Chapter 2: A bottle of sake

Yulie placed down the flowers she had bought along with the bottle of sake. She sat cross-legged and smiled at the tomb in front of her.

"Hey Ace, I'm here"

She started off cheerfully, she started telling stories of how the town had been ever since he had left. She tried to be as cheerful as possible but her own voice betrayed her as tears started flowing through her eyes.

She wasn't as strong as she had thought she would be. Ace's death wasn't something she could just remember and a cheeky smile would still be plastered in her face. No, she couldn't do that. The thought of Ace still brings her tears. It was the same pain she felt when she saw Sabo's small boat exploding in the sea. It was the same pain whenever she thought of Luffy seeing Ace die right in front of his eyes. 

"Sorry big brother, it's still a little… no actually it still hurts so much"

She never wanted to feel that way again. To feel so hopeless and weak. To be unable to provide any help for her brothers, she hated it. That's why when she was given the chance to gain power, she welcomed it with open arms. It didn't matter what consequences it brought, if it would help her in providing aid and support for her brothers then nothing else would matter. 

There are only a few people that she considers precious to her and above all of them are her brothers. They will always be her top priority no matter what. 

Yulie wiped away her tears when one of her butterflies flew back to her. She had sent multiple of them earlier to scan the whole island and notify her of any signs of her grandfather.

However, rather than her grandfather, the butterflies sent an imminent warning that a group of pirates was headed her way.

Was it an enemy? It's not Shanks and the crew. that one is for sure. The butterflies would've recognized them.

Yulie got up and was about to take her bag and go when a large bird flew by the top of her head and landed just beside the gravestones in front of her. The bird's body is engulfed in blue and yellow flames and before she could even speak, a voice called out behind her.

"Marco, don't scare her, look she's already trying to run away"

Yulie turned around to see a woman. No, she shook her head, that voice didn't belong to a woman. His yukata and distinct features couldn't be that hard to remember. She read about him in the tabloids before alongside Ace. She returned her gaze to the earlier creature who had landed in front of her. The bird was now taking the form of a human.

"Well, I was curious -yoi. Plus she probably would've run if I didn't get here fast enough"

Now, Yulie could definitely recognize him. The pineapple shaped-like haircut, eyeglasses, and a large logo tattooed on his chest.

"You're Marco and Izo"

"Oh, I guess she does know us"

Izo, who had reached them, stood beside her. He immediately noticed the sake and flowers in front of Ace's grave.

"I think I know who you are"

Izo calmly said before smiling at her, sending Marco into a more confused state.

"Really? who-yoi?"

"Ace told us about her beautiful yet eccentric little sister. I remember your name being Yulie wasn't it?"

Yulie stared at the man before plastering a questioning look on her face.

"Eccentric? Who? Me?"

Izo laughed at her unexpected question.

"That's what you care about? Well I guess I got it right"

"What? So you're Ace's younger sister?"

Yulie nodded at Marco before finally saying hi to them.

"I thought you never could leave the east blue? Ace told us so"

"It's hard to explain"

Marco and Izo exchanged looks before crossing their arms in front of their chests.

"Did you run away?"

Yulie was certainly taken aback. How much did Ace tell the Whitebeard pirates about her? Before she could even answer back, Marco laughed and Izo smiled.

"Well, you're definitely Ace's little sister all right"

"All the siblings are headaches aren't they?"

Yulie didn't know what was going on but since the two seemed to feel comfortable and close to her, she just let it be.

Marco and Izo placed the bottles of sake and flowers in front of the two graves before talking to her briefly. She learned that the two just dropped by before they set out for the Land of Wano.

"Which reminds me, Luffy is there -yoi"

"Luffy? In Wano?"

The two nodded at her before continuing.

"There's an all out war going there and we're going to help"

"War? war against who?"

"Big Mom and Kaido and the usurpers in Wano"

Yulie fiddled her fingers before a butterfly flew around her and landed on her shoulders. She looked at it and so did the two men.

"Do you want to come?"

"Hey Marco, that's a war we're going to go to"

"I asked just in case, more help the better right -yoi?"

Yulie thought hard about it. In her current state would she have been able to provide assistance to her brother who's battling the two emperors of the sea? No, she can't, yet. Yulie shook her head.

"I don't think I should. Even if I go there I wouldn't be able to help just yet. Besides, Luffy would win"

Yulie smiled confidently at the two. Marco and Izo knew that look too. Ace also has it whenever Luffy achieves something. The proud and confident look that says 'My brother doesn't get defeated that easily'. They smiled back at her.

"You really are siblings"

Marco said shortly. After a few more stories, the two bid Yulie Anne farewell as they were going to start sailing to Wano.

"Oh, but if you ever saw Luffy, could you tell him that I'm out of East Blue?"

"Sure, is that all? What about a destination to meet him?"

"No, I'll find him myself. I just need him to know that I'm already out in the world"

Izo patted her head before he and Marco agreed to notify Luffy of her well-being. Yulie stared at the back of the two who were now starting to walk to the direction of the port.

"Wano huh?"

Yulie sat back on the grass before closing her eyes. She was trying to remember which way the closed-off land of Wano was and estimated the distance between them. Yulie was already an expert at navigating and so were her butterflies.

She called out to a dozen butterflies and imprinted on them the way to Wano.

"Let's have an eye on Luffy so we'll know where he'll go. You guys be careful okay?"

As soon as she sent her butterflies in the direction going to Wano, she started walking and searching for a boat that would take her to Sabaody.

That's where she'll first start her journey.