Revenge.

It always lingered at the back of Sora's mind. Revenge. Its bloodthirsty claws scraping against the backs of her arms, trying to drag her down, turn her around, begging for attention. Sometimes, when she was alone, dark flames of vengeance consumed her with a freezing fire that burned from the inside out. It tore her insides and rattled the walls of her mind. Revenge. She had lost everything. A part of her wanted Adrian to feel the same excruciating, crushing agony she had experienced as the man she loved died in her arms.

But every morning when the sun rose, Sora had to brush those feelings aside. What would people say if she even let out a hint of there being some kind of ulterior motive to staying on Arashi Island? It was hard getting used to being stationary at first, but Sora had come to love the island. If people knew that at the back of her mind, the real reason for her really being here was to wait for Adrian to return, that probably wouldn't go well.

She knew it, too. She had met Adrian once while she had snuck onto a ship that Ken was on, disguised as a marine, and he was one of the few people outside this island that knew about her relationship with Ken. But Sora didn't care. She knew that was not what he was after. Adrian didn't need information, he didn't want to destroy Ken's career, he wanted to end Ken's life and annihialate everyone who ever meant anything to him. He wanted to erase all traces of Takamune Kenjiro. And Adrian had seen her on the day he killed Ken, so it was then that she knew that he would be back sooner or later to try and finish the job. And Sora would be ready.

So she waited patiently. She spent some of her time training so that when Adrian did show up, Sora could spill his blood.

That was perhaps what bothered her the most. She wasn't a violent person. She didn't kill unless it was in defense. While defending the Moby Dick as the second division commander, she always just blew her opponents off board. She was normally peaceful and bright, but these feelings about Adrian had plagued her for years. She wanted to kill him. She wanted to hurt him. To make him feel more pain than any person has ever felt in their life. It disgusted her. She thought she would be able to get over her raging vegeance eventually – maybe one day she would wake up, and they would be gone, just like that.

Sora never, ever told anyone about these haunting feelings – not even Marco or Izou, or even Whitebeard himself. But the night of the Toro Nagashi, when she had returned to her room with Ace, it all came pouring out. It was like she was a different person, watching herself talk about this darkness that she harbored inside of her to this man that she had only known for a few months. She tried to tell herself to stop talking, a voice inside screamed at her, but she couldn't. And she sobbed, her whole body shaking as she became completely overwhelmed with rage and hurt all over again as she realized that maybe feelings like revenge never did go away.

That night, Sora expected Ace to frown and be disappointed in her. This was what she was talking about that night they first stayed together when she had been cold. Truly, how could he really want to stay by her side now that he knew about her darkness? How could he think that she was extraordinary? How could he admire her now?

"Are you disillusioned?" she sobbed, her voice shaking. "Are you disappointed that I'm not the strong woman you believed me to be?"

But the younger man only smiled gently, brushing the hair from her face and holding her hands. He was warm, as usual, but Sora felt it more that night, feeling as though she had become fire itself in Ace's arms. "No. What I said then, I mean even more now," he said, and pulled her against him as she cried, wrapping his arms around her tightly. "Revenge is a really difficult thing to deal with but everyone has a little darkness inside them; everyone has flaws and Sora, that's totally normal. It's okay. And you've done really well dealing with it on your own, but you don't need to do it by yourself anymore. I'm right here."

And that was enough. Little by little, Sora could feel those shadows of revenge dissipating, breaking into pieces and floating away with the wind. For the first time in four years, Sora was actually beginning to really feel…okay.

"Good morning," Ace greeted at the bottom of the stairs, and Sora turned, smiling.

"Morning, studly."

Ace closed the distance between them and quickly kissed her cheek, before leaning over to pick up an apron from the bin. He had been doing that ever morning since the Toro Nagashi – kissing her cheek. And everytime he did it, Sora involuntarily smiled, her blood rushing. She was actually starting to like Ace's displays of affection.

"What are you doing?" she asked as he tied on the apron.

"I'm bored," Ace said, shrugging. "Figured I'd help. Is that okay, boss?"

