Casey blushed and freed herself from his arms, which he allowed. Marco allowed himself to take in the new appearance of Casey. She had grown into a young woman, her body sure had got curves and he knew she would be able to turn most men's head and fill their thoughts with lust. Something he didn't like thinking of. No one should even look at her like this, he decided.

"Izo will swoon over how beautiful you've become, yoi," he said after a while.

Pouting lightly, Casey dragged Marco towards the counter. She hadn't noticed the other man with Marco, the man just staring at her, disbelief written all over his face. It wasn't until she laid eyes on Sabo, who looked at the other young man that had come with Marco. Amusement was written in his eyes, but also sadness and shame, which confused Casey. She turned and within second, she had tackled the freckled young man onto the floor, cuddling on his torso.

"Ace," she cheered happily.

Marco turned and grinned at the sight. Ace on his back, a young teenage girl on top of him, cuddling and snuggling as close to him as possible. As the hothead teen had challenged Whitebeard, Marco knew right away he was one of Casey's brothers. Not that she had talked so much about him, but it was so clear to him. This was also why he had taken Ace with him, just to see this without all the fuzz and aw's that would be on the ship.

"Ca-Casey?" Ace stuttered.

She jumped from him and held her hand out for him. He let her help him up, still somewhat confused, but was soon feeling her against his chest once more, hugging him tightly. He buried his face in her hair and sighed in relief. Though he still had no clue what was going on, how Marco knew her and why she was here, he just let it pass for a while, enjoying having her in his arms again. The sound of a clicking brought both out of the trance and Casey turned, just to see Sabo with a snail and looking smug.

"I'm so going to have a copy, Sabo," she said slight pouting.

Ace had left her side in an instant and punched Sabo straight in the face, though the latter let him and stumbled backwards. Marco was about to step in, but didn't as Ace then hugged the other young man tightly. Blinking he gazed as Casey, who walked to him.

"Sabo is also a brother and there have been some unlucky circumstances that brought him to the base of the Revolutionaries. When I saw him, he regained his memory, all of it in a flash, which wasn't a pleasant experience. I'll tell you more later," she said.

Marco just nodded, as the two young men broke the embrace. Seems that life hadn't been easy for Casey, Ace, Luffy and Sabo. However, he believed it would turn now. Ace and Casey would be together.

"A family reunion, eh? Before you go, Casey, why don't we drink on that?" Shakky asked.

"Also a drink for her birthday," Ray said, raising his glass.

Marco shrugged. "Just gives the other more time to prepare everything, yoi," he said.

Shakky poured whiskey up to all, including Casey. They cheered and drank in silence for a while. Casey sat between Ace and Sabo, feeling so happy.

"Ne, Ace. When Luffy comes, we all are going to meet up and renew our wow," Casey said.

He hummed. "Definitely. Like back then," Ace said, staring at the whiskey.

"We'll do that," Sabo nodded.

Casey smiled and felt so blessed. "For the future and out brother, who will set sail and turn the world upside down," she said, raising her glass.

She didn't notice the slight shocked expression on Rayleigh's face, as she cheered for their youngest brother. Marco did and he also saw the single tear lingering in the eyes of Rayleigh. He wondered what of it that made the Dark King touched like this and why, though he wouldn't ask.

-x-

After saying goodbye to Sabo, Shakky and Rayleigh, Casey, Ace and Marco went to the small boat that should bring her to her home. She bounced up and down, happily that her long years of waiting were gone. Though she knew she could have asked to get back sooner, she didn't. It hadn't been that bad, Sabo had been there and Koala and Hack was great too. Besides, her parents hadn't been that bad either, though she still didn't know what to make of them. She did understand their reasons for not letting Luffy and her stay with them.

As she saw the Moby Dick and could hear the music, two of her tails appeared and she swayed them to the music, her ears transforming too. Ace stared fascinated at her, while Marco chuckled and ruffled her hair.

"You seem to have fully control now, yoi," he said.

