Usopp groaned as he turned in his bed, he felt so cold, he was shivering, why did it have to be so god damn cold, and why was he sweating in spite of shivering from this cold?

It made very little sense.

His eyes felt heavy and he didn't feel like opening them, nor move his body.. just just wanted to lay there for-ever, not moving an inch. It would be far easier then getting up, ever..

Slowly Usopp opened his eyes, and frightened a yelp escaped his lips, as the first thing Usopp saw, was two hollow, empty eye-sockets, looking straight at him, with eyes that wasn't even there.

"BROOK!" Usopp shouted as he sat up, then immediately got hit by and dizzy spell, and grabbed his chest as he groaned.

"Usopp-san, are you okay?" Brook asked concerned.

Grunting Usopp waved Brook away with a weak hand gesture. "I'm.. as good as I was the last time I was awake, just, don't scare me like that." He breathed as he fell down on the pillow looking up in the ceiling. "For a moment I thought you were death that had come to get me."

"Ohh.." Brook realised. "An honest mistake, please forgive me my mistake." He asked.

Usopp groaned as he lifted up a hand. "It's fine.. just.." then he closed his eyes and just laid there.

"Usopp-san?" Brook questioned.

Slowly Usopp opened his eyes, and looked at Brook with a dizzy gaze.

"There's not any-thing you want?" Brook questioned.

"Living would be nice." Usopp smile vaguely, in a slightly joking tone.

Amused Brook as well looked at Usopp, and even though Brook had no lips, Usopp could swear the skeleton was smirking. "It's good to see you regained your sense of humour." Brook told. "It has been very rare on deck this last week."

"oh it's been over a week all-ready?" Usopp asked. "Lucky it me, I made it that far. I don't know.. I was angry, but now I'm to tired to be angry." He admitted. "I just want to sleep.." he stated with fluttering eyes. Then dragged the blanket over his head. "My head hurts." He admitted.

"You should drink some water." Brook pointed out. "As much as you can, here." The skeleton reached a glass with water and a straw in it to Usopp.

It took a while for Usopp, but finally he managed to get up in a position where he could sip to the straw, and quickly he emptied half then glass, then laid back on the bed.

Then for some time, there was quiet among the two, before finally, Usopp surprisingly enough, was the one to break the silence.

"What does it feel like Brook?" Usopp asked. "Dying.. I guess you are the only one in the entire world able to tell.. special you." He exhaled.

Brook chuckled a little amused, then grew serious. "You have not given up yet, have you?" he asked.

"I don't want to die." Usopp told. "But Brook.. I'm.. I'm scared." He finally confessed. "What if I don't make it?" he asked. "My mother died right in front of my eyes, this same way.. Brook I." then he swallowed, obviously Usopp was unable to go further.

Brook nodded slightly. "All-right, let me tell you." He told. "The pain full part, is not after death, it's what comes before.. I guess that depends on the person." He told. "I died of poisoning you know. That hurt, my entire body hurt so very much." He told. "Dying, was not pleasant, I felt my own heart stop, and it was incredible painful." He told. "But then all at ones, the pain, the hurt, the cold.. it was whisked away, as if my entire being was embraced in cotton." He told. "It was warm and safe, I knew no one could hurt me and get to me. Even my feelings of lose, were gone. I just felt.. So content." Brook told. "It was.. Nice and peaceful."

"Then what happened?" Usopp asked.

"I guess the power of my devil fruit settled in." Brook told. "For a moment I had forgotten how sad it all was, and suddenly I remembered.. That is what coursed me to turn around and look for my body, instead of just following the nice calm flow." He told.

"That doesn't sound to bad." USopp exhaled.

"No." Brook sighed. "And that's why I don't weep for my old crew, I know they are well, all that saddens me, is that I cannot see or talk to them any-more." He told. "But I am glad to be alive, every-day we have here is precious." He told. "Death will come to us all soon enough, so we have to treasure the life we had. Usopp-san, if you die, I will not weep, but treasure the life you lead and honour your legacy, I'll be for-ever grateful that you would be my friend, and give me so many fun memories." He told. "If you don't die, I'll write you a Joyce tune for life, and treasure each new day I am allowed to share with you." He told.

And Usopp sighed. "Thanks." He told. "That actually made me relax more than all the pleas I hear all the time."

Brook looked at Usopp.

Usopp swallowed as he bit his lip. "I don't even know what to say, so when I hear them, I pretend to still be sleeping." He confessed. "I hate seeing the crew like this. I don't want them to mourn because of me; I hate having to listen to all of that shit! I hate it!"

