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Disclaimer: One piece and all of its characters belong to Eiichiro Oda.
Chapter 81: Brooks's story
"It would be nice if we could have dinner now. I haven't had a good meal in decades" Requested Brook.
Robin looked over at Sanji, who was still laying down on the kitchen floor.
"It seems like our cook is indisposed for the moment."
"Oh well…I don't have a stomach anyways." Brook brushed it aside. " I still haven't learned your name." He told their Captain.
"Im Luffy. By the way…what the hell are you?"
"Luffy!, you may wanna ask for more information before asking someone to join the crew…" Said Usopp.
"I am someone who ate the resurrection devil fruit" Said Brook.
"A resurrection fruit?" Asked Chopper with interest.
"So, are you, like immortal or something?" Said Zoro.
"Not quite. The resurrection fruit doesn't grant any powers like other fruits, but it allows the users to live another life as a 'resurrected human' after they perish."
"So you died then, what happened?" Asked Nami.
"I used to be a human, like you all. I was also a pirate back then. The ship you all saw earlier was our pirate ship… Unfortunately, we happened to encounter some frighteningly strong fellows and we were all annihilated, including me, of course."
"Then, the fruit activated and my soul returned from the underworld. If I had been able to go into my body right away, I could have resurrected normally, unfortunately, you have seen how thick the fog is here…I got lost for a long time, and when I finally found my ship and my own body…it was nothing but bones."
"mmm, so that's how you became a skeleton." Said Franky.
"Are you still cursed?" Asked Sanji.
Brook nodded "After the ability has been triggered, all that is left is the inability to swim."
"Usually when your body rots away, the hair falls off, how can you still have an afro?" Asked Zoro.
"I have strong roots" Answered Brook.
"eh….yeah, whatever," Zoro grumbled.
"So…you are a ghost after all!" Usoop took the crucifix in his hands and pointed it at Brook.
"But I dislike ghosts! If I ever see one, I would scream and run away!" Exclaimed Brook.
"Have you seen yourself in the mirror?" Nami pointed a mirror at him.
Brook immediately freaked out.
"Noo!, get that mirror away from me!"
"Wait a moment!" Usoop got closer and looked in the mirror. He was only able to see himself and Chopper, who was on the other side of Brook, but there was no sign of the human skeleton.
"He doesn't have a reflection!" Yelled Chopper.
"Wow, that's amazing! He is a vampire too?" Luffy was impressed.
"And look!." Usopp pointed at Brook's feet. "He doesn't have a shadow either!"
Brook sat back down and continued to drink his tea with complete calmness.
"How can you be so chill! we are freaking out because of you!" Shouted Usopp.
"I'll tell you everything now…" Brook started. "It's been a long time since I have been traveling these waters. Me not having a shadow or reflection has nothing to do with me being a skeleton. Those things happened at very different times."
"Something else happened to you?" Asked Sanji, who had finally recovered and finished dinner.
"Some years ago, a man snatched away my shadow." Said Brook.
"Man, you have no luck!" Said Luffy.
"How can someone take your shadow?" Wondered Robin.
"A devil fruit?" Said Vivi. When the others looked at her, she just shrugged her shoulders. "I mean, how else?"
"I think so too." Said Brook. "The problem is that with my shadow stolen I cannot live in a world with light...I have seen it happen to others like me. If my body touches the sunlight, it will quickly start to disappear. I also cannot be seen in a mirror or photograph. In other words, the light rejects my existence."
Brook then started to sing.
"My crewmates were all annihilated! I'm dead-bones Brook! Nice to meet you!"
"Why are you so cheerful? your life sucks…" Said Sanji.
"But I'm still alive! even though I'm a skeleton. Yohohoho!"
"I am very happy, today I was able to find somebody!... I couldn't tell anymore the difference between day and night in this thick foggy sea. All alone in that ship that won't obey its rudder…how many years it has been…"
The crew stood in silence, listening to Brook, not sure about what to say.
"It has been very lonely. Lonely and afraid!, soo much that I wanted to die…I have lived a long life, you guys are a delight, I would cry if I could."
Brook turned to look at Luffy.
"You invited me to be your crewmate. I'm very glad, thank you very much!. But I must decline."
"Eh? why?!" Asked Luffy in shock.
"As I told you earlier. Now that my shadow has been stolen, I cannot step into the light or I will die. Until I get my shadow back, I cannot leave this place." Explained Brook.
"So, we just get your shadow back, problem solved." Said Vivi.
"No!" said Brook. "It is a very dangerous task! I cannot ask you to risk your lives for me."
"Did you hear that, Captain?" Asked Vivi while smiling. "He said that is very dangerous. What do we do?"
Luffy laughed. "Shishishi, leave it to us! Well, get your shadow back. And then, you can join our crew! Now, tell us. Who stole your shadow?"
"I…cannot do that. We just met. I cannot let you die for me!" Said Brook.
"Is that guy that dangerous? you can't even tell us his name?" Said Sanji.
"I won't say it and you can't make me. However, we can sing a song, in honor of today's encounter. Im very proud of my abilities, I used to be a musician back in my pirate days."
"A musician?!. That's just what I wanted!" Yelled Luffy.
Brook was about to start singing when He saw a white figure appearing through the walls of the ship.
"AHHHH!, a ghost!"