Gun warning. Violence. Drugs. Swearing. Don't read if any of these trigger. Let me know if you want something removed and I can make you a clean copy.

XXX

Sunlight streamed through the treetops as the leaves rustled overhead, forming patterns of shade on the worn wooden steps. As the wind moved the leaves the patterns melded and formed like a kaleidoscope on the ground.

Ace watched them dance across the grass, his tail thumping with interest. Every now and then he would get up and chase them. But right now he had done that enough and he was sleepy.

He rested his head on Rouge's lap as she trailed her feet in the tall grass. They were outside, with the sun shining above them and the clouds passing overhead across an infinite blue sky.

Rogues small radio was beside her, playing static-filled songs far from the past. Rogue loved the old ones. She always said songs were like wine, they got better the older they were.

She brought her hand down to pet his head and he stretched out, pressing his face further into her leg as she found the spot behind his ear.

"I don't know what I'm to say.

"I'll say it anyway."

She sang along halfheartedly, and Ace flicked his ears in disinterest. He didn't understand her obsession with music. He liked the sounds of the trees and the water and the grass when it rustled. The last thing he wanted was more humans talking. The exception being his mom. He listened when she sang. He liked her voice; it wasn't loud or clear or high pitched like most of them. Hers was low and sometimes a bit hoarse. It was better.

She did everything better than the other humans.

"Todays another day to find you"

"Shying away. I'll be coming for your love- okay?"

Roger was at work. He was always at work. Ace didn't mind so much anymore. He liked it when it was just him and his mom.

She noticed he was looking up at her and smiled, bringing her hand to touch his nose.

"Say after me. It's no better to be safe than sorry" She sang the words to him now, no longer halfhearted.

Ace shifted, rising from her lap to sit up. She laughed as he tried to lick her nose with his puppy tongue.

She held him, now the size of a medium puppy and growing every day, against her as she hummed the words.

"I'll be gone- in a day or two"

"Needless to say, I'm odds and ends… but I'll be stumbling away-"

He heard the slow beating of her heart against him. Thumping as his tail did. She was warm. As warm as the sunny soaked porch and her voice was as soft as the wind as it ran through the leaves.

And even though he was a wolf, and a monster, and she was a human, she was as gentle with him as the grass was against his paws.

He looked back up at her and she leaned down to kiss his snout.

"Slowly learning that life is okay." She told him.

"And when you're not, you'll know where I'll be."

"Right here, waiting for you."

"After a long day, I want you to come straight back to me-"

"And tell me about everything you did-"

"While you were out there in the big wide world."

"Getting your heart broken every which way."

Ace was lying on the ground, his snout partially buried in the dirt. The sun was already up above him, shining down at him through the treetops.

Shapes dancing like a kaleidoscope

"I knew I would find you here."

Ace didn't even need to look up to know who it was. He rolled from his side to his stomach, resting his head on his paws below him staring straight ahead.

He was laying in the grass at the base of the great oak tree, Sabo sitting beside him.

"You only come here when you're really upset," His brother continued.

Ace didn't say anything, letting out a weary sigh.

"I ran into your friends. They were worried you disappeared so quickly. They tried to come looking for you, but I promised them I would find you. I figured you would rather they stay out of the forest where it's safer for them."

Ace did prefer that.

"Marco wanted me to tell you bye for them… and that they had a peanut butter jar with your name on it whenever you wanted to come to visit."

Ace's tail thumped before he could stop it. Sabo was a nice enough person not to mention it.

"I'm sorry." Ace said finally.

"I'm not mad at you," Sabo told him. Ace watched as the other clasped his hands together dipping his head towards the tree as if he was in prayer. He was saying his respects to Rouge, whose grave Ace was laying on.

Ace had spent over a week with Marco and his friends. He had left late last night while they were falling asleep. A song had come on the radio that had reminded him of one of his last memories of Rouge. It was happy and upbeat while she would sing it slowly and thoughtfully. But the words were the same and it had been too much for him. So Ace had slept here. To be awoken to Sabo sitting beside him.

"I'm sorry I was mean to Luffy." Ace growled after a moment. "He's probably mad."

"He's not mad," Sabo told him. "He's upset… do you really think after everything Luffy is just going to leave?"

