Me: Well, I decided to go and make this chapter quickly and such. Since I got a good inspiration because of one person, now I know which direction this is going to go at!


4. Never Trust Red-Heads

"WAAAAAHHHH! SUGOI SHANKS!"

Ace slammed the mug on the counter.

"Of course it is! And I was like, 'oh yeah?' and he was like, 'uh huh' and I was like 'oh yeah?' and he was like 'well duh' and then I gave him a good sock in the eye and he fell in the torturous pit of the Sea King's stomach, and we were like 'Hooray captain!'"

"I don't remember us hooraying you senchou!"

"Oh shut it Yasopp!"

"Wow! Tell me more Shanks!"

Ace pushes his mug towards the lady who owns the Party Bar.

"Makino, hit me again."

The said woman couldn't help but smile softly at the display that the fifteen year old boy is showing.

"You are still underage Ace. I can't give you any more; you're lucky enough that I allowed you any."

Ace grumbled about stupid underage law and look back at his brother.

"How about another story about my amazing adventures, anchor?"

"Yay! More Shanks!"

Ace felt his vein pulsing on the side of his forehead.

Not so long ago, Ace decided to live off by himself and have a house of his own in Fuusha Village. Dadan approved of it since that it was about high time that he would get a place of his own. To pay off the land, he would work near the docks. It would give him a lot of experience with the sails and the ocean.

Of course, it was Luffy's choice whether he decided to go off with his brother or stay with Dadan; but Luffy picked him and he was (extremely) happy having his brother along. He wouldn't admit it… but he gladly shows it by almost squeezing the life out of the little boy.

Ace still have his pride about admitting "embarrassing" things but he wasn't afraid to show it at times. Especially when it comes to his little brother. But he's becoming more mature. He even got Makino to help him on actually becoming polite.

He decided it would be a good idea for his dirty and cocky attitude that he had back then wouldn't do well for both him and his little brother. What is the point of making everyone your enemy? The village seemed nice enough though so there was almost no need to.

The first three months was full of happiness. During the day, both would be out doing their own things. Luffy exploring and Ace working in the docks. Luffy would sometimes visit his older brother during work and it would make the teen very joyful. And when Ace comes home from work, Luffy would be there waiting for him and would glomp his brother with a lot of affection. On days off, he would "school" Luffy. Despite so, they both always manage to have fun.

And then Shanks came.

That sure put a damper in his happy home.

He now had to usually pick up his brother from the Party Bar to get him back home since he knows that the kid is going to stay there until the ungodly hours of the night (or would it be considered early morning?).

And when they do get together alone without that drunken idiot, all Luffy would talk about is Shanks!

Jealous? Him? Noooooo. Why should he? He's practically fu-in' happy for his brother to find someone to look up to like that fu-in' pirate.

He's not stupid, he knows about Red Hair Shanks. The man is one of the Sea lords! Put as "highly dangerous" from the World Government. Many are after his head. So, it is no wonder why Luffy would admire the guy; but still. Luffy doesn't even know all the cra- and he still praises him!

He's not jealous!

He's just wondering what is so special about the always drunk, crazy, idiotic, clumsy captain.

"Can I join your crew Shanks? Huh? Huh? Can I?"

Ace skid off his stool and stomp right out of the bar.

Apparently, he was louder than the party going around and everyone watched, as the teen left, in silence. Including Shanks and Luffy, who looked very much concern as to why his brother suddenly left.

"Ace?" he called out but there was no response as he felt the angry trail of particles that was left from his older brother. "Hey Ace! Wait up!"

Jumping off his stool, Luffy ran after his brother to catch up with the, obviously upset, teen.

Shanks couldn't help but smile as he watched Luffy running out to his brother.

"Ahhh…~ Must be nice having a brother~"

Everyone in the bar then suddenly burst out laughing at what the captain of the Red-Haired Pirates said, even Makino couldn't help but giggled; all seemed to know something.

