Human

Summary: Brook will miss his skull jokes. Even though he is delighted to human once more, the reality of his sudden weakness and disabilities hits hard. Now, a new threat seeps into the midst of his beloved crew. Will he relive his oldest nightmare, in flesh and blood?

AN: It seems there were more than a few people who wanted to see what might happen after Brook's full recovery in 'Soul and Bones' story, chapters 15-16. If you haven't read them, I recommend you do so, but it's not 100% necessary. For those who don't: in summary, Brook's human again—an old artefact gave the Yomi Yomi No Mi a drastic boost, completing his resurrection. He is weak, feeble, and a liability to the crew...will he survive? Or will it be the crew that suffers? Mysteries for everyone!

Chapter One: The Chain

Brook had experienced many journeys, but none so daunting as his first trip out of infirmary with his new legs.

Every step took effort. It was as though someone had chained cannonballs to his feet, and tossed a heap of heavy coats on his back. Oh, his spine! How odd it was, to look down at one's self and not see the familiar cage of strong, healthy ribs and curved spine he had come to identify with. Now he could but feel his spine ache, ninety-year-old bones complaining about the weight of muscle and skin.

Warm sunshine and the energetic laughter of his captain greeted him, as he cracked open the door. For the longest moment, Brook stood bathed in afternoon light, soaking in the invisible, warm energy. There was just one word for this: rapture.

Then he spoiled the moment by trying to take another step. His left leg threw in the towel, so to speak, and he yelped plaintively as he went careening to one side.

"Oi, oi, oi," growled the voice a familiar green-haired nakama; Zoro-san was next to him and grabbed his elbow, steadying him with a wry expression. "What are you doing? You're supposed to be recovering."

"Don't listen to moss-head, Brook," Sanji-san spoke from where he stood near the main mast. The cook exhaled smoke. "He's the last person allowed to lecture anyone about recovering. Did you eat breakfast?"

Brook recalled the absolutely delicious seafood omlette presented to him that morning—a meal which he regretfully could not keep down with a reformed, gurgling gut.

"I had, I admit, though my stomach—yohoho, I have one now, you know—did not quite enjoy as much as I," he told the cook.

"Are you seriously going to replace all your lame skull jokes with 'yohoho, I have this' from now on?" Zoro asked, annoyed.

"Just come in the kitchen before Chopper catches you out of bed," Sanji said, motioning to the kitchen door. Out of nowhere, he produced Brook's cane, which the former skeleton took with a relieved sigh. Then, for the first time in 50 years, he used it as a crutch to steady himself as he walked into the inviting dining area.

Robin-san already sat at the table, examining a book. Strange, because he had not known her to do this before, especially when Luffy was all riled up. "Good morning, Musician-san," she greeted, and went straight back to reading.

"May I ask where we are now?" Brook inquired politely, taking a gentle seat; his eyes were new and still sensitive to light, but he hadn't failed to notice the mass of land nearby.

"After you got hit with that artifact thing, the needles of the log pose pointed in this direction," Robin explained to him, without looking up.

"A-All three of them?"

"Yes. I've only pieced together what I know so far from the villagers' stories, and this book on lost treasure. I believe it's made from the same material as the Log Pose."

"Oh, I see." He did not know what else to say. This was not his area of expertise. "Where is..."

A sudden coldness overcame him. Shocking icewater in his veins (his veins!), as if something terrible were closing its jaws around his throat.

Fear. He was very, very afraid.

Of what? He could not possibly be scared now, not with his nakama so close by. As he tried to open his mouth, to ask again about the mysterious artifact, another wave of the paralyzing terror seized him. It was almost enough to make him retch again, though it only lasted a few seconds.

"Oi, Brook. You all right?" Sanji asked him; he had been tying on an apron to cook lunch. He paused in mid-knot.

"Y-Yes," he stammered, confused. Why could he say nothing about the artifact? Was it possible that the experience had changed him...further?

