Chapter 10: The loss of a brother

Shayla and Ace still haven't spoken to each other and the silence had taken a toll on not only them but Sabo and Luffy too. She may be a girl, but she still had her pride to consider and his stubbornness wasn't making it easier. She was mad at him but at the same time missed his present dearly.

When was he going to apologize to her for being a hypocrite? The longer she was waiting the more it felt like she wasn't worth an explanation and it was worse.

"Shay" she turned around and saw Sabo, he sat next to her, "you have to talk to Ace. I've never seen him this down" that surprised her, "I deserve an explanation," she said stubbornly "it's a sensitive subject for Ace, one he doesn't like" he looked at her with sad eyes.

"But he rejected me for that reason," she couldn't believe it, "he did apologize for that Shayla" he responded, and she hated when he was right. Was she just being a spoiled brat for something she already forgave him for?

Was she really the stubborn one? She probably was... and sighed, "I might have overreacted" she started. Sabo just smirked, he loved being right.

"I'll go talk to him" she jumped down from the treehouse.

In the last week, Ace had slept in Dadan's hut and there's where she could find him. Shay was about to open the door when someone did before her, and she was face to face with the boy she was looking for. "Can we talk?" she asked, he just nodded.

They went over to a small river to talk while catch breakfast, "I'm sorry for reacting like that when I found out about your father" it normally took a lot of strength to admit she was wrong, but this felt so natural. "I don't want something like that to ever come between us" she smiled at him.

"Me neither, it's just not something I like to talk about. In fact, I hate it" he got rather angry. Shayla's eyes soften, being the son of the pirate king probably not easy. Especially hearing the townsfolk wishing him death. This might not be the best time to mention that her bracelet was a shared gift from Roger.

She was the same and hearing people talk shit about her father was nerve-wracking. If she hasn't already met him and heard her mother's story, she might have believed them too.

"Ace" she started, "I don't want to hear about him" he interrupted. "whatever you want" she hugged his neck and kissed his cheek, "Oi, what the heck are you doing" he panicked. "I just missed you."

-x-

The youngest was started to train with old man Nogari and they haven't seen Luffy in a week. Ace and Sabo were searching for ways to beat the tiger too.

Shayla refused to let the 3 boys surpass her and did some train herself. She had full control over her element but felt like she was missing something. There may be another site to this element bending. Ice was the solid version of water she knew that. Could it be possible that there was something else to fire, earth or wind too?

But her thought soon got interrupted by the two brothers who were running away from something big. Shay could hear them argue over something stupid like their plan to take down the tiger. Ace charged at it head-on without a plan like an idiot and Sabo thought a thin tree would do. She sighed, 'those brothers really do share a brain cell'

"Runaway Shay" they yelled while getting closer to her. She just looked at them confused, she could beat it, but why didn't they know that? The girl smirked; this would be fun.

She ran over to them and jump right in front of them. The boys didn't understand what she was doing until they heard the giant tiger fall to the ground. Shay had used her earth powers and hit it in the jaw making it pass out.

"You beat it?!" Sabo yelled, "I did?" she smiled innocently. "But that makes you the captain" Ace said frustrated. What were they talking about, "I won't b-" her concentration broke when a big tree came falling down. She caught it with her wind and put it down slowly.

"Did I hit someone? I'm sorry" a familiar voice came closer to them with an ax. "Luffy," the three said, "Shay, Ace, Sabo. long time no see" he greeted them smiling. Then he noticed something behind them, "ehh, who beat the tiger" he questioned panickily. "Shay did. Which makes her the captain," the three brothers looked at her with sad eyes.

They were just so cute, "I won't become your captain," she said. That got all their attention, "what, why?" Luffy asked, "I already told you I was going back to my father's ship" she smiled as their face brighten. "But who knows, maybe we'll be on the same pirate ship" she bid her tung playfully.

"No, unless you join us" the brothers yelled, "Then the competition is still on" Sabo realized.

Luffy and his new teacher took them over to their little camp. The youngest showed them how far he'd gotten by almost punching his big sign but instead, he hit pass that and hit Nogari in the face. The boy had trouble stopping himself when his arm retracted and spun around a couple of times.

Sabo was impressed at his new strength and so was Ace. Of course, he didn't say that, instead he asked the old man about his training, which wasn't that special.

Shayla wasn't sure how or why, but Nogari was fighting Ace and in the end, the younger lost. "do whatever you want with me" he said quickly, "alright, come with me" the old man lead, them to the beach where they found a ship under construction.

