The rasping pants of Ace and his brother beside him melded together, blending as their staggering pace ripped the breath from their throats. They were so close to freedom they could almost taste it, the salt-encrusted pirate ships and the exhilarating adrenaline awaiting them on future adventures-

BOOM!

The thunderous echo of a massive explosion sent pain lashing through Kira's skull as Ace grunted, straining to stand against the blast. Luffy, who had been keeping pace beside them, cried out as he was sent flying backwards before skidding to a stop roughly fifty feet from them.

"What the hell was that?! Luffy!" Kira winced as Ace cursed soundly, his angry voice ricocheting in her brain. Luffy was struggling to get up behind them, his hisses of pain evident even from far away. Blood dribbled down his left arm and splattered onto the stone beneath him, his breath a wet rasp. Kira glanced up at Ace, his arms holding her steady even as the deep cut on his forehead leaked. It must have been shrapnel… but that shouldn't affect him? Then… the bomb was made of sea prism stone, and set off to kill or maim devil fruit users. It had done its job well. All three of them, already severely injured, had been hit hard by the unknown explosion.

Akainu, it seemed, had not. There were no new injuries on the admiral as he stopped ten feet from Luffy, who was still struggling to rise. He must have been just outside the blast range as he chased them. Akainu stared down at the rubber boy before turning to Ace and Kira, the wounds he received from the latter already starting to heal. Magma bubbled from his broken arm and down the right side of his body, covering his shattered rib.

"Did you enjoy my little present, Gol D. Ace? I had Dr. Vegapunk make the bombs specifically for this scenario; it seems I was right to do so. Shame about your brother, though, he doesn't look like he'll last much longer in this state." Akainu smirked as Luffy coughed again; Kira could see a large shard of shrapnel impaled in his side.

"Shut up, stupid bubble guy! This is nothing! We rescued Ace and now we're getting out of here!" Luffy's declaration had a smile tugging at the corners of Kira's lips as he stood up, gritting his teeth against the pain. That boy was made of sheer will, grit and defiance. Just like his brother.

Akainu's smirk faded, his smug demeanor shifting into something murderous. Magma began bubbling in ernest, overtaking his entire body as he glowered at the son of Dragon.

"It's time for you to accept your fate. This is not a rescue mission; it is your execution. Yours, and your brothers, and everyone else who dared to try and help the son of a treacherous villain. Your life ends today, boy. It ends NOW!" A soundless scream rose from Ace's throat as Akainu's fist raised, aiming for Luffy's chest. Time slowed to a crawl and all he could do was watch the space between them close, that boiling fist aiming to burn through his brother's skin and bone. He was helpless, and too far away and holding Kira and Luffy was just standing there and why wasn't he moving?!

"LUFFY, MOVE!" Please please help him someone help him-

Kira wasn't sure what came over her. Maybe it was Ace's voice, the panic and pain and utter terror lacing that one word.

"MOVE!"

Maybe it was Luffy's expression, the confusion clouding his eyes as that fist drew impossibly closer.

Maybe it was both as something inside her finally snapped.

And she raised her arm.

And Akainu stopped.

Stopped dead as her ability flowed through her, out of her.

Her last gift, for she knew there would be nothing left.

It didn't matter as she looked to her beloved, still holding her, his eyes shining. He knew as well as she did that this was it.

"Go get him, Ace. Go save your brother." Kira said, smiling up at him.

Ace gazed at the girl in his arms. Then looked to Luffy, who had fallen backwards, his eyes wide with shock. He was bleeding profusely, a crimson puddle forming beneath him. Luffy was running out of time.

Slowly, with heartbreaking gentleness, Ace lowered her to the ground. His eyes never left hers, his dark orbs overflowing with emotion as she trembled with the effort of keeping Akainu in place. Once she was safely on the ground he stood, still staring at her.

"I'll be right back, Kir. Just hold on, okay?" It came out as a broken whisper as he finally tore his eyes from hers and turned.

"I love you, Ace."

His shoulders shaking, Ace paused only once before launching into a sprint.

I'm coming for you Luffy.

Her bones were splitting. That could be the only explanation for the excruciating pain coursing through Kira as she watched Ace run for his brother, Akainu still frozen in mid-motion thanks to the power leaving her body. It was getting harder to hold him; her ability was draining fast and with Akainu fighting her as hard as he could… Kira wasn't sure how much longer she could hold on.

No. I WILL do this. Kira grit her teeth, a bloody cough surging from her lungs. She would do this. She had to. They had come this far, they had rescued Ace and were so close to freedom.

Arm trembling, she willed herself to just hold on, willed Ace to move faster as blood dribbled down her chin. She could feel the end nearing, the limit to her gift creeping closer with every passing second.

Come on, Ace, grab him and go.

Ace was thirty, twenty, then ten feet away from his brother when Kira's power gave out for good. Like the sigh of a final, dying breath it faded away to a place Kira could no longer reach. She shuddered, a wave of horrible emptiness flooding through her as she collapsed, the cold of the stone beneath her biting into her flesh. The sounds of the battle raging around her vibrated through the ground, rattling her bones.

Ace skidded to a stop a mere five feet from Luffy, who was pale and shaking. He whipped his head to Kira, as if some internal instinct forced him to turn around. Eyes widening, Ace lurched forward as if to run back to her, to help her, even with his brother so close. Behind him, Akainu was reorienting himself, fresh rage filling his eyes as he gazed upon the brothers.

No, Ace. Turn around. Turn AROUND Ace! LOOK BEHIND YOU!

He froze as Kira's eyes widened in alarm, panic contorting her features. A fear like he had never seen before glazed her eyes as she frantically shook her head, her useless body trembling. She was trying to tell him something, but her eyes were unfocused as she stared at him.

Not me not me not me not me-

It was then Ace realized she was not looking at him.

She was looking over his shoulder, behind him.

To where Akainu, now free, was resuming his charge on Luffy, his fist once again poised and ready.

Time stopped.

And Ace moved.

Five steps and he was in front of Luffy, arms splayed wide. Icy determination settled his features as he glanced back to Kira, his mouth forming three words as that fist neared his heart.

I love you.

And Kira watched as Akainu punched a hole through the chest of the love of her life.