Hot Shot: So sorry I couldn't update lately, but I was REAL busy December and then, in early January, my dad told me he signed me up to some publishing company and so now I have to write a REAL book O.o I'm nervous but excited at the same time so I don't know how often these updates will come. I'm trying to focus on my novel so . . . yeah, but I'll hopefully still remember my lovely fans! ^_^ Well anyways, wish me luck and enjoy the chapter! ;D
"Well . . ." Zoro scratched the back of his head as he looked at the straw hat that was nestled safely on his upturned knee.
Zoro took up that hat and flipped it around in his hand before looking at his foster father.
"Someone gave it to me."
"And who might that have been?" Mihawk asked, walking towards the greenhead, his eyes still intense as he snatched up the hat and looked inside it for any evidence of hair, once his eyes met raven locks and frowned.
"It was that kid that keeps popping out of nowhere," Zoro replied.
"Name?" Mihawk replied, it was more of a demand than question.
"Luffy?" Zoro said, wondering why on earth Mihawk would even care—wouldn't he want him to get out and meet people?
Even through the cracks of the fire Zoro could still hear that slight gasp his foster father made for unknown reasons. He watched Mihawk lower that hat before staring at him, his gaze still the same, but soon it dropped and once it had Zoro followed it down to the book in his hands. Before Zoro knew what was going on he found Mihawk placing the hat down on the in table before grabbing the book, shutting it all in one motion, as he slammed it down on the table with the hat.
"I want you to head to your room and go to sleep. In the morning you are going to find this boy, if you can, return him his hat and tell him you can't see him anymore," Mihawk stated, eyes closed as if that was his final decision and Zoro would know . . . he could get like this sometimes.
"What? !" Zoro asked, standing up in defense of the strange boy he had made a strange bond with. "But you ca—"
"I assure you I can," Mihawk stated quite coolly, lifting his chin slightly so he could gaze more down at the young adult. "Now go."
Zoro grinded his teeth together, not liking this at all. How could Mihawk just barge in and say that? ! Who did he think he was in the first place? ! Sure he was his foster father who took care of him and all, but he was not, repeat NOT, his father! Sometimes, even Zoro had to put his foot down and show Mihawk he was no longer a child.
Turning to do as he was told Zoro paused and turned back to Mihawk with angry eyes. Fed-up, angry, emerald eyes.
"No," Zoro stated firmly, hoping to now stand his ground against this man he had always admired so much.
"What did you say to me?" Mihawk asked, turning more towards his foster son, his arms now at his sides sternly.
"You heard me," Zoro managed to say through clenched teeth.
Zoro watched Mihawk's already fiercely golden eyes glow more fierce and in the back of his mind—well actually it's more in the front—he began to wonder if he made the right choice . . . to stand up to him right now.
"You will do as you're told," Mihawk ordered.
"Or else what?" Zoro asked, his jaw clenching tightly to his skull, wondering what Mihawk would do to his rebellious attitude, he was usually rather passive on things like this—well—he had been when Zoro was little, but now that he was older and nearly a man . . . he wasn't so sure.
Mihawk closed his eyes and let out a sigh. He pinched the bridge of his nose and knew this would come sooner or later. He had thought he already dealt with the teenage rebellion, but now . . . this was just getting on his nerves.
"I'm doing this for your own good Zoro, can't you see this? This boy, as you say, that keeps popping up out of nowhere is nothing but trouble and could cause harm to you," Mihawk stated.
"Oh, how the he- - would you know?" Zoro asked. "And as a matter of fact, when the he- - did you start caring about my wellbeing all of the sudden? God I swear ever since we got to Ireland you've been on my case, more so than when I was kid. What's your problem?"
"It's not my problem, it's yours," Mihawk pointed at the greenhead. "I know the dangers of this world Zoro, you're too young to understand them now."
"Oh and Luffy's one of them?" Zoro asked. "I suppose next time you'll say Brooke's one, or Robin, or Sanji, he- - you probably thought Saga was one! What with all the trouble we had gotten into back in Japan."
"No," Mihawk replied firmly, his eyes narrowing slightly. "That is not what I'm saying. This boy may not be a danger to you in one way, but he may be in another. He'll certainly lead you to dangers so I want you to stop seeing him."
"And how am I supposed to tell him that when he pops out of nowhere? !" Zoro asked, flailing his arms, trying to make his foster father understand how strange this kid was. "I might not even see him for weeks he- - even months! On top of that, even if I say that there's no way he'll listen to a da- - word I say! I can tell okay. He's . . . strange."
"Strange or not the strange can understand," Mihawk said, coming to pick up the hat and then toss it to Zoro who caught it easily. "Get rid of that and the boy."