She hummed. "Yeah. However, I'm not like any typical Zoan user. I can decide what parts I want to show," she said.

"Like I can use the fire to heal or to show off with, yoi," he said.

She nodded. "I'm going to transform fully when I hit deck," she said, as he aligned the boat with the Moby Dick.

Marco chuckled. A ladder was thrown down to help her, but she jumped up, did a flip and landed on the railing, fully transformed. Ace and Marco blinked stunned, before getting onto the deck too. They looked at Casey, who stood proudly on the railing, seven tails high up, just like a peacock. She was also bigger and more graceful to look at.

"Casey …," Thatch gasped.

She smiled and transformed back, letting her ears and two tails stay. "I'm a Kitsune, servant of Goddess Inari, according to the old legends," she said.

Whitebeard nodded. "Welcome home, child," he said.

"Yeah WELCOME HOME," the crew cheered.

She smiled and jumped down from the railing. As soon as she had landed on deck, Thatch, Izo, Haruta and some others came to hug her. After that, she went to Whitebeard, who helped her up, so she could give him a hug. He patted her back lightly.

"It's good to be home," she said.

-x-

Ace felt confused and annoyed. Casey was his precious sister, who he had been waiting to meet for 7 years. Ever since Makino told that she was fine and with the Red-Hair Pirates. All he wanted was to have her for himself for a while. He had just recently decided to join the Whitebeard Pirates, so he didn't want to show them this side.

However, as Casey had greeted all, including Whitebeard, she tackled him, knocking the air out of him. Sitting on him, she smiled brightly to him and he couldn't help but returning the smile, before pulling her down to hug her. He ignored all the comments around him, focusing on Casey alone.

As he got to sit up, he noticed the clicks of the snail. Someone took pictures of him and Casey together. Great. The teasing wouldn't end. And then she hit him on the head, just like their Jiji used to. He winched and looked at her.

"Don't go missing from the papers like that, Ace. Sabo and I worried about you," she said, pouting.

He looked somewhat excused. "Sorry sis, but there was something I had to do," he said.

She tilted her head and then hit him again. "You can't even beat me, so how come you thought you could take down Oyaji? Stupid, stubborn boy," she insulted him.

Blinking Ace stared at her. "How did you know?"

"I know you and you're here. I can add, you know," she said.

"You're scary," he commented.

Casey laughed. "I know."

He shuddered lightly. Casey had always been somewhat crazy, but mostly scary, because it seemed that she could read thoughts. Like Luffy sometimes could. He smiled softly at the memories he shared with her and he bear hugged her, not caring what the crew would think.

"Can't …breathe … Let … go," Casey said, though she was smiling and exaggerating.

Ace let her go and they stood up. "We got a lot to tell each other, sis," he said.

"And a lot of time, brother. Now let's PARTY," she yelled the last part.

With that the party started. None had the heart to part Ace and Casey, all knowing how much Casey cared for her brothers. Marco smiled, having been blessed that Sabo had brought her to Sabaody Archipelago and had been ordered to stay with her. The young man sure was different from Ace and Casey and then yet he wasn't. The bond they had made back then must have been made of diamonds, because it was unbreakable.

Casey enjoyed the party, she loved the gifts and she loved to tease her family. They sang, drank, ate and talked until the morning came. Casey was tired, but in a good way and she walked to her room, Izo walking along. Someone had brought her bags to the room. It was the same she had all these years before.

"It's good to have you home, Casey. I'll give you copies of the pictures from tonight," Izo said.

She hugged him. "It's good to be home," she said and went into her room, closing the door.

She was home. With the crew she wanted to be with. When she still had been with Luffy, Ace and Sabo, she had not known where she wanted to be, just that she wanted to be free and infamous. She wanted to be a pirate, but not a captain herself. Something good had come out of her abduction, though the way had been hard and tough. Yet she was happy. She had her family and her brothers were safe and happy.

Smiling, she got to be, ready for her new life on the sea and for her next adventures. She was happy that she had Ace here too. He truly needed this family as much as she did.