Enjoy.

The world was black, but not unpleasantly so. It was speckled with in-numerous starry-like dots that shone. Through the glazed darkness floated many white clouds that constantly reformed and expanded in gentle slow exhales as one. These were the gateways. The effect was beautiful and unnerving, impossible and yet natural at the same time.

Its splendour was ignored by the millions of mutil-coloured balloon-like souls that drifted and queued in lines that ended at the large gateways, supervised by fully-formed spirits, whom directed, recorded and checked them into the places they were heading for. Newcomers spewed in constantly from the small puffy cloud-like trains that tooted in from black holes that dotted the outskirts below. Souls crowded out and gathered together, looking like a civilisation of small flying sheep. They lingered and rushed about, all knowing where they had to be without knowing how.

It was a place of old endings and new beginnings, of chaos and loud chattering, of despair and long-awaited reunions, and excited anxiety. It was the Gateway, the first stop into the after-world.

One single soul, a nervous light green in colour, hovered uncertainly amongst it all. It was the only one completely stationary, without a place to go.

It traversed this way and that, still unsure as to why it was here and longing for the comfort of it's body, a pleasure it could remember with vivid clarity. It's confusion mounted more with every second as it took in it's surroundings with shy fear; it only knew that it didn't want to - couldn't - be here.

Twittering sadly, he -for it remembered it was once a he- flew forward slowly and collided with another whom inflated at him angrily. He retreated quickly and attempted to make his way out of the mass, only managing to accidentally phase his way through a few others, causing disgruntled squeaks and growls to follow him.

Something worlds away was tugging at him. His body demanded him back.

Where was he to find it?

Seeing a practically large gateway nearby, he swooped in on it and deftly pushed in towards the front, giving a sort of casual whistle as if that would cover his intrusion. He advanced in the line for a few moments, drawing near the shining gateway. The line moved quickly and he was abruptly facing the glittering gateway.

NO.

The soul stopped as a voice that whispered yet came from everywhere at once boomed around him- at him. Souls jerked away from him and stared accusingly, and the spirit spied him with a critical eye, flipping through his transparent checklist with a disapproving glare.

YOU STILL HAVE MUCH TO DO.

The small soul shrunk from the attention and the overbearing voice, wavering wildly. It couldn't comprehend what the strange words meant, but it now definitely knew it did not belong here.

COME.

A pulling, like an invisible hand swooping out of nowhere, plucked him up. The soul shivered as everything around him blurred and sped away with sudden furious speed, and melted from sight.

Nothing…

Nothing…

Nothing.

Brook blinked in the gloom and tried to see as his reasoning ran in frantic circles. All at once, his mind cleared; he remembered his life, his purpose, his stance, him.

His crew… Laboon… their fall… his death.

'Oh, yohoho… this must be what the revive-revive fruit really is…' He tried to bite his lip, to pull back the rush of tears that followed, only to find with deep, gripping despair that he had no body to do it with. He was nothing; he simply existed.

'Oh dear,' he stated to the silent sea around him, voice wobbling terribly. 'This is not… is not…'

He kept looking around blankly, having no idea how he could or what he even looked like as he stemmed the rush of mournful memories that rushed upon him like a collapsing dam. The mourning could come later; he needed to find his body, honour his comrades, bury them, find Laboon. Apologise. After that, find Yorki. Spend his life doing everything he could to make up for his failure.

He jolted around a bit sloppily in the oppressive fog of the Florian Triangle as he figured that he could actually fly, and as well as that, steer. He tumbled up and around a few times in a dizzying rush before managing to right himself. 'Yohoho, this is quite fun.'

It took him a few moments of flying dejectedly through the large grey canvas before the terrible anchor fully dropped.

'Wait… how on earth am I to find my body? Yoho… ho… Oh no. This is not… is not…no.'

He drifted among the mist, alone.