Zoro took a step back and shook his head in disbelief. He couldn't believe the way Mihawk was acting. Why? Why would he be acting like this over some strange boy? It wasn't like Zoro was going to get attached to him and then suddenly move and break the boy's heart like his other friends he had to leave behind. That couldn't be it, Zoro had a feeling they'd be staying in Ireland for a while so why was Mihawk . . . ?
"Why? What the he- - has gotten into you?" Zoro asked, looking at Mihawk like he barely knew him.
"I told you before," Mihawk replied, bending down to pick up the book and open it to that page where the picture . . . his picture was, his eyes gazing over the man he once was, soon slamming the book he tore his eyes back to Zoro, the frown obvious on his face. "This is for your own good."
"No," Zoro shook his head. "You make no sense and yet you expect me to—"
"I expect you to listen to me," Mihawk stated, his tone stern. "I am your foster father and so will be treated with respect. Now respect my wishes and head to bed. This conversation is over."
Zoro clenched his fists and bit the inside of his lip. He didn't know what to do to be honest. The day had been perfectly normal, well, if you don't count Luffy's mysterious pop up. Still! He was sitting there enjoying himself before he headed off to bed and yet suddenly Mihawk comes home and tells him all this crap about not being able to see Luffy again, and etc. So . . .
What the he- -? !
Zoro's trained responses where to turn around, head up stairs to his room and go to bed. Mihawk had trained him that way—to listen to him without complaint and most of his life he did. So the question now was . . . should he continue on with that life, or make a stand once in a while?
He actually couldn't decide between the two so he made a third option: bolt for it to decide which of the two he would decide on.
Mihawk gasped once he watched Zoro suddenly turn and bolt past him, pushing him over some, before bolting out the door.
"Zoro!" Mihawk called, watching the teen run off towards the old shed, grab the bike and ride off. "Zoro!"
Mihawk ran outside, trying to stop the foolish boy before he could hurt himself but Zoro managed to swerve right past his foster father. So now all Mihawk could do was watch Zoro disappear into the dark night. Clenching his fist he tried to calm himself, but that boy was pushing him so far it hurt.
"Roronoa!" he shouted, but of course no response came. "That foolish child!"
Kicking at the gravel driveway Mihawk fished in his pocket the keys to the car. He had to find that boy quickly. Evil things liked to come out and go about in the night.
"Stupid Mihawk, stupid night, stupid road, stupid BIKE!" Zoro growled, kicking the useless old piece of junk, the stupid tire blew out for stupid unknown reasons and now Zoro was stuck out in the stupid middle nowhere!
With another 'hmph!' Zoro crossed his arms, but as he did so he happened to notice he was still holding that straw hat in his hands. Looking down at it Zoro held it up to the moonlight and looked it over, as if he hadn't already, but still . . . it was just an ordinary straw hat yet Zoro felt something about it . . . like it was a sealed book with so many stories he couldn't even comprehend.
"So what's with you huh?" Zoro asked, coming to sit down on the patch of grass next to the dirt road where his bike had failed him on. "Whose heads have you been on? And why such an ordinary yet strange look?"
Zoro paused for a moment before blinking. He rolled his eyes and let out a groan.
"Great! I'm talking to a hat! I'm going crazy . . . stupid Ireland, what the he- - is wrong with this place?"
Zoro though continued to sit there for a good long while. Staring at the hat for no reasons. With a sigh he bowed his head and stood up. Looking around he noticed the rolling green hills before him, much like the place where he had trained earlier today.
"Well, maybe if I meditate I can think better. Staring at this stupid hat is getting me nowhere," Zoro said to himself as he walked off the road and into the hills.
Looking around for a place to meditate Zoro subsequently decided against it. The grass was too wet and plus, something else had caught his interest. Blinking a few times Zoro noticed how the moonlight seemed to move, as if forming silhouettes in it of beings, some oddly figured, some more human-looking.
"Heh, there's something wrong with this land," Zoro chuckled humorously, almost insanely to himself. "What the he- - is wrong with the places Mihawk chooses to live . . . there always seems something wrong with them . . . well, except Japan of course."
Zoro felt his whole body shiver. Rubbing at his left arm he turned around to see another of those strange moonlight silhouettes walking off, or prancing, whatever, but one had just walked right through him like some ghost.
"There, maybe this place is haunted," Zoro spoke to himself, now regretting suddenly running off, it was getting cold and he had left his jacket at home. "Wait, I don't even believe in da- - ghosts."
Shivering once again as a cold wind swept through the hills. Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to walk about the hills; at least by the trees there was cover, but out in the open like this . . . not so much. So the only way Zoro figured to get warmer was keep walking, where? He didn't care, as long as he could think.
