Not a second passed from Ace's disappearance from his spot next to you to his emergence as a surge of flames across the sea.

The marine ships that were having a vigorous battle with the Strawhat crew now seemed like plastic ships swimming in a little kids bath tub, breaking and burning into scorching pieces across the crystal brisk waters of the sea.

The heat of the flames was evident even on your skin despite your distance from the waves of the conflict. You had seen this battle, if it could even be called that, once before; but this was one of the sights in your third life that still seemed to strike you with imminent fascination. Before you could take note of your own interest of this event however, the action was over and Ace's sail boat could be seen heading over to-

...

You?

You looked down, confused.

His figure perched upon his sail slowly growing closer grew your suspicions even more.

He was coming back...?!

- "Why does your face look like that?" The sudden voice of Ace shouting from below the coast of the cliff broke off your series of questions, mostly summed up to form the word; Why?

Why did he keep breaking the progress of things that were supposed to happen?

- "What?" You responded back.

- "I mean, are you okay?" Ace said, stifling an awkward cough in between, trying to backtrace from his earlier blunt statement.

- "I didn't expect you to come back here. Aren't your friends on that ship over there?" You finally asked, after a small silence.

Now it was his turn to look perplexed.

-"What do you mean? Of course I came back. How did you plan on meeting up with me?" He fixed his hair, pulling it away from his eyes as he looked up into yours. "He is my brother, the guy we just met. I wanted to introduce you.." He added, continuing to make eye contact, gauging your reaction.

You stepped back, taken aback by his words.

- "You want... to introduce us?"

- "Of course, If I am meeting his crew he should meet mine. This is brotherly pride!" He said, with enthusiasm.

- "Your crew?" You repeated after him. Like a child verifying their right to take a piece of candy handed to them.

- "Of course. You are with me aren't ya?" He responded with confidence. With the certainty of his words, your hands reached for the candy he was handing to you.

- "How am I supposed to go there?"

Ace, instead of answering, reached his arms out towards you in an upwards direction with a bright smile on his face.

- "What. No way. I'm not jumping down this cliff."

- "Why not?"

- "You'll drop me."

- "No way."

- "Yes way. Sir, get a hold of yourself. I'll steal a sail or something."

- "Unnecessary." Ace shouted back without missing a beat, raising his arms wider in the process. Urging you.

- "No."

- "Yes."

- "No!"

- "Yes?"

You paused, looking at him for inquiry. He stared back with a mischievous smile and a gaze that started back with no obstruction. You looked into each other's eyes for a second as you calculated the situation.

- "...You won't drop me..?" You finally asked, a bit hesitant.

- "Never!" He roared, laughing a joyous belly laugh.

You jumped.

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- "ACE! Do you HAVE TO hold me like this?!" You screamed against the wind hitting your face, wiggling as he held you in between his arms.

- "IT'S FINE WE'LL BE THERE IN A SEC!" He answered back, screaming towards your ear, holding you closer in the process. You wiggled more profusely at his proximity. You knew he wanted to reach his brother fast but in this situation embarrassment was an understatement.

- "I KNEW I SHOULDN'T HAV-EAAAAAHH" Before you could finish your sentenca Ace had jumped up, landing on top of the rails of the Strawhats ship.

You clung to him, your gaze excessively aware of the view of the sea below his hold on you.

- "Ace!" A voice you knew all too well bellowed. You turned to see Luffy excitedly gazing at his big brother, completely unbothered by the person - who happened to be you- situated in his arms. "We could have totally taken care of those ships, y'know!" He added, turning to face his crew; "This is the crew I was talking about!" Just as excited as his little brother Ace bowed to his new acquaintances, earning a squeak of alarm from you. Taking note of your disarray, Ace moved you down, gently placing you at the floor of the ship.

- "Oh! Thank you all for taking care of my little brother!" He said, speaking with brotherly affection and manners of a gentleman.

- "Eh? Oh, not at all." The Strawhats replied in union upon his thanks.

Turning towards you with a smile he added:

"This is...Ah, my crewmate!"

Taking notice of his pause you smiled, remembering how he had forgotten to ask your name... Just like before.

- "Hello. I am.... Sav." As your excitement wore off, you were suddenly aware of this awkward feeling that was settling back in your chest. But they smiled back at you.

- "He might be a bit much for you to handle too, but..." Ace continued with a cheerful smile.

- "Eh? Oh, not at all." They replied again in between his words.

- "Take good care of'im." Ace finished, having said all of what he had been meaning to, for his dear brother.

- "You probably have lots of catching up to do." Sanji spoke up, pulling a cigarette out of his pocket and placing it in between his lips. "Why don't you come in? I'll make some tea." He added and excitedly turned to you. "And some sweets for our sweet lady!" You laughed.

- "No, uhh, that's okay. Don't do it on account of me." Ace replied, lighting Sanji's cigarette up as he did. "But.." he turned to you, inquiring about your wish for sweets.

Sanji opened his eye wide, as he stared at his now lit cigarette.

- "I'm good too, thanks!" you added. You had already gotten your candy for today.

- "T-Talk about unexpected..." Usoop spoke up.

- "That's for sure." Zoro added.

- "I would've expected him to be as reckless as Luffy..."

- "No, this sensible man can't possibly be Luffy's brother!" Nami cried out in shock.

- "He's a sensible man who cares about his brother!" Zoro voiced out with emotion.

- "Brothers can be so wonderful." Chopper joined in. Turning to you afterwards. "Are you his girlfriend?" Now it was your turn to let out a surprised outcry.

- "Eh?" You turned to Ace, who seemed to be busy watching his brother's shenanigans. Sanji seemed to deflate at the question as Nami turned to Chopper with surprise.

- "Chopper! You can't go asking people questions like that." She spoke up. Adding to the chaos.

- "No! I am his crewmate!" You replied, not sure what to say in this situation. This... you had dreamed of this situation in your last life. Now it had become a reality? You blushed, turning to look at Ace.

- "The sea is full of surprises!" Sanji bellowed, leaning to you with excitement at your statement. Just as Ace pulled at your arm, Luffy finally spoke up again.

- "See! Aren't these guys neat?!"

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HELLOOOO I'M BACK WITH ANOTHER CHAPTER!

I was actually gonna add a bit more to this part but I am so tired so I decided to upload it like this. 

DID YOU ENJOY THIS CHAPTER?

I HOPE YOU DID

HAVE A NICE DAY