SailorStar9: With Chapter 146 uploaded, I present Chapter 147 this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.
Guest: Just because there isn't any Blackbeard or Marineford war in this fic, doesn't mean Whitebeard can't die from other means, be it from a regular everyday fight, a sudden bout of illness, old age, or most likely, from the illness that had been ravaging his body. He is, after all, a very old, experienced pirate who is way past his prime.
Pairings: Ace/Sasha, sibling Luffy/Sasha and Sabo/Sasha, Background Protector!Law/Sasha
Disclaimers: One Piece belongs to Oda EiichirÅ-sensei. Me, on the other hand, own absolutely nothing, except my OC, the pairing and the fic idea.
Chapter 147: Arc 11: Jinbe's Offer, Ace Joins The Straw Hats
"Marco-kun." Jinbe leapt on board the Moby Dick from his transport shark. "Am I too late?"
"Jinbe." the Mystical Zoan Devil Fruit user greeted the Warlord. "Oi Namur," he called to the 8th Division Commander. "Take Jinbe in."
"Boss Jinbe." the fishman commander gestured. "This way."
"Marco-kun." Jinbe took a sip from his sake cup after paying his final respects to Whitebeard. "What happened? How did..."
"Pops..." Marco started. "He didn't die from a pirate crew attack... his illness finally caught up with him."
"I see." Jinbe downed his sake. "Then, what will the rest of you do now?"
"Pops didn't really leave a will." Marco admitted.
"But as the 1st Division Commander, it's up to you take over the reins." Jinbe reasoned.
"Yeah." Marco poured out another cup of sake for himself.
"If that's the case, then I'm afraid you'll need to find another 2nd Division Commander." Jinbe remarked.
"Jinbe," the blond cast a warning look at the Warlord. "What you do need Ace for?"
Swallowing a sigh, Jinbe recounted his past year training Sasha under King Neptune's orders.
"Seriously?" Marco echoed, once Jinbe informed him of Sasha's real identity. "She's the real deal?"
"No doubt about it." Jinbe confirmed. "She's the Dragon Empress."
"And the reason you need Ace..." Marco frowned. "You mean the legends are true then."
"Yes." Jinbe nodded. "At least the ones regarding those carrying the 'D' bloodline. Lady Sasha... if she's going to succeed, she'll need every single D by her side."
"If that's the will of the True Goddess, then I don't really have a choice, do I?" Marco sighed, downing his sake with one gulp.
"Ace." Marco called the raven in the impromptu meeting room. "Jinbe and I need you, yoi."
"Okay." Ace entered the room and shut the door. The younger man's eyes went wide after hearing what Marco had to say. "But..." he protested. "The rest of Pops' crew... my Division members..."
"You are a 'D', Ace-san." Jinbe reminded. "You should have sensed it; your blood compels you to return to Lady Sasha."
"That's quite true..." Ace admitted, looking at his flower bracelet.
"Then, return with me to where Lady Sasha is." Jinbe stated. "There's still more than nine months left before the Straw Hats gather back on Sabaody Archipelago. I can still continue Lady Sasha's training along with advancing your Haki training."
A few days later...
"Lady Sasha, we've returned." Jinbe announced the pair's arrival to the 'D' Memoirs Island.
"Welcome back." Sasha looked up from the scroll she was browsing. "Ace," she spotted the flame wielder. "I'm actually surprised that you took up Jinbe-sensei's offer."
"Let's just say, answering your pull was very tempting." Ace smirked.
"But before we start," Sasha got up from her chair. "There's something more important that needs to be done." giving Ace a serious look, she added. "And it concerns your birth parents."
At that, Ace stiffened slightly.
"Come with me." Sasha instructed.
"This." Sasha presented the 'D' ancestral lineage chart parchment to Ace. "Notice the two lines that's linked to your real name."
"Portgas D. Rouge." Ace traced a finger across her birth mother's name. "Gol. D. Roger..." he read his birth father's name. "That's impossible! Roger's a 'D' like hahaue?"
"Indeed." Sasha nodded. "Now I know why Grandpa keeps griping about Roger's complaints that the Navy always misspells his name." she informed. "And this brings us to a rather interesting problem; you're the descendant of two 'D' bloodlines, something that not even Selena accounted for. Trafalgar D. Water Law has already revisited his ancestral roots. You might not like it, but acknowledging your genealogical origins is the first step."
About four days later...
With Jinbe returning to the Ryugu Palace to submit his monthly reports, the reunited couple were left alone on the island for the rest of the week.
Snuggling onto Ace's body, Sasha made herself comfortable as the couple waited for their fish to roast by the campfire. "Ace," she started. "Back on Sabaody Archipelago, we met Silvers Rayleigh."
"I see." Ace muttered.
"Rayleigh-san..." Sasha continued. "He spoke to us about Roger... and the disease he was suffering from before he turned himself in to the Navy."
"And you suspect that I inherited Roger's disease." Ace concluded. "I did." he admitted. "But Pops' medical team managed to catch it and cure it before it spread."
"I'm relieved." Sasha rested her head on Ace's shoulder.
"Here." Ace handed a roasted fish to Sasha and the pair bit down on their dinner.
"Ace," Sasha looked up at the freckled man after their meal. "You remember what I said when we were younger that the masses didn't really know Roger because of what the newspapers were allowed to report and that the only people who truly knew Roger were his crew-mates and the people he fought against? I think... when we return to Sabaody Archipelago, you really should have a talk with Rayleigh-san if you want to really understand Roger."
"I'll..." Ace swallowed. "Think about it."
"I'll bet Rayleigh-san have a lot of embarrassing stories about your parents." Sasha teased.
"Well, that's one thing to look forward to." Ace smirked.
Four days later...
A blushing Jinbe let out a cough upon returning to the 'D' Memoirs Island and finding his two students in a heated make-out session in the study room.
"Welcome back, Jinbe-sensei." Sasha jumped off Ace.
"Ace-san, Lady Sasha, I know the two of you are in a relationship." Jinbe stated. "But in the future, please keep your hands to yourselves when we're training."
"Yes, Jinbe-sensei." the two lovers chorused.
Time passes...
Jinbe looked on with pride as Ace's fire wave melted Sasha's ice tiger, turning the construct into water.
"Fire Dragon Bullet!" Ace let loose his fire dragon-shaped construct.
"Water Dragon Bullet!" Sasha countered with a water dragon of her own.
Both elemental dragons clashed with the other, emitting steam.
SailorStar9: Any OOC-nes is regretted. *Sighs* Don't you just hate plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.
