Bonus Chapter!

Brook's Struggle

One Piece © Oda

Blizzard © Me

Summary- After reading the Straw Hats' logbook, Brook decides that he wants to help his new crewmates in any way he can so he won't be a burden, but every time he tries to help, it quickly turns into a disaster, one-after-another! Can Brook find his place in the crew? Or could it be that he might be trying a bit too hard?

It is a calm, peaceful night in the Grand Line. The sea is smooth, and there is barely wind. For now…the Thousand Sunny is simply sailing along the current.

Tonight, while the Straw Hats sleep blissfully in their beds, Brook stands at the helm, for he is watch duty.

"Ah…it's such a calm night," the skeleton said. "I've been on watch all night, but I haven't seen trouble for miles. It feels like steering is completely meaningless. This is what I call 'breaking a bone for no reason', and I'm only just bones! Yohohohoho!" He then sighed. "I am so bored."

He looked down and gripped the steering wheel a bit tighter.

"…Laboon," he muttered. "It's been about two weeks now, since I've become one of Mister Luffy's comrades. He and his crew are good people…but that's not all. I found something amazing, earlier today: the Straw Hats' logbook! In it was the recounting of the crews astounding adventures and battles! But, as long as I am now their comrade, I must act appropriately! That is what I will do…Laboon!"

~The next morning~

The sun was barely up yet, and the only sound that could be heard is the sound of Luffy's raspy snoring, and yet the crew didn't seem at all bother by it…until…

"Good morning, everyone~!" Brook called. "How about we start this wondrous morning off with a wake-up piece!"

And soon, Brook began to play his violin and sing his "wake up song", and needless to say, everyone was less than happy about.

"SHUT UP!" Zoro shouted.

"The sun's not even awake yet, Brook!" Sanji added.

"Let us sleep a little bit longer!" Franky barked.

Luffy was heard hacking out a snore.

"Forget Brook! SOMEONE STOP LUFFY'S SNORING!" Nami shouted.

Later that morning, after getting a few more hours of rest, the Straw Hats are now awake and eating breakfast. Everybody discussed what they should do about the calm weather. Franky suggested using the paddles, but Nami decided against it. The weather was only going to be calm for the day, so there was no need. To Franky, that sounded like good news, since he could be able to save some of his cola. For some reason, Brook just chuckled.

Luffy just sat at the table, eating a plate full of meat.

"Yummy!" he exclaimed through food-stuffed cheeks. "Sanji's cooking is always the best!"

"Yohohoho!" Brook laughed.

"Huh?" Chopper muttered.

What's Brook chuckling about? Blizzard thought as he ate his peanut butter toast.

"Robin, my dear," Sanji said as he held out a salad to the archeologist. "Would you like a second helping of your seafood salad."

"Yes, please," Robin said. "Thank you."

"Yohohohoho!" Brook laughed, again.

"What's with you, Brook?" asked Usopp.

"You've been laughing since this morning," Zoro said.

"Did you see something funny, Brook?" Luffy asked.

"Don't talk with your mouthful, Luffy," Nami scolded.

"Sorry," Luffy said before swallowing.

"Yesterday, while he was on watch duty," Chopper said, "he found our logbook."

"That's right!" Brook exclaimed. "I just happened to come across it! To be truthful, I was quite shocked! My excitement from Thriller Bark had yet to subside, but for you all, that was just the tip of the iceberg. You stopped a civil war in the Sand Country of Alabasta, you ventured into the legendary Sky Island, and to top it all off, you pulled off the amazing feat of making the World Government your enemy in Water 7! Not to mention the recruitment of Mister Blizzard! I was so shocked, that I felt like my heart was going to burst out of my chest! Ah, wait…but I have no heart. Yohohohoho!"

Robin chuckled while Nami sighed.

"You're right," Nami said, "but now, I'm not sure what else to write in it."

"Brook will be added into the logbook, right Nami?" Chopper asked, excitedly.

"Ah, yes!" Brook exclaimed as he stood up. "Since I have joined you all, I feel like I have done nothing to help!"

"I can understand that you're excited," Nami said, "but here's a piece of friendly advice for you, so listen carefully."

