6th Member?

Seeing Queen Otohime leaving with a World Noble, Silk was still worried but under the assurance of Ori he didn't say anything.

Ori and the others spent the rest of the day relaxing in their rooms until evening came when they decided to go out for nice meal. After checking with the owner of the inn they found out that the most popular restaurant on the floating island was a 5 star restaurant called Khaylee's.

It wasn't too far away, only taking them 5 minutes to walk there. When they arrived they were slightly surprised by the sheer number of Marines. It seemed that this was the go to place for all Marines. Though shocked they kept it hidden. They calmly walked in and asked the receptionist for a table.

"You're in luck, there's only one remaining."

Ori and the others followed the receptionist to their table. Whilst moving to their tables they received a lot of odd looks from the Marines around them. The receptionist who was leading them explained.

"This restaurant is normally only frequented by Marines. Although we do get the odd non-marine customer, it's not often. Don't worry though, after a quick look they'll more than likely go back to ignoring you."

As she said that Ori and the others noticed that after glancing at them the marines quickly went back to their original conversations not paying them any further attention.

As Ori and the others sat down at their seats, the receptionist gave them 5 menu's and said.

"Choose what dishes you want. I'll send a waiter to write your orders down in 5 minutes."

As she left the group scanned through the menu. Seeing the prices Sabo blurted out.

"So much money?! This is daylight robbery!"

His voice wasn't quiet as he momentarily forgot where he was and as a result the marines sat on the tables beside him all gave the spiky haired boy cold looks.

Ori and the others didn't seem to notice the looks their table was receiving, or rather they didn't care. Ori was more amused by Sabo's reaction.

"How can it be daylight robbery when it's night time?"

Sabo rolled his eyes as he replied.

"Minor details, you know what I meant!"

Realising the 2 were about to start bickering again, Shaya quickly nipped it in the bud before they began.

"Will you quit your bickering for 5 minutes. Hurry up and pick your dish!"

Ori sat up straight in his seat as he teased.

"Yes mum!"

Hearing him teasing her, Shaya gave him a cold look. Knowing that look meant she was not amused, Ori didn't dare to look her in the eyes burying his head in the menu. Sabo took great pleasure seeing Ori defeated and let out a little chuckle. That was until he felt Shaya burning a hole in the side of his head with her death stare.

5 minutes later the waiter walked over to their table asking for their orders. Shaya, Sabo and Silk ordered ordinary sized portions, but Ori and Roman on the other hand ordered enough to feed a small army. At first the waiter thought they were joking but Shaya sighed helplessly and told him they were serious.

Eventually the food came and after eating averagely made Sea Kings for over a month each of their mouths were watering. It should also be mentioned that Ori and Roman both required a separate table each to be wheeled over with their portions.

The group laughed and spoke whilst they ate enjoying their meals. Halfway through their meal, the lights in the restaurant were dimmed and an attractive woman walked on the stage with a microphone and said.

"Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we have a treat for you. One of our very own local marines will be performing a song he's just learnt. He says he found this piece in an ancient ruin whilst out on a mission.

So without further ado, please enjoy the performance of Ensign Benjiro!"

A graceful looking man who looked to be in his late 20's walked out on to the stage holding a zither in his hands. He was stood at 6" and had a slight natural tan. He had slicked back long black hair that reached half way down his neck, sparkling sea blue eyes, perfectly shaped eyebrows that most women would kill for and dressed in a standard marine uniform. When he appeared even Ori had to admit that this marine was exceedingly handsome!

"6 months ago I was out on a mission and in an ancient ruin I stumbled across this piece. It took me almost the full 6 months to decipher and today is my first time playing it in the presence of others. It's called 'If I Didn't Know Better'. I hope you enjoy it."

Ori wasn't paying the young performer much attention at first but once he began his body jolted out of his seat as he stared at the young marine who was playing the zither whilst singing.

"I think sometimes I can read your mind.

When you make things up I can tell you lie.

I see the things that your man can't see.

And I wonder what kind of man is he…"

Ori's body was trembling as he listened to the performance. To the rest of the room, Benjiro was speaking in a foreign language but Ori understood it perfectly. He was speaking English!

[This is… How is this possible? This song shouldn't be here!]

As soon as Ori stood from his seat, Roman and the others all realised there was something wrong, but they had no idea what it was.

Sabo was about to ask Ori what was wrong when Roman stopped him.

"Leave him be for now."

Shaya was also looking confused at Ori's exaggerated reaction, but she could see that he wasn't upset in any way shape or form. He was excited!

"It should be the music, there's something special about the music."

As she said that, she closed her eyes and really focused on the music. It wasn't just her, Roman and the others also closed their eyes and started to really listen to the music.

As they started to actually listen they were finally able to really hear the song. It was almost surreal how affected they were by the song. They could feel the emotions of the singer as if it was their own.

The Navy Ensign didn't notice the reactions of Ori and the others. In fact he wasn't paying attention to the reaction of any of the audience. He was too focused on his performance and staring intensely at the back office of the bar whilst he performed. It was almost as if he was performing for whoever was behind the door.

