ONE PIECE
Two Worlds, One Family
A young woman struggling to find her place in the world wakes up to find a bunch of cats in her room...cats that turn out to be the characters from her favourite TV show, One Piece! Bound to each other, whether they like it or not, and trying to figure out a way to find a certain somebody's lost Nakama and get everyone back to their home, what follows is bound to be chaos, friendship, tears, romance - and, adventure! (Kind of a re-write of Straw Cat Pirates).
Author's Notes + Parental Warning:
. This chapter did NOT want to get written but, luckily, it all came together!
. There's a teensy-tinsy little bit of sexual references in this chapter, nothing too bad. Mostly just boys being boys, that sort of thing...
I also have to wonder...why are my Stats not adding up for this story?
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Love Actually
Emma woke up by herself the next morning, feeling like her head was about to explode.
Ooh...my head... She thought, feeling the room spinning around her. How much...did I drink last night? Let's see...one bottle of wine...or, was it two? No, wait, definitely one...ooh, but then there was all of those Midori shots...let's see, how many were there...? She held up her hand. Five, six, nine...wait, why do I have twenty fingers...?
Yup, she was definitely in Hang-Over City. It would pass but, for now, she was on a one-way street through Hell.
Sitting up, she closed her eyes as her head hammered, and then she happened to glance to her right, and saw Ace, as a cat, passed out on the pillow...no, wait, he wasn't passed out, he was about to...
"Oh no, Ace-Chan!" Emma cried, grabbing the cat and, not really caring if her parents found out about this or not, rushed him out of her room and into the bathroom, where she practically threw him into the bath-tub, just in time.
As Ace was being sick, Emma heard the phone ring and, clutching her aching head, stumbled down the hall and into the kitchen, where she picked up the phone.
"Hel-hello?" She groaned.
"How are you feeling?" Her Mum's voice asked.
"Like I've been hit by a truck." Emma responded, sinking to her knees and resting her head against the recess wall.
"Well, that's what you get." Lee laughed gently. "Don't worry, it's perfectly fine to go out to a party and get drunk."
"It is?"
"Yes, as long as you don't do it at home." Lee replied, pointedly.
Emma grimaced. "So, you're not angry?"
"No, why would we be?"
"Oh, no reason." Emma moved her position, so that her back was to the wall. "Hey, where are you guys, anyway?"
"Dad and I decided to go to the Swan Valley today," Lee responded. "We're going wine-tasting, and we didn't think that you'd want to come."
"You got that right." Emma muttered.
"Okay, well, we'll let you go now." Lee took the hint. "Have a good day."
"Yeah, you too." Emma replied. "Bye, Mum."
"See you later." Lee responded, and both of them hung up.
Emma sighed, and closed her eyes, just as Ace came into the kitchen.
"Who was that?" He asked, swaying slightly.
"My Mum." Emma replied, not opening her eyes. "Seems she and Dad have gone out for the day..."
"That's good." Ace replied, lying down on the floor.
Emma, meanwhile, stood up. "Come on, let's get rid of these hang-overs."
"You can do that?" Ace questioned, not moving.
Emma shrugged. "Who knows. It's worth a try, after all, and I've got a few tips from my sister. Besides, we need to check in with the crew..." She reminded him.
Ace's eyes snapped open, and he got up and jumped onto the chair, and then onto the bench. "Okay then, Emiko, let's see what you've got!"
Ace looked doubtfully at the Vegemite on toast, and then at the Coke, and then at the Berocca, and then at the Panadol. He looked back up at Emma. "Umm, do I get to be human when I eat this, or do you want me to get that black stuff all over my face?"
"Hmm?" Emma glanced at him from behind her coffee cup, and then her eyes widened. "Mmm!" She swallowed. "Oh, yeah, right!" She touched a hand to her compass. "Here..."
When Ace was a human again, and Emma was back to drinking her honey-infused coffee, Ace took the Berocca and started eating the toast, which had the strangest black stuff on it that he had ever seen.
They ate in silence, sitting side-by-side at the bench. Emma kept her left wrist out on the bench, and kept on staring at the Baby Den-Den Mushi, waiting for it to ring.
Ace glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes, as he munched on the toast that was actually pretty good, and noticed the worried look on her face.
He reached out, and took her left hand in his right.
She glanced at him, and saw him staring straight ahead. "Hey," he said. "Don't worry...if Sumi said that Oyaji had it under control, then he did."
"Hmm..." Emma nodded. "I know...hey, aren't you supposed to be the one worried here?"
He looked at her. "I'm more worried about you at the moment." He put his arm across her shoulder, and drew her over to him.
She rested her head on his shoulder. "The only thing you have to worry about with me at the moment is whether or not I'll be able to get down to the other end of the house to clean up the bathroom..."
"Ugh." They said in unison, drawing away from each other and resting their heads in their hands, with their elbows on the table.
They glanced at each other out of the corner of their eyes, and grinned.
"I'll clean the bathroom up." Ace offered, pushing his chair back.
"Oh, no, I'll..."
"I insist." Ace said firmly, holding up a hand. "After all, I'm the one who, uh...yeah...so, you just relax."
"Yeah, by doing the dishes..." Emma replied, rolling her eyes. "There's no rest for the weary..."
"Just be thankful we're not somewhere in the second half of the Grand Line, being attacked by Neptunians when we're feeling like this." Ace pointed out.
Emma nodded sagely. "It could always be worse."
"Exactly."
Emma put the dishes in the dishwasher, and stared at her wrist some some, willing the Baby Den-Den Mushi to wake up, and ring, and for Sumi or Luffy or Nami to be on the other end...heck, she'd even want to hear from Law at the moment!
To distract herself, at least until Ace finished cleaning up the bathroom, Emma checked in with the dog (asleep in the laundry, behind his gate) and opened the sliding doors, letting the warm air in from outside. She then turned on the TV, going over and dusting off the screen, hoping that wouldn't see anything bad. As she flicked over to the morning news, she considered what she might see - North Korea Launches Missile At America...Another Terrorist Bombing...Another Girl Killed In Perth...