"I am all ears, Miss Nami," Brook said, "even though I don't have ears."

"In this crew, you can't let your guard down during a meal, even for a second," Nami said.

"Ah, yes! Of course!" Brook said. "When it comes to a fight, I am known as 'Quick Draw' Brook! I will not let my guard down, even for a moment!"

"Well…it's a little late for that, don't you think?" Robin asked.

"Nami didn't mean it like that, Brook," Usopp said.

"Eh?" Brook muttered before he noticed that Luffy had caught sight of his breakfast.

"Those noodles are mine!" the Straw Hat Captain exclaimed before he stretched his arms and grabbed the whole plate of noodles with his two forks.

"Wait!" Brook cried. "That's mine! Mister Luffy!"

Too late. Luffy had already put the noodles in his mouth.

"Yum~!"

"Ahh…!" Brook sighed, a tear forming in his eyes. "I only let my guard down for just a moment." He then stood up. "I understand now! I shall work myself to the bone until I have truly become one of you as soon as possible! Ah, but I was nothing but bone to begin with."

Why do I have this feeling that it's not gonna go as well as he thinks it is? Blizzard thought. I better keep an eye on him, just to be on the safe side.

XXX

After breakfast, everyone went on to do their usual routine. Sanji was in the kitchen, pouring some tea into a little tea pot while Brook is standing at the sink, washing the dishes. It seemed that he got a bit carried away with the soap, considering that the suds are practically all over the counter.

"Oh, Mister Sanji!" Brook called.

"No, I don't have another job for you," Sanji said. "I understand you're eager, but it's already fine that you're washing the dishes. That way, I can bring Nami her tea."

"I'm especially looking forward to helping everyone if trouble happens to arise," Brook said, "but for now, I wish to help everyone with even the littlest things."

"That's mighty nice of you," Sanji said.

Blizzard peeked inside the kitchen and saw the suds that had bubbled up around the sink, as well as the tall stack of plates that looked taller than even Brook.

Ooh, boy, he thought. That's a disaster waiting to happen.

"I'm just a skeleton who just wishes to help with the little things, one step a time!" Brook said. "Yohohohoho!"

Sanji chuckled before he picked up the tea tray.

"Well, I'm gonna bring Nami her tea now," he said as he prepared to leave.

"Uh, Mister Sanji," Brook said, holding the stack of plates. "Where do I put these?"

"Oh, put them over there," Sanji said as he looked to the opposite counter. "I'll put 'em away later."

"Can do," Brook said, but as he took his first step, he accidentally stepped into some slippery soap suds, causing him to lose his balance! The skeleton tottered, as did the plates, as he tried to keep them from falling.

"Oh! Oh! Oh, my!" he cried.

"You drop those plates and you're dead!" Sanji shouted.

"Technically, I'm already dead, Mister Sanji!" Brook remarked.

What did I say? Blizzard asked, mentally. A disaster waiting to happen!

Suddenly, Brook accidentally tossed all the dishes into the air!

"Dammit!" Sanji cursed as he handed Brook the tray. "Hold this, will ya?!"

Then, he got on his hands and began to kick the dishes (not breaking them, of course), before he caught them all in separate stacks. He even caught one in his mouth.

"That was amazing!" Brook exclaimed.

"It was not, idiot!" Sanji barked, his voice muffled as he tried to balance the plates on his arms, hands, and kneecap.

"Oh…since you're busy, I can just deliver Miss Nam her tea in your place," Brook said before he left. "Cheerio."

"Wait! Hang on!" Sanji cried. "That's supposed to be MY job!"

But it was too late. Brook was already gone, and Blizzard, not wanting to stick around to see what happened if the cook accidentally dropped all the dishes, decided to follow him to the library, where Nami is working on her next map.

As they went outside, Blizzard noticed Zoro hopping around while carrying a 1-ton dumbbell over his shoulders.

Okay…since when did Zoro become a frog? Blizzard thought.

"Oh, Miss Nami!" Brook called. "I've brought you your tea!"

"Come on in," Nami answered.

With that, Brook soon opened the door and said, "May I please have a look at your pan-"

BAP! The skeleton was soon interrupted by a book thrown to his skull.

"That again!?" Nami questioned.