Brook shoot up with a short shriek and his forehead collided with Chopper's painfully. Chopper fell back with a scream as Brook yelled in response. He reined himself in with difficulty and forced his mind to chug through the memories that dragged him into the present he was in, skipping painfully over the visions he could no longer place an image on that swam through his consciousness.

He took longer than normal to do this, flexing his body in a combined sigh as he mulled over everything, before focusing on the expectant faces around him with a weak wave.

'I do wonder.. if we shall all keep meeting like this…' he croaked, a hand rising to scrape at his cheekbone unpleasantly. Chopper was by his side, and steadied him as he swayed. As the heavy point doctor did so, the tension visibly drained from the air. Instead of comforted smiles, this time around truly relieved exhales sounded as each member crowded in. Their auras were different, now starting to see that this ghost thing might not have been as trivial as they first thought.

Robin had already filled them in with what she had experienced, and as such they were eager to hear of what actually went down.

'Did you get rid of it?' Usopp demanded.

'What did it do to you, bones-bro?'

'Brook, how could you-'

'Shut up and give him some space,' Zoro growled, who shared his other side with Luffy. Their captain was undeniably pouty and sulky-looking, probably because he had missed all the action. 'What happened?' Luffy demanded. 'Did you speak with Mr. Ghost?'

'Yeah, what the hell! How can you speak to ghosts all of a sudden? I can think of a million times when that might have come in handy, or been good for a sentimental moment!' Usopp babbled out, grinning widely.

'I… spoke with him shortly,' Brook said. 'Or rather, I understood him when I passed onto his level. But he couldn't understand me; he seemed to be lost in his own grief.'

' "Onto his level?" ' Robin queried with interest. 'Zoro stated that you disappeared both of the times you conversed with the undead. Perhaps it's possible there are many planes of existence?' She mused aloud. 'It would explain why you couldn't talk to the ghosts when you were visible to us…'

Brook nodded quickly, latching onto her explanation, which did sound like it had potential in light of everything he had experienced so far. 'Excellent deduction, Robin-san!' he nodded happily, thinking hard.

'That's sooooooo cool!' Luffy shouted, eyes sparkling. 'Speak to the dead now, Brook! I wanna see!'

'Luffy!' Chopper admonished. 'He's had a bit of a shock, don't force him to do it again so quickly! And besides…' he shivered, shrinking and hiding behind Robin's leg. 'I don't want to see any ghosts!'

'Booooo!' Luffy shot back while Usopp shook his head. Nami rolled her eyes at them, then took a seat in front of Brook. 'What was it-'

'It's a he, Nami-san. A man, once.'

Nami paused and studied Brook, her eyes visibly softer. She caught herself, and nodded gently. 'Okay. What was he saying?'

Brook recalled his experience for a moment, then shivered. 'He was very, very scared and was screaming. Mostly about how he couldn't remember… I don't think he remembers anything of his past life. That is so very sad. As such, I believe that we have not much to fear from this… -person. He just needs help. He is lonely,' he stopped for a moment, and lowered his head, feeling ashamed at his earlier fear. 'He is so very lonely…' he echoed.

Luffy hummed, nodding first to Brook and then the open air about them as if Mr. Ghost would pop right back and confirm alongside him. 'Told ya so!' He sung, pointing a triumphant finger at Brook, whom could only try to smile warmly. 'It seems you did, Luffy-san,' Brook agreed gently. 'I was a fool not to listen.'

'Whoa, whoa!' Usopp barked. 'Someone else admitting Luffy is right; that's one for the log books!'

Sanji exhaled bitter smoke with a coy grin. 'But does that really count, with such an idiot admitting it himself?'

'Hmmm, right,' Usopp replied, studying them both. 'Who's the bigger idiot, the idiot himself or the idiot that supports him?'

'Usopp!' Luffy growled, leaping for his friend, who gave a good-natured yelp and took off. Luffy made the chase, leaving smiles and (mostly) drowsy looks in his wake. 'Well, that's that. Again,' Nami groaned. She glanced about. 'I think there's nothing more we can do but get some sleep. You,' she directed at Brook. 'Need rest. Get going.'

