Here's a WARNING ahead of time! From this chapter onwards, it will contain a lot of MY interpretation of what happens after life, death and rebirth, etc. You may not agree with it, and maybe some parts of it might not make sense. But still, I hope that you guys will continue to enjoy this story!

Also, I'm sorry for the long wait! I had some personal problems, but all that's solved now, so hopefully my future updates won't take so long like this! To make up for it, I made this chapter extra long, depicting the Whitebeard Pirates' side of the story! Enjoy!


"Hey, it's Izo!" Izo had lived to a ripe old age and passed away peacefully. When he woke up the first time, he was greeted with the excited voices of brothers who had left before him, and the sight of his dead family brought him to tears. The sight of Whitebeard, Ace, and Thatch smiling fondly at him only made the tears fall harder.

"Hey, missed us, Izo?" Thatch asked, giving the crossdresser a hug, which he gladly accepted.

"I missed even your pranks, Thatch." Izo admitted, listening to Thatch's laughter.

"Now all that's left is Marco." Ace smirked. "Can't wait to see that turkey again."

"Me too! It's been so long since we were all together like this!" Thatch agreed cheerfully.

"It's really been a long time." Izo smiled fondly. "The last time we were all together was the Marineford War, and we lost Thatch even before that." Their mood soured at the memory of the war.

"Ugh, don't remind me." Ace sighed, making Izo shake his head.

"We don't blame you for anything, Ace. Oyaji was prepared to die there, and we would've come for any of our own. It doesn't matter if you're Roger's son. Once you joined this crew, you're Oyaji's son, and that's that. Of course we would've come for you, our brother." He gave Ace a comforting pat, and Ace returned the gesture with a smile.

"I guess. Really, thanks." Izo just smiled before a yell caught his attention.

"Hey, Izo! I wanna ask you something!" Haruta ran up to him. "Did you see Marco at all after the War? I kept tabs on everyone after we split, but I lost track of him after he disappeared from Sphinx."

"I did." Izo nodded. "He was with me in Wano Kingdom." Haruta brightened up.

"So that's where he went! And? Where did he go afterwards?" Izo frowned.

"About that…"

"What's wrong, son? Did something happen to Marco?" Whitebeard asked, concerned.

"I honestly don't know, Oyaji." Izo admitted. "I lost him after Wano Kingdom."

"Damn." Haruta muttered under his breath. "That worries me. I was able to keep track of everyone up til I died, but Marco's the only one I could never seem to find. It's like he disappeared off the earth or something!" He complained.

"Let's just wait for him patiently, son." Whitebeard said reassuringly. "I'm sure Marco will join us someday. And then, we can catch up with him." His son promptly agreed with him and their attention was soon on Izo, excitedly asking about his adventures up til his death and sharing the tales of their own.


"Man, what's taking Marco so long?" Thatch whined. "It's been what, decades?! Just where is he?"

"Heck if I know." Ace grumbled, crossing his arms. "Even Luffy and Sabo are here already!" He briefly glanced over to where Luffy was having fun with his crew, and he smiled at the sight of the wide grin on Luffy's face as he ranted enthusiastically about something to Sabo and his crew, who listened intently with fond smiles on their faces.

"Actually, it's strange." Whitebeard mused. "Marco shouldn't be able to live this long. It's way past a human's average lifespan."

"Did we miss him then?!" Thatch screeched, leaping to his feet.

"It's a possibility." Whitebeard nodded. Thatch's cry spread panic to the listening Whitebeard Pirates.

"We missed Marco?"

"No way! We were waiting here for nothing then?"

"What should we do?"

"Do you think he's already reincarnated, Oyaji?" Vista looked up to Whitebeard, putting an end to the frantic murmurs as everyone turned their attention to their father, waiting for his instructions.

"It wouldn't hurt to try. If we don't find him, we'll wait here for him again." Whitebeard said. "We'll all move on towards a new life together." The Whitebeard Pirates cheered, pumping their fists into the air eagerly.

"Alright. Let's split up to look for him then. We'll exchange numbers as soon as we can, and keep in contact so we don't all end up searching the same island." Haruta suggested, receiving voiced agreements with the plan.


Whitebeard sighed. After his frustrating first Rebirth where he was admittedly unable to contribute much to the search, given his condition, he came back here again and had been waiting for his sons to join him ever since. He hoped that at least one of them would've found Marco and let him know they'd be waiting for him after Death. Yet, as his sons began to join him one by one with no news of Marco, he found it hard to continue holding onto hope.

"Oyaji! We found him!" The cry made everyone who was there perk up at the news as they gathered excitedly around the group that had just arrived, However, their joy was quickly replaced with concern.

