Hello everyone, here is the next chapter!

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Marco gave a breath as he got to Pops' office and sat down in a chair, hand on his face. He had just shown Death to Ace and now they were off to eat brunch. "Why does Ace have to be so lovable, yoi? I am glad he is getting friends, but first Shanks, the one who never speaks to anyone, but now Death?" Pops seemed to think. "Ace certainly is lovable. And he does all he can to be nice to people. Ace got to know Death through Shanks, wasn't that right?" Marco nodded. "Yes. I didn't know they knew each other, but they do, yoi. I just, this isn't a normal demon or person, this is Death."

Pops gave a breath. "We just have to keep faith in Ace here, son. Death isn't one to use others, he likes things his way." Marco gave a breath. "But what if Ace annoys Death somehow, yoi? Or offends him? You remember how he just brushed his shoulder and killed the last devil, right? The man we tried to kill for months, yoi." Marco remembered that so clearly. Death was just walking and the last Devil bumper into his shoulder, said man they had tried to kill for so long, and with a very small movement from Death, the Devil was dead. Just with a simple motion of brushing something off his shoulder. Same shoulder the previous Devil had bumped into.

Pops nodded. "I remember that very clearly, and I remember how mad God was, before he found out Death did it. God then just said it was fine. Death is powerful. But as I just said, we need to keep faith in Ace here. Death seems to like Ace, which in a way, can work in our favor." Marco gave a breath. "Oh lord no. We will not use Ace to get anything from Death. Death will be very annoyed then, yoi." Pops held a hand up. "And I don't want that and I didn't mean it like that. Maybe he will have a bit longer fuse with us now." That was true, and that might be good.

Marco gave a breath. Why did Ace have to be so lovable? So much so Death, the one who seemed to hate everything and everyone, liked him? Ace was so pure and amazing. And Marco felt him falling more and more for Ace with each day.

-x-

As Ace was done being with Azuruko and was now back home, he went to the garden and made sure it was all good, before he went to the room to relax in bed as he read for a bit. He really enjoyed being with Azuruko, but a lot of people showed up at the cafe they were at and Ace found that tiring. But he still enjoyed it. He will also go out with both Auzurko and Shanks tomorrow.

As he was about to turn the page, the door opened and Marco came inside with a smile and asked how the brunch had been, to which Ace smiled as well. "It was good. I'm sorry Auzurko might have threatened you. I didn't mean for that to happen." Marco shook his head and moved and kissed him. "No. I am sorry for making you feel unsure, yoi. I didn't mean that." That might be true, but still. "I hope Azuruko wasn't too mad." Marco hummed. "Annoyed mostly. I hope I will never see him mad, yoi. Death is a powerful and intimidating person even when he is not angry." That, Ace could get.

Marco then moved to sit beside him on the bed. "What are you reading, yoi? Is it interesting?" Ace then started to tell about the book and this series, which had Marco interested. They then spoke a bit, before Marco needed to go back to his duties and Ace went to his garden again. The next day, he went out to lunch with Azuruko and Shanks, and it was very fun. He really enjoyed Shanks and Azuruko's company. They were in Ethiopia this time, at a small cafe that was very nice. Azuruko asked him out again tomorrow, and Ace said yes to it. Shanks couldn't join this time, but it was okay. Ace did ask if they could go to a cafe he had heard about, which was a couple states from where he lived, which Azuruko said was fine.

Then as they had been away for a bit over an hour, they left back and Ace spend the rest of the day by his garden. He really liked his garden a lot and everything was growing nicely and would most likely bloom in a week or two if he kept this up, which he would. The lilies in the pond were also growing nicely and would soon bloom as well. They bloomed faster than the flowers he had and the koi seemed to really enjoy them.