"No," Ace admitted. He did know Luffy better than that. "Sometimes people are just gone." You could wake up one morning with the sun shining, only to find yourself completely alone in the big wide world.

"Yeah," Sabo said looking at the tree. "I know." He patted his head before rising to his feet. He walked a few feet away stopping down by a patch of wildflowers. "I used to dream about her you know."

Ace watched him. "Really?"

"Back when we started living together. I saw her a lot. It was so weird because I've never met her."

"What did she say?"

"I don't remember now," Sabo said gathering a handful of flowers to bring back to her grave. "I think she was just worried about you. Probably because I was super worried about you back then… She liked me." He smiled laying the small bundle down at the base of the tree.

Ace used to dream of her a lot too back then. But at some point, it started happening less and less as he grew up.

"I think I'm forgetting about her."

"You're not forgetting about her," Sabo told him. "You're moving on. Don't worry it's normal."

"How do you know?"

"Because I read a billion psychology books trying to understand the two of you," Sabo said.

"I thought you did that because Luffy's night terrors got really annoying."

"That too," Sabo said as he stood up brushing the dirt off his clothes. "Are you done running away yet?"

"No."

"Well can you wrap it up I put Luffy in charge of trap duty and I can't wait to find out how he manages to turn that tiny errand into a huge spectacle?" He did have a way of finding the trouble, no matter what he did.

Ace made a face. "Do I have to apologize to him?"

"Ace," Sabo came to kneel beside him. "You're beyond help." Then Sabo blew into his ear as hard as he could. Ace fell over with a sneeze. When he sat up Sabo was already halfway across the clearing. Shaking his head furiously to clear it, Ace got to his feet and shot after him.

XXX

Rain pelted against the windows relentlessly. The storm brewing outside was terrible. Sabo watched the destruction with his legs clutched against his chest. It was cold in here, but it was no doubt worse outside. He was in the scarcely used library of the Vampires citadel.

He was cold. The library was freezing but he preferred here to home. If he could hide here long enough then… there was no then. No matter what, his family would be there when he finally went home. They were displeased with him again. No matter what he did he couldn't seem to ever make them happy.

He spent most of his free time with Law. But right now, the older boy was busy. The storm was doing a number on everything in its surroundings and Law's medical knowledge was needed.

The alarm sirens sounded from somewhere outside. The noise was distant against the clash of rain but something was going on. When he heard it again, louder this time he rose to his feet. He should let it go. The vampires could handle it. His parents would not thank him for getting involved… then again, screw them.

Sabo rose to his feet, grabbing his blue jacket from the table as he ran into the hallway. The guard called after him, but he didn't stop. He heard the shouts from the vampire guard. They were getting close to the citadel.

Keeping to the cover of the shadows he ventured out into the surrounding woods. The storm wiped out most of the smells leaving him to rely on his eyes and ears. They heard the patter of the rain, and smelt the damp earth as it flooded. And above it all, he smelt iron and heard stifled whimpers. Something was out there. Closer to the citadel than the vampires allowed.

But what on earth could rile vampires up this much!

Sabo paused at the hollow base of a great oak. The blood smell was overwhelming. Hot and coppery, diluted by the rain. But there was another scent in there- mud. It smelt like rotten mud mixed with the usual metallic. Wolf. The group was chasing a wolf. Wolves weren't allowed to come here? Sabo had seen several in his life. Vampires were taught they were uncivilized, drooling creatures born from the tainted blood of humans, further corrupted by lesser lifeforms.

He was instantly alert. Sabo should have stayed in the library where it was safe. A confrontation with a wolf might kill him depending on the size. He looked back towards the citadel. He should go- now.

But why? A tiny voice asked. What was the point of going back? What was the point of anything?

There was another whimper from inside the tree, softer now and less stifled. He had never heard a wolf make a noise like that before.

His curiosity got the best of him, and he started for the entrance. Having to get down on his hands and knees to squirm through the tiny opening.

The noises had stopped entirely at the sounds of Sabo's approach and growls quickly started as his eyes adjusted to the little cavern under the tree.

It was indeed a wolf. Although not one Sabo had seen before. This one was little and black as midnight, curled around itself. Its tail pressed tightly around its body. It looked like a puppy, if wolves had puppies. Its intense yellow eyes stared at him, gleaming in the darkness, teeth bared as its warning grew.

