YO I'M SO SORRY THIS IS OUT SO LATE. Like, almost 2 weeks late, hahahaha *sweats*

Well, at least I'm updating, that's more than I can say for any of the other stories I have uvu I think part of the problem was that I actually started writing the sequel. I'm not even to the Grandline yet and I'm writing the sequel pfff-

But since I'm writing what comes after the big event of this story, I can tell you all that I've finally picked one of the 3 endings I'd come up with. You- You're all going to hate me.

...WELL WHATEVER, HERE YOU GO HAVE A THING

Chapter 9: Promise and Memory

It was odd, going to that "uninhabited" island with Zoro, but it hadn't changed much. The animals had still been weird, the treasure had still been gone, and Gaimon still didn't join them. Luffy didn't see much point in changing anything on this island, and honestly, even if he didn't try to emulate his old self, he didn't think he'd have acted any differently.

It was only when they were well on their way to Syrup village, that Nami brought up the issue of how they would get to the Grandline. They certainly couldn't take these small boats. Or, well, not the way they were at the moment. A little seastone along the keel of the boat, and some reinforcement…

Even if Luffy knew that sailing solo wasn't impossible in Paradise, Nami certainly didn't, and he wasn't about to tell her and end up skipping out on recruiting the Going Merry. She'd probably realize it when they met up with Ace and saw Striker anyways… Actually, if he told her it was possible now she might just skip out on them.

Well, that was a sad thought. Luffy looked over to Zoro, who was forlornly watching the last of his sake swirl in the bottle, then to Nami who was looking at the Captain expectantly… Oh, she must have said something. "What was that?"

The woman sighed irritably, but repeated herself nonetheless. "I said that we can't go to the Grandline like this!" Her hands found themselves planted on her waist, and Luffy made an effort to show some thought.

"Well, we're going to pick up a chef before we go, but you're mostly right." He said plainly, and Zoro looked up from where he was lounging.

The man's eyes narrowed at the way Luffy put it. "'Mostly' right? You mean someone could go to the Grandline like this?" Nami's eyes narrowed and she frowned at the thought. She didn't much like the idea of going into a dangerous place like the Grandline such a poorly made craft.

Well, there goes not telling Nami. That was awfully fast. "Well, you could. It wouldn't last long, but small numbers and small crafts don't really stop strong people from going anywhere. Some guys actually sail alone." Like Mihawk, he remembered, biting his tongue to keep from mentioning it. Zoro would see that for himself sooner than later.

The man's surprisingly keen eye caught Luffy's expression and mistranslated, however, it did reveal a different truth. "You sailed alone, didn't you? When you were in the Grandline."

Luffy thought it was odd how observant his First Mate was being. He'd never really paid attention to his captain, or asked questions before, and he hadn't expected it to start. Nami seemed surprised, looking between the two, while the rubber man just stare at his swordsman, contemplating his answer.

Simple was usually best. "Yeah, before Sabo partnered up with me." Or rather, until Sabo found him and brought him to the Revolutionaries. He was damn glad his brother had, if he didn't Luffy likely would have found himself at the Pirate Graveyard eventually, and he doubted he'd leave without force.

"Sabo? No, that's not important," Nami looked seconds from climbing into their boat to demand answers, gripping the rail with white knuckled hands. "You've been to the Grandline? Alone? How long?"

He always forgot how scary people thought Paradise was. After being there, he didn't think he'd ever find it scary. Still, it was a good opportunity to tell his most trusted what they were in for.

"Nami, you don't need to worry about the first half of the Grandline; I can handle that." He could do it all alone again, if he had to. "The people who get past Fishman Island actually call it Paradise!"

He went on to, very badly, explain the log pose system for both sides, and the power level of the men in Paradise. He'd hoped to ease her worries by using the Shichibukai compared to the Yonko, but it seemed to only make her more scared the more he tried.

He learned why very quickly. "There's no way any human in our sea is strong enough to fight those monsters!" Nami had never actually seen him fight. Quick knockouts she was only half paying attention to, yes, but she hadn't seen his fight with Buggy. She hadn't seen anything he was capable of, and honestly, neither had Zoro. The man had only received small examples.

He thought that over, turning to Zoro. "Hey, how strong do you think I am?" He asked, curiously. There was no way the swordsman could accurately gauge it, but it would make a good starting point. However, he'd forgotten exactly how much he'd told and shown Zoro, front his Conqueror's Haki, to his time in the New World.

