Me: Sorry it took so long. I've been having thoughts about how this chapter would go. Whether if this part of the chapter would be too soon or not. It took a lot of thinking and a lot of planning and a lot of "what the heck should I do?"

I don't expect you to be pleased with this, really since this does make me sad, but it does have to eventually come sooner or later. It was hard to pick whether sooner or later though. Sorry if it does seem a bit bad though.


3. What Was Lost And Gained?

A pathetic wail echoed throughout the jungle.

It would make anyone who had heard it wondered; what kind of pitiful animal would make that kind of sound? That agonizing sound that would put shivers on their spines. A sound of a creature that had gone over the edge.

Dadan huffed as she looked at the same creature that wailed not so long ago, barring its teeth and struggling from where it is at.

Without a feeling of remorse over what she did; she left from her spot and entered her seemingly darkening and foreboding house. Those who know her know her better. Know that she too, is in grief. They have lost one of their own, how could she not?

The bandits looked from their boss, to the poor creature that seemed to be in an unstoppable rage; thirst for the blood of the person who started it all. They told themselves that it was for its safety. That he wouldn't want it to foolishly go head-on into a battle that he could not win. A battle that would surely end its life. But now looking at the tormenting creature in front of them, they didn't know which is the better judgment.

"Don't release the da- brat!" Dadan ordered from inside the house, seeing the hesitant looks on her bandits from the window where she could clearly keep an eye on the struggling being. "I don't need that da- brat to go and da- everything in his life!"

A roar of anger was released that made those who are close shiver. Dadan held her ground. She made it as if the tormenting creature wasn't there.

In the background there was a cry.

And that same creature had a name: Ace.

A month ago, Sabo was gone. They were captured by those foul Bluejam pirates while they were going around in Gray Terminal. They have defeated those mangy bas-ds back then when they foolishly tried to threaten them with their little brother, Luffy. The reason is because they were convinced that one of them stole their money. Sabo didn't remember doing such a thing. Well, Ace on the other hand…. Well, Sabo took care of that problem later on (This also goes to show that you should not mess with their baby brother unless you would like a pole to be stuck in… somewhere rather unpleasant). It put a dent in Ace's pride to know that he would be capture by these, rather smelly, pirates.

But then, something significantly changed. They say that Sabo's father ordered them to capture their son and bring him back 'home'. And without a thought, Sabo left with them. And Ace couldn't do anything but watch. Sabo didn't look back at him as Ace was yelling his name; yelling at him to at least look at him. There wasn't even a goodbye.

That gave enough reason for Ace to become spiteful.

They could've fought back! They could've run! These pirates; they have taken them down before!

But he just walked away; just like that. He was struggling, yelling, and screaming. His best friend soon disappeared from his site.

With a last burst of energy, Ace was able to free himself from those that kept him captive and ran towards the familiar jungle of where he had grown up. Faintly, the thought of his other brother waiting for him to come home safety gave him the will to continue on before he passed out of exhaustion.

But, even so…

During that month, Ace was a lot angrier, a lot more irritable. He would yell at Luffy, despite that the little one was also down-trodden by Sabo's disappearance, for such little reasons. There was an aura around the young teen that made him almost unapproachable that Luffy was even hesitant to go to his brother.

Thoughts about his long time best friend –his sworn brother –came to him repeatedly and repeatedly. Is Sabo happy?

A part of him wanted to be happy for Sabo. This was Sabo's choice and he had no right to be so angry at him. But leaving without saying a goodbye or to at least know that they were still brothers in the end left him bitter.

He just didn't know what to do. Should he visit Sabo? Should he be angry at him? Those were questions that are left unanswered. And it irritates him to no end.

In the background there was a cry.

Then, his anger and stupidity caught up with him. One day, he got caught once again by those bas- Bluejam pirates. But not only him. He had gotten his little brother in trouble once again. And they threaten that they'll kill him if he doesn't do what they say.

He didn't even notice that Luffy had followed him in the first place. His little brother avoided him like he's some kind of wild fire since Sabo had left.

He had no choice but to comply even though he knew that they wouldn't play fair. And that they would most likely not keep their word about that Luffy would soon after be release once he's finished. He was so stupid. Then again, Luffy should've kept away from him like he had from this past month! Why did the idiot choose now followed him? Why?

After completing the suspicious assignment about putting these weird things in Gray Terminal, he knows instantly from the fact that the captain has no intention of letting them go. And one of them dared to put a knife near his little brother's neck. Luffy looked at him with big teary and pleading eyes, obviously confused and scared out of his mind.

That was clearly enough reasoning for Ace to go and attack the group, despite that he was obviously outnumbered.

