ONE PIECE : ENDLESS ADVENTURE

Chapter 13: Like father, like son

After saying goodbye to Whitebeard, everyone went back to their position. Nami went to find Ace but he wasn't in his room. She searched around and found the door of Whitebeard's room was opened. She entered and saw Ace was laying on the bed and looked at the ceiling.

"Ace? What are you doing here?" 

Nami raised her brows and sat on the bed. Ace covered his eyes with his arms, muttering. Nami couldn't hear it so she lowered her head.

"... Pop's smell." 

Nami froze at her spot. She didn't dare to say a word, fearing Ace would notice the truth. After a deadly silence, Ace finally spoke.

"...Nami, I have a weird dream yesterday."

The sunlight began to enter the room, the room supposed to be warmer but somehow Nami felt an unnoticeable freeze from Ace. She tried to ignore that feeling and looked at Ace, waiting.

"In the dream, when I was asleep, I could feel someone touches my head."

"I want to look who is that person but I can't open eyes."

"Then, I hear it." Ace released a very small smile.

"... I'm sorry Ace."

Back to the deck---

Beckman watched the crew working and gave out some orders. When everything was done, he turned and watched Shanks crossed his arms and staring at the sea.

"Do you think the boy can get through this?" Beckman lit up the cigarette and asked.

"Nami will help him. She can handle it." Shanks closed his eyes, enjoyed the breeze kissed his face gently. 

Beckman took a deep breath and held his cigarette. "Even he asked Nami to take care of Ace, I still worry about it." 

Shanks shrugged and touched his left arm. Beckman knows every time Shanks touches his left arm, which means he has something important to say.

"He is Captain...and Whitebeard's son." Shanks opened his eyes. His eyes were full of seriousness.

That night---

Nami couldn't fall asleep.

She just couldn't forget the sorrow inside Ace's eyes when he talked about the dream. She knew Ace had realized something, something she shouldn't let Ace know. After several turning and sighing, Nami gave up to sleep and decided to go to the deck, get some fresh air.

Tonight was a peaceful night. Soft breeze and gentle moonlight, some shooting stars on the sky. Nami looked upon the sky and smiled. She walked to the front of the deck and saw a shadow unexpectedly. She clenched her fist, wondering what was that. She moved slowly toward the shadow.

The moonlight shined upon the deck and with the moonlight, Nami finally saw the young man was sitting at there, watching the sea.

Ace?

Without his orange hat, his dagger, his necklace, only bandages and his black pant. Nami felt he was not Ace, not the Fire Fist she knew...He is just... a normal boy. 

She sat beside him, without a reason, she already knew what he was thinking. She looked at the moon and spoke.

"My foster mother was killed in front of me when I was 10."

Ace didn't turned his head but Nami knew he was listening. She closed her eyes and recalled the painful and dark memory of her past.

"After that, I had worked for those murderers for 8 years. I stole, robbed, cheated, and once I almost needed to kill someone." 

"No matter how much I want to kill them or I want to kill myself, I am not allowed to do so. I know they can kill us anytime they want and we can do nothing. Nothing. I must conceal my fury, my pain. I must lie to myself that everything will be fine."

 Nami covered her tattoo on the left upper arm, gave out a bitter smile.

"Seriously, when I met Luffy, I told myself someday I will have to save that idiot." 

Nami's voice had softened and she smiled gently.

"Who knows, I am the one who has been saved by him."

"Without him, I won't be here." 

After Nami finished, Ace lowered his head and finally spoke. 

"Seriously, when Luffy, pop and the others came to save me, it was the first time I felt so happy." Ace gave out a bitter smile.

"I told myself "It doesn't matter anymore. Being executed or saved, I can accept it wholeheartedly." I don't mind dying at Marineford already." 

Suddenly, Ace clenched his fist tightly, his expression turned painfully.

"... but why? ....Why pop decided to stay? We can fight with him. We can...go home together..." 

"Whitebeard, the strongest man in the world, died for a person who should not live in the world very long time ago, he sacrificed himself..." 

Ace couldn't stop his tears, even though he tried to fight them back.

"If I could be stronger, I..."

Ace felt he was breaking into pieces, it was too painful for him to continue.

"This era...is belong to Whitebeard-!"

Ace couldn't hold it anymore, he covered his eyes with his arms, letting his tears fell. Nami understood Ace's feeling very well. She knew any comfort was useless at this moment, Ace didn't need this. She remembered that night with that man.

Like father, like son, huh?

The girl got up and knelt, held the boy in her arms. She patted his head gently, the boy widened his eyes.

"You have no idea how important you are in this world, idiot." She smiled.

"A world without you is meaningless to many people. Whitebeard, Luffy, Whitebeard Pirates, Vice Admiral Garp..."

The boy grabbed the girl's waist. He needed something to support himself, if not, he afraid he will pass out.

"Therefore, no matter you are Portgas.D.Ace or Gol.D.Ace-" Tears had already wet the girl's cloth.

"It's good to have you here, Ace. Thank you for living in the world."

Ace could no longer conceal and cried out. His pain, his regret, his happiness...all these feelings bordered him for so long, finally he could released them all tonight.

Nami smiled and held Ace tighter inside her arms. Men at the corner released a warm smile.

No matter for who, just live.

As long as we live, something good will happen.