In the middle of the night, Mikita woke up and decided to sneak out of the crow's nest without waking Zoro. His sleeping form wasn't stirred as she looked at him and smiled lightly before walking out quietly. She walked out on the deck and looked at the dark rippling waters below her. Mother… are you disappointed in me? I wish I knew… She tried to ignore her thoughts. Soon there was an unwanted presence nearby as Mikita sensed it. Her ear twitched and she perked her ears up as she looked around her.

The presence also awakened Karasu's senses as she opened her eyes and sat up, walking off and leaving Luffy to sleep soundly with his mouth wide open. She walked over to the door of the cabin to see Mikita looking up into the sky. Suddenly, a strange unknown force yanked Mikita up into the air and she was gone instantly from sight. Karasu's eyes widened. "I didn't know Miki could fly…" She then shrugged and walked back inside. Zoro continued to sleep, unknowing that Mikita was in danger.

Mikita was taken quickly to an isolated, open place in the forest. She was dropped from a pretty high elevation and she landed roughly as she grunted in pain and tightly closed her eyes. She struggled to get back up and opened her eyes to see the one that had brought her there. She glared at the man who had given her a complex. "Tsuyoku." He simply smiled at her. "Surprising that I would find you here my dear." Mikita stood up and glared at him, ignoring the aching in her back and her right arm from being dropped so far. "You… you followed me. How foolish." She reached for her Dragon Tail, unsheathing it about an inch from its sheath. "Our battle will not be interrupted this time." Tsuyoku smirked. "Precisely." He lunged at her and struck at her with his claws, but Mikita blocked with her sword as she pulled it out of the sheath quickly.

"Why do you think I brought you out here?" Tsuyoku asked, repeating the purpose of her statement. Mikita pushed him away with the sword and slashed at him, creating a blast of energy that hit him in the chest. Tsuyoku jumped back and leered at her, his wound healing almost instantly. "That trick again eh?" He created a pointed weapon from the earth between them as it hovered in the air by the use of his telekinesis. "Just like your mother." He smirked and fired it toward her, which she sliced in half with her sword. This separated the chunk of earth into several pieces and they all began to surround her. This surprised Mikita, especially when the earth segments caught on fire. They seemed to create a tornado around her and she was unable to escape from them as she watched them surround her.

"Escape this!" He yelled as the pieces began to dart for her. Mikita jerked the Dragon Tail and extended the weapon, but she was cut up by a few of the attacks in the process. She ignored the pain as she began to create a tornado by swirling her weapon around her. The tornado was also added onto with her spiritual energy and this dispelled the jagged chunks of earth surrounding her. The winds tossed the earth attacks right back at Tsuyoku as the tornado transported the attack toward him at a high speed. Tsuyoku was cut up to an extent, but not as greatly as she wound have desired. He destroyed the tornado and glared at Mikita. She had more injuries than he had and Mikita was a bit more fatigued. That attack uses up much of my spiritual energy. It wasn't even as effective as I had hoped. I'll have to try something else.

"That was quite impressive Mikita," Tsuyoku stated with a slight hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Of course, how do you expect to measure up to me if you can't even unleash your fullest potential?" Mikita looked at him with a surprised anger. "What do you mean by that?" He walked closer to her as he spoke, which made Mikita take a step back each time. "You thought that you could take a shortcut to power… but it doesn't work that way dearie. A wolf's tradition wasn't meant to be broken, and your mother knows that all too well." Mikita glared at him with a severe hatred. "It was your fault that she couldn't have the life she deserved."

"Oh, but it was your fault, for you were the one that led to her demise." He replied as he peered into her eyes evilly. Mikita was hurt by these words as she narrowed her eyes even more. "You evil cretin." Tsuyoku simply grinned. "Why thank you. I would have preferred 'daddy', but 'evil cretin' will do just fine." Mikita prepared her weapon for another attack. "Let's see you say that once you are unable to force out the words in that last breath." The links in her Dragon Tail began to glow with fire mixed with spiritual energy. This created a purple energy surrounding the links. "I've always wanted to try out this attack. I'll use you as a test subject." She launched the attack at her father with one swift swipe of her weapon as they fired toward him at immense speeds.

Once it seemed that the attacks had reached him, they seemed to explode before her eyes and consume him. She gazed on with a look of victory, but her smile turned to a frown once the smoke cleared away and he was discovered standing there unharmed. He had used a barrier to block against the attack. Mikita stared at him flatly. "Well wasn't that convenient?" He caused his barrier to disappear as he looked into her eyes. "Good show… but it's time to get this over with. You've had your fun."

