"Kurosaki Ichigo." Ichigo introduced himself as he stared up at the large man, White Beards eyes seemingly gauging him, Ichigo had seen enough of himself being gauged like that over his time as a Shinigami, it was clear to spot these days. Ichigo could tell the man was strong, even with all the medial appliances he was hooked up too there was an air of power to him. There was no spirit signature to sense, so it was hard to determine why any of the people aboard the ship could even see him. He couldn't dwell on that, it's not like it was the most important thing in the world anyway, they could see him without having Reiatsu, no big deal in his books. It could be addressed later if it came up, but right now it wasn't something to worry about. He had literally seen a man turn into a flaming chicken, there were numerous things at the moment that were just unexplainable.

"Kurosaki Ichigo." White Beard repeated, trying to think if he had ever heard the name before, it didn't sound familiar to him. He could tell the boy before him was the one that had caused that explosion, there were waves of power flowing off of him similar to that of the explosion, he didn't know how the kid had done it but it was clear that the attack was his. White Beard could honestly say he had never felt anything like it before and he had spent his life on the sea witnessing all kinds of incredible things, but this was something new. He hadn't even heard of this kind of power before, it certainly wasn't any kind of Haki. Turning his attention to the girl beside the orange haired teen, she seemed more chipper than what the young man did.

"Hello, Mr White Beard... Captain... Sir." Orihime began slightly awkwardly unaware of actually how to address a pirate Captain, however not missing a beat as she continued to smile up at him. "I'm Inoue Orihime, it's nice to meet you." She greeted getting a nod from the large man.

"So what do you Brats have to say about that explosion we all saw?" White Beard questioned causing Orihime to glance at Ichigo from the corner of her eye as the orange haired Shinigami ran a hand through his hair.

"We were attacked." Ichigo told him. "The explosion was the result of our defending ourselves." This time it wasn't exactly a lie, they were fighting previously and the attack was a result of that. White Beard rose a hand up to his chin as he listened to what Ichigo had to say. This was an odd situation, a powerful person suddenly just appearing in the New World like this? It wasn't odd for powerful people to be in the New World, it was the most dangerous sea on the Grand Line and strength was a necessity to survive and most had to pass through Paradise to get here, however for someone of his level of power, to not even be known? That was what was odd about this situation.

"What is it you're doing in the New World?" White Beard questioned.

"We're just misplaced is all." Ichigo told him. "Looking for a way home." White Beard continued to stare down at him. "So, if you'd be so kind as to drop us off at the closest island, it would be much appreciated."

"This is a pirate ship, not some cruise liner." White Beard huffed. "If you expecting passage, it won't be for free Brat, you don't work, you don't eat. Everyone on this ship has a job to do, everyone pulls their own weight." Ichigo's eyes hardened slightly causing White Beard to inwardly smirk as he saw the defiance pass through the young man's eyes. "He's got spirit, let's see how much he's truly got."

"Point us in the right direction then and we won't take much more of your time." Ichigo continued causing the crew around them to laugh, Ichigo scowled in annoyance as Orihime looked around curiously, trying to figure out what they were all laughing at.

"Something tells me you're new to the Sea." White Beard stated as he shifted in his seat. "So, tell me what you're really doing out here." About to resort to his Haoshoku Haki to really see what the kid was made of but stopped as he saw a hand raise up, turning his attention to the girl he rose an eyebrow at her.

"He's not lying sir." Orihime stepped forward. "We're really just lost." White Beard gaze turned to the girl, she seemed rather bubbly a companion for one such as Ichigo, even he could tell just meeting the Shinigami that he wasn't the most chipper of people. "We'll earn our keep, won't we Ichigo?" She questioned turning back to face the Shinigami with a smile, Ichigo could see the excitement hidden in her eyes, she really wanted to spend time on the pirate ship.

Gripping the bridge of his nose, he would have rather be finding a way to an island but he knew finding a dimensional rift back home, preferably not to another random dimension, wasn't going to be easy. So, perhaps letting Orihime have some fun might be for the best, after all they had just exited a war zone perhaps a little time off as would be a nice change of pace. Plus he needed some time to gather his thoughts after everything he had just faced against Yhwach, even now it seemed like a hopeless fight, he just hoped he could get back and help aid the Soul Society.

"Yeah, we'll earn our keep." Ichigo stated causing Orihime to beam happily at him as she turned back to White Beard who laughed in response as Marco walked up to them from where he had been waiting, he had seen what White Beard was about to do and was shocked to think he'd do it just to gauge the orange haired teens strength. Did he really see that much in the teen?

