The people's stares bore into Zoro's back uncomfortably. He shifted, and then stretched his arms. The plan was to be inconspicuous, but it didn't seem like it was working out at all. Especially with Franky and Brook sitting with them. Robin sighed and chuckled, shaking her head. "Don't worry, Zoro. It won't work." He'd purposely sat with his back to the people, but the problem was his crewmates.

Everyone, except for Nami and Sanji who had gone shopping, had decided to go to a restaurant to wait. With the lack of food on the ship, they couldn't relax and eat on the ship. So they had gone to the nearest food place with doors big enough for both Franky and Brook to duck under.

Zoro scowled, "They're making me self-conscious."

"I'm just worried they will report us to the Marines," Usopp gulped. "This place is heavily guarded with Marines because of the Tenryubito. I don't want to get captured before I see Luffy."

"What, you don't believe in the strength of your nakama?" Robin poked Usopp's arm. If there was anything that she had learnt on the Straw Hat's ship, it would be to trust in her crew. She did what she could, and left the rest for her friends. Robin's eyes wandered to the menu on the table which the cafe owner had hastily put on their table. "Have you guys ordered anything to eat?"

"I cannot eat," Franky stated. "Unless there is cola?"

Robin found cola on the menu and scribbled it down on the list in front of her. "Next?" The rest of them put in their orders as Robin quickly scrawled them on the paper and called for the waitress to take their order. The waitress look hesitant, but snatched the order list from them anyway when Robin assured her that they would pay.

Usopp raised an eyebrow, "Pay? I didn't bring money with me. I doubt they did as well."

Robin grinned and opened her empty purse, "I lied."

Suddenly, a pair joined their table, huffing and panting with three bags of things in all of their hands. Nami grinned at them and slid into a chair, dropping the bags that strained her shoulders. "We have everything we need for our trip to Fishman Island now! I even got souvenirs and gifts!" she smiled happily.

Sanji looked slightly tired out, but the sight of Nami being so happy brightened him up. She was always happiest when money was involved. Yet, even though she never mentioned it, Sanji knew that Nami was the type to give up money for her friends. That's how much the Straw Hats meant to her.

"Yoho! We should get our bubble coating for our ship now!" Brook pointed out, "Isn't that how we go down to Fishman Island?"

Zoro nodded, "Let's go now."

Usopp shook his head, "Nope! Not until after I eat." So they stayed. The food came much later, served freshly cooked from the stove. The waitress quickly left it on the table and scurried away, trying to hide her face from the group of pirates. Zoro looked at her and wondered why she was indeed so afraid of them. It wasn't like they had done anything, yet. Most of the time they didn't purposely hurt people. Unless Luffy got angry.

They dug into their food, gulping in spoonfuls of rice and and stew before they were finally full. Their plates were empty, free from even the slightest crumb. Food had been scarce the last few days, with Sanji's apology. With a final wave to the shaking restaurant owner, who seemed to have forgotten about the bills, they rushed out of the restaurant headed back for their ship.

It was a short trip to the beach where they had first gotten their ship coated by Rayleigh. Though it was a long time ago, the memory was clear, even for Franky and Nami. When they arrived, the beach was empty. There were no birds, no crabs, no people, just sand. The waves washed up gently ashore and the weeds that gathered at the inland end of the beach, grew wildly.

They climbed down the ship, reminiscing. Nami, walked backwards, facing the sea and the beach so that she could see the whole beach. She didn't remember being at this place, but the desolation of the beach hit hard. "It's not supposed to be like this, right?" she asked.

Sanji shook his head, "I thought Rayleigh-san would have dozens of ships lining up against the beach for coating. Okay, maybe not dozens. At the very least, one." He lit up a cigarette and puffed out smoke. "Or is he out of business?"

"I mean," Usopp rubbed his fuzzy chin, "We could just get another ship coater. Rayleigh was our first priority but there must be a lot more ship coaters around here. I mean, who's to say that Rayleigh is even here anymore?"

Brook nodded, "Good point, but we should look for him."

They went out together, not in groups like they would have usually done. Robin had managed to scavenge the location of Rayleigh's house from her brain and was now leading the group to where she thought the house was. Sure enough, the same, small, old house stood a little away from a few palm trees. But that was not all.

A crowd of people gathered around the door of his house, and mixed with them was a pirate crew. They shouted and screamed at the ordinary men, kicking and punching them out of the way. It looked like the pirates had business with Rayleigh too, but were hurting innocent men while they were at it.

Zoro pushed out his sword from its sheath, Sanji lit up his cigarette and Usopp took out his sling shot from behind. They wore the same furious scowl. "Hissatsu: Special Star!" Usopp yelled, aiming his slingshot at the crowd. It blew up in the middle, burning the guys around them. The pirates stopped for a while, stunned.

Zoro and Sanji ran forward. Zoro slashed out his sword and ran past the crowd, executing swift cuts at everyone. They fell to the ground, blood pooling at their chests. Sanji's leg lit in flames and he roared, spinning with a swift kick. The men and pirates around him flew at the impact.

"There," Zoro put his sword backs. "The path is cleared."

Shakky knocked on the bedroom door, "Oi. Boss. There are some people outside." No one answered.

Her fingers fumbled for the bedroom door handle before she rotated her wrist and opened the door quietly. She'd been in Rayleigh's room before, but not often. Although he had given Shakky the key to his house for emergencies, she had never needed to use it. Shakky didn't bother going to his house when they hung out at the workshop most days anyway.

As she entered the room, Shakky noticed the smell. It was stale. The peaceful atmosphere she remembered from the room smelt dead. The room was still neat and tidy, just like she remembered. Her legs moved softly to his bed. The place was quiet, and she found herself hesitating to intrude the dead silence.

Rayleigh laid on his bed, peaceful. The bed didn't creak like it always did for Shakky, when she was sleeping. It was completely still. Shakky could see no movement, yet the calm smile on his face conflicted her inner panic. It felt like time was frozen in this place, and it scared her.

Slowly, her finger moved to Rayleigh's neck, feeling for a pulse. Her heart dropped a beat.

There was nothing. The side of Rayleigh's neck held no pulse or steady beat. Instead, it was silent. The old flesh sagged, like there was no life left in this body. Shakky pulled her hand away, staring with wide opened eyes. She didn't want to cry, Shakky was not an emotional person, but sometimes moments like this felt like it deserved a tear or two.

"He's dead," Shakky addressed the crowd.

There were pirates, and normal stall owners, but they were all shocked. Some laid on the ground, bruised and bloodied by the Zoro, Sanji and Usopp. The Straw Hats stood triumphantly over them, with obvious plans of intruding the house to find Rayleigh. Now, their plans had to change.

Robin's eyes grew wide and her pupils dilated, "Shakky. Are you sure?" she whispered, almost unable to get words out from her trembling voice. Robin couldn't find the tears she needed. Because as a pirate, she'd grown to used to death. "Did you check?"

"I've checked," her voice cut the air. "Everyone should turn back."

Usopp's most feared outcome had come true. Rayleigh had been good to them, and Sanji had even brought something for him on behalf of the rest of the crew. Rayleigh had been old, but because of his strong appearance and will, no one had ever thought he would die so early. They were wrong.