'But, Nami-san. I am right as rain! And I do wish to linger here for a bit longer. After all, I still have a few hours on my watch and it is such a beautiful sky tonight, yohoho!'

She cast a suspicious look at Brook. 'You're alright after everything? Seabullshit.'

Brook nodded dutifully. She held his gaze with a glare for a few moments. 'Okay, fine, whatever. Don't whine to me tomorrow. Franky! You're on shift next, then Chopper.' Franky saluted happily with a grin. 'Willll do, Navigator!' He sung. Chopper simply nodded as he checked Brook over one last time.

'Right. I'm outta here.' Nami exited and was followed by the bulk of the crew. As the last filtered out (with a rough pat from Franky and a 'Get SUUUUPAH better soon!'), only Brook and Zoro were left. 'It is alright, Zoro-san. I can truly handle it the rest of the night this time. Go rest.'

Zoro hovered uncertainly, a rare stance for him. 'If the previous attacks are anything to go by, then it won't show until tomorrow night. There's no point staying out here,' the first mate pointed out. Brook chuckled. 'Wrong, Zoro-san, on both accounts,' Brook answered. 'For I have a feeling if I were to call, it would come. Not that I am going to, for we have already had enough excitement tonight. And, how could I possibly go straight to sleep after such a night? No, you go. I have much to think on.'

After a moment's halt, Zoro slowly nodded and turned from the deck, disappearing quickly below. 'I suggest you do too, Robin-san,' Brook stated to the midnight breeze. A happy eye appeared alongside a hand on his arm, to which a finger waggled annoyingly at him. 'Have it your way then, dear Robin-san,' he shrugged. 'I assure you, nothing more of interest to you will happen tonight.'

The eye blinked unconvincingly, so Brook chuckled and sat, leaning his body tenderly against the tree. 'Goodnight, Robin-san,' he whispered softly, before making the leap, concentrating hard as he did so. When he regained his sight he looked around expectantly, disappointed to find no Kuina hanging around. But, of course! Zoro!

He whizzed off below to the men's room and peeked through the ceiling silently, scanning with intent. She was nowhere to be seen, even around Zoro's shuffling figure. Frowning, he withdrew, popped to the surface for a quick scan for danger, then flew through the whole ship. He found no trace of the very young lady. It was then he found himself outside the girl's room and his thoughts travelled to Nami's mother, and then, predictably, something else.

Maybe she was there? And besides, he had never really been inside their room… he truly had nothing to lose! What a splendid opportunity! Yohoho!

He was just about to happily phase through the wall when a hand bloomed from the wall among two eyes. They narrowed and the hand shooed at him warningly. Brook stopped, momentarily confused. How can she see me? Aren't I supposed to be invisible when I do that second thingy? Mmmm…how… how do I do that again?

He thought, and he concentrated.

Robin was watching him with interest when he quite suddenly vanished. She blinked a bit, casting her gaze around, before blooming more eyes at various points around the ship. She spied his stationary body on deck and her snoring crewmates, but nothing of his soul.

Interesting... she mused briefly. Perhaps my idle guess had more basis than I thought…

Brook, on the other hand, was now quite certain he had succeeded; to see Robin's pupil shifting around quickly could only mean success! He zoomed around a bit, confirming when Robin's eyes did not follow him, simply kept scanning the area in amusement. Chortling to himself smugly, he set off down the corridor, on a bold adventure in search of… he really wasn't sure. But once he felt something akin to a cool breeze drifting along to him, he knew he was close.

He drifted further down the corridor and let the gentle waves wash over him. Before he knew it, he was facing a trio of beautiful ladies (one very young, but a pretty face she had, none the less!). Kuina he knew, Bellemere he could guess from the light smell of tangerines and boisterous smile, but he was unsure of the gorgeous woman next to them with the silvery hair. He spied her stunning sea green eyes and gave a small gasp of joy; this could only be a relative of Robin's.

