Konnichiwa!

As always, thank you, thank you for the hits and the likes and the luv, you guys rock!

Moving on, moving on!

Relevant Tarot Cards for this chapter:

The five of Swords: Arrogance and pride often go hand-in-hand with a difficult triumph such as this, and you must be careful not to think you are invincible. Swift words and actions of the past will come and bite you in the ass if you're not careful about how you handle them in your present.

Death: Stands for transformation, sometimes for an actual death too. It signals to the querent, that they will be going through a time of sorrow and mourning, but that this period won't last forever. It will open their eyes to new possibilities, that the death of something isn't necessary the end of everything.

16. The Five of Swords - Death (Not yet edited)

A flight of doves departed from the concrete road before the funeral procession of cars that drove through Montblanc Cemetery, the chosen resting place of the great Edward Newgate.

To respect the privacy of the family and their invitees, the many representatives of the televised and written press took stations on the grass on the other side of the road, by the other half from the cemetery, sufficiently away from the secluded lot where the funeral would take place.

Doning a sober black suit ensemble and matching sunglasses to hide his grief-stricken face, Ace emerged from the black BMW X6 that followed the hearse with Law, Marco, Rayleigh and Jinbe close in tow, all five of them walking solemnly and quietly over the brick path behind the crew of six undertakers that carried the large, grey coffin towards the open grave and its mechanical lowering device.

The long line of cars that had followed the hearse and Ace's car had halted on the side of the road, close by the press and photographers who were now avidly taking pictures of the many celebrity attendees who were emerging from their vehicles.

Whitey, Bonney, Vivi and Shaki, Rayleigh's wife, got out of one car, holding each other in sets of two by their arms as they followed the men. Zoro and Robin were next with her grandfather not far behind them. Nami and Sanji were there too, as well as Coby Morgan, and the founders of the Charity that was closest to Newgate's heart, Franky and Usopp. Both of them chaperoned a few of the children Newgate had helped over the years; bringing along 20 kids from the Thousand Sunny Community. They stepped out from a small bus, from little ones to teenaged ones, all of them holding a white rose as a symbol of their grief.

Bartholomew Kuma, Kuzan Aokiji and many other associates of Newgate and other old friends had taken the time to be present as well.

A woman with long, black hair, black designer stilettos, a knee-length, black lace dress and a matching, shortly veiled headdress got the most attention from the paparazzi that were present. Her elegant beauty, though partly hidden by the stylish veil, being the object of their attention as she waited for her husband to lock up their car. The tall and handsome black-haired man with striking amber eyes placed his right hand in her left, the movement making the pink diamond wedding ring on her ring finger sparkle in the pale morning light.

There were over 60 people present to pay Edward Newgate their last respects, turning the ceremony into a great homage to the gift the man had had in bringing people of different beliefs and backgrounds together. It was a celebration of his life and of the accomplishments he'd been the most proud of, as per his wishes.

Ace took the stand first, talking about what Newgate had taught him and about what he was most grateful for, touching the hearts of everyone that had chosen to be there.

Rayleigh talked about how he met Newgate through their mutual friend Roger and about how he would do his best to carry on both their wills, calling the attendees to never forget what Newgate had contributed to the world and Sabaody in particular.

Franky spoke about the true nature of Newgate and his infinite love for children. He shared an anecdote with the crowd that made many shed an extra tear for the departed. When he invited the children, who were mostly sobbing by now, to sing one of the songs Newgate had always loved, there wasn't a pair of eyes left dry.

The celebrant recited a few verses of comfort and faith to all of them after that, asking for everyone to come bid their farewells to Newgate before the coffin was to be lowered into the ground.

As the first notes of the mournful music began to play, Ace moved to stand and then froze, his feet feeling heavy as the thought of the long road that awaited him flowed into his mind; a road without his beloved father, friend and mentor. He'd never felt more lost and scared than in that moment as everything crashed down on him, realizing that he was nowhere near ready to say goodbye.

Two pairs of warm hands wrapped themselves around an arm each and as he looked to his right, he found Robin standing there with a small, watery, but encouraging smile. Looking to his left he found his sister, who silently looked ahead, a lonely tear rolling down her face.

"It's time, Ace."

He sniffled and looked at them thankfully, endlessly grateful that they'd picked up on the fact that he was in need of support in that moment and that their presence was a great source of solace during Luffy's absence. He let them lead him towards the large picture of Newgate that rested on top of the headstone surrounded by flowers.

