Chapter 9

Of Desires and Wishes

"She's warming up to you."

Ace looked up from his glass and at the woman.

"You think so?"

"I can see so, actually. She is now more open and seeks to spend more time with you. She even got you a present."

The pirate looked down at his new shoes. It had been a little bit more than a month since their shopping trip, but only recently did Calypso present him with a box saying it was for making up to him for breaking her promise. He instantly recognized the box as the one she bought when on her own at the mall and grinned at her knowingly, wasting no time to rip it open. Ace could still remember the happiness in her eyes when he told her how much he liked her present. And he honestly did. He liked the way his flames were reflecting on the metallic details on the otherwise simple black boots and how they were making almost no sound when he was walking. Beautiful and stealthy, like the person who gave them to him.

He didn't look up when he talked again.

"Shakky, do you think I should be more bold with her about my feelings?"

She laughed.

"Don't you think you're bold enough already? More bold means you'll tell her outright."

Ace just scratched the back of his head awkwardly and glanced towards the door of the room where Calypso was resting.

"Maybe I should do so..."

He never told the woman that his feelings for the girl had grown in the past few weeks to the point where, every time she was around him, he just wanted to crush her in his chest in a hug and kiss her so passionately that she wouldn't be able to think straight. He never told her, but he was sure she already knew. Shakky was more like Calypso in that aspect, since they both simply seemed to know things that even those directly involved hadn't figured out yet.

Ace was expecting an immediate response, so the woman's prolonged silence seemed unnatural to him and so he warily raised his eyes to meet hers. She was thinking, he could tell. She was trying to figure something out.

"I am not sure it's the right time for you to do so. She's warming up to you, yes, but that doesn't mean she has trusted you fully yet. Just give her a little more time."

"How much more?"

She smiled reassuringly.

"Believe me, when the time comes, you'll know."

Ace was about to reply and demand a clearer answer, but the small click of a door opening followed by the hoarse caw of a raven got his attention away from the barkeeper and to the duo that entered the well-lit room.

Shakky was the first one to voice the question that was residing in both their minds at the sight of the cheerful girl who was almost dancing her way to the seat next to the pirate.

"You look extremely happy today. Did something happen?"

The girl simply smirked mischievously.

"I think I'm going to be wealthy by this time tomorrow."

The woman's eyes grew wider.

"You found a new target?"

"Maybe. I heard some rumors and if they're true..."

"I see. Do you have a plan yet, or shall I help you a little?"

"I do. Those gemstones will soon be mine."

Ace raised his hand to pause the conversation and redirect attention to himself and the confusion in his features.

"Wait a second here...Gemstones?"

The witch turned to look at the boy with a smirk.

"Yes, gemstones. There's this rumor going around that a lord from an island with many gemstone mines and his daughter wish to establish a trade deal with the Celestial Dragons and the World Government and, as you know, the only way to Mary Geoise is through the Sabaody Archipelago."

"And he's arriving here tonight?"

She grinned.

"The ship is already here. I just have to make sure that he's on it like the rumors said. This means a visit to Grove 41 is in order."

"Yes, but if the ship is already here he's probably already ashore. It'll be like looking for a needle in a haystack."

Calypso just stared at him for a good while before turning to face Shakky with a smile.

"Isn't he adorable when he's so confused?"

The barkeeper nodded her agreement and took a drag from her cigarette, her smile never leaving her lips.

"Oi! I am not confused."

Heterochromatic eyes were on him again, gleaming with amusement.

"Of course you're not. This is actually why you'll help me."

He blinked.

"Me?"

"Yes, Mister Portgas, you. I need you to keep an eye on them from the rooftops. They will most likely leave the ship once night starts falling in hopes of staying unnoticed. They may be nobles, but they know that when you carry such a precious cargo with you, you have to do everything you can to be careful."

"That means they'll probably be under disguise."

She grinned in a way that sent shivers down the pirate's spine.

"Let them be. I will find them anyway. And once I do, I will send Ebony to follow them by air while I follow them by foot. You will simply have to stay unseen and keep an eye on them from the rooftops."

"Won't seeing someone following them around raise suspicion?"

Another grin, this one mysterious.

"They won't even know I'm there. I will become one with the shadows and follow them all night if need arises."

Ace remained silent for a while. Then he nodded in agreement.

"So, what's the exact plan then?"

••••••

It was a while after the sun set on the horizon and the deep purple of the night started shoving the reds and oranges away from the sky that the two figures walked down the gangplank of a big, mercantile ship and towards the crowd on the street. A man and a woman, both looking alert and careful, yet trying not to look too suspicious. They were about to get mixed up with the many people roaming the streets of the Grove when an old woman appeared in front of them. She was short and was wearing a dark, trimmed cloak that used to be black once, but that did nothing to cover the hump on her back. The hood of the cloak was dragged too low for any part of her face to be visible, but one could still see the long white braid hanging from one side and some other white strands escaping from here and there, all in different lengths. The woman stopped and rested her weight on the wooden cane she was holding with two rag-covered hands, raising her head a little towards the young female with the long golden hair and the big hat that was shadowing her sapphire blue eyes.

"Shall this blind woman tell your fortune for a gold coin, my beautiful young lady?"

Her voice was hoarse and a little bit breathless, as if she was fighting to let it out. The young woman looked down at her.

"If you're blind, how do you know that I'm a young and beautiful old woman?"

"A woman may not be able to see, but she can still hear. The people around you talk about your beauty and how it looks like that of a precious gemstone."