But Robin-san, good Robin-san, must have deduced his meaning and understood the question. "It's locked away for now. The artifact is dangerous."

Indeed. In his case, the effects of the strange, golden rod had only completed his recovery from the afterlife. A full body, alive, breathing—just as he was 50 years ago, before his death. For someone else, a Devil Fruit user with more aggresive power...even in the hands of a good soul, it was simply too risky.

It could corrupt.

Was he corrupted?

He didn't think so.

"Oi, bonehead," Zoro-san said from the doorway, and Brook jerked his head towards him. The tinted glasses on his face nearly went flying. "If you're feeling better, join me for training. Chopper says you need to use your muscles."

"But Zoro-san, I do not have any-" The musician stopped in mid-sentence, and chuckled ruefully. Oh, he missed his skull jokes.

Zoro was glaring at him.

Then Usopp appeared behind the swordsman, and slapped a hand on his shoulder, smiling. "Zoro's got a good point, Brook. If you need any advice, I'll be in my workshop-"

"Not so fast." The swordsman's voice stopped Usopp in his tracks. "You've been slacking on your training, too. You're joining us."

"Wh-What? B-But I have to-"

"Later."

"Zoro-"

"This is the New World!" The sudden outburst from their green-haired nakama brought down a deafening silence. Even Luffy's noise in the background ceased entirely. Zoro stood firmly at the door, arms crossed, eyes closed. When he opened them, the resolve there burned into Brook's memory like hot steel. "I shouldn't have to remind you guys. One of our crew can't fend for himself now. If you won't pick up the slack, then just leave. Today."

There was a trembling in the air, tension so thick that it could be cut with his Soul Solid. It wasn't Zoro's fault, but the words stung him deeply. Brook knew it was the truth. For now, at least, he was a burden on the crew, a weak link that posed a threat to their survival. He would need protection from any imminent threats, and he could not do very much to defend them in return. All at once, he felt a throbbing sense of guilt deep in his gut.

How could he be of any use now? He could hardly lift his cane, let alone slash at an enemy.

"It will be okay."

The voice was their captain's. Luffy-san didn't need to ask; Zoro stepped aside as soon as he heard it, and their leader strode into the room. His expression was so full of confidence, of optimism and love, it nearly split Brook's heart. A much more accute pain than it had been before, when it was just the ghost of a long-lost organ.

"I can protect all of you," Luffy-san went on to say, adding a 'shi shi shi' of a laugh. "Brook will get better and Sanji can make a feast to celebrate! Yo ho ho ho!"

"Baka," their cook muttered, turning to light the stove. "You'll make any excuse for a party."

But he was smiling, too.

And so was Brook. It did not reflect the soul-snaring worry that blanketed him, now that he had realized his grievous flaws, how erroneous he'd been to think this change would come without consequence. Still, his captain had told them it would be okay. Luffy-san had never been wrong about such things before, even in the most dire of situations. It was almost enough to believe beyond the shadow of a doubt that all would be well.

He looked (with eyes!) down at his hand. Gnarled, thin, and shaky. This was not the hand of a strong man. Even if he did recover his former strength as a human, he would be forever handicapped. Much of what he'd learned in five decades he would have to learn again. He did not have fifty years to retrain his body to fight.

Zoro was looking at him again, and his normally impassive face was softened with pity. He knew. Brook knew it. They both did.

If you won't pick up the slack, then leave. Today.

He knew it hadn't been directed at him. Zoro-san would never say such things, to insinuate that one of his crew was not fit to be nakama any longer. Surely, it had just been a warning, proof of his devotion to protecting the crew. He said 'won't', not 'can't'. It was a test of their will.

Brook thought of the nearby island. He thought about his captain.

If he did leave, simply vanish into the night, Luffy-san would never stop looking for him.

So if he had to leave, to break the chain and reforge it, he would have to do something unthinkable. Something that would trick their captain into accepting his resignation. Something drastic.

He hoped he could be forgiven.

TBC