And when the tears came anew this time, he didn't hold back, sobbing quietly for the loss of the man he'd forever call his father.

Robin placed an arm around his waist and rested her head against his shoulder as she too looked at the picture, shedding her own tears of sorrow while Hancock sobbed quietly into a handkerchief. They then turned around a few moments later to face the coffin and as Ace bent over and kissed the wooden surface right where Newgate's face lay underneath, Hancock and Robin solemnly pressed the tips of the three longest fingers of their right hands against their lips before laying their hand on the coffin, bidding their goodbye before walking around the coffin and back to their places, giving room to the rest of the invitees.

"Maybe I can offer you some words of hope now," Robin whispered to him as she sat down on her seat, both her hands still lying in his, keeping him from moving to his own seat while giving him a caring smile. "He's awake, Ace. Luffy is awake."

A warm breeze passed by them then and it was like it took some of the weight from his shoulders with it because for the first time that day, a smile formed on Ace's trembling lips. He'd been in a desperate need for some good news, a sign that everything was going to be alright,that he wasn't alone. He nodded in heartfelt relief at her and closed his eyes, letting twin tears roll down his face. He was unable to say anything and only took Robin in his arms again, crying quietly in her embrace as they swayed gently from side to side.

After the children of the Thousand Sunny Foundation all placed their rose on top of the coffin a quarter of an hour later, there were a few moments of silence from the crowd while the music continued to play on.

The Celebrant then asked Ace to commit his father back to the earth and as he pulled the lever and watched the coffin sink into the hole in the ground, Ace could've sworn to feel a warm hand rest on the top of his head in a fatherly manner, consoling him, eliciting another small smile from him.

"Thank you for everything, dad. For my life, for the love you gave and all that you thought me," he whispered as the coffin stopped moving, having reached its final destination. He sniffled and looked up into the grey skies, silent tears still rolling down his face. "And thank you for watching over him. Goodbye, dad."

A warm, fall wind blew overhead then, adding a last note to the life of the man that had been Edward Newgate.

"I don't remember much honestly, but even with my brain all scrambled, it's pretty obvious who did it."

Shanks scowled and shook his head angrily. "Trust me, it was obvious to all of us. Your lawyer took the proper measures about that."

Luffy made an approving sound and sighed tiredly, scooting down deeper into the pillows as he felt his head begin to spin a little. "Whoa..."

Shanks sprung onto his feet worriedly, at his side in a second. "Are you okay? Kaya did say that residual medication from when you were put into coma could have you feeling nauseous."

"I'm okay," Luffy whispered back, raising a reassuring hand. "I'm just tired. You did bombard me with a lot of news earlier; it's just taking my brain a bit longer to process it all, I think."

Shanks smirked amusedly. "Well, that's nothing new."

"Jerk!" Luffy exclaimed, laughing. "Or it could just be my stomach that has reawakened with a vengeance."

"I have no problem believing either," the other male said, still grinning when Luffy stuck out his tongue to him. "No, but in all seriousness; let me know in time when you need to throw up."

Luffy nodded tiredly, smiling a little as he rubbed his stomach. "Keep that thing close," he whispered softly, glancing at the bedside table to his right to the emesis basin that was readily placed there.

"Will do," Shanks replied, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It's almost time for the funeral," he then informed him, moving to stand again.

"Do you need to get going?" Luffy asked him from his lying position against his pillow.

"No, no," he reassured him, walking over tot the glass coffee table to retrieve the remote control for the tv.

"It's televised?" Luffy questioned, attempting to sit up again but refraining from doing so when he felt a sharp pain in his stomach.

"Yeah," Shanks replied, zapping through the channels in search of the broadcast. "You'll get to see Ace again."

A small, gurgling sound erupted from Luffy's throat, along with the violently contracting sensation of his stomach that preceded regurgitation. "Shanks..." he managed as he gasped for air in the hopes of staving off an impending distasteful scene.

But Shanks was too far away to hear his murmured call for help, still busy searching for the ceremony on tv. "I can't seem to find it. Where- Ah, here it is!"

"I'm gonna throw up!" Luffy whimpered, panting. "Shanks? Hello?"

Shanks dropped the remote on the couch and rushed by Luffy's side. "Shit, sorry!" he murmured as he grabbed the empty steel kidney dish Kaya had left on the bedside table earlier. He handed it over to Luffy with a worried frown.

"This sucks..." Luffy whimpered softly. "Please look away."

