6.

The Road to Hell

…is paved with good intentions.

I'm scared. What if I mess things up?

"Is it true…?" Sabo asked, wonder evident in his quiet voice as he munched on a toast.

So he was still a child.

The world hadn't managed to stomp that faith yet; not completely, at least. I had tried to protect Ace's innocence, but it was so hard… whenever he looked at me with those eyes full of doubt and self-loath, I wanted to hold him and cry. But Sabo wasn't so broken yet, he still had hope. His determination and dreams were still–

A part of me felt horrible for betraying his battered trust.

But I smiled and nodded, carefully wording my speech. 'I have to sound wise, but not condescending, and establish a sense of kinship by pointing out our similarities.'

"Why is it that parents bestow such burdens on children? The three of us are trying to escape the long shadows cast by the ones who brought us to life. For seemingly different reasons, we chase after the same dream: freedom."

Apparently, that was the right thing to say. He smiled hesitantly and let me hold his hand.

Inwardly, I sighed in relief. 'Disaster averted… for now.'

I had forgotten a very important detail. In fact, calling it a detail was a gross underestimation.

"What were you doing outside?"

How could I even forget my darling little brother in the first place?

"Huh?" was my articulated reply.

Ace had just woken up, most likely by the scent of buttered toast and milk. He yawned, stretched his neck and elaborated, "Last night, I heard the shuttle closing, then some very loud 'whispering'."

"You… heard us?" I looked at Sabo, silently asking for help.

'Not my problem', his expression seemed to say. He emphasized it by leaving.

Ace leaned on his chair, swallowed a double cheese sandwich with the help of a gulp of milk and set his cup back on the table. "You know, that explains a lot. You always knew things you couldn't possibly have learned, considering we are always together. Also, that 'twin speak' is an actual language, isn't it?"

You caught me. Damn.

"Uh, yes. How did you guess?"

"It was in one of your books, that one about behavioral development Miss Rune left behind." After two years, bringing our teacher up didn't stir up as many emotions, so this was said with only a faint frown. "According to it, twins will often communicate in their own languages, but they are very simple, unlike our so-called 'twin speak'. As if that wasn't enough, creating a functional writing system and consistently applying the same grammar rules when we were three is impossible. It didn't make sense–until yesterday, that is. The missing piece of this puzzle is seemingly deformed, yet it fits perfectly."

'Did you rehearse that speech, bro?' I resisted the urge to crack a joke about his sudden use of difficult words. Especially because that, and the fact he had concentrated enough to read those door stoppers, made Ace sound absolutely adorable right then. "When you put it like that…"

"Oh well," he shrugged, "If you had told me, I'd think you had finally lost it. Er, lost more? Anyway. Your knowledge is really useful, so we should just wring as much profit from it as possible."

'I created a little monster,' was my deliriously happy line of thought.

"…Why are you still here?"

"Your home is really cool, Sabo!" I cheerfully exclaimed.

"She didn't let me leave!" was Ace's simultaneous reply. Sabo didn't doubt him–that probably had something to do with the numerous ropes tying him to a chair.

Sabo shot me a pointed look, "It's been a week."

Grinning unrepentantly, I put my right arm around his shoulders, "We're friends, right?"

"…You are parasites," the noble deadpanned. Ace protested indignantly, and was promptly ignored.

"… and that's why you should wear a disguise before engaging in illicit activities such as arson, murder and pickpocketing," I put down the chalk and erased the blackboard, adjusting my glasses (that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere) and sat down.

"I see your point, sis, really…" Ace shuffled uncomfortably on his seat, "…but did you really have to give a two hours long lecture on the importance of cross-dressing?"

Sabo yawned and I glared at them, "Hey, I only mentioned that once! Besides, I wouldn't need to repeat the rest so much if a certain noble would just listen to me. It's a small miracle no one's come to get him back yet!"

Said noble froze momentarily, "How did you… you know what, just forget I asked."

Ace's eyes widened comically, "Wow, you're a blue blood? Why are you living here? Did they kick you out?" In his excitement, he had gotten up and was hovering over Sabo.

"Brother, don't throw so many questions at once, or you'll lose track of the answers."