Blizzard peeked inside the room, his instincts telling him to keep his distance, not from Brook…but from Nami. Why, he didn't know…yet.

At that moment, as Brook poured Nami a fresh cup of tea, he noticed her drawing on her map.

"I see you're drawing a map," he said.

"Yep," Nami replied. "We've been pretty busy as of late, but now that the weather is calm, I decided now would be a good chance to work on my charts."

She then took a sip of her tea.

"…According to Mister Luffy," Brook began, "he says that you want to draw a map of the whole world, don't you?"

"That's right," Nami answered. "With my navigation skills, I'll travel all the seas and draw map of every island I've seen with my own eyes…with Luffy's help, that is."

"How wonderful!" Brook said. "If there is anything I can do to be of help, please don't hesitate to ask! Oh!" He picked up the teapot. "Would you like a refill?"

"Yes, please," Nami said. "Thank you."

Brook took the teacup and began to fill it with tea.

"For now, just the thought is more than enough," Nami said.

"Oh, Miss Nami," Brook said, sounding close to tears as he continued pouring Nami her tea. "You're simply too kind!"

"Now hang on," Nami said, "that's a little too much, don't you think?"

"Oh, no, I mean it!" Brook said.

Uh…I don't think she means the compliments, Blizzard thought.

Suddenly, Brook yelped when he felt the hot tea spilling on his bony fingers and accidentally dropped the teapot and cup to the floor. He was so distracted by his conversation with Nami, he didn't realize he had poured too much tea into the cup, causing it to overflow.

"Are you okay, Brook?!" Nami asked.

"Yes, I'm fine," Brook answered. "I simply burned my finger is all. Ah, but I don't really have any skin to burn. Yohohoho!"

Nami sighed before she turned to finish her map…only to find that the tea had spilled all over it!

"Oh, no!" she cried. "My map!"

"Oh, dear! What have I done?!" Brook cried before he took out a handkerchief and tried to clean it off. "Here! Allow me to clean it up for you!"

And…I'm gone, Blizzard thought as he turned and ran away.

"Ta-dah!" Brook exclaimed as he held up the map…which is now smudged. "Nice and clean."

3…2…1…

"YOU IDIOT~!"

Brook screamed as he ran out of the library, away from Nami's fury.

"PLEASE EXCUSE ME~!" he cried.

Zoro, who is still hopping around while holding his dumbbell on his shoulders, could only watch in confusion.

Brook panted as he went out on deck with Blizzard following behind him.

"Ha…at this rate, it feels like I haven't really been of much help," the skeleton said.

If you ask me, I think you might be trying a little too hard, Blizzard thought.

"Hey, Brook! Blizzard!"

Blizzard and Brook looked up to see Luffy up on the upper deck, holding a piece of meat-on-the-bone.

"Mister Luffy?" Brook asked.

Is he STILL eating? Blizzard thought. Why am I not surprised? I bet even after he's done eating that, he'll still be hungry.

Luffy pointed his thumb to Usopp and Franky, who are standing next to what looked like a complex cannon with a cockpit.

"Usopp and Franky made something really cool," the Captain said. "You should come and check it out!"

Oh, god, do I have to? Blizzard asked in thought.

"A-alright," Brook said before he and Blizzard made their way up to the upper deck. There, they soon saw Chopper, who is sitting next to some plants on some sheets.

"Mister Chopper, what are you doing here?" Brook asked.

"Oh, my medicinal herbs needed drying," Chopper said. "Since it's a sunny day outside, I figured it would be the perfect time to dry them out."

Blizzard sighed as he lied down next to Chopper.

"You guys made it just in time," Luffy said, munching on his meat. "Usopp is about to test out Franky's new weapon!"

As he said this, Franky poured a barrel of cola into a funnel attached to the cannon.

"There we go," he said. "This weapon of mine uses cola for fuel. I call it the High Force Energy Super Franky Cannon! Compared to a regular cannon, this baby's accuracy and strength are at least ten times more powerful!"

"And that plus my incredible sniping skills equals one hell of a monstrous combination!" Usopp declared as he sat in the cockpit.

This I gotta see, Blizzard thought.