So the next day, Azuruko came and got him and they left for the cafe, which was very nice. But when they had been there for half an hour, Azuruko gave a breath and closed his eyes, before he looked at him. "We need to cut this short I am afraid." Ace blinked. "Why?" Azuruko was on his way to speak, when Ace heard an explosion, before screaming. Ace looked towards the exit. "What was that?" Azuruko moved to stand up. "There was an explosion. It will have many casualties. Many who need help moving on. It will take a small bit. I am sorry about this, I can't predict these things, even if people think I can." Ace nodded. "I can wait for you. So you don't need to stress about getting me home right now." Azuruko gave a nod and looked at him. "Thank you. There is a fire, it is two buildings over." Ace nodded and Azuruko left.

Ace then waited a bit, before he also went outside. He looked to his left and saw some smoke coming out of it, but the paramedics and fire department were here now and doing their best. It was a large building that had 6 floors, and seemed like a busy place. Everyone who was outside looked at it in shock, but many also walked past as the worst was over. But as Ace looked around, he blinked. On a bench not too far away, sat a girl, who couldn't be older than 15, looking at the building with sad eyes. Not panicked or scared ones. But there was also something about her that seemed a bit off. She seemed so sad and everyone who walked past was ignoring her.

Ace walked over to her and sat down next to her as he looked at the building. "Do you know anyone there?" The girl looked at him, before she shook her head. "No, I don't. I just feel bad for them. They need to try and move on now. And that can be very hard." Ace hummed. "No. Moving on is not hard. That is a misconception. What is hard is letting go." The girl blinked and looked at him. "What do you mean?"

Ace gave a breath. "Everyone can move on, get on with your life. Make the days pass. What is hard is letting go. Letting go of a loved one who died. Letting go of a pet. Letting go of a place. Letting go of a memory. But the issue is that at times, you holding on to what you miss is hurting you. Like a memory you want to re-live, or a time you want to go back to. Letting go can be scary, and while you don't notice it yourself, you're holding onto something that can hurt you. Like if you think of it like a fishing line, and you hold onto the line to get back what you want, but the line keeps cutting into your hand the harder you hold on. You want that thing at the end of the line, as it is a promise of something better or something you're used to. But the harder you hold, the more hurt you are. You can loosen the grip, but it will never heal as long as you hold on. So you need to cut it to let go. When you let go, it will hurt and bleed, but it will also heal fully with time. But now you have let go, so it can heal. And it will feel scary and awful, but it will heal. And I know many say time heals all wounds, but no. Time doesn't just heal, it also teaches you how to live with it."

The girl blinked and looked at the burning building. "What if letting go means you will be forgotten? Or you will forget?" Ace shook his head. "No. Because if it is something you care about, you will never forget. You can always look down at your hand and see the scar from the fishing line, and think back on how awful you had it, holding on to something you could never get back, which hurt you a lot. But now it is all a memory as you've let go and can truly move on. You can never move on until you've let go. And if those you love loved you, you will never be forgotten." Ace moved a hand to his pocket and took out his small squishmallow he had gotten from Sabo, and Luffy had gotten a scarf for it. It was a small penguin that looked happy.

The girl looked at it. "What is that? It is cute." Ace nodded. "I got it from my younger brothers, before they died. I didn't want to go to their funeral, as that would make it real. I didn't want to forget them, for the world to forget them. I held onto that line very hard, until I cut it. But the thing about that is, when you cut it, you still have some pieces left reminding you of the thing you want back, that can help you let go. For me, it is this squishmallow. I got the squishmallow from my younger brother, Sabo, but my youngest, Luffy, said it lived where it was cold, so it needed a scarf. I know they are always with me as long as I have this with me, and I know they are at a better place right now and would want me to move on. It was very hard, and it took a while, but when I did, I managed to smile again. Laugh again. Get to know new people. People I now love as well. But even then, my brothers are in my mind and heart at all times, because I have this. It was also this penguin and my friends who made me go to the funeral, saying it was better to regret going than regret not going"