And he did. He thought a lot as he walked around, unconsciously holding the straw hat close to his chest as his arms continued to rub the other from the horrid cold winds that threatened to turn into winter winds.
The thing about Zoro was—he was constantly thinking of others things. This caused him to get lost about 97.6 percent of his life. Right now he didn't care if he did get lost, he wanted to get lost into a place that was far away from people, secluded, alone—like himself.
A cold wind suddenly swept across the land and the rustling of tree leaves caught Zoro's attention and brought him out of his thoughts. Looking up he found himself standing before some woods and towering above them was a large old ruined castle . . . well . . . what was left of it.
Zoro was about to make his way to it but noticed something at his feet. Kneeling down he noticed an old road leading straight to it. The road was once made with stone, it was probably once nice, but now that weeds and roots have grown over it, you could hardly tell what it once looked like. Shrugging his shoulders Zoro decided to go at it, but as he walked there he noticed how oddly far away it was. It shouldn't take him that long to get to it right?
Turning around Zoro groaned and noticed it was now behind him. His STUPID sense of direction always had to get on his nerves didn't it! With a groan he turned around and headed back towards the castle. He needed some shelter from this wind, it was killing him!
"Da- - wind! Da- - castle!" Zoro growled, coming to a halt just to shout at it. "STOP MOVING FROM ME!"
Great, now he had to catch his breath on cold wind. His lungs were burning and body shivering. It just seemed like this wind was deliberately trying to push him away from the castle or something, but no! Zoro wouldn't have that. He was going to get that shelter from this torturous wind and he was going to get to it NOW!
"Da- - this all!" Zoro growled, fighting against the wind to move forward to the woods and the old castle.
In his struggle though, something strange happened. The wind. It suddenly—stopped. Well, maybe not completely, but it was going around him as if something was blocking the wind from him . . . .
Looking up through wind-wiped eyes he gasped. His eyes widened and he had dropped the straw hat down at his feet. Just . . . just what kind of an illusion was this? !
Before him stood the ugliest, most foul looking . . . troll? He ever saw! Well, the only one he ever saw. The thing was huge! All about it was chains and dare he say—human—heads—and those things looked new!
"Just what the he- - is this thing? !" Zoro gasped, backing up slightly to get out of attack range, but he wasn't moving fast enough.
Before Zoro could do anything the creature, troll-thing, brought down its club, attached to it were long pieces of sharp shards of whatever. It didn't matter, all that mattered was Zoro had to dodge this thing's attack unless he wanted to get seriously harmed!
Managing to roll to the right Zoro had dodged the hard hit. The impact of the weapon and ground was so hard that many a chunk of the old road flew up.
"What kind of strength is that? !" Zoro gasped, seeing the indent, but then his eyes widened seeing at the troll's feet was the straw hat he had so carelessly dropped. "Gah! Da- - it!"
Bolting forward Zoro lunged at the troll's feet; the troll had thought he was attacking him and so brought down its club. Luckily Zoro was fast and managed to grab the hat before it, or himself, was seriously hurt.
Standing up quickly Zoro dodged the hit by lifting a leg off the ground, but of course he had been thrown off balance and fell to the ground once more, but rolled to the left and darted away from the creature.
"So," Zoro stood up straight and scowled at the creature. "You want to play rough do you? Fine then . . ."
Zoro reached to his rip hip to pull out his swords, but all his hand met was his right clothed hip. Gasping Zoro looked to see his swords GONE! But what could have happened to them? ! Had he dropped them when he rolled or did he lose them some miles, or however long, back? ! Shi-! This wasn't good, not good at all!
In the midst of Zoro's panic he halted and groaned. Grabbing a fistful of hair he pounded his head. How could he be so careless? He had left his swords by the couch at home! How could he have not grabbed them? What was he thinking? ! Oh! Wait! Nothing, that's what!
Stupid, stupid, stupid! How could I have been so careless? ! Gah! Da- - it, this night isn't going my way at all! Zoro groaned inwardly, ever keeping a close eye on the troll's movements.
"Shi-!" Zoro gasped, watching the troll suddenly charge, with faster speed than he would have liked for the creature to have.
Dunking, jumping back, anything he could do to dodge the creature's attack. He knew he should run, but it'd be pointless with this creature's speed, plus . . . Roronoa Zoro NEVER turned his back on an opponent, he'd NEVER get a scar on his back so long as he lived.
"Da- - it!" Zoro cursed, watching strands of his hair fall down lifeless as the club's shards sliced a few too close to him. "I can't keep doing this all night! I need to use something to fight back!"