"Oh, my, this is so exciting!" Brook said. "I can feel my heart pumping!"

"I know, right?" Luffy asked. "Shishishi!"

"You know, if there is anything you need assistance with, please don't hesitate to ask me!" Brook said.

Maybe you should try and stop with the helping, Blizzard thought, worriedly. Seriously.

"Well, since you asked," Franky said, "you think you could go down to the storage room and get another barrel of cola, just to be safe, Bones?"

"That, I can do!" Brook said. "Be back in two shakes of a wolf-dog's tail! Yohohoho!"

With that, the skeleton headed down to the storage room, where he saw many barrels. Naturally, he picked up the first one he saw when he went in.

"This must be it, here," he said before he went back to Franky. "Here we are! A fresh barrel of cola!"

Uh…I'm not so sure that's cola, Blizzard thought.

"Just pour it into that funnel, there," Franky told him.

Brook nodded before he pour what looked like cola into the cannon's funnel.

"Okay!" Franky said. "We're all set!" He then pointed out to sea. "Aim for that rocky outcrop, Bro Long Nose!"

"Got it! Locked on target!" Usopp said as he pulled down his goggles and began to pedal on the cannon's pedals, thus building up pressure.

The cannon's pump went up and down, and Chopper and Blizzard quickly covered their ears while Luffy and Brook anticipated a huge explosion…but nothing happened.

"Huh?" Usopp questioned. "What's going on?"

"Well that's weird," Franky said. "Try and add some more pressure, Usopp."

"Here goes nothing!" Usopp said as he tried to fire the cannon once more, but the pump started going faster, steam started coming out, the cannon began shaking, and the needle on the pressure gauge went way into the red!

Oh, man, that's not good! Blizzard thought.

"W-w-what's going on?!" Usopp questioned.

"GET BACK!" Franky shouted. "SHE'S GONNA BLOW!"

KABOOM! The cannon exploded, causing the cola to come bursting out and spilling all over the place, and everyone there!

"Ah, crap," Usopp cursed. "That was a freaking disaster!"

"What the hell happened?!" Franky questioned.

Suddenly, Luffy licked the "cola" off his cheek.

"Hmm…you know this cola tastes a little salty," he said.

"Hey, he's right," Chopper said. "It tastes like there's something mixed with it."

That's because it's not cola, Blizzard thought.

"Oh, dear," Brook muttered. "I do believe this is soy sauce."

A pause.

"…What's everyone looking at me like that for?" Brook asked.

"DON'T PLAY DUMB, BASTARD!" Franky barked. "YOU MIXED UP THE COLA AND SOY SAUCE, DIDN'T YOU?!"

"Oh, my!" Brook said. "So that's what that was! Sorry, that was on an honest mistake on my part."

"MISTAKE, MY ASS!" Franky shouted as he began to chase Brook with the soy barrel. "WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?! YOU DID IT ON PURPOSE DIDN'T YOU! I'LL TEACH YOU!"

Brook screamed as the shipwright kept chasing him while Luffy laughed.

"This guy is hilarious!" he said.

"Ah, man! Look at this mess!" Usopp complained. "My clothes are soaked through, dammit all!"

"And it looks like I have to wipe off all my herbs," Chopper said, looking at his soy-soaked herbs.

And I just took a bath yesterday! Blizzard thought, looking at the soy stains on his fur.

"Mm~! Yum!" Luffy said, eating his meat. "This soy sauce goes great with meat!"

"Nothing really fazes you, huh?" Usopp asked, sweat-dropping.

XXX

A while later, Franky had finally stopped chasing Brook, who is staggering across the deck in exasperation.

"Oh, what a day," Brook said. "No matter what I do, everything seems to backfire on me."

At that moment, he saw Luffy heading to the bathhouse with Blizzard, who is still covered in soy sauce, in his arms.

"Ah, Mister Luffy, where are you going?" Brook asked.

"Oh, I gotta give Blizzard a bath," Luffy said. "He already took one yesterday, but now that he got dirty again, he needs to take another one."

"Um…do you mind if I help you?" Brook asked.

Oh, no, Blizzard thought, whimpering dreadfully. Please don't let him help, please don't let him-

"Well, since you asked, sure," Luffy said.