This was a mistake. The little space smelt like damp dog and wet fur. Then the smell of blood hit him and he noticed the darker patches staining the black fur.

"Whoa," Sabo said, pressing against the door in case it tried to attack him. He had expected something, but at the same time actually meeting a wolf- or part of one, surprised him. He ought to go get the guard. They were on their way already. They would have found this place if their tracking was better. Sabo had always prided himself on his nose.

But then again, what would that accomplish. Certainly, nothing if the wolf killed him now.

The two stared at each other, sizing the other up. When Sabo moved to stand the wolf tried as well, its little legs shaking before giving out entirely as it collapsed again, making pitiful noises. It was hurt worse than he thought.

"You're a puppy." He finally said and the wolf growled as if that was an insult.

"Come any closer and I will tear your throat."

Sabo blinked. The thing was hard to understand. Talking to wolves was hard if you didn't have practice. But not impossible. Although he never thought he would need to.

So they sat there in silence. Sabo kept waiting for those generational, instincts to kick in. The ones he was told about when vampires smell wolves, where his blood boils and overwhelming disgust and bloodlust overtakes him. But they didn't.

Finally, when it was clear they weren't coming for either of them he asked, "Why are the vampires chasing you?"

The wolf just snarled. "Leave me alone or-,"

"You'll kill me," Sabo finished for him. "Fine, I don't really care."

That took the wolf back as he blinked. "I'll do it."

"Try," Sabo said.

The wolf tried to rise again, but he didn't even make it a minute before he fell back crying, which he tried to stifle. Despite himself, a part of Sabo's heart hurt at the creatures suffering. Even if it was a flea-ridden mutt.

"That's what I thought," Sabo said, pushing those feelings aside. "It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you more," he decided. "I know what it feels like, I'm hurting too. So, there's no point in making yours any worse right."

"You're hurting?" The wolf echoed. Sabo nodded and it scoffed. "So, you have some bruises, that's all I see."

Sabo pointed at his stomach. "Not that. Here. I'm hungry."

The wolf growled again. "Big deal, so am I. So is everyone."

"Maybe," Sabo said. "I don't know. I'm just so hungry I can't focus on anything other than how bad my stomach hurts." It was like constant stabbing pains. Sometimes he would pass out. It was hard to focus on anything, let alone cause suffering of another."

"If you're hungry then eat," the wolf told him. "Your kind is so stupid-damn."

"We aren't stupid." Sabo corrected him. "We're cruel and evil and," he shuttered. "I don't want to be one anymore."

"So, you learned you're a blood-sucking parasite, and your kind is awful," The wolf growled. "Well, everyone's awful. Just kill some humans, take their blood and the hurt will go away. That's how life works. You can't just stop playing. It's them or you."

"Is that how you live?" He asked and the wolf began to growl again.

"It's how it is!" He sounded heated.

"I know," Sabo said. "I just don't want to play anymore.

"You want to die, idiot!"

Sabo shook his head.

"Well, those are your options. That's how it is. Stop crying about it."

Sabo used to think that. That was certainly what he was raised to believe. The strong eat the weak, vampire blood purity ect. He used to believe it. Right up until he saw the terror in those people's faces. Now- he didn't know. Life couldn't be that simple, right? After all, he certainly didn't expect it to lead him here, debating morality with a bleeding wolf pup in a tree.

"Maybe. Maybe not," he said. "But if there's another way I want to find it…. Otherwise, he looked around them. I don't really think it's worth it. Do you?"

The wolf was silent.

"No," it finally said, so softly Sabo almost missed it. "It's not."

This wasn't worth it.

There were footsteps outside. The vampire patrol unit. The wolf tried to rise only to fall back. Its eyes were fixed frantically on Sabo. They were huge. It was scared. If Sabo said one word the guard would come and take him away- they would kill him. There was no getting away. Not in that condition.

Its wide eyes turned to Sabo. Waiting for the inevitable. Sabo just shook his head as the sounds grew closer. They could see the shadows of the men's feet as they passed outside. Both of them sat there in absolute silence, not even daring to move. Sabo knew the smell of wolf blood would be masked by his presence as he sat in the doorway. Which he did, praying they would move along quickly.

The men lingered, trying to pick up the trail again. When they finally gave up their footsteps turned away, heading back to the citadel. Both boys slumped in relief.

