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“Y’know, there’s a rumor that card soldiers in your kingdom have their hearts removed,” Ace drawls idly, “Is that true?”
Predictably, there’s no response from the soldier standing on the other side of the bars. The man’s face doesn’t so much as twitch at the question. Ace hasn’t been able to get even a frown out of the guy despite monologuing at him day in and day out over any and every topic that popped into his mind. Come to think of it, the other’s lack of reaction really isn’t disproving the theory that all the Hearts soldiers are missing an intrinsic part of themselves.
“How long are you gonna give me the silent treatment? It’s already been like three weeks. Can’t we just talk about something? I’m going crazy in here!” Ace huffs and flops back dramatically on the thin cot in his cell.
Well, at least they’d given him something to sleep on down here. It didn’t make up for the dark, sunless room, freezing stone floors, or ever-permeating dampness, but at least he didn’t have to sleep on the ground. They actually fed him real food too instead of just scraps, so he wouldn’t have to worry about starving either.
Not that having a full stomach would really make much difference to a dead man.
“Can you at least tell me when the trial is scheduled?” Ace asks, “I’m starting to think they forgot about me!”
“The trial will occur when the King calls for it.”
Ace sits bolt upright on his mattress, squinting through the meager torchlight at the card soldier. He hasn’t moved an inch from the last time Ace looked at him, but his response still makes Ace break out into a smile. “That’s the first time you said something!”
He bounces out of bed and strides over to the bars, glad that he also wasn’t chained to the wall throughout this whole ordeal. The card soldier remains expressionless in the face of Ace’s enthusiasm, but it doesn’t deter Ace in the slightest.
“I knew we were finally connecting!” Ace grins. It might just be the flickering torch light, but Ace could swear he sees the man’s mouth twitch downward. He decides to press his luck since this is the biggest reaction he’s gotten so far out of the soldier. “Hey, so since we’re becoming best friends and all that, how about you tell me your name? I’m kind of sick of just calling you ‘card soldier’ in my head.”
Now that he’s really looking at the other, Ace and see the soldier’s jaw tighten minutely. He remains silent.
“Don’t be like that,” Ace sighs, leaning against the bars, “This is the first time I’ve met another Ace suit!” He waves a hand at he Ace of Hearts emblazoned on the other’s uniform. “Don’t you think we should at least be on a first name basis?”
He gets the feeling that the soldier’s glaring at him from behind his sunglasses. Ace maintains his cheerful smile, already far too used to being scoffed and glared at for it to have any real effect.
“You know, if you don’t tell me what your name is, I’m just gonna start making some up for you,” Ace says, “How does ‘Mr. Quiet’ sound? Oh, or we could go with something like ‘Silas’. That sounds like ‘silent’, right? Or maybe-“
“Ichiji.”
“Huh?” Ace blinks at the other.
“My name,” the soldier says. “It’s Ichiji. You talk too much.”
Ace grins. “Well, it’s nice to meet you then, Ichiji.” He ignores the latter part of Ichiji’s statement. “You probably already know this, but I’m Ace.” He can practically feel the unimpressed ‘of course I know that’ radiating off the other. “So Ichiji, how long have you been a soldier? Five years? Eight? You don’t look very old, you know, so I’m guessing-“
“Fifteen years,” Ichiji says, making Ace’s jaw drop. “I started training for the guard when I was six.”
Ace is too dumbfounded by the information to make a comment about how talkative his guard is being that day. “Wait, you were only six?”
“I was already six,” Ichiji corrects, “My father wanted me to start when I was five, but he was advised to delay a year.”
For a long moment all Ace can do is stare at the other. In his own hometown, the Kingdom of Spades, the royal guard didn’t start accepting recruits until they were at least twelve, and even then they were usually put on custodial or squire duties. Would a six year old even be able to do much as a soldier? Okay, well admittedly Ace had been running around the jungle with his brothers at that age, so maybe he would have been able to, but still.
“That’s pretty fucked up,” Ace says instead, “Sending a kid off to training at age six.”
“All my siblings were sent at that age,” Ichiji says, “It was considered young, but they made an exception given the circumstances.” He doesn’t elaborate on those ‘circumstances’ any further.
“Wow, okay, do I get your tragic backstory now?” Ace asks, “Since you seem to be in such a sharing mood.”
“I believe it would not be detrimental to entertain you as long as you do not ask me for any vital information regarding the kingdom’s plans,” Ichiji says stiffly.
