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Fighting was all they could do. Every time they saw each other, the only thing they could do was fight. Ever since the first time they met, they fought each other with everything they had. One because he wanted to have fun, the other because it was the correct thing to do. Somehow, their reason to fight changed. Why? When? They didn’t know. But their reasons to fight each other had changed, both knew it but neither said a thing.
Isuka fought Ace because he was a pirate, a criminal, someone who would be better in jail or death. All pirates do is cause destruction and leave pain behind them. She never thought Ace would be different but since day one Ace proved her wrong. He wasn’t evil like the pirates she had fought in the past. She found herself wanting to know him better, she wanted to understand him, that was all. She convinced herself of that.
Ace fought her because fighting was funny, he didn’t have a reason to fight her, he would fight any marine that tried to stop him. Isuka was the only one who continued trying and trying, a new strategy every time. He fought her with all his strength, not doing so would be a disrespect for her.
She knew how to fight with her sword, kicking and throwing punches at the right moment, Ace always had to focus on every single movement she made and follow her with his eyes. She was strong, he always ended with cuts and marks all over his body thanks to her. And he wasn’t any different, their fighting style was completely different but it was a good change for Isuka, it was hard to predict Ace’s movement but with every fight she got better at that.
Sometimes the fight ended with Ace on the ground and Isuka standing with her sword pointing at Ace, when that happened his crew was fast to react making Isuka leave the ship until the next time they met. Sometimes it ended with Isuka on the floor and Ace sitting on top of her with his dagger pointing at her neck.
“I could keep you as my treasure, you know?”
A smirk formed on Isuka’s face, “I’m not something for you to reclaim,” she used all her strength to move her body, sending Ace to the floor next to her.
He stood quickly, Isuka pointed her sword at him, he got in position to attack, “then I’ll kidnap you. I’m a criminal anyway.”
“But are you though?” The question caught him by surprise, that was all she needed to leave the ship until the next time they met.
He knew she would never join his crew, she was a marine, she devoted her life to help and protect people from criminals. She was a good marine. He didn’t dare to ask her directly to join his crew for that reason, he couldn’t ruin her life by asking something like that.
Isuka was the same, even if she wanted Ace to join the marine she knew it was impossible.
Both wanted the other at their side but it was just a dream that would never come true. It was impossible even before the start. They chose different paths in life, paths that made them walk close to the other but never at the side.
Ace going to the New World stopped them from meeting. Isuka was strong but she was never sent to the New World, she couldn’t just go. She needed to follow orders. She accepted the fact that she would probably never see Ace again.
And maybe that would have been better.
She was the only marine who fought him again and again and survived. So she was called to guard him while he was in Impel Down. She wasn’t prepared to see him like that, chained, bleeding, without his usual smile on his face. It was like she was seeing a different person.
“Do you still think I’m not a criminal?” The question was asked in a whisper when she told to feed him. His arms were chained to the wall and he would remain like that, but the marine couldn’t have him dying there.
“Nothing could change my opinion on that. Now, eat.”
“Why? I’ll die anyway, won’t I?”
“So you’ll just give up? Who are you?”
Ace looked at her in the eyes, it was dark and he could barely see her face. She had the same strong expression on her face she always did, but it was different at the same time. He caused that, he realized. But he couldn’t do anything to fix his mistake.
She stayed close to him on their way to Marineford as a guard. She got on her knees to remove the chain so he could walk out of the ship and to his death, “if we can be reborn, I hope we get to meet each other again.” He smiled to her one last time.
She stayed on the ship, she was glad she didn’t need to fight in the war, she was sure she would betray the marine if she did.