First, thank you for voting and sharing your opinion ! By popular vote, Ace will have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. I apoligize to all of you who wanted him to have a tumor, I hope you're not too disapointed by this choice and will still read this story !

Thank you for your reviews, it gives me the necessary motivation to write ! (I'll answer the guests' reviews in the notes at the end of this chapter.)

Special thanks to lorena who drew some absolutely wonderful fanarts. I love them so much ! I'm boasting to absolutely all my friends even if I wasn't the one who drew them ( my drawing skills are, let's say, nowhere to be seen ...) Really, thank you so much ! :D

Here's the link: post / 154082905478 / is-a-small-fan-art-of-a-very-good-fic-its-author

Thanks again to my delicious Wonderful_Vanilla_Ice_Cream for helping me and correcting my mistakes !

As for his death... SPOILER ALERT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW, DON'T READ: Well, I heard your pleas ! He'll survive ! It wouldn't be"Angst with a happy ending" if he died... I know some of you wanted it to be a surprise but... I know that I don't like to stumble upon a major character death.

Chapter 7: Of liars and half-truths

Everything was spinning. Thoughts swirled in his confused mind. He was dying. But he didn't want to die. But he was. What could he do ? Nothing, it was fatal. Wasn't there any cure ? Wouldn't anyone be able to help him ?

Ace rushed to Sabo's room. He knew he needed to see him. To yell at him to wake up. He needed him to help him bear a weight he wasn't able to carry alone. He was going to die. But he couldn't. Not now.

Upon arriving in front of the designed door, he wrenched it open, tears still streaming down his face, a wild look etched on his pale features. He stumbled in the room, and collasped on the floor near his brother's bed without acknowledging the surprised look on the person sitting next to his brother.

Raising his head slightly, he could see wide open blue eyes looking at him. A laugh escaped from his lips; a broken hollow sound escaping from his already sore throat.

The flow of his tears intensified and Ace resolutely closed his eyes, laughing and laughing, trying to keep reality away. He stopped abruptly, got up and sat down on a chair, taking his brother's hand in his own, still not talking to the other person in the room.

Mirthless chuckles interpersed by sobs escaped him from time to time. It was the only thing breaking the silence in the room. Ace's head was slightly turned so he was only able to see blond hair from the corner of his eye but he could feel his gaze on him. In the past, he would have become a stuttering mess or worse. Now, he just felt hollow. He didn't have the will to shout or to tell him to get out or even to ask him what he was doing here. It didn't matter. Nothing really mattered anymore.

He noticed Marco getting up and decided that he needed to say something so he schooled his features in a mask of calm and raised his head to face him, wanting to appear in control. He knew he wasn't. He had entered the room crying his heart out after all... And even without that, his blood-shot red-rimmed eyes probably gave him away. That and the sobs that tore their way out of his mouth. A new wave of laughter shook his frame as he saw the man's expression. Anxiety, incomprehension, maybe some hurt, but it might have been Ace's wishful thinking. Ace bent slightly forward, his stomach hurting from the force of his laughter. He felt like throwing up.

Suddenly, the man was crouched in front of him. A shaky hand reached out, probably to weep his eyes but Ace swatted it away. Pity and incomprehension shone in the man's eyes.

"So now you care ?" Ace chuckled brokenly, bitterness heavy in his voice.

"Ace..." he whispered, worry etched on his features. "What's wrong ?"

Ace levelled a hard look at him and a wild smile appeared on his face. So now that this man was faced with his pain, he felt pity ? He felt something in his heart of stone ?

"Leave me alone." Ace bit out. "You probably have somewhere else to be." He finished, whispering, not even looking at him anymore.

"Not when you're looking like this." Care and worry dripped from his voice and it angered Ace.

"Don't act like you care !" He tried to shout but ended up whispering brokenly. He hadn't the force to argue. He was angry. But so tired. New tears found their way on his face.

He was going to die. And this man just had to be the first person he saw. A new wave of laughter shook him. Karma was definitely a bitch. Was it going to rub the fact that Ace's life was a joke in his face every single day ?

