Sengoku was understandingly more than a little surprised when Garp came barging into his office one morning screaming 'I'M A GRANDPA!' As far as he knew, Garp only had one child, and if he was a grandfather, his grandchild would have to be the child of Garp's child. Which meant that his grandchild was the child of Monkey D Dragon. Which was not good.

After much of Sengoku's inner panicking and voicing some of his troubled thoughts, Garp had the audacity to laugh and reassured him that no blood of his wouldn't become a marine.

'That's what you said about Dragon,' Thought Sengoku darkly. He decided to let this one go for once, he had much more pressing matters to address. Namely that blasted Pirate King who was running around the grand-line. Not to mention that Whitebeard was also terrorising some poor marine warship. Garp's grandchild could wait.

Five years later and with Roger finally executed-starting the great age of pirates, the bastard- Sengoku could no longer ignore Garp's grandchild's existence. His old friend had eagerly shoved a child into his office two days after the request to meet them. Surprisingly, she was female.

Monkey D Kirito did not look anything like Garp or Dragon. With a startling head of long midnight blue hair, cerulean eyes and pale skin, yes- she did not look anything like her family. Garp had shrugged and said 'it's probably from her mother's side.' Did Garp ever meet the woman who had managed to capture his son's fancy? No, and probably won't ever.

Somehow, Garp had managed to get her strong enough to beat an average marine, probably through borderline child abuse training. When Garp explained her ridiculous training regiment, Sengoku pitied the poor girl. One does not get thrown off cliffs for casual training. She even managed to eat a devil fruit along the way, the Speed Speed no mi. The brat was quick.

Even with all the rather lethal training from her grandfather, Kirito did not really mind the thought of being a marine…but she didn't care about being a pirate either. With this in mind, Sengoku decided that it was okay to let Monkey D Kirito roam free. She would be a great asset to the marines, he just hoped to god that she wouldn't cause too much collateral damage when running around and doing whatever. Marine HQ could not handle another Garp, no matter how useful they were.

Sengoku doubted that a five year old could do too much damage, but then again, this was Garp's grandchild. D's did have a tendency to be rather unpredictable…like that time when Garp traded the whole treasury for a box of doughnuts. Sengoku was rather startled when he learned that Garp dragged his granddaughter around with him on the grand-line. The grand-line was no place for a child, much less the New World.

So yes, Monkey D Kirito would be an excellent marine.

Garp had promised Roger that he would look after his son. After all, he knew what it would be like for little Ace if the world government ever knew of his existence. They would be calling for his blood, telling them to execute an innocent child. Kirito was a prime example. She had no protest about being a marine, and that was probably the only reason-along with Sengoku's vouch for her about being an asset-why she wasn't already on the chopping block. So Garp told Roger that he would adopt Ace after he was born. It was probably a large reason why Roger died with a huge grin on his lips.

Kirito was there with her grandfather when Portgas D Rogue gave birth. With Ace cradled in her arms, Rogue waved the seven year old closer. After getting a nod from her grandfather, she stepped closer to the weak woman. Rogue gave Kirito a gentle smile and beckoned her even closer. She took hesitant steps to the woman until she was standing right beside her bedside. She handed Ace over to the startled girl.

"His name is Ace," Rogue said, rearranging Kirito's arms to accommodate the baby. "Will you be a good big sister and look after him for me?"

Kirito nodded, "I promise I'll be the best big sister ever." And that was a promise she was going to keep. Rogue smiled at her with watery eyes.

"Thank you." She kissed Kirito on the cheek and kissed Ace's forehead one last time before her strength faded, and she finally died with a smile on her face. The doctors and nurses rushed forwards, trying to save the dying woman but to no avail. As if sensing that his mother was gone, little Ace started to wail. Kirito clutched him closer to her chest, and started to rock him back and forth.

"Shh, nee-chan's here. I'll protect you."

Kirito spent the next few years running around the grand-line with her grandfather and visiting Ace in her free time. She spoilt him with love and toys. When Luffy was born and dropped off at Foosha Village with Makino, she had to split her free time in half. Adding her fast ascension in the marine ranks, missions and training at HQ, she hardly got to visit either of her beloved brothers. Kirito would still make time for them though, and she still loved them.

Sengoku rubbed the bridge of his nose in exasperation as another explosion went off. Marine HQ was starting to get used to it. An unhealthy get-used-to-it way like someone would get used to eating dinner with cannon balls exploding above their heads-and during some days, that actually happened. Kirito was now seventeen, and she grew to be quite a beauty with many admirers at HQ. And strong, very strong. She had apparently inherited Garp's superhuman strength that was both a blessing and a curse. Kirito was promoted to Vice-Admiral not too long ago.

In the large training courtyards, that bastard Garp and his granddaughter were playing baseball with the new recruits.

With cannon balls.

It was Marine HQ's new way of dealing with cocky new recruits and to knock them off their high horses. Sengoku almost had a heart attack when Garp first taught ten year old Kirito how to throw cannon balls with her bare hands. And by god it was terrifying. The first few hours in the courtyard were more dangerous than the Florian Triangle. Marines had to constantly duck and dodge stray cannon balls until Kirito's accuracy improved. The unlucky marines that weren't quite fast to dodge spent weeks in the infirmary. Garp's obnoxiously loud laughter filled with pride did not help the situation.