Sora giggled, shaking her head. "You know, that's how you'd address me if I were still on Oyaji's ship."

"HA!" Ace yelled, throwing his head back as though he had heard something particularly funny. "If you came back, you wouldn't address me as 'boss' because I'd make it the law that all women aboard the Moby Dick address me as 'daddy'. So you'd be like, 'is it okay if the second division is the advance party, daddy?' and I'd be like, 'yes, of course, princess, but first, you need to advance onto this party,'" Ace gestured at his crotch and Sora pushed him playfully, the two of them laughing.

"Oh, my God, can you guys just kiss already?" Izou groaned from the bar, his head dropping to the table as though in real physical pain.

"I don't want to kiss Ace," Sora said.

"I hate Sora," Ace added and Sora raised both her eyebrows at this. Ace nodded, furrowing his brows as though this were a serious matter. "Yeah, you heard. I definitely do not want to throw her in a closet and do things to her that she would never even dream of."

"Oh," Sora said, like she was having a revelation. "Oh, that's right, I forgot again that you'd only know how to do 'things I'd never even dream of' because you're just a big pool of diseases. Another reason why I do not want to kiss you. Where has that little mouth of yours even been? I don't know. You probably don't even know." She shrugged, smiling at the dark haired man as she walked past him to pick up an order the kitchen pushed out.

Ace watched her leave to deliver it to a table. Izou smirked. "Whatcha lookin' at?" he asked innocently, and Ace grinned, not at all embarrassed that Izou had caught him staring at Sora.

"She's amazing," he said. "Everyday she becomes more and more amazing to me."

Izou laughed. "You guys are pretty much a couple already," he told Ace. Ace grinned sheepishly, knowing that this was probably true. Within the past week or two, he and Sora had grown a lot closer. Wherever they went together, their hands were always intwined; they sat together at dinner with the crew, and shared food; when Ace thought no one was looking, he'd kiss Sora's cheek or nose and whisper something in her ear, even if that something was of no utter importance that contained no romantic content like, 'Can I have the rest of your noodles? I'm hungry.' Sora would giggle and push him away, but give him her food anyway. They spent most of their time with each other and Ace knew this was something he could get used to.

"We're going on our third date tonight," Ace said proudly, grinning at Izou. Ace didn't play games this time; he wanted to take her to a fancy restaurant and do a "proper" date, so he had just out right asked. "Do you know if she's excited?"

Izou scoffed. "She's always excited. She's excited when it rains, or when there's a ladybug on the window. He smiled at Ace. "But yes, I can assume that she is happy that you are taking her out again. I'm surprised she didn't make you jump through hoops for it this time."

"I'm grateful," Ace said, chuckling.

"Hey, if you're gonna work, then work," Sora said, returning back to the bar, gesturing the tray of food that was being pushed out. She grinned at Ace to let him know that her sharp tone was in light spirits, and he rolled his eyes, sliding it off the counter. She watched him professionally carry it to the right table, placing down all the plates and smiling at the customers.

"You took off for tonight, right?" he asked Sora upon returning.

"Why? What's going on tonight?" Ace frowned at Sora's tone. She sounded really confused. But then, she burst out laughing, shoving Ace playfully. "Yes, I remembered, stupid."

Ace grinned. "Good. We're going someplace nice. I mean, I could go by myself, but it'd be more fun if you were there."

"I'm so flattered I think I might just poo."

"Please don't."

She giggled. "I'm looking forward to tonight."

"Me, too."

"Where are we going?"

"I don't really know yet," Ace answered honestly, laughing. "I haven't been shown around yet."

"You've been here for two and a half months."

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I magically know all the swanky restaurants. I was just going to ask Michio or something for the name of a place."

"Are we going somewhere expensive?"

Ace nodded vigorously. "Yeah, you're letting me take you out on one of those typical dress-up dates, remember? Know anywhere you wanna eat?"

Sora smiled. "There's a steak house near Caleb's surf shop that's supposed good if you're feeling that."

Ace nodded. "Yeah, that sounds good."

