Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece
I would rather my life end today than see your heart leave me.
…
"Bennie said that when the mighty fall, they hit the ground harder than the rest. Why is that?"
It was a question Aiko had asked Shanks when she was younger, he had only smiled and replied in his usual tone complete with a shrug.
"What's Bennie doin' teaching you nonsense things like that?" Shanks picked her smaller self up and went up to the side of the ship, so that they could look out at the sea. They were so close to the New World. He'd be making an even greater name for himself soon. A name with a legend that would echo all across the four blues, that he was sure of.
"He said it when we saw that drunk man on the last island." Aiko said, grinning up at Shanks. Even though she was already above the usual age to be held up like this, he still treated her like a little kid. Then again, her malnourished body made her look much too young for her age.
"Oh?" Shanks humored her, tilting his head. Always careful not to tilt it so much that his strawhat would fall to the ground. "What did he say?"
Aiko tried to imitate Benn's voice. "He should be thankful that he didn't have much to lose in the first place. That's not rock bottom, that's just self-loathing."
Shanks stared at her, trying to suppress a laugh at her amazing imitation of his first mate. He was always happy whenever she went to him to explain something. He could put up his mock wise aura. "Bennie means that when you have more to lose and all those things suddenly disappear then it's worse than losing something of little value."
He watched her roll it over in her mind, her brows were furrowed as she made sense of his words. "So, if me, Bennie, Yasopp, Lucky and everyone else went away it would be worse than losing your strawhat?"
Shanks' eyes widened and he gave her a large grin.
"Hey! My strawhat isn't of little value!"
Aiko grinned cheekily up at him.
The Whitebeard and Red Hair Pirates busied themselves in preparing Whitebeard and Ace's graves. Shanks speaking to the pirates that couldn't stop thanking him as he offered them booze. No one was smiling, not even the party loving Red Hair Pirates. News had spread throughout the world and with that news, pirates from all over the world began terrorizing islands that had once belonged to the Whitebeard Pirates. But none of them could do a thing about it. At least, not right now. Their losses were too great, the wounds still fresh. No one could board the Moby Dick without breaking down in tears.
Aiko stood in front of the Red Force, watching her mates mingling with the Whitebeard Pirates. Both crews scurrying about in somber moods and low spirits, despite the clear skies. The uncaring Heavens that didn't deem it necessary to shed tears for the awful things going on in the world. The sun was rising, soon it would be an entirely new day. They'd be leaving soon. With the chaos, they needed to protect their territory from the worst generation that had taken the New World by storm. They also needed to scramble and take as much of Whitebeard's territory as possible.
Today would be a long day.
Aiko sighed and a bowl of stew was immediately shoved in her face. She looked up to see a lithe woman with bandages wrapped around her arms and forehead. She was holding a large pot of stew and handing bowls around to everybody.
"I could hear your loud stomach all the way from that cowboy's casket." The woman shoved the food once more at Aiko, urging her to take it.
"Thank you." Aiko took it from the woman, eyeing her carefully. "Were you two close?"
"Me and that cowboy?" She grimaced. "He was just another idiot."
Aiko ignored the tears streaming down the woman's face.
Right now, Aiko was at a loss. She was in the midst of people who had lost almost everything. What was she supposed to say? Condolences were empty words. Silence was better. With silence they knew that she couldn't possibly fathom the pain they were feeling, they knew, they understood and they accepted.
"I never got to meet him." Aiko murmured, looking towards the two open caskets. The entire crew sat beside Whitebeard, eating and drinking. While Marco a distance away, sat alone beside Ace. The Phoenix had probably requested to be alone with the fire commander. Aiko wondered if he was apologizing for not getting to him in time.
"You're lucky then." She sniffled, wiping away her tears. At least, she tried to. They wouldn't stop. She was clutching a red kerchief in her hands as if it were the most precious thing in the world. "He was an idiot that would eat all your food and fall asleep on you, he'd apologize right after too. Then when you'd accept his damned halfhearted apology, he'd say thank you with a stupidly huge grin as if that made his narcolepsy any better." She clenched the pot in her hands. Just to hold on to something, to anything. "That idiot was always smiling. He was just that kind of guy."
