Hello everyone, here is another one shot. This is a missing scene
This is Azurukos death
Hope you enjoy
Read and relax
Daisuke gave a sigh, massaging his face. He was tired, having needed to deal with the fact Azurukos time was coming close. The man had just collapsed an hour ago, and based on what Moira had said, it didn't look good. He should have had some years to go, that was what they had found out las time.
But now, now he only had a month, even if that.
Azuruko had been sick for about half a year now, starting as a normal cough, which only got worse and worse. When he had started to cough blood, Moira had done a check, her being able to use her devil fruit to check and heal. But what he had hoped to only be trauma from an old accident, was apparently the wasting sickness. And Moira could do nothing against that, she couldn't heal something that was deliberately eating away one's body from the inside out. it was a terrible disease, but Moira had said it wasn't as bad as it could be, going slow. Azuruko should have lived for years. But from the last check Moira did, the sickness had already torn through most of his lungs, and there was no cure. He knew his death would come, but he wasn't prepared for it to come so soon. He had hoped for at least a couple of years, not a couple of weeks to a month. But life wasn't fair.
With a small sigh, finished with some more research about the sickness, still finding nothing, he looked at the clock before standing up. Ace should have come back by now, and he knew Azuruko hadn't told him about being sick, not wanting to concern him since he had over a couple of years left, not wanting to burden the 16 year old. But now they would no longer hide it, Ace needed to know. And Daisuke knew it would devastate the kid, Azuruko was everything to him. Daisuke stood up and headed out, going to Aces room to find him, and somehow try to tell Azuruko was dying, fast. He didn't know how to tell the kid, but it needed to be done.
But after going and checking Aces room, Azurukos room, the roof and other places he usually was, he found no Ace.
He knew Ace was back, his assassin suit was in his room, but he didn't know where the kid was. He couldn't have gone far, he was somewhere around the base. As he was going and checking some other places he had been before, he met Moira. ¨Have you seen Ace?¨ The woman looked at him. ¨Is he back?¨ Daisuke nodded. ¨Assassin suit is in his room, but I haven't found him.¨ Moira gave a nod, before turning around, walking down the hall again. ¨I think I know where he is.¨ Daisuke gave a nod and followed the woman, giving a frown as they neared the infirmary. ¨Why are we going here? Ace isn't injured.¨ He should find Ace and tell him as fast as he could, not do other things. He would have liked to sit by Azuruko, but there was a lot to do.
Moira sent him a look, ¨You'll see.¨ He gave a sigh, but followed. When they got to the infirmary, there was still no Ace. The only one there was Azuruko, who was still unconscious in a bed. Just as he was about to tell Moira they should go look elsewhere, she walked up to Azurukos bed and moved the covers off.
And there was Ace. Having somehow found out Azuruko was here and laid down next to him, almost curled up against the man and was now asleep. He looked way younger than 16 right now.
Daisuke gave a sigh, not too surprised Ace had figured it out. He was smart and had probably tried to find the man after returning from the assignment, and checked here when he couldn't find it. He had a thought Ace might know Azuruko was sick, but not thinking it was as bad. Daisuke moved a hand to Aces head, thinking of waking him up and telling him. ¨Ace.¨ Ace made some small movement, pressing himself closer to Azuruko, but didn't wake up. With a small sigh as he was about to wake him up, Moira placed a hand over his, stopping him. ¨No., let him be for now. Azuruko will handle it when he wakes, I think that will be easier for Ace.¨ Daisuke gave a nod, Moira was right. It would be better if Azuruko took that conversation.
Moira looked at him, ¨Go do your work, I can stay here for a bit.¨ Daisuke gave a nod. There was a lot to do now, especially since Azuruko couldn't do it and he had to step in, the world still moved.
As he walked out of the infirmary, he wondered how things would be when Azuruko passed away. He could never replace what he did.
-x-
Ace laid half awake, laying close to Azuruko, who still hadn't woken up.