"I'm unable to make much progress on my own. Why don't you four not help me build this, noshi" he challenged. The older black-haired looked confused, "help you?" why would they do that. "Didn't you say I could do whatever I want with you" Nogari smiled, "wait a minute. When you say four did you mean us too?" Sabo motioned for Shay too.

Nogari told them he was going to sail out as a pirate and look for his old crewmate and fulfill their dreams, "age is irrelevant when pursuing your dream" Shayla started to like this old man.

One thing led to another and the four were helping and training with the older man. They chopped trees for the ship and train their body. They sparred with Nogari to train their skills. Ace, Shay, Sabo, and Luffy spent every day growing stronger together. They fought each other for the food when Shay used her bending to get it over to herself faster.

"Oi, Shay that's cheating" Sabo yelled, "in the world of pirates there is no cheating" she smirked and ate the meat. "you're pretty wise for such a young girl" Nogari praised, "I've been a pirate onboard my father ship for over 5 years, old man" that made him curious, "a pirate at such a young age. I hope your father is strong enough to protect you" he dared.

"Of course, he can. Shay told us her father is the strongest pirate out there," Luffy protested and God she loved him. "His name is Whitebird!" he continued confidently, and she hit him over the head, "it's Whitebeard, idiot" she sighed and saw Nogari fell to the ground shocked.

"You're the true daughter of Whitebeard. I read you disappeared a long time ago!" he panicked a little. "If you say anything bad about him, I'll kick your ass" she dared, "you know her and her father old man?" Sabo asked, "only by name and it's true her father is the strongest. But what are you doing so far away from the grand line" Nogari asked.

"I fell off my father's ship one night and woke up here" not wanting to share more details and he understood.

The old man even tried to help them study about the world but the four were sleeping and a sleeping bubble was formed in their noses. the old pirate woke them up as he scolded them. It first got her attention when he was talking about the weather on the Grand Line. How some had different elements, "I once saw an island where it rains lighting" she looked at him, "how does lighting occur" she asked.

"I'm not sure how the island rains lighting but normally when an electrical charge builds up inside a cloud and moves to an oppositely charged object. Like positive to negative"

Shay had no idea what he was talking about and blinked a few times. He explained it again and again but still nothing and she turned her head only to see the trio sleeping again. Lucky bunch.

-x-

The season was changing, and they were still working with the old man. They even sew his sail and by summer the ship was done. The brothers were still trying to beat the tiger while Shay and Nogari sat on a rock.

Sabo and Ace were fighting with their pips when Luffy decided to join them too. He ended up using his rubbery fist on the old man again. Nogari scolded them for only thinking about strength and told them that there was something more important.

That got their attention, "what is more important" one of them asked, "oh I forgot" he probably pretend. For the next few days, the brothers kept thinking of what it could be, but none of them could figure it out.

Shayla on the other hand wasn't sure but had an idea. She had spent five years on a pirate ship and even though her father was very strong, there were things that he couldn't do alone. The brothers had to work as a team and rely on each other to beat the thing, they couldn't do alone.

The day they were facing the tiger again, they attacked it alone as always. Ace was the first to charge at it and hit it on the head but was hit by the beast's tail. Sabo was no better and was pushed aside too.

When the animal went after Luffy, he hit it with his gomu-gomu punch but sadly it had no effect, and he ended up helpless. The oldest three quickly reacted and were ready to help but Nogari held Shay back, "what are you doing, old man" she said angrily.

"Let them do it" he just said, and she saw that Ace and Sabo had caught its paw. The oldest boy said something before they split up and Sabo yelled at it probably to distract it while the two black-haired ran over to the trees. Luffy held his arms on each tree and stretched himself back as Ace leaned on him.

Ace yelled for Sabo to get it over here before telling Luffy to let go and he then flew quickly into the tiger. The force made it pass out and the trio was cheering at their victory before remembering something very important, "Ace landed the final hit, which means… he comes the captain" the blond said sadly. "I worked so hard too," Luffy said and Sabo comforted him.

Shayla smiled at these idiots and went over to them, "I won't become the captain" the oldest D. said. They all looked at him confused, "I didn't beat it alone, but you guys will some beg me to join" he grinned and the two mocked him.

The girl couldn't help but admired him even more. He didn't only suggest, they should work together and made the plan, but he humbled himself too. She knew Ace wanted to become their captain more than anything and he gave up the opportunity to do so, 'wow' she thought while blushing.