“You’re bored too, huh?” Ace says, reading between the lines.
He can hardly blame the other. As terrible as it was sitting around in a dungeon all day waiting for his “trial” (which was really just a public execution with extra steps), it was probably just as boring to be stuck watching Ace all day. There really wasn’t that much to do down in the dungeon aside from making one-sided conversations, sleeping, and eating.
“No worries,” Ace says, “Not like I could do much with that information right now anyway with how I’m trapped down here.” Ichiji tilts his head, seeming to concede the point. “So you said you have siblings, right? How many?”
“Four,” Ichiji says. “I have an older sister and three younger brothers.”
Ace lets out a low whistle. “Big family then. What’s their names?”
“Reiju, Niji, Sanji, and Yonji,” he replies.
There’s a beat of silence.
“Your names are zero, one, two, three, and four?” Ace asks incredulously.
“You are the Ace of Spades and your name is Ace,” Ichiji deadpans.
Ace winces. “Touché. So are all your siblings in the guard too?”
“My sister and two of my brothers are,” Ichiji replies. “Sanji…” He trails off, and Ace gets the feeling that he shouldn’t press too hard on that topic or else Ichiji might clam up again.
“Okay, so then are your siblings in a ranked position, or are they card soldiers like you?” Ace asks instead.
“My brothers are in the second and fourth positions in the suit.” Which Ace supposes should have been self-evident given their names. “My sister is…she is not ranked.” His mouth twists downward as if he disapproves of the lack of recognition.
“And your parents?”
“My father is in a Face position. My mother is no longer alive.” That sharp tone is back in Ichiji’s voice, warning Ace to pick a different line of questioning.
“I have two brothers,” Ace offers instead, “They didn’t join the guard though.” Ichiji inclines his head, seemingly to show that he’s listening. “Both of them actually left the Deck.”
Ichiji looks intrigued by that. “It must have been quite difficult.”
The Deck was a collection of four kingdoms, the land surrounded on two sides by high mountains and treacherous waves and whirlpools in the other direction. It was notoriously tricky to travel in and out of, leaving the kingdom to become incredibly isolated from the rest of the world. Usually that suited most people just fine, but occasionally there were those that decided to venture out and see the world. Those brave souls were rarely heard from again.
“Oh yeah. It wasn’t easy to watch them go, but I expected it,” Ace laughs, “Luffy was never one to be tied down, and Sabo managed to find passage on some trade ship that was heading off to another island. He always had pretty big dreams too.”
“I see. Why did you choose to remain in the Deck then?” Ichiji sounds genuinely curious.
Ace sighs. It isn’t the first time he’s been asked that question. “The King of Spades… he’s like a father to me. I owe him a lot.”
Ichiji hums. “I’ve heard many things about him.”
“Oh yeah? Like what?”
Ace knows there are thousands of rumors out there about Whitebeard, each more far fetched and ridiculous than the last, but the King had never done anything to try and dispel them. Instead every time he heard a new one he had made Marco write it down before trying to come up with a crazier one to be sent out into the world.
“I hear he rides on the back of a giant whale.”
Ace laughs. “Oh, that’s probably just because his ship is called the Moby Dick. It’s not actually a whale, but it’s painted like one.”
“And he’s powerful enough to split the heavens,” Ichiji continues.
“That one’s actually true,” Ace says proudly, “I’ve seen that one myself!”
Ichiji hesitates before speaking again. “I also heard that he’s sick.”
Ace freezes, blood running cold. Though the King’s condition wasn’t exactly a secret it always send a stab of sadness and helplessness through him whenever he was reminded of Whitebeard’s illness. Even after nearly a decade of Marco running every test and treatment he could to help the ailing King, nothing seemed to do much more than temporarily ease his pain. At this point even Whitebeard himself seemed resigned to his impending death, not that everyone in the kingdom accepted that.
“That’s…” Ace’s hands clench and unclench into fists at his side.
“It’s why you came to the Hearts Kingdom, isn’t it?” Ichiji says, expression unreadable, “You wanted to steal our technology and medicine to try and find a cure.”
Ace grits his teeth. He knows it was a rash decision to try and infiltrate the Hearts Kingdom on his own- hell, Marco had nearly caught him on his way out, and if he had the other would have doubtlessly tied Ace to the ship mast to prevent him from doing something so reckless- but at this point they were out of options. Whitebeard didn’t have much longer, and the only solution Ace could find was trying to get medicine from their neighboring kingdom. The Hearts kingdom was renowned for their advanced technology and scientific achievements. Surely they’d have something that could help.
