Chapter 4: The Kiss and Separation
"Shana, can you please try to reason with him?" Whitebeard sighed in exasperation, acknowledging Ace's stubbornness.
As Ace set off on his solo journey to avenge Thatch's death, the tension between him and Shanaree reached its breaking point. She pleaded with him to reconsider, fearing the danger he was placing himself in. Their confrontation grew heated as words were exchanged, both of them desperate to make the other understand.
Shanaree's voice quivered with worry. "Ace, please, listen to Pops. I also have a terrible feeling about this. You can't do this alone."
Ace's resolve remained unyielding, but his eyes betrayed a hint of frustration. "I have to do this, Shana. Thatch was like a brother to us. I can't let his death go unanswered."
Their argument reached its climax, with Shanaree's pleas becoming more desperate and Ace's determination unwavering. It was then that, in a moment of raw emotion, Ace seized her by the shoulders, his face inches from hers. Their breaths mingled as they locked eyes, the world around them fading away.
"Shana, I..." Ace began, his voice softening as he struggled to find the right words.
Shanaree's heart pounded in her chest as she gazed into his eyes, her own resolve wavering. "Ace, please, don't do this..."
Unable to contain his emotions any longer, Ace closed the distance between them, pressing his lips to hers in a passionate kiss. It was a fleeting moment, filled with all the unspoken words and feelings they had kept hidden for so long.
But as quickly as it had begun, Ace pulled away, his face flushed with embarrassment. Shanaree was left breathless, her heart racing as she tried to process what had just happened. They stood there in silence, the weight of their unspoken desires finally laid bare. Then he disappeared with his trusty Striker.
The distance between them during Ace's journey only intensified their yearning for each other. Both of them came to realize that their feelings were mutual, like their crew liked to tease, but the separation made it all the more painful.
Meanwhile, on Whitebeard's ship, Shanaree was given a simple mission to deliver the captain's treasure to his homeland. It was a task meant to distract her from worrying about Ace's reckless quest for vengeance. She completed the mission diligently, all the while her thoughts consumed by Ace's safety.
On an island where she stopped to restock, Shanaree's shock was palpable when she encountered Sabo, who didn't recognize her at all.
"Hello, miss. Are you lost?" Sabo asked politely, his expression kind but devoid of any recognition.
Shanaree's heart sank, and she struggled to maintain her composure. "Sabo, it's me, Shanaree."
Sabo furrowed his brow in confusion. "I'm sorry, but I don't know you. Have we met before?"
It was a painful blow for Shanaree to realize that Sabo had amnesia and couldn't remember her. However, she was determined to help him regain his memories. She decided to stay with him on the island, hoping that familiarity might trigger his recollection.
Days turned into a week, and Shanaree stayed by Sabo's side, tending to him and patiently recounting their childhood memories. There were moments when Sabo would unconsciously utter phrases from their past, his confusion evident.
As Sabo prepared to depart for his next mission, Shanaree decided to take a chance. She handed him two vivre cards: one for Ace, and one for herself. She also gave him her contact number, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
"Sabo, please keep this safe. If you ever remember anything, or if you find Ace, contact me," she implored, her voice filled with emotion.
Sabo's eyes was filled with gratitude. "Thank you, miss. I'll keep these safe. And if I ever remember anything, I promise I'll reach out."
Sabo nodded, a glimmer of recognition flickering in his eyes. "I'll find my way back to you," he promised before disappearing into the distance.
With a heavy heart, Shanaree watched Sabo's departing figure.
On the other side of the world, Ace reunited with Luffy on Alabasta, sharing the news that Shanaree had joined the Whitebeard Pirates. Their hearts remained intertwined, even as fate continued to pull them in different directions.
Amidst the golden sands and ancient ruins of Alabasta, Ace found himself with the Straw Hat Pirates, a crew of eccentric and adventurous individuals led by none other than his younger brother, Luffy. Alabasta had become the latest stop on their epic journey, and as they explored the desert kingdom, Ace couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia.
One day, as Ace sat in the shade of a palm tree, gazing at the vast desert landscape, he felt the urge to reach out to Shanaree. He needed to hear her voice, to share a piece of his world with her.
Ace turned to Luffy, who was munching on a steak nearby, and asked, "Hey, Luffy, can I borrow a Den Den Mushi?"
Luffy, ever curious, obliged without hesitation. He handed Ace a small, talking snail, its squishy body serving as a communication device.
"Sure, Ace! Who're you gonna call?"
Ace grinned, knowing that Luffy would be amused by the answer. "I'm calling someone you know, Luffy."
As he dialed the number, Shanaree picked up the call, uncertainty evident in her expression as she greeted, "Hello, who's calling?"
Before Ace could answer, Luffy couldn't contain his excitement and shouted into the snail, "Sister-in-law!"
Shanaree's face lit up with a brilliant smile, mirrored by the Den Den Mushi's snail-like visage. "Luffy! It's been so long! How are you?"
Luffy, his mouth full of meat, mumbled his replies between bites. The conversation was filled with Luffy's typical antics, and Shanaree couldn't help but laugh and shake her head.
Mid-conversation, Luffy suddenly abandoned the call to chase after another delicious-looking animal he spotted in the distance. Ace and Shanaree were left alone, facing the reality that their conversation was no longer just between friends.
The awkwardness hung in the air as they tried to navigate this new phase of their relationship, unspoken feelings lingering beneath the surface.
Ace broke the silence, trying to find the right words. "Shana, I... I miss you."
Shanaree smiled warmly, her voice softening. "I miss you too, Ace."
Their words were tinged with longing, and the snail's face mimicked their expressions, creating a surreal connection across the distance.
At the end of their call, Shanaree couldn't help but drop hints about a recent encounter that had stirred up memories of their past. "Ace, I've been on a mission, and I met someone unexpected. It reminded me of the past."
Ace, his heart racing, asked with a pang of jealousy, "Who was that, Shana?"
Shanaree hesitated, knowing that Ace would jump to conclusions and she swore secrecy to Sabo. "Oh, just someone from back then. It's not important."
But Ace couldn't let it go. He persistently prodded, a hint of jealousy creeping into his voice as he asked, "Shana, who was it? Tell me."
Their conversation took an unexpected turn when Ace blurted out, "Shana, are you cheating on me?"
Both of them were caught off guard by Ace's words. It wasn't a label they had put on their relationship, but it was clear that something more than friendship had blossomed between them.
The Den Den Mushi, unable to display their facial expressions, remained silent but added to the awkwardness of the moment.
Shanaree laughed softly, trying to ease the tension. "Ace, you know it's not like that. We're... complicated."
Ace sighed, his jealousy replaced by a sense of longing. "Yeah, you're right. It's just... I miss you, Shana."
Shanaree's heart ached at his words, and she couldn't help but feel the same way. "I miss you too, Ace. Let's catch up properly when you get back."
With that promise hanging between them, they bid each other farewell, both wishing for the day when they could bridge the gap between them and truly be together.
She had taken a step closer to her past, to Ace, Sabo and Luffy, but the uncertainty of the future weighed on her. Little did she know that the war was drawing near, and the fates of Ace, Sabo, Luffy and her own would soon intertwine in a way none of them could have foreseen.