The startled silence left behind at Dextra's confession was thicker than mud, covering them all and causing their thoughts to slow, focused only on her words. Chopper was looking at the ground and sniffling, Robin's expression was grave as she just kept her hand comfortingly on Dextra's back. They knew what had happened. They knew there was nothing to be done about it now.

"W-What?" Book was first to break through the silence, voice shaking with shock.

"I tried to give him the cure, but he turned into a Heartless." Chopper explained hoping Dextra wouldn't have to, and that if they knew why she did it she wouldn't get in any trouble. If anything the reindeer boy blamed himself for not waiting until the queen Heartless was killed. "She was protecting Thursday when he went after her. I-It's not her fault, I didn't make sure it was okay!"

Law didn't say anything, just looked to be in a state of shock. Heinrich… got turned into a Heartless? Because they hadn't killed the Heartless fast enough? Not saying anything, he rushed past them and into the submarine. No one stopped him, looking downcast. Toshiro could only close his eyes and mentally cursed. If only he hadn't let himself get handicapped in the fight, it would have gone down a lot quicker. It had outsmarted them, and even with their victory, they still lost. Yes, it was good the Heartless never got anyone else inside the small confines of the ship, but letting it appear in the first place was entirely their own fault for not killing the boss faster.

The silence continued once again except for Dextra's sniffles, her twin and the younger boy Daniel coming over to hug her as Robin stood by in a protective, motherly stance. Bepo's head fell in silence. Other than their archeologist, the Straw Hats kept aside to give the Heart Pirates some space.

"Well shit, this sucks." Sanji kicked at the ground as he cursed, knocking a small stone way out into the water where they couldn't even see it touch back down. "We should at least get started on getting that cure out, if there's anyone left."

"Right, you guys should definitely get it first." Chopper pulled his mind away from the submarine to focus on his job, turning to his crew mates. "You guys were fighting the Heartless, you need it now."

"Nah, the Reaper kid took care of that, we all already got some of the cure." Zoro countered with a wave of his hand, motioning for the reindeer to get to the rest of the Straw Hats first.

"What, how?" The tiny doctor looked confused.

"Oh yeah, it was real cool, Torao only had this one little bottle of it, but then Shiro turned it into snow and it covered all of us." Luffy excitedly retold what had happened back in the fight. "All the black stuff went away and then we could kill the Heartless. Or, well, his dragon kinda did that before we could."

Hyorinmaru just gave a snort in response as the rubber man laughed, casual as could be.

"Turned it to snow? Is that what those greenish clouds from before were?" Nami questioned, remembering the odd formation she had seen over where the boys had been fighting.

"Yes." Toshiro was the one who answered this time, regrettably making use of his new, hollow state to pull himself away from the grief of not being able to save one of the orphans and focus on the problem still at hand. After all, he couldn't let anymore share that fate if he could help it, the Heartless would no longer have a place here. "I can do it again, it would be faster than trying to find everyone in this town, especially with that amount."

"If you can really do that, the help is appreciated!" Chopper rushed over and handed over the large bottle into the Nobody's outstretched hand.

"Also, you." Toshiro pointed at Luffy who tilted his head in confusion. "Don't call me Shiro. Ever."

"But your hair is mostly white, it fits." Luffy just grinned and shrugged nonchalantly.

"Sorry kid, once he picks a nickname it sticks." Sanji gave a more sympathetic shrug to prove there wasn't much to be done about it now.

"Only one person is allowed to call me by that nickname." The Nobody responded, making the cook look back at him curiously. "And honestly… I don't know if she'll ever get to again. So I don't care about his habits, he's not allowed to call me that. In my home nicknames are for very close friends, you haven't earned that right."

"Ohhh." To the surprise of his crew, Luffy seemed to understand. The rubber man had picked up on something in the Nobody's expression as he was explaining all this to them, something he could relate to. That name was attached to someone close to their new friend. "How about Ryuu?"

Toshiro glanced at Hyorinmaru then back at Luffy with an annoyed expression.

"No." He said firmly. While the other was at least agreeing to stop using the more special nickname, one that sent a knife in his heart, nonexistent as it currently was, every time he heard it, his beliefs still stood that nicknames weren't allowed for someone you barely knew.

