The Window Maker - (OCXCANON)

Prelude: Spade Pirates (Finale)

Ki would spend the next three days training out in the forest with Luffy. He yelled happily, "Gum Gum rocket!" As he fired off his fist at Ki while she sat high up on a tree branch.

She leaned backwards, hooking the tree limb with her knees to avoid the hit. As she hung upside down as an annoyed sigh ripped from her throat, "You gotta be quicker, Luffy!"

The rubber boy groaned as his arm snapped back into place, "I don't know how you're so fast! It's not fair!"

Ki rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest, "I'm not that fast. You're predictable and you shout your attacks. One of the two needs to change."

Luffy grumbled as he threw up his arms, "You say 'Area Window,' when you make your portals. How's that any different?"

Before Ki could fire back an argument, Dadan shouted from the house, "Ki!! Your snail is going off!! It might be Ace!"

Ki dropped from the tree and hit the ground running. She swung Luffy into a quick hug, "See you around, bud! Love you!"

The rubber boy pressed his lips into a tight frown as he watched her run into the house, "Love you too."

Her heart pounded as she snatched the snail from her dresser. She gasped trying to hide the fear in her voice, "Ace?!"

Ace clenched his jaw but chuckled softly, "Hey, Ki. Everything has settled, you can come back now. We need to talk about something but it would be easier with you here."

She stared at the snail for a moment before she muttered, "Okay. I'm on my way," She hung up and held out her hand, "Show me, Portgas D Ace," His image appeared and her heart clenched painfully, 'Something is definitely wrong,' She tore the rift open and ran through, leaping into his arms.

Ace clutched her tightly to his chest as he buried his face in her hair and muttered, "I missed you so much. I'm sorry for making you wait."

Ki attempted to lean back to face him but he wouldn't release his grip on her. She lifted her head and stammered, "Ace? What is going on?"

He wouldn't look at her but his voice came out low and pensive as he muttered, "I lost."

Her mind reeled and she sputtered, both with worry and anger, "What do you mean, you lost?!"

Ace rested his chin atop her head as he made his solemn confession, "I challenged Whitebeard..."

Ki's arms fell to her sides and her body felt like it went numb as she gasped, "You... What?"

He contemplated his next words carefully for a moment, then let the words fall out of his mouth with no other recourse, "After you left, we ran into the Warlord, Jinbei. He and I fought for five straight days before Whitebeard showed up. The old man decided he wanted to take on the person coming for his head, himself. He defeated me and took me aboard his flagship... Much to my protest... But after a few days and many, many assassination attempts on the guy's life... I relented and accepted his offer to join his crew."

Her eyes widened and her heart pounded as she searched for the words to respond. She opened her mouth but no sound would follow. His words ran over and over again in her mind until she finally yelled, "You took on Whitebeard?! I told you not to do reckless ass shit while I was gone!! What the fuck, Ace?!" She struggled to wrench herself free from his grasp but he held on tight, never loosening his grip.

Ace ground his teeth as he tried to sooth her, "I know! I'm sorry... You said I was getting ahead of myself but... It's okay now. The crew has been integrated into Whitebeard's, everyone is safe! He made me the second division Captain. This is a good thing, he's a good-"