Recap: Whitebeard pirates have finished their mission of defeating an underworld crime lord.
Key "..." Ran is speaking her own language
Italics is thoughts
A couple months had passed after their 'Selenco' mission, and things had moved at their own pace. Ace, Marco and Thatch were busy with what Whitebeard had set them off to do. Ran was still content with being a subordinate, although Ace was still waiting for her to be promoted by Whitebeard so they could do missions together. Even though she had publicly threatened to cut him if he went on another mission with her, as well as doubting if they were ever going to go on another mission together again, Ace still wanted to go exploring with Ran. Not because he felt an obligation to have bonding sessions, but he wanted to see what other fun adventures they would have if he travelled with her again.
However fate was not in Ace's favour as Whitebeard had been loading a lot of solo missions on Ace's back, and it wasn't as if they were small petty missions he could easily finish in a day, they were long arduous trips that took at least three days to get there and God knows how long it took to complete the mission and then the trip back varied since the Moby Dick was on the move constantly. And when he did come back, he didn't catch hair or hide of her, since she was cooped up in her room, and even went as far as putting up a 'Do Not Disturb' on her door. He sighed as he passed it, leaving it with a sad smile, however he knew there would be a day where he would go on a mission with her but it just wasn't now.
Ran tinkled with various vials that was every colour on the spectrum, from the black to transparent, almost water. She was scribbling some notes down, after setting down her pen and checking her check list she took a yellow vial, unscrewed the top and looked at it straight on, gulped hesitantly and then downed the vial in one shot.
*Time skip a few hours*
Ran was tossing and turning in her hammock, she could barely walk at first. She thought it was a miracle that she had made it into the hammock, however it was starting to ease up, her dizziness and paralysed state was not as heavy, however her head was still spinning a lot. She groaned as the sickening dizziness wasn't easing up, and she was sweating so much that her clothes were feelings drenched. However she couldn't go outside her room and shower, she was too afraid that someone would see her and think she looked wrong and would try and make her seek medical attention. She didn't need any attention, the less people knew the better it was.
"Ran you okay? You haven't eaten lunch." She barely recognised Thatch's concerned voice.
"I'm fine, I was taking a nap, and you don't need make me dinner either" she told the chef. Or what she thought she said. It came out as a muffled mixture of sounds, and Thatch just looked at the door concerned but didn't question her much further.
It took what seemed eons till the dizziness and paralysed state had finally lifted, but she could feel the dregs of the poison in her body still remain and slow her body.
"Oi, Ran you okay in there?" Ace knocked loudly. There was no response. So he knocked again. No response.
"Ran, I'm going to come in." He opened the door just a sliver but it was instantly pushed back with an answer.
"No. I'm fine." Although she answered plainly, it took a lot of strength for her to talk. However unfortunately for her, Ace was determined to check on his crewmate. And with surprising ease he pushed the door back open, shedding light in her dark room. He saw the vials of various colourful liquids, and his crewmate slumped over.
"Ran!" He tried to look at her face, but she wasn't letting him. He heard her ragged breath, and whitened knuckles. He tried to lift her up, but she was adamant to not be lifted up.
"Come on Ran, you're clearly ill! We've got to take you to a doctor now!"
"No! Ace I said I'm fine." She stated through her harsh uneven breaths. Against his better judgement Ace let go of his comrade and closed the door, fighting his better judgement, but he heard the serious tone in her voice, and tried to shake off the niggling worry at the back of his mind.
After another day, Ran was back on her feet, she recorded her findings, storing away her books and vials in a floor board and headed out the door. She bee-lined for the kitchen, finding her secret compartment of snacks.
"You sneaky bitch." She turned around to see Izou smirking at her. Izou had a suspicious hunch for a while. He noticed the strange behaviour of the commander of the second division and the newest Whitebeard recruit. How Ace would look longingly and sadly at the newest recruit's closed door. It wasn't the first time Izou had seen Ace act strangely towards her either, and he had been keeping his eye on the two of them. Izou also noticed that his newest subordinate was receptive to Ace's charming advances when she did come out of her room long enough nowadays.
"You're one to talk." She retorted back evenly.
"You owe me some cookies and some gossip." Izou looked at her expectantly.
"I told you I don't have anything to tell you."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah."
"So you're saying you didn't have sex dreams about Ace?" Ran's widened eyes and delayed response easily gave the game away.
"No." She lied, rather weakly. Izou laughed.
"You must seriously be really good at your job, because you suck at lying."
"I-you-Well-"She spluttered. "How did you know?"
"I didn't, you just gave the game away." Izou smirked at how well his plan worked, he had a hunch and he loved it when he was right, his lips widened into a large smile.
"Fucking damnit." She cursed, she couldn't believe she fell for such a stupid trick.
"Anyways, since you admitted you had sex dreams about Ace-"
"OH MY GOD SHUT UP. STOP SPEAKING SO LOUDLY." Managing to put a sound barrier before she said the name of a certain someone.
"You have to tell me all the details!" He cheered happily, he was finally going to have someone to have deep conversations with. Izou took a hold of her wrist, gleeful that he found something super juicy. Izou ran towards his room with Ran in tow with her snacks and locked the door, Ran couldn't be mad at Izou, well she could be a little mad at herself for falling for such an easy trick.
"Spill the details. Oh wait did you-"
"It's up."
"Thanks~" he grabbed the snacks from her hands, with two motives. One he was hungry, two food would be a good motivation for Ran to tell him all the gossip.
"Fine. I had sex dreams about Ace." She admitted, undoing her face mask, looking down, as if disappointed.
"Dreams?" Her eyes widened.
"Sex dream."
"How many?"
"One." She lied confidently.
"Ran." He repeated her name continuously, knowing full well how to make her tell the truth.
"Two."
"Ran."
"Five."
"Raaaan"
"Six. You happy?!" She exclaimed, red colouring her cheeks. Izou giggled, handing her a cookie, she was just too cute and easy to manipulate sometimes.
"Was he good?"
"I don't know. I don't what good would mean." She admitted a little embarrassed. Izou just wanted to squeeze his cute subordinate to death because she was so cute. However he could do that later, right now he needed to find this juicy information.
"Honey, did you feel good? Did he make you feel good in your dreams?"
"Uhh-" She looked at the opposite wall, her entire face was turning red, Izou was just munching on the snacks, fighting the need to wrap his arms around his friend and pat her hair soothingly.
"You know, you don't have to be ashamed if he made you feel good. It's a part of human nature. There is nothing to be worried about" He ensured her, looking at her, straight in the eye to make sure she should not feel guilty.
"I guess, I just feel so bad. He's my comrade, my sort of annoying friend, and of a high ranking and of higher authority. I feel it is inappropriate to think of him like that." She looked at her commander to display her honesty.
