Without a Navigator or a specific destination, the crew had no choice but to drift aimlessly and hope to find a hospitable island. Having to rely on only the wind and waves to bring them somewhere was stressful, especially to Giru. He sat in the crows nest, tapping his fingers on the wood in an impatient manner. "Thirteen damn years and you didn't think to get me a book on Navigation?" He asked in an annoyed tone.

"Oh, I'M SORRY, I expected you to, y'know, want to find people to help you. Not like I could think of everything i needed to read." Akuma replied with indignation.

Giru raised an eyebrow, "I've meant to ask. How did you find opportunities to read?"

"The Celestial Dragon's guards. They hate them as much as anyone else, so when I gained their trust and told them I would be attempting something, and they knew their names wouldn't get in the mix, they'd sneak me a few things." Akuma explained. His voice then took on a more spiteful tone, "The dragons don't go into their fucking library, they couldn't read a book to save their goddamn lives."

Giru chuckled, "Heh. That sounds like something I'd say..."

Akuma remained silent. Giru's brow furrowed, "Akuma?" He called.

"... Sorry. I... I need to do something. I'll let you know when I'm back." Akuma replied. This time his voice held regret and distance, very unusual from what was the norm.

"Wait, you can leave-"

Giru's eyes flew wide open as an unpleasant tingle shot throughout his body, starting from his head and travelling down. It lasted only a moment, and Giru winced when it subsided. "... He can just... leave?" Giru asked himself, very confused.

"Well... This is an opportunity to, uh..."

He levitated down to the deck, his hands in his pockets and eyes closed.

'These people are depending on me to lead them. My goal is to kill the Celestial Dragons, but it's deeper than that.'

He landed on the deck and took a deep breath, 'I want to destroy this world that allows such scum to be above reprimand. That would allow a parent to shove a devil fruit down their son's throat and sell him.'

He had been thinking hard on this for the past few days at sea. To a stranger, his 'goal' was suicidal at best, and nothing should be worth instant death. Killing the dragons was an easy enough task in itself, but the repercussions of such a thing would get a person into Impel Down.

The very thought made Giru tremble.

So how did it make his crew feel?

"EVERYONE, ONTO DECK!" Giru yelled, though less in a commanding way. Arata was the first to rush up in a blur, followed by Tyque, who had already been tanning on the deck. Mr. Sin and Ayumi came from the kitchen, and Mist walked out from his room. They stood scattered around the deck, all facing their captain.

Giru took another deep breath and sighed. 'They're your crew...'

He sat on the deck in meditation position, "So... ehem... My goal is killing the celestial dragons. But, put less simply... it's revolution. No matter what, the world government must be overthrown and the dragons must be punished for their atrocities."

Everyone shifted rather uncomfortably. Truly, the end goal was a large one. Something not toyed with lightly.

"So, that's my goal."

He turned his head to Mist, "What's yours?"

Everyone looked surprised at that, except Arata, who smiled wide. Mist looked towards the sky for a moment, then made a long series of hand signs.

Giru shook his head, "Ah, something's up with Akuma right now. I can't-"

Ayumi interuppted, her eyes shining, "His goal is to dismantle the world government, to let countries run autonomously without fear, or the need to tribute."

Mist nodded, leaning back on the mast with one leg up and arms folded.

Giru slowly nodded as well, then turned to Ayumi, "What's yours?"

Ayumi pushed her hair behind her ear and the glow faded from her eyes, "Distribution of the Dragon's wealth to the poor. BEFORE YOU SAY IT, I know that means I was being hypocritical when you first told us your goal. I just... Arata is my only real family. I was willing to let him play pirate with you because I thought he'd get bored or scared of it and we would leave, but for the first time in his life he shouted at me, and about you."

Giru rubbed his chin as he continued to nod slowly. Ayumi was just watching out for her little brother, and would rather live a mediocre life and keep him safe than let him go off on a suicidal pipe dream. He turned to Arata, saying nothing. Arata raised his hands high above his head, holding a wrench and hammer above his head, "I WANNA BUILD A HUGE SHIP THAT HAS A PARTY FOR ALL THE TOP PIRATES!" He exclaimed excitedly. Tyque giggled, and Mist smiled.

Giru wasn't sure what to think about Arata. His mentality wasn't exactly pirate material, huh? He was a kid at heart, and someone like that facing the chance of death...? He could understand Ayumi's worry.

Standing up, Giru replied, "I'd been commanding all of you around with no relationship built up, and for that, I'm sorry. I'll do better. You all have my word. Now, Miss Tyque? What's your goal?"

Alicia leaned into Mr. Sin's chest, looking down at the wooden deck, "I want to find the origin of Devil Fruits. I... ehem. That's all."

Mr. Sin put a hand on her shoulder and caressed it gently.

Signs of reluctance to express something. Mr. Sin knew what it was and sympathized with her. He had a lot to learn about the people he'd be leading.

"Mr. Sin?"

Alicia responded, "He can't talk. His goal is to regain his true body."

Giru had a lot to think about now. But he knew what he had to do first. "You can all return to what you were doing. Arata, I need to talk to you."

Everyone dispersed as Arata walked closer to Giru. 'I know you're worried, but please, don't listen to us, Ayumi.' Giru thought.

Ayumi sighed,smiling as the psychic glow faded from her eyes. 'He knew I was listening. He's good.' She thought.

Giru and Arata sat on the deck cross legged, 3 feet away from each other. Arata swayed from side to side as if he were a metronome, patting his thighs in rhythm.

"Arata... Ayumi is worried about you. I am too. You seem like a good kid, and you-"

Arata put a hand up to stop him. With an expression more serious than Giru figured he was capable of, Arata said, "I'll tell you what I told her. I'm not a child that needs protection. I'm a kid at heart because I believe there is always a reason to smile or laugh, no matter how bad things are. You know I can handle myself in a fight. Don't pity me, because there's no reason to."

Giru listened intently, and stood up when he was finished. Offering a hand to him, he pulled him up with a firm grip. When both men stood again, Giru looked down into his eyes. He smirked, "I dunno what the hell I was worried for."

They shook hands and Arata went on about his business.