D's Orange Will

by Zelga Lim Li

In his last minute effort to save his brother, Ace never thought that there is more to his flames. Before he knew it, he was sent somewhere far from the place he was supposed to die to a pair of bluest eyes he has ever seen. Ace X Fem Naruto.

17. Chapter 16 - Acceptance

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Summary:
In his last minute effort to save his brother, Ace never thought that there is more to his flames. Before he knew it, he was sent somewhere far from the place he was supposed to die to a pair of bluest eyes he has ever seen. Ace X Fem Naruto.

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Disclaimer:
Naruto © Masashi Kishimoto

One Piece © Eiichiro Oda

I own nothing. Do not earn anything in posting this story online. Well, except for my enjoyment in an attempt to be a FanFiction writer and tackle the ever-wildest imagination Ziggy and me can offer. So yeah, that.

Author's note:
Possible mention of abortion. Please don't think less of me for including it in the story or even Torao for even suggesting, as it is vital and needed in some form or another for the said scene. You have been warned.

Ah right. Unbeta'ed. So grammars, punctuations and whatever are lots. My ever reliable MS Word is the one that corrects what he thinks is wrong. Somewhat. Sorry to be a bother with that.

And yes, I'm not dead! Haha! Sorry to make you wait guys.

Cheers!

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D's Orange Will
By: Zelga Lim Li

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Chapter 16 – Acceptance

The battle may have ended in their favor.

But Ace has already seen the better days of his pathetic 22 years of existence. That doesn't include his 'supposed' death and revival, thank you very much.

Giving their prisoner the stink eyes as the fellow Logia user shies away from him in fear. The Commander knew that throwing him onboard may benefit everyone especially the children his girlfriend grew fond of but the other Captain may have the final say with the said matter as this was all part of the deal his stupid little brother had agreed upon earlier with the said Shichibukai.

Scolding Luffy of his current life choices may prove to be pointless but Ace would still like to try. Zoro shrugged his shoulders flippantly when he mentioned his plans to talk some sense into his brother's non-existent self-preservation.

"I don't think Luffy will understand what you're going to say regarding the matter," the Swordsman said with a knowing look. "Besides, we tend to follow the wind as to where it may lead us. And the said wind decided to help the boat reach its destination."

Huh?

Laughing amusedly, Zoro patted him at the back albeit hardly. The green haired first mate sure is strong. "You're his older brother. You of all people should know how he thinks."

Finally relenting, Ace decided to ignore his brother's craziness for the time being and continues to worry for his beloved kunoichi who happens to be in the merciful hands of the Straw Hats doctor and that blasted Shichibukai.

As of the moment, everyone is having a party to celebrate their victory.

And to make things weirder than it looks, Smoker and his men including the lady captain are included in the said celebration sharing the perverted cook's delicious meal. Even though the said marines declared an imaginary line separating them from his brother's crew, it was disregarded by the children themselves as they surrounded the Straw Hats like moths to a flame.

Even Ace can admit to himself that his brother and his crew have the charisma that can immediately interest anyone who meets them, like giving their loyalty without a second thought after the said crew gave their very best to resolve the prior dilemma beforehand.

That and their unconventional method of helping anyone they thought as friends.

Marco may have mentioned it in passing, as well as his fellow Commanders, how oyaji himself was deeply impressed with his brother after meeting him for a few minutes.

Really, he can't wait to tell Sabo everything once they see each other again.

"Ace?"

With a sigh, Ace finally turned to face his current predicament.

Naruto finally changes her ruined clothes with borrowed ones from the Navigator. Thankfully, it is not as revealing as the usual ones the said orange haired woman wears.

The blonde's face is stricken with worry.

With a bit of guilt knowing that she can't be blamed for the events that transpired that day, Ace finally relented with a sigh and took her hand.

After she sends him with the others to safety and deal with the problem inside the facility, he kept his mouth shut and fought with his instincts that scared the long nose and that bird woman. His brother even kept his antics into a minimum knowing how close he is from exploding. Literally.

But looking at her face right now, Ace remembers how Naruto strives to secure her place by his side and into this world, his home.

