"A World to Store"

The Farewell

As the crew arrived in Alabasta's capital, they were immediately greeted by the sight of posters plastered on the walls: Wanted posters of pirates, each with a large bounty. Among them was Luffy's poster, with a bounty that made even him pause in disbelief. "Wow! Look at that!" Luffy yelled, his eyes wide. "I'm wanted! I'm gonna be Pirate King!"

Yuki, standing next to Ace, couldn't help but roll her eyes. "You really don't get tired of this, do you?"

Ace chuckled. "Luffy's always like that. But he's got the right spirit."

Yuki shot him a questioning glance. "You don't get jealous of him?"

Ace shrugged. "Not at all. He's got his own path. I've got mine." He looked over at Luffy, who was already talking a mile a minute about his next adventure.

As the crew continued their celebration and preparations to move forward, Ace suddenly grew quiet. He walked over to Luffy, who was surrounded by his crew, talking excitedly.

"Luffy," Ace began, his voice a little softer than usual. "I've gotta go."

Luffy blinked, confused. "Huh? Where are you going, Ace?"

Ace hesitated for a moment, glancing at Yuki, who stood just behind him. She gave him a silent nod of encouragement. "I'm not going to be traveling with you guys anymore. I have... other things to do."

Luffy's expression faltered, and for the first time, he seemed genuinely unsure. "But... I want you to join my crew, Ace! I know you're my brother, and we can do it together!"

Ace smiled, but it was bittersweet. "Luffy, you've got your own crew now. And I've got my own journey to complete. You've got great people with you. Keep going forward, alright?"

Yuki watched quietly, standing beside Ace. She knew this moment was important for him. For all his cocky attitude, Ace was about to leave behind something precious.

Luffy grinned and punched Ace's arm lightly. "I'll make sure to beat you one day, Ace! You're not getting off that easy!"

Ace laughed, the sound full of warmth and sadness. "You're gonna have to catch up to me first."

Luffy grinned, his usual stubborn optimism shining through. "I will! Just wait!"

Ace turned toward the rest of Luffy's crew, his eyes settling on each of them. He nodded at Nami, Usopp, Zoro, and Sanji, giving them an unspoken farewell. Yuki felt the moment was heavy with emotions, even though Ace was trying to hide it.

But Ace didn't want to linger. He looked back at Luffy one last time and said, "Take care of yourself, Luffy. And don't go getting yourself killed."

Before Luffy could respond, Ace reached into his pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper. He held it out to Luffy. "Here. This is for you."

Luffy blinked and took it, turning it over in his hands. It was a small piece of parchment, folded neatly. When he opened it, he found a strange card. The card was ordinary-looking, except for the fact that it had a faint, glowing symbol on it.

"What's this, Ace?" Luffy asked, tilting his head.

"It's a Vivre Card," Ace explained with a smirk. "It'll show you where I am, and if you need me, you just follow it. But if you ever feel it start burning, that means I'm in danger, so hurry up."

Luffy's eyes widened. "You're giving me this? But... you're my brother! I can always find you, right?"

Ace gave a soft chuckle. "I can't be with you forever, Luffy. But this will always lead you to me."

Yuki looked at the card with mild interest, but she could sense the gravity of the gesture. Luffy held it carefully, his expression now serious, despite his usual carefree attitude. "I won't lose it, Ace. I promise!"

Ace gave a satisfied nod and clapped him on the back. "Good. Take care, Luffy. We'll meet again, I'm sure of it."

And with that, Ace began to walk away from the crew, heading toward the horizon, leaving Luffy and his friends behind. Yuki stood still for a moment, feeling the weight of the departure. Finally, she followed after Ace, knowing there was no stopping him now.

As the distance between them and Luffy's crew grew, Yuki glanced over at Ace. "Are you sure you don't want to tell him everything?" she asked softly.

Ace didn't answer right away. He kept his eyes forward, as if deep in thought. "It's not the right time, Yuki."

She sighed but didn't push the issue. The air was thick with unspoken words, but Ace had made his choice. She couldn't change that.

As the sun began to set, Ace turned to her and said, "You know, Yuki... if it weren't for you, I'd probably still be lost. I'm glad you're here."

Yuki glanced over at him, surprised. "I didn't think you cared much for that kind of thing."

"I don't," Ace said with a grin. "But I'm still human."

Yuki smiled slightly, but there was something wistful in her expression. "I'm sure Luffy will be okay, even if you're not with him."

"I know," Ace said, nodding. "But he'll still be pissed when he realizes I'm not around."

They both chuckled lightly as the sun dipped below the horizon. Despite the heaviness of their parting, there was a certain sense of peace between them.