Before Zoro could contemplate anything a shrill sound of a whistle broke his concentration. Both he and the troll turned to the right to see a form sitting on a tree branch, a few yards from them. Zoro's eyes widened once he caught sight of that all-too-familiarly-strange grin.
"Luffy," Zoro gasped, watching the kid hop off and suddenly run towards them with a speed that was so inhuman that it caught Zoro, and even the troll, off-guard. "Luffy!"
"Na, Zoro what were you doing playing with Jack-In-Chains?" Luffy asked like a giggly little 4-year-old.
"Jack-In-what?" Zoro shook his head; it felt like it was spinning a hundred miles per hour—what was up with this place?
"Ooohh, here he comes again," Luffy nodded, before getting into a fighting stance by spreading his legs and pounding his knuckles together.
"What?" again Zoro was caught off guard as the troll returned with equal speed, nearly smashing the both of them with its club, but Luffy was fast and managed to turn and pick Zoro up off of his feet and dodge the attack.
"Sheesh, why are you so slow?" Luffy groaned, wiping his hands as he set Zoro back on his feet, the greenhead threatening to just collapse in sheer confusion. "Can you not fight without your swords?"
That struck a nerve. Zoro growled and glared at the raven-haired boy with fierce emerald eyes.
"No!" Zoro spat, placing the straw hat down on a nearby rock unconsciously before pounding his fists. "I can fight hand-to-hand!"
"Good, then do it," Luffy said, pointing behind him and as Zoro turned he noticed the troll nearly on top of him.
Zoro's eyes widened and he noticed Luffy about really to jump and tackle him out of there, but he growled and pushed him away before bringing up his fist right under the troll's jaw, sending it flying.
"SHI-!" Zoro cried out, holding his ruined knuckles, it felt like he hit a frickin' skyscraper! Just what the he- - was that troll made out of? !
Nevertheless the troll had been knocked down and Zoro was fairly impressed with his punch. He hadn't punched anyone in a long time, or kicked—but he was a little weary about the kick . . . he didn't want to ruin his toes next. Next to him he heard solo clapping, with a groan he turned to see the boy, Luffy, grinning and clapping.
"Good, good," Luffy giggled again. "You are strong."
"What? Am I being tested or something?" Zoro asked sarcastically, but actually dreading he was right.
"Look out!" Luffy suddenly gasped and pointed behind Zoro.
Turning quickly this time Zoro managed to dodge and, without a choice, chose to ruin his toes. With a good kick the troll flew again and as Zoro wondered if he had broken his leg or not he could see to his side Luffy marveling at the distance the troll flew.
"Ooohhhh, you kicked him faaaaar," Luffy was in awe as he placed his hand over his brow and just watched the troll fall into the green hills with a loud 'thud!'.
"Yeah, at the cost of my da- - leg," Zoro groaned as he fell over groaning at the pain his hand and leg was going through.
"Oi, Zoro, are you okay?" Luffy's voice was laced with concern as he leaned down to him and placed a soft hand on his shoulder.
"Just—peachy," Zoro replied through his teeth. "May have to go to the hospital though . . . da- -, Mihawk hates paying medical bills."
"You're hurt?" Luffy asked, but Zoro's groaning was enough for him. "Wait, I know someone who can help!"
At that Luffy turned and began darting back into the woods. Zoro gasped as he watched the boy turn his back, especially towards the enemy that had now recovered and was incoming.
"Wait! Luffy! Don't turn your back!" Zoro cried, reaching out to the boy but finding it useless and not fast enough.
"Wha—?" Luffy began to turn but just when he had he gasped, his eyes, pupils shaking. "Uh!"
Luffy had turned in enough time to watch the troll bring down its club, a long sharp, and thick shard in it managing to land right in front of him, right into the person who stood with his chest forward and arms out to shield the boy. He even turned quick enough to watch the ruby red blood spray into the night air, sickening the smell of everything.
"Z-Zoro!" Luffy shakingly gasped, watching the swordsman fall forward, falling into the green grass only to stain it crimson.
Luffy was too distraught to even notice the toll bring up its club once again, this time, ready to smash the both of them. They were that close to do it and so the club fell.
"Be gone wandering spirit of the night!"
Mihawk took a single hold of the hilt of his sword and with a flawless 'swish' the sword's might slammed right into the troll, knocking it farther back than Luffy or Zoro could even manage. Once the beast was out of the way Mihawk placed the black blade onto his back and ran towards the scene where he had seen Zoro fall.
Once he arrived he stopped and watched a young raven-haired boy kneeling down on his knees, Zoro's head in his lap and his hands on his bleeding chest, trying to get the blood to stop, but it wasn't helping at all. The boy's hands where shaking, along with his arms, lips, and eyes. Mihawk wondered if the boy could even speak, he looked to be in a state of shock.
