Nihongonofuriku- (sorry I updated before I got your review so I didn't respond. so nothing personal XD) I really did try to make last chapter less of a cliffhanger but I think it's just some creepy natural writing habit. How the heck do you finish a chapter with it not being a cliffhanger? O_o... I'm ok... I'll try to do better so I don't kill anyone (just not with this chapter... It's got a super depressing cliffhanger as well) THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEW! It really means a lot!

- Luffy-

He couldn't feel anything, not even the beat of his own heart. He wondered if this was how it felt to be dead, just… nothingness. But no… something in his consciousness was sending alarm bells ringing in his head. Something was telling him that he was still alive but that something was terribly wrong.

Then he felt the expansion of his lungs, but there was no conscious action of taking in air on his part. At first he didn't mind, enjoying his own laziness but still fighting the desire to just stop thinking all together. The more he thought about what was happening however, the more his mind started to realize how unnatural his experience actually was. His lungs were being pumped full of air but he wasn't in control.

Panic started to seep into his conscience as he recalled the last experience he'd had with his lungs being pumped.

No… Nonononono. This can't be happening. My crew came back. My crew got me out of here. This was never supposed to happen again.

Immediately he began to focus, trying to fight against whatever was keeping him from moving, but he couldn't even feel what was restraining him. In fact, he couldn't even try to fight back because, as far as he could tell, his body was non-existent aside from his moving lungs.

Then he had eyes. He didn't know where they'd come from but he had them. He needed to get them open so that he could find his captor and get them to leave him alone. He didn't know how exactly he was going to do so, but he hoped that seeing them would assist him in resisting.

With all of the willpower he could muster, he focused solely on his eyes, relieved when the blackness was broken by a thin line of color where his eyelids slowly separated. Yet when he finally managed to open his eyes, his mind couldn't figure out what any of the shapes before him where or what they meant. Glancing around frantically, he felt his lungs fill with air again and remembered the panic from earlier. He wasn't in control. They had drugged him and were going to force him to breathe in that Pindum stuff again. He had to do something, yet he couldn't find anything to focus his gaze on with everything blurring into dark tans and yellows, like a fire was lit somewhere.

But why would they have a fire in here?

It didn't matter, he had to make them stop before the burning gas was forced into him. Not knowing how he was to do it, he struggled to speak.

"Stop…"

There, he had done it! He didn't know how but he knew he had at least mouthed it. But darn it there they went again, pumping his lungs. Apparently they wouldn't take orders from him. Desperately he tried another method.

"Please…"

Suddenly, the pumping stopped and once again he felt nothing. At first he was pleasantly surprised that his tormentor had actually obliged to his wishes, but then something else replaced the panic of being tested on, and that was the fact that he couldn't breathe.

What the figgin heck?

He heard a muffled voice that seemed far away, but in some odd way it sounded loud. He couldn't figure out what was going on other than that he was suffocating. Suddenly, the fear of having his lungs pumped full of burning gas was overcome by the desperate need to breath.

Ok, ok, forget what I said. You can breathe for me again. You can breathe for me again. You can breathe for me again!

He heard a funny noise, like a dying animal, wondering where it came from.

The light was darkened by blurry figures. They frightened him but not nearly as much his inability to draw his own breath.

Then even his vision betrayed him, going black just as he felt his lungs expand again.

- Usopp -

His mind had gone numb when he returned to Luffy's side to continue his turn of CPR. He was so tired, physically as well as emotionally, yet he kept on.

Twenty-five minutes later he had gone to the usual chest compression, still with no response from his captain, when he heard a faint voice.

"Please…"

He looked down and his heart tried to leap out of his throat at the sight of the fire-light reflecting off of Luffy's glistening dark eyes.

Then, after a second of wondering if he'd imagined the whole thing, reality hit him like a monster adrenaline rush. He wasn't seeing things, the glazed eyes of his supposedly dead captain were open. His heart began to race and he leaned over, trying to catch the dark-haired boy's gaze.

