A Ghost of the Past

Chapter Three:

Ace

Ace sat on the edge of the boat, watching the waves lap against it. They had long since caught up with Koala, and it was smooth sailing.

Sabo was currently with Koala inside the boat, hovering over her shoulder as they struggled to bring back the audio of Ace's message.

He, however, stayed outside. Seeing the ocean again, and the blazing sun with the bright blue sky, it was almost too much. Ace smiled. It had been too long since he'd had a moment like this - he could almost forget that he was dead.

Which brought him his other source of amusement....

A large muscular man with a coat of feathers and a plague doctor mask stared him down. The man was frowning at him and Ace smiled. "Karasu, right? I know this is an awfully strange meeting for you, but it's always nice to meet friends of my brothers."

Not a word came from the man. Strangely enough, that man had a Devil Fruit power - he could transform into a murder of crows.

Ace had discovered that little detail when they had landed on the ship. The crows had all flocked together, forming an indistinguishable mass - until, that is, the mass became a human. The only thing the man said, in a low and raspy voice was, "Did you carry something heavy?" To Sabo, who had confusedly said he did not.

Of course, that's when Karasu saw Ace, who just smiled and put a finger to his lips. Luckily, Sabo seemed in a hurry and quickly went into the boat, leaving Karasu and Ace somewhat alone.

Karasu said something, but it was mumbled to a point where Ace had to strain himself to hear the man. "I'm sorry, could you repeat that? I couldn't hear you...."

The man sighed, shoulders drooping downwards, yet he adjusted a little knob on his plague doctor mask. "You are Portgas D. Ace."

He nodded. "That's me, in the spirit."

Karasu looked back toward the doors leading down into the boat. "And you are truly Sabo's brother."

Ace nodded. "Yeah.... I haven't seen him in a long time, so it's a little weird to see him all grown up. But it's nice to know that he's grown stronger and has good people to watch his back. He's probably gotten you all into boatloads of trouble...I'm sorry about that, by the way."

Karasu stood stoically. "It is no issue. The second is passionate about the cause."

Ace nodded, then swung his feet over so they were inside the boat. "Yeah. I hate to admit it, but I think it fits him better than being a pirate."

The crow man nodded. "Indeed."

"So...." Ace asked, leaning against the boat railings. "How is it that you can see me? It's honestly strange having someone to talk to here."

His first real conversation with a living person - if his talk with Koala got him excited, this sure did the trick.

"Like ravens, crows can be symbolic for many things," Karasu explained. Some revolutionaries walking by gave him a strange look, but didn't comment. Karasu must look as if he was talking to himself, since no one else could see Ace. "Dreams, luck, witchcraft, and even death."

"So your Devil Fruit gives you the ability to see the dead?" Ace surmised. "That's pretty awesome. Do you see other dead people often?"

Karasu shook his head. "Sometimes I see deceased family members."

"Do you talk to them?" Ace asked.

"You are the first."

"Really?" Ace blinked. Karasu hadn't been curious at all?