"That's okay," the blond sighed, "I was born to a noble family of the Goa Kingdom. My parents secured a marriage contract to the princess–"

"–the princess?" Ace interrupted, "Is she pretty?"

I threw a piece of chalk on his forehead. The white cylinder produced a satisfying crack as it imprinted over Ace's right eyebrow.

Sabo's lips quirked upwards for a second, "No, she's the ugliest creature I've ever seen, the only thing that could possibly surpass her face is her upbringing. The prospect of marrying her was terrifying, so I ran away some months ago."

"Are you happier now?" I asked, interrupting Ace before he could spout something insensitive. Or complain about the chalk.

"…yes."

I closed my eyes and exhaled softly. "Why is it that parents bestow such burdens on children?"

Sabo's lips tilted in a sardonic half-smile. "Why, indeed."

Ace remained quiet, looking at us with a puzzled expression.

"So, do you get why disguises are so important now? They are looking for a young blond boy, not for a cute blonde. It's foolproof!"

Sabo face palmed.

"I totally won that fight!"

"Nuh uh, you didn't!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

Ace shook his head and sighed, "Stop arguing already. Let's just call it a draw and move on."

I whined, "But Acey! I got up first!"

"Did not!" was Sabo's mature response.

"Aren't you the older twin?" Ace asked, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"By a few measly seconds!" I grinned, sitting down on a patch of grass.

"…only when it suits you," he grumbled under his breath. Before we could resume our 'fight', he drew a circle under our names (mine and Sabo's, that is). "That's twenty-six victories for me, twenty-two for Ann and twenty for Sabo."

"Aw, and I really wanted to win," I pouted, tracing random patterns on the soft earth with a finger.

Sabo soon joined me on the ground. Right on top of my drawings.

"You asked for it!" I roared, advancing on him.

Ace's palm met his forehead.

'Ace palm, hehe…' I resisted the urge to giggle at my own stupid pun. That was all the distraction Sabo needed. He quickly swiped his pipe under my feet and grabbed my hair before I could retaliate. 'Damn, that hurts!'

If I hit him harder for the next month, no one dared to comment. Ace did wince in sympathy when I used the nutcracker on Sabo... who promptly countered with a vicious punch to my chest, so we were even, really.

'Humph, you should never pull a girl's hair!'

I ignored accusing looks and mutters of 'double standards' as one swats flies.

Before we knew it, winter started giving way to spring. It was still cold enough to drink hot chocolate, but the last snowflake had already melted.

Chirp chirp~!

"Stupid birds, go die and lemme sleep s'more," I mumbled, huddling closer to the warmth. 'Yum, marshmallow…' I kept rolling to the left, tangling myself in the blankets…

"AH!"

…Oops.

"Damn it! That's the third time you push us out of the bed!" Ace complained, throwing a pillow on my head.

Sabo growled some very inappropriate things that shouldn't be mentioned in a T rated fic. He then got up and stomped his way to the bathroom.

I kicked the blankets and sat up. Shivering as my feet touched the floor, I glanced at the inviting bed one last time, got up and headed to the kitchen.

The small clock by the cupboard read ten past five. 'So that's why it's so quiet in here.'

I balanced half a dozen eggs in a frying pan stacked on top of a kettle in my right hand and a pack of tea leaves, a loaf of bread and a stick of butter on the left. I dropped everything on the counter and started a simple breakfast.

"So, do you have that with you?" Ace whispered in my ear.

I nodded, throwing a sideways glance in Sabo's direction. "Yup, it's in my bag. Since it's his birthday, I'll pay for the food."

Ace looked at me in suspicion, "You're being awfully generous today."

"Well, it is his birthday." 'And it's the perfect excuse to splurge on nice food too.' I didn't say that out loud, of course.

Before the birthday boy noticed our hushed conversation, I shushed my brother and quickened my pace, almost tripping on a rock in the process.

Two hours later, I spotted a windmill. Then another and another and… "Whoa, no wonder it's called Windmill Village! They are so pretty and big!" I couldn't resist giggling as I skipped merrily on the road, mimicking the movement of the gigantic blades with my arms Being a kid had its perks: people didn't stare nearly as much.