"Luffy? Luffy! Can you hear me?... HEY GUYS! LUFFY'S ALI- er-AWAKE! GET OVER HERE QUICK!"

He never turned his gaze from his friend, feeling that if he looked away the dream would be lost and he would once again be looking upon the face of his dead captain. However, the sight was anything but comforting. Luffy's eyes were completely unfocused, dancing around in a dazed confusion. Then there was something Usopp had missed; a slight creasing of the eyebrows and then the horrifying noise that came out of his captain's throat.

No, that couldn't have been Luffy's voice. Not that… that… whimper.

It was then that he acknowledged that the creasing of the eyebrows indicated that the boy was either in pain or afraid; possibly both.

But what was the problem?

As the others rushed to his side (some faster than others) he figured out what was wrong. Luffy wasn't breathing.

How can he be friggin conscious and not be able to breathe on his own?

He watched in horror as the eye's of his captain rolled back into his head; the only indicator that their friend was still with them.

Immediately he resumed CPR, his fear for Luffy only tickling the relief that the last few seconds had given him. Luffy was alive, no matter how his body appeared or functioned.

Then everything else snapped to his attention. Nami had been carried over by Chopper and Robin had helped Sanji over as well. They all were crammed in a huddle around him and their captain, looking down with anticipation. He noticed that most of the marines had also come, but kept the same respectable distance as they had before. He was beginning to like them more and more.

"Hellooo?" Sanji said, apparently following a question he had missed.

"Huh?"

"You said Luffy's alive! So why the heck are you still breathing for him!"

"He, uh, I thought he would be able to, but when I stopped he couldn't breathe so-" he paused to continue CPR "- I had to keep going."

"How'd you know he was alive then?"

"He opened his eyes" Usopp replied, not bothering to conceal any of the overwhelming relief the sight had given him.

Everyone looked at him with expressions that matched his tone of voice.

"I saw it" Robin said "I sent an eye over here and I saw it to. He woke up, if just for a few seconds. He's fighting to get back to us, I know it."

"But why can't he breathe? Is the seastone still keeping him from doing something as simple as that?" Nami was the one who spoke this time.

Suddenly Alvida appeared beside them, having given them time to get back to their captain but feeling that she needed to explain the options to them. She hadn't seen anything like this in her time at the lab, but she had a few educated guesses regarding what was happening to the young pirate.

"I said earlier that the seastone should have left his system several hours ago and I meant it. The fact that he's struggling to function in the simplest manner must be a result of too much of it entering his bloodstream. I know he had some open wounds when he fell into the volcano, and he possibly even digested a bit when he swallowed the prism. If it hasn't left his system by now… there's a chance that its effects are permanent…"

"What!" Sanji shouted, hardly comprehending what he had just heard.

"But his eyes opened! He had control over them!" Chopper added, clearly flustered by the concept.

"Yes he did, that's why I think there's a chance to get his body functioning again… at least on the basic level."

"Basic level?" Sanji's tone was growing darker and darker with each response.

"Listen, I'm just trying to help-"

"You're trying to make up for the crap you've put us through these last few days! You think telling me that my captain's a got a friggin disability will help me forgive you? You may be a woman but you've screwed things up enough to make our lives a living hell!"

Suddenly Orrin was up and between Alvida and Sanji, poised defensively but not threateningly.

"Don't worry man, I wouldn't hurt a woman anyway, but that doesn't mean I can't kick your butt."

"Sanji!"

It was Nami who called him out this time.

"You're acting on your emotions right now. We'll deal with Alvida when Luffy wakes up. We should leave it up to him to decide what we do with her. Right now, she's our best chance at getting him back to us so let's just settle down and look at our options. Alvida, what are you suggesting we do?"

Alvida bit her lip, a part of her wanting to be yelled at. She deserved so much worse than what she was getting; the Straw Hat crew had been more than merciful. In fact, Luffy's sacrifice had saved her and Orrin's life as well.

