AN: ok, so I'm happy to say, this is chapter 5 of my story :3 a lot of people have been giving me positive input on this (I re-read a lot of the reviews) and I want to thank you all for your support! Even though, I think only one of you have been begging me continue, and it's really motivating me! Without the readers, I don't know what I'd do :O so without further a due, I would like to do Chapter 5!

Disclaimer: as I told you, I do not own one piece and I did not help create it :O if I did, you'd probably see some good Zolu! :D

Chapter 5

"Luffy…" the thief sighed "you don't need to hold back, you can cry here. I've done it a thousand times in this old place… I guess you can say, this house was my escape from the real world." The little detective continued to sniffled

"So don't worry..." Zoro lightly hugged Luffy. "No one will judge you here…" Luffy was not use to this sort of affection, so he jumped a little from Zoro's embrace and began to blush immensely. Then Zoro calmly said "it's ok Luffy…" and with that, the little detective wiped his tears away and tried to calm down.

All of the sudden, the lights all went out in the house "…this is just perfect…." Zoro remarked sarcastically.

Then, a ghostly voice came. "Have you two learned your lesson?" with that the girl appeared and the thief gave a horrid gasp as he looked at her and shuttered back

Zoro's voice shook "…V-Victoria….?" Luffy just looked at Zoro as his completion became pale as snow.

The Ghost smiled "yes baby brother, it's me" Zoro began to get up and back away from the ghost

"… But you're dead! Y-you killed yourself!" he shuttered.

The ghost only kept smiling "I'm just a ghost."

"… you're not real… this whole thing isn't real…." Zoro glared at the ghost "I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!" and with that, Zoro ran away from the ghost and Luffy.

The ghost laughed "the only skill he has… running away from everything" then the ghost followed Zoro. Luffy was as confused as ever and decided to follow the both of them. Eventually, the chase lead to a secret passage way and Luffy lost track of the two; so Luffy decided to just sit against the wall and rest. Then, there came a voice Luffy had never heard before, but was somehow, familiar to him.

"Where did you get this?" Came the voice as it lifted up the golden locket. Luffy growled "Give that back! That was my brother's locket!" then the ghost appeared in front of Luffy and looked at him closely.

Then the ghost gave him a warm smile "it's been a while Luffy…" then Luffy let out a great gasp "Ace!?"

The ghost nodded "yup, that's me" Luffy was greatly confused; so Ace explained. "I'm a ghost now… at least, that's what everyone's been telling me."

Luffy started to tear up "what happened to you after that night…? Where did those thieves take you...? I was looking for you everywhere" he started to sniffle.

"I don't really remember" Ace sighed "all I remember was that I escaped a few days after and sold news papers for the next 5 years… and lived in a foster home…" then he started to frown "last year, I saw you in the news paper; it said you solved a great case… it took me a long time, but I finally found the station… but when I did… I got a sudden pain in my chest… and now I'm dead" he concluded

"I wasn't there at that time…" Luffy sighed as the remorse grew in his heart "… I was chasing Zoro…"

Ace only smiled at Luffy "if I lived, I would have waited a century for you…"

Luffy began to sob "I should have stayed at the station! Maybe I could have helped in some way…"

"It wasn't your fault" Ace sighed

"b-but…" Luffy stuttered

Ace smiled warmly and said "you needed to do your job. That job of yours made me a proud to be your brother. You always followed the rules and gave those bad guys what they deserved!"

This made the little detective smile and wipe his tears away.

"…but Luffy…" Ace frowned "…it's my time to leave… I can finally rest in peace…"

"…I understand…" Luffy lowered his head.

"Just remember" Ace smiled "I'll be right her, in your locket; and right here…in your heart"

Luffy only nodded and sniffled

"… I love you…" Ace finally said in a brotherly way.

"I love you too Ace… I missed you..." Luffy sighed sadly

"I missed you too…" Ace said as he started to fade.

"No! I don't want you to go!" Luffy cried

"But I have to…" Ace frowned "If I had the choice, I'd stay…"

"o-ok" Luffy stuttered

"You're growing up, Luffy" Ace said "and after all..." he completely faded away, but left Luffy with one last whisper.

"What's life without loss?"

Luffy sat down against the wall again and slowly sighed to himself "…I know…"

…There was nothing to be heard except the low whimpers of the little detective himself…