"Last night off the coast of Coogee, the Navy was involved in a scuffle with the same pirate ship that appeared off the coast of Dunsborough a few weeks ago." Emma dropped the remote, which clattered to the floor. She remained frozen in front of the TV, kneeling between it and the coffee table. "This footage was captured, and we warn, some viewers may be disturbed by this presentation." Emma gasped silently.
"Last night, a Naval warship opened fire on the large ship with the whale figurehead, only to find themselves faced with nothing the world has ever seen before." The presenter was saying, as images were shown of explosions rocking the Moby Dick, much to Emma's horror. Then, the scene shifted, to show a figure that looked suspiciously like Marco flying into the air, and unleashing a flame that stopped the rest of the attacks. "A man with wings of fire unleashed a wave of fury upon our Naval ship. We're not sure how or why, but this actual, raw footage you are seeing, unedited and one hundred percent true." The scene then showed Whitebeard, standing at the bow of the ship, and he unleashed his own powers on the Naval Ship. "This is a direct attack on Australian Defence Forces, but the Government has assured everyone that they have this under control, and that there is no cause for alarm."
Emma had tears in her eyes, and the tears spilled over and ran down her face, just as Ace came in, and just as the last part of the presentation was shown.
"The ship with the whale figure-head disappeared at the end of the long and very gruelling battle." The presenter said. "So far, there are only minor injuries on the Navy's part. It seems that the pirates were only attempting to defend their ship and escape, and this last message was recorded from a boy on the ship, wearing a straw hat. He flew through the air with six others. What you are about to hear is the straw hat boy's own words."
And, a picture was shown of Luffy, using his Gomu-Gomu powers to fly through the air with Nami, Chopper, Sumi, Usopp, Zoro and Law.
Zoro was trying to hang onto his swords, Law was looking bored, Nami looked terrified and so did Usopp, Chopper was flailing, and Sumi's hair was flying out behind her...or, was that something else behind her?
Luffy shouted something out for the whole world to hear:
"Emmy! Nii-San! We're okay, and we'll see you soooon!"
"We have no way of knowing what this message means. There appear to be things going on that we can't explain, but we will let you know, and keep you posted, as soon as more information comes to light. In the meantime, there is no cause for alarm, as the ship appears to have vanished."
Emma suddenly leaned forwards, her shoulders shaking as tears ran down her face.
Ace hurried over to her and knelt down beside her. "Hey, Emiko..."
"Ace-Chan!" Emma sobbed, but he heard the happiness and relief in her voice, as well. "They're okay...but...what's going to happen now? The Navy attacked them, not the other way around...and now people will recognize them..."
"It'll be okay." Ace assured her, patting her back in a comforting way. "You saw for yourself, they're okay..."
"But...oh my God, I should be comforting you, Ace-Chan, not the other way around!" Emma realised, looking up at him.
Ace grinned. "Nah, I'm fine. As soon as I heard Luffy say that he was fine, I knew he was. It'll be okay."
Emma nodded, and suddenly realised how close they were. Ace was right up close to her, and his face was suddenly mere inches away from hers.
As they kissed again, Emma felt that same warm feeling inside her chest that she had felt the other two times they'd kissed. She tried to remember what her sister had said about kissing, and about what she'd read in magazines and on the internet...she moved her hands up to rest on Ace's well-toned, very warm chest, and his hands snaked around her waist, under her pyjamas top (the ones that had a check-list that read: I Like: My bed/sleeping in/dreaming of you/all of the above, and the last one was checked).
Emma gasped, blushing slightly, as Ace ran his hands up her back, and her skin tingled where he was touching. She'd never experienced this before...but she liked it. She ran her hands up his chest, and looped them around his neck. For some odd reason, she didn't feel as embarrassed as she'd always thought that she would if she was doing this...something about being with Ace felt as natural as breathing...which, they weren't doing a lot of right now.
As they drew apart, Emma remembered hearing about something on the show Seventh Heaven, and she said: "Ace-Chan...there's something we have to try later..."
Ace leaned back in, his nose touching hers. "Why not try now?" He whispered, and they moved towards each other.
Just then, the sliding door was slammed open, nearly being thrown off its hinges.
Emma and Ace jumped apart, gasping, as Garp stood there, his face furious.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TWO DOING?!" He shouted, readying his fist.
As Ace gasped, and moved to shield Emma from the 'Fist Of Love', she cried: "Not in the house!"
Garp froze, and then sighed. He sat down on the ground...and promptly fell asleep.
Emma stole a glance at Ace, and blanched - he was asleep too!
Emma rolled her eyes, and got up carefully, deciding to just leave the two of them there. Then, thinking better of it, she transformed them both into cats - at least she would be able to separate them if they were felines!
"So, that's what happened?" Garp sighed, settling himself on the sofa chair. Emma had refused to turn him and Ace back into humans and so, for now, they were going to have to make do with being cats.
Emma nodded, from where she was curled up on the second sofa chair, looking at her would-be Grandpa. "Mmhmm...I'm really worried, but...well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see." Her arms were resting on the side of the sofa chair, and her head was resting on her knuckles. Her hang-over wasn't quite gone yet, but it was getting there.
Garp nodded, too. "Yes, that's all you can do. I have an idea of where my grandson might be...will you two be coming with me this afternoon?" He asked.
Emma shook her head, as the black cat that was Ace jumped up onto the couch with her, and crawled up to her arms, resting the top of his head against her chin.
"No, I've gotta meet the parents." Ace explained.
"Oh yeah, that'll be a bit different." Emma said, and the two of them chuckled.
Garp stared at them for a moment, before he sighed. "I see how it is. So then, I assume that you two will either want to get married in this world or the other one."
"No, we're going to get married in outer space." Emma said sarcastically, and then she gasped, as Ace froze in her arms. "Wait, what?! Married?! Me?! A wife?! The wife of the coolest pirate ever?!" She jumped up, managing to land neatly by the glass doors. 'He hasn't even met my parents yet, and you're betrothing us?! I...I need to go and get dressed!" She blushed at the fact that she was wearing pyjama shorts and a top that had a checklist, with the last one ticked.
