Brook

When Brook dies he is one-hundred-sixty-two years old. It is, of course, an unbelieveably old age for a pirate of all things, but then again, not much that happens on the Grand Line is exactly believable or logical, the weather and the Devil Fruits being the least logical of all. So with the help of his Devil Fruit Brook has lived for a very long time. Too long, he often thinks.

By now he has outlived every single friend he has ever made, no one he loves is still here, and he fears finding someone else, because what if he outlives them too? Losing Yorki and the other Rumbar Pirates was traumatic enough, then he lost Luffy and the Strawhats. That was possibly worse. Because while the Rumbar Pirates had been his nakama the Strawhat Pirates gave him back the hope he lost when his first nakama died, and helped him reach the last of his first nakama.

After Luffy's death and the dispersing of the crew he saw no other future than one spent near Laboon, so he went back to the Twin Capes Lighthouse and found that Crocus had died since he last had visited Laboon. But the old man was buried well with a nice headstone, so at least he wasn't alone in his last days.

But Laboon was. The Island Whale was over the moon with happiness when Brook arrived, not having had anyone but new pirates crossing Reverse Mountain to hold him company.

But the Lighthouse had fallen into disreapair, so Brook fixed it up, renovated it completely, all the while keeping Laboon company. He lived there for years with his whale friend, gaining back his urge to sing and write music after a long period of his muse being lost on the wind along with his second Captain.

The others came to visit, Nami and Robin being the first, as they travelled together in their mutual quest for knowledge and understanding of every nook and cranny of the world. The rest followed in similar fashion, Zoro alone while Sanji, Usopp and Chopper all arrived together, the three with different but still similar quests in mind. Sanji was looking for new and exotic spices to experiment with while Chopper similarily was looking for new healing herbs, and Usopp just went along for the sake of the adventure. Franky later visited as well in the company of parts of the Franky Family, on his way to pick up a rare metal for a new invention. The next time he saw any of them they were together, as the eight of them had decided to meet up for a party. They kept up meeting in this way for quite a while, even after Zoro's death, but the tradition eventually fizzled out after both Nami, Usopp and Sanji died.

Then Laboon died, and Brook fell victim to a bout of depression harsher than any of his earlier, the pain of all his loss hitting him at the same time. Robin was the one to help him put of it, stopping by and bringing him with her to Sakura Kingdom to visit Chopper, a visit which so happened to coincide with a visit from Franky. Seeing his remaining nakama again helped Brook, and he was brought out of his depression step by step, staying with Chopper in his clinic even after Robin and Franky departed.

When he finally returned to full health and Chopper felt comfortable with letting him go he left to do a world tour, renewing his reputation as Soul King and attracting thousands of fans, both new and old.

But it was not to last, as Chopper passed away a year later, but before Brook could get to Sakura Kingdom, being on the other side of the world when it became clear that he didn't have long left. He arrived at the island a few weeks late, and was greeted by Robin, who told him that their younger friend passed peacefully. But it wasn't all too long after they separated that the news of Robin's death reached him, and Franky's a year after that.

Returning to the Twin Capes Lighthouse to deal with his loss Brook fell into depression once more. But this one wasn't as easy to deal with, not when he didn't have single friend left to help him through it. So without the incentive of reuniting with Laboon he gave up. Without anything whatsoever to look forward to anymore he no longer saw a reason to stay on earth, not when he doesn't have to.

So Brook decides to move on. It has always been an option for him; to let go of his skeletal body and let his soul move on to the afterlife.

But he has been scared, because when he died for the first time he briefly felt the coldandthedarkandtheloneliness, and that's not anything he ever wants to experience again.

But maybe it will be better this time? Maybe he only came halfway the first time and there is yet another step to dying? Brook hopes so with every fiber of his being in the moment that he passes away - though he isn't made up of fibers anymore, Yohohoho, Skull Joke!

He lets his very life-spark fizzle out, by choice.

The darkness is there, and for a moment Brook is scared beyond reason because if this is it he will suffer, but then he notices that it isn't as cold here as he remembers the afterlife to be, the darkness isn't as pressing, the loneliness not as strong. But when the darkness starts to clear and Brook can sense the essence of life and movement around him he is nothing but relieved.

He opens his eyes and finds them covered by a pair of sunglasses. The tint is the very same as that of the ones he used to wear in his youth, way back before he died. But that is not what throws him off. What surprises him is the colour he sees through them. He reaches up to take them off and blinks when the coulour remains even when he isn't wearing them anymore. He hasn't seen the world in colour since before he died. Because while he still had sight it was dull, muted and greyish in a way that it never was when he had true eyes.