"Snowman?"

"Definitely not."

"Oh! How about-"

"No nicknames!"

"Luffy can we worry about this later and let him focus on getting the cure out!" Nami finally got fed up with the sudden squabble and smacked her Captain roughly upside the head. No one seemed at all surprised at the action, though Toshiro did, his brief annoyance over the nicknames lifting. Silly as he was, he was still Captain, yet it seemed like his crew ran the show and just had a hard to control child in charge. Not to mention they hit him, he couldn't imagine anyone doing that among the Heart Pirates. Even the sillier Captains of his fellow Soul Reapers back home would never have a hand landed on them by their subordinates. Well, except maybe one, but it was his Lieutenant that did it, and he had a fatherly soft spot for her anyway.

"Go on, Toshiro, everyone is probably super scared still, let's help them feel better." Chopper was looking up at the Nobody with big eyes of anticipation as if waiting for a magician to show his new magic trick.

Though not quite comfortable in the spotlight as everyone looked at him again, Toshiro kept his head high and summoned the Keyblade Frozen Heavens to hand, ignoring the odd comments from the Straw Hats about its sudden appearance and weird shape.

"I'd advise standing back… it's going to get a bit windy." He warned them. Chopper trotted his way backwards towards the others but otherwise no one moved. Well, he gave them warning, he trusted they were fine.

He set the jar on the ground in front of him and held the tip of the Keyblade at the edge, choosing to be less destructive with this one as he had back in the battle. The liquid took on a soft glow and began to swirl inside its container, as did the wind around the small figure, temperature dropping. With an almost practiced ease, Toshiro lifted the weapon above his head and the liquid followed. As it was tossed in the vortex of air soaring higher and higher, the cure seemed to expand before their eyes, a forming mass of greenish-gray snow carried high into the clouds. Heads leaned back the pirates watched the light spread through the darkened clouds like colored drops in water, giving the world beneath them a blanket of green.

Then, with one smooth motion downward, the clouds dropped their new baggage. Light green flakes began to fall softly from the heavens over the town. Chopper watched it all with the same awe he had for the pink snow he'd seen back on his home island, the glorious image of a sakura tree on an island normally bleached of all colors. He gingerly held out his hooves for the flakes to fall on him, watching as it immediately dissolved through his fur, feeling a cold, refreshing wave run through his limbs and make him feel relaxed. Nami watched everything with a more calculating, observant gaze, but was fascinated all the same. This was unlike her own man-made storms… it still felt natural, real, only out of place of the regular behavior of the area. Her combat ready abilities were no joke, she could summon lightning on command when necessary, but it would take a lot more tinkering before her climatact could control nature at the same magnitude as this reaper could. If anything, that thought made her more determined. She may not have a massive other-worldy power, but she had science, and she was ready to push it to the limit.

While Usopp and Luffy danced like children in the snow, Toshiro looked over the town. He could see people stepping out of their run down, neglected homes, curious about the gentle snow after the onslaught of darkness and the roar of a monster on a rampage. The moment one of the still infected people stepped out and let the green flakes melt over their skin, the black patches once causing them pain began to lift from their skin. They felt revived, refreshed, and cured. It was a miracle!

The cheers slowly rose up among the people and echoed through the town. It was then Toshiro felt he could finally relax, letting out a sigh of relief. This island was finally free of Heartless and could hopefully begin to recover, though the ones lost even he couldn't do anything about. Remembering Heinrich… he kept his gaze sullenly to the ground.

"Hot damn, this SUPER snow feels ripe with joy!" Franky crooned to the sky, manly tears on his face as he heard the cheers of hope and safety among the city.

"It was certainly a great help, and probably saved more than us going out on foot would have." Jimbei agreed a little less dramatically.

There was a rumble from Hyorinmaru, a lot less happy with the snow. Since he was currently a Heartless, the cure for a Heartless disease did not feel very comforting to him.

"I'm sorry, friend, it's a short fall at least." Toshiro said to the beast, lifting a hand up. Hyorinmaru eagerly put his head down to touch his nose to the hand. He would put up with the annoyance for now, he was simply happy to have found his master, if apologetic for the way he acted upon their reunion. "It's alright, it's my own fault for running off, I probably deserved that rage."