"What's the matter, son? Is it Marco?" Whitebeard asked worriedly.

"Oyaji…" His heart broke to see his sons' stricken looks, awashed with tears. "He's still alive, Oyaji!" Dread filled him at the thought that jumped to mind and the confirmation that he prayed would not come. "Marco… He's been alive all this time!" The broken pieces of his heart crumbled into dust. He couldn't believe what he'd just heard.

"What? What do you mean, he's still alive?" Thatch demanded. "Nobody can live that long!"

"We saw him." Haruta said. "I was heading towards Sphinx, and we chanced upon one another." He gestured to Izo and Rakuyo. "We chatted for a while, and since Sphinx was along the way to their destinations, we stopped by to check on your grave, along with Ace's grave, and we saw him there." Tears welled up in Haruta's eyes as he spoke, his voice soft. "He didn't look a day older than when we last saw him at Marineford, Oyaji."

"He didn't even look any older from the last time I saw him at Wano." Izo added. "In fact, he didn't look any different at all. He looked exactly as he did all those years ago." He remembered that moment, when they had seen the familiar silhouette of their brother. They had wondered how the reincarnation of their brother would look like, but when Marco moved over to Ace's grace and they caught sight of his forlorn eyes and the loneliness so raw in them, they knew instantly with sinking hearts that Marco had never died.

"We tried to call out to him, but he was too far away to hear us." Rakuyo continued. "We couldn't catch up to him in time, and he flew away in his Phoenix form, so either he found his ultra-rare mythical zoan devil fruit again in that short period of time, or he's just never died. Even if we hadn't seen him use his devil fruit, we saw the state of the graves after he left. He was evidently paying his respects, so whatever the case, whether he actually died or not, he definitely remembers us and he's all by himself." Whitebeard frowned and looked to his sons, who faced him expectantly.

"We're going back to find Marco." He announced. "We are not leaving anyone behind, and we are not letting anyone feel left behind." His decision was met with cheers of agreement.


They could always sense him. Sometimes, as they wandered around in their search for him, they could sense him, and the sadness and loneliness that seemed to radiate off him. But every time they turned around, there would be nobody there and his presence would have disappeared.

To be immortal means to watch those you know and care about die, unable to join them in death, and then seeing them after they are reborn only to have to watch them die again once more. They know it hurts Marco. They could tell from the growing sorrow they felt every time they picked up on his Haki presence. But even so, they just couldn't leave him behind, and so, they kept coming back.


"Hey, Haruta! You're at Cozia, right?" Haruta smiled at hearing Thatch's voice from the Den Den Mushi.

"Yeah, I just reached yesterday. This place is huge." Thatch's grin was reflected on the Den Den Mushi.

"Want some help? I'll be making a pit stop there in a few hours!" Haruta couldn't help the grin growing on his face at the thought of seeing his brother alive for the first time since their countless rebirths.

"Sure! Meet you at the port in a few hours!"

"I'll call when I reach!" Thatch said before hanging up.

True to his words, the Den Den Mushi rang a few hours later, and Haruta raced to the port excitedly.

"Thatch!"

"Haruta!" They ran right into each other, laughing as they rubbed the sore spot on their foreheads. "Ow, ok, let's not make greeting with headbutts a thing." Thatch joked, making them both laugh.

"I agree." Haruta chuckled. "Any news from your division?" Thatch shook his head, his smile fading.

"Not a single one. You?"

"None." Haruta shook his head as well, clicking his tongue. "Damn. I just checked in with Izo not long ago. He doesn't have any news either. I hope at least Oyaji or Ace would've gotten some news when I check in on them in a few days' time."

"Me too." Thatch agreed. "So, how are we splitting this? Can I take the mountains? I wanna go scout for some ingredients while I'm at it." Haruta nodded.

"I'll take the city then. Let's meet up here by nightfall." With the meeting time and point set, the two split up, walking in opposite directions towards their search area. As they walked away, neither noticed the flaming blue bird landing softly on a roof nearby, shaking its head as it took in the sight of the two brothers who were so close to meeting, but instead passed each other by. Perched on the roof, the bird watched the backs of its brothers from a distance as they walked further and further away before disappearing from sight. It mused sadly about how its family were fated to never meet again after rebirth before spreading its wings and flying away.


It was just a coincidence, that they would all be reborn so similarly to their first life. They were the correct ages. Not having any illness and defects was a bonus. Finding their devil fruits again was another bonus. With everything in place and feeling so right, they decided that it was time to set sail as a family once again, and find their lost brother to complete the set.

Though they probably had a better chance at finding their lost brother separately, split up, nobody wanted to pass the opportunity to sail together again after so long. Just for this life, with this rare coincidence of being reborn into a life so eerily similar to their first lives, just this once, they will search for him together, as one big family.