"I bet that's what one of your dreams was based on. Sexy commander and cute subordinate under his power." Izou teased, noticing her blush that signalled to him that he had hit the nail on the head. He laughed out loud at her honest expressions, Izou was starting to understand why she was wore a face mask, perhaps not only did she want to hide her face but her expressions would be too honest and everyone would be able to read her.
"Ran, you don't need to feel ashamed."
"It's easier said than done, Commander" She glared back.
"Alright alright, I won't really comment, and I'll let you talk it out okay?" Izou offered kindly.
"Mkay." She mumbled shyly. Izou waited for her to start, but laughed.
"So did you like it?"
"Yes and no. Yes because I liked the feelings that I felt that I had from this dream. And no because I felt too guilty for thinking about him like that. I felt like I was disrespecting him."
"Okay so take away the guilty part of your dream, did you feel good when you were having these dreams?"
"Yes, very much so. I haven't felt this way before, especially about a man."
"Sounds serious."
"I don't think it's incredibly serious, it's not as serious as loving him. I just have a very strong infatuation with him."
"Did you always feel this way?"
"I don't know. It just came on suddenly, I knew I was attracted to him physically. He is extremely attractive, and excludes confidence that is very attractive."
"I know what you mean sister." Izou agreed.
"You-?"
"Well let's say the fire-fist is attractive to both sexes. He's honestly too charming for his own good." Izou chuckled.
"I agree." Ran laughed. "That's why I'm also a bit hesitant. I mean I wouldn't be surprised if I wasn't the only girl attracted to him, he just has that natural charisma that draws people in."
"Why would that stop you?"
"You've seen how I am. I so naturally introverted, my presence is barely traceable, and other than that I'm invisible. Not that I'm complaining, because that's part of my personality, I don't want to change that, in fact I like myself for being so introverted and invisible. However I don't see Ace wanting to approach me romantically." She explained her insecurity.
"I don't know about romantically, but since you've been cooped up in your room these days, Ace has been stopping by your door, looking at it for a long time before he leaves, you know." Izou couldn't wait to drop this information bomb.
"Wah? He wouldn't. I mean. It means nothing, he's probably wondering what I'm doing in my room since I'm there all the time."
"Having sex dreams about him apparently." Izou slid in easily, grinning, watching her shocked and angry reaction.
"I only had six!" she exclaimed.
"That's still quite a lot to have about a single sexy commander." Izou raised an eyebrow. She mumbled something unintelligible.
"Anyways, tell me the details. I want to know every filthy detail." He looked at her with a devilish sparkle in his eyes.
"You're getting a real kick out of this aren't you?"
"Come on…. All the guys talk about the fights and brawls they get into. I mean it is fun to talk about it, but I want some damn gossip, and you and Ace is good one."
"It's not really gossip."
"Oh right, consider this subordinate and commander bonding time, you can tell me anything." He grinned as he continued "but in your dreams I guess that means something different." He winked at her, causing her face to steam up in embarrassment. "Come on you're making it too easy for me girl." He chuckled.
"So you had a dream about him as your sexy authoritative commander, and you're his helpless subordinate under his control." He summarised quickly.
"I don't want to talk about the dreams themselves."
"Come on, please, please, please." He begged rather childishly.
"Fineeee." She huffed. "On this ship, holding me up and against the kitchen table, as I'm trying to find my midnight snacks."
"Were you expecting Ace instead of me a few moments ago then?" he teased.
"Izou."
"Sorry. Not a bad dream though, but please don't try that one out for a while though."
"Sure." She laughed, she found it highly unlikely that her dreams would become reality. "Teacher student."
"Who was the student and who was the teacher?"
"I-I had this dream twice, and it was revered roles."
"So you had seven dreams?"
"Yes."
"Nice."
"Some softcore stuff. Like starting with making out, and then begging. Making me beg for him and-"
"Damn girl."
"IZOU HAVE YOU SEEN RAN ANYWHERE?!" their little meeting got interrupted by Thatch and Ace thumping at Izou's door.
"We'll resume this meeting at a later date."
"You know you can't tell Ace or anyone a thing."
"Pfft who do you think I am?"
"Izou-sama I'm serious. I don't want anyone to know about this. This is highly personal."
"Yes yes."
"IZOU ANSWER YOUR FUCKING DOOR."
"Could you-"signalling a dome, and Ram clicked her fingers and Izou opened the door, then had an idea, shut and locked the door again.
"IZOU!" He grinned at Ran. Ran stood up in confusion, looking at Izou with the same expression. He smirked as he pushed Ran on the bed, pulling off her trench coat.
"Izou! Stop!" She screamed, which sounded a bit alarming to the two commanders outside, who were trying to get into the room. Izou made his clothing a little bit looser and dishevelled, his hair a little undone, his lip make up a little smudged and wiped it on Ran's face.
"What the fuck Izou, stop wiping that on me!" She tried to get off whatever Izou had rubbed on her cheek, near her mouth. However to make it even more insane, Izou had just noticed that she didn't wear a shirt, but wore a no sleeved, bodycon, woolly turtle neck dress that reached the middle of her thighs. Perfect he thought, grinning. He pulled up her dress above her breasts and undid the door, looking at the commanders with a shit-eating grin, who almost stumbled in at the sudden door opening.
"IZOU WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT FOR?" Ran yelled, desperately pulling her dress over her body, but due to all the commotion, she stopped in shock as Thatch and Ace had appeared in the room. Her face was full of guilt, which unfortunately stopped her from covering her bare thighs and plain black underwear. They looked between Izou and Ran's guilty face, unsure of what to make of it. Ace was extremely confused, and maybe a little angry, but he wasn't sure why. He didn't need to be, because Whitebeard was open to all relationships, and didn't say there couldn't be any fraternizing, but Ace knew it was for more personal reasons. He looked at Izou's stupid snarky grin, and kind of wanted to punch his face, however all he could do was stare. Izou grinned, seeing the annoyed expression on Ace's face, and decided to take it even further.
"Sorry boys, Ran and I were spending some quality time together." Izou walked back to his bed, siting as close as possible to Ran. His weight made Ran move towards him, allowing him to wrap his arms around her waist. His pale slender hands contrasting her tan thighs, dangerously near her black panties. "You know special commander and subordinate bonding time." He winked at Ace, who glared back at him dangerously.
"Could you close the door after you please?" Izou asked sweetly, he put his face near her neck, seeming as if she was smelling her long thick hair, taking in both the commander's reactions. Ran's guilty face and embarrassed red cheeks didn't change their minds. Thatch was shocked, his mouth agape, Ace's expression was dark.
"S-sure" Thatch agreed, as both he and Ace left the room, the door closed with a small click.
"You know I'm going to kill you right."
"You'll thank me later."