"Congratulations you guys. You finally became stronger and beat it. you certainly took your time" she said smirking. Sabo looked so happy at the news and went over to hug her, "thank you" he yelled.

It surprised them all, normally he wouldn't do something like that. A few seconds later he stopped realized what he's doing, "I'm sorry" and took a step back shyly.

Shay went over to him and hugged him by the neck, "you're cute when you're blushing" she teased. The 2 black-haired boys laughed, and she just ignored them. Of all the brothers she hadn't really spent time with Sabo alone.

The brothers were thanking Nogari for his help and promised that they one day would defeat him and surpass her. The old man just waved goodbye to them and took off this cape which turned out to be his pirate flag and tied it to his hammer soon he set sail.

Then she got an idea about what to do with the blond alone, "come with me" she whispered and took his hand. "wait, where are we going" he followed her, "come on you'll see" Shay could hardly contain her excitement. This was going to be great.

The two D's just stood there not understanding what was happening, "what are you doing to do" Ace yelled. But didn't push, he might have guessed why they went together.

-x-

Sabo and Shayla arrived near the wall between the grey terminal and Goa kingdom, "when are you going to tell me, what we are doing here" he said impatiently, "alright. You told us that a royal kid went after you with a knife and your mother failed to protect you, right?" she waited for his confirmation before continuing.

When he nodded, "what do you say to dump this trash on them and your parents" she smirked sinisterly.

Sabo thought about it for a second before smiling himself, "how are we going to do it especially without getting caught" he question. "You choose. We can get it underground or just shoot it from here" she suggested, "I think shooting it would be more fun" he excited and so was she.

The girl and boy started to gather trash to throw, mostly it was old clothes and food. She used her wind and punched it far into the middle where the royals and nobles lived. She continued and Sabo looked at her with admiration.

She was doing this because they mistreated him. He didn't care if her father was a dangerous pirate, Shayla was without a doubt one of the best people he had met. "Thank you, Shay," he said emotionally, "anytime Sab" she winked at him.

-x-

They were on their way back to the treehouse laughing, "did you see who the people in the terminal were cheering on us. It was awesome" the blond looked so happy, "the grey terminal got a bit cleaner too" she continued.

"Tomorrow we have to get into town to see how bad it was" Shay smiled. When they entered the treehouse, a boy came running towards them, "what did you guys do today" a little goofball asked, " just dumping trash on trash" the two busted into a laughing session again.

It only confused the others more, "stop laughing and tell us what happened" another impatient boy said. It took Shay a few dozens of seconds to finally calm down. She started to scratch her neck and she noticed something, "where's my compass necklace" she asked, "I don't know, you never take it off" Luffy reminded, "that's why I'm asking. Maybe I dropped it near the wall" she was gone before anyone knew what happened.

No, she could lose the only thing she had left of both her mother and father. How did it happened and then look around her ankle, It was too big for her to wear on her wrist. She sighed when she saw that her bracelet she had gotten from Oden and Roger was still there.

-x-

She was searching through the trash when she noticed the brothers were standing behind her, "any luck Shay" Sabo asked, he felt a little guilty. She lost it while making him happy, "no, nothing" she could feel a lump in her throat. "we'll help" Luffy offered, "it's not here" she admitted.

"I've searched this entire trashcan but nothing" she was losing hope to ever find it. "Was that thing important to you?" Ace was curious, "it was a gift from my parents. My mother gave it to my father and when I turned 7, he gave it to me. It was my first birthday without my mother and it was a reminder that she was still there with me" she smiling fondly.

"What happened to your mother," Sabo asked, "pirate attacked our island and my mama died protected . It was 6 years ago… sorry I mean more than 18 years ago" for her all this time thingy makes everything confusing.

"How can you mistake 6 and 18" Ace commented, "oh right. I never told you guys. I'm originally supposed to be 24 years old" they gave her a suspicious look, "what do you mean," the blond asked carefully.

"I fell off my father's ship and woke up in windmill village. For me, it felt like a few hours has passed at most. But for everyone else, it was 12 years. Apparently, I traveled into the future. I don't know how that's possible" they probably thought she was crazy. God, she thought she was crazy, "so that's how you met the Pirate King. I understand it better now" did Sabo just accepted it like that?

He was supposed to be the smart one and he just said it like it was no big deal. "future really. Then you have to join my crew" the youngest said with shining eyes. Shayla grinned, "How about this Luffy. If we meet again I'll travel with you for some time".