Regret stung at Aiko. Regret and guilt. Perhaps if they had taken a different route, maybe if they hadn't gotten trapped by that okama Queen, if they hadn't taken the time to get rid of their imposters on Velveteen. Then maybe, just maybe, they would've gotten to Ace.
"I'm Aiko."
"I know." The woman muttered. "I'm Rem."
Aiko drank the stew straight from the bowl, slurping loudly. She ignored the burning sensation it left down her throat and when she swallowed the last bit. She handed her the bowl and smiled as wide as she could. The smile that had saved her when Gin died.
"Thanks for the food, Rem."
Rem's eyes widened, before she closed them, trying to reign in her feelings. She wiped her tears on the bandages of her arms and handed Aiko another bowl of soup. Rem pointed at the Phoenix Commander who sat alone, his mouth moving as he spoke softly to ghosts of the past.
"That there is a whole other kind of idiot." Rem's voice was shaking as if still trying to hold back tears. Her knuckles were white as she continued to hold desperately onto the headwear. "He's always been pining after you. You should go to him. Pirate pride and different crews isn't a problem anymore, is it?"
It was Aiko's turn to be surprised. Her eyes widening at Rem's words. "Your crew just lost its heart, its most important person." Aiko mumbled. "I can't ask or expect anything from the Phoenix. He needs to heal."
The nickname left a bad sensation on her lips.
"This isn't something Phoenix healing can fix." Rem shot back. Dark eyes glaring daggers at her honey ones. "He needs someone he has complete faith in."
Aiko eyed Rem, she was young. Possibly a decade younger and still emotional from the recent loss. She was letting something cloud her mind, what that was Aiko didn't know. Perhaps she had a lover that died in the war of the best? Whatever the case, all Aiko could see were flawed arguments from a woman who seemed experienced at lashing out at people with her tongue.
It was a sad sight.
"That isn't me, Rem."
"Bu—"
"You're mistaken." Aiko said, trying to keep her voice even. "Complete faith? He has that in his crew, his family. I won't start a relationship with the Phoenix when he's in such a vulnerable state. It's an insult to him, an insult to our memories together if I took advantage of such a situation." Aiko eyed Marco, the Phoenix's gaze stayed firmly on Ace's corpse. "That man there is the part of him meant only for the eyes of his crew."
Aiko handed the bowl of piping hot stew back to Rem.
Rem didn't take it. "Please. Speak to him, please."
"Me and that flaming turkey think alike." Aiko stared intensely at the Whitebeard Pirate before her. "Why would you have me speak to him?"
"It's been two weeks since the war, but that stupid bird hasn't done anything to vent since Marineford." Rem said, regaining some of her attitude. The attitude that hadn't turned Ace away. The one that never stood a chance against his large grins, so much like the woman before him. She had the same bright light that Ace emitted. Startlingly beautiful and absolutely blinding. "He doesn't eat and doesn't sleep. Thatch isn't around to force him to and none of us can do it. But, if it's you. Then maybe he'll take care of himself more."
Aiko sighed. This wouldn't work, Marco was the type that could get back on his feet faster if left alone. "Could you tell my Captain that I'll be back later?" Rem nodded. Aiko handed her the bowl of stew. "We don't need this." She turned to the Red Force and found Benn Beckmann. "Oi, Bennie!"
"Hmm…?" He hummed, looking down at her as he lit up another cigarette.
"Give me a bottle of that."
"What for?"
Aiko pointed a thumb in Marco's general direction. Benn blew out a long puff of smoke, before gesturing to a cabin boy who handed him an expensive bottle of saké from Aiko's hometown.
"Be back for lunch." Benn said and Aiko nodded, going over to where Marco had situated himself.
"Aiko, yoi."
"How'd you know?" Her voice sounded strange when it didn't come from his side.
"How long do you think I've known you? Of course I'd recognize your footsteps, yoi." He muttered, giving her the perfect chance, the perfect opening, but for some reason she didn't tease him.