When he had returned from his assignment and tried to find the man, he couldn't. When he had gone by his room, he had found some blood splatter and headed to the infirmary, hoping he weren't here. He knew Azuruko wasn't a fan off infirmaries, so for him to be there was rare. But when he got there, Azuruko was unconscious, an oxygen mask over his face. Ace weren't stupid, he knew Azuruko had been ill. He had tried to hide it, but Ace still caught on on how he coughed a lot, was weaker at times and seemed to be in pain. He hoped it wasn't anything bad. Moira had left some minutes ago, seeing he was awake ad needing to do some things. She hadn't told him anything, and he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.
When he felt a hand come to his head, Ace pressed himself closer to Azuruko, feeling him taking a deep breath. ¨I'm sorry, Ace¨
Ace shook his head a bit. He knew why Azuruko hadn't told, it was to keep him from knowing, not wanting to burden him. ¨How bad?¨ He felt Azuruko give a sigh, the hand moving on his head. ¨A month, maybe. Probably two weeks.¨ Ace looked up at the man in shock, feeling some fear starting to settle. ¨W-what?¨
Azuruko gave a soft look, ¨I got about a month to live if I'm lucky.¨
Ace shook his head, not believing this, feeling tears start to well up in his eyes. ¨No.¨ Azuruko gave a small sigh. ¨I'm sorry, I should have told before now.¨ Ace shook his head more. ¨No, Moira can- can do something.¨ Azuruko shook his head, ¨She have tried. There is no cure.¨ Ace shook his head, trying to think of something. ¨I-I can try to do the same as- as I did to- to Dust! I can- can.¨ Ace stopped when Azuruko moved a hand to his cheek, ¨No. I now this is hard, but it's my time to go soon.¨ Ace shook his head, feeling tears starting to fall down his cheeks. When Azuruko tried to wipe them away, Ace moved his head down to press it into his chest, giving a sob. He wasn't ready for him to leave, not now, not this fast. He felt Azuruko move his hand to his head stroking it. Ace gave another sob, using a hand to clutch his shirt. ¨Don't die. Don't leave me alone. Please.¨ He felt the hand move on his head, the other hand moving to his back.
¨I'm sorry, Ace.¨ Ace continued to shake his head, giving out sobs. He wasn't ready for the man to die.
-x-
Ace stood out by the cliff, Daisuke, Moira, Trevor, Raiden and Mika also present. They had just sealed the grave to Azuruko, the man dying last night, slowly sleeping in and never to wake again.
Ace had almost always stayed by Azurukos side the last three weeks, trying to come to term with him leaving, which he never really did. He managed to process it some, but was nowhere near ready to let the man that had been his mentor for so long go away so soon. Azuruko had been everything for Ace the last years. He was only a mentor at the start, taking him in to train him, nothing more. But he had ended up being everything for Ace, not just a mentor. He had been a mentor, teacher and everything, Ace viewing him as a father at times.
And now he was gone, and Ace had no idea how to handle that.
The would let the other who wanted to come and say goodbye to Azuruko up later, for now it was only them, those who had been the longest around. Ace stood next to Daisuke and Trevor, everyone giving a moment of silence for the man who had made everything manageable, not only for him, but for everyone. He had been the one to help them and make sure things was right, being a mentor and friend for all of them. But Azuruko had taken him more in than the others, him being like the child he never got. The others were more like friends.
After some minutes, Daisuke said some more words, before ending the small ceremony, when it did, Ace left before anyone could say anything, not being able to keep himself together much longer. When he reappeared on an uninhabited island, it didn't even take a second before Ace fell down to his knees, sobs already leaving him.
He had no idea how to go on right now. He felt alone.
-x-
Ace stayed away for an entire day, staying on Mara island for most of it, staying with his and Azurukos horse, Stacy being a painful reminder he was gone, but he liked it on the island and he wasn't ready to face others yet. It was also good, to try to come to terms with everything, although he knew it wouldn't happen, not for a long time. But he needed to try.
After staying away for an entire day, Ace left and headed to Boreumdo, going inside his and his brothers house.
