I'm so glad this story is finished, or else I wouldn't have been able to upload this chapter today. I have not writing much this week. Too tired to continue my unfinished stories. I prefer to write them to the end and when i'm uploading them and some comes with good ideas in a review, I might changes the story slight.
Well, on with this story.
Days went by and Ace got better, but didn't wake up. Lianne was standing alone at the back of the ship, looking at the blue sea behind them. They had anchored near an Island, waiting for Ace to wake up, so they could burry Whitebeard. Lianne had said her last word to him in her heart. She suddenly felt someone behind her and turned around, just to see Marco and Thatch looking at her with worried eyes. She knew that Marco couldn't forget her tears and despair.
"You carried that much for Oyaji?" Thatch looked at her.
"I did…" She looked around. It was only the two of them with her. "After all besides father, he was the only blood family I had," she continued.
Marco and Thatch looked confused and stunned at her. This was not what they had been waiting to hear. They had thought she just came to carry for him when she had stayed with them. Marco suddenly understood everything she could get away with over that time she spent with them.
"Blood family?" Thatch swallowed.
"He was the father of my mother. My Grandfather. He knew this and that's also a reason why he invited me to stay. He simply wanted to spend time with me. Getting to know me," she smiled sadly.
"Oyaji was your grandfather? How many knew?" asked Thatch.
"Not many. Father, Benn, Yasopp, Lucky Roo, grandfather and Rayleigh are the only ones I know that knows it. Maybe the marines too, but father and I aren't sure about that. Back then, my mother was killed because she dared to have a child with a pirate, even an infamous pirate as daddy," she said sadly.
"She was killed? Because you're the child of Shanks? That's horrible -yoi," said Marco semi-shocked.
"She was killed in front of my eyes and they were about to kill me too, when daddy arrived. After a few weeks I met Luffy. The only reason daddy stayed in east blue for so long was because of me. So my soul could heal. Luffy helped me with that and I'm forever grateful," she smiled fondly.
Marco and Thatch shared a gaze and went over to her. Thatch embraced her and held her tight, robbing her back gently and soothing. She let her head rest on his chest. It felt good to have such close friends and it felt good finally to have told them this. Shanks had told her it was up to her to tell others. He wouldn't mind at all.
"Thanks for sharing, princess. And don't you worry. We won't tell anyone," said Thatch.
Lianne smiled and looked at Marco from her spot. He smiled and she saw something in his eyes that told her that right now she would forever be more than just an ally or friend. She was his family too and no matter what, he would protect her. This made her feel so much better and it help her in her sorrow.
"You know what Marco? We just got a sister," grinned Thatch.
"We sure did and you know what's the problem with sisters -yoi?" Marco smirked.
"What?" asked Thatch and Lianne, as Thatch ended the embrace.
"Boyfriends and falling in love -yoi," grinned Marco.
"Oi. I'm not in love and I do not have any boyfriends," said Lianne.
"Oh really? And what about Ace?" teased Thatch.
"The best friend ever and like a big brother," she smiled.
"See. We have a sister. There is no way she can call Ace a brother and us not," grinned Thatch.
"I would be happy to be your sister," she smiled.
"You'll be that in our heart forever," said Thatch.
"Lianne. Marco. Thatch. Ace is awake," said Izo and came running towards them, interrupting their teasing.
The three of them hurried to the infirmary along with Izo. Shanks was already there and he smiled at Lianne as he saw the happiness in her eyes. Cane examined Ace, while said man had trouble staying calm. However thanks to Haki, he couldn't do much in his weak state. They waited for Cane to finish, before they moved to him. As soon as Cane retreated and gave them a nod, Lianne sat next to Ace and took his hand.
"Ace…" She looked at him.
"I had you worried," he whispered filled with guilt.
"It's okey. How do you feel?" she asked.
"It hurts, but else fine. What about you?" he asked.
"I'm fine. Thatch and Marco just decided I now am your sister. All of you. They're crazy, but I don't mind," she smiled.
"But you're my sister," said Ace with a confused frown.
Lianne laughed and hugged him gently. "Always," she said and then she gave space for Marco and Thatch.
"Oyaji?" Ace looked at them.
