Hello everyone, here is the next chapter!

This has some stuff

Hope you enjoy

Read and relax

Whitebeard sat in the meeting room, waiting for Marco to come, and it was some hours later that Marco came into the meeting room and looked fine, and Ace hummed. "You could have told them fire rebirths you." Marco hummed back. "They didn't even know how old I was. Should I have just said 'Hey, if I die, burn me', yoi?" Ace nodded. "Yes." Marco sighed. "No, it wouldn't fit. How did you know?" Ace chuckled. "Jormi taught me." Whitebeard frowned. "Who is Jormi?" Ace hummed. "Jormungandr, the World Serpent." Ah, the big snake, that made sense.

Ace hummed and looked at Marco. "Know how the previous your powers person died?" Marco shook his head and Ace chuckled. "It's bad and sad. He also didn't tell about his powers, that fire reborns him. So, back then it was called a viking death, but pretty similar to a pirate's death. You get on a float and then set on fire to burn away. Well, they did this for him when they thought he was dead. Well, it rebirthed him, but the float burned, and he drowned. Sad." They all blinked, Marco speaking first. "What? That's how he died, yoi?" Ace nodded. "Yeah. Jormi told me that, he liked him. He likes you too, but yeah." Marco blinked. "Wait wait. That big snake likes me, yoi?" Ace chuckled. "Serpent, but yeah. He felt you were nice." Marco blinked again. "Wow. That's cool. How did you learn to speak… serpent, yoi?" Ace hummed. "Azuruko taught me. I like Jormi, he is cool." Marco nodded. "Makes sense, yoi."

Thatch then moved his hand. "Can we all agree it is odd we accept that the huge speaking snake talking about the flaming chicken being reborn is something we would have not believed a couple years ago, before Ace? Because this is all… odd. But it does make sense." Ace hummed. "What can I say? I got an interesting life." Thatch nodded. "Certainly. Has it gotten more interesting with us? Or more boring?" Ace hummed. "Definitely more interesting. More people make that happen." Thatch nodded. "Makes sense." Ace nodded. "Yeah. It is very nice as well. Never liked to be around many before here. Or still doesn't, but you don't count." Thatch hummed. "Many others feel the same. Family doesn't count as other people, so yeah." Ace nodded. "Yeah."

Marco then looked at Ace. "Also, who was it that shot me, yoi?" Ace gave a small sound. "I have handled it." And it was clear based on the tone it wasn't up for discussion, which Marco seemed to get as he nodded. Ace nodded as well. "Now, let us get on with the days." They all nodded and they did. Marco was also fine, which was good.

They then docked a week later, on a large island, and after some hours of being docked, Whitebeard blinked as he saw who came onto the boat from the plank, and it was Daisuke, Deuce, and Lora. Ace also seemed to expect them a bit. When they came onto the boat, Ace spoke. "So, got a good look around?" Deuce nodded. "Yeah, there were a lot of… signs." Ace nodded. "Yes. It is an island we are often on, and to teach how it works. Which is why we will do something." And Ace looked at Daisuke, who gave a nod, and Ace headed off the boat, and was soon on top of a tower, and Deuce spoke. "Imagine he was chased up, people after him, what did the markings say?" Deuce blinked. "They said… to jump? But that is like super dangerous!" Daisuke hummed. "Yes, but trust it, and then, do what the markings said. Not jump, fall." And Daisue made a movement with his hand, and Ace moved his arms out, before he moved to have his back to the edge, and then just… fell down, and out of view.

It had him worried, but he knew Ace probably had control. Lora gave a 'huh'. "He died." Daisuke chuckled. "No, but now, as you're away, you need to blend in. Look at the crowd at the dock." They all did, and he just saw a bunch of people bussing around, when Deuce spoke. "There, the one in green." Whitebeard looked and saw what looked like a merchant in a green hood, and Daisuke hummed, before he gave a whistle, and the 'merchant' moved his hood he had on, and it was… Ace. That was amazing. Lora gasped. "So cool! How did you do that!" Daisuke blinked. "He… was blue?" Deuce looked at Daisuke in confusion, and Daisuke nodded. "Yes. Companions are blue, you will learn this more." Lora blinked. "But… he was green? Daisuke hummed. "You will be taught this as well, but you can see certain things and markings. Deuce is special here, but you can still learn it. Ace knows it." Lora nodded. "I see. I want to learn!" Daisuke hummed. "And you will, later." Lora huffed, crossing her arms.

