phoenix voice

Late Night, Ace was on the Crow's Nest, lying on the couch alone and thinking deeply about what he had learned about Phoenix. If Thatch actually died, he will go after Teach, lost against him and been handed over to the Marines. The reason of most likely a public execution must be due of him being the son of the Pirate King, Gold Roger. Just thinking about it made his blood boils.

'Blood, all because of blood, blood, blood.'

He remembered what happened ten years ago about Sabo, the reason he and Luffy separated from Sabo.

'Always about blood... always...'

"Ah" Ace turned to the entrance to see Phoenix, "I-I didn't know someone's here. I-I'll leave."

"Hey its fine you can stay here Marco."

Phoenix was little hesitant but since he let him, he nodded. He went in and went to see the view. He found it amazing because the he could see the vast of the sea even further.

"Why aren't you sleeping yet? Shouldn't youngster sleep early." Phoenix glanced the second commander, "Unfortunately as long as I'm busy pondering something it would be impossible for me to sleep."

Ace raised his eyebrow, "You're worried about something? Is it about Teach?"

"Huh? Oh no, it's this." Phoenix showed him his notebook. "This notebook Anna gave me to her last breath, its full of mystery that I can't solve no matter how much I think."

Ace decided to sit up, "Can I hear what's troubling you?"

Phoenix wasn't sure at first but decided to comply, maybe other people's input about this could give him some hints. He decided to sit next to him and hand over the notebook and gave permission for him to scan it which he did. Ace took a quick read in some notes and found there's about if possible meet Monkey D. Luffy and his crew in different parts of the island and forced them to stay for two years to train first before they head off to the New World.

Ace wasn't really surprised when Luffy will make it there but as he read other pages he can't help but found everything weird.

"This notes... it was written as if the future is precisely predicted."

"It's exactly I'm trying to solve." Ace glanced to Phoenix who's looking down the floor. "I know Anna had no power and mostly able to predict future but that notes, it's as if she had prepared everything all for the future. How she had done it was something I do not know."

Ace checked ones again and saw nothing about that tells him the reason about his execution. If he could guess correctly, it's not because this Anna doesn't know about his parentage but didn't actually see this as a significant for Phoenix to know.

'Someone knows, someone other than Gramps, Luffy, Sabo, Makino, the bandits and Oyaji knows but stayed quiet. Now that I think about it, her message for me said she knew me from someone who really knew me... I wonder who...'

Ace closed the notebook and return it to Phoenix, "Don't get it to you too much, your too young to get to get white hair."

Phoenix frown, "Shut up." He took the notebook from him and looked around to see a piano resting on the side. "You have piano?" He asked as he approach the instrument.

Ace shook his head, "That isn't mine. Maybe one of the crew own it." Phoenix swiped his hand in the side of the digital piano and faced Fire Fist, "Can I borrow it?"

Ace smirked, "I don't see any problem." That somehow gave joy to Phoenix as he took a sit and tried playing it. He loved the sound of the piano, "It's been so long since I played one."

"Hmm... why not play one."

"You may not like it."

"I won't immediately judge when I never heard it."

Phoenix huff, "Don't say I didn't warn you."

Phoenix shift his attention back on the piano and closed his eyes. Remembering his life with Anna and this day with the Whitebeard Pirates, he can't help but play a melody. It was slow and calming. For some reason it made Ace's rage toward his related dead father ceased and went along with the melody. He didn't expect Phoenix to sing it.

"Kokoro ni iru wake nado

dare mo shiranai

tada sei ippai

dare ka no tame ni

Kagayakite itai to

nozonda toki kara

kokoro wa namiutta

Shinjite iru

kono sora wa

kimi no moto mi

tsunagatte iru koto wo

Shinjite iru

Hikari No Hou e"

Phoenix continue to play the piano, mind no longer from his surroundings but to his song. Getting the cue, he continued.

His melody in the silent night for some reason reached the whole Moby Dick. Those who heard were confused where it came from, some didn't mind and let themselves sway in the music and some smiled as they listened.

Reaching the final chorus, Phoenix can't help but think about his previous life, the life he will no longer how much he plead to remember.

Finishing the song, Phoenix slowly and gently put both hands down. He heard a clap, turning around to see Ace applauding his performance, the heavy feeling he had before Phoenix appeared had disappeared.

"You have a nice voice Marco." Ace commented that made him blush, "I-I never thought I-I'd sing you know! J-just ha-happened."

That made Ace laugh, "You should make the others hear your voice. No one seemed to know you could actually sing." That made him blushed even more.

Phoenix looked away and cough before asking, "So... what's your plan Ace?"

Ace blinked for a moment before glancing the night sky, "Hmm... well after Teach's punishment I will go out and find some information about Sabo and the Revolutionary."

Phoenix blinked, "Not searching Baltigo?"

Ace frown, "If we're right about the basic knowledge about them are forces that oppose the World Government, I think it's safer for me and them to search about them and not their location." His eyes looked sad yet determine, "If Sabo even though he doesn't remember me is really alive and with them, I don't want to cause any trouble to him and the Revolutionary."

Phoenix was surprise, not expecting for him to actually give some thought about it.

"Umm... this maybe unrelated but..." Gathering some courage, he questioned. "What if Teach said something that you might not like tomorrow? As I kept reading about Anna's message I can't help but think there's more about the execution you would have face if Teach succeed. An execution all because of being part of the Whitebeard Pirates, it doesn't make anything sense."

'Insightful' Ace thought about Phoenix. Even young he's very perspective and if he could guess, very observant. He never let go as long as he doesn't find the answer he needs. Now that he thought about the question, Ace mentally questioned. 'Does he know about my secret?' If he knew, how? Who told him? The only person in this crew know was Whitebeard and he knew he never spill a word about it so how?

'Someone I do not know found out the truth? Who? Was it Gramps? No he would never spill a word to the Marines. Luffy? He could be a big mouth but ever since that fight ten years ago he never talked about it, especially he will never tell it to anyone, many may misunderstand but Luffy actually know how to keep secrets. The rest I know also know how to keep secrets... so who...!' That's when it occurred to him. Unless someone out there was actually investigating to make sure the son of the Pirate King is dead... for some reason they got a lead that points toward him.

Occupied to his mind, he didn't noticed Phoenix was intensely observing him. He was sure there's more about it and whatever it was somehow could say it wasn't simple. It was so deep that could endanger himself and those surrounding him. That made him relate because he's same. If they found out that cloak man was actually alive they would surely hunt him down.

'And we both know the meaning of sacrificing ourselves just for the sake of those who care for us.' Phoenix closed his eyes, remembering his regrets and new family. When he opened his eyes, it was blazing in fire of determination, a plan was setting in motion.