"I just wanted to…"

"You don't need to explain everything, I perfectly understand…"

Speaking at the same time, Ace paused and Naruto frowned and bit her lips anxiously. Shaking his head with a smile, the Whitebeard Commander tugs his woman towards his arms and held her close, as he looks straight to her eyes.

"As I said, you don't need to tell me everything, or what had happened earlier…" With a pause, Ace held her face and kissed the top of her nose as he brush a wild strand of hair away from her eyes. "Just promise me that you will be careful if in case this happens again, alright?"

Naruto eyed him suspiciously and kept her mouth shut.

With a shrug, Ace added contritely. It is a good thing that Marco isn't here to smack his foolishness out of his head. "I love you so much that it scares the hell out of me seeing you get hurt. So…" Scratching his cheeks with a bit of a blush, the fire user stepped away and let her go hesitantly. "So yeah…"

"If you decided to stay with Luffy until we're both good, I won't object or anything."

Holding her at arms length doesn't feel right. But Ace decided to be mature for just a little bit more. Now, Naruto's frown turned into a glower.

"Just be careful, OK?"

With a smile that Ace is certain looks like a grimace, which he admit, is painful to look at even without a mirror because he did saw Naruto's glare intensifies, he let her arms go.

"I left my den den mushi number to Luffy's navigator so if you decided to… Ooow!"

Naruto gritted her teeth in annoyance and tried to control her anger after smacking her pirate's face. She already felt the others tense after she released a bit of killing intent, which she admits is justifiable given the circumstances of her boyfriend's idiocy.

Looks like Marco's Haki lessons have paid of, as her punch didn't went through.

"I know I can be careless at times," Naruto started. Tugging her pirate close with his red beaded necklace, she immediately heals the bruise that is starting to form on his cheeks. Imagine that, her haki-coated blow really did some damage. "And I know you worry. So I promise to be very careful whenever there is a fight that can't be avoided and for you to have faith and believe in my skills…"

Ace gave her a remorseful look and Naruto poked his chest with a pout tugging on his cloak lightly to make a point, "I already survived a war and I don't think yours will matter." Placing one finger on his lips to stop him from commenting, Naruto gave her pirate a soft smile.

"I know how terrified you are because there are still those who wanted you dead and that I may be targeted for my connection with you and some random reasons they can think of. So I will make sure not to be a hindrance for I will be your shadow to protect your existence," the blonde buried her face and Ace automatically envelops her in his tight embrace.

"I wouldn't held it against you if you think of me as a wimp," Ace muttered weakly.

Naruto chuckled and separates herself albeit reluctantly from his arms. Tugging his hat, she places it on top of her own head, "Well, Captain Marco and I did agree that you are our wimp freckled pirate." Ace drops his jaws in shock and reenacted a fish out of the water. The blonde kunoichi laughs out loud.

"Shishishishi, Ace is really a wimp, right?" Luffy cackled madly.

"Shut up!" Ace tugs his brother's face like the rubber that he is as his cheeks reddens ridiculously.

"Oooh! Would you look at that, he does blush as red as his necklace." Naruto was about to unseal her camera to capture the moment but then her vision started to blur, "Why is everything spinning?"

As she fell one more time that day simultaneously hearing everyone's shout and worry, she saw her pirate's terrified face before darkness took her away.

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Naruto felt herself flowing into an abyss.

Fading.

It was strange yet strangely familiar. Like that time Kurama was forcibly taken from her during the last war.

It is like she fought blood, tooth and nails to stay awake from Kaguya's endless illusions. Possibly it was what consumed Sasuke as well. But knowing that bastard, who knows what he's been doing to himself when he left her behind in Konoha after the final battle.

This time though, there are no Hagoromo Otsutsuki or Kurama with both of his halves to give her another power boost.

But despite all that, Naruto wanted to wake up. She already promised Ace not to put herself in danger. And this one is another topping on the cake. An oathbreaker. Seriously, definitely not her style damn it!

Hopefully her pirate isn't freaking out again.

And as she tried to move her legs and arms, Naruto's heart started to beat faster and the surrounding darkness started to swallow her once more. Before that, the young woman thought heard a whisper.

"No worries, Okaa-san. I got your back… That's a promise!"

…

"Stop it you two!"

"No, don't touch me if you don't want to get burned! Now you bastard, tell me again what exactly do you mean by that?"