"What about us Senchou? We could be your brothers!"

"No way! You guys are more like my weird relatives!" Shanks corrected in between laughs, his hand now continuously banging on the table as he tried to control his merriment.


Ace is currently laying in his futon. Well, both his and Luffy's. It was big enough to fit the two of them. It was the same futon that was in their own room back at Dadan's. It's old, but it's familiar and comfy. Not to mention that they don't need to pay for bedding when they move in.

He sighed mournfully, hugging his pillow near him.

Yeah, nice Ace. Way to be mature.

Well, look on the bright side. At least he didn't attack Shanks; that would surely get him strange looks. Especially from his brother.

He grumbled a few insult towards the man.

Yeah, he noticed, this is pretty childish.

Ace was instantly popular in Fuusha after he moved in. Because of Makino's kind lessons, he was seen as a polite and mature teen that adults would wish their own children would become. Boys both admired and became jealous of him. Girls would swoon at his presence. He's practically filled with praises every day.

He means, why should he cares that his brother idolized the Red-haired pirate more than him?...

Maybe… he was so use to it. Luffy has always been stuck to him like glue ever since he was a baby. He liked it when his brother looked up to him.

When it rains, girls would giggle at his wet figure. But Luffy would bring him an umbrella without him needing to ask. When he gets a cut during work, he didn't bothered flinching and get back to his job. The boys would admire his toughness. But Luffy would panic, go out finding a bandaid (despite so that a bandaid wouldn't exactly help at the kind of cuts that Ace would usually get), and try to doctor his brother "back to health". When he goes out getting grocery, the adults would gawk at how responsible he is. But Luffy would offer to carry all the grocery (and trust me, it's a lot).

Luffy doesn't just look up to him like some kind of godly figure; he was willing to care for him. He is what makes everyone else in this town so different. Because that he is his little brother.

Luffy peaked into their room, blinking as he saw his brother's laying figure out on the futon.

"…Ace..?"

Luffy pouted as his brother didn't respond to him.

"Acceeeeeee." He walked over to the bottom edge of the futon and crouch down, poking the sole of his brother's foot. Ace, too deep into thought, unconsciously shift his feet.

"Aaaaaaccccccceeeeeeee~"

Still no response and Luffy pouted once again, getting a bit frustrated at his brother's quiet demeanor. He looked down at Ace's feet, wondering if he should poke it again and sees if he would get a better response… that is, until he had a better idea….

With an evil grin, Luffy, although failing, sneaks out of the room to get his secret weapon… Ace seemed to never notice that his brother was in the room.

Speaking of his brother; Ace couldn't help but grumbled as he bet that Luffy is begging for Shanks to go and take him out to sea. Though he knows that the captain would always refuse with some lame excuse, he was afraid of the day that Shanks would actually say yes.

Sure, his brother would someday be independent from him, but he couldn't help but hoped not too soon. He still needs his brother. Luffy was the sunshine in his life. Had always been.

Luffy soon came back to the room. Not so quietly but his brother was still in his dead-like state so it only encourage him to go faster.

With a giggle, Luffy pulled out the feather from behind him and slowly crouched down towards his big brother's feet… gently sweeping the thin device across the bottom of Ace's bare feet…

Without warning, Ace suddenly finds himself bursting out loud; instinctively pulling his feet away from the source of whoever is tickling him. The teen quickly sat up, pulling his legs to his chest and holding them there was as he looked specifically at the bottom of the futon, only to find his little brother laughing it up. It was obvious that he found his big brother's reactions to be quite humorous.

Ace stared at him in stupor for a few minutes. And then he had his own little evil grin.

Ace immediately trounces on his brother.

"You think you could get away with it? Prepare for my ultimate attack!"

Instantly knowing what his brother is going to do to him, Luffy tried to squirm and crawl out from under his brother but it was deemed impossible since Ace was obviously bigger and heavier than him.

