We were heading to the kingdom of Alabasta, the kingdom of the desert.

I was very excited to see Luffy again. While we had landed on the island and we... well, I, to be more specific, went shopping to be more discreet and to not go around with my Whitebeard necklace around my neck. I looked around all the shops, asking quite often for Ace's opinions, who was not very happy to accompany me.

I finally found something that suited me before we set off over mountains of sand.

« -Call me back, who are we looking for? » I asked, as I took out a small gourd I had bought in the market and had filled it with the sea water I had filtered.

« -A certain Scorpion... » He replied with a smile, turning his head to look at me.

I smiled back at him as we found a village. « -It makes me think I have to buy perfume. » I sighed as I watched Ace walk in front of me.

« -Then do it, it'll be not with me, I'll go ask if there's anyone who has seen Luffy. » He informs me before we separate.

I went to a booth covering my head with a hood because the weather was too hot on my head, yes well I didn't choose to be born with black hair.

I looked at the salesman before smiling, « -Hello! I'm looking for a perfume, don't you have one with a slightly ashy smell but a little rosy? » I say exhausted by the heat and by the walk made.

He smiled back at me, « -Yes, I must have something like that... I can also give you something to refresh you, and it's fragrant. » He said, turning around in search of the famous perfume.

"-ExCuseee MeeEEE my daaAaaMMsSSeeEEEEels?!" Shouted a young man behind me coming towards some young girls.

"A blonde, eyebrows curled at the end? What a strange character." I thought before I looked into the distance, smelling the same smell I had smelled on the island a few days ago. I narrowed my eyes when I saw a reindeer... Yes, a reindeer arrives looking for the young man.

« -Sanji! » He shouted... The reindeer speaks, the strange man's name is Sanji. I'll remember.

« -Miss, here are 3 perfumes that match your needs! » said the voice of the salesman behind me, surely returning from his search.

« -Perfect, I'll take both of you in your left hand. » I said before I sniff the air, the 2 are pretty discreet but they smell good, so it's a good choice.

« -Ma'am, you haven't even tried them! » I strained my ears as the young blond man's footsteps approached, for god's sake I have to hurry, I take the 2 perfumes before putting one on my right forearm and the other on my left forearm before smelling them, yes they were perfect.

I held out my arms to the salesman asking for his opinion, as he leaned down to smell, I heard the young man's voice reaching my ears once again.

« -Excuse me, I'm looking for perfumes for my Nami-darling and my Vivi. Don't you have any advice? » I held my breath before looking at the perfume bottles that were set up for sale.

The salesman nodded before taking my perfumes. « -That's 1,635 ฿. » The salesman said before handing me the perfumes and I handed him the money.

I turned to Sanji, « -Something floral, prestigious, and spicy. » I told him before continuing on my way and disappearing into the crowd, as I heard him scream thanking me and asking my name.

I walked over to the supposed spot where Ace was, as a green-haired young man looked off into the distance and frowned. I turned my gaze to see what he was looking at.

« -Have you seen that man? » Ace said. So, it's Ace he's looking at... But what does he want from him.

I frowned, warning myself that he might be an enemy. As I took my hood in my hand and covered my face a little more, I looked at this young man, trying to decrypt what his attentions were. I walked over to him, before stopping and looking at Ace again, I turned my head back to the man, that's when I caught his gaze on me. He averted his eyes before he saw a woman coming towards him. 'He's with Luffy, you've seen him.' I mentally confirmed the information. How could I have forgotten that, he was with him on Kokoyashi Island.

I turned around and walked away from them, as far and as fast as I could. I walked over to Ace before feeling the green young man's observant gaze behind me, I discreetly tugged at Ace's suit as I walked away from him. I looked at him so that he understood that we were being 'spied on' and that we would meet further on, around a corner.

I went on my way, no longer feeling the young man's gaze.

« -Ace, I need to talk to you about something. » I said, turning back to him, who had just arrived, while I'm pulling down my hood.

A little out of breath, he looked at me again, smiling at me.

« -Tell me everything! » He then replied .

He looked at me as I huffed my head down.

« -I'm here for a reason, I know what happened with the crew, I'm sorry. I should have been there, and helped you. » I lifted my head. I huffed out, feeling the tears forming.

« -I know Luffy has set out on the seas. But it doesn't matter, I'm sorry, I really want to kill that motherfucker by my own two hands. » I said as I clenched my jaw and clenched my fists.

He looked at me, seriously.

« -So, you know why I'm here, and what happened when I left. » He said to me as I felt his gaze pierce through my skull.

« -Ace, Thatch, he's— » I began by swallowing my saliva with difficulty. Feeling a lump forming in my throat.

Ace looked at me as he took me by the shoulders and hugged me.

« -Don't force yourself. I'll explain, breathe for now, okay? » He whispered in my ear.

Once I'd calmed down, Ace looked at me as he moved me a little further away. He turned around and leaned against the wall.

« -Well, when I heard of Thatch's death, I immediately wanted to kill Blackbeard, or Teach. He had killed a member of our family, of our crew, and I can't forgive him for that. When I told Pops about it, everyone told me not to go, not to do it. Pops told me it would be of no use. I told him that killing someone from a crew was worse than betraying a crew member, especially when that crew member is part of our family. He stopped me, but you know my temperament, I turned my back on him and went in search of Teach. Until I kill him with my own hands, I won't go back to the crew. I must avenge everyone and punish him for what he has done. » He said, clenching his fists in turn.

I nodded, agreeing with him.

«-Thatch arrived about three weeks ago. And─... » I began to hear a gurgling sound.

I blushed slightly as Ace didn't care about my face.

I coughed slightly before turning my gaze to Ace. He took a breath before looking at me.

« -Ace, I'm hungry... » I said a little embarrassed by the sudden change of subject.

« -I thought you'd never going to say that! » He laughed again before grabbing me by the arm and pulling me.

We continued by turning either right or left before seeing a restaurant in the distance. I sighed before letting a smile appear on my face. Finallyyy some food!

We went into the restaurant. And we sat down towards the bar.

« -Chef! You can prepare plates of your best dishes for us!! » Ace asked.

The chef nodded and a few minutes later he brought us some dishes. He placed them in front of us before asking us what we were doing here. I smiled as I turned to Ace and smiled at him, while my mouth was filled with food. As the saying goes, "it runs in the family."

I watched him smile as he looked at me, as I giggled still with my mouth full, Ace continued to eat, then pulled out our brother's wanted poster.

« -Say, you haven't seen that young man in this town? » He asked, returning his gaze to me once more. I smiled again, continuing my meal. Before I heard a thud, I turned my head to the noise as Ace's head was buried in his food; it was then at this moment that all heads turned to us as I saw Ace's chest slowly going up and down, people panicked and thought he had eaten a poisoned fruit, as I laughed softly still with food in my mouth. Him and his habits, one day will be me whom he will kill by dint of making me panic. I blew through my nose before turning my head back to the food.

I strained my ears as the small doors opened to the smell of cigars. I wrinkled my nose at the smell, and put my hood back in place as the footsteps and the smell got closer and closer. That's when Ace woke up and looked at the chef. People then shouted "-He was just sleeping" being surprised by this habit of my brother I smiled as I took another bite of my dish, not really listening to the discussion anymore .