Sabo leaned back against the wall, only then realizing the other boy was glaring.

"What?"

"Why did you do that?" He demanded. "We're enemies you and me. Got that? It's in our blood."

Yeah, about that. Sabo wasn't so sure they were. They had been told that- but vampires lied.

"I don't know," he said. "I think that if there's another way, I want to find it. Nothing else is going to die because of me, not even a wolf."

The little wolf protested but Sabo wasn't listening. In the morning he risked sneaking back to the citadel to borrow some medical supplies from Law. Using what the older boy taught him he patched up the wolf as best he could. He came back the next day as well to check on him, and the day after that, but the wolf was gone.

XXX

The two of them were partway back, cutting along the edge of the outlands when they found out just what kind of trouble Luffy got into. They ran into Luffy's friends, panting and out of breath, led by little Chopper who had used his nose to find them. All of them looked deathly pale, and the woman they carried was clearly injured.

"What happened," Sabo asked.

"It's Luffy," Zoro told them, he looked angry, his hand clutching his sword. "I told him not to but- the hunters are after us. He stayed back to slow them down… there were dozens. I don't-" he looked over his shoulder. "I have to go back to help him- he's on the edge of the outlands by the hunters camps."

"No!" Sabo told him. "We're going to get him, Chopper can you take them somewhere safe. Stay here and protect everyone- Ace hold on!"

But Ace was already running, tearing through the trees. He didn't wait for his brother who was calling after him. Nor did he wait to get the teenager someplace safer. He knew Chopper and the others could handle themselves. Luffy needed him!

When Ace reached the clearing, it was swarming with hunters. Enough for the three big trucks that were among the trees. Shit. Ace was never one to doubt how strong he was. But not even he could take out thirty hunters alone.

Luffy no. Maybe Usopp had gotten it wrong. Luffy couldn't be here. Not among all these hunters. Luffy hated hunters. If they caught him, they were going to do terrible things to him. -So Sabo and Ace had been protecting him from them- from this.

Or at least he was supposed to be.

But Ace had been being selfish and mean, and he hadn't been looking after Luffy at all. Then Sabo had to leave and track him down. Luffy was here right now because of him. Because he was a bad older brother.

Part of Ace knew that was unfair- not the part about this being his fault. But rather Luffy could take care of himself. Sabo and Ace had made sure of it when they trained him. Luffy knew how to fight, and he knew the rules. They left him to handle things like this all the time. So why had Luffy broken all of them this time? Had he let himself get caught? Otherwise, the hunters would never be able to catch him in the woods, not with how well he knew this place.

Why Lu?

Because he had been protecting his friends. In any other situation, Ace would have been proud that Luffy had stood up to his biggest terror to help them. But right now Ace just felt scared.

He slunk past the tree line, staying low in the tall grass as he came closer. The hunters were preoccupied with their task and weren't even patrolling the area. Their traps were being loaded into the back of their trucks. Whatever wolves they managed to catch were crying. They were scared.

Ace gritted his teeth. He understood what that felt like- how cruel the hunters could be. Just sitting here made his skin crawl.

He crouched beside a large rock, sitting much closer to the group than he should be if he wanted to remain undetected. If someone spotted him it would be hard to outrun all those guns. But he had to find Luffy. He couldn't just leave him here. All by himself, scared, hurt, and alone. Ace was leaving here with his brother or not at all.

Pressing his luck further, Ace moved again. The moment the hunters nearest him turned he ducked out from the rock, sprinting the couple of feet to the unpatrolled side of the furthest truck. He stopped behind the wheel, his ears flat against his head, snout practically buried in the dirt. He crawled under the truck to watch the feet of the hunters. When they moved far enough away he slinked to the back, checking their cargo.

Cages of wolves stared back at them. Most of them young, younger than him even. They began to whine when they saw him- telling him their fear, asking for help. Ace gritted his teeth as he ducked back under the truck.

The closest hunter came to investigate the noise, barely missing Ace's tail as it disappeared under.

"SHUT IT!" He hissed kicking one of the cages. "Stupid animals! Now you cry?"

Ace wanted to help the wolves- but he couldn't. Not right now. Luffy was here, he could smell him.