"Died for all of us, but I think mostly for you and Lianne," said Thatch.
Sorrow filled the face of Ace and tears started to fall down. Thatch and Lianne looked sadly. Shanks laid a hand on her shoulder and looked at Ace.
"Whitebeard was a great man. He died for the new age. For you and for all the young pirates out there, who has a good heart. He did it for Luffy too," said Shanks.
"But it was my fault he was there," said Ace and grabbed the sheets.
"No. It was Blackbeard's fault. And if you hadn't rushed after him, Whitebeard would have done something soon. Blackbeard would never have escaped Whitebeard's rage," said Lianne, looking at Ace.
"But Oyaji said …"
Ace was cut off by Lianne. "Cane would you please leave. I need to tell Ace and Izo something in private," she said.
Cane nodded and left the infirmary, so only Marco, Thatch, Shanks, Lianne, Izo and Ace were there. Lianne took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, before she fixed her eyes on Izo for a short while and then Ace.
"I just told Marco and Thatch this. There was another reason why I wanted to be with you Ace. You gave me a chance to spend some time with a man, I didn't know what to feel about, though he's my family. Mother always said her father never liked her being married to daddy, but she loved daddy and there was nothing her father could do against it. I wanted to meet the man who was the father of my mother. My grandfather," she said.
"Oyaji was your grandfather?" Izo looked at her, while Ace eyes widened.
"Yes. Though I knew he wanted to meet me, I was scared he would dislike me for being the daughter of a man he didn't approved of. I was so wrong. He might not have agreed with mother's decision, but he could not dislike me for that reason. Because he didn't know me," she said.
"He liked you a lot, I noticed. So that's why you could easily get away with so many pranks," said Izo.
"Lia … So Oayji would have hunted down Blackbeard and risk his life no matter what? Because he hurt not only Thatch, but you?" Ace looked at her.
"Yes."
"Blackbeard was about to hunt Luffy as I met him. He wanted to use Luffy to get what he wanted, but instead it was I who he ended up with using. If I had not been there, then he might had got Luffy," said Ace, clenching his fits.
"No," Lianne gasped and put a hand to her mouth.
"If it had ended like that, I would have acted and came to Luffy's rescue," said Shanks.
"And I would have been on your side Akagami," said Ace.
"Me too. I would never let Luffy down. He saved my soul and helped me get over the loss of mother. No matter what, I would have been there too, just like now," said Lianne.
"I guess Oyaji would have chosen to help too, since it was Blackbeard that would be the reason for all that," said Thatch.
"I fear Luffy would have broken down from the torture. This was probably for the best," said Ace.
Lianne looked a bit uneasy. She wondered what kind of torture Ace had been through, but she didn't dare to ask. So instead she simply squeezed his hand lightly and smiled to him. Ace smiled back, though there was some sadness.
"Speaking of Luffy. How is he?" asked Ace.
"We don't know. He was taken away, but he was still alive when we last saw him," said Izo.
Ace looked horrified.
"I believe he's fine, though. It was the surgeon of death, a doctor that took your brother along. He'll take care of Luffy. After all it was his idea," said Lianne.
"Do you think so?" Ace looked at her.
Lianne nodded and smiled. "Now get some rest. You need to have some strength when we say goodbye to Whitebeard," she said.
Ace just nodded and looked at his fists. If he only had been stronger, then all this wouldn't have happened. Lianne was so much stronger than him. Ace made up his mind and turned to Marco, who hold the hand of Thatch and looked tired and sad.
"Marco. I want to train until my brother returns," he said.
Shanks looked at Ace and then at Marco. Thatch and Izo shared a gaze, before looking at Ace.
"The world thinks you're dead, Ace. If your brother finds out then he'll probably never returns -yoi," said Marco.
"My brother is strong. He'll survive that grief and come back stronger. I believe in him. After all he has a nakama he still hasn't got and he is going to become the King of Pirates. It might take time, but he'll come," said Ace confident.
Yep Whitebeard was the Grandfather of Lianne. What do you think about that?
Ace is awake... And he beliefs in Luffy. What will Lianne do now? And what will Ace do? Will the guilt be too much for Fire Fist? Well, you'll have to wait until Friday to read the next chapter (European time).