"Let me borrow your lighter," Shakky said to Sanji. Her voice was so normal that Sanji didn't know whether or not she was even sad about Rayleigh's death. Maybe Shakky and Rayleigh had grown apart since Sanji had last been here, but considering how she'd been the bringer of Rayleigh's bad news, Sanji highly doubted it.

Sanji fished around in his pockets until he found the lighter and handed it to Shakky. The woman took it gratefully with a nod and lit her own cigarette alive. The way she held her own cigarette and lighter suggested that she was no beginner at smoking. Shakky let out a puff of smoke and sighed.

She watched as everyone on the beach let out their bitter tears for the man. Despite being a notorious pirate, he had a spot in everyone's heart here at Sabaody. Usopp lifted his slingshot and let go of the Firestar bomb. It soared past the clouds and touched the boat which held Rayleigh's dead remains. Everything exploded in fire. Women whom Rayleigh had slept with and dated, cried mournfully, clawing at the sand. It was surprising to see the women he'd cheated with over and over again, sobbing at his small funeral. It showed how much Rayleigh had meant to the Archipelago, despite him being a 'Dark King'.

The short ceremony ended with a speech from Shakky, who everyone had insisted give a speech. She didn't like it - Shakky didn't think she was required to, nor qualified to do such a thing. Being an assistant to a ship coater didn't mean she could stand up and explore her feelings towards her boss in front of hundreds of people.

Shakky ended her speech quickly, saying only a few sentences she thought were needed in such a setting, before she walked away in a hurry. Standing in front of people and talking was not one of her strengths.

The Straw Hats gathered again in a circle, meeting each other with faces of dull sorrow. "We need another ship coater," Usopp cleared his throat from the thick oncoming tears. "I don't feel like trying to find another person after Rayleigh just... died."

"We have to. This isn't something we can dwell on right now. We need to move on and find someone else to do this. Jimbei is waiting for us, and so is Luffy," Zoro said firmly to the group. "Rayleigh did a lot for us, he believed in us. So we should move on."

Brook suddenly had a bright idea. He took off his hat with a flourish, "We should go to Shakky-san! She must have at least an idea of how to help us. She was Rayleigh-san's assistant."

"We should."

"But-"

Usopp was ignored as they made a mini journey to the workshop, hoping to find Shakky. And as fate would let them have it, Shakky was smoking in the lounge they had sat in just several years ago. They knocked on the window, getting her attention.

Shakky saw them, but didn't move. So, Sanji kicked the down the door gladly. The pirates filed into the lounge room and took their seats on the couches and chairs. Shakky clicked her tongue disapprovingly. "What are you doing?"

Usopp raised his hand, "I totally respect that you need a second to calm down about his death and all. Let me start off by saying that I did ask them to maybe give you a moment. But they didn't listen."

Shakky raised an eyebrow but didn't respond.

"We want you to help us coat our ship. We're going to Fishman Island," Nami demanded, a little forcefully than she had hoped. Nami hadn't meant to come off as heartless and cold to the woman who'd just seen her boss dead.

Shakky took her cigarette out of her mouth and flicked it with her nails so that the flames died out. "And why would you want to go there? I tried persuading the other pirates not to go. Since you look like you have firm head on your shoulders, and a goal in mind, I'll suggest that you skip out on Fishman Island. What's the point of going anyway? You've already been there." Her voice sounded a lot sharper and harsher than they last heard from her.

"We think Jimbei is there. That's why," Sanji replied curtly.

She sighed, "I can tell you that Jimbei is definitely there. He passed by here seven years ago. I don't think he has left. So you could probably catch him there." There was a reluctance in her voice.

Nami smiled at her in a creepy way, as if she knew all of Shakky's secrets. "What's really going down there, Shakky? You know, don't you?" Nami winked at Shakky, "Tell us."

Shakky flinched and gave in, "I don't know exactly. I haven't been down there myself. But from what I can tell, it's a war zone."

