"Ah, Akari!" Luffy breaks away from the boys and rushes right at me. "I just remembered in the bath that you were going to tell me what you and Ace talked about. Well, now we have time, so I don't want more time to pass for us to forget about it."

I smile, running my fingers through his damp hair, "You are the captain."

"Go on ahead guys!" he shouts to the others. "Akari and I will be in soon and we can talk about our next move!"

Everyone gives a nod of understanding or a small wave as they keep on walking, leaving Luffy and I alone in the hallway.

"Here, we can sit on the floor," Luffy grabs my hand and pulls me towards the wall.

We take a seat with our backs to the wall, and our legs stretched out in front of us. His hand still holding mine.

"A lot has happened since we ran into Ace," I take a deep breath, feeling some nerves swirling in my stomach. "I really thought that I would have been able to discuss it with you sooner. It is something that I want you to know about."

"We tell each other everything," he gives my hand a squeeze. "That's probably why we work so well together."

I softly smile, "That's probably right."

"Okay, don't let me hold you back. What did the two of you talk about?"

"You know how I grew up in town with my family? An older sister, wonderful mother, and good dad turned terrible alcoholic?"

"Of course."

"That wasn't my family," I sigh. "They adopted me not long after I was born because they had just lost a little girl, so it helped their grieving process. I wonder if that's why my mother gave me so much love." I shake my head, "That doesn't matter right now. They adopted me to try and protect me from the World Government because of who I'm related to. Ace is actually my brother. My true full name is Portgas D. Akari."

"Really? Do you have the same dad?"

I shrug, "He didn't tell me. I don't think he actually knows, and even if he does, I don't think he would tell me. He doesn't want me to be in anymore danger than I already am."

"What does that mean for us?"

I giggle, "What do you mean, Luff?"

"Well, he's a big brother to both of us."

I give him a shove as he chuckles. "He's actually my brother, goof. All you guys did was drink sake together to become brothers. I have different blood flowing through me than you do, so nothing has to change between us. Ace was happy for us when I told him we were together, so I guess that counts as a brother's blessing."

"He would always tease me about how I would go out of my way to protect you when you'd join us on adventures into the forest."

"I needed a lot more protecting back then," I giggle. "It always baffled me that he would push the last name of Portgas on me, but I guess that was his way of telling me I was his true little sister without actually saying it."

"It will look nice on your wanted posters. Your full name."

"Crocodile is the first one I told it to, actually. It felt amazing to say it out loud, to connect myself to Ace for the first time. I know that my bounty is going to be higher because of that connection."

"The higher the bounty the better!"

I giggle, feeling a sadness spread across my chest. "You got so lucky, Luffy. You got to spend so much time with Ace, and once he stopped being a little shit that hated everything, he was such a good brother. Oh, seeing him again made me realize how much I would have loved to grown up with him instead of my sister." I feel a few tears start to run down my cheeks. "We should have grown up together. That old man probably did his best to save us both, but my heart still aches for what I had to go through. I'm not saying that you shouldn't have had Ace as a brother, because I know how much he means to you," I swipe the tears off my cheeks with the bottom of my hands. "I just..."

Luffy's hand comes up to my far cheek, turning my head to look at him. Then he leans forward and presses the softest kiss to my lips. "I get it, dumpling. I understand."

"You can't always kiss me to make things better," I softly smile.

"I know, but I thought this time it would be okay," he grins back, pulling his hand away.

"It was."

"Ace cared about you a lot, Akari. I know all these years later it might not mean a lot, but I think you should know. Even if he wasn't the one that went to your house like I did, he still wanted to keep you safe."

"I didn't think I would cry talking about it, so sorry about that."

"No reason to be sorry. It would suck to know that your brother wasn't able to be your brother."

I giggle, "But it does feel good to know now."

"I do have something that I want to ask you."

"Oh?" I tilt my head slightly to the side.

"When we were in the casino, you stepped away from me and I saw fear flash in your eyes."

"Oh," I nod a few times. "You were screaming words that I remember my father screaming at me when he would get drunk. Geez, I can't believe that I still consider him my father. That man who raised me, who hated me when the woman who raised me died, and would throw things at me while he screamed, he still looms in the back of my mind and comes forward when certain things are said. Like you did in the casino."

"I'm so sorry, dumpling," he pulls me into his chest. "For making those memories come back and for what he did back then. I'm glad that I got to get him when I did. Made him understand that he would never mess with you again."

"He probably knew who I was to some extent, or thought he knew my full background, so once she died, there was no one to tell him to treat me like I was the daughter that he lost. It feels kind of good to know he's not my blood relation. That the ones who share my blood actually love me." I place my hands on his chest to push awayenough to see his face.

"And I love you," he widely grins. "We should probably get to the room so we can talk about leaving tonight."

"Hold on, I want to ask you why you were looking over the wall in the baths," I poke his chest.

He giggles as a red rises on his cheeks. "At first it was because the others were doing it, and then I saw you down there, and I was only focused on you from then on. Then I wanted to see your scar," his hand reaches over to run his fingers over my scarred side. "I never was able to press a kiss to it. I don't want to ever forget about it either. Reminds me to keep you close."