"I owe you two a hot meal." Marco stated gaining Orihime's attention who smiled widely at him. "I'll have some chefs cook you up something, just make yourselves comfortable for the time being."

"Thank you, Marco." Orihime beamed happily at him. "I'm starved." She added holding her hand to her bare stomach, as Marco turned to head off towards the kitchen's, Orihime was swarmed by the other pirates of the crew, endless questions being asked of her as she tried to answer them. Ichigo on the other hand was approaching White Beard who simply chuckled at the antics of his crew. His eyes dropped to Ichigo who was looking over one of his charts that a nurse had left out.

"Jesus." Ichigo muttered as he stared down at the chart he held, this man was seriously sick if any of this was real. Cirrhosis of the Liver, he was missing half a lung and the other had scarred tissue over it, several signs of heart disease plus all the other injuries listed and illnesses. "This all true?" Ichigo questioned looking up at White Beard.

"Wouldn't be on a chart if it wasn't." White Beard huffed, not exactly thrilled about his illness being known to some random person. "You some sought of doctor?" He asked.

"No, my Dad was, I helped out from time to time, understood what was written on a chart." Ichigo explained getting a nod from White Beard in return. "How Long?" Ichigo questioned, there was no way the man didn't have an estimate time for how long he had left. Even if he was surviving on willpower alone at this moment, everyone had their limit.

"Long enough." White Beard stated with a far away look in his eyes, even his children didn't know that and he wasn't about to tell them either. He wanted his time spent with them full of good times, not them waiting for the inevitable day where it would all come to an end. Ichigo frowned as he looked back down at the clipboard before looking over to Orihime swarmed by the crew. White Beard glanced down at the orange haired man, he seemed conflicted on something.

"You said to earn our keep right?" Ichigo questioned looking up at him getting a nod from the Pirate Captain, even now Ichigo was cautious on what he was about to do but the man had offered them help and it wasn't for Orihime to turn down aid to someone who had helped them. "Orihime." Ichigo called out, Orihime splitting from the crew with a large smile on her face, it was fascinating getting to know the pirates so far. As she approached Ichigo, he tossed the medical chart to her, she fumbled to catch it before positioning it correctly in her hands before laughing as it sat upside down and flipped it around. Her eyes widened immediately upon reading it over and looked up at Ichigo who thrust a thumb at White Beard. "It's his." He told her.

"You're really sick." Orihime frowned causing White Beard to grumble slightly as he sent a glare at Ichigo, he didn't like that he was showing everyone his chart, the brat had no rig-. "But don't worry!" Orihime's sudden chipper attitude brought the man's attention to her. "I've never fixed an illness before, but the damage to your internal organs, I can repair your liver to a stable stage but the disease will still be present but it'll be effecting a healthy liver instead of a dying one. Your damaged lung can easily be fixed, along with the scarring of your other lung." She continued leaving White Beard stunned, this girl was saying all this was possible without a shred of doubt.

"Wait! You're saying you can help Pops!?" A pirate shouted having overheard what was being said.

"No way, it's impossible, he's seen the best doctors in the world none could help him." Another added.

"Good thing we're not from this world then." Ichigo added slightly amused at his own quirk as he took a seat on the ground, Orihime smiling as she placed the chart down on a table and stood before White Beard. The Pirates were weary before White Beard cast his arm out to silence them which they immediately did.

"If anything happens to me." White Beard began. "You're on the ship of one of the most powerful pirate crews in the world, nothing will be stopping them." Ichigo narrowed his eyes slightly at the warning however Orihime's smile stopped him from saying anything.

"Then it's good nothing's going to happen." She told him with utmost confidence. "Sōten Kisshun!" White Beards eyes widened as her hair pins came to life forming an orange barrier over the large man. Orihime placed her hands on the barrier and began to concentrate. The pirates were still weary as White Beard sat beneath the barrier however nothing seemed to be happening to him.

"What is happening?" White Beard questioned.

"The damage to your body." Ichigo began causing the large man turn to the sitting Shinigami who was keeping an eye on the pirates, ready should they see fit to attack. "Her power is the ability to reject, reverse, and reconstruct anything." Ichigo explained shocking the large man. "Your internal organs are being reversed to a point they were at their healthiest." White Beard looked down at the woman standing before him, her face showing the concentration she was putting into her technique.

"I've never heard of such a power." White Beard admitted. "What Devil Fruit did you eat?" He questioned causing Orihime to pause and looked up at him.