The girl nodded and moved a hand to her neck, where she had a necklace that was a necklace with tinkerbell. "That is a pretty necklace." The girl nodded. "I got it from my mom before…" The girl shook her head a bit. "She always said I was like tinkerbell. I always tried to make others happy and loved to run around, like tinkerbell liked to fly. She bought a set, this necklace and a pair of earrings. But I never got my ears pierced, so she uses the earrings." Ace nodded. "And sometimes, what makes you remember what you hold onto, also hurts you. But you try and keep it. I had a time when I couldn't look at my squishmallow, but even though I wanted to throw it away, I never could. And now when I feel sad, stressed, angry, or upset, I look at it to feel better. When I feel happy I look at it. Sometimes it hurts as I wished they were here. But they are in a better place now, and while it hurt to let go, I can now look back at the memories without crying, remembering the happy times. I couldn't do that until I let go."

The girl nodded and let go of her necklace and looked at him. "I am sorry about your brothers. You seem very kind and nice." Ace smiled at the girl. "You do too. And I know they are looking down at me, keeping watch. What would make them happy is for me to move on, but never forget them. The reason I keep my squishmallow with me. I'm sorry about your mom. Did she pass long ago? It is okay if you don't want to talk about it." The girl shook her head. "She is okay, she is working right now. In that store over there." She said as she pointed to a small clothes store. Ace blinked and looked over to see a woman in the store, looking sort of the girl in a way. The same dark hair and fair skin.

Ace wasn't sure how this made sense, when he heard a voice to his left. "Alyssa," He looked over and saw Azuruko heading towards them, looking calm. "How are you?" The girl, Alyssa, looked at Azuruko and stood up. "I am fine, Azuruko. I think I am ready to go now." Azuruko looked a bit taken aback. "What made you ready, Alyssa?" Alyssa smiled at him. "He did. Moving on was never the hard part, but letting go was. But I now see me holding on is not helping. But can you do me a small favor?" Azuruko looked at Alyssa with a kind smile. "What is it, Alyssa?" Alyssa moved and took her necklace off. "Can you give this to my mom?" She asked as she held it out. Azuruko nodded and took it. "Of course I will, Alyssa. I am glad Ace was able to help you."

Alyssa nodded and gave a smile to him. "Thank you, Ace. I hope our paths will cross again. If I see Sabo or Luffy, I will tell them you are okay and were very kind to me." Azuruko then moved his cane a bit up and down again as it made a small thump, which made a square which was completely white appear a bit away, about Alyssa's height, like a doorway. Alyssa took a breath, before she walked through it, before it closed. When it did, Azuruko looked at him. "How did you manage that, Ace? She has not wanted to move on for almost half a year, since she died." Ace blinked. "I didn't know she was dead. She looked sad. I just wanted to try and cheer her up. I thought her mom was dead. I didn't know souls could stay here. Is that like ghosts?" Azuruko hummed. "Not quite. What you call ghosts, are a sort of echo. To see or hear them, you need to believe and know the one who it is an echo off. A soul who doesn't want to move on and into Heaven, will simply walk the Earth, and no one can see them, beside ones who are already dead as well."

Ace nodded, he didn't knew that. "She was very young. What killed her? Was she sick?" Azuruko shook his head. "No. She got hit by a car one evening, a drunk driver. He was sentenced to life in prison. Ever since then, she has moved after her mom, wanting to help her move on, not wanting to leave her alone. Her father died when she was very young. She wanted to watch over her mom like she watched over her." Ace nodded and looked at Azuruko and held his hand out. "Can I give it to her? I have an idea on how it should be done." Azuruko nodded and gave the necklace to him, and Ace looked at it as it was very pretty and could see it had an A in it, probably for Alyssa. Ace then walked into the store, pretending like he looked at some clothes, before she looked at the woman, and Ace could see she had on the tinkerbell earrings. They looked exactly like the necklace.

