had met before "Do I know you?"
"I know you, your captain red haired shanks. A pirate." She replied, it wasn't in the tone that most nobles used when addressing them, it was full of admiration and respect as if she was trying to please him but a sound of sadness hung in her next words "I'm Charlotte Black, and I need to go with you when you leave port tonight."
Shanks sighed "my ships not safe for a girl…" he tried to phrase it right as not to offend her
Her eyes seemed to soften "if you don't take me with you, I'll be forced to marry the governors son." She pleaded, it sounded like she didn't want to of course, as if she wanted more out of life than to be some simple wife for a man shanks presumed she didn't love – it excited him for some reason to think that such a woman of such class existed in this world. He of course sympathised with her and agreed to help her flee from her cage, he didn't know exactly why he had said yes so easily but against his better judgement (and benns) he let her come with them.
And she took to life on the sea instantly.
Charlotte looked out at the sea from the deck during a vicious storm; it didn't seem to faze her at all as she looked at the sky "You can skirt the edges of the storm. Use the winds to get some distance from that town. I can help keep the ship from sinking"
Shanks and benn looked at each other in amazement; they had found a gem for sure, who knew that she would have such extraordinary navigational skills.
"captain, I'm afraid this girl may be cracked." Benn whispered to his captain as he watched Charlotte standing at the figure head of the boat in the middle of the storm, the two were watching from a distance at the scene.
"really? I find her fascinating…" shanks sighed, he was defiantly love struck by her
And it worked. Probability changed. Fortune favoured the ship.
And the next thing they knew, their guest had become a permanent addition
It shouldn't of surprised them though. All the signs were there.
The captain, he was enthralled with her. And she was mesmerized by him.
It wasn't long before Shanks and Charlotte declared their love.
Then one day she came to him with news that would break his heart.
" I must leave. I have to go back and marry the governors son." She couldn't even look him in the eyes as she said it as it hurt her too much
"No. charlotte, what are you talking about?" shanks asked in surprise taking her hand; he took one of his hands and guided her face back to his, her sparkling blue orbs streamed with sadness.
She looked right into his eyes, getting lost in them before shaking her head back into reality "I'm pregnant shanks"
"I'm gonna be a dad!" shanks grinned, he was on cloud 9 "I never thought it would happen." He looked at her face, this was a good thing wasn't it? So why did she still look so sad? "Charlotte this is wonderful news…"
She shook her head "you don't understand. A pirate ship is no place for a child, it's too dangerous and risky. The marines would kill this child as soon as they hear about it, do you want that? I couldn't let myself do that. If I marry the governors son then the child will be protected from those who would wish to harm the both of you. The child can be educated and be cared for, given a new life free from the burden of being the child of an infamous pirate."
"please don't leave, why can't you stay? The child will be protected by some of the most strongest and bravest men on the sea. Please charlotte…" he pleaded with her, almost sounding like he was begging.
"please shanks, I love you more than anything" she touched his face with her hand, feeling his warm skin and brushing against his bright red hair "but it's what needs to be done." A sole tear ran down her face as both their hearts shattered like glass.
She returned to the town where she married Greyback. Nine months later, I was born and the illusion that greyback had an heir was broken at the first sight of me; my mother prays of me not having red hair had not been answered at all, in fact cruel fate had made the child un-doubtfully clear about the childs paternity.
He was outraged and disgusted at me though my mother protected me from him so he turned his anger to pirates who he believed had bewitched her into loving their kind and baring a child from the man he would despise most. My mother never loved him yet his love for her blinded him from seeing the truth. She loved my dad and she loved me with all her heart till her dying day, she used to tell me such tales of the sea since even from an early age I had shown keen interest in the sea as well as looking out from her balcony every night to the sea which parted her from her lover.
My mother died when I was 6 years old, ironically pirates attacked that night and spun the governor into a blind rage with me as the target, without my mother to protect me from him he lashed out on me and I was forced to run, I didnt take to runaway life as well as I had hoped in fact I nearly died from a illness I had caught while sleeping under the docks, if benn hadnt of spotted me and the crew hadnt of taken me with them then I would be dead right now. I know my mother wanted me to live my life, to see the world and meet its people but my dad couldnt move on so easily, in fact I dont think he can look at another woman again in the same way and his alcoholism is proof.
All that I have left of my mother is my tsuki tsume locket, so even if shes gone then its like shes still protecting me some how.
"I'm sorry, if I made you relive that" ace wiped away a lone tear from her cheek
"no its ok" mitsuki forced a smile looking up at him "remembering keeps a persons memory alive. A person can be murdered, poisoned, mutilated, sufficated, bled to death, shot, have their throat slit, drown.."
"mits"
"sorry" yeah she may know too many ways to kill people "but I believe a person truly dies is when they are forgotten" she looked up at the sky "so in my mind, somewhere shes alive proberly giving some other soul a hard time"
"so thats where you get it from" mitsuki pushed him lightly with a little laugh
"On this day I remember the sacrifices my parents made, they couldnt be together because of me and all that but I like to remember the happy times as well" she cuddled herself closer into aces bare chest which was always warm even when a cool breeze rushed past them. "I mean the red hair pirates used to make it their mission to make me smile and laugh all the time on my brthdat when I was younger so I wouldnt think about it"
"Like what?"
mitsuki thought for a second then laughed "oh theres plenty of things, I learned the word Okama on my seventh birthday and the crew had decided to dress up like 'princesses', complete with tiaras and make uo which concluded into a huge brawl to find out who had taught me that word, my dad was pissed and boy the marines were surprised. There was also the party when I was eight where benn tried to kill my dad because of this party blower, my dad had it in his mouth so everytime he even breathed in it made this annoying sound and benn snapped, trust me you havent seen anything until you see benn truly and utterly snap. When I was nine Roo fell in my cake and we found out that he's allergic to strawberries because he practically looked like a strawberry himself, so we found a food he wont eat. When I was ten Yassop tried to set off fire works, but the stands fell and the fireworks were shot all over the boat so my own delight as the crew fled for their life against the fireworks, Yassop was then made to repair the whole ship by himself. Thats not even the birthdays after I was ten."
"you guys sure arent a boring crew" ace smirked
"never claimed to be" mitsuki smiled
"Happy Birthday Mits" he kissed her forehead
HI!
thats one long chapter but I wanted to put Mits birthday down in one, if anyone has noticed her birthday was 8th of May but I found that it was too close to Luffys so I changed it to a birthday they have yet to use in one piece which was the 12th of september and also is my birthday as well then I remembered I was writing as if the story was set in september so I had to add it in. (I also remembered about the time skip so I had to change her age as well from 19 to 21 because I had wanted her to be 19 in the first half of one piece (post time skip) so I had to change it)
Also If anyone has any requests for crews that Ace and Mitsuki could hitchhike with then I'm all ears thanks. And keep commenting! :)