Brook stood in the clearing of the deck of the ship, alone with the sun setting beyond the head of the Thousand Sunny. With the violin, he slowly played once again, Binks Sake, wordless and delicate, like a mourning lullaby.

His mind had drifted to the days that he acted Captain aboard the Rumbar Pirate Ship, comparing the happy days between them and the Straw Hat crew. It was a similar setting. Just as he had before, he played the memorable tune alone, grieving yet another loss.

Brook had lost so many things in his life.

He had lost a comfortable place with his dear friend Laboon. He had lost...he had lost his Captain. He had lost his crew. He lost his life. He lost his sanity. He had lost 50 years of his renewed life. He had even lost his shadow.

But then Monkey D. Luffy arrived. And he gained it all back again. His shadow was redeemed. His time was better wasted. He was happy once again. Thanks to Luffy, he got to live once more. He was granted permission by his new Captain- no, his savior- to enjoy the time he had with his new crew. Luffy even let Brook have the chance to fulfil his promise with Laboon.

In that dark, lonely and foggy sea, Luffy had shone so bright.

Where... where was that light now?

Brooks fingers trembled as he dropped his musical instrument. It was so silent out here, a soundless sound so familiar.

It was like he lost everything all over again. And he cried. He hadn't cried all that much since Luffys death; he had been tired of it all.

But water began to overflow, running like a waterfall as it winded in and out of his skeleton-structured face.

"Luffy-san! Luffy-san!" Brook lifted his arms to the sky above him, and wailed. "Luffy-san, where are you?!"

Unaware to Brook, Luffy was closer than he thought. Luffy sat on the seating around the mast, his hand gripping the top of his Straw Hat which sat on his head.

"You will never know, Luffy-san, how grateful I am to you! You saved me! You saved me! Luffy-san, I owe my life to you! My life was in your hands, and yet... and yet you are the one who died instead of me." Brook halted his speech for a few minutes, his grief making it difficult to speak. "Thank you, Luffy! Thank you, so much! If death is anything like I remember it to be, then you should be peaceful at the least. Though someone like you, I'm sure you hate the peace, don't you Captain?"

Luffy grinned knowingly under his hat.

"I was hoping I could repay you by making you become the Pirate King. However, I'll repay you differently now. I read in the ships journal about your meeting with Laboon. You promised him the same thing we did, you promised him you would also return. Luffy-san, you're... gone. So in your stead, I will greet Laboon on your behalf! I will tell him stories of the boy in the Straw Hat who saved the both of us from loneliness and loss! He will know... he will know that it was YOU who brought me back, that you sent me because you couldn't make it... he'll know...!" Choking from the tears, Brook fell to his knees.

"Luffy-san... THANK YOU, LUFFY-SAN!"

The boy smiled a warm smile, a smile that could have comforted anyone, had anyone been able to see it.

Luffy was beginning to remember what it was like to be truly alone. Not a single person knew he was there. Had he not died, he was sure that they would have all been sitting outside, laughing and feasting, drinking and celebrating their return. So as Brook talked, Luffy sadly understood.

They weren't going to be together again. They weren't going to laugh again, or celebrate new adventures with one another, not anymore. 'Banzai'ing Brooks joining of the crew would be their last celebration.

The thought made Luffy sadly smile- it was a great party. So many people, Sanji's great food, gaining a new nakama, even Zoro sleeping like his usual self. Luffy would hold these memories dear to him, bundled like treasure whenever he'll look into his straw hat. Remembering the days he lived.

Brook stood up, composed once again, and sat on the seating around the mast, right beside his Captain. He watched as the sun went down, sinking into the ocean, drowning away his light. Just like Luffy...just...just like...

Brook fell asleep. Though this time, it wasn't nightmares he had, but a celebration. Everyone was there, his old Captain drinking meerily, his crew performing music blasting into the night while a baby whale wailed along from the sea beneath. His new crew were there too, dancing away with everyone else. And Luffy, he was there. He was right at front, standing before Brook with his hand out stretched towards him.

"Oi Brook, come on! Don't just stand there watching us having fun, come on!"

For now, Brook forgot it was a dream. He wanted to be happy with everyone again, at least until he woke up and would have to face his loss again, just like he used to. Topping his hat, he walked forward into the party.

"Yohohoho! It would be my pleasure, Luffy-san!"