Why do I even hope anymore? Blizzard asked mentally.

With that, Luffy and Brook took Blizzard to the bathhouse to give him a bath.

"Okay, I just gotta fill up the tub," Luffy said as he turned the hot and cold water on and let the tub fill up. As he did, Blizzard began to struggle out of Brook's grasp.

"N-now, now, Mister Blizzard!" Brook said. "A bath's not that bad!"

"Oh, yeah," Luffy said. "He doesn't like taking a bath very much, so he's gonna try and squirm a lot." He then grabbed Blizzard and picked him up, preparing to put him in the tub.

"Okay, buddy, time to get clean," he said as he tried to put Blizzard in the tub, but the wolf-dog pressed his paws up against the edge. "Oh, Blizzard! Stop it, already! You need a bath!"

I already took a bath! Blizzard thought.

"Allow me," Brook said as he tried to get Blizzard in the tub as well, pushing on Luffy's back while the Captain pushed the wolf-dog's backside. "Into the tub you go, Mister Blizzard!"

"Be a good boy!" Luffy said, grunting.

Blizzard growled as he kept pushing paws up against the tub, refusing to get in. Just then, Blizzard managed to pull himself out of Luffy's grasp, and Brook was pushing on Luffy so hard, the Captain ended up falling into the tub, followed by the musician!

Blizzard, on the other hand, just ended up running away.

The two Devil Fruit users sat in the tub, soaking wet.

"Sometimes I forget how smart Blizzard is," Luffy said.

"Sorry, Mister Luffy," Brook said. "It appears I've made a muddle of things."

"It's okay," Luffy said. "It's not easy giving Blizzard a bath…but I think I can handle him by myself. I appreciate you trying to help anyway."

With that, Luffy pulled himself out of the tub and went out to look for Blizzard, leaving Brook by himself.

XXX

After about 15 minutes, Brook came out of the bathhouse and dried himself off. Still…he didn't appear at all satisfied with trying to help Luffy giving Blizzard a bath. In fact, he didn't seem satisfied with anything he had done to help his friends, today. He sighed.

"What am I going to do?" he asked.

Suddenly, he spotted Zoro, still hopping along the ship with his dumbbell on his shoulders, and almost immediately, the skeleton seemed to have one last glimmer of hope.

"Err…Mister Zoro," he called, getting the swordsman's attention.

"Yeah?" Zoro asked. "What's up?"

XXX

A little while later, Brook is in the Crow's Nest with Zoro, who is now swinging a barbell up and down, like a sword. He swallowed the lump in his throat and stared in awe at the green-haired swordsman's display of physical prowess, but then he put on a determined expression…that is, if he had skin on his face.

"Now is not the time to be admiring him!" Brook said. "I, too, am a swordsman! I must train hard as well!"

Soon, Zoro stopped swinging his barbell and sat down on the floor, eyes closed, legs crossed, and hands in his lap

"I see," Brook said as he took the same position. "So you're meditating: controlling your mental state until you've reached a blank slate in your mind. Perhaps I shall join you."

And soon, the two swordsmen sat together in meditation…until…

"…Pardon me, Mister Zoro."

"Hmm?"

"Well…I know I shouldn't disturb you and everything…"

"Actually, I don't really care."

"Well…you see…"

"Spit it out, already!"

"…I need to use the bathroom."

"Why the hell are you asking my permission?! Just go already!"

"Well, I would if I could…but…I can't. My legs fell asleep and now I can't get up!"

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE MUSCLES!"

"Oh, please hurry, Mister Zoro! I don't think I can hold it in much longer!"

"Dammit! Hang on! I'll take you there!"

With that, the frazzled Zoro picked Brook and hurried to the toilet. Of course, he tripped on some of his training equipment on the way there. He even accidentally stubbed his toe against one of his weights.

XXX

After he had relieved himself, Brook is now sitting on a box on the aft deck. However, it seemed that he had all but given up on his efforts.

"It seems that no matter what I do, I only end up being a nuisance," Brook said as he put his hands to his afro. "Ha…what a bad day I seem to be having."

Just then, he spotted Robin, watering her flower garden.