'Hello, fair ladies on this fine night!' he trilled, dancing up and down closer. Kuina grinned as Brook turned to Bellemere and Oliva and ducked his floating head. 'Lovely to meet you, my dears. The name is Brook, dead-boooones Brook!'

'Wow, a charmer,' Bellemere smirked, placing her hands on her hips. 'Nice to meet you too, darling. Name's Bellemere, don't wear it out. Saw you the other day.'

'Yohohoho! I believe I saw you too! Such a connection, no?'

Bellemere laughed. 'Oh, I like you, dead-bones Brook! A woman doesn't often meet an interesting character like you drifting through the halls here! I have a feeling life for us shall become real fun!'

'Ah, how you flatter me! So, may I-'

'Nope. Honey, I'm a projection of my former self. Don't exactly have panties. Too bad I weren't still alive or you could've gotten lucky,' Bellemere said as she winked at Brook, whose eye-holes widened comically.

Olvia watched them with a her signature calculating look. 'Really, Bellemere,' she said calmly, crossing her arms with a small smile as Brook's soul twirled around on a small cloud of temporary ecstasy. 'There is such a thing as overdoing it.'

Bellemere grinned at her longtime companion, and good friend. 'Don't fix it if it ain't broke,' she said with a wink.

Olvia gave a small long-suffering smile as Brook finished and twirled over to her in a frightfully similar way to Sanji. 'And you, my dear?' he chorused. 'To whom do I have this honour?'

She dipped her head in dignified greeting. 'Nico Olvia. A pleasure to meet you too, Dead-bones Brook, whom has helped bring the light back into Robin's life.' She smiled warmly at him while studying him intently. She then tilted her head and murmured, 'Ah, the powers of the Devil fruits are truly astonishing…'

Brook, however, inflated excitedly. 'So you are our dear Robin-san's mother?'

She nodded politely. 'I am.' And before Brook could say anything else, she flatly stated with a sweet smile, 'And I'm still technically married, so if I have any misbehaviour from you, please fear for your safety.'

Brook paused and looked to her in surprise. 'Yohohoho! Robin-san is so very much like her mother, so cool! It is an honour, Olvia-san.'

'I am so very pleased someone else thinks so,' Olvia said, looking most forlorn now. 'Robin, she…' Olvia stopped and glanced down to gather her emotions, but it wasn't hard to miss the quick wet sparkle at her eyes. 'I only got to see her grown once… that she grew to be so much like me makes me so very happy.'

Kuina leant against Olvia lightly and Bellemere smiled, lending a hand on her shoulder. Brook bobbed closer slowly. 'Olvia-san, I do not know what happened, but Robin-san is a proud survivor of Ohara. I have only seen her speak of it a few times, but when she does a fierce light comes to her eye. She holds Ohara and everything connected to it very dear, as she must do so for you.'

Olvia straightened promptly, looking wistful. 'I know,' she said, a great strength present in her voice. 'I just regret… not being there for her. I wish I could have told her I loved her.'

'I can relay the message, Olvia-san. I know Robin-san would be most cheered to hear that.'

'That is a great boon, skeleton-san. If you could I would be in your debt.'

'No need for that, yohohoho! I know the pain of lost ones very dearly as well.'

'We know that,' Bellemere said, smiling sadly at him. 'But then, everyone of us on this ship does.' They shared a short melancholy silence, worn by the truth, but comforted to have others to share it with.

A question that had been lingering since the first viewing of Mr. Ghost was on the tip of his transparent tongue. He wanted to ask so bad… but lonely Mr. Ghost came to mind, and Brook knew he couldn't. His own issues would come later. 'I… what came to ask of you ladies is about the lost young man that has been present the past couple of days. I am sure you've been following-'

'We have,' Kuina interjected with a grin.

'Yes, well, good. So, it seems that I need your experienced help in taking care of him. Um, so, yes…' he wondered where he could possibly start, then latched onto a thought; 'Do you know if there is anyone that can come and... help him?'