"By the way," Sora said, both her eyebrows raising. "You've been spending a lot of money here. Kohaku's board, all my gifts, clothes, food – and you're a monstrous eater – how much money do you have?"

"That's a secret," Ace answered. He honestly didn't even know himself. He had a feeling though, that he was running low on cash. But he wasn't going to tell Sora that. The last thing he wanted was Sora paying for tonight's expensive dinner – that'd be like a bitch slap to his manhood.

She giggled. "Okay, then. If you run out of money, don't hesitate to ask the boss," she said, pointing a thumb at herself.

"Ha, ha," Ace said, ruffling her hair. "Be ready for our date tonight. Because it's going to be awesome."

She grinned. "I said I was looking forward to it, right?" she said. She pointed to another plate that was pushed out. "Now work."

"Aneki, what are you doing tonight?" Kohaku asked, coming into the bar shortly after they had delivered a few orders.

"Nothing," she said, and Ace pushed her playfully.

Kohaku's lips squeezed into a tiny O. "Are you going out with Ace tonight?"

"Yes," Ace answered with a grin. "Why, what's up? She's mine, you know, you can't take her." He slung his arm around Sora's shoulders, and the woman just rolled her eyes.

"Can you do lunch, then? Mom wants to meet Ace," Kohaku asked with a grin.

"Mom? I thought you floated here," Ace asked, raising an eyebrow. His eyes widened. "Wait, did you lie about that, too?"

Sora laughed, shaking her head. "No, I really did float here."

Ace narrowed his eyes. "Wait…so that means…"

"So, you can make lunch, right?" Kohaku asked, laughing at Ace's confusion and Sora's lack of clarification.

"Ask Eiichi," Sora said, gesturing at the man when he came behind the bar.

Eiichi sighed. "Fine, go do whatever you want. I'm always here, right?"

Kohaku smiled and nodded. "Thanks!"

"What time did Mom want us over?" Sora asked, slipping out from under Ace's arm to grab a water pitcher and fill several glasses at the counter.

"Mom?" Ace asked again, but Sora pretended like she didn't hear.

"Soon, I guess," Kohaku shrugged. "She started cooking a while ago."

Sora laughed. The woman knew that Sora couldn't say no to her cooking. She had been planning lunch all along. Sora wiped her hands and undid her apron. "We'll be there in a bit. Is Corinne coming, too?" she asked, smirking at Kohaku, who flushed so much that steam was blowing out of his ears.

"Yes. Shut up!" he said, and darted out of the bar, Sora's laughter carrying out after him.

She crossed her arms. "They're so cute, don't you think?" She turned to Ace but he was just staring at her through little slits. "What's with that face?"

"I'm an idiot."

Sora's eyes widened and her eyebrows raised. She nodded vigorously, and sarcasm dripped fro her words. "Oh, Ace! Have you finally come to terms with it? I'm relieved that you've realized this. Now we can begin therapy."

"Shut up," Ace said, shoving her face away. "Kohaku's not your brother is he?"

"Yeah he is," Sora said, running a hand through her hair, and then tying it nicely over her shoulder.

"But how can he be your brother if he floated here? You're like, fifty years older than him, he wasn't even born yet!" Sora smacked Ace's arm and he laughed. Ace removed his apron and tossed it into the same bin Sora did.

Sora smiled. "Kohaku is my brother by marriage."

Ace nodded slowly. "I see," he said, as though this were still an iffy topic for Sora, but the woman laughed, waving him off.

"But he called me aneki long before Ken and I got married, though, and I always kind of considered him my real brother anyway," she said with a shrug. She paused, and then looked up at Ace with her big blue eyes. "Wanna meet Mom?"

"Ken's mom," said Ace, trying to wrap his mind around this fact.

Sora just smiled and nodded. "My mom."

Ace grinned at her. "Yeah."

The woman held her hand out and Ace gladly took it, his fingers memorizing its place between hers. "Bye, Izou," Sora said, and the man just smirked and waved without another word.

"I thought you didn't have a family," Ace asked.

