Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece

"It seems your hands are finally free, Marco," Whitebeard teased, his eyes brimming with a fatherly kind of happiness. "You've found yourself a nice one."

"Watch out for that one," Shanks cut in. His voice was soft for once, but the fond look he always had whenever he looked upon his crew remained in place. "Aiko can be hard to handle."

Marco tilted his head back to look at the woman they were speaking about. He feigned disinterest once his eyes settled upon her. She was surrounded by a few men from the ninth division that he didn't remember the names of. They zeroed in on her fast—so fast that he wondered for a moment if perhaps they'd been waiting for him to leave. They had guts to go after her, he'd give them that, but guts would only get them so far.

Thankfully, they didn't look too wasted, so he didn't have to worry about them doing something overly bold. Nevertheless, Marco made a mental note to keep an eye on them as the night wore on because he knew that after a few more pints, they'd be so far down the bucket that some of the more depraved crew members would stick their hands on anything that looked even remotely squishy. That was the problem when you had a crew full of men. They tended to get a little crazy when they finally did see a woman, especially after months out at sea.

"No," Marco abruptly said with a firm shake of his head. The sudden denial caught the attention of the two captains, who pinned him with their weighty stares. "Don't worry, yoi. It's not like that between us."

"Is that so," Shanks muttered quietly.

"I'd say don't wait too long, son," Whitebeard advised, before taking a healthy gulp of sake. "But if it's really nothing, then..."

"Don't worry, Pops." Marco rubbed the back of his head, as he spared Aiko another glance. Her face was flushed, but if it was because of the alcohol or the men surrounding her, he couldn't say for certain. Probably the former. "There's nothing going on between us, yoi. If there was, I sure as hell wouldn't let her hang around those guys without me, yoi."

The confident way he said those words was highly reassuring. Both for the men around him and, more importantly, for himself. Saying the words made them feel more real; it reaffirmed the thought in his head.

"Good point," Shanks replied with his usual friendly grin in place. He didn't really believe the First Division Commander, but he could at least politely turn his head the other way at such a blatant lie.

Shanks downed what was left of his sake in one go, before standing. He took his time by patting the dust from his pants and twisting his neck this way and that, as if preparing for a particularly long speech. After stretching as many seconds as he possibly could into eternity, Shanks finally shifted his attention to Whitebeard.

"Want me to announce the agreement?" he asked.

"Go ahead, brat!" Whitebeard laughed, as he also finished off the new bottle of sake Marco had brought for him.

"Can I have your attention?" Shanks called, and even though he didn't say it all that loudly, his voice carried across the deck like an infant's cry. He only had to say it once and both crews dropped whatever nonsense it was they were doing in favor of looking at the red-haired emperor. "We've settled on something."

An eerie silence fell over the ship. Even the ocean seemed to still from the sheer power Shanks exuded with his voice. Aiko stood a bit straighter when a sudden veil of solemnity fell over both crews. She sidestepped some of the men that were around her to get a clear view of her Captain. Aiko wanted to hear every word of this. Agreements between emperors were practically unheard of—the four just didn't get along. They'd much rather duke it out in a never-ending battle royale, than even attempt to sit down with each other to hammer out a plan.

"Now, I know that Teach was responsible for the death of your comrade," Shanks began, expertly ignoring the way some of the Whitebeard pirates visibly tensed at the reminder. "And I also know that Ace, as the commander of the division Teach was in, went after him. I advised against it. I wanted Whitebeard to call Ace back, which was the reason for our little free-for-all this morning. But due to the overly reckless fighting of two certain people here," he didn't even try to hide the look he shot towards Aiko and Marco, who continued to stare at him with unreadable masks, still waiting for him to finish. "Whitebeard told me that Ace wasn't actually ordered to leave, that he did so of his own volition, which went against Whitebeard's initial decision."

"You're stating the obvious," Jozu piped up.

"I'm just making sure everyone is on the same page," Shanks said. His smile never wavered. "While they were fighting, Whitebeard and I agreed to my original plan. Send Aiko to find Ace and haul his fiery ass back to the Moby Dick."

Some of the Whitebeard commanders cracked a grin at that.

"Aiko is one of my toughest fighters," Shanks went on. "She's always been gifted with Haki, which should be helpful. That Ace has never officially met her might make it easier for her to approach him. But Ace will definitely be difficult once he finds out what she's trying to do, so we want one of the Whitebeard Pirates to go with her. Preferably someone strong and close to Ace himself. Keep in mind though that this is a voluntary mission because… well, I'll just be straight with you," Shanks' gaze took on a more intimidating look, "the chances of you dying on the Grand Line before even getting a whiff of Fire Fist Ace is extremely high."