The Whitebeard pirates had docked at the next island to restock the supplies, and also allowed the crew to explore towns and enjoy themselves. Ran was running some errands, she had a pretty good day bargaining and got the majority of her items for a fraction of the price. She stretched her back, yawning putting away her items. It was only midday and she still had the rest of the day to herself, and hopefully tomorrow. She jumped down from the ship and asked the locals where the best bar was, and she had walked into a quaint little bar, she raised her eyebrows in surprise at the decorum. Since it was tucked away in an alleyway, she expected it to be a little run down, however it was pleasantly the opposite.
Taking a seat at the bar, she hummed with the jazz music that made her feel warm. She cracked her neck and sighed with satisfaction as the bartender poured her a drink and took part in some small talk with the bartender. Ran was musing over her memories, she was wondering if she was happy as a pirate, was she happy when she worked under Master Ginlao. She was so focused on doing her job and executing her job as well as she could she never really thought about her future. As the bartender was talking about some of the recent news, she swished her drink around apprehensively.
Am I going to be a pirate forever?
Is that what I want?
Do I even know what I want?
"I can't believe we're meeting the real fire-fist Ace!" Ran heard some girlish giggles near the door as the bell door chimed to notify the bar tender of new customers. Ran quickly covered herself, masking her presence, watching two very pretty woman hanging off of Ace's arms, and he wasn't trying to get rid of them. She watched him let them put their hands on his body, let them sweet talk him, buy him drinks flatter his ego. Not that she felt angry, in fact she felt a little jealous. Jealous that these girls had so much confidence to talk to a guy. Not just Ace, but a guy in general.
Am I seriously wishing that I had more confidence like those girls?
But is that so bad?
But being quiet is a part of my nature.
But I want to be more confident, but is that really me? Am I changing who I am?
She mused over her thoughts again, still listening to their conversation. She heard them question Ace whether or not he liked being a pirate. He answered with the utmost confidence and determination. She smiled listening to him, she admired that he was so sure of himself, that he had so much faith in himself. Ran was rubbing her finger on the edge of her glass, contemplating.
That's probably why. That's why I'm so attracted to him, he's got so much confidence, not excessive amounts where he is arrogant, he has enough to know that whatever he does, he does with his faith believing in himself. Whereas me. I just do exactly what I'm told, but I'm dead inside. I don't even know what I want right now. Even when I go on missions, I go because I'm told, not because I want to. That's most likely why father hasn't promoted me, because I don't show father that I want to be more than a subordinate.
Do I even want to be more than just a subordinate?
Even when I do things with confidence in myself, I do it out of revenge. Am I that bitter over things?
Am I living life by doing other people's bidding? Do I not have any passion for myself? Am I really that cold-blooded? Is revenge the only thing that drives me? Do I not have other qualities?
After Ace had a few more drinks and flattering of his ego, he felt a comfortable warm headiness that was filling his body. These girls were pretty enough, and Ace often admitted to himself, anything that showed interest in him, he would kindly return the favour, but it didn't mean his heart was completely in it. However he was a hot blooded male, hormones coursing through his veins, and he was often sent on trips, usually male only trips and he would have desires that he couldn't quench himself. That's why he didn't complain when he had some female company come up to him, when he did come to these towns, and didn't refuse. Not because he genuinely liked them, it was because he used them for his own personal benefit and so were they. It's not as if he didn't know how to treat a woman right, he definitely knew, he had plenty of practice. He knew these girls weren't interested in his personality, they were interested because of his charisma, his body and what pleasure he could bring them. It was a self-service game out there, and anybody was a fool if they thought otherwise he thought, it was a greasy pole and he would have to climb it.
Ran was still masking herself, however she was barely listening to the conversation anymore.
Even on the Selenco mission, I felt so confident when I killed that bastard. I took pleasure from his murder, am I really that monstrous? I tried to tell myself it was because he had stolen my best friend and killed my best friend, because he ruined so many peoples' lives. I tried to justify it with other peoples' miseries that he had caused. But why? Why did I not have my own agenda, my own reason why?
The bartender poured her another drink, she watched him pour the warm brown liquid.
I'm just a puppet. I do as people say. I never do what I really want to do.
That's funny though, because I don't even know what I want to do.
Ran what do you want?
I want to go home.
Isn't Whitebeard and the Moby Dick your home?
No, they're your family, the Moby Dick can be your second home, but your first home will always be the Yuht kingdom.
But they chased me out of there. If I go back there they'll kill me.
So? It's still your home regardless.
But.
Why are you doubting yourself? You subconsciously want it. That was the main, the only reason why you joined Whitebeard.
"Hopefully if you let me join your crew I can live at sea, and find my home." She remembered.
Ran you want to go home.
But.
But what? Your subconscious wants it, deep down you want to go home. You could easily sail to your missions, but you keep calling Zao every time you leave. You try to justify it by saying that flying is better, but you know deep down you miss home, and Zao represents a little bit of your home.
But Whitebeard and the rest of them are my family and I can't leave them.
If they're your family, why can't you show them the real you?
What are you talking about? I am me. I am nothing else but me.
Why can't you show them the rest of your face? Why do you hide your yellow eye? You admit that you liked your mismatched eyes, so why can't you take pride in them? Why can't you take pride in yourself?
Because, I afraid. I'm afraid that they'll outcast me, like they did at home.
Ran they're pirates, they're all outcasts and they take pride in it. You should learn from them.
None of them have weird mismatched eyes.
Ran, father is called Whitebeard despite having only a massive crescent moon shaped moustache. Another one is a cross dresser. Another one turns into a phoenix, like that isn't a real animal. Another one is a talking fishman, and another one is a talking pig. I think they can handle mismatched eyes.
But my eyes are too noticeable, I am supposed to be ordinary because it's called hiding in plain sight.
Okay, but that's on missions, why can't you have your mismatched eyes with the Whitebeard pirates? They're your family after all. You can only be yourself when you're with family.
Maybe because they're not. Maybe because I still feel like an outsider.
Is that what you really feel Ran?
I don't know.
Oh Ran, did you even want to be in their family?
Did I have a choice?
Ran you're not answering the question.
I did. I know a little bit of me wanted to have close companionship after Master Ginlao passed.
Okay, so you did want to be in their family, but why couldn't you be just yourself? You always hide yourself, as if you're afraid if someone finds you.
Well that's normal, I had to hide for my survival. I'm conditioned to act that way, it's a part of who I am. I am just myself, just because I hide my physical traits doesn't mean I'm not myself. I am completely myself at all times.
Excuses, excuses excuses.
Loud raucous laughter broke her train of thought. Her eyes flicked over to where Ace and the women were, they were hanging off each other by a thread. She could literally cut through the thick sexual energy in that area. She merely hummed, as she was too caught up in her self-exploration, to feel jealous about Ace paying attention to other females. She reflected upon herself once again as the bartender refilled her drink.
But.
