The sun had set leaving a clear night sky in the wake of last nights storm, the heat of the sun lingered, thick and humid in the air. Hazarding a quick glance at the distressed woman beside him, Ace found himself entirely unable to follow through with a mere glimpse. Kaede emanated grace, delicate features brought beautifully to life, illuminated under the silver glow of the full moon. He could see the barely-there crease between her eye brows, the slow chewing of her cheek. He could see her unease so evidently and it occurred to him that, with her ever composed exterior, no one but him aside from her siblings would ever know of her apprehension. Not even if they were as close as he was now. That thought caused his lips to quirk involuntarily into a tentative smile as he continued to gaze upon her.

Ace's fingers twitched of their own accord when tendrils of dark hair blew carelessly into her face, obscuring her from him. He wanted nothing more than to reach over and brush them aside, but he knew given her lack of social contact that such an action would be incredibly senseless on his part. Clearing his throat, Ace settled for something a little less intimate and lightly, hesitantly brushed his thumb over hers. A gentle sigh escaped her lips and Ace relaxed, continuing to trace invisible circles into soft skin. He couldn't help but think to himself that here, bathed in moonlight, subtle pout and brows pinched together this woman, The Butcher, looked - for lack of a better word - almost cute.

'She broke your nose.' His better judgement whispered in the back of his mind, so far behind any other thoughts he was currently occupying that Ace barely registered it. Arduously, Ace tried to banish the lewd fabrications flitting through him, bringing with them unwanted sensations that, he had no doubt, would have him in physical pain again should Kaede notice. Heat flowed up through his body to reside brightly upon his cheeks as he considered such a predicament and he was grateful for the lack of light.

"Stop looking at me, Fire Fist." Kaede chided, eyes fixed on the galley door. Shifting his feet, Ace obliged and turned his attention back to the strained voices of the Straw Hat Pirates, who were currently locked away in their kitchen discussing Kaede's presence aboard the Sunny. He couldn't find it in himself to object to their unwillingness if he was honest with himself. Kaede and almost slaughtered their captain and quite obviously disliked Zoro, or as she referred to him, The Brute.

"I won't take part in this!" The swordsman raged, throwing open the galley door, stalking off to the crows nest but not before piercing both, Kaede and Ace with a seething glare.

Ace, feeling more than a little guilty lulled his head back, his lips giving way to a heavy sigh. When he had decided to do this, to help Kaede and her family, to bare the responsibility of their quest, their wellbeing and its outcome along with them he had never intended to involve his brothers crew. Aware that voyaging with The Butcher would bring with it precarious, possibly fatal obstacles, Ace hadn't wanted to implicate anyone in his decision.

Why had he taken it upon himself to help Kaede and Koji? He wasn't sure he knew himself. Something within Kaede had stirred awake his compassion for a fellow guardian of siblings. Everything she had done in her life was for them, so much so that she had neglected her own happiness and quality of life to adequately care for the youngers. Years of willingly handing pieces of her fractured self over had left her desolate and if she continued, he had no doubt it would lead to her demise.

He wouldn't allow it. He wouldn't leave Koji without the only mother he had ever known, wouldn't allow Kaede to lose Akira and he certainly couldn't allow Kaede to whither away in the shadow of her bounty and fear of the outside world.

He would be eternally sorry should any of his actions bring unforeseen consequences upon the Straw Hats but his mind was made up. It had been the moment his dark eyes had met the broken emerald of Koji's, an array of overwhelming emotions had danced painfully over his young face. Love and warmth for his sister, anguish and sinister animosity towards those who had wronged them. That seemed to be everyone that wasn't the three of them before Ace stumbled into their lives.

There were things he had no doubt he would never understand but he would try for them, for her and for his own mortality.

"Ace, we need to talk" Ace said nothing, his brothers uncharacteristically serious tone cutting through his already tense stature. This wouldn't come without terms set by the captain, or rather his overprotective crew. For which Ace would usually be grateful. Without further stalling, Ace strode toward the cabin door, Kaede keeping pace beside him. Her nervousness perfectly concealed behind false nonchalance.