"They want you to fight Usopp-san." Brook told. "Because they love and care about you, they are selfish, they want you to be around. And then I am selfish to, I also want to spend more days with you." He told. "So will you at least fight for us?" he asked. "With all that you got."

Usopp swallowed then nodded.

"Tell me you choose life!" Brook demanded. "Death is easy, tell me you wont take the easy way out."

"I want to life!" Usopp exclaimed, then tears streamed down his eyes. "I want to life! I got so much more I want to see, so much more I want to learn!" then he wiped his eyes. "I don't want to give up after having come so far! IT'S TO SOON TO DIE! And definitely not by a fucking illness!" he cried.

And Brook nodded solemnly. "Thank you." He told. "May I play you a melody?" he asked pulling up his own violin.

"No offence, but don't play Binkes Sake please." Usopp asked.

"I did not intend to.. I used it as a farewell song to my old captain and my old crew, but I sincerely hope, this is not a farewell, merely a slight bump in the road." Brook stated, as he slowly started to play, not binkest sake, a different melody, which was soft, soothing and calming, and Usopp sighed as he leaned back in his pillow, exhausted from this talk.. but, listening to the music was so soothing.

It was like Brook could do magic with his music, suddenly, while the violin played, it felt like a burden was lifted from Usopp's chest, and his mind that had been so foggy these last few days, filled with hurt, anger and fear. Seemed to clear as well, as his mind relaxed to the soothing music, unlike he could do on his own.

Slowly the door opened, and a girl with orange hair, plus a straw-hat wearing Captain looked inside.

"I'm sorry." Nami whispered. "I tried to get Luffy away, we'll go now."

"No, Nami." Usopp sighed, lifting an arm. "Come in, I wanted to see you." he told.

Nami blinked, as she stepped inside, and so did Luffy. "Are.. are you sure?" Nami asked in a slight swallow. "I mean.." they had been fighting an awful lot lately, Usopp knew Nami had been kind of frightened of him, and Usopp sighed.

"Look." Usopp sighed deeply. "I want to apologies." he told.

"Oh no Usopp, you don't need." Nami began at ones.

"Nami just stop." Usopp asked, cutting her off, his heavy eyes landing on the navigator. "I need to do this, our friendship is to important to me, and I don't want to fight, not now." he sighed. "Lets face it, i've been a dick to the lot of you lately."

Nami blinked, and Luffy smirked amused.

"You weren't yourself." Luffy snorted. "It's just this illness thingy speaking."

Nami as well sighed, but then a little relieved smile graced her lips.

"I'm sorry Nami, Luffy." Usopp sighed deeply. "Can you forgive me?" he asked.

And Nami walked over to place a hand on Usopp's shoulder. "Of cause." she told.

"All-ready done." Luffy grinned.

And Usopp offered them an exhausted smile. "Great." he told, laying back on his pillow, closing his eyes so he could listen to the music that still played on. "Brook, you to I.." he started.

"What?" Brook asked as he sat playing his violin. "I'm sorry, i'm old, so my memory isn't what it used to be, in fact I seem to have miracoulesly forgotten any-thing you said the last week." he stated.

"heh." Usopp laughed a little dryly. "How convenient.. thanks" he whispered.

"For what?" Brook asked in a complete oblivious tone, just playing his violin.

And Usopp smiled defeated, before he glanced at nami and Luffy. "You think Sanji will forgive me to?" he asked, in a deep yawn.

"I'm sure he will." Nami told, sqeeshing Usopp's shoulder.

"And Chopper?" Usopp asked. "I can't believe I yelled at chopper." he admitted in a ashamed blush.

"He'll get it, and he'll be so happy." Luffy grinned. "Welcome back Usopp, it's good to talk to the real you again."

"mmm." Usopp mumbled from where he laid with closed eyes, merely listening to the violin.

And for the first time in a long time, Usopp was smiling, ever so lightly as he fell a sleep. To the sound of soothing violin tones, and three great friends with him.


Usopp woke very shortly and randomly, but one thing was for sure, when-ever he woke there would be at least one straw-hat by his side, trying to make him drink and eat. Though that task was becoming harder and harder, even though Sanji had taken Usopp's apologies, as had the rest of the crew, in a defeated shake on his head and a slight smile, it didn't make the feeding any easier. Not because Usopp responded with the same kind of anger, but because he just genuinly felt so sick, and some-times had gone into a complete state of depression where he didn't respond to any-thing.

Drinking was easy, he was always ungodly thirsty and his throat was hurting like shit, but eating.. the mere smell of food made Usopp's stomach turn and his throat tie in a knot.

And this was no exception, as Usopp woke in the middle of the night, and as always, that damned bowl of porridge would be standing on his night-stand where he could reach it.