Shanks paused for a moment to let them consider his words.

"So, who's up for the task?"

Many of the Whitebeard Pirates looked down, contemplating what exactly needed to be done here. Their chances of survival were dangerously low—out, alone in the New World with not only large bounties on their heads, but the crews of the other Emperors out to get them. They also didn't even know where Ace was. Sure, they had a Vivre Card, but it wouldn't really help much if he was all the way in the first part of the Grand Line. Even going back to the Red Line would be one hell of a journey… but this was for their comrade, no, their brother.

Aiko witnessed the moment when hesitation turned into determination in the eyes of the lower-ranked Whitebeard Pirates. Their confidence ignited at the mere thought of bringing their hot-headed Second Division Commander back. Ace was a beloved pirate—anyone could see that. They each weighed the risks and challenges in their heads, and Aiko easily saw the decision they had settled on. It was in the way they clenched the hilt of their weapons, the way they straightened their shoulders and puffed out their chests—resolve had no voice. Their resolve for their family made her smile.

'But will that resolve be enough? This mission will fail if they lack the strength,' Aiko thought, as she watched dozens of men all about to raise their hands. The strongest would most likely be chosen by one of the commanders or by Whitebeard himself. From what she could see, most of the commanders were silently watching, while others grinned to themselves in pride at all of the men about to volunteer. They were utterly prepared to offer their lives if it meant getting a shot at bringing Ace back.

But before any of them could lift their hands all the way, their heads abruptly snapped to a single man in disbelief. Hands halted mid-ascent, while others fell limply to join bodies frozen in shock. Their faces mimicked their surprise because jaws slackened all around the ship. Eyes had gone so wide that Aiko wondered if the men had eaten some kind of Devil Fruit that allowed their eyelids to stretch that far.

Suddenly, a loud whisper erupted among the crowd of pirates. A combination of:

"Is he for real?"

"What's he thinking?!"

"He can't leave!"

Aiko searched the crowd, doing a quick and efficient sweep with her eyes. She noticed that even Commanders seemed a bit put-off, though a few—like Jozu, Vista, Izou, and Jill—had wide grins on their faces. She looked toward the front, where the rest of the eyes were focused.

There, in between Red-Haired Shanks and Whitebeard, was Marco with his usual lazy expression. Those lethargic eyes gave away nothing. Not a rare sight. She wouldn't have been surprised if it wasn't for the simple truth that—

His hand was raised.

Shanks grinned at just who had lazily lifted his hand.

Marco's elbow was level with his shoulder, and he stood with his feet wide apart, exuding a natural air of confidence. Few people could appear so relaxed on a ship full of powerful pirates… but if power was the marker, then Shanks ranked Marco close to himself. He couldn't have asked for a more formidable pirate to volunteer for this mission.

"Marco," Whitebeards called, using the low, gruff voice that he usually reserved for when he was displeased with one of his sons. "Just what are you thinking? As a Commander, as the First Division Commander, you're needed here on the Moby Dick."

"I know," Marco answered, "but isn't this retrieval mission more important than that?"

His words were clear and concise. Marco wasn't one to recklessly jump into anything without getting all his facts straight; he wasn't like Ace or the other members of his crew, Whitebeard knew that, hell, everyone knew that. So, he explained it with his logic to convince them why he volunteered; to convince himself that it wasn't for any other reason.

"Red-Haired mentioned the risks of this mission, so it would be best to send someone strong. Someone seasoned on both halves of the Grand Line. There's no one better than me," Marco said. No one could argue with that. No matter how cocky he sounded. "Not to mention, we'll need to send someone that can keep up with Killer Punch over there." Marco pointed his thumb over his shoulder in the general direction of the other pirates. It made Whitebeard shoot Aiko a quick look, before his attention returned to the Phoenix Commander. "I find no reason to risk a good life out there. And on top of that, I'm close with Ace."

Marco's gaze met Whitebeards, before he gave him a good-natured grin.

"It's a win on both fronts. As for my duties on the ship, I'm sure one of the others could easily step up and offer their help. No matter what you guys say, I know this place can run without me for a few months. Besides, it's been a long while since I've left the ship, I'm kind of itching to set out."