Back on the Merry, Karasu was lying next to Luffy with her eyes closed. Before long, her eyes flew open and she jumped up to a sitting position, accidentally slapping Luffy in the face. "WAIT A MINUTE! MIKI CAN'T FLY!" She jumped up and ran across the ship screaming, "ZORO! ZOOOOOOROOOOOOO!" Both Zoro and Luffy woke up. "What is it?" They said in unison. Zoro noticed Mikita wasn't with him and jumped down. "Where'd Mikita go?" Karasu looked at Zoro. "I don't know. I know she can't fly, but somehow she ended up in the air and disappearing." Zoro glared at her. "Well then it looks like we're going to follow her."

Mikita had been injured and cut up greatly as she lay there paralyzed once more. It was similar to the past encounter as Tsuyoku hovered over her, his hands on her throat and his claws barely touching her neck. "It's funny how you thought you could beat me. You don't stand a chance against me. Your mother didn't and neither do you. This time, no one will interfere. Why, you're not even worth the attempt to battle with." Mikita glared at him as his face came down closer to hers. He put his clawed hands on her shoulders, leering into her eyes with cruel intentions. "This time, I will consume your powers, including the pathetic abilities that you have acquired due to that human swordsman."

Mikita's anger grew even more after he said that and soon Tsuyoku flinched and grunted with pain. Blood trickled down his side and arms. Mikita's hidden dagger that she kept with her had been stabbed into his back. She had somehow fought against the spell when she should have been paralyzed. It wasn't easy for her to do, but she somehow managed to jab the blade into his back as she stared him coldly in the eyes. "Seems that swordsman has taught me a valuable lesson. One's willpower, if strong and confident enough, can conquer anything." She jerked the dagger out of his back as the blood dripped onto her own clothes as well.

Tsuyoku staggered up onto his feet and glared at her angrily. "You bitch!" he used his telekinesis to jerk her up into the air and into a hard rock. Tsuyoku was about to come after her, but an arrow of fire was fired at him and it slashed at the edge of his leg. Tsuyoku glared at the source of the arrow as Mikita was slipping from consciousness.

Immediately following the arrow came three blades of wind from one side. From another, came a fist on an incredibly long arm, and from above came an exploding pellet fired from Usopp's slingshot. Tsuyoku leered at all of the enemies and suddenly vanished. As he disappeared from sight, he addressed Mikita as he said, "Next time I face you we will not be interrupted. Maybe by then you will have given up all hope. You're not even worth facing. You are just as pathetic as your mother was. Until next time baby…" The lingering patch of smoke then vanished and Mikita's eyes flickered with half-awareness.

Zoro started to walk over to Mikita when a flying kick knocked him over. "You damn Marimo... I can't believe you let this happen to Mikita-sama!" Leona walked over to Sanji and held out her hand in restraint. "No San-San… Look…" Leona was referring to Mikita, who had one single tear rolling down her face and to the tip of her nose as she lie there on her side. Karasu walked up and looked at Mikita sadly. "Miki…" Zoro kneeled down next to Mikita and wiped the tear away. He then lifted her up. "Let's go back and have Chopper take a look at her."

While Zoro carried her, she looked out at nothing. "I failed…" Her words came out as near whispers. Zoro looked at her. "No. You didn't." The rest of the crew was following behind. It looked like only the girls, and Chopper had stayed behind. Mikita still did not look into Zoro's eyes. She coughed up a bit of blood. "Yes… I did. I failed my mother… and I failed myself." Her words trailed off into a whisper as she slipped into a state of unconsciousness. Zoro kept on walking with her. No. You haven't failed anyone until you give up.

"Miki won't give up," Karasu said as they walked along. Leona nodded in agreement. Luffy nodded. "She'd better not! Or I'll punch her!" Karasu glared at Luffy. "Oh yeah? Then I'll punch you!" Leona laughed. "Cut it out you two lovebirds." Karasu looked at Leona strangely. "Love birds? Where?" She looked up in the sky for birds. Luffy also stared up into the sky looking for the birds. Zoro sweatdropped. "You have to be literal when doing things like that Leona."

Leona sighed. "Fine. Luffy, Karasu, you two would make a cute couple." Karasu looked at Leona and raised an eyebrow. "A cute couple of what?" Leona faceplanted. Zoro wanted faceplant as well but he was carrying Mikita. Leona made a sound of frustration. "Karasu. I'm going to make this simple. "You: Girlfriend. Luffy: Boyfriend. Get the picture?" Karasu shook her head. "No I didn't get a picture of anything." Leona slapped her own forehead. "Never mind." Zoro sighed. "Just forget about it Leona. We can all have fun laughing at them when we find them making out on the ship." Leona nodded and smirked at Karasu. "That's true." Karasu looked at her curiously. "What's true?"