"You're sweet, Luff. Maybe you'll get that kiss one day, but it won't be from peeping on me while I'm in the bath!" I playfully slap his chest a few times.

He grabs my hands, pulling us both to our feet, and then is leading us to the room. "Do we tell the others your relation to Ace?"

"No, not yet. I need to figure out how to tell them so they understand everything. It can wait until my first bounty."

"If you say so," he places his arm around my waist. "It is about you, so you have to tell them."

I nod, "I know. It feels good telling you first, though, seeing how I love you."

He presses a kiss to my temple before we walk into the room where everyone is talking away.

"Ah, finally, what took you two so long?" Nami teases, quickly sending a wink my way.

"Nothing to worry about right now," I shoo her off.

Luffy pulls me onto his lap as he takes a seat on a bed. "Well, what do we need to talk about?" His hand grabbing his straw hat to place on his head.

I look around the room to see the crew that has become my family since setting sail. Chopper and Zoro are sitting on a bed next to each other, Nami is in a seat with her knees up to her chest, Sanji is sitting in front of the couch to lean back against it, Vivi is sitting on that couch, and Usopp is right next to Luffy and me. This is the last time we are going to be in a room like this, and it feels strange that our lives are going to change so much.

"We're leaving tonight," Nami says.

"Tonight!?" Chopper, Usopp, and Luffy exclaim.

"Yes," she nods.

"It's a good idea," Zoro says. "There's no reason to stick around here longer."

"Especially when we don't know what the Navy is up to," Sanji says.

"What do you say, Luffy?" Usopp looks over at us.

"Hm, all right!" Luffy smiles. "One more meal and then we can head out!"

Nami groans, "No, we have to leave before then."

I chuckle, "You're thinking with your stomach, Luff. We'll get plenty of supplies to take with us."

A knock comes at the door, getting us all to turn to see a servant with a Transponder Snail on a pillow. "Sorry to interrupt, but a call for the Straw Hats is coming in."

"A transponder snail?" Zoro asks.

"Who is it?" I add.

"Someone named Bon-chan," the servant sets the snail down on a bed.

"Who's that?" Nami asks.

"I don't know anyone with that name," Usopp says.

"He says he's a friend," the servant responds.

"Then let's take the call," Luffy nods a few times.

"How can we trust that he's a friend if none of us even know who it is?" I question.

"Akari is right," Zoro cross his arms. "This could be a trap."

Sanji gets up, picking up the receiver.

"Hello!?" a voice calls out to us. "Hello!?" The person bursts into laughter. "It's me! Yes, that's right, it is me!"

Sanji hangs up before more from the person on the other line can be said, but it just starts to ring again right away. "What do you want!?" he screams as he picks the receiver back up.

"I've got it, Sanji," Luffy places me to his side before getting up and walking over to take the receiver. "Hey, is that you, Swan? What do you want with us?"

"Straw Hat, is that you!?" Bon Clay's voice finally clicks for me. "You are so strong, I was surprised you made it out alive! Oh, don't call me Mr. 2 on this call. The Navy could intercept this, and then I'll be in big trouble."

"But you just said it!" Chopper blurts out.

"Just tell us what you called us for," Zoro grumbles.

"Oh, yes, right, I have your ship!" Bon Clay says.

"Are you kidding me!" Luffy, Nami, Zoro, and Chopper angerly scream.

"Cut the jokes you freak clown!" Sanji snaps. "Where are you right now!?"

"On your ship," Bon Clay says.

"You bastard!" I exclaim.

"Now, don't be like that. I thought we were friends. I did this to help you. I'm coming to return the ship up river."

Luffy sighs, placing the receiver back in the hold.

"He's upstream on the Sandora River," Nami says. "That has to be where he is."

"Can we actually trust him?" Sanji has settled back on the floor.

"Well, we were friends that first time we met him," Luffy says.

"I mean, I can't tell if he is pulling us into a trap," I sigh.

"Knowing you, you are going to let him be your friend again," Zoro shakes his head.

"We have to do, don't we?" Chopper asks.

"I guess so, since he has our ship," Sanji grits his teeth. "But if this is a trap, we can just clobber him for good."

"Then let's get ready to head out," Zoro says.

"Um," Vivi mumbles as we all start to gather up our things.

"Vivi?" Luffy is the one to call out to her.

"Oh, you guys," she looks down as her hands grip her knees. "I don't know what to do..."

"Listen very carefully, Vivi," Nami looks right at her. "We will give you twelve hours. Once we recapture our ship, we'll make a stop at the East Port at exactly noon tomorrow. We won't be able to drop anchor. If you want to join us, then that will be your one and only chance! If you are there, then we will welcome you as our fellow pirate!"

"You're a princess, Vivi, so we can't offer you what you get here," I motion around to the room. "Please, follow your heart."

"Come with us, Vivi!" Luffy exclaims. "You have to come with us after everything we've been through together."

"Cut it out, Luffy!" I stretch out his cheek as I bounce my backpack into a more comfortable position.

"Come on, let's go," Zoro says.

"Don' you want Vivi to come with us?" Luffy asks.