"Ah…Miss Robin," he said as he got up and approached her, albeit hesitantly. "Um…is there anything I can help you with?"

"Hmm…not at the moment, Brook," Robin answered. "I appreciate you asking, though."

"…I see," Brook said, sadly before he turned and walk away. "Thank you for your time."

"Brook."

The skeleton turned to look at the archeologist upon hearing his name.

"Why do you seem so unsettled?" Robin asked.

"U-unsettled, you say?"

"You act almost like you're afraid of something. Am I wrong?"

"No…you're far from it. It is just as you have described. I am unsettled, scared, and I just can't take anymore!"

A pregnant pause came.

"…When Mister Luffy asked me to join up with his crew, I was…well…words fail to describe how happy I was! And…when we all defeated the dreaded Oz together, as a team…I felt so proud!"

Flashback

Brook had just finished playing Binks' Sake on the piano, and then looked at Luffy, who is lying on top of it.

"Oh, one more thing," the skeleton said. "Is it all right if I join your crew?"

"Sure," Luffy answered. "Why not?"

"SO QUICK!" the Straw Hats, except Robin and an unconscious Zoro, shouted in shock.

Flashback end

"…But now," Brook said, "I'm started to wonder if it was really all right that I joined. Since we are heading for the New World…it is a well-known fact that we will be facing impossibly strong enemies! What would happen if I were unable to help you all…and just hold you back in the end? If something like that ever happened…I would be forced to leave this ship."

Robin stared at Brook, silently.

"That's what I'm afraid of, most of all," Brook said, dejectedly. "That I would have to return to living alone for years on end."

"…I understand," Robin said. "I used to be that way, too."

"Huh?"

"I used to be very insecure, just like you. I used to think that I wasn't suitable to be one of them…and that's why…I was willing to give up my life for their sake."

As Robin said this, memories of Enies Lobby began to fill her mind.

"…I thought that by doing so…that would be enough to make me one of them," she said.

"…Miss Robin," Brook muttered. "I can't believe that you would…"

"But that turned out to be a mistake on my part."

"Whatever do you mean?"

"True comrades aren't like that."

"…Miss Robin…?"

Just then, as if on cue, Blizzard appeared, his fur cleaned of all the soy sauce, and Robin smiled and gently scratched under the wolf-dog's chin.

"I'm sure Blizzard felt insecure about joining Luffy, too," she said, "but he got used to things pretty quickly."

"…" Brook was quiet.

"Don't worry about at thing, Brook," Robin said, smiling as she turned to leave. "You'll be fine…I'm sure of it."

Brook just watched as the archeologist left, but then, Luffy came leaping over the railing.

"Hey, Brook!" he said. "Blizzard's all done with his bath, as you can see!"

"Mister Luffy…" Brook murmured.

"Anyway, come on!" Luffy said. "It's lunchtime! Sanji's making a big feast with all kinds of food from the sea! It's gonna be yummy! C'mon!"

With that, Luffy dashed to the galley to eat.

"Wait, Mister Luffy!" Brook called, forcing Luffy to stop.

"What are you waiting for?" Luffy asked. "Hurry up before it gets cold!"

Yeah, Sanji hates it when food gets wasted, Blizzard thought.

"Mister Luffy, please," Brook said. "I must know…am I really good enough? Was it really all right that I joined up with you?! Please! I must know!"

"Yeah, it's okay," Luffy said.

"Oh, come now, that was much too easy!" Brook said, flailing about. "I-I…"

"If I said it's okay, then it's okay!" Luffy said. "Don't worry about it!"

Brook stared at Luffy in surprise.

"Shishishishishi!" the captain laughed, but then, Guuuurrrrrglle! His stomach started rumbling.

"Oops," Luffy said. "Tummy's talking, and right now it's telling me…"

Grrrruuuummblle!

"Shishishi! Lunchtime! Hurry up, Brook, or you won't get any! C'mon, Blizzard! Race ya!"

With that, Luffy and Blizzard hurried off to the galley, leaving Brook standing there, completely taken back by the Captain's words. After a moment…he seemed to chuckle to himself before he joined the others in the galley to eat a delicious seafood feast that Sanji cooked.