The next thing he notices is the flesh on his fingers. He has been a skeleton for so long that he no longer remembers the way it feels to truly touch things. Touch is a completely different thing when you don't have skin to brush over things. He reaches up to touch his face, running his fleshed out hands over the ridges and edges, through his afro and down his neck. His body is back, alive, as it once was. He is astounded.

Next he looks over his legs, which ultimately leads him to surveying the little boat he is in. In the bottom he finds his violin case, his precious violin tucked neatly inside, alongside his sword-cane. He carefully looks both over for damage before laying them aside temporarily when he finds none.

When he is done with this he looks up to observe his surroundings, to see the colour and liveliness of it all. The waves are bobbing along giddily and birds are flying high in the sky, and there are two ships heading his way; two ships he knows so very well. Because there is no way that he will ever forget the sight of the Thousand Sunny, nor that of the Rumbar Pirates' ship.

His eyes widen and tears form, dripping down his cheeks like a waterfall. He hasn't seen any of them in so very long, and he can barely grab the oars he finds at the bottom of his boat for the shaking of his hands. He fumbles with them, but he eventually gets them up and in the water to row as fast as he can. His progress is slow, as the oars slip over the surface of the water in his excitement to get closer to his nakama. In the end he has to stop and force himself to calm down so he can row properly. After that it's much easier, though he sweats at the strain. But he rejoices in it. Since his flesh rotted away he hasn't been able to build muscle, nor feel perspiration, and it's a novelty to feel it now.

As he goes he observes the two ships he is heading for. They're both in top condition, and the crews both seem well and healthy, judging by the way they're moving across the decks. It's a joy to see, as the Rumbar Pirates were falling to the ground in sickness, exhaustion and starvation the last he saw them, but now they're perfectly healthy.

The sound of the Sunny's speakers carry over the water, letting him hear Usopp's voice perfectly as he announces that he's spotted a dinghy ways away. Luffy - who seems to have been chatting with someone across the gap between the ships - runs for the stern to spot the boat himself, and Brook can almost see the moment he realises who he is looking at. It makes him glad, that Luffy still recognises him even though he isn't a skeleton anymore.

Next he sees Yorki approaching the railing of the stern on the other ship, raising a hand to protect his eyes from the sun as he peers at Brook. Then his face clears and he raises his hand even higher, now to wave excitedly.

"Brook! How're ya doin', ol' pal?" Yorki calls, gaining the attention of everyone on the two ships combined. Luffy looks between Yorki and Brook for a moment, frown in place as he tries to figure out their connection.

"It's been so long, Yorki-san, I couldn't possibly sum it all up with a few words!" he calls back. The two ships have both slowed to a stop, but Brook hasn't. He is still rowing as if the hounds of hell were on his heels, an appropiate analogy, considering that this is death.

"We've got the time, just get aboard, old friend!" Yorke answers, grinning his familiar grin, one Brook barely remembers, just as he only barely rememebers the sight of his first Captain's face, but it's all coming rushing back to him as he observes the other's visage.

"Hey, wait a minute!" Luffy suddenly interrupts. He is frowning. The sight is disconcerting, Luffy never frowns like that unless there is something wrong with someone he cares for. Yorki frowns as well.

"What's the matter, kid? This is business concerning my crew, I'm sure you've done it before," he says with meaningful look towards the other Strawhat Pirates. They have all come to stand around Luffy, Zoro with his arms crossed and his face blank - though his locked jaw speaks of his concern - and there's Nami with her hands on her hips, eyes narrowed at Yorki, Usopp - who has left the crow's nest in favour of greeting Brook - Sanji who looks even more annoyed than usual, Chopper who looks worried, Franky who looks grim but with a spark of anger hidden in his uncharacteristically uncovered eyes and Robin, who is surveying the scene with something like understanding of the situation. She seems to know even more about it than Brook does, and he is the one who knows the other pirate crew, but he is not surprised, she wouldn't be Robin if she knew more than everyone else at any given moment after all.

"You can't just say shit like that, shithead, if there are more than one option available you have to explain the Rules of the Reapers first," Sanji calls over the gap between the ships, face set in a frown and cigarette clenched harder than necessary in the corner of his mouth. In front of him Luffy's back is straighter than usual and he is tense, ready to attack at a moment's notice if need be. His frown has darkened into a scowl and he is staring Captain Yorki in the eye, and it is clear that not even Yorki can quite handle the force of that stare, because he tries to direct his gaze at Sanji.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asks, scowl in place, and is about to continue when Brook interrupts him.

