It wasn't so easy, to let him go.

Vaguely, Nami wondered out loud if this is how the crew felt of the previous Pirate King, when Gold Roger had gotten sick.

Losing him felt like they were losing a huge piece of themselves, part of their core. Luffy had been so central in their lives for such a short time, in comparison to how long he'd lived. Maybe it was the Conquerer's Haki but somehow, that didn't seem like it was right. It was just Luffy. He did this to them, his personality, his infectious laughter, his love of life and adventure. He'd drawn them in naturally, as naturally as breathing, and the idea of losing him at all, especially like this, was more than any of them could bear.

It shouldn't have happened. It wasn't an attack, that got him in the end. Nor was it self-sacrifice, at least, not obviously. Not that they'd known, at the time. Lucci had known, had predicted this outcome but none of them had been there to hear his assessment and none of them knew how close to the truth it came. The former CP-9 agent, now CP-0, had warned that Luffy using his powers like Gear 2nd, would shorten his life. Luffy hadn't cared, though. To protect his friends, his nakama, he was willing to throw everything away. Nothing was taboo.

That was what had led to the illness, if you could call it that. His life was wasting away. He'd been the Pirate King for only a few short years but he'd done it. And having gained his goal, he became what he wished most in the world. He became the freest man of the sea. Nami remembered laughing, telling him that he had always been that, and he'd just laughed off her words. If only she could go back, to tell her younger self to hug him tight, hold him close. Her captain was dying and nothing could change that now. She choked on a sob that threatened to escape, shaking her head and desperately forcing a smile. An answering smile stretched across those thin, dry, cracked lips.

"Shi shi shi…"


Usopp gulped, tears falling freely down his cheeks. It was never supposed to be like this. Luffy was the strongest man he'd ever met. He didn't mean physically. It wasn't like they hadn't lost battles before and he was sure there were still stronger opponents out there than them. No, his captain had always been so strong mentally, emotionally. He'd been able to carry them, a band of misfits that couldn't have gotten along on any other pirate ship together, and get them to all their goals. He'd carried them through the entire Grand Line, to that beautiful finish line, pushing them forward to their greatest and when they stumbled, when they threatened to break, he acted as their beacon. For him, they'd be the best version of themselves. For him, they would do anything, be anything, he needed.

He reached out and picked up a hand, so thin, so fragile. Luffy had never seemed fragile before now. He was skinny. This scrawny kid who didn't seem to know what he was talking about when he first showed up in his village all those years ago. This kid who declared without a shadow of a doubt that he would be the pirate king, who had invited him on his ship. This kid who shook up the world again and again and again, until no one knew what to expect from him. Luffy was the most unexpected person but even when other people looked down on him, Usopp would never think him weak again, not after he defended his village, not after having fought with him so many times. Luffy was the strongest person he knew.

So why? Why was he lying here, dying, this shell of the person he used to be?

He gulped and gripped the thin hand tighter, forcing a smile as well. "Hey captain. Heard you wanted to see us?"


Zoro couldn't watch. He stood guard at the door, back turned to the room. All he had to do was turn around, take two steps, and he could see his captain again. He couldn't do it, though. His core trembled with emotions he couldn't even begin to name. He wanted to deny this. This, death, wasn't an enemy he could fight. He would destroy any enemy against Luffy without hesitation, without thought, in an instant but this was one he couldn't defend against. His mind went a mile a minute, analyzing the past, trying to see something, some clue he missed. The stronger his captain got, the more confident they'd been as a crew, but that strength was what ultimately led them here. Wasn't there something he could have done to prevent this? It was too soon, too fast. They weren't ready to let him go yet.

They weren't ready to say goodbye.

He wasn't ready.