I Like:
My bed.
Sleeping in.
Dreaming of you.
All of the above!
Of course, if she could just start dreaming of Ace a little more than she dreamed of a certain horrific and evil man, then she would be a lot happier!
As she beat a hasty retreat, she stopped in the hallway, and flattened herself against the wall, listening.
"Why the Hell did you have to go and say that to her, Ojichan?!" Ace snapped.
"I'm doing you a favour, you ungrateful brat!" Garp retorted.
"We've only just started going out!"
"So then, you don't want to marry her, is that it?"
"I didn't say that! Stop putting words into my mouth, old man!"
"How DARE you speak to your Grandfather like that! I want great-grandkids that actually respect me, and will grow up to be Marines, unlike you and your brother!"
"Mine and Emiko's kids are going to be pirates!"
"A-HA! So you do admit it, you little spore! I won't let them become pirates, though! You two will get married at Marine Headquarters and have six children, three boys and three girls, and they're all going to become Marines!"
"Stop deciding our future for us!"
Emma covered her mouth to avoid laughing - she suddenly had a very happy feeling inside of her, as if a giant balloon was swelling up inside of her. Perhaps it was the Berocca, or perhaps it was the fact that she suddenly had a tiny pinprick of hope in her future but, whatever the reason, she felt like she could face anything that the day threw at her.
Little Death walked by herself along a high stone wall. To one side of her, there was a Marine base. To her other side, there was the sea.
Little Death looked out at the waves, and frowned. The pint-sized goddess was not in a good mood. More than half of the Allies had been found by now, which meant that they were more than halfway to stopping her in her tracks. Oh, how Little Death wished that she could just destroy Emma and the others but, if there was one thing that she couldn't do, even more so than transporting other people to and from worlds (she had already broken that rule once, with Sakazuki, and Twister had been able to find her because of it), it was killing any one of the Chosen Ones.
Little Death remembered, like it was yesterday, her Mother telling her about the Chosen Ones.
"The Chosen Ones may not always reside in the same realm as each other, but the bond that unites them is unbreakable. It is a powerful and sacred bond that will continue for all of time."
Little Death remembered, she had only been eighty-two years old at the time, still with short hair and not quite freed from the flower that had born her when her parents created her. not all Immortals were created this way - Little Death had been a special case.
"But why? What makes the Chosen Ones so special?"
Little Death had asked her mother this. Her beautiful Mother, with hair as black as pitch and beautiful scarlet eyes that matched the blood-colour of her lips, and skin as pale as the snow. Truly a treasure, even amongst the Immortals...
"Because they are united under one Grace - under the Grace of their Princess. She is more gentle than the rolling waves, yet more powerful than a tempest...she is more beautiful than starlight, and will forge the alliance of her Allies under one light."
These were the words spoken by Little Death's Mother...her beautiful Mummy...her unreachable Mummy...
Little Death remembered how she had aspired to be like her Mother but then, as time went on, she had heard her Mother speak often of this Princess. Little Death had started to feel strange, like something was gnawing at her chest. It had not gone away...it had only grown stronger...
When Little Death had learned of the new Chosen Ones, and discovered that Emma was one of them, she didn't care whether or not Emma was the Princess. Because, Ms. Faith had given her the necklace and the compass, and instructed her to gather the other Allies and find the Princess.
Little Death knew who she was - she was the goddess of the Underworld, and could kill anyone she wished (well, almost anyone she wished) with just a quick kiss. She could sever body parts as she wished. She was death itself, and she knew it. It was her job to kill things, things which should not exist. Otherwise, why else would she have been created?
"I know," Little Death smiled, showing pointed fangs. "I should just go and kill Emma's entire family, and all of her non-Chosen One friends...that'll show her who she's dealing with!"
I must advise against that, Little Death.
Little Death froze, the smile sliding off her face, which had suddenly paled. There it was...that voice again...the one that she'd been listening to since that day...she didn't dare to question it, for fear of what terrible misfortune would befall her if she did.
Little Death stared down at her reflection and, for an instant, something dark was hovering at the back of her, a monstrous shape.
Little Death gasped, and spun around, but there was nobody there.
She was all alone.
"I can do this..." Little Death said, breathing heavily. "It's what I was created to do...I can do this..."
"Oh my God, I'm so nervous! I can't do this, Ace-Chan!" Emma exclaimed, from where she was lying on the couch, clutching a yellow couch cushion.
"Mmhmm." Ace said wisely, from where he was sitting on the coffee table. "And, tell me why not."
Emma peeked at him from behind her couch cushion. "What if they don't like you?" She asked him in a small voice.
Ace just stared at her. "That's what you're worried about?" She nodded. "Emiko, let me tell you, where I'm from, people not liking me is practically a given. In fact, I can count the number of times on no hands that I've ever cared what people think about me."
"Yes, well, let me tell you, Ace-Chan, this is one of those times that you should." Emma replied. She sat up suddenly, as the clock struck five. "Oh my God, we shouldn't be sitting inside when my parents come home! Come on!"
"Why not?" Ace wanted to know, as she grabbed his hand and dragged him out the front.
"Because it's highly inappropriate!" Emma told him, shaking her head as she shut the door behind them, and then frowned.
"I've been inside the house before, remember?" Ace pointed out.
"Yeah, but they don't know that." She replied. Then: "Ace-Chan...I think we're locked out..."
"You're kidding, right?"
She turned around, a sheepish smile on her face. "I wish that I was."
Ace rolled his eyes...and then he pounced on her!
"Hey!" She cried, as she was tackled playfully to the ground. "Wait a minute!" She gasped, and then started giggling, as he started tickling her on the sides. "No, wait, stop, I'm ticklish!"
"Oh, I know that now!" Ace grinned.
"Oh, come on, have mercy!" She begged him.
