"I what…?" I mumbled, barely able to catch my own voice as the old had bandaged my hands.

"You used your real illusion, and they were destroyed by the Admirals." The old hag repeated. Her finger traced over one of the wound I had no recollection of.

"Your Devil's Fruit is a special one. It needs a considerable amount of concentration and greatly puts stress to your brain. The shock your brain received made you loose your ability to restrain your illusions and forced activated the subconscious part of the human mind. It's no surprise you can't remember," said the old hag as she finished tightening a knot.

"If that Marco boy didn't knock you out in time, you would be with your old man by now."

Marco? I closed my eyes at the blank within my memory.

The last memory of Ace…

The last conversation with the old man.

"Then? Why are you here?" I finally spoke after a long moment.

"Is that a proper way to ask your savior?"

I didn't look at her, indicating how I couldn't care less.

"Time has certainly changed hasn't it? Even old Whitebeard has fallen," the hag spoke with a sigh. "You should be grateful to Shanks boy as well. He stopped the war and brought all of you here to have me treat your wounds."

"...You're a doctor then." I muttered uninterestedly, almost coldly.

"My Devil's Fruit granted me the ability to carry such title. However, there isn't any knowledge in this world of how to bring back the dead." She muttered. I pulled my arm away from her as she finished treating my last wound.

With a push, I forced my sore body from the bed, my eyes long dried.

"You're not the only one suffering so stuff up your selfishness and smile for them. That's all you can do for now." She sounded pretty impatient for an old woman who looked like she'll fall dead any moment.

But it wasn't as though she didn't have a point. Even if she doesn't tell me, I knew that as well.

Even though I knew, I couldn't.

I couldn't smile...

I couldn't remember how. How was I supposed to smile again when the moron who always taught me such thing wasn't here anymore?

"Go up."

"...Don't order me."

Pain stabbed against my flesh as I pulled myself to my feet. I leaned my body against the wall, my legs trembling to keep my weight up. After countless falls, I eventually made it to the door.

I swallowed a wince as my hand grabbed the doorknob.

When the door swung open, I heard the sound of men talking and cheering clean against my ears.

My eyes ran across the dim room and landed upon the camp fire that burned vividly beyond the thin barrier of the window.

There they were, sitting around the fire. Their backs embraced by shadows.

A party.

A party without a certain fool constantly falling asleep.

Without an idiot fooling around and making jokes on me.

Without an oversized geezer gulping down sakes despite his own pitiful health.

"It's all wrong..."

I told myself as I felt something heavy beginning to tug upon my emotionless face.

This wasn't right.

Those cheers and laughter…none of them were right.

'Stupid idiots…it's too fake...' I wiped my thoughts away as I stepped into the cool night's breeze.

Busy with putting up their pathetic acts, the crew took no notice to my presence.

I didn't care...I couldn't give a damn about it.

Everything was wrong.

Everything was different.

Why did I never treasure the time I got to spend with them in the past?

The thought of leaving early whenever there was a party...wasting my time alone. Why until now...when they aren't here, did I realize my mistakes?

All those people who died...every one of them...it wasn't the same anymore.

It can never be the same anymore.

Unable to hold off any longer, tears broke free from my eyes. My knees scrapped against the rocks, my legs finally unable to bring me any further. The pain I felt from my wounds was replaced by the pain that began squeezing my chest.

I felt angry at myself...at everything.

At my inability to treasure things, at my inability to protect what was important, at loosing sight of what's important to me. I felt so frustrated, to the point where the tears wouldn't stop.

"Don't cry. Tears don't suit you." A soft voice suddenly whispered beside my ears.

My voice was immediately drowned within the silence.

I stared into the abyss.

A hand had wrapped around my eyes, blocking my vision from the world before me. I sat still.

An arm slipped around me.

Within the darkness, I heard the sound of my own heartbeat to where I felt suffocated.

That voice…

It can't be…

The voice that just spoke…the voice that left a trail of hot breath against my earlobe.

The arm around me tightened as I felt my back colliding with another human's warmth. Through the tin layer of my clothes, I could clearly feel it…

This nostalgic warmth…

There's no way…

That voice…

It couldn't…

This heartbeat…

"A...Ace?" The arm around me tightened in response. I caught the sound of my lips sharply inhaling the cool air.

I didn't exhale.

I was a afraid to, my throat trapping the air within my lungs.

My hand slowly slid up to my face, gently and carefully taking the hand before pulling it away from my vision.

I slowly began to turn my head.

My irises shifted to the corner of my eyes trying to confirm it, but I couldn't see. I wanted to turn my head further – just a little more, but I was hesitant.

I felt fear for the second time after the despair of loosing.

I was afraid to turn and face myself with a different reality

As though knowing I didn't have intention to look further, the hand slipped from my grasp and found its way back to my face. That larger hand rested against my cheek. With a gentle push, my face was turn to meet pair of warm lips.

A pair of soft, nostalgic lip…

My eyes widened as I stared into those dark irises. I quickly pulled away, my eyes scanning over that freckled face, identical to the one within my memories.

"A–…Ace?" My voice came out as a question. I slowly raised my hand and felt the skin upon his cheeks.

He was real…

It wasn't an illusion.

Responding to my call, Ace shifted as he gently placed a hand over one of mine.

He smiled ever so softly…as though to reassure me of his existence.

I gritted my teeth as tears began spilling over new reasons.

"Ace…" I when I called his name, my voice shook and cracked.

I leaned closer to him, my grip tightening over his face.

"You're alive…"

"I'm back, Haku." Ace spoke my name softly. His gaze looked almost guilty at the tears rolling off my chin.

"You're really…" I gritted my teeth as the muscles in my arms began to tense.

"Haku?" Ace's soft tone immediately changed as he felt my nails beginning to dig into his skin.

"Alive…!" With a forceful push, I slammed Ace's face into the ground with the little strength I had left in this body.

"EEEEEEEEEH?"

Screams erupted from behind me as I whirled, glaring deeply at the crew who were staring at us.

Their unrealistic laughter that had drowned somewhere when I didn't notice.

The way they screamed in union at the unexpected scene displayed before their eyes…

"What is this…?" I whispered softly, glaring at the man who was brushing the dirt off his face.

"Was it fun…?"

"Haku, I can explain–"

"I'm asking was it fun toying with me!" I screamed before slapping Ace harshly over the cheek. Every inch of my body was quivering along with the tears spilling in each blink.

"I'm sorry, Haku." Ace spoke softly as he quickly pulled me into his arms.

"I'm sorry."

Unable to control it anymore, I released it all out. I didn't care who heard me. I didn't care if it would damage my pride.

For the first time for as long as I could remember, I cried out like a child.

The sound of my cries dominated the quiet isle and craved memory into those who heard.