"If I didn't know better,

I think that you were mine you're with me all the time,

If I didn't know better,

I'd swear we're more than friends, you're touching me again,

If I didn't know better,

I'd think we were in love,

Do you wanna tell me something…"

As the song went on the smile on Ori's face grew wider and wider. By this point Ori had already slipped into a trance like state where all he could hear was the sound of the music.

Other than the Heavenly Demon's, the rest of the crowd began to jeer and boo to try and get him off the stage. They had to admit that he had an amazing voice but that was it, as he was singing in another language and the genre of music wasn't one they were used to, they didn't like the song in the slightest.

Although Ori wasn't completely conscious, when he heard the jeers from the crowd he subconsciously used his conqueror's haki knocking almost everyone unconscious. Other than Benjiro and the staff, the only people left conscious was a man wearing a hooded cloak sat by the bar and an attractive dark haired blonde haired woman sat in the corner.

Like Ori and the other Heavenly Demons, the attractive woman in the corner had also seemingly fallen into a trance. The man at the bar on the other hand was shocked by the sudden display of conqueror's haki and realised there was more to the samurai then meets the eye. The more he looked at the samurai the more confused he became. It was almost like he recognised him, but he didn't know how or why.

Because of his trance, Ori didn't realise that he was being watched. It wasn't till the end of the song that he snapped out of his trance like state.

As the song ended Benjiro was shocked as he discovered that almost everyone was unconscious. Thinking that his music was so bad that it put them to sleep, he couldn't help but smile helplessly as he said quietly to himself.

"I guess I wasn't as good as I thought I would be!"

Despite saying it quietly Ori overheard him and corrected him.

"You were incredible!"

Hearing that, Benjiro thought it was someone just being nice, but when he looked up and saw the sincerity in not only Ori's, but the expressions of everyone sat at that table and realised they may have really enjoyed his performance.

"You… You're serious aren't you?"

Benjiro saw the samurai's eyebrow raise under his conical straw hat as he looked at him in confusion and asked.

"Why would I lie?"

Benjiro shook his head not wanting to go into it.

"Haha never mind. Thank you anyway."

Just as he was preparing to leave Ori stopped him and asked.

"If you don't mind my asking, where exactly are the ruins you found that piece?"

Benjiro sighed with regret as he said.

"When we were in there the ruins began collapsing. I was only able to pick this and 2 others up before having to exit."

Ori nodded as he asked with a hint of expectation.

"What was the name of the other songs?"

Benjiro could see the excitement in Ori's face but he just thought it was because he was a genuine fan of the music. Thinking that he had his first fan excited the handsome marine as he replied.

"One's called "Dance With My Father" and the other's a boy-girl duet called "The Closer I Get To You". Or at least that's what I think they translate as."

Ori's body shook as he recognised both songs.

[Both are Luther Vandross classics from my old world!]

"Are you free at some point tomorrow? I'd love to hear you play them!"

Benjiro didn't dare think twice at the request of his first real fan.

"I can meet you by the old courtyard tomorrow just after lunch if you're available?!"

Ori nodded with a smile as he replied.

"After lunch is perfect!"

The now excited marine suddenly remembered something.

"Unfortunately I can only play you "Dance With My Father". I still haven't finished translating "The Closer I Get To You" yet.

Ori didn't even understand how he was able to translate music from his home world in the first place, so hearing that he was yet to finish translating the 3rd piece didn't surprise him too much.

"Don't worry about it, I'm fine with just those 2 pieces."

After talking for a little bit longer, Benjiro said his goodbyes and left the restaurant after taking one final glance at the office at the back.

As he left earshot, Roman was the first to speak as he said.

"I don't understand how he can only be a Ensign."

Sabo didn't understand why Roman said that.

"Why can't he be just an Ensign?"

Knowing Sabo's observation haki wasn't strong enough to feel how powerful that song really was Shaya explained.

"That man has reached the Musical Master Boundary! It's the same boundary Ori and I reached with our respective paths. Although he seems to have only just broken through, his strength surpasses most Marine Captains let alone Ensign's."

Sabo was shocked by that revelation. As he would never have imagined that handsome, yet weak looking man was so strong.

Watching him leave, Ori smiled as he said just loud enough for his table to hear.

"That's going to be the next member of the Heavenly Demon Pirates!"

Roman looked at Ori and then shrugged not seeming to mind his decision. Shaya on the other hand looked incredulously at him as she said.

"You do know he's a marine don't you?!"

Ori gave her a nod and looked at her as if to say, "and what of it?!".

Seeing the look on his face she decided to give up and just let him do as he wants.

"Whatever!"

Silk was finally starting to understand just what Ori meant when he said that he invited Silk to join them purely based on his intuition telling him it was the right fit. Oddly enough Silk greatly appreciated that carefree side of him.

Ori glanced at all of his crew mates and asked.

"Ok, so is there anyone who objects to inviting Benjiro to join us?"

Roman, Sabo and Silk all shook their heads not seeming to mind one way or the other. Shaya rolled her eyes as she sighed helplessly and said.

"Why bother ask us? You've already made up your mind!"