But what? You know you want to go home, that's why you've been drinking those disgusting vials and taking the repercussions of those vials. You weren't doing it for nothing, you're doing it because you're preparing to go home.
But.
Why are you denying it? Why are you denying what you want? You've been trying to search for what you want, so why are you denying it once you've found it?
Because I'm scared.
Scared of what?
Scared of what might happen if I go home. Scared of what I might find.
Is that why you haven't returned home, when you could have?
Yes.
Why are you so afraid Ran? You've seen a lot of bad things, what could possible stop you?
Because I'm a coward, I'm too afraid because I know what is waiting for me when I go back home.
You won't go back home because you're scared? You're afraid of what you know is waiting for you? You are so dumb sometimes. You know normal people are scared of what they don't know.
I know. I said I'm a coward. Why I'm a puppet and why I do other people's bidding. It's easier to hide in other people's lives than live my own.
Is that what you want?
No.
They why are you doing it?
"I'm so sorry!" the bartender spilt some of the drink, it was over flowing. Ran shook her head and assured the bartender it was a mistake.
I need to calm down. I need to focus. She swallowed more of her drink, unconsciously drinking more and more.
Ran you want to go home.
You know you want to return.
You know you want it, so why don't you take what you want?
Because it feels selfish, because I feel bad when I do something that I want. And it's not as if they're going to throw a welcome party when I arrive.
Why would you feel bad? You said yourself, you do other people's bidding, and you're not living life the way you want it.
But the people will want me dead. I am not wanted.
Ran stop being stupid. It's time you fought for yourself. Not for any other authority, not for your friends, you will fight for yourself, and what you believe in.
Are happy where you are now?
I guess.
That doesn't sound too certain.
But I'm so lost.
Ran you go home when you're lost.
She was brought out of her self-reflection at her subtle realisation. She heard footsteps behind her and more giggling.
"We'll take you to the best hotel Ace."
"Thank you for coming to my establishment sir." The bartender bowed as the doorbell jingled marking their departure. Ran chuckled a little, finishing the rest of her drink. She mused again.
"Sir do have any more bottles of this?" She asked the bartender. He nodded, as she paid for it all. She forget she had something else to buy.
"Do you know of any florists around here?" She asked the bartender, she had to prepare for her plans for tomorrow.
After wandering around a bit more, eating some the local food to soak up a bit more of the alcohol, Ran was on her way to find a florist. She was looking at some bunches of flowers outside the shop itself, wondering what colour scheme would look best.
"Miss is this for a special occasion? Like a wedding? Birthday, grievance?"
"Mhmm I guess you can say it's a special occasion, it's a reunion. A friend I haven't seen for a long time."
"Why not an arrangement with bamboo to suggest longevity between you and your friend, the centre can be made with Peruvian lilies to represent friendship and devotion. And a couple of Stargazer lilies to suggest honour and aspiration to your friend."
"Sure that sounds great."
"I can give you a pot of everlasting soil so the flowers don't die, they'll bloom every year. For an extra couple berries." Ran thought about what the florist had offered to her. It would be nice to come back and see the flowers bloom with her friend.
"That sounds great. I would like the soil as well." Ran paid the money and walked outside to look at the flowers, bending down to smell each one, smiling as she was thinking how she would feel when visiting her friend tomorrow.
Ace stepped out of the hotel, rearranging his hat and his bag strap. He made sure the ladies were looked after, leaving some berries for them. He didn't feel ashamed, but he felt a little guilty and only somewhat satisfied. Although he knew he shouldn't, but couldn't help it. He walked along the wide streets, passing the civilians and merchants in the streets, trying to find a familiar street so he could get back to the ship. He turned right into a slightly smaller street and saw at the very end, a white masked, muddy brown trench coat figure.
She was bending over some produce apparently and sniffing it. Ace couldn't quite pinpoint it, but he felt a little nervous when he was talking to Ran. Although he hid it deceptively well, Ace couldn't shake off the small prickle of nervousness he had, that he only felt with her.
"Ran!" He called, making her turn to him. For some reason the orange sun rays from the sun set gave her an ethereal glow. She turned him, just watching him walk over, letting his lips pull into his general happy smile.
"You okay?"
"Yes. Very much so." She said stiffly.
"Did you get all the stuff you wanted?" He pointed at her bag.
"Yeah. I'm just waiting for one more." She nodded towards the flower shop.
"Oh? Buying flowers for yourself or for someone else."
"Someone else." She answered simply, she looked up at him shyly, making him blush quite a bit. "So how was your date?"
"Date?" his eyes furrowed in confusion.
"The two pretty girls, in that small jazz bar, remember? Around midday." His eyes widened that she saw him. Did she watch him go into that hotel? He thought, alarmed.
"Oh right." He rubbed the back of neck awkwardly.
"Not good?"
"No no. I'm just a little embarrassed that you saw me like that."
"Why?"
"You must think I'm petty or something. Also I'm embarrassed that I didn't even notice you."
"No why would I ever think that about you? I understand, as long as you get what you want right, and they get what they want. You have nothing to be ashamed of." He gave her a surprised look, he assumed that women would have thought his behaviour as disgusting and derogatory. "It was consented by both parties right?"
"Yeah of course."
"Then you have nothing to be worried about, Ace. That's what I admire about you. You always know what you want, and you get it. It's an admirable aspect of your personality, regardless of the situation. I respect you very much for it." She admitted rather calmly. Ace was made speechless, he had no idea how to respond to that small confession. Other than utter a small thank you.
"Sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable" she bowed respectfully.
"Here you go miss." She was handed a large bouquet of colourful and exotic flowers with a large drawstring pouch and a flowering pot. She smiled and bowed, thanking the florist.
"Have an orchid on the house." Ran thanked her once again, but didn't know where to hold the orchid, and so bowed her head, so the orchid could be placed in her hair, and turned to face Ace again.
"So Ace you heading back?" He was there thinking over what he had just been told.
"Not yet." His stomach was rumbling.
"Cool. Enjoy your night Ace." She smiled turning around to walk back to the ship.
"R-Ran!" He called, as he noticed she was walking away from him.
"Yes?"
"Do you want to- Well it might be nice if- Only if-"He stuttered, his mouth seemed to not function. She looked at him confusedly, and then smiled. She picked out a Peruvian lily and handed it to Ace smiling.
"Maybe you should ask a different girl out." Understanding what he was trying to say. Walking off towards the ship, leaving him confused and a little annoyed.
Ace, Izou, Marco and Thatch had drawn the short straws having to stay behind on the last day of their stay in the town. The four of them sat out on the deck under the warm sun, taking some playing cards and other things to entertain them as they stayed back to look after the ship. Izou noticed that the young fire- fruit user was a little irate and short-tempered as he carried some food and drinks outside with the ice box. Izou smirked, understanding that something must have happened with Ran it was greatly effecting him. In fact over the past few days since Thatch and Ace had walked in on Izou's little accident, Ace acted a little colder towards Izou. He would grunt in response to any of Izou's questions, barely looking at him, which made Izou giggle.
