Abandoned and Lost
Chapter Twelve: For My Family

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Only for you, I would sacrifice
Only for you, I would give my life
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Masure stared at the sight before him, both confused and surprised by the sudden act of his pet. In all truth he didn't think Ace even had the strength to run after the last few beatings he had given him. He knew one of the male's legs had been fractured or possibly even broken, several ribs had to be cracked, one lung was bruised, and there was also the factor blood loss. The male should not have been able to get up and run down three corridors at the speed he had ran. But he did, just to save his younger sibling. He sacrificed himself for a family member.

"I would give my life a million times if it meant keep Luffy safe. I would rather rot in this hell for eternity than let any harm befall him. He's my brother, and I'll protect him with my life until the day I die."

'He wasn't lying. It wasn't a bluff.' Masure couldn't believe it, even as he stared at the scene before him. His head ached and he stumbled backwards, holding his head tightly as memories flooded his mind. Memories he had forced from his mind many years ago, memories he didn't want.

Her gentle smile appeared in his mind's eye. "Don't worry, I'll always protect you."

Then her bloody, weak smile haunted him. "I told you I'd always protect you."

He fell to the ground on his knees, desperately covering his ears and clenching his eyes shut in an attempt to make the images and voices go away. "Masure, do you know why older siblings were created? To protect their younger siblings. To protect the ones they love. And I'll always love you, got that?"

'Sister...'

Marco and Thatch wasted no time in running to the siblings' sides. "Thatch, get these handcuffs off me now!" The fourth commander did as told and had the item off his brother in less than a minute. Thatch gently pulled the sword out of Luffy's shoulder and pressed down on the wound, quickly checking for the teen's pulse.

"His pulse is weak. We have to get him to a doctor soon." He looked over to Ace, praying for his brother's health. Marco unlocked the cuffs around Ace's wrists and inspected where the sword pierced his brother's chest, giving a curse.

"We can't take it out. If we do, we chance blood leaking into his lung if the sword pierced it. But either way he needs a doctor immediately." The blond went to pick up Ace, but the male's eyes suddenly snapped open and he let out a harsh cough.

"M-Marco?"

"I'm here, Ace. Don't try to talk, we gotta get you to a doctor."

"Luffy. Where's Lu?" Marco went to try and block Luffy from Ace's sight, knowing the commander would panic, but failed to do so in time. Ace's eyes landed on his wounded brother and he instantly crawled over to him to gather him in his arms. He looked over his brother, finally able to see the damage he had gone through in the past few hours. "Luffy! Oh god, open your eyes…"

"Ace, calm down. You shouldn't be moving around in your current state." Thatch quickly spoke, but Ace ignored him. Instead, he gently lay Luffy down and turned towards his master; his eyes full of deep hatred and anger. He found the male crumpled on the ground, his eyes wide with something akin to panic and regret. In a moment of blind furry to protect those he cared for, Ace tightly grabbed the handle of the sword that was currently lodged in his chest and pulled it out, releasing a cry filled with pain and rage. Marco and Thatch were yelling something at him but he couldn't hear it over the pounding of his heart. Right now he had eyes only for Masure. He lunged at the male, shoving the sword through his right shoulder and dug the item into the ground, pinning Masure to the ground.

"You!" He snarled hatefully at the male below him who seemed to be lost deep in thought, almost oblivious to what was happening to him. "This is all your fault!" He twisted the sword, earning a pained groan. "First you torture all those innocent people, then you kill two innocent children, and then you go after my family!? I'll kill you!" He ruthlessly pulled the sword out and held it high above his head, ready to finally end what should have ended a long time ago.

"Sister…," the man whispered distantly, the sword gleaming in the light, "I'm so sorry…" Ace began to bring the sword down, aiming the man's neck. The world around them seemed to move in slow motion, nearly freezing completely as the sword drew closer and closer to its target. The blade was nearly upon Masure's neck now, ready to tear through the muscles and–

"Ace…?"

The sword's tip barely pierced the skin when it stopped completely, and Ace was suddenly brought back from his world of murderous intent by the quiet call. He looked back at Luffy who was finally awake and sitting up in Thatch's arm. "L-Luffy?"

"Ace, you're okay. I'm so hap–" The teen burst into a harsh, wet cough and Ace's eyes narrowed as they returned to the man below him.