'Anyone who?' Bellemere demanded. 'We're out of the question; we don't have any sort of cool powers like you, honey.'

'He means up there,' Olvia stated in an incredibly bland but still smooth 'duh' voice. 'And in answer to that, we don't know.'

'Wouldn't have a clue,' Kuina put in smartly.

Not the answer he had been hoping for. 'Huh-eh?! How can you lovely women- whom are ghosts, like Mr. Ghost- happen to not know!?'

Bellemere shrugged. 'We just remember choosing to come back. Didn't know where we where or how, just what we had to do. We know it was obviously the 'end world' or something, but who has time for that shit?' She rolled the cigarette in her mouth with a pretentious grin, and Brook only just noticed that she had been puffing on it the whole time, producing smoke that seemed only present because of her memory.

He tried again, most helplessly. 'But aren't there angels of some sort that take care of rouge people, erm, I mean, souls like him?' Both of the playful women grinned cheekily at him while the third rolled her eyes lightly.

'You're here, aren't you?' Kuina helpfully chided. Brook frowned, struggling for words. 'I-I-I- …flattery shall get you nowhere!' The two girls chuckled. Olvia smiled.

'But, wait, wait, wait!' Brook swished around frantically. 'Are you suggesting that I can do anything? That I'm supposed to?!'

'Not too quick, is he?' Kuina grinned, to which Brook puffed his cheeks angrily. She laughed at him. 'We're not really sure, but don't you think that's some big coincidence, you jus' happening to have these powers and this guy floating around in need of an angel?'

There is still much you have to do.

'Angel…?' Brook shivered, feeling some kind of other-worldly vertigo whisper through him, yet he could still not place a finger on the sensation, nor the images.

He couldn't argue; after all, if he could help, he wasn't going to stop until that soul found salvation.

Olvia smiled lightly at him. 'I hypothesize that there are really only two planes on this Earth; the living and the dead. You, right now, are in the dead. We're all here for the loved ones we left behind. I believe Bellemere is right; you might be the expected one to take care of the problem.'

'He's not just a problem,' Brook answered hotly. 'It's not his fault he lost himself! These things just… happen? Erm, do they just happen?'

'If you're such an expert, why are you even asking us?' Kuina interjected.

'What, and miss out on a nice chat?' Brook grinned at her. 'Okay, so fine, you don't know… Then do you know why I keep faint- I mean, blacking out like a man when Mr. Ghost touches me? Do you know that much?' (Kuina snorted,'like a man? Pfft!' while Bellemere replied with amusement, ' "Mr. Ghost?" ')

'Of course,' Olvia stated, staring at him in a calmly accusing manner. 'That would be the energy produced by both of you when colliding. I would think it might not happen if you were able to properly harness your energy.'

'Talking like it's so easy…' Brook sulked under his breath. Olvia kept staring. Her aura cooled, and Brook hastened to apologise.

'Although, I do believe it's not his fault that he is so unstable. I figure he's had a harsh passing… a terrible thing for a lost soul,' Olvia quietly concluded. 'He is in pain and shock, and so very reckless! Crossing borders like that is dangerous. Not only do we know it is forbidden, but we lack enough power to do so. He must be a mighty powerful one to be able to force his way through on desperate strength…'

Kunia frowned. 'You gonna help him?' he demanded.

Brook's protoplasmic mouth opened and closed a few times, before he set it with determination. 'That, my dear,' he stated evenly. 'Is exactly what I intend to do.'

Olvia blinked at him, before letting a smile through. Bellemere grinned alongside with a muttered 'What did I tell ya?'

'Yeeeah, I think you should get back to your body now,' Kuina cut in, sounding bored. Everyone paused as she smirked. 'Some Gullsharks are chewing your bones...'

'Oh dear-!'

'Come visit anytime!' Kunia called cheerfully as Bellemere chortled and Brook zoomed off down the hallway and out of sight.