He’d actually gotten pretty close to finding a lead, having made contact with a doctor willing to smuggle various medications for Ace to bring home, but Ace had been caught by a patrol as he’d tried to cross the border back into Spades territory. He’d had been questioned at first to try and find out who had given him all the medications, but Ace had endured all the torture and refused to give up his contact’s name. Even if Ace hadn’t been successful, he still owed Law for sticking out his neck for him and procuring the medicine.
The only downside to his silence was that now it was Ace’s own neck on the line, quite literally considering the King had a reputation for cutting off the heads of spies, traitors, and really anyone who’d managed to piss him off that day. Ace was sure that once he was actually called to the courtroom his trial wouldn’t be anything more than an excuse to pronounce him guilty and have his head put on a chopping block.
“Are you gonna say that I was stupid for trying,” Ace says, shoulders tensing as he glares at the dirty stones under his feet. He’s already heard it from the interrogators and other Hearts soldiers, how foolish he was for trying to infiltrate their kingdom for something so uselessly sentimental.
“No.”
Ace’s eyes snap back up to Ichiji’s face. “…What?”
“I don’t think it’s foolish,” Ichiji says, his words knocking the wind out of Ace’s chest.
“You…you don’t?”
Ichiji shifts his stance against the wall. “Thirteen years ago, the Queen of Hearts died of an illness. I… I would have done anything to find a cure for that. I failed my duties as her guard back then.” He regards Ace contemplatively. “That is why I cannot mock you for attempting to save your King.”
Ace stares at the other with wide eyes, feeling off-balance. “I…I’m sorry you lost her.” A thought strikes him. “But also you said that was thirteen years ago! You were only eight. You shouldn’t be blaming yourself for losing someone to illness of all things.”
“You think I don’t know that such an emotion is nonsensical?” Ichiji says, a harsher edge to his voice. “I cannot change the way I feel though.”
“Shit, yeah, I’m sorry,” Ace lets out a sigh, running his fingers through his hair. “I understand, I just… It wasn’t your fault.”
Ichiji seems slightly mollified by Ace’s apology. “I understand what you were trying to say as well. I… appreciate the sentiment.”
Ace laughs at the screwed up expression the soldier’s face makes as he forces the last words out. It’s clear he’s not used to saying such things. “At least now I know you actually have a heart in there somewhere. Looks like that’s another rumor disproved.”
“Hm,” Ichiji says, glancing away. Ace could swear the other is trying to hide a smile.
“So then do-“
Ace trails off mid-sentence, head swimming as a sudden wave of fatigue hits him. Ah shit, he definitely won’t have time to get back to his bed before he passes out this time.
“Ace?” Ichiji asks. The soldier sounds concerned, though maybe that’s just wishful thinking considering it also sounds like it’s coming from underwater.
“I’m-“ Ace manages, or at least he thinks he manages. He can’t really tell if he’s able to get anything out. He barely processes slumping forward against the bars, though he does have the faint impression of something reaching through the bars to catch him before he can fully hit the ground.
Ace awakens an indeterminate amount of time later, blinking blearily at the stone ceiling above him. He jolts awake when he realizes he’s lying in his cot, a blanket that definitely wasn’t in his cell before now covering him. He sits up hesitantly, the blanket slipping off him to pool around his waist. His eyes adjust to the dim lighting.
There’s nothing else new in his cell aside from the blanket, but he knows he didn’t get to bed on his own. He glances outside the bars to see Ichiji standing against the wall on the other side of the narrow dungeon halls like he always does. His expression doesn’t change as Ace slips out of bed and pads over to the cell doors.
“Did you help me get to bed?” Ace asks, feeling cheeks heat slightly at how strange the question sounds out loud. Ichiji doesn’t respond to either confirm or deny, but Ace knows that’s the only explanation. “Uh… thanks.”
Ace swallows, still feeling some residual embarrassment. “You know, I’ve had this issue ever since I was a kid. Narcolepsy. Marco’s tried to help me with it, but,” he shrugs, “Still can’t find a cure.”
“There’s no cure that I know of,” Ichiji finally says. “Though such a condition is nearly non-existent in our kingdom so not much research has been done on it.”
