I was determined to give my wonderful readers an update! Thank you so much for the loving responses and reviews, I've adored every single one!

Except for Ladyres, your review was quite unpleasant and I don't appreciate being attacked for something that has absolutely nothing to do with the story. If you're going to leave a review, make sure it is relevant and not a childish temper tantrum. Thank you.

ON WITH THE SHOW!

"Tribunal," Kaze sneered "like you have any authority, much less the power, to cast judgment over me?"

Luffy's spirit nodded his ancient head, pursing his lips with a barely tolerant glare "As the oldest among us I have access to knowledge long passed from memory, knowledge of days before the Dark History."

Robin started at that, the woman's blue eyes widening as she turned to the guru "You know the Dark History? You were there when it happened?"

The elderly spirit sighed "I am sorry, my dear, however it appears that the World Government when coming to power during that time was able to suppress all Devil Fruit during that dark age. It was only through revolutionaries and other brave souls such as scientists and engineers that brought us back into the light. Unfortunately by that time, all knowledge had been wiped from the earth and we Devil Fruit found ourselves limited and imprisoned within the bodies of our Users. We no longer possessed the ability to communicate freely with them, much less each other."

The archaeologist's face darkened, frustration and anger at the government who censored information so cruelly flashing across her features "I understand," she murmured "I understand all too well."

The man nodded in reply then returned to answering Kaze, "Our ancient laws dictate that any gathering of Spirits may pass judgment on another, with the exception of the death penalty, if their crimes require immediate action, and yours Kaze most certainly do."

"Ha!" the wind maiden scoffed "What are you going to do, regenerate me back to a fruit? That sounds positively terrifying."

"We could," the blue skinned spirit spoke, her mirage of arms waving around her as she did so "however that would be counterproductive to what we wish to accomplish here today."

"Yeah," the muscular spirit bellowed from behind Chopper striking a masculine pose "you've done some rotten things Kaze, it's time you take your punishment like a MAN!"

Usopp, Luffy and Chopper, with stars in their eyes, copied the spirit giving a unanimous "YEAH!"

"I'm a woman, you numbskull," the wind spirit snarled, rolling her eyes at the group.

"Uh…" Chopper's spirit scrambled for an answer before his optimistic face brightened "fine, then like a wo-MAN!"

"Oh God, that's even worse," the angel moaned in tandem with Nami.

A giant paw covered Tora's muzzle as he effectively face palmed (or pawed) "Gum-Gum Guru, please continue,"

The ancient spirit cleared his throat, taking a kettle and a tea cup out of his tunic speaking as he filled said cup with a foul smelling liquid "As we were saying, I agree with Sakura, regenerating you back into a fruit would be counter-productive. Instead, I have a different proposal, one that I believe will be agreeable to everyone."

"Except me of course," Kaze snorted.

The guru inclined his head "Naturally, what use is a punishment if it is enjoyable to endure? A lesson cannot be learned if the consequences are not something to be feared."

"Naturally," the wind spirit echoed petulantly.

"So, about your proposal," Zoro threw in noticing Tora's exhaustion deepening as the Tribunal was drawn out.

"Ah yes," the elderly spirit nodded, vaguely noticing that Luffy had fallen asleep behind him "as I was saying. I propose that Kaze be stripped of her regenerative powers. However as a sign of mercy she will be able to survive by jumping from host to host, of course with the stipulation that she will have a time limit to find such a vessel. If she is unable to locate a host, be it human or animal, within five minutes then her essence will diminish and she will fade from existence entirely."

"I thought you said you couldn't pass the death penalty?!" Kaze shrieked, her ire kicking up a furious gale.

"I did not pass such a judgment," Gum-Gum Guru countered, eyes briefly cutting over to his User when the Straw Hat captain began to snore.

"Yes, you did," the wind spirit continued to bellow "your proposal clearly states that I would die!"

"Only if unable to find a suitable host," the guru reiterated "this stipulation that you may willingly switch hosts is our act of mercy. You have every chance of surviving for another hundred years or even more, but if you are careless in choosing your host the consequences could prove dire."