He leaned down, his face just above hers. "I'm a pirate - we don't show mercy." He whispered.
"Ace-Chan, you're evil!" She complained, still giggling, and then she happened to glance over at the driveway. She saw, coming down the street, that familiar black car, and her heart just about stopped. "My parents are home!" She gasped.
Ace glanced over his shoulder, and then he reacted fast, by grabbing her hand and yanking her up as he jumped up, getting them both seated on opposite sides of the little glass table that was on the front porch, and managing to make it look like they'd just been sitting there casually.
Well, Ace looked casual. He was (thank goodness) wearing a black shirt, and black jeans. He looked totally at ease, sitting back in his chair, with one leg crossed over the other.
Emma, meanwhile, was sitting in her chair, shaking so much that the chair shook with her. Her hands were crossed in her lap, and she was wearing black jeans and a black singlet...it took her a moment to realise that she and Ace were dressed similar, and she groaned inwardly. Oh yeah, this is not suspicious at all...
Emma and Ace watched as the black Hyundai slowed to a stop, and then the passenger door opened, and Lee got out.
"This is it..." Emma whispered, and Ace glanced at her quickly, noticing how pale she looked.
As Bruce drove the car towards the garage, Lee began to walk towards her youngest daughter and her boyfriend...
Emma's mouth had gone dry. She tried to swallow, and found that she couldn't. Her Mother seemed to speed-run up to the porch but, in reality, Lee was actually walking pretty slowly, giving herself time to assess the situation, and also giving her daughter time to prepare herself. Lee had been in Emma's position before - she knew how nervous Emma must be feeling right now.
Lee felt a thrill of anticipation - this could be the moment that she'd been waiting for!
As Lee approached, she watched for the classic signs of 'Daughter About To Introduce First Boyfriend To Mum', and there they were - clenched hands, crossed ankles, pale face...
Emma opened her mouth. "Hll..."
And sudden inability to talk.
Yup, this was Emma's boyfriend, alright.
Lee couldn't believe it. Emma had a boyfriend? Little Emma, who still had stuffed animals and who still watched kids cartoons...had a boyfriend?
No, Leonie, now let's not jump to conclusions, the blonde-haired woman told herself. This could all just be something else... During the walk up there, she had been checking this guy out to get an idea of what she was up against here. Black hair, kind of messy...cute freckles across the face, and warm brown eyes...tall but not too tall, which was good news for her daughter...hmm, well-toned body...
Lee could see that, even underneath the shirt, which looked suspiciously like one of Mike's old ones, but she chose not to mention this, and instead stopped when she was at a suitable distance away, and smiled. "Hello." She said.
Lee could read the look on Emma's face. It said: That's all she's going to say?! She's making me explain the situation here?!
Lee watched as Emma and this strange young man stood up, and exchanged a glance. Lee watched this taking place, and noted a few things, as Emma approached her, followed by the stranger.
"Mum," Emma said, only half-looking at Lee. "This is...Ace, my...b-boyfriend." Her face was pale now.
OH MY GOD! Lee thought, but she kept her face neutral, as this 'Ace' stuck out his hand, and she shook it. "It's nice to meet you, Ace...?"
Emma blinked, and then said: "Umm...Gold. His last name is Gold."
Was it just Lee, or did Ace's expression freeze for a fraction of a second when Emma said this, before he smiled warmly. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Pax."
"Call me Lee." She replied, and she saw Emma breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that Ace had passed the first test - a few of Sarah's boyfriends hadn't even gotten that far. "So, when did you get here?"
"His mates d-dropped him off about an h-hour ago, because I wanted you t-to meet h-him today." Emma stammered, fiddling with her compass.
Lee watched as Ace followed the movements of Emma's hands, and then his eyes widened slightly, and she looked up at him, and he shook his head slightly. Then, her eyes widened, and she dropped her hands to her sides.
Lee had noticed that compass before, but had forgotten to ask her daughter about it. Not wanting to do it in front of a guest, she said: "I'll be back in a minute, I'll just go and get my husband - he'll want to meet you, too." She added, and walked towards the house, but not before giving her daughter a quick Look. She then tried to open the front door. "What the...?"
"Uh, sorry Mum, I kind of...locked us out..."
Lee had a sudden suspicion that those two had been in the house just minutes, or even moments, before she and her husband had come home. She'd been there, and done that, after all.
Bruce was waiting for Lee in the kitchen.
"Well?" He asked.
Lee just looked at him, and the two of them stared into each others eyes, brown into blue, for a moment, before Bruce nodded that he understood.
Silently, the two of them crept into the dining room, and carefully peered out of the window.
Emma and Ace were standing in the exact same spot that they'd been left at, and Ace was shaking his head.
Emma hung her head, and said something to him. She then looked up, because Ace had gone very still, and his eyes were closed.
"Whaa!" Lee and Bruce heard their youngest daughter yell. She grabbed Ace's shoulders and shook them. "No falling asleep, you narcoleptic cat man! I need you to still be awake when you meet my Dad!"
Ace shook his head, and Lee and Bruce realised, with a start, that he really had just been asleep.
He looked down at Emma, and then tilted his head to the side and grinned.
Emma stared back up at him, and then her face turned red, and she smiled slightly.
Ace reached up, and touched a hand to the side of her face, where the bruising was only barely visible. She leaned her face slightly to him, and he used his fingers to brush her hair behind her ears.
"He's very gentle with her." Lee whispered. "But, at the same time, it looks like he can be quite strong but, for some reason, she doesn't seem afraid of him."
"Mmm." Bruce nodded.
"Look at the way he's looking at her...I can't quite place it..." Lee went on. "But, he seems to be...protective over her...there's that look in his eyes, like he's got something important that he won't ever let go of..."
"Mmm." Bruce agreed.
"Also, just look at the way she's moving around him..." Lee pointed out. "Watch..."
And, as the two parents watched, Ace let go of Emma, and gestured that they should sit down on the limestone wall. As he moved, so too did she, and they sat down together. Ace looked completely at ease, with his legs crossed Indian-style. Emma was sitting right next to him, one leg stretched out to the side, and her other one tucked up close, similar to a leg stretch.