"Although it's my birthday, you seem to be enjoying our little trip the most, psychotic witch."

"Aw, you're so mean, Top Hat maniac!" I huffed, sticking my tongue at him.

Sabo rolled his eyes, "Hard to believe you're older than me."

At that comment, Ace snorted, "I'm almost sure gramps dropped Ann on her head."

"Makes sense," Sabo nodded sagely.

Before another fight could start, an old man called out, "Hey!"

I ran towards him, took a moment to recompose myself and bowed, "Good morning! My name is Ann. The boys over there are Ace and Sabo. We live near Edge Town."

The man smiled, "I see. Well, you seem like good kids, so feel free to explore our little village. If you need anything, just ask. My name is Woop Slap, and I'm the mayor."

By that point, the boys had already reached us, so the three of us bowed and waved goodbye.

"Now what?" Ace asked.

"Now… we eat!" I pointed to a certain bar.

"Why do you even bother asking?" Sabo quipped.

"Welcome to Party's Bar!" was the warm greeting we received.

Sabo sat by the counter, picked the menu and started browsing. Ace plopped down next to him and read over the other's shoulders. I was about to join them, but an entirely different thing caught my attention: there was a piano on the corner!

A beautifully embroidered cloth covered the modest but well cared for upright piano. It reminded me of happy afternoons, long ago.

Trembling slightly, I walked in its direction, completely oblivious to my surroundings. 'Can I even play it, in this body?'

I shakily opened the lid, removed and folded the felt, placing it on the top. Gently tracing a finger over the ivory keys, I pressed down. The sound was surprisingly clear. I smiled.

I sat on the bench and tried some scales. It was surprisingly easy, despite my initial trepidation. As corny as it may sound, it felt like my soul remembered. Adding that to the motor coordination, toning and similar build of this body compared to my old adult form, and it was almost as if I'd never stopped playing in the first place. Actually, the fact this right shoulder wasn't injured–

This... this body that could play without pain, why did it make me so happy right then?

I shouldn't be so relieved. Spitting on memories, and–

No. They'd be happy for me.

I had to believe...

Hands guided by feelings I'd long repressed; emotions surfacing, surfacing, air, breathe!

After long years submerged, a hand broke the water's surface.

-you don't have to walk on the sea floor anymore-

Who...?

Memories, memories.

Unlike that body covered in red ribbons, they resurfaced.

"You know, I was so sure you'd be a boy! That's why I bought a soccer ball, toy cars... Then, the doctor told us you were a girl. Your mother and I laughed and went shopping all over again. Fortunately, you still liked kicking things around, so the earlier purchases weren't a waste of money," Father tied a blue sash in a perfect bow. "Modesty aside, my little Flower is so cute in sundresses! Especially if said dresses were drawn by papa, right?"

-Melanconica;

"Ayumi-chan, ojii-san is still with us! He and our ancestors are watching over us from Heaven," Mother held back her own tears as she held me in front of the shrine. "We light senkō and offer their favorite foods to thank them for everything."

Tendrils of fragrant smoke rose on the air. On the cold ihai, the paint was still drying, neat calligraphy spelling grandfather's name.

I grew to despise the once-cherished scent of incense.

-Lacrimosa;

Sinking, sinking. No one to hear my cries, no one to help me up. What had possessed me to go fishing by myself? Would they find my body?

Heh, and I never got to finish writing that song.

-Morendo.

The serene smile didn't fade with her last breath. Portgas D. Rouge's tenderness was so sincere, and her love even more so.

-Amorosa;

"Bwahaha! You've grown a lot! Adults, almost! In a few years, you'll be great Marines and make me proud!"

That contagious energy inspired me to train harder. If only we could become Marines together, I wouldn't have to worry about brother so much–Grandpa would be with us.

-Energica;

"Hey, Ann… did you ever think that maybe we shouldn't exist?"

-Furiosa,

"I–they said we shouldn't have been born, that the world would be better off if we died."

…molto furiosa.

"You'll only die of old age. I promise."

-Risoluta.

I didn't bother with a proper cadenza, nor did I slow down before stopping. That sonata would only end with my last breath.

(what is the outcome of rash promises?)

The Road to Hell end_