“So then is it true?” Ace asks, “That you all have genetic modifications?”
Ichiji’s mouth twists downward. “I am not at liberty to say.”
“Oh right, no talking about kingdom secrets,” Ace says, “Sorry.”
“No, I,” Ichiji looks frustrated now, “I am not at liberty to say.” He places a good amount of emphasis on his words while gesturing harshly. There’s something it feels like he’s trying to communicate then, something stuck in the back of his throat that he can’t quite force out.
Ace blinks, the words fully registering. “Like… you actually physically can’t?”
Ichiji nods, much to Ace’s rapidly mounting horror. Was there some kind of modification or implant that prevented the card soldiers from spilling secrets? That would definitely explain why all soldiers from the kingdom of Hearts were notoriously tight lipped. Ace, like many others, had just assumed that they were particularly well-disciplined or perhaps even blackmailed into silence, but it sounded like something much more insidious than he could have ever imagined was going on.
“That’s… what the hell, man?” Ace says, the words inadequate for the levels of shock and disgust he feels.
Another terrible thought strikes him. Was that the only thing the soldiers were modified to do? Or were other parts of them programmed to be obedient to the crown. Ace strongly doubts that the scientists or King or whoever was behind the modifications just stopped at forcing their soldiers into silence. His stomach flips at the implications.
Did you hear? Soldiers from that kingdom are missing their hearts…
“Are there any other modifications you went through?” Ace asks tentatively. He almost doesn’t want to hear the answer, but he has to know.
“I’m not at liberty to say,” Ichiji repeats like a broken record, sounding pained. “I-“ Whatever he’d been about to say is cut off abruptly as Ichiji hunches over and coughs out a mouthful of blood.
“Shit!” Ace momentarily forgets about the bars, slamming against them as he tries to get to the other.
Ichiji waves him off, spitting out another gory mouthful before wiping his lips on the back of his sleeve and straightening back up. The uniform is already bright red, hiding the stains perfectly. “My apologies for that.” His voice is hoarse and and scratchy, and he swallows a few times to fix it.
“Fucking hell,” Ace mutters, gripping the bars in front of him so tight that his knuckles turn white. “Are you… can I help?”
Ichiji lets out a long breath, seemingly exhausted after fighting against whatever modifications are holding him hostage. “The King’s orders are absolute.”
Ace can read between the lines. If there is a way around the modifications, Ichiji hasn’t found it yet. Back when Ace had first infiltrated the Kingdom of Hearts he never could have guessed that the very technology he was desperate to find could be used for something as cruel as this.
“I’m sorry,” Ace says, not knowing what he’s apologizing for other than Ichiji’s shitty situation.
“It appears to be my turn to say that it’s not your fault,” Ichiji says, offering the other a wry smile.
Ace returns the smile despite everything. “Hey, that was almost a joke!” He sobers rapidly then. “If there were anything I could do to help you…” He trails off, not really knowing where he was going.
“I know,” Ichiji says, picking up on his intentions, “You’re a good person, Ace.” The way he says it isn’t like he intends for it to be a compliment, just a statement of fact. It’s straightforward enough that Ace finds himself flushing. “You don’t deserve to be here.”
“In the dungeon?” Ace asks.
“In this kingdom,” Ichiji clarifies, “You…”
There’s a clatter from upstairs, and Ichiji’s mouth snaps shut as the door to the dungeons swings open. There’s a chaotic series of noises as another card soldier, breathing heavily, descends the staircase.
“Ichiji, sir!” The man says, saluting Ichiji.
“Report,” Ichiji snaps, looking irritated to be interrupted.
“Yes, sir! The prisoner, Ace of the Kingdom of Spades, is scheduled to stand trial tomorrow morning at half past the eighth morning bell!”
It feels like the floor falls out from under Ace. He’s so caught up in his own shock that he misses the way Ichiji almost imperceptibly pales at the announcement. Though he’d always known his impending execution was on the horizon, he’d been able to push it aside in his head as the weeks passed with nothing happening. It was jarring for the abstract notion of his approaching death to be made suddenly, violently real.
“…I see.” Ichiji says, face going blank. “I will begin preparations for the trial then.”
“Yes, sir!” The soldier bows and hustles back up the stairs. Ichiji waits until the dungeon’s door swings closed again before turning to Ace once more.