Ace then came back on the boat and smiled at Deuce. "I hope this visit on this island was informative." Deuce nodded. "Yeah. It was. How did you land from the tower?" Ace hummed. "There is a merchant there who has fabrics and pillows, we simply land in this. Always trust the markings." Deuce nodded a bit slowly. "What if it is fake?" Ace hummed. "Also use common sense. But mostly, trust them, and your instincts." Deuce nodded. "I see. I like this. This is interesting.

Lora huffed. "This is boring! I want to do stuff! Teach me how to do that!" Ace hummed. "That will take years." Lora sighed. "Boring!" Daisuke looked at Ace. "I don't like Lora." Ace hummed. "Too bad, you're stuck with her." Daisuke sighed. "Is this punishment?" Ace hummed. "Maybe." Daisuke sighed. "Well, I do deserve it." Ace looked at Daisuke. "You deserve worse in my opinion." Lora hummed. "What is actually going on? Why are so many mad at the old man?" Daisuke sighed. "I am not that old." Lora shrugged. "Compared to me, you're old." Ace hummed. "Ask Moira about it, I am not in the mood." Then Ace left, heading most likely to his room. And after that, it wasn't long before Daisuke said they should leave, but before it, Trevor asked if Deuce could tell him what was inside the mark in the meeting room.

When he asked, Daisuke frowned and went to check, asking Deuce to not tell. When he came back, Daisuke said, "No, you may not." Trevor groaned. "Come on!" Deuce then gave a look to Lora when Daisuke didn't look, and Lora took off running, which had Daisuke sigh,as he muttered "Not again…" Before he ran after, yelling for her to stop. When they were off the boat, Deuce looked at Trevor. "It is his mark." Deuce said as he pointed at the captain. And Trevor blinked. "What?" Deuce nodded. "And I've seen it more than once around, I don't get it fully." Trevor blinked, moving a hand to his head. "Oh my God! This is huge!" Trevor then looked at the captain. "This is so huge! Ace! Oh my God!" Whitebeard was about to ask, when Daisuke came, carrying Lora over his shoulder as he looked at Deuce. "Let's go." Deuce nodded and they left, Lora fighting a bit, but Daisuke had a good grasp.

When they were off, Whitebeard spoke. "What is this mark?" Trevor seemed very excited. "The one around it is the assassin's mark, our mark. As in assassins in general, but mostly The Red Cloud and good ones. And Ace put your mark inside it! That is huge! This means Ace wants people to know he is here, but only those who can see the marking! You don't get how huge this is!" Haruta spoke. "It is?" Trevor nodded. "It is!" Mika then came around a corner and looked at Trevor. "What is huge?" Trevor looked at Mika. "In the meeting room, the assassin's mark, the mark inside it is Whitebeard's mark! And Deuce has seen it in more places!" Mika blinked, looking shocked. "What! Oh my God! That is huge! That means Ace wants them to be in his work!" Trevor nodded. "Yes!"

Whitebeard blinked. "What?" Mika looked at him. "This means Ace wants people to know this is a safe place for those who can see the markings, mostly assassins. Ace wants this to be a safe place, he means you are safe, and you are good! Ace is telling the world that you, Whitebeard, is a safe man and place to assassins, and those who can read the markings." Whitebeard blinked, before he smiled. He felt glad about that. He would be open for people who needed help and make sure this was a safe place.

-x-

A week later, Whitebeard sat in his room, the clock late, as they were heading towards another neutral island, one they had never docked on. It was a small island, and they had thought of docking there before, but never had before, but they wanted to do it now, to get affiliated with more islands. They were still a couple days away. When night came for full, Whitebeard headed out and found Ace standing close to the railing and headed over. They then spoke about this and that for a while, before Ace sighed. "The island we're heading to, I know you all want to stop, but I feel it should be Bay's decision." Whitebeard frowned. "Why do you feel that?" There had to be a reason. Ace sighed. "Bay's mentor resides on the island. Graham Tyler. He knows Bay is here and I am sure he will be there to say hello to her. His kind of hello, which can be… rough. Maybe Bay doesn't want to meet him, so I think she should be the one to choose." Whitebeard nodded. "I see. And I agree with you. I will go speak with her later, we're still a bit away." They were and the captain would ask Bay to join him in his room later tonight. He then stood with Ace for a bit more, before he headed towards his room again, having asked Ace to fetch Bay if she was awake, to meet him in his room. And when he got to his room, it didn't take long before there was a knock and Bay came inside.

