Disclaimer- I don't own any of this 'cept for Reia. And for the layout of the Going merry, I consulted again the very thorough and accurate OP site I have found. If you want the address, just e-mail me. ;o)

---Chapter Nine---

Reia opened her eyes and saw a ceiling. And it wasn't hers. She tried to swallow and her mouth tasted like warai. Sunshine shone in from the stairs. Stairs?!

She bolted upright and regretted it instantly. She moaned in pain and sank back into the pillows. She wanted to get to the sun, to the warmth.

Standing up slowly, she hobbled to the stairs and ascended them at a painfully slow rate. She made it to the storage deck, opened the door, and her knees gave way to the warm wood. She smiled happily, curled up, and fell asleep.

---------------------------------------------------

"Two days, and she's still not awake," Nami grumbled. She glanced around. Sanji was busy cooking lunch, and Usopp was telling the amazed Chopper more tell-tale stories. Luffy sat on the bow, and Zoro was busy working out on the roof.

And what about Reia?

"Zoro, could you please check on Reia?" Nami called out to him. Zoro groaned.

"Why should I if you're closer?" he called back. Nami pretended to ponder.

"Weeeellll, about the debt you owe me…" Nami started. She didn't even get to finish as Zoro grumbled something about "hell" and rose. She smiled evilly and turned back to her maps.

Zoro carried his weights down the stairs from the roof and walked towards the women's quarters.

"Two-thousand-seven-hundred and forty-two, two---!!" Zoro gaped at the sight of Reia curled like a cat in the sun on the deck.

"Is she all right?" Nami asked from the other side of the deck. Zoro glanced around.

"Yeah, yeah, she's fine," he said quickly. He squatted down by Reia and nudged her.

"Hey, wake up. Are you all right?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. He nudged her harder. She didn't budge. He sighed and put down his weights, then reached an arm out to lift her and carry her downstairs. His hands passed right through her.

"Uh...," he muttered. Reia suddenly rolled over to face him and opened one icy blue eye.

"I can get up myself, thanks," she said dryly. She rose unsteadily, walked out to the main deck, and then she held the rail for support. Zoro was right behind her.

"See?" she asked him. She suddenly gasped and tipped over the rail off the ship.

"Shit!" he exclaimed and tried to catch her. His hands caught air and she slipped off. He looked at the sea in shock. Suddenly hethen felt a tug on his earring. He grabbed the air and felt smooth skin. Then he turned around and saw Reia smiling.

"I guess you don't see," she said with a wide grin. Zoro scowled and felt a pat on his back. He turned around, and saw no one there. He growled and spun around to see Reia walking up the steps and waving to him.

Zorospotted Nami, along with Usopp, who were also looking at him. And it looked like they had trouble breathing. He raised his hands up.

"What?!" he asked them angrily. Nami and Usopp burst out laughing, and Zoro sighed and picked up his weights, starting again. Luffy bolted up and ran in the lounge. Usopp rushed in after he recovered from laughing with Chopper following quickly.

Three seconds later, Luffy burst out with his arms in the air.

"Reia's all right! YAHOO!!" he shouted joyfully. He linked arms with the Chopper and Usopp, who were emerging from the doors. They began to dance and sing.

"Reia's all right! Reia's all right! Reia's all right!" they chanted.

Reia walked out and saw them dancing. She blinked and then started to turn around when Luffy grabbed her arm and pulled her into the dance.

"Hey!" she squeaked. They danced even more vigorously. Then they swung around, and Reia lost her balance.

"Whoa!" Luffy yelped and they all fell over the rail to the deck. They landed with a "wumph" and lay sprawled on the deck. Chopper stood up slowly amid the groaning Usopp, Luffy, and Reia.

"Luffy, Reia just woke up, be careful!!" he scolded. Nami smirked and Zoro grinned. Luffy sat up giggling and shrugged.

"That was fun! Let's do it again! Reia's all r----!" Chopper whacked Luffy on the head and Luffy fell to the ground. Usopp laughed and Reia smiled in relief. She stood up shakily, rubbing her bottom.

Sanji stepped out of the lounge and suddenly jumped when he caught sight of Reia.

"She's awake?" he said in surprise, and then ran back in. He ran out.

"Lunch's ready," he announced grandly. Nami walked up the stairs and Zoro put down his weights. He went to retrieve his katanas. Chopper and Usopp rushed inside. Luffy raced past Reia, and then backtracked.

"Oi, Reia!" Luffy called out to Reia. She turned around, her lean body framed by dark hair.

"Yeah?"

"Do youwanna join my crew?"

Reia sucked in her breath. She was gone from Chinshima, there was no going back now. And she definitely would be a loner by herself…But these people, these pirates, they accepted her. They didn't suspect her to pickpocket them…. or disappear into thin air when they needed her. She had no where else to go….She looked back at Luffy.

