An: Hi guys this is my first attempt of writing friction. I hope that it isn't too bad. I don't have a beta reader nor do I know what that is. All mistakes are mine.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the One Piece characters.

Remembering Ace

It was the middle of night, and Luffy had just woken up from another nightmare. It didn't happen as often as before, but tonight was particularly bad. He got up from his hammock and walked out to the deck to get some fresh air. He sat down on Sunny's figure head and gazed out at the ocean. Today was January 1st, the birthday of his late brother Ace, and Luffy couldn't help but to think of him. It has been 2 years since the War of the Greatest, and while Luffy has come to term with it, the pain was still there. He absentminded rubbed the scar across his chest. It was a constant reminder of that tragic day. Being back with his crew made it better and he was grateful for them. But today all he could think about was his brother. He was reminiscing on all the times they shared. Both good and bad. He thought back to how he had first meet an angry Ace, to how they along with Sabo had shared some sake and became brothers to finally to Marineford to how Ace had died his arms.

He looked up to the night sky and whispered softly. "I am sorry, I couldn't save you. I am so sorry that you had to have such a weak little brother." A tear rolled down his cheeks. He continues softly, "I had promised you that I was going to get stronger and stronger so that I would lost anyone." He gave a broken smile and continued. "Guess that was a lied, I didn't mean to break my promise." After a few moment of silence, he spoke again. "Ace, are you happy?" He wiped away a few more tears that had made it was down his tear-stained cheeks. He didn't expect any kind of response, but he continued anyway, "I hope that you are, because I can't bare the thought of you being sad" He whispered again. A few more tears ran down his cold checks.

He felt a sudden weight around his shoulder as if he was being hugged. He looked around and saw no one. It was middle of the night and he could sense that his crew were all still asleep. The only one awake was Brook who had night watch, but he was currently on the other side of the Thousand Sunny. "Ni-chan? Is that you?" the weight around his shoulder tighten gently in response. Luffy gave a smiled. He lie down on Sunny's figure head and looked up at the stars. "I love you big brother" he mumbled sleepily as his eyes became heavy with sleep. Before finally submitting to sleep, he thought felt a a ghost of a kiss on his cheek. Unknown to him, his brother's spirit was laying down next to him.

Ace knew that his brother couldn't hear him, but he spoke anyway. "I love you too little brother. Don't worry, I am happy. I am glad I was able to protect you, my baby brother." Ace ran his fingers through his brothers hair and smiled. "I am sorry too, for breaking my promise and leaving you. You are not weak Luffy, you never were. Thank-you Luffy for loving me and making me happy. Arrigato." Ace continued to lie next to his brother until the first ray of light came out and he slowly faded away.

An: Hope you like it. Please leave a review.