Ace said something then, and Emma laughed - not her shy and insecure little giggle or the fan-girlish way that she laughed when watching her favourite anime...no, this was a real and genuine laugh.
"She's already comfortable around him." Bruce noted, straightening up. "Well then, let's go and meet him..."
In just under an hour, Lee and Bruce had already drawn their conclusions about 'Ace Gold'. He was polite, funny and friendly. They weren't so sure, however, that they quite believed what their daughter was telling them.
In Emma's words, she and Ace had met at TAFE - he was three years younger than her, but in a different class. They had met a few months ago, but had only just started going out. This was Ace's first time at the house. He lived in Fremantle, with his Grandfather.
When Lee heard this, she dared to approach a topic that she thought might be a bit risky, so she did it cautiously. "What about your parents?" She said it in a non-obtrusive way, giving Ace the option of not answering.
Ace looked away, and then glanced at Emma, who nodded encouragingly. Ace turned back to Lee, and looked her in the eye. "My old man died before I was born, and my Mother died a few minutes after I was born. So, I never knew my Mother, or him."
Lee nodded sympathetically. She'd lost her Father when she was twenty-one, and her Mother had died eight years ago. She couldn't imagine losing both parents before life had even started. She also noticed the differences between the ways that Ace spoke about his parents. Obviously, there were circumstances surrounding this. "Any brothers or sisters?"
Ace brightened at this - Lee noticed the way his eyes lit up. "Yeah, I've got a younger brother." He laughed, and Emma grinned. Obviously, she had met this younger brother. "He's a bit of a handful at times, but he's a good kid!"
Lee turned to Emma. "So, you've met him?"
Emma nodded. "Umm, yeah...I've got a few friends that I...haven't told you about yet, Mum..."
"And, when do I get to meet all of these friends?" Lee wanted to know.
Emma and Ace exchanged a glance, and then Emma replied: "Whenever...they live in Fremantle..." She made a big show of checking her watch (Lee noticed the strange, snail-like bracelet that she was wearing, as well) and then added: "Come to think of it, we'd better be going - I'm dropping Ace back at home."
"Oh, but won't you say for tea?" Lee questioned.
Ace's eyes lit up. "Sur-"
"NO!" Emma cried, taking them all by surprise. She grabbed Ace's hand and yanked him up. "That wouldn't be a very good idea, because of what we talked about!" She hissed, and then noticed that her Mother was staring at her strangely. She laughed, a little nervously. "Ah, Ace's Grandpa will get annoyed if we, uh, I mean if he doesn't...you know, get home in time for tea!" She was hanging onto Ace's arm like it was a lifeline. "You know how it is, I mean, Ace's Grandpa was in the military...ah, anyways, uh..." She then glanced at Ace, and realised that he'd fallen asleep standing up - again. She face-palmed, and sat down again.
"Emma, is everything okay?" Lee asked gently.
Emma nodded. "Mmhmm. Ace is just narcoleptic...he falls asleep at the worst of times."
"He seems nice." Lee smiled. She suddenly pulled her daughter into a fierce hug. "I'm so happy for you!" She then whispered: "I need to talk to you later."
Emma cringed - Lee's words sounded more like a warning. She should have known this would happen, but at least her Mother was happy for her.
Bruce was also smiling.
Ace woke up suddenly. "So, what were we saying?"
Emma sprung up again like she was on fire. "We were just saying that we should be leaving!" She dragged him towards the laundry. "Come on, you!" She added: "Mum, I'll call you when I leave Ace's house!"
"Bye Lee! Bye Mr Pax! It was nice meeting you!" Ace added.
Lee and Bruce just watched them both go, thinking how strange the situation was.
"I get the feeling she's not telling us something." Lee muttered.
"Mmm." Bruce agreed.
Emma stopped the car in a nearby street, and leaned back in her seat.
"You okay?" Ace asked her.
Emma nodded. "Yeah...I think so...I just needed to get out of there. They were asking too many questions. I guess I just panicked."
"Nice to know you keep your head cool in a situation like this." Ace remarked, and Emma glanced at him. He was frowning.
"What is it?" Emma asked tentatively. Had she said something wrong?
Ace sighed. "It's just...why did you tell them my name was Ace Gold?"
"Because if I'd said Portgas D. Ace, my Dad would've known who you were." Emma replied.
"You could've used a name other than Gold." Ace pointed out.
"I don't think well under pressure." Emma mumbled.
"That's for sure." Emma stared down at her hands, and Ace glanced at her. "Hey, what is it?"
Emma glanced up at him. "My parents really seemed to like you..." She said shyly. "Actually, I think that they're just happy that I finally met someone...so...please don't be...upset with me..."
Ace's eyes widened. "Whoa, hang on, who said I was upset? Sure, I wish that you'd picked a different name, preferably something cool like Solarstorm or Flareup, but I'm not upset with you!"
"Solarstorm?" Emma raised an eyebrow.
"Or Flareup."
They looked at each other, and started laughing.
Ace grinned at Emma. "You know, it was kind of cute how flustered you got back there, Emiko." Emma blushed. Ace leaned closer. "And there it is..." He took off his seat-belt, and leaned even closer. "I'm glad your parents approved of me - it makes it much easier for me to..."
Ba-da-ba-da-ba-da-ba-da. Ba-da-ba-da-ba-da-ba-da.
"Whaa!" They both leaped apart, and Emma shakily answered her Baby Den-Den Mushi. "Hel-hello?"
"HELLO, GRANDDAUGHTER!" Garp's voice came over the line, and Emma instantly felt sorry for the Baby Den-Den Mushi. " "GUESS WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW!"
"Uh..."
"I'M BACK IN FREMANTLE, AND GUESS WHO'S WITH ME!"
"Umm..."
Everyone's voices suddenly came from the background.
"Luffy, shishishishi!"
"Chopper!"
"Nami."
"Usopp."
