Finding Your Way Home

Summary: Modern world AU. When Luffy gets taken away from his grandfather and brother, he ends up far away from home. There he meets a boy named Sabo who is determined to help him cope. But Ace is still determined to get his brother back. And he will search the whole world to find him.

A/N: I'm not sure why I'm writing a new story. Mostly because I need more ASL in my life. I love writing the brothers. So this is my excuse to do so. As for the Modern AU thing, I've never tried this before but I have read some and I hope it works out. Don't worry, the rest of my stories will be updated too.

Speaking of, Currently Working On was added on my profile where you can see which story's chapter in on the works at the moment. Also, this story was added on the poll and "new story" choice was zeroed.

Chapter One: Away from Home

The young woman had no idea what to do about it. It wasn't the first time this happened. Some kids who ended up here were better off, were saved from families who didn't deserve them, but there were lots of them who hated coming here and the transition was more than rough on them. Most current example was this boy, hiding under the blankets, crying hard on his pillow. Her heart broke for the kid as she listened to the loud sobs wracking his young body.

"Makino?" Another boy showed up behind her, sneaking a peek inside. This was actually his room, that he would share with a boy, but as the raven haired kid had just come here this morning, they haven't met each other yet. The boy's eyes softened at the sight of his new roommate. "Makino? Who is that?"

She placed her palm on the boy's head, absentmindedly stroking his blonde hair. "They just brought him today," she whispered. "He hasn't talked to anyone or eaten all day. I'm worried about him." He looked thoughtful for a moment and then headed towards the crying kid. "Sabo…" Makino called for him, but gave it up, secretly hoping he could help. She walked out and quietly closed the door behind her. Maybe she could get them something to eat.

Sabo cautiously neared the trembling boy, hesitantly reaching to him. He placed his hand on his back, keeping it there even when the kid flinched. It proved to be a good decision when a head peeked from under all those blankets.

A pair of huge, tearful eyes looked up at him, sorrow evident in them. His lower lip was trembling uncontrollably and the tears running down his face didn't seem to stop.

"Hey," Sabo smiled reassuringly, the gap in his teeth showing. "I'm Sabo. What's your name?"

"L-Luffy…" The boy replied, his voice shaky and raw.

"That's a cute name. This is my room you know," he said, gesturing around.

"I- I'm sorry," Luffy mumbled, looking down.

"No, I don't mind. It just means we're going to live together here."

"Really…?"

"Yeah! Ain't that cool? We're going to be like brothers."

That made him cry a little bit harder. "I already have a brother," he said, voice cracking at the end.

"Really?" Sabo tried to keep his voice even, fearing he said the wrong thing.

"Y-yeah. His name's Ace…" He bit his lip hard, drawing some blood, making Sabo panic a little. "He'll come get me. I-I know he will."

Sabo smiled at the sheer affection Luffy showed for his brother. He tried not to think about the odds of the boy seeing him again, though. It was too painful to think about that. "I see… Well, that's great. But you know what, Luffy?"

When Luffy's giant puppy eyes turned to him full of interest, Sabo knew exactly what he was supposed to say.

"Until then… I'm going to take care of you."

And a hundred miles away, another raven-haired boy was crying his eyes out, cursing the world, the rules and his own family for being so damn careless.

"No, no, NO! Damn it! Why? WHY? LUFFY!" He cried, frustration and pain evident in his young voice. He was punching the wall, growls of anger escaping his mouth. The thought of his baby brother… so far away from them… the thought of them never getting to s…

"Shut up," he muttered, clenching his fists. "Stop it. Stop it. STOP IT. Luffy!... Luffy…"

Garp has never heard anything more heartbreaking than that boy's voice crack as he called his lost brother's name. He knew at that moment that neither of his grandsons would ever forgive him for what happened.

Not that he would ever forgive himself.

Luffy, both of them thought at once. Where in the world are you?

A/N: What is wrong with me? O.o Why do I keep torturing characters? Oh well, should I discard this or try for another chapter? Please leave a review and tell me what you think!