"Whoa, hey, you can understand him?" Luffy seemed to zap over to the Nobody's side in seconds.

"Of course, he's my partner." Toshiro responded. Hyorinmaru gave a growl but a pat on the nose seemed to quiet it. Luffy either didn't notice or didn't care.

"Oh, but I can't hear him, I can usually hear animals speak." Chopper joined them with a curious gaze.

The dragon looked down at the reindeer. It wasn't an angry or hungry gaze as before, but curious. His jaws opened and for a moment Chopper was afraid of being eaten, but his own jaw dropped next instead.

"I was not speaking before, but rather projecting, and only my Master may hear my thoughts." The deep voice only Chopper and Toshiro heard matched the throaty growl all the others heard.

"Oh! Telepathy?" Chopper was instantly intrigued and wanted to know more, not as threatened as he was a moment ago since the dragon seemed fine speaking to him.

"Yes. Unlike most of the lower Heartless, my spirit is strong and I retain most of myself… if with the occasional regression."

"Like I said, I probably deserved it." Toshiro gave a defeated sigh.

"Partly, for sure, stubborn Master." The dragon gave a snort to let cold air blow over the Nobody's head. Toshiro grumbled something under his breath as he tried to run a hand through his messed up hair and fix it, trying and failing to ignore Luffy's laughter.

"I don't know what he said but you guys are funny friends, Shishishi!" The Captain giggled.

He stopped laughing as he found himself promptly lifted up off the ground. Hyorinmaru had grabbed him by the back of his shirt and brought him high up off the ground.

"H-Hyorinmaru… what are you doing?" Toshiro could only look on in confusion.

"Ah! Please don't eat Luffy!" Chopper shouted pleadingly, startled by the dragon's actions.

"Ah. Are you going to eat me?" Far less concerned with the idea, Luffy just looked the dragon in the eye. It was hard to tell what that golden gaze said, but the rubber man had a feeling he wasn't in any danger.

An odd, purr-like sound rose up from the dragon's throat and Luffy got a sudden chill over his body before promptly being dropped. After hitting the ground, he realized he was now apparently covered in a layer of frost.

"C-c-c-c-cold!" Sitting up, Luffy let out an exhale of misty breath as he shivered to warm himself back up.

'As enticing as his heart is, there is too much rubber in the way, he would not be pleasant to chew.' Hyorinmaru rumbled in amusement within his master's mind as he watched the tiny reindeer boy rush over to his Captain and try to brush the frost off.

'What's with your playful attitude all of a sudden?' Toshiro wondered, still confused as to why the dragon felt the need to pick up the pirate and partly freeze him. He would say he'd never seen his dragon act this way before, but considering he was usually within his own soul and the moment he'd become a Heartless had been locked in battle, he wasn't sure how to feel about it. After all, his dragon was a mischievous one just with Toshiro himself, perhaps that was brought out more as a Heartless with other people around. He still held a posture of power and respect, but the large icy tail was slowly moving across the ground in a content manner.

Choosing not to join in with the playful ones around her, Dextra instead shuffled her way quietly over to Robin, who knelt down and accepted the girl in a hug. Nami sidled over as well and gave a gentle pat on her head. The boys were easily distracted, but they understood she wasn't up for that. Sanji, however, approached and offered the eagle child a sweet snack of her choice he could make himself, and the three Straw Hats silently took the girl over with them to the boat so she could get away from the rambunctious group. Jimbei watched with a sad expression; it almost seemed cruel for his friends to be so cheerful when the Heart Pirates had taken a heavy loss.

The snow stopped falling and the clouds cleared away, people milling through the streets once more with new energy to begin repairing any damage done. They were wary of Hyorinmaru's impressive form, but once assured he was currently docile, the townspeople showered the two crews with what goods they could spare. The Straw Hats surprised their odd companion with a humble nature as they refused to take credit for the magic snowfall, and soon Toshiro found himself having to refuse gift after gift, uncomfortable taking anything from people who had lost so much, never having been given such huge thanks for doing something he was just expected to do back home. Chopper was also showered with affection as one of the doctors to make the cure, Law still somewhere in his ship, and the reindeer child was blushing madly and giggling eagerly at the candy given to him by the other children as their thanks.