"I didn't really. Before I left to become a marine, I didn't really feel like I could really call anyone here family because I never really stayed with anyone for a long time besides Ken. It was only after Ken and I got married that I started calling her 'Mom' though, and it kind of stuck," she said with a shrug. "She's technically my mom by marriage anyway."

"Do you consider yourself still married?" The question had been burning at the back of Ace's mind, like a dim flame during a storm. It would flicker and waiver but he never could find the courage to ask until now. Did she still love Ken? Of course she did. She always would. But was she still married? He never saw her wear the red ring she talked about.

Sora shrugged. "Do you consider me married?"

Ace's eyes narrowed again. "Is this a trick? I don't want to offend you so please don't ask questions like that."

She giggled, shaking her head. "No, it's an honest question. I don't even know if I consider myself married."

"Really? This isn't a trick?" he asked, and Sora nodded. Ace was quiet for a while and seemed to think. "I think…that you're still married. That kind of bond doesn't just disappear just because that person isn't here anymore. A part of you will always be married to Ken."

Sora was surprised by his answer. She had expected him to say no. Sora had never really thought of it that way – that a part of her would always stay married to Ken. "So, is there a part of me that isn't married?"

Ace lifted the hand that was joined with her own and grinned sheepishly. "This part. Otherwise I'm an asshole for holding hands with a married woman." Sora laughed and smacked his shoulder with her other hand.

Ace was glad that Sora could talk to him about Ken now. Ken had obviously played a huge role in her life and he was glad that she could share that with Ace quite easily now. She could say Ken's name now, and mentioned things like their marriage without so much as a flinch. He felt that by Sora telling him about Ken, she was able to say her feelings aloud and that was how she was coming to terms with them. It was a nice feeling – having the privilege to help Sora heal.

Sora pushed open the door to a small house, and kicked off her slippers. "Tadaima," she called, and a woman poked her head out from another room. She was in her early fifties, her blonde hair slightly graying. She smiled warmly at Sora.

"Okairinasai," she greeted, wiping her hands and coming to the door. Ace closed it behind him and grinned at the woman, holding his hand out.

"Hi, my name Portgas D. Ace. It's really great to meet you," he introduced, and Sora smiled. She thought it was cute how Ace was so polite.

"Takamune Eri," the woman greeted, taking his hand. "I'm glad that I finally get to meet you as well." She turned to Sora and opened her arms, smiling. Sora released Ace's hand for a moment to wrap around the older woman. "I'm glad you could come by. I really missed you."

"Sorry, he's been keeping me kind of busy these days," Sora said, gesturing at Ace.

"Please, both of you have a seat. Lunch will be ready shortly," she said, and made her way towards the stairs. "Kohaku! Corinne! Ace and Sora are here!"

Sora smirked as Kohaku came bounding down the stairs, a tiny red headed girl in tow. Kohaku widens his eyes as big as he possibly can as though to scream, "DON'T EMBARRASS ME!" and moves towards the two to greet them. "Glad you guys could come," Kohaku said, grinning up at Ace.

"Hi, Corinne!" Sora called extremely loudly, enough to make Corinne jump a little.

"Hi, Sora," she giggled.

"What have you been up to lately?"

Corinne shrugged. "Well, nothing really. School, I guess."

"Oh, I forgot that there is school," Sora laughed. "I was not a good student in primary school." Primary school was a lot more lax on Arashi Island; it was only several days a week for several hours – but those hours were quite intense.

"Sora didn't know how to read until she was ten," Kohaku teased and Ace tried to hold in a snicker as Sora slapped his shoulder playfully.

"I didn't like school," Sora said, shrugging and Ace rolled his eyes.

Eri came out with platters of food. Ace wasn't particularly hungry at this moment but just one sniff of her cooking and he felt his stomach growl. "I made a lot of food," Eri assured him, smiling. "Kohaku told me about your appetite."

"You, ah, didn't need to do that," he said, a little embarrassed.

Eri just smiled. "It's fine. Sora used to have an appetite just as big as you."

Ace raised an eyebrow and turned, smirking. "Really?"

"I was a pirate," Sora said, holding her hands up and shrugging.

