Hello again! Welcome back. So this chapter is about a thousand words longer than my normal chapters. I am happy it is a bit longer and I hope you enjoy it. No songs in this chapter too. Well, that is all I got. On with the chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or any of the characters. :)

Chapter Five

(No one POV 3rd person)

Luffy was walking through the garden, through a maze looking at all the flowers. She stopped by the roses and bent down to smell them. She was picking one when someone called out to her. "The flowers are really nice today right?" someone said right behind her. She turned around to see Ace smiling at her with one arm behind his back. She got up and walked towards him. "What's that behind your back?" He gave her a cheeky smirk. And pulled out his hand and held a Delphinium. "OH, how pretty!" Luffy said.

He handed her the flower then said. "This flower symbolizes lightheartedness and vivacity." he said as they looked at the flower together. "Huh?" she said as she looked up and into his eyes with confusion clearly in her eyes and tilted her read a bit. He chuckled. "That means it symbolizes being happy-good-lucky and the quality of being attractively lively and animated." he said smiling at her. "Huh?" she said again and tilted her head even more. He chuckled "Nevermind, just know it is something good." "SHISHISHI, OKAY!" she laughed happily.

"You know I think it is about time for you to wake up." "What?"

(Luffy POV 1st person)

"Wake Up!"

Luffy then flinched awake. I turned to see Derek in the middle of opening my cage door. I got up and walked close to the door. He opened it and let me out. "Okay, today you have to just help clean up the remnants of yesterday's party then to prepare a bath for the master." He led me out and we walked to the hall.

What was that dream about? It seemed so calm and peaceful. I rarely get any dreams but this seems important. And why was Ace there? I even remembered his name? And I remember how he looks. Curly black hair, dark brown eyes, and the cutest splash of freckles I have ever seen. I remembered everything about him.

He led me to the party room to clean up the rest. It was not a lot, just taking glasses to the kitchen and sweeping up a bit. I started bringing the glasses as carefully as I can. I was walking pretty slowly, when I was younger my grandfather used to say I was a very clumsy person. Which was a LIE. I AM NOT CLUMSY. I was just being cautious to make sure I don't break anything.

I finished bringing all the glasses and was about to go make Hansuke's bath when one of the cooks asked if I could take some tea for him. Oh dear, I walked pretty cautiously towards his room, again just a precaution, with the tea stuff in my hands. I got to the room and knocked on his doors. I waited a bit till he opened the door looking angry and hungover. Much expected.

"Oh is that for me? Just leave it on the table. Are you also here to prepare the bath?" I nodded my head and put the tea stuff down. I made him a cup of tea that seemed to be for helping headaches. I got up and handed him the tea before I went to prepare his bath. I was just about done preparing his bath when he walked in. "Okay I don't need anything else from you you are free to go." And he shooed me away.

I left his room with the plate I used to carry the tea to him and headed towards the kitchen. Once I got there I put the plate in the sink and saw Derek. I walked up to him and waited for him to call on me. "Okay and- Holy Shi-" he turned around and finally saw me. "Where the heck did you come from? You are very quiet you know that." he said holding onto his heart. "Anyway, did you finish your assigned task?" I nodded. "Okay well, we don't need anything from you anymore let me just take you back to your cage." We both walked back and he led me inside and shut the door. And I sat there just looking at the pretty flowers. The gardener did such a good job.

Welp let's just take this time to relax. Just calm silence. Quiet silence.

…

Okay, this is boring. I'm bored. Ugh now what do I do? I wish I could do something fun. Then a flash of Ace appeared in my head. I felt a blush crept up to my face. Why did he come to mind? He was really nice. I really wish we could hang out again. We can joke and laugh together. But It's not like he was just going to magically appear out of nowhere and come to hang out.

I waited about 30 minutes till I heard someone walk up to my cage. "Well, it is about time for lunch. Here you go. There is still nothing for you to do so just stay here." And with that, he walked away. I sat there looking at the same thing I eat every day. A grey soup-like thing. It is not that bad. I would eat anything but it is just not enough. I remember eating a lot of food before with my grandpa. It was nice.

I sat there for about 20 minutes when I heard rustling in the forest.

Huh?

(Ace POV 1st person)

I woke up this morning ready to take on the day. I sat up trying to remember what happened again last night. A flash of the girl came into view. I felt a blush crept up to my face. Why would my face blush when she came to mind? She is just my friend. I wonder what she is doing today. I got up and got ready for the day and headed out of my room. It was a nice day I might go on a walk.