"Pops, you wanted to see me." Whitebeard nodded, motioning for a chair. "I did. I want to bring something past you, about the island we're heading towards." Bay sat down with a nod. "Is there a weather phenomenon I should be aware of? If it's cold, you better have your jacket on and closed." Whitebeard chuckled. "No, nothing like that. But I was informed by Ace that a man called Graham Tyler is there, and I know he was your mentor. I think you should choose if we should dock or not." Bay took a deep breath when she heard the name, before she sighed when he was finished talking. "I see. So if I say no, we will head on?" Whitebeard nodded. "Yes. You have your own reasons, and I will listen to them." Bay took a breath, hands holding around herself. "I think… I think I'm ready to see him again. I need to get some… closure I think." Whitebeard nodded. "That's very mature of you. And from what Ace said, he's trying to change." Bay gave a soft chuckle, before she sighed. "I can imagine that's hard for him, but I am ready to face him." Whitebeard nodded. "That's mature of you. And if you want to leave, you just say so." Bay nodded. "Thank you, Pops, it means a lot." Whitebeard shook his head. "I want the best for my children." He did, and even though Bay was strong, she was still his child.

Bay stayed with him for a few minutes more, before she headed back to the infirmary, having a couple patients from training accidents. He then stayed up a bit longer before he went to bed. When the next day started, it was a calm one until they docked, and when they did, an older man stood on the docks, heading onto the ship when the boarding plank was down. Bay was also out on deck, taking a deep breath as the man walked onto the ship. "Bean." The man greeted Bay, and she gave a nod. "Graham." Graham gave a small chuckle. "How's your practice?" Bay clicked her tongue. "It is fine, how's being old?" Graham chuckled. "Just fine." He then looked back at the dock. "I would love to get a tour, but I need to do something back home. Be back soon." The man then headed off, and as he was, the captain looked at Bay. "Why does he call you Bean, Bay?" Bay sighed. "Because I ain't worth beans, and my name starts with B. Been it since the start. He didn't believe in me, probably still doesn't." Whitebeard nodded. He had heard that saying, a name or saying used for those who are nothing or completely useless. He was about to speak when Bay did with a sigh. "I know you don't like that, but it is now a running gag. I don't mind it, it is just what he calls me." Whitebeard nodded, he would let it go for now. It didn't take long before Graham came back on the boat, Bay coming outside as he did, someone probably told her he was back. "Now," Started Graham. "Show me around. I want to see what you call a practice." Bay nodded and told him to follow and they headed to the infirmary.

They were gone for about two hours, before they returned back out on deck, Graham rolling his eyes. "Well, I've seen worse practices, but I've also seen better. Like mine was." Bay snorted. "Mine is just as good, if not better. People aren't in pain and actually like me." Graham snorted. "People like me." Bay shook her head, not saying anything. Graham then sighed, before he gave a soft look to Bay. "But everything aside, I'm proud of you, Bay. You're a good doctor." Bay stood still for a couple seconds, before she let out a breath, moving to hug Graham, who didn't hug her back, just stood still. They stood like that for a minute, before Bay let go, and when she did, she had glassy eyes, which made Graham snort. "Dot go all sappy, Bean." Bay snorted herself. "Like I ever will for you, Graham." Graham chuckled. "Nice response, Bean." Bay chuckled. "How's retirement treating you, really?" Graham sighed. "Boring, so boring. I miss working."

Bay took a breath. "I will probably regret this the moment I say it, but how about you come do a few shifts with me? If you act nice." Graham hummed. "I will act civil towards the crew, not the assassins." Bay lifted an eyebrow. "If they accept that, I can too." Trevor hummed. "Fine for me. Let me just ask Ace." Trevor then turned to Dust. "What does Ace think of this?" Dust ruffled his feathers, before he nodded with a caw. "I take that as a yes! You're on, old man." Graham chuckled. "I look forward to seeing Ace. I haven't seen him since surgery 2 years ago." Bay snorted. "Of course you haven't. And he is fine." Graham lifted an eyebrow. "Real fine or Ace fine? The difference is huge. He said he was fine when he had a knife in his back and was missing 5 teeth and 3 fingers." Bay blinked. "That's not fine." Graham nodded. "Exactly. Ace is like that." Bay took a breath. "I will be on the watch out." Graham nodded "Good."