"You were really different back then, huh?" Ace asked, pulling out Sora's chair so she could sit. He placed himself next to her, scooting in.

"Kohaku, Corinne, can you come help bring out food?" Eri asked the younger kids, who happily obliged, leaving Sora and Ace alone.

Sora shrugged again. "I guess. I don't know. It's been a long time."

"Come out to sea again," Ace said before he could stop himself. Sora seemed surprised by his invitation. "I'm totally serious. Come out again. I'd really like to be with you out on the sea."

Sora smiled apologetically, averting her eyes. "I can't, Ace."

Ace grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "Think about it, okay?" he said, completely serious. He didn't want to think about leaving her. But he also couldn't stay on the island. What better way than to have her come out with him? He didn't particularly care if she took over again as second division commander. As long as he could stand by her side, then he was happy.

Sora just smiled as though saying that she would think about it. Ace glanced around the room as he waited for Eri, Kohaku, and Corinne, noticing that there was an altar near the fire place. In a simple black frame was a photograph – the same photograph that was in Sora's bar. Ken was dressed in his marines uniform with his arm around Sora, Kohaku in the front of them, three three smiling happily. They had been a happy family, hadn't they?

He noticed the sword in front, placed nicely on a stand. It had a white sheath with gold engravings. The hilt was gold as well, still shining, the handle wrapped with dark red. He vaguely recognized the sword, but even if he hadn't, he known that it had been Ken's.

"Masamune," Sora said, noticing Ace staring. "It was Ken's sword while he had been a marine. It's a meitou he had found while on a mission."

"Oh, I see," Ace said. Even though Sora seemed okay, Ace honestly still felt a little awkward talking about Ken. "It's a nice sword. You were a swordsman, too, right?"

Sora nodded. "Yup."

"Why aren't you anymore?" he asked, remembering Sora's gun scythe during her fight with Marco. Even in the spar between Ace and Sora, she still hadn't used a sword. Marco told him that Sora used to be a swordsman while she was on the Moby Dick, too.

Sora shrugged. "I kinda gave everything up after Ken died." She laughed, glancing over at Ace, who was looking painfully uncomfortable. "You're silly, you know. I said it's okay to ask about Ken and stuff, don't be so awkward about it."

"But it kind of is awkward," Ace admitted. He shook his head and waved her off. "I'm really happy that you told me about him and everything but I can't help but feel like I'm, I don't know, intruding, and I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

"You're the one that looks uncomfortable," Sora laughed. She smiled at Ace. "Don't worry. I trust you. If there's something you want to know about anything, then just ask."

"Okaaaaay," Ace said, still sounding unsure, and Sora giggled.

Eri and the kids came back in with more platters of food, setting it down on the table. There was spaghetti, and a sandwich platter, a giant bowl of tossed salad, misoyaki butterfish, cream and mushroom pork chops, a boiling shabu-shabu pot, turkey drum sticks, and the rice pot itself all splayed out on the table. "This is lunch?" Ace asked, bewildered. How long had Eri been cooking for?

Eri laughed at Ace's expression, sitting down across of them. "Enjoy."

Sora, Kohaku, and Corinne clapped their hands together, grinning. "Itadakimasu!"

Ace smiled at the three of them, also digging into the food. It was delicious. Eri was such a fantastic cook; he understood why Sora couldn't resist.

"So, Ace, where are you from?" Eri asked, nibbling at her own serving of butterfish.

"East Blue. I'm from Dawn Island," Ace said proudly, grinning at Eri, who smiled in response. "It's a really small place but that's where I grew up, so it's really important to me."

"You've come a long way, then," the older woman said, her eyes crinkling as she smiled.

Ace nodded. "Yup. It's nice to be on an adventure, though. I get to meet great girls like Sora," he said nudging the woman next to him, who didn't even seem like she was listening as she pulled more food onto her plate. She slapped Kohaku's hand away as he tried to take some of her shabu-shabu beef.

"Cook your own," she told the younger boy with a mouth full of food, tossing raw beef into the broth to cook it for him. Kohaku just grinned, taking a monstrous bite out of the turkey leg, knowing that his sister was going to make it for him anyway.

