Note: It took a while but HERE! FINALLY. The chapter is finally out. I'm relieved. Now I just gotta try and find a cover that I like for the story OTL. Hope you enjoy the chapter!

All of the thanks in the world to Fayah for proofreading :')!

CHAPTER 7: Again

It's the sixth day since Ace and Luffy had been found in the forest, Usopp muses as he tightens his pack on his back.

The long-nosed sniper looks over to the youger Luffy who excitedly tells Chopper about his home. Usopp has to admit that the younger Luffy isn't very different from the Luffy he's used to. He's just shorter.

"…There's a biiiig forest where we live! It's probably as big as this one! Maybe bigger. There are a lot of bugs and lizards to play with, but they aren't as big as the ones I saw here!" Chopper listens attentively, eyes wide and shining. The seventeen year old is always eager to hear stories about new places and adventures he hasn't been a part of.

The sniper grins and takes a seat next to the reindeer. It's nice to be the one being told stories every now and then.

"There are really big crocodiles and bears and tigers too!" Luffy says, with more excitement than Usopp would have liked. But really, it helps explain why his captain is so fearless. "I got eaten by a crocodile a few times but it didn't chew me so I'm okay! It scared Ace and Sabo really bad but they wouldn't admit it, shishishi!"

"Sabo?"

Luffy's grin falters for a second and automatically both teens know they shoudn't have asked. "Sabo's my other older brother… but he died a while ago." The look in the normally happy captain's eyes left Usopp feeling cold inside. It's surreal to see to Luffy serious and, no matter what situation, it makes chills run down his spine. And these aren't the good kind of chills.

It reminds him of how they weren't there after Marineford and how Luffy had to deal with the fact that his brother could have died and they weren't there.

Usopp tries to shake away any thoughts, but it's hard.

"But Sabo's watching over us and he wouldn't want us to be sad! That's what Ace said." Luffy says, with a smile. The pain is still clear, but the rare moment of wisdom that comes from Luffy shocks them out of their regret for asking.

"I'm sure he doesn't!" Usopp grins at the younger boy a second later. "But Luffy, did I ever tell you about the time where a forest full of man-eating flowers declared me as it's enemy?!"

Automatically, Luffy and Chopper's eyes grow wide and they focus on him as Usopp tells one more tale before they go into the forest.

Ace is uneasy.

They had entered the forest again minutes ago. This time, the whole crew is here, standing around the two brothers in a loose circle.

Since they have gone back in, Luffy has been holding his hand, swinging it as he hums slightly. His lips are not turned up into the happy smile that Ace aches to see. Ace doesn't have to be told that the forest is already bothering the twelve year old.

"I don't really wanna go back," Luffy had whispered to Ace last night when they had gotten a moment away from the crew. "It was really scary Ace." Ace runs a hand through Luffy's soft hair, holding him close and making soft shushing sounds. "You don't have to go. But you'll never be alone, okay? I promised you that I wouldn't leave you, didn't I?"

Ace squeezes Luffy's hand a little tighter. That was right. He wasn't going to leave Luffy, not really. Even if he sets sail on his own, Ace isn't going to leave his brother alone for that long. They'll always meet again, no matter what. Besides, Ace doesn't think that he could be away from Luffy for that long. Even three years is pushing it.

(Even if they still had two years left, Ace frequently thinks about whether or not he'll bring Luffy with him. But he guesses that he didn't, seeing as Luffy is Captain of this crew. And then there's the fact that Nami has mentioned in brief passing that Ace has joined a crew; something he has trouble believing.)

Desperately, Ace doesn't want a repeat of the other day. But, if it happens, he'll be there for his little brother.

"How do you feel, Luffy?" Chopper asks, breaking the loose circle formation and walking closer to the brothers. The rest of the crew has their eyes on Luffy. Clearly, Ace hasn't been the only one to notice Luffy's condition.

Luffy turns to the reindeer and hums thoughtfully.

"I'm okay but I feel weird, too? It's like I'm being watched or something?"

"It's probably watching, waiting for the right moment." Robin says calmly. "The right moment?!" Nami, Usopp, Chopper, and Brook nearly scream, looking spooked. The sudden loud noise causes a bird to squawk loudly, making the four shriek and a few jump in shock.

Luffy is one of those people.

A little gasp is heard from the twelve year old and the grip on Ace's hand is almost painfully tight for a moment before falling slack.

Ace's head snaps to his little brother. "Luffy?! Luffy, what's wrong?!"

The crew's attention is automatically on the brothers. Luffy's knees start to shake and he slowly starts to sink to the ground. Ace and Chopper waste no time kneeling down next to the small twelve year old.

Chopper bites his lip and he puts a hand on Luffy's knee. "Luffy, can you hear me?"

Luffy does not answer. Eyes that were bright just moments before are blank and starting to dull. His lips are beginning to shake and his tanned skin is turning pale.

Ace feels a heavy, heavy weight fall upon his shoulders. He bites the inside of his cheek so hard that he can taste blood as Chopper starts doing whatever he can.

It has suddenly gotten really, really cold.

Then the loneliness returns. It claws and eats at him until he can't even cry.

And boy did Luffy want to cry. How can something be so lonely?

Luffy knows that this ghost has been alone for a long, long time.

He hears a low growling and he wants it to stop. Please, please, please stop he silently begs, unable to find the words, but hopeful that this being will hear him.

The loneliness bubbles and burns and he wants Ace. He wants Sabo. He wants Makino and he wants Shanks and he wants Grandpa and he wants Dadan and he wants it to stop. Luffy can remember all of the times where he had been lonely. All of the times where grandpa or Shanks had been gone, or the times Makino had been too busy with the tavern. Or the few days after Sabo died when he had felt so lonely and upset that he could tugs at him. He needs Ace and he doesn't think he'll be okay until his big brother is with him, by his side.

"Please..." A voice rasps and Luffy jolts.

The weight on him doubles tenfold and Luffy wants to scream.

"Please..." the pained voice whispers again. Luffy is very aware of the arms now wrapped around his torso and the figure pressed against him. Freezing breath hits his neck.

"Don't leave me alone."

Ace isn't aware of anything Chopper says. He sits on his calves and bites into his lip so hard that he can taste more blood.

The crew surrounds them, but Ace doesn't risk looking away from his little brothers face.

He probably shouldn't be this close while Chopper is trying to do something but he can't will himself to stand up and walk away from his baby brother. He's failed the pre-teen.

Who knew what Luffy is feeling right now? It's probably terrible and Ace can't even stop it from happening.

Luffy shakes and Ace still holds his hand, desperatly wanting to feel those calloused fingers twitch and grip his hand back.

At some point Luffy's eyes had shut.

A small whimper leaves Luffy and everyone jumps into action. A tear rolls down the twelve year old's cheek before his eyes flutter back open.

Relief rises in Ace before it comes crashing down.

His eyes are no longer the dark blue that were so full of life and warmth. They're pitch black and full of pain and loneliness and all Ace can think of is how bad he wants his little brother back.

A gasp comes from the crew, but Ace doesn't pay attention to who its from.

Lips move and gasp for breath, and eventually the voice speaks. It's Luffy's voice, but at the same time its not. It's a rasp that is so, so different from the happy chirp that all nine were used too.

"I don't want to be alone anymore. Help me."

Note: ...Okay. Here it is. I hope you guys enjoyed it. There are some parts that are iffy with me, but I overall think its a pretty okay chapter!

I'm so happy, I'm finally gonna be on winter break starting tomorrow! Gives me time to work on this/my Christmas fic/watching anime :)