Things were calm after that, and after tw hours, Ace appeared on the deck, and as he did, Graham hummed. "See there, you returned. I heard you almost killed yourself, again. I also see you failed, again." Graham said what? Ace didn't seem to care as he chuckled. "I didn't want to risk winding up in hell with you for when you die, which should be soon. How long are you staying?" Graham hummed. "Maybe through today. I miss home as well. But I will enjoy working a bit again." Ace nodded. "Remember, we always have a spot on our team as well." Graham sighed. "A bit too much, I'm not what I once was." Ace nodded. "That's fine. How's your granddaughter?" Graham chuckled. "Just started waking, or running more like it." Ace lifted an eyebrow. "You can't keep up?" Graham lifted an eyebrow back. "Never said that." Ace just chuckled.

Then the day went on, and graham had some snide remarks here and there, but it seemed like it was mostly at Bay and the assassins. Who seemed used to it. Which was good. It was a bit later, when Ace was away to grab something, that Graham looked at Trevor. "I know Ace more than you. His body." Trevor rolled his eyes. "Yeah right! You don't! I can make him squirm, you can't." Graham hummed. "But I can do something else." Trevor snorted. "You're bluffing." Graham hummed. "Wait and see." Trevor nodded. "Oh, I will. And you can't do anything to him." Graham hummed. "You'll see."

When Ace came later, Graham hummed. "Hey, let me check something." Ace looked at Graham. "What?" Graham moved over, before he lifted his hand and then pushed a spot on the left of Ace's chest, and he didn't expect anything, when Ace started to cough, really bad. It also didn't stop after a few seconds, Ace moving to lean on the railing as he coughed and it was like he almost threw up. As Ace coughed, Graham looked at Trevor. "See?" Trevor looked shocked. "You… teach me! I need to know this!" Graham hummed. "Nope." Then he walked up to Ace, who was coughing, and clapped him on the right side, which seemed to work as Ace slowly stopped coughing. And when he had, Ace glared at Graham. "I hate you." Graham hummed. "Oh, I know."

Graham then stayed a bit, and it was decided that he could join Bay on her rounds now and then, and Ace would get him, which made sense. And Graham promised to be kind, or as kind as he could. It was 3 weeks later that they docked at an island, and everyone headed off to party the first night. The second night, as they would stay until tomorrow, they were going to have a meeting, but Mika didn't show up, which was odd. So they went to search for her, going in a few teams, as this wasn't like Mika at all. And Trevor was busy with something.

As they walked, they soon were by a place Ace had said to check just in case, but it seemed empty, when Izou looked down at some fans on the ground, and they were Mika's. But where was Mika? Izou picked up the fans. "No blood on them." Thatch moved over. "How odd. I don't think she would have left them." Izou nodded as he stood up. "Agree. What now?" Whitebeard wasn't sure. Haruta then spoke. "I told Ace we found the fans here, he's on his way." Haruta had the Den Den, so that was good. Rakuyo nodded. "Then we should search until he comes." Whitebeard agreed. Thatch then blinked. "There doesn't seem like anyone is here, or close by, so why not just yell MIKA!" Said the chef, yelling the last part.

Nothing happened for a second, before he heard what sounded like a weak voice speak from a building, seeming to maybe say Thatch's name. They moved to the building that seemed to have no windows, but had a door, but it was locked, and Thatch knocked on it. "Mika!" He heard the voice again, and he was now sure it was Mika. Thatch then made way for Izou to pick the lock, before they got inside, and it had them all freeze.

By a sort of metal fence, laid Mika on the ground, a hand a bit over her head and chained to the fence by a set of cuffs, spots of blood around her and wounds on her face, seeming like someone had beaten her, she had a sort of dirty blanket over her, and blood by her lower region. Izou was the first to move and picked the cuff, before he moved to help Mika up, but as soon as his hand touched Mika, she jolted as she said "don't touch me." As she moved her front a bit up, and she was naked and bruised, some cuts on her. It was clear what had happened. Someone had raped Mika.

Izou then tried to help her up again, more carefully, but Mika jolted as she almost screamed to not touch her, and it was clear Izou was unsure on what to do. Before he could speak, he heard some sound to his left and saw Ace dragging Thatch's chef jacket off, and as it had just buttons, it was easy, before he moved over to Mika and draped it over her to cover her naked body, before he moved to be in front of her and buttoned some buttons, but not touching her, being careful. When he had, he moved to lean a bit down, holding his arm out sideways, and Mika carefully took it, before she stood up, Ace never touching her, but Mika was the one to touch and take Ace's arm by her own accord.