Too eager to wait any longer, Whitebeard set sail as soon as Haruta called to tell him everyone's location, and began gathering his sons from all over the world, who were all excitedly anticipating his arrival. They boarded his ship without any hesitation, and even gathered a few new members along the way.

Each Division Commander took up their positions as Division Commanders as soon as they joined, and everybody else joined their old divisions, while new members were assigned to new divisions. Meanwhile, the First Division Commander seat was left empty. Everybody agreed that the position rightfully belongs to Marco, and no one else.

"Do you think Marco might've forgotten us over the years?" It was a question that haunted them every time they were reborn. It has already been so long. What if when they meet Marco again, Marco no longer remembers them? What if the Marco they meet isn't the same Marco they remember? Would he have been driven mad with loneliness?

"We'll know when we find him." Was all Whitebeard could say in reply. Thatch just nodded silently and faced the sea.

"I hope we manage to find him soon." They have to find Marco soon. They have to let Marco know that he isn't alone. If they couldn't find him in this life, they'll just have to continue their search in their next. Over and over again, no matter how long it takes, they will definitely find him again.

Maybe if they cause problems everywhere, he'll get mixed up in it. Maybe if they get their names on the newspaper enough, he'll see it. Maybe if they spread their influence enough, he'll learn about them.

Maybe.

Just maybe.

But maybe…

…he'll remember them and come home.


"No way!" Ace ran out on the deck with Vista and Fossa stomping after him, much to Whitebeard's curiosity.

"Well, we don't have a First Division Commander, so you'll have to do it as the Second Division Commander!"

"Hell no! You know how much I hate doing paperwork, and it's not like I'm any good at it either!" Ace shouted. "Just dump it into Marco's room! He'll do it when we find him!"

"We can't just keep dumping all the paperwork into Marco's room, Ace! It's already filled to the brim, and some of these are too important to be left for later! Somebody's gotta do it sooner or later!"

"So why me?" Ace whined as he bolted as soon as the pair came near.

"Because you're the Second Division Commander, ranked just after the Marco!" The pair chorused loudly as they gave chase. Whitebeard sighed. Without a Commander to handle it, the paperwork for the First Division just kept piling up, and it was getting impossible to ignore it. Sure, he was the Captain, but he was only there to keep the family together. Marco had been the one running the crew, checking on the state of things and doing all the paperwork, preventing them from falling apart.

Grumbling under his breath, Whitebeard rose from his seat and gathered all of the Division Commanders. They spent the day reluctantly finishing all the neglected paperwork, leaving the more trivial matters to the members of the First Division who were more familiar with it, having helped Marco with paperwork before. As their vision continued to be swarmed with stacks after stacks of paperwork, they swear to appreciate Marco more when he comes back.


When Marco first lands on their deck, blue flames dissipating into thin air, it was so familiar to them that they hadn't even thought to react at first. Just as the fact that their missing brother was here had finally registered in their minds though, the initial reaction of happiness was drowned out by Marco's words. They know he's never died. They can tell he remembers them. They can see it in his eyes that he hasn't forgotten them. But why is their missing brother treating them like strangers?

Whitebeard was the first to react, quickly replying to Marco as if it was their first time meeting each other, and inviting Marco to join their family. While they nervously anticipated Marco's answer, Whitebeard shared a look with his sons, silently ordering them to go with it.

While Haruta disappeared below deck to show the 'newcomer' around, Whitebeard gathered his sons on the deck. He urged them to wait, and not to force Marco. Let him come around on his own, while subtly trying to clue him in on the fact that they remember. They have to break it to him slowly, and help him ease into it before ensuring he knows for sure. Because this is Marco they are talking about, and he might flee in shock and disbelief if they just abruptly throw the news at him.

He'd nearly fled once before, when one of the nurses broke the news of Whitebeard's illness to him and said way too bluntly that Whitebeard was basically going to die in a few years' time, paired with his old age and all. It was so sudden and so shocking to him that he didn't react at all at first, not even to the concerned calls of his brothers, not even to Whitebeard calling out to him. And then, when he did react, he morphed into full Phoenix form and shot up into the sky, screeching piercingly the entire time, unable to hear the yells of his family. He was only stopped thanks to the Gura Gura No Mi creating vibrations in the air that messed with his flight, causing him to fall into the ocean down below, and Namur had to fish him out after. (Must've been because of higher flight rather than fight instinct he has in him since he's a bird, they used to joke.)

They agreed to treat him like a stranger for the time being, following Whitebeard's orders, despite wanting nothing more than to launch themselves at Marco, suffocating him in a long-awaited family hug. None of them wants to risk losing their brother again after having searched fruitlessly for him for so long.