"I didn't know you felt that way," Jozu chimed from the back.

"It's not like I'm sick of being here… I'm just trying to make a point. So, what do you say Pops? Let me bring Ace back for you, yoi."

Whitebeard stared at his son, rolling the reasoning out in his mind. No, rather than the logic of the argument, he considered who had made it. It had been Marco of all people. He could always send another Commander out with the girl to get Ace, but the fact that Marco didn't suggest it in the first place meant that he wanted to do it, which was a rare thing, indeed. Whitebeard looked towards the woman his son would set off with, then back at his First Division Commander. Whitebeard had no doubt that if he suggested sending someone else, then Marco would definitely find a reason for it to be him instead. Marco was just that kind of guy—the kind that got things his way.

Whitebeard heaved a sigh, and by the way Marco's lips twitched upward into a triumphant grin, he already knew that his father had conceded.

"You leave at dawn," Whitebeard said.

"All ready, yoi?"

Marco's voice cut through the stillness of Aiko's room in the Red Force. She turned to find him leaning against her doorway, inspecting the place like one might a new apartment. For a pirate's quarters, it was lavishly furnished. There was an oversized beds with soft cushions, drawers and chests nailed to the floor, and a large writing desk in the far corner that was overburdened with maps, eternal poses, and trinkets of all kinds. For a moment, Marco wondered if all of the rooms in the Red Force were like this or if the shipwrights gave her special treatment because she was a woman, but the thought was promptly discarded when Aiko spoke.

"And how did you find me all the way down here?" Aiko asked.

"Haki," Marco answered simply. "You've got a nice place."

And even though he couldn't see it, he just knew that she grinned at his remark. Marco observed her for any injuries. She had no more bandages wrapped around her, and it looked like the bruises were almost completely gone. Those salves that doctor had given worked wonders.

Marco strode in and took a seat on the bed next to her bag, where she was packing the things she needed for their upcoming journey together.

"Make yourself at home," she said bitingly. "You don't need my permission to come in or anything."

"Why, thank you, hon," he replied in the same tone.

Aiko made a dramatic display of rolling her eyes, while he watched her place four Log Poses in her pack. Two for each half of the Grand Line. She double-checked a med kit that was filled with all kinds of salves, tonics, bandages, and other things that he didn't get a good enough look at. Afterwards, she rechecked all of the clothes she brought, which suffice to say, was a lot, because let's face it a woman can't go on a Roger knows how long journey without being prepared for every kind of weather. But, strangely enough, the only shoes she kept were the heels she currently donned.

Finally, she checked her Beli. It was stored in a ridiculously fat pouch filled with not only cash, but gems—given to her by Shanks from wherever it was they kept their loot. The Red-Haired Captain didn't want her suffering from poverty after all. Not to say that he didn't think she could make enough to get by on her own—or let's face it, as a pirate, she'd likely be stealing her way through life—but he didn't want her to dine and dash from every restaurant and bar she went to.

Grabbing her heavy plated gauntlets and slipping them on carefully over her imperfect hands, she flexed each one a few times, as if making sure that they actually fit snugly over her palms. The gauntlets gave her a sense of familiarity and comfort. She felt incomplete without them.

"All set and good to go," she finally said. Aiko secured the light brown rucksack over her shoulder after making sure it was fastened shut.

Marco simply nodded, then got up so they could make their way to the deck together. He swung his own bag, complete with his own necessities, over his shoulder. He couldn't help but notice that it was considerably smaller than hers.

"You packed a lot, yoi."

"Well, not everyone can heal like you," she said in the best scathing voice she could muster.

"And all the clothes?" He lifted an eyebrow at her.

"I figured you'd get tired of seeing me in one outfit all the time."

"Naked works too," he retorted with a completely straight face. "I'll never get tired of that."

She just shook her head. "No can do, Phoenix. I like being complimented."

He smirked. "And you apparently like playing dress up too."

"Maybe I just want to impress you."

"Now, hon, you know I can't keep my eyes off you, yoi."

"I wonder if you'd keep saying that if you knew just how old I am." She shook her head at him as they both rounded a corner.

"And just how old would that be exactly, yoi?" he asked, genuinely curious about her age.

"You can't expect me to own up to that now, can you?"