"Devil Fruit?" She questioned. "Never heard of it, are they yummy?"

"No." White Beard commented, slightly amused at her carefree nature but curious to know how she was in the New World without knowing what a Devil Fruit was. "You'd remember the taste if you ate one, it would have been the most disgusting thing you've ever eaten." He explained as he leaned forward, Ichigo had to sweat drop, if it was horrible taste Orihime would probably love the flavor. The barrier around White Beard morphed as he moved to sit in his new posture. "How is it possible you came across such a power, if not by Devil Fruit?"

"Well… I was in school, this really mean hollow showed up and hurt Tatsuki… then it just simply was there." She explained with a smile. "I've used it to help my friends ever since!" White Beard blinked at her sudden explanation before turning to Ichigo for confirmation only getting a shrug in return. "It's helped a lot, I've been able to heal Ichigo and everyone's wounds, so they can keep on fighting." She smiled as she turned back to concentrating on her barrier. White Beard sat back, it was an odd feeling that washed over him but he didn't feel any discomfort, he truly had to think if anything was happening.

"Well what's going on over here?" A new voice questioned causing White Beard to open his eyes, a large smile coming to his face beneath his large mustache as the other pirates cheered.

"Ace is back!" Ichigo heard shouted from the pirates causing him to look over to see the pirates swarming another group of pirates that had just come aboard, a party already seeming to form as the pirates greeted one another. One particular pirate who had child like freckles on his face approached, he wore black boots, black knee-length shorts with an eyelet-studded orange belt, and a blue pouch belted around his left leg. He also wore a short second belt with a large red "A" on the silver buckle over his right hip, but left it unfastened and threaded the free end along the back of his shorts. A dagger in a green sheath hung at his left hip.

On his left arm, he wore an odd looking orb like watch [to Ichigo anyway, he had never seen anything like it] and a red and white striped bracelet around his wrist, an orange elbow guard, with an "ASCE" tattoo. He wore a red beaded necklace and an orange hat with two blue smileys, one frowning and one smiling, and a string of red beads sitting above the rim. Two long orange side straps hung down sides of his hat and met at a large medallion of a bull's skull with orange tassels.

"Yo Pops, what's all this?" Ace questioned seeing the seated Shinigami and the woman standing before him touching the orange glowing barrier around the man.

"She's attempting to heal me." White Beard told the young man. "She and this brat over here recently came aboard our ship, cast aways on a nearby island that is forming." He explained.

"Wait, where that big explosion came from? We just came back from there, decided to check it out but nothing was there but a crater in the ground." Ace questioned looking between Ichigo and Orihime. Ichigo ran a hand down his face, just how many people had caught sight of his attack? "Wait, you said heal you!? She can do that!?" He shouted completely astonished.

"We're about to find out." White Beard stated as Orihime took a step back lowering her barrier around him. White Beard did something he hadn't done in years and took a deep breath, it didn't hurt, it didn't cause any discomfort that he had grown use too over the years. It was so smooth as his chest swelled. Laughter roared out over the Moby Dick shocking everyone as they turned to the largest man aboard the ship, White Beard ripped the tubes that were in his nose away, the needles that were in his arm were soon discarded along side them. He rose from the chair and grabbed the medical appliances with one hand and threw them over the side the ship and into the ocean. Everyone was completely speechless as White Beard cocked his head back and laughed, he couldn't remember the last time he had felt so fresh and alive. It was like he was a new man!

"Wait, she did it?" A voice questioned.

"No way..."

"Pop's is healed!" The entire ship lite up into a frenzy, Ichigo was swarmed by the mass of pirates as they all headed straight for Orihime who squealed as she was engulfed not just by the pirates but a massive hand wrapped around her and lifted her up into the sky. From her position above the others she saw Ichigo reach for the handle of his blade over his shoulder, his eyes narrowed however she shook her head, the pirates were just happy after all. Orihime was moved to stand upon the palm of White Beard's hand as she came face to face with the grinning man.

"Inoue Orihime." White Beard continued to grin. "I am in your debt."

"It's nothing really." Orihime smiled back at him. "Ichigo asked me too after all." She continued. "But you're still sick, I haven't worked out how to cure illness yet, so still be careful." Laughter erupted from the large man as Orihime smiled widely in return. Pirates were so jolly, it was nice to see after everything that they had gone through recently.