As soon as he was inside, he noticed there weren't any lights on. It was late, so his brothers were most likely asleep. After going inside and taking his shoes off, he headed towards Luffys room instead of his own. As soon as he got inside the room, he noticed Luffy asleep in his bed, Sabo not laying too far away on the other side of the black haired kid. With a half blank face, trying not to let go of anything, Ace walked up to the bed and laid down, bringing his hands around Luffy, bringing him into a hug, keeping him close, leaning his head down to Luffys. He felt Luffy make some movement, half waking up. ¨Ace..?¨
Ace shook his head, tightening his hands around Luffy, closing his eyes. He felt Luffy make some more small movement, before he felt arms coming around him, holding him back. He wouldn't normally show this side of him to Luffy, but he couldn't stay away too long either, and he could keep it together, he just wanted to keep him and Sabo close to know they was still here, he wasn't entirely alone, Luffy and Sabo was still here. It wasn't long before he felt a hand come to lay over him and Luffy, giving some support, Ace knowing it was Sabo. Sabo knew Azuruko was sick, Ace having told him a couple of weeks ago, so he had probably figured out what had happened and why he was down like this.
He stayed the entire night holding around his brothers, bringing Sabo into the hug after a while, just to feel a bit better. They didn't seem to mind thankfully, Sabo giving a worried look now and then, but that was it. The next day, Ace stayed home with his brothers, keeping them close, Luffy staying in his lap and arms around him most of the time, but he felt better, trying to pretend everything was fine.
Ace could do this, he could keep this up. He could keep pretending everything was fine, he could do that for his brothers.
-x-
Daisuke gave a sigh. Ace had not been seen for almost 4 days, leaving straight after the ceremony for Azuruko. Daisuke could see he was close to losing the mask he had, and had probably left, not wanting to show the pain to them, Ace never liked that, never did that to any of them, only to Azuruko. He was starting to get a bit worried, not having heard anything from him for days. He was thinking Ace might not come back, maybe just quit everything with them. He would understand if he did, Azuruko had been the one to keep him gong. But he still hoped Ace would return. Not just because he was the best, but because Daisuke liked to have him around as a friend too. They weren't as close as he had been with Azuruko, actually nowhere close to that, but he still liked the kid. He didn't want to leave him alone after this, even though he might quit being an assassin, he hoped Ace would drop by now and then.
He was taken out of his thoughts by a knock on the door, and to his relief, Ace walked in.
Daisuke kept a relieved breath in, glad to see Ace, to see he was still here. He did have his assassin outfit on, so he might still be working with them, or more like doing it like he had been doing, going solo for most, but close to them. Before Daisuke could speak, Ace placed a folder on the desk. ¨From the Dranchis brothers.¨ Daisuke gave a nod, this meant Ace would still work. He looked at Ace, ¨Thank you.¨ Ace gave a nod, and turned around to leave. Daisuke stood a bit up in his seat. ¨Ace, are y-,¨ Ace cut him off, ¨I'm fine. Let's just keep on going.¨ Daisuke wanted to argue, Ace was nowhere close to fine. Not only had he been gone for almost 4 days, but his eyes showed his pain and sadness, his posture way more stoic and forced than normal.
But Ace wouldn't let him in, he knew that. He never let anyone in. If he was lucky, he might get closer, get to a point where he could be there for Ace, but now he was nowhere close to that. Daisuke gave a nod, ¨Okay, Ace. Stay safe.¨ Ace gave a nod, heading to the door. When he was about to open it, Daisuke gave a small sigh, knowing this wouldn't do much, but he still needed to say it. ¨Ace, you can talk to me. About anything.¨ Ace didn't look at him as he nodded, before leaving, not saying anything.
Daisuke gave a small sigh again as he sat down. This was clearly hard for Ace, and he knew it would be. He only hoped Ace wouldn't keep it all inside. But then again, Ace never let anyone in other than Azuruko.
But he would do his best, he would do it for Azuruko and Ace. He would try the best he could.
And that's the chapter, hope you enjoyed
And it was a bit from both Ace and Daisukes view, it was the best way I could come up with to tell it the best way. And this is also a bit early out, but it needed to be posted close to the main chapter about the anniversary of Azurukos death
If you have any requests, don't be afraid to leave them as a comment. Or you can send a PM, I'm a nice person and won't bite
And if you have the time, I really do appreciate feedback