Sanji stood on the other side of the door, smoking a cigarette. He stared up at the falling snow, remembering a different day, another time when they had to say goodbye to a beloved nakama. Would Luffy be seeing Merry now? It should be silly; Merry Go was just a ship, but Merry was so much more to them. Merry had a soul, one they'd seen off, and that day was still ingrained in his head. The sea was such a fickle mistress. Any one of them could have died, at any moment, during their journeys. Instead, they'd had adventure after adventure. More than once, they'd almost died. From naivety, like Nami getting bitten on Little Garden, to going out on a limb for each other over and over again. Each and every time, it was the thought of Luffy that pulled them up. He was always right there, just a moment away from turning around and smiling, laughing at them. A second away from reaching out his hand to help.

This is the man who showed him what Zeff had meant for him when he gave him the food, let him survive and not starve to death. This is the man who had brought him to his dream, the All Blue. This is the man who let him experience the true wonder of being surrounded by mermaids. This is the man who had fought tooth and nail, went up against a Yonko, just to get him back. This is the man who wouldn't let him hide, wouldn't let him run away, who begged him to come back, who yelled he couldn't do this without him.

He didn't notice the tears that slipped down his cheeks as he wondered for the very first time, how he would continue living his adventures without Luffy.


Chopper sobbed, tried to suck it up, but couldn't help the emotions shaking him. With trembling hooves, he carefully unhooked and changed the IV bag. He had to be strong. He was Luffy's doctor. He had to make sure he was comfortable. Even if he couldn't…

Couldn't…

Couldn't save him

Can't…

It was like losing the Doctor all over again.

It was ten times worse.

No one could ever replace the Doctor. No one would ever replace the Doctorine or the knowledge she'd taught him.

But…

No one could replace Luffy either.

Why?

Why?

Why?

He was a doctor, wasn't he?! There had to be some sort of cure, something he missed, something he overlooked, that could solve this, fix this, save him.

For Luffy, he didn't care if he threw the last of his humanity. He would gladly become a monster for Luffy, he'd told Zoro that, and he meant every word. He didn't regret a thing.

But who would he be without Luffy?

A great doctor but a doctor without his main purpose. He'd gained the ability to show the sakura blossoms to almost every patient but when he needed to most, when he wanted to save his beloved captain, there was nothing he could do.

This… he'd never felt more helpless.

"Chop…per…"

He quickly rubbed his nose and eyes clean of tears and snot, rushing to Luffy's side. He had to be by his side, give him everything he could. "Yes!"

A weak hand reached up, across his sickly thin body, to pat his head so softly. The motion was too much and he wheezed even from that much strain. Chopper put his hand down on his chest, opening his mouth to tell him to rest, but Luffy beat him to it.

"It's…okay… You did…good… Smile… Chop…per…"

Chopper hiccuped and felt Usopp ruffle his head with his free hand. The older man refused to let go of Luffy's hand. These could very well be his last minute and all of them wanted, needed, to witness them.

"You rest, Luffy. We'll… We'll… go on another adventure… when you get bet…better…" He forced a smile, trying to believe the words he was saying. Luffy was going to get better. He had to. He had to…


Robin stood back, watching the scene. She wanted to feel detached. She almost wished, in a moment of weakness, she could go back to those days when the crews she joined meant nothing to her. But no, she could never go back to that. She was grateful, truly grateful, for every moment she'd spent with her captain. Again and again, he'd saved her life, against her will even. He hadn't listened, not once, when she begged to die. He always pushed her to live, to keep moving forward, to pursue her goals, her dreams. There was always something better, greater, waiting just around the corner, if she'd just wait and look for it. His childlike glee as he called out for her to join each adventure never failed to bring her genuine amusement. From day one, when she asked to join his crew, he'd accepted her without question. He hadn't doubted even once. While several of his crew had pointed weapons at her, he'd had his guard down. When she demanded to join his crew, he just said okay, and reassured his worried nakama that she wasn't a bad person.

Luffy was the brightest light, one that had pushed out even the darkness that followed her. He'd banished that darkness to the farthest corners of the seas, even fought the world government for her. He'd declared war on the world to save her, just her, one nakama. He was an amazing, brilliant man, one with a heart of gold. The world would lose a little of it's brightness, it's shine, when he was gone. She took a quiet step forward, ready to say goodbye. For him, she would be strong enough to share this moment he wanted to have with his crew so badly.