"This calls for a celebration!" Ace called out getting a cheer from the pirates. "How do you wanna celebrate Pops?" He questioned White Beard as the large man lowered Orihime to the ground only for her to be uprooted from her spot and thrown into the air by the pirates, all calling her praises. Ichigo had to smile from where he was seated as he heard Orihime's laugh reign out over the cheers, at least she was having fun.

"Hmm." White Beard contemplated. "Invite everyone." Ace grinned and nodded before running across the deck and inside. "Bring up the booze!" Cheers erupted as the ship went into full party mode. Ichigo continued to sit on the deck as the party went into full swing several ships appearing on the horizon and approaching as the hours went by. He was introduced to numerous Captains, apparently they were all pretty infamous in this New World that they said they were in. He was offered drinks from various pirates, declining them all, he wasn't about to get drunk with a bunch of pirates, Orihime on the other hand… face flushed red with a drunken blush as she danced with a group of pirates swinging a mug of beer around.

Feeling his stomach growl, he grit his teeth. Marco had ditched the idea for food and joined the party instead. Ichigo was seriously hungry as he sat where he did, he had just been offered another drink from some pirate Captain lady, Whitey Bay he recalled her name. She herself was drunker than Orihime but was still on her feet laughing with the others. Looking around he could see dozens of ships all around the Moby Dick, parties of their own had started when there was no longer enough room on the largest ship present, apparently White Beards health was a big deal to all of them. Groaning as he held a hand to his stomach, it gurgling wanting food.

"Marco said he owed you a hot meal." A voice spoke up causing Ichigo to glance up to the man offering him a plate of food with a smile. He was a tall man with a brown pompadour hairstyle, which went to a point at the back of his head, and a black goatee around his chin. He also had a stitched scar running down his face, around his left eye. He wore a posh uniform, with calf-long pants and a black belt around his waist, and brown shoes. "Names Thatch, fourth division commander of the White Beard Pirates."

"Ichigo." He greeted in return as he took the offered plate, Thatch took to standing beside Ichigo as the party around them continued on. Ichigo dug into the meal, damn it was good, he didn't know if it was because he was starving or what but damn it tasted almost as good as Kirio Hikifune's cooking.

"Not the partying type?" Thatch questioned looking down at the teen who was stuffing his face.

"Not much in the mood." Ichigo told him getting a nod from Thatch in response, he was still bothered by what Yhwach had done, sent them across dimensions onto another world. Ichigo had no idea that was even possible. Sure the Garganta and Senkaimon were gates between the after life and the World of the Living, but that had all been explained to him. What Yhwach had done just boggled the mind.

"She's a lively one." Thatch smiled as they watched Orihime with the others arm in arm with Whitey Bay as they sang, just as loud as the other pirates were so as to not be outdone. Ichigo had to smile in response as he nodded. It was good to see her smile like this, she had been worried about Uryu since she had discovered that he 'betrayed' them. He didn't know what she had done in Hueco Mundo but she seemed more confident in her abilities, it was the main reason he hadn't asked her to stand back when he went to face Yhwach. If she had been like how she was when she was in Las Noches, he didn't believe that she could have done what she had done. But she was stronger now, calmer more adept in her abilities. She had grown.

"She's one of a kind." Ichigo smiled as Thatch nodded, soon Thatch was called away and back to the party. Ichigo remaining where he was as he kept an eye on Orihime as more and more pirates joined her in the partying, she was having fun but he was still wary of these pirates, after all they were pirates. It wasn't long before White Beard waved Ichigo over, the large man still sitting in his chair atop the deck. Ichigo had to scowl, the man didn't let up on the alcohol even though his liver had just been restored. Hell he was drinking more than anyone else. Sitting before the large man who poured an enormous saucer of sake for himself before a much, much smaller one for Ichigo offering it to the Shinigami. Ichigo was about to refuse before White Beard spoke up.

"To my health." He stated causing Ichigo to accept, he wasn't a drinker. Keigo somehow managed to buy beer once and Ichigo hadn't been fond of the taste of it. Deciding to at least drink to the man's health he downed the Sake as the large man downed his much larger saucer. At least it tasted better than the cheap beer that Keigo had gotten. White Beard laughed heavily, not an ounce of pain in his system. "I haven't felt like this in years." He grinned.

"Keep drinking like that and your liver will go back to the way it was." Ichigo replied as he placed the saucer he had been given, down in front of him. White Beard leaned forward to pour him another however Ichigo rose his hand up, White Beard nodding in understanding as he turned to his own saucer and filled it to the brim once more. Glancing down at Ichigo he saw the teen looking over the party, his eyes following one in particular.

