I don't think any of us slept that night.

Once we had all calmed down from the call from Doflamingo, we had headed over to the Dadan House, and I explained the situation as best I could, skipping and changing the details on who exactly we were dealing with.

Dadan had been softer that night. Kinder, and making sure we were all well fed and comfortable, though even the boys had lost their usual demonic appetites.

In the morning, I had awoken alone, and it made me feel sick. I would have to get used to that again, and I didn't want to. There had been a time before where I had gotten used to being next to people, so I knew all too well how hard it would be to go back to complete and utter loneliness.

Eventually, however, Luffy came to fetch me, eagerly dragging me by the hand off into the forest.
"Where are you taking me?" I asked, not fighting him in the slightest.
"To something super important, so hurry up!" He responded, seeming excited and tense at the same time, which wasn't completely out of the ordinary for him.

On and on we went, until we hit a clearing, and there I saw Sabo, standing before a large tree stump, a bottle and four small bowls on top of it.
"Finally! I was about to come looking for you two myself!" He greeted, waving us over with vigor. It was then that I noticed Ace, sitting off to the side beneath a tree with his arms tightly folded across his chest.

Approaching the stump, I studied what had been laid out carefully.
"Uh, why do you have alcohol..?" I was beyond confused at this point. Did they want to take playing pirates to the next level and booze it up like they did as a last hurrah?

"I'm so glad you asked! Take a seat and I'll explain!" Sabo motioned for me to kneel, and I did as he instructed, continuously glancing over to Ace, who didn't seem like he wanted to be present. "Okay, so-"

"You're gonna be our sister!" Luffy interjected, earning himself a smack up the side of the head from a ticked off blond.
"You idiot! I was leading up to that!" He barked, quickly composing himself. "So, yeah, basically, by sharing a cup of sake, you can become brothers. Well, sister, in your case. We all did it ages ago, before we met you, but since you're...well, leaving, we wanted to make sure we're all bonded."

Wait...do they really mean that..?

I was silent for a while as I stared at them, unsure as to whether they were being serious or not.
"Wait...so...you actually want me...to be your sister..? A..and you'd be my brothers..?" I tried to make sense of it, and they both nodded with equal exuberance.

"Yep! You'll be an awesome sister! We're super cool brothers, too!" Luffy thumbed at himself with a grin, and I very nearly choked up then and there.
"So, what'dya say, (Y/N)? Wanna do it?" Sabo picked up the bottle, waiting for my confirmation, and I had to swallow back my overwhelming emotions.

"Y..yeah..! I really do!" There was no possible way I could contain my grin, and I didn't want to. Even though I was terrified about what was to come, this brought me an immense amount of comfort.
"Sweet! Oi, Ace, quit pouting and get over here!" Sabo turned to address the sulking ravonet, and he shot one of his most vicious glares yet in our direction.

"Piss off! No way no how is she becoming my sister!" He growled, arms folded so tight across his chest that I was surprised he could breathe. I wouldn't lie, it stung a little (lot), but he had obviously made up his mind, so there was no point in trying to persuade him.

"Oh, I get it." Sabo snickered, giving the brim of his hat a little flick. "You just don't want her to be your sister because you wanna ma-" I'd seen Ace move fast plenty of times, but never as fast as I saw him get up and tackle Sabo.

"No! That's not the reason! I don't gotta give you a reason! I just don't want to, okay?!" There was a little less anger and a little more urgency in his voice now, and I had no idea why.
"Your loss! Hurry up, I wanna do this!" Luffy piped up, picking up one of the small bowls and handing it to me with a sweet grin.

Climbing off of Sabo, Ace shot me a dark, unfamiliar look before he returned to his spot by the tree, and the blond sat up, spitting dirt out of his mouth before picking up his own sake.
"Anyway! You ready?"

Nodding, I was careful not to spill it, my only focus on the boys in front of me, and a little on the boy off to the side. It really was okay with me if Ace rejected me as a sister. If he didn't want it, then why should I?

"TO BROTHERS...AND SISTER!" I was shaken out of my thoughts as the pair's bowls clinked against mine, and I quickly followed suit in throwing it back, the joy of the moment stronger than the less than pleasant taste.