Noticing the Nobody was growing more and more uncomfortable at the continued attention, Jimbei came forward in rescue.

"If you'll excuse us for a moment, kind people, I'm sure our young friend is quite tired and is in need of rest." The fishman said politely to the crowd with a smile. He looked at Toshiro to see if the Nobody was playing along, and was greeted with a grateful glance and a nod.

"I suppose he would, it was indeed an impressive ability, I'm sure you're exhausted." An elderly woman agreed with the pirate, bowing her head one last time as thanks before shooing off the younger generations around her.

"I thought I was never going to get away." Toshiro let out an exasperated sigh once they left.

"You looked rather skittish, I thought I might extend a helping hand." Jimbei chuckled. He still remembered just what this much smaller figure was, but seeing a Reaper in such a struggle made him much less threatening, and so it was becoming easier for Jimbei to think of their companion as just another poor soul rather than a warrior of death.

"I wouldn't say skittish, just uncomfortable… but thank you." To Jimbei's further surprise, Toshiro bowed his head slightly in thanks. He showed respect to others, how humble, it would definitely be much easier to get along with him than the impression they first had of him.

With a slight movement from Jimbei motioning for the other to follow, Toshiro did so and the pair headed towards the Sunny slowly as they continued to talk.

"I suppose you're only used to working with the dead, then, if people put you off guard?" The fishman asked curiously, wanting to know more about the mysterious boy.

"Again, I'm not so much put off guard as just not used to being thanked." Toshiro corrected. He felt a little better talking to Jimbei, who exuded a 'gentle giant' kind of aura and was definitely saner than some of his crew members, a sensible mindset the Nobody could latch onto for decent conversation. "A Soul Reaper is for the most part unseen by the living, so yes our efforts generally go unnoticed. Even if they were, I doubt people would be inclined to like us all that much. Stopping corrupt souls and saving others is just part of our job… so we don't usually get this much attention and thanks once we're done. Just a 'good job' and paperwork."

"It sounds like saving people as a job isn't terribly rewarding." The Fishman mused.

"To be fair anything turned into a job isn't always rewarding. But, every now and then, the soul saved gives genuine appreciation for the help. To them you're not doing a job, you're a hero, and to many Soul Reapers that occasional gratitude is enough to make it worth it."

"You don't sound like you believe in that quite as much."

Toshiro's gaze went to the ground. He had spent more time as a Soul Reaper than these people have probably been alive – except for maybe the skeleton – so he had seen less of grateful souls and more of the hate and greed within those souls that make them monsters to begin with. The reason he kept up his role was less about that rare thanks and more to keep his world together. He had seen Aizen and his rise to power, the danger presented if they didn't do their jobs, even knew of the centuries ago war with the Quincies whose power destroyed precious souls and could destroy their world if left unchecked. There was no grace to their work, they weren't heroes, they only did what they had to do to maintain a balance, even slaughtering an entire race. After all, if they were in it for saving people, why not go to Hueco Mundo where the Hollows live and destroy them all? It wasn't because they didn't have the manpower. It was because it was impossible to get rid of the Hollows. Every human soul could become a Hollow, and eventually once defeated, those Hollows would become a new human. Soul Reapers were just there to keep the cycle going. Hollows were necessary, and so were the deaths of many souls.

They weren't heroes, so he felt wrong to be thanked like one.

"There's a reason people fear the name Reaper." Was all he said in response, going silent afterwards.

Jimbei frowned hearing those words. Of course, what the other said was true, the title of Reaper came with heavy implications of death, whether there to bring death or guide those already dead, seeing a Reaper was an ill omen and usually meant something bad was about to happen. Toshiro was one such being living that life, and he seemed to see only that same stigma around himself, that he was doing a job no one wanted him to do.

They approached the Thousand Sunny and both decided to change topics.

"I have to say, having seen pirates before, I would never expect a ship like this to carry any." The small figure noted aloud.

"It's certainly an odd vessel." Jimbei agreed with an amused chuckle. "But the one who made it put his full heart into it, and those it carries consider it just another member of their crew. In this world, a pirate ship isn't just a boat, it is the most important comrade you will ever have. I may be the newest member of the Straw Hats, but I know how much they care for every member, even the Sunny herself."