"You watch her like a hawk." White Beard told him, Ichigo frowning slightly as he turned back up to the large man. "None on these ships will harm her, I give you my word on that."

"Oh, and I'm supposed to trust the word of a pirate?" Ichigo questioned however White Beard laughed heavily, not insulted in the slightest.

"You're one unique Brat, you know that?" White Beard questioned, Ichigo had to roll his eyes, that was the understatement of his life. "Only a few have the brass ones to talk to me like that." He grinned down at Ichigo. "Either way, no harm will come to her." Ichigo nodded, while he was still wary he believed that White Beard was telling him the truth. White beard downed his saucer of Sake once more. "Now, where are you from exactly?" He queried the orange haired teen.

"Not from anywhere around here." Ichigo told him with a sigh, there would be no point in raising up the whole dimensional travel thing, it was unlikely that anyone would believe it anyway and he'd rather not be stared at like a complete idiot. "We just need to find the right person to ask the right directions." He explained as White Beard stared at him.

"The sea is a place full of mystery, some things are just unexplainable." White Beard began as he poured himself another drink, music echoing around in the background. "Yet it draws people to it as if a calling." White Beard filled Ichigo's saucer up again not even caring that Ichigo had protested earlier. The kid looked like he needed a drink. "In the years I've been on the sea, I've never seen such a power as the girls." Ichigo's eyes hardened, White Beard noticing it instantly. "A power like that, people would raise armies for."

"I'm fully aware of what people would do to get their hands on her." Ichigo replied, his voice cold. "I'll ask for you and your crew not to mention her abilities to anyone." White Beard nodded, from what he could see Ichigo would do anything to protect Orihime and from the sounds of it, he had done so in the past. Clearing his throat he sat back in his chair as Ichigo picked up the saucer White Beard had poured for him and downed it.

"Then there is you." White Beard began. "You don't have a power like yours and not be a somebody, not here." He explained referring to the New World. "The Marines would have tracked you down at least, with displays of power like earlier. There is nothing in this world that hides for long." Ichigo's scowl grew across his face as he locked eyes with White Beard. "So that just begs the question, of where exactly you're from."

"Ichigo!" The teen's eyes widened before the full weight of Orihime landed on his back forcing him forward slightly as Orihime laughed, wrapping her arms around his torso hugging him from behind. "Pirates are so fun! Look, look!" She slipped around his form awkwardly, resting on her knees before him and showing her forearms to him, his eyes widening as White Beard seeing the symbols on her arms laughed. They were the same markings as many of the crew had, the symbols of the White Beard pirates.

"These better come off Orihime." Ichigo told her making her smile happily before raising a finger up placing it in her mouth and coating it in saliva before smudging the ink across one of her arms. "It was just marker." He sighed, he had thought for a moment that these pirates had tattooed Orihime. Orihime laughed happily before Ichigo saw her drowsy look, her head spinning slightly before she collapsed forward onto him both out of exhaustion and her drunken state, Ichigo was able to catch her with ease. Sighing gently as he heard light snores coming from the drunk teen in his grasp he looked up at White Beard who was grinning down at him.

"There someplace I can let her sleep this off?" Ichigo questioned getting a nod from the large man as Ichigo stood up, picking Orihime up in his arms as he did so.

"You'll find a few empty cabins below deck." White Beard told him, getting a nod from Ichigo as he turned and headed across the deck, getting wolf whistles and cheers from the pirates but ignored them. The party still went on as Ichigo descended below deck, searching for an empty Cabin to rest Orihime in. He saw a few but they had personal belongings in them, he kept going until he found an empty room. It had a single bed within which Ichigo place Orihime down in, pulling the blanket up over her as he rolled her on her side. Taking a seat beside the bed facing the door he glanced up at the ceiling with a small frown.

He refused to think about what Yhwach was doing right now, he couldn't let himself be swallowed down by grief and anger. He needed to concentrate on finding a way home. He didn't know how long it would take, but he would do everything in his power to get back, when he did he was going to make Yhwach pay. If he had hurt any of his friends or family, Ichigo would return their pain ten times over.

Closing his eyes, and calming himself he let his Reiatsu fill the room, washing over Orihime as she slept. With this he could keep a careful watch over the room and be alerted to anyone trying to come in. Taking a breath he relaxed himself, the flow of Reiatsu in the room steady, protectively clinging to Orihime which made her smile in her sleep as she was embraced by it.