Silence stretched out between the two. Marco was still crouched in front of a sobbing Ace, his hands hanging limply at his sides, as if suspended in time. Neither moved. Anguish was etched in Marco's features but the dark-haired man didn't care. Couldn't care.

"Leave, Marco. You have no right being here and looking like you care." Ace spat, hurt shining in his black eyes.

Marco frowned and his eyes suddenly turned cold.

"I'm not as cold hearted as you seem to think. But that's rich coming from you ..." He said standing up, anger swirling in his blue eyes. He paced in the room and stopped abruptly, taking a deep breath, schooling his features. "Still, I can't leave while you're looking like this, Ace."

"It did not bother you last time." Ace lashed out, looking at him, challenging him to prove him wrong. To tell him what last time was about, really.

Marco's face seemed to turn to stone.

"It didn't bother you either." He accused growling.

"What ?" Ace snapped. "How the fuck can you say that ?! You left without looking back !"

Marco stood up and cast a withering look at Ace.

"At least, own to your acts ! I know everything, Ace. I knew everything back then. You can't let me bear the weight of your mistake. You did this to us but you were too much of a coward to end our relationship yourself. So stop playing the victim." He said briskly, leaving the room without looking back. "Well. Goodbye."

Marco stormed out, slamming the door, leaving a disgruntled Ace behind. The young man was left looking at the door, incomprehension clear on his face. What was it about ? What did this bastard knew ? He had been a coward not willing to end their relationship ? He was the victim ! Marco had been the coward in all this, throwing their relationship away for some chick ! Breaking up with him through a phone call !

He could recall almost perfectly how it happened, and after that Marco dared call him a coward ? That was rich. Memory began to make their ways to the forefront of his mind and he let himself be overwhelmed. He couldn't fight back against this onslaught.

"Hey Marco ! What's up?" he had said at that time. Cheerfully. As if nothing was wrong. How naive had he been ?

"Ace" Marco had answered in a serious tone. Ace had been worried all of a sudden that something had happened to one of their friends. But no. It was even worse.

"I should have told you before it came this far but, I'm breaking up with you."

Ace had been speechless. Who wouldn't ? He had then laughed. Really laughed because it was funny. Scary but funny. A joke. But no.

"I'm serious Ace. I'm breaking up with you. I found someone new. It has been quite awhile. I love her."

Ace had been speechless. Utterly speechless. Because Marco was breaking up with him. For some bitch he probably had never met. And telling him by phone.

"I want to see you !" He demanded.

"That's not possible. I'm leaving tomorrow. Don't bother. We're done." And then, as if it was an afterthought he had added "I never loved you anyway. Start your life with someone else."

And he had hanged up. Leaving Ace there, hanging on his phone like a lifeline. As if it was just a nightmare. He had tried calling him back but in vain. Ace was left behind. Without a proper explanation, his heart on the pavement, shattered beyond repair.

New tears found their way on Ace's face. Screw him. Screw this asshole of a son of a bitch. What did he know ? Nothing. He was a cold-hearted bastard. And Ace had fallen for his act. But he would never fall for it again. Never again.

Ace looked down at the slack face of his brother and began to pet his hair, humming.

"I hope you won't wake up with me dead." He whispered sadly.

– Letting go –

Ace had not gone to work the day before. The doctor had been waiting for him just oustide the door, for some psychological follow-up or some shit he didn't care about. They went back to her office to talk some more. She explained what the disease entailed and what he should expect but really, he hadn't listened to her. She gave him some medication to alleviate the pain and send him on his way with clear indication to come back weekly. Or more if he needed to.

He had left the hospital at noon and had wandered around for a long time before going home and sleeping it off. He had heard Luffy arriving late in the night but had not talked to him. What could he say ? "Hey Luffy, just to let you know, I'm going die... But be happy, okay ? Love you." ... That would go pretty well, yeah...

Should he tell him ? Luffy deserved to know but... Ace was suffering, no need to make his brother suffer. Still, he had looked this disease up the internet. Because he needed to know what would happen to him. He shouldn't have looked. Ignorance was bliss. Soon, he would have trouble walking around, and it would definitely show. Luffy would know. Hell, Kid would know before his brother, they were working together and Ace did not want to handle a needle anymore. He did not want to injure a client. So Kid was bound to ask some questions. And Ace couldn't lie forever.