"Sure." Luffy had already raced into the lounge with his arms in the air before she had even finished. She smiled and a tear glinted as it fell to the deck. A hand caught it.

Zoro walked up the stairs. He stopped and looked down at the drop in his hand, and then paused next to Reia. He patted her back slowly, and then stuck his hands in his pockets. He sighed.

"You're in for a helluva ride," he said, starting to grin as he heard a crash in the lounge accompanied with yells. Another tear fell, which was caught again. He smiled to her supportively.

"Hey, stop crying. I can't catch your tears all the time, can I?"

Reia turned to look at him. He suddenly blanked as he realized what he had just said, then started to blush slightly. He coughed, climbed the rest of the way, and opened the door. Reia turned to look at the sea, pondering her decision. She grinned.

"Finally... A place where I belong…" she whispered quietly. The knowledge suddenly gave her a feeling she didn't recognize. She finally heard the door close, and went up the steps, took a deep breath, and went inside. Luffy stood up.

"REIA!!" he shouted, and everyone starting smiling, laughing, shouting, or doing all. Even Usopp managed to, whose nose was in Zoro's hand.

"You'll love it here," Nami said to Reia as the crew surrounded Reia. Reia started to flush with embarrassment.

"Two beautiful girls on the ship!!! I'm soo lucky!" Sanji said in a shocked voice. Chopper raised his two hooves.

"Hey everyone, stop crowding her! She's still a little weak," Chopper warned them. They sat down, and Reia sat next to Nami, across from Zoro.

"So, what can you do, exactly?" Usopp asked Reia as he massaged his nose.

"WEeell, I can---"

"Disappear," Nami cut in.

"Fall," add Luffy with a mouthful of meat. Other crewmembers started naming more.

"Get stabbed and survive."

"Play tricks."

"Move things without moving."

"Float."

"Talk in a funny voice."

"Steal."

"Play pipes," Zoro ended with a wicked grin.

"Steal?" Reia asked in a baffled tone. Nami narrowed her eyes.

"Of course. I'm gonna teach you," she said menacingly. Zoro groaned and held his head in his hands. Suddenly, all their heads turned to a small sound. They found Luffy muttering the list as he stuffed his mouth.

"…Play poipes… (chomp)…dishappear…(munch)..talk funny…" He suddenly swallowed and stood up.

"I've got a musical ghost!!!" Luffy crowed proudly.

"Wahoo!" he whooped. Usopp's jaw dropped. He turned to Reia.

"Y-you're a g-ghost?" he asked shakily. Reia raised her hands above her head and a small "pop" was heard. She only transformed halfway, and an invisible wind moved through the room. Her hair floated up and fanned from her face, which was translucent, along with the rest of her body. Everyone gasped involuntarily

"I ammmm the ghoooost of the Goooiing Merrrrry!" she moaned in an echoing and ethereal voice. It was meant to be a joke, but the looks on the crew's faces told otherwise.

Sanji gazed at her frame raptly, and Nami grabbed the table. Chopper's eyes were opened wide. Zoro had instinctively grabbed his katanas, and then let them go. Usopp hid behind Zoro instantly.

"OH GOD!" The room started to look a bit less cozy….

…Reia winked at them all and went "whiff". Her hair fell and she ran a hand through it.

"WOW!" Luffy shouted.

"Going Merry's ghost is so frightening!!" The tension shattered and Nami whacked Luffy on the head,

"That's Reia, you dummy, not a ghost," she rebuked. Chopper wiped his brow.

"Phew!" he exclaimed in relief.

"I thought we had a real ghost!" The others stared at Chopper. Sanji sighed.

"The ghost was so beautiful."

"Heh, I thought you were onefor a split second," Zoro admitted. Reia smiled sheepishly at the crew. She clasped her hands.

"Sorry, uh, I didn't mean to spook you guys out so much," she said worriedly.

"Ha ha ha! Spooked!!" Luffy laughed loudly. Nami and the others turned to stare at him.

"Wow…he actually got that," Nami murmured. Luffy put his arm around Reia's shoulder.

"Let's drink to Reia!" Everyone raised their mugs and downed their drink. Reia smiled, and Luffy started to laugh loudly.

Everyone grinned and went outside to lounge fora bit. Luffy, Usopp, Chopper, and Sanji danced around and drank some more, all to Reia, of course.

The person they cheered for leaned back on the rail and sighed with gladness. Nami walked over next to her and also watched the others' antics. Zoro seemed to notice Reia's position on the rail and looked away, scowling.

"So you're going to teach me how to steal?" Reia asked Nami coolly. Nami nodded and her eyes shone. Reia continued.

"No offense, but I think I should learn how to defend myself. Without using my powers... Maybe something offensive as well, you know?" Reia turned to look at Nami, who was already walking halfway across the deck to the storage deck. Reia rushed after her and they entered the storage deck and down the stairs.