Before he knows it, Gray Terminal was unusually hot. Fire then started to spread but he wasn't so concern about the change in temperature; all he wanted is his brother that the bas- captain had in his hand. The captain did look rather shocked about the burning of Gray Terminal and rather panicky about it also, but he knows that he shouldn't turn away from an opponent that could knock him out. And he plans on escaping if Ace wasn't in his way.

With a sick grin, he took his sword out and point it towards his semi-conscious little brother, who is weakening by the smoke from all around.

Ace froze and contemplates on what to do.

Then suddenly, someone has dashed pass him. Bluejam, not expecting the sudden extra opponent he had to face, was then rammed into and dropped the kid as he fell back. The savior was able to grab the young toddler and threw him back towards with the others who had also come. Ace didn't know what to think of it when he found out that it was actually Dadan and the bandits.

Dadan then jumped back and was next to Ace's side, obviously planning to face Bluejam.

But despite that Dadan continuously ushered the boy to go with his little brother and the other bandits to escape, Ace didn't. He just couldn't. Luffy is right behind him. He believed that Dadan is pretty strong but something just willed him that he couldn't. It would be like running away. He had to protect Luffy.

He didn't know how long the battle lasted. When the battle ended, it took him a while to realize that they have won, but are in pretty bad shape. Dadan is injured, more so than he, and blood is still rushing through his veins, his adrenaline keeping him running. He instinctively knew that he had to get out of here. Gray Terminal is still burning.

With all his strength, he picked up Dadan and left.

Not having any strength left, he spent a few days or so in the forest near a river and tries to help Dadan get her strength back, trying at least to fix most of her wounds. Not to mention his.

"You know Sabo…" Dadan had said between those few days. Ace wasn't sure what she was trying to make a point at. "It seemed that he left because they threaten to kill you if he didn't come. He had no choice. Some of the guys saw Sabo once and asked him why he left. Sabo told them not to tell me, you or Luffy –if the brat can understand –but bullsh-t." Dadan snorted.

Ace then understood how miserable that Sabo have been and how his sworn brother wanted nothing more but to be with them again. Ace promised himself that he would later try to help Sabo escape his parents as soon as he can.

But he never had the chance to act on that promise.

When he came back, Dadan on his back; her bandits quickly come to tend their wounds (more properly).

From that moment when he was relieved of his burden with Dadan, all he wanted is to sleep. And he did just that.

He dropped where he is and fell asleep just like that.

He woke up the next morning, sore but very much alive. He expected that it would be a good day. He defeated the bad guy, is now home –as homely as Dadan's place can get –and he knows that Sabo, his sworn brother, has always been on his side.

This good morning had disappeared at the announcement of Sabo's death.

First shocked came and his mind went blank. Then he started seeing red and attacked Dogura, who was the one who told them about it, with every hope that the guy was joking.

There was no way Sabo is dead! They fought tigers! Dangerous gators! Those pirates! A lot of things! How can he just go down from a simple cannon?

He then realized that the cannon had to be shot from someone else. Someone that is personally the cause of Sabo's death. And in that quick realization, he wanted the life of the person who spilled it; his best friend's blood.

And now look at him.

Pitiful.

He realized as dawn was coming, his strugglings ended not too long ago. His strength had faded as each hour had left. He couldn't help but make a pitiful and miserable snort. Look at him. He couldn't even get out of these ropes. How could he even get revenge for Sabo from the man that was strong enough to take someone like his best friend –his sworn brother. He couldn't even defeat that bas- Bluejam if Dadan wasn't there, not that he'll ever admit that.

In the background, there was a cry.

Sooner or later, everyone else woke up. They either found some kind of pity for him or decided he was calm enough for them to untie him. They did keep an eye just in case he might as well go…well, berserk, but it looks like that Ace didn't plan to leave from where he is at for quite a while; or move at all.

He had spent most of the morning like that. With empty darkening eyes, making it seemed like he almost had an empty existence.

Dadan decided that he'll snap it out sooner or later. The others couldn't make do of their boss' calmness and wonder what will happen to the boy now.

In that same morning though, the bandits found something rather baffling. A messenger bird landed in front of their home with a letter. It is quite unusually for them to get a letter unless it is something urgent from Garp. But what could be so urgent at this despairing time? They couldn't help but frown a little at the thought of what would happen when Garp had found out that Sabo is dead. The child was like another grandson to the Vice Admiral and they know it. And that the death was caused by a World Noble. How would he react? They know his job. If he acted out on his emotions, he would lose more than just his job.

To their surprise, they found out that the letter actually came from Sabo; sent before he had been killed. And it seemed to be address to only both Ace and Luffy.

Since Luffy is just starting to learn how to read, they saw that he isn't really an option to this. But could Ace handle another reminder of his lost best friend? They weren't looking forward having to force the child to be tied up if he decided once again to go out and kill the World Noble.

