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Chapter 7 – Father and goodbye to Ace

The boys grinned and clasped hands again and put mine over theirs.

"It's a promise!" we said all at once.

When Garp left things slowly returned to normal, well as normal as it can be. With Luffy and Ace there is never a dull moment. And with a scar tattoo I now had on my palm it reminded me what I gained. I felt happy and content. Four years have almost passed since I'm here. Time flies so fast. I'm now 16 soon to be 17 as is Ace and his birthday is almost here.

During my time here I noticed a lot of changes especially with my body. I was no longer scrawny, my skin got a healthy tan and there were no shadows in my eyes. They were now instead of grayish blue completely blue. The biggest change was of course that I gained muscles and the thing I was most proud of, height. I was now more then half a head smaller then Luffy and a whole head smaller then Ace. Sure I was still smaller then them but the point is I grew taller. My old clothes were completely too small for me now. And with Garp sending us the money and occasional visit we weren't having any money problems.

My hair was now reached hips and I grew a habit of braiding it into small braids all over my head. I even put in braids small beads which I filled with ki to help me when my internal ki is low. I was never chubby but now I am lean and have a habit of wearing baggy pants and sleeveless tops with sandals for footwear. I also got my ears pierced for my 16th birthday. On my left hand I always wear a bracelet in which are hidden needles coated with paralyzing agent. Since I mastered my gift around my 15th birthday Rassa instructed me on creating a bag of necessities as she called it. Inside I had everything I ever needed she said. I fixed it so I can carry it wrapped around my waist as belt bag. But Rassa still didn't stop teaching me. She focused her attention on plants, which are poisons, antidotes and which have healing attributes.

During the years after Garp's and Bill's training I often spared with both boys. They were both stronger then me in brute strength but were no where near enough in speed and with my technique of numbing and paralyzing their limbs I got quite a head start in victories. Ace pointed out I wasn't fair and will not have any battle experience if I kept knocking them out and I lessened the use of pressure points for sheer combat.

When I turned 16, my mom finally came to me as she promised. She did tell me why she left this world. First reason she said it was, her gift. She was hunted by the marines and she did not wish to raise her child while running away and fighting. The second was my father.

I heard from Luffy how he got his straw hat and how he ate Gomu Gomu no Mi. How Shanks lost his arm because of him. So I knew all about him. And when mom told me that I'm his daughter I wouldn't believe it.

"If I did stay, Shana, we would have been a burden and a big risk for him on a ship. I knew him and he would have done anything to protect us but sacrificing his dream? I don't think so. I loved him too much to force him into making the right choice for us."

"So you made the choice for him, mum?" I asked still dazed about the fact I had a father and to think that he is Luffy's big hero.

"I did leave him a letter. I knew I was carrying a girl so I told him that when you return or then I thought when we return that he should seek you out. We were lucky to land in a world with a storyteller that wrote a story about things that are going to happen here. Good luck on your journey, munchkin," she said last and disappeared. We did talk for a long time and I knew I couldn't blame her. But I did make an addition to my things to do list. Find my father and meet him.

I wanted to meet with mom more but Rassa explained that she was already breaking some of the unwritten rules to even allow me one visit. She did say something about knowing too much, but wouldn't explain more.

"When the time's right you'll know not a second sooner."

And that was it for that conversation. Soon time passed and it was nearing the point when Ace said, he would leave.

It was late December and as Ace promised he is leaving on his birthday. A part of me was excited for him but mostly I wanted him to stay. He was the cool brother, always looking out for me and Luffy. He always knew what to say when I'm feeling down and when I told them about my gift I was afraid of his reaction. With Luffy I knew he would scream cool and want me to show him, but Ace? So when I finally told them two years ago I think he noticed my fidgeting and simply said: "You are you, no ability will change that."

They accepted it like it was just another quirk of mine. From the day we made our promise and bond, the evenings after Luffy went to sleep belonged to Ace and I. We talked about lot of things including where I came from and where he did, who our parents were. I told them both who my father is. I can still remember the sparkling of Luffy's eyes. I swear I can still see spots in my eyes from it.

