Chapter 8
They stood and stared up at the treehouse, and Sanji could see the faint trace of the thread go up into it. He took a few tentative steps towards it wondering if he should touch it or not. He had a feeling he should, but still he hesitated. He knew something was going to happen if he did, it was like he had a memory far in the back of his mind of doing it before, he just couldn't recall it. He gritted his teeth and let out a frustrated sigh, before he reached his hand out and placed it upon the thread.
It was like a surge of energy shot through his hand and up his arm. He tried to wrench his hand away from it, but he couldn't manage it. Suddenly a strong wind swirled around them, and he thought for a second he was going to be swept away with it, but then, just as suddenly as it had come it was gone, and the thread had disappeared.
He growled, "Fucking hell, what was that?"
The Shepherd looked around them, a calm expression on his face, "I believe you found a trace of his spirit, but he is hidden from us yet. Do not worry, we will find it again, I am sure."
Before Sanji could retort however they heard children laughing from up in the treehouse.
"Hey Ace, tomorrow I'll be much stronger, I'll beat you then!" Sanji gaped as he recognized that voice, it was younger and more high-pitched, but it could only belong to one person. "Luffy?"
"Ha! You'll never be able to defeat me Luffy!" Was that Ace? It sounded like him, but his voice was different as well.
"You meanie! I will defeat you, if not tomorrow, then the day after then!" Sanji could hear the pout Luffy was undoubtedly wearing on his face as he said it, and he couldn't help smiling fondly at it, but then he furrowed his brows, what is this?
"It'll never happen!" Ace said defiantly, and there was a hint of mockery in his voice.
"Hey now you two, why are you always arguing like this?" That was a voice Sanji didn't recognize, it was still a child's voice, but he couldn't remember hearing it, or anything remotely close to it, ever. "Who's the third kid?" he whispered.
The Shepherd had come to stand next to him, a fond smile on his face, "That would be Sabo, their other sworn brother." He talked in a normal tone and Sanji wanted to shush him, lest the boys hear them. "They can not hear us, so do not worry about talking freely." He still had the same fond smile as he looked up at the treehouse, but Sanji thought he could see a trace of sadness in his eyes.
"Luffy has two brothers?" He shook his head in disbelief, "What the hell is going on?" He stared at the old man.
"I believe this is Ace's afterlife, each person has a different one. It would seem that Ace is reliving his fondest memories." He stroked his goatee, still smiling.
"So?" Sanji stared up at the treehouse again, "Luffy really had another brother?" He frowned, "Why haven't we heard about him?" He asked the question more to himself than the old man. If this was truly a memory, how come they had never even heard of this kid? Well, we didn't exactly know about Ace until we met him in Alabasta. Had Luffy never mentioned him because it had never come up? But, why didn't he come to help rescue Ace during the war, like Luffy did? He clutched the bridge of his nose, this didn't make any sense.
"You will most likely find the answers to those questions as we search for the real Ace, for now let us continue finding the thread." The old man was still staring up at the treehouse, and Sanji suddenly noticed how it had gone dark around them.
"The real Ace?" He looked up at the dark sky and saw the moon shining down on them. "And wasn't it day just a moment ago?"
"Yes, this is just a memory, he is undoubtedly watching it as well, but as I said, he is hidden from us." He turned towards the forest again, "As for the sudden appearance of night, the time is different here, but we should not worry about it." He started walking towards the trees, "We really should find the thread again, please lead the way."
Sanji let his eyes trail over the treehouse again, it was silent now. Time is different here, huh. He turned around and looked at the forest, relighting his cigarette to see if the smoke would yet again show him the way. He frowned when the smoke only trailed up into the sky and dissipated. So much for hoping it would help us again.
He sighed and jogged to catch up to the old man, "I just can't believe it, Luffy have another brother out there? And we never even knew about it." He whistled in amazement before looking around at the trees, "And about the thread, I have no fucking clue where it is, I can't see any trace of it."
The Shepherd hummed a little before turning to his right, "I guess we will just have to follow the trail until you do then."
Sanji looked to where the Shepherd was walking, and to his astonishment there was a trail there he hadn't noticed before.
"You seem surprised to see the trail, did you not believe there to be one?" There was no mockery in his voice, just slight amusement, and Sanji frowned.
It wasn't that he didn't think there would be one; he had just been surprised that the old man had seen it and he hadn't. He had forced himself not to retort back like he would have done to anyone else however, and instead walked quietly next to the old man and listened to him hum a somewhat cheerful tune, "You seem to be in a good mood." He said casually as he still kept looking into the forest around them, hoping to catch a glimpse of something shining, but there was still nothing.
"I suppose I am," the Shepherd smiled, "It seems very nostalgic to be walking beside you again, though you were just a young boy the last time we walked together, your devotion to finding the threads is the same."
"Hmm, I wouldn't know," Sanji took a drag from his cigarette, holding on to a fraction of hope that it might help lead their way again, but still the smoke just floated aimlessly through the air and dissipated. "I still don't remember anything from it."