When the heavy boots of the hunter trampled away again Ace risked it. He shot out from under to run to the back of the second truck. The wolves whined again as they watched him go but the hunters gave them no mind. To them, it was all just noise. But Ace heard their calls for what they were. They were begging him to save them- or telling him to run- to save himself.

The second truck was still being loaded, and the cages were scattered along the clearing. Luffy was close, Ace's nose knew. He followed the smell, sliding back under the next truck as he crept along it.

Two hunters were arguing off to the side. Ace tried to ignore them, but their words reached his ears all the same.

"It's not protocol."

"My squad my decision."

"This is a matter for the council to sort out."

"We both know that's way too much paperwork. Just hand him over to me. The kid can be my headache, not yours."

Kid? Moving instinctively Ace crawled across the truck, following their voices. He stopped just short of the front bumper, still crouched in the shadows. His black pelt hid everything except his eyes which he knew must be glowing that yellow color that freaked the humans out so much.

But it had never scared Luffy. -Nothing about Ace ever had.

Ace could see the men's legs, but not their faces. They were standing in front of the truck, arguing loudly. And beyond them were even more cages, most empty, their locks busted and broken. There-

Luffy lay on the ground between two empties, bloodied and lifeless.

His eyes were glassy and unfocused, staring without seeing.

Ace had seen that look before- twice. On his parents. As they stared off into matters that he couldn't see, their bodies lifeless on the cold floor.

He screamed but it came out like a roar, one so loud the ground shook.

The two hunters jumped back as he lunged out from beneath the truck. They weren't quick enough to draw their weapons, but Ace didn't care. He tackled both of them, feeling his claws sink into their skin.

They both screamed as if they were dying, but Ace ignored them. He didn't care right now. He ran right over the downed men, charging straight for Luffy. He had done little more than scare them and give them some light scratches in his singular quest to get to his little brother. But the way they were cursing they sounded like they thought they were dying. The other hunters had heard the commotion and were all running over, shouting.

Ace reached Luffy, nudging his cheek with his snout, trying to get some response. But when the other didn't give it Ace felt the fear grow and he realized he had started whining. Asking Luffy to get up, to be okay. Not to just lie there like Roger had, looking pale and not answering Ace's distressed whines.

He heard a heartbeat, although soft. Luffy wasn't- wasn't…

He rested his head heavily on the other, turning his attention back to the approaching hunters. Their weapons were pointed at him- no them.

Ace had acted on fear, instinctively. He hadn't stopped to think about what happens after he made it to his brother. He covered Luffy's head with his paw, growling at the others. Warning them to back off.

"It's a wolf," the nearest hunter said. He smelt so strongly of alcohol it burnt Aces nose. He growled again, pushing his head further onto Luffy.

"Shit! It's going to kill him. Get it off."

"It's going to kill us if we go near it."

"What's it doing."

Ace felt cool metal press against his forehead as he looked up into the eyes of one of the hunters.

"Stupid dog! What are you doing with that boy?"

Ace growled.

"You can understand me now?"

Ace's snarls grew as he pulled Luffy tighter. He snapped at the gun and the man scampered back with a cuss.

"Shoot it- don't hit the kid."

"WAIT!" A voice broke out across the clearing. Momentarily stopping them. Ace turned his head as well, his heart sinking. He knew that voice.

His other- less troublesome brother stood in the clearing at the tree line where he had been watching the exchange. He was in the open now and all eyes were on him.

"Don't kill him!" Sabo said.

"Another one," the hunter closest to Ace changed shifted his aim to Sabo. "What is this one?"

When Sabo didn't answer the man gestured him over.

"Don't you Dare!" Ace warned but Sabo was already walking across the clearing, his hands up.

"Don't kill him," he repeated.

"Oh! And why's that? That's a wolf there. A monster."

Something flashed in Sabo's eyes. "We're all monsters."

The captain let out a gruff laugh. "Some more than others, check him!"

"Sabo RUN!" Ace snapped but one of the hunters risked kicking him in the head and his warning cry was cut off. "Don't do this!" He seethed into the dirt.

"You didn't really give me a choice idiot!" Sabo hissed. "I told you to wait!"

This was Ace's fault. He knew that. He had heard Luffy was in trouble and his body just moved. Then when he saw him lying there, bloodied and unmoving, surrounded by a group of armed hunters- Ace panicked. He wouldn't survive losing his family to these people again, he knew that. The same way he knew that Sabo had just wanted to make a plan before they both rushed in, and this exact situation happened.