Met with unsurprising scrutiny and silence, that spoke louder than any words that may have been lurking within the pirates, Ace was for the first time he could recall, uncomfortable in the crews presence. Only five of the nine occupied the small space, three still off ship and one simmering away elsewhere, no doubt cleaning his swords in anticipation for a swing at the freckled man.

"I believe you have a favour to ask of our doctor, Ace?"

Shit. He hadn't taken into account the motherly rage that would currently be burning within the archeologist. Maybe he could play this to their advantage, maybe she would understand and sympathize with Kaede?

"No, he doesn't, I do." Kaede piped up from beside him, still perfectly calm. The room fell silent once more, Robin seemed to be thinking. Of course that wasn't unusual although it was rare to see her inner thoughts plastered so plainly on her face.

The red headed woman was growing impatient, every second that passed her jaw muscle tensed and Ace was suddenly very aware of the large cyborg eyeing him, menacingly from the corner. This was going one of two ways and Ace wasn't particularly fond of either outcome.

Ace could feel his own discomfort contorting into something he wasn't unfamiliar with, stubborn waves of irritation slowly boiling into that of anger as the tension in the room became unbearable.

"What's your problem cyborg?" Ace questioned, narrowed eyes never leaving the raging blue ones before him.

A whirlwind of colour had Ace instinctively engulf himself in flames as the cyborg came at him head on, not breaking his stride as the little reindeer tugged uselessly at his huge leg. Ace flung Kaede a little harder than intended, away from him as he readied himself to clash with Franky. Standing a good two feet or so above himself, Ace sprung from the wooden floor, aiming to land a punch from above. He'd melt the bastards nose. How dare he come at him like that, as if he were their enemy.

"Seis Fleur. Twist!"

The sickening sound of his own bones cracking under the strain of Robins attack brought Ace ruthlessly to the ground, his upper body twisted unnaturally. Though he knew if the woman had wanted to she could have snapped him in two, Ace was still surprised at how utterly defenseless he was within her grasp. He had cooled his fire completely, not wanting into burn her. Robin wasn't the problem here.

The scuffle of feet and strained grunts turned Ace's attention to Franky who was encompassed in long arms and legs, tangled around his enormous body and limbs with little effort. His head balanced on the cyborgs shoulder, Luffy looked enraged. Ace wasn't sure if that rage were directed specifically at either of them or both but the boy looked ready for murder. Well, that made three of them.

"May I?" Kaede asked, gesturing to the testosterone charged men before her.

Ace watched as Robin considered her, cerulean eyes curiously wandering over the smaller female. Ace had spoken with the archeologist previously, the woman was well versed in the whispers regarding The Butcher and her reputation as a killer.

"Can you do it without harming them?"

"I can." Kaede affirmed before sweeping an elegant hand over the space before her.

A familiar, unwanted warmth spread quickly through Ace and he was sure, Franky who was trying to be startled by the sudden mental violation. As the men relaxed unwillingly, Robin and Luffy lessened their hold on them, eventually leaving the two slumped and breathless on the cabin floor.

Knowing the struggle was futile Ace allowed the calming tingle to consume his body, hating every second of it. Although, he had taken great pleasure in the inconceivable twitch of the cyborgs face as he fought against the calming flow of his blood and his own macho need to continue their confrontation.

"Don't fight it cyborg, you look constipated." Ace quipped, becoming – or trying to become – increasingly bothered by the softness of his tone. It sounded as if he were genuinely concerned for Franky as opposed to brutally mocking him.

"You'll stay there until you can behave." Robin told them, motherly as ever before turning to Kaede who was standing beside her. "Please, sit." She gestured to the dining table where Nami sat, wide eyed and speechless. Ace could only watch the scene before him unfold as, true to her word, him and Franky were kept sedately on the floor.