Ace? Why does he sound so mad?

"You heard me right, Ace-ya…"

Oh right, Luffy's ally, the Surgeon. What was his name again? Trafal- or was it Torao?

"Unless you know how to use protection or if she uses any contraceptives or have taken shots before you started sleeping with her, the eventuality of you getting your woman pregnant is about 98.99% and given the…"

Pregnant? Who's pregn-, oh?

"Waaah! Naruto! I'm glad you're awake!" Chopper cried out as he jumps from his seat and hovered close to the blonde's side. Looks like she was brought inside Sunny's infirmary again.

"What's going on here? Why is everyone shouting?" Naruto looked at every one especially Ace who was gripping the Surgeon's coat while Luffy stood behind the Schichibukai as Zoro and Sanji themselves are stopping Ace from setting the said man on fire.

Nami and every one else are probably outside as the room isn't big enough to accommodate everyone but the former Jinchūriki can sense the others on the ship. Did the party ended already?

"Now that she's awake, can you please talk civilly?" Zoro grunted to the two as he dragged Luffy outside. Sanji gave Naruto a comforting smile as he followed the Swordsman and his Captain.

Chopper stayed behind to give one last checkup at the woman and stood near the door as Ace immediately went beside his kunoichi, worry and relief clearly visible all over his face. Naruto patted his hands gently as her gaze strayed to look at the other doctor.

"Toralgar-san, right?"

"It's Trafalgar, Ninja-ya," Law removed the stethoscope from his neck and placed it beside the table as he steps a little closer the bed ignoring Ace's glare.

"Ah yes. Sorry about that," Naruto grinned weakly her apologies for murdering his name and turned to face her pirate who looks a bit paler than his usual shade. Looks like she really did scare him this time.

"Regarding your condition…"

"Can we talk about this later?" Ace interjected with a growl as he stood to block Law's path.

Law snorted and raised a challenging look towards the other pirate. "If not now, then when? Do you want her to remain oblivious to what is happening to her body that could potentially endanger her life ten times over?" Ace flinched and as much as Law enjoyed making people nervous with his very presence, the matter at hand cannot be ignored a minute longer.

"Is there something wrong with me?" Naruto blurted out, her face looks ashen but not that surprised. Looks like she already have an idea although Law questions her reaction as if something is amiss and took a seat from the chair Tony-ya left behind.

"Do you know what is really happening with your body, Ninja-ya?"

"Well, I do know that my body no longer heals as fast as before since Kurama left my seal and that I tire more easily not like when I'm still a genin…" Naruto answered and tied her hair in a low ponytail while brushing a few wild bangs away from her eyes.

"Your body is breaking down, Ninja-ya. Well not literally but something almost similar," Law interjected the blonde's rambling taking note of her earlier statement. "Do you remember when you first noticed these changes?"

Clenching her fists, Naruto avoided his gaze and mumbled in a small voice that froze Ace from where he is standing.

"After the Fourth Shinobi War…"

Law and Chopper looked at one another not understanding what it meant. Naruto raised her eyes and gave a quick look at Ace as she took the covers off her body and sat.

"I heard you mentioned something earlier about the possibility of me getting…"

With a sigh, Law stood and walks toward the door. "Yes, I did."

"Am I?" Ace stilled upon hearing Naruto's hopeful voice.

Looking straight to her eyes, Law's answered in a steely voice that surprised the woman, "Yes, you are pregnant."

Naruto's brow creased and studies Law's reaction more closely. Chopper himself cannot look at her eyes. And Ace is… "Is there something wrong, guys?"

Tears started to pour as Naruto touches her womb worryingly. "Is my baby OK?"

"It's not yet even formed. And with that said, we need to terminate your pregnancy to ensure your full recovery."

"WHAT!?" Naruto's voice rose to an indignant shrill and Ace gritted his teeth in anguish.

"Will this…" Ace stopped his words as if he heard a stranger for the first time that day. He took another deep breath. Words he could not say. Worry and fear clearly visible in his eyes.

With a stoic expression, Trafalgar Law said the words Ace doesn't want to hear. He made sure to keep his pity hidden for the benefit of the breaking man standing before him.