"You don't look so hot, hot stuff," she said the stupid words seriously. Too serious.
Marco took his eyes off Ace, surrounded by flowers, and turned to finally look at Aiko. She was holding a bottle of quality saké. What he noticed the most was that she wasn't smiling at him, not even trying to. He hadn't expected to see her so soon after their goodbye. No. Right now, he didn't want to see her. What did she want? He just lost so much of his crew, what could she possibly want with him now? She wasn't one of his mates, what could she understand of what he felt? What it felt like to lose his Captain.
"Don't look at me like that." Aiko muttered, his gaze was shining with unspoken emotion. The kind of livid emotion she never wanted directed at her. At least, not from Marco. "Rem asked me to speak to you."
"She's meddlesome, yoi."
"Introduce me to him." Aiko suddenly said, ignoring his remark.
Marco turned to look at her, before staring back down at the second division commander. "Ace, yoi. This woman here's Aiko. I don't know if you remember that one conversation the three of us had back in my room, but she's the one Thatch was talking about."
Aiko had no idea what he was saying, but she didn't interrupt him.
"And this is Ace, yoi. He's an idiot."
Marco's hand clenched, his jaw tightening.
Aiko put the bottle down beside him. "Nice to meet you Ace. This bottle's for you." She looked toward Marco. "You aren't allowed to drink any of this. Men shouldn't drink when they're this sad, I don't want you relying on this."
Marco didn't speak, just brought his gaze back to Ace. He was the only one left, Thatch and Ace had both left him behind. They were brothers, brothers that he failed to protect. He felt like he was drowning, deep into the salty depths and when he finally found the strength to surface, they were already gone.
"You're worrying your crew, Phoenix." Aiko got on her knees behind him and began wrapping a new set of bandages on his forehead. He looked tired. Too tired to even use his Phoenix healing for a few minor scrapes. "You're their leader now. You need to stand up."
"As if it's that easy."
"You have Phoenix healing to help you."
Marco glared. The same look that he wore in Marineford. He wanted to shoot it at her, but she was still busily tying his bandages.
"What are you doing here, Aiko?" He said harshly. Cold, despite how good it felt when her name left his lips. "This isn't the time to get close, yoi. Are you trying to shift my attention to you? Don't insult their memory. They're more important than a woman from a rival crew."
She knew that. This was why she didn't want to come here. Now, she'd just be adding to his problems. When the Red Hair Pirates left, he'd be thinking about his harsh words right now.
"I know." Aiko whispered, knotting his bandage. "I'm only here to tell you to go to your crew. This loss isn't only yours to bear."
This was it.
The reason why he cared so much about her. She knew what he was going through, knew that she couldn't understand and she didn't try to. She knew exactly what he needed. He grabbed her hand that rested on his forehead, squeezing it enough to bruise and bringing it down to his lips for a kiss. He could feel the scar his talons left amidst the rest.
"Am I too dependent on you, yoi?"
Aiko wrapped her arms around him and pulled him down to her chest. She ignored the tears that had begun to stream down his face. If this was what it was like to lose a Captain, then she hoped she died long before Shanks. If he died, she wouldn't know where to return home to. With her Haki, Aiko could feel that they were alone. The other pirates seemed to have been led away from their general area. She was grateful to whoever did that.
"No." Aiko finally answered, squeezing him against her.
She didn't know how long she stayed with him, but the sun was already shining high above them. It was long past noon, meaning she had missed lunch with her crew. The family that she still had. Benn would scold her and Yasopp would call not eating with them mutiny, but that was okay.
She was okay.
The man in her arms, however…
"I don't want you to see me this way, yoi." Marco said, feeling strange in his own skin. His view of her was blurry from the tears. She brought out a side of him that he didn't want. He hated it. This side of him was so pathetic that it made him sometimes wish he had never met her. This was a side he never wanted her to see. A side not meant for her eyes. Their goodbyes were already over. Why did she have to be here now?
She gently slapped his cheek as if trying to get him to focus, and even though he had felt her punches straight on, that was the one hit that had the most effect.