Mihawk shook his questioning thoughts away before coming to kneel down and check Zoro's pulse. It was there, but barely. He was loosing too much blood. With a hard sigh he took a hold of Zoro's right arm and swung it over his shoulder, ready to pull him up and head back to the car where he could drive him to get medical attention. That's what he was going to do, but as he pulled on Zoro he found something was holding him down.
He looked down to see the raven-haired boy; this Luffy Zoro had been talking about. He was holding him down with his hands on his bloody chest. His eyes looking at Mihawk with concern, and fear. Mihawk watched the lad open his mouth as if to say something, but his lips were trembling so much that he couldn't.
Mihawk knew he wanted to ask him what he was going to do with him, if he was going to be alright, etc. Words of 'don't worry, I'll take care of him' would comfort the trembling boy, but Mihawk didn't want, in away way, to comfort this boy. It was his fault after all why Zoro was in this condition.
Looking down Mihawk caught sight of that straw hat near them. Reaching out he took it up and pushed it into the boy's hands so he'd let go of Zoro. The raven-haired boy, Luffy, fell off his knees and continued to look up at Mihawk as the older man practically dragged Zoro's motionless body. Golden intense eyes were peering down at the boy making the boy even shake more, those hurtful eyes accusing him of everything that he knew was his fault.
"Take that and never come back," Mihawk said, his tone deep and warning at the same time.
Mihawk turned and made his way back to where he left the car, Zoro needed attention now! Without it, he may very well die . . . and that wouldn't be too good for anyone.
Mihawk didn't care to look back at the boy—the faery. He didn't care to watch the boy stand up, his eyes still fixed on their forms as Mihawk made his way back to the car as fast as he could. He didn't even watch the boy numbly drop his beloved straw hat because his hands had been uncontrollably shaking.
"That was too close Zoro . . . too close," Mihawk muttered, leaning against the hospital wall and watching his foster son breath in and out, with the help of the tubes, who was now in a comatose state.
"Sir, are you this boy's father?" a nurse suddenly came up to him after being given Zoro's stats.
"Yes," Mihawk replied, straightening to look at the clipboard in her hands.
"Well," she said, glancing down. "He's been stabilized, but . . . he's lost a lot of blood and needs a blood transfusion. He's got such a rare type of blood that—"
"Take mine," Mihawk quickly snipped in. "I have a rare type too, not the same as his, but it should suffice."
"Uh, alright," she said with a nod. "Come this way then sir."
"Uhhuuuaaaa! Aaahaaa!" Luffy only continued to cry . . . and cry . . . and cry . . .
And frankly it was driving his big brothers insane.
"Luffy, Luffy!" Ace came to sit next to him on his bed and place a soft hand on his brother's trembling back. "Stop crying Luffy—it wasn't your fault."
"Yes it wahahaaas!" Luffy continued on, his fists rubbing at his eyes ever more.
"Hhhuh! Sabo! Tell Luffy it wasn't his fault," Ace said, looking at his brother who was just standing there watching his little brother wail it out.
"What? By what all he said it looks like it was," Sabo replied with a shrug.
Just saying that made Luffy cry even louder. Ace growled at his brother's lack of compassion and bit his lip as he watched their little brother continue on like this. How was he supposed to calm him down? Oh if only he'd been there with him!
"You shouldn't have gone out by yourself Luffy," Sabo came up and swung a little on the bed pole. "You know what father said."
"Oh Sabo!" Ace growled, looking up at their blonde brother. "It's not like he hasn't done it before. Isn't that right Luffy?"
"True, but this'll teach him to not do it again," Sabo replied only to make Ace groan.
"You're not helping," Ace groaned out, letting his chin fall in the palm of his hand in a slump.
"I was just . . . I was just . . . seeing if he was strohong!" Luffy continued to cry, but somehow his brothers managed to hear his words through his wails. "Everyone said who I picked out were weheak! . . . He was strong! Strong! Ahaaaa!"
"'Was' is the key word here," Sabo muttered, casting his gaze elsewhere than his brothers.
"You heartless bast- - -!" Ace growled, getting up and grabbing a hold of his brother's collar. "Can't you see Luffy's hurt! ?"
"I can see that Ace!" Sabo said, his tone louder as he pried Ace's fingers off his collar and fixed himself. "But there's nothing we can do! Luffy's the one that picked them. He kept saying they were the best, the best! The best don't die."
"What?" Ace was a little more than confused at what Sabo was getting at.
"The best don't die, right Luffy?" Sabo was now sitting in front of his little brother who was now hiccupping his leftover wails.
Sabo wanted Luffy to look at him, but he had tears in his eyes and fists constantly rubbing them away. With a small growl Sabo reached forward and pulled Luffy's fists away from his eyes to make him look at him.
