Chapter Fourteen: Repair

Sabo stared at Naguri with wide eyes. Ever since he ran away from home, he knew Naguri was just a senile old man who just collected pieces of woods in Gray Terminal. A lot of people had ridiculed him in the past but he did not mind it. The old man was strange in one way or another.

"Naguri? Now where did I hear that one..." Roger think while putting a hand on his chin.

"We challenged your crew back then, noshi." Naguri reminded him with a smile.

And then it clicked to Roger. "You're that nice captain who offered his life for the safety of your crew!"

"Yes, I'm actually glad you remember me."

Roger ushered it away. "It's not everyday that you'll actually meet a captain that loyal to his crew."

"I'm actually indebted to you." Naguri bowed down half of his body. "Thank you for sparing my life, noshi."

Sabo's mouth dropped open. He thought Naguri was just a senile man but it turned out that he was a former pirate captain. Not only that, the old man was crazy enough to challenge the Pirate King himself. Roger stared at him for a moment before laughing.

"No need for that actually." Roger ushered away. "Here, come eat with us."

Sabo glanced at Ace who looked unsure. But still, his brother moved allowing Naguri to sit down. Sabo offered a piece of meat which the older man gladly accepted.

"So you're also a pirate captain? Awesome." Luffy commented as he continue eating.

"I thought you're just some kind of a weirdo." Sabo blurted out.

"He do looks like a weirdo." Ace agreed with a deadpan.

Naguri just laughed. "Well, there is a reason why I've been hanging around in Gray Terminal these days."

"Oh what is it?" Roger wondered.

"I'm actually building a ship, noshi. And that's the reason why I came here." Naguri revealed. "Can I ask you to help me complete it?"

The three were silent as the question wasn't directed to them. They waited for Roger to answer the man's request for him.

"I wanted to meet my crew again. They're loyal to the core. Being with them is what made me happy." Naguri explained with a reminiscing smile.

Roger grinned widely. "Sure, why not?"

"You accepted it? Just like that?" Ace raised both of his eyebrows.

"It can help you three also to know how to work on ships. I'm not a good builder but you are. Just look at your tree house." Roger said, proudness in his tone.

"C'mon, Ace. I haven't been on a pirate ship since I'm on Shanks's!" Luffy tried convincing, tugging his brother's shirt slightly.

"Working on a pirate ship does sounds fun." Sabo agreed, glancing at Ace.

"And besides, who am I to say no to a man's romance?"

Sabo could not help but to smile at Roger's words. Roger had earned the respect of Sabo— something which he don't usually bestowed upon. Maybe not just respect, also admiration. It has just been weeks since they met Roger and yet Sabo was completely sure that he was one of the most honorable person the boy has ever met.

"Thank you. I'm in your debt again, Roger." Naguri smiled and bowed his head again.

"No need." Roger simply shrugged. "Let's see this ship you're talking about, shall we?"

Luffy was really excited. He remembered Shanks's ship, the Red Force. A year ago, he used to hang out in their ship. It was big enough for Luffy to be lost like five times. He liked how their ship had a warm presence in it. When you stepped on it, you can actually feel that it was loved by its crew.

For Luffy, a ship was the home of the crew. Without the ship, there would never be an adventure. That was why the ship was one of the most important thing a captain should take care of.

The ship that Naguri had brought them did not live up to Luffy's expectation though. It was really bad. The woods used was obviously scrap that came from Gray Terminal. Holes were in it and moss in some parts started to form. He can even hear the squeaking of mice inside.

"It looks like a ghost ship!" Luffy berated with a yell.

"It's a shitty ship." Ace grunted, crossing his arms.

"Is it too late to back up now?" Sabo groaned, already feeling that it would be a long day.

"It's hard working on your own, noshi." Naguri explained with a small laugh.

"Well, this is lesson number one. How to build and maintain a ship." Roger said, turning to look at the three.

"But I don't wanna be a shipwright! I'm gonna be the captain!" Luffy yelled, defiantly. The boy frowned, something he didn't do much.

"Did you have a shipwright in your crew, Roger-san?" Sabo asked, looking up.

"Of course. Every crew needs one. Even if Oro Jackson was made from the strongest wood, it's not susceptible from damage."

"Hopefully, it's nothing compared to this junk." Ace deadpanned, exhaling.

"Now, don't be like that, Ace. The ship just need a few polish and it'll be good!" Roger assured, clapping his hands together.

"Why do I have a feeling that you're not gonna help us?" Sabo asked with a heavy sigh.

"As what Luffy had said, the captain do not do that kind of things. Now, go and do your chores, boys." Roger laughed as he sat in the corner and watched over the boys.

Ace get a dust feather and started using it on the walls, trying to get rid of any web and spiders that have their nest there. Sabo was the one moving away any excess woods that deemed to be not usable anymore. While Luffy's job was holding a mop and sweeping the floor. They were used to it by now. It was exactly the same chores they do back in their tree fortress. They did not know where Naguri was. The man was probably below deck, doing his repairs in there.

"This is boring." Luffy stated, pouting.

"Deal with it, Lu. You're the one who asked for it." Ace replied, nonchalantly.

Then an idea entered Luffy's mind. He chuckled to himself as he get the bucket in the corner and filled it with water. Roger noticed what the boy was doing. Luffy grinned and Roger nodded, approving of Luffy's plan.

And Luffy threw water at Ace's face.

Ace turned to his younger brother with wide eyes. Luffy just kept on giggling, hands on his stomach as he cannot contain himself. How much he loved to surprise Ace. His brother was not really the one who was up for surprises. Luffy had caught him in the right time.

"Luffy..." Ace called out in a dark tone. He glared at him, eyes twitching. "You do know what this means right?"