That made him very happy, "Mmmm" nodding a few times. "Then you really did meet him" Ace muttered but she heard.

"I really did. If you ever want to know something about him from someone who met him, just say so" Shayla encouraged. He didn't answer but his face was thinking about it.

"I'm going onto the high town to look for my necklace. You guys can just go back" she told them before bending a hole into the wall. She could hear them call after her, but she wasn't really listening.

-x-

Shayla didn't go home that night. She barely even slept and stayed near the wall. What happened to her heirloom. She had literally searched everywhere and still no sign of it.

She decided to go back to the treehouse and just be depressed in a more comfortable place. The girl looked like someone who just woke up from the dead. Her body and clothes were covered in dirt and trash and it was her hair too.

Out of them all, she was always the cleanest but today the boys held that title. She wasn't in the mood to care and just dramatically fell to the floor, "I couldn't find it" she sobbed. The brothers looked at her with pity and decided to go and help her search again.

"Shay we're going out for a bit. You can stay here and rest, maybe take a shower too" Ace said. She just hummed, not sure if she could do that. Funny enough she was more tired than she thought and fell asleep without realizing it.

-x-

She opened her eyes was about sunset and the brothers were nowhere to be found. Should she go look for them? Before Shay could do anything Ace and Luffy came in with sad eyes, "what happened?" she asked concerned, "Sabo sacrificed his freedom for us" her little sunshine said. "what do you mean he sacrificed his freedom?" more awake now, "his noble father came and took him back. if we weren't in danger, he would fight for himself" Ace sounded regretful.

"If it was reversed wouldn't you do the same?" she questioned calmly. At least he was alive and well. Shay could see his hesitation, "of course you would. When the time is right, he'll come back to us" she was sure of it. "Shay you're right. I know he'll will" Luffy cheered, "if he doesn't come back in a couple of days. We'll go get him out ourselves" she encouraged them both and the two agreed.

"What is this smell," Shayla asked and wrinkled her nose, "Shay, that's... " Ace started. She didn't understand his hesitation until it hit her, "that's me? why, didn't you say anything. I need a shower right now" she was shocked and was out the door before the boys could say anything.

-x-

It was weird without the blond and his absence was clearly missed. Shayla went over to the terminal and wanted to jump over the wall to Sabo. She knew he was alright but something inside her was yelling to go get him now. Sadly, she fought that feeling because they promised each other to wait a couple of days before saving him.

Shay was on her way back to the forest when she stumped upon something hard and almost fell. She looked down and saw a big piece of metal, weirdly enough her foot made a hole. Shayla took it with her to their treehouse and looked at it.

"what are you doing Shay" Luffy was curious and looked over her shoulder, "metal is a kind of stone right?" it was more to herself than him. He responded but Shayla was too focused on the metal.

The two brothers soon went out and they didn't ask her to join them nor did she, "I'll stay here" she quickly said and placed her hand over the piece. She didn't know what she was doing and just tried to feel something inside of it.

Shayla tried again and again for hours. When it had become dark, she noticed there was still something bright outside. She looked closely and tried to figure out what that was, and it suddenly snapped for her; something was burning.

The girl quickly jumped out of the window, 'Ace and Luffy' she thought. Sabo was just taking away from them and now her last two boys may be in danger. She refused to lose them at all. If anything happened to them, she would destroy this entire kingdom and its people altogether. It's probably their fault anyway.

Soon Shay arrived at the grey terminal and saw fire everywhere. She could bend it and took a deep breath before going in. During her training, she realized that a calm mind and breathing were the key to controlling fire.

The fire didn't burn her just made her sweaty. She saw people were stuck in the fire and helped them get out with a path of the wind. But an even stronger wind soon hit her and the people. They started to run to the sea and Shay followed them. Water was the opposite of fire. If she gathered enough water, she could pull all the fire out.

A man with a big tattoo on his face. He was standing on the ship and they looked at each other for a few seconds before he started talking about freedom and change. But the girl didn't have time to listen to that and went inside the sea herself. She froze the water so she could stand on it while she did her thing.

Shayla took a deep breath and moved her hand to make a wave. She kept doing it and before she knew it it was pretty big. It normally took her more time to do. So, how come she did it so fast. The girl looked up and saw a full moon. Did it make her more powerful? Nah, that couldn't be it.

Anyway, she was ready and started to surf on top of it. Shayla tried to look for the brothers while putting out the fire, but she saw no sign of them. It was a nightmare, and it was not knowing what was going on, that was killing her. Maybe they weren't here maybe they were back at Dadan's.