"So basically don't choose somebody prone to die on a dangerous adventure alone," Usopp supplied with a snicker, "or choose someone likely to be traveling through a barren wasteland alone. Or anyone antisocial really."

"True," Nami nodded sagely "but even when surrounded by people, accidents happen. What if pirates suddenly attack and no one is left alive…in the middle of the ocean? Or worse an entire island is blown up by the government, and while I'm sure you'd probably adore being a Sea King who's to say you'll find a host within your allotted period of time? It will be awfully dangerous."

The spirits all murmured in agreement, each nodding their heads before Sakura stepped from beside Robin, beads and earrings tinkling "I move to accept Gum-Gum Guru's proposal,"

"I seco-!" Chopper's spirit yelped but was already cut off by the angel spirit.

"I second that motion!"

The muscular spirit rolled his eyes, stomping his foot in frustration "MA-AN!"

Sakura and Angel exchanged secret smiles of amusement, both giving light titters at their private joke, the subject of their teasing pouting in the background. However the levity was not appreciated by the wind spirit.

"You…you…wretches!" Kaze seethed "You don't have the power to do this, it's all just a big bluff!"

"SILENCE!" The Gum-Gum guru slammed the end of his staff on the floor, filling the room with a resonating boom.

Luffy jolted awake, his nose bubble popping as his eyes shot open "Huh…wha-? Is it dinner time yet?"

The guru sighed, mentally pleading for patience, before returning to his intimidating stance and bellowing tone "Kaze, you are hereby stripped of your regenerative power, and by the stipulations recorded within this verbal contract we bind you."

Each Spirit closed their eyes, gathering bright energy all around them. Half of the angel glowed a warm white, though the other half of her body was shrouded in pitch black. Robin's spirit shone purple and Chopper's spirit glowed pink. Tora joined in as well, an emerald aura gathering around him. Last of all was the guru, whose body was encased with a vibrant red light. As one the auras came together, twisting and writhing to make a luminescent braid of living color and shooting towards Kaze.

The wind spirit tried to dodge, screaming as she attempted her escape, however the ethereal lights shot forward, green chains wrapping wround her right hand hand while pink ones captured her left. The black and white lights gripped her left leg with the purple not far behind targeting the right one. Red swooped in like a hawk, clinking around her neck as she writhed. The chains suddenly converged, slithering up and around her body, wrapping her in a cocoon as the chains blended and melded into the colors mixed to create pure blinding white. An explosion mingling with Kaze's one last furious shriek sent everyone watching to the floor, effectively demolishing every crate within the space.

Eventually the dust settled, as did the biting wind or Kaze's ire, leaving the audience to slowly pick themselves back up.

Kaze sat on the ground, looking down at her hands in terror. Shackles made of white gold now adorned her wrists, permanently marking her as a reminder of her inescapable fate "No," she murmured, standing to now shaking feet "I will not be a prisoner, I will not suffer like this!"

Turning, the woman cast her deranged gaze on Zoro "You!" she screamed "I will kill you for this!"

Kaze waved her arm, sending a razor sharp slash of wind towards the human. Zoro readied himself for the attack but once again he found an angry tiger stepping between him and the wind spirit "Tora, you idiot, NO!"

But it was to no avail, tora took the full brunt of her attack flying across the space between them. Kaze returned her predatory gaze back to Zoro but was forestalled as now four more spirits stood between her and vengeance.

"I suggest you leave," Sakura murmured, black lightening flashing in her obsidian gaze.

"Indeed, it would be poor decision making on your part to continue in your rage," the guru agreed.

"Yeah, come one step closer and we'll tear you apart, like a MA-!"

The signature line was abruptly cut off as Nami and Angel slammed their fists into his head in perfect tandem "Will you SHUT UP already?!"

