So…yeah. This isn't really a chapter, but it's the last day of 2016, so I thought I'd write a little something as a New Year gift of sorts. I don't know about you guys, but school will be starting in a few days for me, and believe me, I am not really looking forward to it. Besides homework and stuff, it will be my last year of highschool-meaning I'm in senior year now!-which means exams in 10 months and graduation in 11. While I am looking forward to graduation, I am not looking forward to separating with my girlfriends who have been with me since middle school.

But that's not important now. Anyways,

Happy 2017 and best wishes to everyone out there!

This is just a little something I wrote in under an hour so I had an excuse to wish you guys all a happy new year. Honestly I had no idea what I was writing so bear with me please.

Also, I'm happy to say I have finished rewriting the first chapter! I included a few previews of it, they're mostly dialogues, see if you can guess who's talking with who. :) In my opinion, it came out pretty well, but I'm still waiting for feedback from my beta. I've made some changes (or actually a lot) because when I first wrote this some parts weren't exactly definite and I kept changing things. But I sorted the details out before I started writing so no need to worry. But just a warning, what I have planned is pretty different from what I have written so far, but it's still the same for the most part. I will be posting it as a different story and will post a notice here for those who are following this one.

So ciao, happy reading! I'm on my way for a performance now. Wish me luck!

The day passed quickly, fortunately uneventful as the crew was still recovering.

As the sun slowly dropped below the horizon, L found herself seated on one of the sails, much like how she first appeared to the crew, thinking about her brothers

It had only been her second day on the large ship, but she could already see the relations that Ace had built for himself with the crew. While she didn't show it, she was relieved, to say the least. Despite the reassurances from her and Luffy, Ace still had a low self esteem, a trait that never seemed to leave. But now that he had found such a good crew and an even better captain, hopefully some of the burden he had been carrying since young would be lifted. If not, well, she was pretty sure that Whitebeard would not stand for it. Ace was in good hands.

Now if only Luffy would wake up.

She had been rather occupied with work as of late, and such hadn't had time to visit their youngest on their home island, and to be honest, she really missed the teen and his too sunny grin. As an assassin, she had seen her fair share of what their world was really like, and more than often it invoked more cynical thoughts. At those times, Luffy was like the sun, making her think that maybe their world wasn't completely lost to the darkness. Although she could do without his recklessness…seriously, she'd lost coum of how many times she had wanted to just go to his ship and strangle the life out of him. The kid just had no sense of self-preservation! Then again, that might have been partially her fault, Ace did always complain that she spoiled their youngest.

The wind was pleasantly cool, blowing from behind her and plastering stray strands to her face. Tucking a particularly long strand behind her ear, her senses picked up the sound of footsteps as they approached the mast.

"L." The first commander called from below. "Aren't you coming to dinner?"

Dinner? Only then did she realize that some time when she was lost in thought, the pirates had all but disappeared into the bowels of the ship. She looked down, violet meeting blue and for a second, she felt herself drawn to those eyes that were startlingly bright in the dark. Pulling away, the assassin lept down the mast with all the grace of a cat and strode in the direction of the galley. "Sorry, I didn't notice." She muttered as she passed Marco, trying her best not to look at him. On the outside, she maintained her facade of calmness, but inside, she was freaking out a little. She had no idea what happened when their eyes met, just that she suddenly had an urge to avoid any form of contact with the blonde commander.

She heard the man move to follow her, and unconsciously increased her pace so that she was always a few feet ahead of him. They walked to the galley in such awkward silence. If he had noticed anything, he didn't say, and she was glad for that.

As they approached the door, Marco stepped up, an arm held in front of her. Curious, she stopped in her tracks, watching as he opened the door and immediately backhanded a piece of pie that had been flying straight for the door. It would have hit the assassin right in the face, if it wasn't for the first commander who had expected something to come flying and was already prepared to deflect.

"Oi you idiots! We have guests!" He barked, temporarily halting the food fight that had apparently ensued in what little time he had been gone. Everyone turned to look at the pair standing in the doorway, each with some kind of food grasped in their hands.

"Oh, you're back. Hi Ace's sister." Haruta, whom L had sparred with earlier in the day, had one foot planted on the table and a large pile of whipped cream in one hand, his other holding onto someone's shirt. Apparently the brunette commander had been about to smash that unholy amount of frothy cream into someone's face.

"Commander Haruta." L greeted politely, unfazed by the chaos on display. She had seen plenty of similar scenes.

"Uh…sorry about the mess. We were kind of—" "—having a food fight?" "Yes?" It was pretty obvious. The large space was splattered with different kinds of food across any surface available, including the ceiling.

"Seriously, I leave for five minutes and you guys turn this place into a warzone." Beside her, Marco face palmed, completely exasperated with his brothers. They were grown men for heaven's sake! Couldn't they act more mature? Not to mention they had…guests…

"Hee haw! Vi haven't had a food fight in ages!"

"Marco-san, I apologise for the disruption by Iva-sama."

"Oi! Quit tossing sauce at me you oversized okama!"

"Vhat was that, Croco-boy?!"

"You know what? I give up."

L looked at the blonde commander who was hunched over in defeat and laughed, just loud enough that he heard her. Blue eyes stared up at the woman in front of him as she turned, a small flash of gold showing through her fringes and his eyes widened a little.

"It's no wonder Ace joined you." She said, her lips curved into a small smile.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing."

They really are like family.

Preview 1

As she slipped the last piece of parchment into the file, a small voice called to her.

Nee-chan...don't go…

She crossed the small space between them, kneeling down to press her lips against a dreaming child's forehead and whispered promises to stay by them.

Sweet dreams, meus irmáns.

May you always be safe.

Preview 2

"Ne, how long are you going to leave him up there?"

Somewhere on the island of Marineford, two cloaked figures chatted idly as they watched the Marine Fleet Admiral easily disclose a secret that had been kept safe from the world for twenty years. From their vantage point, they had a clear view of the soon-to-be battlefield. An advantageous position which unfortunately, came at the price of not being able to see the expressions of the one that was to be executed shortly. They did, however, have a full view of his back and subsequently, his tattoo of his crew-family. Rich, slightly dark purple ink mapped out the design, forming a symbol that was marred by his time in prison.

"Until his crew comes to get him, obviously."

"And when will that be?"

"What makes you think I would know?"

"I don't know...maybe the fact that you always seem to know everything?"

"That's not true and you know it."

"So...?"

"Probably sometime in the next half-hour."

"See? You do know."

"Shut up."

"Yes Ma'am."

They watched as silence fell at the revelation of Portgas D. Ace's bloodline. One of the figures crouched down on the edge, while the other turned and walked away.

"Where're you going?"

A flash of metal was seen underneath the figure's cloak, and realization dawned immediately on the other.

"I'll be back soon. Feel free to join the party when they start."

"Roger. Have fun!"

…

"And~she's gone. And all that's left is for them to show up. Great. More waiting."

Preview 3

"You don't plan to leave this place alive, do you?" It wasn't really a question, though it sounded like one.

"Who are you, brat?" The older man retorted, his gaze fixed on the war.

He shrugged. "Just an ally."

Yellow eyes averted themselves, and he heard the captain snort.

"I'm a relic of the sea, brat. I've lived long enough."

"That may be so, but I have orders. Very explicit orders."

"Oh?"

"I'm not allowed to let you die here."

"And what makes you think you can prevent that?"

"I don't know. Perhaps the threat on my life if I actually let you die in such a worthless place?"

"…cheeky brat."

"I aim to please."

Tell me what you think, yeah? :)