The Fire & The Requiem

Chapter 1

A Solemn Promise

It was late at night when the door to Dadan's cabin was kicked open. Causing everyone in the room to turn and glare at whoever had broken it.
Only for Ace to pale at who it was. "Old man!" Dadan looked over at Garp and frowned at the grey haired male.
"Any reason you broke my door and showed up here at night?"
Garp was silent for a moment before he gently lowered down what he had been hiding under his coat. "Sorry Dadan but I had to be quick."
Dadan blinked before her eyes widened as she saw a little girl who looked to be around the same age as Ace. "Who is this Garp?"
The elder man sighed as he patted the child's head. "Meet Yukina Akazuna. I need you to take care of her."
Everyone was silent as they stared at Dadan who now had several tick marks on her face. "What makes you think I want another brat?!"
Garp stared at the woman before he glared at her. "Ace."
Said boy immediately stiffened but looked over at his self proclaimed grandpa. "What is it old man?"
Said man didn't even try to correct him, he just needed to talk to Dandan. "Keep an eye on Yuki-Chan for me would you?"
Ace blinked and before he could even agree Garp had dragged Dadan outside.
So Ace sighed and walked over to the girl. Yet he couldn't help but stare, she had shoulder length obsidian hair, and stormy grey eyes. "Hi, my name is Portgas D. Ace."
The little girl looked at him and blinked. Why was he speaking to her? To her though he was colorless despite his raven black hair and coal black eyes. She even saw freckles along his face and his skin was slightly tanned. Yet she didn't know what to make of him.
"Why don't you go sit down where I was and I'll get you a drink?"
Yuki only blinked, not yet speaking. Meanwhile everyone else had already left for their rooms once they realized there wasn't a threat and or problem at the moment.
Yuki shrugged as Ace left as well and went to sit down where he told her too.
Ace was now in the kitchen getting Yuki a drink when he heard both Garp and Dadan.
"So why did you bring her here?"
Garp was silent for a moment as he thought of a way to explain. "She's safe here. The marines won't look for her here."
Dadan felt her eyes widen at this and even Ace felt his own widen. Why would the Marines be after Yuki?
"Why are they after her?"
Black eyes clashed with black and Garp carefully picked his next words.
"She's a requiem user. You can not tell anyone that information Dadan. I found her covered in blood."
Dandan felt her eyes widen. A requiem user? A being that hasn't existed since the late Hitomi who existed over 3 decades ago?
"Why me?"
"Why not? You can keep her safe. Help her get stronger."
"Stronger for what?"
"So one day she can join the marines."
Now Ace was mad, he was so mad he hadn't realize he had dug his nails into his hands and drew blood.
"You're a fool Garp. There is no way that child will join the marines. Especially if what I think happened did happen."
For a moment there was silence.
"What do you think happened?"
"I think the marines wanted her and they wouldn't give her up and they killed the town."
Garp was now dead silent and Dadan knew she was right.
"Those bastards." Ace whispered to himself.
"That's correct, her parents, the town even kids."
Ace and Dadan felt sick.
"So when I found her I promised to keep her safe. It's just sad."
"What is?"
He gave a soft sad smile and Dadan froze she never saw that look before. Especially coming from Garp.
"The world would rather see her dead. Then watch her succeed."
Ace froze and before he could do anything a gentle pair of hands took his own and she stared at him.
Ace froze for a second before he quickly got a hold of himself. "Yuki." His voice was slightly harsh, his breathing uneven.
Said child tilted her head before she nodded at him. Ace grabbed her shoulders neither one paying attention to the blood coming from his hands.
"I won't let you be alone. I won't let this world put out your light. You're a person too damnit! I would rather die then watch you die. So I promise, I promise I'll keep you safe. So one day you can smile without it being fake"
Stormy grey eyes widened at his words and just like that, the honesty behind his voice, the conviction to his words. It was almost as if she had finally, finally seen a ray of light through a sea of eternal darkness.
"Let me see your hands."
Ace blinked before he finally realized that not only had Yuki spoken to him, but he was also now bleeding.
"Oh, I uh."
Yuki stared at him as she started to clean his hands.
"You did that why?"
He blinked, the curiosity in her voice was genuine. "Because you're a person! No one should have to hurt the way you do and did."
Yuki however only felt her lips twitch. "I see. Can you tell me where the bandages are?"
And just like that, Ace realized something important. He had to keep her safe. So he would help her learn to fight, he would make sure she could hold her own in case a time comes when he isn't there. After telling Yuki where to look he sighed and looked out the window.
"I see, I understand and I'll take her in. Gods know that boy needs a friend. But you ever let me hear you say she'll be a marine again-"
Dadan didn't get to finish because at this point Ace and Yuki had traveled outside. And it was Ace who spoke first.
"I won't let her be a marine!"
Now both adults turned and had equally wide eyes.
Garp went to scold Ace for eavesdropping only to be stopped as Yuki stood in front of him. "I would rather die then join the marines."
"Oh? And what do you plan to do hm? You're gonna be someone great one day."
Yuki steeled her resolve and finally spoke. "I am going to live my life the way I want! I will be free, I will leave this island, and I will change the way the world sees me and my powers!"
Dadan froze, she had never in her life heard such conviction and yet she was proud. That child had a spine and spunk.
"You heard her Garp. Lose the idea now and get going. And stop bringing me kids Damnit!"
Ace however had tuned them out. His focus was on the girl in front of him. "Heh, that's a good dream Yuki."
Yuki turned to look at him and she gave a soft smile. "That's not my dream. My dream- is to become the worlds greatest requiem user ever, to learn all of them. To never let them be forgotten. That is my dream."
"And mine is to be king of the pirates." And that is how it started. While completely different
The two had somehow formed a unique and while still new friendship. They already knew it was going to be unshakeable.