"Please understand our mistrust. As you can imagine given your earlier encounter with out Captain here we are a little dubious of you. Some," Robin gestured to the shaking animal curled into her other side, "more than others."

"I do understand and I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you and your Captain. If I had known who he was the altercation would never have come about. I have no intention of hurting any of you."

"I wholeheartedly believe that, Butcher, however I do worry that you may do so unintentionally as was the situation with Luffy."

"Kaede thought Luffy was an enemy is all. Surely, Robin, you of all people know what that's like?" Ace paused briefly before continuing. "To be subject to the hardships of living on the run and all the insecurities it brings with it?"

"I understand the reason for her actions completely. It's the lack of control that concerns me – all of us actually." Robin gestured to her crew.

"You're right Miss Robin, when threatened I am susceptible to my Devil Fruits overbearing power and become consumed by it. However, now that I'm aware of who Luffy is, who all of you are, it won't happen a second time." Kaede made eye contact with each of the Straw Hats, completing her lap of the small room with the captain of the crew himself.

Another long silence and Ace let out a frustrated groan that – due to his exceedingly relaxed state – instead fluttered through parted lips as an embarrassingly soft moan. It did nothing in the way of portraying his agitation but succeeded in making him blush and Luffy cackle uncontrollably. The crew around him slowly gave way to the contagious laughter of their captain and were too, chortling at Ace's humiliation.

It was becoming tedious after five long minutes of Luffy and Chopper taking turns to imitate the accidently sensuous sound he had made. Nami, slapping her palm into the table repeatedly as she laughed harder, Robin chuckling behind her slender hand and Kaede – the traitor – joining the archeologist in her failed attempt to conceal her amusement.

As the laughter died down and the crew gained some of their former composure, Ace watched as Chopper approached Kaede, his shaking hand tugging lightly at the hem of the shorts she still wore. Peering down her amber eyes softened and she smiled. A smile reserved for only the most adorable of living things, Ace assumed.

"Is there something I can help you with…" The doctor tailed off, looking away bashfully, realising he had no idea of her name. Ace knew the young reindeer was far too polite to refer to her as The Butcher, he wouldn't want to cause offence.

"Kaede." She told him, voice gentle and tentative as she addressed the timid boy.

"That's pretty," He complimented before looking to Robin who nodded her head ever so at Chopper, giving her permission, her affirmation that it was safe. "Would you like to follow me, Kaede? I assume you'd like to speak privately?"

It was her turn now to seek the same confirmation from Ace who gave a short nod in response. She wouldn't come to harm by way of this crew. He knew she would be safe here, with or without him. Her obvious reluctance to leave his side tugged at his own reluctance to be without her harshly, bringing it to the forefront of his mind as he watched her exit the room, pulled along by the little doctor.

~

Shortly after Kaede had left her abilities affect on the men had all but left them, leaving both a little groggy and silently abashed. Being stripped of your own emotional authority did conflicting things to ones ego.

"Both of you will apologise." The men on this crew truly were slaves to the women and Ace, being a guest here was no exception. The Archeologist had them both in an incredible choke hold, their backs arched and twisted excruciatingly as Robin smirked, her arms crossed in front of her.

"Okay, okay I'm sorry!" Franky relented as the sound of metal scraping made the rooms occupants grimace.

"Ace?" The redhead asked innocently, clearly enjoying the show.

"Sorry." He mumbled petulantly, the pain coursing through his grinding bones winning out over his usually impassable stubbornness.

Coming to sit beside Luffy, Ace kneaded the spots Robins attack had left sensitive.

"I need a den den. I need to speak with Whitebeard."

"Sure. There's one on the counter there. Tell old guy in said hi!' Luffy grinned.

Ace nodded, limping over to the counter for the communicator and then proceeded to limp out onto the deck. The night still warm and clear, he took himself to perch upon the impressive – if a little disfigured looking – figure head to dial home.

"Hello." Marco's almost monotone voice flowed smoothly through the receiver.

"Marco, is pops available?"