Everyone assumed Franky would be bawling like a baby the minute there was even a hint, a mention, of Luffy possibly dying. They were so very wrong. The cyborg stood stoic, staring down at his captain with dry eyes. It wasn't that he wasn't broken up; he was. Being broken up about it, crying about it, wouldn't do anything for Luffy right now, though. There would be time for tears, for crying, after he was gone. Until then, he'd be ready; ready to fulfill any last requests that might come for him, for any of them. If he cried too loudly, something might be missed. He didn't want to wail and cover up any last words.

He felt more than saw Robin take a tentative step forward. She stood side by side with him, the two of them ready to say goodbye. All of them, really, had experienced death before. They knew what was coming, should be more than prepared to face this, but as she reached out and gripped his metal hand, he realized that none of them would ever be truly prepared for what was coming. There was no getting ready for saying goodbye to one of the most important, one of the most central figures in your life. No one would ever touch so many people, so many lives, like Luffy had, and certainly not all of their lives. Never again. Tightly, but not too tight, he gripped her hand back and tried to focus on the next moments.


It had been sad, saying goodbye over and over and over again to his crew. It had been heart breaking, had drove him quite mad from time to time, really. Brook knew what it was like to lose an entire crew. It was the most devastating blow in his entire life. He didn't think he'd feel a second blow like that again so soon. Death was nothing to him and he'd see quite a bit of it before the end of the world claimed his second life. Still, Luffy was the man who reached out and brought him out of the dark. He took in a skeleton that would have and did scare others, even those in his own crew. To lose such a man, to break up such a wonderful crew…

Because he saw what would come next, even if no one could voice it yet. Without Luffy here to hold them all together, the crew would disband. And no one could take his place. They would never accept anyone when it came to taking orders, to leading and guiding them. Luffy was the only captain they would ever accept. He would lose his captain and crew all over again. It was sad but such was the way of life.

Hesitantly, Brook lifted his violin and began to play a farewell tune. The smile on his captain's face, the look of peace and the ease of his pain was enough. That was enough for Brook.


Outside, Law stood vigil with the rest of the leaders of the Strawhat Grand Fleet. He never thought this day would come. That rookie who'd fearlessly punched out a Celestial Dragon, who rushed into the war to save his brother, who had carelessly proclaimed he would defeat all the Yonko when he agreed to team up with him. The man who had stated calmly that he would be pirate king, who had beat him to the title, here he was, on his last legs. He looked at the generals, at Cavendish, Bartolomeo, Sai, Ideo. He stared at Hajrudin and Orlumbus, watched as Leo and a few other Tontas flew above them. All here to honor the man that they would pledge their lives to in an instant. Bartolomeo was a crying mess, while Cavendish was in blind denial. He claimed that clearly their doctor was a fraud and they should find another, even demanded that Law go check up on him, as if the pirate captain wouldn't have tried to heal him if he could. Sai was silent, respectful. His manner indicating that he was already accepting the fate laid out before Luffy now.

It wasn't just his Grand Fleet who'd come to see him off, either. His greatest allies were arriving one by one. Even if they couldn't see him in his last moments, they wanted to be here for him, with him, until the end. There was Ivankov's ship, showing up. Rayleigh, Mihawk, Hancock, even Shanks and Kaido showing up to share in this moment. Not to mention his family… Garp and Dragon were seated outside the room, by his two right hand men, while Sabo walked into the room to join the rest of the crew.

With a sigh, Law went to stand next to the only crew member not close to his captain right now. "Not going to go to him, Jimbei?"

The fishman turned to look at him, his expression guarded. "Against my advice, he reached out to all his friends, his nakama. He even reached out to the princess, Nefertiti Vivi. It's only a matter of time before the world government gets wind and comes after us. I won't let them ruin this moment, nor desecrate his body, as they intended to do with the Great Old Man."

