Ace's POV

It had taken many waves, grins and salutes to show Pops that Aoi was perfectly fine.

Now it was just her getting control of her newly acquired power. Which she did rather quickly, much to my suprise.

She was currently practicing turning competely in to water during a battle. She was still slow at that.

I rushed at her again. She blocked and dodged my punches to the best of her ability before she could turn in to a puddle completely. We were both exhausted from the full day of training.

We both sat down, panting hard. I looked at her. Despite the sweat beading her forehead and her hard breathing, she looked stronger than ever.

"I think we should call it a day. What do you think?" I panted to her. She frowned at me, saying she wanted to keep going.

"Come on, Aoi. I know you want to get stronger, but we're both at our limits." I said. She pouted.

"Oh, don't look at me like that, you know I'm right. We wouldn't want you to be bed ridden for another week, would we?" I asked. She huffed, admitting I was right. I stood and held my hand out to her. She smirked and grabbed my hand and I helped her stand.

Time skip

"You can't help but admire Aoi's determination. She wants to push past her limits everytime." Marco said. I sighed.

"I know, but I just wish she wouldn't be so hard on herself. She brave and strong, yes, but if she keeps over working herself, she's going to make herself sick. She should know better as a doctor." I said.

After Aoi had cleaned herself up from our day of training, she snuck up to the crow's nest again and fell asleep. Marco and I currently sat with her. She was sound asleep in my lap now.

I wish she would tell me she was going up to the crow's nest so I could come up here and nap with her. I sighed and stroked her hair.

"Ace, do you have feelings for Aoi?" Marco asked. My hand stopped stroking her hair and my head snapped up to look at my friend.

"What?!" I asked. I felt panic rise in me. Was I that obvious or had he heard me when I was watching over Aoi while she was in her coma?

"Ace, I can tell by the way you look at her. And how if she suddenly disappears for a little bit, you panic. And how you never left her side for one second while she was out. Did you even use the bathroom in that week?" He asked.

"Of course I did!" I said. Marco sighed.

"Ace, be completely honest with me. Do you have feelings for Aoi?" Marco asked.

"Do you?" I asked.

"I asked you first." He said. I stared at him. He stared back at me. He sighed and gave up.

"Me personally, no. But you have to remember, Ace. She is the only female here." He said. I stared at him.

"A few other guys have been whispering, Ace. If you have feelings towards her, you better make a move and soon." Marco warned. I looked down at Aoi, sleeping soundly on my lap.

"I love her, but I don't think she feels the same." I murmured. Nevertheless, Marco heard me.

"The only way to know is to ask." He said.

"I don't want to lose her, though." I said. Marco cocked an eyebrow at me.

"The way she clings to you? Even if she doesn't return your feelings, she'll still cling to you." Marco said. I stared down at Aoi.

"By the way, you might want to keep her closer at night." Marco said. I felt my face heat up.

"What?!" I asked, looking up at him.

"Not like that! I mean, we are heading towards a winter island." Marco said. I stared at him again

"Why would I need to keep her close for that?" I asked. Marco facepalmed.

"Ace, Aoi is made of water now." Marco said.

"Yeah. So?" I asked. Marco sighed, rubbing his temples.

"Ace, what happens to water when it gets below freezing?" Marco said. Then it clicked.

"Oh! Wait, why are we going to a winter island?" I asked. Marco shrugged.

"Pops said something about having a Christmas with snow." Marco said. My eyes widened.

"Is it that time of year already?" I asked. Aoi sat up, staring at me and Marco with wide eyes. I felt a little nervous. How long has she been awake?

Wait, what's the date? She asked.

"It's December fifteenth." Marco said. Aoi sighed in relief.

"Aoi... When is your birthday?" I asked.

Jamuary 13th. She said.

"Really?" I asked, suprised. She nodded.

"Aoi, how much of our conversation did you hear?" Marco asked. As she looked down to write, Marco and I shared a nervous glance. Was I busted?

I'm going to have to stay close with Ace because we're going to a winter island. She said. I felt relieved. She didn't know.

Are you guys hiding something from me? She asked.

"No. I was just wondering how much I was going to fill you in on, but it looks like you heard what was important. I'm suprised you didn't wake up at mine and Ace's arguing." Marco lied. Aoi gave us a suspicious look, but seemed to believe it.

After that, Marco took off for some excuse, but just before he took off, he gave me a look as if to tell me to confess. I glared at him, trying to tell him no way.

Aoi and I were left in a very uncomfortable silence. She stared at me.

Ace, I think you've been in the sun for too long. Your face is all red. She said. I pulled my hat over my face to hide my blush.

"I'm suprised you aren't red with how often you're up here." I said. She grinned as if to laugh at me.

So what do you want for Christmas? She asked. I stared.

"Like a gift?" I asked.

It is tradition. She said.

"Well, we really don't do gift exchanges with how many of us there are. We normally just goof off and have a giant feast." I said. She frowned. I chuckled.

"What's that frown for?" I asked. She looked away. I wrapped an arm around her.

"Come on." I said. She sighed.

I've never really celebrated Christmas. Even at the orphanage I went to, I was alone. I was kinda hoping for the full experience. She said, not making eye contact. I laughed. She glanced at me.

"Aoi, Christmas is about being together with people you love." I said. She raised an eyebrow.

I know that, but I want to give something that shows exactly how much I love ythe people I love. She said.

"What's with the y in front of the "the" there?" I asked, pointing to it. Her cheeks turned pink.

Slip of the hand. She said.

"Ah, well don't worry about getting gifts for anyone. What we do is just goof off like brothers do." I said. She stared at me and I knew she still wanted to give a gift. I hugged her.

"Look, if you just goof off and party with us, we'll know exactly what your trying to say. We don't need fancy gifts, we just need each other. If you're really dead set on giving me a gift, then save me a dance." I said. Her cheeks went from pink to red. I laughed as she blushed in to my chest.

"I love this girl so much. Maybe I can catch her under some mistletoe we always hang up as a joke." I thought.