"She has to decide that for herself!" Nami snaps. "You don't get to make that decision for her."

"What ever you decide, okay?" I softly smile.

In the next ten minutes or so, all of us head out the window and down to the ground where the Super Sonic Duck Squadron are waiting for us. They are Karoo's friends and the fast animals on land, so they will get us to our ship in no time. However, there are only six, which means that I have to share the biggest duck with Luffy. Not that it is a problem.

"Are you comfortable, dumpling?" Luffy asks as he eats a piece of meat in front of me.

"This is perfect," I hum as I have my arms wrap around his stomach and my cheek resting between his shoulder blades. "You're warm, and it feels comforting."

"This is nice," Zoro hums.

"It is goodbye to the sand country," Usopp cries. "Looks like that is another hard-fought victory I lead us to." His attitude flips as he looks over at Luffy, "Geez, how long are you going to be eating, Luffy?"

"Alabastan food is amazing," Luffy says through a mouthful. "Sanji, you can make food like this, right?"

"Yeah, Terracotta gave me some of her recipes," Sanji answers. "And she gave me some local spices."

"Nami, do you feel okay?" Chopper asks.

Nami sighs, but doesn't respond.

"Are you hungry?" Luffy asks. "Just this once I'll give you a piece of this meat."

"Just because she's not happy doesn't mean she's hungry," I shake my head, but it just makes me rub my cheek into Luffy's back.

"Is this about Vivi?" Sanji asks. "I know how you feel, but brooding won't do anything. You were close, but cheer up."

"I know it won't be the same without her, Nami," I shoot a glare at Sanji.

"I'll let it go," Nami speaks up. "For Vivi. The one billion berries Igaram promised us when we first agreed to escort her home."

"YOU BETTER!" We all scream at the girl for only thinking about money at a time like this. Usopp is in enough shock to fall off his duck.

"Usopp! You feel off!" Chopper shouts.

"Don't scare us like that, Nami!" I can't help the laugh that leaves my lips.

"Huh?" Nami hums. "Oh, she'll be fine. She's a princess."

"Usopp fell!" Chopper calls out again.

"He'll be fine," Zoro shrugs.

"No thanks to Nami!" Usopp screams.

I'm not sure how long we ride the ducks, but I wish that we could ride them for much longer. Regardless, once the river comes into view, it is nice to see the Going Merry once again. Not so much to see the Swan Dancer that is Bon Clay.

"I've been waiting for you all!" Bon Clay shouts as he shows off his back where his jacket says 'Oh Come My Way' down the center. "Long time no see!"

All of us hop off our ducks, giving them our thanks for getting us all the way here in such a short amount of time. They look like they could keep going for hours even after carrying us and all our things.

"Start unloading," Sanji says. "Thanks ducks."

"Have a safe trip home!" I wave to the ducks as they start heading back.

"Give my regards to the king and everyone else!" Luffy shouts as he waves with both hands. "Take care!"

All of us start to get ready to load the ship with all the items that we brought with us. Bon Clay sitting on the edge of the ship looking over at us almost an afterthought.

"I hoped we would meet again!" Bon Clay cries. "Wait a minute!"

"What?" Luffy and Sanji snap.

"What do you mean? Is that any way to talk to a friend?"

"Friend?" Luffy sneers at the man. "You tricked us! That makes you the enemy!"

"I didn't trick you! I had no clue who you were either! Can we just let bygones be bygones?" He scoots over as Zoro carrying loads of supplies heads up the ladder. "Baroque Works is history, so we don't have to be enemies anymore."

"If we aren't enemies, then why are you on our ship?" Sanji asks as he heads up the ladder.

"Oh, you're so silly," he chuckles.

"What!?" Luffy fumes.

"Listen, if I hadn't taken this ship, do you know what would have happened?"

"The Navy might have captured it," Nami sighs, nodding for me to follow her up onto the ship.

"Might!? There was no might about it! They certainly would have! Do you have any idea what is happening on this island right now!? It is surrounding by Navy ships. Not even a swan like myself can get off."

"They you save the Going Merry from the Navy!" Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper blurt out. "Why!?"

"Because we're friends," Bon Clay gives a thumbs-up as tears stream down his face.

"You really are our friend!" Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper laugh as they start to line kick with the man. "No joke! No joke!"

"They change moods in an instant," I shake my head as I set my bag down to take to the girl's room later.

"Is everything loaded?" Nami ask as Sanji walks by with more supplies.

"This is the last of it," Sanji nods.

"The Navy's blockade is stopping you guys from getting off the island as well, isn't that right, Mr. 2?" Zoro asks. "And you thought it would be easier with allies?"

"Bon-chan!?" Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper stop dancing with him as they look at him in shock.

"Yes!" Bon Clay cries. "Especially in times like this! These perilous times! Let us join forces and fight together! For friendship!"

"Hooray!" Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper cheer.

"Geez," Nami shakes her head.

"To friendship!" the crew on Bon Clay's ship call out from nearby.

"You guys!?" Zoro angerly screams at them.

"Let's get a few hours of rest and then head out, okay?" I look around at everyone. "We have a tight schedule to follow, and apparently tons of Navy ships to