Shanks averted his eyes and waited for him to be done vomiting, a small smile forming on his lips. "It's just your body purging itself of what it doesn't need anymore to sustain itself. Plus, I've seen you a lot sicker than this, remember Captain?"

Luffy couldn't answer, as his mouth was otherwise occupied, but he did reach out a searching hand to him, needing comfort as his stomach continued to painfully contract upon itself.

Shanks grabbed his hand and sat next to him on the bed, soothingly caressing his head while he cried from the pain and the ongoing nausea. He offered him the cup of water again once the vomiting abated and he'd placed the basin away, observing the moistness of his skin and the pale hue of it worriedly. "I should go get Kaya."

Luffy shook his head with a sniffle and laid his head against Shanks' shoulder. "Just stay with me," he whispered, lifting his eyes to the tv where he saw all of his friends gather in sorrow at the funeral.

Shanks placed his legs on the bed next to him and pulled him closer gently, sitting himself in a more comfortable position for both him and Luffy. He pressed a kiss on his forehead, resting his cheek against it a moment later.

"This is not something I want to watch by myself," Luffy murmured, before clearing his throat with a wince. "I just wish I could be there for Ace."

Shanks nodded sadly. "So many have turned up to show their support."

"Yeah," Luffy whispered back, watching Ace's sister walk up the path towards the open grave with her husband, Mihawk Dracule. "Have you ever met her? Hancock, I mean?"

"She's even more beautiful when you meet her face to face," Shanks replied with a smile. "And even though there are many misconceptions created by the media about her, she is a genuinely caring person."

Luffy smirked sluggishly. "Hmm..."

"She and Ace kind of remind me of you and Robin, except for the fact that Hancock is much more of a diva than your sister will ever be."

"Really..." Luffy grinned amusedly.

The older man made a confirming sound. "She's been here on Wednesday, you know. She was immediately smitten with her brother's 'cute boyfriend'."

"How do you know she was here?"

"Because I was here too," Shanks revealed. "You haven't been on your own for a moment, there was always someone here, day and night."

"To protect me?" Luffy asked, glancing up at him and seeing him move his head affirmatively. "But hasn't Kid been arrested?"

Shanks shifted his position on the bed a bit so Luffy could rest more comfortably against him. "He has been placed in confinement in Mariejois, awaiting his trial. And your accident has shown us that he isn't working alone and that targeting you is just a way of getting to Ace, possibly Mugiwara too."

Luffy took a deep breath, finding his throat to be itchy as he did. "Why would he target Mugiwara?" he wondered, reaching for the container with water Shanks was still holding.

Shanks let him have the water, helping him drink. "He wouldn't."

Luffy looked up at that, eyes growing wide as a sudden realization dawned on him. "He's a pawn. He's working for someone."

Shanks kept his eyes on the tv where Ace was now talking about Newgate. "It would definitely explain why he suddenly appeared back into town."

"This is a lot bigger that I thought," Luffy reasoned. "Who could Kid be working for?"

"We don't know yet, Captain."

"Who is 'we'?"

"Mugiwara has been working together with the Sabaody PD on this, they've assigned us their most able investigator," Shanks responded. "And, Ace used his influence to have a team of officers watching your room at all times from the outside. No one gets on this floor without proper clearing."

"Whoa," Luffy voiced, feeling a rush of affection for the man he'd grown to love. "But, if I'm only a mean to an... end," he said uneasily, "What does that mean for my family? My friends?"

"They're all protected and we all have our instructions just in case," Shanks assured him. "Ace took care of everything," he said, smiling down at him. "He loves you more than anything, Captain. He really does and I can only be thankful for that."

"Shanks..." Luffy said quietly, surprised by the reverent tone of Shanks' voice. And then he suddenly realized. "You haven't called me 'Captain' in ages."

Shanks grinned. "You used to love ordering me around, if I remember correctly."

Luffy smiled as he reminisced, shaking his head in embarrassment.

"So calling you 'Captain' was appropriate," Shanks continued, locking eyes with him. "More so, when you became the captain of my heart."

Luffy blushed and snuggled up to him, closing his eyes. "You're so corny."

"Don't let go of this one, Luffy," Shanks commented with a grin. "He's one hell of a guy and the only one I trust enough to take care of you. Even though feeding you doesn't seem to be one of his strong suits."