"Yep." Luffy grinned in a taunting manner. He stepped firmly on the ground, readying a stance.

In an instant, Ace had gotten his own bucket of water. Not only he threw it on Luffy but on Sabo as well. The blond groaned, complaining about how hard it was to dry themselves after it was over.

"Ah! Not fair! Water makes me weak!" Luffy exclaimed, wiping his wet face.

"Moving water doesn't affect you, Luffy." Sabo said with a laugh.

"Oh yeah! Forgot about that!"

"You're the one who started it!" Ace yelled back, throwing water at his brother again.

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

In an instant, water was thrown in their faces and it interrupted the arguing brothers. They turned to Sabo who was grinning madly, pleased with himself. Ace and Luffy had the same expression on their faces, shock and annoyance.

"All is fair in love and war!" Sabo exclaimed as he continue his assault.

Ace and Luffy returned the grin. Luffy still manage to join the water fight with his brothers. His older brothers seemed to understand that Luffy did not liked water. They didn't threw water at Luffy as much as they did on one another. It was just an occasional splash on the young boy's face.

"And now, we're all wet!" Sabo complained with a laugh. He tumbled on the floor in exhaustion next to Luffy.

Ace grinned at him. "Well, not all actually."

Suddenly, Ace had hit Roger with water straight on the face. Ace was frozen in the spot. His grin was gone, replaced by a worried face. It left the boy with a turmoil inside of him, unsure and confuse of what to do next. Ace hoped that Roger had understood by what he meant by it. He just wanted to include his father. Anxiousness rose upon as he quivered at the thought of Roger reacting violently just like what he had heard from the stories.

And as much as Roger wanted to keep Ace comfortable around him, this was a huge step for them both. Ace was actually playing with him.

The deck was silent. They just waited for Roger's reaction about it. Roger just laughed, making the tension in the air disperse. Luffy soon joined him, unaware of the awkwardness that just transpired.

"Four can play the game, don't you think?" Roger said, joining in.

An all-out war had ensued between the four. They stopped caring if their clothes were wet or that they weren't cleaning anymore and just doing more mess. And as the buckets ran empty, all of them collapsed in the floor, laughing.

"You're not bad, old man." Ace chuckled.

"Can we do it again?" Luffy asked, jumping up and down in excitement.

"Our cleaning is doubled..." Sabo sighed, wistfully. "But it was damn well worth it."

The sound of footsteps were heard. Moments later, it revealed Naguri with amusement in his eyes.

"Hi! You just missed the fun! Shihihihihi." Luffy exclaimed.

"It's fine by me as long as you enjoyed it, noshi." Naguri laughed.

Luffy grinned widely. They sure enjoyed it of course.

The night brought such a silence that the crackle of the campfire was all that could be heard, like a crazy natural heat coming from the bonfire warmed Ace. He silently stared at the fire. It mesmerized the young boy. It was the colours of orange and red and gave way to yellow and white near the centre. The light cast by the flames danced across the dark trunks of the trees.

It was a chilly night. Winter was just around the corner so Ace expected that it would be colder in the next weeks. Ace closed his eyes, allowing himself to enjoy the sea breeze making him feel cozy.

"Why're you keep dodging our attacks!?" Luffy's yelling voice was heard from afar. They were close to the coast, training with his father.

"You're a hundred years too young to beat me." Roger said with a laughing tease.

"You're really enjoying toying us, don't you?" Sabo deadpanned while rubbing the dirt off his clothing.

Sabo and Luffy continued their sparring match with Roger. But for Ace, he was tired. He just listened to their voices as they continue arguing instead of sparring.

"They are lively." Naguri, who was besides him, was also watching.

"Can I ask you something...?" Ace mouthed in monotone.

"Yes?"

"Don't you hate him?" Ace said, straight to the point.

"Hate? Oh you mean Roger." Naguri laughed, looking straight at the boy. "How could anyone hate him?"

"Didn't he beat you and your crew? Everyone would hate him. Why aren't you?" Ace hissed, tone was angry. His whole body tensed, trying to remain calm.

"I wonder if those everyone you're talking about has met Roger." Naguri mused.

Ace was silent and just bit down his tongue.

"I felt frustrated at first. But then I realize that I wasn't strong enough. I rather feel grateful for him now."

"Grateful? For someone who beat you?"

"In the pirate world, defeat means you will lose your life but here I am. I'm still alive because of him." Naguri stared at the sea with a soft smile on his face. "He is the man worthy of being called as the King of the Pirates and I do respect him."

Ace sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair. There were just some things that he will never understand.

Ace was the kind of person who will never be defeated. But if that day comes, he will surely want revenge to that person. And yet Naguri here, was not like that. The man chose to be thankful for his downfall. He cannot decide if the old man was admireable or crazy. He quickly decided on the latter. There was no other explanation for it.

"You're a crazy old man." Ace murmured after a while. Eyes still staring at the burning woods.

Naguri laughed. "Maybe I am but that's my answer."

"Oi, Ace!" Luffy yelled, waving his hands from afar. "C'mon, let's team up your Dad!"

"He's not my—!" Ace's eyes twitched before biting his lips down. Old habits die hard.

"So you are Roger's son." Naguri remarked but before the boy could reply, he stopped him. "Don't worry, it's none of my business. Your secret's safe with me, noshi."

Ace stared, concluding that maybe he could trust the man. He started running towards his father and his brothers, wanting to spend time with them.

A/N: Guess who's not dead? Probably Roger...

Sorry for the unannounced hiatus. It's the usual stuff of school ruining the writing schedule of fanfic writers.

I also finish this fanfic recently so yay for that! It'll have 36 chapters in total. Expect an update every Sunday at 8am EST.