Vaguely Usopp noted how weird it was that no one was there with him.. before he realised a heavy bump down by his feet's.

Looking down, he discovered that Chopper hard curled together by his feet's and had fallen a sleep, probably exhausted by worrying so much.

The rest was probably sleeping as well, except for who-ever was on night watch.. with a struggle, Usopp managed to raise himself in sitting position, then breathed heavily as he leaned back.

Reaching out, Usopp managed to get his glass of water, and sucked as much water as he could through the straw, before he laid back.

He could just managed to see the corner of the window from where he laid, and out-side from there he just managed to see the stars, it was so beautiful and peaceful.

Chopper as well, was snoring lightly and peacefully down from Usopp's feet's, and Usopp squinted his eyes as his throat tightened together. "Why?" he whispered. "This is so unfair, why isn't there any-thing I can do?" he asked whisking away his tears. "I don't want to die, I wont to life! Just give me some-thing!" he begged. "I'll try harder, I promise! I'll never question Luffys orders again! I'll do every-thing that I can!"

Then he covered his eyes with his hands. "Though.. I thought that was what I had done all along." He muttered, then he glanced at the porridge next to him, and he immediately felt like throwing up. "I'll even eat any-thing Sanji will put in front of me, just let me life." He begged. "I'm not ready.. I promised Kaya.. I.. promised." He told and then looking down. Sighing Usopp took the bowl from the nightstand and put it in his lap.. he really didn't want to eat.

But he had to! He promised! If he, if he could just eat this damn bowl, then it would be okay!

They all said so, if Usopp just ate, he would be fine! That's what Chopper said, and when it came to doctoring, Chopper was always right!

So holding his breath, Usopp stuffed in a spoonful of lukewarm porridge.. it made him sick, but in spite of it, Usopp forced himself to swallow.

And another spoon-full, and a third one, forced himself, it was excruciating!

Before at last, Usopp was just physically incapable of any-more, he dropped the spoon and the bowl and landed back on his pillow, groaning… as he silently begged.

Please-don't-puke-please-don't-puke-please-don't-p uke!

Thankfully, as he laid on his back.. he didn't puke, instead he felt right back a sleep again.


The next morning, Chopper wondering removed a half empty bowl of porridge from the floor, the spoon laid in another direction completely, by his work table.

As he opened the door to the galley, Sanji as always was up early, to prepaire breakfast. "So how is our shitty sniper today?" Sanji asked with his back to Chopper, cooking eggs.

"I think his reserves are going on digesting right now." Chopper pointed out.

"Huh?" Sanji turned around looking at the reindeer, and Chopper tiptoed to place the bowl on the kitchen counter.

"Looks like he had a midnight meal." Chopper told.

"Really?" Sanji asked. "You didn't feed him or any-thing?" he asked.

Chopper shook his head as he blushed. "I had fallen a sleep." He admitted. "I was thinking, would you mind making broth for him?" he asked. "I would like to put some more substantive into Usopp's stomach like the porridge, but it may be near impossible for Usopp to even swallow right now, so better that than nothing."

"Yeah, I thought that much." Sanji finally admitted. "I got some chicken broth in the back, cooked on one chicken for ten hours. Just let me blend some vegetables with it, it'll be a healthy meal." He told.

"I got some vitamins I would like you to put in it as well." Chopper told. "Some of it might taste a bit bitter, but I am sure you can make it taste good any-way."

"Leave it to me!" Sanji stated, giving Chopper a thumbs up. "Lets just make our shitty Sniper keep on eating, that's all that matters! Maybe this even means he is becoming better." He pointed out.

"No." Chopper sighed deeply as he shook his head. "His temperature is slightly higher than yesterday, he is still in decline."

"Oh." Sanji muttered. "I erh.. I'll go get the broth so I can heat it for you." He muttered, turning around to walk into the big pantry he had, complete with freezing section, which was probably where he kept the broth. And true enough, soon Sanji came back with a big ice-block which he threw in a pot, to make it warm up slowly on the stove.

"Please." Chopper begged down in his small hoofs. "Keep on eating Usopp! Get better." He asked. "I'm sorry I am such a lousy doctor I can't even help you more, I'll promise I'll become better, just get well." He whispered. And then suddenly, a tall glass of pink lemonade was put right in front of Choppers face.

Cherry lemonade, Choppers absolute favourite. Then Sanjis hand moved up, and slightly padded Chopper on his blue hat, before the blond cook turned around and returned to his breakfast preparations.

And Chopper sighed deeply, sipping to his lemonade, barely noticing the sweet taste in his mouth, of the cold sensation of the liquid down his throat.. honestly his mind was to full of other matters.