"Sumiiii!"
"Zoro."
"And me."
"That was Law." Nami explained.
"Well duh."
"It sounds like an answering-machine." Emma muttered, and then gasped. "Wait, you're all okay!"
"Of course we are!" Luffy said. "Didn't you get our message?!"
"What we got was you screaming something as you flew through the air." Ace spoke up.
"Oh, Ace, you're there, too!" Luffy said gleefully.
"Of course I am." Ace mimicked. "I just met the parents." He added.
"How did it go, Ace-Kun?" Sumi wanted to know.
"Yes, tell us." Nami added eagerly.
"Well, they..."
But, Garp suddenly cut the conversation off, by yelling: "EXCUSE ME, YOU MORONS, BUT THIS IS MY CONVERSATION!" There was a slight scuffle, followed by a series of thwacks, and then Garp said, in a much calmer voice: "Now, granddaughter, no doubt you'll be wanting to get rid of that obnoxious grandson of mine, so I'll tell you where we are."
"Who're you calling obnoxious, you annoying rule-abider?!" Ace cried.
"WATCH YOUR TONE, YOU UNGRATEFUL LITTLE BRAT!" Garp yelled back.
"Hey, don't yell at Ace!" Luffy protested.
"Stay out of this!" Ace and Garp cried.
"Aww..."
Emma just leaned back in her seat, laughing.
"Wow..." Emma and Ace said in unison, staring up at the warehouse. What had once been an old and abandoned place was now, well, sparkling.
"I've driven past this place a few times, and I thought that it would take months for it to get to this level of sparkliness." Emma said, as she and Ace walked towards the building. "Your Grandpa really did a good job..."
"You mean he did a good job directing my little brother and his friends to clean it up for him." Ace rolled his eyes.
"Oh, yeah, right...I forgot."
They knocked on the roller-door, which was immediately opened up by a certain green-haired swordsman.
"Ace!" He said, accusingly. "Your Grandfather is insane!"
"Pity Ace and Luffy, who had to grow up with him." Emma remarked. "I'm glad everyone's okay, though."
Zoro just nodded. He had a few cuts and scrapes on him, but looked no worse for wear.
"What about the rest of the Whitebeard Pirates?" Ace wanted to know.
"You'd better ask Sumi." Zoro replied.
"Is she okay?" Ace asked, just a bundle of pink and blonde hit him.
"Ace-Kun!" Sumi cheered, hugging Ace around the waist. She looked up at him, her teal eyes sparkling. "We've been waiting for you guys!"
Ace grinned at her, and then tugged on one of her pigtails. "Hope you weren't too worried."
Sumi scowled up at him, rubbing the spot on her head where her hair had been tugged. "Not that much." She assured him, as Emma took a look around the warehouse.
It was a decent size, and looked like it had been used as some kind of a workshop in the past. Emma was sure that it had once looked run-down, but now everything had been cleaned up and fixed up. They were standing in a small entrance-way, leading to a hallway, which Zoro led them down. There were doors on either side, and Emma was willing to bet pretty much anything that they were being used as rooms for those staying here.
As Emma walked at the front with Zoro, Ace and Sumi walked behind and chatted about what had happened. Sumi was assuring Ace that the Whitebeard Pirates would be fine.
"Are you sure?" Ace sounded a bit worried. "What did Oyaji say?"
"Just that they'll come and find us when the time is right." Sumi replied.
"When the time is right?" Ace repeated. He rubbed the back of his head. "What does that even mean?"
Emma had turned around, and was walking backwards. "Oh, Ace-Chan, you know Whitebeard-Sama - he sounds like he doesn't really worry about anything but, deep down, you can tell that he's planning everything through and thinking about a lot. I'm sure he'll be fine." She smiled at him.
Ace blinked, and then nodded, returning the smile. "Yeah...I guess so...he always knows what he's doing."
Emma nodded, and then walked backwards into somebody very big. "Huh?" She looked up, and saw Garp staring down at her. "Oh. Hello, Grandpa."
"Hello yourself, Emma." He replied, crossing his arms as she moved away from him and turned around, standing by Zoro, Ace and Sumi. "I trust that my grandson was no trouble for your parents?"
Emma grinned, and shook her head. "Nope! No problem at all! They really liked him!"
Nami had stuck her head out of the doorway at the end of the hallway, and was smiling. "That's good." She said, and beckoned them all in. "Come on, hurry up if you want to eat before Luffy and Usopp get back."
"Oh? Where did they go?" Ace wanted to know.
"Just to get some supplies." Chopper said, appearing in the doorway by Nami's feet. "They should be back soon."
"And, umm...how are they...paying for these supplies?" Emma dared to ask.
From the way Nami and Sumi sighed, and Garp's disapproving Look, she realised that she didn't need any answer.
"I'm glad you left the roller-door up, Zoro." Nami added, as they walked into the make-shift kitchen, where a pot was boiling on the stove.
"Oh, why's that?" Zoro raised an eyebrow.
Nami rolled her eyes. "You know." She stressed, going over to the stove. She frowned. "I'm not as good at this as Sanji is..."
"I'm sure it'll be fine, Nami-Chan." Sumi told her confidently, seating herself down at the table which Emma didn't want to ask where had come from. "Of course, I've never tasted Sanji's cooking before, so I wouldn't know."
"Oh, it's the best!" Chopper chirped, climbing onto a stool so that he could watch what Nami was doing at the stove. "Not that yours won't be good too, Nami!" He added quickly.
Nami just nodded, and concentrated on her cooking, as she said: "Ne, Emma, will you be staying for tea?"
"I can't." Emma said ruefully, shaking her head. "I've got to get home and, uh...listen to what my parents have to say."
"So, how was it?" Law asked from the corner of the kitchen, where he was leaning against a wall - they hadn't even seen him!
Emma and Ace looked over at him. "It went fine, thank you." Ace said stiffly.
"I see." Law replied.
"They really seemed to like him." Emma added.
"Is that so?" Law glanced at her, his silver eyes smouldering slightly.