When the fire was out, she quickly ran toward the hut to see if everyone was alright. There she saw Luffy with a lot of bandages on and he crying for Ace to come back. She went over to him, "Lu, what happened to Ace" concern clear in her voice.

Then they started telling her that Blue Jam was hired by the king of this country to burn down the grey terminal to impress the world's noble. They were willing to kill the people inside like they were trash too. It made her angry and happier to be a pirate. They didn't have to claim one thing and do another. Pirates were free to do whatever they wanted rather it was good or bad

The boy was trying to stand up to look for his brother, but she held him down, "I'll go look for him. you have to stay here and rest" she could see the pain clear in his face.

Shayla took her shoes off and went into the forest with bare feet. She couldn't feel their presence just yet and kept walking and she hoped to recognize them soon. Shay closed her eyes to focus on the earth's vibrations more.

Then she felt something, but it wasn't Ace nor Dadan. The footsteps felt familiar but not and soon found out it was guards. What were they doing here so far away from the town? At that moment she felt someone hiding inside the tree roots and moved a bush in front of them.

She went closer and felt two people inside. It had to be them. She figured that they were injured and hiding from the guard. She went over to them and beat them both. They were working in that filthy town with the king that doesn't care about his people. How could she forgive that?

They were just as bad as him by working for him and it made her furious. Shayla went over to the tree and found her best friend and the mountain bandit leader, "Shay what are you doing here" a shocked black-haired asked, "what are you talking about. I'm was looking for you" she stated.

"I'm happy you're alive" Shayla hugged him and surprisingly he hugged her back without hesitation or complaint. They just stood there and embrace each other as if they haven't seen one another for ages. "Are you two lovebirds done, because I need to get back now" a voice they've forgotten about interrupted them.

They looked at each other with a smiling blush as if they knew what the other was thinking. Shayla kneed in front of the manly woman and saw she was covered in burn marks. She took some water from a cup beside her and bent it at her wounds. It was something she discovered when she saw an injured fox and healed it.

Dadan groaned before relaxing into the cool liquid and held it there for some time. Shay then even the water more out to the other wounds too. Soon it was looking much better, it still wasn't completely healed, but it was good enough for now.

"Are you hurt?" she asked her friend, but he shook his head, "I'm fine" he told her. But she wasn't sure if he was playing cool or really was okay. She decided to let him be.

Shayla took a step back and tramped the ground while lifting her hands up to bent the earth and Dadan was laying on a transportable rock. The bandit was impressed and the two younger sat in the space next to her and Shayla moved it back to the hut.

Everybody came running out to them they arrived. The bandits took their leader inside and Ace just changed his clothes as if nothing really happened. Luffy on the other hand was openly crying and went over to hug Ace, "Luffy" he saw his younger brother crying in relief to see him.

The older black-haired looked at him, "did you think I was dead?" he questioned him, "but-" Luffy started, "why are you crying?" Ace asked angrily and was soon hit over the head, "Don't kill me when I'm not dead you idiot" Ace scolded.

Shayla smiled at the scene; he really wasn't used to people caring about him. Well, he had to get used to it, because she, Luffy, and Sabo wasn't going to just stop. When he became a pirate and got nakamas more people would care too.

She was looking forward to seeing what kind of people would join him. She was especially curious about her little sunshine, she knew his adventures were going to be either crazy or epic, probably both.

-x-

Luffy was playing outside with 'gulp' insect and the dog. Shay was inside with the others, "why didn't you run" the older woman questioned, "I don't really know why but whenever I'm facing someone blood rushes to my head and I feel like if I run, I'll lose something important" Ace sat with his arms om his knees and looked thoughtful, "back then Luffy was right behind me. I don't if that the reason though" he ruffled his hair.

Shay had heard stories from her father about Roger. He always used to refuse to run too because if he did, his crew would be in danger. Even though Ace hates his father, he was a lot like him. Not only the 'not running away' but also his cheerfulness (when you get to know him). Ace was following in his father's footsteps to be a pirate, his strength and will. But most of all, it was like his soul was calling him to the sea. It was in his blood, his pirate blood.

Her thought was interrupted when Dogra together with Luffy came in with a face of horror, "I have to tell you guys something" he waited till everybody was present. The small bandit told them everything they saw and what happened with Sabo.