Maybe he should take some vacations. Long vacations. But he couldn't just dissapear. He had Luffy to take care of. And Sabo. He could not leave his two brothers behind. Still, he would end up dying up on them anyway. He was bound to ... So what was right ?

He had three to five years left, it could go up to ten if he was lucky. But it wouldn't be ten years of bliss and ignorance. It would be a slow and painful kind of death. He probably would have trouble walking on his own in a few months. He had already trouble holding things in his hands. What would happen to him ? He was going to be a burden. And then, he was going to die. Fed up with himself; his brothers and friends fed up with him.

He arrived at his shop a little late. Quite late in fact. It was already 11 a.m. He had not seen time flying by as he was pondering and had fallen asleep after breakfirst. But he found himself unable to care. Bartolomeo and Bonney were there, the first at the counter and the second talking to a client.

"Where's Kid ?" He asked Bonney.

"In the break room, he's chatting with Squardo." She replied. "Good morning to you too, Sleeping Beauty." She teased him.

"Ah yeah sorry." Ace said sheepishly. "Good morning."

What was Squardo doing here ? Ace thought the man would get plastered last night and would be in no shape to get out of his bed.

"Why is Squardo here ? Wasn't he going to drink himself under the table yesterday ?"

"Yeah, but he had an argument with Kid. They both left quite early after that. He arrived just a few minutes ago." Bonney informed him.

Ace hummed and went on his way. It was their problem to solve, no need to get involved. As he got closer to his office he could hear angry shouts coming from the break room.

"... don't do anything, Squardo, or I swear I'll hunt you down and kill you."

Kid definitely had to be angry to shout this loud. Despite knowing it wasn't quite right, Ace decided to listen in.

"Listen to yourself Kid. Did you really give up ? You're a fool."

"And you're getting on my nerves, Squardo. Get out, you've done enough."

Squardo's peculiar laugh rung out.

"Tell yourself that Kid. But you're in this as much as I am."

"Get out." Kid barked.

The door was wrenched open and Ace had just the time to get out of the way when an angry Kid got out of the room, followed by a frowning Squardo. Neither said anything and Squardo left without another word. Kid stormed upstairs; he probably hadn't noticed Ace.

"Ah guys. Always blowing things out of proportion; I'm sure it has something to do with a girl." Bonney sighed, leaning on the counter a half-eaten lolipop in her mouth.

"I doubt it has something to do with a girl..." Ace said after a few seconds. "It sounded too serious."

"Girls are serious matter !" Bonney exclaimed, waving her lolipop in front of her as a make-shift sword.

"Yeah, yeah. Go back to work Bonney, before you injure yourself." Ace laughed.

She scoffed and looked the other way, putting the lolipop back into her mouth.

Laughing Ace let her be and went into his office.

Just ten minutes before closing the shop for lunch, Kid came to see him.

"You were late." He accused him, frowning.

"Yeah. I overslept." Ace replied simply. Better sticking with simple lies. When had he become such a liar, really ? It was becoming an obsesive compulsive disorder at this point...

"It doesn't happen often." Kid went on, clearly suspicious. He could smell lies a mile away... Ace just hopped he would buy his act for now.

"Yeah, I know, but I was tired."

"What did they say at the hospital yesterday ? You did not come to work at all." Ah, of course he had to ask this particular question.

"Nothing, really. As I thought I only have a vitamine defiency. They gave me some medications and they made me sleepy."

Before going to work, he had thought about what he was going to say. He wouldn't burden his friends with this. He did not want them to look at him with pity or sorrow. If they knew about it, they would change. All because he was going to fucking die. He did not want to be treated differently, as if he was made of glass.

"Hm. You should have called." Kid said reproachfully

"I know. Sorry. I slept as soon as I got back. This medicine really knocked me off."

"Be careful with this kind of medication."

"Don't worry, they gave me something lighter for everyday use. It was just so I could sleep to get back my strengh. But... I'm still under the weather, I don't think I'll work on anyone for at least a few weeks."