Ace chuckled. "Kinda weird, but she's still great. Are you born and raised on Arashi Island?"

Eri nodded. "It's been my home, always. My parents grew up here, too. It's home to me and to everyone else here. We're all really grateful for Sora protecting us."

The young man nodded. Everyone appreciated Sora here. How could he be so selfish as to have asked her to come out to sea with him? He suddenly felt sick. He wondered if Sora was disgusted with him right now. He glanced over at her shoveling her food in her mouth left and right and laughed a little. He dismissed that thought. They were at that point in their friendship where he knew that if she thought something he said was inappropriate, she would be able to tell him now.

"Kaachan, this misoyaki is the best," Sora said, holding up her chopsticks to show Eri, who just laughed, thanking her. Ace smiled. Sora really did act like Eri was her own mother. She must have been really close to Eri growing up.

"Sora, have you ever thought about becoming a pirate again?" Eri asked, surprising everyone at the table.

"Hmm?" she responded, looking up from her food.

"Just a question," Eri said with a shrug.

Sora shrugged. "I dunno. Should I be a pirate again?"

Eri mimicked Sora's motion. "If it makes you happy."

"What about you guys? I can't just leave you defenseless," Sora said, shoving salad into her mouth.

Eri just sighed as though this were the same response Sora gave often. Ace wondered how many times people asked if she wanted to be a pirate and encouraged her to go out to see. Ace understood why she wanted to stay. At the back of her mind, she wanted to avenge Ken. But Ace also knew that revenge could be a painful dogma. If she ever fulfilled her revenge, he wondered what she would do next. From what she had divulged, Ace couldn't shake the feeling that Sora felt the reason she lived now was not to protect Arashi Island, but to avenge Ken. If she did that, what would she live for? Would she even continue to live? Ace didn't want to think about it.

"Anyway, Ace, how is being the second division commander?" Eri asked, returning the conversation back to her newest guest.

"Great," Ace answered with a grin. "I just run campaigns and stuff, take care of my crew members. I always ask Marco to be the advance party, but he never lets me."

Sora choked laughter. "Marco always let me the advance party."

Ace rolled his eyes. "Of course he did," he sighed. "And Marco always says I'm pretty loud, so it's like, what's the point of me being the advance if they're just gonna notice me anyway?" he grinned and Eri laughed.

"I was Marco's favorite. He was always like, Sora, you are the most amazing, most awesomest division commander that ever existed, and you know that if I weren't first division commander, you would totally take my spot and rule the seas," Sora said, trying to imitate Marco's voice jokingly and, receiving a sarcastic looking face from Ace. She giggled, returning to her food.

"My brother's going to be a pirate, too," Ace said to Eri, who looked interested, nodding her head for him to continue. Sora thought it was so cute that Ace bragged about his younger brother, even when he hadn't even done a thing yet. "Yeah, he's gonna set sail in a little while when he turns seventeen, and I really just know that Luffy's gonna make it to the top, you know? But of course, as the older sibling, I can't exactly tell him that, right? Gotta give my little bro something to shoot for."

"Mm, I totally concur. You suck Kohaku. You'll neeeeeever be as strong as Aneki -sama, muuuuuwahahahaha!" Sora said, wiggling her fingers as she laughed diabolically, food flying out of her mouth. Kohaku laughed, pushing her playfully.

"Shut up, I'm gonna be a great pirate!" he said with a grin. "When I'm old enough to set out, I'll be sure to meet your brother there at the top, too, Aniki!"

Ace grinned. "I hope so. I'll be waiting there with Oyaji."

Eri just laughed like she didn't care that her youngest son was determined to become a pirate. "Why not be a marine?" Sora asked. "Ken was a marine."

"But you were a pirate."

"I wanted to be a marine, though."

"I feel like I was born to be a pirate," Kohaku stated, smiling. "It's in my blood!"

"You have the blood of a marine, idiot," Sora teased, shoving his face aside gently. "But it doesn't matter. Do what you want. We'll be here behind you the whole way. You know that."

Kohaku grinned at his sister. "Yeah. I know."