Izou watched the moody second division commander walk on to the deck, smirking behind his back, he looked at Ran's door, flickering between the retreating back of Ace and the door. Until he saw Ran running out, not noticing Izou.
"Raaaan~" Izou chimed, as she was about to leave.
"Yes Izou-sama?" She turned around, the bouquet in her hands and satchel in her bag.
"Dang girl, you going somewhere special?" He gestured at her change of dress that day. She was dressed in short sleeved qipao, with her plain black pumps, white hair ribbons and her usual white face mask.
"I'm visiting an old friend and comrade of mine, we served together under Master Ginlao. They had a cancer and didn't want to go through all the pain and died peacefully in their sleep. They were buried here and I never got the chance to pay my respects, we were a good team." She smiled behind her mask, her eyes a little teary.
"I'm sure they're very happy that you're visiting today." Izou smiled, almost feeling guilty about the trick he was about to pull. But his need to match make was a little stronger.
"Well I'll be off. I'll be back in time."
"Oh, before you go, could you do me a favour? I left some documents up at the crows' nest when I was on duty, you have great jumping powers so can you do me a favour and get them for me please?"
"Uhh sure, no worries." She smiled at Izou, walking up on the deck. Ace pushed his hat off his head, as it was getting too hot, feeling it cover the back of his neck. He opened the ice box to grab a drink, enjoying the icy cold liquid cool his throat, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a usual and an unusual sight. The usual sight was Izou and Ran together, which made a little anger rise in his chest, the unusual sight was Ran was not covered by her large trench coat. He saw her dressed in a dazzlingly white dress that fell to her mid thighs, slits on the side edged with a golden trim. The strict collar against her throat, her tan skin contrasting remarkably against the pure plain white dress. He also noticed the different hair ribbons, the white ribbons trailing in the wind, nicely framing her face and emphasising her inky black hair that streamed down her back.
He gulped as he watched her, glaring at the pair of them. He remembered yesterday, watching her buy a bouquet of flowers, saying it was for someone else. Was that someone else Izou? He continued gulping down the deliciously cold liquid, eyes still concentrated on the two. His fist curled, and lips tightened to swallow the last drop of liquid, watching Ran hand over the bouquet she had bought yesterday for a "someone else" to Izou. Izou looked happy to receive it. Before he had the urge to throw his empty bottle at Izou he sat down his back facing them, huffing. He heard soft footsteps behind him and saw Izou sitting down next to him, oblivious to Ace's bad mood, as he started to strike a conversation. Ace just looked forward, with a dark expression on his face, getting another drink and continued to swig his drink.
"Oi Ace look up" Izou told Ace to do. He huffed as he did as the crossdresser said. What he didn't realise was that Ran was in the middle of jumping from the crows' nest onto the shrouds sliding down with ease. Izou was about to burst with laughter as he saw Ace's mouth gape open and a little blood trickling out of his left nostril, as he saw very clearly, Ran's panties. His eyes automatically focused on the scrap of black material that seemed to cover so much, he dry swallowed as he followed her sliding down the ropes. He looked back at Izou with a little bit of confusion and surprise, who was further confused when Izou smirked and winked at him.
"Izou-sama here are your papers." She was on the edge of the boat, her satchel on her shoulder, ready to head off. Izou smiled sweetly, carrying the flowers in exchange for the paper. He took the papers, walking close to the boat edge where Ran was standing, about to hand her the bouquet, but he 'misplaced' his hands and 'accidentally' pushed Ran into the water. The bouquet and papers completely safe.
"IZOU I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" she screamed as she hit the water, Ace stood up as well, running to the edge to see if Ran was alright. They both peered down to see Ran surface the water, drenched. She rose up to the ship's edge and jumped back on, the water dripping off and puddling under her. Her face, enraged.
"Oops." He shrugged, smirking. Ace blushed as he realised that her dress was soaked and see-through. So see-through, that he could easily her undergarments, steam was coming out of his head, as his eyes traced the curves of her body. Seeing her detailed purple bra under her soaking dress. He watched her scold Izou, he didn't know it but he was smiling as he was watching her get angrier and angrier.
She's so cute when she's angry. He mused, he smirked when her eyes sparkled with passionate anger, he wondered if it would look the same, if she got down and dirty, and when he would tease her.
Izou saw out of the corner of his eye, Ace was smiling as he was blatantly glaring at her. His plan worked perfectly and if it was going as fast as he wanted, he was soon going to be the godfather to their future unborn child. Once Ran had cooled down, she huffed, glaring back at Izou. Ran placed her hand next to her hair and drew out all the water in her hair and threw it back into the sea. Izou signalled to Ran to look at Ace, which she did, and was a little surprised.
"Ace?"
"Yeah" he responded sleepily.
"You okay?" she asked, a little worried.
"Oh uh yeah." He snapped out of his trance, still blushing.
"Okay fine. I'm going to go change, because this dress is now ruined, thanks to a certain someone." She jumped down walking back to her room. Izou was snickering as both he and Ace sat back down, Ace too embarrassed to say anything, concentrating on his drink. Thatch and Marco came out with a load of cooked and assembled food to supply them for a good couple of hours.
"Hey Izou who gave you that bouquet?" Thatch asked cheerfully.
"His lover obviously-yoi." Marco answered sarcastically, both Thatch and Ace blushing madly.
"So Ran gave it to you?" Marco looked at Izou with sleepy surprise.
"Yeah, only to hold, she's visiting a friend today, and this is her gift. I was only told to hold it."
"Oh cool, where is Ran by the way? Is she-"Thatch was caught off as he saw a strange figure walking towards the four of them. Ran was again dressed in white, but with long white sleeves, a golden edged collar in the centre, and slits on the side of the short dress that reached the middle of her thighs. However that wasn't the drastic thing, she wore a wide brimmed straw hat with semi opaque/transparent light material hanging under the ridge of her hat, to obscure her face (think of the painted lady/Katara in Avatar look it up). The light material of hat and ribbons moved together in the wind as she walked towards them.
"Ran?"
"Nice hat-yoi."
"Thanks Marco." Took the flowers in her arms, she peered at them shyly, her obsidian eyes emphasised by the light colour scheme of her outfit.
"How come you didn't wear it the first time? And why?"
"I don't want people to see my face and also it's from my home kingdom, it is formal wear."
"You going somewhere special?" Thatch asked, chewing on some food, drinking in the new image of Ran.
"Yeah I'm meeting a friend I haven't seen in a long time."
"Be safe-yoi." Marco warned kindly, nodding at her with his sleepy expression.