This excuse was flimsy at best and Kid wasn't stupid. He stared at him and grunted.

"What was it about with Squardo this morning ?" Ace suddenly asked.

Kid started and looked at Ace, frowning.

"You were there ?"

"Only at the end. When you shouted at him to get out. It seemed serious."

"Yeah. Squardo was being his usual self. Nothing to worry about." He replied gruffly.

"But..." Ace began.

"I'm gonna eat lunch with Bonney, do you wanna come ?"

"No, I'm not feeling hungry, I'll grab something later." He said slowly, looking at Kid worriedly.

– Letting go –

Kid's attitude had been strange to say the least. What was that with Squardo ? "You're in this as much as I am" he had said... that could mean a lot of things... Was Kid in trouble ? Had he commited a crime ? It sounded really bad when he thought about it... Had they robbed a bank ? Killed someone ? No that wasn't possible. Squardo was a detective and even if Kid looked like trouble he was actually pretty lawful. Sure, Kid had done his fair share of joy ridding in highschool, yes, but who hadn't ? He had fought a bit too. Maybe quite some times would be more accurate but well... as long as his criminal record was blank, no one counted.

He hoped both of them weren't in trouble. If Kid was, he expected him to tell him. That was what friends were for, after all. They were here so you could lean on them when you needed to. A wry smile stretched his lips. What an hypocrite he was... But their situations probably weren't the same. He'll let Kid alone for now, he'll find the time to talk to him later.

Ace resumed his work. He had been busy filling some order forms. He hadn't talked to Bonney and Bartolomeo concerning his job. He had to stop working for awhile, he just couldn't risk his clients' safety. Not knowing when his hands would decide to stop working or his legs to collapse under him was a risk. What was he supposed to do, really ? He couldn't just stop tattooing people could he ? He knew he couln't let his disease hinder his way of life. Maybe he'd stop for a short while. See at what frequency his trouble with his limbs occured. If he had a time frame, he could tattoo people again. Couldn't he ?

Probably not. But he couldn't stop himself from hoping for some miracle.

Ace knew deep down that he was going to die. He had looked his disease up the internet. There were no cure. Nada, rien, nichts, niente. Some researchers thought they were onto something but how much time would it take to finally find a cure ? Years. Decades even. And Ace did not have decades. Was there even a cure for such disease ? He didn't know.

Thinking about it made his disease more real. He still had trouble believing he was going to die. He knew. But that didn't mean he had accepted it. Maybe they were wrong, maybe they mistook it for something else ! But as soon as those ideas came to his mind he realized how foolish he was. Life wasn't so kind as to just let him go on his merry way, with a pat on his back. It would drag him through the mud till all he would crave was his own death.

Still, it was hard to get his mind around this idea. He wasn't sick per se. He had just trouble moving around. Really, nothing life threatening. But it would. Soon enough. Sooner that Ace would have liked, probably. If he had to die he would have prefered it to be quick and painless.

A heavy feelings settled in his gut, a mix of sorrow, distress and grief, coupled with a feeling of unfairness. It would do him no good to wallow in self pity. It would only make him more miserable. And he was stronger than that. He couldn't let himself give up, now could he ?

I don't wanna die.

But maybe he didn't deserved to live in the first place. He was the son of Gol D. Roger. So now that fate had noticed this mishap, it came to reclaim his due.

I don't wanna die.

Was his existence a waste of space ? He was the son of a monster. He had not been particularly good or bad. He had just lived like anybody else he supposed.

Sure he had people he cared about. And they probably cared about him. If only a little. But they would live without him. Luffy would be sad. But he'll live on too. He was too full of life to be burdened by his death. As for Sabo, he'll be sad for awhile if he were to wake up but ... Sabo had abandoned him first. So who was left then ?

Tears threatened to spill down his cheeks but he wouldn't let them fall.

Nobody will miss me. So I guess it's okay.

– Letting go –

He came back a little late at his home. He had stayed longer at his shop, lost in thoughts, his state of mind alterning between hopefulness and distress. He felt like crying and throwing up at the same time. His head hurt like hell. He was tired but did not want to sleep. He never wanted to wake up again but wished to see the sun rise and set for eternity. He wanted to run and run till he dropped on the ground, exhausted. He wanted to curl under his cover and never get out, to never face reality again.