Thatch was on his way to speak, when Ace sent a glare, shutting him up. Then they got outside, and as they were a couple steps outside, Mika coughed a bit, before she threw up as she fell down, Ace never once touching her, not even to clap her on the back. When she had puked, she slowly stood up again and headed on, Ace being close by her, a professional and stern look on his face as they went to the infirmary. He didn't know what to do, but would let Ace handle this. So they went back to the boat and to the meeting room with his commanders, to try and make sense of this. Mika was strong, so this didn't fit he felt.

But after a bit, Trevor came into the meeting room. "Where is Mika? I can't find her. Hoped she would be here." Izou swallowed. "There… was an incident." Trevor blinked. "What? Is she okay?" No one spoke, and Trevor looked annoyed. "What?! Is she okay!" Whitebeard was on his way to speak when the door opened again and Ace came inside, and Trevor turned to him. "Where is Mika? What incident? Is she okay?" Ace nodded. "She's in the infirmary." Trevor blinked. "Is she fine?" Ace nodded. "She will be." Trevor nodded. "And what happened? They look like someone died." Ace sighed. "It was odd. She got into a fight, nothing too bad, but she got hit into a brick wall and some bricks fell on her. She is a bit bruised and has some cuts, but she will heal." Trevor blinked. "Then why do they look like someone died?" Ace hummed. "In a way, she did lose the battle. Mika was a bit ashamed." Trevor nodded. "Okay. I'll go see her." Then Trevor left.

As he was gone, they looked at Ace, Izou speaking. "Why didn't you tell the truth?" Ace shook his head. "Won't do anything." Rakuyo blinked. "What? How can that not help! He doesn't know!" Izou nodded. "Yes! He needs to know! To get these ones who did this to her!" Ace sighed. "We are, but Trevor can't know." Thatch blinked. "Why not?" Ace looked at Thatch. "Let's pretend someone beat you up since they were mad at you, what would you do?" Thatch blinked. "Beat them up." Ace nodded. "Yes. But, what if someone really messed up Izou since they were mad at you." Thatch blinked. "I would kill them." Ace nodded. "And what if Izou didn't know who they were yet. And they did this to send a message to you, to not make you go somewhere." Thatch nodded. "I would go there and kill everyone." Ace nodded. "And what if that place was mentioned since they wanted you to kill everyone there so you can take the blame off the ones who really did it?"

Thatch blinked, looking shocked. "I… don't know." Ace nodded. "And that's why no one will tell Trevor. Mika wasn't a random victim. They did this to send a message to Trevor, and ended it with 'tell your boyfriend that if he helps those freaks, this will happen again, just this time, there will be 10, not 3 of us.' But since they did it this well, it was most likely a false thing to throw us off. No one tells Trevor." Everyone nodded, getting it now. This was awful. He hoped Ace would find out who it was and bring them to justice.

Then the week went on, and when he saw Mika, she seemed stiff and trying to keep herself with her head held high, but had issues, which he got. It was probably to have Trevor back off. But after a week, Trevor came into the meeting room, cutting the meeting off as he looked upset. Whitebeard blinked. "Tre-" Trevor cut him off as he looked at Ace. "Tell me the truth. Was Mika raped last week?" Everyone blinked, Whitebeard on his way to say no, to make up a lie, when Ace spoke. "Yes." Trevor grabbed an empty chair in front of him and clenched at it, before he gave a growl, before an angry scream as he threw the chair into the wall so it broke, before he looked at Ace. "Why didn't you tell me! They need to pay! They hurt her!" Ace looked at Trevor. "They didn't do this just to hurt Mika. They did it to hurt you. Send a message." Trevor closed his eyes. "A threat. Are you searching for them?" Ace nodded. "Yes." Trevor nodded and took a breath. "Fine. I won't tell Mika I know." Trevor then looked at Ace. "But you and I need to have a chat." Ace nodded and stood up.

Thatch blinked. "I know we kept it a secret, but yelling at Ace more won't help." Trevor shook his head. "Won't yell at him. I need tips on how to handle a rape victim the best way. I want to do this right." Their faces softened, and everyone nodded while Ace left with Trevor, and he hoped things would go fine for everyone. But only time would tell.

And that's the chapter, hope you enjoyed!

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

I hope you enjoyed, and if you want to, I do love feedback, so don't be afraid to leave a review, or send a PM!

If you also want to, I have a Twitter/X account, 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