Law nodded in understanding. No. He didn't think he could stomach the idea either, of saying goodbye to Luffy only for the world government to make a mockery of his death. His hand tightened around his sword instinctively at the thought. No, he definitely couldn't allow that either.

"I think I'll join you in keeping watching."

Jimbei gave him a long, knowing looking but didn't say anything.


Sabo took off his hat, looking down at the small body of his baby brother. He went first. It was always supposed to be him. First Ace and now he was going to lose Luffy, too. It wasn't fair. He didn't want to lose his only other brother. Not Luffy, not his baby brother. He gulped, tears springing so easily to his eyes. Only Luffy. Only Luffy could make him feel like this, could make him so close to the verge of tears, so easily.

Was saying goodbye always this so hard? Ace had been sudden and had given a taste of what Luffy and Ace must have gone through when they thought they lost him so long ago. Was he now getting a taste of what Luffy went through when he was trying to save Ace? The desperation, the hope that he had the cure in his hand, the fear that he was much too late? The desperate need to run, to do something, to spare him from this fate. This was pure torture. He didn't think he would be able to take it if Luffy really did die after everything he'd gone through to get that one mushroom, one he was sure, was positive, would save his baby brother's life. Just one more miracle. That's all he was asking for, hoping for. He just wanted Luffy to pull out one more miracle, one more impossible turn around.

Please.

Please.

Don't take him.

Don't take his baby brother.


"I…want to go… outside." Luffy breathed. "See…everybody…"

"You're not better yet, Luffy!" Chopper instantly protested. "We don't know if this cure Sabo brought you is working yet or not!"

Luffy, so incredibly thin he was practically the same size as Brook, not quite all skin and bones since he was made of rubber but as close as he could come to it, just laughed off the concern. "Shi shi shi… If it doesn't… work… it doesn't… If it's going to… it will. Worrying…"

He went into a coughing fit, unable to continue talking. It went on for one agonizing minute, then two, then three, before finally subsiding. He wiped his cracked lips, not noticing that one crack had opened wand was bleeding. It smeared a little but the captain and pirate king didn't care.

"I want to… go outside." He insisted stubbornly.

Chopper looked ready to argue but Sabo stepped forward, nodding. He knew his little brother. Luffy was stubborn. If they didn't give in, he would likely try to do so on his own and hurt himself. "I don't think your captain is going to listen to doctor's orders, Doctor Chopper. Maybe if we support him and carrying him out there."

Luffy smiled and laughed again. "Shi shi shi shi…"

Helped and supported by Sabo and Usopp, they brought Luffy outside. The moment he passed the doorway, Sanji and Zoro were flanking either side of them, ready to offer whatever support they needed for their captain, ready to defend him even here, among friends, and ready to catch him if the two should somehow drop him. Luffy rested what body weight not being supported by his best friend and his brother on the railing, looking down at all who answered the call. It was a start for many of them. They had known he wasn't doing well, obviously, but seeing it so plainly obvious was jarring. This was real. Reality. There was a very good chance they were losing him. This man who had saved nations, who had shaken up the world, declared war on the world government, who had taken them all by storm and turned up the lives of so many, he was dying.

As if today was just another day, he grinned down at all of them. His face creased up with delight, his eyes squeezing closed, even as he smiled.

"Shi shi shi… I wanted to… thank you… Thank you all… For all the fun… the adventures… Thank you… for supporting me… this whole time… and going along with… all my selfish…ness… I have never… once… forgotten any… of you… or how… important you are… to me…" He had to take a moment to catch his breath, to calm down as a small coughing fit took over. He grinned again once he caught his breath and got everything back under control. "Thank you… all… And thank you… Sunny… for carrying us… on such great adventures…"

He covered his mouth for a moment, to catch a few more traitorous coughs. "I don't… know… what tomorrow… brings. But… never stop… adventuring… Tomorrow's… another fun… day. And adventures… are best with… friends… with nakama… with all of you…"

He fell silent, eyes lowering to almost closed as the drain on him finally settled. While they were still processing all of this, a new voice spoke up.