Intrigued, Toshiro looked over the ship with a more careful eye. Each board was placed with precision, the metal kept and clean. The mast was sturdy, the sails it harbored proudly bearing their pirate symbol like a badge. The lion head at the front of the ship held proudly forward, ready to take on the world. As he looked over the care and detail put into it, Toshiro thought he could feel something else. He could tell the fishman wasn't joking, the care the pirates had for this ship seemed to shine through and give the vessel its own personality.

A shimmery image held in front of his vison. It was brief, and when he blinked it was gone, but he had no doubts about the child-like figure bearing a rain coat and a hammer smiling down at him for that mere second of time.

"Oh? Perhaps you saw it?" Jimbei had noticed the Nobody's sudden focus on one part of the ship, having been watching his appreciation of the ship with a grin.

"…Yes. What was that?" Toshiro turned curiously to the fishman. "I've seen a lot of things in a lot of worlds, but I have never seen a ship carry a spirit."

"Legends call them Klabautermann. They are like water spirits or fairies that cling to a ship well cared for by its crew. The older members of this crew, or rather those who first joined, believe it is the spirit of their former ship, the Going Merry, watching over them through the Sunny. Usopp still loves to tell the story of how Merry came to save them when they needed her most, even though she would never sail again afterwards. Franky, our shipwright, used pieces from her to build the Sunny in honor of her courage and will to sail with them."

"That's… it is quite the tale. If I hadn't already seen many impossible things, I wouldn't believe it, but…" Toshiro offered a small smile to the ship. "I would like to hear that story. This spirit sounds like a great companion."

"It is curious you saw the spirit. I wonder if you're affiliation with water has anything to do with it."

Deciding he wanted to know what they were talking about, Hyorinmaru causally made his way over, leaning his head over top of them to get a look at the rest of the ship. There was grass growing on the main floor, and a garden, bearing flowers, food and an odd assortment of flora that looked more ready to fight someone than be preened. Nami gave a start at the black dragon looming over the ship, sitting outside with Robin and Dextra as their cook was busy inside.

"You're a little big you know!" She shouted up to the creature. Indeed, Hyorinmaru's head alone could barely rest atop the ship with the mast in the way, let alone his entire icy body. He was taking up most of the docks as it was.

"That… is going to be a problem." Toshiro sighed, thinking about their situation. He was intensely grateful to have Hyorinmaru back, but his size was too much for either ship to take, and it would be unfair to expect the dragon to fly or swim alongside them constantly. Not to mention future islands would not welcome the sight of him. Perhaps it had been too soon for the Heartless to discover him.

Hyorinmaru looked down at his master at his words before looking at himself. He was not quite accustomed to a physical form and had not thought about the problems remaining as his true form. However, in his mind, this was an easy fix. He had done it before, after all, in a world where his master and companions had been turned into lions and he had been forced to become a physical entity since his master could no longer wield a sword with paws.

Spreading his wings, Hyorinmaru stood to his full and terrifying height as shadows rose from his body, startling those around him. Was the dragon up to something bad again? Looking to Toshiro for clues on his behavior, they noticed he seemed curious but not worried, and so decided to watch and wait.

Right before their eyes, the dragon shrank!

In moments, the once enormous figure of the black dragon was barely larger than a house cat, flitting through the air to perch around his master's neck and shoulders like he belonged there. The shadows from his transformation dispersed into a humid wind around them, no longer needed to form the giant icy body.

"Ah, I see, just like you did back in the Pride Lands." Toshiro was impressed with his companion, reaching a hand up to pet the creature like a pet, whereas Jimbei had to consciously remember to close his mouth. The gesture didn't go unnoticed by the white-haired figure. "What? He's an ice dragon, he can return to his normal size as long as there's water around, he doesn't have a form of flesh like the rest of us."

"If you speak of it in such a casual manner, I suppose it must be obvious, but it's still quite the surprise." The fishman replied, clearing his throat to get rid of the tone of shock. "A-Anyway, with that situation figured out… I can show you onto the Sunny if you two would like a tour?"

"Much appreciated."