"As much as I hate to say it" she began "we need to get back into the base. We had a rapid-healing medication that we used during the testing to move the process along and I'm hoping it can give Luffy's body the kick it needs to start functioning again-"

"I saw what that rapid-healing crap did to Luffy last time you used it" Canaan growled as he walked into the circle. "He was in so much pain he was delusional!" (chapter 25)

There was a tension between everyone for a few seconds; the anger from the pirates could almost be physically felt.

"I'm doubting that will be a problem this time" Alvida continued "… because… well… because there's a chance that the seastone has shot his nervous system…" she was looking more and more uncomfortable as she spoke. "The fact that his natural gag reflexes didn't kick in when the seastone was removed is a strong indicator that his reaction to pain or discomfort isn't functioning like it should…"

"What are you saying?" Usopp interrupted, having switched off with Sanji who had decided that distracting himself with CPR would keep him from blowing up at everyone.

"Are you saying that… Luffy's body doesn't feel anything? But… but he looked like he was in pain when I stopped breathing for him."

"He was suffocating. It was probably not physical pain but rather the realization that he wasn't able to breathe. Tell me Usopp, did he move any to stop that pain?"

"SHUT UP!" Nami yelled, losing the calm demeanor she had used on her blond crewmate earlier. "How can you even suggest such a thing! And now when we finally got Luffy back?"

"I'm not suggesting this because I like it! I'm just sorting through the options based on what I've seen! We only have little while to get what we need to jump-start Luffy's body so it can breathe on its own and I don't want to sugar-coat anything… Listen, we did horrible things in that prison. We pumped your captain so full of Pindum and seastone that I can hardly believe he survived these last few days. I saw how he was reacting to it while you guys were escaping. It wasn't weakening him, it was physically harming him. The seastone was permanently infiltrating his system. At the time I hoped that some fresh air and time would allow him to continue on as normal, but jumping into a volcano of the stuff… well, I can't pretend to be optimistic. You guys deserve some vengeance and I wouldn't blame you guys if you wanted to kill me, but… could you hold off until I help you get your captain back?"

"Ok ok ok" Canaan sighed, putting his hand to his head "so what's your plan? We dig back into the base, get this healing medication, pump Luffy full of it, then the seastone will leave and these pirates can be on their merry way?"

"Yeah… that's the best-case scenario."

There was a united sigh of relief across the small cluster of people.

"But… if I were to be honest, that's not the most likely scenario."

The tension returned.

"The recovery medication should have enough punch in it to get Luffy's lungs and heart working again. Anything that would come naturally should work like food digestion and bladder… probably talking as well."

"Yeah, he said something when he woke up!" Usopp pointed out enthusiastically.

"Cut the crap" Sanji growled during a pause of his CPR, "what's your point?"

"… It's very likely that, due to the time that the seastone has been in Luffy's body and its influence on his nervous system… he probably won't have feeling from the neck down…"

"You've gotta be kidding me" Nami said, a frown in her voice and on her face "you can't be saying that-"

"If we are able to revive your captain, he will most likely be paralyzed for life."

TBC…

Ohhh, now isn't that peachy. I'm sure you guys are loving me right now. *I hope this doesn't lose me some readers*

Also, I never claimed to really know anything about anatomy or how the human body works, so if there's something that doesn't make sense in the medical world… let's just say that the fact that it's seastone changes everything. There, another rescuing device for Tiffany (tadah! Now you know my name).

Once again, I do have illustrations for this fic on deviantart . com - I'm Zinfer

XFangHeartX- you're welcome ^_^ thoughhh, i doubt ur as appreciative anymore... _ thanks for reviewing anyhow!

WezL- thank you so much :) YAY! I got a squee! Those mean a lot so thanks again. I hope you continue to enjoy the last few chapters

person i didn't get a name from- I'm glad you're enjoying it ^_^ I like Zoro and Luffy friendship, so, not to spoil anything but be patient :) thanks for reviewing mystery reader!

avatoa- hehehehehee, thanks for always reviewing, even though sometimes I wonder if you actually like the fic XD I hope it pleases you!