I got to the dining room and got my breakfast. I walked up and sat down next to Marco and Thatch. "Hey guys" I said as I sat down. "Sup" Thatch said. We started eating when Haruta and Izo sat down with us. "So how was the party last night?" Haruta asked. Thatch was the one to answer. "It was pretty fun. We got there, walked around a bit, we spiked their drink bowls. You know the usual. That was when the party actually got started." "They also had this girl singing. She was pretty good. Though I think she was a slave-yoi." Marco said. "Yea she was beautiful but looked kinda young. Also, our little Ace was hanging out with some girl." A picture of the black-haired girl popped up in my mind.

Everyone turned to me as I felt a blush crept up my face. "What a girl, Ace never hangs out with anyone he is always so grumpy." Izo states. I was trying and failing, to push the blush down. "What? I am not grumpy." I yelled. "Yea Yea okay you are 'not' grumpy." Haruta said. Everyone chuckled at that. Traitors. "Anyway what are we doing today huh?" Thatch said. "Don't get any ideas-yoi, you have to finish your paperwork on the mission you went on-yoi." "Wait wasn't that like 3 weeks ago. How are you not done?" Haruta said. "Because he got lazy and never got around doing it. Now he is stuck with Marco on his back making sure he finishes it." I said while drinking my liquor. Ok I know it is early but don't judge. "Oof have fun with that." Izo said. "Wait what the hell is that supposed to mean-yoi." Marco said. We all got up and went to clean our dishes leaving a sulking Thatch and pissed Marco. "Nothing." We all said with 'innocent' faces and ran away.

"Well, I'm going to use my time to go on a nice walk." I said as I started heading for the railing. "Maybe we should go with you and find out more about this girl." Haruta said. "I'd rather go on this walk ALONE thank you very much" I ran off with a blush on my face. Wait, why am I blushing? We are friends, nothing more. And with that, I went on my walk.

It is a lovely day.

Black-haired girl.

I can find a nice lake to go to.

Black-haired girl.

Or take a nap by a tree.

Black-haired girl.

Or look for some fruit to snack on.

Black-haired girl.

Ok, what is going on? Why can't I get her out of my head? Maybe I can go visit her. She was in that cage in the garden. But it is not like she would actually be there. She might have some stuff to do. But it would not hurt to try. But what if she asks why I am there. Why would I go? I know I can just say that I have never found out her name. And I can get her name out of it. Great Idea. And with that, I headed towards the forest that leads to that noble's house. It took me about an hour till I got there and looked around making sure none of my family was there. If they ever found out about this the teasing will never stop.

I started walking through the forest making my way towards the garden. It took about 30 minutes. If she is not there then I could just go back to the ship. Yea it's not like she would be there she has her own stuff to do. Yea just go and check. I made it to a bush that covers me but I still have a perfect view. She is not going to be there. I looked through the bush. See she is not the-. … Okay I was wrong. Okay just man up and go out there and talk to her. You've done this before. It is not hard to just go over there and talk to her. Hopefully, she would talk back. Why am I being insecure? Okay on three.

Three

Two

One

Let's go.

(No one's POV 3rd person)

The rustling got more frequent and Luffy got up and closer to the bars of the cage. The rustling continued for about a good 5 minutes when something jumped out. She flinched and fell back on her butt. Ace jumped out with twigs and leaves stuck in his hair. They both looked at each other with wide eyes for a couple of minutes. "Oh, are you okay? Did I scare you?" he asked. She stood up quickly and shook her head. "Okay good." he looked her in her eyes again and turned away with a blush on his face. "So, um, how have you been?" he asked. She looked at him then looked down. "Still don't speak huh? You know no one is going to be here right. You won't get in trouble for talking." he said as he walked closer to the cage she backed up a bit and hesitated. "I promise you, you will not get in trouble." he said, making direct eye contact and giving her a small sweet smile. She looked into his eyes and said "Okay."

"Great, okay so I will ask again, how have you been?" he asked with a small grin. "I have been okay. And you?" she said softly and a little hoarse. Like it has been a long time since she last said more than one-word sentences or spoke, which was yesterday. "I have been good too. What is it that you are eating? It does not look pleasing." he said with a little bit of disgust in his eyes. "I am not really sure. I just get it every day. It is not so bad." "Oh okay good." "So, um, can I ask you a question?" "You just did." "No, can I ask you another question?" "You just did." he said with a suspiciously serious face. "No I-I-I mean, um, well." she said flustered and confused on how she can actually ask her question. "I am just messing with you. Yes, you can ask your question." he said with a teasing smirk. She pouted a bit before asking, "Why did you come through the bushes? And why did you leave through the bushes last night?" "It is the only way I know how to get here." "Why?" "Let me tell you a secret. I am not actually allowed to be here." He is not allowed to be here? Why? Luffy thought.