"You spent 10 years on the Grandline, right?" Luffy stopped himself before he could shake his head in denial. It had been much, much longer than that by now, but if Zoro was going to assume his time with the Revolutionaries was his only time there, that was fine. "Then you'd have to be above anything East Blue can offer, even without the whole willpower thing."

"Yeah." The Rubber man nodded, turning to Nami. "Going with me, you shouldn't have to worry about much, Nami. I was on even ground with my big brother before he set sail years ago, and I think he's got a pretty big bounty by now, in the New World!"

Nami looked skeptical. "Really." She sighed, as he just grinned. She'd understand soon. "Well, either way, we need a ship big enough for all of your eventual crew, don't we?"

Luffy shrugged. "Yeah, that's true." Technically, so long as Zoro wasn't allowed to be by himself and Nami and himself kept an eye on everything, they could make do with a slew of one-man ships. It would be interesting, to say the least, and if this lifetime were one to just mess around with, he'd probably do it. However, he wasn't about to leave Merry behind. Not for anything.

"I know where we can get a ship."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

It was a bright morning when they came upon the shore of Syrup village. Far earlier than last time, but not so much that it would cause any problems for time. They'd be leaving at the same time they did last time if things went right, so they should be back on track soon.

Or so Luffy hoped.

As she was with everything it seemed, Nami was skeptical about this island having a ship for them to take. Stepping out onto the shore, no dock in sight, it made sense that there wouldn't be a ship large enough anywhere, but it still stung that Nami didn't believe him. It took all he had to repeatedly remind himself that she didn't know him yet.

There was no one on the beach, and Luffy was confused for a moment when he couldn't sense Usopp behind the bush, when he'd gotten curious and checked. It was brief, because not moments later, yelling could be heard across town.

"Pirates are coming!"

Nami and Zoro tensed, prepared for people to show up to fight, but Luffy just laughed, walking farther onto the beach. Usopp didn't sound like that when he was scared. When Usopp was scared he had false bravado, and a shaky voice to match his legs. Right now, he sounded almost happy.

When Luffy heard laughter and angry yelling, be decided to scratch that thought. He was very happy. If he didn't already know what Usopp's dream was, and that he could only achieve it on the sea, he'd have felt bad for planning to take him away from all of this. Heck, he already did feel bad, because they couldn't take Kaya with them.

When Luffy reached the start of the cobble road, he could see Usopp running in their direction from the village, and Luffy grinned brightly. It was… nice to see him so young and full of life. "Heeeeey!" The Pirate King yelled down the path, making his Sniper stop in his tracks. Picking up his pace, Luffy jogged up the slope to meet him.

He looked a little uncomfortable being addressed by a stranger, which was normal for anyone in such a small, out of the way village. He knew it would blow over quickly, so Luffy ignored the look he was being given.

"You're Yasopp's son!" The resemblance was unmistakable, especially from old pictures, from before the man joined Shanks. "I could see it from a mile away!" The boy, not yet a man no matter what he said, stood slack jawed, before a wide grin came to his face. Well, before the angry villagers came into sight.

Turning around, Luffy addressed his crewmates, smiling in amusement. "Hey, you guys wanna take down Big Nose's flag? I don't think the people here will be happy to see it." While Nami scrambled to do just that, genuinely distressed at the thought of being run out as soon as they arrived, Zoro just languidly stretched, enjoying having his feet on land.

Grabbing Usopp's wrist, Luffy dashed off, wind whipping through his hair at the speed of his run. "Let's go!" To the trees where they could quickly loose the angry, just-woken villagers, the pirate dragged the wanna-be.

It isn't until they were up in the trees, Usopp looking bewildered between Luffy and the ground, that they lost them and had a chance to talk. It was Usopp, excitedly remembering how Luffy recognised him, who leaned in to speak.

"So, you said you know my father?" It was the first news he'd heard of his dad since his mother passed away, and Luffy sadly remembered that fact.

Looking at his grinning not-yet-friend, Luffy shook his head. "I didn't, but I have! Like I said, you look just like him! Usopp, right?" The boy nodded enthusiastically, the smile on his face growing to sizes that could rival the rubber man on the best of days. "You're Dad's the best sniper on the Grandline!"

