Dark and unfeeling. It was considerably better than the pain you were in just a few moment ago. You weren't sure how long the pain had lasted but that it felt like hours. You were floating, you weren't cold or hot, you were content. Something you hadn't felt for a while.

"I wonder if Koby is here too. I think he'd like floating like this, it's peaceful. Almost like being in the ocean."

"Don't get too comfortable in here. If you do you'll never want to leave."

What the hell? Someone was in here with you?

"It's me moron! The one who saved you from that psycho who tried to kill you!!"

You looked around and saw no one.

"Who are you?"

"Don't have a name yet."

"Huh?"

"You haven't given me one."

This was making less and less sense. You kept looking around.

"I don't have a form yet either: you have to pick on for me."

"I don't know you though how am I supposed to do that if I don't know you."

"I'm apart if you idiot. Well you and your brother. He gave up a small portion of his soul to make me, and in extension you stronger."

How long had you been in here.

"You've been asleep for about 5 days. Your superiors, friends and boyfriends are freaking out. And the villagers are starting to show symptoms again."

"You can read my mind?"

"Again! I am apart of you. Everything you know I know. Everything you've seen I've seen. Everyone you care about I also care about."

"You sound like a sarcastic little boy."

"The kid you did an autopsy on has been on your mind a lot. I guess I took inspiration from that to give myself a voice. But yeah you need to wake up soon. But before you do. There's a few things you and me need to talk about. In order for me to give you a new ability you need to sacrifice something that you've attained or something you were close to having but will never experience it. And no I don't mean your love of Koby. I don't want you to lose that either. He makes you happy. And when you're happy I'm happy."

You realized you didn't have a whole lot to lose or gain from listening to the spirit talk. You only wanted to wake up and finish your work, but also you wanted to let everyone know you were okay.

"I guess I really have come a long way. If I care that people are worried about me."

"You mean we've come a long way."

<Koby's POV>

She's not waking up! Why isn't she waking up?!

"Lad, you need to get some sleep. It's been 4 days since you've slept." Garp tried to reason with the young man.

"Just a little longer please..."

"Boy I know you two are trying to keep your relationship a secret but I think most people here are drawing up the conclusion that you're seeing each other. Which probably isn't a good idea to let people know about."

"But I can't just leave her here...alone. What if she needs me?" Koby held your hand. "I'll sleep next to her, and if people find out about us...so be it!"

-4 days ago-

Koby felt apart of himself die when he found you writhing and screaming in pain, he tried to calm you down, but he couldn't touch you. You were burning up. He did what thought would help, he picked you up: despite the burning, and dove into the ocean with you. That seemed to help calm you down. But the heat only dissipated a little bit.

When he brought you to the surface again, and when he came up he saw Lucci struggling to stay standing when he saw him and you in the water together, his frown became more prominent on his face.

"What are you doing here? Cipher Pol isn't apart of this mission we don't need you here."

"That's none of your concern Captain I ask you give me the doctor before you both drown."

Something didn't feel right to Koby, he stayed where he was. As long as you both stayed in the ocean the assassin standing on the rocks couldn't do anything for you. When Koby made it clear that he wasn't going to do what Lucci had asked, the leopard man became even more agitated.

"Give her to me now."

"If you want her so bad why don't you come out here and take her from me?"

Koby wanted to pat himself on the back for that statement. It was something you would've said to be a smart ass, and it worked cause the veins in the guy's forehead looked like they were about to pop.

"You are defying an order from me?"

"As far as I'm concerned, you caused her to become this way. And Garp is docking and he'll come looking for us both, what is he going to say when he finds you here? I wonder if he'll just sucker punch you into the vast sea and watch you drown. I know I would."

Koby was just trying to buy some time, Garp was indeed almost there but he doubted he'd be here in the next 25 minutes. That's about as long as he would last treading water with you.

"Aaaaaaa!!!" You pain spiked again and so did the heat. He couldn't keep hold of you in his attempt to get away from the burning, he let you go and you began to sink.