Emma stared back at him, suddenly mesmerized - why was it that every time he looked at her, she suddenly found herself captured by his gaze? She still hadn't forgotten how he had stolen her first kiss...he said that she owed him...for what? For him not killing Coby?
Was that the only reason that Law had kissed her, or...could it possibly be that...?
Zoro, Garp, Nami, Chopper and Sumi seemed to be oblivious to the fact that Emma and Law were currently involved in a silent staring contest. Only Ace seemed aware of it, and his insides burned but, before he could say anything, Nami suddenly spoke up.
"They should be back by now." She said, checking the clock on the wall (more stolen merchandise).
"Maybe our luck will hold out?" Zoro suggested, as he set the table.
"Well," Sumi stated. "Based on our recent run of luck I would have to disagree." She tapped a finger to her chin. "Observe..."
The sound of running footsteps could suddenly be heard from outside - it sounded like two sets of footsteps.
"They're baaack..." Sumi said, in a sing-song voice. "And, they're probably hungry." She added.
"GIVE ME FOOOOD!" Luffy's voice could be heard yelling.
"He'll probably use his Gomu-Gomu powers..." Sumi went on. "That should happen...now."
"GOMU-GOMU NO...SLING-SHOT!"
"He'll have grabbed Usopp and will be flying through the air..."
They all turned, to see Luffy and Usopp flying towards them, carrying bags of supplies.
"Then they'll probably crash into something, but I could be wrong." Sumi finished, as Luffy and Usopp flew into the kitchen, heading straight for Emma and Ace.
At the last second, Law leaped forwards and pushed Emma out of the way, landing with her gracefully at the other side of the kitchen, as Luffy and Usopp crashed into Ace.
Garp just stood with his arms crossed, staring at the chaos that happened, and trying not to lose his temper, but it was hard, especially when Luffy sprung up, and declared: "COOLEST ENTRANCE EVER!"
Garp was just about to say something in response to this, when Emma suddenly let out a yelp, and a pink glow filled the kitchen.
Her compass was suspended in mid-air out in front of her, and was projecting another holographic image.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at the image - Usopp and Chopper looked mesmerized, and Luffy looked eager to find his next Ally. Zoro and Nmai were just waiting, and Sumi was smiling.
Only Ace's eyes were on something other than the image - he was glaring at Law, who was sitting against the opposite wall with Emma practically sitting in his lap. Ace knew that there was no way that Law would've landed like that by accident, but Emma was too preoccupied with the image to notice where she was sitting.
The image showed a cat that was around the same size as Ace in his cat-form. It appeared to be a light colour, and had darker legs. Its tail was long and luxurious, and was reminiscent of a feather boa. There was a tuft of fur covering its left eye.
As they watched, the cat stretched, and rolled over onto its side on the big cushion it was lying on.
A hand reached out and petted the cat's neck, and it rubbed its head up against the hand.
The person picked up the cat and held it to her chest - the cat nuzzled up against her, and Usopp suddenly cried out: "Wait a minute! Rewind it, rewind it!"
Zoro rolled his eyes. "If I've said it once..." He muttered.
Emma shifted her gaze to Usopp. "Somebody you know, Usopp?"
He nodded. "Yes! At least, I'm pretty sure - that's Kya!"
"Kya?" Emma repeated, blinking, as the image faded. "As in, your friend from the village you grew up in?"
"Yes!" Usopp replied. "I'm sure that was her!"
"Will we be going to Usopp's home village next?" Chopper spoke up, sitting on the stool and swinging his legs out in front of him.
Emma and Luffy exchanged a glance, and then they nodded.
"We'll go tomorrow, I suppose." Emma said, standing up and moving so that she was facing everybody. She looked a little bit shy, being the center of attention. "I mean...I'll just tell my parents I'm spending the day with Ace...I'm sure that they'll let me."
"Well, here's hoping." Ace grinned, and held out his hand. "Want me to walk you out?"
Emma nodded, and was reaching for his hand, when Law interrupted.
"Emma-San," he said, getting to his feet as well. "I wonder if I might talk to you for a minute?"
"Yeah, sure." Emma replied.
"Outside." Law added pointedly, and this time Emma got it.
"Oh...umm, okay then..." She said slowly.
Ace looked annoyed. "About what?" He asked Law, a warning in his voice.
Law smirked. "If I could tell you that, then I wouldn't need to talk to her outside now, would I?" His smirk widened as Ace's scowl deepened. He walked to the door, and held out his hand, which Emma cautiously took.
"See you tomorrow, Emmy." Said Luffy, as his hand stretched and snaked around Nami to get to the cooking pot.
Nami slapped his hand away with a wooden spoon, but called cheerfully over her shoulder: "Have a good night, Emma!"
"Bye, Emma!" Garp, Usopp and Chopper chorused.
Emma smiled, as she walked down the hall but, the further away from the warm glow of the kitchen she got, the colder she felt. It didn't help that Law, walking beside her, had exceptionally cold hands. His grip was also very firm, and he appeared to be leading her out to her own car, not the other way around.
At last, when they were outside in the chilly air, he stopped and turned around.
"Okay, Law-San, what is it?" Emma wanted to know, wishing that he'd give her her hand back.
Law's gaze pierced into Emma's very soul, making her falter on whatever it was that she'd been planning to say to him after this. There was a strangely possessive look in his eyes, one that reminded her of a jaguar that was stalking its prey...or, an incubus.
"Have you forgotten," Law said to her in, a low voice. "That you owe me?"
"Owe you for what?" Emma snapped. "For sparing Coby's life? News flash, Law-San - you already stole my first kiss!" She instantly regretted having said that, because the look of surprise on the young surgeon's face told her that he hadn't been aware of that detail up until now, despite the fact that she'd told them that she'd never had a boyfriend.
Law then yanked her very close to him, so that she was pressed up against his chest, and she had to look up at him to see him - why was he so God damn tall?!