“Guess you’ll finally be rid of me then,” Ace says. The poor attempt at a joke falls flat. He sighs. “I know you spent most of the time over these last few weeks ignoring me, but for what it’s worth I am glad I got to talk to you a bit over these last couple days.” The look Ichiji gives him is so devastatingly conflicted that Ace finds himself wanting to reassure him.
“I can’t help you,” Ichiji says, sounding frustrated, “I can’t-“
“You’ve been ordered not to,” Ace gathers, “And you can’t go against it.”
Ichiji makes a noise of helpless rage, a fist shooting out to smash the stone wall behind him. It crumbles like styrofoam under the blow, and when Ichiji brings his fist back it’s unscathed.
“Woah,” Ace mutters involuntarily.
“I’m going to figure something out,” Ichiji vows.
“But you-“
Ichiji shakes his head. “I have an idea.”
He’s gone before Ace can question him further, stalking up the stairs with single-minded determination. Ace is left alone in the dungeon with only his thoughts and racing heart to keep him company. Unfortunately there’s nothing he can really do except wait for Ichiji to return and hopefully make good on his word. Despite the fact that Ace really doesn’t know Ichiji all that well, he can’t help but want to believe that the other come through.
“Get up, loser!”
Ace is shaken awake violently by a pair of hands. He yelps and nearly tumbles out of his cot at the unexpected contact. For a moment he can only blink, stunned, as he stares up into two scowling faces. It takes a moment to register that they’re card soldiers, but when he does he immediately starts to struggle.
Had his execution come early? Where was Ichiji? Had something happened to him?!
“Get off me!” Ace yells, struggling against the arms holding him down. He manages to get one of his arms free and swings out blindly at the soldiers, grimly satisfied as he feels his fist crack against the other’s jaw.
“Fuck, ow!” The soldier hisses, “Stop it, dumbass, we’re trying to help you!”
“Help me?!” Ace’s eyes narrow distrustfully.
“Ichiji sent us!”
Ace pauses then, looking more carefully at the card soldiers in front of him. One of them has bright blue hair and a two of hearts card embroidered on his uniform. He’s cradling his jaw where Ace managed to hit him. The other has green hair and a four of hearts on his uniform.
“Niji and Yonji,” Ace realizes.
“Yeah, you shithead,” Niji spits, “But now I’m thinking we should just leave your sorry ass here so Father can chop your head off!”
The one that must be Yonji sighs. “We did kind of just wake him up out of nowhere. It’s understandable that he lashed out.”
“I’ll fucking show him lashing out-!”
“We have to move before the others notice we aren’t at our post,” Yonji cuts his brother off. “Do you want Father to find out? He’ll have our heads!” Yonji and Niji’s words process in Ace’s brain slowly, but when they finally do Ace’s eyes widen in shock.
“Wait, is your father the King of Hearts?!”
“Ichiji didn’t tell you?” Niji says, eyebrows shooting up, “What an idiot.”
“But that means you’re all princes!” Ace sputters. Why the hell had a prince been guarding him?!
“Ehhh, not really,” Yonji says, “It’s complicated. In this kingdom there’s just the King and then, you know, everybody else below that.”
“Yeah. Ichiji might be the Ace of Hearts, but it doesn’t really mean anything here,” Niji agrees, “Probably why he didn’t say anything.”
“He also might not have wanted to scare you,” Yonji says, “He seems fond of you for some reason. Can’t say I see it but,” he shrugs, “Hey, taste is subjective.”
Ace finds himself heating despite the situation. “I…what? Fond?”
“Alright, enough small talk,” Niji says, grabbing Ace’s arm once more and hoisting him up. “We gotta move now if you want to live to see another day.”
At the other’s words Ace recalls the urgency of the situation and forces himself to push his confusing feelings and unexpected realizations aside and jumps to his feet. Niji releases his arm when he sees that Ace isn’t about to topple over and he motions for the other to follow after him and Yonji up the stairs and out of the dungeon.
Back when Ace had first been captured he’d been too out of it after multiple interrogations to take in much of the castle they’d dragged him through, but now that he sees it with fresh eyes it appears he wasn’t missing much. Stone walls, stone floors, the occasional painting and chandelier… nothing really out of the ordinary.
What does catch him off guard though is his first glimpse of sunlight in nearly four weeks.