"No, thank you, Captain. It was my greatest pleasure to go on all kinds of adventures on with you. Thank you, for loving me. Thank you, for pouring so much into me. Thank you for taking such good care of me. I've been so happy to sail for you."

Luffy's eyes slid closed and his head drooped against the railing. "Glad to hear it… Sunny…"

The voice they were hearing now, all around them, was the Thousand Sunny, the very ship they were standing on. Several pirates stopped and held still. Others turned around in wonder. Only the original crew, who knew, who had experienced this before with Merry Go, were not surprised. The Thousand Sunny told of how happy it had been adventuring with them, how much it loved them and especially loved Luffy. Usopp piped in, also excitedly telling his favorite adventures, tears streaming down his face. He talked of how exciting, how amazing, it was traveling with Luffy and how he couldn't wait to experience even more amazing things in the future. He didn't dare say his wish out loud, that he would do so with his captain, but everyone could hear it in the tone of his voice. One by one, the crew started talking, over one another, adding their voices. Thanking Luffy for all the help he'd given them, the guidance, the adventures, the fun times, the good times, for every time he saved them even from themselves. His friends pitched in, adding their own two bits. A sigh escaped Luffy's lips, his eyes still closed, in the midst of all this. The change in his body weight had Sabo's hands shaking as the tears finally began falling. His voice was soft but it seemed to cut through the voices, leaving them dying away.

"Luffy…?" He questioned again.

The young man didn't respond, his breathing too shallow in his chest.

"Luffy… I just want you to know." He choked out, the tears making it impossible for him to see his little brother even though he was in his arms. "You are loved. You are so loved, Luffy. So, if you can, hold on. Just for a little longer, hold on, for us. For all of us. And if you can't…"

He choked on the words. He had to get them out, though, he couldn't leave him hanging.

"We'll keep moving forward." Usopp continued for him, tears still trailing down his face. It shouldn't be possible to cry as much as he has but then again, everything seems impossible when it comes to Luffy. Crying an impossible amount of tears over him was only par the course. "If you can't stick around, that's okay. Cause, cause…"

"We'll keep pushing forward." Sanji pitched in. The cigarette he'd been smoking earlier long abandoned. "You taught us that."

"We won't fail you." Zoro picked up where he left off.

"We'll live each day happily." Nami promised.

"We won't question the impossible. We'll live happily, regardless of what the future brings." Robin vowed.

The tears that Franky had kept at bay for so long easily spilled over now. "We'll… We'll reach for new dreams and find new goals."

"We won't fear tomorrow." Brook added solemnly.

"We'll embrace the unknown and find new ways." Chopper sobs.

"And someone will pick up your will, will carry on where you left off." Jimbei promised.

"We all will." Law agreed.

Still breathing shallowly, deep in a healing sleep, Luffy teetered on the edge of life and death. He could go either way. And in his sleep, he smiled.


And with this, I end my little series. I won't be updating this any further. I am purposely leaving it open ended. He could live or die in these last moments. That's up to you. I believe that given each of the crew has lost someone important to them, usually in front of their eyes, they could handle Luffy's death. At the same time, he's shaped them so much in the few years he's been with them, that it would take a huge chunk of them to deal with the aftermath. None of them would really be ready to lose him, especially given these circumstances.

Also, it is canon that using his powers is eating away at his life. Lucci states as much and Luffy states that he doesn't care. Rayleigh says he's refined and gotten a better hold of his powers but it's never stated again if they are still taking such a damning toll on him.

Again, you can take the ending either way. Sabo somehow managed to find a miracle cure that worked at the last minute, or, like all those with the "will of D" he dies with a smile on his lips. I hope you enjoyed what I've done so far and look forward to bringing you more in the future. ^^