Hey guys, sadly this is probably the last "continuous" day that I'll be uploading this book. Seeing as how the next time I would is Tuesday and I go back to school tomorrow. I will still try to keep my promise of updating every other day, but sadly I cannot guarantee. I hope you enjoyed this past week, as much as I have.
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  The amount of light in the room stings his eyes as they slowly open. He could nearly hear someone breathing, so he turns his head in the direction of the sound. A small smile forms on his lips as his eyes land on his brothers, they're resting their heads on each other. And neither one of them is dead.
  He groans as he sits up, using his arms to push his torso into position. Everything is so vague, he can't remember why he's here. It's like he had lived a different life in that dream of his. It was a dream. That explains why he and (Y/n) lived happily together. (Y/n).
  "Ace...?" Sabo gently moves Luffy off of him, trying not to wake him. The worry on his face starting to dissolve. "You're finally awake... we were-"
  "Ace? Did you say Ace is awake?" Luffy sits up, groggily. But when he sees Ace sitting up, he's instantly awake. "Ace! You're okay! Everyone will be so relieved... that's one less thing they have on their minds."
  "I'm sorry to worry you guys, again," Ace lets a sigh escape his lungs. The events from the last time he was awake presenting themselves to him once again. "And you said one less thing? What's the other thing?"
  "(Y/n)," Sabo pulls his right knee up to his chest, resting his hands on his leg. "No one has seen her since the night you... ended up like this."
  "And exactly how long ago was that?" Ace scratches the back of his head. If they're worried about her, then it would mean that it's been at least a few days... right? "Who brought me here?"
  "Well... you've been here for about four days, this is day five," Sabo keeps his lips in a straight line. "Marco found you outside the orphanage in the rain. He looked around for the girl you were with when he left... (Y/n), but he couldn't find her... so he brought you here. No one else has seen her since. After Marco got you here-"
  "He called me!" Luffy interjects, making him relevant in the conversation. "But... I forgot to tell you guys something. The day after Ace was brought here, (Y/n) came in. I didn't see her in here, but she was coming out and she was crying. I... I didn't know what to do at first, but by the time I wasn't frozen anymore she was already gone. She also left a note for Ace. It's in that envelope. I have no idea what's written in it, but the handwriting on it is definitely (Y/n)'s."
  "You know her handwriting?" Sabo stares at the youngest before it turns into a glare. "Wait. You forgot to mention something that important?"
  "I was preoccupied with worrying about Ace that it slipped my mind! I'm sorry!" he pouts, looking away. "You're lucky I remembered at all."
  Ace shakes his head. He loves these men. He's blessed with them as his brothers. Sabo grabs Luffy and ruffles his hair, "I was yanking your chain. I'm sorry if I offended you. I understand where you're coming from. But I want to know how you ended up like this, Ace."
  The black-haired man freezes. What should he tell them? Should he tell them everything? Should he lie? He looks away, out the window. His lungs start to ache, he should breathe, "If I tell you, you have to promise to not tell anyone. Absolutely no one else, not even the cops."
"I promise!" Luffy walks right next to the bed, before putting his arms around his brother. "I'm okay with keeping a brother secret. There are no secrets between us. Right Sabo?"
Sabo knits his eyebrows together, obviously debating this. If Ace is so insistent on no cops, then it has to be something that would warrant them, would it not? "Sure. I promise."
But he trusts his brother. He knows what he's doing. At least he hopes, Ace is the oldest after all.
Ace nods. He knew he could trust them, of course. They're his brothers, "It was (Y/n)'s boyfriend, he-"
"(Y/n) has a boyfriend?!" Luffy exclaims, obviously completely shocked. He closes his mouth, looking embarrassed. "Sorry... I interrupted your explication... sorry. Continue."
"It's okay," Ace reaches up and rubs Luffy's head. He tells them everything thing. From what they had heard from Marco to the last thing he can remember. They weren't thrilled when they had heard that he boyfriend was abusive; verbally and physically.
"So... we're just going to let him do what he wants to her?" Luffy tilts his head, hating it when his friend is getting hurt instead of him. He's not a masochist, but he'd rather be the one to be hurt. "I don't think-"
"Luffy, I know you don't like it, I don't either," Sabo balls his hands into fists. "But there's a reason she's with him. If it's because she loves him, then who are we to judge. We can't dictate her life, we also shouldn't judge her based on it. Love is strange."
"If one person in the relationship changes, then the relationship changes. People always look for the same thing in the people they date. Sometimes it's the wrong thing, so they continue to be with the wrong type of people. But sometimes, it works," Sabo bites the inside of his lip before continuing. "It's a mystery, but it works. We should give it time."
"I think she believes she can change him," Ace lets out a sigh, gaining a look from the younger males. "I think she believes she can help him. Mend whatever is broken in him. Because all she ever wants is to help people."

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