"I'm glad you know. That's why I'm gonna start training you next year," Sora said, turning to Kohaku, whose entire body became filled with pure light.

"Really? Really, Aneki?" he squealed happily, bouncing up and down in his chair.

"Yeah, well, but you have to go to secondary schooling," Sora said, holding her finger up. Kohaku deflated like a balloon being released.

"Not more school!"

"School is good for kids. I went to secondary school," the woman said, shrugging. She studied hard during secondary school and managed to finish early, giving her time to set sail when she was sixteen. "No secondary school, no training from the greatest division commander that ever lived." Sora lifted her shoulders nonchalantly as Kohaku grumbled. Ace smiled at Sora's way of motivating her younger brother.

"Fine. I'll go to secondary school," he said as though his mother didn't have the final say in that. "But on off days, you have to train me! I want to be awesome like you and Ken, and Ace!"

Ace was actually flattered that he was included in that list. He felt his chest swell with pride, glad that Kohaku thought of Ace as someone he looked up to – someone strong. "Fine," Sora said, smiling. She had won. "I'll train you for six years."

"Six years?" Kohaku cried, slumping his shoulders. He turned to Eri. "Mom, tell Sora that that's too long! Six years is such a long time, Aneki!"

"You'll be seventeen," Sora said, chewing on more butterfish. "Ace's brother is leaving when he's seventeen."

"Yeah, but that's next year!"

"Yeah, so?"

"But you left when you were sixteen!"

"'Cause I'm awesome."

"Shut up, Aneki," Kohaku laughed, kicking his sister under the table. She giggled too, pushing his face away and grabbing more food for her plate. "Six years is too long."

"Yeah, Sora will be like, eighty by then. She won't even be able to move," Ace said, joining in and receiving a playful nudge from Sora.

"Five years," Kohaku said and Sora choked on more laughter.

"You can't bargain with me, hot shot! I ain't gonna make deals with kids! Plus, Kaachan is the one that makes the rules," Sora said, nodding to Eri, who just laughed.

"Whatever you want to do, Kohaku. Whenever Sora feels like you're ready is when you're good to leave," Eri said.

"Yup, six years, then," Sora piped back in, grinning at Kohaku. She tapped his foot with her own. "Stop looking so sad. You'll be out there soon, kid, no need to rush it. Become strong. The Grand Line is a dangerous place, you know. The last thing that you want is to go out there and be killed without even seeing anything amazing, you know? That's what being a pirate is about! Being strong and having adventures."

"That's right, you sailed by yourself and became the second division commander like nothing," Kohaku sighed, not at all sounding sarcastic. He really did sound a little depressed. In that moment, Ace realized that Sora had never told Kohaku about her first year out to sea. She had been thrashed by other crews and by Sea Kings and spent a long time aboard fighting against Whitebeard on his ship before she even became close to becoming the second division commander. He smiled. It might not be the most effective, but this was Sora's way of protecting Kohaku. Kohaku knew that Sora was strong. Maybe she felt like if she told him the reality of her first voyage, he would give up, or cower away, knowing that the great female pirate he looked up to really had it rough out on the ocean. She wanted him to experience it on his own. If he was crushed, then she knew that he would pick himself back up again because he believed his Aneki was able to do so much when she was so young.

"You really admire your little brother, too, don't you?" Eri said, bringing Ace's attention back.

Ace grinned. "Yeah. Luffy's great."

"Is he strong, too?" Kohaku asked, looking up at Ace.

Ace nodded, still smiling. "Super strong! I mean, he could never beat me, but that's fine. I don't mind covering for him until he can surpass me."

Sora smiled at that line, but didn't say anything, continuing to eat.

"Was it hard to say goodbye?" Corinne asked, speaking for the first time that lunch. She ate quite quietly, Ace seeming a bit surprised that she had spoken as well.

He smiled gently and shrugged. "Not really. It wasn't really a goodbye, I guess. I know that we're gonna meet again later on when he becomes a great pirate, so there wasn't so much a need for farewells."

Corinned smiled sweetly. "That sounds nice. I hope your brother does well."