"I promise." She smiled as she departed. They watched her depart and then jump into the trees off into the distance, the hat material trailing after her.
"Wasn't that a sight to see?" Thatch grinned, as he looked at his cards.
"I'll say." Izou agreed.
"Haven't you seen all the 'sights'?" Thatch laughed, as Izou smirked only looking at his cards. Marco's eyebrows raised and Ace grumbling as he focused on his cards.
Ran took some time to find the grave, finally she found the small enclosed space, with the right markings. She smiled as she placed her bouquet on the ground and pulled out a pot and pouch, pouring the soil into the pot. Then she took off the plastic wrapping and bindings and planted it in the pot and leaned it against the grave. She poured out three cups pouring the alcohol in the three cups. Bowing three times, then setting out a small mat and placed various foods, lighting some incense and planted it on either side of the grave, bowing three times again.
"I'm sorry I took so long to visit you." She started her talk.
"I glad they put you in a secluded place, in the forest, like you always wanted." She took another breath, as she took off her hat, holding it to her chest, the material covering her thighs.
"I'm finally going to return home. I finally found what I want to do.
I never got to thank you for teaching me more than what I need for a mission. I really miss you some days." She continued talking into the late afternoon, happily fulfilling her promise and wish.
The four of them were playing games, laughing chattering eating as they watched the ship, welcoming the pirates that were returning to the ship. Once Ran was out of their gossip and talk, Ace began to revert back to his jokey self, bonding with his other commanders.
"Hey you guys ever get those weird dreams of de ja vu?"
"What do you mean?"
"You know when you dream about something and then it happens in real life."
"That's not a dream of de ja vu. What you're describing is the feeling of de ja vu. Dumbass." Izou corrected Thatch.
"You wanna go geisha?" He kicked Izou, taunting him a little.
"Keep it civil-yoi" As Ace was laughing placing down the cards.
"You should tell that to the geisha, hitting on his newest recruit." Thatch joked, Ace choked on his drink.
"Why do you keep referring to 'that'-yoi? What has happened-yoi?" Marco asked, a little confused, as to what could happen between Ran and anyone.
"That is between me and Ran." Izou said modestly.
"Well I'll inform the commander." Thatch grinned at Izou. "Geisha over here bagged his newest recruit, and to be honest I'm a little surprised and proud of him."
"Don't talk about it like that." Izou corrected Thatch, as Marco looked at Izou with a little surprise, and a small chuckle.
"Well Izou have anything to say-yoi?" Marco asked, he had a hunch that what Thatch was hinting at was a little too unbelievable.
"Well, I don't see why I have to tell you guys, however for the sake of clearing anything up, because a certain pompadour won't shut up." Izou pointedly looked at Thatch, placing down his cards, also noticing Ace acting demure, but listening attentively.
"I asked Ran to follow me back to my room, since I hadn't seen her for days, being all cooped up in her room. And we had a talk that you guys interrupted." Izou looked at both Ace and Thatch.
"Well why was her coat on the floor? Both of you had some messed up clothes. You even got her ribbons off." Thatch reminded Izou, and Ace unfortunately. Marco still looked at Izou a little surprised.
"What? You guys take off your clothes don't you?"
"Yeah but come on Izou, stop bullshitting. I mean it looks suspicious between a girl and guy." Thatch chuckled.
"Well pompadour, a gentleman doesn't kiss and tell." He corrected Thatch.
"Marco agrees with me. Don't you Phoenix?" Thatch tried to gain support. Marco shrugged his shoulders and said something along the lines of not getting involved.
"Ace?" Izou was watching his expression very carefully.
"It can be whatever you make it to be, it depends on circumstance I guess." He offered very neutrally. Izou raised his eyebrows in surprise, it seemed that the fire-fist was good at this game.
"Well fine, we'll leave this discussion later, maybe we can ask Ran herself and see what we can find out." Thatch laughed mischievously.
"Don't pick on her. Leave her alone, you annoy her enough already."
"She can clearly fight for herself, don't need to be such an over protective boyfriend, Geisha." Thatch chuckled.
"Sometimes I wonder if you were dropped when you were child." Izou commented as Marco and Ace chuckled.
"Anyways, still getting a gal like Ran is a pretty high achievement. I mean look at her." Thatch commented.
"You sound as if you want to date her."
"Hey, I wouldn't mind, like they say 'It's always the quiet ones.'" He laughed, Izou smirked at the accuracy. There was silence all around.
"Seems like I'm not the only one that feels the same." Thatch looked over at the first division commander, who hadn't said anything.
"I don't know what you're trying to imply-yoi."
"Marco?" Izou looked at his first commander with very obvious surprise. It seemed that Ran was having a very large effect without even noticing.
"Well she's good on a mission, she can handle herself-yoi. Very quiet, and does the job-yoi. I mean she isn't ugly-yoi."
"Anything else you want to add?"
"She's a good listener-yoi. I like her more than other woman I've met, then again we don't have a lot of female comrades that are in constant contact with us, and she isn't annoying-yoi." Marco commented.
"You went on missions with her?" Ace and Izou asked, really curious.
"Father put us together, she is highly adept-yoi. She respects me as an authoritative figure and I respect her as a talented individual-yoi" Izou snickered "Not bad to look at either-yoi."
"Hahha keep it in your pants old man. What are you fifty?" Thatch laughed.
"You really disrespecting the first commander-yoi?"
"No. What I meant to say that some ladies might not appreciate men who are double their age." Thatch snickered. Izou and Ace looked down at their cards. Marco merely turned drew some blue flames in his left palm and then Ace's flames fried Thatch. Literally.
"Thanks." They both politely thanked as he nodded.
"So Ace, you're rather quiet today-yoi. What do you think about Ran-yoi?" Marco asked, looking straight at his junior. Izou's eyebrows rose up to his hairline at the surprise, it seemed that the first commander was curious too.
"She's a nice person." Ace drank his cool drink. Marco chuckled at Ace's cryptic sentence.
"You know it wouldn't be a surprise if a girl like Ran already have suitors. I can assume her parents had probably arranged a marriage for her. It's not too surprising these days." Marco mumbled, "I would have gotten an arranged marriage if I weren't a pirate." He admitted calmly.
"Seriously?!" Izou exclaimed, Ace also looked at him in shock. It was hard to imagine the young pineapple going down the aisle in a suit.
"But I wanted freedom, adventure, and I was too young to be tied down. Also I didn't want any obligations other than my loyalty to father." He grumbled, taking a swig of his drink. "But" he sighed "Perhaps it's time I found a girl to settle down with. Ran isn't a bad option." He mused out loud. Izou and Ace stared at him with the utmost surprise.
"Hey guys, you hungry?!" Talk about speaking of the devil, Ran appeared on the boat, still wearing her hat, carrying many bags of mysterious things.