Eyes wide and round, Usopp leaned across the branch they were sitting on in interest. "Is he? I mean- Of course he is!" The Liar laughed through his pride, wondering how this kid - he couldn't be any older than Usopp himself, right? - knew more about where his father was than he did. The thought should have put a damper on his mood, but he was well past being bitter about his father following his dreams.

Still, he was curious. "How do you know my dad?"

Luffy put a hand on the hat on his head, thinking back, back ages ago to Yasopp and his marksmanship. Even back when Luffy was 7 years old in both mind and body, before Shanks was a Yonko, Yasopp was an amazing sharpshooter. He was a real catch, Luffy had to admit.

"They used my town as a base when I was little." Luffy contemplated not telling Usopp that his dad was on Shanks' ship, just for laughs when they ran into the man, but- But he stopped himself, not because he wanted to or didn't want to say it, but because of the way he was thinking.

The mood dropped, and Luffy looked to the ground, feeling for any presence nearby. Only an already lost Zoro, it seemed. "Let's go get something to eat, I'm starving!" Despite his grin and laugh, there was very obviously something off, but only Luffy knew what it was.

He jumped down before Usopp could ask, trying to clear his mind of the reminder he'd had to give himself.

Because it isn't when they would see Shanks. It was if. Because he'd never seen Shanks before the War of the Best, in any lifetime. Because if he succeeded, and even if he failed, Luffy wouldn't, couldn't stay long enough. The only way they'd possibly see the Red Hair Pirates, was if something drastic changed, or he was still somehow up and running when they arrived at Marineford.

Because he'd made a promise, and he intended to keep it.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

He'd been alone for so long now. He hadn't counted the days, not after the first couple of months, and it had been a long time since. Drifting at sea, alone in a one-man craft, Thousand Sunny left with the Shipwrights he'd gotten to know in Water 7, the Pirate King had been without his brothers or his crew for almost 3 years. He would have been celebrating his 20th birthday tomorrow, Partying, feasting on Sanji's amazing food, sharing stories with Sabo… If he'd succeeded he'd have been sharing a drink with Ace and the Whitebeard Pirates right about now. He'd have been able to become Pirate King already, knowing very well how to reach One Piece.

The pain tore through his chest, a pain he was more than used to feeling. It wasn't from a physical injury, no, but something worse. The metal had rusted and worn down, but only slightly, years at sea doing little to help break the cuff on his wrist. It was one of the many things that weren't supposed to happen in Marineford, and it had been their undoing.

He couldn't remove the Seastone, not without the key that was who knows where by now. He'd fled the sight without it, miraculously avoiding the same meltdown he'd had last time. Rather, he'd pushed it down, down, down, locking it inside of himself so he wouldn't have to face that earth-shattering failure.

He would face it someday, he knew he would. It would be disrespectful to the Nakama that shouldn't have been his. The Nakama that should have lived. His crew that he'd risked the lives of for the slim chance at a better outcome, only to lose them all.

Because he had lost all of them, even if they weren't all dead and gone.

The rubber man grimaced, remembering all he'd left behind and lost because of his stupid mistakes. He rubbed at the raw skin around his wrist under the cuff. He'd learned to live with the damned thing, knowing if he'd been able to fight, or even move, despite the Seastone, Zoro at the very least wouldn't have died. And if Zoro had been alright, maybe Sanji and Robin would have been okay too…

The Pirate King shook his head, finally stepping out of his boat onto the dry land, uncuffed hand reaching up to ruffle his hair. A habit he'd gained after he'd found and left his hat with Marco to be put on his brother's grave. It had been a long while since he'd stepped foot on land, and now that he was here…

A loud growling noise came from his empty stomach, and a wry grin, nothing like what it should have been, came to his face. There wasn't much food on the boat when he'd left the last island… He also didn't have very much Beli on him, but he supposed he could let himself copy Ace's (and his own) first signature crime.

The Town was small and homey, and he almost felt bad for eating his fill with the intent of running, but he hadn't needed to worry in the end. A small bag filled with bills and coins was gently placed on the table in front of him as he finished.

"You look a little lonely, eating here by yourself." Luffy felt himself freeze. He would know that voice anywhere. How could he forget? After all, he was… the only one Luffy really had left in this life. "Didn't you always say you hated to be alone?"