Kaze paused, clearly weighing her options then gathered a ferocious gust of wind, blowing everyone back to the floor and bolted out of the ships hold. Where she went no one knew, as there were no hosts anywhere else on the Marine island. However there were reports in a newspaper known for its reports on supernatural myths and alien landings concerning a seagull with odd wind abilities. Reports that of course no one took seriously, however that is neither here nor there, as the Straw Hats and the Marines were now grinning at each other with well earned happiness at their victory won.

Zoro winced from where he lay, cradling his still broken arm before his eye widened in horror and he jumped to his feet. The tiger spirit, having surrendered the last of his energy was lying on his side, the only sound being the rattle of labored breaths being pulled into the bloodied hide. Zoro immediately ran to the feline's side, concerned with Tora's well-being. His battle scarred hand ran tenderly across the soft muzzle, prodding it with an affectionate yet concerned caress "Tora? You ok?"

The tiger merely gave a sad chuckle "I gave the last of my energy to help imprison Kaze, kitten. I don't even have enough left to regenerate as a fruit, my time here is fading."

"No…" The swordsman gripped a handful of orange fur, burying his face into Tora's neck "you can't leave, you can come back into me. The battle is over, we can hibernate now. You'll feel better after you sleep for a bit."

"No, kitten," The tiger shook his massive head twisting so to lick the moss colored hair of his adopted cub "not even that will help me now."

Zoro melted further into Tora, hiding the tears that were teetering on the edges of his vision "You can't," he repeated "there has to be a way."

"Kitten, look at me,"

When the swordsman refused, Tora snuffled his cub's head, prodding it gently with his nose "Zoro," the tiger said, this time in a more commanding tone "look into my eyes."

The man leaned back, valiantly fighting against the burning in his sinuses currently turning his nose pink even as he held back hot liquid trembling on his lashes. Giving as masculine a sniffle as possible Zoro grumped "You only have one now, Kaze slashed your right one."

The tiger laughed weakly, a glob of blood coming up his gullet only to be coughed onto the floor "Then I guess we make a complete set, as you are missing your left."

The green haired man chuckled, though his laugh held little humor as his emotions were bubbling to the surface at a dangerous pace. A muscular hand dragged through emerald locks, and gripped them in an iron vise "Stop being an idiot," he snarled without any real heat "you're dying and instead of letting me save you you're making stupid jokes."

"Kitten, take this as my last gift to you. You're free, free to chase your dream and become the world's greatest swordsman without the burden of having a Devil Fruit." The tiger leaned forward to place his head in Zoro's lap, sighing softly when the man began to absently pet along his ears "I count it an honor to die for the cub I have come to love so well."

Zoro, well aware of all the eyes currently watching this very emotional scene, chewed his lip in indecision. Surely there was something to be done? Tora was more than a Devil Fruit spirit, somehow in the space of time they were together, they had unconsciously moved into an almost father and son relationship, odd as it may seem. The tiger was the closest thing he had ever had to a paternal figure besides his sensei, and the idea of losing him was now too much to bear. He couldn't imagine life without the soft reassuring tones of his purrs and even his warning growl when the swordsman was being scolded. Chest heaving with grief, Zoro addressed the only person who could possibly help the feline.

A pleading silver eye pierced the Gum-Gum guru, making the spirit feel a pang of sympathy while the swordsman rasped out his request.

"Please, isn't there anything you can do?"

The ancient man assessed Zoro, his green gaze indecisive with confusion "I thought you wanted to be free of the Devil Fruit?"

"I did, I mean, I do," The man stuttered to a stop, taking a heavy gulp "but I would consider it dishonorable to purchase my dream at the cost of Tora's life."

The guru chuckled then gave a wide grin that rivaled Luffy's "Well then, there isn't much I can do I'm afraid as we ourselves are rather depleted. So helping him regenerate as a fruit is not an option. However… at the very least we can each donate enough to help Tora reenter your body, and there he can heal."

