The Fire & The Requiem

Chapter 22

Meet the dragon of Thunder and the requiem of lightning. Sandā & Kaminari!

   "So we're heading back to Pop's right?" Ace yelled over the sound of the thunder as he tried to guide the boat through the now rough waters.
    "Honestly I don't even think you should be sailing in this storm."
     Ace groaned as he continued trying to fight the waves only for his eyes to widen as a particularly rough wave caused him to fall off the striker.
     "Ace!" Yuki yelled as quickly jumped into the ocean after him, going as far as to create a shadow chain to keep the boat in place. Swimming as fast as she could she quickly grabbed Ace who was knocked out and swam up to the striker holding onto him. It took both her and Shade to lift Ace onto the striker and then Yuki quickly climbed out of the ocean and Channeled blazes power and kaze's ability to guide the striker to a small abandoned island. She had no idea where she was but she knew she had to get Ace to safety.
     But first she quickly performed CPR to restart his breathing and watched with a sigh of relief as he turned his head to cough up the sea water.
     "Ace are you okay?" Her voice was slightly raised as she held back her own anxiety and he coughed once more. 
      "Yeah, I'm good. Thanks for saving my ass."
     "Anytime. Wasn't about to let you drown."
     "Where are we?"
     "I don't know, the island seems abandoned but we are currently on the striker."
    Ace nodded as he sat up and quickly tied the striker to the docks and pulled Yuki off the boat.
     "We need to get somewhere dry."
     Yuki nodded and quickly started looking around to see where they could wait out the storm when she saw something falling from the sky.
     "What the fuck is that?!"
    Yuki didn't answer, her eyes were just on what was falling from the sky. That's when her eyes widened and she realized it was a dragon.
    "Yu is that a dragon falling from the sky?"
    Yuki just nodded.
    "Ancient requiem, song of the winds!" The wind quickly picked up and caught the dragon as she safely and slowly lowered him to the ground.
     Ace for his part was impressed. He had only seen Kage in person before as she rarely needed to even summon them.
     "From the realm of time where all time flows. You whose mark I wear, come to me Eien no Ryū!"
     Ace felt his eyes widen as he finally saw the sand colored dragon appear before him.
    "Eien! I need help. I need to slow down his bleeding while Kiya heals him and I transfer him some of my energy!"
     Eien only moved and Kiya was soon summoned as she focused on healing the dragon.
    "What...are you...doing...child?"
    Yuki placed her hands in front of him and started transferring over some of her powers.
     "Saving your life."
     The dragon was silent, when he first saw her he was full of rage thinking it was Hitomi but when she ran over to help him. He realized it was not.
     "Who are you?" He was getting his strength back and the girl seemed slightly tired.
    "My name is Akazuna Yukina. A child of the requiem. Before you even offer anything I don't want it. I just want you safe."
     The dragon chuckled and noticed the soaking wet man behind her.
     "Who are you boy?"
     Ace blinked before he answered. "Portgas D Ace. I'm a pirate."
     "And tell me pirate, why have you come here?"
     "Calm down. He's with me. Besides I'm technically also a pirate."
      "Yeah but that was after everyone else basically wore you down."
     Yuki shrugged. "Fair but it kept me from being alone."
     The dragon chuckled at them. "From the way he speaks I assume you two are together."
     "That's correct, by the way what should I call you?"
     "My name is Sānda the dragon of thunder. The lightning requiem you seek is called Kaminari. She is nearby as well and watching you."
     "That honestly doesn't surprise me."
     "Is that so child of the requiem?"
     Yuki simply glanced over at her. "It is, I can sense where you guys tend to hide. I also felt another pair of eyes on me."
     "I see, Kage has truly taught you to be one with the shadows."
      "Yeah and so did Shade."
     "Tell me child how many dragons have sworn themselves to you?"
      "So far only three."
     "And requiems?"
     "Too many to count. But I know all of them, I care for them. I speak to them. I've kept my promise to lullaby, I protected Shade as he protected me and so forth."
     "We know, we can sense it."
     "However now it's time to turn three to four."
     "And add another requiem to your knowledge."
     Yuki simply sat back and stood up.
  "Alright." Pulling the dagger she carried from her side did she unwrap her bandaged arm.
     "It's time to stop hiding us."
    Yuki nodded as she sliced open her arm and Ace felt his eyes widen in horror yet knew this was something she had to do.
     "To you whose mark I will wear upon my skin, I spill my blood and sweat this oath as I have done two times before." Yuki slowly inhaled and Ace was amazed. He could see it, feel the power in the air.
     "I swear to protect you. To never use you and never forsake you. Do you accept?"
     "Child of the requiem this oath I accept and I swear to protect you and those you hold dear." Yuki simply nodded and knew that Aiya was already healing her arm so she turned to Kaminari.
     "And what of you? Will you come with me or shall I leave you be?"
     "If I was to tell you to leave me. You wouldn't be able to keep that dream alive. You would also feel as if you had broken a promise. So I too will come with you. You will know how to summon me when the time comes for the storms to rain upon this land." And with that she vanish.
     Yuki glanced at Ace and shrugged. "So shelter?"
    "Uh yeah, but maybe stop the storm?"
    Yuki laughed before she closed her eyes. "Requiem of the storms and lightning- cease your chaos and rest!" And just as she spoke did the storm finally come to end leaving both Ace and Yuki smiling. One was tired and the other well he was fine. Now he just had to make sure Yuki would be too. So with that they quickly set off in search of shelter for the night.