Ace nodded, confident. "I know he will."

"Ready to clean up?" Sora asked Kohaku and Corinne. Ace looked up to see that the food was already gone. He had been so distracted with the vibe of the room that he had barely eaten. He'd tried everything – and everything had been delicious – but oddly enough, he was full.

"We'll clean up, Kaachan," Sora assured Eri. "Thank you for the meal!"

Corinne and Kohaku nodded. "Thanks!" they both said, smiling.

"You're very welcome," Eri replied, watching the three of them leave. Eri sighed happily. "It's been so long since I've seen Sora so talkative."

Ace smiled at that, knowing that that was a compliment. He was glad that the woman Sora considered a mother was glad that Ace could make her happy. "Ken really made her happy, and I really admire that he was able to keep her spirits up. I think I can make Sora happy in my own way, too," Ace said gently, and Eri smiled.

"I think so, too. She does seem a lot more...relaxed these days. Ken always kept her on her toes, but I feel like you're someone that she truly relies on. Someone that keeps her grounded. It's different, but also the same," she said, and laughed, waving him off. "Sorry, I'm not making any sense."

"No," Ace assured her, smiling politely. "Thanks. I really care about Sora."

"I can tell. I'm glad that she has met a man who can finally make her smile again. Ken would have wanted that," she replied, and Ace didn't know what to say. It was a little mind blowing that Eri was okay with Sora being with another man. He was glad that Eri didn't see him as Ken's replacement. That was the last thing he wanted to be.

Ace knew that Ken was amazing. From what Sora said, and from all that he used to read in the newspaper, he knew that Takamune Kenjiro was one of a kind. And Sora loved him. Fuurin no Sora, the strongest woman Ace had ever met had fallen in love with a man. Ace knew that Ken was special, that he had to be something completely out of this world for Sora, of all people, to really, truly love. And completely – completely – Ace respected that.

Ace wanted Sora to be able to fall in love with him, too, someday. But in her own way. And until then, he would wait patiently until she truly believed that he was everything she could ever ask for.

"I know I've never met Ken," Ace said slowly, trying to find his words. "But I really…respect him. He was a strong person, and I really believe that it's because of him, Sora is who she is today."

Eri smiled at Ace's kind words about her son. She now understood why some people said that Ace reminded them of Ken. They had the same warm heart. "I think the same thing. But there is always room for growth, and I also believe that Sora can grow into a stronger individual with you standing by her side."

Ace smiled, his freckles rising with his cheeks. "I promised her I'd never leave her and I'm planning on keeping true to that oath. I'm going to stay with her, even if we're thousands of miles apart."

"I'm glad," Eri said, and turned her head with the sound of playful shrieks from the kitchen. Sora was probably spraying the kids with the kitchen hose, as she was doing her diabolical laughter, and Ace chuckled. She was so weird. Eri turned back to Ace, her smile fading a little. "I know this might be a lot to ask of you, but do you mind if I ask you a favor?" she said quietly.

Ace blinked several times. "Yeah, sure. Anything."

Eri wrung her fingers for a bit. "There might be a time where you will have to protect Sora, even if she doesn't want you to. I'm going to ask that you stand by what is right for her and just this once, go against her wishes and save her."

Ace looked confused. "Save her from what?"

Eri smiled gently. "Herself."

Ace opened his mouth to ask more, but Sora and the kids appeared in the dining room again, Sora wiping her hands on her shorts. "Ready to head back, ugly?" Sora asked Ace, who frowned.

"I liked 'studly' better." He decided to put Eri's words at the back of his mind. He didn't quite understand but he knew that he couldn't ask with Sora right here.

Sora and Eri hugged, Sora pulling away with a smile. "Thanks for lunch, Kaachan."

"Anytime, Sora," Eri answered. "Feel free to stop by whenever you're hungry. You too, Ace."

Ace grinned, hugging Eri as well. "Will do. Thanks for lunch, Eri."

"You're very welcome," she said with a smile, opening the door for them as they headed back to the bar.

A/N: Reviews are appreciated. Thanks for reading!