The Strike Freedom- why thank you :) I'm trying to improve my writing and all these updates might be helping (practice makes perfect and all) please don't forget meee T_T I'm almost done!

HeroR- yup, ya figured me out ^_^ Let's just say that if there was a breathing machine at the base, it was destroyed in the volcano, cause remember they had to make a quick getaway so not a lot of time to be grabbing breathing machines and such. good point though. I do intend to be finishing very soon! thanks

EALM528- YAY! Thank you so much! ^_^ I think everyone begging me not to kill Luffy made me want to update really quick. In fact, I had intended not to give any indication of his survival when I planned the chapters out, but I decided you guys deserved some answers. Ahh, movie 6, had some friggin awesome animation (except at the beginning where they made Luffy super weak looking) and some good angst (but when i first watched it it freaked the heck out of me. So dark for OP. Though I think I've developed a liking for it). I love the Drum Island arch! I didn't know about the Sanji poster prediction O_O impressive. lol! I thought it would be less of a cliffhanger if I mentioned his awakening but perhaps that was not the case XD Once again, thank you so much! Your reviews have had such a big influence on the rapid updating spree I've been on. It's really the reviews and encouragement that get me really pumped to keep going. (wow... super long response)

Icecreambeans- YAY! I'm glad my little fic brings you enjoyment :) heh, I really thought that I had done a good job at lessening the cliffhangerness of the end but it seems I was mistaken XD and thank you so much for reviewing

Recorrdatio001- well, maybe not so much breathing _ lol! It my job to look out for the innocent pieces of paper in the world. Other fandom? I'm curious, what is this other fandom? (if it matters, I'm on a Samurai Champloo hype right now so I won't judge you) Thank you for sticking with me T_T it means a lot!

caring16- HEHE ^_^ I am so happy you're enjoying the tale! I'll try to keep up this updating spree to the end (mainly thanks to awesome reviewers who keep me going)

Tare-chan- I am cruel... very cruel, but hey, Luffy's a live ^_^' i hope you stick with me through the last few angst-filled chapters. You've been a great encouragement over these last few weeks. Thank you.

darkness34- I love me some lovey-dovey SH bonding time. Much more to come actually. Yup, Luffy is a miracle worker ^_^ though... this might be a little less of a miracle than usual. Still, I hope you enjoy the final wave of chapters to the end.

mto92- Seriously, you guys are getting me pumped about the story so I just keep writing XD I don't think I've ever updated this quickly since I started so thanks for the motivation :)

Neko11- oh dear, your computer sounds like it's got an attitude problem XD that's rough. Thank you so much for keeping up with the fic and I do hope you enjoy the rest of it

Kitty-bandit- YAY! Kitty-bandit came back and reviewed despite her busy life! XD I was so happy to see you're message! made my evening ^_^ and yay for you believing my killing of Luffy! I almost didn't add those last three words but I thought it was about time I put something positive in (Don't want to get everyone so depressed they don't wanna keep reading). I love working with the loyalty and love of the crew (I think that's a main reason to write fanfictions because the manga clearly shows this but it doesn't have time to really emphasize it all of the time) You were smart to suspect fowl play on my part however :) got everyone's hopes up just to throw another wrench into the StrawHat's lives *mwahahahahjaajaa* lol! you made a bet with your brother! That makes me really really happy for some reason XD tell him I said hello and sorry for the deception. ahhhh, I remember the hilarious scene when he pulled the octopus out of his pants. I wish I could get the humor of the show into this fic XO it's one of the major strengths of One Piece... though, with all this angst it's hard to fit it in. and lol about the punk who removed his fic despite the reviews XD I think if I were to quit writing a fic I'd just leave it up XD (I dunno if you noticed "Scream Your Heart Out" fic in my queue... I actually had a plan for that but just... yeah -_-' anyhowsss! Thank you soooo much for sticking with me! and yes, All Hail Pirate King Luffy ^_^

THANK YOU ALLLLLL FOR READING AND SUPPORTING ME!