Hello everyone, I am So sorry for the long wait. I have no excuse, but summer vacation is coming up soon so I should have more time to upload. Well anyway, I hope you enjoy and let's get on with the chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or any of the characters. Or any of the songs. The credit goes to the amazing, creative people who did. :)
Chapter Eight
It has been 2 days since something new came into the mix. Ace was being cautious when he went out and Luffy has been doing her new job and things have been going well for these two. They were hanging out and Ace would tell her stories of all his adventures Like going to a kingdom underwater or going to an island with dinosaurs. They got to know more and more about each other and were growing closer every day. And today was no different, but they were given great news.
It all started in her cage, she was practicing, and like normal Derek came to give her her clothes and left her to get ready. She frowned at the outfit which was very revealing, again. It was a red genie outfit. It exposed her breast and her stomach. At least it was warm outside.
Derek came back and led her to the special room. When she got there she was treated in the same scene as she is every day. The men flaunting their wealth and playing poker. Luffy does not really pay attention to what they were talking about but today she heard something interesting. She was passing out their drinks when she heard one of the guests talking.
"So Hansuke, I heard you were also invited to the party the Celestial Dragon is hosting." Hansuke had a wide grin. "But of course, why wouldn't I be invited." A different man took a swig of his drink and smiled. "It is out of the island right. Isn't it Saint Gerald's birthday party?" Hansuke grabbed another card. Being invited to a Celestial Dragon's birthday party or a celebration they are hosting, in general, is a big thing. It means you're at the top of the list, the best of the best, a good social status.
"Yes, I will be gone for 3 days. A day to get there and a day to come back, and a day to spend there." Luffy froze for a second. He won't be here. Will Derek stay or go with him? Will they be left alone. Luffy was getting more and more excited as they kept talking. "Are you just going to leave everything here or is Derek coming as well?" A guest asked.
"Of course Derek will be coming. And the slaves will just have to live with no food for 3 days. I have been going soft on them. The guards will be staying and watching but it's not like anyone would have the gall to come and break in." He said grinning evilly. Luffy giggled internally knowing that there is someone who is brave and stupid enough to break in. She started fantasizing. A day without worrying if Ace will be caught, no interruptions, and no work to cut their time short.
With Hansuke and Derek gone, Luffy can hang out with Ace more freely without worrying about someone coming and finding him. The guards don't do anything anyway. "Hey did you ever find those guys?" Luffy stopped for a split second but just continued on to not cause suspicion. "No. My guards are useless." Hansuke growled out. "But I'm close. They should still be here." She gave a small unnoticeable sigh of relief.
She walked to the stage and started getting ready to sing the songs. She is going to start with a song she never heard before, genie in a bottle. She took a deep breath and started. and kept thinking about the next day and how amazing it will be.
I feel like I've been locked in tight
For a century of lonely nights
Waiting for someone to release me
Thinking of rain blowing kisses my way
That don't mean I'm gonna hear what you say
Baby, baby
Oh, woah, woah (my mind is saying let's go)
Oh, woah, woah (but my heart is saying no)
If you wanna be with me
Baby, there's a price to pay
I'm a genie in a bottle
You gotta ask me the right way
If you wanna be with me
I can make your wish come true
You gotta make a big impression
I've gotta like what you do
I'm a genie in a bottle, baby
Gotta catch me the right way, honey
I'm a genie in a bottle, baby
Come, come, come in and let me out
The music's fading and the light's down low
Just one more dance and then we're good to go
Waiting for someone who gets me
Heart is racing at the speed of light
Let's go and have a little fun tonight
Baby, baby
Oh, woah, woah (my mind is saying let's go)
Oh, woah, woah (but my heart is saying no)
She waited in her cage for Ace, bouncing very excitedly. Earlier today Hansuke left just like he said and Derek went with him. So now she has no worries of anyone seeing Ace. Ever since Ace came she has been so happy. She started thinking about how far she has come. She spoke more in this 1 week than in the last 7 years. And she has never been this happy. What if she was able to …?
Never mind, she shouldn't hope for something like that. Not when reality will just crush it all down. She is just content with the here and now. Having Ace here with her. But he would have to leave eventually. Right?
She sat there with her bittersweet thoughts when she heard the familiar, soothing rustling acknowledging that Ace is here. Ace popped out and made his way towards her.
