"A World to Store"

Chasing Shadows

Yuki didn't stop. She couldn't. Every step she took toward Ace was filled with a sense of urgency, a need to protect him from making the same mistake that had taken Thatch from them.

Alabasta. The desert kingdom was vast, and it seemed like an endless stretch of sand, but Yuki's resolve was as strong as the sun beating down on her. She had tracked Ace's movements for days, her eyes never leaving the horizon. She couldn't afford to lose him—not now, not after everything that had happened.

The sounds of a battle reached her ears, pulling her from her thoughts. She dashed toward the noise, her heart racing.

And there he was. Ace. She spotted him just as he was dealing with Smoker, the Marine captain whose devil fruit power seemed to be a perfect counter to Ace's flames.

Yuki stopped in her tracks, watching Ace with a mix of admiration and frustration. He was reckless, charging headfirst into the fight without a care in the world, and it was driving her crazy.

I have to stop him, she thought. But before she could make her move, the battle shifted. Smoker was about to land a hit on Luffy, who had gotten tangled up in the fight.

Without a second thought, Ace intervened. His fire lit up the sky as he sent Smoker flying with one powerful punch, saving Luffy in the nick of time.

Yuki's heart skipped a beat. She watched as Ace ran toward Luffy, giving the Straw Hat captain a quick warning before dashing off. But just as quickly, he disappeared into the crowd, slipping away before Yuki could reach him.

"No, no, no!" Yuki muttered under her breath, frustration bubbling up inside her. "Why does he always do this?"

She ran through the streets, pushing past people, determined not to lose him again. But Ace was always one step ahead. By the time Yuki reached the harbor, he was already gone, leaving no trace behind.

Yuki sighed, leaning against a wall and trying to catch her breath. She had been chasing Ace for days now, and it was starting to take a toll on her. But there was no time to rest. She had to find him.

As she wandered through Alabasta, trying to figure out where to search next, she overheard some locals talking about the "Straw Hat Pirates" and their ship. Her ears perked up.

"Straw Hat Pirates?" she muttered to herself. "Luffy...?"

She quickly followed the directions, her curiosity piqued. After all, Ace had mentioned Luffy before, and if he was with them...

The ship was docked near the port, the crew bustling about as usual. Yuki stood at the edge of the dock, watching them. She recognized some of the faces from the battles she had seen, but she wasn't here to make friends. She was here for Ace.

She marched aboard the ship, ignoring the curious stares from the crew. As she made her way below deck, she heard voices in the distance.

"Where's Ace?" Yuki demanded, her tone sharp. "I need to talk to him!"

Luffy, grinning as always, pointed to the back of the ship. "Ace? He's probably asleep on the deck or something. You're looking for him, right?"

Yuki gave him a look that could freeze water. "I'm not here for you, Straw Hat. I'm here for Ace."

Luffy blinked, confused. "Huh? Who are you?"

"Don't worry about it," she snapped. "Where is he?"

As if on cue, Ace appeared from behind the ship's mast, looking as carefree as ever, completely unaware of the storm that was brewing in Yuki's mind.

"Yuki?" Ace said, raising an eyebrow when he saw her standing there, hands on her hips, glaring at him.

She marched up to him, hands clenched at her sides, and then—