Ace then spoke. "Excuse me, miss?" The woman turned to him and she looked tired and sad. She did her best to give a forced smile. "Can I help you?" Ace nodded. "Yes. I met this lovely girl who wanted you to have this, and say that she will always watch over you, as you did to her." He said as he held out the necklace to her, and she blinked and looked at it in disbelief, before she saw the A in it and looked at him. "How did you get this? This is…" Ace nodded. "Alyssa was scared you felt alone, but if you had this, you would always have a piece of her with you. And she is watching over you." The woman got tears in her eyes as she took the necklace. "Are you an angel?" Ace smiled. "Almost. I just help people let go and move on. Alyssa had some issues as she didn't want to leave you alone, but with this, you never will be, and the set belongs together."

The woman smiled at him with tears in her eyes as she took it and looked at it, before she looked at him. "Is she okay? Is she scared?" Ace shook his head. "She was a bit. She was scared you would be alone now. But she saw you were still doing your best to move on, and realized she had to as well. She is happy now and looking down at you." A few of her tears fell. "Thank you. I don't know what to say." Ace shook his head with a smile. "You don't need to say anything. Do you want me to help take it on?" The woman nodded and handed it to him and turned around, and Ace sent a look at Azuruko, who seemed to get what he wanted, before he took on the necklace. As he was done and moved his hands away, he was beside Azuruko again, looking into the store as the woman turned around to find no one there, looking around shocked, before she moved a hand to the necklace and smiled as her tears fell. After a bit she collected herself and went on, a genuine smile on her face.

Azuruko looked at him. "You handled that very well. I have tried to make her move on since she died." Ace shook his head. "It is nothing. Moving on is easy, letting go is hard." Azuruko nodded. "You made a connection with her. You know what it is like as you have been alive. I have not." Ace nodded, feeling glad he could help people let go and be happy. Azuruko hummed. "Feel free to say no. But would you like to help with a few now and then? I have issues truly connecting. You do not. You don't need to say yes, as this is a job most hate." Ace blinked. "I would like to help. The worst feeling is being stuck and holding on to something you can never get back." Azuruko nodded. "I will tell you if I need you. I don't want to overwhelm you either." Ace nodded, he got that, and that was good. But he really wanted to help others also let go and move on.

They then grabbed some ice cream, before they went back and Ace went to his garden to make sure it was all good. He did notice he was getting low on water, or blood water, and would ask Marco to mention he needed more soon. So when he was done, he went back to his and Marco's room and relaxed until dinner. Marco came by after a bit and Ace mentioned the blood carefully and Marco said he would handle it, which was good. Then Ace looked at Marco. "Also…" Marco gave a supportive look to him as he didn't continue. "What is it, yoi?" Ace took a breath. "While I was with Azuruko, there was this explosion that had many casualties so Azuruko had to work. But I met this lovely girl and I thought she was sad since her mom had died, but she was dead and didn't want to move on, but I helped her move on. And Azuruko had tried that for a long while but she wouldn't. And Azuruko asked if I could at times help him help souls move on… Is this okay for you?"

Marco blinked. "You did, yoi?" Ace nodded and told how it had happened, which had Marco smile. "You are so kind, yoi. I can't stop you if you want to, but if you do, promise me one thing, okay?" Ace nodded, not sure what it was. Marco grabbed his hands. "Should it get too much for you mentally, to help souls move on, please tell me, yoi. I don't want you to risk your mind. It can be a sad and tough job." Ace nodded. "I promise. So you approve?" Marco smiled. "Of course I do. I will support you in everything, yoi." Ace smiled, so glad. Marco was so nice, and he was looking forward to helping Azuruko. He wanted to help people. He would go out with Azuruko again in 2 days and would tell him this then, that he would love to help.


And that's the chapter! Hope you enjoyed

Things are moving on and next one will have more events

If you have any ideas, don't be afraid to share them!

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If you also want to, I have a Twitter, my name is Azuruko, and I have a discord, my tag/username is just azuruko, as well as a server (Instant invite: discord . gg / 6hzMhbR) where everyone is welcomed! Updates is also posted there, both on discord and on twitter