"Yeah sure!" Thatch came back up, his pompadour still a little burnt. She distributed the food, fresh bowls of noodles and buns to all the four commanders and serving herself last. She sat in the gap between Marco and Ace, staring off into the sky, before eating her food.
"Where did you get this food? I didn't know they even sold stuff like this here!" Thatch gobbled up the food.
"I smelt it so I decided to bring some back for you guys." She answered. There were a few seconds of silence of slurping and furious eating.
"So did you go see your friend?" Izou asked quietly.
"Yeah, finally after a long time." She smiled under her hat.
"Did you guys get down to any nookie?" Thatch teased, Izou rolled his eyes.
"No. That would be weird. I visited my friend's grave." She answered evenly, still eating. Thatch turned red with embarrassment and uttered a sorry. Ace looked over at her, to see if she was still sad.
"Did it take long to find them-yoi?" Marco inquired, looking at her eating under her hat.
"A little, but I wouldn't expect any less from them." Still smiling as she ate.
"So what did you guys get up to?" she changed the subject quickly.
"Played some games, talked, and laughed." Thatch informed her.
"Got fried" Izou pointedly glared at Marco and Thatch, Ran noticed Thatch's slightly burnt hair, and snorted. Marco grinned at her response.
"Sounds fun." She finished her food quickly, and took off her hat, looking up at the rest of the commanders smiling. The clattering of chopsticks resounded, and mouths stopped moving to chew.
"Y-your mask!" Thatch let out in a gasp.
"Yes?" She asked as if it was nothing.
"You forgot to put it on!" Izou screeched.
"No, I just took it off." She smiled at them.
All of their eyebrows rose really high, they couldn't stop but stare at her lower part of her face that was usually covered.
"Well it's nice to see your entire face, Ran-yoi." Marco finally commented.
"Were you born with those?" Ace asked, touching the light purple markings on her cheeks that was similar to tribal markings.
"I guess you could say that. I had them since forever." She explained calmly, still smiling.
"They're so cute!" Izou squealed, running over and pinching her cheeks. Repeating "Cute cute cute!"
"Please help." She asked through gritted teeth and trying to hold off Izou from completely attacking her. All three of them left it alone, smirking as they Izou to his own devices.
After they had made sure everyone had made it onto the ship, they had departed from the island and on their next voyage.
As night had over taken the sky, after making sure the ship was sailing smoothly the four commanders sat outside again, enjoying the cool night air. They were hiccupping with laughter, talking about old times, new times, theorising.
"Oi Ran!" Thatch called, seeing a figure jumping down from the crows' nest.
"What?!" She yelled, jumping on the deck, facing the four drinking buddies.
"Come join us. Since you finished your shift." Thatch called over, Izou could feel her hesitancy and expected her decline.
"Sure, just let me get a left over bottle of alcohol!" She called, walking into the ship rooms and returning with a full bottle.
"Ohh what's the occasion?" Izou teased, giggling a little.
"Don't flatter yourselves. I had a leftover bottle when I was buying alcohol to visit my friend." She sat down, next to Marco and Ace again. Filling everyone's glasses and herself last.
"However it doesn't make it any less special. Thank you for accepting me into your family." She lifted her glass.
"Family" they clinked glasses with her, and downed their drinks, laughing. Ran listened to them talk even more, happily smiling.
"Hey Ran. You. You." Marco lazily pointed at his mouth, motioning her mask that she had put back on. Looking at her.
"Oh, uhh. You guys and some of the other crew members were really shocked, so I just put it back on, and everyone stopped staring." She explained.
"Oh." *hiccup* "Sorry Ran. You don't have to put it on." Thatch asked.
"Oh uh."
"It is fine Ran, we were just really surprised." Ace patted her back, she smiled as she undid her mask, and stuffed it into her bra. All of them watching her do so. Izou smirked at the other three staring.
"Oi come on, let's play a game!" Izou redirected the attention.
"Okay!" Ran agreed loudly, smiling lazily at them, apparently Ran was a happy drunk.
"Okaaay! So Ran are you a virgin?" Izou asked boldly. All ears poised and ready to hear her response.
"Who wants to know?" She evaded the answer.
"Us?"
"Why?"
"Marco wants to find out if you're good enough for marriage!" Izou shouted out too loudly, laughing. Marco's vein popped, as blue flames emerged and engulfed Izou. Ran snorted at that answer, until it turned into loud unstoppable, contagious laughter, infecting Ace as well.
"To set the record straight, for any curious, nosy people or future suitors, I am a virgin. It's not a shabby life."
"Seriously?" Thatch looked at with disbelief.
"Yeah, why would I lie?" She asked, taking another sip of her drink. Ace felt his heart rate go down.
"Now, Thatch, what is your worst fear?" She asked almost innocently, but with a devious look in her eyes.
"W-why would you want to know?"
"No particular reason" she smirked, whilst Marco and Ace smiled into their drinks. Some more questions were asked, some of them left embarrassing.
"Ran, how many piercings do you have?"
"Are we counting individual holes?"
"Mhmm I have eight all together." Slowly pulling up eight fingers.
"But you only have six on your ears." Izou pointed out.
"Some piercings are not always on display. They're in places that aren't as easy to access" Ace snorted his drink as he understood what she was implying at. She winked at Izou, drinking silently. All of them gave her surprised and sceptical looks.
"Where are they?"
"Who wants to know?"
"Who do you think wants to know? Us?!" Thatch asked a little frustrated.
"It's a combination, and you have to get me real well before you even get a look at them." She ended her turn by giving her asking turn to Thatch, since she couldn't think of good question.
"So Ace what's the worst thing you've done during sex?" Thatch shot.
"Come on. Thatch. No."
"What? You have nothing to be ashamed of, we're all family here. And if you've done nothing shameful then you have nothing to be afraid of. But your response is telling otherwise. So spit it out."
Ace started to giggle and snort, as he recalled the memory, covering his closed eyes with his hands. "I can't believe I'm going to tell you guys. So I'm gonna say it in as little words possible." They all leaned in, in anticipation, all incredibly curious.
"When I was a bit younger, and learning how to pleasure woman, orally, I accidentally set her pubic hair on fire." He sighed. "As I was going down on her." They all fell back laughing, rolling on the deck as Ace was reliving that memory. The rest of them had to take a couple minutes to recuperate from their laugh attacks, wiping tears from their eyes.
"If you were left alone on an island with Izou and Thatch if they were girls. Who would you go for first, meaning you could procreate and that would be your only way for freedom?" Ace snickered
"What do they have the exact same personality and memories and everything-yoi?"
"Yeah, it would literally be themselves now but as females."
"Oh god-yoi. I would kill myself or fly off, because it would be God's message that the world was going to end -yoi." Marco shivered at that thought, drinking his alcohol. Thatch and Izou looked at each other and themselves.