Luffy made a face and tried to push himself away from him, but finding it impossible to do as his strength failed him. "Don't remind me of food right now, because I don't think vomit goes with that shirt you're wearing." He whispered when Shanks refused to let him move away, letting him pull him back against him. "And I'm not planning on letting him go," he murmured tiredly, watching the celebrant recite a text for the departed. "He makes me happy."

"That's the most important thing," Shanks remarked.

"Hm," Luffy voiced sleepily.

A few moments passed in silence before Shanks realized that Luffy had fallen asleep in his arms. He removed his arm from around him carefully and laid him back against the bed, watching him breathe for a minute before noticing the small beads of sweat that were forming on his forehead. And as he listened, he could hear his breathing grow more laboured as well. A hand laid against his forehead told him that Luffy was running a fever.

"Damn it, Luffy..." he murmured, pressing the button for assistance near the bed.

By the time Kaya rushed into the room with a small team of nurses, Luffy's heart rate had gone up and his breathing had grown more shallow.

"He's running a fever," he told her as she began to examine Luffy.

"We're going to need for you to leave for now, Shanks, I'm sorry," she whispered apologetically, putting her stethoscope back around her neck as she approached him.

"What's going on?" Shanks demanded.

"I'm afraid Luffy's caught what we call a secondary infection due to his lying in a coma for so long," Kaya explained carefully. "We need to look at him further and for that we need for you to leave the room. Please."

Shanks sighed and ran his hands through his hair in ascending worry. "Okay. I need to inform his family."

Kaya nodded. "Please do."

He made an agreeing sound and grabbed his phone from his pocket, hurriedly stepping out of the room.

"Secondary infection...?"

The funeral had barely ended when Garp received Shanks' worrying phone call and informed his granddaughter and Ace. Ace decided to leave the gathering scheduled for after the funeral to Rayleigh and his sister and left with his close friends for the hospital.

Kaya nodded at Garp as they stood right outside of the intensive care unit Luffy was now lying in, both of them looking at him through the sliding glass doors. "Yes, unfortunately having him on a breathing machine has contributed to him developing HAP."

"Hospital acquired pneumonia," Robin interjected dejectedly, standing next to Ace with her arms folded against her body, one of her hands moving restlessly over her chest.

"Yes," Kaya said. "It's not uncommon for patients who are in hospitals for prolonged stays to contract it, with coma patients being especially vulnerable. We've put him on an intravenous antibiotics treatment and a supportive ventilation therapy. So far he's been reacting well, so for now I can safely say that he'll be rid of the infection in a week, two at the most."

"How come I didn't get it?" Ace wondered, looking at Luffy longingly through the window. "I've was here for a week after my surgery."

"Because you were vaccinated against bacterial pneumonia during your presurgery check-up," Kaya whispered back.

"And he wasn't," Garp concluded with a sigh and a nod.

The young doctor nodded sadly. "We're doing all we can, sir."

Garp smiled at her. "I know you are, Kaya. And we're immensely grateful for that. Luffy's a though little soldier."

"Can we go in and be with him?" Robin whispered, pressing a yearning hand against the glass.

Kaya hugged the clipboard she was holding and gave her a semi-nod. "He should be awake, but be aware that he's still very weak. I can't allow all of you in at once. Maybe just two, for now."

Shanks was walking up to them, having come from the ICU waiting room to talk to the others still awaiting extra news on Luffy's condition.

"You and Ace go in," Garp said, wrapping his arms against his chest. "LeRoux and I will wait here."

Kaya pressed in the door lock and took a step back to let the two of them pass through the opening sliding doors. She then addressed Garp and Shanks with a small smile, "I have other patients to attend to. Please call me if anything happens."

Both men nodded and thanked her again, turning their attention to the heart wrenching scene that unfolded behind the now closed glass.

Robin walked over to Luffy's right side of the bed and pulled the small stool readily placed there closer to sit on. Luffy seemed to still be sleeping, so her watery eyes wandered over his inert body, her hands grabbing onto his right one that was connected to the drip that proccured him with the antibiotic. She brought it to her mouth carefully and pressed her lips against his pale skin, looking up at his masked face hopefully, just in time to see her brother's eyes flutter open drowsily.

"Luffy?" Ace whispered gently, coming to stand by his left side, smiling when he saw him move his head in the direction of his voice.

"Ace..." Luffy breathed groggily from behind his breathing mask, his eyes blinking tiredly. "Rob... Robin...?"

"I'm right here, little brother," Robin confirmed, lips trembling as they hesitated to form a smile. She kissed the hand she was holding again. "Right here, we both are."

