You sat silently in the cafeteria, ignoring the cacaphonous murmurings of the students around you. It's been two weeks since you've enrolled, and Luffy has introduced you to some very interesting people.

But something else bothered you today. As you stared at Ace solemnly with wondering eyes, you couldn't help but question why he was stuck with you.

You certainly know that you've never met him before, so why?

"(Name)-ya, you're spacing out again." Law said as he snapped his fingers in front of your face. You blink in surprise and look at him. Giving him a sheepish grin, you muttered an apology.

"What's up with you?" Usopp asked as he slapped Luffy's hand away from his lunch. "You've been awfully quiet lately."

"Yeah, (Name), are you sick?" Nami inquired worriedly, reaching a delicate hand out to touch your forehead.

You shook your head and gave your best smile, not wanting to worry them with your problems. No one seemed convinced, but they decided to leave it alone if you were against talking about it.

After classes were over, you headed out to the school gates to meet with Chopper like usual. Your eyes were cast down as you watched your feet as you walked on quietly. The soft clacking of your shoes were drowned out by the noise of excited students that were ready to enjoy another weekend.

"You alright?" A concerned voice broke through your thoughts.

You glance to your right and see Ace peering at your face with genuine concern. His lips tugged downward into a frown.

"I'm fine..." You mumble. Although people were around you, you didn't find it necessary to not answer him since no one would hear you anyway. So as you stopped at the gates where you and your brother made as a rendezvous point, you hadn't realized that someone had been following you.

"Seriously, (Name), I'm getting worried." Ace sighed and cupped your cheek. The coolness from his palm didn't send shivers down your spine or goosebumps on your skin like it usually did. You had gotten used to it all already and, somehow, you now found the chill of his touch slightly comforting.

With a quiet sigh and a small smile, you look up at him, "I'm fine... Really I am..."

"Talking to yourself doesn't sound fine to me-yoi."

You and Ace froze in spot. A man was standing beside the both of you and frowning. He had blonde hair and slightly tanned skin. His hands were shoved in his pockets as he continued to stare at you.

"U-Umm..." You stammer and slowly avert your gaze away from Ace and stare at the newcomer. "What are you talking about?"

The man raised an eyebrow at your question and gave you a skeptical look. "I was calling you this whole time and you never answered-yoi." He explained and looked around. "But you sounded like you were having a conversation with yourself-yoi."

The color drained from your face as you heard this. What would happen to you if he decided to leak this information out? People would make fun of you, call you crazy, maybe the school will send you to an asylum!

Trying to keep the paranoid thoughts away, the man once again called your attention. "Relax, I'm not gonna tell anyone-yoi." He said, poking your forehead. "My name is Marco by the way."

You looked down at his hand as he held it out, sneaking a quick glance at Ace, who was suddenly even more worried. "I'm... (Name)..." You say and shake his hand.

Marco nodded and smiled a bit, "Yeah, I know who you are-yoi..." He sighed sadly, drawing your curiosity to his statement.

'Did we meet before??' You wondered, trying to recall the memories of ever speaking to the blonde.

Marco patted your head then ruffled your hair. "Hope we can be good friends-yoi." He said before turning on his heels and walking away.

You watched as he departed, senses numbed to the world around you. Not even Chopper calling your name could wake you up. You just stood there, motionless, as a vague memory flashed before your eyes.

-Flashback-

Marco and Ace stood there in front of your house. You ran out the door, smiling at them, and hugging the two.

With a light laugh, Marco patted your head then ruffled your hair. "Ready to go-yoi?"

"Yeah!" You chime happily.

Ace grinned and gave you a kiss on the cheek, "Well, lets go then, princess!"

-End of Flashback-

"(Name)?" Ace called you back, making you look at him with a distant look in your eyes.

"Ace?" You whisper quietly, tears began brimming in your eyes.

Franky drove to the parking lot to pick up both you and Chopper, only to find out that you were sat on the ground, crying, with Chopper panicking and trying to calm you down.

With a confused expression, he headed over and tried to figure out what was wrong with you. But all you did was continue to cry in response. You didn't even know why, but the emotion just started to spill out your tears.

Ace knelt on the ground beside you, gently rubbing your back as you kept repeating his name between hiccups.

What you remembered was only just the beginning of the end.