"Hey, Lu!" Ace whispered-shouted. He sat down in front of her and she instantly became happy again. "Hey! I've noticed something. You started calling me Lu. Is that like a nickname?" she asked with a little teasing in her tone. Ace turned bright red. "W-w-well um, yeah do you not like it?" Ace did not even notice when he made the switch. It just happened, and it felt natural. He would be humiliated he she does not like it.
Luffy sensing his unease smiled a little and decided to tease him. "Well, it is nice. I kinda like it." Ace looked up at her with a wide grin. "But, I got nothing to call you." Ace tilted his head, "huh?"
Luffy smiled a bit, "I have to give you a nickname now too. it wouldn't be fair if I was the only one with a nickname. What will it be?" she said tapping her index finger on her chin. "OH I KNOW, Acey." she started grinning excitedly and clapping her hands together. Ace stared at her with wide eyes and started blushing furiously. "I'm going to call you Acey now, what do you think?" she sat on her knees and brought her face closer to his. There was a bar between them but she moved about a couple of inches away to his face.
"I-I-I think it's nice." he stuttered. Her grin became bigger and bigger. She jumped up and jumped around the cage. This was very exciting now she has a special way she can call him and only she can call him that. Ace looked up at her and smiled fondly at how excited she is to call him that. He might think it is a bit embarrassing and it makes his face heat up, but it is worth it if she is happy calling him that.
Luffy kept jumping then remembered something important. She sat down really quickly on her knees in front of him. "Yes?" he asked a little scared about the look in her eyes. "I have some great important news." she inched closer to his face and moved her hands out of the bars as much as she could and grabbed his hands in hers. He started blushing again. "Yeah?" he gulped. "Hansuke left." he looked at her a little confused, "what do you mean?" she smiled even brighter. "He said yesterday that he was leaving for 3 days. And he took Derek with him. So that means we don't have to be too quiet and too secretive. No one would be coming here anyway."
Ace took the information in and gave an excited chuckle and squeezed her hands. "That sounds amazing." he looked deep in her eyes and she felt her face heat up a bit. Huh? They let go of each other's hands and moved away a bit. Both their faces red but not knowing the reason why.
Ace jumped up suddenly scaring Luffy a bit. "Wait, you are sure no one will be here or inside right?" Luffy nodded. "I have an idea. Is there slave manager's office here?" Luffy tilted her head to the right a little, "Well there is Derek's just around the corner. Why?" Ace walked up to the door to go inside and walked in. "Don't worry I have a plan." Luffy sat there a little confused.
What the hell just happened?
Ace walked around the corner and saw 2 big doors. He walked up to it and wiggled the handles. Locked. He walked around looking for something to use to break in. Uh, I mean to sneak in. Nope, not better. Oh well fine, break-in. He walked around till he found a bathroom. He looked around for maybe a baby pin or something to unlock the door. He was about to leave to go somewhere else when he saw something on the floor. A bobby pin, perfect. He picked it up and made his way towards the manager's office.
He put the bobby pin in the slot and wiggled it around. He wouldn't lie, this was not his first rodeo. There was that time when he and Thatch snuck into that deli shop, for a late-night snack, that ended in the 500 dogs, dog chase. But that's a story for another time, he might tell it to Luffy when he goes through with this plan.
He got the door unlocked and made his way inside. The room was very cluttered with papers and other office stuff. He looked around and moved things. Come on, come on it should be here. He grinned and moved to grab the thing he went there for. He pulled it out and jingled them, they were keys to the slave cages. He went out and ran back to the garden.
Luffy still sat there confused as hell, she heard footsteps and stood up. Ace ran out shaking the keys in his hands. She tilted her head a bit to the right. He walked up to the cage door and fumbled with the keys. When he found the right key he unlocked the door and pulled it open. Luffy's eyes went wide. He smiled brightly and held his hand out to her.
She took his hand after a couple of minutes and he pulled her out. He found the key to her cuffs and unlocked them. They fell to the floor and she took a shaky breath. She looked back up to him and they stared at each other for a couple of seconds. She was about to say something when they heard rustling in the bushes.
Luffy jumped and hid behind Ace, while Ace held his arm out protectively. They waited together till something jumped out.
"AHHHHHHHHH"
And that's the chapter I hope you enjoyed. I think this was a good one, I will try to get the next chapter out as soon as I can. And again I will be out of school for summer soon so more chapters faster. I would like to thank all of you who came back to read chapter after chapter and those who review. Whenever I read them and see all of you coming back it always makes my day. Well, see you guys next time.
Bye. :)