"Shut up!" The hunter snapped again as he raised the gun to Sabo's forehead. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you're talking to this thing? You a wolf?"

When Sabo didn't say anything, the hunter became angrier. "Open your mouth! DO IT!"

With not much opportunity to disobey Sabo opened his mouth. Showing the hunter his clearly vampiric teeth. The man swore as he took a step back, as did the others. Something about vampires freaked hunters out even more than the wolves. Probably because they were much rarer. Either way, the whole group was instantly on edge.

"What's this!" The hunter demanded. "Why does a blood-sucking parasite like you want to save this overgrown fleabag?"

"Kill him and you will never know," Sabo said.

"I'll kill both of you and be rid of the headache," the hunter countered. Ace could smell his bloodlust from here.

"We teamed up to spring the traps," Sabo settled on a partial truth. "We are acting on orders from both our species."

That seemed to derail the man as he looked between them. "You're lying?"

Sabo shrugged. "Maybe, kill him and you never find out."

"That kid- the hunter. Was he part of your little plan?"

Sabo just stared at the man, his expression gave nothing away. The man sneered, so that's how it is? You're an odd one that's for sure. I've barely even seen vamps in these woods let alone talked to one." He gestured between them, "I didn't even know your kind could be logical. Now you're trying to save a wolf and a human kid, a hunter no less. Well- that's the first I've ever heard of it. Fine, have it your way. We kill you now or we kill you later it makes no difference to me. That is as long as you and your little friends come quietly yeah?"

"Sabo Run!" Ace tried again but Sabo just shook his head.

"Fine."

The hunter's grin grew. Ace really hated these guys.

The leader gestured and a couple of hunters moved towards him and Luffy. Ace growled in warning, and they faltered.

"We had a deal," the man said.

"Ace," Sabo warned, and Ace dropped his head into the dirt in defeat. The hunters stepped forwards again. Ace closed his eyes as they snapped a muzzle around him and a collar around his neck.

The grizzled man still wasn't satisfied. "Put this one out. There's murder in his eyes."

"NO!" Sabo tried to help but the hunters stopped him. "It's either a dart or a bullet, you pick."

Ace felt the sting of the tranquilizer in his shoulder, followed by another. It took a moment before the world started to blur, the colors of the meadow blending together. He whined, feeling multiple hands pull him off Luffy.

They dragged his unresponsive limbs towards one of the cages and Ace tried to bite them, but his mouth wouldn't open.

The last thing he saw was a man lifting up his little brother, carrying him towards the back of one of the trucks.

Then the cage door slammed, and he passed out.

XXX

I figured now was as good a time as any for the multiple ff updates I've been working on. So here is part three of four.

This chapter is very near and dear to my heart. Especially the beginning scenes. If Rogue really was looking in on her wolf pup from beyond the grave, she would adore Luffy and Sabo.

I know their situation seems like it is getting worse, and it is. But eventually things will turn out for the better. Just not right away.

So While I was finishing this chapter my roommate came out of her room to tell me:

My ipad ran out of batteries and then my cat ran out of batteries. His battery doesn't last long, and the recharge takes forever. I keep plugging him in overnight, but he keeps unplugging himself.

Animals be like that.

Wolf/ and or regular Ace is the same. 90% lazing and sleep and a solid 10% terrifying maximum effort.

So before you get mad at Ace for this chapter. He had a lot of traumas with hunters and this scenario. So none of his actions were the smartest, which he knows. The same could be said about Luffy who thought staying behind was a good idea. More on this next time! For anyone who wanted more Garp! You are about to get your wish.

XXX

Damn, I had to hire an assistant to answer all of these XD

Guest: Of course! And that is so nice. Six years, that's crazy. I still can't believe it's been that long. Luffy;s brother did come for them but now all three need rescuing. And yes, I'll see if I can fit it in.

Unicornsthatgamble: Thank you! I am so glad to hear people still read it.

AnimeAngel2692: Of course! And thank you as always for the lovely reviews. Luffy's hitting a patch of bad luck! But things will turn around for him when he escapes. I love the drama as well! Especially for these three.

As always thank you guys for reading. I'll try to update soon as I know this was on a cliffhanger. Stay safe and happy Halloween.