"A shame, I find them to be rather pleasant, but maybe they will come back to you during our search." He was looking around at the forest as well, observing it and enjoying its tranquillity.
Sanji kept staring into the darkness of the forest, trying to catch a glimpse of the thread, and listening for anything other than their own footsteps on the ground, but there was nothing. "Maybe you can enlighten me a little of whom we met back then, and I might just remember it faster?"
The Shepherd let out a bark of laughter, "I might as well." He stroked his goatee as he hummed a little more on the tune, and Sanji was sure he had heard it before somewhere, "Let's see, which one to tell you about first."
"Why not just go through the list?" Sanji offered offhandedly.
"Well, I suppose I could, but a lot of them would be rather boring for you as you have no recollection of their names, but," He looked at Sanji and studied him for a little while, "Yes, you went to Jaya and Skypiea three years ago, you would know him, even if you never really met him. You remember the Shandian Warriors, that is good." He looked towards the forest again.
"Sky Island? Seriously?" Sanji said in amazement.
"Oh yes, we went there looking for the former Chief of the Shandians, you were quite amazed by the notion of an island in the sky, though I believe anyone would be to be honest." He chuckled softly before he looked up at the sky for a few moments, and then he seemed to remember something because he suddenly furrowed his brows in annoyance, "This was of course long before the logia user, Enel, came to the island." He scrunched up his nose in disgust, "What an insolent child he was, I am glad to know he was not there for long," He suddenly smiled at Sanji, and Sanji stumbled a step at the quick change in the old man's mood, "You have done many good deeds on your travels, do not think they have gone unnoticed."
"Oh, uh-" Sanji quickly regained his balance and straightened his back a little, before turning his face away from the old man and looked back into the forest, "Thanks, I guess?"
"As modest as ever, I see." The old man chuckled again.
"Oh! I think I see it!" Sanji almost jumped with excitement, before coughing and then pointed towards a clearing a little to the left of them. "It's over there," He said coolly, trying to regain some of his nonchalant demeanour.
"Do not worry yourself with being excited in my presence, it is refreshing to see you in such high spirits," The old man chuckled good-naturedly and shook his head, "Please lead the way."
Sanji had to restrain himself from running over to where he had caught a glimpse of something shimmering; it was close to a small pond not far from where they had been walking. As he got nearer to it however, he started to feel a slight trepidation over what he had to do again. He wanted to see another memory, he really did, but these we Ace's private memories, what right did he have to watch them? Yes, this was their duty, and he knew that the only way to find him was to watch them, but still.
"You are hesitating." The Shepherd came to stand beside him, his eyes fixed on the moon mirrored in the still water.
"I am," Sanji said calmly as he stared at the golden thread that was laying at the edge of the pond.
"May I ask why?" There was no edge to the question, just mild curiosity.
"I-," Sanji couldn't take his eyes off the thread. He could feel the connection it had to Ace without even touching it, it felt like it was calling to him. So why was he hesitating? Was it because he would be trespassing into something as sacred as Ace's memories? Or was it more than that? He furrowed his brows. Was he scared? Scared of what he might see? But why would he be, it wasn't like he would see the war at Marineford, the old man had said that Ace was reliving his good memories, so what was it?
"You are conflicted." The Shepherd sighed, "I understand. You had the same feelings the first time as well. You now know what will happen when you touch it, and it scares you." He looked at Sanji, but there was no pity in his eyes, only sadness and understanding. "It scares you because you long to watch their past, and yet you despise that feeling because you believe that it is not meant for your eyes. It is your kindness and selflessness that makes it hard for you to watch it without feeling guilt and shame." His eyes trailed back over the pond again, "In a few of the memories we watched in the past you also often felt helpless as you could not aid the people in them when they were hurting, I believe that even though you may have forgotten the memories, the feelings are still there."
Sanji had kept his stare on the thread, feeling the increasing yearning to touch it. Was that true? Was some part of the reason he was hesitating because of the memories he couldn't remember? And also because, yet again, he was too kind and too selfless? "This truly is a punishment then," he chuckled sadly, "The Crone really does pick her men with care, doesn't she?" It wasn't really a question, and he shook his head, "I just, I feel it's wrong of us to do this, you know?"
"I do understand, but it is our duty and we are wise to obey the orders we are given." The Shepherd looked up at the stars, "We do not want to anger The Old Crone. As merciful as she is, her wrath is even greater." He lowered his head and looked at Sanji again, "We do not have much time, remember there are more names on our list. Please, touch the thread and let us continue our search for Ace."
Sanji nodded slowly, his eyes still fixed on the thread. "I guess that's it then." He lowered himself gingerly down to the edge of the water and reached out towards it. Holding his breath he felt his hand wrap around it and a new gust of wind swirled around them.
AN: You didn't think it would be that easy finding him did you? That would have been a pretty boring story, right?
As always if you are enjoying the story so far, please fav/follow and or leave a review if you do. Also, if you don't, please tell me why. I strive to get better, and I can't really do that without any feedback. Thanks for reading it this far though.