The trio stood there with wide eyes and refused to believe him, "Sabo is… you liar" Ace jumped him into the floor, "Don't even joke about it. Sabo went back to his noble family. There's no way he sails out to sea" he screamed. "That's right. Sabo went home" Luffy argued, "outlaws like us understand how he felt… we all have a place we don't want to return to! Do you really think he'll set sail if he really was happy? Do you really think he'd fly a pirate flag and set out on his own?" Dogra said with tears.

Shayla was frozen in place; she didn't know how to react. Her vision became blurry and suddenly anger took over. Those bastards had killed a member of her family. It was the duty of the World Government to maintain peace in the world and now you see that the celestial dragon. They are protecting the scum of the world.

When she went outside, she saw Ace was tied up in the tree and he looked at her with worried eyes. "Shay, where are you going," he asked carefully, "I'm going to destroy the entire kingdom and kill the one who took Sabo from us" without any hesitation.

"Don't, they'll kill you" Ace panicked, "then my father will take my place and avenge me by destroying this island" she cut him loose on her way. The black-haired boy ran over to her and held her by the arm.

"I refuse to lose you too" he made her turn around, "don't leave us and throw your life away. We only have each other left Shay" he looked so desperate. It made her heart melt at his little speech and she started to saw she was about to let her emotions go. He took her hand and sat down with her, "I want to kill them all," she said sobbing and cuddled into his shoulder, "I know."

Shay realized that she had never actually seen Ace cry and now he was watching her do it the second time this year. What was up with that? Was she about to go soft? She didn't like this vulnerable side and it almost made her want to puke.

Ace and Shayla were sharing their fun memory with the blond and soon she fell asleep on him.

-x-

The next morning, she woke up on top of her friend and she quickly got up blushing. Why was she acting like that, it was Ace. She was used to always being around and sleeping next to him. So, why was this time different and why was her face hot. What was all of this?

Shayla saw a bird flying over to Dogra and he immediately ran over to the two as Ace just woke up. "how are you feeling" he asked in concern, "I-I'm fine" she stuttered. Wait, since when does she stutter? "It's a letter from Sabo. He must have written it before setting sail" the bandit quickly said.

Ace quickly stood up and snatched the letter out of his hand. He looked at her for a second and motioned for her to follow him. He opened it and still held the envelope as they continued.

Ace, Shayla, Luffy I hope you weren't hurt in the fire. I'm worried but I believe that you're safe especially with Shay's power. I'm sorry about this but by the time you read this letter, I'll be out at sea. A lot of things had happened, and I'd decided to set sail before you guys. My destination will be anywhere but this country. There I'll get stronger. I'll be a pirate! Let's become pirates with more freedom than anyone else and meet up again someday. Just the four of us. Somewhere out on the wide sea, the free ocean. I'm sure that someday we'll meet! Oh, and Ace I wonder who's the older brother between the two of us? Two big brothers, a little brother, and a girl with awesome powers. It might be strange but the bond between us is my treasure. Luffy might still be a crybaby and weakling but he's our little brother. Take care of him.

Ps. I found something special for you, Shay. I saw some kid had it. Consider it a thank you for standing up for me. They are just done removing all the trash and I almost died laughing every time I remember.

Shayla laughed sobbing at their little moment together, 'you're welcome Sab' she thought. Inside the envelope was a familiar compass necklace and Shay fell to the ground of happiness. She didn't notice that her friend was trying not to break.

A loud cry surprised her and what surprised her more than it was Ace. She had never seen him in tears, and it broke her heart. She stood up and hugged him. She had known Sabo for about a year, but Ace had for 6 years. They were each other's best friends, and it was them against the world.

That was until Shay came and forced her way into their life. It may have been a rough beginning, but she can't imagine her life without these idiots. "I love you" Shay whispered into his ear. Ace didn't react and just cried to her shoulder.

After about 15minutes he had collected himself and was ready to go back. Shayla felt like she shouldn't say anything about the previous incident. It must have taken a lot of trust to do it in front of her and she refused to break it.

-x-

It's been a week since Sabo's death and Luffy was still grieving. He barely ate anything and cried near the sea. Shayla had tried to be there for him, but she didn't really know what to tell him. She had almost killed them all but that wasn't something he needed to know.

"Go talk to him, Ace. He's your little brother it's your job to take care of him" the girl glared at him, "he considers you his sister so, it's your job too" he replied, "I've tried but I don't know what to say in these moments" she protested.

"I don't either and-" he didn't get to finish before the girl kicked him out of the hut literally, "No time for excuses and don't you dare come back without Luffy!" she warned, and he left.