"NO! Y/N!"

He dove then and swiftly caught up with you, when he reached you he couldn't even get close enough to you. But the strangest thing happened. You stopped sinking. You were floating between the tides and your body began to glow violet, your haki presence so powerful it's color was shinning for the naked eye to see. It did it for a moment before it began to fade.

Sorry, you can hold her now. The glow won't hurt you anymore. She needs you.

Koby couldn't begin to question what or who that voice was, but it didn't feel dangerous and when he went to touch you, this time your body was warm and he felt a surge rub through him. As if the aura around you went through him and granted him a little extra strength.

When he brought you both back up to the surface the aura disappeared and you were looking better already.

"Koby boy! What the hell happened?"

"Vice Admiral Garp! Please help me with Y/N-San! She hurt but I don't know how she became this way I found her screaming in pain."

Garp motioned for Koby to bring you closer when the old man gripped you, he held you like a newborn babe. He looked over you and noticed blood on your shoulder and your thigh. Garp instantly became furious, he knew exactly what or rather who inflicted these wounds, meaning he was still here. He also noticed a bite mark on your calf.

"Koby boy! Hurry we need to get her to the medical bay. Something bit her we need to figure out what it is. And fast!"

Luckily Vergo was here and he had some idea about medicine thankfully, he might be able to figure this out.

-Present-

Koby had slept next to your side, he felt calm and relaxed next to you. Suddenly he remembered how long he'd been asleep and if you felt as worried as he did right now.

"Y/N...we need you to wake up. The villagers are okay but they aren't getting any better...no one can understand your formulas, they confused Vergo to a point he got mad. Grount comes by every hour upset that you still haven't woken up. Helmeppo's been raising your tea cabinet. You'll have to stock up again. Garp has been looking for whoever hurt you, Smoker has been reading you the paper....and I-I need you to wake up...please..."

Koby let the tears fall. He could just imagine Luffy saying he doesn't like crybaby cowards b it maybe he would understand if he knew how important you were to him.

"Koby..." he heard it your hoarse voice and when your eyes opened he was overcome with joy!

"Y/N?!"

"Water please?"

He rushed over to the sink and filled up your cup. After a few gulps, you caressed his cheek, and smiled at him.

"I love you Koby thank you for staying next to me."

He continued to cry, and hugged you close.

"Koby hey I brought you some foo- Y/N?!"

"Hey Helmeppo." You gave a slight wave trying to lift your arms. The blonde started crying and yelling that you'd woken up.

"I think you're about to have a lot of visitors."

"Caw caw!"

"WOAH!!"

"Koby!" He'd fallen backwards out of his seat, next to you was a raven, a lot bigger then he'd ever seen before, measuring about the same size as an eagle. "Yoru! Seriously? Cough cough!"

"Ah you need more water."

Righ as Koby handed you the new cup many people burst through the door.

"Y/N!" Grount and Helmeppo both hugged you at the same time, and Smoker came over and patted your head.

"How about not scaring us like that again Dr. I've been stressing out about when you were going to wake up!"

"Lass I know you're called Ghoul Doctor but that doesn't mean you're allowed to become one! Understand?!"

"CAW CAW!!"

"WOAH! Where the hell did the bird come from?!"

They all said in unison, the shocked look on their faces you just couldn't hold it in anymore.

"This raven's name is Yoru. He saved me from my attacker and he's going to be with me from now on."

You couldn't give me a better introduction than that?

Suck it up chicken head!

I'm a RAVEN! At least give me the dignity of calling me the correct species!!!

Hey guys! This chapter was a little shorter but I needed to close out The Scorch part of this story. We will learn more about Yoru and the new ability that reader attained. The next chapter is the last one before I go on hiatus!!! I want to see what happens to Koby in the manga. The next chapter will probably be published next week!!!

Stay safe and healthy everyone!!

Much love!!!!!