He didn't, but he was still curious. She had to be a few years younger than him, seeing as how when they first met, Shanks' had just become an Emperor. Marco had only been with Whitebeard for a short time then, but news travelled fast when you were a part of one of the most renowned pirate crews on the sea. He hadn't heard much about her if he was being completely honest—possibly because he hadn't really paid much attention until they'd slept together that first night—then, one day, she had suddenly appeared as a member of Shanks' crew.

"I won't tell," he swore, putting his right hand over his heart.

She grinned, as she opened the door that led to the deck of the ship. The sun was just beginning to peek out from over the horizon, but for now, it still needed a bit of time to prepare itself to blind all the poor bastards that had passed out on the deck from the banquet that ended just a few short hours ago. Aiko felt sorry for them not just because the sun would blind their hung-over states, but also because they had become the victims of childish pranks while they were sleeping. Doodles dominated their exposed skin, and some had even been dressed up in make-up and women's dresses that Aiko had no idea where her mates even kept stashed away—did they hoard them in their rooms just for the sake of playing dumb jokes like this? When her mates woke, they'd find themselves in an awful, okama nightmare.

"You first then," she went on, once she got over the sight of her mates passed out in female clothing. "How old are you Phoenix?"

"Can't you use my name for once? I have one for a reason, yoi."

"Now, now, don't change the subject."

"Ah, so I was caught huh?" He gave her a broad shouldered shrug. "I'll stop then."

Marco gave up for now, though Aiko was sure that he'd bring up the subject again some time soon—he was a difficult man to shake like that. They both headed towards where Red-Haired Shanks and other high ranking members of his crew had gathered near the rail of the ship. Higher above them, Whitebeard and his commanders were on the Moby Dick, also beside the rails. Both crews overlooked a small ship made of the finest lumber. It had one large, plain white sail on a mast with no crow's nest.

Aiko had never sailed on a ship so small before.

As they approached, one of the shipwrights from Marco's crew addressed him. "Sir, the insides have been reinforced with steel at Pops' request."

Marco looked towards Whitebeard, who was chugging down a large jug of sake. His Pop's concern made him grin in affection.

Another shipwright—from Shanks' crew this time—approached them. Unlike Whitebeard's man, he looked nervous as hell. He was shaking so bad that Aiko seriously considered if he'd even be able to speak without pissing himself. As soon as he halted before them, Aiko realized that he was one of the apprentices that had just been taken in. Poor kid… only an apprentice, and he was forced to fill in two pirates in a completely different league. Not to mention one from an entirely different crew. She had to wonder what he did to deserve this.

When he spoke, it all came out in one, nervous go.

"The ship has its own paddle system on the bottom just in case you two ever end up in the Calm Belt. No crow's nest and no cannons on board—with the firepower you two are packing, we figured that it wasn't needed. There's one bathroom with a large tub and a single room furnished with a bunk, bookshelves, and desks. Captain ordered us to have it filled with maps, books, and whatever else you might need. The quality of the interior you can count on to be as nice as the rooms in the Red Force. There's a fully stocked kitchen—nothing fancy—and two storage areas. One of them is filled with food and water, while the other has gun powder, rope, and a few other miscellaneous things that you might find useful on your journey. Above, as you can see, are a few planted and securely placed orange trees and herbal plants for your health."

The apprentice breathed in deeply after that long spiel.

Marco simply nodded in acknowledgement, before shifting into his Phoenix hybrid form and jumping onto the Moby Dick to bid his crew farewell. Aiko didn't even spare him a glance. She had been around the Phoenix too many times over the years to mind his sudden flight. Instead, she stared at the young shipwright in amusement. Letting that whole speech out in one breath must've been terribly hard, what with how red his face had gotten mid-talk. But it was nothing compared to how he looked when Marco had decided to take off right in front of him. The poor kid looked like his little heart would explode. Seeing the renowned Phoenix Commander transform up-close was a privilege, but considering the fact that he was from a different crew, the boy probably thought he was going to hurt him.

Turning to Yasopp, Aiko asked, "And just what did he do to deserve this? Brand new rookies informing top notch members of notorious pirate crews about their ship… is this a new kind of hazing?"

Yasopp smiled, then laughed heartily. "He drank the last bottle of Lucky's special North Blue rum actually. Kid was so far in the bucket last night he didn't even realize what he was doing."

She grinned at the young shipwright, who blushed madly at her attention. His innocence was adorable. "So, you guys had this little ship—this beauty—stashed away somewhere? It even had a paddle system, and yet you guys decided to give me that scrappy, sorry excuse for a ship yesterday?"