"Karasu! You have got to be kidding me! You are so dense!" Leona yelled. Karasu yelled back at her, "I'm not water!" Leona just blinked at that statement. Zoro blinked. "She means you're stupid." Karasu paused for a moment before replying, "Huh? Sorry I wasn't listening. I was dazed out thinking." Leona nodded. "Ah, and what were you thinking about?" She smirked, thinking that Karasu had understood what she said before. Karasu looked at Leona. "I was thinking?" Leona sweatdropped. "You just said you were thinking about something." Karasu appeared as if she didn't know what Leona was talking about. "When?" Zoro looked at Leona. "Why is it she only probes our minds when we don't want her to? In this case, it might be a good way to get the message across of what we're saying to her." Karasu was still in a daze as she walked on ahead of them all. Leona shook her head. "I have no idea, but I sure do agree with you there Zoro." Karasu smirked as she walked on. It's fun to mess with those goons.

They finally hit the ship and Mikita was under Choppers care before long. Well, right after he'd had his usual panic session. Mikita was still unaware of her surroundings and she couldn't reach consciousness just yet. Zoro was weight training as usual, but he didn't actually put as much effort into it as usual. He was too busy worrying about Mikita.

Mikita was in a dream, seeing her mother with Tsuyoku and imagining how it must have happened. She saw her mother moving her claws closer to Tsuyoku's shoulder, but then he grabbed her hair and pulled her head back forcefully. This stopped her from what she was doing. Tsuyoku smirked. "Not gonna happen dearie."

Mikita then woke up as her eyes squinted to see what was going on around her. The only other person in the room aside from Mikita was Chopper and he was reading through a large book on various medicines. Mikita strained and tried to sit up. Chopper turned around. "Mikita! You're awake! Wait right there, I'll go tell Zoro." He hopped down from his stool to run for the door. Mikita sat there and seemed upset as she soon buried her face in her hands.

Zoro walked into the room and looked at Mikita. He didn't even hesitate to walk over to her side and put his arm around her. Mikita looked up at him and blinked her eyes free from the tears. "Zoro…" She embraced him tightly. Zoro kissed her cheek gently. "It's alright Mikita." Mikita started crying harder as her voice heaved out the words. "I saw her… I saw what happened to her… I couldn't stop it… I couldn't stop him… I've let her down again Zoro… I've let myself down. I'm just a mistake." She held onto him tighter in a rage of tears and anger at once. Her emotions were so confused. Zoro held onto Mikita. "But you're not giving up." Mikita sniffed. "I know I can't, but… That's just it! I can't! I just can't!" What she was yelling about exactly probably couldn't be easily deciphered.

Zoro looked into Mikita's eyes. "What can't you do? Beat him? Wield your sword to its fullest?" Mikita closed her eyes and looked away as a few more tears fell down her cheeks. "I… I just… can't." Zoro hugged her again. "Then try until you can."

"But I'm scared!" Mikita yelled out in fear and sadness as her body shook lightly, her fists clenched and trembling. She tried to take in deeper breaths and she looked down at her fists. "She's the reason… He's the cause… of my pain. I have no trust because of him!" She ran out of the ship in a rage of confusion.

Karasu and Leona watched her as she ran off the Merry. "Mikita!" Leona said as she was about to run after her, but Karasu stopped her. Leona glared at Karasu. "She can't be out there alone Karasu! It's too dangerous for her! He could still be nearby somewhere!" Zoro chased after her. "Mikita!" Karasu looked at Leona. "I don't think that will be a problem."

Mikita was still running, yet she was still in Zoro's view as she tried to run faster. Her current weak state from the battle made her collapse after a short while. Zoro caught up with her. "You're not the first to have come a long way, and then discover it's all for nothing Mikita." Mikita didn't respond as she sat up shakily. Zoro looked at her calmly. "Ready to head back?" Mikita looked up at him. She opened her mouth as if she was going to speak and she reached out her hand a short distance to him as if to reach for him, but she nearly closed her mouth and pulled her hand back to her chest. She appeared confused, nervous, sad, angry; maybe the emotion was simply unreadable. Mikita's eyes narrowed as she stared in front of her blankly and put her hands down in front of her, her eyes following her hands until she was looking down. Zoro looked at her in disappointment. "Mikita. You're not going to give up." Mikita remained the same way as she responded in a whisper. "No." Zoro nodded. "Then stand up."

Mikita looked up at him with a sort of glare as she spoke up a little bit more. "No." She seemed to just stare him in the eyes, not moving her line of sight from him. Her glaring eyes formed tears as her expression began to sadden. Zoro sighed and started walking off. "Fine then. Sit there and sulk. Just letting you know, we are going to leave eventually, whether you come back or not." It actually hurt Zoro to say those words, but he said them anyways.

"ZORO!" Mikita yelled out at him, her voice sounding somewhat murderous and fierce. She was breathing faster and her fangs were showing as she glared with dark, hurt eyes. Zoro turned and looked at her. "Yes?" Mikita had so much stress in her at the moment that it was overwhelming her. She was shaking, glaring, crying, and unaware of some of her reactions completely. She forced herself up onto her feet and walked over toward him as she spoke, her voice stern and slightly hateful. "Get off my back. The last thing I need is your dumb ass remarks of putting me down."