"Right Luffy? !" Sabo was now gazing right into Luffy's watery eyes and as the tears fell Luffy couldn't help but let new ones fall as he bowed his head and took his arms back from his brother.
"Noho!" he cried, rubbing at his red eyes.
"There, you see?" Sabo turned to see his raven-haired brother standing there with his arms crossed. "The best don't die. So Zoro," at that he looked at Luffy and ruffled his hair. "Will be fine—alright? Alright."
Luffy nodded his head with a few snivels and hiccups. Sabo smiled and reached around Luffy's head to bring him into a hug.
"Come here," Sabo embraced his distraught brother and rubbed his back affectionately before glancing over at Ace and motioning for him to join with his eyes which Ace nodded and did so, sitting on the other side of Luffy and wrapping his arms around him as well. "Everything's going to fine Luffy. Human or not, he's the best like you said right? So he'll be fine."
"Hey, you know what?" Ace smiled at Luffy who was still continuing to wet his brother, Sabo's shirt. "If he survives you know what that'll mean? That he's real strong. You may even be able to convince father to bring him here sooner."
"R-Really?" Luffy asked, turning to Ace and rubbing the rest of his tears on his sleeve. "E-Even with the problems with the goblins?"
"Yeah," Ace said with a nod. "He went up against a troll Luffy, they're so close to goblins they're practically family. So how's about we go see how he's doing?"
"But . . ." Luffy glanced down, in his lap he grasped his beloved straw hat, the blood stains still there from where he held it when he had Zoro's blood on his hands. "That man . . . he told me to stay away. He blamed me . . . with his eyes he blamed me for what happened to Zoro," Luffy was sniffling again and now he was rubbing at his eyes that were beginning to moisture.
"What man?" Sabo asked.
"With his eyes?" Ace found that strange, humans usually didn't possess such fierce gazes—very few did, very few indeed.
"I don't know," Luffy hiccupped once and then sniffled. "I think it might have been his father . . . he didn't just blame me though, he warned me and I shook under his gaze."
"You shook?" Ace and Sabo asked in unison, just what kind of a human could do that to Luffy—did they know what he was? Who he was? !
"Mhm," Luffy nodded before rubbing at his eyes with his sleeves again.
Sabo looked at Ace in concern. Each sharing a silent conversation through only the communication of their eyes. Both looked back down to Luffy and sighed.
It took a while sitting there but eventually Luffy had cried himself to sleep. Once he had Sabo covered him and took his straw hat to take to the cleaners. Their father or Shanks wouldn't like to see those bloodstains on it. Most certainly not.
"Should we tell father about the man?" Ace asked, looking at his brother as he gazed at the straw hat.
Sabo raised his head and gazed at his dark-haired brother with serious eyes. Closing them he shook his head.
"No," Sabo replied. "He didn't touch Luffy so he's no threat."
"Yet," Ace added as Sabo made his way out of Luffy's room, Ace eyeing him in the doorway.
"I'm going to get this cleaned," Sabo changed the subject; holding the hat up and showing Ace the bloodstains. "If father saw this he'd throw a fit."
Ace knew Sabo was trying to change the subject, he knew he was trying to lighten the mood and forget things. Ace had always hated it when Sabo did that, but he couldn't do anything about it so smiled and came to walk out of their little brother's room.
"Heh, don't you mean Shanks?" Ace chuckled as he and Sabo headed to the cleaners. "He's the one who gave it to Luffy."
"Yeah," Sabo chuckled, looking at the hat. "But who do you think gave it to Shanks?"
"Da- -, now he really does look like a piece of shi-," Sanji entered the hospital room with a basket of 'Get-Well' food made by his father who had also forced him to make a few things. "I mean, not like he already didn't to begin with, but . . . man this really tops the cake."
"Oh my," Robin covered her mouth; she had heard it was bad, but—this was horrible.
"Mr. Roronoa," Brooke came in with the other two, carrying his violin in tow looking down at the poor lad with concerned eyes.
Mihawk looked up from where he sat next to Zoro on the other side of the room. He didn't say anything at the moment, just looked at the three and nodded, approving their visiting.
"The old man made this," Sanji said, handing it out to Mihawk who stood up and took the basket. "It's full of shi- that'll help him get better . . . when he can eat again." Sanji managed a glance towards Zoro's grim figure laying still in the hospital bed all wrapped up to nearly look like a mummy, well his chest, leg, and hand at least.
"Tell your father I appreciate it, and Zoro does too," Mihawk turned his gaze back towards his foster son and wondered if this could have all been prevented . . . this was why he moved so much . . . to avoid incidents like this. "Stupid boy," he whispered, his eyes soft towards his still form.