"Yes. If she decided to continue her pregnancy, this will endanger her life…" The Surgeon of Death said and with a noncommittal shrug but added reluctantly, "The upcoming months is going to be difficult as well with each passing day where her body might finally stop working and the child might not even reach its full term," Law started to walk towards the door as if it was on fire.

And after his revival, Ace and his Haki improved monumentally much to his Captain's bewilderment. Knowing how the others feel even without touching them is one. Tapping into Trafalgar Law's chaotic emotions, he knew that his brother's reluctant ally only felt one emotion that surprises him for a bit. Like it was a similar feeling that the said man had felt many times over in the past. It was a sense of resignation, which Ace didn't really understand from his point of view at that exact moment.

Stepping out of the infirmary's door, with Chopper following closely behind, Trafalgar Law pauses after one step and glances at Naruto who remains immobile on top of the bed. Her gaze downwards with both of her fists clenched tightly at her lap. "In order to save her life now, we need to remove the…"

"NO!" Naruto shouted as she covered her ears trying to tune Law's voice out.

Sighing, Law shook his head tiredly and left.

"Maybe we could…" Chopper tried to reason with his hooves making wild gestures similar to Bepo's ministrations when stressed out. Law grunted and took his Nodachi from its temporary resting place and stride towards the deck, aiming for a bit of fresh air. Passing by the kitchen, Law knew that the Swordsman and the Cook heard what transpired inside the clinic. The straw hat wearing brat is nowhere in sight.

"There is nothing more we can do." Law said unemotionally and Chopper cringes slightly. But the older man gave his fellow doctor a softer look. Knowing what could possibly run inside the little one's head.

"Perhaps what we need a miracle to save her life." The Surgeon of Death may have said it to pacify the reindeer. But he for one no longer believes for such foolishness. He already lost too much to wish for something similar for himself. Even if the presence of the aforementioned woman continues to baffle his views the longer he spend his time with her.

But maybe, just maybe.

A miracle is all they can hope for the unknown woman that brought the raging maelstrom into their lives.

…

Ace paled when he heard her scream. Her cry painfully pierced his heart. The Commander knew how Naruto wanted to have a child, their child.

A family she could call her very own.

He never asked her personally, but after what he learned from that person all the things he needed to know about Uzumaki Naruto, Ace knew what she will do if a choice was given.

At that exact moment, he wanted to run away. To give himself some time to think, to cope, to decide what to do next but…

"Naruto… I-i…" Hesitantly, Ace reached for her. Naruto was so near and yet… so far away. "I'm scared…"

Naruto's tears started to fall upon hearing his words. The pain in his heart is starting to be unbearable. He could feel his breathing hitch faster, numbness overruling everything.

"I don't want to lose you…" Ace mumbled weakly and took Naruto into his arms. Holding her tight. Never letting go.

But deep inside he knew.

Naruto already made her choice. It was the same one as his mother.

Something that he knew would greatly affect him and their child for the rest of their lives.

Naruto saw the fear in his eyes. But looking closely, she thought she imagined it as it was gone in an instant. It's like Ace totally blanked out.

She then remembers the story Luffy told her about Portgas D. Rouge.

"I'm sorry for making you worry, but rest assured that everything will be all right, hmm." Wiping her tears away, she returned his embrace. Burrowing her face within his arms, Naruto felt his heart. Placing a hand over it, she made a promise.

A promise she vows to fulfill no matter what it takes.

"I'm not going down without a fight…" Taking Ace's face within her palms, she gently kissed his lips and holds his gaze. "More than ever, there is this particular reason, why I wanted to live. To stay here with the both of you…" Placing his forehead against hers, Naruto willed her tears to stop.

Perhaps, it is the most important fight ever.

Orochimaru. Nagato. Obito. Madara. The Rabbit Goddess. They all pale in comparison.

She will do everything she can to live. For her child and the man she loves with all her soul and being, she will fight one more time. She won't give up dattebayo!

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Author's other note:
I have no excuse. For that I am really really sorry.

But reality sucks. And as much I wanted to live in this world or something similar, there is that. And yet here we are as always.

Anyways, thanks to everyone who waited patiently for this new chapter.

Also, thanks for liking, following and reading D's Orange Will. Me and Ziggy really appreciates your everything. Uh, yep.

Till next time. Ja ne!

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