The moment we had all swallowed, Luffy crashed into my side, knocking me over in a very rubbery hug, his arms coiling around me at least three times.
"Two brothers and a sister! This is awesome!" He laughed, but quite quickly he became quiet, tightening his hold. "You can't go now..."

This is really going to hurt...

Hugging him back just as tight, I sighed, doing my best not to let any tears fall.
"You know I have to, Luffy...I'm sorry..." Sabo rounded the stump and crouched beside us, placing his hand on my head.
"We're your brothers now, though. So, even if you're across the sea, that won't change and we'll always be connected."

The thought of that eased my fears, just a little, but knowing that I had only hours until we would part was painful. Now, looking back, the months I had spent here were so short. It wasn't long enough. I didn't want to go back.

Just as the months had gone by, the day didn't show any kindness, each hour feeling like mere minutes as I spent some time with Dadan, and writing a note to both Makano and Garp. The rest was spent with my new brothers, and Ace, though he barely looked in my direction, let alone spoke a word.

Soon, too soon, the sun began to melt away in fiery hues, and I found myself standing before the lot of them, my family for the past several months, choking back tears.
"I'll fight him! I'll kick h..his stupid butt!" Luffy clinging to me and sobbing wasn't helping in the slightest, but I still held him close, attempting to hold it together for at least his sake.

Sabo closed me in from the other side, not fairing so well in the emotional department himself.
"You can always change your mind..." He murmured, even though he knew that I didn't have a choice in the matter. I wish I had.

Dadan was the next to approach, leaning down to place a heavy hand in my hair, ruffling it every which way.
"You're a good one, girly. You'll be just fine. A..anyway, I need to go...do some things..." She was quick to excuse herself, followed by her men, who all mumbled their farewells. I had lied to her, and I hated it. She didn't need to know who I belonged to. As far as she knew, I was returning to my family, on another island.

Last, but most certainly not the least, Ace stepped forward, arms folded, just as they had been all day.
"Oi. I gotta talk to you for a sec. Sabo, hold onto Luffy." His voice was so flat, and I just stared at him as the blond pried the blubbering boy off of my side. The moment he had been removed, Ace reached forward and grabbed my wrist, dragging me roughly into the forest.

"A..Ace, what the-" What was he trying to pull? Was he going to tie me up somewhere and pick a fight with one of the most dangerous men in the world? That thought was cut short when he came to an abrupt halt, turning and pushing me back into the trunk of a tree, keeping a hand on each shoulder.

When our eyes met, I didn't even attempt to free myself. Whatever he had to say, it was serious. That much I could tell.
"Is there any chance...that he's going to kill you..?" His first query caught me off guard, but I didn't dare question it.
"No..." I whispered in response, likely sounding unsure even though I knew it was a fact. "He won't..."

Why are you asking me that?

I felt him relax a little through his hands, but by no means did that mean he wasn't still tense.
"Alright...you're gonna make a promise with me." He announced, lips tight as he chose his next words. I just waited, though I was concerned. It was so close to when I had to leave. "When I get older, and leave this place, I'm gonna come get you. I promise...and when I do, you gotta promise you'll be part of my crew."

I allowed his words to slowly register in my already scattered brain, staring back at him owlishly.
"Your...crew..? But I thought-"
"You thought wrong, dummy! Don't get me wrong, you're annoying and flat, and worst of all a girl, but promise me, okay?"

Not really the right way to ask...but...

Slowly, as if on rusted hinges, my head began to nod before I really knew it had.
"I promise..." I wasn't sure why I agreed to it. For the freedom? For something to look forward to? For him..?
"Good! G..good...great...now...we need a way to seal the promise..."

Ace released me and began to pace, hand on his chin. Thinking, I eyed the sky through the canopy above, fretting over the time.
"A...pinky swear..?" I suggested, deflating more when he shook his head.
"No, that's for babies! We need a mature promise..." As he trailed off, I saw an idea light behind his eyes, and he came straight for me again.