"Stinky Ace! Get off, you're heavy!"

"Are you implying that I'm fat?"

The sentence was practically drowning in humor with a hint of sarcasm, making Luffy giggle in joy.

Playing his part, Ace did an evil cackle, with all the 'mwhahaha!'s included, and was able to pin his brother using his knee against the smaller one's back.

"Now for your ultimate punishment!"

It wasn't hard to lift one of his brother's arms up. Luffy did try to pull up a fight, but our hero was sadly down and unable to do anything. And without mercy, the evil Ace started tickling his side.

Laughter could be heard from outside the house. Ace couldn't help but join in the laughter also.

"N-NOOOOOOOOOOO!" Luffy managed to cry out between laughs. "I G-GIVE! I GIVE!"

Luffy was no longer pinned by Ace's knee but he found it hard to move while his brother was still tickling him unrelentingly. Ace now wasn't just tickling him from just his side; he was tickling him from his neck, to his stomach, to his feet and to his under arms. Luffy had no means of escape from the evil-doer!

Somehow, Luffy manage to get lucky and ran away trying to escape his brother to the other side of the futon. Ace smirked and jumped up to his feet, chasing after his brother.

After ten laps around the futon, Ace managed to grab the hyperactive boy and pick him up. Obviously not giving up, Luffy struggled and tried to climb out of his brother's grip. Ace tried to keep the boy at bay in his arms but his energy is starting to diminish and he finds it hard to get the boy not to climb on his head.

The teen fell back on the futon and the two wrestle out from there. Of course, Ace could easily beat his brother in a wrestling match, but he decided to let Luffy win for once and let the boy bask in glory as he sits on top of a "dead" Ace. You could tell he was dead by the way he stuck his tongue out.

They both were snickering in the end.

Ace easily lifted himself up, his brother shifting off him as he did. And then, he pulled his little bundle of sunshine in his arms.

Both of them were still laughing, but they soak into each other's embrace.

Sooner or later, there was silence between the two.

"Ace..?"

"Hm..?" Ace responded back, already guessing to what his brother wanted to ask.

"…Are you mad at me?"

Ace looked at Luffy in shock. Well, he was rather guessing the question had something to do with his behavior today at the Party Bar. This was the question that he was totally not expecting.

"Of course not Luffy. Why would you think that?" Ace questioned, obviously confuse at the ridiculousness of it.

Luffy pulled away slightly, and then looked up at Ace with big wide eyes, full of emotions. His little brother was always one to wear his emotions on his sleeves. The eyes are practically saying "is it my fault?".

Sighing, Ace slightly made his grip on Luffy tighter.

"I'm not mad at you Luffy, I'm just… mad at someone else…"

This obviously made the little boy confused as he tilted his head.

"B-But you now would make a u-ugly face like this when I'm around."

Luffy would then try to twist his face on his own to imitate the "scary" face that Ace would make. Growling as to make his point about how angry and annoyed Ace was back then.

The freckled teen couldn't help but laughed at his little brother's display. It was absolutely hilarious as well as true at the same time. Except that Ace was pretty sure his face doesn't look like that. Like some kind of dragon or something.

With a soft smile, Ace kissed Luffy on the forehead; his little brother squealing happily in delight at the display of affection.

"Sorry, sorry. I won't make that face again… It does seemed really scary."

Luffy snickered at what he said while Ace just grinned widely. The teen connected their forehead.

"Love ya bro."

Now it was Luffy's turn to grin widely. It was rare for his brother to voice out any means of affections, so he is quite happy.

"Love you too Ace!"

Ace heart swelled at what Luffy had said, and the teen couldn't help but squish the little boy against his chest. And then he realized something.

Sure, Shanks have Luffy's admiration but, there is one thing that Ace had a lot more better than anything else.

His little brother's love.

He wouldn't exchange that with anything else.