He opened the door and made his way to the kitchen, seeing the lights were on in this room. He saw his younger brother at the table, in front of what was once his "before-dinner-snack". Crumbles littered the table and Luffy was busy patting his blotched stomach, a beaming smile on his face.

"You didn't leave anything for me ?" He asked in mocked anger.

"Ace !" His brother cried out, lauching himself at him and nearly toppling him over. "You're home !"

"Sorry, I'm a little late, but I'll cook something delicious to make it up to you !" Ace said, smiling and ruffling his brother's hair.

"Meat !" Luffy shouted. "Meat ! Meat ! Meat !"

He let go of Ace and improvised a song, having something to do with the "exquisite smell of meat", and its "unique taste", and its "wonderful shape". He was more shouting it at the top of his lungs than really singing but it made Ace burst into laughter. He loved his brother. Only him could make him forget his trouble.

"It's not done yet ! Go do something else, I don't want to have to bit you if you try to steal uncooked meat."

Luffy pouted but got out of the kitchen, still singing meat's praises.

– Letting go –

After dinner, they settled on the couch to watch a film. Ace didn't feel like watching something too intellectually heavy and as it was Luffy's turn to choose, he was almost sure it wouldn't be. As it is, his brother picked out The Aristocats and they huddled under the covers, watching the film with a bowl of popcorn each. Luffy knew all the song by heart and soon the brothers found themselves singing along the cats and cursing the butler's cunningness. Evening like those definitely were soothing.

When the credits began to roll at the end he noticed Luffy staring at him.

"I'm not stupid." He said after awhile.

"I know." Ace sighed. Luffy had probably noticed that something was off. All the Marco related troubles had already begun to make him suspicious. But now with Ace's disease...

"Talk to me then." Luffy's face was a mask of firmness. He wouldn't budge.

What could Ace say. "I'm dying?" It hadn't been a good idea to tell him yesterday, it wouldn't be a good idea today either.

"I stumbled accross Marco." He said finally, settling on another problem.

"Should I break his nose ?" Luffy asked, frowning.

He had never known what happened back then. He only knew that Ace and Marco broke up for some unknown reason and that Ace had been really sad. Ace hadn't wanted to talk about it and Luffy was in no state to listen to him ranting about Marco. After all, upon his return he had learnt about Sabo's accident.

Ace chuckled and shook his head.

"No. But I might."

"You can lean on me, Ace." He said, his eyes pleading.

"I don't need to. I'm alright." Ace tried to reassure him. He wanted to tell Luffy. But he knew he couldn't. Because he didn't want his brother to cry or to be sad over someone like him. He would let his brother be happy. He would be there for him as long as he could. Luffy deserved to know. And his brother would probably be angry with him once he learnt the truth. But ignorance was bliss.

"I'm here, if you ever need me. And if Marco's bothering you, I'll kill him." Luffy added.

"I know Lu, I know." He said with a tiny smile.

No. It was better not to tell him anything.

Notes: Thank you for reading ! This chapter is definitely confusing and no I have no problem with coherence, it's not my fault if my characters are all liars ^^ Ahahah.

Please leave a review and tell me what you thought of this chapter !

See you next week ! :D

Guests' reviews:

To Ame: yeah, bending the rules it is ! He won't die, I love him too much ! Thank you for your review !

To Anon: Thank you ! Drama hurts but it'll get better... In a few chapters ? Quite a few maybe ? ^^

To your fan: I'm really touched, thank you ! I'm sorry that the final choice of his disease wasn't the one you prefered, I hope you're not too disapointed ! God won't save him ^^ I don't like this kind of "miracles". Thank you so much for your review ! It really made me happy ! :D

To Guest: Thank you for your opinion !

To Colette Nicole: Thank you for commenting, and don't worry he'll live !

ToChaosMe3: Yeah it can count like this don't worry ! Woah Thank you ! It's the very first fanfic I write so it really makes me happy to know that it's your favorite multiple chapter story ! Thank you so much for your review ! :D