Authors Note - We're getting closer to the start of the actual one piece storyline. Thank you all for keeping up with this! I know the plot holes are horrendous, but I enjoy writing this story. It's quiet and fun side hobby.

Story Description: Traveling dimensions wasn't unheard of for Sakura. But Kaguya had been defeated and sealed four years ago, during the forth great ninja war. So why the fuck, was she tied to a mast - on a god forsaken ship, surrounded by PIRATES?!

Ships: (Past) Sasuke/Sakura, (Future) Ace/Sakura

Warnings: language, violence

Recap...

Ace grins. "Good!" He stops, before turning around and fleeing just as Marco comes around the corner.

"I heard voices, everything okay?" He asks, when he notices Sakura standing there alone.

She hums, lazily turning to face the first commander. "Just Ace."

Marco grins fondly, shaking his head. But comes to stand beside her, tilting his head to face her. "I'm glad he's warming up to someone."

She sighs. "Me to."

"Why did you join?" Ace asks.

Sakura opens her eyes, staring at Ace, who sat on the wooden floor in front of her. Elbows on his knees, chin resting in the palm of his left hand.

The kunoichi hummed thoughtfully. Her gaze scrutinizing.

"Because..." she trails off, thinking over her words carefully.

"it's a long story. Really." She huffs. "But I had no where else to go. The closet island was a months travel. Eventually, when we docked I had grown close to everyone on this ship. Decided to stay, might as well." Sakura finishes.

It wasn't the full truth. Her words warped, to hide her real origin. Unsure if the boy would even understand, that she came from a completely different world. That pirates and devil fruits weren't even a thing to her, not until the crew so graciously introduced them to her.

Ace kept quiet as she spoke. Before opening his mouth to reply. "So you stayed because you had no where else to go."

Sakura rolls her eyes. "Partly. But they offered to help me out, and.. it's quiet difficult to say no to Whitebeard. As I'm sure you've noticed." She jokes.

Ace grunts. "Bastard can't take no for an answer."

"Ace." Sakura starts.

"Yeah, yeah. Sorry to bad mouth your Captian. But I am trying to kill him." He grumbles.

She just grins, withholding a laugh. "That wasn't what I was going to say, actually." She starts with a muse. "My captain means the best for you. Whatever your troubles may be, know that he will find a way to work around it, fix it, care for it. Whatever it needs." She says. Her voice laced with reassurance.

"He's helping me, giving me a home until I can find my way back." Sakura adds softly.

Ace looks at her, for a long time. Longer than necessary. Eyes narrowed in the silence.

"You as well?" He murmurs. And Sakura opens her mouth to rebut.

"I will kill your Captian. So I can prove I am the strongest, so I won't be held back by my fathers name! So I can pave my own path." Ace continues, his voice growing louder. She leans back, watching as he grows more heated.

"Your fathers name?" She queries.

Ace's face grows sheet white, and his lips snap shut. Sakura notices his change in personality, how quickly he grew quiet at the mention of her question.

"It doesn't matter." He spits out.

"You do not need to tell me, if you do not want to. But know that Whitebeard is a considerate man." Sakura whispers.

Ace looks at her for a moment, before turning his head sharply. "You are just like the rest of the commanders." He says. Before standing. Sakura watches him from the ground, a frown on her face.

"If you guys knew... you'd hate me. The commanders would hate me. Whitebeard would as well, and then you'd kill me. Do not lie to me, and say he would be considerate." Ace says coldly, before turning and leaving the room the two of them were in.

She watches him leave, before standing up on her own. Looking around the room before sighing.

"Such a confident boy, but with such a burden. I hope Whitebeard will get through with him." Sakura murmurs sadly.

Sakura notices a pattern, after the first two weeks.

Teach, thankfully, had kept his distance. Only ever approaching her when Thatch or Marco are speaking with her. Forcing the kunoichi to smile through the urge to crush his head with her fingers. The bastard seems to read her like an open book, getting off on pissing her off.

She hasn't seen Ace the past few weeks either. Not since their little discussion. Sakura could find him if she willed herself to. If she thought the kid was in danger. But it was clear he wanted space. And she wouldnt push. Incase she made their fragil relationship break to the point of no return.

Marco as mentioned it over a cup of coffee. And she waved off his worries. Sakura didn't think she pissed him off. Perhaps made him uncomfortable with her reassurance. It just made her aware, that she'd need to be more careful with her words. Ace wasn't Naruto, or Sasuke. Who she knew by heart. This kid was clearly hurt to a degree, and needed small steps to healing whatever had cut deep into his heart.

A crash sounds far in front of her. And her head tilts to Izou. Who sighs and walks a bit faster. The two of them push open the double doors, approaching the deck.

She quickly finds the source of the noise. Ace.