"Yeah, he's down on deck. Everything alright? You're calling so The Butcher went okay?"

"Well, that's – that's what I need to speak with pops about." Ace admitted.

"Ace…"

"Just put him on the damn snail, Marco."

Marco did as asked, shouting at the rest of the crew on deck to scram elsewhere lest they wish to scrub floors for the better part of a month.

"Ace, is everything okay?" Whitebeard's voice was full of fatherly concern.

"Fine, everything is fine. I just need to run a few things by you regarding The Butcher."

"Well, go ahead boy."

Ace hesitated for a moment. Where to start? Where to begin and then to end with that he wished to accompany The Butcher, a woman he barely knew, on her journey across The New World to find a man that may well be dead and to save her sister who may not able to be saved.

" Kaede needs my help, she –"

"She?" His father interrupted, intrigue clear in his booming voice. "That is an unexpected turn of events. Keep going, boy."

Ace continued, divulging everything that had happened since the moment he had seen Kaede until his most recent spat with Franky. He speared not a single detail in relaying the stories Koji had told him or the harrowing scene he had witnessed with Akira.

The large pirate sighed heavily into the handset, silence following. If he knew his pops like he thought he did then Whitebeard would be onboard with this. He had to be. The man lived by the word of family and what it meant to be a part of one.

"Marco can man the second division for now. I want you to accompany this girl as long as she needs and should she need you no further make it clear to her that if she desires she has a place aboard my ship, her siblings too. I will not play a part in the demise of a girl that knows only loneliness." He paused, thoughtfully for a moment. "Teach her, boy. Teach her what it means to want and be wanted, show her that isolation isn't the way. You have my support and should you need any of us you'll only need to reach out. No broken soul will be denied what we as a crew have to give."

"Yes Sir." Ace answered more than a little choked up by the undeniable passion his pops put forward. 'Bastard old fart!' Ace thought as he blinked furiously.

"Ace." Marco again.

"Yeah, what?"

"This girl… you're thinking with your head yes?"

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Ace's voice rose and he silently shushed himself, whipping his head around to ensure he hadn't caught any unwanted attention.

"You know exactly what it means Ace. I know you."

"I'm thinking with my head Marco st – " Ace caught movement in the corner of his eye. "I have to go. I'll call soon"

"Be careful, kid."

"I'm always careful."

"You're always reckless." Marco corrected before the line went dead.

Ace rigorously scoped out his surroundings, searching for the movement his sharp eyes had caught but a moment ago. The click of dress shoes to his left and the vile smell of tobacco assaulted his senses as the tired freckled man tried to abolish the need to sneeze. He only knew of one pirate to wear such attire and when his eyes found the blonde cook, Ace relaxed thankful that the movement he had caught was friend and not foe.

" Want something to eat? I'm doing the whole crew a little something before things settle for the evening." Ace yawned drowsily and nodded his response, trying to smile around his gaping mouth.

Before things 'settle down' Sanji had said. Ace stifled a laugh, the cook had no idea of what the night could possibly bring. Kaede had yet to finish her talk with the doctor and she would want to move as quickly as possible, Ace had no doubt the doctor would also. The only certainty to come this evening was Sanji's inevitable nose bleed.

"I'll have someone come get you when the food is done." Sanji said, flicking his cigarette end into the sea before sauntering off to the galley. Dress shoes clipping as he went, leaving Ace draped lazily over the figure head, eyes blurry and willing to succumb to the peaceful allure of sleep. His narcoleptic tendencies shrouding his mind in a cloudy haze of thoughtlessness moments before his world went black.

I am unable to reply to reviews via message for some reason so will do so at the end of each chapter.

WhiteyWolf26: Although this chapter doesn't directly answer all of your questions in time they will be. I have very specific plans for Kaede and her journey. regarding the question about Ace's blood, that is a negative. If Luffy had come to serious permanent harm his reaction would have been different of course but this time around he understands. Thank you for the feed back! I really hope you're enjoying it.