The kid gulped at what she said. He opened his mouth, only to swallow in nervousness. Before he could embarrass himself further—or worse, pass out—Lucky Roux intervened, taking a huge bite off of an oversized piece of meat in the process.

"Well," Lucky began, "it was sudden, so they didn't exactly have time to pick and choose what ship to give you. Captain didn't even give us any warning."

Aiko glared at Shanks', who smiled like an embarrassed boy in return. The Red-Haired Captain went up to her and at that point, the young shipwright knew enough to scram, as Shanks lifted his only good arm to ruffle her hair. His affection filled her chest with warmth. Aiko smiled, her cheeks heating in glee at her Captain's care.

"You stay safe," Shanks said.

"I'm big now. You don't have to worry about me."

"That's impossible," Yasopp chimed in.

"Exactly," Shanks agreed. "Come back soon, and let's have a banquet, okay?"

"Yes, Captain!" She said, with one hand raised in farewell.

Aiko gave them one final grin, before jumping on the deck of the much, much smaller ship. She wished that they had, at the very least, been generous enough to expand it in some way. Being on such a puny boat was nerve-wracking what with the ridiculous weather of the New World. But she understood why they didn't—it would be harder for two people to properly man anything larger than what they were on now. Still…

As she landed with a soft thud on the deck, her eyes immediately fell on Marco, who had been patiently waiting for her. His usual lazy demeanor seemed to have encompassed the rest of the ship because as soon as she stood upon it, it was as if the atmosphere had shifted from one of tender sadness on the Red Force to one of steady excitement. Being around Marco felt like being beside a steady lake that just begged to be disturbed. He had a certain amount of composure that could be unraveled to reveal a more playful side that always, always kept her on her toes. There was something about him that made her blood sing in her veins. Her heart would drone on and on, knocking bruises against her ribcage and filling with heat at the most ridiculous of times.

Like now.

"You ready, yoi?" he asked with a lopsided grin.

"As I'll ever be," she replied with a smile of her own, but before they could set off, she suddenly held up a finger, "Actually, hold that thought… I've got one last thing to take care of."

Turning back to Shanks, Aiko shouted, "Captain! Watch me!"

Shanks grinned. For once, he remained quiet and simply nodded his head.

As she faced Marco once again, he saw a dazzling grin on her face that stretched from ear to ear. Frankly, he was amazed her cheeks didn't crack. It reminded him of someone he knew. Aiko's smile was just as bright and blinding… and apparently contagious, too, because he caught himself giving her a grin of his own. Marco didn't take his eyes off of her, wanting to savor this moment.

It was a good feeling—basking in her presence. It was a sensation like no other. He was loathed to admit that over the years, he'd been drawn to her for the simple fact that he couldn't resist this emotion that welled up in his chest whenever he saw her face. It bubbled over, spearing through his chest and spreading echoes of warmth all throughout his body.

"Alright," she nodded to herself. "I'm ready for my adventure now, Phoenix. Let's have some fun. Make sure you take good care of me."

Her voice was all milk and honey. Marco couldn't help but smirk

"I always do," he said, smug.

"I'll be in your hands then," she quipped, before flashing him that stunning smile again.

He schooled his expression, then tugged on the rope that unfurled the perfect white sail of their small ship. As the New World's strong winds hit the cloth, they were off, leaving two crews of cheering men in their wake.

In no time at all, they had travelled a good distance. After a few minutes of cruising, however, they heard the sound of Shanks' voice. The pair turned to look back at the Red-Haired Emperor, who by then was nothing more than a tiny speck of color on a background blotted with other pirates—even with the use of a telescope.

Marco shook his head as the Emperor's words registered, while Aiko let out a long and very disbelieving sigh. Both of them were simultaneously exasperated and amazed at the fact that he could yell so loudly.

Aiko could just imagine the kind of face her silly captain donned right about now. She had seen it one too many times to not know.

The renowned and revered Emperor had on a face of utter panic with his eyes bulging out and his mouth hanging.

"OH NO, BENNY! WHAT DO I DO?! I LET A WHITBEARD PIRATE TAKE OUR GIRL AWAY! AIKO! AIKO, D'YA HEAR ME?! I'M SORRY, I WASN'T THINKING! COOOOOME BAAAAAACK!"

A/N: Please remember that this was written a long time ago, so inconsistencies concerning certain characters' backgrounds and the canon One Piece plot will be prevalent all throughout the story.

Quick Edited: 03/18/2020