"Besides Luffy," The said child look up at him, wondering what else Ace had to say. "I sooooo do not make a face like that!" Ace exclaimed, laughing. "I make a face like-"

Ace then pulled on Luffy's cheek as it stretched… And stretched… and stretched…

There was a pause of silence; Ace's face was careful enough to not show any emotion.

He then let it go and the flab of skin instantly snapped back in place.

By then, Ace had developed a very…very polite smile…

That was drowned in a very murderous aura.

Luffy was smart enough to dash to the other side of the room, looking very, very scared and nervous. Now this is Ace's scariest face ever.

"Luffy…"

The child that held that name gulped loudly as the teen slowly stood up and stride to the boy casually.

"…did your cheek just stretched…?"

"N-No! What a-are you t-talking about A-Ace! Y-You must be s-seeing things!"

It was probably obvious that Luffy lied, for Ace's said "scariest face" was still there.

"How did this came to be…?"

"I-It's not because of a fruit or anything!"

"A Devil's Fruit, huh?"

"How do you know that?" Luffy gaped in utter amazement as he looked up at his brother with wide eyes.

Luffy felt his spine shiver as he saw Ace now grinning; though it was anything but merry.

"And where did you get the fruit from…?"

As if he finally realized that he couldn't trust his mouth anymore, Luffy slapped his hand over his mouth.

Ace did realize that there was no way Luffy would tell him truthfully who is at fault here… but….

"Ok then… where didn't the fruit come from..?"

"It didn't come from Shanks!"

Bingo.

Luffy paled in realization as he saw his brother stalking out of the room.

"W-Wait! Ace, don't kill Shanks!"


Omake: New Crew

After a series of unfortunate events, Shanks somehow made it out alive. Not without a few bruises… and cuts… and broken bones… and a concussion… but he's alive, right?

"Sorry Shanks…"

"Ah, it's alright lad. Somehow…" Some way, in some fashion. "I know a day like that would come soon."

Ace seemed to have spared his "meager" life after he heard that Shanks one day did save Luffy from the local Sea King and that was the reason why Shanks is missing an arm. But still, he had gotten practically immobile and he found that the teen can display Haki.

Yep, never mess with Luffy. That is now the whole town's motto.

But, how should he know that Luffy would randomly eat the Devil Fruit he had brought (that he could've sworn he locked up in a chest)? Then again, the kid would eat anything if those piles of plates next to the boy have anything to say to with it. He really should take that in account.

Well anyway, they are currently at the docks. Shanks is supposed to be sleeping/resting, letting the swelling on his face go down and his rest his broken arm. As well as all the other hurtful parts on his body but he refused to be cooped up in his cabin while he wanted to take a breather towards the sea.

Ace was working on the docks now too, only to completely ignored Shanks at every possible convenience.

"Um…Shanks…"

Shanks wasn't able to move his head but he was able to make a sideway glance towards Luffy.

"I won't be asking to be in your crew anymore…"

Shanks was able to slightly raise his eyebrow.

"You know, I want to make a crew with Ace!"

Before Shanks could even question about what he said, or blink, a blur of tanned skin and black hair dashed pass him, instantly glomping the child right next to him. It didn't take long for Shanks to figure out that it was Ace who is hugging his brother ever so lovingly. With hearts flying around and everything.

Ben and Lucky came into the docks, seeing the frankly publicized display of affection.

They first look at their captain.

"Isn't senchou supposed to be in his cabin?"

Ben sighed. "Never can get that man to stay still."

Then they both turn their eyes towards the two brother; the younger one not sure to why his brother is hugging him but hugs back anyway.

"Must be nice having a sibling, eh?" Lucky comment.

Ben snorted.

"Tch. Brother Complex."


Me: Thank you for reading! I was so happy to be able to type this! This was all oodles of cuteness .

Sheesh, I'm such a geek.

Zoro: Yes you are.

Me: Why must you always comment?