"We can forget all about this." Aiko mumbled against his skin, squeezing him tighter. Once his tears had been spent and he could look at her with that neutral mask again,
She let him go completely.
Aiko made her way back up to the Red Force where Shanks stood on the deck, looking out at the hill where Ace and Whitebeard would be buried. The other Red Hair pirates nowhere to be seen, they were probably still sitting around and talking in the mess hall. She could feel Shanks looking at her, examining every inch of her face. He probably already knew that she had gone to speak to Marco. He was intuitive like that.
"Yo, Captain." Aiko said as she took a step onto the ship's deck. "Where's the rest of the crew?"
"They're down in the mess hall havin' some dessert." He met her with a grin, ruffling her hair. "Where've ya been? Benn said you'd be back for lunch, so I was waiting for you. It's not like you to disappear without telling me. I'll get lonely if you grow up anymore."
Aiko reveled in the feel of Shanks ruffling her hair. Moments like these were something that the Whitebeard Pirates would never get to experience again. They would never get to see their Captain worrying endlessly about them, never get to have another drink with him or eat lunch together or even be comforted like this. Shanks was too kind.
She looked up at him as he continued to ruffle her hair, making it a fuzzy mess. "Sorry, Cap't, I got caught up in something."
She gave him her usual smile.
"That so?" He smiled back. "Everything okay?"
Aiko shrugged. "I was just tying up some loose ends."
Shanks' perpetual grin dropped and he gave her a serious stare. "Nothing happened, right?"
"Someone just asked me to go talk to her friend about one thing or another." Aiko waved her hand as if brushing the topic aside and gave him -what she hoped was- a reassuring grin. "No problems here, Captain."
"That's good." He still wasn't smiling. "I don't want you suddenly disappearing on us, ya hear?"
"No way." She shook her head as best she could with him still tousling her hair every which way. "All my stuff's here, ya know? I just can't up and leave it."
"Aiko," he called seriously.
"Huh?" She met his eyes, the grin dropping from her face at his expression.
"Just what kind of face do you think you're trying to smile with?"
Her eyes widened.
"Lookin' like you're about to cry," his face was calm, demanding and cool. This part of him was the reason why he was an Emperor of the sea and the reason why so many pirates and even civilians followed and looked up to him. Herself, included. "I don't remember teaching you how to smile like that."
Aiko covered her face with a hand, hiding the tears that had suddenly started to drip without her consent. "When we were on Sabaody, I asked him to take me with him to Fishman Island." She confessed, hiccupping. "Sorry, Captain. I won't leave your side for anyone else again. I won't get near him again. I'm so sorry."
"You idiot." Shanks said in a kind, teasing voice. A voice that would forgive anything. He folded her in a one armed embrace, hiding her from the rest of the world, just as he'd always done ever since she was a child. "Don't apologize for loving someone. That doesn't make me happy, idiot."
Idiot.
She really was an idiot.
If she was always being called that by the ones she loved.
"As long as you come back to me and Bennie and Lucky and everyone else," he squeezed her tighter. "Then you can do whatever you want."
Aiko wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him back. She was wetting his clothes with her tears, but he didn't seem to mind. A picture of Marco with his crew flashed in her mind, but she already knew what she wanted. "I want to stay on the Red Force."
She couldn't see him, but she knew that he had a large smile on his face.
"Like we'd let you be anywhere else."
"Am I an idiot?" Marco muttered to air. He was sitting beside Ace's casket, watching him rest in peace. It was as if he were sleeping. Just another one of his narcolepsy attacks. "I must've gotten it from you. I knew you were contagious."
No answer.
Not like he was expecting one.
A flash of Aiko by Gin's grave entered his mind. That loving expression on her face. He could understand it now. He had lost people in his life, that was only natural, but never someone so close. He eyed the bottle by his side. The bottle of fine sake that Aiko had brought for Ace.
"Did you like her?" Marco asked. "It's a little late, but she was who me n' Thatch were talking about back then, yoi. She's pretty great, right?"
