A/N: Even I have no idea how I updated so fast. But I did. So deal with it. And I apologise for the short length but this is how it ends. Well not ends exactly. I mean there is still the epilogue.

Disclaimer: I don't own OP.

Day 3

The kiss had barely lasted a few seconds but it felt like an eternity to Leah. The kiss had barely meant anything but at the same time it had meant everything. The kiss did not signify love neither did it signify friendship. It just implied that she meant something to him. Not a lover but much more than a friend. Not someone who'll stay with him forever but much more than the girl from the small island. Through that small kiss he had acknowledged her presence in his life and to her, no fruit would ever taste as sweet as that kiss.

This is what it felt like to have someone by your side. It was amazing how she couldn't bring herself to stop talking. Sitting next to him being comforted by his warmth, it did something to her. She talked about everything she had ever known but what really surprised her was that he listened and nodded along and smiled and laughed. His laugh. It made her feel like she wasn't really alone anymore.

And before she knew it, her last day with the pirate had already begun.

She looked at the circular wooden clock hanging over her bed once more. It was just 7:30 AM. Plenty of time before the ferry leaves, she thought. Her eyes fell on the figure currently occupying the space below her bed and she couldn't help the grin that broke out on her face. He sleeps like a dead man, she giggled as she turned back towards to the stove and continued with the breakfast. She hummed quietly as the eggs sizzled on the pan. She wondered if the aroma of a cooked meal was the only thing which was able to wake up the pirate from his slumber. A small thud right outside her front door interrupted her train of thought and she went to pick up the morning paper. She opened the door and picked up the newspaper and checked the date. She frowned and looked at the bird awaiting its payment.

"You're late again."

The bird just tilted her head and Leah groaned with frustration as she handed over the few coins. The bird satisfied with the money, chirped happily and flew away. The paper was always late. Their island was so small and unnoticeable that they even forgot to deliver the newspaper on time. She shut the door a little too loudly and returned to the stove, dropping the paper on one of the chairs on the way. She noticed two Wanted posters fall from inside the paper and before she could bother to pick them up, Ace already had.

"Unbelievable."

He was staring at one of the wanted posters in his hand with his mouth hanging open. She quickly turned off the stove and rushed over to his side to look at the wanted poster. She was a little taken aback by the smiling face of a teen staring back at her. She had never seen anyone look so happy in their wanted poster. She frowned at the name written below the picture and turned to look at Ace, "You know him?"

He replied in a shocked voice, "That's my little brother."

His brother.

"That's so awful!"

"That's so awesome!"

There was a small silence as both the occupants of the small hut stared at each other with a slight frown on each of their faces.

"How is that awful?" He raised his eyebrow as a questioning look settled on his face.

"Well this means that the Marines are after him and his life is in danger and he's probably a –"

"He's probably a pirate." He finished for her. The questioning look was quickly replaced by a grin, "He's a pirate!" He exclaimed happily.

Leah couldn't fathom the happiness she heard in his voice, it almost sounded like he was proud of the fact that his brother was wanted by the World Government, "You're proud of him. Why are you so proud of him?"

He smiled, not taking his eyes off the poster, "Because he's one step closer to his dream."

"And what is his dream? To get executed at the hands of the World Government?" She bit her lip, unable to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.

But he didn't reply in a cold tone or with a scathing remark. He was still smiling at his brother's photo, his eyes holding a softness she didn't understand, "Luffy is the man who'll become the Pirate King." He murmured softly.

She stood there, stunned by his response. But somehow she just couldn't understand any of it. Maybe it's because she never had any ambitions. The only thing she needed to do was protect what her father had guarded with his life. That's all she knew. She didn't know anything about having adventures on the wide blue sea or chasing after a dream by putting everything on stake. Maybe that is why she couldn't understand the man standing in front of her. She would never be able to understand his ambition, his purpose and that is why he hadn't shared them with her.

"Can I keep this?"

His voice brought her back and she nodded fiercely, "Yes sure, go ahead."

He grinned in response and carefully folded the poster and slipped it inside his backpack. They had their breakfast in silence with Ace occasionally commenting on how good the food was. He helped her gather the produce for the ferry and with his help, the work got over way faster than usual. She packed him a big lunch that she hoped would last till Water 7. He had been pretty disappointed when he found out that the only food available on the ferry would be the produce and that he was obviously not allowed to eat that. So she used up all of her supplies for the week, convincing herself that she could last on fruit salad for a long while and made him a big fat bento. He put on the pale yellow shirt to cover the tattoo and helped her carry the cartons of apple to the ferry. The port was crowded with all the people submitting their produce and nobody noticed the two of them sitting in a corner observing the sea.

"Will I ever see you again?"

She had known the answer to that question the very first day she had met him but she asked him anyways. He didn't answer her with words but just a small smile. She nodded and shifted her gaze back to the blue sea. They just sat there, not talking, not moving just counting the few minutes that were left. Several times Leah opened her mouth to say something but the words never came out. Somewhere in between she snuck a glance at him. He was looking right ahead of him and smiling the same soft smile from earlier this morning. He must be thinking about his brother, she thought. She wondered what kind of a bond they shared and then it hit her. She knew absolutely nothing about him and he knew absolutely everything about her. The man sitting next to her was a complete stranger to her. Or was he? She knew that he took pride in the tattoo on his back, she knew that he was strong enough to protect the people he cared about, she knew that he believed in his brother. And maybe just maybe, knowing that much was enough.

The loud siren signalled the departure of the ferry and Ace quickly got up to leave. He smiled at her one last time and boarded the vessel. She watched him interact with the other men on the boat. She watched him talk and laugh so easily with those strangers. She watched as the ferry slowly started to edge away. Within a few minutes it would disappear around the horizon and she might never see him again.

"Ace!"

He looked at her in surprise, his eyes wide. That was the first time she had ever called him by his name and she couldn't believe how smoothly it rolled off her tongue. Ace. She could feel the tears falling down her cheeks as she mustered up all the courage she had left and shouted at the top of her lungs, "It was really nice to meet you!"

And he just laughed.

-x-

A/N: Just go read the epilogue and then you can hate on me.