Zoro kept walking. "If you don't like my remarks, do something about them. That's what the Mikita I know would've done." Mikita glared at him. "I'm trying to do something about all of this, but you won't shut your fucking mouth long enough to notice the fear in my eyes that you're only making harder for me! There's something you don't understand… and I guess I was wrong for ever thinking you would." She continued walking on as she stared coldly in front of her. "And no… I'm not giving up on my dream. I never intended to. Does that make you happy fucktard? If not, then get over it and kiss my ass." She walked on, her heart full of anger. Zoro smirked. "Heh. That's more like it."

Later that evening on the Merry, Mikita wasn't eating her dinner as she sat there and stared off at nothing. Leona looked at her. "Mikita what's wrong?" Mikita leered at her. "Nothing." She stood up and walked outside on the Merry's deck. Leona watched her walk out. "There's something strange about her. She's been acting so strange lately." She got up and was about to follow Mikita, but then she heard her howls of depression and sadness. She looked out there to see her standing by the railing and holding onto it while howling up at the skies. Leona looked at Karasu with a frown, who returned the same look.

Zoro looked at Mikita silently. He was planning on talking to her again, later. Leona walked up to Mikita after she was done howling. "Do you wanna talk about it Miki?" Mikita didn't answer her, so she assumed that was a 'no'. Leona simply stood next to her and looked out at the waters with her. "You need to get some rest." Mikita was still silent. Leona began to sing to her:

Take away the heartache

Ease away the pain

Let your heart flow freely

Now spread your wings and fly

Mikita then picked up on the next verse:

The sounds of love your heart makes

Listen to the rain

Hear the wind blow freely

Be part of a lullaby

They both sang the chorus beautifully in harmony:

Drift away through the night

Find your dream and fly

Drift away, far away

You're part of a lullaby

Mikita looked at Leona as they ended their lovely song and she managed to slightly smile. Leona nodded with a grin, seeing as how she had done her job, and she walked back inside after patting her sister on the shoulder. Mikita sighed with more calmness as she looked back out at the waters. She always did know how to calm me down. Zoro walked up next to her. "Are you feeling better at all?" Mikita glanced at him and turned her head back to the direction that she was looking in the first place as she nodded. After a little bit of a pause, she softly said, "I'm sorry." Zoro looked at her. "For what?"

"For a lot of things… but mostly for the fact that I snapped at you earlier," Mikita replied. He shrugged. "You seemed a bit stressed."

"And you certainly didn't help with that you know," Mikita stated, still hurt inside from that earlier incident. Zoro looked at her. "Sorry, but you'd have probably hated to be pitied by me even more." Mikita looked at him. "Well you could have done something different! I don't know! I don't need for you to hurt my feelings! I need… I… never mind." She looked away from him. Zoro put an arm around her shoulders. "I'd never intentionally hurt your feelings."

"You did earlier." She felt like she wanted to cry again, but she held back. Zoro nodded. "It's not much, but I'm sorry for it." Mikita was silent. She didn't know what to say, so she slid her hand over his hand that was on her shoulder and nodded. Zoro smiled at her. "If you want me to, I'll be with you next time." Mikita looked at him. "Thanks, but if you do I have to handle this on my own. He is my problem… just as Mihawk is yours. We both want to accomplish our dreams, but for me to do that… Never mind. We'll talk about that some other time." She gave him a kind smile.

Zoro nodded. It was much clearer to him in the way she had put it. When he faced Mihawk for their true duel, he wanted no interference. He'd gladly give the same right to any other person. Mikita looked at him and her smile dulled a little as she looked back out at the waters as if something were still lingering on her mind. She soon let out a slightly frustrated sigh and stroked his hand. Zoro looked at her. "Is something wrong?" Mikita looked at him again. "No… Well yes, but… We'll discuss it another day." She seemed a little nervous and yet, she kept her smile as she gazed into his eyes with reassurance. Zoro nodded at her. He kissed her on the lips gently and pulled away. Mikita couldn't help but to kiss him again, but this time keeping it a little longer. Zoro pulled his arms around her gently. After awhile he pulled back. "I'll see you in the morning." Mikita nodded. "Okay." As she watched him walk away, she thought for a moment and said, "Zoro…" He paused. "Yeah?"

"…I love you." Zoro smiled at her. "I love you too Mikita." He walked over and up to the bird's nest and laid down in it, falling asleep. Mikita grinned lightly, relieved that she had told him what was in her heart.

Leona was watching from inside as she looked at Mikita. What they need to do is go on a date. She heard Mikita humming a tune and this made her smile. I think I know just the place.