"We didn't get to have a last drink together and you know, you still owe me a lot of money." Marco gestured with his head to the bottle. "So, I'll go ahead and take that as your payment, yoi."
"All you and Thatch do is leave me behind. I'm the one supposed to be leading, you idiots."
Ace only continued to lay there. A close lipped smile on his freckled face. Marco looked to the other side of him and saw his Pops' casket. Surrounded by flowers and other important things that his mates had decided to put in with his body.
"You too, Pops," the wind tousled his hair and he gently touched the bandage wrapped neatly around his forehead. He was too tired to heal his minor scrapes. "Don't think I've forgiven you yet either."
Hey, Marco.
Marco's head snapped toward Ace's casket.
Roger, had he finally begun hearing things?
Hey, son.
His eyes widened and this time he looked toward his Pops'.
How are you? The voices said in unison.
"What the hell, yoi." Marco shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut, holding back the tears that threatened to spill over. He had already cried enough for today. No. For the next ten years. He didn't need his imagination conjuring up weird things. But… he was glad for it.
When he tried to open his eyes again though. He found that he couldn't. Something was pulling him somewhere, but he didn't try to fight it. He didn't do anything. Just let the current take him in its embrace, enveloping him like a lover.
What the hell are you doing, you damned ostrich. Don't you already know who you want to be with at a time like this? I swear, for the first division commander, you're such an idiot sometimes.
"Shut up, Thatch." Came his instant reply. It was a reflex. He could hear Ace's hearty laughter somewhere in the background and instead of being taken away by the unknown current, he began fighting back. Trying to get closer to those voices hidden in the pitch black of his closed eyelids. Fighting back hurt though. It felt like his skin was being slowly ripped apart and his superior healing wasn't doing a damn thing to relieve him of his pain.
Don't reprimand him for having pride.
That was definitely Whitebeard's voice. He was sure of it. There was no way he'd mistake it.
If he wants something he should go get it. He's so needlessly stubborn. Thatch.
Oh. Look, he's actually fighting against the current. Just what I'd expect from Marco. Ace.
It's alright, son. You can rest. You don't need to fight anymore. Pops.
"Shut up!" He yelled, losing his composure as he continued to fight, to open his eyes. His flesh was tearing itself away piece by piece. "You guys are always off doing your own thing, not letting me watch you! Who the hell do you think cleans up your messes?!"
He was running now.
Whatever it was that was holding him back, tugged at him with an even greater force to the point that he stumbled and fell. Marco huffed, stood up and began running in the pitch blackness again. To where? He didn't know. But something was at the end of this. His head was cloudy from pain and he wanted to stop. But if he stopped he'd regret it for the rest of his life.
It's alright to stop.
The voices were mixing now. Who said that?
Thanks for everything, you were a great brother-son.
Are we the ones you should be chasing after?
"I SAID SHUT UP!" Marco said breaking free from the darkness. It fell away, as if it were making way for him. His hand was held out and he had grabbed onto something. He opened his eyes. He was no longer in pain. But the sight that assaulted him gave him a new wound that would never heal.
Thatch, Ace and Whitebeard stood there with grins on their faces. What Marco had grabbed was the sleeve of Thatch's coat. The man holding a bottle of sake in his hands as if just about to pop it open to share with the others.
"Goodbye, yoi."
The last thing he saw was a single tear fall from each of their eyes, hidden by wide grins.
Marco's eyes snapped open.
His eyes only greeted with the blurry sight of his empty room.
He looked at the nightstand by his side, taking the golden accessory that sat there ignored.
The funeral was long and tiring. The Whitebeard Pirates stood in long lines behind Marco and Shanks who stood before the new pure white graves. The sky was clear today, flowers being blown away by the wind. A beautiful day to have a few drinks for those departed.
"Akagami." Marco called, "I'm sorry for my rude actions back then, you've helped us a lot, yoi."
"Don't be." Shanks said kindly, but his face was still a serious mask. No one could smile at a time like this. "I respected Whitebeard. Sengoku did as well, that was why he let us take their bodies."
Marco stared at the grave of his Pops. "Words can't express how grateful I am."