"We wouldn't be that bad as girls. Well Thatch would be hella ugly, but I would be great as a girl. You don't know what you're missing out on Commander." Izou sassed, as Thatch called out at his insult. Marco grinned, shrugging.
"Oi Ran can you sing?"
"Nope. Next-"
"Too bad you're gonna sing a song for us." Marco looked expectantly at her, with a smirk.
"Nooo~ that's not allowed, is it?" She knew it was a mistake when she looked at Izou who smiled devilishly. All of them turned to face her.
"Fine fine fine. You guys are such bullies I swear." She grumbled. She closed her eyes humming the tune. Until the ship rocked sharply, the waves were turning wide and dangerous.
"We're gonna have to postpone this." Thatch reported to the others, looking at the sea.
"Pfffft." Ran let out. She brought out her sword for what seemed thin air. Closing her eyes as she held it out straight in front of her.
"I would move out of the way if I were you." She warned, most of them stood up, watching her. They watched her concentrate holding the sword dead straight in front of her.
"Great sea, let me soothe your anger." She spoke confidently and softly, she swiped her blade to the left pushing the dangerous waves away from the boat, until they died down. And repeated on the right, and the boat continued to sail smoothly, she placed her sword back where she held it.
"What was that?" Ace asked incredulously, eyes wide, everyone asking the same question.
"A small trick of mine." She grinned, tapping Ace's nose teasingly.
"Since that problem was sorted, you need to sing your song." Thatch resumed, ready to hear some awful drunk singing.
"But I showed you that trick."
"Ahh but it wasn't want I wanted. You going to disobey the first division commander?" Marco reasoned.
"I swear to all the Gods that you commanders have too much power." She muttered. Closing her eyes again, humming the tune to get the timing right.
"The road to my heart oh frost
Cloudy winter sky still or go on
Still rain, rain fell on the road whisper
Because of the rain where you do not come." Her lilting voice was singing quietly, the others watching with extreme interest, none of them laughed.
"The road to my heart cloud covered the
His feet on the path fails
The sad rainy night alone
Sometimes we forget the affair." Although none of them could understand a word of what she was singing, but the tune and warm voice was relaxing, enjoying this foreign language.
"Intermittent rain outside but little withered
Rain as much as I remember the day last soul
Still remember the old streets silently waiting for each other
I remember the wind, the rain, scared." She undid her face mask, making her voice a lot louder, and crisper at the same time rougher, earthier and richer.
"Each day I still take you through the city
Rain floods, birds still high, sad voice still old
Oh hands who brought you this afternoon.
The road to my heart how waves
To love him coming spring flowers dream
My heart forever cool"
O dear, heart winter." Ace just stared at her with amazement, watching her finishing her song, he couldn't believe that she possessed such a voice, and he couldn't imagine what she sang like in the language that they all understood.
"Hey we couldn't understand a word of what you were singing." Marco grumbled a little, despite thoroughly enjoying her singing, still teasing her a little.
"Hey you never said what language I could sing in. Also it was the only song I could think of." She shrugged her shoulders. After when they thought they had enough all of them packed up their stuff and started to walk back. Ace and Ran's were the closest to the deck from underneath so they went in last, as they didn't have far to walk.
Ace was slowly walking back, wanting to fall straight into his hammock,
"Hey Ace."
"Yeah?"
"Are you happy?"
"Yeah why wouldn't I be?"
"I don't know."
"Why? Are you unhappy?" he turned around to face her, his expression concerned and a little slurred.
"I'm not happy and I'm not unhappy. I'm just fine." She smiled, trying to wave off Ace.
"Why? You should be happy!" He grumbled, getting a little annoyed that this girl wasn't happy.
"I don't know Ace, I was just wondering."
"Tell me what I can do to make you happy, I'll do it. I swear." He boldly promised, Ran not noticing his serious expression. However he was drunk as well so she couldn't really take him seriously.
"Ace it is okay you don't need to do that. Being with me is good enough." She told truthfully, about to walk off.
"You know you make me feel funny when you say those sorts of things." He grumbled, making her stop and turn around.
"And then you make me mad, like when you told me to ask another girl out." He face palmed himself.
"Awh I'm sorry Ace I didn't want to make you mad." She hugged the commander to show her apology.
"No."
"Wha?"
"I don't accept your apology" he denied, looking down on her, with a frown.
"B-but how can I-"She was cut off by Ace who leaned down and shut her up by pressing his lips to hers, their foreheads pushed against each other, she could feel him smile against her mouth, with a sigh of content.
However Ran was shocked, so shocked that she decked Ace after she realised what happened. Luckily Ace was too drunk to notice anything, and fell down with a dull thump. She looked down at him with wide eyes, hands over her mouth, as she saw him start to drift off to sleep. She dragged him to his room and had to use a couple air discs and her own body strength to lift him into his hammock.
He swayed heavily in the hammock as he was unceremoniously dumped in it. She stood there in shock, looking at his tousled hair and childish freckles. It also gave her time to look at his fine, masculine body, carved muscles that seemed to draw women and men to him wherever he went.
It's not surprising since he wears the confidence with it, like a second skin.
She wondered if she was over stepping her boundaries if she undressed him.
It would be a great pleasure but it would be a horrible backlash, if he thought she was a pervert and everything.
Maybe she could wake him up and get him to take off his stuff and she could leave.
"Ace~ Ace"
He tossed a little hearing that.
"Ace, Ace wake up, take off your clothes." He murmured a little, turning away.
"Come on Ace, at least take off your shoes." She grumbled, but he wouldn't do a thing.
She tickled his ear to wake him up, but he slapped her hand, which actually hurt quite a bit. She blew in his face, but he swiped around, which she managed to dodge.
She almost wanted to leave him, but she felt an obligation. So she quickly removed his boots, neatly putting them against the wall. She looked at his belt and knife, and started to slowly slide them off, without as much as a change in breath.
She placed them on the table, and then smoothed over his hair. She looked at the bruise forming on his cheek, she wished she had some medicine, but she unfortunately ran out and forgot to stock up, and he would forget, hopefully. She smiled at his freckles, and ruffled his hair, about to leave, until he grabbed her wrist.
"You might as well finish." He said in his usual warm confident tone. She was afraid he was awake the whole time, but waited to hear his usual snores. She tried to break free from the grasp, but lo and behold he was strong as iron, and she couldn't break his arm without waking him, could she? No, that would be unethical as well.
So she hoped this would work, holding his nose so he couldn't breathe through it, hopefully waking it up and releasing her. Unfortunately it worked a little too well, he woke up, feeling like he couldn't breathe so he shot a column of fire, which Ran's wrist was caught up in, however he released his grip and she ran off, trying to find her burn medicine. Ace looked around sleepily and confused, found himself half undressed, shrugged and kicked off his shorts, snoring once again.