"Where is it," he hissed dangerously, earning a confused and dazed expression. "Where's the antidote!" Masure reached into cape pocket quickly, pulling out two small vials containing a light purplish liquid. "And the cure for Oyaji's sickness?" He pulled out another vial, this one holding a clear and rather thick liquid. Ace took the items and stared down at the man with a dark glare and Masure stared back up with regretful expression.

"I'm sorry, Ace. I'm s–" The sword came down again, only this time it came down on the man's other shoulder.

"You deserve to die," Ace whispered in the man's ear, "–but I won't be the one to take your life. I'll leave the Marines to do that for me. They have a rather unique way of dealing with people like you." He raised his his hand as if to knock Masure out when he noticed a distant gleam in the man's eyes.

"That's just like you, Ace," the man said, finally coming back to his senses. "Always running off, never fully completing the job. And never thinking things through. No wonder you've been a pathetic slave most of your life. You can't even save your own brother and father from death. You will continue to fail in life. It's your destiny. A repeating history. You cannot escape it. You will fall, and I shall be there when you do. You are a worthless no one, only a pincushion for the world. Pain and suffering will be the only things know. You will die, and no one shall miss you."

"I will die," Ace whispered, his eyes shadowed by his hair. "I know I will die. And if saving my family means I shall only know pain and suffering then so be it. But, if I die," Ace pulled the sword out and raised it above his head. "–then I'm taking you with me to hell."

The sword came down fast and hard onto the man's chest. The sharp blade easily slipped between the ribs and found its intended target, pinning the man to the ground. Masure let out a gasp of pain before giving a harsh, wet cough. Ace found himself out of breath as his vision blurred but gave a dark smirk anyway, pulling the sword out slowly. "I've just cut into your lung. Nothing can save you this time." The male beneath him tried to gasp for air, trying to get anything into lung. He gave several coughs, all filled with blood. He continued to struggle, his eyes wide with panic. Ace stood on shaking legs, the blood from his wounds mixing with Masure's. Finally the man's motions became more sluggish, his eyes becoming blank and unseeing. His relentless tires to breathe ceased and his blood-covered chin came to a stop.

Ace dropped the sword near the unmoving body, placing a hand over the wound on his chest. He fought to catch his breath himself and managed to stagger over to Luffy's side before dropping to his knees. He turned toward Marco and threw one of the vials at him. "Drink that, quickly." The blond nodded and did as told, emptying the vial's contents into his mouth and making a face. The freckled commander looked over at Thatch and noticed the male had no wounds at all before turning back to his paling brother.

"Ace, I… I feel funny…"

"I know, Lu." He grabbed his brother's hand and gave it a tight squeeze. "Drink this, it'll make you feel better." Luffy opened his mouth and his brother poured the purple liquid down his throat, leaving a little left in the vial. Luffy gave another cough and made a face.

"It tastes… nasty."

Ace chuckled weakly before giving cough himself, earning a very worried glance from Marco who was treating his own shoulder wound. "I bet it did. It doesn't exactly look tasty."

"What was that stuff, Ace?"

"The antidote to the poison. Every one of Masure's weapons… are tipped with poison." Marco suddenly looked up.

"There's no antidote for you…" Ace shook his head, giving another harsh cough as he fell to the ground, no longer able to keep the strength of sitting up. Luffy weakly sat up, his eyes filled with worry. "Dammit, Ace! Do you even have a little left?"

"Yeah. I saved some so our doctors could make more if possible. Also, here's the…" Ace took a moment to try and catch his breath as he handed his older brother the vial. "Here's the cure for Oyaji."

"Ace…"

"M-Marco. There's a letter… in my bag on Lu's ship. Please… give it to Oyaji, will ya?" The blond gave a quick nod.

Luffy looked down at his brother. The wounds were still bleeding, bruises were appearing, and his body was covered in a thin sweat. "Ace... You're gonna live, right? You have to live!" Yells suddenly came from one of the corridors and when everyone looked up, they noticed it was the other commanders from the Moby Dick. Marco quickly ran over to them, telling them to give Oyaji his cure and to make more of the poison's antidote. Thatch came over too and ordered someone to grab a stretcher asap.

"Lu, I don't know if I'm gonna… make it through this one." Hearing this, Luffy bit his lip, his eyes tearing up.

"Why? Why did you push me out of the way?"

"Because I'm your older brother," Ace whispered, a gentle smile gracing his lips. "I have to protect my family at any cost." He let loose a few more rough coughs and took in a few deep breaths. "Luffy, I want you to know that… you're the most precious thing in my life. And that I'm… so, so glad we became brothers. I'm sorry… for all the pain I caused you." Luffy shook his head and his voice began to crack.