Then they heard footsteps coming. "Oh no. The slave manager will be back soon you need to hide." she whispered frantically. "Wait one question." he whispered back. "Now does not seem like the time for questions." "What is your name?" "WHAT" she whispered-yelled. "Your name, what is it?" he repeated "Now is not the time, go hide." "Not until I get that name." She hesitated and the footsteps kept getting louder and louder. "Okay fine, my name is Luffy. Now can you go hide." "Okay thank you." and with that, he hid at the side of the cage away from the view by the entrance to the garden.

Derek walked in making his way towards the cage. "Slave, have you finished eating?" he asked. She nodded. "Okay I will take your plate." he grabbed the plate and walked away. She waited a good 5 minutes till she said "You can come out now." And with that Ace walked out with a smirk on his face. "You don't speak a lot do you?" He asked teasingly. "No, I do not. Anyway, why is the bushes the only way you know how to get in? Aren't you a noble?" She asked as she cocking her head to the side. "Me! As one of these people. Oh, thank heavens no they absolutely suck." He said sounding kinda hurt she would suggest that. "I am a pirate!" He said, sounding proud. Luffy's eyes widened a bit as she looked away. "That sounds cool." She muttered. "It is, we get to go on tons of different adventures and we do whatever we want whenever we want. But those can be stories for another time" He said excitedly.

"Another time? Are you going to come back?" She was worried about his safety. "I mean if it is alright with you." He said, giving her a friendly smile. "Yea I am Okay with it but won't you get in trouble. What if you get caught?" "I will be okay don't worry." "By the way why did you come back? If you are not a noble, it could be bad to come back but it seems like you had a specific reason." Ace blushed deeply. "W-w-what do yo-o-ou mean. W-w-what if I-I-I just wanted to come." he stuttered. "Are you sick? Your face is all red." Luffy asked, walking closer to the bars. "I have not found out your name, I wanted to find out okay." he said and turned his head. Why am I stuttering? This is so embarrassing Ace thought. "Okaay" Luffy said.

"Anyway, i-" he grabbed the bars and fell to the ground. "Are you okay!" Luffy said and got closer to the bar. Ace got up "What is this thing made of?" "Seastone. My cuffs are made of seastone too. Wait, do you have a devil fruit?" he got back up and backed a bit away from the bars."Yea I ate the Mera Mera fruit. Wait, do you have a devil fruit?" "I do, I ate the gum gum fruit. What does the Mera Mera fruit do?" "I am a fire person, I can become fire. And you?" he said while lighting his finger on fire. "I am a rubber girl, I can stretch and I am flexible." "That sounds … useless." "EXCUSE ME! The gum gum fruit is the best, how dare you." She said angrily. "Hey, I'm just being honest." "Whatever." she pouted and looked away. Adorable. Ace thought with a small blush. "Well if you are coming back can I ask for something?" she asked, a little nervous. "Sure, what is it?"

"Well, um, can you sing?" "Huh?" "I am just asking since you have been in the outside world and I was wondering if you can bring some songs for me to hear. If you are too uncomfortable with that then it is fine." she said, a little sad. "No it is fine, I actually can sing a little. That is what my brother said anyway." Ace mumbled blushing deeply. "Really! Thank you so much!" Luffy said as she fit her small hands in between the bars and grabbed his. He blushed even deeper if that was possible. "Y-y-yeah o-of c-course." he stuttered. "A-a-anyway, i-it seems like it is getting late. I should head back." "Oh Okay, it was nice talking with you. Please when you come back be careful, I don't know what Hansuke would do to you if he found you here." "Don't worry I can take care of myself, I would not be a pirate traveling the New World if I couldn't."

"Well, I guess I will see you again tomorrow, Ace." Luffy said with a small smile. "See you tomorrow, Luffy." Ace replied, returning the smile.

And with that he left, both of them waiting for the next day.

Well, that is the chapter. I thought having an Ace who blushes and gets easily embarrassed would be adorable. I also brought up how Ace always use to say that the Gum Gum fruit was stupid and useless, I always thought that was funny and Luffy would always argue with him on how it is powerful and cool. They are both so adorable. Well, I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

See you next time. BYE! :)