"Sniff! Should I play a Get-Well song? !" Brooke asked, nearly busting out in sobs as he brought his violin up to his chin.
"Um, please, just a soft one," Mihawk said, motioning with his hand to tone it down a little.
"Alright," Brooke nodded before striking the violin in a soft melody, one that Zoro would like, 'Bink's Sake' in a ballad version.
After Brooke was done Mihawk smiled lightly and thanked him with an incline of his head. Robin, standing beside the musician smiled.
"That was beautiful Brooke," she said in a soft tone, not wanting to disturb Mr. Roronoa's rest.
Turning to Mihawk she took out a book and handed it to him. Mihawk eyed her for a moment as she held it out for him to take. She glanced down and whispered an apology for the last book she had given to Zoro.
"This is a book of ancient swordsman techniques," she replied. "Nothing more, nothing less. I think he'd like it."
Mihawk slowly took the book and placed it down next to the basket Sanji had given. Even though he had approved of the three's visit they still were under a severe watch and all felt it. It was uneasy to stand in a gaze like that, but somehow they managed.
"How long—before he can wake up?" Robin asked.
"He's in a comatose state so it could be any time. It all depends on him," Mihawk let out a sigh, his eyes falling back to gaze at his sleeping form.
"So we'll have the bast- - - back in town in no time," Sanji managed a smile and tried to lighten the mood, but it wasn't working so well on Brooke or Robin.
"Uh . . . right," Brooke nodded, his gaze still on the poor lad who nearly had his life taken at such an early age.
"He's a strong lad—right Mr. Dracule?" Robin smiled softly as Mihawk looked at her before nodding.
"Yeah," Mihawk mumbled, his eyes keeping on the boy—not many making much of a conversation.
So that's how it went. Every now and then someone would say something, but that was all. It wasn't long before each had to go and so Mihawk was left alone. Watching, waiting for him to wake up.
"Foolish boy," Mihawk once again muttered. "I warned you and yet you still didn't listen."
Mihawk let out a sigh and closed his eyes. He smiled at the irony of what happened. All this moving to keep him safe and now he had gotten hurt here, of all places. Perhaps he shouldn't have been so homesick to come back . . . he should have moved back to America—that place was the less likely to have such creatures roaming about.
Perhaps it was getting time to tell Zoro some things. Maybe if he would have stopped keeping secrets from him then this wouldn't have happened. Well . . . he could play that 'what if' game forever. What's done is done and now Zoro needs to wake up.
Maybe they should move again . . . because of this.
Too much to think on at the moment. Mihawk needed some soothing tea and he wasn't sure what this hospital carried. With a sigh he got up, rubbing his temples, he supposed he could go see what they had.
Of course not but 5 minutes after Mihawk had left a few 'strangers' slipped into Zoro's room.
"Did he see us?" Ace asked, looking back at the open door cautiously.
"I don't think so," Sabo shook his head.
"Then hurry up Luffy," Ace motioned for their youngest brother to go towards the sleeping one.
Luffy looked at his brothers with uneasiness, but they just kept motioning for him to go. Luffy nodded and came up next to Zoro's side. He looked at the damage and realized how much he hated all those bandages on him . . . making it look like he was going to die or something.
Lifting his hand slowly he softly placed his hand on Zoro's easy rising chest and as it steadily fell a flashback of when he had tried to stop this bleeding chest came into mind and it wasn't long before his brothers noticed his trembling hands.
"Luffy?" Sabo came up to him as Ace stood guard by the door.
"I'm fine," Luffy turned to strain a smile at his brothers. "Because he's fine. Those beeping things means he's fine right?"
Sabo looked at the monitors and nodded. He watched his brother nearly slump over in relief, like his whole body had been so tense from not knowing.
"Good," Luffy let out as he looked back up to Zoro's face, his face looking peaceful, as if he was in no pain at all. "He can't feel anything right?"
"I'm sure the doctors have put anesthetics in him," Sabo nodded.
"Chopper could have healed him better," Luffy poked out his lip and furrowed his brow as he brought his hand up and slowly patted his head. "He's strong."
"To go through all that? I'll bet," Sabo nodded with a smile of his own, glad to see his brother relieved.
"Then," Luffy's voice was soft, almost below a whisper.
"What?" Sabo asked, straining his ears to hear his brother.
"Can I . . ." Luffy leant down slightly, his eyes fondly on the green-haired man, a soft smile on his face—so much more different than what he looked like just a few minutes ago.
"Guys hurry up!" Ace pressed. "I don't know when that guy'll be back and he- - if I want to get caught being in the same room as his son!"
