I do not own anything within this fanfiction and any names used are purely coincidental with those of the One Piece anime. All rights go to the creators and editors of the One Piece universe and to its writer Eiichiro Oda.
"Eh?" She deadpanned.
A long awkward silence passed between them, both staring at each other, neither continuing to talk. Eventually, someone broke the silence. In an also awkward way.
Rebecca's POV
Raising an eyebrow, I crossed my arms. Looking unimpressed, I half scowled at him, giving him that look that I give most people I hate. Well, he deserved it with that kind of question. Friggin' weirdo.
"Do you even pants bro?" I asked, not impressed nor surprised at the question he had asked.
"Ummm. Ok." He said, a little confused at my response. He continued "I think we got off a little on the wrong foot. I do apologise for surprising you like that. My name is Brook."
As he reached out one of his skinny hands for me to shake, I hesitated a moment, unsure of this man who had been so close when he had woke me up, yet I knew so well as my favourite character in One Piece. But he doesn't need to know where I came from just yet. Well, it can't hurt, right? Ah. What the hell.
"Name's Rebecca. Nice to meet you." I replied, unfolding my arms and putting on a more welcoming face, taking the hand he offered me.
"By the way, what is your head made of?" He asked. Continuing "It made quite a bang when you hit me, almost like a rock. Yohohoho" He really did have no shame or manners at all.
"It's made of flesh and bone just like any other normal person. Mind you, I wouldn't exactly call myself normal compared to many others. I just like having fun." I smirked. Happy at the fact I wasn't alone anymore on this island. It was actually more than I was hoping for, knowing my luck in the past.
"In that case, how would you like to join my crew? Yoho." He asked. The question coming right out of the blue.
I froze. "Wha?!" I let out the sound in surprise. It was all a bit sudden. He'd only just met me! Jeez! I knocked him out with my head for frigs sake. "Ummmm, do you have some kind of concussion from when I hit you? Or are you just straight forward as well as funny?" I asked, mildly amused by him.
"Probably both. Yohohoho!" He replied, letting out a joyful laugh. Continuing "How 'bout it? Will you join my crew? I think you'll like it very much."
"Will you give me a few moments?" I asked, unsure myself if I should join them. The Rumbar Pirates were a musically talented crew if my memory of his crew serves correctly. Perhaps joining them might not be a bad idea. I need to think this over more.
"Take all the time you need." Brook replied, sitting down a few moments later. Looking out at the sea, he seemingly produced a violin out of nowhere and beginning to play a quiet little tune, almost sounded like he was using the waves washing up on the shore as a tempo. As he played, I thought. The music helping me to think, I pondered his offer. Should I take his offer and sail the seas under his banner as one of the Rumbar Pirates? Or should I decline and find some other way off this deserted island.
...
After a few hours had passed, I found myself staring out at the sea, thinking over the pros and cons of joining Brooks crew. I knew I couldn't just stay here on an island without people, it would drive me insane. With no sound but the sea and only the strange looking bamboo-like trees to survive on. I wasn't even sure they were edible. Guess I didn't really have a choice in this matter. Bummer.
As Brook began to play his violin again, I stopped thinking. All that time I had tuned it out whilst I was thinking about where I would go from here. His playing was beautiful and the notes seemed to tug at my heartstrings. Weird. I never really liked single instrument music, it was never really my style. But his music seemed to make my mind up for me.
Standing up, I decided. "I'll join you" His melody stopped, his bow stopping mid note on the strings of his violin.
Captain Brook's POV
I stopped at the answer she had given. It surprised me greatly and it was unexpected since we had only just been acquainted. Usually I would finish the tune or continue whilst talking, but this woman. Most would have at least caused some physical harm by now but she was different. Though the circumstances weren't exactly steady.
"Very well. Welcome to my crew. As of now you are one of the Rumbar Pirates. Yohohoho! I think a party is in order, men!" I said leaping for joy, turning to the crewmen who I guessed had been chasing her earlier whilst I was out of it. As they cheered, I looked back at her. She was looking out to the sea, her hands in her pockets and a thoughtful look on her face, her feet twitching in the sand.
Walking up to her as she stood looking out a short distance away, I must have interrupted her mid-thought as she turned to me with a lost look in her eyes. Smiling at her, I gestured for her to follow. As she grabbed her belongings, I followed suit, grabbing my shoes and jacket and lead the way up the beach to where the ship was docked. After almost an hour of walking, we reached home. The figurehead was a welcoming site. Turning to our crew member, she didn't look all that impressed. Something seemed wrong. She hadn't said a word since we had introduced ourselves to each other and her agreeing to join the crew.
As we began boarding the ship, I had to interrupt her thoughts again, her face this time, one of melancholy. Walking up to her, I asked "Is something wrong, Rebecca? You can tell me if something is troubling you."
Rebecca's POV
(thinking) I had been thinking of how I had gotten here for a short while on the way to the place I would be calling home from now on. Was it just me who had landed here? Would I have to spend my time here alone? Had there been no others who had landed here with me from my world? (sighs) I felt so uneasy here an without my friends from the world I came from, I felt empty. Am I to live here without the people I knew back in my world anymore?!
I had kept Brook waiting a few moments as he had now checked on me twice, I answered "There is something, but it's nothing to concern yourself with. It can wait for now, I'll tell you some other time." I felt a little guilty keeping my true origin secret from him, but what he doesn't know can't hurt him at this point. I'll tell him when I am ready.
"Are you coming?" Brook asked as he started climbing the rope ladder that his crewman on the ship had let down.
"Yes." I replied, half heartedly, taking small steps, my hands in my pockets, looking down at the sand on the beach. Looking up at the ship and taking one look back at the island I had landed on, I knew my life wouldn't be the same after this. Climbing the rope ladder, I vaulted myself onto the deck, half jumping off the top link of the ladder. It was big. Very big. Bigger than I thought it would be. I guess seeing it through a laptop screen doesn't really give you a full scale of an object. Who knows? Maybe Chopper is taller than I first made him out to be.
Captain Brook's POV
She stood looking out at the sea as the wind picked up, catching the sails as the crew unfurled them and stood near the figurehead. I had often found myself doing the same. Though I did wish to leave her standing there, there was fun to be had and music to play with much merriment. Turning to my crew as I stood at the front of the ship, the island getting slowly smaller behind us as we headed out to sea "Listen up men. We have a new crew member aboard with us." As I mentioned her presence, she turned to face the crewmen now stood about here and there, paying attention to me as I addressed them. "This is Rebecca, I want you to treat her nicely and make her welcome here. Tonight, I think we should throw a party to welcome her to the crew properly. So grab your instruments and let us make some merriment that none of us will soon forget! Yohohohoho!"
The crew cheered, all dashing about to rush and find their instruments, an excellent smell now coming from the kitchen. As the sun set, the cook brought out a massive amount of food, the men decided on the music to play and the party began with a bang, as a cannon shot sounded that was obligatory of all new members of the crew and a barrel of sake was opened to mark the occasion.
"You are now officially one of the Rumbar Pirates! Yohohoho!"
Vocab Translations and meanings:
Tempo - a rhythm by which a tune or a melody is played. Usually played anywhere from 2 to 4 beats per bar on sheet music
... - when a short period of time passes
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