Apparently, they weren't so quiet on the matter. For the first time since he had stops struggling against the ropes, he lifted his head. As if his body was on automatic, he grabbed the letter from the shocked bandits' grasp and ran into the forest.

A letter from Sabo, what could it have possibly said? He had hope that it meant that Sabo was alive since he sent the letter but he heard the fact that it is actually sent before his death. But still, what could it hold? He wanted to know what it could have said.

Before Ace knows it, he stopped at the ledge of where he could get a clear scene of the ocean. The ocean that the two boys had long ago wish to escape on and become the greatest pirates that both knew they can be.

But one didn't even have the chance to even start his adventure… It's a cruel trick of life.

Numbingly taking the scene for a little while, remembering how the three of them would just sat here and enjoyed the sun; he ripped opened the letter and hesitantly reads it.

Dear Ace,

Ace raised an eyebrow. He heard that it both goes out to Luffy and him but he guessed that Sabo understand that Luffy couldn't read it or wouldn't even bothered reading at all and just decided to make it out to him.

By the time you read this, I'm probably on the way of becoming a pirate! Yeah, I'm starting out pretty early but, adventure is out there, ya know?

I hoped to meet you guys later out at sea! I will go out there and make a name for myself as I'm pretty sure that you would also.

Also, make sure to take care of Luffy. He's only a kid and I know that my sudden leave would sadden him. But I also know that you could take care of him (despite all the incident that turns out to be your fault… like the crocodile incident… then that Bluejam incident… and then the diaper incident…). If I was a little older, maybe I would have taken him with me out to sea but I couldn't. So I would hope that you would take care of him and when you have gotten out of sea that you would lead him on the pirate's side of life! And maybe then, I could see how grown up he had become when we met one day! I can just imagine him as a very jolly pirate. Probably partying at every waking moment, since the kid looked like he would be that kind of person.

Remember, as much as he is our proud little brother, he's still just starting with his life. Be there for him, he needs you as much as you need him.

Love

Sabo~

Ace read it over and over again. This is definitely something that Sabo would write about. Of course, the guy could never let go of that diaper incident, though it took place four years ago. It is not his fault that Luff-

The suddenly, Ace felt something twist inside his stomach to the point that he could've sworn something is rather eating it instead. A horrified expression has taken place on Ace's face and he swiftly looked back at the jungle behind him.

Luffy! His little brother, Luffy!

With a sense of panic, he ran back on his way to Dadan's, not caring whatever that would scrap his body on the way. He remembered faintly hearing his brother's cry before in this past month but he never paid any heed to it. He hadn't even seen if Luffy was ok after the run in with that bas- captain.

He found it hard to breathe and stumbled on his feet when he grasped another realization while running through the jungle, his sense of needing to be with his little brother growing stronger. If possible, he ran faster.

When's the last time since he had played with him? More importantly, when's the last time had he ever spoken with him? He couldn't remember his interaction with his little brother at all, if he had any. He had then notice, how he can always hear Luffy cry faintly in the background since Sabo's leave. Did no one comfort him? Did no one even try to check on him? Dadan wasn't one to be so touchy and such but… did Luffy just kept on crying this whole time?

The bandits snapped their heads towards the sound of the suddenly opened door, shocked to see Ace panting and sweating with an almost crazed look in his eyes. They wondered why does his expression looks hurt when he seemed perfectly fine just this morning; other than the fact that he was depressed due to Sabo's… departure.

"Where's Luffy?" Ace asked immediately as snapped his head towards the bandits lounging around. He didn't give them time to answer his question when he heard a loud sniffle towards one of the rooms and was already dashing to that same room.

The others didn't know what to think when the kid –with possible super speed –was already on the other side of the room slamming the door open.

Ace recognized the room to be Dadan's, but that isn't what he was so concentrated on.

Luffy looked up in scared surprise at the loud sound of the entrance of the room. The child looked very sleepy but that was probably due to his swollen eyes. There were streams of dried tears on his cheeks and his nose is continuously running. Ace even noticed that Luffy is even skinnier. That shocked him for his brother is already skinny enough. The child looked very much lonely, scared, and broken.

Getting out of his shock, Luffy rubbed his face as if he was trying to rub his sadness away and tried giving Ace a smile; but it looked utterly shattered.

Ace felt his heart crushed by the sight. And before he knows it, he cried.

"I'm sorry!"

Ace instantly stride to his brother, kneeling down to his brother's level and scooping the four year old up in his arms, pressing the child to his chest while sobbing.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm sorry!"

It was the only thing he could say to his brother. For staying with him even if he pushes him away. His last and only little brother.

"Thank you Luffy! Thank for-"

Smiling. For me.