"I don't regret what I did." He informed her. A cold breeze drifted about them and, despite her warm clothes, Emma shivered. "Emma-San...did it ever occur to you that I may have liked you before he did?"
"Before who?" She muttered. "Ace-Chan?" She saw Law's eyes darken. "Why should you care who I'm going out with?"
"Because I want it to be me."
Whatever she'd been expecting to hear, it certainly hadn't been that! Emma's heart thudded in her chest, and she suddenly had a sinking feeling in the back of her mind. Oh no...it's Twilight-Syndrome! But...which one is Edward and which one is Jacob?
Law's expression darkened slightly, but his eyes were burning in a way that was very similar - and yet, so different - from Ace's. He put a hand under Emma's chin, and tilted it up, as he leaned down towards her. There was that medical disinfectant scent again. "And, I intend to get what I want, one way or the other."
His kiss was as unexpected as the last one had been, but there was a certain degree of fierceness to it this time, too. Like he was trying to make up for what he knew must've happened between Emma and Ace that day.
Emma, once again, was frozen to the spot, although she jumped a little bit when she felt the tip of Law's tongue trace against her bottom lip, and she found herself blushing despite herself.
She felt Law's hand leave her chin, and trail down her throat, before it stopped at the white scar on her neck. His hand lingered - he was curious.
Just then, as he drew back from her, something shiny came flying out of the darkness, catching Emma around the neck and half-dragging her away from Law.
"Emma-Chan!" Sumi chirped, the dark spell caused by Law's actions broken, much to Emma's relief. "I almost forgot to tell you - Nami-Chan and I are coming for a sleep-over soon, so you'd better hurry up and introduce us to your parents or else they'll be in for a surprise!"
"O-okay..." Emma stammered, feeling awkward and embarrassed and relieved, all at the same time. "I-I'd better be going now SUMI-CHAN, WHAT THE HELL ARE THOSE?!" She cried, pointing at Sumi in shock as she jumped back.
"Huh? Huh?" Sumi looked herself over, before glancing at her chest.
"No, not those, those!" Emma jabbed her finger at the two white, feathery appendages projecting from other side of the younger girl's back. "Are those...wings?!"
Sumi shrugged, like it was the most normal thing in the world. "Huh? Oh yeah, these - I ate the Hito-Hito No Mi, Model: Tenshi."
Well, that explained the small halo of light around the nurse's head, and the beautiful pearly-pinkish wings that just looked magnificent, but Emma still had one more thing to say. "You never told me that you had a Devil Fruit power, Sumi-Chan."
Sumi grinned. "You never asked." She replied.
Emma just shook her head. "Don't be pedantic, Sumi-Chan." She said, as she got into her car. Winding the window down, she added: "I'll see you tomorrow, Sumi-Chan...umm, Law-San...good night..." She said quietly, before driving away at nearly full-speed.
The nurse and the doctor watched her go, before Sumi turned to Law, her face suddenly darkening, and a fierce expression in her teal eyes. coupled with her wings, this made her look quite formidable, but Law was not afraid.
He just crossed his arms, as the blonde stated quietly, and in a dark and dangerous voice: "I'm watching you, Trafalgar Law. You will not ruin this for Ace-Kun, understand?"
"Transparently." Law smirked.
On-board the Moby Dick, Whitebeard sat on the deck, and watched as Marco, in his phoenix form, drew a circle on the deck with sacred flames. It was the duty of Mythical Zoan-Users, whether they liked it or not, to know this area of science, if you could call it that. Believing in the gods was one thing. Knowing how to communicate with them was another.
Marco had known of this ability for awhile, which was why he had done the research, and how he had come across one half of the compass that was now in Emma's possession. He didn't like the chances of Sengoku not knowing about this ability, which was why they were upping the ante.
When the circle was complete, Marco landed on the deck beside Whitebeard's chair, and waited.
At once, the thirteen candles that were placed at points around the magic circle were lit by themselves, and a golden vortex appeared from within the center of the circle. And, from within that vortex, came a figure.
It was a woman, one with flawless skin and soft dark brown hair. Her eyes, which were hazel-brown with blue speckles, were fixed on the two figures that had summoned her forth. She wore a long white dress, which was plain and had a scoop neck. A gold necklace with linked chains hung around her neck, and she wore a wedding band.
Her face was calm - there was no degree of pain or suffering that her face had held eight years ago, and she carried with her a beautiful and gentle grace.
"Hello, Marco." She said, in her gentle voice. "Edward." She added, nodding to him.
Edward nodded back to her, his yellow eyes gazing at her calmly. "Hello, Grace. You're looking well."
"The after-life does wonders for you, Edward - which, by the way, you would know, if a certain somebody hadn't interfered with the timeline." Grace stated. She smiled. "I knew that she would."
"I'm so very glad she did." Whitebeard replied. "It gives me the opportunity to keep an eye on those two brats."
Grace laughed, a beautiful sound. "Oh, come now, Edward, let us get down to business. I know that you did not call me forth just to talk about that." She sobered slightly. "You're worried about Infinity, aren't you?"
Author's Notes:
. OMFG, Ace met the parents...and, they actually APPROVED of him! -Insert Hallelujah chorus here-
. I want a Devil Fruit power like Sumi's...it lets her eavesdrop on strange conversations all the time!
KaiF . Raphaella - I'm glad that my story could brighten your bad day at school! Keep your chin up, girl!
WindWhistle21 - are they lucky or what? Don't feel like the bad guy JUST yet (that's Law in this chapter, for being too forceful again!). ^^
MsWildLuck - wow, that'll keep Boa busy for HOURS! Thanks for the review!
Mugiwara Wolf Spirite - I think that I shall run for the caves, as she might not think to look for me there! hopefully, Boa won't look there, either - what is it with you people and threatening to sic Boa Hancock on me all the time?! She'd ANNIHILATE me! And, yes, all of those security cameras are out to get them...damn those security cameras! *Shakes fist angrily*
Cocoa Liddell - when did Ace ever NOT do anything crazy?! Lol, you'll just have to wait and see! Thanks for reviewing!
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