Luffy reached for his breathing mask with his left hand in an attempt to remove it but missed, his hand falling against his chest instead. "Get... off. Get it... off..." he breathed drowsily.

"Here, wait," Ace offered, reaching for the plastic covering and taking it off his face. "Better?"

Luffy smiled at him lovingly, blinking slowly. "You look awful," he croaked.

Ace laughed heartedly at that, crying tears of heartfelt relief. "Luffy..." he whispered, taking his left hand in his carefully, kissing it.

"Hi baby..." Luffy murmured back, tears glistening in the corners of his eyes too. "I heard about... about your father and I'm so sorry for your loss..."

Ace shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut. "I'm more worried about you right now..."

"I feel okay," Luffy reassured them. "Kaya told me... what is going on. I'll be fine..."

"That's so good to hear, Lou, but you should still take it easy, you're only just recovering from your coma," Robin fretted, now placing a caressing hand on his forehead. "Don't worry about what's going on, just focus on getting better..."

Luffy nodded tiredly and smiled at his sister. "I heard... I heard mom, Bee."

Robin cocked her head to the side questioningly. "Mom?"

"While I was in my coma, yeah..." Luffy explained, voice still breathy. He then turned to Ace. "And your father, too."

Ace smiled knowingly. "You know, at the funeral... I got that feeling that he was watching over you."

Luffy felt new tears welling up in his eyes and nodded slowly. "He was... They both were. I wouldn't have woken... up if they hadn't helped me. I would still be stuck... in our apartment."

Robin looked up at Ace wonderingly, who only rose an inquisitive eyebrow in turn. "How did they help you?" she asked patiently, genuinely curious but aware that she needed to not tire her brother too much with too many questions.

"We were late for the party," Luffy whispered, blinking his eyes sleepily.

"We were?" Ace whispered, sitting himself next to him on the bed, smiling when he saw him nod again. "What party were we attending?"

Luffy took a few moments to think about it, not directly remember that detail. "We were four years into the future... and someone was... It was an engagement party, yes, that's what it was," he told them with a growing grin.

"Whose?" Robin asked, smirking now too.

Luffy chuckled quietly to himself and shook his head. "I'm not telling. If it comes to pass, I'll tell you then."

Both Ace and Robin laughed amusedly.

"And then... it began to get weird in my dream," Luffy continued before coughing a few moments, shaking his head reassuringly when Ace offered him the mask again. "It became more and more apparent to me... that I had died four years prior in this dream. And you," he pointedly looked at Ace, "You married that hostess from Sanji's restaurant!"

"Wait, but you just said that we were late for an engagement party," Ace said, looking confused now. "How could you be dead at the same time then?"

"You were both you and that hostess, I gather," Robin guessed, nodding in understanding.

Luffy made a confirming sound. "I couldn't do anything but watch as you kissed her and loved her, calling her name while I was still there in her body somehow..." he whispered sadly, reaching for the box of tissues next to the bed on the small cabinet so he could cough into one. "When I realized that you had moved on, that's when that dream began to fall apart."

"There's no one else for me, but you," Ace reassuringly smirked, cupping his face with a hand. "Know that."

Leaning into his touch, Luffy nodded and smiled. "I do... must've been a lingering feeling of insecurity that translated itself that way."

Robin smiled gently at the scene, knowingly letting go of the right hand she was still holding.

"I've been so lost without you, babe," Ace whispered quietly, bending over to press a safe kiss against Luffy's forehead. "I love you, so much."

Luffy closed his eyes and smiled happily, his lips trembling as he returned the sentiment.

"After you and the hostess left the apartment," Luffy resumed after a while, grabbing Robin's hand now, "the scene around me began to fall apart and I heard mom and your father telling me to call out to the both of you, that time would run out if I didn't." He looked at the both of them lovingly. "I made it back because I share strong bonds with the both of you... And Mom and Newgate know that."

Robin smiled and closed her eyes, letting one tear roll down her left cheek. "I'm sure they do."

"Yeah," Ace agreed.

Luffy smiled at them again before letting his eyes wander to the glass doors behind Ace. A big grin appeared on his face when he found his grandfather standing there with a big grin of his own. "Grandpa..."

"Kaya told us that not more than two of us could come sit with you at a time," Robin explained as she followed his gaze. "Do you want me to go tell him to come in?"