Shanks finally let out a small half smile. It was only for a brief second, but it was there. "We should be going now."
"Yea."
Marco turned, watching as Shanks slowly walked down the long stretch of island towards his ship. His mates stood on the sidelines, bowing their heads in respect and grief. The Red Hair bosses stood at the end of the line, waiting for their Captain to head up onto the Red Force first. When Shanks made it to the front of his ship, he turned to get one last look at the two graves as if silently paying his respects, before he boarded his ship. Thoughts of Luffy weighing heavily in his mind. Benn Beckmann followed, then the lower ranked bosses next. Marco could see Aiko head up last. The woman turned her head for one last look.
She didn't pay attention to the long line of pirates, to the view, or even to the graves. Aiko stared right at him and he saw a happy grin on her face as if she were glad to see him, despite his somber mood. Glad to see him, despite their goodbyes. They already finished tying all their loose ends. Now, it just hurt. Something ached when he saw that happy smile that adorned her face at the mere sight of him.
Their eyes rested on each other for a moment longer.
'I didn't want you to leave me down there all by myself, I get lonely easily y'know?'
'Don't be mad at me, hon.'
'What's on your mind? I'm getting jealous.'
'Chatting up that bartender, Hon? I thought we had something special.'
''Hello' to me? We both know it's much more than that.'
'Oi, lay down on the sweet words. This is why people get the wrong idea whenever we're together, yoi.'
'What kind of pirate can't swim?'
'I'll see you soon, Killer Punch.'
'Until then, Phoenix.'
Aiko turned and slowly ascended the first few steps up to the Red Force.
She was about to leave him behind.
And Marco, as if he were young and thoughtless again, let his impulse reign.
"AKAGAMI, YOI!" Marco called out, everyone turning to look at him. Though, he only kept his eyes on the red haired Yonko who stared right back.
Marco's hair and jacket billowed in the strong breeze and he desperately tried to ignore the pounding of his heart. His hands were clammy and his muscles were tense with anxiety. Here he was again. Face to face with his pride. But, right now he needed to part ways with it, even for just a moment. So, pride, it was time to swallow you whole. Or he'd lose something he'd regret for the days to come.
"YOU HAVE MY THANKS FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE!"
He took a deep breath, not used to yelling.
"BUT I'M STILL GOING TO TAKE AIKO FROM YOU, YOI!"
Everyone's eyes widened at the bold declaration.
"EHHHH?!" They all yelled out, jaws dropping to the ground. Their gazes were scattered, not knowing who to keep their eyes on. Should they have been looking at Marco, Aiko or at the Red Hair Pirates? The very same Red Hair Pirates who donned expressions that were a mix of surprise, confusion and pissed off beyond all reason. As if they were ready to send yet another Whitebeard Pirate to his untimely death.
Marco ignored everyone and when he brought his gaze to Aiko, she was looking back at him. The Phoenix tilted his head and gave her a look, lazily placing his hands on his hips in his usual confident stance. A silent gesture. A mute question that only she would understand.
What do you say, yoi?
She had her hand on her shoulder and Marco could see her rubbing at it. Massaging the scars he had left behind, her one reminder of him that she could carry for the rest of her life. The Phoenix, out of instinct, dropped one of his hands from his hips and toyed with the golden belt around his sash. He was glad that it wasn't lost in the confusion of the war.
"That's bold, hot stuff." Aiko said, the silence carried her voice to his ears and he held his breath, waiting for her answer. "Do you think you can handle this?"
Listless eyes widened and the rest of the world drifted away.
You're a Whitebeard pirate, huh?
You're in Red-haired Shanks crew, yoi.
Does that bother you?
"I can try, yoi."
Despite all the hurt he felt right now, he smiled at her and as he watched another grin break onto her face, just for that instant, the world was completely beautiful.
A/N: Next chapter is an epilogue. I released a SABOXOC!
EDIT: I've just realized that the Moby Dick got destroyed during the war, I'm sorry about this mishap. It's been so long since I watched the Marineford Arc and I didn't realize. The Moby Dick will just end up saved in my fic.
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