"Thatch?" Ace walked into the dark kitchen at night, hearing sniffles from a corner. Walking over, he saw Thatch curled up on the floor, crying into his knees.

"What's wrong, Thatch?" Ace asked, taking a seat next to the chef.

"...say to him."

"What?" Ace frowned, straining his ears.

"I don't know what I can say to him." Thatch repeated in a whimper.

"Marco?" Ace guessed as Thatch nodded, sniffling.

"It's been centuries since we last sailed together. I can't even imagine how Marco must've felt for all those years, all by himself..." Thatch choked back a sob. "I keep noticing every little detail, like how he eats my cooking like it's his first time eating it, or how he just watches me carry out my pranks like he's never seen it before."

"I know what you mean." Ace sighed. "The fleeting glances he gives us, the way he seems to be restraining himself..."

"All that pain and grief... Every time I activate my Kenbunshoku Haki, it's all I can sense from him." Thatch sniffled. Ace nodded grimly.

"I know. Me too."

"It hurts. It hurts to see him like this, and it hurts that we can't help him already."

"I know."

"I want to just hug him, and tell him that we're really here, that we remember him. I just want to let him know we're still his family, that he's not alone like he thinks he is!" Ace let out a shaky breath, cursing the tears welling up in his eyes. He swallowed the lump in his throat, and nodded feebly.

"...I know."


Their resolve doesn't hold. Their patience ran thin with each passing day, and they began to quote more from their past lives. Ace impatiently threw Marco's own words back at him when the chance arose, but when that didn't work, he retreated into his room, fuming and cursing under his breath. Thatch and Izo even re-enacted one of their pranks in hopes that Marco would slip up, but it was to no avail. They could see the confusion on Marco's face every time they referenced something from their first life, and many times, they were anxious of whether they had crossed the line and Marco would disappear the next day. But Marco never left, so they kept trying to get him to realise that they remember him.

Ace was the first to suggest making him the First Division Commander. He jokingly complained that it was because he didn't want to have to do the paperwork when it piles up again, but they knew that in truth, it was because of Marco's fleeting glances to what would've been his room, and the way he always seemed restless whenever he watches the Division Commanders disappear into the meeting room with Whitebeard for a meeting, and so on. Adding on to how uncomfortable he seemed every time he had to hold back old habits, they decided that giving that position back to Marco might help speed things along.

They certainly hadn't expected Marco to refuse the position. While they were stressing over it, wondering what they should do now, Whitebeard surprised them by suggesting them to bring it up to him again. Normally, if one were to refuse, Whitebeard would've respected their choice and left it at that. It wasn't like him to push when the other clearly said they didn't want it. But Whitebeard assured them that it would be fine, that Marco wasn't being honest to himself when he refused. And they believed him readily, because Marco could hide his feelings all he wants, but Whitebeard has always been able to read him like an open book regardless.


It's not until the night when an intense wave of emotions washes over the Moby Dick, waking up Whitebeard and the 15 Division Commanders, that they decided enough was enough. The wave surges through them and they are hit with so many intense feelings mixed together.

Sorrow, loneliness, yearning, grief–

Grief.

Pure, raw, unadulterated Grief.

They're curled up in a fetal position, in tears, before they even realise it. It came to a sudden stop, and for a fleeting moment, the fear of their brother being dead, possibly having killed himself (did he perhaps jump into the ocean?), as the reason for the abrupt stop to the wave struck them, though a quick sweep with their Kenbunshoku Haki allayed that fear.

"Did you feel that?" Ace asked as he stepped out of his room and saw Thatch coming out of his room. Thatch turned to him and nodded solemnly. All around them, the other Division Commanders exited their rooms one by one, each wearing an expression on their faces which showed that they had evidently felt the wave too, and had been woken up by it. In an almost zombie-like manner, they trudged towards Whitebeard's room, entering to find the old man awake. His expression matched theirs, and they all plopped tiredly down onto his bed or onto the floor.

"We all felt that." Ace whispered with a shudder. "It was so intense."

"Same." Thatch sighed loudly. "What now? We can't possibly keep up this pretence forever, and especially not after that."

"Isn't it obvious? We have to come clean to him." Haruta said, wiping tears from his eyes.

"I'm in on that." Izo said, frowning. "I won't be able to hide it anymore, not after that, and I don't think any of you will be able to either." Monotonous agreements were muttered among them.

"Tomorrow." Whitebeard nodded. "We let him know tomorrow. No more waiting, no more hiding." Screw waiting. Screw the possibility of Marco fleeing. Screw it all. More than anything else, their brother needed his family back.

Right. Now.