When he first sees the dawning rays of early morning sunshine spilling through the large windows he freezes involuntarily. He’s hit with the desire of wanting nothing more than to stop and let it soak back into his skin. Back home he’d spend hours napping in his hammock set out on deck, feeling the sun warm him from head to toe as the afternoon passed lazily. He didn’t realize how much he missed it until he finally got to see it again. It’s enough that a lump forms in his throat and tears prick at the corners of his eyes.
He’s not given long to appreciate it though, Yonji grabbing him by the shoulders and hurrying him along. “Do you want to get re-captured?!”
Ace forces himself to focus once more (it’s even harder than he expected) and continue following the card soldiers through the maze of castle hallways. He’s grateful to have them as guides though as he’d never manage to figure out his way through this place by himself. Niji and Yonji are familiar enough with the layout to duck around all the other soldiers’ patrol routes and lead him through the back hallways toward the docks hidden outside the back of the castle.
There’s a woman with bright pink hair waving at them from one of the smaller docked ships. Really, it’s barely more than a sailboat, but that’ll suit Ace’s purposes just fine. He’s sailed on the seas alone countless times before, and as long as he got a heading he’s sure he could find his way back to Spades kingdom and the Moby Dick.
“That’s our sister,” Yonji hisses, pushing Ace forward, “She’ll take it from here.”
“You better escape properly or it’ll be really embarrassing for us,” Niji says, crossing his arms, “Not to mention Ichiji will kill us.”
“Will Ichiji be alright?” Ace bites his lip, unsure of how much danger the other had put himself in to afford Ace this opportunity.
“He’ll be fine as long as you get out of here,” Niji huffs. “We gotta get back to our posts, but you better not linger!”
Yonji gives him a thumbs up. “Good luck! I’d be really bummed if you died after all that, so get as far away as you can!’
The two card soldiers are gone as quickly as they came, leaving Ace with the woman on the docks. She smiles at him and hands him a large backpack. A quick glance through it reveals enough rations for nearly two weeks, a tarp, a map and compass, a blanket, a change of clothes and-
Ace sucks in a sharp breath. “Is this…?”
“Ichiji told us about why you came here,” the woman- must be Reiju, says. “He asked that I try and grab anything the scientists wouldn’t miss.”
Ace feels a twinge of complicated gratitude and guilt as he holds the bag full of medicine. “I… Thank you.”
She shakes her head. “How could I deny a request from my precious younger brother when he’s never asked me for anything before?” Her grin turns sharp. “Especially when your escape provides my siblings and I an opportunity that we’ve been waiting years for.”
“What?”
“Nothing to concern yourself with,” Reiju says, “Just focus on getting home.” She pulls the map out of Ace’s bag. “We’re here,” she taps a spot in the middle of the ocean, “If you sail west for about five or six days, weather willing, you should land on the shore of the Kingdom of Spades.”
“Alright,” Ace says, “But Ichiji…”
“Don’t worry about him,” Reiju says, “I won’t let that man hurt my brothers any more than he already has.” Her eyes are as sharp and cold as ice, but they soften again soon enough. “I’m sure you’ll be seeing him before long anyway.”
Ace has no idea what might be going on in Reiju’s head or what her cryptic words mean, but he gets the feeling that there might be some big changes coming to the Kingdom of Hearts sooner rather than later. She clearly has big plans in mind, and Ace definitely wouldn’t want to be anyone standing in her way. He recalls Ichiji saying Reiju had never been given an official position, and now he wonders if that’s because the current King fears giving her any power at all.
“I’ll be back soon then,” he says.
She nods. “Safe travels, Ace.”
It’s not long before Ace is casting off from the docks, the sails of his boat catching the wind and taking him away from the brutal silhouette of Hearts castle. The place shrinks to the size of a pinprick in what feels like no time at all. Slowly, very slowly, the chill of the morning breeze off the waves is warmed by the dawning sun.
Ace sighs as the sun rises fully and he drifts further and further away from the kingdom and all the terrible and wonderful things in it. He can only hope that Reiju and her siblings manage to rescue Ichiji before whatever consequences that Ace’s escape may carry come down on him. He wonders if the other knows yet that Ace has managed to get away. He wonders when he’ll be able to see him again.
He recalls asking Ichiji what feels like an eternity ago- but in reality was just a couple of days- whether or not the Hearts soldiers had their own hearts removed. Ichiji hadn’t answered him at the time, but as Ace leaves part of his own heart behind on the shores of the kingdom he thinks that losing it might not be so bad if he can return for it again someday.