"of course." She murmurs, and Izou shares the sentiment. Heading towards Whitebeard. Marco approached the gun user, shaking his head exasperated.

Sakura meets the commanders eyes, and nods. Spinning around and heading towards the pile heep that is Ace. The fire user is knock unconscious, bleeding mildly from his head. Perhaps another concussion. Whitebeard never did seem to hold back on his hits. At least he managed to not kill the brat.

Grabbing underneath his arm, Sakura hauls him over her back, carrying him like cattle towards Marco and Izou. Ignoring the few stares as she does so.

"Want me to look after his wounds? Or wait for you?" She asks Marco. The commander shakes his head.

"Just get him healed, I'll have Thatch bring him some food. And then.. tomorrow I'll have a talk with him. This is keeping out of hand." Marco groans, pinching the arch of his nose.

Sakura raises her brow, but nods. Winking goodbye to Izou, and heading towards the medical bay. Thankfull the teen doesn't wake up on their walk over, not until she plops him down on the bed.

Ace jerks awake, glaring fiercely around the room before his eyes land on her. Sakura looks unamused. Heads reaching out above his head, hovering with her medical chakra.

"Stupid stunt you pulled today. What number concussion is this? Twelve?" Sakura grumbles, healing the internal damage and small cut ontop of his head.

Ace glares. Keeping quiet.

She reaches over for the rag, and brings it down to clean the drying blood. Sighing.

"Your stubbornness will get you killed. Stop acting like a brat." She snaps.

Ace blinks at her. "Marco wants to talk to you tomorrow, be prepared." Before standing and walking from the room. Shaking her head as the door closes. Whitney turns the corner, looking at her and then towards the door.

She grins sheepishly. A knowing look crosses Whitney's face as they pass one another. Only time would tell. Sakura thinks.

The next day is quiet. The medical room is empty, like usual. And Sakura spends most of her time helping The nurses organize and clean up. She even shared a few safe stories of Tsuande. And her drunken teachings. The nurses are amused through them all, and they even get lunch delivered to the room thanks to the ever so throughtful thatch.

It's a nice day. Calm but a tad busy. Perhaps later this week, once she has more than enough chakra cumulative she can try summoning again. Perhaps Tsunade or Naruto have figured anything out. Or Sasuke. A sad frown makes its way on Sakura's face as she thinks of Sasuke.

She knew how much his redemption journey was to him. But making her wait in an unknown world? She missed Ino, and their gossip sessions. She wondered if the blonde got enough balls to ask out Sai. Sakura knew the two needed to get laid, preferably together.

Part of her also wondered if Naruto finally figured out the whole deal with Hinata. Or if Kiba managed to snatch her first? What if Kakashi? Her poor, old sensei.

Shaking her head of old thoughts, she focuses on the present. It was finally dinner, and she could smell the food from outside the door. Heading into the dining hall. Sakura glances around, finding Whitney and the rest of the nurses. Along with a few others. Then towards Thatch, behind the counter handing out food.

He waves her over with her spoon, and she makes her way towards him. Grabbing a plate and piling it up.

"Did you pass Marco on your way here?" Thatch asks, as he follows her down the line.

Sakura shakes her head no. "Why, haven't seen him today?" She asks.

Thatch shrugs. "Haven't seen him, Izou, or Ace since he went to talk to the boy. Was just curious."

She raises a brow, pulling away from the line. "Well I'll look for him after I eat yeah?" Thatch nods, and Sakura heads over to the table with all her closer coworkers. If she could call them that. Perhaps friends even?

Sakura sits down, and begins eating. Listening her way into the conversation happening around the table. She doesn't catch much, before the doors open with a bang and the room falls silent. Marco and Izou enter, large smiles on their faces.

"We'd like you to meet your new brother." Marco begins. Before the two step aside.

Sakura nearly drops her fork, as Ace emerges from behind the two. His shirt completely off. The crowd is quiet for a moment, before everyone erupts in cheers. Sakura is sure she even heard a few finally's in the crowd.

The teens eyes meet hers, and he spins. Showing her his back. Sakura raises her brows at the large tattoo covering the firefly's back. A few people in the crowd whistle.

The teen makes his way towards her, and she herself can't help but whistle jokingly. Ace flushes, and crosses his arms. "I see you joined. What changed?" She asked.

Ace looks towards Marco. "He.. said something. And we'll, Oyaji accepted me." He says.

Sakura grins. "I'm glad."

He nods slowly, looking back down. "And uh, id like to talk with you, later. If that's alright?" He asks.

Sakura tilts her head, but agrees. "Of course." He grins in reply, looking relieved. Before heading towards the food. Thatch greets him happily. And everyone watches in horror as he piles food onto his plate. More, and more. Sakura stares bewildered.

Before she looks at the kid in horror. If this was his normal portion.. did that mean he's been starving this whole entire time?!