When I told them about my gift, later when we were alone I told him why I was so afraid to tell them sooner. I was afraid to be abandoned, to be feared and how my so called friends reacted when I told them. He said that they were idiots and that he and Luffy would never do something like that. They knew the importance of keeping it a secret and promised to do so.

I was in a dilemma; Ace was leaving in few days. I already fixed some of his clothes that could be saved. With all that fighting they've done it's a miracle that something was salvageable. I was looking for a goodbye gift for him. I wanted to ask some of our friends in town but for some reason they all seem to avoid me since the last festival.

I remembered it was when Makino-san made me wear a dress and Luffy and Ace seemed to be on edge the whole time. Oh, we had fun! I danced with almost everyone, there was never a chance before and I wanted to try it. But since then they kept avoid me and Makino-san just smirks.

Anyway I was standing in front of a clothing shop where I noticed a hat. I entered and asked how much it is and bought it. I hope Ace will like it; it needs only a few corrections. I then turned and left for home, I had a day off so I planned on fixing it up while my brothers as I have now a habit of calling them were outside.

I finished decorating it in few hours. The orange cowboy hat has now two smileys on it, one frowning and the other smiling. It also has red beads where the hat and rim connect. As a neck strap for the hat, there are orange strings that connect to a medallion that has a bull's skull on it and tassels hanging down from it. I infused it with my ki, which in turn made the hat extra durable and a homing call as I call it. I was and to this day am a worrywart especially with those two being reckless as they come. I know I can always tell where they are by the bond we made, I could even find them without the bond but better safe then sorry I say. Besides the beads will always give him some energy if he wan into a tough situation.

Since I had some spare beads I also made him a necklace, but I doubted that he'll wear it. Oh well, I thought, he could always use them as spare beads for his hat and wrapped both the necklace and hat. The day before he leaves, I planed a feast for us three with his favorite foods and drinks.

And as expected it was a feast. We joked, laughed and remembered the good times we had together. Later on we all fell asleep in the kitchen. The next morning while Ace packed his things together, I prepared him the leftovers we had from last night. He already prepared his food and water last day.

It was time for him to go and we were standing in the harbor when Ace asked me: "Come with me, Shana. Let's travel together and fulfill our dreams."

"Oi, Ace, she's my nakama, find your own!" said Luffy but I didn't responded to him.

A part of me was thrilled that he asked, but I knew I wasn't ready. Bill's training regime for me wasn't finished and I couldn't leave Luffy alone.

"I can't Ace. I'm not ready, not yet. I'm sorry," I replied and looked away. I was feeling guilty that I had to refuse him. After all he was my brother and my best friend.

"Hey, no tears, you promised. Besides I don't blame you for not coming with me. When you sail, come find me. If anyone can find me is you," he said and hugged me. I hugged him back and then gave him my gift.

"I hope you'll like it. And if you find my father before me, tell him of me. Tell him that I'll look for him."

Ace grinned and nodded. Then opened the parcel and when he saw the hat he immediately put it on. Luffy laughed and said: "Now you look like a pirate!"

"Take care you two. See you in Grand line!" said Ace as he jumped into his small boat.

"And thanks for the hat!"

I grinned through tears and shouted back as the boat was already moving away: "You better be careful! And don't forget to have fun!"

He laughed and waved back. It was some time later and only me and Luffy were left standing on the pier. Luffy was grinning and would have fooled anyone but his sad look in his eyes told me everything. Me? I was crying so I just hugged Luffy and told him more for my sake then his: "We'll see him again. We just have work hard and be ready when the time comes."

He hugged me back and said: "Of course. Our crew will be the best!"

"Oi, midget, don't count me as your nakama!"

"Sure you are," he responded with a cheeky grin and ran towards home.

"OI, don't run away!" I shouted and ran after him. Even though our brother left we will see him again.

Chapter 7 is done… Thanks for reviews and hope you'll like this chapter. :)