"What Luffy?" Sabo continued to gently press, being soft and easy with his brother.
"Mark him?" Luffy finished, this time taking his gaze away from the human to turn to his brother.
"Guys," Ace pressed.
Sabo though, paid no heed. He kept his sole attention his brother who awaited his approval. Luffy's deep brown eyes were deeper, darker now and Sabo, even though knew it'd be risky, couldn't deny his brother.
Sabo nodded and closed his eyes.
"Go ahead."
Luffy's smile returned to his features and as he turned back to Zoro he slowly blinked once before closing his eyes and leant down, his lips touching tanned skin as he kissed his brow affectionately.
"Sabo did you just let him—?" Ace took his eyes off the hallway to see Luffy marking the human.
Sabo turned to his brother, the answer in his eyes. He couldn't deny his brother, and he knew . . . neither could Ace. But right after Ace caught the answer in Sabo's eyes he noticed something else in there—Surprise.
Ace quickly turned around to see the man with the intense gaze standing in the doorway, the one Luffy had spoke of. The one they had waited to leave and now he was back, a cup of tea in his hand and shock written all over his features as he looked at the scene unfolding before him.
"Shi-! Can he see us? !" Ace gasped, taking a step back towards Sabo.
"Luffy!" Sabo cried out to his brother behind him.
Luffy's eyes shot open and he quickly turned around to gaze at the man that had warned him to never come back. He nearly back up onto Zoro's bed as he tried leaning away from that intense gaze.
"What have you done? !" Mihawk gasped, he had seen that young one marking Zoro, he had seen it all.
As he dropped his cup to the ground Ace and Sabo glanced at each other before nodding. All at once they both charged the man, knocking him out of the way to make room for them and their brother to escape.
"Let's go Luffy!" Sabo called and just as soon as he had Luffy was by his side, all three running like they never had before.
Mihawk had to shake off his shock to even attempt to chase them. Mihawk had darted into the room and pulled back Zoro's green bangs to see the fading mark, it was a symbol of the faeries and by all he- - he didn't like this at all!
"No!" He spat before turning to dart out the room after the three.
He had very good eyesight so finding out where they had run off to wasn't too hard for him. It wasn't long before he had caught sight of them running out of the front doors, none of the clerks, or orderlies noticing at all, but Mihawk could see them. He darted out after them and to the others watching it seemed like Mihawk was just chasing the wind, but he wasn't.
"Ah shi-! He's chasing after us!" Ace cried out, trying to run as fast as he could, but this man was fast! Faster than normal!
"We can all see that dumba- -!" Sabo spat. "Just keep running!"
"Da- - it Luffy! Why'd you have to go and mark Zoro now? !" Ace cried out, his lungs getting a good workout as the three ran into the rolling hills towards their home, but it was a far ways away and the human was catching up quickly.
"I wanted to!" Luffy said, running in the middle of his two brothers. "I had to do it now or else I never could!"
"Well look now who you've pissed off!" Ace gasped turning back to see the golden-eyed human nearly on their heels. "Shi-!"
Before anyone knew it the man lunged right at Luffy. They rolled before the two oldest and they watched in horror as the man came to stand on top of their little brother.
"LUFFY! !" Sabo and Ace cried out, they had no idea what the man was going to do to him.
"Ah!" Luffy gasped out as Mihawk grabbed a fistful of black hair and lifted his head up.
"Get your da- - hands off our brother!" Ace and Sabo shouted, both charging and knocking him off and once he was off Luffy quickly scrambled to his feet and ran to hide behind his brothers.
Ace and Sabo stood their ground, both pushing Luffy behind them to make sure the man couldn't even see him. Mihawk though only stood up and gazed all three down, each one gulping at the might of his gaze. It wasn't natural for humans to stare down faeries like this, not natural at all!
"Give me that boy, now!" Mihawk raised his hand and pointed to the boy behind the two older who was staring at the man in worry.
"No way in he- -," Ace spat.
"He's our brother," Sabo said. "Just like you protect your son we protect him."
"Give him to me!" Mihawk sounded more demanding now, his tone so rough that it shook the boys to their core—a lot like what their father can do . . . not many people can do this to them so of course they were concerned with facing him.
"Now, now . . . shouting at children? I didn't think that was like you Dracule."
Everyone turned to see a man walking up to them and soon coming to stand in front of the boys, each of the boys' mouths were open in shock, surprise, and confusion.
"What . . . are you doing here? !" Mihawk gasped, his eyes wide seeing that familiar face he hadn't seen in ages—literally. "Shanks?"
"I could ask you the same thing—Mihawk," the red head grinned, lifting his head to gaze at his old friend who, for some strange reason that he was about to find out, was attacking his little precious ones.