Joy bursting in his chest, Zoro nodded his approval, and the spirits once again called up their separate energies. Though instead of chains they enveloped the tiger in what would best be described as a warm blanket. The energy was eagerly sucked into the tired feline, and eventually Tora grew smaller and smaller, his large mass absorbing itself back into Zoro's body. The swordsman felt his already exhausted frame begin to violently tremble as he yet again took on another's pain, and his eye drooped lower and lower until it too surrendered to severe fatigue. Eventually the man collapsed, falling into a deep, dreamless sleep making all watching smile softly.

"There," the guru grunted firmly "our work is done, it's time we get back to our own users."

"Aw," Luffy pouted "do you have to?"

"Yes," the spirit nodded "I am already feeling the strain of the outside world and must also take time to regain my energy within your inner space."

"Will I ever see you, or talk to you again?"

Wrinkled lips pursed as the guru pondered his user's question "With concentration and training in the art of meditation, maybe; but knowing you, probably not."

"It was marvelous meeting you," Robin chuckled at her spirit.

"Indeed," Sakura smiled "I hope you too shall attain the level required for us to communicate,"

"I'll work on it,"

Chopper sniffled, watching as his spirit flexed in ridiculous poses to cheer him up "But you can't leave, we just met?!" he wailed.

"Don't worry bro!" the spirit cried exultantly "it's not like I'm really leaving, and besides now that we know communication is possibly we could totally learn to talk to each other like a MAN!"

The reindeer brightened at the prospect jumping into his spirits arms to give him an exuberant hug "Definitely!"

"My lady, it was an honor," Brook murmured with a gallant bow.

"Well, excepting your ridiculous question, I have to say it wasn't such a bad experience meeting you face to face," the angel demurred with a dry smirk before leaning in close "though for the record, just so you know, I'm not wearing any."

Brook's bones turned pale before he fell onto the floor into a dead faint while rivers of blood spurting from his nose. The angel merely laughed in delight at his reaction, her form slowly becoming translucent as she returned to her User. Within moments the room was empty of spirits save the Guru who, while slowly disappearing, turned to Nami.

"My dear," he said in an echoey far off voice "you seem the most sensible out of this crew. Pass along a message for me, will you?"

"Of course," the navigator nodded "I'll just charge Luffy the fee."

The guru chuckled before continuing "Tell Zoro I've prepared Tora one other gift, a special one. It may just be the answer to both their needs."

Nami leaned in eagerly "What?"

The old man grinned, bringing his lips to her ear and whispering in feverish tones, a gnarled hand pulling an odd fruit out of his tunic and handing it to the woman before leaning back "You got all that?"

Nami merely grinned tossing the fruit up in the air and catching it, "Oh yeah, I got it."

"Good, farewell everyone, and Sanji try to help this glutton tone down his eating will you? We get terrible heartburn…"

Soon the voice faded along with the body, leaving the gathered humans breathless, and a tad dazed "Well," Robin breathed "that was quite the adventure,"

"No kidding!" Chopper squealed "and my spirit is SO COOL! Like a MAN!"

Nami clocked the poor reindeer upside the head, her eyes flashing in irritated fury "Now don't you start that again!"

"Sorry," Chopper whimpered.

"Oi, Nami!" Luffy cried bouncing over to the ginger headed woman "what did the geezer tell you?"

"Yeah," Franky echoed putting mechanical hands on his hips "I wanna know too, and what's that weird looking fruit he gave you?"

Nami merely giggled hiding it behind her back "Sorry, that's a secret, at least until Zoro wakes up."

"Awww!" Luffy whined "not fair, that could take forever! The last time Zoro fell asleep like this he didn't wake up for two weeks!"

"Then you'll just have to wait two weeks," the navigator winked gently bopping her captain's nose with an index finger.

"But I wanna know now!"

"No,"

"Na-mi!"

"I said no, Luffy,"

"Tell me, please!"

"Shut up already, I said NO!"

BONK!

So that's it guys. The end. Of course there will be an epilogue posted next week, and I promise you'll love it. But as far as the main story goes, it's over.

Please REVIEW!