"You don't have to apologize. And stop talking like you're not gonna make it! You're my brother! You're invincible, remember?"

Ace stood over the giant bear he had just taken down by himself, his arms crossed and a big victorious grin on his face. Below, Luffy marveled at him with admiration and awe. "Sugei! That was awesome, Ace! You're so strong, you're… you're INVINCIBLE!" Ace just chuckled at the compliment and jumped down next to his brother, ruffling his hair.

"Invincible, eh? I kind of like the sound of that."

"One day I'm gonna as strong as you are, Ace! And then we can be invincible together!"

"I'm awfully tired, Lu," Ace quietly spoke and Luffy seemed to panic at these words before Marco appeared and pulled him away.

"Ace, if you fall asleep I swear I'll beat the crap out of you," the blond replied, gently picking up Ace's upper half while Thatch grabbed his lower half. "Me and Thatch won't ever forgive you, got that? I might also burn all your things by accident." Ace let out a small, weak chuckle as the two began to carry him back to the ship for medical treatment.

"I'm sure you will, Marco." By now the freckled male's voice was barely over a whisper. "Luffy…" Said male was at his brother's side, tightly squeezing his hand. "I'm so proud of you. I know you'll become king of the pirates… for sure. Just promise me two things…"

"Anything," Luffy spoke, trying hard not to cry as he watched his brother start to fade. "Anything, Ace."

"Promise me… you'll never give up your dream…"

"Okay, I promise."

"And promise that… you'll smile everyday. Always… be happy with time that is given to you…"

"I…" Luffy swallowed hard. "I promise."

"Good." The medics finally arrived with the stretcher and Ace was set upon the object, the doctors quickly going to work on him. "See ya later, Lu…" Ace closed his eyes and the doctors started to shout out different types of medical terms. The stretcher was raced down the hall, and Luffy was left to stand there by himself. Down another corridor he heard the calls of a familiar crew. His friends reached him and they started to sprout some things about how worried they were and how he should never do that again. But he wasn't listening. All he could see was his brother's smile and battered body. All he could hear was his brother's voice. He turned towards his friends who noticed something was wrong and walked past them, not even giving a single look or word..

"Luffy…?" The teen continued to walk but didn't get very far down the corridor. He collapsed near the wall and Chopper quickly ran to his side, rolling him onto his back to see what damage had been done. What the crew hadn't expected was to see tears run from the corner of their captain's closed eyes. As Chopper began to work on his captain, he and the crew began to worry on whether or not things would turn out alright.

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Marco paced outside Whitebeard's room as he eagerly waited to hear how his father was doing. 'If he dies… What do we do?' He didn't want to think about the subject so he pushed it from his mind, running a hand through his hair before punching the wall. "Dammit! If only I had–" The door opened and Marco quickly met the nurse, Lyra. "How is he?"

"He'll be fine as long as he gets a lot of rest," she smiled, and Marco let out a sigh of relief. He thanked her before she left and headed towards the infirmary, hoping for equally good news for his brother. He found Thatch waiting outside the medical room with an equally worried expression. When he saw Marco he quickly stood, his eyes searching for any good news.

"Oyaji's gonna be fine and Strawhat's already recovering perfectly. Any news on Ace?" Thatch shook his head with a sigh.

"I still haven't heard anything yet. He was in pretty bad condition when they got him here." Marco nodded, a feeling of dread coming over him. What if Ace didn't make it? He had to make it through, he just had to. He had a little brother to look after, he couldn't leave that behind! Said brother walked into the room, his chest and arms covered with bandages.

"Ace, how is he?"

"We still don't yet," Marco spoke and Luffy grit his teeth. Thatch didn't like the tension in the air, it made him uncomfortable. A thought crossed his mind. 'Today will either end in tears of joy or tears of pain.' A doctor stepped into a room, a solemn look on his face.

'Either way, tears will be shed.'

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So! There it is! Um, hope it was… satisfactory. And I apologize for any wrongness in the chapter. I'm not exactly good with toxins and lung wounds. ^_^; And I apologize for taking so long to update! One more chapters, guys! And I won't say what the outcome is! Though I will say this, I have been in the 'I-need-to-kill-a-character-mood' lately... Oops! Gotta go! Take care~ ;D