I braced myself, preparing to be crushed against the tree again, but instead of solid bark, his lips smooshed hard against mine. For the first couple of seconds I was in complete shock, eyes wide and staring into the screwed up features above his nose, but once I truly realised what was going on, I shoved him back as hard as I could, spluttering and doubling over to spit onto the ground.

"Ace, wh..what the hell?! You kissed me?! That's gross!" I screeched, trying to smack his germs off of my tongue, even though it hadn't been involved. Ace was doing the exact same, and I was pretty sure my face was as red as his was.

"Sh..shut up! That was the only thing I could think of, okay?! It..it's not like that..!" He snapped, straightening out and throwing his gaze back towards the Dadan House. "L..look...when I come get you and take you away from that Flamingo guy...give that back to me, alright?"

Give what-

"G..give the kiss back..?" I questioned, sounding less disgusted than I would have liked. He nodded once, still keeping his eyes far off mine, freckles against red making his face look like a strawberry.
"Yeah. When I save you, you give it back. Promise..?"

Hearing that word - save - was the last straw. Tears and snot began to cascade down my face, and I couldn't take a breath without hiccuping. Rushing forward, I threw my arms around him, clinging for dear life.
"I p..pr..promise..! You better save me, Ace..!" I sobbed, only crying harder when he held me back.

Our moment didn't last long, and he quickly lead me back, ignoring both Sabo and Luffy as they interrogated him on what he had done to me to make me cry so much. After that, the only sounds that came from us were the stuttered breaths between tears, all the way to the western shoreline, where I had to part with them.

"(Y..Y/N)...please..." Luffy's fists balled tight in my shirt as he begged me for the thousandth time, and I found it hard to let him go. The same went for Sabo, who at least tried to hold it together for my sake.
"We'll find you someday. Or you'll find us. We're family now. That's how it works."

I can't leave them...

Lastly, I turned to Ace, and much to my surprise, he hugged me. Yes, he had done so before, but in front of his brothers was a whole different type of heavy. It hit home in the harshest of ways.
"Remember the promise. Just hold out for a few years." He whispered into my ear, so low that there was no chance the others could hear.

Nodding against his shoulder, I forced myself to pull away, nearly hearing my world rip when I did. Unable to bear the goodbyes any longer, I turned and started to move out past the trees, the dread really setting in when I saw who was waiting for me.

It took a while for him to notice, but the man who had been sent to collect me finally spied me, his red cape catching the breeze when he turned to face me fully.
"I was starting to think you weren't going to show up." The man said in a vile attempt at a sweet voice, crouching low as though his height was what had me slowing in fear.

"D..Diamante..." I choked out his name, stopping a few feet away, hoping he wouldn't reach out to me. He had never done me wrong either, but his face had always unsettled me, and I was pretty sure he knew it.
"Are you ready to come home now? He's been a wreck." He offered me his hand, and I barely spared it a glance before I walked around him towards the ship, giving him a wide birth.

"Mmhmm..." It was all I could manage. If I spoke, I would have broken down again, and I didn't want him to see that. Muttering something about bratty children under his breath, Diamante stood up and followed me, staying close behind as I climbed the wooden ramp and onto the ship so I wouldn't try to make a run for it.

There weren't many men on board, but I didn't dare look at any of them. Out of anyone that worked for Doflamingo, I trusted them the least. Once the ramp was pulled up and the anchor lifted, we began to drift away from the place I had called home.

Despite Diamante's request for me to enter the cabin, I ignored him, staying at the back of the ship, staring at the tree line. I could see them. All three of them, waving to me, but not with joy. With a hesitant, agonisingly hopeful 'see you later', and the tears returned in full force.

We were almost too far away for any sound to carry, and Diamante was directly behind me, but I didn't care. Jumping onto the back railing, the only thing keeping me from toppling overboard being Diamante grabbing me from behind, I sucked in a deep breath and let the words tear my throat to shreds from the inside.

"I PROMISE!"

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***A lil Doffy next chapter, then we'll skip to adulthood. Things will be a bit creepy in that first timeskip chapter, but it works. At least I think it does.

Anyway, I met Senor Pink and I love the baby man. So hard-boiled.

Next Time: Never Again***