Their ship coating business had purchased a new machine that could help them coat ships at an even faster rate, and at seven hours, the ship was already fully coated with the same bubbly liquid that rose from the ground. Robin still couldn't get used to it as she glared at her high heeled boots, covered in the sticky substance.

Finally, the ship was ready to board. It didn't look as majestic or amazing as their Thousand Sunny, but they would have to make do with it. The crew climbed aboard, giving their appreciation to Shakky, who barely acknowledged it. She gave them a look and then did her best to smile, "I wish you all the best."

Their short reunion came to an end as they waved wildly, thanking her and expressing their sorrow for Rayleigh's death. Then their ship sank into the depths of the ocean.

Nami sat down, cross-legged, and leaned by the wooden mast, grinning from ear to ear. The ship's bubble made the journey seem like they were floating to the island, not so much as sinking. Nami loved the feeling. She liked seeing the fish zoom past, with those huge fearful eyes of theirs. The weird sea life that would come up close to them, as if used to seeing pirate ships on bubbles, but then dashed away in a tornado of bubbles.

Sanji squat down beside her, "What's got you in such a good mood?"

"I remember it all," she replied to him, "It's funny. It was scary back then, but now I love it. I feel as though Luffy's out there. Somewhere in the ocean. Like he was last time." Nami let out a laugh. "I can't believe he actually left the ship back then. I was too scared to even comprehend his actions."

He stretched his legs from beneath him and took a seat. "Yeah," he said. "Luffy's hell of a Pirate King now. Sometimes I feel like it's a dream. Everything he did, it led up to that moment."

"And now we have to save him," Robin's voice popped in. She stands near them, watching the fishes swim past. "It is a little annoying that Luffy went and got himself into a mess, but I owe my life to him. I would never stand by and watch him die."

"I'd be angry at myself if I had to watch him die. Tch," Zoro jumped into the conversation. "But whatever Luffy has gotten himself into this time without telling us, must be important."

"Have you thought about what it could be?" Brook asked, "I keep thinking but I have not found an answer."

A bitter silence settled on their ship. Luffy had been the foundation of the crew, the Straw Hats would be nowhere without him. It was logic: a pirate crew cannot function without its captain's orders. What were they now then? They had fulfilled all their dreams through Luffy.

What would've happened if Luffy had not been there? Would Zoro be trying to scrape a living through bounty-hunting, trying to become the greatest swordsman but never coming face to face with the opponents he needed? Would Sanji still be at Baratie, still avoiding his real family and still labouring and serving people with no clue about what he could've been? Would Nami still be a slave to Arlong, trying to save her village but failing? Would Usopp still be a ambitious liar, hoping to one day go out to sea yet shaming his name with his cowardice? Would Chopper still be persecuted by humans, his medicinal skills going to waste? Would Robin still be trying to find a family, desperately looking for a place to belong? Would Franky still be blaming himself for Tom's death, living for nothing? Would Brook still be in the Florian Triangle, living as undead skeleton with no goal in life? Would Jimbei still be trying to find righteousness for his fishmen, fighting the humans? Would Yamato still be chained to Onigashima with no way out, and no dream fulfilled?

What were they without Luffy?

Chopper stepped closer to wooden hand rails and poked the bubble lining. It didn't break. He blinked. "The fishes saw we are close," he said to the crew, turning to them. "We should go get Jimbei."

ACT TEN
Finish

Alright everyone! Thank you so much for all the comments you've been giving me lately, it is so amazing and it really gives me more motivation to write more. OMG, and you have no idea how hard this chapter hits when you've just finished writing chapter 63. I can't wait to give you all the chapters..!

Oh yes and our butiful Reviewer of the day goes to galariondenise: Thank you so much for supporting since like chapter 7 (I think that's when you gave your first review) and even until now! There are a lot of people who have given a lot of reviews since the start of the fanfiction as well but you're an irreplaceable person and I'm so glad you've chosen to read my fanfiction! Thank you.