The Pirate stood abruptly, chair clattering behind him loudly, and stared at the hand that had paused over the bag. He could look at his face. If he looked, he'd want to stay, he'd want to stay and hug him and- and just tell him everything and that rusted lid over all he'd pushed down would-

He couldn't. Everyone around him was in danger, least of all because the world now knew he was Dragon's son. He would just assume something would happen or wouldn't happen and Sabo-

Quick as Gear Second, Luffy fled the restaurant, another pair of steps hot on his trail. He didn't get far, his abilities as a non-fruit user would likely never match up to the other, and just outside of the front door an arm wound itself around his middle.

He heard the 'Luffy, I'm not going to hurt you!' but ignored it as he clung to the arm that had grabbed him, blunt nails digging into the blue sleeve. He had to go, had to get away so he couldn't hurt the only person left who mattered. The only one left who remembered and even loved him.

"Let go, Sabo." He demanded, voice firmer than her felt. However, the arm only shifted in discomfort. "Please, I'm only gonna hurt you!" The desperation shone through, and there was only a short pause before another arm wound around him, pulling him back into his brother's chest.

"Luffy…" Sabo choked on his own words, resting his chin on Luffy's head. He wondered how much pain his little brother must have been in to think he could hurt him. He didn't question how Luffy knew it was him, didn't even think on it. Luffy probably never believed he was dead in the first place.

Guilt gnawed at the Revolutionary as he felt the trembling in the younger's body. He'd asked himself over and over the past three years, 'what if I'd been there?', 'what if he doesn't want to see me' and 'what if Luffy hates me?', wondering if things would have been different if he'd remembered his family.

Hugging the rubber boy - why didn't he feel like rubber? - tighter, Sabo could hardly hold back his tears over his turmoil. "I'm- I'm so sorry, Luffy." What kind of big brother was he, leaving his little sun to wither all alone for so long? What kind of family was he, letting the youngest be alone for so damn long…?

He couldn't help the small piece of happiness he felt at having found the boy, and the part of him that was just so damn happy Luffy was still alive. "I'm sorry."

I had so much trouble writing Usopp, you don't even know. Stuck a flashback in here so I could get away from that and still get you guys a full chapter pfff-

I know y'all didn't ask for any flashbacks, but I think I'm going to periodically stick on in here. Cuz I'm not really going to be writing a prequel, so I might as well give you guys some info, right?

HERE'S HOPING I CAN GET THE NEXT UPDATE OUT ON TIME! (2 weeks = life goal)

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Edit: Oh man, I saw so many mistakes after publishing this hahaha... and then Fanfic kind of died and I could edit it :( Made a few edits to spelling (there's probably a ton left I didn't see) and stuff now, and I'm going to answer those reviews that I'M SORRY I FORGOT TO DO. Glad to see most people are all good for it if I go for some romance, ehe~ We'll see though, we'll see!

OtherworldlyArtist: IT'S YOU AND ME BRO. ASL SHIPPING EVERYWHERE. GIMME A FIST BUMP

rayningnight: BAMF!Luffy was second life Luffy if I'm completely honest :') He's realized that powering through things isn't the right way to fix everything. We'll slowly see all the things that went wrong in that life because of his 'I can fight anyone' attitude.

We'll have to see what the muses do on the subject of SaboLu (I tend to let the muse run away with things) but I'm not sure about any other ships. As a Multishipper, I have a ton of ships, but I'm not sure I want to write any in other than maybe extremely subtle Frobin pfff-

Zelga Lim Li 1: Yes, I will be incorporating the canon reason for Sabo's absence :) It took me a while to figure out how to get around it, but I think I've got it down.

Zelga Lim Li 2: Okay, I'm not sure if you're going to see this, because you commented after my most recent update, but I feel like it's a good time to recap what we've been told about Luffy's age.

All we have so far is that Luffy's physically 17, and that he stopped counting the years after 23. It was too confusing for Luffy's math-sad mind to think about both his physical and mental age being two different things. 23 was how old he was at the end of his first life (when he reached the One Piece). We still have his second life's worth of years unaccounted for, though, if you read carefully, I'm sure some of you can do the math.

PS: NikZkinE, you are very cute 3 I HIGHLY DOUBT THIS STORY HAS SO MANY FANS THOUGH *sweats*