Adventures With A Brother Long Gone

Chapter 1

"Luffy, we have to live a life with no regrets! So we can be freer than anyone!"

"Y-yeah!"
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"Ace... I don't want you to die..- ow!"

"Idiot! I will never die!"
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Ace stood, grinning at the villagers waving at him at the docks, one person in particular waving so fast and enthusiastically it almost looked painful. Ace waved back, however, and did so until the island was but a speck in the distance.

Dropping his arm, Ace looked around the small fishing boat he was aboard. The fact that he was here out in the ocean, starting his journey, kept him excited for a little bit until he realized he had no idea where he was going and there was nothing to do but look at the water.

Yeah, he lost interest pretty quickly.

Sighing, Ace leaned on the railing, hoping he would run into an island soon and find something interesting. A crew member, perhaps. Sailing alone got boring after a while.

"Bored?"

Ace jumped, startled, and got into a fighting position. Seeing no one, he faltered, shaking his head and dropping his arms to his sides. He then turned around, and-

"Boo."

"GAHH!" Ace screamed, flailing his arms and falling back on the deck. Looking back up, he saw a boy around his age sitting on a barrel, arms crossed and smirking.

Ace furrowed his eyebrows, confused for just a moment. The tail coat, cravat, and that hat with the goggles was so painfully familiar and Ace was unconsciously reaching out and just hoping, wishing that what he was seeing was real and not just one of those hallucinations he'd had for the longest time and just--

"S-Sa..."

"It's been a while, Ace."

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"Sooo... You're a ghost?"

"Yep."

"And dead?"

"Quite."

"And you're here and grownup-ish?"

"Kind of, I guess."

The questions continued for a few more minutes, Ace staring up at the slightly translucent form of his dead brother Sabo. The latter answered patiently, waiting until the former got over the shock of seeing him.

"And-"

"Ace, I'm dead. I've died. I am deceased. Gone. You get the gist," Sabo started, smiling softly down at Ace. "It isn't the same. You're the only one who can hear me and see me, and I'm pretty sure you can't touch me. I came by, however, to say hello and a final goodbye."

Ace's eyes widened a fraction, looking up at him worriedly. "... You did? You're leaving already?" He asked shakily, biting his lip and a look in his eyes almost begging him to stay.

Sabo's mouth twitched, face an unreadable mask.

"Well then, I guess I'll just..."

Ace didn't waste a second getting up after Sabo as he stood with his back to him. Fists clenched, Ace waited a moment as Sabo turned around to face him, his eyes shadowed underneath his top hat and and blonde hair.

Taking in a deep breath, Ace spoke. "So... I guess this really is goodbye, huh?"

Sabo took a few shaky breaths, mouth twitching again. He then looked up in a deadpan.