Ace didn't notice that he has started to bawl now, saying practically nonsense. Even if he did make sense, there is no guarantee that the boy would probably understand that much, but his feelings were true and honest.

And by how Luffy now started to press himself deeper into his brother's embrace, it seemed those feelings had gotten through to him. Despite that he had already cried his eyes out not to long ago, he bawled along with his also devastated brother, both leaning onto each other for comfort to know that the other was there.

Feeling that Luffy has succumbed against himself, Ace tightens his hold.

What's wrong with me? Ace thought as he tried burying his head into his little brother's shoulder. I dragged Luffy down the fu-in' hill with me! I just have to screw things up!

"It's one way we learn, ya know?"

Ace sniffled but his tears haven't stop as he remembered a discussion one day that he had with Sabo after they finally got Luffy out of a mess that Ace had made. Well, it was a one-side discussion at most. Ace didn't make any comment over it and was only pretending that he wasn't hearing what Sabo had said. His mind was a bit more focus on his sleeping little brother near him. He heard him, but never did listen to him.

"As much as I do disapprove your… carelessness sometimes, I do say they have their uses."

Ace didn't say anything, but there was a small snort that escaped his lips. Sabo couldn't help but chuckle.

"You're just one of those who have to screw up once just to learn anything."

"You made me sound like I'm more of an animal than a human."

"With what we do every day, you pretty much are."

Ace felt himself smile at the memory, but he kept his embracement with Luffy, just so that both can be reassured that they wouldn't leave each other.

Dadan snorted from the outside as she gave her little family of bandits a full house, winning this round of poker.

"Temporary new rule that you should heed."

She huffed as she took in her winnings, which wasn't much but a few coins and, weird in some way, a slice of ham.

"No one is to touch Luffy for a week… No, make that three."

She took a quick glance at her room. She better hoped those brats didn't spread snot everywhere.

"I have a feeling that he wouldn't let Luffy go for a while."


Omake (a little special since this chapter was supposedly depressing)

From that day on, the bandits did heed Dadan's warning.

They can see how Ace seemed to stick with his brother like glue. Usually, it would be the other way around but Ace would even wait for Luffy outside the bathroom and wouldn't let him out of his site. Whenever they would be near the little tike, Ace would narrow his eyes at them, making them feel like they were approaching a tiger's territory. Whenever they accidently touch Luffy, Ace would kick them away then grab his brother to go to the farthest corner of the room. Poor Luffy has no clue why his brother would do such a thing and complained that he was doing… whatever he was doing.

In other words, Ace is like a dog that refuses to give up or share his bone.

And as the same as Ace, Luffy would stick close to his brother too, just not in that same scary tendency. And he actually has the decency to let his brother go to the bathroom by himself while going off doing something else.

This lasted for four weeks, more than what Dadan had predicted. They trusted their boss enough to think it would be over by three weeks as she had said. And so, they thought it would be fine that they give Luffy a little ruffle in the hair; the kid always did like that.

Then they got thrown through the wall by Ace and decided that it would be best to wait to touch the little toddler until… Well, there have been many bets to how long this protective stride while last.

Dadan also put in her little piece of the bet.

"I bet that none of you would get it right. These kids always did things that anyone would least expected."

Dadan won because Ace's little episode actually stopped the next morning. The others were going for weeks, months, maybe even years.

They were surprise to know that Ace decided it would be best for Luffy to learn to be a lot more independent. Of course, he wouldn't let his little brother go out into the jungle by himself anymore (Me: You mean he went out in the forest by himself before? Ace: Hey, he always comes back in one piece; maybe a few scrapes and bruises but he's perfectly fine!) but he's perfectly content that his little brother is in range of Dadan's house.

It took a few more weeks for Ace to let his brother run wild in the jungle, literally (Luffy was a bit annoyed at the lack of space he had to play with).

Then there was a bear that attacked Luffy.

No one questioned why Ace came back offering them some bear meat. There was no need to.

And the process was then repeated once again.


Me: *wipe forehead* woot. This took a lot of thinking. The subject wasn't easy since I SUCK AT DEPRESSING STORIES! Never been good at it. Really need to stick with either cute or comical writing. And…

*uses Zoro's shirt as a tissue*

Zoro: OI!

Me: *pushes the guy back and mumbled about how she needs to force him to take a shower*

Ok then! Don't say: HOW COULD YOU? Because I wasn't happy about it either. But I couldn't imagine making the story go even further and further as time pass. I want this to be somehow related to the actually series and how it can fit into it as an "what if?" (If that makes any sense…. Actually, try not to think of it)

Actually, just ignore my babbling and I will hope that you'll be entertained by the next chapter. (I would also like to thank the person for reminding me that I still have this story going on .)

By the way, sorry if for any grammar mistakes; I did checked it but one can never be too sure.