It was lively, as always. Luffy was stuffing his face with shrimp and fish, and Usopp teased Chopper by scaring him with a large fish head, although this was quickly reprimanded by Sanji, who would tolerate his shenanigans during a meal. Zoro ignored the antics going on about him as he ate his sushi, and Blizzard occasionally ate whatever scraps he could get. Franky, Nami, and Robin sat by, chatting idly as they ate, and as Sanji brought more food, Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper stared with wide, sparkling eyes, drooling mouths, and growling stomachs. Of course, Luffy tried to snatch it all, which caused Nami to start yelling at him.

Brook just sat by, surprisingly laughing at the events that transpired during the meal, and Robin seemed to smile, as well.

Eventually, everyone was satisfied, and once lunch was over, they all went back to doing their usual routines. Brook himself had decided that he had been trying a bit too hard and that he should just enjoy himself. After all, this was a day to relax.

He sat down on the mast with a nice hot cup of tea and looked up at the sky. He could hear the calm splashing of the waves below and saw the seagulls flying high above the ship.

"It appears that even the Straw Hat Pirates can have a calm such as this," the skeleton thought aloud.

Not long after…he fell asleep. As he did, he could hear the sound of footsteps running across the deck.

"C'mon, Usopp! Let's go fishing for some dinner!"

"Count me in!"

As Brook snoozed and Luffy and Usopp went to fish, the musician thought to himself how many years…no…how many decades it has been since he had been able to take an afternoon nap so comfortably like the one he was having right now. He remembered how he would fall asleep and dream about the time he had spent with his fallen comrades or Laboon, and whenever he awoke, all he saw was the lonely old ship he sailed on for those long, lonely years.

In those days…sleep was never a peaceful thing…but now, if he would listen carefully while he slept…he could hear the many sounds of his new crewmates.

He would hear the sound of Nami and Robin chatting in the Aquarium Bar as they looked at a shopping catalogue for clothes.

He would hear the sound of Chopper grinding up medicine in the sick bay.

He could hear the sound of Sanji in the kitchen, boiling some broth for some soup for dinner later tonight and tasting it.

He could hear Franky banging on a sheet of metal with his hammer down below deck.

He could hear Zoro swinging his barbell up and down in the Crow's Nest.

He could hear the sound of Blizzard chewing on his rubber squeaky bone inside the men's quarters.

He could hear the sound of Luffy and Usopp snoring as they sat on the railing while holding their fishing rods. He could even hear the faint sound of Luffy's ever-hungry stomach grumbling.

Yes…Brook was peaceful in his sleep, knowing that he had friends close by. Even though he had died before and he is nothing but bones now…

…he is truly happy to be alive.

XXX

That evening, as the sun began to set…the sound of a violin playing Binks' Brew is heard throughout the Sunny. The Straw Hats, except for Luffy and Usopp, who are still snoozing, looked up, but they didn't ask who could be playing the music, for they knew very well…that it is Brook, who is indeed playing the song on his violin, slowly and beautifully.

"This short time that we have now," Brook began, "is no doubt just a little break time until our next adventure. Yes…for now…it's time to rest these old bones of mine. Yohohoho…!"

He then looked up into the sky as he played.

"Laboon…it seems that next time we meet…I will have many a tale to tell. All I hope…is that you are still waiting for me…and that you look forward to hearing it, my friend."

All of a sudden…the wind suddenly started to pick up and quickly filled the sails and caused the Straw Hat Flag to flutter.

"…The wind…?" Brook questioned.

Just then, the Straw Hats came out on deck.

"Looks like the wind's finally picked up," Franky said.

"Everybody," Brook muttered.

"Well, guys," said Luffy, who had finally woken up along with Usopp. "Looks like it's that time again! Time to get going!"

We've rested long enough, Blizzard thought.

"All right," Luffy said. "Let's set sail~!"

"Aye-aye, Captain!" the Straw Hats shouted.

"I, too, shall work myself to the bone and put my body on the line!" Brook said. "Even though I'm just a skeleton, so I don't have a body! YOHOHOHOHO!"

TO BE CONTINUED…

Finally! I got this up!

For my friend, gamePsycho11! Thank you for encouraging me, my nakama!

Review, please!