"Yorki-san, this is Luffy-san and his crew, the Strawhat Pirates. I became one of their members fifty years after the crew's death when they saved my life and gave me hope again," he explains calmly, raising his sunglasses and meeting his first Captain's eyes. Surprise crosses Yorki's face, soon accompanied by understanding.

"I see how it is. Would you like to explain the rules, or shall I do it?" the question is aimed at Luffy, who relaxes his tense posture slightly when he realises that Yorki is a reasonable man. He then turns away from Yorki completely, striding closer to the railing and leaning over it to talk to Brook - who is close enough to have a conversation in a normal tone by now - better.

"There are these guys who have rules around here, the Reapers," he starts, a strange seriousness taking over his face, "they're a bit stupid, and they don't like change much, so when we get here they want us to make a choice about where we'll stay while we're here. They get pissy if we change too often, so if you board a ship before you've decided they make you stay there for a loooong time, so you've gotta decide before that." The explanation is a bit messy, but Brook has learned how to interpret Luffy-speak by now, and he has no trouble doing so now. It now dawns why Luffy looked so close to anger earlier; if Brook had boarded the Rumbar Pirates ship without knowing these rules he would've been stuck, whether he wanted to or not.

"So, Brook," he continues, "do ya wanna join my crew?" Brook smiles to himself. Luffy is giving him the choice, he isn't demanding that he come with them and leave the crew he was separated from so long ago behind, but he is saying that he wants Brook to come with him.

But the smile dims when he realises that he will have to make a choice. It was easy back in life, because then he couldn't choose the Rumbar Pirates no matter how much he wanted to, but now both they and the Strawhat Pirates are here, and he has gotten so very attached to them, to his precious nakama.

"Now wait here a moment before you decide, Brook!" Yorki shouts, "come join the Rumbar Pirates!" he urges, "All you have to do is love music!" A nostalgic smile crosses Brook's face when he hears the familiar proclamation. He really doesn't want to have to choose. But maybe…?

"Luffy-san… Yorki-san… would it be possible… for me to join you both?" he asks slowly, nearly wincing as he does. It's unheard of, for a pirate to switch between two crews like he is suggesting. It's just not how it's done, especially not when the two crews aren't allied.

"...How do ya mean, ol' friend?" Yorki asks in response, titing his head. But the words have more meaning than he lets on; he still considers Brook a friend, despite his proposal.

"I don't wish to choose one crew over the other, so I would like to be part of both crews, sailing with one at a time," he carefully observes the two men, awaiting their reactions. However neither of them is the first to speak.

"That's a bit like what Bellemere-san does," Nami speaks up, "sometimes she's at sea on the Ship of Freedom and sometimes she's on land with Nojiko at the farm."

"The former Archeologists of Ohara do the same," Robin adds, "it seems to work very well for them."

"And Sabo," Luffy pipes in, though he does not elaborate.

"Though we'd miss you, Brook," Nami adds, giving him a sweet smile that she only brings forth on rare occasions.

"I suppose…" Yorki starts, though he seems unsure of the words that are about to come out of his mouth, "that it would be alright. As long as you're with us sometimes, we're nakama."

Yorki's words seems to make something spark in Luffy, like he has been waiting for the right opportunity. It's a bit of a relief, it's wrong for the lively man to be silent and still for as long as he has been.

"Yosh! You'll come with us first, right Brook?" he gives the musician a bright smile and Brook can do nothing but agree when that smile is directed at him.

"Great!" Luffy exclaims, and suddenly Zoro is close to the railing, a bundle of rope in hand which he throws over the side of Sunny after he ties one end firmly to Sunny. Brook grabs the rope, climbing on up readily, brining his cane and violin-case with him.

"Now… Let's party!" Luffy exclaims, throwing his arms in the air.

"Yohohoho! Excellent idea, Luffy-san!" Brook answers contently, bringing forth his violin, shortly followed by the many instruments of the Rumbar Pirates. With these two crews together it's bound to be one hell of a party.

AN: I had to get this chapter ready before time as I'm out of town at the moment - I'm posting from a hotel computer. So if I've missed a guest review I'm terribly sorry, but I promise I'll get you next week!

Thanks for reading!

Next up: Jinbe