Sighing tiredly and moving his gaze back to her again, he made an apologizing face. "I feel like I'm about to fall asleep again, I won't be much fun if he did."

"I understand," she nodded. "Do you want us to leave, then?"

"Stay until I fall asleep?" Luffy whispered.

They both nodded, but it was mere moments before Luffy was asleep again.

"He gets tired so quickly," Ace commented in dismay an hour later as he sat with Shanks in the waiting room of the intensive care. The majority of the group had had the chance to see Luffy before they all left to attend to personal matters. "I guess we couldn't have expected for him to be up an about so soon after waking up from his coma."

"It's not that simple, unfortunately," Shanks agreed, sitting back in his chair. He folded his arms against his chest and crossed his legs, a pensive look on his face. "His time awake will gradually increase as time passes and he's also fighting off the infection."

"At least the swelling in his brain is gone," Ace whispered, bending over in his seat and looking at his joined hands.

"He's going to be fine."

Ace made an agreeing sound. "Robin didn't even get the chance to tell him that his father was back. Come to think of it-"

"It's probably for the best," Shanks said with a grin before his face fell gravely. "That man..."

Ace turned his face to him. "You must resent him for what he did to you."

Shanks scowled and closed his eyes. "He's the most untrustworthy man I have ever met. And I used to be his bussinesspartner, so I know." He looked at Ace now. "Does he know about your relationship with Luffy?"

"Yeah, and he's not happy about it," Ace replied, raising his eyebrows exasperatedly.

"He'll try and come in between you, for certain," Shanks warned. "He'll use any means necessary and available, just like he did with Luffy and I."

"What?"

Shanks smiled wryly and looked away from him again. "You really think that I was so careless enough to let evidence slip to Luffy's school board? No. All the pictures, all the letters were stolen by Dragon and fed to the media by his own hand. How else do you explain that 'leaked' article?"

Ace could only stare at him, completely speechless.

"He's a dangerous and powerful man, Ace," Shanks continued. "Ever since Olivia, Luffy's and Robin's mother, died he's become very... conservative."

"That's a nice way of putting it, I suspect," Ace smirked.

Shanks smirked back briefly. "He loves his children, make no mistake about that. He's always wanted what was best for Luffy, whether it was in terms of riches, his social life or his academic life. Being gay was something that would impede Luffy's growth to success, so he believed."

Ace observed him for a few moments. "You sound like you understand him."

"I'm a father now, Ace. I think I do," Shanks replied. "I only want what's best for my son. Though I wouldn't do anything that would steal away his happiness or the trust he has in me."

"A line Luffy's father clearly has crossed," Ace commented.

Shanks nodded. "Like I said; he'll use any available and necessary means to push his will through, regardless of what Luffy wants. He managed to manipulate his elder daughter to marry the man he wanted for her and that worked; Robin and Crocodile did fall in love, but only because he never showed her his cruel side, not until it was too late."

"So even Robin's failed marriage...?"

Shanks sighed. "Was part of Dragon's plan to get a hand in the affairs of the Crocodile Oil Corporation," he murmured with a disapproving shake of his head. "He still does, even today. He is an important shareholder of that company, which only furthers the rift between him and his children."

"You should have heard her go at him last night..." Ace told him. "I can understand wanting to protect your children, but he... he..."

"I know... that's why I want to make sure that you fully understand the situation you're putting Luffy in if you plead guilty on Wednesday," Shanks said, looking at him again. "If you get sentenced to a stay in prison, there won't be much stopping Dragon from taking Luffy away from Sabaody. And you have to face it, Dragon has a very good reason for wanting his son out of this city. Neither Garp or Robin will have the time to go up against him with your joint trials coming up. Luffy will be unprotected legally. Dragon has a right to claim his son when neither Robin, Garp or Luffy himself can protest it."

Ace scowled in turn, looking ahead at the abandoned corridor leading to the many ICU rooms. "I know that. That's why I'm waiting for Law, Chopper and Kaya to give me permission for what I have planned."

"I hope you get the green light for it, Ace. I really do."

"Yeah," Ace nodded, lifting his head to see the three doctors exit Luffy's room.

Shanks followed his gaze and moved to stand as Ace did. "Luffy's depending on you."

Law handed his friend the clipboard he'd been holding with a small smile, letting him see the signed document on it.

"How soon do we do this?"

Ace took the clipboard from Law, smiling contently.

"Now."

To be continued...

In: 17. The Two of Swords - The Tower

-BDP-