Someone had jokingly suggested that a ball game with Garp and Kirito would prove that recruits more were than worthy. Unfortunately, it was taken the wrong way, and the survivors of the games were directed to the dumbass that spoke of hell on earth so casually. The games ranged from cricket, baseball, volleyball and the especially lethal dodge ball. It certainly wiped out the weaklings.

The games became even more dangerous as Kirito went through puberty. There were now special rules installed to save the poor souls (or salvage the ones with potential) who participated in these games.

1) Do not ogle Vice-Admiral Kirito. She may be oblivious to your lecherous stares and pick up lines, but her over-protective grandfather certainly isn't. Her pretty face isn't worth it.

2) Do not gloat at either Vice-Admirals if you manage to somehow score a point. You will get a face full of cannon balls, and your team will pay for the man shaped hole in the wall. They will also congratulate you for that scored point, even if it was a fluke.

3) Do not get Vice-Admiral Kirito angry when it's that time of the month. She will throw harder, faster and more accurately. Not only would you be sent to the infirmary, but so will your entire team. She does not discriminate.

4) If Vice-Admiral Garp takes off his dog hat, run away. He will get serious (which hardly ever happens) and he will use the big ball (the one about the size of his warship) Proceed to pray to god that you will survive. Then thank the gods that Vice-Admiral Kirito cannot throw that one yet (it has been noted that it's Garp's special ball, that he uses only when you really piss him off. Like when you hit on his granddaughter.)

5) Do not attempt to bribe them with food. It only works on Vice-Admiral Garp, and Vice-Admiral Kirito does not like cheaters. She will attempt to kill you throughout the entire game, even if you had a deal with her grandfather.

6) If you are a logia, stay tangible. They will only coat the cannon balls with Haki, and that hurts a lot more.

7) Congratulate yourself. You have somehow managed to get yourself in this fucked up mess.

The survivors were tearfully handed a medal of bravery, and had the respect and admiration of the senior marines accepted before the games were played at HQ. Surviving a game against the Monkey D's was not easy.

"Was it good that I was born?"

The question had caught Kirito off guard. She sat with crossed legs, a ten year old Ace in her lap and playing with her long hair. They were sitting on the cliff near Dadan's hut. Kirito was out of uniform, wearing a black tank top and jean shorts.

"Why do you ask that?" She asked resting her chin on top of Ace's head and wrapping her arms around the freckled boy. He shrugged.

"Everyone says so. They think I'm a demon child." Ace paused, and a sound of hurt entered his voice. "I bet you think so too."

She sighed. Ace took this as a confirmation, and tears gathered in his eyes. He knew it. He knew his sister hated him too. He knew that-

"Ace. Do you think it was good that I was born?" This question startled him.

"Of course! You're my big sister! You're nice, you played with me when nobody else did. You took care of me when I was sick. You taught me how to hunt and you patched me up after gramp's training. Even the bandits like you!"

Kirito laughed. The chest that Ace was leaning against vibrated along with his big sister's laughter. "Well then!" She turned Ace around on her lap so that he was facing her. She poked him on the nose. "You're my little brother. You're smart, you're fun and you beat up the guys that looked at me funny. You hunt with me, you make me laugh and smile. Of course it was good that you were born!" And by the end of it, she was tickling his sides as Ace shrieked with laughter. After a minute, Kirito stopped.

"Ace. Do you know who Nico Robin is?" Ace shook his head. Kirito hummed and wrapped her arms around Ace tighter.

"She's just like you Ace. Lots of people call her a demon child." Ace's eyes widened. Someone like him? "She was already wanted by the government when she was eight. She's still on the run, just because she knows how to read an ancient language." Ace was quite shocked.

"Just because she could read an ancient language?" He echoed. Kirito nodded.

"You see, there are lots of us 'demon children' out there, but some of us are hidden much better than others." Ace nodded in understanding. Then he froze.

"Us?"

"…Oops. I wasn't meant to say that." She muttered. "Oh well. Cat's out of the bag. It's not like I could keep the secret for much longer anyway."

"What secret?" Ace asked confused.

"Oh, you know. It's nothing much. Just that my father is currently the most wanted criminal in the world." Kirito said nonchalantly.

"WHAT?!" Ace whipped his head around, a bewildered look on his face. "You're…!?"

"Uh-huh,"Kirito nodded. After a moment, she said, "Listen, Ace. The sins of our fathers don't make us who we are. You are your own person." She poked him in the chest. "Some people will keep comparing you to your father, so you have to step out of his shadow. If you want to be acknowledged, if you don't want to be known as the son of a demon, become Portgas D Ace. Become famous, make a name for yourself."

Ace took these words to heart. He buried his head in the crook of her neck, trying to hide the tears in the corner of his eyes as she stroked his hair. Someone just told him that they didn't care about who his father was. Someone didn't hate him. They stayed that way for a several long minutes. Ace finally asked a question that had been bothering him for so long.

"Why did you become a marine?" Kirito smiled at him, amusement in her eyes.

"I'm a demon child, Ace. Grandpa was already bragging about how I would be a great marine before I could walk. He forgot to keep his mouth shut. I guess that if I wanted to be anything other than a marine, they would kill me before I become a threat. They're only letting me live because Grandpa's a hero. But you…they don't know about you. Gramps didn't say anything about you yet. You can be whatever you want to be."

Ace thought long and hard. There was no way in hell that he was becoming a marine, which only left one option. He was going to be a pirate. Ace was going to be a famous pirate, so everyone would know his name. He was going to be free. If not for himself, then he would do it for his big sister who never had a choice.

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