The golden-haired woman felt her breath getting caught at the beggar's last word and the man's hands unconsciously moved to the leather bag on his belt, a motion that didn't go unnoticed by the ragged woman who could only smirk in the safety of the shadow of her cloak.

"Get out of our way, crone."

As if words weren't enough, the man used all of his force, which fortunately wasn't too much, to shove the woman to the side and march past her and inside the sea of people.

The old woman was watching them and after they disappeared entirely, she moved her hood back and straightened herself. A black bird's head appeared from in between the messy strands of hair and the woman turned to look at it while removing the white cloth she had tied around her eyes.

"You got a good look at them, Ebony?"

The raven that had now moved farther down its owner's arm cawed in a confirming way.

"Then go and don't lose them."

She made an upward motion with her arm and the bird flew high and into the darkness of the night to fulfill the wish of his Mistress. Said Mistress raised her eyes farther and to the top of the buildings, just in time to notice a hatted shadow disappear behind a rooftop. Smiling, she covered her face again and carefully made her way to the thick shadows bred by the night.

It was in those shadows that she moved, swiftly but quietly, as if she was one of them. In a way, she was, and as long as she was surrounded by them, she was invisible and tonight, invisible was what she had to be. Her targets were right there, in front of her and yet they couldn't see her. She smirked and continued pursuing them. A glance to the sky and she could see her Ebony doing the same and Calypso was sure that somewhere in those roofs Ace was hiding, grinning. Calypso would never admit it, but this part, the sneaking around with your eyes on the back of your target, was causing her heart to beat louder and louder from the thrill. It was the thrill of the hunt she was feeling, she knew. She had tried to control it at first but it was too strong. Someone once told her that it was in her nature and that she could not fight against something that strong, leading her to eventually come to accept it.

Calypso was sure that she was able to keep thinking about such things for hours to come, but right now she had something else to do. Right now, she should concentrate on her present task, which was following this man and his daughter.

She was thankful that her mind got back on track sooner rather than later because otherwise she wouldn't have noticed the pair walk into a hotel. Stopping in her tracks, she put her hands around her mouth and cawed loudly. A similar answer came back and the girl smiled. She had them now. They couldn't get away. The only thing remaining for her to do was find a way to a higher place and wait. Looking around for anything to help, she noticed a house with a lower roof than the rest a few meters away. In front of the house was a cart and it looked stable enough to be of help to her plan. Taking a deep breath she ran towards it and jumped on top of it, jumping once more immediately after her toes touched a solid surface. Her hand stretched over her head and she managed to get a hold of the roof, but for some reason it was slippery and she could feel her hold loosening.

It was a second after her hold was completely gone that she felt a warm hand closing around her wrist and dragging her up, dropping her on the top of the building. Calypso was about to stand up and thank whoever it was that saved her but she had no time because she suddenly found herself surrounded by warmth and with two strong arms crushing her into a hard chest. She blinked in confusion and tried to move her head back to find the identity of the person hugging her, only to be stopped by a firm hand that gently pressed her head back to rest on a clothed shoulder.

"Please don't move. For a while...Can you stay like this for a while?"

Calypso's eyes widened. This voice belonged to Ace, and yet it was entirely different from what she was used to hearing. She knew Ace's voice to be loud and strong and filled with life and laughter. This one was the exact opposite; a low whisper, weakened by fear and tears.

"Ace?"

He pulled her closer to him and tangled his hand around the pink curls he so loved. By now, the girl was at a loss for words and frozen in her place. Ace was hugging her and that was making her feel happy and safe, but at the same time she was worried about him. She wanted to know why he sounded the way he did but she couldn't dare speak out of fear of ruining this fragile moment.

As if sensing her internal conflict, the pirate decided to break the silence.

"I saw you falling and I thought I wouldn't be quick enough. I was afraid you'd fall and that something bad would happen to you."

Calypso felt her arms moving on their own to close around the body of the pirate she loved. Yes, she loved him and she was not afraid to admit it to herself anymore and, if the tears in her shoulder had anything to prove, he loved her too.

"Ace, look, I'm fine. Thanks to you."

Silence.

"I don't want to lose you, Cal. Never. I can't lose you."

This declaration of his stabbed her heart like a knife. She knew he meant it and that made her hurt even more. She squeezed him comfortingly but, otherwise, kept to herself. Maybe she could tell him, sit him down and explain everything. Maybe then he'd understand why what he asked was impossible. Or maybe...maybe she could try and give him a chance. Calypso looked up at the sky and the stars that were decorating it and, closing her eyes, wished for them to help her decide, and she prayed to the moon to guide her in the right path the way it did for others she knew.

She had no idea how long they remained like this, holding and silently comforting each other, but she knew it was long enough when she felt her hands grow numb. She was considering breaking the hug, but she liked how it felt to be in his arms. It was warm and safe and she felt like she belonged here. Unfortunately, like everything good does, it too ended when Ace moved away. He still kept the hand he had in her hair but nothing else, not even his eyes, was on her and she soon felt that one hand go too. She tilted her head and looked at him but he averted his eyes and that hurt her. She moved one step closer to him and he tensed.

"Ace, what's wrong?"

He looked up with the most conflicted emotions in his eyes mirroring the thoughts that he didn't dare speak. She kept looking at him and she even moved a hand so their fingertips touched. He opened his mouth; he was about to say something, tell her what he was thinking, but the sudden sound of wings cutting through the air stole his words and with that, it also stole the moment.