22nd Feburary 2013

Summary:

During Zoro's time at Kuraigana Island, Mihawk gets a little surprise for Perona so why does this leave more work for our green-haired swordsman?

Disclaimer:

All characters belong to respective owners. This is non-profit fan-based story.

Notes: Well this was supposed to be a onehot but that didn't seem to work out. However this won't be too long, it should be about 3 chapters long.


"A Puppy?"

"Yes a puppy."

"What on earth possessed you to get her a puppy?" The green haired swordsman said as he looked apprehensively to his rival and teacher.

"She's been complaining for six months that she wanted a cute pet," Mihawk replied.

"So that's where you went then? To get a puppy?" Zoro scowled.

"No of course not. It doesn't take three weeks just to get one puppy. I got her on the way back."

"Where did you get it from?"

"I know a village on a nearby island. The farmer I bought our food from just had a litter," Mihawk answered.

Zoro grunted in reply and looked at Perona as she sat gleefully playing with the young puppy. It was a mongrel that looked like it had a mixture of herding dogs in its blood. Probably a mixture of collie and shepherd, but Zoro couldn't tell until it was fully-grown.

"She's a Malinois cross. Her sire was a large crossbreed but he has a bit of border collie in him that shows on her markings," stated Mihawk. "The farmer has been using him as a guard dog. Her mother, the malinois, was a fine herder."

Zoro shook his head in exasperation and glared at his teacher again.

"It still doesn't change the fact that I don't think Perona can look after her," he scolded. "Her previous pets were zombies that were programmed to respond to her every whim."

"She'll manage, she promised to take care of her."

"Ch'," Zoro scoffed. "Like that will happen." He continued to watch the ghost girl play with the puppy before scooping it up into her arms and heading towards them.

"Look Zoro!" she squealed. "Look what Mihawk-sama got me!" She brought the puppy up to Zoro's face for him to get a better look. He flinched backwards but seeming unperturbed by his scowl the puppy looked at him with big eyes then yipping happily and licking him on the nose.

"Aww she likes you," Perona smiled sweetly.

"Remember Perona," Mihawk said. "She is not a toy."

"Yes Hawky-sama," she said as she resorted to her nickname for the man.

"You have to look after her properly, she's not an invincible zombie."

"Yes sir," Perona pouted up at him innocently.

Zoro didn't seem convinced, Nami pulled that expression on a daily basis to get her own way but he nodded to Perona in approval. The swordsman hated to see vulnerable creatures mistreated. That's why he was always close to Chopper, the small doctor brought out a paternal instinct in him. Zoro noted that he would have to keep an eye on the puppy to make sure Perona was doing her job.

"So what are you going to call her?" Mihawk said in an unusually chipper tone breaking the awkward silence as Zoro critically studied the woman. Zoro suspected that the man was relieved to have put a stop to Perona's constant whining than he originally put on.

"Ummmm," Perona paused and looked at the puppy. "Fluffikins."

Suppressing a snort of disbelief the Straw-Hat pirate spoke up.

"You can't call her that," he scowled.

"Why not?"

"Its not a proper name. She is a living being remember," Zoro replied.

"But it is a proper name. She's fluffy and she's my dog so I can do what I want."

Sensing the tension between his two wards Dracule intervened.

"Perhaps what Roronoa is saying is that, although Fluffikins is a good nickname its not a very suitable full name," he said. "It doesn't mean that you can't call her that."

Zoro spun around. That was not what he was saying at all. There was no way that he was calling that dog Fluffikins. It isn't fair on the dog and he would look like a fool.

"Okay," Perona stuck her tongue out at Zoro. "If she must have a proper name… I guess Lucinda is quite nice."

That was better in Zoro's eyes. Although he still felt sorry for the poor pup that the girl was still going to her something stupid.

"Her name shall be Miss Lucinda Fluffikins the First."

Well maybe he thought too soon.

What the heck was wrong with this girl?

"How do you like it Fluffikins?" She smiled smugly as she spoke to the pup in her arms. "Miss Princess Lucinda Fluffikins the First is a very good name for a gorgeous puppy like you." Sticking out her tongue out to the swordsman she carried on talking gibberish to the pup.

Mihawk couldn't help but watch in amusement as Perona continued to goad the Straw-hat pirate. The sound of frustrated teeth grinding could be clearly heard in the large spacious lounge they were currently sitting in. As his eyes drifted to the pup in Perona's arms he watched curiously as he saw wide eyes look up to the man in curiosity and adoration. It didn't go unnoticed when Roronoa made brief eye contact with the mutt with a fierce protectiveness that could be faked. It was something that Mihawk had not expected to see in the other swordsman but this seemed to work quite nicely. Even Dracule's eyes Zoro was too uptight, so if this puppy made him relax a bit it would be welcomed.

Yet one thing that was quite clear, Mihawk thought as he watched Zoro throw his arms up and leave the room. That puppy was going to have all of them wrapped around her paw.