The Secret of Me

A 'Bounty Hunter'

I dock our boat and fix Kiti to where her IV drips where full and her 'bed' had a few extra blankets, then I walk out to explore this wintery wonderland, there was an odd pink haze in the snow... As if someone had spilled dye and then it snowed over it.
I find a small village, walking down the streets, my face hidden by my surprisingly useful (and not to mention warm) gift from Garp.
I ask about, and these people seem kindly, I buy this and that, even a small cat nip plant from a older woman who had too many cats for someone who couldn't walk without a cane.
I walk a little further down the road, buying a perfectly warm cup of hot chocolate, topped with marshmallows.

And then I notice, tall man in a black coat talking to some men.
He struck me as odd.
I couldn't hear him, nor see his face, but he held a poster.
And I could see the figure of my little brother's head on the other side.
A bounty hunter...
I was so proud!
And so pissed!
I shove the hot chocolate into the hand of man walking by, who took it walking on, staring at the cup that had somehow gotten into his hand.
I slip into a dark alleyway, blade ready, watching the stranger, my eyes following his every movement.
He leaves, bidding his farewells to the two men.

And as he passes me, I strike.

I may look thin, but I had strength, (I mean I was trained by Garp, give him credit) and I was tall, but he outdid me by about a foot.
My blade was against his throat, my hand clasped around the back of his jacket, but he was unfazed, not moving, not doing much of anything, I hiss, "Who. Are. You."
The moment he hears my voice he goes rigid, turning his head oh so slightly, he whispers,

"Until then, Neko Nyx."

My sword falls from my hand, softly plopping into the snow as I try to comprehend what was happening.
"A-Ace?" I whisper, slightly shaking, but not because of the cold.

"The one and only."

I move my arms slightly, hugging him around the neck, my eyes lined with tears as I stare straight ahead, pressed against his jacket, taking in his old and new scents.
His old smell of sweat, hard work, and that 'Ace' smell that defied him.
The new smell, of something burning and booze.

But he was still Ace.

My brother.

He turns around pushing me back, and I stare up at him wide eyed, trying to restrain my bottom lip from it's trembling, he holds me arm's length by the shoulders,
"You've changed a lot...but your eyes are the same." you then in a swift movement he pushed the hood of my cloak back my hair tumbling around my shoulders, he stares at me for a moment, then he pulls forward, I was then pressed against his chest.
I close my eyes and lean in, and my tear tenison breaks, tears rolling down my cheeks as I hug my little brother, who was now different, but the same.
"I missed you..." I whisper, and he nods, his chin resting on my head.
"I know."
"I've kept an eye on you. . ."
I feel him smile.|
"Oh?"
"I'm a..." I pause, rethinking the comment I was about to make. "Have you seen Luffy?"
"That's the side goal. I found you so it's half way done."
"I found you!!" I cry grinning as I pull back, playfully punching him.
"True true..." He says, his grin wide.

We begin to walk, chatting casually, and after much bickering over who pays we split the cost of two hot chocolates and a blueberry muffin.

"So, Fire Fist Ace, I hear your apart of Whitebeard's crew?" My grin playful as I use his bounty name, breaking the muffin in two, handing him the bigger chunk.
"Yup." He says, taking the muffin half I offered, walking in his long confident strides, to each one he took I had to take two more.
"You've got quite the bounty."
"I guess." He says with a lazy shrug, taking a bite of the warm muffin and then glances down at me sideways. "You know. . . I've yet to see your bounty poster."
I choke on the first sip of hot chocolate I'd taken, erupting into hacking coughs. "M-my poster?" I question, trying catch my breath.
"You are a pirate... right?" He asks, his pace slowing to a stop to look at me.
I glance to the ground, "Not exactly..."
"Bounty hunter?"
I shake my head slightly, fidgeting with the paper of the muffin.
"Assassin?"
"Then what are you?" He asks obviously confused.
I don't respond, then the wind chooses that exact moment to make my cloak fly open, revealing my Marine Commodore uniform.
"Nyx?" Ace asks, grabbing my shoulder,
"Yes?" I quietly respond.
"Your a Marine."
It wasn't a question, but I nodded anyway, confirming the obvious.
Then the sharp pain erupted in my shoulder and I shriek, my eyes going wide, as I crumble to the ground, the white snow dotted red.